“The longer I live, the more I find I don't know”
“We’re paddling on the edges of the possibilities of grace”…Leonard Ravenhill
The last few weeks have been an interesting and intriguing time in my life. Changes in lifestyle and mindset seem to come at the most obvious times yet come completely unexpected. Needless to say I have learned a lot in the last month. The question I wrestle with though is does it matter?
I have been leading a devotional group of counselors throughout the weeks and am very pleased with how these young men of God are doing. There is so much talent and so much potential in them. That coming from me and 10 years of leading various groups is a pretty big statement. A couple weeks ago though one amazing female counselor said that it seemed kind of intimidating with me as a devo leader to the guys because I graduated from Bible College. The observation kind of stuck with me as it’s something I have heard before with people in Bible studies under my Father or Grandfather. I pondered that statement a lot wondering what does this knowledge mean to me and what does it do for me? The more I thought about it though the more I realized it’s not about how much I know about God, it’s about what I do with it. The knowledge is a means to an end, the end being a closer relationship with God and bringing others to that point. People spend their entire lives trying to find out the mysteries of life only to waste it all with no understanding of the love of an almighty God. We are trying to understand the divine only to find out how small we really are and how great God is for having mercy on us. The point is not how much I know, I’ll never even come close to knowing it all. The point is why and how this knowledge is changing me.
“The question is not were you challenged…the question is were you changed?”…Leonard Ravenhill
Signed
The Unsilent Pastor’s Kid
PS. If you can’t tell I have been listening to Leonard Ravenhill lately, look his sermons up on YouTube he has some great stuff
Monday, July 26, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
The irony of pride
Pride seems like a cruel irony to me. Having self-pride can lead to arrogance and will devastate you. Not having self-pride can lead to extremely low self-esteem and will devastate you. Where is the middle ground or is there no middle ground? This is perhaps one of the biggest struggles I am pondering right now. I am only 23 yet I have accomplished a lot more than most my age. All of my personal goals are coming to fruition by the day. It doesn’t seem like there is really anything I can’t eventually accomplish, yet there in lies the trap I fear. In this line of thinking I grow more arrogant, in my arrogance I become complacent, in my complacence I am corrupted, and in my corruption I weaken. Why? Because the key word in that sentence is “I”. What I really should be thinking is: are my goals God’s goals? Is what I’m doing because of me or because of Him? We grow arrogant when we take God out of the picture.
Yet the flip side of the coin is the philosophy that having any kind of pride is wrong. Last time I checked God did choose humanity as His shining achievement of creation. Is that not something to be proud of? Last time I checked God lovingly made us all how He wanted us made. Is that not something to be proud of? Last time I checked God gave us the right to be called His children. Is that not something to be proud of? We get to work and achieve for the furthering of His kingdom…The Kingdom. How can we not be proud of our accomplishments done with His help in His Name? Not having any pride in yourself, as a child of God, is a tragic thing. We have every reason to feel confident and proud when we realize who is backing us.
Perhaps the problem isn’t having or lacking any pride. Perhaps it is what we put our pride in that is the problem.
Yet the flip side of the coin is the philosophy that having any kind of pride is wrong. Last time I checked God did choose humanity as His shining achievement of creation. Is that not something to be proud of? Last time I checked God lovingly made us all how He wanted us made. Is that not something to be proud of? Last time I checked God gave us the right to be called His children. Is that not something to be proud of? We get to work and achieve for the furthering of His kingdom…The Kingdom. How can we not be proud of our accomplishments done with His help in His Name? Not having any pride in yourself, as a child of God, is a tragic thing. We have every reason to feel confident and proud when we realize who is backing us.
Perhaps the problem isn’t having or lacking any pride. Perhaps it is what we put our pride in that is the problem.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Inspired Ambition
Long silences are good for building tension. Unfortunately for me the tension has been building for a while without me realizing it. I had been getting questions in the last few months over what I am doing with my blog and the Lake-Facebook group “FORUM.” I apologize to those people who have been waiting for months now for either a new blog post, video, or any news over FORUM but it’s been busy. Mostly because of school (25 credits this term until two weeks ago) and jobs (currency is a contradictory concept) but also something else.
For the past few months I have begun a new project that I have made known to a few people but not made public. It’s not like it’s a secret but I just didn’t really want to put it out there. I was inspired after reading an article about children who have grown up with a parent in ministry. Since I am a bonified “PK’ it caught my attention. The emotional struggle a pastor’s kid goes through can be pretty messy, read some of my past blogs you’ll get the picture. A lot of these kids grow up and leave the church because of some of the scars, and they don’t come back. It brought me to ask the question why am I still in church? What was so appealing to me that I broke through my struggles and stayed with the faith? The answers came with an inspiring idea over what to do with them. After talking with my Father and Grandfather, they have encouraged me to move forward with this. I am currently in the process of writing a book on the experiences of a PK. As of this writing I am done with the rough draft of the prologue/first chapter and most of the outlining. I will be talking about some past experiences but I’m trying to be as general as possible, a book that contains ranting won’t help anyone. My hope is that people will read this book and not give up hope on church or even faith for that matter but see hope in it. My hope is also that it gets published to begin with but that's up to God I believe.
Because of this a lot of my creativity has been going into the book so I haven’t really had time to blog or cut any new vids for the group. This process might take a while but I will try to get some new things done on both the blog and the group. Don’t worry I’m not dead… :P
Signed,
The Unsilent Pastor’s Kid
PS. I'm always looking for proofreaders if anyone is interested and no I did not correct grammar in this post ha, ha, ha.,}),.
For the past few months I have begun a new project that I have made known to a few people but not made public. It’s not like it’s a secret but I just didn’t really want to put it out there. I was inspired after reading an article about children who have grown up with a parent in ministry. Since I am a bonified “PK’ it caught my attention. The emotional struggle a pastor’s kid goes through can be pretty messy, read some of my past blogs you’ll get the picture. A lot of these kids grow up and leave the church because of some of the scars, and they don’t come back. It brought me to ask the question why am I still in church? What was so appealing to me that I broke through my struggles and stayed with the faith? The answers came with an inspiring idea over what to do with them. After talking with my Father and Grandfather, they have encouraged me to move forward with this. I am currently in the process of writing a book on the experiences of a PK. As of this writing I am done with the rough draft of the prologue/first chapter and most of the outlining. I will be talking about some past experiences but I’m trying to be as general as possible, a book that contains ranting won’t help anyone. My hope is that people will read this book and not give up hope on church or even faith for that matter but see hope in it. My hope is also that it gets published to begin with but that's up to God I believe.
Because of this a lot of my creativity has been going into the book so I haven’t really had time to blog or cut any new vids for the group. This process might take a while but I will try to get some new things done on both the blog and the group. Don’t worry I’m not dead… :P
Signed,
The Unsilent Pastor’s Kid
PS. I'm always looking for proofreaders if anyone is interested and no I did not correct grammar in this post ha, ha, ha.,}),.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Let it Out
Sometimes I think that guys are afraid to talk about emotion. Well usually I’m one of them, I don’t like to talk about feelings, it’s like pulling teeth with me. This blog has been one of the releases to me for a long time. Some people have gotten what I am really saying in my posts, and some don’t, but whatever. Sure, I say I feel this or I feel that a good chunk of the time, mostly its because I don’t know how else to put something. It’s not necessarily how I am feeling, and sometimes I don’t really want people knowing. Why? Trust, I don’t give out real trust to people very often. If you knew why you would understand, but that still doesn’t make it right. It’s something I have been working on for about a year, being able to trust people easier. One of the ways I work on that is understanding that hurt is a part of life. One of the reasons trust is a big deal for me, is because of betrayal and the hurt that follows. Pain will always be around in this world, we can’t let it run our lives. We need to let go and grow from it. Easier said then done I know. With God it can be done. It can’t be bottled up though and there is the issue.
Have you ever put too much soap into a washing machine? A little bit of soap is fine and is good, but putting in too much is not. When I started doing my own laundry I fell into this trap once. It was horrible, a huge mess. Later on I found out that it could have been worse. Did you know you could actually break a washer that way? Think about this strong washer, you put too much of something in it and let it run, only to get a mess. Now think about people who bottle in their feelings and emotions. Too much of it in and let it fester, it really does not matter how strong the person is you're going to get a mess. The pain and hurt always overflows and comes out. For a long time I thought of my emotions as something not to be trusted. They had gotten me into trouble more than once. So I kept them to myself. I let them get to be too much and some of my friends a few years ago noticed this. Slowly I started to see the error of my thinking. I thought emotion was bad and feared it as a threat to my strength, even though that fear was the real threat. I thought that reason and logic were the only good things from God left. Yet God is the one who gave us emotion in the first place, that line of thinking made no sense. It was then and now that I have had my eyes open to my folly. We aren’t supposed to live on just emotion, we aren’t supposed to live on just logic. We are to live in balance with our emotions and reason, both are from God. It is when we become extremists that we are in the wrong and cause ourselves more struggle then needed.
