Stuff...

Sitting once again in Toomer's.  I love these nights.  Reflecting and relearning the graces taught to me by the LORD through my experiences, and today, by my beloved brothers.  It's good to learn to just sit down, shut up, and just listen.  My tendency to speak only fills my ears with the foolishness of my own voice.  I usually have my earphones in, but it's actually quite enjoyable just hearing what all is going on around me; sirens passing by, two different conversations at the sets of couches to either side of me, the barista working and cleaning behind the counter, the elevator music coming through the speakers (the least enjoyable part).  I know that's awfully cliche, but consider that a mid-blog status update, or "tweet" if you will.

Is it vain to mention that I'm hand-writing this first because I enjoy my handwriting?  If so, sue me.  It's much better than digital font, and takes more time and effort to create.  Plus, it makes me think before and as I write, and to actually somewhat proofread.

So, I'm blogging yet again, at the instruction of Weaver:  a reminder to write down my thoughts (shout out to my boi), hence your reading this (if you are, in fact, reading this) stream of handwritten, verbal vomiting of semi-coherent thoughts.  How bout that for imagery?  You're welcome.

I'm also thinking about a conversation Weaver and me had right before I left the dub to come up here.  A "call" to ministry and missions:  do we actually one besides His telling us to go and the example of Christ?  My thoughts:  No.  Oey.  Now, that's not to say that just anyone can pastor and shepherd a church, or that everyone has to move overseas.  But it does have obvious implications and demands upon my (our) life (lives), that I (we) so often shik and shrug off.  The command is clear, despite us.

At the risk of sounding like David Platt, I want to draw your attention to something that drew mine yesterday morning while reading in Jeremiah.  I had gotten to the portion of Jeremiah where the LORD passes out judgement on Judah and Israel, and upon all over her enemies.
                         Side note:  the music is nearing the point of being unbearable, here in Toomer's
In the 49th chapter, judgement comes to Edom, who is actually the brother (Esau) of Israel (Jacob).  The LORD says this regarding Edom:

"Flee, turn back, dwell in depths, O inhabitants of Dedan!  For I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time when I punish him... but I have stripped Esau bare; I have uncovered his hiding places, and he is not able to conceal himself.  His children are destroyed, and his brothers, and his neighbors; and he is no more."

Pretty intense, huh:  It's about to hit the fan for ole Edom, but see and appreciate what the LORD says afterwards:

"Leave your fatherless children; I will keep them alive; and let you widows trust in ME."

The LORD is willing to punish sinful nations through the loss of that nation's children, but He Himself maintains and sustains the lives of the wretched by being the Father to the orphans, and a Husband to the widows.

Sound like a social gospel?  It's isn't.  It's THE Gospel.  A social, good works gospel makes us into sinful Israel, Judah, and Edom.  But the Gospel of Christ, our Bridegroom, saves those of us who are just as much widows and orphans as those of Edom.

Now, I guess I'll stop there, as it's getting slightly labored, and I don't like making the Gospel merely obligatory.  I mean, it is totally necessary, but not something to be labored.  God desires obedience over sacrifice.

These past few days, or really since the beginning of this semester, have proven to be the setting for God to place in my heart the most delightful of changes in faith and attitudes.  I (not saying I won't still struggle, or that the lesson is completely learned) can now turn to and seek after my Great God and Savior Jesus Christ through the Spirit, not out a feeling of fear or guilt or crying in doubt, but as to quench a thirst for His Presence and in the security and assurance to say as David:

The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me lied down in green pastures.  He leads me beside still waters.  He restores my soul.  He leads me in paths of righteousness for HIS Name's sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil," Why? "For YOU are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I SHALL dwell in the House of the LORD FOREVER!

Psalm 23

Brothers and Sisters, let me tell you, to realize that my desire for Him is not fed by legalistic compulsion, but as a thirsting for the water for which the deer pants to quench its thirst and to restore its strength; there is no greater feeling!  To know that it all, everything (i.e. guilt, sin, distance, fear, doubt, compulsion, failure) has been swallowed up by Christ when He drank the Cup, that is the Power of this AMAZING Gospel.  To say as Paul that he is NOT ashamed of the Gospel, that is purely God's grace, and it is not to be found in my strength, but in the Spirit.


