RETURN TO REDEMPTION

Jonah: Week 7

2012-01-09T12:26:00.000-05:00

Text: Jonah 3
Sermon: Ife Ojetayo (We Are Jonah)

1. [v.1-2] Chapter 3 starts off almost exactly like thefirst chapter. This is basically Godgiving Jonah a second chance after phis previous failure. Discuss a time when you were given a secondchance. How does it feel to get a secondchance? Did you make the most of it?

2. [v.3-5] Does Jonah respond differently with God’s secondchance? What is his response? How do you think he feels about this callingthis time around?

3. [v.4] Jonah’s mainmessage to the people is one of judgment, yet the people accept God’s messageand repent. Why is Jonah’s ministrysuccessful in Nineveh?

4. [v.4] Even though the message is one of judgment, it isstill within God’s grace. How is thatpossible?

5. [v.6-10] God’s power is very much alive and active inthis chapter. How does God’s power workthrough Jonah? How does God’s power workthrough Nineveh?

6. One of the morepopular ways to reach non-believers today is through relational evangelism. This means that Christians aim to build ameaningful friendship with a person before presenting the Gospel. (This is probably NOT what Jonah did.) What are the strengths of relationalevangelism? Where does it fall short?

7. Individually,write out the gospel message on a piece of paper in a way that a non-Christianwill understand. Hint: Keep it simple. Bonus points if you have a non-Christian inyour group and they comprehend your answer.

8. How does God useour words and actions for His own glory, despite our knowledge, confidence (orlack of), delivery, or motives?

Jonah: Week 6

2011-12-19T12:20:00.000-05:00

Text: Jonah 2
Sermon: Rev. Matt Kennedy (Salvation Belongs to the Lord)

1. In our moments of despair and hopelessness, what do weusually turn to or cling to?

2. What is despairand where does it come from?

3. All people and eventsare under God’s rule and authority. Namesome situations, personal or biblical, where good has come out of a bad, difficultor frustrating situation.

4. How do ourpains or struggles bring us closer to God?

5. Often, God’stiming does not match with our own. Weconsider God’s action to be too early or too late. Why does God’s timing always work, even if wedon’t see it that way at the time?

6. Our false idols(pride, alcohol, food, relationships, career, children, past events, etc.) demandthat we vow and sacrifice to them, and in return they “save us” or “serve us”in a way that is desirable. How do theseactions change when it comes to the Lord?

7. Jonah’sexperience with God reveals that the Christian life is not without pain ordiscomfort, but He does rescue us from the worst – eternal death andseparation. Share an experience that hascaused you pain or trial as a Christian.

8. After readinghalfway through the book of Jonah, share what you have learned from it so far. What are a few of the central themes?

Jonah: Week 5

2011-12-12T12:39:00.000-05:00

Text: Jonah 1:17-2:1
Sermon: Rev. Matt Kennedy (Jonah's Great Fish: Miracle or Metaphor?)

1. We’re told that Jonah is swallowed by a great fish and lives inside it for three days. This isn’t the only example of a “Biblical impossibility.” There are a number of other impossibilities in the Bible as well. Name off as many as you can.

2. Why are these impossibilities (or miracles) unacceptable or unbelievable by critics? In other words, what is essential in understanding these miracles?

3. How should Christians talk to skeptics about miracles? Should we have to defend them or support them - even if we believe them?

4. Why does God even use miracles? Are they even that important in the Bible? How about miracles in our personal lives?

5. What’s the difference between a miracle and a parable, myth, or legend?

Jonah: Week 4

2011-12-05T12:16:00.000-05:00

Text: Jonah 1 - 2:7
Sermon: Rev. Matt Kennedy (God Appoints a Fish)

1. [Jonah 1] What evidencesdo we see in the Book of Jonah that confirms that the sailors are morecompassionate and more faithful than Jonah?

2. Have you knownany non-Christians that are more obedient, more ethical, or more generous thansome actual Christians? What do youthink makes them this way?

3. Regardless ofour good deeds, they do not save us. Whydo we want to share the gospel with other people? Important: It’s not so they can “become good.”

4. [Jonah 1] Whattransformation do we see in the sailors throughout first chapter?

5. [Jonah 1] Mercy is notgetting what we deserve, and God demonstrates a lot of mercy here. Which act of mercy speaks the most toyou? Why?

6. [Jonah 1:17] Remember, we know the appointed fish iscoming because we have probably heard this account before, but Jonah doesn’t. What is Jonah really asking the sailors to do(to him) and why does he ask such a thing?

7. [Jonah 2:1-7] What change do we see in Jonah in the openingverses of chapter 2?

8. Although farfrom the Christ himself, we get a glimpse of what Jesus’ life is like through Jonah’s actions. In whatways is Jonah’s life like that of the Messiah’s?

Jonah: Week 3

2011-11-28T12:34:00.000-05:00

Text: Jonah 1:4-16
Sermon: Rev. Anne Kennedy (Jonah and the Storm)

1. [v.4-5] The account shifts with a storm and Jonah sleeping below deck while everyone on the ship is praying and preparing for the worst. Why is Jonah, a prophet of God, literally sleeping on the job? What’s his problem?

2. [v. 5] The sailors sacrifice their precious cargo in order to spare their lives. How does their attitude and actions differ from that of Jonah’s?

3. Jonah writes his account with an emphasis on direction. Twice already, Jonah has been asked to “arise” or “get up,” while Jonah’s response to it has “going down” and “sinking.” Why does Jonah write in this fashion? What is Jonah trying to say about himself? What is he trying to say about God?

4. [v.10] In the limited interactions Jonah has had with the sailors, he has already told them that we was running away from God. Considering that this isn’t what most people share about themselves in first impressions, what would convince Jonah to share this with the sailors?

5. [v.7–10] After casting lots, Jonah describes who he is and who he worships. The sailors become terrified. Why do they look to him to solve their crisis?

6. [v.11-13] Jonah requests that he’d be thrown overboard, but the sailors refuse his sacrifice at first, only to give-in later. Discuss some of the thoughts that the sailors might be having at this point in the storm.

7. [v.13-16] God uses Jonah’s stubbornness and disobedience to produce something good – namely to witness God’s power to the sailors. Has there been a time in your life where God made something good from your poor decision?

Jonah: Week 2

2011-11-26T15:45:00.001-05:00

Text: Jonah 1:1-3

Sermon: Rev. Matt Kennedy (Jonah Runs from God)

1. What is the difference between dread and fear? Does Jonah show signs of either?

2. (v.2) Jonah's understanding of God's will is clear and concise. This shows us that God's will for Jonah is not something elusive, unreachable or lofty. God gives us many ways to make certain what His will is for us. What are they?

3. (v.3) What is Jonah's reaction to God's calling? Why does he choose those actions?

4. (v.3) Jonah uses his effort, his time and money to make himself too busy to follow God to (initially) use. Has there been a time where you make yourself too busy for God?

5. (v.1-3) Can anyone (including Jonah) flee from God's presence or will? Read Psalm 139:7-10 for further reference.

6. (App) Jonah is disheartened at God's plan to redeem Nineveh. It's not uncommon for God to call us out of relationships, situations and attitudes that are not in line with His plan. In time, God's way will be done, but only through great hardship. Share a time where you and God have had to settle things "the hard way."

7. (App) What could have been done on your part to make that situation not so hard?

8. (Thanksgiving Bonus) What are you thankful for this year?

Jonah: Week 1

2011-11-26T15:38:00.001-05:00

Text: 1 Corinthians 1:26-30, Jonah 1:1-2
Sermon: Rev. Matt Kennedy (Pride and Prejudice)

1. In the light ofGod’s grace and mercy, why is it important for Christians to interact and love peoplewho are not like us?

2. (1 Cor 1:26-30) Howdo we get to be Christians? And how dowe define ourselves?

3. (1 Cor 1:26-30) Howare Christians able to “do good” in the world?

4. When we are notcarrying out God’s will, how does God bring us back obedience? How does God lead us back into acts of mercy,generosity and grace for others?

5. How can God useblessings (as opposed to trials and sufferings) to call us back to repentance?

6. Why does Godchoose people as the main way to spread the Gospel message?

7. (Jonah 1:1-2) Asan Israelite, Jonah probably sees Assyria (Nineveh) as evil, and Israel as aholy and God fearing nation. God has avery different view on both cultures. What makes a culture good or evil? Is there a culture (past or present) that best exemplifies holiness andgoodness?

8. (Jonah 1:1-2) Jonahis being called by God to do something that is very much against hisculture. When was the last time you hadto do something uncomfortable or outside your level of expectation? Briefly describe what it was and yourfeelings about it.

Introduction of Jonah

2011-11-09T18:43:00.001-05:00

Text: Jonah 1:1-2

The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

1. Jonah is considered a prophet and has a specific mission. What is a prophet’s “job description” exactly and what is Jonah’s God’s given mission?

2. Is Jonah’s job description all that different than our own as a Christian? In what ways are they similar or different?

3. Nineveh is called (by God) a great city. What makes a city great? Use any information that you may already know, imagination, or creative reasoning.

4. To Jonah, Nineveh was the capital of one of Israel’s enemy nations. Why would God call Jonah to preach amongst his enemies when Israel herself is full of sin and disobedience?

5. As comfortable Americans, we have a naïve idea of what true enemies would be like. What is the closest thing we have to an enemy and why would sharing the gospel with them might make us extremely uncomfortable?

6. Jonah is given a reason for his mission – and it is perhaps one of the most unwelcomed messages of all time – what is it? Furthermore, why is it so difficult for us to hear that message (especially during a time of prosperity)?

7. Before this specific calling, Jonah was a prophet of better news: that Israel would be in God’s blessings through wealth and peace. Next week, we will find that Jonah is less than eager to preach the message of repentance. God often leads us down unfamiliar or uncomfortable circumstances to bring us closer to Him. Has there been any time in your life where God has changed your direction? What was the result (or is it still pending)?

Questions on Mark 2:1-12 - Jesus Heals a Paralytic

2011-08-27T12:21:00.000-04:00

Text: Mark 2:1-12

Sermon: Ife Ojetayo

1. (Lead-In) Setting aside how people sometimes actually act, what are the normal "rules" for interacting with a celebrity? What are some of the many possible reasons for these rules?

2. (Lead-In) Think of an instance when you were brought to the realization that, though your physical/emotional needs are important, they're nothing compared to your need for a right relationship with God. In what ways did that realization change that relationship?

3. (v.2) Look at the entire passage. What "types" of people (what do they do, how are they described, or how are they not described?) are there listening to Jesus that day? In what ways does Jesus treat everyone there similarly, and for what reasons do some of them get addressed specifically?

4. (v.5) Mark points out a cause-and-effect at work: Jesus sees the faith of the men who've brought the paralytic (and possibly the faith of the paralytic himself, depending on whether he's included in the word "their"), and in response he tells the paralytic man that his sins are forgiven. What connects those two things together? Why would one lead to the other?

5. (v.5) What are the differences between what we might think of as the "right" things to say or do in a situation like verse 4 and Jesus' actual response? Why does Jesus do what he does?

6. (v.10) Jesus gives the paralytic man physical healing so that it may be known that "the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." What's the connection between those two things? Why would the ability to heal a paralytic prove Jesus' authority to forgive sins?

7. (vv.1-12) What's the most central truth about Jesus in this passage? What should our response be?

8. (App) In our interactions with our neighborhood as a mission group, how can we meet others' needs without making either of the following mistakes: (1) focusing on physical/emotional needs so much that it comes at the expense of tending to much greater spiritual needs; (2) seeing our service to others primarily as bait - as something we mostly do as an excuse to get people in one place so that we can tell them about Jesus? (Hint: wanting to tell our neighborhoods about Jesus isn't the thing about Option #2 that's wrong!)

Questions on Matthew 15:21-28 -- The Canaanite Woman

2011-08-18T15:08:00.000-04:00

Text: Matthew 15: 21-28
Sermon: Matthew Tuttle

1. Think of a time where you had the wrong impression of someone. What led you to that wrong impression?

2. Choose three words to describe the person-hood of Jesus. Why did you choose these words?

3. (v.23) Why would Jesus ignore the Canaanite woman? Do you think this is intentional? If so, what’s his reason for doing so?

4. (v.24) Consider the covenant that God made to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3. What does this mean for Israel as a nation? What does this mean for other nations?

5. (v.24) In light of the question above, what does Jesus’s response in verse 24 mean? Do you think the woman understood what Jesus was saying?

6. (v.26-27) Jesus’ second statement refers to how God blesses the Jewish people first, then the gentiles later (through the nation of Israel). What is the cleverness of the woman’s response?

7. (App) The woman in this account displays a variety of desirable traits for modern Christians. Identify them and explain how it inspires you to be a better Christian yourself.

Questions about Trials and Judgment

2011-08-14T13:59:00.003-04:00

Text: Psalm 11
Sermon: Rev. Mark Carlton (Home Church)

1. (Lead-in) Do you think a society or culture will tolerate wrong-doing? If so, how? Could tolerance ever grow into acceptance?

2. (Lead-in) Do you think a society or culture can villianize what was previously considered a virtue? If so, how?

3. (v.1) Why does the option of fleeing from conflict seem appealing? Does it achieve its goal in the short-term? How about the long-term?

4. (v.2,3) When evil is “breaking down the foundations,” what social choices do we have as Christians?

5. (v.4) How does God’s presence and “location” act as a comfort to us?

6. (v.5) What does God ask of His people in response to the success of the wicked?

7. (v.6,7) How do we (as Christians) approach the world on the topic of judgment? Why might this be a topic of incredible discomfort or incredible joy? (For additional references on joy see Psalm 96.)

8. (App) Why is judgment absolutely necessary for God to be truly loving and truly just?

Questions about Sharing the Gospel

2011-08-01T11:02:00.001-04:00

Text: Colossians 4:3-6
Sermon: Rev. Anne Kennedy

1. How important is it to those outside the church that we live a holy life as Christians?

2. How important is it that we prepared to speak about Jesus?

3. Is it more important to live a holy lifestyle or to be prepared to speak and share the Gospel?

4. What wide-spread misconceptions do people have about Christians?

5. (v.3-4) Why should prayer come before we speak to others about Jesus?

6. (v.4) How can God “ruin our lives” to spread the Gospel? Or, in what ways has God worked through people in uncomfortable or frustrating situations to increase His glory?

7. (v.5) We must make an effort to be wise in our actions and words towards people. How do we become wise?

8. (v.6) Is there value is understanding anything outside the Bible? Either way, defend your reasoning.

9. (v.5) How do we develop an awareness of the opportunities God puts in front of us? In other words, how do we prepare our minds and our words for sharing the Gospel?

10. (v.6) Salt is a very vivid symbol for what Christians should be in the world. It implies that we should have flavor in our speech as well as a cleansing, healing and preserving presence. Discuss why this is a great symbol for those who are spreading the Gospel.

Questions about Prayer

2011-07-18T20:40:00.000-04:00

Text: Colossians 4:2-4, Luke 18:1-8, Hebrews 13:20-21
Sermon: Rev. Matt Kennedy

1. (Lead-In) What are your expectations regarding prayer toward God?

2. (Lead-In) What is the evidence of answered prayer? Is it always what we expect?

3. (Lead-In) How do feelings and emotions aide us during our prayer times? How can they also mislead us?

4. (Luke 18:1-8) God values and encourages consistency in our prayer requests. What are some prayers you have consistency prayed about? Have any of them come to partial or complete fruition?

5. (Col 4:2) What are some of the challenges people have during prayer? What prevents us from praying consistently and regularly?

6. (Heb 13:20-21) What does God equip us with in order to continue doing His good work (even when we sometimes don’t want to)?

7. (Col 4:2) Paul calls us to be watchful for threats to our faith. What are some of those threats?

8. (Col 4:2) How can individual sin turn into church-wide (or corporate) sin? How do we stop our sin from “infecting” others?

9. (Col 4:2) An attitude of thanksgiving in prayer yields many spiritual benefits. Name and discuss a few of them.

Questions about Slavery: Part 2

2011-07-14T18:22:00.002-04:00

Text: Colossians 3:22-4:1, Ephesians 6:5-9, 1 Corinthians 7:22-23, 1 Timothy 1:10, Philemon 1

Sermon: Rev. Matt Kennedy

1. Even today there are still a large number of slaves (even in America). Although some forms of slavery are obvious, some are not. Discuss how different forms of slavery exist in the world today.

2. Although owning slaves is permissible by God, it is not in God’s ultimate design. Can you think of other human conditions and systems where this might be true?

3. Using the two weeks combined, how could you better defend the Bible in regards to slavery? In other words, what important and critical facts did you learn that you had not known before?

4. Slavery is often misunderstood and sections of Scripture have been misused for evil intent. Give an example of when you have encountered someone misusing Scripture.

5. How could you respectfully correct a person who misuses Scripture?

6. Try reading the book of Philemon. (You can do it; it’s only 25 verses!) What do you notice about Paul’s language?

7. Share what you think is particularly interesting or special about the book of Philemon. What to do you think its purpose is in the Bible?

FOR MORE INFORMATION about slavery in America and around the world, click here or here.

Questions about Slavery: Part 1

2011-07-05T20:45:00.001-04:00

Text: Colossians 3:22 – 4:1, Genesis 3:17-19

Sermon: Rev. Matt Kennedy

1. [Lead-in] What connotations or implications does the word “slavery” have?

2. [Lead-in] Is there ever a time where slavery is justified?

3. [Gen. 3:17-19] How does the relationship between people and the Earth become strained when Adam and Eve sinned against God?

4. [History] In ancient Israel, God provides a system (through Moses) to take care of the poor. A person could voluntarily work under someone and in return be given free food and health care for 6 years at a time. How could this be beneficial or favorable for those down on their luck?

5. [History] The same worker could walk away from the job whenever they wanted to or whenever they could pay of their debt. If that wasn’t possible, after the 6 year term, the worker could choose to stay for another 6 years or be given the goods needed to start on their own again, debt free. In addition, the Law also gave these workers rights that protected their physical being and dignity. How is this system different than the type of slavery that was seen in the 1800s and today?

6. [Col 3:22-4:1] God calls for the death penalty for those who kidnap or possess people who are stolen (in other words, slaves). With that in mind, re-read Colossians 3:22 – 4:1. Does anything in the passage stand out more than when you first read it?

7. [App] In addition to the above, God calls all his people who can afford to do so to give sacrificially. In fact Deuteronomy 15:4 states that there will be no poor among the people of Israel. How would a system like the one mentioned above work today? What role should the church play in it? Could it even exist?

Questions for Parenting: Part 2

2011-07-05T19:44:00.000-04:00

Texts: Colossians 3:20-21, Ephesians 6:1-4, Hebrews 12:6-11, Deuteronomy 11:18-19

Sermon: Rev. Matt Kennedy

1. [Lead-In] Disciplining children is similar to when you first decide to live like a Christian. Share your trials of when you first committed your life to Christ.

2. [Lead-In] Why will children who fail to respect their parents also refuse to respect other authority figures, adults and teachers?

3. [Heb. 12:5-11] Saying yes or always agreeing with your child can be addictive and unhealthy for the entire family over time. What might be some of the consequences of this?

4. [Eph. 6:1-2] Paul commands two rules for the children: Obey your parents and honor them. Give some examples in what obeying and honoring parents looks like or doesn't look like.

5. [Eph. 6:1-4] We love God because He loved us first... and He showed us what that love looks like. How does this love work in parenting?

6. [Eph. 6:1-4] Is it okay for parents to admit their wrongs to children?

