BOOK REVIEW AND PERSONAL EVALUATION - "SPIRITUAL GIFTS - BIBLE STUDY BOOK: WHAT THEY ARE AND HOW TO USE THEM" BY DANIEL DARLING

This is not the first Daniel Darling book I've read - I also have read "The Dignity Revolution." So I was excited to see his take on one of my favorite subjects. After all, I've read Spiritual Gifts books and taken spiritual gift inventories from the charismatic to the cessationist views. In fact, I've taken two inventories in the past 12 months, including the one Darling suggests in this book.

Technically, this is more of a workbook. My Bible Study group just finished going through this. It is a 6 week study, consisting of five short studies for each chapter, followed by a discussion guide. Probably, neither cessationists nor Charismatics will be completely pleased, but Darling does an excellent job of presenting this without criticizing any of the contrasting views.

I highly recommend this study. 

Allow me to add some interaction I've had, especially connected to the two inventories. I took the one Darling recommends this evening (referred to as the Lifeway test), and I took a previous one coupled with a personality test during a Guide Retreat (and hereafter called the Guide test).
There were similarities between the two. Both dealt with the same 16 gifts; Lifeway gives 5 questions per gift, while Guide gives 8. Those questions really are statements and you are answer with a number between 1 and 5 concerning your agreement. In doing the Guide test, the group leader suggested we rate each statement either 1 or 5, and if it really is somewhere in between, give it a 2 or a 4, avoiding 3s. 

What's interesting is comparing the ratings. Some of it may be due to sticking to 1s and 5s on the Guide. Some of it is how the statements are worded, whether based on experience or interest. There's one case which showed bias: One of the questions to use on the gift of encouragement was, "I usually teach topically rather than verse by verse." Is that saying those who are gifted encouragers would not be expository teachesrs? Nonsense!

Some of the common threads: On both, I'm high on teaching, knowledge, and encouragement and low on leadership, administration,  and - to my disappointment, on helps and discernment. I wasn't surprised to see the Lifeway test reflect my typical low score on evangelism compared to the aberrant 40 of 40 score on the Guide test. What did surprise me was Guide having me high on "Apostleship" (pioneer church work) and Pastor (shepherding) than Lifeway did, and that Lifeway had me very high on giving and faith which most tests - including Guide - also had me low on.

One concluding thought - we need to remember that the gifts of the Spirit often have accompanying roles in the Christian life. Some have gifts of evangelism, giving, mercy, discernment, faith, and helps, but we're all called to be witnesses, generous, merciful, discerning, full of faith, and helpful to those in need. 

 

A VIEW AT TWO FULL WEEKS OF MINISTRY FOR BECKY AND I!

Northside Baptist Church. The sign is announcing a block party that day (June 5, '24) promoting Vacation Bible School from July 15-19.

Ready to get tired out? I'd like to share what Becky and I have done/plan on doing from May 31st to June 16th. (This, of course, is in addition to my job and our normal responsibilities.)

May 31 - Becky goes to Wesleyan University in Marion, IN, and serves at Christian Youth In Action (CYIA), training teenagers to share the gospel at 5 Day Clubs with Child Evangelism Fellowship.

June 2 - I serve at church working the cameras in the media room.

June 4 - My interview with Jerrod Cunningham of I Am The Pendragon and XIII Minutes, posted a week ago. Yes, I'm in a phase of struggling to keep up with blogs on my set days that when I post it, I count that as an accomplishment. 

June 5 - I take part of a block-party at our home church, Northside Baptist, to promote Vacation Bible School in the middle of July. This is during the Crossover ministry, where in preparation for the annual Southern Baptist Convention, churches come to local churches in the city hosting the convention and help in the outreach. People came out of town and did the behind the scenes work while the church members were free to talk to any visitors. 

June 7 - Becky comes home from CYIA.

June 8 - We visit a couple of friends to celebrate the birthday of one of them.

June 9 - We go to a graduation celebration of the daughter of friends/former fellow church members we've known for years (two of three of the graduate's older brothers weren't born when we met our friends). Also, we served as greeters in the Prayer room for the Southern Baptist Conventions Pastor meeting and national convention.

June 10 - Writing this blog, which will be posted electronically at 6am the next morning. I was originally planning on writing this on the 8th so it could be up on the 9th, but yes, I missed another blog!

June 11 - When this has posted, I'm on my way to the Southern Baptist Church where I'll be spending the day being a greeter (taking a day off work for this purpose). My alarm is set earlier than normal, and I won't get home till after the time I normally call it a day. 

June 13 - Posting a book review of "31 Spiritual Lesson I've Learned From My Dog" by Raylene King. The authors and their rambunctious little dog are personal friends of mine. 

June 14 - Taking another day off work. I'll be driving up to Greentown, IN, to the Kingdom Come Festival, put on by Always 1 Ministries. Yes, I'm going to hear some good music, but I'm also going to be doing some volunteer work, and have the goal of encouraging and praying with several of my musician friends. 

June 15 - It's Saturday, so I won't be taking the day off, but I'll be returning to the Kingdom Come Festival.

June 16 - Father's Day. This will be the 5th Father's day after my dad went home to be with the Lord (Becky's passed in '98), so no plans to be with him, and the children we don't have haven't planned anything. (Maybe I should adopt some of the bands at the festival mentioned above?) But I will be at church in the media room again, and I plan on following my friend Nick Laurino's suggestion of wearing a Hawaiian shirt on Father's Day. Finally, I'm planning on posting a blog about a slight change in the day-to-day of this blog.

Yep, I'll be ready for a nap after all that. How about you?

 

ARCHIPPUS - BIBLICAL PEOPLE I'M CURIOUS ABOUT (PART 6 OF 6), PLUS A PREVIEW OF MY NEXT 6 WEEK SERIES.

Lighthouse Baptist Church, Indianapolis

 I was in a men's Bible study that went through Romans, and I volunteered to take the final chapter. Yep, the one with all the names of people Paul was greeting as well as some who were with Paul and sending greetings to the Romans. What I did was went through Strong's to look at the meanings of each of the name. I smiled as I dealt with Urbanus and Stachys (Rom. 16:9); the former, not surprisingly meant "of the city," while the other meant "head of grain." In other words, you could paraphrase that verse, "Greet City Boy, our fellow servant in Christ, and Country Boy, my beloved."

