Coinherence: An Attempt

I'm back!

2009-12-05T23:59:00.001-05:00

Well, for the moment I am. Hopefully, I will keep this up.

Day 5

2009-12-05T23:52:00.002-05:00

Some Scripture:

“Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

“Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.”

-Philippians 2:12-18 (NLT)

Some Reflection:

As we prepare to depart from one another's presence at camp, we do so in appreciation of one another and with a tremendous opportunity before us. We are being commissioned by the Lord of the harvest to go out into the fields of this world and live like brilliant testaments of His brightness. In doing so, we have the potential within ourselves to live successfully faithful Christian lives – not separately as if islands off to ourselves, but in joyous community with one another. You can be a success story for God; I can be a success story for God. You and I together can encourage one another, celebrate with one another, and challenge one another.

As Paul understood it, we need each other – even if for nothing else, to be able to confidently recognize the benefits of our unique investments into one another. I need to see that what I have done for you has not been in vain, and you need to know the same concerning your investment in me.

A successful Christian life, however, is one of uncompromising loyalty to Christ – not one of grumbling and bickering and – God forbid – filthiness, but a life of obedience, a life that reflects Him. Paul boldly affirms that, if you and I are going to live a lives like this, we have a part to play. “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” You don't save yourself, for it is only by grace that you have been saved. Nevertheless, as the Church Father said long ago, “The God who made you apart from yourself will not save you apart from yourself.” If you are going to live obediently for God, guess what... only you can do it. But the good news is that, as Paul also affirms, “It is God who works in you both to will and do His good pleasure.” The Christian life is not a life of being off by oneself, left to one's own devices and abilities, trying to please God who is far away. No, the Christian life is a life lived in the power of the ever-near and personally-indwelling Holy Spirit, a life that is also surrounded by and bathed in Christian fellowship and loyalty.

Now, as camp draws to its close and having made our respective marks on one another, it's time to go and make our marks on the world. The world is waiting. Jesus is waiting. You are a unique person, complete with a unique mark to be made. If you don't make it, sadly enough, it will be left unmade. Are you in?

Day 4

2009-12-05T23:46:00.002-05:00

Some Scripture:

“A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.”

-Luke 6: 43-45 (NLT)

Some Reflection:

There is a song by mewithoutYou called “Bullet to Binary (part 2).” In it, Aaron Weiss says, “We all well know, we’re gonna reap what we sow. We all well know what kind of crops are gonna grow.”

It is no big secret to any of us that when you plant an apple seed, you will not grow anything other than an apple tree, which will then produce... that's right: apples. We are fairly intelligent people who do not expect a tomato plant to just jump up from the plot of ground where we have planted peppers. We also do not expect to look out in our yards and suddenly see rose bushes budding and blooming where no rose bushes were first planted.

Why is it, then, that we expect to see something simply come out of our lives that did not get planted there? Why do we so often think that we will be good people when we do not put anything good into ourselves? It's strange: so many of us think that they will somehow miraculously begin producing fruit in their lives when no seeds are planted. Let's face it: either some of us are just weird or some of us have really fooled ourselves into believing such a thing that is a far cry from reality.

We think we will be good people merely by wishing to be good. All the while knowing that no amount of wishful thinking will grow a tomato plant, why would we even begin to think that it would be any different with the fruit of our lives?

Be honest with yourself. What kind of seeds are you planting in your life? What kind of crops will you grow? Everyone else can see them – it isn't really a secret. Are you planting seeds that are good and will grow into good fruit for everyone to see and enjoy? Or are you planting seeds of evil that will grow into something in which no one wants a part? Will you be happy with the fruit of your life, or will you be embarrassed for others to see what you reap?

To quote another mewithoutYou song, “A glass can only spill what it contains.” Regarding your life, what's in it? You should know; you've played a part in getting it there.

Day 3

2009-12-05T23:37:00.002-05:00

Some Scripture:

“Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord.
Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts.
They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths.
You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully.
Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees!
Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands.
As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should!
I will obey your decrees. Please don't give up on me!”