7. [Deut. 11:18-19] How should parents work Jesus into everyday situations (including discipline)?

8. [App] How do we teach children to take the focus off themselves and onto Jesus?

9. [App] How should parents discipline their children without provoking anger?

Questions for Parenting: Part 1

2011-06-22T17:12:00.001-04:00

Text: Colossians 3:20-21, Ephesians 2:1-3, Ephesians 2:8-10, Ephesians 6:1-4

Sermon: Rev. Matt Kennedy

1. [Lead In] Discuss some of the ways you were raised or how you have raised your children.

2. [Eph 2:1-3] Paul states here that all humans are fallen by nature. What does “by nature” mean? And what evidences do we see of this truth?

3. [Eph 2:1-3] American culture in particular views children differently than Scripture. Discuss some of these views and the reasons why they might be incompatible with a Biblical worldview.

4. [Eph 2:8-10] Paul also states that we were designed to enjoy and to glorify God. What are some things that please God, which are also things you love to do?

5. [App] How does our fallen and disobedient state distort the fact that we were made to find joy in God by glorifying him?

6. [Eph 6:1-3] Why does God want children to obey their parents? What benefit is there to the child physically, mentally, and spiritually?

7. [Eph 6:1-3] Put the promise in verses two and three into layman’s terms. Also, why does this promise make sense in a practical and spiritual way?

8. [App] In light of these questions, prioritize the goals of parenting. Please share and discuss your reasoning with the group.

Questions for Pentecost

2011-06-22T17:08:00.000-04:00

Text: Acts 2

Sermon: Rev. Anne Kennedy

1. [Lead-In] Share a time where something the Holy Spirit has made itself very clear to you, a close friend, or a loved one. No occurrence when the Holy Spirit is present is considered minor.

2. [Review] Keep in mind that Pentecost is used for the redemption (or holy correction) of Babel. Discuss how the events of Babel and Pentecost are alike and different. How is Pentecost redeeming Babel?

3. [v.1] Why do people try to unify and identify as a group? How is this advantageous and dangerous for God’s people?

4. [v.2,3] There is a mighty wind that causes no destruction and fire that doesn’t burn mentioned in the beginning of Acts 2. What is the wind and fire represent, and why would Luke (the author of Acts) describe it as such?

5. [v.4-8] It is important to note that the men start speaking different languages that they never learned, but in particular what are they speaking and why is it important?

6. [v.9-13] Discuss what it must have been for the foreigners to hear the Gospel in their own native tongue. Some believe the disciples to be drunk, but how would you react to this (or any type) of miraculous event?

7. [v.37,App] The foreigners hear the message (most probably for the first time), repent, get baptized and join the newly formed body of believers. How is this like we outreach and disciple new believers?

Questions about Husbands

2011-06-15T08:37:00.001-04:00

Text: Colossians 3:19, Ephesians 5:21, 25-32

Sermon: Rev. Matt Kennedy

1. [Col 3:19] Think about what type of love is being mentioned here. In other words, how is a husband supposed to love his wife?

2. [Col 3:18-19] Paul takes extra effort to address wives and husbands with separate commands. This is done to intentionally “delink” the two verses. Why is this important? Also, do you think the order of the verses have any significance?

3. [Ephesians] Read Ephesians 5: 21, 25-32 as it is an extension of Colossians 3:19. Discuss what “head of the household” means in this context.

4. [Ephesians] Should husbands be prepared to follow Christ in ways that might make them feel uncomfortable? Why or why not? (Note: This is a trick question. The answer is “yes.”)

5. [Eph 5:25-27] Look again at Ephesians 5:25-27. How does a husband do these things? What happens in a marriage where this is happens?

6. [Eph 5:28-29] What is Paul getting at when he writes that husbands should love their wives as their own bodies?

7. [App] Although a disputed translation, harsh could also mean embitter. Politely, discuss situations where you have embittered someone. How can we adjust ourselves so this doesn’t become habit?

8. [App] Politely, discuss a situation where you have been subject to embitterment. How should we address our loved ones when we’ve been hurt.

Questions about Wives

2011-06-02T10:53:00.001-04:00

Text: Colossians 3: 18, Philippians 2: 5 - 8

Sermon: Rev. Anne Kennedy

1. [Lead-In] How has cultures viewed and treated women throughout different geographical regions and time periods?

2. [Lead-In] Specifically, how does American culture treat women today? Feel free to use personal experiences.

3. Why is it so important that Paul addresses wives with this command as opposed to their husbands?

4. The word submit can also be translated to subject. What does true submittal or subjection look like outwardly (in actions) and inwardly (in heart and mind)?

5. Read Philippians 2: 5 – 8. Discuss how a wives submittal to a husband imitates Jesus’ submittal to Christ.

6. Consider the phrase “as is fitting in the Lord.” What are some examples or limitations where wives should not submit to their husbands?

7. “As is fitting” does not mean wives will be comfortable or even at peace in their submittal. Considering the conversations and questions from last week, what can wives do secure themselves in this command?

8. [App] The way wives submit to their husbands is uniquely different. If you are married, share some of the ways you have worked this verse out. If you are a woman who is single, dating or engaged, try to describe how this study has changed your view on being a future wife.

Questions Colossians 3: 15 - 17

2011-05-30T12:57:00.000-04:00

Text: Colossians 3: 12 - 17

Sermon: Rev. Matt Kennedy

1. [Lead-In] How do you typically make a decision when a choice is not clear or easy to make?

2. [App] Why might “being at peace” in a situation be a good or bad indicator for the choices we make?

3. [v.15] What is the “peace of Christ” and how is it different than the feeling of “being at peace?”

4. [v.15] How does “Christ’s rule” bring unity to the body of believers (that is, the church)?

5. [v.16] What is admonishment and how is it effectively used in the church?

6. [v.16] How is worship with gratitude, teaching in wisdom, and admonishment used to understand Christ’s word?

7. [v.16] How do these same practices (mentioned in question 6) shape us as believers?

8. [v.17] To do something “in the name of Christ” is to do so in accordance or in the same spirit as Christ did it. What steps should we take, or what indicators are there telling us if something should be done in Christ’s name?

9. [App] When we dwell in Christ’s word for prolong periods of time, what happens to us individuals and as a church?

Questions about Love

2011-05-22T15:38:00.002-04:00

Text: Colossians 3: 12 - 14
Sermon: Rev. Matt Kennedy

1. [Lead-In] What are some of the things you love?

2. The English language has limitations that prevent us for understanding different levels of love. Without using the Greek definitions (if you remember or know them), discuss the different levels or meanings of the word love.

3. [v.12-14] How are the virtues in verse 12 enhanced or improved with the addition of love? In other words, how to love 'bind them together in perfect unity?"

4. [v.13-14] How is love related to forgiveness? Can you have one without the other? Why or why not?

5. Why is making decisions based on eros (romantic or irrational) love unhealthy or unwise?

6. Why is it a good thing that we have needs based on agape (unconditional or God-like) love? In other words, why are we created with needs that only God can fill, and why is this a good thing?

7. Why do we falter in spreading agape (unconditional or God-like) love to a dark and fallen world, when we know that it is necessary for a relationship with God?

8. Think and share a situation (real or fictitious), where agape love is difficult or challenging to practice.

Questions for Colossians 3:12-13

2011-05-13T16:12:00.004-04:00

Text: Colossians 3:12 - 14

Sermon: Rev. Matt Kennedy

1. [Review] What does it mean to be God’s chosen, holy and beloved?

2. What does “clothe yourself” mean? What does the imagery imply?

3. Many of the qualities in verse 12 require us to be honest with ourselves. How does someone be honest with themselves? Or, what questions do we need ask ourselves?

4. What does compassion in community look like?

5. Although compassion is a feeling, it is more so an action. What does this mean in how we practice compassion?

6. In what situations is kindness necessary? Can you speak in truth and in kindness simultaneously? What does this look like?

7. How do we measure our own and other’s humility?

8. What does a congregation with humility look like? What do they do? How do they do it?

9. How does gentleness (or meekness) differ from a lack of confidence?

10. How is meekness used by God to bring His kingdom?

11. How can our patience grow? Consider what is written in verse 13.

Questions about Trials and Glory

2011-05-06T18:42:00.001-04:00

Text: Psalms 4

Sermon: Jerry Shriver

1. [Lead-In] Can you think about a difficult time or a great trial in your life? What made the experience so hard? How did it feel?

2. [v.1] What types of distress do we put on ourselves or on others? Consider all types of distress including physical, emotional, and spiritual.

3. [v.2] Define glory. Also, what is the difference between the glory of man and the glory of God?

4. [v.2] How do our delusions/false gods divert our attention away from the truth and purpose God has for us?

5. [v.3] Countless times, God has used his servants in the Bible to make “a way out of no way.” Share or reflect on your favorite “way out of no way” account in Scripture. Why is this particular account so important to you?

6. [v.4] What happens when we still our minds and hearts? What types of things does God reveal to us? How should we react?

7. [v.6] How is God’s vision of success and prosperities different than our own?

8. [App] Think of times in your life that God has delivered you from a trial. What is the value of setting up a “memorial” to serve as a reminder of His faithfulness? How do we set “memorials” in our lives?

Questions about Easter Sunday

2011-04-28T09:58:00.001-04:00

Text: Matthew 27:57 – 28:15

Sermon: Rev. Matt Kennedy

1. [Lead-in] Can you think of a story that you’ve heard that seems almost unbelievable? Do you think the story was a bit embellished or has room for doubt?

2. [General] Why are the Gospels (and the rest of the New Testament) as pieces of evidence for Christ’s resurrection so important?

3. [28:1-7] Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene were first to arrive at the tomb (possibly with Salome and/or Joanna). Why did the woman arrive there first, and where do you think all the men and disciples were?

4. [27:57-60] Joseph of Arimathea was a member of the Sanhedrin, making him a very popular and recognizable person in the first century. Jesus, who was just as popular, was laid in Joseph’s tomb. How does their combined fame and popularity strengthen the resurrection’s reliability?

5. [27:62-66] Why would Rome want to waste the time and effort of their military by sealing and guarding a tomb? How does this benefit the case for resurrection?

6. [28:11-15] In their failure to guard the tomb, Roman soldiers turn to the Jewish authorities and receive a bribe to spread false information. Where in the priests’ bribe does the logic sound unconvincing? In other words, why is the bribe false and contradicting?

7. [General] Consider suffering of the apostles after the resurrection. Every apostle receives slander and beatings, and all but one is executed for confessing and preaching the faith. [The other one is sent to exile.] Why would anyone endure such hardship and persecution?

8. [App] Considering what the first century followers of Jesus went through, how should we prepare ourselves to share the faith with others? Should we expect individual or organized persecution for what we say? Should we be scared for that time, or is it happening already?

9. [App] Why is the Resurrection considered one of the most central doctrines in Christianity?

Questions about Palm Sunday

2011-04-25T19:00:00.001-04:00

Text: Genesis 12 – 22, Zechariah 9:9 – 13, Matthew 21:1 - 9

Sermon: Rev. Matt Kennedy

1. (Lead-in) Can you remember a time where you have been frustrated with God’s promises? Or, can you remember a time where God didn’t answer a prayer in a typical fashion?

2. (Gen 12-22, App) Why is it difficult for us to understand God’s timing and purpose? Do you think we will ever understand completely?

3. (Gen 12-22, App) When our prayers or questions to God go unanswered, how do we respond and how should we respond?

4. (Zech 9:9) The prophecy in Zechariah comes to fulfillment twice: primarily during a 166 BC rebellion against the Greeks, and again through Jesus on the first Palm Sunday. Why would Jesus be interested in a second fulfillment of this Scripture, and in particular, verse 9?

5. (Matt 21:6-9) The people were quick to identify the Zechariah prophecy and reacted in a way they thought appropriate. What were the crowds cheering for? What was Jesus really doing?

6. (Matt 21:10-11) How does Jesus plan this event as both a humble and bold action?

7. (App) The people will eventually catch on that Jesus is not in Jerusalem to start a revolt and quickly take matters into our own hands. With that thought in mind, how do we manage our thoughts and actions when our ways aren’t in line with God’s?

8. (App) Remember that God was aware of sinfulness before the Creation of the Cosmos. In what ways has God preplanned our sinful choices into His plan to save sinners? Feel free to use personal or Biblical answers.

Questions about our Sin Nature

2011-04-19T17:36:00.003-04:00

Text: Ephesians 1:3 – 5, Colossians 3:12 – 25

1. (Lead-in) Can you think of a time where someone’s hypocrisy frustrated or angered you? Please refrain from using specific names.

2. (Eph 1:4, Col 3:12) God is intimately aware of our sinful and hypocritical thoughts and actions before the Creation of the universe, yet still chooses to love us. How should we approach ours and other’s hypocrisy?

3. (Eph 1:4, Col 3:12) Discuss the difference between “Jesus died on the cross because He loves us” and, “Jesus loves us so much that He died on the cross.” Is there even a difference at all?

4. (App) Why does God clean up our sin lives, when He knows we will never be perfect?

5. (Col 3:12) Through Paul, God calls us chosen, holy and beloved despite our imperfections. How are we bestowed with such unworthy titles?

6. (Col 3:12 – 25) What particular characteristic(s) in Colossians 3: 12 – 25 strike you as the most difficult as an individual or as a community? (We will be investigating these in more depth in future weeks.)

7. (App) Our sin nature tempts us away from commitment. What reasons and excuses do people, including us, make to avoid commitment and accountability?

8. (App) When we refuse to let Christ in our lives, we choose to commit to ourselves and not to a community of believers. What is the consequence of that choice?

Questions about God's Glory and Man's Glory

2011-04-08T09:11:00.004-04:00

Text: Genesis 11: 1 – 9, Colossians 3: 9 – 11
Sermon: Rev. Matt Kennedy

1. [Gen 11:1-4] What is the underlying sin of the people in Genesis 11? Can you think of a modern day equivalent to “the tower?”

2. [Gen 11:5-9] What is your opinion of God’s action in this account? Is God fearful of man? Is God justified in His actions? What are His reasons for his actions?

3. [Gen 11] In what ways do we try to be our own god?

4. [Col 3:11] Paul calls for the end of discrimination based on race, class and social status. What cultural discriminations do we see today inside and outside of the church that need to be eliminated?

5. [Col 3:11] What does, “Christ is all, and is in all,” mean to us? Why is that important?

6. [App] As a church trying to unify believers, in what ways do we neglect the diversity of others?

7. [App] As individuals, Christians are called to confirm to the mind and likeness of Jesus, yet by God’s grace, we keep our uniqueness. How is this possible?

8. [App] Specifically, explain why our differences, personally and corporately, completes the design of God’s creation.

Questions for Colossians 3: 5 – 8

2011-04-04T15:49:00.000-04:00

Text: Colossians 3: 1 - 11

1. (v. 5) What similarities do the sins share in verse 5? How are they related?

2. (v. 5) Paul goes out of the way to mention that greed (or covetousness) is also an idol. If you have thought about it before, in what specific ways does greed serve as an idol?

3. (v. 6,7) Paul’s first list (verse 5) is a charge to purge sin out of the Colossians (and our own) personal lives. Why do you think Paul chooses these particular instructions first? Particularly consider the need to reflect internally, before interacting with other people and groups around us.

4. (v. 8) What similarities do the sins share in verse 8? How are they related?

5. (v.5-8) Explain how sins of the “heart” effect the “tongue.” In other words, how does our heart and mind influence our actions?

6. (v.5-8) Explain how sins of the “tongue” effect the “heart.” In other words, how do our actions influence our heart and mind?

7. (v.5-8) Because our sins (against each other and God) have internal and external consequences, how do we correct our habitual sin that influence both?

8. (v.5-8) Despite any shortcomings and baggage we bring, God chooses to use the Colossians and us as seeds of change to the world and its culture. In light of this fact and our conversation, how does this make you feel? Why would God allow this?

Questions for Colossians 3: 1 – 4

2011-03-16T14:21:00.000-04:00

Text: Colossians 3:1 - 4

1. (v. 1-2) Setting your heart “on things above” is not an overnight process. What can we do to set our hearts on heavenly things?

2. (v. 1-2) What forces set our hearts toward earthly things? Be as specific as possible.

3. (v. 1-2) Can heavenly thoughts descend to us here? Can earthly thoughts ascend to heaven?

4. (v. 1-2) Do you believe that if you lack heavenly understanding, then you are unable to understand our world? Why or why not?

5. (v. 1-2) Why is Christ’s equality with God good news for us? Why is this significant?

6. (v. 3) What does, “your life is now hidden with Christ,” mean? What thoughts or images spring to mind?

7. (v. 4) What does “Christ, who is your life,” mean?

8. (app) Do you think following Christ is more difficult than what you would thought it would be? Why? Give reasons and examples.

Questions about Self-Discipline

2011-03-12T12:34:00.001-05:00

Text: Colossians 2:16 – 23

1. Although not a contextually accurate interpretation of verse 16, how often do we let ourselves be judged and influenced by other people’s opinions? Is this a beneficial practice for us or not?

2. Do you think we learn to sin naturally or is it something we learn through our surroundings and environment?

3. Despite our best efforts or our position with God, we seem inclined to repeat our sins over and again. Why do we continue to indulge in our sins?

4. (v.20,21) Do you think self-discipline helps us limit our sins? Is there a limit to self-discipline and, if so, where do we draw the line?

5. (v.21-22) Is strict self-discipline any different from religion?

6. (v. 21-22) Other religions and spiritual practices outside Christianity place a large emphasis on being disciplined and living on a set of laws. How is this different than Christianity?

7. (v.23) What power does the Gospel have over self-discipline?

8. (v. 23) Do you think surrendering to God is a better healer than self-discipline? Do you think it's easier?

Questions on Romans 8: Part 2

2011-03-03T21:54:00.001-05:00

Worship: Psalm 40: 1 – 12

Text: Romans 8 :9 - 17

1. Verse 9 delivers a promise that those in Christ are no longer controlled by sinful nature, yet we still sin daily. How to do explain this, especially to non-Christians?

2. (v. 9) What does it mean that the (Holy) Spirit lives in you? Does your spirit change upon conversion, or are there two separate spirits living in you?

3. (v. 9) What does the Spirit of God allow us to do that we couldn’t do previously?

4. Explain the death mentioned in verse 10.

5. (v. 11) What does Christ’s death and resurrection say about ours in the physical and spiritual sense?

6. (v. 14-17) Being a child of God is referenced four times in these four verses. Why do you think Paul was inspired to use this metaphor?

7. (v. 15) If we are no longer slaves of fear, what changes should we see in our lives?

8. (v. 16) How do we explain the Spirit testifying with ours? What does that even mean?

9. (v. 17) Will all Christians endure some degree of suffering for Christ’s sake? Why or why not.

Questions on Romans 8: Part 1

2011-02-28T11:43:00.006-05:00

Worship: Psalm 33
Text: Romans 8:1-8

1. (v. 1) What is condemnation? Where does it come from? How is it manifested?

2. (v. 2) What is the “Law of the Spirit” and the “Law of Sin?”

3. (v. 3) The text implies that the previous law had a purpose at once place in time. What was it?

4. (v. 3) Why do you think Paul chose the words “likeness of sinful man/flesh” to describe Christ’s humanity in verse 3? (NOTE: It’s found nowhere else in the Bible!)

5. (v. 1,3) Why is Christ essential in removing our condemnation? Why can’t we do it ourselves?

6. (v. 3) Although we are free from the previous law, is Christianity still a system of laws? Why or why not?

