Pray for Bethany…

Bethany is the 6mo old daughter of my youth minister.  She was born with a cleft palate, way back in the throat.  She will be undergoing surgery to repair the cleft palate tomorrow morning, Wednesday, July 1st.

Please be in prayer for Bethany as she goes through this surgery.  Luckily, she is so young that she will have no memory of this event.  Pray that the hands of the doctors will be sure and steady.

Also, pray for the family: Mom, dad, and big sister as they go through this with their daughter/sibling.  The stress is palpable, to say the least.  Pray that God’s presence will be with them through the event.  Pray that God will fill them with his peace in the midst of their anxiety.

Finally, pray for the recovery period.  I have no idea how long it will be.  She won’t be able to suck on anything, which we know is a primary source of comfort for an infant.

Thanks,

Tim

Ouroboros, Tail Devourer

There is something quite fascinating about the Ouroboros.  The idea of a serpent, or dragon, devouring itself touches that part of us that makes us shiver on dark nights.  With the exception of Christian circles, it has had a positive reputation.  Within ancient Christianity, it has taken on a less than stellar appeal.  It tends to symbolize the “limited confines of the material,” and the self-consuming transitory nature of this world.  It is seen as self-defeating in and of itself.  Some fantasy authors have picked it up as a symbol for evil.

I speak of it now because it so succinctly pictures Fundamentalism.  I happen to be affiliated with a group lead by fundamentalist leadership, the Southern Baptist Convention.  During my infancy the battle had begun, and by my early adult years the heavy handedness of the Fundamentalists had triumphed.

This explains quite a bit, actually.

While in college, I picked up a Mickey Mouse hat as a memento of a trip to Dallas with some good friends.  I wore it to class the next day, not knowing that SBC had passed a motion the day before boycotting Disney due to it’s percieved affirmation of homosexuality.  Throughout the years, it has always been something.  We’ve continued to do battle over various and sundry things.  This past meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention didn’t stray from history.

There were quite a few motions made against a non-Southern Baptist pastor named Mark Driscoll.  Poor guy has been labeled the “cussing pastor.”  He’s a guy on the west coast that pastors one of the few growing churches in America.  He also holds prominent position within the Acts29 church starting movement..or so I hear.  You see, he’s so far off my radar that the SBC rancor against him caught me by surprise. I know he’s a Reformed Theologian (read: Calvinist), but seriously, that is all I know about him.

People are being saved, churches are being planted, so what do we do?  We come after him with no less than five motions, as well as a shot from the podium.  Amazing.

The messengers also severed a 125 year relationship with a congregation over “perceived toleration” of homosexuality.  It seems that is the current sin the SBC is aligning itself against.  It used to be dancing, then it became alcohol.  I’ve often wondered why smoking, obesity, gossip and arrogance haven’t been brought before the chopping block…but, then I see the average SBCer, and I read their blog posts…and I come to see why.  Did the people making the motions not know that they were being streamed live for the world to see?  Makes a guy want to smack his how head in disbelief.

You see, Fundamentalism seems to only be able to frame itself as being against something.  It gains power in the fight, it gains momentum through indignation.  This is bereft of problems, but one glaringly stands out to me.  Sooner or later, you end up having no more enemies…and you start eating your own tail.  I believe that is what happened with the church relationship that was severed.  That is an example of the SBC starting to eat it’s own.

Will there be more?  You bet.  Will it be over homosexuality?  Maybe.  Probably not for long though.  Most SBC leaning churches won’t have “perceived toleration” of homosexuals in their midst.  We’ve taught them by our hate for quite some time that we are neither welcoming nor affirming.  We’ll go after the churches ordaining women next, most likely.  Next, we’ll take on churches that allow women to teach men in Sunday School.  That should keep our hate satiated for about a decade.  But, eventually, the legalism will kill us.  We’ll never make it to the point of severing ties with churches over  Gluttony and Arrogance.  To many proud, fat preachers out there.  But, we’ll continue to see a decline in our churches.  More will continue to close their doors.  We’ll become a more scarce commodity with no market.

And we will die.

Which is ok.  God’s Spirit is more obviously being poured out on other churches in other places.  His work won’t stop because we cease to exist.

Tim Dahl

The Slovenian Choir, Perpetuum Jazzile

Devotional Praying of Scripture

I’ve been impressed upon by the Lord that my prayer life bites.  It bites really bad, in the German Shepherd locked on your arm, won’t let go kind of way.

Part of my problem is the lack of diversity of my prayers.  I petition, then petition some more, and finally end up with a little dash of petition.

Just between you and me, I think God is bored.

