MuddyPuddles

 We, in the Church of Christ, sometimes without realizing it, have used several methods of interpreting the scriptures which has led us to various conclusions based upon whatever method we have chosen to use.  On any topic, if we would have used one of our other methods we would come up with a different conclusion.   Furthermore, we sometimes don't even carry the methods we choose out to its complete and logical conclusion.  Read the following to see what I mean as we discuss 

God said, “Do no work on the Sabbath,” but,

JESUS & DISCIPLES DID THINGS ON THE SABBATH 

            a.  Luke 13:10  Jesus healed on the Sabbath. 

            b.  Mark 2:23-28  Jesus & disciples pick grain on Sabbath   "Sabbath is made for man--not man for Sabbath.(v27)" 

            c.  Mark 3:1-6  Jesus heals on the Sabbath.

Please pray for this study as we try to come to God’s word with open hearts and open minds to learn what he has in store for us. 

About the time I was in college a game came out called Twister.  It consisted of a large vinyl or plastic sheet that you spread out on the floor.  This sheet had dots that were about 6” in diameter and of various colors spread out across the sheet.  It also had a couple of little spinner wheels (if I remember correctly).  One of them was on a sheet that was divided into 4 parts with labels of “left hand”, “right hand”, “left foot” and “right foot”.  The other was on a sheet that listed the colors “red, green, yellow and blue.”  The object of the game was to spin each wheel and then place the selected body part on the selected color without letting any other part of your body touch the floor.  You could only move the hand or foot that the spinner landed on and you could not pick it up again until the spinner told you to.  To spice the game up you could have several people on the same vinyl at the same time.  This game would make you contort your body into all kinds of knots and positions.  It was quite interesting and it was a good icebreaker game.  I’ve even seen it used for large groups (like college orientation) where the whole gym floor is covered with a hundred sheets (or more) and one person tells everyone which hand or foot for which color.  Using the instructions correctly your body does things it would not normally do. 
It reminds me of the way that I learned how to interpret the Bible for the first 30 or 40 years of my life.  As I was studying and trying to understand God’s will for me and as I discussed various topics with people who believed differently than me it began to dawn on me that we, in the Church of Christ, use different methods of interpretation for different topics in the Bible.  This comes as quite a shock to my more conservative brethren when I point this out and they get a little perturbed at me (to put it mildly).  It also dawned on me that “Bible classes” were not so much about learning what the Bible teaches or God’s will for us as they were about learning which methods of interpretations we were supposed to use for the various topics (kind of like Twister) and how to use them properly to come up with the orthodox answer.  This, when pointed out, also perturbs my more conservative Brethren.  Many of them get very upset with me.  They don’t want to hear this “disrespectful” and “divisive” gibberish.  In fact, some of them get down right ugly.  That’s a shame. 
Others, however, are anxious (in a positive way) to examine what I’m saying and are invigorated (or reinvigorated) with the energy that comes with epiphanies and with learning.  It is for those of you with this zeal for understanding God’s will that I want to re-examine the lens through which we have been studying God’s word.  I want to look at each of the methods by which we have been interpreting the Bible and I want to look at the shortcomings and the inconsistencies of those methods.  And then I want to sum it up with what I consider to be the right way to really understand what God’s will is for us.  I know that some are saying that I am being so arrogant with these statements.  I’m sorry you feel this way.  I hope you can just keep me out of the equation and look at the words that I write on this blog.  See if what I’m saying is so.  If not, you can always respond in the comment section and point out the flaws.  I’m going to call this series (probably about 5 parts) “Understanding God’s Will”.  I’ll post part 1 soon.  May he bless us all as we prayerfully consider these things.  Dennis

