Scott Freeman

One of the most important books I have ever read is Gene Edward’s classic “A Tale of Three Kings.” It is a fictional account of Saul, David and Absalom.

As you recall in the OT story David had ample opportunity to kill Saul. But he refused because, regardless of Saul’s actions, he was still God’s anointed. In Edward’s retelling he fast-forwards to the time when Absalom is making his bid for David’s throne.

Again, David has the opportunity to kill Absalom but he resists because he does not know if God has anointed Absalom. And he refuses to live like Saul. The question David faced at the later point in his life during the conflict with Absalom was whether he would act as a David or as a Saul. Read this beautiful entry:

It is better I be defeated, even killed, than to learn the ways of…of a Saul, or the ways of an Absalom. The kingdom is not that valuable. Let him have it, if that be the Lord’s will. I repeat: I shall not learn the ways of either Sauls or Absaloms.

And now being an old man, I will add a word I might not have known then. Abishai, no man knows his own heart. I certainly do not know mine. Only God does. Shall I defend my little realm in the name of God? Shall I throw spears, and plot and divide…and kill men’s spirits if not their bodies…to protect my empire? I did not lift a finger to be made king. Nor to preserve a kingdom. Even the Kingdom of God! God put me here. It is not my responsibility to take, or keep authority. Do you not realize, it may be His will for these things to take place? I suspect that, if He chose, God could protect and keep the kingdom even now. After all, it is His kingdom.

The book was so foundational and pivotal for me in my early ministry because it taught me an important concept and virtue: brokenness.

I made a pledge to myself that, if God called me to minister, that I would do so with brokenness and humility. When I found myself floundering and even out of ministry over a decade ago now I renewed that commitment.

If there is one thing that I always endeavor to do is to be honest with where I am.

If I doubt then I express my doubt. Thomas did that and he was blessed.
If I wrestle with a thorn I confess it. Paul did that and he was a great evangelist.
If I hurt then I voice it. David did that and he was a man after God’s own heart.

One of the messages of Scripture is that of the brokenness of God’s chosen vessels. We minister best when we allow ourselves to be fragile, to be painfully honest with our shortcomings, to be real and transparent.

Sometimes, I struggle with that as the way to go. There is the possibility of being misunderstood. But my best ministry has always been through being real. Being me. A fallen man with a perfect Savior.

Yesterday I received some great affirmation in the power of brokenness to work and move. A friend who I greatly respect and admire told me that “people like me need pastors like you.” That meant a lot.

And then I received an unexpected email. About 18 months ago I did a blog where I recommended a musical artist. I talk about my musical tastes a lot on this blog and often point out album releases that I find compelling.

Yesterday, this one particular artist emailed me and said something to the effect that, although he has always tried to hold religious people at arms length, he saw something in my writings that led him to think that maybe that wasn’t the way to go.

I say all that to say this: God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. It is through brokenness, humility and transparency that God’s light can most powerfully shine though us. And ultimately “in love’s service only the wounded servants can serve.”

And that is the only way I know how to minister. It’s good sometimes to know that in God’s hands that is more than enough.

–I finally made the switch to Google Reader. I had a hard time letting go of the “S” smart key in Bloglines that let me go to the next entry. Other than that, Google is so much more convenient allowing me to stay on my home page while reading my subscriptions.

–You can read some of my favorite posts that I find by looking at the right sidebar under “Interesting Reads.” If I come across a blog post that I find especially enlightening or just plain fun, I’ll link it there.

–Also, if you have a Google home page and want my own personal gadget “The Daily Scott” let me know. I’ll send you an invite. Now you can know even more information about me that you don’t really care to know.

–The second best album of the year has just been released. The Avett Brothers have churned out an absolutely stellar disc, Emotionalism. It’s so good that I couldn’t wait for my emusic subscription to refresh. I went out and bought it on iTunes. And scored two bonus songs in the process. This is the Beatles meet alt-country. Absolutely phenomenal. Here they are doing “Paranoia in B Flat Major” on Conan last week. I defy you not to love this:

The Avett Brothers – Paranoia in B flat Major – Conan O’Brien

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Attempting this ambitious of a list is quite a daunting one. Especially when I try to recall the books that I have read through the years.

