Paul Johnson... for a short while

August 06, 2007

Bigness is my Weakness… Pt2

An interesting related point to my last post is this:
There is a sense of complete predestination within how our actions relate to God receiving the glory due him.

In my last post I talked about how having the right type of weakness allows God's power to be perfected in our lives, but when you stand back and take a hard look at the elements needed for God to be perfect, what he does to be perfect and when/how is power is perfected; you can only conclude that his power is perfect as often as he is. Which is all the time isn't it.

Therefore God is glorified and shown to be perfect whether it is through my weakness or my pride. His power working through me or against me is perfect no matter what I do. How's that for predestination?

I guess it just comes down to the question of wanting God to work through you and be perfect through you or against you and perfect against you.

Posted by paul at 03:08 PM | Comments (0)

July 31, 2007

Bigness is my Weakness…

“Bigness is my weakness, oh yeah, bigness is my weakness� we would sing in syncopated rhyme as our Super Mario character was reduced in size by an enemy goomba. It always appeared like having an enlarged, mushroomed-up character (giving you a free hit before death) made you a bigger (and therefore more vulnerable) target for the koopas and other enemies, while having a smaller and therefore weaker (one touch leads to death) character gave you a greater chance to slip by unscathed.

So here it is… the theological tie in. You knew it was coming. This is so much like the spiritual life! When we are weak then we are strong and that sort of thing.

2 Cor 12:9-10 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (ESV)

The trick comes in attaining the right kind of weakness so that you can have that elusive supernatural strength, because as experience tells us not all weakness leads to added strength.

When I am in false pride having a pity party about how hard my life is I don’t think that God’s power is being made perfect. When I am in weakness giving in to sin, God’s power is definitely not being made perfect.

But when I am in humility striving to obey what I know but yet struggling in hardship and trial while enduring not for my own good image but for the glory of God and his kingdom, I am small and all of his bigness, his omnipotence, the very power that raised Christ from the dead rests upon me.

Pride, fear, sin, thinking more highly of myself then I ought… all that puffs up – the bigness – is truly my weakness.

Now if only I could find one of those mushrooms that makes you invincible to enemies…

Posted by paul at 07:35 PM | Comments (0)

January 15, 2007

On Belief and Pride

Education is not the solution to the world’s problems. Hunger, disease and crime will not go away. I wish they would but alas they are fixtures on this cursed planet and until we quit this world they will infect us. I am taking the round about way to discuss belief and knowledge, science and faith.

For some reason I have had an unfounded confidence in my own intellect since my childhood. This is where pride enters our narrative. It is possible that my confidence springs from the all-American instilment that “you can do anything that you set your mind to�. Whatever the case, I find myself looking at the obstacles, challenges and even men before me and think they are all conquerable if I but had the time and desire. I realize the complete folly of such a vain way of thinking but this conceited reasoning is not my end. My point is in my education and general knowledge of the world I have encountered nothing as truly mind blowing as encountering God himself. Again working from the assumption that all that I have learned in my almost 27 years from professors, parents and public television about the natural world can be pulled apart and reduced to simple and comprehendible trifles and is an accurate subset of all that can be known in the universe is admittedly arrogance but has carried me deeper into faith.

To know that the created universe in its vastness and terrible complexity is but a water drop in comparison to the ocean of this infinite and intricate God beckons not only join him but surrender all to his unimaginable power, intellect and utter love even for me.

“We trust not because ‘a God’ exists but because this God exists.� – C.S. Lewis, “On Obstinacy in Belief�

Posted by paul at 01:20 PM | Comments (0)

November 29, 2006

NT575: New Testament Theology

I decided to try taking a seminary class. BiblicalTraining.org offers a wide array of free classes that at the highest level seem to be taken straight from respected seminaries. Matt originally found the site and forwarded it to Tim and myself. I really do enjoy learning and figured that I would try this out to see if God could use it in my life. I won't go into the all the details but historically I have had a mild distrust for seminary teaching as being too focused on head knowledge and not on the practical workings of faith lived out. God calls us to learn about him but Jesus' disciples were unlearned men. Anyway I decided to give it a try and started with a heavy course on New Testiment Theology a 500 level course. I am going to try and listen to a class a week or so on Wednesdays and post my notes online. DISCLAIMER: I will not promise that the notes are complete or theologically correct. They may not even accurately describe what the teacher was trying to convey. They are my own work based on the oral presentation given. I am not responsible for how you use them. Should you want to hear the class yourself registration is again free of charge. Just follow the links that I have provided.

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NT575: New Testament Theology (http://www.biblicaltraining.org/class.php?id=191)

Speaker: Dr. Frank Thielman (http://www.biblicaltraining.org/index.php?page=speakers&id=25)

Description, goal, and objectives
Our goal in this course, simply put, is to understand the basic theological message of the New Testament both in its diversity of expression and in its fundamental conceptual unity. To accomplish this goal, the course will pursue three objectives. We will begin by laying a historical and philosophical foundation for our understanding of the theology of the New Testament. We will then examine the major theological themes of the three parts of the New Testament canon. We will, finally, study the theological themes that bind the entire New Testament together as a conceptually unified book.

Textbooks
Hengel, Martin. The Four Gospels and the One Gospel of Jesus Christ. Harrisburg, Penn.: Trinity Press International, 2000.
Thielman, Frank. Theology of the New Testament: A Brief Account.
Westerholm, Stephen. Perspectives Old and New on Paul: The “Lutheran� Paul and His Critics. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 2004.
Wilken, Robert L. The Christians as the Romans Saw Them. New York: Yale University Press, 1984.

11/29/06
Lecture: Historical Foundations for the Study of New Testament Theology - An overview of the history of New Testament Theology as a discipline, emphasizing the role of the Reformation. (40 min. 27 sec.)

Notes:
There is an area of mystery in the theology of the New Testament where people differ in their opinion. We will explore the tension between diversity and unity.

(He uses ESV)

Secondary Main Textbook
I. Howard Marshal New Testament Theology – Many Witnesses One Gospel >>Apparently he want’s to use this book and not the one’s that he listed earlier in the syllabus.
(http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0830827951/dealtime-books-20/ref=nosim)

Who has gone before us and what they did. What they believed.
Foundations for the Study of New Testament Theology
Part 1
I. The History of New Testament Theology as a Discipline: Biblical theology as a product of the Reformation
  A. Luther – appealed to the bible. Saw a great deal more in the church tradition then in the bible. Called into question selling of indulgences. 1521 Diet of Worms – asked to give an account but said that he would detract if it was out of harmony with the scripture. Luther thought that all children should be taught the scripture
  B. Melancthon – Same year (1521) published “Fundamental Theological Themesâ€� in Latin. Significant work – took letter to the Romans and supplied discussion of important theological themes in book. Before this the gospel had been organized primarily in a logical theme instead of a biblical theme. He wrote first biblical theology. Subject rose from bible instead of speculation about what the bible said. He brought in other texts to support it but the themes and outlines where from Romans itself. Raised scripture to a place of primacy in what people believed about humanity and about God.
  C. Protestant Scholasticism (late 1500’s on) (Similar to systems of Thomas Aquinas) Example: Precepts that Christians ought to believe including footnotes to scripture Belgic Confession of 1561 Westminster Confession 1647 according to rationality to describe and speak of what is found in scripture. They begin with the authority of scripture and the infallibility of it. Don’t provide organizing principle like Melancthon but instead provided proof text.
  D. Two developments, however, worked against this tendency:
    1. German Pietism – 17th century in reaction to the over concern the details and cerebral nature of systematic theology and how ministers where trained in German Lutherans. Philip Jacob Spener – “Pia Desideriaâ€� advanced 6 points for reform. 1st point was renewed reading of whole bible. Wanted to encourage everyone to read the bible because of the emphasis of thelogical system of the church … Anton Frederick Bushing1758 complained that the theological education of seminaries disqualified ministers from leading churches. Forgot about the primacy of scriptures. His book “Thoughts on the nature and advantage of biblical dogmatic theology over the old and new scholasticismâ€�. Protestants had fallen into the same trap as the reformation had tried to draw them out of. Overall, deeply committed Christians who believed that God makes himself know through scripture and that God changes hearts and lives and were concerned with seminaries.
    2. English (and German) Rationalism – (1600 and 1700’s enlightenment) Human reason became very important for epistemology. John Locke wrote on Paul’s Letters. Believed that God revealed to us what cannot be known by reason. We can know truth by two ways; reason and the bible. Also reason and revelation do not conflict. John Toland (1670-1722) Only those parts of scripture that passed the test of reason could be accepted as valid. Elevated reason above revelation. J.S. Semler (1725-1791) Scripture was not inspired and disagreed with Locke about inerrancy. Scriptures are mistaken and cannon was a product of fallible human decisions and no Christian should be bound to it. Christian should be free to pick and choose what you feel is the word of God. Scripture should be studied historically and critically to find what is acceptable and rational according to modern criteria. Overall, where critical in scripture and that reason and human rationality should take precedence over anything that the church has handed down as scripture. All considered themselves as Christians.