-Psalm 119:1-8 (NLT)

Some Reflection:

Okay, let's face it... If you are really going to “make your mark” in the world, it's time to “man-up” [Sorry, ladies.]. If you really want to be who you were intended to be in Christ, in His Church, and in the world He has both created and given His life to redeem, it's time to get serious, and the most serious response to God's grace is a life of radical faith and unwavering obedience. That's right: faith and obedience. As the old hymn says, “Trust and obey, for there's no other way...”

The odd thing is that obedience to the Lord is not stifling or suffocating; it does not make us less free or less “our own persons”. No, in fact, when you are obedient to Him, it brings joy, for you are being – far more than you might realize – you, who God has intended you to be. Come on, you know what the whole line from the hymn is: “...For there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.”

Only a life of joyful obedience is a life that can make an irreplaceably positive mark on the world. Only a life of uncompromising loyalty to God, His will, and His way makes an eternal investment of redeeming importance into the lives of others. Only a life that faithfully follows the Lord, walking in His way, is a life that need not be ashamed, for it alone is an appropriate expression of thankfulness for His goodness and an undeniable reflection of His life and love.

A couple of interesting ideas are presented in the first two verses of this, the lengthiest of all our Old Testament psalms: First, in answer to the question, “Who is the obedient one?” the psalmist boldly answers, “Oh, that's simple... the one who searches for God with all of his heart, with every ounce of the fabric of his being.” Second, in answer to the question, “Well, then, what is the result?” the psalmist shockingly answers, “Oh, a remarkable life of integrity.” You probably know that to have integrity means to be one thing – nothing else, nothing mixed, not an alloy, but a single substance. The barrel of sugar that has a pinch – or for that matter, a single granule – of salt in it does not have integrity, for it is tainted. The result of living in faithful obedience to God, seeking for Him with all of who we are, is that we are whole and put together – not a collection of parts, not a disjointed combination of compartments, but one thing... pure and immovable.

Day 2

2009-12-05T23:29:00.003-05:00

Some Scripture:

“ Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Either way, Christ's love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

“So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

“And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

“As God's partner's, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God's kindness and then ignore it. For God says,
'At just the right time, I heard you.
On the day of salvation, I helped you.'

Indeed, the 'right time' is now. Today is the day of salvation.”

-II Corinthians 5:11-6:2 (NLT); quote from Isaiah 49:8

Some Reflection:

Paul here has a whole lot to say, so let's boil it down a bit...

Just as salvation is not just about us, so salvation is not just for us. God desires all to be redeemed and, hence, reconciled to Him, even remade into His image.

That means that, as C. S. Lewis said so bluntly, “You've never met a mere mortal.” In other words, each person – not just you – is uniquely of more value that you can imagine. Consequentially, each person has greater potential to be something either incredibly good and beautiful in Christ or something incredibly terrible and horrendous apart from Him.

Whether you like it or not, God has sent you an invitation, and you must, therefore, accept it or refuse it. He has invited you to be a part of His redemption in the lives of others, and to this invite you must R. S. V. P.

Dennis Kinlaw makes the profound point that God always works through others; no person is saved apart from the influence of another. Are you in, or are you out? If you are in, you are in for the greatest ride of a lifetime, and even if you look like a fool, who really cares? If you are out, I'm so sorry; you really are missing out.

Day 1

2009-07-25T10:34:00.002-04:00

Some Scripture:

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

-Ephesians 2:8-10 (NLT)

Some Reflection:

In the context of expressing the miraculous grace that infuses new life – God's life - into the believer, Paul makes an intriguing statement: “...We are God's masterpiece.” Other translations might phrase it, “...We are God's workmanship.” However you put it, what cannot be denied is that each particular believer is special in the eyes of God, and as a result, each particular believer is being crafted into something more special than we can even imagine: a person conformed into the image of Christ.

The strange thing about persons, though, is that they are... strange. Think of it: You have never met another you. In fact, you have never met two persons who were exactly alike. Even identical twins are unique persons – complete with unique personalities, experiences, fears, tastes, likes, and dislikes. No two are quite alike. Persons are irreplaceable, and according to the intentional design of their Maker and Redeemer, it is precisely their unique expression of His image that both gives them dignity and makes them invaluable.

