A Call to Remember

As I have been working on writing a paper on the power of Christ’s blood to total restoration for all peoples through the book of Romans, I came across and was very intrigued by chapters nine through eleven in Romans. In those chapters, Paul continues to use the Old Testament to affirm the workings of grace through Christ in the New Testament gospel. He cites the words of Moses in Deuteronomy on a number of occasions. So, in order to at least get a slight hold on the power of the message Paul is sending in Romans, I decided to reexamine the book of Deuteronomy.

There are so many amazing things that happen in Deuteronomy, but the main message that struck me is encapsulated in the word, “remember.” The Israelites are about to enter into the Promised Land. In the book of Genesis, God makes a promise to Abraham, a promise of blessing and reckoning (restoration). He confirms the promises to Abraham through a series of promises to people of God’s own choosing in the line of Abraham. Beginning with Abraham, God says, “I will make you into a great nation…and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (12:2-3). In Genesis 21:12, God says to Abraham again, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned,” affirming that blessing is accompanied by reckoning, and reckoning refers to the inclusion of a person, or group of people, into a larger group, that being the people of God. The Lord further expounds upon the promise by choosing the nation that would come from Jacob to be the line through which He fulfills the promises made to Abraham (25:23).

God continues to work out the process of fulfilling the promises to Abraham through Jacob. In chapter 28 verses fourteen through fifteen, the Lord speaks to Jacob saying, “Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.” This clearly follows the promises made to Abraham of blessing and reckoning. These promises coincide with one overarching promise: that all peoples on earth will be blessed. What is important to note, and what Paul so clearly affirms in Romans, is that it is not Abraham the person who is the blessing. Nor is it Isaac. It is not even Jacob, or the patriarchs. But the fulfillment of the promise comes through a singular person forty-two generations after Abraham, after Isaac, after Jacob, after Judah, after David, and so on (Matthew 1:17). This person is Christ, the Messiah, “through whom we have now received reconciliation” (Rom. 5:11).

However, the book of Deuteronomy recounts a portion of intermediate time from the giving of the promise to Abraham to the fulfillment of the promise through Christ. It occurs at the end of a time of wandering and disobedience, but a time overflowing with the wonders of the merciful God heaven and earth, who continues to set his affection on his chosen people, his treasured possession. He gives countless blessings to His people—in victory over kings (Sihon King of Heshbon, 2:24-37; Og King of Bashan, Deut. 3:1-11), in the work that all His people do (2:7), in miracles, voices from heaven and out of fire, in the protection of His hand of might, and in awesome deeds (4:33-34). God blesses His people, who are reckoned to Him and included within the group called, the People of God.

At the time of Moses speaking in Deuteronomy, the people of God are on the brink of crossing into the land promised to them generations before. As Moses is unable to enter the Promised Land (1:37, Numbers 20:12), he leaves them guidance and wisdom prior to their entrance. He begins by recounting the works of the Lord for His people (through 4:43). This telling of the history of God’s people is absolutely paramount in the theme of Deuteronomy. Moses gives a basis for trust in the Lord in this new land. By retelling the work of the Lord for Israel, Moses bolsters the credibility of the Lord who led His people, even in the midst of persistent disobedience on the part of His people. Moses desires that God’s people remember their Lord.

Furthermore, Moses directly uses the word “remember” sixteen times with regard to what the Lord has done in leading His people. Not only that, but he also uses the word “forget” nine times to remind the people not to forget what God has done. The proclamation to remember by the time Moses was finished recounting the works of God and reciting the law is very clear. The works of God for His people all occur in accordance with the future fulfillment of the past promises made to Abraham, the promises of restoration for all peoples to be included within the people of God and for them to all be blessed abundantly because of that inclusion.

As the people of God, in Deuteronomy, are about to take another step in the direction of total fulfillment of the promises, Moses implores them to always remember and to never forget who God is. God is the one who is faithful to the promises He has made. And because the people of Israel are God’s “people, his treasured possession as he promised,” God will remain faithful to them (26:18). Moreover, He will set them apart as “a people holy to the Lord…as he promised” (26:19). All they have to do is remember.

And so must we remember. So often we get caught up in the busyness of life, and it is easy to forget. In the United States, we are predisposed to experience great material blessings in comparison to the rest of the world. It is easy to forget God. And even some who attempt to remember find themselves falling into the pitfalls and temptations of sin. Shame and guilt follow, and we are caught up in the belief of lies that we are not capable of holiness and that we cannot be victorious. We believe that we are unworthy of the promises of restoration and blessing. The truth is that, apart from God, we are unworthy.

But we must remember “that we are God’s children…heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:16-17). We must remember that “once [we] were alienated from God and were enemies in [our] minds because of [our] evil behavior. But now he has reconciled [us] by Christ’s physical body through death to present [us] holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation” (Col. 1:21-22). We must remember who we are.

Remembering simplifies life. Abundant life that Jesus speaks of in John 10:10 is not about adhering to strict and rigid principles, that are actually a regression to the Old Law, from which we have been freed (Rom. 8:1). This was the fault of the Pharisees and teachers of the Law that Jesus so adamantly opposed. It was the fault of Saul before his conversion, when he became Paul and also opposed those in Rome who would not embrace total restoration through Christ. It was also the fault of many others to whom he wrote. Unfortunately, it is also the fault of many of us.

Restored life, at its core, is not about not sinning. Although sin is awful and restrictive and destructive, restored life is about reigning as kings and queens, counting ourselves dead to sin, walking by the Spirit, and by embracing who we are in Christ. And the root of all this is remembering who God is. Total faith in Him necessarily leads to all of these things being definitive of who we are. It also leads to less and less sin. But our focus must always be to remember who God is and that it is He who promised. As Moses beseeches the people of God in Deuteronomy to remember, so we must remember who God is. For it is only by remembering that God, not ourselves, sets us apart as holy (Deut. 26:19, Col. 1:21-22).

Remember.

Some practical ways to remember the Lord:
- Prayer – Any believer knows cognitively that prayer is important. But I will admit that most of the times I used to pray it would be without regard to the unseen. We do not dwell merely within the world our eyes perceive, but within a world at war. And our fight is “not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6:12). Pray for eyes to see. Pray for ears to hear. Pray for a heart to respond. Pray for awareness. But be warned: the world beyond our senses is real. There is victory in the realms of the spiritual and the physical, and that victory is in Christ. Just walk in it with boldness.

- Journal – Some people say that they can’t journal, that they aren’t disciplined enough or any number of reasons. I said the same thing. The most practical way to begin the discipline and sanctifying practice of journaling is to write out your prayers. Focus on the Lord when you write, and write your words to Him. Write everything, big and small. Then you will see how He answers the little things, giving you perspective on what He desires in the big things. Journaling your prayers is sure to encourage you to begin to journal everything. After all, God is before all things, and in Him all things hold together (Col. 1:17).

