by Chris Doyle | Nov 2, 2018
Greetings!
This is fast. It’s been a busy, unusual day for me. If you know me personally, you may find out. If you don’t, it’s not that important.
Here we go!
- Fear of missing out
Aimee Joseph offers a great modern day analogy of Luke 9, which covers Jesus calling His disciples, in her article “Burn Your Boats: A Warning about FOMO.”
I confess, I mainly read the article initially to find out what “FOMO” stood for (Fear Of Missing Out). It’s a great read.
- Gay Girl, Good God
I first became familiar with Jackie Hill Perry at an Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission conference five years ago. Jackie was one of the speakers. When she first came out to speak, the first thing she said was, “Greetings Earthlings.” I knew right off I would like her.
Kristen Wetherell offers a review of Jackie’s new book “Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was and Who God Has Always Been.”
Next to Rosaria Butterfield, Jackie Hill Perry is one of the best speakers on the topic of sharing Christ with someone involved in the gay-lesbian lifestyle.
- Mohler on election cycles
Al Mohler covered some great topics this week in his daily discussions known as The Briefing. If you haven’t been listening to his podcasts, why not?
There isn’t a national Christian leader alive I trust more than Al Mohler, and his willingness to advise conservative Christians on a daily basis is a pure gift. As my dad used to say, “I need all the help I can get.” And the wisdom Mohler offers in discerning issues today is so valuable in helping me gauge what’s going on in the world.
His Friday edition gives a great lesson on the election patterns for Congress. Why do members of the House of Representatives get elected every two years, and why do U.S. Senators serve six-year terms? I totally appreciate Mohler’s explanation.
- Better debate on drinking
Joe Carter recently emphasized that the debate on drinking needs to improve. What does he mean by that?
“If you were to go back to 1948,” Carter wrote, “you’d likely find the same discussions about alcohol that we’re having in 2018.”
In his article “Why Christians Need A Better Debate About Alcohol,” Carter pointed out that alcohol consumption has majorly increased.
Carter wrote, “Both Abstainers and Imbibers (DHD comment: the two opposing camps in the drinking debate) should be able to examine the empirical evidence and come to a general agreement on what constitutes imprudent, unhealthy, or dangerous levels of consumption.”
- French advises Young Evangelicals
David French is one of my favorite political writers. He wrote a great article addressing America’s Young Evangelicals, titled “The Two Different Temptations Facing Young Evangelicals.”
French admits he did not join the majority of his conservative co-horts who whole-heartedly support President Trump. I may not be in complete agreement with French, but I know we both did not vote for Trump in the recent presidential election (I left my ballot blank for U.S. President).
I am selective on my views on the President’s decisions and will continue to be. I favored his Supreme Court selections. I am not fully on board on all his decisions relating to immigration issues, though I do favor protecting the borders. I totally disagree with his handling of his Twitter account and his practice of disgracing those who oppose him.
With that said, French gives great advice to young Christians – “hold your faith tightly and your politics loosely.”
- Happy Birthday Jo-Nathan!
Today is my brother’s birthday. I end this week’s Doyle’s Half Dozen offering him a birthday shout-out.
Jon is loyal and kind. He is a great father to his kids and a tremendous younger brother. He definitely inherited more of the patient gene than I did, and he especially is the smartest one of the Doyle clan.
Happy Birthday Jo-Nathan! I’m sure turning 46 won’t be as difficult for you as it was for me.
by Michael Foust | Nov 2, 2018
Clara is a timid teen girl who is searching for her place in life following her mother’s death. It’s also Christmas – a fact that only adds to her sorrow.
“I don’t want to enjoy it,” she tells her father.
Her mom, though, had other ideas, and left her and her siblings several Christmas gifts they are to open on Christmas Eve. Clara’s present is a mysterious-yet-beautiful silver egg. It contains no key, even if it does include a note from her mom.
“Everything you need is inside,” it reads.
But without a key, how is she to open it? Even Clara – who excels in science and mechanics – cannot figure it out. Finally, though, she catches a break upon visiting her godfather’s workshop, which is nestled away in a huge mansion. While exploring the building during a Christmas gift hunt, she crosses over into another world full of talking toy soldiers, snow-filled forests and intelligent mice. She also finds the key, although it is quickly snatched away by a mouse, who disappears into the woods. Clara also discovers that everyone here calls her “Princess” and claims that her mother is the queen.
