I don't know how many times I've heard people describe me as "a man of few words." It's almost like this is a bad thing or something. Yes, I tend to be a man of few words. I'm a naturally intuitive person and not as outgoing as say, my wife. We're polar opposites. She always has something to say and leaves incredibly long voice mails for people. I really love that about her.
As for me, I know how easy it is for my mouth to get me in trouble, even when I least expect it. I don't always have something to say. Is that a bad thing? Because I tend to be introspective, I measure my words more (but now always). Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, "Right speech comes out of silence, and right silence comes out of speech." Ruth Barton, author of Sacred Rhythms wrote, "In silence our speech patterns are refined because silence fosters a self-awarness that enable us to choose more truly the words we say."
Lord, grant me the wisdom to know what and when to speak and when to remain silent.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Jesus and Good to Great
I'm sure you know about the book by Jim Collins, Good to Great. It really is an excellent book with tons of practical advice. I thouroughly enjoyed it. However, I've been trying to figure out where being "great" fits in to a Christ follower's life. We know that Oswald Sanders warns us about ambition in his book Spiritual Leadership. He's talking about our hearts motive for wanting to be great or accomplishing great things.
I don't know anyone who doesn't want to accomplish great things. I don't want to settle for good, if God wants great out of me - and I think he does. The real question is how. How do we become great? James and John had a similar question. In fact, they were a little more, shall we say, to the point. They told Jesus, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask." Now that's presumptious and bold. I mean, the audacity of these guys. But Jesus responded with more grace than I would have, "What do you want me to do for you?" The disciples asked Jesus for greatness and recognition. That didn't go over to well with Jesus and the other ten. Jesus went on to explain what true greatness is:
I don't know anyone who doesn't want to accomplish great things. I don't want to settle for good, if God wants great out of me - and I think he does. The real question is how. How do we become great? James and John had a similar question. In fact, they were a little more, shall we say, to the point. They told Jesus, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask." Now that's presumptious and bold. I mean, the audacity of these guys. But Jesus responded with more grace than I would have, "What do you want me to do for you?" The disciples asked Jesus for greatness and recognition. That didn't go over to well with Jesus and the other ten. Jesus went on to explain what true greatness is:
"...whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all." Mark 10:43-44
Jim Collins says that one of the key factors that make a great leader is humility, and this is what Jesus describes here. The path to greatness then, is a descending one. Quite contrary to the way the world views greatness.
But Jesus was no weakling. He was strong, powerful and did many supernatural things. He knew where is power came from and he remained humbly connected with the Father. So, where does this leave me? Am I humbly connected to God's limitless power? If not, what the heck am I waiting for? If so, then I should expect to see some pretty drastic results.
Are you ready for this next verse?
But Jesus was no weakling. He was strong, powerful and did many supernatural things. He knew where is power came from and he remained humbly connected with the Father. So, where does this leave me? Am I humbly connected to God's limitless power? If not, what the heck am I waiting for? If so, then I should expect to see some pretty drastic results.
Are you ready for this next verse?
"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even GREATER things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." John 14:12-14
Am I doing greater things than Jesus did? Am I supposed to take this verse at face value, or do I need to dig into the Greek to find Jesus' real intention in saying this? If this is what is available to me and you - this kind of power, then why aren't we seeing it? These are heavy verses. I need to think about this some more. Do you?
Sunday, January 21, 2007
It Could Be Worse
There are worse places where I could be snowed in. It just so happens that a Dunkin' Donuts is right down the road. Now, I'm not a very sophisticated coffee drinker, but I have to say, Dunkin' Donuts has the BEST coffee! I prefer it over Starbucks and Panera. And if decide not to take advantage of the continental breakfast here at the hotel, there is a Waffle House across the street. And I wouldn't be a West Virginian if I didn't hit up the Waffle House. So, to recap, here are my choices in the morning:
It could be worse.
