Thoughts of the evening

Was a part of the worship service to open mid-winter lectures at APTS, the preacher was Dr. William Carl, the president-elect of Pittsburgh Seminary. He preached on the call of Samuel through the eyes of Eli. The old man who shooed the boy back to bed assuring Samuel that he had not called. Dr. Carl talked of not hearing the Word of God for years and how in his years of preaching there were times of waiting for a Word for the Lord. He talked of Eli asking, "Does the boy not realize what is ahead" he turned that into looking at young preachers. Are we reallly ready for what lies ahead?

He then told a story of questioning a candidate on the floor of Presbytery, a former student of his. He asked the student if he remembered any of the Greek he had taught him. The student then recited the Lord's Prayer in Greek as they had learned in Dr. Carl's class. Dr. Carl talked of a feeling of joy, that he had affected one person, he had made a difference. He closed talking about Eli, as he told young Samuel to go lie down and to say the next time, "Speak Lord for your Servant is listening" that maybe old Eli thought to himself, "Speak Lord for your Servant is listening...again."

In the car I was listening to the David Crowder Band playing "Undignified"

I will dance, I will sing, to be mad for my King
Nothing Lord is hindering this passion in my soul

And I've been called even more undignified than this
Some may say it's foolishness,
But I've been called even more undignified than this

Here is to living with passion, whether it is seen as undignified or not. Here is to being able to say, "Speak Lord for your Servant is Listening." To remember the exhileration of following a call from the Lord, knowing that you are right where you need to be. Here is to being unapolegetically theological. To living into the potential that God has for me and making a difference in the world. To being the stone thrown in the pond and starting the ripples!

I could be President...

I turned 35 on Thursday, I am now old enough to run for President of the United States, I find that rather amusing. What would happen if a still wet behind the ears 35 year old actually did run. But the bigger question is why would I want to do that. Yeah it is the most powerful position on the planet, but with great power comes great responsibility (what movie is that from?). 34 brought lots of changes and 35 promises to as well. One year older, one year hopefully wiser and more prepared for what the rest of life has to offer.

Remember Rule #6

I have been reading a book that my dad gave me for Christmas. "The Art of Possibility" by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander. I haven’t finished it yet, but so far it is a great read that focuses on being able to think outside of the boxes we have created for ourselves and dealing with others in a manner that allows them to work to the fullest of their abilities as well.

My favorite chapter is entitled Rule Number 6. The whole premise is to remember Rule number 6. What is this mysterious rule and what are the other rules? There are no other rules and rule 6 is “Don’t take yourself too d*mn seriously.”

Good advice I have to say. Most of the time things aren’t nearly as serious as we would like to think they are. If we don’t take ourselves so seriously it is much easier to admit to mistakes and allow ourselves to be human and we are more forgiving of those around us.

So the new rule taped to the door of my dorm room so I see it daily is “Remember Rule #6” and I invite you to do the same.

(To my friend Ryan…you have inspired me to be more consistent in posting! You rock!)

More from the Confessions class

Today was the last day of class and we have 2 weeks to get a 10-15 page paper turned in. I have found this class extremely interesting and useful. Some of my classmates feel the same and some don't. One classmate has posed questions to me about what is important about PC(USA) and reformed theology.
I agree with our professor in that the Presbyterian Church specifically and reformed theology in general are part of the unveiling of the truth of God. Our perspective is unique and we need to stand on our historical roots. I don't know as we have done a particularly good job of this in the last several decades. I think we have drifted more and more away from our theology and more toward the culture.
We have allowed culture to dictate what we do and who we are instead of being counter-cultural. The Gospel is very counter-cultural and there are points that were (and are) downright offensive. The church is not called to assimilate to the culture, but to stand apart, to be something different.
My first semester here in Austin, I had a professor that said we were not called to be safe. I have to agree. The call to Christian ministry is not one of safety, but one where we must trust that we are safely in the arms of a sovereign God. This is where I stand by the first question of the Heidelberg Catechism.
Q. What is your only comfort, in life and in death?
A. That I belong - body and soul, in life and in death - not to myself but to my faithful Savior, Jesus CHrist, who at the cost of his own blood has fully paid for all my sins and has completely freed me from the dominion of the devil; that he protects me so well that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, that everything must fit his purpose for my salvation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me WHOLEHEARTEDLY WILLING AND READY FROM NOW ON TO LIVE FOR HIM.

Thoughts at the beginning of a new year

Well, 2006 is here and in full swing. Classes have started again and this month is about the Reformed confessions of faith. Very interesting and up to this point a great class. It is helpful to be able to trace the roots of the faith that I have grown up with and to discover the well-spring that there is to draw from.

Today Central Pres (my church in Austin) we installed new elders and deacons and it got me started thinking ove the ordination questions that are asked not only of elders and deacons, but of new pastors as well. The first are about trusting in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and acccepting the Scriptures as God's word, being instructed by the confessions of the faith all of which I answered as I was ordained as an elder. Another one that I answered as an elder and will be called upon to do so again really struck me today.

"Will you seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination and love?"
My favorite piece here is imagination! I have printed this out and posted it on my dorm room wall as a reminder to seek to do all I do at seminary with energy, intelligence, love and most importantly IMAGINATION!