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Wednesday, 10 June 2009

  • Online Journal (Or Ephesians 4:1)

                I am really being hammered lately on the idea of what a priest is.  God seems to be showing me through various mediums that I am simply to be an expression of what He is.  Rob Bell’s sermon series on “Jesus Came to Save Christians” began this enlightenment over a week ago.  As he said, “You are the message.  God called Israel and He calls us to be a bodily expression of Him.”

                This isn’t a new idea for me.  I mean, God calls us a “royal priesthood”.  But to hear Bell explain the backdrop of what a priest was and how He was really calling ALL of Israel to this was a new concept.  He went on to explain the 4 areas of the Jewish journey through the OT- Egypt, Sinai, Jerusalem, Babylon.  There is a ton of stuff that I could write on here, but for room’s sake I’ll just say that it’s HUGE for me.

                As I’ve read other things, I continue to get the same story.  And now scripture verses are beginning to make sense.  Shockingly, too, this teaching has given me more freedom.  I have always believed it is okay to drink, cuss, eat, or whatever if done in moderation.  But now I see all of my life not as “okay” and “wrong,” but as an act of worship and personification to who I believe God to be.  Take for example following verse from Proverbs 1:10: “My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.”  Why not?  Formerly I would have thought, “Great, another rule to follow.”  But now I realize that I don’t give in to sinners because when I do, I express through my actions and words that God is okay with sin.  When I drink and because of my past, I could be expressing that God is okay with drunkenness and partying…even though I’m not really expressing that at all in my head.

                Then I was reading The Canterbury Tales for my British Lit class.  In the prologue, Chaucer writes of the clerk, “This fine example to his flock he gave, that first he wrought and afterwards he taught…well ought a priest example good to give, by his own cleanness, how his flock should live.”  In other words, DO first and teach later.  SHOW people who your God is!  As Ephesians 4:1 says, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”

Thursday, 26 March 2009

  • Has it really been this long?

    I guess it has.  It's funny how you get in to a "normal" routine and forget about things like updating folks and writing down feelings.  A lot to catch up on...so let's get started.

    *I had my "1 Year Anniversary" of getting diagnosed earlier this month.  March 7.  It's been a strange year.  Talk about a roller coaster.  Diagnosed, surgeries, chemo, radiation, remission.  Up and down emotionally.  Spiritually it has been pretty stellar though.  God has really taught me some cool things.  If only I wouldn't forget them....

    *Abigail made an AAU (all star) basketball team.  She's pretty small and still timid.  I hope she grows a few inches before next year and gets some meanness.  But watching both of the kids play has been really cool.

    *Brandt is, well, huge.  He's the same size as Abigail now.  And he's still all boy.  He gets in trouble at school and home because he's figgity, talkative, and a clown.  But man is he fun!

    *Lent- I'm doing Lent this year with Mars Hill.  Fasting Facebook (may never go back) and arguing (especially politics and online blog arguments).  Mars has been going through Lamentations and below are just a few things I have gleened through the process:

    1. Lamentations is a brutal book.  I mean, it's a lament.  And there is no good part in the story.  It's an honest plea of a people who are hurting.
    2. God doesn't come in and save the day.  This book would be a crappy movie.  But it's honest.  And real.  And life.  Because all too often life really sucks and it's the way it is baby.  No new job.  No relationship fixed.  No healing or miracle.  No made shot at the end of a season.  Just raw and real.
    3. God doesn't come in and save the day...but he does say, "Do not fear."  I was astonished that God didn't say, "Don't fear because ________________."  He doesn't say why not to fear.  He just says, "DON'T."  He also doesn't say "Don't be upset.  Don't be in pain."  All that's legit.  And it's all human.  But in the midst of the pain and hurt, we can trust and have hope.

    *This leads to the last thing on the update.  About a week ago I had some more vision problems.  And they were the same as I had last year right before I was diagnosed with Hodgkins.  They moved my 6 month PET up 3 weeks and I had that Tuesday.  Today I got the results and they were normal.  So I'm stil in remission.

    Between last Wednesday and yesterday, though, I did have fear.  I feared dying.  Not because I'm afraid of death.  I truly believe that death is gain and I'd be with Jesus.  But because I'm selfish.  Here's what I mean....

    I love my family.  I like my hobbies.  I love this world and enjoy it.  All this is the problem, you see.  I love them more (sometimes) than I love Jesus.  I cried a lot at church on Sunday and Joey asked me what I was afraid of.  As we talked and thought, I realized my fear is not seeing my family grow up.  Not growing old with Rachel.  Not seeing the kids graduate, get married, dominate in a sport, have their own kids.  I love them.  And Jesus tells me I need to "hate my family".  I never understood that until this week.  I don't have to hate them.  But I do have to love Jesus more.  And to be honest, I love them more a lot of times.

    So I'm afraid because I'm selfishly wanting to be here.  I don't yearn for death.  I don't grasp for Jesus....because I am holding on to my family.  To my life.  The grave holds nothing over me...except the temporary leaving until heaven.  But what if we don't know each other?  Or if I die and one of them doesn't follow Jesus?  Or they get mad at God like I did when my papaw died and turn to all sorts of stupidity?

    So my challenge to myself over the next few weeks is to figure out how to love Jesus more.  I've been reading and praying over Lent.  But I need to get more focused.  I need to reclaim some truths I found last year.  Rachel sent me a note that had some verses from various posts from last year.  I will end with these.  May you and I claim these truths in our lives and have no fear...

