My Literacy Timeline...

For the longest time in my life I had no desire whatsoever to read anything, I dreaded reading. Although, I can remember back to early elementary school where I was extrinsically motivated to read because of the "Book It" program, where I earned pizza for reading books. However, those days were long gone by middle school. For some reason I could never really find anything that I liked reading, the only exceptions being My Side of the Mountain and Hatchet, both survival stories. As I got older and into high school this trend continued. There were hardly ever any times I read for pleasure...I barely enjoyed magazines. When we were assigned novels to read in school, I always checked to see if there was a movie that I could watch about the novel. If that didn't work I would check Cliffs Notes. Nothing seemed to spark my interest. Through college it was the same story, never picked up a book that I didn't have assigned to me.

It wasn't until after college that things started to change for me. I seemed to have an epiphany. All of a sudden I was driven to read. It was like something clicked in my head and I began reading. I started reading Christian literature...the Bible, books by John Piper, J.I. Packer, and others. I was all of a sudden exposed to a world I never knew existed. I even felt robbed that I had lived twenty-something years and never knew books like this were available.

I believe that the bottom line in my development as a reader was finding literature that I felt was worth my time to read. This stuff seemed to make a difference in my life. It was a different type engagement from Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, both of which I still think are ridiculous to assign to a 16 year old boy.

The more I read, the more I wanted to read. Those books have spring-boarded me into other genres now. I'm still not much into novels, but I enjoy reading alot more than I used to. I believe that in order to peak students' interest in reading, especially those students who "hate" reading, you must expose them to books about topics that they're interested in and books that they will perceive as worth their time and effort to read.

Point of Joseph...

If something “bad” happens who’s responsible for it? Is everything that is “bad” a direct result of the devil being at work? All too often in our culture people automatically think that if something bad happens that its from Satan being on the prowl and instantly try to fight whatever the problem seems to be. However, we know that our God is all-knowing, omnipotent, and sovereign…so nothing happens without his approval. We have to have a place in our minds that allows us to believe that God permits things that result in His glory and NOT just reacts to them and uses them for good.

Let me explain…I’ll use an old-testament story. The story of Joseph…As the story goes, Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers and gets shipped off to Egypt to be a servant. However, through Joseph’s faithfulness he ends up being promoted and put in charge only behind Pharaoh himself. As Joseph is doing his thing in Egypt, his brothers are starving and have to come to Egypt to get food, but they have no idea that the brother they sold is now sitting in power. Joseph shows mercy and grace to his brothers and invites them to stay in Egypt so they will survive. To make a long story short this is the beginning of God’s people being in Egypt…they eventually are made into slaves again for 400 years until Moses delivers them out.

If you are just reading that story you would think that it’s a series of God turning bad situations into good ones…or more simply put, God overturning Satan’s plans and making them good. However, the story doesn’t begin with Joseph’s brothers selling him into slavery…it actually begins with God speaking with Abraham. In Genesis 15:13-14 God, in the process of making a covenant with Abraham, tells him that this very thing was going to happen (just without the details). So this means that God didn’t react to these events and use them for good, but He already knew and chose to bring about His glory by ordaining these “bad” things to happen.

The point I’m trying to make is this...we are very quick to think that “bad” things are a result of the devil or that something has gone terribly wrong when, in fact, these “bad” things are just God exercising His perfect plan and sovereignty over sin for His Glory. We are quick to think that sickness, diseases, hardships, etc. are a flaw in God’s design therefore we fight them rather than do what we are supposed to do in these situations. May I be so bold as to say that these things are supposed to be seen as blessings from God…they should reveal in us our helplessness and our need for God’s provision, thus driving us to prayer and dependence on the One who is in control. Anything that reveals in us a need for God…driving us to Him…is a blessing.

Like Joseph’s story, God may be orchestrating these “bad” things for something bigger that in time is for our good and God’s glory. We should see our circumstances in the same way…God is sovereign and in control of EVERYTHING that happens in our lives. Let us be like Joseph in every “bad” situation…remain faithful and dependent wholly on Him.

Thought for the Day...

Our love, affection, and relationship with God shouldn't be dependent upon our circumstances. (Example...We love God more when our grandmother gets cured of cancer or we get mad at God and love him less because He doesn't heal our grandmother of cancer.) 

Why??? Because His love, affection, and relationship isn't dependent on our circumstances...(Example...He loves* us despite our lies, adultery, theft, etc.)

*He loves us and has viewed us righteous because of Jesus' blood...this statement does NOT mean that allows these sins and loves us anyways...

Freedom...

Freedom in Christ...

Many Christians rightly associate this thought with the gift of salvation. However, we often think that freedom in Christ only has to do with salvation.

Or...we will misinterpret it as license to do whatever we want...wrongly thinking that somehow God doesn't mind our sin because of His attributes of mercy and grace, misusing Romans 5:20 as their support.

I contend that this freedom in Christ doesn't stop with salvation, but is a consistent element in our sanctification. It's scary sometimes to do what God has called and commanded us to do. We often feel like it's too dangerous on many levels to obey...whether that means sharing the Gospel with our co-workers, standing up to your boss when he asks you to do something unethical, or moving to the ghetto and living the rest of your life in order to share God's truth with your neighbors.

If you are not free in Christ, you have a valid excuse not to do these things. If I'm not free in Christ then it's a HUGE risk to move to a scary neighborhood...or its a HUGE risk to stand up to your boss...because in the end you aren't sure what's gonna happen to you.

BUT...when Christ has freed you...you no longer live in fear of what might happen. Why?? Because what's the worst thing possible about living in the ghetto...you get robbed and killed?? Well then that gets me to what I've been pursuing...an eternity with the Most High God. There is no fear because God has set me free to do what He's calling me to do...knowing that ULTIMATELY it's going to be ok.

So...are you living with a freedom in Christ??? And I'm not just talking about salvation.

Larry Bird: Amazing Playoff Moments

As a life long Celtics fan I felt it necessary to put this on my blog...

Maybe one of the best commercials ever...behind Larry and Jordan playing horse for a Big Mac...

What are some of your favorite commercials???

Memorial Day Shoutout...

Tomorrow is Memorial Day...the unofficial start of summer. I will celebrate somewhere by eating some watermelon, a cheeseburger, and drinking sweet tea...

But before I enjoy my holiday, I want to remember why we have this day off. It is to remember the men and women who have served and given their lives defending our freedom.

I especially want to thank one of my best friends...Captain Ben Bryant. He has served in Iraq and Afghanistan over the last few years. It is because of soldiers like him that we haven't experienced any terrorist attacks on US soil since 9/11.

Ben...THANK YOU.

Please take the time tomorrow to remember and thank those brave soldiers who have sacrificed to defend the freedoms we enjoy...

Quote of the Day...

It is impossible to have God as your father and not have the church as your mother...