I’m Confused.  (I heard those “amen”s from you naysayers.)  Maybe a better word for what I am is “puzzled.”  I just can’t understand why people who disagree with me about Bible things are so reluctant to even try to correct my erroneous thinking (knowing that I might be persuading others to follow my erroneous ways).  I’m not talking about babes in Christ.  I’m talking about brethren who have been Christians for 20, 30, 40 and 50 years or more.  You’d think that they would eagerly try to correct me---especially since I’ve been asking and encouraging them to do so.  I’m not trying to shut them down. I’m trying to open them (and the lines of discussion) up.  It would be like Pricilla and Aquila taking Apollos aside and showing him the better way.  It would be like the brethren in Corinth having a serious disagreement and going to the Jerusalem council (Acts 15) to get the answers.  Even if they didn’t think they could reach me, you’d thing they would see this as an opportunity to persuade those who are just looking in at the blog.  Since they don’t feel inclined to discuss things with me, I guess that gives me the upper hand in persuading the readers because mine is the main voice they hear.  What a shame.  And another thing---does it seem to you that when they do engage me that my last question is always left unanswered?  I always try to answer serious inquiries respectfully and in a polite way.  But I’m always left dangling in the end.  Why is that?
It was that way when I used to teach adult Bible classes as well.  I would try to create a safe environment for discussing differing opinions, but the naysayers would seldom speak and would never answer my last questions.  Instead, their eyes would just glaze over and their jaw would set and they would do their impressions of zombies (is that acceptable behavior in a Bible class setting?).  Then after class I would often hear about what they said about me to each other and how I was dangerous for the church and how I was divisive, etc..  I would hear about how they would talk to the Elders about me.  Some would write letters to the Elders (but would not write or talk to me directly---these Bible believing, Bible following(?) brethren).  Some would send anonymous letters to the Elders about me and what should be done to me and what I should and shouldn’t be allowed to do.  All of these things have happened because I dared to challenge the old interpretations.  But I wasn’t (and am not) trying to blindside or mislead anyone.  I was (and am) trying to study the Bible with them and come to a better understanding of God’s will.  That’s what I’m after.  So I consider possible reasons for their behavior (or lack thereof).

1. Could it be that they are not really looking for the truth, but they just want to defend what they already believe and that if they allow me (or anyone else) to ask questions that they can’t answer then that will make them uncomfortable or make them look foolish?  If this is the case then not only would they look foolish but they would be foolish.  Seekers of the truth don’t ever have to fear about looking foolish because they never forget that they are still in a learning mode.  It’s when they refuse to keep learning that they start looking foolish.  It okay (in fact it’s good) to not be able to defend a position if that leads one to growth.  But it’s foolish to refuse to engage and follow it through if you think someone might benefit from your efforts.
2. Could it be that they just don’t love me or the readers of this blog enough to try to correct the erroneous teaching?  If you don’t care about someone or the lost, then it doesn’t matter to you what they believe about the Bible or its teachings. 
3. Could it be that they just are not articulate enough or computer literate enough to respond?  I think that is a definite possibility for some.  But I’ve noticed a lot of naysayers through the years who refused to teach Bible classes or respond in a Bible class (unless he/she knew that everyone agreed with him/her in advance) but they had strong opinions about what the preacher or song leader or Elders did or said.  They didn’t feel qualified to teach, but they felt qualified to judge or “inspect” and condemn.  But that’s only part of them.  What about the others.  Is there no one that is articulate and knowledgeable and computer literate that loves the brethren enough to correct them and wants to defend sound doctrine (and will answer the last questions in the discussion)?   Is there no one out of all those people with all those years of Bible Study and training who can step up to the plate?  How shameful is that?
   
