Kapow Gospel.

There I was, walking through my daily routine, stepping into chapel at seminary. I was just thankful to be awake, let alone alert and ready to be "rocked" by the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Chapel at seminary is sometimes more of an exercise than a sermon time. Not on this day. The speaker opened by saying, "Don't forget the Gospel." The Holy Spirit's favorite.

A few days earlier I read 2 Peter 1. It was challenging, but I was baffled from my constant failure in certain areas of growth in my life (like loving other people...even a little). I was trying (trying hard), but Peter appeared to be saying, "Try harder, man!"
"But, Peter, I must not have all the tools or something," I said.
"Nah," Peter said, "You have all things that pertain to life and godliness."
"Okay," I muttered, "Maybe I am missing some aspect of growth in my walk with Jesus."
"Perhaps," he said fervently, "Make every effort then to add to your faith; supplement it!"
It was then that Peter and I were interrupted by a phone call. My day had officially started. I grimaced as I grabbed my phone, "I wish I was more sure about these things?"
Peter whispered, "Jason, my brother, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election."
"Thanks Peter, I think."
"Hello..."

Back to the Holy Spirit slamming. Guess which passage this speaker asked us to turn to? Yup! Revelation 3. . . Just kidding. It was 2 Peter 1. He explained the passage, calling attention to verse 9: "For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind..." That is probably me. I asked in my head, "Why am I not exhibiting these qualities?"
The speaker said, "Why is this person lacking these qualities?"
"Aha!" I thought, "I don't know! Tell me."

"Because he has forgotten the Gospel."
Bam! Crash! Kapow! Boom! Wham!
Really? That simple. Yup. Holy Spirit beat down.

The verse reads, "For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins." Here I am, going to seminary and listening to God's word everyday. Still, I forget the Gospel. The Gospel: I was once dead in my rebellion and sins, but God, rich in mercy, sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to die for me. Christ took the wrath of God upon himself and paid the price for my sins. I repented and trusted in His work, and God gave me righteousness and new life through Jesus Christ.

Here's the point: I must remember, review, recite and revel in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Every day. Every hour. Every minute. It is here in the Gospel that I see the God of all Glory and He accepts me and transforms me. I cannot forget this...for it is the power unto salvation!

The end. Another beginning.

Carry On, Mr. Bowditch!

The Tremendous Adventures of Major Brown

Recently, I read this short story by G.K. Chesterton, The Tremendous Adventures of Major Brown (read first - spoilers). Although the story fascinated me, it was Chesterton's point that drew me to read it again and now, again.

G.K. Chesterton in his story The Tremendous Adventures of Major Brown spells out a pivotal question, “What is the relationship between truth and fact?” His fascinating work moves towards a purpose: facts in and of themselves will not lead to truth. In fact, sometimes the facts can mask or in his words “obscure” the truth. Even with accurate facts, one can miss the truth. This was the case in the story of Major Brown. 

As I read I began to understand that Chesterton was not saying that all fact is misleading, but rather there are certain illuminating or unlocking facts that lead us to examine clearly all the facts and ultimately, the truth. In this story, the mix-up of Mr. Gurney Brown and Major Brown plays this role of the key fact.  This fact opens the eyes of the reader and the members in the story, allowing all of us to appropriately understand the events in the story.  

Still, if that is the case and we are without understanding until we find this central, illuminating fact, how do we know if we have found this fact? I think this is Chesterton’s point in the following rant: ‘You could not adopt the ordinary explanation. The ordinary explanation of putting on singular clothes is that you look nice in them; you would not think that Lord Kitchener dressed up like a ballet girl out of ordinary personal vanity. You would think it much more likely that he inherited a dancing madness from a great grandmother; or had been hypnotized at a séance; or threatened by a secret society with death if he refused the ordeal. With Baden-Powell, say, it might be a bet---but not with Kitchener. I should know all that, because in my public days I knew him quite well. So I know that letter quite well, and criminals quite well. It's not a criminal's letter. It's all atmospheres.' And he closed his eyes and passed his hand over his forehead. The unlocking fact for understanding Kitchener dressed up in a ballet outfit was Basil’s relationship with Kitchener. Also, it is Basil’s knowledge of criminals that leads him to see that this letter is not written by a criminal. This fact reveals to Basil that the story he has heard does not include the illuminating fact. The facts “obscure the truth.” Basil doesn't admit to know the illuminating fact, but rather, the absence of the fact. How does Basil arrive to this?

