With the turn of the month at hand, my teaching schedule for the semester comes to a close. Hours a week are now there for the taking, since I was simultaneously rewriting my course notes for the Biblical Foundations of Eschatology syllabus. The revamped coursebook will be finished by Forerunner Media group by next semester.
So, I’m back to a semi-regular writing schedule here as I finish up that glorious burden of a book this week.
It’s a good day!
Here’s a thought for the day that I’ll expand on later: I believe that the same spirit that opposed the fledgling Protestant missions movement in the late 18th century will be the same one that rises up to oppose the fledgling prayer movement at the end of the age.
The year was 1786, and a young man named William Carey posed the following question: ‘Whether the command given to the apostles to “teach all nations,” was not obligatory on all succeeding ministers to the end of the world, seeing that the accompanying promise was of equal extent?’”
This was the answer given to him at the time: “Young man, sit down; when God is pleased to convert the heathen world, He will do it without your help or mine.”
I believe that this answer comes from a Calvinistic notion of God’s sovereignty that actually exceeds the boundaries of scripture. This understanding of the manner in which God leads and orchestrates history is also behind other equally unbiblical ideas of irresistable grace and the perseverance of the saints (or “eternal security”, as the concept is more commonly known). This scriptural error establishes a sovereignty so high that, ultimately, God has little to no use for humans at all. The answer to the question of man’s purpose then simply becomes, “to glorify God!”
Which leaves us, then, in a difficult position: to question this viewpoint then seemingly leaves us questioning the glory of God and His transcendent, infinite, awesome splendor and power. So while I agree that I would never want to bring into question God’s desire to be glorified in the midst of His creation, I would question the sufficiency and totality of the above answer. Is there more to the creation than its potential to glorify the creator? Was there more to God’s plan related to His stunning humility and incredible tenderness towards us? For what purpose were we created?
I will leave my answers for another day, and I look forward to yours. For now, I will say this: the same “giant” that confronted William Carey in his early days is the same one that will confront the global prayer movement in the days to come, when the movement is as young as the 18th century missions movement. For, right now, the same statement is emphatically presented, related to signs and wonders, revival, and end-time judgments:
“Young man, sit down; when God is pleased to judge the heathen world, He will do it without your help or mine.”
Thankfully, the same refusal of young missionaries to bow to a false notion of soveriegnty that was too high in that day will be the same holy passion that fuels young intercessors and worshippers in the days to come to stand with God in the awesome display of His leadership over the whole earth.
David
November 5th, 2007
As we were driving home from a wedding on Sunday evening, we were talking to Daniel about his incredibly bold and serious dance moves at the reception. I mean serious dance moves - it was clear that he was looking to work the floor like a zamboni. He was dead serious in his rythmic flailings. I was impressed.
Of course, if you know Daniel, so was he - innocently impressed with his ability to bust a move:
Us: “Daniel, you were an amazing dancer tonigh!”
Daniel: “Yeah, I won a contest one time.”
Us: “What? You won a dance contest?”
Daniel: “Yep, I probably did. ”
In other words, he couldn’t remember actually being in a dance contest - but if he was in one, he probably won. He also told us that his gym teacher calls him the “dance champion”, thus he now considers himself the “champion of dancing”. Thanks, gym teacher. At least he didn’t call Daniel the “math champion”, or the “prince of penmanship”. He asked me if a was a dance champion when I was his age (4), to confirm in his mind the inherent (and inherited) coolness of such a feat.
Dance champion at four? Maybe not - but at 34 I have to keep reminding the IHOP-KC dance team how busy I am. They won’t stop calling me. My email box is filled with requests to prophetically interpret Revelation 19:11-17. I call it “The Grape Stomp” - maybe if you’re lucky you’ll catch a fleeting glimpse of my wizardry. Maybe when my schedule clears, I’ll jump in and dominate the intercessory dance scene with moves that would make any sane man’s eyes bleed.
For now, I’ll leave the floor to Daniel.
