The Wevils of Politics: A Question on the Election

There's a scene in the movie Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World in which Captain Jack poses a question to the ship's doctor. Two wevils were crawling on the doctor's plate, and Jack asks the doctor which one he would eat if he had to. The doctor is hesitant to reply, but is finally prodded into choosing the larger one. Captain Jack bursts into laughter when he tells the doc that he should have chosen the smaller one because it was "the lesser of two wevils."

In a way, that is bit how I felt about the election this year. This being my first election in the state of Ohio, I am not very familiar with the political background here. I do know that there have a number of political scandals in recent times. As I have been subjected to a constant barrage of political attack ads for the last 2 months, I have felt a little like the doctor in Master and Commander. All of the talking heads asking me to vote for them are the wevils and I must choose the ones who will represent me in local, state, and federal government. I don't really know if any of them truly take the stands I do. I don't really know if I can trust any of them--Democrat or Republican. It can be a bit discouraging.

With this in mind, I pose the following question to all of my readers and invite them to answer via the comment section. It is not a new question, to be sure, but one that can spark some lively conversation nonetheless. Here it is--Should we take a principled approach to our vote or a practical approach? In other words, do we vote only for those who truly agree with our values and positions, or do we choose those who come as close to our values as is possible because someone has to do the work and it might as well be a Republican (in my case)? I have known people who have cast their Presidential vote in favor of some publicly unknown person from some publicly unknown party who has no legitimate chance of winning. They voted this way because they could support every position their unknown candidate held. They couldn't in good conscience vote for a candidate who held even a few positions with which they could not agree. Is this just throwing your vote away, or is it doing the right thing by voicing your principles in the voting booth even though no one may be listening?

Post a comment, and let me know what you think.

See ya...

Indian Summer

(The following is my TWIRP for the weeks of October 15-November 4, 2006. Enjoy...)

It's cold in central Ohio today. Not as cold as it was yesterday, but..it's still cold. Every time we take Eldan out we bundle him up in his little "Eskimo"
outfit to keep him warm.

It hasn't been cold all week, however. Actually, we experienced a bit of "Indian Summer" earlier this week. It was significantly warmer than it is now. I guess when you get right down to it, it has been rather toasty for us all week. Let me explain...

It was about 11:30 on Thursday morning when I heard my name being called over the school public address system. I was wanted in the office. Okay, no big deal. I had no reason to think that there was any urgency about the matter, so...I took my time getting there. When I didn't come to the office right away, the secretary came into the gym to find me. She had a worried look on her face as she said, "You need to go home right away. Your wife called and she said that she just lit your kitchen stove on fire." I'm a pretty laid back kind of person most of the time so I said, "All right. I'll go get my jacket." The secretary looked at me and said bluntly, "The fire squad is already at your house." So, I decided to forego the jacket and just go straight home. Besides, the fire would probably keep me warm anyway.

I'll have to admit. As I drove the mile to my house, I did get a little worried. I wasn't sure what to expect when I got there. Visions of my wife and son crying hysterically as smoke billowed out of my house filled my mind as I rounded the curves at 50 miles per hour. When I arrived at the scene, there were two EMT Units and one large fire truck in front of my drive way. My wife wasn't crying, my son was nowhere to be seen (he was out of the cold wind with a neighbor), and there wasn't even a single billow of smoke. Apparently my wife had been baking a large pizza-sized cookie that morning when some of the dough oozed off of the cooking stone and onto the heating element below. This started a small blaze in our kitchen. My wife did the right thing and called 911. The fire department came as a precaution and both my family and my little home are okay (Although the oven needed a good cleaning when all was said and done.)

Once I knew that no real harm had been done I found the whole situation rather humorous. I even decided to snap some pictures in order to memorialize Eldan's first encounter with firemen. As you can see in the picture, he is quite fascinated with the men and my wife is just thrilled to be photographed in her pajamas with emergency workers! I have included a picture of the ill-fated cookie at the end of this post. By the way, it is still caked onto the cooking stone. If any of my readers have any suggestions about how to get the stone clean, please don't hesitate to offer them.

Other than that, our lives have been rather typical for the last two weeks. My mom was finally able to get back to Colorado with my dad after nearly 6 weeks of helping her kids with new and not so new babies. We really enjoyed her visit. These are some of the pictures we took with her camera several days before she left. School is busy, but not overly so. I started my inaugural year as the Junior High Basketball coach this past Monday. I have a team of 14 sixth through eighth graders. I am really excited about the season although coaching this group will definitely have its challenges. I am still on the lookout for a play to produce for our school next spring. I'm open to suggestions.

