The title is inspired by both Kanye West and the reading I just finished. So I guess its a two fold thought process, neither is at first readily related to one another, but I believe there is an intrinsic relationship between the two.
The more you listen to the radio the worse it tends to get, but every once in awhile some artist comes out with a song that seems to speak on an entirely different level than maybe they themselves are even aware of. There are bands, like the Fray, that are Christian bands playing "pop" music and you can tell that their music is absolutely a ministry to so many of their fans. For those who believe, we find strength in recognizing the power of their words and insinuations; for those that do not yet believe, they find themselves singing along to a song that challenges the traditional societal thought, that talks about meeting Christ or experiencing Him.
Maybe the most in your face version is Kanye West, oddly enough in a rap culture with songs like Jesus Walks and Touch The Sky, there is major discussions of God and church and its importance. I just think its so cool the way that God can put those words into the mouths of people who may even refuse to believe in him, but they sit in their room and sing "Jesus walks, God show me the way because the devil is trying to break me down"
Isaiah 43:7 says "everyone who is named as mine, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." I love that second part. "Whom I created for my glory." I'm challenged tonight to think about how my life would change if I were to live every moment believingthat God has not only created me, but done so for His glory. That his intention for my life is that He would receive glory. Rather than pressure, I think it instills a confidence that He knows that he will receive the glory from just my existence.
The kicker, I think, is that it doesn't jsut say that He created Christians for His glory. Its written completely open-ended-ly (thats a new word). As such, even those people who we dislike, or feel embarassed to be associated with, or are on the radio no matter what their faith have been created by the same God who created us and were created with the same intention and are already participating in a form of worship by just existing. Everyone's mere existence is a form of worship by pointing to an all powerful creator and giving him the glory. Though their lips may never speak it, just as the stones cannot be silenced, neither can their souls. And perhaps, God is really allowing them to partake in worship through pop music.
There is nothing and no one that God can't use to bring glory to Himself. How can we actively allow Him to use us? And how do we make sure that we live our lives with confidence, knowing that we're already giving glory to God by living and breathing? What can that inspire us to do?
You guys rock,
Sean
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Suffering and Rejoicing...
Hey ya'll! (I have a lot of southern roommates).
It's been awhile, but I promise to be better about posting myself as I'm adjusting to my new schedule. At any rate, I've really felt my world being rocked lately and God's been teaching me a lot, and this morning has been incredible already.
I guess I've always had a skewed perception on what it means to suffer and how we all go through it and how we are intended to handle it. Numerous times in the Bible we find that it says that we are to rejoice amidst our suffering. And to be completely honest, I never feel as though thats possible. Or if I "rejoice" its usually fairly sarcastic and forced and never really the feeling that I'm really experiencing.
Not only that, but often times if I find that I'm not rejoicing in a time of suffering then I find myself feeling horribly guilty, as though because I feel unable to be joyful and happy and bask in God's grace that I am failing as a Christian. So the natural response, for me at least, is that I suppress the feelings that come with suffering, I ignore the grief, fight off the weeping, and convince myself and everyone else that I'm fine because God is good and that I am feeling joyful in his presence and through the circumstances I find myself in.
But that is not at all what is meant by rejoicing through your suffering.
I think I first was mistaken by believing that rejoicing was on some level just an emotion or a feeling or an action. It is far beyond any of that. If rejoicing were just one of these then it wouldn't match up with what we've been taught about it by the word. Philippians says we are to rejoice always. It is impossible to maintain an emotion always, especially one such as joy. Things happen to us all, terrible things happen, and if they don't happen to you, look around at the world for five minutes and see the pain and destitution there and try to be joyful.
Look at Job, he suffered immensely (understatement) but there are three words that blow your mind as you look at the response in the Bible to his reactions upon learning about everything that happened to him: he sinned not. Job just learns that everything he has has been taken away from him by all accounts freak circumstances, and his response is to rip his clothes, shave his head and fall to the ground, and I can only imagine that the state of his heart was so hurt and that he was weeping uncontrollably and feeling the sorrow that comes with loss, but through all this "he sinned not" (Job 1:21).
Even with all those emotions, Job did not sin in them. Instead he was able to treasure and hold firmly onto God's presence within his own life. True rejoicing extends beyond circumstances and emotions to a core, firm resolve in treasuring our Father. Even Christ wept at the sight of the world around him, an he was perfect, he didn't sin.
Lastly, the sermon I heard this morning was on Habakkuk 3: 1-19, and I'll try to do it justice briefly. Habakkuk for 15 verses recounts the Exodus and the sufferings of his people and there seems to be no resolve to all of it until 16-19. In 16 he shows the fear he is physically experiencing and the effects of the sufferings on his body, but the closes is by showing that there is something that can keep him firmly fixed and trusting. And in 18 and 19 he shows us what that is: God.
