Scott’s Blog

Brenda and I celebrated our 23rd anniversary last weekend. We enjoy the city so we spent the weekend in Manhattan. Some friends gave us tickets to the Radio City Music Hall Christmas show and made a contact for us to be able to reserve a room. It was fun. Bren really enjoys the city, really any city. We did a lot of walking and a lot of talking. God has been so gracious to me in giving me bren. On Saturday morning we decided to take a tour and learn some of the city’s history.

We learned that New York began with some amazingly audacious leadership. The story begins in the early 1800’s when New York was just a city of thousands. No big deal there. However the leadership of the time decided that even though it wouldn’t happen in their lifetimes Manhattan would become a city of millions.Never mind that no city in the world had millions of people so there was no benchmarking to do, no example to follow or learn from. Never mind that the landscape was too hilly to be a very large city. Those audacious leaders hired men to level out the hills and lay out a grid of streets for a city that could host millions of people (the word Manhattan comes from “manhatta” which means “flat lands”). Can you imagine the objections they would have heard? Can you hear the naysayers?

Sure enough, through their audacious leadership, Manhattan became home to millions and became the premier city in the world. The city kept growing and began bumping up against some natural boundaries. In fact, what is now canal street is simply a paved over canal that was a former boundary line. That is audacious leadership.

Jesus was an audacious leader too. He was a threat to the status quo. He painted a picture of a preferred future that could only come at the cost of learning from and leaving the past. Audacious leadership is always threatening, it is always expensive.

The truth is you’re a leader. You lead yourself, maybe you lead a family or a classroom or a business unit. Maybe you’re charged with leading a whole organization. God has strategically placed us at a time that is dying for audacious leadership.

You only get one shot at this thing. Don’t waste it simply managing and people pleasing. Invest it by being audacious in your leadership. Ask God for the courage, stay close to him for the plan, then go for it.

Audacious leadership. Now that’s living!

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I’ve been hearing an interesting bit of drivel this holiday season. It’s always a part of Thanksgiving to talk about the things for which we’re thankful. That, in itself, is certainly not a bad thing at all. I do it, my family does it. The Bible tells us to be careful to be thankful, even to be intentional about being thankful so anything you do that will help you in that regard is probably a good thing. However, let’s be careful about some sloppy thinking that I’ve been hearing.

The object of being thankful is not the thing for which you’re thankful. The object of being thankful is God. Simply being thankful without directing that gratitude to the source of the gift isn’t really being thankful at all.

I’m very thankful for Brenda. But I’m not thankful in some general sense to nothing in particular. I’m not thankful to Brenda for Brenda. I’m thankful to God for Brenda, he’s the mastermind behind the exquisite gift that is Bren.

I’ve read of some schools encouraging students to be thankful to “Mother Nature.” Are you kidding me? Who is Mother Nature? Mother Nature isn’t a person, Mother Nature is a concept. You can’t be thankful to a concept, a concept generates nothing.

Gratitude isn’t really gratitude until it is directed to something, not just for something. Gratitude isn’t worship until it’s directed toward God, the giver of every good and perfect gift. So let’s be careful this Thanksgiving to be sure that we’re thankful to, not just for.

Happy Thanksgiving.

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Normally around this time of year Bren and I start looking for some photos to use in our annual Christmas card. Duke has been the star of our cards for several years mostly because he’s the best looking male in our house! Every year we send a Christmas card to our family and friends, which includes everyone that is a part of our EBC family. This year started pretty much like past years. We started looking for just the right photos for the card while we looked around online for just the right card to hold the photos. As we began to work through the process of getting all the mailing labels ready, printing the cards, buying envelops and stamps and so forth Colleen made a suggestion that I thought was genius. Since our emphasis this year is on having a simple Christmas she suggested that we take the money we spend on sending cards that end up in the trash and give it to something exciting as our gift to the EBC family. What a great idea! This year the cost for printing and mailing our Christmas cards to the church family would be around $300.00. So we’re really excited to say Merry Christmas to you and to let you know that we’ve given the $300.00 to our Koinonia fund to help those who need it as our gift to you this holiday season. That money will pay for several counseling sessions, or some much needed heating oil or car repairs for those who are unable to provide those necessities. Yeah God for simple meaningful alternatives to old consumptive routines! From the bottom of our hearts the five Fetterolf’s wish you and your family an extravagantly simple, peaceful, meaningful celebration of God’s great pursuit of you this Christmas.