7. (v. 4) How does being free of condemnation allow us to live in unity with the spirit? Or in other words, why is the absence of condemnation necessary?

8. (v. 5,6) If your “mindset” determines your desires, then what does this say about the condemned mind? How about the Spirit-filled mind?

9. (v. 7,8) Paul is very certain that a sinful mind cannot submit or even please God. Why is he so certain of this? What are his convictions of this truth?

10. What can we do in our lives to protect our minds from sin and condemnation?

Questions for Colossians 2: 13 – 15

2011-02-21T19:24:00.001-05:00

Worship: Psalm 30
Text: Colossians 2:13-15

1. What does it mean to be “dead in our sin” or “dead in our trespasses?” (v. 13)

2. Last week, we discussed some aspects of baptism. Primarily, baptism is the NT sign of being in covenant with God. What characteristics define Christians? Or in other words, what are our identifying marks?

3. Why does God want us baptized? Do you think it is necessary? Why or why not?

4. We do not become “good” when we start attending church – we are still sinners – but we do being to spiritually mature. If you feel comfortable, share something that you had to or wanted to give up for God.

5. Some people view Christianity/church as changing your behavior or a moral code. Although this does happen, it is not the Gospel. Why is this a good thing for Christians?

6. What is Christ disarming the powers and authorities from doing? (v.13)

7. Describe how the fullness of Christ in us ends boasting and pride.

8. Describe how the fullness of Christ in us ends the feeling of expectations and disappointments in ourselves and others.

Questions for Colossians 2: 8 - 12

2011-02-14T19:14:00.001-05:00

Worship: Psalm 19
Text: Colossians 2:8-12

Questions by Joe Kovac

1. In verse 8, “philosophy” actually refers to a specific type of thinking called The Philosophy, which was predominant among the Colossians during the time when the letter was written. Think of a few popular philosophies or traditions that are influence our culture today.

2. Just like “The Philosophy” spreading among the Colossians, we can find small parts of truth among the lies. What truths can we find about our modern philosophies and traditions? Which claims are empty deceits?

3. Since Christ dwells in bodily form, what implications does this have in our daily lives? In other words, what is the significance that spirit and flesh co-exist?

4. Verse 9 explains that although Christ is a man, He is also completely and fully divine. What does it mean to you that God came to us as a man (namely, Christ)?

5. Following Christ’s lead, we put off our sinful ways through the help of the Holy Spirit. If you feel comfortable, share a time where you have successfully overcome sin.

6. What are the “powers” and “authorities” mentioned in verse 10? How are they manifested throughout the world? How are they manifested in our daily lives?

7. Baptism is the New Testament symbol of being in covenant and in relationship with God. Consider the terminology used in verse 12. How does this help us understand the fullness of Christ.

Questions by Rev. Matt Kennedy

8. Paul warns the Colossian Christians not to be taken “captive” by philosophy and empty deceit. Discuss some of the reasons a philosophy like Gnosticism or Jewish merkabah might be alluring to first century people. Are there any philosophies/ religions/ spiritualities today that bear resemblance to them? If so, why or how might people today be “taken captive” by them.

9. In the Greek text, it is fairly clear that Paul is not warning against “philosophy” in general but “the Philosophy” in particular. The teaching that threatened the Colossian church was probably called “the Philosophy.” Sophia in Greek means wisdom and “phileo” in Greek means love. This means “philosophy” is the love of wisdom. Given that Paul was not attacking philosophy in general, can you think of some reasons that the teachers of “the Philosophy” in Colossea might have adopted such a name for their teaching? What might be attractive about a teaching with such a name? Is there ever any danger in loving “wisdom”?

10. The first thing Paul says about “The Philosophy” is that it may be set alongside and understood as: “empty deceit”—the Philosophy is equated with “empty deceit”. Can you think of any reasons Paul might have used the word “empty”? Observe and discuss the significance of the use Paul makes of the contrast between “fullness” and “emptiness” in vv.8-10

11. The phrase “according to” in verse 8 is similar in meaning to the phrase “in the name of” elsewhere in the New Testament. So when you pray “in the name” of Jesus, you are praying “according to” him or his will. Knowing that, discuss the significance/meaning of Paul’s use of that phrase in verse 8. (He uses it twice.)

12. Paul writes that the Philosophy is according to “human tradition”. Define “tradition”. Jewish mystics believed that God revealed certain spiritual truths to Moses on Mt. Sinai that he did not write down but were instead passed down orally. How might Paul be addressing this idea in verse 8? What makes a “tradition” acceptable or unacceptable? Why do you think Paul describes this particular tradition as “human?” Does he imply that all “human” traditions are to be avoided? Why or why not?

13. Paul writes that the Philosophy is according to “the elemental spirits of the world”—the “stoichia”. What do you think Paul means? What are the “stoichia” as far as Paul is concerned?

14. Compare what Paul writes about the stoichia in v.8 with what he writes to the Corinthians in 1 Cor 10:20; 2 Cor 11:14; Ephesians 2: 2 and Ephesians 6:12. Might we, on the basis of these texts, draw any general conclusions about Paul’s view of the source of the Philosophy? What are these conclusions? Might we also on the basis of these texts draw any broader conclusions about faiths and spiritualities that are not “according to Christ?” What are these conclusions?

15. Compare and contrast what Paul writes about the Philosophy in verse 8 with what he writes about Jesus in verses 9-10.

16. How does Paul seek to address the desires and longings that might draw people to the Philosophy in vv9-10? In what ways might these verses inform our own engagement with people drawn to other religions, faiths, philosophies, or spiritualities?

17. Identify some aspects of Christian teaching, articulated in vv.9-10 which would have been particularly difficult to accept for people in the first century drawn to the Philosophy. Are these aspects of the faith any easier to accept now in our culture? Paul does not hesitate to declare counter cultural truths about Jesus Christ that might “turn off” his readers. Discuss some Christian truths that are “turn offs” in our culture.

18. If Paul were writing to Good Shepherd (or your home church) what philosophies, practices, or cultural beliefs might he confront and how might he do it?

19. What aspects of your faith do you find the most difficult to share? Why?

Questions for Colossians 1: 24 - 27

2011-01-21T10:05:00.001-05:00

I thought I would share the questions I asked at my Missions Group so that anyone can use them for their Bible study group, devotional, or just for kicks. You can listen/watch the sermon by clicking anywhere on this sentence.

Questions by Joe Kovac

1) When you are stressed, uncomfortable or frustrated in our day-to-day lives, how do you cope?

2) Do you think your pains and frustrations are worth suffering for? Do you have a choice to suffer for them or not?

3) “Rejoicing does not mean the absence of pain.” Keeping this in mind, how can we find some joy in our darker hours, days, weeks, months, years, etc.?

4) Many Christians claim to love Christ, but some can’t or refuse to love the church, (which is Christ’s body or Christ’s bride). Why do you think this is?

5) The Holy Spirit works in us to complete the work Christ did for us on the cross. But do we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us only during “our better times”? How about our bad times?

6) If you are in Christ, then you have received a calling that you are a steward of. No calling is greater or lesser, because all gifts and talents are needed for the entire church to demonstrate God’s love and maximize God’s glory. What has God gives you a call for? (If you don’t know what your calling is, talk to a friend, or pray about it (or both).)

7) Are we ready to accept and suffer, if need be, for our God-given calling? Is this easy or hard to do (or both)?

8) If our willingness to serve those inside and outside the church is a gauge for our relationship with Christ, how do you measure up? Where have you failed? Where can you improve?

Questions by Rev. Matt Kennedy

9) Paul does not say that he suffers for the sake of “Christ” but for the sake of the Colossian church (v.24) and the Body as a whole (v.24). What might this say about Paul’s understanding of the purpose and importance both of the local church and the Church as a whole?

10) What light does this shed on service in and through the church?

11) Paul writes in v. 24 that in his flesh he is “filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions”. Discuss some of the “afflictions” of Paul’s life, especially his circumstances as he writes to the Colossians. What are some of the ways Paul is and has been afflicted?

12) Discuss the phrase “filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions” in light of Hebrews 10:1-18, Philippians 2:30, and John 15:18-16:4.

13) Describe Paul’s ministry, as he articulates it in vv 25-27. What is he called to do? What is the “mystery”, to whom is it revealed, who is it for, and what is its significance?

14) Discuss the meaning of the phrase “Christ in you” (v.27). What does it mean to have Christ in you? How might this be “good news” to the gentiles in Colossae? How might this “mystery” lend more content to the phrase “filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions”?

15) Discuss your own relationship to both the local church and the invisible church. Have you seen it as holding the same role and significance as Paul? Why or why not? Discuss some times that you have felt alienated from, hostile, or indifferent toward your local church or the Church in general.

A Little Encouragement

2011-01-19T00:24:00.011-05:00

From a blog I follow called BooMama, which covers everything from faith to bacon:

I’m telling you: the more I talk to and interact with the teenagers and the 20-somethings who are bold enough to live life with a global, Gospel-driven focus – the teenagers and the 20-somethings who love the Lord and love the nations – the more I’m convinced that they’re going to change the world.

Seriously. They’re going to change the world.

That's been in my head for the past few days. I love that it has both parts - loving God and loving the nations. Remembering that God loves everyone and wants us to live lives poured out in love for others; and also remembering that He is the only way by which this world will ever be saved. It's often hard to love both God and our neighbors well. But I hope we do, and I hope we change the world.

Want to Make a Difference? Encourage!

2011-01-06T11:18:00.000-05:00

My *cough* daily *cough* devotions lately have been in the book of Hebrews, and I picked up this little nugget of wisdom that has really moved me.

Hebrews 3: 12 - 14
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the Living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end of the confidence we had at first.

I have seen a number of my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ struggle with their sin on a daily basis, but instead of getting involved with the "sharing your burdens" process, I go straight to prayer. I'm not belittling prayer here, but I feel confident that none of us become children of God because of prayer alone. In countless passages, we are called to be active and alive with our faith. Instead of prayer, we are called to be encourage those who are struggling.

Think of the times you received an unexpected e-mail, or better yet, a card or letter. No matter what mood you were in before, you realize the greatest gift isn't the card or the words of encouragement, but that fact that you have been thought of a loved by someone.

I am taking these verse seriously this year and I want to become the encourager that I know God has already formed me into; and guess what - I'm also asking you to do the same. Continue praying for your struggling friends and family, but incorporate the active and living love of Christ. Get involved in overcoming sin's deceitfulness, which is guilt-ridden message of unbelief and is absent love. You might find that same much needed encouragement will come back to you in your darker hours.

--Insert corny,stereotypical happy picture here--

Friends after College

2010-12-30T12:48:00.000-05:00

One of my biggest fears after graduation was establishing a new group of friends. After having such a great group of people to support me at Alfred, I honestly thought that I wouldn't be so blessed a second time. Thankfully, I was wrong, but I wouldn't say that it was easy for me though. Getting married six months out of college was tremendously helpful because I happened to marry my best friend, Andrea, and knew I would have someone to come home to. Not long after getting married though, both Andrea and I quickly came to the realization that it was difficult making all those daily connections that came so naturally during our college days. There are no shared classes, no dorms, no dining halls, no extra-curricular activities or people in close proximity. About eight months after graduating, Andrea and I clung to previous alumni and settled for some familiar but long-distance friendships.

(And when I mean "settled" for, I am by no means degrading these friendships in the slightest. In fact these were the same people who I consider closer than family. The problem is that I was anxious to be in close community and fellowship, and no matter how many times I e-mail friends, it's not the same as spending quality face-time.)

Once I finally got plugged into Good Shepherd and a few other reoccurring activities, my yearning for community was met, but it wasn't instantly satisfied by any means. I was blessed a lot by Kellie who had to go through the experience on her own a year and half before. Because she was already well connected to the church, Andrea and I greatly benefited from it by being introduced to many of the more social parishioners. Over the next 18 months, Andrea and I did make friends inside and outside of the church. And we did it a little bit at a time. Sometimes a newcomer at the church or Bible study, people from places we worked, or a friend of a friend met at trivia.

Last summer, I found myself with an opportunity to leave the area for a job, but found myself unable to take the plunge. I know friends who have done the same thing I have, and I know others who took the opportunity by the teeth. But the thought of having to do this all over again was, and still is, too scary for me to think about. I have previously blogged here about how adventurous I thought I was, but even now I still don't think I'm ready to let this place and these people go. As with many people who grew up in a divorced family, you tend to make friends your replacement family. Friends become brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and fathers. Just like some people wouldn't want to move too far away from their family, I have the same sentiments about my friends.

I'm not exactly sure about how to end this post, but I want to encourage those who might be in a transitional stage of life. God knows yours and my shortcomings. Because He knows this and He knows your need to have at least one (human) friend, He will not deprive you of that. We are people who are designed to live in community with one another. We are people who need to talk to others on a real and personal level but we also need to listen on that same level as well. So if you're struggling, keep your head up. Don't hide yourself away from others, and don't be scared to share your life with others. And if you think no one else wants to hear, then at the very least, I will be a listening ear.

All Creatures - Josh Garrels

2010-10-28T22:42:00.001-04:00

All Creatures of our God and King

Lift up your voice and let us sing

O Praise Him! O Praise Him!

Alleluia

Creation sent to me the centipede
to witness the complexity
of one hundred legs that were moving unexpectedly
ironically
just as they were meant to be,
they’re fearfully and wonderfully made;
An organism praised in circadian rhythms:
the sun will rise and then the sun will set, and then the sun will rise again,
so lift up your head!

This is life: not a static object preserved and displayed like a relic from the dead
You are not a fruitless tree with a rootless disease
growin’ in a bucket in a rich man’s home
next to the TV tamed and alone
learnin’ to lust for the things you don’t own
like an arm chair warrior who’s been dethroned
Declawed and fixed
fighting for you life with unattended slit wrists.

Don’t let your name get intermingled with the number cause its time to awaken from the devilish slumber,
to freely follow the Forerunner
to the fatherland and rally round the renaissance man
and the wisdom of His ways
and all the work of His hands
catch come as catch can
concentrating on the good words of the Son of Man,
the plan is to withstand the demands of a confused oppressor:
a wolf in sheep’s clothes
with monotonous lectures
and questionable gestures
unequal measures
cultural pressures
and synthetic textures
force fed instead of the most beautiful architecture
of our long lost, forgotten origins:
Unseen fiber in the blood of my King
And that old rock where we confessed our sins

Oh, my God, fellow man
in this great land they all cry out for
full restoration
and this will take
patience
AND THIS WILL TAKE THE TRIBES
AND THE TONGUES OF ALL THE NATIONS
and all of creation groans in anticipation
Waitin’ for the Son of God to be manifest
I can feel it burnin’ in my chest
The liberation for the oppressed

And it’s beautiful like the feet that bring good news…
Its beautiful like this freedom tune
Its beautiful like the power to choose…to change
Beautiful like the long awaited rain
Beautiful like the healing pains
Beautiful like the holy flames…coming down!

All creatures of our God and King

Lift up your voice and with us sing

O Praise Him! O Praise Him!

Alleluia….

Listen at:
http://www.myspace.com/joshgarrels

Time to Leave - John Reuben

2010-09-30T20:31:00.002-04:00

Taught young, the world’s wisdom
I was told: "Life’s a game, the earth will be your stadium,
Be alert, pay attention,
one day even your friends will become the competition.
Trust no one; but do remember this, never burn any potential bridges,
know who’s who, and what they can do for you.
And don’t feel bad cause in the end they’re gonna do it to you too.
Remember life’s not fair;
in order to maintain, your gonna have to let you sensitivity be trained:
a machine more than a human being.
What you say doesn’t always have to be what you mean;
tell them what they want to hear if it’s to your benefit.
And words beyond closed doors are insignificant.
Push yourself, never be satisfied
Even if you don’t get it, at least you died knowing you tried."

Born, live, strive, succeed
Gain it all, bye, now it’s time to leave…

Now, all we see is now

Taught young, the world’s wisdom
begin to pay attention and make my own observations.
All of the kids working hard for admiration;
doing their best not to meet their social expiration.
Kind of hard in a world this finicky,
easily praised and yet destroyed just as quickly.
I guess me and this world must not be compatible, cause I don’t want its approval to feel valuable.

So who’s next to climb the wall of success, just to see how good the top truly gets?
Chasing lies disguised as going somewhere, only to arrive and realize it’s really no where.

That’s even if you get there in the first place;
what an incredible let down we’re bound to face

when we substitute purpose for cheap counterfeit.
Too busy trying to succeed in life that we forget to live it.

You can live in the infinite or give in to the immediate;
Gain it all but someday you’ll have to leave it.
This world is temporary and it’s heart is selfish.
Think to yourself, is this what wealth is?
But now, all we see is now, and now is not a bad thing but now does bring tomorrow, then
now becomes then;
Moments escape, new ones replace them.
Don’t want to face the end still searching.
Asking, "What in this world did I ever find worth in?
What could be worse than life of wasted years?"
Nothing lasting, nothing true, nothing dear.
I fear losing beauty in pursuit of bigger things;
I fear a broken home courtesy of the American dream.
Maybe that’s just me with my emotions on my sleeve,
but one way or another we all wear what we believe.

Born, live, strive, succeed
Gain it all, bye, now it’s time to leave…

But now, we’re wasting now

Personal Reflection:

I've been listening to John Reuben for almost two years now, but for whatever reason, I really feel a connection to this song right now. The first set of lyrics talks about a wisdom that I heard a lot of growing up - particularly from my dad during my high school years. At the time, I took it in and made it my own: Dedicate yourself, befriend the right people, and do whatever it takes to succeed. When I arrived on the engineering scene, I found a lot of people who thought similarly and I felt as though I belonged.

However, the seeds of Christianity that were planted in me late in high school were also at work. I found that most of us who were working hard, were working hard for the wrong reasons. (See the second grouping of lyrics.) We were all trying to impress each other and I found myself in competition, instead of cooperation, with many of my peers. When I came to this realization, I realized engineering wasn't really my thing either. Although I did enjoy learning in general, I didn't feel alive, excited or engaged in my discipline. I knew it was time for a change.

Where most my engineers comrades were captivated by the money and respect, I found myself dealing with my peers on a more social level. Over the course of 18 months, I found my way back into teaching and education. I want to work face-to-face with people on a social level because I care about their physical, mental and spiritual needs and growth as a fellow human who share the need to be loved; I could careless about the pay cut. When I am teaching or working with people in any context, I realize every time (like it was the first time) that I am utilizing my God-given gifts. Most adolescent educational systems won't admit that their sole purpose is to produce economy. So when I am in those situation, I hope it is evident in my teaching and in my daily actions that you can live for something more money, economy or fame.

Because at the end of our lives, all those things that we have worked so hard to obtain will be taken from us. But understanding and experiencing the love of a Savior is something that sticks with you for no matter. And if you believe in this with me, then don't waste today, or another minute for that matter, not doing what God has set before you. Live within your God given passions and callings while sharing that joy with everyone who comes across your path. And if you don't believe or understand what I'm talking about, then you must have some questions for me. Please ask them because it would be my joy to have a conversation with you.

Time to leave...

Worth a Read

2010-09-09T10:40:00.008-04:00

I know I do more linking than writing here, but my jobs tend to keep me busy these days, and I appreciate the people who do a better job than I of making time to write entries like these.

