T.C. of an O.J.

Some random bits of information:

• GIRL TALK: The whole name-your-own-price for an album thing has caught on, no one is complaining, and let’s hope its here to stay. Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails did it recently, however, according to Gregg “Girl Talk” Gillis, he thought of releasing 2006’s “Night Ripper” for free but decided against it fearing the perception that would surround a complimentary album by a little-know artist would likely be negative.

Instead, the mash-up style featured on “Night Ripper” was a success and Gillis was able to release “Feed the Animals” for the low, low price of whatever you want to pay for it. Although I’ve been verbally recommending Girl Talk’s “Feed the Animals” to everyone lately, it is my favorite album of 2008 thus far.

Whereas “Night Ripper” was great, “Feed the Animals” is a tremendous, non-stop adrenaline rush that makes me feel like I’m in a club every time I listen to it (not that I really have much of a clue to what being in a club is like). Gillis successfully mixes old eighties favorites, pop hits and explicit rap with wonderful results. “Shut the Club Down” is the stand out, if picking one is really necessary when we’re talking about an album filled with hits.

Said Philo T. Farnsworth, founder of Girl Talk’s record label, Illegal Art: “Even if everyone who downloads it doesn’t pay, even if they get it all for free, it creates fan loyalty and exposes the artist to a lot of people who may not have been exposed to him otherwise. Priority No. 1 is getting the music out there.”

Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal. - TS Eliot

• FANNY-PACKS: This may sound strange, but I’m in the market for a fanny-pack. For years I’ve mocked them on vacations and trips to amusement parks, once in high-school even making a game out of counting as many as I could (then taking pictures with the 100th, 200th, and 300th fanny-pack I spotted).

I’m here to express remorse and a change of heart, however, because I realize a fanny-pack really seems like the most convenient way to carry your valuables at a place like Cedar Point. Sure, I will get teased, but it will be by the very same people who will later ask me to carry their cell phones, keys, and wallets.

If you know where I can find a good fanny-pack, drop me a line.

• CEDAR POINT: Speaking of Cedar Point, I’ll be there on Sunday, along with the entire Word high-school ministry. I’m really looking forward to the annual trip, although successfully organizing a bunch of kids can be a challenge.

This trip will be the last hurrah before moving onto college for some, while for others it’ll be one of the first introductions to the high-school ministry.

Either way, it’s going to be an exciting summer, as many changes are happening in Word. I’m praying that myself and the other leaders involved can rely on God to make this upcoming school year the most successful and fruitful year of Word ever.

In the meantime, I’m anticipating catching a mean case of “zoo-legs” this Sunday in Sandusky, Ohio.

• FEEDBACK: Recently, I received some great feedback regarding my blogging. It was mostly positive and encouraging, so it definitely helps to know people actually read and enjoy what I write. But, most are glad that I’ve moved on from talking about sports and could also do without all the updates on my diet and exercise.

I’ll agree for the most part, which is why you don’t see me talking too much about sports here anymore. Occasionally, I still have to fight the itch to rant and rave about LeBron and the Browns, but I’ll give the people what they want.

• STRATCH THAT ITCH: Speaking of feeling itchy, this article, “The Itch” from the New Yorker by Atul Gawande, which I found via kottke, is the most interesting thing I’ve read in awhile. It talks of itching and phantom limbs, but be forewarned - it’ll have you itching for days.

• GITTIN’ FIT UPDATE: All that being said, I just think everyone’s jealous about my whole diet and exercise thing. I had my 3rd health assessment today and received positive results. I was a little nervous going into it because I had a more than a few hot dogs, hamburgers, and beers over the holiday weekend, but still I lost 3 more pounds of body fat. So, I successfully reached my goal of going under 15% body fat.

While most high-school students look towards the summer as a time to relax, earn money, and get a tan, a small group of students from Stow, Ohio started their summer very differently: They paid money and sacrificed part of their own vacations to go to Buffalo (of all places) and serve others.

Through an old friend, Jim Swearingen, who is currently the acting Executive Director at the Buffalo Christian Center (BCC), the students learned of the missions trip opportunity at the summer camp currently being held at the center. The BCC is an impressive facility, complete with a huge theater, roller skating rink, swimming pool, Christian bookstore, putt-putt course, and basketball court. The impact the facility could potentially have on the city of Buffalo for Christ is enough to keep the Christians who want to use the center up at night thinking about it.

