Watch Your Words

So I had to stop by the store on the way home from church (One where everything is generally a dollar...or two). As I was checking out the two cashiers were conversing about not having groceries because their children eat them out of house and home. One lady's son was older (I know this because she was older and because of what she was about to say.) and she was excited because he had decided to go back to school and try to make something of himself. He was going to get a degree in medical assistance. Then, without missing a beat the other lady chimed in and said that there isn't any money in medical assistance, that she had the same degree, and began to list her reasons why it was a terrible idea. It reminded me of the SNL sketch "Debbie downer" and I couldn't help but wonder how many times I have ruined someones excitement by saying something stupid. Sometimes people aren't asking for advice, they are just telling you something they find exciting. DG lady watch what you say.

Great iPhone pic

This is a pic of my niece, Charlee, taken with my iPhone. Could the conditions have been any better?

Holiday Mac

Guitar Villain

This morning I was honored to play guitar in Grace's Christmas production, "Come Light Your World." I played acoustic for the first half and electric for the second half. Since I do not own an electric (although I wish I did...that would be GREAT) Clayton graciously loaned me his (This is a BIG deal that usually requires a deposit of blood and the promise of your first-born son). This is something I take very seriously for it is a great responsibility to cherish and protect someone else's baby. OK...all that to say that when I was putting it on it's stand this morning I did not check to make sure that it was balanced and as I turned away I saw it begin to fall. Now normally I am very quick to catch a guitar and would even sacrifice my body to protect one from harm but today...today I wounded my friend's guitar. It is an ever so small ding on the neck but I am still sick about it. Throughout the day the scene has been replaying in slow motion. "What could I have done differently?" "Why didn't I double check the stand?" "I should have gotten more sleep last night. Then I would have been able to reflex catch it." It's hopeless...I'm a guitar-aphile. I lured it away from it's owner and I robbed it of it's perfection. I'm guilty of first-degree neck-murder and there is no punishment to fit the crime. Thankfully Clayton was very gracious and saved his tears for the privacy of his own home. He said, "It had to happen sometime." But why did it have to happen to me? I'm sorry Clayton. I'm sorry Fender. I'm sorry Stevie, Jimi, Eric and Phil. I'm sorry world. I do not deserve to bear the name "guitarist."

Psalm 131

O LORD, my heart is not lifted up;
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.
But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me

A Diamond is Forever

If you are anything like me, you discover new music via commercials, tv, and movies quite often. The new diamond commercial (when the husband and wife are sitting in the car and he drops the journey diamond pendant in her hand) is a great example. So for any of you who were wondering what song is playing in the background: Landon Pigg, Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop.

You can here it here:
Landon's Myspace

or download it from iTunes.

Andrew Peterson

Andrew is a man that I have mad respect for as a singer/songwriter. His lyrics love to swim into the deep waters of God's truth and at the same time embrace you like an old (at times extremely funny) friend. Here is a track off of his Christmas album that has been beating in rhythm with my heart this Advent. Enjoy:


Deliver Us
from "Behold the Lamb of God"
Words and music by Andrew Peterson
Lyrics:

Our enemy, our captor is no pharaoh on the Nile
Our toil is neither mud nor brick nor sand
Our ankles bear no calluses from chains, yet Lord, we're bound
Imprisoned here, we dwell in our own land

Deliver us, deliver us
Oh Yahweh, hear our cry
And gather us beneath your wings tonight

Our sins they are more numerous than all the lambs we slay
These shackles they were made with our own hands
Our toil is our atonement and our freedom yours to give
So Yahweh, break your silence if you can

Chorus

'Jerusalem, Jerusalem
How often I have longed
To gather you beneath my gentle wings'

©2004 Andrew Peterson

Glory's cute hat

Advent Poem

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Poems/ByDate/2523_Nicodemus_Part_1/

ESV Daily Reading Bible

Here is a blog that you should know about:

ESV Daily Reading Bible

Obey your Parents

That's what I taught tonight. Col 3:20. This got me to thinking... How do you define parent these days? All the divorce and separation in our culture makes me really sad. Here is a great blog that I read on divorce: http://www.challies.com/archives/guest-bloggers/tears-at-thanksgiving.php
I found it very thoughtful and tasteful.

Redefining Love

I had the privilege to teach at my church, Grace Baptist, Sunday morning. The idea of the talk that how we think of love in American culture is in stark contrast with the way Jesus loves. It was a sweet time where I felt that the Holy Spirit was at work (I pray He was) and I am thankful to the church and my Pastor for affording me the opportunity. I hate the way I sound recorded, which sadly is probably much like what other people hear naturally, but if you want to, you can listen to it here:Redefining Love

Blogging

I have decided to step up my game here in the Blogging world. I've gone too long without any blogging and I am ashamed of myself. Stay tuned for a more consistent blogging experience.

P.S. I still intend to comment on the Emergent Church Movement but have been too swamped to finish reading the book. I will get right on that.

