God still does work in amazing ways. I was truly humbled toady as I was blessed with a anonymous gift. My car is in the shop needing some repairs and to my surprise I found out that someone put some money down on the car. I went down today and got my car completely floored that it is done. What a testimony. Thanks.
I learned tonight who it was. They said that I had taught them a great lesson in wealth and trusting God and wanted to pass that blessing back to me.
I still can't believe that this is happening. God has been stirring something up and it is exciting sitting here in anticipation.
God, I thank you for the blessing. Both for my car, which you blessed me with, as well as with the repairs which you are now blessing me with. You are truly teaching me that if we seek the Kingdom of God you will bless us with all that we need. May I take this as a reminder for all areas in my life. I repent of the self pity that I have been living in for so long. Lord, awake me to the dawn of a new day. A day that is bright in love, and peace and you. Open my eyes to all that you are doing and wanting for my life. May I be able to pass along this blessing to others and share the wealth that has been given to me.
I share this with all of you to encourage you. Whatever it is that you are going through, God is able to work it out. Trust in Him.
Monday, December 15, 2008
I feel the need to clarify a few things for my own benefit as well as any readers out there. First, if there are any readers, thank you. I feel humbled that you would find my thoughts worthy of you time, as time is increasingly growing into a limited resource. As for the need to clarify, it has come to my attention that I have been putting forth an image. I have had a few people say, (my paraphrase of their words) that I an emergent in denial. Whether this has been inadvertent or purposeful, I do not know. I think it may have been a little of both. I would like to say for the record, that I would not label myself as part of the emergent church. I am researching it as I find a lot of what they say to be intriguing, as well as pertinent to our culture today. However, there is still a lot that I find terribly frightening.
I have yet to find a clear definition of what the emergent church is. If all it is, is a making the gospel more relevant to our culture, then yes, I wholeheartedly agree. However, it seems to be deeper than that. For example, the conference that I observed from a distance, was covering topics such as the doctrine of Sola Scriptura, or scripture only, which all of protestant theology is based on. In my limited knowledge, Luther's stance was that the church needed to get it's authority from only scipture and not from outside sources, which at that moment included the tradition of the Catholic church. To revisit this doctrine is to open a can of worms (forgive the pun) that I am not comfotable opening. Our authority rests in Christ alone, in His word alone.
I am informing myself to a greater degree on the doctrine of Sola Scriptura for the sake of understanding the growing question of who has authority in the church.
Something I do value of the emergent church is comfortable place to ask questions without fear of rejection. Something I have noticed in my life and in the many years I have spent in Christian acadmia is that many are scared to question. The reasons are endless, but as it's base include fear. Fear of losing one's ministry, fear of losing credibility as a Christian, fear of even being a Christian. The church urges people to build a personal relationship, but lacks the environment in which one can go through the means of building that relationship. A relationship is more than mean dogmatic belief in a certain creed. It is being able to open up to God the doubts and fears and questions which haunt our very soul.
Though I am just starting this blog, and it's direction has not been clearly laid out, I do want this to be a safe place where dialogue can happen. The authority of this blog is scripture. I will try to appeal to scripure more often as I continue this journey into learning about the emegernt church.
Some may ask why I desire to learn about the emergent church. Why not leave it alone. To that I respond with this: there are some in the emergent church that are claiming this great emergence to have equal or greater influence on the universal church as the reformation did. To make a claim like that and not have Christian's look into it is foolish. I do not know where I stand, but I do feel and notice that the church is in a shift. I want to know what side to be standing on once this earthquake is done rumbling. And I want to know who I can trust to lead me and guide me in a deeper understanding, and deeper love of my savior.
I have yet to find a clear definition of what the emergent church is. If all it is, is a making the gospel more relevant to our culture, then yes, I wholeheartedly agree. However, it seems to be deeper than that. For example, the conference that I observed from a distance, was covering topics such as the doctrine of Sola Scriptura, or scripture only, which all of protestant theology is based on. In my limited knowledge, Luther's stance was that the church needed to get it's authority from only scipture and not from outside sources, which at that moment included the tradition of the Catholic church. To revisit this doctrine is to open a can of worms (forgive the pun) that I am not comfotable opening. Our authority rests in Christ alone, in His word alone.
I am informing myself to a greater degree on the doctrine of Sola Scriptura for the sake of understanding the growing question of who has authority in the church.
Something I do value of the emergent church is comfortable place to ask questions without fear of rejection. Something I have noticed in my life and in the many years I have spent in Christian acadmia is that many are scared to question. The reasons are endless, but as it's base include fear. Fear of losing one's ministry, fear of losing credibility as a Christian, fear of even being a Christian. The church urges people to build a personal relationship, but lacks the environment in which one can go through the means of building that relationship. A relationship is more than mean dogmatic belief in a certain creed. It is being able to open up to God the doubts and fears and questions which haunt our very soul.
Though I am just starting this blog, and it's direction has not been clearly laid out, I do want this to be a safe place where dialogue can happen. The authority of this blog is scripture. I will try to appeal to scripure more often as I continue this journey into learning about the emegernt church.