These two developments had in common a desire to deal with the scriptures themselves and intense study of the word of God in a move away from scholasticism.
    3. Coming out of the mix of these two developments is the first Biblical theologies and the first New Testament theologies.
      a. Gotthilf Traugott Zachariä (1729—1777) 1st know biblical theologist. Similar to what Melancthon has done only in a much more detailed way. He was not a rationalist and was sympathetic to German Pietists. He recognized that it was important to read the bible in its historical context.
      b. Georg Lorenz Bauer (1755—1806) 1800-1802 published 1st New Testament Theology and in it stated that the bible should be read in historical context, it should not merely be mined for systematic theology against Belgic and Westminster Confessions where people had made theological statements and then searched through the bible to find texts that proved it. We should examine each book to find the pure biblical truth that is valid for all times and places. What cannot be brought into the modern age should be stripped off and the kernel of truth can be transferred over to modern times and can produce a biblical theology.

Posted by paul at 12:10 PM | Comments (2)

March 22, 2006

Please Pray

Would you commit to praying at least 10 minutes a day for at least the next week about this summer? Whether you are planning on going to Chicago for SALT, staying in Ames for EPIC or doing any of the other countless things that are available, this summer has the potential for incredible influence and change in your life. I believe that deserves being brought before our heavenly father for consecration.

Please leave me a note if you plan to do this with me. Thanks!

P.S. Zeke's needs lots of prayer too.

Posted by paul at 11:20 AM | Comments (2)

March 19, 2005

Biblical Translation

We all know that there are a lot of Bible translations out there. There are a few that are pretty good. How do you choose? And what do you do when they disagree?

One side of the argument says that we all should not trust others translations. We need to learn the original languages. This is a fine idea and can really teach you a lot if you have 10 years to invest which most of us don’t.

In reality God doesn’t speak Hebrew or Greek but he does speak to us through his word, can illuminate our thoughts and bring us to conclusions. Also there are people out there who spend their live learning this stuff and they have translated the Bible in the best way that they possibly can. They are the best in the world at what they do and they have the utmost respect for the Bible and translating it as accurately as they can.

Take that to the extreme and you can end up putting to much trust in the translators and even (gasp) make it seem as though the translation itself was inspired and therefore there is only one that is “authorized” and should be used.

I myself often lean toward trusting the translators and not digging into it, I do however struggle when say the NAS and the NIV differ…

Posted by paul at 12:05 PM | Comments (5)

March 09, 2005

Risen in Glory?

While reading in John 1 this morning I came upon an interesting point made by the commontariest Sir Charles Ryrie. He states that Christ will forever exist in his resurrected body. This is a new thought for me. I have pondered the issue of a new heavenly body in the past in reference to Jesus “preparing a place” or house for us in contrast to our earthly dwellings or “tents”. I have surmised that these new bodies will be similar to our current bodies since we are created in God’s image. But the idea that our heavenly bodies will be tied to our earthly bodies is a new one. How deep does the correlation go? Several times after Christ had risen his disciples did not recognize him. But according to John20:27 he still retained the marks on his body and Ryrie claims that according to Acts 1:11 (he will come back in the same way that he left) that he will still have those marks when he returns.

I don’t know… I have always looked forward to having a new body and being able to fly and stuff like that in heaven so this is a little of a downer. I don’t want to have every single scar that I have picked up in my 25 (plus however long I live after this) year life. Plus gees what would a person who died of a car accident look like?

Posted by paul at 10:45 AM | Comments (0)

February 14, 2005

Do you love me?

Have you heard this question on this special day? It seems so cold so distant. “Do you love me” just seems like it should be said in spite and scorn or in desperation and anxiety. How do you take a question like that? If you do really truly love then what follows should be the declaration the pronouncement of your affection and commitment. But what if you just learned what love was? Would the question then give you pause?

Lounging around the fire after a big breakfast everyone was getting sleepy. It had been a long dark wet night and with warm food in their stomach’s sleep seemed to be the logical next step but, they just laid around enjoying warmth of the fire and the early morning sun. The conversation lulled and the laughing subsided into a comfortable silence when Jesus turned and looked at Peter and asked that question. Peter was half asleep and the answer seemed obvious to him. "Yes, Lord," Peter replied, "you know I love you." But Jesus was talking about a different kind of love. He had given the world a fresh look at what love truly was and now the question carried so much more weight then it would have earlier. He needed to prove a point, he needed to convince Peter, he needed to explain. So, he commissioned him as a Shepard and asked again “Do you love me?” Peter was a little confused so he turned over and looked at Jesus this time answering more deliberately: "Yes, Lord," Peter said, "you know I love you." Jesus smiled and again called him to service. But he had to hammer his point home. Peter was so instrumental in his plan, he need to push the envelope. He needed for Peter to feel the sting and realize the reason for his questioning. He had to take these commands with deadly sincerity. So finally he called to him again: "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter spun slowly in the soft sand and sat up looking painfully at Jesus. At last he understood. The waves lapped the shore peacefully and sunlight played through the trees dappling the scene with soft patches of light. Peter’s eyes filled with tears. He extended a rough calloused hand and took hold of Jesus shoulder as a single tear followed the crags at the corner of his eye, seeped down his weather beaten face and onto his ragged grizzled beard. His voice cracked in a hoarse whisper: "Lord, you know everything. You know I love you." He said slowly. Jesus slipped his hand alongside Peter’s face and called him once more. He was right... Peter finally knew what love was.

Posted by paul at 11:57 AM | Comments (6)

January 06, 2005

It just aint that cool to be a missionary

There is just no way around it. As a serious Christ follower I have to give up any and all pretense at being considered hip and cool for anything other then my authenticity. And I have to work on this whole being beat up for Christ thing.

O know I have bloged about this before, alot and even often. But I just can't escape it. I guess that God is still trying to teach me that He opposes the proud and gives grace and supports the humble.

You think you already have everything you need! You are already rich! Without us you have become kings! I wish you really were on your thrones already, for then we would be reigning with you! But sometimes I think God has put us apostles on display, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor's parade, condemned to die. We have become a spectacle to the entire world--to people and angels alike.
Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you are so wise! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are well thought of, but we are laughed at. To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, without enough clothes to keep us warm. We have endured many beatings, and we have no homes of our own. We have worked wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us. We respond gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world's garbage, like everybody's trash--right up to the present moment.
- 1 Cor 4:8-13

Posted by paul at 07:04 PM | Comments (2)

January 05, 2005

Epistemology

What do I know about truth?

No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 1 Cor 2:7

I know there is an absolute truth out there somewhere. God created the world and he himself operates on a certain set of rules that do not change. God cannot sin and cannot change

...but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 1 Cor 2:10

Can we then know this truth?

