Scott Freeman

Here is a question for all my wise readers.  I’m going through Great Themes of the Old Testament.  My theme for the Sunday is “The Day of the Lord.”

In the light of so much apocalyptic mumbo-jumbo in the evangelical world today, I thought this sermon would be especially apropos. So, I’m planning on going more indepth into the idea of apocalyptic thought in the OT.

Any thoughts? What do you make of Israel, the millennium, etc?  I’d like a variety of opinions.

I’m pretty amillennial.  Are there any pre- or post- who read this?

I have a contentment problem. But it’s probably not the way you think.

I don’t have any of those big-ticket contentment issues.

I love my wife and couldn’t picture living my life with anyone but here.

I adore my children and look forward to coming home to them at the end of each day.

I don’t want a bigger or better house. My Hyundai is just fine, thank you.

I couldn’t imagine shelling out big bucks for any item. I’m genuinely and generally happy with the content of my life.

It’s the little things where I struggle with being content. And because they are so seemingly small, I feel that they are, in the long run, more insidious and problematic than some of those “big-ticket” items.

Some Examples:

• I’ll go to the library and check out 3-4 books. I’ll be excited about reading through each of them. However, before I even get into the second book I’ll lose interest and ready to go check out new books.
• I’ll bug Tracy relentlessy to delete programs off of the TIVO just to feel a sense of accomplishment when everything has been watched.  Then, we can start over.
• I’m so restless with my sermon series right now because I’m looking forward to starting my new series in September.  I’ve walked laboriouslly through the Old Testament for the past year.  I’m ready to hit the New.

The reason I think this is insidious is because it dampens the joy in which I approach life.  I’m always looking ahead rather than being in the now.

Whenever we go to a restaurant, it typically doesn’t matter what restaurant, my 5-year old Chloe will usually exclaim “Daddy, can we come here again?”

That’s before we even eat.  She is all the time asking what we are doing tomorrow or 8 days from now. Or how many days until “church day” again.

She’s just like me.  But it’s not healthy.  I try to tell her to just be content with the now.  Enjoy the restaurant now, don’t worry about the next time we come here.  But it rings false.  Cause I do the same.

Always waiting for the next big thing, the next pleasant surprise or neat discovery.  And that’s sin.  Sin that must be rooted out before it progresses to more harmful areas.

Because, understand this, all sin is progressive and deadly.  It does not remain content.  It seeks to grow and fester.

Paul tells us in Philippians 4:11 that we are to be content in whatever situation we find ourselves

So here is what I am striving to do.  Maybe you find yourself struggling with contentment issues.  Maybe it is those “big ticket” items you are struggling with.  Maybe it is something as seemingly innocuous as mine.  Whatever the case, here are a few steps to overcoming any discontent you might feel:

1. Rid yourself of excess desires.  I must learn to seek the joy in what I am doing now.  I can’t bog myself down in what might be waiting at the library, for the blessing is what I am reading now.  The import of the message is not what I will preach in October but what God needs to say now.  There is no certainty of that next trip to the library.  There is only what I do now.
2. Divest.  I have too much stuff.  I acquire, collect and consume.  However, contentment cannot come through procurement.  It can only truly come by giving.
3. Spend time on the important stuff. I get bogged down in the minutia of sermon prep and study.  Sure, it’s important.  But it’s never the sermon of my life.  The value I place of family and friendship is paramount. A sermon delivered pales in comparison to a sermon lived.  Chloe starts kindergarten in 9 days.  I will spend more time with her in the interim.
4. See opportunities rather than barriers. A tremendous roadblock to our contentment has to do with our perspective.  I often allow the continual disruptions to my day to irritate me rather than to see them as opportunities to invest in others. If Jesus is the perfecter of our faith than all situations in life are just opportunities to be a greater reflection of Him.
5. Trust.  Understand that He is the perfecter of our faith.  He can give us joy enough, love enough, contentment enough, because He is faithful
6. Surrender. It’s one thing to trust.  It’s something else entirely to completely surrender to Him.  That means allowing yourself to go where He would have you to go.  Stop trying to be in control. Stop trying to set the agenda. Just be. This doesn’t come naturally.  It means letting go of the wheel.  But understand this: He will never fail you.

