I Would Just Like To Say

That Trip Lee seems to have better and more frequent theology in his music than many modern Christian worship leaders. Just saying…

An excerpt from "Real Vision" Album: 20/20

These days in the church, most cats got it twisted/Don't let them fool you on how we supposed to live this/For instance, some say to "come to Christ for riches/Or maybe your blessing," but my question is "what is this?" Cause that ain't the gospel, that "if you put your faith in Him/To come to the Savior, and then you'll rake that paper in?" Face it friends, they made Jesus their holy ATM/Paul would be appalled, this gospel would be disgrace to Him/This false gospel strips Him of His flyness/He's more like your servant and less like His Highness/So please don't buy it, that idea is absurd/Jesus said the Christian life can be strife and it's filled with hurt/ Look homie I would hate for, cats to get that fake stuff/And never know it's wrong cause they won't open a page up/I pray we erase the wrong views and embrace the Holy Word that testifies to us about the Savior

I Think We Sould Realize...

...things aren't so bad.

Monday Update

Hello all. I thought I'd steal this idea from Mark Oestreicher (Marko) who does this most Monday mornings. I thought it would be a good way to help organize myself and let others know how I am doing. Hope your week goes well.

-Chris

The weekend that was:

Thanksgiving was an awesome time. Instead of just a typical weekend, I'll include Thursday and Friday in this one.

Thanksgiving Mandy and I started the day (after coughing our heads off - we've both been sick since before my birthday) with a football game. The game was between my youth group and a youth group from another church. We had a good time even though we lost miserably (which had nothing to do with having half as many players). No one was hurt (seriously) though I am pretty sore all over but that may be from all the coughing. After that we had an awesome time with family for Thanksgiving dinner. In all, there were 18 people plus 2 dogs at Mandy's parents. Her family came up from Saugus (SoCal) and her grandparents came over as well as my parents.

On Friday we went on a hike in Bidwell Park (pics on FB soon), did some shopping, and then went back to Mandy's parents to celebrate her grandpa's 80^th birthday. What an awesome time. I didn't get much of a chance to get to know my grandfather, so this was really cool. He's a funny guy and a strong believer.

Saturday I helped a youth raise funds for SYC (and I'm still sore from all the pine needles and leaves we picked up), went home for a nap, and then caught the tail end of a concert in Paradise.

Sunday was Church. In the morning was a great communion service where I got to play one of my favorite Crowder songs. We had lunch at my house with my parents and then went back to church at night. My arm and voice were sore while I was doing music but it was ok.

Where I am at the moment:

I just registered my youth for SYC finally. I wish I could have done it earlier but it's been hard getting commitments from everyone. 9 total so far. I have some time this afternoon to try and get some reading and studying done. I'm going to do my best to get back into the swing of things since last week was fairly calm and relaxing. (I said that like it was a bad thing)

On my to-do list this week:

This week is a bit of a normal one. We're starting a new quarter in Sunday school. This time we're going through Thessalonians which I am excited about. Other than normal studies during the week, my church is having a silent auction to raise money for our Christmas Missions Offering. Sounds boring, but it's actually really fun. I'd like to go to Sam's church this week but the auction is the same night. This Saturday we're having our 2^nd annual Mall Invasion. Basically what happens is adults from our churches dress in disguise and the youth have to find them. The first team back wins a prize. Hopefully we won't get kicked out of JC Penny's again. Last year the employees weren't too happy with another church's youth – not mine, whew. I think we're just going to avoid that store altogether. I need to find some time to get my lenses fixed in my glasses. Dozer the Wonderdog who is in the midst of getting his big dawg teefs made them his new chew toy last night. He even took them out of his food bowl (AKA off of the nightstand) and brought them into his room (AKA under my bed).

Procrastinating about:

Getting pictures of people in the Mall Invasion sent off to the people doing the booklets.

Putting up pictures of this weekend on Facebook so everyone can see 'em.

Catching up on my blog reading.

I have my Commercial Class B driver's test coming up on the 16^th. I really have some re-learning and practicing to do. I think I should have a chance tomorrow to get it done.

Also, there are a few people I promised to make business cards for. Maybe tonight after I read.

