A Halloween Tale: The Witch of Endor

Halloween seems like an appropriate time to review what is perhaps one of the strangest events recorded in the scriptures: the account of King Saul's encounter with the Witch of Endor.

The Impending Battle

In his preoccupation with the pursuit of his rival David, King Saul had neglected the growing Philistine threat to Israel. Meanwhile, the Philistines undertook a new strategy and marched into the Jezreel Valley where they could use their chariots to advantage, thus cutting Saul off from the northern tribes. (This same valley is destined to be the site of the future battle of Armageddon.) The Philistines were encamped at Shunem, a city in the Valley of Jezreel situated on the south slope of the Hill of Moreh. The Israelite forces were camped five miles to the south at Mount Gilboa.When Saul saw the Philistine army he was so afraid that his heart "greatly trembled." He was gripped with fear. Saul inquired of the Lord, but there was no answer. The prophet Samuel was dead. No encouraging word from the Lord would be forthcoming.

Consulting the Witch

With the heavens silent, Saul sought out a medium to enable him to determine the outcome of the battle with the Philistines. God had commanded Saul to rid Israel from those delving in the realm of the occult. However Saul was informed by his servants that at Endor, between Mount Tabor and the Hill of Moreh, there lived a medium who had escaped the purges. The Old Testament law forbade occultic practices of any kind and called for the death penalty on any who would consult mediums. This would be fulfilled literally in the case of Saul himself.Saul disguised himself and traveled under the cover of darkness to Endor to consult the medium. Assuring her that she would not be punished for practicing her forbidden profession, he requested that she bring up Samuel from the dead. The medium carried out Saul's instructions, but rather than using the tricks of her trade to deceive Saul, she herself was shocked to see an old man appear, whom Saul identified as Samuel!

Alternative Views

Some have suggested that the appearance of Samuel was psychological - in the mind of Saul. However, the woman also saw Samuel, and Saul actually talked with Samuel. Some of the early church fathers held the view that a demon impersonated Samuel and appeared to Saul. But the message in 1 Samuel 28:16-19 would have hardly come from a demon.Still others have concluded that the medium was a fraud and tricked Saul into thinking that he saw Samuel. Yet the medium was surprised herself by Samuel's appearance and that would not have been the case if it were a contrived trick.

The Rabbinical View

The traditional rabbinical view is that these verses record a genuine appearance of Samuel that God Himself brought about. There are at least five arguments that favor this view:
1) The medium was surprised, indicating that something happened that she was not expecting; 2) Saul identified the figure as Samuel and bowed down in respect for the prophet. It is unlikely that Saul, who knew Samuel so well, would have been easily tricked by an impersonation;
3) The message that Samuel spoke was clearly from God;
4) The Biblical text itself says that the figure was Samuel. It is clear that the intent of the Scripture is for the reader to understand that Samuel actually appeared to Saul.
5) A similar appearance of one returned from the dead occurred at the Transfiguration - when Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Jesus.

The Prophet's Counsel

Samuel proceeded to remind Saul that the kingdom had been taken from him because of his disobedience in the Amalekite war, and then predicted Israel's defeat and the deaths of Saul and his sons at the hands of the Philistines. Samuel never really answered Saul's initial question, "What should I do?" There was nothing that could be done. Because of his disobedience, his fate was sealed.Saul was understandably terrified because of the message of doom that Samuel had communicated to him. Judgment was imminent and certain. All that had been Saul's as king would soon be lost because of his rebellion and contempt for God's will.

The Defeat at Mount Gilboa

The battle was a disaster from the beginning. Saul's army was quickly routed, then slaughtered, including Saul's sons: Jonathan, Abinadab and Melchishua. The king himself was wounded by an arrow. In agony, Saul begged his armor-bearer to thrust him through with a sword but he refused. In desperation, Saul fell on his own sword and ended his life in ignominy. So great was Israel's defeat that many of the cities in northern Israel were abandoned as their citizens fled to regions safe from the Philistine menace. As a result, the Philistines were able to occupy many Israelite cities. When Saul's body was found by the Philistines, they dishonored it by cutting off the head, stripping off the armor and hanging the naked body on a wall in the open square of Beth-Shean. The armor was put on public display in a temple. The inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead, whom Saul had helped early in his reign, at great risk removed the bodies from the wall of Beth-Shean and gave them a proper burial. A week of fasting as a sign of public mourning for the king was observed.Saul appeared to be full of promise as a young man, but proved impulsive, prideful, and ended his own life in disgrace. The great failure of Saul as king was his lack of obedience to the will and Word of God.

