This is me in Maine
Wednesday, September 29, 2004
FF Bruce
Yesterday I was talking to one of my professors and he told me a cool story about FF Bruce. Here is the story as best I can remember it.
Bruce was one of the premier scholars of New Testament Theology of the last century, he died in 1990. Every once in a while after his phd. students would ask him a question he would tell them to ask him again next week and he'd have an answer for him. Most students thought he wanted the time to go to the library and research the question or possibly to have time to ask other phd's. Though nobody really new why he occasionally waited a week to give answers to their questions.
At his funeral the answer came out. FF Bruce would go and find the janitor from the church he attended. He thought the janitor was one of the most Christ like men he had ever met. He would go up to the janitor and tell him that his students asked him another question and he wanted to know what he thought. He would listen to the janitor and take that answer back to his students the next week.
Beautiful story to me. I think I see a glimpse of the Kingdom in it.
Bruce was one of the premier scholars of New Testament Theology of the last century, he died in 1990. Every once in a while after his phd. students would ask him a question he would tell them to ask him again next week and he'd have an answer for him. Most students thought he wanted the time to go to the library and research the question or possibly to have time to ask other phd's. Though nobody really new why he occasionally waited a week to give answers to their questions.
At his funeral the answer came out. FF Bruce would go and find the janitor from the church he attended. He thought the janitor was one of the most Christ like men he had ever met. He would go up to the janitor and tell him that his students asked him another question and he wanted to know what he thought. He would listen to the janitor and take that answer back to his students the next week.
Beautiful story to me. I think I see a glimpse of the Kingdom in it.
3 mile
I got some bad news yesterday in the mail from MVNU. They changed the annual homecoming run, for which I am training, from a 5K (3.1 miles) to a four mile (4.0 miles) race. But their is good news, I went to the Y today and I was able to run three full miles on the treadmill at 6.3 miles an hour the entire time. I have a month and a half to work up to the extra mile. Don't worry folks, I'll be ready.
Sunday, September 26, 2004
Missionary
Today I preached about the power of the Holy Spirit. I made kind of a bold statement that I'm not too sure about. I said before Jesus was given the Holy Spirit at His baptism, He really didn't have too much power. I didn't say He wasn't the Messiah before He was given the Holy Spirit or in any way less God or for that matter less man. I just said "he didn't have the power yet." I know enough to know that this is kind of a controversal point in theology, I'm still debating the point in my head right now. I said all of that in my sermon to make the point that we don't have it in us to change or really even help those in bondage around us. We need the power of the Spirit in our lives.
The funniest thing happened after the service. A guy who I've never met before came up and introduced himself to me. I thought he was a college student and I even asked him if he was one (step one open mouth, step two insert foot). Turns out he's not (he's three years older than I am), instead he is a missionary in the Nazarene church. He coordinates work and witness teams in the Caribean (I was sure glad we prayed for Haiti during prayer time with all those hurricanes) and is based out of Miami and was in Mt. Vernon for a meeting at MVNU.
He heard I was going to Argentina on a mission trip and he pulled out his wallet and gave me twenty dollars towards the trip. That was the least of his blessings though. His spirit and encouragement were worth a ton. What a great man of Christ.
After church he went to Wendy's with me and Mandy and three other people (6 of us total). I really only new my wife well and was just getting to know the others in the group, including the missionary. We ended up having a wonderful lunch. During part of it I brought up my sermon and asked if they agreed with me on the subject of Jesus and power. I usually don't give people a chance to critique my sermon on Sunday afternoons, I'm usually a little too vulnerable at that time. Something led me to ask and it turned into a good discussion. Most of the group seemed to disagree with at least part of the way I framed my arguement, but not in a tear apart type of way. It was a lets learn from one another kind of discussion.
It left me wondering why I preach the way I do. Wondering if we should have everyone talk more after the sermon. Wondering what is Christian community and wondering how we experience Christ through it.
I left lunch today knowing Christ a little bit more. It was a good lunch!
