[pruh-gres-iv....ri-zis-tuhns]

I'm betting you probably thought you were getting a workout article when you saw the title of this post and the dumbbells.

You are. Sorta.

People have been asking why I have not been posting much lately. To explain this I must paint an analogy. My course load at school has nearly got me at crush depth. The best way to explain it is "overburden". Only a person called to this would do this as it is extremely rigorous and taxing on the mind. A new language from scratch including most of the characters. Pondering the depths of God as He has revealed Himself to humanity in all His subtle and not so subtle glorious nuances. Memorizing more Scripture in 14 weeks than I did over the last 40 years of my life. Memorizing Greek noun declensions of which there are a slew. Verbs and parcing of verbs. Learning and perfecting the art and science of proper interpretation in hermeneutics...and so on. Simulateously enjoying every minute of it with a sense of wonder that defies description. The overburden that I am experiencing mentally is best described by a comparison to the other passion in my life (besides God and my wife) which is weightlifting. Lifting is also something that puts me through my paces and I thoroughly enjoy it.

In weightlifting you gradually overtax the muscle of the body to strengthen it. It is called progressive resistance. In science its proper definition is as follows:

Progressive Resistance [pruh-gres-iv ri-zis-tuhns] : A strength training method in which the overload is constantly increased to facilitate adaptation (also known as progressive overload). Progressive resistance is essential for building muscle and reaching strength goals. The body adapts to exercise and needs to be constantly challenged in order to continue to grow and change.

I short, it is a conditioning of the body to handle increased loads.

See any similarities to what God is doing with my melon (a.k.a.: my head)?

As any lifter will tell you...while lifting and overtaxing the muscle, you are acutely focused at the task at hand. This serves a two-fold purpose. It helps maintain the intensity that will be required to continue to push the threshold where true growth comes. Secondly, if you do not stay intensely focused you will mentally drift and injure yourself. It is what most athletes call "the zone". You become hyper-aware of your task. The rest of the world hazes out and drifts to the periphery into white noise.

Strangely and similarly, this uber-intense studying has taken me to a new place in my personal worship of God and my sanctification. As noted in an earlier post there are different types of worship for different people. I am not usually highly emotive when it comes to worshipping God with music or other aesthetic ways to approach Him. I do get extremely intense when studying scripture and then expounding on it. This study has put more of what God is in me and pushed out a lot of the refuse that does not belong in me. The ugly stuff that took up residence in my cranium over the period of 30+ years of being a reprobate. It is also keeping out some of the new stuff that wants to get it too. When you cram everything into your cranium that your cranium can handle, it leaves no room for anything else to get in. The old adage is: "It's like stuffing 10 pounds of stuff in a 5 pound bag" or like "pushing a 1 inch block through a 1/2 inch opening". There is no room for anything else let alone the stuff that is suppose to go in the bag or opening.

God does the same with our faith. He builds on the last episode where we required faith and slowly but surely our faith grows so that in time, even at our weakest we are much farther ahead of where we were at our best a few trials before. The harder things get for me in school the more I pray, and generally am rewarded although not always in ways I expect. Case-in-point: It has gotten to the point where I can stare at charts of 25 case endings for nouns only once or twice and I can picture them in my mind. Dare I say my memory has become marginally photographic at this point. Think about it people. I am talking about a reprobate that spend nearly 25 years drinking and 5-10 of them as a user of narcotics also. God uses the foolish things of the world to...eh...never mind.

I do not watch TV. I listen to teaching seminars and sermons on my way to school. You know, MacArthur, Sproul, Paul Washer, Piper, Dever, etc. When I get to class I learn at school. I come home and try to be a good dad (usually fails within 10 minutes). I study after the kids go to bed for about 2 hours. If I have spare minutes like now I type a zinger of a post and publish it to SoulJournaler. I sleep. I get up and repeat the cycle 5 days a week. I study and write papers all weekend. No time for stupidity only time for the Lord. God is making me see what will break me intellectually/mentally I think. As odd as it sounds, it contents me. Just like the 25 year period lifting weights. It isn't that I like pain but I appreciate seeing what the limits are of this creation that people call Andy Pierson. I am only coming through this world once and I need to make up for lost time.