What do we do with Halloween?

There is a great deal of controversy about whether or not Christians should celebrate Halloween. On the surface Halloween appears to be an enjoyable time filled with costumes, candy, pumpkins, and other fun family traditions. Those traditions may seem very innocent, but we cannot forget that Halloween has a dark side. Satan is an expert at parading as an "angel of light." If he did not make evil look attractive, people would not be deceived and drawn in by it. Witchcraft is practiced in the real world today and it has been made to look appealing. However, the Bible absolutely condemns witchcraft and sorcery, consulting with "familiar spirits" or attempting to contact the dead. These practices open the participants up to demonic deception and oppression, from which they may not be able to escape:
"There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee (Deuteronomy 18:10-12)."

I like what we have done at McKnight Road Church of Christ the last few years. On a Sunday evening we invite the community to gather at our building for a fun time of sharing, celebration and family fun in a safe and Christian environment. We advertise a "Trunk or Treat" evening with families decorating their cars in the parking lot and passing out a lot of free candy and gifts to children. I feel like we are taking the fun and celebration out of a dark past and reclaiming it in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We never can let our guard down; but, we can be smart about what we are doing to share the good news.

Political Might

In New York City, February 27, 1860, in perhaps the most important speech of his political career, Abraham Lincoln defended his views just a few months before the Republican National Convention would select a presidential candidate. He closed his speech by encouraging the audience to hold fast to their convictions with this statement:

Neither let us be slandered from our duty by false accusations against us, nor frightened from it by members of destruction to the Government nor of dungeons to ourselves. LET US HAVE FAITH THAT RIGHT MAKES MIGHT, AND IN THAT FAITH, LET US, TO THE END, DARE TO DO OUR DUTY AS WE UNDERSTAND IT.

I mention this because we find ourselves bombarded by political advertisement that uses various approaches to win our votes. Some tactics would include: slamming the opponent; aligning with a party, position, or policy that will appeal to a particular voter base; causing oneself to be identified with a philosophy or ideology that appeals to the largest constituency; slurring the issues to where the foundational principles are forgotten in the propaganda of the information communicated; or answering questions about specifics with general answers about non-specifics unrelated to the inquiry that are so emotionally charged that the original question becomes lost in the debate. These are just a few of the skilled manipulations enacted upon the American public during election time. Would Lincoln still think that “right makes might,” or would he conclude in our political media that there is greater might in skillful spin and demographic voter analysis?

The Apostle Paul wrote the young preacher Timothy,

We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers--and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me. (1 Tim 1:8-11 NIV)

Was he meaning that foundational to our laws should be a fundamental question of right and wrong that empowers our system of law? If so, he and Lincoln would agree.

David Bearden

Who Sinned?

1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. John 9: 1-3

For the followers of Jesus, the blind man was a theological question. Was his blindness a result of his sin or his parents? If bad things happen to someone, obviously something is wrong. The answer Jesus gives is profound. The blindness of this man was not caused by sin. He was created so that the "works of God might be made manifest in him." What does this mean?

I recently recieved the following e-mail that addresses some of these issues in light of the horrific experience in Pennsylvania that we all read about recently in the newspapers.

By Rob Schenck President of the National Clergy Council and founder, Faith and Action in the Nation's Capital:

