“Either the Bible is just an ordinary book, written by mortals, or it isn’t. Either Christ was divine, or he was not. If the Bible is an ordinary book, and Christ an ordinary man, the basic doctrine of Christianity is false. If the Bible is an ordinary book, and Christ an ordinary man, the history of Christianity theology is the story of bookish men parsing a collective delusion. If the basic tenets of Christianity are true, then there are some very grim surprises in store for nonbelievers…like myself” quote from Letters to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris (atheist).
I escorted my friends to their babysitting interview at a family’s apartment in Chicago. The family was pretty well off. The family was pretty well off and they knew we were from Moody. They called the school moodys and asked if were going to become priest (everyone always ask that). The conversation came around me becoming a pastor and writing sermons.
Father: We go to 4th Presbyterian Church, I love the sermons there. The pastor is so relevant, he gets his information from all these articles and studies. It’s like being in class instead of church.
Me: That’s good. I think I’ll make my sermons relative and engaging (but I’ll preach the truth).
Father: Well what really interested me was when I came for a Christmas sermon.
Me: (I’m expecting a conversion story).
Father: The pastor preached about how Mary was pregnant before marriage.
Me: (ok).
Father: He said that Joseph was there to take care of her and protect her.
Me: (ok, I wonder if he knows how she got pregnant).
Father: Then he said how could we expect mothers in Cabrini Green (a big housing project) to raise children without a father.
Me: (He’s probably going to say that the church needs to be that provider and protector for them).
Father: What I got was that he was implying that there is a right time for abortion.
Me: really…(I was shocked. This rich white guy thinks he can judge what standard of living is worthy of living).
Father: Well he didn’t say that but I think he was implying it.
Me: (Um…I hope he wasn’t).
Father: oops, I probably just put my foot in my mouth.
What’s the point of being a Christian if you don’t believe the incarnation, inspiration, or Trinity. Why try to live by the Bible if it’s not real? There is no in between, liberal christianity, is pointless. I’d rather be a blatant sinner and enjoy it than try to be go to some church that preaches from the latest news articles.
1 Corinthians 15. What’s the point of being a Christian? Jesus Christ is coming back and he’s going to set things right.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wreslemania
God’s been breaking my heart down. In chapel Mark Job’s sermon on Jacob was so true for me. I was the schemer and planner. I was trying to control my own destiny over and over again. Through my own means, I had been relying on the gifts and strengths given to me by God instead of relying on God. Jacob wrestled God, or preincarnate Jesus, all night and wouldn’t let him go.
That was the challenge for me because all summer God has been telling me “Sam, I am enough for you.” And I would always say, “OK, I get it, lesson learned, now let’s move on.” Slowly I’ve been getting it. “Ok, God I’ve forgotten what you saved me from, I’m sorry.” Then school started and it really hit me. I have been trying to get the things I want and perhaps that God has planned for me by my own strength and talents. I rely on how good I am and try to get things through my own scheming plans, just like Jacob.
Jacob wrestled Jesus and wouldn’t let go even when he was in pain. This was the turning point, his name was changed to Israel and he never tried to scheme on his own anymore. He wanted Jesus more than anything in his life, he was willing to go through the pain instead of scheming and taking his own plan.
In chapel God said “I am enough.” I’m scared but I’m letting go of my own plans and self reliance. I don’t know God’s immediate plans for my life and that ‘s scary. I honestly don’t want to wait for God to direct me into a relationship, or school. I’d rather have my pick. I’d rather rely on my intelligence, looks, gifts, to be successful. It means I have to give up my dreams, it means I have to wait for God to give me something rather than rush to get something I want. I’m giving up and I’m going to cling to Jesus no matter what. It’s scary because it looks like so many opportunities are passing me by. I’ve got to believe though, I’ve got to really believe that God knows what’s best.
That was the challenge for me because all summer God has been telling me “Sam, I am enough for you.” And I would always say, “OK, I get it, lesson learned, now let’s move on.” Slowly I’ve been getting it. “Ok, God I’ve forgotten what you saved me from, I’m sorry.” Then school started and it really hit me. I have been trying to get the things I want and perhaps that God has planned for me by my own strength and talents. I rely on how good I am and try to get things through my own scheming plans, just like Jacob.
Jacob wrestled Jesus and wouldn’t let go even when he was in pain. This was the turning point, his name was changed to Israel and he never tried to scheme on his own anymore. He wanted Jesus more than anything in his life, he was willing to go through the pain instead of scheming and taking his own plan.
