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DECISION POINTS

George W. Bush

New York: Crown Publishers, 2010

Having read a number of presidential biographies and autobiographies I was recently given the opportunity to read Bush’s work. Like most autobiographies of politically significant individuals some of the writing is self-serving- particularly as he defends his decision to take out Saddaam Hussein of Iraq.

With that caveat, the book is a great romp through recent American history. Instead of a chronological approach the book is organized  around significant issues in President Bush’s life. The first chapter “Quitting” describes his choice to stop drinking with brutal and refreshing honesty. Chapter 3, “Personnel,” was an enlightening look behind the scenes of his presidency and the principles Bush used to make significant choice. Chapters 9 and 10, “Leading” and “Katrina” were helpful explanations of principles that guided President Bush during difficult and demanding times of crisis. The last chapter, “Financial Crisis” was very helpful in laying out the roots of the financial crisis of 2009 and Bush’s efforts to ease President Obama’s transition into office.

Woven throughout the chapters are poignant portraits of his family. Bush makes no excuses for his own failings as a son, husband, and father. He also draws a picture of a man who seeks to learn and grow through each experience in his life.

Also throughout the chapters we are treated to portraits of President Clinton and other significant political leaders in the United States and abroad. Based on extensive experience Bush paints an honest assessment of Putin of Russia as well as Chirac of France.

Perhaps the most significant section of the book is President Bush’s retelling of the horrific event of September 11, 2001 and the days and weeks following. His sense of helplessness in the face of an unprecedented attack and his visceral reaction to do something in response remind readers that President Bush is simply human, experiencing the same anger and shock that most of us remember from that event.

Reading this autobiography helps understand the reality that all Presidents must face- humans are fickle. We cheer people when they act in ways that make us comfortable and we jeer them when they make decisions that make us uncomfortable. President Bush explains his choices and his decisions not in order to gain our approval but that we might better understand the principles that guided his thinking as he served.

In Acts 26 Paul was given permission to speak to Herod Agrippa in his own defense: “And now I stand on trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers” (Acts 26:6). Some of our Christmas songs feature the idea of hope- “A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!”[ O Holy Night]; “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight” [O Little Town of Bethelehem]; are two examples. Of course children live in hope around Christmas time…fueled by advertisements on television children hope for a Christmas filled with new toys, fun gifts, and a promise of something new.

But adults live in hope as well around Christmas time. We hope for a safe and stress-free family time. We hope that the weather holds so we can run all the errands that need to be run, so that we can finish all the tasks that need to be done before the holdiay’s are behind us. When pressed some adults will ‘hope’ for things such as peace, family harmony, and a healthy new year.

But Paul is not on trial for merely hoping for new things or a better life or even a more comfortable life. The hope for which Paul is on trial for his life is a hope expressed in a promise- that God would use His people to make Himself known. This hope expressed in a promise made Paul’s life more difficult, not easier (see 2 Cor 11-12). This hope expressed in a promise created divisions and it did not bring peace (see Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:34-39).

Nearly two thousand years later people all across the world are still imprisoned and put on trial for this hope expressed in a promise. Though most of us reading this post have never experienced any serious opposition because of this hope expressed in a promise, the reality is that God’s promise provokes hostility and anger in many places around the world.

So, what exactly is this ‘hope expressed in a promise’ that Paul and countless others have been willing to stand trial for? What is the content of this hope? First, it is the hope that is contained in the coming of Christ. The hope of His coming is that God is still involved in His world. The hope of Christ’s coming is that redpemption is possible, that sin will not have the last word.

The promise is the assurance that what God has begun He will complete. The redemption the creation longs for (Rom 8:19-25) will be finished. What God began in the Garden and has made possible through the Second Adam (i.e. Jesus Christ) will come to God’s intended fruition.

The hope of the promise is the fuel of Christmas—God in the flesh means God made real in a way we can access and a promise that He is coming again.

Merry Christmas

Most of last week was lost to the fog and darkness of depression and anxiety. Friday morning the fog began to lift and I once again could see light and life. Thanks for praying for me.

This morning (12.6.10) I was reading the 25th Psalm. Verses 6-7 (ESV) read like this:

Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love,
   for they have been from of old.
Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
   according to your steadfast love remember me,
   for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!

I prayed that God would not remember me according to my sin, my fleshly failures, my lustful heart, but that God would remember me according to His steadfast love. I remember my sin too well. The adversary takes pleasure in reminding me moment by moment of how sin should disqualify me from God’s service. I desperately need God to remember me according to His goodness, according to His revealed nature.

