I can't believe that the end of February is here. And in two days, I will be getting on a plane in Rochester and heading for Taiwan, where I will spend more than a week with a team of 4 others helping some missionaries by doing whatever they would like us to do. I'm excited to experience a culture that is totally foreign to me, and excited to see just a small glimpse of what it means to become all things to all people in Taiwan. I'm also excited to find out what it looks like to use the things familiar to those in Taiwan to communicate the Gospel in Taiwan in a way that connects. I have no idea what that looks like over there. I'm still trying to figure out what that looks like here.
It's all a little intimidating, but I know God is going to do great things in and through us and in the hearts of those we encounter. I'm praying God will soften hearts to the Gospel of Jesus, and that communication barriers will not be a problem. I'm praying that the Millers, the missionaries we are going over there to help, will be encouraged and helped in whatever ways they need while we are over there. I'm praying God will stretch me in ways I am uncomfortable being stretched, reminding me of my total dependence on Him. And I'm praying that I leave Taiwan with a bigger view of the Jesus and the Gospel than I had before my trip.
I would appreciate all your prayers for myself, my dad Bob, my sister Jessica, Mike, and Rebekah. I will try and update my blog while across the Pacific so that you all can see what is going on and how to specifically pray for us. Thanks so much!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Jesus in Leviticus...
So I'm reading Leviticus right now. The last time I read Leviticus, I had a hard time reading it. It seemed so repetitive (which it is) and redundant (which it also is) and honestly, I wondered just how applicable it was to my life. That was two years ago when I didn’t understand how the Old Testament sacrificial system had anything to do with me life.
Today is a different story… haha. Some of you guys are like, “What Nate? What does the Old Testament sacrificial system have to with your life?” Those who are thinking that, stay with me, you’ll see, and no, I’m not going to advocate you stealing the local farmer’s best unblemished steer to slit its throat for Jesus.
So anyways, my view from two years ago has changed, at least through the end of chapter 4. Let me preface with Leviticus 1:4-5a and work from there:
He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering so that it can be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him. He is to slaughter the bull before the Lord.
First off, we need to know what we mean by the word atonement. Why does someone need atonement?
Atonement - to make atonement for one is to make satisfaction for his offenses.
So the idea of atonement is this – man has offended God with his sin. How does man pay for his sin? Well, man cannot pay for his sin. Man cannot do some good works to make up for the sin he’s committed. There are no scales weighing the good and the bad, because the fact is what’s done is done, and perfect holy God is ever always offended by man’s sin. So something without sin has to take the place of something with sin. The innocent has to die for the guilty, because once someone is guilty, they are always guilty.
And we all know what this is like. There are words we regret saying, things we regret doing, and we try as best we can to make it up to the person(s) we’ve offended, be it friends or family or someone else, but no matter what you do, what was done was still done. You can’t take it back. You were guilty, you are guilty.
And so here we go with atonement. We have sin and God is offended. Hebrews 9:22b reminds us that, “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” And so we’ve established why the innocent animal has to die – the innocent must die for the guilty, because once guilty, always guilty.
But why was one required to place their hand on the head of the animal as its throat was slit? Because there needed to be a connection. God wanted people to know their sin was the reason the innocent unblemished animal had to die. God wanted people to realize the offense committed, not because of the size the offense, but because of who the offense is against – Holy Perfect God. God wanted people to realize the significance and weight of their sin, and so they were to lay their hand on the face of the animal while the animal was looking at them, the best of their flock, while the animal had its throat slit.
I recognize to many, this seems barbaric, but recognize this: sin offends God, it sickens God, it is detestable, and God wanted us to understand the weight of our sin.
Embedded deep in Christian theology is the belief the Old Testament foreshadows the coming of Jesus - the Messiah, the Savior of the world, the Passover LAMB – and that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. For thousands of years, the Old Testament sacrificial system was how it worked, the innocent animal dying for the guilty man, because once guilty, always guilty.
But Jesus was the final sacrifice. Jesus was the innocent Lamb that was slain. Jesus, the Perfect, died for us, the imperfect, to once and for all pay for the sins of the world. It was our sin that put Him there, our offenses to God, that nailed Jesus on the cross. But because Jesus loved us, He was willing to be the final sacrifice, the Lamb that was slain.
