35 As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” 42 And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43 And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

The water in the shower is cold.  My son is whining.  The car will not start.  I get stuck in traffic.  I have a bad day at work.  The weight of the world is on my shoulders.  I receive sad news about a former student.  News from home is troubling.  News around the globe is even more troubling.  My day is horrible.  “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by”. 

How often have I focused on my “suffering” or my bad day instead of the fact that Jesus of Nazareth is passing by?  It takes the eyes of faith to see the face of Jesus in a bed-ridden grandmother; the wheel-chair bound teenager; the autistic child.  Yet in the midst of heartache and brokenness is often where Jesus is found. 

I think we assume that were Jesus is it must be neat and tidy.  There must be sunshine and rays of light, not clouds and storms.  Trumpets are playing instead of the moans of suffering.  Pleasant odors abound, not body odor that smells like moldy French cheese.  We forget that Nazareth was the moldy French cheese capital of the world.  “Nothing good can come from Nazareth…can it…?” 

Yet it is Jesus the Nazarene that is passing by.  Perhaps this is why the blind guy has such confidence.  He not only believes that Jesus has the power to dispense mercy, He also has the gumption to think that He will. 

And this is where we show up with our American cynicism and lack of faith.  The blind guy has now qualms about shouting out the name of Jesus and begging for healing.  He is not ashamed.  He is not afraid to tell Jesus what He wants and needs.  That annoys us.  We want people that are neatly put together and make their quietly make their requests on tiny little index cards.  We don’t like shouting.  We certainly don’t like desperation.  When faced with such desperation we respond with rebuke and a big fat shhhhh…!!!  “Jesus is trying to speak, idiot, shut up with all your suffering and just listen you might learn something”. 

The blind man is not deterred.  He MUST have Jesus.  He is ridiculously desperate and he is not ashamed of that fact.  He is screaming for the help of Jesus.  What do we expect Jesus to do at this moment?  I know that we have to say “be nice and heal the guy”.  Get by the Sunday school answer for a second and answer this question.  What do you think the face of Jesus looks like?  What do you think His heart is doing?   Is He reluctantly healing the guy so that he will shut up and let Him get on with His teaching.  Is He annoyed by the request?  Is He uncomfortable with such desperate emotion? 

Be honest do you really expect this to be His answer?  “What do you want me to do for you”? 

I want to see Jesus like this blind man saw Him.  The blind man was not “blinded” by his inability to see.  He was not lost in the midst of his suffering.  The blind man saw Jesus.  Jesus was passing by and the blind man caught a glimpse.  He was so desperate and filled with unabashed hope that he could not shut up. 

I want to be that guy.  I am not that guy but I want to be him.  I am not yet fully convinced of my desperation.  I would wait until the crowd settled down and try to ask Jesus at a better time.  I would mail in a prayer card.  I would never risk being annoying in my asking of Jesus.  But that is precisely what Jesus wants—annoying, desperate, persistent prayers that expect healing.  It’s not wrong to expect Jesus to meet your needs—it’s wrong NOT to. 

I am stoked that Jared asked me to review his book as well be a part of his blog tour.  You can check out the rest of the blog tour.  There are some great blogs that are part of this tour; and from what I have seen thus far there are great questions and answers.  Recently I had the opportunity to interview Jared.

1. In chapter 3, Jesus the Forgiver, you say that it’s not true “that you can’t forgive an unrepentant person”.  You then helpfully explain the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation. Would you say that God forgives everyone but is only reconciled to those that trust in Christ through faith and repentance?

No, I don't believe God forgives everyone. I am an old school Calvinist when it comes to the extent of the atonement, so I do affirm the "L" in TULIP. I believe Christ's work on the cross accomplished salvation for the elect. This has less to do with God forgiving all but only being reconciled with some as it does with God's forgiveness being a work begun that he himself is faithful to finish in reconciliation. I guess you could say that when it comes to the elect, I am a universalist. :-) God gets them all.
The logical question from this, of course, is "If God doesn't forgive everyone, why should we?" And there are several answers but the most important one is this: We are not God. We are not perfectly holy and perfectly just. We don't have the right, as God does, to love Jacob and hate Esau. It is our duty to love others as God has loved us: in spite of anything we've done, in the face of constant rebellion, and on the condition of Jesus Christ.