What follows is not necessarily a list of the greatest books that I have read but the ones that have helped to shape me and turn me into a life-long reader.

10. The Stand by Stephen King–When I was about 13 years old I picked up my older brother’s copy of Salem’s Lot and began to read it. I was hooked. Although The Stand was not the first King book that I read it was the first where I knew that I was leaving the world of comic books and Encyclopedia Brown behind and moving into more adult fare.
My mom supported my growing reading habit but was understandably concerned about the mature subject matter of King’s book. She let me read his stuff anyway, most likely against her better judgment. There was one rule though: I couldn’t take any of his books to school with me. But The Stand was way too long of a book to not try to sneak it to school to read during class. And too engrossing. I got caught carrying it to the bus stop.

9. Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy–It would be that following summer when I first picked up Conroy’s book. The themes of friendship, honor and integrity would so resonate in my 14 year old consciousness that I would go back and read it multiple times over the next few years of my life. It was the first book that would prompt the multiple readings. Not only that, but I would end up watching the movie version 32 times.

8. On the Anvil by Max Lucado–I haven’t read anything by Lucado in many years and don’t particularly enjoy his style of writing. However when I was 21 years old I decided that it was time to take this faith thing seriously. This book was the one that aided me the most in that process. It fomented my desire to be a true disciple. I still appreciate that.

7. A Tale of Three Kings by Gene Edwards–I read this book in the early days of my ministry. I did not go to a Christian school or receive any formal training in what ministry was all about. Going into it I thought it would be an easy job with nothing but love and nurture from people. This book was absolutely critical for me when I realized that was not the case. During the first 5 years of ministry I would pull this book down off the shelf every six months or so and read it again. The theme of brokenness is one that has always been important to me. It’s the only way I truly know how to proclaim the gospel.
It’s time to read this again.

6. The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning–Grace came alive to me when I read this book for the first time 17 years ago. This was in those formative days of trying to start a college ministry, hanging out with friends who were passionately pursuing Jesus, jaunts to the Tulsa Workshop, and passing a very pregnant Amy Grant on the streets of Nashville. It was when I first fully began to realize that the blessed gospel is for all and not my narrow corner of the world.

5. I Just Want To Be A Christian by Rubel Shelly–I would not have been prepared for the two-by-four of Manning’s book if not for the advance work that Shelly’s book accomplished. In the summer and fall of 1989 I was wrestling with God’s love and grace and just truly how wide, deep and high it was. This book was the one that first initially gave me the idea that maybe there didn’t need to be the series of litmus tests that I had thought were necessary. Maybe the things that I thought were so important as a test of fellowship didn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things.

4. The Jesus I Never Knew by Phillip Yancey–It’s amazing to think how slowly and gradually true change takes place. In the five years between Ragamuffin and this book I considered myself a progressive, open-minded Christian. However, in that period I didn’t experience the love affair with Jesus that would characterize my life in later years. Yancey’s book began the sea change away from Paulianity to truly fixing my eyes on Jesus.

3. Parting the Waters by Taylor Branch–Branch’s first entry in his masterful trilogy documenting America in the years of Martin Luther King, Jr. had a tremendous impact on me. Over the last few years I have confronted my own hatreds and prejudices. It was in reading this book that King became more than just a tragic figure but a true hero of mine. Branch’s work is exhaustive and compelling. He brings the pains and struggles of the Civil Rights era into stark relief and spurred me to greater love for all people.

2. The Inescapable Love of God by Tom Talbott–Not only is this one of my favorite titles of all time but it is also one of my favorite writings. Part autobiography, part exegesis this writing is the one that took me deepest into a true understanding of the never-ending love of God. Regardless of words that I have said to the contrary I have longed viewed God’s love being fixed and finite, conditional and contingent. Talbott’s book was instrumental in moving me to a more fleshed out and salvific view of the character and nature of God.

