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Pray for our leaders, that they will endure to the end

Posted in commentary on January 7, 2012| 2 Comments »

My post this week for Desiring God was heavy, and was prompted by an email from a young staff member who had stumbled across North Carolina’s eugenics program and couldn’t believe it was possible in the United States.  Yet, it happened.  He thought people needed to know.

My next post for Desiring God, at least as conceived today, will be about the role of church leaders in supporting the eugenics movement of the early 1900’s and the abortion movement in the 1960’s and 1970’s.  It feels even heavier.  It is a horrible, shameful part of the history of the church in the United States.

But not one without hope.  There have always been good men who stood on the promises of the Bible rather than follow the latest intellectual or social movements of the day, and who then attempted to lead their people well.  Most of them we will never hear about.

Over the past several days I’ve heard from Christian men in missions in Africa and Asia, and several pastors or leaders in the United States, all of whom are doing hard things for the sake of their people.  In every case, it was a ‘small’ thing that nobody will ever hear about, except for the people they are engaging.  But it might change everything for those people.  All are connected to disability in some way.

They do it because of Jesus.  I love these men.

I know it is just a burden on me, but I invite you into it, to pray for our leaders, that God will give them strength and joy in all that they do in serving us.

And I pray that we can be a joy to them, even when we need to ask for something to serve our members with disabilities.  I know I can be hard on people when it comes to services for my son.  But I’d rather be known for my reasonableness (Philippian 4:5), and I need God’s help for that.  And it would be even greater for the entire community of people experiencing disability and their loved ones to be known for our love toward those who serve us.

And our respect:

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
(1 Timothy 5:17 ESV)

I hope you will join me in prayer.

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Changes to The Works of God

Posted in commentary on January 2, 2012| Leave a Comment »

I kind of doubt anyone will really notice the changes, however!

Several months ago a friend pointed out that the tagline, ‘the volunteer disability ministry blog of Bethlehem Baptist Church,’ wasn’t really true.

I could see her point.

More than three years ago we decided to start a blog for the disability ministry at Bethlehem.  At the time it was mostly going to be focused on prayer requests, news from church and the like for BBC folks connected to the disability ministry.

Since that time, The Table (Bethlehem’s own social network) has become a reality and has its own disability group, Brenda Fischer has created and recruited volunteers to oversee a regular prayer ministry, Hope Keepers (for women experiencing disability in a child or spouse) launched, and the church has its own space to make evident the disability ministry at BBC.

I also moved the blog to its present platform, changed the name and mostly write about whatever I feel like.

So, the purpose changed, and the audience changed.  It is time other things changed as well.

Functionally, I’m not changing anything. I still plan to write on the same issues of disability, the Bible and the culture.  I still plan to put up resources that are God-centered and Bible-saturated.  I hope to encourage more posts from Jan Lacher and Chris Nelson and others.

It has never felt like a chore.  Nor do I feel like we’ve covered everything, even in our little niche which is disability and the Bible.

The website needs a good going-over as well after more than two years.  There’s content from the ‘old’ blog that should be brought over, the links to Facebook and Twitter need to be tweaked, dead links need to be purged and good materials need to be added to the resource pages.

But I need to ask for patience on all this as it may take a while.  This blog lives in the margins of my life – over lunchtime, early in the morning, etc.  I enjoy it and I hope it brings glory to God, but my family needs me.  It is one of the reasons I don’t reply to comments very often.  I know good bloggers are supposed to do that, but I just can’t. I read every comment, however, and am grateful every time someone takes the time to do so.

So, whether you first read those sorry posts back in the summer of 2008 or just joined us last week, thank you for being part of our exploring and resting and trusting in what God has to say about disability, disease and suffering.  I’m grateful to be part of this community with you.

As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing with you,

John

He established a testimony in Jacob
and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
to teach to their children,
that the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments;
(Psalm 78:5-7 ESV)

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Why do disability ministry? For your joy!

Posted in commentary on January 1, 2012| Leave a Comment »

I had lunch with a remarkable young man last week. He serves as the leader for a gathering of adults with cognitive disabilities at Bethlehem’s north campus.

He told me this story.

Parents of a 26-year-old woman with cognitive and physical disabilities heard about Bethlehem’s desire to serve adults who experience life like their daughter.

