I was encouraged by a friend of mine to put some thoughts into this blog post..so this is basically what happened: I am not one for facebook games...you know the "LMS and I'll tell you..." (LMS means like my status for those wondering..) In all honesty, they usually annoy me, because they are full of half truths and patronizing, but this one caught my attention for some reason. I think because it gave me a chance to really say some things I have been wanting to say, some things I needed to say, and forced me to think through some things I really didn't want to. Also, in order to play by the rules, you only post after the correct amount of people click like, as in a way of telling you they want to hear what you will say..So I figured..why not? I really didnt expect to have to do them all..and so quickly as well, but alas, I did, and here are the results for your viewing pleasure. Here are the questions I posed:
dear mom and dad..
dear girl i love..
dear collin..
dear current aliveYM student..
dear no longer aliveYM student..
dear future aliveYM student..
dear best friend..
dear ex-friend..
And my responses:
Dear Mom and Dad (Kathie Gajda and John)- Thank you. Thank you for always helping me even though I can be a bit hardheaded, for supporting me when I said I was called to the ministry and had to trust that God would take care of me and my salary, and for loving my wife so much. Your acceptance of her is what confirmed she was the woman God gave me. Thank you for spanking me and standing one step high to look me in the eyes when I was in trouble, teaching me how to respect people and always to seek encouragement when the world is full of such poison. Thank you for loving my son, and for supporting us when we screw up. I love you both very much.
Dear girl I love (Lane Kyzer Gajda): I love you. Not in a worldly way of I think your good looking..but adore you. I know sometimes i mess up, and I dont know how hard it is to be married to me, but I imagine its tough. Thank you for standing by me when we have to make hard decisions, for loving the students of PNCC because you do, not because you have to, and for giving me the greatest delight on this planet, which is being a dad. I could never thank you enough for your consistency, and have confidence that you have my heart forever.
Dear Collin- i know you can't read this, and that's ok, but I want you to know how blessed we are by you. When we were told you were never going to happen, and then you showed up, it changed our world. Your mom and I love you so much, and you are a miracle of God. When you grow up, Im going to be hard on you. Ill discipline you, ill encourage you, Ill love you, and Ill lead you, so know that everything I do for you is because you are God's gift to us, and you belong to Him, and you always will. We will honor that as long as we are alive.
Dear Current AliveYM student- I know that its been tough to hang on. I know that you may have been a part of alive for a long time, and that you have seen alot of change. You had one YP leave, and then I came in and made some big changes, and some of your friends stopped coming. Thanks for hanging on. I promise that its worth it, and that God is pleased with your commitment. Also, know that I know that I can be hard on you guys sometimes, especially when you dont want me to be. I promise its for good. I can't wait to see where God takes us next year and beyond, and know that I love you all. I really do. Get ready, because this next season is going to be awesome, and you'll want to do everything you can to be there. I can't wait to see you. Our leaders really do come because they love you..know that and live like it. They give up massive amounts of time because they know you are worth it.
Dear No-Longer-AliveYM student: There are a multitude of reasons you may have left, and in all honesty, Im sorry about that. I know that Alive changed, and that we brought in small groups...that we cut down on hang out time and snack bar time..and that maybe you had a leader get on you for something...but its worth it. Discipline in LOVE is something lost on many of us, and how you respond to it defines you. This culture doesnt define you, twilight doesnt define you, and neither does your family situation. What does define you is how you face adversity and change, and what you do with the promise that God loves you. If you left because you were mad, I encourage you..come talk to me, and lets figure it out. If you left because it wasnt "fun" anymore, Im sorry. Try us out again though, its worth it. If you left because you were offended by the preaching, I can't apologize, but I can hope you'll battle with what you heard and what may need to change. I don't think im right all the time, but the Bible is. God loves you, and I would love the chance to learn more about you. If you graduated, we miss you!
Dear Future AliveYM student: Can't wait to have you. This isn't kids pointe, but it is still awesome. I hope you are ready for a battle, because that's what we are about. although I am sad we don't have basketball or dodgeball anymore, the rest of what we are about is more important. When you come, be confident and come find me, as I would love to buy you a coke or mt dew, and don't be afraid to sing worship and play games on stage. Jesus loves you and wants you to find joy in what we do...And im looking to find some future leaders. See you soon.