Is it easy, nah. Besides, as I stated in the previous post. I was never promised easy, I was promised what was best for my eternal salvation and what is best for all the lives of those I can touch with the Word. As a matter of fact, I don't want easy. Jesus essentially told me otherwise:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

By implication it can be understood from this passage that I will always be required to carry a load or bear a burden anyway. I am not given a choice of "no load" or "slacking" in this verse. I either bear the sin of the world or I bear the yoke of Christ. I am either slave to sin or a slave to Christ.

Just call me Andy δοῦλος Χρήστου [slave of Christ]

Now back to my Greek vocabulary flashcards until beddybye which is...ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Aberrant Theologies #1: Health & Wealth / Prosperity Gospel

God never promised a pleasant journey, He only promised a pleasant destination and only if we accepted the work of His Son on the cross at Calvary.

I generally do not criticize Christian denominations as it is counterproductive to Christ so that should give you a clue to where I stand on this topic. There are certain "Christian" entertainers that I do not even consider Christian and if they think they are, they are sorely mistaken because their works and words give them away for that they are. Frauds and charlatans.

Health and Wealth or the Prosperity Movement. This movement is an anomaly in the Christian faith. In claiming to have direct revelation from God, the health and wealth teachers/preachers have made a radical departure from Christianity. Direct revelation ceased with the advent of Jesus Christ and the completion and canon of the Bible. So when you hear wealth/health prosperity people telling you the God told them that if you just pray to God for something you will get it. Well, that kind of makes God into a cosmic cash register. To me that concept is obnoxious and totally demeans God. It makes God's existence into being there for our uses when in actuality we are here for His.

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. Hebrews 1:1-2

Another serious problem that arises in these fake pulpits is they contain false teachers that sit in judgment on Scriptures in high profile positions that have the ear of potentially millions of people (Enns 681).

The word faith belief or doctrine is Biblically delinquent and sinful. It teaches that Jesus died not only for sins but also for sickness. It says you can claim health and wealth. It says that we to reign over poverty. We are to reign over sickness. Conquered were the spiritual maladies. We were not promised or guarenteed that all of our physical maladies will be healed. If that is the case tell that to all the people that died of heart disease, cancer, etc. If this is what we were promised then everyone would always be healed and no one would die. If we observe life closely we see that just the opposite happens. We die. The wages of sin is death and we are all sinners. Spiritually we are healed and we are guranteed eternal life if we believe. They say that God has provided physical healing and prosperity to those that obey His commands. God is not a money or health genie. He never ever promised a pleasant journey. So what do you suppose happens if someone does believe and has faith and they don't recieve healing and/or wealth? Does that mean they did not have enough faith? Can you imagine the damage this does to a person's faith that believes this scamboogery? Look at what Jesus Himself said...

"And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I say to you truthfully, there are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God." ~Luke 9:23-27

Think about it people. Having people constantly pray and expect a person to be healed and it never happens. What happens to the faith of that believer? Do I believe God heals people? Yes, I do. What if He chooses not to even though you want Him to? Things happen according to HIS will, not yours. He knows what is good for you, you do not. God is not a vending machine!

Word of Faith Movement preachers are another branch of this aberrant theology. The ability to speak words to produce positive results in life. These folks get there conclusion from this by saying that God created things by speaking them into existence. Since we are created in His image, we should be able to do the same (Enns 2008, 681).

You know the figures in the movement. They elevate man to the position of God and talk themselves up to the status of "gods". If you can think it, you can speak it, you can become it! Religious motivational speakers. Religious...or should I say spiritual/mystics. The problem is that many people forget that demons and Satan are of the spirit realm also.

Is it possible to be healthy and wealthy and still be a Christian? Of course, but it is more likely it is because of God's grace and mercy rather than anything we have done to warrant it. Because it was part of His bigger plan to begin with. We as humans always try to make ourselves better than we really are. We are all sinners worthy of death. In the flip side Jesus atoning sacrifice made us co-hiers/royalty and can approach the Father with our supplications. Lets not look a gift horse in the mouth expecting the world to treat us like royalty because it probably won't happen. This is especially true if we act like a bunch of spoiled princesses.