I was one of the few non-Amish welcomed into the very private Amish mourning rituals for five slain school girls in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Few from the outside world will ever see up close these extraordinarily private and pacifistic people as they deal with the enormous suffering of losing their children to a brutal act of violence While they live differently, the Amish are the first to dispel any notion they are better than us. One "preacher" told me, "You English (their term for the non-Amish) sometimes think we're perfect; we're not. We've got all the problems you have, and we have bad people, too. It could have been an Amish that did this." Still, it is at times of great suffering and loss that the best of what the Amish are truly shines. As I visited in the victims' homes, sat on the mourning benches, talked with the families about the details of that terrible day, and watched one mother tenderly care for her daughter's damaged body, I was struck by how prepared they were for this. Not simply in a technical sense, but in a deeply spiritual, philosophical and moral sense. The Amish were wellrehearsed for this tragedy. This religious movement began five centuries ago under fierce persecution. Over that time they have carefully lived out and preserved a strict way of life based on their interpretation of Jesus' words in the Gospel, "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matthew 5:38-39)The Amish know this commitment leaves them vulnerable to precisely the kind of harm that befell their children on October 2, 2006. So, they have used their historic silence and cloistered existence as a shield against a hostile outside world. Sadly, that shield proved ineffective against a threat as close as a neighborhood milk truck driver. But they have a backup for such a failure. It was epitomized in a scene I will never forget, when a grandfather stood at the foot of his own murdered granddaughter's coffin and said, "It is important to teach our children not to think evil of the man who did this." It was a remarkable act of generosity; one expressed earlier when Amish emissaries went to the killer's family offering complete forgiveness and an invitation to the funerals. What I learned from the Amish by watching and listening to them were three things that until now have been mere theory for me, if I knew them at all. First, I learned to look for a reason to be thankful, even if it's in the very worst of circumstances. One Amish leader pointed out as he wept, "More children could have died, but they didn't; that's a reason to thank God."
A family member said, "The girls could have suffered something worse than death. We thank God they didn't." A bishop said, "This has brought the community together, both within the Amish and outside. That's something to thank God for."Second, faith and family are the bulwarks against evil, the balm for even the greatest pain and suffering and the strength to carry on after the worst interruptions of our lives. Though warmly received by the Amish, I felt at all times like an intruder, because I knew this was a time they relied completely on the most intimate relationships they have; and for the Amish, that's saying a lot. The talk was constantly of God and prayer and love. It was so pronounced it was palpable. The mother tending to her daughter as the girl lay in an open coffin, said with a teary smile to the many children around her, "See, she's with God in heaven now."And finally, I observed, first-hand, the power of forgiveness. When Ivisited the home of shooter Charles Roberts, I saw this amazing principle in action: in the almost supernaturally generous extension of immediate forgiveness by the victims' families; and, in the humble way the Roberts' accepted this gift. Others in the Roberts' circumstances might have refused such an offer, whether out of guilt, or shame, or simply their own pain, but the Roberts humbly accepted.

An Amish leader explained the importance of this by saying, "God has offered us forgiveness for our sins in the work of Christ on the Cross, but we must accept that gift to enjoy it. Once we've accepted it, then we can share it in small measure with others." Because the Roberts' accepted the gift, they can continue to share it, and this cycle of forgiveness will go on to heal this community much faster than one embroiled in hatred and vindictiveness.These are lessons our world needs badly right now. If we learn theselessons and benefit from them, we will have the private, mysterious Amish to thank. Who expected us to think that we'd learn from the Amish?

Like Job, we all will experience some bad things that will happen in each of lives. Death, loss of relationships, sickness and illness......and people will ask "Who sinned?" What will be your answer?