Dear Best friend: (disclaimer: Lane is my best friend, but this is to my best dude friend) With every fiber of who I am, I want you to know Jesus. I want you to know how much He loves you, how much He cares for you, and although I will never have answers to some questions you have, and I cant explain why certain things happened in your life, I can tell you that I love you. Dude, I love you so much. I would die if it kept you alive, because your salvation means that much to me. I can't explain God in a way that will always make sense, but I can tell you that sometimes all you need is faith. If you let Him change you, He will. Give Christ that chance. I love you so much man, and if this gets to you it may upset you a little bit, but man, you know what you mean to me, you know what we have been through, and you know that at the end of this life ill be standing by your side. Take it to the bank my friend.
Dear Ex-friend (i had to change it a bit): I really don't understand. I feel like I had your back, and it seems like you feel like I didnt. Im sorry for that. If there is ever a chance to fix this relationship, im open..but you have to be as well. And we can't play a holy game and make it all spiritual, we just have to man up and admit mistakes, and push through. I still love you bro, and I hope one day this will all be different.
----------------
So there you have it. I would encourage you to look through some of this- do you have someone you need to tell something to? It was a great exercise for me to focus on things I needed to, and it was good for me to evaluate my heart a little bit. Try it out, and see what you think!
Monday, November 28, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
4 Major mistakes Student Leaders make...
I am coming to an understanding that I don't understand. It's weird, really, this point that I am at. If I am being at all honest with myself or you, I have to say that everything I have been taught about how to be a student pastor is off balance. Now this is NOT saying that my education isnt valuable, and it is not saying that everything I was taught is wrong..But I think I got some of it wrong. I am just now coming to a great understanding of that. Ill attempt to explain it...
They have to respect you to hear you.
I spent way too much time (and I mean way too much) attempting to just pound theology and sanctification into our students. There is absolutely a need for those things to be taught, but investing in them is the most important thing. Little things that go a long way for this are remembering their name, remembering their opinions, and giving them the time of day to talk afterwards. It blows my mind that so many pastors deliver a message just to walk off the platform back into their office. This is a great opportunity to reinforce what it is God shared through you, so give your students (or congregation) that chance! When they know that you care for them, they will respect you and hear you.
You can't have an agenda in your relationship with students.
I feel like this is the biggest rule broken in all of ministry. I don't love my students because I have to. I don't love them because I want them to bring friends and make our ministry bigger. I don't love them so that they can be baptized. I love them because I love them. Granted, some people are harder to love than others, and you may not always mesh well with some people in your flock, but the beautiful thing about being a leader and leading leaders is that usually you will have someone who does. Students especially need to know that you care about them, regardless of if they want to get baptized, invite 15 friends a week, or tithe enough to buy you 4 xbox's for the ministry. They want to know that when they pour their heart out to you, you are trustworthy enough to listen, care, and respond. Teens especially are excellent at perceiving people's agendas, and if you have one in your own life when it comes to forming relationships with them, they are going to see right through that and cut it off before it starts.
They don't need you to be their friend. They need you to lead them.
Most of the time, a student understands your role in their lives. They aren't looking for you to glorify their troubles- but they also aren't looking to you to 'parent' them either. There is a balance they are looking for. Think of your own life. When you go to certain people with issues, what are you looking for? I know that for me (admittedly) that if I am looking for empathy I can go to certain people. I know that if I need someone to speak truth into my life, I have someone else I go to...and can trust. Students are no different. If they trust you enough to come to you with a problem, lead them! I had a student who I love who came to me with an issue. They went on to say the last time the shared their problem with a leader, (not in our ministry), they felt yelled at instead of loved and helped. What a blessing it was to be used to encourage them and help them out of their sin. This student is still close to me, and we trust each other. They know I am their pastor, but that when they need some help, they can find it in my office. Don't be the leader that demeans students- just because you don't have a handle on your sin doesn't mean you take the frustration out on them for theirs.
One last note- on the flip side of things...
Speak with authority because of the position God has placed you in.
GOD put you in the place you are in through your obedience to His plan for your life. Soak that in for a second. HE put you in the ministry you are in so that HE would be glorified through your obedience. Because of that, you may have to speak tough love some times...OK...A lot of times. It's not easy. It's not meant to be easy. Ministry isn't easy. That's why people don't last. Look throughout the Bible. EVERY LEADER in the scripture was forced to make hard decisions constantly. Go ahead. Think through the books. Adam? tough decision. Ruth? Tough decision. King David? Wow. How about Paul? Peter? or lets go directly to the top- How about Jesus? Remember the Garden?