This week, the students had the opportunity to work as camp counselors at the BCC. They stayed at “The Mans” while they prepared bible teachings for the children, who ranged from kindergarten through sixth grade, and heard Jim teach on poverty and God’s call to help those less fortunate. During the camp, they helped out in the kitchen, with recreation and swimming, arts and crafts, and drama.

For some, the real spiritual experience was the pilgrimage to the birthplace of the buffalo wing

Hanging out with the kids attending the BCC’s summer camp was a blast! Although I was only able to stay in Buffalo for two days, I met many kids, like Sterling, Ahmad, and Karmella, that I’ll remember for a long time. I’ll even remember Morgan, but only because she rolled her eyes at me more times than I could count. While the kids in kindergarten through second grade were eager to play games and learn, the fourth graders had already developed “too cool for school” syndrome. I can’t help but wonder what all of these kids will grow up to be like and more importantly, will they know Christ?

The trip did start out with a bang (or a pop), as yours truly changed a tire on the side of the road in New York, but it was well worth it. As a reluctantly drove home Tuesday night leaving the group to stay until the camp’s conclusion on Thursday, I wished I could stay longer. On the trip home, my stomach was full of buffalo wings from the Anchor Bar, better known as the birthplace of buffalo wings (yes, they’re called buffalo wings because they were invented in Buffalo).

Here’s a little known fact: I got involved in youth ministries with the church because I wanted to do the same thing my wife was doing (who was my girlfriend at the time). As an extremely young Christian, I was blatantly unconcerned with the actual ministry part of my being involved.

Somehow, I stayed on as a leader, though I wasn’t a good one. I stumbled and bumbled through years of junior high ministry failures, most of which were caused by my own selfishness. I didn’t prepare for teachings or spend any substantial amount of time prayerfully considering the kids God had entrusted me with. I wrongly reasoned that the way to win over the kids was to play the part of a cool older brother and this idea crashed and burned in many spectacular ways. Some of these disasters make for good stories, but the end result was tragic: my cell group outgrew the need for a chauffeur and instead turned away from God and turned to everything else the world offered.

Despite all of these horrible offenses, God used me and my half-assed, immature leadership for his glory. He also used the experience to mature me. Although there are things that I should have done differently, the boys that walked away from the Lord made their own choices.

The Bedford cell I once operated is now nothing more than a memory. The group was full of potential and possibility, but was derailed by seductive things - girls, drinking, drugs, and the pursuit of money and career. My heart does hurt for them almost daily.

As Paul puts it in 2 Corinthians, these guys were “written in my heart” and will remain there forever. It’s truly heartbreaking, especially when I meet up with them today and see the destructive choices they’re making. Yet, despite all of the miles I racked up driving across town, the countless “thwaps” I took to the nuts (I gave some out too), and years of time invested in; the endeavor was anything but a waste of time.

In spite of the best efforts of the “cooler” kids in my group, one boy did miraculously receive Christ during those old times and remains in the body to this day. That’s right, Bryan got saved!

As I talked with him years later on the McCallum’s screened-in porch, memories came rushing back into my head. I looked out on that old swingset in the backyard and could hardly believe that when I started in youth ministries the kids would actually go out and play on that thing after our teachings!

Bryan has his own cell group now and his success in the body of Christ is very exciting and fills me with tremendous joy. Although I had no clue what I was doing in Bedford all those years, God knew exactly what he was doing: now B has learned to love and care for his group of JHQ kids.

When I visit my mother at the house I grew up in, she will occasionally talk about the things I used to do when I was just a little boy. I know she is happy that I have started a life of my own with my wife, but I also know part of her is sad her kids have grown up.

I can only imagine it must be bittersweet to be a parent. Mom invested so much time and love into us, so we could grow up. The memories are great – times spent at the art museum, reading together, and singing songs. Part of me wishes I could go back too, but it’s painfully obvious that we can’t. Things change and kids don’t stay young forever.

I’m a few years away from children of my own, but I have a feeling that it might be something like this.

So, yes B it is heartbreaking to see these kids grow up and lose their innocence. It is sad because you will just the have memories of JHQ, but it is also sweet because you will make even more of them as you build the kingdom of God in Chill.

