Just As I Am

Blah!

2006-07-17T00:59:00.000-05:00

Everything is blah. I have nothing to say.

I visited a new church this morning and no one even spoke to me. That really helped.

"The Devil Wears Prada"- and Autumn wears Braxton's Dinner!

2006-07-03T17:23:00.000-05:00

Autumn and I went to see "The Devil Wears Prada" on Saturday afternoon. I liked it a lot. The movie did an excellent job of satirizing the shallow, materialistic, image driven society in which we live. There were some really funny lines. One of the funniest and most ridiculous lines in the whole movie is when one of the girls says to the other, "I am on a strict diet. I don't eat anything. Then, when I feel like I am going to pass out, I eat a cube of cheese."

After the movie we met my mom and Braxton at the mall. We had dinner at Bennigans. Braxton was well behaved, but started to get restless toward the end. Autumn graciously offered to take him for a little walk while we finished our meals. She hadn't been gone long when a waiter frantically approached and said, "The girl with the baby needs you immediately." My mom went to the rescue, only to find that our worst fear was true. Braxton had gotten so upset to be away from my mom that he threw up all over himself, Autumn and the floor. The poor host was so nice, but I felt terrible for him. How gross! We gave him some cash as we left the restaurant.

I really think Braxton needs to see a doctor about all the vomiting. It is not normal. Every time he gets upset he makes himself throw up.

"The Lakehouse"

2006-06-17T22:58:00.000-05:00

I went to see "The Lakehouse" tonight. I thought it was an ok movie. However, the plot is filled with a lot of holes and you definitely have to go for the whole "willing suspension of disbelief" thing. If you are willing to disregard logic and you like a good (although predictable) love story, I would recommend seeing this movie in the theater. Otherwise, wait until it comes out on video.

Thoughts on Grace

2006-06-15T18:38:00.000-05:00

I have been stressed out lately over a situation in my office involving one particular person. This person appears to enjoy getting ahead at the expense of others. In recent weeks, attitudes within the office have gotten very negative as a result of all the drama this person has initiated. I was at the point of having a talk with my boss when she came to town today, but one of my other co-workers said that she has been praying about the situation and thought we should wait and let God work things out in his own timing. As I pondered this in my heart, I agreed to wait, though not fully convinced it was the right thing to do.

"But he who has been forgiven little loves little..." Luke 7:47

In a book I have been reading recently, the author suggested that we should be willing to extend the same grace to others that God has given us. When I read this, I have to admit I felt a little guilty. This past weekend I ran into a guy that I had a brief (but totally immoral) relationship with prior to becoming a Christian. In my flesh, I felt this guy should be getting his "just desserts" for being an adulterer who never even felt guilty for cheating (at least I felt guilty, right??) Instead, he was strolling casually through the bookstore downtown, holding hands with another woman. I will not lie, seeing this angered me. I got a little self-righteous and wanted to kick and scream to God about how unfair it is that he is happy and I am the one who has repented and tried to live right. I wanted to start quoting one of the imprecatory psalms, calling for God's vindication on all my enemies! What I failed to realize at the time is that if God gave us all exactly what we deserve when we deserve it, I probably wouldn't be here. I had to ask God to forgive me.

"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34

In these two situations, I have started to realize areas in which I need to grow. First, I am guilty of getting angry (a thoroughly useless emotion) without thinking about why people might be the way they are. Someone once said, "When you know better, you will do better." I really believe this. Therefore, I am going to try to make a conscious effort to pray for those who hurt me, instead of getting angry. I have asked God to give me a sympathetic heart towards these people. It is a lot harder to be angry when you feel sorry for someone.

One Year Ago, Today...

2006-06-14T21:16:00.000-05:00

My dad died.

¡Hola mis amigos!

2006-06-14T18:49:00.000-05:00

Sorry I haven't posted anything lately. I have been extremely busy. I've been going in to work early, leaving at noon for my Spanish class, and coming back at 3:30 and finishing out the day. I feel like all I ever do lately is drive!

My Spanish class got off to a rather rocky start. I failed my first vocabulary quiz because I misunderstood the nature of the quiz. I memorized all the words by recognition instead of being able to write them from memory. Now that I know what she expects, I anticipate that things will get better. We had our first major exam on Tuesday. I think it went well. I was hoping to get my exam back today, but my professor was sick and had to cancel class. Hopefully I will hear something tomorrow.

I will try to post something more substantial later...

Gina

Happy Mother's Day!

2006-05-13T22:28:00.000-05:00

(Mom and Deidra)

Happy Mother's Day to my mom and all the other moms out there. Parenting is a tough job. You have my utmost respect!

My best friend...

2006-05-07T01:03:00.000-05:00

My best friend got married last month and yesterday her husband told her he thinks they made a huge mistake and wants a divorce. Basically, he just wants it all to go away as quickly as possible. She offered to go to counseling and he refused to go. He didn't even want her to say goodbye to his kids, but she insisted.

I went with her today to say goodbye to the kids. We met her husband at the cafe that he owns. She was crying, the kids were upset. It was awful. He didn't even speak to her the whole time...

According to my best friend, they never even had a fight. So, I don't know what brought all this on. He said something about feeling pressured to get married. But, he had plenty of opportunities to get out if he had wanted to. Personally, I think he was just using her. She put a lot of money on credit cards helping him out and paying for him to go to a writer's conference. Not to mention the fact that she gave up her job and moved to another state to be with him. Now, he thinks she is just supposed to go away like a bad dream.

Please pray for this couple.

What a Relief!

2006-05-05T15:51:00.000-05:00

I am finally finished with all of my finals. I took my last exam last night and turned in my political theory paper this afternoon. It turned out to be 21 pages long, which was 6 pages longer than I had anticipated.

I am completely exhausted, not to mention starving. I haven't eaten all day. I think I am going to meet my friend Debbi for a drink and some dinner. After that, I will probably crash for the rest of the weekend.

On Christian Love

2006-04-29T06:40:00.000-05:00

I am studying for finals and will not have time to write much over the next few days. So, I thought I would post a few things I find around the blogosphere. De(Bill) over at the Thinklings posted an excellent piece here on Christian love (and the lack thereof). He begins by posing this question:

Why are Christians hated so deeply ... by other Christians?

An excerpt:

I have read far too many posts and articles that can be summed up like this: “I’m a Christian but I’m really, really embarassed to be associated with all those hateful, ignorant, hypocritical Christians out there”.

Well, I’m not. I’m done being embarassed. I’m not ashamed of my brothers and sisters. God will take care of us, will correct us, and will make us perfect in the end. If you think about it, one of the things about Jesus that is just so . . . well, so breathtakingly awesome is that He was never embarassed of the weird people in His society. If He has saved someone, He isn’t embarassed of them. He doesn’t mind being associated with them. Because He knows that one day they will truly see Him, and will be like Him, because they will see Him as He is. And they will, one day, be glorified - a creature, redeemed by God and made perfect, before whom (as C.S. Lewis writes) we would sink in awe and might even be tempted to worship.

Jesus has plans for His bride. He plans on making her beautiful. You will not see me pointing at her and telling her she’s ugly. One day the angels will stand in awe.

In the meantime, may we do a better job at working out our salvation with fear and trembling, in walking more wisely toward those who are outside, in never being the cause of an unbeliever’s blasphemy before God, and in loving each other as Christ promised we would. And may God discipline us (starting with me) like crazy as we journey on this road. He will make us perfect - He promised it. And He is stubborn and zealous and determined and all-powerful, so I know he will do it!

Mandi reminds everyone in the comments section of this post: "love is not a feeling, it is a choice." Therefore, we truly must choose to love onen another as Jesus commanded us in John 13:34:

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

Finals

2006-04-26T19:57:00.000-05:00

I have finals coming up next week. I also have to write a 15 page paper for my political theory class. I have to choose two themes that we have covered since the last paper. I have chosen to write about about race, and will include material from Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, June Jordan and several articles about the Holocaust. The second theme I have chosen is the economy. I am going to focus on the shift from the laissez-faire ideology of classical liberalism to modern welfare state liberalism and modern conservatism (in its many flavors). For that section, I am using material from Woodrow Wilson, FDR, Regan and a few others.

Luckily, one of my professors gave us a "free pass" on the final. So, that is one less thing I have to worry about. However, I do have a biology final on Monday, a comprehensive (oh yay!) final in my corrections class on Tuesday, and a final in my computer course next Thursday.

After this is over, I only have to finish some Spanish stuff online and then I should be ready to graduate. Hopefully, I can apply for graduation this summer.

Goodbye and Hello

2006-04-21T15:14:00.000-05:00

You can get just so much from a good thing
You can linger too long in your dreams
Say goodbye to the oldies but goodies
'Cause the good old days weren't always good
And tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems- Billy Joel

Today is my 30th birthday. To say that I have been depressed about leaving my twenties behind would be an understatement. Yet, as I started to reflect on my twenties, I realized that I had made a big mess out of most of my twenties. So, I suppose I can look at turning 30 in one of two ways: I can either be totally devastated and feel like the world is coming to an end, or I can look at it as a new beginning. I choose the latter. Besides, my friend Doug says that thirty is the new twenty. :)

He Is Risen!

2006-04-17T21:27:00.000-05:00

He Is Risen Indeed!

Good Friday Lectionary Reading

2006-04-14T17:05:00.000-05:00

GOOD FRIDAY LECTIONARY:
Isaiah 52:13-53:12

[13] See, my servant shall prosper; he shall be exalted and lifted up,
and shall be very high. [14] Just as there were many who were
astonished
at him--so marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance, and his
form beyond that of mortals--[15] so he shall startle many nations;
kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which had not
been told them they shall see, and that which they had not heard they
shall contemplate.

[1] Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the
LORD been revealed? [2] For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we
should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire
him. [3] He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering
and acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hide their
faces he was despised, and we held him of no account.

[4] Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet
we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. [5] But
he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we
are healed. [6] All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned
to our own way, and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

[7] He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his
mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that
before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. [8] By a
perversion of justice he was taken away. Who could have imagined his
future? For he was cut off from the land of the living, stricken for
the transgression of my people. [9] They made his grave with the
wicked and his tomb with the rich, although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.