   

Personally, I’m not too concerned about looking foolish.  And I try not to take myself too seriously.  I know that in reality we are all pretty foolish from God’s perspective.  His wisdom is not our wisdom.  I’m sure His neck muscles are loose from shaking His head at us all the time.  We are just little finite creatures with our little pea brains that don’t work very well (sometimes I walk into the other room to get something and then I forget what it was I came in there to get).  But I never forget that I’m just a weak and sinful man who has many flaws and shortcomings.  I kid around that I’m an “Expert!” but I know that I’m not.  I don’t always communicate my thoughts very well and have to correct myself from time to time.  Sometimes I make people mad or hurt feelings or bewilder people (maybe I am an expert bewilderer).  But I know that God loves me.  And I know that he sent his perfect son to die for me (in spite of all my flaws).  And I know that he is full of grace and mercy toward me.  I know that it’s all him.  He did it all.  And I know that my core desire is to be what he wants me to be and to encourage others to be what he wants them to be.  So I encourage my fellow believers---my brethren---to join me in these discussions with mutual love and respect for each other.  I don’t care if you call me a “heathen liberal” (in fact I prefer it) as long as you do it with love.  Let’s engage in these discussions---not trying to win, but trying to understand what each other is saying and trying to grow in the Lord.  You can remain anonymous if you prefer.  I will never know who you are if that’s the way you’d like it, but let’s discuss these things so that we can sharpen one another to the glory of God.  You’ll be glad you did.  Sincerely, Dennis      

One of the most revealing passages in the Bible about worship is one which the naysayers seldom (if ever) focus on.  It doesn’t really fit their image of the purpose for our “worship services.”  It sort of knocks down their rule keeping mentality about worship.  So, they skim over it.   (I’ll tell you what that passage is in a moment.) 
I saw an example of this rule keeping mentality in a church bulletin of a conservative congregation in our area recently.  It referenced Rev. 22:18-19 which talks about not adding anything to the “words of the prophecy of this book” and about taking words away from this “book of prophecy”.  Of course the bulletin used it to condemn clapping of hands.  It said “If God desired the clapping of hands, don’t we believe that He would have stated so in no uncertain terms?”  “When God said “sing,” is not that specific enough?”  “Is clapping what God or man wants?”  So the rule is (I guess), since God didn’t specifically state that we should clap hands during our worship service, then it would be wrong to do it.  (I wonder if God was clear enough on how we should greet one another (with a Holy kiss) since he only mentioned it 5 times) or if it's okay to subtract that rule and substitute it with a hand shake?) How petty is this mindset.  I believe the writer is sincere, but this type of thinking elevates rule keeping above the true and Godly purpose of our “worship service”.

The passage that I find so revealing is Col. 2:20-23 (NIV).  It talks about rule keeping and how that mentality pulls us back to the basic principles of this world rather than to the lead us into righteous and Godly living.  It says: 

    “[20]Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: [21] "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? [22] These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. [23] Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.”

“RESTRAINING SENSUAL INDULGENCE???”  Is this passage indicating that something about our worship service is supposed to have value for restraining sensual indulgence?  Are we supposed to leave our worship services with a greater desire to be what God wants us to be?  Are we supposed to be inspired to live Godly lives and love our fellow man and be more dedicated to God and his word because of something that happens when we come together to worship?  I say, “YES!”  I say "Definitely."  I say "Absolutely."  It’s not about leaving with the focus being that “It was a good service because no rules were violated today.”  Rule keeping does not bring joy.  Rule keeping does not inspire.  Rule keeping doesn't bring that peace that passeth understanding---Because it is not a heart activity.  It is a checklist activity that just removes the feeling of guilt for a little while and it totally misses the point.  (It even missed the point in the Old Testament.)

Micah 6:6-8 (NIV) 

    With what shall I come before the Lord

        and bow down before the exalted God?

    Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,

        with calves a year old?

    [7] Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,

        with ten thousand rivers of oil?

    Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,

        the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

    [8] He has showed you, O man, what is good.

        And what does the Lord require of you?

    To act justly and to love mercy

        and to walk humbly with your God.

Will he be pleased with a rule keeping mentality?  “No!”  Give your heart to God.  That's what he wants.  Worship him with all your heart and soul and mind and strength.  Be inspired to live a righteous and upright life full of integrity and kindness and mercy.  Encourage your brother to do likewise.  May God bless you exceedingly as you do so this week.  Dennis 

We Agree!!!