Their church experiences hadn’t been positive.  In addition to not having services for their daughter in a church, she experienced physical pain when sitting for long stretches.  Church, for her, was not a good place.

Her first weeks in the class at Bethlehem were hard.  She was frightened and desperately wanted to stay with her mother.

But God was working.  The young man leading the class is a natural leader, and several other college-aged young people joined him as volunteers.  He also had the help of wise people who have walked this path of disability for many years.  Most of all, God had gripped him with a desire to both communicate truths about Jesus AND love every person God brought to this class.  It is the kind of love that doesn’t quit, because it is about a God who doesn’t quit.

After several weeks, the young woman had a breakthrough.  She understood she could contribute to the class.  She felt like she was welcome.  She felt the real affections for her that were there.  If she needed to move around or lay on the floor to ease her pain, she was encouraged to do so.  Now, after several months, church is a delight to her.

Her parents felt it as well.

Think about that – after 26 years, God changed church from something that caused physical and emotional pain into a place she longed to be.

And as I heard this story, what I felt was the joy flowing out of this young man’s heart.  He loves the adults God has brought into this class.  He enjoys the hard work he must put in to prepare to teach those who have a hard time learning.  He loves that his future wife is working alongside him, seeing the value in and joy around what he is doing for the sake of God’s church.

I’m very grateful God has given this young woman a good experience, a safe place, and the opportunity to learn more about Jesus.

But I’m equally grateful that God lets me see a talented young man experience more than just the satisfaction of doing something well, but increasing measures of joy and affections for those who are most likely to be marginalized and abused in our culture because of their cognitive disabilities.

I don’t know what God has for him; he’s still working on his schooling.  But this I know: he is being changed by this experience; he is not the same man I first met about six months ago.

And that’s why we do disability ministry, not out of reluctant obligation or to earn favor from God, but for our own joy!

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Why I am optimistic about 2012

Posted in commentary, Scripture, Sermons on December 31, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Friday morning I woke up with no heat in the house because the boiler had failed, Desiring God was still $200,000 from its year-end goal, and Paul had multiple seizures the day before.

I felt crummy.  The little darts and arrows of anxiety and doubt were multiplying.  Yet, I knew enough to say to Dianne, “I am commanded to live without anxiety.” To which she rightly replied, “yes, you are.”

So, the fight began.  And God provided, through something Pastor John had preached just this past Sunday.

This is a longer piece from Pastor John’s most recent sermon, but I encourage you to read it all:

And because we have peace with God because of being justified by faith, we can begin to grow in the enjoyment of peace with ourselves — and here I include any sense of guilt or anxiety that tends to paralyze us or make us hopeless. Here again believing the promises of God with a view to glorifying God in our lives is key.

Philippians 4:6–7 is one of the most precious passages in this regard: “Do not be anxious about anything [the opposite of anxiety is peace], but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God [in other words, roll your anxieties onto God]. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

The picture here is that our hearts and our minds are under assault. Guilt, worries, threats, confusions, uncertainties — they all threaten our peace. And Paul says that God wants to “guard” your hearts and minds. He guards them with his peace. He guards them in a way that goes beyond what human understanding can fathom. Don’t limit the peace of God by what your understanding can see. He gives us inexplicable peace, supra-rational peace. And he does it when we take our anxieties to him in prayer and trust him, that he will carry them for us (1 Peter 5:7) and protect us.

When we do this, when we come to him — and remember we already have peace with him! — and trust him as our loving and almighty heavenly Father to help us, his peace comes to us and steadies us, and protects us from the disabling effects of fear and anxiety and guilt. And then we are able to carry on and our God gets the glory for what we do, because we trusted him.

And God provided, again.  As I write this, I am at peace.  The house is still cold (repairman is on the way, Lord willing), I have no idea what donations will look like for Desiring God, and Paul’s doctor is off until next week so we must wait.

In all this, I know God is good.  I have a foreign righteousness supplied by Jesus that lets me come into the presence of the Lord of the universe to seek his help!  Amazing.

That is why I am optimistic about 2012, and I pray you are as well – not because of our circumstances, but because God himself is for us.  And we know how that story will end someday!