Eldan is on the verge of crawling. He has become quite mobile and it is amazing how quickly he can roll himself across the room. It seems as though we are having more fun with him with every passing week. He has a stubborn, sinful streak to be sure, but he seems to be a fairly easy going little kid.

We are just now coming into my favorite time of the year. The holidays are coming...including one of the year's most important--Danielle's birthday on November 11th. I love being married. I love being a father. And I love eating dinner--which is what I plan to go and do right now. That's all to report for now. The air is cold, our house is warm, and the weekend awaits...

The Glass is Half Full (Rainbows in the Clouds)

(The following is my much belated TWIRP for the weeks of October 1-14. Enjoy...)

These first weeks of October have been two of the most difficult weeks for Danielle and I since we have been married. I say that, not to overstate our situation, but to testify to the fact that God has allowed us to have relatively smooth sailing in our first two years as a family. Let me briefly summarize our storm...

On Tuesday, October 3, I came home from work, and Danielle informed me that her lower back was quite sore. She took some Ibuprofen, and we retired to bed later in the evening hoping that some rest would ease her pain. By 11:45 that night, we were calling some friends to come over and stay with Eldan while we took a trip to the emergency room. Danielle's pain was bringing her to tears, and I wanted to discover and eradicate its source as soon as possible. After several tense and painful hours in the ER, we learned that Danielle was the not-so-proud owner of a 3.5 mm kidney stone from her right kidney. We were told that she would probably lose the stone within a couple of days. If she didn't we were instructed to contact a urologist for further help. In the meantime, the doctor said, all we could do was keep her doped up on pain medicine until the problem passed--literally.

That's when things really started to go amiss. Pain meds are a wonderful concept, but their usefulness is contingent upon this--the person taking them needs to keep them in their system long enough for them to take effect. Danille was so sick in her stomach for two days that the meds did her little or no good at all. When she failed to pass the stone within the allotted 48 hour period, I tried to contact the urologist as instructed. Unfortunately, there is only one urologist in town, and apparently kidney stones are about as common as the common cold. The secretary told us that Dr. Lewis was booked for weeks. The situation was looking grim. 6 days after her initial hospital visit, I took Danielle to the urologist office (even though the urologist was not present at the time), and was told by his nurse that Danielle's stone was "obstructed." (Sounds uncomfortable and painful just to read it, doesn't it?) The nurse told us, "The only way that puppy is comin' out of there is for us to go in and blast it out!" Well, that was the general drift of her comment at least. The problem at that point was finding a time when Dr. Lewis could do the blasting. He was going to be out of town for 4 days, and the OR was booked solid until he left. It appeared at the time that Danielle would have to endure another week of kidney misery. In addition to all that, our family doctor was fairly sure that Danielle had a kidney infection; he told her to stop nursing Eldan because it was making her too weak; Eldan had a wicked diaper rash, a sinus infection, and was not sleeping very well; and I...I was handling all of this with dignity, grace, and maturity while still fulfilling my responsibilities at school. (And if you believe that, I have a three-legged ballerina I would like you to meet!)

Lest any of my faithful readers (either of them) think that I am complaining, let me tell you that the whole point of this TWIRP is not to enumerate all of the bad things that have happened, but rather to list several of the positive lessons and experiences we encountered along the way. I think of them as "rainbows in the clouds" of our little storm. Here are just a few:

1) The nurse who cared for Danielle at the ER was very compassionate and helpful.
2) Eldan adjusted rather quickly to being bottle fed, and I gained a better appreciation for the term "bonding" as I held the little guy in my arms and fed him. I never quite realized before how precious that time can be.
3) Nearly a dozen different people from our church and family helped us in some way during our time of need. These individuals assisted us with everything from meals to babysitting Eldan when I went to school to teach. Some even gave us money!
4) Dr. Lewis went the "extra mile" in trying to get Danielle into the OR before he left town. He was even calling other urologists in Columbus to see if one of them could do the procedure sooner than he.
5) Danielle had the kidney stone removed 5 days before we thought she would because of the kindness of an anesthesiologist we had never even met. She worked it out to get Danielle scheduled in the OR at 7:30am on Wednesday, October 11. The procedure lasted only 25 minutes, and Danielle was home resting comfortably by 11 that same morning!
6) My mom flew in last week to help with Eldan and to get us back to "normal"--whatever that is.
7) I learned a new lesson about the goodness of God. God's goodness is alot like the proverbial glass that contains 50% water. Is it half-full or half-empty? It's all in how you look at it. Your perspective is the key. I found this to be true about God's goodness. At times, it is as plain as the nose on your face. There are times, however, when it can be more difficult to see. Our cups aren't always running over. Yet, His goodness remains true nonetheless. To be honest, I felt my cup draining rapidly during this semi-serious ordeal. It took some simple reminders from the Spirit of God through the Word of God to remind me that my glass was half-full. Maybe not as full as at other times, but it certainly wasn't empty. In the midst of my discouragement and frustrations (like almost driving into a tornado zone while returning from the airport with Mom!), I could still rejoice in God's goodness--as long as my perspective was right. Bad things do happen to good people (good in the sense that they have been justified by God in Jesus Christ, that is!), but we can rest assured that our Great God can turn them into good things in His way and His time!