We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 1 Cor 2:12

I think that we can know this truth. At least some of it. Can we go through, identify and bring to light all of the ways of God and the universe he created? I think not. We have not the life span nor the categorical systems and abilities to tie everything together. But with God’s divine assistance we can ascertain that which is far above our feeble intellects. It is important to note, however, that becoming frustrated with the inability to grasp an aspect of God or his creation is rather futile because again we are dependant on his spirit for any and all wisdom.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9

Posted by paul at 07:36 PM | Comments (2)

December 23, 2004

Christmas at 10 below

So much can be learned about living your life as a fully devoted follower of Christ right at home with your family. For these are the people that are hardest to serve. Following up my last couple of post it has been my prayer that I would live out this happy season with humility, grace and patience. I remember seeing a tv commercial about Kris Kringle's brother Kevin Kringle and how he could never get the Christmas thing down as well as his brother. Now of course he just goes to Best Buy and they fix him up. But it made me think about Jesus' brother and the inferiority complex that he must have had. Wow talk about never measuring up in your parents eyes. But then of course there was some benefits. Jesus would always stand by you and protect you from bullies. He would give up the best helping of dessert so that you could have it. I am sure that he would nuture you along and give you any help that you needed. I guess I would take him as an older brother any day. Makes me want to be that kind of brother, son and husband (for the first time) this Christmas and every after.

Posted by paul at 06:11 PM | Comments (0)

December 20, 2004

Married in Heaven

Here is a brief theological topic to get your brain pumping late on a Monday afternoon.

Unfortunately I don’t think I’ll go through and cite specific verses on this one just to keep you guessing.

Jesus said that no one is going to be married in Heaven. He is preparing a place for us. He is building a house for us; a more permanent dwelling place then the tent that we now reside in. Also (or in more definition of) we will be getting new bodies. Originally we were made in the image of God and we will return to perfection physically and emotionally.

In considering these things here are my extrapolations: Our bodies to be in the image of God as well and therefore will look a lot like our present bodies only more permanent. We won’t be affected by disease, pain or death but we will have arms, legs mouths and so forth. Psychologically we will be made complete. We won’t need emotional fulfillment from others because we will get it from God. He is our bridegroom.

I guess I’m wondering where Jesus gets the “not married” thing. We are “married” to Christ. But does that exclude us from being married to another? I guess you couldn’t say “till death do us part” and that once you were married that was your mate for eternity but hey why not?

Posted by paul at 07:38 PM | Comments (3)

December 15, 2004

Disappointment

God is completely unfair.

God never really speaks.

God just doesn't show himself.

I'm yearning for a God who will deal with me openly and with a plain justice that I can work with. I desire a God that comes right out and talks to me and gets my attention. I crave a God who shows up for a fight and displays his extraordinary power by crushing those that oppose him.

Why is God not.

Posted by paul at 08:57 AM | Comments (4)

December 09, 2004

More verses I would like removed from the Bible

Matthew 23
10 Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

If there is any human desire in me a big one is the desire to be cool and to be liked. I don’t necessarily need to be really hip or associate with all the popular kids. Just give me a group that I can strut my stuff with. Now, don’t get me wrong there is nothing wrong with wanting to belong. But I have a problem wanting to be fly, smooth, happenin’, you know have that fresh attitude and pizzazz. To walk into a room and have people react with a “yeah, he’s cool.” Ok, so I have this vision of what is “cool” in my head and I try to dress, act and talk in this manner. Whether that means being sarcastic, loud, indie, gelled, intelligent, refined, cultured, funny or even off the cuff I want to be “it”.

The problem lies in when I reconcile this attitude and that of the verse mentioned above. I am not talking about the false humility that I have when someone pays me a compliment and I brush it off and say “aw, praise God that he gave me this talent, ya know, he’s really the one that made me this totally awesome” or “actually I’m an idiot and a terrible person, feel pity for me and tell me that I actually was good”.

Being the servant of all entails humbling yourself and like the verse I posted yesterday serving without recognition. It really messes with my groove when I’m putting out the vibe and suddenly there is an opportunity to go in back and clean up some two-year-old’s puke. To be the servant of all means the servant of everyone else on the planet, it means giving your life for them.

“Well, God didn’t put me here on this earth just to serve YOU!” I think as I look at a spoiled brat whining about wanting to indulge in entertaining themselves instead of helping out.

Well, um, yes… …cough… he did.

Posted by paul at 07:43 PM | Comments (0)

December 08, 2004

Verses I would like removed from the Bible

Luke 17
7"When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, he doesn't just sit down and eat. 8He must first prepare his master's meal and serve him his supper before eating his own. 9And the servant is not even thanked, because he is merely doing what he is supposed to do. 10In the same way, when you obey me you should say, `We are not worthy of praise. We are servants who have simply done our duty.' "

This passage just stinks. It goes completely against our human desires to be recognized for the things that we do. It cuts right into the quick of our pride and stings like all get out. But the most unfortunate part of this verse is that it is a Christ like attitude that we need to follow.

Posted by paul at 02:06 PM | Comments (4)

November 16, 2004

Practice Practice Practice

So today for the first time I wandered outside my front door and watched the football team practice, albeit only for about 30 seconds but I did actually watch them. I noticed a couple things.

1) There where two kickers practicing field goals. I thought to my self our kicking is terrible they need to practice like that. Maybe they should kick 500 field goals a day and we’ll get better. Then I thought man they are way too close the need to back it up at least 20 yards, they’re making every single one of them. Then I reminded myself that I never played organized football so I shouldn’t critique their practice methods.

2) Then I thought about how I train myself to be godly. Or don’t as the case may be. If we as Christians put the serious two-plus hours of practice at least five days a week that the Cyclone football team puts in what would that make us? And we have so much more at stake here then a College level game!

Posted by paul at 07:21 PM | Comments (4)

November 10, 2004

November Newsletter

Here is an except from my upcoming newsletter. If you are on my prayer and/or support team you should be getting one within a week.

Here I am in November and God still has me raising support. God has blessed immensely and I have seen about 60% of what I need come in but this also means that I have a ways left to go. God has been so good to me throughout this time and so many generous people have responded to him and expressed their belief and confirmation of the ministry here. It has been a hard but encouraging time. Here are few lessons that I have learned a long the way.

God needs to move. I can talk to people until I am blue in the face but unless God changes their heart I won’t see any progress. This means that I need to be desperate for Him. I need God to move in the hearts of those who I will be meeting with and those of you who are supporting and praying for me. Together we need to be desperate for the students on campus for God to break through and change their lives.

The second big lesson that I have learned through this process is that God is using it to teach me about being in ministry. Instead of seeing it as a means to an end I have started to view each appointment as an opportunity to share the gospel, exhort, and encourage. It is my prayer that each person that I meet with will see the passion that I have to reach out to young people. In this way God is refining my communication skills and giving me experience in speaking under stressful situations. Praise God. +

Posted by paul at 09:05 PM | Comments (0)

November 05, 2004

How to do Church

In praying over a future in Church planting and studying through Acts I have been thinking about the method of family interaction within the body of Christ that has come to be known as the church.

Ochuk recently wrote an interesting post on the subject following Rock Minneapolis’ retreat simply titled “Church”. I also solicited the famous Pat Sokoll on the subject seeing how he has co-led a recent church plant with a “non-traditional” organizational structure. His response was wise, mysterious, and as always “Pat-ly challenging”:

“Our method to develop our philosophy was to determine what outcome we wanted to produce and to only create structures that directly lead to those outcomes. We arrived at our philosophy of ministry that way. 1 Corinthians 14 was pretty key to us. I also noticed as I snooped around a little that there was a trend among alternative style churches to be pretty strong in their thoughts about the program based church. So be careful and guard your heart as you do your research.”

In a break from Erickson’s “Christian Theology” I picked up Cymbala’s “Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire” and was impressed by the same ideals as Pat expressed. (I think that Cymbala got it from Pat.) Those ideas of playing to your gifts and strengths as a leader(s) and congregation are something that I did not glean from the text on previous readings.

So this leads me back around to self evaluation which for me is always dangerous because of what has been previously noted several times: I pridefully think that I can do everything and anything. Wow, that's dumb.

Till later...