Some may ask why I desire to learn about the emergent church. Why not leave it alone. To that I respond with this: there are some in the emergent church that are claiming this great emergence to have equal or greater influence on the universal church as the reformation did. To make a claim like that and not have Christian's look into it is foolish. I do not know where I stand, but I do feel and notice that the church is in a shift. I want to know what side to be standing on once this earthquake is done rumbling. And I want to know who I can trust to lead me and guide me in a deeper understanding, and deeper love of my savior.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Cool links to the conference this weekend
I am just checking into blogs that are being updated throughout the conference this weekend. Not sure what I am going to find, or how much I will be able to post. But this is what I have found so far.
http://twitter.com/jonathanbrink
http://jonathanbrink.com/
Here is another one I am reading right now
http://fathertlistenstotheworld.blogspot.com/2008/12/great-emergence-live-blogging-kinda.html
http://twitter.com/jonathanbrink
http://jonathanbrink.com/
Here is another one I am reading right now
http://fathertlistenstotheworld.blogspot.com/2008/12/great-emergence-live-blogging-kinda.html
A prayer for the church
Starting last night in Memphis there is a conference where the future possibilities of the church are being explored. I want to lift them and the church as a whole up in prayer. If you want to check the conference out go to http://www.thegreatemergence.com/Home.
Father, your church is experiencing a time of distress; Comfort us. Your church is being distracted from her purpose, she is an adulterer; bring us back to our first love. We are apathetic, lazy, selfish, and do a poor job of showing that we are followers of you. We are sorry. We repent. Forgive us, and lead us again. Lead us into a time of renewal. A time when we are passionate about all that you are passionate about. A time when we are a safe place for those in need to turn, instead of being a place that turns people away. Convict us. Awake us. Love us. Guide us. Our desire is to follow you. Our motives are good, but we have failed in agreeing on how to best do that in a world that is increasingly becoming less and less familiar. We are going to need ears to hear and eyes to see what you are asking of us. Give us hearts that place you at the center and our desires and motives and plans to the side, until we understand our place and purpose in this world. Show us the church that you want us to be, so that your purposes and not ours can consume our days. In the name of Christ Amen.
Father, your church is experiencing a time of distress; Comfort us. Your church is being distracted from her purpose, she is an adulterer; bring us back to our first love. We are apathetic, lazy, selfish, and do a poor job of showing that we are followers of you. We are sorry. We repent. Forgive us, and lead us again. Lead us into a time of renewal. A time when we are passionate about all that you are passionate about. A time when we are a safe place for those in need to turn, instead of being a place that turns people away. Convict us. Awake us. Love us. Guide us. Our desire is to follow you. Our motives are good, but we have failed in agreeing on how to best do that in a world that is increasingly becoming less and less familiar. We are going to need ears to hear and eyes to see what you are asking of us. Give us hearts that place you at the center and our desires and motives and plans to the side, until we understand our place and purpose in this world. Show us the church that you want us to be, so that your purposes and not ours can consume our days. In the name of Christ Amen.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Black Friday....Buy nothing day
I was sharing my thoughts of Thanksgiving with a friend and he mentioned something that I didn't think of, that being the extreme commercialism involved with Black Friday. It is more than a tradition, it is now entirely a necessity. There is Thanksgiving and then you have crazy, insane shopping.
Well again, I have to wonder if that is at all Christian. I over heard someone brag that they spent $300 in sales. I do not want to be legalistic here, or put people down, I am just wondering out loud. What is the price of America's over indulgence in materialism? Have we assessed what all that buying does not only to us individually, but also globally?
A while ago, I started exploring consumerism and it's relationship with the global economy. I am not an expert and very much ignorant. I in no way feel adequate to discuss this. I do want to pose the questions though and maybe together we can find some answers.
In my exploration, I came across something that I consider ingenious. There were many people protesting Black Friday by participating in Buy nothing day, where they were encouraging as many as possible to not go out and spend money last Friday, but go 24 hours without spending any money. I participated, not because I necessarily wanted to, just due to the fact that I didn't have any money.
Just something to consider. If you wanted to read more check it out. http://gatheringinlight.com/2008/11/23/buy-nothing-day-2008/
Well again, I have to wonder if that is at all Christian. I over heard someone brag that they spent $300 in sales. I do not want to be legalistic here, or put people down, I am just wondering out loud. What is the price of America's over indulgence in materialism? Have we assessed what all that buying does not only to us individually, but also globally?
A while ago, I started exploring consumerism and it's relationship with the global economy. I am not an expert and very much ignorant. I in no way feel adequate to discuss this. I do want to pose the questions though and maybe together we can find some answers.
In my exploration, I came across something that I consider ingenious. There were many people protesting Black Friday by participating in Buy nothing day, where they were encouraging as many as possible to not go out and spend money last Friday, but go 24 hours without spending any money. I participated, not because I necessarily wanted to, just due to the fact that I didn't have any money.
Just something to consider. If you wanted to read more check it out. http://gatheringinlight.com/2008/11/23/buy-nothing-day-2008/
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