i'm not a big fan of their musical style, but there is a song that point of grace (or as my dad would say, "point of grease") sings that haunts my thoughts and has never left me. it floats back into my memory at times to remind me of Who i am dealing with...when i so flippantly handle my relationship with God Almighty.
God forbid that i find You so familiar that i think of You as less than who You are...
Our God is a God to be feared. reading the accounts given in the old testament make it pretty clear. but admittedly, my mind tends to run back to my giant "teddy-bear in the sky" image of the God that i worship.
God forbid...
now in a conversation like this, it would not be "evangelically correct" to end the discussion on this note (like you could ever end the discussion on God). it's best to run back to, but He's good and loving and kind and compassionate and forgiving... and am i ever thankful that He is!!! but when's the last time that i reflected on the wrath and holiness and awesomeness of God in a way that made me fall to my knees shaking?
God forbid that i would speak of You at all without a humble reverence in my heart...
Friday, December 7, 2007
Thursday, December 6, 2007
snow glitters in the sun
we have welcomed winter in indiana with our first snow of the season. the first snow is, at least for me, one of the most exciting times of the year. i absolutely love the change of the seasons, and each season fascinates me with such a different beauty. the spring resonates with life and the color green. the sun suddenly radiates warmth and water beckons you to jump in when summer arrives. fall brings the cool wind that rustles the leaves on the trees that explode with vibrant colors. and winter...wouldn't be winter without snow.
i love looking out my second-story window and enjoying the white blanket that covers the roof of the porch.
snow is a timeless metaphor.
i can't help thinking of that so-familiar psalm, "wash me, and i shall be whiter than snow...". i've spent a great deal of my life in psalm 51. a contrite sinner's prayer for pardon. how many times i've prayed that prayer! but the best part is:
He listens.
what a forgiving God we have! and i instantly hear the words of john newton echoing in my head, "although my memory's fading, i remember two things very clearly. i'm a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior."
then i look out the window again. i can't help but notice the glittering reflection of the sun as it bounces off the pure white snow. snow reflects light so well. and it glitters!
what a testimony to a watching world. forgiven sinners, washed white as snow, reflect the light of the Son. it's so beautiful!
what a great Savior!
i love looking out my second-story window and enjoying the white blanket that covers the roof of the porch.
snow is a timeless metaphor.
i can't help thinking of that so-familiar psalm, "wash me, and i shall be whiter than snow...". i've spent a great deal of my life in psalm 51. a contrite sinner's prayer for pardon. how many times i've prayed that prayer! but the best part is:
He listens.
what a forgiving God we have! and i instantly hear the words of john newton echoing in my head, "although my memory's fading, i remember two things very clearly. i'm a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior."
then i look out the window again. i can't help but notice the glittering reflection of the sun as it bounces off the pure white snow. snow reflects light so well. and it glitters!
what a testimony to a watching world. forgiven sinners, washed white as snow, reflect the light of the Son. it's so beautiful!
what a great Savior!
Monday, December 3, 2007
all here when i am
almost two months. wow, it's been a long time since i've sat down to formulate some thoughts and send them out into blog-world. a lot has happened. too much to try and relate here...but it's at a time like this (after a long neglect of journaling) that i have to stop and just ask, what's the biggest thing i've learned lately. have i grown at all?
see, for me, journaling or blogging or whatever is a way to reflect, meditate, analyze and spit my thoughts back out in a way that allows me to look back and remember circumstances and my response to them...and to life.
so without taking the time to suffer through the process...i just end up coasting.
have you ever been driving on the highway and you start to day-dream or think about something that's going on...and then all of a sudden you kinda wake up and realize...woah! where am i? i remember seeing signs for a mcdonalds and a ramada inn like a second ago...and now i'm in the middle of cornfields?!?!
that's a crazy feeling.
so to look back on the highway i've apparently just passed over with little thought or realization...it saddens me to think how much i've missed out on because i wouldn't take the time to reflect, think and spew out my response to what i'm experiencing. i've heard it said, wherever you are, be there.
lesson learned. (unfortunately, it will likely take multiple offenses for me to truly learn from this mistake)
don't coast.
life's too short. and i certainly don't want to be looking back on it all thinking, man, i wish i just woulda been all there when i was.
see, for me, journaling or blogging or whatever is a way to reflect, meditate, analyze and spit my thoughts back out in a way that allows me to look back and remember circumstances and my response to them...and to life.
so without taking the time to suffer through the process...i just end up coasting.
have you ever been driving on the highway and you start to day-dream or think about something that's going on...and then all of a sudden you kinda wake up and realize...woah! where am i? i remember seeing signs for a mcdonalds and a ramada inn like a second ago...and now i'm in the middle of cornfields?!?!
that's a crazy feeling.
so to look back on the highway i've apparently just passed over with little thought or realization...it saddens me to think how much i've missed out on because i wouldn't take the time to reflect, think and spew out my response to what i'm experiencing. i've heard it said, wherever you are, be there.
lesson learned. (unfortunately, it will likely take multiple offenses for me to truly learn from this mistake)
don't coast.
life's too short. and i certainly don't want to be looking back on it all thinking, man, i wish i just woulda been all there when i was.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
nostalgia
i have a shoe-box.
it's original purpose was to serve as a "music file". although, if you ask Carissa, you'll know that "file" and "pile" are interchangeable in my life. so...this shoe-box now serves as a portable pile of music, embarrassing poems written years ago and just "stuff". ya know what i'm talking about?
well, this morning i was going through it looking for a song a friend of mine wrote a few years ago. and i came across memories. all sorts of moments in life. one was this paper. just some thoughts i wrote back in march of '05 (so not too long ago). thought it was interesting...(i usually think my thoughts are interesting). anyways...
"change"
time refuses to stall for memories. it merely adds to them continuously. mercilessly stock piling an arsenal against those of us foolish enough to seek to live by, understand and express our emotion. memories cloud our feelings, and the difference of the present adds a twinge of loss to what was beautiful. it is bitter-sweet. like coffee to a child. but the cream of life is worth the pain, flavored by experience and free to be forever remembered fondly.
but what is it worth? why do we remember? what does a single memory bring to the present for the sake of practicality? a milestone! yes, life is a journey. this marker serves as a reminder of the eternal. to look back reveals the unique touch of the Father as He reminds us once again of the faithful presence of His hand. our lives are held outside the realm of our control. to remember gives peace. to remember gives hope.
still, to remember stirs the heart. intrigued by the breadth of color in the puzzle, there are those of us who cannot fight the curiosity to experience and understand this emotional mystery. no, change does not come easily. we may allow tears of confusion to stream down our face as we stare into a memory to see it as it truly is. a rainbow of the Father's faithfulness. beautifully confusing, but giving hope for our future. not the expectation of an easy road, but the promise of His presence on it. worry is washed away. trust is our response, and the Father our guide. through every storm we have hope. "this too shall pass". it dissolves into memory. forever marking the presence of God.
no, change does not come easily.
-Jeffrey Hoenshell 3/9/05.
it's original purpose was to serve as a "music file". although, if you ask Carissa, you'll know that "file" and "pile" are interchangeable in my life. so...this shoe-box now serves as a portable pile of music, embarrassing poems written years ago and just "stuff". ya know what i'm talking about?
well, this morning i was going through it looking for a song a friend of mine wrote a few years ago. and i came across memories. all sorts of moments in life. one was this paper. just some thoughts i wrote back in march of '05 (so not too long ago). thought it was interesting...(i usually think my thoughts are interesting). anyways...
"change"
time refuses to stall for memories. it merely adds to them continuously. mercilessly stock piling an arsenal against those of us foolish enough to seek to live by, understand and express our emotion. memories cloud our feelings, and the difference of the present adds a twinge of loss to what was beautiful. it is bitter-sweet. like coffee to a child. but the cream of life is worth the pain, flavored by experience and free to be forever remembered fondly.
but what is it worth? why do we remember? what does a single memory bring to the present for the sake of practicality? a milestone! yes, life is a journey. this marker serves as a reminder of the eternal. to look back reveals the unique touch of the Father as He reminds us once again of the faithful presence of His hand. our lives are held outside the realm of our control. to remember gives peace. to remember gives hope.
still, to remember stirs the heart. intrigued by the breadth of color in the puzzle, there are those of us who cannot fight the curiosity to experience and understand this emotional mystery. no, change does not come easily. we may allow tears of confusion to stream down our face as we stare into a memory to see it as it truly is. a rainbow of the Father's faithfulness. beautifully confusing, but giving hope for our future. not the expectation of an easy road, but the promise of His presence on it. worry is washed away. trust is our response, and the Father our guide. through every storm we have hope. "this too shall pass". it dissolves into memory. forever marking the presence of God.
no, change does not come easily.
-Jeffrey Hoenshell 3/9/05.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
aspiration
"oh! to be like Thee, oh! to be like Thee,
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
stamp Thine own image deep on my heart."
this simple refrain drifted into my memory this morning as i read these words in 1 thessalonians 4:3, "for this is the will of God: your sanctification".
i get it. put aside the questions of "what", "when", and "where" for God's greater purpose in my life..."who" i am becoming. and as i think about it for a minute, i quietly begin singing...
"oh! to be like Thee!"
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
stamp Thine own image deep on my heart."
this simple refrain drifted into my memory this morning as i read these words in 1 thessalonians 4:3, "for this is the will of God: your sanctification".
i get it. put aside the questions of "what", "when", and "where" for God's greater purpose in my life..."who" i am becoming. and as i think about it for a minute, i quietly begin singing...
"oh! to be like Thee!"
