Pepperdine 2009

I, and my family, have been making an annual pilgrimage to Pepperdine University for the Bible lectures every year since 2001. For the last two I have made that voyage alone which changes dynamics quite a bit. Last year and this year I arrived a day early for some decompression time. This year that meant I arrived about midnite on Monday and simply walked on the beach and slept on it till the sun came up. What a glorious sight. Love the ocean ... and I love Pepperdine Bible Lectures ... Why you ask!!

First and foremost: My hat is off to Jerry Rushford once again. Jerry has to be the most encouraging man in the Churches of Christ. Pepperdine is FAR outside the CofC holy land of Tennessee and Texas and yet Jerry and Pepperdine are able to attract the greatest assemblage of folk from the CofCs anywhere in America.

Second, the quality and breadth of the classes at the Pepperdine Bible Lectures is simply UNMATCHED anywhere and at anytime among Churches of Christ (see Here) Nearly a hundred speakers covering topics from detailed exegetical classes on basically the entire book of Colossians by some of our very best scholars to a detailed history of baptism in the first five centuries by Everett Ferguson. From how to survive as a preacher's wife to witnessing to Mosaics in a postmodern world ... in between there are seminars on preaching, classes on cultivating your spiritual life and even those with a big D on their forehead ... Jerry how do you do it!!??

Third, Pepperdine is where my path crosses more of my friends from all walks of life than anywhere else. Daryl Miller from Milwaukee, Kevin Vance from Canada, Lisa Dickson from Abilene, Rick Janelle from Penn, Steve Puckett from Melbourne, Fl, Edward Fudge from Houston, Edward Robinson, Doug Foster and Randy Harris of ACU, Rubel Shelly of Rochester, Bob Belville from NC, Joel Solliday from Brooklyn Park, MN, Tom Olbricht from Maine, Bob Clark from TN, Victor Knowles from Missouri, all my PV and Tucson family and many more.

Fourth, I got to hear my old teacher Allen Black share insight into Col 2.14; Tom Olbricht on the Bicentennial of the Declaration and Address of Thomas Campbell; Edward Robinson on Annie Tuggle, Billy Wilson on evangelism (I had the task and pleasure of introducing him), Rick Marrs and Tim Willis had an OUTSTANDING three part class on the Law and the New Testament (you need to get the CDs on this ... this was rich stuff!), Monte Cox and Rick Atchley are just good solid and sound biblical expositors.

Fifth, Pepperdine is where I make new friends every year. In particular I want to mention Billy McGuiggan. I went to Billy's class and he did an outstanding job. He is smarter and more equipped than I was at his age ... (I HATE being able to say that cause I am now OLDER than him!!!!!) I got to visit with Billy and encouraged one another. God is doing amazing things brothers and sisters ... if we only had eyes to see and ears to hear.

The only thing I can complain about Pepperdine is that it is too short!! I know Jerry doesn't think so cause he is working like a dog for this thing. But from my perspective when I had to leave on Friday afternoon I was simply sad. I did not want to leave. I am encouraged. I am uplifted. I am fed. I am challenged to deeper biblical study and serious digging. I am enriched in my soul. I find fellowship. I find the Presence of the Almighty God who loves to Gather with his People. Thank you Jerry for the Pepperdine lectures ...

The Marrs/Willis lectures can be ordered here (Did We Throw the Baby Out with the Bath Water?) ... they are the 8.30 am class and there are three of them.

Below are a few (very few) pictures of Pepperdine scenes ... I forgot to take pix cause I was so busy enjoying myself ...

"Gassing" Up for the Trip to Mecca ...



What a glorious sight ...



The Great Tree in front of Firestone Fieldhouse



The Chapel ...



Enjoying a Quite Moment



Some...SOME...of our PV family taking in our "traditional" Wednesday nite Pie Party

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Why Do We Read?

Why Do We Read?

One of the saddest things I have ever heard in my life came from a minister who had been preaching for nearly forty years. That this minister was being held up as a model for young ministers to follow made it doubly tragic. What was the sad statement? He said, “I have not changed my mind on a religious topic in nearly forty years.” I suppose if Jesus had made that statement it would not have troubled me. In a Q & A session with a small group of students, this question was put to this brother by a person to remain unnamed: “Can you recommend three or four books or authors that you think are superior?” The ministers’ reply was “I don’t really like to read.” Suddenly it dawned on the unnamed student why he had not changed his mind in forty years!

