Prayer

I am going to be praying for students on a more regular basis. I don't do this often enough. My compassion needs to grow, and I need to be praying more for those whom God has entrusted to me. Much like our LST information pages, I have put together a form to keep track of what I pray for with each student. May God be glorified as I begin this journey.

Bible Study

As we were driving back in from Dallas Monday night (we went to Kent Brown’s funeral [father of Kyle & Jessica Brown] in Ft. Worth), I thought about how I really haven’t spent much extensive, focused time in the books of the Bible. I wanted to spend more time digging, researching, and applying the skills I have learned in Grad school. I then decided to go through a book of the Bible in a month (maybe two months, but we will see).
For each book that I am studying, I want to filter what I read through several different categories. I hope to spend 12 days asking text questions. What does the text say? How is it translated? What is my outline? What do I learn from the text about the author, the intended audience, and the setting? What are critical or key issues that the text addresses? What do introductions, dictionaries, articles, books, etc. say about my text?
Then I hope to spend 5 days asking history questions. What is the historical context of my text? What is the history of translation for this passage? How did the early church fathers interpret and apply this text? What do other major historical figures say about this text?
Then I move to theological questions. I hope to spend another 5 days asking these. What do we learn about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit? How does my text address sin, salvation, and mankind?
Finally, the last 8 days are spent asking pastoral questions. This centers around application. How does this text address the way we live? What does it teach about church? What are real-life applications of this text? How can this text be used in a congregational setting? In a campus ministry setting?
In the end, I am still not sure what I want to do with this studying of God's word. Do I write a synopsis of my research? Do I just keep the notes handy for future reference? Do I need a longer period of time to bring everything together? What is a good balance of Old and New Testament books? Any suggestions would be helpful.
I guess I will figure this out as I go. For now...I started yesterday going through 1 Peter. May God be near as I journey through his word.

ctrl-s

I have a bad, annoying habit on the computer that goes way back!

When I was in grad school I had a laptop. But this was a clunker of a laptop. It was take-a-nap slow! Also, if it was not plugged in, it would shut down! How annoying was that!?

More than one time when I was in the middle of class, typing away at my notes, someone came by in the row in front of me and accidentally kicked my power cord so that it my computer shut down immediately. The WONDERFUL thing about that was that I had not saved my file for a while. I lost all those notes!! It really wasn't a wonderful thing!

So...I learned to hit ctrl-s to save my file. It became second nature for me. I wouldn't even think about it. Sometimes someone would come by and again knock my cord out of socket. The computer would shut down. I would panic only to find that I had just unknowingly pushed ctrl-s before this happened. I was happy that I had developed this great skill. Many a notes have been saved because of this habit.

The bad thing about this now is that the laptop is long gone, but the habit remains. Admittedly, I have gotten better at not always pushing ctrl-s, but occasionally Mr. CTRL-S rears his head at unfortunate times.

Just a second ago was one of those times. On blogger, there are many shortcut keys that I can use. ctrl-b bolds a piece of text, ctrl-i italicizes my text, and (here it is) ctrl-s publishes my blog. So...for those of you who have subscribed to my blog by email...my last post was actually posted prematurely. Someone walked into my office, I stopped typing, and my fingers automatically hit ctrl-s "so I could make sure my work was saved." But...right when it happened, I realized that I just published what I had been working on. ahhh! Thankfully, not much changed this time.

I hope you enjoy yourself Mr. CTRL-S. Laugh now! Your day will come...oh yes...your day will come!

Adjustments

We continue to make adjustments as we learn what being a family of four (five if you count our dog Chica) means. I now wake up a couple times a night in order to burp Tyler, to change his diaper, to swaddle him, and to put him back to sleep. A good 10-15 minute task. I am also in a position to wash most of the dishes, a commitment Tanya reminds me about fairly often. I'm adjusting...just be patient. Adjustments are a good thing.

In fact, I hope that I always take time to make adjustments to my life. It would not be a good thing to get to the point where I feel like no more adjustments are necessary. That would be like saying, "I don't have to change with the ever-changing world." Then I would be stuck in an archaic period of time disconnected from real life unable to connect.