Merry Christmas…

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I remember that Christmas very well. Bren and I had just gotten married. I was still in school and working two jobs. She was working and coaching and we were serving a church as volunteers. We rented the 2^nd floor of a farmhouse, complete with bats in the attic and that huge rat in our bathroom that I fought in a pair of shorts, work boots and my Louisville Slugger. We didn’t have any money to buy gifts for our families. I used our whole Christmas budget to buy Bren a very special gift that I was sure she’d just love. However, when I gave her the rowing machine I could tell by her face that I had a lot to learn about being a husband. Not good. Because we didn’t have any money left we had to be creative, and Bren is really good at that. We ended up staying up all night baking special Christmas cookies that we presented to everyone on our gift list. The amazing thing is that people loved the trays of cookies. I still remember my grandmother crying when Bren handed it to her.

A few years later we had a little more money and a few sons. I was excited for Christmas morning. It was going to be great! Bren and I got up early and went downstairs to get everything ready, then the boys came. Pandemonium! They had a blast tearing through the Christmas paper and shrieking for joy at the treasures found. It took us weeks to find the right gifts, and even though we had some money saved we spent more than the allotted amount. Nothing was too much for my boys! The boys opened the presents in less than 15 minutes. I sat back in my chair with a strangely empty feeling. I still had to come up with the money to pay for some of what we’d bought and the fun just didn’t meet my expectations.

Then it happened. As I sat there in my chair I noticed how much fun the boys were having playing with their new… boxes! They were giggling and carrying on having the best time crawling in and out of the boxes! I did my fatherly best to redirect them to the great new, expensive toys that came in those boxes, but they’d have none of it. These boxes were great!

I wish I could say that I learned my lesson that year. But the truth is that over the 24 Christmases that Bren and I have shared in marriage we have moved in and out of sanity. We’ve taken steps to make our holidays simpler. We no longer buy gifts for each other, which takes a lot pressure off of us (I guess the rowing machine made a bigger impact than I thought.) We’ve stopped exchanging gifts with my brother and his wife and we don’t buy for his kids after their 21^st birthday. Even with that our gift list is long. The fact remains that I think both of us enjoyed that first Christmas the most (Ok, except for the rowing machine). With the exception of our elder’s Christmas party we don’t entertain heavily over the holidays. And, when family visits the food is very simple. We’d rather have Bren with us enjoying the time than slaving in the kitchen.

Over the last 10 years we’ve been increasingly intentional about finding ways to make the holidays simple. Why? Because simple is better. Simple Christmas is Christmas on purpose where we stay in charge of what Christmas will mean in our home. Simple Christmas means we don’t put the advertisers in charge, we don’t put the expectations of relatives in charge and we simply assume responsibility for our own Christmas. In our house that means two simple things; faith and family.

I want to encourage you to have a simple Christmas this year. Whatever progress you make toward simplicity will be worth it.

Simple Christmas is an intentional move away from affluenza. There is no joy in getting more of what you already have, and you already have everything you need. The wealthiest people are the people that need the least. Why not stand against our cultural tide of conspicuous consumption and add meaning to your Christmas this year. If gift giving is essential give gifts that have real meaning. Last year Brenda and I went through a ministry called LifeWater and purchased a clean water filtration system for a village inAfrica for my parents. My parents were thrilled. Another option is to set a dollar limit for the gifts you’ll buy or make. One thing is true, if you dig into your emergency fund, or worse, go into debt for Christmas you’re getting farther away from simplicity.

Simple Christmas is about moving toward peace. When you’re freed from the expectations of relatives and friends, and you don’t have the financial pressure of paying for a bunch of things you don’t need you’re free to relax and reflect. You’re free to enjoy the relationships that are most dear to you. You should have margin in your life. You should have extra time, you should have extra money, and you should have extra energy. If you don’t why don’t you?  This year, why not pursue some quiet evenings rather than more shopping and cooking?

Simple Christmas is about being able to hear. At Christmas we celebrate the most outrageous act of creation. At Christmas the creator is in pursuit of the rebellious creation, with love of another kind, to buy the creation back to have an ongoing relationship that restores the creation. If you’re so busy and stressed at Christmas that you can’t hear what the Creator is saying as he pursues you then you haven’t celebrated Christmas. Imagine taking the time off of work to connect deeply with God and your family rather than simply celebrate consumerism.

