Ravi Zacharias tells of the time he was taking senior exams (if I remember correctly) in theology. His first question was: "God, elaborate." I'm not sure what his grade was, but Ravi indicated that he felt like he could write for hours on the topic. Then I wondered to myself, if I were asked such a question, what would be my response? Then there was James Boice, who stated at a Bible conference once that (his multiple academic accomplishments notwithstanding), he had turned down several invitation to teach at the seminary or college level. His reason? He believed that his congregation needed good theology. And, as far as he was concerned, he was his congregation's resident theologian. He remained in that position until the Lord took him. I've thought of each man's comments recently. There are very few of us on this planet that have the brilliant mind of Ravi or the meticulous devotion to the Word of God like Boice. However, by virtue of their presence in and impact upon the Christian world, they have collectively raised the standard by which we should measure our ministry, at least our teaching ministry. Being a country preacher, until recently, I hadn't thought much about my measure as a theologian. Then it occurred to me that ultimately each counseling session (formal or informal), each phone call from a troubled friend, each contact with a person in a hospital room, each funeral service, each and every wedding and baptismal service, indeed, each and every message I preach brings theology into focus. Every time the Lord calls upon me to minister to someone's life, theology is the "maid in hand" that I bring along. Conscious or not of her presence, she is the aroma of doctrinal perfume that tints the air. Theology is the study of God. If, as a minister of the Gospel, I do not allow her accompaniment to my conversations, her confirmation to my prayers and her life to my living, I am no better than a mere philosopher. I have forsaken the God of my spiritual fathers and left my audience, singular or plural in number, with a verbal vacuum. Then each of us, audience and I, has a latter end worse than our first. We will become of all men, most miserable. So now I ask you to fill in the blanks: "God, elaborate!" How did you do?

Tuesdays with Mark. For several years, Toni opened her kitchen and laundry room to her bachelor brother on Tuesday evenings. Since Mark would show up earlier than we would get home, he had a key to get in, start his laundry, turn on ESPN and generally make himself at home until we arrived. That pattern lasted quite a while until another sister in the area offered an "every other Tuesday" routine to help out. These supper times with my brother-in-law turned out to be interesting in many ways. Mark could be quite moody (can't we all!) at times. So our conversations would be determined many times by his state of being. He basically had two passions: sports and spaghetti. He was strongly opinionated about both! There was an occasion when his sister tried to take him on about why the Phillies won their first divisional series in decades: Phillies came on too strong or the Mets choked? It was a vibrant discussion! I was proud of my little wife taking on her, ahem, louder brother, but alas, he was too vociferous for her. As I remember it, they were having this discussion sitting at the table opposite one another over a plate of spaghetti. I kept my head down and concentrated on the pasta. No matter the subject though, you never won an argument with Mark; he just knew he was always right. At least it provided for a little mix occasionally for our dinner time conversations. There was one exception to Mark's "rightness." We had a pattern of finishing off dinner time by reading a chapter from the Bible. We started with the Gospels, went through the book of Acts and then started on Psalms. After almost each reading, Mark would ask thoughtful questions or make interesting observations. That would generally lead to some healthy exchange of conversation about biblical content. Mark came to Christ just a few years ago. For him it was a long, difficult and private journey. He realized he wasn't an expert in the Bible, so he was willing to ask questions. Mark's health declined rapidly in his last few months; he went to be with the Lord a few weeks ago. I was at his hospital bedside his last afternoon on earth and prayed with him. Mark always appreciated prayers on his behalf, saying a quick, quiet, "Thanks, Keith." Our Tuesday evenings are once again our own. And, no matter how the Phillies do this year, I won't be able to eat a plate of spaghetti again without thinking about Mark...and the Gospels, and Acts, and...