Serendipity & Providence: Divindipitous

Okay, I admit it, I just made-up the word divindipitous.

I stand and am mesmerized at the turn of events in my family's life and mine over the last two years. As I have turned the my efforts and zeal towards God. God has blessed us abundantly even though I have lost my job of ten years at Mack Trucks, Inc. as an engineer (quality, application). My wife has started a consulting business that is currently keeping us afloat. When money was needed for seminary it "arrived". When I thought I would be short, I was told to fill out a special circumstances sheet and a Pell Grant is put against my account to pay off the difference loans and cash could not pay off.

The acts of providence by God go deeper though, much deeper. I live next to neighbors I have failed to talk to or even associate with in ten years. Two years ago I begin to talk to him after my conversion and I find out he attended the college I eventually chose to go but he went twenty years previous. I find out he also attended Westminster in Philly. I find out he is (for all intensive purposes) a Greek scholar. He is now unofficially my tutor. It doesn't become official until he says so. The wonder of all this does not end here.

Along with my wife...it is decided that I will abandon a career in the engineering field after 22 years. I will go back to school. To learn everything man can teach me about my God. I go back to learn a new language (Greek). I go back to school to learn how to reach others. To defend my faith. Many reasons continue to come to mind but the one that shapes where this blog will focus is learning the Greek language.


I have two sons. The oldest is Seth and he is learning sight words/ word families: cat, hat, mat, sat, etc. He worked on all these words last year and throughout the summer. His first grade started last week and he is now using that repertoire of word power to construct sentences. This is where the wonder of it all staggers me. The timing of this is absolutely parallel to my learning of Greek vocabulary sight words and...parsing the Greek. Parsing is essentially breaking the Greek down into its rudimentary grammatical structure and meaning. I then, based on the parsing, can reconstruct sentences. As a newbie to Greek it is painstakingly slow, one word at a time. One verb, one noun, direct objects, indirect objects, indefinite article, definite article. This continues until I have an coherent English sentence...just like my son nearly 35 years apart. The only difference is I have technical terminologies for what I am doing. Additionally, my younger son Bryce is just beginning to learn his numbers and alphabet for preschool just like daddy finished doing for the Greek alphabet. What is even more amazing is that when I have problems I now speak to a neighbor that I treated like junk for a decade and we lived 300 ft apart. Just like my boys can talk to me.

Since it is brutally obvious that it is no accident all this is taking place according to His will not "mine" or "ours". I begin to pray and to contemplate this and ask God what I am to take away from this. As I lay with my son to try and help him shutdown and fall asleep after a long afternoon of building sentences (both he and I) he begins to speak with me and says, "I made my own sentences today daddy, just like you." Yes, just like me. The wonder of it all.

God took away a job and a former life and gave me back double what I had, perhaps more. I have a wife who has increased her economic viably/saleability in the IT (Information Technology) field through her online consulting work for Sharon Pierson Database Consulting (a shameless plug for my wife's business for all you Christian IT people out there). I have a children that are running parallel paths to their father, just as the father is trying to run a parallel path to Our Father. I think about Seth's tenacious and diligent work to perfect his vocabulary. His love for words. His love of meanings. His desire to to be exact in his usage of his words.

It then dawns on me that there will be help from God but based on what I have seen from my son my takeaway is this. I will need to work diligently like a laborer at his work. I will need to "put my back into it" to get out of Greek what I will need to be a good teacher or pastor. Just because things are as wonderful as they will ever got doesn't mean things will be easy. God put us on this earth to do things, to work and through our actions we glorify Him. There is no greater feeling than the feeling of having accomplished something for God knowing you toiled over it to brin it to fruition. Toiling adds a greater gravity to what has been accomplished. Toiling instills a deep appreciation.

There is beauty in all of this that I am just now beginning to grasp and appreciate as my schedule often puts me in a state of intellectual overburden. As I stopped tonight to take it all in... I felt compelled to tell you all one thing. God is truly amazing and He can do bigger things than you can even imagine. Please don't hem Him and limit what you think God can do. Take his yoke. It will be to your benefit. My family is a living example. A living sacrifice to Christ.

