Why Do People Think December 21st 2012, Will be the End of the World?

In 2008, 16% of Americans answered yes when asked, “Do you expect any apocalyptic events to happen on December 21st, 2012?”  That’s one out of every eight.  Personally, this would simplify Substance’s Christmas plans as our Christmas services will start blitzing on Dec. 22nd.  And even if you don’t believe this date has any special significance, people are still obsessed with the end of the world right now.  According to the Pew Research Foundation, about one in five Americans believes that Christ will return in the current generation.  And about 20% say earth’s life expectancy is just a couple of decades.

Recently, someone asked me:  Who are these Mayans?  What did they allegedly say? And why should I believe any of it?  Again, many of you may remember my teaching series, Cramming for the End Times;  however, I never really addressed the Mayans.

Keep in mind, the origin of the Mayans is still a bit unknown.  But they occupied the region that is now known as the Yucatan of Mexico, extending down through Guatamala, Honduras, and Belize.  (It’s the same place where you spent that one terrible spring break in Cancun.)

But what made the Mayans unique is that they were obsessive time-keepers – inventing mathematically accurate calendars which are impressive even by modern standards.  I could barely pass college algebra with a calculator; yet, these guys predicted astrological events that were centuries out.  For example, one of the three top calendars they invented is what is called the “Long Count Calendar.”  Over 1200 years ago, they predicted the world would end in fire on December 21st, 2012.

Part of what makes their predictions so fascinating is how precise their math was – and yet we know so little about them.  It almost gives them an aura of supernatural abilities.  For example, the earth wobbles as it turns on it’s axis by about 1 degree every 72 years.  This creates a small circle in the sky called a “precession.”  It takes around 25,800 years to create a “full precession” which coincidentally about the same time as a grand cycle of the Mayan time-keeping system (to finish on the 21st).  Indeed, the Mayan’s figured this out in a way that still stuns a lot of modern astronomers.  And this cycle coincides with a galactic alignment of the sun and the earth with the “galactic equator” that bisects the black hole at the center of the Milky Way – (I realize that was a mouth-full).  But keep in mind, it’s something that only happens once every 26,000 years!

As you’d imagine, there’s a huge number of theories as to what might happen after 11pm on the 21st. Some say there will be a polar shift, or a seriously devastating heavenly phenomenon.  But the vast majority of experts think the Mayan doomsday theories are ridiculous.  If you’re still worried, even NASA made a joint statement to reassure the public. Even Mayan scholar, Anne Pyburn, (an athropologist at Indiana University) says that these theories are “bunk.”  And if you want more thoughts, check out Mark Hitchcock’s book:  “2012: The Bible and the End of the World” (But get it soon because the book wont be worth much in two weeks : )

But I think it’s smart to be thinking about the end of the world.  Even though I don’t buy into the Mayan theories, there are still many Biblical arguments that’ll make the hair on your arms stand up.

Once again, last Fall, I preached an entire sermon series that approaches the end of the world from a Biblical standpoint (called Cramming for the End Times).  You’ll notice that I actually shared the three main theological approaches to it with the hopes that you will decide for yourself.  In part four I also did a short film on the time I actually tried to live as though I had 7 days to live.  Hopefully it’ll be thought provoking for you.

But one thing Jesus made clear about the end-times:  “See to it that no one misleads you” (Mt. 24:4).  I.e., There are a lot of clever sounding arguments about the end of the world. And keep in mind, he also said, “No one knows the day or hour when these things will happen” (Mt. 24:36).  Keep in mind, God did this on purpose so that we would live prepared.

If it doesn’t happen, make sure to come to our Christmas services. They will be earth-shattering… (sorry, bad word choice).  And after reserving your tickets [here], make sure to invite friends.  (We’ve been working on this plan since Spring.)

And if the world ends : )  those of us who are believers will be having an even better Christmas service in heaven (and you kind of need to reserve tickets for that one too : )  But, as always, keep your heart in the right place.  After all, Christ IS returning.  And when he comes, I want to be ready.

December 6, 2012 /  

Are You a Social Media Puker? — How to Lead your Facebook to Christ

One of the strange phenomenon’s of this generation is the rise of social media. If a celebrity eats a hamburger, we need infinite updates on how it tasted and went down.  Social media has also led to a refreshing amount of social accountability; but, it’s also led to an era of cyber bullying and hyper-critique. In many ways, the world is reeling under its new-found power. And that’s exactly why Christians need to develop a more sophisticated theology of social media.

And I’m the first person to admit that I’ve made mistakes. I have more platforms to voice my opinion than ever before — from blogs, to twitter, to facebook, — not to mention millions of other websites begging for my feedback.

Recently, I tweeted a joke that was questionable.  When I saw it show up on my timeline a few hours later, I was immediately struck with a convicting question from the Holy Spirit:  “Did that really represent me well?”  The truth was: I was an idiot.  Ephesians 4:29 bids me to “say only what is helpful for building others up.”

So after deleting the post with regret, I was reminded of Proverbs 10:19  “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.”  And when you think about the scary amount of words we post each day, it really makes me pause.

For guys like me who make a living by sharing my thoughts, this is a scary truth.  And it doesn’t exactly help that I like to mix edgy comedy with ministry.  People naturally give comedians a bit more leeway than pastors – so many Christians don’t know what to do with me.  (“Do I write him a letter? Or do I laugh?”) And when we live in an era of hyper-accountability and critique, it’s becoming a painful time to be a leader in any arena.

But it’s also true that I’m a total idiot on a lot of subjects.  And as a good friend, I lovingly remind you that YOU are too!  (And if we were face-to-face, I’d be giving you a big sympathetic look right now while breathing-in-deeply through wide nostrils).

You see, social media is constantly tempting us to extrovert our inner opinions.  However, we fail to realize that, just because we can comment/tweet/post/blog doesn’t mean we should.  Some of us have an acute case of verbal diarrhea that afflicts us every time we see a mobile phone or computer.

