How is it that the power of suggestion is enough to draw out every single instance of injustice one has committed? Church last night was great. Dr. Brassell, my pastor, has been going through Exodus on Sunday night for last ten weeks. The last eight weeks, he has stopped on the Ten Commandments. Last night, he preached on the ninth commandment, which as most of your know as "Thou shalt not bear false testimony." Simply translated, it is "You will not lie."
Okay, basic in principle, right? Right. What about the long term ramifications? Lying always starts small. It always begins with one small cave in under pressure. Lying is also a part of human nature. It is our instinct to not tell the truth. For the first understanding of lying, one must first understand that as a Christian, redeemed only by the grace of God, we are as Paul says, "dead to sin." Being dead to sin...complicated and yet simplistic. Dead to sin does not mean that temptation does not arise. Dead to sin does not mean that our flesh still does not yearn. Dead to sin means we merely have a choice: obey God or obey the calling of Satan and the world.
Now a lying tongue starts small and grows to be an out of control problem. It starts out by affecting one person, and then it begins to affect more people, which in turn begins to affect relations are work, followed by the work ethic, and finally it explodes...not with other people, but in the face of person who originally told the lie. Remember that God hates lying...it is an abomination to him.
I have to tell you that as I sat listening to it all from Dr. Brassell, I was immediately convicted. Disclaimer: This does not mean that my life is lies. This conviction was one of dwelling on past mistakes. Some of the things I've gone through, that I've been confronted with, has been a purging of things of my past. I can't remember a specific example, but the longer I've lived for Christ, the more my past come to bite me in the butt, but I've made it through each time. God has brought me through the fire and I'm made pure by the fire of hardship and conviction, because Lord knows I do not deserve it.
Always remember that the truth and honesty will always set free that which is hidden.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Fear
Yesterday, there was a gun incident at Crichton College; think of it as the Crichton Siege Part II. That doesn't matter. What does matter is that on the drive in from my house today to school, my thoughts began drifting to other incidents at other colleges. Virginia Tech, Columbine, even Jonesboro all came to mind.
What must be understood is that I am not fearful of death. As far as what is in store for me after death, I know exactly where I will be and there is no taint of fear in that knowledge. Instead, as my thoughts sorted through what I was thinking, I began to realize that, yes, on a surface level, I am fearful of death, but not of death itself. I am fearful of what I would leave behind. I'd leave behind my family, my friends, and one of the best things to ever happen to me: Rachel. I am fearful that because of the actions of another individual that is out of his/her mind (or they're stupid) that those around me would suffer in a way that I couldn't bear to live with.
And yes, as I was driving, the "hero complex" entered my mind: the situation where I would rush in and stop the gunmen, taking as many bullets as he fired and still not stopping. I thought that perhaps yes, I would be wounded, but that nothing would stop me from reaching him so that he wouldn't hurt anybody else. This thought finally led me realize "What if I couldn't stop him? What if he did bring me down? What if he put a gun to my head and asked, 'Do you believe in God?'" Since Cassie Bernall at Columbine, people have wrestled with the thought of what they would do if they were faced with the same decision Cassie was. Deny Christ and live; Accept Christ and die. I know that many Christians have been humble and copped out of answering what they would do by stating, "Well, I don't know what I'd do in that situation." I tell you now that there is nothing on this earth that scares me more than denying my God and my Savior, Jesus. As I came to this understanding, I knew what I would do. I have always told my friends and my family that if I had to choose the way I could die, it would be a martyr's death. It is the only way in which I think I could be truly grateful for Jesus in Him dying a martyr's death for me. I would never deny my Savior and God. It would be hard to leave those I love and those I care about, but this loss is nothing in comparison to the loss in denying my Savior.
As a final disclaimer for this post, I hope that I have made you think. That was the intended purpose. It is not to cause fear for me. My life is in God's hands and He alone will judge when it is my time to die. I can in no way influence the decision He has already made about the time and place of my death. Instead, I will further live my life for Him in the knowledge that I am not guaranteed my next breath, but as long as I breathe, my life is nothing but a compass pointing back to God.
