Here we are. God has afforded me some free time and it's legitmate too! We're half done with the semester and things are going well. Due to the Lord's provision I've been able to do exactly what I hoped. I've been developing more friendships and being efficient in schoolwork. I just finished all the reading in one textbook for a class tonight and feel it's time to sit down and do some writing. This semester I've been able to spend much time reading and time in prayer. this has allowed more time to devote to Greek and sermon preparation for preaching class. I'm so thankful... even if Greek grades still aren't reflecting the time spent.
I praise God this semester for a number of reasons. My internship will go forward and unofficially begin next semester. I got the classes I wanted for Spring... although I didn't worry that I wouldn't get em.
Senior Seminar in Biblical Exposition
Structure and Style in Biblical Exposition
Greek Exegesis 2
Romans in Greek
Wellness Seminar
I imagine there will be little motivation for the Wellness Seminar. people remind me of the body being a temple and all that, but the argument is unconvincing. We all know we need to be physically fit and take of our bodies. However, after 3 years of secular classes... I wanna be DONE with them! I just wanna pass and say goodbye. They are an incredible frustration. My biblical education is what concerns me at this point. On a sad note my sister won't be able to come visist me at school. I now don't have the money and my mom refused to let her come alone. That's prolly all the random updates I have.
Something has been troubling me lately... and likely long before that while I was unable to express it. To all who read this it's a general lament of frustration not indicative of a specific personal experience or enitrely directed a specific person.
It seems to me though that American romantic/dating culture (among Christians too) has a certain accepted system or formula. This formula is usually unspoken, dogmatically held, and yet it seems to collapse upon itself. Let me explain what I mean... How should a relationship begin? The general idea is that it starts with a friendship and at some point the guy initiates more and then POOF! you have a romantic relationship. Sounds reasonable enough until one tries it. You see there are so many factors working against a person that it seems nearly impossible in some ways. A guy can't be passive because he is to initiate, right? Ok, well can you be active? Lets say you set out to develop a broad scope of friendships. At what point does a guy feel he should pursue? The woman doesn't usually show signs of attraction since is to move first (understably so) and yet what causes the guy to get to this place? he notices things in the prospective woman that would cause him to take the next step, right?
Here's the problem: How much can he realistically come to know about her with the usual radar and wall most women have up? It seems a conversation of over 30 minutes and eye contact makes people think you're interested in them these days. It becomes childish. How can he really come to know her character? How can he know who she really is without spending 5 years as a casual friend? I'm hearing from some women that the way to go is to interact in groups. I understand the security in this. I would push back though to say... how does a guy know a woman is being herself in the group? We are so good at wearing masks and pretending. We want friendships but we aren't willing to be vulnerable enough and take the risk necessary to really know someone to the degree of getting an accurate assessment of who they are. So we're forced to rely on beauty and charm (for the most part) which Proverbs 31 soberly reminds us are "vain and deceitful."
Oh and since the guy is supposed to be the iniator... he does the best he can to read the beauty and charm and perhaps connect a few dots that could indicate interest (while he is uncertain) and if of course there's something he likes in her (which would naturally be something small because littel has been revealed) and he puts his foot forward. Is that what's really expected of us? That's how it feels a lot of the time. It's even been expressed directly and indirectly that it's not even possible to have a close friendship with the opposite sex. This probably bothers me most of all. I truly believe this finds its' origin in secular dating culture right next to the idea that exes can't talk to eachother or maintain a friendship after breakup. These are very worldly ideas that are usually guided by selfish protection of our own emotions and usually a kind of enmity against our brother or sister in Christ that Scripture speaks directly against.
I would hope we would all admit that close friendships are ideal at least..? If we can start there... there's a chance. Now don't hear me wrong. There are some people you need to stay away from. Physical abuse, stalkers, etc. There is some wisdom and discernment involved here. I am simply pleading for the men out there that get stuck working within a system that is self-defeating and inconsistent. How can a REAL friendship before a relationship develop if one or both people are unwilling to take the risks necessary to form it? The inevitable result of an apparent success for those working in this system only seems to arise when (1) A guy smoothly slips past the woman's radar and she opens up, (2) She likes him before-hand and therefore opens up, (3) Or some other unknown mystical magical fairy dust and mistle-toe effect happens.
From a purely human viewpoint we then find ourselves at the current dilemma: You can't be passive (because you need to pursue). You can't be active (because they pick up on it and RUN). The only option is to be passively active. That means pray. All we can do... is pray. God is still sovereign and the single women are still single therefore God can do anything with such a situation if it brings Him the most glory. On the other hand, as with sanctification... we know God enables us and promises to guide us in the right direction, but there is still an element of cooperation in it. I propose the answer to our dilemma is this: Honest, no-nonsense, mature communication. This combined with a focus that remains God-centered through all of the communication is a step we cannot afford to overlook. The question now is... will we do this? Can we do this? This takes more courage than running from people when a potential problem or interest is suspected. This takes more courage than simply asking a woman out on a date.