He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Cor 5:21
Only because of Jesus can we stand righteous before God. Not because of anything we have done, because once we are guilty, we are always guilty. And so reading this passage this morning in Leviticus carried new meaning for me, because in it, I saw the ugliness of my sin in God’s eyes, and I saw Jesus and His always faithful love for me in the eyes of the innocent lamb that someone had to lay his hand on its face as its throat was slit.
Thank You Jesus for being the Lamb that was slain, who takes away the sins of the world!
Today is a different story… haha. Some of you guys are like, “What Nate? What does the Old Testament sacrificial system have to with your life?” Those who are thinking that, stay with me, you’ll see, and no, I’m not going to advocate you stealing the local farmer’s best unblemished steer to slit its throat for Jesus.
So anyways, my view from two years ago has changed, at least through the end of chapter 4. Let me preface with Leviticus 1:4-5a and work from there:
He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering so that it can be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him. He is to slaughter the bull before the Lord.
First off, we need to know what we mean by the word atonement. Why does someone need atonement?
Atonement - to make atonement for one is to make satisfaction for his offenses.
So the idea of atonement is this – man has offended God with his sin. How does man pay for his sin? Well, man cannot pay for his sin. Man cannot do some good works to make up for the sin he’s committed. There are no scales weighing the good and the bad, because the fact is what’s done is done, and perfect holy God is ever always offended by man’s sin. So something without sin has to take the place of something with sin. The innocent has to die for the guilty, because once someone is guilty, they are always guilty.
And we all know what this is like. There are words we regret saying, things we regret doing, and we try as best we can to make it up to the person(s) we’ve offended, be it friends or family or someone else, but no matter what you do, what was done was still done. You can’t take it back. You were guilty, you are guilty.
And so here we go with atonement. We have sin and God is offended. Hebrews 9:22b reminds us that, “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” And so we’ve established why the innocent animal has to die – the innocent must die for the guilty, because once guilty, always guilty.
But why was one required to place their hand on the head of the animal as its throat was slit? Because there needed to be a connection. God wanted people to know their sin was the reason the innocent unblemished animal had to die. God wanted people to realize the offense committed, not because of the size the offense, but because of who the offense is against – Holy Perfect God. God wanted people to realize the significance and weight of their sin, and so they were to lay their hand on the face of the animal while the animal was looking at them, the best of their flock, while the animal had its throat slit.
I recognize to many, this seems barbaric, but recognize this: sin offends God, it sickens God, it is detestable, and God wanted us to understand the weight of our sin.
Embedded deep in Christian theology is the belief the Old Testament foreshadows the coming of Jesus - the Messiah, the Savior of the world, the Passover LAMB – and that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. For thousands of years, the Old Testament sacrificial system was how it worked, the innocent animal dying for the guilty man, because once guilty, always guilty.
But Jesus was the final sacrifice. Jesus was the innocent Lamb that was slain. Jesus, the Perfect, died for us, the imperfect, to once and for all pay for the sins of the world. It was our sin that put Him there, our offenses to God, that nailed Jesus on the cross. But because Jesus loved us, He was willing to be the final sacrifice, the Lamb that was slain.
He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Cor 5:21
Only because of Jesus can we stand righteous before God. Not because of anything we have done, because once we are guilty, we are always guilty. And so reading this passage this morning in Leviticus carried new meaning for me, because in it, I saw the ugliness of my sin in God’s eyes, and I saw Jesus and His always faithful love for me in the eyes of the innocent lamb that someone had to lay his hand on its face as its throat was slit.
Thank You Jesus for being the Lamb that was slain, who takes away the sins of the world!
This is not some dumb Christian boycott thing...
Some here I am, advocating a boycott - more like a strike, I suppose - and this is not some dumb Christian soapbox, it has nothing to do with things like the Da Vinci Code or The Golden Compass, but everything to do with not getting scammed on ebay.
So for those of you not aware yet, know that on Feb 20, ebay plans to hike up seller prices, AS WELL AS make buyers unable to leave negative feedback about the people they buy from. This is bad, because if someone scams you, doesn't send you the right thing, you get screwed. For more info, read up here on CNN's article.