This is the post index for this year's Compassion International blogging trip. A couple of times a year since 2008, as a promotional activity, Compassion has chosen popular bloggers (all Christian so far, I think, but I don't know that for sure) and brought them to a country where they have a sponsoring program (and, I suspect, asked them to sponsor a child from that country beforehand - but I don't actually know how that works). These bloggers chronicle their experiences - what they see, what it's like to meet the children. I've checked out several of them because some bloggers I've been reading over the past few years (BooMama and Big Mama, Ree Drummond, etc.) have gone there or have had family members go, and it's always a worthwhile read...and look, since much of the photography speaks volumes. (Note: Though not as serious and to-the-point as some of the others', Ree's archives, linked to her name, are interesting because they're actually by several people in her family - her from home, her husband and daughters from onsite.)

Go and see. It's a little intense sometimes, but worth it.

On Animosity

2010-08-31T11:54:00.000-04:00

I have discovered that animosity is a powerful but subtle poison. When some people think of hatred or evil, they tend to have this played out scene, a battle typically, between good and evil, much like that is portrayed in movies and other dramatic productions. A good question to ponder is: how do you think that battle really started? I think it started with a simple misunderstanding, a slip of the tongue, or a misguided action. From there, it grew slowly and without notice. Doubts started to creep in, attitudes became bitter and before anyone realized it, both sides believed they were in the right and the other was the guilty party – needing the dose of punishment and correction.

Animosity is a quiet killer. It separates and divides wives from husbands, brothers from sisters, parents and children, adults from youth, race from race, and friend from friend in a slow and unnoticeable way. Think of a newly built bridge. In the first years, it looks beautiful, powerful and in perfect working condition. As time, usage and the natural elements wear on the bridge, it begins to rust in a few places here or there – and can be easily patched up with a coat of paint. But inside, the damage has already been done to the bridge. The structure has been weakened and the bridge is under a curse that is characterized by a slow and consistent rotting away from the inside. As even more time passes by, the bridge can no long handle the weight of itself and it collapses suddenly and sometimes without warning. In this analogy, it is easy to see that we are that bridge and the power of hate and anger is the rotting of ourselves. We can do everything in our power to patch ourselves up and maintain the proper outer appearance, but inside we are losing control – and most of the time, we don’t even realize it.

Worse yet, this analogy does not happen in isolation. When we become infected with feelings of disgust, we rarely keep it to ourselves. People are designed to be social and we crave to be in a community where we belong. And when we are in our community, we share with others what is within ourselves. So those filled with hate and anger, spread the same feelings and thoughts to others in the similar way they became infected with it themselves. Most of the times, I don’t think it is something we deliberately do. I think it is a teaching that is done through our choice of words and actions and it is most certainly a slow and gradual process that over time becomes involuntary.

My heart is burdened when I witness others putting down people because of a personal choice they don’t understand or for situations they may have no control over. As a caveat to that, we all acknowledge that we have made some poor decisions in life, yet we are so quick to judge and put ourselves against those make these poor choices, and especially if it happens to make us uncomfortable.

My heart is also burdened by those who refuse to embrace tolerance and diversity across all types of peoples. They are people who have picked ignorance over acceptance, anger over sobriety and animosity over love. These are the people who are constantly offensive in nature and are offended by others.

My burden for them is personal. As much as I would like to call out these people, I realize that I can not because I must acknowledge that my bridge has become rusted; I am diagnosed with a case of animosity. Just like most, I don’t remember when it first happened, or who the person was who taught it to me, yet I know I have it. Like most, I didn’t realize the first time that I have taught it to others, yet I know I have. I have chosen ignorance, I have chosen anger and I have chosen animosity, yet I know these are not the choices I want to make. So what I’m really trying to say here is that I confess that I have been practicing and preaching this way of life for so long now, it’s involuntary.

But today, this very day and this very hour, I want to let you know God that I want to put all of this behind me. I want to be slow to anger and even slower to speak so that my words will build up the people around me and not tear them down. I wish for you to open my heart and my mind to education, acceptance, sobriety and love. I want to be the bridge that looks strong and beautiful on the inside as well as the outside. I want to be cured from this disease. And in order to do that I realize that I’m going to have to let go – of everything. It’s not going to be easy for me and I won’t be able to do it all at once. I’ve grown attached to my vices and I love them dearly. So let me give you each one, one at a time, at the pace you know I need to take. And when I’ve handed over to you that final piece – that one that was the toughest and the hardest to give you – I know that I will be that new creation and my transformation will be complete. Then, as a repayment and in my gratitude, I will make my life one that will no longer spread the teachings of hate, anger and frustration, but instead, I will be an ambassador of love, generosity and patience.

Me in My Community

2010-08-04T12:51:00.000-04:00

It’s the dog days of summer and the writing on r2r has been a bit slow but it certainly hasn’t been quiet in my personal life. In my last post (was it really in June?), I have been making strides in better valuing what is closer and dear to me in the physical sense as well in the familial sense. I’m writing today because I am now beginning to realize how hard it can be to commit to something and stick with it: something I’m sure we have all struggled with at one point in our lives. Here’s a review on the good, the bad and the ugly.

The Good

Family life within the walls of my apartment has taken on new character. For me, it has always been therapeutic and helpful to do a full house cleaning and rearrange some of the décor. It has a lot of symbolism and having a new set-up around the home refreshes me daily. In addition to that, we also were able to get a cat in the apartment – something my wife has wanted since we got married.

Slowly and surely, we are urging ourselves in a more integrated church role at Good Shepherd. It looks like I’ll be teaching a bit of Sunday school and potentially a Bible study. Andrea is working as a secretary there and will probably be a co-leader with me in Sunday school (but she doesn’t know that yet). I’ve also find some growing in my relationships with out-of-home family and local community members – both thanks to all the summer events that occur with the season.

The Bad

After over a year and a half of weekly e-mail correspondence, it seems as though my male fellowship group will be parting ways at least temporarily, if not permanently. This is bittersweet to me because the original purpose of the study was to support each other until we could find ourselves grounded in an actual “real-live” church body. Thankfully, that is mostly the reason for the disbanding, however, it’s still tough to let go to something that has supported you for so long. It’s my prayer that we can still at least be in communication with each other, if nothing else.

The Ugly

I have a tendency at times to judge others too quickly. And as of late, I have found myself back in the habit of doing so while in the same spirit of better my circumstances around me. Probably needless to say here, but these are conflicting ideas if I am trying to make meaningful and God-filled relationships with people. In turn, I’ve tried looking into the mirror a bit correct some of the problems that some people probably have with me. One of my first discoveries is that I too boastful and prideful about what I know. I love information and learning, and when I want to share this with others, I sometimes come across as too harsh, too cocky, or too arrogant. This has prevented me from listening well to what others have to say. And I know this is all simple in writing, but it is so difficult for me. Just to sit down and listen thoughtfully, without filling my head with a response, is a great challenge for me. In my quest to being a great teacher, mentor, tutor – whatever - I have let that bleed into my public life and I am objectifying (idolizing works too) the person I am chatting with – even if I really do and honestly love them.

So if you’re reading this, please be in prayer for me that through the grace of God that He will reform and correct this flaw into His own glory.

I would also love to hear what all ya’ll have been doing this summer and what God is doing in your lives as well!

A Second Lease on the (Same) Life

2010-06-25T12:22:00.000-04:00

Anyone who knows me personally (and well) knows that the last few weeks for me have collectively been some of the toughest in my life thus far. Looking for a teaching job hasn’t been easy, especially in New York State; so I cast my employment net far and wide hoping I’d find myself a job. Well, after 4-5 months of searching, I finally started to develop some promising candidates – three, in fact. One semi-local and the other two were out of state. I was lucky enough to receive an offer from one of the out of state schools, but I was rejected by the semi-local one. And it seemed all but certain that this summer would be spent moving to either Florida or Virginia – the locations of the two schools.

At first, I was thrilled to have the end in sight. For those unlucky enough to experience it, long-term unemployment can destroy you mentally and from the inside out. With every e-mail and phone call you’re hoping that will be the one to end it all. To get away from idle days at home was the gift that I have been praying for. I called my mom, my biggest supporter apart from my wife, with excitement and anticipation. And then, overnight, my opinions about the job changed. I realized the magnitude of what a move out of New York would mean. Some people would see this as a great opportunity to settle down in a brand-new place to explore, make new friends and set out on new adventures. Up until these past few weeks, I thought I was that type of person – craving for a new adventure. But the more I dwelled on it, the more I realized I am not that sort of person. I’m the other type of person who likes being around the company of a few trusted friends whom I’ve known for years. The type of person who wants to be close to family, attend and be involved in the same church, and the type of person who enjoys familiarity. All of a sudden, the thought of a new job out of state was terrifying to me – albeit a great job.

When tough decisions have to be made, I turn to God. I quickly realized that this was something I should have done in a less critical situation – like when I considered looking for jobs out of state. In my angst to be employed, I never reflected about what it would be like if I did actually get a job out of state and this is something. But being unable to remake that decision, I realized two options lay before me.

In one hand, God calls us to live outside our comfort zone and to take risks – both personally and corporally – for the sake of the Gospel. In a new place, I would be forced to do that while be provided for financially, which has been a prayer of ours (my wife and me) for a while now. However, we would be cut off from all we both had ever known on a daily basis. To reject the offer would be to continue the current state of affairs - financial uncertainty and unpredictable schedules – but continue in the support and culture of our friends, family and church. To me, this was an impossible decision that needed to be made within the week… a stalemate.

So last weekend, I consulted with several trusted (and as unbiased as I could find) friends and family of friends. And then my wife and I talked for several hours about this life-defining decision. We talked out the consequences and exploring the options. We prayed.

There’s no suspense in the story if you have talked to me in the past week. We’re staying. I turned down the offer. Some will call me a fool – trust me I am the first on that list. Some will favor the decision to stay, and they will be glad – and trust me I am the first on that list as well. There wasn’t an easy answer to the predicament that I put myself, and consequently my wife, into. No matter what we decided to do, we would be given a large list of “What if’s.” Although we will never know the answer to the other decision, I am currently content with our choice. However, I must remember that I could have prevented this from happening in the first place. Personally, I believe that God uses our mistakes and tough decisions for a reason. If I can walk from this situation unchanged, inside and out, then I am truly the fool who returns to his own vomit.

Thankfully, I strive too hard to let that happen. On the outside, my wife and I are making some changes. We’ve worked out a new situation with all our part-time jobs, which have made us both happier with what we are doing – even if it’s not exactly what we want. I also realize that I can not be the same person I once was either. Although spiritually growing, I have not taken any risks for God or His Kingdom in far too long. I’ve been living comfortably in my close-knit group of friends. To go out into the world as expose ourselves as weak-minded sinners that rely on Jesus for our forgiveness and salvation is simultaneously the hardest and easiest thing for me to confess - it only depends who I’m with. This is not acceptable in God’s sight; I can no longer live this way. However, I don’t need to leave everything I know to do this. All I need to do is pray for the courage to do so properly.

So please, pray for me and my wife that we live the way we were supposed to the first time. Because we acknowledge that nothing can and nothing should remain the same now expect our growing love for Christ.

This is our second lease on the same life.

I Sure Couldn't Have Said it Better Myself

2010-05-25T00:02:00.005-04:00

Not for the first time, here's a link to Jeanne from At a Hen's Pace, who's written a great post about Pentecost:

http://atahenspace.blogspot.com/2010/05/pentecost-musings.html

Definitely go check it out - and if you're looking for more on the liturgical-year subject (the "seasons" of the church), here're some thoughts by Jen Fulwiler, author of the very fine blog Conversion Diary.

Jeremiah's Prayer

2010-04-28T19:51:00.000-04:00

I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps. Correct me, LORD, but only with justice - not in your anger - lest you reduce me to nothing.

I don't know what this prayer means to anyone reading this. But for me, this is the Living Word that revives my soul. It's been so long that I have been toiling to gain employment. My entire being, it seems, is craving to be employed so that this curse (it seems) may be lifted from me. However, I now find myself seeking the approval of men and determining my worth from it. The harder I work - the more frustrated I become. But Jeremiah 10:22-23 tells me that where I end up is not by my own power, but is really impact and result of the Lord's will. It's my responsibility to apply anywhere that I can, but after that I must release the temptation to think that it was my power that will get me employed. I have tried using my power and it has yielded nothing. Instead, I will live out Jeremiah's prayer by allowing Lord to direct my steps, and eventually into employment.

Three Things I Learned During Lent

2010-04-08T20:06:00.007-04:00

Per Joe's request (though I could have just done it as a comment, I suppose), here's what I learned over Lent. I gave up nighttime internet, except sometimes for stuff connected to lesson-planning, etc. - the point was to keep myself from being distracted from schoolwork (since right now I have a responsibility to be a good teacher to my students, and that takes work) and especially to work on getting more sleep (since deprivation thereof hinders both the time I have in the morning for Bible reading and prayer, since I don't want to get out of bed, and the amount of focus I can put into doing the work I'm supposed to be doing, not to mention the amount of patience I have with myself and others):

1. The nighttime internet fast helped me to lessen the "addiction" level, of course. I remember from trying this with other technological things in the past that even if you go back to it when Easter comes, you go back to it changed. I don't have quite the same sense of urgency that I did about, say, answering e-mails that come to me later at night or following blogs until all hours of the morning. I still like such things, and already doing so is back to being a bit of a temptation when I'm supposed to be doing other things - but so far I think it's less of one. I got through the forty days, and it was often a pain, but sometimes it was also a relief.

2. I relearned that changed behavior is not a changed heart. For all I was better about internet (though I did cheat once or twice), I didn't do any better at focusing on my schoolwork or sleep. I still avoided them, but this time it was more intentional, and just in different ways. So much for improving my relationship with God: I still lost sleep, and I still often flat-out refused to do the stuff I was supposed to do.

3. In fact, I ended up realizing that this is often a pretty good description of my relationship with God:

So basically, long story short, Lent was hard. And I'm not trying to be emo and self-hating with this stuff - it's just that I've really been challenged about where my heart lies - in terms of my career, my sources of emotional and intellectual security, and my ways of judging self-worth especially.

Hopefully some of it's sunk in enough that I won't forget it all and just have to do it all again next year.

Lenten Reflections

2010-04-05T11:24:00.001-04:00

Haven’t written anything in quite a number of weeks, so I thought I’d break the silence. A majority of this quiet time has been spent trying to reorganize and reprioritize my life with God. This Lent season, by far, has been the most productive and reflective for me than any of the others that I have observed.

God showed me a lot of pride issues that I have neglected to take care of, and in March, I paid dearly for them. I spent a lot of time after that day, writing out my thoughts privately, and I do have the intention of putting some of the material on here one day when I feel like I have fully healed up from that incident. But right now is just not that time.

The above issue has also resulted in a change of personality for me to. I’m a little (emphasis on little) slower to think about what I say before I say it – I’m also trying to consider other people’s points of views before my own. I’ve been reading my “comfort” Gospel – John – and realizing that a Christ-Follower’s walk as a lot to do with how often they are dependent on God for the day-to-day life and not themselves. This couldn’t come at a better time for me as I am unemployed and looking for work. Although the situation is bleak, I have begun to cultivate a little bit of God’s peace in me. I’m not worrying – this is huge.

I would love to hear how everyone else’s Lent and/or Easter season as gone as well. Do you feel renewed by Christ’s resurrection? Do you still need more time? What direction are we going in?

I’ll try, as always, to be more consistent in writing, but I can’t promise anything.

Evangelism - Where is the Middle Ground? - Part 2

2010-02-22T17:30:00.008-05:00

Last Saturday, I wrote about what evangelism is but not really much in how to carry it out. That's what this entry is for. Just as a refresher, here's what I'm trying to answer: Is there a middle ground when it comes to evangelism?

I do believe there is middle ground evangelism, but first I want to elaborate upon the two extremes first.

Some people evangelize subtly through good deeds and words for others. They exert themselves to do small acts of kindness; maybe its shoveling driveways, mowing lawns, holding open doors, helping someone move in/out of a house, making/giving free food or some other object, etc. The act itself can be seen as righteous, kind-hearted and a exemplar of faith, without deeds, is dead (James 2:14-18). But all too often these deeds are without a clear, heard and understood message: "We are doing this because (fill-in-the-blank that is Gospel/Jesus related)." When our message is well crafted, we should see it capture the hearts and minds of those who hear it, or repel those who have hardened their heart to God. Either way, a good deed without a message is only a random act of kindness at best, and this is not evangelism. (Acts 9:26-31)

The other extreme is much like a verbal presentation of the gospel that often comes without warning. Two examples of this are street/campus evangelists and those who partake in mission trips. They speak boldly about the hard truths and amazing grace. They take the Great Commission seriously, as they should, and are not afraid of rejection. Despite their best efforts and desire to share the Gospel, their words usually fall on deaf ears. In trying to reach everyone, they reach only a few.

Please don't be offended. I'm not taking away the importance of either type of evangelist. God has brought many children into his grace by those who have been exceptionally gifted with acts of great kindness and those extremely bold in heart. In fact, I have tried evangelizing in both of these ways and those who I have done these things with had success. I feel this is because I do not have a strong gift in evangelism. However, as stated last entry, I know that I am called to evangelism - I am not exempt. Unfortunately, I have been disappointed with my personal evangelism and this blog is a direct product of that. I also know I am not alone. So to shed some light on this middle ground of evangelism, I look to the great evangelist of all time: Jesus.

Jesus is called the Lion and Lamb because of his ability to cut straight to the point, cutting the fat, and getting to the heart of the issue. Yet, other times, he is a healer of both body and soul through acts of kindness and gentle words. Jesus utilizes a blend of both evangelism styles that is to be envied and imitated by every Christ-Follower.

What is his secret? How does he do it?

I believe that His hidden secret of middle-ground evangelism is because he is the Master of relationships - this fact should come to no great surprise. Anyone who experienced a relationship with Jesus for for 30 seconds or 30 years have found true meaning, depth and clarity in their life as a result. Using Jesus as our example, some people were with him all his life (like Mary), others were with him for a few years (the disciples) and yet others were only experienced Jesus for a matter of seconds. But regardless of the time limit Jesus had with any given person, He was able to connect with them in a personal, then in a spiritual way. Our evangelism should reflect this.

Strangers: A Few Minutes - A Few Days

This is probably the hardest type of evangelism. The key is to make a personal connection quickly - the more meaningful, the better. Maybe they're wearing it (a cultural/religious symbol?), or maybe it's based on setting, (a church, soup kitchen, a classroom?). Using your observation skills and tying that into a conversation about Jesus is what dictates the opportunities. Probably not going to see them again after this visit? No excuses this day and age; grab their e-mail so you can clarify any questions for them online. After a few e-mails back and forth, you can point them in the direction of a reputable church using the power of the Internet.

Friends: A Few Days - A Few Years

Unsaved friends are the best candidates for sharing your faith. Unlike when working with strangers, conversation doesn't need to be rushed. Take your time getting to know them and make connections between the two of you. People love talking about themselves, use this to your advantage when getting to know them. Share life together. But be careful - the danger here is that we become too comfortable in our friendship and end up never sharing our faith, and ultimately, what really matters in life. Eventually, you're going to have to be bold and tell them about your convictions. It doesn't have to be all at once and you don't have do so without warning. Go back to my evangelism preview entry and note how these two friends interact and schedule a time to meet and talk about some serious stuff. No surprise attack - no pulled punches. Sometimes "the talk" results in some friendships lost. Other times it strengthens, even without a confession of faith. I've been on both sides of this difficulty. Pray for your friend, be bold and be yourself - God will work out the details.