Posted by paul at 09:20 PM | Comments (7)

October 19, 2004

Soul Mate or Check Mate

Everyone is talking about Napoleon Dynamite. Everyone is quoting the frustrated social outcast and the rare people in his life. It’s funny.

But in light of the incredibly painful yet honest story shared at church last Sunday by two people who really should have been divorced 10 times over for the crimes that they committed against one another I see a deeper message. The cry to be loved, for companionship, for a soul mate.

Steve and Sarah Wilson are together because God put them together. Not only did he put them together originally when they were first married he has put them back together everyday since.

That is what a true soul mate is. Someone that God puts you with to spend the rest of your life with for good and bad. To sharpen you and help you at the same time.

Mark Darling says that marriage is all about dieing. You have to get up everyday and die. Die to your own wishes, your own wants and your own desires. If both soul mates do that. If they both put God first in their own personal lives. The world will be amazed at the results.

I just wanted to hide another hint back here.
You know all three of these characters and you know the "apartment" where they live.

Posted by paul at 03:34 PM | Comments (0)

October 15, 2004

A Black and White Stance in a Grey World

This is the very fact that will shock and amaze you. This is the premise of my entry today and one that deserves a close look. Are you ready?

There is absolute truth out there. In all instances of morality, human behavior, and ethics there is a right and a wrong. I know… hard to believe that there actually is something like that out there. Just like in the old movies where the good guys wore the white cowboy hats and the bad guys wore the black ones. There is a good and evil, always. Just like there is God and Satan.

Satan repeatedly tries to dismiss any belief in him at all. He also works around the idea that there is ultimate evil or even a little evil. We are taught that humans are mostly good and right. Everyone is good. Everyone’s ideas are equally valid, even on topics such as ethics and morality. Except of course a few extremes that we all consider to be distasteful, especially when they are thrust into our face.

Murder is wrong. Killing another human being is definitely out. It tops the list for crimes that people agree on right? Well I guess it’s ok if the other person asks you to do it because they are really sick. Or if the other person is really inconveniencing you like living inside your womb or if that person was placed there as a result of rape then well hey kill ‘em.

The world pushes grey on us all day every day. They tell us that the homosexual agenda is just like the civil rights movement. That people are being treated unfairly and that is why we should change. They move abortion, euthanasia, homosexuality and vegetarianism into the main stream so that we will slowly get used to it and then final sit back and say “fine I guess that ok, it falls into that grey area that I am not so sure about and I guess since it’ all right for them then they can do it.”

We as Christians in this grey world must develop black and white opinions on these and other controversial issues so that when others fall prey to a world that says “just do what feels right” we can stand up and say no because we have a firm grasp on the absolute truth.

Our source of truth? God’s word.

Ok maybe vegetarianism isn’t all that bad. But only for medical purposes! :)

Posted by paul at 09:02 PM | Comments (4)

October 08, 2004

What is it That You Want?

Find out what you want and then give everything that you have to obtain it.

"He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot

Tim wants to share the gospel and teach others to do the same. He is passionate about it. He is also passionate about the origins of the earth. He gives his life to these things.

Matt wants to be a student of our every changing culture, I think...

What do I want?

Not quite sure... give me a minute.

I want to be humble. I want to have the character and repuation to have God use me in whatever way he wants to. Leadership. Evangelism. Teaching. Speaking. Worshiping.

1 Peter 4:11

I am not sure yet.

What do you want?

Posted by paul at 11:02 PM | Comments (8)

September 28, 2004

I Live My Life Like a Burning Man

Changed lives. That’s the goal right? For our lives to change and for the lives of those around us Christian or non-Christian to change. That is the power of the gospel. That is the existing point of Christ’s life and death was to change our lives, our very existence. To radically alter our menial instant on this earth and bring us into the very throne room of the creator. To live in the presence of God.

Brad Barrett said this afternoon that we are all on the edge of change. We as humans are such a tiny step away from a changed life. God has us in his hands just waiting for the chance to completely overhaul our state of mind. To give us a sense of the eternal in the present, to show us his boundless love, to carry us from a state of helplessness and complacency to a place of power, love and self-discipline. He is incredibly eager to give us a bubbling, frothing-over cup of grace and blessing. That is what the gospel is all about. God jumping all over himself to love us, to be in relationship with us, to hear our murmured prayers before meals and as we lie in bed. He wants to be so much more then a lucky rabbits foot pulled out just when we are in trouble. He wants to rejoice with us through everyday life as he gives us enumerable joys. He longs to cry with our sorrows and run to scoop us into his ever-loving embrace when we loose our balance and tumble headlong into the mud of life.

Your life is about to change. Can you feel it? Can you sense the tension in the air? You are on the brink of the unknown simply titled Gods grace and favor. Run and leap headfirst into faith. Because there is no end in sight.

In fact there is no end… ever… anywhere.

Posted by paul at 09:04 PM | Comments (4)

September 21, 2004

The Awesome Love of God vol. 1

Over the last week I have been thinking about the gospel and what it means for me. This has been prompted in part by Tim and in part by Greg Van Nada. Then yesterday I listened to Mark Darling's “The Awesome Love of God” and then I knew that I had to post on it.

Tim mentioned that we as Christians tune out the gospel message shortly after we accept it. We think: “Oh yeah. I’ve heard that. That’s for all those heathen sitting around me” But really I think we need to start sharing the gospel once a week (at least), or repeating it to ourselves quietly before we go to bed. Because in reality this gospel, this message has a life changing effect.

Ok now your thinking: “You haven’t proved anything yet I think I’ll move on to Matt’s blog or maybe see what the Cubs standing are.” Well don’t leave just yet. (and believe me I read Matt’s blog on a regular basis and this time he just posted on the laptop he is selling and btw the Cubs are loosing.) So here is my reasoning for the importance of the gospel.
The gospel gives you perspective. It helps you realize that God loves you unconditionally. I know that everyone knows that but how often do you believe it? Not often enough. Because if you did other people’s opinion of you becomes a non-issue. Also if you really truly realized God’s incredible love for you then you would have no problem with guilt, reading your bible, or flossing regularly.

Well I am out of time on this post. (Sorry but I need to get stuff done and I know how much everyone loves reading super long serious posts.)
So take the next step and check out these passages:
Galatians 2:19-3:3
Romans 8
1 Corinthians 13 (read this one replacing every instance of the word love with God. It’s true!)

Posted by paul at 09:45 PM | Comments (3)

September 03, 2004

The Devil is Bad

Thought provoking question:
Why was God thinking when he created the devil? I guess that we see from Job that God gives the devil all of his power. But it still seems like he could have given him less power. Because its really a struggle out there. Or maybe if he had made our sinful roots weaker more people would turn to him instead of becoming so easily entangled.

Action provoking question:
What is your reaction to sin? In your life or someone else’s? This is a good heart check for me. When I realize that I have sinned I have a tendency to complacently shrug and pray that I will do better next time as opposed to really repenting with sorrow over my behavior or thoughts.

Posted by paul at 07:15 PM | Comments (5)

August 22, 2004

I the Interloper

I feel like I once belonged… but now even that sensation has left me. The world widens before me as I leave the bay known as college and I cannot hope to see the far side of this great expanse. The once familiar halls and haunts of a former way of life laugh devilishly at my new found floundering. I seek haven in my ancient faith drawing fresh water from its current. I am not alone but my comrades often seem distant and difficult, working their own sails. We are all strangers here, of a singular yet nameless lineage. I am one of them. My colors fly high. I the alien, the intruder, the interloper.

Posted by paul at 07:45 PM | Comments (2)

July 18, 2004

What Stops You?

God has an agenda.

He wants to reach this world.

And he wants to use you to do it.

What is holding you back?

Could it be...

Fear.
Fear of people, fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of ridicule. That's ok right?

Discipline.
I know I need to do ___________ (evangelize, pray, read the bible, etc) but I just can't seem to do it very often or even at all. That's ok right?

or Sin.
I am a pretty good person and really God forgives me but I just can't get over this sin in my life. That's ok right?