What must be understood is that I am not fearful of death. As far as what is in store for me after death, I know exactly where I will be and there is no taint of fear in that knowledge. Instead, as my thoughts sorted through what I was thinking, I began to realize that, yes, on a surface level, I am fearful of death, but not of death itself. I am fearful of what I would leave behind. I'd leave behind my family, my friends, and one of the best things to ever happen to me: Rachel. I am fearful that because of the actions of another individual that is out of his/her mind (or they're stupid) that those around me would suffer in a way that I couldn't bear to live with.
And yes, as I was driving, the "hero complex" entered my mind: the situation where I would rush in and stop the gunmen, taking as many bullets as he fired and still not stopping. I thought that perhaps yes, I would be wounded, but that nothing would stop me from reaching him so that he wouldn't hurt anybody else. This thought finally led me realize "What if I couldn't stop him? What if he did bring me down? What if he put a gun to my head and asked, 'Do you believe in God?'" Since Cassie Bernall at Columbine, people have wrestled with the thought of what they would do if they were faced with the same decision Cassie was. Deny Christ and live; Accept Christ and die. I know that many Christians have been humble and copped out of answering what they would do by stating, "Well, I don't know what I'd do in that situation." I tell you now that there is nothing on this earth that scares me more than denying my God and my Savior, Jesus. As I came to this understanding, I knew what I would do. I have always told my friends and my family that if I had to choose the way I could die, it would be a martyr's death. It is the only way in which I think I could be truly grateful for Jesus in Him dying a martyr's death for me. I would never deny my Savior and God. It would be hard to leave those I love and those I care about, but this loss is nothing in comparison to the loss in denying my Savior.
As a final disclaimer for this post, I hope that I have made you think. That was the intended purpose. It is not to cause fear for me. My life is in God's hands and He alone will judge when it is my time to die. I can in no way influence the decision He has already made about the time and place of my death. Instead, I will further live my life for Him in the knowledge that I am not guaranteed my next breath, but as long as I breathe, my life is nothing but a compass pointing back to God.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
The First Hour
Today was the first chapel in the 2007-2008 Crichton school year. I have to say that today was great start to the chapel year. The challenge now will be to build on top of this foundation.
To start, I have to give first props to Michael Crosse for successfully engaging the students before entering chapel. To have the "goody bags" was a great tool and an excellent way to entice the students to come to chapel. I also have to say the New Testament in the bag was a nice touch.
In coming into chapel, the introductory music on the speakers was tasteful, modern, and not cranked up, thus encouraging conversation between students. This sort of conversation helps to lift the atmosphere and to lead the students into engaging both the speaker and the worship music leader.
In not having worship music today, A.T. led straight into the message. In being honest, I have to personally say that I was apprehensive about what A.T. would say in the message. Now, in being objective, I have to say that overall, A.T. did a great job for the first chapel. The opening illustration was great because I could see where he was going to with it. The second illustration immediately following, though humorous, was not quite as easy to follow and to piece together in the larger picture of the message. But, this is just a small, minute detail. A.T.'s main focus in chapel today was in demonstrating the "irrational" love of Christ. To an extent, I see exactly where he was going and I understand 100% of what he was saying. To term God's love as irrational was fine because he said that, "in the world's eyes, the love that Christ (and Christians) demonstrated/ are called to demonstrate is irrational." (paraphrased.) I understand what he was saying, but I would like to take it a step further. The paradox of the love that the Triune God calls Christians to is that it is perfectly rational. It is literally "not a problem" for Christians to give and to love like Christ loved His church. All that being said, I know, or at least hope, A.T. knows this but I understand that A.T. was speaking directly to the school as a whole and therefore I have no problem either understanding or accepting that terminology in the message today.
As I said, today's chapel was fantastic because I believe that it laid a great foundation on which A.T., and in bringing in more mature guest speakers/theologians, that the school could actually begin to grow spiritually as a school albeit it may be at a slower pace than is desirable. I am optimistic of the future chapels and look forward to next week.