I cannot imagine what it would be like to try to go through life without the blessing of books. Books in reality are nothing but the story of humanity and by reading I am simply learning more about myself and those who share the third rock from the Sun with me. Books delight the soul and help lift the mind from baser themes.

For example one of my favorites from childhood has been A. A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh. My soft spot for Pooh was discovered by some folks recently as they found me reading John Tyerman Williams Pooh and the Philosophers. What delightful book in which we learn that Pooh indeed is the greatest philosopher of them all! In fact all philosophy is simply a preamble to Winnie-the-Pooh. The bear that can help us with purity of heart and humility, I thrilled to learn, was also outdoing Plato, Locke, and Camus. Through a book we are taken back to that place of safety, that place of innocence, that place we so often forget: the hundred acre wood where we can find friendship, we find joy, we find that life really is about just a few basic things. As an adult when I read Pooh I scratch my head and ask, “who is Milne talking too? children or adult readers?”

I am not even forty years old (much less have preached that long) yet but I cannot imagine living those forty years without the help and insight of my favorite philosopher: Winnie-the-Pooh. I have changed my mind on religious topics and “secular” topics on a whole host of things. Books have opened up new horizons for me, books that have forced me to think from a different perspective, books that have exposed my near sightedness have been responsible for much my rethinking. Books have helped deliver me from what Mortimer J. Adler calls a “foolish and wasteful form of snobbishness and provinciality.” Was this growth? or was it decline? Over the next few days we will be exploring several reasons that we should be readers … good readers.

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

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Divesting

DIVESTING

Surely some person some where has either blessed or cursed the chaos. We need a little chaos, however, to remind us that the things of this age are not the most valuable. That is hard to believe at times!

You see over the last several days I have been packing books, books, and more books. At the "encouragement" of my beloved wife, Pamella, I have begun to divest myself of books. And how I despise that!

But I have been able to do it. At present I have probably divested over two thousand dollars in books. I found good homes for books on tanks, submarines, the Luftwaffe, a multi-volume history of the Civil War, missiles, Stalingrad, etc. I delivered five large boxes of books to Half Price Books this morning as well.

I gave away about six years of Leadership and half the printed editions of Wineskins. Gone are books on art, ancient wine and even my lone book on UFOs. I divested myself of Astronomy and Sky & Telescope going back to the mid-1980s. But I just could not bring myself to get rid of my Star Wars comics!!!

Moving reminds us of just how much "stuff" we collect, even when we are not collectors. I cannot say that getting rid of all those books has made me a better person. But perhaps they will bless others who seek to explore new horizons. And besides ... I still have 27 boxes of books that I did not divest myself of. But I am learning to be nimble, :-)

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

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The Cloud Has Moved: News from Milwaukee

The Cloud has Moved: News from Milwaukee

Numbers 9.15-23

For the last couple of days we have been digging our way out of a serious dumping of snow on us here in Milwaukee. Currently the temps are about 19 degrees (it was 10 as we went to worship this morning) and some snow flurries are gently falling.

This day in Milwaukee is a day mixed with sadness and joy for my family. Today I informed my family here at Southside that the cloud had moved, that I was resigning from the duties as pulpit minister effective December 31, 2006. I informed my beloved family that my family would be relocating to Tucson, Arizona and will begin working with the Palo Verde Church. This was a most difficult decision but I believe it is one that God has directed. I share below the letter that I read to Southside in both worship services ... with only the more personal stuff edited out.

"December 3, 2006

Dear Family,

After a long and difficult year, 2002 turned into a magnificent blessing for my family. That year . . . my family was down for the count.

Then five men, Dana McMillion, Rodney Windell, Wayne Alexander, Al Gray and Monroe E. Hawley invited my family to a place called Milwaukee, WI. It was a hopeful sign and on my birthday, August 25, 2002, the Valentines were asked to work with God's wonderful family on the corner of 20th and Grange. That invitation was a gift from God!

