Humanity of Christ
Mar 31, 2004 Uncategorized
Hebrews 4:14-16 (MES)
Now that we know what we have–Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God–let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all–all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.
I was thinking through this verse and I was reflecting on all that Christ went through on Earth. I then was struck thinking about Jesus as a child. Then, I looked through images of my son Cole and thought about the fact that Jesus encountered all the emotions and feelings my son has felt, all of it–but without the sin. These are the pictures that struck me the most.
Oh, and a side note
Mar 31, 2004 Uncategorized
I was reading that Deuteronomy passage yesterday in a Bible with a famous commentator’s notes. He didn’t say anything about the capital punishment portions or the capturing a woman and shaving her head and “humbling her” portion, or the “unloved wife and kids” portion, or the polygamy portion, or the stoning a disobedient son to death portion, or the mixing two kinds of fabric together portion, or the stoning a woman to death if she loses her virginity portion, or the marrying a woman you have raped portion. But when the verse came about that said:
“A woman shall not wear man’s clothing, nor shall a man put on a woman’s clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God. (Deuteronomy 22:5)
He comments on how this teaches us how the Bible is against transvestites. I was kinda shocked that this commentator saw this as the only verse worthy of commentary in the entire passage.
Struggles
Mar 31, 2004 Uncategorized
{ MOOD: Decent | ITUNES: “Fields of Gold” - Sting }
I have to admit, there are times when I don’t like the Bible at all. There are passages that are confusing or downright upsetting. One such passage is this one I ran across yesterday: Deuteronomy 21-22
Sometimes, as a Pastor, I find it hard to say “I don’t like this” or “I don’t understand this.” There seems to be this expectation that I can understand (and fully embrace) everything in the Bible or that I never have doubts or fears or whatever. But, quite frankly, this passage makes my head spin (and not in a good way). It reminds me of two conversations I have had recently that touch on this.
The first was with a pastor who told me he doesn’t feel like he fits in with most pastors who seem to “have it all together.” That he feels like an outsider of sorts who still has questions and doubts and fears. Wow. That means one of two things to me:
1) Most pastors have it together better than I do or
2) A lot of pastors hide (even from each other) their questions and doubts, etc.
The second conversation was with a pastor who told me that he is learning to “sit in sadness.” I thought, “that’s weird.” But as I thought about it more, I realized that I brush quickly past “bad” emotions without ever dealing with them. Now sadness is not an emotion I encounter often, but there are others I encounter all the time. And I quickly joke my way past them or ignore them until they go away. But ever since this conversation with my friend, I have tried to stay in that emotional place for awhile and it has been interesting. Instead of experiencing these negative emotions in a superficial way, I have begun to really experience them. Then, I find I can dig into them a bit and examine my heart and what is really going on.
Catching Up
Mar 29, 2004 Uncategorized
{ MOOD: Migraine | Noise: None }
So I am continuing to read “Reliving the Passion” (or at least, I am starting to read it again). And as I try to catch up it seems like a chore, like a duty. So I am going to continue to read and to blog as things strike me, but I am not going to be worried about ending it on any particular day.
Day 10 & 11
“When is a mother more inclined to cuddle her children? When they’re a nasty, insolent brood, disobedient and disrespectful of her motherhood? Or when they are cuddly”
When will a father liklier give good gifts to his children? WHen they’ve just ruined the previous gift, by negligence or by downright wickedness? When they are sullen and self-absorbed? Or when they manifest genuine goodness and self-responsibility?
But the love of Jesus is utterly unaccountable–except that he is God and God is love…It takes my breath away.” - Walter Wangerin
This is something I intellectually believe. But I think that deep down I still think I have to prove something to God. Do something good for him or he will look down on me.
Sites
Mar 28, 2004 Uncategorized
{ MOOD: Great | TIVO: Alias }
I have added more to the list of Friends and other sites to the left. Under the new sites category, I placed sites that I frequent when I get a chance to surf. To make the list it had to be a site that I hit on a semi-regular basis. Some are fun, some are serious, some are both. Happy surfing.
My friend Dave just called me with news that I am officially famous. His mom in law is a prof at LCC and students in her class were criticing public communicators and someone criticed me. Apparently I do OK, but tend to ramble or some crap like that. Yee ha.
AOL Translator
Mar 28, 2004 Uncategorized
{ MOOD: Getting a lot of sorting of old bookmarks done | ITUNES:”83″ - John Mayer }
Ever want to post to your blog like a 12 year old? Well, now you can.
