Camp-food

For forty years, the Israelites lived like nomads. Joshua, the Old Testament book we're studying on weekends (link to series), tells the story of how the Israelites conquered Canaan and traded their tents for homes. During their nomadic years, they had a very particular way of setting up camp. Last weekend (watch here) I mentioned that on a flyover from the East, the camp would look like a cross.

There are many other interesting things about their camp. Observations to feed your spirit. Camp-food! For example, take the tribal standards of the four lead tribes. Judah's tribal standard was the lion. Ephraim's the ox. Reuben's a man. Dan's the eagle. Not only are these the same as the four faces of the cherubim in Ezekiel (1:10) and the four living creatures in Revelation (4:7) but they are a picture of Jesus as presented in the four gospels.

• In Matthew, Jesus is presented as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah who fulfills the prophecies of the Old Testament.
  
• In Mark, Jesus is presented as the ox, the servant of God.
  
• In Luke, Jesus is presented as the Son of Man with emphasis on His humanity.
• In John, Jesus is presented as the eagle, the Son of God, with emphasis on His deity.
  

Next Gen

Last weekend a friend told me that he and his wife are expecting their first child. How cool is that? I think that, for some people, parenthood is like a spiritual epiphany. Suddenly we find ourselves thinking about the essential meaning of life. Intuitively we perceive the importance of teaching our kids about God.

After God parted the Jordan River so that the people could cross over (watch last weekend's message here), He told them to create a memorial in nearby Gilgal (read about it here). What's interesting is what Joshua said about the memorial. In Joshua 4:6-7, he said, "When your children ask in time to come, saying, 'What do these stones mean to you?' Then you shall answer them" (cf. 4:21-22).

Over and over again we are told in the Bible how important it is to pass our faith on to the next generation (see below). That's why it's so cool that on Sunday, at our second gathering, seven families will be dedicating their children to the Lord! In this simple ceremony based on Hannah's prayer (read it here), each family will present their infant son or daughter for prayer as a token of their commitment to their child's spiritual formation. Join us for that or any one of our three weekend gatherings!

To dig deeper: If you are a parent or hope to be, take time to read and reflect on these verses about the next gen: Exodus 12:26-27; 13:14; Deuteronomy 6:20-21; 11:19; Psalms 44:1; 71:18; 78:3-8; Isaiah 38:19; Acts 2:39. If you're married with children, read these verses with your spouse and discuss your plan for your children's spiritual growth.

Christian ethics 101

In our weekend message we asked, "Is it ever okay to tell a lie?" I said that I would revisit the topic in my blog. So here goes!

As followers of Christ, we believe in moral absolutes. That makes us absolutists and not situationalists. Some absolutists recognize the existence or moral conflicts where two absolute obligations come into unavoidable conflict. In his book, Options in Contemporary Christian Ethics, Norman Geisler does a nice job of presenting three approaches which I've outlined here and applied to Rahab's lie in Joshua 2.

Unqualified absolutism

• Recognizes no unavoidable moral conflict
• Sees Rahab's lie as evil
• Finds Rahab guilty
  

Conflicting absolutism

• Recognizes unavoidable moral conflict
• Sees Rahab's lie as lesser evil
• Finds Rahab guilty
  

Graded absolutism

• Recognizes unavoidable moral conflict
• Sees Rahab's lie as greater good
  
• Finds Rahab not guilty

Graded absolutism - the position I took this weekend - sees that Rahab chose the greater good in choosing life-saving over truth-telling and finds her not guilty. Christians have different points of view about this and we can disagree and still be friends!

HERE COMES THE WEEKEND!

This weekend we continue the message-series ONE by studying Joshua 2. We'll meet a woman who was an unlikely candidate for 'the ONE.' She was a prostitute living in a doomed city. But rather than giving up she risked everything she had to save everyone she loved. Join us at one of three weekend worship gatherings as we talk about how to keep our past from ruining our future, why the greatest opportunities require the highest risks, and what a fulfilling life really looks like.

LONGHORN FAN: If you normally attend Saturday evening and you're worried about missing the Texas-Ohio State game, I've got three letters for you: DVR. Program the DVR and watch the game - commercial free - after church!

Learn how to pray!

1st Wednesday is a monthly interactive worship gathering where, among other things, we celebrate Communion. Our theme for the rest of the year - Sacred Romance - is all about forming an intimate, passionate relationship with God. Each month you will learn about an activity or practice that will help you grow. We're talking hands-on training with immediate opportunities to apply what you've learned!

Join us Wednesday, September 6, as we learn how to pray. Taking the Lord's Prayer as a model, we will learn what to pray for and how to pray for it. Combining teaching, 'conversational' prayer, and silent prayer, this gathering is sure to help you grow closer to God. Whether you're just starting to pray or seeking to strengthen your prayer life, you don't want to miss 1st Wednesday! So bring a non-refrigerated dessert to share and join us Wednesday at 7 p.m. at our Parkfield campus.