So, things are pretty much back to normal by now. Eldan has cut his first two teeth and is weighing in at a whopping 17lbs 10 oz! Danielle has regained most of her strength and is enjoying her visit with my Mom. (As am I.) I am getting back on schedule at school and am eagerly anticipating the start of my rookie year as head coach of the Junior High Basketball team. Danielle and I are blessed, and we realize this more with every week that passes. It's getting colder around here. I'm hoping that a big winter is forthcoming. God is good, and the weekend awaits...well, in 3 days it does...

Cute Lad with a Kooky Dad

Here are some of the recent antics of father and son. When you are silly as a baby, people say you are cute. When you are silly as an adult man, people say you need professional help. By the way, the Celtic getup was my costume for our recent school carnival. The "kilt" I am wearing is actually my wife's Christmas tablecloth and the shoulder strap is a pillow case! The hat, however, is genuine.

Man of the House

(The following is my TWIRP for the week of Sept. 24-30. Enjoy...)

On Tuesday morning, I had a very strange experience. I know that millions of people all over the world have gone through this numerous times, but...it was a first for me. I was walking through the Columbus, Ohio Airport with my wife and son. When we got to the security checkpoint I could go no further. Danielle and Eldan got in line to be screened by the TSA officials and I stood by the wall watching them. Several weeks ago, my mother-in-law had purchased a ticket for Danielle and Eldan to fly to New Hampshire and visit for 5 days, and now they were leaving. As I mentioned, this was a first for me. In the 2 and a half years that Danielle and I have been married we have been apart only for a day at most. It's nice how that works out--When you're married you get to be together everyday. As I stood there, watching her walk through the metal detector, I wasn't too sure I was going to like this whole idea. I was suddenly overcome by a very powerful thought--The two most important earthly parts of my life were walking away from me so they could board a bus with wings and fly thousands of feet in the air to a destination hundreds of miles away! No, I wasn't too sure about the whole concept, but what could I do? I thought about jumping over the ropes of the security line and trying to catch up to them, but I figured the TSA folks would find very little humor in that, so...I waved goodbye and walked to my car--alone.

Now, before anyone leaves a comment chiding me for being so silly and sentimental or telling me that thousands of couples are apart from each other for much longer than 5 days, let me tell you--I know. I know that military families face a separation and a loneliness that is lightyears away from ours. I know that being apart at times is an inevitable occurrence in a marriage. I know, I know, I know. But...that doesn't mean I have to like it! Don't misunderstand. I am very glad that Danielle was able to visit her family. I know that she has enjoyed herself greatly. But I guess this week has reminded me of how much I love being married and how much I love being at home with my family. That's all I'm trying to say. I have been reminded of those immortal words, "It is not good that the man should be alone." And to that sentiment I give my wholehearted agreement.

So...I have been the man of the house this week...just like I am every week except that no one else is in the house with the man of the house. One of the first things that I did was drag my old dingy recliner out of the garage and into the living room so that I could watch my Civil War DVD's and play XBOX in comfort and ease. I haven't cooked, but I did do a small load of laundry. I was in Finley, Ohio for two nights with our school staff for an educator's convention, so I guess I really haven't been alone all that much. All in all, the week has been okay. One highlight was the arrival of my newest nephew, Liam Edwin Sealy, on Thursday afternoon. This is the fourth and final newborn in our family for the year. We'll see what happens in 2007! It's too bad that Liam couldn't have come a little bit later in October. He might have been the 300 millionth American! Oh well, I guess he will have to settle for being 299,987,348.

Danielle and Eldan return on Sunday (Lord-willing). Until then, I will forge ahead in solitude...until 5 o'clock when I am going to some friends' house for dinner. What can I say? People know I can't cook and they feel sorry for me! Anyway, October is here; fall is coming, and the weekend awaits...

