In Memory Of Billy Powell

In case you haven't heard yet, Billy Powell, Lynyrd Skynyrd's keyboardist/pianist, has died today at the age of 56. He was one of the most incredible rock musicians I have ever seen. He has played the piano on some of the most popular songs in rock music, most notably Freebird and Sweet Home Alabama. 

I got the chance to see him play live with my dad and my buddy, Austin Gibson, when Skynyrd came to town with The Allman Brothers a couple of years ago. One of the best shows I've ever been to. I'm glad I got to see him play before his death. He seemed like a great man and from the things said in the article I read, he seemed to be a believer. Regardless, pray for his family and his band mates. I'm sure they're having a hard time with it.

Reflections From 'Crazy Love'

Here are some quotes from the last chapter of Francis Chan's book Crazy Love (which I highly recommend) that have really got me thinking about my life.

• We say things like, " I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," and "Trust in the Lord with all your heart." Then we live and plan like we don't believe God even exists. We try to set our lives up so everything will be fine even if God doesn't come through. But true faith means holding nothing back. It means putting every hope in God's fidelity to His promises.
• ...if I stop pursuing Christ, I am letting our relationship deteriorate. We never grow closer to God when we just live life; it takes deliberate pursuit and attentiveness.
• The Holy Spirit is the One who changes the church, but we have to remember that the Holy Spirit lives in us. It is individual people living Spirit-filled lives that will change the church.
• How we believers live out our lives is a microcosm of the life of the church.
• The world needs Christians who don't tolerate the complacency of their own lives.
  

Thought For The Day

" How we live our days...is how we live our lives."

-Annie Dillard

MLK Weekend Photo Recap

These pictures should pretty much sum up how I spent my MLK weekend. It was full of good times with good people. I am so blessed to live the life I do.

Country Music

I'm listening to it for the first time in a good while. I haven't intentionally been avoiding it or anything, but I just haven't listened to it much recently. It's probably been about a year or so since I've listened to it. However, for one reason or another recently I've begun to start listening to it more often. The 'listening hiatus' has been good for me, though. I'm really appreciating it a lot more than I usually do. There's just something so fun and freeing about the country I listen to. It just takes my mind to green pastures and beautiful lakes. Anyway, it's good to be back into it.

History Is Happening

Wow. Regardless of political affiliation, today is a huge day for America. Today will forever be a milestone in the ongoing push for racial equality. No, racism is not over. Yes, we are making progress. Let's take in the moment and celebrate a victory for America, not a political party. Also, let's pray for our president. I hope you take in the inauguration today and realize the gravity of it. 

Also, here is a letter to Mr. Obama that I read earlier today. I thought it was great. Check it out.

Grace and peace.

I Guess It's Time To Do Laundry...

Here's a little glimpse of what I get to look forward to in the next couple of days. The bad news, this is only a little over half of the laundry...

World Hunger: What's That?

I can't imagine hunger. I really can't. My concept of hunger is nothing more than a few hours without food. In many places all across the globe, hunger is a HUGE problem. I want to become more and more burdened for these people and places. When I see things like this video below, my heart is broken for them. But the reality is I eat a cheeseburger within 4 hours of my heart 'breaking'. I think I am going to fast in the next couple of days to pray for these people. Perhaps you would like to join me.

Something cool about this video is that this substance they have created called 'Plumpynut' could be a huge answer to prayer concerning world hunger. It's cheap and effective. Sounds a lot like something the church could use to share God's mercy with countless individuals dying of starvation... I pray that more American Christians will begin to be burdened by these people. I know that it is so easy to forget them in America because it's the land of milk and honey, but I also know that it doesn't mean we aren't held responsible for not being the loving, merciful arm of Christ that is extended to them in their need. Remember these people. Micah 6:8.

Grace and peace.

I'm Still Alive

I promise there will be some new stuff here soon. It's just been ridiculously busy over the last few days. I can't wait to have some down time when I can update. As for now, the shadow of an enormous pile of laundry is lurking over me... rough, I know. Anyway, I'm still alive. Look for an update soon.

Grace and peace.

A Year In God's Word

So I'm embarking on a journey that I have never completed (or come close to completing...). I am going to read through the entire Bible this year. In the past I have attempted valiantly and succeeded up to somewhere around Genesis 22 before dropping out.

However, I have now adopted a reading schedule that should expose me to all of God's Word this year. It's pretty cool. In the mornings I read a couple of chapters from the Old Testament. Around midday, I pause and reflect on a couple of the Psalms. Finally, at night before I got to bed, I read a couple of chapters in the New Testament.

I really like the way it works. In the morning, I wake up and am encouraged by the story of God's faithfulness to His people. Around lunch, the Psalms hit me right between the eyes, because they relate so well to how I feel so often around that time of day. Finally, before I go to sleep, I get to read the Gospel and reflect on it until I fall asleep. There is no greater blessing to 'count' at night than the Gospel.

I also appreciate this schedule because it keeps me disciplined and it saturates my mind with the things of God, rather than the things of this world. I have no doubt that the Scriptures will change, mold, and chisel me into a more disciplined saint and a more successful soul winner. I anticipate great things through this process. Please keep me in your prayers.

If you're interested in reading along with this schedule, click here.

Grace and peace.

W: The President and Unsung Hero

I found this excerpt from an article and I thought it was pretty interesting. With everybody dogging Bush these days and all of the horrible opinions people have about Bush, you rarely hear anything about the positive things he did. I appreciate especially what is talked about in this article. He may not have done everything right economically and what not, but as far as this article is concerned, he is a hero in my book. He's got my respect.

Recently, I was reminded of one of the most significant untold stories of our generation, and it happens to center on our outgoing president.