My flesh is full of doubt, but for Him to allow us to look past the flesh and to scoff at its weakness and frailties in the Grace of God, not pridefully, to the worthiness and ability of Christ to fulfill all righteousness, this is the gift of the Body of Christ.  As a man puts the ring around the finger of his wife-to-be as a seal of his love, so has Christ sealed us up, not only around our fingers, but yea, around our whole selves.  Around our very souls and spirits and bodies and words and actions and lives!  We have not received a ring that will pass away, but we have received the very Spirit of God, God HIMSELF!  God Himself is the guarantee and the guarantor of our salvation:

 Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with EVERY spiritual blessing in the Heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.  In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved....   

Ephesians 1:3-6

Referring back to my previous paragraph:

 

In Him you also, when you heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory! (Exclamation mark my own)

Ephesians 1:13-14

As being such, we can be like our father, Abraham: 

 

He (Abraham) did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead... No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he great STRONG in His faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised.

Romans 4:19, 20-21

We stand not in fear and doubt as we reflect on the weakness and the animosity towards God of this flesh, but we stand secure that the promise lies not in the ability and power of our bodies and wills, but in the very Word and Covenant of God!  Our flesh is just as dead as Abraham's, not necessarily in the physical sense but in the spiritual inability to choose, obey, and chase after God.  But even that flesh shall be redeemed and sanctified, and is being so even as you read this.

I say this not to make it about mere man, but about the glorious faithfulness and grace of God!  Who are we that He should consider us, as the psalmist says?  Who are we that He should pour such grace over us?  Grace so that we are not only saved (and I don't mean only saved, as if it were some small thing) but that we can have faith and assurance that we are such?  Grace to give us saving faith and a faith and knowledge that He is faithful!

Joshua 1:8
     "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in It; for then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have success."  (NASB)

John 17:17
     "Sanctify them in the Truth. Your Word is Truth."  (NASB)

I start off with these two scriptures to simply state the fact that there's power in the Word of God.  Christ said it Himself.  I say all that under the conviction that I don't do that myself, but nonetheless, ground yourself in the Words of Christ.

How deep does our legalism go... Well, mine is entrenched so deep within me, only God knows the bottom. How easy it overtakes me. How much I want to please the Father, and the sinfulness of the flesh perverts that desire for the LORD and twists it into a fear of legalism--hence, legalism in itself while I seek to not be legalistic.

Terrific... just terrific.

I love God, oh that it could be that simple. Oh, that it is that simple! Well, it is, and it isn't, for the flesh wars constantly against us, and the accuser strives to convince the Elect that we have more to do than to just have Christ. Silly enemy; stupid flesh; weak faith within me.

He has told you, oh man, what is good, and what does He require of you but to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8

I do not want to push an antinomian thought, for that's wrong and heretical, nor do I want to insinuate that we can do anything in and of ourselves, as Paul so eloquently (no sarcasm intended, because really, it's beautiful... well, depressing, actually): "...I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin," (Rom 7:14b), as well as, "For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not." (v.18). What I am saying is that by the foreknowledge of God, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled by His blood, grace and peace are ours (paraphrasing Peter 1:2). He has equipped us for every good work, so what's my issue?

That's the question.... how simple the answer...

Me

Hmmm... what to do, what to do.... It's been quite a while, those of you who actually read my treasure trove of intelligent ramblings and insightful proverbs... I sit here finally done with my sophomore year... superb. I don't seem all that affected by that. Nothing weird, nothing that stops me and makes me thing, "wow, I'm now a junior." Just another year.

I don't know what I'll do with this next year. I wish I could say I have a clear calling from the Lord, but as of right now, I'm a little ignorant of His plans for me, but you know, I'm alright with that. I'm not called to know my future. I'm called to bless the Lord. Platt's Radical sits on the couch in the living room of the Dub. I should pick it back up and finish it. He had me, excuse me, the Lord was using Platt to give me almost a militant dedication to Himself. I was enjoying that. Unfortunately, finals got me all kinds of screwed up, which is an excuse I don't like to use because it doesn't reflect well on my ability to militantly follow the Lord when He calls me into overwhelmingly busy seasons in life. If I can't handle dedication to Him when I'm being abundantly catered for by His provision of scholarships and parental aid, then what will happen when I'm in the "real" world (whatever that really means)? Fortunately, His grace is sufficient. Salvation is His, and Sanctification is His. The Holy Spirit will bring me to completion (or, at least a good bit closer it, though eventually perfection and completion), I just hate these speed bumps I drive myself into.