- Community – We were created for community. As it was not good for man to be alone in the Garden of Eden, so also we were not created to live this life alone (Gen. 1:18). Total restoration unto the Lord requires us to also be restored one to another. That being said, life as a part of the Body of Christ is vital. Not only is it a source of God’s glorification, but also a source of encouragement, love, truth, prayer, support, accountability, hope, edification, and all other good things in Christ. Study the Acts of the Apostles, and cling to your place in the Church. Read Romans 12, and immerse yourself in the love of Christ, found in communal fellowship with the Body.

To His Name and His glory,

mcm

Our Wedding Vows

As Christa and I are a month and a half into living in California, I have decided that life has settled down enough to get back to blogging. Things are AMAZING here, and I will be sure to post in the near future about how we are doing in California specifically.

In my last post, I mentioned that I would blog about a series of events that have happened since January 4th, our wedding day. I wanted to begin with our wedding ceremony, or mainly the vows that Christa and I had for each other. Many of you at the ceremony asked about the vows and wanted me to post them. So here they are:

Matthew to Christa:
Christa Lynn, before I met you I only heard stories of women so amazing as you—ones who love fiercely, ones who denounce this world, and ones who fully embrace their God-given, transcendent identity in Christ. I never thought a woman like that existed until God cause our paths to meet. And now, I stand before God and these people committing to marry such a woman in you. You were made for me and I for you, and because of that, I make these vows:

I choose to love you with the knowledge that I can only rightly do so through Christ.
I choose to respect you understanding full well that you are an heir with me and a co-heir with Christ to our Father’s richest blessings.
I choose to always encourage you in your giftings, to spur you on forever toward Christ, and to speak words of life, not death.
I choose to stand beside you and to support you in all you do, to defend you, and to give you the liberty to defend me.
I choose to make Christ our sole pursuit and commit all that we do together to bring glory to God to the ends of the earth.
I commit to Christ, and I commit to you, always and in everything.


Christa to Matthew:
Matthew, I have never met a man I respect more than you. You are a warrior and you have fought for my heart. The thought of serving our King on the front lines of life, right next to you, thrills my heart. You are a revolutionary and I never thought I would find a man who would match my passion to live life that is truly life. I love how it thrills you when people understand who they are in Christ, and you most attractive quality is your security in Him.

With both our identities seated securely in the heavenlies, I just hold my breath with excitement and anticipation about how we will be used—not for our glory, but for His. Because of these reasons, I commit myself to you. I vow to love you for the rest of my life. When I feel like it and when I don’t. I commit to pursue our Savior so that His love, whish is so much greater than mine, will overflow on you all the days of my life. I will honor you in my speech and action, and put your needs above my own.

I can’t wait to run this race with you, next to you, encouraging you to love our King with all that you are. I proclaim victory over our marriage and I vow to walk in that victory even in times that seem like defeat. I vow to give Him my all so that He may then turn and give it to you.


Hope you enjoy!

You are loved,

mcm

The Delay

Ok, I am well aware of the fact that I have not posted on here in a while. But, rest assured that detailed updates are coming. Christa and I have gotten married and returned from the honeymoon. We are in the process of packing, finalizing things around Atlanta, and moving to Los Angeles. Everything is amazing. Things have been busy, to say the least, but the pieces are falling into place and the Lord is showing Himself quite faithful (as usual).

For your knowledge, however, here is a list of things I will begin to post on the blog, as time allows and as life settles down (although, I am not sure that I believe it ever will settle down completely):

- The Wedding Ceremony and our vows
- The Honeymoon (not too many details though)
- Our new apartment
- The break-in (this one will be fun)
- The move to Los Angeles

That is brief, and more details will soon follow. But I will be very intentional about posting consistently, even in the midst of hectic life. Keep checking in to catch up with our lives, and know that God is faithful and loving.

You are loved,

mcm

Another insert...

A Weekend with the Parents
From Thursday August 2 to Saturday August 4, I spent the weekend with Christa and her parents as we traveled to Jackson, Mississippi to visit her mother’s side of the family and her grandmother. The weekend began with an early tee time at Braelin Country Club with Mr. Kirby and what transpired proved to be perhaps one of the most affirming times in my life. Three pivotal instances served to highlight the work of the Lord: lunch with Christa’s parents, a six and a half hour car ride and conversation, and another testing day.

After golf, Christa and I sat down to lunch at Applebee’s with her parents. To my surprise, we began discussing in depth all that the Lord had done in my heart and in Christa’s regarding our future. My expectation was that we would begin to talk about these things in the car on our way to Mississippi, but Christa wanted to talk at lunch to see her parents’ faces. So, we commenced. Eventually, after briefing them on where the Lord had brought us, we got to the part where I told them that it was important that Christa and I both talk to Mr. and Mrs. Kirby and ask them if they each had a peace and agreement in their spirits about what God showed us. Essentially, Christa’s Dad said that he would pray about it and gave no definitive response to our inquiry.

That evening, we set out for Jackson and utilized every second of a six and a half hour car ride to discuss marriage, plans and thoughts, but primarily my story so as to fill the Kirbys in on who I was and where I came from. We talked about my life, my trials, my joys, the Lord’s calling and my certainty about God’s call for marriage and how it was bigger than the two of us. The time allowed for me to express my confidence and the opportunity for Mr. and Mrs. Kirby to see my heart in this situation. Additionally, Christa shared of the Lord’s work in her heart about me, and the long car ride served to elaborate all the more on our faith in God’s work.

The following day, however, presented another testing situation. Friday morning, we went to meet Christa’s grandmother. We all talked in her room, ate lunch, and then went back to Christa’s uncle’s house to hang out. Throughout the day, I noticed and sensed that something wasn’t the same with Christa. We got a chance to step outside and talk, and she expressed to me that she was experiencing doubt and uncertainty about her physical and emotional attraction to me and her faith in the spiritual movements of the Lord in our lives. She talked about how her father’s delay in having a peace about and agreeing with our decision to marry was another point of doubt. We prayed together and talked for a bit, but in our time together then, I really fought reiterating my resolute confidence in what the Lord had done in me for the fear that it would make Christa mad or that it might convince her by something other than the Lord that marriage was right.

Immediately after our conversation, I was driven to my knees in a small bathroom and prayed one of the most fervent prayers I can remember. I cried out to God, tears came to my eyes and rolled down my face, and I got quite a headache from the passion the Lord gave me to call on His name. He reminded me and comforted me again in the promises He had made to me. During the time on my knees, the Lord brought back to my mind Romans 4:20-21, which says of Abraham’s faith, “Yet he did not waiver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” This Scripture became a passionate cry of mine earlier in the week, and the Holy Spirit gave me these words to ignite my faith again in what the Lord had done.

I prayed first that the Lord would forgive me for not speaking confidently and boldly to Christa about the lies she had been hearing. Then I asked specifically that the Lord would give Christa incomprehensible peace about our future and that He would move in that moment in the heart of her father to have a peace about marriage and to share that peace with Christa. The Lord led me to claim promises and pray against all doubts that Christa and I were experiencing. For one of just a few times ever in my life, I felt a faith from God so strong that I knew He would move in her father’s heart and remove all spirits of doubt from us. I also wrote the following down on a sheet of paper as a vow and prayer to God:

“I write this down because I know one day it will serve as a reminder of the Lord’s amazing power.
Christa came to me and told me she was doubting whether we should get married—her physical attraction to me, her emotional connection with me and her spiritual agreement that the Lord had ordained all of this.
I claim this to be a host of lies and know that the Lord will take care of it.”

