Summer Events

This summer has been different and the same. I spent the first month of it taking summer classes at school. I knocked out the basic church history classes that qualify as "general ed" at Moody which ends my underclassman classes.... finally. I look forward to continuing the classes more specific to my degree. The excitement is somewhat bittersweet however. If I walk by sight my bank account will nearly run out after the coming semester and I won't have a summer in between to save money either. Part of me is comforted (perhaps not enough of me) in an accident I had this summer. I rear-ended someone at 40 mph while they were stopped. This nearly totaled my van. My dad plans to fix it and get parts from the junkyard to make it as cheap as possible to repair... regardless of that, I'm sure it will cost a grand or more. This is money he will not be able to contribute to school for me. Why am I comforted? Because this only allows God to show Himself faithful and receive all the more glory. He has provided miraculously in interesting ways up to this point and I know that whatever happens will also be His will. I got a B- in the first summer class and the 2nd grade is still MIA. It was awesome to hear John Piper and John MacArthur in person at the Moody Pastors' Conference for free and get free books that I was able to take home just barely making the weight limit for my suitcases on the plane.

Since I've been home I regret to say I've made little opportunities to share my faith. I was able to share with and answer some of the questions of a kid who came over (a friend of someone who lives in our house). He asked if I believed in the Mayan calendar that predicts the end of the world. It was a good conversation and the answers to his common questions came back readily and easily. I was able to communicate them in a warm and confident manner. I praise God that I haven't lost the knowledge and ability to evangelize. It bugs me that I haven't been out on the streets reaching the lost as often or as seriously as I used to. When you go out to share your faith regularly there's a very real sense you develop that you know you're in the center of God's will at that moment. The Lord wants to use us to make His truth known and nothing compares to being engaged in activity that seeks to do that. the implications of such activity are eternal and incomparable to the receiving of an earthly gift, the nostalgia of seeing an old friend, the reuniting of a separated husband and wife, or anything temporal. I recently learned that I work with a couple Jehovah's Witnesses. I've taken a posture of interest and the time will come very soon that I am clear about the Bible's teaching and the biblical gospel. Yesterday morning two women came to my door who also were JWs. I was able to mention people in their Kingdom Hall who I'd spoken with and again build a foundation of interest. If and when they return I would then be able to start sharing with them and asking questions. I was also able to share the gospel with a Hispanic gentleman at the train station before I left Chicago. He was a JW who was trying to reach the Hispanic community with the false gospel. I was thankfully able to get an old copy of the Awake magazine before they changed the purpose statement in it. Praise the Lord for Apologetics resources!

Beyond that I will (Lord willing) be able for the first time this weekend to go witnessing in both Ft. Worth (my old turf) and Southlake. I actually have the whole weekend off! It's also been a blessing to meet with a guy I'd been witnessing to back when I worked primarily in the Deli. He recommended I watch Bill Maher's movie Religilous because he said it raised some good questions he was curious about. He loaned me the movie so we could discuss it afterward. The movie was just as vulgar as he said it was. Maher raised the common questions the world has in an arrogant, ignorant, and over-confident way. He entered the film with his Roman Catholic understanding of "Christianity" as many people do and assumed quite a bit. He took shots at the fringe whackos of Christianity (who don't represent it faithfully) and his interviews were edited to make the "Christians" look stupid. While many of them did in fact look stupid... the only legitimate one he interviewed (Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis) he edited down to nothing. We were able to discuss the film and easily answer many of the questions raised. Other than that my days have been spent working and attempting to study and read. This summer I had an urge to revisit a little Star Trek. I haven't seen the new film, but for some reason I missed good ole Star Trek.

Much of my free time has now been sucked into reliving many of the episodes on the internet I loved and the ones I never saw. After doing so I must admit that I can deny it no longer... I am a Trekker (one who likes all the series, not just the modern ones). Science Fiction has been some of the only fiction I can tolerate enough to read about, but much of my exposure to it has been through video and Television. It seems my fascination with time travel, alternate realities, shape-shifting, and eye-opening discoveries will never leave me. I am a geek and proud of it. On the other hand I must admit that while I enjoy the drama and storyline of Star Trek (it's been far ahead of its' time), I must heartily deny its' fundamental premise. the founder of Star Trek and the whole philosophy of the show is rooted in humanism. The idea is that humanity will/can progress to a society without disease or the need for money. People work to "better themselves" who have a "more evolved sensibility" (Picard in Star Trek: First Contact). This evolved sensibility has denied itself in sexual promiscuity, needless profanity, and a number things. The humanity of Star Trek is not evolved morally... this is certain. Furthermore Evolution is assumed and Biblical Creationism is mocked. The maturity of the characters in the shows outside of these obvious issues seem to carry attitudes of undeserved grace, understanding, ethics, etc. that would characterize a mature believer in Christ. The show however seems to desire a humanity that becomes Christian without Jesus Christ or His Word. It desires a humanity that makes progress without the help of God. The sad truth is that human depravity runs far too deep for this to ever happen. Mankind loves sin too much for such a dream to be accomplished on his own. God must change his heart.

I've been able to slowly have worked though the highlights of my Greek grammar and will soon begin doing translations in preparation For Greek Exegesis I in the coming semester. I've also nearly finished a textbook for preaching class too. God has granted me the perseverance also to write a 30-page training manual for the street evangelism team at school. While all this sounds like I've been busy and productive... I know I could accomplish so much more. It's been a constant battle between recreation and study/work. I know I don't need as much rest and relaxation as I'm taking, but do I? Should I be relaxing more? Beyond this I face the constant challenge to myself that I may not be working as hard at my job I used to. I always seem to struggle with this when I return home for breaks. But am I being too hard on myself? Two managers have told me I could pursue a career as a manager in my department if I really wanted it. I've been told this long ago, but now? When I feel like I'm slower and less precise with my work? Is it all me? Am I being too hard on myself? It's hard to say. They say the testimony of others is a good way to see yourself objectively. If this is true... then I'm not doing as bad as I think. Maybe the workaholic in me is in a state of denial so as to maintain a subtle desire for burnout. Either way, God is good and I know He is sanctifying me in His own peculiar and efficient way. Praise Him for what He does while we are unaware!