December 1, 2008, marked the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. To commemorate it, Pastor Rick Warren hosted a Saddleback Civil Forum on Global Health in Washington D.C., gathering non-profit and faith leaders in the fight against AIDS. The guest of honor was President Bush, to whom Warren presented the International Medal of PEACE from the Global PEACE Coalition in recognition of his contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS and other diseases.

“No man in history, no world leader, has done more for global health than George W. Bush,” Warren said when giving him the award.

For many people, that’s not what first comes to mind whey they think about President Bush’s administration, but the long-term ramifications of his global health efforts cannot be understated.

It was at the 2003 State of the Union address that Bush announced the formation of thePresident’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). At the time, only 50,000 people living with AIDS in Africa were able to receive anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs. PEPFAR’s ambitious goal was to increase that number to 2 million in five years - a milestone that they’ve actually now surpassed.

Those people getting treatment and education have actually led to another 8 million people not contracting the disease who otherwise would have. Ten million lives saved. And of those 4 million are orphans, the majority of whom where orphaned because both parents died of AIDS.

As we look at these closing weeks of the Bush administration, it’s easy to see the challenges our country is facing and forget monumental, positive initiatives like PEPFAR. I want to publicly applaud President Bush for taking a stand when others hadn’t, and doing so without the motive of political benefit. He has stood up for those who have no voice, and he did so because it was the right thing to do.

School's In Session

I'm actually kind of glad school is back in session. I've been missing the routine. I'm off to the best start I've ever been in terms of being prepared. I've spent the last couple of days getting organized. I'm anxious to see what's in store this semester. Once I get caught up on some reading, there should be more posts that contain thoughts and stuff that will be more interesting than just reading about my day to day. I appreciate those of you who have let me know that you're reading. I'll try not to waste too much of your time... :-). Stay tuned!

Grace and Peace.

(Sermon Reflection) Peter: The Apostle Of Hope

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Hunter Street Baptist Church

Buddy Gray

Hope Series

Here are some things that I heard, that struck me.

• Peter had some positive things going for him when we first encounter him in Scripture. --- Faith (Mark 1:17-18), Spiritual Insight (Matt 16:15-16)
  

Most of the rest of the message touched on his failures to highlight specifically how Jesus gives hope to and restores a messed up man. These failures in particular help me to realize how Jesus is able to use a 'wretch like me' to do incredible things for His kingdom's purposes.

• We see Peter's overconfidence, pride, and arrogance at the last supper. (Luke 22:33-34)
• At Gethsemane, when Jesus asks Peter to stay awake and pray, he fails to do so and falls asleep after a single hour. He doesn't grasp the importance of prayer or being spiritually vigilant. (Mark 14:37)
• When they come to arrest Jesus, Peter gets impulsive and cuts off the ear of the servant, which Jesus then heals. Jesus is always cleaning up his messes it seems.
• Pride --> Prayerlessness --> Impulsiveness
• For the last bit of Jesus' life, Peter followed him at a distance. Peter wanted to be comfortable with the world and blend in, rather than suffer with Jesus. (Mark 14:54)
• When Peter has denied Jesus three times, Jesus turns to him and looks and a rooster crows. (Luke 22:60-62)
• To Peter, the rooster crowing to Peter was something that triggered memories of his failures and sin. It was something that haunted him. (Luke 22:60-62)
• After Jesus' resurrection, Jesus specifically mentions Peter's name (apart from the group of disciples) which implies his restoration in Jesus' sight. (Mark 16:6-7)
• After Jesus appears to the disciples while they were fishing, Peter is sitting around the fire with Jesus. It was only a few days ago that Peter was sitting around a fire in a courtyard when he was denying knowing Jesus. Such a contrast of how he has been restored so quickly. One of the most distant moments from Jesus and one of the most intimate moments with Jesus were both spent around a fire within a matter of days.
• After Peter has been restored (John 21:17-18, 19a), he becomes incredibly affective for the kingdom of God. For example, at Pentecost he preaches and thousands come to know salvation. (Acts 1:15, 2:14, 4:8, 10:44)
• God uses our worst moments to prepare us for our divinely appointed purposes. 

The main takeaway points from this sermon:

• There is hope after failure.
• God uses broken people to accomplish great things.

Twenty

So today I turned 20. Me and some buddies went kayaking...10 miles. Needless to say, I am exhausted. My back and arms are killing me, but it sure was a lot more satisfying to do something productive and enjoy the great outdoors than to sit inside and be on my computer all day. Many fun stories (Headliners: Gibby flipped his kayak, Bruise got locked out of his car). 

I'm typing this as I anticipate the arrival of some of my best friends. My family is throwing me a birthday party. I am so blessed to have all of these incredible people in my life. I really love all of them.

Even though twenty isn't really a significant birthday [ie: Driver's Permit (15) and License (16), Purchase Tobacco (19), Purchase Alcohol (21), Rent a Car (25)], it's been one of my favorites. Good times with good people. Life doesn't get much better than this. Grace and Peace. λύτρον

A New Year

Here are some of my goals, wonderings, and predictions for this upcoming year.

Personal Goals

• Be immersed in God's Word
• Constantly be in communion with God
• Create intentional relationships
• Use my finances faithfully
• Invest in the local and global church
• Read at least one book per month
• Watch less television
• Exercise consistently

Wonderings

• What's Obama's presidency going to look like? How fast will things change? How radical will the changes be? Will there be near as much change as he promised?

Predictions

• There will be an attempted assassination on President Barak Obama
• The economy will remain crappy for most of 2009
• Healthcare quality is going to decrease drastically
• Homosexual marriage is going to be legalized

Facts

• God is still going to be on His throne