Friday, December 23, 2005

Almost Here

It's the 23rd, and Christmas is almost here. I can remember how this time excited me when I was a child. But, like Paul said, I put away childish things. Yeah, Christmas is still exciting, but differently. This year, Jacque and I are taking the responsibility of hosting the family for Christmas Day and the day after. We will have, to the best of our count, eighteen in our home for dinner on the 25th. I realize that some families are far larger, but this is a crowd for us. It could be more crowded.

Due to distance, our daughter and son-in-law in Greenville, SC won't be able to attend with us (sniff, sniff). But the rest of the family should be there.

Now what is the point of this? I don't really have one. It's just ... well, it's just that, I still love Christmas. I love Christ. I cannot express my thanks to the Father for sending His Son for me. I love my wife, and all of my kids and kids-in-law (including the one who I think wants to be a kid-in-law). God has been so good to our family, His gift has proven itself so precious, that there is no adequate expression of my gratitude.

Christina Rossetti wrote a poem that ends with these words.

"What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb.
If I were a wiseman
I would do my part.
Yet, what can I give Him?
Give Him my heart."

Merry Christmas from the Fullers.

Monday, November 28, 2005

Thankful for Thanksgiving

My family and I had a great Thanksgiving. As last year, we all traveled to Rob & Heidi’s house in Berne, Indiana. With our Rob’s family (us), and Heidi’s family (Bjokne family), and the spouses of siblings, a child, and Dena (Heidi & Rob’s pup), there were 14 – if my count is correct. Heidi and Rob were great hosts for our thanksgiving celebration. The high point of the weekend was the concert that the combined families held for the church and community, Friday evening. A concert of nearly an hour takes a lot of preparation. Rob & Heidi did a great job planning the event. We all enjoyed he opportunity to serve God together, including the “burning brass.” Anyway, I want to say how grateful I am to God that Rob & Heidi could do this for the families again this year.

Friday, November 11, 2005

Veterans Day, 2005

Thomas Jefferson said, “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” In 1852 Wendell Phillips recast it in the form that I most remember hearing, “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” Today, Veterans Day, I salute the men and women who have born the responsibility of being the spearhead of eternal vigilance. These men and women gave up property, opportunity, sometimes reputation, and sometimes life, to protect the liberty, the freedoms we cherish. There are men in my family that bore the burden for me. There are men in my church that bore the burden for me. And not for me only, but for all of us. There cannot be too many days to remember their gift to us. My Lord noted that the giving of live is the supreme expression of love and concern for another. In the wars that have punctuated the life of our nation, many have died. But, many have also lived through the fury of war. They may carry physical scars, or emotional ones. They may carry memories of fear, of loathing, of great sadness. But they bore the burden of eternal vigilance. Today, we remember, as we should every time we see an American Flag, every time we hear the National Anthem at a sports event, every time we talk to a veteran. They did it for us.

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

Will It Work? Reprise


In a previous post, I expressed my misgivings about the new Bible literacy project. Berit Kjos has done some good analysis, and has come to largely the same conclusion I arrived at, though I did not have the opportunity to analyze it. This new project is not to be trusted by those who hold the Bible to be God's Word. Here is Kjos's article.

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

I wonder if it is just in the Metro?

An article in the MPLS Star/Trib caught my eye. Here is the link. What do you think?

You might have to register to view. It is free.

Dear Readers of Always Forward

Dear readers of Always Forward,

I was speaking last evening with a friend who said he had difficulty commenting on my blog. I listened and went to my blog to see what the problem was, since I really want you to comment, if you want to comment.

Here is the procedure:

Below the blog posting you will see the word “comments.” Click on that word.
A page will come up with a box near the top right. Your comments go in this box. From here they will be posted to my blog as comments, to be read by others and myself. Your comments are also automatically forwarded to me in an email.

Below the comment area is a place for your identity. Choose “other”. You may then leave your name and, if you desire, your website. I ask that all those who comment, leave their first and last names.

Below the name box, you will notice a group of letter or letters and numbers. Please re-type these in the box provided. This is a protection against automated blog spamming.

I am posting this as an email, and on the blog site. When you go to the comment page, there is an option to see my blog there as well.

Thanks.