As you begin this week of intentionally searching for God's fullness to be actualized in your life, remember – first – that you are you, and there is no other. And – second – remember that He doesn't want too much: He just wants you... all of you. You are a masterpiece; you are His masterpiece.

Camp Devotions...

2009-07-25T10:18:00.006-04:00

Lindsey and I were charged with planning and putting together this year's camp for the southeast region of our denomination.

So, in addition to all of the laborious work involved in preparing for a youth camp, the wife and I took it upon ourselves to write daily devotions for the adults attending camp this past week. We thought it would be helpful to give them a daily framework from which they might share some devotional thoughts with the youth in their cabins each day. The idea was to give the counselors a passage of scripture, help them to quickly flesh it out in their minds, have them read the passage with those in their cabins, have them possibly make a couple of comments, and finally have them close in prayer. This was to take place each morning so as to accomplish a couple of things:

-first, to begin the day well;

-second, to instill into their youth the reality that beginning the day well is actually possible when it, of course, is intentional.

Now, you are prepared for what will follow... [those devotions]

"Welcome to This World, Little One."

2009-07-19T14:18:00.007-04:00

Weighing in at 6 lbs 13 oz and measuring 19.25 inches in length, Emery Silas Godbold entered this world at 4:46 this morning. As you might imagine, Lindsey and I were pleased to greet him with proud smiles, many kisses, and an abundance of thanksgiving. Filled with unnumbered prayers and too, too many long and tiring walks around the labor and delivery department of Emory University Hospital - Midtown, the last 24 hours have seemed terribly long, but it has been well worth it. He is a beautiful young man, and our first prayer for him once he was in our arms was that the Holy Spirit would be upon him even now at such a youthful age and that God would do great things through him as he loves and follows Jesus.

Please pray with us that his breathing proves itself to be normal, as he gets some rest in the nursery from a rapid-paced delivery (6 minutes). We appreciate all of your prayers in our behalf and the many, countless wishes of good things that we have already received.

Welcome, little man! We're awfully glad you've made it.

A Boy Becomes a Man...

2009-07-10T01:12:00.005-04:00

So, the other day, something odd happened...

Around lunchtime, Lindsey was at home alone with the kids, and she heard a noise out back. Looking out the back French doors, she saw a young lady running down the stairs of our deck. Then, looking out a side window, she watched the girl running off with a half-empty bag of charcoal, taken from our deck. A few minutes later, Lucas began barking, and Lindsey saw a young man on our back deck looking around my grill and smoker. She went out on the deck, certainly startling the young man, and asked him what he was doing. He made up what he thought to be a clever story about his dog running through our back yard, only to be shocked when Lindsey asked if he needed some charcoal to help find the pooch. Lindsey gave him the ol' heave-ho, only to be interrupted a few minutes later by the doorbell. The two busted thieves stood on the front deck, bag of nabbed charcoal in hand, and tried to make sense of their senseless actions of thievery. "We thought no one was home..." And that justifies your actions, how? Lindsey kindly told the two busted "criminals" that she would have gladly given them the charcoal if they had but asked like good neighbors. But, there they stood as thieves, surely regretful, though most probably only because they had gotten caught.

If you know me at all, you probably know that I hate confrontation. Probably the only thing I hate worse than confrontation is for people to dislike me. [Why am I in ministry, you ask? I have no rational idea. What can I say, but that I'm a masochist?]

The predicament in which I found myself: I was confident that these kids hadn't told their parents. In fact, I wasn't even sure of who these kids were. I did, however, know that they either lived next door or were visiting the family next door. I also knew that I am both a husband and a father, that the parent's next door needed to know what happened, and that I suddenly found myself with the responsibility of telling them that either their kids or dear friends of their kids had stolen from their new next-door neighbors.