But keep in mind: if you’re a Christian, you don’t have the right to simply share whatever you want anymore; after all, “You are not your own.  You were bought with a price” (1 Cor. 6:19-20).  We are now ambassadors of Christ (Gal. 2:20).  And when we surrender our lives to Christ, every little tweet surrenders too!  Or I could put it this way: It’s time to let your Facebook page get saved.

Besides, there’s nothing worse than watching a bunch of people puke 38 political comments down a Facebook post (as if they’re actually influencing each other or exemplifying the God of joy and peace).  Don’t get me wrong:  It’s totally O.K. to have strong opinions about politics and theology.  But allow me to raise the bar when it comes to social media by giving 4 Suggestions.  Or to put this another way: Think of these Bible inspired suggestions as Imodium AD for our verbal diarrhea. (And I learned these after having many accidents : )

Tip # (1). Avoid Confrontations through Writing:  As a general rule, I encourage people to avoid communicating on emotional topics through writing.  Don’t get me wrong: It’s O.K. to journal your thoughts for the purpose of clarity.  But very few of us are good enough to confront through writing. And here’s why:

Scholars say that 64-92% of all communication is non-verbal.  It’s vocal tones, eye-brows, and body-language that speak volumes.  When you’re looking a person in the face, it often changes the way we talk.  It gives us instant feedback to know if our message is too hard or soft.  It also helps people see the love that is driving our confrontation.  And if love isn’t your motive… then you probably shouldn’t be saying anything. (Once again: sympathetic look / flared nostrils).

In my experience, written critiques are usually interpreted in the most hostile way imaginable.  And although you didn’t use LARGE CAPS to make your point, most people will tend to read critiques as though you did!!!!!!!!!

I’m embarrassed to say that, at one time, I used to write all sorts of long confrontation letters as if I was the modern embodiment of the Apostle Paul.  And if that was you… I’m soooooo sorry! (a single tear is falling from my left eye as I look off wistfully).  And after receiving hundreds of such letters confronting me, God changed my mind about letters.

Besides, people spend way too much time spewing and stewing over false assumptions when it comes to letters.  That’s partly why the Bible commands us to communicate quickly when we’re frustrated with people (Mt.5:24; Heb.12:14-15).

But I am convinced true love will always prefer face to face when possible.  And even when time or distance is unavoidable, a loving person will, at least, “believe the best” until a more functional form of communication can be used (1 Cor. 13:2-5).

Tip #(2) Don’t Confront People You Don’t Know.

In my book Pharisectomy, I talk about how our bodies are actually designed to reject truth from people we don’t know. On issues of deep significance, it’s incredibly rare that any of us will allow a virtual stranger to influence us.  So why even bother to throw out snarky posts on Facebook?  Your flesh may feel good; but, 9 times out of 10, it will only reinforce their opposing opinion (true or not).

Tip #(3).  If you Must Confront, it’s UnBiblical to Start Out in a Public Forum.

If you haven’t figured it out: Facebook and Twitter is the new version of the Jerry Springer Show. You now have the ability to embarrass yourself 24 hours a day without Jerry Springer present. But if you’re a believer and you have something to say to someone, the Bible is super clear. (A). It must be done “gently” and with humility (Gal.6:1-5).  (B). You need to go to the source of the problem first before you involve others (Mt. 18:15) – while assuming the best (1 Cor. 13:7).  Only after all of this has been exhausted should a person involve others (Mt. 18:16) and finally (C). “go public” with the grievance (v.17).  Even then, the audience shouldn’t be a non-Christian audience (1 Cor.6:1).  Besides “wisdom from heaven” (as opposed to hell) is “peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17).

There was one occasion where I couldn’t resist posting my opinion on Facebook.  But after doing so, I had a sad revelation:  I had virtually killed my ability to influence that person.  I may be right… but I was “dead-right.”  I might as well have used Jerry Springer’s platform to rip them to shreds.  But, in a sick world that feeds off of public spectacles, wouldn’t it be refreshing to start a radical new trend of going straight to the person?

Tip #(4). Clothe yourselves with Humility:

Over the last 20 years, it’s amazing how many times I’ve changed my opinions.  I’ve converted to & from Calvinism a dozen times (My poor church in Wisconsin was so confused).  And politically, I’ve been the same way.

For example, up until a year ago, I knew virtually nothing about the Marriage Amendment up for ballot in Minnesota this Fall. At first I thought, “Great! Here’s a perfect opportunity for Christians to look stupid trying to legislate morality.”  But as I dug deeper, many of the amendment advocates weren’t even Christians.  They were sociologists and experts on child-rights.  Ironically, I even met a lesbian who was passionately going to “vote Yes” in favor of an amendment to define marriage as between a man and a women. When I asked her why, she said: “1st off, I’m not going to throw child-rights under the bus for ‘adult wants’ — even if it’s MY wants.  And 2ndly, this has huge implications on 1st Amendment rights and religious speech.  And if Minnesota becomes the first state in U.S. history to sue people for their beliefs instead of behaviors, then we ALL lose!”

At first I was stunned.  I was like, “What?  Child rights? …First Amendment?! State rights?”  Honestly, I had no clue how this amendment had anything to do with protecting those things.  Of course, the thought never occurred to me that MAYBE there’s actually valid intellectual reasons why 31 out of 31 states have voted in favor of marriage amendments. But here’s the point (before some of you get all riled up with your opinions : )

In the end, I realized, I didn’t even know the beginning of this issue.  And I STILL might be completely uninformed.  I’ve been wrong so many times on so many issues that, just maybe, I might be wrong again : )  But I’m certainly not going to learn anything if I’m ripping on all the people that God is sending to enlighten me. We can’t antagonize & influence at the same time – nor can we be antagonized and be influenced at the same time.  So, posting snarky facebook posts is tantamount to eating an ignorance pill.

That’s why the Apostle Paul tells us to “Clothe yourselves with humility” (Col. 3:12).  And “Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony” (3:14).