If I may be so bold to suggest it: Anything less than this is a waste of our time, emotional investment, weeks of "how was your day?" questions, and hours of worrying. Let's grow up and take the risks necessary (while bathed in prayer) to develop rich friendships and even healthier relationships that begin on a foundation of communication.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
1 Kings 17: Elijah's Ministerial Training Ground
This is the sermon manuscript for my first sermon in Narrative Messages Preaching class.
Intro: This is the story of a preacher… you know him well. He once miraculously raised a woman’s son from the dead. He was thrown into a deathly depression while on the run from the wicked woman Jezebel. Though he struggled with depression he was not without courage when he challenged 450 priests of idolatry to test; “Is your god the true God or is the LORD?” And the LORD was proven true by fire! He also maintained his confidence when King Ahaziah’s men were sent to fetch him sitting on a hill and he said to them, “If I am a man of God, let fire consume you all” and it did. He was also the man who never died, but climbed up into the heavens with a flaming whirlwind of horses in a chariot of fire. This only after he discipled another preacher to take his place… as any good preacher would do. His name is Elijah. His name means, “Yahweh is God” which sets the tone for his ministry against Ba’al, the false fertility god of rain, fire, and the elements. While you may look at all these events and say, "wow he really was a man of God..." it wasn't without a beginning. This morning we’re looking at Issue #1 in The Adventures of Elijah, his first appearance. And this is very special because this is his internship, his training ground for ministry. Ahab had been more wicked than all the kings before him. In a “trivial” way Scripture says He set up an altar and formally introduced idol worship into Israel. He had to be rebuked for his sin. Here comes… the preacher.
Look with me at v.1 if you're able: "Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of (A)the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely (C)there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word." 2The word of the LORD came to him, saying, 3"Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 4 "It shall be that you will drink of the brook, and (D)I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there."
We know very little about Elijah. We’re not sure who his parents were nor exactly where he came from. John Wesley said it’s as if he just “dropt from the sky.” And if this was so then he dropped providentially, because he approaches the mighty throne of the king of Israel to declare, “Because of YOUR wickedness King Ahab, the LORD is going to make this land SO dry for SO long (3 years) that even your idol will feel the dehydration of his nonexistence!” And after saying something like that you don't stick around for tea and crumpets. God says to go to the Brook Cherith. This was a wadi, a stream of water that only flows during a rainy season and God says you are to drink from this and that's what will be your water supply. Can you see Elijah's face? "Sure. Lord you know this won't last very long right? You know we're in a drought right?" But that's not all. The ravens would provide for him. The animal that's known to be a scavenger, not a provider. The animal that some commentators say is hardly known to feed its' own young. Can you see his face? "Are you serious God?! Ravens!?" So he travels eastward and begins to notice the plants withering for lack of moisture. The ground grows parched beneath his feet. But as he nears the place where the Lord had directed him he begins to notice a glimmer of hope reflecting the sun amidst the surrounding barrenness. The sound of the water was music to his ears. God was right. The brook was ready and waiting. (PAUSE)
It's day 1 of Elijah's stay by the brook. The sun is rising. As he begins to stir from his slumber his nose picks up a curious scent. He's hungry. "What IS that smell?" And as he rolls over and looks to the other side of the wadi he sees them... sausage biscuits! And these aren't McDonalds either. This is the good stuff. When God provides He does it well. The Bible says the ravens brought him bread AND meat in the morning and in the evening. God didn't just give him bread, but bread and meat. Here we also have a grammatical merism. Two opposites to denote totality. "Morning AND evening": This says God provided not only well, but for the totality of his needs each day. Jewish Rabbis speculate that the food may have come from King Ahab's own table. So Elijah got used to this. Life is good. Some say considering the length of the drought he could've been there at the brook for months, but Scripture only says, "after awhile..." something happened. He was easily trusting the Lord as he could clearly touch, taste, and swallow God's provision each day, but this morning was different. The sun was rising. Elijah was stirring. He was thirsty. As he rolled over and cupped his hands for a drink, with eyes half open, he plunged them right... into... dry... dirt. The brook was no more. The body can only go about three days without water. Can you see his face today? "Lord I knew this would happen! You bring me out here in the middle of a drought and tell me a seasonal stream will last forever?! I'm thirsty and now I'm homeless... what am I gonna do?"
