A poem from Luke 8
On Sunday at Northstar, I shared this poem by John Oxenham. It’s powerful, and after teaching about demonology, I think it’s rather more important to dwell on what Oxenham did – how the people at Gadara prized pigs over people. How do we do the same?
GADARA, A.D. 31
Rabbi, begone! Thy powers
Bring loss to us and ours.
Our ways are not as Thine.
Thou lovest men, we—swine.
Oh, get you hence, Omnipotence,
And take this fool of Thine!
His soul? What care we for his soul?
What good to us that Thou hast made him whole,
Since we have lost our swine?And Christ went sadly.
He had wrought for them a sign
Of Love, and Hope, and Tenderness divine;
They wanted—swine.
Christ stands without your door and gently knocks;
But if your gold, or swine, the entrance blocks,
He forces no man’s hold—he will depart,
And leave you to the treasures of your heart.No cumbered chamber will the Master share,
But one swept bare
By cleansing fires, then plenished fresh and fair
With meekness, and humility, and prayer.
There will He come, yet, coming, even there
He stands and waits, and will no entrance win
Until the latch be lifted from within.
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The Thanksgiving Chair
We showed this video during worship at Northstar on Sunday. It’s probably one of the most powerful ones I’ve seen lately. When was the last time you sat in the Thanksgiving chair?
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Review: Christians Are Hate-Filled Hypocrites… and Other Lies You’ve Been Told
I was given an advanced reading copy of this book by Bethany House Publishers to read for a blog review. I wondered if the title was simply a sensational teaser to yet another book without much substance. I assure you; the book is worth reading and digesting! I can wholeheartedly recommend it – but especially for pastors, speakers and Christian leaders.
Through careful research and much re-interpretation of faulty explanations of existing research, sociologist Bradley Wright paints a new picture of Christianity in America that will be a great encouragement to believers. His work refutes much of the doomsday scenarios carelessly spouted out by Christian authors, pastors and speakers.
As an example, just the other day, a friend of mine tweeted:
Today, fewer than 20% of Americans attend church regularly and only 22% have a positive view of church. #Exponentialbook
This is a fantastic example. In reality, only about 40% of people have a negative opinion of evangelical Christians today. However, it all depends on how someone defines “evangelical†because that is the term used in most of the survey questions asked. For example, according to the 2008 Gallup Poll, less than 12% of the respondents had negative feelings toward Methodists, Jews, Baptists, or Catholics.
Wright points out that much of the research used to say that people have a faulty view of Christians is spurious and unreliable. In addition, Wright deals with topics ranging from the divorce rate in the church to whether the church losing its young people.
You’ll be pleasantly surprised as I was to learn that good interpretation of these studies reveals that the church in America is in much better shape than we’ve been led to believe. The conclusion of the Wright’s book urges us to think critically again and not to believe stats, polls and “research†– especially when our intuition tells us that this may not be accurate.
He points out that bad news sells. It sells newspapers, it boosts media ratings, and unfortunately, it also sells Christian books and helps advance speakers. Sensational statistics have been used to urge pastors and Christian leaders to buy books which advocate “solutions†when in actuality, the entire thesis seems to be one of promoting fear and worry.
Of particular concern to me were Wright’s findings about some organizations that many Christian organizations depend upon for research (and quote often) – the Barna Research Group and Lifeway Research being two. I’d encourage you to check out Wright’s blog and keep up with his material for another perspective.
In conclusion, I predict that 90% of people who read this entry will think twice about reading another statistic. Like I said, 90% of people who read this entry will think twice about reading another statistic.
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A La Carte: Movie Flops, Fixing Our Cable, Twitter Quitter and Counting Salvations
A La Carte is a new feature at Notes inspired by Tim Challies. It’s a random collection of observations, experiences, fun and significance. Enjoy!
Movie Flops
I began this week by seeing a much-anticipated scifi thriller called Skyline. The preview showed alien ships sucking humans into the air with a bluish tractor beam. The first time I saw the preview, I thought, “Oh yesssss… This is first-class, quality scifi in need of my epic viewing.”