My favorite in these lists of unknowns is Archippus. He is mentioned in Colossians 4:17 and Philemon 2. We don't know anything else about him; some have speculated he was the pastor of the church at Philemon's house, and others that he was Philemon's son. Some consider he was martyred with Philemon, Apphia, and Onesimus, though there's no proof - one author mentioned there was a pastor named Onesimus that Ignatius of Antioch had contact with.

I'll take that back. We do know one thing about Archippus. That is that God called him to the ministry. Paul writes in Colossians 4:17: "And say to Archippus, 'Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.'" I can picture the Colossian Church, after hearing these words, turned to the blushing young (I assume) man, and repeat Paul's words in unison with a smile on their face. By the way, Paul calls Archippus his fellow soldier. Yep, that sounds like someone in the ministry.

But hasn't every Christian received a ministry from the Lord that they are to be encouraged to fulfill it? And does that include you? Do you see any indicators this is relevant only to the first century? I don't.

Unfortunately, not all do. A person mentioned in the same chapters Archippus is, giving greetings to Philemon and the Colossian church, is an individual named Demas. That's a recognizable name - in 2 Timothy, Paul tells Timothy Demas forsook him, having loved the present world (2 Tim. 4:10). We have a choice to fulfill our ministry as Archippus is admonished to do or to depart loving the world like Demas.

Can I take a little rabbit trail and deal with a pet peeve? (The pet here is the rabbit who left the trail.) I heard at least one sermon on Demas, following his spiritual life from being a fellow laborer (Philemon 24) to just being "Demas" (Colossians 4:14) to "having loved the present world." Good point that there's a pattern, but the text does not support it. You notice in Colossians 4:7-9 that the Colossian letter was brought by Tychius and Onesimus? Most consider Colossians and Philemon to be written and sent at the same time, so the lack of a description in Colossians doesn't mean anything really. Yes, it's a pet peeve when Christians seem to need to add something negative at something that is just narration. And you'll hear more about that pet peeve in my next 6 part series, starting next week.

But were you blessed by this series? Did any of these obscure people encourage or motivate or challenge you?

INTERVIEW WITH PASTOR/CARTOONIST JOE MCKEEVER

 

JR: Welcome to my blog, Joe. I'd like to start with the most important question - how did you come to know Christ?

JM: I was 11 years old and it was a revival meeting. Same church (and same building) where my parents had met in 1930 when she was 14 and he was 18 and was smitten once he heard her singing with her sister. I went forward during the invitation time and (rural, Free Will Baptist church) people stepped out into the aisle to go forward and pray with me. No talking to the preacher, we talked to God. lol I was crying and saying repeatedly, "O God, O God." That's all. But when I got up, I knew I was saved.

JR: I was going to ask how you got called to the ministry, but let me be more specific - How did God call you to the pastorate, and how did He call you to the ministry of cartoonist?

JM: I was 21 and a senior in college. Had joined an outstanding Southern Baptist church in Birmingham AL near the campus of my college (Birmingham-Southern, a Methodist school). Got active, loved the people, met my wife to be, was baptized (saved at 11, but never baptized because no one asked), and I flourished. Tuesday night of a two-week long revival, I'm in the choir and we're singing "Jesus Paid It All," and suddenly it seemed a curtain was drawn open and God spoke to my heart. "I want you in the ministry." That's all. Not "called to preach," as such, but called as a minister. That's significant because I have done all kinds of ministry, and it was not limited to preaching.

Never actually felt "called" to a ministry of cartooning. I'd done this all my life since childhood and as I matured into my 20s and beyond, kept getting more and more opportunities to use the cartooning as a catalyst in ministry. 

JR: Who have been your Mentors/Encouragers/Influencers/Heroes both in the ministry and in cartooning?

JM: In ministry, several pastors and a couple of seminary professors were my mentors, and I am infinitely in their debt.

In cartooning, I enjoyed meeting several professional cartoonists and being encouraged by them when I was thirtyish. In my mid-30s, I had written a note to the newspaper syndicate handling the "Gasoline Alley" comic strip to say how much I loved the artwork by Dick Moores. To my surprise, I got a note from him thanking me. And one Saturday, I returned home from an early morning meeting to have my wife inform me that Dick Moores had called me and wanted me to call him. wow. It turned out he lived in North Carolina and was going to "marry off" a couple in the comic strip and needed to know a) which side do they stand
on? and b) does the minister still have them say "Til death do us part"? Couple of years later, my wife and I went to see him at his studio below Asheville NC. He was in his 70s and such a kind soul. When he was young, he had drawn comic books for Walt Disney, then spent years with Chester Gould drawing Dick Tracy, and had taken over the Gasoline Alley strip after its originator had died. Dick was most definitely the greatest influence on my cartooning. He died in '86 just before I moved to North Carolina. Shucks! Such poor timing!! 

JR: What doors has God used your cartooning to open in your ministry, both in reaching the lost and edifying/encouraging/exhorting the Church?

JM: That's so hard to answer, Jeff, particularly the first about "reaching the lost." I honestly don't know that He has used the cartooning for that. But the second part, exhorting the church, I received an email just today from a lady in Minneapolis thanking me for the cartoons and for speaking to the church so well. I'm 82 years old and love that. Just yesterday, my wife and I drove 6 hours (round trip) to do a senior event for a church in Alabama. I sketched everyone there, spoke about the Psalms (encouraging them to "fall in love with the Psalms all over again"), and ate their lunch, then returned home. Such a blessing. I'll do several of these each month. But I would need someone else to tell you how God uses my stuff. I tell pastors (in fact, told Pastor Chris Kynard just yesterday at the luncheon) that "you do not know how God is using your stuff." A pastor will go home and tell his wife the sermon bombed. Then the phone will ring and someone will thank him and say "How did you know? That was exactly what
I needed to hear." So, we do this work the same way we do everything else: by faith.

