I love learning. I love being academic. I love being practical. Applied academics.
Yes, its possible. They aren't so mutually exclusive.
I don't want to waste my life talking about wanting to change the world or end poverty or wave the social justice banner. I want to do it.
I want to use my brain and use my hands, not just spout rhetoric while the malnourished close their eyes for the last time in a location oblivious to the Starbucks-crazed Americans.
Seminary is where I begin this quest. Its my first step of acting in response to the call, privilege, honor and duty to grow an army of Christians to fight with weaponry of love and truth against the injustice and sin that corrupts all - from the family unit to the CEO of corporate America to Capitol Hill.
I am incredibly eager to get back in school.
I feel I can began to fulfill my purpose in the body of Christ there.
I don't want to be known for my brain, but my love. If seminary just builds my knowledge base and doesn't kindle affections for God and His people I feel as though such an endeavor would be counterproductive.
While my application list is not yet finished there are quite a few seminaries I will be applying to.
As time goes on, I mercifully get to see a little more of the plan and purpose of God for my life. For such a gift of understanding I am immensely thankful. Much of it I still do not understand and I am equally as grateful there.
If God is making me a Bible teacher and pastor I pray only for the grace to be faithful and obedient acknowledging that God is the sole provider and benefactor and I am simply a chosen partner stewarded with the Gospel message.
Praise You God!
"Command me Lord, then give me what You command" -Augustine
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Music
As Martin Luther, the great reformer, once said "music is to be praised second only to the Holy Scriptures."
Music is an outlet for the inner romance within us. Its a very effective vehicle for that romantic expression whether that be with a girl or our God or an ideal or thought. Its powerful, God-ordained and commanded in Scripture.
Here is a song that is being played a lot off of the band's myspace page:
Waking Ashland - I Am For You
Something’s very wrong here
Your heart has frozen over
And something’s very strange here
You've lost all desire
The comfort we create to prove we're something
But we're starving
Screaming in the night cause you want answers
From the one
And there is hope again
Don't give up you're not thinking
Don't give up just keep seeking (Oh yeah)
And I, I am for you
And I, I will love you
And I, I am for you
And I, I will save you
Come and take my face or forever I will walk alone
And all the same mistakes
Cause I know you, I deny you
Days go by and choices still remain forever
Right and wrong is black and white
The illusions of this world
And there is hope again
Don't give up, you're not thinking
Don't give up, just keep seeking (Oh yeah)
And I, I am for you
And I, I will love you
And I, I am for you
And I, I will save you
I send my self to you
Yes always and always
I send my love to you[x2]
And I, I am for you
And I, I will love you
And I, I am for you
And I, I will save you
You found today, found today, you found today, with your life today
A true piano rock band. Its a weird, but catchy sound. A little more emo than I typically embrace, but I can let that go.
God thank You for this gift of music.
Music is an outlet for the inner romance within us. Its a very effective vehicle for that romantic expression whether that be with a girl or our God or an ideal or thought. Its powerful, God-ordained and commanded in Scripture.
Here is a song that is being played a lot off of the band's myspace page:
Waking Ashland - I Am For You
Something’s very wrong here
Your heart has frozen over
And something’s very strange here
You've lost all desire
The comfort we create to prove we're something
But we're starving
Screaming in the night cause you want answers
From the one
And there is hope again
Don't give up you're not thinking
Don't give up just keep seeking (Oh yeah)
And I, I am for you
And I, I will love you
And I, I am for you
And I, I will save you
Come and take my face or forever I will walk alone
And all the same mistakes
Cause I know you, I deny you
Days go by and choices still remain forever
Right and wrong is black and white
The illusions of this world
And there is hope again
Don't give up, you're not thinking
Don't give up, just keep seeking (Oh yeah)
And I, I am for you
And I, I will love you
And I, I am for you
And I, I will save you
I send my self to you
Yes always and always
I send my love to you[x2]
And I, I am for you
And I, I will love you
And I, I am for you
And I, I will save you
You found today, found today, you found today, with your life today
A true piano rock band. Its a weird, but catchy sound. A little more emo than I typically embrace, but I can let that go.
God thank You for this gift of music.
Preparing for the future...Engaging Postmodernism
I am in a stage of preparation. I don't enjoy it naturally.
I need the grace of God to give me joy and contentment in this time.
I'm preparing to venture out as a minister of the Gospel vocationally.
God is developing all aspects of my character right now. Its intense and at times paralyzing to see the weight of my sin and the huge lack of ability I have, forcing me to trust in Him for all things in the moment and ahead.
Currently reading: The Truth War by John McArthur
I highly recommend this book!
The postmodernist view of one's inability to know truth and their certainty of there being no absolute truth is horrifying.
This explains greatly how confused and disillusioned our culture is and the depths of our focus turning evermore inward and selfish clinging to anything that will function as an anesthetic for the pain and need of fulfillment in the moment, because under there thinking, nothing is true or certain. So, if it works today -the drug, ideology, relationship, thought etc... use it, use it fast and don't count on it.
