I left off yesterday with discussing the truth of chapter 2 within Recovering Redemption and hope it was helpful. Chapter 4 entitled "Struggling Well" was another helpful chapter to me personally. I think the overall concept itself to some sounds strange. How can we struggle well? But as the book points out its possible through the gospel of Jesus Christ. One of the overall thesis within that chapter was God's design for the believer's life is not to be without or get past struggle in life but with his power learn to get through it well. Selfishly we all would probably like to go around the block of struggle but in God's plan its normally to drive straight through it. And that's how He develops us. Another really helpful concept within this part of the book was the idea that both Christians and non-Christians will have struggle in life. Therefore no life struggle is not what defines us as believers. Instead its how we process through that struggle with the power of the gospel that sets us apart as Christians.
Skipping ahead to chapter 8 on Fear and Anxiety is what I'd like to do next. Not that there wasn't good stuff in the other chapters but just because this was a strong chapter. Matt opens with the struggle of his bout with cancer and thus has instant credibility with us as the readers. No one is going to argue with that story. Having never dealt with a struggle of this magnitude I wondered how applicable it was to me. But as I continued to read it hit me that in the depth of who we are we all struggle with fear and anxiety at some level. And how that manifests itself is different in all of us. The last part of the chapter was particularly strong in my opinion. Here is where Matt admits the struggle we all have and leaves us with one strong piece of wisdom as he writes "The worst thing you can do with fear and anxiety is to pretend you're too strong to have them. The best thing you can do is just let Him be in charge of them." I think in the culture I've grown up around this statement would rub some I know the wrong way. Because as a men especially we've been wired to just thicken our skin up and act like we got it. There is freedom and healing in learning that we actually don't. I would also throw out one caution here to consider. I think the pendulum might be starting to swing to far in the other direction too. Where now we are so open about our hang ups, fears and anxiety it almost works against us in a way to stop pursuing sanctification. I'm not voting for less transparency about our shortcomings. Never would I vote that way. But I believe it's vital that in the midst of our open confession about our shortcomings we work toward gospel living too and not just settle on confession. Confession is the beginning of the redemption process not an end.
Chapter 10 "Go in Peace" may have been for me the most convicting chapter overall. It talked a lot about relational reconciliation and how the gospel bears light on how to do that and the need to that. I know there is some of this needing to happen in my life and its hard to just honestly do it. Regardless though I pray for an opportunity to do it and to see God be given glory through the process. And as a result of reading this chapter I would challenge anyone else reading this post who knows there is someone in their life they need to reconcile with but haven't needs to figure out a way to just do it.
Finally wanted to share one block quote from chapter 11 that I will conclude this review with is as I believe its remarkably powerful. "Being baptized somewhere as a kid, but then showing no transformation of life, no willingness to walk in obedience to God, no acceptance of a greater authority than the autonomous tyrant of their own will, and yet still expecting to be hailed as a Christian - we would never apply that kind of logic to any other realm of life and consider it normal. " I am a big coffee drinker, except I hate the way it smells, and especially the way it tastes. I love my family, but I'd rather spend time with anybody else but them. I've always been a huge, huge Mets fan. That's baseball right?" Ludicrous." Chandler nails here it on the head. And there are those who apply this logic to themselves. May the grace and mercy of God wake you up inside to stop fooling yourself.
Do I recommend the book ? Highly. Its worth the read and consideration and probably worth a re-read to be perfectly honest. Through the gospel change is possible. And that is good news.
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Recovering Redemption Review
Wow! 8 months later after a vow to become more committed to a regular blog posting it seems I have let the readers down. Good thing there are like 5 of you. Maybe.... Anyway I felt compelled to give a review of a book I actually just completed today and offer it up for those of you who maybe interested in reading it too.
It's entitled "Recovering Redemption: A Gospel-Saturated Perspective On How To Change." By Matt Chandler and Michael Snetzer. Overall the book was challenging and thought and provoking. I will tell why it was in a few moments but first let me address one piece of information that may hang up some of my readers. For those of you reading you may or may not know that Matt Chandler is the President of Acts 29. Acts 29 in the world that I live in is one of the premier church planting agencies there is. It seems to be the agency most I know desire to go with when wanting to plant a church. Probably because its hard to refute the fact that God has blessed this ministry in some incredible ways. But in some of the circles that I have found myself in within recent years that entity itself has been plagued with a lot of unnecessary judgments and critical remarks. Have there been some pastors and planters who have come from Acts 29 who have messed up? Of course. I don't think anyone is arguing that. But can we also agree Jesus provides grace, reconciliation and hope for the darkest of sinners too? Hopefully we can or else I am hopeless and so is whoever else that is reading this post right now too.