I think 19 is just so cool. "He makes my feet like a deer, He enables me to go on the (literally- my) heights." The example used in the sermon was of a mountain goat, who can walk with ease amongst the roughest terrain on a mountain top where one small misstep results in going down. And though the ground is more and more perilous the higher up the mountain, if you can walk on it, it is also safer from predators and the like. So the mountain goat, who's feet and grip on the rock has been made firm is safe.
When suffering comes into our lives, we can't stay in the same spot on the mountain. We either fall, or climb higher. And by climbing higher we are trusting in the Lord's ability to stabilize our feet so that we may endure the rougher terrain. And though our legs may be shaking and hearts throbbing in pain, we maintain our firm hold on the path because of Him.
Therefore, with assurance, we can feel sorrow and pain, weep and scream, and be real without ceasing to rejoice by treasuring our Father's presence.
For me, this is now providing a peace that is the result of true rejoicing. I can allow myself to feel hurt and sorrowful and weep if I need to without feeling guilty for not being the ever joyful Christian. And I can strive to climb higher up the mountain by being humbled and impassioned by the pain in my own life and in the world.
And if you haven't listened to it recently, or even if you have, listen again to How Deep the Father's Love for Us, it seems to bring everything full circle for this.
You guys rock,
Sean
It's been awhile, but I promise to be better about posting myself as I'm adjusting to my new schedule. At any rate, I've really felt my world being rocked lately and God's been teaching me a lot, and this morning has been incredible already.
I guess I've always had a skewed perception on what it means to suffer and how we all go through it and how we are intended to handle it. Numerous times in the Bible we find that it says that we are to rejoice amidst our suffering. And to be completely honest, I never feel as though thats possible. Or if I "rejoice" its usually fairly sarcastic and forced and never really the feeling that I'm really experiencing.
Not only that, but often times if I find that I'm not rejoicing in a time of suffering then I find myself feeling horribly guilty, as though because I feel unable to be joyful and happy and bask in God's grace that I am failing as a Christian. So the natural response, for me at least, is that I suppress the feelings that come with suffering, I ignore the grief, fight off the weeping, and convince myself and everyone else that I'm fine because God is good and that I am feeling joyful in his presence and through the circumstances I find myself in.
But that is not at all what is meant by rejoicing through your suffering.
I think I first was mistaken by believing that rejoicing was on some level just an emotion or a feeling or an action. It is far beyond any of that. If rejoicing were just one of these then it wouldn't match up with what we've been taught about it by the word. Philippians says we are to rejoice always. It is impossible to maintain an emotion always, especially one such as joy. Things happen to us all, terrible things happen, and if they don't happen to you, look around at the world for five minutes and see the pain and destitution there and try to be joyful.
Look at Job, he suffered immensely (understatement) but there are three words that blow your mind as you look at the response in the Bible to his reactions upon learning about everything that happened to him: he sinned not. Job just learns that everything he has has been taken away from him by all accounts freak circumstances, and his response is to rip his clothes, shave his head and fall to the ground, and I can only imagine that the state of his heart was so hurt and that he was weeping uncontrollably and feeling the sorrow that comes with loss, but through all this "he sinned not" (Job 1:21).
Even with all those emotions, Job did not sin in them. Instead he was able to treasure and hold firmly onto God's presence within his own life. True rejoicing extends beyond circumstances and emotions to a core, firm resolve in treasuring our Father. Even Christ wept at the sight of the world around him, an he was perfect, he didn't sin.
Lastly, the sermon I heard this morning was on Habakkuk 3: 1-19, and I'll try to do it justice briefly. Habakkuk for 15 verses recounts the Exodus and the sufferings of his people and there seems to be no resolve to all of it until 16-19. In 16 he shows the fear he is physically experiencing and the effects of the sufferings on his body, but the closes is by showing that there is something that can keep him firmly fixed and trusting. And in 18 and 19 he shows us what that is: God.
I think 19 is just so cool. "He makes my feet like a deer, He enables me to go on the (literally- my) heights." The example used in the sermon was of a mountain goat, who can walk with ease amongst the roughest terrain on a mountain top where one small misstep results in going down. And though the ground is more and more perilous the higher up the mountain, if you can walk on it, it is also safer from predators and the like. So the mountain goat, who's feet and grip on the rock has been made firm is safe.
