At the urging of my brother "It's time for a new blog post, brocephus", and my father, "just post a link... that's what Joe Cribbs does," I've decided to do both. I will now post a link as my newest blog post. Happy Easter everyone.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Is That Your Final Answer?
One of the things that has always caused me to become uneasy is the altar call, or invitation to the altar. This is a common practice in many churches and at many worship services. Most of the time, it is done with the best of intentions: bringing people into a relationship with Christ. That, in itself, is a great thing. It's the best thing; the most important event that could happen to a person. But is it our (human's) job to make this happen? I don't think it is. We, as humans, are completely incapable of saving anyone's soul from sin, death, and eternal separation from Christ. So why then, do pastors and religious leader insist on trying to make this thing happen? Won't God take care of it when He and his child are ready? I'm in no position to doubt the inegrity of anyone's decision at an altar call or otherwise. It simply seems to me like these people are coerced into accepting Christ when it's convenient for the pastor. Back off reverend, let the only one who CAN save, save!
Secondly, if you've ever experienced an "altar call", you get the sense that it's some one time commitment, and afterward everything will be fine. "Okay, I just need your signature here.... that's it.... congratulations you're the proud new owner of a 2009 Relationship with Christ with airbags and anti-lock brakes." That's great for the new believer. But those of us that have already made that decision just sit there like "Oh, I'm fine... thanks though." Like we've just eaten a huge meal and are being offered more mashed potatoes. Romans tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. If this was true 2000 years ago, and it's still true today, this must mean that we CONTINUALLY sin and fall short of the glory of God. Thus, we CONTINUALLY need salvation! Rather than it being a one time, sign on the line and everything's fine event, what if it were a weekly, daily, moment by moment event? I know that I need to invite Christ into my heart and hand him the reigns of my life multiple times a day, if not near constantly.
Sure, the moment that a non-believer comes into the fold for the first time is a momentous occasion. But the enemy is constantly fighting for our attention, affections, loyalties, time, commitments, relationships, etc. We should constantly be fighting for those back, in order that we might hand them right back over to Christ.
I'm reminded of a skit that our FCA leadership team did Friday morning at FCA. Taylor sat on a stool. The stool represented her life, her heart, all the things I mentioned above (essentially the steering wheel of her life). Christ approached her and she invited him to sit on the stool, to take over for her, to be in the driver's seat. Then, one of her friends would approach her and ask if she wanted to go to this party, or get some older guy to buy them beer, or (insert another distraction from the Lord here). Taylor would think about it, then say "Sure!" as she knocked Christ off the stool and sat back down. This happened multiple times. The object of the story being that we try to take over our own lives, to be in charge, multiple times A DAY. The remedy for this, in my opinion, is not only a one time acceptance of and invitation to Christ. Rather, it's a constant, recurring plea for Christ to come back in; to sit on that stool and drive. So maybe we do need the altar call. Constantly.
Secondly, if you've ever experienced an "altar call", you get the sense that it's some one time commitment, and afterward everything will be fine. "Okay, I just need your signature here.... that's it.... congratulations you're the proud new owner of a 2009 Relationship with Christ with airbags and anti-lock brakes." That's great for the new believer. But those of us that have already made that decision just sit there like "Oh, I'm fine... thanks though." Like we've just eaten a huge meal and are being offered more mashed potatoes. Romans tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. If this was true 2000 years ago, and it's still true today, this must mean that we CONTINUALLY sin and fall short of the glory of God. Thus, we CONTINUALLY need salvation! Rather than it being a one time, sign on the line and everything's fine event, what if it were a weekly, daily, moment by moment event? I know that I need to invite Christ into my heart and hand him the reigns of my life multiple times a day, if not near constantly.
Sure, the moment that a non-believer comes into the fold for the first time is a momentous occasion. But the enemy is constantly fighting for our attention, affections, loyalties, time, commitments, relationships, etc. We should constantly be fighting for those back, in order that we might hand them right back over to Christ.
I'm reminded of a skit that our FCA leadership team did Friday morning at FCA. Taylor sat on a stool. The stool represented her life, her heart, all the things I mentioned above (essentially the steering wheel of her life). Christ approached her and she invited him to sit on the stool, to take over for her, to be in the driver's seat. Then, one of her friends would approach her and ask if she wanted to go to this party, or get some older guy to buy them beer, or (insert another distraction from the Lord here). Taylor would think about it, then say "Sure!" as she knocked Christ off the stool and sat back down. This happened multiple times. The object of the story being that we try to take over our own lives, to be in charge, multiple times A DAY. The remedy for this, in my opinion, is not only a one time acceptance of and invitation to Christ. Rather, it's a constant, recurring plea for Christ to come back in; to sit on that stool and drive. So maybe we do need the altar call. Constantly.
Friday, April 3, 2009
The Last to Go
Well, that's it. All four of my pregnant friends from work have now hatched their offspring. Katie was the last to go, yesterday. I'm happy for her, and for all of the new moms. However, if I may, I'd like to explore a selfish vein for a moment. These formerly expectant mothers were all people I regularly talked with and enjoyed the company of at work. Who will I talk to now? Gee thanks, procreation.
Monday, March 30, 2009
The Adventurer and the Nostalgic
There's something to be said for the adventurer. There's a level of respect and admiration for someone so willing to venture out into unknown places. This isn't about the adventurer. What about the nostalgic? The one who is content in reliving prior events. If the feelings are the same as the first time, isn't it a little like being there? I want to be an adventurer. I want to boldly go where no man has gone before. But, I'm just not that way; at least not 100%. Not even 70%. Most times I'm completely happy with doing things the way they've been done. I could sit around with my friends from high school, retell old stories, laugh my ass off, and be fine. Maybe it's because whenever I do try to be adventurous, I screw up. I break an ankle.
