C.S. Hayden's Blog

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Fathers Preparing Sons for Marriage

The fathers and young men of my church assembly had an important meeting Wednesday evening about preparing sons for marriage. The presiding elder asked this question for everyone to ponder in advance: "What do you believe is one of the most important ways you can prepare your son(s) for marriage?" All the elders and deacons, including my father, weighed in with responses. Several other men also provided input. Below are some of my notes.

Elder #1: Fathers must train their sons to be 1) loving husbands and fathers who parallel the relationship of Christ and the church; 2) spiritual leaders who morally protect and sacrificially provide -- leaders vs. followers, men possessing solid relationships with Christ, and men who will foster relationships with their own wives and children; 3) men of purity -- one-woman men for whom divorce will not be an option; 4) men of diligence who will provide and not be slothful -- men who will work hard, handle money wisely, and be servants; and 5) men of prayer and patience who will wait on the Lord to provide a wife. Marriage training is ultimately a heart issue; if our hearts are right our lives will reflect this. Fathers must set an example through their own relationships with their families.

Deacon #1: Two important Scripture passages about preparing sons are Psalm 144:12a and Ephesians 5:23a, 25. Regarding Psalm 144:12, which speaks of sons as plants grown up in their youth, fathers must train their sons to set goals and have a vision. God has purposed most of our sons to marry and have children someday. They need to know where they want to be in 5 and 10 years from now. Sons must be prepared to provide, but this preparation is secondary to instilling within sons a desire to be married. Sons need to see a relationship of joy in their parents and desire to have a similar successful, happy marriage. Parents must set the example. Regarding Ephesians 5, Christ gave Himself for the church. Sons will not suddenly be hit by the realization of how to give themselves for their wives the moment they marry. Rather, fathers must start very early in small ways to teach their sons to show honor and desire to serve as Christ did for the church. Sons must be prepared to protect the weaker vessel as the husband, father, and leader. Daughters can learn submission and sons can learn sacrificial service in small ways by having brothers get the door for sisters, carry their items, and so forth. The key point is to teach sons at a young age, preparing them and instilling a desire to be married.

Deacon #2: Fathers must teach their sons many things, including responsibility, kindness, faithfulness, and so forth. Ultimately, fathers must teach their sons that the Bible is God's Word, and they must desire to live up to scriptural teaching. Sons are taught by example more than by mere words. Fathers should give their sons responsibilities, show honor and respect to their own wives, be willing to ask forgiveness, serve and sacrifice, and be willing to lead. In line with Colossians 3:19, young men must not go into marriage thinking they will change their wives. "What you see is what you get." A man will be frustrated and bitter if he thinks he can change his wife, although she must desire to change and become sanctified by God's strength. Sons must be forgiving and willing to ask forgiveness (Eph. 4:32).

Elder #2: Proverbs 13:10 stresses the importance of humility by telling us that only pride brings contention. An unmarried daughter said that young men need to learn not to sit around, be lazy, and think only of themselves. He must be diligent, count resources as precious, and consider others first. A man must take responsibility, make decisions, and be ready to lead. Fathers should provide their sons everything necessary for success, get out of the way, and hold their sons accountable. David had to take responsibility for his actions in II Samuel 24 when he numbered the people, and 70,000 men died as a result of God's judgment. Men must make decisions and take responsibility, whether the outcome is good or bad. Individually, poor decisions affect perhaps only ourselves; in leadership, poor decisions affect many others. Men must recognize how their actions affect others. They must live in reality vs. a dream world. This encompasses college and career decisions, e.g., pursuing engineering as a profession vs. squandering time in college athletics. Young men must prepare to be useful for God's Kingdom, ready for all good works, counting time as precious, and not being wimps. Finally, they must learn how to decide and then follow through.

Elder #3: God has used Ephesians 5:25 during seasons of hardship in marriage. The most important thing for a husband to do toward his wife is to give himself for her. A man must be fully dedicated to giving himself for his wife, including willingness to lose sleep, give up job opportunities, and be patient with her during difficult times, e.g., hormones and emotions. Everything a husband gives up for his wife, God will give back many-fold in her response. This is something men must learn throughout life. They must keep as the focal point loving their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her. Finally and most importantly, a husband must live this and model it for his children.

Elder #4: The most important thing for fathers to teach their sons is Christ. A young man will not have a blessed, successful marriage without Christ at the center. Fathers must first share the Gospel and teach their sons about Christ. Ephesians 5:25 says that He is our example for how men should treat their wives. Fathers must teach their sons who Christ is, what He did, and what He expects from us. Fathers must follow Christ and show their sons what it means to obey. They must serve their wives and show Christ's example of sacrifice. Fathers must have faith and trust in Christ. Sometimes we put our methods above Christ, especially in homeschool circles. Clearly, methods are very important, but putting them above Christ leads to legalism and poor results. We must put Christ first and trust Him alone for results.

Deacon #3: Fathers must prepare their sons for life -- to be priests, prophets, and providers for themselves and for their families if God gives them wives and children. Young men should desire to marry godly young women with a common vision. A young man will have the God-given desire to marry if he is to marry. Sometimes young men believe they must have "all their ducks in a row" perfectly before they marry, e.g., a debt-free home. Yet the most important thing is to be prepared to be a priest, prophet, and provider. God's grace is crucial in the process of preparing. Fathers must desire to see their sons mature at a young age and be mature Christian men. Many families primarily focus on preparing their daughters and neglect preparing their sons for marriage. Parents must pray for daughters and sons to find the right spouses and that God would prepare them and their spouses for marriage. They must be an example to their children, teach them that they can cut each other slack, and pray that God's grace would enable them to be good spouses.