Thoughts?

This morning’s sermon.  The second great sin of the Israelite people was their failure to love others.  The perversion of our relationships results in injustice.

If the player does not work you can access all of my sermons here.

This is my sermon from last Sunday, July 30th.  It is part one of a two part look at the great sins of the Israelite people: Idolatry and Injustice.

I take a look at the idols that they had and compare them to our own present-day idols.

• The first preseason NFL game is just two days away.  Football is back, baby.
• I’m not a fan of love stories, but The Time Traveler’s Wife is a must read. See my sidebar for more information.
• It doesn’t matter how many times she asks, I am not adding flirtymonica as a Myspace friend.
• Yesterday I gained 8 pounds. Today I lost 9.  I think I need a new scale.
• I just got ahold of the pilots for Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and Friday Night Lights. I can’t wait to check them out.
• Snakes on a Plane opens in 2 weeks.  This internet phenomenon was born out of a desire to put two of man’s greatest fears together.  Novel concept.  How’s this for a sequel: Clowns in the Pulpit?
• Pat Robertson know believes in global warming. As a signatory to the Evangelical Climate Initiative I’m pretty safe in saying we weren’t courting his endorsement, but we are glad when people acknowledge what’s going on.  In related news, Tim Lahaye has started the Hezbollah Defense Fund.
• I want to get my wife something cool for our anniversay on the 15th.  Any thoughts?

I love music and hope to pass that love on to my children. Tracy and I don’t share musical tastes at all, so I try to cram as much in when I’m alone with the girls.

I’ve been fairly vocal that I’m not a big fan of much Contemporary Christian Music. The reasons for that are plentiful. I tend to lean more toward folky-singer/songwriter type stuff. My first criteria for a good song is lyrical.

A lot of the music I like has a social conscience, so spiritual themes abound even if it is not explicity “Christian.”

The other night I was listening to a song by Carrie Newcomer while taking Chloe to basketball practice.

Chloe said, “Daddy, I like this song. Is it a Jesus song?”

I thought about it for a minute and told her that yes, it is a Jesus song. That conversation got me to thinking about the number of songs that have been recorded by secular artists that capture the spirit of Christ, often more profoundly than what is in CCM.

From time to time, I would like to share those songs with you and my thoughts. Take time. Absorb these lyrics. Find this song and download it (it’s available on iTunes and all other sites). It will bless you.

I Heard an Owl

I heard an owl call last night homeless and confused

I stood naked and bewildered By the evil people do

Up upon a hill there is a terrible sign

That tells the story of what darkness waits when we leave the light behind.

Chorus: So, Don’t tell me hate is ever right or God’s will

These are the wheels we put in motion ourselves

The whole world weeps and is weeping still

Though shaken I still believe the best of what we all can be

The only peace this world will know can only come from love.

Verse: I am a voice calling out Across the great divide

I am only one person That feels they have to try

The questions fall like trees or dust Rise like prayers above

But the only word is “Courage” And the only answer “ Love”

Chorus

Light ever candle that you can For we need some light to see

In the face of deepest loss, Treat each other tenderly

The arms of God will gather in Every sparrow that falls

And makes no separation Just fiercely loves us all.

Chorus

Carrie Newcomer 2001

This song resonates within me for I have often tried to reconcile hatred with the designs of God. As if the pithy aphorism to “hate the sin and love the sinner” is sufficient cover to mask my animosity toward those who have been created in His image.

I think many of us harbor hatreds that we have reclassified as something more benign. That way we can continue to harbor our prejudices and our intolerance without confronting the insidious blackness in our hearts.

But that’s not of God. As she sings, “these are the wheels we put in motion ourselves.”

Our propensity for hatred, for de-valuing others causes the world to weep. It is tragic by-product of our fallen state. Children in Lebanon, Darfur, Inner-City America mourn the loss of hope because of a world so torn by hatred.