The Postal Service got me thinking about all this. The band, not the government run parcel service. I refer back to my lack of musical adventurism. When we are so concerned with finding what's new, what's cutting edge, what's original; we sometimes lose the ability to really fall in love with an old song or an old album. Have you ever known someone who was like that with people? They are so concerned with "networking" and "making connections" that they never really cultivate any solid friendships. I feel like I "should be" a musical adventurer. I should be a guy that people can go to for the new stuff. I'm not. I'm more likely to be found listening to an old Caedmon's album or, like I said above, a Postal Service EP. Am I resisting change? I don't know. Most of the time I'd simply rather listen to an old favorite for the 29th time and discover a new ride cymbal part I've somehow never heard before. What's the old saying? "All things in moderation". Perhaps I'd be best served by a healthy dose of both adventurism and nostalgic... ism.
Love whatever you're listening to.
The Postal Service got me thinking about all this. The band, not the government run parcel service. I refer back to my lack of musical adventurism. When we are so concerned with finding what's new, what's cutting edge, what's original; we sometimes lose the ability to really fall in love with an old song or an old album. Have you ever known someone who was like that with people? They are so concerned with "networking" and "making connections" that they never really cultivate any solid friendships. I feel like I "should be" a musical adventurer. I should be a guy that people can go to for the new stuff. I'm not. I'm more likely to be found listening to an old Caedmon's album or, like I said above, a Postal Service EP. Am I resisting change? I don't know. Most of the time I'd simply rather listen to an old favorite for the 29th time and discover a new ride cymbal part I've somehow never heard before. What's the old saying? "All things in moderation". Perhaps I'd be best served by a healthy dose of both adventurism and nostalgic... ism.
Love whatever you're listening to.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Live
This weekend was great. Live music every day. On Friday we went to a really great bar in Opelika called 8th & Rail. We went to hear a band called Act of Congress. It was refreshing to hear good live music in the Auburn Opelika area. So many bars are full of no talent musicians and nobody seems to care because they just want to drink and have something going on in the background for them to drink to. Act of Congress was a mixture of folk, jazz, and bluegrass. It was excellent. The next night, we went back to the same bar. This time to hear a collection of artists that are touring together. David Berkeley, Micah Dalton, Ryan Horn, and Jon Black. This was even better than the night beore. The whole evening was great: great music, great drinks, great people, great atmosphere. Great, great, great. Ok then. See ya.
great.
great.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Growth
In these economic times, growth is not a word used to describe many things. Businesses aren't experiencing much growth. Stocks certainly aren't growing. My portfolio isn't growing. Wait, who am I kidding, I don't have a portfolio. People are scaling back; spending less. Less is the new more.
However, there is one sector that, early reports show, is on track to experience growth from 2009-2010. The Seventh Grade Choir at Drake Middle School is on the up and up! I got a list from one of my counselors today that included fifty-five current sixth graders who have signed up for choir next year! Wait, you say. That's thirty less kids than this year, you say. Hark! That's only students with last names M through Z! Only half the precincts are reporting, Wolf Blitzer! If the A through L contingency follows suit, I could have 110 kids in 7th grade choir next year! Wouldn't that be awesome!? We're gonna need a bigger boat. I'll keep you posted as more reports come in.
However, there is one sector that, early reports show, is on track to experience growth from 2009-2010. The Seventh Grade Choir at Drake Middle School is on the up and up! I got a list from one of my counselors today that included fifty-five current sixth graders who have signed up for choir next year! Wait, you say. That's thirty less kids than this year, you say. Hark! That's only students with last names M through Z! Only half the precincts are reporting, Wolf Blitzer! If the A through L contingency follows suit, I could have 110 kids in 7th grade choir next year! Wouldn't that be awesome!? We're gonna need a bigger boat. I'll keep you posted as more reports come in.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Over and Out
Well, Spring Break is over. I worked, I played, I had lots of fun. This weekend was my good friend Paul's wedding. I was in the wedding as a groomsman (so nice not to have to sing). A bunch of us went out Thursday night to my favorite bar in Birmingham, the Garage Cafe. What was so great was that, literally, as people were getting into town for the wedding, they were coming to the Garage. My new friend Martin flew in from NYC, my best friend Daniel flew in from Pasadena. It was almost as if we had predetermined that "when you arrive in Birmingham you are to go straight to the Garage." The next day I worked a half day with dad and then got ready for wedding festivities. I met the guys at our hotel room and we got ready for the rehearsal. Wedding rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, all great. That night we partied at the hotel. Here were fifteen people who some knew each other, some didn't know anyone, some from here, some from afar, and we just partied like we were all lifelong friends. We laughed more than I've laughed in quite a while. I'm talking sore abs the next day kind of laughing. The next day, the groomsmen woke up, ate some chicken, got dressed, and went to the church for pictures. The rest is pretty textbook: pictures, sitting around, ushering people in, wedding (nobody fainted), reception, game over. It was a great weekend and a great end to my Spring Break. I made new friends, hung out with old friends, met a very attractive young lady, and saw my good friend Paul get married on what was hopefully one of the best days of his life.
Now, it's back to work, back to school. I was always the kid that secretly looked forward to going back to school. Some things never change. I'm secretly looking forward to going back to work tomorrow. I miss my students and am ready to buckle down for this last nine weeks. See ya!
Now, it's back to work, back to school. I was always the kid that secretly looked forward to going back to school. Some things never change. I'm secretly looking forward to going back to work tomorrow. I miss my students and am ready to buckle down for this last nine weeks. See ya!
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