My Concluding Thoughts: I could share more from my notes, but I trust that this has been helpful. The discussion time was rather brief after all the elders and deacons shared, and I did not weigh in during the meeting. I would have shared that fathers must pursue practical means to equip their sons with the characteristics of masculine leadership: vision, initiation and risk-taking, ability to articulate, diligence, sacrifice, faith, patience, persistence, and follow-through, among many other traits. Godly young men should aspire to be leaders and teachers within our generation, and fathers should prepare their sons for the task of dominion under Christ. A young man must be prepared to find and pursue a young woman as a helpmeet who will be excited to follow and co-labor with her husband under Christ, wholeheartedly embracing his theology, orthopraxy, vision, mission, priorities, goals, and disciplines.

We live in an age of tremendous challenge yet unparalleled opportunity. We have great cause for hope. Recently I have been more diligent to stay in touch with many dear friends throughout the country -- young men committed to preparing for the calling God has on their lives, including marriage and fatherhood. I am excited to see what God will do as we are faithful day-by-day in the ostensibly little responsibilities He gives us.

Young men need to prepare for marriage and fatherhood so that they can shine brilliantly and excel, not merely "get by." We need bold and righteous examples, and every young man should aspire to someday tell their sons, "Give me your heart and let your eyes observe my ways" (Proverbs 23:26). We must desire, if God is pleased to provide us families, to someday instill within our daughters a tremendous measure of discernment so that they will desire to marry young men with the characteristics of their fathers -- young men who are the up-and-coming leaders and teachers within their generation. Clearly, each of us young men have much hard labor to undertake, numerous years of unsung faithfulness in little things, abundant ground to plow, and many foundations to lay in our lives and future families, before we can charge our future daughters to pray for and desire a man with our characteristics. Yet this is my aspiration, and it should be the heartfelt yearning of every godly young man who desires to advance Christ's Kingdom toward progressive triumph in time and history.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Life Update and Current Events

Life has been quite busy of late. I am working about 55 hours per week across town for my internship at the accounting firm, including half days on Saturdays. The internship ends April 15 when the last of the tax returns have to be out the door. I have also been staying busy with activities outside of work, including exercising regularly, staying in contact with friends in Wichita and around the country, and studying. This has left little time for blogging, but several friends and family members have encouraged me to post something. So, here is a rather random assortment of updates about recent activities and events.

Because my daily commute is thirty minutes each way, I listen to an Alexander Scourby recording of Romans every morning, as I am memorizing/re-memorizing Romans 5-8 with my good friend Tim Horn. I memorize best when I listen and speak along with the recordings, and I encourage others to find ways to faithfully memorize a little each day.

Last month my father and I enjoyed a trip to the Men's Advance. We learned from the tremendous addresses of Marcus Serven and Scott Brown about raising godly sons and daughters and about the providence of God. Also, we enjoyed fellowship with many like-minded men from around the country.

I attended a gun show on Saturday with several friends--my first gun show in Kansas. I enjoyed talking with and learning from many gun enthusiasts, including some of my good friends who were in attendance. Although I have never aspired to be a gun expert, I desire to expand my knowledge and skills with firearms.

I am slowly reading through The Scots Worthies and have been blessed by the testimonies of men who wrestled with God in prayer. These sturdy Christians were bold and faithful in righteousness during their troubled times, and they serve as examples for us.

In my view, the three most important headlines recently are as follows: continued woes in the housing market, which are rippling throughout the economy; McCain's victory as the GOP candidate and the contest between Hillary and Obama; and the California court decision against home educators. I recommend becoming informed about the CA decision (also read Doug Phillips' post), taking action, and signing the HSLDA petition. Join HSLDA if you are not a member; the organization provides crucial services for families throughout the nation, and we should support its worthy activities. I am looking forward to Crystal's call-to-action (and I enjoyed interacting with her and Jesse yesterday after the meeting of the church).

The last current event I would note is the exciting news that the SAICFF will provide the largest cash prize of any film festival in the world!

Well, that wasn't so hard. No promises, but maybe I will post again sometime soon--perhaps with some more substantive content.

Monday, January 21, 2008

In all labor there is profit

Every new job is unique, and I have held eight of them in my twenty-three years. I operated a lawn service with my brother during middle school and high school; worked for a piano shop for a few months during high school in 2001; for Vision Forum, Inc. and Vision Ministries, respectively, in 2003-2005; for a medical equipment repair company in 2005 and 2006; for Koch Industries in 2006 and 2007; for a local university in 2007; and now for a regional accounting firm.

Proverbs 14:23 states, "In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury." I have learned much from each of my jobs, and often I did not realize how valuable the opportunities were until I left and entered the next season of life. For example, I learned a few tricks about sales in my job at the piano store. To this day, I remember some of the clever tactics the store manager taught me, such as pricing pianos nearly 3X higher than the price the company would have been willing to take. (Remember this the next time you shop for a piano.) Also, he told me to show customers the most expensive pianos first and then work down the price scale only if necessary.

I anticipate learning about taxes, auditing, various computer applications, and business in general during the three month internship I recently started with a regional accounting firm.
In addition to vocational skills and "intellectual capital," I expect to profit materially from this position.

Wise men have told me to pursue employment to obtain skills for my calling and material capital but never to sink into an "employee" mindset. The employee expects to be paid simply for showing up at work, regardless of whether he adds any value whatsoever to the company. He fancies himself "entitled" to all good blessings from his employer. He is not concerned about improving himself except insofar as this enables him to garner a larger paycheck. And why does he need a larger paycheck? With a larger paycheck, lending institutions will supply him bigger quantities of debt that he can use to buy fancier toys to use on the weekends. The man with an employee attitude lives from weekend to weekend and has a very high time preference (i.e., he prefers present consumption and "instant gratification" over future gains obtained through saving, investment, production, diligence, and thrift).

I do not intend to put all employees in a bad light. After all, I have been an employee for various companies. Yet in hindsight, I can see that I sometimes was tempted by a mentality akin to the employee mindset I described. However, employees can tend toward an entrepreneurial mentality if they believe they have nothing to lose by laboring diligently in their current position and keeping an eye out for even better opportunities in the marketplace. The entrepreneur has a vision and always aligns his goals and undertakings with his priorities. He is willing to defer consumption because he recognizes that every small sacrifice he makes will yield dividends for years -- indeed, for many generations.