I tried to go to sleep but was unable to because of all that was present in my mind and heart. Then I heard a knock on the door to my room and Christa opened it. We found a quiet place and I shared with her a little bit of what just transpired, namely the sin of me withholding confidence and speaking truth to her. We talked for a few minutes, and then went back to hanging with the family before dinner.

For about thirty minutes, I had no idea where Christa was and didn’t see her. Something assured me, however, that she was talking about her experience that day with her parents. When I saw Christa again, she talked with me in another room about why she was away for that time. She told me that she talked with her mom and dad and how that conversation served to illuminate the confidence that was in her heart. Her father had expressed to her that he had a peace about us getting married and gave his approval and blessing on our decision. Then, for the first time, Christa told me that she loved me. She also expressed that she didn’t know fully what that word meant, but that she was confident in the Lord’s call for us to get married.

To say the least, I was overwhelmed. The Lord had responded to my specific prayers and proven Himself, yet again, as faithful and amazing. At dinner that night, Christa’s father initiated a conversation with the whole family about Christa and I getting married. Christa shared details of the Lord’s work, and that night I experienced a night’s sleep that was uninterrupted and refreshing—two things that had not happened in quite some time.

The Continued Journey

As in my last post, I began to update you as to the journey the Lord has led Christa and me through. Here is the next installment, with several more to follow. Enjoy.

Home from Thailand
Friday July 13, after Christa returned from Thailand, we found ourselves in her apartment watching the movie, The Island. Christa was experiencing jet-lag and had dozed off several times beginning at around 7pm. But, at the movie’s end, Christa asked me to share with her some of the things God had shown me when we were apart, as I had hinted several times with eagerness at the fact that I wanted to talk to her.

For some reason I began the conversation by saying, “When I walk out that door tonight, things between us cannot be the same.” Looking back on it, I probably would have started by saying something else, but nonetheless I didn’t waste much time in getting to the point. I proceeded by telling her that about three weeks ago, at SuperWOW, the Lord had led me to commit to love her in a worship service.

I distinctly remember hesitating to tell her during that Friday night, but not experiencing any fear. Rather, I hesitated at the immensity of the word “love.” I did not fully comprehend its meaning at the time, nor do I claim to know it now. However, I had a pure and powerful peace at telling Christa of my love for her. It seemed natural and right that that night was the time to tell her. So I did. Christa did not respond by saying, “I love you too,” and I am quite glad that obligation did not lead her to say something she didn’t mean.

In the past in our relationship, any mention whatsoever of my feelings for Christa seemed to incite an onslaught of attacks from the enemy against me, against Christa, and against us. Therefore, I left her apartment praying against the certain attacks to come.

A Week of Aversion
The following week brought an overwhelming and oppressive series of attacks on Christa and me. From Saturday to Wednesday, I experienced some intense attacks on my mind and emotions. There were times I regretted telling Christa I loved her and times I was mad that she didn’t reciprocate it. My mind was filled with lies telling me that it was a mistake, and the things the Lord did that I was certain about were becoming less and less clear. I struggled with doubting God and His will.

Wednesday rolled along, and Christa and I talked on the phone, as we had not seen each other all day. I could tell Christa was irritated about something, but didn’t know what or why. She told me that she had “an aversion” toward me and that emotionally she simply didn’t want to see me or even be around me. In retrospect, I am not sure why, but I felt almost relieved at her telling me this, as something on my heart had suspected that I was not the only one experiencing a difficult and confusing week. We promptly ended the conversation, and that is when the week became amazing.

In past relationships, a week like this would have become the beginning of the end. I would have stayed on the phone until I had resolution, but resolution usually meant that I made the girl so mad that we broke up—this really only happened once, but had opportunities come, it would have happened more. For some reason, I had a comforting peace that just didn’t make sense. Christa and I didn’t see each other until Saturday and barely talked in between. Being just miles apart physically and not seeing each other was hard, but I knew that the Lord was working in her heart and in mine. So peace gave me the will to persevere.

We had plans to spend the day together on Saturday, July 21—to eat dinner and see the new Harry Potter movie. But, I wanted to be able to express to Christa how much I cared about her and how much I was thinking about her and praying for her over the last few difficult days. So I went to Barnes and Noble and purchased a nice Italian leather journal for her. I wrote a note in the front of it, a prayer in the back, and a series of Scripture verses and prayers on the tops of pages throughout. When I handed the journal to Christa, she was ecstatic, to say the least. She thought it was extremely nice and thoughtful, and come to find out, she was overwhelmed that I wanted to get her something like that after the week that we experienced.

Little did I know at the time that the Lord used this time to further confirm to Christa and me about our future together.

Quite a Car Ride
On Thursday July 26, I spent a day in Fayetteville with Christa and her parents. In the morning, I played golf with her father and in the midst of our round, I mentioned to him that I would like to have an opportunity sometime soon to talk with his wife and him about what the Lord had shown me concerning Christa. He had apparently spoken with his wife that afternoon about what I said, and Mrs. Mary Lynn abruptly asked me at dinner, “What do you want to talk about?” A bit taken aback at Mrs. Mary Lynn’s straightforwardness and unprepared to discuss things then, I realized there were a few things that the Lord had done that I still hadn’t shared with Christa. So I responded by saying that I wanted to talk to her first and then talk with her parents.

So, the car ride home from Fayetteville to Athens consisted of me telling Christa all that transpired the last few weeks about our future. Among those things was the certainty that God had for us to get married, and how that certainty was made manifest to me over the prior weeks. Prior to this conversation, Christa and I had mentioned marriage, but talked about it as a possibility at best. At this point, however, it became clear to us both together, that marriage was not only a possibility, but also a natural step toward completion in Christ.

For me, this conversation with Christa was overwhelming and caused me to worship God for His sovereignty and divine purpose. After telling Christa what the Lord had so powerfully confirmed to me about our future, I made a statement about how I didn’t know why God had not brought Christa to that same point (at this point, I was unaware that the Lord had given Christa the same heart based on previous conversations). Before I could finish, Christa interrupted me by telling me that the Lord had shown her and confirmed to her the same things about our future.

Christa shared with me some stories of what the Lord had shown her in Thailand. What was so amazing was the commonality between God’s work in her heart and His work in mine. One of my main prayers was for God to speak to us the same thing about our future during the last several weeks—to give us the same vision and passion for our future together. The ideas of grad school and global missions came to the forefront of what we both believed God wants for us. We talked about marriage as though it was a part of us, with confidence in God’s plans and will.

The excitement about future possibilities and certainties was evident in both of us, and this conversation clearly served to display God’s faithfulness to His name, plan for kingdom impact through our relationship, and purpose for each other to minister and serve alongside each other.