Why do I bring all of that up? Simple. I don't want this review and the truth of this book to be tainted. Will it still happen? Probably. Because there are those who have a biased opinion over someone they have never met or talked with just because that someone leads an organization that they think has hurt them. Not trying to be mean here just shooting for truth and don't want to pull any hidden punches. Like how unfair would it be if I got done bringing out all the good points of this book and then say oh by the way Pastor Matt leads such and such organization that you may or may not like. You would automatically discredit all the good that you just heard. Maybe by me doing it this way more credibility can be established and hopefully those who may read this can glean great spiritual help.
Just to set the record straight. I am not a part of Acts 29. The church God has given me to lead and Pastor is not an Acts 29 church. I think this entity does great things for the Kingdom but I don't square up with them completely theologically and wonder a bit about the name itself. Still though despite all of those hangups they are still apart of THE family and I'm thankful Jesus is saving souls through their efforts.
Now to the book. Chapter 2 "Attempted Redemption" was particularly good. Here 4 common methods were addressed that all stumble in when trying to attempt their own redemption. And can't we all be honest for a moment. Don't all of us attempt redemption on our own in some way or another? Even those of us who have professed Christ for a several years I think can fall into the trap of doing this at times. Thankfully we have the Spirit to awaken us when we do it. The 4 ways Chandler and Snetzer list out that we attempt redemption is first through ourselves. I thought in this section one great insight pointed out was that who has lied to us and let us down more than us? Therefore isn't insidious to look to yourself for redemption when you keep failing yourself? Second way folks try to attempt redemption is through others. The authors share some examples here about those who they have seen try this and how miserably its worked out for them. I believe there are so many people in my neighborhood (using that term in an illustrative sense not purely physical sense) right now who are doing this. Seeking redemption, completion, fulfillment and joy in their spouses, kids, family, boy friend, girl friend, etc. But we have to remember those relationship are mere shadows to THE relationship which will bring redemption. Let me back up for a moment and admit I've been guilty of the same hangup. Here is how this generally works itself out in my life. When Cassie is disappointed, sad or upset guess what? So am I? Cause when momma aint happy aint nobody happy. Until this moment I haven't realized how messed up that statement is.... But why is that so? It's because my feelings, satisfaction is so wrapped up in Cassie's that she is almost like my god. And that was NEVER hear me NEVER the way it was supposed to be. And instead of loving her through those times when she is sad I just tend to get sad and mad right along with her too. I need to learn my joy and contentment doesn't come from Cassie it comes from Christ alone. This doesn't mean I am unsympathetic to her needs as if they don't matter. It does mean that when she is upset I can learn to stay strong and calm through it. By nature I've kind of always been a "people pleaser" guess that is what you get when you start throwing newspapers at 10 yrs old. But this section helped open that reality up to me so much more than ever before. And realize my position in Christ isn't achieved through what man says about me its through what He says about me. The third failed attempt at redemption that chapter mentions is with the world. Through substances, sex, money, you name it many attempt it this way too. Here in the deep bible belt south I've observed our worldly attempts are a bit more civilized. Athletics, our college, our hobbies. These are some of the common worldly attempts at the redemption dilemma. But as Matt points out again. Guess what all of these attempts end the same way. Failure. Failure to give us what we are truly after. The fourth failed attempt at redemption is in religion. So glad the authors mentioned this because this is the attempt that is going to damn more than any of the others combined. Empty church attendance, and coerced obedience don't add up to redemption. Those activities won't produce change in us the way we want them too. Neither will any of the other 3 attempts either.
I am out of time but will complete this review tomorrow. Have a great evening.
It's entitled "Recovering Redemption: A Gospel-Saturated Perspective On How To Change." By Matt Chandler and Michael Snetzer. Overall the book was challenging and thought and provoking. I will tell why it was in a few moments but first let me address one piece of information that may hang up some of my readers. For those of you reading you may or may not know that Matt Chandler is the President of Acts 29. Acts 29 in the world that I live in is one of the premier church planting agencies there is. It seems to be the agency most I know desire to go with when wanting to plant a church. Probably because its hard to refute the fact that God has blessed this ministry in some incredible ways. But in some of the circles that I have found myself in within recent years that entity itself has been plagued with a lot of unnecessary judgments and critical remarks. Have there been some pastors and planters who have come from Acts 29 who have messed up? Of course. I don't think anyone is arguing that. But can we also agree Jesus provides grace, reconciliation and hope for the darkest of sinners too? Hopefully we can or else I am hopeless and so is whoever else that is reading this post right now too.
