In Screwtape Letter 10, the senior tempter reminds Wormwood that, as much as possible, he should strive to have his patient lead two completely separate and parallel lives.

It’s basic demonic advice, and few of us would need much explanation. Someone ought to add that’s there’s no good reason to stop at two separate lives. Three, four, five or fifteen separate lives are all possible if you learn the basics of compartmentalizing.

Yes, that’s a fifty cent word: compartmentalizing. Taking a whole life, dividing it into sections, putting up walls between those sections and living in each one as a different world that allows you to be a different person.

I’m not talking about multiple personalities. I’m simply saying that Screwtape was wise to point out that we often live in one room- and with the people in that room- as if the other rooms don’t exist. [Continue reading]

In a few days, Denise and I are going to make a change in our lives. We’re both 52. The kids are gone. No grandkids yet. Thirty years together. We’ve always had television.

In a few days, we’re getting rid of it. Dish TV will unhook the Dish, and we won’t have any television reception. It will be gone for good.

Yes, we know what Hulu is, so we’ll still watch House M.D., the one show we watch together. Yes, we’re thoroughly wired and know where the music, news and podcasts are found. I’m keeping an eye on Boxee. I’ve thought about Apple TV, but I don’t see it at this point. [Continue reading]

Galatians 3:15 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.

21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. [Continue reading]

Philippians 3:17 Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. 18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite (belly), they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. 20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

Let me describe the essence of Christmas holidays in our house:

“It was there, so I ate it.” (Or in the case of egg nog, “It was there, so I drank it….and bought more….and drank it.”) [Continue reading]

I generally enjoy the Kindlings Muse podcast from Dick Staub, but the episode I listened to today was especially good. It was a full introduction to the life and thought of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German theologian and martyr. This presentation was done by the outstanding Presbyterian preacher and author, Earl Palmer. (What a great blessing Earl Palmer has been to my life. Get all his books that you can still find.)

Bonhoeffer has been an influence on my life since high school. His Letters and Papers from Prison was the only theological book my parents ever bought for me: Christmas 1976. His provocative and elegant writing give a beautiful witness to a man who developed a wonderful theological mind, was not afraid to move forward to the unknown in his journey with God and taught all Christians of our time to be faithful to Jesus in the midst of the claims of the “powers” of this world, even unto death. [Continue reading]

My favorite piece of liturgy in the world is a sentence in the opening section of the Traditional Service of Nine Lessons and Carols broadcast round the world on the BBC. Why is it so moving? Because it is beautiful and true. Each year, as more and more of those I know join the saints in light, this single portion of the prayer becomes more and more evocative of the power of Gospel hope. Somehow, hope returns, over and over, to be the most powerful gift of the Gospel for me in this life.

The entire opening is a work of art in language, full of lucid prose statements of the Gospel, but the tear-inducing, singularly moving line for me is in boldface:

The Dean: Beloved in Christ, be it this Christmas Eve our care and delight to prepare ourselves to hear again the message of the angels: in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, and with the Magi adore the Child lying in his Mother’s arms. [Continue reading]

In my twice weekly study of Nehemiah, we’re still in chapter 8, and today we observed that the reading of the book of the law caused a strong emotional reaction among those who heard it read and explained.

That reaction was grief and weeping.

Neh. 8:9   And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.

[Continue reading]

If I didn’t need written permission, I’d reprint this entire sermon here on the site because I want it in the archives. But I’ll be a good blogger and link it to its home at Zenit, the Catholic News Service. You can get it in various formats there.

A more Christocentric sermon you are not likely to hear. Would to God we in evangelicalism could dependably hear this much focus on Jesus as the PERSON in whom Christianity entirely consists. (And a similar prayer for all Christians.)

Fr. Cantalamessa is an impressive preacher. I have several of his sermon series and I recommend them, especially to those of you whose exposure to Catholic preaching has been unimpressive. Fr. Cantalamessa was at Asbury Seminary earlier this year to preach in their chapel (and those sermon audios are available in English on his web site.). You don’t see that much in evangelical circles. Trust me, there’s a reason. (Look at this little article on the doctrine of “Limbo.”)

In the middle of this sermon, the focus turns to the reformation and Protestant/Catholic relations. His point is dead on target: It’s largely irrelevant arguing about the details of the book of Romans while we live in a world that denies anyone needs to be saved because no one is a sinner. [Continue reading]

I’ve wanted to write an encouragement for many of my readers whom I know seek to live out the Gospel in the midst of a legalistic time and place. I pray this is a gift for you if you find yourself in such a place.

Galatians 3:1 Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross. 2 Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. 3 How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own a human effort? 4 Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it? 5 I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ. 6 In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” 7 The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.

I am not a legalist. I am a New Covenant Christian. This is a crucial distinction for me, one on which I pray I never compromise.