I realize that this is the kind of post that doesn't get many comments. But my prayer is that you read it and it made a difference. In the way that you think first... ...then in the way that you act.

Posted by paul at 10:33 PM | Comments (7)

July 10, 2004

The Coolest Super Hero

I had always learned that people in the bible perform miracles to authenticate the message that they are speaking. To prove that it really was from God.

It seems to get kinda fishy every now and then though…sometimes it seems that the miracle workers is just doing it for their own convenience.

I have been studying through the characters of Elijah and Elisha and they both seem to do things that seem selfish.

Like getting widows to make them food. I mean that would be really cool if I could get widows to cook me bread from an unending supply of flour and oil.

Then both prophets throw their coat into the water so that it parts enabling them to walk across on dry land. Man, I would never have to get my feet wet again.

Also they both raised kids from the dead. I mean that would be sweet! Then you would have these little kids who would be way better then those kids that you support over in Asia or Africa. Instead of giving them money for clothes and school, man, you raised these kids back to life. They better send you a letter and picture at least once a month.

Posted by paul at 11:32 PM | Comments (1)

July 08, 2004

Synergy and Inspiration

It is truly amazing how when we come together we can accomplish so much. Why else would God confuse our language at the Tower of Babel?

I know that my inspiration often comes from the synergy developed when I am with other men and women of God who charge my batteries and ignite my vision for those things that are beyond myself.

Don’t undervalue the importance of people that fan your visionary flame whether it be through direct contact or through books, tapes, or even movies. We live such lackluster unimaginative lives.

Inspire someone else. And you yourself just may be inspired.

Posted by paul at 11:47 PM | Comments (5)

June 23, 2004

Identity #4

So a reoccurring theme in my study and writing is my identity.

A thought that I have been working on for awhile (I am sure that someone else mentioned it first and started me on this train o' thought) is the culmination of our change in identity into full communion with Christ in Heaven. There to the people that overcome he will give a white stone. And on it will be written a new name that will only be known to those who recieve it.

We are Christ's bride and we see a change in our identity by taking a new name that he gives us. We also share a secret with him that is not known to anyone else thereby increasing the intimacy in our relationship.

Truly this is a terrifying and incredible thing to be joined to God in this way. I will continue my quest...

Posted by paul at 11:01 AM | Comments (4)

June 21, 2004

Ancestors – Honor of our Fathers

Our culture has grown up with a distain for or elders. “Gray hair is a crown of splendor” has given way to “Question Authority” “Don’t Trust anyone over 30” and “If its too loud then you’re too old”.

In recent years our culture has seen a small swing back into at least a mild interest in the ancient and mystical. I have read that stained glass and organs are making a comeback but I haven’t seen much to convince me yet.

Mainstream society has its retro fits but it all comes repackaged. They take a 1960’s style, mirror it, and sell it as the latest fad to hit our pop culture. It is as if designers have realized that there is nothing new under the sun and to eke more money out of consumers they tell you that retro is cool.

Anyway, I am getting off topic. What I really want to say is that a healthy appreciation of those who have gone before us would greatly aid many in our society. I am thinking mostly in terms of personally and religiously though this reflection can be implied in multiple aspects of life.

Personally I think that we would do well to imitate the work ethic and community efforts of our forefathers. Such an emphasis was placed on family relationship and working within the family and local community that it fostered a continual breeding (no pun intended) and multiplication of street and relational wisdom that cannot be matched by our fun new global community. Personal relationships have changed. It will be interesting to see what the Internet revolution will do to the future of interpersonal communication and relationships in general.

Religion has taken a turn as well. Tradition and rigor has been seen as stale and boring, while in the past decade “hip” “culturally relevant” churches have sprung up with their supposed innovations in music and sermonizing while the creeds and hymns that are so rich in culture and doctrine have been left in the large print King James Bible with the gilded pages and stamped leather cover.

I am not advocating a puritan mindset only an appreciation of the spirit of tradition. Much can be learned and I have only begun to see what has been laid in the foundations of our modern world. I will continue my quest...

Posted by paul at 11:33 AM | Comments (3)

June 16, 2004

Zeal and Pride

Chances are that we will end our lives with the same obscurity in which we started it. Can we dare pray for anything more? Run the race to win huh? For what prize are we competing that has not been held in reserve for us?

Posted by paul at 10:13 AM | Comments (3)

April 22, 2004

Abba, Father

Holding Isaiah Borseth in my arms yesterday brought on a miriad of feelings.

To see such a small human.

To feel his tiny muscles as he strained to grab at my face to achive some unknown end.

To look into his innocent eyes, so full of wonder.

I drempt about my own children and I thought about my father.

A real family is priceless. I am going to thank mine tonight.

Posted by paul at 04:33 PM | Comments (1)

April 17, 2004

Blogblog

I think that God does something special in early morning sunlight. There was just a magic in the air this morning as I walked through the wet grassy capret. There was a stillness a quietness of the soul that refreshes and encourages.

The heavens tell of the glory of God.
The skies display his marvelous craftsmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make him known.
They speak without a sound or a word;
their voice is silent in the skies;
yet their message has gone out to all the earth,
and their words to all the world.
-PS 19:1-4a

I think that morning is my favorite time of day. How in the world could you hate the morning? Someone give me justification for their dislike of mornings.

Posted by paul at 02:45 PM | Comments (7)

April 02, 2004

Perceived Moral vs. True Moral

Often the most apparent moral is the true moral. The first answer you come to is the right one simply because it is the most obvious. But what about those stories with a deeper truth that is not immediately perceived?

So here goes:
David and Goliath
Perceived Moral: With God’s help we can overcome incredible odds.
True Moral: Having a few smooth stones nearby can always help.

Now you try the true moral: (answers at bottom DON’T PEEK)
Esther, Mordecai, and Haman
Perceived Moral: With God’s help we can overcome incredible odds.
True Moral:

Need some more practice?
Joseph and his 12 brothers
Perceived Moral: (that’s right) With God’s help we can overcome incredible odds.
True Moral: Dual moral – God makes cisterns empty for a reason and if you ever work for someone named Potiphar go the Russ Graves route and grow that beard.

Ok here is a chance to redeem yourself; you get both tries on this one:
Samson and Delilah
Perceived Moral:
True Moral:

Answers: T: Always extend your scepter to your beautiful wife.
P: With God’s help we can overcome incredible odds.
T: Again a dual moral – jawbones so underrated and philistine women so overrated.

Posted by paul at 10:55 AM | Comments (3)

March 10, 2004

100% God 100% Man

Something that I have meditated on for awhile is how connected to God was Jesus and can we attain to that level of inter-connectedness?

Jesus had the uncanny ability to read minds. I have been reading through Luke and on several occasions he knew what others where thinking. So my question is "was that just because he was 100% God?" or "Can we do something similar with the correct 'yielding to the spirit'?"

Posted by paul at 12:01 PM | Comments (6)

February 27, 2004

Tortured

Every time I close my eyes
Every time I stop and pause
It comes back like a thunderclap
And my mind reels with the horror

Metal rips into flesh
And as it slices an ugly gash
See the muscle and fat torn open
And the splatter of crimson blood

Marred more than any man
Scourged for my sin
The fatal images plague me
I shake and weep

Not because of a movie
But because it really happened
And because I believe
It was worse

Posted by paul at 10:01 AM | Comments (1)

February 23, 2004

More Dating Advice

So here are some other examples beyond myself... (for those of you who know please feel free to correct me)

Those that dated before:
Matt and Nancy H.
Dated on and off for 4 or so years and decided that God wanted there lives so they broke up for a time and then started "courting"

Those that like to hurry up:
Both the Powers brothers (Dave and Derek)
Hurried through the whole process and got some sweet women all before they turned 20 or something like that.

Those that like to be rejected:
Tim and Kristen B.
He stalked her. She thought he was imature. He was. He asked anyway. She shot him down. (more then once) Persistance finally won her. It also helped that he grew up in the process.

