Christ Is Risen

Happy Resurrection Day! What a glorious day it is! Christ has won! We song this song at church today and I had to share it! Hear the words, and rejoice! 

"Our God is not dead he's alive, he's alive!"

Working for Christ

           A few weeks ago, I was blessed to go on a mission trip with awesome brothers and sisters in Christ. We went to Promise Village (PV) just outside of Detroit, Michigan. This home, not really a village, is a place for troubled and at risk youth to come and meet Jesus. Through equine therapy, wonderful Godly men serving as life coaches, these boys come to know Jesus and learn how His everlasting love will heal them of their affliction. We were able to have an intimate evening where the boys shared their testimonies of what the Lord has brought them from. The oldest boy there just turned 16 the Tuesday we were there and some of the issues these boys have dealt with include:


       Alcohol and drug addiction
       Anger
       Abuse
       Loss of support (both parents passing away)


As I sat and listened to their stories, I felt my heart break and naturally tears flooded my seating area, not because of sole pity for the boys, because of overwhelming love for my Savior. To see these young men stand up and boldly profess how the Lord has blessed them and brought them out of darkness just made me want to praise the Lord so much!


Coming home that Saturday and the week that proceeded, proved to be more difficult than I was anticipating. The mission trip left me unsettled, I felt a deep desire to be back at the village, helping those boys. It was more or less a "spiritual high." I realize now, that it was partly due to it being my first extended mission trip. However, it was also because I had begun to feel a calling in my life. Working as a substitute teacher, I realize how much of me gravitates towards wanting to help the boys in the school that I am at. Even before Promise Village, I found myself wanting to learn more about how to handle behaviors and just the mindset of an elementary school boy. Pair this with knowledge of tragic home lives and I have myself a dilemma:

Should I stop substitute teaching and look for an opportunity to serve at a place like Promise Village?

DING! Let the wrestling match commence. This was three weeks ago almost, and currently I am still fighting off headlocks, but I have to say I am able to discern more of the Lord's calling for me. My biggest struggle has been that I feel like I should be at a place like PV where I can verbally talk about Christ to people, specifically boys. I want to invest my life in raising up Godly men. That's why I have been struggling with leaving substitute teaching is because in public school, I cannot verbally preach Christ. However, thanks to my mentor Stephen, and the worldliness book I have come to terms with things. 


Two quotes from Worldliness, which directed my thoughts more towards God:

"Far from being a necessary evil, work -- which preceeded the fall (Gen 2:15)-- is part 

of God's good creation, a noble calling that reflects the dignity of bearing 

the image of the Creator." (pg. 157)

"So don't just "go to work" and "do your job" -- see your job as a way to imitate God, 

serve God, and love others." (pg. 158)

--Jeff Purswell "How to Love the World"

"Worldliness" edited by, C.J. Mahaney

Essentially, I thought that I could only truly be serving Christ, if I was in a place where his name was being said from my mouth. My pastor and mentor Stephen, challenged me with the thought that I am clearly serving Christ by being in the school and modeling a Godly man. Whomever I interact with may not know it now, but will come to realize that there is something that sets me apart from other teachers, and other men, and that something is Christ! I am still serving Christ by being a vessel for Him to work through in the school he has placed me in. All glory to Him! 

So, I challenge you to look at your own occupation. Are there opportunities to serve? Are you set apart in your workplace? Is God being glorified? Since everything is created by God, He can use all things, including our workplace for His glory! 

Worldliness

So, I am not much of a book reviewer. It is not something I have had a lot of experience in. With that said, I wanted to present some of my thoughts on a book a recent finished reading. It was a great book centered around, well, as the titles says, worldliness. With a subtitle of "Resisiting the Seduction of a Fallen World, I think it is safe to assume that this book speaks of the world and the materialistic values we can often become trapped under. It is edited by C.J. Mahaney, because it is actually a compilation of discussions by other authors. It is now my attempt to at least break down the book and offer any sort of a review. 

If you don't count the foreword and appendixes as sections, there are 6 chapters in this book. Each chapter is broken up into segments relating to certain practices or ideas. The chapters are (with authors):

1. "Is this verse in your Bible?: -- C.J. Mahaney

2. "God, my heart, and Media" -- Craig Cabaniss

3. "God, my heart, and Music" -- Bob Kauflin

4. "God, my heart, and Stuff" -- Dave Harvey

5. "God, my heart, and Clothes" -- C.J. Mahaney

6. "How to love the world" -- Jeff Purswell

      The first chapter in the book starts off with a shocking story about one of our nation's heroes, who made his "own Bible" by cutting out only the verses he liked. Mahaney then relates it to our own lives, and how we tend to ignore some parts of the Bible, because it does not fit us. Also, how we ignore it, because we do not want to have to give up a love for something. Clearly our only love should by in the Lord, so that's the segue way into defining worldliness and thus setting the tone of the book. Mahaney defines worldliness as "love for this fallen world... to gratify and exalt oneself to the exclusion of God" (pg 27) Where do we place our hearts? What gives us security and a sense of belonging? Hopefully it's the Lord, if not, then we are drifting towards the world. Remember 1 John 2:15, Mahaney even quotes it "Do not love the world, or anything in the world."

       From there, the book goes depth with various things that we can fall in love with, and that can seduce us and lead us away from God. I could go into detail about each chapter, but I think I am going to refrain. Generally, in each chapter, the authors go into detail about how we fall for the temptations of our clothing, or music etc. They give real life examples of fallen hearts, scripture to revoke any justification for a love of anything material, and questions for examination of one's heart. Also, there are practical applications for accountability among other things to aid us in our defense against the seductions. It it without a doubt convicting and thought provoking. 

        The final chapter begins to help us put into perspective how to love the world, without being a part of it. For me, it is seeing the world as God's creation and wanting to love everything God has created, knowing, though, that everything belongs to our creator. "...there is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is sovereign over all, does not cry: 'Mine!'" - Abraham Kuyper. This goes into further discussion with using every aspect of your life to glorify God. 

       To end, here is a quote from John Piper, in the foreword of the book: 

"In the end, the sum of all beauty is Christ, and the sin of all worldliness is to diminish our capacity to see him and be satisfied in him and show him compellingly to a perishing world"(pg 13).

St. Patrick's Breastplate pt. II

I know that this post is only going to scratch the surface of the most recent post. As I keep reading through the words, I can't help but notice how deep the lyrics go. There is so much God, Bible, Jesus, Holiness, in this hymn it sometimes just overwhelms me. That previous sentence is even just a minor description of the complexity of the words. It is an attempt in the next few moments, to reflect on a few lines of the hymn.

"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 absolutely love the way he speaks about Christ here. In simple turns, St. Patrick wants Christ everywhere! Christ will lead him, and Christ will follow. Christ will be his earth and Christ will be his sky. His escort will be Christ. He does not stop just in positioning Christ, he continues on to say that when people speak of me, they will speak of Christ. If they see me, they will see Christ and if they hear me, they will hear Christ. This could serve as a fantastic prayer, and also serve as a way for us to examine Christ in our own lives. 

"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 near,

Alone and in multitude."

In the same way that St. Patrick wants to place Christ in all aspects of his life, here I feel he wants to draw upon nature of God. Alone, we stand no chance again "the snares of the devils" and "temptations of vices," but God grants us the power to do so.  Through God's wisdom, way, ear, etc. we receive a protection from such things. 

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/