"At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:25-30

Have things been perfect? I believe the future is now and it will never get any better than it is now. Along the way my faith is solidifying like rock. With all these turns of events, how could it not. Even those outside these events look in and are struck by the storyline. It use to be that I did not believe in the fantastical and the whimsical but this is as close to idyllic as I have ever seen in this life and it is hard to believe it is happening to my family and those associated with us. God truly rewards those that are faithful, obedient to His statutes.
_____________________________

For humor's sake I have added a list of what is expected of a 1st grader (ironically overlaps with my requirements).

Reading & Writing

Recognize and write all of the letters of the alphabet
Identify sounds corresponding to vowels and consonants
Uses initial consonant sounds/patterns to read words (ex: fat,cat,mat)
Read several sight words
Retell a story including details
Put events of a story in order
Write simple sentences using sight words and phonics skills
Recognize single and plural forms of nouns
Write in complete sentences

It also says Seth's homework should only take about 20 minutes...I wish that was the case for me. If I get clocked in at under 2 hours I am lucky.

Hermeneutics #2: Things To Consider When Reading Your Bible

For various reasons I will be running series of posts at various times. They may not always have an immediate follow-up for a few weeks such as this one (a few months). The last time I did a hermeneutics post was in February, hence the #2. If I know I intend to add more on a topic at a later date I will number them.

Things to keep in mind when reading the Bible.

(1) It is difficult to go back and understand the cultural, historical, psychological and other contexts. In other words, when Paul lived and where Paul lived their were things that were considered cultural norms just as there are today. At any given time in history (historical context) they may have been different. We know that Paul had a "thorn in the flesh" and was imprisoned during the Prison Epistles. We see that MIGHT color Paul's thought processes, intent and even his language, especially in Philippians. We can assume that he was depressed and miserable due to being under house arrest but we would be dead wrong. He speaks of joy in the faith and the furtherance of the gospel via his imprisonment. He speaks of unity...he speaks of positive things. As such we cannot assume things based on our presuppositions and what we bring to the text. Unless the author tells you how he feels, you cannot assume how they feel. These are called mental acts on the side of the author and should not be taken into consideration unless the are explicitly stated in the text as in the case of the "thorn in the flesh".

(2) In his Prison Epistles there are many references to "doulos" or slave/slaves as Paul was a slave to the Christ and literally under house arrest during the writing of said book. We can assume being a slave was a horrible thing such as it was for African Americans during the colonial period and pre-Civil War period, but again we would be dead wrong. In many cases the abuses of the Exodus period and the 19 century period do not apply to the 1 century AD in and around Israel and Asia Minor. Many slaves of this period were actually well-to-do and in some cases affluent and power or in positions of power. We must view the word "slave" closer akin to indentured servant unless otherwise stated.

Please note that I did not say that understanding or a correct mental grasp of authorial intent in the texts are impossible. Many modern scholars would have you believe that it is impossible but it is not.

(3) Since it took place in a past time it is limited and locked into the meaning given to the symbols used to convey the message at the time of writing. In the case of Paul: Koine Greek. These meanings can never change and are limited to the authorial intent.

(4) The authorial intent is what the writer originally intended to convey to the reader. In the case of the Bible the writers were human "inspired" by God. A joint effort. what the biblical writers meant can only be interpreted in the contexts and the environment that their writing or culture provided. Outside of the willed meaning of the writer God through humans, the text/symbols such as Greek, Latin, English have no meaning.

(5) Words used outside of scripture could have a variety of meanings (this is called norms of language) but when placed in Scripture in their context they needed to be narrowed down to a single meaning (his is called norms of utterance). Meaning cannot change in the text but the text significance to a reader can be nearly limitless. Example: How do you fulfill the command in Matthew 28:19-20 (yes, its a command). Some witness to others verbally. Some do it through their actions. Some help the poor, etc.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20

Postmodern philosophy that says we cannot be exactly sure is a tool to maintain ambivalence and ambiguity. It is extremely rare for terms to have duplicate or dual meanings outside of prophecy and the prophets where references to kings/King and promises often took on a dual meaning (a) one immediate meaning and (b) one distant meaning.

