Black Friday Cyber Deal!

Today only if you order two books via my web site (www.aspire2.com), I will send you a copy of the newest book, Chai with Malachi for free. If you any of them "signed by the author" to give as a gift, simply indicate that in the comments section of your order.

Interview with Faith Village

My pal Kelley Mathews over at Faithvillage.com interviewed me about my latest book, Chai with Malachi. Head on over and leave a comment.

Time to Take Inventory?

My Tapestry post for this week: 

Imagine you’ve invited all your relatives and neighbors to a banquet. Instead of serving turkey or ham with pie for dessert, what would happen if you emptied the garbage onto the table where the platter of meat goes? And after that, what if you told your guests to “dig in”? Think they’d like it? Think they’d say, “What a fine feast—let’s invite the president next year”? What would your actions say about how much you regarded your guests?

We wouldn’t think of treating other humans that way, yet these actions come close to those of the children of Israel during the prophet Malachi’s lifetime. They offered their wilted stuff to God. Leftovers. Garbage. And God objected to their bringing “what is stolen, lame, or sick” as an offering. He asked, “Should I accept this from you?”

Their gifts revealed how little they regarded the recipient. So Malachi had a message from the Lord for the people: You’ve given fourth-class gifts to a first-class God. “I have loved you!” but “You have robbed Me!"

I grew up in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, a fertile plain, with a river running through it. We had plenty of water and good soil. Dad worked a government job, but to help support his wife and five kids, he had a one-acre garden in addition to a pear orchard and a Christmas tree farm. He was good at it, too. Every year he would set aside the largest, most exquisitely formed pears and exhibit them in the Oregon State Fair. Sometimes his rhubarb was good enough to enter, too. Or a mammoth squash would make it all the way to the judges’ booth. For his display, Dad chose only the biggest and the best—the choicest fruit. And afterward he lined his walls with award ribbons.

When you’re heading to the judge’s booth, you take your best stuff. And that’s the kind of quality God expects from his people. The finest. That which is most excellent. The goods they might show off.

What kind of gifts are you offering to God? Time to take inventory?

Money – Are you giving regularly to support those who care for your spiritual health? When you give to missions, do you throw cash at whomever happens to have sent you a request letter when your have your checkbook out, or do you think strategically about local and global works?

Work – Do you view your occupation, whether volunteer or for pay, as an act of service that requires your best? Do you view your world as your mission field? God may not have called you to full-time, paid ministry, but he has definitely called you to holiness and to sharing with your neighbors. Are you ministering to coworkers, praying for them and encouraging them?

Community life – Do you give as well as taking in your church community? Do you allow yourself to receive? Do you have a community where you can share freely without hiding? What about your larger community? What volunteer work would make the best use of your time, talents, and spiritual gifts? Are you “stretching forth your hand to the needy”?

Marriage – If married, do you make your time as a couple a great priority, or does your relationship get your leftovers? A Christian leader I know determined to spend as much effort on her marriage as she spent becoming an excellent employee worth promoting. And what a difference that choice has made! The goal of marriage is oneness. So, what needs to happen for you to be fully united with your spouse? Could you benefit from a few sessions of counseling to strengthen what’s already good? Do you need a weekend away?

Parenting – If you are a parent, do you use the television as a babysitter? Do you groan when the kids get home from school because their presence means you have to stop doing what you enjoy? Or are you intentional about how you spend time with them? How can you think ahead about family prayer time and directed dinner conversations? 

Health – How well do you manage the body God has given you? Do you eat right, viewing even how you eat as an act of worship and stewardship? Do you get the exercise you need? What about rest and stress management? Should you get off the couch, or could you benefit from more couch time?

Personal Development – Are you growing spiritually? Do you pray for yourself and your needs? Do you have talents you need to invest in developing? To what, if anything, do you listen during car or subway time? Do you need to set reading goals? Cancel or subscribe to some magazines? Have a hard talk with someone about your future?

The apostle Paul urges his readers to present their bodies to God as living sacrifices. What kind of sacrifice are you bringing with your life?

Adapted from Chai with Malachi (AMG). 

Philippians and the Big Story

Today I’m delighted to have as my guest Dr. Lynn H. Cohick, author and Professor of New Testament at Wheaton College and Graduate School. I require Dr. Cohick’s terrific work, Women in the World of the Earliest Christians, for students in my Role of Women in Ministry class at DTS.

