Out of the Depths He Emerges...

having gone a solid 9 months without any submission I forgot how therapeutic writing can be. I set mind and fingers to keyboard in the hopes get some things off my mind.

A concept that has always been on my mind is "Community" within the body of Christ. What does it look like; how do we do it? Trouble is I haven't come up with a real good answer yet I have some ideas; such as we have a mentality of coming to serve instead of being served, giving instead of receiving, loving others rather waiting to be loved. Paul tells us in Philippians 2 that we are and we should have to same mind that was in Christ, "Who though he was in the form of God didn't consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but rather he emptied himself,taking on the form of a servant."

earlier...Paul tells us..."Do nothing from rivalry or vain conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves."

so from this I would take "community" to be those count others more significant than themselves..

And how is one to conduct oneself in relationship that at times seems to be merely "one-sided." My first thoughts go immediately to the 13th Chapter of 1st Corinthians in verse 4 "that Love is patient and kind, love is not envious or boastful, it is not arrogant nor is it rude, it does not insist on it's own way...my thoughts compel to think the Philippians passage as well that we are to consider other more significant than ourselves...we are to look not only our own interests of the interests of others as well.

Living Out An Authentic Christian Life

What can I say.....inspiration to write has been strong this week. I guess I can attribute it to the contemplative mood I've been in this week.

Now for some insight....

One thing in particular that I've been attempting to think out all the time, but especially this week is how do you live out an authentic Christian life, and furthermore what does that look like? Are there anythings that one desiring authenticity can do in addition to spending time in the word, in prayer, being in community with the body. These are things that are enumerated in Scripture.

Where my thoughts have been as well, is what constitutes a pure motive in doing to the things that God has commanded us to do through being obedient to Him. Is it enough that it is in part a conscious thought or something more required.

Another issue that I have been faced with regarding an authentic life as a Christian is this: I am perplexed by the the Christians who I know who hide behind their masks, for fear that the rest of the body will think or love them less. I've battled with this many times, and I've found the greatest joy and relief in confessing and admitting my struggles to my fellow brothers in the faith. True freedom I'm convinced is found in Christ as savior first and foremost as well as refusing to hide your sin(s) and admitting your struggle with the Body. Realizing the great power of your Savior and knowing that no mater how hard you strive to hide your sin it has been exposed to God.

I would encourage those who might read this to consider that which Derek Webb say in his album "The House Show"

"Your sins have been exposed as if they were on the 5:00 news they have been exposed to Jesus, He knows you better than your even willing to admit to yourself, But he's forgiven you, Take joy in the fact not that your sins are not real, but that are real, and that your Savior is real."

Learning to be Lonely

No posting in over a month, I have some excuses for that, but why bother with excusing oneself when you can get right down to business.

I'm sure you've heard as well I have heard the to be in the ministry especially in the pastoral role whether it be Senior or Student it can and will be lonely at times. Lonely in regards to you are in the position of leadership and everyone is looking to you to know where the church or ministry is going and and what the focus or intent will be.

As the Pastor you are at the "top of the heap" so to speak, the only other person or source you have to look to is God the Holy Spirit and His guidance to you through his Word. Other than that you are alone by yourself. Now, your not alone, alone you have to body of Christ around you so your not alone in that sense of the word. But as leader you are the "Top Dog."

I say all this to say this: That's the feel of my life as of late, it has a very lonely feel to it. There are a lot of changes going on around my life: several of my friends are getting married and or engaged, and we are not as close as we used to be, through no fault on either side of the equation. Hear me when I say this is not complaining or Pining at the situation and circumstance. There are changes occurring in my life I'm currently or continuing to learn what it means to live in the present, rather than worrying about the future, I'm learning live my life as life of man of Deuteronomy 8:3; As man who doesn't live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Living out the knowledge that everything I do is an act of worship not just what I do within the four walls of the church. Living out the Christian life and all that entails out of sense of obedience and passion, rather than out of duty and rigor. The reason for the loneliness, personally I think it's God's way of preparing me for future ministry situations where I will be alone so to speak in my role as leader(if it's the Lord's will that I should be so, of course).

Through all of this I've learned that sanctification is not easy it can be at times very tough and very trying. I've been aware of this very recently, but the redeeming factor is that the essence of Truth that can be found in a Caedmon's Call song "Oh Lord Your Love" it is in this song that these words are sung:

"Oh Lord your love is new with every morning, Your faithfulness it gets me through the night, You bid me come, You know that I am weary, Your yoke is easy, your burden is light."

Grace, Peace, and Coffee.

Thoughts on the Days Events

Today at 12 noon this country will usher in our 44th President. History is being made, Barack Obama will become this country's first African-American president, one aspect I'm sure of the dream of Martin Luther King, and for some a sign that this country is coming together racially and socially.

I find it funny that a few of the people that I have seen interviewed on the various networks who say that this all shows that the country is finally united and coming together. Don't think me a pessimist, but unfortunately until this country is completely under the Lordship of Christ this country will never be completely united. We will still continue to be divided along party lines. There will be those who continue to be prejudice towards him simply because of the color of his skin. It's unfortunate that for some of us in this country our valuing of a person stops and goes no further than skin deep.

As for me, at 12:00 noon Barack Obama will become my president and I will support and pray for him that he will lead us as a nation well. According to the word of God Romans 13 says that ultimately all authority is derived and is given by God and because of that fact Barack Obama is whom God has ordained to take power at this time in our country's history and we should all be ready and prepared to support him fully and be submitted to his leadership.

Moving On.....

Most of us I'm sure have moved at one point or another as simply as a different apartment in the same building or as complex as to completely move a whole state away from everything that you've ever known.

Something that occurred to me the other day it struck me as unique it maybe just me but I can only help but wonder what its like to pack up and move out of the White House, within the next George W. Bush like him or not will be officially moving out of what more or less he has called his home for the past 8 years. It has to been whole unique set of feelings to be moving out of a residence such as the White House feelings that only former presidents can identify with.

I am currently in a season of moving on, this one will probably be the toughest one of my life so far, so I would ask my readership out there in the Blogosphere to keep me in your prayers as I proceed and move on to God would have for me next.

Pray that I could continually seek His face not looking to the left, right or even behind me, that my eyes would ever always be on the cross from whence I draw the strength and grace to face each day.