Good Friends and Family: A Few Years - Forever

The circumstances are rare, but it is also very ripe for God's work. These people probably already know about your convictions and opinions about faith. You've known them for years and have already related to each other in more than one meaningful ways. Yet, they don't understand your faith. Either you haven't actually had a discussion about your faith at all, or maybe you haven't learned how to do so effectively. Have the talk with them. If it doesn't work, let it settled down and try again at a later time and place as the Spirit leads.

Bottom Line:

1. Remember Jesus. Thankfully, we don't have to be exactly Jesus to successfully evangelize but we do have to bring Him into our conversation. Why? he is the incarnate of God, the path to salvation, and the only way to Heaven. (Matthew 11:25-30, John 14:5-7) As mentioned in my previous entry, Jesus bears the worst part of our lives and our sin. Because of His sacrifice we are set free and given salvation. No matter how we choose to evangelize, these facts simply cannot be compromised under any circumstance.

2. Know your Bible. It doesn't hurt to have a few salvation verses memorized and a Bible nearby. Study the life of Jesus and the consequences of His actions on the cross. If you're unsure and need some clarification, talk to a fellow Christ-Follower or a church elder. I'm sure they'd be delighted to help you out.

3. Remember where you came from. Nobody is born into the Kingdom of God. You had struggles before accepting Jesus into your life. Remember and retell these stories if needed. Just remember that this isn't about you (and it never has been), this is about your stranger or friend and Jesus.

4. Know when to call it quits. Some people need more time to think over things after a serious conversation. Don't be afraid to stop evangelizing and save the rest of the conversation for another day. Beware also of constant debaters. Most of them have already made their choice and have hardened their heart to the Gospel. There is a subtle difference between those who want to know for the sake of knowing and those who want to know to make a choice. Learn to identify the difference.

There is a bunch of other stuff that I want to post, but I don't want to run away with this. I hope this is helpful to anyone who reads. Don't be frustrated if your evangelism attempts fall flat time and time again. Also, go out there and talk to other Christ-Followers about it - I'm certainly no expert on it.

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" - Isaiah 52:7

Evangelism - Where is the Middle Ground? - Part 1

2010-02-20T08:43:00.009-05:00

The last two weeks, I have been investigating evangelism. Needless to say, this is not a skimpy topic - the Bible has plenty to say about it. In fact, its almost regretfully that I'm posting because I feel if I had another four weeks to study the topic, something very different might have been written. Regardless, I want to post what I have uncovered. This will probably be in two parts, with the second coming out in approximately one to two days after this one. Without hesitation, here is my conviction, paraphrased, from a friend.

Where is the middle ground when it comes to evangelism. Often times, we are so subtle about our faith through our comments or kind actions that those around us are unable to identify us as a messenger of the Gospel. When we are not being subtle, it seems we are so boisterous, overly-truthful and blunt that we come across as arrogant and self-righteous (like Rev. Joe Wright). Is there a "layer" of evangelism that lies in between the two?

I thought it appropriate to first lay down the foundation that all Christ-Followers are called to evangelize as evidence in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20). The Great Commission is not a message to everyone, this is Jesus speaking to all the disciples of the faith. The commission breaks down as follows:

(1) Make Disciples (evangelize)

(2) Baptize those who believe (Acts 8:30-38)
(3) Teach and strengthen those who believe

Two important notes when you consider the structure. The first is that after baptism, it is the responsibility of the one who is evangelizing to ensure that the new disciple is properly taught, or at the very least, personally and proactively lead towards someone who can and keep them accountable of their new-found faith. Satan is cunning and will destroy new Christ-Followers if we (the older Christ-Followers) do not protect and guide them to a place where they can become spiritually nourished. Second note, Jesus proclaims baptism before (deeper) instruction - this is not by accident or coincidence. Certainly those who make decision for Christ shouldn't be unaware of the truth, however baptism, against contrary opinion, does NOT require a full knowledge of the faith - just the desire to follow Jesus. It is impossible to know everything before choosing to follow Christ and that type of desire is the desire to become God himself. Also, to know everything is not faith by definition (Hebrews 11:1). Even the most educated Christ-Followers among us are continuously learning. This is what makes our relationship with Jesus so intimate and precious to begin with; knowing everything would be beyond burdensome to us.

With those two ideas fleshed out, let's start digging into the whole idea of disciple making. A Christ-Followers confession, although powerful, is also simple in nature. A confession comes in two parts - the acknowledgement of sin in one's life and a recognition of Jesus taking the punishment for those sins. Admittedly, this is a simple interpretation, but essentially, that's the Gospel. There are literally thousands, if not millions of ways to describe what a confession is all about. Here are a few examples of confessions of faith found in the Bible, but there are also plenty more analogies based on these verses. (Luke 9:23, Luke 19:10, John 3:3, John 3:18, Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19, Acts 4:12, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 10:9-10 and Ephesians 2:8-9)

Most of us, if not all, have no problem admitting sin, or imperfection, in our lives. There are so many sins to choose from: lying, cheating, hate, refusal of forgiveness, self-pride, sexual impurity, greed, lust, laziness - the list goes on and on. Most will admit their sin. The tougher of the two pills to swallow is the acknowledgement that these sinful actions need justification and atonement from a power higher than themselves: namely, God (Hebrews 5:7-9). People love to be in control, they lavish in their pride, and are eager to show everyone that their lives have been successfully managed by their own means and power. Worse yet, western civilizations (America and a good portion of Europe) promote this type of thinking.

The nature of the confession verses that I posted and linked above are absolute and they humble men; this is not by accident. To follow Christ is to put down self and exalt Christ. Although we think the opposite is to our own benefit, if we better understood that Jesus has always looked after us and does a better job at it than we do, it would be an easier transition into Christianity. By taking power into our hands, we make a mess with the blessings we have been given. A confession frees us from having control while setting our bodies, hearts and spirits at ease despite any circumstance because of the promise that we receive in (eternal) life.

Most Christ-Followers are afraid to evangelize because they don't feel qualified or holy enough to do so. If this describes you, I'll comfort you in that you are in very good company. However, God has, and never will allow this be an excuse for not spreading the Gospel. Check out these examples of people who felt the same way:

Moses - Exodus 4:10-17

Isaiah - Isaiah 6:1-7

Jeremiah - Jeremiah 1:4-12

Peter - Luke 5:8-11

None of these Saints saw themselves fit for evangelizing, and we are right to feel this way. But in every case above, God (or Peter's case, Jesus) tells them not to fear their inequities because God will speak the right words for them. Having an attitude of fear in evangelism is healthy to an extent because we realize the seriousness of the business going on. However, when Christ-Followers are so fearful that we refuse to attempt it, then our paralysis is a sin against God and the Great Commission. When we instead put our full trust in God and let go of ourselves (and our doubts), we will quickly discover that God speaks on our behalf and saves the receptive sinner.

On that note, we need to be obedient to God's calling regardless if it puts us outside our comfort zone. If we are called to a ministry or as a witness to a person, we should be in practice of setting aside our fears through prayer and trust in our calling. Case in point, consider what happened to Jonah as a result fear. (If you're unfamiliar, give Jonah a quick read over. It'll take 5-10 minutes - tops.)

So take a few days and process all of this. I spent a majority of this entry to going over some of the reasons and clearing out the doubts of evangelism. However, knowing what its all about and actually doing it are two different stories, hence, should be two different blogs. Next time, I'll write about some reflections, resources and ideas I have about actual evangelism. Feel free to comment ideas or anything else you want me to look into because I'm not completely set in what exactly I am going to write yet.

Peace through Grace to you all.

Evangelism Preview

2010-02-11T12:17:00.004-05:00

As I as listening to my music today, I heard this song. It resonated with me because that "big thing" that I was talking about in my last post is evangelism. I had a friend ask me what I thought about it - this entry isn't my answer. It's more of a preview. Listen to the song, follow along with the lyrics, and then head on down to some final thoughts I have about it.

In the Air - Toby Mac

I had a dream last night about the other side
And I must confess that it was quite the ride
I had a dream last night and the fact that you weren't there
Gave me quite the scare
People were afloat all around me
Yet their weightless state never seemed to astound me
Everything was grand till I noticed one thing
That you, my friend, weren't on the scene

There in the air

I've been workin' all morning trying to spin my dream
Cause I just can't believe you weren't in my dream
Remember you and I said we would paint the sky
And the leaves on the trees and the stars at night
We made beats and we even wrote rhymes
And played golf, I think, a million times
Now we never got around to spiritual matters
But we sure made time for our mindless chatter

I wanna see you there
In the the air
One day we'll be singin' (Hallelujah)
I wanna see you there
In the the air
One day we'll be singin' (Hallelujah)

Hello, wassup (wassup), how ya doin' (just fine)
I was sorta wonderin', could we make the time
(Just kick it) why not at our usual spot
Lattes in May, mine cold, yours hot
(So where we goin') much deeper than our usual chat
(Like who's beats is weak and who's beats is phat)
Nah, my man, this some next level junk
(Like when we discussed if Tiger Woods could dunk)
Just meet me there, seven o'clock, rain or shine
With a fat cup of bean and a wide open mind

The song isn't hard to understand. A friend has a dream and realizes his friend wasn't with him in Heaven. The song describes that they have plenty of time for having fun and talking about stuff that doesn't matter after this life. He braves the courage to say, "Hey, let's meet up like we always do, but I want to talk about some serious stuff, and its important to me."

Looking at this, I really admire the approach; the invitation is genuine and without reproach. Friend A (the Christ-Follower) tells Friend B (the soon-to-be evangelized), that he wants to meet up. Friend A isn't awkward about it, in fact, he's straight forward in that he wants to talk some serious business, he doesn't act out of character, and they're going to meet in person. There is no room for deceit or trickery in there; when the two friends meet, Friend B will not be blindsided unexpectedly with a heavy issue. They will both be mentally prepared for a good discussion. Regardless how this meeting turns out, God will be present. As for what's said exactly... you and I will have to wait a bit longer for that. I'm still ironing out all details.

In the meantime, contemplate this. Think if you have anyone who you really want to talk about God. Don't have any friends that aren't Christ-Followers? Time for you to get a bit uncomfortable and start making some. This is your highest calling in the Kingdom of God.

Week 5 - C.S. Lewis Continues - Answers

2010-02-06T13:07:00.010-05:00

As mentioned, this week is about the conclusion of chapter 9 in The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis. I found it appropriate to divide the chapter into two sections last week because the chapter takes a major turn from the ideas of Heaven and Hell and focus more on different types of behaviors and activities we go through. In typical C.S. Lewis fashion, he subtly inserts the differences of attitude behind each behavior. These subtleties however play an important role in how close we are in pursuing God in our lives, thus the critical role in becoming the holy people we are called to be.

If you want to refresh yourself on last week's blog, click here.

The Ghost of Lewis now has the opportunity to oversee the conversations of other ghosts and their Spirit guides while discussing the meaning of those discussions with his own (and very Scotch) guide, George MacDonald. The first of these overheard conversations was that of a grumbling woman.

The context of the grumbling pertains to a large number of complaints about the way she's been treated by pious neighbors, her right to more respect, and placing blame on others for past events, among other things. After the exhaustive paragraph of rantings, Lewis's spiritual guide notes a troubled look on our narrator's face. The Ghost of Lewis explains that although the lady who is grumbling hasn't found her way into Heaven, she doesn't seem to be wicked and needs a bit of kindness in her life. His Spirit explains that if this is so, then she will certainly find her way, however grumbling has more dangerous consequences than we know. In fact, the real question at hand is that if the woman has turned into an all-out grumbler. Explained by quote:

The question is whether she is a grumbler, or only a grumbling. If there is a real woman - even the least trace of one - still there inside the grumbling, it can be brought to life again. If there's one we spark under all those ashes, we'll blow it till the whole pile is red and clear. But if there's nothing but ashes we'll not go on blowing them in our own eyes forever. They must be swept up. ...But ye'll have had experiences - it begins with a grumbling mood, and yourself still distinct from it: perhaps criticizing it. And yourself, in a dark hour, may will that mood, embrace it. Ye can repent and come out of it again. But there may come a day when you can do that no longer. Then there will be no you left to criticize the mood, nor even to enjoy it, but just the grumbling itself going on forever like a machine.

What is being expressed here is the nature of Philippians 2:12-18, specifically, in verse 14 about arguing and complaining. No doubt we have all found ourselves complaining about our circumstances. Maybe we've been treated unfairly by others, or maybe we're discontent with our employment (or lack of it), or even yet, an argument with a friend or financial difficulties. When we grumble about these things, we should be quick to remember what has already been given to us by God: the temporal blessings of this life and the promise of an eternal life to follow. Getting caught up by our grumblings during a "dark hour" turns our focus to ungodly thoughts and actions. Simply, a continual state of complaint and dissatisfaction drives us away from Christ. An attitude of thanksgiving is what preserves our status as only a "grumbling."

The next sections describes how those in Grey-Town come up from the depths to try an evangelize the Spirits of Heaven into Hell. Needless to say the foolishness of their acts doesn't convince the Heavenly Spirit of Hell, but the arguments used are interesting to consider from an Earthly perspective, where those Heaven-bound have not gone and those Hell-bent haven't reached their desire. New and mature Christ-Followers alike are well aware with the idea of persecution because of their choice to follow Christ. Namely, John 15 starting with verse 18. However, not all persecutions take the lives of Christ-Followers. In some sense, those are easier to endure because death comes quickly to some of those saints. Some persecutions are intellectual, mental and emotional - and can carry on for a lifetime. Just as in The Great Divorce, C.S. Lewis writes some of phrases they'll hurl at you (but I have paraphrased them): "You live a sheltered life," and, "You ignore/are negligent of truth, reason and science." To the Heavenly Beings in the realm of Heaven itself, these are vain attempts to justify their own feelings and opinions about the a second eternal life. But to us here on Earth, this is the literal expanding of Hell. They push forth their ideas on us trying to pull us away from Christ, as we in turn try to explain to them the reasonableness of our faith. Rarely does a side succeed in pulling one cause to another. Without physically writing this, I think C.S. Lewis acknowledges those who attempt the extension of Hell have little hope because they have chosen to hold on to hatred and envy. But really, the bottom line is that these people have learned to develop a contempt for joy. However, the Spirit-guide of Lewis points out before concluding the matter that, "Those that hate goodness are sometimes nearer than those that know nothing at all about it and think they have it already."

I think the point that is trying to be made here is that even those who seem to be perpetuating Hell seem (visually) without hope, the real heart of the matter is that they haven't experienced what true, compassionate and honest joy is all about. Perhaps C.S. Lewis is trying to say these type of people are only one thoughtful deed away from seeing the light of Heaven, since they have been staring at it so hard with bitterness for so long.

Although maybe a bit on a tangent, this reminds me of the ministry of Jesus. Through the Gospels, Jesus brings the least likely of people to the Kingdom of God: the prostitutes, beggars, the crippled and tax-collectors. Yet, the self-proclaiming holy men of the time - the Pharisees - find themselves on the outside. To me, it seems like the same type of "reversal of fortune" that C.S. Lewis explains with the previous example. It wasn't that the Pharisees never had a chance to inherit the God's Kingdom, they lacked the vision of true joy. Those who are at the bottom have no where to look but up - at joy - while those at the top find it difficult to look in any direction but down.

Now I want to be careful with this last part because it talks about art, art of arts sake, fame and glory - all topics I heard a lot when I was attending a particular art college. Additionally, I know a good proportion of readers of this blog are (heavily) into art, so call me out on this if I missed the mark.

A conversation between two beings - one a Grey-Town ghost and the other a Heavenly Spirit - and both are interested in the arts, specially painting:

"How soon do you think I could begin painting?" the Ghost asked.
The Spirit broke into laughter. "Don't you see you'll never paint at all if that's what you're thinking about?" he said.
"What do you mean?" asked the Ghost.
"Why, if you interested in the country only for the sake of painting it, you'll never learn the see the country."
"But that's just how a real artist is interested in the country."
"No, you're forgetting," said the Spirit, "That was not how you began. Light itself was your first love: you loved paint only as a means of telling about light."
"Oh, that's ages ago," said the Ghost, "One grows out of that. Of course, you haven't seen my later works. One becomes more and more interested in paint for its own sake."
"One does, indeed. I also have had to recover from that. It was all a snare. Ink and catgut and paint were necessary down there, but they are also dangerous stimulants. Every poet and musician and artist, but for Grace, is drawn away from love for the thing he tells, to love of the telling till, down in Deep Hell, they cannot be interested in God at all but only in what they say about him. For it doesn't stop at being interested in paint, you know. They sink lower - become interesting in their own personalities and then in nothing by their own reputations."

This discussion holds the difference between art (visual, audio, performance, etc.) that glories self and art that glorifies God. Art that glories self is type that gives the viewer no insight into anything that God values. However, art with true and honest intentions, that "tell something about the Light" is worthy for God's glory. Even if others along the way corrupt or pervert, the glorification of the art has to do with what lies in the heart of the artist and its subject should be that of what God values or what God is himself. Those who create for the sake of creating have become their own gods, forgetting who first created them.

The conversation takes a turn into fame:

"Of course," said the Ghost, as if speaking to himself, " there'll always be interesting people to meet..."
"Everyone will be interesting."
"Oh-ah-yes, to be sure. I was thinking of people in our own line. Shall I meet Claude? Or Cezanne? Or-"
"Sooner of later - if they are here."
"But you don't know?"
"Well, of course not. I've only been here a few years. All the chances are against my having run across them... there are good many of us, you know."
"But surely in the case of distinguished people, you'd hear?"
"But they aren't distinguished - no more than anyone else. Don't you understand? The Glory flow into everyone, and back from everyone: like light and mirrors. But the light's the thing."
"Do you mean there are no famous men?"
"They are all famous. They are all known, remembered, recognised by the only Mind that can give a perfect judgment."

This proved what I said before about art that glories self. This particular Ghost has been creating for so long, he has forgotten why he creates to begin with. Fallen human nature's default is to point inward and towards themselves. God's redeeming nature is to all point to the same person: Christ. Recall that God plays no favorites (Colossians 3:23-26). Furthermore, I enjoyed how subtlety C.S. Lewis portrays God's truths. The Spirit is saying that no one is distinguished but everyone is famous and interesting. Contrast this to the existential and other like mind philosophies that no one is important, or even matters. In Heaven we will still maintain our personalities and we will recognize and want to learn about those interests that you have a keener insight toward. And if you really like talking, that's okay because you'll have as long as you want.

So that concludes Chapter 9. If you like what you read here, or want to learn more about The Great Divorce, go here, here, or your local book store or library and read it over a few times. Hopefully, through this blog you'll have at least a mild understanding on what is going on and better yet, you might have some contrasting ideas.

I'll be taking a week hiatus from my Investigation series, but expect something big the week after that. Feel free to post and comment at will. I might have some regular posts up as well.

Week 5 - C.S. Lewis Continues

2010-02-01T21:47:00.002-05:00

Every week, I’ll be investigating into different aspects of the Christian faith using a variety of resources when possible. If you’re looking for something to study this week as well, please feel free to join offline or post your answers. Be ready on Saturday for the answer post! (Not an author yet? My e-mail is to the right if you are viewing this from r2r. If you’re viewing this from Facebook, contact me there though any means.)

* * * * *

As mentioned at the end of my last post, I will be continuing last weeks post on The Great Divorce, specially the material within chapter 9. I just ran out of juice last week and thought it best to go over the material one more time and refine my answers. Quality shouldn't be sacrificed when it goes to C.S. Lewis!

