I can’t find a Bible school in the country or a seminary  in our nation that enforces (I know it’s not a great word) their students to spend time reading their Bibles.   Here is what is amazing, they will make them read books about the Bible but not the Bible.  They have lost confidence in the Holy Spirit that He can help interpret but we have given ourselves more to the help of men, commentaries, textbooks on exegesis then on hearing the voice of the Spirit. I wonder what the percentage would be if we were to ask every graduate at the commencement and as we are handing them their diplomas to preach….”have you read the Bible through?”

Is that too crazy?
Would we dare?
Has any gown clad doctor ventured in that territory?

Don’t get me wrong, I have over 6,000 books in my library and am grateful for hearing what God has shown men and women around the world and throughout the centuries.  But let’s be honest….do you know of a seminary that is training young ministers and readying our new credentialed pastors to read the Word an hour a day and pray an hour a day?  They have passed homiletics, church history and Greek but they are leaving our schools without a prayer closet.

Show me and please tell me the name of the Seminary that says unless you are praying you cannot graduate.

Am I foolish to want to see this happen?

Why can’t some Bible college president or some seminary executive wake up to the fact that we have students that know their tools better than the treasure.  It would be like taking a gold digger or a diamond hunter and teaching them so much about their tools and their excavating devices that they fall in love with them and forget about the diamonds.
The real diamond is meeting God on your knees.  The real gold is the Bible itself.  It’s not books on the Bible or books on prayer.

No one at any seminary I went to or from the denomination ever asked me “tell me about your prayer life?”  No one ever questioned me whether I have read the ENTIRE Book that I am committing my life to preach.

What I am afraid of is that we are ASSUMING WAY TOO MUCH!
I ask those questions on the road and the answers are not encouraging. In fact, they are downright terrifying.

I was even told by a young preacher that I need to learn to be a communicator and stop being a preacher because those days are gone.

God help us!

I think if our schools don’t wake up to the fact of prayer and the Word that God will start raising up preachers despite them.  They will be uncredentialed, undiploma-ed and ungraduated powerhouses that will shake nations with no association to any person but God.

Or how about asking the question to our next generation pastors…

“Have you led someone to Christ in the last year and discipled them?”

I can’t even go there.
That will be for another time, another place and another blog.

Do I tell my children he is not real?

I could just tell you what we do….

From the very beginning we told our kids there was NO Santa. I know there will be an outrage among parents and put us on the level of the demonic or the fallen angels. We have even had our kids literally unnerve students in their earlier grades telling them “you know there is no Santa.” We have had to tell them to be careful with their conviction of truth.

I tell them all the time, the big red guy is not getting any glory for the hard work mom and dad has put in to get you these presents. I know it’s sounds prideful and like a glory hog, but no bearded guy is getting the glory for what we did.

One year, Anna left cookies and milk by our chimney even though she knew the presents came from us. So I ate the cookies and left a note back signed DAD.

Why is it important to start TRUTH talks with your children at an early age?

I think CS Lewis captures it best.

This is so powerful from CS Lewis on combining the fairy tales of holidays with the real reason why we celebrate that day. Though Lewis is speaking of Easter, you can insert Santa into this piece. Really , really worth reading parents:

“There is a stage in a child’s life at which it cannot separate the religious from the merely festal character of Christmas or Easter. I have been told of a very small and very devout boy who was heard murmuring to himself on Easter morning a poem of his own composition which began ‘Chocolate eggs and Jesus risen.’ This seems to me, for his age, both admirable poetry and admirable piety. But of course the time will soon come when such a child can no longer effortlessly and spontaneously enjoy that unity. He will become able to distinguish the spiritual from the ritual and festal aspect of Easter; chocolate eggs will no longer seem sacramental. And once he has distinguished he must put one or the other first. If he puts the spiritual first he can still taste something of Easter in the chocolate eggs; if he puts the eggs first they will soon be no more than any other sweetmeat. They will have taken on an independent, and therefore a soon withering, life.” ~C. S. Lewis

Just to be clear….I am not telling you to do what Cindy and I did. But I am telling you that the children will hit that moment where , like Lewis said, “when the child can no longer effortlessly and spontaneously enjoy that unity” of having the fairy tale world and the real world be combined.

I want my children (and the parents) to eat chocolate eggs and cookies at the fireplace but celebrating the real reason for the holiday ALL AT THE EXPENSE of the bunny or the big red guy. so tell them the truth and eat the food. Watch Rudolph and Santa Claus is coming to town and take the glory.

We all know that 2 + 2 does not equal 5. In God’s math, a tough situation plus an open door does not always equal a means of escape. Sometimes God’s purposes are fulfilled when we remain in hard circumstances. A “no” from God isn’t necessarily rejection, but is often protection. Our Heavenly Father knows the plans He has for us. He sees the bigger picture. Humble yourself, pray and seek godly counsel before fleeing through the open door.