God is sovereign. period...

I would like to say that I have some deep thought about the Lord that He as given me in my pursuit (His drawing me near) of Him. Unfortunately, I haven't been pursuing all that well, much less, have thought too deeply about Him. So, the well is dry here, in Wesley. Which is good for you, cause the Lord overflows with Water to quench your thirsts, as if I were your last resort before turning to God.

I've grown increasingly tired of my tongue. I'd cut it out if I weren't so attached to it (see, that's a joke. Laugh. Though that also speaks of my inability to give up the things that separates me from Him. It takes His scalpel and surgical precision to remove my spiritual tumors). If I say something hurtful or unnecessary to you, feel free to smite me a solid blow, physically or spiritually.

P.S: God has been thoroughly gracious in His grading me academically.

P.P.S: Make much of His Name.

P.P.P.S: Feel free to pray for me. Pray for wisdom for me (toss up some James chapter 1-type requests for me). Pray that we'll have the humility and love to seek His will and not our own selfish desires.

P.P.P.P.S: If God isn't an immediate friend of yours, or you can't think of Him as being an immediate companion, let me assure you, He is. Don't forget it. He is a personal God. Christ is King, never downplay that, but He is a friend that knows all of you, but refuses to leave the garbage in your life, for He is TOO holy to allow you to be less than His standard. He won't settle. It's not your work, though. It's His, and His ALONE.

P.P.P.P.P.S: I hope the post scripts have gotten ridiculous.

P.P.P.P.P.P.S: If they aren't annoying you yet,

P.P.P.P.P.P.P.S: They certainly are, now

P.P.P.P.P.P.P.P.S: Go do something productive, like a valuable member of society.

P.P.P.P.P.P.P.P.Peace out.

P.P.P.P.P.P.P.P.P.P.S: I hope you appreciated my turning those post scripts into a studder, it was hard work being so creative.

Secret Church was awesome. Gospel-heavy; Christ-centered. I thoroughly enjoyed the presence of such wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ, who challenge me, and whom I admire and long for the same love which they have for Christ. I shudder to think about the fact that the only times I truly look to Christ and yearn with a broken and contrite heart is when I sit in the guilt of sin I when reflecting upon my days, my daily bread from God, of which I say is not enough. Is my love for God really contingent upon how guilty I feel from sin? O Lord, heal my sick heart. Enliven it for love of You. May I long for You. May I look for You with the heart of a bride looking for the Bridegroom. I thirst for a thirsting for You. Slake the desire of my heart to have a heart that desires You. Lord, hear me, I pray.

I long for a heart that is enlivened to feel a love such as what is shown between to men who loved each other from a fellowship in the Gospel. It was the service of the Lord that brought these two to a relationship similar to that of David and Jonathan; a brotherhood. See the Gospel-centered care that George Whitefield and John Wesley had for one another in this letter from Whitefield to Wesley in the anticipation of Wesley's death from consumption:

Bristol, Dec. 3, 1753.
Rev. and very Dear Sir:

If seeing you so weak when leaving London distressed me, the news and prospect of you approaching dissolution hath quite weighed me down. I pity myself and the Church, but not you. A radiant thron awaits you, and ere long you will enter into your Master's joy. Yonder He stands with a massy crown, ready to put it on your head, amidst an admiring throng of saints and angels. But I, poor I, that have been waiting for my dissolution these nineteen years, must be left behind to grovel here below! Well, this is my comfort: it cannot be long ere the chariots will be sent even for worthless me. If prayers can detain them, even you, Rev. and very dear sir, shall not leave us yet; but if the decree is gone forth that you must now fall asleep in Jesus, may He kiss your soul away, and give you to die in the embraces of triumphant love! If in the land of the dying, I hope to pay my last respects to you next week. If not, Rev. and very dear sir, f-a-r-e-w-e-ll. Eg sequar, etsi non passivus oequis (I shall follow, though not with equal steps). My heart is too big, tears trickle down too fast, and you are, I fear, too weak for me to enlarge. Underneath you may there be Christ's everlasting arms! I commend you to His never-failing mercy, and am,

"Rev. and very Dear Sir,

"Your most affectionate, sympathizing, and afflicted younger brother in the Gospel of our common Lord.