V.8 begins, "Then the word of the Lord came to him..." (PAUSE) God was there all along. Elijah's needs were not unknown to God. He was there. You and I have times where our provision dries up. Someone asks you to help them move: $40, A family you know needs a house-sitter: $100, Maybe you do a little catering here and there: $100 a month. But all those things end. They are temporary. The moving ends at 3pm Saturday afternoon, you turn over the keys of the house to their owners, and the catering company says, "We're sorry, but the economy has affected business. Call back next month." Don't be upset. Your God is more sovereign than those things. Don't live your Christian life like an Open Theist. They don't teach you that here. God knows the beginning and the end. God is personal. God is there and He'll provide. "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" Back to v. 8 "...the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 'Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there; behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you."
Elijah stood and traveled 7 miles to a public road along the Mediterranean seashore where we find the city of Zarephath. As he traveled I wonder went through his mind. Was he thinking he'd been through this before. Was he asking God in the quietness of his seaside journey, "Lord, how long will this one last? She's a widow, you said, right? They're not known for the means of generosity. Lord I'm getting thirsty. What if she refuses? What if it only lasts a few days? I'm getting hungry." Or was Elijah moved to confidence in the Lord? He did provide for so long and He knew exactly when that brook would be empty. Elijah could've reasoned, "God had to have been there with me or I wouldn't even know to go to a widow right now." What was he thinking? Maybe we'll never know. What we do know is what happened next... He reached the city gate of Zarephath and he noticed a woman, dressed in black, picking up sticks. She had no servant to pick up the sticks and her son was too young to do that for her. But they needed to prepare the food so someone had to do it. Elijah thinks to himself, "Well, one widow is as good as any," and he says, "Can you please get me a jar of water that I may drink?" Always be polite. This wasn't a problem for her. They're along the Mediterranean Sea. But as she goes to fulfill his request he really pushes the envelope. "Can you also please bring me a piece of bread in your hand?" Widows were the first to run out of food during times of famine and drought. Imagine her reaction: "What did you say to me? You want what!? Do I look rich to you? I don't have any bread. I just have this handful of flour in a bowl and a little oil in the jar. I was picking up these sticks before you interrupted me so I could prepare what little I have for my son and I so we can eat... and... die. Alright? I don't have any bread." Her reaction was normal. A piece of bread was a tall order for a widow. But what do you say to that? Can you see Elijah looking up to heaven saying, "Now Lord you said you commanded this widow..? She must be in disobedience because this isn't working out. I need a little help here...." No he didn't he say that.
V.13... "Then Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son. 14"For thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain on the face of the earth.'" Elijah believes God and evokes His promise to provide for his needs, even extending this promise to the widow and her son... should she also believe. She does and the Bible says her house had food for MANY days. And it all happened according to just the way God said it would.
We see from this story that Elijah learned what we all need to learn...
Big Idea: When we trust God and do what He says in our times of drought, He shows Himself to be The Lord who provides. In our times of drought when we trust and obey God, He shows Himself to be our Jehovah Jireh, our provider.
Primary Applications: Some of you are sitting in a financial drought. You open your wallet and it nearly cracks in two for lack of moisture. We're nearing the end of the month. It's October 27th. You don't know if you'll even be here at this school next month if you can't find the money. About a year ago I wasn't sure how my meager job at the time was gonna get me through school. I was worried. I get an email from home saying, "Call your dad ASAP." I didn't know what that meant. Was something wrong? I called as I soon as I could only for my dad to remind me of a life insurance policy in my name. I'd forgotten it. I was older enough to cash it out: $3500 lump sum. The beginning of this semester I was wondering how I could possibly afford to come back in the Spring. I call my father to talk one night and he says, "I'm taking the money you needed out of my 401K to put into your school account." My dad is the only breadwinner in a home of five and I totaled one of our vehicles this past summer and he's giving me $3,000 from his 401K. My dad isn't even a Christian. God provides and sometimes from the least likely of places (seasonal streams of water, ravens, widows). You may that's great, but what if God doesn't provide? Then have the attitude of Daniel's friends who trusted God whether He protected them or not. Acknowledge God's ultimate control over your situation.
Some of you are in a romantic drought. Your love life is so dry it needs its' own brand of chapstick. Trust God. If He has placed that desire in your heart He'll provide. He knows who's best for you. He knows what you need when you need it. If I were talking to the single women of this campus I would say that God will provide for you as well, but it may not be from among the King Sauls who stand a head above the rest, but among the shepherd boys, the Davids, who seek after God's own heart. Some of you are experiencing ministerial drought. You're trying as best you can at PCM but people aren't growing. Seemingly no one is responding well. You counseled someone on your floor and they ignored your advice. Know that God is there in midst of those situations. We're so pragmatic aren't we? ...To think we always have to see the results. What if you don't see them, but someone else does? Trust the Lord. Remain faithful in doing what He's called you to do. (PAUSE)
John Waller wrote a song (you may have heard it in the movie, Fireproof). It's called While I'm Waiting. Tucked in the middle of the song is the attitude we all must have..
