Here are some things that are happening in my life right now.
1.) For those of you who do not know, I am engaged to the love of my life, Stephanie Ann Riggs. She is my best friend and I am soooooooooooo excited to get to spend the rest of my life with her. We are getting married on November 3rd so as of this date (June 22) we have 133 days left.
I proposed to her on Christmas night after her family had opened their Christmas presents. She did not know that I had driven down to talk to her mom the week before, but everybody in her family and a few of her friends did. So they were all hanging out cameras in hand, and Steph was wondering why everybody was hanging out.
One thing I will not recommend is to propose to a girl and then move 7 hours away. It is very tough! So guys if you’re thinking about proposing then moving to another state…don’t!
Even with the distance issue, this has been the best 6 months of my life!!
2.) I have just finished my first semester of Seminary. I had three classes: Matthew, Biblical Hebrew, and Vocation of Ministry. All classes were very good and very formational in my understanding of the Christian faith, and my latest posts have been focusing these thoughts. I believe that God is stretching my understanding of who He is and what He is doing in the world through my experience at Asbury.
Graduate work is intense, and I am continually learning to be more disciplined and more focused on my work. But it is doable.
I am currently finishing up Comprehensive Greek I, which is crazy. We are taking a 3-month class crammed into 3 weeks. This means that everyday we are studying 1 week worth of homework. AND that means that we’re expected to do one week’s worth of homework every night (it averages out to 7 ½ to 9 hours).
Next fall I will be taking “Kingdom, Church, and World,” “Church History I,” and “Method and Praxis.” Method & Praxis and KCW will be taken from the virtual campus. I am excited about those classes!
3.) I have been playing basketball 2-3 days a week on the seminary campus. Noon-ball as it is called (Why “noon-ball” you ask? Well, because it starts at 12-noon! Clever I know.) It has been the best part of coming to seminary for me. One of the tough parts about moving to a place where you don’t know anybody is that you don’t know anybody. It really was this group of guys who made me happy to be here in Kentucky.
It has been good for me, as the last couple years in college I did not exercise enough and I had gained a few lb's that I need to shed. The exercise has been good for me and my pants have been a little bit big on me! Hurrah for exercise!!!
4.) I am planning writing a book. I think that I’m going to spend the rest of my time here at seminary working on it here and there and then try and get it published. I still am in the extreme beginning of the process...aka still thinking stuff out. But maybe you’ll some day go to a bookstore and see my name on the shelf. Who knows??
5.) I am working at A D Carpet Care; it’s an interesting place. I am the guy who comes and cleans your carpet. Actually, we do mostly commercial so I am in hotels most of the time when I work (which is primarily Mondays for right now). So I have spent a good portion of my free time over the past couple of months in hotel rooms.
Here are some things to think about when going to a hotel: 1.) The lobby isn’t a good sign of the quality of the hotel, the hallways are. 2.) The carpet of the hotel is a dead give away of the quality of the hotel. 3.) If you see tons of stains on the carpet, it means that the hotel has tons of people party there. 4.) NEVER stay in at Hyatt in Lexington.
Hopefully, I’ll be able to put in a ton of hours over July and August with this company…“A D Carpet Care, call ‘us’ on the carpet!”
That’s what’s going on in my life!
Friday, June 22, 2007
Saturday, June 16, 2007
What is Salvation?
As I read the Gospels, Jesus’ understanding of salvation seems to be active. To Jesus, salvation requires that there be a change happening to your person; it is not just an abstract event. I see Jesus telling a rich man to give away his wealth. I read about Jesus challenging the expert in the Law in how he views the Samaritans. I find Jesus telling the woman caught in adultery to stop. Salvation requires action.
(If you are thinking right now, “What about Ephesians 2:8-9 (we are saved by grace and not by works so no one can boast.)?” then I think you should be reading Ephesians 2:10 which ends saying we are God’s artwork created to do good works.)
Salvation I believe is best summed up this way: “Salvation is when we trust ourselves to Jesus and His way, the way of the cross (see previous post).”
Over and over in the Gospels Jesus is confronting people with Himself and His way of life. He is conversing with religious people about how they have missed the point-how salvation is not just about how good you are at not breaking the Law. He continually challenges the social structure that many of these (I assume well intentioned) teachers and people we would consider Pastors, with revolutionary ways of thinking. He’s demanding that these leaders quit bogging themselves down in theological studies and arguments and start living out their beliefs.
Jesus in Matthew 11 makes the statement: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” To which we ask what Jesus means when he says, ‘take my yoke?’
Well, a yoke was a rabbinical term that a rabbi would use to classify his way of interpreting the Law. And by using this term, Jesus is asking the people to take his understanding of the way that life is to be lived. Follow and live life the way that I am teaching you to live.
If you read the radical things that Jesus says in the Gospels, it takes a ton of trust to follow Him. Jesus’ way commands that we do not fight for our rights, instead we pick up our cross (an idea that stands directly in opposition to the Declaration of Independence). Jesus says don’t worry about tomorrow, instead give what you don’t need to those who do need (in direct opposition to retirement planning). Jesus says if somebody hits you don’t hit them back instead let them hit you again (in direct opposition to self defense).
It’s foolishness to say that I’m going to let somebody hit me a second time. It’s crazy to give away your hard earned money to somebody who has done nothing for you. But this is the way that Jesus says leads to life. He is asking us to trust Him.
Biblically, we do not just receive salvation, we take it up. We do not hunt down ways to gain eternal life; we hunt for ways to give up our lives. We do not carry around the guilt of the sins we have committed; we throw our guilt to the cross. We trust Jesus, trust His work on the cross, and trust His triumph over the grave. THIS IS SALVATION!!!
(If you are thinking right now, “What about Ephesians 2:8-9 (we are saved by grace and not by works so no one can boast.)?” then I think you should be reading Ephesians 2:10 which ends saying we are God’s artwork created to do good works.)
Salvation I believe is best summed up this way: “Salvation is when we trust ourselves to Jesus and His way, the way of the cross (see previous post).”
Over and over in the Gospels Jesus is confronting people with Himself and His way of life. He is conversing with religious people about how they have missed the point-how salvation is not just about how good you are at not breaking the Law. He continually challenges the social structure that many of these (I assume well intentioned) teachers and people we would consider Pastors, with revolutionary ways of thinking. He’s demanding that these leaders quit bogging themselves down in theological studies and arguments and start living out their beliefs.
Jesus in Matthew 11 makes the statement: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” To which we ask what Jesus means when he says, ‘take my yoke?’
Well, a yoke was a rabbinical term that a rabbi would use to classify his way of interpreting the Law. And by using this term, Jesus is asking the people to take his understanding of the way that life is to be lived. Follow and live life the way that I am teaching you to live.
If you read the radical things that Jesus says in the Gospels, it takes a ton of trust to follow Him. Jesus’ way commands that we do not fight for our rights, instead we pick up our cross (an idea that stands directly in opposition to the Declaration of Independence). Jesus says don’t worry about tomorrow, instead give what you don’t need to those who do need (in direct opposition to retirement planning). Jesus says if somebody hits you don’t hit them back instead let them hit you again (in direct opposition to self defense).
It’s foolishness to say that I’m going to let somebody hit me a second time. It’s crazy to give away your hard earned money to somebody who has done nothing for you. But this is the way that Jesus says leads to life. He is asking us to trust Him.
Biblically, we do not just receive salvation, we take it up. We do not hunt down ways to gain eternal life; we hunt for ways to give up our lives. We do not carry around the guilt of the sins we have committed; we throw our guilt to the cross. We trust Jesus, trust His work on the cross, and trust His triumph over the grave. THIS IS SALVATION!!!
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
The Way of the Cross
In Matthew 16:24 Jesus says that the core of what his way is about is carrying a cross. What does it mean to “carry your cross?”
The cross was a shameful way to die, it was designed by the Romans to be just that. They even reserved this way of execution for the lowest of the low-they didn’t crucify citizens (even Paul isn’t crucified)-and Jesus is telling his followers that this is what it means to follow him.
A cross meant that you no longer had rights. You did not have the right to live-they killed you. You didn’t have the right to dignity-they did it in public so everybody could witness you die. You didn’t have the right to privacy-they took off your clothing. You didn’t have the right to freedom from suffering-they purposefully let your death take days and maybe even weeks.
Carrying a cross is to totally give up your rights.
This is the way that Christians are supposed to be living their lives. But sadly this is not how most do. Sadly, many Christians hold on to their rights. They end up doing the exact opposite they fight for their rights; which is against what Jesus was about.
Christians even are known to fight and argue to promote Christianity. What’s up with that? Should we be sitting around fighting about what we believe? How far have we come from Jesus’ way of thinking if this is how we are acting? Are we spreading the message of giving up our rights by arguing for our beliefs? Something just doesn’t make sense to me.