JR: The pastor at my church (Jeremy Couture, Northside Baptist, Indianapolis) gave us three areas to pray for him: Personal walk, Priorities, and Protection. In what ways does God use your cartooning and pastoring to strengthen your walk? How do you manage the priorities of pastoring and cartooning? And what ways does God protect your ministry?

JM: Being retired I no longer have to find a balance between pastoring/ministry and cartooning. but it is such a blessing being 82 years old (and having come through a number of health challenges) to still be getting the invitations to speak and minister. Right now--post-covid!--I'm getting on average two invitations per week. - When I was pastoring, say, around age 40, I had to convince some people that cartooning is ministry and not just goofing off. My wife of 52 years, now in Heaven, was one who did not have a great appreciation for cartoons. She was supportive, however, of the time I flew to Singapore for 2 weeks and drew an evangelistic comic book for the missionaries (it was her idea). My wife Bertha (we celebrated 6 years of marriage on Jan 11) is a strong encourager of my cartooning. - I pray about the cartooning and the ideas and the effect. But I have no idea how to answer your question about "how God uses these things to strengthen my walk." I just do them, the same way someone else plays the piano and another the guitar. It's what I do. People stand around and watch me draw, and they ooh and ahh and seem impressed, but since I've literally done this since childhood, I take it in stride and thank them. 

JR: Thank you for your time. How can we keep up with your ministries? Do you have any books and/or websites you'd like to tell us about?
JM: Several ways.

1. My blog is www.joemckeever.com, where I write for church leaders (pastoral and otherwise). This website is 20 years old now and contains thousands of articles from these two decades. Scroll down the page for a list of categories. Scroll further down for the "archives," where they are listed month by month since 2003. If you're interested in reading my journal about Hurricane Katrina and the rebuilding of New Orleans, start by scrolling down to September 2005, then to September 1 and pull up a chair. The next two years is devoted to that subject.
2. My cartoons are posted daily by Baptist Press. Go to www.bpnews.net and at the top of the page click on 'comics.' In times past, they posted the work of six cartoonists, but they cut back to one. Even though if says "comics," plural, I'm the only cartoonist whose stuff is posted there. There are thousands of cartoons.
3. Google "Joe McKeever cartoons."
4. I have a page in each issue of Deacon Magazine, a quarterly published by Lifeway. My page is devoted to "my favorite deacon."

My personal website is www.joemckeever.com There are no cartoons here, but articles I have written for pastors and other church leaders. Started the website in 2003, so it's in its 20th years. There are literally thousands of articles there. Scroll down the page for a list
of categories.

I've published probably a dozen books of cartoons over the years. Amazon or alibris.com would have a lot of them. Some non-cartoon books I've written that are available from me (203 Garden Cove, Ridgeland MS 3917. Everything is $15 each) are--

• "HELP! I'M A DEACON."
• "GRIEF RECOVERY 101" written with my wife Bertha about the deaths of our spouses and what we learned about dealing with grief.
• "SIXTY AND BETTER;  MAKING THE MOST OF OUR GOLDEN YEARS" also written with Bertha.
• "PRAY ANYWAY."
• "HEALTHY CHURCH."

 

INTERVIEW WITH NICOLE DRENNAN, AKA BRAVE WRSHP

Nicole Drennan (Brave WRSHP), with Becca Sugg of Reclaim The Day (right).

Have I told you I had the honor of going to Get To The Point Festival this June? Repeatedly? Maybe because I've had the privilege of interviewing individuals from four of the six participating bands/soloists. Well, I'm happy to add a fifth: Brave WRSHP. And for my 300th blog, no less!

JR: Welcome to my blog. I’d like to hear about how you came to Christ. 

ND: Thank you so much for having me! Well, I came to Christ back in 2009. I spent some years of my early childhood in the church, but never really knew Jesus until I was 14 years old. At the time, I had been involved with drugs and alcohol while being influenced by some of my older high school friends at the time. 

I remember sharing a class with Rebecca Sugg from Reclaim The Day. She had invited me to her youth group and there was one week I had gone, and the youth pastor had shared his testimony. He had also been involved with drugs and alcohol when he was my age and he began to share how Jesus had saved him and changed his life. That night I went up to him and told him all that I was doing and how I wanted Jesus to save me. He encouraged me to share my story with the other kids in the youth group and the following week, another kid came to me and opened up about how she had also been doing the same thing and knew Jesus was calling her to repentance. I remember being so astounded that even then, Jesus was using my testimony to help others in my life.  

JR: Could you tell us about how you got into music? When did you start focusing on worship music, and what’s the origin of your artist name Brave WRSHP? 

ND: I grew up loving to sing and write music. As a little girl, I would never sing in front of anyone, haha. I would sit in my bedroom with headphones on and just sing for hours. I kept multiple notebooks of lyrics I would write and hope someday get the chance to share the songs. Music has always provided a safe place for me to escape. 

Around the time I started going to youth group, my parents had bought me a guitar so that I could start learning to play and be able to put chords and melodies together for the songs I would write. One night at youth group, my pastor heard me singing and approached me about joining the Sunday worship team. I was so nervous, but said yes I would join. My now best friend Miranda Brown from “Inarticulate Bones,” was also on the worship team and had invited me for a sleepover so that we could practice all the songs. She taught me how to harmonize and eventually we would sing duets on Sunday mornings. 

When I was 18 I heard the call from God to serve in music evangelism. I had no idea what that would look like but I had never been more confident in my life. I had told my parents I was going to take a year off before college because God was calling me to do this and they agreed. 

The next 5+ years were a rollercoaster of following God’s plans. I joined a post hardcore/ progessive metal worship band called Within Thy Walls and wrote and recorded a 3 song EP. Shortly after that my bandmates had merged with A World Apart’s bandmates to form a duel vocalist, hard rock/worship band. A year or so later Becca Sugg (i and I stepped away from the band and started a worship project called The Upright. We began serving as worship leaders for a church in Indianapolis called The Upper Room. A couple years later, we were asked to join a band called Waiting For Ravens. I played auxiliary guitar for about 3 years. In 2019 I stepped away from the band because God was calling me back to focus on solely worship. 

