50 Years Since “I Have a Dream”

This coming week, August 28, 2013, is the fiftieth anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech delivered on the mall in Washington, DC.

Fifty years later, race is still an issue in our country. It is an issue far too complex for my knowledge and experience, and far too complex for a simple blog article.

Today I encourage you simply to think about the image of God in man, and what that means for how to we think about and treat others.

As gospel-believing, Jesus-loving people, we should, no must, love everyone who is in the image of God, regardless of their outward appearance, their socio-economic status, their neighborhood, or any other outward thing.

We must treat them with the dignity that the image of God deserves.

James wrote of the tongue:

But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. (James 3:8-10).

Should we merely refrain from speaking these things? Dare we think that because these thoughts never made it to the tongue that they are therefore acceptable? I highly doubt James would grant such an exception.

Brothers and sisters, do not look askance on those who have been made in God’s image while getting ready to worship God tomorrow.

You don’t have to agree with MLK, Jr.’s politics to embrace his dream of a world without racial divides.

After all, that isn’t just the dream of MLK, Jr.

It is the promise of God that looks forward to a day when, in a world freed from the curse, those who have been purchased by the blood of Christ from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation are unified is glad worship before the throne of God (Revelation 5:9-10).

At least part of those “other people” (whoever “other” is for you) is the body which Christ purchased with his own blood. Dare we love them less than the Savior does?

50 Years Since “I Have a Dream”

Today, August 28, 2013, is the fiftieth anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech delivered on the mall in Washington, DC.

Fifty years later, race is still an issue in our country. It is an issue far too complex for my knowledge and experience, and far too complex for a simple blog article.

Today I encourage you simply to think about the image of God in man, and what that means for how to we think about and treat others.

As gospel-believing, Jesus-loving people, we should, no must, love everyone who is in the image of God, regardless of their outward appearance, their socio-economic status, their neighborhood, or any other outward thing.

We must love them in their sin and treat them with the dignity that the image of God deserves.

James wrote of the tongue:

But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. (James 3:8-10).

Should we merely refrain from speaking these things? Dare we think that because these thoughts never made it to the tongue that they are therefore acceptable? I highly doubt James would grant such an exception.

Brothers and sisters, do not look askance on those who have been made in God’s image while getting ready to worship God tomorrow.

You don’t have to agree with MLK, Jr.’s politics to embrace his dream of a world without racial divides.

After all, that isn’t just the dream of MLK, Jr.

It is the promise of God that looks forward to a day when, in a world freed from the curse, those who have been purchased by the blood of Christ from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation are unified is glad worship before the throne of God (Revelation 5:9-10).

At least part of those “other people” (whoever “other” is for you) is the body which Christ purchased with his own blood. Dare we love them less than the Savior does?

Demographics by Dot

Here’s an interesting site to see demographics represented by colored dots.

The information is taken from census responses and you can zoom in on various parts of the country down to a pretty close level.

While demographics won’t tell you anything about people as individuals, it will give a helpful view of the surrounding area.

How helpful? Well, it depends on what you do with it, I suppose.

I think demographic knowledge is important, but I am not sure how important it is for ministry.

Pastor, Have You Taken My Survey Yet?

As I mentioned previously, I am finishing up my Doctor of Ministry degree and I am requesting the help of pastors to fill out a survey about their preaching.

If you are the primary preaching pastor at your church, would you be willing to help me out by setting aside about 15-20 minutes and taking this survey sometime before September 1?

I would be extremely grateful to you.

If you have any friends or acquaintances who are pastors, or perhaps even your own pastor, and you feel the liberty to pass this link on to them, I would greatly appreciate that as well.

You can take the survey here: Preaching Planning Survey.

Thanks to all who have taken it so far. Later this fall I will post some results for those who are interested in comparing yourselves among yourselves.

Pratt on Missions

Tonight, on my regular Saturday evening walk (my best of the year), I took the time to listen to this 9 Marks interview with Zane Pratt. Pratt is a missions professor at Southern and has some excellent insights into missions in so many different areas.

Among the highlights are his comments on social media, particularly how technology is keeping missionaries closely tied to their home and perhaps preventing them from a more effective ministry. I am reminded that Adoniram Judson said something very similar in To the Golden Shore. Well, actually Courtney Anderson said it in To the Golden Shore, but it was from Judson.

Anyway, take a walk and listen to this. Or listen to it some other way. Just listen to it.