Later this month, on October 29, Zondervan will release her latest book, a work on Philippians in The Story of God Bible Commentary series. I'm enthusiastic about this new series because of its emphasis on narrative.

Before we talk specifically about your writing on the book of Philippians, what can you tell us about this new The Story of God Bible Commentary?

The commentary series is an exciting venture. It is very intentional about reading the individual Bible book from some important vantage points.

First, it reads each book as part of a whole—the whole New Testament (NT) and the whole Bible, New Testament and Old Testament (OT).  In my case, I looked at Philippians not just as a letter sent to a first century church in Philippi, but in light of Paul’s letters to other churches, in light of the gospels’ declaration of Jesus’ ministry and work on the cross, in light of the church’s convictions on the “rule of faith” or creed that Jesus is the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, the one who redeems the world and will return again, who is the firstborn of many who will share in his bodily resurrection. And I looked at how Paul’s message to the Philippians drew on the OT, as Paul alludes to the books of Isaiah and Daniel, for example.

Second, it recognizes the importance of hearing the voice of the global church, and the church down through the centuries.  Believers around the world are experiencing the power and love of Christ—and I need to hear their witness. Believers down through the centuries have faced and overcome challenges in ways that can instruct me.

Third, this commentary stresses that the individual reader is part of God’s story too. The Story of God commentary series puts front and center God’s invitation within Scripture to participate in His grand story, as servants of Christ. God’s story invites us in. We learn that we are not writing our own story, but God is writing on us and in us his magnificent story for all the ages and forevermore.

Who else uses these commentaries?  
I often had in my mind my parents as I wrote this book. They are lay leaders, coming to faith in their late 30s with little Bible knowledge up to that point. They are active in ministry and need a commentary that meets them where they are serving. I also thought about my students and my children, who are in their 20s, who are fired up for Jesus, and who want something in hand that gives insight clearly and quickly. And frankly, I also had in my mind friends who are not Christians, perhaps even of another faith, who might yet be interested to see what Paul wrote. I want Paul’s words to be clearly understood by someone who is not part of the “insider” group or who knows insider lingo.

What is the importance of this particular book in the Bible—Philippians?
Perhaps of greatest importance in this relatively short letter is Paul’s weaving together the nature of Christ (fully God and fully human) and the nature of His church as following his servant modeling. Paul casts a beautiful image of the unity of believers through the power of new life in Christ. Paul extends this picture of a believer’s new life into the next life, where with resurrected, transformed bodies we enjoy Christ’s presence forever. Paul stresses that believers will be transformed when Christ returns, with their own bodies raised immortal. I find many of my students are amazed at this teaching, although the church has declared it in the creeds, “we believe in the resurrection of the body.” But I think too often believers imagine life after death as sitting on a cloud, being somewhat dis-embodied like a ghost, and singing hymns all day and night. For many, including me, that just sounds a bit dull. Yet the new heavens and new earth will be very much alive, and on this new or renewed earth we will live in our resurrected bodies. It is because of this eternal perspective that Paul can stress over and over again to rejoice in the Lord. Two other important aspects of Philippians deserve mention.

First, Paul thanks the Philippians for being a part of his ministry and supporting him financially since they first met. Apparently no other church did that. What a testimony for today—that witness of perseverance and constancy of friendship.

Second, Paul does not hold grudges. He knows that there are some out there who are taking advantage of his inactivity—he’s in prison, perhaps in Rome, although he does not tell us exactly in the letter. Perhaps some Christians in Rome are slandering him by saying something like “I wonder why God has Paul in prison; sure is restricting his witness. Do you think perhaps God is unhappy with Paul’s message?”  Paul just lets it run like water of a duck’s back. He does not care if he is personally attacked. I find that generous spirit often lacking today, especially in the anonymity of the blog world. Christians take pot shots at each other, and often speculate on moral reasons for decisions taken, impugning character.

Paul wrote Philippians as a personal letter. He was vulnerable and honest about the ups and downs of ministry. How is that valuable information, for the Philippians and for us?

