so, this is my 5th year at virginia tech.
so with an exception of graduate students and faculty, there is nobody older than me here.
that's a pretty strange realization, that i no longer have those older guys in IV to look up to like Nate Cook, BJ Walbert, Matt Sidell, etc. Now i am those guys for a lot of people.
That feels like a lot of pressure. I kinda gave some of those guys a heroic myth to them. They were older and wiser and and done so much stuff, how am i supposed to live up to that?
But i think i'm coming to the realization that those guys were great because they invested in the lives of the underclassmen. Sure, they had a lot of stuff to deal with as far as their own classes and graduation, but they still chose to be important and influential in the lives of younger students, and that more than anything left a lasting impression on me. I hope that is something i can do for underclassmen now, and something they can do when they're seniors.
So as busy as i get this year, i need to continue to remember to be relevant in the underclassmen's lives. Not just some old dude who is never around cause he's so busy.
So thanks to God for those influential guys that came before me, and hopefully, those influential guys who come after me.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Pride [in the name of Love]
"Let us, therefore, make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food."
-Romans 14:19,20-
I think the church would look a lot differently if this is how we truly lived as Christians. If we really tried to build up and sharpen one another. If we rebuked our brothers and sisters when they were wrong, but also, if we allowed ourselves to be rebuked.
I think that's a major hold up in seeing this kind of life exist.
Pride.
I think we are so quick to point out the mistakes in other people's lives, but like Jesus said in Matthew 7:3,
"Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"
Our pride gets in the way.
Our pride that says, we did right in that situation, even if deep down we know we didn't.
Our pride that always needs to be right.
So we argue until we feel like we've validated ourselves. But when do we ever convince someone through arguing? Their pride is just as defensive as our own, so what starts as a minor argument turns into a major one. People start taking sides in the major argument and since no one likes to be on the losing side, one side decides it's better to split apart than to reconcile. Is this how Christ wanted us to operate?
Will we ever be able to move past our own pride?
Can we learn to submit to one another for the sake of love, and for the sake of unity?
"Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food"
Usually the things we argue about in the church are such minor details in the grand scheme of things. What if we plugged some different words in for food?
Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of contemporary worship
Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of infant baptism
Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of communion with wine
Let us continue to seek out the will of God in all things, but let us also understand that everyone won't always be on the same page about things. But that's ok. Let us continue to encourage one another and have peace. Let us not live in our pride, but in the name of Love.
-Romans 14:19,20-
I think the church would look a lot differently if this is how we truly lived as Christians. If we really tried to build up and sharpen one another. If we rebuked our brothers and sisters when they were wrong, but also, if we allowed ourselves to be rebuked.
I think that's a major hold up in seeing this kind of life exist.
Pride.
I think we are so quick to point out the mistakes in other people's lives, but like Jesus said in Matthew 7:3,
"Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"
Our pride gets in the way.
Our pride that says, we did right in that situation, even if deep down we know we didn't.
Our pride that always needs to be right.
So we argue until we feel like we've validated ourselves. But when do we ever convince someone through arguing? Their pride is just as defensive as our own, so what starts as a minor argument turns into a major one. People start taking sides in the major argument and since no one likes to be on the losing side, one side decides it's better to split apart than to reconcile. Is this how Christ wanted us to operate?
Will we ever be able to move past our own pride?
Can we learn to submit to one another for the sake of love, and for the sake of unity?
"Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food"
Usually the things we argue about in the church are such minor details in the grand scheme of things. What if we plugged some different words in for food?
Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of contemporary worship
Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of infant baptism
Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of communion with wine
Let us continue to seek out the will of God in all things, but let us also understand that everyone won't always be on the same page about things. But that's ok. Let us continue to encourage one another and have peace. Let us not live in our pride, but in the name of Love.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Unity?
So i'd like to take some time to rant.
but i'd like to give some context to the rant, so here we go....
the church i've grown up in, [and am currently employed by] is part of the PC-USA. That is, the presbyterian church of the united states of america.
two years ago, the PC-USA's governing body, the general assembly started a process in which it was investigating the inclusion of clauses into the book of order allowing churches to allow people who are practicing homosexuals to be ordained as elders or deacons.
now this caused a big hullabaloo [isn't that a fun word?] in my church. and this was timed nicely with a close friend of mine who had also grown up in my church to confide in me that he was gay. so i sat through the process of our church discussing what these resolutions meant for the church, and had to see my friend sit through the same discussions where people were openly hostile toward homosexuals, to a pretty harsh degree.
now everything pretty much cooled off since then, but at the end of june, the PC-USA general assembly again met and proposed another resolution that would take out the terminology saying that an ordained minister needed to be celibate or in a monogamous male-female relationship, and replace it with language saying that they were simply living out and following Christ's direction in their life. So again, this is probably going to cause a big hullabaloo. A lot of people are saying that this could cause a split in the presbyterian church similar to the one that the episcopal church is currently undergoing.
and so with that large amount of background information, i begin my rant....
WHY IS THIS SUCH A DIVISIVE ISSUE?????
There are so many issues in the scripture that people take different opinions on: baptism, communion, speaking in tongues, divorce, abortion, women in ministry, homosexuality, etc. And i understand that people are going to have differing or changing opinions on these things. I mean, I don't have solid understanding or belief in most of these issues, and probably won't for some time, if ever. But should our differences in opinion over these issues jeopardize the ministry we can do as a united Body of Christ? [i'll use allen here as an example, because i know he reads this] If allen and I have different opinions on the roles of women in the church [which i don't know if we do or not] why does it seem to be the prevalent view in today's culture that I can't still minister with allen or work with allen because we disagree on that issue.