It is when we let our fear of our emotions or our logic dictate our actions that we are in deep trouble. We cannot let fear dictate our lives. Too many times we are so afraid of getting hurt that we hide our feeling and don’t take risk. Life is built on taking some risk with the acknowledgement that God is guiding your path. What may seem like risk to us is just part of the plan to God. So what is the point in fearing tomorrow, or fearing emotion? If we balance our emotion and reason with the very Word of God then we will see. We will see that nowhere in scripture does it say emotion is evil or something to be hid away. We will see in the Word that God right now has put people in your life to help you in your struggle. Bring it out, search the Word, talk about it, give it to God, get help from people and be there for people. But don’t ever let your emotions or reason go against the Word of God, and don’t ever bottle them up thinking they will go away. Sometimes our emotions get to be too much, it hurts, we go to pastors to counselors for help, and that is ok. Just don’t ever go it alone, don’t ever hide it, for hiding it will only makes it worse.
I have been called strong by some before, I did wonder if it was true or not. It was recently that I begun questioning that aspect. I write now with a new thinking of what strength is. True strength is given by God and God alone, we build it up through His Word, and one of the ways it manifests itself is through balancing our mind and emotions using Scripture as guidance. Not fearing what might come tomorrow, for tomorrow will come but relying on God to help us get along day by day. Looking back on the times of struggle in our lives, seeing how God has brought us through those times, with hope and confidence that He will always be there for us good or bad.
Signed
The Unsilent Pastor’s Kid
P.S. If you want more there are a couple books that I have been reading that have really Biblically based and really helped me a lot. If you want them send me a message and I will get them to you. I recommend reading both of them.
Polishing God’s Monuments: Jim Andrews- Book written on suffering, and where God is when we are hurting. Great book to read for anybody, very inspirational.
Faith and Feelings: Brian Borgman- Just got finished reading this one and changed some of my opinions on emotions. I highly recommend this book if you are questioning what place emotions have in a Believer’s life.
Have you ever put too much soap into a washing machine? A little bit of soap is fine and is good, but putting in too much is not. When I started doing my own laundry I fell into this trap once. It was horrible, a huge mess. Later on I found out that it could have been worse. Did you know you could actually break a washer that way? Think about this strong washer, you put too much of something in it and let it run, only to get a mess. Now think about people who bottle in their feelings and emotions. Too much of it in and let it fester, it really does not matter how strong the person is you're going to get a mess. The pain and hurt always overflows and comes out. For a long time I thought of my emotions as something not to be trusted. They had gotten me into trouble more than once. So I kept them to myself. I let them get to be too much and some of my friends a few years ago noticed this. Slowly I started to see the error of my thinking. I thought emotion was bad and feared it as a threat to my strength, even though that fear was the real threat. I thought that reason and logic were the only good things from God left. Yet God is the one who gave us emotion in the first place, that line of thinking made no sense. It was then and now that I have had my eyes open to my folly. We aren’t supposed to live on just emotion, we aren’t supposed to live on just logic. We are to live in balance with our emotions and reason, both are from God. It is when we become extremists that we are in the wrong and cause ourselves more struggle then needed.
It is when we let our fear of our emotions or our logic dictate our actions that we are in deep trouble. We cannot let fear dictate our lives. Too many times we are so afraid of getting hurt that we hide our feeling and don’t take risk. Life is built on taking some risk with the acknowledgement that God is guiding your path. What may seem like risk to us is just part of the plan to God. So what is the point in fearing tomorrow, or fearing emotion? If we balance our emotion and reason with the very Word of God then we will see. We will see that nowhere in scripture does it say emotion is evil or something to be hid away. We will see in the Word that God right now has put people in your life to help you in your struggle. Bring it out, search the Word, talk about it, give it to God, get help from people and be there for people. But don’t ever let your emotions or reason go against the Word of God, and don’t ever bottle them up thinking they will go away. Sometimes our emotions get to be too much, it hurts, we go to pastors to counselors for help, and that is ok. Just don’t ever go it alone, don’t ever hide it, for hiding it will only makes it worse.
I have been called strong by some before, I did wonder if it was true or not. It was recently that I begun questioning that aspect. I write now with a new thinking of what strength is. True strength is given by God and God alone, we build it up through His Word, and one of the ways it manifests itself is through balancing our mind and emotions using Scripture as guidance. Not fearing what might come tomorrow, for tomorrow will come but relying on God to help us get along day by day. Looking back on the times of struggle in our lives, seeing how God has brought us through those times, with hope and confidence that He will always be there for us good or bad.
Signed
The Unsilent Pastor’s Kid
P.S. If you want more there are a couple books that I have been reading that have really Biblically based and really helped me a lot. If you want them send me a message and I will get them to you. I recommend reading both of them.
Polishing God’s Monuments: Jim Andrews- Book written on suffering, and where God is when we are hurting. Great book to read for anybody, very inspirational.
Faith and Feelings: Brian Borgman- Just got finished reading this one and changed some of my opinions on emotions. I highly recommend this book if you are questioning what place emotions have in a Believer’s life.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
A Cry for Conviction
I’m not going to lie, these last few weeks have been hard. I don’t really know why it has been this way at this point in time. It is like this whether I like it or not though. All I can really do is roll with the punches. It always seems that when I have a question that gets answered ten more come up out of nowhere. The more questions that I have the more I instinctively try to retreat to my insecurity, my false reality of some sense of control. Every bit of the insecure side of me wants control, but it cannot be. It never can be this way. Because the reality is there is no control. This is the greatest thing that could ever happen to us, to be so out of power in life. To realize that someone else is in the drivers seat and we are merely passengers. It is at this point that we can escape insecurity, when we let go. Let go of fear.
Throughout these last couple weeks I have realized something, not only about myself but everything in general. I could go on and on about myself, but self-centeredness will only feed my ego. If I could choose a beginning point to these realizations it would be at a point in time where I viewed a certain video. This video is called Revival Hymn (it is on my wall, or just watch it on YouTube, highly recommend watching all of it, it will open your eyes). This video brought forth something I found very troubling. The majority of the church as we know it is falling to ruins. There is a lack of a great many things. I believe the church has been poisoned by people who claim to be part of us, they are really wolves in sheep’s clothing. People who play church, people who go to church looking to have their weekly dose of positive spirituality. People who reduce our faith to nothing more than a good emotional experience. What’s worse is that there are leaders out there supporting this view of “church.” I have seen pastors who are afraid of people being offended by the Gospel, the very gospel that saved them. Pastors who are changing the very basics of our faith just so they can be liked by the people that hate us. Where are the pastors who preached the full Gospel with courage? Where are the leaders who had some conviction in their voice? Where are the people who were more concerned with offending God then offending people? These leaders are becoming more few in number by the day. I long for the day when we stand unafraid as one, with one conviction. The truth that we are all sinners, we are all part of this evil humanity, and that Christ is the only one who can save us. I long for the day where our faith is seen as more then just affirming a few intellectual statements. I long for the day when the leaders of conviction become great in number once again, so that people will be changed and not just comfortable.
If you feel the same, what are you going to do about it? Are you really going to sit back and let truth be spat upon in favor of complacency? Are you going to let people turn your church into a place where the Bible takes a back seat to over-sensitivity? Listen, the Gospel will be offensive to some people, the question is are you courageous enough to speak out anyway?
As for me I will speak and look to the sky for my Vindicator asking Him, “How long O Lord will You let this continue? How long until You cleanse Your pulpit of the filth of cowardice? How much longer will You allow people to make light of Your holiness and justice?”
Throughout these last couple weeks I have realized something, not only about myself but everything in general. I could go on and on about myself, but self-centeredness will only feed my ego. If I could choose a beginning point to these realizations it would be at a point in time where I viewed a certain video. This video is called Revival Hymn (it is on my wall, or just watch it on YouTube, highly recommend watching all of it, it will open your eyes). This video brought forth something I found very troubling. The majority of the church as we know it is falling to ruins. There is a lack of a great many things. I believe the church has been poisoned by people who claim to be part of us, they are really wolves in sheep’s clothing. People who play church, people who go to church looking to have their weekly dose of positive spirituality. People who reduce our faith to nothing more than a good emotional experience. What’s worse is that there are leaders out there supporting this view of “church.” I have seen pastors who are afraid of people being offended by the Gospel, the very gospel that saved them. Pastors who are changing the very basics of our faith just so they can be liked by the people that hate us. Where are the pastors who preached the full Gospel with courage? Where are the leaders who had some conviction in their voice? Where are the people who were more concerned with offending God then offending people? These leaders are becoming more few in number by the day. I long for the day when we stand unafraid as one, with one conviction. The truth that we are all sinners, we are all part of this evil humanity, and that Christ is the only one who can save us. I long for the day where our faith is seen as more then just affirming a few intellectual statements. I long for the day when the leaders of conviction become great in number once again, so that people will be changed and not just comfortable.
If you feel the same, what are you going to do about it? Are you really going to sit back and let truth be spat upon in favor of complacency? Are you going to let people turn your church into a place where the Bible takes a back seat to over-sensitivity? Listen, the Gospel will be offensive to some people, the question is are you courageous enough to speak out anyway?
