RTSGuy's Xanga

JeantetFamily.com Online!

Fri, 09 Feb 2007 12:09:13 GMT

www.jeantetfamily.com is online!

While still very rough, it will be the new home on the web of Kim and I. Effectively immediately, I will be blogging on our family page rather than here. In addition, there are pictures (only a few at present, but many more as soon as we get the chance to upload them) and even a video.

So go check out jeantetfamily.com by clicking here, here, here, here, here or even here.

Interesting Quote...

Fri, 02 Feb 2007 18:27:49 GMT

Just read this quote from Dick Averbeck, and Old Testament scholar...

"When I approach the Bible, I always begin with the question: What is wrong with my understanding of this text? What is wrong with me that this text wants to reveal?"

Similar to Bryan Chapell's "Fallen Condition Focus," that question does two things: 1) it assumes that the reader of the Bible is a sinner and 2) every text in the Bible will reveal that sinful and the grace of God that conquers sin. I like it. It's much more honest than most attitudes with which we approach that Bible that essentially denies the noetic effect of sin that says that even our minds ability to think properly was destroyed with the fall. We can't even think rightly, much less interpret God's holy word properly on our own. Rather, we come as servants of the text, knowing that it is only through God's power that is revealed in the text that we can be saved from our sin.

**Not sure where this quote is from...just read it in another book and he only attributes it to hearing it in lectures.

The Cost and Responsibility of Leadership

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 18:56:21 GMT

1 Timothy 3:1 applauds the pursuit of leadership saying, “Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer (elder), he desires a noble task.” Compare that with the words of James 3:1 where it warns that “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” Leadership is a sticky issue. On the one side, it is a noble task and those who desire to lead should be commended. Yet leaders are held to a higher standard and judged accordingly.

As such, those who would consider being leaders should do so thoughtfully and humbly, because the cost is very high. This is the first in a series (assuming I ever get around to writing down others) of reflections on Biblical leadership and its cost.

Last night in our devotionals, Kim and I read 2 Samuel 24. This chapter is the retelling of a story where David authorizes Joab and the army commanders to go throughout all the land of Israel and count the fighting men (all males of age to fight in the army). Upon returning from a nearly 10 month trip around Israel, they returned to King David with their report.

Then verse 10 states, “David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the Lord, ‘I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.’” See, while the Lord commanded David to take a census, it was a very different thing to take a census of just the fighting men. That count was driven by David’s pride in the greatness of his kingdom and desire to take satisfaction in the security of the strength of his army, not by obedience to a command of the Lord.

David confesses his sin, but still must pay the consequences. The Lord sends Gad, the prophet, to David with the choice of three punishments. “So God went to David and said to him, ‘Shall there come upon you three years of famine in your land? Or three months of fleeing from your enemies while they pursue you? Or three days of plague in your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should answer the one who sent me’” (verse 13).

Now, you may be thinking, those are all really terrible punishments for something as seemingly miniscule as taking a census of the fighting men. But even if David must be punished for his sin, all three of these punishments are not just directed against David, but against all of Israel. How is that fair of God to punish all Israel for David’s sin?

Yet that is exactly the leadership lesson to be learned. Just as Israel was punished for the sin of David, so also when leaders fail, all those under the leader pay the price. Like I said at the beginning, leaders should take inventory of the costs associated with their leadership to decide whether or not this is something they are interested in. Because if and when you screw up, confess though you might, those under you will suffer.

As Uncle Ben told Peter Parker in Spiderman (and then the line was repeated several times), “With great power comes great responsibility.” Leaders are responsible for those under them. When they fail, all pay the price.

Psalm 16

Fri, 19 Jan 2007 13:18:52 GMT

What a welcome change of pace in the Psalms. Agony, anguish, sorrow and heartache dominate many of the psalms we have seen so far. But here David is sitting at the feet of his Lord, encompassed in his gracious love. His delight is in his God.

“Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body will also rest secure because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” (vs 9-11).