Apologies

I feel that I will be very good at apologizing by the time I am old. It seems that I am constantly struggling to say things just the right way so that I will not hurt the ones I love, but sometimes that struggle is in vain. I wish I could go through life never being misunderstood but it seems more times than not my words come out akwardly and I spend the rest of the conversation trying to clear up misunderstandings. Or worse, I just say stupid and hurtful things on purpose. Either way, I definitely do not live up to James 1: 19 (quick to hear, slow to speak) and sometimes the people that get hurt are the closest to my heart. My hope is that in those times to most meaningful words that come out of my mouth are "I'm sorry."

Harvest Festival

Yesterday was Glory's first Halloween. I'm not a huge fan of holidays in general but she was extremely cute in her Snow White costume (Thanks Michelle). Halloween was great because I am on a great staff at a great church and we had a great harvest festival (with great weather). I am so thankful to God for bringing me to Grace. Here are some photos:

emergence part 2

The main point of the emergence conference was to further discuss the themes found in the Zondervan book, Listening to the Beliefs of the Emerging Church. We were given the book at the conference and I haven't had the chance to read it. I have decided to read the book to further understand the viewpoints given as a couple of the contributors to the book were on the panel of the conference. It will probably take a few days to read and process and then I will give my estimation of the emergent movement and talk further about some of the ideas discussed at emergence. Stay tuned.

Meet Macbook

After many years of longing, my church, Grace, graciously bestowed upon me my first Macbook.

Isn't it cute?

emergence part 1

Clayton (my friend and worship leader) and I just returned from the emergence 2007 conference. I sat a lot and listened a lot and disagreed with a lot and agreed with a lot and I am just too tired to process it yet so I will update you.

Memory Verse

Every week I memorize a verse or two of scripture from Bethlehem Baptist's (John Piper) scripture memory system. This week's verse: "Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name." This leads me to two struggles. First, in America, where God in His sovereignty has placed me, I do not suffer for being a follower of Christ. I really do not suffer period. Secondly, it says to glorify God in the name "Christian". I normally shy away from that title because of the gross misunderstandings associated with it, but it seems to me that this passage says to embrace suffering on the account of that name. So here is the first question...could the negative thoughts toward the name Christian be suffering? If so, it sure doesn't seem very hard to suffer because I (and millions of other Americans) have no problem embracing the name. I do not think the name is the heart of the issue.

I am also reading through the last chapter of Piper's book Desiring God which just so happens to be on suffering. He makes the case from scripture that Paul chose a life of suffering to bear the name of Christ and I agree. He also makes a case from scripture that no suffering we could experience on earth can compete with the treasure of being with Christ in heaven...again no argument here. My dilemma comes when I consider my life of little to no suffering. I did not choose suffering to become a Christian. That's the sort of stuff you read about in India or Afghanistan or China, but not in America; America is God's country. You do not suffer for being a Christian in America. In fact, we live in a country where you can smoke pot to ease the pain of cancer (I am not making a judgment, just reinforcing a point.). We hardly suffer for anything in America. How do we choose suffering in American culture Christianity?

I've said all that to say this: I do not believe there is a lack of suffering in our culture; I believe there is a lack of Christians. Maybe it's the fact that you would have to get out a microscope to see my faith. Or maybe it's because I only half-heartedly embrace Jesus although I claim to love Him with my whole heart. Some of my close friends often ask the question, "What does a Christian in America look like?" and truthfully I am not sure I have ever met one. I am so far from where I need to be spiritually that it is sickening. I do not desire and love God above all things. My heart is hard and cold and I do not love like He loves.

My only encouragement in times like these is that the disciples didn't seem to get it until after Jesus' ascension and they walked with Him. He did not lose one of them and they ended up living, suffering, and dying for His glory.

My prayer right now is this: "Lord, give me a heart for you. A heart of passion that will sell everything (American materialism) to follow you. Lord give me a taste of your infinite value so that I will crave nothing else. Jesus I want to know you and the power of your resurrection, and may share in your sufferings, becoming like you in death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead."

I'll be honest, this prayer both excites and scares me and I am not sure that I truly invite suffering, but I do long to know Jesus. So if that invites suffering may I go on rejoicing that I was counted worthy to suffer for the name.

My life with Christ and walking with a limp.

Deciding to give blogging a try, I've determined to specifically blog about my struggle to become Christ-like. This is not a new struggle for me...just one I am weary of hiding. I do not find any of Christ's teachings simple or easy and struggle to live like He would have me live. I feel like Jacob most of the time: wrestling with someone who will not fully reveal Himself to me, asking Him to bless me, and winding up walking with a limp. If this doesn't sound like the Christianity you have experienced this may not be the site for you. (Here is one that may be better suited: joelosteen.cc) However, if this resonates in your soul...maybe we could walk (limp) together through this beautiful messed up life trusting in the value of the treasure that we find in Christ when we seek Him with all of our heart. (Who knows...maybe we'll find healing, peace, and love in divine hip dislocation.)