And for my friends who are weary this last day of the year, I also recommend a beautiful post by Jon Bloom, A Year-End Prayer for Weary Waiters.  Yes, come quickly, Lord Jesus – next year in Jerusalem!

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“It’s not that I have to. I get to.”

Posted in commentary, Special Events on December 30, 2011| 1 Comment »

Of all the things I read or watched this year, the video below has stayed with me the most, I think.

God didn’t ask my opinion about having a son with multiple disabilities.  I’m grateful for that as I would have responded wrongly, and I did respond wrongly.  But somewhere along the way he changed my heart about that boy and his disabilities.

And I have a long way to go.  I’ve never met Dr. McQuilken, but the easy way he accepted his new assignment from God as his wife’s Alzheimer’s disease progressed instructs me about my heart and where I want it to be oriented.

Justin Taylor first blogged about Dr. and Mrs. McQuilken in February.  The three articles are devastating and beautiful.

May it be that God does as Justin asked in his post: May God make us men like this.

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Good news – it is grace that we have Christ!

Posted in commentary on December 25, 2011| 2 Comments »

I really like Matt Hammit of Sanctus Real.

His youngest son was born in 2010 with a serious heart defect.  God provided excellent care, and today he’s growing – with half a heart.

It also did something to his father, making him both more serious and more joyful.  I’ve enjoyed watching this happen, and also seeing how God has continued to fuel his passion for suffering families experiencing what he did.

Earlier this year, Matt created his first solo album which I have enjoyed a great deal.  And this particular song has special meaning.

Merry Christmas, all my friends!  May we bask in the immeasurable grace God has extended to us this day!

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To my friends who face Christmas with an acute mingling of joy and sorrow

Posted in commentary, Scripture on December 24, 2011| 5 Comments »

On Christmas morning my three younger children will slide out of bed and rush to look in their stockings.  They will happily compare their little gifts, then not-so-happily wait until everyone is up and breakfast is served, eaten and table cleared before we open presents.

They live with excitement about receiving gifts, and increasingly with joy at giving gifts.  I enjoy that.

And my oldest son will not care about any of it.  For him, it is just another day.  With heavy coaxing and much help, he will ‘open’ a present.  He may like it, or he may not.  He might like it in six months.  Or never.  Or if his sleep cycle is off again, he may just want to sleep in his chair all day.

At some point, I’ll feel that ache in my heart that wants him to enjoy something, anything, with the enthusiasm of his siblings.  I will feel like crying.  After 16 Christmases, I’m pretty sure about this.

Then, something will happen.  It always does.  Whether from a child, or a piece of music, or during a family prayer, God will remind me that this really is a happy day.

We celebrate because of Jesus.

The Messiah has been born.  Angels will tell about him to shepherds and pagans will follow a star to worship him.

He will grow up and say radical things to people with broken hearts:

And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
(Matthew 5:2-8 ESV)

He will let little children come to him.  He will cast out demons, heal the sick, cleanse lepers and reverse disabilities.  He will speak harshly to those who are arrogant and gently to those who are forgotten or ignored or marginalized.

He gives meaning to disability:

Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents (that he was born blind), but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
(John 9:3 ESV)

He proves his authority through disability:

But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose. . .
(Mark 2:10-12 ESV)

He will live a perfect life.  And he will die, but only at the right time and only because he allows it to happen:

For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
(John 10:17-18 ESV)

And he would take it up again!  He would teach us that he didn’t do it out of reluctant obligation – but for JOY!  He endured not simply for the sake of endurance, but for the sake of eternal joy that he freely shares with his elect!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
(Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV)

Not one of us who cling to him will be lost – not a single one!  No one can snatch us out of his hand!

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.
(John 10:27-30 ESV)

He holds everything together, including our children with disabilities:

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.
(Hebrews 1:3 ESV)

After he rose and just before he returned to the Father, he gave us a job:

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
(Acts 1:6-8 ESV)

So, we testify, and we wait.  But we wait with anticipation for a new day!  It is coming – just like the people had to wait before Jesus came the first time, we must wait until his second coming.  And it will be worth it!

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.”
(Revelation 21:5-6 ESV)

So, today our hearts ache.  But even here, we see God’s grace toward us as it increases our longing for him:

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
(Romans 8:18-30 ESV)

Christmas is the signal that all our suffering and all our pain is coming to an end.  Not because of us, but because of Jesus.

