"Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying, 'I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not carried out My commands.' And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the Lord all night."
Firstly, this is not a biblical exegesis on these two verses.
Samuel cared so much for the people around him, the people he served. This started me thinking "when was the last time I was so distressed about another's situation that it caused me to lose sleep and cry out to God all night?"
Other people's situations seem to affect me more so than my own, but never to this extent. I think we are frequently content with allowing something to move us, praying once about it, and then moving on. Samuel cried out all night!
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Consistency
Does being consistently inconsistent count as being consistent? If so, I am the most consistent blogger out there... well, probably not. I'm sure there are thousands others who start blogging with the same good intent that I do, but like me fail miserably.
With that being said, I find the idea of failing to be an extremely interesting one. We measure failure by the absence of success. Failing is subjective and completely dependent upon the measure of success. Yet, even in its dependence, we magnify that which is dependent over that which is independent. In our own lives if failing could be defined as "missing the mark" (which incidentally enough is the literal definition of sin), then what is the mark? What is success? What does a successful life look like? It's funny; we know what a failed life looks like, a life that is defined by lacking something, a life that's dependent upon the lack of an idea. But, we don't necessarily know what a successful life looks like.
Just a thought.
With that being said, I find the idea of failing to be an extremely interesting one. We measure failure by the absence of success. Failing is subjective and completely dependent upon the measure of success. Yet, even in its dependence, we magnify that which is dependent over that which is independent. In our own lives if failing could be defined as "missing the mark" (which incidentally enough is the literal definition of sin), then what is the mark? What is success? What does a successful life look like? It's funny; we know what a failed life looks like, a life that is defined by lacking something, a life that's dependent upon the lack of an idea. But, we don't necessarily know what a successful life looks like.
Just a thought.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Response to Author Anne Rice's Leaving Christianity
On July 29, 2010, widely read author, Anne Rice, publicly renounced her dedication to her Roman Catholic faith, yet remaining committed to Christ, on her Facebook page stating:
"For those who care, and I understand if you don’t: Today I quit being a Christian. I’m out. I remain committed to Christ as always but not to being “Christian” or to being part of Christianity. It’s simply impossible for me to “belong” to this quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious, and deservedly infamous group. For ten years, I’ve tried. I’ve failed. I’m an outsider. My conscience will allow nothing else."
then over the next few hours proceeded to post:
“As I said below, I quit being a Christian. I’m out. In the name of Christ, I refuse to be anti-gay. I refuse to be anti-feminist. I refuse to be anti-artificial birth control. I refuse to be anti-Democrat. I refuse to be anti-secular humanism. I refuse to be anti-science. I refuse to be anti-life. In the name of Christ, I quit Christianity and being Christian. Amen.”
"My faith in Christ is central to my life. My conversion from a pessimistic atheist lost in a world I didn't understand, to an optimistic believer in a universe created and sustained by a loving God is crucial to me. But following Christ does not mean following His followers. Christ is infinitely more important than Christianity and always will be, no matter what Christianity is, has been, or might become."
"My commitment to Christ remains at the heart and center of my life. Transformation in Him is radical and ongoing. That I feel now that I am called to be an outsider for Him, to step away from the words, "Christian" and "Christianity" is something that my conscience demands of me. I feel that my faith in Him demands this of me. I know of no other way to express how I must remove myself from those things which seek to separate me from Him."
_____________________________________________________
How sad is this? Even within the Church, Christianity is still known for what it isn't rather than for what it is. How does she think she can maintain faith in Christ while not remaining a member of His Church? This is so absurd. Without Christ, there is no Christianity. Ms Rice says that "Christ is infinitely more important than Christianity and always will be." THE TWO ARE INSEPARABLE. This is not a debate of religion, but of the heart and mind. To leave the Church is to reject Christ for the Church is God's chosen instrument for relationship with Him. And, to further state that she feels that her "faith in Him demands" this action. Wow. Ms Rice needs to read what 1 John says about leaving the community.
This is why it is so desperately important to develop an understanding of why the Church is so important. We are to love, serve, protect, and cherish the Church, faithfully remaining pure as a body until the day Christ returns to receive His bride.
"For those who care, and I understand if you don’t: Today I quit being a Christian. I’m out. I remain committed to Christ as always but not to being “Christian” or to being part of Christianity. It’s simply impossible for me to “belong” to this quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious, and deservedly infamous group. For ten years, I’ve tried. I’ve failed. I’m an outsider. My conscience will allow nothing else."
then over the next few hours proceeded to post:
“As I said below, I quit being a Christian. I’m out. In the name of Christ, I refuse to be anti-gay. I refuse to be anti-feminist. I refuse to be anti-artificial birth control. I refuse to be anti-Democrat. I refuse to be anti-secular humanism. I refuse to be anti-science. I refuse to be anti-life. In the name of Christ, I quit Christianity and being Christian. Amen.”