No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service
Blogging was so much easier when school wasn't in session! Oh well.
I left the house this morning at 6:15 am. It was pretty cold, the thermostat in my Expedition said 23 degrees. It read 16 when I hit the mountains, driving East. My destination at "0 dark-30?" Calvary Assembly of God in Ranson, WV. The plan was to then head to Marlowe Assembly of God tonight for their 6pm service. Instead, it decided to snow - a lot. So, the church had to cancel the service and put me up in a hotel for the night. I went over to the pastor's house and hung out for a bit - I like that better, more personal. I also got to meet their daughter, Jessica, who will be a freshmen at WVU in the Fall. Win, win! On top of it all, I got to watch the 2nd half of the Saints v. Bears game and the Colts and Patriots game. So, my night has been like the sign outside 7-11's, "No shoes, no shirt, no service." Good stuff.
I left the house this morning at 6:15 am. It was pretty cold, the thermostat in my Expedition said 23 degrees. It read 16 when I hit the mountains, driving East. My destination at "0 dark-30?" Calvary Assembly of God in Ranson, WV. The plan was to then head to Marlowe Assembly of God tonight for their 6pm service. Instead, it decided to snow - a lot. So, the church had to cancel the service and put me up in a hotel for the night. I went over to the pastor's house and hung out for a bit - I like that better, more personal. I also got to meet their daughter, Jessica, who will be a freshmen at WVU in the Fall. Win, win! On top of it all, I got to watch the 2nd half of the Saints v. Bears game and the Colts and Patriots game. So, my night has been like the sign outside 7-11's, "No shoes, no shirt, no service." Good stuff.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
The Start of a New Semester
Last night was our first Chi Alpha meeting of 2007 and the new semester. It was so good seeing all the students again -we really missed them. I was reminded again how much of a privilige it is to be able to meet with students to worship God on campus.
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Puppy Love
We're adding a new family member soon. His name is "Sky" (named by Zoey). We'll hopefully have him next weekend. More pictures to follow.
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Quote to Ponder
"Goodness is not the absence of badness. You can do nothing wrong and still do nothing right. Our calling is much higher than simply running away from what's wrong. We're called to chase lions-look for opportunities in our problems and obstacles, and take risks to reach for God's best."
Mark Batterson, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day: How to Survive and Thrive When Opportunity Roars
Mark Batterson, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day: How to Survive and Thrive When Opportunity Roars
Frogs on the Wall
Tonight I'm sleeping in Zoey's room - by myself. Breaking her arm has ushered in era of "expected sympathy" so she's sleeping in my spot next to Oakley. I'm not used to sleeping with frogs on the wall starring at me, so I've been awake reading and practicing my favorite past-time - thinking.
There's a lot to think about, really. New year resolutions, additions to the family, chapter "40", ministry and calling. There's a lot to process. Of course, the natural tendency for a heavey thinker like me is to allow these thoughts to dominate. And when thoughts are heavy it afffects my behavior, or it causes me to take myself too seriously. I'm really good at that. I need to learn to laugh more - at myself and in general. Proverbs tells me that "A merry heart does good, like medicine."
Starring at this smiling frog on the wall next to me reminds me of Zoey and Jonah. They have infectuous laughs. Zoey just brutally broke her arm a few days ago. Looking at it made my wife almost puke. Yet, Zoey still laughed today. Jonah at 2 years old has been in the hospital more times than many people have their entire lives. Yet, Jonah laughed today. I know, they're innocent children. But, there's something to this. There are certain things that we can learn from children and I think laughter is one of the most important. Why? Because I think laughter breeds resilience.
This is a New Life Resolution - to not take myself too seriously and laugh more. Oh, God! Please help!
There's a lot to think about, really. New year resolutions, additions to the family, chapter "40", ministry and calling. There's a lot to process. Of course, the natural tendency for a heavey thinker like me is to allow these thoughts to dominate. And when thoughts are heavy it afffects my behavior, or it causes me to take myself too seriously. I'm really good at that. I need to learn to laugh more - at myself and in general. Proverbs tells me that "A merry heart does good, like medicine."