This doesn’t mean we will always agree.  But it does mean that, even when we don’t agree, we can still walk away with a basic sense of respect and human dignity.  That’s why, if you follow these four tips, you’ll finally get sick of that dirty Facebook feeling? And especially during an election year, a time when people lose track of dignity and truth, doesn’t that sound appealing?

October 13, 2012 / 1 Comment /  1

“Must Read” Books for Parents: Fun, Practical, & for Various Ages

Carolyn HaasThe last couple weeks I’ve been hitting many of the top statistical predictors of healthy kids and marriages.  And in case you missed a few weeks, you parents will especially want to hear the research from week 3!   (click here to see videos).  But my wife and I want to give you some more information that you can explore on your own.

Of course, if you know my wife at all, you’d know that she’s obsessive about being a great parent.  In fact, I call her the “Mommy-ologist” because she’s always got at least 2 parenting books on her at any given moment.  (I’m not kidding.  It’s almost ridiculous).  In fact, I don’t think we’ve gone on a vacation in ten years where she wasn’t reading another parenting book.  So, when it comes to parenting advice, what are the books that stand out amidst the clutter?  Below, my lovely lady, (a.k.a., “Dr. Mom”) gives us a few of her favorites – and why!

“As many of you know, Peter & I were already senior pastoring a church of middle aged families before we had any kids.  So, as you would imagine, our first child was quite the ordeal.  (She was the church baby).  For better and for worse, all eyes were on us as we entered this new adventure of parenthood.  Too add pressure, our firstborn was off-the-charts “spirited”  (it’s the nice way of saying ‘obnoxiously strong-willed’).  In fact, the expert that made this assessment even recommended that I find a support group!  But, don’t worry: everything worked out fine.  In fact, all of those humbling parenting moments caused me to seek out all the books, mentors, and wisdom I could find.  Unfortunately, many parents don’t do this until it’s too late.

Obviously, the Bible is the ultimate source of wisdom (Jer 33:3,  Jms 1:5, Psm 32:8); so, don’t forget this when you read my list below.  Also, contrary to folk-wisdom, good parenting is NOT an innate skill.  If anything, we all have a fantastic ability to screw up our kids.  That’s why we need to treat parenting as a skill that needs constant sharpening.  Isolating yourself from advice is one of the worst things you could do (as irritating as opinions can be).  But, if you have the right mentors and parenting books, God can make parenting a joy – which is how it should be.  So out of my journey of seeking wisdom over the last decade, here are a few of my favorite parenting books!

Of course, there are hundreds of “good” books.  Naturally, it’s hard to narrow things down to a top 4 or 5.  But, I tried to pick books that are fun, practical, and easy to read.  Thus, my truest test:  Which books do I tend to recommend the most?  Well, here’s a few you should read (In no Particular Order).

(1).  Clueless:  10 things I wish I knew about motherhood before becoming a mom.  by Kerri Weems.  (www.kerriweems.com) This is a MUST read for every mom.  I just finished it this week and LOVE LOVE LOVE it!  She says everything I would want to say about the process and journey of motherhood:  from the myths, to the expectations, to the fears, emotions and joys.  It’s brilliantly written and fun to read.  This book is going to the TOP of my list of parenting books for we all know “if mama ain’t happy, nobody is happy!”

(2). Creative Correction, by Lisa Welchel.      This is the most life-giving parenting book I’ve ever read!  If you have a toddler or older, this is a MUST READ.  It is well written, funny and filled with scriptures.  (In fact, when you read it, you’re actually encouraged rather than overwhelmed… which, sad to say, is a common occurrence with many books.)  But, Creative Correction is full of tools & tips for every age & season your kids go through.  So just buy it:  You’ll want to read it over and over as your children grow.

(3). Nurture by Nature, Understanding Your Child’s Personality Type – and Become a Better Parent,  by Paul D. Tieger & Barbara Barron-Tieger   Details:  For help with kids of all ages.     Most parent / child conflict is due to personality conflict.  So this book gives you fascinating insights into your kid’s incredibly specific personality type (one of 16!)  This book will eerily describe each of your kids (from toddler to teenager) and how you can best parent them in each season.

(4).  Seven Habits of Happy Kids & 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens (by Sean Covey) Details:  These are two different books… (each designed for the appropriate age).    These are great tools for teaching the principals of the “7 Habits” to your children and teens.  The children’s book version has great illustrations that teach children to be proactive, to begin with the end in mind etc… and the book for teens has incredible illustrations and homework assignments that make it a must read for EVERY teen.  (Note:  I will be personally forcing my kids to go through this book over and over again!)

(5) Revolutionary Parenting, by George Barna – Details:  A perfect book to educate parents on statistical causes of success. It’s more of a “big picture” type book (no matter what age your kids are).  Barna surveyed over 10,000 young adults who are thriving in their faith and life.   He then interviewed their parents and came up with some incredible insights on what we can do as parents to be intentional in our parenting.  So get ready to produce spiritual champions!

(6) Boundaries with Kids, by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend   – Details:  For penetrating insights about kids of all ages.    This book does a great job outlining the building blocks that create healthy adults.  But get ready, you’re going to learn a lot about yourself when you read this.  It’s hard to see the strengths and weaknesses of your own upbringing until you’ve read a book like this.  Again, this is a must-read.

But here’s the bottom line:  The average parent only spends 15 minutes a day interacting with their kids.  And no matter how smart you are, this type of apathy will never produce healthy results.  For some of us, this means we need to take a serious look at how much we work (or perhaps a deeper question, how much do we really need?)  But if you’re willing to educate yourself — and if you’re willing to put in a little time –  your children will be a treasure both to you and to the kingdom of God.

September 26, 2012 /  

Substance is in the news and on Television. Join in!

