The Great Exchange

So, I've been on the huge Mars Hill kick the past two nights. Tonight I watched the first sermon in the trial series about Sin in relation to 1 Peter 1:1-2. The bottom line of the sermon was this: "All of your life is a ultimately a trial, and each trial that you encounter will essentially be an opportunity to live functionally and practically as if Jesus Christ is your Lord." While this is an extremely powerful ending quote that a person could spend several blogs talking about, the thing that I found extremely interesting and dwelled on during the sermon was the idea of The Great Exchange.

The Great Exchange, as referred to by Martin Luther, is simply this. When Jesus was crucified he received Justice, we received Mercy. He received condemnation; we received salvation. He received death; and we received life. That is known as the The Great Exchange. Through his crucifixion, we are sprinkled with blood of Christ. With this blood we receive the sanctification.

The Holy Spirit is not an it, but a He. God is the Holy Spirit. The bible says that when Jesus was baptized, the Spirit anointed him. This is the same Spirit we receive as a gift. This same Spirit dwells within us. When we are saved everything changes because of this Spirit. The way we live, the way we suffer, the way we die.

Being "Christian" is simply, being less like me and more like him. This is absolutely not possible without the Holy Spirit within us. So going back to the bottom line above. All of our life is a trial, but how great is it to know that the Spirit, Jesus, and God dwell within us. That idea is one of the most powerful things as "Christians" I think we can learn and understand...

The Most Life Changing Sermon

Tonight a very close friend of mine sent me an email. In this email, included a discussion and link to a video sermon about what it means to truly be a Godly Man. I have always wanted to hear a sermon like this on how to be a Godly Man and this one does and excellent job of really hitting home. The main message was about how in 1 Peter 3:7, men are called to honor their wives. Now, for me I am still very much single. In fact I'm not even dating anyone right now. However, every single point made in this sermon about honoring our wives is something that even a single man can learn and work on in his on life.

I really encourage you, guys and girls, to go and watch the sermon. I posted the link at the bottom of this blog. If for some reason you don't have time (please make time), or you just don't want to, I'm going to touch on the 8 points that he talks about for how men should honor their wives.

1) Honor women Maritally- Be Christ-like in your relationship (Ephesians 5: 25)
2) Honor women Physically- Men are genetically more stronger. We should never intimidate a woman, hit a woman, or scare a woman. This could even be so much as a look or the way he talks during an argument. He might then try to turn the blame to the women. No matter what has happened it is never the woman's fault! A man should never physically or emotionally scare a women in any way!
3) Honor women Emotionally- Women want men to be intimate with them. Women want to know their men, and want their men to know them!
4) Honor women Verbally- How do you speak to speak women? What do you say when wife or girlfriend isn't around? What kind of names do you call her?
5) Honor women Financially- Men should provide for their wives. The woman's job should not be to solely or even mostly support a family. That was the man's curse from God in Genesis. Men should not give this curse to women, so that they have to carry both of them.
6) Honor women Practically- Men should take of practical things such as the yard, house, car, and budget for the family. Our wives should not be ashamed of the sort of things.
7) Honor women Parentally- Men are called to love their children and act as Pastor Daddy to their children (Ephesians 6). Play with your kids, spend time with them, teach them, and pray with them.
8) Honor women Spiritually- We should pray with our families, read scripture with our families, make the decision to join a church, help decide what mid-week class or small group to attend. Lead the family spiritually!

The main message of the sermon that truly hit home for me was when the pastor said this, "We are dating God's daughters!" He goes to also say that if you we are disrespecting our girlfriends or wives in any way, shape, or form, and at the same time asking God to help us find a wife; then we are crazy! What father would help a man who is abusing and disrespecting his daughter. So before we as men start asking God to help us find a wife or lead us in our spiritual walks. We need to make sure we are honoring the women we are dating!

Here is the link to the sermon. This sermon will really change your life for guys and girls. Girls need to really examine these issues to because you are ultimately deciding on who you date.

http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/trial/marriage-and-men

The Shack

"We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life."
-1 John 5:20

I started a book called The Shack tonight. Some of you might have read it. I read it last summer, but I have forgotten a lot of the details, mostly those regarding the Trinity (which also happens to be the purpose of the book). It is kind of pathetic I know to forget the main purpose of a book because it was only a year ago, but at least I'm reading again. Right?