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

OK, so far!

Well, about 24 hours ago, I finished the rough draft of my doctoral project. It went in today. My advisor should have it tomorrow or Friday.

Now I wait. I have plenty to do while I wait, but there will be a part of me that will be anticipating the next step.

Anyway, it's ok, so far.

Monday, October 31, 2005

Come on, really?!

I mean, who would have thought that a US Senator would get it wrong – and so completely wrong. US Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) was quoted in an AP article today. I am not surprised that he opposes Judge Samuel Alito as a nominee to SCOTUS. What is amazing (though, I guess it should not be) is how condescending he is in his opposition. Ron Fournier, writing for the AP and picked up by the Minneapolis Star, quotes Reid.

"The Senate needs to find out if the man replacing Miers is too radical for the American people."


Too radical for the American people. Who does Reid think he is? What does he think the Senate is? What, to him, does it mean to be a Democrat? It sounds like a parent, telling their children, “Too much candy is not good for you.” Maybe he is just in the Halloween mood, but since this sound like his normal approach, I tend to think he really believes that he, and his fellow Dems are the definers of what is “too radical.”

You know, maybe he’s too liberal for the American people.

Saturday, October 29, 2005

Little Red Hen and Company

An old childhood story of a red hen came to mind this week. The hen tried to get help to make something; I really cannot remember what it was. But no one was willing to help. But, when it came time to eat, everyone wanted to share in the fruit of her labor. It appears that this story is being played out by some members of the Republican Party. They want votes, but the voters must not make life difficult on them.

Recently, former Senator John Danforth, Republican from Missouri, jumped on what must be a very fashionable bandwagon when he blamed the conservative evangelicals for the divisiveness in Washington. Evidently, you cannot have strong beliefs in his Republican Party. Evidently, you are allowed to vote him into office, but you are not allowed to work to see the positions you espouse brought to the front of the debate.

Mr. Danforth needs to remember that if conscientiously held beliefs and positions are out of bounds in the Republican Party, then the conservative evangelicals, the religious right, will leave. And if they leave, the Mr. Danforths of this world won’t stand a chance. There are not enough moderates to accomplish anything. Most everyone feels strongly about their position. And the conservative evangelicals, the religious right, will not give up their ground just to make life a little easier for the politicians.

There is still a culture war being waged, and when there is war, there is conflict, divisiveness. You cannot be on both sides, Mr. Danforth. Choose today, unless you have already chosen.

Thursday, October 06, 2005

Maybe it's not ADHD!

Parents of children diagnosed with ADHD! It might not be ADHD, but sleeplessness. A new study out of Israel links ADHD symptoms with sleeplessness in children. Go to the link and check it out. If this is the culprit, dealing with the real issue would be better than unneeded medication. The study was done by Dr. Giora Pillar of the Pediatric Sleep Lab in one of Israel's largest hospitals. The study was sponsored by the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology.

Tuesday, October 04, 2005

Still watching!

I am watching with interest the controversy swirling around Harriet Miers, President Bush’s nominee for the Supreme Court. If you are interested, check out the WorldMag blog. You might have to go back a couple of days to get it all.

Saturday, October 01, 2005

One more thought

This post and the previous one were originally posted on SharperIron.

I am sitting here musing, with some sadness, at how things have changed. Here we are discussing whether a book about the Bible should be in the Public Schools - the same public schools which, in former times, had the mandate, with the church, of passing on the values of the community. Now it appears the values of the community are no longer relevant.Of course, that may be the issue after all. They never really were. For years the public system was cloaked in the values system of its teachers and leadership, but as time went by, it successfully rubbed off the barnacles of religious faith. This seems to be inherent in a man-made organization that seeks to be neutral. Neutrality is impossible. We are on the wrong side of the battle. As Christians, we are on the side that seeks to instill a biblical world view, and a knowledge of the teaching of God regarding the world. The rest of the system is aligned against God, by its very nature. To be neutral is to be anti-.

Will it work?


I have been thinking recently about a new textbook that is being considered for the Public School system. The purpose of the book is to teach the student the how the Bible has influenced culture. Some see this as a giant step forward.

I am not overly confident of this. This is not a Bible re-written for use in the PS system, it is a survey written for the PS system. As such it approaches the Bible like the Illiad.

