Have you ever questioned a question? We ask questions all the time, but what is a question? According to Merriam Webster, aka the dictionary, a question is: 1: an interrogative expression often used to test knowledge 2a : an act or instance of asking : inquiry b : interrogation; (2) : room for doubt or objection (3) chance , possibility.
The actual definition is much longer than that. I shortened it because the other parts don't really help me make my point; and even in this condensed version I'm really only interested in one part.... the part I've conveniently highlighted for the reader. I'd like to look at the way questioning affects our lives. In the garden of Eden, the serpent questions Eve, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden?'" Up until this point Eve was probably pretty sure of what God said. Now, however, she is uncertain. Fast forward and think about another question posed in the bible. When Jesus calms the storm in Matthew 8 the disciples ask, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!" Notice a difference? The first question produced doubt... the second produced wonder. In my life there are times when things are uncertain and its easy to listen to questions like the first one. Did God really tell me to do this? Those questions leave room for doubt or objection. Essentially I'm saying that it's possible I know better. Following through with these sorts of questions doesn't often end well. They lead to mistakes. They lead to the fall of man. There is however a better question. What kind of man is this? What kind of man would die for a sinner? This question presents huge consequences. There is a chance or possibility that this kind of man is very different. It's possible this is the man we've been waiting for. There's a chance that this is the savior. The great thing about this question is God doesn't leave much room for doubt. If you ask, He'll prove it. He did prove it. He died.... He rose again.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
"Work Crew Girl" by D4
P.S. I was gonna send this in a letter but you said you wanted a blog.... so here it is:
Blonde hair blue eyes
She was a wonderful surprise
Shined like the night sky
And always looked forward to oreo pie (?)
She worked hours in the hot air
And even washed my underwear
I tricked her by bringing more linens that added to the massive pile
Yet she never lost that smile
She says she has never sweat more
And always had quiet time on the shore
Rarely received a thank you
But worked hard and stayed true
Day in day out folding laundry
Not knowing I would be
visiting her to say hello
See, she wasn't the status quo
She was wonderful all the time
And now, months later, I can say: She's mine
All this to say
You've never been asked to prom in a special way
Well today is your lucky day
It's not actually prom
But I think you're the bomb
So would you please
Go to Lytle's wedding as my date(sies)?
Blonde hair blue eyes
She was a wonderful surprise
Shined like the night sky
And always looked forward to oreo pie (?)
She worked hours in the hot air
And even washed my underwear
I tricked her by bringing more linens that added to the massive pile
Yet she never lost that smile
She says she has never sweat more
And always had quiet time on the shore
Rarely received a thank you
But worked hard and stayed true
Day in day out folding laundry
Not knowing I would be
visiting her to say hello
See, she wasn't the status quo
She was wonderful all the time
And now, months later, I can say: She's mine
All this to say
You've never been asked to prom in a special way
Well today is your lucky day
It's not actually prom
But I think you're the bomb
So would you please
Go to Lytle's wedding as my date(sies)?
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Light
"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all."-1 John 1:5
Light is a pretty cool thing. We all know what it is, so much so that often times we take it for granted. I would like to take a moment and think about it a little more in depth. In my art class we've been talking about the subject of light and I want to share some of my thoughts. Light can be pretty abstract. Just from some of our lectures in class I can tell you that 97% of the nature of light is way over my head. There's some CRAZY physics behind light. So before we get started, know that I'm giving you an incredibly primal example that does not even come close to conveying the true depth of light. Anyhow, In class the other day my professor turned off all of the lights and after a second he placed a candle at the center of the room and lit it. Immediately all eyes turned to the candle and the room became illuminated. A candle does in fact produce light but think about what else identifies a candle, or fire. A better way of thinking of it is consider what makes a candle different from a light bulb. A light bulb produces light, sure, but that's really it. A candle is much more. It moves and changes size. It is, in many ways, alive. A candle, or fire, can exist in and of itself. Light can be considered this way. It has existence and substance. Outside of light there is nothing. In fact, as we all know, darkness is simply the absence of life. Darkness has no being, it does not exist except for where there is no light. This is very similar to what we see in Genesis 1:1. The earth was a formless void... nothingness. Then God created light and creation suddenly had some sort of form. Again, this is all very abstract and in some areas may or may not make sense. I've tried to keep it relatively simple but the truth is I'm not incredibly gifted with clarity. I do think, though, that considering large concepts can "shed light" (pardon the pun) on other things, really cool things.
