If God Knows the Number of My Days, Why Run?

Does God know when you will die? 

The simple answer is yes. Psalm 139:16 says,
"Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

So if God could literally display a calendar for all the days of my life, then why should I take the time to run for my health?

This question is one of perspective. 

God KNOWS when I'm going to die.

I have NO IDEA when I'm going to die. 

Yet I know certain choices can accelerate the process: 

-Drug or alcohol abuse

-Overeating

-Lying in the middle of I-90 in downtown Chicago around 5pm.

God's omniscience means He knows all the choices I'm going to make, including the choice to take better care of myself. I have good reasons to run. 

I run to honor God with my body. (1 Cor 6:19-20)

I run to stay ready to serve God and others (1 Tim 4:8)

I run to encourage others (Hebrews 10:24)

God once told King Hezekiah he would die soon and to set his household in order. But Hezekiah refused to merely accept this fate. He cried out in tearful prayer for God to grant him more days. God responds in 2 Kings 20:5-6, "I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you...and add 15 years to your life." God then revealed a treatment through the prophet Isaiah that healed Hezekiah's sickness and displayed that God is not anti-medicine. 

Did God know Hezekiah would pray? Yes

Did God know Hezekiah's prayer would grant him 15 more years. Yes

Did Hezekiah know any of this? Nope

Therein lies the point. Just because God knows the number of my days, doesn't mean I fail to take responsibility for my life. Certainly, not every runner is granted a long life. But if living healthy could potentially extend my time with my family, make me more useful to serve God, and prove 13.1 miles isn't an impossible goal, why not give it a shot? 

Head back over next week as the late Senator John McCain teaches us how not to be a jerk...

Lessons From the Race

Saturday was pretty awesome. 

After the disappointment of knee surgery a few years ago, and a lot of hard work, I finally crossed the finish line of my first half-marathon.

Running has taught me a lot.
Running in a pack of 2500 people at the Madison Mini added a few more lessons.

1) Run YOUR race

"let US run with endurance the race that is set before US." Hebrews 12:1

The first three miles were pretty bunched up, but our personal paces began to spread the field. A few times I would try to pace with a faster runner, but I gave up that strategy pretty quickly. 

The only person I was competing against was myself. 

Hebrews reminds US to run our race. That means both the general race for all Christians as well as the race of God's specific will for each of us. Faster runners and more faithful believers can be an inspiration, but forgetting to run your race in the meantime will likely lead only to defeat. 

2) Be an encourager

"encourage one another and build one another up" 1 Thess. 5:11

10 cheer stations along the course provided us with hydration and adrenaline! My tired body perked up around the 9 and 11 mile marks with shouts of encouragement and cups of gatorade. The Madison Memorial Girls CC team above got my vote as the best cheer station. The Super Mario power-up mushroom sign was epic!

Encouragement is powerful. 

It doesn't take a lot of encouragement to keep us going, whether it's a challenging run or life situation. When we feel broken down, encouragement can build us back up! So don't wonder if that person could use a little encouragement...just treat them like you wish they'd treat you!

3) Celebrate your wins

"at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem [the people came] to celebrate joyfully." Nehemiah 12:27

This is my favorite picture from race day. When I told my wife I wanted to run the Madison Mini, she jumped in for the 5K race. Numerous times she's downplayed finishing the 5K in comparison to my race, but I wouldn't hear of it. She doesn't love running, yet did the work all by herself to have her best pace of the summer!!!

It's not a sin to celebrate.

The work of Nehemiah and his people in restoring the broken down walls of Jerusalem had been hard work, and what's the point of working hard if you're not going to celebrate the accomplishment? It's not prideful to celebrate a milestone and we would do well to celebrate more!

Whether you're running the race of the track or of life, I hope these lessons are as meaningful to you as they were to me. Check in next week as I share a bit on the subject of "If God knows the number of my days, then why run?" 

Sometimes You Gotta Dig

What did Indiana Jones teach me as a child? 