G. Whitefield

Look up

So, browsing through Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD), I've come across some amazingly beautiful pictures of our incredible universe. Those pictures got me retracing a thought that had been thought last week. One of the pictures is of a sunset on Mars, taken by the Mars Exploration Rover. A sunset that we would never see were it not for the rover, (though that can be said about most of the pictures on the website; we'd never see them unless we had such telescopes). So, if we'd never see them, why do they happen? Ideas such as the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle would len to the concept that if we never saw it happen, then it didn't happen. Well, that's foolish, and rather close-minded, selfish, stupid, and prideful. See, we assume that something isn't important unless it's near us: drought in a state on the other side of the country; starving children in Africa; the view of the setting sun on a completely different planet.

Now, I'm not suggesting that watching a Martian sunset is more important than feeding those children in Africa, but I would say that something like that is even further from our mind than the necessity for goodwill in impoverished countries, which I say is somewhat unfortunate and sad.

I think that this may turn into me making an argument that can be grossly taken out of context, and maybe somewhat selfish-sounding, but here I go.

Let me begin to challenge you and maybe open up your mind. Please? Well, think about this: I think that just as much as we feed starving children in wherever, we should think of galactic landscape, lunar sunsets, the burning out of a star in NGC1313 (a spiral galaxy), flights of comets outside of our solar system, or the sight of matter being spaghettified into a black hole?

Why?

Because we can't do a single thing about such events. If we didn't see them happen, they still happened, even if we didn't know about them. They are independent of us. A star 2000 lightyears away (I hope that you would take a minute to ponder such size and distance) is not concerned with the two tests that I have Thursday, for which I've neglected to study. We are infinitely small. Infinitely meaningless, that is, in the context of supernovae, nebulae, comets, event horizons, etc etc etc... That's exactly the reason we should remember those things: we had nothing to do with their occurrence! It shows that it is not about us, but about the One who created it. The One who has the view from atop Mons Olympus of every Martian sunset and sunrise; the One who gives the glorious pigments to the dust clouds in NGC 253; the One who alone gets to marvel at the awesome sight of matter being reduced to quarks as it is drained into a black hole; the very One from whose Mind such things were produced.

They SHOUT to His glory!

As does feeding starving children (only an example to all that Christ called us to do). But, they're indeed different. See, we often see such actions as something we've done, or this universe as being about us. Wrong wrong wrong wrong wroooooooong. They weren't done by us, or even really for us. They are done, and occur, for His glory. Period.

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:13-17)

The stars remind us. Listen to them. They know. The mountains do as well. Seek their advice. Turn to the One at whom they gaze. They've been here far longer than you. Seas roll at the mention of His Name. Pay attention. Look upward. (Romans 1)

Ode to the Burly Man

"Give me one hundred men who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergyman or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon the earth." John Wesley

Q: How does God define a man?

A: Jesus of Nazareth (Bible)

Goosebumps covered me from head to toe in the choir loft. One hundred and one men leading the congregation in the worship of the Holy One of Israel. Words fail to describe the feeling of standing up there with 100 other men, I being the least among them, and singing "My Hope is Built on Nothing Less," and "It is Well" before the church.

There's a blessing with being a man of Christ. There's also an incredible challenge, but that goes with the blessing. The challenge: to think that I am called to be some sort of a spiritual head, in the likeness of the ideal Man. That, I think, at least for me, is the single most intimidating thoughts that crosses my mind.

