To Live is Christ

Even in the midst of intense persecution and imprisonment Paul clearly displayed a desire to share Christ with others. The message of the gospel was more important than his life circumstances. "To live is Christ but to die is gain." This is a man who lived to the glory of God, who lived to encourage and equip believers in order that they might participate in and further the Kingdom.

Philippians 1:9-11,20 (NLT)
I pray that your love for each other will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until Christ returns. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation--those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ--for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

For I live in eager expectation and hope that I will never do anything that causes me shame, but that I will always be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past, and that my life will always honor Christ, whether I live or I die.

This was Paul's desire. This was his prayer. I must ask myself if I too, share in the same prayer. I hope so. Comapartively, I do not face the same persecution. I am not imprisoned for my beliefs. However, the call to participate in and further the Kingdom still remains. I guess the question is: will we answer?

Here is an example of one of those great West Texas sunsets taken just last night and mentioned in my previous post. 

Life: Abundant and Invigorating

There are simple things in life which bring a smile to my face and invigorate me each day. Here are some examples (in no particular order):

1. A shower first thing in the morning (for me, it is like other's shot of caffeine in the form of coffee)
2. Singing (along with almost any form of music)
3. Watching someone experience an "aha" moment while encountering the message of the gospel (or experiencing one myself)
4. Kissing my wife (hey, maybe I'll get some brownie points)
5. The exuberance and innocence of children (especially watching the little ones run)
6. And, for those who are West Texans, a beautiful and awe-inspiring sunset.

Blessed be the name of the Lord! Those are just a few of mine--what are some of yours?

God, thank you that you provide us with joy for the journey! May we all find enjoyment in the simple things!

"Reya"

On Sunday at Highland Mike Cope delivered a good thought-provoking sermon regarding community which was centered on a passage in Proverbs. His thoughts inspired further reflection on my part. Maybe this simple passage will do the same for you...

Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.
Proverbs 15:17

I am reminded that we are designed for community--created to love God and each other! What really matters if we don't have love? The greatest of this world's "pleasures" don't mean squat if not experienced within the context of a life of love...is it just me or could that be the sound of a "resounding gong?"

When Sara and I first moved into our apartment here in Abilene we were blessed to quickly meet our neighbors Bio (pronounced Bue like blue without the L) and Daisy. They are a couple from Brazil with two very cute and precious little girls. One of the first nuggets of wisdom Bio shared with me was based on a traditional saying in Brazil. He said something to the effect of, "a good home means nothing without good neighbors." According to their culture even if you have your dream house it is impossible to enjoy it without good neighbors. What an obvious yet radical and somewhat counter-cultural statement all at the same time. The focus is on people and not possessions, on loving and sharing with each other and not on living for yourself.

Growing up, I don't remember having the best relationships with neighbors. It seemed they pretty much kept to themselves and of course we were probably just as much to blame. Now, having a greater understanding of both sides of the coin, I realize the abundant blessing of relationship with good neighbors and the joy that comes from community when we love each other. From that day on, Bio and I decided to call each other Reya, which in his native tongue means something equivalent to the combination of friend, brother and neighbor! Maybe we could adapt our own proverb similar to the one above:

Better a shack with good neighbors where there is love and community than a dream house with bad neighbors where there is hatred and division.

I pray we can all learn to be reya to one another as we seek to live out love in community!

May God bless our efforts...

The Warranty Way

Up until this past Saturday my faith in "warranties" was deteriorating. In fact, I was beginning to hate warranties. Let me explain. Over the last year we have been battling with a certain company (cough, Best Buy, cough) over the consistently worsening condition of Sara's laptop. We have had to take the computer in four times in the last 8-9 months because it would not work properly for various and complicated reasons. Normally, even though it is frustrating, it would not be as big of a deal except that the closest store to us is located in Fort Worth (translation: 2 1/2 to 3 hour drive, one-way each time). Every time it was sent off, it would return with the same results--some seemingly non-important parts replaced followed by the suggestion to restore the settings. So with hopeful expectations we returned home only to find the same problems plus additional technical headaches non-existant before we sent it off in the first place. Go figure. So, since the problem could not be solved, it meant yet another joyous adventure east on I-20 toward Dallas.

Fast forward to Saturday which was a mere six visits later, and you could imagine my cynical attitude as we walked into the store to pick up our little patient once more. I mean, what's the point of a warranty if it can never be exercised to the consumer's advantage? However, by the time we walked out of the store my cynicism faded because the amazing had just happened. In my hands I held the receipt to a brand new laptop computer to replace the old one still under the three year warranty. Not only did we have a new computer but it was better, faster, and stronger than the old one. And, to top it all off, there was a hundred dollar rebate with this new computer that we received for free as well. Talk about a deal. Even though we went through multiple headaches, frustrations, and miles, I guess you could say I quickly renewed my commitment to the warranty way. Finally, a victory for the "average joe" consumer.

