rekindling the fire

I title this post as it describes my situation and my current state of being. I know those you who read my chronicle will say didn't you post something to the effect of a "turning point" I must be honest and say that even as I wrote that I was keeping something back. That something was a habitual sin almost an addiction of sorts. As of last week I put it out of my life now and with God's help for good.

Having that in my life and not fully acknowledging it (even worse consciously doing it) made my life one big bowl of slime. I honestly felt dirty and unworthy to call myself a child of the one true God. This all came upon me by listening to words of John Piper as he was progressing through a study of Romans.

That is where I am at the moment. Another failing in me is for the longest time my journey so far here at seminary has been one of "look at me, I'm going to be a pastor" I must remember that this will never be about me

I won't post my prayer requests in this forum, but if you'd like to know what to pray about for just comment indicating and I'll be glad to tell.

I must adamantly recommend John Piper his daily podcast is on iTunes or through the link above.

A Change of Season......

With a brief winter's chill in the morning air it is more than apparent that Fall is in full swing with winter not far behind. Its mornings and evening like these that remind me of my college days although not so far behind me they feel like a distant memory. Nights spent walking upon cherokee damn sometimes in deep theological discussion other times about nothing at, simply what was bugging me and how I was dealing with it.

Sometimes I wish I could rewind my life and have it to do all over again with the same experiences, the same friends, and everything in between; but then I snap back in to the here and now and realize all the responsibilites that lay before me.

but it's hard to stay mad, when there's so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once, and it's too much, my heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst... And then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold on to it, and then it flows through me like rain

- American Beauty

Watch for Flying Grey Matter

Well after my first round of tests came back with no favorable grades on them I've reasserted myself with the appropriate mentoring and accountability; and I'm now faithfully reading the assigned text as called for.

Wouldn't know the results of quizzes and that right come with grades like 90's and 96's and 100's even. Its amazing what you can happen when your faithful to study. I digress...the title of this post has to do with my Church History class. It is very engaging* and I'm learning and hearing alot in that class. right now we are at about the 4th Century or so right around the time of the Arian(not the neo-Nazi's) Controversy and the Council of Nicea and that stuff. Its simply amazing what the Early Christian's concerns were over. I mean today some our biggest concerns are Do members really have to park off-campus and ride the shuttle to church allowing visitors come??

I mean just think about actually debating whether or not the Jesus you called Savior was He of the Father(the term: Homoousios meaning same substance for all you non-greek peeps) or something else. Its so much at times I feel like my little naive baptist mind is going to explode. (hence the title)

Hope everyone is well I must apologize to the blogsphere for my the posts I had on here recently they were done out of frustration and God was really working on me and I was fighting him tooth and nail as I tend to usually and we all know what happens when you fight against God. So I'm starting a book study of James if anyone wants to join me in a dialogue about it not it will be Good just the same.


* I say engaging yet I've yet to engage I'm just taking it all in still. Sometimes it makes me wonder whether or not I comprehend it cause I'm not asking questions.; and yet still it could be arrogance for not asking questions.

A New Revelation

I'm taking Hermenutics this my first semester and already I'm gaining more confidence in my ability to take a passage and and really get into the meat and bones of the passage. As it is called "finding the seams" the natural flow of the passage. This in turn proves that I'm capable of being a pastor. I'v been battling this for a long time and I attribute it to Satan trying ot defeat a potential good weapon in me (I hope that doesn't sound conceited) if it does it is not intended to be.

As apart of my reading for this class I'm reading "Living By The Book" by Howard G. Hendricks and giant in the field of Hermenutics. One thing this book has convicted me of is my failure to really study the bible and examine the scripture for deep meaning.

I'm guilty of distorting the text for all it worth making it say what I want it say so that I can condone my behavior or rather past behaviors. Scripture has but one interpretation and many applications.

Call this what what you will....I call it sort of a confession

And for something totally different(allusion to Monty Python)

Church History Question for Discussion:

Do you think Constantine was really convertered????

I say he wasn't cause if was genuinely converted to Christianity he would see that it was impossible to continue with the pagan worship. according to scripture.

This For Now......

It's not much but I promise within the close of the week I'll have something to put I'm currently stewing over what I'm gonna offer up for discussion.

But, for now I must say that I felt like an accomplished musician yesterday to turn on the local classical station here in Wake Forest which is WCPE 89.7 and hear them playing Gustav Holst's: First Suite for Miltary Band in E Flat.

New Beginnings

I've recently as of a few hours ago switched to the new beta of Blogger with the switch all of the links of my highly visited blogs and pages went bye bye.

so....if you once held a spot on The CrazyScotsman and don't see your name and site please leave me a comment with the appropriate info and I'll be sure to post it.

In addition those who frequent my site that have a new or interesting site that you think I should list please submit it.

I'll take the first 30 (if I get that many) beacause I'm wanting to limit the amount scrolling you have to do on my page.

Things Going On

Hey everyone....just dropping in to give you all an update. Things are going well starting to learn the ins and outs of my new job. God was really smiling on me the way things have been arranged I'm working in the lowest stress area of the the entire Hub. For those you who don't know and I'm not sure that I mentioned this but I recently landed a job working for UPS. At any rate the biggest thing where I'm working is being accurate and making sure that right packages go in the right bags headed for the right city. At the moment I'm considered a seasonal worker, but from the sounds of if you do a good job and perform well there's almost no down time between Christmas time and getting called back to work as a permanent employee. As far as I'm conerned until a "church job" comes my way I plan on staying with UPS I mean how many people can say that they work part-time and they get full health benefits.

I'm enjoying a break from school...apparently SBC still has a college mentality to it in that we are on "Fall Break" I feel like I just started and we're already on a break; then again its not really a break cause its definently implied that you work during the break.