Therefore, a confrontation must occur, and I would certainly feel weird about what the new neighbors might be thinking about me. Oh, well... A man I must be. After all, I have a couple of factors in my home that could prove deadly for a couple of idiot teenagers snooping around my home: babies and handguns. These kids next door needed to know, first, that I will not tolerate thievery, and second, that their actions were more stupid then they even know at the time. [This young couple living next door - That's right, the couple with the adorable little kids. - we have guns for crying out loud! We are the last people you should be "robbing"!]

In the nicest way possible, I brought the situation to the attention of the father of the family. He was terribly embarrassed and completely remorseful. I ended our conversation explaining that I am willing to do anything I can, even give anything I can, to be a good neighbor to him and his family - just so long as it's not taken...

The next morning, on my front porch was a brand new bag of charcoal. Well, there you go.

The New Ride

2009-07-10T00:49:00.007-04:00

Seeing how our family is expanding from four members to five and our only vehicle has been a 2003 Honda Element, which seats only four, we had to acquire a larger vehicle. And so... on Monday, I purchased a a mini-van. I got a great deal on a 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT, and to be quite honest, I absolutely love it.

It's actually pretty fun to drive. It has pretty good pickup for a mini-van. It certainly doesn't drive like a mini-van [For the record, neither does the Element.]. It handles wonderfully and gets great gas mileage.

All in all: A pretty good purchase.

A Refreshingly-Unadulterated Swing of the Axe at the Very Root of the Problem:

2009-07-02T23:03:00.005-04:00

Thursday, July 02, 2009

SEX: GOOD, BABIES: BAD
By Kortney Blythe

This mindset seems to be the theme in this week’s news from the frontlines of the pro-death camp.

Take for instance, this quote by Elisabeth Garber-Paul in an article on the rise in sexual activity during this economic recession: "So join the rest of America in this exciting new trend. Save money, stay in, have sex—just don’t make a baby."

That’s right, Elisabeth, throw respect for yourself out the window and spit in the face of God by removing one of his intentions for intercourse. More babies will just make the economy worse, right? Wrong. In fact, one of the reasons we are even in this recession is because of the plummeting birthrate. There simply aren’t enough people to replace the retiring population in the workplace and pay for social security or to stimulate the economy.

Not that you’ll hear about that from the anti-human, overpopulation zealots. But, do your research. Watch Demographic Winter and Demographic Bomb, two documentaries which debunk the overpopulation myth and ask the very important question: IS IT POSSIBLE WE HAVE BEEN FAILED BY THE VERY IDEAS WE THOUGHT COULD SAVE US?

It goes without saying that abortion advocates think saving sex for marriage is ludicrous and archaic. ....Just check out the title of a book just released by radical feminist Jessica Valenti, The Purity Myth: How America’s Obsession with Virginity is Hurting Young Women.

In an interview on RH Reality Check, the author, Valenti, purports that teaching and honoring purity is just as dangerous as the media’s “pressure on sexuality and the hypersexualization of women.” Oh really? So, protecting young people from the heartbreak and emptiness of pre-marital sex, not to mention a load of sexually transmitted diseases, is akin to the objectification of women, the result of which has been a generation of depressed, confused girls with eating disorders?

She goes on to say, “The purity myth is so embedded in our culture and our psyches…You don't have to be forcing your daughter to take a virginity pledge in order for the fiction of virginity to affect your life.” Really? Then, why does every Hollywood film end (or begin) with a couple jumping in bed together? If it’s so “embedded” in our culture then why are abortion, STD and teen pregnancy rates so high? (I’m not going to even legitimize her term “fiction of virginity” with a response).

As if that isn’t enough, in Greensboro, NC a new program is paying high school girls to not get pregnant. That’s right. For every day they stay baby-free, $1 is deposited into an account to be used for college. According to WXII12 news, the group was founded by Hazel Brown, a maternity nurse who thought too many teens were having babies. Ms. Brown, how about seeing the root of the problem - too many teens are having pre-marital sex. The problem is NOT the presence of a baby, but the actions of his mother, which resulted in his existence.