The point is this: If you are in leadership, God has entrusted you to speak TRUTH. To be UNWAVERING. To lead in LOVE. To speak with deep HUMILITY. When students come to you and they need you, speak with the authority that has been placed in you. Jesus gave it to you, God confirmed it in you, and the Holy Spirit uses it to lead you. When students come to you with an issue, never fail to speak truth. The 'best friend' thought is already a prevalent epidemic in parenting...We can't let it become one in Pastoral leadership. Sometimes you will have to speak tough truth. Sometimes love hurts. One thing I promise you is this: Do it in love, humility, and through God's truth, and you won't fail yourself, your student (who you love without agenda), or God- who has placed you in that conversation, for 'such a time' as that.
Fighting alongside you...
They have to respect you to hear you.
I spent way too much time (and I mean way too much) attempting to just pound theology and sanctification into our students. There is absolutely a need for those things to be taught, but investing in them is the most important thing. Little things that go a long way for this are remembering their name, remembering their opinions, and giving them the time of day to talk afterwards. It blows my mind that so many pastors deliver a message just to walk off the platform back into their office. This is a great opportunity to reinforce what it is God shared through you, so give your students (or congregation) that chance! When they know that you care for them, they will respect you and hear you.
You can't have an agenda in your relationship with students.
I feel like this is the biggest rule broken in all of ministry. I don't love my students because I have to. I don't love them because I want them to bring friends and make our ministry bigger. I don't love them so that they can be baptized. I love them because I love them. Granted, some people are harder to love than others, and you may not always mesh well with some people in your flock, but the beautiful thing about being a leader and leading leaders is that usually you will have someone who does. Students especially need to know that you care about them, regardless of if they want to get baptized, invite 15 friends a week, or tithe enough to buy you 4 xbox's for the ministry. They want to know that when they pour their heart out to you, you are trustworthy enough to listen, care, and respond. Teens especially are excellent at perceiving people's agendas, and if you have one in your own life when it comes to forming relationships with them, they are going to see right through that and cut it off before it starts.
They don't need you to be their friend. They need you to lead them.
Most of the time, a student understands your role in their lives. They aren't looking for you to glorify their troubles- but they also aren't looking to you to 'parent' them either. There is a balance they are looking for. Think of your own life. When you go to certain people with issues, what are you looking for? I know that for me (admittedly) that if I am looking for empathy I can go to certain people. I know that if I need someone to speak truth into my life, I have someone else I go to...and can trust. Students are no different. If they trust you enough to come to you with a problem, lead them! I had a student who I love who came to me with an issue. They went on to say the last time the shared their problem with a leader, (not in our ministry), they felt yelled at instead of loved and helped. What a blessing it was to be used to encourage them and help them out of their sin. This student is still close to me, and we trust each other. They know I am their pastor, but that when they need some help, they can find it in my office. Don't be the leader that demeans students- just because you don't have a handle on your sin doesn't mean you take the frustration out on them for theirs.
One last note- on the flip side of things...
Speak with authority because of the position God has placed you in.
GOD put you in the place you are in through your obedience to His plan for your life. Soak that in for a second. HE put you in the ministry you are in so that HE would be glorified through your obedience. Because of that, you may have to speak tough love some times...OK...A lot of times. It's not easy. It's not meant to be easy. Ministry isn't easy. That's why people don't last. Look throughout the Bible. EVERY LEADER in the scripture was forced to make hard decisions constantly. Go ahead. Think through the books. Adam? tough decision. Ruth? Tough decision. King David? Wow. How about Paul? Peter? or lets go directly to the top- How about Jesus? Remember the Garden?
The point is this: If you are in leadership, God has entrusted you to speak TRUTH. To be UNWAVERING. To lead in LOVE. To speak with deep HUMILITY. When students come to you and they need you, speak with the authority that has been placed in you. Jesus gave it to you, God confirmed it in you, and the Holy Spirit uses it to lead you. When students come to you with an issue, never fail to speak truth. The 'best friend' thought is already a prevalent epidemic in parenting...We can't let it become one in Pastoral leadership. Sometimes you will have to speak tough truth. Sometimes love hurts. One thing I promise you is this: Do it in love, humility, and through God's truth, and you won't fail yourself, your student (who you love without agenda), or God- who has placed you in that conversation, for 'such a time' as that.
Fighting alongside you...