2. Is it possible that your book is the only one in print which contains the word “waaaaambulance”?

Quite possible. Also, I guarantee it's the only Christian book that employs the phrase "burninate the peasants" and suggests one listen to heavy metal when reading the minor prophets.

3. Your book is obviously written for those that are “hip” more so than those that need a “hip replacement”.  How do you speak the language of the culture without being guilty of creating a fad Jesus of your own?  Or to ask that another way: how do I as a youth pastor speak the language of teenagers without creating a Jesus that is merely "safe" for teenagers?

I think there is a line where context becomes content -- the medium becomes the message -- and we just do our darndest not to cross it. I was conscious throughout the book of the danger in the different profiles of Jesus in the chapters of crafting an array of different Jesuses myself, ironically undercutting the point of the book. I address this in the Conclusion. I think what I tried to do is make sure the humor, the sarcasm, the pop cultural references were part of the window dressing, not the furniture in the room. Someone else recently asked me if I was nervous about receiving some of the same criticism Mark Driscoll got from "Vintage Jesus" for being too humorous with Jesus, and while I don't think Mark crossed any lines, I do think my humor steers clear of pushing Jesus buttons.
So to make a long answer short, I think the way we do this is by consciously and conscientiously making sure our language does not obscure or replace our message. And the way you measure this is if your hearers/readers walk way with an unsafe Jesus. If they think Jesus is so cool he doesn't change them, it's cause for concern and evaluation. 

4. What was your favorite chapter to write and why?

My favorite chapters were "Jesus the Redeemer" because I am a storyteller at heart, and I got to play with narratives and the biblical narrative in that chapter, and "Jesus the King" because I got to present some material I have studied a long time and that reflects a paradigm shift in my own understanding of Jesus and the Gospels over the last ten years. I think it's stuff that the Church has neglected for a long time too, so I felt like that one was a really important chapter. (I have since heard that "Jesus the King" is a lot of people's favorite chapter, as well.)

There's two, and they represent the two extremes the Church vacillates between. Driscoll has been great at speaking against this false dichotomy too, and I quote him from the Piper/Taylor edited collection "The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World" in my book on this subject. It's basically that we either so dwell on Jesus' incarnation -- Jesus' manhood -- that we suffer for lack of enjoying his exaltation, or we so dwell on his exaltation that we lose the joy of the incarnation. I think many churches favor one or the other and lose real pleasure and profit in who Jesus fully is.

I will provide a complete review of the book in late August/early September.  For now, let me encourage you to buy the book.  Thanks for the interview Jared!

I will warn you in advance; you may get no benefit from reading this.  The truth is, I am so flooded with conflicting emotions right now that I thought it may be helpful to write.  I figure that around the 1st of September I will look back and wonder what just happened.  Much of what I know and love will be finished by the end of this week. 

I take great comfort in the fact that I will continue to be with my lovely wife, I will still have the presence of my amazing son, and more than anything I will still have Christ as the center of my life.  Saying it that way really puts it in perspective.  (Yeah, that picture to the right just about sums it up).

At the same time I feel a great loss.  I absolutely love the people that God has placed in our life.  It was all I could do to choke back tears and a dark depression as I peeled quotes off my walls, packed up pictures, and thought about all the amazing memories I have of the students here in New London.  I love my pastor.  I love our staff.  I love our deacons.  I love our church body.  Of course FBC New London is not perfect, but she is part of the Bride of Christ that is married to Jesus and this makes her beautiful.  A big part of my life has now changed.  As of Friday August 7th, 2009 I will no longer be the youth pastor at FBC New London.  That makes me sad.

Yesterday, I was ordained into the gospel ministry.  My good friend Terry preached the ordination service (yes, the same Terry that blogs here).  It was very convicting.  He reminded me that no matter how much education, training, experience, etc. that I have it will be inadequate.  My only hope and my only weapon is the Word of God.  I have known all of this in my head.  Yesterday, I felt the weight of it.  I have been chosen by God to do what a small percentage of people are called to do.  Indeed I am equipped.  But at the same time I am totally inadequate for such a task.  I sense my deep need for Christ and pray that I am continually reminded of my helplessness.  I am but a child, and will be until the day that I die.

