Author: Matt Judkins

Sunday Vacation

Well, Sea World was really fun for our four year old. We had a good time too, but our one year old simply wore out! Ate out at P.F. Chang’s, one of our favorite restaurants, with a gift certificate from one of our friends from Church. Spent the night at the pool, again, and ate S’mores by a fire pit at our hotel. Good times.

Today we’re getting ready to attend Northwest Hills UMC. It’ll be fun to attend worship with my family this morning, even if it will be a little strange. I’ll let you know what it’s like to be a visitor in worship.

Forget the Alamo

AlamoWell, this is my first ever “vacation post.” We’re in San Antonio, TX after a long, long trip down with our four year old daughter and one year old son. The day started off crazy as our little girl threw up before we left the house and once more before we were thirty minutes away from home. I don’t think I’ve ever prayed so hard in my life as I did for the next hour. I prayed for her from the molecules on up! I suppose I’m one of those folks who believes God really hears and responds to our prayers (although this is definitely a great mystery) because she hasn’t thrown up since yesterday morning about 8:15!

This may not be a big deal on the grand scheme of things, but it darn sure is a big deal to our family on the one big vacation we have planned for this year. The funny thing is that before we started on the trip, we all made a commitment not to gripe or complain about anything! As a result, we’ve really been in a great mood the entire time…even as we were wiping up puke out of the car on the side of the road!

Now, we have to check out the car because the tire pressure light is on and the AWD has switched off for no good reason. No worries!

We’re skipping the Alamo because my wife and I have been there before. Sea World is our only agenda for today. So, Shamu, I hope you’re ready!

Vacation Reading & Immigration

I didn’t get around to ordering any new books for my vacation, so I’ve been reading a lot of articles online. Here are a few I found interesting from the New York Times. Turns out dieting is really hard, you are not the next Emeril, and there are a few people who still care about the sojourner.

On the last article, I saw an angry white man on TV this morning from the angry patriot league (or something like that) who was red-faced and shouting about people coming into this country. I didn’t notice, but I sure hope he wasn’t Irish. Shouting about the immigration problem just might be hypocritical for a people group who came into the country and took low paying jobs away from “Americans” in order to escape the poverty of their own nation. Wait, was that the Irish?

Yep! There were newspaper ads that would say, “No Irish need apply.” They were thought of as lazy, unintelligent, and dirty. Sometimes the Irish were roundly criticized for taking low-wage jobs away from hard-working “Americans,” and they were thought to be responsible for causing lower wages. But look at us now. We march up and down our streets celebrating Saint Patrick’s day.

So, to you Mr. Red-faced Patriotic Shouter…the next time you wear green on Saint Patty’s, remember that no good Irishman took away your great-great grandfather’s job…unless he was your great-great grandfather. That’d be a different story altogether, now wouldn’t it.

V.A.C.A.T.I.O.N.

Today is the first day of the rest of my lif….errr vacation! I’m really excited to have two weeks off, and I’m looking forward to spending time with my family. I know many ministers who don’t take their time off consecutively, but I really need to do that in order to fully unwind, decompress, etc. In fact, I make sure my 14 days run from a Monday through two Sundays. That way, I don’t have to do any active sermon preparation for two weeks. It really makes for a relaxing time.

My wife thinks it takes about three days for me to stop worrying about not having something to worry about. So, I guess I’m in the “cool-down” stage of my vacation today through Wednesday.

We’ll be leaving town on Friday on our way to Sea World in San Antonio and then on to Corpus Christi. My four year old daughter already has her map printed out and is planning our itinerary. I’m hoping to get my hands on some good books to read during my down time. Maybe I’ll post some comments if I come across anything interesting.

Take time to be holy; vacation oft with thy Lord! 🙂

MethoBloggers and Darfur

Sometimes it feels as though there is little we can do in large scale problems such as those in Darfur. See how your representation scores on fighting the injustice in Darfur here, and then contact them with encouragement or concern. I just finished emailing my congressional representatives and encourage you to do the same. If enough of us show our concern, we MethoBloggers will make a difference.

Happy Feast of Saint Athanasius!

AthanasiusToday is the feast day of Saint Athanasius in the Anglican and Roman Catholic church. Good old Athanasius, if it wasn’t for him, we’d all be Arians. We protestants don’t really celebrate feast days, but I wish we did. It would be nice to remember some of the saints while having a reason for celebratory feasts! Well, I guess my little contribution to that will be to mention a saint or two every so often. I’ve only done this once before, but now this makes two. Who knows, maybe #3 will come before the end of ’07.

While looking for an anecdote about old Athanasius, I found an interesting story on Wikipedia,

The bishop Alexander, so the tale runs, had invited a number of fellow prelates to meet him at breakfast after a great religious function. While Alexander was waiting for his guests to arrive, he stood by a window, watching a group of boys at play on the seashore below the house. He had not observed them long before he discovered that they were imitating the elaborate ritual of Christian baptism. He sent for the children and, in the investigation that followed, it was discovered that one of the boys (none other than the Athanasius), had acted the part of the bishop, and in that character had actually baptized several of his companions in the course of their play. Alexander determined to recognize the make-believe baptisms as genuine, and decided that Athanasius and his playfellows should go into training in order to prepare themselves for a clerical career.