Now take this verse in 1 John. "God is light." Really think about that. Yes, it does mean that, like a light bulb, God is bright and gives off light. But consider a more candle version of light. God is a being and has substance. He exists in and of Himself. Outside of Him, there is nothing. Just like the candle, pretty simple stuff. Now think about what else God is. He is love, He is life, He is truth, etc.. Just like light, these things exist and have being. There is no opposite of these things, only the absence. What does this mean for me? Well I was once a child of darkness. My spirit wasn't just dead... it had no being. In me was no love, in me was no life, in me was no truth. Here's the good news: "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'"-John 8:12. No longer do I walk in darkness, no longer is my spirit lifeless. Because of the love of God, I am alive. I have being. My spirit has been reborn. Not only that, but I'm born of Heaven. I do not belong to this world, or darkness. I live differently. I look different. I act different. I am because of THE I am. John 15 is a clear depiction of what this looks like. Jesus is in the Father and I am in Jesus. I cannot be separated, in fact, "I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39).
Light is a pretty cool thing. We all know what it is, so much so that often times we take it for granted. I would like to take a moment and think about it a little more in depth. In my art class we've been talking about the subject of light and I want to share some of my thoughts. Light can be pretty abstract. Just from some of our lectures in class I can tell you that 97% of the nature of light is way over my head. There's some CRAZY physics behind light. So before we get started, know that I'm giving you an incredibly primal example that does not even come close to conveying the true depth of light. Anyhow, In class the other day my professor turned off all of the lights and after a second he placed a candle at the center of the room and lit it. Immediately all eyes turned to the candle and the room became illuminated. A candle does in fact produce light but think about what else identifies a candle, or fire. A better way of thinking of it is consider what makes a candle different from a light bulb. A light bulb produces light, sure, but that's really it. A candle is much more. It moves and changes size. It is, in many ways, alive. A candle, or fire, can exist in and of itself. Light can be considered this way. It has existence and substance. Outside of light there is nothing. In fact, as we all know, darkness is simply the absence of life. Darkness has no being, it does not exist except for where there is no light. This is very similar to what we see in Genesis 1:1. The earth was a formless void... nothingness. Then God created light and creation suddenly had some sort of form. Again, this is all very abstract and in some areas may or may not make sense. I've tried to keep it relatively simple but the truth is I'm not incredibly gifted with clarity. I do think, though, that considering large concepts can "shed light" (pardon the pun) on other things, really cool things.
Now take this verse in 1 John. "God is light." Really think about that. Yes, it does mean that, like a light bulb, God is bright and gives off light. But consider a more candle version of light. God is a being and has substance. He exists in and of Himself. Outside of Him, there is nothing. Just like the candle, pretty simple stuff. Now think about what else God is. He is love, He is life, He is truth, etc.. Just like light, these things exist and have being. There is no opposite of these things, only the absence. What does this mean for me? Well I was once a child of darkness. My spirit wasn't just dead... it had no being. In me was no love, in me was no life, in me was no truth. Here's the good news: "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'"-John 8:12. No longer do I walk in darkness, no longer is my spirit lifeless. Because of the love of God, I am alive. I have being. My spirit has been reborn. Not only that, but I'm born of Heaven. I do not belong to this world, or darkness. I live differently. I look different. I act different. I am because of THE I am. John 15 is a clear depiction of what this looks like. Jesus is in the Father and I am in Jesus. I cannot be separated, in fact, "I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39).
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Peer Pressure is a Good Thing
I've never really aspired to start a blog... until now. However, It seems like a lot of fun and a lot of people are doing it. I will not miss an opportunity to do what everyone else is doing. Peer pressure is a good thing. Think about it, most things we enjoy doing, we do because someone we looked up to was doing it first. Take for instance the disciples. Many followed because their friend/friends followed first.....good peer pressure. I mean peer pressure can be bad too, like giving into heroine....bad peer pressure. So I guess it really comes down to who are you letting pressure you?
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