Monday, October 17, 2011
Life, Parenting, and the fact that I know nothing...
 |
| Collin John |
THIS is the call of parenting. I told myself a long time ago that when I was a parent, I was not going to be focused on being my children's best friend. I was going to focus on being their best parents. My own parents helped me tremendously in this. I never had the opportunity to think of them as my friends. They are incredible people, and although I mass produced gray hairs on their heads, I ALWAYS knew that they loved me. Every moment. Every day. It wasn't because we had an 'understanding' or that I had just figured it out, it was that my parents always told me- and still do- that they love me. I can remember time after time of my mom getting in my face and disciplining me (which she had to stand on one step because she was going to be eye to eye with me...no backing down in this woman) she always told me she loved me. My dad is the same way. Although I am a 27 (28 in 2 days) year old man and disagree with my dad on little things along the way, I know that he always has my best interest in mind...and at the end of everything, he ends up being right. Theres wisdom in that. There are lessons to learn in that.
I wanted to turn this into a 'spiritual' post, but I won't go there today. What I will say is this: My desire is that I won't always be Collin's friend, but I will always be his dad. Right now we give him nourishment, warm clothes and a place to sleep, and take care of his needs; but the thing I can't wait to give him is the opportunity to follow Jesus. Although I would do anything I could to GIVE him Jesus, I know that I can't. Its a decision he must make on his own. Thank God for His grace, love and mercy. I was told by my good friend Robbie Foreman (check his page HERE) that I would read scripture differently, and let me tell you..I do. Romans 9:3 has got to be one of the biggest scriptures:
"For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.."
Paul is essentially saying that for the sake of unbelievers, he wishes he could be cut off from Christ so that all may gain salvation. Now don't misunderstand me- I don't wish that I were cursed and cut off from Christ...that would be horrible...but I would trade my own salvation for the sake of Collin in a heartbeat. To know Christ is everything, and the greatest gift I can give is for my wife and son to understand that more than anything. This is why I will never attempt to be his friend, only his loving dad. This truth is what has grown me so much- God isnt God to be my friend. He is here to be a loving father. Sometimes that means discipline when I disobey. Sometimes that means pain when growth is happening. All the time it means that He knows what is best for me. That He knows what my needs are. That He understands what I am going through. That He did everything He could for me by sending Jesus to earth to die on a cross.
That, my friends, is being a loving dad.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Step two in fighting for Moncks Corner: Sanctification
Well, as is par for the course, I have taken a few months off of blogging. Honestly, things got hectic and crazy, and I couldnt make time for everything, so blogging took the brunt of the time cutting, and here we are. To catch you up:
Breakaway went smashingly well. Cheeks tore his ACL, couldnt go to Japan, and now is interning with me at PNCC until December. Lane's stomach keeps getting bigger, and we are awaiting Collin's arrival any day now. Apparently its probably going to be another 10 days or so, but im ready for him now. The NFL is back, the Indians are fighting for first place, and school is back in session TODAY, which means its about to get crazy up in here at Alive. However, I dont really want to talk about that right now.
My thought process has changed in the last few months/weeks- I have begun to attempt to understand why I do things- and with that- what I need to change. Its not enough any longer to just act on quick ideas, because when you do that, I dont feel like you act in your full capacity. Think about it- you have to have some idea where you are and where you are going in order to plan accordingly. Otherwise, you cant fully enjoy your experience.
Think of it this way. If you are going on a trip and decide 'hey, lets get into a car and just drive,' there is an excitement aspect yes, but what do you miss along the way? Without knowing where you are going, you could miss out on some of the greatest moments that God has in store for you. This is why vision is so stinking important. Everything revolves around vision.
Im not a great visionary. I understand that. Although I feel like God is beginning to give me those gifts, I am not one who is going to sit and address an entire church with a 5 or 10 year plan. Im not sure why that is, but I think it will change one day- but as of right now, God has gifted me in shorter plans. This past year I took over as the student pastor at PNCC, and I knew exactly what it was that God wanted me to do here. Constantly God brought to mind the story of Gideon's army- Do MORE with LESS students and leaders. You can read about that vision on my earlier blog post HERE. We haven't lost that mentality or anything, and God has honored our obedience, but God has put something else in to me- lets say a step two:
Berkeley county students must seek sanctification today in order to see lasting change in their lives in the future.
Clearly and sternly- over and over and over again- Scripture talks about being Holy, or set apart, or sanctified, pure in heart and spirit, etc. This starts in the Genesis where Adam and Eve are told to keep their bodies pure of the tree of Good and Evil. It carries through the Jewish law: Don't eat anything unclean. It continues in the Gospels: Jesus speaks of being purified and cleansed- saying things like don't be like the pagans...and comes to a head in Romans 6 as Paul speaks directly about what it means to be holy and pure- sanctified by Jesus' blood. To be set apart and different from the world- that our past lives, filled with sin and wrecklessness have NO hold over us any longer. The days of sin having its hold on you are over! We are obedient servants either to sin, or to the most High God, who delivered us from evil, sin, and death.