1. Mere Discipleship by Lee Camp–It’s no stretch to say that this book has shaped me more than any other that I have ever read. It is not the most exhaustive or scholarly book that I have read on the subject of true Christian discipleship. But it is the one that truly sparked my desire to be more like Christ, to understand and embrace non-violence and allegiance solely to the Lamb.
And to think that it was by chance that I discovered this book: standing in a Port Huron, Michigan library in January of 2004 and noticing a title that seemed to combine two of my favorite works only to discover that it was penned by a member of my own tribe. I got the book read a few pages, got disgusted and put it aside.
But I kept coming back to it. The truth that it proclaimed was too real for me to escape from. I’ve since read it 7 times. It has shaped me and redefined me.

But then again, all of these books have. I anxiously await the next 10 books that will impact me like these.

What about you?

Today’s sermon was from Acts 2. You can access it here.

Older sermons are in the player below.

Click here to get your own player.

…is me smashing my computer into bits.

Seriously, if I don’t get past level 36 of this game soon, I’m going to go mad.

If anybody figures out level 36 let me know how to beat level 36.

It’s level 36 I’m stuck on.  Level 36 has me stumped.  I know level 36 must have an easy solution that I’m not seeing but I can’t figure out level 36.

Level 36…

Level 36…

Wow, look at the pretty colors

By my count I have read 42 books so far this year not counting the materials I use in preaching and teaching.

I have read some that are great: Letters to a Young Evangelical, The Inescapable Love of God, The Blind Side, Leaving Church
I have read some that are not so great: American Fascists

But what I have not read so far this year is fiction.  So, I attempt now to remedy that.

This summer I commit to reading almost exclusively fiction.  I know that I will probably slip up and read something that’s not.  Non-fiction is like crack to me.

But I want to enjoy a fictitious summer.  Which is where you come in.

Last year, I went on a fiction spree and enjoyed some great works.  Many of those were suggested by you.

You can look at my left side-bar and see that I have already begun the process.  I also intend to read Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson and Boomsday by Christopher Buckley.

What suggestions do you have for me?  My preference at the outset is more contemporary than classics.

I don’t want to read anything about a cat solving crimes or a down on his luck detective going sober long enough to figure out who is killing pretty coeds.

I also don’t want to read anything that has sweet potatoes or ya-ya in the title.

So what fiction works do you recommend? Anyone wanna do a book club on a work of fiction?

For all of my criticism of (justified) criticism of Lost I feel like I have to eat my words.

Although I still feel that season two was largely a waste and I was close to giving up on it during the fall portion that was completely underwhelming, I now have this to say:

Last night’s season finale was one of the best episodes of television I have ever seen.

Did that really happen? What’s next?

(Warning: Spoilers May Appear In the Comments)

There is a lot of talk that persists in the world today about dangerous religious movements and the toll that they exact on unsuspecting people. From a potential presidential candidate to a leading Hollywood star to my own religious heritage questions persist about what does and does not constitute a cult.

This is where I come in. In this special edition top 10 list (postponed from yesterday) I break down the 10 most dangerous, insidious and pervasive cults in America today.

It’s not Scientology that we have to be worried about (please don’t sue me). It’s not the People’s Temple or the Moonies. No, these groups are far more sinister.

Read on, reader, and gird up your loins for battle:

10. Jeep Drivers–I know the danger of this one first-hand because I used to own a Jeep. I had no idea when I purchased it back in 1996 that I had joined a covert group. But, overnight, people begin to wave at me and give me these furtive nods. The connection? We were fellow Jeep drivers. It took my wife and an expired lease to get me out (relatively) unscathed.

9. Star Wars Fans–Sure, they are geeks. But it’s the geek world writ large. They don’t just watch the movies, they view life through the prism of an alternative language. Tatooine isn’t another planet, it’s home to these folks. And don’t be surprised if some of the more industrious members are constructing their very own Millennium Falcon’s in their parent’s basements.

8. Lads To Leaders Participants–Sure, it has produced some leadership qualities in many of our churches. It has enabled people to develop and refine preaching and song-leading skills not to mention stoking the fires of all things puppets. But just suggest to the die-hards that you are uncomfortable with the spirit of competition that it provokes and you just might get a beat-down.