Mutation: I first became aware of the term in junior high school. I first understood the term in college. Simply, it is a word that describes change. It is most frequently used in the scientific world to describe change that takes place as presented in an evolutionary context. But that is not the purpose of this article. Instead, I want to delve into the theological usage of the term. In that case, we go in the opposite direction. Instead of talking about things that change, we talk about a God who is changeless. For that we use the term: immutable. For created objects and beings, change is matter of our existence. That is, since we are made of a host of composite parts, almost by definition we are subject to change. That's what composite elements/obstacles do, they change. Change also means that you can either gain or lose something (in time). For humans, that can cover a host of items: weight, color, size, skin tone, maturation, etc. If you're made of parts, sooner or later, those parts will change, decay, cease functioning, lose flexibility...you get the picture! Change is also a mantra of sorts in our modern culture. Rarely do people stay in the same place for their entire existence. And recently, more rarely do people remain in the same vocation, or even field of endeavor. When change happens, the question of adaptability comes in to play. For Christians, adaptability is joined with faith to explore God's direction and purpose. But why would faith then enter the picture? Basically for one reason, since God is immutable, He's the only one we can trust to know how to handle "mutation." Whether the influences of change are external or internal, God has all the bases covered. The immutability of God appears in its most perfect beauty when viewed against the mutability of men. In God, no change is possible; in men, change is impossible to escape. Neither the man is fixed nor his world, but he and it are in constant flux. So writes Tozer. If we're going to handle the inevitability of change, then we must trust the God who does not change. For, we live in and are creatures of a world system He has designed; and He has designed change as part of that system. Faith then, makes the journey a whole lot more pleasant!

Samuel Johnson, now that's a man I'd like to get to know! He lived a couple of centuries ago in England. He was a "lexicographer and literary critic." I realize I have just lost eighty percent of you, but for those who remain, let me inform you a bit more. He is mentioned several times in the book, From the Library of C. S. Lewis. He was a big hit with Malcolm Muggeridge (who considered him "to be among the greatest English-men of letters"). And, at least in the eyes of one scholar, C. S. Lewis was considered to be Johnson's comparative equal in scholarship and wit. So there you have it! If Sam was good enough for Lewis and Malcolm, he's good enough for me! Have your slow-mo thinking cap on? Ponder this quote of Johnson's, Some seem to admire indiscriminately whatever has been long preserved, without considering that time has sometimes cooperated with chance; all perhaps are more willing to honor past than present excellence; and the mind contemplates genius through the shades of age as the eye surveys the sun through artificial opacity. The great contention of criticism is to find the faults of the moderns, and the beauties of the ancients. While an author is yet living we estimate his powers by his worst performance, and when he is dead, we rate them by his best. Okay, I'll give you a few minutes to re-read this quotation and ponder it's meaning...Now, are you ready to proceed? When I first read this, I thought of a blog entry my daughter made of a quote by Athanasius (fourth century church father and apologist) a few months ago: "Who writes like this anymore?" Good question; sadly, there are not too many literary answers from our era. We are deprived of men who know their vocabulary, history and substance in this generation of English authors. I have long contended that good preachers (and writers) are good readers. And, the more you do of the latter, the better you become of the former. But getting back to Johnson's point (we criticize the worst of those living and revere the best of them when dead); I can't help but think of Jesus. He once stated of His critics, you hate me and John (the Baptist) for opposite reasons, but once we're gone, you'll realize that there was no one greater born of women than John. And, I might add, no one greater than Jesus, period!

Everlasting (eternal): it is a term that is frequently used to describe or even define the God of the Bible. However, comprehending its value is another matter. If I were to venture a definition of the term, it would go something like this: everlasting, adj., without boundaries in time and space, never ending; that is, without beginning and without end. As humans, our greatest obstacle in comprehending the infinite (or one who is everlasting) is that we are finite; we have both beginning and end. As this term relates to God, it is simultaneously an adjective and a predicate nominative. That is, the word describes God and the word is God. Hebrew (the primary language of the OT) is a very functional and economic language. With the simple use of three "radicals" (we might refer to them as consonants) most every word in the Hebrew lexicon is formed. By simply adding a suffix or prefix (or some similar simple change) one basic word can have a full expression. Conversely, you can have a simple sentence by placing two nouns side by side with the verb simply being implied. For example, Moses writes in Psalm 90, "From everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God." The Hebrew language uses a simple everyday phrase that is translated [in English] "everlasting." It is the word "days" which, by the way it is constructed, simply means, "day after day after day...without ending." A reasonable translation would be: "From days without end to days without end..." Then the next phrase is a "noun sentence," as mentioned above. Only two nouns are used: "You," "God." Thus, a very "wooden" translation of this phrase would be: "From days without end to days without end, You = God!" Why the Hebrew grammar lesson? Glad you asked! As humans, we can wrap our mind around a "day," even several days. But to comprehend "everlasting/eternal?" That's another matter. However, if we can possibly think of "days that don't end" while realizing that God always exists in the present tense (You, God), we have a better chance at pondering an everlasting God who exists moment by moment...for His pleasure and for our good. Or, as Tozer has so aptly put it, This day our hearts approve with gladness what our reason can never fully comprehend, even [your] eternity, O Ancient of Days. [Are you] not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? [Now why didn't I just say that?!?]

