Sorry its been so long since I've posted. I got married since I last posted! I'll no doubt post more about that later. Of course, I say this as if someone is reading this. Which is probably not the case. Anyway, I feel like God has been putting some things on my heart lately and this is a good avenue to kind of talk my way through what I'm hearing.
This idea of holiness, or the thought of being set apart, has been a present one in my readings and studies lately. God has called us to be set apart as believers. I have always viewed being set apart as being righteous. That is surely a part of it, but I think there is more to it than that. God has called us to be different. Not to pull ourselves out of society but simply be different in society.
There are many aspects that I think contribute to this but the two that God's been teaching and showing me most lately are service and faith. As for the first one, service, I have been reading some different works by different authors about Kingdoms. There are two different Kingdoms in particular that I am referring to: the kingdoms of the Earth and God's Kingdom. And they are drastically different.
In "The Myth of A Christian Religion," ( http://tinyurl.com/ddgt96 ) Dr. Gregory Boyd points to the fact that in the earth's kingdom, authority comes from ruling over others. Be it by military might or political influence, the key is that others are submitted to the power of the leaders.
By contrast, Christ came to establish a new Kingdom. His Kingdom would be built on service of others or as Boyd puts it "ruling under others." Separating from the way the world and its kingdoms view power, believers are now called to lay their desire for importance, power and authority at the foot of Christ. He must be our sufficiency for all that we feel we are owed or that we have earned. He wants to accomplish amazing things through us but only when we step out of the way and submit to His Spirit in us can He do all He wants to.
You see, the early church in Acts served in this way. It wasn't only their powerful words or defenses in the synagogue that drew the masses. Through the example of Christ, they cared for those around them that no one else did. The orphans, the widows, the sick, the crippled, the weak. The testimony of that service went hand in hand with the preaching. There had been a Savior sent to this world. And He desired not to just save us from our sins but also from our attachment to ourselves so we could be free to serve others
I heard a beautiful testimony yesterday about what it means to truly serve. My pastor and an elder at my church are going to India to visit some missionaries that our church supports. They have planted multiple churches through their work. But its not just great bible studies and preaching that are drawing the people to come to know Christ. Its the pastor's willingness to wade through sewage in the streets of the slums to share the love of Christ with a shop owner. Its the willingness to open orphanages when the money isn't available to. It's renting a room to provide free day care for 20 special needs children in the slums so their parents can work, even though the church still rents a basement in another building for Sunday services.
This is the type of being set apart that I want to be a part of. But my fears of rejection or failure to often prevent this from happening. I have to lay those at the feet of Christ who has removed those already and allow Him to work through me. I want to look different, not ruling over but ruling under.
Do we as a church in America look different? Do we have different goals than the typical American Dream? Do we wish to serve under or over those in the margins, those who no one cares about or even our enemies? We want to look all around us at everything that's wrong with everything, but are we any different? Am I any different?
Ok, that's all I have on being set apart or holy. I will talk about faith later.
Thanks for listening!
Monday, August 17, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Tornadoes in Murfreesboro
A tornado hit Murfreesboro Tennessee on April 10th 2009. The path crossed nearly the entire town. It completely destroyed 100 homes and severely damaged many more. Two lives were lost, a mother and her 9 week old child. 40+ injuries, some critical. One of the areas hardest hit, where the deaths occured, was very near to my parents house (about two blocks.) I was at work when it happened and after discovering that my fiance and all my family members were ok I immediatly went home as that's what authorities were asking all to do. My condo and the area around it were unaffected. Not until I turned the TV on did I see the spread of the damages. I remained at home and my family came over anticipating a long stay as power was going to be out for a while. It was restored however last night (way ahead of expectations in the wake of something like this) and they went home.
Today, I was going to lay low and stay around from the effected areas, but my family had walked into the closest areas and were assisting. I drove over there and helped out for a couple of hours.
