The John Palm Show

What guy doesn’t like to read whilst on the can?

My wife left the Family Christian Stores catalog in the bathroom. Excellent reading for the above purpose. Light. Lot’s of pictures. And very thought provoking.

Here are some of my random thoughts regarding the Family Christian catalog:

1. The Veggie Tales are the most interesting videos and perhaps the most creative thing ever in the “Christian Retail World”. Period.

2. Don’t even think of buying me a silk tie from this store!

3. Don’t buy me this either (below). Don’t get me wrong… I like these little statues by Willow Tree, but I prefer to admire them on the store’s shelf. I don’t particularly want to own one. And, no offense, but I have even less desire to collect them.

4. I actually would like this Sword Letter Opener for Father’s Day. But I know you’ll get me the statue instead. This thing is cool… Hebrews 4:13.

5. No Christian self help books please. This genre has almost taken the place of the Bible.

6. Max Lucado, take a rest. Man! There’s prolific and then there’s over killed and over exposed. Stop working so hard. Go on a vacation or something. Rent a flat in Italy. Lay out in the sun in Aruba. Spend some of that money.

Check out all these 3:16 products. It’s exhausting, Max… exhausting.

7. Beth Moore is a tough talker, but if you get right up in her face when you meet her at the conference and make intimidating “huffing” noises… she backs right down. Believe me. Or just ask Security a the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center.

Finally…

8. What the? That big guy with the fro from American Idol is in my Christian Book store? It’s shocking and a bit disturbing to me for some reason. Sorry big guy.

Thank you for your time.

Call it what you will: preaching, teaching, sermonizing, instruction or simply lectures. The modern church is obsessed with one man (and very rarely women) standing up in front of a group with something to say.

Granted, part of the function of a body of believers is to equip believers to do the work of the ministry AND to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth. However, are these functions best accomplished through the lecture method?

The “lecture method” of teaching has become so commonplace with the modern church and society that most people can’t even name another method. Can you name another method of teaching?

Here are two for your consideration:

The teacher as a guide and stimulator, not a lecturer, nor a dispenser of information. For much of human history, educational methods were largely informal, and consisted of children imitating or modelling their behavior on that of their elders, learning through observation and play. Call that “learning by example” or the “demonstrative method”. This is probably what is referred to in Deuteronomy 11:18-21.

The teacher as one who presents questions and stimulates debate, not just giving easy or simplistic answers to often complex questions. Plato describes a system of instruction that he felt would lead to an ideal state. In his Dialogues, Plato describes the Socratic method. This method is dialectic. Meaning there is a dialog (back and forth) between people exchanging ideas and arguments about a topic or idea.

 As I sit there ever Sunday morning and squirm in my seat like a 3 year old, I ask:

What’s with the Church’s obsession with lectures?

• It’s efficient - conducive to mega church ministry building.
• It works well under time constraints - other methods simply take too long and we don’t have that kind of time to burn.
• It’s comfortable - one guy does all the work, the rest simply sit there, listen and then off to the super buffet.
• It can be kept “light and fluffy” - and palatable for the masses.

The bottom line

The Sunday Morning Lecture may not be the best way of teaching, but it’s here to stay. Change always comes slowly, especially with religious institutions. The Church’s obsession with lectures will not end until we come to terms with the following:

• our obsession with experts - and what I call The Reverse Reformation back to Papal/Pastoral (read Pope) authority.
• our obsession with knowledge - knowing does not necessarily lead to doing, but it’s a heck of a lot easier.
• our obsession with spiritual gift of teaching - if I hear one more time how much so-and-so just loooooves Pastor Jeff’s teaching (substitute Pastor Tom, Dick or Harry) I’m gonna [censored]. Man, nobody liked Jesus’ teaching. He caused major division and discomfort every time He spoke.

Until we lose our obsessions, I’ll see you at the Sunday morning lecture. I’m the one that’s fidgeting like a like a 3 year old.

“Great Men”

All men seek significance in life. Some through power. Some through other means.

From professional significance seekers like politicians to amateurs – like the local school board president. Their desire is to feel significant. The problem is that there is NO significance except through Christ alone.

“But,” the Great Man says, ”that method of attaining significance does not require my good effort, great knowledge and exemplary leadership skills.”

True. It reqiures no active effort on our part. It requires something more difficult. Passivity. Rest. And complete faith.