[10] Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him with pain. When
you make his life an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, and
shall prolong his days; through him the will of the LORD shall prosper.
[11] Out of his anguish he shall see light; he shall find satisfaction
through his knowledge. The righteous one, my servant, shall make many
righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. [12] Therefore I will
allot him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil
with the strong; because he poured out himself to death, and was
numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and
made intercession for the transgressors.

Prayer Request

2006-04-07T15:51:00.000-05:00

Please pray for my coworker's husband, Woody. He had a heart attack yesterday and is in intensive care. They are unable to stabilize him so that he can be moved to another hospital for a heart catheterization.

A Response From The Pastor

2006-03-30T20:06:00.000-06:00

I got a reply from the email I sent my pastor regarding the lecture series last weekend. I am posting the response here. I have intentionally removed the names of the parties to protect their privacy interests.

Thanks for your thoughts on the lecture series, I shared them with (the two associate pastors). The three of us have talked about some of the statements made by Dr. _____. Of course, we can't speak for her, but it is safe to say that at least a point of her message was the diversity within scripture interpretation. She exemplified just that! There is a wide range of scriptural interpretation, no two people see every word the same way. However, I did appreciate the way she upheld the Bible as inspired, as the word of God, as our authority as Christians.

Some of her words (ie "convoluted") were rather abrasive, rough, and at times, even disconcerting to some, I'm sure. However, as (one of the associate pastors) commented, Dr. ______ is used to an academic environment, one with a purpose to challenge, to test, to dispute, to confront, to tantalize one's curiosity to plumb the depths of God's word - ie to do theology.

All of us can agree that Paul was more than just a computer keyboard for the HS. We can also agree that he wrote in a certain period, within a certain culture. What we cannot agree on all the time is how all of those ingredients fit into the equation we call inspired word of God.

You've made some good comments which any of us would enjoy discussing further with you, though I'd much prefer face to face. I'd also encourage you, if you'd like, to write an email to Dr._____. It would be interesting to hear her comments.

Thanks again Gina, for caring so deeply for the Word, for sharing your faith, and for joining together in our quest for a discerning heart.

Grace and Peace,

_________

"Rejoice in the Lord always!.... and the peace of God, which surpasses
all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
(Phil. 4:4,7)

What are your thoughts?? Comments??

"We Are Marshall" Cast to Visit Huntington on Saturday

2006-03-30T19:56:00.000-06:00

Matthew McConaughey and other cast and crew members of the upcoming "We Are Marshall" movie will be in town this weekend to meet with reporters at the Keith Albee. Also on Saturday, there will be a block party on 4th Avenue to kick off the movie.

Phone Duty

2006-03-28T23:47:00.000-06:00

I called the Social Security office yesterday regarding a matter I have been trying to get taken care of since my dad passed away in June of last year. After getting the run around for the last few weeks, I was finally able to talk to someone in the local office where I had originally filled out a form that has since vanished from the face of the earth. I was told that without this form (that I filled out almost a year ago) that I would have to start the process to get this matter taken care of from scratch, which means it would take at least another two months. However, I was told that if I contacted the local office they should have my form on file and could fax the form to the appropriate person to expedite this matter. Great, I think. Maybe I will get this taken care of before I die!

Unfortunately, I forgot that I was dealing with the a governmental organization. Here is what happened:

Me: Hi. I am calling regarding.....

SSA rep: Oh. Well...um yeah, it says they don't have the form and there is nothing I can do about that.

Me: Yes, I know. But, I was told that your office should have it on file.

SSA rep: Yes. We might have it on file, that's true. I would love to help you, but I am afraid I can't get up from my desk to check the filing cabinet because I am on phone duty and there are other callers waiting in the queue.

Me: I've been waiting for 9 months!

SSA rep: Yes, ma'am. I apologize. But, I am afraid I can't get out of my chair right now. As I said, I am on phone duty... We have other callers waiting...I am really sorry...I could call you back in a few hours perhaps...It's just that I am on phone duty and I have other callers in the queue...

Me: (Interrupting) Yes, I understand. (Sigh!) Ok, please return my call as soon as possible at _____________. Thank you!

SIGH!

I Guess Nathan Gets To Say, "I Told You So"

2006-03-26T14:32:00.000-06:00

I posted here about my concern over the guest speaker from Columbia Theological Seminary that was scheduled to speak at my church today. I thought that it was only fair to find out what she had to say before jumping to any radical conclusions. Unfortunately, my fears were validated. In a nutshell, she essentially took a blowtorch to the doctrine of biblical inerrancy. In a series of lectures on family values she declared that there are several ways in which to understand family values from a biblical perspective and indicated that these various ways create a contradiction. At one point she declared that Paul's letters to the Corinthians were very "convoluted." She also said she hoped Jesus was wrong about there being no marriage or giving in marriage at the resurrection. Oh, lets see...what else? She further claimed that both Paul and Jesus thought celibacy was superior to marriage.

There are two more lectures in this series, one tonight and one tomorrow afternoon. Based upon what was said in her sermon during morning worship, I anticipate that she is setting the stage to justify alternative lifestyles, like homosexuality and same sex marriage. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely believe in equal rights in the workplace and etc... regardless of sexual orientation. I also believe that as Christ's church on the earth, we are to preach the truth in love. At the same time, the church must not redefine morality to make it more popular.

So, now I am not sure what to do. Do I stay and take a stand for the truth? Or, do I leave in order to preserve my mind from unsound doctrine?

Comfort

2006-03-25T19:17:00.000-06:00

I had a terrible headache all morning and most of the afternoon. I hadn't eaten anything all day so I went out to get something around 2:00 p.m. or so. I thought that if I ate something and took some ibuprofen, I might feel better. As I was driving, Steven called. Here is an excerpt of our conversation:

Me: What should I have for lunch?

Steven: Hmm. A salad.

Me: Yuck. I don't want a salad...

Steven: Why not? Salad is good for you...

Me: Yeah, but salad is not comforting.

Steven: Ahhh! Food is not supposed to be comforting! Food is not a substitute for love.

Me: Oh...

Bittersweet Memories

2006-03-22T20:03:00.000-06:00

Today would have been my dad's 54th birthday. Unfortunately, he passed away on June 14th, 2005. I think of my dad often, especially on days like today. I miss him so much more than I ever imagined was possible. I miss the way we used to discuss religion and politics until the wee hours of the morning, or how we listened to music together and talked about the lyrics. We also shared a love for reading, suspense movies, and most importantly, God. (Oh, how I wish I could have shared more of this part of my life with my father. But, it was not to be. In many ways my journey of faith echoed that of St. Augustine, who cried out in lament: "How late have I loved thee, oh God.")

My dad and I didn't always agree. In fact, we rarely saw eye to eye on many things. We were both very opinioned. In the earlier years of my life, this inherited trait kept me in a lot of trouble. Those years were not the easiest by any means. We had a lot of problems in our home. My parents argued a lot and my dad battled alcoholism. (He was sober for many years and then he relapsed and my parents divorced...) But, as I became an adult, we did grow closer. For that I am very thankful.

When someone dies, I think it is easy to put them on a pedestal and forget about their flaws. I don't want to do that. My dad wasn't perfect. No one is. Ultimately, it took cancer to bring him to his knees in repentance. In one day, after hearing the words, "You have cancer," my dad was able to do what he had declared for years was impossible. He gave up smoking and drinking cold turkey, and never looked back. (This from a man who drank from the time he got out of bed in the morning, until he went to bed at night). Its amazing what we can do when we have no choice. In my father's hospital room, a few days before he passed away, he looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, "I am so sorry. I know I did this to myself." What an awful realization!

Today has been hard. I talked to my associate pastor this morning and he invited me to a LOGOS dinner that the kids have on Wednesday nights and offered me some quiet time in the prayer room at our church. (It is a very peacefully little room that looks like a miniature sanctuary, complete with mini pews and an altar). I thanked him for the invitation, but I didn't go. Instead, I opted to have dinner with my mom and my grandmother. One thing I have learned from my father's passing is that, as much as your family members can get on your nerves or drive you crazy, time stands still for no one. Life is short. We must make the most of it. Of all the mistakes I have made in life, one that stands out among the ones for which I am most regretful, is the time, a couple of years prior to my fathers passing, that we did not speak for several months. I can't even remember why I was angry with him. But, I do know that in the end I would have given anything to have those few months back.

I bought my dad a birthday card today. I don't know why. My mother asked me what I was going to do with it. I said, "I don't know." I suppose a part of me just can't accept the fact that I can never give my dad another Christmas card or birthday card again. When I was in New York City over the holidays I saw many cards stuck in the fence at ground zero. I guess those people are a lot like me, and find it hard to accept the fact that their loved ones are gone.

Despite my grief,I know we will see each other again. I take comfort in this:

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ESV

And this:

When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

"Death is swallowed up in victory."

1 Corinthians 15:54 ESV

I love you Dad. Happy Birthday!

"We'll Always Have Paris"

2006-03-19T19:33:00.000-06:00

I knew it! I would LOVE to go to Paris...

You Belong in Paris

Stylish and a little sassy, you were meant for Paris.
The art, the fashion, the wine, the men!
Whether you're enjoying the cafe life or a beautiful park...
You'll love living in the most chic place on earth.

What City Do You Belong In?

Removing My Sister's Link

2006-03-15T19:39:00.000-06:00

After a brief review of my sister's my space link, I had to remove it from my blog because of the content. There were several questionable comments and a couple of photos that were not in good taste. So... sadly, I am not able to link to her. In my opinion, a link is an endorsement, and I can't endorse some of the stuff I read on there.

That being said, please pray for Deidra. She was baptized at an early age and professed a strong faith in Christ early on. When we were growing up, she was always the one who defended Christianity when I questioned it. However, as many people often do in their college years, she has wandered from the faith. I have been praying for her constantly. I was encouraged last week to hear that she went to church on her own a couple of weeks ago. That is a good sign, I think. But, from what I can tell, she doesn't have a lot of positive influences in Florida from which to draw upon. Her boyfriend is essentially a non-practicing Catholic who thinks that the bible should not be taken literally (ever) and believes he can do whatever he wants now and pay for his sins in pergatory later. Her best friend is also Catholic, and holds similar views. (By the way, I am not picking on Catholics. From what I can see, neither of them appear to even understand the doctrinal positions of "The Church." Much of their conduct would be considered mortal sin according to my understanding of Catholic doctrine, and thus, not subject to the refining fires of pergatory. In other words, if you die in unconfessed mortal sin, you go to hell, not pergatory, as the RCC teaches that pergatory is for venial (less serious) sin.)

