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Saturday, October 30, 2010
Sanctification
I see my life as a lot of before and after snapshots. Instead of losing physical weight, I'm losing the weight of sin. Glory be to God!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Inescapable Conclusions
In reading Paul's writings, one cannot avoid the conclusion that the salvation of but one soul in Christ is worth a lifetime of suffering. And yet I can't even be inconvenienced to take 5 minutes out of my schedule to share the good news of Christ with someone today. For shame...
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Monday, October 25, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Why Small Groups?
Reading a cool, free e-book on Biblical small groups and thought I would pass along the last paragraph of the first chapter, an explanation of why small groups are important:
"This is why we are committed to small groups. By his grace, together we are being changed into the image of Jesus Christ through progressive sanctification. Together we are experiencing mutual care, genuine fellowship, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. We no longer just see—we observe. We no longer simply attend—we participate. We no longer selfishly consume—instead we are carrying out God’s purpose for our lives as we contribute to the building of the local church." - Why Small Groups, by C.J. Mahaney
"This is why we are committed to small groups. By his grace, together we are being changed into the image of Jesus Christ through progressive sanctification. Together we are experiencing mutual care, genuine fellowship, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. We no longer just see—we observe. We no longer simply attend—we participate. We no longer selfishly consume—instead we are carrying out God’s purpose for our lives as we contribute to the building of the local church." - Why Small Groups, by C.J. Mahaney
Resurgence
Sometimes, The Resurgence website is just pure fun. Check out this statement:
"We labor to replace Christian porn, adultery and divorce with hot hetero covenantal monogamy."
Very serious subject. Very in-your-face take on that subject. I couldn't help but laugh a little. Bet the podcast is good!
Check it out: http://theresurgence.com
"We labor to replace Christian porn, adultery and divorce with hot hetero covenantal monogamy."
Very serious subject. Very in-your-face take on that subject. I couldn't help but laugh a little. Bet the podcast is good!
Check it out: http://theresurgence.com
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Sunday, October 17, 2010
Love
This isn't the most timely thing I've ever posted, as I've been meaning to post this passage for weeks, but I can't get away from how much I love this passage. It has had an effect on how I view love:
"Need-love cries to God from our poverty; Gift-love longs to serve, or even to suffer for, God; Appreciative love says: 'We give thanks to thee for thy great glory.' Need-love says of a woman 'I cannot live without her'; Gift-love longs to give her happiness, comfort, protection - if possible, wealth; Appreciative love gazes and holds its breath and is silent, rejoices that such a wonder should exist even if not for him, will not be wholly dejected by losing her, would rather have it so than never to have seen her at all." - C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves
"Need-love cries to God from our poverty; Gift-love longs to serve, or even to suffer for, God; Appreciative love says: 'We give thanks to thee for thy great glory.' Need-love says of a woman 'I cannot live without her'; Gift-love longs to give her happiness, comfort, protection - if possible, wealth; Appreciative love gazes and holds its breath and is silent, rejoices that such a wonder should exist even if not for him, will not be wholly dejected by losing her, would rather have it so than never to have seen her at all." - C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves
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Friday, October 15, 2010
Last Wills and Testaments
It was the weirdest feeling yesterday to be calling a lawyer to help me prepare my will knowing that I'm 25 and in good health. I literally gave a pseudo-apology in embarrassment to the woman who took my call, as if I were inquiring about where to find the best crack cocaine or something.
And yet having a will is a good idea, no matter your age. I'm slowly starting to accumulate assets, and I want them to be put to good use should I no longer be around. So I'll get over the silly embarrassment and stick with it. At the same time, having a will makes me feel extremely grown up.
Has anyone else in their 20s gone through something similar?
And yet having a will is a good idea, no matter your age. I'm slowly starting to accumulate assets, and I want them to be put to good use should I no longer be around. So I'll get over the silly embarrassment and stick with it. At the same time, having a will makes me feel extremely grown up.
Has anyone else in their 20s gone through something similar?
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Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Romans 8
The latter half of Romans 8 has to be the most uplifting passage in scripture. Anyone have any passages they think can compete?
Are you 'more than a conqueror' today in your workplace, home, school and church?
Chapter 3 of Forgotten God was an incredible basic primer on the Holy Spirit. Get your hands on it if you can. Backed up by tons of God's Word.
Are you 'more than a conqueror' today in your workplace, home, school and church?
Chapter 3 of Forgotten God was an incredible basic primer on the Holy Spirit. Get your hands on it if you can. Backed up by tons of God's Word.
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Monday, October 11, 2010
Idolizing God
God is the only being in existence who can never become an idol. No matter how much we love Him, He is infinitely more worthy of our love.
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Trinity
The Father decrees our salvation; Jesus accomplishes our salvation; the Holy Spirit works out our salvation.
None of that required a helping hand from you or me. Give thanks to the one who creates, renews and sustains!
"For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." - Colossians 1:16-17
None of that required a helping hand from you or me. Give thanks to the one who creates, renews and sustains!