Bryan, you are doing a tremendous job loving them! I’m amazed by you and your love, compassion, and care for them. They are written on your heart. It is inevitable, that you will see some go into the world and it will be heartbreaking, but you will also see some kids that had no chance miraculously be rescued out of the world!

I thank God for you- you’re awesome, B!

So, excuse me. I have to go tell my Mom I love her.

They were just asked to explain what grace meant and now the room of teenagers was struggling to come up with an explanation. Maybe you could blame it on the impending heat wave or the fact that the adolescent brain effectively shuts down for the summer beginning in June, but the answers given were of the mark.

“What is grace?” seems like an easy enough question, especially for a group of young evangelical-minded Christians. One suggested grace might be “forgiveness”, while another offered the kind of incoherent rambling answer you’d expect to hear if the student had slipped into a daydream during world history class and had just been unexpectedly called upon by the instructor and was now trying to answer without really knowing the question. Most just tried to quietly blend into a wall or a couch, hoping they wouldn’t be asked to answer. After minutes of failing to produce an adequate response to a seemingly simple question, a more knowledgeable older Christian stepped in after the students naively challenged him to come up with a sufficient answer.

“Grace is getting something you don’t deserve from someone who doesn’t have to give it to you”, he responded, quieting his young critics. Of course this older Christian knew the answer to this elementary question. Grace is all over the bible - it is what makes Christianity different from all other religions, gives us eternal life, and makes our Christian life work! In fact there’s a nifty little acronym to remember what grace is: “God’s riches at Christ’s expense”.

Grace is the gospel message, God’s plan to save us from ourselves. As Paul puts it in Romans, “the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Grace isn’t about what we’re doing or did, rather it’s about the fact that we can’t do it and need God to do it for us. As the book of Ephesians famously says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

On this level, it is easy to explain grace. But, grace is still hard to understand. As humans, we’re programmed with pride and the feeling like we deserve certain things. Surely, if I was in God’s position, there’s no chance I’d send my son to die for a bunch of ungrateful, obnoxious creeps who are just going to spit on and mock his sacrifice anyway.

When I received a large, flat-screen television from my parents this past Christmas, I struggled with the gift. There was no denying I wanted what was in that huge cardboard box, but there was no way I could have afforded to purchase it myself. Worse, there was no way I could possibly repay my parents back with a few measly “thank you’s” and the much less-expensive gifts I would soon be embarrassed to give them. It was a humbling experience, much like God’s free gift of grace. There’s no way we can afford to purchase ourselves out of death, yet Christ comes along and pays the price for us. When we accept it, it with the knowledge that there’s no chance we’ll ever repay him.

There's always a catch, right? Illustration titled Lucky Find by Graham Roumieu

Some refuse to accept God’s grace because it feels so humiliating to admit inadequacy. Others spend the rest of their lives feeling obligated to try to reimburse God for his free gift, a notion that makes no sense, but happens anyway. After all, if it’s free, there’s no cost, right? Maybe we’re just used to our culture where “there’s no such thing as a free lunch” and there’s always a catch. It’s absolutely puzzling – along comes God and offers eternal life with no strings attached, yet most humans flat out refuse his offer! Why?

Grace is hard to handle for most; even the Christian “saved by grace” faces the seemingly constant temptation to live the Christian walk based on his or her own righteousness, not on God’s grace. In this vein, Paul rebukes the church in Galatians asking, “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” We read that spiritual growth is by God’s grace, just like salvation was.

Phillip Yancey wrote a good book called “What’s So Amazing About Grace?” In it, Yancey struggles to explain grace, instead relying on examples of what grace looks like in action. When I read, I felt completely inadequate to practice grace in my life. More often I operate like a bank’s general ledger: keeping track of the wrongs and rights I perceive people doing to me, and then writing out my own actions in payment to the corresponding person accordingly. So, in a lot of ways, I’m in the same “confused about grace” boat as the perplexed teenagers I was sitting in the room with.

