Disillusioned Man

Is God's Will My Will?

2009-10-20T13:25:00.002-05:00

"For this is the will of God, your sanctification" 1 Thessalonians 4:3

It is not a question of whether God is willing to sanctify me; is it my will? Am I willing to let God do in me all that has been made possible by the Atonement? Am I willing to let Jesus be made sanctification to me, and to let the life of Jesus be manifested in my mortal flesh? Beware of saying - Oh, I am longing to be sanctified. You are not, stop longing and make it a matter of transaction - "Nothing in my hands I bring." Receive Jesus Christ to be made sanctification to you in implicit faith, and the great marvel of the Atonement of Jesus will be made real in you. All that Jesus made possible is made mine by the free loving gift of God on the ground of what He performed, my attitude as a saved and sanctified soul is that of profound humble holiness (there is no such thing as proud holiness), a holiness based on agonizing repentance and a sense of unspeakable shame and degradation; and also on the amazing realization that the love of God commended itself to me in that while I cared nothing about Him, He completed everything for my salvation and sanctification (see Rom. 5:8. R.V.). No wonder Paul says nothing is "able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Sanctification makes me one with Jesus Christ, and in Him one with God, and it is done only through the superb Atonement of Christ. Never put the effect as the cause. The effect in me is obedience and service and prayer, and is the out come of speechless thanks and adoration for the marvellous sanctification wrought out in me because of the Atonement.

~October 20, 2009 My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers

Nine Pastoral Prayers

2009-07-15T09:00:00.000-05:00

I was listening to Matt Chandler yesterday and ended up listening to a podcast titled "Nine Pastoral Prayers." These are the prayers that Chandler and his staff prayed through when they were starting the Village Church. I think there is a lot of good stuff in these nine prayers for the church in general, but I also think that there are some good things for individual believers to remember. So here you go.

Prayer #1: That we would see that the greatest problem in the universe is not mere moral failure – but rather a failure to honor God. (“For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Romans 1:21)

Prayer #2: That we would understand that discipline rarely brings about love – but love always brings about discipline. (“Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?” Galatians 3:5)

Prayer #3: That we would realize that children of God are not under wrath – but under mercy. (“[He will make known] the riches of his glory for vessels
of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory.” Romans 9:23)

Prayer #4: That we would find that the fullness of all things – including life and joy – is in Christ. (“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10)

Prayer #5: That we would experience a holy discontentment with where our lives are – and that we would espouse the hope of what our lives can be. (“For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope.” Romans 8:20)

Prayer #6: That we would recognize that God has purposefully placed us here – at this time, in this place – for His glory. (“And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place” Acts 17:26)

Prayer #7: That we would develop a taste for truth – even difficult ones. (“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11)

Prayer #8: That we would embrace Biblical Christianity – not American evangelicalism. (“In the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self,. . .having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5)

Prayer #9: That we would believe in the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit – and desire them earnestly. (“So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.” 1 Corinthians 14:39)

Vintage Church: Timeless Truths and Timely Methods

2009-06-08T16:16:00.001-05:00

Back about a month ago or so, I read another book by Pastor Mark Driscoll out of Mars Hill Seattle, this one entitled Vintage Church: Timeless Truths and TImely Methods. This book as actually the second book of what is known as the Re:Lit project put out by the Resurgence, which is a online ministry resource started by Driscoll.

In similar fashion to Vintage Jesus, Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears set out to answer 12 commonly asked questions about the church. These questions include:

1. What Is the Christian Life?
2. What Is a Christian Church?
3. Who Is Supposed to Lead a Church?
4. Why Is Preaching Important?
5. What Are Baptism and Communion?
6. How Can a Church Be Unified?
7. What Is Church Discipline?
8. How Is Love Expressed in a Church?
9. What Is a Missional Church?
10. What Is a Multi-Campus Church?
11. How Can a Church Utilize Technology?
12 How Could the Church Help Transform the World?

I really enjoyed this book; it is a really concerted effort to see what exactly scripture says about the church and examines the scriptural backing for a lot of the practices the church has undertaken historically. Also similar to Vintage Jesus, each chapter is concluded with Dr. Gerry Breshears attempting to answer more specific questions falling within the question of the chapter.