It seems to me that we would be so much more successful as a church if we had a wide breadth of people and opinions in that church that would speak to different people groups. Or is it better to have a church that caters solely to a specific group? The First Presbyterian Church of People who Believe in Baptism by Immersion and Speaking in Tounges But Not in Divorce or Ordination of Homosexuals [FPCPBBISTBNDOH for short] can be right down the road from the First Presbyterian Church of People who Believe in Baptism by Immersion, Speaking in Tounges and Ordination of Homosexuals But Not in Divorce.
i mean i know that's a bit silly, but doesn't that seem like the direction we're headed? Shouldn't we as Christians, more than anyone, be able to live with differences that we have with each other because we know we are unified in Christ?
"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."
-ephesians 4:1-3-
If we really follow that, to bear with one another in love, i think it would be a whole heck of a lot easier to keep that unity. And i think we have these opinions because we make it about issues rather than relationships. For me, i never gave a hoot about homosexuals in the church because i didn't know anyone that was gay, and so when my close friend confided in me, suddenly it became personal. personal relationships make an issue so much more relevant. i didn't care about inner city ministry till i met people that lived in the inner city, till i met people that were poor or homeless. i may be oversimplifying it a bit, but Christ's ministry was about relationships, not doctrinal theology.
and with that Allen-esque blog, i think i'm done for the night.
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
-matthew 22:36-40-
but i'd like to give some context to the rant, so here we go....
the church i've grown up in, [and am currently employed by] is part of the PC-USA. That is, the presbyterian church of the united states of america.
two years ago, the PC-USA's governing body, the general assembly started a process in which it was investigating the inclusion of clauses into the book of order allowing churches to allow people who are practicing homosexuals to be ordained as elders or deacons.
now this caused a big hullabaloo [isn't that a fun word?] in my church. and this was timed nicely with a close friend of mine who had also grown up in my church to confide in me that he was gay. so i sat through the process of our church discussing what these resolutions meant for the church, and had to see my friend sit through the same discussions where people were openly hostile toward homosexuals, to a pretty harsh degree.
now everything pretty much cooled off since then, but at the end of june, the PC-USA general assembly again met and proposed another resolution that would take out the terminology saying that an ordained minister needed to be celibate or in a monogamous male-female relationship, and replace it with language saying that they were simply living out and following Christ's direction in their life. So again, this is probably going to cause a big hullabaloo. A lot of people are saying that this could cause a split in the presbyterian church similar to the one that the episcopal church is currently undergoing.
and so with that large amount of background information, i begin my rant....
WHY IS THIS SUCH A DIVISIVE ISSUE?????
There are so many issues in the scripture that people take different opinions on: baptism, communion, speaking in tongues, divorce, abortion, women in ministry, homosexuality, etc. And i understand that people are going to have differing or changing opinions on these things. I mean, I don't have solid understanding or belief in most of these issues, and probably won't for some time, if ever. But should our differences in opinion over these issues jeopardize the ministry we can do as a united Body of Christ? [i'll use allen here as an example, because i know he reads this] If allen and I have different opinions on the roles of women in the church [which i don't know if we do or not] why does it seem to be the prevalent view in today's culture that I can't still minister with allen or work with allen because we disagree on that issue.
It seems to me that we would be so much more successful as a church if we had a wide breadth of people and opinions in that church that would speak to different people groups. Or is it better to have a church that caters solely to a specific group? The First Presbyterian Church of People who Believe in Baptism by Immersion and Speaking in Tounges But Not in Divorce or Ordination of Homosexuals [FPCPBBISTBNDOH for short] can be right down the road from the First Presbyterian Church of People who Believe in Baptism by Immersion, Speaking in Tounges and Ordination of Homosexuals But Not in Divorce.
i mean i know that's a bit silly, but doesn't that seem like the direction we're headed? Shouldn't we as Christians, more than anyone, be able to live with differences that we have with each other because we know we are unified in Christ?
"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."
-ephesians 4:1-3-
If we really follow that, to bear with one another in love, i think it would be a whole heck of a lot easier to keep that unity. And i think we have these opinions because we make it about issues rather than relationships. For me, i never gave a hoot about homosexuals in the church because i didn't know anyone that was gay, and so when my close friend confided in me, suddenly it became personal. personal relationships make an issue so much more relevant. i didn't care about inner city ministry till i met people that lived in the inner city, till i met people that were poor or homeless. i may be oversimplifying it a bit, but Christ's ministry was about relationships, not doctrinal theology.
and with that Allen-esque blog, i think i'm done for the night.
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
-matthew 22:36-40-
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
you are what you eat... something like that
so i read a quote today by writer/theologian N.T. Wright. It wasn't exactly an earth shattering revelation, but it was something i needed to hear and be reminded of. It was on the topic of worship, and what that means, and why we worship to begin with.
"You become like what you worship. When you gaze in awe, admiration, and wonder at something or someone, you begin to take on something of the character of the object of your worship."
i think that's especially true when we aren't worshiping God. because God is love, if we aren't loving our neighbors and caring more about ourselves than others, maybe we're worshiping something other than God. God is love, He calls us to love Him, and love others. I think i haven't been doing that. I can go through all the motions of 'christian living' but if it's not rooted in love, i'm worshiping a system or a religion rather than worshiping God.
N.T. Wright says later about what worship does for you
"Because you were made in God's image, worship makes you more truly human. When you gaze in love and gratitude at the God in whose image you were made, you do indeed grow. You discover more of what it means to be fully alive."
i think that's something i need to do more, is really look to God in love and gratitude, not to just know God is there, but to really acknowledge all that He has done in me and is doing in me.