Labor yields profit. And contrary to the myths of the socialists, profits are the backbone of a healthy, stable economy. God alone is the source of profit, and we should fall on our faces in praise to Him for His blessings, great and small.

"Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go" (Is. 48:17).

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Final Finals

My Monday evening final exam in business law (abbreviated "b-law" or simply "BLAW") class was postponed for a week due to (drum roll, please) ice. Officials announced the school closure only an hour prior to the exam, but because I did not feel well prepared, I was (in this rare instance) grateful to have another week to study. The entire school was shut down Tuesday because of concerns about impending ice-inflicted doom (or something like that), but other areas in our region (particularly Oklahoma) were hit much harder by storms than Wichita. Temperatures hovered barely above freezing here, so the abundant showers were plain rain (yes, I know that rhymed).

In spite of the Tuesday school closure, my final project in financial accounting research class -- a case study with a financial statement ratio analysis, an assessment of a company's earnings quality, and a discussion about indicators of strength or weakness in the business -- was still due, as originally scheduled. I sent it to my teacher via email. Even though I was initially planning to spend a large portion of the day working on the paper, I took another glance at the syllabus around 9:30 a.m., which refreshed my memory that the project was due at noon. This meant that I did not have the rest of the day to work on it, so I had to devote my undivided attention to it for the next 2.5 hours. Gratefully, I completed it without much trouble. As a friend of mine is readily wont to opine (yes, that was another rhyme), "The good thing about waiting until the last minute is that it will only take you a minute." This general principle held true in my scenario yesterday, and it freed up the remainder of my day for other endeavors.

I turned in my final project in auditing class today, a group paper about ConocoPhillips. I was the editor, and I also wrote a small portion about the energy industry. Again, I was able to email this paper instead of going to class to turn it in. I am grateful to have two out of four final projects completed.

Tomorrow evening is my final tax research class (the teacher is requiring us to attend class for this one, even though there is no test or paper due), which is a tremendous relief. Although I learned much from the challenges the teacher placed on us and I believe I am a better writer due to his amazingly strict assessments of my projects, I am glad to have tax schooling behind me for good. I took two prior tax classes, passed the first with a solid A, and barely squeaked by with an A in the second. (Concerning students earning A's in his classes, the teacher in the second tax class had stated, wittily, "It just doesn't happen." This motivated me to give it a try.) Based on my present tax teacher's electronic announcement today, it appears that he is not going to be generous in his dispensation of A's. Because I am (to state it mildly) not a tax fanatic and have no desire to be (unlike a few others in the class), I certainly did not shine forth as one of the top students; thus, I am hoping (in this rare instance) for a B.

I will be grateful on Monday after I complete my BLAW final exam to mark the end of my first semester of grad school edumacation in wakademia (or yakademia, if you prefer).

Monday, December 03, 2007

Cordz Home in Winfield, MO: The 2007 Fourth Anniversary Vision Forum 2003 Intern Class Reunion

I arrived home yesterday from a magnificent trip to St. Louis for fellowship with many dear friends in Christ. To ensure that we gathered as a group this year, Tim Horn initiated a rendezvous at the Cordz home for the 2003 Vision Forum intern class consisting of Peter Bradrick, Nathanael Cordz, Nathaniel Darnell, Tim Horn, and myself. Many thanks to the Cordz Family for their warm and generous hospitality and to the Joyce Family for enabling just the five of us to use their home for most of Saturday for discussion, lunch, and fellowship.

Among many highlights of the trip, I enjoyed interacting with Peter and Kelly Bradrick and their son, Triumph. Peter was the first (and, thus far, the only) member of our class to put the patriarchal vision into practice by marrying Kelly last year and then receiving the Lord's blessing of a son this year.

Kelly and Peter converse with friends in the Cordz kitchen as Peter holds Triumph.

Peter and I enjoyed extensive conversation with the other men, as well as a personal discussion early into Sunday morning. He and I conversed via phone a few minutes ago and agreed that our interaction together was a highlight of the get-together.

I took extensive notes from Peter's visionary insights he shared with the four of us at the Joyce's home. After I discussed the recent light God had provided from His Word and Spirit to fine-tune my theology, vision, calling, orthopraxy, and strategies; Peter said we as young men are pioneering a nuanced vision of honoring our parents by building humbly and deliberately on the foundations they have carefully laid in our lives. Our goal is neither to blindly and passively follow the "letter of the law" they set forth nor to rebelliously cast aside their wisdom, fancying ourselves enlightened sages.

I explained my recent success, by God's grace, in articulating a life vision to my parents that might have differed initially from the path they had envisioned for me. In various ways, God is apparently trying to teach me how to formulate and articulate my vision, which is a defining characteristic -- along with initiation, follow-through, hard work, and perseverance -- of masculine leadership. After careful discussion, earnest prayer, and practical leading by which the Lord has opened workable opportunities; my parents and I are, as of recently, absolutely and comprehensively on the same page. We are now standing very self-consciously in the strength and wisdom of the Lord to seek His will for the specific steps He would have me take down the path He has prepared for me.

Peter also articulated remarkable wisdom he drew from the recent Faith and Freedom Tour in Plymouth. We have a tremendous weight of responsibility on our shoulders, and we cannot afford to live anything less than deliberate and strategic lives. We must not make provision for our flesh that desires to be comfortable or take the easy path, even though this is the great temptation every man faces and to which most succumb. We have been given what few have received, and God will require much from us.