The funniest thing happened after the service. A guy who I've never met before came up and introduced himself to me. I thought he was a college student and I even asked him if he was one (step one open mouth, step two insert foot). Turns out he's not (he's three years older than I am), instead he is a missionary in the Nazarene church. He coordinates work and witness teams in the Caribean (I was sure glad we prayed for Haiti during prayer time with all those hurricanes) and is based out of Miami and was in Mt. Vernon for a meeting at MVNU.
He heard I was going to Argentina on a mission trip and he pulled out his wallet and gave me twenty dollars towards the trip. That was the least of his blessings though. His spirit and encouragement were worth a ton. What a great man of Christ.
After church he went to Wendy's with me and Mandy and three other people (6 of us total). I really only new my wife well and was just getting to know the others in the group, including the missionary. We ended up having a wonderful lunch. During part of it I brought up my sermon and asked if they agreed with me on the subject of Jesus and power. I usually don't give people a chance to critique my sermon on Sunday afternoons, I'm usually a little too vulnerable at that time. Something led me to ask and it turned into a good discussion. Most of the group seemed to disagree with at least part of the way I framed my arguement, but not in a tear apart type of way. It was a lets learn from one another kind of discussion.
It left me wondering why I preach the way I do. Wondering if we should have everyone talk more after the sermon. Wondering what is Christian community and wondering how we experience Christ through it.
I left lunch today knowing Christ a little bit more. It was a good lunch!
Class is over
Well I finished my class and it was a good experience. It really dug deep into what holiness and sanctification are. If nothing else, I learned they are a real part of the Christians life, in a lot of ways are calling. My prof. is not Nazarene, but sorta Wesleyan in viewpoint. It was so cool to hear him lecture about these things that are so important doctrinally to my church (Nazarene). He brought a new and fresh perspective to me that I enjoyed and am still thinking about a lot. I want to live the Holy life for my Holy God and Savior.
As some of you know I get interviewed for ordination this May. I need to be able to explain to them all the above to get ordained. For the first time I'm not worried about it. Sure a lot of it is still swimming around in my head right now, but I'll get there and I'll be as honest as I can be, and the rest will be in the Lord's hands.
As some of you know I get interviewed for ordination this May. I need to be able to explain to them all the above to get ordained. For the first time I'm not worried about it. Sure a lot of it is still swimming around in my head right now, but I'll get there and I'll be as honest as I can be, and the rest will be in the Lord's hands.
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
Seminary
My class today was what seminary is suppossed to be all about. I learned new things, I was challenged both spiritually and academically, I was encouraged, I saw my God in a new more wonderful way, and I leave wanting to be more like my Savior, while at the same time knowing that I am more like Him now than when the day began. I thank the most wonderful Father who constantly gives us good gifts!
Sunday, September 19, 2004
Luke Keefer
I start a one week intensive tomorrow at seminary, five straight days six hours a day of class. The class is Theology of the Holy Life and it is taught by one of my favorite professors Luke Keefer. I can't wait!
Friday, September 17, 2004
Cold Friday's
Most of you who read this know about this ministry our church has of going to the local bus stop every Friday. There is only one bus stop in our neighborhood for all the middles school and high school kids and between 70 and 90 kids catch one of three buses there every day.
Last year in the middle of winter we feel God led us to start taking hot chocolate and some sort of breakfast food down there every Friday. The kids seem to really like it and myself and the few other volunteers that our there every Friday really like it.
Today it rained the whole time we were down there, thanks Ivan, but luckily Dee brought her tent canopy, so at least the donuts stayed dry. It is only the second time it rained since we've been going down to the bus stop. I wondered if any of the kids realized that we are just like mailmen; rain, sleet, or shine we deliver. We haven't missed a Friday since we started last November, we've been consistent in this. I kind of doubt they've noticed, but if we weren't there this morning they would have noticed. They would have thought we are only there on the good mornings.
I pray we are showing them something about the love of God every Friday. I pray they come to know the love of God. I thank God for letting me know a little bit more about his love through those kids.
Last year in the middle of winter we feel God led us to start taking hot chocolate and some sort of breakfast food down there every Friday. The kids seem to really like it and myself and the few other volunteers that our there every Friday really like it.