"You become like what you worship. When you gaze in awe, admiration, and wonder at something or someone, you begin to take on something of the character of the object of your worship."
i think that's especially true when we aren't worshiping God. because God is love, if we aren't loving our neighbors and caring more about ourselves than others, maybe we're worshiping something other than God. God is love, He calls us to love Him, and love others. I think i haven't been doing that. I can go through all the motions of 'christian living' but if it's not rooted in love, i'm worshiping a system or a religion rather than worshiping God.
N.T. Wright says later about what worship does for you
"Because you were made in God's image, worship makes you more truly human. When you gaze in love and gratitude at the God in whose image you were made, you do indeed grow. You discover more of what it means to be fully alive."
i think that's something i need to do more, is really look to God in love and gratitude, not to just know God is there, but to really acknowledge all that He has done in me and is doing in me.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
righteousness for all
so i've been reading a bit of romans lately, and today i came across romans 3:21-31, and it got me thinking.
we've all been given righteousness through faith in Christ... and sometimes i think that's the problem for me.
we've all been given righteousness.
i don't want to be on a level playing field with liars, cheats, gluttons, etc. i like to think of myself as better than they are, that God thinks better of me than He does of them.
my pride gets between me and God.
i hate it, but it's true, so often, i judge other people and think of myself as better than other people.
but grace calls us to be humble. to accept that we need help, that we aren't as good as we'd like to think we are. that we need help just as much as the people we look down on, the drug dealers, the sleazy executives, everyone.
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."
-romans 3:23-24
we've all been given righteousness through faith in Christ... and sometimes i think that's the problem for me.
we've all been given righteousness.
i don't want to be on a level playing field with liars, cheats, gluttons, etc. i like to think of myself as better than they are, that God thinks better of me than He does of them.
my pride gets between me and God.
i hate it, but it's true, so often, i judge other people and think of myself as better than other people.
but grace calls us to be humble. to accept that we need help, that we aren't as good as we'd like to think we are. that we need help just as much as the people we look down on, the drug dealers, the sleazy executives, everyone.
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."
-romans 3:23-24
Sunday, June 1, 2008
good ol greensboro + kathryn's wedding
so this weekend i got to go back [ever so briefly] to greensboro, nc, on the way to see my good friend kathryn get married.
and it's funny how even in doing that, God was still trying to teach me something in g-boro.
i spent some time friday night talking with allen and dan and we came to the issue of guarding your heart. I feel like that's something i don't do well, i tend to dive headlong into things and not think about the consequences that it has on me. It's pretty easy for me to get attached to people too quickly and make things more serious than they are. so that's something i'm going to try to work on. being more conscious of where my heart really is.
and speaking of matters of the heart...
i gotta say, kathryn and chris' wedding on saturday was the best wedding i've ever been to. it was truly a celebration of marriage. and that was something so refreshing. it wasn't all the typical pomp and circumstance of weddings, it was a celebration between the bride and groom before God and before all their friends and family. i mean, how many weddings have you been to where the bridesmaids dance down the aisle to 'this is the day?' it was just something i really was blown away by. but really, i think that's how weddings should be. and i was glad to see it.
but i'm tired. and i'm supposed to go into for a pseudo job interview tomorrow, so i'm going to bed.
grace and peace
and it's funny how even in doing that, God was still trying to teach me something in g-boro.
i spent some time friday night talking with allen and dan and we came to the issue of guarding your heart. I feel like that's something i don't do well, i tend to dive headlong into things and not think about the consequences that it has on me. It's pretty easy for me to get attached to people too quickly and make things more serious than they are. so that's something i'm going to try to work on. being more conscious of where my heart really is.
and speaking of matters of the heart...
i gotta say, kathryn and chris' wedding on saturday was the best wedding i've ever been to. it was truly a celebration of marriage. and that was something so refreshing. it wasn't all the typical pomp and circumstance of weddings, it was a celebration between the bride and groom before God and before all their friends and family. i mean, how many weddings have you been to where the bridesmaids dance down the aisle to 'this is the day?' it was just something i really was blown away by. but really, i think that's how weddings should be. and i was glad to see it.
but i'm tired. and i'm supposed to go into for a pseudo job interview tomorrow, so i'm going to bed.
grace and peace
Friday, May 2, 2008
Psalm 25
Psalm 25
1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;
1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;
2 in You I trust, O my God.
Do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
3 No one whose hope is in You
will ever be put to shame,
but they will be put to shame
who are treacherous without excuse.
4 Show me Your ways, O LORD,
teach me Your paths;
5 guide me in Your truth and teach me,
for You are God my Savior,
and my hope is in You all day long.
6 Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you are good, O LORD.
8 Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
9 He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.
10 All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful
for those who keep the demands of his covenant.
11 For the sake of your name, O LORD,
forgive my iniquity, though it is great.
12 Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD ?
He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.
13 He will spend his days in prosperity,
and his descendants will inherit the land.
14 The LORD confides in those who fear him;
he makes his covenant known to them.
15 My eyes are ever on the LORD,
for only he will release my feet from the snare.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart have multiplied;
free me from my anguish.
18 Look upon my affliction and my distress
and take away all my sins.
19 See how my enemies have increased
and how fiercely they hate me!
20 Guard my life and rescue me;
let me not be put to shame,
for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness protect me,
because my hope is in you.
22 Redeem Israel, O God,
from all their troubles!
i stumbled upon that this morning after going out to a park in alexandria. i feel like that was exactly what i needed to read. i've been in a spiritual funk lately which is the result of a lot of different things, mostly being away from community and getting into what i call ' studio mode.' which basically means the end of the semester becomes 'eat, sleep, work in studio' and that's pretty much it. kinda shows me where my priorities in life are because God isn't on that list, and it's pretty typical that this time each year He drops off my priority list.
but i don't want to dwell in what i've been doing, but rather on what i'm doing now.
so that was my prayer this morning....