As a Christian, I am staking my all on the Gospel. I am staking nothing on the law. As a minister, I am called and ordained by the church to proclaim the Gospel, not the law. When I can no longer speak, I pray that all I have spoken will be Gospel, Gospel and again, Gospel. [Continue reading]

Paul made a lot of sin lists. You know, lists of sins.

If you’re a preacher or teacher, you’ve probably used Paul’s sin lists a few times as the raw material for a talk or sermon. You’ve walked through the list, one sin at a time and said a little something about each one. It may not have been the most interesting talk you ever did, but it took up some time and sin is always relevant, right?

Those lists can be pretty spectacular.

Romans 1:28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

Comprehensive, that’s for sure. [Continue reading]

Some Christians love to talk about the sins of Obama or gays or the mainstream media, but get really animated when I suggest we need to talk about our own, even if they are listed in the Bible dozens of times.

If the Gospel isn’t grabbing you by the real sins in your real life, just exactly what is the Gospel doing for you? Or you with it?

I don’t like the fact that I can give a really good talk on prayer when I rarely pray.

I don’t like it that I can read Matthew 5:23-24 and, as far as I can recall, never take a single step toward obeying it.

I don’t like that I can sin and then condemn someone else’s sin in almost the same breath.

I don’t like it that I’m convinced people need to understand me, but I take so little time to understand others.

I regret that I’ve spent so much of my life seeking to make myself happy in ways that never led to real happiness at all. [Continue reading]

I’m very fortunate to live in one of the poorest areas of the country. It’s unlikely that there will be much panic here in southeastern Kentucky if we have a depression.

Adult unemployment in our area has been over 50% for the entire 16 years we’ve lived here. Large numbers of my neighbors receive various kinds of government assistance with food, utilities and medical care. Most of us are driving cars that are well past ten years old and a 150,000 miles. We don’t have too many people depending on a stock portfolio in order to fund their house at the lake.

In some ways, my corner of southeastern Kentucky has been in an economic depression since the 1930’s, if not earlier. When we drive to the suburbs of Lexington or the prosperous outskirts of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, it’s another world. I’m uncomfortable. Our world hasn’t seen economic prosperity in the memories of several generations. [Continue reading]

I’m doing an interview in a few days and will be asked some questions about how I view the past and future of my own denomination. Some of these thoughts came to mind as I prepared.

Psalm 77

1 I cry aloud to God,
aloud to God, and he will hear me.
2 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;
in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying;
my soul refuses to be comforted.
3 When I remember God, I moan;
when I meditate, my spirit faints.
Psa. 77:4    You hold my eyelids open;
I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
5 I consider the days of old,
the years long ago.
6 I said,* “Let me remember my song in the night;
let me meditate in my heart.”
Then my spirit made a diligent search:
7 “Will the Lord spurn forever,
and never again be favorable?
8 Has his steadfast love forever ceased?
Are his promises at an end for all time?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has he in anger shut up his compassion?”
Psa. 77:10    Then I said, “I will appeal to this,
to the years of the right hand of the Most High.”*
Psa. 77:11    I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
12 I will ponder all your work,
and meditate on your mighty deeds.
13 Your way, O God, is holy.
What god is great like our God?
14 You are the God who works wonders;
you have made known your might among the peoples.
15 You with your arm redeemed your people,
the children of Jacob and Joseph. [Continue reading]

I’m not usually the guy with sports illustrations, but this one couldn’t be passed up. (And if anyone I know says to me that I was “secretly” talking about them, I’m going to laugh right at you, very loudly.) This is so relevant to thousands of situations, it preaches itself without explanation. Young pastors, listen up.

Friday night high school football with several other men is a highlight of fall for me, and last night was the first game we’d seen. The who, what and where aren’t important, but one aspect of the game was memorable.

The officiating crew was terrible. I know that’s a frequent complaint, but I didn’t really have a dog in the fight and the team I was modestly pulling for won, so I’m not whining. The terrible officiating simply ruined the game. I felt bad for everyone: fans, coaches and, of course, the boys.

In short, the officials threw over 30 flags, most of them frivolous, and mostly in the second half when one team had some hope of gaining momentum enough to make up a three touchdown deficit. There were four reversed calls. Four! Four times the announcer read the signal, the teams reacted, and then a couple of minutes later- without benefit of instant replay- the call was reversed, usually taking away a fumble recovery or a first down. [Continue reading]

I assume that we are supposed to love the church, even though there isn’t a direct command with those words in the New Testament.

The love of the Psalmist for the people of God is obvious. Paul’s love for particular congregations causes him to recite his sufferings and sacrifices for their sake. His love for the churches he has planted is obvious in his affection for the Philippians and his correction of the Corinthians.

Jesus loves the church, and gave himself up for her. If the love of Christ controls us, then we should love the church as well.

These days, however, the command to love the church is complicated. The churches that most of us are dealing with are constantly dictating to us what it means to love them. Much like a dysfunctional family member who tells you that your love must help them continue their self-destructive patterns of behavior, so the church in America asks for “love” that many of us are hesitant to give. [Continue reading]