Those that like mystery:
Josh and Dana C.
They got scared when they realized that they liked each other so they spent a month apart to pray. After that it was history (except for Josh's phone call to Dana's dad: "Hi, this is Josh I am Dana's... uh.. one of her friends... I mean... uh..Can I marry her?")

Those that like to take it slow:
Mark Bowen was engaged for 4 years.

Those that like pain:
Mark and Cathy D.
Cathy's parents laughed when they were told about the upcoming nuptuals and then refused to come.

Those that were hippies:
My own parents went birdwatching and played tennis at like 6am for their dates.

Those that are now staff:
Tony and Kirsten
She was on staff he was a hot young intern. They tried to stay away from each other and managed to do so. Until the next spring.

As you can see there are many ways to go about securing someone to grow old with. I mean really in the bible they invited a bunch of the young women to a bonfire, hid in the bushes, jumped out and took one home. Hows that for a courtship?

Posted by paul at 01:44 PM | Comments (10)

February 22, 2004

The Dating "Game" 3

So ok I need to hurry this up.

We both go to Florida and sparks fly from the first day.
My hope was to lead music with her again or be on the same project but neither happened.
I actually had to call her with no other pretended objective then to see how she was doing. That was scary!
So over the span of the summer we spent days off together and talked after LT sessions. All within the confines of a friendship and group activities. All the while I became more and more convinced that she was the one for me.
So I prayed about it. A lot. Then I prayed about it some more.
I got council.
Matt knew about it first.
I think that Adam O got the call next.
I told Tim and Doug before I went down.
Cliff knew about it from the beginning of the summer.
I called back Tim.
I reconvened with Matt at Staff Training.
I talked to both my parents.
I talked to my sister.
I talked to Doug when he came down for a weekend.
Through my Dad I got two of her pastors counsel.
That makes about 10 people including 4 pastors.

They gave me a green light. And she didn't know that I had any feelings for her.

I prayed some more. I put together six pages of bible verses on what God has to say about marriage, not getting married, and my vision for the future.

So on July 22nd I took her out to Friendly's for ice cream and a talk.
I asked her if I could start a more serious relationship with her. I called it courting. I said that if God continued to lead that the relationship would lead to marriage. And to my surprise she didn't even say well I'll think and pray about it.

She just said yes.

That was 7 months ago today.
We have disagreed. We have miss-communicated. We have apologized.
On Dec 23rd I asked her to marry me in the bitter cold of downtown Minneapolis.

She just said yes. (And had to remind me to put the ring on her finger)

Since then we have been planning the wedding.

We still haven't had a fight. And I think that we have a very healthy relationship based on our mutual desire for God, common interests, a shared (weird) sense of humor, and physical attraction. (I think she's hot)

So what do you think? I know there are a lot of conflicting theories out there. This is just my story of what worked for me. The bible doesn’t set down a specific way of doing this so there is wiggle room. What do you think will work for you?

Posted by paul at 03:45 PM | Comments (3)

February 21, 2004

The Dating "Game" 2

(The story of us… continued from yesterday)
So because of my technical prowess and intense emotional pineing I cleverly extract Christie’s email address from a general “hey what’s up” type of email sent from a common friend to a large number of x-Lters and therefore I start to email her. My emails are light and friendly with no real under current of emotion and to my surprise she answers with the same attitude. Hence starts 9 months where each of us play the cat-and-mouse game of emailing each other regularly at 10 day intervals.

Christie comes for Tony and Kirsten’s wedding. I stalk her and it produces a lunch with several others at the local Co Coast Chinese Restaurant.
Christie feigns at having something to do in the Twin Cities over Thanksgiving and through email invites my sister and I to “hang out”. Her and her younger brother come over to my parent’s house and we eat cookies and watch Gremlins.
We see each other at the Ignite conference in late December and sneak a fast food meal with a couple of common friends.

I am scared of her and my developing feelings.

February rolls around and I finally admit to Matt that I have feelings for Christie.

We keep emailing…

By the end of February I am shocked to get an email from Christie saying she will be going back to LT the next summer. I immediately get up and take an hour-long walk to ask God what in the world he is doing.

I trip through the next couple of months in bliss trying to minimize how much I look forward to her emails.

As I prepare for Lt in Orlando FL, and I feel the need to tell both Tim and Doug of my attraction. The both blow it off and assume that nothing will happen. (smirk)

In one of her last emails to me before the summer Christie asks me to pick her up at the airport and says that she assumes that we will be in the same project group.

I am so scared that I consider changing my name and moving to Kazakhstan…
(To be continued again)

Posted by paul at 02:29 PM | Comments (2)

February 19, 2004

A Pair of Proverbs

So after a week of nonsensical posts on whatever popped into my head at the time I think that I will pass on something a little more meaningful:

Proverbs 19
20 Get all the advice and instruction you can, and be wise the rest of your life.
21 You can make many plans, but the LORD's purpose will prevail.

Wow, talk about a couple of sentences that can change your outlook on life!

The first one can seem trite but in reality if we make this a goal it will go a lot easier for us. If we simply listen to those that have gone before us I think that we will avoid many mistakes in relationship, ministry, and just overall life.

The second in my mind just comes back to humility. If when making a plan we merely realize this uncomplicated truth in humility we can again avoid the heartache of disappointment. God has control and he won’t “drop the ball” and he never says “oops I didn’t mean for that to happen”.

Posted by paul at 11:50 AM | Comments (1)

February 12, 2004

Leadership

So in light of the recent discussion the next question that logically follows in my mind is this:

How can we be challenged in this area?
We obviously see a difinciency here with what we are called to do as Christians and also as leaders. We need our leaders to challenge us, we need to challenge each other, and we need to challenge ourselves to something more.

How in the world do we do that?

Posted by paul at 08:43 AM | Comments (0)

February 05, 2004

Here I am again...

Here I am again, on Gods work bench and he is teaching me the lessons of life. He lovingly and quietly removes the rotted, chewed, or discolored wood to reveal his master creation. At least I believe that I am his master creation.

He has been spending several months with different tools some small, some sharp, and others quick. But this time he reaches for a large flat tool. It is heavy and rather dull. He takes long slow draws, up and down. Boy I would much rather he went back to the short, sharp, small, stuff. But he keeps at it, blowing away the small crumbs of wood that he is creating. This is going to take awhile.

I am not sure how long this will take. I must say that it isn't fun, but all I can do is submit to his tool.

After a time I am sure that he will choose another and work on a different part of my life. He will hang that large flat dull tool back when it has completed this part of the work. He may choose it again in the future but at least for awhile I hope that he will give it a rest. And leave it there hanging under the small label patience.

Posted by paul at 10:47 AM | Comments (3)

January 28, 2004

Kingdom Business

On close scrutiny of just about anyone else’s life I can see at least a partial and often times a blatant disregard of diligence and time management. It is overwhelming and therefore I see the need to consistently be guarding my emotional backlash from turning into that little child who sees another misbehaving and shouts at the top of his lungs: “He’s not doing kingdom business!”

Now of course when I am sitting down and rationally thinking about this reaction (as I am now) it is easy to see that obviously different people have differing priorities in close congruence with their differing personalities. To some a relaxing walk alone is just what they need to unwind and boost their spirits to tackle another tough task. Others enjoy highly physical activity such as Basketball, while others pursue intellectual outs.

Can I judge these before me as unwise, or unfruitful? Or just simple-minded busybodies? Surely not. They are innocently attending to what matters to them most and hopefully what matters to them most is kingdom business. And that final decision is ultimately up to them.

Posted by paul at 08:39 PM | Comments (3)

January 23, 2004

Success #2

So how in the world do we succeed?
Is it right to have a drive to excel?

James and John (The sons of Zebedee) went with their mother (wife of Zebedee) to Jesus and asked to sit at his right hand and at his left. This was a big deal and Jesus told them that he couldn't grant that privledge. But, he didn't scold them (or Zebedee who wasn't even present) for trying. He just told them how to succeed in his economy: "Be the sevant of all."