Grace is a radical idea straight from God. Based on grace, we are able to walk directly into the throne room of God himself confidentially. As the writer of Hebrews, who I again surmise to be Paul, says:

Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water…

Due to Jesus’ sacrifice and his blood we are able to have direct access to God, which happens “through the veil, that is, His flesh”. As Christians, we’re baptized into Christ, and God sees us exactly as he sees Christ. We enter the throne room of God clothed in Jesus, essentially as Jesus. On one level, grace is so simple - without it we can’t have salvation, sanctification, or glorification. All three of these are the result of letting God work in our lives, not our own works. Why does God want to take us to eventual perfection? Why does he save us from death and give us a lasting purpose? The answer is he loves us, but why does he love us so much? It is hard to fathom. One thing is for sure: without grace, we’d never even get close to God’s throne, with it we can approach it with confidence.

Here’s something that always baffled me: even the most mediocre, painful to watch, disgustingly bad movies have that requisite “this is an amazing movie” quote plastered on their DVD case. It seems as though movie studios can dig up a, or if you remember this story from a few years back fabricate a fake, critic who’s more than willing to gush praises all over their not-so great films. Just once I’d like to pick up a movie and see “Wesley Snipes, Martin Short and Sandra Bullock are atrocious…so bad it’s good!” and “watching Mickey Rourke try to act will give you a dull headache…by the time ‘Bullet’ is over you’ll be reaching for the Advil” or “at least you waited for the DVD release and saved a few bucks…Ben Affleck goes through the motions and is forgettable.”

If someone recommends this movie to you, they hate you.

Because I Said So had “lots of heart and plenty of laughs” if by lots of heart and laughs you mean that you wanted to beat Diane Keaton and then yourself over the head with a lead pipe upon seeing the movie.

So often we scan the DVD cases looking for a movie that will interest us, but can we really expect an honest appraisal from the very people who want us to buy what they’re selling? Films routinely promise us mind-boggling entertainment and excitement, citing phrases like “action-packed thrill ride” or “the most memorial film you’ll see this year” but more often than not fail to deliver.

Bold Claims

Another bold claim maker, Jesus Christ, was acutely aware of the inherent skepticism he’d raise. In John 5 he reasons, “If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true.” In that ancient day, a Jewish court wouldn’t even bother calling the defendant to the stand. The reasoning: of course the charged would claim innocence, so why even bother?

However, Jesus did make huge claims, which if true, would profoundly affect the entire human race. Christ said things like “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” Jesus claimed God had given him the authority and responsibility of guarding the pathway to heaven and according to Christ our entrance into eternity is based solely on our relationship with him. Christ “also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God,” a claim that infuriated the religious leaders of the day and quickly lead to his death.

The statements Christ made are serious and therefore need significant validation for us to consider them. Thankfully, God anticipated this dilemma. He gives us 4 distinct witnesses to the fact the Christ is who he says he is:

John the Baptist is the first witness Jesus calls to the stand on his behalf.

“There is another who testifies of Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true…John…has testified to the truth. But the testimony which I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved.”

Jesus cites John the Baptist because his “street cred” was extremely high with the people of that day. Most thought of John as highly religious and some even concluded he might be the messiah. However, John deflected these speculations and instead pointed to Christ as the fulfillment of the messianic prophecies and the symbols of substitutionary sacrifice, saying, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

The next witness Christ cites are the miracles he has performed.

“But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish–the very works that I do–testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.”

Jesus is, of course, referring to the amazing supernatural wonders he executed in order to show he did have the kind of power he was claiming. Jesus often performed these in public so all could see the power of God working through him. At the time, there would have been many witnesses to these wonders; men like the paraplegic he healed would be walking around telling everyone he encountered about the person who had made it so he could walk again.

Yet, Christ doesn’t stop there. He’s also been validated by the Father.

“And the Father who sent Me, He has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form. You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent.”

Here Jesus refers to the witness given to Christians when they receive Christ and become believers indwelt by the Holy Spirit. In Romans we read, “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God…”

This is a significant and power witness and it is more powerful than any external sources Jesus could cite. As Christians, the Holy Spirit, God himself is inside of us, powerfully validating that Jesus’ claims were true.

However, this witness only operates fully after a person receives Christ. A true skeptic would need more evidence than this.

That’s when Jesus pulls out the big guns…

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me”

Its obvious Jesus wanted us all to listen up regarding this final witness, as his statement feels pretty abrasive.

