Today I visited one of the coolest, and perhaps the most unique, ministries I have ever encountered. On Houston Street, in downtown Savannah, Georgia, underneath towering trees and Spanish moss, you will find the International Seamen House, a shelter where sailors from around the globe can stay when they are in port. There at the house, you will find things to entertain the senses and the soul. When you walk in the door and look to the left you will find a game room with a ping-pong and pool table. If you walk straight upon entering through the front door, you will find a room where they keep things to give to the sailors such as clothes, magazines, and knit hats that a ninety year old lady makes. In the back of the house, you will find a chapel with a stain glass window featuring an anchor. The best part of the house is not the collectible article from around the world, but a book shelf containing the most priceless article in all the universe: the Bible translated into the languages of the sailors that may be visiting their safe haven.
My finding this treasure in downtown Savannah is not a coincidence. I believe it was Spirit led. See, my friend Puckett, who I am visiting this week, has two Chinese room mates. Thus far, my attempts to befriend these two have not accomplished much. My forward American demeanor does not cope well with their reserved demeanor. Even though I will continue to try to begin conversations with them, I want to make sure I leave them something that can change their lives through clear communication. Therefore, today I set out on a mission to find them Bibles in Chinese. And thanks to a kind pastor named Parrish at a downtown Presbyterian church (what a novel idea, a Presbyterian and Baptist doing God's work together) who was able to send me to Evelyn at the I.S.H., I was able to get Bibles for Aaron and Yi Faun.
So as you pray, pray for the I.S.H., Aaron, Yi Faun, and all the churches and ministries in Savannah, Georgia as they minister to the world as it comes to them.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Savannah
After two years of on and off reading, I finally finished a book I began reading in the summer of 2009. The book is called Blue Highways and was written by Wiliam Least Heat-Moon.
On a February day in 1978, William Least Heat-Moon set off on a journey. In order to get away from the turmoils in his life that had rapidly piled up and to do as Simon and Garfunkle did when they "walked off to look for America," Heat-Moon set off to see the United States by means of the "blue highways," the smaller roads that lead to smaller places. And it is Heat-Moon I can thank most for inspiring me to do the same thing.
This week, I am on a similar journey. Unlike Heat-Moon, I am not on this journey because my life is falling out from underneath my feet. My reasons is much more simple. I am in Savannah/Tybee Island, Georgia to visit a friend and to have one last break before school starts. My trip is like Heat-Moon's in that I long to see and experience the simple, more local things that Savannah and Tybee Island, Georgia have to offer.
Thus far on my trip, I have gotten the opportunity to eat at three local eaterires. The first one was a joint named Spanky's. Spanky's, located perfectly next to Tybee beach and the pier, is a joint known for their chicken fingers. I have to admit, I didn't get their chicken fingers, but their cheese quesadilla was wonderful... and cheap. They also allowed me to sit there for awhile and write away from the blazing Georgia heat.
The second place I ate was my favorite. It is called Huc-A-poos and it is the epitome of a quality, local cuisine. With food names such as the "Hellcat Hotdog" and customers who claim to be "ministers of the church of spiriutal humanism," Huc-A-Poos is swimming in personality. While there, I had two huge slices of pizza that I engineered myself. Not to mention, the prices were far below what the food was worth.
The third joint was a hole in the wall, literally. I didn't think to get the name of it, but if you go down the street that leads to the pier, you will find a barbecue and hot dog place with a yellow, overhanging eave. The barbecue sandwich was memorable, but the kind, old, black man that served me was even more memorable.
My trip down to Georgia thus far has not consisted of eating only. I have also continued on a journey that started in high school.
The summer before my junior year of high school, I was on my way to Alaska for a mission trip and for the first time got to play guitar for tips. While in the Seattle airport, I made $8 dollars before the airport police escorted me back to my gate. Ever since then, that sort of venue has been in my blood. What I didn't know then, and still don't understand, is that playing guitar for tips is frowned upon almoast everywhere you go. Living in a place where you never see anybody playing music in the streets, I always enjoy it stumbling upon it..
Well, yesterday my journey to legal "panhandling" began at the Savannah City Hall where I was hoping to attain a permit. After an hour and a half of going from office to office, my hunt for that little blue piece of paper giving my permission to play guitar in public areas for tips was ended in Daffin Park. There, at the office of leisure services, I learned only a certain number of people were granted such a permit and that you have to be a Chatham County resident to get one.