I have been trying to share the gospel with them. Pray that God will remove the blindness from their eyes so that they may see the truth.

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:32

Jesus: "The Author and Perfecter of Our Faith"

2006-03-15T18:34:00.000-06:00

I have been thinking this week about Kansas Bob's recent comment about faith being lived in the heart and not the head. I have been really struggling lately with fear and discouragement. As I pondered Kansas Bob's words in my heart, this passage was brought to my mind:

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

It appears that Paul was able to stay focused on his journey of faith by refusing to live in the past. He could have easily allowed himself to become discouraged, had he focused on his past failures and missed opportunities. Instead, however; he chose to focus on Jesus Christ, realizing, as Kansas Bob pointed out, that faith is lived in the heart and not the head. It is a gift from God. Hebrews 12:2 affirms that it is Jesus who is the author and perfecter of our faith. Therefore, faith is not something we can manufacture on our own. This truth should be extremely encouraging to those of us who are all too aware of the depth of our own shortcomings.

I am convinced that fear is the main reason so many people (myself included) appear to reach a stalemate in their Christian walk. What limits us from doing the things we believe God may be calling us to do? Why do we sometimes fall away? Is it a fear of failure, or anxiety about the future because of mistakes we have made in the past? When we allow these things to take up residence in our minds it is a indication that we have taken our eyes off of Jesus. This is dangerous thing to do. Just imagine what would have happened to Peter if Jesus had not been there to rescue him when he took his eyes of Jesus and began to drown when he was walking out on the water to meet him!

While, we may be inclined to conclude from some biblical passages that faith is something we do, we must realize it is not something we do apart from Christ. Jesus affirms this is John 15:5, saying:

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

We get in trouble when we forget this basic truth.

Self Esteem?

2006-03-09T21:18:00.000-06:00

As I have been reading and studying about ways to overcome my fears and negative feelings from the past, the notion of self-esteem keeps popping up. Should Christians have self-esteem? I am so perplexed and frustrated. On one hand, I know that my negative self image is hindering my ability to develop relationships with others and God. Yet, when I read someone like John MacArthur I hear that we are all just "privy pots." :) So, what is the correct way to view oneself?

I'm Not Sure What To Make Of This

2006-03-05T13:20:00.000-06:00

This was in the church bulletin this morning:

We are very excited and pleased to have one of our very own present this year’s Leckie Bible Lectures. ___________, daughter of ____________will share five lectures with us, from Saturday evening to Monday lunch. She will also preach Sunday morning, with the sermon “Whose Family Values?” with biblical texts Jeremiah 31:31-34 and John 12:20-33.

She states:
North American church and culture are aflame with debate about what constitute ppropriate family values.

• Crowds of protesters urge federal and state legislators either to defend the institution of heterosexual marriage or to extend its benefits to gay and lesbian couples.
• Child welfare agencies encounter increasingly harsh criticism in the face of repeated failures to protect the most vulnerable people entrusted to their care.
• Religious communities of every stripe battle over issues of human sexuality, clergy misconduct, and the proper character of family life.

The Bible serves as a significant authority—or weapon—in these struggles, with opponents hurling Bible verses at each other. I think the multiple voices of the New Testament offer several different answers to the questions we raise about kinship and family life, and I think this very diversity may itself prove helpful for the debate. My thesis is that there are among New Testament writers broadly three ways of construing family values, dubbed for the sake of conversation apocalyptic disorientation, theological reorientation, and ecclesiastical domestication. We will consider them and ask what each contributes to our thinking about life together in the household of God and in the individual households we create within it. If the water of baptism is thicker than the blood of kinship, what does that suggest about how we live together as families?

First of all, she states that the Bible is, "a significant authority" in these struggles. Ummm. Well, for Christians, it should be THE authority.

And, this really concerns me:

"My thesis is that there are among New Testament writers broadly three ways of construing family values."

I am not even sure I want to know what THAT means.

What a Relief!

2006-03-03T20:13:00.000-06:00

I called my cell phone company today and talked to a really nice guy there. He agreed to backdate my rate plan and give me a credit for the minutes I went over. Of course, I will have to pay the difference between the plan I had and the plan I am switching to. But, that is a lot better than paying over $400.00.

I am happy.

Another Prayer from God's Word

2006-03-02T23:42:00.000-06:00

Another great prayer from Beth Moore's Praying God's Word:

Lord, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-help me to make the choice to think about such things. (Philipians 4:8) Lord God, help me to feed the Spirit, not the flesh!

I talk too much

2006-03-02T22:40:00.000-06:00

On the way home from class, I called to see how much my cell phone bill is this month. I almost fainted when the automated system said, $412.74!

Ok, wow...

I can't recall ever having a cell bill that high. My first impression was that there must be a mistake. Unfortunately, there wasn't. I realize I went over my minutes but it kinda burns me that for just $5.00 more they have a plan that would have covered me. But, instead, they are going to charge me .40 cents a minute for all my calls that went over the limit. Sigh!

I talk too much.

Biblical Affirmations

2006-03-01T17:12:00.000-06:00

From The Bondage Breaker:

I am God's child (John 1:12)
I have been bought with a price: I belong to God. (1 Corinthians 6:17)
I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 2:18)
I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7)
I can be confident that the good work God has begun in me will be perfected. (Philippians 1:6)
I can find grace and mercy to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
I have been chosen and appointed by God to bear fruit. (John 15:16)
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! (Philippians 4:13)

Some others:

With man things might seem impossible. But with God's help, all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26)

I can regain control over my eating disorder because "greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

I will not be tempted beyond what I am able to bear. In my temptation, God creates a way of escape for me. ( 1 Corinthians 10:13)

If I trust the Lord with all my heart and do not rely on my own wisdom, he will direct my steps. (Proverbs 3:5)

Prayers from Beth Moore's Praying God's Word:

Father, the false teachers of this world promise freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity- for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. (2 Peter 2:19) I acknowledge my slavery and deeply desire to be mastered by You alone. Only Your mastery brings liberty.

"Everything is permissible for me"-but not everything is beneficial "Everything is permissible for me"-but I desire not to be mastered by anything. (1 Cor. 6:12) Lord God help me to recognize and discern what is not beneficial for me. Help me to see that authentic liberty is being free to do certain things and not free to do others.

More later...

"A journey of a thousand miles..."

2006-02-25T18:47:00.001-06:00

It has been said, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

Today I am taking that step.

I believe that life is a spiritual journey. While I have been on that journey for 29 years, my public profession of faith did not occur until the spring of 2004 when I was baptized- March 20, 2005 to be exact. As I come upon the anniversary of that event, my observation is that I have noticed very little in the way of spiritual development in the last year. Certainly, I have gained a tremendous amount of intellectual knowledge about Christianity. However, looking at my life, I have seen only miniscule growth in the areas of faith, love, and discipleship. I have to wonder why that is.

I think I know.

In Romans 6:12-14, Paul says:

Do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

At first glance I might be inclined to dismiss this passage as having any relevance to me. I haven't killed anyone. I don't sleep around. I don't do drugs, or drink so much that I am falling down drunk. All this might lead me to conclude that I am basically a good person...

A few weeks ago I read a post on someone's blog regarding a woman who used to be a prostitute and adult film actress. The woman has since turned her life around and is actively involved in ministering to young women from similar backgrounds. The author of the post was very critical of the media attention and accolades this woman had been receiving, wondering why those of us who "get it right most of the time" hardly ever get any credit. This led me to think about what "getting it right most of the time" really means. Do I get it right most of the time? Just because I have never been a drug addict or a porn star, does that somehow make me better than someone else? I don't think so. If anything, I think that the sanctification process is often easier for people who have committed grave sin than it is for those of us who "get it right most of the time." Professing Christians know that "big" sins like, Adultery, Murder, Stealing, etc... are wrong and must be dealt with. But, what about those little things like, pride, envy, jealousy, and gossip?

I have an eating disorder.

So what? So do thousands of other Americans, you might say. But it is a big deal. Anorexia, Bulima, and Compulsive Overreating are definite signals that something is adrift in the areas of moderation and self-control.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 states:

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Although this passage primarily refers to sexual immorality, it is clear that any sin against the body dishonors and grieves the holy spirit.

2 Peter 1:5-9 refers to the importance of self-control:

Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Similarly 1 Peter 5:8 warns us to be "self-controlled and alert" because, our enemy satan, "prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

If self-control is a fruit of the spirit, why don't I have it in certain areas of my life? Could it be that I have not been willing to look at the underlying reasons for my eating disorder? Someone once said, "you cannot fix what you will not face." It is often easier to live with a problem than to explore the solution.

Ultimately, I must admit that my unwillingness and inablity to trust God to heal my past hurts and restore my mind is sin of the most serious variety. In Luke 18, Jesus asks a very troubling question: "When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" Ridiculous? Not really. We believe in God. But, as Beth Moore asks, "Do we believe God?"

In my next post I am going to discuss faith and list some positive affirmations that I found in Neil Anderson's "The Bondage Breaker" as well as some that I have come up with myself. God may not be the genie in a bottle of the WoF variety, but I also don't believe that He intends us to live in bondage to strongholds that impede our faith and cause us to live as less than who we are in Christ.

Strathairn joins "We Are...Marshall" cast

2006-02-22T18:31:00.000-06:00

Warner Bros. recently announced that "Good Night, and Good Luck" star, David Strathairn, will be joining Matthew McConaughey and Matthew Fox in "We Are...Marshall," the upcoming movie project about the 1970 plane crash.

Daytona 500 Preshow featuring Bon Jovi and... my sister?!!

2006-02-19T11:55:00.000-06:00

I got a phone call from my sister, Deidra, last night. She called to tell me that she is going to be on TV today. Apparently she got a VIP pass to go on stage with Bon Jovi during the Daytona 500 preshow. It will be airing this afternoon on NBC.

You go girl!

What to do about the Sabbath?

2006-02-15T23:39:00.000-06:00

My friend Doug and I were recently discussing whether or not Christians are still required to keep the Sabbath. He says yes. I say no. I found an excellent analysis of this issue from John MacArthur here.