The Bible and Its Influence) is the first designed to meet constitutional standards for public school use and be subjected to extensive review by scholars. It is also the first high school textbook to provide comprehensive coverage of the Bible’s influence on literature, art, music, and rhetoric.
Besides, I am not sure that "designed to meet constitutional standards" really means anything. It assumes that all the ACLU has been waiting for is for us Christians to come into alignment with the Constitution. I do not for a moment believe that to be the case. The resistance is not about "constitutional issues" it is about rejection.I am skeptical. I can see only two alternatives. One - this won't work. Two - the text will so water down the true nature of the Scriptures that the kids will get about as much out of it as Lord of the Flies.

Like I say, I am skeptical!

Friday, September 30, 2005

A New "Monkey Trial"?

I found a very interesting article in the AgapePress news summary today. You can find it here. I will be watching this trial.

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Remembering to Remember

Remember! What a powerful word. I recall sitting around the table with my family (my Mom & Dad, all us kids, and our kids) and ransacking through our memories. “Hey, remember when …” Sometimes the memory is sweet, sometimes embarrassing, sometimes unwelcome, but always, I remember things that I had not remembered for some time.

I was thinking about our fellowship tonight. It is so easy to forget who we are, what Christ has done, what it cost Him, what God desires of us. So easy to forget …

The answer – purposeful remembering. That is something I need to work on. Remembering to remember. Looking into God’s memory book and reminding myself.

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Back to Living?

I am not surprised, but I am chagrined. The largess of the American people and other relief agencies is being squandered. Maybe not by many, but by enough that it points up a fallacy in our system of support. According to KPRC, channel 2, in Houston, FEMA and Red Cross debit cards are being used at “Adult Entertainment” establishments in Houston. This is possible because there are almost no restrictions placed on such aid. It was meant to help these unfortunates get back on their feet and begin the process of starting over. I guess that the first thing some need to get going again is their perversions. It seems to me that such support could be controlled to some degree. I do not like my tax money, or the money given to charity going to feed someone’s perversion.

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

"One Nation (Without God)?"

United States District Judge, Lawrence Karlton today determined that the Pledge of Allegiance is un-Constitutional (again) because it includes the words “one nation under God.” This is one more step, even if it is reversed at the Supreme Court level, down the road of secularism. What is just as much of a concern is that a God-free or God- neutral culture seems so reasonable, even to many believers. When we see the increased distance our culture places between it and God, it becomes harder to understand why so many would question why God would allow a Hurricane Katrina to pound the Gulf coast. This is not to say that God is necessarily responding to our actions, though I do not think I could rule that out. Rather, why would a secular society care? They care because those who have been changed by the power of God, and who maintain an active witness in the world, daily demonstrate that reality is not bound to secularism. Reality is bound to God. Without God everything is blind chance, purposeless and irrational. No understanding exists without God. Not even of the destruction of a hurricane. A nation that gives up on being “under God” places itself square in the middle of a mad-house of events that cannot be accounted for, nor in which one can find peace.

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Weightier Matters

Boy, are we compassionate. A drive is underway here to collect truck loads of stuff for those in the Astrodome in Houston. Today, a well known Christian radio personality was calling for a national day of prayer for the needs of the Gulf coast. I have heard of hundreds of evangelical churches that have been destroyed. People are displaced, and yes, they need our prayer and our compassionate action.

But, have we left “the weightier matters undone.” How can we, as believers in Jesus Christ, not get the point that God is calling men and women to repentance? As I understand the scriptures, this is just “white noise” compared to the full volume judgment that is coming on this world. I realize that God is not calling our nation to repentance. Our nation has no standing before God. But the people do. They are those being called. We, complacent Bible-believing church members, are being called to get serious about our lives and our service for God.

If God were to start moving among the people we know, who would be there to bring the Word of life to them? Would it have to be someone else? Are we prepared and eager to give that answer? Do we show that hope that will cause others to seek out our God?

While we open our hearts and our finances to those who have been displaced in the Mississippi and Louisiana area, let us not forget the far greater displacement they and millions of others are facing – being alienated from God and alone in the world. While we pray, let us remember the believers there who are carrying food, water, supplies, and the Word of God to these people. And let us remember to do the same here.