Being persistent, I thought I would try my luck on Tybee Island where my friend works. Unfortunately, I got the same answer at the Tybee City Hall. There was a glimpse of hope for me, though, as I was initally given permission to play in front of thew Waves Surf Shop. But, those who were farthest up the food chain cut my legs out from underneath me and discontinued my permission to perform there.
I'll end this blog post with this. While I was in St. Augustine, Florida, two of my friends and I asked a police officer where to go to see some of the sights of the town. His response was dishearthneing. Instead of sending us to a good local place to eat, he tried to send us to some sort of Ripley's amusement just a little ways away. Now, I know that those sort of things attract qutie a crowd and he was just trying to appease the tourists, but I was looking for America, not Hollywood.
So, the next time you go to look for America, take the "blue highways."
On a February day in 1978, William Least Heat-Moon set off on a journey. In order to get away from the turmoils in his life that had rapidly piled up and to do as Simon and Garfunkle did when they "walked off to look for America," Heat-Moon set off to see the United States by means of the "blue highways," the smaller roads that lead to smaller places. And it is Heat-Moon I can thank most for inspiring me to do the same thing.
This week, I am on a similar journey. Unlike Heat-Moon, I am not on this journey because my life is falling out from underneath my feet. My reasons is much more simple. I am in Savannah/Tybee Island, Georgia to visit a friend and to have one last break before school starts. My trip is like Heat-Moon's in that I long to see and experience the simple, more local things that Savannah and Tybee Island, Georgia have to offer.
Thus far on my trip, I have gotten the opportunity to eat at three local eaterires. The first one was a joint named Spanky's. Spanky's, located perfectly next to Tybee beach and the pier, is a joint known for their chicken fingers. I have to admit, I didn't get their chicken fingers, but their cheese quesadilla was wonderful... and cheap. They also allowed me to sit there for awhile and write away from the blazing Georgia heat.
The second place I ate was my favorite. It is called Huc-A-poos and it is the epitome of a quality, local cuisine. With food names such as the "Hellcat Hotdog" and customers who claim to be "ministers of the church of spiriutal humanism," Huc-A-Poos is swimming in personality. While there, I had two huge slices of pizza that I engineered myself. Not to mention, the prices were far below what the food was worth.
The third joint was a hole in the wall, literally. I didn't think to get the name of it, but if you go down the street that leads to the pier, you will find a barbecue and hot dog place with a yellow, overhanging eave. The barbecue sandwich was memorable, but the kind, old, black man that served me was even more memorable.
My trip down to Georgia thus far has not consisted of eating only. I have also continued on a journey that started in high school.
The summer before my junior year of high school, I was on my way to Alaska for a mission trip and for the first time got to play guitar for tips. While in the Seattle airport, I made $8 dollars before the airport police escorted me back to my gate. Ever since then, that sort of venue has been in my blood. What I didn't know then, and still don't understand, is that playing guitar for tips is frowned upon almoast everywhere you go. Living in a place where you never see anybody playing music in the streets, I always enjoy it stumbling upon it..
Well, yesterday my journey to legal "panhandling" began at the Savannah City Hall where I was hoping to attain a permit. After an hour and a half of going from office to office, my hunt for that little blue piece of paper giving my permission to play guitar in public areas for tips was ended in Daffin Park. There, at the office of leisure services, I learned only a certain number of people were granted such a permit and that you have to be a Chatham County resident to get one.
Being persistent, I thought I would try my luck on Tybee Island where my friend works. Unfortunately, I got the same answer at the Tybee City Hall. There was a glimpse of hope for me, though, as I was initally given permission to play in front of thew Waves Surf Shop. But, those who were farthest up the food chain cut my legs out from underneath me and discontinued my permission to perform there.
I'll end this blog post with this. While I was in St. Augustine, Florida, two of my friends and I asked a police officer where to go to see some of the sights of the town. His response was dishearthneing. Instead of sending us to a good local place to eat, he tried to send us to some sort of Ripley's amusement just a little ways away. Now, I know that those sort of things attract qutie a crowd and he was just trying to appease the tourists, but I was looking for America, not Hollywood.
So, the next time you go to look for America, take the "blue highways."