Someday, my child and yours, who have never ‘enjoyed’ this day, will enjoy it purely, as it is meant to be enjoyed.  And they won’t feel like they have missed anything important on this earth.  Nor will we.

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.
(Revelation 22:20-21 ESV)

Amen and Amen!

Merry Christmas!

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Be at peace – God rules the rulers!

Posted in commentary, Scripture on December 21, 2011| 1 Comment »

Thank you to Jon Bloom for pointing this out to me.

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. Luke 2:1 ESV

That simple statement, which we’ve probably all read or heard a hundred times, contains some amazingly good news!

The God of the universe made sure that one baby was in Bethlehem when he was supposed to be, and he used the most powerful man on earth to make it happen through a decree that impacted an entire empire.

And Caesar didn’t even know he was fulfilling a 700-year-old prophecy:

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days. Micah 5:2 ESV

God rules all things, for his glory and for our good.  And he has clearly said to us: be not anxious (Matthew 6:25-34), and he will supply every need (Philippians 4:19).

May the peace that comes from resting in such a good and gracious and powerful Father fill your day and life today!

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“We do not look to what Michael can do here in this life, but instead look to the One. . .”

Posted in commentary, Special Events on December 18, 2011| 15 Comments »

Every year during the Advent season, Bethlehem Baptist Church invites the children entering fourth grade to participate in carrying an advent candle to the front of the sanctuary.  It is taken very seriously by Bethlehem.

And Bethlehem welcomes the children with disabilities to participate!

This year, Michael Lacher, son to Mark and Jan Lacher, entered the fourth grade.  Michael lives with debilitating seizures.  God has been merciful to his family, wrapping them in the truth of his sovereignty over all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ.

After a season of prayer, Mark and Jan asked if Michael could participate in the ceremony, and the church threw its arms wide open to figure out how to do it!

What follows is a report from his mother, used with permission.  There are miracles from God throughout this accounting, so take your time in reading.  You will be blessed.

Hi Mary and John,

Thanks so very much  for praying for Michael.  After sleeping much of Saturday, he awoke on Sunday morning at 6 a.m. belly-laughing and ready to go. As you know, I kept him home on Friday from school with what seemed to be some vague illness.  I had concerns all day on Saturday whether he would be able to go to church on Sunday.  I decided to give his medications on Saturday night about an hour and half later so as to delay the Sunday morning meds until after lighting of the candle. (Much thought went into how to do this.)  I decided to delay med administration as he is sharper and more alert when he does not take meds.  They make him drowsy and sometimes irritable right after receiving them. I was encouraged and relieved when Michael looked bright when he awoke on Sunday morning.

We hustled on Sunday morning.  It was a little more chaotic with the snow fall (we clean our 86-yr old neighbor’s driveway and our single lady neighbor’s driveway)  and also with having a house-full of family staying with us from out-of-town.  There was much dashing in our household to get to church extra early.

We arrived at church feeling half dressed, but we were ready for the practice run for the lighting of the candle.  Jon and Mandy’s daughter, Elena, and Michael were to do it together.  Jon is the Sr. High pastor at the north site. Pastor Jon had told me that his daughter was excited to be doing it with Michael.  He relayed to me earlier that week that they couldn’t imagine a more perfect way of having their daughter doing the candle than doing it with Michael.  They were thrilled.  I was grateful to hear that.

In the practice, we decided to put Michael on the left side as he has a right-sided field-cut with his vision. He would be less apt to reach over and grab the candle with this positioning.  As we did a trial run, we noticed that we had to navigate the corner at the end of the center aisle and do a right hand turn.  It was communion Sunday with all of the “bread and wine” trays within arm’s reach of Michael.

I could see a potential disaster if we allowed him to get too close. Michael can be like an alligator.  He can be quiet and subdued.  And when you least expect it, whack!  Stuff goes flying.  So we talked to facilities manager, Brad, and asked him if we could pull out the outer two chairs that bordered the corner.  He heartily agreed.  We tried it again, and it was great having the extra room.

