The Making of a Martyr

Soberity in our Movie Diet

Although it has never been quiet intentional I've always collected serious movies; Hotel Rwanda, S-21 Toul Sleng, Killing Fields, Sophie Scholl: The Final Days among others. Now I've made a habit of mixing sobering movies into my diet. This is why.

Logic #1 on Movie Watching:

Movies effect us subliminally in ways we may not recognize.
Movies are a powerful medium - they at least have the potential to heavily influence us.
A diet of trite movies will make you more trite. Likewise for horror, inspirational, romance, etc.

Consider the admonition to be sober minded:

1Thessalonians 5:6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
2Timothy 4:5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
1Peter 1:13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1Peter 4:7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.
1Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
1 Timothy 3:2 - One of the qualifications for being an elder is being sober-minded.

Logic #2 on Movie Watching:

We are to be sober minded.
This should be reflected in our movie diet.
Thus, sober movies should be in our movie watching diet.

Watching movies like anything else is to be for God's glory (1 Cor. 10:31). Like other areas of life (entertaining, romance, drama, action, inspirational, war etc,) movies can give God glory.

Examine your diet. Think.

Gospel Coalition

I just spent this last week serving as one of the blessed volunteers at the Gospel Coalitions first National Conference. It was amazing. The powerhouse of speakers outstrips anything I've seen anywhere at any conference. It felt like a who's who of my favorite pastors. But - this isn't a reflection post. This is a recommendation post. Or a command post. Look over the audio - download and listen to one or two.

Go here to download.

Tim Keller - John Piper - D.A. Carson - Mark Driscoll - C. J. Mahaney
(and many more... and one of those guys was regulated to a workshop)

Persecution + North Korea = Romans 1

Excerpt from this article about persecution and conditions in a North Korean prison:

"While she (Kim Tae Jin) was in prison, she said, a fellow inmate known only as Park formed a small “fellowship” of seven Christians. Prison guards eventually caught Park, beat him severely and asked him, “Who told you about the existence of God?”
“Do we have to be told about the existence of the sun to know that it’s there?” Park replied. “We learn its existence by feeling its warmth.”

""For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made." Romans 1

The article continues to reflect the passage though:
"Under North Korea’s policy of juche, or self-reliance, citizens may worship only President Kim Jong Il and his late father, former ruler Kim Il Sung."

Picking up where we left off... "So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen." (Emphasis mine.)

Do you see the similarities? Park defends his worship of God because He sees the sun. Kim Jong II instead has created the policy where all must worship himself rather than God. He has exchanged the glory of the immortal God and become a fool.

Two notes:
First - Read carefully looking for scripture in the real world. I was just reading the article and Romans 1 jumped off the page.
Second - Pray for our brothers North Korea is the worst persecuted country in the world. The article tells of the 200,000 Christians incarcerated in horrific prisons, and 400,000 Christians nation wide who meet in hiding.

George Herbert -

This is a powerful (lengthy) poem by the 17th Century English poet George Herbert. This is “The Sacrifice.” It is from the point of view of Christ on the Cross. (With modern spellings)

The Sacrifice

O all ye, who pass by, whose eyes and mind

To worldly things are sharp, but to me blind;
To me, who took eyes that I might you find:
Was ever grief like mine?

The Princes of my people make a head
Against their Maker: they do wish me dead,
Who cannot wish, except I give them bread:
Was ever grief like mine?

Without me each one, who doth now me brave,
Had to this day been an Egyptian slave.
They use that power against me, which I gave:
Was ever grief like mine?

Mine own Apostle, who the bag did bear,
Though he had all I had, did not forbear
To sell me also, and to put me there:
Was ever grief like mine?

For thirty pence he did my death devise,
Who at three hundred did the ointment prize,
Not half so sweet as my sweet sacrifice:
Was ever grief like mine?

Therefore my soul melts, and my heart's dear treasure
Drops blood (the only beads) my words to measure:
O let this cup pass, if it be thy pleasure:
Was ever grief like mine?

These drops being temper'd with a sinner's tears,
A balsam are for both the Hemispheres,
Curing all wounds, but mine; all, but my fears.
Was ever grief like mine?

Yet my Disciples sleep: I cannot gain
One hour of watching; but their drowsy brain
Comforts not me, and doth my doctrine stain:
Was ever grief like mine?