Sunday, July 3, 2011
My Talent is Buried
Jesus once told the story of three men (Matthew 25: 14-30). These three men were slaves to a very shrewd master. Before going on a long journey, the master entrusted all three slaves with a certain amount of money. To one slave he gave five talents who in turn made five more. To another slave he gave two talents who in turn made two more. And to the third slave, the master gave one talent which he buried in the earth.
Upon his return, the master commended the two "faithful slave[s]" who acted wisely with what little he had entrusted them. But the reunion was not so splendid for the "evil, lazy slave." He was not commended, but was instead stripped of the little responsibility he had been entrusted with and was cast "into the outer darkness" where there will be "weeping and gnashing of teeth."
On this Independence Day, I fear I have taken the talent of religious freedom God has given men and buried it in my comfort and apathy. God, forgive this evil, lazy slave.
Upon his return, the master commended the two "faithful slave[s]" who acted wisely with what little he had entrusted them. But the reunion was not so splendid for the "evil, lazy slave." He was not commended, but was instead stripped of the little responsibility he had been entrusted with and was cast "into the outer darkness" where there will be "weeping and gnashing of teeth."
On this Independence Day, I fear I have taken the talent of religious freedom God has given men and buried it in my comfort and apathy. God, forgive this evil, lazy slave.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
An Institutional Man
In the scene previous to this one, Brooks is wielding a shank and is on the verge of taking Heywood's life. The reason? He has recently been informed that he will be released from prison on parole. To anyone outside the prison walls, and to most inside of them, this is a ridiculous idea. Who would not want to be free from prison? But if you were standing in Brooks' shoes, you might consider the same thing.
See, as "Red" (Morgan Freeman) said, Brooks is an institutional man. After spending most of his life in prison, that is where he is most comfortable; and to practically begin life all over again after making one in prison seems detrimental to old Brooks. As a matter of fact, it seems so detrimental to Brooks that he is willing to take a mans life to ensure that he doesn't have to leave the Shawshank prison.
Now, picture this. A young man from the community begins coming to youth group. After a while his best friend becomes the youth pastor. He goes to every single service, even the ones that don't attract the younger crowds. He does all the outreach projects. He goes on all the trips. Then, one night during the youth group, the youth pastor makes announcement that shocks this young man. God has called the youth pastor and his family in another direction and he is resigning from the church. The young man is heart broken. So heart broken that he quits going to church. This young man has become "institutionalized."
Whenever moments like this happen, and they do happen far too often across the United States, most people are surprised. I know that I am. We say, "How could he just quit coming to church like that, he loved church so much?" And when we ask that, we answer our own question. The reason that this happens is because people fall in love with the institution and routine of the church and not its kingly head, Jesus.
Love Jesus, then love the church. If you try to love in the wrong order, you will end up like Brooks. You will be an institutional man.
See, as "Red" (Morgan Freeman) said, Brooks is an institutional man. After spending most of his life in prison, that is where he is most comfortable; and to practically begin life all over again after making one in prison seems detrimental to old Brooks. As a matter of fact, it seems so detrimental to Brooks that he is willing to take a mans life to ensure that he doesn't have to leave the Shawshank prison.
Now, picture this. A young man from the community begins coming to youth group. After a while his best friend becomes the youth pastor. He goes to every single service, even the ones that don't attract the younger crowds. He does all the outreach projects. He goes on all the trips. Then, one night during the youth group, the youth pastor makes announcement that shocks this young man. God has called the youth pastor and his family in another direction and he is resigning from the church. The young man is heart broken. So heart broken that he quits going to church. This young man has become "institutionalized."
Whenever moments like this happen, and they do happen far too often across the United States, most people are surprised. I know that I am. We say, "How could he just quit coming to church like that, he loved church so much?" And when we ask that, we answer our own question. The reason that this happens is because people fall in love with the institution and routine of the church and not its kingly head, Jesus.
Love Jesus, then love the church. If you try to love in the wrong order, you will end up like Brooks. You will be an institutional man.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Jesus in a Box
I can remember quite well the first time I heard it. I was at Falls Creek Camp and my youth group had just finished doing a low ropes team building course when the counselor said it. "You can't put Jesus in a box." The counselor was almost right.
Jesus. Jesus is the Son of God. He is also the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He is the First and the Last. Jesus is he Lamb that was slain and the victor over death. He is my healer and my Wonderful Counselor. He is the Word. The Creator. Jesus is the Messiah.