I ran my post from a few days ago through this buet and here’s what I got:
{ MOD TIERD | NOIES KIA COMARCIAL }
S2RY ONE
W3 HAD AN MAZNG LEAEDRSHIP RETR3AT THIS WEKEND1!!1 OMG LOL WA HAD NO IEDA HOW MANY P3OPL3 WUD COMA BUT WA HAD 13
PAUL!1!11!11 WTF AND STAV3 TAUGHT ON OUR PAST ON DA FIRST NIGHT AND IF WAS SO COL 2 H3AR AL OF THIS MAZNG STUF!1!11 OMG WTF IM STIL BLOWN AWAY WIT HOW MUCH HAS HAPENED IN OUR LITL3 CHURCHS HIS2RY!!!1!!1 WTF LOL I WIL UPLOAD AN MP3 L8R IF U CAER!!!1! LOL TH3N WA SPENT TIEM PRAYNG AND IT WAS SO COL 2 SE 13 LEAEDRS PRAYNG TAHT GOD WUD US3 TH3M AND TEH CHURCH IN OUR AERA11!!!111 LOL SO COL
THAN1!!11 OMG THIS MORNNG WE TOK3D ABOUT DA VISION FOR OUR FUTUR3 AND WE SPLIT UP IN2 GROUPS AND DISCUS3D OUR STRAETGEIS!!1!1!1! OMG LOL THEN WH3N WE PULAD BAK 2GATH3R I SAW SOM3THNG AEWSOM3!!1! OMG WTF I SAW THIS HUNDR3D OR SO PEOPL3 RAAL 3XCIETD ABOUT WUT GOD IS DONG1!!!1 LOL I WAS MAEZD AT THEYRE ENARGY AND THEYRE ZEAL 2 HAEV GOD US3 THEM!!1!1!! WTF STEVA HAD CHALENGED US AL 2 CONSIEDR WUT CUD GOD DO NOW 2DAY IF WE IMITAET THOSA WHO HAEV GONE BFOR3”???!!!? LOL AND I CUD SE IN THEYRE EYES TAHT TH3Y W3R3 READY 2 SE DA ANSWAR 2 TAHT QU3STION
S2RY11!!!11 OMG WTF LOL TWO
SO I MET THIS GUY AT RIEVRVEIW 2NIGHT!1!!1! OMG WTF LOL HE IS JUNIOR AT MSU AND HE WAS VISITNG US FOR TEH FIRST TIEM1!!!11!1 I TOKED WIT HIM BFOR3 TEH SARVIEC AVAN STARTED AND HA WAS ASKNG HOW 2 GET PLUG3D IN1!!1!! OMG WTF AND I DONT MAAN ASK I MAAN ASK1!1111 OMG WTF HA WAS SUPAR AAEGR!1!11!!! I ASKAD HIM HIS S2RY!!!!!!1 OMG WTF HE 2LD M3 TAHT LAST NIGHT HE WENT 2 DA PASION OF CHRIST AND HAS DECIEDD FOR TEH FIRST TIEM IN 8 Y3ARS H3 NED3D 2 GO BAK 2 CHURCH AND COMIT HIMSELF 2 CHRIST!!1!111 OMG LOL HA HAS A BAKGROUND IN A MANESTREM D3NOMINATION BUT DIDNT WANT 2 GO BAK THEIR!1!1 OMG WTF LOL H3 ASKED AROUND AND SOM3ONE RECOMENDAD RIEVRVEIW
I!!1!1! OMG WAS KINDA BLOWN AWAY!!!! OMG WTF THIS GUY HAD NEVAR EV3N BEN 2 ON3 OF OUR S3RVIECS YET BUT H3R3 HE WAS SO 3AEGR 2 GET INVOLVAD1!1!!! WTF I GAEV HIM A BUNCH OF STUF DESCRIBNG WHO WE R AND INTRODUC3D HIM 2 KIET AND JD AND HOPEFULY TH3Y WIL HALP HIM PLUG IN
TAHT!!11!1 MIGHT B DA SNGL3 BST RASPONS3 I HAEV SEN FROM TAHT MOVEI!!1!!1 WTF
Updated Friends List
Mar 28, 2004 Uncategorized
{ MOOD: Refreshed | NOISE: Kids Playing Outside (finally) }
So I finally alphabetized my friends list. It has been driving me mad. I also killed links to sites that have gone kapoot. I am going to try to add more friends this afternoon if I can, but no promises since I hear my son waking up from his nap.
Two Stories
Mar 27, 2004 Uncategorized
{ MOOD: Tired | NOISE: Kia Commercial }
Story One
We had an amazing leadership retreat this weekend. We had no idea how many people would come, but we had 113!
Paul and Steve taught on our past on the first night and if was so cool to hear all of this amazing stuff. I am still blown away with how much has happened in our little church’s history. I will upload an MP3 later if you care. Then we spent time praying and it was so cool to see 113 leaders praying that God would use them and the church in our area. So cool.