Can Clara find the key – and perhaps her identity in life, too?
Disney’s The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (PG) opens this weekend, starring Mackenzie Foy (Interstellar) as Clara; Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby) as her godfather, Drosselmeyer; Helen Mirren (The Queen) as Mother Ginger; and newcomer Jayden Fowora-Knight as a soldier named Phillip. It was inspired by E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic 1816 story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.
The other world is divided into four realms. Three of those – the Land of Snowflakes, Land of Flowers and Land of Sweets – are governed by regents. Her key is lost in the Fourth Realm, which is led by the evil Mother Ginger. The regents urge Clara to travel there and find her key. They also request that she help protect them from Mother Ginger.
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms has a plot that may sound quirky in print but works well on the big screen. Its simplicity is refreshing in a movie world full of complicated superhero and science fiction films. The movie is entertaining (my 10-year-old son loved it) and also the perfect length (about an hour and a half). Visually, it is a delight. Just as significantly, it contains a handful of positive lessons, some of which are so obvious, they hit you over the head.
Warning: minor/moderate spoilers!
(Scale key: none, minimal, moderate, extreme)
Violence/Disturbing
Minimal. We hear discussion about the death of Clara’s mother. The mice in the other world gang up to form a giant creature that looks like a swarm of insects. Clara and her friends enter the Fourth Realm under fog, giving it an eerie feeling. Creepy statues (like something from a theme park) guard the entrance. Clowns protect Mother Ginger, who has a couple of scars on her face. During a battle scene, giant toy soldiers are punched and hit frequently; they fall over easily.
Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity
None. An evil female character jokes about the soldiers, “Boys with weapons in uniforms send a quiver through me.”
Coarse Language
Minimal. One coarse word said by Drosselmeyer: d–n (1). Possibly one OMG.
Other Positive Elements
At first, Clara is reluctant to sacrifice her time and energy for the realms but she eventually comes around, displaying selflessness. She and her father have a disagreement early in the film but forgive one another. Clara is skilled at science and mechanics – two subjects that did not draw the attention of many girls in the Victorian era, when the movie takes place.
Life Lessons
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms provides lessons on grief during tragedy, courage, selflessness and leadership. Its most significant lesson, though, involves finding one’s place in life (see below).
Worldview
The movie’s theme – “everything you need is inside of you” – provides a mixed bag. That statement is true for the Christian, but it’s not for the unbeliever. What the unbeliever needs – Christ – is outside of him.
Yet that’s not the backdrop for The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. The movie presents Clara as someone who wants to be more like her sister and who is struggling to find her place in the world. Clara needs to discover and use her own talents. “You see the world in a unique way,” her mom tells her in a flashback scene, encouraging her to be herself. It’s a conversation I have had with my children when sibling rivalries arise. As I tell each of them: God has gifted you in ways your brother and sister are not gifted. Be yourself!
“Over the course of this story, she learns that it’s OK for her to be different, and in fact, the things that make her different are also what make her special,” Ashleigh Powell, who wrote the screenplay for the movie, told me this week. “And I think that’s just such a great message for not only girls but kids in general.”
As believers, our identity is in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17, 1 Pet. 2:9, Gal. 2:20), but He has gifted each of us uniquely.
(The YouVersion Bible app includes a devotional based on the movie. Search for “Nutcracker” within the app)
What I Liked
The landscapes. The family-centric story. The incorporation of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Suite within the movie. Yet you don’t have to enjoy ballet to like the film; most of it is not ballet.
What I Didn’t Like
Two of the soldiers are somewhat effeminate, but I’m being picky.
Discussion Questions
- What does it mean that “everything you need is inside of you”? Do you agree with that statement?
- Why were Clara and her father upset at one another? What led Clara to apologize? What led her father to apologize?
- What did Clara learn while in the other world? What did you learn from the movie?
Entertainment rating: 4 out of 5 stars. Family-friendly rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
Rated PG for some mild peril.
by Caleb Gordon | Nov 1, 2018
The pace of our lives sometimes can seem to just be so intense that nothing we do can alleviate any of the stresses and pressures. The noise in our lives is really difficult to walk away from, and many times, it is self-induced noise!
We are addicted to our devices and our social media. We have to always be connected on some level. The bad thing about social media is that it gives us a false sense of community.
