Plastic Faith

Last Saturday I had the “opportunity” to eat at Cracker Barrel. I’m sorry, but I’m just not that into breakfast foods, nor am I that into “country cookin.’” Oh now … come on folks … I need all the help I can get in maintaining a steady but safe decline in my weight. “Country cookin’” does not exactly help.

However, I very much appreciate the chance to file through their “country store.” It certainly has the effect of helping to long for days I have never seen before: the days of authentic rural Americana. On this particular day I even had the opportunity to chat with a fellow for “quite some time,” sitting in rocking chairs on a lazy afternoon. Yes, we solved the world’s problems, but, as always with front porch conversations of this nature, the world wasn’t listening.

Oh well, no matter, I was listening … both to my friend and to the moment. What is so valuable that we rush, rush, rush through life, passing up opportunities like the one at hand, only to find that there’s one more order to fill, one more paper to write, one more problem to solve … alone?

And yet, as I wondered through the country store, I was amazed at all the plastic things for sale. Is plastic really dainty morsel of yesteryear? While I certainly have nothing against plastic per se (the computer I’m typing this on is plastic), often times plastic is merely a cheap time-saver. And in this store, dedicated to whetting the appetite for the best of rural Americana, can cheap time-savers (from rural China, no doubt) really replicate the iron-n-steel wielded by backbones of the same material that actually plowed the lifestyles of yesteryear?

Plastic. Cheap time-savers. With the time saved on the cheap I am now able to rush, rush, rush to fill one more order, write one more paper, and solve one more problem (all alone); so that I can now pay down the balance on my plastic, which I used to buy more plastic things: more cheap time-savers, more imitations of the real-steel of yesteryear.

Unlike my coffee, which doesn’t care if it lives in a plastic cup, made in China that reads, “Proud to be an American,” my soul does care if cheap imitations are used to “save time” in his cultivation. I may think it a mark of ingenuity to rightly divide the word of time into “quality” and “quantity,” but my kids’ self-images will reflect this plastic care. I may think it efficient to simply remove the “problem” person (or people) from my life to promote peace, but when conflict arises in the next relationship there will be no superglue powerful enough to fix my broken, plastic heart. In reality there is no proverbial factory in China that can produce any metaphorical plastic capable of functioning in the Temple of God, which is the “oneness” of the Spirit-redeemed/redeeming relationships among the people of God. He does not build his Temple on the cheap, nor does he expect us to use cheap, time-savers in producing authentic worship. Consider the following real-steel of Paul:

If, then you have been raise with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of god is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do no lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And by thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Colossians 3:1-17; ESV).

Bargains are great for basic material things in our lives. When it comes to the heart of Christianity, which are right, redeemed relationships (with God and neighbor), remember that if it is a steal, then it is most likely not the real-steel of Paul. The real-steel of Paul produces pain and anxiety in us and requires sweaty-hard work from us, as the Spirit refashions us into the image of God, described in the passage above. Plastic faith will melt and disintegrate in the blacksmith station of the Holy Spirit, known as the Church.

Faith as Entrepreneurial Belief

If Jesus implored us to be anxious for nothing (Matthew 6:25-34), then why do so many of us build our cathedralled lives around our drives for personal comfort? The whole of the Sermon on the Mount is that his people are a lighted city set on a hill squarely in the midst of dark depravity. It seems the whole of our experiences with church are efforts to turn out our lights so that those depraved zombies “out there” don’t find their way in here. Before long PTSD (Preferential Treatment  because of Salvation Disorder) sets in … and we hold even our own at arm’s length for fear they will cause us some measure of discomfort. We take up the Prophet’s mantle, “Thus says the Lord Ego, ‘Thou art a distraction and a disturbance.’”

Fear happens to the be one of the best of Paul’s disciples, for it crosses the trench lines of denomination and styles of “worship,” drawing us all into unity (See I Corinthians 1-3) … yeah, a unity of anxious wafes. Oh, that we of the faithful would venture out as Fear has so fearlessly accomplished!