If we believe that abortion is wrong do we really think we’re going to stop anybody from doing it by calling them baby-killers?? Do we honestly believe that fighting to prove that abortion is wrong in the public sphere is going to stop people from having abortions? Is this our best solution?
Is telling people their actions are wrong even our job as Christians? Is this giving up our right? Are we really the moral police? Is that the point? Or did Jesus have something bigger for us to be working towards? Instead of calling out people we believe are wrong, why not go to them and introduce them to Jesus. Introduce them to the man who wants to heal all the wrongs and abuses in their life.
I have often thought that far too often the Pharisees get a bad rap in the Bible; all they’re doing is getting people to try and live the right way. They’re trying to get people to follow the Torah. The problem is that this is not the point of the Law. The point of the Law is to show the world the way of God (in the Gospels: “Kingdom of Heaven”) by living it (Exodus 19:3-6).
Over and over in the Old Testament the prophets come down hard on the people because they forget that they are living examples of who God is and then end up Empire Building. They end up not being who they are called to be-God’s people.
We are called to live differently than those around us. We are called to live out our faith, not defend it. “Defending the faith” is not a Christian ethic, it’s Muslim. Muslims believe that the kingdom of Allah is spread by struggling (jihad); Christ said to lay down your life and pick up your cross.
How about you? Are you picking up a cross or are you struggling?
The cross was a shameful way to die, it was designed by the Romans to be just that. They even reserved this way of execution for the lowest of the low-they didn’t crucify citizens (even Paul isn’t crucified)-and Jesus is telling his followers that this is what it means to follow him.
A cross meant that you no longer had rights. You did not have the right to live-they killed you. You didn’t have the right to dignity-they did it in public so everybody could witness you die. You didn’t have the right to privacy-they took off your clothing. You didn’t have the right to freedom from suffering-they purposefully let your death take days and maybe even weeks.
Carrying a cross is to totally give up your rights.
This is the way that Christians are supposed to be living their lives. But sadly this is not how most do. Sadly, many Christians hold on to their rights. They end up doing the exact opposite they fight for their rights; which is against what Jesus was about.
Christians even are known to fight and argue to promote Christianity. What’s up with that? Should we be sitting around fighting about what we believe? How far have we come from Jesus’ way of thinking if this is how we are acting? Are we spreading the message of giving up our rights by arguing for our beliefs? Something just doesn’t make sense to me.
If we believe that abortion is wrong do we really think we’re going to stop anybody from doing it by calling them baby-killers?? Do we honestly believe that fighting to prove that abortion is wrong in the public sphere is going to stop people from having abortions? Is this our best solution?
Is telling people their actions are wrong even our job as Christians? Is this giving up our right? Are we really the moral police? Is that the point? Or did Jesus have something bigger for us to be working towards? Instead of calling out people we believe are wrong, why not go to them and introduce them to Jesus. Introduce them to the man who wants to heal all the wrongs and abuses in their life.
I have often thought that far too often the Pharisees get a bad rap in the Bible; all they’re doing is getting people to try and live the right way. They’re trying to get people to follow the Torah. The problem is that this is not the point of the Law. The point of the Law is to show the world the way of God (in the Gospels: “Kingdom of Heaven”) by living it (Exodus 19:3-6).
Over and over in the Old Testament the prophets come down hard on the people because they forget that they are living examples of who God is and then end up Empire Building. They end up not being who they are called to be-God’s people.
We are called to live differently than those around us. We are called to live out our faith, not defend it. “Defending the faith” is not a Christian ethic, it’s Muslim. Muslims believe that the kingdom of Allah is spread by struggling (jihad); Christ said to lay down your life and pick up your cross.
How about you? Are you picking up a cross or are you struggling?
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Thoughts on Truth
Ways people have historically understood truth:
1. Authority
This was the primary way that people understood Truth in the medieval period. In this period, the authorities were trusted to understand the Truth; the common man was not. Truth is linked closely with a power structure under an authority.
This was the primary understanding of the Catholic Church. The Catholics say that it is the Pope who had the right to say whether or not something is true. The problem here is when the Papal community was obviously corrupt. Once the popes authority becomes compromised, Truth can become very quickly distorted. Which is what happened toward the end of the medieval period.
The Reformers, particularly Hus and Luther stood up and said the pope is wrong, and that simple reason and logic partnered with study of the Bible could explain what was true.
2. Logic/Reason
Logic and reason are the staple of understanding how truth is talked about in the modern era; truth is logical and rational. Truth has a strong relationship with Math and Science in this way of thinking.
This way of understanding truth is in an abstract form of truth. It is based in logical and reason, and neither of those are tangible. Truth becomes in this way of thinking static, and unchanging. It also becomes disconnected.
Post-modern thinkers reject truth in this light. There is a grass roots movement of “po-mo’s” who disagree that there is an objective truth out there. Truth as an abstract immutable force in post-modern thinking just does not exist. Truth must be seen as something that is to be experienced.
3. Experience
The primary way of introducing ones self to truth in the post-modern mindset is through Experience. One does not know truth by being told what to believe about Truth, not by following a logical ascent to Truth, but by experiencing Truth. Truth cannot be separated from experiencing it.
This is the conversation that many Christians are having today. They are talking to Christians who are based in a logical and rational ways of understanding Christianity. The problem is that these Christians are looking for abstract conversations about the nature of truth, which the post-modern mindset does not want to have. To the post-modern thinking Truth, cannot exist unless there is a subject experience.
I do not believe that post-modern thinkers deny that there is Truth; I think that they do not understand Truth as an abstract reality. It has to be tied to flesh and blood.
The way that I think many people approach these three descriptions is to ask the question, “Is one way of understanding Truth more right than either of the other two?” To which I wonder is that the right question?
I believe that to understand truth all three ways methods must be applied. Each of the three methods is flawed and can lead to abuses. Each of the three methods checks and corrects the other two. When one becomes primary (i.e. logic and reason in the modern mindset) abuses become evident, and Truth itself becomes distorted.
What do you think?
1. Authority
This was the primary way that people understood Truth in the medieval period. In this period, the authorities were trusted to understand the Truth; the common man was not. Truth is linked closely with a power structure under an authority.
This was the primary understanding of the Catholic Church. The Catholics say that it is the Pope who had the right to say whether or not something is true. The problem here is when the Papal community was obviously corrupt. Once the popes authority becomes compromised, Truth can become very quickly distorted. Which is what happened toward the end of the medieval period.
The Reformers, particularly Hus and Luther stood up and said the pope is wrong, and that simple reason and logic partnered with study of the Bible could explain what was true.
2. Logic/Reason
Logic and reason are the staple of understanding how truth is talked about in the modern era; truth is logical and rational. Truth has a strong relationship with Math and Science in this way of thinking.
This way of understanding truth is in an abstract form of truth. It is based in logical and reason, and neither of those are tangible. Truth becomes in this way of thinking static, and unchanging. It also becomes disconnected.
Post-modern thinkers reject truth in this light. There is a grass roots movement of “po-mo’s” who disagree that there is an objective truth out there. Truth as an abstract immutable force in post-modern thinking just does not exist. Truth must be seen as something that is to be experienced.
3. Experience
The primary way of introducing ones self to truth in the post-modern mindset is through Experience. One does not know truth by being told what to believe about Truth, not by following a logical ascent to Truth, but by experiencing Truth. Truth cannot be separated from experiencing it.
This is the conversation that many Christians are having today. They are talking to Christians who are based in a logical and rational ways of understanding Christianity. The problem is that these Christians are looking for abstract conversations about the nature of truth, which the post-modern mindset does not want to have. To the post-modern thinking Truth, cannot exist unless there is a subject experience.
I do not believe that post-modern thinkers deny that there is Truth; I think that they do not understand Truth as an abstract reality. It has to be tied to flesh and blood.
The way that I think many people approach these three descriptions is to ask the question, “Is one way of understanding Truth more right than either of the other two?” To which I wonder is that the right question?
I believe that to understand truth all three ways methods must be applied. Each of the three methods is flawed and can lead to abuses. Each of the three methods checks and corrects the other two. When one becomes primary (i.e. logic and reason in the modern mindset) abuses become evident, and Truth itself becomes distorted.
What do you think?
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Left and right and wrong
So recently Jerry Falwell died. Jerry was the founder of Liberty University, Thomas Road Baptist Church, and the Moral Majority. Right after he died, I went to the New York Times website and read comments people made about his life-people honestly did not like him. In more than one post, Falwell was compared to Hitler!
Now I understand that the Gospel is not supposed to be popular, and we’re not supposed to be trying to be liked; but the level of hate that people were attributing to Farwell was shocking to me. In no way should a follower of Jesus life a life that they could be compared to an evil dictator.