Week 4 - C.S. Lewis: The Great Divorce - Answers Part 1

2010-01-30T18:33:00.008-05:00

Of all the investigations I have done so far, this one has by far been the most challenging. C.S. Lewis has always been a champion and role model of mine when explaining the Christian faith. I know that he doesn't haphazardly write; he puts great amounts of effort writing, rewriting and editing making sure that every word choice and every phrase says exactly what he intends to say. In addition, there is many verses that contrast between Heaven and Hell. With the exception of the four gospels - one of my weaker areas in the Bible - there is little to be found. Jesus, without a doubt, has the most insight Christ-Followers have regarding the doctrine and details of both Heaven and Hell. With that disclaimer, here is my best shot and picking apart and analyzing the 9th chapter of The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis.

A brief synopsis of the first eight chapters goes a bit like this. The narrator, presumed to be the ghost of C.S. Lewis is taking a trip from Grey-Town, a symbolic Hell/Purgatory for those who have died, to visit the outermost lands of Heaven - namely the Valley of the Shadow of Life. The terrain itself is difficult to navigate for the ghosts because, technically, aren't supposed to be there. For example, the grass doesn't bend under your feet and other objects such as leaves and water droplets have an absurd amount of weight. During this time, the ghost of Lewis has been observing other ghosts' interactions with the environment and the Spirits of Heaven. Thus far, the ghost of Lewis has determined that when a ghost of Grey-Town willingly takes the journey to approach God in the mountains, then all is made right. (Basically, it is the act of honest repentance of our wrongdoings and the need for a Savior.) To his dismay, the ghost of Lewis has witnessed all his fellow ghosts thus far deny this passage into the depths of Heaven for a variety of reasons: entitlement, intellect, conspiracy theories (Heaven and Hell are no different), greed, or the unwillingness to be transparent with themselves or others. Finally, chapter nine begins...

And the Ghost of Lewis is encounters his personal heavenly Spirit - George MacDonald. (For more about him, click his name.) After some introductions, the Ghost of Lewis shares with his host a series of questions with the heart of it being, "Is there is a way out of Hell into Heaven?" The answer is a matter of perspective. Through a series of paragraphs that I am too dense to be able to break apart in detail, he gives this answer: "Those who end up staying in Grey-Town, then it is like Grey-Town is a Hell. Those who choose Heaven, then Grey-Town will be like the very beginning of Heaven." That's confusing, and I think I rather stick with what C.S. writes in the preface:

I think Earth, if chosen instead of Heaven, will turn out to have been, all along, a region in Hell; and Earth, if put second to Heaven, to have been from the very beginning a part of Heaven itself

And I like the way C.S. Lewis describes this. Although we are quick to think of Hell being a place of fire, brimstone and physical torture, he clears this common misconception. Although addressed in Chapter 1, it seems as though Lewis believes that Hell is a place of loneliness, separation and the absence of anything holy. Grey-Town is a physically dark place having the characteristics of the latter. That is other choice we have when not submitting to God's Word in the Bible. I also like this because it truly shows how Earth is that "bus-station" where there are only one of two destinations for any of us to take and everyone thinks they are going in the right direction when they step foot on that bus. Perspective - as noted earlier - is the key to understanding what someone believes in, especially when we are speaking about Heaven and Hell. This perspective shapes on what we think about the Earth's beautiful sights, sounds and wonders as well as natural disasters, human monstrosities and the physical and mental poverty of our fellow human beings.

To strengthen the point, I present this passage:

"Then those people are right who say that Heaven and Hell are only states of mind?"
"Hush," [the Spirit] said sternly, "Do not blaspheme. Hell is a state of mind - ye never said a truer word. And every state of mind, left to itself, every shutting up of the creature within the dungeon of its own mind is, in the end, Hell. But Heaven is not a state of mind. Heaven is reality itself. All that is fully real is Heavenly. For all that can be shaken will be shaken and only the unshakable remains."

Although perspective drives our minds, the message is clear that not all perspectives are created equal. Truth is truth and truth surely exists. Heaven is the real perspective that everyone should be aiming for. Anything else is a perversion or corruption of that reality.

This section on Heaven and Hell, in general, ends with the idea of choice. The ghost of Lewis is unsettled by the idea that none of the ghosts - including himself - have a choice in choosing the depths of Heaven over the lifestyles of Grey-Town. Indeed, we must sympathize with this question; these ghosts are being directly confronted with their greatest sin (thus their greatest corrected comfort) and being asked to let it go. And everyone has at least that "one thing" that doesn't belong in Heaven. The Spirit understands the ghosts distress and responds with a quote from Milton that explains how people mostly chose when confronted with this choice, "Better to reign in Hell, then to serve in Heaven." Jesus has an expression for this too and its found in Matthew 7:12-14: "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Even though we think differently, Jesus is not an idiot; he knows we are going to fail in finding the narrow gate. That is why must continuing seek him through prayer and petition. If we seek, then surely we will find.

The topics shifts slightly when the ghost of Lewis asks that if these Spirits of Heaven are so full of love, why don't they go into Grey-Town to save those who don't seek God. The reply, "It would be no use to come further even if it were possible. The sane would do no good if they made themselves mad to help madmen," doesn't completely satisfy me, although I understand where C.S. Lewis is going with this. From the brief discussion we had about choice earlier I think better reveals the answer to this question. The Spirits of Heaven are accessible to those who have the mind enough to visit them - as citizens of Grey-Town apparently have the ability to do. (I'm unsure if this is sound doctrine if Grey-Town is supposed to be representative of Hell - but it is canon if Grey-Town is Earth.) The ghosts of Grey-Town must travel into Heaven as to honor the free will that God gave them. If Spirits of Heaven were to walk on the streets of Grey-Town trying to get them to come back with them to Heaven, then its a violation of free will. In addition, convince those who are unwilling would be a maddening process, as the Spirit says. (Aside: the Spirits of Heaven tell us multiple times they have gone so far as to leave the deepest parts of Heaven to interact with the fortunate few who are unsettled about their eternal destination and the fewer who choose Heaven over their comfortable sins.

But what does that mean to us? Well thankfully, I actually found a parallel to this in Scripture, and what I think, is my best find this week. Compare the idea that C.S. Lewis is going for to this (Luke 16:19-31). According to the Gospel of Luke, we have plenty of opportunities, plenty of guides and plenty of signs to make a decision for Christ. Any angelic/spiritual interference would either dispose of the person's free will, or wouldn't be taken seriously at all. Amazing.

I am going to stop here for two reasons. One reason is that this post has the potential to become monstrously long. Secondly, if I stop here, I will have established a good stopping point in regards to transitioning the material. The second half of the chapter has a different tone than the first half. Additionally, I would like to spend this next week refining my ideas and better supporting them with examples from the Bible.

If you have any questions, comments or disagreements with what I have wrote so far, I would love to hear them. Post them in the comments section (click Voices) or e-mail them to me directly.

Week 4 - C.S. Lewis: The Great Divorce

2010-01-25T20:03:00.004-05:00

Every week, I’ll be investigating into different aspects of the Christian faith using a variety of resources when possible. If you’re looking for something to study this week as well, please feel free to join – either in secret or through your own posting. I’ll be posting all of my findings on Saturday, but you are free to do so whenever you want. (If you want to post and are currently not an author, my e-mail is to the right if you are viewing this from r2r. If you’re viewing this from Facebook, contact me there though any means.)

* * * * *

Even though I was really busy last week, I was able to find a lot of verses about money and some of the elusive verses on tithing. From the feedback I've received, it sounds like this Investigation of the Week thing is starting to catch on, which is good because I'm not planning on stopping anytime soon.

This week, the men's group I'm a part of has issued a challenge to (attempt to) understand a fraction of a C.S. Lewis chapter or quote of our choice. Being no less than ambitious, I have selected The Great Divorce, with an emphasis, but not limited to Chapter 9 for those keeping track at home. This is my first time reading through this particular book by C.S. Lewis. Since becoming a Christ Follower, I have read through (but not very thoroughly) Mere Christianity, Screwtape Letters, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Problem of Pain and Miracles in that order. Never have I attempted with Scripture to dig up the most meaning possible, so this should be a very challenging week for me.

Feel free to play along by reading The Great Divorce with me, or picking up another C.S. Lewis book and playing along.

I think earth, if chosen instead of Heaven, will turn out to have been, all along, only a region in Hell; and earth, if put second to Heaven, to have been from the beginning a part of Heaven itself.
~C.S. Lewis - Preface to The Great
Divorce, written in April 1945

Week 3 - Money and Tithes - Answers

2010-01-23T10:20:00.008-05:00

This week, my goal was to investigate the following: (1) How should Christ Followers use their money? (2) Is tithing still practical? (3) And if it still is, how should we go about it? (4) Lastly, I have been hearing about a graduated tithe - what is it?

I wouldn't be the first one to write that the Bible has some options about people and their money. Most people probably think of only the ones about money being a dangerous snare or a sin if improperly used. And, I will admit that I'll have a few of them on there, but there are some other ones that shouldn't be overlooked either. In fact, money and our finances can be a powerful tool for the Kingdom of God as long as we don't turn obsessed or enamored over it. When we fail to be good stewards with our money, that is when we become susceptible to other dangers, such as selfishness, pride (fame), and becoming power-hungry. We see an example like this in the disciples ministry: to avoid this creeping temptation, Jesus sends out his disciples with no money, among other things. Although this is extreme, I think the lesson that was being taught to the disciples, that we also can learn, is a dependence on God. (For a supplemental tangent about dependence, click here for a poorly written personal experience with a good message.) By far, it is better for us to learn a healthy dependence on God, than to try to make everything happen by our own - and ultimately inadequate - power. And a healthy dependence on God is not sitting in idleness, but to continually putting effort into our school-work, career, job search and monetary gain, but then surrendering the power of choice into the hands of God, who directs towards our true needs as well as godliness. If we're holding our end of the deal though trust and intelligent spending, then God will not lead us astray.

I looked quite a bit for verses on spending money in my Bible and also on the Internet. Most of the instances that I found I was dissatisfied with because I felt they were using the verse too much out of context. However, I found some edification in Isaiah 55:1-2 and Luke 15:13-14, which are contrasting (not contradicting) passages. The Isaiah verses explains the irrelevance (and emptiness) of money when it's not being used for purchasing bread. The word bread here I think is important because it's a basic food staple - he didn't use any fancy, high-priced food. This is to reiterate the point that money gained should be used for only our most basic of needs and nothing more. If this is true, what does that have to say about the typical American Christ-Follower (or American in general)? If nothing else, it should remind us that we need to prohibit our unnecessary and extraordinary spending on our toys and entertainment. Personally, when in "need" (I don't know if I've ever been in need), I try to always purchase what I can used (if possible) or at the cheapest unit price withing purchasing anything extra to preserve my finances for the Lord's purpose. However, please don't view me as a saint. As I write these words, I must confess that I have regrets about my impulsive buys. For whatever reason I used to justify the purpose back then, I look at it in disapproval today. To strengthen this point, we look at what happened to the lost son in the Gospel of Luke. The son who left spent all his money and inheritance on all what the earth has too offer - "wild living" the text says. Before long, he is in need and begging. Most likely, he spent most of his money on prostitutes. Prayerfully, Christ Followers are not spending money on prostitutes but we should consider on what we lavishing spending our money. Clothes? Shoes? Excess food? Entertainment? How much do you think we spend in excess? Can you think of any causes that might be a better use of that money? These are questions we must be asking ourselves on a regular basis.

Lastly, my investigation about tithing. The very first tithe dates back to the days of Abraham. Upon encountering a priest of the Most High God, Abraham honors him by giving a tenth of all he owns - forever to be known as a tithe. Moving forward, the tithe becomes a practice to support the tribe of Levi (the priestly tribe of Israel dedicated to serving the Lord and His people - the modern equivalent of priests and pastors), the homeless, the orphan and the widows. And this practices continues throughout the Old Testament of the Bible, including livestock and crops, as well as money. However, in the New Testament, some people would claim that the tithe disappears since the Levites no longer exist. In the strictness, legalistic sense, it's true. However, check this out: 1 Corinthians 16:2. If you didn't click the link, it says this: On the first day of every week, set aside a part of your finances in keeping with your income saving it up for the collections. So the tithe meaning 10% is dead, but Christ-Followers are clearly encouraged to set aside a percentage of your income for the purposes of God. Maybe you can give only 3%, maybe15%, or maybe even more than that. Keep these next two passages in mind though before you commit yourself. In Mark 12:41-44 a widow deposits two copper coins - a contribution of pennies in the modern day - yet Jesus proclaims that this woman has put more in than any of those around her, who have clearly put more in regarding value. Why is this woman so highly regarded? 2 Corinthians 8:10-12 has our answer. "If the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have." If a billionaire donates a million and the family living in poverty gives $1000, then God see the contribution of those in poverty a greater gift. Basically, it's all about percentages - but remember it's not a competition between others - it's between God and the giver.

But let's talk practicality. At this point in my life, if I were to give 10% or even 5% of my untaxed income, I would without heat, without food or without shelter. Surely, God cares about us and doesn't want us without them when they are necessary. So where does that leave me in giving? Enter the graduated tithe, which is also our featured outside source of the week. (Moneyhelpforchristians.com) Here's how it works. First thing is that you have to be making enough money currently to pay off all the bills. Afterwards, you determine a percent of income you want to give - the site recommends 10% (a tithe), but mentions that it may not be possible and that the percentage can increase later. When a pay increase comes along, you dedicate a certain amount of the raise to use in your tithe in addition to the previous giving? With each raise, you increase the percentage as well. Since you were originally living in your means to begin with, this shouldn't put you in any danger of failing to meet the bills. To keep practicality, adjust the amounts when necessary expenses increase (for example, children or job loss). Did I lose you? Don't worry about it, the site also has a downloadable excel spreadsheet that's easy to follow. Download it here too.

Now don't get me wrong I think the graduated tithe is a great idea but maybe it's not for everyone. The spirit of tithing can basically be summed up by 2 Corinthians 9:7. Give as much as you can generously, maintaining a happy heart and peace with God.

During my investigation I came across a view different websites that challenged its readers to not just tithe their money, but also their time, effort, talents, gifts or any other resources you have as well. I couldn't agree more. In a skeptic world, Christ-Followers need to put up a contradiction-free front to let those who surround us that we are serious about our faith. If we are faithful money givers, but refuse to give 5 minutes of our time to someone who needs a listening ear, we are not doing God's will, which should be our own. I challenge you as well to give God more than a tithe in everyone you do.

Τ∅ β∪sλ ❹ GΘ⊇

2010-01-21T22:15:00.002-05:00

Many college students and adults would often say that they have more things to do than what their time allows. For many of us the weekends serve as a time to catch up on work and friends, often Sunday has been the day for finishing last minute projects. In a secular world where the Sabbath is no longer taken into consideration keeping the Sabbath can be a bigger challenge than most of us would like to admit. Sooner or later there is going to be something that gets in the way. Your boss is going asking you to come in on Sundays. Or maybe there is that all day class trip on Saturday leaving you with only Sunday to finish that paper you should have started 3 weeks ago. You don’t want to be on the “let go” list at work and that class trip is kind’a required. How do we keep the Sabbath in an increasingly demanding world?

Matthew 11:28 “ Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden , and I will give you rest.

I think it's easy to say that we have no time, but really when it comes down to it there are things we are doing, and ways in which we manage out time that can be dealt with. If not then maybe there are some things in our lives which need letting go. God may lead us to be part of things, but when being a part of things gets in the way of doing what we should be doing with God than it may not be God's leading.

Plan your week and stick to it. Its easier than it sounds. Im a lazy one at times, more than not. It all looks good on paper until I actually have to go through it. It takes will power, and a change of heart and mind to change habits. There is no doubt that I can keep sunday for God only even if it means cutting some other things out, in the end God is more important than what is preventing me from committing that time to Him.

This semester I challenge my self and any one else to keep the Lords day.

Week 3 - Money and Tithes

2010-01-18T10:53:00.004-05:00

Every week, I’ll be investigating into different aspects of the Christian faith using a variety of resources when possible. If you’re looking for something to study this week as well, please feel free to join – either in secret or through your own posting. I’ll be posting all of my findings on Saturday, but you are free to do so whenever you want. (If you want to post and are currently not an author, my e-mail is to the right if you are viewing this from r2r. If you’re viewing this from Facebook, contact me there though any means.)

* * * * *

So far, I've been impressed with the last two weeks worth of investigation. It has brought me back to my early college days where Scripture for me was new, fresh and exciting to read. Even though I've read the Bible all the way though, and some books dozens of times, there are still portions of the Bible that blow my mind. It's my prayer that this attitude and discovery continue as I look into my new investigation.

This week, it's all about the money. Last week in the Psalms, I mentioned that God gives us purpose by making us stewards of the physical world and the life in it. If you don't know already, I really enjoy observing and watching people. One of the observations that I have and keep coming back to is how people use their money. From a small handful of Scriptures that come to mind, God has some big ideas about how Christ-Followers should distribute the hard-earned money they earn. So, I will be looking into that. Additionally, I want to look into the purpose of tithing - is it practical financially or spiritually anymore? And recent, I learned about the so called "graduated tithe." Is this type of tithing a fad of today or does it fall into the same category as the normal tithe?

I have no starting points this week - and I'm not quite sure what my outside resource is going to be either. If you have anything I should look into, feel free to leave comments or post about it if you're an author. Good luck!

Week 2 - Understanding Psalms - Answers

2010-01-16T19:48:00.007-05:00

This week, I went digging through some chosen and some random psalms. Personally, I have a difficult time pulling meaning out of them, so going through them carefully and thoughtfully proved to me greatly understanding them. However, my greatest outside source this week was a book: How to Read the Bible for All its Worth by Fee and Stuart. The following are a few good passages that really got me to focus in on the meanings on the Psalms I read.

"Hebrew poetry, by its very nature, was addressed to the mind though the heart. Therefore, one must be careful to not "overexegete" psalms by finding special meanings in specific words or phrases where the poet may have intended none. For example, you will recall that the nature of Hebrew poetry always includes some form of poetry always involves some form of parallelism and that one common form is called synonymous parallelism." [pg. 207]

Later on the same page:

"The Psalms themselves are musical poems. A musical poem cannot be read the same way as an epistle or a narrative or a section of law. It is intended to appeal to the emotions, to invoke feelings rather than propositional thinking, and to stimulate a response on the part of the individual that goes beyond a mere cognitive understanding of certain facts - this, after all, is the very reason musical poems are so well loved. While psalms contain and reflect doctrine, they are not intended to be repositories for doctrinal exposition.

Without hesitation - my selected psalms.

Psalm 1 - A Psalm of Wisdom and Instruction

When I finished reading this, it reminded me of one of my favorite Old Testament passage Deuteronomy 30:11-20. After you read it and Psalm 1, I think you'll see the similarities too. The first three verses talk about the blessed path - or the path that leads to a full, abundant and purposeful life. Verse three uses the analogy of a tree whose fruits yields in season. This reminded me of the fruits of the spirit. Oppositely, we have the choice to the path walked by the wicked - like the wheat chaff that gets blown away by the smallest of winds. If the righteous path is characterized by the fruits of the spirit, then the wicked are identified by anger, pride, selfishness and hatred. Just like the Israelites at the sight of the Jordan, present-day Christ Follwers try to walk both paths and end up yielding mixed "fruits." This psalm serves as a reminder to us to choose carefully and devote ourselves to it.