I also really like how a large portion of the book is practical. Driscoll uses his own experiences in planting Mars Hill and gives the reasoning behind why they do things the way they do them. I personally found those portions really interesting because I had been curious as to how the leaders of a church that size think through the things they do.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone. This is not a book written to present some new way of doing church; this book seeks to define what is a Christian church and what it looks like and does historically as well as some practical applications for today.

Vintage Jesus: Timely Answers to Timely Questions

2009-05-23T16:45:00.000-05:00

Today I finished a book called Vintage Jesus: Timely Answers to Timely Questions by Pastor Mark Driscoll out of Mars Hill Church in Seattle and Gerry Breshears. The book is based on a sermon series done by Driscoll of the same title where twelve questions regarding Jesus are sought to be answered by Driscoll. These questions include:

1. Is Jesus the Only God?
2. How Human was Jesus?
3. How did People Know Jesus was Coming?
4. Why did Jesus Come to Earth?
5. Why did Jesus' Mom Need to be a Virgin?
6. What did Jesus Accomplish on the Cross?
7. Did Jesus Rise from Death?
8. Where is Jesus Today?
9. Why Should We Worship Jesus?
10. What Makes Jesus Superior to Other Saviors?
11. What Difference has Jesus Made in History?
12. What will Jesus do upon His Return?

I must say that I really enjoyed this book. Driscoll has a knack for examining what the world, both historically and contemporarily have said about Jesus in regard to these questions, and then diving into what scripture has to say about these questions. Driscoll definitely did not write this book without doing some research, since each individual chapter as over 30 citations, most of them coming from scripture. Each chapter also ends with Dr. Gerry Breshears answering several specific questions that relate to the overall question of each chapter.

I do think that Driscoll could have probably broken up some of the topics into smaller sections, but the overall presentation was good. I was a little bit worried that the chapters would just be a transcript from the sermons he preached in the series Vintage Jesus, but he did considerable editing and additions to make it different that his sermons.

Overall, I think this is a really good book, and I would highly recommend it to anyone. There is also a DVD resource that can be used to help work through this book with a small group. I have not personally seen this resource, but I imagine it is of great value. I would also recommend listening to the sermon series Vintage Jesus, they do great little vignettes where they interview people and ask them what they think about Jesus.

Do You Worship the Work?

2009-04-23T07:16:00.001-05:00

"We have no right to decide where we should be placed, or to have preconceived ideas as to what God is preparing us to do. God engineers everything; and wherever He places us, our one supreme goal should be to pour out our lives in wholehearted devotion to Him in that particular work."

~Excerpt from My Utmost for His Highest "Do You Worship the Work?" April 23

This was good for me to hear this morning.

New MuteMath Video

2009-04-22T14:54:00.001-05:00

Fiction Family

2009-04-22T14:52:00.001-05:00

If you are interested in a new band, I would recommend Fiction Family. They are made up of Jon Foreman of Switchfoot and Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek. I really like their sound. Check them out:

Fiction Family

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UXQmLuFnC0&hl=en&fs=1]

Decisions, Faith

2009-02-25T00:35:00.001-06:00

I've come to that point in every young person's life, the time to make those decisions that will significantly effect my life for the coming years, I dare say the rest of my life. Normally I like the challenge that decision making brings, but never before have the decisions to be made had such a magnitude. I find myself struggling to make these decisions for several reasons:

First, the decision does not just impact me. I get married in June, and from that day on, I am responsible for another human being. Now I am well aware that Janie will be making considerably more money than I will be, but I think that biblically I am still to be the one to take care of her. The decisions I make on what church we go to and where I go to school and where we live will have a significant impact on how she is able to live her life. I love Janie to death, and I want to give her a great life, I want to take care of her to the best of my ability, but every option I am presented with doesn't lead to anything anyone would consider easy. I thank God that she understands the situation she will be marrying by marrying me, but I still struggle with thoughts about how I am going to take care of her.