Unfortunately, “Great Men” are too busy moving the next mountain to go there…

Persecution purifies the heart and distills it’s intentions. And that, my friends, is the exact reason I may cross party lines this November and cast my vote for Mr. Obama.

Self-willed and self-induced persecution.

Maybe that’s not very wise. You say.

Maybe I’m in the mood to be a fool. I say.

Definition of Persecution: the systematic mistreatment of an individual/group by another group

Church Based Missionary Training.

It’s shocking that there are people sent out as missionaries with little or no training in cross-cultural studies. As more and more churches are sending their own missionaries directly to the field, the trend should also include Church Based Missionary Training.

WHO needs training? Everyone who is going overseas for cross-cultural ministry. Whether for one week or as a career, everyone benefits from training.

WHAT should a training curriculum look like? Understanding culture, basics of cross-cultural communications, tips and taboos when going overseas should be the essentials. Other subjects:

• Role of the short-term missions
• Dynamics of religion
• Interpersonal relations

WHERE should the training take place? Not all people want or need to attend seminary or Bible College. The time and expense of second career people going to a missionary training center can be cost prohibitive. If a church is committed to Church Based Missions, they should also be committed to Church Based Missionary Training and need to develop a structure for equipping those they are launching into cross-cultural work.

HOW can it be done? Find the right people to do the training and create a budget to provide the needed training. Bring in experts for a weekend, or a week or two of intensive training. It’s a great deal more cost efficient to find qualified teachers to do training in-house than attending far away and costly programs.

The main thing is DO SOMETHING in training for those going out from your local church. Missions is serious stuff and it deserves more than just a passport and a cheap plane ticket. 

Paraphrased from Dr. Richard Lewis. 

Imagine that you’re 95 years old, on your deathbed. But before you take that last breath, you get a wonderful gift: the ability to go back in time and talk to the younger you who’s reading this story right now and help that younger you have a better career and , more important, a better life.

What would that wise 95-year-old tell you to do?

Now listen closely because this is the best career coaching you’re ever going to get: Whatever you think that 95-year-old would urge you to do, DO IT. Starting now. When the time comes, you want that 95-year-old to be proud of you. If he/she says you were a success, you were. Trust me, of all the performance appaisals you’ll ever have, that’s the only one that really matters.

Dear Fathers:

1. Think more about your family and children
2. Pray for each of your children
3. Teach your children and more specifically disciple them
4. Bless your children every day in words and action (hugs, time and attention)

This blog has gotten a lot of attention from those searching “blessing children” and other similar terms on Google. Please feel free to add your thoughts.

Bless the children in your Church

Remember, in these posts we are throwing the Church 3 pitches. So far the count is 2 and 0 (that’s 2 strikes for you non-baseball types).

Here’s the 3rd pitch…

Blessing Children

The blessing is a powerful concept. Really it’s not just a concept, it’s truth. Abraham was blessed by God so that he could be a blessing to others. There’s a very strong idea of generational blessing woven throughout scripture.

• Abraham’s life was changed by a blessing.
• Jacob went to great lengths to steal a blessing.
• Jesus blessed children because “such is the kingdom of God”.
• And He even said those that offend (curse) the children should have something tied around their neck and thrown into the sea. (Matthew 18:6)

Buy - The Blessingby John Trent and Gary Smalley

Let’s begin with the opposite of blessing - a curse. Here is the definition of a curse:

A curse is the effective action of some power, distinguished solely by the quality of adversity that it brings.

A blessing is the polar opposite of a curse. Here are some types of blessings:

• Formal Blessing: to consecrate or sanctify by a religious rite; make or pronounce holy. Marriage Ceremony.
• Personal Blessing: to request of God the bestowal of divine favor on: Bless your beautiful family.
• Specific Blessing: to bestow good of any kind upon: May you home be blessed with peace.
• Protection Blessing: to protect or guard from evil (usually used interjectionally): Bless you! Bless your innocent little heart!
• Catholic Blessing: to make the sign of the cross over or upon: The Pope blessed the multitude.

Who wouldn’t want to be blessed? I do! Then why don’t we see more blessing in our Churches?

Reason: The fact is that most men have not been blessed. Not by their pastor. Not by other men. And sadly, not by their fathers.

Why does that matter? Because blessing others is caught not taught. If you have been given a blessing by someone, you know what I mean. A strong hand griping your shoulder. A quiet voice speaking gentle words.

John, you are a good father. Or John, you know you are just the kind of man God wants.