Starring at this smiling frog on the wall next to me reminds me of Zoey and Jonah. They have infectuous laughs. Zoey just brutally broke her arm a few days ago. Looking at it made my wife almost puke. Yet, Zoey still laughed today. Jonah at 2 years old has been in the hospital more times than many people have their entire lives. Yet, Jonah laughed today. I know, they're innocent children. But, there's something to this. There are certain things that we can learn from children and I think laughter is one of the most important. Why? Because I think laughter breeds resilience.
This is a New Life Resolution - to not take myself too seriously and laugh more. Oh, God! Please help!
Thursday, January 4, 2007
Goodbye to the Parental Units
We took my mom and dad to the Pittsburgh Airport today. They spent 12 days with us. By the expression on the kids faces, you can tell they're not exactly happy that "Nanna and Pap-pap" are leaving. They'll be missed!
Starting off with a Bang
I called Oakley on my way home from Virginia and didn't get an answer. Not unusual since it was about 8:30pm and the bedtime routine was in full swing. Come to find out, she was in the emergency room with Zoey, who had fallen off her bunk bed and really busted her arm. She broke both bones in her forearm. Not exactly how we wanted to start the New Year. Thank God there are 361 days left.
Monday, January 1, 2007
Proud to be a Mountaineer (at least today)
I had my doubts after the first quarter, but the Mountaineers pulled it off today in the Gator Bowl against Georgia Tech, 38-35. With Steve Slaton out, Pat White carried the team to victory. My parents watched the whole thing with me and at times got more excited than I did! Fun stuff.
The Worst College Courses
Here's what our future leaders are being taught on university campuses across America, further emphasizing why our ministry is important.
1. Occidental College’s The Phallus covers a broad study on the relation “between the phallus and the penis, the meaning of the phallus, phallologocentrism, the lesbian phallus, the Jewish phallus, the Latino phallus, and the relation of the phallus and fetishism.”
2. Queer Musicology at the University of California-Los Angeles explores how “sexual difference and complex gender identities in music and among musicians have incited productive consternation” during the 1990s. Music under consideration includes works by Schubert and Holly Near, Britten and Cole Porter, and Pussy Tourette.
3. Amherst College in Massachusetts offers Taking Marx Seriously: “Should Marx be given another chance?” Students in this class are asked to question if Marxism still has “credibility,” while also inquiring if societies can gain new insights by “returning to [Marx’s] texts.” Coming to Marx’s rescue, this course also states that Lenin, Stalin, and Pol Pot misapplied the concepts of Marxism.
4. Students enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania’s Adultery Novel read a series of 19th and 20th century works about “adultery” and watch “several adultery films.” Students apply “various critical approaches in order to place adultery into its aesthetic, social and cultural context, including: sociological descriptions of modernity, Marxist examinations of family as a social and economic institution” and “feminist work on the construction of gender.”
5. Occidental College—making the list twice for the second year in a row—offers Blackness, which elaborates on a “new blackness,” “critical blackness,” “post-blackness,” and an “unforgivable blackness,” which all combine to create a “feminist New Black Man.”
6. Border Crossings, Borderlands: Transnational Feminist Perspectives on Immigration is University of Washington’s way of exploring the immigration debate. The class allegedly unearths what is “highlighted and concealed in contemporary public debates about U.S. immigration” policy.
7. Whiteness: The Other Side of Racism is Mount Holyoke College’s attempt to analyze race. The class seeks to spark thought on: “What is whiteness?” “How is it related to racism?” “What are the legal frameworks of whiteness?” “How is whiteness enacted in everyday practice?” And how does whiteness impact the “lives of whites and people of color?
8. Native American Feminisms at the University of Michigan looks at the development of “Native feminist thought” and its “relationship both to Native land-based struggles and non-Native feminist movements.”