Sincerest Apologies

This post is for anyone who has tried to post a comment on this blog over the last 2 months. I am truly sorry. Not that you tried to post a comment but that you were unsuccessful. I did not realize that I had turned on comment moderation. I assure you that the situation has been remedied, your comments have been published, and you are now free to comment in any fashion you should choose. I will also see to it personally that your comments for my wife are passed on to her. Please afford me the privilege of your forgiveness, and I trust that you will continue to enjoy the wonderful land of Eldansdad.

Thank You,
Andrew D. Doan

Noises in the Night

(This is my TWIRP for the week of Sept. 17-23. Enjoy...)

It has not been a very good week for sleeping in our home. The primary cause of this is Eldan. Please don't misunderstand me. I am not begrudging my son anything. I am simply stating a fact--When Eldan doesn't sleep well, nobody in our house sleeps well. He has developed a habit of waking up in the night and screaming with all the force his little lungs will produce. He works himself into such a frenzy that it takes anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes for him to settle down. We had episodes like this during several nights this week, but the episodes were limited to just one per night...until Friday night. He went through the sleep, scream, settle cycle at least 4 times. He finally knocked off for the last time just after 2 in the morning. Danielle and I were both exhausted. We aren't too overly frustrated by this recent behavior because we know that babies are going to cry at times. I think the biggest frustration is not knowing exactly what is prompting these screaming fits and, consequently, not knowing how to respond to them. We don't want to develop a habit of picking him up every time he wakes up, but we also don't particularly want to hear him scream for half an hour. We think he may wake up suddenly and startle himself, but we really don't know. We are open to any ideas our readers might have. In the meantime, we just take things in stride and know that he won't be screaming like this when he's 13 years old--we sincerely hope.

This week began like the last one--on a somber note. The tragedy in this instance was a little closer to home, however. My wife's aunt gave birth to a baby girl over the weekend--fifteen weeks early. The initial report from the doctors was positive and somewhat amazing. Little Cassidy (only 1 pound 6 ounces) was breathing on her own. By Monday night, however, things had gotten worse. We were very saddened to learn on Tuesday that she died during the night. Although I never got to see Cassidy, I struggled with this news. It is one of those events in life where God's ways seem so puzzling and mysterious. Without going into a lot of details, let it suffice to say that the loss of this baby was especially difficult for Danielle's aunt and uncle. It's hard not to wonder why God chose this particular path for them. In the end, I was reminded of two attributes of God that helped me to keep trusting Him--God's sovereignty and God's goodness. We hope to be a help and support to Danielle's family in anyway we can over the next couple of months.

School is in full swing and we've reached the end of the first three weeks. The changes I have made from last year in my organization and preparation seem to be working well so far. I am busy, but not nearly as busy as I was last year. Debate looks like it is going to be a lot of fun for my Speech II class. I am still searching for a play to use for next spring's production. I have discovered that most of what is coming out today is quite frivolous and crude. I guess I will stick with the classics.

I attended a Men's Retreat at our church this weekend and was reminded of an essential truth of the Christian life--"I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live. Yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God." We live the Christian life the same way we received it--by faith.

As I type this--my son is crying. I think I'll go see if I can get him to laugh at me. Despite his tears, we are doing well, and the weekend awaits...

A Twirp--The First of Many

(This is a TWIRP--The Week In Review Post. Enjoy...)

The week started on a somber note. The fifth anniversary of 9/11 caught me unaware. I am ashamed to admit that the last several anniversaries of this tragedy had passed me by with nary a blip on my radar screen. As strange as it sounds--I had begun to forget. I hadn't forgotten that it happened, of course. Yet, the feelings of fear, sadness, helplessness, anger, patriotism, and dependence on God that had been so acute five years ago were gone. It's amazing how quickly one can sink back into a rut of complacency. On Sunday night Danielle and I watched the documentary "9/11" on CBS. This is a film about the attacks on the World Trade Center that was accidentally made by two French brothers. I say "accidentally" because the men never imagined that they would film the unthinkable--obviously. They were "embedded" so to speak with a FDNY unit throughout the summer of 2001 and intended to make a film about a rookie fireman. If you have not watched this show, I would recommend it. It is not easy to watch by any means. It will, however, help to reawaken the memory of 9/11, and I think that is important.