As for me I will speak and look to the sky for my Vindicator asking Him, “How long O Lord will You let this continue? How long until You cleanse Your pulpit of the filth of cowardice? How much longer will You allow people to make light of Your holiness and justice?”
Monday, May 18, 2009
A Bunch of Broken Toys
“He is the one who looks at me, and sees what I was meant to be-more than just a beautiful mess”- someone amazing, you know who you are ;)
It’s been a while I’ll admit. The thing is I have been writing, just not for anyone’s eyes to see, only my own, sorry. Sometimes I need to write on my own, just to gain some kind of grasp on all of the thoughts that go through my head. Sometimes I need to look and see that there is something to hoping. Hoping that I am becoming more then I was before. More than a broken human, more than a busted dream, more than anything that can be grasped by human minds. Yet God’s mind is greater then ours. He didn’t grasp it but planned it. It is a comfort thinking that God looks down upon me and intends something great. That I am not just some speck of dust, but that there is a purpose, a dream that can be attained. We go through life with so many dreams that fall apart and break into a mess. So many plans that get thrown to the wind in an instant. Yet there is still hope, hope in an Almighty God that has planned from the beginning something great for me, for all of us. If we would just throw down our pride and trust Him. Take His hand and follow. He would lead us into a path of true fulfillment. That we might become something more, something better, something that we were supposed to be from the beginning. I can’t help but feel like a broken toy at some points. That I have fallen off the shelf and am crying out for someone to fix me. The great thing about it is the Toymaker hears my cries and says I will not just fix you, I will polish you up and make you look better then new. How much longer until we can be what we are supposed to? How much longer will it take You to fix me? How much longer until I get to see the Face of my Creator? Until then I wait and undergo repair, becoming more then just a broken mess.
It’s been a while I’ll admit. The thing is I have been writing, just not for anyone’s eyes to see, only my own, sorry. Sometimes I need to write on my own, just to gain some kind of grasp on all of the thoughts that go through my head. Sometimes I need to look and see that there is something to hoping. Hoping that I am becoming more then I was before. More than a broken human, more than a busted dream, more than anything that can be grasped by human minds. Yet God’s mind is greater then ours. He didn’t grasp it but planned it. It is a comfort thinking that God looks down upon me and intends something great. That I am not just some speck of dust, but that there is a purpose, a dream that can be attained. We go through life with so many dreams that fall apart and break into a mess. So many plans that get thrown to the wind in an instant. Yet there is still hope, hope in an Almighty God that has planned from the beginning something great for me, for all of us. If we would just throw down our pride and trust Him. Take His hand and follow. He would lead us into a path of true fulfillment. That we might become something more, something better, something that we were supposed to be from the beginning. I can’t help but feel like a broken toy at some points. That I have fallen off the shelf and am crying out for someone to fix me. The great thing about it is the Toymaker hears my cries and says I will not just fix you, I will polish you up and make you look better then new. How much longer until we can be what we are supposed to? How much longer will it take You to fix me? How much longer until I get to see the Face of my Creator? Until then I wait and undergo repair, becoming more then just a broken mess.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Staring in Awe at the Hand of God
Sunday is a strange yet almost always good day for me, in many ways. On one hand it’s strange because I always learn something new on Sunday. Not to say that I don’t learn on other days, but something inspiring always comes to mind on Sunday. It is what I choose to do with that knowledge, that is the real question. This last Sunday was no different. I was listening to my grandfather’s sermon at church this last Sunday. He is one of two (the other being my father) that I have yet to hear a sermon from where I did not pick up something new. Even from scriptures I had read many times before.
We were talking about the last chapter in Acts. He made a point about how God does not waste and always gives us what we need. To illustrate this he said that God never wastes, for instance the story of the feeding of the five thousand. There were 12 baskets left. Now for the years and years of going over this same story my mind turned. What could I have possibly missed? He then said this, how many disciples were there? It hit me like a rock, twelve disciples, twelve baskets of fish, one monument to God’s provision.
Is there ever a time in your life where you wonder where is God? What is He doing? Or is He really providing, is this what His will is? This point brings up many thoughts to my head. My great grandfather passed away about a month ago. It was depressing for me since he was truly a great example of a Christ follower and truly a great man. The Monday following this event I received a stunning phone call from my father. He said to me something that I will never forget; your grandfather left you an inheritance that no one knew about. Now I knew that for the last couple years I had been trying to come up with ways that I could save for my tuition for my seminary education after college. I wondered if this was really what God wanted for me. I wondered if my college education was really wasted. Was my training for nothing? Was I really called to ministry? I figured out my tuition for four years of seminary would be about $21,000. I found out later how much I had been left, 20 grand. God provides for those who do His will. Just like with the twelve apostles, God provided for me and wasted nothing. God can use every single person, its only a matter of will you accept His provision?
Signed,
The Unsilent Pastor's Kid
We were talking about the last chapter in Acts. He made a point about how God does not waste and always gives us what we need. To illustrate this he said that God never wastes, for instance the story of the feeding of the five thousand. There were 12 baskets left. Now for the years and years of going over this same story my mind turned. What could I have possibly missed? He then said this, how many disciples were there? It hit me like a rock, twelve disciples, twelve baskets of fish, one monument to God’s provision.
Is there ever a time in your life where you wonder where is God? What is He doing? Or is He really providing, is this what His will is? This point brings up many thoughts to my head. My great grandfather passed away about a month ago. It was depressing for me since he was truly a great example of a Christ follower and truly a great man. The Monday following this event I received a stunning phone call from my father. He said to me something that I will never forget; your grandfather left you an inheritance that no one knew about. Now I knew that for the last couple years I had been trying to come up with ways that I could save for my tuition for my seminary education after college. I wondered if this was really what God wanted for me. I wondered if my college education was really wasted. Was my training for nothing? Was I really called to ministry? I figured out my tuition for four years of seminary would be about $21,000. I found out later how much I had been left, 20 grand. God provides for those who do His will. Just like with the twelve apostles, God provided for me and wasted nothing. God can use every single person, its only a matter of will you accept His provision?
Signed,
The Unsilent Pastor's Kid
Friday, October 31, 2008
Banishing the Villain, Becoming a Hero (part 3): Surrender to be Free
Do you ever find it twisted that we live in a country that is supposedly built on freedom? Walk down the street, look around you, are we really free? Politically maybe but it seems more often than not we are trapped with four walls encasing us, closing in, walls that we ourselves made. No I am not speaking of physical walls, but emotional or even spiritual. We all have imperfections that make us want to wear an unseen mask. Something we put on to hide our brokenness, a persona. Only to find ourselves trapped in something unreal and deceptive. We are the victims of our own devices. True freedom deep down, is not reality for most of us. For deep down we all face our own selves, the picture is not a pretty one. We are like shattered glass trying to pull ourselves back together only to realize we can’t move. We need help; we need to rely on someone else. To gain freedom and wholeness we must, in a sense, surrender. To whom? To God. For who better to pick up the pieces then Someone who does truly know you and still wants you. All your faults and failings do not change His desire for you. His desire is to see you free, free from the prison and chains. True freedom is reliance on a God who will only do what is right, true, and best. Think, if God truly did not love us, why would He waste His time sending His Son down to earth to give us a chance. God does not want to see you imprisoned emotionally, mentally, spiritually. Doubt me, condemn me, do whatever but you can’t deny my witness. I have seen lives changed, I have had the same change personally. I can’t deny what I know as truth no matter how much this culture or the cowards in it want to suppress Christ. Just so you know, when people finally have true freedom, there’s nothing anyone can do to stop it. You can tell us were fools, ridicule us, even physically persecute us. It won’t ever do you any good, we only grow stronger. Why? We have freedom, we don’t have to hide, at least the ones of us who are true believers. I leave it to you, God’s will has a place, a great place made especially for you. You personally. Take the plunge or reject it do what you think you want. You make your own bed, or your own mirror that is. A mirror of completeness and freedom, or one that just lies on the floor broken and deserted.
Last part coming soon…
PS- I find it interesting that people who don’t believe in God want to blame Him for everything that goes wrong in the world (disasters, hunger, etc.). Make up your mind either He exists and you hate Him, or He doesn’t which in that case grow up and do something.
Another thing, for those who ask the question why would a loving God send people to Hell? I pose a question, how can a just God let people into heaven? Think about that one.
Last part coming soon…
PS- I find it interesting that people who don’t believe in God want to blame Him for everything that goes wrong in the world (disasters, hunger, etc.). Make up your mind either He exists and you hate Him, or He doesn’t which in that case grow up and do something.
