Unrestrained Thoughts on the Connecticut Shooting

This will not be politically correct. I hope it doesn't sound insensitive. I feel grieved in my soul about the events of last Friday, and these feelings are bringing up others that in no way minimize the tragedy, but that I wanted to type them out (I'm not sure if I'll post them yet. I'd better wait and see what comes out of me first). First of all, anyone who would kill innocent kids like that is evil. It doesn't matter how he was raised, what his life was like, or who might have done what to him in the past. He chose to do what he did. And that choice was just plain evil. There is nothing else to blame, so stop trying to figure him out and excuse his behavior. Also, stop using this as an excuse to attack or defend the 2nd Amendment. Nobody cares. And speaking of his choice, is there anyone defending his "right to choose" right now? It angers me immeasurably that when a man kills 20 children in one day, our nation recognizes the injustice, but when Planned Parenthood kills over 900 children every day in this country - every Godforsaken day - we do not. As the last election would indicate, the majority of Americans could not give two craps about these children, and those of us who do often forget. Honestly, every Christian church and household with a flagpole should have been flying at half-staff every day for the last 40 years. Why aren't we in a state of constant mourning over this tragedy? Is it because we're used to living with that reality? Because we couldn't function otherwise? Because those kids are less "real"? Well, they are real. If someone had killed the Connecticut gunman before he killed himself, we would have been glad, and his killer would've been a hero. Why then do the staunchest pro-lifers (including me) condemn people who murder abortionists (just asking)? Why don't abortionists kill themselves like the shooter did? Because the shooter killed himself to escape justice, not out of Godly guilt. Abortionists, like the Connecticut coward, will apparently never face earthly justice. But all will face the Judge. Is it wrong to be glad people are going to Hell? I mean, we all wish that guy would've met Christ earlier in life, which would've resulted in a different future for him - and those kids. But seeing as what happened did happen - can I be glad he's in Hell right now? I think so. God is good and God made Hell for a good reason. If universalism is true, then God is not good. Just ask the parents of those kids. I'm sorry if my angry tone offends anyone. That's what happens when you just type your feelings and don't stop to think about what you're writing. I can assure you that God is angry about this too. And sad. So am I. I hate the evil in this world and long for the day when God will wipe it out for good.

The Field of Blood

Don't fault me for the content of this poem. It basically wrote itself after I read Matthew 27 one day. Anyway, I thought it was appropriate for Halloween, so here you go:


Quarter mile south of the churchyard, there you'll find the Field of Blood
Hidden in a mess of oak trees, mosses, and black mud
Come on and bring your bodies, whether Hell or Heaven bound
And for thirty silver dollars, you can leave 'e, in the ground

The old drunk known as Crazy Joe, the salesman from St. Paul
That sad young man who hanged himself near Carson's Mill last fall
Have all found hospitality beneath that grassy floor
It's peaceful, inexpensive, and there's plenty room for more

A bed for slaves and orphans, childless widows, friendless men
For those who left behind no home, no money, and no kin
For all the nameless wand'rers found by riverbanks or trails
For Chinamen and Irish who drop lifeless by the rails

All unknown casualties of war, of fire, drought, and flood

Are welcome in the lonely ground we call the Field of Blood

The Coffee Shop

I sat there sipping coffee, pencil tucked behind my ear
Taking a short Sabbath from the world
The shop was quiet, but I knew the time had almost come
When hordes of thirsty savages attack
Latte and biscotti, fellow patrons of the arts
We watched intently as the curtain rose

First there came a tough guy, cigarette behind his ear
Strutting in defiance of the world
He winked at the barista, but if overcharged a dime,
He would kill in a minute, she could tell
Arrogant, intimidating, cocky to the core
His pittbull eyes were white-hot spheres of coal

The door chimed, and in walked a suit, phone bluetoothed to his ear
Preparing for his conquest of the world
His voice was like a siren, and his smile photoshopped
His Ken-doll hair was untouched by the wind
His low-fat macchiato was slipped in a cardboard sleeve
And off he charged in lust for blood and gold

My eyes turned toward a teenage slug with headphones in his ears
Deliberately closed off from the world
His eyes and thumbs imprisoned by electronic cocaine
The touchscreen temptress wouldn't let him go
He chose to be an ignorant, consuming parasite
Society in need, his dying host

He sat there sipping coffee, pencil tucked behind his ear
Passing poet's judgment on the world
Pharisaic hypocrite, self-righteous, bitter soul
Why can't he see the plank in his own eye?
There was a wise man once who said, "Pride goes before a fall"
And like a scone, pretension goes with coffee

J.R.L.