The three goals of this program, called College-Bound Sisters, are for the girls to “avoid pregnancy, graduate from high school and enroll in college,” Brown said. Oh, what lofty goals we have for our young people!....
Teenagers rise to the expectations that are set for them. If all we ask is that they avoid pregnancy (and bonus! we’ll pay you for it), what are we teaching girls about sex, relationships, the value of children or personal responsibility, for that matter?

Instead of urging purity and self-control and demonstrating the joys of a quiver full of children (Psalm 127:4-5) within marriage, this program bribes young girls. If those same girls were taught basic biblical morality they wouldn’t be having sex, and thus, there would be no chance of pregnancy.

The message of this program in a nutshell: Go ahead and sin against God by having damaging pre-marital sex, but just make sure you avoid one of the outcomes – babies.

If only young people knew the joy and blessings they are missing out on when they use sex for purely physical and selfish reasons! Then, and only then, they would cherish chastity as it should be.

To my unmarried friends reading this, please flee from this deadly mentality of me-first, pleasure seeking, sex without consequences. Seek righteousness, pursue holiness and practice chastity.

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.”
-2 Timothy 3:1-5

Aidan's 2nd Haircut

2009-07-01T22:53:00.005-04:00

His new do...

asleep at the game

2009-06-20T23:33:00.000-04:00

a rising star, perchance?

2009-06-20T00:32:00.005-04:00

She's got her father's taste in music - interesting, creative, and explosive...

Okay, you can hardly see what's going on, so here goes... Basically, Imogene is playing her piano [Thank you, Mimaw and Papaw!] while singing. She's apparently making up her own lyrics as the song progresses. She also has one of her books [I don't know which one. Sorry.] on top of the piano. When you hear the singing pause and the music slow down, she's turning a page, which leads me to conclude that the lyrics are being inspired by whatever book she's using as a guide.

If you're interested, check out her and Aidan's blog!

omni-

2009-06-20T00:05:00.006-04:00

An interesting thing to note...

How we typically define a few terms related to God:
omniscience - God knows all things.
omnipresence - God is present to all places at all times.
omnibenevolence - God is all loving and good.
omnipotence - God can do anything.

* QUESTION #1 - Did you notice anything of interest?

* QUESTION #2 - Is there possibly a better way to think of these terms, are they wholly unnecessary / unbiblical, or are they just fine as they here stand?

on Pain and Death

2009-06-15T23:29:00.010-04:00

Let's face it - LIFE IS A BIT RISKY...

Everyone who has ever lived has inevitably faced risk. Risk is not merely for extreme sports enthusiasts; it's a part of life. Every moment that your blood pumps through your body, you run the risk of it failing to do so. Every time you try out for the team, you run the risk of not making the cut. Everyday of your life -and everyday of mine- you risk pain and suffering.

Though the situation seems in retrospect to be quite trivial, I vividly remember the first time I went to a chiropractor. I had been experiencing a good bit of back / neck pain, but on that day, it became unbearable. I could hardly stand up straight, so during my planning period, I ran to see the father of another teacher's student, a chiropractor. He did a bit of work and assured me that it would take several days for the discomfort to let up considerably. Though I was truly thankful that I would feel better not very long from then, I remember getting in my car and being hit squarely by the thought "All I want is for the pain to be gone - right now... at this very moment."

The more I live, the more I am convinced that life comes with its share of pain. Part of the risk of living relates to pain - physical, emotional, mental, etc.

Likewise, death is a risk we all face in life. Just as the risk of pain is inevitable, so also is the risk of death necessitated merely by our living. It's a bit discouraging to recognize the fact that we must all eventually lose our lives to death. No one wins that battle... In the end, we all lose.

* NOTE: merely some thoughts

3894 Due West Road, Suite 105, Marietta, GA 30064

2009-06-06T23:43:00.008-04:00

Tomorrow morning, our church - Faith Methodist - will meet for worship for the first time at the address above.

Am I excited? I certainly am.

Will I say more later? I might.

"I don't know how to put this but [it's] kind of a big deal."

on the agenda:
-some time of fellowship with refreshments
-a worship service
-Holy Communion

"School's... Out... for... Summer!"

