It was definitely a day full of joy. I was most proud of the students as they read their statements of faith for the elders the evening before. I love every kid who comes thru the doors of the church, so being part of this milestone in their life was rewarding. Needless to say, I cried a bit today.
Thomas
8.30.2009
8.30.2009
Today was Confirmation Sunday. We had 8 students make public declarations of their faith in Jesus as their savior.
6.05.2009
Reflections: Hebrews 12.1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
This was the text today in my Daily Reader on the Blackberry. Sidenote: Having the Youversion Bible on my phone is super handy because it has a daily reading plan. Back to the selected verses.
Great cloud of witnesses: I think this refers to the example set by other Christians who have dealt with their own brokenness/sin or had to go through great suffering. These might be Christians of long ago or not so long ago. We can learn from these people who have gone before us. Not only that, but they are a source of support for us in our times of temptation and trial.
Throw off: It's interesting that the writer says throw off referring to sin. In the ancient world, clothes were cumbersome and weighty. When people competed in sports, it was often stark naked. This could be an allusion to the Garden of Eden when man and woman walked with God naked and without shame. As we run this race, we should take off the sin that's weighing us down and run "naked" in the way God originally intended us to be before Him. Note: I am not endorsing public nudity, streaking, or anything similar. Nakedness is a metaphor for having our lives exposed.
looking to Jesus: Ultimately, our focus is Jesus, who is the one who teaches us how to run. He experienced the greatest suffering of anyone. He endured the cross because it was a temporary suffering compared to the eternal joy he would experience after the resurrection. We have this same joy to look forward to. After the resurrection, all things will be made new for eternity and we will live in God's presence.
This is what I got out of this passage today. I can bear my "cross" with great joy because the way things are is only temporary. There is a greater joy down the road to which I can look forward!
This was the text today in my Daily Reader on the Blackberry. Sidenote: Having the Youversion Bible on my phone is super handy because it has a daily reading plan. Back to the selected verses.
Great cloud of witnesses: I think this refers to the example set by other Christians who have dealt with their own brokenness/sin or had to go through great suffering. These might be Christians of long ago or not so long ago. We can learn from these people who have gone before us. Not only that, but they are a source of support for us in our times of temptation and trial.
Throw off: It's interesting that the writer says throw off referring to sin. In the ancient world, clothes were cumbersome and weighty. When people competed in sports, it was often stark naked. This could be an allusion to the Garden of Eden when man and woman walked with God naked and without shame. As we run this race, we should take off the sin that's weighing us down and run "naked" in the way God originally intended us to be before Him. Note: I am not endorsing public nudity, streaking, or anything similar. Nakedness is a metaphor for having our lives exposed.
looking to Jesus: Ultimately, our focus is Jesus, who is the one who teaches us how to run. He experienced the greatest suffering of anyone. He endured the cross because it was a temporary suffering compared to the eternal joy he would experience after the resurrection. We have this same joy to look forward to. After the resurrection, all things will be made new for eternity and we will live in God's presence.
This is what I got out of this passage today. I can bear my "cross" with great joy because the way things are is only temporary. There is a greater joy down the road to which I can look forward!
5.26.2009
Staying Gospel-Centered by JD Greear
I saw this post on the Resurgence website. I thought it was powerful, simple, and compelling. Here it is:
"Dear, Lord, three things I pray..." I know that sounds like the opening to a bad Ben Stiller rendition of the Lord's Prayer, but there are three things that I pray every morning that help me begin my day centered on the gospel.
I don't offer these as a formula or mantra, but just as a practical way to live a gospel-centered life. (I, for one, have found that it is easier to espouse a gospel-centered theology than live a gospel-centered life!) Embracing these principles each morning applies the gospel to my heart, helping me to subdue my idols, counter my propensity to works-righteousness, and grow in the grace of God. Enough intro. Here are the three things I pray:
Unmerited Love and Grace
"God, because I am in Christ I know there is nothing I can do today that would make you love me any more, and there is nothing I have done that makes you love me any less."
As Martin Luther said, the default mode of the human heart is "religion." Even after we are converted, our hearts gravitate back toward works-righteousness unless we continually set them on the gospel. This prayer helps me remember who God has made me, by his grace, in Christ. According to John 17, God loves me now as much as he loves Jesus. Wow. On that basis, the notion that I can add to or take away from his love becomes absurd.