David reaped the benefits and blessings of God’s right hand (“sure I have a delightful inheritance” and “with eternal pleasures at your right hand”). He treasured those blessings, but they are not the psalmist’s obsession. It is the One who gives those blessings. Listen to these phrases throughout the psalm.

“Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge” (16:1) - he honors God for keeping him safe.

“You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing” (16:2) - he knows all the good things he has received are intended to point him to the gift-giver.

“You have made my lot secure” (16:5) - his safety and security are from God.

“I will praise the Lord who counsels me” (16:7) - even his wisdom comes from the Lord and for that he praises YHWH.

“I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken” (16:8) - again, he knows he is safe and his foundation is sure because the Lord is with him.

David knows that in YHWH is his safety. In YHWH is the path that leads to life (16:11). In YHWH he trusts that he will not be abandoned to the grave (16:10). The blessings go on and on and on. He has received the blessings of God’s right hand. But all of those blessings are intended for one end: to point to the Giver of those blessings.

I wonder in my own life, how many of the good things I have received have I attributed to my own hard work or that I deserved it or earned it or even to dumb luck? When there, right before me, is the Lord, with his arms of grace open before me. Though I take the gifts, do I ever lift my eyes to the see the face of him who gives them?

Psalm 15

Thu, 18 Jan 2007 18:03:09 GMT

Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary
Who may live on your holy hill?

He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman,
who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord,
who keeps his oath even when it hurts,
who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent

He who does these things will never be shaken.

Blameless? Nope. Righteous? Not on my own. Speaks the truth from his heart? Not usually. No slander on his tongue? Not me. And I could go on like this with each phrase of Psalm 15.

I’m none of those things. I’m more like the guy from Psalm 14, “there is no one who does good, not even one.” But the very power of the gospel is that what I am not in myself, I have been made by Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21 declares that I am the “righteousness of God” because Christ took my blame and guilt upon himself. Christ was the truth in a world of lives. He loved his neighbor when those around him were reaching for stones. He kept his oath in a world of broken promises. And in him, I am each of these. Praise God for his love that welcomes me into his sanctuary and allows me to live on his holy hill.

Psalm 14

Mon, 15 Jan 2007 13:04:36 GMT

Yesterday was one of the most powerful days in my life. In what was a powerful service, I was prayed over, charged and ordained to the ministry. It really was incredible. I could feel the power of the Holy Spirit upon me.

Yet in the morning, before the service, I read this Psalm and was humbled by the words.

        The fool says in his heart,
            “There is no God.”
        The are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
            there is no one who does good.
        The Lord looks down from heaven
            on the sons of men
        to see if there are an who understand,
            any who seek God.
        All have turned aside,
            they have together become corrupt;
        there is no one who does good,
            not even one.

On the day of my ordination, I was humbled by this reminder of the depth of my own sin. It was an amazing thing to be called of God to serve. It is an even greater thing to remember God’s faithfulness that has redeemed me from my sin at such a cost as the very death of my Lord on the cross. I can’t wait to see all that God will do in my own heart and through me over these next months and years in my ministry. But may I never lose sight of God’s love that has redeemed me, a sinner.

Sailing into 2007 Devotional

Sat, 13 Jan 2007 11:27:29 GMT

Title: Sailing into 2007
Scripture: Acts 27:21-26

{Context: Paul is aboard a ship that is caught in the midst of a terrible storm that is threatening to sink the boat.}

After the men had gone a lone time without food, Paul stood up before them and said, “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island (Acts 27:21-26).

The arrival of 2007 for many closed out a painful year. Even though I know the family of one of the climbers who died on Mt. Hood, I can barely begin to imagine the anguish and restlessness they experienced during the search for the lost climbers or the heartache and loss when news came down the mountain that they had found his dead body. I’m sure that 2006 couldn’t end fast enough for them.

Well, 2007 is here and will bring about its own set of crisis and hardships. Maybe your story won’t be picked up by the national media, but that doesn’t make the storms in your life any less real... nor does it ease the suffering you will experience.

