Baseball Sadness

It is a sad day for baseball... Well I guess I should say its a bad day for me.

The sad day for baseball was the day the Mitchell report came out confirming the drug culture that was going on in our beloved American pastime. Many names were in the report, some big, some not so big...

but one bigger than them all...

Hal Morris.

Dude was first base for the Reds from 1990-1997 and then 1999 after a year with the Royals. And now all of a sudden you can find him on what I believe is page 4 of the Mitchell report.

Now for all of us Reds fans out there we all have our favorites, Ive had the conversations many times: "Chris Sabo was the MAN" or "Barry Larkin will always be my hero" or "Reggie Sanders had a home run at this one game I went to..."

You can talk to older Reds fans with Bench, Dibble, Foster.
Kids talk about Dunn, Griffey, or Arroyo.
Everyone in the 513, 937, or 859 area codes loves Pete Rose.

Well my guy was Hal Morris. And it still will be. The guy made me love baseball. He threw me a ball at one of my first games on his way back to the dugout. My roommate in college got an autographed 1991 Card of him for me. AND I still have that baseball.

But when I saw his name, my heart dropped a little.

So like I said... Baseball sadness.

On the lighter side...

This is funny, end of story...

Christian Liberties. (getting on my soapbox...)

We must be very careful how we preach today... In a market and results driven society people judge Christians by their results. This is a very difficult and precarious position to be in as people charged with preaching the Gospel.

It is quite easy to call a Christian a hypocrite. We dont have everything right, we dont know all the answers, and we never live up to the charge Jesus gave us to be "Perfect as the Father is perfect". It is easy as maturing Christians and leaders of the church to encourage and look for change within the people that we are pouring our lives and the Gospel into. This can be OK, because Christ did come to redeem us and make us new. In addition it is OK to encourage and teach sanctification in the life of the believer, it is promised and it is a benefit of life in Christ. The problem comes when we dont properly teach that sanctification does not grant us justification, and that is an important distinction to make. Grace alone, through faith alone is the only thing that grants us justification from sin through Christ.

When we look for and teach sanctification alone, we need to be careful not to give a new law. People may be looking for a checklist or rules to follow to be a good Christian, but those were given, and they are unattainable apart from Christ. In the sermon on the Mount, Christ taught the true spirit of the law, "You have heard it said... but I tell you that...". Christ came and elevated the law to make it the perfection that God necessitates. We cant be perfect, we've already blown it both on our own and through the inheritance of original sin.

Now Christ taught us that he came to fulfill the law. His righteousness was imputed to us and our faith is then credited to us as that righteousness. This is the only law that there is, the law of the truth and love of God. That law is fulfilled in Christ. He did it for us. This is Grace! We are justified WHILE WE WERE (and are) STILL SINNERS!!!!!! To give people a new law is only to add rules that God didnt give us. That is not grace. You dont have to be anything other than a believer in Christ to take part in Grace. Paul tells us that we cannot add anything to the law, and that we can only listen to the Gospel that he has given us... even if an angel comes and preaches a different Gospel between now and the return of Christ, we are not to acknowledge it. Jesus also said that a false teacher would do better to tie a stone around their neck and jump in the sea than face judgement for their teaching. Christ cares a lot about the Gospel that gets preached.

Now, dont get me wrong, people who are careful with how they live are doing a great thing. But we cannot expect it for the salvation of people. Not only this, but we can help be redemption for people in Christ. There are lots of rules out their for Christians: Dont listen to most music, Dont play sports, Dont dance, Dont drink, Dont smoke. But what does this say to people? That you have to be perfect to follow Christ? Thats not a very attractive set of rules for lost people... Christ said that He came to make all things new, also Paul said that all things are permissible, not all things are beneficial. This is true. My drinking or not drinking, or insert whatever there, doesn't affect my faith in Christ. I can sin in drunkenness and irresponsibility, and we can do this anywhere, too much football or an obsession with a championship, the difference between dancing to hook up or dancing to music, on and on... But as Christians we can also show people who drink to live, how to enjoy a drink in fellowship and responsibly.

In this way we can show people, through Christ, how to live to their Joy and to the Glory of God. That is the Gospel. Instead of giving them a new law, the Gospel transforms and informs how we drive on the highway, sports stars, dancing and music, drinking, and everything else in our lives. What is better to hope for? an end to football? or a league of football players living their lives and playing to the very most of the gifts they've been given? We can have the same hope and joy in redeeming responsible and worthwhile consideration of everything in our lives. Lets not make new laws and rules, but instead live lives that are constantly being evaluated with the Gospel in mind so that we might transform and worship God in every single thing we do.

That is truly what it means to be a light in the world.

Praise God.

How do we know Beauty?

And where do we miss it?

Read this article in the Washington Post. Its long, but very worth it.

A brilliant musician, in a world that's way too busy. If you want more of Joshua Bell get his essentials CD or his Beethoven's violin concertos both are amazing works. Great for romantic dinners, writing papers, and appreciating a man that I swear has 4 hands and two violins.

Run in such a way as to get the prize.

It is amazing how much the hymn in the previous post speaks to both the reality and thanks I feel in my life right now. God is so good to reveal to us, in His time, what changes He desires for us, and His true character and face.

If you re the reading type, check out chapter 16 of J.I. Packer's Knowing God. It is entitled "Goodness and Severity" and it is brilliant.

"Earlier in Romans, Paul addressed the self-satisfied non-Christian critic of human nature as follows: "God's kindness leads you toward repentance"... "You... pass judgement on them and yet do the same things" - yet God has borne with your faults , the very faults which you regard as meriting his judgement when you see them in others, and you ought to be very humble and very thankful."