Well, I finally thought of something about which the Naysayers and I agree.  And that is, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”  I’ve heard that statement quite a few times from the mouths and the pens (or keyboards) of the naysayers in the last few months.  And I couldn’t agree more.  I haven’t heard the companion to that statement, however, which is “If it’s broke, fix it.”  The reason I haven’t heard the companion statement, I guess, is because the Naysayers use the “ain’t broke” statement to say that I shouldn’t be blogging negatively about our religious activities and/or that the Elders shouldn’t allow changes in the church.  Apparently, where the Naysayers and I disagree is about whether or not anything’s broke. 

Let me describe a random church situation and then you tell me if you think it’s an example of a congregation that’s “broke” or not.  Just imagine you have a congregation that is made up of about 160 to 180 members.  The older generation (60 and above, which I’ll call the 1^st generation) makes up about 50 to 60% of the membership (much higher if you count each “family” as one unit) (for those of you in Rio Linda, this means that if I get out the church directory and give each address one vote, then the percentage of older family units would be higher---e.g. a widow would count as one and a family of 4 would count as one).  The generation below them, the second generation, makes up about 10 to 15% and the 3^rd generation makes up about 15 to 20% with their children rounding out the numbers.

Let’s say that out of the 2^nd generation, only two men are willing to let their names be put forward to be added as Elders.  There are others who are “qualified” but they don’t want their names to be put forward for whatever reason.  Then let’s say the Elders decide to “table” the whole Elder selection process without talking to either one of the candidates whose names have been submitted.  Let’s say that the Elders had legitimate reasons for tabling the process and that neither one of these men are qualified to be Elders even though they’ve been actively engaged deacons in many of the works of this church (and have taught quite a few adult and student Bible classes, etc.) for the past 14 years.  In other words, let’s just concede that there seems to be a great void in this 2^nd generation in this congregation for whatever reason.  Not many of them attend (any more) and none of them are willing and/or qualified to be Elders.
Then let’s look at the 3^rd generation.  Let’s just say that a significant portion of this generation---maybe 30 to45% of them attend regularly in large part because their grandparents are a part of the 1^st generation that attends this church (some are already not attending even though they are listed in the church directory).  Out of respect for their grandparents, and so that they won’t get that phone call on Monday, they attend the services.  When their grandparents are no longer around, who knows what might happen with this generation.  Potentially, there is a great void coming for this generation as well.  (Perhaps those of this generation who have told me what I’ve just told you will change their minds in a few years---perhaps.)
Now about baptisms---let’s just say that there haven’t been any baptisms (other than family members) for the past five or ten years (one possible exception---I’m not sure).  Any upward fluctuations in memberships have been strictly due to move in or dissatisfaction with other area churches.  In fact our attendance numbers have been gradually diminishing through the years---especially on Sunday and Wednesday nights.

Now let’s evaluate.  Would you say that this describes a healthy church?  Or not?  Would you say that this congregation is “broke” or “not broke”?

In the Book ‘Dying For Change’ by Leith Anderson (Bethany House Publishers, 1990) I see a quote that jumps out at me that very much describes what I call the "naysayers" attitude and I see it dominating some of the churches in this general area of Texas.  It follows:

                Sometimes openness to change comes very late as an act of desperation.  When institutional death is imminent, the holdouts at last become willing to change, but it is too late.  Like the heart patient who rejects a transplant until he is in the final stages of congestive heart failure.  By the time he changes his mind and is ready to act, he is too weak to survive the surgery.   …..

I believe this very much describes many of the Churches of Christ in rural America today.  They are dying but are in denial.  If we, in our local congregation, wait until there is total agreement about the need for change, it will be too late.  So that leaves the rest of us with a decision to make.  Do we wait until it's too late?  Or not?

“Honey, have you seen my tools?  I think something is broke.”

