what are you really going to do in 07?

Hey guys. I hope everyone is enjoying their New Year's Eve. Last night I had the privilege of going to The Village with my family. The Village is my church in Highland Village that I attend while at school. The pastor, Matt Chandler, is a phenomenal teacher and preacher. He discussed new year's resolutions last night. He used Philippians 3:6 or 7-16 (i think) and used Paul as an example. He talked about how Paul, who wrote 75% of the New Testament, still had not obtained what we as followers of Christ seek after, which is to know God more intimately. Paul still had to strive and fight for what he was seeking after. Paul talks about forgetting what is behind and striving for the goal. If Paul had to fight for what he desperately desired, then we definitely have to fight! Paul walked in more authority from the Holy Spirit than any of us do. He could command healing and when people touched him they were healed. However, he still had to strive to know Jesus better on a personal level. I know this is short but I just wanted to encourage you to fight the good fight as Paul does. Read Philippians and fight to know Christ better in 07.

table for two?

Derek Webb is one of the most talented song writers in the 21st century, well in my opinion at least. He wrote a song when he was in the band Caedmon's Call, entitled "Table for Two." The song describes how Derek and his friend Danny go to IHOP and discussing the two issues that lay closest to men's hearts: the sovereignty of God and women. However, the conversation in the song stems mostly from the latter subject. They discuss how they are ready to meet her and how they are scared they have already missed their only chance. I know that I and every other man my age or older goes through times of loneliness and anticipation of her. It is so hard to patiently wait on her sometimes. However, Derek sheds light on a real truth in the song. God knows the plans he has for us. He is sovereign and Omniscient. If he takes care of the flowers in the field and the birds in the air, surely he will take care of us. I am not writing this post because I want everybody to feel sorry for men but to help encourage them to always look towards God. Remember that God is your strong tower and has a plan that is best for you. If you feel lonely, look to God for relief. He is our everlasting source of Joy. Paul encourages us not to be married if we can stand it (1 Cor. 7:25-27). Your bride will come to you, it just may take longer than you prefer.

midnight mass

Merry Christmas!!!

This will be a really quick morsel of thought for the day. Last night or technically this morning I attended midnight mass at St. Patricks Catholic Church. Now understand that there are a lot of things that the Catholic Church believes that I do not align myself with. However, I do appreciate their reverence in which they approach the Lord. I feel as an Evangelical population today we don't have the amount of reverence at times that we should when we talk to the Father. I am very guilty of this sometimes in a boring church service. Also, I love how they decorate their churches with beautiful artwork. I think that art is a lost art (no pun intended) in the Evangelical Church today. The Catholics do a great job of depicting the life of Christ in stained glass, paintings and sculptures. Although I'm not a huge fan of traditional styles I think that art is a great tool in spreading the gospel. However, I am disappointed in the Catholic theology of things like priesthood of the believer and Purgatory. There is always something to be learned from others though and we should make the Catholics our model for reverence and art.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS!!!

I'm Better Than You!!!

Merry Christmas!! This will most likely be a short post today since it's Christmas Eve and all. However, I just had to write on this particular topic today because I think it is of up most importance. I have been recently reading a book by Mark Driscoll called Radical Reformission. Mark is the pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington. He is also the founder of the Acts 29 Church Planting network. In Chapter 3 of the book He talks about developing a reformission gospel, and the hindrances of completing such a monumental task. One of the obstacles he devotes a lot of pages to is self-righteousness. Everybody has to admit they have that group of people that they just can't stand. For example, I can't stand people who bring their little children into the supermarket and let them run around like wild apes on the loose. Also, those people who just don't feel that it's important to take a shower after three days of hard work outside in the sweltering heat before going out in public really annoy me. We all have our groups and unfortunately in our culture we tend to see ourselves in a better light than them because we do things differently. This can become extremely dangerous in our lives a Christians and one of the largest obstacles to true, loving evangelism. This is why it is so important to understand that we are all sinful. Our culture has a tendency to put a value on certain sins such as murder, rape and child crimes. However, it is completely acceptable to slander our friends, lie, and cheat in school just to bump up our social standing. We must all understand that "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23. Just because our society decides to deem our sins as acceptable doesn't mean that we are some how more righteous than a murderer, rapist or child molester. Jesus loves all sinners. We too must love all sinners, including ourselves. In Matthew 22, Jesus calls us to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." and "You shall Love your neighbor as yourself (v. 37, 39)." Jesus makes it crystal clear in John 15 that apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). So we must repent and ask the Lord for a true heart in which he calls us to have. Psalm 51 written by David after his adultery with Bathsheba gives us a great example of a truly repentant heart.

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgement. Behold, I was brought forth in my iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me heart joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore me to the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Do good to Zion in you good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar."
Psalm 51 (ESV)

I am not saying in this that I am excluded from this sin, because we are all guilty of it. I just hope that as you read this you examine the areas in your life in which you are self righteous and repent immediately. I pray that we have a repentant heart and act out like David did, telling transgressors of the loving, saving grace of Christ.

Post Numero Uno

Wow. I never thought that I would actually have a blog. I really enjoy reading other's writings. I've never been much of a writer though, so naturally I just figured I just wouldn't do it. However, after a few of my close friends began to blog I started to see the advantages. I really like to discuss different theological issues and hope this will be a great outlet to do it. However, right now what I need the most is accountability. I came home this Christmas break hoping to finish four books. If i remember correctly I have read to Chapter 2 in the first one. I need a reason to read so that I will keep my commitments. Also, I hope to discuss the books I'm reading and so some reviews on here. I'm not sure how all of this works yet so bear with me as I might make some mistakes. Also, I am always wishing that my favorite bloggers would update more often. I feel that I will also fail miserably at this task, so please forgive me now. I hope that all who read this blog enjoy it and I hope that it challenges you as I hope it challenges me.