Psalm 8 - A Psalm of Praise

God’s work is so impressive, even children recognize it in people (v.2) and nature (v.3). The poet confesses that its amazing that such a powerful God not only creates us as objects of his love, but that He cares also so much for us that he listens to what we have to say when we need to communicate. This is what makes God mindful of us. But he doesn’t stop there; He gives us dominion and stewardship over the land and life that He Created in Genesis. This is the equivalent of giving a stranger your most prized possession and hoping they will treat it with the same amount of care and respect as you do. Of course, God knows that we will fall short of meeting His expectations, yet He still gives us this task so that we have a purpose and the opportunity to discover true enjoyment. In awe and wonder, we give God our highest praise.

Psalm 26 – A Psalm of Validation and Salvation
David, feeling frustrated with those who are hard-pressing him, speaks to God through this psalm. During this time of difficulty, David beckons God to keep him even more accountable for his actions and thoughts as he is leading the kingdom of Israel. He understands that even though these times are difficult, it is more important for him to act as a godly-king now because the promise of heaven is worth more than the troubles of today. In this, I’m sure we all can relate to an extent. We all experiences times of difficulty from people or certain circumstances. The lesson here is to turn to God for instruction and guidance in tumultuous times and the Holy Spirit will comfort you in the things that are eternal, and thus much more important then today.

Psalm 30 – Psalm of Praise and Deliverance of Pride
David writes this psalm as a personal testimony overcoming his own pride in accomplishments as King. When he gloats about himself, he realizes that he has put distance in his relationship between him and the God who has made his accomplishments possible. We are always at God’s mercy when it comes to the physical possessions and earthly accomplishments in life. So when we are blessed with them, we should be giving thanks and praise to the Lord. Although not the same context, the book of Job can attest to how quickly unnecessary blessings can be taken away. In the same breath, God can accelerate the healing and give abundantly when we are right with Him. Moral of the story is to make sure your pride is much, much less than God’s glory.

Psalm 37 – Psalm on Wisdom and Instruction
I noticed that this psalm is much like an expanded and musical version of any given chapter in proverbs. The poet writes (alphabetically, in Hebrew), about a multitude of different tidbits of godly wisdom. Here is a short list: being anxious because of evil schemes, trusting the Lord and finding joy in God’s Word, being patient with the Lord and with people, controlling your anger, protection from evil schemes, trying to live a blameless life, impermanence of wicked ways, turning from impure thoughts, and the salvation comes from the Lord alone and ultimately delivers those who trust in that promise.

Of course, I want to mention here also that just because the Lord protects us from evil schemes doesn’t mean He will let no harm come to us. The Bible is littered with examples pertaining to persecution, and even death, because of our faith. If nothing else, we are guaranteed protection from the most evil of schemes – death to our bodies and soul – but God certainly has helped a multitude escape from more earthly plots against those who chose to follow Christ.

Psalm 53 – An Instructional Psalm – The Folly of the Wicked
As a disclaimer, this was the most difficult of the group for me to work with. Verse 1 says that there are those who confess that there is no God, and in turn, want nothing to do with faith or religion. God still views these people, the ungodly, as his children but children who have been corrupted and been influenced by great evil. (Although his passage mentions that God despises this, I recall what my reference book says about this type of language and taking it literally. Maybe a more appropriate word here is “rejects” in regards to the person, although I certainly believe that God despises the evil itself.) God created us to live with a holy and righteous fear, however, when we choose not to fear God, we choose to fear each other on the basis of power. So when this psalm mentions that the ungodly fear where there is nothing to fear, it is because the ungodly live for this world and fear those who are more powerful than themselves – all things that a Christ Follower need not to fear with the promise of salvation.

Just as the previous week helped me greatly in prayer, I was impressed with how much I was pulling out of Psalms. If I have another week later on and I don't know what to do more investigations on, look for me to pick up another set of Psalms to work with.

Week 2 - Understanding Psalms

2010-01-11T12:22:00.003-05:00

Every week, I’ll be investigating into different aspects of the Christian faith using a variety of resources when possible. If you’re looking for something to study this week as well, please feel free to join – either in secret or through your own posting. I’ll be posting all of my findings on Saturday, but you are free to do so whenever you want. (If you want to post and are currently not an author, my e-mail is to the right if you are viewing this from r2r. If you’re viewing this from Facebook, contact me there though any means.)

* * * * *

I think the book of Psalms is one of the most difficult books for me to understand and reference. When I read them, I don't find much relevance to my every day life. This week, I'll be exploring 6 different Psalms - some chosen specifically, others at random - and I'm going to do my best to get to the heart of them.

I'll be looking at Psalm 1, Psalm 8, Psalm 26, Psalm 30, Psalm 37 and Psalm 53.

Week 1 - Necessity, Power and Effectiveness of Prayer - Answers

2010-01-09T12:49:00.006-05:00

My first weekly investigation – on the topic of prayer – I thought was successful and if nothing else, a great reminder on what prayer is supposed to be. This week, I was trying to answer the following questions:

#1) When should we pray?
#2) Why is prayer so important?

In alternating fashion (and I’ll try to address responses to the corresponding number above), here are my results, beginning with the two starting verses on posted earlier.

Beginning with the James 5:13-20 passage, I immediately found some answers to #1. The opening verses say that we should pray during times of trouble and sickness. I don't think these are striking examples to a practiced Christ-Follower, but I think they are important. As a early disclaimer, the passage continues on to say, "a prayer offered in faith will make a sick person well; the Lord will raise him up." Don't read this as, "this will cure the sick or troubled person from all their ailments." It those who are prayed for in faith will make a person well. There is no greater earthly possession than peace with God and I think that is what the power of prayer can do. I'm not denying miracles because surely they have happened before and I know of a few cases personally. But prayer for the sick isn't a failure if the sick person dies. The second verse states the Lord will raise him up. If the greatest earthly treasure we an obtain is the peace of God, then the ultimate prize is being raised up and in the presence of God. Reference Paul on this one.

We are also encouraged to prayer for other situations as well: before a Bible study, for a meal, safe-travels, and in the church I attend now, birthdays and anniversaries too. These "smaller" blessings shouldn't be neglected either. They remind us to be thankful for what we have and our dependence on God for these things.

Further into the James passage, "Confess your sins - pray for each other so that you may be healed." This means that praying for one another is not just spiritually healing, but also a way of encouraging and strengthening others. This power that we have been granted does not derive from us but from the power of God. Continuing, "The prayer of the righteous man is power and effective," and then James gives the example of Elijah as being such a man. Though our confessions of sin and then by God's gift of forgiveness are we ever made righteous. And this is important when we are praying because God turns deaf ears to the prayers of the ungodly and unrepentant. (So, I supposed this falls into both, #1 and #2.)

Because of what I wrote above, prayer seems to be considered a "benefit" for being clean with God. (I know benefit isn't the best word there; I'm unsure what the exact word is.) When we approach God unclean, He holds us to a higher standard of transparency and truth. When we are true and transparent with one another and God, our relationships with everything improve, grow meaningful and fulfilling. How great God is for his discipline to hold us to a higher standard we would hold ourselves to! This is clearly another reason why God would want His people praying and often.

In the second passage, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-18, my attention is drawn toward verse 17 and an analogy one of my friends used to describe it: unceasing prayer should be like a cough that won't go away. (Other translations use unceasingly or always pray.) Those who have experienced this, please don't over-interpret the analogy by never leaving home to pray through all hours of the day, everyday. But clearly, the Word of God wants us praying and praying often.

From this point, I had the option to write about a number of things that God wants us praying for. Some the options included, the blessing of objects, the blessing of animals (also referred to as the Blessing of Beasts), but I chose to look in praying for people. Why people? Because God holds people with the utmost pride and have the potential to show God's glory and love more than any other thing in God's creation. People should be prayed for not only in sickness or trouble, but also in doubt, unbelief, rebellion or any other condition that prevents the peace of God existing in that person - Christ-Follower or not.

It is important to pray to God for the people in our lives because it keeps us in communication. Prayer is often considered between us and God. But, when I pray for the needs of a friend, I feel that I am also communicating with that friend as well. Galatians 6:1-2 speaks of sharing burdens with one another when we are able to and restoring each other gently. prayer is also a very effective way to be in communication other Christ-Followers as well. If we are living in the spirit of transparency and truth, then we are confessing our sins to each other and we need restoration. Furthermore, if I am sharing this with another person, I don't want them to aggressively and absent-mindedly "put me back together." I want them to be encouraging and helping me put my life back on track. That's called accountability and accountability works wonderfully with prayer. To pray our friends, friends of friends, and our "enemies," we are communicating to God that we care for other people like we care for ourselves and that we understand the pains, false realities and the effects of sin in our lives; simply, it's a measure of compassion. The day we stop praying for one another, is the day that we are truly on our own.

Lastly, it would be a crime to mention prayer and not address some of the verses that seemingly preach that Christianity will increase your health, wealth and good fortune. These type of verses trips up Christ-Followers and unbelievers alike and I want to have this posted on r2r for anyone who wants some reference. Specifically, I'm talking about verses like Matthew 21:22, 1 John 5:14-15 and John 15:7. I'll take out a phrase from each set of verses that is overlooked, but I also want to mention that people who use these verses when praying for a million dollars or some other ridiculous thing are disappointed because they are people who turn God into a magical shooting star who grants wishes. I assure you God is not happy with this attitude toward prayer - and the source for this thinking is taking the verses out of context.

Matthew 21:22 says if you believe, then you will receive. 1 John 5:14-15 states that prayer must be in the accordance with God's will. And John 15:7 mentions we must remain in Jesus. Putting this all together, this means that God grants our prayers when we have the faith to believe that it will actually happen, when it is in accordance to God's will and if we continue walking the path of a disciplined faith. Any devout and practicing Christian can tell you that these things are no easy task but God's peace and answer to prayer is worth the discipline of a contrite spirit.

As a conclusion, I need to express that I discovered so much more than what I wrote here. I would greatly encourage and challenge any one of you to take a week spending a time investigating on something that troubles you. Read your Bible, use your resources, but also ask other Christ-Followers: age, spiritual maturity or position shouldn't matter.

Peace and Grace - You are in my Prayers

New Blog!

2010-01-08T09:46:00.001-05:00

www.john1v14.blogspot.com

Above is a link to a new blog I just started a few days ago. Art, faith and Theology of the Body! Check it out

Shana

Week 1 - Necessity, Power and Effectiveness of Prayer

2010-01-05T15:51:00.004-05:00

Every week, I’ll be investigating into different aspects of the Christian faith using a variety of resources when possible. If you’re looking for something to study this week as well, please feel free to join – either in secret or through your own posting. I’ll be posting all of my findings on Saturday, but you are free to do so whenever you want. (If you want to post and are currently not an author, my e-mail is to the right if you are viewing this from r2r. If you’re viewing this from Facebook, contact me there though any means.)

* * * * *

Prayer is mentioned throughout the Bible as a powerful weapon against the forces of evil as well as the Christ Follower's main tool of communication with God. Because I sturggle maintaining a mature prayer life, this week I want to investigate when we should pray, why is prayer so important and bascially anything else that I can uncover about prayer.

Starting Verses:

James 5:13-20, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-19

Link: Work and Rest

2010-01-02T11:01:00.005-05:00

As the longtime Christians of our readership know, one thing about life in the Kingdom that we sometimes have a hard time figuring out how to deal with is the idea of the sabbath - stereotyped as a rule about not working on Sundays (or at least picking one day of the week not to), held by some to be obsolete, others to be vital. It's a question to which I've had a hard time finding satisfying answers. The Bible verses I heard in Alfred as evidence for the sabbath requirement having been made more or less optional were explained differently by the writers of my NIV study Bible, who seemed to point to a "still necessary" interpretation but were silent about how it should work. Meanwhile, way over in the "bring back the blue laws and don't talk about soccer on Sundays" camp was as well-known a preacher as Alistair Begg. The church I grew up in and the one I'm at now, by contrast, seemed to fall somewhere in the middle on everything. My own prayer and experimentation seemed to point to my needing a weekly sabbath, so for about a year now I've been committed to taking it (though I may have to rethink how I do it now that my work schedules are shifting), but I still haven't been sure about what the best way is to do it or whether it's really supposed to be universal.

So this morning I tried out Timothy Keller's sermon on the topic - he's the pastor of a church in New York City and the author of The Reason for God, which is basically an updated Mere Christianity-meets-The Case for Christ. In short, he's a good, smart, truth-conveying pastor guy, and though I've read The Reason for God (which I think is excellent - please read it yourself; not everything he says will be new to you, but even what isn't will be well said), this's the first of his sermons I've ever heard.

And you know what? It's the first sermon about the sabbath that's actually made me start to feel restful inside about the subject. So whether you're like me and have heard a lot of conflicting opinions, or whether you've made your decision already but are curious about what he has to say, give it a shot at http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/work-and-rest. It's long, but worth it. I'll probably mull it over a little more as time goes by, and maybe there'll be parts I'm still not sure about. For now, though, I feel much the better for having heard it.

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T10:10:00.005-05:00

Merry Christmas to you and yours from everyone at r2r!

Luke 2:8-14

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared wit the angel, praising God and singing:

"Glory to God in the highest

and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests!"

Breaking Hearts

2009-12-05T12:48:00.002-05:00

I've been listening to this song for a while knowing that it reminds me of someone but not being quite able to put my finger on it - now I remember. My prayer for her is that she will learn to love herself the way God has intended before trusting her love to any one else. Anything less leads to heartache and a shallow love that won't last the season.

Anberlin - Breaking

Do you memorize theatrical lines
That seem to lead them in
Play the role with a good girl heart
Hide the tangled webs within
Who was it that led you on,
and makes you want to hurt me so?
Who do you want to forget,
That forgot you long ago?

Do you still feel him
Calling in the air tonight
Do you still feel it
Seems like you've done this before

You make breaking hearts look so easy
(seems like you've done this before)
You've got breaking hearts all but down
(and you've done this, you've done this before)
You make stealing hearts look so easy
(where is the girl I adore?)
You've got breaking up all but down
(and I can't love a thief anymore)

Do you collect the souls you've lost
In the top of your dresser drawer
Count the number of tears displaced
On lonely bedroom floors
A machine where your heart once was
Slowly takes the place of you
Only hold the memories now
Of a love I thought I knew

Do you still feel him
Calling in the air tonight
Do you still feel it
Seems like you've done this before

You make breaking hearts look so easy
(seems like you've done this before)
You've got breaking hearts all but down
(and you've done this, you've done this before)
You make stealing hearts look so easy
(where is the girl I adore?)
You've got breaking up all but down
(and I can't love a thief anymore)

You make breaking hearts look so easy
You've got breaking hearts all but down
You make breaking hearts look so easy
(seems like you've done this before)
You've got breaking hearts all but down
(and you've done this, you've done this before)

The best you could hope to be is now just a bittersweet memory
And you make breaking hearts look so easy.

Evangelism - Presenting the Gospel

2009-12-01T09:40:00.005-05:00

This is a response to the message at Good Shepherd last Sunday, where I was provoked to think about evangelism in a new way. We learned not to focus so much on "my story" or "what Christ has done for me, he can do for you" like a commercial. (Though for personal reflection I believe this is a good excercise.) If you present Christ in such a way, it created needy Christians always looking for Jesus to do something for them. Paul presented the gospel as just that- "good news," a reporter of the truth that left the listener with a choice to believe his claims, or to disregard them. So I tried to make and assertation of my faith, using solely the gospel. Comments are welcome.

There is someone who loves you. Someone who gave his life for you long ago to save you from death. But what will you do with that love? Will you ignore it? Will you stomp on it in mockery? Or will you choose to become his lover? He is a gentle spirit who forces himself on no one, but lets his children come to him and up to the Father. And those who do not want to be with him, he is gracious enough to grant them separation. For there is only "to be with Christ" or "to be apart from Christ." That is why hell is hell. It is the separation from Christ and everything good that he stands for. It is utter lonliness with no one to keep you company, but yourself.

I choose Christ because he loved me first, and upon accepting his invitation, I fell more and more in love with him. I love his character, his law, his creation and everything else he holds. Love, however, is not all rosy cheer as some have come to believe. He will not shield you from the pain and sorrow of this world. This, for the sake of connecting with others who are not in knowledge of the truth and for the sake of yourself- to shape your charcter and make you more like Christ. He does give you peace and assurance as you go through life though. To know that this life is but the passing of an second compared to eternity, and to know that all will be set right in the end. And I trust in God's goodness to be a just judge, because I know Christ, and he is God.

Praise to the highest King of Kings!
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Shallow and Deepwater Faith

2009-11-29T19:50:00.001-05:00

This past month I feel I am started to grow in Christ again. However, the more I discover and learn, the more I realized that I am not satisfied in who I have become. Although I feel I have complete faith in Christ in some areas of my life, I now acknowledge that my faith is shallow everywhere else. Despite the fact that all my basic needs are supplied to be daily, sometimes I still feel that God owes me something – whether it be material, an explanation or a reason. This is the stereotypical “American faith.” And then during the good times, we credit God for the success, but we are also incredibly quick to credit ourselves as well. But after the celebration, we crash back into the state of the indebted-beneficiary relationship.

If I am going to praise God, it is not going to be times of prosperity and good fortune. If I am going to worship the gift Holy Spirit, it will not be based on my fickle, ever-changing emotions and feelings that day. If I am going to follow Christ, it will not be because I think I can do so with any of my own power. That is a shallow faith; that is what I reject.

I much rather praise the God who protects me through trials just enough to let me learn and grow from them. I much rather worship the gift of the Holy Spirit that encourages me to love others more than I love myself. I much rather follow Christ who is beyond empathetic because He has experienced the same struggles and temptations that I am going through. That is the deepwater faith; that is what I desire.

Thankfulness

2009-11-22T15:19:00.004-05:00

Who Am I - Flyleaf
I'm so glad to be here
This day has become sacred
I'm trembling with thankfulness
For all of this

Who am I
Who am I
That you have brought me
This far, this far
Who am I that you have brought me so far

All those years of spoiled complaining
I said its not enough
And you have forgiven me for everything
Everything
And you have given me everything
Oh its too much, its too much
You're too much, you're too much

Who am I
Who am I
That you have brought me
This far, this far
Who am I that you have brought me so far

Who am I
Who am I
That you have brought me
This far, this far
Who am I that you have brought me so far

He is Knocking

2009-11-15T12:34:00.004-05:00

Those who I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me.
Book of Revelation 3:19-20 (emphesis added)

These words in the Book of Revelation belong to those of Jesus, giving an offering to the church body in the city of Laodicea. At the time, the people who composed of the church became drifters – people who started out strong as Christ followers, but then became disillusioned with the distractions of the world. (Specifically, they became infatuated with its riches through banking establishments, medical schools, and textile production.) How often does this happen in our lives? When we first dedicate our lives to Christ, we are so willing to do anything for the sake of the advancement of the gospel. Slowly, we start sinking back into the sins that tied and bounded us to begin with as if it were all we ever knew. And I’ll tell you the truth: these days of waning loyalty and betrayal seem to happen ceaselessly like the ocean’s tides.

But consider again the analogy Jesus speaks to us. The act of opening that knocking door requires two attributes from us: honesty and repentance. Honesty requires to us recognize why we decided to kick Jesus back out on the streets to begin with. Repentance blesses us with the opportunity to make matters right. And when these two goals have been achieved, we will find ourselves dining once again with the Kings of Kings and the Redeemer of our Souls.

Be honest, is Jesus knocking on your door right now? Are you going to let him back in?