In chapel God said “I am enough.” I’m scared but I’m letting go of my own plans and self reliance. I don’t know God’s immediate plans for my life and that ‘s scary. I honestly don’t want to wait for God to direct me into a relationship, or school. I’d rather have my pick. I’d rather rely on my intelligence, looks, gifts, to be successful. It means I have to give up my dreams, it means I have to wait for God to give me something rather than rush to get something I want. I’m giving up and I’m going to cling to Jesus no matter what. It’s scary because it looks like so many opportunities are passing me by. I’ve got to believe though, I’ve got to really believe that God knows what’s best.
Monday, September 7, 2009
It was just a starfish
Sam and Joe had just come back from spring break and were about to watch a movie but needed to stop by Joe’s room first. As they were talking about how great their two weeks of spring break was Sam caught a glimpse of something. He paused in mid sentence and was silent for just a second. Joe turned to see why Sam was suddenly quiet.
“Did you just get this starfish?” asked Sam, completely ignoring the past subject
“Yeah I got it this semester, my roommate made it himself, he found it…” Joe continued the story of the starfish while Sam’s mind was somewhere else.
“Why did you ask?”
“You know how stuff can bring up memories?”
“Yeah, so what about the starfish?”
“Well it just brought up a memory of a conversation I had with someone.” There was some longing in Sam’s eyes. Joe could tell this memory had to do with someone.
After a few more seconds of silence from Joe, Sam continued with his story.
“It’s just that Laura and I had randomly talked about starfish one night, this starfish just reminded me of her.” Sam smiled a little bit and shook his head. He continued,
“I never had this happen to me before, it’s the strangest thing that a starfish could bring back so many memories.”
Joe knew what he meant by memories. Sam had been pursuing Laura but for some reason he ended it during spring break.
“Are you sure about this whole Laura thing?”
“Yeah, I know it’s what God wants and it’s what I want too, it’s just that, that starfish brought back memories.”
“I know what you mean, when I broke up with my girlfriend I had to throw out everything that reminded me of her.”
“Oh, so that’s why people do that.”
“It really sucked because there were some good songs I liked but I can’t listen to now.”
Sam was still holding the starfish in his hands. He put it down and breathed out a sigh of emotions.
“Dang, that’s hard, I would hate for that to happen to me, I’m glad it was just a starfish.”
It’s strange how a simple starfish can bring back so many memories to haunt you. It’s been four months since then and I can look at starfish normally again. The hardest thing is I still see Laura around campus. It’s sad how sometimes I wish I could have my way, my selfish way would have been against God’s way. For some good reason I know that God doesn’t want Laura and I to be together. I just have to trust Him. It’s especially hard since I’m single right now too. Sacrifice isn’t about giving something up when it’s convenient or easy, real sacrifice is just that, it’s sacrifice. God has taught me a lot in submitting every aspect of my life to him. I’m really brought back to the Lord’s prayer “Your [Heavenly Father] will be done on earth as it is in heaven…” (Matthew 6:10)
“Did you just get this starfish?” asked Sam, completely ignoring the past subject
“Yeah I got it this semester, my roommate made it himself, he found it…” Joe continued the story of the starfish while Sam’s mind was somewhere else.
“Why did you ask?”
“You know how stuff can bring up memories?”
“Yeah, so what about the starfish?”
“Well it just brought up a memory of a conversation I had with someone.” There was some longing in Sam’s eyes. Joe could tell this memory had to do with someone.
After a few more seconds of silence from Joe, Sam continued with his story.
“It’s just that Laura and I had randomly talked about starfish one night, this starfish just reminded me of her.” Sam smiled a little bit and shook his head. He continued,
“I never had this happen to me before, it’s the strangest thing that a starfish could bring back so many memories.”
Joe knew what he meant by memories. Sam had been pursuing Laura but for some reason he ended it during spring break.
“Are you sure about this whole Laura thing?”
“Yeah, I know it’s what God wants and it’s what I want too, it’s just that, that starfish brought back memories.”
“I know what you mean, when I broke up with my girlfriend I had to throw out everything that reminded me of her.”
“Oh, so that’s why people do that.”
“It really sucked because there were some good songs I liked but I can’t listen to now.”
Sam was still holding the starfish in his hands. He put it down and breathed out a sigh of emotions.
“Dang, that’s hard, I would hate for that to happen to me, I’m glad it was just a starfish.”
It’s strange how a simple starfish can bring back so many memories to haunt you. It’s been four months since then and I can look at starfish normally again. The hardest thing is I still see Laura around campus. It’s sad how sometimes I wish I could have my way, my selfish way would have been against God’s way. For some good reason I know that God doesn’t want Laura and I to be together. I just have to trust Him. It’s especially hard since I’m single right now too. Sacrifice isn’t about giving something up when it’s convenient or easy, real sacrifice is just that, it’s sacrifice. God has taught me a lot in submitting every aspect of my life to him. I’m really brought back to the Lord’s prayer “Your [Heavenly Father] will be done on earth as it is in heaven…” (Matthew 6:10)
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