Year two of Alive's new era of ministry is just that. Teaching AND MODELING to our students what it means to live in purity and sanctification. Christians love to dance around the idea all the time: "If you are calling yourself a christian and not living it....." instead of saying "You have been set apart by God through HIS GRACE. Live in it, not in your sin! Demonstrate His goodness through your obedience to Him, and not your own selfish desires, and when people see your faithfulness, they will desire it, and you will have an opportunity to see lives, hearts, and eternities changed."
Thats the right attitude friends. We are here to see eternities changed. But it starts with showing ourselves worthy of the calling God has placed on us- if you are His, live like you have been called to His righteousness and purity- because you have.
Breakaway went smashingly well. Cheeks tore his ACL, couldnt go to Japan, and now is interning with me at PNCC until December. Lane's stomach keeps getting bigger, and we are awaiting Collin's arrival any day now. Apparently its probably going to be another 10 days or so, but im ready for him now. The NFL is back, the Indians are fighting for first place, and school is back in session TODAY, which means its about to get crazy up in here at Alive. However, I dont really want to talk about that right now.
My thought process has changed in the last few months/weeks- I have begun to attempt to understand why I do things- and with that- what I need to change. Its not enough any longer to just act on quick ideas, because when you do that, I dont feel like you act in your full capacity. Think about it- you have to have some idea where you are and where you are going in order to plan accordingly. Otherwise, you cant fully enjoy your experience.
Think of it this way. If you are going on a trip and decide 'hey, lets get into a car and just drive,' there is an excitement aspect yes, but what do you miss along the way? Without knowing where you are going, you could miss out on some of the greatest moments that God has in store for you. This is why vision is so stinking important. Everything revolves around vision.
Im not a great visionary. I understand that. Although I feel like God is beginning to give me those gifts, I am not one who is going to sit and address an entire church with a 5 or 10 year plan. Im not sure why that is, but I think it will change one day- but as of right now, God has gifted me in shorter plans. This past year I took over as the student pastor at PNCC, and I knew exactly what it was that God wanted me to do here. Constantly God brought to mind the story of Gideon's army- Do MORE with LESS students and leaders. You can read about that vision on my earlier blog post HERE. We haven't lost that mentality or anything, and God has honored our obedience, but God has put something else in to me- lets say a step two:
Berkeley county students must seek sanctification today in order to see lasting change in their lives in the future.
Clearly and sternly- over and over and over again- Scripture talks about being Holy, or set apart, or sanctified, pure in heart and spirit, etc. This starts in the Genesis where Adam and Eve are told to keep their bodies pure of the tree of Good and Evil. It carries through the Jewish law: Don't eat anything unclean. It continues in the Gospels: Jesus speaks of being purified and cleansed- saying things like don't be like the pagans...and comes to a head in Romans 6 as Paul speaks directly about what it means to be holy and pure- sanctified by Jesus' blood. To be set apart and different from the world- that our past lives, filled with sin and wrecklessness have NO hold over us any longer. The days of sin having its hold on you are over! We are obedient servants either to sin, or to the most High God, who delivered us from evil, sin, and death.
Year two of Alive's new era of ministry is just that. Teaching AND MODELING to our students what it means to live in purity and sanctification. Christians love to dance around the idea all the time: "If you are calling yourself a christian and not living it....." instead of saying "You have been set apart by God through HIS GRACE. Live in it, not in your sin! Demonstrate His goodness through your obedience to Him, and not your own selfish desires, and when people see your faithfulness, they will desire it, and you will have an opportunity to see lives, hearts, and eternities changed."
Thats the right attitude friends. We are here to see eternities changed. But it starts with showing ourselves worthy of the calling God has placed on us- if you are His, live like you have been called to His righteousness and purity- because you have.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Breakaway, Baby, and Life update
I am beginning to grow into an understanding that my time is actually not mine. I haven't blogged in over 2 weeks, and its been mainly due to my inability to slow myself down and realize that my time belongs to God- since He gives it to me, its His- and it doesn't belong to me. So Im going to take a quick opportunity to update you on a few things going on in my life and next week Ill send one out about something 'spiritual' I have also been learning as of late.
