I was reading in 2 Samuel again, chapter 15:3-6 about Absolom. As one of David's sons, his third, he was part of the royal court, guaranteed a place in history, and part one God's chosen people, a city on a hill. All this was not enough to satisfy his taste for fame and his own renown. Eventually, Absolom was part of a rebellion to usurp his own father and waged war against David. Eventually, Absolom was routed and hid in the branches of an Oak Tree, where his long hair got him entangled in the branches, and he was stabbed in the heart with a spear. This grieved his father deeply, and David mourned his son in spite of his actions and attempts at killing him.

The Death of Absolom

Now, after all this, you might ask, why writing about this rebellious lad today? Whenever I read about such events, whether biblical or not, I always want to figure out where the person went wrong. Where in the story of Absolom's life did he begin choosing evil instead of good? Did it happen suddenly or was it gradual? What lessons can I learn in my own life to avoid such pit falls?

In my brief study of Absolom, I think we get a window into his heart in 2 Samuel 15. Absolom would get up early and divert people coming to have grievances dealt with by the king's court. He would pass judgment himself and would gain favor of anyone who would praise the name of Absolom. This led to many factions supporting this rebel son, and added to his growing ego, until eventually Absolom believed he deserved to be king.

His road to peril and turning on his own family began in his own pride. We all want to be respected, liked, and valued, but when we let it become the driving force of our existence we are doomed. How often have we seen people rise to stardom and fame because they are truly talented and gifted, only to see them crash and burn afterwards? How many children of God start out in service to the creator, only to let their pride get the best of them, and begin to serve out of a continual desire for accolades, praise, and pats on the back? How many churches started out as refuges for the sick and hurting, a place where the gospel of Christ shined like a beacon in the dark, only to trade such an amazing presence in the Kingdom for tradition, fear of change, and a 180 degree shift away from the heart of God?

As a person who is on stage and has admitted my own issues with esteem, the life of Absolom is sobering in the extreme. If I begin to communicate God's word out of my own selfish ambition, or in hopes of praise from the audience, then I am doomed just as David's son. We all must walk in humility of our gifts and our calling, because if we don't, the cause of Christ is hurt more than our impending fall, and that keeps me awake at night more than any longing for acceptance.

I'm a huge fan. As a boy, I played with G.I. Joe constantly, and still have all my action figures in the garage. I can't wait and will be in line to see this one.

Ok, so today I was at the hospital visiting with a terrific student whose brother was having surgery on his back due to a car accident. You can imagine the stress and weight of such a crisis on a family and the above mentioned big sister. We all cope in various ways with such news and events. My family includes a long line of sarcastic and dark humor in the face of tragedy, which we all know is only a method of covering the emotions and focusing on the laughter, but it is the Berry way. I have seen others read in waiting rooms, knit, do crosswords, and perhaps the most well known is the art of effective gossip about everyone not in the room:) This young lady's chosen method is puzzles. I know, ridiculous right:) How can hours spent piecing a perfectly good picture that is purposely cut into a "jigsaw" pattern be fun or remotely relaxing. Even though I didn't get it, I sat for awhile and pieced this portion together from the 1000 piece puzzle, and left quite proud of my accomplishment.

Often in our care for our neighbors, it is not the words, the hugs, or even the tears that do the most good. It is our willingness to enter into life, put together puzzles, and rest in the knowledge that God's will be done, in all things, and that we can trust in that knowledge regardless of the circumstance.

If you think of him, remember 17 year old Matt, who is in for a long road to recovering, filled with physical therapy, pain, and even puzzles.

Our Saturday Night Service is moving to Sunday Night next week. It's been a great year of growing closer together as a community, and this move of evening is all about bringing more people in tune to the God who loves them.

Last week we got to do some swimming in the lovely Dobbins family oasis. I love these days by the pool, but I long for cool evenings and fall to arrive.

Honestly, I can't wait for some snow and even more fun outside:)

I thought long and hard about posting this little rant, and I decided to go ahead. The lens in which i view the world through has become increasing biblical in the last decade, which means I always have to look at things of today and relate them to scripture.

The last week of political activity (the democrat fest at the DNC and McCain's thunder/headline stealing pick for VP) got my social science juices flowing. For the longest time, I have essentially avoided 24 hour cable news due to it's lack of ethics in reporting and rampant sensationalism, which means I've pretty much avoided tons of politics in my life. This fact is pretty huge considering the last decade of my life as a teacher and professor of history and political science, but a necessity for my mental stability due to the level of anger that rises in me. I love the study of America politics, which is the art of manipulating the populace to either:

A. do necessary things they would never approve of or do themselves due to short term mentality and inability to think beyond self

or

B. allow the people in power to stay in power ensuring their existence as a ruling force of the most powerful nation on the planet

This love of politics that I am endeared to, is a double edged sword, because I see the manipulation all around the issues, the speeches, the articles, the maneuvering, and the lives of those deepest involved, and I fear no one else sees it. I believe in democracy in its purest form, which none of us have ever experienced.

