National Day of Prayer: Prayer for the Media

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8, ESV

You do not have to watch the news, read the newspaper or scroll through an online news source for long to realize that this world is pretty messed up. If you try to avoid the news, the alternatives in entertainment or even sports media are offering up a diet that is often less than wholesome.

For example, the murder trial of a physician in Philadelphia accused of infanticide and horrific medical practices went largely ignored in the mainstream media until recently, it appears, because many consider abortion a political issue rather than a moral one. Both conservative and liberal news websites lure the public with sexually charged headlines and pictures. Athletic news is peppered with off-the-field scandals and controversy. And then there is Hollywood…

Question 1: The public often blames the media for feeding us objectionable material and the media often blames the public by telling us “We’re only giving you that because that is what you are willing to buy.” Which is true?

Question 2: Many of us would like to see change. Is transformation of the media and the culture possible without transformation of ourselves?

Question 3: How much responsibility do you take for this? People who pray like Daniel not only own their personal sins but also those of their culture as a whole.

Prayer:

Father in heaven,

You are the Holy One. You are Truth in a person. You have given us many gifts but we have squandered them. You created us in Your image but we have marred it. We have worshipped and served the creature rather than our blessed Creator. 

The various media from which we gather information and receive entertainment shows us how far we have fallen. We have complained of media bias but applauded it when our side is represented. We have participated in this by either believing twisted reports or by passing on unverified stories through social media.

For the news media we pray that You would raise up a generation of truth-tellers whose interest is in reporting rather than creating news.

For the entertainment industry we pray for the success of those projects that seek to communicate truth and beauty and bring out noble thoughts rather than appeal to our basest motivations.

For the world of athletics we pray for a renewed focus on the events themselves rather than on the immoral lives of some who participate. Raise up for us role models who not only give you glory on the field of competition but who live lives that please you off that field.

Give all of us an appetite for truth and beauty as we absorb the messages all around us. Keep us from cherishing the reports that make our political rivals looks bad. Bring us to delight that in your providence you rule in the affairs of men no matter who is in power in Washington.

Ours is indeed a fallen world but we bless You that Your wrath fell on your Son for all who turn to Him. We bless You that the truth sets us free. We bless You that the hope for our nation and its media is found in better means than our own strength.

Through Jesus Christ the Lord we ask for this,

Amen.

Haiti Bible Institute, March 20, 2013 (Installment Eight)

Romans class from the teacher's perspective

This afternoon we have our second set of final exams. I appreciate the sounds of men reviewing the material at all hours of the day and night. Is it a twisted pleasure to be happy that they are sweating the final exam?

The teaching of Romans 14 was new to some of the men. Not every matter is addressed with direct commands. My illustration was to seek a biblical answer to the question Is it wrong to eat a voodoo chicken?

When you look at all the things that bother the conscience of believers, you might find yourself wishing the Bible were larger and arranged by topic. You could just look up “lottery” or “beer” in the Bible Yellow Pages and get a quick, easy command to obey. But God has done much better than giving us commands. He has changed the thoughts of our hearts and given us the guiding motivation for holy living: Love. Love is a cursed motivation if you are a legalist, because you are forced by it to consider others in any given situation. You are forced to be your brother’s keeper rather than live by a list. So the answer to the voodoo chicken question was It depends...

My girls bought some Beanie Babies and Hot Wheels for the married students to take home to their children. I decided to wait until last night to give them away because I knew the guys would start thinking about their families even more toward the end of the week. I am hoping this will make them excited to get home and pass the gifts on to their little ones.

This will be the last update from Haiti. My ride to the airport is schedule to show up tomorrow at 5 a.m. Central Time. I will happily leave the tropics for the snow if Sarah is there.

Haiti Bible Institute, March 19, 2013 (Installment Seven)

Ernst is enjoying his education.

We've reached he mountaintop of Romans. I knew I would need to devote extra time to chapters eight and nine, so I did. Do you need a review? The story of the Bible is not about great people who achieved great things for God. It is about a great God. Period.

When you see God as He is you see yourself as the rebel you are. So the shocking truth is not that God would allow rebels to reap the consequences of their rebellion but that God would dare spare anyone. After establishing that, the discussion of election and predestination is no longer controversial.

And speaking of mountains, I have not yet described the food. We have plenty. The students, like their teachers, very much enjoy eating although our preferences differ. We all eat at the same time and standard Haitian fare almost always has variations on beans and rice. Fresh fruit and vegetables are pretty much always in season here, so we have healthy choices. Our cooks have been gracious enough to include what they consider "American food" like frozen pizza on the "teacher table." We brought our own coffee, because we have found it impossible to find the good Haitian stuff.


I finished my First Corinthians study for RLBC yesterday, so I can give my non-teaching time to other important pastoral concerns (among them finalizing my NCAA bracket).

Haiti Bible Institute, March 18, 2013 (Installment Six)

Yesterday we enjoyed a worship service led by students. Doc Bearss spoke from Ephesians 2 through a translator. We had more of a relaxed schedule because it was Sunday. I only taught three hours instead of five.

It brings me pleasure to hear the students comment that they are grasping the big picture of Romans even after such a short time. Paul is straight-up about our law-breaking condition and its penalty. He also makes it abundantly clear that lawbreakers cannot atone for lawbreaking by law keeping. A violent price must be paid. The first three chapters lay the groundwork for our need of a righteousness that is not our own. We need credit.

The practical end of this is the Bible answer to the performance-based righteousness that permeates not only mainline religions but also Christian fundamentalism. If what Paul says is true my whole identity is wrapped up in the performance of my sinless substitute. I cannot perform my way into happiness any more than I can perform my way into a right standing before God. My whole identity is wrapped up in the performance of my Substitute. God is fully satisfied with me, but only because He is satisfied with His Son. The violence I deserved was poured out on the one who is my righteousness.

By the time my last class was finished I had finally caught up to my goal of covering a chapter per hour. This morning at 8 we will venture into Romans chapter 5.

Cross-cultural epiphany: It occurred to me last night that in Haiti you can't really have the experience of flipping your pillow to the cold side : )

Haiti Bible Institute, March 17, 2013 (Installment Five)

Yesterday the men sat through written exams for their first two classes. Aside from some communication difficulties I was pleased with the results of the James exams I graded. I gave myself the task of having nineteen student names memorized before that first exam. I got close.

Last night I began teaching a survey of Paul's letter to the church at Rome (Romans). I have to cover about one chapter per hour in order to finish. I have 160 pages of notes. Simple math. Fast talking. Tired translator.

I have not said anything about my fellow teachers. In addition to my James and Romans classes, the students get to sit under Dr. Allan Monroe (retired from Cedarville University), who is teaching Christology and the gospel of John. He is a real treasure and I am privileged to glean crumbs of wisdom from our conversations. Dr. Jim Bearss (founder of the school) is also here managing administration and carrying on his other Teaching duties (Moody Bible Institute) online.

One more cultural tidbit I learned from being stuck in rush hour (which is pretty much 24/7 on Route des Freres): In Haiti a very good way to get through traffic snags is to find an emergency vehicle and "draft." Trouble is that some emergency vehicles are given the same courtesy as funeral coaches.

We have passed the halfway point for these modules. I have crested the hill and this horse smells the barn. Home comes soon.