From such line of thought one can see the despairing selfishness that we are spiraling downward into.
The Bible proposes truth and truth is a a person. Jesus - John 14:6.
The Bible is not at odds with history or Reason. Almost all of Paul's claims when he preaches and writes to the new testament churches are logic driven.
This will be the task at hand I believe for the rest of my life:
Defending the faith against:
Religious pluralism
The Emergent Church Movement
Pop Culture Theology -Dr. Phil, Oprah
Fundamentalism ideals birthed out of traditionalism rather than Biblical Christianity
I need the grace of God to give me joy and contentment in this time.
I'm preparing to venture out as a minister of the Gospel vocationally.
God is developing all aspects of my character right now. Its intense and at times paralyzing to see the weight of my sin and the huge lack of ability I have, forcing me to trust in Him for all things in the moment and ahead.
Currently reading: The Truth War by John McArthur
I highly recommend this book!
The postmodernist view of one's inability to know truth and their certainty of there being no absolute truth is horrifying.
This explains greatly how confused and disillusioned our culture is and the depths of our focus turning evermore inward and selfish clinging to anything that will function as an anesthetic for the pain and need of fulfillment in the moment, because under there thinking, nothing is true or certain. So, if it works today -the drug, ideology, relationship, thought etc... use it, use it fast and don't count on it.
From such line of thought one can see the despairing selfishness that we are spiraling downward into.
The Bible proposes truth and truth is a a person. Jesus - John 14:6.
The Bible is not at odds with history or Reason. Almost all of Paul's claims when he preaches and writes to the new testament churches are logic driven.
This will be the task at hand I believe for the rest of my life:
Defending the faith against:
Religious pluralism
The Emergent Church Movement
Pop Culture Theology -Dr. Phil, Oprah
Fundamentalism ideals birthed out of traditionalism rather than Biblical Christianity
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Full Circle
Thankfulness is a dominant anthem in me right now
I have spent the last few days fighting migraine headaches, writing sermons to be preached at a later date, and seeing another facet of the grace and mercy of God.
If that sounds all together too cliche I invite you to remember, or if you don't know me that well, to embrace the concept, that I am wicked, a finite, sinful, fallible dude. Some of you have seen this more clearly than others. I am not immune to the temptations of lust, greed, selfishness and fear of the unknown. Yet, by the unmerited favor of God I have experienced somewhat of a revival of the spiritual senses. The desire to put to death sin. To put to death anything that is not edifying to others or rooted in directing myself in others toward genuine love and holiness. An extermination of anything that does not lend the fruit of hope of the certain Kingdom that is to come.
I am not a leaf at the mercy of a confusing wind that my faith may be found one day and lost the next due to the circumstances of the day, rather I am a child of the most High God who is faithful to Himself through His people, period. Otherwise, A) I am not a child of God or B)He is a liar. There is no evidence for either of these realities. My spirit testifies in alignment with the Word of God that I am a part of the elect and There is no legitimate, water-holding, inconsistency in God that would bring His validity into question.
A God with a flawless tract record in the Old Testament and who cowards below humanity to the level of sacrifice before triumphing over the grave in the New Testament silences the most atheistic onlookers.
For all of this I am thankful, needless to say. Even when I have a skewed view of my identity, a Lion King moment if you will, I am not lost, doomed, or condemned. God is faithful, even when I am not.
"And from his fullness We have all received grace upon grace"
- John 1:16
I am blown away that this Holy, perfect God looked at this wretched, guilty, wrong doer and was merciful enough not to kill me.
But even more so that he not only allowed me to exist, but he gave me real and eternal life through believing in His son who bore the weight of my wrong doings by dying in my place.
Still it doesn't end there. He has now called and commissioned me to declare this great act of mercy and grace to others that they might experience the same. He sends me forth as a joyous ambassador of life amidst the brokenness of this world. To declare with His authority the forgiveness of sins. The weight of salvation does not rest on me. I just get to be one along for the ride. Its the Spirit of God working to call them to the Son through me. This reality is simply breath-taking.
The God that invites the undeserving to taste in real life and fore-ordains them to be a means of spreading that life. Praise You God!
Again. humbled...thankful...overjoyed...
"You are Indescribable, You are beyond expression
And I run out of words for you, Can't think that High,
So hear my spirit groan in me,
A painful sense of urgency,
To tell you that you are to me, So High"
-Jeff Johnson, "So High"
I have spent the last few days fighting migraine headaches, writing sermons to be preached at a later date, and seeing another facet of the grace and mercy of God.