Relationship. People. What then leads us to truth? From his story with Kitchener and the criminals, Chesterton is saying only in light of relationship or persons can we know the truth. It is by knowing people (criminals and Kitchener) that he sees the illuminating fact (or lack thereof). 

Consequently, “Can we know truth in this life?” According to Chesterton, the answer is yes, but it can only be known through a relationship with a relational being: the God of heaven. Only through Him can we perceive facts clearly and truth ultimately. And this relationship can only come through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. For us, it is this fundamental fact that leads to the truth which is the “green blood that springs, like a fountain, at the stars.”  

Faith: Enduring as Seeing...

"By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible" - Hebrews 11: 27

Those considered "young": Have you ever had someone say to you, "When you go through suffering, you will understand what it means in James...counting it joy." Or something to that effect, implying that as a young person you have not suffered. For most of us this is true, but it is also true for most anyone who says that statement, if they are here in America. 

There are not age-levels of suffering (there are levels...just not age appropriate). One of my friends in Minnesota lost her brother and mom within weeks of each other. Both suddenly. She is my age, so age does not determine level or severity. The elderly cannot say to the young, you haven't felt, seen, experience nothing yet! If they do, the young can say back, "Well, neither have you truly." Suffering is suffering. Period.

For some (believers in the finished work of Christ) death is not merely end of life, but the end of suffering. Is that acceptable thinking? Jesus thought that way (Hebrews 12:1-4). There is joy set ahead of those suffering, like the second marshmallow in the classroom. Its coming. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, "This is the end, for me the beginning of life."

To truly suffer is to be apart from God, the Father. And all mankind has felt this. So can we say to the guy next to us, "You haven't seen suffering yet?" (not saying that we should not have compassion on those suffering severely...esp. life-altering suffering)

So while you are apart from this invisible God, endure your allotted "suffering," until you see Him face to face. Hurry, Lord.

Convince Me, O God

"Convince me that I cannot be my own God, or make myself happy,
nor my own Christ to restore my joy,
nor my own Spirit to teach, guide, rule me."
- From "Man of Nothing" in Valley of Vision

All mankind levels at self-confidence. Nobody escapes the pride that has permeated the human race since the "Great Divorce." Even the most shy among us, admit times of wanting to be God, for even in their disposition, they seek to control rather than submit.

John 14:15-31 - And a Prayer I Wrote

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."    


Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?" Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.


"These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, forthe Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

How Do I Flourish in Work?

Tonight, I read an article on the topic of work called "Human Flourishing." It helped me consider my thoughts and attitudes toward work both at my job and school. Danielle Sallade, a staff member at Princeton Evangelical Fellowship, wrote the article. Here's the link: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2010/06/07/danielle-sallade-on-human-flourishing/

In the essay Danielle defines a flourishing life as "a life that both goes well and is lived well" (1). Since she works with college students, she is able to observe the life patterns of students, and she concludes that pressure in the educational setting deprives students of this flourishing life. So many of these gifted individuals work without regard for sleep, relationships or enjoyment. As a result, these students can "either be caught up in frenzied activity or overwhelmed by their lives and thus unable to do anything. The pressure in their lives keeps them from flourishing as God intended" (4). Why is this the case?