The Mystery Woman

The Second Epistle of John is among the most neglected books of the New Testament. It, like his third epistle, is simply a short personal letter from the Apostle. There is little doubt that the Apostle John was the author, but there are a number of conjectures as to whom it was written: someone called "the Elect Lady."
The Recipient
The letter is addressed eklekte kuria, "the Elect Lady," and her children. Kuria is a feminine proper name; but eklekte is a strange construction, never assigned to any other individual in the New Testament as a single predicate. There are two prevailing views among the abundance of expositors:
(1) To the Church at large
Most commentators regard this as simply an idiom for the Church in a collective sense. And yet, the Church is never pictured as having children. In fact, the Church is always presented as a virgin and as a bride.
The view of kuria taken as a symbolic description of the Christian Church has been the dominant view as early as Jerome. The view of believers as "children of the church" may have been comfortable for Jerome, et al., for ecclesiastical reasons, but it flies in the face of Scriptural usage: we are "children of God," not "children of the church." It is also significant that this word does not appear elsewhere with this signification.
The further allusion to the recipient's sister and her children (v.13) would also seem fatal to this view but for the preponderance of the expositional history which has attended this epistle.
(2) To a prominent individual within the church
A straightforward reading of the letter would seem to indicate that the letter is addressed to some prominent member of the local church, and this has also been a common alternative interpretation. The writer knows her sister and her sister's children (v.13). This view would make this the only book in the Bible specifically addressed to a woman.
A Provocative Conjecture
Who would be the most "Elect Lady" in the entire Bible? To me, the most likely prima facie suggestion (which, however, is not even discussed among most commentators) would be that the recipient of this intimate letter is the most "elect" of all women, the very one that Jesus Himself entrusted to John's personal care: Mary, the mother of Jesus!
In fact, it is surprising that Jesus didn't consign her to one of her other four sons. Jesus was raised among a family of at least seven: five brothers and two sisters. James and Jude became believers after the resurrection and, in fact, each wrote the books in the New Testament that bear their names. Jesus appeared to James after His resurrection. If our surmise is correct - and it is only a surmise - the others probably also became believers.
And Mary did have a sister as alluded to in verse 13. We know so little of her subsequent history from the Scriptures; there are only minimal allusions in the Book of Acts. She apparently remained in the care of John in his retirement in Ephesus.
Obviously, most of what is commonly published by the Roman Catholic Church has been contrived to promote a number of doctrinal heresies. Most Biblical believers, from their revulsion to the tragic and heretical deification of Mary, tend to disregard her altogether and ignore her situation and predicament.
The "Elect Lady" is loved "by all they that have known the Truth" (v.1). Who else would be loved by all other believers? To whom else could this refer? This, too, seems to point to far more than simply a prominent personage within their local church!
Clearly, the prominence of "truth," in concert with "love," is the keynote of this letter. John uses the word "Truth" five times in the first four verses. He uses the word "love" four times. However, in this letter, we learn that Truth "dwells in us and shall be with us forever" (v. 2). "The Truth" may be intended as a more personal title.
Even Pilate's cynical question still echoes in our ears, "What is Truth?" For believers, Jesus' declaration is conclusive and comprehensive: "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life."
It would seem that John is using, here, Truth as a title of Jesus Christ, just as he so often uses the Logos, the Word. (The recipient of John's letter also was not a latecomer: she was there "from the beginning.") If our suspicion is correct, it would place a unique complexion on the entire letter, and it would also yield a number of other significant insights.
We should not presume that any of us is beyond the need for encouragement or exhortation. Why would Mary - a blessed but human believer - be any exception? Especially during a time when widespread attacks on the deity of Jesus Christ was the topic of the day! Mary was subject to the same frailties as we are: pride, doubts, and a need of frequent encouragement, counsel, and, perhaps, exhortation. A tendency toward pride could certainly have been her most serious challenge: the most blessed of all women who had ever walked the earth! And yet, having to live with the clouds of legitimacy, and other doctrinal issues, over her firstborn.
Read through the Second Epistle of John from Mary's perspective, and see what the Spirit confirms to you.
The Key Lesson
In any case, John's letters focus on our walking in love, in truth, and in the intimate knowledge of God. They deal with, in a sense, a challenge similar to the indictment by the Prophet Hosea:

"Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land." - Hosea 4:1
The issue in all three letters is that love and truth must be practiced, or "walked." "To walk in the truth" means to obey it. It is easier to study the truth, or even argue about the truth, than it is to obey it. Knowing the truth is more than giving assent to a series of doctrines; it means that the believer's life is controlled by a love for the truth and a desire to magnify the truth.

Ups and Downs

This past week has been a time of emotional ups and downs. Up, in working with a great staff eager to do great things for God’s glory. Up, in working with the deacons as they grow in excitement over the ministry development plans for their November presentation. Up, in participating in prayerful meetings about the needs of people. Up, in being able to return to Camp Neotez for McKnight’s Family Camp Retreat. Up, in a great worship assembly Sunday morning. Up, in the sharing of family time with a small group Sunday evening.

Down, in hearing of a young man who tired of fighting his internal battles. Down, of hearing of more of our church family who have had to hear that frightening word, “CANCER.” Down, as we grieved with Mike and Sandi moving from the elation of expectation to the agony of losing their near-born child.

But even in the down moments, there was the up of knowing that we had our Lord, our faith, and the comfort of our spiritual family. And while the Evil One roamed about our circle seeking a weak link, we huddled closer with a determination that caused our tearstained moments of affection to become pillars of faith to ride out the next storms. And the Father of All Comfort and His Beloved wiped the tears from their own eyes and stretched their arms over us as we began to pray.

It was an up week! Set your mind and heart on the things above – Col. 3:1-4.

David

Raising My Eben'zer

12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Jesha'nah, and called its name Ebene'zer; for he said, "Hitherto the LORD has helped us." I Samuel 7:12

Yesterday I stood upon the rock at Inspiration Point at Camp Neotez at our Family Weekend retreat and took the above photos. This particular spot has been a mountain top high experience for me throughtout my lifetime. I have stood here as a young man long before I met my wife. Sue and I have stood here when we were dating. I have stood here with my children as they grew up and turned into adults. Yesterday I stood here on my 55th birthday thanking God for the way that he has helped us. Samuel raised an Ebenezer stone. It was a mile marker on his journey of faith of what God had done for him and the nation of Israel. This is my Ebenezer post. God has heard my prayers and blessed me, my family and my church beyond my abilities to forsee his kingdom being played out in the lives of those around me. I can declare in faith that God has helped us. Blessed be the name of the Lord!