Checking In

It's been a while since I have typed and shared with others what has been happening with me. It's not that I haven't talked to people about my life, but that I haven't written to others about it. Don't get me wrong, I have journaled, typed, written, and spoken much about what is going on. I guess what I am trying to say is that I haven't blogged and shared with everyone what is happening. I miss that. I miss typing. I miss sharing my heart with everyone. It is my passion to write, type, and share with others of the Lord's work. So, here I am, typing again. It feels like home--a home I have not visited in a while, but one in which I see myself getting comfortable again, even as I write now.

The last time I blogged was October 2...

2006...

That was over a year ago. I hate that. But there is a part of that which I love: A lot has happened in the last year. There is much I cannot explain adequately, but here is a list of the major things that have happened since October 2, 2006:

• I started working as a youth pastor in Greensboro, GA (I've not been ordained or even licensed, but that is just what they call me)


• I graduated college and finished my Speech Communication degree


• I got engaged!

Of course that list leaves out many details. Such details would have been blogged about along the way, but for whatever reason, they weren't. Anyway, I digress. In addition to that brief list, I will add that I have experienced quite a change in myself. The Lord has moved so powerfully that much of me has changed--my outlook on life, my faith, my expectations, my heart, my desires, and so much more. It is not to say that I have given up my passions and my goals, but it is to say that they have been altered. Not lost, but enhanced. For those of you who have not been constantly kept up to date with the day to day details of my life, you might look at me now and say that I am a different person. I assure you, I have always been me, and that will never change. However, I will be the first to tell you that I am changed, and I can only hope that all of you say that when you look back on your life year to year. So it thrills me to know that, as I age, I grow.

Scripture after Scripture teaches us that we are works in progress, that there is something greater for which we still exist. For example:

• Philippians 1:6 "...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."


• Philippians 2:12 "...continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling."


• Hebrews 10:14 "because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."


• Philippians 3:12-14 "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."


• Hebrews 6:1-3 "Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so."

And the list goes on. This is the reason we change--for maturity, for what is ahead, for holiness, for growth, for completion. I echo Paul when I say that I am nowhere close to any of these attributes. But I strive for them. I pursue them. I yearn for them. This is my purpose and my aim.

I wish to share with you a glimpse of what God has done. As I mentioned earlier, I got engaged and am set to be married on January 4, 2008. I cannot wait! My fiance's name is Christa Kirby. She is amazing, and that is the understatement of a lifetime.

How it Began
I want to share with you the journey that has led us here, to the threshold of marriage. To begin, I will cover the basics. Christa and I met at SuperWow summer camps in 2006. We were both on staff and I was her boss. She would tell you that I was "technically" or "sort of" or "kind of" or "more or less" her boss, but I assure you, I was her boss. On paper at least. As getting to know each other began, we found that we didn't much care for one another. She was loud and pushy (or so I thought), and I was arrogant and obnoxious. I wish I could say that those characteristics are on my list of changes, but I am not certain about that. I will leave that to you.

However, as the summer progressed, we developed a mutual respect for each other. I got to see Christa serve in her passions and giftedness, and what a teacher she was (and is!). She observed me as I served an amazing staff at camp. We became friends by the end of the summer and, as we were both finishing undergraduate degrees at UGA, we had an excuse to catch up down the road in Athens. A few months passed, and we began to meet for lunch nearly every week and spoke on the phone quite consistently. By Christmas of 2006 I found that the respect I had for Christa was quickly growing into something more.

We continued to hang out and grow closer, and by February, we were dating. However, Christa always described us as "more than friends, but not engaged." Either way, it was quickly turning into something special. Skipping many of the details, by the summer, we began to recognize that the Lord was preparing us for something beyond all comprehension.

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What I would like to do now is offer you segments of our story over the next few weeks. I have most of our story journaled in Word documents and will post them periodically. I hope that you can be excited with us as we continue on this path God has marked out for us.

Two Major Concerns
On Friday, June 29, 2007, I sat down to lunch with my sister, Jessica, at Chick-fil-a at Alps and Baxter in Athens. As had become customary, my thoughts about and feelings for Christa began to surface not long into the conversation. Quickly arising were the sentiments of deep care and connection that I feel so certainly and powerfully with Christa. My sister and I began talking about the fact that I had been led heavily to consider and pursue marriage with Christa.

At that point, I began to voice two of the primary concerns (and pretty much the only reservations I had at all) I had about marriage, which were money for a ring and time before January (when Christa had planned to begin grad school, most likely in Chicago) to propose, be engaged, and get married. The Lord spoke to me about the first concern, the ring, during the lunch with Jessica. By the time in the conversation that I had brought these concerns up, my sister interrupted me and told me that my mother had my grandmother’s engagement ring. Much to my surprise, my grandmother had given my mother the ring years ago to give to me when I was ready to get engaged. This was the first I had heard about it, and honestly I did not give much more thought to this fact until later.

It was not until dinner with Christa that the second concern was addressed. That same night was the night Christa was to return home from Jekyll Island and a week of SuperWOW with 18 middle school students. We went to see a friend who had gone into labor at the hospital and then left to spend the rest of the evening together. Stevi B’s was our stop for dinner, and Christa and I began to talk as we ate potato pizza and drank Barq’s Root Beer. Not far into the conversation, Christa mentioned that she had been thinking about the grad school plan for January. She mentioned that for many reasons—relationships with students in her youth group, the training of a new youth pastor, logic and convenience, etc.—she had been seriously considering doing grad school online for the spring semester while remaining in the Athens area. Among her reasons mentioned was the fact that she was uncertain where our relationship was heading—said in a way to imply that there was consideration for a long-term commitment.

Christa and I watched a movie, said our goodbyes, kissed, and a day or two passed before I realized what happened. The Lord had provided answers to my two primary concerns about what He had laid on my heart—a ring and time for everything to transpire. Before all this happened, I was all but certain Christa and I were supposed to get married. I had asked myself what it would take to make me any more certain than I already was that I should marry Christa, and my answer was that nothing would make me any more certain. As far as I was concerned, I had seen the writing on the wall and heard the voice from heaven. I felt confident that the Lord wanted me to spend the rest of my life with her, but the logic of it didn’t pan out. That was where God stepped in and completely addressed and took care of my two primary concerns.

What was really amazing about all this was the fact that I don’t recall ever taking these two concerns to God in prayer. It was not that I doubted God and didn’t want to pray about it. In fact, God had answered or shown me that he was answering my prayers concerning my relationship with Christa. It was simply that I never really took these concerns to Him in prayer. I am not certain why, but when I considered what He had shown me and that I never really prayed about it, God spoke to me in an amazing way. I felt that He was telling me that He would have His glory and be God whether I asked Him to or not. He did not need my permission, and He did not need my prayers (although my prayers helped me to align myself with what He had in store to begin with). He was showing me that He was God on His own and for His name’s sake. This instance showed me that God was in everything, specifically the relationship with Christa and me, for His glory and not for my pleasure. This relationship is not just to please and satisfy Christa and me, but it is most importantly to bring glory to God.

Perfect Change

Matthew 5:43-48

43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Jesus is about change. A woman reached out and simply touched the cloak of Jesus, and she was changed. Five thousand men had their hunger satiated from five loaves of bread and two fish, and they were changed. Peter stepped out of the boat to walk on the water, and he was changed. Paul, on the Road to Damascus, left to kill followers of Christ, met Jesus along the way, and he was changed. A boy possesed by a demon received healing and freedom, and he was changed. A Samaritan woman, shamed and scorned by society and sin, met Jesus, and she was changed.