To this, I stated that our duty is to be leaders of leaders and teachers of teachers; Peter agreed that we should not content ourselves with simply having large families, providing sufficiently, and homeschooling -- great though these are, they are merely starting points to the Kingdom-advancing mission God has given us. Peter inspired the four of us by describing specific characteristics he sought and obtained in a wife; he had seriously conversed with Kelly before they married and told her that he did not want to live a comfortable life with a secure, 9-5 job. He did not desire a woman who would merely stay home and raise his children, although he certainly wanted her to do that; rather, he desired a sturdy woman, much like the Pilgrim women, who would encourage and propel him in his strategic focus and vision -- a woman who would discipline herself and her mind not to pursue personal comfort and ease as her defining decision criteria. Peter has the mindset of a martyr, a man who will live uncompromisingly and be willing to die for the faith. He realizes that God does not need us to compromise to advance His plans and purposes, and His Kingdom will suffer no great loss if His enemies pursue our destruction when we are faithful.

I enjoyed holding Triumph Perseverance Bradrick for the first time during the weekend. I pray diligently for the day when God, if He so chooses, will bless me, just as He has richly blessed Peter, with a wife and children.

Mr. Cordz, with assistance from his wife and children, cooked eggs for our scrumptious breakfast Saturday morning.

A familiar scene throughout the day: Peter tells a story, and Tim snaps a picture.

Nathanael -- whose sobriquet affectionately remains, simply, "Cordz" -- eagerly awaits partaking of the food during our lunch together at the Joyce's home.

This is what former interns eat for lunch: burgers, chips, Pepsi, and my Mom's tasty chocolate chip cookies (except the Pepsi went untouched during our health-conscious assemblage, and the cookies are largely obscured in this pic). As we fashioned and grilled the burgers, through my words and deeds I diligently ingrained the importance of abundant Worcestershire sauce and pepper. I thought the burgers were rather tasty.

Nathaniel -- whose sobriquet affectionately remains, simply, "Darnell" -- displays what former VF interns read: R.J. Rushdoony's posthumous, newly-released Sovereignty. I gave each of the men a copy and wrote the following note inside:

Dear [Peter, Nathanael, Nathaniel, and Tim]

Continually remember that God alone is sovereign. Always live before Him in fear and understanding. Recognize these three truths about God who is solely sovereign over every man, institution, and area of life:

-As Priest, He predestined you to salvation and holiness in Christ when you were unworthy and before you were willing or able to receive His grace (Eph. 1:5, 1:11, 2:8-9; Rom. 5:8, 9:16; Jn. 1:13).
-As King, He provided a sole and sufficient rule for your faith, life, words, thoughts, and deeds in His absolute Law-Word, Holy Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16-17; Deu. 8:3; Matt. 4:4).
-As Prophet, He prophesied the inevitable victory of Christ’s Kingdom in time and eternity through His ordained means of faithfulness and obedience in ordinary men and women (Ps. 110; I Cor. 15:24-28; Rev. 1:5-6).

Praise the Lord for raising a dedicated, tireless, and knowledgeable minority who will deliberately know, understand, live, articulate, and apply Scripture to all of reality and advance Christ’s triumph in history. As you trust and obey, study His Word faithfully, and labor diligently in the calling He has placed on your life; God will work in and through you to restore and accumulate the spiritual, intellectual, and material capital of His Kingdom for future generations.

Rushdoony’s profound wisdom in this newly released, posthumous book will encourage and equip you to persevere through trials and live self-consciously for God’s glory.

Always and forever your brother in Christ, your co-laborer in the Kingdom, and your fellow warrior for Christ’s Crown Rights over every area of life and thought,

Caleb Hayden

This book is presented December 1, 2007, at the Cordz Home in Winfield, Missouri, to each of my dear and blessed brothers from the 2003 Vision Forum intern class.

As I mentioned, Ethan and Heather Joyce (right) graciously allowed just the five of us former interns to use their home for much of Saturday. They are pictured here with their children and members of the Cordz Family Saturday evening at the Cordz home, in which Heather was once the oldest child.

Peter and Kelly gaze very seriously at their warrior for Christ's Kingdom.

I am very grateful to the Lord for enabling the five of us to gather. Tim said he is already going to start preparing for the 2008, fifth anniversary gathering. Nathaniel Darnell wrote a post about our gathering and also posted a music video. Thanks to Darnell for his (presumed) permission to use the above photograph that he posted on his blog in exchange for my (presumed) permission to post the music video.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Rushdoony's Posthumous, Newly-Released "Sovereignty"

I received a very large box in the mail yesterday. The return address was Ross House Books. My book order had arrived. Hooray!

Inside, among other treasures, were several copies of Sovereignty. (I like to have extra Rushdoony books to give away and loan to friends.) So far, I have read Martin Selbrede's fabulous introduction as well as Rushdoony's first three chapters. I have also been skimming through various portions as I am often wont to do with new (and old) books. Rushdoony's observation on page 63 reminded me of a blog post I wrote in June, credit for which I owe to similar Rushdoony statements in other works:

The steady growth of regulations and agencies of control replacing fundamental law give evidence that the modern state does not tolerate any law binding upon itself. For the humanistic state, it is the people who must be bound, and the state freed.

On page 1, Rushdoony has defined a sovereign as ". . . one who is above all . . . independent and unlimited by any other . . . [with] independent and original authority." Biblically, the Hebrew word adonai and Greek word kyrios are translated as lord, which means sovereign: ". . . owner, the one possessing dominion and rule, authority and power" (p. 2). Furthermore, the source of law is our sovereign and thus our god. Rushdoony denied the state or individual's assertions of sovereignty. God alone is unchanging, the sovereign source of a fixed law. "As a result, where we have human sovereignty and law, we have the rule of capriciousness, whereas the rule of God and His law give us justice" (p. 16). A sovereign state cannot be limited by any law and is responsible to no higher authority, not even a constitution. If man or his institutions are sovereign, they are subject to no unchanging standard such as a constitution because man and his institutions are in constant flux (p. 15). Thus, the modern perspective of state sovereignty is implicitly totalitarian.

I look forward to further gleanings from Rushdoony's Sovereignty. I also ordered his newly-released The Cure for Souls, which promises to be convicting and encouraging.

Spying and Lying -- Duties or Deviations?