As usual, I like to keep my friends and fam in the loop about some cool press and promo coming forth!  First off, for those wondering about my book release for Pharisectomy: Don’t fret! It’s coming!  I literally sold out of my advance reader copies (that were only for pastors, etc.)  And I’m awaiting my second run.  I literally only posses a single copy of my own book. Keep in mind, the book doesn’t officially launch until Fall; but for my friends & family, I’ll definitely make it available WAY earlier (mid-summer? …i.e., a few weeks away!). But,stay connected to my blog & Pharisectomy.com site for ordering.  I’ll also have it available at all our campuses.

Secondly, many of you saw the cool promo for Substance in a recent Star Tribune article.  But in case you didn’t, here’s the link!  You all are so photogenic!

Last but not least, this Tuesday, I’m going to be on the tv show “Life Today” with James and Betty Robison.  So, for all my peeps in the Dallas/Ft.Worth area, you all are formally invited to attend! (I need people to hoot and hollar.)  So here’s the nitty-gritty:  Show will start Tuesday, May 29th at 7pm. To receive your free tickets, email:  audience@lifetoday.org  or call (817)354-3655. (Studios are located at 1801 West Euless Boulevard, Euless, Texas).  And for those at Substance, I’ll let you know when it goes on-air.

P.s., There’s another Star Trib article dropping soon about our good friends at the Table Project.  You all were so good looking in the last article, I thought that they’d want a few poses of you logged-in.  (Perhaps we should start a modeling agency?)  So, in the meantime, keep working on your “worship-poses.”  The spotlight is ON!

May 22, 2012 /  

What about Fake Miracles and Urban Legends?

If you’ve heard me preach, you’ll know that I love to share modern miracle stories.  I’m kind of a skeptic at heart; yet, I’ve seen some undeniable miracles over the years.  This tension between faith and skepticism is a pretty common one – especially in a day and age when urban legends can be created over-night on the internet.  So let’s talk about this.

Keep in mind:  the very foundation of Biblical Christianity is built upon a miracle.  And God constantly used them to influence people to consider the scriptures.  For example, in John 9, Jesus famously works up a holy loogie, combines it with a little mud, and applies it liberally to a blind man’s eyes to yield healing (v. 6).  Putting aside obvious questions about the surprising healing qualities of a saliva-mud salve, this case is pretty interesting.  Keep in mind, Jesus performed this miracle in front of a community that was hostile to the notion that He could do so.  The Pharisees had branded Jesus a sinner (v. 16) and thus their assumptions about reality hindered their ability to accept the supernatural storm brooding right in front of them.  I like this story for two reasons: First off, Jesus challenges our culture’s mistrust of bodily fluids… (Besides… I think I might have a spitting ministry myself). But secondly, this miracle forces us to consider that God can do things that are contrary to the natural course of science.

Recently, on Easter Sunday I shared a series of modern miracle stories – people who’ve claimed to have encountered Christ and his healing power.   One dramatic story (which came from Egypt) got quite a response from some of our attendees.  It reads as follows:

“An Egyptian Muslim murdered his wife, then buried his 8-year-old daughter and baby,” reports a Californian ministry. The man claimed that an uncle had killed the children. 15 days later, another family member died. When the family buried the deceased, they found the two girls – still alive! When asked how they survived, the 8-year-old girl answered “A man in shining white clothes, with bleeding wounds in his hands, brought us food every day. He even revived our mother to breast-feed my sister.” In an interview with a Muslim journalist on Egyptian national television, she said “It was no one other than Jesus, because nobody else could have done anything like that!” The crime caused a national outcry, with many demanding the death sentence for the father. “It seems clear, though, that the child did not invent the story, and they could not have survived without a miracle,” says the source.

Afterwards, a number of parishioners understandably googled this event and responded with skepticism. After all, there are several websites that discredit the event as a lie.  As the skeptical sites argue, “if this was a nationally aired newscast there should be some pretty substantial evidence.”

To their point, you won’t find a transcript on-line or a video of the interview on youtube.   And for web-sites dedicated to disproving miracles, this is enough to label the story a sure fraud.  Of course, the discrediting site never bothered to mentioned the fact that the story was run in a nation openly and often violently hostile toward Christianity before and after the Egyptian revolution.  More than this, Egyptian media is aggressively controlled.  The Egyptian State runs much of the media directly and heavily sensors independent outlets. This is why the use of free-flowing information via twitter and facebook played such a major role in President Hosni Mubarak’s recent overthrow.  Contemporary Egyptian media is tightly controlled by threats and outright punishment.  Just today, Reuters reports that the Arab world’s most famous comedian, Adel Imam, is facing a 3 month prison sentence for “Insulting Islam.”[1]   Beyond the media climate, self proclaimed Christians in Egypt make up only about 10% of the population.   By in-large they are lower on the socio-economic totem pole.  As such, it is doubtful they would even have the means to record a news station much less post it online (especially in 2004 when the story broke).  And as we have seen, no media outlet will have an incentive to propagate a story that does not expressly support Islamic thought.

Yet, because of people’s concerns about the story, I had my staff contact the California based ministry and the Pastor and his wife who reported the story.  The ministry is a reputable group known to do evangelism in dangerous areas.  The Pastor linked to this story’s name is Victor Khalil.  He and some of the Substance staff have had correspondence about the story.  Rev. Khalil was born in Egypt and moved to the United States more than 40 years ago.  He received his PhD in the United States and is involved in several ministries in the Arab world.  Rev. Khalil now desires desperately to reach the land of his birth with the message of spiritual liberation through Christ.  Much of the reporting his ministry puts out has nothing to do with miracles, but rather socio-political realities that shape the lives of millions of people in some of the most politically oppressive places in the world.  Rev. Khalil and his wife affirm that they personally spoke with people who watched the newscast, and one family sent a write-up about it as soon as it aired.  Victor is hesitant to share names because of the volatility of the area, but he stands by the story.

Of course, it’s possible that Dr. Khalil could be a liar.  Many liars do, in fact, exist; and, as such, false miracles stories abound.  But given the context, a lack of media transcript or footage does not disprove the event as websites claim.  Small changes over time to the story do not suggest false pretense either.  I have personally heard stories change about legitimate miracles that I have seen.  Anyone who has played a game of phone knows the humans are fallible at best in their story telling.  At the end of the day, with this story, as with so many, we must decide simply whether we accept the possibility of miracles.  If so, accounts from reasonable people should be taken seriously.