Second, my own future is "at stake" as it were. I have things that I think God is calling me to so that I can serve Him. The big one would be that I feel he is calling me to later in life be a professor. In order to do that, you have to have a whole lot of schooling which I am actually really excited about. Unfortunately, affording all of that schooling is a different issue. There is also the decision of where to go to Seminary, what will be more beneficial to me later, etc. I know where I want to go, and I know where Janie wants me to go, but it is an expensive choice and I don't see the finances being there anytime soon. There is always the choice to wait, but I fear that if I don't start right into my schooling, it will be even harder to get into it once I am established in a job.

Finally, I really want to follow God's will on this one. Let me rephrase that, I really want to choose the options that will bring the most glory to God, where I can serve Him the best. This is the first time where there are several options ahead of me and I have the potential of "messing up" (for lack of a better term) real bad. I am really trying to seek God on these things, and as of yet, he hasn't made it clear where I should go, and that makes me nervous. I talk to some people and they know what they are doing once May 10 gets here. Normally I would be the one who has it all figured out and knows where I am going, and I just haven't been given a clear direction yet, and that frightens me.

So I am feel like I am going to have to really step out on faith on this one. I think I am really going to have to just trust God and run with what I know He has given me as of now. Much prayer would be great, and any advice is welcome as well. Maybe I will post my options later and try and get some feedback.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

Light Drums

2009-02-17T12:36:00.000-06:00

Live Love

2009-02-10T20:02:00.002-06:00

So this past weekend we took our youth group to Student Life Conference in Euless. It was incredible. The theme for the weekend was Live Love, and the speaker was Francis Chan.

I think this was a conference that was really able to hit all of our students right where they were. For our students who are growing in the faith, a topic brought up was having love for others, those who can't love them back. But even more exciting than that, for our students, and I think all of them needed to hear it, but certain one's in particular, the message was primarily focused on how much God the creator loves us and how we should reciprocate that love.

Something that Francis Chan pointed out the first night, and I think it is something that really hit our students and even me, is how we approach praying to God. He mentioned how we don't necessarily approach prayer as being toward the almighty creator who has no responsibility to hear us when we talk to him. He read Revelation 4, describing John's vision of God on his throne. He used the magnitude of what John described himself seeing to implore the audience to think about who they are praying to. To take 30 seconds before praying to God to think about who God is, how awesome and mighty he is, and then to pray to him realizing how much God loves them to even hear them.

Chan also made mention of how we are to be children who are crazily in love with God. We are to be excited about being his child, excited about getting to talk with him. God is so in love with us, all we should be able to do is be crazily in love with him, and in so doing, love the people around us in an unbelievable way.

Crazy Love by Francis Chan

2009-02-02T18:13:00.002-06:00

Here is a book that has been given quite a lot of praise in the past weeks and months. Crazy Love is the first book written by Francis Chan, pastor of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, California.

Now first off, let me say that this book, in my opinion, is not putting before it's readers any new idea. The basis of the book is this: God the creator is showing his creation (us) a crazy kind of love, a love that is undeserved. Because of our sin our just God has every right to kill us, but instead, he sends us his Love in the form of His Son Jesus Christ, sacrificing him to a death that would take away the sins of the world. We, as the rebellious creation, can partake of this love, and in doing so, should fall into and live a life in a crazy love with our savior. I believe the verse is Matthew 22:37, "“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."

This is nothing you have not heard before if you have spent any amount of time in church. But I think the reason why it is impactful, so seemingly different and radical an idea, is because we as the American church have really made church a dull obligation that we have all figured out. All Chan is trying to do is to tell the Church that we need to fall in "crazy love" with Jesus Christ. That should be the starting point, if we are in crazy love with Christ, then we will act rightly, we will worship with all we have, we will appreciate the greatness of God.

In Chapter One, Francis Chan really just tries to get the reader to stop and look at the world around them created by God. This first chapter is really there to try and bring the reader back into a state of awe towards the creator.

Chapter Two is the chapter about human mortality. This chapter is very much about not wasting your life, about realizing how fleeting the human life is, and to spend our times praising and loving and remembering the God who created and loves us.

In Chapter Three, Chan really talks about the Crazy Love that God the Father has for us. A lot of what I wrote above is contained in this chapter.