The Trinity

How does one reconcile the "One God" of the Old Testament with the three "Persons" of the New Testament Trinity? The Sh'ma of Deuteronomy 6:4-5 clearly emphasizes the singularity of God, which is also reconfirmed in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3). Yet the New Testament clearly proclaims a three-person Godhead (Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14, John 14-17, etc.). How does one deal with the ostensible tensions between the Old and New Testament revelations of the ultimate mystery of the Godhead?The doctrine of the trinity has been at the heart of much theological controversy. The routine objection is that the doctrine sacrifices monotheism to tritheism. But this objection thrives on misconceptions of divine personality in the image of disparate, individual, human selves. Rationalistic apologetics, promotive of trinitarianism on speculative rather than revelational grounds, regrettably encourages these misunderstandings.
Many of us also resort to convenient models to skirt these problems, and these, too, mislead rather than clarify. Favorites include three tones blending into one chord; a single ray of light of three primary colors; or water in the forms of ice, liquid, or steam. But each of these are, at best, clumsy illustrations, inadequate to communicate aspects of an infinite God to our finite mind.
How should we deal with this challenging issue? By confining ourselves to what God, in His sovereignty, has revealed to us of Himself in His Word.
The Trinity in the Old Testament
There is no absurdity involved when it is contended that plurality can (and does) coexist with unity (i.e., as in Genesis 2:24 when Adam and Eve become "one flesh"). We discover that, from the first verse of Genesis, Elohim is a plural noun used with singular verbs. This plurality even shows up in our English translations in Genesis 1:26, 3:22, and 11: 7. If we examine the text in Ecclesiastes 12:1, we note that the source text is also in the plural:

Remember now thy Creator(s) in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
Also, Isaiah 54:5:
For thy Maker(s) [is] thine husband; the Lord of hosts [is] his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
Many other examples exist throughout the Old Testament texts. Isaiah's vision of the throne of God in Isaiah 6 and Jacob's blessing in Genesis 48 contain allusions to the Trinity. Careful study of Psalm 2 will even reveal a trialogue among the three persons of the Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It is amazing how many presumed difficulties begin to disappear when one discovers the integrity of the Bible: although composed of 66 books penned by 40 authors over thousands of years, it demonstrates integrity of design - every detail, every place name, the subtleties of the text - all testify to its singular authorship. The New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed; The Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed.

Second Week Firsts

It may appear that I have forgotten my blog, no not forgotten, just crowded out in the flurry of activities. I realized that my second week here was extra busy because it was the first week. That is, it was the first week of the month, along with some other firsts. The first week of the month includes the Area Preachers Meeting, the Youth Ministers Meeting, the Deacons Meeting, the Elders Meeting, Room at the Inn, Missions Committee Meeting and the Saturday Prayer Meeting. It was also my first meeting with the Men’s Morning Bible Study group, first official staff meeting, Monday night basketball (this was a mistake!) and Worship Committee meeting. It was also my first time since moving back to visit Barnes Hospital. Now I am not complaining, and it really offers little excuse for being so slow in getting my blog out this week, but in reviewing the week I understand why I feel a bit overwhelmed. Now we could go on with this list of firsts for the past week, some more exciting than others, like the first time to rake leaves since returning, the first time to see a Razorback game in a long time – and what a game knocking off #2 Auburn, and the first time since moving away to witness that wonderful crazy spirit only understood in St. Louis when the Cardinals make it into the playoffs. I must also include the firsts of meeting more brothers and sisters for the first time and being impressed again with the amazing spiritual family God has given us all over the world. If you are reading this and not a member of the Family, I highly recommend it and encourage you to join! But there is a first that outweighs them all in this second week, and I must admit that it came with a wide range of emotions. For the first time this father received the announcement from one of his daughters that she was engaged. Now that is an exciting first! Although they have constantly been in my prayers, for the first time I began to pray for the engaged couple of Alisha and Darren and their approaching wedding – May God bring to their marriage the joy of discovering daily the power of love that binds a Christian husband and wife to a life-long covenant with one another.