I won’t draw this out, but interestingly enough, on the same day I preached that sermon, a leader in our prayer ministry felt that God told him to pray for his mother in-law.  She had been diagnosed with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) a year and a half ago.  After that diagnosis, doctors recommended she have an oxygen tank with her everywhere to help her breathe.  She hated taking oxygen with her so wore it at night only, functioning during the day with chronic shortness of breath. Two weeks before Easter it had gotten as bad as it’s been and she could barely make it 20 yards.  She needed Oxygen during the day and struggled to do every-day affairs.  She rarely went to church, but her family insisted she make an exception for Easter.  That morning she reports that she had such shortness of breath she could hardly dress or make it through the foyer into the sanctuary.  After the service she received prayer, felt something pushing her down and was completely emotionally overwhelmed.  She values the stoicism typical of the Greatest Generation, but when she recounts that day tears come to her eyes and her voice breaks.  After prayer, she could walk freely back to the car.  Today, in her words when asked about the event she says, “what more can I say, I can breathe.”  Since her healing encounter, she’s been enjoying increased strength, freedom and breathing capacity, and there are times when she feels she’s regained everything she felt she lost a year and a half ago.

The story of this family is ongoing.  She has not yet gone to the doctor for a follow-up visit to confirm a diagnosis, but she is confident in her heart that her life is changed and she can still feel the presence of the healing.  As in the case with Jesus’ miracle in John 9, when looking at this sort of story, it matters more what our presuppositions are about the reality of God working supernaturally than the never-ending sleuthing for data.  In the case of our prayer leader, I know the family well.  I’ve seen the results from before and after.  But even in THIS firsthand story, I am relying predominantly on testimony!  If we believe that God is actively moving in unpredictable and often seemingly unacceptable ways, eye witness reports from a largely repressed world may be all the credibility we need, and indeed all that we could expect given the context.

Now I want to be very clear here.   I believe healthy skepticism is good and a lot of time we as Christians could use more of it.  I myself am a skeptic.  Most of my sermons involve statistics, studies, and the latest research on any given topic.  But when speaking about the very personal, very active power of God moving to transform one’s outer and inner self, sometimes we cannot expect more than the testimony, “I was blind and now I see” (John 9.25).

May 14, 2012 /  

Ahh, Mentoring You Seek? – Practical Advice for Spiritual Padawans

Almost every month, people come up to me and ask the common question:  “What do I need to do to find a mentor?”  As I look back at many of the successes in my life, it’s become clear that most of them were due to great mentors.

Many of you have recently heard me teach on mentoring in the second week of our series, Search.  [Click here to View].  But, there were a few other things that are essential for finding mentors.

Recently, my 6 year old son has been obsessed with pretending to be Yoda from Star Wars. (He was Yoda this last Halloween). In fact, my son will literally go weeks without responding to his real name – (which get’s awkward when you’re forced to call him Yoda in public).  But naturally I’ve been forced to play the role of Luke Skywalker — seeking the advice of Yoda for everything I do.  But, the reason I bring up Yoda is because… many people seem to have a “Yoda Mentality” when it comes to mentoring… the idea that there’s only ONE person who can train you in the way of the force… a mentor who will ride on your back… go camping with you…and give you pearls of wisdom whenever you face your Darth Vader.  But real-life mentoring works much differently.

Some times, the people we want to mentor us are a bit out of our league.  As a young pastor, I remember being snubbed by a well-known pastor when I reached out for help.  Truth was, he didn’t actually snub me.  I was clearly  oversensitive.  And looking back, I was like a 4th grade math student who thought I needed a Physicist to help me with my problem.  In the same way, many people get their emotions tangled up in a weird concept of mentoring.  That’s why, below, I listed a few things to keep in mind.  More specifically,  I give advice for three phases of mentoring:  Before, During and After finding a mentor.

Before the First Meeting:

  •  – Don’t be looking for a singular Mom/Dad figure who will rub your back and snuggle you throughout all your problems.  If a person like this exists, great.  But instead, think of yourself as assembling a team of mentoring specialists – not a singular person like Yoda.  Besides, we need mentors for a variety of topics (financial, marital, parenting, etc.).  Also, don’t expect a mentor to fill the gaps if what you really need is professional help (aka., a professional counselor, lawyer or financial advisor.)
  • – Outline exactly what do you want out of this mentoring relationship: What do you need to be mentored in?  Professional mentor? Marriage, Prayer-mentor, or are you looking for a sponsor (as in Alcoholics Anonymous.)  The topic may require varying levels of commitment.  This needs to be clear up front.
  • – Save up money and/or margin in your time to be mentored (in case you need to travel for it… or will need to pay for access; e.g., conferences, coaching groups, etc.)
  • – Start mentoring someone else:  (You reap what you sow)
  • – Answer the following 3 Questions:

(1).  What is your dilemma? – Outline the specific areas you want to be mentored in?

(2).  Who has successfully navigated your dilemma?

(3).  What am I doing to get around this person to serve them?

Once you Meet:

  • – Don’t gush about how you want them to be your mentor:  You wouldn’t scream, “Let’s get married and have children together” on your first date, would you?  (I say this because, some of you would : ).  So take it slowly.  You don’t blow into a good mentoring relationship, you grow into it.  Start with a low-commitment coffee appointment.  If there’s chemistry, build from there.
  • – If you’re meeting with a busy person, cut to the chase and be specific about what you’re wanting advice on.  Not everyone is looking to forge deep new relationships.  (& inevitably, you’ll need mentoring from people like this). Thus, railing on about your life-story can be off-putting.  You might object, “but if a mentor doesn’t have interest in knowing me, then, why should I want them to be my mentor.”  And my response is simple: Most mentors worth having are usually too busy to mentor.  If you’re looking for someone to twiddle your thumbs with, then yes: Pick any old person who wants to listen to your sob stories.  But if you want your life to be like an “arrow in the hands of a mighty warrior” then you have to earn the right to be mentored.  If you want a mighty warrior to do this for free, then you probably have some pride or entitlement issues you need to deal with.  Many people look for mentoring to fulfill mother/father wounds.  And yes, there are some mentors who specialize in that.  But as any good mother or father knows, to have a healthy child, rule number one is this:  the home cannot revolve around them.  So get thick skin.  Respect their time & listen intently.