Go ahead, make this year a simple Christmas year.

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I’ve received a number of questions recently about which Bible translation is the best one to buy. The answer really depends on what you’re going to be using the Bible for. Every Bible translation strives for accuracy and faithfulness to the original text. There are however two philosophies in use today in creating the various translations on the market. Dynamic equivalence is the school of thought that tries to translate the Bible the way it would sound today. The way that is done is to first understand what is being communicated in the original language and culture and then try to arrive at a way of saying the same thing in the target culture. This way of translating requires a fair amount of interpretation and is often called “thought for thought” translating.

On the other hand, formal equivalence translations attempt to translate the Bible word for word from the original to the host language. This requires less interpretation on the part of the translator. Some interpretation is always necessary because of the great differences between Hebrew and Greek and English. There simply aren’t English words for every Greek word. So some interpretation is required for every translation.

If you’re doing serious doctrinal study with commentaries and histories and some Greek work, you should probably have a formal equivalence Bible. I think the best one is the New American Standard. It doesn’t read very well because that wasn’t the point. It is word by word accurate. Another great choice is the study Bible I reccomended last week on this blog. The ESV used the formal equivalence philosophy, but tried to make the text as readable as possible. I think the did a good job.

I enjoy reading “The Message” too. Eugene Peterson did this translation and it is very dynamic and helpful.

I put together a crude little chart to show you where some of the current popular translations fall. Just click on the thumbnail to make it bigger.

We are very fortunate in America to have so many quality translations to choose from. The bottom line is to have a Bible you’re going to read and enjoy. A Bible that is hard to read is going to sit on the shelf and gather dust. Our plan is to continue to preach from the NLT at EBC simply because it is so readable and yet maintains accuracy.

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I’m going to do something here that I’ve never done before. I’m going to reccomend that you spend some money. There is a new resource that was released last week that I think you should buy. The ESV Study Bible is the best study Bible on the market and it far outpaces any other study Bible I’ve ever seen. I purchased copies for all three of my sons and I’m using it for my personal study as well. The ESV is not my favorite translation of the Bible. It is however very reliable and a good tool for serious study. The notes throughout this Bible are detailed and helpful, the maps are placed right within the text and the essays after Revelation are superb.

Our EBC family needs to study the Word, and this is a tool that will help. You can find out more, and check out the endorsements at www.esvstudybible.org. One really cool feature is that when you buy the Bible you get a code that will give you access to the online version. I use that more than my paper copy. Good stuff!

Order one at www.amazon.com or www.christianbook.com.

I realize that substantive study of the Bible is not popular. We tend to like to sit in circles and share our perspectives on things and call that education. The problem with that is we often seem to ignore God’s truth as a prescription for our condition in favor of trying to fix each other or make each other feel better in our sin (I realize that is a pretty strong statement, but think about it, it’s true). Romans 12:2 tells us that transformation comes by renewing our mind. Our mind is renewed by God’s  Word. Get in the Word, study it, let it sink in deep into your soul and change who you are. It won’t be long and you may not even recognize yourself!

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I thought you might like to see the questions that have come in so far as a part of the “Ask Any Question” campaign.

• How does anger become sin? Is it ever justified to become angry?
• Is speaking in tongues for today or just for the days of old?
• What happens when a Christian or a non-Christian commits suicide?
• Where does a Christian go when he dies? Is he/she asleep until Christ returns or is he in heaven awake?
• Does God allow bad things to God’s people or cause bad things to happen to God’s people?
• How do I turn it over to Jesus?
• How do the Jews who don’t believe in Jesus atone for their sins today? In the Old Testament they did animal sacrifices, do they still do that today?
• What happens to our pets at the rapture?
• Can I have your #?
• Should I be ashamed to leave my family to go to my wonderful after life? I love both so very much.
• How much do you weigh? (If I know this handwriting, it came from my son!)
• How do I allow myself to trust my spouse after being cheated on twice in the last year?
• How do I know I’m saved? What is the “sinner’s prayer?”
• Does the Bible talk about cremation?
• Who were the Nephilim Giants in the land in the Old Testament?
• Are demons really fallen angels?
• Did the witch of Endor really call up Samuel?
• Are we the generation that will see Jesus coming again? What will it be like?
• How can I base my faith on the Bible, being written, compiled,  translated and interpreted by the human hand and mind?
• It is a weakness in my faith to feel fear and hurt at times for the pain and suffering experienced in this world?
• In the study of creation in Genesis, where did the wives of the sons of Adam and Eve come from?
• Where did God come from? How did he get here?
• I heard a pastor say that hell is in the center of the earth. Where do you think Hell is?
• If a tree fell in the woods and no one was around, would it make a sound?
• What percentage of the congregation has read the entire Bible?
• It states in the Bible, “As far as you are able, live at peace with one another.” My question: What is the difference between making peace and keeping peace? Is there every a time that one cannot extend the hand of peace to someone whom you feel is only going to hurt you again and continue the turmoil in your life?
• If we are to be like Jesus, who among other things was a great evangelist, why are you so against this type of witnessing?
• Why are there so little sermons on hell these days, do you think that even the elect are blind to teaching this in modern times?
• Election vs. predestination (I think what is meant by that is predestination vs. free will)