When suffering comes into our lives, we can't stay in the same spot on the mountain. We either fall, or climb higher. And by climbing higher we are trusting in the Lord's ability to stabilize our feet so that we may endure the rougher terrain. And though our legs may be shaking and hearts throbbing in pain, we maintain our firm hold on the path because of Him.
Therefore, with assurance, we can feel sorrow and pain, weep and scream, and be real without ceasing to rejoice by treasuring our Father's presence.
For me, this is now providing a peace that is the result of true rejoicing. I can allow myself to feel hurt and sorrowful and weep if I need to without feeling guilty for not being the ever joyful Christian. And I can strive to climb higher up the mountain by being humbled and impassioned by the pain in my own life and in the world.
And if you haven't listened to it recently, or even if you have, listen again to How Deep the Father's Love for Us, it seems to bring everything full circle for this.
You guys rock,
Sean
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Galatians 6:7
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
This verse has been on my mind a lot lately. Last weekend the "boat docking" season officially began and we had some new recruits. One of them was a graduate of FM, like myself, and played basketball with me there and was just a year younger. I would never have considered us great friends by any stretch, but friends could work. At any rate, he got to talking and asking some questions about Young Life, and I gladly answered. He asked if I was a leader and how long I had been involved for and so on. When I told him I had done YL for most of my time in high school his response was one that has continued to haunt me, "Really? Why didn't you ever tell me you were involved?" And in his tone you could hear his disappointment and questioning of my motivations. I realized in that moment that I had missed a huge opportunity in high school with him.
I know not to dwell on the past, however, I can't get this picture out of my mind. I certainly invited people to come to club and such, but never with the reckless abandon that I should have. And now, four years later I find myself trying to lead kids in loving their friends and continue to keep feeling frustrated by it. Perhaps I'm just being pushed to look at these kids and see that I was in the same state of mind as they are. Maybe this is why God has brought me to this point, so that I might realize my own short comings and in doing so, teach and demonstrate a better way to the kids we're leading.
So, I guess this leaves me thinking that it is only through self evaluation and reflection on our own actions, while pursuing Christ, that we can alter our current walk. I think the last part is the key ingredient though. Its wholly plausible to reflect and be hard on yourself for past shortcomings, but to not include Christ in that will only lead to more guilt and frustration and no resolution to the problem. If we are truly seeking to change, we will involve Christ in that because we have no other way to change.
This verse has been on my mind a lot lately. Last weekend the "boat docking" season officially began and we had some new recruits. One of them was a graduate of FM, like myself, and played basketball with me there and was just a year younger. I would never have considered us great friends by any stretch, but friends could work. At any rate, he got to talking and asking some questions about Young Life, and I gladly answered. He asked if I was a leader and how long I had been involved for and so on. When I told him I had done YL for most of my time in high school his response was one that has continued to haunt me, "Really? Why didn't you ever tell me you were involved?" And in his tone you could hear his disappointment and questioning of my motivations. I realized in that moment that I had missed a huge opportunity in high school with him.
I know not to dwell on the past, however, I can't get this picture out of my mind. I certainly invited people to come to club and such, but never with the reckless abandon that I should have. And now, four years later I find myself trying to lead kids in loving their friends and continue to keep feeling frustrated by it. Perhaps I'm just being pushed to look at these kids and see that I was in the same state of mind as they are. Maybe this is why God has brought me to this point, so that I might realize my own short comings and in doing so, teach and demonstrate a better way to the kids we're leading.
So, I guess this leaves me thinking that it is only through self evaluation and reflection on our own actions, while pursuing Christ, that we can alter our current walk. I think the last part is the key ingredient though. Its wholly plausible to reflect and be hard on yourself for past shortcomings, but to not include Christ in that will only lead to more guilt and frustration and no resolution to the problem. If we are truly seeking to change, we will involve Christ in that because we have no other way to change.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
I saw the beginning of the Michael J. Fox special on ABC... I thought it was so interesting! My favorite part was when he went to Bhutan because it is said to be the happiest nation on earth. Besides rating GNP, they also tally up the GNH: Gross National Happiness. Now, I'm not sure how they really put that into numbers or how they record it, but I thought that was beyond cool. He felt so relaxed and happy in Bhutan that he could take less medicine for his Parkinson's Disease because his symptoms were so reduced. That was definitely the coolest part- such a simple thing as happiness can cure or at least lessen diseases! I bet that if they rated the U.S.'s GNH, it would be one of the lowest in the world. Why is that? Why do we Americans seem to be so unhappy? Is it our obsession with materialism that just leaves us empty? I think it has to do a lot with our inability to believe in anything. We're trained to be skeptics and to beware of scams (mostly because of advertising, which is sad...) but it is hard to wholeheartedly believe in anything or anyone anymore. I think that's why I myself struggle with doubt in Jesus so much. My mom is one of the most skeptical people I've ever known, and maybe that's why I'm afraid of trusting people with everything I have and everything I am. It's hard to believe that He cares about me that much, that He would die for me. It's something I accept, but not something I can really wrap my head around.
