Remix: Do Dogs go to Heaven?

I am very thankful that this was my fourth most viewed post of 2014.  I am also thankful it comes up  for reposting just before Christmas.  There is nothing worse than the pain of loss during the holidays.  The first holiday with loss is always the worst.  Then, while the pain never goes fully away, it does get a little further away.

This post was from January 22.  I think it is one of the most important ones I have ever written.  It brings tears to my eyes just re-reading it.


Yesterday was a very sad day for me.  It was a sad day for the family.  Our faithful golden retriever, Perseus, died.  I believe I have not been so sad since my dad's death 13 years ago.

In my years of ministry, I have had three different parishioners come to my church because they were grieving the loss of their beloved pet.  I could understand and I offered words of encouragement and prayers for comfort, but I had not experienced it myself.  

It is not like our family had not experienced the death of pets.  We lived on a farm.  We harvested animals, had many barn cats that met unfortunate ends, and even lost a previous dog.

The difference is that we loved this old boy.  He was an awesome, faithful dog.  When we went to pick him out, he came running out to us, picked up a ball, and played with our then two young children.  The breeder was surprised because as other puppies had been picked, Perseus was always laying around and did not engage other families.  In other words, Perseus chose us.

When he got home, he missed his mother so he whined that first night.  We were living in an apartment, and my wife said, "You are the one who wanted a golden retriever, do something."  

I took him and placed him on my chest so he could hear my heart.  He immediately quieted down, fell asleep, and when I awoke in the morning he was still sleeping comfortably.  From that moment on, he was my dog.  

When I left for speaking engagements or travel, he moped and did not eat until I returned.  He slept on the floor beside me for 13 years.  It took less than 24 hours to house train him, and he would prefer to die of shame than ever make a mess.  He was smart enough that I could point to where I wanted him to do his business, and he would go where I pointed.

I will miss his loving look.  I often shared that men get married so they can see that look of love and devotion in their wife's eyes.  When reality hits and that look stops, they buy a golden retriever so they can have it every day.

He definitely had his quirks.

When he was two or three, lightning hit a tree right behind our home and he got shocked.  From then on, he was not the brave dog of his youth.  He went through most doors backwards.  It was strange seeing an 80 pound dog back up all the time.  He became afraid of loud noises.  He was cautious in new places.  

All of this was ok.  It just made Perseus, Perseus.

We knew he was dying, but when he experienced something catastrophic on Monday, it was still sad.  The end came too soon!  By Tuesday he could not walk.  He did not whimper or whine.  He just gave me the look of please do something.  I am so thankful that we had a vet come to the house to help with the passing.  He went to his final living sleep while looking at me without the stress of being carried into a vet.  He would have had it no other way.

So, do dogs go to heaven?

I have been thinking about this for years.  I believe that some do and some don't.  Kind of like people.  Some have a good heart.  Some have a self-centered and cruel heart.

I think C.S. Lewis was onto something when he portrayed Narnia as populated with animals.  Some have trusting and good souls and some do not.  God knows.  He judges them accurately.

I know that my life was better because I loved this dog and he loved me.  I anticipate that on my dying day, I will be met by Jesus, those who have gone before me that I loved dearly, and a young, unafraid Perseus.  They will be my greeting party.  As I feel the loss so keenly now, I look forward to that day.

Farewell for now my friend.

This Monday

With our now five year old Lily in the background

Not so sure about the water!  He was a strange retriever!

Helping Lily feel welcome

Remix: Discipleship, Counseling, and the Pastoral Calling

It is Christmas week.  Yea!

It is also almost the end of the year.  Thus, I will be posting my "greatest hits" from the past year.  This has not been a great year for my blogging.  For a number of reasons, it was just not safe or right for me to write.  Thankfully, 2015 will not be marked by these restrictions.  

This post was from January of 2014.  In fact, most of my "greatest hits" for the year were from January.  This was the fifth most popular post from the past year.

In our hyper therapeutic milieu, people want professionals to do something to them to make them feel better.  Living through life, meeting the demands of following Jesus, living under the lordship of of holy God doesn't appeal to the general public these days.  The majority of Americans will tell any pollster that they believe in the Ten Commandments.  But only a small percentage of those people could even recite the Ten Commandments, and even a smaller percentage have any genuine interest in following them.