"For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." - Colossians 1:16-17
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More Willy Wilberforce
In case you're wondering where I'm getting all these William Wilberforce quotes, I've been sucked into his book entitled "Real Christianity". I love dead Christian authors more than alive Christian authors (with apologies to Shane Claiborne, Donald Miller, and Francis Chan). Here's my latest favorite from Mr. Wilberforce:
"Christianity is based on a revelation from God that is filled with information that the natural mind could never have imagined. The wealth of this knowledge will never be mastered without diligent effort. Carefully studying the Bible will reveal to us our own ignorance of these things. It will challenge us to reject a superficial understanding of Christianity and impress on us that it is imperative not to simply be religious or moral, but also to master the Bible intellectually, integrate its principles into our lives morally, and put into action what we have learned practically."
"Christianity is based on a revelation from God that is filled with information that the natural mind could never have imagined. The wealth of this knowledge will never be mastered without diligent effort. Carefully studying the Bible will reveal to us our own ignorance of these things. It will challenge us to reject a superficial understanding of Christianity and impress on us that it is imperative not to simply be religious or moral, but also to master the Bible intellectually, integrate its principles into our lives morally, and put into action what we have learned practically."
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Madison and Wilberforce
"[T]here is a degree of depravity in mankind which requires a certain degree of circumspection and distrust." - James Madison
"This is the way sin works. It is true that there are greater and lesser degrees of distortion found among people. Some are obviously living in bondage. Others give the appearance that they have overcome such problems. But the fact remains that even if it is not apparent in a person's outward behavior, this is the true state of all our hearts." - William Wilberforce
"This is the way sin works. It is true that there are greater and lesser degrees of distortion found among people. Some are obviously living in bondage. Others give the appearance that they have overcome such problems. But the fact remains that even if it is not apparent in a person's outward behavior, this is the true state of all our hearts." - William Wilberforce
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Sunday, October 10, 2010
How long?
How long must this go on? It was hard to go to church this morning, set up everything, and then leave to catch a flight to Houston so I can do what God has called me to there. Splitting my time, especially my weekends, between two places, has gotten pretty rough. So tired of this.
Looking forward to small group time and guys' time in Houston this evening, but this weary traveler is taking the travel pretty hard these days. When will it end? Can't wait for next weekend's retreat. Should be a fantastic to recharge my spirit through the gift of time with other folks I love. Thank you, Lord, for friends who give life instead of stealing it away. But a shadow of the One who first gave me life! 1 John 3:16.
Looking forward to small group time and guys' time in Houston this evening, but this weary traveler is taking the travel pretty hard these days. When will it end? Can't wait for next weekend's retreat. Should be a fantastic to recharge my spirit through the gift of time with other folks I love. Thank you, Lord, for friends who give life instead of stealing it away. But a shadow of the One who first gave me life! 1 John 3:16.
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Friday, October 8, 2010
What if?
What if we all spent so much time praising God and others that we literally had no time to praise ourselves? What if we looked at "our" money and really saw it as more of God's blessing to give to those in need? What would a group of people who were truly Christ-centered and others-focused really look like? Let's find out!
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Wednesday, October 6, 2010
The Prince and the Fool
"No! I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be;
Am an attendant lord, one that will do
To swell a progress, start a scene or two, Advise the prince; no doubt, an easy tool,
Deferential, glad to be of use, Politic, cautious, and meticulous;
Full of high sentence, but a bit obtuse;
At times, indeed, almost ridiculous— Almost, at times, the Fool."
- from T.S. Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock
How cool is the Spirit when I'm in a funk and just not fully engaged with life? Cool enough to bring to mind an old T.S. Eliot poem I read in school in which the section above speaks to me now.
Lord, let me be content in all things, when I have much ready to be accomplished or when nothing seems to be working, when people praise me or when they revile me, when the Lord himself seems far or near. In those moments, let me be satisfied in You. No more, no less. May you impress on me the satisfaction in my life to continue to take your love to the people I know today, and impress on me the urgency and holy discontent (copyright Matt Chandler) to continue to love on new people so that the Gospel might reshape all of Houston one day.
I am exhausted in many ways tonight. I need to get refocused. Pray that the new focus would be Jesus. And only Jesus.
John 14:26
John 15:4-11
Am an attendant lord, one that will do
To swell a progress, start a scene or two, Advise the prince; no doubt, an easy tool,
Deferential, glad to be of use, Politic, cautious, and meticulous;
Full of high sentence, but a bit obtuse;
At times, indeed, almost ridiculous— Almost, at times, the Fool."
- from T.S. Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock
How cool is the Spirit when I'm in a funk and just not fully engaged with life? Cool enough to bring to mind an old T.S. Eliot poem I read in school in which the section above speaks to me now.