Then this morning, we talked about the vision for our future and we split up into groups and discussed our strategies. Then, when we pulled back together, I saw something awesome. I saw this hundred or so people real excited about what God is doing. I was amazed at their energy and their zeal to have God use them. Steve had challenged us all to consider “What could God do now, today if we imitate those who have gone before?” And I could see in their eyes that they were ready to see the answer to that question.
Story Two
So I met this guy at Riverview tonight. He is Junior at MSU and he was visiting us for the first time. I talked with him before the service even started and he was asking how to get plugged in. And I don’t mean ask, I mean ASK. He was super eager. I asked him his story. He told me that last night he went to “The Passion of Christ” and has decided for the first time in 8 years he needed to go back to church and commit himself to Christ. He has a background in a mainstream denomination but didn’t want to go back there. He asked around and someone recommended Riverview.
I was kinda blown away. This guy had never even been to one of our services yet, but here he was, so eager to get involved. I gave him a bunch of stuff describing who we are and introduced him to Kite and JD and hopefully they will help him plug in.
That might be the single best response I have seen from that movie.
Howdy
Mar 26, 2004 Uncategorized
{ MOOD: Great | ITUNES: “Cowboy Romance” - Natalie Merchant }
Well, I am incredibly behind on my book I am supposed to be reading. Oh well.
I just got back from a whirlwind tour of Atlanta and Orlando. Here’s the summary:
Hung out with Brad Horton (the self-proclaimed “World’s Most Handsome Man”
Had dinner with Brad, Steve Fee, David (from Southtown Riders - a wakeboarding ministry), and Greg (Steve’s Manager and Brad’s Roomie and an awesome video guy).
Went to 722 at Northpoint Church and heard Louie Giglio speak. He is a great communicator.
Had a planning time with the Ignite planning team for this year’s Ignite.
Discussed theology with JR from Kairos in LA.
Reconnected with friends (Nate Williams, Pavi Thomas, John Hever, Chris Crosby, TJ Friessen) during my visit (as much as time allowed).
Flew on five airplanes.
Was in 4 airports.
Met a writer from Essence Magazine who was on her way to Uganda to do a story. We were able to talk about that for awhile (I was in Uganda for 3 months a few years ago).
Met someone from Riverview on one of my planes (kinda wild).
Overall, a busy and good trip. I am exhausted, but I am sure Grace is much more so from having to watch the kids without me being here.
Anyhoo, I have to go work on the Leader’s Retreat stuff for Riverview right now, so I must jet.
Transformers
Mar 23, 2004 Uncategorized
{ MOOD: Roboterific | NOISE: “Gobot transformation complete!” }
Well, my boys are officially totally into transformers. Jesse just spent some serious cash (birthday money, etc.) on Optimus Prime. Yes, it’s good to have boys. We have been transforming all morning.
Passover
Mar 22, 2004 Uncategorized
{ MOOD: Great | ITUNES: “Technopop” - Carter Burwell from The Big Lebowski Soundtrack }
Day 9
On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was being sacrificed, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?” And He sent two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him; and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, `The Teacher says, “Where is My guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples? And he himself will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; prepare for us there.” The disciples went out and came to the city, and found it just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover. from Mark 14
I have never, not once, thought about the man who provided the room to Jesus. What do we know about him? We know he risked everything to provide a place for Jesus and the guys to have a Passover meal. We know he and Jesus arranged a secret way of identifying his associate. We know he saved a big room for him. That’s all we know. He was a man willing to risk the ultimate sacrifice. Am I that kind of man?
Marriage
Mar 21, 2004 Uncategorized
{ MOOD: Tired | NOISE: Colitron }
I am stealing this from Protestants for the Common Good because it is so freakin’ good:
The Presidential Prayer Team is currently urging us to: “Pray for
the President as he seeks wisdom on how to legally codify the
definition of marriage. Pray that it will be according to Biblical
principles. With any forces insisting on variant definitions of
marriage, pray that God’s Word and His standards will be honored by
our government.” This is true.
Any good religious person believes prayer should be balanced by
action. So here, in support of the Prayer Team’s admirable goals,
is a proposed Constitutional Amendment codifying marriage entirely
on biblical principles:
A. Marriage in the United States shall consist of a union between
one man and one or more women. (Gen 29:17-28; II Sam 3:2-5)
B. Marriage shall not impede a man’s right to take concubines in
addition to his wife or wives. (II Sam 5:13; I Kings 11:3; II Chron
11:21)
C. A marriage shall be considered valid only if the wife is a
virgin. If the wife is not a virgin, she shall be executed. (Deut
22:13-21)
D. Marriage of a believer and a non-believer shall be
forbidden. (Gen 24:3; Num 25:1-9; Ezra 9:12; Neh 10:30)
E. Since marriage is for life, neither this Constitution nor the
constitution of any State, nor any state or federal law, shall be
construed to permit divorce. (Deut 22:19; Mark 10:9)
F. If a married man dies without children, his brother shall marry
the widow. If he refuses to marry his brother’s widow or
deliberately does not give her children, he shall pay a fine of one
shoe and be otherwise punished in a manner to be determined by law.