I really picked up on this story because of something that happened to me as a boy. I was playing in Jackson Creek out behind my boyhood home with my neighbor Kyle. As we splashed around in the water, Kyle stopped for a minute, looked very serious, and asked me to baptize him! Even as a good Southern Baptist boy, I wasn’t quite sure I had the authority to do this. Unlike Athanasius, I didn’t start baptizing at a young age.

I’ve thought about this often over the years since I’ve entered the ministry. Did Kyle see something in me so long ago that suggested I might be able to baptize him? Who knows? I didn’t remember this until long after I’d responded to God’s call, but now I definitely see it as one more piece in the 20/20 hindsight puzzle that is God’s call.

Well, back to Athanasius…let’s remember the Athanasian Creed today. I dare you to do this on Sunday! 🙂

1. Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith;

2. Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.

3. And the catholic faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity;

4. Neither confounding the persons nor dividing the substance.

5. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit.

6. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is all one, the glory equal, the majesty coeternal.

7. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit.

8. The Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Spirit uncreated.

9. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible.

10. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal.

11. And yet they are not three eternals but one eternal.

12. As also there are not three uncreated nor three incomprehensible, but one uncreated and one incomprehensible.

13. So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Spirit almighty.

14. And yet they are not three almighties, but one almighty.

15. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God;

16. And yet they are not three Gods, but one God.

17. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord;

18. And yet they are not three Lords but one Lord.

19. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord;

20. So are we forbidden by the catholic religion to say; There are three Gods or three Lords.

21. The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten.

22. The Son is of the Father alone; not made nor created, but begotten.

23. The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.

24. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits.

25. And in this Trinity none is afore or after another; none is greater or less than another.

26. But the whole three persons are coeternal, and coequal.

27. So that in all things, as aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.

28. He therefore that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity.

29. Furthermore it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

30. For the right faith is that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and man.

31. God of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and man of substance of His mother, born in the world.

32. Perfect God and perfect man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting.

33. Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching His manhood.

34. Who, although He is God and man, yet He is not two, but one Christ.

35. One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking of that manhood into God.

36. One altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person.

37. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ;

38. Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead;

39. He ascended into heaven, He sits on the right hand of the Father, God, Almighty;

40. From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

41. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies;

42. and shall give account of their own works.

43. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting and they that have done evil into everlasting fire.

44. This is the catholic faith, which except a man believe faithfully he cannot be saved.

Lessons from Megachurches

I received an email from a parishioner asking me about The Progressive Christian magazine.  I had received some announcements about it in several mailings, so I thought I’d check out some of the articles.  One in particular caught my attention.

Usually, one doesn’t think of progressive Christians being the biggest supporters of megachurches, so I was surprised to see an article by Dr. Scott Thumma, Learning from the Megachurches: An Emphasis on Vitality, Not Size.  He shares a lot of good thoughts.  You’ll want to read the whole article, but here are the bullet points he makes:

  • Don’t strive for size; strive to serve God.
  • Know your audience and speak their language.
  • Make it appealing and welcoming, then make it serious and challenging.
  • Church is more than just a “Sunday thing.”
  • Create participants rather than members.
  • Get new attendees involved.
  • Connect the congregation.
  • Growth in the faith isn’t just for new Christians; it’s for the saints too.
  • Empower people to identify and live out their calling.
  • Whatever you do – do it with quality.

I think these are all worthy of a few moments of reflection wherever it is that you serve.  Rural, urban, suburban, and small towns could all learn something from these points.

United Methodists, Southern Baptists, and War

I thought it might be interesting to look at statements on war from United Methodists and Southern Baptists.

Here first is the statement from the United Methodist social principles:

We believe war is incompatible with the teachings and example of Christ. We therefore reject war as an instrument of national foreign policy, to be employed only as a last resort in the prevention of such evils as genocide, brutal suppression of human rights, and unprovoked international aggression. We insist that the first moral duty of all nations is to resolve by peaceful means every dispute that arises between or among them; that human values must outweigh military claims as governments determine their priorities; that the militarization of society must be challenged and stopped; that the manufacture, sale, and deployment of armaments must be reduced and controlled; and that the production, possession, or use of nuclear weapons be condemned. Consequently, we endorse general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control.

From The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church – 2004. Copyright 2004 by The United Methodist Publishing House. Used by permission.

This is from the Southern Baptist’s document, The Baptist Faith and Message, and I suppose we could see this as a Southern Baptist statement on war.

XVI. Peace and War

It is the duty of Christians to seek peace with all men on principles of righteousness. In accordance with the spirit and teachings of Christ they should do all in their power to put an end to war.

