Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at 2:31

A little project I’ve been working on for the past couple months is storing the Word in my heart. Along with my good friend, I’ve been memorizing and reflecting on Ephesians.

It’s been an exciting journey, not without its hardships. It’s easy to put off the work for the next day or make excuses about how it’s hard. It’s easy to make this into a legalistic effort, as I did, looking down on others who didn’t have the same “commitment” to Scripture as I did. However, God, through His Spirit, still worked through this process, humbling me to see that it is, in the end, always about Him, not me. Like the Psalmist in Psalm 119, I desired to store His Word in my heart (Psalm 119:11), that I might not sin against Him.

I’ve been convicted of sin in my life as I took in verses such as Ephesians 5:15-16 - “Be careful then how you walk, not as unwise but wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” or Eph 5:4 - “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.” I’ve been able to see the beauty of reconciliation in God’s design for salvation (Eph 2:14-16), how He revealed to Paul the mystery of the Gospel (Eph 3:3-5), that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel (Eph 3:6).

Best of all, I’ve loved the glorious truths written about the love of God, how He has chosen before time to glorify Himself in saving those whom He elected (Eph 1:3-5). How great is our God!

For those of you who haven’t tried this before, I really encourage you to try it out! As you begin, ask God to open the eyes of your heart to see the glory of Himself through the memorization of His Word. This is the method I followed.

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Wednesday, October 8, 2008 at 15:03

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Monday, October 6, 2008 at 10:04

I haven’t been having much of them.

Still working out some kinks in this theme I found on the internet. I think it’s pretty.

Has anyone noticed the Indigo downtown is closed “indefinitely”?

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To think of all of my ministry, outreach, priorities, and relationships out of the centrality of the Gospel as found in the Bible.

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Does mockery and sarcasm have a place in criticism? Motive and tone seem to be factors here. If you don’t sound as if your words are for building up, then perhaps it’s better not to say it at all. However, I don’t think the adage “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it.” is applicable for every situation.

An example: is it right (at times) to make mockery of prosperity gospel preachers with their theatric movements and heretic talk? Is it right to make a video that parodies¹ Rob Bell’s ambiguous Nooma series?

I believe it might be.

A scriptural example is found in 1 Corinthians 4:8-13. Paul mocks the Corinthians for their pride in their unusually gifted community.

Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.  We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

Discernment and self-control is needed here. Paul clearly has the good of the Corinthians in mind when he employs this technique.

I, however, do not have that discernment or that self-control. Even if guys like Joel Osteen, T.D. Jakes, or Brian Houston preach a false, prosperity gospel, I do need to exercise self-control over my tongue, weighing when is the right time and place for criticizing their theology.

Wolves need to be torn down. Jesus Himself had the worst of insults for the Pharisees (”brood of vipers”). But He reserved them for the Pharisees. May I know when and how to do the same.

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List of topics for the future:

• Holy Hip-Hop
• Organic church movement
• The failure of sociology
• Sleeping in the dark
• The freedom of being single
• The tongue
• Notebooks
• Work ethic
• Music review
• Proverbs

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Monday, June 30, 2008 at 18:20

Whatever call a man may pretend to have, if he has not been called to holiness, he certainly has not been called to the ministry.

Charles H. Spurgeon

Temptation usually comes in through a door that has deliberately been left open.

Arnold Glasow

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Thursday, June 26, 2008 at 23:37

Early morning commutes bring time to think and be distracted. Fight the good fight of faith.

If I viewed God’s commands as restrictive, I would inevitably think that the path toward holiness is a cursed one.

I always need the Word of God. It is the only infallible voice in my life. Likewise, I will never be a sinless Christian; even my self-examination will be tainted by my sinfulness.

“Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” - Romans 7:24

The intensification of the Law when Jesus came to fulfill it makes it quite clear that He is the Beautiful Saviour. The intensification of the Law makes it necessary for Jesus to be our Mediator.

I was there when they crucified Him. I was with the centurions that drove the nails deep in His hands and feet. To deny otherwise is callous to my infinite need for the Saviour.

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