My challenge to the chapel staff: keep building on what you started this week. Keep digging deeper into Christian truths like love and discipleship. From there, dig into other denominations and even other world views. If the same foundation that was laid today is used as the foundation for a "chapel house," then this actually opens very large doors into other possibilities for instruction within chapel such as Christian bio-ethics and hermeneutics. Keep going, keep building, and do not treat the assembly as "dumb." Challenge them to grow and learn by continuing to raise the bar of what is taught inside of chapel. Move beyond emotion and into thinking critically so we can all grow spiritually to change the world around us. Great job, chapel staff. Godspeed.
To start, I have to give first props to Michael Crosse for successfully engaging the students before entering chapel. To have the "goody bags" was a great tool and an excellent way to entice the students to come to chapel. I also have to say the New Testament in the bag was a nice touch.
In coming into chapel, the introductory music on the speakers was tasteful, modern, and not cranked up, thus encouraging conversation between students. This sort of conversation helps to lift the atmosphere and to lead the students into engaging both the speaker and the worship music leader.
In not having worship music today, A.T. led straight into the message. In being honest, I have to personally say that I was apprehensive about what A.T. would say in the message. Now, in being objective, I have to say that overall, A.T. did a great job for the first chapel. The opening illustration was great because I could see where he was going to with it. The second illustration immediately following, though humorous, was not quite as easy to follow and to piece together in the larger picture of the message. But, this is just a small, minute detail. A.T.'s main focus in chapel today was in demonstrating the "irrational" love of Christ. To an extent, I see exactly where he was going and I understand 100% of what he was saying. To term God's love as irrational was fine because he said that, "in the world's eyes, the love that Christ (and Christians) demonstrated/ are called to demonstrate is irrational." (paraphrased.) I understand what he was saying, but I would like to take it a step further. The paradox of the love that the Triune God calls Christians to is that it is perfectly rational. It is literally "not a problem" for Christians to give and to love like Christ loved His church. All that being said, I know, or at least hope, A.T. knows this but I understand that A.T. was speaking directly to the school as a whole and therefore I have no problem either understanding or accepting that terminology in the message today.
As I said, today's chapel was fantastic because I believe that it laid a great foundation on which A.T., and in bringing in more mature guest speakers/theologians, that the school could actually begin to grow spiritually as a school albeit it may be at a slower pace than is desirable. I am optimistic of the future chapels and look forward to next week.
My challenge to the chapel staff: keep building on what you started this week. Keep digging deeper into Christian truths like love and discipleship. From there, dig into other denominations and even other world views. If the same foundation that was laid today is used as the foundation for a "chapel house," then this actually opens very large doors into other possibilities for instruction within chapel such as Christian bio-ethics and hermeneutics. Keep going, keep building, and do not treat the assembly as "dumb." Challenge them to grow and learn by continuing to raise the bar of what is taught inside of chapel. Move beyond emotion and into thinking critically so we can all grow spiritually to change the world around us. Great job, chapel staff. Godspeed.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Change
Exciting things are happening. Please stay with me as this site is "overhauled" (perhaps in context and subject matter only) and please bear with me during this time of reconstruction in preparation for this site become one of two main websites for The Counter-Hour Movement.
In a brief synopsis, this site, along with its sister site Vowell Movements, will be hosting constructive commentary and critique for the 2007-2008 Chapel time on Wednesday mornings. It will also be hosting updates on movements within the Administration and Faculty of Crichton College as to whether our constructive criticisms of Chapel will help bring out better speakers (that use the name Jesus) in the hopes of creating a solid base in the student population to launch the school, or rather lead the school, back to its roots as a CHRISTIAN college for higher education that has a standard of EXCELLENCE, not ATHLETICS as its main avenue of recruitment.
Please be in prayer for all involved in this Movement (they-who-shall-not-be-named) as we endeavor to present TRUTH in a loving manner that helps hold the Faculty and Administration accountable for the way Chapel is presented to the students and by whom Chapel is presented by (i.e. speakers and worship leaders.) Thank you all.
In Christ,
POWR
In a brief synopsis, this site, along with its sister site Vowell Movements, will be hosting constructive commentary and critique for the 2007-2008 Chapel time on Wednesday mornings. It will also be hosting updates on movements within the Administration and Faculty of Crichton College as to whether our constructive criticisms of Chapel will help bring out better speakers (that use the name Jesus) in the hopes of creating a solid base in the student population to launch the school, or rather lead the school, back to its roots as a CHRISTIAN college for higher education that has a standard of EXCELLENCE, not ATHLETICS as its main avenue of recruitment.
