Last week marked a really relaxing change of pace for Cassie, Kandler and I as we took the week off and went back to Savannah, TN. Savannah is Cassie's hometown where all her roots are at and kinfolk still reside. The town itself isn't some big booming metropolitan area that can compare with the likes of Dallas or Nashville where we have lived for all our married lives. Instead it offers a welcomed difference of small town life. No busy highways, traffic jams, or angry motorists to contend with (normally). Just good down to earth people that are happy to see you and spend time with you. With this year winding down and it having been a challenge to us, I looked forward to this break. And as I look forward to our Holiday schedule for the month of December with the travel and other obligations that the benson clan is prepping for I am that much more grateful for having the week that we did....
To be candid and please don't judge me most of my week was spent either in the deer stand, or sitting at the table and stuffing my face. Which for me is bliss. But there was one particular conversation that took place while I was gone that still has me humbled, encouraged and ready to kick it up another notch in my journey of following Christ.
Thanksgiving morning was pretty routine like every other morning had been that week so far. Get up at 4am put hunting clothes on, make coffee, get McDonald's, then head to the deer stand. After the morning hunt is over then we climb back into the truck head back to town grab some grub and repeat the cycle like we were in ground hog day.
That morning as my brother in law Josh and myself drove back into Savannah we got a chance to talk about my recent trip to Israel and the significant impact that had on my life. One of the questions he brought up in the midst of our conversation was about the differences between the types of Jews religiously speaking. I was able to share with him that there were three types of Jews...Orthodox, Reformed, and Messianic and what made each uniquely different than each other. This then led me to share my story about witnessing to our tour guide Ilan while in Israel who was a reformed Jew.
Ilan was in his mid-forties and knew more about the Bible than I probably could ever hope to in a lifetime. He was a first generation Jew having been born into Israel proper back in the 1960's when the Jewish people were given their land. One of the things I remember best about Ilan was his reading glasses that he wore in the morning as he read his news from his ipad and paper. He looked as if he may be some cross between a brilliant professor and a daring pioneer. In the day time he would wear a hat that reminded me of Indiana Jones to protect himself from the sun. Ilan's since of humor was warm and contagious. Naturally probably only because it was easy for me to do so because I was surrounded by church members I began to try and find out where he stood with Jesus. (By the way I am such a hypocrite it's very easy for me to witness on trips like this but no where else.... but a different blog for a different time)
Day 3 Ilan shared with me that he was a reformed Jew, and that he would further explain what that meant to me later on in the trip at a more convenient time. The trip went on and I didn't want to try and press the issue too hard as I am sure he had been witnessed too on several occasions by men, professors, pastors, teachers much more savvy than myself in the art of witnessing. So if there ever was anybody that was gun shy it was probably him. But our next to last day when we visited the tomb where Jesus rose from the dead the Holy Spirit gave me a final opportunity to talk with Ilan about Jesus when I got on the bus and I took it. Sharing John 14:5-11. In my mind one of the most explicit references Jesus makes to his identity of being co-eternal, co-existent and one with the Father because he was the Father in the flesh. I guess in a way what I had done by sharing this text was back Ilan into the corner. The whole week he had confessed his belief in the existence of Jesus and the good teachings of Jesus but now the question was on the table as to who was Jesus.What he said next breaks my heart and should break my heart a lot more. He said its very difficult for a Jew who has been following Yahweh for thousands of year as me and my family have to accept a man being God. He said its just not that easy for me. I've thought a lot about that conversation since last spring when I returned from Israel and the ramifications it has had in my own theology and understanding. How someone is so close and knows so much but they deny the most important and fundamental question.
To be transparent my experience with Ilan has even produced questions in my mind as to how I understand God and His plan overall on a big scale. But then thanksgiving Day in the midst of my conversation with my good friend, brother in the law and in Christ the feelings of doubt were thrown aside as he made a declaration that I believe will stick with me for years to come. After having told him the story about Ilan Josh looked at me and said "That's crazy. I'm not a Jew, but I believe He got up and walked out of that tomb." I can't really describe the power, and hope those words gave to me in that moment. To hear someone who might not ever get to go to Israel like I have, or study like I have make that overwhelming positive declaration about his confidence in the resurrection of Jesus the Christ son of the living God, co-eternal with the Father was literally music to my ears. In a way it was God saying to me "Brock the resurrection is sufficient for you and your questions." In a word it was refreshing.
All in all this testimony from my brother in law can maybe serve as a reminder for all of us to listen to the words of affirmation that the saints around us make. Maybe it will be something weighty and more lengthy from the likes of a D.A. Carson. Or maybe just maybe it will be something short and sweet like my brother in law Josh Alexander shared with me. Either way I can say that God has used both in my life to draw me to Him.
Be Blessed,
Brock
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Thursday, November 15, 2012
More than 140 characters?
Social Media is perhaps one of the single greatest tools that's been made available to the Church within the last decade. Maybe I'm overstating the case but I really believe the tools of twitter, Facebook, Pintrest, and I am sure others that I don't even know about have helped connect believers in a new and unique way. When before the last decade could you put out an instant thought or profound truth God shared with in your quiet time and have hundreds of other people read it almost simultaneously?