1. Fear of snakes is completely healthy. 
2. Nazi's were a real superstitious bunch. 
3. Always stop after the third movie. (Still can't believe I paid real money to see Crystal Skull)

The draw of Indiana Jones was the idea of uncovering something that had been buried far too long and was simply waiting for discovery. Christians must also be willing to take on the same work. 

God called the prophet Ezekiel to a dig of discovery, but it wasn't an exciting find. God reveals a small hole in the temple wall and commands the prophet to dig it open and climb through. He enters to find the elders of Israel worshipping idols and false gods within the walls of God's house. 

Then God said to Ezekiel, "You have seen what the (70) elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in his room of pictures? For they say, 'The Lord does not see us.'" Ezekiel 8:12

Here are some quick takeaways:

We need to dig. When we see a hole in our spiritual house, we need to be willing to admit the damage and work with God on the restoration. 

We need to be honest. God sees everything. When we find the damage, we must admit to God both the sin and the cause. 

We need to be swift! Israel had failed to respond to God and their idolatry grew out of secret places into the open where many were deceived. Failing to repent immediately can only lead to further sin. 

Dig in prayer. Be honest about what you find. Respond swiftly to God's conviction. He doesn't expose our sin to destroy us, but to redirect us! 

No Girls Allowed?

Southern Baptists are considering questions about women's roles for ministry in fresh ways. I was asked to share my own journey on this subject in the Illinois Baptist recently. Here is that article:

https://ib2news.org/2018/07/26/no-girls-allowed/

The Difference Between God's Plans and God's Purpose

"What if my dreams do not happen? Will I just change what I told my friends?"
-Twenty One Pilots from "We Don't Believe What's On TV"

We spend too much time looking for God's plans.

It feels like I've spent years looking for God's plans, merely moving from point to point while failing to discover a bigger picture. My wife and I constantly quoted Proverbs 3:5-6 through times of uncertainty, and we have discovered God consistently has plans for our lives even in the most difficult circumstances.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him
and he will make your paths straight.

So I was content to move along the path, believing God for each step.
But in the journey, I forgot about reaching a destination.

I realize my primary goal is not to find God's plans. My primary goal is to live out my purpose.

Psalm 37:4
Take delight in the Lord
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

This is not a promise of God to grant every sin or every whim of every heart.
Taking delight in the Lord comes as we make ourselves more pliable in His hands. We grow in our relationship with Him and we discover our purpose. The desires of our heart mirror His desires for us.

God has made me a teacher. That's His purpose.
Right now, God has made me a pastor. That's His plan.
God's plans are always to shape and mold us as we learn to delight in Him and embrace the desires He has placed within us. Understanding this purpose fuels our dreams for what can be...if we don't fall to fear.

One day, I'd like to be a college professor, teaching students to love and apply the Bible. In the meantime, I see how His current plans are growing and stretching me into my purpose.

• Joseph was an Administrator...yet he spent time as a prisoner.
• David's was a King....yet he spent time as a shepherd.
• Peter was an Evangelist...yet he spent time as a fisherman.

Don't be afraid of your dreams. God has made you and knows what gets you motivated and where you are most useful. Keep seeking the plans of God. Put your trust in God. Take your delight in Him, and watch his plans help you to find the purpose your heart has been longing for. 

#MeToo Hits the SBC

To our First Family:

We are Southern Baptist. I recognize that for many of you, that doesn't really register. You love our church, agree with our statements of faith, and have probably even given to the Christmas and Easter mission offerings. Beyond that, the Southern Baptist Convention doesn't mean much to you.

I'll be heading next week to our annual convention in Dallas, June 12-13. As the largest non-Catholic denomination in the country, our meetings tend to make the news. Usually that news is for our stand on biblical truth, but unfortunately there is a bigger story I'd like to make you aware of.

Our #MeToo Moment
Dr. Paige Patterson has been a hero of our denomination as part of a movement in the 70's to steer the SBC to a place of firm commitment to the authority of scripture. However, it has been revealed that while President of two of our seminaries, Dr. Patterson used his authority to silence women who had been raped on those campuses. In addition, indefensible statements during sermons from Dr. Patterson have come to light regarding domestic violence and describing a teenage girl's appearance.