I don't know how to go about being an optimist. It's so ingrained in me to believe things are not what they appear to be or that they are not going to turn out the way I want them to. I need to accept the fact that they're not going to go my way, but His way.
I don't know how to go about being an optimist. It's so ingrained in me to believe things are not what they appear to be or that they are not going to turn out the way I want them to. I need to accept the fact that they're not going to go my way, but His way.
Michael J Fox
Are we called to be optimists?
I watched this piece by Michael J Fox on ABC the other night and was really impressed by portions of it.
http://fep.abc.go.com/fep/player?src=abccomjs&show=205278
check it out
I watched this piece by Michael J Fox on ABC the other night and was really impressed by portions of it.
http://fep.abc.go.com/fep/player?src=abccomjs&show=205278
check it out
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Jeremiah 9-
Also read:
Psalm 34:2
1 Corinthians 1:28-31
1 Corinthians 5:6
2 Corinthians 10-love it
2 Corinthians 11:30
Galatians 6:13,14
Philippians 2:16
____
How do we boast in Christ?
How does that change when we are talking to friends, family, Christians, not...?
what would you need to change to solely boast in Christ?
1Cor5:6- do we see that in our own lives? God enters one place and transforms everything tangent to it
Psalm 34:2
1 Corinthians 1:28-31
1 Corinthians 5:6
2 Corinthians 10-love it
2 Corinthians 11:30
Galatians 6:13,14
Philippians 2:16
____
How do we boast in Christ?
How does that change when we are talking to friends, family, Christians, not...?
what would you need to change to solely boast in Christ?
1Cor5:6- do we see that in our own lives? God enters one place and transforms everything tangent to it
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Take a road trip
For my internship this summer I have to take a couple trips down to the city before it starts so that I can have different tests run to ensure that I'm healthy enough to be in an OR for the entire summer.
I left for the first of these trips yesterday afternoon and my mom decided to tag along for the ride. We stayed the night in Connecticut with her brother and then made our way into the city today just so I could pee in a cup and then head out (ridiculous).
Anyway, I was amazed by how the time my mom and I spent together effected her. I felt like we hadn't really been able to spend that much high quality time together. We were constantly on the move- either driving, running between trains or subways, or hauling across Harlem. Once we made it back to Syracuse, I dropped her off at home and was leaving to go back to my apartment when she had me get out of the car and welled up with emotion. She hugged me, really hugged me, and I realized how much just spending time together meant to her.
Throughout my car ride back to the apartment I couldn't help but think that that is what our lives and ministries are all about: spending time with people. It is such a simple concept but we so often forget it or just push it down on our priority list. I was reminded of the prodigal son and how the father seems to long to just spend time with his son.
Our friends/family long to spend time with us. They long for it not because we're the most amazing people, but because they can sense Christ within us. The greatest gift we can give to people is ourselves and our time, and in turn, Christ.
Who are you spending your time with?
Are you there or does your mind simply wander and not focus on the person/task at hand?
How can we invest time in others if we don't invest it in ourselves? Or in our relationship with Christ?
I left for the first of these trips yesterday afternoon and my mom decided to tag along for the ride. We stayed the night in Connecticut with her brother and then made our way into the city today just so I could pee in a cup and then head out (ridiculous).
Anyway, I was amazed by how the time my mom and I spent together effected her. I felt like we hadn't really been able to spend that much high quality time together. We were constantly on the move- either driving, running between trains or subways, or hauling across Harlem. Once we made it back to Syracuse, I dropped her off at home and was leaving to go back to my apartment when she had me get out of the car and welled up with emotion. She hugged me, really hugged me, and I realized how much just spending time together meant to her.
Throughout my car ride back to the apartment I couldn't help but think that that is what our lives and ministries are all about: spending time with people. It is such a simple concept but we so often forget it or just push it down on our priority list. I was reminded of the prodigal son and how the father seems to long to just spend time with his son.
Our friends/family long to spend time with us. They long for it not because we're the most amazing people, but because they can sense Christ within us. The greatest gift we can give to people is ourselves and our time, and in turn, Christ.
Who are you spending your time with?
Are you there or does your mind simply wander and not focus on the person/task at hand?
How can we invest time in others if we don't invest it in ourselves? Or in our relationship with Christ?
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