Another thing, for those who ask the question why would a loving God send people to Hell? I pose a question, how can a just God let people into heaven? Think about that one.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Banishing the Villain, Becoming the Hero (part 2): A Hard Look in the Mirror
Find a mirror, take a good look. Look past the beauty that God has put into your outward appearances. Those looks, while they are very good, do not make you who you are. Look deep, right down into the depths of your being, your mind, your very soul. In Scripture it says we are corrupted beings, that we were once good but now are full of evil. So let me ask you, do you like what you see? Do you feel it deep inside you, the corruption, the dilution, the disease that is always fatal? It changes you, enslaves you, and breaks you. Sin is villainy. You are a villain through every action that flies in the face of all that is good, of all that is Godly. I know this might be offensive to some, but some things are a lot more important then worrying about who is offended. Don’t try to ask me, who are you to make such assumptions or accusations. I know Who is backing me, I have seen Him, and I have been right where each and everyone is either standing or stood. I know the pain, the anger, the hatred. I also know the truth, the entire human race is doomed to die, and that truth is an unfortunate inevitability that we all must face. It has been caused by the fact that deep down all of you and I know, we are all villains. We are all attracted to rebellion and evil. I also know the truth that there is hope, as bleak as it seems the light is always stronger. We might be doomed in this world, but it does not have to end that way. There is a hope, a chance to break out of our chains, a light that can overcome the villain persona that we all have. A chance for Someone to mold us into a hero. The question is do you really want to be free?
Stay tuned…
Stay tuned…
Preston Newby: Personified Heroism
The last two weeks have been probably some of the hardest two weeks I have ever been through. I have had a moment of clarity though and thought this is probably a good time to clear up and speak. One of my mentors, teacher, youth pastor, and good friend was killed helping someone in a tragic accident (http://www.lakeoswegoreview.com/news/story.php?story_id=122169250967465300). Preston lived his life for Christ and died a hero that was molded by the One he lived for. I mourn greatly for many reasons, for a family that lost someone they loved, for his friends that lost someone who was closer than a brother, for his church who lost a great leader and example. Do not weep for Preston, I can not even fathom the joy he is experiencing right now with Jesus. Weep for those that have lost, for those that knew him and those who never got the chance. For those that knew him, as hard as this is and will be, we have to move forward and Preston will never be forgotten. His legacy will be honored through the steps we now take, Preston lived for Jesus and looked to Him and His Word for direction let us all do the same. One of our leaders is in heaven now, we look to the leaders who worked with him to give us direction. I am confident in their leadership and know that God is with them as He was with Preston. The spirit of what Preston's life was about, the very Spirit of God that he followed will never leave us. We can make it, I don't know how, but I know we can. Its what Preston would have wanted, its what Christ our Savior wants from us. For those of you who tragically never met Preston, I cannot begin to tell you what an example he was. Christ was first in his life, that always showed up in his actions, his joy, in his life. He loved his family more then anything, it made him so happy to spend time with them. He cared for his friends, he was always real with us, and could always bring a smile to our faces. There are so many things I could tell you, all good, nothing bad. I found no fault in him, even though I think Preston would disagree and point to Christ as the only true example, as it should be. But let us all at least remember forever, God created a man that left a legacy to show the way to Christ. God gave us all someone to look up to. God truly molded through his grace and mercy, a hero. Preston, I miss you my friend, my brother in Christ. I'll see you on the other side, someday.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Banishing the Villain, Becoming a Hero (part 1)
I was watching a movie yesterday night, I gave it about a six, and started thinking about the antagonist of the story. You see, for some reason I thought about all of the dislike and hatred I had for this character throughout the story and wondered, why? Why do I not like this person? Is it because he is doing evil? Is it something much deeper? Contemplating this I went back to a class I took where an idea was put out on a similar matter. Sometimes we dislike or hate someone because when we see them we might see a part of ourselves, a part of ourselves that is painful. For instance, I am an intense person, duh!!! When I see another overly-intense person that person tends to get on my nerves. Now I admit that there are probably exceptions to this but for now I am not going down that rabbit trail. You have to wonder when we see villains in a movie, is our disgust of them more because of a disgust in ourselves and what we could be capable of. Maybe we just don’t want to take a look in that mirror and realize that that antagonist is really a mirror into our own being. Our souls have been corrupted, the only chance we have left is to reach out to God and be changed to a hero.
More to come later...
More to come later...
True Tragedy of a Lost Emotion (repost)
---Note-(So I caused just a little bit of controversy with this one the last time I posted it but I was looking at it and realized it should be put up again)
Think back to your first crush. The emotion, the anxiety we all feel, the funny looks you probably gave this person. Yet, you have to ask yourself, was it love? Is it love when we look at something or someone and find beauty? Is it love to feel "twitter-paitted" about someone? Is love merely romance? If not, what is true love?As I look back I believe I can say with confidence that love, real true love, is the only real emotion that we can trust. Even calling it an emotion is a crude way to put it and in no way defines it. The fact is, though, humanity has a very poor idea of love. The concept has been reduced to nothing but a physical attraction. No wonder the divorce rate is up. No wonder families are in chaos. No wonder people react to death all around us with, in most cases, apathy. There lies the problem, humanity is selfish and therefore doesn't care. When it comes down to it most people care about themselves more than others. Love should be about putting a person you love and care about above yourself. Love is caring about someone who isn't you. Does physical attraction play a part in romantic love? Of course, as it should. Yet God's idea of love transcend the ideas of romantic love. Romance is a part of the ideas of love in humanity but not all of it. Humans are more than just other beings with flesh, they are fellow people, potential brothers and sisters, perhaps future family. Some might not be believers, but all that means is that we should work as hard as we can to be examples of God's love and possibly help bring them back to the fold.So many times we talk in coffee shops, in church, in the news about tragedy. Hunger, war, poverty, injustice, its all tragic. I don't want to downplay these things, they are bad. But to make the statement that Christ in this day would care more about these issues than love and the progress of His kingdom, is an absurdity. People who make that assumption, might need to check their motives and step out of their own little world. There is a source to all of the hurt.The real human tragedy, relationships supposedly built on love are dying at alarming rates.The real human tragedy, our care for fellow humans have fallen down wht seems like a dark hole.The real human tragedy, the strong and popular (whatever that means) group and clique together while leaving the supposed weak behind to fall, alone.Take it from someone who had a pack mentality for years, cliques might share love between themselves, but they do not mirror Christ and therefore are wrong. Every human is on the same hotseat in front of God in the end. Everyone needs the same savior, one who knows what love really is and offers it freely. The real tragedy of humanity today is that we do not have a good idea of love, probably because we rejected and don't care for a God who created and showed us true love in the first place. That is something that is truly tragic.
Think back to your first crush. The emotion, the anxiety we all feel, the funny looks you probably gave this person. Yet, you have to ask yourself, was it love? Is it love when we look at something or someone and find beauty? Is it love to feel "twitter-paitted" about someone? Is love merely romance? If not, what is true love?As I look back I believe I can say with confidence that love, real true love, is the only real emotion that we can trust. Even calling it an emotion is a crude way to put it and in no way defines it. The fact is, though, humanity has a very poor idea of love. The concept has been reduced to nothing but a physical attraction. No wonder the divorce rate is up. No wonder families are in chaos. No wonder people react to death all around us with, in most cases, apathy. There lies the problem, humanity is selfish and therefore doesn't care. When it comes down to it most people care about themselves more than others. Love should be about putting a person you love and care about above yourself. Love is caring about someone who isn't you. Does physical attraction play a part in romantic love? Of course, as it should. Yet God's idea of love transcend the ideas of romantic love. Romance is a part of the ideas of love in humanity but not all of it. Humans are more than just other beings with flesh, they are fellow people, potential brothers and sisters, perhaps future family. Some might not be believers, but all that means is that we should work as hard as we can to be examples of God's love and possibly help bring them back to the fold.So many times we talk in coffee shops, in church, in the news about tragedy. Hunger, war, poverty, injustice, its all tragic. I don't want to downplay these things, they are bad. But to make the statement that Christ in this day would care more about these issues than love and the progress of His kingdom, is an absurdity. People who make that assumption, might need to check their motives and step out of their own little world. There is a source to all of the hurt.The real human tragedy, relationships supposedly built on love are dying at alarming rates.The real human tragedy, our care for fellow humans have fallen down wht seems like a dark hole.The real human tragedy, the strong and popular (whatever that means) group and clique together while leaving the supposed weak behind to fall, alone.Take it from someone who had a pack mentality for years, cliques might share love between themselves, but they do not mirror Christ and therefore are wrong. Every human is on the same hotseat in front of God in the end. Everyone needs the same savior, one who knows what love really is and offers it freely. The real tragedy of humanity today is that we do not have a good idea of love, probably because we rejected and don't care for a God who created and showed us true love in the first place. That is something that is truly tragic.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Corrupted Scenes
This year was somewhat of a wake up call to me when it comes to “christian” music. I went to two different concerts and had two different attitudes about both of them. One was a completely secular concert with a bunch of secular people, I assume. The crowd was nuts to say the least, there was some scattered spots of pushing and jerks but nothing really huge that I took notice of. It was probably one of the better concerts I have been to in a while. The other was promoted by christian radio stations and venues. The bands that played are very well known as “christian” bands and were very good, but it is irrelevant how good they were. The crowd was ridiculous. Pushing and shoving, people packed in tight enough to crush someone(worse than I have ever seen at ANY concert). People pushed to the ground without any remorse or care from anyone around. On top of that I do not remember one single mention of Christ, God, or anything resembling a gospel message. You know you have a problem when a secular crowd is acting better than a christian crowd. Great job “believers”!