David

Our First Week

Our first week has been fast and furious. We arrived Monday, September 25, and were soon greeted by a wonderful welcoming committee at our new home. We had lunch at a great little sub-shop a short distance from the house and Steve Awtrey took us back to the house to meet someone sent to repair our hot water tank. As we communicated about the repairs, we noticed that Steve had disappeared, and at the same moment my cell phone rang. Few people had my new number and I had just given it to Steve less than an hour earlier. Sure enough it was Steve. He had good news, and bad news. Good news – my basement toilet worked just fine. Bad news – He could not get out of the bathroom! Add a new knob to our list of home repairs! The truck arrived on Tuesday, and it seemed to be an endless day of unloading and unpacking. And when the day was over, it seemed we had not made a dent in the labyrinth of boxes. Wednesday we made headway and attended classes on Wednesday night at our new church home. Thursday, Vicki’s mother and stepfather were in town and stopped by for a visit in route to a health care appointment. Friday, I was surprised, Vicki had been tipped off in advance, by our oldest daughter, Angela, coming in to help and celebrate our commissioning Sunday with us. Steve Awtrey had arranged to meet her at the airport and deliver her to the designated rendezvous point. I am sure glad we got him out of the bathroom! Friday night we enjoyed being in attendance for a very successful CFS (Christian Family Services) banquet with Dr. Jerry Taylor from ACU as the guest speaker. I say successful in that the fellowship, speaker, entertainment and fundraising were all excellent with CFS surpassing its goal for donations for the evening. Saturday morning I had the privilege of being a part of a cultural diversity meeting at the West Central Church of Christ with Dr. Jerry Taylor giving an excellent seminar on reaching the inner city. Then the big day arrived! Sunday was better than we had anticipated! The Elders surrounded us, commissioned us and prayed over us. The singing was great! And of course, I can’t really judge the preaching, but the Preacher sure enjoyed delivering the message! Several publicly committed to “the dream,” and even more gave their assent in a more private setting during the fellowship luncheon that followed. We took Angela to the airport and got back in time for a small group Bible study led by Steve Haupt, one of our elders. When the day was over we were exhausted, but filled with joy and thanksgiving.

“Thank You” seems such an empty expression for what I am feeling towards my new church family, the McKnight Road Church of Christ, but I guess it is a good place to start. Thank you for welcoming us with such excitement, open arms and smiles. Thank you for your wonderful gifts to expedite our settling into our new home. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we get to know you and learn a new system. Thank you for understanding that it was difficult to leave our church family and our daughter in California. Thank you for allowing Vicki and me the opportunity to serve this church together as a part of a great staff. Thank you for your willing spirit to join us in our ministry dreams for the Kingdom in St. Louis. I would borrow from the Apostle Paul in Philippians that “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day…” (Phil. 1:3-5). And we will always remember with joy and thankfulness our first day with you because you made it so special!

I Dream of a Church

I have a dream…

I dream of a church
...where the message is Christ
Where the people say “we can” through God
And “why not” instead of “you can’t”
Or “it’ll never work.”

I dream of a church
…where the message is love
And people practice acceptance
And unity rather than judgment
And prejudice.

I dream of a church
…where the message is a cross
And people willingly sacrifice for good
Giving of self rather than speak of rights
Or “I like.”

I dream of a church
…where the message is God
And people believe He has power and
That He keeps His promises instead of
Wringing hands in doubt.

I dream of a church
…where the message is real
And people, lonely hurting lost people
Find their way home from a dark
Cold Christless world.

I dream of a church
…where the message is sung
By people from the heart without
Worry about form or performance or
Defending practice.

I dream of a church
…where the message is prayed
By people who believe God will answer
By direct intercession and divine
Providence.

I dream of a church
…where the message is shared
By people who remember his death
In bread and wine, shed a tear
And smile at the same time.

I dream of a church
…where the message is heard
By people from another person,
Human, but an instrument of God, just a man
With love for the Word.

I dream of a church
…where the message is true
In people who show it in worship,
In praise, in emotion, in care, in giving,
In service, in love.

I dream of a church
…where the message is lived
By people who have given their lives
To a higher calling instead of to
An institution or a doctrine.

I dream of a church
…where the message is hope
For people who will die but live
Eternally by a resurrection where they
Will ever be with the Lord.

I dream of a church
…where the message is faith
By people who believe their God is
Too big for budgets, buildings and programs
Because He is God.

I dream of a church
…where the message is church,
The people not the building or organization or
The doctrine or the practice but the
Body of the Head, Jesus Christ the Lord!

I dream of a church
…where the message is home
A people just passing through bound
For a better place where all their
Dreams come true.