Just trying to doing my public service duty for the day.
So for those of you not aware yet, know that on Feb 20, ebay plans to hike up seller prices, AS WELL AS make buyers unable to leave negative feedback about the people they buy from. This is bad, because if someone scams you, doesn't send you the right thing, you get screwed. For more info, read up here on CNN's article.
Just trying to doing my public service duty for the day.
Friday, February 15, 2008
My only post this week, wow!
There is nothing like listening to rock n' roll nice and loud, nothing like it in the world. So with the inspiration of Red, I am writing this post.
Taiwan in two weeks! I'm crazy nervous, a culture so unfamiliar from my own, a people so unfamiliar, a spirituality and religious practice that, at face value, looks like it was in some ways taken straight outta the old testament. I'm praying that Holy Spirit will open hearts to the message of Jesus, and that communication, when it comes to truth, will be understood. I'm also praying that God will stretch me in ways I am incredibly unfamiliar with, that He will push me, and that I will come away from this trip with a stronger grasp on what it means to take the Gospel to the world, and a larger view of Jesus than I did before I left for the trip.
I'm praying about what to teach on next Sunday morning. I would covet your prayers. I love the territory we have covered thus far this semester! It has been a blast - adopting the posture of a missionary where God has placed you, in your everyday life, figuring out what it looks like to follow in the example of Jesus and count others as more important than yourselves. It has been a beautiful journey so far.
On another note, none of you probably have any idea how excited I am that this is All-Star Weekend for the NBA, and tomorrow night is the dunk contest. Dwight Howard, the man, a 7 footer with a 44" vertical leap, which is the sickest thing in the world, is in the contest. All I know is I saw a YouTube clip where Dwight dunked and kissed the rim! I also know that the league vetoed his request, both last year and this year, to raise the basket to 12' so he could do a 360. A 360 on a 12' basket would have been sick, but his dunks will still be awesome. So watch out for Dwight.
My fam's coming up to the cities tonight and we're celebrating my dad's bday, which was yesterday. Having a Valentine's Day birthday must be kinda nice. Yesterday at Starbucks, everyone was wishing me happy valentine's day, and to them I replied, "Happy my dad's birthday!"
And that's all I have for now. Big props to Red. I haven't listened to them a lot, but they provided the musical inspiration as I wrote this post. Check 'em out if you have a think for some heavy rock n' roll. By no means is it metal or anything like that, just driven, heavy, makes you want to lift weights and run and work out and do push ups - that kinda heavy. Peace outside kids
Taiwan in two weeks! I'm crazy nervous, a culture so unfamiliar from my own, a people so unfamiliar, a spirituality and religious practice that, at face value, looks like it was in some ways taken straight outta the old testament. I'm praying that Holy Spirit will open hearts to the message of Jesus, and that communication, when it comes to truth, will be understood. I'm also praying that God will stretch me in ways I am incredibly unfamiliar with, that He will push me, and that I will come away from this trip with a stronger grasp on what it means to take the Gospel to the world, and a larger view of Jesus than I did before I left for the trip.
I'm praying about what to teach on next Sunday morning. I would covet your prayers. I love the territory we have covered thus far this semester! It has been a blast - adopting the posture of a missionary where God has placed you, in your everyday life, figuring out what it looks like to follow in the example of Jesus and count others as more important than yourselves. It has been a beautiful journey so far.
On another note, none of you probably have any idea how excited I am that this is All-Star Weekend for the NBA, and tomorrow night is the dunk contest. Dwight Howard, the man, a 7 footer with a 44" vertical leap, which is the sickest thing in the world, is in the contest. All I know is I saw a YouTube clip where Dwight dunked and kissed the rim! I also know that the league vetoed his request, both last year and this year, to raise the basket to 12' so he could do a 360. A 360 on a 12' basket would have been sick, but his dunks will still be awesome. So watch out for Dwight.
My fam's coming up to the cities tonight and we're celebrating my dad's bday, which was yesterday. Having a Valentine's Day birthday must be kinda nice. Yesterday at Starbucks, everyone was wishing me happy valentine's day, and to them I replied, "Happy my dad's birthday!"