Needless to say, some of the first words out of my mouth were, "Where do I sign for a new three-year warranty?"

Did I mention I love warranties?

Ps (The only unfortunate aspect to all of this is that it diminishes my chances of getting an ibook anytime time soon. But don't get me wrong--I'm not complaining!)

Who Am I?

How many times do we ask ourselves that question--who am I? It is a question that relates to all of us. It is so important to our existence that there are those who spend a large part of their lives in search of the answer. We want to be able to determine our identity in order to give our lives purpose. In that search it is easy to want to find our identity in each area of life. I am a student, a husband, a son, an employee, a minister, or you fill in the blank. We wear so many "hats" that it doesn't take long to realize how confused about our identity we really are. Around every corner more and more things compete for our attention. The temptation to compartmentalize becomes an itch needing to be scratched. Our family life is speparate from our professional life which is separate from our spiritual life and so on. Before we know it we are lost in the abyss of some multiple identity disorder. And, once again we are confused, left to sort out the inconsistencies while still asking ourselves the all too familiar question--Who am I?

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own posession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
1 Peter 2:9-10

Do not be confused. The message is clear for those of us who believe. Our identity is found in Christ alone as the people of God, as children of the King! If we live out our identity in this way we will be centered not on who we are and what we do but on who we are in Him. Everything else is just another aspect of our identity. May we not be afraid to take hold of the truth of our identity. I hope you will be blessed through reflection on the words of this song.

Who Am I
(Lyrics by Mark Hall; Music by Casting Crowns)

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You're

Chorus:
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours

Who Am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again
Who Am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me

I am Yours
Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear
'Cause I am Yours
I am Yours


Hi, my name is Mike. I am redeemed by Christ, a child of God, a servant of the King!

Who are you?

Written On My Heart

"These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD , the God of your fathers, promised you.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you-a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant-then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the LORD , who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery."
Deut. 6:1-12

We read this scripture together on Sunday night at small group and talked about what it means to have the word of God written on our hearts. When I start to think about what I have written on my heart, or at least imprinted on my mind, I realize how many insignificant and trivial things have found a home in the deep recesses of my thoughts. Useless facts and trivia abound--By the way, do you know the human head weighs eight pounds? Sure, there are flashes of scripture and (if you know me) numerous moments of spontaneous song but other than that, what do I really have written on my heart? I think it is an appropriate question of introspection for all of us.

During my time at a church outside of Nashville there was an elderly man, Brother Williams, who each week would take the opportunity to vocalize some form of scriptural exhortation for all of us. Whether or not I always agreed with his theology or application of scripture was of little importance compared to the encouragement I received from the overflow of what was written on his heart. He believed in sharing the message of scripture with anyone who would listen and many did.

At times it's easy for me to be "satisfied" with where I am because my life as a seminary student is full of the Word of God--isn't it? The truth is, it is probably easy for a lot of us. I look up to those who are at a point in which it is not. But surely I don't forget the Lord, all He is and all He does! Sometimes I just wish what came out of my mouth was more than the daily happenings, current news, or sports headlines. Don't get me wrong, I do not intend to chastise myself or anyone else because these things are not bad. I just do not want to lose sight of the importance of the internalization of the Word of God and all things of God. Ultimately I want to be satisfied not in myself but in who I am in Him!

I want to be able to do more than say, "hold on a minute and let me find that scripture to read to you." I want to be more like Brother Williams whose outward expressions of the Word of God was simply the overflow of a heart after Him. However, we should be careful that the emphasis not be on the rote memorization of scripture as much as on the outpouring of our hearts as we continue in relationship with God and interact with His Word. Afterall, out of the mouth comes the overflow of the heart!

Hopefully we all have something to say...

I'm Still Alive

For those of you that have worried...do not any longer. I am alive and breathing, but hopefully and most importantly, I am finished with my blogging hiatus. I can give the usual excuses like: school was wrapping up for the semester (translation--smacked head-first into paper and project deadline), or my parents were visiting for the week all the way from sunny Florida (which they were and we had a good time together), or I have been lazy and just did not get around to posting (probably partly true), but where's the fun in those excuses. Maybe I should just revert back to old-school favorties like the dog ate my computer, or my brain simply malfunctioned and shutdown because of theological overload for the semester, but in the end the reality is still the same: I just haven't blogged. So, I vow, pledge, commit, or maybe some other word a little less serious and not so over-zealous, to start afresh among the blogging community. I've kicked off this new effort with my own extreme blogover (or makeover for the slower ones), in an attempt to do away with the old to usher in the new. I hope you like the face lift. Maybe it will inspire me and fan the flames of thought so deep within--or maybe not. So with that said, look for future posting's soon. Maybe tomorrow, or the next day, or if I'm lucky, next week.