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
lulled to sleep with imitation peace
what would it be like to wake up in a world that persecutes followers of Christ?
it's evasive to say that we already do based on hearsay of the persecuted church around the world, but it's clearly not an immediate reality for those of us living in the united states. (and thank God for our freedom!!) i certainly don't wake up facing that world every morning.
so are we living in peace? we hear about the struggle for survival, the torture, the all-out war against Christianity around the world, but it feels so far away. it's as if we're living on a fortified island with a fire storm swirling around a seemingly impenetrable bubble. persecution for americans at best resembles a distant and muffled bark but certainly no bite. it's just not the world we wake up to.
i find it interesting as i read accounts of fellow brothers (of whom i am increasingly honored to call brothers) who earnestly long for the physical presence of Christ. there hope in Christ far outweighs even my understanding of the word hope. they experience extreme physical ramifications of the spiritual warfare of which paul warns us repeatedly in his letters to the churches. those physical pains and dangers serve as a perpetual reminder that all will be made right when the King returns. the world they wake up to every morning wakes up their minds to the spiritual reality, and they find true peace in the person of Jesus Christ as they place their hope in Him.
has our "reality" here in the united states lulled us to sleep? i call it imitation peace: finding our peace in circumstances. it reminds me of the poppies that drugged dorothy and her companions in the wizard of oz. because our physical world senses no immediate threat we lose sight of reality.
that we are at war.
and we need the Prince of Peace.
i wonder what it will take for us to really long for Christ's return. to really hope in Him. recognizing that peace is not a place, peace is a Person.
it's evasive to say that we already do based on hearsay of the persecuted church around the world, but it's clearly not an immediate reality for those of us living in the united states. (and thank God for our freedom!!) i certainly don't wake up facing that world every morning.
so are we living in peace? we hear about the struggle for survival, the torture, the all-out war against Christianity around the world, but it feels so far away. it's as if we're living on a fortified island with a fire storm swirling around a seemingly impenetrable bubble. persecution for americans at best resembles a distant and muffled bark but certainly no bite. it's just not the world we wake up to.
i find it interesting as i read accounts of fellow brothers (of whom i am increasingly honored to call brothers) who earnestly long for the physical presence of Christ. there hope in Christ far outweighs even my understanding of the word hope. they experience extreme physical ramifications of the spiritual warfare of which paul warns us repeatedly in his letters to the churches. those physical pains and dangers serve as a perpetual reminder that all will be made right when the King returns. the world they wake up to every morning wakes up their minds to the spiritual reality, and they find true peace in the person of Jesus Christ as they place their hope in Him.
has our "reality" here in the united states lulled us to sleep? i call it imitation peace: finding our peace in circumstances. it reminds me of the poppies that drugged dorothy and her companions in the wizard of oz. because our physical world senses no immediate threat we lose sight of reality.
that we are at war.
and we need the Prince of Peace.
i wonder what it will take for us to really long for Christ's return. to really hope in Him. recognizing that peace is not a place, peace is a Person.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
the headless bride
not a pretty picture.
perhaps it conjures up similar thoughts of ichabod crane, mystery and fear. or maybe it sounds like a headline for another twisted tim burton flick. or does it have potential for a disgusting trick-or-treat costume at big lots?
whatever thoughts are flying into your mind...i hope you're thinking, gross!
it's amazing to me how these images of freaky, bloody, vulgar death and mystery are associated with this time of year. it's not even october yet, but once walmart puts out the ghosts, pumpkins and candy bags the fall has officially started with a race to halloween. then we skip by thanksgiving on the way to christmas. i guess the idea of being thankful and spending time with family isn't quite as marketable.
but this is such a beautiful time of year! i love the change of seasons, but i have to admit, growing up in the midwest where the extremes of the surroundings are easily visible, fall is my favorite. and even though it's still september the harvest season is rapidly approaching. plummeting temperatures ignite the sudden explosion of colors on every tree, lawnmowers are exchanged for rakes, the smells of autumn inspire appetites for homemade goodies, footballs are flying through the wind, that wind rustles the leaves falling to the ground, those leaves are gathered into piles, those piles provide landing-pads for energetic children after school and headaches for dads after work, plans are made for time with family, and most importantly, starbucks delights us with their line of seasonal drinks. what's not to love about this time of year?
except maybe those gruesome vampires, skeletons and token r.i.p. stones that litter the neighbor's lawn.
so what's with the "headless bride"?
well, i've been reading in colossians and ephesians, and that's the picture i have stuck in my mind. a headless bride.
i know you're thinking, dude, that's not in the Bible. but check it out: colossians 2:16-23. especially verse 19.
paul seems to be painting a visual for us to better understand our relationship to Christ. i haven't quite gotten my mind around this whole idea...and somehow i get the feeling that it will always carry a hint of mystery while i'm still journeying here on earth...but it's a fascinating concept to wrestle with. paul keeps using the phrase, "in Him" or "in Christ". and then illustrates it with Christ being the head and we are the body. he also parallels these ideas in ephesians chapter 1 for further study.
what a colossal concept and phrase that we so easily skim over and attribute to christian terminology. we are in Christ! we are vitally connected to Him somehow. the body needs the head (which our neatly organized theology easily accepts), and yet you never see a head just bouncing around by itself either! now, i believe in a self-sufficient, holy God, but why does He give us this visual to explain our relationship with Himself? or the idea of the vine and the branches? or the bride and the bridegroom? are we supposed to ignore the further ramifications of these illustrations? is it taking it too far to examine the role the body plays in supporting the head? or the branches to the vine? and so on and so forth...
at least we hear paul warning us to watch out for those false teachers who are not connected to the head (aka Christ). the Church (catholic, universal with a capital C), Christ's bride and body, is vitally connected to Him.
so i guess it has the makings of a great horror film when we forget our connection to Him.
perhaps it conjures up similar thoughts of ichabod crane, mystery and fear. or maybe it sounds like a headline for another twisted tim burton flick. or does it have potential for a disgusting trick-or-treat costume at big lots?
whatever thoughts are flying into your mind...i hope you're thinking, gross!
it's amazing to me how these images of freaky, bloody, vulgar death and mystery are associated with this time of year. it's not even october yet, but once walmart puts out the ghosts, pumpkins and candy bags the fall has officially started with a race to halloween. then we skip by thanksgiving on the way to christmas. i guess the idea of being thankful and spending time with family isn't quite as marketable.
but this is such a beautiful time of year! i love the change of seasons, but i have to admit, growing up in the midwest where the extremes of the surroundings are easily visible, fall is my favorite. and even though it's still september the harvest season is rapidly approaching. plummeting temperatures ignite the sudden explosion of colors on every tree, lawnmowers are exchanged for rakes, the smells of autumn inspire appetites for homemade goodies, footballs are flying through the wind, that wind rustles the leaves falling to the ground, those leaves are gathered into piles, those piles provide landing-pads for energetic children after school and headaches for dads after work, plans are made for time with family, and most importantly, starbucks delights us with their line of seasonal drinks. what's not to love about this time of year?
except maybe those gruesome vampires, skeletons and token r.i.p. stones that litter the neighbor's lawn.
so what's with the "headless bride"?
well, i've been reading in colossians and ephesians, and that's the picture i have stuck in my mind. a headless bride.
i know you're thinking, dude, that's not in the Bible. but check it out: colossians 2:16-23. especially verse 19.
paul seems to be painting a visual for us to better understand our relationship to Christ. i haven't quite gotten my mind around this whole idea...and somehow i get the feeling that it will always carry a hint of mystery while i'm still journeying here on earth...but it's a fascinating concept to wrestle with. paul keeps using the phrase, "in Him" or "in Christ". and then illustrates it with Christ being the head and we are the body. he also parallels these ideas in ephesians chapter 1 for further study.
what a colossal concept and phrase that we so easily skim over and attribute to christian terminology. we are in Christ! we are vitally connected to Him somehow. the body needs the head (which our neatly organized theology easily accepts), and yet you never see a head just bouncing around by itself either! now, i believe in a self-sufficient, holy God, but why does He give us this visual to explain our relationship with Himself? or the idea of the vine and the branches? or the bride and the bridegroom? are we supposed to ignore the further ramifications of these illustrations? is it taking it too far to examine the role the body plays in supporting the head? or the branches to the vine? and so on and so forth...
at least we hear paul warning us to watch out for those false teachers who are not connected to the head (aka Christ). the Church (catholic, universal with a capital C), Christ's bride and body, is vitally connected to Him.
so i guess it has the makings of a great horror film when we forget our connection to Him.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
challenge on radio waves
driving down a back-country road the other night, i caught the tail end of an alistair begg message on the radio. you know that token announcer with the deep, pleasant voice they always have? the music fades the preacher out and the m.c./announcer/radio-dude comes on and wraps up the program? generally, i turn it off or mentally tune out when he comes on, which i started to do once pastor begg was finished...but the m.c./announcer/radio-dude/whatever-you-call-'em asked a penetrating question that made me do a double-take. i hit the power button on the radio and repeated his question out loud to myself,
do i do what i do for the sake of the gospel, or do i do what i do for my own sake?
i still can't shake that question...
do i do what i do for the sake of the gospel, or do i do what i do for my own sake?
i still can't shake that question...
Thursday, September 6, 2007
walk worthy
i love the Word of God.
check this out: Colossians 1:9-12.
it's paul's prayer for the saints and faithful brethren in colosse. he continually prays for them and specifically asks that they will be filled with the knowledge of God's will. you know how many times i've prayed asking for God's will?!? but why does he ask for that?
for this purpose ("so that..."):
they will WALK WORTHY (v.10). simply that they will "please Him in all respects".
and how will they please God?
1. DO: bearing fruit in works (10)
2. KNOW: increasing in knowledge of God (10)
3. BE: strengthened for steadfastness and patience (11)
4. RESPOND: giving thanks for grace (12)
God's will is all about my character! i hope someone is praying that for me.
check this out: Colossians 1:9-12.
it's paul's prayer for the saints and faithful brethren in colosse. he continually prays for them and specifically asks that they will be filled with the knowledge of God's will. you know how many times i've prayed asking for God's will?!? but why does he ask for that?
for this purpose ("so that..."):
they will WALK WORTHY (v.10). simply that they will "please Him in all respects".
and how will they please God?