So really success is being the servant of all. Steps to success are being the servant of some around you?

I see very little way of serving mankind as a whole other then creating a cure for cancer or better yet taking the sins of the world on my back and redeeming those that are bound by that sin.

Any ideas?

Posted by paul at 07:51 PM | Comments (1)

January 22, 2004

Success

So appropriately after a string of failure posts I think that I will do one on success.

Success is dangerous. Multiple times through out the Holy Scriptures we see people get prideful or even corrupt through their own perception of success.

I believe that a correct perception of success is as if not more imoprtant then a correct perception of failure.

In God's book more often then not a person success is quickly followed by pride, and then consequently their partial or complete desctruction.

So therefore, how do we rid ourselves of the oldest sin in the book, pride.

Posted by paul at 08:30 PM | Comments (2)

January 21, 2004

Failure #3

So if everyone who has been posting has such a gaal-darn good attitude about failure, why don't we live different lives.

What is the secret of taking these attitudes that we have been pulling from books, famous people and even from our own experince and actually giving ourselves a more cheery outlook on life?

Seriously if we believed what we have been saying then nothing NOTHING should hold us back... ever.

Posted by paul at 12:49 PM | Comments (2)

January 19, 2004

Failure

I am going to fail. It is inevitable. The only way to completely avoid failure is to stop trying.

I have failed many many times in the past, and I expect to fail many many more times in the future. In fact I expect to fail almost every person I know in some way or another.

When I look at my record I realize...

that I am a failure.

Posted by paul at 03:47 PM | Comments (4)

December 19, 2003

Church vs. Radio

I woke up this morning to my clock radio blaring something a little different. The DJ was asking a women what she wanted for Christmas. She replied that her brother and his wife had just lost their baby a week before it was due. They had to go through 24 hrs of labor to deliver a dead child. She said that her brother had been really strong for all of them through this and she wanted something for him. She wanted the radio station (A secular alt-rock/pop station) to pay for the head stone and they did..

Humans want community. We desire to help one another through the darkest of times. But, often, these needs go overlooked simply because we do not ask. The church needs to start asking. And if the church doesn't the hurt people of the world will turn to other means.

I am encouraged that a radio station would come to someone's aid like that. I am sure that the headstone will not carry the logo of the radio station or a speaker playing its music. But where was the church? In a time that was ripe for showing true love God used a very secular institution. Now maybe there is someone at that station who will consol the family and show them the precious gift of grace offered by Christ and maybe not. God reveals himself to all in his timing.

So, therefore look around you for a chance to be God's love this holiday much the same way that this radio station was. Wash the dishes, vacuum the stairs, give lots of hugs, and tell them all that you love them.

Posted by paul at 09:45 AM | Comments (3)

December 13, 2003

The Quandry

Each activity is a choice for me. This semester has been a constant battle between grades, ministry, being faithful with my finances, and being faithful to my relationships, all of them being responsibilities given to me by God.

This next semester the plan is to move some off of the grades and some off of the ministry and give them to finances and hopefully gain back some ground.

So this leads to the guilt part. I feel guilty when I spend money on expendable items because it is money that I don’t have. You guys know how it flows through your fingers.

It is hard for me to pay $4 to eat with my ministry team.
It is hard for me to pay $2 to go into C3. (I also would feel guilty if I don’t pay.)
It is even hard for me to pay $1.75 for a coffee to make the guy that I am sharing my faith with to feel more comfortable.

(BTY: Ryan whom I met on Hunt street and talked to for an hour and a half in Stomping Grounds, I am praying for you, I hope that you start looking for real answers and not just questions.)

The conflict says,
“It’s only a couple bucks, and it’s a good cause. God will bless you because of your sacrifice.”
vs.
“I have no money. NO MONEY AT ALL. Not even $2! I have negative money… and it is getting more negative.”

So help me with the balance here guys. I know that you were where I am. Every single dollar puts me that much farther in the hole.

When does my debt become too much? When does my debt become dishonoring to God? When should I start “eating only rice” to get out of it?

Posted by paul at 12:17 AM

November 14, 2003

Balance

Tim said (in speaking about Christians) last Sunday:

"Lifestyle without identity is legalism"
"Identity without lifestyle is hypocracy"
then he said something like (I am not sure if it is an exact quote):
"Identity with Lifestyle is balance, unity and wholeness."

I think that I tend towards the lifestyle without identity side...

How about you?

p.s. I think that tim's site is down. sorry :(

Posted by paul at 12:13 AM | Comments (1)

October 25, 2003

Identity Mission Method

Mark 1:11 is an incredible verse. In one sweeping gesture God cemented Christ's identity mission and method.

In the New Testament quotations of the Old Testament were very deliberate and widely used to evoke memories and even the context of the quote from a mainly Jewish audience that knew the Old Testament quite well.

Jesus Identity
When God says: “You are my son” this likely brought to mind Ps 2:7 and Gen 22:2.
Ps 2 graphically prophesizes the coming king, the savior of Israel from it enemies and God’s wrath. This was what people had been waiting for.

But then the allusion to Gen 22 brings a different picture to mind. This is a picture of a sacrifice. Of a son being given up for the sins of others.

To be continued…

This entry is an abbriviated, my thought infused, translation from a Pavi Thomas sermon given at New Staff Training for Great Commission Ministries.

Posted by paul at 03:18 PM | Comments (3)

October 14, 2003

OUCH!

"Let’s do away with our excuses for sinning. As we allow the Holy Spirit to control our lives, we have the opportunity to genuinely demonstrate that Christ is more than a religion. Integrity, righteousness and holy living are desperately needed in our day and we Christians should be leading the way. Not just our leaders, but every one of us should be conducting our lives as Jesus did!!! We have a light, let’s let it shine."

I got this today from Tom Short and it's simple straight forward smack upside the head aproach is just what I needed.

God wants me. And he will have all of me.

Posted by paul at 07:57 PM | Comments (3)

October 11, 2003

Our First Love

Rev 2:4 says that I have this one thing against you that you have left your first love.

What happens when we lose a loved one? What happens when someone that we admire and respect leaves? How can we go on?

We as humans have a tendacy to protect our hearts and after being hurt we retract and hold back from really loving others because we believe that we will be hurt again.

But who do we really love? Christ is our first love. The love that should cause all other loves to pale in comparison. So to lose a lesser love should come as a shock and come with pain but we still have our one true love, our first love, Christ.

Who or what has taken the place of God as your first love?
I can think of many people and things...

(These ideas came from a conversation with a good friend about relationships and this persons long time crush...)

Posted by paul at 04:54 PM | Comments (2)

September 30, 2003

The Seashell Pt 3

This is the 3rd part of a series that I statrted in July. Here are the first and second parts if you want to catch up.

Posted by paul at 09:44 PM | Comments (0)

September 17, 2003

To hear God's Voice

Hearing God's voice is a complex process. At least that's what it seems like to me. I know that some people assume to have had God speak directly to them and head in a completely tangential direction from past counsel. Now there are those that claim to have heard God simply reinforce the Bible and other mature leaders in their lives. I have a tendency to believe that the later have actually recieved a message or thought directly from the father. As to the others well that is another post all together.

As for me I feel like God talks to me through:

God has never spoken to me in a direct voice. Now you can question my salvation or simply my faith but I do feel led by him and have made innumerable decision based on "hearing from God" through the following ways.

This is how God talks to me:

1) God speaks to me through his word. Bringing verses to mind that I haven't read in months or simply while I am reading it something "jumps off the page". This doesn't happen very often, but when I am desperately in need of him and when I do what I know I need to and go to him in prayer, sometimes he answers this way.

2) God speaks to me through wise people. Way too often I am convinced of something that I need to do or say but have not sought the counsel of a wise person or two. And then when I do I suddenly become convinced that what I was about to do was the exact opposite of what I really should do.

3) God speaks through nature and my experience. Wether it is a windy stormy day or a quiet sunset God soothes my soul through the outdoors. He also speaks through my past bring lessons from it that I can take and apply today. If I go through a trial and don't learn something from it... well lets just say I AM BEING A FOOL.

