Time... something I have been thinking about today. That is not to say that I haven't thought about it in the past, but it's been on my mind today. Specifically, the use of time in relation to Kingdom Living. This is not something that I have figured out, but it forces me to work it out when I try to articulate my thoughts. With that said, this will not be a well-crafted paper, rather a string of unedited thoughts and questions... and hopefully some answers at the end.
The way people use their time is significant. Christian or not, people's use of time says a lot about them. I know easy lines can't be drawn, but is it true that our use of time portrays our priorities?
Those who play video games all the time find their games important.
Those who love to shop find "things" to be important. (specifically those that love to buy)
Those who are workaholics find their work/job/money to be most important.
Those are generalizations, I know. Does what we spend the most time on reflect what we find to be most important? Does what we say is most important "outweigh" what our actions portray to be the most important to us, or the other way around?
To begin, let's take sleeping and eating out of the equation. Those are a necessity to life. Most people could probably use more sleep and less food, but that is another discussion.
It seems to me (from my experience), that most people rank God, family, friends, church, career in their top priorities. Aside from career, most people do not spend the majority of their time focused on any of these said priorities. I understand that our jobs often require more time than we have free...but let's talk about free time.
I don't feel like doing a lot of research or providing sources, but just a google search, a common number is that in 2010 Americans averaged 34 hours of TV a week (full-time job?). What does that say about what they find important? Well, that could say a lot of things, but most of them are inward focused - satisfying some need/desire within themselves...
But wait...people don't usually put their own happiness on their list of most important things...
To be honest, this has been bothering me because over the last couple days I have watched a lot of Netflix (I do this occasionally). But then I feel like I wasted the day...what was accomplished? I use the fact that I am taking care of a (almost) 1 year old as an excuse to have the tv on on all and not get much done...
So, if my time truly reflected what was most important to me I would spend the most time "with" God, then my family, then the church (which is also my job/career). Practically speaking, keeping God as the first priority does not mean I have to be spending my time "for God" as a separate activity from my family or the church. God desires a wholesome family, and being a good husband and dad pleases God. Being faithful in my calling to ministry pleases God.
I am getting tired of all of this rambling...let's try to get to the point... so what am I trying to say? Let me try to make a list of quasi-conclusions:
1. If God really is most important - then spend time with God! Spend alone time with God. It is so easy to neglect prayer and study in the busyness of the day - but it is essential! Prayer and God's Word are the lifeblood of the believer! I am not saying we need to spend every moment of "free" time that we have doing these things, but we need to make sure we ARE doing them. and for me: I need to do them more!
2. Kingdom living means living as members of the Kingdom of God rather than the kingdoms of this world. That means the things that are important to God are important to us (and the things of this world like "stuff," money, and worldly success are not). Even with my time that is not spent "alone" with God, I can have God as my first priority. I can do things that directly or indirectly "further" the Kingdom. This might look like blogging (sharing my journeys), raising awareness and support for social causes, volunteering time, etc etc.
3. Grow. Feed your mind. If you are going to spend hours in front of a screen, feed your brain something useful. Learn something (I am thinking Kingdom-minded here). Or read... learn something. Become inspired. Another part of growing may be in a physical sense. Do things that are healthy for your body :). And if you can, while you do them, listen/watch something edifying rather than entertaining.
4. Consider the way you spend your time. What does it say about you? If you made a list of what was most important and a list of how you spend your time, how would they match up? My point is: be intentional.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Monday, July 15, 2013
The Kingdom of Heaven is... part 2
As promised, the second paper I wrote entitled "The Kingdom of Heaven is..." This paper was written in May. Again, I have included the assignment description
Assignment: Students will submit a 500-600 word
paper, "The Kingdom of Heaven is..." This should be a succinct
articulation of the student's concept of the meaning of the kingdom. This is
not a research paper. Rather, it is a reflection of the student's current
understanding of the kingdom.
Response:
The Kingdom of Heaven is still
difficult for me to explain, though I think I have a better understanding than
I did at the outset of this class. I do
not know that my understanding is clear enough to preach it or explain to
someone else. I am always reminded of
the old adage “If it’s foggy to you, it’s muddy to them.” In other words, if it is always even less
clear to the person (people) you are talking to than it is to you.