Now I sit here and watch Dateline, you know, the episode where they catch internet predators... I know, not particularly the greatest of subject matters, but I feel it relates. Why does it relate? You watch this show, and you understand why the fact that Jesus Christ is our model for masculinity: the men on this show are not doing anything out of the ordinary! Yep, I said it. These disgusting, heartless, perverted low-lifes, some of whom have wives, are not an inch lower than any of the rest of us. Dateline didn't have to scrape the bottom of society to find what we would call such "horrible people." These are actually prime specimens of humankind, doing exactly what we find natural (Ephesians 2... go ahead, take a look at it. See if I'm just joshing you) That is the intimidation factor. These sinners are nothing worse than Wesley Sims. I am of the same stock. We all share the same DNA, the only difference being that I have the genes and protein patterns for such things as brown hair and a naturally cut physique (HAH).

Look at that. We are all of the same sort as the men on this show. Herein lies the mystery of the true "burly" man, the whole reason why I marvel that I am blessed to know such men. See, the world sees those guys as "them," while at the same time breeding that very creature. I speak almost in a third-person perspective of the world, but I only do that now because I'm speaking from my present position of being in Christ's righteousness. How does the world breed these creatures? Think of all that the world defines as being manly: stay home on Sundays to watch the game; pick up as many women as you can, cause the higher the number, the higher the score; be lazy (guilty), or the flip-side, work hard all week just so you can party all weekend and drink up all that you earned (country music, anyone?); get you a nice car, perhaps a sports car, or a ridiculously large truck that can haul all the crap that you buy so you can impress the ladeez; have the kind of abs that you could scrap paint off of a wall; catch a football... you can't do basic math, but by God, you can run the best looking Statue of Liberty ever, and the list goes on. Well, I'm going to say it now (not that there's necessarily inherent sin in all that I listed) what the world labels as a man, our Father above calls a loser, and embarrassment, a FOOL!

See, that's the challenge for a Christian guy.... to overcome his natural state...

Boo hoo

Us guys have absolutely NO excuse since:

"we have a great high Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16)

If we had no such Saviour, we'd have EVERY reason to be sick, to be dead, for we'd only be doing that which comes natural. PRAISE GOD that that's NOT the case, huh? And for that reason, we boys need to be absolutely shamelessly shameless of the Gospel, because we can, for that is what God defines as a man. Real men are those, who by faith, "desire a better coutry, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God IS NOT ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city." (Hebrews 11:16).

Since I'm already in Hebrews, how about I pull out a little bit more out of the Book as to some of the adventures of real men, as how God counts 'em:

"For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets--who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated--of whom the world was not worthy--wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth." (11:32-38)

If that doesn't get your blood flowing, you might want to check your pulse... or your heart. If you are not where you ought be with the Lord, nevermind all this nonsense. You're too stuck up on yourself to even care. You're dead.

Perhaps you know that, and perhaps you hate that, in which case I say this. Here's the ultimate sum of masculinity, and femininity:

"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of the world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience--among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were BY NATURE children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2:1-5)

See, that passage right there is what we celebrate. That's what it means to celebrate the true essence of masculinity and femininity. The Gospel. There's no getting around that. I'll admit all day long that i'm pretty bigoted about that... deal with it. Not Rambo, or Chuck Norris, or Steven Seagal, or Jean-Claude Van Damme, or Rocky, or Leonidas can even TOUCH that! Jesus was the ultimate man before it was popular.

Media killjoy

If you noticed that there's a part 4 (part fourer, in armyspeak), but no part 3, I intended that to happen. I started yet another book for my world lit 2 class, and it only furthers my frustration with today's quality of literature. It seems that a book has to contain some sort of foul language, reference to an unnatural sexual act (bestiality, rape, etc etc etc...), some literal insanity, be unrealistically depressing, and maybe even have the ghost of a two year-old for it to be considered a "great" work of literature, or that if it does contain those things, then it has to great. That's highly unfortunate, yet not unexpected. Paul spoke of this in his letter to the Romans:

"And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them." Romans 1:28-32

It seems that any form of entertainment, I'm using literature for this example but the rule stands across the board, has to contain some sort of that garbage before we watch it. Why? Well, in the case which Paul speaks of in that passage, because God has given man over to a debased mind. Is that not the scariest thought to think? To think of God, who we cannot come to already because of our sinful nature (the other reason for our disgusting preference for entertainment), would leave us in our "helpless estate" so that we can only continue even further into our darkness. How can that not frighten and shake us at our foundation and bring us to our knees to lift up our wailing for God to have mercy? My Sovereign Lord, I pray that you soften and break our hearts. But this is the plight, nae, the very death and hell in which the lost dwell day-in and day-out.