The list above describes Jesus. It is not an exhaustive list, but you can bank that Jesus is at least all of these things. Why do I make such a bold statement? I make such a bold statement because the Bible describes Jesus that way.
Now, if you have studied any church history at all, you will know that one of the great battles the church continuously fights is the battle against heresies, or false doctrines. Some of them are bold, some come in costumes, but what makes a heresy a heresy is they are taking Jesus out of the box.
I know that when people say that "You can't put Jesus in box" they often mean we can't make Jesus into what we want Him to be or we can't make Jesus less than who He really is by putting Him in a box that seems to suck away all of His power. But, I can assure you of at least one thing. There is one box that Jesus has to go in and cannot come out of. It is the Bible box.
Jesus. Jesus is the Son of God. He is also the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He is the First and the Last. Jesus is he Lamb that was slain and the victor over death. He is my healer and my Wonderful Counselor. He is the Word. The Creator. Jesus is the Messiah.
The list above describes Jesus. It is not an exhaustive list, but you can bank that Jesus is at least all of these things. Why do I make such a bold statement? I make such a bold statement because the Bible describes Jesus that way.
Now, if you have studied any church history at all, you will know that one of the great battles the church continuously fights is the battle against heresies, or false doctrines. Some of them are bold, some come in costumes, but what makes a heresy a heresy is they are taking Jesus out of the box.
I know that when people say that "You can't put Jesus in box" they often mean we can't make Jesus into what we want Him to be or we can't make Jesus less than who He really is by putting Him in a box that seems to suck away all of His power. But, I can assure you of at least one thing. There is one box that Jesus has to go in and cannot come out of. It is the Bible box.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Storm Warning
“I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.”
Joshua 7:12
Picture this. It is hurricane season in the Atlantic. You live in a nice beachfront house with a porch that leaks out onto the sandy dunes. It is a beautiful Saturday afternoon and you are relaxing out in the sun’s warm rays. And as you are relaxing in your fold-out beach chair and listening to the radio, an emergency broadcast screams across the radio waves. It is to inform you that a hurricane is surely going to hit your town and the whole town needs to evacuate immediately. Despite how frightening that situation may be, there is a situation much more frightening than that: not hearing the news of the coming storm and continuing your day like the next was going to be just as pleasant.
Today, in the United States, a very common verse from the Bible is used to give people peace and comfort. It is the verse “God will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5). But like the person in the story above, many people who are told that are going to live their lives as usual and wake up the next morning to find a storm is right over head. The reason that is so is because many people, when they are told that “God will never leave them or forsake them,” are not hearing the whole truth when it comes to that verse. The whole truth to that verse is that God will not forsake you if you do not forsake Him (2 Chronicles 15:2). People want to live their lives thinking they can live however they want and still receive the blessings of God. But that is not true. As you can see from the above verse, sin separates us from God. Achan had stolen objects from Jericho that God had commanded the Israelites to devote to Him. When Achan stole the devoted objects, the nation of Israel was exactly where they didn’t want to be: without God.
Even though God shows us grace and mercy when we sin, there are still consequences. One of those consequences may be God stepping away from the situation and letting us do it on our own. Don’t let it happen. You have been warned of the storm.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
A Big Pink Elephant
What ever you do, DO NOT think of a big, pink elephant. You are not thinking of a big pink elephant, are you?
I have heard it many times. It goes something like this, "I don't listen to the lyrics, I just really like the beat." Or, "I can watch it and it not bother me. I can handle it." These are the common answers people give whenever their music or movie selection is questioned. The question I want to ask is: can you really?
Today, MTV will be airing a special entitled "Lady Gaga: Inside the Outside." When I saw the preview for this special over the life of the increasingly famous and provocative Lady Gaga, I heard something that made me sort of laugh on the inside. Lady Gaga preached. Yes, she preached and she didn't even know it. This is what she said:
Whenever I heard Lady Gaga say that, my mind went straight to Jesus' words in Luke 6:45. "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." The lesson of Jesus' words are simple. People say and do according to what they think in their hearts.
Unfortunately, there are many Christians who do not heed the warnings of the Bible, which are sometimes conveyed unknowingly by people such as Lady Gaga. Thinking that they can expose their minds to more and more garbage, via sight and sound, without any side effects, they do so until the spiritual poison they have ingested finally manifests itself in sin. Don't overestimate your ability to sift through the impurities of the media. What you see and what you hear is what you are going to think. And chances are that if you fill your mind with poison, poison is what's going to come out.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8
So, did you think of a big, pink elephant?