What do you think?

Marshall University Football Movie

2006-02-03T22:29:00.000-06:00

This is pretty cool...

Earlier this week, Warner Brothers Pictures and Legendary Pictures announced plans to make a movie about the 1970 plane crash that killed 75 Marshall University football players, coaches, staff and fans as they returned from a football game at East Carolina. The movie will focus on the team's inspirational recovery after the crash. University President, Stephen J. Kopp, describes the movies as "a story about people shaped by loss and how people can overcome that."

Matthew McConaughey has been cast to play Jack Lengyel, who coached the Thundering Herd football team after the crash. Lost star Matthew Fox will be playing Red Dawson, who worked with Lengyel.

Filming Begins March 20th, 2006 in Huntington.

This should be good for Marshall and Huntington.... (And, lets face it, Matthew McConaughey is easy on the eyes)

More info here

UPDATE: The movie now has a name. Apparently, it is going to be called "We Are Marshall." While the phrase means a lot to the locals, I am not sure sure it is going to grab anyone else. Personally, I think they could have picked something a little more interesting.

It's Official...Almost

2006-01-28T16:28:00.000-06:00

I passed my licensing exam this afternoon! Yay! The test was much harder than our intructor suggested it would be. There was a lot of information that we did not cover in class. The basic premises we covered were all there, but they went into much more detail than I anticipated. I tried not to panic. I just reasoned them out to the best of my ability, using the process of elimination. Luckily, that worked. Plus, I prayed a lot before the test. Now, all I have left to do is some paperwork that will make me officially appointed by the insurer that I work for to sell for them as an agent, or as the law now calls it, producer. By the way, did you know that technically speaking, an agent is the agent of the insurer and not the insured? Just something to ponder.

It is really times like this when I realize that without him, I really am nothing...

This week

2006-01-26T18:55:00.000-06:00

This week I am taking a pre-licensing class for Property and Casualty Insurance. There is soooooooo much information. I am beginning to run out of steam. They literally cram the equivalent of a whole semester of information into a week. I am taking the exam on Saturday afternoon. I could have waited longer, but everyone I have talked to advised me to take the exam as soon as I possibly could after completing the class. I hope they are right.

I would appreciate your prayers.

My brain

2006-01-20T22:51:00.000-06:00

I found this interesting quiz today. I did it and it seems pretty accurate. Here are my results:

Your Brain Usage Profile:

Auditory : 50%
Visual : 50%
Left : 58%
Right : 41%

Gina, you are somewhat left-hemisphere dominant with a balanced preference for auditory and visual inputs. Because of your "centrist" tendencies, the distinctions between various types of brain usage are somewhat blurred.

Your tendency to be organized and logical and attend to details is reasonably well-established which should afford you success regardless of your chosen field of endeavor, unless it requires total spontaneity and ability to improvise, your weaker traits. However, you are far from rigid or overcontrolled. You possess a degree of individuality, perceptiveness, and trust in your intuition to function at much more sophisticated levels than most.

Having given sufficient attention to detail, you can readily perceive the larger aspects and implications of a situation or of learning. You are functional and practical, but can blend abstraction and theory into your framework readily.

The equivalence of your auditory and visual learning orientation gives you two equally effective sensory input systems, each with distinctive features. You can process both unidimensionally and multidimen- sionally with equal facility. When needed, you sequence material while at other times you "intake it all" and store it for processing later.

Your natural ability to use your senses is also synthesized in your way of learning. You can be reflective in your approach, absorbing material in a non-aggressive manner, and at other times voracious in seeking out stimulation and experience.

Overall you tend to be somewhat more critical of yourself than is necessary and avoid enjoying life too much because of a sense of duty. You feel somewhat constrained and tend to sometimes restrict your expressiveness. In any given situation, you will opt for the rational, and learning of almost any type should be easy for you. You might need certain ideas explained to you in order to fit them into your scheme of things, but you're at least open to that!

Gazelle

2006-01-20T20:19:00.000-06:00

Thanks to my friend Debbi and her husband John, I can now use my new Gazelle. In the spirit of exercising more in 2006, I purchased this fun little piece of exercise equipment. It arrived on Wednesday in a million pieces. Luckily I did not have to put it together. John offered to help and so I gave them a bookshelf I had been wanting to sell or get rid of to say thanks. They have a daughter, Megan, who is in college and starting to accumulate household items so that she can furnish an apartment soon. I gave her some stuff that I had in storage a month or so ago. It worked out well. I wanted to get rid of some clutter and she needed the stuff.

I'm back!

2006-01-12T16:14:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone! I know it has been a while since I have posted anything. It has been crazy around here for the last few months with work, school and the holidays. Also, after prayerful consideration, I decided to take a hiatus from blogging and the net for a while. All things considered, I think it was a good thing.

We spent Christmas in New York City this year. We stayed at the Waldorf=Astoria on Park and Lexington. The hotel was great, but our rooms were kind of small. But, who goes to New York to hang out in a hotel room anyway? So,it wasn't a big deal. We were only there four and a half days so we didn't get to do everything we wanted, but we did a lot. The highlight of our trip was Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Former mayor Giuliani was there. A gentleman from the New York Opera sang "Oh Holy Night." It gave me chills. Good stuff! Oh, and of course I can't leave off all the shopping on 5th Avenue and Madison Ave. That was a blast. Finally, on Christmas night we had dinner at Tavern on the Green and then we took a carriage ride through Central Park.

What else is new? Let's see. Oh, I got a promotion at work. When my boss came to me to discuss the opportunity I was hesitant and not sure it was something I wanted to do right now because I am in my final semester of college and I am taking 19 hours of classes. But, I decided to pray about it and I asked a couple of close friends to pray about it with me as well. In the end, my boss was practically bending over backwards to accommodate my schedule. So, I decided to take it. I am glad I did. I think it is a step in the right direction and will be good for my checkbook and resume. The only drawback is that I have to go to a pre-licensing class in week or so and then take a state licensing exam to get my property and casualty insurance license in West Virginia. Ordinarily, this would be no big deal. But, on top of all my classes, its a bit daunting. So, I really would appreciate your prayers.

Who is Jesus?

2005-10-23T00:34:00.000-05:00

Jesus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of (B)Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He questioned His disciples, saying to them, "Who do people say that I am?" (Mark 8:27)

Today, as I was reading the above verse from the gospel of Mark, I thought about the question Jesus posed. Just out of curiosity, I decided to google it. Here are the top 10 hits:

1. Jesus is the Messiah.
2. Jesus is the only way.
3. Jesus is the real one.
4. Jesus is the Son of God.
5. Jesus is both God and man.
6. Jesus is God in human flesh.
7 Jesus is the Word.
8. Jesus is Lord.
9. Jesus is the YHWH the "I am."
10. Jesus is not known amongst the public ...

Yes. Jesus is the Messiah, the only way, the Son of God, was both God and man...the Lord. Yet, for far too many people, Jesus is not known. Today, Jesus asks us, "Who do YOU say I am?" How will you respond? Will you affirm that he is the only way? The real one? The Lord? Or, will you say, "He is not known amongst us!" ?

Today, if you his his voice, do not harden your hearts..." (Hebrews 3:15)

Frustration

2005-10-20T12:04:00.000-05:00

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:15-25)

I seriously could have written this! Sometimes I really disgust myself.

Have you ever battled with the same sin over and over? How did you handle it?

Looks Like Armageddon!?!

2005-10-19T16:51:00.000-05:00

I had the weirdest telephone conversation today at work. I got a message off my machine from a middle aged man who was looking for a particular type of insurance that we do not offer. So, I called to tell him that and about midway into the phone call he says to me, "Are you a Christian?" I said that I was and he proceeded to tell me that he believes that Hurricanes Wilma, Rita and Katrina are sure signs that the world is getting ready to end. I didn't want to mention to him that hurricanes are not a new phenomena, being that he was a potential customer. Nevertheless, he continued to speak of death and devastation for a couple of minutes until I interjected with this hopeful statement: "Well, we should pray that this hurricane doesn't end doing the kind of damage that Katrina did." He said, "The wind blows where it will, we can't stop the hand of God." Then he asked me how old I am. I told him that I am 29. He said I sounded much younger and then he politely excused himself and hung up.

I guess he was looking for a younger woman. :)

A Charismatic Calvinist

2005-10-19T15:40:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Jared, I discovered a new blog today called Reformation Theology Apparently it is from the folks at Monergism.com. I liked it so much, I decided to add it to the blogroll.

I particularly enjoyed John Hendryx's interview with John Sampson from Faith Community Church in Phoenix, Arizona. In it, Sampson tells the story of his poignant journey from Arminianism to Calvinism in a manner I think many of us can relate to. It is definitely worth the read.

Sampson also discloses that while his church is essentially reformed in theology, they are also charismatic. On the main page of the church's website, I found this article which attempts to answer the question, "Are miracles for today?" It is an interesting article and suggests that cessationism does not have strong biblical support, a view which I personally espouse. Here is an excerpt from his interview with Hendryx which I think is an excellent point:

Some would describe a charismatic in terms of the outrageous things we’ve all witnessed taking place on Christian television in America. That’s the only reference point some people have. That’s very sad because these extremes are as repulsive to me as they are to others.

Lets face it, eisegesis happens! It happens in all kinds of settings. Imagine for a moment a Christian television station that simply broadcasted the extremes within each denomination 24 hours a day, seven days a week

The Integrity of God

2005-10-18T17:35:00.000-05:00

Webster's Dictionary defines integrity as:

1) An unimpaired condition: SOUNDNESS; 2) Adherance to a code of moral, artistic, or other values; 3) the quality or state of being complete or undivided: COMPLETENESS.

In very basic terms, integrity is doing what you say you will do when you say you will do it. It is standing up for what you believe is right no matter what the circumstances may be. A person of integrity does not waver. A person of integrity is steadfast. Although we often hear stories of men and women of great integrity, I submit to you that our God is the quintessential example of integrity.

"All scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness." 2 Timothy 3:16

God's word is his integrity. If we are to believe this, we must first acknowledge that The Bible is inspired and infallible. (2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16) Earlier this week I was talking to my mom about a bible study presentation she was giving at her church. When I mentioned starting with the premise that the bible is the inspired, infallible word of God, she said, "Oh, I think they all know that. It's too basic."