Several years ago I witnessed an amazing phenomenon. The youth of one particular city were drawn more to a traditional Baptist church. Even the “hip” and “cool” and “contemporary” music of the “spirit-filled” atmosphere could not compete with them. Yet, the traditions of my Southern Methodist denomination have been pillars of cooked spaghetti, unable to support a temple of worship for our youth. If tradition was the problem spawning church decline, then the Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox Churches would have died out a long time ago. In traditional and “out of the box” church groups we find churches who are driven by fear and churches who celebrate Scriptural faith. Usually there is some combination of the two groups in every church.

My wife is out of town for several days for a business trip, which means our two kids are “in town” with me. I do love my kids, but I have to admit that I like being around one more than the other. In fact I have dreaded this time … again not because I don’t love my kids … God knows I do. I have dreaded this time because one of them is simply inconsolable at times … no matter what. Last night was not fun … to say the least. This morning was even less fun. I asked for prayer for myself yesterday at church … humbly admitting that I have quite a difficult time with that particular kid. I didn’t ask God to make the time pleasant for me, but to change my heart so that I can better deal with “that” kid.

I think I may have unnerved a few people. How dare I say such a thing about my kids! I am the preacher!!! However, one lady got it, exclaiming, “Now, we’re having church!” That was the point … to have “church” in such a way that we can bring our fears and faults to one another and lifting them up as incense before our Creator who desires to re-create us. Yet, I believe it is anxiety that prevents us from opening up our hearts of wormy-manna. “What will they think if I share this?” I unwittingly played the shock-jock again by calmly telling them that I didn’t care what any of them thought of me … all I knew was that I need God.

I also believe it may be anxiety which prevents us from entering the heart-worlds of those around us to help them pull out their worms. It is certainly not pleasant to catch the overflow of pain from hearts. If we’re not careful, that overflow may become a rip-current dragging us into their cesspools.

I have officially resigned from my position as pastor of my two churches in order to pursue specifically youth and family ministry. Though I have around 20 resumes in circulation currently (more are to flow forth), I do not have any job prospects. The normal procedure for our denomination is to announce a resignation during April, for the churches hold their votes of confidence in their pastors at the end of April. I announced my resignation in January.

With a very secure job (my people truly love me and I truly love them … more than they will ever know) … with a very secure job in a very insecure economy why did I resign? Why did I resign so early … the end of July (moving time) is quite a distance from January?

Faith. In our churchy culture faith is the same as belief. We celebrate the faith once delivered to the apostles … or misunderstand it. Faith is not the same thing as belief. I believe it was James that quipped, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe– and shudder!” (2:19; ESV). One “faith” group had as their tag-line “faith in action.” As well-meaning as that is, ”faith in action” is a redundant statement. Faith is belief that is driven to action for a purpose. That is the faith which was once delivered to the apostles.

Out of my belief that I need to be working with youth and families more directly I resigned. That is faith. Out of my belief that I need to love and respect my people entrusted to my care I told them early … so that we can work together through this transition … so that they would not have been left hanging … so that our relationship can be nurtured. That is faith.

There are those among us chanting the mantra “avoid the politics of fear.” A whole presidential campaign was fueled by the drive to avoid the politics of fear. That campaign won. Now that President is attempting to swoon the populous into accepting his “stimulus” package … because if we don’t then catastrophe will strike … the likes of which Chicken Little never dreamed. So much for avoiding the politics of fear. Yes, faith is the conquering management of anxiety, but faith is not the squashing of wisdom. No, by urging us as Christians to avoid the theology of anxiety, I’m not aborting the process of critical analysis birthed by sound wisdom.

Rather I’m asking us to re-examine our “faith.” Why do we do some things and not others at church? Why do we consider some things proper or improper? Why do we speak to some but avoid others? How about asking ourselves those questions about our lives “outside” church? What beliefs and emotions are driving our vehicles of worship and ministry? Are we driven by fear or do we run by faith?

Is it possible we need an oil change from the Spirit of God? Our vehicles would certainly run smoother … and might just run at all. Having fresh oil from the Spirit would once again fuel our city to light up a dark and bloody world. Yet, like I’ve been told about oil changes in vehicles, if you don’t change the filter along with the old oil, the new oil will only get gunky quickly. The Spirit can send fresh oil, but unless we change our emotional process filters (or allow him to do it) then whatever revival he sends will merely turn gunky (or trashy) rather quickly.