David Bearden

The Feast of Tabernacles

"Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD... Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God." - Leviticus 23:34, 42-43

The Feast of Tabernacles, or Succoth, begins on the 15th of Tishri and lasts for eight days. This year Succoth will begin on October 7th. The word Succoth (also spelled Sukkot) means "booths", and refers to the temporary dwellings which are built and inhabited during the festival. This feast commemorates the 40 years that the nation of Israel wandered in the desert before entering the Promised Land. The Feast of Tabernacles or the Feast of Booths, as it is sometimes called, is a joyous holiday and a time of feasting. It is fascinating to visit Israel at this time and observe them build their temporary "booths" in the traditional way, leaving deliberate gaps in the branches to view the stars at night, and for the wind to blow through during the day. This is intended to remind them of the wilderness wanderings. At the end of the eight days, they leave their temporary dwellings to return to their permanent homes. (This is one of the reasons some suspect that this feast, rather than the Feast of Trumpets, is suggestive of the Rapture of the Church.) This day, traditionally, is the day that Solomon dedicated the first Temple. This feast also involved a daily processional to the Pool of Siloam to fetch water for the Temple. This ceremonial procession is the setting for the events of John 7, where Jesus offers them "living water." This procession involved four types of branches: the willow, the myrtle, the palm, and a citrus (Leviticus 23:40). The willow has no smell and no fruit. The myrtle has smell, but no fruit. The palm has no smell, but bears fruit. The citrus has both smell and bears fruit. This sounds reminiscent of the four soils of the first "kingdom parable" of Matthew 13, doesn't it? The prophetic implications of this climactic feast are many. Most scholars associate it with the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom in Israel. To learn more about the Jewish about this subject, listen to our briefing package titled The Feasts of Israel. The Torah - the five books of Moses - describes seven feasts on the Hebrew calendar. Three feasts are in the spring, in the month of Nisan: Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of First Fruits. Most Bible scholars believe that the first three feasts are prophetic of the Lord's First Coming. Then fifty days later there is the Feast of Weeks, Shavout, also known as Pentecost. The feast of Pentecost is predictive of the Church. Pentecost is notably the only feast in which leavened bread is ordained. There are three remaining feasts in the fall, in the month of Tishri: the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. The fall feasts are prophetic of the Lord's Second Coming. If you take the time to study the feasts of Israel I think you will be amazed by numerous prophetic parallels you'll uncover. At times the tasks and rituals described in the Old Testament, particularly in the book of Leviticus, may seem laborious or even inapplicable to Christians today. However it is important to remember that every number, every place name, every detail, every jot and tittle found in scripture is there for our learning, our discovery, and our amazement. Truly, our God is an awesome God!

We Have a Dream

Yesterday on Sunday, October 1, 2006, David Bearden preached his first sermon at the McKnight Road Church of Christ. At the conclusion of his sermon he shared with us a poem. I had more than member ask if we could post his poem? David asked us to join him in his vision of what we want the McKnight Road church to be:

I Dream of a Church

I have a dream…

I dream of a church
...where the message is Christ
Where the people say “we can” through God
And “why not” instead of “you can’t”
Or “it’ll never work.”

I dream of a church
…where the message is love
And people practice acceptance
And unity rather than judgment
And prejudice.

I dream of a church
…where the message is a cross
And people willingly sacrifice for good
Giving of self rather than speak of rights
Or “I like.”

I dream of a church
…where the message is God
And people believe He has power and
That He keeps His promises instead of
Wringing hands in doubt.

I dream of a church
…where the message is real
And people, lonely hurting lost people
Find their way home from a dark
Cold Christless world.

I dream of a church
…where the message is sung
By people from the heart without
Worry about form or performance or
Defending practice.

I dream of a church
…where the message is prayed
By people who believe God will answer
By direct intercession and divine
Providence.

I dream of a church
…where the message is shared
By people who remember his death
In bread and wine, shed a tear
And smile at the same time.

I dream of a church
…where the message is heard
By people from another person,
Human, but an instrument of God, just a man
With love for the Word.

I dream of a church
…where the message is true
In people who show it in worship,
In praise, in emotion, in care, in giving,
In service, in love.

I dream of a church
…where the message is lived
By people who have given their lives
To a higher calling instead of to
An institution or a doctrine.

I dream of a church
…where the message is hope
For people who will die but live
Eternally by a resurrection where they
Will ever be with the Lord.

I dream of a church
…where the message is faith
By people who believe their God is
Too big for budgets, buildings and programs
Because He is God.

I dream of a church
…where the message is church,
The people not the building or organization or
The doctrine or the practice but the
Body of the Head, Jesus Christ the Lord!