Words cannot express how you feel during those situations. You almost don't want to talk about what you see because you don't want to make this about you. All you can do is pray while you walk around and pick stuff up that needs picking up. To say that the whole thing was surreal would be an understatement. Houses are gone, no trace of a live once lived there. Its easy and simple to say that its all just stuff and nobody was hurt. But it wasn't even my stuff and I was pretty shook up. You see in a glimpse the frailty of life. You see the fact that nothing we have or take for granted is secure. Nothing is permanent. It can all be gone in a matter of seconds.
Don't get me wrong, there are blessings and miracles in these situations. Watching people helping other people for no reason except for the fact that it needs to be done is a blessing. Watching people smile who just lost their home is a miracle. Watching large companies who are generally only concerned with the bottom line donating time and supplies is encouraging. And it really is miraculous that more people weren't seriously injured, but its hard to bring up miracles when a 9 week old baby and her mother die.
The bottom line is that more prayers are needed. In a discussion with a friend today, the grim reality set in that there is more than likely going to be an out-pouring of support for a couple of weeks but for these families, the tragedy and pain will be very real for much longer than that. I hope that all of us who are so willing to help now will remain that way when the cleanup is done.
Today, I was going to lay low and stay around from the effected areas, but my family had walked into the closest areas and were assisting. I drove over there and helped out for a couple of hours.
Words cannot express how you feel during those situations. You almost don't want to talk about what you see because you don't want to make this about you. All you can do is pray while you walk around and pick stuff up that needs picking up. To say that the whole thing was surreal would be an understatement. Houses are gone, no trace of a live once lived there. Its easy and simple to say that its all just stuff and nobody was hurt. But it wasn't even my stuff and I was pretty shook up. You see in a glimpse the frailty of life. You see the fact that nothing we have or take for granted is secure. Nothing is permanent. It can all be gone in a matter of seconds.
Don't get me wrong, there are blessings and miracles in these situations. Watching people helping other people for no reason except for the fact that it needs to be done is a blessing. Watching people smile who just lost their home is a miracle. Watching large companies who are generally only concerned with the bottom line donating time and supplies is encouraging. And it really is miraculous that more people weren't seriously injured, but its hard to bring up miracles when a 9 week old baby and her mother die.
The bottom line is that more prayers are needed. In a discussion with a friend today, the grim reality set in that there is more than likely going to be an out-pouring of support for a couple of weeks but for these families, the tragedy and pain will be very real for much longer than that. I hope that all of us who are so willing to help now will remain that way when the cleanup is done.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Florida. Good to Great
Sorry for the long delay. I have been in Florida since Saturday with no internet access. Great time. I enjoyed a couple of spring training baseball games and the sunshine. Forgot to wear sunscreen the first day and my pasty Tennessee winter skin paid for it.
On the way down there and back, I listened to "Good To Great."( http://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Companies-Leap-Others/dp/0066620996 ) on CD. A book written by business author Jim Collins. It's a really interesting study of why and how some companies become great and others stay mediocre. I highly suggest getting or renting it on CD because the book itself appears a little daunting and wordy.
The book is excellent and, like many other business books, can be easily applied to any aspect of the readers (or listeners) life. I think it basically can boil down to whether our desire is to be great. I know that my desire is to be great, but maybe not in the way many others desire to. I desire to be great at letting God use me to impact this world as a whole and individuals personally. Others may see greatness as making a great name for themselves or having a bunch of stuff. One insight that this author makes however based on research is that managers and CEOs that desire a great name for themselves were never at the helm of these "good to great" companies.
My point once again is that even with my desires and goals, the book applied to me. I think what can often make a book great to the reader is the reader's ability to apply it to their life of look at the information presented from a different perspective than even the author intended.
Anyway, just wanted to share the book with whoever reads this. It really is excellent, even for those that don't work anywhere near the "business world."
On the way down there and back, I listened to "Good To Great."( http://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Companies-Leap-Others/dp/0066620996 ) on CD. A book written by business author Jim Collins. It's a really interesting study of why and how some companies become great and others stay mediocre. I highly suggest getting or renting it on CD because the book itself appears a little daunting and wordy.