We have just finished our second full week of school. This is my fourth year of teaching and I find myself enjoying this profession more and more each year. (And not just because it comes with a three month vacation period in the summer!) I especially love teaching Bible. It is a challenge to draw the attention of teenagers to the truths of God's Word, but it is a challenge that I relish. History is a subject that I always enjoyed when I was a student, and that opinion hasn't changed now that I teach it. I am teaching Speech to the Juniors again this year, and I have the chance to teach a Speech II class to several who took Speech I last year. I am really excited about the class because we are going to get to do several things (like Debate) that I don't have time for in Speech I. I may even prepare a few speeches myself and perform them for my students. It gets kind of old always grading others' performances and never performing yourself.

I paid $2.08 for a gallon of gas yesterday. Well, technically I paid $13.00 for 6.221 gallons of gas yesterday, but you know what I mean. I have to remind myself that 18 months ago I would have complianed about paying $2.08. Funny how relavitve our perspective is at times. I would be very interested to know what the average profit margin is for a gallon of gas. I shudder to think... The good news is that we are logging significantly fewer miles each week now that we live a mere mile from school and I am riding my bike to work most of the time.

Danielle and Eldan are enjoying their days at home. I absolutely love coming home each day. There is just something theraputic about hearing the carefree laughter of a 5 month old. It does my heart good. Danielle and I both decided this week on the dream vacation we each want to take...together, of course. She wants to go to NYC to watch Beauty and the Beast on Broadway and rent a fancy car to get there. I want to spend three days at Gettysburg soaking in as much information as possible. Hopefully we will get to do both someday...In the meantime, it's fun to dream! God's goodness is evident everyday of our lives and we are overwhelmed at His protection and provision. All in all--LIFE IS GOOD and the weekend awaits...

5 Months and Counting

We are having so much fun watching Eldan grow. He is turning into quite the fun-loving guy...

Everybody's Movin'

(Editor's Note - Because of the immense popularity of the videos on this blog, the maximum amount of download usage my web-hosting service allots me each month has been reached. The videos will be available for viewing once again on Saturday, September 9, 2006.)

August has been a busy time for us. We began the month by moving from the house we were renting to a smaller (and more affordable) duplex unit about a mile from the church/school. Not long after the move was completed, I began gearing up for the new school year. I spent the last week of August at our annual High School Retreat. It was an enjoyable time in the woods with the kids from our school. I will try to post some pictures from the retreat soon. In the meantime, I have included our most recent video update for your viewing enjoyment. If you would like to watch the video you can either click here, or you can click the play button twice on the viewer below.

Eldan's Photoshoot

My son (for whom this blog was named) was recently given the opportunity to be in a promotional photoshoot for a local photographer. If you would like to see the results, click here. What can I say? The kid's got charm!

A "Housewife" or a "Stay at Home Mom"

(The following article was submitted by my wife, Danielle Doan)

The question I would like to propose to you in my first blogging attempt is this: Are you a housewife or a stay at home mom? Looking at those two statements, you are probably thinking, “what’s the difference.” In the general sense both are referring to a woman who has the wonderful privilege of having her home as her primary “job.” But, when you delve a little deeper you will see that there is a distinct philosophical difference between the two titles. Hopefully by the end of this article you will see this distinction.

My husband and I have just recently finished reading the book, A Family of Value by John Rosemond. In his book he discusses the problems of modern parenting. In a parenthetical section he discusses the change that has occurred in a woman’s role in the family. Where in the past a wife and mother would have been called a “housewife”, she has now been given the title of a “stay at home mom”. A housewife was a woman who was married, stayed at home and was a wife first and a mother second. Her main goal was to make her husband a success and rear obedient children. And yes, she also had her own hobbies and activities that she was involved in.

Unfortunately modern women have digressed to the role of a “stay at home mom. “ Hear me out before you draw the wrong conclusions. Today children run the schedule. A woman has become a mom first, wife second. The funny thing is that most stay at home moms are rarely ever home. Between soccer, piano, play groups, etc., moms have become nomads who basically use their minivans as a “home base”. No, I am not saying that these activities are wrong, but who is often left on the back burner?--Dad. Our families are falling apart and we are letting it happen.

Now please realize as you are reading this I am a new mother of an adorable four month old baby boy (see pictures for proof). So most of what I have written is theory. But, I realized after I read the section of the book about being a housewife that I had already starting giving less time and energy to my husband and my marriage. I am not advocating child neglect. One of the most important things you can do for your children, as a mother, is to stay home and be there for them. However, I would say that something even more important for them is that you love and adore your husband. The most secure children are those who know there parents love them and that their parents love each other.