So it was quite fitting that yesterday's devotional reading for me was in 1 Samuel 8. The people of Israel rejected the rule of God and demanded a King like other nations. Samuel asked God for guidance and God told him to give the people exactly what they wanted. God had Samuel warn them about how Kings behave and the nature of relying on men that are given great power, and they still wanted a King. Israel paid the price in great loss for their demands, but it was their choice.

Now I'm not advocating we don't have a president, and I'm also not advocating a theocracy in America. I am concerned that we are relying on the rule and judgement of powerful men/women who have to make mountains of concessions to attain and maintain such power. I can just hear the Father saying, "you want XYZ leader to run the show and trust them to make it all better? Ok, I'll give you exactly what you want."

There has been no progress in this country led from the halls of marble on the hill, without the clamoring of citizens pushing them to do so. There has been no healing of wounds without un-elected Americans standing in the gap. There has been no spread of freedom in this world by the sweat of blood of politicians, only our men and women citizens who serve us all.

Christ called us to love our neighbors as ourselves, and before those words, he called us to love God before all things. We are the agents of change and no matter who is elected, we the people are the ones who will change this nation and this world. Every hot button issue that we will hear about again this week can be changed by US, if our heart is in making a difference and not in just winning an election for bragging rights.

I propose that we let the politicians have their games and we ban together to redeem this nation & world by tapping into our relationship with God, through Jesus. Anybody with me?

In this political climate filled with stump speeches and never to be fullfilled promises, perhaps a voice from a past president speaks more truth than any current candidate would dare say.

I posted a few weeks ago the books I was currently reading, and I wanted to revisit them today since I have some time on my hands while I sit on the couch:)

Pagan bills itself as a revolutionary book about the underbelly of church. Viola's agenda is to paint a clear picture that much of what is done in churches today is not from scripture and instead borrowed from many once considered pagan traditions. Ummmm..... DUH! After the first two chapters, I skimmed through the remaining in about 15 minutes and decided that reading this one cover to cover would just make this cynic fall deeper into cynicism. I don't think anyone who is a thinking member of a church, or any brief student of history has any doubt that quite a bit of what the institutional part of church organization and rituals are not of scripture. Not a big surprise here, and it really lacks any real solutions. I was wisely advised long ago, that no complaint without a solution should ever be considered, because it's just whining or a struggle for power. This is not one I'd recommend because the only outcome is no solution, only frustration.

Preaching On Your Feet is a book about extemporaneous or non-scripted communication. Another way of describing it would be speaking without notes. I just started seminary, but according to the author, many schools advocate writing out one's sermon as if it were a paper and then reading it to the congregation. Of course there are many speech practices that make this not as robotic as it sounds, but nonetheless, the preacher has every word that will be said written out in advance. The theory is that every word should be planned so as to leave little confusion in the presentation of scripture or point of the sermon. I can honestly say that the way of manuscripting a sermon sounds more painful than when I got a filling without any Novocain.

This book discusses the long history of preaching on your feet and the biblical precedents for this style, which is pretty much exactly how I communicate when I share a sermon. In a nutshell, the method is one of study and prayer through the week on the passage/topic that is to be preached on, letting it fill your mind and heart. This allows you to personally interact with God's word and as you are pruned throughout the week, you are prepared to share with others what God has revealed to you. The amazing effect is a communicator who has diligently studied and exposited the scripture, but has been changed by it instead of just crafting a speech about it. No three points and a closing prayer, no emotional build to a frenzy as planned, no personal agenda sprinkled with out of context passages to back it up, only the outpouring of a pastor who has been engaged with the living word.

It is a great book, that spends quite a bit of time advocating such a practice, which I already endorsed, and then ends strong with very practical advice on how to study through the week, and how to present personally pruning with honesty and confidence. Needless to say I loved this book and have essentially practiced this way of preaching without giving it a name. Most of the sermons I have preached over the last year have been filled with laying out the context of the passage, explaining the who, what, when, were and then sharing what impact it has had on me personally with a challenge to the congregation to be challenged as well. God's word is amazing and all who communicate it should get out of the way more often and just let God speak.

In the Name of Jesus is a classic leadership book that I read a few years ago and decided to read again. It is full of so much wisdom in a mere 100 pages, that anyone in a leadership position at a church should be required to read it. It's all about personal discipleship, personal prayer, and that only through our personal relationship with God and God's word is anyone able to lead others. Amazing truth from Nouwen and a joy to read again. My favorite quote/take away from the book is concerning pastors who let current buzz/hot button issues permeate their sermons and conversations.

"Christian leaders cannot simply be persons who have well informed opinions about the burning issues of our time. Their leadership must be rooted in the permanent, intimate relationship with the incarnate Word, Jesus, and they need to find there the source for their words, advice, and guidance." (pg. 45)

We can never let 24 hour cable news, blogs, articles, or sermon podcasts sway our perceptions more that God's word. When we do, we become no better than the Pharisees who would do everything to maintain their power structure and incorrect interpretation of scripture.