Remember the Parable of the Talents? Who did the master praise? Who did the master condemn … as wicked? At first glance it seems really pious for that lowly servant to bury his one talent out of fear of his master. What would happen if he lost it? It’s the only one he has. However, in order for those two who received by twice what they risked, chances are they risked everything they were entrusted. Again, they risked everything they were entrusted.

That parable teaches us that the problem is not in taking risks … it’s in not taking risks. May the Lord of the Harvest raise up risk takers. I don’t need to pray that he would send them out, because by their very nature of being risk takers, they will go out and do so passionately. May the Lord of the Harvest transform us, so that we might possess a faith made of entrepreneurial belief.

Piety

I don’t know whether it’s American culture or simply human nature, but most of us truly despise that lone teacher’s pet in our midst. He is something we’re not. She receives the favors we don’t. He’s fake. She simply does it to receive those authoritarian favors. We beat up the teacher’s pet!

Now that you and I have repented of our baser nature, consider with me why piety is not well embraced even in our churchy worlds. Is it possible that our inner playground children are still running amok, looking for teachers’ pets everywhere … to give them knuckle-sandwiches? Is it possible we view the pious among us as suck-ups to the Great Teacher in that pearly-gated classroom? Or … we might regard the pious as simply robed with Joseph’s coat-of-many-colors-of-luck.

We typically hold the wild alcoholic who came to Jesus late in life in high regard, for her “good testimony.” We give faint, lip service to the man who plugged it out day after day, year after year, for Jesus, faithfully. Or we may even hold these soft-spoken saints in the highest regard, sending them cards, holding dinners in their honor. But we hold them at arm’s length.

This is truly unfortunate, as it perhaps reveals an underlying attitude of disbelief. The so-called pious are either sucking-up to God, or they are too holy to even be around. Nonetheless, piety is for them. As for me, I’m just hoping to make heaven. The disbelief comes in refusing to accept, perhaps even subconsciously, that piety is for me … is for you.

Instead of thinking of piety in terms of Stephen King’s version of the holy (possessing special powers to ward off evil beasts), it is better to conceive of piety as simply the practice of consistent deliberateness regarding God and my fellow man.

In other words, instead of viewing that gray-haired-and-bent-over Sunday School teacher has possessing lucky-rabbit’s foot powers, think of her as simply practicing … rather faithfully … to deliberately study and prepare for her lesson.

Besides, if the rabbit’s foot is so lucky, why did it not prevent the rabbit from losing his foot?

Seriously, though, we tend to think of those who succeed in our culture as having done so on the basis of special treatment or on the basis of luck stalking and seducing talent. Perhaps we should remember that talent without deliberate hard work only renders an interesting person to dialogue with in the unemployment line. Perhaps we should also remember that special favors don’t necessarily produce success. Without character training and development, special favors milked from Daddy Warbucks only produces spilt milk. 

In the same vein, the pious are not the lucky-of-God; nor are they God’s suck-ups. The fire of his pet-act of refining character will not allow suck-ups to hang around his desk too long. The truly pious among us are simply the ones who take their faith serious enough to act with certain deliberateness and consistency in their everyday lives. And those everyday lives are deliberately and consistently lived for the love of God and of neighbor … not for the love of self-image (as in the archetype of the teacher’s pet) … and certainly not lived as the love-child of luck and talent. The pious are simply deliberate and consistent in the active practice of their faith.

Thus, the question is not “why them?” The question is isn’t even ”why not me?” The question is “why should I not?” which alludes to my willingness or unwillingness to practice consistency and deliberateness in all areas of my faith. Such is a lifestyle of worship to which God has called every believer.

What Now?

I sat watching the 11:00 pm poll closings, as California escorted Obama to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Leading up to that dreaded 7:00 first poll closings, I just knew McCain was going to pull this thing out. Throughout the night I was proven wrong, as I’ve been proven wrong watching other contests … such as my Georgia pound puppies get chomped by some rejuvenated and hungry Florida Gators.