Well there you have it! As you can see I have my work cut out for me! Some of the questions will be answered through this blog, several will be a part of the new series for next year. Thanks for sharing your questions. If you have a question you’d like included just go the EBC home page and click on the “Ask Any Question” form at the top fo the page.

It will be fun and beneficial for our family to walk through these issues.

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It’s fairly early and I’m sitting on the love seat in our living room listening to a thunder storm. Flashes of lightening illuminate where the sun is not yet shining. Loud cracks of thunder remind me there is an overwhelming power out there, and the rythmic falling of the rain reassures me that the power is restrained, controlled.

It’s a nice morning for me, the power is controlled, and I trust the holder of the power.

I need that reminder this morning, maybe you do as well.

Yesterday was one of those days. Emails with situations that seems unsolvable, an appointment with a lady whose husband is a jerk; controlling, abusive. The families with serious medical issues this week. The phone call later in the afternoon from one of our precious families that their medical situation has taken a turn toward the worst. Major procedures are needed and will only forestall death for a few years, maybe.

I’ve been sitting here this morning listening to God’s restrained power in the storm, thinking, praying, repenting.

Suffering is difficult, but it is so good. Suffering is a gift of God’s grace because it reminds us to place our focus, our hearts, our passion with Christ in heaven, at home. The truth is I live under a curse right now. Sin. Anything good is a gift of mercy. I get so much that is good! Suffering helps me stay focused on what is true. Suffering helps me hang on to Jesus with an appropriate desperation. Suffering helps me remember that I’m living in the dot, not the line.

The power is controlled, and we can trust the holder of the power. Cling to Him, celebrate Him, don’t take yourself too seriously. Remember, on the earth we will have trouble, but Jesus has overcome, and because of that, you have overcome too.

Suffering helps us understand the truth of 1 John 2: 16 (For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.) Suffering helps move my cravings to the only place they will truly be fulfilled  -  Jesus.

Suffer well today.

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I can’t believe its been two months since I’ve been here to blog. Sorry! I will do better.

Last month Brenda and I took Seth, our middle son, to Wilkes University for football camp and to begin his college experience. After a few weeks of 15 hours days filled with football; classes started. Seth is majoring in mechanical engineering and he’s a part of the Air Force ROTC program. We were excited that Seth would be able to be home over Labor day. Bren and I are learning that there is nothing quite so special as having all five of us in one place at the same time. It was wonderful to to be together.

Even though he was “home,” Seth wasn’t around very much. During the times he was with us we couldn’t help but notice that he seemed a bit distracted. When we had some time to talk, albeit very briefly, he told us he was feeling somewhat over committed. Some days begin with football meetings at 6:00AM, followed by a course schedule of 17 credits and then more football practice and ROTC commitments and meetings in the evenings. His courses are challenging; calculus and physics with all the associated labs. All that added to the normal stress of a new life means Seth is going through some difficulty.

I find it very hard not to coach my sons and I found myself coaching Seth. He got more advice than he wanted I’m sure. We talked about “seasons” where busyness is overwhelming and how to manage them. We talked about managing his body and his mental and emotional life so that the situation wouldn’t take over and control him. We talked about time management and the wisdom of limiting commitments. Seth was gracious, he is a wise person for 18 and filled with tenacious courage. I really admire him. I’m sure he’ll work it out and be fine. He’ll learn from the process and move forward.

