Home & Reading

Just a quick note to report that little Noah has responded well to treatment and should be home soon. David and Stacy were given a rather extensive "cpr for infants" course to prepare them for the transition. They are doing well; grandma is still jittery!

I travel to Detroit tomorrow to make five more television programs. I'll be back Wednesday to teach the Book of John that evening and then fly to California on Thursday for the conference next weekend. By the way, the conference will be on PalTalk, so if you can join us that would be great. John Verstegen and my son, Rick, will be joining me teaching Ephesians.

Some folks from here will be on the same flight so it will be nice to have a bit of company. They have planned a "Christian tour" for that afternoon to see a couple of famous California site--the Crystal Cathedral and Azzuza Street Mission (sort of like going to see Ground Zero--curiosity plus voyeurism!). If Dan shows up, we'll probably have to visit a cemetery or two along the way!

San Juan Capistrano is one of my favorite places to visit. For one thing, it has a wonderful Italian restaurant that has the best lazanua I have ever tasted, and then there is the ocean (I love the water, even if it isn't the Gulf of Mexico!). Most of all, however, is the opportunity to enjoy fellowship with saints who are good friends. It always is a refreshing time for me, personally.

I am reading Harry Dent's latest book. Dent is the most amazing economist I have ever come across. He has put together an analysis formula based on the application of the generational concepts developed by Strauss and Howe in the 1980's. This application of the generational cycles opens an understanding of what is going on in the culture about us that is amazingly accurate. Those who have hear me teach the "Dots, Lines and Circles" studies know that the cyclical pattern of national life is based squarely on Biblical declarations of how God established the life of a nation to function. Admittedly this is not a subject commonly addressed in either Scriptural or Economic/political/social studies--but it is Scripturally grounded and historically demonstrable.

My interest in this topic has focused on gaining an understanding of the times we life in, where our culture is headed and how to position the work of the ministry to be most effective both now and in the future. It is a strange thing, but true nonetheless, that church leaders in general look to the past twenty years or so to plot their future course. Understanding this Scriptural approach allows us to look to the future with the confidence of the sons of Issachar, "men that had understanding of the times" (I Chron. 12:32).

The implications of the advances in thinking represented by Howe, Strauss and Dent are almost universally overlooked by civic leaders on the left, right and center of the spectrum. The inmates continue to run the asylum, as demonstrated by the current economic calamity. While clear answers are on the table, parochial interest simply ignore them. It is this narcissisticly induced blindness that leads our nation. It is the same with the truth of God's Word rightly divided: there it sits in plain view, but simply ignored by spiritual leaders more interested in sitting in the rubble created by satisfying fleshly goals of religious existentialism.

The course of a nation and its response to each cycle it passes through is determined by the amount of sound doctrine that resides in and thus influences the populous of that nation. It is on this point that we have the responsibility and privilege to proclaim the unadulterated, undiluted message of grace by every means possible. That's the way to do our part. We thank God for our friends and partners who join us in the campaign "to make all men see."

In light of the above, it was encouraging Sunday afternoon to have a meeting with a good group of volunteers who are interested in advancing our Internet presence. They had many good ideas and the enthusiasm to see them brought to fruition. Stay tuned!

Maranatha!