What I am getting at is it seems that so-called “christian rock music” that was originally made to be an evangelistic tool is now nothing but entertainment. This brings me back to a class I took this year on philosophy. Christian music was mentioned and an interesting question was posed. Is Christianity ever supposed to be used as an adjective, for instance the term “christian” music? It was started for the purpose of evangelism, it has become nothing but a haven for sellouts and pretenders wanting stardom. Face it, christian music as it was meant to be is dead. It was never supposed to be like this, and it never used to be like this. It used to be that the gospel would be presented at these concerts. It used to be that people in the crowd treated others with respect and love. It used to be a lot of things. I guess God is not popular enough to be praised or even mentioned at a “christian” venue anymore.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Starting a Movement to Reclaim Moderacy
Ever been inspired, to an idea, a thought, an opinion? I wonder sometimes if I can get off track with my ideas. That the ones I wish to carry out are flying in the face of God. I have been inspired to help start something new. Something you might say could be revolutionary. I don't know why this idea has been plaguing my head for so long but it just seems like it is something that is from God and not my own. Things are becoming too perfect, and I feel conviction. I could turn some heads by supporting some things that might not be "correct" in our so-called "postmodern age", whatever in the heck that means. I am just sick of everyone telling me that the 20 somethings need to rise up and take over now. I am sick of people demanding that I rebel and change the system because I am part of this generation. I am definitely sick of people telling me that I won't be effective unless I conform to the postmodern culture. It’s funny how some of the people saying this are screaming that fundamentalists are putting God in a box when they make some of their claims. To all those who are sick of hearing BOTH extremists sides (that goes for the emergent church, not emerging church, too) say how Jesus is on their side and not the other one, I am sick of hearing it too. To all those who might be offended by this, I am not in a mood to give a care. I have heard all of your beliefs enough times to cram it and pull it out the other side, its time to stop twisting the words of Our Lord for your own purposes. Frankly, your opinions are typical and are not impressive. Everyone wants to be a revolutionary now a day; they all want to see how much they can go against old society and not conform. Though now since everyone is doing the same thing, doesn’t that defeat the purpose? The other thing I have noticed is that some in their efforts to show "the love of Christ" have toned down the message. It's gotten to the point where people are more concerned with not offending people then not offending the God that saved them. This is why both sides of the extremist coin are not very shiny.
Trying to reclaim some moderacy,
The Unsilent Pastor's Kid
Trying to reclaim some moderacy,
The Unsilent Pastor's Kid
Friday, January 18, 2008
True Reluctant Leadership
Ever wonder why the leaders God chose are always the most unexpected? There has to be something to this occurrence. Leaders that God calls always seem to be the people who don’t want to be in leadership.
Take my case for instance. I never wanted to be a leader; the idea of me becoming corrupted by power absolutely frightens me. I have seen what can happen to people who gain power yet misuse it and have had my heart broken numerous times because power corrupts if you let it. Betrayal, greed, selfishness become a lifestyle. The idea of being a tyrant should frighten anyone in leadership. Yet, God has called me, and I obey. The responsibility of being the leader has for some reason followed me wherever I go. I can’t escape, I can only embrace it. I only hope and pray that I can be a leader that helps people grow in Christ. That shows and points people the way to Him, and not be one that points to me. I am nothing, only God makes me something.
I tend to be reminded of another reluctant leader in history. Moses, at first, was hesitant of God’s call to be His chosen instrument to deliver the Hebrews. Now, while he did not fear himself, he still did fear for other reasons. Moses, as we all know became that leader and though was reluctant still chose to follow the Almighty God.
How many times are we reluctant to follow God’s call because we fear the mantle of leadership? Why should we fear when we know who is backing us? I have come to terms with the fact that drama, hardship, and times of strife are inevitable. It’s what we do to deal with that that matters and defines us as leaders. Are we going to trust in God and lead on, or will we falter at the first sign of trouble? One of my favorite verses has helped me come to terms with this truth. This verse has given me confidence and inspired me to come up with a list of traits that I think the Bible has set out for leadership. I don’t claim to have the answers for everything. In fact, even though I am pretty bright, I know absolutely nothing compared with some other people much less Christ. I can only stand up and speak for what I have learned; maybe it will help the same way for someone else that it has for me.
Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.---Isaiah 41:10
-True leaders point to God as the focal point and not to themselves
-True leaders will strive to maintain unity yet do what is necessary to protect the Body
-True leaders will be above reproach
-True leaders will put the needs of those he is leading over his own
-True leaders will inspire and teach people to get into the Word, to trust in God, and strive to become more like Christ
-True leaders will stand up for what is truth, what is Godly, and what is right
-True leaders will make their main goal to be leading others to Christ
I just pray I can be the leader in this list, and be the person God wants me to be.
Take my case for instance. I never wanted to be a leader; the idea of me becoming corrupted by power absolutely frightens me. I have seen what can happen to people who gain power yet misuse it and have had my heart broken numerous times because power corrupts if you let it. Betrayal, greed, selfishness become a lifestyle. The idea of being a tyrant should frighten anyone in leadership. Yet, God has called me, and I obey. The responsibility of being the leader has for some reason followed me wherever I go. I can’t escape, I can only embrace it. I only hope and pray that I can be a leader that helps people grow in Christ. That shows and points people the way to Him, and not be one that points to me. I am nothing, only God makes me something.
I tend to be reminded of another reluctant leader in history. Moses, at first, was hesitant of God’s call to be His chosen instrument to deliver the Hebrews. Now, while he did not fear himself, he still did fear for other reasons. Moses, as we all know became that leader and though was reluctant still chose to follow the Almighty God.
How many times are we reluctant to follow God’s call because we fear the mantle of leadership? Why should we fear when we know who is backing us? I have come to terms with the fact that drama, hardship, and times of strife are inevitable. It’s what we do to deal with that that matters and defines us as leaders. Are we going to trust in God and lead on, or will we falter at the first sign of trouble? One of my favorite verses has helped me come to terms with this truth. This verse has given me confidence and inspired me to come up with a list of traits that I think the Bible has set out for leadership. I don’t claim to have the answers for everything. In fact, even though I am pretty bright, I know absolutely nothing compared with some other people much less Christ. I can only stand up and speak for what I have learned; maybe it will help the same way for someone else that it has for me.
Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.---Isaiah 41:10
-True leaders point to God as the focal point and not to themselves
-True leaders will strive to maintain unity yet do what is necessary to protect the Body
-True leaders will be above reproach
-True leaders will put the needs of those he is leading over his own
-True leaders will inspire and teach people to get into the Word, to trust in God, and strive to become more like Christ
-True leaders will stand up for what is truth, what is Godly, and what is right
-True leaders will make their main goal to be leading others to Christ
I just pray I can be the leader in this list, and be the person God wants me to be.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Becoming Lost
I have been listening to a lot of music again today. Sometimes I like walking around with my mp3 player in my pocket and headphones on my ears. Walking down the sidewalk to some tune that gets the blood pumping and the adrenaline flowing. Today was no different. At some points I tend to get lost in the music. I become oblivious to my surroundings, and my world around me…fades…away. Today was no different. I got lost one more time and became absorbed into a song. Today was no different.
The question I ponder though is how many times is this our attitude, our mindset when it comes to God? When do we ever, in our time with the God of the universe become lost in Him? I admit I have not been the best example when it comes to spending time with God, sadly. Maybe its time for a change, a change that revolutionizes our time with our Savior. A time where we don’t look at reading His Word and prayer as a chore, but a time to be oblivious to our surroundings and lost in His love for us. How amazing it is that we get such a chance, such a privilege to be with Him.
BTW- the song was The Juliana Theory- “To the Tune of 5,000 Screaming Children” (you can find it on my myspace page) figure that one out.
The question I ponder though is how many times is this our attitude, our mindset when it comes to God? When do we ever, in our time with the God of the universe become lost in Him? I admit I have not been the best example when it comes to spending time with God, sadly. Maybe its time for a change, a change that revolutionizes our time with our Savior. A time where we don’t look at reading His Word and prayer as a chore, but a time to be oblivious to our surroundings and lost in His love for us. How amazing it is that we get such a chance, such a privilege to be with Him.
BTW- the song was The Juliana Theory- “To the Tune of 5,000 Screaming Children” (you can find it on my myspace page) figure that one out.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Onward
Right now I feel like past issues are coming back to haunt me. Yeah I am me again, the Alex that everyone loved, that people respected, and could put a grin on your face some years ago. These last couple years though have been one heck of an emotional rollercoaster, one that did not have controls or brakes. The problem is this last summer I had to re-find myself. I was not Alex Dotson this last summer, I was not the unique leader that has been part of my reputation, and I really don’t know who or what I was anymore. All that was there was on the outside someone who looked happy but on the inside was confused, clingy, over-emotional (bottled-in), over-affectionate, and off track. I realized how many opportunities, relationships, and dreams that either slipped or are about to slip out of my grasp because of my past decisions. I don’t think some people realize how hard it is to come to this point and look back. I am not wishing to change the past, everything happens for a reason. Though I think to myself what could have been or what could be if I had made different choices.