 

 If you Both have Chemistry and Desire for a Deeper Relationship:

  • – Learn how to Initiate: You are responsible to initiate with your Mentor.  And the meeting times and spaces should be the burden of the one seeking mentoring. Indeed, good mentors usually set up intentional hurdles to guarantee that a person is willing to put effort into the relationship.  If a person can’t handle initiating meetings or meeting at times that are convenient for the mentor, then they are generally a person who won’t apply the advice given anyway.  So if you value your mentor’s time, you are responsible for this.
  • – Go over the following 4 Questions with Mentor:

What’s going well in your life?

What’s going badly in your life?

What do you feel is missing in your life?

What’s confusing right now?

 

April 30, 2012 /  

Crazy Research on How to Fall Back in Love (Or stop hating someone)

The Bible says that the “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Prov. 18:21).  Interestingly, certain studies have proved this to be true when it comes to love and romance.

In the October 2011 issue of the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Behavior Processes, it explained a fascinating phenomenon regarding human emotions.  The small act of saying “I like you” actually causes human beings to increase their affection towards a person.  To be statistically precise, test subjects were 17% more likely to declare a person as likeable if, on an earlier occasion, they were forced to make the declaration over a specific person.

The study used some clever techniques to arrive at this scientific conclusion (the details of which are a bit too boring for here); but, it suffices to say that a mere declaration of affection has a subtle but substantial affect on the speaker’s emotions.

Quite often, it’s easy for long-term friends or marriage partners to speak disparagingly about their significant others. And although some of us might deserve it, research shows that it may do some damage in the person speaking it forth.

Should the research surprise us?  Not if we hold to the Bible’s advice. James 3 teaches that our tongues are like the rudder of a ship (vs.4).  It’s small but it gives direction to everything else.  Or, when God spoke in Genesis 1, it created things that didn’t previously exist.  Similarly, Jesus taught that our faith proclamations have a dramatic affect on reality (see Mk 11:14 as an example).

I’m not saying that you should state bald-face lies: “Sure, your butt looks great in those jeans!” (although this is always true when it comes to my wife).  But it’s a scientific fact that our emotions tend to follow our declarations – even when it’s not exactly logical to feel a certain way.

So the next time you see your spouse, (or someone who irritates you), give ’em a loud and proud: “I…LIKE…YOU!” (and when you do it, try to avoid being sarcastic). Hopefully, if it’s your spouse, you’ll say something with deeper commitment.  But chances are your emotions will soon get in sync with your declaration.

I’m sure that some of you are thinking: “It’s gonna take more than that to start liking [so & so].”  And perhaps there’s a little forgiveness that needs to happen first. But God has a fancy way of giving us an emotional makeover when we’re willing to cooperate.

So whether we’re talking about the bad driver in front of us or the coworker across the hall, lets get our mouths in sync with God’s heart.  It just might be the boost that keeps God’s life flowing out of us into a dying world.

February 27, 2012 /  

How to Get Ahead Financially despite the Economy

Financial Peace University Starting

At Substance, we’re constantly thinking of ways to empower people to experience success.  And we have a crazy ministry launching at our Operating Center this coming week called Financial Peace University (FPU).

Of course, our goal as Christians isn’t to store up treasure on earth.  Some people believe in a “prosperity gospel” which is basically an excuse to live a self-centered American life that sugar-coated in Christianity.  However, the Bible teaches that if we can be a conduit of life to those in need (emotionally and financially) only then can we experience God’s best (Prov. 11:25-26).  And that’s really our heart behind these amazing and fun financial classes at Substance.

One of the biggest misconceptions about the FPU class is that you have to be poor, broke or financially crushed to consider attending.  Of course, that’s not the case at all.  Some of you might be unemployed or underemployed and at the end of your rope with interest rates and debt collectors; yet others of you might earn a HUGE income and can afford to maintain a debt load.  But here’s the deal:  Just because someone can maintain a huge debt load doesn’t mean that they aren’t living outside of their means.  (Can we all agree that our country and our government has struggled with financial management?)  We’ve been bombarded with partisan politics about our National Debt, extending credit limits, downgrades in credit ratings, and the government shutdown.

This isn’t just a government problem; our society has followed the government’s lead.  Did you know that within the first 7 years of marriage the typical newly married couple attempts to obtain the same standard of living as their parents, when it took their parents 30 or more years to obtain their standard of living?  We’re all pushed by society to “keep up with the Joneses,” as if our society has forgotten how to save up to buy things, having been caught up in the idea that happiness comes from “stuff”.  In fact, check out these statistics:

  • The average credit card debt per household with credit card debt is $15,799.00!
  • There are 609.8 million credit cards held by U.S. consumers.
  • ·The average number of credit cards held by cardholders is 3.5.
  • ·The average APR on a new credit card offer is 14.89 percent.
  • ·The average APR on a credit card with a balance on it is 13.10 percent.
  • ·The total U.S. revolving debt (98 percent of which is made up of credit card debt) is $793.1 billion, as of May 2011.
  • ·The total U.S. consumer debt is $2.43 trillion, as of May 2011.

If we aren’t intentional about managing our finances, no matter where we are in our finances, we build financial pressure, increase our stress, and decrease the margin in our lives for doing things like ministry, and building community with close Christian friends.