I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait
God is training you and I for ministry... just He trained Elijah, to trust Him in times of drought. Will we trust Him?
Intro: This is the story of a preacher… you know him well. He once miraculously raised a woman’s son from the dead. He was thrown into a deathly depression while on the run from the wicked woman Jezebel. Though he struggled with depression he was not without courage when he challenged 450 priests of idolatry to test; “Is your god the true God or is the LORD?” And the LORD was proven true by fire! He also maintained his confidence when King Ahaziah’s men were sent to fetch him sitting on a hill and he said to them, “If I am a man of God, let fire consume you all” and it did. He was also the man who never died, but climbed up into the heavens with a flaming whirlwind of horses in a chariot of fire. This only after he discipled another preacher to take his place… as any good preacher would do. His name is Elijah. His name means, “Yahweh is God” which sets the tone for his ministry against Ba’al, the false fertility god of rain, fire, and the elements. While you may look at all these events and say, "wow he really was a man of God..." it wasn't without a beginning. This morning we’re looking at Issue #1 in The Adventures of Elijah, his first appearance. And this is very special because this is his internship, his training ground for ministry. Ahab had been more wicked than all the kings before him. In a “trivial” way Scripture says He set up an altar and formally introduced idol worship into Israel. He had to be rebuked for his sin. Here comes… the preacher.
Look with me at v.1 if you're able: "Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of (A)the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely (C)there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word." 2The word of the LORD came to him, saying, 3"Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 4 "It shall be that you will drink of the brook, and (D)I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there."
We know very little about Elijah. We’re not sure who his parents were nor exactly where he came from. John Wesley said it’s as if he just “dropt from the sky.” And if this was so then he dropped providentially, because he approaches the mighty throne of the king of Israel to declare, “Because of YOUR wickedness King Ahab, the LORD is going to make this land SO dry for SO long (3 years) that even your idol will feel the dehydration of his nonexistence!” And after saying something like that you don't stick around for tea and crumpets. God says to go to the Brook Cherith. This was a wadi, a stream of water that only flows during a rainy season and God says you are to drink from this and that's what will be your water supply. Can you see Elijah's face? "Sure. Lord you know this won't last very long right? You know we're in a drought right?" But that's not all. The ravens would provide for him. The animal that's known to be a scavenger, not a provider. The animal that some commentators say is hardly known to feed its' own young. Can you see his face? "Are you serious God?! Ravens!?" So he travels eastward and begins to notice the plants withering for lack of moisture. The ground grows parched beneath his feet. But as he nears the place where the Lord had directed him he begins to notice a glimmer of hope reflecting the sun amidst the surrounding barrenness. The sound of the water was music to his ears. God was right. The brook was ready and waiting. (PAUSE)
It's day 1 of Elijah's stay by the brook. The sun is rising. As he begins to stir from his slumber his nose picks up a curious scent. He's hungry. "What IS that smell?" And as he rolls over and looks to the other side of the wadi he sees them... sausage biscuits! And these aren't McDonalds either. This is the good stuff. When God provides He does it well. The Bible says the ravens brought him bread AND meat in the morning and in the evening. God didn't just give him bread, but bread and meat. Here we also have a grammatical merism. Two opposites to denote totality. "Morning AND evening": This says God provided not only well, but for the totality of his needs each day. Jewish Rabbis speculate that the food may have come from King Ahab's own table. So Elijah got used to this. Life is good. Some say considering the length of the drought he could've been there at the brook for months, but Scripture only says, "after awhile..." something happened. He was easily trusting the Lord as he could clearly touch, taste, and swallow God's provision each day, but this morning was different. The sun was rising. Elijah was stirring. He was thirsty. As he rolled over and cupped his hands for a drink, with eyes half open, he plunged them right... into... dry... dirt. The brook was no more. The body can only go about three days without water. Can you see his face today? "Lord I knew this would happen! You bring me out here in the middle of a drought and tell me a seasonal stream will last forever?! I'm thirsty and now I'm homeless... what am I gonna do?"
V.8 begins, "Then the word of the Lord came to him..." (PAUSE) God was there all along. Elijah's needs were not unknown to God. He was there. You and I have times where our provision dries up. Someone asks you to help them move: $40, A family you know needs a house-sitter: $100, Maybe you do a little catering here and there: $100 a month. But all those things end. They are temporary. The moving ends at 3pm Saturday afternoon, you turn over the keys of the house to their owners, and the catering company says, "We're sorry, but the economy has affected business. Call back next month." Don't be upset. Your God is more sovereign than those things. Don't live your Christian life like an Open Theist. They don't teach you that here. God knows the beginning and the end. God is personal. God is there and He'll provide. "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" Back to v. 8 "...the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 'Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there; behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you."