To those who helped me through what has happened, those who always had my back, I will always be thankful for you, and you know I will always have yours. To those who might have caught me at a bad time this summer I apologize that you did not know the real me or got a bad impression. Most people really don’t know me or how strong God has really made me and I am definitely not the same person, not anymore. I become stronger by the day, and nothing is going to stop me.
All I can say is that God has put me here for a reason; there is something for me…some kind of plan. One thing is for certain about me, within God’s plan and laws I do whatever I want, whenever I want, however I want. My past might come back to me but it will never again hinder me.
To those who helped me through what has happened, those who always had my back, I will always be thankful for you, and you know I will always have yours. To those who might have caught me at a bad time this summer I apologize that you did not know the real me or got a bad impression. Most people really don’t know me or how strong God has really made me and I am definitely not the same person, not anymore. I become stronger by the day, and nothing is going to stop me.
All I can say is that God has put me here for a reason; there is something for me…some kind of plan. One thing is for certain about me, within God’s plan and laws I do whatever I want, whenever I want, however I want. My past might come back to me but it will never again hinder me.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Reformation Day
Friends of the Protestant church, pretty much every believer who is not Catholic. Below are the ninety-five thesis of Martin Luther which were nailed to the door of a church in Wittenberg in the year 1517. The nailing of these to that door we mark as the beginning of the seperation between the Catholics and everybody else. Reformation Day is a truly great day in the history of our faith, but it is sad that not many people remember where we have come from. For those who have no idea about what I am talking about you can message me or e-mail me.
The 95 Thesis of Martin Luther
Out of love for the truth and the desire to bring it to light, the following propositions will be discussed at Wittenberg, under the presidency of the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and of Sacred Theology, and Lecturer in Ordinary on the same at that place. Wherefore he requests that those who are unable to be present and debate orally with us, may do so by letter.
In the Name our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
1. Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when He said Poenitentiam agite, willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance.
2. This word cannot be understood to mean sacramental penance, i.e., confession and satisfaction, which is administered by the priests.
3. Yet it means not inward repentance only; nay, there is no inward repentance which does not outwardly work divers mortifications of the flesh.
4. The penalty [of sin], therefore, continues so long as hatred of self continues; for this is the true inward repentance, and continues until our entrance into the kingdom of heaven.
5. The pope does not intend to remit, and cannot remit any penalties other than those which he has imposed either by his own authority or by that of the Canons.
6. The pope cannot remit any guilt, except by declaring that it has been remitted by God and by assenting to God's remission; though, to be sure, he may grant remission in cases reserved to his judgment. If his right to grant remission in such cases were despised, the guilt would remain entirely unforgiven.
7. God remits guilt to no one whom He does not, at the same time, humble in all things and bring into subjection to His vicar, the priest.
8. The penitential canons are imposed only on the living, and, according to them, nothing should be imposed on the dying.
9. Therefore the Holy Spirit in the pope is kind to us, because in his decrees he always makes exception of the article of death and of necessity.
10. Ignorant and wicked are the doings of those priests who, in the case of the dying, reserve canonical penances for purgatory.
11. This changing of the canonical penalty to the penalty of purgatory is quite evidently one of the tares that were sown while the bishops slept.
12. In former times the canonical penalties were imposed not after, but before absolution, as tests of true contrition.
13. The dying are freed by death from all penalties; they are already dead to canonical rules, and have a right to be released from them.
14. The imperfect health [of soul], that is to say, the imperfect love, of the dying brings with it, of necessity, great fear; and the smaller the love, the greater is the fear.
15. This fear and horror is sufficient of itself alone (to say nothing of other things) to constitute the penalty of purgatory, since it is very near to the horror of despair.
16. Hell, purgatory, and heaven seem to differ as do despair, almost-despair, and the assurance of safety.
17. With souls in purgatory it seems necessary that horror should grow less and love increase.
18. It seems unproved, either by reason or Scripture, that they are outside the state of merit, that is to say, of increasing love.
19. Again, it seems unproved that they, or at least that all of them, are certain or assured of their own blessedness, though we may be quite certain of it.
20. Therefore by "full remission of all penalties" the pope means not actually "of all," but only of those imposed by himself.
21. Therefore those preachers of indulgences are in error, who say that by the pope's indulgences a man is freed from every penalty, and saved;
22. Whereas he remits to souls in purgatory no penalty which, according to the canons, they would have had to pay in this life.
23. If it is at all possible to grant to any one the remission of all penalties whatsoever, it is certain that this remission can be granted only to the most perfect, that is, to the very fewest.
24. It must needs be, therefore, that the greater part of the people are deceived by that indiscriminate and highsounding promise of release from penalty.
25. The power which the pope has, in a general way, over purgatory, is just like the power which any bishop or curate has, in a special way, within his own diocese or parish.
26. The pope does well when he grants remission to souls [in purgatory], not by the power of the keys (which he does not possess), but by way of intercession.
27. They preach man who say that so soon as the penny jingles into the money-box, the soul flies out [of purgatory].
28. It is certain that when the penny jingles into the money-box, gain and avarice can be increased, but the result of the intercession of the Church is in the power of God alone.
29. Who knows whether all the souls in purgatory wish to be bought out of it, as in the legend of Sts. Severinus and Paschal.
30. No one is sure that his own contrition is sincere; much less that he has attained full remission.
31. Rare as is the man that is truly penitent, so rare is also the man who truly buys indulgences, i.e., such men are most rare.
32. They will be condemned eternally, together with their teachers, who believe themselves sure of their salvation because they have letters of pardon.
33. Men must be on their guard against those who say that the pope's pardons are that inestimable gift of God by which man is reconciled to Him;
34. For these "graces of pardon" concern only the penalties of sacramental satisfaction, and these are appointed by man.
35. They preach no Christian doctrine who teach that contrition is not necessary in those who intend to buy souls out of purgatory or to buy confessionalia.
36. Every truly repentant Christian has a right to full remission of penalty and guilt, even without letters of pardon.
37. Every true Christian, whether living or dead, has part in all the blessings of Christ and the Church; and this is granted him by God, even without letters of pardon.
38. Nevertheless, the remission and participation [in the blessings of the Church] which are granted by the pope are in no way to be despised, for they are, as I have said, the declaration of divine remission.
39. It is most difficult, even for the very keenest theologians, at one and the same time to commend to the people the abundance of pardons and [the need of] true contrition.
40. True contrition seeks and loves penalties, but liberal pardons only relax penalties and cause them to be hated, or at least, furnish an occasion [for hating them].
41. Apostolic pardons are to be preached with caution, lest the people may falsely think them preferable to other good works of love.
42. Christians are to be taught that the pope does not intend the buying of pardons to be compared in any way to works of mercy.
43. Christians are to be taught that he who gives to the poor or lends to the needy does a better work than buying pardons;
44. Because love grows by works of love, and man becomes better; but by pardons man does not grow better, only more free from penalty.
45. 45. Christians are to be taught that he who sees a man in need, and passes him by, and gives [his money] for pardons, purchases not the indulgences of the pope, but the indignation of God.
46. Christians are to be taught that unless they have more than they need, they are bound to keep back what is necessary for their own families, and by no means to squander it on pardons.
47. Christians are to be taught that the buying of pardons is a matter of free will, and not of commandment.
48. Christians are to be taught that the pope, in granting pardons, needs, and therefore desires, their devout prayer for him more than the money they bring.
49. Christians are to be taught that the pope's pardons are useful, if they do not put their trust in them; but altogether harmful, if through them they lose their fear of God.
50. Christians are to be taught that if the pope knew the exactions of the pardon-preachers, he would rather that St. Peter's church should go to ashes, than that it should be built up with the skin, flesh and bones of his sheep.
51. Christians are to be taught that it would be the pope's wish, as it is his duty, to give of his own money to very many of those from whom certain hawkers of pardons cajole money, even though the church of St. Peter might have to be sold.
52. The assurance of salvation by letters of pardon is vain, even though the commissary, nay, even though the pope himself, were to stake his soul upon it.
53. They are enemies of Christ and of the pope, who bid the Word of God be altogether silent in some Churches, in order that pardons may be preached in others.
54. Injury is done the Word of God when, in the same sermon, an equal or a longer time is spent on pardons than on this Word.
55. It must be the intention of the pope that if pardons, which are a very small thing, are celebrated with one bell, with single processions and ceremonies, then the Gospel, which is the very greatest thing, should be preached with a hundred bells, a hundred processions, a hundred ceremonies.
56. The "treasures of the Church," out of which the pope. grants indulgences, are not sufficiently named or known among the people of Christ.