He’s referring to the Old Testament scriptures, a source all of the day knew well and trusted. Any good Jew could recite miles and piles of scripture; meanwhile, God had been orchestrating a paper trail that big to authenticate his coming messiah. Jesus points to these ancient scriptures, almost sarcastically asking, “It’s me- don’t you realize who I am?”

Amazingly, this authentication of Christ is as convincing and powerful as it was back then.

In Isaiah 42:9 God says, “Behold, the former things have come to pass, Now I declare new things; Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.”

God is omniscient, all knowing, and has the ability to look at time like a news reporter hovering over a massive interstate traffic jam in a helicopter. God can see the future clearly and he uses this to separate himself from other would-be idols, gods, and deities while at the same time authenticating his son, the messiah.

In Isaiah 44, God puts the challenge on the table:

“Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me. ‘Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it; Yes, let him recount it to Me in order, From the time that I established the ancient nation. And let them declare to them the things that are coming And the events that are going to take place. ‘Do not tremble and do not be afraid; Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it? And you are My witnesses Is there any God besides Me, Or is there any other Rock? I know of none.’”

To predict and declare the future is the unique ability of our creator God. No one else has this dramatic ability because it requires an infinite being to accomplish. God is such a being, saying, “If you’re God, let’s see you do this! How come your God can’t predict the future like I can? That’s right, only I can do this and only I am God!”

In Luke 24, Jesus gives his disciples a thorough bible study: “Now He said to them, ‘These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures…”

And we complain when the sermon gets close to an hour long? This must have been a long, intense bible study!

“and He said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.’”

Jesus took them through the entire Old Testament to show them passage after passage of predictive prophecy that referred to his life. There was no way Jesus could fake all these prophecies. Some scholars estimate there are over 300 distinct messianic predictions in the bible foretelling every aspect of his life and death hundreds of years before his appearance on earth. No one has control over things like where they will be born and how people will react to them.

Scriptures like Isaiah 53 eerily and accurately predict specific details of Christ’s life and demise, down to the fact that “He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities…by His scourging we are healed.”

Two types of pre-authentication are built into the bible regarding Christ:

The type John the Baptist referred to, which were the Old Testament symbols the people practiced in ritual. Ancient people often didn’t have the ability to read, however they could discern the significance of an animal sacrifice. The priest would place his hands on the scapegoat’s head and symbolically transfer the sins of the people to that animal. The symbols acted out as drama in front of the people later pointed to the same person who John pointed to: Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.

The second type of pre-authentication employed by the bible is direct predictive declaration from God.

As we’ve seen, in effect God says, “You know this is me because I’m telling you what’s going to happen before it happens.”

For a Christian plagued with doubt or a skeptic filled with cynicism, direct predictive declaration is very compelling.

One of the most mind-blowing prophecies is found in Daniel 9 concerning the coming of the messiah. God not only says that Jesus Christ will come, he tells us exactly when.

Daniel 9’s Messianic Prophecy

Imprisoned for 70 years in Babylon, Daniel starts praying to God for Israel’s release. According to Daniel’s calculations, it’s getting to be close to the time that God promised he and his people could finally get out of captivity.

An angel visits Daniel in 9:24-25, telling him,

“Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place. So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress.”

In the context of Daniel 9, the “weeks” the angel refers to in the prophecy are actually years, or more specifically “sevens” or Sabbath years. The prophecy seems complicated, but it’s actually easy to calculate. The time from the decree to rebuild Israel to the coming to the Messiah is, according to angel Gabriel, 7 sevens and 62 sevens until the Messiah’s coming. So, (7×7) + (7×62) = 483 years.

However, in Daniel’s time they used lunar years, which consisted of 360 days per year. We use a slightly different measure, the Solar year, which are comprised of 365.2425 days, or less nerdly - 365 ¼ days. When we convert, 483 lunar years comes to 476 solar years.

So, 476 years from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah comes. Now, when was that decree exactly?

In Nehemiah 2:1-8, Nehemiah is employed as the King’s cupbearer or wine-taster, a job that’s easy and painless most of the time, but dangerous and necessary because of the possibly a dissenter might try to poison the King. It was Nehemiah’s job to get poisoned first if the wine was poisoned, thus saving the King.

One day, wrapped up in Israel’s plight, Nehemiah looked especially downtrodden. Of course, the King was highly sensitive whenever the person responsible for protecting him from wine-poisoning was looking a little under-the-weather. Therefore, King Artaxerxes asked Nehemiah, “Why is your face sad?”