Arise, arise, they come! Look how they run!
Alas! what haste they make to be undone!
How with their lanterns do they seek the sun!
Was ever grief like mine?

With clubs and staves they seek me, as a thief,
Who am the way of truth, the true relief,
Most true to those who are my greatest grief:
Was ever grief like mine?

Judas, dost thou betray me with a kiss ?
Canst thou find hell about my lips? and miss
Of life, just at the gates of life and bliss ?
Was ever grief like mine?

See, they lay hold on me, not with the hands
Of faith, but fury; yet at their commands
I suffer binding, who have loosed their bands:
Was ever grief like mine?

All my Disciples fly; fear puts a bar
Betwixt my friends and me. They leave the star,
That brought the wise men of the East from far:
Was ever grief like mine?

Then from one ruler to another bound
They lead me: urging, that it was not sound
What I taught: Comments would the text confound.
Was ever grief like mine?

The Priests and Rulers all false witness seek
'Gainst him, who seeks not life, but is the meek
And ready Paschal Lamb of this great week:
Was ever grief like mine?

Then they accuse me of great blasphemy,
That I did thrust into the Deity,
Who never thought that any robbery:
Was ever grief like mine?

Some said, that I the Temple to the floor
In three days razed, and raised as before.
Why, he that built the world can do much more:
Was ever grief like mine?

Then they condemn me all with that same breath,
Which I do give them daily, unto death.
Thus Adam my first breathing rendereth:
Was ever grief like mine?

They bind, and lead me unto Herod: he
Sends me to Pilate. This makes them agree;
But yet their friendship is my enmity.
Was ever grief like mine?

Herod and all his bands do set me light,
Who teach all hands to war, fingers to fight,
And only am the Lord of hosts and might.
Was ever grief like mine?

Herod in judgment sits, while I do stand;
Examines me with a censorious hand:
I him obey, who all things else command:
Was ever grief like mine?

The Jews accuse me with despitefulness;
And vying malice with my gentleness,
Pick quarrels with their only happiness:
Was ever grief like mine?

I answer nothing, but with patience prove
If stony hearts will melt with gentle love.
But who does hawk at eagles with a dove?
Was ever grief like mine?

My silence rather doth augment their cry;
My dove doth back into my bosom fly,
Because the raging waters still are high:
Was ever grief like mine?

Hark how they cry aloud still, Crucify:
It is not fit He live a day, they cry,
Who cannot live less than eternally:
Was ever grief like mine?

Pilate a stranger holdeth off; but they,
Mine own dear people, cry, Away, away,
With noises confused frighting the day:
Was ever grief like mine?

Yet still they shout, and cry, and stop their ears,
Putting my life among their sins and fears,
therefore with my blood on them and theirs:
Was ever grief like mine?

See how spite cankers things. These words aright
Used, and wish'd, are the whole world's light:
But honey is their gall, brightness their night:
Was ever grief like mine?

They choose a murderer, and all agree
In him to do themselves a courtesy;
For it was their own cause who killed me:
Was ever grief like mine?

And a seditious murderer he was:
But I the Prince of Peace; peace that doth pass
All understanding, more than heaven doth glass:
Was ever grief like mine?

He clave the stony rock, when they were dry;
But surely not their hearts, as I well try:
Why, Caesar is their only King, not I:
Was ever grief like mine?

Ah, how they scourge me! yet my tenderness
Doubles each lash: and yet their bitterness
Winds up my grief to a mysteriousness:
Was ever grief like mine?

They buffet me, and box me as they list,
Who grasp the earth and heaven with my fist,
And never yet, whom I would punish, miss'd:
Was ever grief like mine?

Behold, they spit on me in scornful wise;
Who with my spittle gave the blind man eyes,
Leaving his blindness to mine enemies:
Was ever grief like mine?

My face they cover, though it be divine.
As Moses' face was veiled, so is mine,
Lest on their double-dark souls either shine:
Was ever grief like mine?

Servants and abjects flout me; they are witty:
Now prophesy who strikes thee, is their ditty.
So they in me deny themselves all pity:
Was ever grief like mine?

And now I am deliver'd unto death,
Which each one calls for so with utmost breath,
That he before me well-nigh suffereth:
Was ever grief like mine?

Weep not, dear friends, since I for both have wept,
When all my tears were blood, the while you slept:
Your tears for your own fortunes should be kept:
Was ever grief like mine?