2009-05-29T08:32:00.002-04:00

That's right - today is the last day of school for Praise Academy. Today, we celebrate.

Just a Quick Note on the "Pandemic"

2009-05-07T08:05:00.006-04:00

Though you will most probably not believe me, this is a brief description of what Lindsey and I saw Tuesday morning:

We were getting onto I 75 South when we looked to the car with which we were merging and noticed a poor, seemingly terrified, young man [probably on his way to work] taking what he apparently understood to be the necessary precautions for one living through such a horrible time in medicinal history. What precautions? While driving in his sleek, mid-sized SUV, he was completely prepared for the dangers before him, behind him, and supposedly all about him. He was a determined man [determined for success, which could possibly be hindered by sickness or, even worse, death] - fully clad in nice business clothes, a sharp hair style, and a classy, green surgical mask. That's right... a surgical mask. Please keep in mind, now, that he was driving onto the interstate completely alone in his own car.

Humorous? Absolutely. Disappointing? Somewhat. Sad? Completely. Surprising? Not so much.

[You should also know that I would have photographic evidence of the incident if Lindsey would have complied with my repeated request to take a quick pic with her camera phone. I really don't understand her refusal. After all, why else would they make a cell phone with a built-in camera, if not to capture beautiful, yet fleeting moments in time such as this?]

"Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?"

2009-04-23T07:56:00.004-04:00

As Lindsey and I were leaving Tybee Island this past Saturday, we made it a point to drive through historic Savannah, Georgia. We wanted to see downtown, particularly Reynolds Square, the beautiful home of a monument to John Wesley – complete with an amazing statue, some biographical information, and a brief sketch of historical significance regarding the father of Methodism.

I must confess that I was a bit choked up the whole time we were out of the car at Reynolds Square. As I first approached Wesley's statue, which boldly occupies the very center of the Square, I found myself surprisingly anxious, being both eager and hesitant. The only way I know to express the exciting yet intimidating feeling I had is to simply say that, while I wanted so desperately to see this depiction of a man upon whose shoulders I humbly stand, I felt grossly unworthy to be in the presence of even a representation of him. I felt myself to be a mere mortal before a glorious god of sorts.

[At this point, you might very well have written me off as an idolater or – God forbid! - one who esteems other men too highly. If so... well, there you go.]

To be honest, I am terribly troubled when I look at the condition of the Church today and try to find someone – anyone – who is a figure like Wesley. Whatever happened to people like him? or Thomas a' Kempis? or Athanasius? Whatever happened to people who held the attention of what seemed the whole world yet wouldn't budge an inch when Truth was at stake, not giving one rip about if others thought they were foolish, uninformed, or plain wrong? Where's the Dietrich Bonhoeffer of today?

Paula Cole, I'm with you, dear... Where have all the cowboys gone?

I tell you, though, I long so much for my precious children to know the significance of people like Wesley. While I looked on in awe, Lindsey beautifully shared with Imogene and Aidan about Wesley and his import, and I'm sure Emery was doing all he could to listen intently. For the sake of the future, we need more men like Wesley. For the sake of the Gospel, we need more cowboys.

As we returned to the car, I couldn't help but think of those who have even recently held significant public attention only to cave under the intense pressure that comes with it. I couldn't help but wonder, “Is there anyone, Lord? Is there anybody out there who can handle it? Is there not one who won't budge?”

And now, as I write this post, I recall the closing words to the immensely weighty hymn I sang to Aidan as he drifted off to sleep just a couple of hours ago... “That soul – though all hell should endeavor to shake – I'll never, no never, no never forsake!” Sure, all the forces of hell might rise up before him, but through the power of the Spirit of God, a cowboy CAN stand strong.

If you are reading this, please know that I am hungry to read your thoughts on the matter. Where have all the cowboys gone?