The main thing eating up my time at Pointe North is Summer Breakaway. We leave in 22 days, and although we have a lot done already, we still have so much more we need to accomplish. This has led to full days and nights the past few weeks. I am so blessed to have Nancy and the interns here with me, or else Ill be honest with you...breakaway wouldn't happen. They have done so much to help, and I love them all dearly. We are all currently working our fingers to the bone to wrap up some last minute details, and we hope to have breakaway fully planned and packed up (minus some speakers and stuff) by June 3rd..which would allow us the proper amount of time to get our hearts minds and souls prepared for what is going to be happening in myrtle beach 10 days later.
The main thing that will eat up my time is my baby- Its a boy! His name is going to be Collin John Gajda, and he should come into this world sometime between mid august and the 1st of september. People ask me why Collin, the significance of the name, what it means, etc etc..Im an Irish kid, and we wanted to bring a little bit of that to our child, but honestly Collin was the only boy name that Lane and I both really loved. It fit. Its a strong name. We like it, and so we went with it.
His middle name however has much more of a meaning. My dad's name is John. I know its a regular thing (especially in the south) to name your children after parents or grandparents- but thats how people get names like Gertrude and Delbert. Our decision to name Collin after my father is much more than that. My dad is a man of high character and who is well respected. He is giving, caring, and loves his family more than anything, and raised us in a place where we could have the opportunity to learn about God and grow to fear Him in all aspects of our lives. In short, this is why we did that- to both honor my father, but also to put something into Collin- something for him to look to for leadership outside of myself. I am a young man, still learning a lot of things, but Collin will be able to look to his PaJohn (as he is lovingly called already by his grandchildren) for guidance, love, and im sure a little bit of spoiling as he grows up.
Thats whats been eating up my time- all of that plus the normal stuff...and although im ending this a little soon, I have some stuff to share with you all soon. Have a great day..
Monday, May 2, 2011
Celebrating (or not) the Death Of Osama Bin Laden
Last night around 11:15pm (EST), a piece of current history was brought to my attention as the world awaited President Obama stepping to a pulpit and bringing Americans the news we had waited years to hear: "Osama Bin Laden has been confirmed dead."
I was just graduated out of high school, and was figuring out what college was all about. I had decided to take a semester off for the most part- I was only signed up for 3 classes- and my father agreed it would be a good thing for me to take a semester, figure out what college really was, and then go full on at it the following spring.
Classes had been in session for a few weeks, and I was about to walk into my favorite college class thus far: Ethics. Being a new Christian, I was interested to see what I really believed and how it really fit with the Bible, especially when brought into a classroom of people who were sure to fight me on my views. I think this is just one more way that God was preparing me for what I am doing now- since I CONSTANTLY have to defend my views to people who view them as being less than nice or fun to adhere to.
Ill never forget walking into my ethics class on September 11, 2001. As I walked in, the television was on, and the 12 or so of us who got there a little early were glued. I quickly came to realize what had happened. Just as I turned my eyes to the television, we watched as a second jet hit the second twin tower in NYC.
It was terrifying. Even being hundreds of miles away, you could still feel the entire world sink. We were sent home. School was cancelled. Businesses shut down. You couldn't watch anything but the coverage on the television. The WORLD as we knew it shut down. There was nothing like it.
And then the world found out who was behind these atrocious attacks. Osama Bin Laden and his cronies not only were found to be guilty of the crime, but claimed it all to the joy of their god. People began signing up for the military by the droves as stories continued to pour in about people lost in the attacks, families that would never be the same, and thousands of people who were sent to an early grave- God knows how many without Jesus.
So then, yesterday happens. The same day 66 years earlier that the world discovered Hitler was dead, President Obama addressed the nation that this tyrant militant terrorist Osama Bin Laden had also been killed. The nation (for the most part) rejoiced at the sound. CNN showed an impromptu party outside of the white house. News anchors were called in the report the biggest story of the young decade. And Facebook began to blow up with people seemingly mourning the death of Bin Laden.
Wait. What?
Yes. Mourning. A few verses came out, and Christians began feuding with each other. Proverbs 24:17-18 was everywhere, as was Ezekiel 33:11. Major Christian leaders began to post things that normal everyday christians began to eat up. Gandhi was quoted more yesterday than any other day in history. (Gandhi's quote 'Hate the sin, not the sinner' is widely misused and miscategorized as a Bible verse.) The problem? We shouldn't be happy that man who murdered THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of people was dead. That proper justice had been served. Instead, we should mourn him...after all, God doesn't like us gloating in the fall of our enemies, right?
Right. And wrong.