David
October 30th, 2007
As I said yesterday, I’m not a big “talk about me” guy - particularly on this kind of medium. One of the joys of my life is spending my writing gift on the glorification of Jesus and pontificating on His beauty and perfection. My secondary joy is to talk about other cool people who love Jesus. I should probably mix in a personal note more here and there - it’s probably the Asian side of me that prefers to keep my priorities ordered in the manner that they are. What do you come here for? Is it for a personal connect or for a connect to my heart and thoughts related to Jesus - and Him crucified? A little of both? I confess that I am unsure of the “why” related to the readership of this space and mostly, I don’t think about it. My “why” related to writing is well documented elsewhere and touched on above. It’s that why alone that will keep me coming back here, pounding away at these keys and throwing words on a page. But I admit that I am intrigued now a bit by your why.
The General “Why”:
“Why” has always been the biggest question of my life. I find that when the “why” is satisfied, I am a better worker, lover, and follower. Last night, I was at Borders Books in Lee’s Summit with my family when we ran into two young women (Kia and Kendra) who were having a passionate discussion about church, life, God, and depth. They were hungry - particularly Kia. She in particular was tired, by her own confession to me later, of the prosperity gospel that she had been hearing continually in her church. She was fairly desperate to find someplace, somewhere, where she would be challenged to live out the truth of the gospel. She was wondering where to go related to Bible School to find answers. My wife discreetly interrupted, and suggested that she grab me and ask me some questions.
She was asking me about what the Bible says to not do related to what she sees regularly in her church. Why do people not do what the Bible says? We talked for about twenty minutes, until the store closed. We talked about the Bible and scripture, what it says, what it means, the fascinated life, the Sermon on the Mount, hunger for God, and how to stay in the “game” for twenty to thirty years. To me, it’s simple. People don’t know why - and if you don’t the “what” alone of obedience and pursuit is impossible to sustain long-term. It’s not enough to try to live “your best life now” today. Which, it seems, many are trying to do: get through the day and try again tomorrow. It seems as if so many live a secret existentialist life in which they have no true meaning or reason for what they do; yet they know that it is good to keep doing it. Maybe, just maybe, if they keep plugging away at things God will somehow help their lives turn an invisible corner.
I didn’t say this to Kia, but really the problem for many comes in one of two areas: people either have wrong vision for their lives or no vision for their lives. Neither ends well, of course. “Mid-life crisis” arrives suddenly for the one who wakes up and finds that they have either failed to accomplish their hopes and dreams or, even worse, have accomplished them and have found them startlingly unsatisfying and empty. No vision, of course, means a life of wandering aimlessly - perishing literally or spiritually from boredom and dullness that has nothing to live for or die for. But wrong vision, in my mind, is far more painful. Wrong vision related to our agendas rather then God’s design and destiny leads to burnout, disallusionment, offense, and great pain. In other words, wrong vision is the key to one’s loss of heart over time (Luke 18:1).
The Specific “Why”:
I found it ironic and enjoyable to spend time talking to those two girls (as my kids prayed in the spirit next to me, at my wife’s suggestion; isn’t she amazing?). For months now, I’ve been gripped in a way that I have not talked about publicly or privately; except for a few close to me. I felt last night a sweet confirmation of the direction that my life is taking; I’m thankful, because it seems to be the direction that the prayer movement is going as well. I’m going to leave that statement intentionally vague for now, and flesh out what is on my mind in that regard another day. Suffice it to say I mean that God is a good leader and seems to keep me for some inexplicable reason right where I need to be, even if I am too dull and foolish to find my own way in this drama called the end of the age.
My burden has a few layers to it. It goes back to a statement, a declaration really, that I made to my wife eleven years ago. I had made it to the Lord first, in secret, and then shared my thoughts with her later. I told her that I never wanted to see youth ministry as a stepping stone to “better things” - but that I wanted to be a youth pastor the rest of my life. Then, after a season, I was done being a youth pastor and the Lord redirected my family to Kansas City. I never figured out what that was all about - beyond the general “youth movement” idea related to the face of the prayer movement at the end of the age.
The Specific “What”:
Now I understand the specific “what” - I’ve just said yes to shift my responsibilities here; my primary responsibilities have shifted and I am now giving leadership to the High School and Junior High ministry at IHOP-KC. I have a burden, specifically for the High Schools in the Kansas City area, specifically the three that are right outside our front doors. In the general sense, I have a burden to see prayer meetings happen daily in every High School and Junior High in the nation. I have a burden to see Junior High students commit to purity with their eyes and their lives in such a radical way that they never one time give their eyes to pornography or any “worthless thing”. I want to see young women become ignited for an Anna destiny that would set them on a course that will shake the earth in the coming days.