Since then my family has experienced one blessing after another. These blessings were not simply my own but for Pamella, Rachael, and Talya too. We have learned what brats are, fallen in love with custard, we drink Sprecher's Root Beer, we play Sheepshead, and we can even find the bubbler.

We have been adopted here at this place. There are those in this family who have shared with us in ways that we can never repay or be worthy of receiving. We have learned what love really means through many of you. We are blessed by you and I am a grateful man.

Since 2002 the leadership of this congregation has changed somewhat. Dana and Rodney have been called to other places. Bruce Williams has been an outstanding addition to the eldership. There are no four men that I hold in higher esteem than my Shepherds here at Southside. They have been patient with my foibles. They have helped mature me in ways they cannot know. I consider it a great honor to know them and serve with them.

These facts have made my decision all the more difficult and agonizing for our family . . . In September, I became aware of a congregation, the Palo Verde Church of Christ in Tucson, Arizona . . .

After much prayer, after much discussion with Pamella, Rachael, Talya ... I have decided to accept an invitation to work with the Palo Verde church. I have informed the elders of my decision on Thursday night. Thus my family will be making the transition to Tucson in January 2007.

We are saddened by our departure from Milwaukee and Southside. It is our prayer that our friendship with each of you as individuals and with Southside as a congregation will suffer no loss but grow ever deeper. Our home, as it has been here, will be open to you when you want to get away from the 20 below zero winter.

The actual circumstances of being offered the position at Palo Verde has lead Pamella and I to truly believe this is God's will. We covet your prayers as we make this transition. We will be in prayer for you too. We seek our Abba's blessings upon you and I know he will be generous in them.

"May the LORD bless you and keep you and make his face shine upon you."

In Christian Love,
The Valentine Family"

This is a major transition that I never would have dreamed off earlier in the year. But as Numbers says ... sometimes the cloud does move and we follow the Lord no matter where he leads. Or when.

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

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My Friend Clay

My Friend Clay

I do not remember not knowing Clay Parkinson. My family had just moved from New York to Pampano Beach in Florida. The Quintero's had just moved from California too. We all met at the First Christian Church there in Florida. Our families and Clay, and his wife Kathy, would be intertwined for the rest of eternity. The proverb was never more true when it said there is a friend that is closer than a brother.

Clay always took a deep interest in my life, my family and my ministry. I borrowed Clay's car to drive to my first "interview" in Mississippi. I drove that same car to Belle Glade, Florida and New Orleans where I was hired by the Barton Avenue Church of Christ. He was a man who loved Jesus, loved the lost and didn't care what color you were.

Life is a gift of grace from our Abba in heaven and Clay had a lot of it. As all humans do, he had his quirks but he could laugh and have a good time simply enjoying that grace.

Last Sunday morning, the Sun hadn't even come up yet, I got a call on my cell phone from my dad in Alabama. The conversation was short. All he said was "Clay has gone home." Clay had suffered terribly with cancer in the last days of his life and our merciful Father said enough was enough. Through it all God was glorified though.

I was given the awesome privilege of helping to lead in the celebration of Clay's life. God's human family was seen in its beauty and diversity on that day mixed with sadness and joy. Melvin, a black man, gave a powerful sermon asking if our "epitaph" testified to a God filled life as Clay's does. Alvin, another black man, sang a soul stirring rendition of being home with God. And I, a white man, shared memories and was asked to read a poem written by Clay.

Clay was and is my friend. As a kid he was Clay a friend of my mom and dad. As I grew older he became my friend too. Father I thank you for bringing Clay into not only my life but the lives of all the Valentines and Quintero's. We love Clay. And on Sunday last I knew Clay was with us as we gathered around the table in the presence of God ... and I smiled.

You, Me and the Cross by Clay Parkinson

They nalied our Savior to a cross
Where He suffered, bled and died
There He paid an awful cost
While His mother watched ... and cried.

Jesus knew no sin ... he spoke no guile
He came to do the Father's will
So He drank the pungent bile
And His blood flowed down Calvary's hill.

They sealed Him in a silent tomb
While Roman soldiers stood nearby
Tho' a grave was not our Redeemer's doom
In three days He arose ... alive!

God rolled aside the granite stone
And Jesus walked past the guards who swooned
Thus ... for all our sins He did atone
Satan's plan was ruined.