The true remedy for the war spirit is the gospel of our Lord. The supreme need of the world is the acceptance of His teachings in all the affairs of men and nations, and the practical application of His law of love. Christian people throughout the world should pray for the reign of the Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 2:4; Matthew 5:9,38-48; 6:33; 26:52; Luke 22:36,38; Romans 12:18-19; 13:1-7; 14:19; Hebrews 12:14; James 4:1-2.

Although I’m sure there are differences in the way each denomination views the documents here, I find it interesting that the SBs give no possible excuse for war, whereas we UMs suggest war can be employed as a last resort.  What differences do you see?

Sunday Sermon: The Troublesome Trinity

I usually don’t post my sermons for several reasons. One, even though they’re original, they have material from all over the place and I don’t put extensive citations in them (although I usually mention that they are references in passing). Usually, I get illustrations from a couple of places: Wikiletics & esermons.com. Sometimes I get stories or anecdotes from the internet, but many times they’re from life experiences. Anyway, I’m doing a series on the difficult passages and doctrines of the faith and this is the third one in the series, and is on “The Trinity.” Again, although this is the manuscript, they aren’t always preached just as they’re written. So without further ado, here is Sunday’s Sermon.

There are more questions about the Christian doctrine of the Trinity than just about anything else in the faith. In fact, I think it may be the most confusing doctrine of all. There was once a pastor who told the story of a friend of his who was a Christian businessman in California. This man and his wife had friends from India who visited along with their 11 year old daughter. While his friends from India traveled around California on business, they left their daughter with the man and his family. The young girl was full of questions one Sunday morning as the family got ready for Church and she was excited to go along. On their way home from Church, the husband asked her what she thought of the service. She looked confused and said, “I don’t understand why the West Coast isn’t included too.” They had no idea what she meant, and as they were trying to figure out what she was talking about when she finally said, “You know, they’re always saying ‘in the name of the Father, the Son, and the whole East Coast’.” Even though she had it a little bit mixed up, we are always using these words: singing, praising, praying, preaching and blessing in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Sometimes we’re get so used to doing this and saying these words that we forget that, in spite of their difficulty, they point to one of the most important and central ideas of our faith – the idea that we worship a God who is “three in one,” the idea of the Trinity.

So, even though the word Trinity isn’t in Scripture, the concept is all over the place. Another of the many examples is found in Philippians 2:6, where Paul writes that Jesus had the very nature of God. The earliest Christians used the doctrine of the Trinity to explain an important paradox. On one hand, they believed, that God is one. This is a foundational Jewish belief, and Faithful Orthodox Jewish men and women still recite Deuteronomy 6:4 twice a day ‘ Hear O’ Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one! Early Christians agreed: God is one. Yet, on the other hand they also believed that Jesus and the Holy Spirit were both worthy of worship and Scripture seemed to suggest they were one with God. The doctrine of the Trinity is the way they came to understand and describe these beliefs. It summarized and holds together three important ideas:

  • There is only one God
  • God is three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
  • Each person is divine (God)

The following quote is from the late Dr. Walter Martin and helps describe how this is possible in our everyday world. He wrote:

“It is a well-known fact of chemistry that plain water, when placed in a vacuum under 230 millimeters of gas pressure and at a temperature of 0 degrees Centigrade, solidifies into ice at the bottom of the container, remains liquid in the center and vaporizes at the top! At a given instant the same water is both solid, liquid and gas, yet all three are manifestations of the same basic substance or nature: H2O – hydrogen: two parts; oxygen: one. If one of the simplest of all created substances can be three in manifested form and yet remain one in nature, then the Creator of that substance can surely be Father, Son and Holy Spirit – three Persons and one Nature – without any violation of logic or reason whatever if He so wills.”

Now all of this is well and good, but we have to get to the question we always face. What in the world does this all mean? Does it really make a difference to us as we try to follow God in our daily lives? At one point, I could tell you some of what I believed about who God was and is, but I never really grasped God as Trinity. In fact, it wasn’t until about five years ago that I really felt like I started to understand why this is so important to our everyday real-world faith.

I am convinced that the Trinity is essential to who we are as Christians. It means that at the very heart of reality from before the beginning of time as we know it, God has existed as an eternally dynamic vibrant community of love between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There is something unique and special about the way all three work in unity as one God. God has never been some isolated lonely figure who just got bored and created the universe. Instead the world was created by one God who was so full of love between three persons that it just had to be shared. Through some great mystery God decided to reach out and create our world in order to share that with all of creation. And if that’s the very nature of what is real and true, then it has some important implications for how we live

It means that we are most like God when we come together in a loving community called the Church and then reach out from this place to share God’s dynamic love with the entire world beginning with our community and moving to the ends of the earth. If we come together as the Church and become completely satisfied with who we are and where we are, then we’ve stopped being like God. We’re only imitating our Lord if we decide to reach out and share God’s love in tangible ways with everyone we meet. We’re most like God in the simple act of sharing how God works in our lives. We’re most like God when we take the time to give to someone in need. We’re most like God when we bring someone who’s never known that God is love to hear the Good News of the Gospel. This week, and throughout our lives, let’s imitate our God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as we reach out to share from a love so deep and so strong that it created the world as we know it. Let’s share the love of God…in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.