Proverbs 24:17-18 says "Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the LORD see it and be displeased, and turn his anger away from him." One of my first problems with this out of context scripture being quoted was the failure to read the next two verses: "Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked, for the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out." Can we not agree that Bin Laden was an evil wicked man? The context of the scripture as well is not to say someone who is a sinner, as we all are. An 'evil man' and the 'wicked' spoken of is someone who practices and lives in those things, bringing harm to the cities and the people around him. Am I anyone better than Bin Laden biblically? No. I am aware of that. But here are the other 2 issues with this verse being misquoted: 1. This is about a personal enemy that someone would have in their lives. This is attributed to YOU and ME not gloating or finding pleasure in the situation where someone who we dislike has something bad happen to them. THIS is not the same as the USA rejoicing over Bin Laden's death. Its actually the opposite. It also implies that the person who is shamed is still alive and has to live in the embarrassment and pain because of their failure. In other words, this is like someone you don't like failing and having to go summer school, and then you demoralize them because of it, and find great joy in it.
The point of verse 18 is not that God will cease to punish the wicked person either. . .it means that the person who is gloating is now in sin, and has become no better than the wicked one. Remember, GOD IS JUST. To say that He is anything but that is wrong and heretical. Some may say 'no, that makes God merciful" and I would agree- God is merciful in that when Jesus died in our place, His wrath fell upon Christ instead of us...and if we accept that, our wrath is paid. Sure, this may sound like God is big and mean, and although a short sighted and naive person may agree, that is still a false view. God is not a liar, so when He says He is just, we must believe HE IS JUST.
On the other side of things, Proverbs 28:28 says "When wicked rise, men hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous increase." So what are we to say of this then? Are we to be more upset over one man dead, who probably in getting justice for the pain and hurt he caused, or should we rather rejoice that the biblical truth is that the righteous will increase because of his death? Call me callused if you will, but because of Bin Laden's death, the number of righteous will increase. That is a worthwhile call. Its also easy to get upset over people like me- but what if you or someone you love who doesn't know Jesus was murdered by Bin Laden or one of his crooks before they had the chance to repent and ask Jesus to change them? Would that make it personal enough for you then?
Or how about Proverbs 11:10? " When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness." The wicked perished. There were shouts of gladness. Yes, God is sad that someone didn't repent (assumedly) and they are now in hell with Satan. The reality is that there were instead shouts of gladness- and hopefully because of his death, many people will have another chance to give their lives to Jesus and be saved. The end game is this: If we do not accept Jesus, we will end up the same place Osama probably already is...that is why the sacrifice of Christ needs to change our lives.
Im tapped out, so until later this week.....
Sean
I was just graduated out of high school, and was figuring out what college was all about. I had decided to take a semester off for the most part- I was only signed up for 3 classes- and my father agreed it would be a good thing for me to take a semester, figure out what college really was, and then go full on at it the following spring.
Classes had been in session for a few weeks, and I was about to walk into my favorite college class thus far: Ethics. Being a new Christian, I was interested to see what I really believed and how it really fit with the Bible, especially when brought into a classroom of people who were sure to fight me on my views. I think this is just one more way that God was preparing me for what I am doing now- since I CONSTANTLY have to defend my views to people who view them as being less than nice or fun to adhere to.
Ill never forget walking into my ethics class on September 11, 2001. As I walked in, the television was on, and the 12 or so of us who got there a little early were glued. I quickly came to realize what had happened. Just as I turned my eyes to the television, we watched as a second jet hit the second twin tower in NYC.
It was terrifying. Even being hundreds of miles away, you could still feel the entire world sink. We were sent home. School was cancelled. Businesses shut down. You couldn't watch anything but the coverage on the television. The WORLD as we knew it shut down. There was nothing like it.
And then the world found out who was behind these atrocious attacks. Osama Bin Laden and his cronies not only were found to be guilty of the crime, but claimed it all to the joy of their god. People began signing up for the military by the droves as stories continued to pour in about people lost in the attacks, families that would never be the same, and thousands of people who were sent to an early grave- God knows how many without Jesus.
So then, yesterday happens. The same day 66 years earlier that the world discovered Hitler was dead, President Obama addressed the nation that this tyrant militant terrorist Osama Bin Laden had also been killed. The nation (for the most part) rejoiced at the sound. CNN showed an impromptu party outside of the white house. News anchors were called in the report the biggest story of the young decade. And Facebook began to blow up with people seemingly mourning the death of Bin Laden.
Wait. What?