The “why”, of course, is because I have over the years started to figure some things out that are obvious to most. I’m just slow on the draw. I’m going back to my roots because that zeal for youth never went away, I never knew what to do with it, and I never understood how to express it in the context of where the Lord has planted me. The greater thing is the reformatting and the rewiring of the Lord from who I was as a youth pastor then to who I am as a father and leader in the prayer movement today. Not that I have gone from clueless to “clue-full” by any stretch of the imagination. I am still as weak, dorky, and narrow today as I was then in so many ways. The “why” of the last few years and my burden for a specific function and calling makes sense in light of the growth processes and maturity that has come from a real prayer life with a little bit of fasting in the mix.
The Specific “Where”:
My new function has landed in a way that seems to have as much permanence as anything can have at a place like this. As my wife told me as we were processing this together, there are things at IHOP-KC that I have done and helped build, but this is more who I am. Still, my calling and function is secondary to my identity and primary calling as an intercessor and a man of prayer. That’s my heart, anyways. I’m still, for a little while, going to help lead the Justice Prayer Room while we are in the days of smallness, in all of its hidden glory. I have committed to the High School and Junior High ministry for ten years and beyond, however. It is a joyful commitment that I hope I have the grace to be given to before the Lord “until” - either until He sees fit to shift my life again or until He comes.
So I am a youth pastor until the end. Technically, in light of the promise of Malachi 4:6, you are too.
David
October 26th, 2007
I’m in the middle of my Biblical Foundations of Eschatology class at the moment - right in the middle. As I am teaching the class, I’ve put writing on a temporary hiatus - both the end of my book and, for the most part, this site. I’m reformatting and restructuring the course syllabus into a version that I am happy with and is a bit more friendly to a televised format (25 40 minute sessions rather than 10 three-hour sessions). I’m doing it in in my free time when I’m not teaching, so it’s a bit consuming at the moment. It is fun, though, to re-examine old notes, subjects, and sessions that are enjoyable to explore. I’m also catching some things in the word that I hadn’t considered before in the process. I also find that I have a renewed burden for the destiny of the church at the end of the age - but we’ll talk that through later this week, maybe.
I also have a pretty big announcement regarding me personally - which I rarely use this space for that kind of thing (mostly because I don’t like to talk about me n’ ministry as much as I like talking about me n’ Jesus). But I’ll still share tomorrow what’s up with me.
David
October 25th, 2007
I’m planning on writing a bit later this week - Thursday and Friday, to be exact. I just started teaching my Biblical Foundations of Eschatology class and I’m (you guessed it) still writing away in between, while still doing what I do for the prayer movement. So things have kicked up a gear for me this week. I’m also speaking for the upcoming “Cities of Refuge” summit for the Joseph Company this weekend (on cities of refuge, or pockets of mercy during judgment, of course) so I’ve got a few plates spinning as I plow through my week.
I wanted to let you know when some new material would be up, for those of you who are like me and check in regularly. Feel free to comment away if something strikes you - I’ll be sneaking in and out in that regard.
I was going to say a few words on the reformed blogging uproar and outrage about Joel Osteen (did he kick a toddler while breakdancing and I didn’t get the memo?) - but I don’t have the energy today. I am impressed that Joel Osteen can bench 300 pounds, though - and leg press 1000 lbs.! I will now slink away, shamed at my lesser manliness…
David
October 16th, 2007
Because I am writing like a madman trying to really finish the book this week, I’m using this space to blow off steam when I feel like I can’t write another word about my favorite subjects that are my favorite subjects until I have to write about them when I’m not quite in the frame of mind to write about my favorite subjects.
So, knowing that up front, you’ll forgive me if some of these posts aren’t as careful, detailed, or as thought through as some of my normal offerings. Believe it or not, I actually do put quite a bit of work into these things - print is far and away a far more powerful medium than the spoken word. Things you say when you preach and teach are like flaming neon signs when you see them in writing.
Add to the fact that the book I am writing has more of an “apologetic” tone than End Times Simplified and you have a recipe for great mental distress. In other words, I had to really think things through with my last book because it represented, in many ways, the first time our eschatology found it’s way to print. If I ever took a moment to dwell on that thought, I had to laugh it off and press on, never letting myself think about the sheer lunacy and pure stupidity related to me being the author of such a project.