The book is excellent and, like many other business books, can be easily applied to any aspect of the readers (or listeners) life. I think it basically can boil down to whether our desire is to be great. I know that my desire is to be great, but maybe not in the way many others desire to. I desire to be great at letting God use me to impact this world as a whole and individuals personally. Others may see greatness as making a great name for themselves or having a bunch of stuff. One insight that this author makes however based on research is that managers and CEOs that desire a great name for themselves were never at the helm of these "good to great" companies.
My point once again is that even with my desires and goals, the book applied to me. I think what can often make a book great to the reader is the reader's ability to apply it to their life of look at the information presented from a different perspective than even the author intended.
Anyway, just wanted to share the book with whoever reads this. It really is excellent, even for those that don't work anywhere near the "business world."
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Bracket fun
Wanted to let you in on a conversation at work. My friend does a NCAA tournament bracket based on which mascot would win in a street fight. At two separate points, there was a battle taking place between Viking and Indian. We discussed for a while (along with my Dad) and decided the Indian gets the advantage due to quickness and strategy.
This morning however, in looking over the bracket we noticed that my friend had the Seminoles (indian) defeating the Volunteers (think Davy Crockett.) This then became the subject of much controversy. My friends point was that the volunteer would get one shot before he was rushed by the resliant seminole ("you know how long it takes to load a musket?" he said. I told him at that point that he sounded like Dwight K Schrute.) I didn't necessarily disagree with that, but I had one politically incorrect point to make.
Unlike alot of the matchups, (who has ever seen a Blue Devil, let alone judge their fighting skills) we have historical background to this battle. Remember, the volunteers (basciallly fronteirsmen) have already defeated the indians. Sure, it may not have been them per sey but it's the prinicipal of it. I thought this arguement was hilarious but it only angered my friend. I also reminded him that the volunteer not only has his musket-loading rifle but he also carries his "white man diseases" and alcohol. Therefore, he could barter his way to a victory as well.
Not the most sensative of arguments, but I believe it works.
This morning however, in looking over the bracket we noticed that my friend had the Seminoles (indian) defeating the Volunteers (think Davy Crockett.) This then became the subject of much controversy. My friends point was that the volunteer would get one shot before he was rushed by the resliant seminole ("you know how long it takes to load a musket?" he said. I told him at that point that he sounded like Dwight K Schrute.) I didn't necessarily disagree with that, but I had one politically incorrect point to make.
Unlike alot of the matchups, (who has ever seen a Blue Devil, let alone judge their fighting skills) we have historical background to this battle. Remember, the volunteers (basciallly fronteirsmen) have already defeated the indians. Sure, it may not have been them per sey but it's the prinicipal of it. I thought this arguement was hilarious but it only angered my friend. I also reminded him that the volunteer not only has his musket-loading rifle but he also carries his "white man diseases" and alcohol. Therefore, he could barter his way to a victory as well.
Not the most sensative of arguments, but I believe it works.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Fellowship
Yesterday, I taught a lesson out about Social Justice to my youth group (http://www.navpress.com/store/product.aspx?id=9781600062995) and loved it. There were some technical issues with my PowerPoint (turned out to be user error, believe it or not) that got me awful stressed but the lesson went great.
Afterward, my pastor taught on Matthew's conversion story. How he, the disciples, and Jesus dined with the taxcollecters and "sinners." The religious right... i mean, the pharisees, couldn't stand it. They didn't want anything to do with these "sinners" and couldn't understand what a Holy man like Jesus was doing with them. Jesus' response is clear... "It is not the healthy that need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners."
Jesus showed these men love. Made it clear that he thought they needed spiritual life, that they had sin, but He loved them anyway.
I have spent a lot of time trying to convey to the youth group the meaning of and need for unconditional love in our communities. So often, as Christians, we think our only calling is to share Christ with people. That is true that we are necessarily called to do that, but we always translate that to mean a 5 minute gospel presentation.