Not only am I sad about what we are leaving, I am very nervous about what we are moving to.  I am very thankful that God has supplied a job at Chick-Fil-A.  But I have to be honest and say that it also makes me sad.  I love being a youth pastor.  I am not nearly as passionate about selling chicken sandwiches.  Yet, God will use me even here.  I wonder how stoked Jesus was about being a carpenter?

I am nervous that we will not be able to make it financially.  It will be tight for us to make it through the first year.  At this point it will be impossible for us to even attend a class the second year.  I am confident, however, that God will provide.  If He wants us in Louisville, Kentucky attending seminary the money will be provided.  No clue how.  No clue when.  But I know that God will provide.  Even if we are homeless God will provide abundant grace for us to be joyful in the midst of that.  Jesus knows what it is like to be homeless, He has more than enough grace to get us through.

I am sad to leave my parents and my wife’s parents.  I also am sad about taking Isaiah out of their life (and them out of Isaiah’s).  Granted it will not be permanent.  Granted many have it worse.  Nonetheless, I love both sets of parents.  I am blessed.  I have never been so far away from family.  It’s a new chapter…one I welcome, but still one that is an unknown.  Yet, in the midst I have confidence that Jesus knows what it is like to leave parents.  His grace is sufficient.  Not only for us but also for my parents and Nikki’s parents.

I am worried about how busy I will be.  I love my wife and I love my son.  I want to see them as much as I can.  I also enjoy relaxing with them.  Will this be possible having to work 40 hours a week at Chick-Fil-A, pulpit supplying, studying, going to classes, and maybe even having to pick up an extra job?  We will find the time.  We will plan the time.  Lord, give me the grace to remember that my wife and son come before school, work, etc. 

I get to study under Dr. Mohler and Dr. Schreiner.  Not to mention all the other professors that I am not as aware of that are probably equally amazing.  (Their light is also borrowed).  I hope I am good enough at writing papers to pass the classes.  I always stunk at writing in Turabian style in college.  Super excited about school, though. 

So that in a nutshell is my life and emotional state right now.  There is more I could mention but this will suffice.  I want to cry because I miss my friends, family, and students so much.  Yet I am joyous about the grace we will experience to fill this lack.  I want to wet my pants and run away in fear.  Yet again, I know that His grace is sufficient for my weakness.  I feel ripped to shreds but at the same time I feel more confident in the God of grace than I did this morning.  All in all I pray that I get to know Jesus more through all of this.  Furthermore, I pray that He is working the same grace in your life. 

Nikki, Isaiah, and I will be moving to Louisville on August 6th.  We are extremely busy right now with moving.  Needless to say I am unable to keep up with regular blogging at this time.  Hopefully, once we get moved I should begin regular blogging again.  I do have a few book reviews that I am in the process of completing and may have a few posts within the next few days.  I just wanted to keep the readers updated.  Be sure to subscribe to this blog and add me as a friend on Facebook. 

Here are a few updates that you may be interested in:

• I am pretty confident that I have a job at Chick-Fil-A
• Nikki is still pursuing a job as a nanny (prayers appreciated)
• We have committed to living in an apartment (email me for details)
• I have signed up for all of my classes and have about 85% of the books
• I am taking 4 (maybe 3) advanced placement tests on August 12th
• My last Wednesday here is next Wednesday (August 5th)

Things you can pray about:

• I have to shave my beard to work at Chick-Fil-A
• God placing us in the church where He wants us
• Pray that my relationship with my wife is strengthened in this time
• Pray that I always am certain to make time for my wife and son
• Pray that the gospel thrives through our lives
• Pray that God will provide for us financially (there are still a few holes that are not filled)
• Pray that God’s will is done and that He is glorified in all that we do
• Pray that I stop being so stressed out and fearful

The following bullet points where written to express the common hindrances to preaching in this age.  Your assignment is to tell me what year this came from and you get 3 bonus points if you can tell me who said it.  Some of the language has been changed to veil the time period.