1. DO: bearing fruit in works (10)
2. KNOW: increasing in knowledge of God (10)
3. BE: strengthened for steadfastness and patience (11)
4. RESPOND: giving thanks for grace (12)
God's will is all about my character! i hope someone is praying that for me.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
a midnight revelation
i'm lying on my back in the darkness ignoring the urge to shift around for a comfortable position. my neck is gonna kill me in the morning! but that seems to be the least of my worries. my body is succumbing to sleep while my mind is still burning with questions about life. not the least of which is the question i've asked so many times before, "how in the world did we end up here?" (and here being crawfordsville, IN). i know it was a God-thing. it's just sometimes it gives me the mental chuckles.
that's when my wife rolled over and said those words. they were words you would almost expect to hear in a time of questioning, but they were deeply profound. and i was instantly struck with a satisfying realization of truth. the technical term here is "eureka!"
she said, "maybe you're not supposed to know how we ended up here. maybe that's just the way God's going to work with us. and He doesn't tell you what's next because you'd probably take matters into your own hands if you knew." then she reminded me that it seems like the times we have needed to make a decision and done something to resolve it, it never turns out the way we thought it was going to. in fact, it seems like we get to the end of our rope and then God just makes it happen. and we find ourselves looking back saying, "how did that happen?"
i guess i shouldn't be surprised anymore.
i gave my life to Christ. and i've asked Him to use me and place me where He wants me. so it's probably safe to assume that He will. and has.
but seriously...wow! God just works differently than me, which i realize is a good thing, but He just continues to amaze me. and i'm glad He's given me an incredible wife to help me keep perspective! (that was divine wisdom on His part...)
that's when my wife rolled over and said those words. they were words you would almost expect to hear in a time of questioning, but they were deeply profound. and i was instantly struck with a satisfying realization of truth. the technical term here is "eureka!"
she said, "maybe you're not supposed to know how we ended up here. maybe that's just the way God's going to work with us. and He doesn't tell you what's next because you'd probably take matters into your own hands if you knew." then she reminded me that it seems like the times we have needed to make a decision and done something to resolve it, it never turns out the way we thought it was going to. in fact, it seems like we get to the end of our rope and then God just makes it happen. and we find ourselves looking back saying, "how did that happen?"
i guess i shouldn't be surprised anymore.
i gave my life to Christ. and i've asked Him to use me and place me where He wants me. so it's probably safe to assume that He will. and has.
but seriously...wow! God just works differently than me, which i realize is a good thing, but He just continues to amaze me. and i'm glad He's given me an incredible wife to help me keep perspective! (that was divine wisdom on His part...)
Friday, August 3, 2007
i feel it comin'...
the Lord is trying to tell me something.
through the midst of a whole lot of details, events, thoughts, conversations, and whatever else i've let keep me busy...i can sense the Lord revealing truth to me.
it seems so simple...
but all i keep hearing is this quiet voice.
it's not yelling over the noise of life.
it's just kind of consistent...ya know, when everything dies down it's still quietly repeating.
and it just keeps telling me:
"get in the Word".
through the midst of a whole lot of details, events, thoughts, conversations, and whatever else i've let keep me busy...i can sense the Lord revealing truth to me.
it seems so simple...
but all i keep hearing is this quiet voice.
it's not yelling over the noise of life.
it's just kind of consistent...ya know, when everything dies down it's still quietly repeating.
and it just keeps telling me:
"get in the Word".
Thursday, July 26, 2007
fight the system!
awhile ago i wrote about a reactionary revolutionary. everyone reacts in the face of something they dislike or see as morally wrong or unhealthy. so i'm gonna react.
this whole american method of finding success and significance has got to stop.
now, many of you just read that statement and uttered an inaudible grunt of agreement. but don't be too eager to snub your nose at our culture thinking this is just an evil found in those seeking worldly treasures and fame. most of us would be quick to quote off, "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you." as though christians aren't effected by a worldly struggle for fame, riches, self-worth and significance. but i say that christians are definitely caught up in our culture's method for finding these things.
i've seen it.
and you know where i found it? i didn't have to pull out a file in a research library. i didn't have to read any books. i didn't listen to any radio preachers. i didn't even have to look past the end of my nose.
it's engrained in me. like a cancer.
i start with myself first, because i know it's true in me. i'm not really one who values riches necessarily (i went to school to study the Bible...if i had wanted to get rich that was a really stupid move). and i'd like to think that i find my significance in Christ. but recently i've observed a pattern of getting caught in this web of "success".
here it is: why do i find myself striving in this unofficial and unspoken competition with everyone around me to see who can handle the biggest schedule and still stay on top and make it look good?
read that again for me.
is that you too? maybe this is a better way of saying it: why are we so busy?
what is it about our culture that can't give it a rest? why do we fill up our schedules to the maximum capacity and brag or complain about them? or why do our schedules run and dictate our lives? why is it wrong to say "no"? why do we have something going on everyday/everynight? have we swung too far across the pendulum to avoid laziness? are we searching for something? do we find our significance in business? do we find our significance in what we can accomplish in a day? why are high-school sports year-round? why are church doors closed on sunday nights and wednesday nights now? why is it so hard to find a night for 4 couples to get together in a week of 7 days to study the Bible and find encouragement? why are we so concerned about what people will think about how we spend our time? why do we honor those who are the most visible in the community or church if they are neglecting their families? why are we surprised by the demise of the family when we expect so much out of their schedules?
i don't get this. and i hate it. but it's our sin-cursed culture. and it's rooted in our prideful hearts.
i wanna fight this system. and i guess this is just a start or a part of the conversation. all i know, is that it will take a reactionary revolution. God save us.
this whole american method of finding success and significance has got to stop.
now, many of you just read that statement and uttered an inaudible grunt of agreement. but don't be too eager to snub your nose at our culture thinking this is just an evil found in those seeking worldly treasures and fame. most of us would be quick to quote off, "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you." as though christians aren't effected by a worldly struggle for fame, riches, self-worth and significance. but i say that christians are definitely caught up in our culture's method for finding these things.
i've seen it.
and you know where i found it? i didn't have to pull out a file in a research library. i didn't have to read any books. i didn't listen to any radio preachers. i didn't even have to look past the end of my nose.
it's engrained in me. like a cancer.
i start with myself first, because i know it's true in me. i'm not really one who values riches necessarily (i went to school to study the Bible...if i had wanted to get rich that was a really stupid move). and i'd like to think that i find my significance in Christ. but recently i've observed a pattern of getting caught in this web of "success".
here it is: why do i find myself striving in this unofficial and unspoken competition with everyone around me to see who can handle the biggest schedule and still stay on top and make it look good?
read that again for me.
is that you too? maybe this is a better way of saying it: why are we so busy?
what is it about our culture that can't give it a rest? why do we fill up our schedules to the maximum capacity and brag or complain about them? or why do our schedules run and dictate our lives? why is it wrong to say "no"? why do we have something going on everyday/everynight? have we swung too far across the pendulum to avoid laziness? are we searching for something? do we find our significance in business? do we find our significance in what we can accomplish in a day? why are high-school sports year-round? why are church doors closed on sunday nights and wednesday nights now? why is it so hard to find a night for 4 couples to get together in a week of 7 days to study the Bible and find encouragement? why are we so concerned about what people will think about how we spend our time? why do we honor those who are the most visible in the community or church if they are neglecting their families? why are we surprised by the demise of the family when we expect so much out of their schedules?
i don't get this. and i hate it. but it's our sin-cursed culture. and it's rooted in our prideful hearts.
i wanna fight this system. and i guess this is just a start or a part of the conversation. all i know, is that it will take a reactionary revolution. God save us.
Friday, July 13, 2007
freedom!
"for freedom Christ freed us."i came across this verse (galatians 5:1) this morning, and i couldn't get past it. the apostle paul is pleading with the galatians to remember what Christ has done for them and not turn back to their old patterns of striving to obtain righteousness by keeping the law. it was as if the church in galatia heard the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ, accepted it, and then turned back to their "religious stuff" to make them more righteous and save them. and paul is basically pointing his finger at their illogical line of thinking and asking, "how can you turn to Christ's grace for salvation and then add to it and nullify it's sufficiency?" it's a slap in the face of God to receive His gift and then say it's not enough!
so i'm thinking about this.
what has Christ freed me from?
trying to do it on my own! i can't make it. in a sense, it's a pride issue to turn to anything else but Christ to make me "spiritual" or "righteous". because what i'm really saying is, i don't want your gift, i'd rather earn it so i'm not indebted to you.
i think rather, Christ wants us to recognize our utter failure and inability to ever earn righteousness. to reach rock bottom. to know that our only hope is in the merciful and gracious gift of Christ to save us. a brokeness that looks to the goodness of God to lead us to repentance. and isn't that the point of the gospel? isn't that where Christ meets us with His loving, open arms?
maybe that's where God met us. but is it still where God meets us?
is it possible that we share our testimony of how God saved us, but on a day to day basis we are really concerning ourselves with striving to earn His grace? trying to maintain a certian status. because we're not comfortable with spending the rest of eternity in a humble state of dependancy on a holy and merciful Creator. think about it. Christ set us free! He gave us His righteousness to free us from the obligation of trying to earn it! we're free!
free to live a life of wreckless abandon to our wonderful, merciful Savior! free to pour ourselves out as a offering of thanksgiving! free to share the freedom that He brings! free to live in a perpetual state of worship in humility!
so i'm thinking about it.
everyday i must meet God in the same place. not that i'm not growing, but that i'm still and will forever be totally in need of His amazing grace. "and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" (2 corinthians 3:17).