What I do know is that the Kingdom
of Heaven is not just something in the future.
Nor is it some separate realm existing in a “parallel dimension” (that
is the way one of my teens described it).
Though the fullness of the Kingdom will not be realized until Christ’s
second coming, the Kingdom of Heaven is also a present reality. This part I
understand clearly, and can communicate clearly.
I had my teens do a little Bible
study on all of the parables and teachings in Matthew on the Kingdom of
Heaven. What really made the
present-future reality of the Kingdom obvious to one of my students was Matthew
13: 47- 50. Though the Kingdom of Heaven
now includes everyone (the net that contains both good and bad fish), at the
end it will only include the Christians (good fish). When this student made this connection it
solidified this concept for the entire group.
This understanding of the Kingdom of
Heaven makes it obvious why it is important to proclaim the gospel and
“evangelize.” We want there to be as
many “good fish” as possible when Christ comes again. My students understood that clearly. What I have a hard time communicating to them
is the implications that it has on social justice.
Social justice, surprisingly (not
really, I just forgot that I did not know what it meant when I was there age)
was a new concept for my teens. That is
a big hurdle to jump over with the already new understanding of the Kingdom of
Heaven. I know that our acts of
compassion have eternal implications for the Kingdom, but explaining that part,
both the theology and the practice of it is where things get foggy and harder
to communicate. Explaining how “loving your neighbor” means taking care of “the
least of these,” and that these are THE GOSPEL just as much as salvation – this
is where communication breaks down.
I realize that communicating my
understanding of the Kingdom forces me to understand it better. What was foggy the first time will be clearer
the next time, for both me and the listeners.
I know that this is a personal reflection paper on the Kingdom of
Heaven, and that I have sort of hi-jacked it and made it something else, but
bear with me. I semi-recently heard a
staff pastor, in reference to a theology conference, say “I don’t do that
theoretical stuff.” (There are so many things to say about this…) A correct
understanding of the Kingdom of Heaven is not just to have the best “theory.”
It has nothing to do with theory! Our theology of the Kingdom informs our way
of life! It has direct implications on
our own relationship with God as well as our relationships with others.
Understanding the Kingdom of Heaven
as a present-future kingdom has two main implications (these are simplistic, I
know). The future aspect (understanding
that the Kingdom will be manifest at the coming of Christ) calls us to personal
holiness. We want to live a life that
pleases God and “make it” into the Kingdom.
It also calls us to evangelism, trying to get as many people in by the
end as we can. Recognizing the present
reality of the Kingdom calls us to social holiness – a love for others,
especially the “least of these.” This social holiness requires us to do more
than make converts, but to love and serve others as well. Though scripture
clearly outlines both of these, it seems that Christians today often neglect
social holiness because “that is not the way to heaven.” What we do for others in the present,
however, does have an eternal impact on the Kingdom of God.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Concerning the "inerrancy" of scripture
American Christianity, generally speaking, does not hold to the traditional view of scripture as affirmed throughout Christian history. For most, they believe that either the Bible is completely true, or it is not true at all. Either it is absolutely correct in every statement, or there is no point in believing it.
I have also heard many atheists use arguments that "prove" parts of the Bible "wrong" and come to the conclusion that God is not real based on insignificant issues.
I fully agree with the report linked to below, that "this misguided concept of detailed ‘inerrancy’
This is an important discussion, since that is NOT the Wesleyan perspective.
My brother recently posted a brief discussion on the topic, concerning the report of the Scriptural Study Committee commissioned by the General Assembly. His discussion can be found here (second half of the article), with some clarifications made here.
The really good stuff, however, can be found in the actual report, which you can read here.
I highly recommend reading the full report on the Nazarene understanding of the authority of the Bible and what we mean by "inerrancy"
I know, I'm not really saying much...but read the report!
I have also heard many atheists use arguments that "prove" parts of the Bible "wrong" and come to the conclusion that God is not real based on insignificant issues.
I fully agree with the report linked to below, that "this misguided concept of detailed ‘inerrancy’
diverts attention to unprofitable debates about unimportant details" (9)
This is an important discussion, since that is NOT the Wesleyan perspective.