Its hard to realize that I don't love God as I ought, or give Him thanks as I ought. But the Grace of God is that He loved us first... and while we were still sinners. I don't have to try and fix all of my faults to make God love me, God already loves me. Now I just have to go about loving Him more.

Paul wrote to Tim "pursue righteousness". The Bible is literally saturated with language telling us that we should thirst for God, that we should treasure the kingdom, that we should run the race in such a way as to win. Most of all we should love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength... These are active participles. We need to be doing them. It is true that the work on the cross is complete, we add nothing to it. But, we should be pursuing our God.

I know I for one am tired of being lazy. Who's with me?

It truly is like training for a race. The more we pray, and reject sin, and try and set a Godly example of Christian freedom, the easier it will be to get up the next time we fall. God wants us to be soldiers for him, but believe me, being a soldier is not an overnight transformation. You learn to salute, you learn rank, you learn to shoot, you learn tradition and history. In the same way we have to run after learning to worship, learning to learn from those more mature, learning to fight sin, and learning the Bible.

God chose us, and God loves us. And now that He has given us truth, lazy is the only word to describe not running after it. Like the hymn says (and Jeremiah) , our heart is deceitful, God is truth.

Ill let Dr. John Piper finish this up...

Therefore, I conclude that Jesus' demand to love God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength means that every impulse and every act of every faculty and every capacity should be an expression of treasuring God above all things. Jesus warned that this most important of all demands would be widely forsaken in the last days. "Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold" (Matt 24:12, NASB).
Beware lest your love for God grow cold in these days. Remember, we will love him to the degree that we know him. And remember that only Jesus can make him known in truth and fullness (Matt 11:27). Therefore, look steadily at Jesus and pray that he would reveal God as compellingly beautiful. "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).

Praise God.

Gadsby Mondays

795

Mighty enemies without,
Much mightier within,
Thoughts we cannot quell or rout,
Blasphemously obscene;
Coldness, unbelief, and pride,
Hell and all its murderous train,
Threaten death on every side,
And have their thousands slain.

Thus Pursued, and thus distressed,
Ah! whither shall we fly?
To obtain the promised rest,
On what sure hand rely?
Shall the Christian trust his heart?
That, alas! of foes the worst,
Always takes the tempter's part;
Nay, often tempts him first.

If to-day we be sincere,
And can both watch and pray,
Watchfulness, perhaps, and prayer.
To-morrow may decay.
If we now believe aright,
Faithfulness is God's alone,
We are feeble, fickle, light,
To changes ever prone.

But we build upon a base
That nothing can remove,
When we trust electing grace
And everlasting love.
Victory over all our foes
Christ has given with His blood,
Perseverance he bestows
On every child of God.

(1Peter 1:2, 2Tim 2:19, 1Thess 5:24)

Identity

Its strange how we all have an idea of who we are and what we look like to others. That idea is probably different from everyone else's perception, and is probably worlds apart from God's look at who we are and what defines us.

I have my foot in so many worlds that sometimes I get caught in between them all. It is dangerous to be able to lose identity and wonder who we are. I have so many ideas of who I am and what I look like, but even that changes from situation to situation and place to place. I have friends that know me as funny, or smart, or an ass, or irresponsible, or responsible. Trust me, my resume and my file at the DOD looks a whole lot different than if you meet me at a bar, or if I'm serving you at Changs.

For God it is sin, and (praise God) Jesus that defines who we are. We are given that new identity in Christ that I, by comparison, rarely define myself by. If I'm home for the night, or having to move away from Columbus to Dayton, or Dayton to a Naval Station, my real definition never actually changes. Yet I miss friends, come across people who don't know me as I would like the people surrounding me to know me, and act differently.

Not only this but I can define myself through the people around me as well. Then girls, friends, coworkers, all people I have no sacramental (marriage) or familial ties to. God has called me unto himself, and my family, and also to bear witness to the resurrection for whatever situation I happen to be in. Not to commit myself to things that are temporary, not letting the dead bury the dead, or even seeing every need as a calling.

I work hard to project an image or meet people a certain way. All of this effort to build myself up as an alter of praise, because it makes me feel good. Yet, where does Joy come from? From worshiping God as He is to be rightly praised. That is what my time should be spent doing. I am quite sure that if this was the case, I would find brothers and sisters in Christ and I would cherish those relationships. I would find joy more abundantly in trying to figure out how to Glorify God's name instead of my own, and my purpose would be fulfilled.

Sin sucks, it seriously gets in the way.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1Peter 1:3-5

Knowing God by seeking to know God

Its a funny thing, that the God of the Universe would move so that we could know Him. An infinite unfathomable God gave us both Jesus and the Holy Spirit so that we could know and love Him better.

Without the movement of God toward us, we would never be able to know or see Him. Forever veiled in our own sin and destruction we would never experience Glory without God showing it to us. Paul said "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known." (1 Corinth 13:12).

Paul then prays for us that "the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power" (Eph 1:17-18). Now there is quite a lot of stuff to unpack in that prayer, but notice that he prays for us to have a spirit of wisdom and revelation as we come to know God. Also that he finishes these verses noting that we only believe by the working of God's great power.

The knowledge of God is really nothing that we can strive for or study or take pride in. Rather it is a gift of grace, fully given to us in the form of Jesus Christ on earth. All we can do is pray for wisdom and revelation and allow the Spirit to move in our lives. We need to remember that it is a gift to know God and we should rejoice in it; not compete with it. We should use this gift to help others to understand the Gospel and Grace of God. Its not knowing God, its seeking God that fulfills our purpose here on earth.

Knowledge should spur us on to fruit and community. The apostle ends the 13th chapter is 1 Corinthians by encouraging us:

And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

Praise God.

I promise I will write a serious blog this week...

BUT FOR NOW GO BROWNS!!!!! All the abysmal years of being a fan are paying off (at least a little). Way to go Brownies!

