Just wanted to share a video with you. Be warned, their is some strong language in it. I hope it makes you think. And I hope it makes you think about you, not someone else.
Holy Spirit, come in your power and gently convict. Holy Spirit, come in your love and open our eyes to the beauty of people loving people.
March 28, 2010
March 22, 2010
A Postmodern Easter?
If you have spent much time with college students or young adults, you are probably very aware of the influence that postmodernism has on our generation. Experience becomes a significant factor in determining truth for postmoderns. I encounter it on a daily basis and am learning how it provides opportunities to share the truth of the gospel. When I think about this in light of Easter, I am reminded of a powerful truth concerning the risen Christ.
As some of you may remember, I lost my grandmother this past August. She was so dear to me. For the past twelve years or so, I’ve repeatedly told my parents that I hoped my future wife would have the privilege of meeting my grandmother and that my grandmother could know my future wife. As I spoke at her funeral, I shared this desire with everyone there and was saddened by the reality that this would never happen. Whenever I do meet my wife, I’ll have the privilege and challenge of trying to describe to her who my grandmother was and why she meant so much to me. I can share stories, show her pictures, and answer any questions that she may have. However, my wife will never have the chance to know or experience my grandmother firsthand.
So what does this have to do with Easter? As this generation matures, they are seeking after experience and truth they can know for certain. Therefore, the beauty of Easter is that they can know Christ, for He is risen and alive. I’ll never have to attempt to describe Jesus or share stories of his life to a new friend without that friend having the opportunity to meet Christ for his or herself. Isn’t that wonderful? Even if postmodernism completely controls the worldview of young adults, Easter provides them the opportunity to experience Christ for themselves. Their relationship with Christ will not be completely dependent on how effectively I explain Jesus to them. They have the same ability to know Him that you and I do. The cross provides freedom and life for us anew everyday. Easter is a glorious celebration of this life that we share as the body of Christ.
On this Easter, may we all celebrate the glorious truth that Christ is alive and that He desires to be known by us.
I apologize for being absent for the past couple of months. I hope to get back to posting on a more regular basis after Easter. This is an article I had to write for church, therefore I thought I'd share it with you as well. I hope you are all well. Thanks for reading.
As some of you may remember, I lost my grandmother this past August. She was so dear to me. For the past twelve years or so, I’ve repeatedly told my parents that I hoped my future wife would have the privilege of meeting my grandmother and that my grandmother could know my future wife. As I spoke at her funeral, I shared this desire with everyone there and was saddened by the reality that this would never happen. Whenever I do meet my wife, I’ll have the privilege and challenge of trying to describe to her who my grandmother was and why she meant so much to me. I can share stories, show her pictures, and answer any questions that she may have. However, my wife will never have the chance to know or experience my grandmother firsthand.
So what does this have to do with Easter? As this generation matures, they are seeking after experience and truth they can know for certain. Therefore, the beauty of Easter is that they can know Christ, for He is risen and alive. I’ll never have to attempt to describe Jesus or share stories of his life to a new friend without that friend having the opportunity to meet Christ for his or herself. Isn’t that wonderful? Even if postmodernism completely controls the worldview of young adults, Easter provides them the opportunity to experience Christ for themselves. Their relationship with Christ will not be completely dependent on how effectively I explain Jesus to them. They have the same ability to know Him that you and I do. The cross provides freedom and life for us anew everyday. Easter is a glorious celebration of this life that we share as the body of Christ.
On this Easter, may we all celebrate the glorious truth that Christ is alive and that He desires to be known by us.
I apologize for being absent for the past couple of months. I hope to get back to posting on a more regular basis after Easter. This is an article I had to write for church, therefore I thought I'd share it with you as well. I hope you are all well. Thanks for reading.
February 9, 2010
Class meets community
I've been waiting to post this for a week or so until I got the pictures. However, as classes start today with a bunch of snow/ice/slush outside with more on the way, it seems to be an appropriate time to share about my January term class.
I took a course titled "Cross Cultural Discipleship" and I am certain that it will go down as my favorite and most formational class at seminary. Dr. Jay Moon, an adjunct professor, taught the course and he is simply excellent. He and his family lived in northern Ghana for 10 years, which gave me plenty to talk about with him as I could relate to and understand many of his stories and the people and places he would speak about.
Even though this class focused on and was titled "cross cultural" discipleship, it really is just a wonderful overall discipleship course. Regardless of where I wind up in ministry, I will use aspects of what I learned in this course continuously. The class was rather small, only twelve of us, with a great mix of cultures represented. The picture below shows most of us, but not all, as we engaged in discussion one day in class.