And that's all I have for now. Big props to Red. I haven't listened to them a lot, but they provided the musical inspiration as I wrote this post. Check 'em out if you have a think for some heavy rock n' roll. By no means is it metal or anything like that, just driven, heavy, makes you want to lift weights and run and work out and do push ups - that kinda heavy. Peace outside kids
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Jesus' love for Judas was reckless...
I'm being rocked by the example of Jesus. I'm being rocked as I think more and more of the fact that Jesus knew Judas was going to betray Him. He knew, but He loved extravagantly anyways (John 13).
Too many times we, as Christ-followers, write people off. We decide they're hopeless causes. And so we stop hanging out with them, stop loving them. But Jesus washed the feet of Judas! His love for Judas was reckless and extravagant and demonstrated in this beautiful story of Scripture. And as Christians, which means followers of Christ, we are to follow in the example of Jesus. We can't continue to write people off, look at people as hopeless causes, people who will never get it, because even if it's true (nothing is impossible with God, though sometimes we still have a hard time living in that truth), we are called to recklessly love people.
Jesus, help us recklessly love people the way you recklessly loved people, even those farthest from belief in You.
Too many times we, as Christ-followers, write people off. We decide they're hopeless causes. And so we stop hanging out with them, stop loving them. But Jesus washed the feet of Judas! His love for Judas was reckless and extravagant and demonstrated in this beautiful story of Scripture. And as Christians, which means followers of Christ, we are to follow in the example of Jesus. We can't continue to write people off, look at people as hopeless causes, people who will never get it, because even if it's true (nothing is impossible with God, though sometimes we still have a hard time living in that truth), we are called to recklessly love people.
Jesus, help us recklessly love people the way you recklessly loved people, even those farthest from belief in You.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Today is Ash Wednesday
So here it is, the Lent season, and here I am, eager to participate in my first lental experience. My faith tradition typically does not practice lent, but I am intrigued. I do not know a whole lot about it. What I do know about fasting, in any form, is this. A fast does not earn us brownie points with God. the reason to fast is not to please God or try and earn anything. The reason we fast is to remember what Jesus has done for us on the cross - He has died as a substitute for us, bearing the punishment we deserved, to offer us real life through Him, saving us from the mess of sin we are all in. In our craving of the thing we give up, we are to be reminded of this timeless truth and our craving will, I hope, drive each of us to worship the living Jesus who is worthy of all of our praise.
In my craving, I pray I remember the God who demonstrates always faithful love to an unfaithful whore. In my craving, I pray I remember I was saved by a God who cares - not a God who sits on a cloud on the clouds in heaven far away and doesn't give a rip about us - but a God who desires to journey with us through the junk of life and Who's strength is made perfect in our weakness. In my craving, I pray I remember Jesus' sacrifice so that I could live.
I am excited for this journey through this Lent season.
There is an interesting article for those who want to know more about Lent here.
In my craving, I pray I remember the God who demonstrates always faithful love to an unfaithful whore. In my craving, I pray I remember I was saved by a God who cares - not a God who sits on a cloud on the clouds in heaven far away and doesn't give a rip about us - but a God who desires to journey with us through the junk of life and Who's strength is made perfect in our weakness. In my craving, I pray I remember Jesus' sacrifice so that I could live.
I am excited for this journey through this Lent season.
There is an interesting article for those who want to know more about Lent here.
So lately, I've been thinking about prayer...
Here I am, in my humble abode, which is now the Overflow Cafe. I know, I know, you thought you had me pinned at Dunn Bros, but things change, and I think it was time for my 'ole stomping grounds to change with the things that are changing.
So prayer... for a lot of people, prayer is their thing, the thing that excites them most, drives them, ect... spiritual discipline is not my favorite phrase, but for lack of a better term, prayer is the spiritual discipline they excel in. Not so for me.