The soldiers lead me to the common hall;
There they deride me, they abuse me all:
Yet for twelve heavenly legions I could call:
Was ever grief like mine?

Then with a scarlet robe they me array;
Which shows my blood to be the only way,
And cordial left to repair man's decay:
Was ever grief like mine?

Then on my head a crown of thorns I wear;
For these are all the grapes Sion doth bear,
Though I my vine planted and watered there:
Was ever grief like mine?

So sits the earth's great curse in Adam's fall
Upon my head; so I remove it all
From th' earth unto my brows, and bear the thrall:
Was ever grief like mine?

Then with the reed they gave to me before,
They strike my head, the rock from whence all store
Of heavenly blessings issue evermore:
Was ever grief like mine?

They bow their knees to me, and cry, Hail, King:
Whatever scoffs or scornfulness can bring,
I am the floor, the sink, where they it fling:
Was ever grief like mine?

Yet since man's sceptres are as frail as reeds,
And thorny all their crowns, bloody their weeds;
I, who am Truth, turn into truth their deeds:
Was ever grief like mine?

The soldiers also spit upon that face
Which Angels did desire to have the grace,
And Prophets once to see, but found no place:
Was ever grief like mine?

Thus trimmed, forth they bring me to the rout,
Who Crucify him, cry with one strong shout.
God holds his peace at man, and man cries out:
Was ever grief like mine?

They lead me in once more, and putting then
Mine own clothes on, they lead me out again.
Whom devils fly, thus is he toss'd of men:
Was ever grief like mine?

And now weary of sport, glad to engross
All spite in one, counting my life their loss,
They carry me to my most bitter cross:
Was ever grief like mine?

My cross I bear myself, until I faint:
Then Simon bears it for me by constraint,
The decreed burden of each mortal Saint:
Was ever grief like mine?

O all ye who pass by, behold and see:
Man stole the fruit, but I must climb the tree;
The tree of life to all, but only me:
Was ever grief like mine?

Lo, here I hang, charged with a world of sin,
The greater world o' the two; for that came in
By words, but this by sorrow I must win:
Was ever grief like mine?

Such sorrow, as if sinful man could feel,
Or feel his part, he would not cease to kneel,
Till all were melted, though he were all steel.
Was ever grief like mine?

But, O my God, my God! why leavest thou me,
The Son, in whom thou dost delight to be?
My God, my God—————
Never was grief like mine.

Shame tears my soul, my body many a wound;
Sharp nails pierce this, but sharper that confound;
Reproaches, which are free, while I am bound:
Was ever grief like mine?

Now heal thyself, Physician; now come down.
Alas! I do so, when I left my crown
And Father's smile for you, to feel his frown:
Was ever grief like mine?

In healing not myself, there doth consist
All that salvation, which ye now resist;
Your safety in my sickness doth subsist:
Was ever grief like mine?

Betwixt two thieves I spend my utmost breath,
As he that for some robbery suffereth.
Alas! what have I stolen from you? death:
Was ever grief like mine?

A king my title is, prefix'd on high;
Yet by my subjects I'm condemn'd to die
A servile death in servile company:
Was ever grief like mine?

They gave me vinegar mingled with gall,
But more with malice: yet, when they did call,
With Manna, Angels' food, I fed them all:
Was ever grief like mine?

They part my garments, and by lot dispose
My coat, the type of love, which once cured those
Who sought for help, never malicious foes:
Was ever grief like mine?

Nay, after death their spite shall further go;
For they will pierce my side, I full well know;
That as sin came, so Sacraments might flow:
Was ever grief like mine?

But now I die; now all is finished.
My woe, man's weal: and now I bow my head:
Only let others say, when I am dead,
Never was grief like mine.

(HT: Gene Edward Veith via Vanessa Shuck)

April 17th - A Day to Remember

Today is the 34 Year Anniversary of the fall of Phnom Penh to the Khmer Rouge.

As the Passover celebration one eats the bitter herbs to remember the suffering - so it is our duty to remember this sad day in Cambodian, US, and world history.