We think that, by being a part of this type of community, we will find some type of meaning or peace, but what really happens is that we end up worshiping this community. We look for approval, and when it does not come, we feel a major letdown, and depression will follow.
The goal of the Christian life is to place our focus and our eyes on the King (Jesus). And many times, that is easier to say than actually do. Nevertheless, it is something that is needed. Look at Psalms 23.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
When Jesus is our shepherd and our guide, the only thing that really brings satisfaction is Him, and if we are satisfied in Him, the rest of the things in this present world really fall short. Look where He takes us:
“He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”
HE RESTORES OUR SOULS! How many of us truly need that to happen? I know I do. And when our souls are restored and satisfied in HIM, we begin to walk on paths of righteousness. In other words, we begin to follow the right standards. We live this life as it was intended to be lived.
Following Jesus and making him our foundation just makes sense. He brings a peace that lasts. He brings true satisfaction in a world that is longing for something authentic.
by Karen Kinnaird | Oct 31, 2018
“Teach what is good…” (Titus 2:3)
Oklahoma native Kelly D. King has new book, Ministry to Women – The Essential Guide for Leading Women in the Local Church, hot off the press. Published by LifeWay, this book is full of essentials – practical helps and creative solutions for intentional ministry to women. The nine-chapter resource should be a part of every women’s ministry leader’s library. Packed with valuable information, it’s written in a condensed, easy-to-read format.
Kelly D. King is the women’s ministry specialist for LifeWay Christian Resources where she coordinates training and equipping events for women in leadership. King served 11 years as the women’s missions and ministries specialist for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. Gleaning from years of hands-on experience in the local church and statewide ministry, King writes about the importance of using methods dynamically to reach women based on the ever-changing cultural landscape.
This interactive manual will benefit seasoned leaders, desiring to keep their ministries current and vibrant, as well as aspiring leaders just getting started. King incorporates Scripture throughout the book along with heartfelt personal stories. Each chapter includes challenging application questions and places to take notes.
Addressing issues such as the rise of the millennial generation, changes in communication, ministering in a post-modern culture and the rising interest of women as leaders, she gives sound advice for constantly evolving ministries. Readers are encouraged to customize these practical tools and apply them to the context of their own church.
With a solid theological framework, the book features:
- The why of ministry beginning with prayer
- Building and leading a team
- Discipleship which includes choosing a Bible study and creating a great Bible study atmosphere
- Connecting generations
- Communicating with intentionality and creativity
- Planning purposeful events
- Ministering to women in pain and crisis
- Creating a welcoming atmosphere and seeking evangelistic opportunities
My favorite chapter was “Connecting the Generations,” where King shares personal stories about women who mentored her. Encouraging personal relationships within Biblical community, King writes, “…we’ve forgotten the simplicity of how the local church should be connecting the generations and providing natural mentoring opportunities.” She discourages programing and encourages more intentional, strategic mentoring through existing relationships. This “realistic approach” allows godly women to share their life experiences, along with the Word of God and prayer with younger women.
King also addresses skills that appear to be simple and basic – skills that one would assume people know how to do, but in reality may not have been taught, such as:
- How to lead an effective team meeting and make an agenda
- Proper use of social media in a ministry context
- Tips on visiting someone in the hospital
- Steps for planning an international mission trip
- Tips for including ministry wives and working with male staff members
Every women’s ministry leader needs to get a copy of Ministry to Women- The Essential Guide for Leading Women in the Local Church. It’s available in print and e-book at www.lifeway.com. Use it as a handbook and refer to it throughout the year.
by Caleb Moore | Oct 30, 2018
Recently, I met with a new believer whom I was beginning to disciple. He was new to church life and to the idea of what it really meant to be a Christian.
His testimony was simple but powerful. He began to believe that there was a God and that this God could help him. He was invited to church by a friend and reluctantly decided to give it a try. In a matter of months, Jesus moved in his heart in a mighty way, and he confessed that Jesus was Lord.
As we sat down to talk I realized just how little he knew about Jesus. He told me, “All I know is that Jesus was in a basket in some river as a baby.” Some of you might giggle at such an idea. We know that the person he is describing is Moses.
However, he is an intelligent person who simply had heard so little about Jesus. He assumed the baby in a basket story was about Jesus. He also asked me how long did it take for Jesus to write the Bible. I love these types of questions because it’s amazing to see people discover Jesus for the first time.