For me, trying to be a counselor is a shortcut.  It is pandering to my people's desires to have me do something to them rather than admonish them to live through the thick forest of their lives by following Christ in discipleship.

Since I do discipleship instead of counseling, I find I have a fair amount of free time on my hands, time I can spend praying.

David Hansen, The Art of Pastoring: Ministry without all the Answers, 72.

As a Christian leader, I am called to come alongside people to help them grow back toward an intimate and perfect relationship with God.  The closer I can get them to this place, the better a job I have done.  Of course, I cannot do any of it without the grace and mercy of the Lord.  Yet, I am called to be a herald that points people to a life of repentance and faith in Jesus.

That being said, I agree with Hansen that when I engage in "counseling" I am selling my life, calling, and job short.

Why?

I think it has to do with more with false expectations than there being something wrong with professional counseling.  My purpose is not to put down professional counseling.  I know and believe that professional counseling has an important place in the Kingdom.  Professional counselors help folks identify and break the stranglehold of the past.

The human mind and heart is like a finely tuned instrument.  At times and in certain people, the tuning has been damaged by others or by something dramatic in the past.  This damage works out in ungodly thoughts, actions, habits, and personalities.  It can also cause very real physical damage to the pathways of the brain.  Thus, there are valid counseling techniques and procedures that can help identity and sometimes fix the mistuned instrument.  I am thankful for folks trained in these specialties.

Yet, I must admit that I am not a professional counselor.   I am not called nor qualified to engage in such a ministry.  As a pastor, when I sense someone needs professional help beyond may calling in the gospel, I refer them immediately.

So, why do I think counseling is deadly to the pastoral office and calling?  I believe much of the problem is cultural.  In the West, we want to be fixed.  Some folks are too cheap to go to a professional counselor, so they figure they will hit up the pastor because pastors are free.

For many pastors, being needed in this way makes them feel important.  It becomes their identity.  It is the stamp of approval for ministry.  I believe such thinking is wrongheaded.

Please understand it is not because our message lacks power.  The great irony is that pastors have much to offer folks.  We have the truth found in the gospel, and we have the Holy Spirit who can transform hearts and minds.  Yet, when folks come to be fixed by pastoral counseling, they often want a tip, technique, or advice instead of the repentance and faith found in the gospel.  

In other words, Hansen is completely right that in our hyper therapeutic setting, most people want to feel better, and they want me/pastors to do it to them (perhaps magically?), instead of wanting intimacy with God that comes from honest repentance and faith.

What is my task?

I am called to remind folks that they are not God.  There is only one God in the universe and He should receive the glory in our lives, in the Church, and in the world.

What does this mean?

God's purpose is not our direct and immediate happiness.  God's purpose is that we might come to know Him and enjoy Him forever.  Much of the time, particularly in immature believers, a person's direct happiness and the will of God are not the same.  Our greatest need runs so contrary to what we think will bring happiness.  It feels like death when we confess and declare our need to repent of telling God, "My will be done."  While true life is found in the pathway of discipleship that declares to self and God "Thy will be done," it is often not something that brings an immature believer immediate "happiness."

The great irony is that the path of true discipleship does bring deep-seated joy and  transformation.  It is the key to authentic living.  Yet, few really want to hear it.  Why?  True discipleship also confesses there will be- no there must be- pain and difficulty in our life in this fallen world.  Honestly, who wants to hear such talk?

As a pastor or ministry leader, when I become more concerned with making someone happy than in encouraging them to grow in repentance and faith, I am selling out my calling.  Much of what passes for pastoral counseling fails because the expectation of the relationship is one of "fixing" and "bring happiness" in the midst of distress.

I think most in the churches I have served know this about me.  Thus, those who want to walk with God are attracted while those who wish "happiness" leave me alone.  Unfortunately (or fortunately?), like Hansen states, this leaves me with much time to pray.

Current Western Fables

"Have nothing to do with worldly fables…"

1 Timothy 4:7

Paul's advice to his disciple Timothy sounds so strange to our modern ears.  We have science and technology, we don't believe in fables.  Or so we think.

What are these "worldly fables" that Paul wrote about?

"But the Spirit explicitly says that in the later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of hypocrisy of liars seared in the their own conscience as with a branding iron." (vss. 1-2)

Wow, Paul.  Tell us how you really feel.  

