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Happy Birthday Mom!

2009-04-15T21:41:00.003-05:00

So today's my mom's birthday so I thought I'd tell you about her.

Aside from the grace to know salvation, one of the biggest blessings I've ever experienced is the presence of my mother in this life. There are so many different things to consider when I begin to think about the ways my mom has made a difference in my life. Here are a few things off the top of my head:

She decided that she would not abort me. So many people take this for granted. I am so thankful she valued my life even though she could have written me off as simply 'a fetus' or whatever term people like to use today to rationalize their irresponsible decisions, but she didn't and for that I am very grateful.
She took her pregnancy seriously and did her best to manage her body and her diet responsibly in order to give me the best conditions for being a healthy baby.
She took care of me and made sure all of my needs were met as a helpless baby. She endured sleepless nights and dealt with all my crap (literally... haha!)
She kept her cool with me as an annoying little toddler. I can only imagine how much I drove her cray at grocery stores and the like. I would definitely be 'that kid'. You know the one I'm talking about... the one everybody in the store hates. "Where's his mother?" they all wonder. My mom was always right there much to everyone's delight.
She taught me how to get along with others. She taught me manners and how to interact with others socially. This is kind of a necessity, considering how there are other people in the world than myself...
She taught me to care for others. She would teach me about this with words from time to time, but I think I learned this more from observing the way she loved people and served them.
She put up with me through all of the times I decided I break her rules and when I smarted off to her. This is huge. When I think back on my old self, I recall how stubborn and sarcastic. In a lot of ways, I am still like that but I don't think I am to the extent I used to be. I don't know how she dealt with me. I would've beat me with a stick and locked me away from society. Such patience and grace.
She cooked for me...and still does! She is an INCREDIBLE cook! I absolutely love her food. She can make some of the best (insert food here) that you've ever had. She always gets mad when I can't decide on what I want her to cook when I come home from school. It's never because I'm indifferent, it's because I can't decide because it's all good. I know that my children one day are going to know her as 'the grandma who can cook'.
Did I mention she cooks for me?
She washed / washes my clothes. I hate doing this. If you know me, you know that I absolutely hate doing this. Don't really know why...I just do. Therefore, I appreciate this very much.
She has always encouraged me to do whatever I want to do. If I wanted to play baseball, I could play baseball. If I wanted to do art, I could do art. If I wanted to take guitar lessons, I could take guitar lessons. A lot of parents try to mold their kids into who they want them to be, but my mom always let me be myself.
She has always supported me in whatever I have done. She loves me no matter what I do. If I succeed she congratulates me and tells me she is proud. If I fail, she comforts me and encourages me. I never have to worry about taking on a challenge without support.
She believes in me. One of the reasons I have healthy self-confidence is because I know she believes in me. I appreciate that she really believes I can change the world if I want to.
She loves my dad. In today's society that is a feat. She is committed to him and she actively shows her love for him through affection and service. I pray that my wife will be like her in this. My dad's very blessed to have her.
Above all else, she loves Jesus. She has always exemplified this. She raised me in church. She always talked about how much Jesus loved me. She showed me His love by serving me and loving me unconditionally. If you think about it, pretty much everything I've listed up to this point testifies to this last and most important point. I am so thankful that she was there when I accepted Christ as my Savior. Long story short, late one night the Spirit moved in me and I went and talked stuff out with Mom and Dad. That night I was born again. Mom's been with me for both of my births. So thankful for that.

All that to say I have the best mother ever. I am truly blessed. I love her with all my heart and I pray that I may one day resemble a son almost worthy of her excellence.

Proverbs 31:10-31

10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. 11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. 13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. 14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. 15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. 16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. 18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. 19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. 22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. 24She maketh fine linen, and selleth it ; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 25Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. 26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also , and he praiseth her. 29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. 30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Thought For The Day

2009-04-14T10:36:00.002-05:00

Here's a good word of encouragement from Francis to live uncomfortably for the glory of God. Check it out.

Guidelines To Reading Broadly

2009-04-09T10:48:00.011-05:00

Know Doctrine. Be grounded theologically before you ever consider starting to read broadly. Scripture is constantly beckoning us to beware of false teaching. How are we to recognize false teaching if we are not familiar with truth?
Pray for discernment as you read. It is important to guard yourself from becoming slowly engulfed in the ideology of what you are reading. If it's not Scripture, it's flawed. Some books are more severely flawed than others, but all of them were written by men - men still susceptible to the effects of the fall. Hopefully the authors you are reading have the intention to be as faithful to the Scriptures as they possibly can be. If that's not the case, you probably shouldn't waste your time on it.
Confirm what you think is truth in the Scriptures. This is along the same lines as the first point I made. The only thing that we can hold to as absolute truth is Scripture. If what we find in the reading seems to be true we must compare it to Scripture.