So which will it be for you? As I am still adjusting to my new roles in life, I am making it my goal to keep the perspective of a housewife.

On Pragmatism

A few weeks ago, I caught myself thinking about one of my college class lectures. I don’t do this very often because I don’t remember the specifics of most of the lectures I attended. This particular lecture, however, holds firm in my memory. I think this is because of the question that the guest lecturer repeated numerous times during the class period. I remember him asking the following question at least a half-dozen times, “Men [the class was comprised entirely of ministerial students], are you going to do what is right or what works in your ministry?” This question was the essence of his lecture that day. His motive, as it became clearly evident, was to dissuade that group of future ministry leaders from becoming enveloped in the philosophy of ministry that is willing to compromise in order to grow. A philosophy which characterizes the so-called “seeker-friendly church” movement that has been popularized by several well-known pastors of several well-known “mega-churches” in our nation. I don’t remember much else of what he said that day, but I will never forget that question. (Probably because he repeated it so often.)

I was prompted to recall that lecture by a number of statements I have heard or read in recent months. Statements which appear to draw the same line of distinction that this guest lecturer drew in my class over five years ago. This man’s oft-repeated question and the statements to which I referred above all seem to create a very strict dichotomy for ministry methodology. Judging from these statements alone, it appears that pastors and ministry leaders have but two choices for how they will conduct their ministries day by day—they can do what is right or they can do what works. The logical conclusion of this dichotomy is that what is right will not work and that what works cannot be right. Granted, most of the men who make these types of statements would hardly agree that what is right will not work. There does appear to be an underlying assumption on their part, however, that what works simply cannot be right, and that is an assumption that bothers me. At times, I sense a fear in the church circles in which I currently reside (which are of the Independent Fundamental Baptist variety) that any new idea or method in ministry that attracts large numbers and is especially appealing to people is probably a compromise of scriptural principles. If people like it, are comfortable with it, and it’s new, then it cannot be right! Conversely, the methods that worked in the “good old days” may not be as popular with the masses today but they are the right ones. (Or so goes the argument as I understand it.)

My only purpose in this entry is to challenge myself and anyone who reads this to evaluate our convictions about ministry methodology. Notice, please, that I did not say doctrine. I believe that our doctrine should be founded firmly upon solid interpretation of the Scriptures and that doctrinal convictions, if they can be clearly supported scripturally, should never be changed for the purpose of making ministry “work” better. I hope the reader will admit, however, that doctrine and methods are two related yet distinct areas. Perhaps it is a failure to recognize this distinction that causes some to be wary of new methods. In my few (and I do mean few) years of seriously studying the Bible, I have found that God has said much more about doctrine than He has about methods. Much of what is preached or taught as “scriptural” methods is often nothing more than faulty exegesis or a case of a descriptive passage given prescriptive weight (i.e.-Acts 20:20).

I think the reason that God chose not to dictate many specific methods to the church for fulfilling her commission is the simple fact that the NT age would span a period of 2,000 years (at least). Methods are intricately interwoven with the era in which they are used. Methods are very much a cultural phenomenon. What works for one people group or generation may not be effective for another people group or generation. I am sure numerous foreign missionaries could testify to that fact based on their own experiences. As the times change, so, inevitably, do the methods to a certain extent. Most 1st century Christians, no doubt, would feel quite strange attending a modern church service (Fundamental or not). Why? Because the typical way we conduct our services today (our method), is quite different from they way they were conducted by Peter the Apostle in Jerusalem.

The reason ministry methods are subject to so much fluctuation is this—methods are inherently pragmatic. A method is simply a way of getting something done. A local church doesn’t do things just to do things. At least they shouldn’t. They do things for a purpose—ostensibly a godly purpose. They choose a particular way of doing something in order that they might fulfill their purpose. Although they may cite various reasons of principle for choosing a particular technique, the underlying reason they use that method is because they want it to work—pragmatism. I doubt many pastors would insist on using a method that they knew positively wouldn’t work simply because of principle. (Although there might be some!) An auto mechanic doesn’t concern himself with the question of whether it’s right to use a socket wrench to loosen that bolt. The bottom line is—he has to get the bolt off somehow and he knows a socket wrench will get the job done. If there ever came a time when socket wrenches wouldn’t get the job done, he would use another tool and not think twice about it. Some in ministry have trouble accepting new methods because they have forgotten that a method is essentially a socket wrench—a tool—a way to get the job done. A method is not primarily an issue of right and wrong but an issue of what works. (I’ll qualify that statement in a minute.)