Chapter Four is entitled the Profile of the Lukewarm. It is really designed to be a tool to help the reader look critically at there life and see which areas of the life are lukewarm towards God. He focuses the chapter around Revelation 3:15-16 which says, "‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."

Chapter Five is a chapter on offering your first fruits to God. It is a chapter basically about not holding anything back from our God; being willing to say to God that he can have anything.

Chapter Six is talking about what it might be like being in love with God. A lot of examples are pulled from being in love with a significant other.

Chapter Seven is primarily about how for the Christian, the best life comes later, in eternity. Chan talks a lot about how life for the believer will not always be easy, but we must remember our better life comes later.

In Chapter Eight, it is simply what it might look like to be people who live a life while being obsessively in love with Christ. In Chapter Nine, Chan offers real life examples of what it might look like to live that way.

In Chapter Ten, Chan concludes by bringing the fleeting life back into perspective. He asks the question of whether we want to be doing what we are currently doing when Jesus comes back or not. He concludes saying that we should hopefully be loving God with all we have, persevering through this race of life, and falling in crazy love with our savior.

All in all, this is a great book. I recommend this book to everyone. And if it helps, there are helpful videos online at www.crazylovebook.com that go with the chapters and some other times in the book when Francis tells the reader to watch these videos.

Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell

2009-01-31T23:15:00.002-06:00

So I just recently finished reading Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell. Admittedly I had some reservations about reading this book because I have always heard really mixed reviews on Mr. Bell. I am happy to report however that I really enjoyed this book.

Now I have never really done any serious research on the theology of Rob Bell, and I am still a little shaky on what all he believes. But in this book, he just genuinely seems to be painting a picture of what he wants the Christian faith in the world to look like. In it's simplest, Bell calls for the believer to fall more in love with Jesus, and to be more in awe of Him.

In Chapter 2, Bell describes the necessity of biblical interpretation. Interestingly, he argues against the idea that people can just live as the bible says, stating that everyone has there own biases and interpretations. Chapter 3 is possibly one of the most thought provoking chapters in the book, where Bell delivers his thoughts on missions and the reconciliation between truth and our experience. These are just things I found interesting in two of the eight chapters in this book.

There is a lot of great discussion points in this book, and I really wished I had read it with someone else so that we could have discussed it as we went. In my opinion Bell is not presenting anything that has not been presented by others who are questioning and "repainting" as it were what the Christian faith looks like.

A lot of people would fault Bell for being post-modern and emergent church folk, but I am not going to do that. The fact is, as I see it, and read it in this book, Rob Bell has a genuine love for Jesus, and he wants others to experience that kind of love also.

I just recently picked up one of his other books, Jesus Wants to Save Christians, and I am excited to read it when I finish the last chapter of Crazy Love by Francis Chan.

A New Prayer

2009-01-28T09:22:00.001-06:00

O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, that so I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, "Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away." Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

~A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God

Do We Really?

2009-01-10T20:00:00.000-06:00

I am a huge fan of music. I love listening to it, playing it, and recently I have become fascinated with what is being said in the lyrics of songs. So recently I was listening to the song “Hosanna” and I started to think about the lyrics I was singing. Here is the line in particular that caught my eye:

“Break my heart for what breaks yours”

Here is what gets me. This is an incredibly popular worship song. I have seen hundreds of teenagers and college students lift up their hands and sing these words to the God of the Universe. But do they, do we, really know what we are asking for? This line is asking for God to break our hearts over what breaks His. Now I am not claiming to know the heart of God, but I would venture a guess and say that there is probably a lot in our world that breaks God’s heart.

But are we really ready to open ourselves up to that? I think if we truly allowed ourselves to be broken by all the things that break the heart of God, our lives would be radically different. We would look at the world, the events in the Sudan and elsewhere, and just be broken about them. I think we would not be so apathetic towards others, we would be revitalized with care for our fellow man. I think what this line is asking for is right.

But do we really want to be that broken? Are we really ready to let God rip away from us our comfortable world were everything is not perfect, but sugarcoated non the less, and let us see the world and all of it’s junk? I’ll be honest, the thought frightens me. I absolutely want to have my heart broken about the plight in this world, but to ask God to break my heart for what breaks his, that seems to open up quite a bit of brokenness to me. I would be very afraid to open myself up to that, I feel I would become very pessimistic about the world.

