This is what I've been waiting for - porch weather. All day today I have not frequented a coffee shop. Instead, I have been sitting on my porch, outside, soaking up the sun when it peaks from behind the scattered clouds. These perfect spring days are a rarity. Porch weather like this is rare. Because soon, summer will be here and once again, the weather conditions will push me inside, soon because it will be so hot. But then, oh the porch summer nights! So can I just say I'm stoked for the next several several months. Spring is a reminder of life. It reminds me of the Life-Giver, the one who pulled me out of darkness and into His wonderful light.
It's crazy to think that in one month, I will have been out of school for one year. In one month, students will be going home, or going away for the summer. This year has flown! What an incredible year!
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Frustrations with Christians...
So my friend Pat wrote this post on some frustrations he has with people who call themselves Christians. It echoes my thoughts and was beautifully put, especially his portion on church hoping and going to a church to "get fed." So for your reading pleasure, check it out.
From Pat's Blog:
Its been several days since I'd hoped to get this posted, but I've struggled with it too. So now I'm sitting in the airport with my Blackberrt and I have a few minutes on my hands.... So here goes!
Continuing with the Confessions Blog theme, today is "Sometimes Christians Really Annoy Me". Now let me clarify. This is not to say that all believers annoy me at a random time. Maybe annoy isn't even the best word... Maybe it should be 'frustrate'. Nonetheless, there are moments when I encounter believers that are very frustrating. I realize many (or most) people in the US that 'claim' to follow Christ are in fact not true believers. This could definitely lend a hand to many common misperceptions that exist as a result. So many of these frustrations (if you will) are birthed from those misperceptions or what should be mischaracterizations actually playing true. Clarifying even further, why I feel this frustration is because as a Pastor, part of my goal is to help change peoples thoughts about Christians. I want them to see ours and Christs love for them. Its not my delight to find fault or difficulty in anyone, as it is not a regular practice. For easy reading, I'll create a few things:
"Consider my needs...." I've heard it said all we need to live is food, shelter and love. I've seen people get along with only 2 out of 3 - although not that well. I get frustrated when people pull this card out though, because 9 times out of 10 (IMO) the person asking you to consider their 'needs' has not once considered yours. In fact, they often don't think about anyones except their own.
"I want to be fed...." This is a toughy, but regarding churches I've know countless people over my 27 years of life that have left churches because they're not being fed. Let me go on the record and say that I do believe part of my responsibility as a pastor is to preach the Gospel (Good News) and I make no consolation to that fact. I do not 'hide' what Scripture says on a subject because its not PC. However, there is a contigancy within our churches of people who feel they need to be spoon fed by the pastor every week. If they aren't getting it, they go somewhere else. Sundays shouldn't just be about expanding your knowledge, it should be about exhortation, encouragement, worship, (and so on) with one another. We've created this 'feeding time' so its our fault as pastors (over the past 100 years). If your a follower of Christ, its your duty to feed yourself, so put away childish things (IE spoon feeding) and get to some meat!
"You've offended me..." Ok, I haven't heard this that much in my life - but I have seen it like crazy. What part of Jesus telling us to die to ourselves makes us think we have a right to be offended? Call me fat, dumb, or insincere -- it doesn't matter to me. I'm not saying it won't hurt, but as much as Christ has given up for me, can I not show a similar love to others? I have never demanded an apology from anyone... And hope not to.
"I've been here for ___ years..." This one is a tough one. We get the idea that if we've been at a church 50 years we have precedent over someone who has been there 5. We do this in other ways too... We assume that age equals wisdom. Just because someone has been a believer for 20 years doesn't necessarily make them wiser than the guy who's done it for 2. Smarter (more info) maybe... But we have the same Holy Spirit guiding us. I've seen both sides of course, and quite often some of the people I know with the strongest faith are older... But we are all a part of this Body. Different functions, and none of us more important than the other.
"I think..." Ok, anything that starts with these words regarding theology (etc) should from hence forth be described as personal opinion. I like you, your brain, and your thoughts - but I'm basing the way I live on what I know from Scripture, not rational deduction or reasoning.
"Church hoppers". We've met them, we've been them. I know pastors that haven't been at a church more than 3 years... They can hop too! Seriously, there is no perfect church and you will most likely never be somewhere where you completely agree 100% with everything. If you think you do, you just haven't thought through everything. These differences make us GREATER as believers. Stop jumping from church to church and commit. The Bible says "let your yes be yes and your no be no". If you have been involved in more than 3 churches while living at the same address, you need to ask yourself: am I serving God or myself/my-family? I'm not called to put my wife and kids first, but God. If I make a decision on what's best for them, it places them above Him - and sets a bad precendent for my son to think he's number 1... And God isn't. This one is the hardest, but when you find a church and commit to it - stick with it until God moves you on or a tornado carries you off. (And both will carry the same intensity)
Let me finish by saying, its OK if you've been or said one of these things. The world doesn't stand still because of my frustrations. :)
However, if you tend to agree with me (now) then join with me and make an effort to live differently... Sacrificially. I've said a few of these things, and I've definitely been down some roads I don't love, but there's hope in our faith! These were tough to write, but be encouraged- we weren't meant to live for so much more than we settle for!