(6) The type of writing or literary genre must always be considered. Is it poetry, prophecy, parable? All need to be approached and read certain ways to be understood correctly. Wording them so others can understand is another level of pain all together because it requires that the reader understand it, interpret it, and put it into words and an application relevant to today's culture and society. Not always and easy task. Understanding something is a intellectual grasp of things in the Bible. Interpretation involves a verbal aspect such as what I am now doing to you the read of this post. I am interpreting what it means for someone to understand and apply hermeneutics.

(7) There are three main aspects to conveying a message in writing:
-Writing-Sending-Encoding A Message-Determines The Meaning
(a)The Sender (Author)
-In our case it would be God through human writers
(b) The Message itself-The Code
-In our case the bible.
(c) The Receiver-Decoder of The Message-Also Determines Meaning
-In our case it would be modern readers of the Bible-Us

(8) There are implications that the author didn't directly consider when writing the text but the implication is that they should be included because the items fall into Jesus', Paul's or another writer's meaning. Case-in-point: Paul said I should not get drunk with wine. So I guess its okay to get stoned on pot everyday? Wrong. The implied meaning that needs to be taken way from this text is that we are not to be abusively intoxicated or abusing things that detrimentally affect our mental acuity on a habitual basis. Medicinal use is one thing abuse is another.

It Is God Who Arms Me With Strength

I will love You, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.

The pangs of death surrounded me, and the floods of ungodliness made me afraid. The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears.

Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken, because He was angry. Smoke went up from His nostrils, and devouring fire from His mouth; coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down with darkness under His feet. And He rode upon a cherub, and flew; He flew upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness His secret place; His canopy around Him was dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. From the brightness before Him, His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.

The LORD thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered His voice, hailstones and coals of fire. He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe, lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them. Then the channels of the sea were seen, the foundations of the world were uncovered at Your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils. He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support. He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me.

The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all His judgments were before me, and I did not put away His statutes from me. I was also blameless before Him, and I kept myself from my iniquity. Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.

With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; with a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; with the pure You will show Yourself pure; and with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd. For You will save the humble people, but will bring down haughty looks.

For You will light my lamp; the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

For who is God, except the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer, and sets me on my high places. He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; your right hand has held me up, your gentleness has made me great. You enlarged my path under me, so my feet did not slip.

I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them; neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed. I have wounded them, so that they could not rise; they have fallen under my feet. For You have armed me with strength for the battle; you have subdued under me those who rose up against me.

Psalms 18:1-39

A Whim That Went Worldwide

I have been watching the statistics on the SoulJournaler blog and I am thrill to see the participation from the outside world has been increasing exponentially. The traffic to SoulJournaler is increasing on a weekly basis. I would first like to bless and thank the Lord for stirring the hearts of the people when they see advertisements online or in the real world to pay us a visit here. I would also like to thank you the readers as this blog has begun to take on a life of its own that I had never anticipated. I truly believe this is one of my ministries to the world right now as it allows me to study and take my studies of God's word and take my experience from my walk and put them out for the world to see. To allow the world to bear witness to the work the Lord is doing in my life to transform me into a sanctified tool that will bring Him the utmost glory.

On my site I have a tool that is a rotating globe (also have others that aren't as nifty). I am sure you have all seen it and some of you have actually played with the arrows and turned the Earth upside down and made it spin at a dizzying pace :P (me too!) It is called Revolver Maps. When folks visit it shows the flag and the city the visitor is visiting from in a geographical context. Places from all over the world have been popping up. Places I have heard of and some I have not. Lately I have been seeing something remarkable (at least from my perspective) happening. I have been seeing cities pop up in countries I know are largely non-Christian or downright hostile to Christian belief. This gives me pause and I reflect in a philosophical manner on these hits. Hits on the site from Jordan, Turkey, Iran, the "-stans" in southern Russia, Tibet (how did they get Internet access up there?), Yemen, Qatar, Indonesia, Thailand, Jakarta, Malaysia and the list goes on. Some places were more friendly but still on the other side of the globe in a different hemisphere, in a different season...literally and figuratively.