I have three presentations this week, including yesterday evening's, and I am currently working on a case study of audit ethics to present tomorrow evening. I recently heard a message dealing with Michal's lie to Saul in I Samuel 19, and afterwards I discussed with the presenter whether deception is ever appropriate -- especially when spying or when leading wicked enemies astray to whom we do not owe the truth. Many commentators say we should never lie or deceive, yet Rushdoony and several others point to Rahab and the Hebrew midwives in Egypt as biblical examples of faithful women who were commended by God for their willful defiance of wickedness.

Put yourself in this scenario that I am analyzing: You are a CPA specializing in auditing, and you work for a large audit firm. One of your friends is an IRS agent who is aware that you are being investigated for your role in an illegal tax shelter. He offers to close the case on you if you are willing to become a "controlled informant" and funnel some confidential information that will help the IRS collect millions from one of your audit clients. You are bound by professional confidentiality requirements in your profession, but the standards have a few exceptions. Also, you realize that your client might be, in the eyes of the state, committing an illegal act (tax evasion).

The audit case referenced an outrageous (in my opinion) statement by an IRS agent that an auditor ". . . has a moral and legal obligation to turn over information" that could help the IRS crack down on tax evasion. However, a professional accounting publication, also referenced in the case, says that ". . . turning the client-accountant relationship into a secret tool for government agents is an abominable practice." I say: Here! Here!

How are spying and deception related, and how are they distinct? What would you do if you were the auditor in the scenario above? I will try to post my answer to the second question -- based on professional audit standards, informed by a biblical perspective of business, the state, and spying -- after I get a few responses.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Presenting on the Dayton, TN 1925 Scopes "Monkey" Trial

I am currently finishing a presentation and paper for my business law class about the 1925 Scopes "Monkey" Trial. Because I was preoccupied during Thanksgiving break with company and other endeavors besides studying for classes -- admittedly, school work was low on the priority list -- I am rapidly drawing together my previous research to craft a PowerPoint presentation and wrap up my paper before 5:35 p.m. I am no stranger to the "just-in-time" method of study, as it has, by God's grace, served me well in previous school projects.

Avid proponents of biblical creationism or intelligent design are typically familiar with the Scopes Trial and its profound sociological implications. Dr. Gary North, in his brilliant and fascinating lecture series, The Unknown History of the 20th Century, asserts that the Scopes Trial was the first staged, mass-media publicity stunt in modern times. Dr. North also holds that the trial instigated fundamental Christianity's 50-year retreat from culture, during which time evangelicals and fundamentalists ceded every field to humanists. Marching in step with Rushdoony's devastating critique of all institutions within the modern humanistic establishment -- grounded self-consciously in an optimistic vision inherited from our Puritan forebears of God's total sovereignty, absolute predestination, comprehensive law-giving power, and inevitable victorious triumph of Christ's Kingdom in time and history -- Christians eventually re-emerged in the 1970s from their slothful, foolish slumber. Having recognized the challenges we face and having struggled to implement viable solutions, Dr. North asserts, as we move forward, that we can't beat something with nothing.

Clearly, I am not going to cover much of this perspective in my presentation. However, I will point to the conflict between William Jennings Bryan's fervent, nearly religious zeal for majoritarian democracy, as against Darrow and the ACLU's elitist and "individual rights" perspectives. On page 97 of the remarkable 1998 Pulitzer Prize-winning Summer for the Gods, Edward J. Larson asserts that Bryan acted out of “. . . a distinctive combination of left-wing politics and right-wing religion.” This squares nicely with Dr. Gary North's description of Bryan, and I suspect that Dr. North, with justification, drew heavily from Larson in his lecture about the Scopes Trial.

Well, it is now time to get back to writing my paper and crafting my slides. In closing, I suspect that the most enjoyable portion of my presentation will be reading outrageous and provocative assertions from the rabid eugenicist George William Hunter’s 1914 book, from which Scopes allegedly taught, A Civic Biology. I will look forward to viewing the expressions on my classmates' faces when they hear, likely for the first time, what social Darwinists propounded in the early 20th century. This ought to provoke a little contemplation and soul-searching. Maybe I can force a few of them to become more epistemologically self-conscious -- faithful and uncompromising in terms of their respective faiths. Once they truly understand Darwinism and what it hath wrought, they will have the choice of denying reality in favor of self-deception or facing up to the implications of their diabolical faith.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

My Tribute to Michael Billings

Note: I am still contemplating writing a comprehensive post about the impact Michael Billings' memorial service had on me. For now, here is a tribute I wrote just over a week ago:

Michael expounds on lessons from God's providential workings in history at Williamsburg during the Jamestown Quadricentennial Celebration (June 2007)

In the midst of a faithless generation characterized by youthful folly, few young men have shone more brilliantly than did Michael Billings. God providentially blessed me with occasions to enjoy treasured interaction with this faithful brother. Though several years my junior, Michael, as few others have been willing, gently admonished me and faithfully spurred me to deliberate thought and action. He was the blessed picture of a godly son in our generation, a "plant grown up in his youth" (Psalm 144:12).

I was deeply moved to learn of the passing of my dear brother in Christ. Nothing that I recall in life has more spurred me to faithfulness and obedience than to remember Michael's achievements, his zeal, his faithfulness, his honor, his humility, and his passion to know and love his Savior Jesus Christ with all his heart, all his mind, all his pursuits, and all his life. I looked forward to observing how the Lord would use Michael because Michael was deliberate. At a young age, he had an uncanny, self-conscious awareness of God's calling on his life. As men older than him drifted and stumbled without aim, Michael acted boldly and unreservedly in terms of his unshakable faith.

Michael's passing has motivated me and I hope many others to assume the mantle of godly service and faithful leadership in our troubled times. Instead of wasting, as an unfaithful and slothful servant, any of the irreplaceable time God has entrusted to me, I desire to redeem every moment and make the most of each opportunity God providentially gives. Let us join the fight where the battle rages, and let us wield the mighty spiritual weapons of our warfare that Michael faithfully commanded for the glory of our triumphant Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Christ-Centered Fellowship with Friends

Our dear friends from Montana, Bryce, Renée, and their mother, visited us two years ago. Then, they stopped by our home two weeks ago on their way to Texas and again yesterday evening on their return trip home. We enjoyed having them in our home for another overnight stay.