The reason that Falwell was attacked was because he stood up for what he believed. In fact, that was the purpose of the Moral Majority. He wanted to motivate those with moral opinions to stand up for what they believe and vote conscious, which actually what most people applaud.
I respect Falwell’s integrity. Al Sharpton, Falwell’s ‘political opposite’ in a public address even had the same remarks. I only will say this: I do not believe it is the way of Jesus.
Luke 10 is where Jesus sends out the disciples to spread his message concerning the Kingdom of Heaven. It is here He gives his followers the method by which they are to spread the message. He gives these commands:
“When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you’ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’
This is what I see Jesus telling His disciples: Go out, give evidence of the Kingdom of God, and then explain the sign by saying, ‘the kingdom of God is near.’ This is Jesus instruction on how to spread the kingdom.
Jesus does not tell his followers to debate moral issues with people they come in contact with. He simply tells them to give evidence that God’s kingdom is here. To Jesus truth of the kingdom is not in the weight of the argument for it, but in evidence of its presence. This is why I think that political coercion is not the way of Jesus.
Coercion is defined as ‘the use of force or threats to make people do things against their will and force used to make somebody do something against his or her will.’
Does this seem to be what Jesus is telling his followers to do?
Now I understand that the Gospel is not supposed to be popular, and we’re not supposed to be trying to be liked; but the level of hate that people were attributing to Farwell was shocking to me. In no way should a follower of Jesus life a life that they could be compared to an evil dictator.
The reason that Falwell was attacked was because he stood up for what he believed. In fact, that was the purpose of the Moral Majority. He wanted to motivate those with moral opinions to stand up for what they believe and vote conscious, which actually what most people applaud.
I respect Falwell’s integrity. Al Sharpton, Falwell’s ‘political opposite’ in a public address even had the same remarks. I only will say this: I do not believe it is the way of Jesus.
Luke 10 is where Jesus sends out the disciples to spread his message concerning the Kingdom of Heaven. It is here He gives his followers the method by which they are to spread the message. He gives these commands:
“When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you’ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’
This is what I see Jesus telling His disciples: Go out, give evidence of the Kingdom of God, and then explain the sign by saying, ‘the kingdom of God is near.’ This is Jesus instruction on how to spread the kingdom.
Jesus does not tell his followers to debate moral issues with people they come in contact with. He simply tells them to give evidence that God’s kingdom is here. To Jesus truth of the kingdom is not in the weight of the argument for it, but in evidence of its presence. This is why I think that political coercion is not the way of Jesus.
Coercion is defined as ‘the use of force or threats to make people do things against their will and force used to make somebody do something against his or her will.’
Does this seem to be what Jesus is telling his followers to do?
Monday, May 07, 2007
Personal Manifesto
Here is my personal statement of belief that I have been working on:
I believe we live in a broken, fractured world. Death and destruction are all around us. It seems that living is a monumental task, as even nature itself is looking to kill us. Death has become the only thing in life that is guaranteed.
I believe this brokenness is the result of the sin that we all deal with. The root of sin is self. At the root of every sin is the placing of self and selfish wants over the laws of God, and the welfare and concern of others.
The first human beings sin, and by sinning have broke the relationship that they had with God. The result of the fracture is the basic peace that was between Man, God, and Creation. I believe that individual sins also lead to systematic evils that we see in the world. Humans have created systems that oppress other humans. Racism, sexism, ageism all factor into the systems that are used to oppress those around us.
This is the story of man. We see from creation one generation and humans are killing each other. We also see that that almost as soon as there is any type of organization in the world, it is used for evil (the Tower of Babel). Every organization that man has created ends up in some way oppressing others; even the organized church has participated in oppression.
God’s motion has always been towards humanity. Even as the first man and woman sinned, God was right there taking the first steps towards healing and restoration. While humanity is continually finding different ways to make the break larger, God has continually chasing after his beloved creation.
The ultimate sign of God’s pursuit of humanity is the person of Jesus. Christians believe that what God wanted for the world, we find this in Jesus. We believe that His life was lived perfectly, without sin. Thus empowering him to be able to stand against the brokenness and sin that is in the world. Jesus then told his followers to be like he was.
Jesus in his stand against the brokenness and oppression he saw, was betrayed, arrested, falsely charged, and crucified by those he was calling out. From heaven, God saw Jesus to vindicate him raised him from the dead. We believe that it is by the power of this resurrection the sin and brokenness of this world has been defeated. It is through the power of this resurrection that sin and brokenness in our individual lives can be healed.
This is the core of what it means to be a Christian. We follow Jesus’ lead in standing against the sin and brokenness in the world. We become the agents of restoration and life standing against the sin and brokenness in the world.
Christians need to stand up for healing and restoration, but this does not imply that we fight against the evils that are around us. What I mean is that we be agents of healing and restoration. Instead inciting conflict, we instead spread the love of God for the world. Our healing and restoration process should not result in conflict-this is only bringing more brokenness.
What do you think? Does this sum up what we're about as Christians?
I believe we live in a broken, fractured world. Death and destruction are all around us. It seems that living is a monumental task, as even nature itself is looking to kill us. Death has become the only thing in life that is guaranteed.
I believe this brokenness is the result of the sin that we all deal with. The root of sin is self. At the root of every sin is the placing of self and selfish wants over the laws of God, and the welfare and concern of others.
The first human beings sin, and by sinning have broke the relationship that they had with God. The result of the fracture is the basic peace that was between Man, God, and Creation. I believe that individual sins also lead to systematic evils that we see in the world. Humans have created systems that oppress other humans. Racism, sexism, ageism all factor into the systems that are used to oppress those around us.
This is the story of man. We see from creation one generation and humans are killing each other. We also see that that almost as soon as there is any type of organization in the world, it is used for evil (the Tower of Babel). Every organization that man has created ends up in some way oppressing others; even the organized church has participated in oppression.
God’s motion has always been towards humanity. Even as the first man and woman sinned, God was right there taking the first steps towards healing and restoration. While humanity is continually finding different ways to make the break larger, God has continually chasing after his beloved creation.
The ultimate sign of God’s pursuit of humanity is the person of Jesus. Christians believe that what God wanted for the world, we find this in Jesus. We believe that His life was lived perfectly, without sin. Thus empowering him to be able to stand against the brokenness and sin that is in the world. Jesus then told his followers to be like he was.
Jesus in his stand against the brokenness and oppression he saw, was betrayed, arrested, falsely charged, and crucified by those he was calling out. From heaven, God saw Jesus to vindicate him raised him from the dead. We believe that it is by the power of this resurrection the sin and brokenness of this world has been defeated. It is through the power of this resurrection that sin and brokenness in our individual lives can be healed.
This is the core of what it means to be a Christian. We follow Jesus’ lead in standing against the sin and brokenness in the world. We become the agents of restoration and life standing against the sin and brokenness in the world.
Christians need to stand up for healing and restoration, but this does not imply that we fight against the evils that are around us. What I mean is that we be agents of healing and restoration. Instead inciting conflict, we instead spread the love of God for the world. Our healing and restoration process should not result in conflict-this is only bringing more brokenness.
What do you think? Does this sum up what we're about as Christians?
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Can Christians be pessimists?
I think that our church is full of people who are pessimists. They don’t think that there’s any hope for the world.
I lived my formative years growing up around people who feared the evil around them, and forgot that God is stronger. They lived their lives in fear that somehow if they came in contact with the “ways of the world” that somehow either they would become tainted or they would set themselves up for some sort of moral failure.
I guess my questions is “Can Christians be pessimists?” Can we not have hope in the work that God is doing in the world? I believe that the power of Jesus resurrection has empowered those sent out to spread his message. Isn’t that the story in the early church?
Christians in the Roman Empire were social outcasts. They couldn’t buy or sell. Large percentages were slaves and women (both who had few rights). They were heavily persecuted and killed. And yet somehow the Gospel of Jesus (the Good News of Jesus) continued to spread. It spread until it Rome became Christian.
They earliest Christians preached that Jesus had come to restore creation. That through His work death had been defeated and the restoration was possible. Not only was it possible but it was happening! It’s actually how they organized themselves. They were bring resurrection to their world through how they lived their lives. This is how they lived and look what happened.
We are living in an ever-increasing post-Christian society. Europe, Australia, and America can no longer be seen as Christian nations. The average Christian today is a woman from Africa or South America; nations with no wealth or social stature.
So can Christians be pessimistic? Can we believe that in all honesty that we’re in a big mess and the world is beyond saving? Should we just kiss the post-Christian community good bye and say there’s no hope in the Gospel (the good news) every changing our own culture?