But is it?

I know that it is a statement that most evangelical Protestant churches list at the top of their statement of faith. But, I am not sure that we really believe it. At least we don't often live like we believe it. Because if we truly believe that the Bible is free from error, and fully inspired by God, then why do we have such a difficult time believing God for the things he promises to us in his word? The bible is full of examples of where God honored his word. In fact, he says that he places his word above his name! That's a pretty powerful statement.

Throughout history, God has shown himself faithful to his word. Lets consider a few prime examples:

In Genesis 2:16-17 he told Adam and Eve, "Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Although the serpent convinced them that they "would not surely die", God remained faithful to his word. As it is written in Romans 5:12 "...through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men..."

Perhaps one of the most memorable promises or covenants God made was with Abraham. In Genesis chapter 14-17 God promises to make Abraham the father of many nations. God said to him, "Look toward the heavens and count the stars, if you are able to count them." And then he said, "So shall your descendants be." (Genesis 15:5-6) We know that God honored that promise by giving life to Sarah's womb and blessing them with a son, Isaac. In fact, the Bible says in Galatians 3:29 that all who belong to Christ, both Jew and Gentile, are Abraham's descendants, and "heirs according to the promise."

In Isaiah, the coming of the messiah is prophesied. It is later fulfilled in the life of Jesus Christ, the one who would save the people from their sins and deliver us from the curse of the law. Thank goodness for the faithful integrity of our creator!

Shortly before Jesus is crucified he makes another incredible promise. In John 2:19 he tells a group of unbeliving Jews, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." Of course, they were astonished. They mocked him saying, "It took forty-six years to build this temple, and in three days you will raise it up?" Little did they know he was talking about the temple of his body. Once again, God's integrity could not fail.

Finally, we know that Jesus promised his disciples that he would not leave them alone. He promised to send a comforter. (John 14:6) This promise is realized on the day of Pentecost when the holy spirit came upon them in the upper room and equipped them for the ministry God had called them to.

These are just a few examples of how God has honored his word throughout history. There are countless others. So, won't you decide today to believe God? He has promised us so much if we will only be as Abraham was, being "fully assured" that what God promises, he is "able to perform." (Romans 4:21)

God isn't a genie in a bottle or an ATM machine. He doesn't always cater to our every whim. He loves us far to much to do that. But, he wants us to come to him in prayer, allowing his desires to become our desires. If we do that, and seek him above all things, he promises to bless us with spiritual blessings beyond measure.

Do you need to experience God's peace? His forgiveness? I don't know the problems you are facing today, but I do know that God is greater than any problem we have. Reach out to him. I promise he will not disappoint you. His integrity depends on it.

Should I Be Offended? Insulted?

2005-10-15T01:56:00.000-05:00

I was having an email discussion with one of the commenters here and I got this statement in response to one of the emails I sent:

"Its obvious you had someone write this email for you; if not at least dictate much of the verbiage."

Excuse me?

It gets better...

He goes on to say:

"Don't really know who wrote that email for you, but I'd appreciate it if they'd show the courage to at least reveal their identity. Or, at least communicate with me that you are getting help (a lot in this case) from a friend."

I don't know whether to be completely offended that my character has been called into question, or just laugh. I've never been accused of being a plagiarist before.

Psalm 63

2005-10-14T00:06:00.000-05:00

God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.

Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.

So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.

My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

Psalm 63:1-8

Do you hunger for God this way? I know I do. This is one of my favorite psalms.

Bible Verse

2005-10-13T10:05:00.000-05:00

Ok, I need your help. I am trying to select an appropriate bible verse for my father's headstone and I would like your suggestions.

Thanks!

Gender Roles in the Church

2005-10-07T16:55:00.000-05:00

I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet... 1 Timothy 2:12

The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the law also says. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church. 1 Corinthians 14:34

Currently, there is an excellent post on the proper role of women in the church at Thinklings. Of course, this is a topic that people generally have very passionate opinions about.

I have to admit, this isn't a subject I have given much thought to until now. However, the newest associate pastor at my church is a woman and I am joining the church on Sunday. So, when I read Jared's post, It made me stop and think about my own opinions and beliefs about this controversial subject. Was Paul merely responding to a problem the early church faced? If so, what are we to make of his reference to created order immediately following his prohibition on women teaching or exercising authority over men? Was Paul somehow limited in his thinking because of the culture he lived in? If so, doesn't it damage the claim of inspiration and infallibility of the scripture to assert that Paul could have been culturally biased?

I could go on and on with questions that arise in my mind when I think about this issue. Its an interesting topic. I would love to hear your views.

World Communion Sunday

2005-10-02T12:59:00.000-05:00

We participated in World Communion Sunday today at our church. This event takes place every year on the first Sunday in October in many churches throughout the world. It is an opportunity to unite in ecumenical worship with our brothers and sisters in Christ from other denominations. Today we celebrated the eucharist with our Lutheran, Episcopal, Baptist and Catholic neighbors in the middle of downtown Huntington. It was an amazing experiece. I was filled with awe to know that at the very same moment I was partaking in the sacraments, there were people all around the world doing the very same thing.

Towards the end of the service, one of the ministers made a comment that really touched my heart. He said, "What brings us all together, our faith in Jesus Christ, is far greater than those things which divide us."

Faith

2005-09-18T23:13:00.000-05:00

I am really enjoying the bible study I am going to on Thursday nights. On the first night we learned a 5 statement pledge that will govern our study. It is:

1. God is who He says He is.

2. God can do what He says He can do.

3. I am who God says I am.

4. I can do all things through Christ.

5. God's word is alive and active in me.

I know this is going to be a powerful journey. I know it because from the moment I committed to doing this bible study I have had nothing but trouble. I have wanted to give up and say, "I quit" several times in the last two weeks. I believe that the enemy hates it when Christians get serious about their faith. He doesn't want anyone to be successful in Christ. He doesn't want us to advance the kingdom of God. He doesn't want us to reach out to the unchurched. He knows that he can't steal our salvation, but he would love to destroy our witness, our joy and our hope.

The truth is I just really want to reach the next level in my Christian life. I want to grow in my faith to the point that I completely trust God in all things. I really do thirst for him. I want to know him intimately. When I think about giving up, God is quick to remind me of the kind of life he brought me from. The fact is, no matter what kind of trials I face as a Christian, I know what a life without God is all about. As they say, "I've been there, done that, and I've got the t-shirt." The enemy is a liar and nothing he has to offer is worth the price you have to pay. I thank God that he reminds me of that every day.

Prayer Request

2005-09-15T08:18:00.000-05:00

I would like to request prayer for my co-worker's grandson that was born yesterday. He has some birth defects that they were unaware of, despite many ultrasounds. He is missing his left middle finger and all the other fingers on both hands are webbed together.

The baby's name is Austin. His parents are Jennifer and Joey.

The Day of the Lord

2005-09-11T15:37:00.000-05:00

I was running late for church this morning so I decided to go to a Baptist church that is a lot closer to my house. The topic of the sermon was "The Second Coming of Christ." As long as I have been attending the Presbyterian church, I don't recall ever hearing a sermon about eschatology. It has never been a subject that I was very interested in. Thus, I do not have a clearly formed belief concerning these things. So, how about it? What are your eschatological views? Are you Preterist, Premil, Postmil, Pre-wrath, Amil, etc...

What is interesting is that last night I was actually reading Revelations. While reading, I was thinking about the premillinial pre-trib teachings that I grew up with. Something struck me as I was reading. If this view is correct, then why would God loose Satan again to deceive the nations after the tribulation period and millinial reign is over? Who is he going to deceive? The saints who ruled with Christ? The people who accepted Jesus during the great tribulation? I find it hard to believe that those people who have made it through the great tribulation and all the wrath that has been poured down on sin would turn against God again.

"Believing God"- A Beth Moore Bible Study

2005-09-08T21:17:00.000-05:00

I am really excited to report that I started an 11-week Beth Moore women's bible study tonight at my church, First Presbyterian. There were about 15 women there, raging in age from early 20's to late 60's. I am very optimistic about this bible study. Lately I have been feeling a little blah about my spiritual life and I have been experiencing some reservations about joining the church I attend. At first I felt that I wasn't being challenged enough. But, then I realized that perhaps it wasn't the church's fault, it might be mine! GASP! May it never be so! :)

The fact is that I normally just attend the traditional Sunday morning worship services and an occassional Sunday night contemporary service. I have not been going to Sunday School or participating in any small group bible studies. So, I think before I determine that " I am not being fed" I probably need to buy a set of silverware.

I enjoyed the small group experience because it provided me with an opportunity to get to know some of the women one on one. Its really hard to do that in regular church services. I hope this experience will help me feel more involved. I have felt like somewhat of an outsider for a while because I didn't really know anyone there when I started going.

Support the Relief Effort

2005-09-02T18:26:00.000-05:00

The people of New Orleans, and the other cities and affected by Hurricane Katrina need our help. You may not think that the relatively small amount of money that you can afford to give will go very far. But, if we all give a little, together we can do a lot. Remember, this could be you or one of your family members. Show the love of God to those who are hurting by making a donation today. The Red Cross makes donating easy. You may give online here or you can reach them by phone at 1-800-HELP-NOW.

In addition to your monetary support, please continue to lift up all the people affected by this disaster in prayer.

Thank you and God Bless You.

Hurricane Katrina

2005-08-31T19:15:00.000-05:00

My thoughts and prayers go out to all the people on the gulf coast who have been affected by Hurricane Katrina.

I received an email today from a co-worker in Ohio seeking assistance for her sister, Lisa who lives In New Orleans and lost everything in the Hurricane. Lisa is a widow and has two children. I can't even begin to imagine what she must be going through tonight.

As I sit here, warm and comfortable at the kitchen table, I am full of gratitude for the things I often take for granted: a roof over my head, a warm bed, and refrigerator full of food to eat.

The TV is on and I am staring in disbelief at the widespread destruction. One reporter just commented, "New Orleans as we know it is gone." Another reporter tells stories of entire families found dead in their homes. It is all so terribly sad.