But still I sing the line. I think Christians need to be careful what they declare to God. If I am singing this song to God, and truly worshipping him, then I had better be expecting God to do what I ask. I had better be ready for him to start breaking my heart to things I knew nothing about. I try and remind the youth group that I work with that they should not sing empty words to God. I try and encourage them to really think about the words in the song and try and understand the implication of what singing that to God means, particularly if it is declaring or asking something of God.

I think truly, deep down inside me, I do want my heart to be broken by the same things that breaks God’s heart. In the last year or two, I have become more aware of a lot of injustice in our world and it truly does break my heart. But I always want to remember that when I ask something of God, I should be prepared for Him to give it to me.

I pray that I will never sing or say words to the God of the universe and have them be empty. I also pray that God would prepare my heart and my mind for just what I am asking, to be broken by the things that break his heart. But I also pray that God would show me the beauty of what the rest of the song talks about, of Christians rising up and being the agents of change in our world. I pray that I will still be able to see the beauty of this world, because I sometimes tend to be a little pessimistic when it comes to the condition of our world, the glass is half empty as opposed to half full if you catch my drift.

I ask that you would realize what you are asking of God, and that you would look at the words you say to him and the words you sing to him, and really make sure you believe what you are saying and are prepared for what you are asking.

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:7

If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. John 14:14

A Story

2008-12-22T19:00:00.000-06:00

I read this story in John Piper’s “Don’t Waste Your Life,” as it was quoted from James Bradley’s “Flags of Our Fathers.” Sorry for the harsh language. I thought it was interesting that a man so young would be willing to sacrifice so much for others to have happiness and peace.

He’d fast-talked his way into the Marines at fourteen, fooling the recruits with his muscled physique….Assigned to drive a truck in Hawaii, he had grown frustrated; he wanted to fight. He stowed away on a transport out of Honolulu, surviving on food passed along to him by sympathetic leathernecks on board.

He landed on D-Day [at Iwo Jima] without a rifle. He grabbed one lying on the beach and fought his way inland.

Now, on D+1, Jack and three comrades were crawling through a trench when eight Japanese sprang in front of them. Jack shot one of them through the head. Then his rifle jammed. As he struggled with it a grenade landed at his feet. He yelled a warning to the others and rammed the grenade into the soft ash. Immediately, another rolled in. Jack Lucas, seventeen, fell on both grenades. “Luke, you’re gonna die,” he remembered thinking….

Aboard the hospital ship Samaritan the doctors could scarcely believe it. “Maybe he was too damned young and too damned tough to die,” one said. He endured twenty-one reconstructive operations and became the nation’s youngest Medal of Honor winner–and the only high school freshman to receive it.

My Nerdy Self

2008-12-15T17:15:00.000-06:00

So I am admittedly a nerd. I like books, computers, etc. So right in line with my nerdiness, i have discovered this:

http://www.logos.com/mac/biblestudy

This is some of the coolest bible study software I have found. Currently I am using Quickverse Black Box edition for mac, and I like it a lot, but Logos seems to be where its at.

The version seen in the above link is actually the base version, there are four versions above this one that just add more and more features. Hopefully one day I will be able to afford the base version, because it really would be a good resource for a minister/professor.

A Prayer

2008-12-15T16:48:00.000-06:00

My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.

I do not see the road ahead of me
Nor do I really know myself,
And the fact that I think I am following your will
Does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you
Does in fact please you.

And I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this,
You will lead me by the right road
Though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore will I trust you always,
Though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
And you will never leave me to face my struggles alone.
~Thomas Merton, 1915-1968

This is an interesting prayer I found in the book “Understanding God’s Will” by Kyle Lake.

(RE)Understanding Prayer by Kyle Lake

2008-11-28T15:27:00.001-06:00

So continuing on my Kyle Lake reading spree, I just finished his other book entitled “(Re)understanding Prayer.” Now I must say this, just like his previous book, is very well written, and he offers a very interesting and in my opinion unique take on how we pray.