This is a call to myself to throw off all that I find "interesting" or "entertaining." A call to "not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of [my] mind, that by testing [I] may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2) Next time you watch the TV, take an objective look at what you put in front of your face; does it bring to mind the grace of an awesome God? The next book you read in your free time; does it call you to draw near to a holy and righteous Lord? Think of the state of the one who wrote, composed, directed, produced, developed, and watched such material. Do they need a Saviour? Answer: Yes. But do they know that Saviour? What does that material say about God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Gospel, the TRUTH?

Everything we watch, read, listen to, write, think of, observe says something about the Truth. Pay attention next time you watch TV. You'll notice it. This came from talking with my uncle and cousin. We all acknowledge that everything says something about the Gospel. Think about it. Any fiction story; worlds are created in which Yahweh is not God (i.e. Harry Potter, The Matrix, The Iliad, The Aeneid, even The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings, though these may be taken separately). This may seem like a fundamentalist rant against anything that doesn't quote scripture, but it really isn't. It's just taking a look at that which we take a look.

That isn't saying that a good Christian cannot read fiction books, watch TV, pay to see a movie, or even be edified by such, I'm just drawing attention to the need to consider what you put in front of your face. That is a listen I hope I internalize. I cannot even begin to tell about how much that lesson would've helped me in my walk. It's such a struggle to war with those stains left by entertainment that was innocently intended to only kill the boredom. Thank God for the grace of Christ who offers to receive the surrendering of library of my mind for the sake of doing some cleaning, book burning, renewal, and consecrating.

Yep, that's my little sermon on that. There you go.

Overflowing with Gratitude-Part Fourer

I appreciate that Moses speaks the king's language.... as you can see, I just watched The Ten Commandments.... Charlton ain't no punk. Well, you know, today's been quite a nice day, thanks in a great deal to last night. Nothing extraordinary happened, just a conversation with friends that helped me to actually think about something that's been on my mind, rather than have it just sit there like a bump on a log.

There are really a couple of things that have been/are on my mind. Things such as: 1) If it is true that you can see the spiritual state of someone's heart by how they spend their money, how much money is okay to spend on yourself? 2) Why is it always the case that when I try to eliminate my tendency to be stupid, I just fall into legalism and I'm not that happy of a person? 3) Whether or not Stranger than Fiction is a good/great movie because Harold Crick survives?... It's these kind of questions.... Speaking of Stranger than Fiction, I found a quote from it that seems to pertain to this Easter weekend:
"Because it's a book about a man who doesn't know he's about to die. And then dies. But if a man does know he's about to die and dies anyway. Dies- dies willingly, knowing that he could stop it, then- I mean, isn't that the type of man who you want to keep alive?"..... well sister, I'm here to tell you... He IS alive, and forever will be.

So... I almost abandoned this post because I was approached writer's block... and then I thought, "I'm writing a blog...is writer's block actually possible?" The answer being "no," it's a blog... silly me. But I think that shows a part of my character, my prideful, vain, odd character. I'm writing a blog, and I get writer's block because I can't think of anything to write that's interesting or entertaining. A blog is just supposed to be somewhere that I can pour my pointless thoughts, and yet, I still want to please people, even in my pointless thoughts, like I want people to think that even in my times of empty wonderings, I spit wise sayings, comical anecdotes, insightful thoughts on life, and various other things fit for quoting on fortune cookies. I find it somewhat funny, in a depressing way.... that's how much pride I've got penned up. I try to pose as if I'm interesting all the time. Unfortunately, I'm not. I'm actually quite the bore. I don't drink beer often (at all), I can't speak Russian in French, and I actually prefer water (shameless reference to pop culture). If you don't believe me, though I don't know why you wouldn't believe me because there's a good chance that I have in fact bored you this very day, hour, even minute, just take a quick glance over this paragraph: I wrote about having writer's block on a blog... a BLOG... which, now that I think of it, is kinda paradoxical: having writer's block (on a blog, mind you), so I write about having writer's block. That actually raises the question, did I actually have writer's block? I'll leave that for you to decide.