Anyway, after doing a little research, it seems that prayer isn’t a natural function.  The guys that followed Jesus around had to be taught how to pray.  I figure, I at least need as much instruction as they did!  So, in the midst of this impression I was asked to attend a 1/2 day seminar on prayer.  It was put on by Mission24, which I believe is connected with International House of Prayer.  My buddy and I were some of the few non-Pentecostals there.  It was a powerful experience, to say the least.

The main point of the seminar was to teach/experience a way to pray  devotionaly with Scripture.

Notice, I said nothing about praying “through” Scripture.  I said nothing about repeating the Scripture back to God.  I’ve heard about that, and I’ve even practiced it a little bit.  Some have found great rewards, others haven’t.

The idea they were stressing was “soaking” in Scripture.  Taking a small part, just a single verse and sitting with it for about an hour.  They recommend doing it over a particular verse for a week.  The idea is to soak, not to get through it.  As a guy that “reads for mileage,” the soaking concept isn’t a natural one for me. The desired outcome is that 1) people have a one on one experience with God, and 2) are changed by that experience.

They shared a prayer outline with us.  These are seven basic steps to help you in praying the Scripture devotionally.

1. Read the verse silently to yourself. Read very slowly
2. Write the verse in your notebook or on a piece of paper.
3. Say the verse silently in your heart.  Speak slowly, lingering over each word.
4. Sing the verse in your heart to the Lord.
5. Pray the verse back to the Lord,  You may choose to write out your prayer.  This is where I had a question.  Surely they were talking about something more than recitation.  Yes, they were.  You personalize the verse. Break it down.  Speak to the Lord what that verse seems to be saying to you.  Thank him, ask for understanding, admit ignorance.  This is a very interactive portion.
6. Write down anything you believe the Lord is showing you.
7. Repeat steps 1-6 slowly and prayerfully until the allotted time is complete.

We practiced it for about 30 minutes using Ephesian 1.4.  It was a good meaningful experience.

Was this new to me?  Yes, and no.  I’ve done a bit of reading in the area of spiritual disciplines.  I’ve participated in covenant groups where prayer was given priority.  But, I’ve never actually been shown…actually taken step by step through, and allowed to practice a method that combines Scripture in a slow methodical way.

I aim to get together a group from my church to experiment with me in this.  We’ll see where it leads.

Tim

‘Cause Spaghetti is Good!

Stupidity is Costly

Praying 6.24.09

Lord,

I need you to look after some people.  First off, there is a mother/grandmother combo that I especially ask for you to take care of in Iran.  Keep them safe.  Help them to make it to America as soon as possible.  I ask that you would bring a sense of peace to their child/grandchild.  She is a highly successful business woman (for the Lake Worth area), yet she hurts just the same as everyone else.  She is so worried for her family.  Bring them back together as soon as possible.

Lord, please be with First Baptist Crowley and Brock Baptist Church this week.  They are both having their Vacation Bible School.  They each face unique challenges.  The both face similar challenges as well.  Though, I can’t speak to their unique challenges; I’m confident that you are aware of them.  I’m confident that you’ve more than enough power to handle them.  I’m confident of your love, care and concern for them.  I especially want you to keep the kids and workers safe.  The Texas heat is beyond hot right now.  We are looking at triple digits all week long.  Keep everyone healthy and hydrated.  Let the workers have a keen awareness of their kid’s physical condition.  Help them to be proactive in kid safety.

I also ask that your presence would be palpable at both churches.  I ask that the adults and children would experience you in the midst of this week that goes beyond previous experiences.  Let the kids get a taste of you that they will never forget.  For those children that might be able to make an authentic choice in following you, call unto them.  For those that can’t, plant that seed deep within their hearts for it to spring into bloom when they are able.  Finally, reach out to the parents.  We both know that the parents have the largest affect upon these kids.  Do something with the parents.  Do something that can only be done by you.

Please be with Dennis and his team.  I don’t remember when they are coming back, but that really doesn’t matter.  I ask that you would meet the people of Vietnam in a special way through their service there.  Yes, I pray that some may become disciples.  Please bring salvation to the lost.  Also, soften the hearts of the officials.  Help them to understand that his group has no hidden agenda.  They really are there to just help.  They are there to bring clean water, school supplies, etc. simply because they love them.  They won’t evangelize overtly, only if asked.  They really are there to serve.  Help them in their service.

Lastly, help me to minimize my stupidity this day.  You and I both know what I mean.

Tim

Chalk up another win for Stupidity…

ABP says that the SBC has severed it’s affiliation with Broadway Baptist Church of Fort Worth.

This will probably be the greatest day in Broadway’s history. They are finally severed from the shackles of SBC tyranny. But, it is also the severing of a familial relationship. This is something the Devil loves, but that God hates.