Elijah stood and traveled 7 miles to a public road along the Mediterranean seashore where we find the city of Zarephath. As he traveled I wonder went through his mind. Was he thinking he'd been through this before. Was he asking God in the quietness of his seaside journey, "Lord, how long will this one last? She's a widow, you said, right? They're not known for the means of generosity. Lord I'm getting thirsty. What if she refuses? What if it only lasts a few days? I'm getting hungry." Or was Elijah moved to confidence in the Lord? He did provide for so long and He knew exactly when that brook would be empty. Elijah could've reasoned, "God had to have been there with me or I wouldn't even know to go to a widow right now." What was he thinking? Maybe we'll never know. What we do know is what happened next... He reached the city gate of Zarephath and he noticed a woman, dressed in black, picking up sticks. She had no servant to pick up the sticks and her son was too young to do that for her. But they needed to prepare the food so someone had to do it. Elijah thinks to himself, "Well, one widow is as good as any," and he says, "Can you please get me a jar of water that I may drink?" Always be polite. This wasn't a problem for her. They're along the Mediterranean Sea. But as she goes to fulfill his request he really pushes the envelope. "Can you also please bring me a piece of bread in your hand?" Widows were the first to run out of food during times of famine and drought. Imagine her reaction: "What did you say to me? You want what!? Do I look rich to you? I don't have any bread. I just have this handful of flour in a bowl and a little oil in the jar. I was picking up these sticks before you interrupted me so I could prepare what little I have for my son and I so we can eat... and... die. Alright? I don't have any bread." Her reaction was normal. A piece of bread was a tall order for a widow. But what do you say to that? Can you see Elijah looking up to heaven saying, "Now Lord you said you commanded this widow..? She must be in disobedience because this isn't working out. I need a little help here...." No he didn't he say that.
V.13... "Then Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son. 14"For thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain on the face of the earth.'" Elijah believes God and evokes His promise to provide for his needs, even extending this promise to the widow and her son... should she also believe. She does and the Bible says her house had food for MANY days. And it all happened according to just the way God said it would.
We see from this story that Elijah learned what we all need to learn...
Big Idea: When we trust God and do what He says in our times of drought, He shows Himself to be The Lord who provides. In our times of drought when we trust and obey God, He shows Himself to be our Jehovah Jireh, our provider.
Primary Applications: Some of you are sitting in a financial drought. You open your wallet and it nearly cracks in two for lack of moisture. We're nearing the end of the month. It's October 27th. You don't know if you'll even be here at this school next month if you can't find the money. About a year ago I wasn't sure how my meager job at the time was gonna get me through school. I was worried. I get an email from home saying, "Call your dad ASAP." I didn't know what that meant. Was something wrong? I called as I soon as I could only for my dad to remind me of a life insurance policy in my name. I'd forgotten it. I was older enough to cash it out: $3500 lump sum. The beginning of this semester I was wondering how I could possibly afford to come back in the Spring. I call my father to talk one night and he says, "I'm taking the money you needed out of my 401K to put into your school account." My dad is the only breadwinner in a home of five and I totaled one of our vehicles this past summer and he's giving me $3,000 from his 401K. My dad isn't even a Christian. God provides and sometimes from the least likely of places (seasonal streams of water, ravens, widows). You may that's great, but what if God doesn't provide? Then have the attitude of Daniel's friends who trusted God whether He protected them or not. Acknowledge God's ultimate control over your situation.
Some of you are in a romantic drought. Your love life is so dry it needs its' own brand of chapstick. Trust God. If He has placed that desire in your heart He'll provide. He knows who's best for you. He knows what you need when you need it. If I were talking to the single women of this campus I would say that God will provide for you as well, but it may not be from among the King Sauls who stand a head above the rest, but among the shepherd boys, the Davids, who seek after God's own heart. Some of you are experiencing ministerial drought. You're trying as best you can at PCM but people aren't growing. Seemingly no one is responding well. You counseled someone on your floor and they ignored your advice. Know that God is there in midst of those situations. We're so pragmatic aren't we? ...To think we always have to see the results. What if you don't see them, but someone else does? Trust the Lord. Remain faithful in doing what He's called you to do. (PAUSE)
John Waller wrote a song (you may have heard it in the movie, Fireproof). It's called While I'm Waiting. Tucked in the middle of the song is the attitude we all must have..
I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait
God is training you and I for ministry... just He trained Elijah, to trust Him in times of drought. Will we trust Him?