7. Garage Sale Scavengers–You have seen these people. They are the ones who begin trolling the streets late on Thursday nights looking for those who are setting up their sales to begin the next day. They are the ones who park outside said garage sales beginning at midnight in eager anticipation of the next day’s bounty. They are the ones who ring the doorbell at 4 in the morning because it’s time to roll up the garage door and begin the bargaining. And they are the ones who will gut you if you get between them and their nickel rolling pin.

6. Yankee Haters–There appears to be this code of acceptability among baseball fans that gauges your true love of the sport based upon the level of animosity you harbor toward the boys in pinstripes. I’m no Yankee fan but the seething level of hatred that many of the haters have is enough to give me pause and wonder if somewhere someone is amassing an arsenal to take out this scourge on America’s pastime.

5. Harry Potter Fans–Tell them it’s just a series of books and see the spittle and foam begin to appear around the corners of their mouths. Tell them you don’t know the difference between a muggle and a dumbledore and they will stare at you with incredulous pity. Tell them that you think it’s all a bunch of hype and prepare to see them slip into anaphylactic shock. Be warned of this group. Their next planned incursion into the real world is scheduled the week of July 21st. Best to stay off the streets that week.

4. NPR Listeners–This group of people are absolutely addicted to lifeless, monotone recitation of world events and “interesting” tidbits of cultural, political and sociological insight. The concern here is that the endless, never varying drone of those pedestrian and lifeless talking heads has produced a near zombie effect that could progress to the eating of young.

3. Mac Users–Be warned. Their smug, knowing tone belies an evangelistic fervor that seeks to indoctrinate.

2. Oprah Watchers–This group is the epitome of a modern day cult. They have a charismatic leader that demands unquestioning and impassioned fidelity. And she has achieved just that level of respect and adoration among her throngs of disciples. If she announces the phone book as her book club pick people will snatch it up in droves. Men, be careful. She is a few precisely timed “special Oprahs” away from taking over the world.

1. Coffee Drinkers–This group is far and away the most dangerous of all. They are universally incapable of understanding anyone who is not a full-blown aficionado. Tell them that you don’t like coffee and prefer a Diet Coke and you can see them looking incredulously at your impertinence and general lack of civility. Tell them that it’s preposterous that anyone would pay 12 bucks for a venti or grande or whatever and you can see them silently plotting your death. Keep away.

There you have it, the most dangerous cults in America today. Any thoughts? I’m sure there will be some insight from the members of some of these cults.

Any that I forgot?

And by the way, this is all in good fun.

I just got a call from Tracy who has taken our 4-year old to her annual doctor’s visit.

The doctor suspects that Cassie has Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. That would explain why she complains of her legs hurting after she wakes up most mornings.

This means a long, and painful, process of determining whether or not she has JRA and the severity of it.

I feel sucker-punched.

I’m on my way to meet them and take Cassie to whatever restaurant she wants to eat at.

Pray for her, please.

For those of you who are interested in such things, here are the albums I chose to download this month with my Emusic package. Now I have to wait two more weeks, aargh.

Camera Obscura–Let’s Get Out of This Country
Melissa McClelland–Thumbelina’s One Night Stand (I’ve had her excellent ’04 debut for several months and finally decided to pull the trigger on her latest. I hadn’t downloaded it previously because I was unable to stream up. But it did not disappoint.)
Lloyd Cole–Anti Depressant and The Negatives–(For the Matthew Sweet fan in each of us.)
Warren Zevon–The Wind (I don’t know why I’ve never downloaded this before. It is as absolutely heartbreaking as a farewell disc is meant to be.)
Maria McKee–Late December (The former Lone Justice singer continues to churn out top-rank albums. But this is her most daring and adventurous yet. It was just released last month and deserves a close listen)
Arcade Fire–Neon Bible (I’m still not quite sure what all the fuss is, but this album is growing on me)
Of Montreal–Icons, Abstract Thee (I didn’t have enough tracks left to download their most recent full length so I thought I would give this EP a spin. Tremendous.)
Belle and Sebastian–Sing Jonathan David (3 tracks left? Nothing beats one of the B&S EP’s I don’t have yet.)

That leaves new releases by The Twilight Sad and Of Montreal at the top of my list for next month. I’m sure I will add to my Camera Obscura collection and tack on Neutral Milk Hotel as well.

I love eMusic.