We must adjust...there is no way around it. How are you going to make adjustments today?

KFC End-of-the-Year Video

I thought that I would venture into the realm of posting video on the web. Have fun with this video that we are going to show tonight at the 2006-2007 Kats for Christ End-of-the-Year Banquet.

Tyler Ryan is Here

Tyler is here! 6lbs 9oz; 19.5 inches long; dirty blond hair; nice skin pigmentation! You can see photos of his first day! It is so cool to finally meet him. We are super-excited about this new stage in life. I am sure I will be posting more about this later.

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This is the first time this year that I am trying to catch up on my One-Year Bible readings. Hopefully, it won't take too long. I definitely feel like I need to spend some time in the word. My focus has been elsewhere lately. Lord, come visit me with your presence as I open your word.

Thank you, Lord

This morning is one of those mornings where I am ready for the day. God has given me a measure of his peace. He is sustaining me by his word. He feels near. He assures me that he cares for me today.

Thank you, Lord, for your provision. It is good to be assured of your presence. Help your people understand that you care for them. That you will sustain them in times of need. That you care for them and desire to have a deeper relationship with them. You are an amazing God!! Amen.

The Joys of Life

Yesterday afternoon I had a little moment where I thought I missed Tyler's birth! I mow lawns on Tuesday afternoons to bring in a little extra money. Last week and yesterday I am checking my phone all the time (because I can't hear the phone ring due to the noise).

I look down at my phone after our third (of four) commercial yards and see that Doug had called twice...I think this is a little odd. He also left a voice mail, so I listen to it. His words were something like, "I was just checking to see how Tyler was doing. Give me a call or something when you get a chance." WHAT??!!

Before I call him back, I decide to call Tanya to make sure nothing happened! Since her cell phone is out of commission, I know she would let me know if she left the house or IF SHE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL!!! or something like that. She knows I can't get a hold of her and she can't me. As the phone keeps ringing, my thoughts begin to percolate in the unknown. I decide to call back because sometimes she doesn't hear the phone the first time or she is tied up with Kayla. After the second failed attempt at getting her at home, I decide to call Doug to see what's up!

He tells me that a church member just called him after not being able to get a hold of Tanya on her cell or at home. Obviously, the thoughts turn toward Tanya going to the hospital. Doug thought, "Since Chris isn't answering his phone...maybe they ARE at the hospital. Just in case that is so, he thinks it would be good to leave a message about checking up on Tyler!" WHAT???!!!

My percolating thoughts of the unknown have now simmered, because I knew that Tanya would be doing everything she could to get a hold of me before anyone else if she was going into labor. I finish the evening of mowing and come home to a wife who had made a spontaneous trip to Conroe for shopping.

It is in moments like these that we can sit back and praise God for the joys of life! Don't blink. You might miss something exciting.

Let's Start Talking

God got me thinking about the future last night.

Last night we had another training meeting for our LST project this summer to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Larry came too because he wants to go. While I'm not sure if this will even be possible, it is exciting to think about the future.

Perhaps we can really get many in our congregation excited about God's mission in the world. How exciting it is to think about people being so passionate about God's mission that God begins to flood our doors with those who need him! As the number of workers goes through the roof, so the people who need God.

Not only that, but our students could begin to catch a glimpse of where God can use them. Brazil... Japan...Germany...Argentina. Maybe mission teams will form in our ministry. Together they leave SHSU after graduation seeking to become a mission team. Together they catch a vision of campus ministry and seek more training to become campus ministers.

God got me thinking about the future last night.

His coming!!

Tyler is still waiting to be born!! Actually, the time is getting closer and closer. Tanya said this morning that she had a couple of contractions last night twenty minutes apart. They stopped after a few contractions. Tyler is coming!!

With all this excitement of new life in the air, I do have my moments of stress. When is he going to come? Who will take care of class? Who will do devo? Is everything ready for his arrival? What else do we need done? All these questions drain me even thinking about them! I wish he would just come and let me have some peace. I just can't stand not knowing when. Today...tomorrow...a week?