I wound up at the movie with about six other guys. We were giddy with CG delight before the movie started. The only thing we were missing were our Spock ears. Over the next two hours, we were enthralled by the movie’s intensity, but toward the end, it took a startling turn toward the graphic as … (spoiler alert!) the aliens violently removed humans’ heads to use their brains for engines on their monsters. It was pretty stunning. Then we were all dismayed as the ending played out, and well, I’ll spare you the final scene, but it was simply REE-DI-COO-LUS. The only word we could all say was “Really?” We were incredulous. It was the second movie flop this month (the first being Hereafter with Matt Damon, but I blame my attendance on that one to our ministry intern).
Fixing Our Cable
Our church gave us a generous love offering gift for October’s Pastor Appreciation Month. We were extremely grateful, and with the money, we found an electric fireplace at Big Lots that will not only warm us during the winter, but its presence will be a constant reminder of the warm hearts of the people of Northstar. And thanks to Hallmark for continuing to create fictional holidays… (i.e., did you know that February is Pull Your Sofa Off the Wall Month?)
When we put the HD TV on it, I put the cable box that was in the bedroom under it. We had just been pulling the Comcast cable directly into it, but are now using the DVR in the living room instead of the bedroom.
But I ran into a problem… without the cable box in the bedroom, the old tube TV back there would only pull 14 channels. Darn. I had read about a digital to analog converter that would allow us to get all our channels on that TV, so off I went to Comcast.
The lady at Comcast said it would be an $8/monthly rental for such a converter. I was not happy. I knew that TVs could pull cable directly, and I wasn’t about to pay more monthly to Comcast. When I asked about buying such a box, she mentioned Best Buy under her breath.
The next hour involved unsuccessful trips to Best Buy and then to Radio Shack (the salesman at Best Buy sent us to RS). At Radio Shack, after they told me that the only converter box they sold for that was for over the air signals, I said, “Surely, there’s got to be a way for me to get all my channels on my analog TV from Comcast!” The salesman looked at me quizzically and said, “Did you set up your TV in the menu to “Cable” or “UHF/VHF?”
I was taken aback. It dawned on me immediately about my own idiocy. I attempted to cover with a stammering, “Uh…. sure, I think so.” I could see on his smug face that I had just wasted his time.
I sheepishly went home, pushed the menu button on the TV, changed the setting and half-heartedly enjoyed all our cable channels mocking me with every push of the remote.
Twitter Quitter
A friend from college has recently blogged about deleting her tweetings. The mostly-female respondents to the entry have for the most part agreed wholeheartedly. I am appreciative of how she makes it clear in her entry that it was a personal choice, and she makes no sweeping judgements on the service. In fact, she keeps her Facebook account.
I’ve considered deleting my Facebook account in the past, but I’ve kept it and Twitter, because I have numerous examples of friendships and opportunities for influence as a result of both. I enjoy Twitter more than Facebook, and that will probably be a longer post for another day to explain that. However, I’d be interested in your thoughts about deleting one or the other?
Counting Salvations
Finally on a more significant note, we’ve had some great lessons in the fruitlessness of counting salvations over the past few weeks. Our church has celebrated some VT students who have given their life in faith to Jesus Christ. One senior mechanical engineering major surrendered his life in love to Jesus in my office. Others have done so through the influence of campus ministers and friends.
As much as a church (or a pastor) would like to say, “This week, we had ____ people become Christians,” we just can’t know that definitively. Of course, I can relate the encounters I’ve witnessed personally, but the joyful thing about what God is doing in Blacksburg these days is that many people are part of the process, and many are giving their lives to Jesus without making a big deal about it. It’s a humble, joyful transition to faith that those of us in leadership only hear about after the fact.
God is not interested in us being able to count every single thing He does. It’s impossible. He may not want us counting every salvation so that we can chalk it up as some type of ministry success story. Rather than counting every salvation, He wants simply to count on salvation.
The reality of people giving their lives to Christ happens in an environment where His people are declaring the joy of the Gospel of Christ. We are just part of the process.