This is the power of social media and thankfully it is at our disposal. I wish even more churches and pastors understood the value of these tool to help feed their flocks. Its important that I make it very clear from the outset of this blog I am not at all against social media. Because I imagine what I am getting ready to say next might seem as if it contradicts that notion. Here goes though...
Many are familiar with one of the most if not the most popular social media tool "twitter". Where one can follow those they are friends with, admire or even want to be like. Some twitter users literally follow hundreds upon hundreds of people. Most of their purpose in doing so is to get that same person to follow them back. Thus boosting their number of followers which then allows one to boast about having more followers than the next person. (I'll stop here before I get carried away and go onto another topic).
The really interesting thing about twitter is not the following/followers ratio. Rather its the level playing field of characters that each person who joins twitter is allowed to publish. Or the more technically correct term "tweet". Everyone at any given time has the freedom to tweet so long as it is 140 characters or less. This avoids redundancy and boredom of having to read through meaningless jargon that people would otherwise tweet. But the real worry I have in regards to the whole twitter mania is twofold. One really isn't as much a worry as its an observation/encouragement for the church as a whole.
First, how many of us allow twitter and those 140 character tweets we see on a constant minute by minute day by day basis to be our sole source of biblical/theological instruction and or communication with God? Have I been guilty of this before? Of course. I am grateful for the profound wisdom and thought provoking material that gets shared on a daily basis via twitter, but sometimes I allow that to be the only source that spiritually feeds me. And I must profess and confess that is wrong because it leaves me severely spiritually malnourished.
But this bridges the gap to my last thought and the very purpose behind this blog post to begin with. Many of us don't care that we are malnourished as believers. We are totally satisfied with a 140 character message or a mini spiritual Facebook Post to feed us. The challenge then is to not settle for 140 characters but plunge deeper into the awesome, wonder and splendor of who God is and how He has chosen to reveal himself.
I have a fear that there will come a day when that the normative pattern in Christians is to be a mile wide and an inch deep. Receiving many inspirational thoughts and ideas from their pastor and others but never going beyond those tweets to discover the fullness of truth that is behind those tweets and posts which was what was trying to be shared to begin with. My purpose in saying this not to encourage a mass of headstrong biblically literate and dogmatic Christians. But rather to encourage Christ-followers to the following; comprehend enough about God through the theological grid of understanding that we've been given from His word so that we are not shaken in the storms of life.
Twitter is great but often times it's simply not adequate to meet the demands that a sovereign God has woven into the fabric of our souls. So a motto to leave us with from this blog.... GO BEYOND THE TWEET!
Still Striving,
Brock B
This is the power of social media and thankfully it is at our disposal. I wish even more churches and pastors understood the value of these tool to help feed their flocks. Its important that I make it very clear from the outset of this blog I am not at all against social media. Because I imagine what I am getting ready to say next might seem as if it contradicts that notion. Here goes though...
Many are familiar with one of the most if not the most popular social media tool "twitter". Where one can follow those they are friends with, admire or even want to be like. Some twitter users literally follow hundreds upon hundreds of people. Most of their purpose in doing so is to get that same person to follow them back. Thus boosting their number of followers which then allows one to boast about having more followers than the next person. (I'll stop here before I get carried away and go onto another topic).
The really interesting thing about twitter is not the following/followers ratio. Rather its the level playing field of characters that each person who joins twitter is allowed to publish. Or the more technically correct term "tweet". Everyone at any given time has the freedom to tweet so long as it is 140 characters or less. This avoids redundancy and boredom of having to read through meaningless jargon that people would otherwise tweet. But the real worry I have in regards to the whole twitter mania is twofold. One really isn't as much a worry as its an observation/encouragement for the church as a whole.
First, how many of us allow twitter and those 140 character tweets we see on a constant minute by minute day by day basis to be our sole source of biblical/theological instruction and or communication with God? Have I been guilty of this before? Of course. I am grateful for the profound wisdom and thought provoking material that gets shared on a daily basis via twitter, but sometimes I allow that to be the only source that spiritually feeds me. And I must profess and confess that is wrong because it leaves me severely spiritually malnourished.
But this bridges the gap to my last thought and the very purpose behind this blog post to begin with. Many of us don't care that we are malnourished as believers. We are totally satisfied with a 140 character message or a mini spiritual Facebook Post to feed us. The challenge then is to not settle for 140 characters but plunge deeper into the awesome, wonder and splendor of who God is and how He has chosen to reveal himself.
I have a fear that there will come a day when that the normative pattern in Christians is to be a mile wide and an inch deep. Receiving many inspirational thoughts and ideas from their pastor and others but never going beyond those tweets to discover the fullness of truth that is behind those tweets and posts which was what was trying to be shared to begin with. My purpose in saying this not to encourage a mass of headstrong biblically literate and dogmatic Christians. But rather to encourage Christ-followers to the following; comprehend enough about God through the theological grid of understanding that we've been given from His word so that we are not shaken in the storms of life.
