Nathan E. Lewis

I am reading Daniel Radosh’s “Rapture Ready: Adventures in the Parallel Universe of Christian Pop Culture,” published in 2008 by Simon & Shuster. Radosh describes himself on page 2 as a “liberal New York Jew in my middle-thirties. Half-way through the book, I am wondering, “how does he see the problems of the evangelical/fundamentalist movement so clearly?” I am also asking, “Why do I agree more with a liberal New York Jew in his middle-thirties, than I do with many of my evangelical, fundamentalist family and friends?” Please do not tell anyone that I am recommending that you read this book, because I am not doing so. If you are an evangelical Christian in the mainstream of Christian pop culture, then you will be disgusted, if not offended, by Radosh’s presentation of Christian pop culture. You will think that he is bitter, critical, doesn’t understand the church and is bereft of the Holy Spirit. But I am writing to tell you that part of common grace is God allowing a liberal New York Jew to yell out, “The emperor’s naked!” Here is a man who does not embrace the gospel but he knows that a large segment of the church has at least blurred the gospel and is interested and vested in that which is not the gospel. It’s chilling. Continue reading »

I have started to run again, after a four-year break (the day I suffered my stroke, I stopped running.) In these years my veins have been coursing with blood thinners and, of course, the best coffee in the world - Black Tiger from Java Nation in Beaverton - “Declare Your Independence!” (It is slightly better than Stumptown, I must admit, which is slightly better than The Coffee Cottage in Newberg, and Sluislaw from Florence, Oregon - but only slightly better and a matter of taste.) By now, I have convinced you that caffeine may be the only substance coursing through my veins as I write this update. Yesterday, I finally told Glenda that I had started to run again. She is fearful of the pounding impact and over-exertion. My doctors have dried up my joints and greatly reduced the uric acid levels in my body (but not the acid from coffee levels) and so, I have not suffered any gout flare ups for eight months! And so I have hit the trail again. (I am addicted to running.) I confided in my friend, Scott Turner, and I am sure that he has been praying for me as he runs. I have also notified Loren Wiebe, who founded the 49′rs Club back in 1982 or ‘83, when I was a college student, singing in the Biola Chorale, under his direction, and running a minimum of 49 miles monthly or paying the club members $49.00 for failing to do so. I am rejoining the club this September 1, 2008! Now I am back on track. I am asking the world to keep me accountable to run regularly and to lose 20 pounds by Christmas 2008. (The Beijing Olympics 2008 have nothing to do with my recent spurt of exercise - absolutely nothing to do with it.)

Nathan is currently writing a sequel to “The Shack,” called “The Shed,” to fill out the divine character and works a bit.

Undoubtedly I am coming lately to Free Rice. Go to this website, take the vocabulary tests, a fun game, and for each correct answer, you will not only build your vocabulary but you will also donate 20 grains of free rice towards feeding the hungry people of the world. The website makes money through sponsors advertising, enough to keep up with the millions of grains of rice earned by the players. Personally, I am not satisfied with my English vocabulary and so I am looking for ways to increase my word power and skills. This site is helpful (not as helpful as reading good literature) but nevertheless, helpful. To make matters better, I can also donate rice toward eradicating the world of malnutrition. All of this occurs without me laying out any money and through my small investment of time, whatever time I decide to dedicate to the increase of my vocabulary.

Chase Hansen, member of our church is at the Naval Academy, Annapolis, playing water polo, studying Russian, and wearing Plebe issued glasses. Keep abreast of his experiences through the blog his mother, Jodi, has set up.

Joshua Prescott weighed in at 4lb 14oz, 17 1/3″ and arrived at 7:52am
James Michael weighed in at 6lb even, 18 1/2″ and arrived at 7:53am
Isaac Thomas weighed in at 5lb 1.4oz, 18 1/4″ and arrived seconds later also at 7:53am

Sophia (My 8 year old daughter) traveled with me to Dallas, TX, this past June. While I participated in the PCA’s General Assembly meetings, Sophia joined other children at a Vacation Bible School and series of field trips. One of the highlights of the trip was our visit with dear friends, Jay and Karen David, my age and expecting the birth of their first children - triplet boys this July 14! (View other photos of Sophia’s adventures in Dallas.)

You may not appreciate my satirical sentiments, but I am hoping that I will at least get you to read the Declaration of Independence and be thankful for God’s gracious reception of us rebel freedom fighters. As you read, keep echoing in your mind and heart, “America, America, God shed his grace on thee…”

When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

(And so it is “separation” that birthed the greatest nation in history, who calls the world to unite, who has overused the rhetoric of “one world empire,” of lights and hands joining everyone together in peace and harmony.)

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,

(Yes, all human beings are created equal. How quickly has every American institution built class order in opposition to this founding pillar of our nation! Even the Church!) Continue reading »

At the recent Reformed Youth Movement Camp 2008 at Suttle Lake, Oregon, Pacific Northwest youth groups were joined by a youth group from Heritage PCA in Oklahoma City. The Youth Director, Nathan Carr, and his wife, Sarah, accompanied about 12 students. These teens noticed that one of the campers from Evergreen PCA in Beaverton, Paul, was autistic, walking around camp talking to himself, in his own little world. They reached out to him, engaging him in conversation to learn of his interest in making movies with his video camera. He told them that he one ready to shoot and they agreed to be his cast. Other campers joined in and soon Paul was directing over 20 teens. The campers wrote down their lines and took their cues from Paul. I have known Paul since his birth and have taken a special interest in him. There are few times in his life (limited to my observation) when I have seen him so happy and engaged. He was in his element. My estimation of the Oklahoma teens is high to say the least. Continue reading »

Overture 9 from Philadelphia Presbytery requested the 36th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America to create a committee to study the “Scriptural teaching bearing on women’s eligibility for election and ordination to the office of deacon.” Overture 15 from Western Canada makes the same request. Overture 17 from Rocky Mountain Presbytery asks that if a study committee is erected that its mandate also include providing parameters for the role of women in the church. The Bills and Overture Committee after 5.5 hours of discussion recommended that the Assembly deny these requests. A minority report was formed in the committee and signed by 26 committee members including Dr. Bryan Chapell, President of Covenant Seminary, who represented the minority on the floor of the Assembly.
Dr. Philip Ryken, Pastor of 10th Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia (successor of Dr. James Boice) with his Session and congregation, are among those who initiated the conversation in the Philadelphia Presbytery resulting in Overture 9. Floor debate produced mostly divided votes and exposed the fear of the Assembly, and perhaps the entire denomination, of a slippery slope. The PCA’s history of departing from the PCUSA to form a new national church 36 years ago over several issues including the ordination of women may have been more influential in squelching the request than a careful argument arising from the biblical text. Continue reading »