Maybe, just maybe if you say there isn’t any hope for the post-Christian western community, if you believe that Jesus’ work didn’t do enough…maybe your view of what happened on Easter morning some 2000 years ago isn’t big enough.
I lived my formative years growing up around people who feared the evil around them, and forgot that God is stronger. They lived their lives in fear that somehow if they came in contact with the “ways of the world” that somehow either they would become tainted or they would set themselves up for some sort of moral failure.
I guess my questions is “Can Christians be pessimists?” Can we not have hope in the work that God is doing in the world? I believe that the power of Jesus resurrection has empowered those sent out to spread his message. Isn’t that the story in the early church?
Christians in the Roman Empire were social outcasts. They couldn’t buy or sell. Large percentages were slaves and women (both who had few rights). They were heavily persecuted and killed. And yet somehow the Gospel of Jesus (the Good News of Jesus) continued to spread. It spread until it Rome became Christian.
They earliest Christians preached that Jesus had come to restore creation. That through His work death had been defeated and the restoration was possible. Not only was it possible but it was happening! It’s actually how they organized themselves. They were bring resurrection to their world through how they lived their lives. This is how they lived and look what happened.
We are living in an ever-increasing post-Christian society. Europe, Australia, and America can no longer be seen as Christian nations. The average Christian today is a woman from Africa or South America; nations with no wealth or social stature.
So can Christians be pessimistic? Can we believe that in all honesty that we’re in a big mess and the world is beyond saving? Should we just kiss the post-Christian community good bye and say there’s no hope in the Gospel (the good news) every changing our own culture?
Maybe, just maybe if you say there isn’t any hope for the post-Christian western community, if you believe that Jesus’ work didn’t do enough…maybe your view of what happened on Easter morning some 2000 years ago isn’t big enough.
Monday, April 09, 2007
New Beginnings
Easter happens on the 1st day of a New Week!
The symbolism of the resurrection being on that beginning of a new week should not be lost when you read and reflect on Easter.
Creation happened in a week. And on the final day of the week God rested. His work of creation started and ended in a week.
Jesus resurrection happened on the first day of the week. One way of understanding what is happening is to see a new week of creation happening. Jesus through his death and resurrection has started a new creation!
This new creation is based upon life. The New Testament authors keep coming back to the idea that death came through Adam, and life comes through Jesus. That the old creation is characterized by Adam's sin, but the new creation is characterized by Jesus resurrection!
Happy Easter! HE IS RISEN!!
The symbolism of the resurrection being on that beginning of a new week should not be lost when you read and reflect on Easter.
Creation happened in a week. And on the final day of the week God rested. His work of creation started and ended in a week.
Jesus resurrection happened on the first day of the week. One way of understanding what is happening is to see a new week of creation happening. Jesus through his death and resurrection has started a new creation!
This new creation is based upon life. The New Testament authors keep coming back to the idea that death came through Adam, and life comes through Jesus. That the old creation is characterized by Adam's sin, but the new creation is characterized by Jesus resurrection!
Happy Easter! HE IS RISEN!!
Friday, March 23, 2007
Who's your Turtle?
So tonight, the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comes out in theaters.
Let’s be honest, it won’t win very many awards.
It might not make that much money.
There may not even be that much of a plot.
But it will still be significant for many people.
We were talking about the Turtles at dinner tonight and (I think I am on to something with this) every guy in their 20’s is a fan of the Turtles. If you are in this demographic you know what I mean. You love the Turtles!
Every guy that I know has a favorite Ninja Turtle. I took a very unscientific survey tonight as people were leaving dinner. Every guy had a favorite.
The guys who liked Leonardo liked him because he was the leader.
The guys who liked Rafael liked him because he was sarcastic and tough.
The guys who liked Michelangelo liked him because he was the party animal
The guys who like Donatello liked him because he was always making things.
These were the answers. It isn’t just that guys had a list of things that they said and I just grouped them together, these were pretty much the answers that everybody said.
Across the board.
We have four different personalities represented here: the tough guy, the good guy/leader, the party animal, and the thinker/philosopher/engineer. This is just an observation that I have made, but I think that the Turtle that you like is in some way the person that you see your self as or the person that you want to be.
Now I am probably thinking way to hard about the Turtles, but this is just something I have observed.
It’s uncanny! Wait, that’s not the Turtles.
What do you think? What Turtle is your favorite?
Let’s be honest, it won’t win very many awards.
It might not make that much money.
There may not even be that much of a plot.
But it will still be significant for many people.
We were talking about the Turtles at dinner tonight and (I think I am on to something with this) every guy in their 20’s is a fan of the Turtles. If you are in this demographic you know what I mean. You love the Turtles!
Every guy that I know has a favorite Ninja Turtle. I took a very unscientific survey tonight as people were leaving dinner. Every guy had a favorite.
The guys who liked Leonardo liked him because he was the leader.
The guys who liked Rafael liked him because he was sarcastic and tough.
The guys who liked Michelangelo liked him because he was the party animal
The guys who like Donatello liked him because he was always making things.
These were the answers. It isn’t just that guys had a list of things that they said and I just grouped them together, these were pretty much the answers that everybody said.
Across the board.
We have four different personalities represented here: the tough guy, the good guy/leader, the party animal, and the thinker/philosopher/engineer. This is just an observation that I have made, but I think that the Turtle that you like is in some way the person that you see your self as or the person that you want to be.
Now I am probably thinking way to hard about the Turtles, but this is just something I have observed.
It’s uncanny! Wait, that’s not the Turtles.
What do you think? What Turtle is your favorite?
Monday, March 05, 2007
"our tomb is empty"
Sunday night, I was watching the "unveiling" of the Family Tomb of Jesus. In case you haven’t heard, there is a pseudo-archeologist who claims to have discovered the Tomb that Jesus was buried in with his family. Now I didn't realize a few things #1 Jesus had a family and #2 that he was still in the ground, but this is what the program said was the case.
26 years ago, a construction crew unearthed a family tomb. They called archeologists and when they arrived they found an ossuary (or a burial box, that holds the bones of a dead person) with the name “Jesus son of Joseph” written on the side. Also in the tomb were 9 other ossuaries, four (4) others with names.
Along with the name “Jesus son of Joseph,” archeologists found inscriptions that they claim to be that of Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Matthew (supposedly a relative of Mary), and Jude (here’s the kicker-Jesus son). Now these names are all from long chains of assumption and bad interpretations of both Biblical texts and extra-Biblical texts (specifically a 4th century Gnostic Gospel).
Needless to say, as I watched this program I was shocked by the claims that they made. They said that
1.) Jesus body in all probability was not resurrected.
2.) This find also gives strong evidence that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married.
3.) Jesus and Mary had a son – and that this son was the disciple that Jesus loved.
4.) That this find is where the James ossuary is from.
The theological reprocussions are limitless as everything that they claim is against the greater tradition of the church, and contests the Biblical account. You have to force your way into the text to find what they are trying to prove.
The show was about as unscientific as you can get, as everything was done halfway. One of the guys that I watched it with made the observation that he could have done more with the evidence than they did. Literally, it was almost comical to see how many errors and poor assumptions (which we all know what assuming does) that the team made during the course of their work.
The show was a 2-hour special and it could have been cut down to about 30 minutes, and we would have learned the same amount of information. The majority of the documentary (if you can call it that) was spent on tasks, conversations, and entire scenes that had almost no relevance to the findings. It was that poorly put together.
All of the actual archeologists that were interviewed during the show, and in the hour-long critical conversation afterwards were highly critical of the findings. Taking turns they all pointed out the flaws in the process, the statistics, and the assumptions that were so confidently made.
In one of the scenes, the crew was trying to look into an enclosed tomb by looking down an air pipe, (placed their by order of rabbis, so that the souls of the people in the tomb would not be trapped) when they discovered that it was in fact the wrong tomb. The tomb that they were looking had all the bone boxes removed, and this one was still full of the ossuaries.
When the crew learned that this tomb was still full, one of the crewmembers made the remark, "Our tomb is empty!" To which I replied, "So is ours."
Peace be with you
26 years ago, a construction crew unearthed a family tomb. They called archeologists and when they arrived they found an ossuary (or a burial box, that holds the bones of a dead person) with the name “Jesus son of Joseph” written on the side. Also in the tomb were 9 other ossuaries, four (4) others with names.
Along with the name “Jesus son of Joseph,” archeologists found inscriptions that they claim to be that of Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Matthew (supposedly a relative of Mary), and Jude (here’s the kicker-Jesus son). Now these names are all from long chains of assumption and bad interpretations of both Biblical texts and extra-Biblical texts (specifically a 4th century Gnostic Gospel).
Needless to say, as I watched this program I was shocked by the claims that they made. They said that
1.) Jesus body in all probability was not resurrected.
2.) This find also gives strong evidence that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married.