Twitter is great but often times it's simply not adequate to meet the demands that a sovereign God has woven into the fabric of our souls. So a motto to leave us with from this blog.... GO BEYOND THE TWEET!
Still Striving,
Brock B
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Getting Started - A need to blog?
Blogging is always something I have heard a lot of people talk about but I never figured it was for me. However I am finally breaking down and joining the club. It took my sister years to join facebook because she thought it was a cult and to be honest I did too.... I never thought blogging was a cult or anything but I just never saw myself as a "blogger".
But the more I listen to some of the respected Pastor's, and Christian leaders of our day via podcast I realize that blogging is an incredible equipping tool. A place where Pastors, Teachers, leaders, and whoever else is interested can disseminate information to those they care about and are under their influence. Commonly I use twitter and facebook to cast out into the world of social media a thoughtful insight God has laid on my heart, and I am thankful I have these resources to do so. But the only downfall to these sites is that there is strict limitation on the amount of content one can share with those that follow them or are have befriended them. For instance most are aware that twitter limits tweets to 140 characters which I am most thankful for most of the time. However there are other times that 140 characters is not nearly enough. Thus blogging seems like a reasonable alternative to me.
If my memory serves me right (and most times it doesn't) I want to say that I have tried blogging before and it didn't really work. Because I lacked effort, time and material. Now being out of seminary and well into my second position of ministry I believe there may be a handful of people that will be aided by my choosing to blog about life, ministry, family, problems, politics, and any other random thing or idea God might compel me to write about.
And as I conclude this first of what I hope to be many more blogs, let me further explain the need and ministry I hope my blog will have. Being a student at Dallas Seminary one of the professors I studied under was Michael Svigel who authors a blog entitled "Retro Christianity". He commonly goes into some greater depth on many key issues and situations facing the church and Christians as a whole today. Offering some great counsel to those who read his blog. Now I will admit I do not read his blog regularly in fact I have not even read it since I was required to for his class. Ha! Nevertheless his insight and reflections were helpful and encouraging. They spurred me along in my faith for that I am thankful. And when reading his blog it was almost like you were having a conversation with him. My hope is that my blog will have some of that same dynamic within it. I want whoever reads (most of which I pray will be some of the dedicated parishioners of thbc) to feel like they are having a spiritually centered or spiritually thought provoking conversation with me. It would be difficult to count the number of deep theological conversations I have had with countless friends, pastors, teachers and others that have shaped me into the man God has made into today. And I am eternally grateful for those conversations. Since its difficult to have those same conversations with the many others who may benefit from them at our church my prayer is that this blog would in fact be those spiritual conversations that I can't have face to face with each person I desire to. Will I still tweet? Of course. But again sometimes you need more than 140 characters.
In fact that might be the title of my next blog post. Why we as churches and Christians need more than 140 characters?
BrockBenson
But the more I listen to some of the respected Pastor's, and Christian leaders of our day via podcast I realize that blogging is an incredible equipping tool. A place where Pastors, Teachers, leaders, and whoever else is interested can disseminate information to those they care about and are under their influence. Commonly I use twitter and facebook to cast out into the world of social media a thoughtful insight God has laid on my heart, and I am thankful I have these resources to do so. But the only downfall to these sites is that there is strict limitation on the amount of content one can share with those that follow them or are have befriended them. For instance most are aware that twitter limits tweets to 140 characters which I am most thankful for most of the time. However there are other times that 140 characters is not nearly enough. Thus blogging seems like a reasonable alternative to me.
If my memory serves me right (and most times it doesn't) I want to say that I have tried blogging before and it didn't really work. Because I lacked effort, time and material. Now being out of seminary and well into my second position of ministry I believe there may be a handful of people that will be aided by my choosing to blog about life, ministry, family, problems, politics, and any other random thing or idea God might compel me to write about.
And as I conclude this first of what I hope to be many more blogs, let me further explain the need and ministry I hope my blog will have. Being a student at Dallas Seminary one of the professors I studied under was Michael Svigel who authors a blog entitled "Retro Christianity". He commonly goes into some greater depth on many key issues and situations facing the church and Christians as a whole today. Offering some great counsel to those who read his blog. Now I will admit I do not read his blog regularly in fact I have not even read it since I was required to for his class. Ha! Nevertheless his insight and reflections were helpful and encouraging. They spurred me along in my faith for that I am thankful. And when reading his blog it was almost like you were having a conversation with him. My hope is that my blog will have some of that same dynamic within it. I want whoever reads (most of which I pray will be some of the dedicated parishioners of thbc) to feel like they are having a spiritually centered or spiritually thought provoking conversation with me. It would be difficult to count the number of deep theological conversations I have had with countless friends, pastors, teachers and others that have shaped me into the man God has made into today. And I am eternally grateful for those conversations. Since its difficult to have those same conversations with the many others who may benefit from them at our church my prayer is that this blog would in fact be those spiritual conversations that I can't have face to face with each person I desire to. Will I still tweet? Of course. But again sometimes you need more than 140 characters.
In fact that might be the title of my next blog post. Why we as churches and Christians need more than 140 characters?
BrockBenson
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