Random Thoughts

2009-04-07T00:15:00.007-05:00

Been a while since I've blogged. It always annoys me when I think about how long it's been since I've blogged.
I'm going to Chicago for The Gospel Coalition Conference in roughly 2 weeks. I absolutely cannot wait. It's going to be amazing. How could it not be? Some of the featured speakers are John Piper, D.A. Carson, Tim Keller, and Mark Driscoll... I know. Amazing. I can already imagine the feeling of inadequacy that I will feel being in the same room with those guys. Trey and I are pumped. I'm really glad Trey is going with me. It'll be good to spend some time with him. I always appreciate talking about spiritual things with him. He's very wise and I just generally enjoy hanging out with him.
Also, I'm very excited to get to spend some time with Johnny Grimes (Lead Pastor of Branch Life Church in Birmingham) at the conference. We're on the same flight and I think we may be staying in the same hotel. I anticipate some great conversations...
The youth group at Journey has really gotten a hold of my heart. I see so much potential in these kids. They have such a drive to grow in their relationships with the Lord and I see a genuine hunger for the Lord. I pray that I can continue to be a part of their lives. It is such a blessing to my life.
I just finished Mark Driscoll's Death By Love. It was a fine book. It really helped you see the application of Jesus' death on the cross in real-life situations. I definitely recommend it. I'm so glad I read it before Easter. It is no doubt shaping the way I think about the death of Jesus.
Good Friday is this Friday. I am greatly looking forward to spending it at my home church with my family. I am spending a significant time this week focusing on the depth of my sin and the punishment that I deserve for it. Friday will be a day of indescribable gratitude and deep appreciation for God sending His only Son, Jesus Christ, to take on the sin and shame of all believers to reconcile them to Himself. I pray this Good Friday will be a milestone in my life. I want to truly grasp Jesus' death and all that it accomplished more than I ever have.
Sunday is Easter. Much like Good Friday, I am praying that Sunday will be a day of celebration. I hope I will grasp all that is Easter on a deeper level than I ever have. I cannot wait to celebrate the death of death. I cannot wait to lead the Believers at Journey Church in Auburn as we proclaim Jesus' victory over sin and shame. It's going to be amazing.
I have been spending a lot of time studying John 1 over the past week or so and it has been INCREDIBLE! I have never 'gotten' it like I have been over the past week. It's a very beautiful and poetic passage. You should definitely check it out.
I will try to blog as often as I can over the next week or so. Keep checking in. Sorry I've been so inconsistent lately. I'm trying to get back into a routine.

Grace and peace to my brothers and sisters!

Weekend Recap

2009-03-09T16:25:00.003-05:00

This past weekend I was blessed to be able to lead worship at my home church's retreat for the singles ministry. It was an incredible weekend for several different reasons: (1) I got to help lead worship - one of my favorite things to do, (2) I heard some incredible teaching from our Associate Pastor, Bill Decker, (3) and I got to actually rest and take a nap by the lake in my hammock.

The weekend's theme was 'Rebuilt'. We went through Isaiah 58 and talked about how the people were doing all of the right things, yet had sin in their lives that was had not been dealt with. During Saturday night's message I got convicted of a lot of sin that I consider 'not a big deal sin'. I think you know what I mean by that. I tend to play off a lot of sin by excusing it as 'little sins'. Here are some of the little sins that we talked about:

Ungodliness. How often do we not even consider God's will in our decision making?
Anxiety. Anxiety is the lack of trust in God.
Unthankfulness. Enough said.
Discontentment. How often do I get flustered about the circumstances in life that I can do nothing about?
Pride. Pride is moral self-righteousness. It comes in three different forms. (1) Pride of Doctrine, (2) Pride of Achievement, (3) Pride of Independent Spirit.
Selfishness. (1) Selfish Interests, (2) Being Inconsiderate.
Lack Of Self Control. Self Control is the ability to control or govern one's desires, impulses, emotions, and passions. This is different from 'will power'. Pagans can have enough 'will power' to obey self-determined rules; only Christians can have the 'Self Control' that comes from the Holy Spirit during the sanctification process.
Impatience and Irritability. How quickly/easily do I lose my cool?
Anger. "We often get angry because we are trying to protect idols in our lives." Dang.
Being Judgmental. (1) Politics, (2) Church, and (3) Social Settings. "If it isn't dishonoring to God, you don't have a dog in the fight." Again, dang.
Coveting. Envy is the painful awareness that some has an advantage that you don't have. Jealousy is acting on your envy.
Sins of the Tongue. (1) Gossip, (2) Lies, (3) Slander, (4) Critical Speech, (5) Harsh Words, (6) Insults, (7) Profanity, (8) Coarse Joking. I got eight slaps in the face on this one particular point... Ouch.
Worldliness. Have I become attached to the temporary things of this world?