3.) Jesus and Mary had a son – and that this son was the disciple that Jesus loved.
4.) That this find is where the James ossuary is from.
The theological reprocussions are limitless as everything that they claim is against the greater tradition of the church, and contests the Biblical account. You have to force your way into the text to find what they are trying to prove.
The show was about as unscientific as you can get, as everything was done halfway. One of the guys that I watched it with made the observation that he could have done more with the evidence than they did. Literally, it was almost comical to see how many errors and poor assumptions (which we all know what assuming does) that the team made during the course of their work.
The show was a 2-hour special and it could have been cut down to about 30 minutes, and we would have learned the same amount of information. The majority of the documentary (if you can call it that) was spent on tasks, conversations, and entire scenes that had almost no relevance to the findings. It was that poorly put together.
All of the actual archeologists that were interviewed during the show, and in the hour-long critical conversation afterwards were highly critical of the findings. Taking turns they all pointed out the flaws in the process, the statistics, and the assumptions that were so confidently made.
In one of the scenes, the crew was trying to look into an enclosed tomb by looking down an air pipe, (placed their by order of rabbis, so that the souls of the people in the tomb would not be trapped) when they discovered that it was in fact the wrong tomb. The tomb that they were looking had all the bone boxes removed, and this one was still full of the ossuaries.
When the crew learned that this tomb was still full, one of the crewmembers made the remark, "Our tomb is empty!" To which I replied, "So is ours."
Peace be with you
Friday, March 02, 2007
balla Jesus
So I was checking out facebook the other day when I found this picture (Actually it wasn't this picture, it was this picture with the text: "Jesus says: Get that (beep) outta here!"). Now come to find out this picture was not made by people trying to make fun of people, but it was made by Christians (here's the Jesus Statues)I'm sure that this figurine was made by well intending people. I'm sure that they had good intentions for doing what they did, but come on...Jesus playing basketball? (and there are more figures of Jesus playing other sports) Yes Jesus loved kids, and I'm sure that he played with them, but this is not the image of Jesus in the Bible. Let's look at a few images that we see of Jesus in the Bible.
Jesus was a teacher.
When you look at the person of Jesus and what he did for most of the time in the Gospels, you see a teacher. There is some scholarly cantor back and forth, but it can be argued that Jesus was some form of rabbi. Rabbis or teachers were the teachers of the Torah, and they spent the majority of their time teaching and conversing about the text.His 12 disciples were his primary students. They literally followed him around and he taught them how to teach his message.
Jesus definitely had a message and a new way of understanding the Scriptures. People followed him all over the countryside to hear his teachings. They couldn’t get enough of his teachings.
This is one of the images of Jesus.
Jesus was a revolutionary.
Jesus would have been considered a revolutionary. Just not in the way that we often think of revolutionaries. Jesus taught his disciples how to be a different type of revolutionary. What do I mean?
Now at the time of Jesus there was a group of people called zealots. These guys said that God would protect and provide for them if they rebelled against the Romans. So they constantly were waging war against the establishment. They committed violent acts against Roman guards and any person who collaborated with their rule.
On the opposite end of the spectrum was the Jewish aristocracy, an elite minority who were placed in power by the Romans, they tried to do everything in their power to keep the Romans happy. Now these people were very anti-Zealots and helped the Romans out in whatever way they could. This small group of people actually included the Jewish priests and their community-known as the Sadducees.
Now Jesus came to the forefront of the political debate. He called the Jewish leaders out and said that they were wrong for the way that they gave into the Romans. While he stood up against the Sadducees, he was not like the Zealots. He said that the establishment was corrupt and evil. Through subversive teachings he led his followers in ways that would undermine the way of life that was status quo in the first century.
So Jesus was a revolutionary.
Jesus was crucified because he stood up for the marginalized:
As Jesus stood to those in power and he angered them, so they killed him.. They hung him on a cross between two men who were political subversives. His execution replaced the execution of a Jewish insurgent who had actually lead a rebellion. Why?
He stood up for the people who were in bondage. He told the Sadducees and the Chief Priests that they were blind dogs and that he was proclaiming a new kingdom. When you are in power and hear somebody saying that they are coming with a new kingdom, you get a bit nervous. Now when that person begins to raise support, when people begin to follow him, you begin to think of ways to end this problem, which is what they did.
Jesus was preaching in the temple and he began to call the Temple authorities out for the way that they were running the temple. He condemned them and the people who were being oppressed must have heard the marvelous news anxiously. Somebody was standing up for them against the people that were oppressing them.
So they killed him, on a cross. Because he stood up for the marginalized, they killed him.
This is the image of Jesus in the Bible. He was a real person who stood up for real issues and dealt with the same stuff people we stand up for today. This is why Jesus playing basketball seems to fall short.
Get to know the Jesus in the Bible, not the Jesus playing basketball.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Core Values
These are the core values that I put into my teachings. In everything that I teach, preach, promote, believe, and push for in the church have these 7 core values behind them. So here they are.
Hope-I believe, as Christians we should be the most hopeful group of people in the world. We follow the Life and Teachings of the one who said that he was the hope of the world. How can we be anyway else?
Love-Love is the core of the Trinity. Jesus became man because of Love. He said the core of the Torah (the Way) is, loving God and loving your neighbor. Loving God and loving our neighbors is the way we should order our lives.
Peace-At the core of the Bible is the concept of peace. In Hebrew the word is Shalom. Shalom means more than just a lack of war, but it means wholeness and oneness (with God, neighbors, and the world around us)
Purity-We are called to be pure. Sanctified. Set Apart. Jesus says, “be holy as I am holy.” As Christians we have for thousands of years that we can pure lives, that the Spirit can work in our lives and we can be pure.
Freedom-Sin at its core leads to bondage. It binds a person in its webs, literally creating slaves. Christians believe that Jesus, through his death on the cross and resurrection from the grave, is victorious over sin and death. By his stripes we are saved.
Unity-The church is one body. The Jesus says a body that is divided against itself cannot stand. We are one, instead of finding the endless ways we can divide ourselves; the church needs to be about finding the ways that we are one.
Mercy-Jesus talks endlessly in the Gospel accounts of being merciful and generous in the way that we live our lives. It is of the utmost importance that as Christians we live our lives with a sense of the mercy that God has shown to us, and how we have been blessed and in turn show the same mercy towards others.
These are my 7 core values. I understand that my brief definitions of each are but the tip of the iceberg and we could spend years talking, twisting, turning, and reflecting upon their full meanings.
May your lives be consumed with Hope, Love, Peace, Purity, Freedom, Unity, and Mercy.
Hope-I believe, as Christians we should be the most hopeful group of people in the world. We follow the Life and Teachings of the one who said that he was the hope of the world. How can we be anyway else?
Love-Love is the core of the Trinity. Jesus became man because of Love. He said the core of the Torah (the Way) is, loving God and loving your neighbor. Loving God and loving our neighbors is the way we should order our lives.
Peace-At the core of the Bible is the concept of peace. In Hebrew the word is Shalom. Shalom means more than just a lack of war, but it means wholeness and oneness (with God, neighbors, and the world around us)
Purity-We are called to be pure. Sanctified. Set Apart. Jesus says, “be holy as I am holy.” As Christians we have for thousands of years that we can pure lives, that the Spirit can work in our lives and we can be pure.
Freedom-Sin at its core leads to bondage. It binds a person in its webs, literally creating slaves. Christians believe that Jesus, through his death on the cross and resurrection from the grave, is victorious over sin and death. By his stripes we are saved.
Unity-The church is one body. The Jesus says a body that is divided against itself cannot stand. We are one, instead of finding the endless ways we can divide ourselves; the church needs to be about finding the ways that we are one.
Mercy-Jesus talks endlessly in the Gospel accounts of being merciful and generous in the way that we live our lives. It is of the utmost importance that as Christians we live our lives with a sense of the mercy that God has shown to us, and how we have been blessed and in turn show the same mercy towards others.
These are my 7 core values. I understand that my brief definitions of each are but the tip of the iceberg and we could spend years talking, twisting, turning, and reflecting upon their full meanings.
May your lives be consumed with Hope, Love, Peace, Purity, Freedom, Unity, and Mercy.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
A rant about the Lions...
The times are changing...I am engaged. I am moving to Kentucky. And I'm thinking about switching my loyalities from the Detroit Lions to the Chicago Bears. Now to me this is a serious thing. I have never done something like this. I have never rejected one of the teams that I have grown up with, so it's hard for me. I have many fond memories of watching the Lions (many of them involve Barry Sanders) so it's a struggle for me to break with my past.
