Friday, June 29, 2012
New Toy
Well, we got a new camera. This is not to replace my current one, but in addition to it. This new camera is waterproof. It has been fun to play with it as you can take pictures while in the water and even under the water. Here are a few pictures and then a video we took as well...
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Latest update (written a week ago...)
(So apparently I am getting really good at writing a post and then failing to publish it. Life is a bit crazy right now as we have Family VBS this week. Most of my extra time has been spent planning, purchasing, meeting, etc... but enough about all that, here's some of what we have been up to.)
Soccer season has ended for both Jack and Stephen. Our evenings, while still busy, have less to contend with as practices are no longer an issue. Last Saturday, Stephen's team finished their season with a tournament. I think that this may be the only still picture I have from his season. (That's what happens when the main family photographer is a coach.)
Here are some fun pictures from the pool. The kids are in it almost daily now and loving it. The last item is a video of Emma, who went from barely moving off the steps three weeks ago to jumping in and having a great time. She is getting braver and braver and her swimming skills have greatly improved as well.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Jeremiah-Part 3
It has been awhile since I did a Jeremiah post. I have continued to study and read this book, but finding time to type out a post has been difficult. And this post...well, it might offend some people. Remember these are my thoughts and feelings.
I want to look at one verse and really challenge you and myself to consider how far our American Christian culture has fallen.
As the American culture has transitioned into a postmodern world view (basically that each person defines truth for themselves and they would rather question than accept absolute truth), the American church too has chosen to become more like the world rather than set apart in many ways. Now please understand that I do believe that there are churches that are taking stands to be all that God has called them to be and they are wrestling with how to reach this culture but not become part of it. However, I do also believe that the majority of the churches in American have been swayed to accept in even the smallest of areas part of the postmodern worldview.
When I read Jeremiah 5, I actually wrote in my Bible right next to these verses, "This could be speaking of the church in America." We have been speaking less and less absolute Truth from the pulpits. We work hard to keep everyone comfortable and desire that they walk away in awe of the show, rather than the power of God.
Now of course this begs the question, "If I simply keep my mouth shut about something that I know to be true, am I then lying?" I believe that when pastors and church leaders fail to speak about the absolute truths in God's Word that they are liars, false teachers, and ruling by their own authority. They have in essence decided to "play God" as they determine what is necessary to speak on and what is not. The entire Word of God is necessary for the believer. We cannot pick out the nice fuzzy stuff and dismiss the hard and difficult.
I think, even though I am in ministry (and I have been challenging myself in the area of Truth telling) it was actually the phrase "and my people love it this way" that really struck me. We in America are all about comfort and pleasure. We don't want to be challenged to think deeply about things. We want someone to hand us our spiritual food in the "happy meal package". I call it the "happy meal syndrome" in the church. We want it hot, fast and with a toy. We don't want to be inconvenienced if the service goes over by even just a few minutes. We don't want to feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit, we would rather just be affirmed that we are good because we are at church for one hour. And we want to be entertained in the process.
One thing that bugs me is when people become upset over a style of preaching or worship. Yes, we all have preferences in these areas, however if we are in tune with God and His Spirit then He can speak to us and grow us and change us no matter if the style is not "our style". God is not bound by style. He wants our hearts to be open and submitted to Him.
Consider your church. Oh, the preacher may indeed be preaching from the Bible, but is he challenging you to live radically different from this world and to be transformed more and more into a fully devoted follower of Christ? Maybe you are in ministry, are you challenging people to be changed by and through the power of God or are you making it easy for them to get by with a "good" life? Honestly, this hits home to me as a person in leadership within a church. I continue to wrestle with how this looks in our church.
Disclaimer: I am NOT speaking about using the Bible to promote an agenda for political gain. The Bible speaks to the sanctity of life and to same sex relationships and those types of topics; however it again becomes a "priests" own authority when they use those topics to further a personal/political agenda.
I want to look at one verse and really challenge you and myself to consider how far our American Christian culture has fallen.
"A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: The prophets prophecy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?" Jeremiah 5:30-31
As the American culture has transitioned into a postmodern world view (basically that each person defines truth for themselves and they would rather question than accept absolute truth), the American church too has chosen to become more like the world rather than set apart in many ways. Now please understand that I do believe that there are churches that are taking stands to be all that God has called them to be and they are wrestling with how to reach this culture but not become part of it. However, I do also believe that the majority of the churches in American have been swayed to accept in even the smallest of areas part of the postmodern worldview.
When I read Jeremiah 5, I actually wrote in my Bible right next to these verses, "This could be speaking of the church in America." We have been speaking less and less absolute Truth from the pulpits. We work hard to keep everyone comfortable and desire that they walk away in awe of the show, rather than the power of God.
Now of course this begs the question, "If I simply keep my mouth shut about something that I know to be true, am I then lying?" I believe that when pastors and church leaders fail to speak about the absolute truths in God's Word that they are liars, false teachers, and ruling by their own authority. They have in essence decided to "play God" as they determine what is necessary to speak on and what is not. The entire Word of God is necessary for the believer. We cannot pick out the nice fuzzy stuff and dismiss the hard and difficult.
I think, even though I am in ministry (and I have been challenging myself in the area of Truth telling) it was actually the phrase "and my people love it this way" that really struck me. We in America are all about comfort and pleasure. We don't want to be challenged to think deeply about things. We want someone to hand us our spiritual food in the "happy meal package". I call it the "happy meal syndrome" in the church. We want it hot, fast and with a toy. We don't want to be inconvenienced if the service goes over by even just a few minutes. We don't want to feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit, we would rather just be affirmed that we are good because we are at church for one hour. And we want to be entertained in the process.
One thing that bugs me is when people become upset over a style of preaching or worship. Yes, we all have preferences in these areas, however if we are in tune with God and His Spirit then He can speak to us and grow us and change us no matter if the style is not "our style". God is not bound by style. He wants our hearts to be open and submitted to Him.
Consider your church. Oh, the preacher may indeed be preaching from the Bible, but is he challenging you to live radically different from this world and to be transformed more and more into a fully devoted follower of Christ? Maybe you are in ministry, are you challenging people to be changed by and through the power of God or are you making it easy for them to get by with a "good" life? Honestly, this hits home to me as a person in leadership within a church. I continue to wrestle with how this looks in our church.
Disclaimer: I am NOT speaking about using the Bible to promote an agenda for political gain. The Bible speaks to the sanctity of life and to same sex relationships and those types of topics; however it again becomes a "priests" own authority when they use those topics to further a personal/political agenda.
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