I like reading books, listening to sermons, teaching and leading others, that kinda stuff. And I know prayer is so so so important, but being honest with myself, and with you, it is a spiritual discipline that is work for me. But lately, for some reason, God has been revealing to me, through others, how vitally important prayer is, and it has been refreshing, and rejuvenating. We serve a God who answers prayer, who delights in giving His children good gifts. I'm thankful for this reminder, thankful that God is not some impersonable deity up floating on clouds who doesn't give a rip about things down here, but that God is personable, He holds all things together, and His desire to to journey with us through the muck of life, the good and bad. And He delights in giving His children good gifts.
So prayer... for a lot of people, prayer is their thing, the thing that excites them most, drives them, ect... spiritual discipline is not my favorite phrase, but for lack of a better term, prayer is the spiritual discipline they excel in. Not so for me.
I like reading books, listening to sermons, teaching and leading others, that kinda stuff. And I know prayer is so so so important, but being honest with myself, and with you, it is a spiritual discipline that is work for me. But lately, for some reason, God has been revealing to me, through others, how vitally important prayer is, and it has been refreshing, and rejuvenating. We serve a God who answers prayer, who delights in giving His children good gifts. I'm thankful for this reminder, thankful that God is not some impersonable deity up floating on clouds who doesn't give a rip about things down here, but that God is personable, He holds all things together, and His desire to to journey with us through the muck of life, the good and bad. And He delights in giving His children good gifts.
Friday, February 1, 2008
God, make us a catalyst for a movement that is so much bigger than ourselves!
I am blessed! The leadership of Jacob's Well excites me so much - to see students recognize their calling to live missional lifestyles and journey with others, both near and far, towards Jesus is a thrilling movement to be a part of.
My prayer is that God would make Jacob's Well a catalyst for a movement of missional living disciples of Jesus - that it wouldn't just be "the thing Jacob's Well does," but that it would begin with us, but not end with us. I pray that those following Jesus, both students and graduates, young and old, a part of organizations both Christian and not, would realize their calling to figure out what it looks like to be missionaries in their own context, in their dorms, houses, neighborhoods, apartments, campuses, and cities. I pray the movement begins, that more churches are planted, and that when those following Jesus realize their calling to adopt the posture of a missionary where they are at, their friends who aren't yet following Jesus would begin to follow Jesus, that those burned by the church would be transformed by the Gospel, and that a movement of God breaks out in Minnesota and in the western church like we have never seen.
God, this is my prayer, my cry, my passion. But we are powerless without the work of Your Holy Spirit, without you leading the way. It is only Your Holy Spirit that turns removes hearts of stone and puts in hearts of flesh, only Your Holy Spirit that transforms lives, only Your Holy Spirit that reaches down, pulls us out of the mess we're in, and saves us to a life of following Jesus we could never do on our own, a life more fulfilling and satisfying than anything we have ever imagined, a life not absent of hardships, but present with hope.
Holy Spirit, we need You. Move in Jacob's Well, use us as a catalyst for a movement of missional living disciples of Jesus.
My prayer is that God would make Jacob's Well a catalyst for a movement of missional living disciples of Jesus - that it wouldn't just be "the thing Jacob's Well does," but that it would begin with us, but not end with us. I pray that those following Jesus, both students and graduates, young and old, a part of organizations both Christian and not, would realize their calling to figure out what it looks like to be missionaries in their own context, in their dorms, houses, neighborhoods, apartments, campuses, and cities. I pray the movement begins, that more churches are planted, and that when those following Jesus realize their calling to adopt the posture of a missionary where they are at, their friends who aren't yet following Jesus would begin to follow Jesus, that those burned by the church would be transformed by the Gospel, and that a movement of God breaks out in Minnesota and in the western church like we have never seen.
God, this is my prayer, my cry, my passion. But we are powerless without the work of Your Holy Spirit, without you leading the way. It is only Your Holy Spirit that turns removes hearts of stone and puts in hearts of flesh, only Your Holy Spirit that transforms lives, only Your Holy Spirit that reaches down, pulls us out of the mess we're in, and saves us to a life of following Jesus we could never do on our own, a life more fulfilling and satisfying than anything we have ever imagined, a life not absent of hardships, but present with hope.
Holy Spirit, we need You. Move in Jacob's Well, use us as a catalyst for a movement of missional living disciples of Jesus.
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