Dr. Buttler's Office

I took today off! Last week was a killer, I'm not preaching this Sunday, and Anita was not working today, so I thought I'd swap days off and spend the day with her. The leisurely day at home was shot early on when she called our pediatrician's office to schedule an appointment for Yates. He's been coughing, having chest pains, and some congestion . . . sure enough, he had a sinus infection and bronchitis! Glad we went!

It turned out to be a unique and profitable experience. In the waiting room were probably 5-6 different ethnic/cultural backgrounds represented. Sometimes we just hear folks talk about our changing culture - sometimes (like today) we experience our changing culture! But it was very interesting to see.

Then we saw Dr. Buttler - he talked more about his bluegrass band than he did medicine. Yates got a prescription for some drugs, but we all got a lesson in music! Dr. Buttler used to be heavily involved in barbershop quartet music, and he still is some, but his emphasis right now is in bluegrass.

How are the many cultures, medicine, and bluegrass music related? Very simply ... the Gospel. Dr. Buttler is a Christian and he strongly believes good medical care should be extended to people of all ethnicities and backgrounds. He said he has lost some other families as patients because they see these foreigners in the office, but he doesn't really let that bother him. As far as the music, he's doing that to communicate the Gospel through the old gospel bluegrass songs that people have loved for so long. You might see his band at Community in the coming months!

I can't wait till another kid gets sick . . . I'm going to offer to take him to Dr. Buttler's office!

seeing the Gospel in action,
Burt

Fruit

In my personal devotional time I'm reading/studying through Luke. In 6:43-45 Luke writes,

For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thronbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

That is simply TOO convicting! I can tell you all the theological reasons for the assurance of my salvation, yet when I look at the fruit of my life I'm convicted primarily of unbelief. A look at the fruit of my life ... reveals a man who isn't content with Christ but who instead seeks after the things of this world; shows a husband who doesn't love his wife as Christ loved the church but who rather demands love out of her; uncovers a father who doesn't love his children but instead often frustrates them; reveals a pastor who prefers to be pampered rather than one who loves to shepherd the flock. It exposes me for the self-centered, unbelieving, proud, judgmental, discontent, immature, cowardly, unloving, shallow, critical, arrogant, superficial, weak, sinner that I really am.

Am I doubting my salvation? Not really, though in 2 Peter 1:10 we are instructed to "make your calling and election sure." My hope is not and has never been in my accomplishments, but only in the finished work of Christ. Yet a thorough inspection of my fruit leaves me hanging only on the single thread of God's grace.

asking for the fruit of the Spirit,
Burt

Baseball season is here

As Garrett Morris' old Saturday Night Live character Chico Esquala would say, "baseball been bery, bery good to me." But I'm not so sure about this year! Here's a thought that will challenge your belief in God's good providence - Steve and I are co-coaching a 9,10 yr old baseball team up at the Moody park this year. It will surely be a faith stretching experience - primarily for the kids and their parents!

How will God use us there? That remains to be seen but our commitment is to provide a good year for each kid and their family. Hopefully they'll even learn a little something about baseball. Our goal isn't to restore their hope in humanity, the goodness of man, or the benefits of morality. We believe that even these 9 & 10 year olds can truly encounter the living God and that we might even be a part of that process. Our challenge will be to be the best baseball coaches we can be and to do it as Christians and also to proclaim God's glory in it. We're in essence going up to the park as missionaries, not expecting everyone to act like Christians. We want to see how the Gospel can make an impact in that situation. Pray for us!

warming up in the bullpen,
Burt

Get Your Own Copy!

Yesterday I mentioned in worship that I'll give anyone who wants a copy of Jerry Bridges' book "Transforming Grace." And that's true - you want one, it's yours!