Today it rained the whole time we were down there, thanks Ivan, but luckily Dee brought her tent canopy, so at least the donuts stayed dry. It is only the second time it rained since we've been going down to the bus stop. I wondered if any of the kids realized that we are just like mailmen; rain, sleet, or shine we deliver. We haven't missed a Friday since we started last November, we've been consistent in this. I kind of doubt they've noticed, but if we weren't there this morning they would have noticed. They would have thought we are only there on the good mornings.
I pray we are showing them something about the love of God every Friday. I pray they come to know the love of God. I thank God for letting me know a little bit more about his love through those kids.
gonna try
Ran 2 miles today at the YMCA and then walked another 1/2 mile. My goal is to run the 5k at my five year reunion at MVNU. Running is so hard, but it makes me feel good two hours later.
I think I'm gonna try something new this Sunday in regards to my sermon. It's my last Sunday on this David series I've been doing for the last six weeks and I think I'm gonna invite the church to share what they've learned. I talk about this community stuff all the time, it's about time I try and put some of it into practice. I think I might even try church in the round this week to make it even more community oriented. That way when people share they are sharing to each other, not just to me. Pray that we see God's glory through it all.
I think I'm gonna try something new this Sunday in regards to my sermon. It's my last Sunday on this David series I've been doing for the last six weeks and I think I'm gonna invite the church to share what they've learned. I talk about this community stuff all the time, it's about time I try and put some of it into practice. I think I might even try church in the round this week to make it even more community oriented. That way when people share they are sharing to each other, not just to me. Pray that we see God's glory through it all.
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
How?
How did I ever become like I am today? My mom recently noted that I was an extremely quite kid who would rarely open an share his feelings. One time when I was a little kid, under 6 I believe, my parents went out and left me and my sister with a babysitter. I think I was asleeep when they got home, so they didn't notice the handprint on my face untill the next day. They couldn't get me to tell them what happened for anything. I remember going to day care the next day and the teachers trying to get it out of me as well, but they also didn't have any success. (Can you say children's services?)
I guess it was my sister who finally told them what happened. The babysitter had to make sure we took baths that night she was watching us and she specifically told me to wash behind my ears, so I did. She didn't believe me when I told her I did and I refused to go wash behind my ears again, so she smacked me across the face hard enough to leave her hand print on my cheek for three days. Needless to say she never watched us again.
So why did I tell you that story? Cause it shows why kind of kid I was. I was pretty quiet and I never really opened up about my feelings. I probably didn't like getting hit so I imagine I thought the less I talk about it the less I have to deal with it.
The more I look back on my childhood and early adolesant (sp?) years I see that really shy kid who was a tad bit backward. That's not the person I see in me today. While I still might be a tad bit backward:) I'm definetly not the shy kid anymore. I love having close friends and sharing life with people on a deep level (even though it still takes a while for me to open up on a deep level). I love meeting new people and introducing them to my closests friends, Jesus being my favorite. I just love living life, but for me living life almost always has to be done with others. I could jump out of an airplane and it would only be a so so experience unless I got to do it with a friend. Life is meant to be lived and experienced with others, well at least for me.
When I was a kid that wasn't the case. I never had to many friends. What formed me or changed me into what I am now. I can't look back to any specific experiences or situations that changed me in one way or another. I guess who I was as a kid was just who I was for that time and who I am now is just who I am for now. But at the same time life formed me into something completely different.
As I look back I can see the love of my parents that gave me the security to come out of my shell. I see my youth group at Bedford Naz who gave me a place to belong. I see a God who opened my eyes to true life and pushed me to experience it in its' fullness.
As I look back across my life I see how blessed I truly am. In some ways I feel like Abraham, blessed so that I may be a blessing. The cool thing is that when I get to be a blessing, I feel even more blessed. Life is good.
I guess it was my sister who finally told them what happened. The babysitter had to make sure we took baths that night she was watching us and she specifically told me to wash behind my ears, so I did. She didn't believe me when I told her I did and I refused to go wash behind my ears again, so she smacked me across the face hard enough to leave her hand print on my cheek for three days. Needless to say she never watched us again.
So why did I tell you that story? Cause it shows why kind of kid I was. I was pretty quiet and I never really opened up about my feelings. I probably didn't like getting hit so I imagine I thought the less I talk about it the less I have to deal with it.