Nehemiah explained why he was so sad and because God was with him, the Emperor of the biggest Empire in the world at that time granted him his wish that Jerusalem be rebuilt.

This is useful because we know through biblical and extra-biblical sources exactly when King Artaxerxes’ reign began, 465 B.C. We can add 20 years to this in order to find the date when the decree was issued because verse 2:1 tells us all this “came about in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes”. The Ancient peoples dated their calendar from the fall, so because the reign began in spring, the decree was issued in the year 444 B.C.

As we previously determined, 476 years later would take us from 444 B.C. to 32 A.D. But wait, because there’s no “year zero” on a timeline, we add one year to date the prediction’s result to be 33 A.D.

This is an astonishing prediction and validation of God’s Messiah, as it corresponds with exactly when Jesus announced himself as the Messiah. Again, remember the Daniel 9 prediction was given over 530 years before its fulfillment, so it pre-dates Christ. It would have been impossible for either Jesus or his followers to fake its fulfillment, especially because they did not keep a precise calendar in that day.

Are there any other possible explanations to brush away the significance of this prophecy? I’ve presented only a quick and dirty run-down of it here. If you’re still skeptical, why don’t you take up God’s challenge and delve further into the details of Daniel 9, or more importantly, ask God in your own heart if he’s really who he says he is.

God’s Challenge

God is waiting to respond to you if you’re seeking him earnestly and he’ll verify himself to you personally if you check him out.

Later in the book of John, “Jesus answered them and said, ‘My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself’”.

When you have an encounter with the real God, the one who is able to foretell and predict the future and who created you, God himself witnesses to you regarding Christ’s authenticity.

Today, there is no doubt in my mind that Christ is real because I’ve experienced him personally, just like there’s no doubt in my mind that my wife is real. I sit and talk with my wife in the same way that I’m able to have a personal relationship with God because of his Messiah, whom he pre-authenticated and then sent to die for our sins to make that relationship possible.

Healthy skepticism is fine and in fact, God anticipated it and built evidence and validation right into the bible. As Christians, our faith isn’t blind, rather based in part on real, substantiated evidence.

Just as you could only determine whether or not a movie is excellent or a flop by actually watching it yourself, you must make a determination for yourself regarding God. With eternity at stake, why would you leave it up to some other critic’s opinion? While movie tastes vary from person to person, Jesus’ claims are absolute and encompass the entire human race.

If you’re skeptical why don’t you take your search to God? Do you want to know him in a personal way? After all, Jesus makes outrageous claims that if true, will impact us for better or worse, regardless of whether or not we ever believe them. Due to the evidence God provides, these claims are plausible enough that should at least investigate them further!

Adopted from a teaching by Dennis McCallum.

Ladies and gentlemen: the story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been ommitted to protect the guilty.

I looked at them. They looked at me. Their faces communicated a shock that they might not get away with what they had grown accustomed to, yet the expressions on the faces of the two boys seemed to indicate they weren’t done trying to, at least not yet.

In hindsight, I should have expected it walking onto a dark, dungeon-like basement with blinds still drawn tight after noon. Outside, the sun was shining and it was a beautiful day, inside however was a different story as the air was thick with the stagnation and funk that only male adolescence can provide. I tip toed down the steps, not yet ready to believe that life could exist in this kind of toxic environment, however, the sounds associated with video games told me otherwise.

Sitting on a couch wrapped in a tangle of blankets and cords, it was hard to tell where fabric and cloth ended and person began. But, I could make out what resembled my two disciples. Eyes still glazed over, it was obvious this could have gone on for many more hours if I had not arrived.

Last week, I had given them both assignments to complete for the day’s meeting. Both reassured me, as only youth can, that what I had assigned would be a breeze to complete. Plus, I also knew that with minimal effort these boys could memorize the verses I was asking them to, or at least I hoped they would.

“Did you complete your assignments?” I asked. I needed to pry the answer from both. “We can’t move on with our discipleship until you memorize these verses.” I reiterated. It didn’t seem to be registering with them as both started going acting like I wasn’t even there. “I need breakfast!” one announced and disappeared to scrounge something up.