In 1 Samuel 3, Scripture tells us that Saul got rid of the witches in the land but shortly after invited them back. This is often mirrored in our lives as sin is always trying to find a way back into our lives. We have to understand that we were created to be Christians and we were created to fight for this pure lifestyle. We’re in a battle for our lives. Battles, though, will reveal your character and true love. Once won, the battle isn’t over, but the enemy is always working on a new way to attack. Our hope is any weapon formed against us will not prosper.

ACTS 4:14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

The man that is standing here is the guy from Acts 3 who sat by the gate begging for money for a long time.

When it comes to healing…..
You can argue philosophy, you can argue theology, you can argue viewpoints but you can’t argue a man that was lame since childhood standing there looking at you with this dumbfounded look like “what has just happened?!”.

So when they said in Acts 3:16 “through faith in His name hath made this man strong…”
Which is stronger… your book, standpoint, denominational view point, or the lame guy standing there still looking stunned.
I’m going with the lame guy that is now standing!

Stop declaring I am of Reformed theology
Who is your standing man?
Stop saying “I’m AG and initial physical evidence debates of tongues”
Just produce standing men.
Enough with water baptism formulas , who is standing as a result of your baptism?
Stop already with the ancient early church fathers, and high church ceremony and dogma…..when the relics are put away WHO IS LEFT STANDING?

“THEY” (the religious people) COULD SAY NOTHING
Now the unlearned, ignorant men (4:13) silenced the most educated religious men of the day…..not with an argument but with ONE GUY!

The reason why the religious debate is because we are doing it through study and not through evidence.
WHERE’S THE STANDING MAN?
Your best defense is not your letters or your doctorate but your standing man.

People try to engage me in so many different theological discussions….
Arminianism vs Calvinism
The Reformed position
Wesley vs Whitefield
Initial physical evidence and speaking in tongues

I want my life characterized by STANDING MEN not a denominational label!

Can your group, clique, or denomination…. produce a STANDING MAN?
You can say “walk in Jesus name”…
but it’s a whole other thing , when the LAME MAN IS ACTUALLY WALKING and is standing in your church, pew or audience while you speak.
Now “the name of Jesus” talk is tough to dismiss!

Do you want to know how powerful THAT NAME IS?
This was a middle aged man over 40 (4:22)
And he is not just standing but losing all inhibition and civility for a 40 year old.
He goes from standing to WALKING TO LEAPING TO PRAISING
That is powerful
Does your standing man walk, leap and praise?

That is what I keep asking myself…
Who is standing because of the gospel I preach?

Not me challenging everyone with their accuracy and parsing other’s sermons and using Facebook for me to tout my religious heritage but who is standing, walking, leaping and praising.

So before you criticize a Lewis quote, or decide to use the comment line to share your theological prowess , just pause a moment and ask yourself…..when the dust clears and the books are put down and the typing stops and the furious witch hunts throughout FB to see who is a heretic so you can write something about your Calvinism, ancient past, or bent…..just think….”WHO IS STANDING BECAUSE OF WHAT I BELIEVE.?”
That is a place that I want to start.

That is why I don’t retort back a lot to people who challenge what I post on FB or twitter or on my blog site……I don’t have enough of standing men in my life and ministry.

O Lord… give me an army of standing men that are saved by that great Name!

I have 6000 books in my library…
But I want to have 6000 standing men next to me as a result of this great gospel!

10 Ways to Improve Your Mind by Reading the Classics

6. Educational Entertainment
Reading great books is fun. The key is getting past the initial vocabulary barrier. It’s actually less difficult than you think. Even challenging authors use a limited vocabulary. After the initial learning curve, you’ll find the classics as readable as modern books and infinitely more stimulating. Classics have endured because of entertainment value. There’s a reason filmmakers keep remaking old books — they have the best content.

7. Sophistication
If you’d like to excel in conversation, knowledge of the classics is essential. These are books that keep coming up. They’re a part of human history that isn’t going to disappear in 10 years like 99% of books on the bestsellers list. By reading the classics you gain a deeper appreciation of ideas generally taken for granted. Plus quoting Aristotle or Voltaire is a great way to win an argument.

8. More Efficient Reading
I just finished reading The Road by Cormac MacCarthy. It’s so good that it won the Pulitzer Prize. Afterwards I read the first few chapters of Lolita. I was shocked by Lolita’s superiority. Truly great books don’t come around every year. If you only read contemporary literature, you’re drawing from a diluted pool. Why not make the most of your reading time by finding the best of the best?

9. Develop a Distinct Voice
If you’re a writer/blogger, ignoring the classics is a mistake. This has nothing to do with subject matter. Regardless of what you write about, you need to be persuasive and develop a distinct voice. The best way to learn is from the masters. I’ve seen several articles recommend examples of good writing — they’ve all been other blogs. I have a feeling most people reading this article already read enough blogs. Spending some time with the classics will give you an edge.

10. Learn Timeless Ideas
We like to believe, in our modern arrogance, that technology has changed everything. In truth, it feels the same to be alive today as it did a thousand years ago. The lessons of the classics carry as much weight as ever. They contain information that is directly applicable to your life. Don’t believe me? Try reading Ben Franklin’s Autobiography without learning something. Reading the classics develops an understanding of the human condition and a deeper appreciation of modern problems.