When Christ called us to love, there were no strings attached. No neat little gospel presentation at the end of the love. No motive at all except to unconditionally love. We are to love as Christ loved us. You see, his disciples didn't know all they were going to gain by following Christ, and they rarely understood the point of any of his messages. But they understood He loved them. After His resurrection and the Holy Spirits indwelling of the disciples, they began to understood why He had done what He did.
The early church therefore went around loving the unlovable. Caring for the poor, watching after the widows, and feeding the orphans. This was true love. Unconditional love.
You see, we often wonder why the early church grew the way it did, in the midst of persecution, without any military or violent influence of their own. Its not that the Holy Spirit was moving more then, as I've talked about (http://swannthoughts.blogspot.com/2009/03/we-did-study-of-acts-last-night-with-yg.html). They just loved people. People saw that love and responded. They knew that these people loved them and they wanted to know why. There answer was simple, as John said "We love because He first loved us."
I encourage any believer reading this to do the same. Love others. With all your heart, unconditionally, no strings attached. Simply because He loved us. Proclaim Christ in everything you do. Let the Holy Spirit bring about the change in people's lives.
Afterward, my pastor taught on Matthew's conversion story. How he, the disciples, and Jesus dined with the taxcollecters and "sinners." The religious right... i mean, the pharisees, couldn't stand it. They didn't want anything to do with these "sinners" and couldn't understand what a Holy man like Jesus was doing with them. Jesus' response is clear... "It is not the healthy that need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners."
Jesus showed these men love. Made it clear that he thought they needed spiritual life, that they had sin, but He loved them anyway.
I have spent a lot of time trying to convey to the youth group the meaning of and need for unconditional love in our communities. So often, as Christians, we think our only calling is to share Christ with people. That is true that we are necessarily called to do that, but we always translate that to mean a 5 minute gospel presentation.
When Christ called us to love, there were no strings attached. No neat little gospel presentation at the end of the love. No motive at all except to unconditionally love. We are to love as Christ loved us. You see, his disciples didn't know all they were going to gain by following Christ, and they rarely understood the point of any of his messages. But they understood He loved them. After His resurrection and the Holy Spirits indwelling of the disciples, they began to understood why He had done what He did.
The early church therefore went around loving the unlovable. Caring for the poor, watching after the widows, and feeding the orphans. This was true love. Unconditional love.
You see, we often wonder why the early church grew the way it did, in the midst of persecution, without any military or violent influence of their own. Its not that the Holy Spirit was moving more then, as I've talked about (http://swannthoughts.blogspot.com/2009/03/we-did-study-of-acts-last-night-with-yg.html). They just loved people. People saw that love and responded. They knew that these people loved them and they wanted to know why. There answer was simple, as John said "We love because He first loved us."
I encourage any believer reading this to do the same. Love others. With all your heart, unconditionally, no strings attached. Simply because He loved us. Proclaim Christ in everything you do. Let the Holy Spirit bring about the change in people's lives.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
rude
not sure if the title of this blog refers to me or the ladies here at JoZoara. I wasn't going to right anything today but I had to vent (one of my planned uses of this blog). I love kids. I love babies. I love the fact that parents who all have babies the same age like to hang out. I think the mothers of said babies know how to parent better than me (i have no children.) I know their lives are hard. I know they are not used to quiet. But I also know that I AM used to quiet, in fact I expect it, at a QUIET little coffee house. I don't expect babies not to cry. I don't expect mom to be able to do anything about it. I do expect however, an effort by Mommy to make the tortured wolverine noise coming out of your child to cease. And just to prove I'm not being selfish, the baby doesn't seem to happy with the lack of attention either!
Friday, March 13, 2009
Coffee House Theology
I have a new study beginning this Sunday with the youth group. I have been reading a book entitled Coffee House Theology by Ed Cyzewski. The book lays out what I feel to be a fairly comprehensive look at what it means to practice theology in today's post-modern world.
There are probably some other books that have their own opinions of how to do this, but I think this book has an extremely Biblical approach
I highly recommend this book (http://www.navpress.com/store/product.aspx?id=9781600062773) to anyone who has a problem deciding how faith and culture relate to one another, or how one effects the other. Simply put, the main concept is understanding that we all to some extent practice a contextual theology. We are all biased in some way and we must understand that in order to truly appreciate, identify with, and speak prophetically to the culture around us.