Here is her outline:

1. The Culture of Busyness: 

A culture built on a self-centered concept of success, living in a competition mindset.This leads to three mistakes:

1. We wrongly value certain types of work over others.
2. We place our identity in our work and seek justification through our work.
3. We work as if we were independent operators, solely responsible for our daily provision, forgetting that God is our ultimate provider.

1.1 Value in All Types of Work -

The focus changes from loving work to loving the results of work (e.g. money). Work becomes a means to an end, but God values work as an end in itself (not the ultimate end though as we will see later).

1.2 Value in All Types of Work—by Design

Work is not a result of the fall but designed by God. Danielle teaches that "how we work is as important as what we produce...God is glorified by work because we can do it with an eye to pleasing him" (10).

1.3 Value in All Types of Work—by Example

Danielle draws a provoking reference by Tim Keller in this section:

"When our Savior came to earth, he did not come as a philosopher, nor as a noble statesman, nor as a powerful military general, but he came as a carpenter...this was the one who would save the world" (11).

2. Identity in Work

If you make work and achievements your foundation for meaning, you will feel the pressure, anxiety, and even emptiness from something God never intended to satisfy. Rather, God's glory is the end (ultimate or even chief end).

2.1 Identity in Christ

As believers, we have "soul resting" peace that results in our position before God through justification. Our meaning "is rooted in the dignity of our image-bearing through creation and in our union with Christ through our redemption" (13). We are already "approved." 

2.2. Work That Flows Out of Identity in Christ

We are slaves! I love this statement: "Our primary purpose as a slave is extending Christ's kingdom. And when our main focus in life is our duty to Christ, we are free from being overly preoccupied with our specific jobs" (14). This slavery sets one free from the burdens of the sole responsibility being on you. God supplies your needs.

3. Depending on God in our Work

Remember that your gifts are just that--gifts. They are gifts from God, and this loving God promises to protect you. Christ reminds us that we cannot add to our life by worrying, so instead, depend on God.

3.1 Sabbath

This concept is one that I wish to work on, that is, finding a time to rest during the week (e.g. Saturday or Sunday). She doesn't limit this to just Saturday or Sunday, but rather, she focuses on the concept of resting for a day on a weekly basis.

1. This rest brings us to "recognize [God's] sovereignty over the work" (18).
2. This weekly rest also helps us turn our eyes to God (rather than keep them on our work and accomplishment). This is the worship of God.

3.2 Focus on Faithfulness

The goal of work is not money, achievement or fame, but it is faithfulness and fidelity to God through obedience. "God values faithfulness to himself above all else..." (22).

4. Conclusion

Final implications (Taken almost directly from the article)

1. Since God values all types of work, students can be confident in developing their interests and gifts, learning how they can use them to serve others and redeem culture.
2. Students who serve Christ as their primary focus know that how they work with integrity and excellence is more important than the measured results of their work.
3. As these students pursue their careers, they focus on laying up treasure in heaven through their profession.
4. Students are confident that God will provide for today's and tomorrow's needs, giving them peace about the future.

Check out this article!

Per Ardua

       Miserable persons ponder self, while the joyful consider Christ. We are called to carefully reflect on Him, who endured the hostility of sinners against himself. Meditate upon the living Word as the means of our endurance, so that we do not grow weary or fainthearted. Is this an echo of a promise? For if we do not consider the Lamb of God, what hope of perseverance do we possess? If we do not take into account the King of the Jews, will we find strength and peace for our souls? Now, we are called to carefully contemplate the condition of Christ's way, for this deep reflection of the Son of God generates consolation, comfort and courage. Instead of man’s way, it is through adversity that we find the Son of Man our brother. Does this not encourage us? Even more than consideration of the lilies of the field or the sky above, Christ’s worth cries for our consideration. His love, patience, suffering, endurance and faithfulness eclipse our pain, weakness, suffering, agony and infidelity. Brothers and sisters, we must not fade in our hearts through adversity, but instead, we must know the Shepherd of our souls, who endured hostility even unto death.


(Writing from my meditation on Hebrews 12:3)