Post Script: If someone tells you they just like the beat, ask them if they know any of the words.
I have heard it many times. It goes something like this, "I don't listen to the lyrics, I just really like the beat." Or, "I can watch it and it not bother me. I can handle it." These are the common answers people give whenever their music or movie selection is questioned. The question I want to ask is: can you really?
Today, MTV will be airing a special entitled "Lady Gaga: Inside the Outside." When I saw the preview for this special over the life of the increasingly famous and provocative Lady Gaga, I heard something that made me sort of laugh on the inside. Lady Gaga preached. Yes, she preached and she didn't even know it. This is what she said:
My parents got me Stevie wonder…and the Beatles when I was younger. Good choices Mom and Dad. Don’t spoon feed me the Beatles and Stevie Wonder and Bruce Springsteen and Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin and Elton John and expect for me not to turn out this way.
Whenever I heard Lady Gaga say that, my mind went straight to Jesus' words in Luke 6:45. "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." The lesson of Jesus' words are simple. People say and do according to what they think in their hearts.
Unfortunately, there are many Christians who do not heed the warnings of the Bible, which are sometimes conveyed unknowingly by people such as Lady Gaga. Thinking that they can expose their minds to more and more garbage, via sight and sound, without any side effects, they do so until the spiritual poison they have ingested finally manifests itself in sin. Don't overestimate your ability to sift through the impurities of the media. What you see and what you hear is what you are going to think. And chances are that if you fill your mind with poison, poison is what's going to come out.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8
So, did you think of a big, pink elephant?
Post Script: If someone tells you they just like the beat, ask them if they know any of the words.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Lent, Here I Come
Well, in less than one hour Lent 2011 will begin and I will be transported violently and pleasantly back to 1995. No cell phones, only land lines. No modern computers, only dinosaurs. No car, only a peddle machine. No debit, only cash. No X-box, only the fathers of modern gaming. To be honest, I am a little nervous. But, I am just as excited.
So, until April 23, love God, enjoy life, and dream of 1995.
So, until April 23, love God, enjoy life, and dream of 1995.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
This Old Dome is Celebrating 1,000 Page Views
Ladies and Gentleman, the moment has finally come (and gone). On February 15, 2011, This Old Dome celebrated its 1,000th viewing (1,005 as of right now)! To celebrate such a grand occasion, I had my guys here at This Old Dome gather some statistics that I thought you might find at least a little interesting.
-This Old Dome has been visited by people in 10 different countries.
-The USA has been the home of the majority of our viewers, followed by Canada, South Korea, Slovenia, Germany, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Croatia, Russia, and Egypt.
-First post: November 12, 2010.
-Days to reach 1,000: 95 (I think) .
-Busiest month: December 2010 with 388.
-Slowest month: January of 2011 with 139
-Currently 28 blog postings (29 after this one hits the internet waves)
-Attempted postings: 34 (some just did not make the cut or were never completed)
-Most viewed blogs: 1) Justified- "No Pointing Fingers" 2) One Heck of a Question and T3) Megamind and Corporate Worship and Lent 2011
-Post with most comments: One Heck of a Question
-Greatest Accomplishment: Naming my basketball team after my blog.
-GOAL: Getting James Puckett to read at least one post.
Well, here's to 1,000 more!
-This Old Dome has been visited by people in 10 different countries.
-The USA has been the home of the majority of our viewers, followed by Canada, South Korea, Slovenia, Germany, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Croatia, Russia, and Egypt.
-First post: November 12, 2010.
-Days to reach 1,000: 95 (I think) .
-Busiest month: December 2010 with 388.
-Slowest month: January of 2011 with 139
-Currently 28 blog postings (29 after this one hits the internet waves)
-Attempted postings: 34 (some just did not make the cut or were never completed)
-Most viewed blogs: 1) Justified- "No Pointing Fingers" 2) One Heck of a Question and T3) Megamind and Corporate Worship and Lent 2011
-Post with most comments: One Heck of a Question
-Greatest Accomplishment: Naming my basketball team after my blog.
-GOAL: Getting James Puckett to read at least one post.
Well, here's to 1,000 more!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Unbelievable
I usually don't do this, but today I want to direct you to a different blog where an unbelievable article has been posted by Albert Mohler concerning a fairly new "business." Go to http://www.albertmohler.com/2011/02/14/adultery-incorporated-the-infidelity-industry/ and read this article about ashleymadison.com, a dating service to hook you up with a married person.