This is harsh.  In the latter days, people will not follow the truth, but they will follow the teachings of falsehood that are encouraged and taught by demons.  I get the feeling that Paul would not be a "go along to get along" type of guy.  He would not affirm and say that truth is relative to culture and individual preference.  

So, what exactly are the worldly fables Paul was concerned about?

"men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods, which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth." (vs. 3)

Our culture has sought to redefine and de-emphasize marriage.  We argue and believe it is not really important.  "Just live together and get to know each other."  "Marriage is any type of living arrangement agreed to by two parties."  Our tax system is set up to penalize married couples.    At a certain middle class income, it is much cheaper to not be married than to be married.  Obamacare and its mandate with set subsidies tied to income continues this trend.

Am I lying about this?  Is it mere right-wing political propaganda?  I don't think so.  This has nothing to do with politics.  It has to do with truth.  In fact, let me give two prime examples from recent news as illustrations.

First, a recent court ruling concluded that couples who are merely friends can adopt.  Why?  The institution of marriage between a man and a woman is too restrictive.  It is not "fair" that we define a family as a man and a woman.  It could and should be anyone who wants to adopt.

Of course, while making these cultural decisions we have also made adoption so expensive and difficult that many couples can't afford it.  Why?  For the welfare of the children?  I think not.  More likely it is because we believe the state system is really better.  In the name of "protecting the children" we harm these most vulnerable in society.

Second, the CDC reported that 40.7% of all babies born in 2013 were born to unmarried women.  Let that sink in.  2 out of every 5 children.  Isn't this great news.  It means that women have been set free from the shackles of life with a man.  Or so our culture claims.

I think Paul might argue that our current worldly fable is "abstain from marriage" because it is not important.  There have always been children born out of wedlock and in our fallen world there always will be.  In love and mercy, we should deal with these pregnancies and resulting children with compassion.  The problem is that in the last thirty years it went from an exception to the rule.  There is no longer anything irregular about it.  Why?  Marriage is not really important.

I have not even moved toward our cultural desire to regulate what people eat.  No sugary drinks.  No meat.  No candy.  Stop smoking now.

While this might be good advice, could it also be an indicator of our "worldly fables?"  We look down on folks who do not eat and drink what we want them to eat and drink.  It comes so naturally to us.  It is for their own good.  It is for the good of society.  Now everything is a "public health issue" so we have the "right" to regulate everything.

All I ask today is that we think through these cultural assumptions.  According to whose idea of truth  are we believing what we do about marriage and about food?  Our entire culture might say one thing, but if God's word says another then our entire culture is wrong.

Perhaps it is time for each of us to assess the "worldly fables" that we assume to be true.  May God's true Truth abide in His people.

No good deed goes unpunished...

My dad was both wonderfully wise and amazingly foolish.  I guess he was like most of us.  We all have our moments, don't we?  I have been thinking about him this week because Monday would have been his 80th birthday.

Perhaps because of this birthday, perhaps because of where I am in life, I remember one of his wise, earthy sayings.

For some people, no good deed ever goes unpunished.

I remember as a kid thinking, what does that mean?  I know he was repeating an old saying of some sort, but how does this square with reality?  This week I was thinking about how the real Christmas story might explain this old proverb from my childhood.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1: 5

Darkness hates light.  It can not co-exist with light.  Light drives the darkness away.

So, when we live in the light, shine the light of the gospel, and walk in the truth, darkness will always try to make us put out the light.  Darkness will attack our good deeds.  Evil will try to tear down the light so it can continue.

Yet, like most of us, I am often surprised how darkness tries to put out the light.  I am shocked when a good deed is punished and attacked.  In reality, I am surprised how people can act as agents of darkness.

Should I be surprised?  Should you?

I think not, yet we are.  Remember, when we follow Jesus, we will often be treated how Jesus was treated.  As we grow in maturity and holiness, we will become like our teacher.

He was born in a stable.  He was adored by many, but very few remained faithful to him when he needed them most.  He was killed by religious people for doing good deeds.

Still, the light was not put out.  He rose from the dead to defeat sin and death forever.  The light shines bright in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.

As we approach Christmas, please hold fast to the promise that the light has not been overcome by darkness.  Even if your life appears to be nothing but the deepest night, ask for grace to turn and see the light.  Perhaps a sample prayer to say often throughout your day is:

Lord Jesus, have mercy on me a sinner.  I know you shine your light in the darkness, please give me eyes to see it.  Capture me with your light, your glory, and your love.