A guy could get a complex! Hey if you’re having your buds over to watch the big game and you want their team to lose … invite me over to cheer for their team!

Fear, anger, and despair are creating landslides within the heart of my religio-political camp. As I was perusing the various news sites this morning (@ 5:00 am!) grief, like that of having to say goodbye to a church camp girlfriend, washed over me as I realized Sarah Palin would be flying back to Alaska and away from the national scene … at least for the time being.

How in the world did someone with less experience than the good Governor and with so many questionable alliances and with such an economically leftist political agenda (during a looming recession!) get elected? Is it true that God voted for Obama? According to a certain theological persuasion, this might have been the case. Does that mean that we, center-right evangelicals, missed God? Or did God simply tell us to “put out or get out” and we’re now standing on the side of some dirt road in the middle of nowhere?

I don’t know if God destined Obama for the Presidency or not, but I do know that the American people used their free will to vote him in. What now? Here are some suggestions, which I will be following.

1. Work through the grieving process. It’s okay to be responsibly angry … even with God. You’ll be giving the Holy Spirit more material with which to work. You’ll be able to get your feet under you a bit quicker.
2. Pray for President-elect Obama. Regardless of how deep apprehensions about him about him might be, he will be our President. Praying for him will allow us to more quickly get our feet under us. Praying for him will help to keep us respectful of the Office. Praying for him will of course help to encourage a movement of the Holy Spirit in his life. Praying for him will encourage a movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Peace will come to our hearts, but we may need to wrestle all night and be willing to have our hips knocked out of socket.
3. Consider that the night as a whole might in the end be a good thing for the country in the long run. Living in opposition forces you to refocus and and regroup. Living in opposition sharpens you. I believe that when the country turned the reigns of power over to the GOP, they were expected to govern as Republicans … as Conservatives. Yet, as time marched on their spending marched upward, leaving us in doubt as to whether they were really Liberal Democrats in red garb. We are much in need of a heart-to-heart with ourselves. Who are we? This will give us time to refocus and regroup. After all the extremely young voters will get to see … experience … first hand what American Liberalism really is. There is a reason why you’re a Democrat while in college but morph into a Republican 10 years later … after having to living in the real world. We will have the opportunity to ready ourselves when the hang over hits them.
4. In a similar vein to #3 this will give us, as religious Conservatives, a wonderful opportunity to be humbled. We need to be on our faces before God with our noses in his Word, so that we can refocus and sharpen our primary identity as Christ-followers. If we’re honest with ourselves, our spiritual acumen dulls when things go “our way” for too long. We may not like what happened, but our responsibility to live lives of passionate worship and service does not cease. If anything it is now intensified.
5. Whether you like Obama or not, we can certainly celebrate that we live in a country that seems to be moving into a post-racial era and seems to be serious about making responsible corrections to past injustices. To be sure many people voted for Obama, simply because he is black, but many more voted for him … because of him. We have truly grown as a people. If we as his dissidents will now loyally support him as our President, a world that is now wrestling between fascism and democratic-republicanism will see our country as that political shining city on a hill that Ronald Reagan envisioned.

In the past we have come to similar points of crisis. Retreating from the public sphere has been the option for many. The coming days may be painful for us and the country, but crucibles are rarely pain-free. May we not retreat but embrace our crucible with faith.

Let’s Fill the Aisles of Church and American Government

The coming election has many believers more than a little concerned. Ironically, we believers are sitting on both sides of the aisle in this election. Many on the evangelical left are passionate supporters of Barack Obama with the same flow of intensity of many, like myself, on the evangelical right.

Many well-meaning believers see this passion and proclaim it displaced. God is not a Republican, the bumper sticker says in rather large print (or a Democrat in especially small print). If we’re honest, the calls for leaving the aisles of American politics and returning to the aisles of Church are sounded more often to those on the right.

While that’s a separate blog topic in and of itself, I’d like to issue a call for more Christian involvement … not less. I’m going to pretend for the moment that Christians of all socio-political-leaning species are criticized equally for their political passion, and I’d like to defend the likes and musings of Jim Wallis and James Dobson equally. Please allow me to suggest that calls for disengagement are unwarranted at best and ignorant at medium and dangerous at worst.