Surely, these feelings are some of the same feelings the early Christians had when they were waiting for Jesus' return. They knew he would be coming back "soon." We don't know exactly when it is, but it is soon. But, does that mean we don't go to work? Well...maybe. What about worrying about the harvest? Surely he'll come back before then!! All these same feelings cause me to have some sympathy with these early Christians. No wonder they thought they missed Jesus' return! (see 1 Thess 5:1ff.)

Let us continue to be alert and self-controlled as we build each other up until Jesus returns! And when you pray...put in a plug for Tyler's arrival!

The "Key" to Being a Christian

Wow! You can tell that the spring semester is more busy than the fall semester just by looking at how much I post. That makes the posts more meaningful I guess.

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We got stuck outside our house on Sunday trying to lock and unlock our front door! The key would not move. The sad thing is that I knew my key was getting harder and harder to use each day I used it. I have always had to lift up on the key to unlock it...but not too much. Sometimes I could push the key in and out a couple of times quickly and it would do the trick. Other times...well...I don't know how I got it open.

But Sunday was different. Sunday was the day that Tanya's key wasn't working either. After her failed attempts, I gave it a whirl (because guys can always do what women can't, right?). Five minutes later (after being humbled in my pride) the door opened. I don't know what I did except get a little bit more impatient with my efforts and this dumb door!

Finally, we got it locked in time to go to church. As we were pulling out of the driveway, Tanya realized that we had forgotten something! What!!?? You are kidding me!! So, my door and I had another go-round. It didn't take quite as long, but I switched from my key to Tanya's several times. It was frustrating. The door finally opened and we went to church.

The next morning I finally got around to taking it apart and fixing our door lock. A little lever was a little bent, and it needed some lubrication. All is well now and our keys work fine. The door unlocks and opens when we want it too.

This got me to thinking (surprise, surprise!). This passage jumped to my mind:
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

I noticed the door being opened. There is no key to the door mentioned. It is not "knock and a key will be given so you can open the door." No, knock and the door will be opened to you. It is not by my power that the door opens. The door just opens. It is not by my efforts. It is not by my efforts. God is working, not Chris.

Let us knock on the door and have the patience for it to open.

Cleanliness

How does God clean us? This is the question that lingers in my mind this morning after reading Psalm 51. Surely it has something to do with my sacrifices, doesn't it? That makes sense...I think. When I am "dirty" with sin, my sacrifices somehow cleanse me and pacify God's wrath against me. Blood has to be shed when there is sin, so sacrifice is a necessity. That is what I normally might think.

But I read about something different in David's Psalm here. Sin is present...no doubt about it. David wants mercy. He wants to be washed. He wants joy and gladness. David wants to be clean.
So, how does he get clean? I see David appealing to God's character. It is because God is an unfailing-love kind of God. It is because he is a compassionate God. It is because God is the one who saves. God cleans us because God is all these things. He cleans us by being all the things. God's character is powerful enough to bring cleanliness to us.

Well, surely we have to do something, don't we?

Yes, but it is not burnt offerings. And it is only in response to his cleaning us.

Well, what do we do?

According to this Psalm, we fall down in humility. Our sacrifice is a broken spirit, a contrite heart. There is nothing we can do, but appeal to God in true humility. Any justifying of my actions that happens shows that true humility is not yet present. I must know and recognize that I am sinful...period.

I also notice that we teach others, but only afterwards. David says that he will teach transgressors God's ways and sinners will turn back to God. It is only after God cleanses us that we are able to tell others about what God has done. This brings glory to God and God alone.

So, God cleans us by his being God. We are cleansed in our humility before the God who was and is and is to come. Let us fall before the throne of the one who is highly exalted above all gods. Amen!

What do you put in?

"Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the
crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in
large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins,
worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, 'I
tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the
others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in
everything--all she had to live on.'" Mark 12:41-44

This morning as I read this familiar passage, I am struck anew with an assumption in the passage. The assumption is: everyone gave. The rich and poor alike. Everyone gave to God's work in the temple.

