i have started a new strand of post about Haiti. Stacy is headed there in a medical mission trip and as i study more about country i will document my findings.
1.07.2009
MOVING TO WORDPRESS!!!
i am officially moving to wordpress. check me out there! (http://simplyjy.wordpress.com)
12.09.2008
the cross
Stacy and i were talking this morning (it was more her talking and me listening)...
first, i have to note that nothing brings me more joy and excitement then when my wife is growing in Christ. she loves Jesus with all her heart and is always growing and pursuing Christ. she is simply amazing. with that i have to note that over the past few months i have seen something different...something good...something Christ. Praise God! i love and cherish her with all my heart
...in talking about some random things this morning, she mentioned that she has struggled in the past, as a believer in Christ, hearing the gospel message over and over again. she raised the struggling question, "is it necessary for us as believers to need to hear that message over and over again?" her point is, we know the message, do i need to re-hear it?
her next words were so profound. in her thought process, she mentioned some things that she has been reading and has been challenged with. she answered her own question by saying...absolutely i do. she has been reminded, and challenged me to remember, that the cross is the crux of our faith. the cross is where joy is found. the cross is what leads us to repentance. the cross is what makes me a new creation...the fulfillment of all things built in Old Testament history.
may we never loose sight of the cross.
11.24.2008
The "holiday" season engulfs my 5 year old
in our recent move to the northwest Stacy and i decided that we would not put our oldest son, who turned 5 on September 1st, in kindergarden. because of his late birthday (and a few other reasons...one not being because he wasn't ready...he's freak'n brilliant) we decided to hold him back and put him in a preschool again. he loves learning and interacting and it would almost be a slam to his 5 year old mind to not put him in a learning environment.
he has been in Christian preschools for the past 3 years but this year we put him in a school where one of his friends goes. they are not Christ centered. they are a great school and Austen's teachers love him dearly.
this holiday season hit's the reality for Stacy and i that he is not in a Christian preschool, and it's scary.
Stacy and i have purposely chosen (up to today's date) to place our kids in public school. it is a strong conviction of ours (for us) that the school will not be the sole educators of our kids. also the church will not be the sole educators of our kids. Stacy and i have been given the responsibility to raise our kids, to praise our kids, to teach our kids, to discipline our kids, and to grow them up in Christ.
we want them at and early age to understand what it means to be a light in a dark place.
THIS IS SCARY!
Austen's class is focusing this holiday season on Hanukkah. each class has a responsibility to teach a different viewpoint of holidays and because his teacher is Jewish, they are focusing on Hanukkah.
Another class is focusing on Kwansa and another on Christmas.
They will come together and present the different views of Christmas in his "holiday program" on December 13th.
here's the question:
how do you teach the plurality of God in our fallen world to a 5 year old?
i guess it begins and ends with Jesus.
his foundation is being built and we have to trust God (and Christ in our lives as his parents) that his heart is being protected.
i do trust God in where He has us, in where He has Austen, and i pray constantly that the one true God would rescue his heart.
God protect him. God preserve him. build him up for the day he surrenders his life to You. rescue his heart. give Stacy and I the perseverance, wisdom, and sense of urgency we need to be a home that glorifies Your name forever. i praise You for his life and let me treasure him for the time You have given him to me. i love You. i trust you. and Austen, you are everything to me. Amen.
11.19.2008
Back off Tony Romo
check out this article from the Dallas Morning News. what a swell guy!!
By TIM MacMAHON / The Dallas Morning News
tmacmahon@dallasnews.com
A homeless man who goes by Doc was cashing in change at a Cinemark theater in Dallas when a guy walked up and offered to pay his way into the movie. Doc, who planned to spend his day passing out flyers for a few bucks, accepted a rain check before realizing that he recognized the generous gentleman.
"Was that Tony Romo?" Doc asked the kid behind the counter.
It sure was. Doc hustled across the street to the consignment store that paid him to occasionally pass out flyers and requested the day off. By the time he got back to the theater, "Role Model" had already started.