The Lord snowed last night. The blanket of white crystalline was just enough to cover the ground and a little more. It really was a beautiful sight. The snow was light enough to be pushable; you needn't shovel it. That's good for us cardiac types. It was also just deep enough to clearly distinguish deer tracks; each duplicate set was in close proximity and arranged in a delicate pattern. The branches and leaves of evergreen were covered enough that the appearance of neatly arranged marshmallows rested on each protrusion. The Lord snowed last night. It was another reminder of His marvelous creativity. I wonder how many of us creatures who have been made in His image took time to marvel at and thank the Lord for snowing. It's a good thing children love it; there may not be too many above the height of four feet or the age of 12 that get enamored any more with God's whiteness. I know the birds appreciate it. I heard their pleasant chirps and serenades as I rearranged God's white blanket a little. I believe they were encouraging me to be careful and not desecrate Deity's divine delicacies. The Lord snowed last night. He's been doing it for thousands of years. Of course, He's experienced with such atmospheric displays, but it's still beautiful to see and a wonder to behold. Sadly, we can only enjoy occasional bursts of His cold whiteness. There are mountain ranges and cold climes worldwide that, without us ever realizing it get powered frequently, deeply and without fanfare. God is good at what He does. None of us, with even the combined energy of sheer willpower could generate one snowflake. Yet, without thinking about it, God can cover hundreds of square miles inches to feet deep in a matter of minutes or hours. God is good at what He does! The Lord snowed last night. And, the psalmists rejoiced. They have been telling us for millennia how wonderful, powerful; even inspiring the Lord is when He snows. What's that you say? You don't believe me? Well listen to the writer of Psalm 147: Praise the LORD...He gives snow like wool; He scatters the hoarfrost like ashes. He casts forth His ice as fragments; who can stand before His cold? Who, indeed!

Banana spiders and Dominican cockroaches: if you've ever traveled to or lived in a tropical climate, such critters are relatively common residents of the land. On the one hand you should not be surprised to encounter this semi-select group of God's creatures. On the other hand it's nice to be warned in advance that such encounters can indeed take place. First the good news: banana spiders are only interested in mosquitoes; and their hard-shelled 12th cousins are only interested in night life and crumbs (I think!). Now the not-so-good news: banana spiders (mature ones, that is) are the size of a grown man's hand; Dominican cockroaches (like some of their Floridian kin-folk) have the ability to fly, coming complete with landing gears and head lights. As the King James folks would put it, "my hap was to light" upon one each at the same time about midnight. I was not startled so much as I was frozen in time. Neither of these critters was concerned at the fact that I had turned on the light: the spider refused to move and the cockroach continued scurrying around as if my presence was inconsequential. I took care of my business, obtained a glass of water, making sure no other critters were in the glass, took my pills and quietly backed out of the kitchen and turned off the light. I did not bother to look over my shoulder to see if either was following me. Since I wasn't present at creation, I have no idea why my Heavenly Father chose to make such "living creatures which crawl upon the face of the earth" (I certainly hope it was because of the fall, not before it!), He certainly doesn't need my permission. But, it is a mild inconvenience to have to share the same continent or even island with the likes of these arthropods. The hymn writer explored the fact and praised our Lord for "all creatures, great and small." I wonder if he ever came face to insect with a banana spider before he penned such words?