Dear Son,

I've been waiting to meet you for a long time. You are a very cute, very sweet little boy, and I'm so happy to finally have you with us. I hope you like the name we gave you. It's not an extremely popular name, but Mommy and I love it, and it has a lot of meaning behind it. When you get older, you'll probably ask "Why?" about a lot of things. So for you and anyone else who wonders why your name is Jude Robert Lancaster, I offer the following:

Jude

Let's begin by addressing the obvious: your dad is a Beatles fan. I can't deny it. The Beatles are one of the most innovative and influential bands in the history of rock and roll - of course I'm a fan. By the time you're able to read this, you'll be well aware of the fact that the only immediate frame of reference most people will have for your name is their song "Hey Jude". I'm sorry if you get tired of hearing people tell you not to "make it bad" or that you should remember to let some girl under your skin - you can blame me. However, even though most people who know my tastes in music will assume that your name comes from that song, and that I would have named you Sergeant Pepper if your mom would have let me, that is not why we named you Jude.

We wanted you to have a name that would be classic without being common, unique, but not bizarre. We liked Bible names, but didn't feel attracted to James and John or to Ephraim and Manasseh. We think Jude is perfect: it's not completely unheard of, it's easy to say, and it doesn't sound Amish, but you're not going to share your name with three other kids on the soccer team either. It's a very cool name. It could be the name of a poet or a cowboy - or a really cute little boy (and I hope your heart has a bit of all three in it).

The coolest thing about your name, though, is its Biblical legacy. I love you, Son. I also love the Jude of the Bible, and I would love for you to aspire to some of his qualities:

Quality #1: Humility

Jude is one of the least familiar New Testament authors. The book that bears his name is very short and easy to overlook in the fog of sensation and controversy surrounding its apocalyptic neighbor. You won't hear very many sermons on this little book, and you'll never see a Veggie Tales story based on the author's life, but I don't think he would have minded any of that. Although scholars disagree about the identity of Jude, the best explanation seems to be that he was the son of Mary and Joseph - Jesus' little brother (well, half-brother I guess). I'm sure he could have been a big celebrity in the early Christian world if he chose to capitalize on his blood-relationship with God, but he didn't. In fact, in his letter (his only work of ministry we know of), he doesn't even introduce himself as Jesus' brother, but as "Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James," who was also a brother of Christ (v. 1). Jude wasn't concerned with his own notoriety - as a "bond-servant" of God, whom he humbly acknowledged had lived in the person of his big brother, his only concern in ministry was the faithful communication of the Gospel. Even though he originally intended to write to churches about the salvation they shared, Jude was submissively obedient when the Spirit inspired him to write about something else instead (v. 3).

Jude was a man committed to service over self, and I hope your life is marked by that kind of humility. As your dad, I would love to see you accomplish great things and be recognized for it, but I know that that isn't always God's plan. Sometimes God uses people like you to do small things - things that won't get made into a Veggie Tales story, but that are still important in His eyes. You could grow up to be a blue-collar factory worker and still be a hero if you love the Lord, respect others, serve the church, lead your wife, and teach your children to do the same.

It's possible that God will call you to a place where heroism is more easily recognized - you might be a scientist, an athlete, a musician, or a writer - I mean, Jude the brother of James wasn't as famous as Peter and Paul, but he did write a letter that ended up being canonized as Holy Scripture! Even so, he did not seek to draw attention to himself through his writing, but to the One who called him to write. So, whether you end up pastoring a congregation of thousands or stocking shelves at Walmart, live your life for the glory of God, rather than the approval of men - and always know your dad is proud of you.

Quality #2: Wisdom

Jude was a wise man: a man who had great knowledge and could practically integrate and apply that knowledge toward helping others. We can tell just by reading his letter that he was well-educated. He expresses himself with focus and clarity, and he uses the wisdom of the past to support his thoughts. In the epistle's twenty-five verses, he makes nine historical references, drawing on various parts of the Old Testament and certain apocryphal sources (which, by the way, is why the book of Jude has sparked a fair amount of controversy in the past - wisdom is often controversial).

Your mom and I want you to be wise. During the first eighteen years of your life, we're going to make sure you're well-educated, but you don't necessarily have to be an academic. There are many wise people who are not bookish, but there is one Book that you must read. You must read it over and over again. You must always seek to understand it better. You must apply its teaching to your life and speak its truth to others:

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
- 2 Timothy 3:14-17 (NIV)

Quality #3: Strength

Having characterized Jude as a humble scholar, I do not want you to get the impression that he was some kind of soft-spoken, non-confrontational, Starbucks-loving Mac user - he was not. Now, I do want you to know that it's ok to be introspective, it's ok to be introverted, and it's certainly ok to be a peacemaker, but being quiet is not the same as being soft, and being humble is not the same as being permissive.