I have received a blessing like this from another man. Not a weak man. Not a wimpy man. But a man that knew the power of a blessing. And let me tell you… the words replayed in my brain for days. I sensed a power upon me. Nothing mystical. Something I will not forget.

Imagine what a blessing like this would mean to a child. The touch. The words. The intent. The blessing. It is strong.

Bless your children. Bless the children in your church body. You begin the process. Force yourself at first. It will get easier. Read a book about blessing here for 8 bucks.

And don’t be afraid to bless other men as well. It may be just what they need. The dividends are immeasurable (and completely tax free).

So you be the judge, my freind. Did the Church strike out? I hope yours didn’t.

May the Church embrace the very personal (read one on one) ministries of:

• Discipleship
• Prayers of Old Saints
• And Blessing the Children

Bless you dear reader. Amen.

<Note: This part 3 of a 3 part post. Go back if you missed parts 1 & 2>

Pray With Old Saints Before They Are Gone

The count is 1 and 0. The Church steps up the plate for the second pitch.

Here it comes…

Prayers of Old Saints

We are a culture that worships youth. And that idolatry of youth has found it’s way into the Church. The Youth group. The Children’s Super-Church. Baby dedicaiton. Oh my, the Pastor’s hair plugs make him look 20 years younger. There’s just something about youth that make us… well… feel so young.

This is unfortunate. For strength, depth and consistancy come from aged wisdom. The school of hard knocks is the best teacher. And the older you are the more knocks you got. Wisdom comes from walking through the “hard knocks” of life with God. Making the horrible mistakes and seeking forgiveness from God and your fellow man. The old saints have walked with God in good times and bad. Through sunshine and rain. With laughter and tears. A long life an create a rich spirituality.

One place this really shows is in prayer. I have sat in awe listening to old saints pray. Not impressed by fancy words, but humbled by:

• A special intimacy with God as an old friend.
• A healthy respect for God as all powerful Creator.
• A sweet adoration of God as lover of men.

Try it sometime. Pray with the old saint sitting next to you in the pew. I challenge you. See and hear for yourself. It will bless you and them. It’s a Win-win.

Should we as a Church sit ourselves at the feet of these saints and just listen to them pray?

Would that teach us more than the most profound sermon?

Would that open our hearts to God more than 37th chorus of “Open The Eyes Of My Heart”?

We may never find out. Strike two.

On to Strike Three: 3 Things The Church Should Do - Blessing Children

Disciple One Person 

Churches today do lots of stuff. But have you noticed these three things missing from the Church today? 

1. Discipleship 
2. Prayers of Old Saints
3. Blessing Children

The Church is up at bat. Will they knock this one out of the park?

Here comes pitch number one…

Discipleship

Why has the Church wiffed on discipleship? Reason: It’s a slow process. And we don’t like slow. Discipleship, when done the way that Jesus did it, starts out very slowly. Jesus started out with 12 guys. Not too impressive for the Son of God. Come on Jesus, you can do better than that. This is like watching paint dry.

If I had to “bullet point” the missteps in Jesus’ minstry they would be as follows:

• Wasting time answering obvious questions.
• No nice place to unwind. No place to lay your head.
• Going from house to house. Very inefficient.
• No buildings. Where is the legacy?
• No programs with catchy names.
• No book tour. Publicity nightmare.
• And all the while, walking everywhere you go.

How are you going to change the whole world with that strategy? It just doesn’t make a lick of sense.

Jesus went against conventional wisdom. There’s definately a pattern of this in His life and ministyr. Jesus turned common sense upside down all the time.

• The meek will inherit the earth.
• Those who lose their life will gain life.
• On and on. See chart below for more:

                                                                           –Chart from A Portrait of Jesus web site. 

The same is true with His method of discipleship. One person at a time or spending lots of time with a handfull of people. It doesn’t fit with our “Getting Things Done” way of thinking.

So who cares if it’s slow. As long as it’s God’s way. And if it doesn’t make sense that’s our clue it’s the right way.

Either way… that’s strike one.

One to Strike Two: 3 Things The Church Should Do - Prayers of Old Saints

<This is part 2 of a 2 part post (begin with part 1)>

Read More Books 

We began part 1 of this post with a quote from motivational speaker Charles “Tremendous” Jones that goes like this:

You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read. 1

Now, let’s look at the second underlined point above.

