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Archive for the ‘commentary’ Category

“We had nothing to offer him. Yet he had everything to offer us.” – Greg Lucas

Posted in commentary on May 27, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I know I’m a couple days behind in getting this video posted.  Actually, I hope you’ve already seen it through Greg’s blog!  Greg’s blog and book are highly recommended reading.

I’m grateful that God has dropped into my life these examples of Godly men and women who live with disability in their families.  I had lunch with one such man yesterday – I walked away refreshed and renewed, with Bible ringing in my ears and his prayer for me running through my heart!  I want to be like that!

I pray that you have such people in your life as well.  God is our single need and highest treasure, of course.  But it sure is nice when he gives us good gifts like God-centered, Bible-saturated families who understand this life we lead.

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“But what should I say?”

Posted in commentary, Sermons on May 26, 2011| 2 Comments »

Pastor John got it right when he pleaded with the congregation to see people with disabilities in his sermon, Why Was This Child Born Blind:

This is our natural reflex—see and avoid. But we are not natural people. We are followers of Jesus. We have the Spirit of Jesus in our hearts. We have been seen and touched in all our brokenness by an attentive, merciful Savior.

If you want to be one of the most remarkable kinds of human beings on the planet—a Jesus kind—see people with disabilities.

But he didn’t end there!

See them. And move toward them. God will show you what to say.

I need to hear that!  I usually don’t know what to say or do when encountering a new person with a disability. What should I say, or not say.  I don’t want to offend; it really would be easier just to avoid!

In fact, I think I have more to fear than ‘normal’ people because I remember when I looked for reasons to be offended at the slightest, most subtle word or look from another person regarding my son or his disability.  Depending on my mood, I might decide to take that person apart rhetorically.  And this was after we had returned to church – I still harbored a lot of pain and distrust that I was ready to spill out on people in harmful ways.

Then one day a little old saint, using terms for disabilities she must have learned in the 1930’s and 40’s that we now consider offensive, communicated such tender affections for me and for my son that God quite literally wiped away the bitter heart and biting, sarcastic tongue I used in those situations.  I remember thinking, IN THAT MOMENT, this is strange; why am I not angry about her words?  God did that for both of us.

I have also lashed out at people in evil, vile ways, looking to make people hurt as much as I did.  I’m guessing those folks walked away not thinking they had made a positive difference, maybe even questioning why God had prompted them to talk with me in the first place.  And God used those moments as well, eventually breaking me of my pride and self-righteousness and giving me a heart that wanted to trust him and not do things like that anymore.

My point is simply this: God is not limited in any way by what we know or don’t know or even the words we use.  Nor does he say it will end in ‘success’ when we step out in faith to pursue the good of others.  Jesus did that and they killed him.

That old saint, in faith, pursued me with affection and God protected her and blessed me.  Others were rhetorically punched in the nose.  Both bring glory to God.

And Pastor John has also taught us what to do.  Simply ask, “Jesus, help me.”  Then move.

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Mark Talbot on suffering and the goodness of God

Posted in commentary on May 22, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Mark Talbot delivered a remarkable address at the 2005 Desiring God National Conference, All the Good that Is Ours In Christ:  Seeing God’s Gracious Hand in the Hurts Others Do to Us.

This short video will introduce you to him.  It is a trailer for the 2009 Desiring God National Conference, but you’ll see why I recommend it within the first minute.  It is an incredible testimony of God’s goodness in the midst of suffering.

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“One thing I do know, that though I was blind, NOW I SEE!”

Posted in commentary, Sermons on May 21, 2011| 3 Comments »

I love church.  But I expect that tomorrow morning there will be more than the usual urgency to get to church.

You see, Pastor John is preaching on John 9, the accounting of Jesus healing the man born blind.  This blog gets its name from John 9:3 (mostly).

I love the entire word of God.  It was not always so.  I was ambivalent about it during those years.

I was not ambivalent about John 9.