He's trying to be a plane...

Sorry, Im a nerd, I thought this was funny... Get it? He's a plane for Halloween.

In case you wondered what the Navy was up to. (pt 2)

This time the Navy has responded in a big way to the fires in California. Offering most or all of its base fire trucks and personnel the Navy is also joining the fight with H-60, CH-47, and Ch-43 helicopters to help join the fight. Also Air and Navy reserve and Active C-130s are all being used to help battle the 11 fires that are still out of control in the San Diego area.

All Navy personnel have been ordered to live on ship in order to use the base housing for shelters as well as the gyms on base being set up with cots and partitions for families to live in. The Marines at twenty nine-palms are on standby to help battle the blaze as well as 500 other Marines volunteering to help with the brush clearing and firefighting.

Pray for everyone sacrificing so much (some their lives) to battle these fires.

Damien Rice - 9 Crimes @ Abbey Road

What an amazing and chilling rendition. Makes me want to smoke a clove...

Cross Culture Gospel.

Today I had a very interesting conversation with the dean of academics for a consortium of seminaries that offer urban ministry classes. At first I was very skeptical about the classes just being something that were practicals and not very gospel or scripture centered. When I actually spoke to him one on one it was a much different story.

He ended up being very interested in my future ministry to Marines and Sailors and the cultural interactions that will occur there. Assumptions that will be made, ignorance's that will go unaddressed if I don't address them, and an assumption that will be made that those people are evil as a defense mechanism resulting from the obligation to kill. We talked a lot about how the troops there on the ground don't only need personal counseling for the things they see and have to deal with, but they need help into a totally different worldview. A worldview that allows them to struggle with how they interact with the natural population there and the struggles that they deal with. This would make a much more effective soldier, peacemaker, and diplomat from the lance corporal all the way up to the officers in the back.

Then I realized that we can all use this perspective switch, whether its on the ground in Iraq with an M-16 in hand, or in the streets of Middletown with a paintbrush... Its not that we need to conform to culture, or that we need to peg or box in exactly what it is Middletown is all about. Rather, we have to be equipped to understand the differences we encounter and have the peace of knowing God is ultimately at work and our work apart from Him is worthless. Even when we catch a vision for ministry or a city or our lives, it will never be the whole picture. We have ourselves in a culture and a world that we've created and we need to be aware of that. My good friend Jonah said that wherever two people are together they are creating a culture. When all of these cultures are interacting (especially in a church) we need to be aware not just of what our mission and purpose is, but we need to be observant enough to know what is changing in us, and where God is changing them as well. Its in these rough edges of ministry that the Gospel is going to move most abundantly.

Francis Schaeffer says that all of us, in our cultures, are creating a metanarrative for ourselves. A lens through which we see the world. Based on this we find truths and patterns that we are comfortable with. This isn't bad, but its not the REAL total absolute truth. None of us knows that. Only God has His eyes on the whole truth of the real metanarrative. Let our prayers be saturated with the trust of the sovereignty of God. Let's observe each other and be cognisant of how God is really moving in our ministries and interactions. And let's not sweat the small stuff, God is good, Scripture is true, and we have been chosen to worship together with all the saints for the rest of eternity.

Praise God.

Marine Corps Drill Instructor AMBUSH

I thought some of you might like to see this... The first person to walk into the door is an Officer. That recruit posted in the foreground makes the mistake of not addressing the officer. You may notice that this wasn't the right thing to do...

How lucky are we???

There will come a time when a WWII story will never again be told from the first person. How amazing to be handed the world they lived in and learn from their wisdom.

US Office of Personnel Management Federal Investigative Services

The FBI is investigating me.

So Ive been talking with a few of my friends and its led to some random thoughts.

It's very strange to have a government agency with all of the resources in the world looking into my life. Even though I have nothing to hide from as far as the government is concerned, it is a bit disconcerting to have someone scrutinizing every aspect from every time period in your life.

Now all of a sudden I realize that God can see far beyond anything the FBI could ever research or identify. Its pretty crazy to think how perfect my life seems on paper. My friend Pruett and I often joke about being the All-American boys. I drive a Jeep, am an officer in the Navy, am helping to start a Church, graduated from one of the largest universities in America, blah blah blah... but none of this means anything compared with the definition I get from being a co-heir to the kingdom of Christ.

Not only this, but God can see infinitely far into my life. Into the idols and things that dishonor Him. God can see into the things that I hide even from myself. Things that make me nervous about the FBI should make me a whole lot nervous about God. Except for one thing. The FBI expects to find an all-American boy who is fit for service and leadership in the US Navy; God came to me when I was (and am) broken and lonely, unknowing of everything I was created for and meant to be. God, full of Grace, and infinitely wise as He is, chose me and brought me into His kingdom.

These are things that I cant really articulate completely clearly, but I never realized how big an idol it was in my life to be what it was I thought I needed to be. I, at some level, thought that I could be what God would want me to be in order that He would be happy with me. I pray that God would remove these idols from all of our lives, and that His kingdom would continue to change the world in a way that would allow us to rest in Grace, true Grace that brings us Joy in Christ.

Enjoy it. Learn Joy in the peace and Grace of Christ. Live in it. Share it. That is the Gospel, and the mission that Christ gave us to accomplish. Its not an image we're supposed to live or an argument we're supposed to win, but rather a Sovereign Joy that we are supposed to rest in. I pray that we can.

Gadsby Mondays

1055

Come, ye souls, by sin afflicted,
Bowed with fruitless sorrow down;
By the broken law convicted,
Through the cross behold the crown!
Look to Jesus;
Mercy flows through him alone.

Sweet as home to Pilgrims weary,
Light to newly-opened eyes,
Flowing springs in deserts dreary,
Is the rest the cross supplies;
All who taste it
Shall to rest immortal rise.