 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.
- 2 Timothy 1:7 (NAS)

Jude wrote his letter to urge his Christian brothers and sisters to "contend earnestly for the faith" (v. 3). "Contend" means "fight"! At the time of this letter's writing, as it is in our day, true Christianity was being attacked by "ungodly persons who turn the grace of God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ," persons who had "crept in unnoticed" and were spreading their false theology throughout the church (v. 4). Jude's message to his readers, past and present, is: "Fight these people! Stand up to them - don't listen to their anti-biblical garbage, and don't let anyone else be taken in by their seductive lies!"

This man was firmly set in what he knew was true. He made no apologies. He showed no signs of weakness. He defended his faith boldly and aggressively. In his letter, he compares false teachers to slave-driving Egyptians (v. 5), perverse citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah (v. 7), murderous Cain (v. 11) - he even compares them to demons (v. 6)! He calls them "unreasoning animals" (v. 10), "clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever" (vv. 12-13). That's strong language - the kind of language that can get you in trouble. It got Jesus in trouble, but that's how strong men talk. Strong men speak the truth.

Don't get the wrong idea here, Son - I don't want you to be a jerk. I've spent a lot of time being a jerk, and I don't want that for you. Your heart should be filled with God's love and grace for people who think differently than you do, but that doesn't mean agreeing with or even respecting their false beliefs or their sinful actions. Jude loved God's Truth and God's people, and he fought for them when they came under attack. Not everything is worth fighting for, but we're responsible for defending God's Truth and His people, especially those who are close to us. Be humble, be wise, but be strong.

Robert

Your middle name has a legacy too. From courageous leaders like Robert the Bruce and General Lee to creative geniuses like Robert Plant and Bob Dylan, you share this name with a lot of important men. The man you're named after, though, isn't someone you'll ever read about in a history book or Rolling Stone. He died young, but he left a permanent impact on the people he loved. He was my uncle, Bob Wilson.


Uncle Bob was sixteen years older than me, and I idolized him throughout my childhood. When I was really young, I remember him letting me play his Nintendo (the 1980's kind - I'll have to show you sometime), taking me places in his blue pickup truck, and giving me cheap little toys from his job stocking those quarter vending machines you see at the store. I remember him buying me a book on "How to Draw Marvel Superheroes", and showing me pictures of heroes and villains he had created. Another time, he gave me a Star Wars Monopoly game for no special reason, with a note inside that said something like:

"I saw this and thought you should have it. The little pewter lightsabers were bent when I opened mine, so you might need to warm them up with a hairdryer or something to bend them back into place. I warmed mine under my armpit."

Uncle Bob and I shared a love of imaginative stories and offbeat humor. He introduced me to The Lord of the Rings, Marvel comics, Calvin and Hobbes, and The Far Side. Even after I went to college and started to appreciate a wider variety of music and movies, I'd come home for Thanksgiving or something and find out that he already liked a lot of the same stuff. Whether debating the latest Star Wars controversy or exchanging favorite Dumb and Dumber quotes, we always had something to talk about once we got started.

Like everyone else, my uncle dealt with doubts, pain, and bad choices, but he had a loving heart. He loved imagination, he loved people, and, even though he struggled with God sometimes, he loved Him too. The last time I saw him before his body surrendered to cancer, your sister was three months old. He kissed her on the cheek, I hugged him, and we said we loved each other (the only time I can remember us doing that). I can still see him in his sons, and since he was such an influence on me, there will probably be a bit of him in you too. I can't wait to introduce you someday!*

Lancaster

Regrettably, I don't know a lot about our family history. According to the internet, our last name is Old English for "Roman fort by the river", so apparently, we came from England originally. One thing led to another, and we ended up settling in the Missouri Ozarks. I do know something about two of your ancestors, and, as far as I'm concerned, they're probably the most heroic anyway.

Your Great-Granddad Bill Lancaster is an even-tempered gentleman who's never known a stranger. Even though he was too young to serve in World War II, I still consider him part of the "Greatest Generation". He grew up on a farm, drove a gas truck until he retired, and he exemplifies what I referred to earlier as a humble, blue-collar hero. He's always served "behind the scenes" at church, driving elderly folks in the church van, singing quietly in the choir, and supporting his wife's weekly piano playing.