Thursday, July 12, 2007
encounter.
i want to encounter God.
in His Word.
on my knees.
in prayer.
in song.
in my heart.
in my head.
in truth.
incessantly.
and never be the same.
in His Word.
on my knees.
in prayer.
in song.
in my heart.
in my head.
in truth.
incessantly.
and never be the same.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
reactionary revolutionary
when i don't like something i react.
everyone does. i think it has something to do with newton's third law. "for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." although this is stated as a law governing the physical universe, i think it's safe to say it's also evident in the pages of history. i suppose it's possible for someone to scientifically prove or disprove this as a theory, but i have no idea how you would measure it accurately. too many variables. but suffice it to say, although i don't claim expertise in world or even any specific cultural history, it's easy to see how one generation, with all their philosophical worldviews and practices, is a reactionary reflection of the struggles of the last generation. (at least you can be comforted with solomon's reminder: there is nothing new under the sun)
in fact, they plan to react. we've heard it in the simple yet loaded promise, "i'm not going to be like my parents" or "i won't make the same mistakes they made."
perhaps it is most clearly evident in our present post-modern, emergent culture that is daring to ask revolutionary questions. a culture that is deep-rooted in revolution. that began with revolution. that has evolved through revolution. that honors the revolutionary. that portrays him as a heroic savior of our most cherished values in the face of those who would distort or suppress them. and so it is with great honor that we align , or at the very least, mentally acknowledge our support of a revolution.
why?
it seems to me that everyone is a hero in their own mind. they may not lead the charge, but they lend their vote, financial support, time and encouragement to those whom they believe are fighting the cause and defending their values. everyone is reacting to something. there is always a struggle (and i suspect there always will be until the King of Kings has had enough and takes His rightful throne).
so we look to the future where our reaction to present struggles will finally burst forth in revolutionary success and see our dreams fulfilled. i guess you could call it hope.
or maybe it's just the greener grass we see on the other side of the fence.
but maybe that's the struggle wired into our system by a Divine Creator eager to show us how wonderful His master plan really is. but until we see the tapestry from the other side, it will always seem to us an utter disaster.
somehow, through the ebb and flow of time, through the rise and fall of empires, through the reactions of revolutionaries, through the contradictions of thoughts and philosophies...God is there. and He is orchestrating a delicate and beautiful balance that will one day be unveiled as the greatest masterpiece ever created (from nothing).
it's His story. and we are all a part. just a part...nothing new under the sun...just a part of His narrative.
so don't stop reacting. don't stop thinking. don't stop dreaming. it will all come together. on that glorious day...
everyone does. i think it has something to do with newton's third law. "for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." although this is stated as a law governing the physical universe, i think it's safe to say it's also evident in the pages of history. i suppose it's possible for someone to scientifically prove or disprove this as a theory, but i have no idea how you would measure it accurately. too many variables. but suffice it to say, although i don't claim expertise in world or even any specific cultural history, it's easy to see how one generation, with all their philosophical worldviews and practices, is a reactionary reflection of the struggles of the last generation. (at least you can be comforted with solomon's reminder: there is nothing new under the sun)
in fact, they plan to react. we've heard it in the simple yet loaded promise, "i'm not going to be like my parents" or "i won't make the same mistakes they made."
perhaps it is most clearly evident in our present post-modern, emergent culture that is daring to ask revolutionary questions. a culture that is deep-rooted in revolution. that began with revolution. that has evolved through revolution. that honors the revolutionary. that portrays him as a heroic savior of our most cherished values in the face of those who would distort or suppress them. and so it is with great honor that we align , or at the very least, mentally acknowledge our support of a revolution.
why?
it seems to me that everyone is a hero in their own mind. they may not lead the charge, but they lend their vote, financial support, time and encouragement to those whom they believe are fighting the cause and defending their values. everyone is reacting to something. there is always a struggle (and i suspect there always will be until the King of Kings has had enough and takes His rightful throne).
so we look to the future where our reaction to present struggles will finally burst forth in revolutionary success and see our dreams fulfilled. i guess you could call it hope.
or maybe it's just the greener grass we see on the other side of the fence.
but maybe that's the struggle wired into our system by a Divine Creator eager to show us how wonderful His master plan really is. but until we see the tapestry from the other side, it will always seem to us an utter disaster.
somehow, through the ebb and flow of time, through the rise and fall of empires, through the reactions of revolutionaries, through the contradictions of thoughts and philosophies...God is there. and He is orchestrating a delicate and beautiful balance that will one day be unveiled as the greatest masterpiece ever created (from nothing).
it's His story. and we are all a part. just a part...nothing new under the sun...just a part of His narrative.
so don't stop reacting. don't stop thinking. don't stop dreaming. it will all come together. on that glorious day...
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
don't put off today...
i had a friend named dave.
i met him at moody, and we instantly became friends. dave had an incredible reputation of being a man who loved God. that's why i wanted to be around dave. see, when i first arrived at moody on orientation day i received some of the best advice i've ever gotten. dr. joe stowell (one of my heroes) was the president at the time, and he told us that first day in chicago, "find someone who's a couple steps ahead of you in their walk with Christ, and latch on!"
i just remember hearing dave pray in a group one time, and it was like he was sitting in the throne-room of heaven communing with God Almighty. so i made a decision as i listened to him pray...i wanted to talk to God like dave did. i wanted that kind of relationship with the Lord.
so i asked dave one day if he would help me learn how to pray. and he and i began to meet on a weekly basis to go to our school's prayer chapel and pray together. i remember walking out of the prayer closet constantly asking each other, "why don't we do this more often?"
it's because we get "so busy".
well, i don't think i want to get to the end of my life and realize i was just "so busy" every year of my life that i just didn't really have time to commune with God in His awesome presence. in fact, i think i'd rather have worn-out knees and have spent most of my time consciously crying out, thanking, praising, and listening to Him instead. i'd love to have a deep and intimate relationship with Him.
but i've got a lot of immediate responsibilities right now....so i guess i'll have to start tomorrow...
i met him at moody, and we instantly became friends. dave had an incredible reputation of being a man who loved God. that's why i wanted to be around dave. see, when i first arrived at moody on orientation day i received some of the best advice i've ever gotten. dr. joe stowell (one of my heroes) was the president at the time, and he told us that first day in chicago, "find someone who's a couple steps ahead of you in their walk with Christ, and latch on!"
i just remember hearing dave pray in a group one time, and it was like he was sitting in the throne-room of heaven communing with God Almighty. so i made a decision as i listened to him pray...i wanted to talk to God like dave did. i wanted that kind of relationship with the Lord.
so i asked dave one day if he would help me learn how to pray. and he and i began to meet on a weekly basis to go to our school's prayer chapel and pray together. i remember walking out of the prayer closet constantly asking each other, "why don't we do this more often?"
it's because we get "so busy".
well, i don't think i want to get to the end of my life and realize i was just "so busy" every year of my life that i just didn't really have time to commune with God in His awesome presence. in fact, i think i'd rather have worn-out knees and have spent most of my time consciously crying out, thanking, praising, and listening to Him instead. i'd love to have a deep and intimate relationship with Him.
but i've got a lot of immediate responsibilities right now....so i guess i'll have to start tomorrow...
Saturday, June 23, 2007
a long walk
so we had a lazy day today.
that's a great way to start off a post huh? bet your just itchin' to read on and see what lurks around the corner of that suspenseful sentence. but nope. that's it. it was wonderful! i'd consider myself to be a somewhat lazy person...but it always seems like i have to fight to be lazy, or at least to stay that way for awhile. have you ever had that feeling like, man, i'm so glad i get to do whatever i want today, but i don't know what i want to do....i'm in the mood for something, but what? yeah, we had one of those days. but i'm learning to love just being...just being with my wife. not worrying about doing something, but just being with her. i like it.
so after finishing indiana jones this morning and trying unsuccesfully to watch a scratched-up, rented home alone 2 dvd, carissa and i decided to take a walk. and just be together.
as we were walking along the sidewalks of crawfordsville on a fairly muggy and dreary day, i couldn't help but wonder if i'd be walking these sidewalks for years to come. or if the Lord would have me keep walking...keep walking on this journey of life. you ever wonder where the road's going to lead? how far you'll end up walking, and what kind of adventures you'll find?
if this were a movie...the music would start it's crescendo, the wind would whip around as i'd stand silhouetted against the sunset staring off into the unknown ready to step foot onto the road again more emboldened than ever. cheesy? yeah, but sometimes i like these moments of pause in the script when you just stand and wonder...what's next?
so a brief walk down the sidewalk to campbell's coffee shop with my wife turns into another mental quest to discover the unknown.
but for now...i'm so thankful to be enjoying a lazy day with my bride!
that's a great way to start off a post huh? bet your just itchin' to read on and see what lurks around the corner of that suspenseful sentence. but nope. that's it. it was wonderful! i'd consider myself to be a somewhat lazy person...but it always seems like i have to fight to be lazy, or at least to stay that way for awhile. have you ever had that feeling like, man, i'm so glad i get to do whatever i want today, but i don't know what i want to do....i'm in the mood for something, but what? yeah, we had one of those days. but i'm learning to love just being...just being with my wife. not worrying about doing something, but just being with her. i like it.
so after finishing indiana jones this morning and trying unsuccesfully to watch a scratched-up, rented home alone 2 dvd, carissa and i decided to take a walk. and just be together.
as we were walking along the sidewalks of crawfordsville on a fairly muggy and dreary day, i couldn't help but wonder if i'd be walking these sidewalks for years to come. or if the Lord would have me keep walking...keep walking on this journey of life. you ever wonder where the road's going to lead? how far you'll end up walking, and what kind of adventures you'll find?
if this were a movie...the music would start it's crescendo, the wind would whip around as i'd stand silhouetted against the sunset staring off into the unknown ready to step foot onto the road again more emboldened than ever. cheesy? yeah, but sometimes i like these moments of pause in the script when you just stand and wonder...what's next?
so a brief walk down the sidewalk to campbell's coffee shop with my wife turns into another mental quest to discover the unknown.
but for now...i'm so thankful to be enjoying a lazy day with my bride!