Blessed are the eyes that see him;
Blest the ears that hear his voice;
Blessed are the souls that trust him,
And in him alone rejoice;
His commandments
Then become their happy choice.

But to sing the "Rest Remaining,"
Mortal tongues far short must fall;
Heavenly tongues are ever aiming,
But they cannot tell it all;
Faith believes it- Hope expects it
But it overwhelms them all.

(Hebrews 4:3)

This may be my favorite one yet... I thought this would be a good one to post as I enter into my reading week and attempt to recharge. I love the last verse, even in our greatest hopes and expectations, God WILL overwhelm everything we could ever imagine. What a promise...

God Lawsuit update...

For those of you who were entertained by the last post I put up, now there's more.

Apparently the district clerk for the court said that two responses were filed by God.

God apparently told the court (in an official legal document) that since He is above all powers, immune from earthly laws, the court lacks jurisdiction for the case.

God apparently also said "I created man and woman with free will and next to the promise of immortal life, free will is my greatest gift to you,"

One of the filings was apparently filed by someone (or something) outside of our world... "This one miraculously appeared on the counter. It just all of a sudden was here—poof!" said the county clerk.

State Senator Ernie Chambers Sues God...

I found this on the Drudge Report and it was just too good...

Senator is suing God to show the absurdity of the court system and the fact that the court is obligated to hear any case that comes in.

Here are some of the highlights:

"The lawsuit admits God goes by all sorts of alias, names, titles and designations and it also recognizes the fact that the defendant is omnipresent.In the lawsuit, Chambers said he's tried to contact God numerous times."

"Chambers lawsuit, which was filed on Friday in Douglas County Court, seeks a permanent injunction ordering God to cease certain harmful activities and the making of terroristic threats."

"The suit also requests that the court, given the peculiar circumstances of this case, waive personal service. It said that being omniscient, the plaintiff assumes God will have actual knowledge of the action."



I love it.

Gadsby Mondays

768

Come, ye humble sinner-train,
Souls for whom the Lamb was slain,
Cheerful let us raise our voice;
We have reason to rejoice.
Let us sing, with saints in heaven,
Life restored, and sin forgiven;
Glory and eternal laud,
Be to our incarnate God.

Now look up with faith and see
Him that bled for you and me.
Seated on his glorious throne,
Interceding for his own.
What can Christians have to fear,
When they view the Saviour there?
Hell is vanquished, heaven appeased,
God is satisfied and pleased.

Snares and dangers may beset,
For we are but travellers yet.
As the way, indeed, is hard,
May we keep a constant guard.

Neither lifted up with air,
Nor dejected to dispair;
Always keeping Christ in view;
He will bring us safely through.

(Revelation 5:9-10)

WHO DEY???

CLEVELAND THATS WHO....

Happy Birthday to me. Thanks Cleveland, Best way I could have started out my 23rd year.

The definitive list of why fall is absolutely incredible...

1) Ohio State Football
2) Ohio State Tailgating
3) Hot Carmel Apple Cider from Starbucks
4) Hooded Sweatshirts and Shorts and Birkenstock
5) Football
6) Top Down, Windows Down, Heater on full on my Feet
7) Stars
8) Sleeping with it Cold, but still wanting to get up in the morning
9) Ohio State's Campus
10) Color on the trees
11) Birthdays and Thanksgiving
12) Pickup Games of Backyard Football
13) Sleeping through halftime and the third quarters of Pro Games
14) Oktoberfest by Sam Adams
15) Pleasant Evenings
16) Pumpkin Spice Latte
17) Blue sky's, that are somehow different in September and October
18) Playoff Baseball
19) Taking a Blanket with you wherever you go for the evening.
20) Ryan Adams (Maybe not a fall thing for you, but for some of us it is)
21) Counting Crows too
22) And Dispatch
23) Running as far as it takes to clear your head
24) My yearly dive into a CS Lewis book
25) Grilling out
26) Fall Golf
27) Does anyone else miss being excited for School to start?
28) And being able to get a new pair of shoes for the first day of school?
29) Ohio State Football Roadtrips
30) That every city is a little softer in the Fall
31) (More to Come...)

A little review.

This semester I am taking "the History and Theology of the Reformed Tradition" I'm doing my reading for day two of class and thought I would post a couple of interesting definitions of what the reformed tradition is and its impact on history.

This is for all of you who are sick of or confused with the 5 solas of dort and TULIP.

"The Reformation was above all a positive proclamation of the Christian gospel. It never depended negatively upon its opposition, for it was first of all a protest in the sense of making a solemn declaration."

"The protestant reformers thought of themselves as engaged in the reformation of the people of God according to God's Word... According to the popular rhetoric of the market place, when a Lutheran was asked where his church was before Luther, he replied with the question, where was your face before you washed it?"

"At least nine identifiable motifs have significantly shaped the Reformed style of being a Christian:
The Majesty and Praise of God
The Polemic Against Idolatry
The Working Out of the Divine Purposes in History
Ethics and a Life of Holiness
The Life of the Mind as the Service of God
Preaching
The Organized Church and Pastoral Care
The Disciplined Life
Simplicity (or as Calvin puts it, lucid brevity)."

This is, in conjunction with TULIP and the solas (and most importantly the Word of God), really what reformed theology is all about. The ultimate mission of joining God in Him getting His Glory. The reformation is about these nine things as well as representing a million other of God's truths, not just some militant view of the predestination of God. So if you haven't given it a lot of thought, or have been turned off to it in the past; read a book, talk to someone who's passionate about it, or just pray for God to reveal Himself to you. Above all, thirst for a true and deeper knowledge of God. Beat importunately upon the Word, as Luther did, until God reveals Himself to you in a way that changes your life and your heart.