The name Brave WRSHP was rooted from that moment in my life. I had a lot of difficult decisions to make that left me with deep wounds that God is still healing. He spoke to me and called me to be brave which has become this sort of mantra for the project. I wanted to create a project of worship that was rooted from that place of being in deep pain, suffering etc. I have learned over the years that worshiping God can be easy when things are going well. It is when you choose to worship him in the midst of suffering, addiction, pain, abuse etc., that it is difficult and honestly more intimate. I once heard someone say that these moments in our lives are the only times we get to choose to worship him in spite of suffering etc., because when we get to heaven we won’t endure such things. 

JR: Congratulations on being nominated for “Worship Vocalist on the Rise'' and for Worship Project of the Year with the WVIU Radio Music Awards. Would you like to tell us about that project?

ND: Thank you so much! It is quite the unexpected honor, and I am so grateful for the nomination and all that WVIU Radio does to help independent Christian artists. With Brave WRSHP, I have been given a vision for writing throne room worship songs for the king. There are a lot of amazing worship artists and groups out there, but I feel like the songs that God has given me are a bit different from the normal worship songs on the radio and such. A mentor of mine, encouraged me when I had started this project, to spend time away from the stage and focus on just worshiping him in my secret place. I spent a couple of years taking time off to focus on this and my relationship with him. I learned that my worship and the songs he had given me to write, were more intimate than anything I could have ever imagined. I look forward to getting the chance to share them soon!

JR: I had the honor of hearing you at the Get to the Point Festival along with other bands I’ve interviewed on this blog (Reclaim the Day, Divine Martyr, Tempus Unum, and Hush Harbor). Are there any venues that you sang at which that stood out?  

ND: Yes! I have had the privilege to play at a few different venues over the past couple of years, but The Point Church and Community Center, where Get To the Point Festival was hosted, is my favorite. The Point Church and Community Center was my home church for many years, the place where it all started for me. It was an honor to get to lead worship again there and be able to see and reconnect with so many friends and family that had come!

JR: What are the greatest challenges you face in your ministry? Who has God used- those you know personally (friends and family) and those you don’t (radio/TV ministers, other musicians, authors/novelists)-to encourage you?

ND: The greatest challenges I face are rooted in past mistakes. There was a period in my life where I had fallen into sin while in ministry and I had to take a step back to repent and refocus. Unfortunately, there were people who had tried to tell me I should never be in ministry again and that I was no longer qualified. These comments hurt me deeply and led me to believe that God could no longer use me because I was too broken, too damaged, too dirty to be able to serve him and his kingdom. 

There were some amazing friends in my life who have prayed with me and encouraged me for years to get back up and keep going. They remind me that God can use any circumstance for his good and that he makes beauty from ashes. I have learned that God does not call the qualified, but qualifies the called. Chris Bossum, Becca Sugg, Miranda Brown, my parents and my significant other are just a few of the many people who have fought by my side and encouraged me relentlessly. Tullian Tchividjian, the grandson of Billy Graham, is one of the pastors I have been influenced by. He shares a similar story to mine and has encouraged me greatly in his sermons.  

JR: Thank you for your time. What is coming up on the horizon? How can we keep up with your ministry? 

ND: Thank you again so much for having me! I am currently in the studio working on releasing an EP for next year. I am also joining “For His Purpose” which is another amazing up and coming worship project founded by Trent Russell from The Persuaded. I am so excited to be able to release these songs that God has laid on my heart! 

With Miranda Brown (right). Photo courtesy of Jeanette Yoder.

The best way to keep up with Brave WRSHP is by following the page on Facebook and Instagram @bravewrshpofficial, to keep up to date on any upcoming shows and single releases!

INTERVIEW WITH WOODY HUGHES, BASSIST OF DIVINE MARTYR

https://www.divinemartyr.com
 

Divine Martyr; L-R Jason Hyde (Guitar), Olivia Guetle (Vocals, Cello), Mark McKowen (Drums, Keys), Woody Hughes (Bass)

"The music of Divine Martyr reflects life. A life of struggle, and yet one of hope. One of importance, bringing forth the message of our Messiah through trial and tribulation, and remembering those who have given all for their faith. For life is not without struggle, and yet through struggle we persevere. So we run but do not grow weary, playing to an audience of One..." - Jason Hyde, from the heading "Mission" on Divine Martyr's webpage.

I enjoy all my interviews. There are some, though that I'm absolutely excited when I research the interviewee and read their answers. I'm excited about this one. So be sure to check out their webpage below.

JR: Welcome to the blog. When and how did the band get started, and how did you decide on your name? Who's in the current line-up?

WH: I really felt there was a need to minister to those who didn’t feel comfortable going to church. Maybe because they didn’t feel “worthy” to walk into a church or maybe they didn’t even feel worthy of God’s love. So, I placed an ad on Craigslist in 2016, got a reply from Dan Klinger, a guitarist who was from the Indianapolis area, and he and I started to jam in both of our garages. About a month into it, our current drummer, Mark McKowen, answered the ad and we all started practicing together and putting together ideas for songs. Shortly after, Dan left the band, and then a few months later Jason Hyde auditioned for the role of guitarist, and we figured out quickly how awesome he was and asked him to join. I knew our original vocalist, Darlene Parson, from the Vineyard Church in Greenwood, so I asked her to join us and that’s how the band started.

The name, Divine Martyr, came from Dan. I instantly loved the name because I believe that we as Christians should be willing to be martyred for what we believe in because the Bible says that in the last days we must choose between God and man when we are persecuted. Dan was gracious enough to allow me to use the name after he left.

Our current line-up consists of Mark on drums, Jason on guitar, me on bass, and we have a new vocalist and cellist, Olivia Guetle. We’re really excited about Olivia. She’s got an awesome voice and she’s a great fit to the band. The fact that she can add cello to our songs adds yet another layer of ambience and ether to our songs that really continues to define the “symphonic” aspect of our music that we’ve always envisioned.

JR: Could you tell us about your latest project?