Friday, June 22, 2007
coffee, coasters and carissa
it has begun. my ever-increasing fascination with coffee has plunged to new depths. wednesday night...i officially roasted my first batch of coffee!!! using our old-fashioned stove-top popcorn popper i began what i hope to become an exciting journey or at least an enjoyable past-time. my inspiration comes from a good friend and creator of charlie's joe...chuck unseld. he's gotten me hooked on this stuff...and as long as it doesn't cost us insane amounts of money, my wife is totally on board! coffee...just one of my favorite things.
then yesterday we took our youth group to king's island in ohio!! we had a blast! i love roller coasters...and anything that takes me up really high, drops me, flips me around...wow! so...they have this new ride, firehawk....amazing!! i guess it's like the superman at six flags (but i've never been on that). you hang face down and fly face first...oh man! it was sweet! so we had an awesome time with rides and lots and lots of park food! cheesy fries, funnel cakes, slushies, dip n dots, cotton candy, you name it, we got it! just a few more of my favorite things.
and can i just say?....i love my wife! she is amazing, and makes my day...everyday!
carissa...she is my favorite!
then yesterday we took our youth group to king's island in ohio!! we had a blast! i love roller coasters...and anything that takes me up really high, drops me, flips me around...wow! so...they have this new ride, firehawk....amazing!! i guess it's like the superman at six flags (but i've never been on that). you hang face down and fly face first...oh man! it was sweet! so we had an awesome time with rides and lots and lots of park food! cheesy fries, funnel cakes, slushies, dip n dots, cotton candy, you name it, we got it! just a few more of my favorite things.
and can i just say?....i love my wife! she is amazing, and makes my day...everyday!
carissa...she is my favorite!
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
what about Jesus?
am i supposed to be in love with Jesus?
i know He is the head of our church. i know we sing our songs about Him. and i know we worship Him in our church services and in our everyday lives. but as a man (or even a married woman...although i don't claim to understand that perspective), isn't that kinda weird to say? that i'm in love with Jesus Christ...? i'm ok with saying, "i love Jesus". but then again, i'm ok with saying, "i love lebron james" (despite my cavaliers being swept by the spurs). that doesn't imply any perverse form of love...and it's totally different from me being in love with carissa (whom i love being in love with!). but do you have to be in love with Jesus, who is fully God, yet fully man? that's just a little weird to think about...in fact, it's kinda disgustingly uncomfortable to write about.
and you're thinking...jeff, why'd you even have to say it like that? couldn't i just sing my songs, tip my hat to Him, and go about my week referring to Him as just "God"...without the whole "in love" stuff?
well...can you know Him as Savior, as Creator, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Jehovah God...without falling in love with Him?
i think i might have been getting a little burnt out on my faith in the past few months. at least, before last week came along. and my worship and my life over the past few months seems a little passionless in retrospect. but man, did i get a refresher!
after spending the night in the salt lake city airport friday night, my wife and i and a group of our teens returned home to crawfordsville from a week-long missions trip to manti, utah. i'm still blown away by all that happened! carissa and i were driving home from our small group last night and she turned to me and asked, "can you believe we were just in utah?!" it's crazy how flat and boring indiana seems compared to the mountains of the west!
it wasn't just a sight-seeing tour of God's glorious and breath-taking creation...and it wasn't even a work trip...it was a little unusual. we went to engage in the cross-cultural land of the mormons. more specifically, we went to converse with members of the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints during their annual "manti miracle pageant". (notice, i purposely did not capitalize "jesus christ" here...only because this church's "jesus" is not my Jesus)
let me explain a little. our pastor's brother, chip thompson, has a ministry to mormons in ephraim, utah, and we were invited to join them in evangelistic efforts during this year's manti (that's a city in utah) pageant. the pageant is an outdoor production of the events in joseph smith's life and the overview of the book of mormon (it would be like our easter cantatas or christmas pageants). chip and rodney (chip's pastor and another man burdened to share the gospel with the LDS) spent the first few days that we arrived training us in the basics of the mormon religion. and we poured over Scripture (our Bible) and their "scriptures" to get perspective on the Truth and how we can share the good news of Christ's gospel. the mormon church teaches another gospel that is not from God, and they brainwash their people with illogical, unfounded, and impossible doctrines and rules that they must follow to finally reach the "celestial kingdom" and one day become gods themselves! you should have seen our teens devouring the Word of God, arming themselves with the truth, marking up their Bibles and gathering an arsenal of questions to challenge the mormons in their faith, while praying for them with compassion because they are "like sheep without a Shepherd" (carissa and i were so proud and fired up by their enthusiasm, commitment and concern for the lost!)
then wednesday we spent the day in salt lake at the "temple square" touring the museums and buildings and asking provocative questions to the missionaries, tour guides and tourists whenever we came in contact with them. it was incredible to see the paranoia the mormon church has with anyone who even asks questions that may challenge their faith! all the tour guides and missionaries had a "special button" on their person that they would push when we asked too many questions...and lo and behold, bouncers (body guards, security...whatever you want to call them) would show up in seconds dressed in their suits and ties with earpieces and ask you to "stop being contentious" while threatening to throw you out. but we were just asking questions! then we'd turn around and the missionaries or whoever we were talking to would be gone...hmm.....
thursday and friday night we went out on the streets of manti at about 6:00 in the evening and we spent the rest of the night getting into conversations with the mormon people who were coming to see the pageant. it was incredible to say the least. here's this huge and gorgeous temple standing tall against a sky flooded with stars and mountains cascading around the landscape...and all those people...blinded by this cultic religion, gathering to watch a production about a man...joseph smith, whom they spend most of their time talking about.
that was what didn't make any sense to me.
i spent most of thursday night challenging men with contradictions i saw in the book of mormon, impossibilities that their prophets had claimed, illogical beliefs, direct contradictions with God's Word, and all sorts of questions that they really struggled to answer...but the conversations usually ended with them "bearing their testimony". which is how they are taught to respond when someone has challenged their belief system. they respond by saying (and they all sound exactly the same), "i know that the mormon church is true, i know that joseph smith was a true prophet, i know that the book of mormon is true...etc..."
but it wasn't until friday morning in our training when i heard the testimonies of a couple who came out of mormonism a few years ago (which is really hard for them to do), that i got my biggest beef with the mormon church. they have all sorts of ridiculous and completely offensive doctrines, inconsistencies and practices that are easy to get stuck on...but this couple kept coming back to the fact that, even though the church has "jesus christ" in their name, Jesus Christ is not the center of their church. He is merely given lip service. they focus, almost solely, on the teachings of joseph smith and their "living prophet" and aspostles...
so friday night, as i went from one conversation to the next, all i kept asking was..."what about Jesus?"
i'd listen to them tell me that "jesus was really the center of their church" and then they'd jump right into what joseph smith taught and bear their testimony to me...
and i fell more in love with Jesus through every conversation as i got to "bear my testimony" of why i love and worship Jesus...the True, Living, Holy, Awesome, Amazing, All-powerful, Saving Jesus! He gives life and hope and peace...because He is IT. nothing else. it's all about Jesus! Jesus!!! i got to go off for about 30-40 minutes uninterupted in a conversation with one of the mormon missionaries about who Jesus is to me and why i worship Him alone! and everytime i said His name...He became more dear to me, more amazing, and i couldn't say His name enough!
it maybe weird to some, but when God's Word and testimony of His Son is opened and i think about all that He has done for me...i can't help but say, "i am in love with Jesus!" and as one woman who had be converted and freed said, "it just gets sweeter and sweeter...everyday!"
so...what about Jesus? are you in love with Him?
i know He is the head of our church. i know we sing our songs about Him. and i know we worship Him in our church services and in our everyday lives. but as a man (or even a married woman...although i don't claim to understand that perspective), isn't that kinda weird to say? that i'm in love with Jesus Christ...? i'm ok with saying, "i love Jesus". but then again, i'm ok with saying, "i love lebron james" (despite my cavaliers being swept by the spurs). that doesn't imply any perverse form of love...and it's totally different from me being in love with carissa (whom i love being in love with!). but do you have to be in love with Jesus, who is fully God, yet fully man? that's just a little weird to think about...in fact, it's kinda disgustingly uncomfortable to write about.
and you're thinking...jeff, why'd you even have to say it like that? couldn't i just sing my songs, tip my hat to Him, and go about my week referring to Him as just "God"...without the whole "in love" stuff?
well...can you know Him as Savior, as Creator, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Jehovah God...without falling in love with Him?
i think i might have been getting a little burnt out on my faith in the past few months. at least, before last week came along. and my worship and my life over the past few months seems a little passionless in retrospect. but man, did i get a refresher!
after spending the night in the salt lake city airport friday night, my wife and i and a group of our teens returned home to crawfordsville from a week-long missions trip to manti, utah. i'm still blown away by all that happened! carissa and i were driving home from our small group last night and she turned to me and asked, "can you believe we were just in utah?!" it's crazy how flat and boring indiana seems compared to the mountains of the west!