I hated it.

I hated that God claimed sovereignty over disability. I hated that one man got healed, and that one man wouldn’t be my son.   I hated that people thought it would be comforting to bring it up, since I had my own little man born blind.  I hated how I felt whenever anyone mentioned Jesus healing the blind.

Then, one day, I loved it.  I certainly wasn’t ‘willing’ myself to change my heart.  God simply moved on me and the Holy Spirit gave me both eyes to see and a heart ready to embrace that God is this big and this good and this powerful and this sovereign.

God did it.  To God be all the glory!

So, of all the passages in the Bible, moving from a profound hatred to a rapturous love makes this a particularly special part of God’s word for me.  I really can’t get enough of it.

And because God used the means of Pastor John to help me see it, I am particularly looking forward to hearing what God has given him to say.

So, please pray with me, that while Pastor John is preaching, and then when it is posted on the internet, that God would do it again – that he would move on hostile hearts, crush their opposition to his kingship over all things, let them see the necessity and beauty of the cross, and for the first time in their lives, live as entirely free people in Jesus Christ, full of joy, full of hope, full of anticipation about what God will do next.

May MILLIONS more say with the man who had formerly been blind, “One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25)!

And if you happen to be free at about 6:10 p.m. (Central) on Saturday, you can watch the live stream of the Downtown service.

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Sometimes we need to nudge even the best of our friends

Posted in Book Commentary, commentary on May 20, 2011| 3 Comments »

Wayne Grudem has rock-star status in our household.  We have his Systematic Theology (and so should you!) and we’ve given away copies of Politics – According to the Bible.  He is a great thinker, clear writer, Biblical scholar and an articulate defender of the unborn.

But he missed an opportunity to come out strong in defense of those living with disabilities in Politics – According to the Bible.  It reminded me that even our supporters sometimes need to be nudged on how they can best help our cause.

In the section titled “Objections regarding personhood of the preborn child” he begins with a strong statement:

2) Birth defects: Another objection concerns preborn children who are known to have birth defects. Should parents not have the right to abort such children, thus saving themselves much hardship and saving the child from a life of suffering?

But the relevant question here is this: Would we think it right to put such a child to death after it is born?

If we have already established that the preborn child should be treated as a person from the moment of conception, then being born or not yet being born should make no difference in assessment of the child’s personhood. If we would not think it right to kill such a child after it is born, then we should not think it right to kill the child before it is born.

Therein lies the problem – it is NOT established that all preborn children should be treated as people.  Even for those who are generally inclined to have a pro-life orientation, disability seems to tip the balance toward abortion rather than bringing that child into the world.

There is also a philosophical line of thinking that sees disability as negating the personhood of a little human being, and that the strong (parents, doctors, government) have the right and possibly even the obligation to ‘humanely’ end the life of a little human being – even one who has already been born!

Secondly, Dr. Grudem wanders into an argument that we can’t win against the culture:

Moreover, prior to birth the “possible” or “probable” diagnosis of birth defects can be in error. Sometimes children can be perfectly normal even though there was a diagnosis of a “possible” or “probable” birth defect. Many birth defects can be very small and not have significant impact on the child’s life. And even when the birth defect is quite significant (for example, Down syndrome) the child can still lead a happy life and bring much joy and blessing to his or her own family and to many others.

Diagnoses of genetic disorders are becoming more accurate and less expensive.  The argument that ‘it might turn out ok’ is of no comfort to a family facing disability if they have no orientation toward God’s sovereignty over all things; they are just as likely to say it isn’t worth the risk.

The fact that most birth defects are not that significant has little weight in a culture obsessed with comfort, wealth, status and beauty.  We’re already seeing the first signs of sex selection in the United States; why would a family put up with a minor disability if they don’t even want to keep a boy or a girl of the ‘wrong’ sex?