"My faith in Christ is central to my life. My conversion from a pessimistic atheist lost in a world I didn't understand, to an optimistic believer in a universe created and sustained by a loving God is crucial to me. But following Christ does not mean following His followers. Christ is infinitely more important than Christianity and always will be, no matter what Christianity is, has been, or might become."
"My commitment to Christ remains at the heart and center of my life. Transformation in Him is radical and ongoing. That I feel now that I am called to be an outsider for Him, to step away from the words, "Christian" and "Christianity" is something that my conscience demands of me. I feel that my faith in Him demands this of me. I know of no other way to express how I must remove myself from those things which seek to separate me from Him."
_____________________________________________________
How sad is this? Even within the Church, Christianity is still known for what it isn't rather than for what it is. How does she think she can maintain faith in Christ while not remaining a member of His Church? This is so absurd. Without Christ, there is no Christianity. Ms Rice says that "Christ is infinitely more important than Christianity and always will be." THE TWO ARE INSEPARABLE. This is not a debate of religion, but of the heart and mind. To leave the Church is to reject Christ for the Church is God's chosen instrument for relationship with Him. And, to further state that she feels that her "faith in Him demands" this action. Wow. Ms Rice needs to read what 1 John says about leaving the community.
This is why it is so desperately important to develop an understanding of why the Church is so important. We are to love, serve, protect, and cherish the Church, faithfully remaining pure as a body until the day Christ returns to receive His bride.
Observations on the Culture's Outlook on Marriage
Throw whatever divorce rate statistic you want at me. As depressingly startling those outrageous numbers are, it's not the rate that gets me worked up. Nor is it the fact that the divorce rate within Christianity is the same as that of outside. It's situations like the following two:
Awhile ago, I was sitting in a local BreadCo working on some studies. A few tables away there was a group of men and women getting ready to begin a meeting. Before the meeting began, I overheard a lady from the group talking to a coworker about a man they both knew and his marriage. She said, "I just think it's great how he's been able to manage to stay married to the same woman for as long as he has. And the weird thing is that they actually seem to be happy."
A few days later, I was at church setting up for a wedding. The groom arrived several hours early. I was actually pretty impressed that he was the first member of the wedding party on scene. As I passed him in the hallway he looked at his watch and made a comment to the extent of "I still have time to run." An hour or so later as I was mopping a floor one of his groomsmen made a joke to me saying, "hey man, you could have it worse today than mopping floors-- it could be you getting married today."
There is so much that could be said here, but this is why the divorce rate is so high. It's not completely because of the problems that come up in marriage, but the attitudes people have towards it.
Awhile ago, I was sitting in a local BreadCo working on some studies. A few tables away there was a group of men and women getting ready to begin a meeting. Before the meeting began, I overheard a lady from the group talking to a coworker about a man they both knew and his marriage. She said, "I just think it's great how he's been able to manage to stay married to the same woman for as long as he has. And the weird thing is that they actually seem to be happy."
A few days later, I was at church setting up for a wedding. The groom arrived several hours early. I was actually pretty impressed that he was the first member of the wedding party on scene. As I passed him in the hallway he looked at his watch and made a comment to the extent of "I still have time to run." An hour or so later as I was mopping a floor one of his groomsmen made a joke to me saying, "hey man, you could have it worse today than mopping floors-- it could be you getting married today."
There is so much that could be said here, but this is why the divorce rate is so high. It's not completely because of the problems that come up in marriage, but the attitudes people have towards it.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Camp
So I work for Calvary Church in St. Peters, Missouri and we just returned back from senior high camp down at Table Rock Lake in Shell Knob, Missouri. The week was truly great for so many ways but I think some of my freshmen guys iterated the time the best: "This week has been so much better than jr. high camp. Yeah, there's more 'fun' things to do there but here it has just been so spiritually amazing." I was amazed to hear these words echoed by 14 year old boys. God truly moved this week and I was blessed to be a part of the experience.
How do we carry the week of camp over to our daily normal lives? Camp covers 1 out of 52 weeks of the year and I would be willing to bet that for many it covers almost all of the intentionally spiritual encounters with God by most attenders. What does that life truly look like? More importantly, what does that life look like to other people? Life doesn't slow down for us so that the camp life just happens to exist back home. Actually, life speeds up. A lot.
How do we carry the week of camp over to our daily normal lives? Camp covers 1 out of 52 weeks of the year and I would be willing to bet that for many it covers almost all of the intentionally spiritual encounters with God by most attenders. What does that life truly look like? More importantly, what does that life look like to other people? Life doesn't slow down for us so that the camp life just happens to exist back home. Actually, life speeds up. A lot.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Coffee Shop
The coffee shop has become the new bar.
It's the place where "everybody knows your name." It's interesting how this fad is working, however. America is in such a hurry that even this coffee shop idea has become rushed in this fast food culture we live in. Starbucks has tried to embed in its customers this "Starbukian" lingo that dictates the way people talk while ordering. Our culture is in such a rush that we even try to make our communities, our comfort zones, a place where the time we oh so value is saved.