Think about it.  Dennis

We are drawing near to the end of our time here in Honduras .  We’ve gradually adapted to life here in some ways.  It’s either getting cooler or we are getting used to the heat.  I actually think it is a combination of the two.  From what I understand their hottest months are in March and April.  Which would mean that we’ve been through what would be like a Texas September, I guess---very warm at the beginning and gradually cooling toward the end.  The last couple of days we’ve had more clouds and rain in the afternoons which have led to cooler evenings.  That’s been nice (until it’s time for a cold shower).  At school I’ve gotten to where I hardly notice whether the windows are opened or closed.  I’ve gotten used to wearing the same clothes several times between washings.  Since we have to hand wash and there are no dryers, it’s a real challenge to hang them out and get them inside between rain showers.  Since the walls inside are cement and there are no nails or hooks we had to be creative in finding a way to hang a rope inside for a clothes line.  One of the windows does not have a screen but it has security bars on the outside.  So, I tied a rope from one of the security bars to the bedroom door (looped over the door so that it rests on top of the hinge)and then back out to the bar on the opposite side of the window.  So if we can at least have enough time for the clothes to stop dripping we can bring them inside if it starts looking rainy.  It’s amazing how quickly a cloud can pop up and drop a bucket of water and then pass right on by.  If the ground didn’t have a little water standing you’d never know that it had rained just an hour before (unless you had clothes on the line.
We have also become more comfortable safety wise.  We feel more relaxed in and among the people in town and in the stores and around.  We just kind of fit in more or less.  Most of the contact with Americans that these people have is with people who come to help in some way.  And, most of the people that come to help are very kind and generous type people.  Therefore, most of the locals feel grateful and somewhat protective of Americans.    I can see that they feel that it is a real treat for them to interact with an American, especially those who rarely get to do that on a one to one basis.  And, if they know any English words they beam with pride if they use them.  So, when they do, I heap praise on them for their good English.  They beam some more. 

So, as we wind down, we are trying to take in the special things we’ve enjoyed.  We are trying to get all the pictures taken we’ll want.  We trying to return the things we’re supposed to return and give all the things we want to give.  And we are reflecting on the month.  It’s been good and we feel blessed to have had the opportunity to experience it.  God Bless.  Dennis

In the past few years I have come to the conclusion that God greatly desires to bless his children.  But often times we, his children, restrict those blessings by getting in the way.  We get in the way by thinking that we are causing our blessings rather than acknowledging that they are all coming from him.  And, we get in the way by failing to have proactive gratitude in our hearts and thanking him continuously for those blessings.  I’ve often illustrated it with a word picture that describes these large dump trucks lined up and ready to dump the blessings at our feet.  But they don’t dump them because we have a teaspoon and we have climbed up onto the back of the truck that’s in the front of the line and we are dipping down into it with our teaspoon and scooping up blessings for ourselves.  He doesn’t dump the blessings on us because we might get injured in the process.  If, however, we will get out of the way---acknowledge publicly and regularly that we can do nothing without him; acknowledge publicly and regularly that it is all God who deserves the glory and honor and that we deserve none; acknowledge publicly and regularly that all of our blessings come from him, then he raises the beds of the trucks and let’s those blessings flow in amounts we can’t even conceive of with our little teaspoons.   
James tells us that “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father”. (James 1:17).  And Luke tells us that we should “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."  (Luke 6:38)
That’s amazing!  That’s awesome!  That’s wonderful!  He doesn´t want to just bless us a little.  He wants it to be abundantly poured into our laps.
So I say, get rid of the teaspoons.  Stop being the limiting force in your life.  Get out of the way.  Instead, trust in God.  Give him the glory for all your blessings because, in fact, it’s all God.  It’s all God.  It’s all God!!!!  May He bless you this week as you acknowledge Him and give Him all the credit and all the praise and all the glory and all the thanksgiving for the bountiful blessings you have received and as you proactively share those blessings with those around you.  Sincerely, Dennis