*Don't worry, he used a lot of Scripture to back it up, I just didn't have paper with me to write them down. I got the points from someone later.

Also, he delivered this message in such humility. On most every point he actually confessed ways he had personally failed recently. I felt like his style of communicating allowed everyone listening to let their guard down because he was able to convey that he was a sinful, fallen human being just as they were and he was no more holier than they were just because he is on staff at a church. I was very impressed with his sermons. I was very blessed to be able to hear them and I anticipate emailing him later this week to express my gratitude for the work he put into preparing them.

Here was a view from my hammock by the lake.

New Structure

2009-03-05T09:37:00.005-06:00

Since I am clearly incapable of updating my blog regularly, I have decided to try and give it some more structure. Turns out I am a lot less creative than I thought... Anyway, here's a taste of what I'm going to try and start doing to keep myself disciplined as far as updating.

Monday Sermon Reflections

Tuesday Book Notes / Book Review

Wednesday Article / Blog Post Response

Thursday Music Review

Friday Video Post / Personal Update

There's the plan. Whether or not it actually works, we'll see...

What Is Love?

2009-03-03T02:59:00.003-06:00

In case you didn't see it last night on 'The Bachelor', Jason was convinced that he had found the love of his life and he proposed to her. Later, on the 'After The Final Rose Ceremony', Jason dumped his fiance' in front of millions of people on live television and then proceeded to run back to the runner-up in the competition in a successful attempt for her to take him back. Needless to say, it was some classy television.

On a serious note, it got me thinking about love. Not puppy love or 'I think I've been in love before' love, but actual true love. What is true love? How do you get it? How do you sustain it? etc.

Most people would say that being in love is a feeling. I have a really hard time buying into this because feelings come and go. There is no stability in feelings. Emotions change with circumstances. I think most everyone would agree that true love is unconditional and it seems like there are too many conditions for love to be an emotion.

The only conclusion I can come to is that love is a commitment. A commitment is stable. This commitment can be accompanied by romantic feelings and passion, but the commitment is not dependent on them. Commitments don't change with circumstances. It seems love has to be a commitment.

How do you define love? What is love? What is love not?

Something To Make You Giggle...

2009-02-18T23:36:00.000-06:00

Your welcome.

HSBC D'Now 2009: A Call To Grace

2009-02-17T01:24:00.004-06:00

This weekend was incredible. It was my home church's DiscipleNow Weekend. I actually had the honor of helping lead worship for roughly 400 students with a good friend of mine, David Devane. We had some great worship experiences throughout the weekend with the youth. David Nasser was the speaker for the weekend and did a phenomenal job. He really challenged everybody to actually live grace out instead of solely experiencing it at this specific event. Lots of memorable moments and lots of lives won for the Kingdom. Glory to God. Also found out that people actually read this blog. Feels good to know I'm not simply typing for myself -- even though I was quite satisfied with it. :-)

Congratulations Elliott and Meredith!

2009-02-12T00:24:00.002-06:00

Just wanted to give a shout out to my good friends Elliot Devore and Meredith Collins. They got engaged! Congratulations guys. Can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for you. God bless!

Obama Ticked Me Off Last Night

2009-02-10T00:54:00.004-06:00

I am incredibly upset with our President, Barack Obama. I feel like he took a personal shot at me this evening. Let me explain.

My DVR was scheduled to record '24' on Fox. Obama's speech ran over it's scheduled time. As a result, my DVR recorded roughly 7 minutes of his yapping about the economy. In case you haven't caught on, I missed approximately the last 7 minutes of '24'. Needless to say, I'm pretty upset.

Looks like I must wait until the episode gets posted on Fox.com to see what happens. The anticipation is killing me.

Business Strategies In The Church (Part I)

2009-02-03T11:07:00.003-06:00

Lately something has been really bothering me. I have been hearing a ridiculous amount of information on how to make church the next big thing and how to make it culturally relevant, cool, hip, and visitor friendly. This is all well and good, but it seems like we sometimes forget that the gospel is TOTALLY counter-cultural. It says that we must DENY OURSELVES. How visitor-friendly does that sound? Not very? My point exactly.

We need to stop making church a business in our minds. We can treat it like a business and grow our church into a gathering of 5,000 clients every Sunday or we can let the Holy Spirit transform the lives of sinners and sanctify them on the time table he wishes to do so. Church growth is too big of a deal to often in ministry. Sometimes numbers can be one of the deadliest things in ministry. I truly believe the devil uses numbers often to destroy churches and their leaders. If the numbers are low, a pastor can quickly become frustrated and feel unsuccessful. If the numbers are high, the pastor can become conceited and believe that he is what is growing the church.