There are some Sunday mornings that I pass the collection plate without putting something in. Most of the time it is because I forgot to write a check that morning. This doesn't bother me because I know that the check will be written either that night or the next day. It is not that big of a deal.

However, I wonder how many people pass the collection plate with no intention to give whatsoever. Many reasons exist why people don't give to God's work; I have said them myself and heard many others. They don't make much money. They can hardly pay bills, so they definitely don't have enough for giving. They don't have regular income. They want to know that the money is going to be spent well, so they only give to special collections. They just don't want to give. The reasons go on and on.

When I read this text, I notice that the focus of the text is not on how much was given. The focus is on the attitude that must have been present in the people giving in the temple.

This text follows a little pericope that makes this focus unmistakeable. Jesus warns about the teachers of the law walking around in flowing robes. They love to be greeted everywhere and have the most important seats. He says they devour widows' houses and make lengthy prayers. Everything is for show. Jesus ends by saying, "Such men will be punished most severely." Then, our text.

Now we understand why Mark put this pericope before. It helps make sense of the widow's giving. He is making a statement here. The statement is: don't give for show. Let your attitude be, "I am giving...period. Even if it means that everything I have to live on is really an insigificant amount. I am giving to the work of the Lord no matter the cost."

It is refreshing to think about for me. It means that I can release the anxiety I feel about how insignificant my giving seems to be. God is glorified in my giving when my attitude is adjusted.

Lord, encourage us (as your people) to check our attitude in giving. Encourage us to give without letting it consume our life. Teach us to trust you like this widow we read about. You can use our "two very small copper coins" for your glory just like you can use the "large amounts." Please be patient with us as we learn your ways. Amen.

God is Faithful

The sermon last night got me to thinking. Bob encouraged us to know that God is faithful. There truly are passages throughout scripture that put this truth before us. It cannot be ignored!

The question that lingers in my mind is this: how faithful am I? If I am being transformed into the image of the invisible God, and if my character progresses towards that of God's more and more each day, how faithful am I?

Is "faithful" the word that people would use to describe the way that I am committed to my spouse? He is faithful. Would it describe the way that I raise my children? He is faithfully present with them, especially when he says he will be. Do people use "faithful" to describe how I edify the those around me? You can really count on Chris to edify others...that is just something he does. When temptation comes knocking in its various forms, can I say that I am "faithful" to stand up under it and resist temptation for the glory of our faithful God? He faithfully resists all temptation and points to God in the process. Can "faithful" encapsulate the nature of my business dealings, my taxes, my travel logs, my speedometer, and my friendships? Is "faithful" the word that is used to describe me?

This is a scary question. Most of the time, it is so because it confronts me with my unfaithfulness. I have a long way to go toward being completely faithful. So do all of us. Yet, it also encourages me toward perfect faithfulness. Because I desire to reflect God completely, I desire to be perfectly faithful. Therefore, I press on.

And you need to also! The implications of "God is faithful" abound. How are you living out God's faithfulness in your life today? What do you need to perfect in the realm of faithfulness? Be faithful as God is faithful.

Incarnational Ministry

Paul's admonition to the Corinthians challenges me in my ministry with college students: "Imitate me as I imitate Christ." (11:1)

Sitting in my office last Wednesday, it occurred to me that I spend WAY too little time with students outside of the Student Center. It is embarrassing that I don't know where many of our students live. It is not good that if I were to enter a student's apartment, dorm, or house that they would think, "Okay, what is he doing here?"

If I am to take the incarnation of Jesus seriously, I need to follow his example. Jesus came to us. Therefore, in imitating Jesus, I go to students. Why do we get in our mind that students need to come to the Student Center to change their lives? While that will certainly happen by the power of God, students really need Jesus (in us) to come to them.

I will slowly begin going to our students' instead of the other way around. How are you doing the same with others?

Kayla's Light

We have a well-established routine each night before we go to bed. I cherish the opportunity I have each night to take Kayla through this routine. It is good bonding time with Kayla.

About two months ago, Kayla started doing something new that is really weird. I don't know why she does it or what got her doing it in the first place. As we come into her room (that has all the lights off) she stops at the little luminescent light we have in one of the plugs. She kisses it, then she gives it a hug. Sometimes she does this two times.