Now, I am sure there a number in my circles who would disagree with my conclusions about methods. Many Fundamentalists feel strongly that the “right” methods that worked a generation or two ago will surely work for today because they are “right” methods. The strongest argument against this thinking is the undeniable fact that church methods have changed over the last 2,000 years. For the most part, we haven't done things in the last 100 years the way they were done in Paul’s day. What are we to make of this fact? If methods are unchanging statues of morality, then that means either that one group of Christians has been wrong in their methods or it means that the standard of right and wrong has changed. I doubt seriously that anyone would assert the latter. To give a particular method in ministry the exclusive status of being the “right way” not only speaks where the Bible has not (in most cases) but it paints ministry leaders into a corner. The socket wrench may no longer be getting the job done, but the pastor refuses to use another tool for fear of compromising on what he has been led to believe is “right.” If methods are, as I have stated here, primarily tools for the job, then methods can be updated, modified, or even replaced without a guilty conscience. (Again, there are some qualifying statements coming.)

Many ministry leaders who find themselves in the philosophical position of my guest-lecturer—a “what’s right or what works” position— will find a startling conclusion if they honestly evaluate their convictions. I truly believe that many of the “right” methods used by previous generations (door-to-door soul-winning, tent revivals, “come-forward” invitations, and three services a week to name a few) were given the exalted position of being right, not because God established them, but because they worked. I won’t deny it. For a time, these methods flourished. To some extent, they still work today. Yet, somewhere along the way we confused the quality of effectiveness with the quality of “rightness.”

We need to evaluate our convictions in the area of ministry methods. We need to see methods for what they are—tools. Although methods should be based upon standards of right and wrong, they are not themselves the standard of right and wrong. If the time comes, as I believe it is, when some of these tools no longer get the job done, it is not only acceptable for the next generation of ministry leaders to find new, more effective tools—it is absolutely necessary. Can we not do what is right and what works?

Qualifying Statements
Lest anyone misunderstand or misrepresent my position, let me offer the following:

1) I am not arguing that methods are amoral or neutral. Nor am I adopting a “the end justifies the means” position in which a method is right if the motive behind it is right. On the contrary, I believe every method can be classified as either right or wrong. Any method which violates Scriptural principle or precept is a wrong method. It just seems to me that the number of right methods is larger (quite a bit larger) than many in my circles will admit.
2) I am not arguing that a method should be evaluated solely on the basis of whether or not it works. There are a number of factors that a ministry leader should take into consideration when deciding what methods to use. Not the least of these is the question of whether a method violates Scriptural principle or precept.
3) I am not arguing that the methods used by Fundamentalists and others in the previous two or three generations are wrong and should therefore be discarded with out further notice. That would make me guilty of the very narrow-mindedness I am attempting to oppose. I simply believe that a ministry leader ought to be able to choose the morally right methods (of which there are many) that he believes are best for accomplishing his ministry goals. He ought to be able to do this in the freedom of his own conscience without being publically berated by others or suffering the Fundamentalist version of excommunication.
4) Finally, I am not arguing that the leaders of America's "mega-churches" are as innocent as the wind-driven snow. It is my opinion the typical response to these men from those in my circles is often over-blown and of the "knee-jerk" variety. I must admit, however, that the prophets of the "seeker-friendly" movement and I do not agree on a number of doctrinal and practical issues.

Vacation Video 2006

If you would like to view an 8 minute video of our recent summer vacation, simply click on the black screen and then on the play button below. If the video does not play within a few seconds, please click here to watch it.

Fearfully and Wonderfully

On several occasions during our two week hiatus in Colorado, I was struck with the incredible detail of God's creation. I saw this on a cloudy Thursday afternoon as we drove through Rocky Mountain National Park on Trail Ridge Road. The mountain vistas are unbelieveable. A powerful rain storm blew across the region in an impressive demonstration of God's strength. During our short outing, I was rejoicing in God's expert craftsmanship. Yet, when we returned to the house, I was also reminded of the greatness of God's creation as I watched my son lying on a blanket on the living room floor. He lay there-arms and legs in a state of perpetual motion-smiling, cooing, and focusing on things around him. The changes that I see in him are astounding--and its only been two months! I never realized one of the most amazing parts of having a child--that is, watching your baby develop and grow day by day. It's almost as if you are witnessing God's creative process as it happens. I was not a spectator when the mountains of RMNP were formed. I am sure it was an awe-inspiring sight. Yet, what an incredible priviledge to be an eye-witness to the developmental process of the crown-jewel of God's creation--a human life. I know it will happen faster than I think, so I am going to just sit back and enjoy the show.