My brother recently posted a brief discussion on the topic, concerning the report of the Scriptural Study Committee commissioned by the General Assembly. His discussion can be found here (second half of the article), with some clarifications made here.
The really good stuff, however, can be found in the actual report, which you can read here.
I highly recommend reading the full report on the Nazarene understanding of the authority of the Bible and what we mean by "inerrancy"
I know, I'm not really saying much...but read the report!
Friday, June 28, 2013
The Kingdom of Heaven is...
Below is a paper that I wrote at the beginning of a my last master's class. In the future I will post my concluding paper on the Kingdom of Heaven. I have not edited it for this blog. I have also included the description of the assignment. After reading, what are your thoughts? How would you describe it?
Assignment: Students will submit a 500-600 word
paper by April 16 titled, "The Kingdom of Heaven is..." This should
be a succinct articulation of the student's concept of the meaning of the
kingdom. This is not a research paper. Rather, it is a reflection of the
student's current understanding of the kingdom.
Response:
The Kingdom of Heaven is difficult
for me to describe. This is partially
due to the lack of teaching and preaching that I have heard on the Kingdom of
Heaven. In contrast, the little I have
heard about the Kingdom of Heaven from different pastors and professors has
been either ambiguous or contradictory to what others have told me. I, however, can best describe the Kingdom of
Heaven as an “already-not yet” reality.
The Kingdom of Heaven is, in a
sense, already a reality. On the other
hand, it has yet to come. The fullness
of the Kingdom has yet to be realized.
This “fullness” will come upon the return of Christ. Often times, it is this future sense of the
Kingdom that people most often refer to or understand “The Kingdom of Heaven”
to refer to.
In fact, many believe that we “usher
in” the Kingdom. Now I am no eschatology
expert, and I can’t even say that I have formed any opinion on what I believe
will happen or the timeline in which it will happen. I do not, however, believe that we bring in
the future Kingdom of God. I do believe
that the Kingdom of Heaven is a present reality. What we do on Earth does not speed the coming
of the Kingdom, but it does have eternal effect on the Kingdom.
When we pray “Your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” I do not think that we are
praying for a future thing. We are
praying for God’s will, for God’s kingdom, to be a present reality on
earth. The passage of scripture that has
best helped me understand this present-future tension is Philippians 3. Paul explains that our citizenship is in
heaven. Paul’s argument though is about
the present life. Since our citizenship
is currently (not just in the future) in heaven, because the Kingdom of God is
our “commonwealth” rather than the earthly “kingdoms,” it should change the way
that we live our present lives.
There are two aspects to kingdom
living I think. First, personal holiness.
We must live our own lives as members of the Kingdom of God rather than the kingdoms
of this world. Second, as members of
Christ’s Kingdom we must act out social holiness. We must make our world look like the Kingdom
of God by acts of compassion and social justice. This is where we truly pray that God’s
Kingdom come – that the Kingdom with no more suffering or pain may be here
now. Though pain and suffering will not
entirely disappear until the fullness of Christ’s Kingdom is realized, we can make
an eternal impact in the Kingdom by making a difference in the lives of others
now.
The Kingdom of Heaven is
present. If that were all it was, it
would be a great disappointment. The
Kingdom of heaven is future. If it was
just in the future, we would have little purpose in life. Because the Kingdom of Heaven is both present
and future, it guides the way we live now and gives us great hope for the
future.
Monday, June 24, 2013
kingdom living
The past few months have been a journey for me as I began to truly realize what it means to live as a Kingdom citizen, particularly as it relates to ministry to the "least of these." As I shared a couple weeks ago, I noticed a disconnect, a gap, between what I believed and how I was living. This gap led to some tension, tension that I wanted to explore and learn more about.
While on this journey I invited my youth group to come along with me. We learned about the Kingdom of Heaven as a present-future reality. We learned about our Nazarene heritage in ministry to the "least of these." We had a couple guest speakers come talk about social ministry and mission trips, as well as how to be a "missionary" in your very own community.