My sister Susanna, Renée, Bryce, and I shared pictures with each other from travels and various activities. We talked and laughed into the early hours of the morning.

Earlier in the evening, I showed Bryce my library. We talked about books and ideas, and I treasured the interaction with a very mature, thoughtful, and like minded brother. Bryce challenges and encourages me with his humility, discipline, and example of achieving great things at a young age.

This morning, Bryce and I talked about the providence of God. Bryce is solidly grounded in the blessed Reformed doctrines of God's decrees and providence. We reflected on God's orchestration of all tiny events and details to bring about His purposes in lives, hearts, and circumstances for His glory and for our good. Both of us are grateful that we have merely to be faithful and obedient, as we are not responsible for the outcomes God orchestrates.

We had this picture taken after our worship service during Bryce and his family's visit to our church fellowship two weeks ago.

Bryce, Renée, and the Hayden siblings gather for a picture prior to parting ways this morning.

Our family enjoyed a tremendous time of encouragement and fellowship with Bryce, Renée, and their mother. We are grateful for these like minded friends who challenge us to grow in our maturity and walk with Christ.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Thank God for using unworthy laborers in His work

We are heirs of the spiritual, intellectual, and material capital our fathers have accumulated over many generations. This means we must labor diligently and faithfully as stewards of this capital for Christ's Kingdom and for future generations. In His common grace, God has even allowed unbelievers to participate in capital accumulation; as they become more epistemologically self-conscious and live in terms of the incoherent implications of their foolish worldviews, they will become less effective in God's world, and we will witness God's work of transferring the wealth of the sinner that is laid up for the just (Prov. 13:22). We will obtain, as it were, cities that we did not build, houses that we did not fill, wells that we did not dig, and trees and vineyards that we did not plant (Deu. 6:10-11); in other words, we and our children will inherit the earth (Ps. 25:13, 37:9, 37:11, 37:22; Mt. 5:5), and the only question is this: Will we and they know what to do with it?

The Lord will require much of us to whom much has been given. We have nothing that we did not first receive from others and, ultimately, from God. Every good and perfect gift comes from our immutable God. We deserve none of it, and we could never hope to repay Him. Thus, we must labor -- in the midst of victories and setbacks alike -- with the attitude toward God that we are merely unprofitable servants if we perform our duty. That is, if we are faithful, obedient, wise, and diligent, as He commands us to be, we merit no divine commendation because the very gifts, talents, time, intellect, and material resources we employ in our labors are from God above. He does not need us, and anything He gives us is a bonus on top of what we deserve, which is simply eternal judgment and damnation.

As you think about what you are thankful for during this time we call Thanksgiving, do not merely contemplate all your material wealth that you -- ostensibly through your wisdom and might, but actually through the Lord's graciousness -- have obtained. Do not merely thank God for the precious and irreplaceable time He has given you and commanded you to profitably utilize in the work of His Kingdom. Do not merely enjoy and employ the gifts and talents He has given you. In addition to expressing gratefulness to God for all these benefits, recognize that you are worthy of none of these.

For those of us who are mission-minded and believe we must seek and pursue the vision and calling God has placed on our lives, we must guard against the mentality that God needs us in order to advance His Kingdom. We know that God normally works through His ordained means, of which we read in Scripture: the faithfulness and obedience of ordinary men and women who stand deliberately, self-consciously, and uncompromisingly on their faith and are willing to die for the same. However, even as we strive to be these men and women -- these who will reshape the 21st century and rebuild the foundations of Christendom for the eventual triumph, perhaps after several hundred more generations, of Christ's Kingdom in time and history -- we must readily and humbly acknowledge that God does not need us or any of the wonderful objectives we are now pursuing. We strive -- faithfully, diligently, justifiably, and necessarily -- to build large, biblical families; attend family-integrated churches; launch multi-generational and entrepreneurial businesses to create wealth and accumulate material capital for the Kingdom; produce epistemologically self-conscious movies; obtain large libraries with remarkable resources to build intellectual capital; and so on and so forth. Let us move ever more boldly and deliberately toward these objectives, but let us not lose sight of the reality that God will bring about His purposes in His time through His means and for His glory. In other words, none of these endeavors -- worthy and necessary though they are -- should center on our objectives, our fame, our wealth, our power, or our glory.

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful, above all things else, that God enables me to labor in His Kingdom, with His resources, for His glory -- unworthy though I am and ever will be. I do not become discouraged in any circumstance or find cause to justify my folly and slothfulness when I contemplate and believe with every fiber of my being the wondrous truth that God has called me for His glory and will use me for His purpose -- that's all I'm here for, and that's quite enough. Once God is finished with me, as with my friend Michael Billings, He will take me from this earth. His purposes will not be thwarted, and His Kingdom will not be the poorer for Him having taken me, once He chooses to usher me into my eternal reward. For now, while I live and enjoy the abundant blessings of life and friends and family He has given me, I must labor diligently and wisely because I know not when that day may arrive that He has appointed for me to draw my last breath and be escorted into His presence.

As Christians, we must thank the Lord that He has called us, as His unworthy servants, to advance His marvelous work of drawing all men unto Himself -- teaching them to think, observe, and live according to all Christ has commanded in His sufficient Word. Be thankful for the capital God has given you, and carefully contemplate how you are stewarding His resources. Are you faithful in what is little? Realize that He has large plans in store for us if we are faithful in little.