First Impressions

Eldan with his great-great grandmother, known affectionately as "Mouse." Now how many kids do you know who have met their great-great grandmother?

Eldan and great-grandmother Gatley on June 2nd, 2006.

We are in Colorado for 2 weeks visiting my side of the family. Eldan has done very well so far considering all of the time he has spent in his car-seat the last few days! More vacation pictures are forthcoming!

Parenthood...it's true--so far.

My wife was pregnant for about 9 months. This, from what I am told, is normal. You see, for the 40 weeks of pregnancy and the 7 weeks since, I have discovered that when people find out a couple is expecting (a baby) this knowledge produces two results: 1st, people suddenly feel the freedom to touch or rub the woman's belly, and 2nd, people feel the responsibility to give you advice and words of parental wisdom and encouragement (mostly unsolicited, I might add.)

I must admit that before Eldan was born, I grew quite weary of both of these results, the latter in particular. At times, I wanted to firmly but kindly tell people to mind their own business. It seemed as if everyone was saying the same thing in slightly different ways. As my wife's due date approached, I was more than ready to hear the last of these deep thoughts. "Everybody's an expert!" I thought scornfully.

However, as I look back over the first two months of my son's life, I have to admit (grudgingly) that much of what my wife and I have been told is true. I have chosen several of the most common tidbits of insight to include in this post.

1) "Delivery isn't really that bad, when it's your own child." - I heard this comment countless times because it was a well-known fact that I was quite nervous about being in the delivery room. Hospitals and I have never been on good terms, and I have come close to fainting in several situations involving needles. I sincerely longed for the bygone era when the father waited outside the delivery room with a card game or a good, long book. Despite my protests, my wife stubbornly insisted that I be present for the arrival of our firstborn. (My mom was standing close by in case I lost consciousness or my lunch.) I had determined not to look at...anything...except my wife's face. As we grew closer to the final push, however, my curiosity was insatiable. I decided to look, just once. To my great surprse, I was not nauseated in the least. I saw the top of a head and EARS! Real ears! I was fascinated. I couldn't look away. I continued to watch until Dr. Harper cut the umbilical cord. (Which, by the way, was still gross.)

2) "Newborn diapers don't smell that bad." - Diaper-changing was one aspect of parenthood I was not in any way anticipating. For 25 years I had cleverly avoided this task because it was always someone else's baby that needed changing. A cousin, a sibling, a friend, it didn't matter. It wasn't my baby, so it wasn't my responsibility. Now, there was no avoiding it. The kid would have my genes, so I had no choice. I was even less enthusiastic when the nurse at the hospital told me I needed to make sure that all crevices were clean. CREVICES! That was one thing I didn't want to hear. Because of some unexpected circumstances, I changed more diapers in the first five days of Eldan's life than I had ever planned to. And now, as a well-seasoned diaper changer, I must admit--they really don't smell that bad. They do smell, but the doo-doo isn't necessarily stomach-turning. I have also learned that diaper-changing can even be a bonding time. (As long as your child isn't screaming bloody murder at the time.)

3) "You'll fall in love with your baby the moment you see him." - I am an emotional guy. Just ask anyone who was at my wedding. (Does the word "bluthering" mean anything to you?) I wasn't sure how I would react when my child was born. Would I start weeping? Would I start laughing? Would I do both? My wife told me that someone made the above statement, and I was kind of skeptical. I must testify, however, it's true! I don't know quite how to explain it, but it's true. I didn't feel as emotional as I thought I would. I didn't cry, I didn't laugh, I didn't do anything. I just felt an overwhelming sense that this baby boy was mine. He was completely depending on us for everything. He was a little life, and he was (and is) mine...well, ours. It's weird, but its true. If there is such a thing in the world as love at first sight, it happened in a labor suite in Licking Memorial Hospital in Newark, Ohio on April 12, 2006, around 9:25pm.

So, despite my irritation, I have come to the point where I will freely admit--much of what you hear is true. Parenthood is as scary, rewarding, exciting, frustrating, and fun as people say it is--at least, so far it is. Check back in with me in a couple years and I'll give you an update. I am sure, however, that my opinion will be the same.

Me, my wife, and my firstborn

Eldan Andrew Doan arrived on April 12, 2006 at 9:18 in the evening.
Although it has been a challenge adjusting to our new lives as parents, we are enjoying Eldan immensely!

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