    But I trust in you, O LORD;
           I say, "You are my God."
     My times are in your hands;
           deliver me from my enemies
           and from those who pursue me.

     Let your face shine on your servant;
           save me in your unfailing love.
    Psalm 31:14-16
     
    May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun.  All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed.  Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.  Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.  Psalm 72:17-19
     
    Romans 15:13
    May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 
     
    Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:4-5

    Shalom~ Troy

Monday, 02 February 2009

  • i have a dream...

    i preached at mcc yesterday.  another 40+ minute look at God's word.  i enjoyed it.  i enjoyed seeing old (and by old, i mean from the past) faces.  i enjoyed seeing a few new ones.  i enjoyed confessing some sin from when i was there and having a few come up and thank me.  a few tell me they appreciated it and forgave me.  a few who told me they can tell i've really grown.

    it's been 4 (or was it 5) years since i've been at mcc.  a lot has changed in me.  things have changed at mcc too...kurt leaving, families leaving, a sweet new playground, the bass player in the band.  but a lot (and in my humble opinion, too much) has stayed the same.  same needs.  same problems.  same frusrtations.  so i get the chance to occassionally come back and speak.  (and yesterday lead the music in the second service).  i am free to say what i feel and say what i think scripture clearly teaches...all without the fear of ticking people off and losing my job.

    okay, so a few people came as guests yesterday and one of penni's friends (chuck) asked me about preaching.  i think penni put him up to it.  but i've told her and others there before that it would take a burning bush for me to put my resume in there and go back.  so chuck asked if it had to be "a literal burning bush"?  yes.  i told him it would be like elijah and me soaking a bush with water and seeing the fireball come from heaven.  "no person telling you as the burning bush?"  no.

    then i thought about it.  i changed my mind.  i would put my resume in at mcc or another church if it was a functional new testament church.  that would be a burning bush for me.  as group looked at ephesians last night, someone in our group (who has been to mcc twice) said that it seemed like mcc needed someone like paul to stand up and preach with conviction and power...not being scared of upsetting people.  seriously.  have you ever read paul's stuff?  he (as joey said) SLAMBASTS christians to do things.  there's no beating around the bush.  here's what the deal is.  now do it.  or don't but if you don't, don't pretend to be a follower of Christ.

    so here are some things that i feel are pretty clear "burning bushes" for churches today:

    • helping the poor and needy (no ties, no questions.  just help.  meet needs.  love them in Jesus' name.)
    • being led by the elders (not run by a board.  not having meetings to make decisions about the direction of the church.  not jumping through hoops.  elders as spiritual leaders.  really leading the flock.)
    • authentic worship (the message of Christ is held up and the methods are not questioned.  ALL methods are encouraged and explored if it helps deepen the love and relationship to Jesus.  this includes talking openly about failure because that helps in growth.)
    • prayer
    • accountability
    • discipleship
    • small groups (accountability and discipleship...in my opinion...only really happen here.)
    • Jesus is the cornerstone (no squabbles about opinions or preferences.  it's about Jesus.  everything else is measured through this.)
    • unity (because Christ has torn down the wall of hostility between us.  unity within the church, with other churches.  when there is disagreement, we still love.  we can hug and love through the differences.  we can even study both sides and either come to agreement or agree to disagree...like me and joe do about calvinism & baptism)
    • people can be themselves (in their brokenness.  in their success.  where a leader can have a beer with a pizza because it tastes good.  a guy can play cards or halo and not be shunned.  clothes, hobbies, money, job-status are not factors in church politics.  the bar is "are they following Jesus?")

    i'm sure there are more.  but this is a quick list.  my dreams for faith journey fellowship.  my dreams for the church universal.  i have a dream....

Thursday, 22 January 2009

  • Dave Ramsey Class

    I am going to lead a Dave Ramsey class starting February 11.  The cost is $89 for the 12 week program.  It changed my life enough that I'm willing to teach it.  6:30-8:00 at my house.  I'm only taking the first 5 couples that can sign up.  I've already got 3 and want to keep it to 8 for discussion purposes.
     
    If for some reason the price is too steep, our church will help cover the cost.  You get CD's, the class, hang with me for 12 weeks, and TONS of good information about wealth building.
     
     
    Call me or email me if you're interested!  812-276-5576
     
     
    Troy

Tuesday, 13 January 2009

  • Song

    On the way to work this morning (at 2:30) I was thinking about the past year.  The trials.  The journey.  The hard times.  A song popped into my head and I came to work and jotted it down as quick as I could.  The lyrics are below and I'll be working on music this week.  I suppose it's a reflection of my heart and thanks to Jesus for always being there...
     
     

    When darkness comes

    You shine through

    Or drought filled ground

    You’re morning dew

     

    Chorus:

    You are hope

    You are light

    Halle-lujah

    You are truth

    You are peace

    Hall-lujah

     

    Storm clouds appear

    You’re my shield

    And sin creeps in

    Your Son has healed

     

    Bridge:

    The Morning Star,

    The Corner Stone,

    The Prince of Peace,

    Jesus alone

runningfromthedark

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    • Name: Troy
    • Gender: Male
    • Member Since: 3/9/2006

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  • brendaloub
    My, my. I'm glad it's you that has to pick from all those pictures. They are all good. I love the one of the kids in what looks like an "unposed" one. It is so kid-like. - Brenda

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  • i'm a follower of Jesus Christ, a husband, a father, a cancer patient.

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