From Pat's Blog:
Its been several days since I'd hoped to get this posted, but I've struggled with it too. So now I'm sitting in the airport with my Blackberrt and I have a few minutes on my hands.... So here goes!
Continuing with the Confessions Blog theme, today is "Sometimes Christians Really Annoy Me". Now let me clarify. This is not to say that all believers annoy me at a random time. Maybe annoy isn't even the best word... Maybe it should be 'frustrate'. Nonetheless, there are moments when I encounter believers that are very frustrating. I realize many (or most) people in the US that 'claim' to follow Christ are in fact not true believers. This could definitely lend a hand to many common misperceptions that exist as a result. So many of these frustrations (if you will) are birthed from those misperceptions or what should be mischaracterizations actually playing true. Clarifying even further, why I feel this frustration is because as a Pastor, part of my goal is to help change peoples thoughts about Christians. I want them to see ours and Christs love for them. Its not my delight to find fault or difficulty in anyone, as it is not a regular practice. For easy reading, I'll create a few things:
"Consider my needs...." I've heard it said all we need to live is food, shelter and love. I've seen people get along with only 2 out of 3 - although not that well. I get frustrated when people pull this card out though, because 9 times out of 10 (IMO) the person asking you to consider their 'needs' has not once considered yours. In fact, they often don't think about anyones except their own.
"I want to be fed...." This is a toughy, but regarding churches I've know countless people over my 27 years of life that have left churches because they're not being fed. Let me go on the record and say that I do believe part of my responsibility as a pastor is to preach the Gospel (Good News) and I make no consolation to that fact. I do not 'hide' what Scripture says on a subject because its not PC. However, there is a contigancy within our churches of people who feel they need to be spoon fed by the pastor every week. If they aren't getting it, they go somewhere else. Sundays shouldn't just be about expanding your knowledge, it should be about exhortation, encouragement, worship, (and so on) with one another. We've created this 'feeding time' so its our fault as pastors (over the past 100 years). If your a follower of Christ, its your duty to feed yourself, so put away childish things (IE spoon feeding) and get to some meat!
"You've offended me..." Ok, I haven't heard this that much in my life - but I have seen it like crazy. What part of Jesus telling us to die to ourselves makes us think we have a right to be offended? Call me fat, dumb, or insincere -- it doesn't matter to me. I'm not saying it won't hurt, but as much as Christ has given up for me, can I not show a similar love to others? I have never demanded an apology from anyone... And hope not to.
"I've been here for ___ years..." This one is a tough one. We get the idea that if we've been at a church 50 years we have precedent over someone who has been there 5. We do this in other ways too... We assume that age equals wisdom. Just because someone has been a believer for 20 years doesn't necessarily make them wiser than the guy who's done it for 2. Smarter (more info) maybe... But we have the same Holy Spirit guiding us. I've seen both sides of course, and quite often some of the people I know with the strongest faith are older... But we are all a part of this Body. Different functions, and none of us more important than the other.
"I think..." Ok, anything that starts with these words regarding theology (etc) should from hence forth be described as personal opinion. I like you, your brain, and your thoughts - but I'm basing the way I live on what I know from Scripture, not rational deduction or reasoning.
"Church hoppers". We've met them, we've been them. I know pastors that haven't been at a church more than 3 years... They can hop too! Seriously, there is no perfect church and you will most likely never be somewhere where you completely agree 100% with everything. If you think you do, you just haven't thought through everything. These differences make us GREATER as believers. Stop jumping from church to church and commit. The Bible says "let your yes be yes and your no be no". If you have been involved in more than 3 churches while living at the same address, you need to ask yourself: am I serving God or myself/my-family? I'm not called to put my wife and kids first, but God. If I make a decision on what's best for them, it places them above Him - and sets a bad precendent for my son to think he's number 1... And God isn't. This one is the hardest, but when you find a church and commit to it - stick with it until God moves you on or a tornado carries you off. (And both will carry the same intensity)
Let me finish by saying, its OK if you've been or said one of these things. The world doesn't stand still because of my frustrations. :)
However, if you tend to agree with me (now) then join with me and make an effort to live differently... Sacrificially. I've said a few of these things, and I've definitely been down some roads I don't love, but there's hope in our faith! These were tough to write, but be encouraged- we weren't meant to live for so much more than we settle for!