Now, one week later from when the assignments were given, the excuses were flowing like water. The reassurances had turned into failure to complete the work that was given. “I had a busy week”, one triumphantly announced. Both were still dumbfounded and incredulous that I wasn’t just going to spit up a bible lesson for them to chew on for a few minutes then chauffer them off to play as they expected. “Aren’t you supposed to teach us?” They asked, stating their case in unison. The way they were acting, you’d think it was my fault that they didn’t do what they had agreed to do!

The other wanted to know if his inability to memorize his assignment would get in the way of the day’s plans. “We’re still going to the Nat, right?” He asked, trying to brush the whole messy situation under the rug, “Let’s just go to the Nat!” He again stated, referring to plans we had to go to the local recreation center after we met up for our discipleship to play basketball and swim.

On the verge of leaving, I read the boys Ephesians 4:28 –

He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.

“You two are little thieves” I strongly suggested as I pointed across the room to them, “What do you have to offer anyone?” I asked, but was met with silence.

The Boys' agendas for the week leading up to our discipleship.

The Boys’ agendas for the week leading up to our discipleship.

Meanwhile, others in the house were witnessing the developing scene. As I contemplated leaving, Kyle joined the conversation asking the boys in amazement, “You don’t really think Joe is going to actually take you guys to the Nat, do you? You guys better go memorize your verses right now.” Still, this bold statement was met with minimal action from the boys. Finally, one stood after much internal debate and disappeared presumably to get to work on his assignment.

Now, one boy remained in the room. While his co-conspirator had apparently given him up to fight on his own, still he arrogantly strode upstairs to fix a bowl a cereal. He was acting like the whole situation happening in the basement had no connection to him at all.

I packed my bags in anticipation of having to leave. I didn’t really want to. Despite the boys not finishing their assignments, I still always enjoy hanging out with them. Part of me wanted to forget about the whole thing or help them memorize their verses. But, I realize I am often way too nice, which only enables people to take advantage of me. If the boys were allowed to get away with more “little thieving”, they wouldn’t be grateful to me at all, they’d just do it again next time. More importantly, they would never learn to “perform with their own hands”. How could they ever have something to share?

Thankfully, after Dar added to the prodding, the remaining boy sulked downstairs to start work on completing his assignment. His work wasn’t without frequent excuses and comments to me, however. Still, he was trying to weasel out of his responsibility, falsely claiming that I had never even given him the assignment in the first place! At this point, I started to get annoyed. However, just as smoke was starting to seep from my ears, the first boy strode back into the room and plopped down back onto the couch.

He indicated he had memorized 1 Corinthians 13. “Well, let’s hear it.” I commanded skeptically. He proceeded to recite the entire chapter, almost word for word, only needing to fill in a few minor words here and there with help. I was amazed, especially because only a half hour after he was battling me, here he was delivering the assignment.

At this, the other seemed to realize that he better get his act together and soon he recited the assignment too.

Then, came the most shocking event of the afternoon – the boys apologized to me for not coming prepared with their assignment! With a trip to the Nat still up in the air, I’m not sure of the motives behind this unprompted occurrence, but I was still taken aback.

After a tumultuous start to the day, the end result was much better. The assignments were completed and we could all enjoy a day together at the Nat.

Now that neoblogs is a supposed collection of blogs, I thought I could take a few days off from the blogosphere and you know do some actual work at work and we’d still have some action. I naively assumed that maybe the other so-called neoblogs bloggers would actually blog, but it looks like I’m still the LeBron James of this team and the rest of you are the Cavs. So I’ll carry the team and you guys just stand around and watch me do it.

Before I start in on my topic, I talked about the library awhile back. The library is such a crazy place. Yesterday, I went into the bathroom there and two guys where in there giving each other haircuts. One had the clippers plugged in and the other was bent over and had a trash bag on. I guess it’s not the weirdest thing ever, but it took me by surprise.

Kid Rock Waffle House Mug Shot

So, yesterday I went to a David Jeremiah “Signs of Life” rally at the Wolstein Center (formerly the CSU Convocation Center). I thought rally was…well, if you would have shown me myself at that event 10 years ago I might not have believed you. Growing up Catholic, I never really experienced the praise and worship aspect of Christianity. I thought the singing was a little much, but those that have been to events like this before were saying it really wasn’t that much. Anyway, it was fun and everyone got into the singing and clapping!