Wow this post just flew off of my fingers... I have never written one so fast in all of my blogging...

How does God speak to you? Tell me a story about it... :)

Posted by paul at 08:44 PM | Comments (2)

August 29, 2003

God vs. Love

I had an interesting thought the other day...
I have often given God the same attributes ascribed to Love in 1 Corithians 13. My line of reasoning is simply that if God is Love (1 John 4:8) then he easily embodies all of the purity of Love described in 1 Cor.

I have been using this concept for awhile when I realized a more then slight disparity between the the way that Love is portrayed in 1 Cor. and the character of God purported through other passages. Mainly our God is a Jealous God (Exodus 34:14) desire us and our attentions. This is in direct contridiction with 1 Corithians 13:4 which explicitly says that Love is not Jealous. I am not sure what now to do with this... I always enjoyed understanding God through this description of Love. Also the question arises is God therefore not always loving or not completely Loving? When does his Love stop and his Jealousy begin? Help me think critically here... What do you think?

Posted by paul at 02:25 PM | Comments (1)

July 26, 2003

The Seashell Pt 2

I think that having significance is closely linked to being respected. If you have a great deal of significance people will respect you and treat you accordingly. Obviously so it is with the converse in that if you are respected as a person then you will be attributed with significance.
So then where is the origin of respect and significance?

I can give things significance because significance has been given to me. There is only one that has significance on his own. He in himself is significant and needs no other verification. There are a couple of important lessons that can be drawn out of this:

1. Your value and significance should be drawn mostly from a single source. Other people can try and put you down or make you feel insignificant but in reality they have no power other then to talk at you. You can let them build you up and give you respect but you cannot base your value on the significance given to you by humans. The eternal giver of significance is never changing and always faithful in telling us that we are valuable to him and therefore ultimately significant.

2. As we have been given value we need to give it to others. When we tell someone else that we believe in them and what they are doing, we trust them with our possessions, or we simply say: “I love you” with genuineness then we can give them a tangible boost (If they accept it.) This is a duty we have to each other before God. Let’s pass on the significance and respect to those around us…

(P.S. When originally thinking of this I was thinking of #2 and the relationships around me.)

Posted by paul at 01:06 PM | Comments (2)

July 25, 2003

The Sea Shell

I was walking along the beach here in Florida the other day and I saw a not so unusual sight, a shell half buried in the sand. Reaching down I picked it up and washed it clean in the surf rubbing the dirt and sand from its surface. It was, I guess, a beautiful thing if you like shells but really not extravagant. It was simple and small sitting there in the middle of my palm a light creamy white color with purple flecks out near the edge blended with a darker cream. The front edge had been damaged slightly from the force and consistency of the waves. It was unique, there were others similar but this one was totally its own and yet laying there in the sand it had no value. It was simply the cast off exterior to a dead crustacean.

But when I lifted that shell from the sand something about it changed. Its size, shape and color did not change. It did not sprout wings, begin to speak, or even draw breath and live. But now that little seashell was different then any other on the beach. I gave that seashell significance when I made it my own. Within that action I gave it the value that I have by making it my possession. I made this seemingly ordinary shell significant only because it was mine. I took it not in spite of its blemishes but because of them. I washed it and made it clean. You could say that I gave it my name, accepted it, and changed its place in the world.

That seashell had done nothing to deserve my attention or my gift. But I chose it over all others to make my own. I made that shell something when I picked it up. I made it mine.

Posted by paul at 11:23 AM | Comments (6)

July 18, 2003

Point of Salvation

I have heard a lot of debate lately about a person’s point of salvation. Since last summer and then continuing on this summer I have heard over and over again how we don’t need to be able to point to a specific moment when we accepted Christ. I don’t know if you have ever been in a conversation about this but it gets tangled in God’s sovereignty, man’s free will, and that whole Romans 10:9-10 pray this prayer business.

I think that this whole issue springs from a reaction that Christians have had to those of us who attempt to pin someone down and tell them that if they do not have a specific “point of salvation” where they were broken, repentant and prayed a specific prayer then they really are not saved. So the animated response to this direct and often punishing theory is to swing wide and tell young believers that they don’t need a specific moment of redemption. A definite danger here is to shy away from even telling people that they need to pray the prayer mentioned in Romans, or at least follow the guidelines and standards that it sets forth for belief.

It is impossible for me to believe that to God there is not a moment of salvation. Even to those who claim to be saved through a process or length of time or maybe grew up in a faithfilled home and have “always believed” have a time when they passed from death into life. If they died somewhere in that process where would they go? For those who say that they prayed a prayer when they were a kid but did not follow God until their high school years then the question is: Did the process of refinement by the holy Spirit start with that prayer? Or did it start when you got into a community of faith in high school were encouraged in your walk and actually started living your life for Christ?

Now an obvious solution to whether someone is actually saved is that only God really knows. We can only look at the fruit of a person’s life.

I am not suggesting that we hound people in an attempt to see if they are saved. I am not suggesting that we lay back in inaction letting people bumble their way until they hopefully find salvation. Lets just make sure that our response is to find the balance in the issue, to lead people to the bible and teach them it’s words about salvation and a right relationship with God, lets (in relationship and love) watch their life and “spur them on to love and good deeds”.

What do you think? I want a balanced opinion on this. Rip me apart! I want to know the truth even it I have to change my opinion. :)

Posted by paul at 11:10 AM | Comments (6)

July 15, 2003

Running the Race

Hebrews 12: 1 - 3 (NLT)
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God's throne in heaven. 3 Think about all he endured when sinful people did such terrible things to him, so that you don't become weary and give up.

I want to run the race the rest of my life.

Recently in my life I have been thinking and dreaming (I guess you could say it is a developing passion) about running the race to win and finishing it. So many get bogged down with snags along the way. My desire is to look back after 50 years and to see those years filled with hard running after the prize. I want to like Paul have my life poured out like a drink offering. But how do I accomplish this when so many others have failed. I think that this verse can give us some great (but difficult to apply over the long haul) steps.

1. Throw off everything that hinders especially sin. If we are proactive in getting rid of the things in our lives that keep us from God we can obviously increase our speed. If we can eliminate the sin then we are even more free to accomplish the things God has for us.

2. How? By fixing our eyes on Jesus. Knowing where our focus should be. If we focus on trying to eliminate the sin and other distractions we trick ourselves into slowing down and not running. Not to say that we should ignore area’s in our lives that we need to work on but if our primary focus is the health of our relationship then we are able to continue in our journey.

3. Consider what Christ went through. Again that takes your eyes off of your own mournful situation. It gives the correct perspective and allows you to look towards the finish line and not just mope around waiting for things to get better before you take action.

Posted by paul at 03:32 PM

July 11, 2003

Judas - A redeptive thought

This comes from the recent events that I have been apart of:

Q: Did Judas have to die? Was he destined to hang himself? Did God need him to give up his life for the crime that he committed? And if he had not killed himself would he have just as much a claim to the grace of God that Peter did?

A: Through a brief study through scripture on the character of Judas and the prophecy surrounding his betrayal I am unable to find anything telling of his death. Peter refers back to Ps 109:6-20 when discussing the need for a replacement but there was nothing else.

In reference to the comparison to Peter it is important to notice that Christ committed to praying for Peter which he did not do for Judas.

He did however mention Judas in his prayer as the "one doomed for destruction"(NIV). But Gods grace can cover over any sin right? And how was Judas' betrayal that much worse then Peter's?

According to Billy Williams both Judas and Peter wept bitterly after their respective betrayals but I was unable to substantiate that claim.

According to John Gill Judas was entirely evil and never believed in the first place and so therefore got what he deserved.

Another thought for discussion is that Jesus appeared to the twelve after his resurrection. Did he appear to Judas? Am I “baking your noodle” yet? :)

That’s all I have for now…

(This was brought on from a comment by John Freeman about Judas and his chance to go on after failure.)

Posted by paul at 02:12 PM