Why do I bring all of that up? Simple. I don't want this review and the truth of this book to be tainted. Will it still happen? Probably. Because there are those who have a biased opinion over someone they have never met or talked with just because that someone leads an organization that they think has hurt them. Not trying to be mean here just shooting for truth and don't want to pull any hidden punches. Like how unfair would it be if I got done bringing out all the good points of this book and then say oh by the way Pastor Matt leads such and such organization that you may or may not like. You would automatically discredit all the good that you just heard. Maybe by me doing it this way more credibility can be established and hopefully those who may read this can glean great spiritual help.
Just to set the record straight. I am not a part of Acts 29. The church God has given me to lead and Pastor is not an Acts 29 church. I think this entity does great things for the Kingdom but I don't square up with them completely theologically and wonder a bit about the name itself. Still though despite all of those hangups they are still apart of THE family and I'm thankful Jesus is saving souls through their efforts.
Now to the book. Chapter 2 "Attempted Redemption" was particularly good. Here 4 common methods were addressed that all stumble in when trying to attempt their own redemption. And can't we all be honest for a moment. Don't all of us attempt redemption on our own in some way or another? Even those of us who have professed Christ for a several years I think can fall into the trap of doing this at times. Thankfully we have the Spirit to awaken us when we do it. The 4 ways Chandler and Snetzer list out that we attempt redemption is first through ourselves. I thought in this section one great insight pointed out was that who has lied to us and let us down more than us? Therefore isn't insidious to look to yourself for redemption when you keep failing yourself? Second way folks try to attempt redemption is through others. The authors share some examples here about those who they have seen try this and how miserably its worked out for them. I believe there are so many people in my neighborhood (using that term in an illustrative sense not purely physical sense) right now who are doing this. Seeking redemption, completion, fulfillment and joy in their spouses, kids, family, boy friend, girl friend, etc. But we have to remember those relationship are mere shadows to THE relationship which will bring redemption. Let me back up for a moment and admit I've been guilty of the same hangup. Here is how this generally works itself out in my life. When Cassie is disappointed, sad or upset guess what? So am I? Cause when momma aint happy aint nobody happy. Until this moment I haven't realized how messed up that statement is.... But why is that so? It's because my feelings, satisfaction is so wrapped up in Cassie's that she is almost like my god. And that was NEVER hear me NEVER the way it was supposed to be. And instead of loving her through those times when she is sad I just tend to get sad and mad right along with her too. I need to learn my joy and contentment doesn't come from Cassie it comes from Christ alone. This doesn't mean I am unsympathetic to her needs as if they don't matter. It does mean that when she is upset I can learn to stay strong and calm through it. By nature I've kind of always been a "people pleaser" guess that is what you get when you start throwing newspapers at 10 yrs old. But this section helped open that reality up to me so much more than ever before. And realize my position in Christ isn't achieved through what man says about me its through what He says about me. The third failed attempt at redemption that chapter mentions is with the world. Through substances, sex, money, you name it many attempt it this way too. Here in the deep bible belt south I've observed our worldly attempts are a bit more civilized. Athletics, our college, our hobbies. These are some of the common worldly attempts at the redemption dilemma. But as Matt points out again. Guess what all of these attempts end the same way. Failure. Failure to give us what we are truly after. The fourth failed attempt at redemption is in religion. So glad the authors mentioned this because this is the attempt that is going to damn more than any of the others combined. Empty church attendance, and coerced obedience don't add up to redemption. Those activities won't produce change in us the way we want them too. Neither will any of the other 3 attempts either.
I am out of time but will complete this review tomorrow. Have a great evening.
Monday, November 18, 2013
Trust and Obey Part 2
It has been a long time since I have cracked open the blog. (I know so many of you have been on the edge of your seat waiting and wondering as to when I would write again.... wish there was a way to type in sarcasm.) Truth be told I forgot my blog login information thankfully Google did not. But since it has been several months since my last post it is only fair to mention that a lot of things have happened in between this post and my last one. Good things. Challenging things. Questionable things, but all of them I know are God things. That might sound like a Jesus juke answer to some of you but for me Jesus fundamentally and at the core is the answer that makes sense in light of all that has happened.
