Sunday, May 24, 2009
How I met the most important person in my life
So I've been reading the devotional blog for Vineyard Westside, today's entry and it appealed to me. Why am I so afraid to bring up Jesus at work? For the last year or so I've been more and more reticent to mention God, Jesus, the Bible, or anything else that would be a standard answer to a 1st grader sunday school question. Hell, in fact, I've been known to claim agnosticism now and then. Mostly in the past it's had to do with the fact that my own relationship with God was teetering on it's edge, and my lifestyle and attitude was sorely lacking. I am more than a bit of an ass, and my hormones have a bit more free reign on my actions then they have a right to. I'm often embarrassed to talk about Jesus to people who know me, not because I'm afraid of what they might think of me afterwards, but of what they might think of him. My attitude, my "whinyness," or, worse yet, my on again off again periods of malaise and self-pity. I want to wear Him well, and I can't help but wonder if He's embarrassed of me at times. But the answer is not to be overwhelmed with guilt, rather to wear my weaknesses as a point of pride, to brag of my failings as how He's saving me still. To "beat my breast and proclaim the name of the Lord." Now to just figure out how to do that...
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Do not forsake the fellowship
I really need to get into a small group.
I've been listening to mp3s of the sermons from VCC's series on The Creed, specifically the Nicean Creed, and a comment was made about the importance of unity within the congregation. A unity of purpose, a unity of spirit, and I got to thinking. Lately I've been feeling more and more that there's something missing and I can't help but think that it's the loss of connection and community within my spiritual life. I have some very good and close friends, but over the past year we just haven't had time to get together and hang out. What's more, the close friends that I have don't share my same perspective on faith. While normally this is one of the things I enjoy about them, they keep me grounded and offer alternative views, there are some situations I'm struggling with lately that I just can't discuss with them, they simply don't understand where I'm coming from I think. I want very much to grow in my walk with Christ, and as the verse says, "as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." I need some brothers in Christ I can turn to, and that I can trust to hold me accountable.
I've been listening to mp3s of the sermons from VCC's series on The Creed, specifically the Nicean Creed, and a comment was made about the importance of unity within the congregation. A unity of purpose, a unity of spirit, and I got to thinking. Lately I've been feeling more and more that there's something missing and I can't help but think that it's the loss of connection and community within my spiritual life. I have some very good and close friends, but over the past year we just haven't had time to get together and hang out. What's more, the close friends that I have don't share my same perspective on faith. While normally this is one of the things I enjoy about them, they keep me grounded and offer alternative views, there are some situations I'm struggling with lately that I just can't discuss with them, they simply don't understand where I'm coming from I think. I want very much to grow in my walk with Christ, and as the verse says, "as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." I need some brothers in Christ I can turn to, and that I can trust to hold me accountable.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Growth
So I found an old blog of mine a while back:
http://madmonk3030.xanga.com/
It's odd, in some ways I wish I could get back to some of those feelings, when I made a higher priority of reading God's Word and prayer. When I had a more devotional outlook, but at the same time, I can't help but think I'm better off now. I mean, I know my relationship with God leaves a lot to be desired, and there are a number of decisions that I've made in the last year or so that I regret, I know too that I'm back on track. And when I'm done, I'll be in even better shape than before, my sins and my mistakes have taught me lessons I wouldn't have learned otherwise, and I really don't think I would want to trade that for anything. I really do look forward to meeting the man I am growing to be, and I want to make the best decisions now to make his arrival as speedy as possible.
http://madmonk3030.xanga.com/
It's odd, in some ways I wish I could get back to some of those feelings, when I made a higher priority of reading God's Word and prayer. When I had a more devotional outlook, but at the same time, I can't help but think I'm better off now. I mean, I know my relationship with God leaves a lot to be desired, and there are a number of decisions that I've made in the last year or so that I regret, I know too that I'm back on track. And when I'm done, I'll be in even better shape than before, my sins and my mistakes have taught me lessons I wouldn't have learned otherwise, and I really don't think I would want to trade that for anything. I really do look forward to meeting the man I am growing to be, and I want to make the best decisions now to make his arrival as speedy as possible.