Once you read it, weep and pray.
Once you read it, weep and pray.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
This Old Dome is No Longer Just a Blog!
I have had the best of intentions to post what I am getting ready to post for weeks (four weeks to be precise). But I guess it is better late than never to post great news. The great news I want everyone to know is that This Old Dome is no longer just a blog, it is a basketball team.
Ever since the 2010 Clear Creek intramural season, I have wanted to be the captain of a team in the league. Well, last year the director of the league didn't ask me to be a captain. But, this year she did. So what did I do? With joy I accepted her offer and named the basketball team This Old Dome. There is nothing like free advertising! If you don't like the name, don't worry. My team doesn't like the name either and they let me know about it. But hey, one of the best parts about being a captain is being the person who decides the name of the team.
Thankfully, their dislike of the name doesn't curve our basketball skills. We currently have a record of 3-1 and are ranked second in the league. OK, so there are only four teams in the league, but second is still not that bad. Because of a lame Valentine's Day banquet, we will not be playing this Monday. But, come the week after that, we will be playing our final regular season game against everyones' arch nemesis, the top ranked Faculty/Staff/Family of Faculty and Staff team. They are a strong team with the most players who have played organized basketball and two young bucks with an endless supply of energy and speed. They are not unbeatable, though, and with a strong fast-break defense and a victory in the battle of the boards, we will have a great chance of knocking them off the top.
So, stay tuned in and see how This Old Dome finishes out the season.
Ever since the 2010 Clear Creek intramural season, I have wanted to be the captain of a team in the league. Well, last year the director of the league didn't ask me to be a captain. But, this year she did. So what did I do? With joy I accepted her offer and named the basketball team This Old Dome. There is nothing like free advertising! If you don't like the name, don't worry. My team doesn't like the name either and they let me know about it. But hey, one of the best parts about being a captain is being the person who decides the name of the team.
Thankfully, their dislike of the name doesn't curve our basketball skills. We currently have a record of 3-1 and are ranked second in the league. OK, so there are only four teams in the league, but second is still not that bad. Because of a lame Valentine's Day banquet, we will not be playing this Monday. But, come the week after that, we will be playing our final regular season game against everyones' arch nemesis, the top ranked Faculty/Staff/Family of Faculty and Staff team. They are a strong team with the most players who have played organized basketball and two young bucks with an endless supply of energy and speed. They are not unbeatable, though, and with a strong fast-break defense and a victory in the battle of the boards, we will have a great chance of knocking them off the top.
So, stay tuned in and see how This Old Dome finishes out the season.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
When a Sinful Man Encounters God
The mountains quake before Him, and the Hills melt; the earth trembles at His presence-the world and all who live in it.
Nahum 1:5
There was once a man who lived his life in a world of sin. In the eyes of all who lived and worked around him, he was a very successful man. He owned a large business and made more money than he knew what to do with. He had a family of four with a beautiful wife and two young children. But, as I said before, he lived his life in a world of sin.
See, this man was a violent man. He had an awful temper and he occasionally hit his wife and children. His business practices were very deceitful. He often lied and cheated in order to make a larger profit. There were many times he even cheated people who were far less financially stable so that he could splurge on something else he did not need. Of all the awful things he was involved in, from unfair and illegal business practices to striking his family physically, the piece of coal in his crown of evil was his unfaithfulness to his wife. And the worst part about this man’s story was that he showed no remorse for all the things he had done (Nahum 2:1-5).
It was quite obvious that this man did not think much of God and his judgment. He did not believe there was a God. “Even if there is a God,” he thought to himself, “he was not anything to get excited about.” The man thought this way until one day he met God. On that day he was sitting in his office doing business as usual when God walked into the room surrounded by smoke. Instant fright shot through his bones. He did not have to think twice. He knew that He was in the presence of God.
Those moments with God were far different than he imagined they would be. Instead of quiet and peacefulness, he heard the thunder of lightning. Instead of pearly gates, he saw the “age-old mountains” fall into the ocean and the “ancient hills” flatten in an instant. Instead of talking to God like he would anybody else, he found himself face down on the ground too scared to move a muscle. This is the story of what happens when a sinful man has an encounter with God.