Everywhere Jesus went and in everything he did, he brought change. The above excerpt from the Sermon on the Mount is no different. The Jews of the day knew the law--forward and backward, up and down, left, right, and every which way. It was nothing new for them to hear a rabbi, a teacher such as Jesus, quote the law they had memorized and obeyed for so long. But what astounds them is when Jesus says, "But I tell you..." No normal man could take the divine law that stood firmly in Jewish culture and alter it without blaspheming. But, this man, this carpenter, this new rabbi was different. He changed the law, not to abolish it (Matthew 5:17-18), but to fulfill it.

The change in the law of the time, that Jesus lays out in this sermon on a mountainside, is meant to bring about a "righteousness [that] surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law" so that the kingdom of heaven is accesible (Matthew 5:20). Thus, he raises the standard and ups the ante in truly living for God.

It is easy to treat well those who favor us. If someone is nice to you, then, naturally, you can reciprocate that kindness. Jesus says that simply loving your neighbor is no longer enough. He says, "How about loving your enemies? You know, those people who rub you the wrong way--The ones who cut you off in traffic and laugh on their way by, that person at work who brown noses the boss and takes the credit you deserve, the one who went behind your back and dated the person you liked, the person who lied to you, who hates you, who kicked your dog, who..." You get the idea. Jesus says that true righteousness, that which is worthy of the kingdom of heaven, shows love--real love from the heart--even to the ones who are difficult to love. If we love only those who love us, then we are no different from tax collecters, who were the most hated of all people for their extortion and usury, and pagans, who were irreligious and hedonistic.

But Jesus sums up this argument of loving one's enemies by saying, "Be perfect." This word, perfect, comes from a Greek word that means mature, complete, or finished. Paul uses it in Colossians 1:28 to talk about the destination of the Christ follower, the form that a believer is to take on when growth in Christ culminates. This perfection, however, that Christ calls us to, is for today. We find this perfection in obeying Christ's commands and applying the change he calls us to. Perfection is not found through our works, but rather through our desire to obey. John Wesley, founder of the Methodist church, would say that such perfection is meant to be defined as the journey to perfection--that as we strive to be like Christ and follow his commands with faith in him, we attain perfection because of his presence working in and through us.

Regardless, perfection is not an option for followers of Christ. Perfection is expected. And herein lies the truth that astounds me--as believers in Jesus, we are perfect.

Colossians 1:21-22 "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation..."

Truth and Reality

Those of you who know me well have probably heard me say something along these lines: the way we define words dictates the way we define and live our lives. I believe that wholeheartedly. For instance, the word "faith" means different things to different people. To some, it means to believe. To others, something else. This is why James chapter 2 seeks to redefine what that word really means. Many people in James' time were saying that they believed in God, but didn't live lives to confirm that statement. James confronts simply believing by saying, "You believe there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder" (James 2:19). He goes on to say that true faith is justified by action--from the Greek word pistis which means "trust, but with an implication that actions based on that trust may follow" (Zondervan Concordance).

I would even go so far as to argue that nonverbal cues carry definitive meaning as well. Certain stares mean certain things to some. Everyone knows "the look" that all women have mastered and the smug countenance that many men today carry. These all mean something, but vary from person to person. The point is, we are all different. Various life experiences, cultures, outlooks, passions, understanding, and the like make using words such as faith problematic at times. Not everyone views the world through our filtered lens, and thus I see it as vital to define words that we hold to as guiding principles in our lives.

Truth is such a word...

As a follower of Christ, truth carries significant meaning. The word "truth" is used almost 200 times in the New Testament alone, and over 100 times in the Gospels. Jesus, our Lord and Savior, calls himself the truth (John 14:6), and also says that knowing the truth will set us free (John 8:32). Rob Bell, pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church and author of Velvet Elvis says, "To be a Christian is to claim truth wherever you find it" (Velvet Elvis). Even those who are not Christians would claim that truth is substantial to life. Philosophers from Plato, to Aristotle, and to those who study today have sought their whole lives to discover and define truth. Truth is an enormous part of our lives. Christian or not, truth matters; and we all put some sort of stock in it.

But what is truth? Why is it so important? And why should we care about it?

I do not claim to have discovered something new. Solomon, the man of wisdom, says himself, "There is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one can say, 'Look! This is something new'?" (Ecclesiastes 1:9-10). If it wasn't new thousands of years ago, it surely isn't new today. But what follows here has given me a fresh perspective on truth in this world.

First, I came to study what truth means in Scripture by considering what it connotes in our world today. The word truth shows up in our courts. An oath is sworn before testimony in a court--"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?" Questions follow, and answers analogous with truth are assumed to as well. When someone lies under oath, there is a punishment for false testimony. Thus, telling the truth has become, to many of us, not lying because there is punishment for lying. If we don't lie, we are assumed to have told the truth because we are not punished. But you can not lie and still fail to present the truth. Those who tell the truth don't lie, but as Scripture defines truth, we see that there is more to truth than not lying.

There are several derivations in the Greek language that give us the word truth in English. However, there are two primary origins: amen and aletheia. Amen means the truth and is a formula for solemn expression of certainty. We find amen mostly in the Gospels, where Jesus uses it to precede saying something important. In the NIV translation, it reads "I tell you the truth" and comes from the original Greek, which says, "Amen, amen." Jesus reiterates himself and emphasizes when he has something important to say. What is interesting is that nearly every time he speaks, he begins by saying, "Amen, amen." Perhaps everything Jesus has to say is both very important and very true.

The word aletheia shows up a few times in the Gospels, but mainly comes into play in the remaining letters of the New Testament, from Romans to 3 John. In its Greek context, it means "truth, truthfulness, corresponding to reality" (Zondervan Concordance). I accentuate corresponding to realitiy here because it presents a side of the truth that intrigues me. John 14:6 uses this Greek word for truth where Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Jesus essentially says here, "I am the reality."

When we look at themes in Scripture, we find an overarching theme of the words lost and found. Those who are lost do not see the world for the way it really is. They are termed lost because they cannot find the way to truth, which is Jesus saving sinners and giving abundance to those born to obtain it. Jesus comes on the scene, and says, "I am here to show the lost the way to reality. This is how it really is: You have no life now, but I come to give it to you. What you know is a lie. This is the truth. I will set you free. Follow me."

Truth is a representation of reality. This is why Jesus came to earth--to show us the way things really are. God desires truth to be known, and says himself, "I, the Lord, speak the truth" (Isaiah 45:19). Truth is found in knowing Christ, because Jesus IS truth. That is why Rob Bell is able to say that claiming truth where you find it is the essence of being a Christian. Colossians 1:16-17 says, "...all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." The world revolves around Christ, having been created by him and consisting in him. The core of this world we know is the truth of Jesus Christ. This is reality, and this is truth.