Quick recap of Khmer Rouge times:

Prior to the Khmer Rough takover Cambodia was ruled by King Sihanouk. Who led Cambodia through a period known as “Sihanouk time” a 17-year period of relative peace. During the Vietnam war King Sihanouk wanting to placate the Vietnamese allowed the Ho-Chi-Minh trail to run through Cambodian soil. The U.S. in response to that decided to run Operation Menu a series of bombing raids on the Ho-Chi-Minh trail within Cambodia. These bombing raids were so severe they reduced Cambodia's argrarian economy to a standstill by destroying 6 of their 7 million hectors of farming land. "the United States dropped far
more ordnance on Cambodia than was previously believed: 2,756,941 tons’ worth, dropped in 230,516 sorties on 113,716 sites. ... To put 2,756,941 tons into perspective, the Allies dropped just over 2 million tons of bombs during all of World War II. Cambodia may be the most heavily bombed country in history." This created much dispute in Cambodia. To make sure that they could continue bombing the U.S. backed coup which placed Lon Nol in power. Lon Nol was an abusive leaders loved by few. The Khmer Rouge grew in popularity and with the help of aid from China in the North Eastern parts of Cambodia. The Democratic Kampuchea (DK), or the Khmer Rouge continued to take over outlying provinces until on April 17th, 1975 the Khmer Rough captured Phnom Penh and thus Cambodia. They would hold this power through 1979, and through 1998 in other parts of the country.

If there is one stark mark of the rule of the KR it is their complete disregard for the value of human life, treating all civilized people as less than nothing. A saying that encapsulated this belief goes, “To leave them alive contributes nothing. By exterminating them, nothing is lost to the Revolution” (Pathay, 171). During the KR reign, Cambodian’s collectively could not believe they had committed any actions worth this much bad karma. The nation’s trust in Buddha was damaged and often broke as he failed to help them in their great suffering. The KR believed they had to purify Cambodia mainly from imperialistic and thus, individualistic tendencies. Thus, all educated and religious leaders were specifically targeted for extermination (Jones). The KR saw their rule as Cambodia’s rebirth and thus declared that history had been reset, that the people were now living in year zero. The population of Cambodia was estimated at somewhere around 7 million before the KR with 2-2.5 million estimated murdered during the genocide, this is approximately as high as 1/3rd of the total population. About 1/3 of the population formed the KR’s ranks; meaning 2/3rds of the population was imprisoned. Around ½ of those imprisoned died, thus after the war the population was approximately one-half murder’s one-half victim. This destroyed the foundation for trust within their society, this created a very lost, distrusting, hurting people. Only 3.6% of the current population are senior citizens, thus the current society is very youth oriented. (CIA factbook – https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/cb.html). The worst of all the brutality is found in Toul Sleng or S-21 the extermination camp of the KR where estimates of at least 16k people were tortured and murdered with a blunt brutality rarely seen in the worlds history. Cambodia has a deep historical history of extreme violence towards its enemies perceived or real (Jones, 185). All the infrastructure that the French had was systematically destroyed by the KR sending it from the most advanced to the most backward in four years. The Khmer Rouge drove cars into the ground, and either ignored all the technologies that ran the nation, or deliberately destroyed them, sewage systems, refrigeration, vehicles, communications etc. In short - Cambodia was destroyed from a human standpoint. Economically, politically, culturally, and religously they were destroyed. They lost all hope. In my eyes one of the darkest pages in history with no happy ending. (The Vietnamese who took over placed ex-Khmer Rouge commanders in power, the UN sponsered an election, and the ex-Khmer Rouge leaders tied two others parties for power. Han Sun, an ex-Khmer Rouge commander had opposing parties leaders isolated and or killed. He is the current Prime Minister of Cambodia. No happy ending - I won't even get started on current problems.

So read and remember. And pray to God.

Pray that:

Such horrors will never happen again
That the gospel will transform Cambodia.
That our eyes would be open to perceive such horrors today.

Books to read on Cambodia:

Killing Fields, Living Fields By: Don Cormack
The Lost Executioner By: Nic Dunlop

Stay Alive My Son By: Yin Pathay

First they Killed My Father By: Loung Ung

When Broken Glass Floats By: Chanrithy Him

(I have read each of those and they are in order of quality.)

To read about one rememberance go here.

Swing Dance

52mm, f5.6 @ 1/60s ISO 400

18mm, f4.0 @ 1/60s ISO 400

27mm, f5.6 @ 1/60s ISO 400

Dwntwn Mpls at Night...

48mm, f7.1 @ 4.0 ISO 100

Happy New Year! (Khmer)

Since this is my blog and the Khmer New Year is in full celebration I wanted to wish you all a Happy Khmer New Year!

Gospel Presentations.

