A little change of plans.

Promises, promises, am I right? Yes I didn't ever get to posting anything like I had said I would. This post was started in May and I never got back to it so instead I am just going to post a link I had in the blog I had planned on writing and never finished. I thought Boyd was rather succinct in his discussion of the predicament of Christianity in the West, and I don't know if there was much more I could say on the topic, save repeat his ideas in my own words. So enjoy... http://www.gregboyd.org/blog/dont-weep-for-the-demise-of-american-christianity/

A Sudden Interest in Writing.

This is my first post in quite a while, at least the only one that I haven't deleted almost immediately. I really wanted this first post to be about an article that showed up in Newsweek about the demise of a Christian America, but this week is shaping up to be really busy. So I guess this is a bit of a placeholder for now. I have a couple posts planned. The first will be on the aforementioned article (and slew of blog posts in the Christian community addressing it), though I am sceptical I have much to add that hasn't already been stated. Then I hope to post on the subject of living creationally. This Sunday, I will be teaching on this subject, and wanted to share what is on my mind, and maybe even expand on my thoughts. Well, I am on my way to dinner with some friends, hopefully I will make another post early next week.

Nehemiah a picture of Christ!?!

Nehemiah 13:30-31, "Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and I established the duties of the priests and Levites, each in his work; and I provided the wood offering at appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good."

Wow, as I prepare to teach on this passage this coming Sunday, I couldn't help posting on this passage. Nehemiah is a book of hope and new beginnings, and it is fitting that although we end in the rebuke of the people it ushers in this idea that a leader is needed, without him things fall apart, just as they did when Nehemiah left. The people need one who is awash in the word of the Lord (or perhaps is that very Word *wink wink*) and one who leads by example. A man above reproach and is not afraid to rebuke the people and the leadership. In light of Ezra/Nehemiah's placement in the hebrew canon (2nd to last book directly b4 Chronicles) this idea is definitely fitting, and the book is also prophetic. This leader will cleanse the people, establish the priesthood, and provide the wood offering at appointed times, specifically once, being the firstfruits (I Cor. 15:20-23) And then, he will be glorified! So as scripture faces a new picture of David coming after this book, are we to be looking forward to a new David? This is the question the books Nehemiah, and more obviously Chronicles begs.

Profound lyrics

These are the lyrics from the song Grace by Stavesacre. They have been a favorite band of mine for quite some time, like 7 years or more. This song speaks so deeply to what we do when we sin, and what grace is. Oh what a wonderous God we have that when we seek the least of whores, he calls us back through the all-surpassing grace he has gifted us. Grace is so much more than just getting what we don't deserve. It is the active drawing of our God back to himself when we have so foolishly turned our faces from him in sin.

When I was a mountain, strong with stone, silver and gold
Strip-mined wildly, spent it all
Leaving only stone

(Chorus)

But Grace, are You hangin’ on for me?
Tell me it’s true, You still do
Come back around this way

When I was Your lover – passionate and bright as the stars
Left You for the least of whores
Broke Your precious heart

(Chorus)

“Oh, I’ve been standing right here, all along.

My dear, I’ve been standing right here
Ever as before
Oh, I want nothing more than you
Stay please, come back to My arms and
Rest your weary head,
Don’t ever leave again,
Beloved.”

(Chorus)

Grace
Grace –

“Oh, I’ve been standing right here all along.”

An email, I wanted to share.

This is something i was thinking about the other day, and i sent it to my dad via email, but i thought i would place it on my blog, just in case anyone still reads this thing.