Because of Christ being truth and being at the center of all things true, God commands us to speak the truth. In the prophetic book of Zechariah, God speaks to Zechariah of his promise to bless and restore Jerusalem after the return from captivity. He says, "These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this" (Zechariah 8:16-17, Truth here comes for the Hebrew word met which means, what conforms to reality in contrast to what is false). If we realize that truth throughout Scripture means a representation of reality, and reality revolves around Jesus, and Jesus lives in us, then this should give us a good perspective of how we are to present ourselves.

We are to present ourselves truthfully. Here is the way I see it. We are to speak what is true in contrast to what is false and in correspondence to what is real. The most important way we can do this is to share the truth of Christ to the world. There is no greater expression of truth and reality than to testify to the truth of Christ to a lost world. This is why Jesus came and died--so that we could know him and know truth. There is really no more elaboration needed here.

Also, I believe we are to speak truth to others on an everyday life level--involving feelings, thoughts, and the like. I am not saying that if a guy cuts you off in traffic you should pull up next to him and tell him he is number one, even if it is what you really feel. What I am saying is that there are things beneficial to yourself and to others that need to be presented with truth. Confession is something key. I blogged about confessing a couple weeks ago, and can attest that confession of self and sin to God and others is essential to right living. Telling yourself, God, and others what reality in your life is, in relation to sin, leads to restoration and healing.

Speaking truth to one another involves some level of openness that is hard to achieve. I also believe, that since there are times to reveal all truth and times not to, that we should discover what this means in our own lives. I won't say that others should live as I live. But, I have adapted some guidelines for revealing truth in my own life that have led to positive ends.

Reveal the real truth when...

It benefits the listener - As a 22-year old single guy, this aspect of truth seems to surface in relationships, in particular, relationships with the opposite sex. I have been on the wrong end, as the one who hurts and the one who gets hurt, by truth being kept in. One thing that I have found is that, although the truth may hurt right now, it will hurt much more in the future if a lie is prolonged. In relationships in general, dating or not, the truth hurts the most when you realize that what you thought was true for a period of time turns out to be a lie. This is especially true when someone you care about and trust has lied to you. Again, I don't just speak as the victim here. Either way, it spawns pain. So, when it benefits those who hear it, speak the truth.

Speaking the truth to others stretches beyond vocalizing things that may hurt. Compliments, encouragement, and words of affirmation always benefit those who listen. When we see someone do well at something, let's tell them. When someone looks nice, say it. When a person has a gift or talent, point it out.

It benefits yourself - Not only does speaking the truth benefit others, but it also benefits yourself. I have times when I feel something inside of me that grows so strong that I get to a point where I can no longer contain it. No matter what end revealing this truth brings, the result is always contentment for myself. When you compliment someone truthfully, there is a blessing for the hearer and for yourself. When your truth saves future pain and confusion, there is also relief in staving off evil and prolonged pain.

In conclusion...

As James argues faith is more than simply believing, Scripture argues truth is more than not lying. Truth portrays reality and reality portrays Christ. As representatives of Christ, we are to live truthfully and speak truthfully to one another. After all, the reason we live in and see truth is that Christ revealed reality to us in the first place. Should we not then, with the same determination, spread that truth to others? But, we live and function in a world of relationships. These relationships are vital to our success. Truth and reality in these relationships enhance contentment and satisfaction.

Psalm 15:1-2

"Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?

He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart."

Speak the truth.

The Basics for Abundance

This specific blog has no pretense of being profound, no in-depth study to affirm its claims. This is purely extemporaneous.

I have found that, as I study and seek to intelligibly explain my life, that there is little profound in the conclusions I draw. Or, perhaps I should say, the conclusions at which I arrive appear far simpler than preconceived notions would lead me to believe. College education teaches me to have a critical mindset and to approach situations with intelligence and logic. This is not a mistruth in the field of Speech Communication, in which I currently study. Rhetoricians and those who study Speech Communication seek to explain rhetoric intrinsically, based on things of or relating to a speech or text, and extrinsically, based on things that are external to the speech but contextual and historically relevant.

As greater than three years of such schooling has trained me, I now adapt those methods of study to my examination of Scripture. The results are astounding. What follows is my discovery to living an abundant life.

To live in abundance one must pray, read Scripture, and fellowship with believers.

Is this intellectual and profound? Maybe not. But why would God make the answers to everyday life and to life abundant, which he promises to give, recondite and mysterious? The answer is, he wouldn't.

John 10:10 says, "I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (NASB). Reading on verse 14 says, "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me--just as the Father knows me and I know the Father" (NIV). In verse 10, Jesus uses the word "they" to refer to his "sheep," as used later in verse 14. Connecting the two, abundant life comes from knowing Christ and being known by him.

Therefore, we need to know what it takes to know Christ. I feel no need to explain deeply why prayer, study of Scripture, and fellowship with believers is essential to abundance. So I will be brief.

Prayer is our communication with God. It leads to self-realization and heightened understanding of God. George Whitfield, one of the most widely recognized faces in Colonial America, who traveled to nearly every town and city spreading the word of God--a man who led Benjamin Franklin, one regarded as a paradigm of intellect and not a believer in Christ, to empty his pockets of money into Whitfield's coffer-- says this of prayer: "...and [prayer] is so essential to Christianity, that you might as reasonably expect to find a living man without breath, as a true Christian without the spirit of prayer and supplication." Prayer is fundamental to abundant life. It enables us to know Christ.

Scripture is God's Word to us. Knowing it and studying it reveals to the consumer the character of the triune God--God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. It is a revelation of the one who creates, the one who saves, and the one who sustains. John 1:1 reads, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Jesus is the Word, the logos, of God, a deity and communication of who God is and what he is like. We know him through reading from Genesis to Revelation. It is him, Jesus. From start to finish, Jesus Christ, the Messiah. The Old Testament points to his coming, the gospels point to his presence, and the rest points to his return. Knowing Scripture enables us to know Christ.

Fellowship with believers is part of continuing Christ's work in the world. In fact, it is vital to continuing Christ's work. Acts 4 discusses how the believers share their possesions with each other, how they meet each other's needs, how they pray for each other, and how they fellowship. All of these actions mimic those done by Christ to the people he encountered. Followers of Christ show his love, extend his grace, and are like him. Christ reveals himself through believers. Fellowshipping with believers enables us to know Christ.

The trend is that prayer, reading Scripture, and fellowship with believers all lead to knowing Christ. And knowing Christ leads to abundance. The funny thing is, as Christians, these are the first things we learn, the fundamentals, the basics, of our faith. Why then do so many of us struggle to find abundance? My problem is often this: I seek things profound, and I strive to for the intellectual answers. So, perhaps you can align your mind with the frustration I have felt when finding that the answers to life's most difficult questions are always the same--pray, read your Bible, and go to church.

Herein lies the most intriguing aspect of my analysis: it works. Thus, I won't attempt to complicate it anymore.

Pray, study Scripture, and fellowship with Christ-followers, and you will know Christ, and in turn, know abundance.

These are the basics for abundance.