With this project, I’m forcing myself to think things through in a different way. Because I care about young adults and youth being able to be bold about the relative nearness of the Second Coming, I want to arm them with more than ideas and concepts that help them understand biblical information about the end-times. I want to lay out the most comprehensive case I can produce in writing to lay a foundation of certainty related to the lateness of the hour.
There are lots of things, of course, that I can’t write about. My convictions related to the end of the age are primarily scriptural - and the manner in which I am seeing prophetic scripture come to pass before my very eyes makes for a compelling journey to help walk a young adult through. There are, however, many experiential and subjective moments and meetings in my life that inform and bolster my convictions that will never make into a book, sermon, or wordcast.
This fact of life makes clear to me the limitations of my role in the grand scheme of things. All I can do is help give language and courage to convictions and suspicions that are already stirring and brooding in the heart through the leadership of the Holy Spirit knit to prayer and fasting. Tender hearts all over the world are awakening to the reality of a coming storm - really my job is to help them discover that they are neither alone nor crazy. It’s the same dilemma a young person faces when hearing the prophetic voice in their spirit for the first time: is it me or is it God that is speaking?
Often, that prophetic voice sounds like me saying things that only God would say. A similar stirring is happening related to the end of the age. That little voice just won’t go away - but who is there to talk about this kind of thing with? Who is there to process these kinds of thoughts with? When the initial conversations begin, it often is like the dam has burst and thoughts tumble out with no order or sequence. It’s a gloriously confusing thing.
For the crew that reads this space regularly, however, there is a bit more camaraderie to be had. Thoughts have been ordered, the language has been learned, and the topics at hand are a bit clearer. This is not an “assimilation” process, these are the first steps to having a good, deep, meaningful conversation. We tend to care about the same things, and in the process discovered that we have lots to talk about. That is fun.
If you are new to this space, then feel free to ask questions or ignore posts that you don’t connect to. You may never connect to some of the subjects I write about here, and that’s okay. Because I want the predominant subject of this space to be Jesus and Him crucified, I think we’ll find some things that satiate your hunger somewhere, sometime.
For the rest of us, there’s still so much to talk about in the days ahead. One of the things I’ve loved as we have hit the one year mark is that there are so many “plot-lines” still unresolved. They’re hanging out there, almost begging to be addressed. Because of the subject matter I cover here, I find that there is an inexhaustible well of material to draw from - and each thread seems to take on a life of its own.
Where to go? I still need to get to Romans 11. I’d like to return to humanism at some point. The Sermon on the Mount and the beauty of God are looming in the background, waiting for me to call them back to the front of the room to share. How could I talk about the throne room and never talk about the emerald rainbow? How could I introduce the topic of the peacemakers and never talk about its implications related to persecution? Why would a peacemaker be the most heavily persecuted of all believers?
What about the eschatology of the emerging church? What’s happening at IHOP-KC? Do I have anything to say about prayer and perseverance? I find it ironic that I write here often yet rarely hit the core message of my life - Luke 18:1. Do you see what I mean? I haven’t even hit the new topics and subjects that are emerging before our eyes, such as the Apostolic hermeneutic and the proper way to interpret an Old Testament prophecy. There are real threats to warn about, real glories to proclaim, and real treasures to explore in the heart of God. I haven’t begun to hit “life in the Spirit” yet.
While the internet buzz a few months back centered around the loss of steam related to blogging, I find that I am discovering a fresh wind in my little corner. Why? Because the medium of transmitting the message is irrelevant to me - if none of you read this, I would be enjoying myself. I get to write about God.
The two of us, Him and I - we’ll treasure these thoughts together forever. I love that we have so much to talk about.
David
October 10th, 2007
If you’re interested in a cursory examination of this subject, check these links out to follow a conversation about a subject I’ll tackle at some point:
Was There an Apostolic Hermeneutic and Can We Imitate It?
An article by a Reformed theologian who insists that the lens through which the apostles saw the Old Testament (through a “Christo-centric” lens that sees the fulfillment of prophetic scripture through the person of Christ and His first coming) is the same lens we can (and must) must apply to scripture interpretation today.
What Exactly is the “Apostles’ Hermeneutic”?
The initial article that began the exchange, which asks for someone to actually define the term.