It's the place where "everybody knows your name." It's interesting how this fad is working, however. America is in such a hurry that even this coffee shop idea has become rushed in this fast food culture we live in. Starbucks has tried to embed in its customers this "Starbukian" lingo that dictates the way people talk while ordering. Our culture is in such a rush that we even try to make our communities, our comfort zones, a place where the time we oh so value is saved.
America the Modern Day Corinth?
An argument can be made that America is the modern-day Corinth.
In his letters to the Corinthians, Paul is writing to a church that is in combat with its culture. In many ways, the Corinthians were very similar to Americans. Just as Corinth was rebuilt as a Roman city, the American/Western culture is derived from that of the Romans. Corinth, being a new city at the time had a new culture. In perspective, America is fairly young. She doesn't have a rich history like England or Italy.
The Corinthian church was hounded by immorality. Incest, sex with pagan temple prostitutes, and suing each other were just some of the problems that plagued this young church. The American church finds herself wrapped up in her own problems but all ultimately reflect the immorality of the body.
Another similarity is this sense that American Christians so often feel a sense of authority. This self-identity also reflects the Corinthian way of life. The Roman culture was not as group-oriented as Mediterranean culture was. While still ultimately a collectivist culture, members of the church possessed a greater sense of self especially in reference to spiritual gifts.
We need to take advice from Paul and be real with one another. American Christians need to come out from behind their masks and live in community.
In his letters to the Corinthians, Paul is writing to a church that is in combat with its culture. In many ways, the Corinthians were very similar to Americans. Just as Corinth was rebuilt as a Roman city, the American/Western culture is derived from that of the Romans. Corinth, being a new city at the time had a new culture. In perspective, America is fairly young. She doesn't have a rich history like England or Italy.
The Corinthian church was hounded by immorality. Incest, sex with pagan temple prostitutes, and suing each other were just some of the problems that plagued this young church. The American church finds herself wrapped up in her own problems but all ultimately reflect the immorality of the body.
Another similarity is this sense that American Christians so often feel a sense of authority. This self-identity also reflects the Corinthian way of life. The Roman culture was not as group-oriented as Mediterranean culture was. While still ultimately a collectivist culture, members of the church possessed a greater sense of self especially in reference to spiritual gifts.
We need to take advice from Paul and be real with one another. American Christians need to come out from behind their masks and live in community.
Becoming our parents
Why is there such a stigma associated with becoming like one's parents? This past November, I was hunting with my father and he told me that when he was in college he would fill his breaks-- especially Thanksgiving break-- with hunting. I have found myself doing the same. And, it dawned on me that I am, in fact, becoming my father. At first thought, I don't like this idea. It haunts me. But, at the same time, I have no reason to fear this approaching fact. My father is truly a man of God, living his life faithfully to what he believes is God's will for him. He is a great example for my brother and I, as he does a job he hates to provide for his family.
Furthermore, we are created in the image of God-- our Father. With this being said, we are called to imitate Jesus-- a reflection of the Father. So since we are created and instructed to imitate God the Father, why is it such a problem for us to find ourselves becoming like our earthly parents? It's what nature dictates.
Furthermore, we are created in the image of God-- our Father. With this being said, we are called to imitate Jesus-- a reflection of the Father. So since we are created and instructed to imitate God the Father, why is it such a problem for us to find ourselves becoming like our earthly parents? It's what nature dictates.
Friday, February 5, 2010
This Is It
First of all, yes the title is an allusion to the late Michael Jackson's released film documenting his rehearsals in preparation for his out of this world final concert tour. And, the title has nothing to do with anything. I simply wanted to title something "This Is It" ever since I recently viewed the film with the same title.
I believe I have come up with a solution for my lack of posting. Often times I will have a thought or think of a question and write it down with the intent to write about it at some point. Most of the time these ideas stay in the form of a blank Word document with only the title or first line or two written. My solution is to post these questions and ideas on here and then follow up with a few more thoughts. Nothing too elaborate, but something far more productive than what is currently being done to address the oh-so-many thoughts circulating in my head that result from the exposure to the minds of intellectual giants in the classroom and the church.
My next post will be a quick reference guide to several musings in which I will then begin to elaborate on.
Faith.Hope.Love.
I believe I have come up with a solution for my lack of posting. Often times I will have a thought or think of a question and write it down with the intent to write about it at some point. Most of the time these ideas stay in the form of a blank Word document with only the title or first line or two written. My solution is to post these questions and ideas on here and then follow up with a few more thoughts. Nothing too elaborate, but something far more productive than what is currently being done to address the oh-so-many thoughts circulating in my head that result from the exposure to the minds of intellectual giants in the classroom and the church.
My next post will be a quick reference guide to several musings in which I will then begin to elaborate on.
Faith.Hope.Love.
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