Friday, March 28, 2008
Flip-flops
Cam and I are protesting winter by wearing flip-flops today. Join the revolution!
50 and sunny is never more beautiful in March than when it's in Minnesota! And you gotta have all the darn snow to appreciate when it all melts. You see, in most parts of the country, there is no real winter, so when spring comes, it's no real big deal. But when someone who has survived a Minnesota winter gets a taste of spring, they are drooling at the mouth for more.
I'm thankful because spring is a reminder of new birth, the dead coming back to life. It functions as a reminder of what Jesus has done for us. I'm getting geared up for an exciting Sunday where we are once again reminded of the Gospel - that Jesus has come, died in our place, and was raised so that we could experience new birth in Him. And specifically this Sunday, we're talking about the role of baptism in marking our new birth in Jesus. What a beautiful picture is painted for us in baptism - identifying with Jesus in His death and identifying with Jesus in His resurrection. We publicly say, "Hey everyone, this marks my dying to the old way of life and being risen to a new way of life."
So thank you Jesus for spring! Thanks for the reminder of your faithfulness. It's not always winter. the snow melts, the grass grows, the flowers bloom, the trees go from bare to full. You are a faithful good God.
50 and sunny is never more beautiful in March than when it's in Minnesota! And you gotta have all the darn snow to appreciate when it all melts. You see, in most parts of the country, there is no real winter, so when spring comes, it's no real big deal. But when someone who has survived a Minnesota winter gets a taste of spring, they are drooling at the mouth for more.
I'm thankful because spring is a reminder of new birth, the dead coming back to life. It functions as a reminder of what Jesus has done for us. I'm getting geared up for an exciting Sunday where we are once again reminded of the Gospel - that Jesus has come, died in our place, and was raised so that we could experience new birth in Him. And specifically this Sunday, we're talking about the role of baptism in marking our new birth in Jesus. What a beautiful picture is painted for us in baptism - identifying with Jesus in His death and identifying with Jesus in His resurrection. We publicly say, "Hey everyone, this marks my dying to the old way of life and being risen to a new way of life."
So thank you Jesus for spring! Thanks for the reminder of your faithfulness. It's not always winter. the snow melts, the grass grows, the flowers bloom, the trees go from bare to full. You are a faithful good God.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Going to swing dance the night away...
Tonight I will swing dance for the first time in maybe 2 years?... It's been a while. It'll be a nice break. I'm sitting on the sermon for another night, but I think I got what I want, now it's just turning it over again and again in my head so that on Sunday it can flow like a story. What a privilege it is to preach on Easter Sunday! I gotta say, I'm excited.
I also gotta say I'm blessed to have the friendships I do. Friends are a huge blessing. It was beautiful this morning, but clouds rolled in and I heard an ugly rumor snow is going to rear its ugly head once again. But the snow sure helps me appreciate the spring. Soon it will be no more.
And that's all for now. Tomorrow I will awake at 6 in the AM to go to work at 7 to make coffee for all the students that aren't here on Spring Break, which means that hopefully my shift will be shorter and I will have an afternoon to spend in a coffeeshop that I'm not working in to finish prep for Sunday. I hope that going into this Easter season, you all can celebrate with me what Jesus has done!
I also gotta say I'm blessed to have the friendships I do. Friends are a huge blessing. It was beautiful this morning, but clouds rolled in and I heard an ugly rumor snow is going to rear its ugly head once again. But the snow sure helps me appreciate the spring. Soon it will be no more.
And that's all for now. Tomorrow I will awake at 6 in the AM to go to work at 7 to make coffee for all the students that aren't here on Spring Break, which means that hopefully my shift will be shorter and I will have an afternoon to spend in a coffeeshop that I'm not working in to finish prep for Sunday. I hope that going into this Easter season, you all can celebrate with me what Jesus has done!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Overflow Espresso
Here I sit at Overflow. It's been a while since I've been over this way. The beautiful weather has put me in a great mood. The big windows here give me the chance to look outside and enjoy it, and at the same time get some work done in preparation for Sunday.
If the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised, and if Christ has not been raised, your faith and mine is without a foundation, and without that foundation we are still guilty in our sins. We could never experience the joy of forgiveness, of communion with God, without God first becoming Jesus, dying on the cross as a consequence of our sin, satisfying His just wrath while at the same time demonstrating His extravagant love, and then defeating the consequence of our sin in His resurrection. Jesus has broken the chains of our sin that have held us and were once a barrier between us and Himself. We must put our faith in Jesus as our sin bearer, forgiver, life-giver, and life-leader.
I'm trying to process this beautiful mystery, knowing I'll never really get my mind around it. I'm asking God that in preparation for Sunday I will realize the weight of my sin, and then feel the weight of it being lifted. Because this is what Jesus is in the business of doing. Just a few thoughts...
