Journaling

Journaling. It's been around for millennia. Recording the various events of a particular day is a discipline that has a long history. One could even state that some of the Psalms read as though they were torn out of David's personal Journal. Journaling is a ancient discipline that I hope doesn't dwindle with the rise of technology. I find it interesting when we look at the writings of the scholars of yesteryear, we see that they are often noted as "the collected works, letters and journal of...". Obviously journaling was once a art that was held in high regard. Recently I have been trying to work my way through reading John Wesley's journal. It is just an awesome gift to be able to look into the life of a Christian hero like that and see what they did in their everyday life. The same is true about countless authors and leaders. We have the opportunity to read into their lives and see what it consisted of on a day to day basis.

With that said, I bring a challenge to you. Start journaling. I know this sounds ridiculously easy, but the benefits are numerous. I do have to give credit where credit is due. My friend Heath is the one that got me onto the idea of journaling. He simply encouraged me to start journaling right along with my devotions. It's that simple. It may just be for me, but journaling has helped my devotion life excessively. Just knowing that I will have to write about what I read in my devotions makes me not only keep up with my devotional reading, but also forces me to pay more attention to the material I'm reading,

Not only that, but while I'm journaling, I also get a chance to put on paper what has been floating around in my head all day. Often times we allow idea to sit in our minds but never come to fruition because we don't write them down. Journaling about them not only allows you to write them down, but forces you to think through whatever it is you have been meditating on.

I do have to warn you though. Don't write like someone is going to read it one day. You may think I'm joking, but talking with some friends this is a real problem some people run into. There's always that chance that you might become a historical figure of one kind or another, but don't write to imitate that style of writing. You'll just end up writing nonsense. Instead, write sincerely. Write what is on your heart and what is on your mind. Writing is a art that seems to be dwindling in this age of instant gratification and short attention spans. Take time out of your day to spend with your thoughts. I promise it'll benefit you.

And They Crucified Him - Art Katz

A Promise

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."

- 1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)

Temptation and Promises isn't exactly what you think of when you try to pair up terms. They don't follow under famous duos such as Peanut Butter and Jelly, Batman and Robin, Abbott and Costello, Salt and Pepper (or Salt and Pepa for that matter). If anything, we often look at Temptation and Promises as two things that are on the opposite sides of the spiritual spectrum from one another. Throughout our Christian life we are given Biblical promises that we can hold on to. Most famous of these is most likely Romans 8:28, which reads: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." As far as promises go in the Bible, Romans 8:28 ranks at the top. It's quoted in sympathy cards and encouragement notes alike; and with good reason. We should hold to promises like this. We know that Scripture is true and that we can put our hope in anything that it affirms.

But what about other Promises that Scripture has given us? Of course they're countless. From the covenants of the Old Testament to the decrees of Christ himself, we have promises that we know are true. Even when it comes to Temptation. Recently it seems that this subject has been like a broken record in my life. I know that we all face temptation on a daily basis, and it is a daily battle. I am certainly no exception to that. Temptation happens daily, in word, thought and deed. When I say it has been showing up in my life lately, I mean more so in reading and in sermons that I've been hearing. God has been reminding me through His word what He has to say about it. This promise has been my comfort here lately.

I know that this verse isn't a obscure one by any means. As a matter fact, many may have memorized this in Sunday School when they were little. But often we don't understand the fullness of a promise like this. The Holy Spirit working through the Apostle Paul here tells us that there is no temptation that God cannot give us a way out of. As always the passage tells us that God is faithful, as He is always in our lives and that He will not allow us to be tempted more then we can endure, but always be there for us. In times of temptation this is the verse we must search after. This is the verse that we must cling too. Just as Christ rebuked Satan with Scripture during His temptation, we too must run to God's Holy Word when we are under the Temptation of the Evil One.

It is not my desire to sound overly-pious by sharing this verse and encouraging others to cling to it. I just know the help and comfort that it has offered me in my life. Hopefully through this transparency I will benefit someone else. When you face temptation daily, hold strong to the Promise that God has offered us.

Book Review: Adopted for Life

It has been quite a while since my last blog post. I do not intend to bore you with irrational excuses on why I haven't been blogging lately and I will not make false promises of blogging more in the future. I do intend to write on here when it is possible, as I am now. With that said, I only found it fitting that my first post in a while would be another book review. But before I get started, allow me to chase a small rabbit trail.

Read. I ask you and I challenge you. First, read your Bible. You cannot live a Christian life without reading from direct revelation that God has given specifically to you. If you do not read anything else, read God's Holy Word. Second, read Christian literature. My advice, and it is exactly that, take it or leave it, would be to stray away from shallow overly-popular Christian Literature. Instead read works that have been tested by time. Read something by Schaeffer, Lewis, Augustine, Bunyan, etc. It is highly beneficial to your Christian life to expand both your intellectual horizons, which in turn can allow you to follow God commandments more fully.

Now back to the subject at hand: Russel Moore's book Adopted for Life. Now you are probably asking yourself: why is Chris, a unmarried, poor, undergrad pastoral student doing reading a book on adoption. Better yet some of you may be wondering if this book is about theological adoption; us as believers being 'grafted' into the body of Christ through Christ's death, or is it about adopting a child into your family? My answer to the latter question: Both. Moore does a terrific job in this book melding theological adoption with physical adoption in a way that helped me understand the gospel better then I ever have before. He quoted scripture after scripture (all in context) explaining how we are orphans, children of the devil, that have been adopted into the family of God as heirs to throne.

This was a moving book. In the same way that Eric Ludy's book The Bravehearted Gospel urged me to get up and charge the gates of hell, Moore's book brought me to the verge of tears. He explained thoroughly how beneficial it would to cultivate a spirit of adoption among the body of Christ. He emphasized the importance of the gospel in adoption and how we can truly show Christ's love in the adoption of unwanted children.

I recommend this book to everyone. Whether you are thinking about adoption, have thought about it, or could care less, I beg you to read this book. Moore is passionate about this worthy cause, and all I ask is that you listen.