Life's Questions

As of the past few days I have been thinking about some of life's "most important" questions. I will not elaborate on those questions, because honestly it is different for each one of us. There is however this umbrella truth that each of us share, the uncertainty of the future. The truth is that no matter what ministry or career that God has called you to the future is always uncertain. The important thing to understand is that everyone struggles with this. The key to finding peace in this uncertainty is to understand the truths about God. Whatever stage of life you find yourself in you must always focus on today, because in our knowledge all we may have is today or in particular this very breath we take now, for the next is not promised. The key to joy is that we understand that in all things we are to glorify God, whether that be in contentment or in utter uncertainty. God's desire for your life and my life, is not for us to focus on the future so much as it is for us to embrace the moments we have now. God wants us to make disciples of all nations and that is the key to a joyful life in Him; to find yourself in whatever situation and live in faith and assurance that this is His will for your life. We will not and cannot ever know what our future holds, unless of course you are speaking with eternity in mind (of course you can know whether you will be in the glory of Christ in eternity or if you don't know Him you will of course spend eternity in His righteous judgement). The truth of the matter is that we seek to know the future because we lack the faith in Christ. I have to constantly remind myself that He has never failed, not once since He drew me unto Himself at 17. So the future is uncertain... Welcome to humanity, and welcome to faith. God has called us to live in a world of uncertainty and engage that world with the life changing gospel of Christ. So it is time for us to stop focusing on what we are not sure we will even happen and focus on what is truly important, that is taking the gospel to the ends of the earth. Taking the gospel to those who have not heard, to those we work with, to those we meet on the street, to those we workout with, to those we talk to at the laundry mat, I think you get the point. Our lives in Christ are not lives focused on what could be in the future, but instead how we engage a Christless culture with the gospel now. My prayer is that you and I would not waste our lives focused on what we will do with the rest of our time here, but instead we would focus on next moment for the proclamation of the gospel. To Christ alone be the glory! For His gospel is a life changing message not only of grace and mercy, but also of freedom and truth! The cost is great, but the reward is Christ.

Ministry

Dane and I were talking today about ministry. In particular we were talking about ministry at Southern. Southern is definitely a young family seminary. It honestly seems like it is an unwritten rule here (not really but if Paul could use hyperbole then so can I). This conversation pretty much sparked from a comment made by one of our professors in class today. He was talking about ministry to the family, and said that the first half of our class we were going to talk about "what the family ought to look like." And he made a comment about "the single people" just listening in because we would find ourselves in that situation one day. Now for those who are married this seems to be a running theme. However, as I thought more and more about that comment in particular, but also how many times I have heard that said in the context of small group or corporate worship. Know this from the start, I don't think ministry to the family is bad in any way. The problem I have is that our church culture has become one of ministering to families alone. The fact of the matter is I don't have "a family" (that is to say that I'm not married), but also I have never had my immediate family attend church with me. So many times we wonder why there is becoming such a disconnect between high school grads and college students when it comes to church, and I feel (and I stress the fact that this is the way I feel) that this could be why. There is so much discussion of things involving the family, which IS NOT a bad thing. The bad comes in when you have people who can not relate to that message. For the most part ministers assume that, "you will be in this situation one day." I feel as though this creates a disconnect for some, including me at times. I feel as though in this culture of "married church" we forget those who aren't in that situation and honestly only God knows when they will find themselves there. It seems like the single people just get tagged on at the end. It really becomes difficult to connect with a church that just tags you on at the end of the message. I pray that God would use this to shape the minister that I am becoming. I pray that I would not forget and just tag people on when it is convenient, but that I would preach in such a way that it ministers to the whole congregation no matter how difficult this may be. I pray that this makes sense.

Life Right Now

I thought I would take some time tonight and blog about life right now. Tonight my best friend and I had a conversation that I would have never guessed would take place. For the first time in a long time one of my real friends was man enough to look me in the face and say some things that I had been/done wrong in certain life situations. I have to admit that it hurt in a way that I have never hurt before, but it exposed some truth to me. I am so thankful for real friends like that. Who aren't afraid to say nice things, but aren't afraid to smack you around when it is needed.
On a different note, all is well here at Southern. The guys in my dorm hall are pretty cool. The one right across the hall from me made up this "sprint club." No not the phone company, but actual sprinting. So apparently every night (for right now) that we are so called upon we go out onto the lawn and sprint. It sounds crazy I know, and at some level it really is. Also I have been reading since last Thursday and I have literally read hundreds of pages. I feel like I have accomplished something until I realize that I have countless thousands to go. You know sometimes I feel a little wierd about being 25 years old and living in a dorm, but so far it has been okay. They haven't keep me up too late yet!
Classes start on Tuesday for me. I have class on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I'm taking 11 hours, but am really considering adding another online class to the mix. I'm excited about class, but at the same time I'm a little nervous. I really don't know what to expect.
I really believe that my time here will be beneficial and I pray that God would bless it. Like I have said before and continue to say I am here with God's glory at the top of my priority list. I pray that my studies here would bring glory to His name, and that they would make me a more effective minister of the Gospel, not so that I would be important but that God would show His love through me. My life verse remains 1 Corinthians 10:31 "Whether you eat or drink, whatever you do, do all for the glory of God." Keep me in your prayers as I study, and pray that God would shine through me in all things.
I am going to make an attempt at memorizing Scripture in my time here. I have memorized Psalm 46. I'm going to be so busy reading, studying, writing papers, taking test, etc. that I am going to have to make a real effort to do this. I think I have decided for now to memorize the Psalms because they are so awesome in speaking to the glory of God.
Also today I visited my first church in Louisville. I visited a church called Sojourn Community Church. It was definitely a different experience, but I felt like it was meaningful. The worship songs that they sing are rich with truth and are really deep songs. I enjoyed the fact that they are so different in the way they "do" church, but at the same time I felt a little akward because of that difference. My prayer is that God would take me to a church where there is a need. A church where the gospel is the center of everything that takes place.

Southern Seminary is my new temporary home

So I'm all moved in at Southern Seminary. I have asked myself so many times what I am doing here so far away from home, with no real clue what I have got myself into. I have found comfort in the fact that I made a decision based on the priority of God in my life. I didn't make this decision for someone, or because of someone, or inspite of someone, or fully understanding what I'm doing. I made this decision with the gospel in mind, so that I might come up here and become a more effective minister of the gospel of Christ. I have no doubt that God is with me, that He is guiding me, and that He will not fail me. I pray that humility would be what I'm about in my time here and when I begin a ministry somewhere. I pray that the gospel would be what my life is about. I pray that the love I show would reflect that love which God has so graciously shown me. I don't know for sure where I am going to work or what church I'm going to go to, but I know without question that God is with me and God is for me! My life verse has become this: 1 Corinthian 10:31 "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
I ask that you would continue to pray for me. I have a lot on my plate this first sememster.