Show me Your ways, O LORD,
teach me Your paths;
guide me in Your truth and teach me,
for You are God my Savior,
and my hope is in You all day long.
that i might get back to abiding in Christ, putting him as a priority over all else in my life.
for your musical pleasue
Sufjan Stevens - For The Widows In Paradise, For The Fatherless In Ypsilanti
sufjan stevens is amazing.
enjoy
sufjan stevens is amazing.
enjoy
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
365 day ago...
the worst school shooting in U.S. history
32 people killed by a troubled student who then turned his gun on himself
a campus suddenly rocked by tragedy, grief and mourning.
but is that the end of the story?
i don't think so.
the story didn't end when joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and then thrown into jail for a crime he didn't commit?
or when the israelite people are taken off to babylon?
or when saul oversees the stoning of stephen?
or when Christ is nailed to the cross?
no, our God is a God of redemption.
joseph rises to prominence in egypt.
ezra and nehemiah lead the israelites back to jerusalem
saul takes the road to damascus
the empty tomb on sunday
and so i think there's a redemptive story for virginia tech. i've seen parts of that story with the people that have come to Christ because of last april. and i think there's still more to tell. I think God is continuing to do something on our campus. and that the students who went through last april will go out and do great things.
i hope that i'll be able to see how God redeems our story. but if it's something i dont get to see this side of heaven, i still have to trust in God's goodness.
"the Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit"
-psalm 34:18-
32 people killed by a troubled student who then turned his gun on himself
a campus suddenly rocked by tragedy, grief and mourning.
but is that the end of the story?
i don't think so.
the story didn't end when joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and then thrown into jail for a crime he didn't commit?
or when the israelite people are taken off to babylon?
or when saul oversees the stoning of stephen?
or when Christ is nailed to the cross?
no, our God is a God of redemption.
joseph rises to prominence in egypt.
ezra and nehemiah lead the israelites back to jerusalem
saul takes the road to damascus
the empty tomb on sunday
and so i think there's a redemptive story for virginia tech. i've seen parts of that story with the people that have come to Christ because of last april. and i think there's still more to tell. I think God is continuing to do something on our campus. and that the students who went through last april will go out and do great things.
i hope that i'll be able to see how God redeems our story. but if it's something i dont get to see this side of heaven, i still have to trust in God's goodness.
"the Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit"
-psalm 34:18-
Sunday, April 6, 2008
technological isolation and learning to be still
i've come to the realization that i've become dependent on technology.
the world we live in, and us in turn, have become so accustomed to instant gratification.
need directions somewhere? google maps
need information about something? wikipedia
need a book or movie? amazon.com
music? itunes
we can even order pizza online now.
we never have to leave our houses, use a map, take time to learn and remember things. The internet takes care of all this for us.
and because of this technology, we've also become increasingly independent from each other. if we want to talk to someone we've got cell phones, facebook, instant messaging, etc. face to face interaction is being replaced by talking across technology.
what's happened to our relationships because of this? what will happen if we keep going in this direction?
i think this is why the ministry of presence is so necessary in the world today; because it doesn't exist in our day to day lives anymore. we've made our lives so busy that we don't sit down anymore. we don't remember how to be still. Jesus sat down shared meals with his disciples, taught them, had community with them. we have drive through coffee shops, even restaurants like olive garden and applebees have to-go services.
i think this has been one of my biggest problems this semester. i never am still. i try to read the bible over coffee and then run off afterwards to do my next thing. i wonder why it seems like God isn't answering me sometimes. it's because i'm not listening! while it's all well and good to spend time reading scripture or studying theology i need to stop and reflect on these things. spend time being still in God's presence. in prayer or just in sitting.
so rather than being immersed in technology i need to simplify my life, be more content to sit and be still rather than running here and there, spending time online or watching tv. immerse myself in Christ, in His Word and in community.
and yes, i realize it's rather ironic to rant about too much technology via blog. oh well
the world we live in, and us in turn, have become so accustomed to instant gratification.
need directions somewhere? google maps
need information about something? wikipedia
need a book or movie? amazon.com
music? itunes
we can even order pizza online now.
we never have to leave our houses, use a map, take time to learn and remember things. The internet takes care of all this for us.
and because of this technology, we've also become increasingly independent from each other. if we want to talk to someone we've got cell phones, facebook, instant messaging, etc. face to face interaction is being replaced by talking across technology.
what's happened to our relationships because of this? what will happen if we keep going in this direction?
i think this is why the ministry of presence is so necessary in the world today; because it doesn't exist in our day to day lives anymore. we've made our lives so busy that we don't sit down anymore. we don't remember how to be still. Jesus sat down shared meals with his disciples, taught them, had community with them. we have drive through coffee shops, even restaurants like olive garden and applebees have to-go services.
i think this has been one of my biggest problems this semester. i never am still. i try to read the bible over coffee and then run off afterwards to do my next thing. i wonder why it seems like God isn't answering me sometimes. it's because i'm not listening! while it's all well and good to spend time reading scripture or studying theology i need to stop and reflect on these things. spend time being still in God's presence. in prayer or just in sitting.
so rather than being immersed in technology i need to simplify my life, be more content to sit and be still rather than running here and there, spending time online or watching tv. immerse myself in Christ, in His Word and in community.
and yes, i realize it's rather ironic to rant about too much technology via blog. oh well
Monday, March 24, 2008
spring traditions
today i'm watching the sandlot. a classic baseball movie to celebrate the coming season.
that is all
that is all
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Velvet Elvis [pt 1]
So i just finished reading Rob Bell's book Velvet Elvis. And besides being a silly title, i think he makes a lot of good points in it. So i'm gonna write about some them. Oprah's book club, eat your heart out.
