In the mountains of western Massachusetts the Lord has built a foundry out of which are cast all manner of instruments for His service. These hammers, these nails - these scalpels and swords were fashioned from metals made molten by the crucible of confrontation, study, independence, and community. This experience and environment is unlike any other and has provided its products a peculiar ethic and a wonderful worldview. Those of us tempered in this foundry are a league of useful soldiers and in the kingdom we are the Lenox Order of Saints.

Monday, October 24, 2011

The Siren Song of Silliness

A shepherd can no more shepherd wolves than a pastor can disciple a flock of fools.  Those who may be discipled are the humble, the hungry, and those distrustful of their own understanding.  BICS has long stated as both its goal and reason for existing that it is in the business of discipleship.  Whether or not it is able to make good on that aspiration depends greatly on the type of young people that make up each class.  Everyone enrolled is a student but very few are disciples.  Looking back on our experience - was orientation the beginning of a lazy-river ride or was it the end of one?  Are we yet disciples?

Thursday, October 13, 2011

There Are No Good Ol' Days

In the seventh chapter of Ecclesiastes, Solomon has this word for the weary: "Do not say, 'Why is it that the former days were better than these?' For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this."  What makes this question unwise is that it is hardly a question at all; but is instead a declarative statement and a sad one at that.  There is a note of despair in this inquiry which is evidence of a cold or cowardly disinclination to fight.  Every age has its own struggles and challenges and we are responsible for today's.  Yesterday is gone forever and so are the men and women who led the charge for the Kingdom in those days.  We are not misplaced in history.  We have been called to this time and age - to fight to raise the banner of Christ over our quarter-inch of the timeline.  Make this your mindset and mine and perhaps a turn towards revival will be seen before our generation's sun has set.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Westminster Confession or Kennel Club for You?

With a modicum of skill a man may train his dog but he will never be able to disciple it.  Propriety by prompts is not victorious Christianity but rather the life of the well-heeled cocker spaniel.  Discipleship is aspiration over instinct, love over reward, meaning over function.  Like Pavlov's dimwitted dogs, do you still salivate when the world rings a bell?