Why did God allow that to happen?

I am often mystified by how God works and why He allows events to happen.  

Days before our trip across America, we were making our final arrangements.  Part of these arrangements was a final check on our van to make sure it was ready for such a long journey.  The problem with mechanical things is they break.  I sure didn't want that to happen while on the road.

So, I scheduled our van to go to the van doctor (my great mechanic) for a check up on Monday, with a planned leaving on Tuesday.  I knew it might cost something, but it needed to be done for peace of mind.

Then, I had one of those "Why God?" moments.  On Saturday evening, I left a party in my honor to pick up one of my sons from a friend's house.  I picked him up, drove back toward the party, and suddenly the van totally died.  Lights were working but no power, no power steering, and it wouldn't start.

I had to have the car towed to my mechanic.  Could not get it done until Monday afternoon.  Car was to be fixed on Tuesday.  Found out the problem was more extensive and would take an extra day, maybe two.  It would be expensive.  It might not be done for three days.

Why did God allow that to happen?  Didn't He know that I had a plan?  I had job inquiries in two places across the country.  I had a schedule to keep.  I had to leave on Tuesday!

Honestly, it sure seemed like God did not care.

At this place, I could either become angry, bitter, and questioning or I could ask, 

"What are you trying to say Lord?"

In my years of walking with God, I have often wondered if He really cares.  Does He really love me and want what is best for me?  Does He really care about all the evil and pain in the world?

I have learned that God cares more than I can imagine.  He loves me with an everlasting love.  He wants what is best for me.  In this case, He allowed my van to break while at home instead of on the road somewhere.  He had plans for these job inquiries beyond my feeble plans.

How do I know this?  The real message of Christmas answers my questions, calms my heart, and proves God's love for me.  

God did not just tell us how to live.  He did not just give us rules to live by with the promise to obey and all will go well.  No, the God of true Christmas did much more than this.

God became flesh and dwelt among us.  Why?  So He would know, experience, endure, and live through all the pain, all the evil, and all the wrong in this world.  Jesus did that for me.  He did that for you.  He did that as a testimony of God's love for the entire world.

No other religion can make this claim.  None would dare.  It is to scandalous; too crazy.  But it is true.  

We live in a fallen world where things break, where evil dwells, where questions remain.  Jesus came to answer these questions, defeat the evil, and love us in our brokenness with the promise to make all things right someday.  He began the building of the Kingdom of God, and we can get glimpses and tastes of this glory now while awaiting his return to finalize His victory.

In other words, God truly loves you.  He loves me.  He loves us.  This is the true meaning of Christmas.  When events occur that we don't understand, it might help us to remember

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, 

neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.  

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, 

so are my ways higher than your ways 

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55: 8-9

Back and Ready for the Next Adventure

It is so good to be home.  It is good to have a clear mind, clear heart, and very little stress.  I am ready to discover what the Lord is doing in preparing the next stage of my journey of faith.

I have not written in what feels like forever.  About ten days ago, my family and I returned home from a 7600 mile car trip.  We viewed America through the windshield.  It was a great break from normal life.  It was needed.  It was awesome.

In just under a month, we drove from Seattle to Montana, to Ohio, to Florida, and then back to Seattle.  I cannot express enough how much of a blessing this journey was for myself and my family.

How did I have the time to do this?

In the middle of October, I left my position as pastor of First CRC of Seattle.  The story of why is long and fairly crazy.  I am just glad this congregation is no longer my concern or my burden.  I will allow our denomination to deal with them as they see fit.

While at First, I learned much, and I made some great friends and supporters.  I am so thankful for them and I look forward to having them be part of my life for the remainder of it. 

It never ceases to amaze me how God often shines the brightest light 

in the midst of our deepest darkness.

Today marks the start of a new adventure.  I look forward to experiencing God's grace as we walk through it together as a family.  Please join me in praying for God's wisdom and grace to mark the path for us.  Pray for new ministry opportunities, blessings on my family, and grace throughout the journey.

There will be many changes in the coming months with my on-line presence.  I look forward to seeing the hopes and dreams of many becoming reality.  Please pray for this also.  

As C.S. Lewis said in the Last Battle, "Head further in and further up."