He begins the book by dispelling so common thoughts, feelings, and beliefs about prayer. He speaks against such things as their being a particular formula to how we should pray. He posits that there is no set way of asking God for something and his obligation to give it, a term lake deems as “Recipe Theology.” He also speaks out against prayer as being any sort of drama, discussing heavily how many use prayers as a way to enhance the self and not communicate with God.

Then, starting in chapter 8, he gets into the way he has arrived at understanding prayer. He first states that we should probably take a more eastern view of how we relate to God, as opposed to the western, formulaic view we have adopted in American culture. He seems to implore the reader to look to Christianity’s eastern roots and realize that how religion is done over there is as an envelopment of the whole person. He points out that we should not be so quick to boil down prayer to a set time and place of prayer; he posits the possibility that prayer may begin with being fully immersed in the presence of God. He stresses prayer as a way of life, a life lived in conversation with God. He argues that, while coming to God with a final product prayer in a set way is not a bad thing and is at some times necessary, prayer is designed to be more conversational, where we verbalize how we are working out are thoughts before God.

He also talks about how what hearing God truly means. He posits that all to often we as Christians throw out the importance of our part in the process of communication with God. He argues that God doesn’t necessarily speak through us, but more he speaks with us when we live a life in his presence. This does not negate are humanness.

All in all, I think that this book is as well written as his first book. I would highly recommend it to anyone, because it does offer some interesting points and thoughts on the prayer life of a Christian. It is also very accessible, you don’t need a degree in theology to understand this book.

Understanding God's Will by Kyle Lake

2008-11-26T14:15:00.001-06:00

So I just finished reading the book “Understanding God’s Will” by Kyle Lake. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. In the book, Lake seeks to revamp how we as Christians approach the will of God, mostly by adjusting some of how we view God.

He first says that we need to approach the will of God as an apprentice or learner of Jesus Christ, wanting to follow him on this journey of life. He posits that being a disciple of Jesus, which we are all called to do, is something that is lived “out there” as he puts it, in the work place, the ball field, and the classroom. He reminds us that discerning God’s will for our lives is an aspect of our discipleship to God, but not the end goal. To often we see God’s will as leading us to an end goal, like a treasure map, but lake does not see it as working that way. He reminds us that God never promised this life would be easy, and it was never promised to be safe, that often we think the will of God will offer us the path of least resistance, but that is not evident when we look at the lives of the disciples. He also points out that the decisions we make should be made with a sense of being on mission, that we often cop out of being a Christian first and our profession second, but more often we are an accountant who happens to be a Christian. He says we need to see where we are as a mission to a world that may not know God. He sums up this section by saying that we need to be prepared to meet God wherever the road leads us, planned or unplanned.

He secondly says that we need to look to God as a father. Though he admits that this may be a stumbling block for those who grew up in a bad home situation, he says that we need to approach God as the father who is their for advice but ultimately wants us to be good people and make our own decisions. We often ask God what his will is for our lives, just to be disappointed that maybe God’s will is for us to make the decision and be responsible in that. Lake then addresses intuition, and says that making decisions based on intuition is not a bad thing, but that certain decisions do not need to be made that way, i.e., marriage. He also states that when we view the will of God in light of God being father, we need to remember that sometimes we are going to make decisions that turn out great and others that don’t, but we need to take responsibility for our decisions. He concludes this section by saying that God doesn’t offer 100% success, but he does offer his presence in life, we just have to step up and take it.

Thirdly, he discusses how we need to view the will of God in terms of the Kingdom of God. He points out that the Kingdom of God is one of the most often mentioned things in the New Testament. Lake says that to view God as a king may better our understanding of God’s will. He posits that a King is concerned with the big picture of the kingdom, and with the character of his people, but not in the small details of which job to take or what show to watch. Lake is quick to point out that God is absolutely concerned with the decisions we do make, but it seems that God is much more concerned with the kind of people the decisions we make will allow us to be.

Overall, I think this is a great book. Kyle Lake writes a lot like I think, with random little interjections here and there. I think is approach to the will of God is insightful and new, and I think there is a lot we could learn from what he has to say.