9. Johns Hopkins University offers Mail Order Brides: Understanding the Philippines in Southeast Asian Context, which is a supposedly deep look into Filipino kinship and gender.
10. Cornell University’s Cyberfeminism investigates “the emergence of cyberfeminism in theory and art in the context of feminism/post feminism and the accelerated technological developments of the last thirty years of the twentieth century.”
11. Duke University’s American Dreams/American Realities course seeks to unearth “such myths as ‘rags to riches,’ ‘beacon to the world,’ and the ‘frontier,’ in defining the American character.”
12. Swarthmore College’s Nonviolent Responses to Terrorism “deconstruct[s] terrorism” and “build[s] on promising nonviolent procedures to combat today’s terrorism.” The “non-violent” struggle Blacks pursued in the 1960s is outlined as a mode for tackling today’s terrorism.
source: Young America Foundation
1. Occidental College’s The Phallus covers a broad study on the relation “between the phallus and the penis, the meaning of the phallus, phallologocentrism, the lesbian phallus, the Jewish phallus, the Latino phallus, and the relation of the phallus and fetishism.”
2. Queer Musicology at the University of California-Los Angeles explores how “sexual difference and complex gender identities in music and among musicians have incited productive consternation” during the 1990s. Music under consideration includes works by Schubert and Holly Near, Britten and Cole Porter, and Pussy Tourette.
3. Amherst College in Massachusetts offers Taking Marx Seriously: “Should Marx be given another chance?” Students in this class are asked to question if Marxism still has “credibility,” while also inquiring if societies can gain new insights by “returning to [Marx’s] texts.” Coming to Marx’s rescue, this course also states that Lenin, Stalin, and Pol Pot misapplied the concepts of Marxism.
4. Students enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania’s Adultery Novel read a series of 19th and 20th century works about “adultery” and watch “several adultery films.” Students apply “various critical approaches in order to place adultery into its aesthetic, social and cultural context, including: sociological descriptions of modernity, Marxist examinations of family as a social and economic institution” and “feminist work on the construction of gender.”
5. Occidental College—making the list twice for the second year in a row—offers Blackness, which elaborates on a “new blackness,” “critical blackness,” “post-blackness,” and an “unforgivable blackness,” which all combine to create a “feminist New Black Man.”
6. Border Crossings, Borderlands: Transnational Feminist Perspectives on Immigration is University of Washington’s way of exploring the immigration debate. The class allegedly unearths what is “highlighted and concealed in contemporary public debates about U.S. immigration” policy.
7. Whiteness: The Other Side of Racism is Mount Holyoke College’s attempt to analyze race. The class seeks to spark thought on: “What is whiteness?” “How is it related to racism?” “What are the legal frameworks of whiteness?” “How is whiteness enacted in everyday practice?” And how does whiteness impact the “lives of whites and people of color?
8. Native American Feminisms at the University of Michigan looks at the development of “Native feminist thought” and its “relationship both to Native land-based struggles and non-Native feminist movements.”
9. Johns Hopkins University offers Mail Order Brides: Understanding the Philippines in Southeast Asian Context, which is a supposedly deep look into Filipino kinship and gender.
10. Cornell University’s Cyberfeminism investigates “the emergence of cyberfeminism in theory and art in the context of feminism/post feminism and the accelerated technological developments of the last thirty years of the twentieth century.”
11. Duke University’s American Dreams/American Realities course seeks to unearth “such myths as ‘rags to riches,’ ‘beacon to the world,’ and the ‘frontier,’ in defining the American character.”
12. Swarthmore College’s Nonviolent Responses to Terrorism “deconstruct[s] terrorism” and “build[s] on promising nonviolent procedures to combat today’s terrorism.” The “non-violent” struggle Blacks pursued in the 1960s is outlined as a mode for tackling today’s terrorism.
source: Young America Foundation
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