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What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| You scored as Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan You are an evangelical in the Wesleyan tradition. You believe that God's grace enables you to choose to believe in him, even though you yourself are totally depraved. The gift of the Holy Spirit gives you assurance of your salvation, and he also enables you to live the life of obedience to which God has called us. You are influenced heavly by John Wesley and the Methodists.
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Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Christian Worldview
Friday, January 4, 2008
A Franciscan Benediction
I saw this on the cover of my friend Russ' ordination bulletin. I thought that it was quite profound and yet very simple.
A Franciscan Benediction
May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships so that you may live deep within your own heart.
May God bless you with anger at injustice , oppression, and exploitation of people so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, starvation, and war so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim can't be done.
A Franciscan Benediction
May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships so that you may live deep within your own heart.
May God bless you with anger at injustice , oppression, and exploitation of people so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, starvation, and war so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim can't be done.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
International Wesleyan Youth Convention
Impressive, extensive, incredible, moving, LOUD, fun, warm, focused, blessed... in the words of my good friend Chad Young, it was by far the most bestest Int'l Youth Convention you'll ever go to in your life... until next year.
So my fiance Kristie, Amanda, and I traveled down to Orlando to work at the youth convention between the Christmas and New Year holidays. I have to say, it was the best in between holidays week that I have experienced. First of all, it took us 11 hours to get to Orlando. This is because I decided to pick up I-20E in Columbia rather than following I-26 all the way to I-95. Why did I decide to tack on another hour of travel you ask? Because I did not follow my directions? Guilty as charged. At least I had good company. I was wondering why it took 6 hours to get out of South Carolina. For a moment I thought the state had annexed part of Georgia or something!
When we finally arrived that night this is what we pulled up to:
Here is a daytime picture:
Pretty awesome eh? And to those of you at BUMC reading this... Kristie and I stayed in separate rooms, and more importantly the Wesleyan Church picked up our tab... not you... so don't fret over the $475/night or the 9 Escalades parked out front.
The best part is that the convention was the worse part. Honestly, the convention itself was great! Over 7,000 youth gathered together from as far as New Zealand to join together under the common bond of Jesus Christ. It was wonderful to hear the voices of those youth singing praises in worship and to see their hands lifted up as lights ricocheted off of the crowd.
There were numerous bands and speakers. Kutless, Fireflight, Everyday Sunday, and Family Force 5 just to name a few. The worship leader was Steve Fee.
The final day was amazing! Kevin Myers spoke about "getting over it". How sometimes in life we just have to get over things. That sometimes there are things we have to do that we would not care to do. In the book of 1 Samuel, David isn't taken seriously at first. First when Samuel comes to anoint a new king, Jesse doesn't even recognize David as a candidate to become king. Then after the anointing, Jesse sends David to the front lines of the battle against the Philistines. However, Jesse sends David out with bread and cheese to take to his brothers and their commander. Jesse is a lowly pizza delivery boy. But because David got over his pride it showed that he was worthy to one day become king, and to face Goliath.
The music was incredible the last day. Both the worship music by Fee and the concert by Family Force 5 went great. It's a good thing too, because I blew a fuse in the Mazda that took out my radio. the road trip home seemed longer than usual with no radio. A special thanks to Fee and FF5 for getting a few songs stuck in my head... they helped on the trip home.
Two good increases in friendships took place. With Kristie sleeping like a rock in the passenger's seat it was just me and Amanda awake for the ride back to South Kakalaki. Luckily, Amanda did a wonderful job of keeping me awake by engaging me in conversation clear from St. Augustine to Charleston. Another surprise was with my roommate for the week, Kevin. I have to say that I knew Kevin and I would either do great together or we would both kill each other. I am pleased to say that all went well. To be honest, I couldn't have picked a better roommate.
All in all, the convention was not the only place that God reached out to me. He reached out to me in the hotel, in the car, at worship, at the convert, in break out sessions, and in the quiet times of that ride home.
I think that one of the best things about the conference was that among 7,000+ Wesleyans I was treated as a brother. No one looked at me as if I was from another denomination. I was treated as a fellow brother in Christ. This convention was about Christ, not denominational lines. I'm glad to see that the youth understand the big picture. I pray that adults, of all denominations, will see the same picture. 7,000+ Christians gathered in Orlando last week seeking after Christ. That is amazing. I have no doubt that 2008 will be as impressive as those 7,000 teens.