My main problem comes with the owners the Ford family. I honestly think that they may be the worst owners in the NFL. Not only do they hire Matt Millin, but before good only Matt, they never allowed the team to make decisions. The problem with the Lions is not the fact that they are horrible, but because they have an owner that doesn't know how to own a team. At least good ole Jerry down in Dallas hires competent people.
I remember the Lions as far back as the 1991 season, that year the Lions defeated the Cowboys in the first round of the playoffs. Then got smashed in the next round by the Washington Redskins. But still they were a playoff team. Had a Hall of Fame running back. They featured an All Pro return man in Mel Grey. So they were an exciting team to watch.
Since 1991, they have 0 playoff wins. They didn't provide for their Hall of Fame running back (who by the way carried the team for like 10 years with out a good q uarterback) and he just retired. Who could blame him, the best they could do was Scott Mitchel? They wasted a draft pick on Andre Ware?
OK let's get on the draft picks. Charles Rogers (bust), Mike Williams (bust)-there's still hope but I'm not holding my breath, Joey Harrington (not a bust, but they never had a good line and he became shell shocked from getting hit on 3-step drops), the above mentioned Andre Ware. I mean even I know that if you want to build a team, don't use three consecutive picks on guys with the same position. But then again it took them three times to get a guy who sometimes makes good plays. It's like they're not even coached when they get to the NFL.
Coaching! Need I say more. Wayne Founts? I mean what's he doing now? Bobby Ross? Now Bobby did a good job, just he didn't have the guts to open up the offense. Gary Mueller? He's an old Michigan boy, so I don't want to diss him, but come on he was Bo's assistant, that's about it. Now Mariucci, I thought he'd be a good coach, but I guess he was a small minded jerk. But maybe that's ok, but his teams always looked like they'd just woke up and had watched TV all week.
TV. This is something that drives me crazy, every year they are horrible, and I'm forced to watch these guys bumble around for like 2 1/2 hours a Sunday afternoon. My dad watches them and nobody else. It's not like they're not talented enough. Because one week they'll progress in one area, and the next week digress in two different areas. What's funny is that when the announcers and commentators talk about bad teams, they're talk about Arizona but they never talk about Detroit. It's like they know there is nothing outside of a work from God that will fix the problem and they jsut ignore it.
So it is for these reasons that I am considering dumping the Detroit Lions as my NFL team. If you have any comments or objections let me know.
My main problem comes with the owners the Ford family. I honestly think that they may be the worst owners in the NFL. Not only do they hire Matt Millin, but before good only Matt, they never allowed the team to make decisions. The problem with the Lions is not the fact that they are horrible, but because they have an owner that doesn't know how to own a team. At least good ole Jerry down in Dallas hires competent people.
I remember the Lions as far back as the 1991 season, that year the Lions defeated the Cowboys in the first round of the playoffs. Then got smashed in the next round by the Washington Redskins. But still they were a playoff team. Had a Hall of Fame running back. They featured an All Pro return man in Mel Grey. So they were an exciting team to watch.
Since 1991, they have 0 playoff wins. They didn't provide for their Hall of Fame running back (who by the way carried the team for like 10 years with out a good q uarterback) and he just retired. Who could blame him, the best they could do was Scott Mitchel? They wasted a draft pick on Andre Ware?
OK let's get on the draft picks. Charles Rogers (bust), Mike Williams (bust)-there's still hope but I'm not holding my breath, Joey Harrington (not a bust, but they never had a good line and he became shell shocked from getting hit on 3-step drops), the above mentioned Andre Ware. I mean even I know that if you want to build a team, don't use three consecutive picks on guys with the same position. But then again it took them three times to get a guy who sometimes makes good plays. It's like they're not even coached when they get to the NFL.
Coaching! Need I say more. Wayne Founts? I mean what's he doing now? Bobby Ross? Now Bobby did a good job, just he didn't have the guts to open up the offense. Gary Mueller? He's an old Michigan boy, so I don't want to diss him, but come on he was Bo's assistant, that's about it. Now Mariucci, I thought he'd be a good coach, but I guess he was a small minded jerk. But maybe that's ok, but his teams always looked like they'd just woke up and had watched TV all week.
TV. This is something that drives me crazy, every year they are horrible, and I'm forced to watch these guys bumble around for like 2 1/2 hours a Sunday afternoon. My dad watches them and nobody else. It's not like they're not talented enough. Because one week they'll progress in one area, and the next week digress in two different areas. What's funny is that when the announcers and commentators talk about bad teams, they're talk about Arizona but they never talk about Detroit. It's like they know there is nothing outside of a work from God that will fix the problem and they jsut ignore it.
So it is for these reasons that I am considering dumping the Detroit Lions as my NFL team. If you have any comments or objections let me know.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
seek forgiveness
Last week I watched from my living room the final moments of the vile dictator of Iraq. This man murdered many hundreds and thousands of people in his reign of terror. His deeds are nothing less than condemnable. It was a justice, when his evil reign was ended and it is justice that he be punished for what he has done wrong. But…will that ever heal the pain.
Last week I heard that Michael Jordan and his wife were getting a divorce, and she claimed that he had been unfaithful to her. Everybody would agree that justice for Mrs. Jordan would be millions of dollars. But…will that ever heal the pain.
We have all felt the pain when somebody has harmed us. And we wanted to get even. But…will that ever heal the pain?
Yes, justice is fair. Yes, we have the right to justice. But justice will never heal our pain. Seeing Sadaam executed will never heal the pain that evil has done to the people of Iraq. Justice will never make Mrs. Jordan feel better again. And getting even with a person who has wronged you will never heal your pain.
Justice never makes the world a better place. Only forgiveness does.
The message of the Bible is not “seek justice!” Instead it’s “seek forgiveness.” The Bible is the story of God forgiving man of their sin. God could have chosen to seek justice for our sins, but instead what did he do? He personally paid the penalty himself for the sins of humanity. Now He calls us to follow his lead. God puts the premium on forgiving your enemy and loving your neighbor, not pursuing justice.
How are you seeking justice instead of seeking forgiveness? Take sometime and ask yourself this question. Then if you really want to seek forgiveness, take the first step.
And may God bless you for following his lead.
Peace be with you.
Last week I heard that Michael Jordan and his wife were getting a divorce, and she claimed that he had been unfaithful to her. Everybody would agree that justice for Mrs. Jordan would be millions of dollars. But…will that ever heal the pain.
We have all felt the pain when somebody has harmed us. And we wanted to get even. But…will that ever heal the pain?
Yes, justice is fair. Yes, we have the right to justice. But justice will never heal our pain. Seeing Sadaam executed will never heal the pain that evil has done to the people of Iraq. Justice will never make Mrs. Jordan feel better again. And getting even with a person who has wronged you will never heal your pain.
Justice never makes the world a better place. Only forgiveness does.
The message of the Bible is not “seek justice!” Instead it’s “seek forgiveness.” The Bible is the story of God forgiving man of their sin. God could have chosen to seek justice for our sins, but instead what did he do? He personally paid the penalty himself for the sins of humanity. Now He calls us to follow his lead. God puts the premium on forgiving your enemy and loving your neighbor, not pursuing justice.
How are you seeking justice instead of seeking forgiveness? Take sometime and ask yourself this question. Then if you really want to seek forgiveness, take the first step.
And may God bless you for following his lead.
Peace be with you.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
What I Believe
Now if you’re reading this that means you probably know me, because not too many people actually read this. But do you really know what I believe? Now that’s the issue.
One of the more disappointing events of my college years was when I went before the DBMD. My classes had told me that the DBMD would grill me and I needed to be prepared to defend and explain my beliefs to “the Gatekeepers.” But my three meetings with the watchmen of my district left me wanting. I was expecting to have to at least flex and in fact I barely needed to stretch. It was like I've spent all this time preparing to come and see if I match up, and they sent the JV team.
Recently, what I have discovered about myself is that I can get pretty dogmatic about things. I have all these opinions about stuff that really doesn’t matter, but I would make them matter to me. Instead of worrying and focusing on what is important, I found myself concerned about debates that maybe I should have avoided.
So I have decided to keep my dogma to a minimum. I want to narrow down my wedge as skinny as possible. So I have come up with six (6) points of dogma. These six points I believe with all my heart and I will die for them. Everything else to me is debatable and everything else just helps explain my top five.
1. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three distinct persons, that mysteriously are one.
2. Jesus is the only way to God. There is no other way.
3. Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s plan for creation.
4. Jesus’ movement is centered on reconciliation and living a better life.
5. The church, the global community of Jesus’ followers, is God’s plan for spreading this movement.
6. Our lives we live now determine our eternal destiny.
Now I plan on posting some of my lesser beliefs at a later date. What do you think about my top 5? Do you think I’m missing anything? Probably you do, let me know.
