Month: August 2004 (page 1 of 2)

More from “Uncle Walt”

When I heard the learn�d astronomer;
When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me;
When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them;
When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room,
How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick;
Till rising and gliding out, I wander�d off by myself,
In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time,
Look�d up in perfect silence at the stars.

Too many people want to “explain” everything. They’ve got their systems, their proofs, their charts, etc. “Uncle Walt” reminded me today that sometimes, we just need to experience the grandeur and the majesty…

Oh, “Uncle Walt?” That’s what John Keating called him…

More from “Uncle Walt”

When I heard the learn�d astronomer;

When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me;

When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them;

When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room,

How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick;

Till rising and gliding out, I wander�d off by myself,

In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time,

Look�d up in perfect silence at the stars.

Too many people want to “explain” everything. They’ve got their systems, their proofs, their charts, etc. “Uncle Walt” reminded me today that sometimes, we just need to experience the grandeur and the majesty…

Oh, “Uncle Walt?” That’s what John Keating called him…

Keeping Our Eyes on the Ball
Last night I got a call from one of our “sometime” attender/members. He’s a great guy with a good heart. Just out of the blue, he wanted to talk about something that had “been bothering” him.

“Pastor Charlie, do you ever do any “end times teaching” down there at the church?” I replied that I don’t have charts diagrams and a whole “scheme” of the end times and all that, but that I do teach the Bible.

He pressed on: “Well, I’m reading in the RevelationSSS” – I love that! – “and I just wondered where you think we are in the seven trumpets. I think we’re right there between the fifth trumpet and the sixth trumpet, and I think time is growing short! What do you think, Pastor Charlie?”

Interestingly, during my devotional time yesterday morning, I had been focusing on Acts 1. The disciples were totally interested in when Jesus would restore the kingdom to Israel – “end times” stuff, right? And what was His response?

“Don’t worry about that stuff. The Father has it under control. You get busy about what I’m telling you to do…wait for the power, get going, and as you’re going along, tell others about Me and how there is forgiveness and life-change when a person turns to Me.” That’s the “Charlie translation,” of course.

I made it a point to tell my friend that, while the “end times” stuff is interesting and even important, I don’t think it’s the main thing. Jesus told us to watch out for the “signs” and all that. But He emphasized that we should “occupy” until He comes back, ever ready for the return, but seriously engaged in the task of sharing the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

Keeping Our Eyes on the Ball

Last night I got a call from one of our “sometime” attender/members. He’s a great guy with a good heart. Just out of the blue, he wanted to talk about something that had “been bothering” him.

“Pastor Charlie, do you ever do any “end times teaching” down there at the church?” I replied that I don’t have charts diagrams and a whole “scheme” of the end times and all that, but that I do teach the Bible.

He pressed on: “Well, I’m reading in the RevelationSSS” – I love that! – “and I just wondered where you think we are in the seven trumpets. I think we’re right there between the fifth trumpet and the sixth trumpet, and I think time is growing short! What do you think, Pastor Charlie?”

Interestingly, during my devotional time yesterday morning, I had been focusing on Acts 1. The disciples were totally interested in when Jesus would restore the kingdom to Israel – “end times” stuff, right? And what was His response?

“Don’t worry about that stuff. The Father has it under control. You get busy about what I’m telling you to do…wait for the power, get going, and as you’re going along, tell others about Me and how there is forgiveness and life-change when a person turns to Me.” That’s the “Charlie translation,” of course.

I made it a point to tell my friend that, while the “end times” stuff is interesting and even important, I don’t think it’s the main thing. Jesus told us to watch out for the “signs” and all that. But He emphasized that we should “occupy” until He comes back, ever ready for the return, but seriously engaged in the task of sharing the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

Re-discovering Walt Whitman
I got home last night, and for some reason, was in the mood for Walt Whitman. so I broke out my dog-eared copy of Leaves of Grass, and began from the upper-left-hand corner. Some things I found again…

…from “To a Historian”

Chanter of Personality, outlining what is yet to be,
I project the history of the future.

…from “On Journeys Through the States”

We willing learners of all, teachers of all, and lovers of all.

That last one reminds me of Paul’s powerful words in 1 Corinthians 9…

Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized – whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ – but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!

Re-discovering Walt Whitman

I got home last night, and for some reason, was in the mood for Walt Whitman. so I broke out my dog-eared copy of Leaves of Grass, and began from the upper-left-hand corner. Some things I found again…



…from “To a Historian”

Chanter of Personality, outlining what is yet to be,

I project the history of the future.

…from “On Journeys Through the States”

We willing learners of all, teachers of all, and lovers of all.

That last one reminds me of Paul’s powerful words in 1 Corinthians 9…

Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized – whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ – but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!

Too Cool for School?
One of my favorite “new” places on the Web is Worthwhile Magazine. One of my favorite writers over there is Anita Sharpe. Her current article is about whether high school determines a person’s destiny. She writes

“It started me thinking of people who revolutionized our culture who were not cool in high school: Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Bill Gates, Steven Spielberg. . .

Did their lack of popularity spur them on to their later greatness, or did the individual vision that made them great preclude any possibility of conforming to high school coolness?”

Dealing with a college freshman, who wanted more than anything to be “cool” in high school, and who is having a hard time “letting go” and starting fresh in college made me notice the article.

It also reminds me that we aren’t stuck being who and what we are or were. God’s grace changes us. The old guy passes away and all things are new! Our problem? Letting the new guy live and the old guy stay dead. It’s a daily struggle!

Too Cool for School?

One of my favorite “new” places on the Web is Worthwhile Magazine. One of my favorite writers over there is Anita Sharpe. Her current article is about whether high school determines a person’s destiny. She writes

“It started me thinking of people who revolutionized our culture who were not cool in high school: Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Bill Gates, Steven Spielberg. . .

Did their lack of popularity spur them on to their later greatness, or did the individual vision that made them great preclude any possibility of conforming to high school coolness?”

Dealing with a college freshman, who wanted more than anything to be “cool” in high school, and who is having a hard time “letting go” and starting fresh in college made me notice the article.

It also reminds me that we aren’t stuck being who and what we are or were. God’s grace changes us. The old guy passes away and all things are new! Our problem? Letting the new guy live and the old guy stay dead. It’s a daily struggle!

Ouch…
I found some of those on-target quotes in Scott Williams’ blog, via everyone’s favorite Canadian…

“Remember, after you say, ‘You can’t live in our community, you can’t teach in our school, you can’t come to our college, and you can’t be part of our church’ – after that you cannot say, ‘But we love you in the name of Jesus.'”

Could it be that we have totally missed the boat – and the point – when we do stuff like this?

We can accept without approving, we can become trusted friends without compromising our values and our witness, but we cannot offer God’s healing grace to a lost and hurting world without walking where they walk.

Ouch…

I found some of those on-target quotes in Scott Williams’ blog, via everyone’s favorite Canadian…

“Remember, after you say, ‘You can’t live in our community, you can’t teach in our school, you can’t come to our college, and you can’t be part of our church’ – after that you cannot say, ‘But we love you in the name of Jesus.'”

Could it be that we have totally missed the boat – and the point – when we do stuff like this?

We can accept without approving, we can become trusted friends without compromising our values and our witness, but we cannot offer God’s healing grace to a lost and hurting world without walking where they walk.