Sad, I Know

2009-04-17T20:49:00.005-04:00

My confession:

I am a terrible member of the blog-o-sphere. In fact, I am so terrible that my membership status probably should have rightfully been revoked long ago. It's so bad that, since this time last year (i.e., when the family and I went to New Orleans, Lousiana), I have updated so few times that they probably even all show up on a single page. [To be totally honest, I don't really know that, I'm just assuming. I'll check once I post this post. {"post this post"? Sorry, I'm limited.}]

My excuse:

I'm busy. [lame, I know - but true]

Update:

I was wrong - but only by a month.

Here's me at the sea...

2009-04-17T12:07:00.009-04:00

This week is spring break for the school where I teach, so the family and I are taking full advantage of my time off and are, therefore, vacationing.

After our Resurrection Sunday (i.e., Easter) morning service of worship, we hit the road to Mississippi. We stayed with Mimaw and Papaw (i.e., my mom and dad) for a couple of days - actually, until Wednesday morning. During our stay in Mississippi, we went spent an afternoon at the Museum of Natural Science and another afternoon at the Jackson Zoological Park. We also ate at several places we have been craving now for several months. Lindsey got to enjoy her Bella Basil Chicken Salad Sandwich from Broadstreet Bakery as well as her Newk's Favorite Salad from Newk's Express Cafe. I finally got to eat pizza at Sal and Mookie's in the Fondren district of Jackson - something for which I have been waiting since even before we moved to Georgia. I must confess that the pizza was incredible, while the desserts were a bit of a disappointment - at least, my Italian creme cake was [Lindsey said that the fudge cake was great.]. During this trip, we also got to visit with my Pappy and my Mammaw, as well as with Chris, Jamie, Chylen, and Grayson. Overall, our time was well spent.

On Wednesday, we hit the road around 8:00 a.m. CST and finally arrived on Tybee Island, Georgia, around 8:00 p.m. EST. I was fully certain that I would soon crash, never to awaken until well into the morning or early afternoon on Thursday. However and much to my surprise, I didn't get to bed until about 2:00 a.m. and was out of bed by 9:00 a.m. - interesting... I don't know how that happened.

Aidan and I took a mid-morning walk through the sand, and I must say that the beach here is gorgeous. Our condo is great, the food has been good, and the R and R has been wonderful. The best part of it all has been that there has been nothing that we have HAD to do. Sure, we have done stuff, but it has all been done in leisure. To be sure, I do hate the the prevailing mentality of our culture, particularly of my generation; namely, the mentality of compete freedom from responsibility, discipline, or commitment. Nevertheless, for a couple of days here and there, it sure is lovely to relax. I have had a blast this week just spending time with my family. I haven't had to work a single hour, which has been an enormous change of pace for us. Though we return to the reality of labor tomorrow evening, for now at least, we are taking it easy. Ahhh, how sweet it is.

Sorry...

2009-03-20T11:53:00.002-04:00

"It sure has been a while..."

Ugh! Awkward.

something you should check out...

forever and a day...

2008-10-04T23:01:00.003-04:00

That's how long it has been since I have last posted. I know. I know.

I have been a busy man, though. Please do understand. [Please note: I'm not kidding myself here; I know my viewers are few and not very faithful... much like my posts.]

So, what have I been doing? Moving. Being a husband. Being a father. Pastoring / restarting a church. Teaching thirteen 5th grade students. Reestablishing relationships. Building new ones. And so much more. In fact, I am currently in a hotel room after a twelve-hour day of "Basic Training" for church planting. Tomorrow, we will only meet for eight hours. Surprisingly, my head isn't hurting.

Lindsey and I have been wrestling for some time now about many things related to ministry...

... forgetting cliches and assumptions, what is the purpose of the Church?
... is corporate worship nonnegotiable in the life of a local church for it to truly be considered "church"?

These are just a couple of the questions that are at the forefront of my mind tonight.

To offer a quick, simple, and completely undeveloped response to the later of these, here goes: I think the Church is by its very nature a worshipping community. When this community is expressed locally, the expressions are by their very nature expressions of worship. More later...

"Pork Invaders"

2008-06-25T16:11:00.001-04:00

I found the following game on John McCain's website. As you might know, he has long been very outspokenly against "pork projects" and "pork spending". The game is a bit throw-back and pretty fun.