Two of my good friends got hitched this past weekend. I have a feeling that this is going to be a trend that continues for a while. Jay and Liss are awesome people, and I'm so happy that they have found joy in both eachother, and in the God who brought them together. Their relationship truely reflects God's love for us.
The pastor performing the service said that "What you are is God's gift to eachother, and what you become is you're gift to God." I thought that was pretty powerful. Marriage is both a blessing and a responsibility. I'm sure that Jay and Liss will continue to grow in eachother as well as in the Lord.
This weekend also humbled me in my knowledge of love songs. I realized that I'm not as well versed as I thought.... haha.
Weddings are a wonderful way to celebrate the union between two people and two families while thanking and praising the Lord for the ways that he has been working in all of the lives involved. It means a little more, too, when you are close to those who you are celebrating.
Weddings also leave you with some questions....
"Where will they end up?"
"How did they plan all of this?"
"Who can I dance with at the reception?"
and a frequently pondered question...... "Did she just see me make a complete fool of myself doing the electric slide?" (that's probably a yes)
And the more serious ones....
"Am I going to cry at MY wedding?" (that's probably a yes)
"What's my wedding and reception going to look like?"
"Out of the 38 people I know that would do a good job, who am I going to get to perform the ceremony?"
and most of all......
"When is it my turn....?"
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
I like blogging.
La Paz de Jesus es permanente.....
So I went to Spanish Worship last night. I had asked a handful of people if they wanted to go, because naturally I didn't want to go by myself....but the Lord has a sense of humor.... and didn't let me off the hook just because I had no one to go with.
I found myself in the basement Chapel of Towers Presbyterian Church with 5 other guys and a Latino couple singing contemporary worship songs in Spanish, praying, and reading verses out of the Nuevo Testamento....
San Juan 14:23-31
John 14:23-31
"Jesus replied, 'If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe me. I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father jas commanded me. Come now; let us leave."
Now, I had only a few years of Hgh School Spanish, and I have taken basic language proficiency classes in college, so my Spanish is "ok" at best. I understood about every third or fourth word that was spoken, but the power of those words transcended language barriers. God has a way of speaking even when we can't exactly understand it.
Language is doesn't always have to be with words. I think the accepted statistic is that 70 or 80% of communication is through body language (maybe even more?). When we worship in a setting different than our own comfortable North American style, we can't rely on words to sustain us. When our words are taken away from us, we begin to see the ways God works in us that don't require us opening our mouth.
Interesting? I think so. It reminds me of the Tower of Babel in Genesis and how people didn't have one language to communicate anymore. God made it so that there were many languages. How did people even get things done? They had to rely on the Lord. They had to express their love and their faith through their actions.
"If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching."
Even though I didn't understand a lot of what the Latino gentleman was saying, I could tell that he was obedient. I could tell that la Santa Biblia was much more than words on a page to him. I could feel the meaning and power in every word that rolled off of his tongue, even if I could only take a few guesses at what they meant. I could feel the Love of Christ when he hugged me...a complete stranger, or when he encouraged me as I stumbled through verses in John in Spanish.
It was pretty sweet. He seemed like a pretty cool guy.
And even in the midst of a lot of confusion last night, I had a peace. A peace that even though my Spanish was pretty broken, that God would fill the cracks. That even if I didn't understand, God would send His grace. The peace of Jesus Christ is permanent.
Of course I talk about words and language in a Blog.... where all I have is words.
God, you are pretty funny sometimes. :)
-Aaron
So I went to Spanish Worship last night. I had asked a handful of people if they wanted to go, because naturally I didn't want to go by myself....but the Lord has a sense of humor.... and didn't let me off the hook just because I had no one to go with.
I found myself in the basement Chapel of Towers Presbyterian Church with 5 other guys and a Latino couple singing contemporary worship songs in Spanish, praying, and reading verses out of the Nuevo Testamento....
San Juan 14:23-31
John 14:23-31
"Jesus replied, 'If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe me. I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father jas commanded me. Come now; let us leave."
Now, I had only a few years of Hgh School Spanish, and I have taken basic language proficiency classes in college, so my Spanish is "ok" at best. I understood about every third or fourth word that was spoken, but the power of those words transcended language barriers. God has a way of speaking even when we can't exactly understand it.
Language is doesn't always have to be with words. I think the accepted statistic is that 70 or 80% of communication is through body language (maybe even more?). When we worship in a setting different than our own comfortable North American style, we can't rely on words to sustain us. When our words are taken away from us, we begin to see the ways God works in us that don't require us opening our mouth.
Interesting? I think so. It reminds me of the Tower of Babel in Genesis and how people didn't have one language to communicate anymore. God made it so that there were many languages. How did people even get things done? They had to rely on the Lord. They had to express their love and their faith through their actions.
"If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching."
Even though I didn't understand a lot of what the Latino gentleman was saying, I could tell that he was obedient. I could tell that la Santa Biblia was much more than words on a page to him. I could feel the meaning and power in every word that rolled off of his tongue, even if I could only take a few guesses at what they meant. I could feel the Love of Christ when he hugged me...a complete stranger, or when he encouraged me as I stumbled through verses in John in Spanish.
It was pretty sweet. He seemed like a pretty cool guy.
And even in the midst of a lot of confusion last night, I had a peace. A peace that even though my Spanish was pretty broken, that God would fill the cracks. That even if I didn't understand, God would send His grace. The peace of Jesus Christ is permanent.
Of course I talk about words and language in a Blog.... where all I have is words.
God, you are pretty funny sometimes. :)
-Aaron
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Light Heavy Reading
Despite popular opinion, I actually like to read...just not my school books. Whoops. I've been on a read reading kick lately, and have read some pretty awsome literature.