It's another quiet night

Feel the ground against my back,

Count the stars against the black.

Hmmm I miss another Gadsby opportunity and quote Dave Matthews instead. Oh well. The most beautiful thing about being a Jeep owner in Southern Ohio is being able to drive in the late summer with the doors off and the top down in the middle of night and stop abnormally long at stop signs to look up at the stars.

How small am I?!?!? Every little point of light a billion billion miles away, some from stars that are presently dead, we are just to far away to know yet. And then there's the waining crescent moon. Even that is farther away than I can fathom, and yet I become accustomed to these things in my life and forget the sheer magnitude of them.

I stay far too busy in my life and the first thing I lose is my sense of awe. I know everyone has looked at the stars in their lives, its hard not to be amazed, but when was the last time it happened? When was the last time that you zoomed so far out of your life that the universe seemed to envelop you? When the vastness of East to West put you in your place?

And here's the real kicker, Why does that make us feel at ease?

Because there is something infinitely good about things unimaginably bigger than us. When is the last time that you felt, saw, and prayed to God who is big enough to surround all of your problems and distractions and give you comfort.

"But [Jesus] holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens." Hebrews 7:24-26.

"He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.
Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure" Psalm 147:4-5

My other thought was that many of these stars are the same stars and constellations that Luther, Calvin, Bonhoeffer, and Edwards would have looked at. It reminded me of the eternal priesthood of believers that we are a part of in Christ. We will someday feast with all those who are saved, and not only those on our latitude, but Augustine, John of Damascus, Paul, et al who didn't see the stars we look at here, but knew the light of truth that we claim.

God's vastness is an amazing and necessary truth in my life, and when it isn't, things grow appropriately out of proportion.

One more un-theological quote to end the night...

If you've never stared off into the distance, then your life is a shame. ~Counting Crows

When things just dont go to plan.

So I don't really know where I'm going to go to school next semester, I don't know who will eventually ordain me, and I don't know very much Hebrew...

Pretty much every plan I thought I had to get from here to the Navy is COMPLETELY up in the air. That's unsettling. Or is it? Who am I to plan something and expect those results over God. I'm in a fairly precocious place of knowing that God's way and plan are infinitely more glorifying and beneficial than my own plans, but I'm still uncomfortable with not knowing how exactly God will have me fulfill my call.

Its like watching a movie when you still don't really know if the main character will hit the home run, or get caught, or get killed by the murderer, and yet you still know that the story has to end well or a bunch of movie producers would have never backed it.

In this case its my life though, which adds to the apprehension.

Packer has written some truth that has helped me cling to biblical truths over my own need for fulfillment and comfort: "...the same wisdom that ordered the paths which God's saints trod in Bible times orders the Christian's life today. We should not, therefore, be too taken aback when unexpected and upsetting and discouraging things happen to us now. What do they mean? Simply that God in his wisdom means to make something of us which we have not attained yet, and he is dealing with us accordingly."

If you're feeling anything like I am in your life know this... God's reality is way more real than what we think we know. Read more Old Testament, God has dealt with the saints with a wisdom that is beyond our understanding since the beginning of time. Abraham, Jacob, Job all had to deal with things that they did not understand at the time, but are the foundation of the faith because of what God wanted from them.

God has a plan, trust that above all.

"God comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God" (2Corinthians 1:4).

Gadsby Monday's

893

If guilt pursue thee with its cry,
And would to prison hale;
To Jesus Christ, the Surety, fly,
And he will give in bail.

If hope, that used thy soul to cheer,
Now leaves thee dark as night,
And neither sun nor stars appear,
Yet wait for morning light.

Still look to Christ with longing eyes,
Though both begin to fail;
Still follow with thy feeble cries,
For mercy will prevail.

What if he drop no gracious smile,
Or bid thee leave his door?
Yet still knock on, and wait awhile;
He must receive the poor.

He tarries oft till men are faint,
And comes at evening late;
He hears and will relieve complaint:
'Tis ours to pray and wait.

(Habakkuk 2:3)

I even have culture in my anti-culture...

JI Packer digresses:

"The Christian's instincts of trust and worship are stimulated very powerfully by knowledge of the greatness of God. But this is knowledge which Christians today largely lack: and that is one reason why our faith is so feeble and our worship so flabby. We are modern people, and modern people, though they cherish great thoughts of themselves, have as a rule small thoughts of God. When the person in the church, let alone the person in the street, uses the word God, the thought is rarely of divine majesty

... We are poles apart from our evangelical forefathers at this point, even when we confess our faith in their words. When you start reading Luther, or Edwards, or Whitefield, though your doctrine may be theirs, you soon find yourself wondering whether you have any acquaintance at all with the mighty God whom they knew so intimately."

I have had some great conversations with some great reformed men this weekend, I also have had some challenging conversations at school with people who don't know God in the same way that I do, and that the scriptures show.

Here's the difference.

The men I respect I gain fellowship with in our cry to know God in His most Glorious. We are on our knees repenting of the fact that we are so sinful, and that He is so Great. This is how fellowship was supposed to function. The idea that we would come together and rip away our own glory in haste to give it to God, and then even repenting again. ANYTHING to give God more glory.

The other people I talk to become confused. They are confused because they have never even caught a glimpse of the Glory of God, and therefore have missed the mark for what they were created for. This is so sad. To question the simple fact that I will do anything to learn the truths of scripture, and give all the glory to God is amazing to me. If were not living for that, then we are living for ourselves, and Ive learned what a disappointment that is...

Run after God. Repent every hour. And above ALL: know that he is more abundant, more glorious, and more majestic than you could ever fathom. This is what makes Him triumphant over sin and this is what makes Him most Holy. Desire to know that, ask for that knowledge. It is a joy to know.

Amen.