If that sounds all together too cliche I invite you to remember, or if you don't know me that well, to embrace the concept, that I am wicked, a finite, sinful, fallible dude. Some of you have seen this more clearly than others. I am not immune to the temptations of lust, greed, selfishness and fear of the unknown. Yet, by the unmerited favor of God I have experienced somewhat of a revival of the spiritual senses. The desire to put to death sin. To put to death anything that is not edifying to others or rooted in directing myself in others toward genuine love and holiness. An extermination of anything that does not lend the fruit of hope of the certain Kingdom that is to come.
I am not a leaf at the mercy of a confusing wind that my faith may be found one day and lost the next due to the circumstances of the day, rather I am a child of the most High God who is faithful to Himself through His people, period. Otherwise, A) I am not a child of God or B)He is a liar. There is no evidence for either of these realities. My spirit testifies in alignment with the Word of God that I am a part of the elect and There is no legitimate, water-holding, inconsistency in God that would bring His validity into question.
A God with a flawless tract record in the Old Testament and who cowards below humanity to the level of sacrifice before triumphing over the grave in the New Testament silences the most atheistic onlookers.
For all of this I am thankful, needless to say. Even when I have a skewed view of my identity, a Lion King moment if you will, I am not lost, doomed, or condemned. God is faithful, even when I am not.
"And from his fullness We have all received grace upon grace"
- John 1:16
I am blown away that this Holy, perfect God looked at this wretched, guilty, wrong doer and was merciful enough not to kill me.
But even more so that he not only allowed me to exist, but he gave me real and eternal life through believing in His son who bore the weight of my wrong doings by dying in my place.
Still it doesn't end there. He has now called and commissioned me to declare this great act of mercy and grace to others that they might experience the same. He sends me forth as a joyous ambassador of life amidst the brokenness of this world. To declare with His authority the forgiveness of sins. The weight of salvation does not rest on me. I just get to be one along for the ride. Its the Spirit of God working to call them to the Son through me. This reality is simply breath-taking.
The God that invites the undeserving to taste in real life and fore-ordains them to be a means of spreading that life. Praise You God!
Again. humbled...thankful...overjoyed...
"You are Indescribable, You are beyond expression
And I run out of words for you, Can't think that High,
So hear my spirit groan in me,
A painful sense of urgency,
To tell you that you are to me, So High"
-Jeff Johnson, "So High"
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Going Emo...?
I have a beard now...
And I just started listening to some different music as of last night with my bud
Should I move to wako? Ha! Gotta confess I like being a hybrid of things, with the faithfulness of 1 Corinthians 9:22
Great bands:
Sherwood
We Shot The Moon
Waking Ashland
And I just started listening to some different music as of last night with my bud
Should I move to wako? Ha! Gotta confess I like being a hybrid of things, with the faithfulness of 1 Corinthians 9:22
Great bands:
Sherwood
We Shot The Moon
Waking Ashland
Saturday, October 11, 2008
To Reclaim Love...
Had a weird experience yesterday. Weird conversation with one of my buddies who really observed the whole Kate thing more closely than I thought.
He just kinda went into what he saw. Without me asking, he just kinda shared his perspective. Thinking about this and trying to at the same time not confront what he said... I finally folded. He was right. She was a cancer.
The reality is I loved her or love her how ever you want to look at it. I just chooses now to starve that love. Everyday I choose not to love her. I choose to go against my commitment. It feels blatantly dysfunctional, it is. There is no resolution at this point, she just justifies herself and takes responsibility only as a pr move, it is never functional.
I screwed-up by not standing my ground and following and do what I knew was right. I should have ran when she tempted me but I did not. I should have cut ties within that first month.
About 4 people, unrelated around me, they all saw the same thing. They came to me about it and it is heart breaking. Mind blowing that its not just advice.
The only reason I can explain that I did not is love. That love threatens to keep me here even now. So I must deny it. It is misplaced and it is unclaimed.
I must deny the urge to engage in serving her. Deny the desire to be beside her.
I tell misplaced, early committed love "no" to welcome in what is coming. What is already here :)
He just kinda went into what he saw. Without me asking, he just kinda shared his perspective. Thinking about this and trying to at the same time not confront what he said... I finally folded. He was right. She was a cancer.
The reality is I loved her or love her how ever you want to look at it. I just chooses now to starve that love. Everyday I choose not to love her. I choose to go against my commitment. It feels blatantly dysfunctional, it is. There is no resolution at this point, she just justifies herself and takes responsibility only as a pr move, it is never functional.
I screwed-up by not standing my ground and following and do what I knew was right. I should have ran when she tempted me but I did not. I should have cut ties within that first month.
About 4 people, unrelated around me, they all saw the same thing. They came to me about it and it is heart breaking. Mind blowing that its not just advice.
The only reason I can explain that I did not is love. That love threatens to keep me here even now. So I must deny it. It is misplaced and it is unclaimed.
I must deny the urge to engage in serving her. Deny the desire to be beside her.
I tell misplaced, early committed love "no" to welcome in what is coming. What is already here :)
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