By wyman on 5/29/2010 1:51 PM

"These people relate to the church probably just as positively as they do to sports...only less actively."

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 1928

Dear Christian Parents,

This letter is not intended to (1) create guilt, (2) return to "the Law", or (3) attack anybody.  Rather, it's just my attempt to get at and explore a phenomenon which I and pretty much every single pastor I ask about these things are curious about.

Let me preface this letter with the following statements that I really do believe are true.  Athletics are good, build character, and help children grow.  If our kids commit to a team, they should be taught to stand by their commitments.  I played sports in school (albeit, poorly!), and am glad I did.  My daughter plays, and I'm glad she does. 

With that being said, let me ask some question that have arisen from lots of conversations, lots of watching and listening closely to people, and lots of (frankly) grief over what I think is a damaging trend among Christian parents and their children concerning athletics and the body of Christ.  My point here is not that you must be at church every single time the doors open or you are a "bad Christian."  Far from it.  My point is not that your child should or must always choose a church event over an athletic event.  Far from it.  In fact, my point is simply that there is now an observable, verifiable shift in priorities among Christian parents that is overall damaging to our kids, to the body of Christ, to our corporate and individual witnesses, and to our and our children's spiritual development.

With that, some questions to (honestly) ask yourself.

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By wyman on 5/27/2010 7:37 AM

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By wyman on 5/24/2010 2:08 PM

Over the last few weeks I've read and/or listened to some small odds and ends that I thought were noteworthy, but not worthy of a single post in and of themselves.  So I've decided to throw some of these meandering thoughts and offerings together and provide them here.

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By wyman on 5/19/2010 3:18 PM

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By wyman on 5/19/2010 12:37 PM

My friend James Grant has linked to a post on the "Feeding on Christ" website that provides sermon audio for two of martyred missionary Jim Elliot's sermons, preached five years before his death.  Pretty amazing and, if you know Elliot's story, pretty moving to get to hear his voice. 

Here's the audio.

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By wyman on 5/17/2010 6:33 AM

I awoke this morning to find this video from Olan Jones, father of my friend Tyler Jones (Mr. Olan is a friend as well!).  If this doesn't make you smile, nothing will.  It happened on April 4, 2010, when over 1300 Christians from Faith Church in Hungary gathered to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus by dancing.

He is Risen!  He is Risen Indeed!

Enjoy!

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By wyman on 5/14/2010 3:39 PM

It's a rare double-post day, but I just saw that the Spring 2010 Southwestern Journal of Theology is out.  It is devoted to the topic, "Theology and Reading."  In the Editorial, Dr. Malcolm Yarnell of Southwestern Seminary offers fifteen books that Christians should read (all, of course, beneath the Bible, which must be read first and foremost!).  I thought it was a good list.  Here 'tis...

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By wyman on 5/14/2010 12:27 PM

I've mentioned before that I teach a 9th grade "Introduction to the Bible" class at Terrell Academy in Dawson, GA.  Every year I take my class on a field trip...and by "field trip" I, of course, mean "a trip to the Albany, GA, IHOP."

Yesterday I took the class to IHOP.  In the midst of the laughter and noise and general mayhem, I was reflecting on the fact that these kids really do constitute one of the great joys and privileges of my life.  I'm grateful to the school for allowing me to teach these past four years and to the First Baptist Church of Dawson for embracing it as a mission and ministry of this church.  I pray the kids are drawn closer to Christ through the class.  I know that I have been.

I was able to take a picture of the class inside the IHOP.  Check it out.  I'm not sure what I was thinking taking them all, but it was indeed a blast!

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By wyman on 5/11/2010 7:16 AM

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By wyman on 5/7/2010 9:31 PM

Is there anything quite as delicious as well-executed satire?

This is hilarious.

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