One criticism muses that God is not a Republican or a Democrat. This sermon usually preaches against passionate political ivolvement in general and warns that we are unnecessarily dividing ourselves as believers specifically. However, this criticism fails to create a room full of purple republicrats or demopublicans, holding hands and singing “Kumbaya.” This is not because we are attempting to make Jesus an American or nonesense like that. Those of us who feel great passion about our political musings … on the left and the right … often times have put much thought and prayer into our ballot boxes. Our politics tend to flow from our faith … not vice versa. I’m not saying that we’re perfect, but I am attempting to give us all … left and right … the goodwill benefit of the doubt. According to Jim Wallis to truly live as a Christian, you will work publically to eliminate the curse of poverty. According to James Dobson working to eliminate the scourge of abortion flows directly and vibrantly from a Christian world view.

To expect any different is to expect that we can somehow have values-neutral politics. And by default politics is a values game. Every law that is passed is based on someone’s idea of right and wrong.

Another criticism is that we Christians should simply be in the business of doing Church. This sermon preaches against any work besides spreading the Gospel in the world. However, the “Gospel” is more than simply saying yes to Jesus. The full Gospel includes ministering to physical needs, so that people can actually pay attention to something more than their all-encompassing hurt. Thus, as Christians we should be involved in more than simply giving an altar call … as vitally important as that is. In fact Jesus in Matthew 25 in no uncertain terms informs us that we’ll be judged on how we ministered to “the least of these” out in society.

Those of us on the right and the left can agree on the “what” at this point. Where we differ is in the “how.” We can also agree that ministering to the least of these involves more than putting on band-aids. It also involves initiating acts of prevention. Moving into “ministries” of prevention moves one into the realm of public policy.

Another criticism is that seeking to participate in politics means that Christians are trying to take matters into their own hands … which means they are attempting to walk by human power and not by faith. For people who offer this criticism I have one simple question. When your fridge is empty, do you simply wait on God to send his ravens to feed you … or do you go to the store? There is precious little difference between these two scenarios. Yes, we as believers are called to live by faith. However, faith is not simply waiting for God in expectation. That is hope, not faith. Faith is a bit different. Faith is more than believing. Rather faith is believing that spurs one to action for a purpose. Biblically-speaking, faith necessitates action. Jesus will be none-too-impressed with our inactivity in society based on some misguided hope that he would show up and do it all … without us. Who, pray tell, are the hands and feet of Jesus?

Another criticism is that Jesus and Paul did not work in politics and did not counsel believers to do so either. Yet, such a criticism is an arguement from silence. Scripture does not say that Jesus brushed his hair or his teeth. Nor does it say that Paul went to the bathroom indoors or washed his hands afterwards. Rather the things that Jesus and Paul did teach us, as is shown above, necessitate Christian involvement in the politcal spectrum. Jesus and Paul lived in the Roman world, where government “of the people, by the people, and for the people” did not exist. However, that is the world in which those of us in the States do live. What this world necessitates is a responsible citizenry to govern themselves. We have chosen to do so through a republican/federal form of government, wherein we participate through our representatives, political action committees (formally) and through phone calls and conversations around the water cooler (informally). It can be argued that taking the way of non-action in our world is lazy at best and down-right sinful at worst.

One last criticism is that seeking political participation is merely a guise for a power trip. Again, I concede that many people … Christian and non-Christian / Republican and Democrat … are power hungry. However, the question must be asked: is seeking power wrong … in and of itself? Biblically-speaking (based off of Psalm 8 and the Genesis account of creation) man was given stewardship responsibility for the earth. This by default involves holding some measure of power. Because there is more than one person in the designation, man, this involves some measure of power being held by people over other people. So the real question is not whether we are power-seeking. The real question is what are we going to do with the power entrusted to us? A related question is how best to structure this organization to mitigate the effects of human sin nature?

Some argue that Christians should not impose their values on non-Christians. However, every law is someone’s idea of right and wrong. Do we really want the depraved imposing their value-systems on the “least of these?”