There are some nights that I just want to get one with it, so I try to hurry her up. We don't need to be doing this every time we come into the room. We finish our routine, get in bed, and go to sleep. See you tomorrow. That's it.

Tonight, I got to thinking about her quirky little light thing. It is like before she gets going into her dark room, she needs to take care of the light. She needs the light to see and responds appropriately...I guess this expression of love is appropriate behavior for a 2-year-old.

Our world is dark; that is the reality that we live in. In spite of this, we need to remember to love the light. While kissing it is hard, we remember to walk in the light as God is in the light. It is a good reminder to place the light in a prominent place in our life every single day. I close with 1 John 1:5-7:

"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."

Satan Waits Again

"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of suffering." 1 Peter 5:8-9.

Satan is very sneaky in his vices. He tried to permanently blind me to the power of God in my storm. He took advantage of what I didn't know about my brothers and tempted me to react against the worst possible scenarios, as if these scenes were in fact going to happen. What a liar Satan is.

It would have worked had God (through his word) not been alive! As I cried out to God yesterday, he answered. Jesus stood and said, "Calm! Be still!" Then Satan fled. He waits for the next time.

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I just made an observation about what precedes the passage I quoted above. 1 Peter 5:6-7 reads, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

I was letting my fear/anxiety run through my own reason, my own head, my own emotions. I didn't initially cast my anxiety on God. How foolish! That is what Satan was looking for in me. When I didn't give God my fear, Satan came running for the kill. He can use my fear when it is still with me. Once it is God's, Satan can't do anything.

Let us not act out of fear! Let us cast all our anxiety on God alone. Resist the urges of Satan.

The Storm

This morning we have a 30 percent chance of rain for Huntsville. There is something about the rain that I love. It is calming. It is refreshing. It reminds me of God's word going out to accomplish what He desires and achieve the purpose for which he sent it (Isa 55:9-11). That is exactly what happened this morning.

One of our daily readings was from Mark 4. Before getting into the text, I must say that more than rain has been around me. It is a storm! A storm of doubt, confusion, concern, questions, animosity, reflection, love, fear, wisdom, patience, jealousy, and much more surrounds me! You want to talk about emotions all over the place...the thunder is deafening! The storm clouds thicken all around me. And it came on so quickly. How did I find myself in such a place? I hardly have space enough to stay in the boat. Should I bail now? Where can I go? The waves are nearly swamping the boat.

So when I read this morning Mark 4:37, I understand. "A furious squall line came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped." I understand how the disciples could say something like, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" a verse later. I understand. I understand their doubt. I understand their fear. I understand their lack of faith. I'm there too!

But, Jesus doesn't stay there! Praise God! He is responsive. He is the one who acts. He is the one who has faith. He is what I need right now. It is Jesus. It is my, Lord! He stands up, rebukes the wind, and says to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!"

Quiet. Be still.

It is so simple. It is not complicated. Those are the words that I need spoken to my storm! Quiet! Be still!

Lord, stand and speak. Don't let this storm overtake me. Increase my faith that you will calm the storm. Squall lines don't last long, but your words do. Please come and speak. Amen!

Psalm 37:30-40

This mornings Psalm reading:

"The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just.
The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip.
The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, seeking their very lives;
but the Lord will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned when brought to trial.
Wait for the Lord and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.
I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a green tree in its native soil,
but he soon passed away and was no more; thought I looked for him, he could not be found.
Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace.
But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.
The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them because they take refuge in him."

Something I needed to hear.

Updates on Facebook

There was one student who was in the college group at University Church in Abilene that sent me a friend request on Facebook this evening. I just took a quick look at her ACU friends list to see if I knew anyone I could add to my friends list. After 45 minutes, I had reconnected with many old friends from ACU, found out what they were up to, and send a ton of other friend requests to people I want to reconnect with. In addition to this, I was able to pray for a friend and have him pray over me. What an amazing world we live in!

I feel refreshed and ready to worship our God tomorrow morning! He continues to show me his glory through the simplest things! Praise God for the moments he shows up.