Two Women
I've been reading Proverbs lately, and the other day, a thought struck me
When I was a kid reading the passages, I could never understand the choice between the two women that appear throughout the book. I mean, you have the woman Wisdom, who cries out from the towers that all who come to her will gain long life and riches. She seems so obvious, so matronly, so masterful. Why would anyone not choose to follow her?
Then you have the other woman, Folly. her way leads to death. She comes to you and asks you to follow her back to her home, where her bed is made and spiced, while her husband is away. You would think she seems someone to avoid as a matter of course.
But now, as an adult, I know better. Wisdom seems intimidating. Her maturity seems unattainable, her purity untouchable. She makes you wait, she demands that you control yourself, she demands that you be better. She asks you to be honest, both with her and yourself. She'll try to keep you from getting ahead of yourself, and keep you grounded.
Folly, she calls late at night and says she misses you, she leans in close in the car and breathing in your ear, telling you she's had such a great time. She doesn't wear her wedding band around you, won't mention her husband until you're already thinking about her more often than you should. She'll tell you how sweet you are, how happy you make her. She'll know just when you're loneliest, and that's when she'll be there.
But Folly will leave you, lost, and even more alone than before. You'll follow her for a night, but by morning you'll be broken, and empty. You'll feel nothing but shame and regret. Hardness will become your constant companion, despair your close ally. You'll be left feeling dirty, and worthless, wondering why anyone should befriend you at all. You'll look in the mirror and see someone not even worthy of pity, only rebuke.
And Wisdom? She may seem distant, she may not give you the immediate gratification your flesh desires, but you know, you trust, that she will give the the life worth living. She will spur you on to bigger, and better things. She'll lead you down the paths of ridicule, but at the end all will praise you for your integrity. She may not be ready to take to you in the middle of the night, but she'll be there in the morning
When I was a kid reading the passages, I could never understand the choice between the two women that appear throughout the book. I mean, you have the woman Wisdom, who cries out from the towers that all who come to her will gain long life and riches. She seems so obvious, so matronly, so masterful. Why would anyone not choose to follow her?
Then you have the other woman, Folly. her way leads to death. She comes to you and asks you to follow her back to her home, where her bed is made and spiced, while her husband is away. You would think she seems someone to avoid as a matter of course.
But now, as an adult, I know better. Wisdom seems intimidating. Her maturity seems unattainable, her purity untouchable. She makes you wait, she demands that you control yourself, she demands that you be better. She asks you to be honest, both with her and yourself. She'll try to keep you from getting ahead of yourself, and keep you grounded.
Folly, she calls late at night and says she misses you, she leans in close in the car and breathing in your ear, telling you she's had such a great time. She doesn't wear her wedding band around you, won't mention her husband until you're already thinking about her more often than you should. She'll tell you how sweet you are, how happy you make her. She'll know just when you're loneliest, and that's when she'll be there.
But Folly will leave you, lost, and even more alone than before. You'll follow her for a night, but by morning you'll be broken, and empty. You'll feel nothing but shame and regret. Hardness will become your constant companion, despair your close ally. You'll be left feeling dirty, and worthless, wondering why anyone should befriend you at all. You'll look in the mirror and see someone not even worthy of pity, only rebuke.
And Wisdom? She may seem distant, she may not give you the immediate gratification your flesh desires, but you know, you trust, that she will give the the life worth living. She will spur you on to bigger, and better things. She'll lead you down the paths of ridicule, but at the end all will praise you for your integrity. She may not be ready to take to you in the middle of the night, but she'll be there in the morning
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Church and gay marriage
So I made a comment about how I think Church's should support the legalization of gay marriage, there were a few people who got a little offended. When I commented on this on my status message via Ping.fm(a fabulous site, btw, it lets me use my cell phone to randomly run my mouth off to a much larger audience than before) a few interesting comments were made. Since the comment section on Facebook wouldn't allow me to fit my response into it's block, I'm posting it here:
Here's my issue with that, it's not an argument about morality when discussing legality. I agree, if one accepts a traditional evangelical view of the Authority of Scripture there is a clear case to be made for the morality of a homosexual practice, but when you're discussing legality that's a very different issue. We as Christians have a number of reasons why we should support the legalization of marriage for all, but the main one is for Constitutional protection. The only reason for passing such laws tends to come with a religious attitude, which is improper. If nothing else, a sense of self-preservation. Right now Christianity may be the predominant religion in this country, but how long is that going to last? Both paganism and Islam are growing at a much faster pace than Christianity in general, even more than traditional evangelicalism. If we have established that it's ok to pass a law because the predominant religion says it's ok, what happens when a different religion becomes more popular?