How would like to spice up your devotional life? I know, it doesn't sound very spiritual to speak about our time with the Lord as "spicy." However, my intent isn't to cheapen, it's to enliven. I try to read a mixture of godly sources with my Bible reading each day. Nothing, and I mean nothing, exceeds or replaces my Bible reading; but it's good to hear other voices speak of our mutual journey with the Lord. I have read men like Tozer, O. Chambers, Vance Havner, DA Carson, CS Lewis, Chuck Swindoll and others down through the years. I have even waded into the sometimes unusual waters of those who have been called church mystics. But recently, I've expanded devotional borders even further. It's at this point that I would like to encourage my fundamentalist friends to take a deep breath, elevate your feet higher than your head and then continue. Recently I've explored the writings of men (and a few women) who have established their Christian renown in Roman Catholic (and other denominational) circles. There are those, for example, who have argued that CS Lewis was a little too "catholic" for their liking. Wherever you land on that argument, you cannot deny his Christian apologetic genius. In turn, his heritage included men like GK Chesterton, Augustine, Athanasius, Ambrose and the like. You can get a taste of these contributors and many others in the book, From the Library of C. S. Lewis. Some of the content is philosophical drivel, but just some. Much of the content exposes the fountains from which Lewis drank. Interestingly enough, the title of Lewis's own spiritual journal is derived from his reading of Richard Baxter (a Puritan giant of letters in his own right), Mere Christianity. I have found that many of these writers/authors have contributed much to my Christian and apologetic thinking. But then, discernment is always the key when reading anyone. (By contrast, I have a few fundamentalist-authored books whose content hasn't really done all that much to raise my spiritual thermometer. This is said not to pronounce judgment, just an opinion from a country preacher.) The proof, they say, is in the pudding. In this case, looking beyond the labels and into a person's soul certainly will affect the impact of their contribution to your life. So, are you ready for a little spice?

I received a renewed reminder last night of the importance of the body of Christ - the whole body! The leadership (Church Council, i.e. deacons and elders and pastoral staff) met for one of those "free for all" sessions. It probably isn't as bloody as it sounds. Our men just have the ability to close the meeting room door, bang the gates of heaven for Spirit-led discussion as we all prepared ourselves with a season of prayer and then have it at. A no holds barred and no defenses allowed session. It's a great y-chromosome experience! No touchy, feely stuff allowed. When everything is said and done, I straightened my virtual clerical collar, swallowed my differences and joined the fray. The men were gracious enough to give me the first volley and then they took off! I listened for at least an hour before I spoke again. These men love the Lord, love His church and want to make sure that, as best as they can discern it, they want to do church right! While talks of visionary concepts are allowed, ignoring present tense needs is not tolerated. What are we doing now to plug the holes, fill the gaps, staff the needs, address the issues and make ourselves more acceptable to visitors and regular attendees? There was little hand wringing, it was more: tell-it-like-it-is and rejoice-where-we've-gotten-it-right but don't pat yourself on the back too much because there's-much-to-be-done-yet. If anyone got bruised, too bad; if anyone got it right, thanks, but there are still things to accomplish. It's okay to admit that any one person can't do it all. But, it's not okay to say that the status is quo (that's Latin for "the mess we're in") and pretend that it doesn't matter. Malaise (spiritual, emotional or any other kind) is no longer tolerated. We want Christ honored, but not at the cost of overlooking the obvious; not without planning to equip the saints, disciple the younger and needy Christians and generally look to cover each other's back in the process. The atmosphere was electric; the points of view were just that, pointed; and the genuine loving attitude demonstrated for the body of believers (and others) was palpable. After the "free for all" we assessed the damage, took roll call and gave out assignments. We're not looking back; we are moving forward. And by God's grace, starting now, we want to do church right, for the glory of God. Since accountability is the proof of the pudding, in a few months we'll let you know who made the cut and who didn't! Stay tuned because the rest of the body of Christ and heavenly hosts are watching to see if we get it right!