God Issues Today: "Wearing Crayons"

Author, educator and commentator Dr. James Denison has been pastor of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas since June, 1998. Prior to that, he was pastor at churches in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as Midland (at First Baptist!) and Mansfield, Texas.

In my ongoing quest to be a full service essay writer, today I wish to talk with you about men's fashion. Since I wear nothing Janet doesn't buy, I am eminently unqualified to speak on this crucial issue. However, I just read an article on the subject, which of course makes me an expert. My source is none other than that famed harbinger of haberdashery, this morning's Wall Street Journal.

Here we learn that spring wardrobes for men are changing from blacks, grays, navies and beiges to "a rainbow of Crayola colors." Fashion designers want men to wear pink, orange, lilac and cobalt blue. Since I have no idea what lilac and cobalt blue look like, I can clearly profit from this discussion.

In a time of economic distress, we're supposed to be cheered by cheery colors. Guys are being told to "layer different shades of blue from head to toe," for instance. A sky-blue shirt now goes with a royal blue sweater and navy pants, "topped off by a cobalt blue anorak." There's "cobalt blue" again. And what's an "anorak"?

The article tells us that "purple took off in a surprisingly big way in menswear last year." I hadn't noticed. A recent clothing show displayed a suit in sunflower yellow, and another ensemble composed of a blue and white jacket with red half sleeves, worn with red slacks. I now know what I want for Father's Day.

The older I get, the less I know. I thought a dark blue suit with a red tie and white shirt was the height of fashion, and now wish to apologize to all those church members who have been forced to watch me preach in such outdated apparel. When I preached my second sermon, I was a college sophomore and youth minister serving on my first church staff. My topic was "the judgment," my eschatological charts and schematics were crisp and clear, and I delivered an entire sermon I would now disavow. I knew much more about the end times then than I do today.

It's been said that the closer we get to God, the further away from him we realize we are. Complacency is spiritual suicide. The life of faith is a pilgrimage, not a destination. What was the last new insight you found in Scripture? When was the last time you heard the Spirit speak to your soul? What was the last book you read or song you heard or conversation you shared in which your Father revealed himself to you in a new way?

"Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ," 1 Peter 3:18 tells us. How will you answer your Father's invitation today?