WH: We’re releasing three new songs here shortly. We will be releasing our new song, "Fear," on June 10th, the day before our Get to the Point show. We will then be releasing a first ever instrumental entitled "Mystique" on June 24th, and finally, a cover of a popular CCM song by Kari Jobe called "Forever." We have a date in mind for the release, but it may slip due to some scheduling in all of us getting it tracked with Marcus over at Reclaim the Day. He’s our tracking and mixing engineer by the way and we’re excited about Fear so we’re using him for the other songs as well. We’ve developed an excellent relationship with him and his wife Becca. They’re pretty cool.

JR: As I looked at your website, I was impressed with your Mission. Would you like to share it with us? How did you develop it?

WH: To add to my first answer, I think that in the last six years that we’ve been together we all have seen a real need in the Christian community for outreach to those who don’t feel comfortable in a church setting. To be honest, the church in America has grown stagnant. We’re not afraid to say it. Its message has been watered down. We don’t believe that the church is doing a good job in reaching out to people and meeting their needs. It’s time for a change. It’s long overdue. So, it’s time for us to get out there and go where the Lord leads us. We don’t care where we must go. If we can do it financially, we’ll go anywhere.

JR: What would you say were the most memorable moments of your ministry as a band, such as recording, concerts, after-concert pizza raids, etc.?

WH: We always talk amongst ourselves about the opportunity to open for Disciple, but where I think we were able to minister the most effectively was at the Water Bowl in Muncie Indiana on Easter weekend in 2019. We were the only Christian band among about five other bands with one of them being an outwardly Satanic band. Those are the places where we need to be. And what’s interesting is that that show was where we felt the most welcomed by the fans. We’ve found that the secular community is more supportive of our religious stance then the Christians who think ministering using heavy metal is “sinful”. And that’s another issue of ours – The church in America doesn’t want to support those of us who are using traditionally “alternative” means to celebrate God, i.e. heavy metal. The church doesn’t seem to want to be involved unless it’s standard CCM worship.

JR: If you could address the American Church, what would you say we need to be doing to return to our First Love? Related, when you all are discouraged, where do you tend to find encouragement and inspiration?

WH: The church must teach the Bible with no reservations but in complete love. Right now, churches are teaching love, but with reservations on what exactly to discuss on Sunday mornings as to not offend people. To be frank, if you go to a church and they’re preaching the Bible and it offends you, then you need to hear it. Church leaders need to ensure that its member’s needs and their family’s needs are met. More things like feeding the hungry and visiting the sick needs to happen consistently and on a regular cadence. Not just on Thanksgiving and around Christmas.

JR: Thank you for your time. I know you'll be at the Get To The Point Festival in Greenwood, IN, June 11th, and the following Friday (I believe) you'll be at Kingdom Come Festival in Kokomo. Anything else on the horizon? Do you have any webpages to find out what's going on with your ministry?

WH: Yes, we’d love for everyone to make it to the Get To The Point Festival in Greenwood. That one is special to me personally since that’s my town. Also we’d love to see everyone at KCF in Kokomo.  And check out our Divine Martyr website (https://www.divinemartyr.com) to get a listing of all our shows and any new updates on what we may be doing. We have the month of June covered (the festivals mentioned above, and Mercy Jam in Jeffersonville, IN, June 25th), one show on July 3 (Audiofeed Music Festival 2022, Urbana, IL), and one on September 3 (Mosey Down Mainstreet, Lafayette, IN). Please spread the word. We’d love to do more shows this year. Thank you so much for allowing us to share our mission with you!

BOOK REVIEW: BEYOND POVERTY BY TERRY DALRYMPLE

 

In Beyond Poverty: Multiplying Sustainable Community Development, Terry Dalrymple gives a vision to overcome worldwide poverty. The solution, however, is not through the state but the church. He sees the answer also being a movement that is able to multiply.

The author of this book served on the mission field before joining Medical Ambassadors International (MAI), where he was trained in Community Health Evangelism (CHE). He founded and is current coordinator of the Global CHE Network, and is cofounder and current VP of the Alliance for Tranformational Ministry. Additionally, he is an instructor at the Genevea Institute for Leadership and Public Policy at the United Nations.

Dalrymple points out that while there are physical aspects in dealing with poverty, the root is the evil in our hearts. While faith in Christ alone may not irradicate poverty, the transformation in the believer's life should be visible so said transformation becomes contagious to the community and beyond. He gives examples how some belief systems help keep others poor, and in one segment Dalrymple illustrates how latrines can be a sign of spiritual growth.

There are five fundamental principles of what Dalrymple calls "wholistic transformational ministry:

1. Integration of the physical and the spiritual;
2. Asset-based development (funded not by outsiders but by what the participants have access to);
3. Community ownership of the ministry;
4. Multiplication; and
5. Self-discovery.

One powerful point of the book is an inclusion of a pair of warehouses built in the third world. One was funded by an outsider, and it looked functional. The second had been built by the contributions of the villagers who were going to be using it, and that warehouse was a solid, well built building.

Dalrymple gives examples of how CHE has changed communities around the world in the villages of Asia, Africa, and South America. 

If you want to be a part of the solution to the poor, I highly recommend that you acquire this powerful little book and consider how you can impact the lives of others. He gives information how to get involved in CHE.

Let me add an item. How many of you have a former room-mate who addressed the U.N.? I've known Terry since we attended Southwestern College (now Arizona Christian University) in Phoenix, Arizona in the late '70's. Is that why I highly recommend this book? No! I believe it is well worth reading.

If you are interested in learning more about the Global CHE Network, you can check their webpage at www.chenetwork.org.

 

BOOK REVIEW: EXPOSITORY APOLOGETICS BY VODDIE BAUCHAM

 

Is apologetics solely the job of trained intellectuals who can stand toe to toe to the philosophers and scientists? Voddie Baucham doesn't believe so. This book deals with how pastors, teachers, parents, and any other believer can defend their faith.

The concept of the book started when a friend of Voddie asked about one technique he uses in preaching and if he could teach it. That method is bringing up questions skeptics/unbelievers would ask and then answering them. Voddie commented that he's not the first to use this approach - Paul does the same thing in Romans.