As I mentioned earlier, I think that business strategies, numbers, and making church 'cool' are all good if they are put in their proper perspective. God is the one who grows His church. You can have the best everything (environment, ministers, coffee, etc.) and not grow a single person if the Lord wills so. On the opposite end of the spectrum, you can have what seems to be the lamest, most outdated church style in the world and grow by leaps and bounds if the Lord wills so. Bottom line: It's God's church. He will grow it. Let's get over ourselves and stop acting like we're more important than we are. Let's stop trying to sell church and Jesus like the marketing department over at Apple sells iPods. Trust in God. Do your part: be faithful, be strategic, cast vision, but don't forget to trust God in all of it.

In case you are wondering where all this is coming from, it's been building up in me for a while. It seems to be this recurring notion that I see popping up on blogs everywhere and a huge emphasis in the modern day church. Again, I think all of them have their proper place in ministry, but it just seems like a lot of people have forgotten about God and the fact that He has a plan, that will not and cannot be thwarted. This is great news for the church. God WILL grow His church regardless of how good we are at making it 'cool'.

*I have a feeling this will probably rub some people the wrong way. I pray that it doesn't come across as a shot at any individual, but as a concern that I have for a group of bloggers and churches. Anyway, there's my soapbox for the day.

In Memory Of Billy Powell

2009-01-28T17:47:00.003-06:00

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'

2009-01-28T00:32:00.005-06:00

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

2009-01-27T18:57:00.002-06:00

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

-Annie Dillard

MLK Weekend Photo Recap

2009-01-24T03:14:00.005-06:00

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

2009-01-22T04:35:00.002-06:00

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

2009-01-20T09:37:00.004-06:00

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...

2009-01-13T14:02:00.004-06:00

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?

2009-01-13T01:44:00.004-06:00

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

2009-01-12T00:26:00.001-06:00

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

2009-01-09T02:29:00.004-06:00

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

2009-01-08T10:43:00.005-06:00

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

2009-01-08T09:48:00.003-06:00

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

2009-01-05T14:02:00.002-06:00

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

2009-01-03T18:49:00.003-06:00

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

2009-01-01T19:59:00.004-06:00

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

New Year's Prayer

2008-12-28T23:50:00.002-06:00

Here's a Puritan prayer that I read on Tim Challies' blog earlier this evening concerning the New Year. It was moving to me. I pray you will benefit from it, as well.

O Love beyond Compare,
Thou art good when thou givest,
when thou takest away,
when the sun shines upon me,
when night gathers over me.
Thou hast loved me before the foundation of the world,
and in love didst redeem my soul;
Thou dost love me still,
in spite of my hard heart, ingratitude, distrust.
Thy goodness has been with me another year,
leading me through a twisting wilderness,
in retreat helping me to advance,
when beaten back making sure headway.
Thy goodness will be with me in the year ahead;
I hoist sail and draw up anchor,
With thee as the blessed pilot of my future as of my past.
I bless thee that thou hast veiled my eyes to the waters ahead.
If thou hast appointed storms of tribulation,
thou wilt be with me in them;
If I have to pass through tempests of persecution and temptation,
I shall not drown;
If I am to die,
I shall see thy face the sooner;
If a painful end is to be my lot,
grant me grace that my faith fail not;
If I am to be cast aside from the service I love,
I can make no stipulation;
Only glorify thyself in me whether in comfort or trial,
as a chosen vessel meet always for thy use.

Al Mohler's Suggestions For Reading

2008-12-28T01:53:00.004-06:00

Here's a link to the most brilliant person in Christianity today and his thoughts about reading. Here's the link.

Grace and Peace. λύτρον

How Should I Feel About This?

2008-12-27T04:46:00.006-06:00

Yesterday me and my dad spent some good ol' father/son time in the local Barnes & Noble. We are both avid readers, so we could probably spend hours upon hours there without getting bored (we actually did end up spending like 3 hours). We were rummaging through some books in the Christian section and I stumbled upon this one.

I honestly am not sure what emotion this book brings up in me... Part of me wants to laugh at how outlandish and ignorant I consider it to be. Another part of me recognizes that the guy who wrote this probably believes the stuff he wrote is accurate and true and that terrifies me. This guy is not walking alone in his ignorance, but those who buy this book and read it are having their perspectives tainted. In today's society, Christianity is beginning to take on the face of a God who desires nothing but health, wealth, and prosperity for everyone. After having thought all this out, I guess I feel kind of bad for laughing...

Any thoughts? Feel free to comment.