The more I look back on my childhood and early adolesant (sp?) years I see that really shy kid who was a tad bit backward. That's not the person I see in me today. While I still might be a tad bit backward:) I'm definetly not the shy kid anymore. I love having close friends and sharing life with people on a deep level (even though it still takes a while for me to open up on a deep level). I love meeting new people and introducing them to my closests friends, Jesus being my favorite. I just love living life, but for me living life almost always has to be done with others. I could jump out of an airplane and it would only be a so so experience unless I got to do it with a friend. Life is meant to be lived and experienced with others, well at least for me.
When I was a kid that wasn't the case. I never had to many friends. What formed me or changed me into what I am now. I can't look back to any specific experiences or situations that changed me in one way or another. I guess who I was as a kid was just who I was for that time and who I am now is just who I am for now. But at the same time life formed me into something completely different.
As I look back I can see the love of my parents that gave me the security to come out of my shell. I see my youth group at Bedford Naz who gave me a place to belong. I see a God who opened my eyes to true life and pushed me to experience it in its' fullness.
As I look back across my life I see how blessed I truly am. In some ways I feel like Abraham, blessed so that I may be a blessing. The cool thing is that when I get to be a blessing, I feel even more blessed. Life is good.
Sunday, September 12, 2004
Almost that time
In about forty minutes I head out the door and head over to church. It's always such a weird feeling on Sunday mornings wondering what to expect.
Thursday, September 09, 2004
done with class
I just got done talking to that class (see previous post) and I felt like I rambled the whole time, but at the end I talked about how I realized we are in it for the long haul. We're not in the West End to evangelize and leave. We are there to live and love in Christ's name for as long as He keeps us there. We're gonna have good and bad days, but hopefully through it all many will come to know Him in a real and transforming way. It was worth the whole class time for me to be reminded of that.
I get to talk
A former prof. over at MVNU asked me to come talk to a class of Religion majors that he has. I'm in a unique position, only a year into my first pastorate (sp?), and he wants me to share out of that experience. I thought I would blog here to prepare for what I need to talk about. He asked me to share on two talking points?
What have I experienced in this last year that I didn't expect?
-How hard it would be to preach every week. It is really hard to bring a fresh word from God to His people every week.
-How much everybody would love and support me in our church.
-Things don't automatically happen because you dream that they will.
-Idealism and reality don't always get along. But some of the people I love must in this life I have not always gotten along with and I still hang out with them.
-What wonderfull gifts God would give us when we least expected them.
-People aren't perfect after hearing me preach every week, I'm usually not either.
-This faith walk is a journey.
-Community takes work and sacrifice.
What is has been like to juggle being a pastor and a full time seminary student?
-They truly help me do the other better. Being a pastor helps me ask the right questions in seminary and seminary helps me be a better pastor.
-There is still not enough time in the day, but it helps me manage my time better.
-It makes me wonder if I should become a viocational pastor when I am done with seminary. If I can do seminary and be a pastor why can't I work a job and be a pastor. Only thing I don't have enough time for now is administrative stuff and I hate that stuff anyway.
I hope that's enough talking points to last an hour. I hope they talk a lot as well.
What have I experienced in this last year that I didn't expect?
-How hard it would be to preach every week. It is really hard to bring a fresh word from God to His people every week.
-How much everybody would love and support me in our church.
-Things don't automatically happen because you dream that they will.
-Idealism and reality don't always get along. But some of the people I love must in this life I have not always gotten along with and I still hang out with them.
-What wonderfull gifts God would give us when we least expected them.
-People aren't perfect after hearing me preach every week, I'm usually not either.
-This faith walk is a journey.
-Community takes work and sacrifice.
What is has been like to juggle being a pastor and a full time seminary student?
-They truly help me do the other better. Being a pastor helps me ask the right questions in seminary and seminary helps me be a better pastor.
-There is still not enough time in the day, but it helps me manage my time better.
-It makes me wonder if I should become a viocational pastor when I am done with seminary. If I can do seminary and be a pastor why can't I work a job and be a pastor. Only thing I don't have enough time for now is administrative stuff and I hate that stuff anyway.
I hope that's enough talking points to last an hour. I hope they talk a lot as well.