57. That they are not temporal treasures is certainly evident, for many of the vendors do not pour out such treasures so easily, but only gather them.
58. Nor are they the merits of Christ and the Saints, for even without the pope, these always work grace for the inner man, and the cross, death, and hell for the outward man.
59. St. Lawrence said that the treasures of the Church were the Church's poor, but he spoke according to the usage of the word in his own time.
60. Without rashness we say that the keys of the Church, given by Christ's merit, are that treasure;
61. For it is clear that for the remission of penalties and of reserved cases, the power of the pope is of itself sufficient.
62. The true treasure of the Church is the Most Holy Gospel of the glory and the grace of God.
63. But this treasure is naturally most odious, for it makes the first to be last.
64. On the other hand, the treasure of indulgences is naturally most acceptable, for it makes the last to be first.
65. Therefore the treasures of the Gospel are nets with which they formerly were wont to fish for men of riches.
66. The treasures of the indulgences are nets with which they now fish for the riches of men.
67. The indulgences which the preachers cry as the "greatest graces" are known to be truly such, in so far as they promote gain.
68. Yet they are in truth the very smallest graces compared with the grace of God and the piety of the Cross.
69. Bishops and curates are bound to admit the commissaries of apostolic pardons, with all reverence.
70. But still more are they bound to strain all their eyes and attend with all their ears, lest these men preach their own dreams instead of the commission of the pope.
71. He who speaks against the truth of apostolic pardons, let him be anathema and accursed!
72. But he who guards against the lust and license of the pardon-preachers, let him be blessed!
73. The pope justly thunders against those who, by any art, contrive the injury of the traffic in pardons.
74. But much more does he intend to thunder against those who use the pretext of pardons to contrive the injury of holy love and truth.
75. To think the papal pardons so great that they could absolve a man even if he had committed an impossible sin and violated the Mother of God -- this is madness.
76. We say, on the contrary, that the papal pardons are not able to remove the very least of venial sins, so far as its guilt is concerned.
77. It is said that even St. Peter, if he were now Pope, could not bestow greater graces; this is blasphemy against St. Peter and against the pope.
78. We say, on the contrary, that even the present pope, and any pope at all, has greater graces at his disposal; to wit, the Gospel, powers, gifts of healing, etc., as it is written in I. Corinthians xii.
79. To say that the cross, emblazoned with the papal arms, which is set up [by the preachers of indulgences], is of equal worth with the Cross of Christ, is blasphemy.
80. The bishops, curates and theologians who allow such talk to be spread among the people, will have an account to render.
81. This unbridled preaching of pardons makes it no easy matter, even for learned men, to rescue the reverence due to the pope from slander, or even from the shrewd questionings of the laity.
82. To wit: -- "Why does not the pope empty purgatory, for the sake of holy love and of the dire need of the souls that are there, if he redeems an infinite number of souls for the sake of miserable money with which to build a Church? The former reasons would be most just; the latter is most trivial."
83. Again: -- "Why are mortuary and anniversary masses for the dead continued, and why does he not return or permit the withdrawal of the endowments founded on their behalf, since it is wrong to pray for the redeemed?"
84. Again: -- "What is this new piety of God and the pope, that for money they allow a man who is impious and their enemy to buy out of purgatory the pious soul of a friend of God, and do not rather, because of that pious and beloved soul's own need, free it for pure love's sake?"
85. Again: -- "Why are the penitential canons long since in actual fact and through disuse abrogated and dead, now satisfied by the granting of indulgences, as though they were still alive and in force?"
86. Again: -- "Why does not the pope, whose wealth is to-day greater than the riches of the richest, build just this one church of St. Peter with his own money, rather than with the money of poor believers?"
87. Again: -- "What is it that the pope remits, and what participation does he grant to those who, by perfect contrition, have a right to full remission and participation?"
88. Again: -- "What greater blessing could come to the Church than if the pope were to do a hundred times a day what he now does once, and bestow on every believer these remissions and participations?"
89. "Since the pope, by his pardons, seeks the salvation of souls rather than money, why does he suspend the indulgences and pardons granted heretofore, since these have equal efficacy?"
90. To repress these arguments and scruples of the laity by force alone, and not to resolve them by giving reasons, is to expose the Church and the pope to the ridicule of their enemies, and to make Christians unhappy.
91. If, therefore, pardons were preached according to the spirit and mind of the pope, all these doubts would be readily resolved; nay, they would not exist.
92. Away, then, with all those prophets who say to the people of Christ, "Peace, peace," and there is no peace!
93. Blessed be all those prophets who say to the people of Christ, "Cross, cross," and there is no cross!
94. Christians are to be exhorted that they be diligent in following Christ, their Head, through penalties, deaths, and hell;
95. And thus be confident of entering into heaven rather through many tribulations, than through the assurance of peace.
In the Name our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
1. Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when He said Poenitentiam agite, willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance.
2. This word cannot be understood to mean sacramental penance, i.e., confession and satisfaction, which is administered by the priests.
3. Yet it means not inward repentance only; nay, there is no inward repentance which does not outwardly work divers mortifications of the flesh.
4. The penalty [of sin], therefore, continues so long as hatred of self continues; for this is the true inward repentance, and continues until our entrance into the kingdom of heaven.
5. The pope does not intend to remit, and cannot remit any penalties other than those which he has imposed either by his own authority or by that of the Canons.
6. The pope cannot remit any guilt, except by declaring that it has been remitted by God and by assenting to God's remission; though, to be sure, he may grant remission in cases reserved to his judgment. If his right to grant remission in such cases were despised, the guilt would remain entirely unforgiven.
7. God remits guilt to no one whom He does not, at the same time, humble in all things and bring into subjection to His vicar, the priest.
8. The penitential canons are imposed only on the living, and, according to them, nothing should be imposed on the dying.
9. Therefore the Holy Spirit in the pope is kind to us, because in his decrees he always makes exception of the article of death and of necessity.
10. Ignorant and wicked are the doings of those priests who, in the case of the dying, reserve canonical penances for purgatory.
11. This changing of the canonical penalty to the penalty of purgatory is quite evidently one of the tares that were sown while the bishops slept.
12. In former times the canonical penalties were imposed not after, but before absolution, as tests of true contrition.
13. The dying are freed by death from all penalties; they are already dead to canonical rules, and have a right to be released from them.
14. The imperfect health [of soul], that is to say, the imperfect love, of the dying brings with it, of necessity, great fear; and the smaller the love, the greater is the fear.
15. This fear and horror is sufficient of itself alone (to say nothing of other things) to constitute the penalty of purgatory, since it is very near to the horror of despair.
16. Hell, purgatory, and heaven seem to differ as do despair, almost-despair, and the assurance of safety.
17. With souls in purgatory it seems necessary that horror should grow less and love increase.
18. It seems unproved, either by reason or Scripture, that they are outside the state of merit, that is to say, of increasing love.
19. Again, it seems unproved that they, or at least that all of them, are certain or assured of their own blessedness, though we may be quite certain of it.
20. Therefore by "full remission of all penalties" the pope means not actually "of all," but only of those imposed by himself.
21. Therefore those preachers of indulgences are in error, who say that by the pope's indulgences a man is freed from every penalty, and saved;
22. Whereas he remits to souls in purgatory no penalty which, according to the canons, they would have had to pay in this life.
23. If it is at all possible to grant to any one the remission of all penalties whatsoever, it is certain that this remission can be granted only to the most perfect, that is, to the very fewest.
24. It must needs be, therefore, that the greater part of the people are deceived by that indiscriminate and highsounding promise of release from penalty.
25. The power which the pope has, in a general way, over purgatory, is just like the power which any bishop or curate has, in a special way, within his own diocese or parish.
26. The pope does well when he grants remission to souls [in purgatory], not by the power of the keys (which he does not possess), but by way of intercession.
27. They preach man who say that so soon as the penny jingles into the money-box, the soul flies out [of purgatory].
28. It is certain that when the penny jingles into the money-box, gain and avarice can be increased, but the result of the intercession of the Church is in the power of God alone.
29. Who knows whether all the souls in purgatory wish to be bought out of it, as in the legend of Sts. Severinus and Paschal.
30. No one is sure that his own contrition is sincere; much less that he has attained full remission.
31. Rare as is the man that is truly penitent, so rare is also the man who truly buys indulgences, i.e., such men are most rare.
32. They will be condemned eternally, together with their teachers, who believe themselves sure of their salvation because they have letters of pardon.
33. Men must be on their guard against those who say that the pope's pardons are that inestimable gift of God by which man is reconciled to Him;
34. For these "graces of pardon" concern only the penalties of sacramental satisfaction, and these are appointed by man.
35. They preach no Christian doctrine who teach that contrition is not necessary in those who intend to buy souls out of purgatory or to buy confessionalia.
36. Every truly repentant Christian has a right to full remission of penalty and guilt, even without letters of pardon.
37. Every true Christian, whether living or dead, has part in all the blessings of Christ and the Church; and this is granted him by God, even without letters of pardon.