Dr. Patterson has been removed as President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, but is still in line to preach the sermon at the end of this year's annual meeting. Being voted into that position last year, before any of these details were known, he can only be removed if he resigns (unlikely at this point) or if messengers like myself vote to have him removed. I anticipate the later solution to be the first motion from the floor and to pass overwhelmingly.

You may still hear scattered voices in support of Dr Patterson because of his past service, but no level of service can discount the abuses of authority Dr. Patterson is guilty of. Please know the overwhelming voices in our denominational leadership and mainstream have firmly denounced Dr. Patterson in the strongest of terms. As a husband, father, brother, and son to some incredible women in my own life, I am heartbroken for this situation in our denomination. Men must NEVER be permitted to use spiritual authority for spiritually bullying.

The Good News

I've been part of Southern Baptist Churches for over 20 years. I don't believe we're infallible as a denomination, but in regards to mission and message, I believe the SBC is a great place of partnership for our church. 

The positive impact of the SBC is on the rise! In a time where denominations are dying, we gained 272 churches last year and saw worship attendance grow by an extra 100,000 each Sunday! 

Our own church has seen growth through a second worship service and leadership transitions to build upon and strengthen our worship and discipleship ministries. People are responding to our efforts of biblical worship and discipleship.

As a member of FBC you are a Southern Baptist. That doesn't make you responsible for every difficult moment we experience as a denomination. But as a part of this faith family, let us pray together and use these moments to own our imperfections for the declaration of the Gospel. Let's tell them about our Jesus!

Condemning Comfort

How do I comfort someone whose deceased loved one was an unbeliever? 

Recently the Pope was faced with a heart-wrenching question from a young boy. The child's repeated attempts to voice his question were quickly overcome by tears. Finally, Pope Francis called the child forward and encouraged him to whisper the question in his ear as the boy hugged him tight. After a few private moments Pope Francis shared the question:

"My dad was an atheist. Is He in Heaven?" (Here is the video link: https://usat.ly/2r209qa)

The boy shared that his dad was a good man and even had all four of his children baptized. Pope Francis agreed the boy's father had been a good man and then answered his question:

"God, faced with a dad who was an unbeliever but had his four children baptized, do you think that God would be capable of leaving that man far from Him? No."

A large crowd was present and was encouraged by Pope Francis to also shout, "NO!" The video has gone viral, allowing every viewer to be condemned by an act of comfort. Thousands have heard of salvation not through Jesus, but through personal goodness. 

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:17

John 3:17 is my favorite verse because people usually respond, "Don't you mean John 3:16?" I appreciate that it pushes back against those who say salvation only through Jesus excludes people. Listen:
Without Jesus there was NO WAY to Heaven. 
With Jesus there is ONE WAY to Heaven. 
I prefer the second option. Telling people that Jesus is the only way IS a loving act.

I empathize with this difficult question Pope Francis faced. I've performed many funerals for people who had no testimony of Christ, and yet their families spoke of them as if they were clearly in Heaven. How does a Christian approach this?

1) Don't presume.
Max Lucado encourages us to remember that in the same way the thief on the cross accepted at the very end of his life, so may have this seemingly lost family member. Perhaps they cried out to Jesus in their final moments. We don't treat all people as saved, but we don't presume to absolutely know.

2) Display the love of God. 
Jesus wept with people who were hurting. Regardless of their beliefs, we can still encourage people to hold to those good memories and even be ready to share those stories with family they never had the chance to meet.

3) Point the person to Jesus. 
I know one thing is true of every person who dies: If they were standing before their loved ones they would say, "Eternity is real." We can't do anything for the soul that is gone, but we still have a chance with the soul that stands before us. So share the love of Jesus and salvation of Jesus that is available to every person.

When people are hurting, be a comfort. But don't condemn someone by false comfort that fails to share the truth. Be a person who expresses truth and love side-by-side.