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 1 Corinthians 3.6-7
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Round 6 update
Although we don’t know much more than we did since our last health update, we’ve had a lot of requests and questions about where things are in relation to Carolyn’s breast cancer. You can read here for the beginning of the Round 6 Saga.
It’s hard to believe that we’ve had six “It’s cancer…” phone calls over these past 20 years of being a couple (Carolyn and I started dating “officially” in July 1990). I’ve said before that the Lord knew what He was doing in all our health episodes. Carolyn is my hero and the strong one. She’s taken each announcement with the grace God has provided. Sure, there have been tears and emotional roller coasters, but it’s been humbling to watch her coast on the wings of God’s provision and steady love for her. I, on the other hand, go into the fetal position when I get a sinus infection and milk it for all it’s worth. Carolyn dreams about ways to serve with a chemotherapy IV drop attached to her arm.
The latest in round 6 is that Carolyn’s breast oncologist in Little Rock has recommended a simple total mastectomy. He’s encouraged her to consider a double mastectomy, all things considered, with reconstructive surgery. Carolyn has been following up with some doctors’ appointments here in Virginia to process her options. We’ve had amazing, Christ-honoring doctors in Arkansas. We’ve always been grateful for that. That’s one way that you can pray for us at this point – that we’ll be directed and guided to the right physicians for the surgeries ahead.
Our church family has been exceptionally gracious and supportive during this time. They’ve asked and have offered their help for the days to come. Many have already offered meals. We’ve put them off so far, since at this point, we are thriving on the prayer support we’re receiving. Of course, there will be a day in the near future where practical ministry and help will be coveted. It’s just humbling to see this army of friends and our faith family preparing to mobilize for us in these days.
In the middle of the decision-making, our family is doing great. Carolyn recently organized the Noble Fall Family Photo which will be on Christmas cards. It was an adventure, and we’re grateful to Cody for putting up with us. This was his second year to take it for us, and now he’s now longer trying to impress “the new pastor and his family” – he’s laughing with us and at us.
The kids are busy with school, sports and hobbies. Sam is not so busy with the latter as he’s being forced to focus on the former. Yup. Grade time was not pretty this last time. He’s living a completely unplugged existence right now. Adelyn, on the other hand, is doing a relatively good job of not gloating about it.
We’ll keep you updated as we know more…
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Review: Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment
Jeremiah Burroughs was one of the great unaffiliated preachers of the 1600s. He was only 45 when he died, and being born in 1599, he reaped the fruit of the Protestant Reformation that swept Europe while at the same time making contributions of significant depth through his writings.
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment is a ponderous read. I’ll admit that at the beginning. It’s not full of witty anecdotes or alliteration. It’s depth, however, has made me compare other current Christian books I’m reading to wearing floaties in the baby pool.
It’s tempting a review to quote from Burroughs’ book, but to do so at length would be impossible. I’ve underlined more than I left not underlined in it. I hope to read through the book at least every other year. It’s that good. That challenging.
In a Mini-Cooper society as ours, his book reveals that we also have mini-souls. We are so easily discouraged. We have become content with being discontent. He offers chapter by chapter, practical and spiritual advice for pursuing and seizing a distinctly Christian contentment.
He urges all of us to get out of the shallow end and go deep into contentment with Christ. It requires a ruthless self-examination of all that we are currently seeking contentment in. He then urges us to press higher (and deeper) by seeking our heart’s contentment in only those things designed to truly satisfy our hearts.
So a Christian coming to contentment is as a scholar in Christ’s school… Just as no one can be a scholar unless he learns his ABC, so you must learn the lesson of self denial, or you can never become a scholar in Christ’s school and be learned in this mystery of contentment… You cannot all be scholars in the arts and sciences in the world, but you all may be students of your own hearts…study the book of your own hearts.
The book is direct and full of heart-rending questions for the sincere and humble Christ follower. In your diligence to read, do not pass by the well-guided missiles that seek to destroy your false contentment. One example of such a question is:
Are you more solicitous about the taking away of your sin than the taking away of your affliction?
