A New Year
I really am terrible at updating this thing. Well it is a new year and a lot of exciting things have happened since I last updated. The Lord has blessed me and stretched me in ways I did not expect and in ways that I could never have dreamed of. 2009 was a great year for me, but it was also one of the most difficult years in the 23 I have experienced.
All that being said, I feel compelled to share with whoever may read this blog, that this next year needs to be viewed with some excitement. I realize that there is a lot of uncertainty going into this next year. The economy is still not where we would like it to be, the job market has not rebounded, and sickness and death are still as unpredictable as they ever have been. 2010 is a year that is as unpredictable as any other year has been, containing 12 months of uncertainty. But I need to be reminded, and I want you to be reminded, that the God who created the universe, the heavens and the earth, is in control and will not be surprised by anything that happens to you or me this year. So I would just encourage you to take heart, that the God of the universe is in control and knows what lies ahead, and is with you as you walk through the journey of your life.
On a personal note, my desire this year is to fall more and more in love with the cross of Christ. I want to fall more and more in love with my God who sacrificed himself on my behalf, and to find my greatest joy in Him, no matter what good or bad happens to me this year and on a daily basis.
Happy New Year!
Nine Pastoral Prayers
I was listening to Matt Chandler yesterday and ended up listening to a podcast titled “Nine Pastoral Prayers.” These are the prayers that Chandler and his staff prayed through when they were starting the Village Church. I think there is a lot of good stuff in these nine prayers for the church in general, but I also think that there are some good things for individual believers to remember. So here you go.
Prayer #1: That we would see that the greatest problem in the universe is not mere moral failure – but rather a failure to honor God. (“For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Romans 1:21)
Prayer #2: That we would understand that discipline rarely brings about love – but love always brings about discipline. (“Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?” Galatians 3:5)
Prayer #3: That we would realize that children of God are not under wrath – but under mercy. (“[He will make known] the riches of his glory for vessels
of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory.” Romans 9:23)
Prayer #4: That we would find that the fullness of all things – including life and joy – is in Christ. (“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10)
Prayer #5: That we would experience a holy discontentment with where our lives are – and that we would espouse the hope of what our lives can be. (“For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope.” Romans 8:20)
Prayer #6: That we would recognize that God has purposefully placed us here – at this time, in this place – for His glory. (“And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place” Acts 17:26)
Prayer #7: That we would develop a taste for truth – even difficult ones. (“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11)
Prayer #8: That we would embrace Biblical Christianity – not American evangelicalism. (“In the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self,. . .having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5)
Prayer #9: That we would believe in the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit – and desire them earnestly. (“So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.” 1 Corinthians 14:39)
Vintage Church: Timeless Truth and Timely Methods
Back about a month ago or so, I read another book by Pastor Mark Driscoll out of Mars Hill Seattle, this one entitled Vintage Church: Timeless Truths and TImely Methods. This book as actually the second book of what is known as the Re:Lit project put out by the Resurgence, which is a online ministry resource started by Driscoll.
In similar fashion to Vintage Jesus, Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears set out to answer 12 commonly asked questions about the church. These questions include:
1. What Is the Christian Life?
2. What Is a Christian Church?
3. Who Is Supposed to Lead a Church?
4. Why Is Preaching Important?
5. What Are Baptism and Communion?
6. How Can a Church Be Unified?
7. What Is Church Discipline?
8. How Is Love Expressed in a Church?
9. What Is a Missional Church?
10. What Is a Multi-Campus Church?
11. How Can a Church Utilize Technology?
12 How Could the Church Help Transform the World?
I really enjoyed this book; it is a really concerted effort to see what exactly scripture says about the church and examines the scriptural backing for a lot of the practices the church has undertaken historically. Also similar to Vintage Jesus, each chapter is concluded with Dr. Gerry Breshears attempting to answer more specific questions falling within the question of the chapter.
I also really like how a large portion of the book is practical. Driscoll uses his own experiences in planting Mars Hill and gives the reasoning behind why they do things the way they do them. I personally found those portions really interesting because I had been curious as to how the leaders of a church that size think through the things they do.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone. This is not a book written to present some new way of doing church; this book seeks to define what is a Christian church and what it looks like and does historically as well as some practical applications for today.
Vintage Jesus: Timely Answers to Timely Questions
Today I finished a book called Vintage Jesus: Timely Answers to Timely Questions by Pastor Mark Driscoll out of Mars Hill Church in Seattle and Gerry Breshears. The book is based on a sermon series done by Driscoll of the same title where twelve questions regarding Jesus are sought to be answered by Driscoll. These questions include:
1. Is Jesus the Only God?
2. How Human was Jesus?
3. How did People Know Jesus was Coming?
4. Why did Jesus Come to Earth?
5. Why did Jesus’ Mom Need to be a Virgin?
6. What did Jesus Accomplish on the Cross?
7. Did Jesus Rise from Death?
8. Where is Jesus Today?
9. Why Should We Worship Jesus?
10. What Makes Jesus Superior to Other Saviors?
11. What Difference has Jesus Made in History?
12. What will Jesus do upon His Return?
I must say that I really enjoyed this book. Driscoll has a knack for examining what the world, both historically and contemporarily have said about Jesus in regard to these questions, and then diving into what scripture has to say about these questions. Driscoll definitely did not write this book without doing some research, since each individual chapter as over 30 citations, most of them coming from scripture. Each chapter also ends with Dr. Gerry Breshears answering several specific questions that relate to the overall question of each chapter.