Oh, one more thing. I was talking to a brother about some of this, and he said, very sarcastically, "Don't worry. We'll get over it." I understand him. After a while, things don't seem so bad, and we "get over it."

Tuesday, September 06, 2005

So Far, So Good!

For those who have been trying to keep up, I finished the first two chapters of my project last evening at 10:18 pm, and sent it off this morning. Two down, three to go - plus all the changes my advisor will "suggest."

A little of the pressure is off, but the last three chapters need to be done by November 1. So - off we go!

Always Forward!

Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Do we get it?

I have been watching, with the rest of you, the developing tragedy in New Orleans, and the coastal areas of Mississippi. Such devastation. However, I must admit that other images come also, unbidden - images of the party atmosphere (euphemism) that seems to be characteristic of that city. Images of debauched videos advertised from New Orleans at its worst.

I realize that there are many good and godly people in New Orleans. God has his witness in that city. But it is so easy to slip into “well, they deserve it”, that I almost embarrass myself. Then I hear the Lord. “Do you think they were more wicked than you?” I almost answer, “Yes.” But, trying to see myself as God sees me, I acknowledge that, if not for Christ, I would be as black as anything there. I hear Him say, “Unless you repent, you shall all likewise perish.”

Maybe that is the real lesson for the rest of us. For “the Big Easy”, the lesson will be one they have to learn. For us, the lesson is that it may not be a hurricane, but someday, God’s final judgment, His real judgment will fall. Hurricane Katrina reminds us that we are nothing compared to the forces God created and sin corrupted. We are also nothing compared to the wrath of God on sin. Catastrophes come. Blizzards blow. Tornados destroy. Storms crash into our lives. How do we respond? Do the images of Katrina’s aftermath move us to repentance? They may move us to sympathy for those caught there, but unless we remember our life in the presence of God, we will miss God’s point for us.

Friday, August 26, 2005

Brooding Long and Lovingly

I really enjoy the older men. I’m not thinking of real old, like Augustine, or Calvin. I do enjoy reading them from time to time. But I really enjoy men like Charles Spurgeon, and Andrew Murray, and A. W. Tozer. I was reading a devotion from Tozer today (Friday) and it struck me that it spoke not just to a pastor like myself, but in a striking way, for every believer – especially those who come to church every Sunday and wait for the pastor to teach them. Don’t get me wrong, I understand that the Word of God tells us that faithfulness to the Body of Christ and the public teaching of His Word is necessary. But – well, let me quote Tozer and then I’ll make a few observations.
Another disadvantage of a commentary is that it tends to destroy the art of meditation. We find it easier to turn to the commentary than to brood long and lovingly over a difficult passage, waiting for the light to break. This habit of taking the quick and painless way to knowledge is particularly bad for the minister, for it often sends him into the pulpit with borrowed armor. Even if what he learned is true, he got it by consultation instead of by meditation and the quality is sure to be impaired.
It is true that pastors often rely on commentaries, and now Bible software, to get to things quickly. We rush our study and preparation. As Tozer says, we take the “quick and painless way.” I know I would benefit from a little more long and loving brooding.

But, I think a similar pattern is seen in those who listen to pastors every Sunday. Hoping to get all they need in one or two doses on Sunday, they sadly neglect their own long and loving brooding over the Scriptures. I am going to try to improve the “art of meditation” in my life. If those who listen on the Lord’s Day spend time during the week “brooding” or meditating over God’s Word, then we might really be worshippers getting together, rather than just getting together to “worship.”

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Falling off the Edge

It seems that the west coast is continually loosing ground due to the steady erosion of common sense perpetrated by the liberal establishment. They are tilting into the nothingness of completely arbitrary morality. The most recent idiocy is, again, from the California Supreme Court. They have done their little dance with morality and have concluded that one child can have two mothers. An article in AgapePress notes that "parenting, custody, and child support laws in California will now apply to homosexual couples who conceived through artificial insemination."

Lest we, here in the Midwest, say, "It could never happen here," do not forget that the Minnesota State Supreme Court has also been making some cute moves with morality as well. What happens on the east or west coast eventually finds itself here - unless, that is, people start using God-given common sense.