Back to my #2 thought, it seems as if whenever I try to be responsible and remove sin from my life myself, I only fail...go figure... But how can that be? I can see so clearly, I think, my sinfulness, and when I try to take action into my own hands, I only screw things up. I recognize that my foot has the uncanny ability of jumping into my mouth, note the gymnastic talent, and when attempt to correct this, as I desire to serve the Lord by not be static in my sanctification, I find that when my foot exits and my mouth seems most free, my sin only stops it up and I cannot even open it to a little ptL-ing. This is the issue I run into when I take sanctification into my own hands...which is frustrating to say the least. I don't want to be lazy, and yet self-action is not the answer either.

Faith, faith, faith faith faith.... I cannot comprehend thee.

What an interesting issue to have: frustrated with knowing that you are completely horrible with being a good person, thus frustrated with the thing that makes it possible for you not to be such a horrible person at being a good person, because that thing you're frustrated with is not contingent upon you; your struggling actually only solidifies the reason for and strengthens the case that if you ever hope to be a good person, you better realize that you can't be a good person, but it's okay (well, for those upon whom grace is shown) that you are a horrible person because it's not about you not being a horrible person; it's about that thing which is completely not dependent upon your ability to be good, because you can't be good. It's all very entangling. Which is kind of a great way to describe it, considering John 15 (the whole Vine business, and what not).

Overflowing with Gratitude Part 2

So, here's the long expected sequel to my previous post "overflowing with gratitude." You're welcome.... or not. Well, this post finds me back at Toomer's, contemplating and procrastinating the studying of physics for me test tomorrow. To get back to my post from the other day, I bring up my fighting the sovereignty of God.

"So, how does Wesley fight the sovereignty of God," you ask? Well my answer is ingratitude. I resist Him by my complaining about stuff, mainly school. I'm sure I'm not the only one to feel as if all this jazz about getting an education is quite overrated. Classwork, tests, labs, projects.. they can all take a toll on your happiness, especially when you think you can think of a million other places to be. But perhaps that's just me. I guess I could be the black sheep. I normally would like to think of myself as different, but I'd prefer not to think that I'm alone in this struggle.

Anyways, I digress. I have come to find that ingratitude and discontentment seem to be my leading forms of rebellion. Who in the heck do I think I am? I complain all the time, I'm sure a lot of you have heard it, about having to do schoolwork or go to class or whatever. This feeling strikes out against the spirit which is surrendered unto the Father, our Saviour, the Author of a salvation.

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy dwelling places of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted.
The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.
Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has wrought desolations in the earth.
He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with firs.
Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah." (Psalm 46)

I kinda stole that excerpt to talk about the sovereignty of God from a sermon by old Jonathan Edwards. It displays wonderfully the wisdom and power of He Who is in control of all things. It is God to whom we turn for help. It is God who is there even when the seas overflow and the mountains slide into the sea. God is even the One who commands such things to happen. He crushes, He kills, He desolates, He ceases the wars. We are just commanded to be still and to quit our arguing and disagreeing with God for the things that He in His wisdom finds fit to have come to pass.

So, I should shut my mouth, do my homework and projects, and go to class, all with a smile on my face because He is God. I think that this is where we find happiness in our circumstances: it's not the circumstances that can make us happy, but rather the surrendering to the God who organized life in such a way. Those who are poor in spirit inherit the Kingdom of God, that is, those who find not their wealth in the possessions collected or in the situation in which they prosper.

Well, I don't feel as if I explained my thoughts so well... I felt myself drifting, but maybe it makes at least some sense.

Overflowing With Gratitude-Part 1

Ahh... Toomer's Coffee has once again become my temporary humble abode for however many hours I find myself here, as I write, reflect, and procrastinate my Materials II project (which should be underway sometime today). I've found that there have been 3 prevailing struggles waging war within me this week, though they aren't really new, just seem to be obvious to me. I'll probably only speak of two, as the last is not really all that important, though they all intertwine.