This is Why I Type

I can't count the times that I have opened up the "Create New Post" page in this blog and just sat there typing. Paragraphs come and go, and most of them never make it to the actual blog. Whether I publish a post or not, I love to type and write my thoughts. Several folders on my computer include Word documents that are gorged with incomplete sentences, questions, thoughts, and rants of frustration. There is something about jotting down what's in my head, despite the difficulty in decoding what's really going on up there, that helps me to process what I have learned. Although there is a lot of value for myself in typing and thinking, I hope that it stretches beyond that. Sifting through my experience teaches me a lot, but what really keeps me typing is the idea that it may mean something to someone else.

As a follower of Christ, I believe there is no experience that is meant just for an individual. Why else would Christ always remind us of loving others? Granted, some events in life directly benefit myself and no one else around me. But, indirectly, if experience and trials occur in order to grow and mature us, then they allow interaction with others that build the kingdom of God more effectively. I don't pretend to ignore or discount the comments people make on the blog here and general comments that suggest what I have to say actually means something to others. Those comments encourage me and give me reason to keep typing. This is why I type. Because I know it means something.

However, as I desire to say something that makes a difference, frequently I realize that words flow and lines fill with phrases and sentences that don’t carry much meaning. Many times I open my mouth to speak and have absolutely nothing to articulate. And for a person who loves to talk and type, studies human communication, and writes endlessly about it, it is humbling to consider my utter inability at times to actually communicate. I don’t know if what follows here will bear the meaning I intend, but it is all I can muster. It is all that comes off these fingers.

Lately, I have been examining passages in Scripture that talk about confession, healing, and restoration with God. Passages like James 5:13-16 that tell us confession leads to healing. And Isaiah 6:1:8 that iterates seeing the Lord for who he is shines light on who we are and reveals our total ruin. The end is restoration to who we were created to be. The paths I have recently traversed all lead to this same conclusion. Confession is necessary for healing, and healing is necessary for restoration.

Confession…

Healing…

Restoration…

I need restoration. The katartizō restoration found in 1 Peter 5:10 that puts things back in order, the restoration that mends what is broken, and makes complete the things unfinished. I need healing—Iaomai healing that brings freedom. I need to confess. The Exmologeō confession from Acts 19:18 that openly admits wrong. Every destination has its journey; every end has its means. Here is how to arrive: Confession. Healing. Restoration.

I confess…

I don’t have it all together, but I act like I do. I struggle, but say all is well. I hurt, and fight to hide the pain. I yearn to teach, but can’t stand being taught. I say I’m not greedy, but I can’t let go of what’s not mine to begin with. I say, “Everything will be fine,” but don’t believe it. I refute that I covet, but want to have what others do. I say I can handle it alone and deny my need for God.

There is so much more to say, I confess.

This message may be from me and directly for me. But maybe somewhere in there is something for you. My experience is not meant just for me. So I share it with you.

I want you to know me. I want me to know me. I want to be real, transparent, and open—with myself, with you, and with others. God, I confess, I need to be healed. I want to be restored. Mend what is broken, put things back in order, and make complete this shattered soul.

This is why I type tonight. For you, Lord.

Chillin' with James

Like I said in my last post, I have been chewing on James 5:13-16. There is so much more to it going through my head than will ever make it down on paper or blog. But, here is a little bit of what I think. The first part consists of a series of notes and commentary that I developed from researching the Greek words and meanings. So, by itself, that section may not make much sense. But, it gives the thought proccess for how I arrived at my interpretation of the passage at the end of this post. If nothing else, digging through this passage helps me tremendously. So, if it only confuses you, then at least it wasn't totally in pointless.

James 5:13-16 "Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and annoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous man is powerful and effective."

The states of a believer and the proper response

In Trouble - v.13 kakopatheo meaning "enduring hardship, to suffer trouble"
Trouble, here, is very vague. But it's vague for a good reason. James does not say, "do you have financial trouble" or "is any one of you having marital trouble?" James leaves specifics behind because prayer is essential in all trouble. A Christian is to pray through every sort of trouble that comes his way. Prayer does not equal the end to hardship. However, prayer is the most powerful mechanism we have to get through hardship.

Happy - v.13 euthymeo meaning "to keep up one's courage, to be cheerful"
A result of happiness in a believer should be to sing praises to God, we call these hymns or worship songs. These are to be sung because of the state of one's life and heart being reconciled to God. Happiness does not come from circumstance, it comes from something deeper, something from the heart. If to be happy means to have courage or to be cheerful, there is an implication that circumstance is irrelevant. One may be cheerful if in a situation that requires no courage. Likewise, one can be courageous, but not necessarily cheerful. The Greek form of happy means to be cheerful while maintaining courage, or faith. A good example of true happiness, of a state of euthymeo, is in Acts 16:25, where Paul and Silas are imprisoned: "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God." Moments later, the prison quakes violently and the doors fly open. A heart truly happy, one courageously faithful and one cheerful, despite circumstance, prompts God's response.

Sick - v.14 astheneo meaning "to be weak, invalid, or powerless"
The context of this verse rules out that the word "sick" refers to physical health. God gives people talents and gifts so that they may use them to solve problems. To some he gives the ability to speak well, or to others physical strength. And to others, God gives the ability to understand medicine and to be innovative in its application. We call these people doctors. But James does not say that if you are sick, then you should call a doctor. Doctors deal with physical matters, but "elders of the church" deal with spiritual matters. Since James tells a sick man to call the elders, he must then be referring to those who are spiritually weak, invalid, or powerless. In addition, the following verses speak of sinning, forgiveness, confession, prayer and healing--all spiritual matters.

Well - v.15 sozo meaning "to save, to rescue, to deliver, to heal, and by extension to be in right relationship with God"
A spiritually sick person (remember, James is talking about believers) is weak and often powerless. The idea is that sick here is the opposite of well, and wellness is the aim of the believer. To be well, or healed is the reward of a "prayer offered in faith." As the instance with Paul and Silas in prison and Scripture overall show us, faith moves God. The response a believer is to have in states of trouble, happiness, and sickness is to have faith. So, in good times and bad, faith is the answer. Faith leads to healing. But there is more.

Healed - v.16 iaomai meaning "to be healed, freed"
To traverse from sickness to health, or being well, James says, "confess your sins to each other and pray for each other." The healing comes when believers support each other and faithfully rely on God together. Confession and prayer are the key ways for believers to support one another and find healing for each other. The healing we are to receive through confession and prayer is freedom.

Righteous - v.16 dikaios meaning "upright, one who is in proper relationship with God, in accord with God's standards"
The implication of this passage is that elders of a church and those a spiritually sick person confides in to receive prayer to become well are people who live in accordance with God's standards. You don't visit a dentist if you have a heart problem. Likewise, you do not trust a spiritually weak or incapable person to help you become well.



Here is my interpreted version of James 5:13-16:

Is any one of you enduring hardship or suffering any sort of trouble? Then it is essential that he pray to make it through the trials. Is anyone truly happy and strong in faith? Then he should sing to God no matter the circumstance. Is anyone feeling weak, invalid or powerless spiritually? Then he needs to call the those who live upright and in accordance with God's standards and confess openly the sins in his life. Then, when believers pray over him, he will be healed, and he will be freed. Therefore, it is vital that believers trust each other through open confession and support one another with faithful prayer so that freedom and life in Christ can be lived to the full. The prayers of righteous believers prompt God's response.