I sit there and think that I started this site as an avenue to expound and vent on what has been piling up in my head so people in places like:

Valley Forge Christian College in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania ***
Northpointe Community Church in Limerick, Pennsylvania ***
Pottstown Bible Church & Mission in Pottstown, Pennsylvania ***
Harvest Fellowship in Boyertown, Pennsylvania ***

...and others that I discuss things with (online) could better understand, in a typed articulated and systematic manner, my perspective and what I have learned in my walk. I now have strangers on the other side of the world lifting a sail to catch the wind of the Holy Spirit. I could've never imagined one of my whims would reach worldwide. It never occurred to me. Not once.

I am deeply humbled both by the work of the Lord in all of this and by the immensity of what is taking place. I am an infinitesimal insignificant dot or blurb on this beautiful pale blue dot drifting in the vastness of God's enormous and amazing universe. Just one of 6 billion plus people. This isn't John MacArthur's-Grace To You Ministries, R.C. Sproul's-Renewing Your Mind-Ligonier Ministries, Billy Graham, Greg Laurie, John Piper....it is just me. Every time I get beat down I look at Revolver Maps and watch the globe spinning around and around. Sometimes while I am watching a place like Quezon City pops up and I think "There are people interested in Christianity there?" and then I think "Where is that?" This work the Lord is doing in me is reaching people in places I never even knew existed. Yeow! I need to make sure I get it exactly right. I am responsible for the accuracy of what is getting out their and a person's eternal salvation may hinge on my wordage or interpretation. This thought humbles me beyond words and convicts me to assure that I have done my homework.

It encourages me and compels me to lean into the yoke that the Lord has given me. I pull down my hat against hostile environs and adverse winds that blow my way and I keep pressing forward, pulling my load in life, reaching and straining for the glory of the Lord.


***BTW: Please pay any of this churches or institutions a visit and if you feel so compelled, donate as they are doing good work for the Lord.

Square Pegs & Well-Rounded Worship

The fog caused by sin and backsliding that I have lived in for the last 20 years is beginning to lift and I can just now begin to see the path that lies before me. For 20 years I lost my way and near the end I had given up hope that things would ever be right. God intervened with in His sovereignty, mercy and grace and I for one can tell you that He is indeed, a God of second chances. You can hit the reset button and start over if you just seek Him, seek repentance and truly mean it.

This being said, I now understand that some styles of worship work for me better than others. Like everyone else, we come in different shapes, sizes and colors. I am clearly not cut out to be a emotional worshipper nor am I prone to overwhelming feelings when worshipping. In school I have been to exposed to different forms of worship and not all of them are music based or "lay prostrate on the floor in a supplicating position" based. The one form of worship I was introduced to is in-depth examination of Scripture. Although I am prone to my outbursts of emotion and occasional inability to physically stand erect before the face of God because of the weight of my sin, these outbursts and spinelessness are the exception and are not my primary modus operandi when approaching God's throne of grace and mercy.

I realize that many look at me with a raised eyebrow and view me as being awkwardly eccentric on occasions when I make statements like, "what this verse is really getting at in the Greek is..." or "the significance of that verse to the 1 century Christians was..." When speaking of God I am occasionally asked where my statements of "love" and "feeling" are for the Lord and I believe others (even within my own church believe this is proper way to worship). If I ain't "feeling" or "singing" I ain't worshipping correctly. They believe that these types of signs are proper manifestations of a healthy spiritual relationship with the One Almighty God. I respect their opinion but heartily disagree. To assume we know the forms of worship God preferred is to elevate ourselves to the level of God or diminish Him to our level. BOth of these ideas are laughable. Personally, my intensities are poured into my passion for the Word. Just as the Bereans were in Acts 17:11.

"Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."

Do I scan and examine the scriptures because I do not believe? May it never be! No. I do it for discernment, to valid what I have heard interpreted with my own exegesis of the scripture so that I know (1) that what a preacher or speaker has just said matches with the meaning in scripture through correct hermeneutics and (2) sometimes a preacher will only give a piece of a much wider picture because their application may not require and entire chapter breakdown during a sermon or speech.