I dream of a church
…where the message is home
A people just passing through bound
For a better place where all their
Dreams come true.


David Bearden

___________________________________________________________

I was also asked if I would post the charge that we shared with the Bearden's yesterday?

Below are my notes which are fairly close to what I believe I stated:

A Charge for David and Vicki Beardon
From the Elders of the McKnight Road Church of Christ
October 1, 2006

As our members are aware, we have been through a season of transition these past few months as we have sought someone to work with us. Many prayers have been offered up asking the Lord to send to us the person whom we could employ full time as the minister of this church. Not only do we believe that God sent us David Bearden to fill that capacity; but, we also feel that Vicki is part of that answered prayer. For those of you who do not know them, let me share a bit of brief background to introduce them to you.


First, I would like to begin by introducing to you their daughter Angela Bearden who is with them today. Angela, who is 27, is a Residence director of Morris Hall at ACU. She is a graduate of Pepperdine where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in sociology. She is currently enrolled at ACU pursing a masters degree in organizational and human resource development. She also serves as a campus ministry intern for the Southern Hills Church of Christ in Abilene, TX. Angela is featured in the latest issue of ACU Today. She surprised her parents by flying in town this weekend. We are very glad that she is here to support them in their move from the Sunny Hills Church of Christ in Fullerton, CA.

Their middle daughter is Alisha who is a graduate of Abilene Christian University and now teaches elementary school at the Sonrise Christian School in Covina, CA. She is working on a masters degree in education at Azusa Pacific University. Their youngest daughter, Alaina, is a junior at Abilene Christian University and is an English and Political Science major.

David graduated from Harding University in 1977 and has studied at the Harding Graduate School of Religion. He began preaching at the age of 15. He has preached and written extensivly for a number of Christian publications including Power for Today. He has been serving as the Secretary and Operations Director for the Pacific Rim Educational Foundation, which is an organization that fosters doing mission work in China utilizing legal cross-cultural educational opportunities between Chinese Universities and Christian Universities in the United States. David and Vickie just completed a 3 week stay in China this past summer. David has a heart for foreign missions.

When we began this quest for finding the right “minister”, we agreed we did not want someone who could just preach. We thought it important that the minister and his family would become intimately involved with the life of the members of the congregation. What we found was that David and Vicki are team. Vicki works right alongside with David. She has a degree in accounting and a talent for organizational administrative skills. But, more importantly she is a helpmate to him in his ministry. We have decided to employ both David and Vicki together as part of our staff for the ministry here at McKnight Road. We believe that Vicki has talents and abilities that will enhance the operations of our ministries here at the McKnight Road church.

What is a minister? Interestingly, the term as an office does not exist in the Bible. But, neither do church buildings, song books, or Section 501(c) (3) non-profit corporations, all of which we employ in the work of the church today. The fact of the matter is that every member who is a part of the body of Christ is a minister. The minister is just one of us who is employed by the church to do the work of ministry full time; while the rest of us, like the apostle Paul at Ephesus, make tents. We do not in this church have a clergy laity distinction. We believe what the Bible teaches in that we are a royal priesthood…..a priesthood of all believers. This is radical. We do not today stand in a sanctuary. The sanctuary is within the hearts of those members who are sitting in the pews here today.

We believe that the scriptures declare the organization of the local church is to be led by elders who are selected by the congregation. In the same manner, spiritual qualifications are set forth in scripture for elders and for the role of deacons. In our judgment, while we want to be a church that is elder led, we recognize that in the world we live in today that it takes those who can devote full time to ministry for the work to be effective. To that end, we believe that it is expedient to employ staff to help us in the mission. In fact, we charge the staff to drive us in that process.

While it is a “job”; the call to minister is so much more. We have seen demonstrated in David and Vicki’s lives the passion of the Holy Spirit to make disciples. We see the fruit of your children knowing that they have raised beautiful young ladies who love God and want to serve him. [And we will weep with you after you pay for 3 weddings…just kidding! ] David and Vicki had discussed looking for a church to get back to the Midwest to be closer to their families. At the same time they were praying for a church, we were praying for a minister. We do not believe that this was mere coincidence.

Today we charge both of you to be all you can be in the name of and in the nurture and admonition of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We empower you to hold each of us accountable to the calling that the Lord has placed upon us to oversee the body of Christ that makes up the McKnight Road Church. And, in the same manner, we ask that you humbly allow yourselves to be servants for His sake.

Let us ask God to bless all of us as we begin our journey together this day.