In the midst of this our church did a work day at a Compassionate Ministries Center/Church in downtown Cincinnati. There was an overwhelming response by our teens to participate in this! I was excited, and am proud of them!
But then our schedules got busy...
It isn't about doing occasional projects. It isn't about doing my one good thing and then marking it off a list. But why has my "unrest" disappeared? If it is still there I must just be ignoring it because I haven't noticed it for a couple weeks.
As I think about being a Kingdom citizen, it is not just about ministry to the least of these. I obviously can't do that all of the time. I can, however, use my time in God-honoring, Kingdom-furthering ways. As Paul writes in Philippians 3, our citizenship is in heaven (our commonwealth is heaven). We are not to live as people in the world live - our kingdom is not this material world. Yet Christians find themselves living as members of the worldly kingdom! It is hard to avoid it...
I don't think I've been choosing to ignore the gap, at least not directly. I did not sit down one day and say, "I am going to ignore this." I think this goes to show that being aware of the gap is not enough, it is not enough to just "know the gap." We must give attention to it, do something about it, be intentional. When we are intentional about minding the gap we find ourselves closing that gap. Gaps don't close by themselves - but by God's grace we can be all that he desire for us.
God help me to live a live that has eternal impact for your Kingdom's cause. I want to live as part of your kingdom, not the kingdoms of this world.
While on this journey I invited my youth group to come along with me. We learned about the Kingdom of Heaven as a present-future reality. We learned about our Nazarene heritage in ministry to the "least of these." We had a couple guest speakers come talk about social ministry and mission trips, as well as how to be a "missionary" in your very own community.
In the midst of this our church did a work day at a Compassionate Ministries Center/Church in downtown Cincinnati. There was an overwhelming response by our teens to participate in this! I was excited, and am proud of them!
But then our schedules got busy...
It isn't about doing occasional projects. It isn't about doing my one good thing and then marking it off a list. But why has my "unrest" disappeared? If it is still there I must just be ignoring it because I haven't noticed it for a couple weeks.
As I think about being a Kingdom citizen, it is not just about ministry to the least of these. I obviously can't do that all of the time. I can, however, use my time in God-honoring, Kingdom-furthering ways. As Paul writes in Philippians 3, our citizenship is in heaven (our commonwealth is heaven). We are not to live as people in the world live - our kingdom is not this material world. Yet Christians find themselves living as members of the worldly kingdom! It is hard to avoid it...
I don't think I've been choosing to ignore the gap, at least not directly. I did not sit down one day and say, "I am going to ignore this." I think this goes to show that being aware of the gap is not enough, it is not enough to just "know the gap." We must give attention to it, do something about it, be intentional. When we are intentional about minding the gap we find ourselves closing that gap. Gaps don't close by themselves - but by God's grace we can be all that he desire for us.
God help me to live a live that has eternal impact for your Kingdom's cause. I want to live as part of your kingdom, not the kingdoms of this world.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Conversations on Holiness - A Brief Review
Last night I finished up Conversations on Holiness, edited and inspired by Keith Davenport (my brother). Because I want all my readers (probably only family members at this point) to read it themselves and enjoy it for it's full value, I will not be going into much detail on the book, so this will be a very brief review.
I used to be a person who would always skip anything that came before the first chapter of a book, whether that be the forward, preface, or introduction. College taught me otherwise, and I am so glad! The introduction of this book is absolutely essential as it lays down the premise and inspiration for the book. Davenport starts out by saying that holiness is good news, but "why aren't we talking more about it?" (9). He then tells the story of my life (and many others'), that we have all heard holiness talked about in so many different ways, with different terminology, that none of us are all that sure what it is. The book is a collection of the work of multiple contributors in order to give many perspectives on holiness, and tying them together, the reader gains a well-rounded understanding of the call to holiness and its implications on the life of the believer.
Generally speaking, this book is a quick read and easily understood (with the exception of one chapter). I appreciated how each author described holiness differently, and with different analogies, but the common themes of holiness were evident throughout. They used different language to describe the same things, which I found very helpful. If I, as one who has received theological training, found the simple language and variety of terminology helpful, I am sure that those who are not familiar with theological terms will find it even more helpful than I did.