I do think that Driscoll could have probably broken up some of the topics into smaller sections, but the overall presentation was good. I was a little bit worried that the chapters would just be a transcript from the sermons he preached in the series Vintage Jesus, but he did considerable editing and additions to make it different that his sermons.
Overall, I think this is a really good book, and I would highly recommend it to anyone. There is also a DVD resource that can be used to help work through this book with a small group. I have not personally seen this resource, but I imagine it is of great value. I would also recommend listening to the sermon series Vintage Jesus, they do great little vignettes where they interview people and ask them what they think about Jesus.
Do You Worship the Work?
“We have no right to decide where we should be placed, or to have preconceived ideas as to what God is preparing us to do. God engineers everything; and wherever He places us, our one supreme goal should be to pour out our lives in wholehearted devotion to Him in that particular work.”
~Excerpt from My Utmost for His Highest “Do You Worship the Work?” April 23
This was good for me to hear this morning.
Fiction Family
If you are interested in a new band, I would recommend Fiction Family. They are made up of Jon Foreman of Switchfoot and Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek. I really like their sound. Check them out:
Decisions, Faith
I’ve come to that point in every young person’s life, the time to make those decisions that will significantly effect my life for the coming years, I dare say the rest of my life. Normally I like the challenge that decision making brings, but never before have the decisions to be made had such a magnitude. I find myself struggling to make these decisions for several reasons:
First, the decision does not just impact me. I get married in June, and from that day on, I am responsible for another human being. Now I am well aware that Janie will be making considerably more money than I will be, but I think that biblically I am still to be the one to take care of her. The decisions I make on what church we go to and where I go to school and where we live will have a significant impact on how she is able to live her life. I love Janie to death, and I want to give her a great life, I want to take care of her to the best of my ability, but every option I am presented with doesn’t lead to anything anyone would consider easy. I thank God that she understands the situation she will be marrying by marrying me, but I still struggle with thoughts about how I am going to take care of her.
Second, my own future is “at stake” as it were. I have things that I think God is calling me to so that I can serve Him. The big one would be that I feel he is calling me to later in life be a professor. In order to do that, you have to have a whole lot of schooling which I am actually really excited about. Unfortunately, affording all of that schooling is a different issue. There is also the decision of where to go to Seminary, what will be more beneficial to me later, etc. I know where I want to go, and I know where Janie wants me to go, but it is an expensive choice and I don’t see the finances being there anytime soon. There is always the choice to wait, but I fear that if I don’t start right into my schooling, it will be even harder to get into it once I am established in a job.
Finally, I really want to follow God’s will on this one. Let me rephrase that, I really want to choose the options that will bring the most glory to God, where I can serve Him the best. This is the first time where there are several options ahead of me and I have the potential of “messing up” (for lack of a better term) real bad. I am really trying to seek God on these things, and as of yet, he hasn’t made it clear where I should go, and that makes me nervous. I talk to some people and they know what they are doing once May 10 gets here. Normally I would be the one who has it all figured out and knows where I am going, and I just haven’t been given a clear direction yet, and that frightens me.
So I am feel like I am going to have to really step out on faith on this one. I think I am really going to have to just trust God and run with what I know He has given me as of now. Much prayer would be great, and any advice is welcome as well. Maybe I will post my options later and try and get some feedback.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2
Live Love
So this past weekend we took our youth group to Student Life Conference in Euless. It was incredible. The theme for the weekend was Live Love, and the speaker was Francis Chan.
I think this was a conference that was really able to hit all of our students right where they were. For our students who are growing in the faith, a topic brought up was having love for others, those who can’t love them back. But even more exciting than that, for our students, and I think all of them needed to hear it, but certain one’s in particular, the message was primarily focused on how much God the creator loves us and how we should reciprocate that love.
Something that Francis Chan pointed out the first night, and I think it is something that really hit our students and even me, is how we approach praying to God. He mentioned how we don’t necessarily approach prayer as being toward the almighty creator who has no responsibility to hear us when we talk to him. He read Revelation 4, describing John’s vision of God on his throne. He used the magnitude of what John described himself seeing to implore the audience to think about who they are praying to. To take 30 seconds before praying to God to think about who God is, how awesome and mighty he is, and then to pray to him realizing how much God loves them to even hear them.
Chan also made mention of how we are to be children who are crazily in love with God. We are to be excited about being his child, excited about getting to talk with him. God is so in love with us, all we should be able to do is be crazily in love with him, and in so doing, love the people around us in an unbelievable way.
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