Again some simply say that non-engagement is the way to go. However, on a purely hypothetical level, how are we going to organize society if every single person in the world is evangelized and discipled? Will religious leaders govern us? Ask the Reformers how well that worked. Whether we like it or not human nature will always be with us.

As a Wesleyan, I fully believe we are promised real (not hypothetical) victory over sin in this life. However, reality shows this arrives at differing times and places for every individual and for varying degrees of sin. We need systems of societal organization (government) to mitigate this sin nature. Paul said that God sends the government as his personal minister to do such a thing … with pockets filled with goodies for good behavior and a sword for disobedience. Again, do we as believers want the lowest common moral denominator making public decisions for the general populous?

So, I insist that in general as believers living in America, who take their faith as their authoritative and guiding light, we have a responsibility to be politically involved. Let’s fill the aisles of Church and American government.

Sight Sharper than an Eagle’s

Seeing is believing … at least in our secular progressive culture … but sometimes believing leads to seeing. This is certainly the case of Rachel Holloman and Jerry Shaw in the recent production, “Eagle Eye.” The “normal” life is swooped from these two strangers from out of nowhere, as they are thrust into a post-911 spy thriller. An all-seeing female automated voice, ”Aria,” guides/conjoles these two unwitting pawns into her master plot of completely overthrowing the US government. However, only an “eagle eye” movie critic can spot Aria’s goal from afar. It is not revealed to the general audience until about ¾ the way through.

In a man-and-machine world we must not underestimate the “Human Factor”.

It tries to assume the prophetic mantle, warning us … potential prey … against technology. In this case technology grew smarter than her inventors and sustainers and almost took over. A parallel point the movie attempted to make was that technology in the hands of a militaristic regime (aka the Bush administration) will in the end consume us all as prey.

We certainly need to remember that human sin nature clouds anything we might wish to accomplish in this world for good. This smarter the process of accomplishment for good becomes an equally intelligent capability for evil.

However, if applied to the Bush administration of wire tapping, which Clinton also engaged in, I think the analogy is stretched and troubling at best … distorted and destructive at worst. A plot was foiled in Florida recently that in planning an assassination attempt on Obama. Is the left going to be consistent in ridiculing the technology that preserved the life of their messiah? Whether we like President Bush or not, we must give his administration credit for preventing further attacks on US soil … and rendering Iraq “a lost cause” for Al Qaeda.

On the other side of the coin humanity is equipped with a capacity for faith. Jerry Shaw is overshadowed by his over-achieving, super-intelligent, never-scoring-less-than-perfect twin brother. Jerry’s life achievements have … well … gone in less productive directions. He is a great backroom poker player. Rachel is in a rather nasty parenting relationship with her ex-husband. She despises men.

Aria is a dangerously near-self-sufficient super computer, utilized by the military for the War on Terror. She has gained control over every piece of technology in the world. Along this wild ride she is even able to read the human soul through extensive study of material relating their lives On-line. Yet, she underestimates Jerry and Rachel. She assumes Jerry will always remain a slacker. Yet, Jerry “mans-up” by becoming a welcomed, shepherding presence for Rachel and going the extra mile to potentially sacrifice his own life to preserve the massive assassination plot on the government. Aria has assumed that Rachel would have no problem “eliminating” Jerry when the time was right … due to Rachel’s deep hurt. Rachel cannot due to the respect she has for human life in general and the new-found respect she has developed for Jerry. For Rachel respect is synonymous with loyalty.

In secular-progressive culture faith is venerated … so long as it’s a faith in oneself … to face the world alone. Yet, we as believers know that the heart is desprately sick. Who can have faith in a doctor that is always sick. Our faith can be in the One who can not only redeem our sickness, but transform us into his holy-righteousness. Yes, this redemption and transformation process not only fits us for heaven. Yet, it also redeems and transforms our capacity to wisely love by bringing us into saving-fellowship with our one God who is eternally Three Persons who perfectly love one another.

Eagle Eye is a wild ride, but true faith … believing to see … can be wilder and create sight sharper than an eagle’s.