Joy In Christ's Sufficiency
"God, your presence and approval is all I need to have joy today."
This prayer helps me battle against my natural proclivity to idolatry. John Calvin described the human heart as "a perpetual factory of idols." We were made to worship, but we substitute the creature for the Creator (Rom 1:25). We turn anything that we find pleasing into an idol, looking to it for happiness rather than to God. This sentence helps me remember that I don't need man's praise, monetary blessing, success, or even "happiness" to have joy.
Resting In God's Goodness
"God, everything the gospel tells me about your intentions for my life is TRUE."
In the gospel, God shows me that his intentions for me are blessing, not cursing; hope, not despair; and resurrection, not death. This completely changes how I approach the day. I realize that God's plans for me, my family, and my ministry are good beyond even my wildest imagination. The sky is literally the limit (Ps. 103) on the salvation he wants to work in and through me. It helps me to, in the words of William Carey, "expect great things from God, and then attempt great things for God."
Abiding Through Meditation
Meditating on these three things allows me to leave the house "abiding" in Christ, which is, as Jesus said, the way to abundant fruitfulness. Meditation, though a lost art among Christians, is essential for gospel-centered living. It is different from Eastern meditation, where you cleanse your mind of everything, commune with Enya, or lie naked in the grass and listen to John Denver. It is meditation on God's promises, which brings God's presence into our lives.
5.13.2009
jumpstart
Life is accelerating in Wisconsin.
Now that we've been here a year, I feel as though we are truly starting life and ministry. It's been a long road full of lots of wilderness, but we're starting to see a bit of clearing. If you looked at our schedule, you'd probably say, "Yeah right, Thomas. You're going to be nuts in August." I disagree. I'm really looking forward to the mission trip, confirmation, and camp coming up. But I think in late July when we get to start planning for the next year, things will be absolutely golden. I'm a big picture thinker. It's easy for me to lose details as I'm thinking through ideas. Being able to sit down with calendars and brainstorming about the coming school year will be marvelous! I'm really excited to get cracking on the new year. This will be the time when things actually shift from the previous "Jesus through Robby" paradigm into a more "Jesus through Thomas" paradigm. I say "Jesus through..." because this ministry isn't and hasn't been about either me or Robby, but about Jesus meeting students where they are. My hope is that we can become a place without doors, walls, and windows. Something that is more about life than Wednesday nights. I'm not sure what the details are, but I think it will be great when we get there.
Now that we've been here a year, I feel as though we are truly starting life and ministry. It's been a long road full of lots of wilderness, but we're starting to see a bit of clearing. If you looked at our schedule, you'd probably say, "Yeah right, Thomas. You're going to be nuts in August." I disagree. I'm really looking forward to the mission trip, confirmation, and camp coming up. But I think in late July when we get to start planning for the next year, things will be absolutely golden. I'm a big picture thinker. It's easy for me to lose details as I'm thinking through ideas. Being able to sit down with calendars and brainstorming about the coming school year will be marvelous! I'm really excited to get cracking on the new year. This will be the time when things actually shift from the previous "Jesus through Robby" paradigm into a more "Jesus through Thomas" paradigm. I say "Jesus through..." because this ministry isn't and hasn't been about either me or Robby, but about Jesus meeting students where they are. My hope is that we can become a place without doors, walls, and windows. Something that is more about life than Wednesday nights. I'm not sure what the details are, but I think it will be great when we get there.
4.17.2009
4.15.2009
ESV Study Bible
I was snooping around the Bible Study magazine and saw that the ESV was coming out with a new study Bible. I looked into it, and just had to buy the thing. It is huge and exhaustive (but by no means exhausting). It has so many notes, maps, and articles that are super helpful in understanding the Bible and the faith in a deeper way. I got it on sale at Family Christian Store, and I absolutely love it!
Love them... then everyone will know
I was reading Blue Like Jazz last night as I waited till I was tired enough to go to sleep. I came across a great thought by Don. He talks about how he used to hate all the super conservative Christians who he thought was giving Christ a bad name. I can totally relate to this! I've had my fair share of experiences when I've disagreed with another Christian and I've let that build enmity between us. I've been guilty of hate towards my brothers and sisters because I didn't think they were doing what Christ wanted. I was convicted of it last night. I don't want to become the bitter Christian guy who no one likes because I've let my way get in the way of Christ's Way. The message of the Gospel is that God loves us even though he hates what we've become. Why should I do anything less?
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