St. Patrick's Breastplate pt. I

Yes, St. Patrick's day was almost two weeks ago, but due to a mission trip, and finding this information the day before we left is my reason for the belatedness of this post! I encountered part of this following hymn in an elementary music class I recently subbed in (the part in Green is the part that I used in teaching). When I began to research some facts about "St. Patrick's Breastplate," I was very excited to learn that it did have Christian roots. This was awesome because it gave me a chance to carefully share God with my students. This hymn, is credited to St. Patrick in the 5th century, but may have actually been written a few centuries later. 

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through the belief in the threeness,

Through confession of the oneness

Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today

Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism,

Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,

Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,

Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.

I arise today

Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,

In obedience of angels,

In the service of archangels,

In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,

In prayers of patriarchs,

In predictions of prophets,

In preaching of apostles,

In faith of confessors,

In innocence of holy virgins,

In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today

Through the strength of heaven:

Light of sun,

Radiance of moon,

Splendor of fire,

Speed of lightning,

Swiftness of wind,

Depth of sea,

Stability of earth,

Firmness of rock.

I arise today

Through God's strength to pilot me:

God's might to uphold me,

God's wisdom to guide me,

God's eye to look before me,

God's ear to hear me,

God's word to speak for me,

God's hand to guard me,

God's way to lie before me,

God's shield to protect me,

God's host to save me

From snares of devils,

From temptations of vices,

From everyone who shall wish me ill,

Afar and anear,

Alone and in multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,

Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,

Against incantations of false prophets,

Against black laws of pagandom

Against false laws of heretics,

Against craft of idolatry,

Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,

Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.

Christ to shield me today

Against poison, against burning,

Against drowning, against wounding,

So that there may come to me abundance of reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,

Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ on my right, Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,

Christ in every eye that sees me,

Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through belief in the threeness,

Through confession of the oneness,

Of the Creator of Creation.

Sanctus Real - Lead Me

A great song, we great lyrics, that goes with the most recent post.

Truly grown up

So here's what has been on and breaking  my heart recently.  Credit is due to my pastor for leading us through a series on elders and structuring the church in a Godly manner. He is following the Lord, and through him, the Lord has challenged me with this: 


In 1 Timothy 3, Paul lays out the qualifications for any man who aspires to be an overseer, an elder, in the church. Now, amongst this convicting list are the two verses I want to point out:


"Therefore an overseer [a man] must be ... the husband of one wife...He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive." - 1 Timothy 3: 2 & 4. (ESV)


When I was younger I was very hard on myself because I always compared myself to any man I came into contact with. Whether it was a friend, a parent, a stranger, or an actor, I compiled a list in my mind of "reasons why I am not a man, and never will be." I was cruel to myself. The list should have read, "Joel's idiotic list of worldly ideas he thinks are important. 


The list included (and how I didn't felt I didn't fit in):

• being tall (I'm short)
• being "buff" (not so much)
• being a football, basketball, or baseball player (I took dance lessons, no sports other than track)
• having extensive sports knowledge (I knew nothing)
• being "tough" (I consider myself sensitive to emotions and feelings)
• playing a manly instrument like the drums, or trumpet, or trombone (I play clarinet)

It could go on and on. I know now that I was completely foolish, and that I was not alone in my thinking. I feel that the world paints an image of what a man "should" be. You can see it based on the way men are portrayed in movies, TV shows, commercials. You can catch glimpses of it based on who are our celebrity idols. However, Paul challenges the false belief that the world presents. 

Questions to ponder as I have also been challenged by them:

1. When are we, as men, going to grow up?
2. When will we value our wives and our children more than money, sports, cars, and other meaningless items?
3. When will being a loving and tender husband be the "cool" thing. 
4. When will we place our children's lives in front of our own? (It makes a HUGE difference when a father invests time to love his sons and daughters)
5. When will you see men actually staying with their wives?
6. When will kids be able to remember their father being involved in their lives?
7. When will men sacrifice their own lives for the love of their children and wives just like Jesus sacrificed his life out of love for us. ( For us, maybe not necessarily through death, but through placing their needs before our own.)
8. When will admitting weakness be a strength instead of a hindrance as men hide behind life destroyers like alcoholism ?

It is time we grow up. That's what the Lord calls us to do. 

Plugged In

So I came across this website just the other day (the link is at the bottom). I know it is probably a pretty popular website because a few people that I talked to said that they knew of it. If you have listened to Klove before, you'll know their little segments they call "focus on the family." From that, stems "Plugged In," which has the slogan "shining a light on the world of popular music." It offers a christian perspective to what we are surrounded by every single day whether we are listening to the radio, watching TV, or heading to the theaters. 


It's something that I always struggle with, because I see movies and TV shows that look interesting and I being to wonder whether I should watch it or not. A few friend's and I were recently discussing Johnny Depp's new movie "Rango" and how it does have some adult themes and humor in it. The website does not give it a good recommendation, especially if one is to look at the film from the "kid friendly" perspective. 


I will say, amongst the critics elaborate writing style, I enjoy how they break up movie reviews into a few categories including, positive elements, sexual content, language, and spiritual content. I was reading a review for the newest Disney movie "Tangled," and they go as far as to include instances of calling someone a "dummy" and a scene where a man is wearing only a diaper portraying Cupid. As far as spiritual content goes, they do not just focus just on Godly content, but any use of magic, or dealings with spirits etc. I really enjoy how after the main review, the first thing you read is about the positive elements in the movie. That's just my own personal preference, because I enjoy focusing on the positive first. 


Now, there is not necessarily always a focus on God with the reviews. However, there is a review of Lady Gaga's newest song, and the critic explains how Gaga stretches a part of scripture to present a "feel good message." He rebukes that song and proves just how people are distorting God's truth. 


I think you should take a look at the website. I have only begun my wanderings on the website, but I mostly enjoy what I have been reading. I am not always sure how to take some of the conclusions, and still left thinking, so... should I? 

http://www.pluggedin.com/

Weakness

Preface: God is good. All the time!


"But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."" 
                                                                                                        -- 1 Corinthians 1: 27-31 (ESV)


So in recent adventures in subbing, I have landed a job as a 2nd grade teacher for at least two weeks (all thanks to God). The teacher is having medical complications (so I ask that you pray for her) and so the principal asked if I could sub in her room. Well, normally if I feel that I should not take a job, instant feelings to say no run through me. If I feel the need to say yes, then I say so and feel content. Before I even knew what was happening, I found myself saying yes and being asked to report to the classroom on Monday. 


I praise God because He has really brought 1 Corinthians 1: 27-31 to life in the past two days. I think there is a misconception that God will only choose the strongest and most courageous people. However, I think we feel that way because we see these people after God has worked on their hearts, crafted them, and brought them out of their weakness into strength. He has cloaked those who have accepted Christ with His strength. He does this so that if we are to boast, we can only "Boast in the Lord."


I am not a general education teacher. I do not know how to plan for them outside of following the book and to be honest that is all the teacher left me with. Granted, she is ill. This is my weakness, yet, the Lord has fully taken control. He is giving me a chance to share some of Christ's love with them. He is leading the class, only He could, because I am nothing.