Please be in prayer for all involved in this Movement (they-who-shall-not-be-named) as we endeavor to present TRUTH in a loving manner that helps hold the Faculty and Administration accountable for the way Chapel is presented to the students and by whom Chapel is presented by (i.e. speakers and worship leaders.) Thank you all.
In Christ,
POWR
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Complete Security with Complete Surrender
OK, imagine this. You and your girlfriend have broken up two and half months ago. It was her senior year (you are older) and now you are remembering things that you wanted to do with her at the end of her senior year. Chief among these things are going to events such as a prom or perhaps being able to sit back and enjoy her graduation. Are these not things that significant others look forward to most? Now, you have believed with all your heart that you and her would "end up together", i.e. marriage and a life " 'til death do us part." You've broken up, remember?
Oh yeah...now what? What can you do now that the time of year for prom and graduation has rolled along and you are suddenly confronted with memories, ideas, and wishes of what could have been. Instead, all you face is the ugly mask of negativism. You think you're bad and that you've ruined somebody's year. What is one person to do? Some would say, "Go get somebody else. Show her you aren't 'down for the count'." Others would say, "Trust God. He'll get you through." What happens when God is silent about the issue for a little while? What if His voice is as soft as the wind and to hear it, one must seeking it? What does one do?
Personally, God brought me to the edge. He broke my will and my plans. He broke every single truth I had known to be true. He broke my future. This breaking, or reforming of concrete (however you wish to view it), took time...and it all had to slowly break past walls of emotional and psychological defense in order to achieve maximum potency. When it actually does/did climax, what does one do with oneself? One has to get on their knee's and submit the authority and control of your life to the only One who is capable of properly handling it.
God brings everybody to this point multiple times in a lifetime. It serves a purpose. The purpose is to bring about the realization that you need to devote every thing to God and to His perfect will. Without God's timing or God's blessing, can one truly be happy or secure? Remember, as John the Apostle said, "I must decrease, and Christ must increase." Or perhaps as Jesus said, "Those that seek to gain life shall lose it, but those who lose their life for Me shall gain life." This is a mandate from God, both through His Son and through His apostle and disciple to all the lands. We are to submit ourselves, our very lives, to Him and because of that decision, God will give us life. Life as we are meant to live it. Granted, we are sinful beings with evil natures but if we walk in truth and true security (which is complete surrender of earthly desires) then we can know peace and everlasting life.
When life turns to crap, there's a reason for it. It may not always be clearcut or easy to understand. But remember: hindsight is always 20-20. And if one is examining certain past experiences in life with God's help, hindsight is far more powerful than 20-20. Decrease yourselves to increase Christ within you and you will be rewarded with a life that is far more pure, far richer in love, and far greater in service to the Kingdom than your own fallen, evil mind can ever conceive. It is not you who lives, but Christ who lives within you.
Oh yeah...now what? What can you do now that the time of year for prom and graduation has rolled along and you are suddenly confronted with memories, ideas, and wishes of what could have been. Instead, all you face is the ugly mask of negativism. You think you're bad and that you've ruined somebody's year. What is one person to do? Some would say, "Go get somebody else. Show her you aren't 'down for the count'." Others would say, "Trust God. He'll get you through." What happens when God is silent about the issue for a little while? What if His voice is as soft as the wind and to hear it, one must seeking it? What does one do?
Personally, God brought me to the edge. He broke my will and my plans. He broke every single truth I had known to be true. He broke my future. This breaking, or reforming of concrete (however you wish to view it), took time...and it all had to slowly break past walls of emotional and psychological defense in order to achieve maximum potency. When it actually does/did climax, what does one do with oneself? One has to get on their knee's and submit the authority and control of your life to the only One who is capable of properly handling it.