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Prayer This Semester
"I don't want to go through the motions. I don't wanna go one more day... without your all-consuming... passion inside of me. I don't wanna spend my whole life asking, 'What if I had given everything instead of going through the motions?'" -From the song, The Motions By Matthew West.
Another semester and a year older. By God's grace I've lived up to the ripe old age of 25. The age where car insurance prices drop and where you begin to notice and accept your receding hairline. God is always good, but He's been particularly good to me this semester. While I shouldn't have been surprised, it looks like the Lord has provided financially so that I won't have to work for this last half of my time at Moody. This of course is assuming I can work next summer as usual and that my final semester yields a couple scholarships through the pastoral department. the question I ask though is... why has God opened this time for me? For what purpose? To what end? I know myself... my tendency to rely on cushions and backup plans. I know how that has affected my trust in God and His provision. Why has He nearly shown me the end this soon? Is He opening up time for me to fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ? Spend more time with Him? Or is there something else? Well, I've chosen to spend the time getting ahead in schoolwork comfortably and I feel (as I haven't before) that I'm able to spend time with people, the sister floor, and be alright with that. If something spontaneous happens I won't be worried that I'm being lazy the whole time. This is BIG. For someone who commonly views all planned recreation as a threat to homework time... it's BIG. Maybe the Lord will use it to someone's benefit.
I might have mentioned this but I've chosen to spend Wednesdays and Fridays this semester with a certain prayer focus on each day. While there is sometimes overlap, Wednesdays are spent praying that the Lord would prepare me for ministry. For me this means:
-Thanksgiving for the financial provision to be here. It's hard to believe that after it's all over it will have been about $30,000 spent for school... and this, without debt.
-That He would increase my confidence, boldness, and decisiveness when it comes to leading and preaching to other believers. I find that because of practice... I can preach and witness to the unsaved all day, but when it comes to other believers it's harder.
-That He would grow me in my ability as a preacher and similarly that I would always hold Scripture in high regard. This should spill over to my reverence in speaking about the things of God and keeping a close eye on my use of humor.
-That He would solidify my internship and order things in a way that it would be a most beneficial ministry experience. If all works out I will essentially be spreading it between 2 semesters full of pastoral care (prayer/visitation) and preaching.
-That He would provide direction on what to do after Moody. Should I enter the ministry? What opportunities will open up at that point? Should I go to the Master's Seminary in CA as planned? What complications or changes of plan will come at that time? What will my life look like when the time comes? I pray that He will provide the direction and discernment necessary for these questions and uncertainties.
For Fridays I spend time among other things on probably the second most important consideration in one's life:
-I pray for my future wife, whomever she may be. I've recently decided to pray Proverbs 31 over her. As I was reading it yesterday I was reminded of v.30, which says, "Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised." I think this is verse will be my focus. I pray that the Lord would increase her love for me (because I can't always trust my own emotions) and I pray that He would provide a woman who loves Him infinitely more than she would love me. I want nothing less. I am content waiting on God, but I am active at the same time. One could call it a dissatisfied satisfaction.
-I pray that He would make me into the man I need to be... a man of courage, a man who can protect his future wife, a man of gentleness, a man of truth, and a man who is prepared to lead a house who will "serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15).
-Because those things are future I've also chosen to spend this day in prayer for my sisters in Christ. My friendships with them will prepare me for my wife and in a real way reflect how I interact with godly women. I reveal these things knowing that they may be read and even perhaps read into, but the Lord knows my heart and that's all I need to be concerned with.
Another semester and a year older. By God's grace I've lived up to the ripe old age of 25. The age where car insurance prices drop and where you begin to notice and accept your receding hairline. God is always good, but He's been particularly good to me this semester. While I shouldn't have been surprised, it looks like the Lord has provided financially so that I won't have to work for this last half of my time at Moody. This of course is assuming I can work next summer as usual and that my final semester yields a couple scholarships through the pastoral department. the question I ask though is... why has God opened this time for me? For what purpose? To what end? I know myself... my tendency to rely on cushions and backup plans. I know how that has affected my trust in God and His provision. Why has He nearly shown me the end this soon? Is He opening up time for me to fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ? Spend more time with Him? Or is there something else? Well, I've chosen to spend the time getting ahead in schoolwork comfortably and I feel (as I haven't before) that I'm able to spend time with people, the sister floor, and be alright with that. If something spontaneous happens I won't be worried that I'm being lazy the whole time. This is BIG. For someone who commonly views all planned recreation as a threat to homework time... it's BIG. Maybe the Lord will use it to someone's benefit.
I might have mentioned this but I've chosen to spend Wednesdays and Fridays this semester with a certain prayer focus on each day. While there is sometimes overlap, Wednesdays are spent praying that the Lord would prepare me for ministry. For me this means:
-Thanksgiving for the financial provision to be here. It's hard to believe that after it's all over it will have been about $30,000 spent for school... and this, without debt.