(Gen. 38:6-10; Deut 25:5-10)
G. In lieu of marriage, if there are no acceptable men in your
town, it is required that you get your dad drunk and have sex with
him (even if he had previously offered you up as a sex toy to men
young and old), tag-teaming with any sisters you may have. Of
course, this rule applies only if you are female. (Gen 19:31-36)
No Way
Mar 21, 2004 Uncategorized
And again I say “no way.” All of a sudden, I am feeling really good about my marriage.
Youth Ministry
Mar 20, 2004 Uncategorized
Here’s some stuff for all of you in teen ministry to think about. The premise:
I got away with it. And I would still be getting away with it today if the Lord hadn’t caught me and set me straight. My subject of criminal activity? Ministry. My victims? Parents of youth in my churches. That’s right. I used to be a thief, and I was good at it. They never even knew I was robbing them. I was slick. I was precise. I would walk right into their homes and, right in front of their noses, snatch away everything that had originally been given and entrusted to them. Some of them even welcomed me to do it. They had no idea that I was harming them. Boy, was I good! I was even invited to teach classes and seminars to other thieves on how to become a better thief in their community. I gave them examples of what I had done in my community. They were in awe, and often inspired to try many of the same things that had been successful for me.
Gay Marriage
Mar 20, 2004 Uncategorized
So, continuing on with Jimi’s thoughts from a few weeks ago, here is an excerpt from another article on Gay Marriage:
My first problem with this whole thing is that the issue of legalizing Christian marriage and the issue of bringing it into the Church are two totally different things. It seems obvious according to I Timothy 3 that any church leader ought to live a lifestyle that is above reproach. A practicing homosexual is not above reproach, (given that homosexual acts are in fact sinful, which I’ll get around to addressing in a moment) and so should not be appointed to leadership. This is true in the same way that an ineffective communicator, or a lazy person or a person who struggles unsuccessfully with alcohol abuse should not be appointed to leadership. So, I’m not going to deal fully with this part of the issue because in all honesty, I think it’s fairly simple. However, I will address the legality: Hello out there! Attention everyone! This is not a Christian country. I repeat, this is NOT a Christian country. Oh, it is? Oh, it was founded on Christian principles? All right then, I will be collecting ten percent of your income today to be tithed to your neighborhood Christian church. And I will be instituting laws that do not permit sex before marriage, working on the Sabbath or the practice of any other faith. You will be taken to jail if you lie, flip the bird at a bad driver, run a stop sign, complain or argue.
I think we all know that we do not want Christian principles controlling our nation, because even the most dedicated Christian wants to live in the freedom of Christ. He/she wants to live with the freedom to work out his salvation with God on a personal level, chipping away at impatience, selfishness, unhealthy view of men/women, chronic lateness, etc. This brings me to my second issue. Why do we elevate homosexuality above other actions/lifestyles that are more socially acceptable.
When we look at the issue of homosexuality through the lens of Scripture, we can see that it is clearly not what God meant for us. God intended for sex to be an occurrence between a man and a woman, within the context of marriage. According to Scripture, the main purpose of marriage is to be a reflection of Christ’s relationship to the Church, the man representing Christ and the woman representing the Church. This given, we can conclude that homosexual activity is sinful and it offends God, which Scripture states rather obviously (I Corinthians 6). But there are lots of things that the Bible mentions as being less-than-wholesome that people do all of the time. We tell white lies, we flirt with strangers even though we’re in a committed relationship, we gossip, we call in sick when we really want to leave early for a weekend trip.
These things are wrong. But no one would ever question whether any of these things should be legal, and certainly we would not take the time to publicly condemn these “crimes” in the name of Christ, even if they were illegal. For example, the Bible talks about stealing being wrong, but you don’t see Christians out there on the courthouse steps telling Martha Stewart to repent. However, the anti-gay t-shirts, the tracts, the bumper stickers, the radio show calls, and the signs all abound. There is no sensible reason that this issue gets the airtime it does. The bottom line is that people have, in the name of God, beaten down, offended, taken issue with, condemned, judged and hated an entire people-group for one particular set of practices that don’t even directly affect most of the people who are doing the protesting. This particular thing makes people uncomfortable, maybe in the same way that people of color make some white people uncomfortable. It’s an unfounded, unwarranted FEAR. This is the name of the heavy chain that is burdening the Church in this issue.
Thoughts?