Well, for those haven't read it, it is an awesome book. It takes the horrible story of a guy who's daughter was kidnapped and murdered, and then how he comes to fully understand the Trinity though a weekend with God. He encounters each element of the Trinity in different human forms. Then through the characters personalities and conversations each (God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit?) the guy begins to truly understand God in a more full sense.

I had a conversation the other night with a really close friend, who just finished the book, about how absolutely incredible the Trinity really is. I think sometimes we read about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit and we miss how awesome the concept of all three being the same really is. I mean, isn't it cool that the Holy Spirit that fills our lives is actually God! Maybe this is a basic step in most people's walk of faith but somehow I never grasped it very well.

So I guess, as the rest of the week goes on, try to think about how intricate and complex the Trinity can be. It will really put things in perspective and you might even see certain elements in your life a little differently. Also, if you've never read The Shack I highly recommend it. Aside from being great book, it does an awesome job of displaying each element in a relatable manner. Like I said, I'm reading now so if you are too or have read it I'd love to talk about it!

A new beginning...

I haven't written a blog in a long time. That's because this blog was suppose to be for me to write and organize my thoughts regarding spiritual issues, stories, and experiences. To say that the presence of spiritual practices have been few and far between (and also a huge struggle) in my life lately would be an understatement.

However, things have really been turning around for me. I've really started to get connected with some guys at Belmont who are solid in their faith, and who are open to exploring spiritual issues and questions with me. These guys have provided a ton of support and understanding as I've been sorting out things in my life. It's incredible how in such a short period of time things can get so twisted and tangled up, but also begun to be cleaned up and straightened out. I guess it's a statement for the blessings the Lord places in our lives.

So I'm happy to report that I've started a bible study of Romans 5-8, will be helping to start/attend a small group hopefully this Thursday, attending church at Crosspoint this Sunday, and have found a great friend to serve as an accountability partner and spiritual conversationalist with. Needless to say things have been coming together rather quickly, but it really has been exciting.

Enough with the updates though, the purpose of this blog is to provide a place to write down, organize, and share my spiritual walk. As I mentioned above, I've started a Bible Study of Romans 5-8. The study is called A Christ Powered Life. It takes and breaks down the words and concepts that compose each verse, asks questions, and shows how the each verse creates a chain link that builds to provide an overall concept.

This morning I was reading Romans 5:3-5 and found this really interesting. In verse 5, when the Bible talks about pouring out his love into our hearts, the original text is referring to the form of love "agape". This specific form of the love in the Hebrew language means: "unconditional", "love for others", "selfless love"...

So why exactly is that interesting? Well, the study talked about in the culture at the time, this word was actually used very seldom until the time of the New Testament. Then Jesus, and I guess ultimately his followers, breathed life into the word. It's strange to think about how something like "selfless love" is so unnatural. It sort of gives the concept of "selfless love" being a gift a new perspective.

Sure someone might have such a deep relationship with another person that causes them to have this type of love, for instance a parent to their child. The scripture, however, is talking about this type of love being poured into our heart, and God is pouring this type of love into us, so that we love everyone in this manner. That is something that truly defies our nature and is a gift straight from the Holy Spirit.

So tomorrow and the rest of the week, I'm going to try to exercise this type of love for all people. When someone says something hurtful, or more likely frustrating, I'm going to try to remember this gift of "selfless love" that I've been given. I actually exercised this practice tonight, and it really is incredible how much different you a handle situations when you think about this type of love we are given for everyone...

Change Flows from the Inside Out

Today, I visited a new church. I haven't been to church in what some people would a say a long time. However, this morning I got up and decided to go. Well, actually I had decided on Wednesday at the displacement camp I was going to try a new church this Sunday. The church that I attended this morning was called Journey Ecclesia, and that is a picture of it above.

I know the name is a bit different, but don't let it scare you away. It is a great church. The membership is small (mostly college and very young adults), and I don't think the budget is extremely high (hence the ages of the members). However, the people are extremely welcoming. Today the sermon was on Daniel and the lion's den.

Now I know what your thinking, this seems very elementary and sunday schoolish, but the message that was shared was definitely one that I think deserves mentioning and thinking about. It has to do with Daniel's disposition. If your not sure exactly what the term disposition means here is dictionary.com's definition: the predominant or prevailing tendency of one's spirits; natural mental and emotional outlook or mood; characteristic attitude. Simply put, your disposition is actions that derive from inside of you. They are your actions and attitudes that are purely natural.