In closing, I’d like to briefly anticipate criticism. This is not an attack on everything modern.

To read nothing but the classics would be as foolish as completely ignoring them. The aim is to combine the wisdom of the past with the innovation of the future. The two are inextricably linked — the best books are yet to be written.
Also, this is not an appeal to snobbery. Quite the opposite. Reading the classics is a cheap hobby. Used copies can be borrowed from the library or purchased for 1/20 the cost of trendy books that are the talk of high society. Please stop associating the classics with your English Lit. Professor.

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Here is the article that I mentioned in my previous post…

I am posting the first 5 of the list of 10… the rest will be in my next post.
take a few moments to read this over, and give me your thoughts.

10 Ways to Improve Your Mind by Reading the Classics

The other day I came across some disturbing statistics on reading. According to a Jenkins Group survey, 42% of college graduates will never read another book.

Since most people read bestsellers printed in the past 10 years, it follows that virtually no one is reading the classics. Although it’s unfortunate that the intellectual heritage of humanity is being forgotten we can use this to our benefit. By reading the classics to improve your mind you can give yourself an advantage. These examples illustrate 10 ways reading the classics will help you succeed.

1. Bigger Vocabulary
When reading the classics you’ll come across many words that are no longer commonly used. Why learn words most people don’t use? To set yourself apart. Having a bigger vocabulary is like having a tool box with more tools. A larger arsenal of words enables you to express yourself more eloquently. You’ll be able to communicate with precision and create a perception of higher intelligence that will give you an advantage in work and social situations.

2. Improved Writing Ability
Reading the classics is the easiest way to improve your writing. While reading you unconsciously absorb the grammar and style of the author. Why not learn from the best? Great authors have a tendency to take over your mind. After reading, I’ve observed that my thoughts begin to mirror the writer’s style. This influence carries over to writing, helping form clear, rhythmic sentences.

3. Improved Speaking Ability
Becoming a better speaker accompanies becoming a better writer because both are caused by becoming a better thinker. Studying works of genius will teach you to express yourself with clarity and style. By improving your command of the English language, you’ll become more persuasive, sound more intelligent, and enjoy an advantage over less articulate people.

4. Fresh Ideas
Isn’t it ironic that the best source for new ideas are writers who’ve been dead for centuries? I’ve derived some of my best ideas directly from the classics. It makes sense when you consider the competition. Everyone you know is reading the same popular blogs and bestselling books. Observing the same ideas as everyone else leads to generic and repetitive thinking. No wonder it’s difficult to sound original! By looking to the classics for inspiration you can enhance your creativity and find fresh subject matter.

5. Historical Perspective
I could argue this point myself, but why bother if Einstein has already done it?
Somebody who reads only newspapers and at best the books of contemporary authors looks to me like an extremely nearsighted person who scorns eyeglasses. He is completely dependent on the prejudices and fashions of his times, since he never gets to see or hear anything else. And what a person thinks on his own without being stimulated by the thoughts and experiences of other people is even in the best case rather paltry and monotonous.
There are only a few enlightened people with a lucid mind and style and with good taste within a century. What has been preserved of their work belongs among the most precious possessions of mankind.
Nothing is more needed than to overcome the modernist’s snobbishness.

Stay tuned for the conclusion in the next post.

“10 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR MIND BY READING THE CLASSICS”

It is perfect!
I couldn’t have said it better as an advocate
of not just of reading but of good reading.

I have been an advocate of “good reading are the older books”
That is a page out of CS Lewis.

Lewis said it this way….
“new books are still on trial…. and the amateur is not in a position to judge it. It has to be tested against the great body of Christian thought down the ages….. the new books are like joining a conversation at 11 that started at 8”

Spurgeon speaks clearly to reading:
“As the apostle says to Timothy, so also he says to every-one, ‘Give yourself to reading.’ … He who will not use the thoughts of other men’s brains proves that he has no brains of his own… You need to read. Renounce as much as you will all light literature, but study as much as possible sound theological works, especially the Puritanic writers, and expositions of the Bible… the best way for you to spend your leisure is to be either reading or praying”
(C.H. Spurgeon )

In my next post, I will share the article that would serve you well to read.
It’s not long, but it has such value that you should take the time and read it.

You will not be known for how many movies you have watched or just because you can quote Godfather lines. I have never read a book about the guy who has rented every movie at Netflix or Itunes. But the great leaders in history were readers.

Or as someone once said “great leaders are readers”

It started to get frustrating as I kept saying…

“a plain cheeseburger with nothing on it”

and they kept saying..

“so no cheese either”.

“No that would then be a hamburger” I responded.

As the dialogue went on my mind went back to one of the ancient fathers who said….

“Be Kind! for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle”

I started to see the person behind the counter as someone
who needs kindness not my frustration.  And then Paul’s words popped in my heart

Col. 4:6
Let your speech always be  with grace,
seasoned, as it were, with  salt….

I realized that in the end, as a Christian, no matter if they put  ketchup and pickles on the hamburger,
the more important issue is that I had salt and grace  on my speech.