it wasn't just a sight-seeing tour of God's glorious and breath-taking creation...and it wasn't even a work trip...it was a little unusual. we went to engage in the cross-cultural land of the mormons. more specifically, we went to converse with members of the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints during their annual "manti miracle pageant". (notice, i purposely did not capitalize "jesus christ" here...only because this church's "jesus" is not my Jesus)
let me explain a little. our pastor's brother, chip thompson, has a ministry to mormons in ephraim, utah, and we were invited to join them in evangelistic efforts during this year's manti (that's a city in utah) pageant. the pageant is an outdoor production of the events in joseph smith's life and the overview of the book of mormon (it would be like our easter cantatas or christmas pageants). chip and rodney (chip's pastor and another man burdened to share the gospel with the LDS) spent the first few days that we arrived training us in the basics of the mormon religion. and we poured over Scripture (our Bible) and their "scriptures" to get perspective on the Truth and how we can share the good news of Christ's gospel. the mormon church teaches another gospel that is not from God, and they brainwash their people with illogical, unfounded, and impossible doctrines and rules that they must follow to finally reach the "celestial kingdom" and one day become gods themselves! you should have seen our teens devouring the Word of God, arming themselves with the truth, marking up their Bibles and gathering an arsenal of questions to challenge the mormons in their faith, while praying for them with compassion because they are "like sheep without a Shepherd" (carissa and i were so proud and fired up by their enthusiasm, commitment and concern for the lost!)
then wednesday we spent the day in salt lake at the "temple square" touring the museums and buildings and asking provocative questions to the missionaries, tour guides and tourists whenever we came in contact with them. it was incredible to see the paranoia the mormon church has with anyone who even asks questions that may challenge their faith! all the tour guides and missionaries had a "special button" on their person that they would push when we asked too many questions...and lo and behold, bouncers (body guards, security...whatever you want to call them) would show up in seconds dressed in their suits and ties with earpieces and ask you to "stop being contentious" while threatening to throw you out. but we were just asking questions! then we'd turn around and the missionaries or whoever we were talking to would be gone...hmm.....
thursday and friday night we went out on the streets of manti at about 6:00 in the evening and we spent the rest of the night getting into conversations with the mormon people who were coming to see the pageant. it was incredible to say the least. here's this huge and gorgeous temple standing tall against a sky flooded with stars and mountains cascading around the landscape...and all those people...blinded by this cultic religion, gathering to watch a production about a man...joseph smith, whom they spend most of their time talking about.
that was what didn't make any sense to me.
i spent most of thursday night challenging men with contradictions i saw in the book of mormon, impossibilities that their prophets had claimed, illogical beliefs, direct contradictions with God's Word, and all sorts of questions that they really struggled to answer...but the conversations usually ended with them "bearing their testimony". which is how they are taught to respond when someone has challenged their belief system. they respond by saying (and they all sound exactly the same), "i know that the mormon church is true, i know that joseph smith was a true prophet, i know that the book of mormon is true...etc..."
but it wasn't until friday morning in our training when i heard the testimonies of a couple who came out of mormonism a few years ago (which is really hard for them to do), that i got my biggest beef with the mormon church. they have all sorts of ridiculous and completely offensive doctrines, inconsistencies and practices that are easy to get stuck on...but this couple kept coming back to the fact that, even though the church has "jesus christ" in their name, Jesus Christ is not the center of their church. He is merely given lip service. they focus, almost solely, on the teachings of joseph smith and their "living prophet" and aspostles...
so friday night, as i went from one conversation to the next, all i kept asking was..."what about Jesus?"
i'd listen to them tell me that "jesus was really the center of their church" and then they'd jump right into what joseph smith taught and bear their testimony to me...
and i fell more in love with Jesus through every conversation as i got to "bear my testimony" of why i love and worship Jesus...the True, Living, Holy, Awesome, Amazing, All-powerful, Saving Jesus! He gives life and hope and peace...because He is IT. nothing else. it's all about Jesus! Jesus!!! i got to go off for about 30-40 minutes uninterupted in a conversation with one of the mormon missionaries about who Jesus is to me and why i worship Him alone! and everytime i said His name...He became more dear to me, more amazing, and i couldn't say His name enough!
it maybe weird to some, but when God's Word and testimony of His Son is opened and i think about all that He has done for me...i can't help but say, "i am in love with Jesus!" and as one woman who had be converted and freed said, "it just gets sweeter and sweeter...everyday!"
so...what about Jesus? are you in love with Him?
Friday, June 8, 2007
hope
sometimes...
life is just hard.
sometimes you have to walk through valleys. sometimes you have to suffer pains. sometimes you have to wrestle with doubts. sometimes you have to stumble through darkness. sometimes you have to climb rugged mountains. sometimes you have to fight to stay above water. sometimes you have to battle fear. sometimes you have have to hold on.
there's just sometimes you have to trust.
but it's amazing to me that no matter what the circumstances feel like...no matter how tough it seems...no matter how much you want to give up...whether its a glimmer or a flood, there's always hope.
hope. it's a gift from God. a very good God. and i'm thankful to Him right now for hope. that we can always trust in a good God who gives us hope no matter the times we find ourselves in!
there's a book called, The Valley of Vision. it's a collection of puritan prayers, and sometimes it can be so uplifting to the soul to pray along with the rich love and theology of our fathers. check this out:
"Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,
Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,
where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights;
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory.
Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.
Lord, in the daytime, stars can be seen from the deepest wells
and the deeper the wells the brighter thy stars shine
Let me find thy light in my darkness
thy life in my death,
thy joy in my sorrow,
thy grace in my sin,
thy riches in my poverty,
thy glory in my valley."
life is just hard.
sometimes you have to walk through valleys. sometimes you have to suffer pains. sometimes you have to wrestle with doubts. sometimes you have to stumble through darkness. sometimes you have to climb rugged mountains. sometimes you have to fight to stay above water. sometimes you have to battle fear. sometimes you have have to hold on.
there's just sometimes you have to trust.
but it's amazing to me that no matter what the circumstances feel like...no matter how tough it seems...no matter how much you want to give up...whether its a glimmer or a flood, there's always hope.
hope. it's a gift from God. a very good God. and i'm thankful to Him right now for hope. that we can always trust in a good God who gives us hope no matter the times we find ourselves in!
there's a book called, The Valley of Vision. it's a collection of puritan prayers, and sometimes it can be so uplifting to the soul to pray along with the rich love and theology of our fathers. check this out:
"Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,
Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,
where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights;
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory.
Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.
Lord, in the daytime, stars can be seen from the deepest wells
and the deeper the wells the brighter thy stars shine
Let me find thy light in my darkness
thy life in my death,
thy joy in my sorrow,
thy grace in my sin,
thy riches in my poverty,
thy glory in my valley."
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
the unoriginal question
you ever had those times in your life when you just couldn't keep yourself from asking the "God's will" question? i've read a hundred books, pamphlets and articles and listened to as many sermons and devotionals on the subject. i know that God gives us clear direction for how He desires us to walk today. i've even counseled people with these encouraging words. it's possible to know the will of God...dig into the scriptures and see how He wants you to live your life today.
i know that He doesn't always speak in an audible voice or post it in the sky or send you a check in the mail or a random stranger with a timely message or a fortune cookie or even give you a vision to let you know what His will is. and i know that it's a waste of time to sweat and search for the next "dot" to step on. so why am i wrestling with the question?
why?
i keep asking what...what am i supposed to do...what is it you want God? or where...where do you want me? or when...when is the right time? but maybe i should just be asking why?
why am i asking?
the more i ask the what, where and when questions, the more general my focus becomes. then i'm stepping back wondering what am i doing here and now? then it seems life gets a little fuzzy. and the questions pour quickly off of a troubled mind. a fearful mind.
if i'm honest, the why is probably because i'm scared. and i'm not trusting. i'm not thankful. not content. i'm not passionately pursuing. i'm not actively engaged. i'm not focused. and i'm not worshiping.
i started writing this blog with the intent of just venting the questions i'm feeling. but i guess i know what question i should be asking right now.
am i walking obediently today?
now convicted, i have a little business with my Maker...
i know that He doesn't always speak in an audible voice or post it in the sky or send you a check in the mail or a random stranger with a timely message or a fortune cookie or even give you a vision to let you know what His will is. and i know that it's a waste of time to sweat and search for the next "dot" to step on. so why am i wrestling with the question?
why?
i keep asking what...what am i supposed to do...what is it you want God? or where...where do you want me? or when...when is the right time? but maybe i should just be asking why?
why am i asking?
the more i ask the what, where and when questions, the more general my focus becomes. then i'm stepping back wondering what am i doing here and now? then it seems life gets a little fuzzy. and the questions pour quickly off of a troubled mind. a fearful mind.
if i'm honest, the why is probably because i'm scared. and i'm not trusting. i'm not thankful. not content. i'm not passionately pursuing. i'm not actively engaged. i'm not focused. and i'm not worshiping.
i started writing this blog with the intent of just venting the questions i'm feeling. but i guess i know what question i should be asking right now.
am i walking obediently today?
now convicted, i have a little business with my Maker...