And so, the only answer is for the church to live the presence of Christ. To be the in-breaking of the Kingdom. No government, no empire, no nation, no administration can be the incarnation of Christ in this fallen world. It is our job.

We must light the candle for we are the light of the world.

We must learn to treat all people with love, tenderness and respect.

We must understand that God loves all people, hoping that all would come to repentance.

In the first verse when she talks about the terrible sign on the hill I can’t help put picture the crucified Savior on Mount Calvary. When we turn our backs on the One all that waits for us is darkness. And hate.

Chloe asks for this song whenever we are in the car together now.

She says, “Daddy, will you play that songs that says “don’t call me hate?”

Of course, I play it for her. My prayer is that no one would ever equate my sweet and precious daughter with the hatred that is far too prevalent among us.

Yes, that’s a Jesus song, honey.

What secular “Jesus” songs have impacted you?

The performances last night were good across the board.  To me, there were only a couple of performances that completely came up short.

Patrice Pike–Higher Ground:  Cynthia Nixon, with some messed-up hair, bounced back admirably from last week’s performance. Of course it helped that she was backed by Tommy going gonzo.  She has the pipes and the ability, but she’s still best off as a solo artist. I cannot see her fronting this band.
Josh Logan–Santeria:  Josh has the soul to pull off the reggae-funk of this song.  The performance was fun and catchy.  But his refusal to do something heavy will catch up with him.  It’s not if he gets kicked off, it’s when.

Dilana–Can’t Get Enough: There is nothing bad you can say about her performances.  Over the last couple of weeks, she has toned down her “fear factor” and has truly emerged as the one to beat.  I love it when the performers are able to make me enjoy a song I never want to hear again.

Toby Rand–Pennyroyal Tea: Please, can we go one week without a Nirvana song? Just one week? Anyway, Toby did an adequate job, but nothing memorable.

Zayra Alvarez–867-5309/Jenny: The band pretty much came out and said it last night: they keep her around because she amuses them.  If this was Rock Star: Siouxsie and the Banshees or Rock Star: some other 80′s female fronted New Wave band, she would be at the top.  But Penelope Cruz is strictly a side show at this point.

Magni–Clocks: A Chris Martin vocal is not easy to pull off.  But Magni did it.  He is the consummate performer and gets better each week. He’s not going anywhere any time soon.

Jill Gioia–Don’t You Forget About Me: Jill, on the other hand, might be catching a red-eye tonight.  She has a set of pipes and a lot of energy.  But she doesn’t have the showmanship or the presence to keep her out of the bottom 3.  She’s my pick for elimination tonight.

Ryan Star–Losing My Religion: Over the last two weeks Ryan has catapulted himself into the top 4 performers.  His stripped down piano-rawkin’ version of this song was emotional, powerful and transcendent.  One of my favorite performances overall so far.  He brought new life and texture to a classic tune.

Lukas Rossi–Celebrity Skin: Hopefully, the realization is setting in that emperor has no clothes.  In other words, Johnny Galecki can’t sing.  Let’s end the charade and just add him to Tommy’s entourage.

Storm Large–Changes: Have I mentioned yet that I love Storm Large.  Last night, she slowed things down and delivered a passionate and moving version of my favorite Bowie song.  Her ability to mix it up from week to week is rivaled only by Dilana.  That’s why they are the top 2 performers in this competition.

Dana Andrews–Baba O’Reilly: Dana improves each and every week.  Here she pulls off a timeless tune by one of the greatest rock bands of all time.  And she rocked it.  However, her transformation from the girl next door to rocker chick is still somewhat painful for me to watch.

Here’s what it looks like to me:

Repeat Performance: Ryan Star (But I would love to hear Storm again, too)

Bottom Three: Lukas, Jill, Zayra (I’m afraid Lukas might get a pass.  If so, expect Toby to be the third)

Going Home: Jill

Thoughts?

I was not around to witness what many refer to as the golden age of television. Primarily, this heyday was comprised of shows during the 50′s and relied heavily on the transportation of bits that had been popular on radio. With that library of quality work, the first 10 years or so of television is still noted for its excellence. I grew up watching reruns of such classics as I Married Joan, My Little Margie, Burns and Allen, and Jack Benny. Truly, those were great days.

