Just a Dog

Sadness at the Smith house. Our 9 year old cocker spaniel named Katie passed away this morning. It was very sad to say goodbye to our four legged companion of so many years. I wish I cold say her ending was peaceful, but it was not. She suffered with seizures for about 18 hours that began mildly but increased in severity. The veterinarian said that she most likely had cancer, a brain tumor. Sandy and I tearfully buried her in yard under his bedroom window. It is amazing how quickly pets get into your heart. I think we all shed some tears today, we loved our dog. I know I often talked like I didn't like our dog. As my wife, who knows me so well, said about me, "He's all talk he loves the dog." I probably cried the most or at least the ugliest when Katie passed. Katie was a great dog who was fiercely devoted to us and especially Judy. so here's to Katie.

Arnel Pineda

I am a rock and roll fan from way back. One of the bands I grew up listening to was Journey. Neil Schon's guitar licks and Steve Perry belting out the high pitch lyrics was awesome. You can still find some classic Journey songs on my ipod. Well Journey is back, they have a new album and a new lead singer. His name is Arnel Pineda from the Philippines. The way he became the lead singer for Journey is amazing. Basically Neil Schon, the bands founder, saw Pineda on youtube, contacted him and then before you know it he is the lead singer of Jouney.

Vacation is Over

Well, I have been on vacation for the past week or so. My wife and I went to Seattle, Washington for a few days. It was great! I really like Seattle. It is a great city. Here are a few of the things I enjoyed about Seattle.
It is a clean city (I guess it is all that rain)
It is easy to get anywhere in Seattle. Many things are in walking distance and there is a great mass transit bus system.
It's beautiful. Seattle is surrounded by mountains and ocean.
Some unique history.
Lots of really fun things to do indoors, outdoors, spend money, or free.
Cooler weather!
Good food!

So, for my Sunday School Class, I will be writing again next Tuesday on topics relevant to our study in Revelation. For the rest of you, I will try to write more on topics other than my Sunday School Class study in Revelation. Thanks for reading (assuming anyone is actually reading this)

Holy, Holy, Holy

So last Sunday we studied Revelation chapter 4 in Sunday School. Of course it is a dramatic description of the worship that takes place around the throne in Heaven. The mental picture this description paints is awe inspiring. I love the way everything in heaven is centered on God. I am moved by the description of heaven as the place God is, and not the place where we have no pain, streets of gold, and fellowship with loved ones. God is the reward of heaven. But an interesting thing happened during our discussion of the passage. We were discussing verses 8-11.

8.And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!"
9.And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
10.the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11."Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."

I asked the question,

For what reasons is the Father worthy of worship? Which of His deeds or attributes is praised in 4:8-11?

And the students were very quick to name several of God's attributes like Creator, eternal nature, etc. But no one mentioned God's holiness. Yet God's holiness is the one attribute that is emphatically lauded in this passage the four living creatures say "holy, holy, holy." Now, I am not trying to say that the particular students in class Sunday were not observant, to the contrary they had some great insights into this text. I think what I am trying to say is that God's holiness, one of his greatest attributes, is so foreign to us that we simply don't see it like we should. We don't understand it's significance. We don't display it in our lives.

Holiness doesn't only express God's pure or sinless existence. It literally means set apart, like no other, separate. That describes all of God's character. God's love is holy love, it is love like no other. God's grace is holy grace, grace like set apart from any other grace. God's wisdom is holy wisdom, it is wisdom with no equal. God's wrath is holy wrath, it is wrath set apart from any other wrath.

God is holy! His holiness ought to guide, fuel, and fill our lives of God centered worship.

Politics

So a friend is coming over this evening to drink Cafe Cubano and talk politics. This is a new one for me, not because of the coffee, but because of the political conversation. I usually don't like to talk about politics. And to be completely honest, I really only have a cursory interest and knowledge of the American Political scene. I know who is running for President, I know which party controls congress. I have an idea of the major hot spots in the world as far as The United States is concerned. I think I know who I am going to vote for. I am aware of some of the political issues facing our country right now. I have an opinion on things like health care, immigration, Iraq, the environment, etc.

The real issue for me is that I have lost confidence in our political system. I am just not sure that anyone who can get elected in our country can make a difference. It just seems like we will have the same kinds of people making the same kinds of decisions and the real significant change that I think our country needs will never come because we have a self perpetuating system that is broken. George Washington when leaving office warned the young government to avoid the trap of bipartisan politics. I think he was right.

The Normal Christian Life

Sunday we finished the letters to the seven churches in Revelation. We looked at Philadelphia and Laodicea. I am not going to go over everything we discussed in class, but I wanted to explore one concept that we touched on Sunday. In light of the message to Laodicea and really in light of the cumulative message to the church in Revelation, the question arises, have we made mediocrity the norm in Christian life?

Based on the letters to the seven churches in Revelation I would have to say yes. By what Christ affirms in the churches, predicts for the churches, and chastises in the churches, His message seems to be one of work hard for the Kingdom, oppose sin and false teaching, be radically different from culture, embrace suffering, and most of all persevere.

Are those qualities indicative of the church today? That may not be a fair question for me to ask so how about this one. Are those qualities indicative of my life as a Christ follower? The picture of a Christ follower in Revelation and really through out the New Testament is one of a person who is radically following Christ so that their actions scream out, "I belong to Jesus?" The "normal" Christian life is meant to leave no doubt in any one's mind who and what we are. If someone has to ask me if I am a Christian, then I am probably not living the "normal" Christian life, but rather some poor, pitiful, blind, and naked version that I have convinced myself is normal.

So what is the answer? I am no ultra wise sage. In fact most of the time I barely know what is going on, but I think Revelation gives the answer in verse 1 of chapter 1, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ." I know it seems simple, but the answer to poor, pitiful, blind, and naked Christian life is a radical Christ centered, Christ saturated life. Jesus said it to the church in Laodicea, "I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see."
In other words, come to Jesus! Come to Him for strengthening of faith, for cleansing from sin, for sight of the truth.