Lent: Speaking Out

As the days of Lent continue, I wanted to share a way that Derek has been challenged in his spiritual maturity. You guys know that Derek is a reader. His form of entertainment, study, reflection...all of it is by the act of reading. Recently, some excitement in our church over a new book caused Derek some pause. The book is the Harbinger: The Ancient Mystery that holds the Secret of America's Future, by Jonathan Cahn. For the first time in our marriage, Derek was actually annoying while reading a book. Every few paragraphs he would interrupt my reading to exclaim the absurdity of some of the books claims. I'm not going to sit here and say I've read the book and after Derek's reaction to it, I'm definitely not putting it on my list of books to read, but I will say that I'm so thankful for his faith - founded in the Word of God. Christ is his cornerstone. Not some new age theology or misinterpretation of prophecy. He let's the Word stand over him, not he stand over the Word. For this, I am so thankful.He is speaking OUT! Here is the review that Derek wrote on Amazon about the book:

This review is from: The Harbinger: The ancient mystery that holds the secret of America's future (Paperback)

While this book has some decent reflections on OT prophesy and events and God's purposes behind both, it builds it's central message on a flawed, though apparently common, understanding of America. The author makes a comparison between the nation of Israel and the USA that has no basis biblically. The author says that there have been only two nations in the history of the world that have been established with a covenant between the nation and God. He then uses this reasoning to link an OT prophesy given to Israel with current day America. While the linking of the prophesies with current events is impressive, and surely we can learn something from these prophesies that applies to us today, there are some huge errors and dangerous implications if we make such a link between Israel and America.

First of all, Israel did not "choose" God. God chose Israel. So, any attempt to say that Israel and America are similar in that they both set out as nations that "chose" God falls flat. There is no evidence that God has a similar "choosing" of America. Sure, God has purposes for America in his overarching plan of redemption for the world, but America is not a "chosen" nation, whom God works with in elevated and special ways, different from other nations.

Secondly, such a comparison between pre-Christ Israel and current day America fails to rightly understand God's means of engaging and reaching the world. God chose Israel as his people, that he might reveal himself to them and reach the whole world through them. God chose to enter human history through a specific people at a specific time. He didn't only come for the Israelites but He came through them. Today, post-Christ, God's primary means of reaching and engaging the world is not through any nation or state. It's through his church, the universal, all nation encompassing body of believers. America is not his chosen means to spread his salvation and love to the world. The church is.

Such misunderstanding seems to be quite widespread in America and leads me to believe that it has at its root an idolatry of a certain perception of America. "America is a Christian nation and until we get back to these roots there is no hope for our country." False. Hope does not come from our government, from our country being based on Christian ideals, or from having a godly president (though none of these are bad things). Hope comes from God and as the church spreads His gospel to the world. Don't put your hope in our country or government aligning to certain ideals or us getting back to being a more "christian" nation. This is idolatry. Seek the good of our country for sure, but don't make our country the greatest good. God is our greatest good and are only hope.

America is not the current day Israel, God's chosen people. America is not the hope of the world. God is. The church is his means of spreading that hope.

Lent: In the Middle

Just thought someone might identify with this cartoon.

Hi friends and family. We are still in the midst of Lent, which will culminate April 8th, Easter Sunday. This season has been so full of revelation, marriage renovation and life innovation! As we've stated in a previous post, we have gained a deeper understanding of what we want in our lives. We've also started a nightly/early AM devotional together by Derek's favorite author, D.A. Carson. We've picked up some of the good habits we practiced while in Korea and have began exercising more regularly together.

Derek recently went to a conference in Albuquerque, NM, a six hour drive with his friend Matt. They went and heard D.A. Carson speak at a Gospel Coalition conference. They had a great time and learned a lot. However, Derek called to tell me that there was a bookstore selling all of his favorite books on theology for 30% off. Derek came home with lots of new toys and even a new book "for me" (wink, wink). Doing this devotional together, whether it's 6am and we are up walking the dogs or its 10pm right before we crash for the evening, has really drawn our hearts together in Christ. It's transformational to read the word of God with your husband and to see him grow in his spiritual headship of your marriage. I'm so thankful for this and pray this same transformation over your marriages.

In other news I've been incredibly hard to pin down and answer/return phone calls. My only excuse is pure exhaustion. The culprit is many: sleep deprivation, two very energetic dogs, a church that has an event every day and the job. All of which are incredible blessings. I'm making an effort to be better in touch with anyone who wants it. So, if you are that person, let me know. I'll be there. (Just show me grace).

In other news, it has been raining in the desert. We've had three nights of good rain and thunderstorms here in Midland. Checking our car for hail damage has been a new item on our morning checklist. We should be in the triple digits by the end of next month...