It is not, however, just a theology book. It is not just about having a theological understanding of holiness. Most contributors explain not just what holiness is, but what that means for the believer. They give multiple examples of what holiness looks like for the individual, the church, and the Kingdom of God. Direct implications are drawn that helps the reader move from understanding holiness to living out holiness.
What I find most appealing about this book, however, is the analogies used to help the reader understand holiness. There are multiple analogies and I do not want to take away from your reading experience, so I will not discuss them in detail. My favorite one, however, compares Entire Sanctification to being pregnant (Davenport). I think I will leave you in suspense over this one... Overall, these different analogies not only helped me gain a fuller understanding of the different aspects of entire sanctification (holiness), but also gave me some tools for ministry in helping others understand it.
Though I have never included one of the endorsements in a book review before, I wholeheartedly agree with Dr. John C. Bowling when he says "Here one finds a breadth and depth of perspectives that enrich, rather than divide, our collective understanding of God's call to and provisions for a holy life" (back cover). This book is written in such a way that any reader could grasp the concepts and gain a better understanding of holiness. I highly recommend not only reading it, but also talking about it!
I used to be a person who would always skip anything that came before the first chapter of a book, whether that be the forward, preface, or introduction. College taught me otherwise, and I am so glad! The introduction of this book is absolutely essential as it lays down the premise and inspiration for the book. Davenport starts out by saying that holiness is good news, but "why aren't we talking more about it?" (9). He then tells the story of my life (and many others'), that we have all heard holiness talked about in so many different ways, with different terminology, that none of us are all that sure what it is. The book is a collection of the work of multiple contributors in order to give many perspectives on holiness, and tying them together, the reader gains a well-rounded understanding of the call to holiness and its implications on the life of the believer.
Generally speaking, this book is a quick read and easily understood (with the exception of one chapter). I appreciated how each author described holiness differently, and with different analogies, but the common themes of holiness were evident throughout. They used different language to describe the same things, which I found very helpful. If I, as one who has received theological training, found the simple language and variety of terminology helpful, I am sure that those who are not familiar with theological terms will find it even more helpful than I did.
It is not, however, just a theology book. It is not just about having a theological understanding of holiness. Most contributors explain not just what holiness is, but what that means for the believer. They give multiple examples of what holiness looks like for the individual, the church, and the Kingdom of God. Direct implications are drawn that helps the reader move from understanding holiness to living out holiness.
What I find most appealing about this book, however, is the analogies used to help the reader understand holiness. There are multiple analogies and I do not want to take away from your reading experience, so I will not discuss them in detail. My favorite one, however, compares Entire Sanctification to being pregnant (Davenport). I think I will leave you in suspense over this one... Overall, these different analogies not only helped me gain a fuller understanding of the different aspects of entire sanctification (holiness), but also gave me some tools for ministry in helping others understand it.
Though I have never included one of the endorsements in a book review before, I wholeheartedly agree with Dr. John C. Bowling when he says "Here one finds a breadth and depth of perspectives that enrich, rather than divide, our collective understanding of God's call to and provisions for a holy life" (back cover). This book is written in such a way that any reader could grasp the concepts and gain a better understanding of holiness. I highly recommend not only reading it, but also talking about it!
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Kingdom Living as JOY rather than a burden
To make a long story short, in Sunday school this morning I said that some natural disasters could be a result of our pollution of the world and the climate changes it causes. I was then asked this question, "Is pollution a sin? Do we all really have to go green?" Of course, this question came about 30 seconds after we were already supposed to be done, so I did not have a chance to answer it (thankfully). I want to say "yes," but how far do we go with that? Don't use paper products? What about water usage? there are a lot of questions...
Does God desire us to "go green?" Does kingdom living require us to be conscious, even intentional, about our care of the world and the environment?
Add to these thoughts my post from the other day about documentaries - asking questions like "is it sinful to eat things that harm the body?" I'm not talking about drugs here, I am talking about processed food, fast food, synthetic additives and such.
This makes Christianity sound burdensome. Obviously, these are not evangelistic topics - "Christians must go green" or "Christians must be vegans" (I am not saying that either of these statements are necessarily true).