Daniel, in this story has a disposition that completely reflects God. He doesn't even have to think twice about his action. They are purely natural to him, and that type of disposition is something that we should all strive to have. We should all try to wake up every morning and go throughout our day as disciplined as Daniel. We should all want to have the confidence to take on anything thrown our way without fear, to have that confidence in God. We should all work to have a disposition like Daniel's.

I thought the idea of Daniel's attitude and actions being so natural that he didn't need to even think about them was so inspirational that I thought I'd share it in my blog. This week I'm going to try to have the discipline to follow God and rely on him like Daniel did, and have the confidence in God to take care of us through lives obstacles. I've had people tell me they read my blog and that's awesome, and if anyone out there ever reads this and decides they want to come with me one Sunday please just shoot me and email. I have plenty of room in my car!

"Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before."
-Daniel 6:10

New Orleans Displaced

"You saw with your own eyes the great trials, the miraculous signs and wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm, with which the LORD your God brought you out. The LORD your God will do the same to all the peoples you now fear."
-Deuteronomy 7:10

Tonight I volunteered at a New Orleans displacement camp in Franklin. Most of the families were on their second stay in Franklin thanks to hurricane Katrina during 2006. The camp, with staff and residents, had around 450 people and was beautiful chaos. Most of the residents in the camp were from very low income communities and many didn't have steady jobs. However, it was one of the coolest lessons in my life.

For the past few days I've been trying to refocus my life around something more concrete. So tonight when I found out I was working at the camp I had two emotions. The first, I was excited to be helping a group of people who wer less fortunate than me. Then on the other hand, I had planned to attend a wednesday night church service (something I haven't done in awhile).

Well as it turns out I got to experience both. Around 7 o'clock, a local church in Franklin came to host a prayer and worship service for the displaced families. I wasn't very familiar with any of the songs that were song, nor did i fit in with gospel sound that came with the service, but the experience was incredible. It was amazing to see, in a time of crisis, these families so upbeat and energetic. Most of the service was worship, but some of the residential men, that had been displaced, stood up and shared several verses and stories that had helped them through the Katrina disaster as well as now.

One in-particular stood out in my mind. A man stood up and spoke about how life will always throw storms your way. Sometimes these storms will be hurricanes, other times they may be finances, family situations, or things that test your faith. Everyone will encounter storms in their lives. God wants us to take these storms and develop perseverance and a refocused view on life. The man pointed out that, now, while they were away from their every day normal lives. They had time to spend time with God, away from the distractions and mess of their normal lives.

Although, the idea of encountering struggles and storms in everyday life was not a new concept to me. It was nice to hear the sermon come from someone who was in, and had been in, such terrible positions and remained faithful. As I worked the rest of the night helping pass out food, blankets, and helping with crowd control I tried to think of what storms and struggles I had in my life, and that's why tonight was so rewarding. I heard a sermon that caused me to evaluate and think about life, and serve the community. It was a win-win situation.

Forgive But Don't Always Forget!

The purpose of this post is solely to act as an apology and update. I first want to apologize for not posting in awhile. I don't think many people read this blog, but for those who occasionally check it, I'm sorry it has been awhile. I've been moving back to school and starting classes. It has been a busy past two weeks, and the choices I've made are not really something worth posting about.

The choices of the past few weeks leads me to my second, more important, apology. I want to say sorry to everyone. The past few weeks I have made some decisions that, needless to say, were not the best. I want to apologize to everyone for many of these choices. Whether it be something I said, something I did, or something I didn't do but should have done, I'm sorry.

If I hurt anyone or changed their view me I hope you'll forgive. I don't regret all of the things I've done because I they helped lead me to the state of heart and mind that I am now in. So as strange as it may sound, in a way, I am grateful for this, and where I am in life now. I hate that I choose to take the path I did, but I can't change my past and the things I've done. I can, however, learn from it.

So, I hope you can forgive, and I hope in time I can truly forgive myself. I'm striving to learn from things and not repeat them. However. What is done, is done. Today is a new day, and I just have to take my mistakes learn from them. I hope you understand, and once again, I am sorry.

"As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God."
-1 Peter 4:2