The book starts out by talking about doctrine and how they relate to God. We often look at our doctrine as absolutes. But isn't God alone absolute? Our doctrines are creations of man, putting words to some of the inexplainable things of the bible. The trinity for example, isn't mentioned at all in the bible, it's a doctrine created to explain the triune nature of God in scripture. But it isn't scripture itself. my view of trinity isn't necessarily the same as yours.
He uses the analogy of a trampoline to describe what he thinks doctrine should be. Doctrines are like the springs of a trampoline. They help to hold up the mat, but they aren't the mat itself. They aren't the part that people enjoy. Nobody gets on a trampoline to play with the springs. [my engineering friends excluded]
The counter to that is looking at doctrine as a wall of bricks. Firm, rigid, unchanging. So what happens if your brick of the trinity doesn't look like my brick of the trinity? We cant share the same wall. We have to have totally separate walls because a wall of two different sizes of bricks won't be able to stand. [my architecture education at it's finest right there] But should we look at our doctrine as a firm wall? Do we build our faith on doctrine? or do we build it on Christ who is our Rock?
Now there certainly is bad theology out there that wouldn't pass as a brick or a spring, but should bad theology be something that is irreconcilable? Something that we as Christians or we as a Church can't see past? I'm sure i still have bad theology about a lot of things, b/c i don't know God's positions on a lot of things. But rigid doctrine seems to have done a lot to divide the Church. We have a long history of splitting this way and that because we think communion should only be done this way, or worship can only be done that way.
Does God really want us to break apart the Church over things like that? Why can't we focus on the things that unify us?
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
ephesians 2:14-16
Why can't we stop viewing ourselves by the differences we have and start viewing each other as Christ does? As His creations, His workmanship, His children?
The book starts out by talking about doctrine and how they relate to God. We often look at our doctrine as absolutes. But isn't God alone absolute? Our doctrines are creations of man, putting words to some of the inexplainable things of the bible. The trinity for example, isn't mentioned at all in the bible, it's a doctrine created to explain the triune nature of God in scripture. But it isn't scripture itself. my view of trinity isn't necessarily the same as yours.
He uses the analogy of a trampoline to describe what he thinks doctrine should be. Doctrines are like the springs of a trampoline. They help to hold up the mat, but they aren't the mat itself. They aren't the part that people enjoy. Nobody gets on a trampoline to play with the springs. [my engineering friends excluded]
The counter to that is looking at doctrine as a wall of bricks. Firm, rigid, unchanging. So what happens if your brick of the trinity doesn't look like my brick of the trinity? We cant share the same wall. We have to have totally separate walls because a wall of two different sizes of bricks won't be able to stand. [my architecture education at it's finest right there] But should we look at our doctrine as a firm wall? Do we build our faith on doctrine? or do we build it on Christ who is our Rock?
Now there certainly is bad theology out there that wouldn't pass as a brick or a spring, but should bad theology be something that is irreconcilable? Something that we as Christians or we as a Church can't see past? I'm sure i still have bad theology about a lot of things, b/c i don't know God's positions on a lot of things. But rigid doctrine seems to have done a lot to divide the Church. We have a long history of splitting this way and that because we think communion should only be done this way, or worship can only be done that way.
Does God really want us to break apart the Church over things like that? Why can't we focus on the things that unify us?
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
ephesians 2:14-16
Why can't we stop viewing ourselves by the differences we have and start viewing each other as Christ does? As His creations, His workmanship, His children?
Monday, March 10, 2008
idol thoughts
so tonight at frontline the talk was about idols in our lives. they're going through a series called no other gods. it was really something i needed to hear. it made me recognize some of the idols in my life. here's some of the questions that they asked that can help you to recognize the things that are idols in your life.
i've let that become something that i focus way too much on in my life. i have a hard time being content in being single, in knowing that where i am right now is where God wants me. i'm always dwelling on the future, on what's to come, never on what's before me now.
now, something that they brought up was that most things that become idols for us aren't inherently bad. they're usually good things that we end up putting ahead of God. be it work, relationships, achievements, etc. so these things aren't bad to have in your life, but it just becomes sin when we put these things ahead of our relationship with Christ. when our status is determined by our relationship status, our monetary status or our achievements rather than the fact that we are children of God.
i hope that i can begin to learn to continuously put Christ first in my life, rather then letting other things get in the way. other things can be in my life, but Christ is first, all other things should fall into place after Him.
- what is your greatest fear?
- where do you run to for comfort?
- what do you complain about the most?
- how do you explain yourself to others?
- what causes you to be angry with God?
- what do you want to have more than anything else?