38. Nevertheless, the remission and participation [in the blessings of the Church] which are granted by the pope are in no way to be despised, for they are, as I have said, the declaration of divine remission.
39. It is most difficult, even for the very keenest theologians, at one and the same time to commend to the people the abundance of pardons and [the need of] true contrition.
40. True contrition seeks and loves penalties, but liberal pardons only relax penalties and cause them to be hated, or at least, furnish an occasion [for hating them].
41. Apostolic pardons are to be preached with caution, lest the people may falsely think them preferable to other good works of love.
42. Christians are to be taught that the pope does not intend the buying of pardons to be compared in any way to works of mercy.
43. Christians are to be taught that he who gives to the poor or lends to the needy does a better work than buying pardons;
44. Because love grows by works of love, and man becomes better; but by pardons man does not grow better, only more free from penalty.
45. 45. Christians are to be taught that he who sees a man in need, and passes him by, and gives [his money] for pardons, purchases not the indulgences of the pope, but the indignation of God.
46. Christians are to be taught that unless they have more than they need, they are bound to keep back what is necessary for their own families, and by no means to squander it on pardons.
47. Christians are to be taught that the buying of pardons is a matter of free will, and not of commandment.
48. Christians are to be taught that the pope, in granting pardons, needs, and therefore desires, their devout prayer for him more than the money they bring.
49. Christians are to be taught that the pope's pardons are useful, if they do not put their trust in them; but altogether harmful, if through them they lose their fear of God.
50. Christians are to be taught that if the pope knew the exactions of the pardon-preachers, he would rather that St. Peter's church should go to ashes, than that it should be built up with the skin, flesh and bones of his sheep.
51. Christians are to be taught that it would be the pope's wish, as it is his duty, to give of his own money to very many of those from whom certain hawkers of pardons cajole money, even though the church of St. Peter might have to be sold.
52. The assurance of salvation by letters of pardon is vain, even though the commissary, nay, even though the pope himself, were to stake his soul upon it.
53. They are enemies of Christ and of the pope, who bid the Word of God be altogether silent in some Churches, in order that pardons may be preached in others.
54. Injury is done the Word of God when, in the same sermon, an equal or a longer time is spent on pardons than on this Word.
55. It must be the intention of the pope that if pardons, which are a very small thing, are celebrated with one bell, with single processions and ceremonies, then the Gospel, which is the very greatest thing, should be preached with a hundred bells, a hundred processions, a hundred ceremonies.
56. The "treasures of the Church," out of which the pope. grants indulgences, are not sufficiently named or known among the people of Christ.
57. That they are not temporal treasures is certainly evident, for many of the vendors do not pour out such treasures so easily, but only gather them.
58. Nor are they the merits of Christ and the Saints, for even without the pope, these always work grace for the inner man, and the cross, death, and hell for the outward man.
59. St. Lawrence said that the treasures of the Church were the Church's poor, but he spoke according to the usage of the word in his own time.
60. Without rashness we say that the keys of the Church, given by Christ's merit, are that treasure;
61. For it is clear that for the remission of penalties and of reserved cases, the power of the pope is of itself sufficient.
62. The true treasure of the Church is the Most Holy Gospel of the glory and the grace of God.
63. But this treasure is naturally most odious, for it makes the first to be last.
64. On the other hand, the treasure of indulgences is naturally most acceptable, for it makes the last to be first.
65. Therefore the treasures of the Gospel are nets with which they formerly were wont to fish for men of riches.
66. The treasures of the indulgences are nets with which they now fish for the riches of men.
67. The indulgences which the preachers cry as the "greatest graces" are known to be truly such, in so far as they promote gain.
68. Yet they are in truth the very smallest graces compared with the grace of God and the piety of the Cross.
69. Bishops and curates are bound to admit the commissaries of apostolic pardons, with all reverence.
70. But still more are they bound to strain all their eyes and attend with all their ears, lest these men preach their own dreams instead of the commission of the pope.
71. He who speaks against the truth of apostolic pardons, let him be anathema and accursed!
72. But he who guards against the lust and license of the pardon-preachers, let him be blessed!
73. The pope justly thunders against those who, by any art, contrive the injury of the traffic in pardons.
74. But much more does he intend to thunder against those who use the pretext of pardons to contrive the injury of holy love and truth.
75. To think the papal pardons so great that they could absolve a man even if he had committed an impossible sin and violated the Mother of God -- this is madness.
76. We say, on the contrary, that the papal pardons are not able to remove the very least of venial sins, so far as its guilt is concerned.
77. It is said that even St. Peter, if he were now Pope, could not bestow greater graces; this is blasphemy against St. Peter and against the pope.
78. We say, on the contrary, that even the present pope, and any pope at all, has greater graces at his disposal; to wit, the Gospel, powers, gifts of healing, etc., as it is written in I. Corinthians xii.
79. To say that the cross, emblazoned with the papal arms, which is set up [by the preachers of indulgences], is of equal worth with the Cross of Christ, is blasphemy.
80. The bishops, curates and theologians who allow such talk to be spread among the people, will have an account to render.
81. This unbridled preaching of pardons makes it no easy matter, even for learned men, to rescue the reverence due to the pope from slander, or even from the shrewd questionings of the laity.
82. To wit: -- "Why does not the pope empty purgatory, for the sake of holy love and of the dire need of the souls that are there, if he redeems an infinite number of souls for the sake of miserable money with which to build a Church? The former reasons would be most just; the latter is most trivial."
83. Again: -- "Why are mortuary and anniversary masses for the dead continued, and why does he not return or permit the withdrawal of the endowments founded on their behalf, since it is wrong to pray for the redeemed?"
84. Again: -- "What is this new piety of God and the pope, that for money they allow a man who is impious and their enemy to buy out of purgatory the pious soul of a friend of God, and do not rather, because of that pious and beloved soul's own need, free it for pure love's sake?"
85. Again: -- "Why are the penitential canons long since in actual fact and through disuse abrogated and dead, now satisfied by the granting of indulgences, as though they were still alive and in force?"
86. Again: -- "Why does not the pope, whose wealth is to-day greater than the riches of the richest, build just this one church of St. Peter with his own money, rather than with the money of poor believers?"
87. Again: -- "What is it that the pope remits, and what participation does he grant to those who, by perfect contrition, have a right to full remission and participation?"
88. Again: -- "What greater blessing could come to the Church than if the pope were to do a hundred times a day what he now does once, and bestow on every believer these remissions and participations?"
89. "Since the pope, by his pardons, seeks the salvation of souls rather than money, why does he suspend the indulgences and pardons granted heretofore, since these have equal efficacy?"
90. To repress these arguments and scruples of the laity by force alone, and not to resolve them by giving reasons, is to expose the Church and the pope to the ridicule of their enemies, and to make Christians unhappy.
91. If, therefore, pardons were preached according to the spirit and mind of the pope, all these doubts would be readily resolved; nay, they would not exist.
92. Away, then, with all those prophets who say to the people of Christ, "Peace, peace," and there is no peace!
93. Blessed be all those prophets who say to the people of Christ, "Cross, cross," and there is no cross!
94. Christians are to be exhorted that they be diligent in following Christ, their Head, through penalties, deaths, and hell;
95. And thus be confident of entering into heaven rather through many tribulations, than through the assurance of peace.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Providence
One of the most disputed topics in history, ironically enough, is history. History has enough influence in our lives to define and mold what we believe. Our beliefs can also come back and shape our perspective of historical events. It can also give us a purpose and even hope in our future, but it depends on how we look at history.
Providence is the intervention of God in time for working out His purposes. This is the Christian view of history. That God has always been at work on this world and has been guiding certain historical events for His will. Compared to a secular view of history that is defined by the Hegelian Dialectic. The Hegelian Dialectic says that in history a thesis and its antithesis will form a synthesis and result into a new thesis and the process will start over. The problem with this is that what meaning or purpose do we have if the result just starts over? The very definition of providence not only gives us a purpose but a hope in a final result, the secular one gives us no hope, no purpose.
It gives me hope not only personally but in ministry to know that God is always working and that He will always fulfill His promises. If we rely on a secular view of history we have no purpose or hope. As Paul quoted Isaiah in 1 Corinthians, “Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die.” Our view of history is complete which gives me a lot of comfort in ministry while a secularist would have a lot of explaining to do.
Providence is the intervention of God in time for working out His purposes. This is the Christian view of history. That God has always been at work on this world and has been guiding certain historical events for His will. Compared to a secular view of history that is defined by the Hegelian Dialectic. The Hegelian Dialectic says that in history a thesis and its antithesis will form a synthesis and result into a new thesis and the process will start over. The problem with this is that what meaning or purpose do we have if the result just starts over? The very definition of providence not only gives us a purpose but a hope in a final result, the secular one gives us no hope, no purpose.
It gives me hope not only personally but in ministry to know that God is always working and that He will always fulfill His promises. If we rely on a secular view of history we have no purpose or hope. As Paul quoted Isaiah in 1 Corinthians, “Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die.” Our view of history is complete which gives me a lot of comfort in ministry while a secularist would have a lot of explaining to do.
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