Book I'm in the midst of:

I keep trying to finish Vintage Jesus by Mark Driscoll. It's a good read but my mind does not want to be that academic right now. I just got a book from Purple for my birthday called the The Way of the Heart which looks interesting. I think my brain will go along with that one a bit easier.

Music that seemed to catch my attention this past week:

Guilty… The Killers. I know, I know. Also, some music from Reach Records. I know, who listens to rap right?

How I'm feeling about this week:

Things are good. I just need to stay on top of my list. Hopefully tomorrow I can get most of my "have-to-do's" done. If I try to play catch-up on Thursday I will be stressed. I am hoping that Mandy and I will also finally be done with our colds. I'm stoked though. I get a new book in the mail as well as a new MicroSD card for my phone. Hello 8GB of music!

In God We Do Not Trust

This was written by Pastor Mark Driscoll from Seattle. I would encourage you to read this.This has helped me a bit in formulating more of my own opinion and also voices much of what I have felt during this political season.

-Chris


View the original post here.
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In God We Do Not Trust
Mark Driscoll

In my years of pastoral ministry I have worked very hard to not be political. I believe that my job as a pastor is to preach and teach the Bible well so that my people make their decisions, including their voting decisions, out of their faith convictions.



This election season which has dominated the cultural conversation for many months has been particularly insightful regarding the incessant gospel thirst that abides deep in the heart of the men and women who bear God’s image. Without endorsing or maligning either political party or their respective presidential candidates, I am hopeful that a few insights from the recent election season are of help, particularly to younger evangelicals.

First, people are longing for a savior who will atone for their sins. In this election, people thirst for a savior who will atone for their economic sins of buying things they did not need with money they did not have. The result is a mountain of credit debt they cannot pay and a desperate yearning that somehow a new president will save them from economic hell.

Second, people are longing for a king who will keep them safe from terror in his kingdom. In the Old Testament the concept of a peaceable kingdom is marked by the word shalom. In shalom there is not only the absence of sin, war, strife, and suffering but also the presence of love, peace, harmony, and health. And, this thirst for shalom is so parched that every election people cannot help but naively believe that if their candidate simply wins shalom is sure to come despite sin and the curse.

The bottom line is obvious to those with gospel eyes. People are longing for Jesus, and tragically left voting for mere presidential candidates. For those whose candidate wins today there will be some months of groundless euphoric faith in that candidate and the atoning salvation that their kingdom will bring. But, in time, their supporters will see that no matter who wins the presidency, they are mere mortals prone to sin, folly, and self-interest just like all the other sons of Adam and daughters of Eve. To help extend naïve false hope as long as possible, a great enemy will be named and demonized as the one who is hindering all of the progress to atone for our sins and usher in our kingdom. If the Democrats win it will be the rich, and if the Republicans win it will be the terrorists. This diversionary trick is as old as Eve who blamed her sin on Satan rather than repenting. The lie is that it’s always someone else’s fault and we’re always the victim of sinners and never the sinner.

Speaking of repentance, sadly, no matter who wins there will be no call to personal repentance of our own personal sins which contributes to cultural suffering and decline such as our pride, gluttony, covetousness, greed, indebtedness, self-righteousness, perversion, and laziness. And, in four years we’ll do it all again and pretend that this time things will be different. Four years after that, we’ll do it yet again. And, we’ll continue driving around this cul de sac until Jesus returns, sets up his throne, and puts an end to folly once and for all.

In the meantime, I would encourage all preachers to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and repentance of personal sin. He alone can truly atone for our sins. He alone can deliver us from a real hell. He alone is our sinless and great King. And, he alone has a Shalom kingdom to offer.

Lastly, for those preachers who have gotten sidetracked for the cause of a false king and a false kingdom by making too much of the election and too little of Jesus, today is a good day to practice repentance in preparation to preach it on Sunday. Just give it some time. The thirst will remain that only Jesus can quench. So, we’ve still got work to do….until we see King Jesus and voting is done once and for all.

SCC on GMA

I couldn't not post this. I have a feeling I will write more on this later, but I at least had to put this up for the 2 of you that read this blog more faithfully than I write it.



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