Often we think of Paul as the Invincible Apostle, with his claim “for me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” But Paul is clear that he cannot say this by his own power, only in the strength of the Lord. Moreover, while he is prepared to give his life for Christ, he also fully acknowledges the pain of death—the death of friends such as Epaphroditus. He notes his great sadness at the prospect of this co-worker’s death, and rejoices that God spared Paul great sorrow by healing Epaphroditus. This shows, I think, Paul’s realistic understanding of the pain and sorrow that is part of our human existence now, and this makes his call to rejoice all the more poignant because he is not sweeping pain under the rug. Instead, in the face of real sorrow, he centers his mind on the sure hope of Christ’s return and victory over this suffering and death.

Paul encouraged the church to greater fellowship, to more unity. How do you see this as a relevant challenge to today’s church?

Paul pictures the Christian life as being a member of a team whose coach is Jesus Christ. It is not only that one’s personal sins are forgiven by Christ’s work on the cross and resurrection, but also that new life is granted to each believer. This new life begins now, in a new family—the family of God. Each believer is equipped with gifts to help this family. Such a vision can fly in the face of American individualism that stresses “me and Jesus.” Nevertheless, Paul insists that it is “us and Jesus,” that personal salvation includes community membership and responsibility.

You say that the goal of union with Christ is not a happier, more prosperous life here and now. What would you say is the goal?

Paul is very invested in this world, because of his hope in the next. By that I mean, Paul embraces the sufferings that come from a life of service to others in Christ’s name, because in this obedient self-giving, he operates with the power of the resurrection. As an illustration, I have run in a few road races. When I was tired toward the end of the race, if I let my gaze fall down to a few feet in front of me, I began to slow down and think of stopping. But if I lifted my eyes to the horizon and the promise of the finish line, I kept my pace.  Paul wants believers to keep their eyes raised to the horizon, from which our Savior will return.

One of the most famous verses in Philippians is 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” You say this has been misquoted and misinterpreted many times. What do you believe to be Paul’s original intention? 

In Paul’s day, the philosophy of Stoicism was popular. It stressed the power of the mind or reason to overcome all passions.  Paul does not embrace this goal, rather he is passionate for Christ, he struggles with his churches, and he longs for Christ’s return. The “all things” in this passage refers to the many struggles and joys that Paul experiences in his ministry; it does not imply that Paul can pick any goal and God will automatically bless it. In the specific context of this quotation, Paul reassures the Philippians that their gift has great impact, but that if they had been unable to make this financial gift, still God would have provided. Paul’s strength comes from Christ, and Paul’s needs are met by God—and sometimes God uses the Philippians to meet the needs of their friend and apostle, Paul.

You can pre-order this book in hardcover or on Kindle by going here. 

God Hates Divorce—But He Did It!

Here's my latest Tapestry post:

Often when we talk about a biblical view of divorce, we quote Malachi: “God hates divorce” (2:16). And it’s true. He does. But does that mean God hates the actions of anyone who initiates a legal divorce?

God himself said he divorced Israel (Isa. 50:1; Jer. 3, and possibly Hosea). And of course God is God, so he can do whatever he pleases. Nevertheless, many wonder…if God hates divorce, did he hate his own actions? To answer this question, we need to look at the context of Malachi’s statement.

God’s words, “I hate divorce,” follow an accusation against husbands who chose to do violence to their covenant marriages by divorcing godly wives, leaving them for idol-worshiping younger women. After these unfaithful husbands linked up with pagan women, the men cried out to God because he refused to hear them.  

This situation in Malachi’s day differs from God’s use of metaphor to show how he felt about the disobedience of his people. In the latter case, God divorced Israel to bring the nation to repentance. It was a love-motivated move with the desire for reconciliation at its core. What a contrast to what the men in Malachi’s day were doing!

Reconciling God’s hatred of divorce with his own actions does leave some questions unresolved. But we can make two essential observations:

• The cause: God divorced only in the case of repeated, unrepentant sin. What destroyed the relationship was not the divorce per se. The divorce merely called the marriage covenant what it already was: severed.

• The reason: God divorced in response to hardness of heart in hopes that his drastic action would bring ultimate restoration for the offending party.

The fact that God divorced Israel leaves room for the option that divorce may be a last resort in addressing the hardness of a spouse’s heart. This would explain why in the New Testament we find Paul telling a believer to avoid resisting the departure of an unbeliever and to choose peace rather than fighting. He grounds this option in our calling: “For God has called us to peace” (1 Cor. 7:15).