Well, I keep a journal, so I'll keep most of my whining restrained to it, but I write about these because perhaps, there's someone who can relate. These two struggles or thoughts or whatever they are, are really related and similar, one is realizing that I'm not really all that spiritually minded, and the other being a struggle against a sense of loneliness (I'm not going to be moaning and groaning and getting all soft and what not, don't worry). About the spiritual mindedness, this comes from having and being around incredible, spiritually focused, driven-for-the-nations, God-hungering group of friends. I say that not being all down-and-out depressed or like I'm trying to compete, or that I'm feeling defeated. It's not that at all. It comes from a desire to be as such. Man is not our standard, but as iron sharpens iron... Overhearing conversations about covenant theology; which Piper or Stott or Owen books whoever has just read; what book of the Bible someone is studying through; and what country one has been praying and has a heart for, strikes at me, as I reflect on how temporarily minded I have been.

Don't get me wrong, I love it. I love that it prods and goads me as it does. As a doctor will stick with a needle or pinch or tap the legs of an accident to check if he or she has become paralyzed from whatever incident, so I feel this little struggle, sorry, misspoke, big struggle is. The sensation I'm getting from the Physician may be painful or annoying, at least it's a sensation! Yes! It means that I'm not paralyzed, just that my legs are atrophied and aren't walking, running, jumping, skipping, lifting, moving. But spiritual rehab can fix that. A healthy regimen of the Gospel will get me back on my feet. Though this leads to impatience. Impatience; cabin fever; Restless Spiritual Leg Syndrome. I have such a strong desire for it that I want to just run out on my own without waiting upon the fire of the LORD to temper the mettle of my spirit. I want to RIGHT NOW be spiritually awake, cognizant, vigilant (yes, I hit up the thesaurus), mindful. I want to be Mr. Doctrinally Well-Versed, Scripture-Soaked, Holy (not Holier Than Thou), suddenly without delay, without the discipline of training and growth. I want to be lazy in my getting to where I'm no longer lazy. But, I set myself up for failure. I can imagine now the image of my spiritually tumbling down stairs because I got too ambitious and dependent upon my own strength because of my pride. The lesson is to sit and learn the lesson. To take this time of not feeling spiritually-minded to draw nearer to Him when it's not so easy.

Tubee Cont In Yu'd

Cliche "First Post"

....Well, as the title so eloquently states it, here is my "maiden voyage" on the high seas of shamelessly publishing personal, unimportant, pointless thoughts; and for it's christening, this bottle of seltzer of a post... I'm running short of the high-dollar, high-falutin' vintage of classy, incredibly deep and thought-provoking, philosophically-rich explorations into the mind that is me (that was in no way intended as being proud, just silly). I can promise that many/most/perhaps all of my posts will be spiritually-inclined. I can promise that many/most/perhaps all of my posts will not make sense. I can promise that many/most/perhaps all of my posts will say something and probably use words, and letters to compose those words to say that something.
In regards to when they are spiritual, I give you a little heads-up as to who I am spiritually: I'm a Christian (hopefully obvious-though painfully not). I am a combo of Wesleyan and Calvinist, though I worship neither. A combo of Methodist and Baptist, though neither define me. I was born a sinner, lived a sinner, still live as a sinner, but I am not a sinner by the Grace of God. My given-name is Wesley Thomas Reeves Sims, though that's not my identity; merely an alias. I am guilty; I AM innocent. I am hateful; I AM loving. <---Not blasphemy, merely theology as put forward by God's Word. That was not saying that I am God, rather that Jesus is God, and that by His grace, my identity is found in Him... though I guess I do run the risk of looking as if I am placing forth the idea that Christians become God, or are combined with Him in some weird synergy. God is God. We are not.
Now that that's stated, God is sovereign. He HAS predestined us. We DO have free will. But, His Will trumps mine, and yours. Yet, we are completely responsible for our decisions; yet the saved, the Body, the elect, the children of God, though responsible, are yet innocent of faults. That's not by ANYTHING we have done, doing, can do, will do, want to do. That's by His grace which is insane by my standards, though I thank Him that my standards aren't really that important anyways.... well, that's it... there's your cliche first post, demanding masses (HAH... I know... I know... false... I was going for a laugh)