Romo, who confirmed the story but didn't want to elaborate, waved Doc over to sit by him and his buddy. Doc sheepishly mentioned that he hadn't showered in a few days.
"Don't worry about that," Romo said. "I'm used to locker rooms."
And so the $67 million quarterback and a man who doesn't have $6.70 to his name sat next to each other and shared laughs for 90 minutes or so.
For Romo, who made news by changing a couple's tire on the side of the road on the way home the night of the season opener, it was just another kind gesture to a random stranger. It meant the world to Doc.
"For me, it was a blessing," Doc said. "It came at just the right time. It gave me some encouragement and faith in mankind. I just wanted to say thank you."
By TIM MacMAHON / The Dallas Morning News
tmacmahon@dallasnews.com
A homeless man who goes by Doc was cashing in change at a Cinemark theater in Dallas when a guy walked up and offered to pay his way into the movie. Doc, who planned to spend his day passing out flyers for a few bucks, accepted a rain check before realizing that he recognized the generous gentleman.
"Was that Tony Romo?" Doc asked the kid behind the counter.
It sure was. Doc hustled across the street to the consignment store that paid him to occasionally pass out flyers and requested the day off. By the time he got back to the theater, "Role Model" had already started.
Romo, who confirmed the story but didn't want to elaborate, waved Doc over to sit by him and his buddy. Doc sheepishly mentioned that he hadn't showered in a few days.
"Don't worry about that," Romo said. "I'm used to locker rooms."
And so the $67 million quarterback and a man who doesn't have $6.70 to his name sat next to each other and shared laughs for 90 minutes or so.
For Romo, who made news by changing a couple's tire on the side of the road on the way home the night of the season opener, it was just another kind gesture to a random stranger. It meant the world to Doc.
"For me, it was a blessing," Doc said. "It came at just the right time. It gave me some encouragement and faith in mankind. I just wanted to say thank you."
11.17.2008
Theology pt. 5
remember: i am not posting these blog's as fact but as discussion starters to help form and solidify my (and your) theology. i love hearing all points of view and having good healthy discussions (feelings aside). leave me comments. molding my theology is my life long process so let's get started.
this question was proposed to me tonight and i had to ask: "does God have free will?"
here's another, "can God sin?"
why or why not?!
11.12.2008
prayers
what are the types of prayers have you prayed most recently:
(don't over spiritualize...there is no alternative motive...just curious)
- help me..
- heal him...
- protect me...
- save him...
- send me...
- change me...
- give me...
- ???
i am thinking through how prayer fits into my theology. i am curious all the prayers that are prayed.
theology pt. 4
remember: i am not posting these blog's as fact but as discussion starters to help form and solidify my (and your) theology. i love hearing all points of view and having good healthy discussions (feelings aside). leave me comments. molding my theology is my life long process so let's get started.
I have heard the term fundamentalist Christian used frequently and I don’t quite grasp the term fully. I understand that a fundamentalist is someone who upholds the belief of the strict and literal interpretation of the Bible. Apposed to someone who believes the Bible to be figurative or allegorical I consider myself to be a fundamentalist. But in reading passages like Exodus 32 the literal can be that you can change God’s mind.
At points you have to look beyond literal and see principle. That is important Bible study methods.
Can you change God’s mind. No! God raises questions and situations to bring you into conversation with Him. God’s omnipotent power does not stop with us; meaning it’s wrong to think that if we don’t ask then God wont act. Our silence does not stop the power of God (this idea gives us more authority than God and ultimately makes us greater than God). It raises a good question to think, what if Moses would have agreed with God that Israel should be destroyed and that God should start over with him? Would God have destroyed his chosen nation?
By no means because of the covenant He made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Moses was confident in who God was/is. He knew what God’s promise was. His confidence superseded his insecurities. His response was not specifically on behalf of Israel but on the reputation of God (among Egypt and among the rest of the world).