Do you realize that about 40 to 50 percent of married couples in the U.S. end up in divorce – and one of the leading causes of divorce is financial stress?   Remember, it’s not how much you make, it’s how much you spend.  Financial pressure and stress will steal your joy and your margin in life whether you are broke or earning a significant income.  FPU is as much about managing your life, happiness, finances and spending habits once you are out of debt, as it is about getting your life in order and climbing out of debt.

So if you sign up, here’s what you’ll learn:  You’ll learn how to beat debt, build wealth, find bargains, invest for the future, give like never before, and much more!  Seriously:  It’ll change your life.  You can check out the full lesson plan here: http://www.daveramsey.com/fpu/preview/.

And in case you’re wondering if it works:  More than one million families nationwide have attended Financial Peace University with amazing results.  On average, these families paid off $5,300 in debt and saved $2,700 in just the first 90 days.  That’s crazy!  In end, we could do so much more for our families, community and for the kingdom if we could get our financial house in order and stop worrying about money.

Classes start at the OC on October 4 at 7pm.  Pre-registration for FPU is required, so check out the Substance Magazine or http://www.substancechurch.com/ministries/subgroups for more details on how to sign up.

I love you guys.  We have limited slots so start your journey to Financial Peace today!

September 27, 2011 / No Comments /  

Is the Rapture Coming this Saturday?

Mt.of Olives - Where Christ will Return (but not rapture : )

When Rob Bell’s Love Wins hit the shelves, I thought that there would never be an end to the questions:  “Pastor, what do you think?  What are your thoughts?” (And by the way, if you really want to know my thoughts on hell, check out the four-part series: “Hell, Fuzzy bunnies and Brimstone” from Easter 2010).  But finally, (and thankfully) another topic has eclipsed this… specifically, the rapture that’s supposedly coming this Saturday!

If you haven’t heard, there are thousands of people who are prepping for the Rapture to happen this Saturday.  Yes.  Tomorrow.  Harold Camping has been announcing for months that the rapture is happening on May 21st and the end of the world on Oct 21st.  Keep in mind, Camping says all sorts of crazy stuff that is both ridiculous and unsubstantiated in scripture.  He also got it wrong the last time he did this regarding Sept. 6th, 1994; yet, you just never know.  I mean, why not Saturday? (In fact, I told Pastor Mark Mellen that, if it happens, he can have my iPad for preaching at Substance : )  …(Sorry Mark!  I couldn’t resist.)

But seriously:  I realize that many of our people at Substance don’t know anything about Eschatology (the study of the end-times).  So, I thought I’d give you a quick “End-Times-For-Dummies” summary of all the diverse interpretations of scriptures (not that any of you are dummies).  In some ways, people keep asking me for this – as if they’re cramming for a test this Saturday.  So, to satisfy everyone’s End-times fervor, here’s a short and grotesque oversimplification of the three major theological schools – each of which have an extremely different interpretation of end-times scriptures:

(1). Pre-millennialism, is the most popular right now – thanks to the “Left Behind” series.  It’s the oldest interpretation from a historical standpoint.  And it’s the only one that talks of “raptures” and tribulations.  In short:  It’s the “World is getting worse & worse” Interpretation.  And right near the worst part (the tribulation) God is going to “rapture” his faithful followers into the sky (either before the tribulation, during, or after)… and the only one left will be… Kirk Cameron!?  After this Seven-year Tribulation, it gets a bit confusing because:  Christ returns again (& this time it’s the official “Second Coming”) in which he re-establishes a 1000 year utopian reign.  And then, Satan gets released again. (I realize it sounds redundant).  But after Satan’s second little rebellion gets crushed, then the judgement happens and eternity ensues. (And Keep in mind:  I’m not making fun of this complexity… I’m just trying to keep it light-hearted).

(2). A-millennialism, has been the most popular since 200 A.D. up through the 1800’s.  Although I’m oversimplifying — it’s a pretty simple and linear concept – especially compared to Pre-millennialism.  There are no dramatic raptures.  There are no complexities with Israel or temporary utopian “reigns with Christ” (most of which come out of Pre-millennialism above).  Rather, God just shows up (the second-coming) and we all face judgement.  Then: Eternity, here we come!

(3). Post-millennialism is often called the “positive” approach to end-times.  It’s the belief that things get “better and better” as the power of the Holy Spirit slowly takes over the earth as a fulfillment of Acts 2.  And after the unstoppable wind of the Spirit prepares the bride of Christ, Christ comes for his bride and ushers-in eternity.  Of course, the “pessimistic” (Pre-millennial) interpretation is so popular right now that most Christians have never even heard a whole lot of the Biblical arguments for Post-millennialism.  This was the most popular interpretation throughout the 1800’s.  But after the two World Wars most Christians concluded that the world is more screwed up than ever. (Hence Pre-millennialism was revived).  Of course, due to the massive growth of the Christian church globally, many have started subscribing to this approach again.  In fact, based on Christian conversion growth in the past two decades, Christians could overtake the entire population of earth by 2030.  When missiologists started reporting this, many Christians thought: “perhaps our eschatology is a bit too attached to headlines rather than hermeneutics (a.k.a. a fair interpretation of scriptures).  However, Post-millenialism is a rather “new interpretation” compared to the other two.  (I.e., it’s hard to find much historical support for this in the first century).  Yet many Christians still feel it’s the Biblical interpretation that gives the least amount of glory to the devil.

“But Peter:  What do YOU think?  And more specifically, do YOU think the rapture is this Saturday?“ Truth be told, I’ve done a lot of pendulum swinging between each of these theological approaches.  Honestly there are a lot of really smart people who’ve written some pretty incredible treatises on this.  I’m a church-growth expert not a theologian.  Yet, the historical foundation of pre-millenialism is pretty solid.  And it’s hard to think about the modern state of Israel without getting a few “Premillenial Goosebumps” on your arms.