Of course, that might be part of the problem. That "God-given common sense" comes from knowing the God-given Word of God. Study after study has shown that, even self-confessed born-again believers are woefully ignorant of the principles of God's Word. With many, the only exposure they get to God's Word is on Sunday Morning (or sometimes Saturday night). And that is often watered down so as to be ineffective. Most who call themselves believers do not spend any time outside of church studying the Word of God, and then they believe that just once on Sunday is enough. Many who know, refuse to live the truth or stand for the truth. And the trut is not just about homosexuality or abortion. It's about how to know God. It's about how to live for God. It's about what our rebellion does to our relationship with God. It's about the fact that we do not live for our own glory or happiness. We live to bring glory to God, and joy to His heart.

What happened to "I can't get enough of His Word." See what's it doing to our culture. Will it do the same to His children, as well?

Friday, August 19, 2005

Wanna' be happy?

I have always been in awe of him. He knew how to enforce his law, and he also knew how to bring out the love of his children. I remember his chastening, his corralling, his enforcing, and his encouraging. I remember his faithfulness to my mother, my sisters and myself, and to his Lord and to his ministry. I remember when he offered counsel, and when he thought it best not to. I remember when he was the hand of God to boost me up when I was down. I remember when he was the hand of God to slow me down when I was too quick.

It's hard to say what I remember most, or with the most joy. I remember how he let me make my decisions, even when he was concerned that I would make the wrong one. And I remember how he prayed for me, and when I made the best decision, he encouraged me.

I remember how he accepted my wife. I know that she feels as much his daughter as if she had been born into the family. I know how he influenced my children. They grew up in a ministry family, but they saw how it started in him and his wife.

"He" is my Dad. Monday will be his official 80th birthday. You couldn't tell it by watching him (although there are times when he knows it). Tonight our family will gather to celebrate a great man. We are doing it at one of his favorite restaurants. But as good as the food will be, what will be great is my Dad. He gave me his name. It was such a blessing to me, that I passed it on to my son. His name is Robert John Fuller (the original). And he's my Dad.

Oh, I have to finish the title. When I was in college he would motivate me with, "Wanna' be happy? Get to work and make it snappy!"

A literary genius!

Thursday, August 18, 2005

Very Superstitious?

Last evening I was shown a copy of a small article by Chuck Shepherd. It appeared in the Mankato Free Press last Sunday. I also found the article on the Minneapolis StarTribune page. In it the author notes that there is new research that shows that the number of the Anti-Christ, 666, may be 616. Well, this discussion is not particularly new. And, the actual number is not particularly important for the purpose of this post.

What is interesting follows. "A Church of Satan official in New York had no comment except to say that's church will use whatever number Christians fear." I am not concerned that the author quoted a "Church of Satan official." Mr. Shepherd writes for sites that lampoon Christianity regularly. What I found interesting was the officials comment about "whatever number Christians fear." I can remember times when the number "666" was supposed to have been on billing records (evidence that the company had been taken over by forces of the AntiChrist), and was even being considered (unsubstantiated) by our government as a prefix to some kind of universal ID system.

All of this seems to flow from a basic superstitiousness on the part of some believers. I have known of music leaders who shied away from "hymn number 666" for fear of even mentioning the number. Are we truly fearful of a number? The scriptures tell us of an end-time person who, in some way, will be recognized by a numerical understanding. However, that recognition will take place during that time of great distress called the Tribulation. What significance does it have now? Notice the many attempts to find contemporary meaning in the number and one is left with the conclusion that, try as we might, there is no real significance, right now. The number 666 is simply one more than 665, and one less that 667. Can the inclusion of "the number" in an official document mean something prophetically? I don't know. Nor do I think we can "know." It may simply be the next in the series, or a computer shorthand.

The bottom line? Believers can surely get caught up in superstitious things: numbers, symbols on commercially available products. This is not what our God has called us to. He has not given us His Spirit to inspire fear - even of the last days. Confidence in Him - Always Forward!

Monday, August 15, 2005

Choosing Sides

With every passing day the world is choosing sides. And Christians need to know what is at stake.