God desires for us to have communion with Him. He desires to bring us into His glory. If we abstain from communion with Him then we are forfeiting the glory of God (Romans 1:23). God has choses those who are to be saved but brings us into His glory by using us; by praying for their salvation of the lost and having conversation with them. Peoples fates are not in our hands but God moves us into conversation with Him so that we may know His power. To think we have the power to change lives is to “exchange the glory of the immortal God” for worship of created things (us).
In this truth I still believe that we are held accountable for our “worship” of God. Worship meaning the offering our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. In worship we commune with God. In worship God directs us. In our abstinence of worship (specifically communion), we sin. Ultimately forfeiting the glory of God.
Genesis 18:16-21 - God engages Abraham into the a conversation with Him in His plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham enters the conversation and pleas for this city.
Exodus 32:7-10, 11-14 - The people of Israel under Aaron’s leadership made the golden calf in Moses’ absence. God told Moses about it on the Mountain and in his reveal He tells Moses that He is going to destroy this nation and raise up Moses and make a great nation of him. Moses pleas for God’s mercy and reminds Him of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Then the LORD relented from the disaster he spoke of.
Numbers 14 - Israel cries out to the LORD after the report of the spies that the land to too great for overtake. Their hearts to do not believe the LORD and grumble about why He took them out of Egypt. God told Moses that He would destroy them and make him (Moses) a great nation. Moses pleas to God on behalf of Israel and God relents his wrath and says that this nation will not enter the Holy Land except for Caleb.
Can you change God’s mind?
I have heard the term fundamentalist Christian used frequently and I don’t quite grasp the term fully. I understand that a fundamentalist is someone who upholds the belief of the strict and literal interpretation of the Bible. Apposed to someone who believes the Bible to be figurative or allegorical I consider myself to be a fundamentalist. But in reading passages like Exodus 32 the literal can be that you can change God’s mind.
At points you have to look beyond literal and see principle. That is important Bible study methods.
Can you change God’s mind. No! God raises questions and situations to bring you into conversation with Him. God’s omnipotent power does not stop with us; meaning it’s wrong to think that if we don’t ask then God wont act. Our silence does not stop the power of God (this idea gives us more authority than God and ultimately makes us greater than God). It raises a good question to think, what if Moses would have agreed with God that Israel should be destroyed and that God should start over with him? Would God have destroyed his chosen nation?
By no means because of the covenant He made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Moses was confident in who God was/is. He knew what God’s promise was. His confidence superseded his insecurities. His response was not specifically on behalf of Israel but on the reputation of God (among Egypt and among the rest of the world).
God desires for us to have communion with Him. He desires to bring us into His glory. If we abstain from communion with Him then we are forfeiting the glory of God (Romans 1:23). God has choses those who are to be saved but brings us into His glory by using us; by praying for their salvation of the lost and having conversation with them. Peoples fates are not in our hands but God moves us into conversation with Him so that we may know His power. To think we have the power to change lives is to “exchange the glory of the immortal God” for worship of created things (us).
In this truth I still believe that we are held accountable for our “worship” of God. Worship meaning the offering our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. In worship we commune with God. In worship God directs us. In our abstinence of worship (specifically communion), we sin. Ultimately forfeiting the glory of God.
What do you think?
Genesis 18:16-21 - God engages Abraham into the a conversation with Him in His plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham enters the conversation and pleas for this city.
Exodus 32:7-10, 11-14 - The people of Israel under Aaron’s leadership made the golden calf in Moses’ absence. God told Moses about it on the Mountain and in his reveal He tells Moses that He is going to destroy this nation and raise up Moses and make a great nation of him. Moses pleas for God’s mercy and reminds Him of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Then the LORD relented from the disaster he spoke of.
Numbers 14 - Israel cries out to the LORD after the report of the spies that the land to too great for overtake. Their hearts to do not believe the LORD and grumble about why He took them out of Egypt. God told Moses that He would destroy them and make him (Moses) a great nation. Moses pleas to God on behalf of Israel and God relents his wrath and says that this nation will not enter the Holy Land except for Caleb.
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