- what do you treasure most?
i've let that become something that i focus way too much on in my life. i have a hard time being content in being single, in knowing that where i am right now is where God wants me. i'm always dwelling on the future, on what's to come, never on what's before me now.
now, something that they brought up was that most things that become idols for us aren't inherently bad. they're usually good things that we end up putting ahead of God. be it work, relationships, achievements, etc. so these things aren't bad to have in your life, but it just becomes sin when we put these things ahead of our relationship with Christ. when our status is determined by our relationship status, our monetary status or our achievements rather than the fact that we are children of God.
i hope that i can begin to learn to continuously put Christ first in my life, rather then letting other things get in the way. other things can be in my life, but Christ is first, all other things should fall into place after Him.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
hope for the suburbs?
so coming home to chesapeake, the last thing i expected to be dealing with is homelessness.
for those of you who've never been here, chesapeake is suburban sprawl. pure and simple. suburbs from norfolk, suburbs from va beach, suburbs from suburbs. lots of middle-upper class white people and starbucks.
so i was a little surprised to come home and find my church being used as a homeless shelter.
it was part of NEST [norfolk emergency shelter team] which basically in the winter half of the year, takes 50-60 homeless out of norfolk and brings them to various churches in the area for a week at a time.
i generally think of life in chesapeake very cynically. i'm critical of the upper-middle class white folks that drive around in their hummer 2's and their mercedez. I feel like life here is very self centered. and maybe it's that way everywhere and i just haven't lived there long enough to see that side of it. but it was so refreshing to see the body of Christ doing something different.
it gives me hope that living in chesapeake doesn't have to mean living in that suburban daze. God's opening my eyes to the people that He wants me to care for and opening my eyes to the work he's already doing in this area and in His church. it gives me hope for the suburbs
"For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do."
galatians 2:8-10
for those of you who've never been here, chesapeake is suburban sprawl. pure and simple. suburbs from norfolk, suburbs from va beach, suburbs from suburbs. lots of middle-upper class white people and starbucks.
so i was a little surprised to come home and find my church being used as a homeless shelter.
it was part of NEST [norfolk emergency shelter team] which basically in the winter half of the year, takes 50-60 homeless out of norfolk and brings them to various churches in the area for a week at a time.
i generally think of life in chesapeake very cynically. i'm critical of the upper-middle class white folks that drive around in their hummer 2's and their mercedez. I feel like life here is very self centered. and maybe it's that way everywhere and i just haven't lived there long enough to see that side of it. but it was so refreshing to see the body of Christ doing something different.
it gives me hope that living in chesapeake doesn't have to mean living in that suburban daze. God's opening my eyes to the people that He wants me to care for and opening my eyes to the work he's already doing in this area and in His church. it gives me hope for the suburbs
"For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do."
galatians 2:8-10
Friday, February 29, 2008
semester so far
so a few things i've been working on this semester in alexandria. we had a weekend competition in mid january for the virginia society of architects. the competition was to design a memorial/museum to the freed slaves that sought refuge in ft. monroe during the civil war. part of the entrance had to be from the water that surrounded ft. monroe.
my competition board got selected to the top 8 from the alexandria center that will go down to richmond to be judged against the top 8 from virginia tech, uva and hampton university.i've also been taking a photography class which has been absolutely amazing. i've been taking pictures recreationally for a few years now, but having assignments and reviews of them has really made me improve my technique and vision of what i'm trying to capture in my pictures.
national cathedral
national cathedral
alleyway
alexandria cemetery
so yea, more work to come eventually. especially my studio project i've been working on for DC
Saturday, February 23, 2008
de-railed plans
so my plan for today was to go take pictures of the national cathedral in DC, stop by utrects [art supply store] and head back here for dinner.
that was my plan anyways.
after a lengthy delay filled metro ride and a long walk to get to the cathedral, i find out that it has just closed 20 minutes previous.
ouch.
so i walked around the outside a bit and took some decent pictures, nothing fantastic, but i hiked back to the metro and planned to at least get some stuff from utrects so i could work on some studio stuff this evening.
so after another delay filled metro trip, i arrive at utrects at 6:05.
of course, they close at 6.
double ouch.
so, frustrated and tired, i walked next door to McDonalds.
comfort food i suppose.
so i'm sitting there eating my double cheeseburger when a guy comes and sits down across from me [there aren't any tables open, and i'm sitting at a 4 person table] and asks me if i have a dollar.
so i proceeded to sit down and talk with william as he ate his french fries. he was staying at the shelter down the road, had lived in DC all his life, went to St. Patrick's to 'meditate,' liked listening to talk radio.
when he had finished his fries he headed out and i followed suit, only to be stopped right out the door by a man named jeffrey who wanted some food as well. so i went back in and got him a meal.
not in my plan for the evening, buying food for two homeless men.
not in my plan to get to the national cathedral after it had closed
not in my plan to get to utrects after it closed
not in my plan to go to McDonalds for dinner
not in my plan to spend an extra 9 dollars at McDonalds.
but it was in God's plan.
that was my plan anyways.
after a lengthy delay filled metro ride and a long walk to get to the cathedral, i find out that it has just closed 20 minutes previous.
ouch.
so i walked around the outside a bit and took some decent pictures, nothing fantastic, but i hiked back to the metro and planned to at least get some stuff from utrects so i could work on some studio stuff this evening.
so after another delay filled metro trip, i arrive at utrects at 6:05.
of course, they close at 6.
double ouch.
so, frustrated and tired, i walked next door to McDonalds.
comfort food i suppose.
so i'm sitting there eating my double cheeseburger when a guy comes and sits down across from me [there aren't any tables open, and i'm sitting at a 4 person table] and asks me if i have a dollar.
so i proceeded to sit down and talk with william as he ate his french fries. he was staying at the shelter down the road, had lived in DC all his life, went to St. Patrick's to 'meditate,' liked listening to talk radio.
when he had finished his fries he headed out and i followed suit, only to be stopped right out the door by a man named jeffrey who wanted some food as well. so i went back in and got him a meal.
not in my plan for the evening, buying food for two homeless men.
not in my plan to get to the national cathedral after it had closed
not in my plan to get to utrects after it closed
not in my plan to go to McDonalds for dinner
not in my plan to spend an extra 9 dollars at McDonalds.