The most selfish thing I've ever seen him do is try to open his Christmas presents before his turn when he thinks no one's looking. He's a good man, and he raised good children, which brings me to the second Lancaster whose blood you should be proud to share: your Grandpa Dennis.

If the quality of Jude most evident in your great-granddad's life is humility, it's wisdom in your grandpa's.** A lover of history, philosophy, and people, your grandpa has spent his life learning and teaching. As a professor at a local university, he has had a profound effect on many students, motivating them to really think about how they live and what they believe, in an environment where the prevailing attitude seems to be, "What do I need to do to get the grade to get the degree to get the job I want and move on?" His conversational lectures and open-ended assignments defy this attitude, requiring what many do not: careful reading, reasoning, and introspection. My siblings and I might make fun of our dad's "Facebook groupies", but the fact that so many of his current and former students intentionally keep in touch affirms his character as a wise and caring teacher. He also taught a Sunday school class for many years, and has recently started an at-home Bible study, where he has applied his giftedness to opening the complexities of the Book that is often (tragically) subject to rote and cliche.

King Solomon, the wisest teacher who ever lived said:

Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love.
- Ecclesiastes 9:9a

and

Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.
- Psalm 127:3

After God, family comes first. Your grandpa taught me that by the way he led our family. From ice cream and TV Land on weeknights, to homemade pizza on Fridays, to cutting firewood and renovating our Frankenstein farmhouse on Saturdays, our family spent a lot of time together, and I could tell that home was his favorite place to be. When your Aunt Kori was a little girl, afraid to go to bed at night, he would sit up and sing to her until she fell asleep. He worked hard so your grandma could teach us at home, and when I got older, he'd pick out my assignments - usually reading books he thought were important. After high school, I got to take a few of his college classes, which was really cool, and we would talk about what I was learning and thinking outside the classroom too. He's still one of the few people, besides your mom, with whom I feel comfortable sharing my thoughts. I hope you and I can have a relationship like that someday.

_____________________________________________

Jude, each of your names has a history, and each of them says something about the kind of man I believe God wants you to become, but I also believe that God has a present and a future in mind for Jude Robert Lancaster that hasn't been written yet. Your mom and I are praying that you meet Jesus early and do your best to follow the path He's cut for your life. Maybe someday people will be naming their sons after you.

I love you, buddy

Daddy







* Read what your grandpa wrote about Bob here.

**  They're not mentioned here, because you don't share a name with them, but if you're looking for a model of strength, you have two great examples in your Papa Mason and Great-Grandpa Wilson

A Belated Christmas Present

This is the text portion of a video I made for our church's Christmas Eve service:


In the beginning was the Word
And the Word was  with God
And the Word was God (John 1:1)
The earth was formless and void (Genesis 1:2)
By Him all things were created
Both in the heavens
And on earth
Visible and invisible
All things have been created by Him
And for Him (Colossians 1:16)
God created man in His own image (Genesis 1:27)
And blessed them (Genesis 1:28)
In Him was life
And the life was the light of men (John 1:4)
And the light shines in the darkness (John 1:5)
And behold, it was very good (Genesis 1:31)

But the darkness did not comprehend it (John 1:5)

We rejected Him
And deified ourselves
We abandoned Him
Objectified His own
We perverted Truth
Gave up on Faith
Abused His Grace
Defiled Love
Our lying, greedy, murderous souls
Created here a world of pain
His holiness required wrath

His love desired mercy

"Sing for joy and be glad, O daughter of Zion
For behold, I am coming
And I will dwell in your midst," declares the Lord (Zechariah 2:10)
"Behold, I am going to bring in My servant the Branch" (Zechariah 3:8)
"A virgin will be with child and bear a son
And she will call His name Emmanuel" (Isaiah 7:14)
"His goings forth are from long  ago
From the days of eternity" (Micah 5:2)
"He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High" (Luke 1:32)
"And this One will be our peace" (Micah 5:5)
"For it is He who will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21)

Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5)
Who, although He existed in the form of God
Did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped (Philippians 2:6)
But emptied Himself
Taking the form of a bond-servant
And being made in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:7)

He humbled Himself (Philippians 2:8)

And she gave birth to her firstborn Son
And wrapped Him in cloths
And laid Him in a manger
Because their was no room for them in the inn (Luke 2:7)

"Let us go straight to Bethlehem
And see this thing that has happened" (Luke 2:15)
"Behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people" (Luke 2:10)
"For today in the city of David there has been born to you a Savior
Who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11)
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son
That whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16)

"We have seen His star in the east
And have come to worship Him" (Matthew 2:2)