But the other books I'm reading right now are all mine, even though you'll surely be tempted to want to borrow them. But no such luck - you'll have to get your own copy. Check out these thrilling titles:


Hewson, Claire and Peter Yule, Dianna Laurent, Carl Vogel. Internet Research Methods: A Practical Guide for the Social and Behavioural Sciences. Sage Publications. London 2003 ISBN: 0-761959203

Vyhmeister, Nancy J. Quality Research Papers: For Students of Religion and Theology. Zondervan. Grand Rapids 2001 ISBN: 0-310239451

Merriam, Sharan B. and Edwin L. Simpson. A Guide to Research for Educators and Trainers of Adults. Krieger Publishing Company Malabar, Fl. 1995 ISBN: 1-57524-142-0

Merriam, Sharan B. and Associates Qualitative Research in Practice: Examples for Discussion and Analysis Jossey-Bass Publishing San Francisco 2002 ISBN: 0-787958956

Leedy, Paul D. and Jeanne Ellis Ormrod Practical Research: Planning and Design Pearson Publishing Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 2005 ISBN: O-131108956

Booth, Wayne C. and Gregory G. Colomb, Joseph M. Williams The Craft of Research: Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing and Publishing University of Chicago Press Chicago 2003 ISBN: 0-226065685

Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations University of Chicago Press, Chicago and London ISBN 0226816273


Yeah . . . I know you're jealous . . . but get your own copy!

needing caffeine,
Burt

What are you staring at?

Early this morning I took Yates to the orthodontist to get his retainer. Yates went on back to see Dr. Walker and left me sitting in the waiting room reading a book. As I was sitting there two ladies came out of the office area, walked to the middle of the room, and begin to stare up through a skylight. They were saying something but too soft for me to really hear. Their gaze was fixed on that skylight for 20-30 seconds (which is a long time to stare at something.) After they departed back into the office I had this insatiable urge to go stare up at that skylight just as they had done. I didn't . . . but I sure wanted to! We've all had that experience - we've observed someone staring at something and we often find ourselves staring at the same thing, without even consciously making the decision to do so.

I wonder what the world sees us Christians staring at? Is it Jesus? I really believe that if we would all fix our gaze upon Him the world would take note and take a look at Him as well. Unfortunately we stare at the same stuff the world does and we're considered rather insignificant and meaningless with nothing special to offer. Can you blame them? If Jesus isn't spectacular enough to captivate our attention, why should we expect the unbeliever to find Him appealing?

So what are you staring at? Pray with me that we would find Christ absolutely beautiful and His grace a stunning thing to behold. May His Spirit work this in us.

By the way, I did sneak a peek at the skylight on the way out!

fixing my gaze upon Jesus,
Burt

A Vision for Worship

Yesterday here at Community we truly got a taste of our vision for worship - "Embracing our history, Engaging the present, Equipping for the future, with the purpose to Exalt and Enjoy our Savior." Stokes and Adam gave us a rendition of "The Law of God is Good and Wise." This old hymn was written by Matthias Loy back in 1863 and is a strong statement on the usefulness and beauty of the Law of God. Stokes and Adam came up with their own tune to which we could sing these words. In case you missed it read the words of this hymn:

The law of God is good and wise,
And sets His will before our eyes,
Shows us the way of righteousness,
And dooms to death when we transgress.

Its light of holiness imparts
The knowledge of our sinful hearts,
That we may see our lost estate
And seek deliverance ere too late.

To those who help in Christ have found
And would in works of love abound
It shows what deeds are His delight
And should be done as good and right.

When men the offered help disdain
And willfully in sin remain,
Its terror in their ear resounds
And keeps their wickedness in bounds.

The law is good, but since the fall
Its holiness condemns us all;
It dooms us for our sin to die
And has no power to justify.

To Jesus we for refuge flee,
Who from the curse has set us free,
And humbly worship at His throne,
Saved by His grace through faith alone.

We truly embraced our great history and heritage with this song, yet did so in a way that engaged more of the style and culture of today. Thanks to Stokes and Adam (and to Rick Barnes who originally helped Stokes with the tune) for equipping us yesterday in worship.

Makes me wonder how effective I am in sharing the Gospel with others! The message of Christ must not and cannot change, but do I share it in ways that engage the listener? It's a hard thing to do, so let's pray for each other as we learn to do it.

still learning to worship and talk to others about Christ,
Burt