Friday, February 4, 2011
One Heck of a Question
You guys might not know this about me, but I really don't know how our government works. I mean, I am not completely ignorant about the functions and operations of our national government, but I could probably tell you more about the Washington Wizards point guard (John Wall) than I could tell you about the guy who lives on 1400 Pennsylvania Avenue (I am pretty sure that is the address of the White House, but if it is not, it just proves my point).
Well, a couple weeks ago in my American history class at the greatest school in the world (Clear Creek Baptist Bible College), my history professor asked the question that America is trying to answer. I had heard this question before, but never so clearly. The question goes something like this: Is America supposed to provide every citizen with equal opportunity or equal results?
My goal in this post is not to persuade anyone to believe the way I believe, though I will tell you that I find the first one to be far better than the second. I simply just wanted to pose the question that everyone has been asking clearly and concisely. And, if you decide to give your two cents on question posed as a comment on my blog, it will make my day.
Monday, January 31, 2011
There Is Only One Way Out of "The Town"
As a Christian, I am embarrassed to say that a couple days ago I watched "The Town," a movie starring and directed by Ben Affleck. It is sexually explicit, the language, though accurate to the characters it is portraying, is explicit, and the violence is horrendous. But, through all the muck I allowed myself to sit through, I came to understand something better than I did before. The world is in bondage to sin, and there is only one way out of that town.
The story line of "The Town" is based around its main character Doug McCray. McCray grew up in Charlestown, a northern annexation of Boston, in less than pleasant living conditions. His mother left him when he was six and his father, though he was around, was not the role model you would want for your son. See, McCray's father was a bank robber, and unfortunately, he taught his son to do the same thing. After being drafted into the National Hockey League and being kicked out for misconduct, McCray goes back to Charlestown where, like his father, he gets into the professional heisting business while working at a gravel yard as his day job. If only he would have stuck with hockey.
Doug McCray lived a life that he wanted to live in no longer. And I think if all of his partners in crime admitted to it, they loathed their current state of life also. They all lived in a vicious cycle of sin that they could not escape. Stealing, killing, unjustifiable anger, fighting, sex, drugs, alcohol, huge egos, dishonesty, and insecurity was a part of their everyday their lives. Simply, their sin destroyed their lives.
It is sad that it took a movie to wake me up from my blindness, but as I watched this fictional movie, I began to realize how true to life this movie really is. Murder both in the mind and in the flesh, thievery, dishonesty, pride, insecurities which result in eating disorders and anger, adultery in the mind and in the flesh, pornography, and hatred happen everyday in real life. Everyday people wake up and find themselves in a town that they are longing to get out of but don't know the way. What people must know, though, is that there is a way out of that town. His name is Jesus.
"Sin will make you stupid."- Grandpa Ditty
Postscript
The truth is, the plot of this movie is amazing. But ,I strongly suggest you DO NOT watch this movie. Not with your kids, not by yourself, not if you are young, not if you are old. The content of this movie is not appropriate for any viewer. I might have gotten something out this movie that moved me, but it was not worth the images, the sexual ones especially, that I will never be able to forget because of my poor discretion in movie watching.
The story line of "The Town" is based around its main character Doug McCray. McCray grew up in Charlestown, a northern annexation of Boston, in less than pleasant living conditions. His mother left him when he was six and his father, though he was around, was not the role model you would want for your son. See, McCray's father was a bank robber, and unfortunately, he taught his son to do the same thing. After being drafted into the National Hockey League and being kicked out for misconduct, McCray goes back to Charlestown where, like his father, he gets into the professional heisting business while working at a gravel yard as his day job. If only he would have stuck with hockey.
Doug McCray lived a life that he wanted to live in no longer. And I think if all of his partners in crime admitted to it, they loathed their current state of life also. They all lived in a vicious cycle of sin that they could not escape. Stealing, killing, unjustifiable anger, fighting, sex, drugs, alcohol, huge egos, dishonesty, and insecurity was a part of their everyday their lives. Simply, their sin destroyed their lives.
It is sad that it took a movie to wake me up from my blindness, but as I watched this fictional movie, I began to realize how true to life this movie really is. Murder both in the mind and in the flesh, thievery, dishonesty, pride, insecurities which result in eating disorders and anger, adultery in the mind and in the flesh, pornography, and hatred happen everyday in real life. Everyday people wake up and find themselves in a town that they are longing to get out of but don't know the way. What people must know, though, is that there is a way out of that town. His name is Jesus.