What is your view of divorce? Does it align with Scripture—that it’s best use is love in response to hardness of heart? Whether or not you are married, what is your view of marriage? Do you see it as our culture (even the Christian subculture) often does, as existing only for romance, affection, and self-fulfillment? Or do you view it as a covenant before God, designed to picture Christ and the church (Eph. 5:22–33), and an image of oneness? If we view marriage as being like an interconnected head and body rather than as a business partnership or a romantic flame, it is easier for us to see the ruining of such a relationship as an act of violence—a beheading. God is far more concerned about his glory, about faithfulness, about developing godliness than he is about fulfilling our desires for passion, romance, and fulfillment. And he is also concerned that the rebellious turn back to him.

In Malachi’s day (about 430 B.C.), men had more social power than women. But today, especially in the west, women have much more control. Consequently, the sort of behavior that Malachi addresses is less sex-specific among God’s people now than it was in his time. We see professing Christian men and women engaging in relationships of serial monogamy, leaving Christ-following spouses to remarry "something better," having no concern for their testimonies.  

If married, do you honor your covenant before God? Whether married or free, do you respect that a married person to whom you may be attracted is someone else’s spouse by law—the law of the land and the law of God? Do you treat marriage with violence or honor? And if you are being treated with violence by a hard-hearted spouse, do you have the courage—by faith—to show some tough love so that he might repent?

Adapted from Chai with Malachi (AMG), the latest in the Coffee Cup Bible Study series. 

My Latest Book Arrives!

Book number ten in the Coffee Cup Bible Study series has finally arrived. Chai with Malachi brings readers face-to-face with the sovereign God of past, present, and future—the one who keeps His promises to discipline and bless His people so that He will be known among the nations.

Through penetrating use of rhetorical questions, “Lord Sabaoth” (the Lord of the angel armies) reveals the justice and mercy required for His people to spread His renown in all the earth. And with that revelation comes a promise that the “sun of righteousness will arise with healing in its wings.”

Designed for group or individual study, Chai with Malachi guides readers through an encounter with “the Lord who rules over all,” a phrase that appears numerous times in a few short chapters.

My former student Malia Rodriguez joins me for a section that examines the 400 silent years between the Book of Malachi and Christ’s birth. The book also contains a leader's guide that contains a special Advent-themed bonus section for those choosing to do the study during the Christmas season.

Join Us For Cappuccino with Colossians

Back before I was working on my PhD, I taught women's Bible study at my church—something I had a passion for doing. I love exploring the text, the backgrounds, and most importantly the way of life-transformation as a result. And I love the magic of women talking about issues that affect us.

The day after I turned in all my doctoral paperwork, I had my first meeting to talk about getting back into teaching in my local church. Yay!

If you live in the Dallas area and you have two X chromosomes, consider joining us this fall at Centerpoint Church in Mesquite every Wednesday at 9:30 AM for a journey through the Book of Colossians. We'll take nine weeks in Cappuccino with Colossians with a one-week detour for a different focus. Childcare provided. The study begins September 18. 

At a time when people constantly question the nature of the Son of God, Cappuccino with Colossians brings readers face-to-face with what the Bible says about the deity of Jesus Christ. 

Who does the Bible say Jesus is? Human? God? Both? Many have tried to rework His identity, insisting that He walked on ice, not water; that He was married to Mary Magdalene; that He was in cahoots with, not betrayed by, Judas; and that He didn’t take on human flesh—He was only a spirit. These ideas are nothing new—they’re simply old deceptions repackaged. First-century believers in Colossae had challenges of their own from those who held to early forms of Gnosticism. Through his letter to them, the apostle Paul helps the Colossians—and consequently us—to see Christ in His true glory as firstborn, as master, as Lord, and as God.

In Colossians, readers encounter the humble Son of God who created all things and through whom all things hold together—from the vastest galaxy to our very lives. Colossians sets the stage for exciting, faith-stretching interaction with God’s Word—both the written one and the One made flesh.

Read Camy Tang's interview with me about my Bible Study series.

What readers are saying:

My heart is more God's since studying Colossians. I am more joyful despite my circumstances. I'm thinking more thankfully. —a reader in Arkansas

If you need your flesh to be revived by your spirit, try this study and your hunger for the Word will naturally grow. You'll want so badly to read ahead, yet happily wait with anticipation of what is to come. — a reader in Georgia