Part of what we did on Sunday and Monday was to visit the homes of some of our Honduran students.  As we visited with the parents (none of whom could speak English) they said that their children were hesitant to use their English.  I had noticed this in many of the student during the school time as well.  They knew more than they were willing to speak because they also understood that there was a lot more that they did not know.  I could relate.  When I first started learning Spanish, I felt the temptation to not speak it because I knew that I was so imperfect with it that I might make a fool of myself by trying.  This fear, if we let it win, is such an obstacle to progress because the only way that you get really proficient is to speak it.  I talked to the fifth grade class about this and encouraged them to speak English even if they did not feel much confidence.  I likened it to a small baby who was learning to walk.  Do we tell the baby that he should stop trying because he keeps falling down?  No, we encourage him to keep trying and eventually he can walk and even run without stumbling. 
Sometimes I speak to them in Spanish.  I would say that my proficiency is about 50%.  I can get my message across 90% of the time and I can understand many of the words that others are speaking, but if you don’t understand 10% of the words you don’t really have a clue about what they are really saying.  You might know what they are talking about, but not what their conclusions are or the reasons for those conclusions.  This is frustrating at times.  I want to be more fluent and it is a life goal of mine to become extremely fluent.  But, I’m not there yet.  On the other side of the coin, I was thinking yesterday that it would be very difficult for us to be here on this adventure if I didn’t have the fluency I have.  We can go out on our own without worrying about me not being to get my message across.  It’s just a little rough around the edges, but communication takes place.  And that is very gratifying.  So I’m very glad that I did not give in to that temptation to remain silent due to my lack of fluency. 
You can apply that to all areas of life.  Fear is such a controlling and limiting aspect of so many peoples lives.  I just don’t want to let my life be constricted down to a dribble by fear.  My hope is that you too will be bold and break through the fear blockade.  God Bless you as you march forward this week.  Dennis   

We have begun our last week in Honduras , so I call this the week of lasts.  This weekend was our last full weekend and it was excellent.  On Saturday, Dr Garcia took us to several small villages around Catacamas and we were able to visit with the families of several of the children in our school.  We ate fish and purchased mangos from a mango orchard.  We learned to recognize “wetback houses”.  These are houses made possible by having a family member living in the states and sending home money each month.  Dr Garcia told me that the income of the average working Honduran living here is about 2,500 to 3,000 lemperas per month.  That’s about $125 to $150 per month.  So, if someone from the states sends them $200 per month, that’s a significant increase over the local people.  Therefore, they can build a nicer house made of concrete block and brick (and stucco and paint) and it sets it apart from those made of adobe and wood).  So, everyone knows that it is a “wetback house”.  He said that is not a derogatory term here. 
On Sunday, we went on a three mile trek up a mountain just outside of Catacamas.  We hiked into one of the National Parks.  It was a beautiful hike into the rain forest.  Even though it was a national forest, there were still houses on the side of the road occasionally and even a pulperia at the end of the road, where we bought coca colas and had a great little visit with the proprietor of the store.  It was all in Spanish so we had to have some interpretation of what he was saying.  He is one of those great storytellers that is good about passing down “oral traditions”.  He said that he enjoys smoking more than eating.  Later in the conversation he said that he felt like television was ruining young people today---that it was breaking down traditional values (like smoking instead of eating?).  He talked of seeing UFO’s flying down the valley in front of his house.  It was very interesting. 
One thing that we saw all along the hike was coffee plants planted in and among the forest.  What is interesting about that is the fact that coffee plants need the shade of the trees to survive.  Therefore, coffee plants are very important to the saving of the rain forests.  We were told that these trees would have probably been cut down or burned off so that other crops could be planted if it weren’t for the fact that the coffee plants needed shade.  So, thank goodness for coffee, because the scenery is extremely beautiful.  This trek might have been my favorite thing we’ve done so far. 
Today, Monday, we start our last school week.  We are glad it is our last.  As much as we’ve enjoyed it, we look forward to getting back to those awesome daily American experiences that we’ve sometimes taken for granted.  It is truly a blessing to be an American.  And I thank God that he blessed me that way.  God Bless you as you count your many blessings this week.  Dennis