Grace and Peace. λύτρο

Christmas Thoughts

2008-12-24T23:30:00.002-06:00

Here's some stuff that I've been pondering over the course of the Christmas season:

The shepherds are the first to hear about the Savior's birth. For some reason, God chooses the shepherds (ranked low in societal status) to reveal Himself to and then uses them to spread the Good News. God has always had a heart for the humble and He uses them in mighty ways.
Something I've never thought about...this was breaking news for everyone in the world at the time of His birth. For countless years people have been waiting on this King they've heard prophecies about and He was finally there! Oh, what a feeling it must have been. On Christmas Eve, no one knew it was Christmas Eve! It was just a another seemingly ordinary night. It's cool to think about what they must have felt like to hear this news. We need to tap into the joy that they had when they realized the gravity of Jesus' birth.
It's so easy to get so caught up in stuff around Christmas. There's so much to do...most of which is unnecessary and self-imposed. It's so easy to get caught up in self and to forget about our calling to love others as Christ has loved us. It's easy to worship stuff - not necessarily physically bowing down to an ipod, a hunting rifle, or new clothes, but figuratively spending more time, resources, thoughts, and energy on them instead of God-honoring things.
I read a quote the other day that struck me. It was about us feeling good about how much we give. The quote was, "God not only looks at how much we give, but how much we keep." I thought it was pretty simple, yet profound. Changed my perspective on giving.
The sense of tradition can callous one to some really beautiful things. For instance, many of the traditional Christmas songs are incredible. I've never really focused on what some of them say. I sang them often, yet my singing was merely a mindless repetition of a tradition and not a song of praise to my Savior. Some of my personal favorites are "Silent Night","O Come, O Come Emmanuel", and "Joy To The World.

I've been thinking about more, and I'll address them in later posts probably. This is just some big stuff I've been thinking about. I pray that you all are having a merry Christmas. May you take a moment and in solitude contemplate what the Savior's birth actually means for the world and especially to you as a Believer. I am so thankful to be finding myself wanting to grasp the gravity of Christmas and what the coming of Jesus means. I pray it will be the same for you.
Grace and Peace. λύτρον

Spurgeon: Humorous Story

2008-12-20T18:54:00.006-06:00

One of my heroes of the faith is C.H. Spurgeon. He was the pastor of the London Tabernacle in the mid-1800's. He is often referred to as the "Prince of Preachers." He was a brilliant man and an incredibly gifted speaker. I love to read his sermons. Anyway, today I thought I would share with you a humorous story about him. Some background: He loved to smoke cigars. He was quoted saying this: "There is rarely a day when the son sets when I have not partaken of the blessed leaf." He liked them so much that he often would go outside after preaching his sermon, light up a cigar, and shake the hands of those who attended his church. One day an older lady approached him as he was shaking hands and said, "Pastor Spurgeon, when are you going to quit smoking those confounded cigars?" He responded, "Madame, when I smoke them to excess." She then asked, "You just finished preaching and you're smoking one; what do you consider excess?" His response: "Madame, I would consider it excessive if I were smoking two at the same time." Priceless.
Grace and Peace. λύτρον

Montgomery Christmas

2008-12-20T18:43:00.003-06:00

Just got back from Montgomery. We went down there to eat lunch with my dad's family. I'm glad we got to go. I haven't seen most of them in a long time. I am so blessed to have such a great family. Hope all of you are enjoying your holidays.
Grace and Peace. λύτρον

It's Good To Be Home

2008-12-17T03:19:00.002-06:00

Man, I can't tell you how awesome it is to be home. I love getting to be with my girlfriend, friends, and family. They are so amazing and I really miss them when I am in Auburn. I'm so thankful for the next couple of weeks ahead. Yesterday was ridiculously unproductive and I am hoping that today will be a little bit better. More on that later...
Grace and Peace. λύτρον

I'll Be Home For Christmas...Call Me

2008-12-15T00:03:00.003-06:00

That's right. Heading home in the morning. Looking forward to a couple of weeks crammed with nothingness. I'm trying to savor every last second of free time because the real world is getting closer with every passing day. Can't wait to be with my beautiful girlfriend, incredible friends, and amazing family. Looking forward to some D'Now band practice with David DeVane and the boys. Looking forward to meeting this Smokey character I keep hearing about. Can't wait to read a ridiculous amount. I haven't done that in forever, it seems. I pray you will enjoy this Christmas season and see past all of the consumerism to the coming of the blessed Savior. All glory to Him.
Grace and Peace. λύτρον

End Of The Semester

2008-12-13T03:10:00.002-06:00

Wow. I am incredibly relieved to be done with school for this semester. It felt like it would never end...but it did. I finished up my final exams this afternoon and I am now home free! I am going to spend the rest of the weekend in Auburn, play guitar at Journey Church on Sunday morning, throw a Christmas party for the Journey youth Sunday night, and head back to Hoover on Monday morning. I can't wait to spend some quality time with my family. I can honestly say I really miss them. I know I don't tell them enough how much they mean to me and I really need to work on that. Anyway, here's to a stress free next couple of weeks, a worshipful Christmas, and fellowship with the ones we love!
Grace and Peace. λύτρον

Worst Day Of The Semester (And It's Only 8am!)