Lord, let me be content in all things, when I have much ready to be accomplished or when nothing seems to be working, when people praise me or when they revile me, when the Lord himself seems far or near. In those moments, let me be satisfied in You. No more, no less. May you impress on me the satisfaction in my life to continue to take your love to the people I know today, and impress on me the urgency and holy discontent (copyright Matt Chandler) to continue to love on new people so that the Gospel might reshape all of Houston one day.
I am exhausted in many ways tonight. I need to get refocused. Pray that the new focus would be Jesus. And only Jesus.
John 14:26
John 15:4-11
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Commitment
Today, this is on the brain:
Part of being a man who really says what he means and means what he says is both committing to less and committing more to the things to which I commit. And in all things committing to Christ.
Lunch today with Kent was fantastic. Really encouraged by his heart for the Lord and need guys like him as reminders for me to constantly submit to Christ, for my joy and His glory.
Half a day of work remains, then hopefully time for Bible study and some personal reflection time!
Part of being a man who really says what he means and means what he says is both committing to less and committing more to the things to which I commit. And in all things committing to Christ.
Lunch today with Kent was fantastic. Really encouraged by his heart for the Lord and need guys like him as reminders for me to constantly submit to Christ, for my joy and His glory.
Half a day of work remains, then hopefully time for Bible study and some personal reflection time!
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Monday, October 4, 2010
Left Behind
I absolutely love the way God wove my personal story of his grace through some of the most personally challenging times of my life in college, but sometimes it saddens me to realize how shallow the roots of some of my friendships from college were simply because I was so selfish that it didn't leave a lot of time for others!
Today, I found out via Facebook that a guy who was in my Bible study in college just recently got married. Guys you wrestled in Scripture with just seem like guys you should know well enough to attend their weddings 3 years after college, or at the very least hear about it before the wedding. Instead, I find out after the fact via that great arbiter of news, the News Feed.
I hope that in coming months and years I'll reconnect with a lot of friends like this one who were solid friends in college that maybe I just didn't pay all that attention to or care that much about once we left SMU. These guys were the lightpoles of my very dark wilderness journey, shining the light of Christ to light my way. I am so thankful for them!
"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me." Philippians 2:14-18
Today, I found out via Facebook that a guy who was in my Bible study in college just recently got married. Guys you wrestled in Scripture with just seem like guys you should know well enough to attend their weddings 3 years after college, or at the very least hear about it before the wedding. Instead, I find out after the fact via that great arbiter of news, the News Feed.
I hope that in coming months and years I'll reconnect with a lot of friends like this one who were solid friends in college that maybe I just didn't pay all that attention to or care that much about once we left SMU. These guys were the lightpoles of my very dark wilderness journey, shining the light of Christ to light my way. I am so thankful for them!
"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me." Philippians 2:14-18
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Worship
This morning, worship looks like this for me:
"You are everything
that is bright and clean
And You're covering
me with Your majesty"
In Houston. Ready to conquer the world. If it doesn't conquer me first...
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." - John 16:33
"You are everything
that is bright and clean
And You're covering
me with Your majesty"
In Houston. Ready to conquer the world. If it doesn't conquer me first...
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." - John 16:33
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Living for the Weekend
How did this ever happen? How did I become one of those people who lives for the weekend? I mean, my weekends are amazing, but that's no way to live.
Thanks to awesome friends for a great weekend of hanging out, bouldering, Grizzly Rose, and exploring downtown Denver on foot. Now back to work on the early flight to Houston.
Praying for strength to live out His call at work this week. And strength to get over overall life exhaustion.
Thanks to awesome friends for a great weekend of hanging out, bouldering, Grizzly Rose, and exploring downtown Denver on foot. Now back to work on the early flight to Houston.
Praying for strength to live out His call at work this week. And strength to get over overall life exhaustion.
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Saturday, October 2, 2010
Last night
Scattershooting this morning...
Last night was awesome. My friend groups have had a tendency not to mix very well, but I think these friends do.
I finally got to meet Sarah, who I had heard many good things about from various friends. So far, so good. Even if she withholds the rice from me.
Today should be a blast. Just hope I can keep up with Wayne and Mitchell, who are much younger than me at heart. I can't really be this old at 25.
Next week is turning into "reconnect with people week". Danielle, Lulu and Kent... All in one 3-day span.
Time to get ready for breakfast then out the door for more adventure!
Read Psalm 37:1-7 this morning. Waiting on the Lord is not easy, but He's good, so I wait on Him.
Last night was awesome. My friend groups have had a tendency not to mix very well, but I think these friends do.
I finally got to meet Sarah, who I had heard many good things about from various friends. So far, so good. Even if she withholds the rice from me.
Today should be a blast. Just hope I can keep up with Wayne and Mitchell, who are much younger than me at heart. I can't really be this old at 25.
Next week is turning into "reconnect with people week". Danielle, Lulu and Kent... All in one 3-day span.
Time to get ready for breakfast then out the door for more adventure!
Read Psalm 37:1-7 this morning. Waiting on the Lord is not easy, but He's good, so I wait on Him.
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