After the practice runs, we hastily got the gown on Michael (no small feat), and Jon and Mandy’s daughter showed us where the V-piece buttoned, etc. Her mom, Mandy, encouraged us and said, “What will happen, will happen.”  We appreciated her input and her daughter’s assistance in getting the gown “just right.”  Michael seemed to know something was up and different as he so often does.  I brought a bib and fastened it tightly around his neck so as to keep “everything” as fresh and clean as possible.

Michael looked sharp.  The hair was slicked back–Elvis style.  A new, crisp, starched-white shirt peeked out under and above the gown. (I bleached the old white shirt twice, and it looked way too dingy to use for such a special occasion.)  A new power-red tie under the neck pointed toward his chocolate eyes. He had his “banker’s” blue-pin striped pants on with his braided black belt. I put his tightest black slippers on his feet in hopes that he would not easily fling them off and slam dunk them in the front of the church.  In the practice run, Christina (Michael’s sister), in her burgundy, formal dress gracefully and slowly pushed the wheelchair forward.  She was very comfortable doing it.  After all, she is a pro at handling the wheelchair and Michael.

The service started.  We were all sitting in the back waiting for the moment. I was trying to concentrate on the service. Then, I looked at Michael, and for a brief second, I envisioned him to be able-bodied wearing the gown. I started to cry.  Ruth, the Family Discipleship staff that manages the kids and assists with this activity, dashed and got me some tissues.  Sniff. Dab.

I gained control and then was somewhat alarmed when I saw Michael having seizures. The seizures were growing in intensity–on the verge of a huge tonic.  I prayed a hasty prayer imploring the Lord to calm the lightning storm in his brain. The seizures stopped. Whew. I exhaled a sigh of relief.

Michael started to bounce his normal self.  The passage from Isaiah was being read.  We were next.  The time seemed to speed by.  The passage reading was done.  We had to quickly get into place.  The lights were dimmed.  I did one quick wipe of Michael’s face and yanked off the bib. He was ready.

The piano music flowed through the air.  The children started forward.  Elena looked so stately as she measured her steps forward and carefully held the candle.  Michael seemed joyous.  He seemed to know and sense that this was a special moment.  He looked around smiling, arms up and moving, he rocked in his chair. He made sounds so as to say “God is so very good.”

I stood in the back and watched them ease their way forward. I was tense, barely breathing, and yet, was so proud of them all.  Buttons were popping.  They got to the end of the center aisle and turned the corner.  I relaxed a little as they passed the communion trays without incident.  They angle their walk to the area of the candles.  Christina paused with Michael.  Elena carefully climbed the steps and gently placed the candle on its perch.  She turned and gracefully came back down the stairs and joined Michael and Christina. The three of them made their way to the far aisle to make their exit.  Jim, the usher next to us, leaned forward and whispered to Mark that Michael did great. Mark shed a tear or two. I was told that others were dabbing their eyes and were touched by this part of the service.

I came away from it very grateful to have Michael be part of the worship service. He can do so very little, so to have him participate in such a wonderful way is a Christmas gift in itself.

Someday, Michael will not be in a wheelchair, but instead will be able to walk by himself before the King and will in a full presence of mind be able to worship Him fully. We do not look to what Michael can do here in this life, but instead look to the One who can do exceedingly more than we can possible think to ask.  Jesus is our hope.  To Him be the glory.  Amen.

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A mother’s faithfulness, a husband’s grief, and children guaranteed life eternal

Posted in commentary on December 14, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Mitch Pearson is an elder at BBC, a member of the Board of Directors of Desiring God, and one of the men of the church that I want to be like.

His wife, Mary, died from leukemia in May of 2010.

The six minute video below was created for the baptism of Mary and Mitch’s oldest daughters in September 2011.  You will see two young women living ‘as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.’

May all of us have children who speak of their mothers this way!  And, more importantly, may they embrace the God their mothers clung to until the very end of this life.

As Christians, we should never just gloss over pain.  It is real, and we feel it deeply.  But there is a way to understand it in light of hope.

Mitch closed his Caring Bridge entry with this:

Keep us in your prayers as we continue to move forward. We are learning to live without Mary, but it is not easy, and it is not suppose to be easy. We miss her greatly, and have the great hope that one day in the near future, when we will stand before the Throne of God, and we will not only see Jesus’ face, we will also see Mary again and all those who have gone before us and will never have to be separated again.

Praising God for a future to come.

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