2008-12-11T08:32:00.004-06:00

I really considered calling this post. 'The Worst Day Ever', but then I thought I may be over exaggerating just a bit. But it is no doubt the worst day of the semester and it's only 8:30am!
Here's the story:
I wake up this morning after roughly 4 and 1/2 hours of sleep to the soothing sound of rain falling gently against my window. To my dismay I know I must wake up both physically and mentally to take a Macroeconomics final exam scheduled at 8am. Against my will, I get up, take a shower, brew some coffee, and drive to campus. By this time, it has started to pour down and of course I am at the back of the parking lot and have something like an eighth of a mile to get to my building. I get out and begin to move swiftly through the parking lot as I am pelted by large raindrops. My attempt to stay semi-dry was unsuccessful to say the least... I am almost to the crosswalk across the street from my destination when some good ol' boy comes flying through the parking lot and drenches me with the splash from a puddle he drove his jacked up F-150 through. By this time, I am just really frustrated. I get to my class to find the seating chart with my name nowhere to be found. I quickly realize that the class meeting in the auditorium is not MacroEcon, but Accounting. Awesome. I quickly go into panic mode as I ponder the consequences of not taking the final. I swiftly rummage through my binder and find the syllabus. To my relief/anger I see that the exam is in fact scheduled for the next day. Fast forward thirty minutes later and here I am. Anyway, there's my rant. Blessing in disguise, though. I can now prepare more. Also, I could have a lot more issues than a screwed up schedule. I am really blessed. No more complaining.
Grace and Peace. λύτρον

Final Encounter

2008-12-08T17:49:00.006-06:00

It's officially the last Encounter in the US. That's such a cool thought. As I sit here listening to soundcheck I am praying for the day when students in Hong Kong get to experience a service like this one with a talented worship band and a message from Matt Dean. I sincerely am excited for the students in HK. They are in for a real blessing. I can't imagine how tremendous of an impact the Grace Campus team will have in HK, but judging from the thought of how much they have impacted the already very 'Christianized' culture in Auburn, it will be HUGE! I am expecting to hear big things about them in the upcoming years. I hope to somehow continue to serve them in whatever way I can. I hope that you will continue to keep the Grace Campus team and the city of Hong Kong in your prayers. They will be sorely missed here in Auburn, but we affirm and rejoice in their committment to follow God's call. God is faithful to those faithul to Him!
Grace and Peace. λύτρον

Exponential Times

2008-12-07T13:17:00.001-06:00

The Dangers Of Technology Concerning Our Souls

2008-12-07T12:56:00.002-06:00

I recently read an awesome blog post. You should definitely check it out here.

Breathing Once Again

2008-12-01T13:56:00.003-06:00

Wow. The last several days have been extremely stressful. I've been trying to knock out a huge paper in my World Lit class and it's been driving me insane. I put so much pressure on myself to pump out a decent paper, but I feel like I have to because my professor is such a difficult grader. Anyway, I'm just glad that I turned it in and I don't have to worry about it anymore. Hopefully some of my upcoming posts will have a little more substance to them. Stay tuned!
Grace and Peace. λύτρον

Schoolwork + Thanksgiving Break = Not Cool

2008-11-26T23:54:00.003-06:00

So I am writing a 4-6 page paper for World Lit over Thanksgiving Break and it has given me plenty to stress about to say the least. I've had to scrap an earlier attempt and then restart my paper tonight and I was not a happy camper to say the least. Anyway, I can't wait for some turkey later today.
Grace and Peace. λύτρον

Thanksgiving Eve Thoughts

2008-11-26T00:46:00.005-06:00

It's been a while since I've updated my blog. I apologize. Stuff's been kind of crazy. I love Thanksgiving. It really bothers me when people forget about it and move onto Christmas. It makes since, though, if you think about it. People aren't concerned with looking at all they have and giving thanks to the Provider for the graces He has showed them. People just want to get more crap. That's upsetting to me. I refuse to be a mindless consumer. I want to truly appreciate what I have and the basis for that is me realizing that I deserve nothing but eternity in Hell. Thanks be to God, though, that I've been given the gift of salvation and have an ongoing relationship with Him. Not only that, but He's blessed me with a great family, amazing friends, food, shelter, a brain, and an extensive list of other things that I don't have room to write out. My point is, I hope that you appreciate what He's blessed you with. I hope you will live a life that is an expression of continual gratitude to the Giver of all things good.
Grace and Peace. λύτρον