An Update

2008-09-25T20:55:00.000-05:00

So I don’t really have anything in particular to write about, no deep thoughts or insights about life, love or God, but I thought I would give it a go tonight.

I have found myself in a period of transition. There is a little under 8 months until I graduate from college, which I find to be absolutely crazy. I have no clue where I will be this time next year. I have no prospective jobs lined up, am still undecided about where to go to seminary, and I don’t even know where I will live. Life is just kind of up in the air right now and I sort of like it. I see all these big life decisions and events on the horizon, but I have no idea about details, and most of them I can’t do anything about or even plan for. It’s kind of exciting.

I find myself less busy this year, only being involved with SGA on campus. The majority of my time is spent with homework, the church, or Janie, but all around I am not to busy. But I seem daily to realize that I had a whole day with lots of gaps in my schedule, but I didn’t spend time with the one person who matters most, God. I have really struggled since coming back to school with having a consistent time with God everyday, and really bothers me. I was really good about it this summer, but I have struggled come the school years. I really want to start getting up early and going to Texas Java and doing bible study there in the mornings, but thus far, haven’t done it.

This is where life is right now. More blogging to come.

Philippians 1:19-30 (To Live is Christ)

2008-08-21T11:23:00.000-05:00

Philippians 1:19-30

In this section we see one of Paul's most memorable and quotable passages of scriptures. Paul begins by letting the Philippians know that he has every hope and confidence that Christ will be glorified in his body. Then he delivers the memorable verse about to live is Christ and to die is gain. Paul does however say that if given the choice, he does not know which he would choose. Life would mean he could work to bring more people to Christ, but to die would lead directly to Christ. Paul concludes by telling them that they should live lives worthy of the Gospel so that he may hear about all that they do. He also reminds them that to share in Christ is to suffer as Christ suffered and as Paul suffered.

This line just blows my mind. To live is Christ and to die is gain. That is so far from my understanding of how anything works at all. I don't even know what to write.

LORD, reveal to me what this means, teach me what it means to think that to die is gain and to live is you. I think I know what it means God, but teach me what it MEANS and how to live it out. Amen.

Philippians 1:12-18 (The Advance of the Gospel)

2008-08-20T08:57:00.002-05:00

Philippians 1:12-18

In this section we see something that would seem very odd to us today. Instead of being disheartened about his imprisonment, Paul actually tells the Philippian believers that what has happened to him has served to advance the gospel. He lets them know that all the guard in the prison and even the people on the street know that he is in prison not for a crime he committed, but for Christ. He also says that what has happened to him has made his brothers in Christ bold, and that many of them work proclaiming the word without fear. Paul does admit that he knows that some are preaching the gospel with insincere motives, but he also admits that others sincerely preach the gospel out of love. He concludes by saying that whether the gospel is proclaimed by those with sincere motives or by those looking to afflict him, Paul is happy because the truth of Christ is being proclaimed.

"For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship." 1st Corinthians 9:17

I think the important thing to note here would be that you never know how the Lord is going to use your circumstances to further is will. Paul was in prison, but because of his imprisonment for Christ, the other brothers were now proclaiming the gospel more boldly. Who even knows how God could use the situations in your life to further his kingdom and inspire other believers.

I think another important thing is that since we never know who God is going to use to further his will, we should not judge others who proclaim the gospel message. God can use anything to bring someone to himself, so we should not be so quick to judge someone who may be preaching from insincere motives. Even if they are preaching from insincere motives, their message may still be used by God.

LORD, help me today to realize that even as I am, you can use my current situations and circumstances to bring people to yourself. Thank you Lord that you are sovereign and you are in control of your message and can use whatever means to send it out. Amen.

Philippians 1:1-11 (Greetings/Thanksgiving and Prayer)

2008-08-19T16:21:00.002-05:00

Philippians 1:1-11

Here we see at the beginning of another of Paul's letter the same format as seen in other letters. He begins here by greeting those at the church in Philippi. Then, he lets them know that he thanks God every time he remembers them in his prayers because they have been partners of his since the beginning of his ministry. He then says that he is certain that the person who began a good work in them would carry it on to it's completion. He again emphasizes how this particular church seems to be sharing in his ministry. He tells them that he wants desperately to be with them. He closes this section by praying that they would be growing in love and in so doing would grow in the knowledge and discernment of the things of God, and so be pure and blameless when Christ returns. He also ends by confessing his hope that they would be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes from Jesus Christ.