Our children's children, I believe, will see billionaires someday arise within their faithful ranks, and they will overwhelm Wall Street's paltry IPOs; Hollywood will disappear once our movie industry takes form; academia will someday be no more; the messianic, belligerent nation-state with all its bureaucracy, taxation, welfare, and warfare will be shredded in history's garbage disposal; our heirs who stand self-consciously in the faith of 17th century (and 21st century) Puritans will regard it a peculiar relic of a brief dark age of humanism. This spiritual dark age in which we live has proceeded the era mis-labeled by humanistic historians as the "Enlightenment," and faithful 21st century believers must increasingly overcome this institutionalized folly as we apply and live the Reformation theme, Post Tenebras Lux ("after darkness, light").

I could multiply examples of humanistic establishments within this dark age that I believe will someday disappear, whose wealth will be progressively transferred to the faithful and righteous people of God. Does this paint a picture in your mind of the vision I believe God has in store for the future? It's a gigantic vision that requires us to move vigorously and take bold action. If we are faithful, we will have an opportunity to suffer and perhaps die for our faith when the guardians of the present system find out what we have in mind. But victorious triumph is a work that God will eventually perform through us and our children and many future generations -- even though He does not need us, our children, or our feeble efforts to accomplish His will.

Again, I ask: Will we know what to do with the earth once we inherit it? We must employ each moment to busy ourselves about the task of reformation in every area of life and thought so that we are ready when God, in His time, floods ours storehouses with the wealth of the sinner that is laid up for the just.

Thank God that He allows us, though ever unworthy, to labor in His Kingdom and advance this glorious vision until Christ reigns, in time and history, the cosmic Victor over all His enemies.

Monday, November 19, 2007

A Gathering of Fellowship and Learning from Dr. Bahnsen

I invited another group to our home yesterday afternoon to watch lectures 4 and 5 of Dr. Greg Bahnsen's Basic Training for Defending the Faith. Last month we watched lectures 1-3. Because yesterday's group included many who missed lectures 1-3, I spent about 25 minutes summarizing the content of the first three lectures. This helped ingrain the material in my mind; anytime I have to communicate content, I naturally understand and retain it better.

Josh Luper married Sarah Cowley two weeks ago. I asked him in advance to share for a few minutes about their process of courtship, engagement, and marriage. Also, I wanted him to share a little about his vision for his marriage, vocation, and future. I knew he was a well-read, skilled communicator, but little did I know that he would articulate such an encouraging and challenging message to us young men. He gave me permission to share some of his thoughts on my blog -- I was furiously typing copious notes -- and I intend to do so soon.
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Addendum #1: Here are my notes from Josh's brief yet remarkable exposition of his courtship process and his vision for the future. Josh and Sarah were married November 3.

Josh grew up in a Christian home, and his parents inculcated the importance of family and the father’s responsibility before God. Men, he learned, are to be in authority -- to initiate and take the lead. After he sought and met a young lady he thought might be a suitable wife, he talked to her father. He had to go out on a limb and take a step of faith. Although it can be scary, God calls men to be initiators and to lead.

Sarah's father, Anthony Cowley, lives in Pennsylvania and was at one time the president of the National Reform Association. He is now pastor of a Reformed Presbyterian Church. Josh visited with him about his interest in Sarah, which made Josh nervous but was a profitable experience. After their courtship process, Josh talked to his eventual father-in-law about pursuing Sarah's hand in marriage; Mr. Cowley probed Josh about his theology, vocation, and view of the Kingdom. Josh was grateful for someone who asked him hard questions and forced him to think through these issues. We all need to consider how we are going to use our gifts for God’s Kingdom.

There are lots of thoughts and ideas about marrying and methods for courtship. Ultimately, one key point Josh learned is that the father and husband has responsibility to represent his family before God. Christ is our model of this, and He was not domineering but rather sacrificial (self-giving). The hardest foe for young men to conquer is to get past their selfishness and to realize that we must submit to Christ and be humble.

Dr. Bahnsen, whose video presentations we watched, was a flamethrower and launched atomic bombs at unbelieving systems of thought. With Van Til, he brilliantly deconstructed humanistic folly, but we must present an alternative to unbelief. As Dr. Gary North says, we can’t beat something with nothing. Marriage is designed to fulfill God’s mandate to be fruitful and multiply and have dominion over the earth. This is how we will counter the sin and humanism in the world. We must see the norm for Christian young men as getting married. They should not be loners, self-sufficient, and self-determiners, remaining free to pursue their own schedules and priorities. They should learn to take responsibility and provide for others’ needs. Courtship and marriage change our focus from looking to ourselves and thereby sanctifies us by looking to another in order to serve. Christ’s giving His life for the church is our foremost example.

Our hope is to slowly and surely build on the foundation laid by our physical and spiritual parents -- to take the good and move further. Our task is to be obedient, and the outcome is up to God. Of the increase of Christ's government, we are promised, there will be no end; in Christ, our labors are not in vain. He will complete the good work He began in us. The family is a vital building block and foundation in society, and transformation will happen through faithfulness in this realm.

Finally, Josh asked us to be in prayer for him and Sarah as they start their new life together. They hope for God's abundant blessing of fruitfulness, and Josh commented that they needed to have at least five children because they are Presbyterian. (I told him we would rejoice if they, by God's blessing, had many more than this.)

Addendum #2: Take a look at this article Dr. Bahnsen wrote and discussed in his final lecture of the series. Dr. Bahnsen provides a helpful summary of his method using the transcendental argument that Christianity is true because of the impossibility of the contrary. Our faith alone provides the necessary preconditions for coherent thought and can rationally account for all of human experience. We build reasoning upon our faith, according to Augustine's model, instead of using faith (as in Thomism) to go beyond reasoning where the latter falls short. You will enjoy reading how Dr. Bahnsen annihilates arguments from a foremost defender of humanistic thinking, Bertrand Russell.

Monday, November 12, 2007

Pressing Forward

I hit the ground running this morning after a singularly impacting weekend of traveling to eastern Missouri for Michael Billings' memorial service, followed by hosting in Wichita some dear friends from Montana who stayed with us Saturday evening and visited our church fellowship Sunday morning.