Books You Read

Consider the ripple effect of meeting people and reading books. It is incalculable. Take a look at this illustration (colors added for emphasis):

A book by Richard Sibbes, one of the choicest of the Puritan writers, was read by Richard Baxter, who was greatly blessed by it.

Baxter then wrote his Call to the Unconverted which deeply influenced Philip Doddridge, who in turn wrote The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul.

This brought the young William Wilberforce, subsequent English statesman and foe of slavery, to serious thoughts of eternity.

Wilberforce wrote his Practical Book of Christianity which fired the soul of Leigh Richmond.

Richmond, in turn, wrote The Dairyman’s Daughter, a book that brought thousands to the Lord, helping Thomas Chalmers the great preacher, among others. 2

Yes, there is power in the written word. But you can’t just read any old thing. You must  read well. That means have some focus. Make a list. And remember, a good book list includes some classics. We call them books by dead guys.

Here’s how John Piper describes the notion of reading older works:

He (C. S. Lewis) has made me wary of chronological snobbery. That is, he has shown me that “newness” is no virtue and “oldness” is no fault. Truth and beauty and goodness are not determined by when they exist. Nothing is inferior for being old and nothing is valuable for being modern. This has freed me from the tyranny of novelty and opened for me the wisdom of the ages. He said one: every third book you read should be from outside your own (provincial) century.

If you need some good dead authors (and some living as well) here are some starting point links:

John Piper - Books that have influence him most.

Layman’s Reading List (lots of dead guy authors)

Reformed Theoligical Seminary reading list (big list!)

Chuck Colson minstry has a good book list.

John Mark Reynolds compiled a list of thirty books that every college student should read. Since John Mark is the founder of the Torrey Honors Institute at Biola University its not surprising to see that his list contains many of the standard works common to a “great books” programs.

Justin Taylor’s list (John Piper’s right hand man).

Conclusion: Who will you be in 5 years? If you believe it has something to do with the people you meet and the books you read, then do something. Meet more people. Engage with them. Get involved in their lives. Then, when your tired of those people kick back with a book. Relax and enjoy.

Wow. That sounds like a lovely cycle. Busy with people’s lives then resting with a good read. Sound like something God might have invented.

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2 ”Every Christian a Publisher,” p. 18.
This reading is found in A Godward Life, Book One (Multnomah, 1997), pp. 58-59.

<This is part 1 of a 2 part post>

Meet More People

Motivational speaker and humorist Charles “Tremendous” Jones has a famous quote that goes like this:

You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read. 1

Let’s look at the first underlined point above.

People You Meet

People shape us. People influence us. People either make us better or make us worse. We are made to need others. And other need us as well. People are the single most powerful influence on your life. So here’s my: Step By Step Guide To Meeting People.

Step 1: Become A Person

The Gospel of John starts off with the point that the Word become flesh. I guess God knew the best way to meet people is to be a person. I personally think it was pretty nice of God to make Jesus flesh. Doesn’t that just prove God’s dedication to meeting people where they are.

If you’re serious about meeting people I highly recommend that you first become one. If, by chance, you are not a person (or not currently acting like one) please start here by becoming a person.

Step 2: Get Infused With Love

The next step is to be a nice person. It seems that people like to be around nice people. Wow. Not so profound is it? But it’s not that easy (for me at least) to be a nice person.

Basically, being a nice person means being UNselfish. And being UNselfish requires a whole lot of love. So you just gotta love people. No, it’s not that simple, Mr. Gotta Love People Guy. That UNselfish love doesn’t work that way.

That truly UNselfish love can only come from God. That love comes though worship of God. Resting in God. And setting your mind on God and the good things of God as stated in Philippians 4:8. See my posts under PUSH Discipleship for more resources and neat methods to renew your mind.

Step 3: Sprinkle In Some People

Besides having too little love the biggest barrier to meeting people is mankind’s compultion to build organizations. This compultion to build things instead of people is a major problem. It’s a problem because most organizations insulate us from people. That’s just their nature.

There are 2 exceptions to the above. The organizations that God gives His stamp of approval are: Family and Church. In that order. At least that’s the order He them to us in. Family in Genesis 1 and Church in Matthew 16.

Jesus focused on building people not organizations. Why should we do differently? And as we focus on people… we are blessed. We change for the better. We grow. And that is a truly magical thing.

Next up Part 2: The Books You Read

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1 Quote from Life Is Tremendous. Buy: Life Is Tremendous by Charlie “Tremendous” Jones