Gadsby Mondays

Sorry I missed last week guys, that's my fault. But, you do have to admit I have been writing on this thing like a gangbuster...

80
Blessed are the sons of God,
They are bought with Jesus' blood;
They are ransomed from the grave
Life eternal they shall have.

God did love them in his Son
Long before the world began;
They the seal of this receive,
When in Jesus they believe.

They are justified by grace;
They enjoy a solid peace;
All their sins are washed away;
They shall stand in God's great day!

They produce the fruits of grace,
Clothed in Jesus' righteousness;
Born of God, they hate all sin;
God's pure seed remains within!

They have fellowship with God,
Through the Mediator's blood;
One with God, through Jesus one,
Glory is in them begun!

Thought they suffer much on earth,
Strangers to the worldling's mirth,
Yet they have an inward joy.
Pleasures which can never cloy.

(Romans 3:24)

First of all, Hebrew quizzes make me forget everything. Which is kindof a bummer. But thats ok, we will move on.

The great news of today is that once I make the move fully to the PCA I don't have to take a Hebrew exam for my ordination! It makes me want to do a little dance and say a prayer in Hebrew! I love learning this and even just having the beginnings of translation it has opened a lot to me about the Hebrew texts and the Old Testament.

In other news, I am a for real officer in the Navy now and have been learning about the burden of a call and what that means in my life. Everybody has been so encouraging as far as the Navy now that I'm in. It was really a fun ceremony and everyone was so excited. It was great to know that I have a ministry that I am called to and that there is a need there that God will use me to fulfill somehow.

Its made me consider the situation that I am in now. We are to be content and thankful in all things. So Ive been praying that God would show me how He is going to use these three years between now and when I will finally be able to go full time military. Ive learned that Middletown is not my burden, the Navy is. Francis Schaffer says that "not every need is a calling" and thats something that is hard learned for all of us Young Life formers...

I AM called to serve faithfully and selflessly at the Oaks with my time there. But I have the freedom of being able to serve under Kevin and assist Him in the burden that he has been given; not me... I have had two people in my life very accurately point out that the burden there is not mine. How great is that? I feel free to not worry about the things that I have no control over and just do everything I can to be the best assistant to kevin I can be, and run the soundboard to the best of my ability, and to encourage, and to follow, but not take on something that God doesnt have for me.

Im growing more and more excited for what God is going to be doing with the Oaks, with Middletown, and with me in the coming years. But lets all take joy in what the Lord has us doing. Our identity comes not from how much or little we serve in a great church like the Oaks but rather as sons, daughters, and co-heirs in Christ. That should lead us to greatness, greatness in sweeping the carpets, or handing out service bulletins, or prayerfully offering communion. Not only that, but we can be a community that promotes unity in Christ. My prayer is that the Oaks is a big group of people who are serving in everything they do to the BEST of what God has given them. Lets flee from selfish pride of wanting to be more noticed then we are, flee from gossip, and from all the false idols that have infected so many Churches across America. God will move in Middletown and Im all about joining Him in what He's doing...

Ensign Michael Luallen

Tomorrow is the big day. I finally commission as a full Naval Officer. It has been the biggest nightmare ever with paperwork, physical assessments, Secdef approval, and miles of other red tape, but I'm here.

I thought I would take the time and reflect on what Ive learned, and what it means to me to be a minister and officer in the worlds finest Navy.

1) The advocacy of Christ is largely disregarded in my own faith, and the faith of the affluent American church.
There is no other boast we have save that Christ is our advocate. To serve others and shoulder burdens for the long term, to truly lay down our lives, permanently, is something that has been lost in the church. With all my frustrations with the government I had two incredible chaplains fighting for me and representing me, and asked only that I would serve our sailors in the same way that they were serving me. I am given rank not for my own good, but that I would have the power to do good for others and represent the lowest seaman apprentice who feels as though his voice was lost. We all have that power in Christ.

2) I am called for a purpose, Gods purpose.
In all of my roadblocks to becoming an officer I learned that I was doing this not for the glory of the uniform, or the comfort of the government benefits, but rather because I was called to minister to sailors and marines. It has meant everything to know my calling and my purpose. It has given me strength and resolve at school and through work. I pray that I will remain faithful to the mission that God has put on my life and that He would finish the work that He has started in me. I feel so blessed to be called and have a purpose and it is my prayer that God reveals to all of his elect what their purpose is. If you don't know now, you will, so take heart, because we all were created to fulfill the will and ends of God.

and we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

3) I am a part of something larger than myself and my wants.
October 13, 1775-Navy Birthday. John Paul Jones- Father of the American Navy. November 11, 1775- Marine Corps Birthday. Chesty Puller- only Marine to receive 5 Navy Crosses. Bloodstripe- Red stripe on Marine uniforms to symbolize the blood of those who died at Chapultepec...

I could go on with information I have to know for OIS. But needless to say I'm serving something that is beyond myself, my nation, or my era. When I put on the Navy Uniform I represent something bigger than myself. More importantly, when I put that cross on my collar I represent the most important thing of all. The redemptive work of God in the world. I am a part of a priesthood of believers across time. God has ordained me (and all believers) to go and preach His word and has promised that He will be with us always in that mission. This isn't about me, so I will go where God wants me to go.

4) Spiritual warfare is real, and is happening now, all over the world.
Sailors, Marines, chaplains, doctors, and civilians all over the world are being confronted with sin that we are isolated from on a daily basis. Sin that isn't personal, but is a result of a fallen world. They cry out and struggle with things unimaginable to me and most of us here in the states. I fear being there, I fear seeing kids being hurt, I fear having to pray for a fallen Marine and not knowing who he was or anything about him, and I fear the truth that I dont understand on this side of the cross that I must give to his buddies. God must be bigger than we can imagine because Ive heard the stories of unimaginable and unexplainable sin. As much as I fear those things, it is that fear that makes me run to God, which I wish I did more anyway.