Nightclubs and Bars

2005-08-26T21:57:00.000-05:00

I have been talking to my friend, Doug, about something the last few days that I decided I would share with you and ask for your feedback. As a Christian, is it ok to go to bars and nightclubs? Why or why not? Also, is there a difference between the two? If so, what? Also, at what point does trying to live a Christian life turn into legalism?

I am purposely trying to keep my opinion to myself because I really want to know what others think. Lets just say that my friend and I seem to disagree. I do have an opinion, though I am not sure how strong it is. I am open to changing my view if someone can present me with convincing evidence. I think my friend is also open to well-reasoned evidence.

Thanks.

Overwhelmed

2005-08-25T18:04:00.000-05:00

I am looking for advice. I just started back to school this week. I am carrying a full load and I also work at an insurance agency 30 hours a week. On the weekends, my mom ususally comes down to stay and often brings the baby that I mentioned in the prayer request post. Of course, I have church on Sunday and I also have a Thursday evening bible study that I will be participating in this fall. Needless to say, I am a little overwhelmed. My house is a mess. I am tired all the time and I am stressed out! I need to come up with a plan to get myself organized and my time managed efficiently. At this point when I am looking at all I have to do, I just can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions that anyone might have.

What has helped you become/stay organized?

Believing God?

2005-08-22T21:50:00.000-05:00

We heard a rumor today at work that they might be closing our office. Of course, this has everyone in a panic. However, I don't think that God wants his children to live in fear. Many times in the last year I have been forced to acknowledge that God is my source, not man. People can let you down, circumstances can change, but God alone remains faithful. For this reason, we should have peace.

In one of her books, Beth Moore asks, "Do we merely believe in God, or do we believe God?" At first this seems like a simple question. But, is it really? How often do we worry and fret over things that happen to us and fail to recognize that God has promised never to leave us or forsake us. In fact, he cares for us so much that the bible says that even the hairs on our heads are numbered. Yet, our faith in his ability and willingness to take care of us, always seems to be lacking.

Of the many promises God gives believers in the bible, one of the most significant ones is peace. The bible has a lot to say about peace. A few good verses of scripture that come to mind are:

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." (Isaiah 26:3)

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27)

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

As believers, we have assurance that:

A. God is in control. The bible says that "The Lord has established his throne in the heavens and his sovereignty rules over all." (Psalms 103:19)

AND...

B. God is continually involved in our lives every single day. In fact, Romans 8:28 says: "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

SO...

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phillipians 4:6-7)

The bottom line is this: If my office closes tomorrow, I know that God will make a way for me. He will open another window of opportunity. How do I know this? I know it because I've seen it happen. I believe with all my heart that "in ALL things" God truly does have a plan. And he is willing and able to bring something positive out of even the worst situations.

Prayer Request

2005-08-21T21:21:00.000-05:00

I would like to make a special prayer request. If you read this post, please pray for a special little boy in my life. His home situation is not the best. His mother has some emotional problems and may have a drug problem as well. I fear for the safety and well-being of this baby while he is in her care. My prayer is that God will watch over him and keep him safe and that if his mother is unable to get herself some help, that he would be removed from the home and placed with someone who will love him and care for him. My mom confronted her today about her behavior and she got very upset and told my mom that she would never let her see the baby again. My mom has kept him nearly every single weekend since he was 9 days old. He is now 8 months. My mother is just devastated, and worried. She really needs our prayers as well. It has been a rough year for her. Her boyfriend died in July of 2004 of a sudden heart attack, my father ( her ex-husband) was diagnosed less than a month later with cancer and he died in June of this year. Now this with the baby....

Thanks.

A Love Song to the Lord

2005-08-21T20:45:00.000-05:00

I found this song in my real player library tonight. I have no idea where it came from. I have never heard it before. As, I listened to the lyrics, I was filled with such gratitude and reminded of all that the Lord has done for me. I couldn't have written a better "love song" to Him. This one says it all:

when i think about the Lord
by james huey

when i think about the Lord
how He saved me, how He raised me
how He filled me with the Holy Ghost
how He healed me to the uttermost
when i think about the Lord
how He picked me up
turned me around
how He placed my feet
on solid ground

it makes me want to shout
hallelujah! thank you, Jesus!
Lord, you're worthy
of all the glory, and all the honor
and all the praise!
Hallelujah! thank you, Jesus!
Lord, you're worthy
of all the glory, and all the honor
and all the praise!

Limited Atonement?

2005-08-20T21:02:00.000-05:00

Hebrews 10:26-30 (NIV)

26If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"[a] and again, "The Lord will judge his people."

I believe that the vs. 29 above appears to conflict with the doctrine of limited atonement. I am curious as to how Calvinists view that particular verse in light of their beliefs. To be fair, I think John 10 is equally problematic for Arminianism. Now, obviously there must be a way to reconcile seemingly contradictory truths. That is where I am right now.

Breaking Free

2005-08-19T00:39:00.000-05:00

Our church is beginning an 11 week Beth Moore women's bible study in September, called Living Beyond Yourself: Exploring the Fruits of the Spirit. Since I was not familiar with Moore's writing, I decided to check her out at Borders. I skimmed a few of her selections and decided to purchase a book called Breaking Free: Making Liberty in Christ a Reality in Life. I have only read a few chapters, but so far I like what I have read. I think this is a great book for anyone who wants to know God better and have a stronger relationship with him. In the book, Moore discusses five hinderances that can impede our Christian walk and keep us from experiencing all that God intends for his children. According to Moore, these hinderances include:

1. Unbelief - She makes an excellent point when she questions, Do we merely believe in God? (For our salvation) Or, do we really believe God, including all the promises in His word?

2. Idolotry - I think this is a huge issue. What things in our lives have we, either intentionally, or unintentionally, given a higher priority than serving God? Our kids? Our jobs? Our mates? Our friends? A bad habit? This is a very worthwhile question to ask ourselves. I think the truth might surprise us if we get real with ourselves.

3. Prayerlessness

4. Legalism

5. Pride

Interview Meme

2005-08-18T16:11:00.000-05:00

Here's how it works. I will ask the the first 5 people to reply to this post 5 questions. You will respond to them on your own blog and then repeat the process with 5 other people. Sounds fun! Lets get started.

Here are the questions Shrode asked me over at Thinklings

1. Tell me about your siblings. How many do you have? What was it like growing up with them? Do you still get along? Do you consider them close friends? How often do you talk to each other?

I have one sister, Deidra. She is 24 years old. We are 5 years apart (I am 29) so we didn't really hang out together growing up. But, we moved in together after she graduated high school and moved here for college. We have been very close ever since. She lives in Florida now and is school to be a Chiropractor. I talk to her pretty much every day or at least every other day. I just got back from visiting her on Monday.

2. When did you first become a Christian? How did that happen? What's your story?

Well, I was raised in a Baptist church. I went just about every Sunday with my Grandma. My parents attended a non-denominational church when I was a teenager and I went there until I graduated high school. My best friend's dad was the pastor. I guess you could say I was a pew warmer, but definitely not a dedicated believer.

Anyway, I quit going altogether after I moved to Atlanta in 1994 to go to college. From that point on I became very uninterested in anything remotely Christian or religious. I decided that I wasn't sure I even believed in "all that stuff." I thank my Liberal Arts education for that. (Just kidding...sorta)

A few years ago I went through a phase where I visited many different churches, trying to find one I liked. But, I was involved with a guy who was an unbeliever and he really gave me a hard time and I wasn't really that committed so I stopped going.

Last year, I met a guy...and if I told you what I was doing or where I was when we met, you would KNOW that I definitely wasn't seeking. But, as it would appear, the Holy Spirit was seeking me. This guy told me he was a Christian and we began talking about the Lord. I was highly skeptical. I told him that I had been to a lot of churches in my area and none of the appealed to me. He recommended a Presbyterian church and I agreed to go once just to get him off my back. Well, shortly thereafter, I found out that my dad had cancer. This was merely a month after my mom's boyfriend dropped dead from a sudden heart attack. This coupled with a lot of other personal issues, brought me to the brink of a nervous breakdown.

I should back up a bit and say that first of all, I was very skeptical of religion because no one that I knew really seemed to be better off for having it. My parents were unhappy, divorced, etc... My dad, who used to be a Sunday School teacher, was an alcoholic. My mom attended a Charismatic non-denominational church that preaches the prosperity gospel, yet she still seemed decidely unhappy. So, I thought...who needs all that? Prayer doesn't even work. I remember praying as a kid for things to happen (my grandfather and my grandmas sister to be healed from cancer) and yet they died.

That is when weird things started happening. First of all my friend recommended a book for me to read called: "When God Writes Your Life Story." I read that book (still skeptical) and I felt like my whole view of religion had been radically transformed. You mean, its not supposed to be all about me? Wow. Ok. That is definitely not what they are preaching down the street at First Name-It-And-Claim-It Community Church.

Then, I was in the library waiting for some friends to get off work so we could go to dinner and I was browsing. A book jumped out at me on the shelf. It was called, "Its Not All About Me" or something like that, by Max Lucado. I was like, "Interesting." Then I finally went to that Presbyterian church my friend was bugging me about. The message was about how we try to plan our own lifes and do it our way intead of letting God lead us. The minister said, "Its not all about us, it about God." I was like, "Hmm. Ok this is getting weird." Then I picked up a copy of PDL and the very first line of Ch. 1 was "Its not about you." Ok, I am totally spooked now. Finally, I visited one of those semi-prosperity gospel type churches on a night that the pastor was out of town. The associate pastor was preaching and all of the sudden he says, "I don't really know why I am saying this. And, I might tick some people off, but you know, its not all about you and me. We can't expect just to pray gimme, gimme when we aren't even doing our part to serve God and devote ourselves to his will. We need to seek him first and then..."

At that point, I was like, "Ok, I get it God."

I basically had shunned religion because I had a very badly misconceived idea about what it was all about. When I realized it was not all about me, but rather it was about giving glory and honor to God and letting him lead the way, my life was radically changed. I consider it one of those lightbulb moments.

I accepted Jesus in the fall of 2004 and I was baptized in March of this year.

3. Being a fairly new believer, how did you come to know so much about Calvinism? How come you are not a Calvinist? Actually, rereading some of your posts, it seems you may be a Calvinist after all. So are you or aren't you? And why or why not?