When will the fundamentalists ever get it? In their haste to “be pure,” they make the same mistake the pharisees of Jesus’ day did. All they do is harm God’s Kingdom with their hate.

The worse thing is that it happened because of “perceived toleration.”  Their very stance would have made it impossible for Jesus to be a member of an SBC church.  At one time Baptists hated the word “toleration” because it didn’t go far enough.  We were champions of freedom.  Now, it seems that we have shifted to the other extreme.  How did we fall so far?  Forget the facts, if you even “look like” something the extremists dislike, you’re toast.

This is a sad, sad day.

Tim

6 Degrees of Seperation… Iran

Two root canals and temporary crowns later, I find myself checking out of the dentist’s office.

I have a nice dentist, she knows how to give pain shots really well. That is a huge plus for me, because I HATE shots.

As I was saying, I was checking out when she walked beside me and made a little chit chat. I asked her if there was anything that she would have my church pray for this coming Wednesday Night. She was a bit startled, even stared at me a second. She said, “Let me get Ashley. She’s my prayer person.” I smiled and nodded and awaited Ashely.

Ok, first off how neat is it that she has a “prayer person” in her office?! God, let me be that kind of person! Ashley seems to love God so much that she is the natural person for everyone to go to in the office when they have issues…FOR PRAYER! She said she’s a member of Gateway church. I don’t know where that is, but they are doing something right in their discipleship!

Secondly, I found out that they are praying for two things. They are praying for the dental practice, in general. That makes sense. They are also praying for the Dentist’s mother and grandmother who are both in Iran.

Yeah, I didn’t mention that. My Dentist is of Iranian descent, and she has family in the middle of this mess. We are praying for her, her practice and her family this coming Wednesday night. She is trying to get them over to America. I hope that she can.

At first, the unrest in Iran seemed to far away from me. Now, it is literally right in my face. You never know who you might meet, nor what they are going through. Throw some prayers around today. You might hit someone in desperate need of them.

Tim

To my Two Dads…

Dear Dad,

Tom Dahl, you don’t know me.  You knew I was coming right before you died.  But, you never got to meet your youngest son.  I wanted to say “thank you,” and “I hope to see you” when time comes to it’s close.  First off, thanks for marrying my mom.  Thanks for being a loving father to my sister and brother.  Thanks giving my brother that love for rifles.  I had benefited from that as a kid.

I’ve heard the stories, one of your brothers told me.  He told me some of what you did, a little bit of what you were like.  I heard about your secret, you know, the one you kept from your mom.  I heard about the Bronc busting.  Did I spell that right?  It seems you were a bit of a risk taker.  Mom told me about your plan for a pig farm, about the large amount of land you were planning to buy right before you died.  I heard about your father, and the struggle with alcohol.  I heard how you reacted to that, along with pulling all those airmen out of bars during your tenure as military police in the Air Force.

Thanks for being that kind of dad.  The kind of dad that passed on risk taking to his sons and daughters.  Thanks for the entrepreneurial spirit, that has been passed on too. Granted, it has almost been educated out of me.  I can only believe that you would even be proud of that…my education level that is.  I pray that God will open up that spirit of risk taking, that entrepreneurial spirit that is part of your legacy.  Thank you.

Tom Lynch, thanks for being my dad of choice.  Thanks for choosing my mom, while you were a little later in your years, you took on a little 6 year old at the same time.  I know that you never quite felt like my dad…that is understandable.  But in the end, I think you knew how much I loved you, and looked to you as my father.  Thanks for being that hard nosed, stubborn S.O.B. that everyone knew as Tom Lynch, Sr.  You’ve definitely passed that on to me.  Thanks for instilling into me a love for my mom.  I’m sure that you punished me quite a few times, I was just that kind of kid.  But, the one I remember was when I was rude to mom.  Thanks for drawing the line in the sand, and making me have consequences for that.  We just don’t talk that way to our women, not the men in our family.

Thanks for that time in the boat, you remember.  It was right after the letter.  I so appreciate how you opened up that day, in that fishing trip that was conspicuously absent of fish.  I never knew of that pain, but it helps me to understand.  Our pain has a lot to do with our formation, doesn’t it?    Thanks for the stories of your dad, that also helps me to understand.

At times I hear your voice in mine.  You left an indelible mark upon me, for which I am grateful.  I hope you have the chance to meet Tom Dahl, Sr.  Perhaps you can compare notes, and fill him in on about 30 years of history.

I miss you both.  I miss the one I never knew, but bear his image.  I miss the one I knew, yet is gone for over a year and a half.  Help me to blend the best of both…my son deserves no less.

Tim