The Relationship of the Testaments: Apostolic Hermeneutic
The initial, initial article outlining the terms and issues. I probably should have put this at the top - but I don’t always think sequentially. I often enjoy reading books from back to front.
Are we rationalist?
The final response to the initial question. I found the tit-for-tat not so helpful, as it seemed as if the substantive issues became lost in the rhetoric, but you might appreciate following the conversation.
Update:
Is the NT like the conclusion to a mystery novel?
If I was more thorough, I would have included the latest posts on the discussion. I’m not, but I did anyways. While you’re there, why not just find some of the other articles on your own? You know how to navigate this “internet” thing far better than I do.
The Apostle’s Hermeneutic
Breaking Down New Testament Hermeneutics
Another well-written and thought through article from another voice on the issue - and his follow up. I appreciated these two articles, though some may find them a bit heavy on terminology.
For those of you who care about this topic (and you would only care if you preach or teach in general and, more specifically, preach or teach on the end-times), happy reading!
David
October 8th, 2007
I know that an actual examination of Romans 11 needs to happen at some point, but I have spent the last few days since my class ended doing the following with as much fervor and zeal as I can muster up:
1. Praying.
2. Studying.
3. Writing (the book - writing and rewriting).
When Old Testement Survey ended, I suddenly had two relatively free weeks on my schedule. So I started them out with gleeful, giddy abandon. The subjects I’m studying problably wouldn’t be of any interest to the masses, but for the curious I’m studying biblical hermenuetics (the science of interpreting the bible) from the lens from as many streams, perspectives, and angles I can get my hands on; the continuity of the Old Testament and the New related to the prophetic promises of God; and a little bit of N.T Wright and Romans 11 just for fun. Connect all those dots and I’ll give you some kind of prize - a gift card to Chipotle or something.
My Biblical Foundations of Eschatology course is coming up in a few weeks (Introduction to the End-Times for the uninitiated) during which time my accidental sabbath will be finished for a time - so I’m going to go back for the rest of this Global Bridegroom Fast and “live it up” in the place of prayer. There really isn’t anything else that can satisfy like an extended time of fellowship with the Holy Spirit in prayer and fasting. Hope you are finding the same thing to be true today!
David
October 3rd, 2007
That’s a pretty remarkable number for an often unremarkable public network, but in this case you probably don’t need me to tell you why. That’s because the hype machine is running at high octane levels not seen around these parts since some little book about a high school-age wizard came out a few months back. For those of you from the non-United States segment of the readership, I’m talking about the latest Ken Burns documentary called, “The War.”
I watched “The Civil War” back in 1990 and was fully captivated at 17 by the now famous Ken Burns “style”: the still-photograph montage with voice overs from famous people and non-famous smart people reading letters and personal accounts (I know you remember Shelby Foote - come on, how could you not get a sparkle in your eye when that guy talked about history). I skipped “Baseball”, but wish I didn’t (I’m one of the last surviving baseball fans in our nation). Now, I’m catching a little bit of Burns’ latest and most publicized work.
It’s really well done.
But I’m guessing you didn’t need me to tell you that - five thousand journalists have lined up to inform you of this. 18.7 people listened, and PBS is now gleefully giddy about their next fund-raiser. For those of you who missed the hype and the documentary, you have four more evenings to catch an episode - part four continues tonight. You don’t have to be a World War II fanatic to enjoy it - you just have to have a thing for normal people dealing with the most abnormal circumstances in history. Ken Burns has done a fantastic job portraying a frustratingly necessary war.
David
September 26th, 2007
More on Romans 11 (like, actually getting to the chapter) later this week, but first - another Danielism.
This one happened last night as Daniel was showing the Sliker family his muscles. He is fully flexing and strutting around our living room, showing me, Tracey, and then the girls his impressive biceps. “Look at my muscleeeeeees!” He droned with his little macho growl. Finally, he finishes up by flexing for our dog, Obie (Obediah to the uninitiated).
“Look at my muscleeeeeees, Obie!” He said as he posed with a menacing lurch over the dog. “Ahhhhh! I will defeat youuuuu!”
The confident, macho swagger by which he assured our dog of his eventual defeat had me in awe and riotous laughter for quite some time, so now I share my proud, fatherly glee with all of you.
David
September 24th, 2007
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