My Philippians 4:8 Girl

2008-11-17T20:55:00.008-06:00

I miss this girl. I can't even guess how many of my thoughts go to this girl. She's an amazing and beautiful woman of God. She is the most giving person I have ever met. She will do everything in her power to help anyone she can. She truly pours her life out as an offering to her Lord. I am so thankful for her and the relationship that we have. I'm not quite sure why she's still with me, but I'm not complaining. :-) Anyway, I really appreciate her for all that she does for me and the ways that she blesses me. In the way she lives, she models many things I need more of in my life. She is quick to show compassion for and have mercy on those I am quick to dismiss. She is quick to bless when I am quick to curse. She is quick to compliment and see the good when I am quick to condemn and see the bad. She just gives grace in everything she does and I really admire her for that. I pray I can continue to grow into the man I am called to be. I really want to bless her. A piece of advice for guys: Get yourself a Godly girl. They're amazing, worth every second of waiting, and they truly are a gift from God. I promise.
Grace and Peace. λύτρον

To Write Love On Her Arms

2008-11-13T01:32:00.006-06:00

Today is the second annual 'To Write Love On Her Arms Day'. To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA) is a non-profit organization that advocates for those struggling with addiction, depression, self-mutilation, and attempted suicide. The whole idea behind the movement is to support those struggling with these issues by showing love and support for them. This is a great cause and there are a lot of people involved. While I do support it, I want to clarify and make sure that it is clear that the only true 'rescue' and 'remedy' for the hopeless comes not in the form of human-to-human care and concern, but in the form of love in which Jesus Christ demonstrated on the cross where he purchased many sinners. This love is referred to as Agape (pictured above in Greek). This is the only kind of love that offers true hope for the hurting, victory for the defeated, and life for the dead. Thanks be to God for His incredible love. Oh, how He loves us so!
Grace and Peace. λύτρον

Coffee, Quiet, and Crisp Evenings

2008-11-12T23:15:00.009-06:00

There are few things that I enjoy more than sitting down in a silent apartment with my laptop and a hot cup of coffee. I feel so at peace in these moments. When I get down time, I love to sit back and enjoy the sounds of silence. I love to hear the distant, soft rumble of the refrigerator and the wind rustling the leaves outside my window. I love to grab a book and run from reality for a while. It's such a great way to escape the momentary troubles of this world. There's also just something about reading a book that makes me feel more productive than watching an hour of television. I think maybe it's because it forces me to think for myself instead of mindlessly soaking in images and monotonous narration. Enough blogging. Time for more reading!
Grace and Peace. λύτρον

An Unexpected Reflection

2008-11-12T11:58:00.005-06:00

Last night, I was skimming the channels and I stumbled upon a talk show where a young girl was telling the host that she was going to sell her virginity to the highest bidder. When I heard this, I was immediately outraged. I thought to myself, "How can this beautiful girl, created in the image of a holy God, find herself so cheap that she is willing to sell something as valuable as her purity?" This righteous anger and hatred toward this sin continued to build up within me and my heart broke for this young girl. As I prayed for this girl, my thoughts shifted to myself. The more I thought about the situation, the more I saw myself as this girl. How often is it that I don't recognize my true identity - a Child of God? How often do I 'sell myself' to the Enemy in exchange for the promise of temporal pleasures instead of pursuing my purity as invaluable? It makes me think of the song "Wedding Dress" by Derek Webb, where he describes himself as a whore who puts on the bridal gown and flees from her Perfect Groom, Jesus. It is my earnest desire to learn to hate my sin as much as the Lord does. The more I hate my sin, the more I pursue holiness. The more I pursue holiness, the further I get from my flesh. The further I get from my flesh, the closer I get to Jesus. The closer I get to Jesus, the more I treasure Him. The more I treasure Him, the more my life displays Him. The more my life displays Him, the greater impact my life has for Him. The greater impact my life has for Him, the greater my heavenly reward. The greater my heavenly reward, the more crowns I get to lay down at His feet in total worship. Oh, what joy lies ahead!
Grace and Peace. λύτρον

How I Long To See Nature Redeemed!

2008-11-12T01:07:00.006-06:00

Having spent last night at one of the most naturally beautiful places I have ever been, I am finding it hard to comprehend what the future holds for creation. Scripture says that the true beauty of all creation was tainted and distorted in the fall. This is a hard thing for me to grasp because I find nature so incredibly beautiful as it is - in it's fallen state. If I think that nature is this beautiful and incredible in it's fallen state, I can't begin to fathom how awestruck and delighted I will be when I first glimpse at the indescribable beauty of the New Earth and all of nature in it's redeemed state. It is one of my heart's greatest longings and I look forward to the day I will take in it's beauty and turn to it's Creator in praise and adoration.
Grace and Peace. λύτρον

Uggs Disease

2008-11-09T23:52:00.006-06:00

There is a serious epidemic that is sweeping the campus of Auburn University at the moment. It's incredibly disturbing to see the effect it has been having on the students, especially the women. Bad fashion is becoming an issue with many young ladies around the campus. This has made itself especially apparent in the sudden resurgence of Ugg boots. They are incredibly ugly. I realize that this steps on the toes of many women out there, but I just feel like something needs to be said. Seriously, can anyone look at the boot pictured and say in all honesty that they think it looks attractive and fashionable? The answer should be no! If not, you may have a poor fashion sense... Just something to consider.