God MUST be bigger than we can fathom. Because he deals with this sin. He is redeeming His creation. And His Kingdom WILL come and will be on earth as it is in heaven.

Praise God.

Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 1 Corinthians 10:12

Life is good. Ive been so blessed in a million ways, and several big ones recently. I study, I read, I pray, but something still wasn't totally right for me. I was missing something in the equation, God wasn't as big as He should be...

Enter C H Spurgeon.

"But to finish this delineation of a presumptuous man- Pride is the most pregnant cause of presumption. In all its various shapes it is the fountain of carnal security."

Carnal security. That is exactly what I was overlooking. Why is it that the moment things are going good, the need to take control kicks in and we fall? In a single word, pride. Spurgeon highlights three specific types of pride: pride of talent, pride of grace, and pride of privileges.

What is it that would ever make us believe that we deserve, earned, or are owed the things that we have in our life? Even the knowledge of Grace and God are given to us through the mercy and wisdom of God through His son. Oh that we would boast in Christ alone! How differently would we look if instead of pride in our very DNA we learned to give God his glory in all things.

We are secured in Christ alone. Through no other fount are we restored. I pray that God would just remove this pride that is so deeply ingrained in me, but that it is here is to His Glory as well. Be on guard, hold each other accountable from this corruptible sin. Our church is not ours, our salvation is for God, and our blessings are gifts.

To even think that my studying, reading, and praying would buy me justification in the eyes of God is the most egregious display of pride I could have. We must preach the Gospel to one another constantly and be on guard for the sin that can cause us to fall.

I pray that we would rejoice in the fact that God has removed this sin from the church. That He is more powerful than even my own deceitful heart. And that all the Glory is His.

In case you wondered what the Navy was up to.

United States Naval Divers from Navy Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 preparing to enter the water at the site of the Bridge collapse at I-35.

These highly trained divers are experts at high current, confined space diving. They have been called in to remove wreckage for investigation, cars, and the bodies of those deceased in the collapse.

This is Americas finest. Pray for them and all of our Sailors, Marines, and Soldiers around the world.

That they would know that their sacrifice for our nation pales in comparison to the one who has sacrificed for them.

That they would find peace, courage, comfort, and constancy in the advocacy of Christ.

That they would fight first for the Kingdom of God around the world, secondly for their families, and then for our flag.

That they would be granted protection from stray bullets, IEDs, and other unknown hazards.

That those who have fallen would have sacrificed for a real advancement of peace in the warring regions of the world.

For hope, in a joy in Christ, one that no sorrow can shake, and no other happiness can compete with.

Gadsby Mondays

76
There is a period known to God
When all his sheep, redeemed by blood,
Shall leave the hateful ways of sin,
Turn to the fold, and enter in.

At peace with hell, with God at war,
In sin's dark maze they wander far,
Indulge their lust, and still go on
As far from God as sheep can run.

But see how heaven's indulgent care
Attends their wanderings here and there;
Still hard at heel where'er they stray,
With pricking throrns to hedge their way.

When wisdom calls, they stop their ear,
And headlong urge the mad career;
Judgements nor mercies ne'er can sway
Their roving feet to wisdom's way.

Glory to God, they ne'er shall rove
Beyond the limits of his love;
Fenced with Jehovah's shalls and wills,
Firm as the everlasting hills.

The appointed time rolls on apace,
Not to propose but call by Grace;
To change the heart, renew the will,
And turn the feet to Zion's hill.

(Psalm 102:13, 110:3, Ezekial 34:11-16)

What a final verse... How great the power of God, that he would have dominion over sin, death, and my heart is the greatest blessing of all. How amazing and aweful is the effectual call of God!

The Assumed Miracles

I was reading "On the Incarnation" by Athanasius and he really brings it home concerning the need for the cross, why the cross was perfect, and why God had to come to earth in the first place (in bodily form, God is always over his creation).

I was struck with the awesome fact that GOD, our God and creator... became a man!?!?! How awesome and great is that miracle alone??? GOD became a MAN! That shouldnt happen! Why would God do that?

THAT is what love is.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8

Ive definately been taking it for granted what a miracle that is, and how great our God is. BUT, it gets better... GOD, that same God we were talking about before, not only became incarnate...



...He died.

Wrap your head around that.

August is for Augustine

Well actually that's not true, August is for Augustus Caesar... but this will work for my purposes. I am currently reading the Confessions and have been thinking a lot recently about what it will be like to be before the King with nothing but the truth of our sin and the imputed righteousness of Christ before us. How scary and awesome is the love of Christ!!!

Augustine has a great prayer to God concerning the reality of our sin:
"The house of my soul is too small for you to enter: make it more spacious by your coming. It lies in ruins: rebuild it. Some things are to be found there which will offend your gaze; I confess this to be so and know it will. But who will clean my house? To whom but yourself can I cry, cleanse me of my hidden sins, O Lord, and for those incurred through others pardon your servant?"

The reality of our sin is such that we can do nothing apart from Christ which will please the Father or bring him the Glory that we were made to give to Him. I must admit this scares me immensely. I know the hatred that God has for sin and for the sin in my life.

In 2 Samuel 6 you can see this in the death of Uzzah. All he did was try and right the falling ark of the covenant. But it is the very audacity that we might approach the holiness of God on our own that results in the wages of sin, death...

Oh how great is the advocacy of Christ! That we could go before the Father and be able to point to Christ for our righteousness! That Christ died for you (and me) and all we need is Faith in God. This is love... that God would give His only son.

Repent! for the kingdom of God is at hand. Christ has come and He lives today. He reigns and there will come a time when he will come again. When we are before the Father we will know our sin in full, but we will know that it was all placed on the cross. Enter into that knowledge now! Because if we are really here to give God His glory, lets do it as His righteous people. As co-heirs with Christ.