Last night really makes me appreciate just how gifted a teacher we have in Keith at our church. Hold on, am I just tooting my horn about my church? No, Dr. DJ could preach the word and I thought he had a pretty good message, but it seemed fluffy and distilled compared to what we get week in and week out on Saturday night. Jeremiah called Christians to get off their butts, be the salt of the earth, and look for places to do good in the community.

Of course, this message came after an hour or more of corny jokes about the Browns, apparently Dr. DJ is a fan, and promoting his book, the musician’s CDs, and the new, soft, cuddly bible he was selling. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think DJ was money grubbing, I just hated to sit through all of this before the “meaty” portion of the evening.

Maybe I’m spoiled. I mean, Keith teaches the Love Ethics class on Wednesday and then has to teach on Saturday night. Every time he teaches, it’s a homerun! The teachings are on the nature of God, human nature, and love. I think I’ll look back on this James series he’s doing and the Love Ethics class years later and only then appreciate the way the material has affected me.

Most people don’t realize how difficult it is just to get up there and teach- it’s a spiritual battle! Keith is wrestling with deep issues every week, being worked through by the spirit, and pouring his heart out to us. And of course, he’d say it was all God! I just don’t know how he does it without being completely exhausted.

The LaBeouf's Mug Shot

So, I’m not dissing Dr. DJ, I’m just saying I feel totally blessed to have a teacher like Keith who’s been willing to sacrifice and work with me and others in our fellowship for years.

But, the real fun started before the rally! The trip to Cleveland involved the gladiator being jam-packed with 7 high-schoolers, just like the good old days. Only this time, the kids have grown since we used to pack them in when they were in junior high. They complained a little bit more, but I think everyone had fun anyway.

First, we left the tickets at home. I realized this when we were most of the way to Cleveland and definitely not turning back. We thought the tickets were a handout from Keith’s love ethics class. It’s a good thing Dr. DJ’s rally was free because they let us in anyway.

After the rally was over, we headed back for the van. Now, I have to estimate the average age at the rally was about 45-50, with your typical well-dressed upper middle class stuffy husband and wife already shaking their heads and turning up their noses at the gang of high schoolers that were lurking dangerously close to their luxury cars in the parking garage. Of course, there was a traffic jam in the garage and all the stuffy husband and wife types were all frustrated to get out of the Christian rally and put the message of being salt and light in the community and spreading God’s grace into the world to practice Errr, I mean get home and watch TV or something.

Mickey Rourke's Mug Shot

So, we had the van parked on the end of an aisle and would have had to turn around because we weren’t able to make the turn around the sharp corner. With everyone lined up and waiting to pull out of the garage, Keith just pulls the Gladiator out in front of a particularly stuffy old couple. He had backed into the space, so when he pulled out, his headlights probably reflected off the woman’s old poofy hair and blinded her husband. Now, everyone behind us is really shaking their heads is disgust.

So, There we were, Keith backing the van out of the garage slowly in the midst of a traffic jam, when the stuffy, well-dressed old man decided he would try to kindly explain why we should turn around errr let him go first. As we were maneuvering around a turn, apparently our antics, combined with the fact that we were not well-dressed and a bunch of high school kids, me, and a dirty old man smoking a pipe caused the man to decide he should pull around us. He squeezed his car in next to Keith’s door and calmy rolled down his window.

“I think it would be easier for you to pull down there and turn around”, said the man, trying to be nonchalant and kind. Keith was quick to shrug him off, “No, it ain’t no thing, I can just back out, we’re just going 1 mile per hour.” “No, you’d better turn around down there”, the man said again, this time pointing way down the aisle to the back of the waiting car line. Keith (and this is what makes Keith Keith) says right back, “Well then I’d lose my spot in line!” At this point, the man decided to drop the whole concerned kindly Christian act and started to try to squeeze ahead of Keith. Only, he didn’t have enough room and when we hit the gas to get ahead, he scraped his nice car on a gate and knocked down a metal pole! I’m sure the man wasn’t happy, but it only added insult to injury when the van full of high schoolers yelled “OOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH!” in between laughs in an echoey parking garage at how absurd the man’s maneuver was!

Afterwards, we went to Burger King on the turnpike.