All this has prompted me to ponder: As I come to know God more fully (and thinking rightly about God is absolutely crucial…(see Dr. Mohler’s post at http://www.albertmohler.com/2010/12/03/the-knowledge-of-the-self-revealing-god-starting-point-for-the-chrisutian-worldview/ ). Late last week someone retweeted a note from DA Carson that suggested the greatest failure in American evangelicalism is a lack of knowledge of God. This morning I read a post from James Emery White at www.churchandculture.org overviewing a book titled, America’s Four Gods which suggests a great deal of confusion among American’s about the nature of God. All this to say…too often I as a pastor and teacher am guilty of communicating a wrong idea of God. My deepest hunger is to know Him accurately- even if that takes me through the fog and darkness of depression. It is in those valley’s I must trust His presence because I cannot feel anything but discouragement and anxiety. It is in those days and weeks (yes, sometimes the fog lasts for weeks…) that I must depend on God to remember me according to His mercy, His steadfast love and His grace.

Well, it’s Monday…and I am slated to lead my Pastor’s Bible Class in a few minutes (we are studying together 1 Samuel 18-20 this morning) so I’d best get to the auditorium!

Steve

Last night as we were praying at our weekly prayer gathering I was reminded again that our view of God is often shallow and superficial. Many of our prayer concerns are self-centered and bordering on selfishness. Yes, we are to bring every need to the Father in prayer. But to listen to our prayers an outsider might think that God is some all powerful being who exists just to make us comfortable and provide all the conveniences we need.

How do we dig deeper into the nature of God? Have I as a leader and teacher furthered this shallow and superficial view of God? In our busy-ness we have eliminated time for deep thinking and deep praying. I know that I often cut short prayer time so I can get through my to-do list, so that I can be on time to all the meetings that I have overscheduled in my life. Shame on me.

Lord, help me to learn to focus not on what you do but on who you are – even as I pray for the needs of my family and my church. Lord, may your name be hallowed as I make myself available to you as a reflection of your character as Christ is being formed in me by the Holy Spirit!

I seem to be living in Psalm 13:2 ” 1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I take ycounsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? (The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Ps 13:1-2). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.)
But life goes on. Time pushes forward. Living with depression is wearying. Yes, I realize I am better off than most people in the world. Yes, I realize that I am healthier than I deserve. I know all these self-evident truth’s in my head…it seems to be the heart where I struggle.
So, I keep putting one foot in front of the other. I continue to press on knowing that their is a progression in Psalm 13. Look at Psalm 13:6b “I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.” (The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Ps 13:6). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.)
Writing about depression helps…so, till next time…
Steve

Post-Thanksgiving Pre-Christmas Week

                My life seems to be a constant series of coming and going. We went to Kansas City to visit our families for Thanksgiving. Leaving was hard- as it always is. My sister began chemotherapy last Friday. I worry how she will respond. She won’t be travelling for Christmas- she usually makes it to Tucson to spend Christmas with our parents. My brother has a two-year old son who was a joy to be with. But Nevan’s mom and dad never married and they are no longer together.  My in-law’s continue to grieve in the absence of my father-in-law who died over 2 years ago. He was larger than life and literally he was the glue that held the family together.

But coming home was a joy. After travelling the better part of three weeks in November it was nice to finally unpack everything. So far as I can see there are no more trips in my future! Staying home will be nice. This week will be quiet-  a nice prelude to the Christmas rush!

Our church observes Advent. We have done this for several years now for a couple of reasons. First, by focusing on the colors and sights of Advent we are not blinded by the Christmas lights. Rather we are able to see what the season is all about. By focusing on a different aspect of the biblical promises each Sunday we also are able to develop (hopefully) a deeper sense of the promise of Christ- at His first coming and the promise of God regarding Christ’s second coming. We celebrate Advent because it gives me a platform to help the children in our congregation a deeper appreciation for the season.

Advent reminds me that life is about coming and going, about leaving and returning. As we celebrate Christ’s coming we are reminded that He died, was raised again, and that He is coming again!