Finally, the ‘brings much joy’ argument is certainly true, but must rely on sentimentality.  There are abortionists across the country who are willing to grant that we can be sentimental about our own ‘choices’ with our child, and will even disingenuously agree that people with disabilities have value.  They will not deny for a minute that we experience joy in our children with disabilities.

But in the end, sentimentality will at best be a minor argument (if presented at all) and will not spare the child who’s parents do not want to be subjected to all the expense, suffering and inconvenience.

Even as I re-read my own words I’m feeling like I’m being harsh with Dr. Grudem.  I don’t want that to be the last word – I have deep regard for him and for his work and can happily recommend you buy and read Politics – According to the Bible.

But maybe in his next edition of the book he could re-write that section, putting more of his significant intellectual and writing abilities squarely on this issue in defense of little children with disabilities.

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How was your celebration of the Lord’s day?

Posted in commentary, Scripture on May 16, 2011| 1 Comment »

Psalm 22:27 All the ends of the earth shall remember
and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
shall worship before you.

The post today is really self-indulgent – but Sunday was just such a blessing for the entire family!  And so much of it was related to disability.

There have been seasons when church was more duty than delight for me.  If church isn’t that great of an experience for you right now, I pray that God would provide something different for you, if not in your circumstances than in a heart completely satisfied in him.

There are many reasons we had a great day.

  • We dropped Paul off with one of his favorite people, and we received the report that he had an active morning with her.  She has served us for years; we are so grateful for God’s provision of this kind woman!
  • We celebrated a baptism!  I can’t remember the last time we had a baptism on Sunday morning.
  • Pastor John’s most recent sermons – No One Will Take Your Joy From You and yesterday’s Before Abraham Was, I Am (to be posted Monday afternoon at DesiringGod.org) are passivity-killers. Last week emphasized the pursuit of our own joy in Christ.  This week the fear of death is crushed.  I’m grateful for God’s continued feeding of my soul from the word.
  • After the service we rushed to a time of prayer with one of our favorite families.  Their oldest boy, with multiple disabilities, is having surgery in a few days and the men and women who gathered around this boy have increased in their love for him and regard for his parents.  I’m grateful for God’s granting of good men in my life like this boy’s dad.
  • Following Sunday School was a lunch gathering of the volunteers for the 1st grade.  Dianne is a weekly volunteer in that class, which is lead by one of the great women of Bethlehem (her husband has served in the nursery for 16 years!).  What a joy to be with the younger volunteers experiencing new things – two women are getting married, another women is having her first baby – along with the veterans.  Paul’s behaviors are all pretty normal for this group so we didn’t have to worry about him bothering anyone.
  • We also received our church picture directory.  It is like a memory book of God’s sweet and bitter providence!  Some families are growing – both spiritually and in the numbers of their members.  Some are going through very deep waters right now. Several were missing a member from the last time the directory was made.  God remains sovereign over all things.
  • And we went fishing.  We weren’t successful, but we all enjoyed God’s extraordinary creation.

Psalm 22:22 I will tell of your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!
All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him,
and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or abhorred
the affliction of the afflicted,
and he has not hidden his face from him,
but has heard, when he cried to him.

25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation;
my vows I will perform before those who fear him.
26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied;
those who seek him shall praise the Lord!
May your hearts live forever!

27 All the ends of the earth shall remember
and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
shall worship before you.
28 For kingship belongs to the Lord,
and he rules over the nations.

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Introducing Paul Tautges, pastor and father of children with disabilities

Posted in commentary, Scripture on May 12, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I met Paul Tautges, Pastor of Immanuel Bible Church and father of several children with disabilities, last month at The Gospel Coalition – what a joy that was!  I’m very grateful to God for that unexpected, divinely-appointed time of conversation and prayer!

Paul is also a writer, and yesterday posted From Womb to Tomb: The Constant Reality of Suffering at a new blog sponsored by The Biblical Counseling Coalition.  David Powlison (who has spoken several times at DG conferences) is one of their board directors, and Paul Tripp, a frequent contributor to DG’s blog, conferences and DG live, is also a board member.

