American Idol

I play basketball on Wednesday nights with a bunch of guys from the college group. Usually when I get home I can't fall asleep for a while because my adrenaline is still going strong. Last night I decided to watch the finale of American Idol that I tivo'd. I watched the 2 hour program in 20 mins literally... oh the glory of TIVO. But there was one catch. It got to the end of the show where Ryan Seacrest was going to announce the winner. He said, "And the winner of American Idol 2008 is..." and my TIVO cut out. I guess the show went a little bit long last night. Classic!

Louie on Laminin - Awesome!

A friend of mine sent me a link to this video... it's awesome. Take the 10 mins and check it out.

Filtered Living

This week I am going to teach on Colossians 3:15-17. I'm so excited about it because I think it answers a lot of questions that college students (and just people in general) have. I can't tell you ho many people I have talked to who really truly want to know what God's will is for their life. I think this passage helps us answer that question. Here is Paul's advice - it's threefold and then the result follows.
(1). Let the peace of God rule in your heart
(2). Let the word of God dwell in you richly
(3). Be thankful

Those are the three commands that Paul gives. now, I understand that these still leave much potential ambiguity when it comes to decision making, but I am starting to fully believe that is the way God designed it and exactly the way he wants. See, this ambiguity forces us to stay constantly connected to the vine.

The result that follows is... do whatever you want! If you let the peace of Christ rule in your heart, dwell richly in the word, and are thankful... do whatever you want and give thanks a glory to God. What a freeing message. I'm stoked to teach it this weekend.

St Augustine

I have been thinking a lot lately about a quote by Saint Augustine. In talking about God's will and knowing what to do in order to follow Him, he wrote, "Love God and do what you want." Is this too simplistic? Is it true to scripture? I'd love to know your thoughts.

No Country For Old Men

I finally saw the movie "No Country For Old Men" this past weekend. It was a great movie, the best I've seen in a long time. One of the things that I appreciated about the movie were the theological implications that it drew out. I think the main point that the movie made was that sin perpetuates itself and eventually kills us. Its interesting how one bad/immoral decision had so many implications on the main character's life - and the lives of all the people in his family.

 

As I have been studying Colossians over the past 2 months one of the things that stands out to me the most is the difference that happens in us when we are transfered from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His son whom he loves (Col 1:13-14). No Country For Old Men illustrated 'beautifully' what it looks like to continue living in the kingdom of darkness.

Eight Bells

I'm not sure if you saw the Kentucky Derby this past weekend - but it was quite the event. I'm not into horse racing at all, but to see 150,000 people packed in to see the event is pretty impressive. The thing that stuck with me from the race was the horse Eight Bells. She ran a great race, but when she crossed the finish line she collapsed, having broken both of her front ankles. The veterinary staff has to put her down right there on the race track. 

This race got me thinking about the issue of pacing and balance in life. I don't want to be the kind of person that goes so hard in ministry and life in general that I collapse. I think a lot of times our tendency is just to go all out until our bodies and soul disintegrate. For me this race was a reminder to rest. We were created with the need to stop. We were created with the need to take time doing nothing except remembering that the world continues to spin on its axis even if we aren't working. That's what the sabbath was all about. That's what this race reminded me of.