Sycamore

I’m not a very political guy.  I think abortion is one of the most morally atrocious things a civilized society can engage in, and I think that we have a God-given responsibility to vote and to encourage our society to care for the poor and oppressed in the most effective way possible (which involves some serious thought as to what the wisest stewardship of finances is to care for the largest amount of the poor for the largest amount of time and sustainability).  Besides that, I don’t have much to say, and to be honest, I’ve kind of prided myself on that.

Lately, though, I’ve watched politics be a serious divider in the Christian camp.  With people writing books like “Jesus for President” (this isn’t a knock on the book since I haven’t read it, though I highly doubt that Jesus ever wanted to be president since he went out of his way to avoid any interaction with the political world), I feel like to be a good pastor I need to be able to speak in a thoughtful and biblical way about the topic.

All that to say, I thought this was a spot-on quote from Peggy Noonan’s column in the WSJ, and I thought I’d pass it on:

Democrats in the end speak most of, and seem to hold the most sympathy for, the beset-upon single mother without medical coverage for her children, and the soldier back from the war who needs more help with post-traumatic stress disorder. They express the most sympathy for the needy, the yearning, the marginalized and unwell. For those, in short, who need more help from the government, meaning from the government’s treasury, meaning the money got from taxpayers.

Who happen, also, to be a generally beset-upon group.

Democrats show little expressed sympathy for those who work to make the money the government taxes to help the beset-upon mother and the soldier and the kids. They express little sympathy for the middle-aged woman who owns a small dry cleaner and employs six people and is, actually, day to day, stressed and depressed from the burden of state, local and federal taxes, and regulations, and lawsuits, and meetings with the accountant, and complaints as to insufficient or incorrect efforts to meet guidelines regarding various employee/employer rules and regulations. At Republican conventions they express sympathy for this woman, as they do for those who are entrepreneurial, who start businesses and create jobs and build things. Republicans have, that is, sympathy for taxpayers. But they don’t dwell all that much, or show much expressed sympathy for, the sick mother with the uninsured kids, and the soldier with the shot nerves.

Neither party ever gets it quite right, the balance between the taxed and the needy, the suffering of one sort and the suffering of another. You might say that in this both parties are equally cold and equally warm, only to two different classes of citizens.

Here’s the full article.  And a question I’ll be thinking about: where is the right balance, not just with expressed sympathy, but with actual help?

(HT: Justin Taylor)

Have you ever found yourself sitting with a friend, hearing about something going on in their life, and wishing you knew what to say to give them comfort or guidance?  The Bible calls us to encourage one another, exhort one another, rebuke one another, and comfort one another.  But sometimes it can be difficult to find the words to say, especially when your friend is in a tense situation.

That’s why I think Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hand, by Paul Tripp, is one of the most important books any Christian can read.  It explains how any Christian can use the Bible to speak into the lives of the people around them, and it does so in a way that’s easy to read and that explains how to be a godly friend without sounding like a bible thumper, a hypocrite, or someone who lacks compassion.

And if you need a warm up to see if reading an entire book is for you, check out David Powlison’s new series of articles over at Boundless.  They’re called “Sane Faith,” they’re not too long, and I can’t recommend them highly enough.  Part 1 and Part 2 are already published.

…according to C.H. Spurgeon, famous british preacher:

If I have any message to give from my own bed of sickness it would be this—if you do not wish to be full of regrets when you are obliged to lie still, work while you can. If you desire to make a sick bed as soft as it can be, do not stuff it with the mournful reflection that you wasted time while you were in health and strength. People said to me years ago, “You will break your constitution down with preaching ten times a week,” and the like. Well, if I have done so, I am glad of it. I would do the same again. If I had fifty constitutions I would rejoice to break them down in the service of the Lord Jesus Christ. You young men that are strong, overcome the wicked one and fight for the Lord while you can. You will never regret having done all that lies in you for our blessed Lord and Master. Crowd as much as you can into every day, and postpone no work till to-morrow. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” (Ecc 9:10).

I think working too hard can be a bad thing, because it usually comes from making work (or success, promotions, popularity, etc.) an idol.  But I rarely see someone being a work-a-holic for the things of God - which involves serving, loving, praying, caring, as well as resting in Him and being a good steward of your body.  I think Spurgeon is on the right track - how much of your life have you given up to for the sake of the next?  I’ve never met anyone who regrets those sacrifices, and I don’t think you or I will be the first.

(HT: Gordon Cheng)

…has a post titled “I <3 Chris Morris.”  For those of you unschooled in the pager code/smiley IM language that your hip pastor is fluent in, “<3″ is read “heart.” As in, “I heart teddy bears,” or “I heart UCLA football.”

Just wanted to point that out.

PS.  This post in no way indicates that I don’t heart Chris Morris.

I wish I could take credit for the title, but I stole it from a guy named Randy who wrote this little article that I recommend.  He wants to take advantage of the older people in his congregation, and I know that for us at Shoreline it’s not quite that easy (if you were alive for the Miracle on Ice, raise your hand - assuming you even know what I’m talking about).  However, I think Randy’s article speaks to our culture’s fascination with youth, and our rejection of the wisdom that comes with age.

The church can be guilty of this too, and I don’t think I’m the only one who can give lip service to needing the wisdom of someone older when in reality I’ll write off anyone who doesn’t do things like I do because they “don’t get it.”  Sometimes West LA’s fascination with what’s young and current makes Christians like you and me forget that old and dated might actually have something to offer.

Below are some quotes from Randy’s article, I recommend a quick read of the whole thing.

I remember somewhere between eight and twelve years old our extended scientific research drove the Smith kids to conclude that old people had cooties – permanent cooties. Old people made noises when they moved, sat down or got up. Old people smelled funny. Old people always wanted to kiss you (ugh!) and old people always dressed funny. Generally speaking, they had cooties!

Funny thing is, the perception in many of our churches today isn’t much different. We target, market or outreach (depending on your preference) to a generation that has about $1,200.00 in their retirement fund and thirty years to go before they can use it. Our music is loud, our lights are bright and our service orders literally vibrate with the energy and creativity of the young generation. And that is good…

…BUT…

We are missing out on something when we ignore the older generation.

Welcome to the new Shoreline Blog Network.  You’ve managed to find Brian Colmery’s blog, I’m one of the pastors at Shoreline and I do some of the teaching on Sunday mornings.

As for blogging, well, I’m looking forward to getting back into the swing of things.  Sycamore existed in a previous form, and I liked the name because in Luke 19, Zaccheus (remember wee little Zaccheus?) climbed up on a sycamore tree so that he could see Jesus inside a crowd.  After that one experience with Jesus, his whole life was changed.

A little ambitious for a blog, I know, but hey - I like to aim high.

All that to say, I hope this blog will be a blessing and I hope you visit often.  It’s nice to know that all the people at Shoreline I love and care for can read about it on a daily basis.