Our class met for two weeks, 8am-1pm. The second Monday of the class fell on MLK day, so we had the day off and I suggested we all go eat lunch together at one of my favorite places, a West African restaurant in downtown Lexington called Sav's Grill. For some folks, like myself, Dr. Moon, and one of the students and his family who were from Uganda, the food was a great reminder of their local cuisine. For everyone else, it was a new experience thoroughly enjoyed by all.
In this picture, a Korean, a Ugandan, and a Chinese child all eat together at the restaurant. Just three of the cultures represented in our class.
Our final day of class consisted of all of us presenting our final projects and concluded as we all went to one of the student's homes to eat lunch together and celebrate the end of our class. I have never experienced so much community in a class before and in such a short period of time. The pic below is of some of us left at Gray's house after lunch. Some people had already left.
This had definitely been the highlight of my time back in Kentucky since Christmas break. I am now asking God to both continue bringing forth fruit from this class and give me renewed hope and focus so that each of my classes this semester can be just as transformational and impactful. As difficult as it can be at times, graduate work here at Asbury Seminary truly is a huge blessing.
I took a course titled "Cross Cultural Discipleship" and I am certain that it will go down as my favorite and most formational class at seminary. Dr. Jay Moon, an adjunct professor, taught the course and he is simply excellent. He and his family lived in northern Ghana for 10 years, which gave me plenty to talk about with him as I could relate to and understand many of his stories and the people and places he would speak about.
Even though this class focused on and was titled "cross cultural" discipleship, it really is just a wonderful overall discipleship course. Regardless of where I wind up in ministry, I will use aspects of what I learned in this course continuously. The class was rather small, only twelve of us, with a great mix of cultures represented. The picture below shows most of us, but not all, as we engaged in discussion one day in class.
Our class met for two weeks, 8am-1pm. The second Monday of the class fell on MLK day, so we had the day off and I suggested we all go eat lunch together at one of my favorite places, a West African restaurant in downtown Lexington called Sav's Grill. For some folks, like myself, Dr. Moon, and one of the students and his family who were from Uganda, the food was a great reminder of their local cuisine. For everyone else, it was a new experience thoroughly enjoyed by all.
In this picture, a Korean, a Ugandan, and a Chinese child all eat together at the restaurant. Just three of the cultures represented in our class.
Our final day of class consisted of all of us presenting our final projects and concluded as we all went to one of the student's homes to eat lunch together and celebrate the end of our class. I have never experienced so much community in a class before and in such a short period of time. The pic below is of some of us left at Gray's house after lunch. Some people had already left.
This had definitely been the highlight of my time back in Kentucky since Christmas break. I am now asking God to both continue bringing forth fruit from this class and give me renewed hope and focus so that each of my classes this semester can be just as transformational and impactful. As difficult as it can be at times, graduate work here at Asbury Seminary truly is a huge blessing.
February 8, 2010
cloudy month?
Since I've returned to Kentucky from Christmas break, there has been only one day of sunshine here around Wilmore and Lexington. That day was last Monday, and the shock of the sunlight was stunning as it reflected off the blanket of white snow that still covered the ground. I'm sure sales for sunglasses surged on Monday.
However, every other day has either been overcast, raining, or snowing. I have always heard of seasonal depression for people who live somewhere like Alaska and don't get sunlight for extended periods of time. Or perhaps in Seattle where it is always raining and overcast.
Ladies and gentlemen, seasonal depression has set in. Now, I'm not trying to be overly-dramatic or ridiculous, yet it is true. After talking to several friends and folks who have themselves suffered from it I am convinced that I'm dealing with it on a small level.
I realize that many of you are struggling with very difficult situations and that many around the world are still recovering from devastating tragedies. And for each of them, and for each of you who I know is struggling with something, I'm praying.
But I need the sun! I really do. I would pay money to step outside and sweat. And for all of you out there who know that I am just a cold-natured person, it's not just that. Living in a house with the thermostat on 65 to help with the electric bill, snow and/or below freezing temperatures outside constantly, and a perpetual lack of sunlight is stealing away a great deal of my joy, my motivation, and my peace.
So Father, may you send me the sun. May you send me relief from this struggle and restore the joy of my salvation. And Holy Spirit, may you continue to bring peace and restore the beauty of your creation in every friend and family member of mine who is struggling. Bring forth your Kingdom in Haiti as your children try to find hope. Bring freedom to the millions around the world caught in human slavery (trafficking). As you send the sun to me, send a greater revelation of your Son to the world.
However, every other day has either been overcast, raining, or snowing. I have always heard of seasonal depression for people who live somewhere like Alaska and don't get sunlight for extended periods of time. Or perhaps in Seattle where it is always raining and overcast.
Ladies and gentlemen, seasonal depression has set in. Now, I'm not trying to be overly-dramatic or ridiculous, yet it is true. After talking to several friends and folks who have themselves suffered from it I am convinced that I'm dealing with it on a small level.