Over the last couple weeks, we took a look at what marks we carry around from our past and how we display them both externally and internally. This little series was wrapped around the idea of tattoos and how so many people forever mark their bodies out of a desire to remember, memorialize, or reject things that have been done to them or by them.

The first thing we discussed each week was the often incorrectly taught passages concerning tattoos, especially concerning the strong opposition to them. When read in context, there is no biblical admonishment to being forever inked, only that if your body art breaks the commandment against worshiping other Gods. That being said, if a person gets a tattoo as an act of worship to the design or figure being placed on their bodies, that is idol worship and most definitly sin, but save that, scripture doesn't reject the practice of tattoos.

After laying that ground work, we then moved onto the Gethsemane Prayer and painted a picture of suffering and deep stress felt by Christ the night of his arrest. In amazement, we painted the picture of Jesus talking to the Father and asking for another option for what was to come, but in supreme understanding, willingly accepted whatever God's will was to be done. That is prayer we should all pray, not one of "name it and claim it," wimpy whines to God, but honest, real prayer filled with our hearts and our pain, but with an understanding that God's will is supreme and often not revealed to our liking. Everyone of our prayers should end with "Your Will Be Done."

On the second night, we talked about our bodies being a temple, and looked at the again often incorrectly taught passages in 1 Corinthians 3. We then landed in Colossians 1, which is one of my favorites, and spent time dealing with the concept of Guilt. So many of us walk around with the marks of our past and allow ourselves to be beaten up with sins of the past, which are clearly forgotten by God to be brought up no more, thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus.

When the night ended, we rested in the knowledge that Christ erased the letters of condemnation written against us, and that the mystery of faith is that Christ will dwell in us, doing all the work that allows us to be any part of God's hope of Glory.

A mere few days from now, I will follow the path of so many courageous men before me into the dark recesses of pain, humiliation, and sacrifice. Yes, I know, I am quite the amazing husband for leaving so much of myself on the floor for my wife and family. You don't need to send flower arrangements, or gift certificates, or new cars my way.... it is the least I can do in my duty as husband. I can endure the barbarism of the scalpel, I will be a man as it happens, even though it will be my last act of masculinity.

I hope you can cut the sarcasm with a knife, because I spread it pretty thick. If you didn't crack a little smile, then The Office isn't funny for you either and I got nothing for ya.

Wednesday is the day of my little surgery, which pales in comparison to what Amber experienced in the delivery of our two beautiful children. That being said, I'm still going to milk it for all it's worth:)

Great post on this blog

"When the terrorist Saul became missionary Paul, his personality didn’t change. Instead of traveling to hunt Christians, he traveled to plant churchs. He used his education under Gamaliel to explain the faith and went on to write 14 epistles in the New Testament.

This might be freeing, but when you become a Christian, you don’t have to lay aside your personality. You don’t have to become just like me. You don’t have to like all the things that I like. You’re free to be yourself.

If you are a plumber, you don’t have to quit your job and become a pastor to follow Christ. If you’re a teacher, you don’t have to move to Nashville and write Christian books to follow Jesus. You can follow God using your unique gifts, talents and passions. In fact, that’s why He gave them to you."

Thoughts???????

Since a wee lad hearing stories of Benny Franklin avoiding near death from above by using his trusty key to the city, I have been fascinated with lighting. I love storms, and if it weren't for all the science education and meteorology knowledge necessary, I'd gladly run around chasing storms and get filmed looking like an idiot for the Weather Channel. I used to sit outside with my dad and watch the storms roll in, ooh and ahh at the lighting as if it were the 4th of July, and then run for cover when our faces got pelted by hail. (the joys of growing up in rural Indiana:) Needless to say, I have passed on this love to Eli and we have watched many a dark cloud hover over our house and then run for the door as we get soaked!!!

This SLOW MOTION video blew my mind and is perhaps the coolest shot of a lighting strike ever.

What weird stuff do you like that others will view an insane?

Join us is welcome into the world, Holden James. He is the latest edition in the Misel home, and Hudson's little brother. Nate & Ashley have become great friends to us here in the MOV and we can't wait for all of our kids to get into mischief together:)

Holden James

Hudson & Eli

Amber took this little video yesterday and emailed it to some family. Our home is always full of laughter, and Savannah is adding her own voice to the chorus of giggles.

I love that we can capture these moments and cherish them forever. I love being a dad, and I'm sure this will make me smile for decades to come:)

I have publicly voiced my insecurities as a communicator and even more so my insecurities in doing right by God's word when I preach. I've gotten way better at not being so self deprecating, while also keeping the knowledge that this calling on my life is huge and something I cannot play around with. The abuse and misuse of scripture from the pulpit is evil and has done so much over the years to drive people away from God/Church, and I don't want to EVER be part of such destruction.

That being said, I have been misunderstood, taken out of context, and thought ill of on occasion. Perry Noble had a great post on his blog today that speaks volumes to my heart concerning the role as communicator of God's word and speaks light into the darkness of my self doubt.