I highly recommend this book.

Have you ever had the opportunity to defend the faith? What books have you read about apologetics?

The Hidden Call of Art

 

A week ago, I posted about the hidden dangers of art. And yes, there are spiritual dangers to the art, which all are variations of not denying self as Christ told us to (Matt. 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23). But is that the only side of the coin?

One thing to keep in mind is that artistic/creative talent is something that originates from God. Why was I able to teach myself piano and guitar but completely lacking in athletics? God's choice. Some state that everybody is born with creativity but education and employment and other things rob it. That may be true, but again God is sovereign on who gets to keep their talents and who doesn't.

But why did God give us talents? Yes, if God gives us talents, He has a purpose for it, and in the end it is for His glory, not ours. 

Are you familiar with Bezalel the son of Uri and Aholiab the son of Ahissamach? They were artists that God appointed to make the Tabernacle and its furnishings (Ex. 31:1-11). The former was said to be filled with the Spirit of God, and both were given wisdom. Yes, God uses artists.

Singers and musicians also had a part in a lot of the history. Chenaniah and Asaph were involved in David's days. The singers were mentioned with the Levites and other assistants of the priests in Ezra and Nehemiah.

Art and music are connected with worship. Examples include the pair of paintings I have included in this blog: Adoration of the Lamb by Jan van Eyck (at the top of today's blog) and The Exaltation of the Cross by Adam Eisheimer (left). 

However, it has other purposes as well. Colossians 3:16 talks about teaching and exhorting with  psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. How often does Christian music take up that challenge? Likewise, we sing to the Lord, but do we sing to each other to comfort and encourage?

Now, some may think I'm trying to say that everything a Christian artist/musician  does needs to be done for Christians or clearly evangelistic. Nope. Not true. Some Christians may lend their talent to a secular employer. A believer may be an instrumentalist for a mainstream band. The important thing, though, is to realize to Whom each artist (and non-artist) will give an account to, and to realize who deserves the glory.

How are you glorifying God in your daily activities? And how can you encourage others (artists and non-artists) in their ministries?

BOOK REVIEW - SACRED PATHWAYS BY GARY THOMAS

 

Before reading this book, I've labored at worship time, having a preconceived notion on what private worship looks like. Then, I discovered this book and read it. This would be one of the five most influential books on my life.

In the first chapter, Thomas introduced the concept of spiritual temperaments -- some might consider it psychological, but I don't. He closed that chapter with a description of the nine temperaments he noticed. The following nine chapters each look at one of the temperaments, giving Biblical examples and ways to develop it, weaknesses of that temperament, and a six question quiz on how strong you are on that temperament. The final chapter encourages you to compare the scores on the tests, and gives some admonitions, such as not judging those with a different temperament.

Thomas does an excellent job of dealing with each temperament. He admits he's stronger at some than others, and tries to give a fair and accurate view of each one.

Allow me to tell a story how this book has positively impacted my life. I started reading this book as my wife and I were planning on a vacation. She always wants to get away from the city for our trip, while I'm not as excited about it. As I read this book, though, I had a hunch she was strong on the naturalist temperament (wanting to get into nature) and had some leanings to the ascetic temperament (wanting structure and solitude). So I realized her desire to get away was connected to her worship temperament, and as a result I was more prepared to encourage that kind of getting away.

I recommend this book to every Christian to understand yourself. I also believe this will help you understand your wife and possible your children (not having any kids doesn't make it easy for you to understand them). I also believe a pastor or church leader may benefit from this book to help the services be varied enough to help any temperament worship.

Allow me to add some thoughts focused on apologetics. One might assume that the activist and intellectual temperaments are the ones best suited for defending the faith. But is it possible that each temperament is capable of defending the faith in a style directed by the temperament?

If you've read this book, what temperaments are your strongest? Mine are intellectual, enthusiast, sensate, activist, and traditional in that order.  

INTERVIEW WITH JOHN OTTE

 

I have yet to interview Allistair MacLean or Agatha Christy. Possibly because they exited from the earth's scene before I started doing author interviews. However, when I get a chance to interview on of my favorite authors, it always turns out to be a blessing, and this interview with John Otte (pronounced Ought-Tee) is an example.

I'll admit - if I ever get my murder-at-an-apologetics-conference-mystery published, John would be high on the list of people I'd like to write a blurb. One reason is because he's a very good author. The other is he's a Lutheran minister. I've had the privilege of reading both his novels and his theological non-fiction.

*        *        *   

JR: You are one of those writers that I'm not sure which I admire more: your night job or your day job (Lutheran minister). How much overlap is there between these two ministries? How does one strengthen or challenge the other?

JO: I’d say there’s a fair amount of overlap between the two. In terms of how being a pastor (specifically a Lutheran one) informs my novel writing, since I’ve primarily written Christian fiction, I definitely bring my “theological baggage” along with me in writing those stories. There are a surprising number of Lutherans in Christian speculative fiction specifically and Christian fiction in general, but we have a unique “flavor” to our theology that can serve as a counterpoint to the prevailing viewpoints that you find in Christian fiction. It’s not that I set out to layer in Lutheran stuff, it’s just a part of me and my worldview so it’s naturally going to emerge.

As for how the crossover flows in the opposite direction, members of my congregations, both past and present, will tell you that I’m an inveterate storyteller. If I can put a story in a sermon or Bible study, I’m going to. And being a writer means that I’m going to show a little more care in telling those stories, especially if it’s one that I’ve made up.

JR: While not the first novel you wrote, your first published fiction is the Failstate trilogy (also including a pair of e-book novellas). I absolutely loved that series, but I also found that the final one brought up some theological questions concerning parallel universes. What inspired that series?

JO: I didn’t originally plan for that to be a trilogy at all. I wrote the first book as a stand-alone novel. But I was certainly open to writing more. The first book was inspired by a situation at a writers conference where I felt very much like Failstate in the first novel: the loser outsider who felt that life should be treating him better, envious of other people’s successes. As I was processing my experience, my wife suggested that I should write a superhero story for our oldest boy (he was about three or four at the time, if memory serves). Everything just kind of gelled and the result was Failstate.