but it was in God's plan.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Word
So tonight i went to frontline in arlington. it was a lot smaller scale than frontline at McLean, so it was much more like the size of large group back at Va Tech.
i'm not really sure what a typical service there looks like though, because this was a special service. the whole theme of the evening was the book of Philippians. through some different ways we read the entire book. it was good to read scripture in its entirety, rather than just selected verses at a time.
also there was worship woven into the readings that was applicable to the verses being read. i really felt like it was what i needed. i've gotten some scripture, but i haven't gotten the corporate worship aspect lately.
so all in all, i really liked the service and i'll have to go back next week and see what the regular services are like.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
-philippians 4:8-9
i'm not really sure what a typical service there looks like though, because this was a special service. the whole theme of the evening was the book of Philippians. through some different ways we read the entire book. it was good to read scripture in its entirety, rather than just selected verses at a time.
also there was worship woven into the readings that was applicable to the verses being read. i really felt like it was what i needed. i've gotten some scripture, but i haven't gotten the corporate worship aspect lately.
so all in all, i really liked the service and i'll have to go back next week and see what the regular services are like.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
-philippians 4:8-9
Sunday, February 17, 2008
mega-church here i come
so tomorrow i'm going to Frontline Arlington, a satellite location of McLean Bible church [local Northern VA mega-church]
now i'm not typically a fan of mega-churches. i wasn't a big fan of the NewBirth church in Atlanta that we visited this summer during GUPY and the first time i visited McLean i was turned off by the massiveness of it's size.
so then why am i going tomorrow? frustration at the churches i've been checking out around alexandria, the need to get some authentic worship that i don't get in most traditional services, and i just feel like i haven't found any sort of ministry here that i can be a part of.
so we'll see how it goes tomorrow. my next post could be a rant against mega-churches or the opposite.
now i'm not typically a fan of mega-churches. i wasn't a big fan of the NewBirth church in Atlanta that we visited this summer during GUPY and the first time i visited McLean i was turned off by the massiveness of it's size.
so then why am i going tomorrow? frustration at the churches i've been checking out around alexandria, the need to get some authentic worship that i don't get in most traditional services, and i just feel like i haven't found any sort of ministry here that i can be a part of.
so we'll see how it goes tomorrow. my next post could be a rant against mega-churches or the opposite.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Take me out to the ballgame
So spring training started a few days ago, so i'd like to take a moment to talk about my favorite sport.
baseball
there's something about the game, it has the tradition that no other sport does. a history of magical moments. babe ruth calling his shot, kirk gibson's pinch hit homerun , willy mayes over the shoulder catch, the red sox comeback against the yankees in 2004.
people complain that it's slow, it's boring, but i think there's so much strategy. In no other sport is it about the precision and strategy of two players at once. the pitcher choosing his pitch and location, the batter anticipating the pitch and trying to hit a 90 mph ball.
it's the sounds of the announcers, the national anthem, the smell of the grass at the ball park, the quirky things they do between innings to get the crowd pumped up. the 7th inning stretch
all of the things that get you into the spirit of the game
and it's the love of the game even among the players. the guys who play single and double-A ball [minor leagues] getting paid hardly anything, but they continue to go out there and work their butts off for a chance. just a chance to play in the major leagues.
and because there's no better moment in sports than the bottom of the 9th with two outs and a chance to win the game.
and that is why i love baseball
.....i need to go watch the sandlot now
baseball
there's something about the game, it has the tradition that no other sport does. a history of magical moments. babe ruth calling his shot, kirk gibson's pinch hit homerun , willy mayes over the shoulder catch, the red sox comeback against the yankees in 2004.
people complain that it's slow, it's boring, but i think there's so much strategy. In no other sport is it about the precision and strategy of two players at once. the pitcher choosing his pitch and location, the batter anticipating the pitch and trying to hit a 90 mph ball.
it's the sounds of the announcers, the national anthem, the smell of the grass at the ball park, the quirky things they do between innings to get the crowd pumped up. the 7th inning stretch
all of the things that get you into the spirit of the game
and it's the love of the game even among the players. the guys who play single and double-A ball [minor leagues] getting paid hardly anything, but they continue to go out there and work their butts off for a chance. just a chance to play in the major leagues.
and because there's no better moment in sports than the bottom of the 9th with two outs and a chance to win the game.
and that is why i love baseball
.....i need to go watch the sandlot now
Saturday, February 2, 2008
(w)holy discontent
when i think about where i was last summer, and i think about where i am right now. i feel like a hypocrite.
last summer, i was living in the city and ministering to those that were economically worse off than i was.
right now, i'm living in a city, spending the majority of my free time in coffee shops and watching TV.
what happened?
last night i was walking downtown to pick up some dinner and i passed by a beggar on the street, when he asked me for spare change i mumbled no and kept walking.
on my way to dinner.
probably what he needed money for.
couldn't i have invited him to come eat with me? or at least offered to get him something?
i passed him by and knew i had just let myself fall into the status quo again. being apathetic to the plight of the poor. i felt the guilt of it all the way down to get food and all the way back to where he had been. i thought of what i could do to make it right, give him my sandwich i had gotten, offer to go buy him something.
but the man was gone when i got back to where he'd been. i'd already missed my opportunity.