However, one of the pieces of advice I gave Seth got me thinking. I told him to “Use your resources.” In other words, use the people and things around him to help him manage his tasks and succeed. On its face, there is nothing wrong with that advice. In fact it is good advice. It’s just far too limited. I realized this morning when I was praying for Seth that I didn’t encourage him to use his greatest resource. I was praying that Seth would find God as his Strong Tower, a great help in times of need. I asked God to hold him close and hold him up, to make him strong and to be the core of Seth’s power plant.

I realized that where I failed my son was in not simply encouraging him to take his overcommitted life to God for wisdom and strength. I gave Seth lots of pointers that he already knows. I should have taken him to Isaiah 40:28-30 where God says this about himself: “Have you never heard or understood? Don’t you know that the LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth? He never grows faint or weary. No on can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak.”  I should have taken him to Psalm 18 where the great warrior David writes this: “I love you Lord, you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the strength of my salvation, and my stronghold.” I could have taken him to Proverbs 18:10: “The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the godly run to him and are safe.”

I know that Seth is going to be fine. I know that this time of difficulty will strengthen him for the challenges that God has planned for him. However, Seth isn’t going to be fine simply because he has some coping skills. Seth is going to be fine because he belongs to the Strong Tower who will give him strength and wisdom and courage for the adventure.

Go ahead; use your resources.

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There are a few things that I’ve said to my sons thousands of times. They are the things that represent the philosophy of life that I have come to live by. They are simple things, however they become very profound as one realizes the depth of their meaning. Almost every time one of my guys leaves the house whether it be to go to school or out with friends or to compete athletically I have said the simple phrase “Be who you are.” In a nutshell it means that we are not free to live authentically, to live genuinely until we understand that we have been fashioned by a sovereign Lord with exquisite intention and purpose. A key task of life is to uncover the glory of God as He has expressed it in our unique design.  It is blasphemous to try to be something you aren’t, to pretend that God’s design and purpose is somehow flawed.

The second phrase modifies the first and provides context for it. The two were often spoken in tandem and it is simply “Remember to whom you belong.” My life is not my own. It was given as a gift and it has a purpose. My purpose is to enjoy God first knowing that as I enjoy God in every circumstance his glory will be evident in me. Knowing that I am owned stokes my passion to know my owner and reminds me that I am responsible to Him for my every moment. If my life is only the pursuit of “finding myself” I reduce my experience to an egocentric experiment of tiny proportions. When I realize that the meaning and purpose of life comes from outside of myself I begin to understand how freeing and joyful “being who I am” really is.

The last phrase is simply this: “Life is a journey.” I hope my sons never look at life as a destination. Life is not getting married or finding the dream  job, or building the house or retiring. Those are all potential key moments, defining moments, if you will in the journey, but they are not life. Defining moments help us understand who we are and who God is, but they are merely sign posts along the journey.

These three phrases are an anchor for me when my life is in transition. A few weeks ago we celebrated with Seth as he accepted his high school diploma. We’re excited with him as he enters a new chapter of life. He’s going to start by studying engineering at Wilkes University. He’s going to keep playing football and will probably participate in Air Force ROTC. From what know right now about how God has framed Seth that is a good start. I don’t know if Seth will be an engineer, but the journey of study will make more clear to him all that God has wired into him. I marked Seth’s graduation with a letter explaining that he is now launched. He’s moving to a new relationship where Bren and I will be advisers to him and we will enjoy friendship with him. We will support and encourage and cheer him on, but he is not responsible to us any longer. He is accountable to us, but he is responsible to God alone. He does not represent Brenda and I, he is free from that, he represents God alone. Be who you are, remember to whom you belong.

You will remember four months ago Jake, our oldest, went off to the Navy. He was a special operations recruit training to be a Navy Seal. He was doing well and made it through a particularly grueling special ops boot camp. However, a body scan and other tests that special operations recruits have to go through revealed a very small kidney stone. Jake learned he was disqualified medically and would have to separate from the Navy. He’s spent the last three weeks processing out and will be home tomorrow. We’re excited to see him and he’s excited to come home. But he’s also disappointed. This isn’t what he planned. That’s okay because life is a journey, not a destination.  This experience will help Jake realize who he is, and he’ll learn more about the One who owns him. He’s already learned that God’s Word will sustain you when you don’t think you can keep going. That alone is worth the experience.

Be who you are; remember to whom you belong; life is a journey. You can live by those words.

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