As for the rest of the trilogy, I originally pitched three other books with the middle two being a slow burn to what would eventually be known as Failstate: Nemesis. My publisher at the time wasn’t impressed with what I came up with for books two and three and suggested we condense it down into one. So I had to cherry pick the details that had to be in there and invent a story that they could be included in. My agent suggested including zombies. And thus Failstate: Legends came to be.

JR: You also have a two novels (I don't know if it should be
considered a series) dealing with a universe ruled by the Ministrix and the Praesidium. (Numb, by the way, was the above mentioned first novel; The Hive was written afterward.) How far are we from that basic concept in our society? What problems does our divided society face and what answers are there?

JO: I fear that we’re getting closer and closer to it each day. I see many Christians who are heeding the siren call to political power and influence, especially as our place as the center of Western society has slipped in recent years. That makes us nervous and uncomfortable and, when people get anxious, they tend to do whatever they can to find stability and security. While I’d like to think that most Christians wouldn’t fall for the Ministrix’s pitch, I worry that a surprising number might. And while I don’t think many people would be satisfied with the completely antireligious state of the Praesidium, I fear that parts of our society may be inching in that direction as well.

I’m no prophet, so it’s hard for me to diagnose the division and chart a course forward. I would say, though, that the best solution for Christians is to remember two things: our privileged position in society is an aberration and not intentional. We were always meant to be outsiders and countercultural. If the world is shifting away from us, that’s fine. We remain what God calls us to be: salt and light.

JR: A series you wrote that I enjoyed as much was a non-fiction blog titled the Lutheran Difference. Could you tell us about that? 

JO: Like I said earlier, I know that in certain pockets of American Christianity, Lutheranism is kind of a mystery. People know who Martin Luther is and they acknowledge his contribution to the Protestant Reformation. But then they try to lump us into groups that we don’t fit in, such as Protestant (technically, we’re not) or Calvinist (no way) or Arminian (the fact that I had to look this up to make sure I spelled it correctly should tell you how well we fit in this group also). We don’t hold to what many would consider “typical” American Christianity’s beliefs about conversion or baptism or communion or any of that stuff.

So I figured that, since I’m in sort of a unique position being a Lutheran pastor on the one hand and a Christian author on the other, that gave me a unique opportunity to share a little of who we are and the theology that shaped me and continues to shape us. My intention wasn’t to argue with anyone or try to convince them to become Lutheran. I just know that there’s a rich diversity of theological thoughts and traditions; it’s always helpful to understand them to enrich your own faith or, at the very least, understand where people are coming from.

JR: Thank you for your time, John, and may the Lord Jesus Christ richly bless your ministries.

JO: May the Lord bless you as well! This was great!

 

Reader, have you seen any situations where fiction and theology blend?

 

INTERVIEW WITH VISUAL ARTIST/CHURCH PLANTER KERRY JACKSON

Title: Everyone loves a rose, but are you grateful the the thorns?" 

Besides being a novelist, I have written a whole batch of songs in the past. My favorite classes in high school were Creative Writing and Art. I attended Yavapai College Verde Valley Campus my first year out of high school and took classes including Ceramics (2 semesters), Art Theory and Design, Drawing, Stained Glass, Photography, Creative Writing, and a Poetry Workshop. (I also took English, Economics, and Literature of the Bible.)

Did anybody know I'm an artist?

Thus, it excited me when I attended the Indiana Southern Baptist Convention several years ago and looked at the board promoting church planters. I got excited when I noticed a card for a couple that was working specifically with artists. Becky and I were able to get to know Kerry and Twyla Jackson as a result.

Kerry has a ministry called Drawing On The Rock, which he describes in the below interview. He was at Arlington Avenue Baptist Church and did the below picture (pardon the reflection of the lights and window. I've included a link to a video of that ministry at the bottom of this blog.

 

JR: Greetings, Kerry. Let me start with asking how you got interested in the arts. Are there any favorite painters who were an inspiration?

KJ: Hi Jeff, thank you for the opportunity to share a little about myself and my ministry. I honestly can’t remember exactly how my interest in art began. I’m old and it’s been a very long time! However, it may have all begun with my childhood interest in comic books. I was fascinated by them and would try to draw and replicate the storyboards. I was always drawing as a child. I find it ironic that when I was sitting in church as a young boy and drawing on the bulletins, my mom would lightly slap my hand and tell me to pay attention. Little did she know that years later I would be drawing and painting in churches and getting paid to do it!

Besides being influenced by comic books, or graphic novels as they are called today, the artists of Mad Magazine influenced me a ton! As I got older, I can say that Michelangelo, Andrew Wyeth, and Norman Rockwell influenced my style and subject matter choices.

JR: Could you tell us about your ministry Drawing To The Rock?

KJ: Drawing to the Rock is a ministry God blessed me with over 30 years ago. It involves the creation of art with a spiritual message or a testimony of my faith journey. It also involves traveling around the world leading in what I call “visual worship.” I bring a creative element to church worship services. I create a large piece of art in front of the congregation while music is played. I also take my ministry to Christian schools and outdoor evangelistic events. I’ve even done a few corporate events.

JR: You have done church planting with the focus on the artist community. Here in Indianapolis, the church met in the Art Bank (a gallery) and Indy Fringe Theater (which sounds like the type of place people typically plant churches). What doors has your artistic ability had on outreach ministry? 

KJ: Yes, for eleven years I was involved in church planting among Cultural Creatives in Atlanta, GA and Indianapolis, IN. I can honestly say that church planting is the hardest thing I’ve ever tried to accomplish. Yet, God in His power, did some amazing things in the lives of our little congregations. We saw lives changed and artists from all kinds of creative disciplines come to the understanding of how their art and their faith connect and intertwine.