Yes. Mourning. A few verses came out, and Christians began feuding with each other. Proverbs 24:17-18 was everywhere, as was Ezekiel 33:11. Major Christian leaders began to post things that normal everyday christians began to eat up. Gandhi was quoted more yesterday than any other day in history. (Gandhi's quote 'Hate the sin, not the sinner' is widely misused and miscategorized as a Bible verse.) The problem? We shouldn't be happy that man who murdered THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of people was dead. That proper justice had been served. Instead, we should mourn him...after all, God doesn't like us gloating in the fall of our enemies, right?
Right. And wrong.
Proverbs 24:17-18 says "Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the LORD see it and be displeased, and turn his anger away from him." One of my first problems with this out of context scripture being quoted was the failure to read the next two verses: "Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked, for the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out." Can we not agree that Bin Laden was an evil wicked man? The context of the scripture as well is not to say someone who is a sinner, as we all are. An 'evil man' and the 'wicked' spoken of is someone who practices and lives in those things, bringing harm to the cities and the people around him. Am I anyone better than Bin Laden biblically? No. I am aware of that. But here are the other 2 issues with this verse being misquoted: 1. This is about a personal enemy that someone would have in their lives. This is attributed to YOU and ME not gloating or finding pleasure in the situation where someone who we dislike has something bad happen to them. THIS is not the same as the USA rejoicing over Bin Laden's death. Its actually the opposite. It also implies that the person who is shamed is still alive and has to live in the embarrassment and pain because of their failure. In other words, this is like someone you don't like failing and having to go summer school, and then you demoralize them because of it, and find great joy in it.
The point of verse 18 is not that God will cease to punish the wicked person either. . .it means that the person who is gloating is now in sin, and has become no better than the wicked one. Remember, GOD IS JUST. To say that He is anything but that is wrong and heretical. Some may say 'no, that makes God merciful" and I would agree- God is merciful in that when Jesus died in our place, His wrath fell upon Christ instead of us...and if we accept that, our wrath is paid. Sure, this may sound like God is big and mean, and although a short sighted and naive person may agree, that is still a false view. God is not a liar, so when He says He is just, we must believe HE IS JUST.
On the other side of things, Proverbs 28:28 says "When wicked rise, men hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous increase." So what are we to say of this then? Are we to be more upset over one man dead, who probably in getting justice for the pain and hurt he caused, or should we rather rejoice that the biblical truth is that the righteous will increase because of his death? Call me callused if you will, but because of Bin Laden's death, the number of righteous will increase. That is a worthwhile call. Its also easy to get upset over people like me- but what if you or someone you love who doesn't know Jesus was murdered by Bin Laden or one of his crooks before they had the chance to repent and ask Jesus to change them? Would that make it personal enough for you then?
Or how about Proverbs 11:10? " When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness." The wicked perished. There were shouts of gladness. Yes, God is sad that someone didn't repent (assumedly) and they are now in hell with Satan. The reality is that there were instead shouts of gladness- and hopefully because of his death, many people will have another chance to give their lives to Jesus and be saved. The end game is this: If we do not accept Jesus, we will end up the same place Osama probably already is...that is why the sacrifice of Christ needs to change our lives.
Im tapped out, so until later this week.....
Sean
Monday, April 25, 2011
Free lunch a day...
This week is a celebratory spring break week...most of our students are out on spring break, which means most of them have a lot of time on their hands, which means most of them are looking for something to do, so I decided to start something called Find a lunch. Basically what it comes down to is that I am going to give 3 clues out as to my whereabouts in moncks corner, and the first person to find me and tell me 'Alive is the awesomesauce of life' is going to get a free lunch. I don't even care who it is. The only rule is you gotta have lunch with me. So here are Monday's three clues:
1. I will be arriving at a certain restaurant in Moncks Corner at the same time that is my wife's birthday. (not my best attempt at the english language there, sorry.) Basically this. If you take my wife's birthday month and day, and make that into a time format, you will know what time I will be there. As an example, my birthday is October 20th, or 10/20. Therefore, I would be at a place at 10:20. Figure out my wife's birthday and you'll figure out the time.
2. I will be looking for someone who can say "Alive is the awesomesauce of life" as soon as they see me. You also need to be wearing SOMETHING BLUE....after all, blue is one of the restaurants main colors.
3.The place I will be eating at has commercials with many famous people in them. The latest is Herschel Walker, ex NFL star turned MMA fighter. Other famous people include Doris Roberts, Jerry Rice, Jaime Pressley, and even MacGyver. They also contain whistling.
If you need some help with these clues, I may be able to point you in the right direction. Remember, Free food is still free, and you CAN win more than once. Looking forward to seeing you show up alive!
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