Where do I begin? When writing in the last post God had Cassie and I still serving at Tusculum Hills Baptist Church. However there was a significant amount of transitioning that was taking place there. This led us to ask God if He was leading us into a transition also and where that might be? We were not sure what God's next set of plans were. In time His plan was revealed.
On June 30th by the providential hand of God a new church was born in Nolensville, Tennessee. Revive. And by His grace and goodness He has given me and my family the incredible privilege of leading and shepherding this new work. Giving to us friends and family who have come alongside of us who also are believing God has a mission to be completed in the Nashville area.
The responsibility has been bigger than I could imagine, but I believe the reward will be to. This new endeavor has not come without its challenges along the way as we continue to trust and ask God to lead us as we aim to make much of Him. We have obeyed Him the best way we can as a family as new opportunities have been presented. Please pray that we would continue to do so. God bless and I look forward to writing a bit more consistently in the near future.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Brock
Where do I begin? When writing in the last post God had Cassie and I still serving at Tusculum Hills Baptist Church. However there was a significant amount of transitioning that was taking place there. This led us to ask God if He was leading us into a transition also and where that might be? We were not sure what God's next set of plans were. In time His plan was revealed.
On June 30th by the providential hand of God a new church was born in Nolensville, Tennessee. Revive. And by His grace and goodness He has given me and my family the incredible privilege of leading and shepherding this new work. Giving to us friends and family who have come alongside of us who also are believing God has a mission to be completed in the Nashville area.
The responsibility has been bigger than I could imagine, but I believe the reward will be to. This new endeavor has not come without its challenges along the way as we continue to trust and ask God to lead us as we aim to make much of Him. We have obeyed Him the best way we can as a family as new opportunities have been presented. Please pray that we would continue to do so. God bless and I look forward to writing a bit more consistently in the near future.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Brock
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Trust and Obey
Growing up in church the familiar hymn Trust and Obey was one that I heard quite regularly. While its melody is not one that particularly moves me to inspiration its lyrics are particularly fitting for the Christian life. Especially mine. "Trust and Obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to Trust and obey." To me this line has always been routine and familiar but here lately its taken on a new shade of meaning.
Trust and Obey is a motto that more than anything else I must preach to myself. And to properly allow that message to penetrate my life it takes doing both the trusting and the obeying. I fear for far too long many Christians like myself have become so familiar with that tune we think of them as a unit together and not two individual and distinct challenges we must heed in the Christian life. Trust entails belief, faith, and total submission of all that I hold dear to God. While obeying is listening to and practicing what He has told me.
So what is that? What has He told me. There are thousands of things, but one message stands above all the others right in my life. Reading last night with my wife (something I must do more of) God impressed on my heart a verse I have read numerous times. Philippians 4:6 "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
I don't know about you but I love to be anxious about something. If its not one thing its another. Constantly worrying myself to death about whatever it is that is going on in my world. Hoping that what I want to happen will. God's word commands me not to do that. This may be one of the hardest sins to conquer right now in my life. And I bet this is one of those "Respectable Sins" we all struggle with and don't really deal with and repent of. God help me and anyone else readin who does to stop and give the worry back to You.
Trust and Obey sounds like a simple cliche but it most definitely is not that. Hope this will challenge and encourage be blessed.
Brock
Trust and Obey is a motto that more than anything else I must preach to myself. And to properly allow that message to penetrate my life it takes doing both the trusting and the obeying. I fear for far too long many Christians like myself have become so familiar with that tune we think of them as a unit together and not two individual and distinct challenges we must heed in the Christian life. Trust entails belief, faith, and total submission of all that I hold dear to God. While obeying is listening to and practicing what He has told me.
So what is that? What has He told me. There are thousands of things, but one message stands above all the others right in my life. Reading last night with my wife (something I must do more of) God impressed on my heart a verse I have read numerous times. Philippians 4:6 "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
I don't know about you but I love to be anxious about something. If its not one thing its another. Constantly worrying myself to death about whatever it is that is going on in my world. Hoping that what I want to happen will. God's word commands me not to do that. This may be one of the hardest sins to conquer right now in my life. And I bet this is one of those "Respectable Sins" we all struggle with and don't really deal with and repent of. God help me and anyone else readin who does to stop and give the worry back to You.
Trust and Obey sounds like a simple cliche but it most definitely is not that. Hope this will challenge and encourage be blessed.
Brock
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Refreshing Declaration
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
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 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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