God brings everybody to this point multiple times in a lifetime. It serves a purpose. The purpose is to bring about the realization that you need to devote every thing to God and to His perfect will. Without God's timing or God's blessing, can one truly be happy or secure? Remember, as John the Apostle said, "I must decrease, and Christ must increase." Or perhaps as Jesus said, "Those that seek to gain life shall lose it, but those who lose their life for Me shall gain life." This is a mandate from God, both through His Son and through His apostle and disciple to all the lands. We are to submit ourselves, our very lives, to Him and because of that decision, God will give us life. Life as we are meant to live it. Granted, we are sinful beings with evil natures but if we walk in truth and true security (which is complete surrender of earthly desires) then we can know peace and everlasting life.
When life turns to crap, there's a reason for it. It may not always be clearcut or easy to understand. But remember: hindsight is always 20-20. And if one is examining certain past experiences in life with God's help, hindsight is far more powerful than 20-20. Decrease yourselves to increase Christ within you and you will be rewarded with a life that is far more pure, far richer in love, and far greater in service to the Kingdom than your own fallen, evil mind can ever conceive. It is not you who lives, but Christ who lives within you.
Monday, April 30, 2007
College Finals
Here we are...all college students are either finishing finals or anticipating them in the coming weeks left in school. I have received my schedule for my final examinations: Three out of my five classes are at 8:00 in the morning. Upon research, I discovered that the administration decides each class time's exam. Now, I'm sure that most classes that have an 8:00 exam are more of the Gen. Ed. stuff, but my sister has a Philosophy Exam at 8:00 in the morning. I have a Greek and Life Science exam at 8:00 in the morning. What is the deal?
I guess all of my ranting is led me to a conclusion...does it really matter what time the exam is as long as I get it done and get out of school for the semester? No, it doesn't. I have to consider the fact that there are others beside me that are just as upset as I am at having to be up at school at 8:00. I guess that makes all of us college students crybabies, right? You bet your.... :)
Well, let's all pretend like we're grown up and know how to handle final examinations. Get your studying done early, don't stay out late, and go to bed early. Get up in plenty of time the following morning to properly wake yourself up, eat some protein, and listen to classical music to get your mind engaged. Let's actually, I don't know, prepare ourselves to give it our best, even at 8:00 in the morning.
I speak for everybody when I say it is a challenge to do all that I've said...but it's really not. It takes no less effort to go to bed early than it does to stay up late, go to bed late, and still get up early. Fact: (just a little secret) If you go to bed early, heaven forbid, and then get up at the same time as you normally would, you will actually be more rested and have more stamina to last throughout the day than you normally would if you had stayed up late.
Look folks, a college education impacts way more people than just you. It impacts your future life, your future spouse, and your family. It is not to be taken lightly. Work hard now, in school, so when you have an awesome wife and an amazing family, you have time to spend with them instead of spending your time delivering pizza's to make ends meet-and wishing you had only worked a little harder in school so when the job of your lifetime came along, you were ready to take it and give back to your family and to God all that they have given to you.
I guess all of my ranting is led me to a conclusion...does it really matter what time the exam is as long as I get it done and get out of school for the semester? No, it doesn't. I have to consider the fact that there are others beside me that are just as upset as I am at having to be up at school at 8:00. I guess that makes all of us college students crybabies, right? You bet your.... :)
Well, let's all pretend like we're grown up and know how to handle final examinations. Get your studying done early, don't stay out late, and go to bed early. Get up in plenty of time the following morning to properly wake yourself up, eat some protein, and listen to classical music to get your mind engaged. Let's actually, I don't know, prepare ourselves to give it our best, even at 8:00 in the morning.
I speak for everybody when I say it is a challenge to do all that I've said...but it's really not. It takes no less effort to go to bed early than it does to stay up late, go to bed late, and still get up early. Fact: (just a little secret) If you go to bed early, heaven forbid, and then get up at the same time as you normally would, you will actually be more rested and have more stamina to last throughout the day than you normally would if you had stayed up late.
Look folks, a college education impacts way more people than just you. It impacts your future life, your future spouse, and your family. It is not to be taken lightly. Work hard now, in school, so when you have an awesome wife and an amazing family, you have time to spend with them instead of spending your time delivering pizza's to make ends meet-and wishing you had only worked a little harder in school so when the job of your lifetime came along, you were ready to take it and give back to your family and to God all that they have given to you.
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