Its hard to love Baseball AND the Reds...

Here is the situation Reds fans.

Lose 3 of 4 to the Marlins.
Win 3 of 4 to the first place Brew Crew.
Blow the rubber match 0-6 against sweet Lou's Cubbies.

We have an interim manager who replaced a fully capable Jerry Narron.

And now the trade deadline has come and gone with our only deals being minor league mix-ups and worthless changes to our middle relief (remind anyone of a certain trade with one Sean Casey?).

OK, now that we're all caught up (knowing that some of you may very well have lost interest in this season) Lets talk about what we have, and what the league had for us.

Eric Gagne to the Sox for two outfielders and a left hander... First of all doesn't Eric hold some sort of record for consecutive saves? oh yeah, best of all time... wait a minute, WE need a closer. And we could have given up two outfielders (Dunn and Griffey) and we DID give up a very dialed in Pitcher in Lohse.

We could have had Scott Linebrink (a very experienced Right handed reliever) from the Padres for yet again Kyle Lohse and two minor leaguers. But instead of getting Scott Linebrink for the same trade we get Minor League Matt Maloney? Anybody know what HIS ERA is? nope? Didn't think so...

Scott Proctor of the Yankees. Heres a little nugget, led the league with 83 appearances last year... that would probably be helpful with a struggling bullpen. all we needed to give up was a 3rd baseman. WE have one of those! and he's lazy and slumping at the plate... we also have people to replace Edwin if he were to go! But wait. why would the reds pick up a pitcher we can USE?!?! that wouldn't make sense...

Can YOU pitch relief? We could use you....

Gadsby Mondays

Ive decided that we all need a little 1800's in our lives so Mondays will be dedicated to one of Gadsby's Hymns in order to enlighten your mind with the truths of God.

Why, you may ask? Ill let William Gadsby himself answer that:

"To be employed with solemn pleasure in singing the praises of God with the spirit and with the understanding also, is a blessing peculiar to God's elect... It is one thing to have the ear charmed, and another to have the heart engaged in this most delightful part of God's worship in his church below. 'Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound.'"

569
The Father, in eternal love,
His heart upon Zion did set;
Her name he enrolled above;
Nor will he fair Zion forget,
He chose her in Jesus his Son,
And gave her to him for a wife;
Who freely accepted the same,
Though knowing she'd cost him his life.

He saw her polluted with sin,
Enveloped in debt and distress;
Determined her heart he would win,
Engaged to save her by grace,
He took all her debts and her woes,
And for her was surely made sin;
He fought and he conquered her foes,
And with him she shall live and reign.

(Ephesians 5:25-27, Jeremiah 31:3)

Repent, because a functional savior wont save...

I was in our membership class today and lopes gave a quote that really got me thinking...

"You will always give money effortlessly to that which is your god." -Tim Keller

I realized that I really want people to like me. I spend money truly effortlessly on other people all the time and I think that this is because of a couple of different factors: my gifts, my insecurities, and my view of God. Let me explain.

I think that all of us will see God a little differently because of how we are wired. Some of us will struggle with things more than others, some of us are more gifted at some things than others are, and all of this leads to what we naturally run to God for, and where we will most abhorrently sin.

For myself I know that God has gifted me with discernment and knowledge so that I can help others best glorify Him (probably why I'm called to the Chaplaincy). Now this is all well and good until I realized that with those same gifts I end up secretly (often without knowing it myself) wanting to be my own version of Dr. Phil, glorifying myself with the knowledge and humor and patience that God has so graciously given to me. My gifts I keep as my own. So I run to God as my own savior, advocate, and redeemer; but, then dont trust that HE is moving in others lives through me for His glory, not by me for mine.

I think that our sins and our gifts are strangely connected. We need to watch how we are using the gifts that God gives us and constantly giving the glory to God. I truly believe that the more we pray for God to reveal Himself to us, and the truths of our own hearts to us, it will lead us to more authentic repentance and a true stronghold of the Kingdom in our own lives and within the communities around us. It is analyzing our strengths, weaknesses and view of God within the biblical context of the gospel that will allow the truth of the cross and the Glory of Christ to come most abundantly into the world.

This is the essence of repentance and Gospel renewal. That Christ would be glorified.

The Obligatory First Post

So I figured after all the talk around the fire with the boys Id throw my own two cents into the discussion. It is a litte strange for me to have a forum where I can say (resposibly of course) anything I want, when for so many years I have been training my thoughts and my speech to be selective and seasoned with salt. I had to do some serious reflection as to why I even would want to start posting online: Are my thoughts even that important? Do they need to be? Who am I trying to impress? What is is exactly that I am trying to prove?

Well I dont really know if I have the answer to that, but I have done some serious reflection on Gods intent for our words and how we discuss the finer and more important things in life. And while I could probably write a lengthy book on ideas such as the Spirits revelation, the purpose of theology, our resposibility for our brothers and sisters with the dialogue we have, I think for now Ill just stick to wisdom.

Job 13:5 has been a worthwhile verse for my life: "Oh that you would keep silent, and it would be your wisdom" also James 1:19: "Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear."

So often do I speak when not knowing all the information, act out of emotion, and rush in the panic of losing sight of God. I forget that God IS working all things to His good; whether I choose to join Him in that or not at the moment, I often lose the wisdom that only God can afford. The wisdom that bears the fruit of Love, Patience, Gentleness, and Self-Control. Ultimately I know that the fewer my words, the more room God has to be great. So my prayer for this blog would be that my wisdom would increase in that the discussion could occur, but that it would be seasoned with salt. That the Lord would use this to further His kingdom and Grow me in spiritual maturity.

So hold me to it.