When the winds begin to toss you from side to side and waves begin to crash up against you, the question becomes, “Where is the hope?” Is there any chance for peace in your heart with war raging all around? Is there any chance for calm in the midst of the storm? Is there any chance for joy in the midst of suffering?

Consider the story of Paul we have just read. Paul is on a ship that gets caught in such a great storm that we read that “neither the sun nor stars appeared for many days” (Acts 27:20). Endless days without even the site of the sun breaking through the storm clouds left everyone without hope of surviving. Everyone except for Paul that is.

Paul gets up in front of everyone on the ship and tells that they will all survive. No one will die. They will all make it through. How could he say that will such confidence? Because “I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me” (27:25). God, through an angel, revealed to him that he would make it to Rome alive and that none of those who travelled with him would be lost. By focusing on God’s calling on his life, he had the faith to endure the storm.

Scott Krippayne sings a song entitled, “Sometimes He Calms the Storm.” The chorus goes,
    “Sometimes He calms the storm
    With a whispered peace be still
    He can settle any sea
    But it doesn’t mean He will
    Sometimes He holds us close
    And lets the winds and waves go wild
    Sometimes He calms the storm
    And other times He calms His child”

God may not calm everyone storm in your life. But if you are his child, you can hold to the hope that he will hold on to you.

Reflection: Where will you find your hope during the storms of 2007?

Application: Focus on God’s calling in your life this year.

Praise God!

Sat, 06 Jan 2007 14:38:22 GMT

Hey, great news I wanted to share! I've been accepted into the PhD in Organizational Leadership program at Eastern University. It's a brand new program in which they were only accepting 20 students, so I'm very excited. Praise God.

Waypointchurch.cc

Sat, 30 Dec 2006 02:13:06 GMT

I've been working on a new website for my church as part of our name change and relaunch. It's not a finished product, but take a look and let me know what you think...

http://www.waypointchurch.cc

The Power of Christmas: The Power of Actions

Fri, 22 Dec 2006 02:39:58 GMT

Title: The Power of Actions
Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

“Hey Tommy, check this out! I have the best news. You are never going to believe what just happened. It’s absolutely amazing. Your life will never be the same again,” exclaims Sue! Suddenly attentive, Tommy listens as Sue excitedly recounts all the day’s happening and their life-changing meaning.

Wouldn’t it be silly for Tommy, after listening to Sue, to gently nod, put his head back down and go back to what he was doing before she rushed in with her story? If the news that she brought was so life-changing, would he really pretend like it never happened?

Yet, that is exactly how most of us live with regards to Christmas. At a time of year when we hear and rehear the Christmas story, we just shrug it off as our eyes survey the horizon looking for an open parking space or check the crumpled list in our pockets to make sure that nobody has been forgotten. It’s not the best news. It’s not amazing or life-changing news. It barely even registers on our radars in the midst of everything that remains to be done.

Not so with the shepherds in Luke 2. After receiving the angel’s announcement that “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you, he is Christ the Lord,” the shepherds take off for Bethlehem. I’m sure there was plenty of things the shepherds could have done: protect the sheep from intruders, find new places to graze, make sure all the sheep were present and accounted for and much more. But this news was too good to ignore. They needed to act. Verse 16 declares, “So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.” The power of Christmas moved them to act.

So what about you? Is the Christmas story - the amazing tale of God becoming a man - enough to move you to act? Or will you acknowledge it with just a nod before returning to the other stuff that was so important? For years, we’ve been inundated with ads for “the latest and greatest” and heard how this new gizmo will “change your life forever” or that gadget you “can’t live without.” We’ve heard these promises for so long that we just tune them out. This Christmas, don’t tune out the Christmas story. Be like the shepherds who heard the angels and immediately moved to act. Listen to it, and then let the power of Christmas move you to act.

Reflection: What keeps you from responding to the power of Christmas?
Application: To what action is the Christmas story calling you? Now, go do it!