Further, let me just say that as both a Christian and a Libertarian, I am VERY bothered by the government and the church both getting involved in an issue that I think at best muddles their two divergent areas of responsibility. Marriage can either be A: a religious ceremony and agreement, sanctified by God and performed by the Church, between two people, whose identities are largely determined by that individual church's teachings on the Word of God. or B: a legal contract issued and controlled by the government of a given region, signed and agreed to by two adults, recognized by a governmental agency for certain legal and financial reasons. While many couples choose to connect themselves by both method, they are NOT the same thing, despite using the same name. There should not be a confusing of the two practices in the public mindset, the Church(here understood as the Church Cosmic, not a man-made organization with names connected to denominations, streets, and/or suburb names) should not be getting involved in the legal definition of the governmental contract any more than we would welcome the government to get involved in the application of a religious ritual.
Also, as a side note, to my friends who are openly involved or sympathize with the gay community, when you hear statement made by churches(man made organizations) in the public forum regarding this topic, what is your general reaction? (side note, extremist organizations such as "God Hates Fags" are worthless pieces of trash, at best there is an especially lonely spot in Hell reserved for them, I'd also be willing to go along with a case being made for them being considered demon possessed) As the Church(cosmic, not man made) which is our greater responsibility, getting someone like George W. Bush elected or reaching out to the members of our community with love and grace and servitude?
End of rant
Here's my issue with that, it's not an argument about morality when discussing legality. I agree, if one accepts a traditional evangelical view of the Authority of Scripture there is a clear case to be made for the morality of a homosexual practice, but when you're discussing legality that's a very different issue. We as Christians have a number of reasons why we should support the legalization of marriage for all, but the main one is for Constitutional protection. The only reason for passing such laws tends to come with a religious attitude, which is improper. If nothing else, a sense of self-preservation. Right now Christianity may be the predominant religion in this country, but how long is that going to last? Both paganism and Islam are growing at a much faster pace than Christianity in general, even more than traditional evangelicalism. If we have established that it's ok to pass a law because the predominant religion says it's ok, what happens when a different religion becomes more popular?
Further, let me just say that as both a Christian and a Libertarian, I am VERY bothered by the government and the church both getting involved in an issue that I think at best muddles their two divergent areas of responsibility. Marriage can either be A: a religious ceremony and agreement, sanctified by God and performed by the Church, between two people, whose identities are largely determined by that individual church's teachings on the Word of God. or B: a legal contract issued and controlled by the government of a given region, signed and agreed to by two adults, recognized by a governmental agency for certain legal and financial reasons. While many couples choose to connect themselves by both method, they are NOT the same thing, despite using the same name. There should not be a confusing of the two practices in the public mindset, the Church(here understood as the Church Cosmic, not a man-made organization with names connected to denominations, streets, and/or suburb names) should not be getting involved in the legal definition of the governmental contract any more than we would welcome the government to get involved in the application of a religious ritual.
Also, as a side note, to my friends who are openly involved or sympathize with the gay community, when you hear statement made by churches(man made organizations) in the public forum regarding this topic, what is your general reaction? (side note, extremist organizations such as "God Hates Fags" are worthless pieces of trash, at best there is an especially lonely spot in Hell reserved for them, I'd also be willing to go along with a case being made for them being considered demon possessed) As the Church(cosmic, not man made) which is our greater responsibility, getting someone like George W. Bush elected or reaching out to the members of our community with love and grace and servitude?
End of rant
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