He washed our scarlet sins away
And made them white as snow
Eternal life shall be ours one day
For He told us so.

Now as the Father views the cross
He sees not His Son on the tree
God looks at two that once were lost
He sees you ... and He sees me.

Thank you Clay for the laughs. Thank you for the prayers. Thank you for the memories. Thank you for being my friend.

See you soon,
Bobby Valentine

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Know Your Hymns

Know Your Hymns

Dentist's Hymn . . . . . . . . . . . . . Crown Him with Many Crowns

Weatherman's Hymn . . . . . . . . There Shall Be Showers of Blessings

Contractor's Hymn . . . . . . . . . . The Church's One Foundation

The Tailor's Hymn . . . . . . . . . . .Holy, Holy, Holy

The Golfer's Hymn . . . . . . . . . . There's a Green Hill Far Away

The Politician's Hymn . . . . . . . .Standing on the Promises

Optometrist's Hymn . . . . . . . . . Open My Eyes That I Might See

IRS Agent's Hymn . . . . . . . . . . . I Surrender All

The Gossip's Hymn . . . . . . . . . . Pass It On

Electrician's Hymn . . . . . . . . . . .Send the Light

Shopper's Hymn . . . . . . . . . . . . Sweet Bye and Bye

Realtor's Hymn . . . . . . . . . . . . . I've Got a Mansion

Massage Therapist's Hymn . . . . . . He Touched Me

Doctor's Hymn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Great Physician

For those who like to surpass the speed limit:

~ 45 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . God Will Take Care of You

~ 65 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Near My God to Thee

~ 85 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . This World is Not My Home

~ 95 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lord, I'm Coming Home

~ 100 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Precious Memories

Lord, give me a sense of humor,
Give me the grace to see a joke,
To get some humor out of life,
And pass it on to other folk.

Blessings,
Bobby Valentine

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Update on Kingdom Come

Update on Kingdom Come

I have recently become aware of two more reactions to my book, coauthored with John Mark Hicks, that I would like to pass on to my blog readers. I call attention to these for two reasons. First, these brothers have a good blog and deserve to be read. Second, I have an interest in how folks are reacting to the material in this book.

I have decided that it does not matter if a person really agrees with what John Mark and I have written or with our intepretations (the footnotes are there for others to follow up on). We believe that the conversation about the nature of the church, discipleship and God's relationship to the world are matters of utmost importance ... more important than the book. Thus if the book stimulates deeper reflection then we feel we have accomplished our task.

Alan Rouse placed a review of Kingdom Come on his blog "Christian Unity" at the following address http://rouses.net/blog/2006/11/book-review-kingdom-come.html While there you may wish to read through some of Alan's previous blogs. I appreciate his perspective ...

Mike Exum place a reaction to the book on his blog called "Messianic Gentile" (you have to love that title). You can access this as well as Mike's other blogs at http://mikez-blog.blogspot.com/2006/11/sojourning-with-kingdom-come-quote.html

John Dobbs has been doing occasional reactions to the book on his blog "Out Here Hope Remains." John's address is http://johndobbs.wordpress.com/ John is the Barnabus of the internet and I appreciate his ministry more than he will ever know. I am humbled and grateful for these brothers for taking the time to share as they have shared.

And I want to call attention to an excellent ministry by a friend of mine Joel Solliday. "Campus CrossWalk" is a national web-magazine devoted to reaching college age people and those who work with them. Their mission motto: “Living for Christ on YOUR College Campus.” The current issue theme is: "Tackling Tough Addictions." Go to:
http://www.campuscrosswalk.org/

This site is an outreach resource for college age people and other young seekers. It serves campus ministries among churches of Christ nation-wide. It contains a national directory of campus ministries in state schools and universities. Also, the articles and items speak well to the practical "life-changing" power of faith in Christ.

Blessings,
Bobby Valentine

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Tidbits

Tidbits

Last week I was invited by Dee O'Neal Andrews to become a contributer to her blog called Grace Notes at http://gracenotesministries.org/. I am out of my league there with folks like Dee, John Dobbs, Patrick Mead, Bill Willaims, Greg England among others. But I consented to contribute. My first contribution was made late yesterday called Beyond the Sacred Page. I invite you to visit and bookmark this place. I am sure you will find grace wafting through the air.