The Evangelical Response To The Election

2008-11-05T21:30:00.004-06:00

I think that it is incredibly important for evangelical Christians to respond appropriately to the election results. I read a blog post today that pretty much summed up my views on the election results. Al Mohler, the President of Southern Seminary, brilliantly and articulately described his excitement for the racial progress implied by the results yesterday while he noted his disappointment concerning the seemingly imminent areas of moral decay (abortion, gay marriage, etc.). I've posted a link to his blog post here. I pray that you will seriously consider your attitude concerning the election and see if it aligns with the way Scripture would demand for it to be.
Grace and Peace. λύτρον

My Portion

2008-11-05T02:16:00.005-06:00

'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul,
'Therefore, I will hope in him.'
Lamentations 3 : 24

He is all I need. He is all I want. I can place all of my faith in Him and not worry about a thing on this earth. He works all things to my good, because I love Him. Sometimes I don't understand how things are for my good, but I trust Him because He's always been faithful.
Grace and Peace. λύτρον

Politics, Politics, Politics...

2008-11-04T19:21:00.005-06:00

God is in control. Period. Regardless of who wins this election, my King is still seated on His throne and has absolute power now and for all eternity. God is good. All the time. Yesterday, today, tomorrow, and forever. I am a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven far before I am a citizen of the US. I hope the same goes for you.
Grace and Peace. λύτρον

Random Thoughts From Yesterday

2008-11-04T01:39:00.010-06:00

10 hours of uninterrupted sleep does wonders for the mind and body that has been deprived of sleep for the last week.
God sustains my life with every breath He gives to me and in the fact that he allows my body to function as He designed it to.
There is a reason / purpose He is sustaining me...to bring Him glory.
I really need to buckle down concerning my World Lit class. It's starting to get tough.
I'm really going to miss Encounter. It has been such a huge blessing to my life.
God has INCREDIBLE plans for Grace Campus Ministries in Hong Kong. (More on this to come.)
I have so much respect for Matt Dean and GCM because they are living what they preach. (a rarity these days, unfortunately)
It has been an honor and truly a blessing to work with the people at GCM and all of the volunteers that help make Encounter happen.
I'm glad to be blogging again.
I'm looking forward to the HSBC Guy's retreat. I'm expecting big things. Please be in prayer for it.
God is good. Always. No exceptions.
God is sovereign. I can honestly say that I am not scared about what the day holds (Election Day) because I know that I can rest in the fact that it is the Lord who chooses those who lead politically. No matter how good or evil they may be, they can never do anything that Has not been ordained by the Almighty God. No worries. :-)
I'm excited about my Community Group tomorrow night. It has been amazing thus far. I love these guys. So refreshing to speak with guys consistently who actually give a crap about their faith and are actively seeking the Lord.
Refreshing and humbling to know that some frat guys are capable of pursuing Jesus. (I admit, I was wrong about this.) :-)
I need to clean my room and do laundry. If only you could see...

Grace and Peace. λύτρον

Taylor Borders

Happy Birthday Mom!

Thought For The Day

Guidelines To Reading Broadly

Random Thoughts

Weekend Recap

New Structure

What Is Love?

More Funny Videos...

Something To Make You Giggle...

HSBC D'Now 2009: A Call To Grace

Congratulations Elliott and Meredith!

Obama Ticked Me Off Last Night

Business Strategies In The Church (Part I)

In Memory Of Billy Powell

Reflections From 'Crazy Love'

Thought For The Day

MLK Weekend Photo Recap

Country Music

History Is Happening

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

World Hunger: What's That?

I'm Still Alive

A Year In God's Word

W: The President and Unsung Hero

School's In Session

(Sermon Reflection) Peter: The Apostle Of Hope

Twenty

A New Year

New Year's Prayer

Al Mohler's Suggestions For Reading

How Should I Feel About This?

Christmas Thoughts

Spurgeon: Humorous Story

Montgomery Christmas

It's Good To Be Home

I'll Be Home For Christmas...Call Me

End Of The Semester

Worst Day Of The Semester (And It's Only 8am!)

Final Encounter

Exponential Times

The Dangers Of Technology Concerning Our Souls

Breathing Once Again

Schoolwork + Thanksgiving Break = Not Cool

Thanksgiving Eve Thoughts

My Philippians 4:8 Girl

To Write Love On Her Arms

Coffee, Quiet, and Crisp Evenings

An Unexpected Reflection

How I Long To See Nature Redeemed!

Uggs Disease

The Evangelical Response To The Election

My Portion

Politics, Politics, Politics...

Random Thoughts From Yesterday