Even to the students, going green and considering pollution a sin did seem burdensome. For many, not eating processed foods sounds crazy. Strangely, today, I realized I am EXCITED to explore these questions. I am not fearful of "having to" go green or take good care of my body. I consider it a joy to be the best citizen of the Kingdom of God that I can. It is not a burden to live as part of God's Kingdom, but a joy!
I thank God for the joy and excitement that he gives me as I explore what all he has in store for me and my life. I do hope to come to conclusions on these issues in the near future, and as I do I will share my thoughts. But remember, serving Christ is not a burden or an obligation, but a privilege. Today, I truly feel this way!
Does God desire us to "go green?" Does kingdom living require us to be conscious, even intentional, about our care of the world and the environment?
Add to these thoughts my post from the other day about documentaries - asking questions like "is it sinful to eat things that harm the body?" I'm not talking about drugs here, I am talking about processed food, fast food, synthetic additives and such.
This makes Christianity sound burdensome. Obviously, these are not evangelistic topics - "Christians must go green" or "Christians must be vegans" (I am not saying that either of these statements are necessarily true).
Even to the students, going green and considering pollution a sin did seem burdensome. For many, not eating processed foods sounds crazy. Strangely, today, I realized I am EXCITED to explore these questions. I am not fearful of "having to" go green or take good care of my body. I consider it a joy to be the best citizen of the Kingdom of God that I can. It is not a burden to live as part of God's Kingdom, but a joy!
I thank God for the joy and excitement that he gives me as I explore what all he has in store for me and my life. I do hope to come to conclusions on these issues in the near future, and as I do I will share my thoughts. But remember, serving Christ is not a burden or an obligation, but a privilege. Today, I truly feel this way!
Friday, June 7, 2013
Documentaries aren't that boring
I recently find myself almost "addicted" to documentary movies - specifically those found on Netflix (since that is all I have access to). Part of this may be that I feel like my tv time is better spent being informed about something than watching a fantasy of some writer play-out before me and in my imagination
I find myself easily persuaded by most of the documentaries that I watch. I wish there were always documentaries that told the other side of the coin. One in particular is "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price." Watching this movie makes me want to personally boycott Walmart, but are the "facts" really "facts?" Walmart doesn't think so... The jury is still out on this one.
Others are not as agenda-driven or political. I have enjoyed watching many concerning diet and eating healthy foods. This is not as boring as it sounds. The more I watch - the more I want to watch. They have recently influenced how I eat - recognizing the benefits of plant foods and the dangers in processed foods. No, I am not going vegan or even vegetarian.
Don't stop reading yet! I have been thinking about this from more than just the practical side of things, but also theologically.
Does it not make sense that eating natural foods would be healthier than synthetic foods? Whatever your belief about creation, there is no debate to be made about available food sources for the first man - there was nothing "man-made," genetically engineered, synthetically fertilized or processed. Everything was natural.
If what I am watching is true - that a truly plant-based (organic) diet, avoiding all synthetic and processed foods really does make a person healthier, prevents (even heals) chronic illnesses, and possibly even cures cancer (I'm a little skeptical of this one...) - then it is a testimony of God's perfect order of creation. When we eat what God has given us we are healthier and happier, and more fully human.
When you think about what you put into your body - all the additives, chemicals, carcinogens, etc - and all the harm that it can do, it only makes sense to STOP.
I believe that my body is a temple, and I believe that I am to take care of it. Is there a disconnect between what I believe and what I am doing? This is one of those things that I wish I did not know about (and maybe you do too), because then I would not be forced to make a decision.
Again, I am on a journey - I don't know where I will end up. I invite you to come along. I would love have a conversation about this.
Documentaries found on Netflix that I found influential:
Hungry For Change
Food Matters
Fat Sick and Nearly Dead
There were others that had bits and pieces, but generally on other topics - there are plenty out there on "holistic healing" and "holistic therapies."
I find myself easily persuaded by most of the documentaries that I watch. I wish there were always documentaries that told the other side of the coin. One in particular is "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price." Watching this movie makes me want to personally boycott Walmart, but are the "facts" really "facts?" Walmart doesn't think so... The jury is still out on this one.