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.
forgive me Lord, a greedy sinner.
is that the life i've slipped back into? a life of middle class apathy? a life that's so self absorbed that i don't think of others? I'm not happy or fulfilled by the life i'm living up here in alexandria. and i always made the excuse in blacksburg or back home in chesapeake that there weren't homeless around. but if there was, of course i would take care of them.
i guess not.
i continue to pass them by on the streets as if they aren't there.
i need God to change my heart, because it's just that, a matter of heart. my mind knows that these are your children and that we've been called to care for them, but my heart hasn't embraced that.
break my heart for these people O Lord.
last summer, i was living in the city and ministering to those that were economically worse off than i was.
right now, i'm living in a city, spending the majority of my free time in coffee shops and watching TV.
what happened?
last night i was walking downtown to pick up some dinner and i passed by a beggar on the street, when he asked me for spare change i mumbled no and kept walking.
on my way to dinner.
probably what he needed money for.
couldn't i have invited him to come eat with me? or at least offered to get him something?
i passed him by and knew i had just let myself fall into the status quo again. being apathetic to the plight of the poor. i felt the guilt of it all the way down to get food and all the way back to where he had been. i thought of what i could do to make it right, give him my sandwich i had gotten, offer to go buy him something.
but the man was gone when i got back to where he'd been. i'd already missed my opportunity.
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.
forgive me Lord, a greedy sinner.
is that the life i've slipped back into? a life of middle class apathy? a life that's so self absorbed that i don't think of others? I'm not happy or fulfilled by the life i'm living up here in alexandria. and i always made the excuse in blacksburg or back home in chesapeake that there weren't homeless around. but if there was, of course i would take care of them.
i guess not.
i continue to pass them by on the streets as if they aren't there.
i need God to change my heart, because it's just that, a matter of heart. my mind knows that these are your children and that we've been called to care for them, but my heart hasn't embraced that.
break my heart for these people O Lord.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Give me a sign!
A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign!
how often do we ask for signs? "give me a sign if i'm supposed to do this, not not supposed to do this...etc."
do we even know what a sign looks like if we see it?
we ask for divine intervention and then once we've received it we credit something else. coincidence, chance, the weather, etc.
why are we so reluctant to credit God?
why do we even ask for a sign from God? is it that we're so caught up in our own gods? money, power, sports, fashion, that we can no longer know God's will without signs and wonders?
God didn't speak to Moses in the earthquake, nor the violent wind. He spoke in a whisper. So in this day do we know how to hear God's whispers?
over our TV's
over the noise of traffic
over our iPods?
how do we begin to hear the whispers that come from our Loving Father?
as individuals?
as a church?
as a society?
how often do we ask for signs? "give me a sign if i'm supposed to do this, not not supposed to do this...etc."
do we even know what a sign looks like if we see it?
we ask for divine intervention and then once we've received it we credit something else. coincidence, chance, the weather, etc.
why are we so reluctant to credit God?
why do we even ask for a sign from God? is it that we're so caught up in our own gods? money, power, sports, fashion, that we can no longer know God's will without signs and wonders?
God didn't speak to Moses in the earthquake, nor the violent wind. He spoke in a whisper. So in this day do we know how to hear God's whispers?
over our TV's
over the noise of traffic
over our iPods?
how do we begin to hear the whispers that come from our Loving Father?
as individuals?
as a church?
as a society?
Thursday, January 10, 2008
what is love?
....baby don't hurt me
so, first off. rob bell is sick nasty.
i'm currently reading his book on spirituality + sexuality, entitled Sex God
i also just watched a lecture of his called everything is spiritual
the guy is deep.
but currently the thing i was reading about was love.
now, don't think i'm getting all mushy on you guys. this is the kind of love a man can have with his wife.
but this is also the love that God has with us.
Agape in the greek
unconditional love
"agape doesn't love somebody because they're worthy
agape makes them worthy by the strength and power of its love
agape doesn't love somebody because they're beautiful
agape loves in such a way that it makes them beautiful
there is love because, love in order to, love for the purpose of, and then there is love, period. agape doesn't need a reason."
so the only time i really can think of that i've actually had love like that for someone was this summer. there was this little girl, ranisha, who wanted so desperately to be loved by someone. after those few days i hung out with her at the boys and girls club i would have taken a bullet for her. she was the sweetest little girl that got picked on and teased and was basically an outcast. she had her flaws, she lashed out at the other kids cause they teased her. was very possessive of any attention other people got from people giving her attention. but i still would have done anything for her.
but that was only for a couple of days
so is that it?
in my 21 years of life i've had one time when i've been able to unconditionally love someone?
how do you live that out when it's more than just a few days?
how do you live that out when it's for life?
how do you love someone unconditionally even if they don't love you unconditionally back?
i guess God would know
so, first off. rob bell is sick nasty.
i'm currently reading his book on spirituality + sexuality, entitled Sex God
i also just watched a lecture of his called everything is spiritual
the guy is deep.
but currently the thing i was reading about was love.
now, don't think i'm getting all mushy on you guys. this is the kind of love a man can have with his wife.
but this is also the love that God has with us.
Agape in the greek
unconditional love
"agape doesn't love somebody because they're worthy
agape makes them worthy by the strength and power of its love
agape doesn't love somebody because they're beautiful
agape loves in such a way that it makes them beautiful
there is love because, love in order to, love for the purpose of, and then there is love, period. agape doesn't need a reason."
so the only time i really can think of that i've actually had love like that for someone was this summer. there was this little girl, ranisha, who wanted so desperately to be loved by someone. after those few days i hung out with her at the boys and girls club i would have taken a bullet for her. she was the sweetest little girl that got picked on and teased and was basically an outcast. she had her flaws, she lashed out at the other kids cause they teased her. was very possessive of any attention other people got from people giving her attention. but i still would have done anything for her.
but that was only for a couple of days
so is that it?
in my 21 years of life i've had one time when i've been able to unconditionally love someone?
how do you live that out when it's more than just a few days?
how do you live that out when it's for life?
how do you love someone unconditionally even if they don't love you unconditionally back?
i guess God would know
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