When my friend recommended a Presbyterian church I said, "Wait. Aren't they Calvinists?" He said something like, "I don't know, I think." I am just not the kind of person who can do anything without "full disclosure" so I decided to find out more. When I first started going to the Presbyterian church I talked to the associate pastor about Calvinism because I was concerned. I thought Calvinism was evil. But, of course, that is coming from someone who had never read the bible before, unless you count during Sunday school as a kid. So, you know...

Once I really started learning more about Calvinism, I became somewhat obsessed with figuring out if it was true. I read as much as I could about it and started talking to people online.

I am still on the fence, but I have to admit that Calvinism has some pretty persuasive arguments in its favor. There is just something about it that I am not quite comfortable with yet, though. But, I have to say that the more I study the word, the harder I am finding it to completely dismiss Calvinism. Esp. in light of John Ch. 10 and Romans 9.

4. What's in your CD player right now?

Sugarland, Norah Jones and a Contemporary Christian praise CD

5. If you could own any TV show on DVD from the 80's or earlier, what would it be?

Punky Brewster

Florida

2005-08-15T23:27:00.000-05:00

I went to Florida to visit my sister for a little mini-vacation this past weekend. I had a great time. I had never been to my sisters new place so I really enjoyed that. We did some power shopping one afternoon and I feel the need to share with you my current list of must have items:

1. Hanae Mori Butterfly perfume. I can't begin to tell you how delicious this smells - And, the bottle is also pretty. Notes include: Strawberries, Bilberries, Black Currant, Bulgarian Rose, Jasmine, Ylang-Ylang, Sandalwood, Almond, Praline.

According to Sephora:

The fragrance is a rare blend of berries and flowers, with a distinctive tone of strawberries and almond, giving an impression of vanilla. The bottle's top is distinctly made from glass, a first for any fragrance. The top represents the beauty and delicate shape of a butterfly with folded wings.

2. Phyto Phytodefrisant Hair Relaxing Balm- A must have for anyone who must content with humidity.

3. Bath and Body Works' new fall scent, Brown Sugar and Fig. It smells heavenly.

And, my latest and greatest restaurant find:

Seasons 52 in Altamonte Springs, Fl. Everything on the menu is under 500 calories and tastes fantastic. I went there with my sister and I'll admit I was a skeptic. I was expecting to find something along the lines of the Weight Watchers menu at Applebees and it was nothing like that at all. The food was excellent - very flavorful. I got crab stuffed shrimp with asparagus and squash. My sister got pork tenderloins with pollenta. The desserts are fantastic as well. They each come served in a tall shot glass and are just enough to top off the delicious dinner. With many items coming in under 300 calories each, this restaurant definitely deserves a visit.

PS. I am saving the horrible part of my vacation story until tomorrow...

Peter Jennings Dies

2005-08-08T22:22:00.000-05:00

Former "ABC Nightly News" anchor and highly revered journalist, Peter Jennings, passed away on Sunday at his home in New York City after a battle with lung cancer.

I was deeply saddened to hear of Jennings' death. My father passed away in June from the same type of cancer. I know that he empathized deeply for Mr. Jennings when he heard that he was ill, even writing to him to let him know that he would keep him in his prayers.

When I heard last night that Peter Jennings had passed away, memories of my dad's own illness and death came rushing back. Cancer is such an awful, dehumanizing disease. Watching someone suffer when there is nothing you can really do to help them is the hardest thing I have ever had to do.

If there is one positive thing that came from my own father's illness it is the realization that our bodies are truly temples of the holy spirit and we should make every effort to take care of them. My dad did not not do that. He drank excessively and smoked since he was a teenager. His struggle with alcoholism would last his entire life. When my dad accepted Jesus he quit drinking. This lasted for about 10 years, I think. Then, one night at dinner, he gave in to the lie. He thought he could master what had mastered him. "Just one drink," he said. That one drink led to another drink and only stopped when he saw his own mortality face to face. Its amazing how finding out that you are dying can really put things into perspective.

We all have our own crosses to bear. I personally do not struggle with alcoholism or smoking. But, I have my own issues. With the grace of God, I pray that I can overcome them.

My thoughts and prayers are with the Jennings family tonight. May God's grace and peace be with them.

"Professing to be wise, they became fools..."

2005-08-03T21:06:00.000-05:00

I came across another great post today regarding the Christian blogosphere. The blogger, Tom Reindl, writes here:

"I am wondering about what I have been writing lately. For that matter, I am wondering about what most Christian bloggers have been writing about. Further that, I am wondering what most Christian authors, including the well known ones, have been writing about.

A thought occurred to me yesterday...how we can seem to know so much about God, and our faith, and yet how we seem to have little or none of the power that comes with the Kingdom. And so I brought that thought up when I was in silence with Abba..."

He goes on to say:

"I am far more interested in knowledge than I am in practical living. By “practical living”, I mean, as far as a believer goes, I am an infant. Yet I want to discuss the deeper “truths” of our faith as if I have been, or am a mature follower of Christ, which I am not. I go so far with this as to disdain real love so that I can talk about love instead..."

This seems like a very timely post. Perhaps God is trying to speak to the Christian blogosphere. It seems that there are posts like this cropping up all over the place in the last few days. I know when I feel like God is trying to speak to me, it is always confirmed in several different places. If I go to church on Sunday and this is the topic of the sermon, I will probably pass out. :)

The Power of the Tongue- Or As Dan Edelen asks, "Has The Christian Blogosphere Lost its Collective Mind?"

2005-08-02T17:21:00.000-05:00

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 NASB

Yesterday I posted about the problem of division in the church. As I mentioned, what led me to write about the subject was the fact that I came across a rather disturbing website which singled out various men of God as hell-bound heretics. As I considered the premise of Mr. Fish's argument, that all doctrine is essential for salvation, and any deviation from what he consider's to be truth, is a damnable offense, it brought to mind the broader issues of division within the church. It isn't hard to find a good Calvinist vs. Arminian debate on the net these days. For the most part, people tend to remain respectful. But, there are those who insist on name calling and judging the salvation of those who disagree with them. I had one person say that my comments were "nasty" and ask me if I was even a woman, just because I said that I didn't think that calling other Christians heretics was a very nice thing to do.

In my experience, there is a tendancy in these kind of discussions towards wanting to be right, instead of wanting to lead others to truth. We really do need to prayerfully consider our motivation when we debate doctrine with fellow believers. Do we really practice love towards those who we disagree with? Do we want to illuminiate the truth to them, or do we just want to argue? Wanting to be right, just for the pleasure of proving others wrong is a sin. It's called pride.

Dan Edelen posted a wonderful piece on this subject on his blog. You can find the link here. You might also want to check out a post by Bill over at the Thinklings website.

It is my sincere hope that the Christian blogosphere will embrace the suggestions Dan makes and that we will prayerfully consider our motivations before we open our mouths in the future.

I am not suggesting that it is wrong to point out false teaching in the Church. Clearly we have a biblical obligation to do so. However, I believe it is the manner in which we do so that is important. Just because we might not know/can't see the person we are presently engaging in a heated debate with, it is not an excuse for manners to go out the window. Furthermore, I submit that so-called heresy hunters who spew forth hate on the pages of their websites, are in no better shape than the worst heretics they call out.

May God have mercy upon us and forgive us for our the evil we do with our tongues.

Division in the Church

2005-07-31T23:02:00.000-05:00

Today when I was researching something on the internet, I came across a website purely by accident. I was very disturbed by what I read here

Apparently this guy, Darwin Fish (reportedly his real name), earnestly believes that he could very well be the only preacher on the planet who is in truth. He admits there could be others, but if so he is unware of their existence.

OK. Wow.

He goes on to say that anyone who doesn't agree 100% with his interpretation of the bible is wrong and that they are false teachers who are going to hell. He even lists them by name!

As a (relatively) new believer, this site really upset me. Its not that I believe Mr. Fish. Obviously, I believe he is wrong. Yet, it did cause me to think about the division that exists in the church. According to some researchers, there are approximately 8,000 different Protestant denominations. I don't know about you, but I think that is a lot. For this reason, many Catholics argue that it proves the error of the doctrine of sola scriptura. While I disagree, I think "The Church" may have been onto something when they discouraged private ownership/reading of the bible. (Ok...not really.)

Honestly though, how have we gotten so divided? I think that I am pretty well read and intelligent. Yet, I have a difficult time discerning the proper interpretation of scripture. Certainly, I don't want to be believe something that is wrong. But, I am sure that my Calvinist friends, with whom I often disagree, feel the same way. How can two people both approach the bible with an open mind, ask God for the guidance of the holy spirit, and each come away with a different understanding of what is being said? I just don't understand. I find the deep divisions within the church today to be very disturbing. I know that this is notwhat God wanted. Yet, he had to know it would end up this way.

What makes it even worse is the fact that the more I study, the greater the divide I find within Protestant theology. On the surface these doctrinal differences might seem slight. But when you think about it, the underlying issues at the core of these differences are very important. For example, the whole Calvinist vs. Arminian vs. Molinism vs. Open Theism vs. Etc... debate is very serious. In Calvinist theology, God's love is very different than it is for the Arminian. Similarly, the question of how God knows what he knows is very different among these different theologies. The open theist believes that God knows everything that can be known, but does not know the free choices of his creatures before they occur. While the Calvinist believes that God knows everything that is going to happen because he has determined it. (To be fair...this a gross oversimplification of Calvinism. There are various splinters within Calvinism as well as to the extent and nature of determinism)

What we are left with is a question that I found posed on a blog earlier this week. "Is Christianity Broken?"

I submit that it isn't broken. It is merely full of broken people who are trying to find the truth. May God lead us to His truth and help us to be more loving towards one another, even when we disagree.

The Power of Praise

2005-07-16T02:20:00.000-05:00

Life is difficult.

This simple, yet profound statement is the opening line of M. Scott Peck's "The Road Less Traveled". He affirms this to be "a great truth, one of the greatest truths."

When we look at the world in which we live, it isn't hard to see that Peck is right. Life IS difficult. It is easy to become overwhelmed with the stress of day to day life. Often we face challenges that we feel powerless to overcome. There are days when we don't feel like getting out of bed, and days when we feel like giving up.