-That He would increase my confidence, boldness, and decisiveness when it comes to leading and preaching to other believers. I find that because of practice... I can preach and witness to the unsaved all day, but when it comes to other believers it's harder.
-That He would grow me in my ability as a preacher and similarly that I would always hold Scripture in high regard. This should spill over to my reverence in speaking about the things of God and keeping a close eye on my use of humor.
-That He would solidify my internship and order things in a way that it would be a most beneficial ministry experience. If all works out I will essentially be spreading it between 2 semesters full of pastoral care (prayer/visitation) and preaching.
-That He would provide direction on what to do after Moody. Should I enter the ministry? What opportunities will open up at that point? Should I go to the Master's Seminary in CA as planned? What complications or changes of plan will come at that time? What will my life look like when the time comes? I pray that He will provide the direction and discernment necessary for these questions and uncertainties.
For Fridays I spend time among other things on probably the second most important consideration in one's life:
-I pray for my future wife, whomever she may be. I've recently decided to pray Proverbs 31 over her. As I was reading it yesterday I was reminded of v.30, which says, "Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised." I think this is verse will be my focus. I pray that the Lord would increase her love for me (because I can't always trust my own emotions) and I pray that He would provide a woman who loves Him infinitely more than she would love me. I want nothing less. I am content waiting on God, but I am active at the same time. One could call it a dissatisfied satisfaction.
-I pray that He would make me into the man I need to be... a man of courage, a man who can protect his future wife, a man of gentleness, a man of truth, and a man who is prepared to lead a house who will "serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15).
-Because those things are future I've also chosen to spend this day in prayer for my sisters in Christ. My friendships with them will prepare me for my wife and in a real way reflect how I interact with godly women. I reveal these things knowing that they may be read and even perhaps read into, but the Lord knows my heart and that's all I need to be concerned with.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Hello Semester.
And summer is over. I watched a lot of Star Trek, did some evangelism, prepared for this semester's Greek and reada textbook, visited a Jehovah's Witness convention with a few fellow church members (which was very beneficial by the way to see how they lived, "studied" and it was a good way of getting into the mind of a cult). Now I'm in the swing of things...
At first I was pretty overwhelmed, but once I was able to input all the due dates for my assignments and corresponding email reminders I feel like things are in place, organized, and systemetized. I now can see a doable semester of schoolwork.
Narrative preaching class is looking pretty good. I still believe the depth of the preaching is not nearly what a structured Expository sermon would provide, even though Narrative sermons are still called "expository." There will be quite a while longer though for me to flesh out my questions and issues with the class and I'm sure the best person to answer those will be the teacher I have because is the well known professor of Homiletics on campus. I'm excited to see what will come of the class. We were given our preaching passages on the first day and it looks like I have 1 Kings 17:1-16: The story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. I've heard this story preached before I think. I'm excited regardless though because I love preaching and yet am terrified of it at the same time.
Greek Exegesis was a shocker at first and a rough transition from a summer with little study. I've made all A's on the homework so far however. It turned out it's not quite as much Exegesis as it is further Grammar study. The professor said we'll get into true exegesis next semester. It turns out our homework assignments are simply all the in-class questions he would ask us throughout last semester. He was actually preparing us for Exegesis the whole time. for that reason my first couple of homework assignments went from taking 2 hours or more a night to about an hour and a half. It's getting easier and I praise the Lord for that!
Systematic Theology brings a reasonable workload and a surprisingly light amount of reading. It's supposed to expand on the first intro-level Theology class, but something tells me it will only remind me of what I already know. That's cool though... it's naturally hard to remember stuff anyway. I took the first quiz and didn't miss anything. I'm thinking this class will be free of hassle.
American Church History and Evangelism is still a wild card. The teacher seems to enjoy provoking thought (which is good), but if it's only on the level of foundational things it will get boring real soon. It looks like we'll be studying the major American revivals and church movements. The workload seems reasonable, but there's a lot of reading. Right now I'm thinking the class will either be just alright or a waste of time. Apparently we're gonna watch videos from secular sources (which immediately feels like a waste of time) and I'm also not sure how valuable the lectures will be. Part of this is due I'm sure to the fact that the professor originally planned to teach the class left the school and someone had to replace him.
Student Outreach has had a booming kickoff. We made ourselves known at a major beginning of the year chapel and then followed with a chapel that was entirely our own. I was scrambling around before it started getting everything organized. We had a video clip of a student preaching, a few photos, and then one of the ladies from a former sister floor who is now married agreed to sing Bill and Cindy Foote's Rescue The Perishing. This was followed by Dr. McDuffee who spoke about the importance of public proclamation. It was a simply awesome message that well portrayed the heart of our ministry. I'm planning to get a copy of the CD to send to my former roommate who was unable to return to school this semester. We had our PCM chapel and that seemed to go well. I'm excited at what the Lord is going to teach the students who've come into the ministry this semester.