War
I get really confused when talking about war and my faith. When I read through the Gospels I come to the conclusion that we should be pacifists. When I look at the realities of this world I think war is necessary. I look at Acts 1:8 and I see we are to be witnesses. Maybe being a pacifists is part of the witness we need to be to this world of a wholly different way, a wholly different Kingdom, and a wholly different God. This Kingdom way of living we live is completely different than this world, or at least it should be, so why don't we just become comfortable with that and be that witness of wholly different way serving in a wholly different Kingdom with a wholly different God?
Tuesday, September 07, 2004
gifts
Today as I was just about ready to study in the library along comes Andrew. I hadn't seen Andrew in years and truth be told I never did know him that well. But we had a wonderful conversation and I found out he lives only about five blocks away from me as of two weeks ago. It was a gift to talk to him today and I look forward to more of those gifts in the weeks and months ahead.
Monday, September 06, 2004
On TV in California
My friend Adam Sylvia called me from California to tell me that he was flipping through the channels on his TV Saturday night and he saw a closeup of me standing next to John Kerry. How cool is that? What is even cooler is that it gave us an oppurtonity to talk, it's been a while. If everything goes right it looks like we me might be getting a lot more oppurtonities to talk in the near future. It's sorta like the movie "butterfly affect" where a butterfly flappin it's wings in South America some how can affect us in America. Only me happinging to pick up a newspaper and seeing that Kerry was coming to Mount Vernon and me meeting him and then my ugly mug shows up on an LA TV station which my friend happens to be watching and next thing you know we have a renewed friendship. You sometimes wonder how much God has to do with all that stuff. It was real good to hear from you Adam!
Friday, September 03, 2004
John Kerry
A most interesting day: It started off at the local school bus stop as nearly all Friday's do during the school year, from there a short visit with Sean Wrenn, then some unfocused time working on my sermon, and then I met John Kerry. Crazy huh?
I heard at about 230 pm that John Kerry's bus tour was gonna drive through Mt. Vernon around 4:45 and he might possibly stop. So I went to downtown Mt. Vernon to see the crowds and possibly see a presidential candidate. (For the record I think only my wife knows for sure who I'm voting for, I like keeping that stuff secret and I would have went to see George Bush just the same.) Tons of people were lining the street, both Bush and Kerry supporters, and it got really annoying listening to the Bushies chanting four more years while the Kerries chanting four more months. People on both sides were just so passionate, it kinda made me sick. Especially when a couple people got into a shooting cussing match in front of me that I had to break up. I ended up hanging out with a couple of middle school kids and we made fun of both sides.
When his bus finally showed up it ended up stopping so I ran down to where it was at and he got off the bus. Next thing you know after getting yelled at by a bunch of secret service guys and girls, Kerry walked right buy me and shook my hand. I tried to tell him "abortion is murder" (I felt like I had to say something prophetic, if Bush were there I would have told him to cancel third world debt), but the crowd was to loud and he was going by to fast to hear me, not to mention I was kinda intimidated and didn't say it too loud. After all that fun he got back in the bus and drove off. I want to be in the secret service now, it looked like a cool job.
Interesting thing happened after that. I ran into this seventh grader I know from the neighborhood who was down there watching the whole thing. He got so lost in the crowd that he never got to see Kerry. He asked me for a ride home and on the way to the car he asked if we could hang out for a while, I couldn't say no. It's safe to say this kid is pretty lonely and needs a few more friends. It was odd for me to hear his request to hang out after I just pushed through a screaming crowd of Kerry supporters to shake Kerry's hand. It made me look at the crowd (the bushies and kerries) this evening a little bit differently. Are they all, and myself included, missing the point a little bit. I look at Christians who are really involved in this election on both sides and I especially wonder if we are missing the point just a bit. We fight and fight for our candidate or issue while there are people all around us who would just like us to spend a little bit of time with them. It just makes me wonder a bit.
I doubt that all made since, cause I'm not sure I even understand what I'm saying.
May our God bless my friend I got to hang out with tonight. May he know that God would rather hang out with him than with presidential candidates. May he know God's amazing love!