Anyway, the book can also be supplemented with a Bible study guide (http://www.navpress.com/store/product.aspx?id=9781600062780) and a contemporary issues discussion guide (http://www.navpress.com/store/product.aspx?id=9781600062995).
The contemporary issues disussion guide is the guide we will start Sunday. The youth at my church represent a wide-array of student types. We have the popular, public schools athletes and the home-schooled fundamentalists. I am excited (intrigued is probably the better word) to see how this study goes. Tomorrow's study is on Social Justice. Talk about a broad topic! But the guide does a good job of focusing our attention, which will help.
Well, it will be interesting to say the least. I will report how it goes.
There are probably some other books that have their own opinions of how to do this, but I think this book has an extremely Biblical approach
I highly recommend this book (http://www.navpress.com/store/product.aspx?id=9781600062773) to anyone who has a problem deciding how faith and culture relate to one another, or how one effects the other. Simply put, the main concept is understanding that we all to some extent practice a contextual theology. We are all biased in some way and we must understand that in order to truly appreciate, identify with, and speak prophetically to the culture around us.
Anyway, the book can also be supplemented with a Bible study guide (http://www.navpress.com/store/product.aspx?id=9781600062780) and a contemporary issues discussion guide (http://www.navpress.com/store/product.aspx?id=9781600062995).
The contemporary issues disussion guide is the guide we will start Sunday. The youth at my church represent a wide-array of student types. We have the popular, public schools athletes and the home-schooled fundamentalists. I am excited (intrigued is probably the better word) to see how this study goes. Tomorrow's study is on Social Justice. Talk about a broad topic! But the guide does a good job of focusing our attention, which will help.
Well, it will be interesting to say the least. I will report how it goes.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Acts
We did a study of Acts last night with the YG. There is not a more convicting book in the Bible for me than Acts. We are living in the "church age." Same as the church in Acts. But today's church doesn't at all look the same. Why not? I think the answer is complex.
We (the church and myself included) don't seem to have the same effectiveness or boldness. We don't expect alot out of God or ask alot of Him either. We are so self-deprecating (due in large part to the emphasis on Hell and God's anger in so many sermons and books) that we don't approach God as His beloved children.
And for that reason we don't look for His hand at work. He has not stopped working, but we too often don't realize it. The early church fathers always recognized the work of God. They looked for and anticipated it. This made all their work all the more God-honoring. The miracles they performed were not their work, but Christ's. The possessions they had were not their own, they belonged to the church and all those that needed.
All these ideas and mindsets flowed directly from the fact that the fathers were aware that God was at work. That the Holy Spirit (the helper that had been promised them) was doing great things.
Have I become deaf to the Holy Spirit's leading? Blind to God's hand in my life, the life of those around me, and the world? God has not changed. He is not less powerful than 2000 years ago. He is not done working. It is our job as believers to realize this and search for His hand, His plan, His will as we do life together.
We (the church and myself included) don't seem to have the same effectiveness or boldness. We don't expect alot out of God or ask alot of Him either. We are so self-deprecating (due in large part to the emphasis on Hell and God's anger in so many sermons and books) that we don't approach God as His beloved children.
And for that reason we don't look for His hand at work. He has not stopped working, but we too often don't realize it. The early church fathers always recognized the work of God. They looked for and anticipated it. This made all their work all the more God-honoring. The miracles they performed were not their work, but Christ's. The possessions they had were not their own, they belonged to the church and all those that needed.
All these ideas and mindsets flowed directly from the fact that the fathers were aware that God was at work. That the Holy Spirit (the helper that had been promised them) was doing great things.
Have I become deaf to the Holy Spirit's leading? Blind to God's hand in my life, the life of those around me, and the world? God has not changed. He is not less powerful than 2000 years ago. He is not done working. It is our job as believers to realize this and search for His hand, His plan, His will as we do life together.
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