I've also begun this semester with a plan to spend Wednesdays and Fridays in prayer about a couple specific things in my life. I'm dedicating these days to the Lord to worship Him and petition Him about some things on my heart. This doesn't mean of course that I won't do any homework or work (if I can get a job), but simply that I will set aside time to seek God with a clear purpose on those days. My new roommate and I are getting along well. His personality is the punk fun type... I suppose the best way to explain it. the other day he came back to the dorm with google-eye glasses, wind up chattering teeth, and Jesus pencil toppers. We've had some opportunity to share a bit about ourselves and pray together to inaugurate the semester. It looks like we will complement eachother well. He's also (as many are) quite a bit younger than me. He's already expressed a respect for me and my leadership. He wants to learn from me. Lord, keep me humble! May no sign of pride arise in even the inner recesses of my thoughts!
At first I was pretty overwhelmed, but once I was able to input all the due dates for my assignments and corresponding email reminders I feel like things are in place, organized, and systemetized. I now can see a doable semester of schoolwork.
Narrative preaching class is looking pretty good. I still believe the depth of the preaching is not nearly what a structured Expository sermon would provide, even though Narrative sermons are still called "expository." There will be quite a while longer though for me to flesh out my questions and issues with the class and I'm sure the best person to answer those will be the teacher I have because is the well known professor of Homiletics on campus. I'm excited to see what will come of the class. We were given our preaching passages on the first day and it looks like I have 1 Kings 17:1-16: The story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. I've heard this story preached before I think. I'm excited regardless though because I love preaching and yet am terrified of it at the same time.
Greek Exegesis was a shocker at first and a rough transition from a summer with little study. I've made all A's on the homework so far however. It turned out it's not quite as much Exegesis as it is further Grammar study. The professor said we'll get into true exegesis next semester. It turns out our homework assignments are simply all the in-class questions he would ask us throughout last semester. He was actually preparing us for Exegesis the whole time. for that reason my first couple of homework assignments went from taking 2 hours or more a night to about an hour and a half. It's getting easier and I praise the Lord for that!
Systematic Theology brings a reasonable workload and a surprisingly light amount of reading. It's supposed to expand on the first intro-level Theology class, but something tells me it will only remind me of what I already know. That's cool though... it's naturally hard to remember stuff anyway. I took the first quiz and didn't miss anything. I'm thinking this class will be free of hassle.
American Church History and Evangelism is still a wild card. The teacher seems to enjoy provoking thought (which is good), but if it's only on the level of foundational things it will get boring real soon. It looks like we'll be studying the major American revivals and church movements. The workload seems reasonable, but there's a lot of reading. Right now I'm thinking the class will either be just alright or a waste of time. Apparently we're gonna watch videos from secular sources (which immediately feels like a waste of time) and I'm also not sure how valuable the lectures will be. Part of this is due I'm sure to the fact that the professor originally planned to teach the class left the school and someone had to replace him.
Student Outreach has had a booming kickoff. We made ourselves known at a major beginning of the year chapel and then followed with a chapel that was entirely our own. I was scrambling around before it started getting everything organized. We had a video clip of a student preaching, a few photos, and then one of the ladies from a former sister floor who is now married agreed to sing Bill and Cindy Foote's Rescue The Perishing. This was followed by Dr. McDuffee who spoke about the importance of public proclamation. It was a simply awesome message that well portrayed the heart of our ministry. I'm planning to get a copy of the CD to send to my former roommate who was unable to return to school this semester. We had our PCM chapel and that seemed to go well. I'm excited at what the Lord is going to teach the students who've come into the ministry this semester.
I've also begun this semester with a plan to spend Wednesdays and Fridays in prayer about a couple specific things in my life. I'm dedicating these days to the Lord to worship Him and petition Him about some things on my heart. This doesn't mean of course that I won't do any homework or work (if I can get a job), but simply that I will set aside time to seek God with a clear purpose on those days. My new roommate and I are getting along well. His personality is the punk fun type... I suppose the best way to explain it. the other day he came back to the dorm with google-eye glasses, wind up chattering teeth, and Jesus pencil toppers. We've had some opportunity to share a bit about ourselves and pray together to inaugurate the semester. It looks like we will complement eachother well. He's also (as many are) quite a bit younger than me. He's already expressed a respect for me and my leadership. He wants to learn from me. Lord, keep me humble! May no sign of pride arise in even the inner recesses of my thoughts!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
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!
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!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)