I realize that many of you are struggling with very difficult situations and that many around the world are still recovering from devastating tragedies. And for each of them, and for each of you who I know is struggling with something, I'm praying.
But I need the sun! I really do. I would pay money to step outside and sweat. And for all of you out there who know that I am just a cold-natured person, it's not just that. Living in a house with the thermostat on 65 to help with the electric bill, snow and/or below freezing temperatures outside constantly, and a perpetual lack of sunlight is stealing away a great deal of my joy, my motivation, and my peace.
So Father, may you send me the sun. May you send me relief from this struggle and restore the joy of my salvation. And Holy Spirit, may you continue to bring peace and restore the beauty of your creation in every friend and family member of mine who is struggling. Bring forth your Kingdom in Haiti as your children try to find hope. Bring freedom to the millions around the world caught in human slavery (trafficking). As you send the sun to me, send a greater revelation of your Son to the world.
January 31, 2010
excuse me, sir.
If you weren't aware, one of my part-time jobs is working as a janitor at a private school here in Lexington which is run out of a church. I often am working late at night and am often the only person in the building.
On Thursday night, I was working late and was just walking down the hall listening to my ipod. As I came around a corner in the hallway, I was suddenly facing three police officers, one of which had a gun drawn and pointed at me. Needless to say, a gun pointed at your face by a huge police officer is not what I was expecting to see when I turned the corner.
Apparently the cops were doing their patrol and noticed a vehicle at the church late at night. As they drove up to check it out, they were suspicious of a vehicle with a Georgia license plate and noticed that one of the doors to the building was unlocked. I always have to lock myself in the building. However, someone earlier in the day must have left another door unlocked when they left.
After they ran a check on me, my vehicle, and called both my boss and a few other people at the church, I was "cleared" to be in the building. I appreciate the cops doing their job and protecting the community. But really? Three huge cops, standing in the hall of a church, and a gun drawn on me? I didn't realize I was that imposing of a figure. However, I wasn't arrested nor was I shot, so it all just makes for another interesting story.
Unfortunately, one of the classrooms in the school caught on fire Friday afternoon. Not too much damage, but so much cleaning to do. I think I still smell like smoke and ash. (that'll teach them to pull a gun on me in the middle of the night...)
I continue to be thankful for the jobs that God has provided for me. But man, this one sure is crazy and creates a lot of weird and strange stories to share.
On Thursday night, I was working late and was just walking down the hall listening to my ipod. As I came around a corner in the hallway, I was suddenly facing three police officers, one of which had a gun drawn and pointed at me. Needless to say, a gun pointed at your face by a huge police officer is not what I was expecting to see when I turned the corner.
Apparently the cops were doing their patrol and noticed a vehicle at the church late at night. As they drove up to check it out, they were suspicious of a vehicle with a Georgia license plate and noticed that one of the doors to the building was unlocked. I always have to lock myself in the building. However, someone earlier in the day must have left another door unlocked when they left.
After they ran a check on me, my vehicle, and called both my boss and a few other people at the church, I was "cleared" to be in the building. I appreciate the cops doing their job and protecting the community. But really? Three huge cops, standing in the hall of a church, and a gun drawn on me? I didn't realize I was that imposing of a figure. However, I wasn't arrested nor was I shot, so it all just makes for another interesting story.
Unfortunately, one of the classrooms in the school caught on fire Friday afternoon. Not too much damage, but so much cleaning to do. I think I still smell like smoke and ash. (that'll teach them to pull a gun on me in the middle of the night...)
I continue to be thankful for the jobs that God has provided for me. But man, this one sure is crazy and creates a lot of weird and strange stories to share.
January 11, 2010
Winter strikes
These are just some pics I took last Thursday. It has been snowing off and on since Thursday, so this isn't the extent of the storm. But I had to finally get out of the house (even though I HATE cold weather) and snapped a few photos. Most of these are from the park down the street from my house.
What does not fit in this picture? (GA tag with that much snow...)
The neighbors were sledding down the hill.
This is a picture I took while driving down to GA on Saturday, Dec. 19th. Part of I-75 had just been reopened after the storm, in time for me to get home. And yes, I got sprayed by the snow plow :)
What does not fit in this picture? (GA tag with that much snow...)
The neighbors were sledding down the hill.
This is a picture I took while driving down to GA on Saturday, Dec. 19th. Part of I-75 had just been reopened after the storm, in time for me to get home. And yes, I got sprayed by the snow plow :)
Human Trafficking
Jan. 11, 2010 is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
Please get informed.
MILLIONS of people are depending on it.
learn more at National Human Trafficking Awareness Day
Whether you realize it or not, there are victims all around you.
May freedom be established in our world.
Please get informed.
MILLIONS of people are depending on it.
learn more at National Human Trafficking Awareness Day
Whether you realize it or not, there are victims all around you.
May freedom be established in our world.
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