A couple more presentations of the cross as we wrap up this holy week with the greatest celebration of all!

Barabus didn't deserve mercy. Watch the gospel he heard.
(HT: Ashley Rogers)

Mars Hill Churches Presentation on Good Friday a dramatized reading of the Crucifixion. Download here.

Grudem Junkie?

If you are a Wayne Grudem Junkie - then here's all you could ever want.

Follow this link and you can listen Wayne Grudem teach his way through Systematic Theology with outlines:

Systematic Theology in Audio

Enjoy.

Cup of Christ

Time for another youtube clip, saved for such a day as this...

The Cup of Christ
C. J. Mahaney on the Cup in the Garden

Download the full sermon here.

O Death Where is Thou Sting

Pastor John has a very encouraging post on the victory begun by Jesus' death this Good Friday...

O Death Where is Thou Sting?

The has just begun and I already want to start dancing...

(HT: Bryan Dewire)

Holy Week

This is Holy Week. Which is the most important week of the calendar year. Sadly, its uniqueness is often regulated to a special Sunday service. It should be bigger than Christmas. When my brother challenged me to practice lent (a 40 day long fast usually of sugar leading up to Easter) I took him up on it. I challenge you to reconsider how you celebrate Easter. Bellow are some tools to aid you in that end.

Options in celebration of Easter:

Reading all four of the gospels or their crucifixion stories, at least one of them like you would read Luke 2 before Christmas.
Here at Bethlehem Baptist Elder has opened his home and each weeknight where we read a section of Jesus' final hours and Psalms 22. After which is an extended time of prayer and worship, and pray and more worship.
Practicing a passover Sedar.
Find and attend a Maundy Thursday service.
Attend a Good Friday service.
Watch the Passion of Christ.
Host or attend an all-night prayer time.

That list isn't exhaustive just options I've seen or taken advantage of.

Books on the Cross: (My favorites)
The Cross of Christ - John Stott (one of my favorite books)
Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross
Discovering the Power of the Cross of Christ - Spurgeon

Book Lists from Driscoll:
Books on the Cross
Living in the light of the Cross

Best Sermon Resources:
C. J. Mahaney's Blog posts & Sermons on the Cross (the Cry from the Cross is linked to here.)
The Cup Mp3
The Cry from the Cross is the most amazing sermon on the cross. It is in my Top 5 sermons of all time. Please listen to it, I beg you.

Best Cross Related Sermon Resources:
Desiring God
Mars Hill
Matt Chandler

Generic Sermon sources:
Sermon Audio.com
Gospel Coalition
Faith By Hearing

These lists come too late and totally incomplete add in your recommendations I shall refine the post...

Believe and Think

Ask the Christian and the eugenicist about taking care of the poor and you will have two very different ideas as to what is wise and strategic actions should be taken in their care.

Worldviews matter.

(Ideas have consequences)

Believe and think.

Cambodia - Unintended Consequences

In a post stemming from my learning from Joe Rigney - is a post about unintended consequences. The US sought to bomb the Ho-Chi-Minh trail, the Vietnamese to avoid the bombing moved the trail into Cambodia. The US foolishly decided to run operation menu. In which that bombed Cambodia. Not just bombed but bombed it to the point where Cambodia's 7 million hectors of farming land was reduced to 1 million hectors of farming land. For a nation whose economy is 85% agrarian, this was unberable.

“The campaign climaxed in 1973, a year that saw a quarter of a million tons of bombs dropped on Cambodia in just six months. This was one-and-a-half times as much high explosives as the US had unleashed on Japan during the whole of the Second World War – a country with which it was at least formally at war. In total, between 1969 and 1973, more than half a million tons of munitions descended on rural Cambodia.”

(Jones, Genocide - Pg. 189.)

Proof that these bombing raids were crucial came through this quote I found today:

"Kaing Guek Eav, also known as Duch, testified during his trial on charges that he oversaw the torture and execution of 17,000 victims at the S-21 prison camp that Pol Pot's communist Khmer Rouge movement would have died off in 1970 had not U.S. President Richard Nixon backed right wing military strongman Lon Nol, The Times of London reported."
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/04/06/Nixon-US-blamed-for-Cambodia-genocide/UPI-27711239037685/

Little did we know. Meddling where we weren't supposed to be, our actions had severe unintended consequences. Severe to the tune of 2.5 million. We didn't murder them, but we did break the camels back almost all by ourselves.