There are still people really close to you who don’t know Jesus. I don’t mean that in the salvation sense. I mean it in the most basic way possible. They simply do no know who Jesus is, what He taught or why this matters.
Many of us have been in the church or around Christians for so long we assume everyone has the basics of our beliefs stored somewhere in their minds. This assumption has impacted our evangelism in a negative way. We use Christian words and tell stories as though people are familiar with the names and settings.
When I preach, I do my best to make sure everyone knows where the book of the Bible we are studying is located. I pause for a long time and wait until everyone has found it. Some get to the book and chapter in a matter of seconds, but for others it can take a minute or more.
I suggest we always, always wait for those who are not familiar with the Bible to find it, so they can read along with the rest of us. Far too often, we move quickly, and in doing so, we leave behind those who need to be taught the most.
Being around people who have little or no understanding of our faith is the only way to be made aware of how much we miscommunicate to the lost people around us. Asking someone if they have been washed by the blood of the Lamb is only helpful if they know lots of Biblical teachings. Can you imagine asking that of someone who has no idea what you are talking about? They might think you are a voodoo doctor.
One of the reasons for this gap in communication is because so few Christians engage in conversations with those who are not like them. We have created our own cultural safe space with its own language, music and stores. As we sit comfortably in our pews, there is a world outside that is oblivious to the truth of the Gospel.
The fix is easy though. Talk to people about Jesus. Talk to the person at the gas station, the restaurant and your work. The more you talk about Jesus the more opportunities you have to answer questions about what a Christian actually is.
by Emily Howsden | Oct 29, 2018
I was raised in a Baptist church. I still go to a Baptist church, of which I am not ashamed. But one thing anyone who grew up Baptist knows is that we don’t typically celebrate the “H” word.
What we did do growing up was go to “fall festivals” and all of the other names for events that happen to fall around October 31 that Baptist churches use to masquerade “the devil’s holiday.”
But I’m here to tell you, Halloween should be celebrated by the church! I’m not going to go crazy and tell you all about the origins of the holiday and give you a history lesson, but what I will do is tell you that if your church completely ignores this holiday, a big opportunity for outreach will have passed your church by!
Halloween is one of the most widely-celebrated holidays on the calendar each year. What’s not to love about dressing up as a popular superhero, a character from your favorite sitcom or some sort of fuzzy creature? The sky is the limit when it comes to Halloween costumes. Plus, what parent doesn’t love dressing their child up? The potential for cuteness is huge.
Who doesn’t love a holiday where a primary focus is treats? Whether you have a sweet tooth the size of Texas (guilty) or you prefer savory treats, Halloween is there for you! Popcorn balls are a popular Halloween treat, the perfect marriage of salty and sweet. The holiday falls right in the middle of fall, or as I like to call it, Crockpot season… hello cheese dips! And for the sweet tooth lovers, BRING ON THE CANDY.
Halloween is also a fun reason to have people over for a party. No matter what day of the year it falls, people everywhere stop what they usually do on a weeknight or weekend and dress up to stay in, or dress up to go trick-or-treating with family and friends.
Additionally, we can’t forget the “Trick” part of “Trick or treat.” Who in a Baptist church doesn’t like a good “trick” or prank? Some of the biggest pranksters I know are on church staff at any one of the Baptist churches in the great state of Oklahoma. This holiday could be the perfect way to end Pastor Appreciation Month by pulling one over on your favorite church leader! (I can say that, I’m a pastor’s wife)
If you look at all of the above mentioned reasons why people enjoy this holiday, and you compare the reasons why Baptists normally gather for functions, they are eerily similar! The holiday meets the three Baptist requirements for an event, which I like to call “the four Fs”: Food, fun, family and fellowship.
At my church, we have “Halloween House Parties.” Instead of hosting an event at the church, life groups are encouraged to host a party of their own and invite their neighbors. Life groups have the opportunity to check out bounce houses from the church, which means, in neighborhoods all over the city, there are several block parties thrown by members of our church. It’s a blast and a fun way to meet people in your neighborhood with whom you might not normally spend an evening.
Instead of being “stuffy church people” who refuse to celebrate a holiday, I say we take advantage of, for once, the world coming to our doorsteps, rather than us going to theirs. Halloween is a huge opportunity for outreach.
So I say, throw on a costume, put some cheese dip in the crock pot, some chili on the stove, open your door to the neighborhood and get out there and love on your neighbors!