When Life is in Discord, Praise Ye, the LORD

2009-11-08T15:37:00.002-05:00

Too often in our faith we find ourselves spiritually lost. There are a variety of excuses we use – I don’t need to go through the list, we know it all too well already. Slowly and surely, we find ourselves out of touch with God, our friendships with others fall apart, dedication wanes and accountability disappears. Our spirit becomes lazy, tired, confused and eventually lost. Sometimes we can see the trial ahead of us, while others do don’t tend to notice at all until we have taken a spiritual inventory of ourselves. No matter how the trials come or how long they last, we can be confident and be relieved that the Lord remains ever constant and true. These characteristics of the Lord allow us after long periods of struggle and rebellion to come back to Him after repentance and be refreshed.

So do not fear the darkness that you may be experiencing or the trials that lie in front of you. The Holy Spirit will guide us back to the Lord and refresh and renew our faith again.

In times of discord, praise ye, the Lord.

Scripture Last Read: 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:10

Casting Crowns - What This World Needs

2009-08-31T13:04:00.002-04:00

What this world needs is not another one hit wonder with an axe to grind
Another two bit politician peddling lies
Another three ring circus society
What this world needs is not another sign waving super saint that's better than you
Another ear pleasing candy man afraid of the truth
Another prophet in an Armani suit

Chorus:
What this world needs is a Savior who will rescue
A Spirit who will lead
A Father who will love them in their time of need
A Savior who will rescue
A Spirit who will lead
A Father who will love
That's what this world needs

What this world needs is for us to care more about the inside than the outside
Have we become so blind that we can't see
God's gotta change your heart before He changes your shirt
What this world needs is for us to stop hiding behind our relevance
Blending in so well that people can't see the difference
And it's the difference that sets the world free

Chorus

Bridge:
People are not confused by the Gospel – they are confused by us
Jesus is the only way to God – but we are not the only way to Jesus
This world does not need my tithe, my hoodie, my denomination or my translation of the Bible – they need Jesus
We can be passionate of what we believe – but we can’t strap ourselves to the Gospel because we are slowing it down
Jesus is going to save the world – but maybe the best thing we can do is get out of the way

Chorus

Jesus is our Savior, that's what this world needs
Father's arms around you, that's what this world needs
That's what this world needs

Enough to Get By

2009-08-17T11:27:00.003-04:00

Depending whose opinion you buy, we are in the middle of climbing out of an world economy that has failed miserably or possibly was on the brink of global collapse. Regardless what you believe on that front, nearly every citizen in this country has had to reconsider their finances. In essence, it boils down to two questions. "How much are am I making," and "Do I have enough to get by?" The first question is simple: it's talking about income. Some of us have jobs where we work for an employer, others work under the table, and some of us are being supported and are dependant on others. Add up all your incomes and you're set - that is how much you're making.

But the second question, though meager in word count, is a very loaded question. Enough to get by? Do I need cable? Internet? How much food do I really eat? How many children do you want? Child expenses? Is this house too big? How about this apartment instead? Utilities? How much do I invest in movies and entertainment? How often do I eat out? Do I need two vehicles? Car insurance? Student loans? Clothing? Medical insurance? Pets? Transportation? Tithes, donations and charities?

These are only a small sample of questions that we answer, conscience or not, on a regular basis. And these questions determine how much we need to make in order to get by. To get an idea about how much we differ on these things, I posted the question, "How much do we need to make in order to get by?" The people who responded did not have any children and some live with another person (i.e. husband, wife, roommate) or lived alone or lived with their parents. Yearly salaries ranged from $6000 to $20000.

Although I recognize that a $14000 different isn't that much, especially when you factor in insurances and rent, but the idea that people have differing opinions on what is enough to get by should be staring you in the face... Here is my two cents, as Christ Followers, what we could be doing to lowering our monthly costs and the reasons behind them.

1) Excess. As Americans, we live in a culture of excess. Most citizens of other countries live on less than $2 a day. For kicks, let's say that is a gross exaggeration and it's really $10/day - that's still only $2600/year. ($2/day is $520/year). Across the street where I am typing this I see a house with 3 cars parked in front of it. We regularly attend $9 movie showings (and still by the DVD). We think its our right to eat out a least once a week for at least one meal. Bottom line: we have way too much to dip our hands into and we want to take a piece of all of it. When we get a raise or increase in our income, we don't consider living the same lifestyle - we indulge according. It's well stated that most of us say we could live comfortably if we made double our income. What's the demographics of that? It doesn't matter. The woman living in the city who makes $15000 would be comfortable with $30000. The CEO living in their summer beach house right now who makes $125000 would be comfortable with $250k. Staggering.

No longer conform yourselves to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will know what God's will is - is good, pleasing and perfect will.

2) Contentment. Not only are we seeking what is new and exciting, but we seemingly aren't very thankful for what we have right now. Do we need to purchase more clothes or can we wear that shirt that we haven't worn in months? Do we really need to upgrade our laptop to OSX (Mac) or Windows 7? Get a new DVD player? The spoiled mentality not only coerces us into thinking we need something new, but it makes us unsatisfied with the old. Honestly, I like my wardrobe, my old and small dining room table, my ridiculously slow laptop that's running XP and my paint-peeled Saturn. Why? Because it allows me to go where I need to go and do what I need to do. Is the best? Of course not, but I'm still thankful and blessed that I have what I do, because I recognize that many don't have that - and they aren't tribal peoples in Africa, they're just around the corner from where I live. God will never leave his loved ones without the means to get to where we are supposed to be. Matthew 6:19-34

Criticize it, embrace it, or question it: it's up to you. But I want to hear your voice in all this. In order to understand how to be a good steward of what has been given to us, we can only be refined by thoughts that are not our own. Whatever your take is on this, feel free to comment. Until then, I pray that we will continue to search out what it means to use money the way it was properly meant to be used - and not just during recessions, but for the rest of our lives, regardless the economical weather.

A Simple Impact

2009-07-29T00:56:00.004-04:00

I had been at my new summer home for about a week when I met a girl who would end up making a lasting impression. This girl and my reaction to her can be easily described by 2 Corinthians 9:13-15 and the surrounding context (see 2 Corinthians 9:6-15).

Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for this indescribable gift!

This friend of mine had no obligation to generously offer her home and her dear friends. She had about as much time left in the rolling fields of Washington as I did. She was preparing to embark on a new stage of life, and yet, she continued to build new relationships, generously give, and share her love for Christ until the very end. I am not sure that I have ever met someone my age who has so humbly and powerfully displayed this type of love. In a matter of just a few days I learned more about hospitality, generosity, and genuineness than I had over the course of two decades.

I am sharing this testimony as a reminder and encouragement about the impact we, as followers of Christ, can so easily make in the lives of others. Special treatment and extraordinary actions are not required. We simply have to give with a cheerful heart and with a desire to share, even with those who happen stumble into our lives, all that God has given us.

Updates

2009-06-16T18:59:00.005-04:00

For those with a watchful eye, we've updated our favorite websites by adding on Ashley Fantigrossi's blog: voice of truth marketing. So please check it out and if you have a site you'd like to add on here, comment on here or contact me.

Also, get ready for a series of entries based on THIS previous post.

Blessings to everyone in all corners of the blogosphere!

Two Funerals

2009-06-16T18:54:00.002-04:00

I haven’t been to many funerals in my life. Even a fewer amount of them are ones I really remember. To be honest, I can really only recall four of them. The last two that I can recall occurred within the last six months (with one of them occurring in the last 36 hours). These are the two I want to contrast because the differences between them are obvious and quite painful, but they end up serving us a very important message.

You see the one I attended in January was of a very unexpected suicide of a family friend who probably didn’t know the love that Jesus had for her – and the people around knew the same things. The weight of the room was heavy and to speak was to walk on a floor of broken glass with your bare feet. Even the minister – clearly hired – had a difficult time giving a message that brought any comfort to the few that had gathered that cold, winter morning. Matter-of-factly, it was the “deadest” funeral I had ever been to. No life, no promise, and no hope.

The funeral I had just attended was the last great-grandmother of my wife. Her death, although unexpected, was silently welcome as she has been sick and worsening over the past few years at a nursing home. Although not a Christ Follower her whole life, when 9/11 occurred, the nursing home minister happened to be present and my wife’s great-grandmother accepted in the Lord as was baptized in the cold river water in her eighties. She continued to live on in her faith until she passed away and none doubt where she will be spending eternity. Of course, there were still tears of sadness, but there were also tears of joy mixed in as well. It was a funeral where you could feel as comfortable as one could feel given the circumstance.

The hope that we obtain through Christ is priceless, matchless and eternal. We need to be not only living this message, but also spreading it to others fearlessly as we should.

2009-06-09T01:31:00.004-04:00

Have you ever been compelled to go? I don’t mean to literally leave, but to run, bike, prance, gallop … to go until you are completely exerted. No matter how fast your heart is beating, no matter how dead you feel, for some reason you can’t stop. You just keep going and going. You just have to.

Then … all of a sudden … you stop. A force with the same urgency as the force that compelled you to go causes you to stop in your tracks. There is no longer a desire to take even one more step.

This sensation caused me think about my spiritual life. What are the things in my life that cause me to go? What are the things that fill me with so much adrenaline that I can barely contain myself? What are the things that make me stop? What are things that cause me freeze even in the most chaotic situations? Are they worldly things or are they God centered things? Are they selfish desires or love-filled gestures? What are the things that ring true in my own life?

There are points in my life when these questions have quick, easy, and honest answers. Whether or not these answers are always things I want to hear or admit is another story. At other times in life, I struggle to find words that will accurately express the feelings these questions evoke. Sometimes I just can’t formulate a response.

Today, I am somewhere in between these two scenarios. I know some things for sure and there are other things I need to think about. Adventure, travel, music, and laughter are all things that compel me to go. Sunsets, mountains, lyrics, scripture, and others’ compassion and generosity are things that cause me to stop in my tracks. Whether or not these things are generally for God is something I most definitely need to continue to ponder.

What are the things that ring true in your own life?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scripture: Psalm 144; Mark 4: 14-20; Mark 7:14; Romans 1:21-23, 32; Philippians 4:7-9

Suggested Listening: Grace Like Rain – Todd Agnew; Divine Romance – Phil Wickham; Captivated – Shawn McDonald; Sweetly Broken – Jeremy Riddle; Christmas Song – Flyleaf; Great – Ten Shekel Shirt, Winds of Change - Kutless

Fine Arts Drama

2009-05-29T19:47:00.002-04:00

It's been way too long since I've posted. I'll admit that I've been really tied up with work and my mind has been frazzled. Almost as soon as I posted last time, I got a call to come back to work for tons of hours and it hasn't really let up since. After this Sunday, I'm looking at a 5-day break.

Plain and simple, I thought I'd share with Fine Arts Drama to the tune of Lifehouse - Everything

Blessings to All

Idle Hands and Idle Minds

2009-05-18T15:00:00.000-04:00

For one of the first times in my life, I have a large amount of extra time that is not being devoted towards school or a job. Although work may pick up a little bit as back-to-school retail comes near and although I will have a short summer class in July, this leaves a large amount of time unclaimed throughout the month of June. I can’t deny that I enjoyed the time off from responsibility at first. Around the third or fourth day, it struck me pretty hard: “I’m bored.” I don’t even think I have uttered or thought these words since I was back in high school maybe. My life has been perpetually going since starting my college years and I loved it. Even though there was always plenty to do, I still got plenty of other “non-essential” stuff done, either for my own betterment or my own enjoyment. This time, I find myself asking, “What’s next?”

There is some saying that I can’t recall about idle hands not being good for people. Honestly, a pair of idle hands is not what scares me this time around – it’s idle minds. It may come to no surprise to some that I love learning, exploring and adventuring; it’s one of the reasons I changed career paths to education. Without some sort of intellectual or spiritual stimulation, I feel that I am merely a pawn to the empire of entertainment, being told and controlled how to live.

Clearly, this is not what Jesus had intended when he spoke about living life abundantly. So, I’m doing the best I can to think of what I can do to make a difference in the lives of others, but this certainly won’t happen before I get myself right. I don’t really know what I have to do to get myself there, but if you are reading this, I’m asking for prayers, and if not that suggestions or examples from others when they have gone through similar situations.

Thanks friends.

Garbage Truck Man!

2009-05-10T13:01:00.001-04:00

Last Wednesday morning my wife and I were earlier than usual. We were having breakfast in the living room when the garbage truck happened to be driving by ours and the neighboring houses. All of the sudden, my wife who was sitting by the windows, showed a child-like fascination and excitement over the man picking up the buckets, dumping its contents into the truck, and riding on the back to his next destination a few feet ahead. To me, this was a daily occurrence, but to her, this is something different that she hasn’t seen before. She used to live in the country where this isn’t as a common occurrence, so she got quite a kick out of it.

I think most of us have had this experience before when we were younger; I know the kids I went to the babysitters with looked forwards to crowding around the window to watch the garbage truck come by with wonder. Watching my 23-year-old wife express the same excite as a child reminded me of the child-like excitement, awe and wonder that we are supposed to have as inquisitive Christ Followers every day. Unfortunately the daily becomes mundane for us, and this increases all the more as we grown into adults.

There’s a simple lesson to be learned here: don’t grow dull to the simple pleasures that are around you. And yes, sometimes our joy in life can be that simple.

Growing Pains

2009-05-04T15:11:00.003-04:00

I have not written the blog in a while, but I feel I am once again ready to share. I think I have just come through to the light from the most difficult time in my walk with Christ. It all started going downhill back last spring 2008. My now husband and I had been engaged for a month short of a year, and that year did not happen as I had thought it would. Instead of planning my final month as a single woman about to marry an engineer, I was frantically searching for jobs with a wedding way out of sight. Despite my then fiancée’s warnings not to count my chickens before they hatched, I stubbornly pretended things were still going to happen as I saw them in my mind. Mistake number 1…

I languished, prayed, agonized and struggled along with the deepest sins I had ever allowed in my life that summer. I was crying in despair every other day at best. Fall came and still no hope of a wedding, suddenly it was time. I’m still not sure why God’s timing is what it is other than, He always knows what is best for his children, even whiny, rebellious, sick ones. Little things here and there all in the sudden started all rushing and flowing at once together, details aligning to make a way where the door had been shut. We knew that it was finally time. Looking back on my state back then, reminds me that while we are still sinners, God not only lavishes mercy, but distributes grace as well. I didn’t deserve anything; I wasn’t even hardly praying or reading my Bible anymore, and if I did, my mind and heart were not where they should have been. Still, God blessed our wedding beyond our hopes and I remember it with great and beautiful joy.

God had given me what I had asked for, but he did so on His own terms. It still wasn’t going to be easy when we got back from the honey moon. I returned to reality, and came abruptly down from cloud nine. I returned to my two part time jobs that had been our ticket into marriage. And I began to pick up the pieces of my withered relationship with God. I felt my Bible study skills were starting all over again, I could only handle a bit of this foreign material at a time, which made evident the extent of my emaciation. I started noticing more readily the symptoms in my attitude and began to desire a change. I started by studying the fruits of the spirit as they were lacking greatly, but I still needed more healing than that. As I continued on my journey through convalescence I felt myself greatly missing Alfred, the friends, the fellowship, the learning, and growing, but now I think that most of all I missed myself. I missed the person that I was when I was in harmony with Christ.

As much as I prayed for God to grow me and to change my heart there was still something I felt that was blocking that connection, but I could not put my finger on it. I was very happy, and very blessed and I knew it, but an un-named restlessness was occupying my heart. One day I was joyful and playful, and the next, I was moody, and depressed. Finally as I was driving in unusual silence to my first job after my morning devotion, Jesus pointed to the ugliness that I felt rotting me through. A thought, an underlying notion that my heavenly Father was not fair, that he was picking on me. As I wrestled, my hidden thoughts exploded at once, and I owned every single one of them. “I was tired, fatigued from inhumane hours, God was robbing me of the talents and passions that he had given me, numbing my creativity with mindless jobs anyone with a high school diploma could perform, it goes against the natural order of things, I can’t be the wife that God wanted me to be because I was never home, It’s not the way its supposed to be, my desires are natural, holy and right, God had played a mean trick on me…” Once I discovered and owned those thoughts, it was a huge hurdle to becoming whole again. My image of God was being reconstructed to truth. God disciplines those that he loves, he was growing me through my trials, and sharpening my character. Another healing tool was reviewing the times God had already delivered me and had proven faithful, just as he would this time, when it was right.

Eventually he did give me a way out. It was still a difficult choice, but ultimately, He lead me to having one job providing more hours and more pay. My trial symbolically came to an end on the weekend of Easter. It was like a fresh beginning,

“Easter”

What day is this Lord?

What day is this that you would finish your Creation?

That you would rest?

That you would begin time?

What day is this that you would mark your people with the blood of a lamb?

What day is this that you would reclaim your Creation with your last sweet breath?

That you would sleep?

That you would begin a new era?

What day is this that you would end my trial?

That you would circle everything to completion?

That you would give me a fresh start?

What day is this Lord that I would marvel at the perfection of your timing?

All my thoughts and longings are for the day of resurrected hopes and dreams

Yet now is not that time, there must be one more day of sorrow

That the vinegar would mix with honey in one last bitter-sweet drink

And just as Easter did not end with Jesus’s death and resurrection, he stayed and ministered to grow the church for forty days until Pentecost. If Easter was the end it would be a premature ending. I’ve been through a lot of transitions recently which left me vulnerable, yet by God’s goodness, I have noticed continued intimacy with God, and I pray that this journey will continue in my spiritual growth.

Abstract Prayer

2009-04-30T12:47:00.002-04:00

Today I want you to pray for something or someone you have never prayed for. Look outside your window and find something that needs prayer. It could be as simple as looking at the cars parked in a near by lot. One of those cars probably has a problem. Someone who owns one of those cars is probably worried about that problem with their car. Chances are that someone will probably walk out to a flat tire so have a close call or SOMETHING. Well you can pray for those people and those situations that they would happen or be resolved in a way that shows God. You could pray that if per chance something goes wrong that maybe money is provided for that, that they might find grace. Its as simple as praying that the seats in church are always filled.

So today pray for something you have never prayed for

God Bless! pray with out end!

An Easter Experience

2009-04-16T16:09:00.005-04:00

Considering that I have felt spiritually dull at best, it seemed weird to my mind (but certainly not my spirit) to be anticipating the upcoming Easter celebration. Throughout the week, I reviewed the events Jesus went through during the Holy Week as described in the Gospel of Luke - a gospel I don't spend a lot of my time in. And all along, I felt a minute tugging of my heart. I carried this with sensitivity knowing that it wasn't fully expressed, knowing that in due time, I would know what to do with it. This is remarkable to me because patience has never been my greatest virtue and I was completely in peace knowing that the time would come for it.

One of the worship songs we were singing on Sunday was "I am Free" (made modernly famous by the Newsboys) and during that time I felt minute feeling grow into something bigger. A reminder that Christ's sacrifice not only took away and continues to take away my sins, but that this act is an act of love that sets those who believe free. Freedom, not the patriotic kind, has always been difficult for me to grasp in Christianity. Because although we are free, we are also called to be obedient to the new covenant Jesus established. Too often, I find myself caught in that mental trap that makes me believe I am just playing a game mindlessly in order to get to the next place, wherever it is, that I believe will grant me the freedom that I want. First, I thought it was graduating from engineering, then getting married, and now it's waiting until I can graduate again and get a job in a school. Admittedly, this is a horrible way to live. The Resurrected Christ reminds me that I can think freely and my risen Savior, named Jesus, assures me that I can start living freely today, and not in the future.

In terms of manifesting this revelation into actions, I haven't gotten there yet. Currently, I am waiting for the Holy Spirit to lead me and bring me to where I need to be and I'm content with that.