Philippians 4.13 has been greatly abused and seized by everyone from conquering politicians to athletes who believe in the rightness of their cause or effort:
I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (ESV)
However, the context of this amazing but abused verse is found in the depths of Paul’s entry into the school of Christian contentment:
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
As Paul’s life demonstrated, his seizure of the knowledge of how to be content enabled him to sing with joy in prisons and survive with perspective stonings. He had gone deep.
If contentment is something that eludes you, or if you fear that yours is a shallow, uninformed kindergarten contentment, I’d urge you to pick up a spade and dig in the Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment.
You can also get the Kindle version for only $1.99 here!
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Nerds and villains
It’s a new day at the Nobles’. Our kids are heading their separate ways for Halloween.
Sam dressed like a villain and filled his camouflage hunting bags with Silly String as he departed to join friends intent on stringing unsuspecting kids. Adelyn was dressed like a nerd (not much costume needed), and she and girl friends from neighborhood united to conquer.
Carolyn and I porched it and enjoyed seeing the princesses, witches, heroes and other unknowns traipse from house to house. Halloween draws the American neighborhood out of it’s cocoon, and it offers an opportunity to meet, laugh and ooo and aah over elaborate costumes.
In between ghosts, Carolyn and I also talked Twitter. It was a pretty interesting conversation. She shared with me her favorite people to follow which includes local, OBU, and Arkansas friends, John Piper’s family, @bartmillard, @modernmom, and @funnyoneliners (they steal all my material, I told her). It was a pretty surreal conversation for the front porch on Halloween.
Nuff said.
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Another opportunity to trust
We got another “call” today. For those who have been through cancer treatments, you know what that is. In the time between a surgical procedure or biopsy, there’s a day or so of simple waiting as the doctor/oncologist examines and determines what it is we’re dealing with. Carolyn’s breast oncologist’s office called this a.m., and informed her that what was removed on Wednesday is breast cancer. More specifically, it’s ductal carcinoma in situ (or DCIS) DCIS refers to the most common type of noninvasive breast cancer in women. In situ, or “in place,” describes a cancer that has not moved out of the area of the body where it originally developed. (Source)
For those of you just stopping in, this is not just another chapter in our story. At this point, it feels like we’re past sequels. We’re now writing complementary series. It’s like a superhero story with the son of Spiderman. Or something like that.
It’s just been a long journey with this cancer stuff that began back in 1990 with Hodgkin’s Disease (with 3 recurrences) and then cleverly morphed to radiation-induced breast cancer in the winter of 2008-2009. Now it’s DCIS.
We’re writing this as a way to inform, and so there’s not much reflection to this entry, simply because it’s fresh news for us too. However, as we prayed together here in Little Rock, we both acknowledged that what we’re now presented with is simply another opportunity to trust our God. His character is not in question. We’re confident of the love of Christ. After all, the scriptures confidently assert that nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39).
So we invite you into this next stage of growth, trust, and dependence with us. We’re humbly asking you for supporting and sustaining prayer. We have learned from the past how much encouragement is provided through the prayer and intercession of the body of Christ.
We’ll keep you informed as you keep us lifted up. Pray for Carolyn’s thought life, that she’ll be able to set her mind on things above. Pray for me that I’ll be a good helper and provide necessary comic relief (even more than usual). Pray for Sam and Adelyn that they’ll learn how much God can be trusted and how much He loves His people. Pray that we will all discover afresh that trusting in God is life’s greatest joy – regardless of circumstances.
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On the road again
We’re hitting the road today for westerly places. This weekend is Homecoming for my alma mater, Ouachita Baptist University and also my 20th college reunion. To Carolyn’s delight and my chagrin, we’ll be attending Tiger Tunes on Saturday night.
Before there was Dancing with the Stars or America’s Got Talent, there was Tiger Tunes. It’s a student production in which organizations compete in choreographed musicals centered around a theme that each organization has picked out. Does anyone feel my pain?
One year that Carolyn was in it, her EEE Women’s Social Club (sorority) were noses. Yes, you read that right. That’s why I’m so excited she decided to pick me to attend Tiger Tunes with her.