Thursday, May 24, 2007
sports town
i love the city.
going to school in chicago for 3 years fostered some of my fondest memories in life. and now carissa and i are getting to know the city of indianapolis...a little scaled down, but still a lot of fun. i also have a strange love affair with cleveland. i was born there. and it was in cleveland that i got my first taste of stadium mustard and my favorite jewish deli. but i've recently fallen for the historic hub of new england and the home of my (wonderful, lovely, amazing) wife...boston.
boston is filled with rich cultural adventures and as you walk the line you can feel the aura of a city with a past closing in around you with stories to tell that will have you hooked for hours. i can't wait to go back and explore it again.
but ya know what i think i love most about the city. it's the sports.
a real sports town is where i'd love to settle down. that's what i love most about cleveland...more than the mustard and jewish food, it's my indians, cavs and browns. and because of my wife and her love for boston...i too now can join the nation (as long as they aren't playing my indians). it's awesome to have the guarantee of seeing your teams' games on tv when you live in that city. and your newspapers and sportscasters are all biased...its amazing!
i know, you're thinking...sports? you're being all intellectual with sports? (to that i'll just remind you that i'm a youth pastor)
so i've been following this year's NBA draft lottery. mainly because i'm interested in those boston celtics...and if you heard anything about this year's lottery and the story of boston's demise...you will know it is tragic for the city's loyal fanbase. it really doesn't get much worse. this year seemed to be their year. they had a shot (and a good one) at landing the #1 pick in the draft...which would most likely have been the storied Greg Oden (a buckeye...go bucks!) who could really have turned this town around in basketball...brought back the glory days...
but "luck" seems to be against them. the celtics fell to the #5 pick of the draft, and you'll most likely find the true celtic lovers still struggling to find the bottom of the glass.
and you're thinking...it's sports. that's dumb. it's just a game. and for once...although i'm a huge sports fan...i agree.
now, i know what they're feeling in boston. trust me. i'm a cleveland fan. but i read an article by celtics avid espn columnist, and i was impressed by the humor he mustered despite his woe and agony. check it out: simmon's sports column. here's a man who's life is wrapped up in sports and yet you can sense the irony as he laughs at himself for taking it all so seriously.
i respect that. when you're down...you can still laugh. and i know you're thinking this is pointless, but think about it for a minute. it just reminded me about my life. man, i get so down about everything. and the mole hills become mountains and life seems rough...but if you put it into perspective (like i'll admit we all should with sports) it's really not as big a deal as we think.
life is short. and then i'm going to heaven to be with my Savior!!
the rest i can just laugh about...
going to school in chicago for 3 years fostered some of my fondest memories in life. and now carissa and i are getting to know the city of indianapolis...a little scaled down, but still a lot of fun. i also have a strange love affair with cleveland. i was born there. and it was in cleveland that i got my first taste of stadium mustard and my favorite jewish deli. but i've recently fallen for the historic hub of new england and the home of my (wonderful, lovely, amazing) wife...boston.
boston is filled with rich cultural adventures and as you walk the line you can feel the aura of a city with a past closing in around you with stories to tell that will have you hooked for hours. i can't wait to go back and explore it again.
but ya know what i think i love most about the city. it's the sports.
a real sports town is where i'd love to settle down. that's what i love most about cleveland...more than the mustard and jewish food, it's my indians, cavs and browns. and because of my wife and her love for boston...i too now can join the nation (as long as they aren't playing my indians). it's awesome to have the guarantee of seeing your teams' games on tv when you live in that city. and your newspapers and sportscasters are all biased...its amazing!
i know, you're thinking...sports? you're being all intellectual with sports? (to that i'll just remind you that i'm a youth pastor)
so i've been following this year's NBA draft lottery. mainly because i'm interested in those boston celtics...and if you heard anything about this year's lottery and the story of boston's demise...you will know it is tragic for the city's loyal fanbase. it really doesn't get much worse. this year seemed to be their year. they had a shot (and a good one) at landing the #1 pick in the draft...which would most likely have been the storied Greg Oden (a buckeye...go bucks!) who could really have turned this town around in basketball...brought back the glory days...
but "luck" seems to be against them. the celtics fell to the #5 pick of the draft, and you'll most likely find the true celtic lovers still struggling to find the bottom of the glass.
and you're thinking...it's sports. that's dumb. it's just a game. and for once...although i'm a huge sports fan...i agree.
now, i know what they're feeling in boston. trust me. i'm a cleveland fan. but i read an article by celtics avid espn columnist, and i was impressed by the humor he mustered despite his woe and agony. check it out: simmon's sports column. here's a man who's life is wrapped up in sports and yet you can sense the irony as he laughs at himself for taking it all so seriously.
i respect that. when you're down...you can still laugh. and i know you're thinking this is pointless, but think about it for a minute. it just reminded me about my life. man, i get so down about everything. and the mole hills become mountains and life seems rough...but if you put it into perspective (like i'll admit we all should with sports) it's really not as big a deal as we think.
life is short. and then i'm going to heaven to be with my Savior!!
the rest i can just laugh about...
Monday, May 7, 2007
ol' school stuff
so last week the Lord was trying to get my attention with the magnificence of His Word...i told you this (check out "cutting edge?").
well it happened like this: getting ready for 24/6 generation (our high school youth group) this week, but really excited this time. because frankly, i didn't have to dream up some relevant discussion topic or pop brain cells trying to think of some highly intellectual and provocative question that our students had actually never thought about but always subconsciously wondered. it was nice. it was refreshing.
i went back to the ol' school stuff.
the stuff i actually went to school for. cuz it dawned on me: ya know, both the schools i went to for my college education had it as their middle name! (Word of Life BIBLE Institute & Moody BIBLE Institute).
*ok...random side note: i just noticed that the "word of life" link has a picture of my brother on the home page...weird...he's the bald guy...ok...back to me.... ;)
"so anyways..." now i'm just getting carried away with links. so if you're still reading this, i apologize for the trail...it dawned on me that i had gone to school to learn the Word of God. and honestly, it was in my first semester at Word of Life that i began to see the power that it has to change lives.
i can still remember sitting in my dorm room thinking. thinking that i wasn't interested in a position, a job, an image, or whatever...i just wanted to give my life to sharing the truth and power of God's Holy, awesome Word!! that was it!!! how did i lose sight of that???
so i went retro....or old school...or conservative...or whatever you wanna call it. i like "exegetical". it's not the only way to teach. but it works. and i love it. i just started with a passage of scripture and taught what the passage was saying. sure, since we're doing the 40 Days of Community we had a topic for the night, "growing together". so i went back to when i started growing...when i fell in love with the Words of life. i went to psalm 119. some rich theology on the value of the Lord's commands and obedience.
we just opened up the Scriptures and let them speak for themselves.
check it out: Psalm 119:33-40. the psalmist is so real. so helpless. and he's crying out to God in petition. Lord, teach me...and i will obey! (33) But not only teach me...i need help understanding! (34) i used to feel that way in algebra 2 or chemistry...that teacher could be pouring her heart into teaching, but i needed some divine intervention to put any logical sense to the words coming outa her mouth! here the psalmist is putting his complete dependence on the Lord. i need you to teach me so i can obey, and i need you to help me understand what you're teaching me so i can obey. and then...i need help even obeying! (35) pretty dependent here...teach me, help me understand and help me obey. then, incline my heart, help me want to obey! (36) and get rid of distractions (37). let me see it in my life so i can worship you (38). help me remember that all your ways are good...You are a good God...not some cosmic kill-joy, but a loving Father who knows what's best for His children (39). God, i want Your Word...i want the life You offer! (40) His Words give real LIFE!!!
call it ol' school. but i'm good with that. i love God's Word. it's amazing....
well it happened like this: getting ready for 24/6 generation (our high school youth group) this week, but really excited this time. because frankly, i didn't have to dream up some relevant discussion topic or pop brain cells trying to think of some highly intellectual and provocative question that our students had actually never thought about but always subconsciously wondered. it was nice. it was refreshing.
i went back to the ol' school stuff.
the stuff i actually went to school for. cuz it dawned on me: ya know, both the schools i went to for my college education had it as their middle name! (Word of Life BIBLE Institute & Moody BIBLE Institute).
*ok...random side note: i just noticed that the "word of life" link has a picture of my brother on the home page...weird...he's the bald guy...ok...back to me.... ;)
"so anyways..." now i'm just getting carried away with links. so if you're still reading this, i apologize for the trail...it dawned on me that i had gone to school to learn the Word of God. and honestly, it was in my first semester at Word of Life that i began to see the power that it has to change lives.
i can still remember sitting in my dorm room thinking. thinking that i wasn't interested in a position, a job, an image, or whatever...i just wanted to give my life to sharing the truth and power of God's Holy, awesome Word!! that was it!!! how did i lose sight of that???
so i went retro....or old school...or conservative...or whatever you wanna call it. i like "exegetical". it's not the only way to teach. but it works. and i love it. i just started with a passage of scripture and taught what the passage was saying. sure, since we're doing the 40 Days of Community we had a topic for the night, "growing together". so i went back to when i started growing...when i fell in love with the Words of life. i went to psalm 119. some rich theology on the value of the Lord's commands and obedience.
we just opened up the Scriptures and let them speak for themselves.
check it out: Psalm 119:33-40. the psalmist is so real. so helpless. and he's crying out to God in petition. Lord, teach me...and i will obey! (33) But not only teach me...i need help understanding! (34) i used to feel that way in algebra 2 or chemistry...that teacher could be pouring her heart into teaching, but i needed some divine intervention to put any logical sense to the words coming outa her mouth! here the psalmist is putting his complete dependence on the Lord. i need you to teach me so i can obey, and i need you to help me understand what you're teaching me so i can obey. and then...i need help even obeying! (35) pretty dependent here...teach me, help me understand and help me obey. then, incline my heart, help me want to obey! (36) and get rid of distractions (37). let me see it in my life so i can worship you (38). help me remember that all your ways are good...You are a good God...not some cosmic kill-joy, but a loving Father who knows what's best for His children (39). God, i want Your Word...i want the life You offer! (40) His Words give real LIFE!!!
call it ol' school. but i'm good with that. i love God's Word. it's amazing....