I would also like to call attention to my friend Wade Tannehill's latest blog called "Before You Enter the Ministry (Part 1)." This is an excellent piece firmly rooted in historical reality. You can access this fine piece at http://wade.typepad.com/ Wade and I were friends long before there was such a thing as the World Wide Web or at least we never heard of it.

Go ahead visit Grace Notes and read Wade's essay.

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

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The What List

The What List?

What's Up? The Weather! Southeast Wisconsin has had (lite) snow 2x already and it is not even Halloween yet.

What's on the Coffee Table?
* Galaxies (Timothy Ferris)
* Wierd Wisconsin
* The Beatles: An Anthology

What's Spinning?
* Yuyariwai (cool Inca music)
* Best of Joe Walsh
* Tom Petty (Highway Companion)

What's in the Fire Place?
* Fire
* Smoke
* Ashes

What Pages are Turning?
* The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Origins of the Bible (Eugene Ulrich)
* Peace (Walter Brueggemann)
* The Five Books of Moses: A Translation with Commentary (Robert Alter)
* Immanuel in Our Place: Seeing Christ in Israel's Worship (Tremper Longman III)
* The Torah's Vision of Worship (Samuel Balentine)
* Christian Mythmakers: C.S. Lewis; Madeleine L'Engle; J.R.R. Tolkien, George MacDonald; G.K. Chesterton; Dante Alighieri

What's On the Screen?
* Downfall (possibly the best war movie I have ever seen)
* Cars (finally went to see it)
* Magnificent Desolation (great film in IMAX)

What's My favorite Word?
* This is hard. It could be shalom, hesed, grace but I think my favorite word in any language is simply Abba.

Acappella - Abba Father

Great Song and Video by Acappella about my favorite Word: Abba.

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

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Newsboys - He Reigns

Newsboys - He Reigns

This is still one of my all time favorite songs: "religious" or "secular." The diversity of God's Family is beautify. That we can stand shoulder to shoulder and praise his name. That we are even allowed to do it still blows my mind. Join the praise.

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

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Community of the Kingdom - The "Look" of Jesus

Community of the Kingdom: The "Look" of Jesus
Have you ever wondered what a Christian looks like? Recently this question was posed to me. It caught me off guard so I responded with a few superficial answers. Yet I was dissatisfied with my responses so I turned to the Scripture to help in determine what a Christian looks like.

The proper place to begin, is to find out what the Savior looked like. As I read through the Gospels seeking an answer to my question I began to notice a certain look over and over again. At the center of the Gospels is the remarkable compassionate love of Jesus. It is in plain view, yet we sometimes do miss it.

I read John's reflections on Christ's mission as being about saving, not condemnation (John 3.17). The Master's compassion for one caught in the very act of a capital "crime" is almost shocking (John 8). I noticed Jesus using the image of the Good Shepherd who gives himself in service to others (John 10.10-11). Luke told me that Jesus explained his whole purpose for living included the goals of freedom, healing and releasing the oppressed (Luke 4.18-19).

My journey through the Gospels revealed the Master gripped with compassion as he saw people as helpless sheep without a shepherd (Matt. 9.36). His heart ached when he saw the sick (Matt. 14.14) and he literally broke down at the death of a friend (John 11.35). His love was aroused for two blind men outside the ancient city of Jericho (Matt. 20.34). The masses of men, women and children hungry moved him deeply (Matt. 15.32). When a lady experienced the tragedy of death in her family, we read that Jesus' "heart went out to her." I noticed that Jesus was even willing to risk the censure of the church folks in order to "do good" (Luke 6.6-11).

As I continued to read through the Gospels wondering "what does a Christian look like" I came across these words from the Messiah's lips "love one another as I have loved you. By THIS everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13.34-35). I dawned on me that the "look" or "mark" of a Christian was none other than the "look" or "mark" of Jesus himself. What Jesus looked like was compassion pure and simple. Compassionate love! That is the answer to my question. Christians, real Christians, will have the look of Jesus. Jesus said that his look, the look of love, will be the mark of all Christians.

The community of the kingdom of God is filled with little Christ's filled with and moved by compassionate love. Herein is heart of the Christian ... and the Church.

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

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