Few events have impacted my life and indelibly marked my memory as Michael Billings' remarkable memorial service, and I trust that no attendee departed without experiencing a profound, lifelong transformation from testimonies of the Lord's work in the short yet fruitful life of our departed brother. I am still collecting my thoughts, and I do not wish to publicly share reflections prematurely. Lord willing, I will write and possibly post a picture or two from the event at a later time.

I enjoyed a brief overnight stay with the Cordz family west of St. Louis after the Friday memorial service. I arrived in Wichita late Saturday afternoon to greet Bryce, Renée, and their Mother who stayed with us and attended our church fellowship Sunday morning. Bryce is a dear friend with whom I shared hours of deep, insightful conversation on a wide range of subjects.

Gratefully, today marks the one-month countdown for completing this school semester. I will remain quite busy as I wrap up projects, presentations, papers, and tests. Expect sporadic (at best) blog posts.

Thursday, November 08, 2007

A Psalm of hope as we mourn the death of God's saint

Psalm 116, in honor of Michael Garrett Billings,
May 12, 1988 - November 4, 2007:

[1] I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.

[2] Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.

[3] The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.

[4] Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.

[5] Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.

[6] The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.

[7] Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.

[8] For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.

[9] I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

[10] I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:

[11] I said in my haste, All men are liars.

[12] What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?

[13] I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.

[14] I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.

[15] Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

[16] O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.

[17] I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.

[18] I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.

[19] In the courts of the LORD's house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Beloved Christian Brother and Friend, Michael Billings, is with his Savior

My family sat around the dinner table Sunday evening discussing our hopes and plans for the future. We talked about available opportunities and current challenges in education, schooling, mentoring, obtaining credentials, work experience, networking, and so forth. I recounted one of my most encouraging and thought-provoking conversations at the SAICFF the prior weekend with a dear brother in Christ, Michael Billings. Michael had told me about his plans for the future and his earnest desire to pursue a creative path of being mentored and educated by godly men, instead of undertaking the established schooling model, to enter his calling of shepherding God's people. I told my family during our Sunday evening conversation that I was looking forward to witnessing where the Lord would lead this young man who sought to be -- and, indeed, was -- a living example of his deliberate, self-conscious, undying, and presuppositional faith in Christ.

My cell phone rang, literally -- and I mean, literally -- the moment I was speaking these words. My friend Tim was calling. I finished my conversation with my family, left the dinner table, and called Tim back two minutes later. He was very somber and told me he had some extremely sad news to share. As our friend and Christian brother, Michael Billings, was driving home from an R.C. Sproul, Sr. conference in Dallas, Michael was ushered into the presence of the Lord through a fatal automobile accident. I was speechless for several moments.

I told Tim that I had literally just been talking with my family about Michael and this younger man's impact on my thought process as I contemplate decisions for my future. Immediately, my mind jumped to James 4:14-15, which says in part: "For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that."

Michael believed these words with every fiber of his being and trusted solely in the merits of Christ his Savior for eternal salvation. Doug Phillips, who mentored my Vision Forum intern class in 2003 and Michael's class in 2005, posted a very moving sermon that Michael preached at the age of 17. Remarkably, he had drawn from this text in James -- which I contemplated immediately after learning of his death -- for his sermon title, "Life is a Vapor." Listen to this, and reflect on the wisdom and maturity of a young man who typified Psalm 144:12, as a grown up youth, better than anyone I have ever met. Michael was focused on his goals, for God's glory; a strong young man (Prov. 20:29, I Jn. 2:14), Michael was serious minded, in accordance with Titus 2:6.

I state all this (and I could share more), not merely to heap kind and sentimental words upon the passing of a beloved brother, but because I truly esteemed Michael a strikingly brilliant man whom I believed God would use to help restore the spiritual and intellectual foundations of Christ's Kingdom. I was awed by Michael's uncanny ability to articulate accounts of God's providence in our nation's history at the Jamestown Quadricentennial Celebration. In my mind, I had slated him -- this is no exaggeration -- as the foremost, like minded, up and coming communicator and scholar with whom I hoped to work closely in future endeavors, by God's grace, to advance Christ's triumphant Kingdom. Alas, God had other plans for Michael. May God be praised and glorified in His providential workings and purpose.

During our conversation at Denny's after the SAICFF awards ceremony when Michael shared his plans with me, I articulated my vision to restore the spiritual, intellectual, and material capital of Christendom. He beamed with excitement and said, "Caleb, that is wonderful." Michael also very seriously questioned me about decisions I had made, specifically to attend college, and he forced me to evaluate and provide a well-thought response. Challenging me as no one else had ever quite done, Michael utterly refused to accept a thinly reasoned and flimsily articulated answer. Which is to say, he was a true friend, and every man needs a few of those. Michael then told me about a conversation he had last year with a man who has tremendously impacted both of us, Doug Phillips. Mr. Phillips told him, in effect, that the Christian leaders of the 21st century will be entrepreneur-theologians. This brief, thoughtful insight helped solidify in my mind the path I wish to tread and the life I hope to lead, by God's grace, should He permit.

Every moment is a gift from the Lord. To state a familiar theme of the Reformation, all of life is grace. Our morning prayer, from the heart, should always reflect the words of the Psalmist in 3:5, "I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me." We live and move and have our being in God (Acts 17:28), and we are sustained by His providence. God has numbered the hairs of our head (Mt. 10:30), and our times are in His hand (Ps. 31:15). God has appointed the time for us to die (Heb. 9:27), and we must make the most of every moment and opportunity in this brief life (Eph. 5:16).

Doug Phillips posted a wonderful tribute to Michael Billings, as did my good friend Nathaniel Darnell. Lord willing, if I am able to appropriately arrange my schedule and logistics, I hope to attend the memorial service this coming Friday, for which Mr. Phillips posted details on his blog. We mourn and weep at the passing of our beloved brother, Michael Billings, but we rejoice that he is with his Savior, Jesus Christ, for whom Michael lived and professed a faithful witness during his brief sojourn on earth.