Others are not as agenda-driven or political. I have enjoyed watching many concerning diet and eating healthy foods. This is not as boring as it sounds. The more I watch - the more I want to watch. They have recently influenced how I eat - recognizing the benefits of plant foods and the dangers in processed foods. No, I am not going vegan or even vegetarian.
Don't stop reading yet! I have been thinking about this from more than just the practical side of things, but also theologically.
Does it not make sense that eating natural foods would be healthier than synthetic foods? Whatever your belief about creation, there is no debate to be made about available food sources for the first man - there was nothing "man-made," genetically engineered, synthetically fertilized or processed. Everything was natural.
If what I am watching is true - that a truly plant-based (organic) diet, avoiding all synthetic and processed foods really does make a person healthier, prevents (even heals) chronic illnesses, and possibly even cures cancer (I'm a little skeptical of this one...) - then it is a testimony of God's perfect order of creation. When we eat what God has given us we are healthier and happier, and more fully human.
When you think about what you put into your body - all the additives, chemicals, carcinogens, etc - and all the harm that it can do, it only makes sense to STOP.
I believe that my body is a temple, and I believe that I am to take care of it. Is there a disconnect between what I believe and what I am doing? This is one of those things that I wish I did not know about (and maybe you do too), because then I would not be forced to make a decision.
Again, I am on a journey - I don't know where I will end up. I invite you to come along. I would love have a conversation about this.
Documentaries found on Netflix that I found influential:
Hungry For Change
Food Matters
Fat Sick and Nearly Dead
There were others that had bits and pieces, but generally on other topics - there are plenty out there on "holistic healing" and "holistic therapies."
Something New
Blogging is new to me. I blogged at a previous time in my life, about ten years ago. That blogging was different - it was more of a "social blogger" before the Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter all went viral.
So why blog now?
I find myself on a journey. Yes, I know that it is cliche to say life is a journey, but it is. This journey that I find myself on right now is pretty new. God has revealed to me some things that are simply not connecting in my life. There is a disconnect between what I believe and what I am doing. This is not the case for every aspect of my belief - but it is for some.
This was realized as I read and studied about ministry to the "least of these" (Matthew 25 phrasing). I know what the Bible says, and I believe that people need to be taking care of, and that it is the church's job to do so. But what am I doing?
Being a youth pastor does not excuse me from getting my hands dirty and doing that ministry myself. It is not enough for me to teach students that they are supposed to be doing those things. God has called me to minister to the least of these as well.
A blog about what?
No, my entire blog will not be about this particular journey. I hope to do two things with this blog:
1. Share my journey (journeys) in the hopes that it may help others on their journey. Drawing particular attention to gaps in my life - the disconnect between what I believe and what I am doing
2. Give attention to the gaps between biblical mandates for Christians and what we are doing. I hope to draw attention between our theology and our practice. This is concerned with both the church and our culture. Cultural issues are bound to intersect with politics and social movements.
This is something new. I don't know what it will look like. But we are about to find out!
So why blog now?
I find myself on a journey. Yes, I know that it is cliche to say life is a journey, but it is. This journey that I find myself on right now is pretty new. God has revealed to me some things that are simply not connecting in my life. There is a disconnect between what I believe and what I am doing. This is not the case for every aspect of my belief - but it is for some.
This was realized as I read and studied about ministry to the "least of these" (Matthew 25 phrasing). I know what the Bible says, and I believe that people need to be taking care of, and that it is the church's job to do so. But what am I doing?
Being a youth pastor does not excuse me from getting my hands dirty and doing that ministry myself. It is not enough for me to teach students that they are supposed to be doing those things. God has called me to minister to the least of these as well.
A blog about what?
No, my entire blog will not be about this particular journey. I hope to do two things with this blog:
1. Share my journey (journeys) in the hopes that it may help others on their journey. Drawing particular attention to gaps in my life - the disconnect between what I believe and what I am doing
2. Give attention to the gaps between biblical mandates for Christians and what we are doing. I hope to draw attention between our theology and our practice. This is concerned with both the church and our culture. Cultural issues are bound to intersect with politics and social movements.
This is something new. I don't know what it will look like. But we are about to find out!
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