So my fiance Kristie, Amanda, and I traveled down to Orlando to work at the youth convention between the Christmas and New Year holidays. I have to say, it was the best in between holidays week that I have experienced. First of all, it took us 11 hours to get to Orlando. This is because I decided to pick up I-20E in Columbia rather than following I-26 all the way to I-95. Why did I decide to tack on another hour of travel you ask? Because I did not follow my directions? Guilty as charged. At least I had good company. I was wondering why it took 6 hours to get out of South Carolina. For a moment I thought the state had annexed part of Georgia or something!
When we finally arrived that night this is what we pulled up to:
Here is a daytime picture:
Pretty awesome eh? And to those of you at BUMC reading this... Kristie and I stayed in separate rooms, and more importantly the Wesleyan Church picked up our tab... not you... so don't fret over the $475/night or the 9 Escalades parked out front.
The best part is that the convention was the worse part. Honestly, the convention itself was great! Over 7,000 youth gathered together from as far as New Zealand to join together under the common bond of Jesus Christ. It was wonderful to hear the voices of those youth singing praises in worship and to see their hands lifted up as lights ricocheted off of the crowd.
There were numerous bands and speakers. Kutless, Fireflight, Everyday Sunday, and Family Force 5 just to name a few. The worship leader was Steve Fee.
The final day was amazing! Kevin Myers spoke about "getting over it". How sometimes in life we just have to get over things. That sometimes there are things we have to do that we would not care to do. In the book of 1 Samuel, David isn't taken seriously at first. First when Samuel comes to anoint a new king, Jesse doesn't even recognize David as a candidate to become king. Then after the anointing, Jesse sends David to the front lines of the battle against the Philistines. However, Jesse sends David out with bread and cheese to take to his brothers and their commander. Jesse is a lowly pizza delivery boy. But because David got over his pride it showed that he was worthy to one day become king, and to face Goliath.
The music was incredible the last day. Both the worship music by Fee and the concert by Family Force 5 went great. It's a good thing too, because I blew a fuse in the Mazda that took out my radio. the road trip home seemed longer than usual with no radio. A special thanks to Fee and FF5 for getting a few songs stuck in my head... they helped on the trip home.
Two good increases in friendships took place. With Kristie sleeping like a rock in the passenger's seat it was just me and Amanda awake for the ride back to South Kakalaki. Luckily, Amanda did a wonderful job of keeping me awake by engaging me in conversation clear from St. Augustine to Charleston. Another surprise was with my roommate for the week, Kevin. I have to say that I knew Kevin and I would either do great together or we would both kill each other. I am pleased to say that all went well. To be honest, I couldn't have picked a better roommate.
All in all, the convention was not the only place that God reached out to me. He reached out to me in the hotel, in the car, at worship, at the convert, in break out sessions, and in the quiet times of that ride home.
I think that one of the best things about the conference was that among 7,000+ Wesleyans I was treated as a brother. No one looked at me as if I was from another denomination. I was treated as a fellow brother in Christ. This convention was about Christ, not denominational lines. I'm glad to see that the youth understand the big picture. I pray that adults, of all denominations, will see the same picture. 7,000+ Christians gathered in Orlando last week seeking after Christ. That is amazing. I have no doubt that 2008 will be as impressive as those 7,000 teens.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Sometimes I Just Want to Close My Eyes
I was driving down the road the other day to a large department store in Central, and I always pass this one church that tends to have very harsh signs. One sign said, "No Halloween here we love Jesus not Satan!" another said "We won't be watching the superbowl tonight! We're having church!"
Both of these events could have been used to bring people into the church. How about you have a superbowl party watch the game and invite people? Can't you have church while watching the game? Has church really been categorized by preaching from the pulpit and hymn singing only? How said is this?!
At any rate, from time to time I catch things on the sign where I just want to close my eyes. However, as you will see in the photos below there are times when it is obvious that a Church is being mislead and desperately needs to encounter Jesus before they decide to preach His Gospel.
I'm not advocating Calvinism. As a matter of fact, I would never preach five point Calvinist theology. However, I love my brothers and sisters who are Calvinist... because I know that they are first Christian. What I would like to point out is that it is important that when the rubber meets the road we are united as the body of Christ in ministry.
For a good laugh, a scratch on the head, or possibly an immediate rise in blood pressure please scroll down and to read the other side of the sign.
"If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. " Mark 3:25
What do you think?
Both of these events could have been used to bring people into the church. How about you have a superbowl party watch the game and invite people? Can't you have church while watching the game? Has church really been categorized by preaching from the pulpit and hymn singing only? How said is this?!