• The expansion of media access…which minimizes dependence on the local preacher and enables less attention to be paid to the preacher’s authority in the community.
• Skepticism, suspicion and doubt…higher critical skepticism challenging the claims of the Bible…human reasoning becoming more of a trusted authority.
• Shorter attention spans due to the frenetic pace of culture…
• A renewed attention to rhetoric, eloquence, and scholarship for respectability in society
• An increased preference for artistry over sermons…as other forms of art are sought to counteract the decline in church attendance
• Time demands hindering sermon preparation and communion with God.  Pastors felt that they were spending their time doing everything other than prayer, preaching, and care for the people. 
• The plagiarizing of sermons arising as a needed relief from the demanding pace of ministry.

I will cite these as soon as someone guesses the correct answer. 

John Piper has a new book out.  You can get it for free at DG.  Also check out JT’s interview with Piper concerning the book. 

Jay Younts from Shepherd Press has an interesting article on What Makes Bad Language Bad

Kevin DeYoung helps us young writers learn how to get published.  Check out part one and part two.  DeYoung also gives us a few points from Thomas Sowell On Writing.

Nathan Finn continues a series started a couple weeks ago: 15 Factors that have changed the SBC since 1979, Part 2.

Timmy Brister continues his response to Morris Chapman’s clarification.  In Part 3 Timmy outlines the history of what Baptist believe about saving faith.  I agree with Timmy theologically, but I have to say I think someone could just as easily go through 400 years of Baptist the believe just the opposite.  But the truth is all he has to prove to refute Chapman’s assertion is that there is a strand of Baptist thought that has been decidedly Calvinistic—and this he has done. 

Ed Stetzer interviews Jared Wilson on his book Your Jesus is Too Safe.  Great interview, great book, great responses from Jared.

I love this post by Piper:  The Bible Frees Us From Being Swayed by Overstatements

Enjoy this version of In Christ Alone: 

As always, if you are just joining the discussion then please check out the foreword, intro, and chapter one. You can catch up pretty easily. If you have yet to buy the book I would suggest buying it for a paltry 9 bucks, here.

Quick Summary:

Chapter 6 is a very short and simple chapter.  The goal of this chapter is to introduce the reader to the difference between the Regulative Principle and the Normative Principle.  The regulative principle “states that everything we do in a corporate worship gathering must be clearly warranted by Scripture.  Clear warrant can either take the form of an explicit biblical command or a good and necessary implication of a biblical text.” (77)  The Normative Principle on the other hand states that, “as long as a practice is not biblically forbidden a church is free to use it to order its corporate life and worship.” (77)

Dever suggests that we ought to adhere to the Regulative Principle rather than the Normative Principle.  Again, it is worth noting that there is usually very little difference in content between the two in practice.  And as D.A. Carson has said, “there is no single passage in the NT that establishes a paradigm for corporate worship.”  Nonetheless, the only thing worthy of binding the conscience is Scripture.  Therefore, the regulative principle, Dever argues, is the most viable option. 

The rest of the chapter Dever makes note that “worship is the purpose of redemption” and as such God cares about worship and specifically how He is to be worshiped.  The chapter closes with considering four passages of Scripture and what they say about worship.  Exodus 20:4 shows us that God cares how he is worshipped not simply that He alone is worshipped.  Exodus 32:1-10 helps us to see that we cannot choose how we worship Him, “we are to worship in His way on His terms.”  John 4:19-24 helps us to see that you can only properly worship God when you worship Him as He has revealed Himself to be.  Finally 1 Corinthians 14 helps us to see that worship is regulated by revelation. 

Quotables:

“If corporate worship is the goal of redemption, then it only makes sense that God would reveal to His redeemed people how He wants us to worship Him when we gather.”  (78)

“Corporate worship—even charismatic worship—is regulated by revelation.”  (79)

Questions:

• Which do you think is the correct paradigm: The Regulative or Normative Principle?
• Does your church seem to follow the regulative or normative principle?
• The following two are from Dever.  Read 1 Corinthians 14.  What do you observe here about the dynamics of corporate worship?
• Read Leviticus 10:1-3.  What was it that made God angry, according to the text?