"He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it." 1st Thessalonians 5:24

"who will sustain you to the end guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1st Corinthians 1:8

Now what sticks out to me here is the verse from the passage that everyone knows. Particularly it sticks out to me today because it was exactly what I needed to read this morning. I am prone to doubt my salvation and feel like an absolute rotten person when I mess up. In reality, I need to remember that God is not done with me yet. He is still molding me into what he wants me to become, and just because I stumble or fall, he is still going to be there, not ever giving up on me to deliver me as he wants me on the day of his return.

LORD, may I remember today that you are not through with me yet. May I remember that you are doing in the work in me and I cannot fix myself. Help me submit to your refinement today Lord. Amen.

Ephesians 6:10-20 (The Whole Armor of God)

2008-08-14T14:29:00.002-05:00

Ephesians 6:10-20

Here in this section, we see one of the better known passages of scripture from the New Testament. In these verses, Paul gives his discussion for putting on the whole armor of God. With out quoting word for word what the verses say, it is sufficient to say that Paul is trying to encourage the believers at Ephesus by imploring them to rely on the Lord in the dark age in which they lived. Life was not always great for the early Christians, and Paul was trying to encourage believers in Christ even as the times were dark. The imagery of the armor would have been very familiar to the people of that time. But in all that he says here, Paul's underlying message is that the people need to rely on God and on his strength to get them through the times of darkness brought on by the enemy.

Now all I have to say here is that these words are still very important to us today, because we live in a dark age as well. We need to be relying wholly on God and on his strength to protect us from what the devil would use to destroy us.

As a side note, every time I read this passage I am reminded of something my dad used to do. He would do an armor of God presentation, but he would do it using SWAT team armor and equipment. He took what he knew, which was the SWAT team, and used that as the imagery to teach on the armor of God. It was always a really cool presentation.

LORD, help me today to rely on you. Help me to remember that it is your strength and not mine that helps me get through the day. LORD, may I rely on you in my personal times of darkness, times of temptation and doubt, and may I trust that you will bring me through it. Amen.

Ephesians 6:5-9 (Slaves and Masters)

2008-08-13T14:36:00.003-05:00

Ephesians 6:5-9

Here in this section, we see Paul turn his attention to the other common relationship in that time in Ephesus, the relationship between the master and his slave. He begins by saying that the slave should obey his master with fear and trembling. Paul says the slave should do the work of his master with a sincere heart, as if he were working for Christ. He warns them to do this with sincerity not to please people, but instead they are to remember that they are doing the will of the Lord, and essentially serving him. He reminds them that whatever good anyone does, whether or slave or free, it will be repaid to him in eternity. Paul then shifts his focus to the masters, telling them to do the same. He implores them to stop threatening their slaves, but instead to remember that the master of both their slaves and themselves is in heaven, and he doesn't see them as slave or free, he sees them as they are.

"Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven." Colossians 3:22-4:1

"For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ." 1st Corinthians 7:22

Again, a lot of this could be applied to the church today, but I want to focus on the role with which I am most familiar with. This summer I have had a very trying job at the school. Very little appreciation, very little planning was done, and very little consideration was given to me over any of it. I found myself on more than one occassion incredibly angry, and really doing all my work our of spite. Now if I am to hold what the bible says as true and try and abide by what it says, this is certainly not the attitude I should have. I should have been sincere, and even though I was not necessarily always comfortable, I should have realized that I was really serving the Lord and not my boss. I am slightly ashamed of my attitude towards this job this summer.

Hopefully, in the next job I have, or the next work I do for someone where my comfort and happiness is not necessarily most important, hopefully I will be able to work with a sincere heart, have a smile on my face, and realize I am working for the Lord.

LORD, help me tomorrow at work to have a sincere heart. Help me to realize that I am really working for you and not for my earthly boss. I am doing a service for them as I would for you, and I should find joy in it and not be so bitter and angry that it doesn't go how I think it should. Amen.