I’m following closely the unraveling of Iraq.  I still vividly remember the day we entered the war in Iraq – post 9/11.  Much fortune and lives have been expended with the goal of eradicating terrorists and establishing an Iraqi democracy.  Both of these goals now seems to be in question.  Seems ironic that we are drawn back after such a short departure.

President Obama authorized air strikes against ISIS and humanitarian supplies for retreating Yazidis.  There are lots of new agencies that have covered this story; here’s one.  Yazidis practice an ancient religion that seems to be an amalgam of many religions.  In any event, the radical ISIS group hates them and wishes to eradicate them – along with anyone else that does not practice their narrow view of Islam.

I’m curious why it is now a good idea to save Yazidis, but it was not even whispered when Christians were driven from Mosul just two weeks ago.  News story here.  Christians were killed, pillaged, and driven from their homes.  And the west was silent.

I’m no conspiracy theory guy – but I would love for our government to seek justice and protection for Christians as much as we do for Yazidis.

ISIS is a bunch of bad dudes who are heavily armed and financed.  Their brand of Islam will leave a whole lot of blood in their wake.  I’m praying against their rise to more power.

Father’s Day is approaching.  It is a reminder of the men in our lives – especially father figures – who have deposited something of value inside us.

It is no mistake that “father” is an important word in the Bible. The word is used more than a thousand times.  In most instances, it is used of earthly and human fathers who give birth to progeny.

Yet, we cannot miss that Jesus refers to God as Father ( Matthew 6:1-9, Luke 10:21, and many others).  In fact, this is where we get our doctrine of Trinity – Father, Son, and Spirit – all equally God in mutual relationship and support of one another.

But the real surprise comes when Jesus utters the words “Abba.”  Jesus uses this word in the Garden of Gethsemane, ““Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will” (Mark 14:36).  It is also used two more times in the Epistles – Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6.

I have regularly read that this word is the favorite household word that children might use in reference to their father.  Possible translations might be “daddy” or “papa.”  But I was recently challenged about the meaning of the word.

“Abba is not Hebrew, the language of liturgy, but Aramaic, the language of home and everyday life … We need to be wary of the suggestion … that the correct translation of Abba is ‘Daddy.’ Abba is the intimate word of a family circle where that obedient reverence was at the heart of the relationship, whereas Daddy is the familiar word of a family circle from which all thoughts of reverence and obedience have largely disappeared … The best English translation of Abba is simply ‘Dear Father.”
Thomas A. Smail, The Forgotten Father

I have not looked further into the etymology of the word – but I suspect Smail is right.  And if he is, we have robbed Jesus’ endearing phrase for our Father from an important aspect – that Dad still wears the pants.  That Dad still requires reverence.  Sure, Dad can snuggle and tickle and give piggy-back rides.  But Dad also protects and gives direction that must be heeded.

How is your view of God as Father as this important weekend approaches?

I’m rather excited about something happening in Edmonds.  Churches are coming together to pray for 40 days. In fact, this is reflected in a larger movement across the state in which an estimated 400 churches will be praying!

The prayer emphasis begins on the national day of prayer, May 1, and concludes on Pentecost Sunday, June 8.  To learn more see: http://prayedmonds.org.

This has grown out of pastors in our area spending time together.  We have gotten to know each other a little deeper.  And we have had the desire to do something related to the Kingdom in a concerted effort.  Prayer is that natural touchstone for all of us.

The 40 days will kick off this week with a prayer breakfast held at Westgate Chapel on Thursday, May 1.  All participating churches will have delegates there.  Then throughout the month, there will be events sponsored by each church (up to them what that might be) in which others are invited to join.  The whole thing is rather organic.  We are promoting events with “high participation and low structure.”

In my time as a pastor here in Edmonds, this is the first time churches have done something together.  And this is the first time that I know several pastors at a deeper level and have appreciated our churches similarities and differences.   What joins all of us together is our common bond in Jesus.

For Christians, we are in a period called Lent.  This is a 40-day period prior to Easter when believers prepare their hearts and souls for Easter.

This year, I’m challenging my church to ask a single question, “How is Jesus leading me?”  This is one of the most important questions for Christians because the essence of the Christian life is following and obeying Jesus.  He boldly tells us that he is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6)

This question is often a difficult one to get our arms around.  So there are several other avenues to explore in an attempt to gain clarity on the relational question, “How is Jesus leading me?  The questions and Scriptures to explore how Jesus is leading me are:

• Trust Him with my problems and hurts? (Matt. 11:28-29, 2 Cor. 1:3-4)
• Hear and apply His words? (John 14:23-25,  James 1:22)
• Love others beyond expectation? (John 15:13, Luke 10:27)
• Use all that I am and all that I have for Him? (1 Tim 6:17-19, Rev. 3:17-19)
• Gain His life by surrendering mine? (Matt 16:24-25, John 15:1-8)

Would you take some time in the next month to get alone and ask God to help you answer this important question?  I think it has the potential to radically change Easter this year for all of us!