One of the more disappointing events of my college years was when I went before the DBMD. My classes had told me that the DBMD would grill me and I needed to be prepared to defend and explain my beliefs to “the Gatekeepers.” But my three meetings with the watchmen of my district left me wanting. I was expecting to have to at least flex and in fact I barely needed to stretch. It was like I've spent all this time preparing to come and see if I match up, and they sent the JV team.
Recently, what I have discovered about myself is that I can get pretty dogmatic about things. I have all these opinions about stuff that really doesn’t matter, but I would make them matter to me. Instead of worrying and focusing on what is important, I found myself concerned about debates that maybe I should have avoided.
So I have decided to keep my dogma to a minimum. I want to narrow down my wedge as skinny as possible. So I have come up with six (6) points of dogma. These six points I believe with all my heart and I will die for them. Everything else to me is debatable and everything else just helps explain my top five.
1. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three distinct persons, that mysteriously are one.
2. Jesus is the only way to God. There is no other way.
3. Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s plan for creation.
4. Jesus’ movement is centered on reconciliation and living a better life.
5. The church, the global community of Jesus’ followers, is God’s plan for spreading this movement.
6. Our lives we live now determine our eternal destiny.
Now I plan on posting some of my lesser beliefs at a later date. What do you think about my top 5? Do you think I’m missing anything? Probably you do, let me know.
Friday, November 03, 2006
why forgetting everything may not be the best way to go about it...
Last weekend my grandpa forgot everything. Well not everything, just the stuff that was important. Lucky for him it was just a reaction between too much sinus medicine and his blood pressure meds. And he’s ok now.
Even though it was very serious, it was still really funny. He kept trying to say things to make people laugh, but he’d forget what he would say. So apparently he told my grandma that she was his third wife. That’s funny cause they’ve been married since he was 19. He doesn’t remember the fact that he said it, but who knows maybe he’ll use this memory loss thing as an excuse for the next couple of years.
Deuteronomy is a book that is based on remembering. The whole book is most likely Moses’ final address to the people before they go into the Promised Land and he went up the mountain for the final time. But what are they to remember?
You see Deuteronomy comes at the end of the people’s time in the desert. When they first left Egypt God leads the people to Mt Sinai. It is here that God will give them the Law. Before He begins God explains the purpose behind the Laws he is about to give. God says to Moses, “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
God tells Moses that he has set the Hebrews free from bondage and has set them apart from the nations so that they can be His priests to the nations. He sets up Laws that the nation is to follow that promote freedom and hope. Thus their message is a message of freedom from bondage, a message of hope. This is what they are to remember.
His whole message was you have to remember who you are. If you forget who you are than what good will you be to the nations? How can you be a priest if you don’t remember the message?
People are suffocating around us. They are desperate for hope and they think that they get freedom by throwing away God. They think that God holds them back and what they’re really doing is putting on more chains of bondage. But what the world really needs is to see people living a life of freedom, a life of hope. The world needs the priests of God to stand up and show the God that wants to free them from their bondage.
Even though it was very serious, it was still really funny. He kept trying to say things to make people laugh, but he’d forget what he would say. So apparently he told my grandma that she was his third wife. That’s funny cause they’ve been married since he was 19. He doesn’t remember the fact that he said it, but who knows maybe he’ll use this memory loss thing as an excuse for the next couple of years.
Deuteronomy is a book that is based on remembering. The whole book is most likely Moses’ final address to the people before they go into the Promised Land and he went up the mountain for the final time. But what are they to remember?
You see Deuteronomy comes at the end of the people’s time in the desert. When they first left Egypt God leads the people to Mt Sinai. It is here that God will give them the Law. Before He begins God explains the purpose behind the Laws he is about to give. God says to Moses, “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
God tells Moses that he has set the Hebrews free from bondage and has set them apart from the nations so that they can be His priests to the nations. He sets up Laws that the nation is to follow that promote freedom and hope. Thus their message is a message of freedom from bondage, a message of hope. This is what they are to remember.
His whole message was you have to remember who you are. If you forget who you are than what good will you be to the nations? How can you be a priest if you don’t remember the message?
People are suffocating around us. They are desperate for hope and they think that they get freedom by throwing away God. They think that God holds them back and what they’re really doing is putting on more chains of bondage. But what the world really needs is to see people living a life of freedom, a life of hope. The world needs the priests of God to stand up and show the God that wants to free them from their bondage.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Update for those who like to know.
I guess for those of you are interested might enjoy an update on my life every once and a while. So here's a quick look at what I have been going through.
Last April I graduated college. It was very weird experience. I still don't feel like anything happened. I know I have graduated but it still doesn't feel like it. I have my diploma but at the same time, I don't feel like the 4 four years of college actually took 4 years.
July 9th I started at a church as the youth pastor there. that only lasted 6 weeks and in the end of August I was fired, so I moved back home. It was kind of tough but I'm learning from the experience. Being at home is kinda humilating, and not having a job kind of puts me in limbo.
So that leaves me living at home. I have started subbing in the local Intermediate School District. It is a very humbling experience, some of the kids that I am working with have real issues, but when you hang out with them you can see that despite all the other stuff that they have going on in their lives, they are beautiful people. I worked with a girl in a wheelchair who really couldn't do much of anything, but she had maybe the most beautiful smile. I learned from working with her just what it meant to love and to see how blessed i really am.
I guess God is teaching me who He is. He is showing me that he is in control and that I need to get my act together. I have been listening to Erwin McManus. Mosaic Earlier this year he did a series called Chasing Daylight (titled after his book with the same name) and it really challenged me. It was based around this concept: "If our birth is like the sunrise and our death is like sunset, then all we are doing is chasing daylight." It was a very interesing concept to me I guess.
Since i was let go by that church, I have kind of been in a state of lets wait for God to move in my life. Maybe just maybe I have been thinking, I need to move and God will reward my boldness. What do I have to lose if I follow God and trust in his plan. I keep thinking things like "What good am I doing if i'm just sitting back?" "How can I be used?"
That's what i'm doing and where I am at. Thanks for looking into my life.
Blessings on your house! the Legend
Last April I graduated college. It was very weird experience. I still don't feel like anything happened. I know I have graduated but it still doesn't feel like it. I have my diploma but at the same time, I don't feel like the 4 four years of college actually took 4 years.
July 9th I started at a church as the youth pastor there. that only lasted 6 weeks and in the end of August I was fired, so I moved back home. It was kind of tough but I'm learning from the experience. Being at home is kinda humilating, and not having a job kind of puts me in limbo.
So that leaves me living at home. I have started subbing in the local Intermediate School District. It is a very humbling experience, some of the kids that I am working with have real issues, but when you hang out with them you can see that despite all the other stuff that they have going on in their lives, they are beautiful people. I worked with a girl in a wheelchair who really couldn't do much of anything, but she had maybe the most beautiful smile. I learned from working with her just what it meant to love and to see how blessed i really am.
I guess God is teaching me who He is. He is showing me that he is in control and that I need to get my act together. I have been listening to Erwin McManus. Mosaic Earlier this year he did a series called Chasing Daylight (titled after his book with the same name) and it really challenged me. It was based around this concept: "If our birth is like the sunrise and our death is like sunset, then all we are doing is chasing daylight." It was a very interesing concept to me I guess.
Since i was let go by that church, I have kind of been in a state of lets wait for God to move in my life. Maybe just maybe I have been thinking, I need to move and God will reward my boldness. What do I have to lose if I follow God and trust in his plan. I keep thinking things like "What good am I doing if i'm just sitting back?" "How can I be used?"
That's what i'm doing and where I am at. Thanks for looking into my life.
Blessings on your house! the Legend
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
the powerful king and a little baby...
(I'm trying a different style of writing, tell me if you like it, or if you think that it's too blunt or too choppy. Thanks! ~the Legend)
King Herod was a powerful King.
He was 100 times wealthier than all the people he ruled put together.
He built massive fortresses.
The temple he built for the people was an awesome feat of engineering and architecture.
His palace was on the top of a mountain. The only way up was through a tunnel in the middle.
Surely this man would be remembered as one of the most important men in the history of the country of Israel.
but…
In a humble little village in the shadow of Herod’s palace a baby was born.
This baby was born into poverty.
This baby was born into a somewhat questionable situation.
The baby was destined to change the world; he was to be named Jesus.
Herod heard that this baby born was destined to be a great and powerful king. In an attempt to defend his power, he killed all the babies in that village.
The baby Jesus escaped and grew up to be a rabbi.
As a rabbi he began to teach about a new type of kingdom.
Jesus said that foxes (a rabbinical term for the Herods) have holes…. but the ‘son of man’ (himself) had no place to lay his head.
Who would believe that this baby would one day become the most influential person in the history of the world?
And who would believe that this powerful king would become a pimple on the face of history? Remembered not for his riches, his power, or what he built, but that he massacred the children of that little village.