Carolyn will also be having day surgery on Wednesday for a biopsy procedure. Her recent checkups showed a couple of areas that the doctors felt it best were removed and tested. At this point, there is no sign of cancer, only some “precancerous” material. We would obviously appreciate your prayers.
We’re excited about spending time with family and Arkansas friends. The kids and I are hoping to work in a trip to Monticello during the week while Carolyn recuperates. You can follow my Twitter feed this week for updates if you just enjoy being a digital stalker.
Here’s some before/after pictures for your enjoyment…
Us in 1990
Us Plus in 2009
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Crucify murmuring
The only thing fun about murmuring is saying it. Murmur. Murmur. Love it.
The reality of the word is that it’s a verbal cancer. It destroys all who it infects. Murmuring is that condition of the heart that erupts in the mouth. It is a nasty condition which seeks to elevate personal preference, opinion and perspective above community health, respect for authority.
Murmuring is an ugly thing. Back before Blockbuster and Movie Gallery took VHS rentals mainstream, most communities had a mom and pop video rental store. Movie rentals were the next big thing. With Blockbuster’s recent bankruptcy, we all realize we’re living in a new world. Pre-internet, a few of these unscrupulous small shops would have a back room. It was where the “adult” videos were. That’s how I envision murmuring. It’s back room verbal porn. It’s that nasty and unhealthy.
It got the Israelites in deep kaka with God.
Yet you would not go up, but rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. And you murmured in your tents and said, ‘Because the LORD hated us He has brought us out of the land of Egypt, to give us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. Where are we going up? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying, “The people are greater and taller than we. The cities are great and fortified up to heaven. And besides, we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.”‘ (Deuteronomy 1.26-28)
Their murmuring de-spirited the people. It absolutely destroyed their focus and reliance upon God. In this case, they looked at the giants in the land rather than their God in heaven (who was bigger).
The Israelites were still regretting their ancestors’ murmuring years later, as recorded in Psalm 106.24-27:
Then they despised the pleasant land,
having no faith in his promise.
They murmured in their tents,
and did not obey the voice of the LORD.
Therefore He raised His hand and swore to them
that He would make them fall in the wilderness,
and would make their offspring fall among the nations,
scattering them among the lands.
We see a New Testament example of this same offense in John 6.41-43:
At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”
“Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered.
As far as verbal sin goes, murmuring delights in being the undisputed king of back room conversations. It worships quiet corners. It thrives in the petri dish of dissatisfaction. Where murmuring can find a discontented heart, it can gradually move from the aorta to the mouth, where its contagion is spewed into the ears of susceptible victims.
The only cure is contentment.
Paul said that contentment was a learned state.
I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. (Philippians 4.11-12)
It’s a mental exercise of bringing your soul and heart to submission under God’s love. What He has given you is sufficient. Period. Learn to be joyfully content where you are.
Murmuring is an insurrection against God’s authority and any other established authority over you. If you don’t seek contentment on your own, someone may have to take drastic steps to deal with the devastation that murmuring causes.
If you’re prone to murmur, I’d find the closet piece of wood and nail that proclivity of yours to it. Crucify it there. New life will erupt in your soul when you kill murmuring and experience contentment.
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5.24)
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About
Notes from the Trail
The Personal Blog of Jeff Noble
Info: From the misty hills of Virginia, "Notes from the Trail" seeks to encourage you on your journey. Written by a graphic designer-pastor, this blog is a blend of humor, insight, and faith discovery.
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RT @churchplant123: If you want to be a successful new church planter, shave your head. It's the Samson principle. [journeyguy]
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New blog post: Review: Sticky Teams: Larry Osborne is pastor of North Coast Church, a megachurch, by anyone’s de... http://t.co/KKL4zZFs [journeyguy]
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A blog from the past: "The need for church planting" http://t.co/iwlT5jOh [journeyguy]
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RT @funnyoneliners: I keep a well-stocked pantry in case friends drop by. I could hide in there for days. [journeyguy]
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