We watched a documentary last night about the White House.  It was an old National Geographic from 1998.  Clinton was in office during the beginning of his second term when the film was aired.

In the history of the White House, they covered so many interesting tidbits.  For instance, George Washington approved the plans and began the construction but never stayed in the White House.  John Adams (the second US president) was the first president to spend the night there.

The White House is also a new name.  The original name was the Presidential Manor.  Teddy Roosevelt gave in the iconic name “White House” in 1901.

But the part of the story most moving to me was the incredible access that the American people had to the White House.  So much that people actually held Sunday picnics on the White House lawn!  And prior to the security issues of 9/11, thousands visited the White House every day!  In fact, President Bush Sr said that he would take heads of state into the lines of people strolling the White House just to show them what open democracy looks like!

Today, only a handful of people get access to the White House.  People must work through their congressman and of course clear background checks.  The process must begin six months in advance of the visit.

I’m not pointing fingers, but I miss easy and open access years.  I miss the country where we were proud of our heritage and our leaders.  I miss the open country where everything and everyone were not so “hardened.”  I fear we may never return to such an open time when Americans shared life together and worked to support one another.

If there is any redeeming quality to the film, it was the tremendous integrity of the White House staff who love their jobs and serve their country with tremendous sacrifice and little fanfare.

A few weeks ago, I preached from Revelation 5.  This is a poem I wrote about the passage.

From Wailing to Relief
Inspired from Revelation 5

With mourning cries no one is found,
to break that seal upon which all eyes are fixed.
We all are lost outside His course,
the soul undone outside the destiny of its Maker.

Rejoice, Rejoice, Relief has come!

The slain Lamb mirrored in majestic Lion has arrived.
He has the power and right to open that book,
the scroll once bound so tight.

Crescendos of worship pour to that throne,
where the Lamb rightfully leads His own.

Waves of praise from big to small,
the whole earth has found her Source,
of peace and eternal union of rest.

Bill Nye and Ken Hamm

Last night was an interesting debate between Ken Hamm, founder of Answers in Genesis, and Bill Nye, the “science guy” who is a popular TV educator for children.  The debate was held at the Creation Museum in Petersburg, KY. See the full debate here: http://debatelive.org/.  The thematic question for the debate  was, “Is creation a viable model of origins in today’s scientific era?”

I was extremely pleased to see a civil debate!  We need more of this in our society today.  Both authors respected each other.  The crowd was attentive and non-intrusive.  Regardless of where you land on the substance of the debate, we all should celebrate civic discourse in which ideas are compared while people are respected.

The debate really centered on how old the earth is.  I was a bit disappointed that the presenters did not focus more on creation as a viable model.  In other words, Hamm argued that the earth was only 6,000 years old and Nye argued that evidence suggests this cannot be.  I think both presenters missed the central Biblical argument that God is the Creator.  Regardless of how long it took, God created.

I want to especially remind Christians that these questions are not new.  Christians for many years have been asking how our faith fits with modern-day science.  For a scholarly review of three of the key Christian positions, see this excellent book: The Genesis Debate edited by Hagopian.  Solid Christians who love God and follow Christ lay out their positions.

Ken Hamm holds to what is called a “young-earth” framework; he believes the earth is just six-thousand years old.  But many Bible-believing Christians hold to an “old-earth” framework.  They believe in God who created all things, but believe creation happened in stages over thousands or even millions of years.  Both young-earth and old-earth Christians believe that God created “kinds” of plants and animals and that the fossil record does not support the crossing of species (i.e. fish becoming birds).

To complicate things even more, there are some Christians who hold to what is called “Theistic Evolution” believing that “evolution occurred as biologists describe it, but under the direction of God.”

I found this chart by originscience.com which categorizes the differences between the four positions:

• Young-earth creationists
• Old-earth creationists
• Theistic Evolutionists
• Naturalistic Evolutionists

Ken Hamm repeatedly made the point that people can do good science while still believing the Bible and holding to a creation model.  I affirm this.  That is my encouragement to young Christians.  Don’t jettison the faith in the onslaught of attack at today’s universities.  Faith and good science can still meet each other.

But I fear that we settle too quickly for sound-bites.  We wish to simplify things to incredible extremes.  The world does not operate this way.  Science is often deep and complicated (and theology at times too!).  Try explaining to your child how a microwave oven works!  My contention is that Christians must keep their Bibles in one hand and a looking glass into our world in the other.

I would disagree with Hamm that young-earth is the only Christian position.  And I would disagree with Nye that creative design is absent from our world.  And yet I am glad that both of these men were able to take the stage and talk with one another.  It stirred me once again to explore these matters for myself.