What circumstances are you dealing with today in your life that nobody would believe anything good would come out of it?
Who would believe that the impossible would happen?
When you come upon a circumstance like that in your life, remember the story of a powerful king and a little baby.
King Herod was a powerful King.
He was 100 times wealthier than all the people he ruled put together.
He built massive fortresses.
The temple he built for the people was an awesome feat of engineering and architecture.
His palace was on the top of a mountain. The only way up was through a tunnel in the middle.
Surely this man would be remembered as one of the most important men in the history of the country of Israel.
but…
In a humble little village in the shadow of Herod’s palace a baby was born.
This baby was born into poverty.
This baby was born into a somewhat questionable situation.
The baby was destined to change the world; he was to be named Jesus.
Herod heard that this baby born was destined to be a great and powerful king. In an attempt to defend his power, he killed all the babies in that village.
The baby Jesus escaped and grew up to be a rabbi.
As a rabbi he began to teach about a new type of kingdom.
Jesus said that foxes (a rabbinical term for the Herods) have holes…. but the ‘son of man’ (himself) had no place to lay his head.
Who would believe that this baby would one day become the most influential person in the history of the world?
And who would believe that this powerful king would become a pimple on the face of history? Remembered not for his riches, his power, or what he built, but that he massacred the children of that little village.
What circumstances are you dealing with today in your life that nobody would believe anything good would come out of it?
Who would believe that the impossible would happen?
When you come upon a circumstance like that in your life, remember the story of a powerful king and a little baby.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
...I think football.
What do “boom!”, “there’s a guy!”, and “Brett Favre” have in common?
If you guessed John Madden, you’re right.
Now I know that many people out there don’t like John Madden, but I’m a fan. I have always been a fan of the big guy, for no reason than the fact that whenever I hear his voice I think football.
Now for you people out there who feel he is less than intelligent enough for you football viewing prowess-get over it. He has developed a style of describing the game that has simplified the game.
Ironically, he has become the family friendly guy in the booth.
That’s ironic because as a coach he got two personal fouls on the same play for cursing at an official.
Whoops!
Regardless of the fact that he does get annoying, he always finds a way to talk about Brett Favre, and you really don’t understand what he’s saying sometimes-he gives a guy like me hope!
His video game series has become the best football game ever.
Hands down.
Without a question.
My friend CJ can tell you every player in the NFL. How does he know so much trivial information? He played Madden’s video game.
His style of commentating and his video game have taught more people about football than any other person in the game. No matter what you think of him you cannot deny this fact.
Madden has become a cultural icon!
When I hear John Madden, I think football.
If you guessed John Madden, you’re right.
Now I know that many people out there don’t like John Madden, but I’m a fan. I have always been a fan of the big guy, for no reason than the fact that whenever I hear his voice I think football.
Now for you people out there who feel he is less than intelligent enough for you football viewing prowess-get over it. He has developed a style of describing the game that has simplified the game.
Ironically, he has become the family friendly guy in the booth.
That’s ironic because as a coach he got two personal fouls on the same play for cursing at an official.
Whoops!
Regardless of the fact that he does get annoying, he always finds a way to talk about Brett Favre, and you really don’t understand what he’s saying sometimes-he gives a guy like me hope!
His video game series has become the best football game ever.
Hands down.
Without a question.
My friend CJ can tell you every player in the NFL. How does he know so much trivial information? He played Madden’s video game.
His style of commentating and his video game have taught more people about football than any other person in the game. No matter what you think of him you cannot deny this fact.
Madden has become a cultural icon!
When I hear John Madden, I think football.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Covers our shame
One of my favorite books growing up was the book of Genesis. It is one of the more popular sections of the Bible for Sunday school classes to focus on, but sadly I think that so often we don’t come back to the stories as adults and miss the truth that is just sitting there before us.
I have been spending my devotional times for the past couple of months in the book of Genesis. I’ve come to love and appreciate the book and the narrative that you find in the beginnings of the book. Genesis in fact is the Greek word meaning just that "beginnings". I believe that this book is meant to be just that.
I would like to spend a couple of weeks breaking down the book and moving from beginning to end, talk about some things that I have noticed and gleaned.
I break the book down into six sections. First there is the Creation narrative, the Flood Narrative, the life of Abraham, the life of Isaac, the life of Jacob and his 12 sons, and then finally the Egypt narrative. Thus the book begins with creation, and ends with an explanation of how the Hebrew nation ends up in Egypt.
Genesis starts with the creation of the world. The first two chapters paint two very different pictures of the creation story, but Moses does not seem to be focusing on the world’s creation but the creation of man. Genesis 1 climaxes with the creation of man. While in Genesis 2 man is created first and everything else is created around him. These chapters side-by-side scream to us that God’s focus in this world is man.
A couple of months ago I wrote a blog titled Naked. This post was subtitled “why clothing isolates us.” I tried to discuss the point that so often because of our fallen nature, we try to find value in who we are because of what we can do and because of how we look. We fail at this because we forget that our value comes from how God views us, and he views each of us as valuable. This is a result of the fall, sin has entered how we think, and has turned us not just against God, but also against each other. Because of our sin, we are constantly trying to prove to each other and to God that we matter that we are valuable, even though this struggle seems to always be tearing us apart.
At the end of Genesis 3 there is an interesting end to the Garden Scene. God has found Man and Woman, he has passed judgment on their actions, and has banished them from the Garden, but he pauses and does one last thing. It says that he makes coverings for the couple out of animal skins.
This is the first recorded death in the Bible, and the one who killed is God. Earlier in chapter 2 Moses records nakedness with shame. This is totally unbelievable; God kills to cover their shame. God is the offended party here, yet he is the one who is repairing the damage. In the ultimate example of foreshadowing, death is the tool that will be used to cover the shame that results from sin.
God’s ultimate creation has been tainted with sin, but God is not content to let his masterpiece to be completely destroyed. The creation narrative shows to us that God will take the first step in restoring his rebellious creation. God immediately set the path to the cross. If you read Genesis 3:15, you see what many believe to be the first prophesy concerning Jesus. God tells the snake “he (referring to the son of woman) will crush your head and you will strike his heel.” You will sting him, but in the end he will have victory.
May you embrace the gift of Jesus - forgiveness that covers all our shame.
I have been spending my devotional times for the past couple of months in the book of Genesis. I’ve come to love and appreciate the book and the narrative that you find in the beginnings of the book. Genesis in fact is the Greek word meaning just that "beginnings". I believe that this book is meant to be just that.
I would like to spend a couple of weeks breaking down the book and moving from beginning to end, talk about some things that I have noticed and gleaned.
I break the book down into six sections. First there is the Creation narrative, the Flood Narrative, the life of Abraham, the life of Isaac, the life of Jacob and his 12 sons, and then finally the Egypt narrative. Thus the book begins with creation, and ends with an explanation of how the Hebrew nation ends up in Egypt.
Genesis starts with the creation of the world. The first two chapters paint two very different pictures of the creation story, but Moses does not seem to be focusing on the world’s creation but the creation of man. Genesis 1 climaxes with the creation of man. While in Genesis 2 man is created first and everything else is created around him. These chapters side-by-side scream to us that God’s focus in this world is man.
A couple of months ago I wrote a blog titled Naked. This post was subtitled “why clothing isolates us.” I tried to discuss the point that so often because of our fallen nature, we try to find value in who we are because of what we can do and because of how we look. We fail at this because we forget that our value comes from how God views us, and he views each of us as valuable. This is a result of the fall, sin has entered how we think, and has turned us not just against God, but also against each other. Because of our sin, we are constantly trying to prove to each other and to God that we matter that we are valuable, even though this struggle seems to always be tearing us apart.
At the end of Genesis 3 there is an interesting end to the Garden Scene. God has found Man and Woman, he has passed judgment on their actions, and has banished them from the Garden, but he pauses and does one last thing. It says that he makes coverings for the couple out of animal skins.
This is the first recorded death in the Bible, and the one who killed is God. Earlier in chapter 2 Moses records nakedness with shame. This is totally unbelievable; God kills to cover their shame. God is the offended party here, yet he is the one who is repairing the damage. In the ultimate example of foreshadowing, death is the tool that will be used to cover the shame that results from sin.
God’s ultimate creation has been tainted with sin, but God is not content to let his masterpiece to be completely destroyed. The creation narrative shows to us that God will take the first step in restoring his rebellious creation. God immediately set the path to the cross. If you read Genesis 3:15, you see what many believe to be the first prophesy concerning Jesus. God tells the snake “he (referring to the son of woman) will crush your head and you will strike his heel.” You will sting him, but in the end he will have victory.
May you embrace the gift of Jesus - forgiveness that covers all our shame.
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