I heard at about 230 pm that John Kerry's bus tour was gonna drive through Mt. Vernon around 4:45 and he might possibly stop. So I went to downtown Mt. Vernon to see the crowds and possibly see a presidential candidate. (For the record I think only my wife knows for sure who I'm voting for, I like keeping that stuff secret and I would have went to see George Bush just the same.) Tons of people were lining the street, both Bush and Kerry supporters, and it got really annoying listening to the Bushies chanting four more years while the Kerries chanting four more months. People on both sides were just so passionate, it kinda made me sick. Especially when a couple people got into a shooting cussing match in front of me that I had to break up. I ended up hanging out with a couple of middle school kids and we made fun of both sides.
When his bus finally showed up it ended up stopping so I ran down to where it was at and he got off the bus. Next thing you know after getting yelled at by a bunch of secret service guys and girls, Kerry walked right buy me and shook my hand. I tried to tell him "abortion is murder" (I felt like I had to say something prophetic, if Bush were there I would have told him to cancel third world debt), but the crowd was to loud and he was going by to fast to hear me, not to mention I was kinda intimidated and didn't say it too loud. After all that fun he got back in the bus and drove off. I want to be in the secret service now, it looked like a cool job.
Interesting thing happened after that. I ran into this seventh grader I know from the neighborhood who was down there watching the whole thing. He got so lost in the crowd that he never got to see Kerry. He asked me for a ride home and on the way to the car he asked if we could hang out for a while, I couldn't say no. It's safe to say this kid is pretty lonely and needs a few more friends. It was odd for me to hear his request to hang out after I just pushed through a screaming crowd of Kerry supporters to shake Kerry's hand. It made me look at the crowd (the bushies and kerries) this evening a little bit differently. Are they all, and myself included, missing the point a little bit. I look at Christians who are really involved in this election on both sides and I especially wonder if we are missing the point just a bit. We fight and fight for our candidate or issue while there are people all around us who would just like us to spend a little bit of time with them. It just makes me wonder a bit.
I doubt that all made since, cause I'm not sure I even understand what I'm saying.
May our God bless my friend I got to hang out with tonight. May he know that God would rather hang out with him than with presidential candidates. May he know God's amazing love!
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
Almost what I expected
It's completely official that I'm going to Argentina Oct. 29 through November 7th. The only change is that I have to come up with $300 dollars for the trip when at first I didn't think I needed anything. But I am so excited about this trip, yet still nervous about leaving Mandy and the church for ten days. The Lord knows I have been dreaming about going on a mission trip out of the country for years now and without me even asking he gives it to me. He does that a lot for me; gives me my dreams when I don't even have the nerve to ask for them. It kinda flies in the face of that theology that says when we get to heaven there will be a box of things there that God wanted to give to us, but we never asked for.
Yesterday we got our carpet installed and it looks really nice, expect they couldn't install one room cause they didn't order enough carpet. It's really frustrating cause our house has been a mess these last two months we have been remodeling and we thought we could finally put everything back where it belongs, but now we have to wait a few more weeks. It's hard figuring out how I'm supposed to respond. We were promised one installer by the carpet people because we heard good things about him, but they later told us because of contractural obligations we couldn't have him and we had to go with somebody else. We didn't complain and said "ok," and they gaurented us these guys would do a good job. The guys we eventually had to go with measured wrong and didn't order enough carpet so now we have to wait. I feel bad for the guy who measured wrong and I'm afraid if I complain I'll get him in more trouble than he is already in, but the store manger gaurented me they would do a good job. How do I respond? I don't know.
Yesterday we got our carpet installed and it looks really nice, expect they couldn't install one room cause they didn't order enough carpet. It's really frustrating cause our house has been a mess these last two months we have been remodeling and we thought we could finally put everything back where it belongs, but now we have to wait a few more weeks. It's hard figuring out how I'm supposed to respond. We were promised one installer by the carpet people because we heard good things about him, but they later told us because of contractural obligations we couldn't have him and we had to go with somebody else. We didn't complain and said "ok," and they gaurented us these guys would do a good job. The guys we eventually had to go with measured wrong and didn't order enough carpet so now we have to wait. I feel bad for the guy who measured wrong and I'm afraid if I complain I'll get him in more trouble than he is already in, but the store manger gaurented me they would do a good job. How do I respond? I don't know.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)