At any rate, from time to time I catch things on the sign where I just want to close my eyes. However, as you will see in the photos below there are times when it is obvious that a Church is being mislead and desperately needs to encounter Jesus before they decide to preach His Gospel.
I'm not advocating Calvinism. As a matter of fact, I would never preach five point Calvinist theology. However, I love my brothers and sisters who are Calvinist... because I know that they are first Christian. What I would like to point out is that it is important that when the rubber meets the road we are united as the body of Christ in ministry.
For a good laugh, a scratch on the head, or possibly an immediate rise in blood pressure please scroll down and to read the other side of the sign.
"If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. " Mark 3:25
What do you think?
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Future Posts
It's been a while since I really sat down and posted. Within the next few weeks I hope to have a few more topics. Soon to come:
"Passionate for the Christ"
"Called by God"
"Setting an Example: The importance of Integrity"
"Passionate for the Christ"
"Called by God"
"Setting an Example: The importance of Integrity"
Friday, October 26, 2007
Questions
I've always been very competitive. It seems like even when I was a child I always wanted to either win the race or steal a base. I always wanted to win, and I never wanted to wait to do it.
People have asked me for advice and I use to try to give them the answers. “Oh, you should do blah blah blah and everything will work out.” Then I find out there is more to the picture and my advice was about as effective as the Clemson offensive line against Virginia Tech. I had to learn to see the whole picture. I had to learn to analyze situations and assess it according to Scripture rather than by my own rational.
I have had to learn to sometimes say, “I’m not sure what the right answer is.” To be honest, sometimes there is no right answer… sometimes there is no answer at all. My dad and I have this saying, “Don’t bother to ask a question that you know there isn’t an answer to.”
Kids always ask great questions:
Q: Why is the world round?
A: God likes tether balls and wanted one of His own.
Q: Why did God make the sky blue?
A: Because He knew one day the Tar Heels would be the same color and He likes them.
Then they ask harder questions:
Q: Why do people get cancer?
Q: Why are there children in Africa with AIDS?
Q: Why don’t they have clean water in Zimbabwe?
These are all questions with an answer. We live in a fallen world. We live in a world that has been corrupted by sin. When sin entered the Garden of Eden things would never be the same again. Since that day the world has experienced violence, famines, natural disasters, and separation from God.
Q: What is the solution?
A: Christ Jesus.
It is only through Christ that the world may be reconciled with its Creator.
The time has come to stop asking why… and start asking… how?
How can I help children with AIDS in Africa?
How can I provide clean water in Zimbabwe?
How can you help?
What will you do?
Why are you waiting?
----------------------------
Here are a few links to provide answers:
http://www.worldvision.org/get_involved.nsf/child/hope_home
http://www.umcsc.org/africa/africainitiative.html
People have asked me for advice and I use to try to give them the answers. “Oh, you should do blah blah blah and everything will work out.” Then I find out there is more to the picture and my advice was about as effective as the Clemson offensive line against Virginia Tech. I had to learn to see the whole picture. I had to learn to analyze situations and assess it according to Scripture rather than by my own rational.
I have had to learn to sometimes say, “I’m not sure what the right answer is.” To be honest, sometimes there is no right answer… sometimes there is no answer at all. My dad and I have this saying, “Don’t bother to ask a question that you know there isn’t an answer to.”
Kids always ask great questions:
Q: Why is the world round?
A: God likes tether balls and wanted one of His own.
Q: Why did God make the sky blue?
A: Because He knew one day the Tar Heels would be the same color and He likes them.
Then they ask harder questions:
Q: Why do people get cancer?
Q: Why are there children in Africa with AIDS?
Q: Why don’t they have clean water in Zimbabwe?
These are all questions with an answer. We live in a fallen world. We live in a world that has been corrupted by sin. When sin entered the Garden of Eden things would never be the same again. Since that day the world has experienced violence, famines, natural disasters, and separation from God.
Q: What is the solution?
A: Christ Jesus.
It is only through Christ that the world may be reconciled with its Creator.
The time has come to stop asking why… and start asking… how?
How can I help children with AIDS in Africa?
How can I provide clean water in Zimbabwe?
How can you help?
What will you do?
Why are you waiting?
----------------------------
Here are a few links to provide answers:
http://www.worldvision.org/get_involved.nsf/child/hope_home
http://www.umcsc.org/africa/africainitiative.html
Monday, October 1, 2007
Quality Time with Family
Yes, my parents have a 360. No, I do not have one. Yes they have Halo 3. No, I don't have it. Yes, I am visiting them often.
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