If the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised, and if Christ has not been raised, your faith and mine is without a foundation, and without that foundation we are still guilty in our sins. We could never experience the joy of forgiveness, of communion with God, without God first becoming Jesus, dying on the cross as a consequence of our sin, satisfying His just wrath while at the same time demonstrating His extravagant love, and then defeating the consequence of our sin in His resurrection. Jesus has broken the chains of our sin that have held us and were once a barrier between us and Himself. We must put our faith in Jesus as our sin bearer, forgiver, life-giver, and life-leader.
I'm trying to process this beautiful mystery, knowing I'll never really get my mind around it. I'm asking God that in preparation for Sunday I will realize the weight of my sin, and then feel the weight of it being lifted. Because this is what Jesus is in the business of doing. Just a few thoughts...
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Sunday's activities
What a fun day. We didn't have a Sunday Gathering this morning since its spring break, but man, its been 3 weeks since I was in Taiwan for the last 2, and I miss the Sunday Gatherings of Jacob's Well. But I got to hear John Piper speak this morning at Bethlehem Baptist. It was a treat. He spoke on 1 John 4 - love is from God and God is love. His main deal was this - the new birth is the connection between God's love for us and our love for each other. He fleshed it out, it was thorough, and it was good.
After a little JP action, I ate lunch, short nap, and an afternoon with the lady friend, which was good times. And then chillin with Cam and his sisters for a while, and now watchin' the Gophs play some postseason hockey. It has been a relaxing, good, chill, Sunday - the way a Sunday should be.
And that's all... nothing huge to write about, just felt like writing a little about my day. Spring is in the air and it makes me happy.
After a little JP action, I ate lunch, short nap, and an afternoon with the lady friend, which was good times. And then chillin with Cam and his sisters for a while, and now watchin' the Gophs play some postseason hockey. It has been a relaxing, good, chill, Sunday - the way a Sunday should be.
And that's all... nothing huge to write about, just felt like writing a little about my day. Spring is in the air and it makes me happy.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
A few thoughts...
The heart is more deceitful than anything else and desperately sick—who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9
So I watched To End All Wars, a movie about some prisoners of war in a Japanese prison camp in WWII the other night. A movie that begins a little slow eventually turns into this beautiful thought-provoking film filled with truth. I was struck by a quote at the end of the movie from the narrator, who said that when the war ended, he for the first time saw himself in the eyes of his enemies.
What a quote... the whole movie is about how this band of guys survived this POW camp admist tons of junk and mistreatment. But somehow, this guy didn't see himself as any better... he realize put under the right conditions, the right circumstances, he'd turn out just the same. He realized the truth of Jeremiah 17:9... that though there are some people who appear better than others, beyond appearances, beyond the actions, the lies the same desperately wicked heart in all of us.
So I've been thinking a lot about that, and I am so thankful I serve Jesus, the Life-Giver, the Life-Transformer. I serve the Jesus who is in the business of taking our desperately wicked hearts and exchanging them for His. He is in the business of removing hearts of stone and replacing them with hearts of clay. I'm thankful for a God that saves us from ourselves. We are so desperately sick and hopeless, in a mess we cannot get out of, but the Jesus, the Life-Giver, pulls us out of our mess and saves us.
And I'm thankful He is not finished with me, and that He who began a good work in me will carry it to completion. What a great God we serve, a God whose name is Jesus.
So I watched To End All Wars, a movie about some prisoners of war in a Japanese prison camp in WWII the other night. A movie that begins a little slow eventually turns into this beautiful thought-provoking film filled with truth. I was struck by a quote at the end of the movie from the narrator, who said that when the war ended, he for the first time saw himself in the eyes of his enemies.
What a quote... the whole movie is about how this band of guys survived this POW camp admist tons of junk and mistreatment. But somehow, this guy didn't see himself as any better... he realize put under the right conditions, the right circumstances, he'd turn out just the same. He realized the truth of Jeremiah 17:9... that though there are some people who appear better than others, beyond appearances, beyond the actions, the lies the same desperately wicked heart in all of us.
So I've been thinking a lot about that, and I am so thankful I serve Jesus, the Life-Giver, the Life-Transformer. I serve the Jesus who is in the business of taking our desperately wicked hearts and exchanging them for His. He is in the business of removing hearts of stone and replacing them with hearts of clay. I'm thankful for a God that saves us from ourselves. We are so desperately sick and hopeless, in a mess we cannot get out of, but the Jesus, the Life-Giver, pulls us out of our mess and saves us.
And I'm thankful He is not finished with me, and that He who began a good work in me will carry it to completion. What a great God we serve, a God whose name is Jesus.
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