Didn’t get up to go shopping with the girls (my wife, daughter, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law). Decided to hang back at mom’s house and just chill. Did get some planning done for when I get home…need to do some more planning for my sabbatical in January and for some writing projects I want to do in 2011. I want to do some writing for the local chamber of commerce newsletter on building capacity in organizations. I want to do some writing of a personal theology- what I believe and why I believe it. I also want to think and pray through some difficult choices that will need to be made in the spring of next year. So, no really Black Friday for me…just a day of sunshine and almost 35 degrees outside…makes me ready to get back to Oregon!

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. Today is PREPARATION DAY. I am at my mother-in-laws with my wife and my daughter. You’d think we were inviting all of the neighborhood for dinner tomorrow with all the preparations being made. That is part of the holiday experience. I have seen my brother’s little boy- Nevan. He is two years old and this is the first time I’ve been in the Kansas City area to see him. My sister is scheduled to begin her chemotherapy treatments on the day after Thanksgiving- after two false starts.

Trying to get some ‘quiet time’ to work on Sunday and preparation for next week has been a little difficult. But, again, that is part of the family experience.

A couple of observations:

When I am away from my job I struggle with anxiety issues. My identity is so tied to my job that I wonder sometimes how I will stand four weeks away from my job for my sabbatical. Perhaps one of the issues I can work on during that time is renewing my identity in Christ seperate from my identity as a pastor and member of the community.

Family is a complex and complicated group of individuals. The dynamics of family systems continues to baffle and bewilder me. I’ve said before, every family is dysfunctional in it’s own way. And as someone else has observed, Normal is only a setting on your dryer! The word normal really doesn’t describe any family I’ve ever met- and it certainly doesn’t sedcribe my family of origin or even the family my wife and I have created. I would guess I will be learning the rest of my life to communicate with my family!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I am sitting in the Portland Airport waiting for a flight to Kansas City where Cindy, Meg and I will spend Thanksgiving with Cindy’s step-mom and the family. I will get to see my sister (who is scheduled to begin chemo treatments today), my brother and his 2 year old little bor as well. It should be a wonderful week of family, food, and fun!
The past two weeks have been a whirlwind of travel- Pasco WA, Lincoln City, OR and now Kansas City. When we get home late next week the holiday whirlwind begins in earnest.
A couple of thoughts:
1. After attending the education conference Monday and Tuesday of this past week I have been challenged to take the time and think through what I am trying to teach and accomplish when I preach. I have become lazy about specific application. I need to give more thought and more time to this critical aspect.
2. After spending time with unchurched people- I am reminded of the significant work of trying to connect with people so that we can share the gospel. Building relationships is extremely difficult and time consuming…but learning to listen and pay attention is well worth our time and energy in this process.
3. Finding time for prayer- not just the hurried morning devotion time- is more critical than ever. Building that time into my schedule demands that I discipline myself to day NO more than I say YES!

So, more later when we arrive in Kansas City!

Have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

It’s about 45 minutes till worship here at Community Baptist Church in Winston. As a group met for prayer I was reminded of the sheer volume of pain that exists in the families and to whom God has given me the privilege of serving. Then I look at the words I have prepared and wonder…how do we truly allow God to use us to bring healing and restoration to those who are in such desperate need?

In a few minutes I will have the privilege of opening God’s Word to those gathered in the name of Jesus Christ in our public worship experience. More than anything I want to be found faithful in serving, in teaching, in loving. I read earlier this morning in Nicholas Wolsterstorff’s Reason Within The Bounds of Religion, (2nd Ed) that our following of Christ “ought to be actualized by taking up in decisively ultimate fashion God’s call to share in the task of being witness, agent, and evidence of his coming kingdom” (73). I realize I am coming to Wolstertorff late – never read him in college or seminary (either MDIV or DMIN). I am astounded by the clarity with which he writes…and the challenge of being a witness, agent, and evidence of the presence of the kingdom of God.

Then I survey the congregation I’ve been called to serve and the community I’ve been privileged to minister in for the past 20 years and wonder…where is the evidence of God’s kingdom? Where are the agents of His kingdom? Where are the witnesses of God’s wonders and mighty acts?

Too often, from my limited observation post, we witness to how God is at work in my life, dealing with my problems, solving my dilemma’s. If we are agents of a kingdom it seems to be more about our comfort, our preferences, our rights, and our privileges. If we are evidence of a kingdom it would seem that the kingdom is one that meets our criteria, one that offers us maximum comfort and convenience.

Well, I’ve got to prepare…and allow God to make His kingdom known, to seek to be an agent of His kingdom, and to live as an evidence of His kingdom and His priority.