But seriously… I honestly still don’t know.  Don’t get me wrong:  I have a detailed opinion.  However:  We prepare for all three of these the same – by repenting and looking forward to Christ’s return.  And no matter which you subscribe to, all three believe in the immanent return of Christ and the Judgment to come.  So in some ways… who cares!? Get busy living for God.  And keep preparing Christ’s bride for His return!

Honestly, when I read much of Camping’s literature on a 5-21-11 rapture, I thought he was making some pretty huge assumptions.  And more: I still think “No one knows the day or hour when these things will happen” (Mt. 24:36).  But I sensed the Holy Spirit impress upon my heart:  “Peter, live as though it could happen this soon.” And honestly it’s been an overwhelming couple of days.  I think it’d be pretty awesome if Christ did come.  And if you don’t feel excitement about an imminent rapture this Saturday, it’s probably a sign that you have a few issues that you need to get straight with God.

I’ve had an amazing number of God-discussions with my kids the last few days.  And honestly my walk with God has never felt richer.  And if there was a Saturday rapture my only regret would be that I haven’t lived my entire life with such an imminent vigilance.

Besides: What if the rapture didn’t happen this Saturday… then suddenly, God came on Monday?  Or what if it was one year out?  Either way:  God is giving each of us the same word:  “Be careful how you live!  Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.  16  Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.  Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do” (Eph. 5:15-18). And Why?  “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God.  First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves.  17  Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words” (1 Thess. 4:16-18).

May 20, 2011 / No Comments /  

Becoming an Israelite – Reflections on a Life-changing Trip

My Wife & I kickin' it Holy Land style.

My Wife & I kickin' it Holy Land style.

A trip to Israel wasn’t very high on my “bucket list;” but, after going there this last week, I honestly can’t believe I’ve waited this long.  Seriously: I will never be the same.  It sounds so sensational but it’s true.  “And Why” you ask?  I’ll tell you!

First off:  I finally got to use all of the Hebrew I learned at the U of M.  My team kept asking me to translate everything for them.  (Of course, I haven’t spoken a word of it in 16 years).  But, it’s all good.  (After all, I could make up just about anything and my team-mates believed me.)

Of course getting there was a nightmare!  I’ve never had more flight delays and cancellations in my life.  There’s actually a law stating that people cannot be stuck on an airplane tarmac for longer than 3 hours.  If a plane is waiting to take off yet cannot, after three hours, they must return to the boarding gate.  This happened over 3 times to my wife and me in a single day!  (I.e., Nine hours on a non-moving plane).  Amazingly this happened again the next day!  (I.e., One short domestic flight took us 48 hours of airport travel – with no end in sight).  We knew we were going to get stranded in Pittsburgh for a 2nd night so we rented a car and instead drove 8 hours to NYC just to hopefully fly standby on a 12 hr flight to Israel!

As we drove across the Pennsylvania mountains we kept seeing signs for Scranton PA “The electric city”.  I kept doing Michael Scott impersonations.  And as we whistled the theme song to the t.v. show “the Office,” we starting getting high spirits again.  Then BLAM!  My wife gets pulled over!  (Whistling stopped).  So, after $600 of unexpected travel costs + 1 speeding ticket later, we stood at JFK airport at 1am.  We waited in a two hour line with the hopes of merely flying stand-by.  Of course, the story gets incredibly worse… (and the story home is equally outrageous.)  But it suffices to say that:  All of this trauma was worth it!  And Why?

I will never read my Bible the same.  I had no idea how small the holy land really is.  The Bible is constantly referring to cities in the land… and why?  Because the land matters!  When people read these references it dramatizes the plotline.  Suddenly every Biblical battle becomes even more engrossing.

For example, the Garden of Gethsemene is only minutes away from a desert escape.  King David would escape this way whenever the heat was on.  Of course, this path was certainly a massive temptation for Christ when he prayed “not my will but yours be done.”  He was literally only minutes away from total escape.  Yet we would never know this until you’ve been there and understood how the terrain thickens the plot.

"The 1 place in Israel archaeologists can guarantee Jesus stood"

"The 1 place in Israel archaeologists can guarantee Jesus stood"

For example, I got to stand where the sermon of Pentecost was preached.  I got baptized in the Jordan river.  I got to boat over the sea of Galilee where Jesus calmed storms and walked on the water.  I got to sit near Peter’s house in Capernaum where the paralytic’s friend’s ripped through his rooftop.  I was able to hike in the very places that Psalms where written… where David slayed Goliath.  I mean, seriously:  That’s priceless!  I will never read these stories the same.  So ever since I’ve had this insatiable desire to read my Bible for a good hour each day.

So, here’s the deal church:  I want to birth some of this passion into your heart as well.  For starters… I want to lead a Substance trip to Israel  (so start saving your cash).  Secondarily:  You don’t need to travel to Israel to get a deeper passion for God’s Word.  Sometimes we simply need to start a new discipline.

If you’ve ever had the flu before, there’s a point at which you need to start eating again – even though you have absolutely no appetite.  It’s a hard place to be in; yet, if you don’t start eating again, you’ll starve.  I.e., Sometimes you’ve got to force-feed.  And over time, your appetite will not only return but, you’ll actually start to hunger for the very things you’re feeding on.  And the same is true with God’s word.

If you force-feed yourself God’s Word for at least ten minutes a day… within a month, reading the Bible will become a pleasure.  It’s kind of like working out.  When you do it for longer than 3 months you become addicted to it.  Pretty soon you won’t truly feel alive unless you do it.  But, this only happens to people who truly give themselves to it.  And unfortunately, many people quit before they’ve “broken through.”

So don’t let this summer slide by.  When you grill out at a nearby lake… or starting hiking around the northwoods again, make sure you take your Bible with you.  It’s time to form a new habit.  Not every book of the Bible is easy to read.  But believe me:  Getting addicted to God’s Word is amazing – even if it takes a speeding ticket and a long flight to get there  : )

P.s., I was sitting in a Beduin tent in the southern desert of Israel… and guess who I ran into?  …A high-school student who attends Fridley High School!  Seriously, what are the odds?

May 10, 2011 / No Comments /