I recommend his blog post to you, which is full of Bible.  Here is a sample:

Christians can rejoice in the midst of trials because even though we do not see God we believe in Him. This maturing faith produces joy that exceeds speech and is full of glory—even in the face of pain. “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Rom. 5:3–4).

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God moves in a mysterious way to gladden our hearts

Posted in commentary on May 2, 2011| 1 Comment »

The celebration of communion included some great music yesterday.

God Moves in a Mysterious Way has always been a moving hymn, especially knowing how William Cowper struggled his entire life with depression.

But the combination of this hymn, my oldest son with his arms wrapped around my neck as I held him, and anticipating the celebration of the Lord’s supper – tears came to my eyes at the wonder of God’s extraordinary goodness as we sang these verses:

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust Him for His grace; Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour; The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower.

We sang a different musical arrangement at church, but I like how the Sovereign Grace team put the version below together.  Enjoy our great and merciful God today!

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Moments of sadness point to my need for a great savior

Posted in commentary, Scripture on May 1, 2011| 1 Comment »

We needed a new stroller for Paul and decided to invest in a more substantial one.  Ebay worked again, saving us several hundred dollars.  God kindly provided for it financially through a decision his grandfather made almost 15 years ago, so we had the money.

It came.

And then the sadness came.  I had bought a stroller for a 15-year-old boy.  He wouldn’t be asking about driver’s education and the keys to the car.  How I hate this world I live in!

I know you’ve experienced this.  You’re just going along, doing the regular activities to take care of things.

Then something will happen – an article in a magazine, a picture of a friend’s child who is the same age as your child with disabilities, a random comment from a stranger.  And for a moment all the gift that this child is will fade away in the harsh light of seeing how the world sees that child.

Veteran parents, or maybe I should say parents more veteran than we are, have warned that these moments will continue to come.

And, at root, I know the problem is my sin.  God has given me the greatest treasure of all in Jesus Christ, and everything else should pale in comparison.  I want to say – but can’t – with the Apostle Paul:

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:8-11

The great and glorious irony is that when these moments come, I see my need for a strong, good, and providing God more clearly.  Those moments serve to shake me up and heighten my desire to be dependent on God rather than my own strength.  And I believe that brings even greater honor to Jesus!

So, even as I write this on a dreary Saturday, I’m struck with how much I hate those moments for what I’m feeling and what they reveal about the state of my heart – but also how much they bring me back to God and his word.  Once again, I bring nothing and God gives me everything.

P.S.  We’ve used that stroller a few times and its really nice.  I’m glad we got it.

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This Maundy Thursday – Pray for Pastors’ Wives

Posted in commentary on April 21, 2011| 2 Comments »

Maundy Thursday services are some of the most solemn, and important, of the year.  We are walking toward the greatest sin ever committed – the murder of the sinless One.

So why emphasize pastors’ wives?

On Tuesday Dianne and I had the incredible privilege of having the Downtown Elders pray and anoint our Paul with oil, asking for God’s intercession in his seizure-like spells.  I cannot begin to describe what that meant to me, for these men to place their hands on me and my son and my wife and pray earnest, Bible-soaked prayers.

As we left, Dianne noticed how many leaders were there on a Tuesday night.  There were at least seven pastors we saw, either in that prayer meeting or doing other things like rehearsing music for the special services this week or leading an evening class.

Dianne remarked, “we ask a lot of pastors’ wives here.  Look how many men are here at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday night!”

These men, their husbands, are spending hours and hours of time to serve the church – serve us – and they can do so because their wives are managing things at home.  My son was prayed over because faithful women were equipping faithful men to serve me.

So, on this serious day when we commemorate the Last Supper of Jesus Christ, remember to pray for these women who serve with their husbands.  They do far more for us than we realize.

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