"Under the Overpass" by Mike Yankoski - a story of 2 college aged kids who decided that they would practice what they preached and give everything up for 5 months to be homeless on the American streets. I read it in about 3 days, and have bought the 30 day devo book that is based off of their story. good stuff.
I just started reading "The Irresistable Revolution," by Shane Claiborne - Mrs. O., if you see this, thanks for the reccomendation. It's another autobiography taking us through Shane's journey while he promotes and lives the life of an "everyday radical" as he puts it. I'm on Chapter 3 right now, and he just wrapped up his internship at a mega-church in Chicago following his brief stint in India working with Mother Theresa.
For those of you with "Big Word Syndrome," (The inability to understand big words, especially in a theological context...therefor you have to go over the sentence about 5 or 6 times to try to think up some kind of definition that fits the "contex clues" you learned how to use in 4th or 5th grade....Holla Miss Mancinelli!) these two books are pretty easy reads, yet they challenge you in big ways. I thank and praise God that he gave us educated authors who know how to write in a readable way.
Anyway, enough marketing.
I was reading something in Shane's book that I want to share. To give some background, he's introducing the audience to this idea of being an every day radical and telling us how he came to be one. He explains his upbringing and his transformation...
Shane writes, 'But then you start to think there must be more to Christianity, more than just laying your life and sins at the foot of the cross. I came to realize that preachers were telling me to lay my life at the foot of the cross and weren't giving me anything to pick up. A lot of us were hearing "don't smoke, don't drink, don't sleep around" and naturally started asking, "Okay, well, that was pretty much my life, so what do I do now?" Where were the do's? And nobody seemed to have much to offer us. Handing out tracts at the mall just didn't seem liek the fullness of Christian discipleship, not to mention it wasn't as fun as making out at the movies.'
I hope that hit you like a brick like it did me.
I feel like, although our intentions are mostly good, a lot of Christians today find themselves with their finger making that terrible wagging motion back and forth when face-to-face with someone wth a lifestyle different than their own. We find ourselves telling those surrounding us that in order to be a Christian, "you can't do this" and "you can't do that", rather than offering something to pick up. So often, we throw theology and doctrine in the unbeliever's face, rather than throwing our arms around them.
How great is it when that lost sheep is found? Or the prodigal son returns? When that happens, we need to give them something to grab ahold of, rather than take things away. That's my prayer for me, anyway.
Eat your vegetables,
AT
"Under the Overpass" by Mike Yankoski - a story of 2 college aged kids who decided that they would practice what they preached and give everything up for 5 months to be homeless on the American streets. I read it in about 3 days, and have bought the 30 day devo book that is based off of their story. good stuff.
I just started reading "The Irresistable Revolution," by Shane Claiborne - Mrs. O., if you see this, thanks for the reccomendation. It's another autobiography taking us through Shane's journey while he promotes and lives the life of an "everyday radical" as he puts it. I'm on Chapter 3 right now, and he just wrapped up his internship at a mega-church in Chicago following his brief stint in India working with Mother Theresa.
For those of you with "Big Word Syndrome," (The inability to understand big words, especially in a theological context...therefor you have to go over the sentence about 5 or 6 times to try to think up some kind of definition that fits the "contex clues" you learned how to use in 4th or 5th grade....Holla Miss Mancinelli!) these two books are pretty easy reads, yet they challenge you in big ways. I thank and praise God that he gave us educated authors who know how to write in a readable way.
Anyway, enough marketing.
I was reading something in Shane's book that I want to share. To give some background, he's introducing the audience to this idea of being an every day radical and telling us how he came to be one. He explains his upbringing and his transformation...
Shane writes, 'But then you start to think there must be more to Christianity, more than just laying your life and sins at the foot of the cross. I came to realize that preachers were telling me to lay my life at the foot of the cross and weren't giving me anything to pick up. A lot of us were hearing "don't smoke, don't drink, don't sleep around" and naturally started asking, "Okay, well, that was pretty much my life, so what do I do now?" Where were the do's? And nobody seemed to have much to offer us. Handing out tracts at the mall just didn't seem liek the fullness of Christian discipleship, not to mention it wasn't as fun as making out at the movies.'
I hope that hit you like a brick like it did me.
I feel like, although our intentions are mostly good, a lot of Christians today find themselves with their finger making that terrible wagging motion back and forth when face-to-face with someone wth a lifestyle different than their own. We find ourselves telling those surrounding us that in order to be a Christian, "you can't do this" and "you can't do that", rather than offering something to pick up. So often, we throw theology and doctrine in the unbeliever's face, rather than throwing our arms around them.
How great is it when that lost sheep is found? Or the prodigal son returns? When that happens, we need to give them something to grab ahold of, rather than take things away. That's my prayer for me, anyway.
Eat your vegetables,
AT
The Title
...Alright, so I caved in. It's time to start organizing my thoughts and writing them down; not so much so everyone can read them (I promise, I'm not that good of a writer... keep your expectations low), but so that I don't forget them.
I thought this title was pretty appropriate, "Out of My Hands," especially for a guy who likes to be in control. My prayer is that every time I write in here, I'll be reminded of who is in control, and learn to be more faithful when it comes to handing the reigns over to God. Who knows. Maybe i'll write a book about it. Doubtful... :)
To Him be the glory.
AT
I thought this title was pretty appropriate, "Out of My Hands," especially for a guy who likes to be in control. My prayer is that every time I write in here, I'll be reminded of who is in control, and learn to be more faithful when it comes to handing the reigns over to God. Who knows. Maybe i'll write a book about it. Doubtful... :)
To Him be the glory.
AT
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