It is becoming more clear to me that my best form of worship and exaltation of Christ is in my analytical nature and the learning/application and by default the interpretation/exegesis aspect of my life. This is the best way I believe I can be of service to my brothers and sisters in Christ also. I must thank my wife and the Lord placing on my heart to have realized this. My truest worship manifests itself in my love of the Word as I can better relate to God, to Christ and to the Holy Spirit. Theology: Theos: God, -ology: branch or area of study. Theology...an understanding and learning of God and all His aspects and how our lives and world relate to Him. Yes, I do pray and worship, listen to edifying music that leads my thoughts to Him but for me the most direct uninterrupted way to Him, is in the love of His word. It is truth. I love His Word.

Much of my worship is cerebral and through my mind and an intense burning to "know" the Lord through knowledge of Him in his Scripture. Not like the Gnostics did though, but to study things like his attributes in a systematic way that encompasses the entire spectrum of theology. For me the beauty of God is in his perfectly ordered creation. There is a beauty in the words that describe God and His perfect order and His perfectly ordered and inspired text (the Bible). I do not worship the order but the wonder of God's power and intelligence that could produce something so ordered as the system of the universe (Gk: κόσμος) kosmos. The Greek word for which means "an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order"

This order pervades the creation from the microcosmic level to the macrocosmic. The most emotion I show, if you can call it emotion, is manifest when I am interpreting and expounding in and on the text of Scripture either studying it or talking about it. Describing its purpose, meaning, its Divine source. Those near me can see it in my eyes. A fire burns in me that goes deep and directly to my bones. I (and others) can sense it when I am in "go mode" (although it is not a feeling per se). I have been told that others can see it what I get in that "zone", I get the 1000yd stare and become disconnect from my surroundings. Something working within me wanting to get out in the form of properly worded and explained interpretations from Scripture and its contexts: historical, physical and so on. To tell a story. I guess it is this fire that is burning off the surrounding fog and making better visibility in my Christian walk. I see things more clearly now.

I believe this is where I can best glorify Him so it is no surprise (I suppose) that this is where I go when I need bolstering and edification for myself. I go to my studies. Whether it be in the 103 degree weather we had here in Pennsylvania this summer or at 3:03 am two nights ago. It makes no difference to me. When I hear the call, I answer it. It is why I am learning Greek. It is why I will learn Hebrew. It is what I am and I believe it is why God made me. It just took me longer than most to find my way to the starting line. For 40 years I had no idea what all these odd tools were for in my toolbox. I think I know now.

So this is where I find myself now.

Where do you find yourself? I was given a list of generalized templates of other types of Christian worship from one of my professors and I will list them below. Obviously no one fits perfectly into any particular box and many people will bleed over into other categories but I ask you again. Where are you? Are you trying to jam a square peg in a round hole like I was? God doesn't always expect you to be a good singer or a fantastic worshipper. He just wants you to worship. If you would only call His name.

Traditionalist: Meeting God through ritual and symbol. These types lead structured lives, disciplined lives. They find unstructured free-form worship uncomfortable. Although I do not fully agree with the idea of vain repetition...if people can approach God this way (for real), may God bless them.

Sensate: They meet God with the senses. Seek to be overwhelmed by sight, sound and smells. Their truest experience with God is in liturgy, art, music. Please note I did not say worship of the person making the music or worship of the art. These types of people see the beauty of the act of creation. The beauty in the color and sound.

Activist: They meet God on a "battlefield" where they fight evil and share beliefs. They are extroverted and find this type of worship and devotion fulfilling. Notice I did not say that this is someone that walks up to others, punches them in the mouth and says, "God wants to know you in a personal relationship, accept Him now...or else!"

Caregiver: They meet God through loving others. They build their strongest relationship by serving others. Their compassion and open hearts brings them in direct contact with the poor and needy. Please note I did not say humanitarianism as an end result in itself where the act of helping is related to a work of salvation. Only Christ's work on the Cross saves us. Humanitarianism is a manifestation of the Spirit that is within us.