As a professional visual artist, most other artists I meet first see me as a colleague. Then as our relationship begins to grow, they look past my talent and begin to see who I truly am. They begin to see me as a Christ follower and my role sometimes turns to that of a “chaplain.” Eventually, if God so leads, I become their pastor. My spiritually themed art has always been designed to invoke questions. I can’t tell you how many times my work has led to spiritual conversations. When asked to explain my work and the subject matter, the chance to share my faith and what God has done in my life comes so natural and non-threatening.

JR: What are your current endeavors, both on the ministry side and as an artist?

KJ: Well, the Coronavirus pandemic shut my live performances down completely. All of my remaining 2020 bookings were cancelled after everything locked down last spring. So, I’ve been collaborating with a fellow minister to make some s

hort videos based on some of my pieces and posting them on social media. I call them “Art Devotionals.” I’m just trying to keep my ministry in front of folks. I’ve also been blessed with a few commissions to help bring in some income during this period. I also teach art to high schoolers at a local Christian academy.

JR: Thank you for your time, Kerry. May the Lord Jesus Christ richly bless your ministry.

KJ: Thank you Jeff! I really appreciate your friendship and the way you’ve supported and encouraged me through the years. God bless you and Becky.

 

Again, below is a link to a video for Drawing On The Rock: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9cK3SBhs9s

 What ways have you used art in teaching or defending the faith?

 

Have You Encouraged Your Favorite Author/Musician/Minister/Friend Lately?

Has anybody found 2020 to be disappointing, discouraging, depressing, or all of the above?

So I'm not the only one?

I want whatever I do to be for God's glory, and not mine. Which leaves me struggling with the novel I started in '07 and am still trying to get published. Am I seeking its publication for God's glory or for me to have the sense of accomplishing something? 

Even if it's for the former reason, is it what God wants me to spend the time writing and editing and rewriting and re-editing and submitting to one or two or three hundred editors/agents hoping I finally cleared the hurdle? Or is it taking the time from what God really wants me to be doing?

I feel the same way with my Facebook posts and even this blog. Is it impacting anybody? There are times when the response to my contributions is drowned out by the chirping of the crickets and even the noisy communication of passing by of a herd of giraffes. Oh, and a free zoology lesson - giraffes make no sound - they're mute.

I gave an alliterated adjective list above, and I could add a fourth - debilitating. Sometimes those concerns can paralyze me.

First, let me say that anybody trying to accomplish something feels the same way, be they a novelist, a non-fiction author, a musician, a pastor, a missionary. I have a hunch anybody reading this (all three of you?) occasionally asks the same questions. We all need encouragement.

Second, let me give one thing that helps me, and that is encouraging others, hopefully giving them an oasis in the desert of the 'd' adjectives previously mentioned.

Do you have a favorite author (fiction or non-fiction)? You can encourage them by corresponding with them. An Amazon review would also help - I try to write my reviews pointing out the specifics of why I enjoyed the book. So can mentioning it on Facebook and getting the word out. I've had the honor of being mentioned in acknowledments of books by Kerry Nietz and Donna Fletcher Crow.

Similar methods help with musicians and other artists. Tod Moses, a musician friend of mine, has commented that I remember some of his compositions that he's forgotten. If it's a local singer, make a request for something they've written. I also have brightened the spirits of artists like my church-planting painting friend Kerry Jackson by mentioning art by them that moved me.

The same is true with ministers. I have a hunch that pastors are blessed when they see someone take notes and then make comments or even ask questions as a result. (Another way is staying awake during the sermon, one which I need work with at times.) Also, missionaries are blessed by correspondence as well.

Are there various things you do to encourage others, including authors, musicians, ministers, and the like? Do you have any story of how you have blessed someone else's life, or how somebody else encouraged you?

Self-Promotion: Pride, A Necessary Evil, Or A Ministry Opportunity?

In a paper written by my friend Robert Roberg titled "The Hidden Danger of Art", the first thing he mentioned is the self-promotion that is involved, when Christians should focus on others and God.

At Taylor University's Professional Writers Conference a month ago, my friend James Watkins gave a different point of view when he stated, "The first two letters of 'message' is 'me.'"

Over the decades, I've heard Christians debate the issues of self-esteem and self-love. One quote I've heard is you need to love yourself before you can love your neighbor as yourself. Others say that when Scripture talks about self, it doesn't use words like "love" and "esteem" but rather "control", "deny", and "crucify."

It is important to remember Proverbs 27:2: "Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips." 

Today we see politicians promoting themselves. That wasn't the norm in the past. In the 1800's, few presidential candidates did not do as much speaking on their own behalf, and those that did always lost. While William Jennings Bryan was running himself ragged going to the crowds in the 1896 campaign, William McKinley stayed home where the crowds came to his house to hear him. Things are different now, but are they better?

Likewise, nowadays self-publishing or releasing your own music project is more common than it was a few decades ago. I remember getting a call from a self-publishing company where the saleslady repeated two primary points - 1) the book I wrote needs to be published, and 2) self-publishing allows me to keep 100% of the profits. (Never mind that I spend my money upfront so a percentage still goes to the publisher.)

But is all self promotion pride? Let's go back to Proverbs 27:2. Notice the word is "praise". We're not to praise ourselves. If we're stating that our book is the best song ever written, then we're stepping over the line. But if we feel we're supposed to communicate something, we have the opportunity, the privilege, the mandate to get the message out. Everybody came to McKinley's house. If they're not coming to yours, you need to go and promote the message.

Now, is the message God's message or ours? The answer should be yes. There are times we feel God's direction. But I've heard songwriters say, "I didn't write this song, God did." Well, He may have guided the composer in writing it, but God used the writer's language, vocabulary, and music style in writing it. 

I read James Scott Bell tell about aspiring writers saying, "I could never write like (insert name of famous author)." Bell replies, "No, you can't write like them. And they can't write like you." Moving from arts to ministry, I get blown away by apologists like Gary Habermas, Francis Schaeffer, and Ravi Zacharias and think that I can't defend the faith like they do. But God has enabled me to contend for truth the way Jeffrey C. Reynolds does.

We need to remember the focus is on the message, not the messenger. But that doesn't mean the messenger should not give his best. Plus, the messenger needs to deliver the message for it to be heard.

What message has God given you to share? What can you do to allow the message to be heard?