Pictures and a Preview

The Pictures:
In the habit of taking pictures, I went to the Georgia Aquarium with my dad today. Here are a few of the pictures I took.








This is the skeleton of some big thing. I think it is fake, but still makes for a good picture.













There was a strange green light that I couldn't stop taking pictures of. This one is my favorite.


















This is the aquarium from the outside.


















They had some boat that was built as part of a play area for kids. This is the helm of the boat.
















This fish is just chilling for the camera. I took about five pictures of him before he moved. I'm not sure if it's a "he," but you know what I mean.









The Preview:
James 5:13-16 "Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and annoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous man is powerful and effective."

I've been chewing on this passage tonight, and look for my thoughts on it here in a couple days. Honestly, I need to consider the words of trouble, happiness, sickness, healing, and confession, as much as anything. I hope I'm ready for this.

I'll be back with you soon.

Stairs and Life Lessons

Me and a couple friends went camping at Cloudland Canyon in Northwest Georgia this week. For years I have seen pictures of this state park and have really wanted to go there to see the sights--breathtaking sunsets and sunrises, picturesque ravines and canyon walls, and graceful rivers and waterfalls. But, had you told me what really awaited me there, I don't think I would have gone. Allbeit my breath was taken away, but not as I had anticipated. What did I find that left me breathless? Not sunsets or rises, not ravines or canyon walls, not rivers, not waterfalls. But stairs. Endless stairs, zigging and zagging, stacked one upon another for as far as I could see.

526 stairs to be exact. Not to mention the fact that we hiked over two miles of narrow paths and hills just to be rewarded with daunting stairs. And we went down and then back up EVERY ONE of them. 1052 total steps. To put this in perspective, most staircases for a normal story in a house are about 12 steps. In order to climb 1052 steps, you would have to traverse the up and down of your household staircase 88 times. Go and do it. I'll be here when you get back. And, after you finish, if you don't want to go outside and kick your neighbor's dog, then I count you a saint in my book.

In theory, there was actually a point to these monstrous stairs. On a normal day in Cloudland Canyon, there is a creek. This creek actually helped carve the canyon out over thousands and thousands of years. And as this creek makes its way down the canyon, it forms a waterfall and a beautiful pool where the stairs end. The problem we faced is that there had been a serious shortage of water, some may call it a drought, in this region of the state. Thus, when we got to the bottom of the stairs, there was no waterfall. This was not really a surprise to us because on the way down the steps it began to occur to us that we probably wouldn't see a waterfall, as we had seen no creek. Putting two and two together, no creek or source meant no waterfall.

The idea of turning back before we reached the bottom came up from all three members of this expedition. I mean, the weather was dreary and overcast, it was starting to drizzle, and nightfall was fast approaching. We really had little incentive to go on and stare at a dry rockface and an empty riverbed. But, honestly, there was something inside me that didn't settle when thinking of turning back after coming so far. So we kept going, because turning back would have left regret. I'm not a huge fan of giving up on something. In fact, I will often exhaust myself and others around me simply to complete a task I began. Whether the task is worth completing all the time is another story, but quitting in the middle of something takes something from me. Not to say I never quit, but when I do, I give a part of me up. And I hate doing that.

So, we went on... and on and on and on. Returning up the stairs that seemed simple to travel down was quite a feat. It was on the way back up that the thoughts of returning halfway before began to make a lot of sense. Burning thighs, shortness of breath, and the haunting realization that at 22 I am in terrible shape, seemed to mock me as I struggled up all 526 stairs. But I made it, all the way. And there is nothing that can take that from me. Ever.

The lesson I learned here is not something unheard of, and I won't even say it's not a cliche. But what I was reminded of was to finish what I started. There was a journey I started years ago to pursue what God has called me to be. Along the way, I have looked for markers and snapshots that would satisfy my longing to arrive. We see things, as humans, in instants and moments. Seeing the big picture, and the way things will pan out is impossible for us. But a picture defines a moment, and without a series of moments and pictures, the movie and the process of life never takes its final form and never makes sense. We will not arrive if we do not finish what we started. Or better yet, we will not arrive if we do not let God finish what he started. He sees the finished product, the outcome of a life of following Christ, the whole movie.

The journey may seem long and, along the way, we may wonder, "Why not turn back?" But satisfaction comes in completing the journey, and perfection is found simply in striving for God moment to moment, and the time between the snapshots. There are stairs to climb, many of them. Whether or not we know where they lead or how we will make it are not for us to worry about. What is ours is to trust in the God of the universe, to trust that the one "who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6).

Go on, climb those stairs.

Update

So I went to Lynchburg last week, and I must say that I love it up there. The people there are great. Jerry Falwell came into O'Charley's, where I was eating, and everyone just freaked out. Up there, people revere him like unto a god. It's crazy. Anyway, I got to play golf at a really fun course, which is definitely a plus. Also, I checked out the seminary, or at least a building. It's just a building, but there is something about visiting a place to see if it's where God wants you.

I wouldn't say that I went up there and God broke through the clouds and said, "You must come here." But, I will say that there is a part of me, a huge part, that absolutely loves it there. The atmosphere, the school, the people there, all of it just seem right for me. I don't know where I will end up in a year after I graduate UGA, if all goes as planned. I know that often God's call is to "Just go," and he will show up the way as we go. I will just go day to day knowing that God is faithful to his promises. And he promises to never leave us nor forsake us. I will just go trusting in that.

Still, I seek the right path at the right time. I know, however, that no matter where I go or what I do, there is nothing that can take me away from the vast love of God. So I pray and strive to live today the life he has called me to live.

The Future

After six amazing weeks of summer camps, I find myself at home with nothing to do but think. As I embark on my senior year at UGA, the future is a popular topic of my daily thoughts. Logic and formality tell me that seminary should be the next step for me after I finish my undergrad. The future is open to God's leading, but I am definitely considering several seminary options.

Next week, I plan to travel to Lynchburg, VA to visit Liberty Theological Seminary, and a few of my friends who attend school at Liberty. I also plan on getting more information on and visiting Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Texas. As I look toward the future, I have no clue what is in store. The most intriguing aspect of the future is that it is all but certain--especially where God is concerned. That being said, this same intriguing aspect is also the most frustrating to a person such as myself--one who likes to have a grasp of what's going on.

Regardless of the Lord's leading, I eagerly await seeing his plan and call come to fruition in my life. Years of what we think mundane and unimportant are often the most important seasons in life where God grows and cultivates us for the future. Frustration creeps in when we don't comprehend God's plan. But, the mysterious nature of God is one of his most important characteristics. If we could see him in his fulness, then there would be no mystery in his image, no faith in following him. Remember Moses, after saying, "Lord, show me your glory!" was only permitted to see God's back as he passed by.

So, where the future is concerned, I am reminded of the Lord's vastness in knowledge, in character, and in calling. I don't pretend to have the answers, but I know that God is in all things, and that he leads those who seek him and walk by faith. My prayer is that I can walk by faith and find him, knowing him more and more each day. Pray for me as I venture into unveiling God's future for me.