"Sin will make you stupid."- Grandpa Ditty
Postscript
The truth is, the plot of this movie is amazing. But ,I strongly suggest you DO NOT watch this movie. Not with your kids, not by yourself, not if you are young, not if you are old. The content of this movie is not appropriate for any viewer. I might have gotten something out this movie that moved me, but it was not worth the images, the sexual ones especially, that I will never be able to forget because of my poor discretion in movie watching.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
The Fall of Santa Fe
Many, many, many years ago when I was in middle school, my dad bought a guitar. Now when I say guitar, I don't mean a guitar that parents buy their five year old . I mean he bought a real guitar. It was a Santa Fe style Takamine that had, and still has, the voice of an angel. And even though he says he bought it for the both of us, everyone knows he really bought it for me. The reason he bought the guitar is a story in itself. Allow me to tell you the tale the best that I can recall.
If you didn't know, Harlan, Kentucky is one of the greatest places in the world. And one reason its greatness towers over all those other places in the world is because of a little music store called Abraham's. Abraham's has been there for about an eternity and a half meeting the musical needs of the Appalachian people there in Harlan County. I am not sure, but I am pretty it sure it was a sunny afternoon when I strolled into to Abraham's on that fateful day.
On that fateful day I walked into Abraham's a proud up and coming guitarist. Upon entering the music store, I scurried past the amps on the left and found perched so innocently in a guitar-stand, high up on a brown counter, a beautiful Takamine guitar. Now, this wasn't just any guitar. This was a real guitar. This real guitar cost $1400...up until about three minutes later.
Now, I am almost certain that on a previous visit the employees at Abraham's asked me not to play the guitars. Despite my previous orders, though, I decided to pick up that magnificent, $1400 guitar and play a tune. Well, that didn't last long because before long I was asked to stop. This is where the story gets good.
I, like a good little preachers kid, placed the guitar back on the stand and walked to the front desk to make an inquiry about something I do not remember what. But, as soon as I got to the front, it happened. The guitar fell off the stand. It was not pushed off the stand. It did not jump off of the stand. Two minutes after I put it back on the stand, it fell off the stand. To this day, I do not know how it happened, or why it happened, but it definitely happened. Needless to say, those at Abraham's were not very happy about what had just gone down. Literally.
I would love to beef up this story and say that after the guitar crashed three feet to the floor everyone rushed back to see the damage , but I am pretty sure it didn't happen like that. After hearing it crash to the ground and worrying that it was done for, I walked back to find the guitar still intact and in much better shape than I thought it would be. All the damage that had been done was cosmetic and the guitar still played great. But that didn't mean I was out the dark for there was still a price to be paid for the damage done. So, I called my dad and he walked down Main Street from the church he pastored to clean up the mess I had made.
Upon looking over the damage, the store owners decided I (and by "I" I mean my financially independent father) had two options: 1)I could either pay $150 in damages or 2)I could by the guitar for $900. After a couple of days, my dad did the unthinkable. Despite the fact that I was the one that messed up and despite the fact it was expensive, he bought me that guitar.
To finish up this long, over-dramatized story, the day my dad brought that guitar home for me, everything was great. I took it out of the case, removed it from the plastic inside the case, and began to hear that guitar sing. It sang so pretty, I wanted to tell my dad how pretty it sang. So, I quickly made my way to the dining room where he was sitting and started bragging about how pretty my new guitar could sing. Not long into the praise report of my new guitar, he stopped me with words the I needed to hear. "I bought you that new guitar and you still haven't thanked me."
~
God has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams, and tonight I have genuinely realized this reality.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
A Real Man
What is a real man?
I will tell you what a real man is. A real man is one who weeps and mourns because of the lostness of his father.
That's what a real man is.
I will tell you what a real man is. A real man is one who weeps and mourns because of the lostness of his father.
That's what a real man is.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
January 1, 1 A.D.
If, granting that Jesus was born on December 25, you went into the temple in Jerusalem on January 1 in the year 1 A.D., you would have gotten to be a part of one of my favorite Bibles stories. The Bible story I am speaking of is the story of Simeon. Instead of me telling it, why don't I let the Word speak for itself.
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
Luke 2:22-33
The pinnacle of Simeon's life: seeing the face of Jesus. What a guy Simeon must have been. Keeping a promise just like He still does today, what a God He still is.
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