So Monday, I was walking back to work from my review and some high school kids stopped me and asked if I wanted to do a survey. The first question they asked was, "Do you believe in God?" I, of course, answered, "Yes," but for some reason the next question threw me a bit. They asked me why! And for a second there I couldn't give an answer. But then I said because it is obvious to me that there is one due to everything around me. So I thought about my answer tonight after I read through I Cor. 1 (I decided to read thru that book again) and additionally why I had paused. That answer wasn't the reason I believe, it is merely proof that substantiates what I believe. I suppose if I think about it the reason I believe what I do, is that I have seen God work, not only in my own life, but in others and in his Word (but isn't this just more evidence to support what I believe?). But my question is, do I have to have a reason? Doesn't it ultimately come down to faith? I believe because I choose to (or perhaps because God chose that I would *wink wink) I guess it was just something I hadn't thought about in a while. To get to the reason I was thinking about this is the discussion in I Cor. 1 about the gospel seeming like foolishness to the world, but the very Power of God to those who believe. We don't need to convince others why we believe what we do, even if this seems like foolishness to them. We just share what Christ has done, and if they are called, it will be the very Power of God in their lives, if not, it will seem to be foolishness.

A little thought on Hebrews 12:15-17

So I am finally back after a long absence in posting. It has been a busy year, one filled with all sorts of trials and blessings. Anyway i just thought i would share a thought I had today while reading in Hebrews.

"See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears." Hebrews 12:15-17

So I was reading this passage this afternoon, and a question came up, "Why was is so unholy that Esau sold his birthright?" What I did first was turn to the passage in Genesis where Esau does so, Genesis 25:29-34. It states that in selling his birthright Esau despised it. In doing so, despising not only his father's blessing, but ultimately God's! So how does this fit into this passage in Hebrews? In this passage the writer has been speaking of pursuing ones faith, not missing out on the blessing that God has given. By giving up on our faith, and giving in to disobedience we are in essence despising the blessing of grace. This whole chapter is a call to faithfulness and holiness in light of chapter 11, giving us examples of what faith should look like.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

Don't miss out on the blessing. Esau despised it, and therefore could not regain it.

My Last Post from J-pan.

I really don't know what to say at this time. There is so much for me to process. God has taught me so much about Himself, and about myself. I have realized that there are some very deep wounds that I have had for a very long time, that I have never let God heal, and out of those wounds I have come to believe a lot of lies about myself. And this was just in the last couple weeks that I have realized these things. I feel so inadequate to articulate what went on here this summer. I am really going to miss the friendships I have here, especially with Koshi and Shigeo, a couple of guys that I have gotten to know since about the beginning of 2005. It has so difficult to deal with this, since I definitely feel like these 2 months were not nearly enough to develop deep friendships with all the students I have gotten to know, let alone just a couple guys. My love for the students here has grown so immensely as well in the last couple of weeks. Sorry if this is a bit vague, I will try to post one more time after I get back about my trip after I have gotten back to the states. Much love to all of you.

Grace and Peace,
Dustin

A long time coming.

So, it has been quite a while since my last post on here, I apologize for that, to those who read this. Anyway, it has been an amazing past few weeks. I continue to learn more about my God, and the love we should have for one another as brothers in Christ. And as I draw nearer to the end of my Japanese excursion, I am torn in two. I desire to come home and return to my friends and family, and to find comfort in their fellowship, but on the other hand I feel as though my time here has been too short, and the friendships that I have made with students here, too shallow. But I know that they are in God's hands and he is the one who will draw them to Himself, not me. This weekend was amazing, I traveled by myself 3 hours by Shinkansen (bullet train) to Okayama, a city on the west side of Japan to see a friend who goes to UNL. He and his mother live in Okayama. It was a great time. We hung out most of the day on Friday and all day Saturday. We went to see an amazing garden and castle. And we went to an art museum, sword museum, and pottery museum as well. I especially enjoyed the sword museum and the art museum. Today, I spoke about what God has taught we while here to the local church (Joy Fellowship). I really struggled with what to talk about, but I finally rested this morning on walking in the spirit and our dependence on God. I think it went fairly well, but I really had to depend upon God for the words because I was feeling really unable to express what I wanted to say. Anyway I think that is about it for now, please be praying that heart will not be divided these last couple of weeks and that I will continue to focus on my relationships with the students.

Grace and Peace,

Dustin