Despite all this, there is good news for those who put their faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. As the Apostle Paul said, we "can do all things through Him who gives us strength."(Philipians 4:13) In fact, Jesus himself said, " These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

How do we tap into this power Paul talked about and the promise of peace Jesus gave us? I believe the first step is praise. We need to look no farther than the Lord's Prayer for evidence of this. When Jesus instructed his disciples how to pray, he instructed them to began by saying "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name..." By beginning our prayer with praise we are humbling ourselves before God, lifting him up in adoration, entering into the very presence of God. And where the presence of the Lord is, there is power! Psalms 22:3 says that God inhabits the praises of his people.

The bible has a lot to say about the power of praise. In 2 Samuel 22:4, David said, "I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies."

I would like to point to two different stories in the bible that demonstrate the power of praise. One is in the Old Testament, the other in the New.

2 Chronicles Ch. 20 tells the story of Jehosophat and the children of Judah who found themselves outnumbered by the hostile armies of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir. The situation was bleak. The odds were agaisnt them. However, in the midst of the trial, Jehosophat did not focus on the problem. He focused on praise. The bible says that "As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated."

In the book of Acts we find a similar story. In Acts 16 we find Paul and Silas jailed for declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ. Instead of giving up, we see once again that they were not moved by their circumstances. They knew the power of praise. Just like the story of the Hebrew children in the fiery furnace, they were strong in their faith. They trusted God to deliver them. And, in the midst of their problems they gave him praise and honor.

Acts 16:16-35

"...The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened..."

We can develop a heart of praise like Jehosophat, David, Paul and Silas. I believe that if we learn how to give God praise in all things, he will deliver us from the bondage of our pain. We don't have to carry our burdens. Jesus paid the price for our sins and he defeated the power of the enemy.

Jesus wants us to trust him. For we know that, "God works everything for good to those who love him and are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

I Bless Your Name
Words and Music by Elizabeth Goodine

In prisoners' chains
With bleeding stripes
Paul and Silas prayed that night
And in their pain began to sing
Their chains were loosed
And they were free

I bless Your Name
I bless Your Name
I give You honor, give You praise
You are the Life, the Truth, the Way
I bless Your Name
I bless Your Name

Some midnight hour
If you should find
You're in a prison in your mind
Reach out and praise
Defy those chains
And they will fall
In Jesus' Name

We bless Your Name
We bless Your Name
We give You honor, give You praise
You are the Life, the Truth, the Way
We bless Your Name
We bless Your Name

You are the Life, the Truth, the Way
We bless Your Name
We bless Your Name

Calvinism Revisited

2005-07-13T20:11:00.000-05:00

I visited a new blog today and I noticed this comment on Calvinism from Ellen, the blogger.

“I have come to realize that all parts of TULIP either stand or fall together - it's hard to understand a "3-pointer...”

I couldn’t agree more. This reminded me of the discussions I had a few months ago with various Presbyterian ministers (PCUSA) on the issue of Calvinism and the 5-points (TULIP). Here is the question I asked:

“Hi. I am considering becoming a Presbyterian and I am interested in finding out what your beliefs are regarding Predestination. Specifically, I would like to know (1) how central is the Calvinist doctrine of Predestination to the Presbyterian faith? (2) What percentage of Presbyterian ministers would you estimate are strict 5 point Calvinists? (3) And, could you please share your individual opinion on the doctrine?”

The responses I got were mixed. A few admitted to being 5-point Calvinists. But the rest resisted such a label and instead opted to call themselves 3-point Calvinists, 4-point Calvinists, or simply rejected the entire association with Calvinism.

This led me to question how a person could logically be a 3 or 4 point Calvinist. Does such a thing exist? To point out the logical inconsistencies, here are a few excerpts from the email exchanges I engaged in with one of the ministers:

Rev. Jones: “I have no idea how many ministers believe in the five points of Calvinism. I must confess that I am probably a four pointer, not quite comfortable with Calvin’s certainty around “Limited Atonement.” The notion that God has from the beginning of time destined some for damnation is unsettling to me. While God is utterly free, and does not need to consult this pastor concerning such matters, as I focus upon what I do about God in Jesus Christ, who is “the one sufficient revelation of God” and the Word of God incarnate, I am less apt to want to limit this Great God in any way! I trust in God through Jesus Christ for my salvation, for I am a sinner saved only by His grace. I would commend that grace to all, believing that God wills and wants all to know of the love He sent Jesus to embody and proclaim. I will leave the rest up to God, trusting that He alone knows what is best, and will do it.”

To which I replied:

“I am trying to understand how a person can be a 4-point Calvinist. I am not saying it isn't possible, just that there is apparently something I am not getting. If you believe in irresistible grace, (assuming you are not a universalist that believes all people will be saved), how then can you not believe in limited atonement? For, if God's grace can not be revisited by the "elect" and the non-elect can't believe without it, due to mankind’s total depravity, then isn't the only logical conclusion that can be made is that unless every person is elect then Christ only died for the sins of some and not all?”

He responded with this comment:

“If my position on this is not utterly logical, which you quite clearly point out, and which I was quite aware before you helped me to see this logical inconsistency, it is because, to quote Pascal in another context, ‘The heart has its reasons of which the mind knows nothing.’”

Wow. What kind of theology is that supposed to be?

I had recently read a post at Thinklings that talked about what it means to be Reformed and since it echoed my own questions, I voiced my concerns. You can check out Linked from Monergism.com

Commenting on my assertion that the five points stand or fall together, Jared made this observation:

"...Even though it's unpopular to say so, I don't think anyone can really be a 4-point Calvinist or a 3-Point Calvinist. Grant the first point (Total Depravity) as understood in classic Reformed theology, and the next four fall right into place. You can't have one without the other. This doesn't stop folks from trying, obviously, and usually they have to do so by altering previous points somewhat.

I feel the same way about free-willers who say they really believe salvation is by God's grace alone. If that's really true, I'd like to ask, why is salvation contingent for them upon "acceptance." It's illogical.

But that's the game we all play, and we all play it for the most part to get along. Debates are great, but I'm not a huge fan of dissention. I'll be danged if I'll insist upon my good friend Kenny that he believes Christians are saved by works. I might believe that theologically, but in good faith I trust his heart and mind to the Holy Spirit and his biblical conscience. I know he does the same for me."

Better to Marry Than To Burn

2005-07-12T21:55:00.000-05:00

I came across an interesting post on celibacy at Challies. It is an interesting post, offering an alterative interpretation of Paul's commentary on marriage. You can find the full article here:

Amazing Grace

2005-07-12T18:09:00.000-05:00

I found excerpts from an interview with U2 rocker, Bono on a couple of different blogs today while I was surfing. The full interview appears in a new book, Bono in Conversation, by journalist Michka Assayas. Despite what you may think of Bono, his insights on grace vs. karma are very good. For example, he says: "I’d be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge. I’d be in deep sh**. It doesn’t excuse my mistakes, but I’m holding out for Grace. I’m holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don’t have to depend on my own religiosity....The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us, and that our sinful nature does not reap the obvious death. That’s the point. It should keep us humbled… It’s not our owngood works that get us through the gates of Heaven."

Amen to that. I think we would all be in "deep sh**" if it weren't for God's amazing grace.

For more of the interview and some interesting comments go to Bono
Preaches The Gospel

Fear of Commitment?

2005-07-09T02:39:00.000-05:00

Ok, I am thinking that I might have been wrong about not having "issues."
Allow me to explain...

I went shopping today for a sleeper sofa for my home office/guest room. I picked out the one I wanted and placed my order. I even paid for it. Then, I got home and started having serious doubts. First, I worried that it wouldn't fit through the door of the room. I measured. Twice. With that issue settled, I then began to wonder if I really liked the color I selected. Oh, no...and what about the pattern of the throw pillows. Nearly in panic attack mode, I found my way to the manufacturer's website. There I found that I could build my own sofa online.

To make a long story short, I have spent the last several hours putting together every single combination of sofas and pillows humanly possible. I have determined, after four frantic phone calls to various friends and relatives, that I made a mistake. I don't like the pattern I selected for the throw pillows. No, wait. I actually hate the pattern I selected for the throw pillows.

Now, just to be clear, we are talking about two very small, square pillows. I can't even commit to two pillows. I have spent nearly my entire day consumed by my own inability to make a decision about pillows. Therefore, does it really come as a surprise to anyone that I am still single?

Hi, my name is Gina, and I can't commit...

Book Junkie

2005-07-03T12:37:00.000-05:00

Its official. I am a book junkie! I just bought two more books tonight at Borders. I can't even begin to tell you how many books that I have purchased and never finished reading. There are even a few that I have never read at all. I am out of control.
Books I Am Currently Reading- "Women, Celibacy, and The Church" by Annemarie Kidder; "Church History in Plain Language" by Bruce Shelley; "Desiring God" by John Piper; and "He Still Moves Stones" by Max Lucado.
I also bought a Bible commentary tonight that was recommended by fellow bloggers over at the Thinklings called "Baker Commentary on the Bible" edited by Walter Elwell

TULIP- Does God Love Everyone?

2005-05-31T21:10:00.000-05:00

TULIP is the 5 letter acronym that Reformed theologians use to explain the doctrine of Predestination. For those who aren't familiar with TULIP, I will give you a quick overview:

T-Total Depravity. Through Adam, we are all born with a sin nature. We are not as sinful as we possibly can be, but every part of our being is tainted by sin. Because of this, we don't seek God unless he first works to regenerate our hearts. Without God's intervention we would never seek him.

U- Unconditional Election. God chose certain people before the foundation of the world to be saved based upon nothing that they have done or ever will do to deserve his mercy. It was exclusively based on the sovereign will of God.

L- Limited Atonement. Christ died only for the elect. Thus, his atonement was actual and not merely potential.

I- irresistible Grace. The elect can't resist the redemptive, regenerative grace poured out upon them by God.

P- Perseverance of the Saints. Those that God elected unto salvation will persevere in the faith. They can not lose their salvation.

I recently commented on a post at a blog called He lives about the fruitfulness of vocally proclaiming a doctrine such as this that emphasizes that God does not love everyone. In what way does this doctrine further the cause of Christ? How do you effectively preach the gospel of Jesus Christ if you truly believe that God created some people that he would never enable to believe in him for salvation? Is this the kind of God that the bible portrays? I am open to points of view on both sides of the issue. Just keep it civil, please! : )