Naturalist: They meet God outdoors. They would rather worship God in outdoor activities than in a stuffy building with little or no windows. Please note I did not say Panentheist or Tree hugger or those strange people that cry when old trees get cut down.

Intellectuals: They meet God with their minds. They meet God through study. They long to understand more than "feel". I did not say worship or the intelligence itself as a means to and end or the accolades wisdom brings. Besides, without God it would be worthless anyway, just ask Solomon/Qoheleth

Enthusiast: Meeting God through celebration and jubilee. They are the emotional people that want to be excited, cry, shout, sing. I did not say God loves a party animal. God did indeed love celebrations that brought people and families together as Jesus himself attended the wedding at Cana in Galilee and by so doing gives great honor to the institution of marriage also.

Contemplative: Meeting God through adoration. Seek a deep love relationship with God. Most content at the feet of God. But they will not be doormats for the world.

Ascetics: Meeting God in solitude and simplicity. They long for solitude. If they were secular you would expect them to be Goth. They are drawn to simplicity. Although these people have some of the best relationship experience with God on their own. Their best fellowship with other people is in church functions.

These categories are not the only types of worship and this list is not an end-all. There are others and I am sure some will reply and tell me. If you do so and they do not contradict Scripture I will be sure to put them on this list and mention them to my professor. As long as you get the doctrine and theology right...you can pretty much move to the beat of the drum God gave you.

Can I get and amen?

Seperation From God In Increments of Holiness

Holiness is the measure of Godliness. God is infintely holy. Man's righteousness is gauged against this measure and we fall flat on our faces. Without faith in Christ we amount to nothing. Either the faith of him coming as the Messiah or having came as Messiah. There is none righteous, not one. God is holy and cannot be approached without a mediator upon risk of death. This is the reason Jesus' sacrifice was necessary. It is why there were shadows of Christ all over the ceremonial sacrificial system pointing towards Jesus Christ.

"The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, 4because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." Hebrews 10:1-4

Why? The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Either yours or someone else's. In the case of your physical body this still holds true but thanks to Jesus' sacrificial atonement, your eternal soul is saved if you accept what He did on the Cross and repent. A more thorough explanation of this concept here: Why Blood?. Otherwise your out of luck partner...(you smell smoke?).

So what we see in the Old Testament is a very deliberate delineation between God and man (and types of men) in incremental steps that are separated from one another in accordance to their level of holiness. No man was to approach God carelessly. All were to hold God in the highest regard. God is at the top of the chart. We see the tabernacle and temple constructed in the same format as they are part of the realm of the priesthood. There are seperation upon seperation until you reach the Holy of Holies where God's presence dwelt on the Mercy Seat on the Ark of The Covenant. The Priests were mediators between god and the people of Israel. Israel was to be God's people, a nation of priests. Just as God had promised Israel in the Abrahamic covenant. Israel would act as the mediator between God and the nations outside of Israel (God's chosen).

"I [God] will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you [through you] all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:3

Obviously, from a human perspective, this failed as Israel apostatized over and over ad nauseum. The baton passes to the Gentiles until the time of the end. The Gentiles are grafted in through Jesus. Through Jesus Christ who was both fully human and fully divine, it succeeded. As we can see from reading the genealogies of the Bible...Christ is descended from the Abrahamic lineage/Abrahamic Covenant (which again narrows with the Mosaic and Davidic covenants). By lineage Jesus comes forth from the human side. By birth and earlier covenants he comes forth from both the human and divine to fulfill the covenants in some shape or form either then or now or in the future. He is the center, he is the key that fulfills, unlocks and assures.

To show the separations delineated by holiness I decided to do this online in chart form so it is easier to see in a spatial manner which is how man often chooses to view a holy and infinite God. If we follow this chart all the way down we will find the likes of Lucifer, those condemned to Hell and Hell itself at the bottom as they are the least holy if not completely devoid of holiness. Although I do not believe Hell is completely absent of God's presence (His wrath resides there). It is not totally evil. Absolute evil would mean there is an antithetical opposite of God and I cannot accept that. Satan is not an all powerful evil. He's just a real powerful evil idiot but still under a sovereign God...way under.