In Monday's AgapePress News Summary there are short articles about both Harvard University and the Democratic Party Chairman, Howard Dean, with regard to the subject of Intelligent Design (ID). To be sure, ID is not quite Creationism. Creationism assumes a personal creator, while ID only notes that the material universe exhibits characteristics of intelligent design. The difference might not be readily apparent, but ID is being given more credibility than Creationism because ID does not specify a personal creator. But this post is not about the difference between ID and Creationism.

Howard Dean, by his public comments, is putting the Democratic party publicly against ID. He insists on maintaining the privileged position that evolution now occupies. We should not be surprised that the world would not want anything to do with a creator God. What is surprising is the number of believers that either do not see the dangers in evolutionary philosophy, or think the issue is of no importance.

This is especially true when it comes to our children's education. To have the authority of the national and state education establishment endorsing one religious idea (Evolution) over another (Creation/Intelligent Design) should be of great concern to Christian parents. At stake is the very foundation of the truths of Salvation. It could be argued that many of the ills of society that have been evidenced in these last several decades (for example the life/choice issues and increased sexual perversions) are the result of, among other things, successive generations believing that they are only animals with no accountability to God. Many may give lip service to a belief in God, but behind it all is running a mind programmed by a comprehensive philosophy of humanism and a spirit unchanged by the creator God of the universe.

Believers really do not have the option to stand by on the sidelines on this issue. God is on the agenda again. We may or may not be able to change culture, but we must protect our children, and we must remember that the Gospel itself is based on a creator God to whom all people are accountable.

A Matter Of Time

I suppose it was inevitable. But that does not make it any easier. Ted Baehr, of WorldNetDaily, notes that, according to a MarketCast survey, "conservative, red state, fundamentalist Christians go to more violent, R-rated films than do liberals." Now, I have no idea what data they have to verify this conclusion. You can't make such a comparison without accurate data, and the MarketCast study he sites, like all such studies, are only as good as the anecdotal evidence they use. So, first, I am not sure that the "more ... than do liberals" statement, could really stand the light of day.

However, Dr. Baehr does make a valid point when he says, "We need to be agents of change, rather than the other way around." Over the past years, with the growing popularity of cable television, videos and DVDs, has come the increased acceptance of the motion picture genre in general, and especially going to the theater itself.

I am not going to try to make the point that going to the theater is somehow worse than the other visual media. I do not think that case can be made. Nor am I going to try to prove that Christians who use any of these media are somehow more "worldly" than those who do not.
But, the increasing influence of the world on the believer is something that should concern us all.

Whatever the de-sensitizing agent, whatever the excuse, the end result is that believers are increasingly less concerned about living outwardly separated lives, at least in terms of the generations that have gone before. Godliness is being defined as a matter of theological concern, but not of practical concern. Godliness is no longer a recognizable standard, but a subjective idea - something that we get to define for ourselves.

If believers are to start influencing culture, rather than the reverse, they will have to get serious about holiness of life-style. They will have to give up their rights and "liberty" in favor of the liberty to finally live life in the presence of God, to the glory of God, and not for their own benefit. Believers will have to learn that actions matter. They matter because actions describe the heart, and actions determine outcomes.

If the data from the MarketCast survey is accurate, then even the most rigorous Biblicists seem to have regressed in lifestyle. If the world around us conforms us to itself, we cannot be instruments of God in the reclamation of souls to His glory.

Who is influencing whom? Is the Spirit being allowed to remake us in the image of Christ, or is the world conforming us to itself?

Thursday, August 11, 2005

Easy does it

I am easing into this project. First, I am in the midst of my doctoral dissertation. Second, I am old enough that anything new seems daunting. Third, I already have plenty to do with the church.

I am looking for sources that will give me ideas outside of my tightly knit group in southern Minnesota.

I expect to comment on religion (this is a given), politics (I am not a politician, nor do I have a degree, but I am opinionated), occasionally the arts (Like many, I know what I like), but not sports (What's to comment on in the land of the Twins and the Vikings).

I will also be putting a link to this journal on our church website, when it's up and running. Right now, I am having a little trouble getting the webhosting and design done.

The name of this blog is "Always Forward." In keeping with that, the goal of the writing here will be to move people forward in their understanding of God, His world, and their part in it. That's what I want to do. But as always - time will tell.