Eye of the Tiger

Tiger Woods made his return to the PGA Tour today and appears to have a renewed vigor for playing after his 8 month rehab from a torn acl. As an golfer, I appreciate his commitment to play, and it reminds me of the Apostle Paul when he talks about training as to win the prize. It’s amazing how distracted i can get from what is important, namely growing in the work and person of Jesus Christ. Press on toward the goal heavenward.

Time Out?

The new semester has started this week at WSC. I am excited about the courses this semester, but there will be a tremendous workload. I pray for focus and good stewardship of the time God has given me. What a comfort to know He is in control and yet I’m called to spend time that brings honor and glory to His name.

Today’s chapel focused on 1 Corinthians on food offered to idols. Do we eat it in good conscience or turn away from it in obedience to the Apostle Paul’s counsel. He also says that whatever we do, do it all for the glory of God. The emphasis in 1 Cor. 10 refers to eating and drinking, and how to respond in those situations. Today we may face such issues as alcohol and tobacco, meat or vegetable and other such issues that concern our conscience.

Paul also mentions in Romans 14 not to cause an ocassion for someone to stumble, when it is appropriate to refrain in light of a weaker brother’s faith or conscience. We are called to think of other’s more  highly than ourselves and to carry each other’s burdens.

i appreciate the time of devotion on Tuesday and Thursday to hear God’s Word taught. It’s a welcome break in the rigors of schoolwork, but it is also a great reminder to meditate on God’s Word and to keep the goal of entering ministry on the forefront. I am still grateful for Dr. Clark’s reminder to study while I pray and pray while I study.

It’s amazing how anxious people can be when faced with deadlines. I too, find myself worrying and forgetting to seek God’s kingdom first. This semester already has a big workload, and I pray that I spend time wisely, pressing on towards the goal heavenward, remembering that it is because of Go’s grace that I may press on. I am totally dependent on God yet I live like I don’t.

What a blessing to know that God sent His Son to forgive my sins on the cross. May His Word be proclaimed boldly to encourage and edify His people and to bring sinners to Christ. SDG

BUzz Word

There are certain words in culture that take on the faddish category of “buzz words”. These words are used regularly to describe a movement or trend in culture and reflect the current ideas important to a particular age. Often these words are merely cliches that reflect the same thing as a buzz word. For instance, “bailout’ has been an oft cited word in our current economic crisis, as well as “green”. Behind each word there is an ideology behind the word as it takes on significance in the culture.

In the church, community is one such word that has received considerable attention, especially in our Western culture. Since the Enlightenment, “Homo Mensura”, or man the measure, has been a driving philosohpy in how man perceives the world he lives in and how that relates to others.

The individualism that pervades culture today poses a great challenge to this ideology, and the fact that we mention community so often is that we have a hard time engaging with it. Our lives can be superficial and distant from those around us, and we sometimes feel guilty for not really being a neighbor. Dealing with others is not always convenient, and it takes a lot of humility to stop one’s own agenda and interact with another. God showed us His love for us by sending His SOn to die for us while we were still sinners.

I write this post recognizing that I fight the tendency to withdraw and escape from community in the church and with my family. The community I am in is not one I’d necessarily chose to be in; it is the graciousness and will of God that I bee in community to share together with other believers the Word and Sacraments that define the church community.

Though it is so important to be aware of, in light of God establishing His church, there is the sinful desire to do what is right in our own eyes. Hebrews declares that we not forsake the gathering and celebrate what Christ has done on our behalf. John mentions the one anothering passages to remind us of our dependency on Christ and our community.

It’s a shame that so many are moving from church to church or not even going to church at all. More on this to come. SDG