Although I was not around for that period I was old enough in 1973 to witness the greatest night in TV history. Every Saturday night you could tune into CBS and watch, in order: All in the Family, Mash, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newheart Show, and The Carol Burnett Show.

Nothing has ever come close to that night of TV excellence. 33 years later I would still tune in to that night over any others.

Many are stating now that we might be entering into a new golden age of television. Serialized dramas such as 24 and Lost have changed the viewing landscape and there are several new shows on the horizon that have the potential to tap into that wave. Oversaturation is a huge risk, but if the fall schedule is any indication there will be a plethora of quality shows to choose from.

I recently had the opportunity to watch the pilots of 5 shows that will be premiering on ABC and CBS this fall. Most of them were really good. Here’s a rundown:

Jericho (CBS): Airing on Wednesdays at 7 (All Times Central), Jericho stars Skeet Ulrich as the black sheep son of a small town mayor (Gerald McRaney). After an unexplained five year absence, he returns home. It just so happens that while he is home in Jericho, a mushroom cloud appears in the distance (it’s Denver). All communications are shut down and the people are left wondering the extent of the attack that has been unleashed upon America. Are they the only ones left? What happens in the aftermath is the heart of this serial story.
Bottom Line: Without going into detail of the personal story lines involved, this show will be one worth tuning in, for no other reason than the fact that it seems all too preposterous. But all too real, at the same time. It’s far-fetched but it taps into the fear that we have all felt post 9/11.  This is one of the shows that I am most looking forward to.
The Nine (ABC): Nine different people are held hostage during a bank robbery. 52 hours later they emerge, changed and scarred. This show deals with the aftermath of the ordeal as these characters find themselves forever bound to one another. As they strive to piece together their lives and make sense of what took place inside the bank, more of what happened will be revealed.
Bottom Line: First off, the cast is great: Tim Daly (Wings), Kim Raver (24) and Chi McBride (Boston Public) headline this cast. But best of all is John Billingsley (previously seen as Terrence Steadman on Prison Break), a loser who finds his suicide attempt foiled by the robbery. Suffice it to say, he has a new-found lease on life. This show may be the breakout hit of the year. It has the storyline, the acting and the pacing to keep you hooked. And with Lost as a lead-in, the sky is the limit.

Traveler (ABC): Three college graduates decide on one last “prank” before they begin a final road trip together: rollerskating through the Guggenheim. Two of them exit moments before the building explodes. Those two (Jay and Tyler) are now the main suspects as they slowly discover that their college buddy, Will, was not who he claimed to be. Now, hunted by the authorities, they have to figure out what happened. Nothing is as it seems.
Bottom Line: The pilot was captivating but there are a couple of questions that emerge. Although I won’t argue with creator David Nutter’s track record (12 straight pilots picked up), I wonder about the sustainability of this story line. And being a midseason show with no time slot as of yet, it will be largely mining the same ground as Prison Break. That doesn’t mean I’m not interested. I’ll be around when it finally premieres in the Spring.

Shark (CBS): James Woods is a cut-throat, high-powered defense attorney who has a change of heart when one of his clients murders his wife after acquittal.  His change of heart leads him to becoming a prosecutor for the DA’s office.  Needless to say, his heart has changed but his methods haven’t.
Bottom Line: Take House. Put it in a legal setting. Shake, and voila! It’s Shark. James Woods is as good as it gets when it comes to acting. However, the pilot left me a little underwhelmed.  The big “change of heart” looks to be shallow, the whole defense/prosecution thing has been done and it comes on opposite ER.  This will probably appeal to many with CSI as a lead-in, but I’ll pass.

The Class (CBS): Hoping to create a comedy companion to How I Met Your Mother, this show features a last-minute 20-year reunion of a third grade class.
Bottom Line: One important point in writing a comedy is to ensure that you actually include some parts that are funny.  Unfortunately there are more genuinely hilarious moments during Prison Break (which comes on at the same time) than during this.  Skip it.