Monday, April 30, 2007
cutting edge?
i've decided something:
growing up in a fairly conservative church proud of our commitment to doctrin and the teaching of the Word of God was not a bad thing.
right now there's a lot of concern that we as a church make sure we're relevant and speaking the language of the culture and stay cutting edge...which i think is extremely important. how is our fluctuating, experimental culture that is heavily impacted by post-modernistic philosophy going to understand the words coming out of our mouths and the actions pouring out of our hearts if we can't speak a language they know?
but ya know...sometimes i just miss being able to talk about the firm foundation i'm standing on.
maybe it's just me.
maybe i've just gotten so caught up in "reading" and "learning" the culture and trying to speak their language, that i've neglected to pour myself into the "reading" and "learning" of the precious, rock-hard truth of the Word of God.
it's not that i don't believe it. i've tasted....i know it's good...no, it's AMAZING!
so why have i spent so much time lately thinking about philosophies and worldviews and cultures and strategies for reaching those cultures (and aren't those good things to be studying?) to the neglect of digging and mining for the gold and jewels in God's Holy Word?
so much emphasis is placed on relationships now. build into people's lives. don't just go out on a sidewalk and preach fire and brimstone through your bullhorn...you have to love and live life with people. so is solid teaching of the Word of God irrelevant now? is it really just about loving people and listening to them and learning their language and living in community with them?
or is theology cutting edge?
what if i learned to really listen to people, and love them unconditionally, and lived with them in community...and then had something solid to tell them.
do you think that community could then be inflamed with passion to know the Words of God? to dig deep. to mine the precious gems. to see the Truth as a treasure. not just the scholars sitting in white towers surrounded by ancient texts...not just the pastor who brings me my spiritual shot of encouragement and enthusiasm for practical living. we're talking a raging hunger for more! to know the Truth. to know the One and Only. a community on a quest. growing in their worship of the Holy One in truth.
i think i might pick up my worldview, philosophy and strategy books AFTER i've gone under the knife of the cutting-edge sword of the Word of God (Heb. 4:12).
growing up in a fairly conservative church proud of our commitment to doctrin and the teaching of the Word of God was not a bad thing.
right now there's a lot of concern that we as a church make sure we're relevant and speaking the language of the culture and stay cutting edge...which i think is extremely important. how is our fluctuating, experimental culture that is heavily impacted by post-modernistic philosophy going to understand the words coming out of our mouths and the actions pouring out of our hearts if we can't speak a language they know?
but ya know...sometimes i just miss being able to talk about the firm foundation i'm standing on.
maybe it's just me.
maybe i've just gotten so caught up in "reading" and "learning" the culture and trying to speak their language, that i've neglected to pour myself into the "reading" and "learning" of the precious, rock-hard truth of the Word of God.
it's not that i don't believe it. i've tasted....i know it's good...no, it's AMAZING!
so why have i spent so much time lately thinking about philosophies and worldviews and cultures and strategies for reaching those cultures (and aren't those good things to be studying?) to the neglect of digging and mining for the gold and jewels in God's Holy Word?
so much emphasis is placed on relationships now. build into people's lives. don't just go out on a sidewalk and preach fire and brimstone through your bullhorn...you have to love and live life with people. so is solid teaching of the Word of God irrelevant now? is it really just about loving people and listening to them and learning their language and living in community with them?
or is theology cutting edge?
what if i learned to really listen to people, and love them unconditionally, and lived with them in community...and then had something solid to tell them.
do you think that community could then be inflamed with passion to know the Words of God? to dig deep. to mine the precious gems. to see the Truth as a treasure. not just the scholars sitting in white towers surrounded by ancient texts...not just the pastor who brings me my spiritual shot of encouragement and enthusiasm for practical living. we're talking a raging hunger for more! to know the Truth. to know the One and Only. a community on a quest. growing in their worship of the Holy One in truth.
i think i might pick up my worldview, philosophy and strategy books AFTER i've gone under the knife of the cutting-edge sword of the Word of God (Heb. 4:12).
Friday, April 27, 2007
one
i hate numbers.
i usually hate anything that has to do with numbers. remember those TI-83 graphing calculators? i hated those things. basically because i didn't know how to use them. i was lucky if i could figure out how to use my pocket-sized, solar-powered calculator (the one with the least amount of buttons possible...i still don't know what those 'M-/M+' buttons do...)
i was the student you'd find still stuck on number 8 with 12 questions to go on the algebra test when the bell rang. and then all those smart guys (who had turned in their test after 15 minutes) would see you in the hall later and shove their TI-83 in your face because they couldn't wait to show you the new program they wrote that helped them solve all the problems on the test in record time. and all i could do was give 'em a thumbs-up on the way to tutoring.
i'm not bitter.
i just hate numbers.
except one...
ONE....or just "1"
maybe because it's so simple. i can count to ONE. i can understand ONE. ONE is beautiful. and yet ONE takes a lot of work.
check this out: "there is ONE body and ONE Spirit, just as also you were called in ONE hope of your calling; ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism, ONE God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all" (eph. 4:4-6 nasb).
we have ONE God. that means ONE who has the throne of my heart. yet the fight is there...always fighting ONE...a sin-cursed nature clawing and scratching to take the place of the ONE. that fight is alive and furious in your heart right now as well.
stop hiding it. admit it. you need help.
that is what's so amazing about our ONE God, we are His body. ONE body. ONE body that He bled and died for. ONE body of worshipers who have been set free, who love to give the Holy ONE all the glory.
so why is ONE so hard? why do we fight ONE? we were not created to be alONE but ONE body. you know, sometimes you can't make it on your own.
there are so many theological and philosophical battles being fought over the understanding of the "universal church" and the breakdown of denominations and what not...(a huge discussion that i have no intention of engaging in). but what about starting with our immediate relationships with His body? what a blessing to be a part of ONE body! why would you ever even try to make it all alone?
it's hard to put all of my thoughts down on this subject. i feel like i could write a book about it.
but all of this stems out of watching people close to me fall with noONE there to help them up. (ecc. 4:9-12)
i just wanna cry out to you...if you're out there trying to make it all alONE. STOP!!! run back to The ONE. you are part of His body. and there is ONE body who is there for you. and...that ONE body needs you!
as Christ prayed, "i do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be ONE"
i usually hate anything that has to do with numbers. remember those TI-83 graphing calculators? i hated those things. basically because i didn't know how to use them. i was lucky if i could figure out how to use my pocket-sized, solar-powered calculator (the one with the least amount of buttons possible...i still don't know what those 'M-/M+' buttons do...)
i was the student you'd find still stuck on number 8 with 12 questions to go on the algebra test when the bell rang. and then all those smart guys (who had turned in their test after 15 minutes) would see you in the hall later and shove their TI-83 in your face because they couldn't wait to show you the new program they wrote that helped them solve all the problems on the test in record time. and all i could do was give 'em a thumbs-up on the way to tutoring.
i'm not bitter.
i just hate numbers.
except one...
ONE....or just "1"
maybe because it's so simple. i can count to ONE. i can understand ONE. ONE is beautiful. and yet ONE takes a lot of work.
check this out: "there is ONE body and ONE Spirit, just as also you were called in ONE hope of your calling; ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism, ONE God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all" (eph. 4:4-6 nasb).
we have ONE God. that means ONE who has the throne of my heart. yet the fight is there...always fighting ONE...a sin-cursed nature clawing and scratching to take the place of the ONE. that fight is alive and furious in your heart right now as well.
stop hiding it. admit it. you need help.
that is what's so amazing about our ONE God, we are His body. ONE body. ONE body that He bled and died for. ONE body of worshipers who have been set free, who love to give the Holy ONE all the glory.
so why is ONE so hard? why do we fight ONE? we were not created to be alONE but ONE body. you know, sometimes you can't make it on your own.
there are so many theological and philosophical battles being fought over the understanding of the "universal church" and the breakdown of denominations and what not...(a huge discussion that i have no intention of engaging in). but what about starting with our immediate relationships with His body? what a blessing to be a part of ONE body! why would you ever even try to make it all alone?
it's hard to put all of my thoughts down on this subject. i feel like i could write a book about it.
but all of this stems out of watching people close to me fall with noONE there to help them up. (ecc. 4:9-12)
i just wanna cry out to you...if you're out there trying to make it all alONE. STOP!!! run back to The ONE. you are part of His body. and there is ONE body who is there for you. and...that ONE body needs you!
as Christ prayed, "i do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be ONE"
Thursday, April 26, 2007
how to start...
ok, so here's the deal, i have the most incredible wife EVER! and she always kindly listens as i rant and rave about my newest intellectual, philosophical, theological, practical, or otherwise completely random exploits. only on a needed occasion will she mercifully silence me as i launch into "what i've been thinking a lot about lately" (which really means, "i just started thinking about it and i like listening to myself talk...").
although i'm not a fan of labels, stereotypes, and categorizing...i could easily be classified as a classic verbal processor.
so...
i was looking on another pastor's blog site and had the revelation that i should have one of these. ok, so it may have started as a hidden desire to try to be all meditative and reflective and intellectual. but honestly, this could be the perfect way to help my wife out. i'm sure she really loves to listen to me talk about everything i get excited about...but there are somedays i'm sure she'd be grateful for a cyber-cave for my own thoughts to echo around in.
i mean, who knows if someone will actually read this. and assuming you are right now, i just wanna let you know... i'm hoping to be able to just put things down God's showing me, wrestle with my thoughts, and just engage in a discussion (whether someone joins me or not).
but hey, maybe you'll learn something along the way. or something may just make you laugh...or think...or even revolutionize your life. i hope so.
but hey, i gotta go play a game of euchre.
only the best game on the planet.
although i'm not a fan of labels, stereotypes, and categorizing...i could easily be classified as a classic verbal processor.
so...
i was looking on another pastor's blog site and had the revelation that i should have one of these. ok, so it may have started as a hidden desire to try to be all meditative and reflective and intellectual. but honestly, this could be the perfect way to help my wife out. i'm sure she really loves to listen to me talk about everything i get excited about...but there are somedays i'm sure she'd be grateful for a cyber-cave for my own thoughts to echo around in.
i mean, who knows if someone will actually read this. and assuming you are right now, i just wanna let you know... i'm hoping to be able to just put things down God's showing me, wrestle with my thoughts, and just engage in a discussion (whether someone joins me or not).
but hey, maybe you'll learn something along the way. or something may just make you laugh...or think...or even revolutionize your life. i hope so.
but hey, i gotta go play a game of euchre.
only the best game on the planet.
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