LMU Life 2

A beautifully painted sunset…

LMU

… “by it I see everything else.”

Petoria! Chevron Energyville

So, “Petoria” was pretty much gone over after I completed the first level.  This is a photo of my city before I bombarded it with energy sources.  See how peaceful it is.  Then look below.  I hope you can do better at running the city than I did.  It’s not as easy as it seems (or as I would have hoped) to be environmentally friendly and cost efficient.  http://www.willyoujoinus.com/Energyville/

Before

After

Results

LMU Life 1

Anyone who has ever experienced it knows…

LMU

…sometimes it doesn’t get much better than relaxing on the bluff at LMU.

Passage from The Great Divorce

One of my favorite passages from my favorite book “The Great Divorce,” by C.S. Lewis (Pardon the “Ye.”  The narrator of this is Scottish):

“All answers deceive.  If ye put the question from within Time and are asking about possibilities, the answer is certain.  The choice of ways is before you.  Neither is closed.  Any man may choose eternal death.  Those who choose it will have it.  But if ye are trying to leap on into eternity, if ye are trying to see the final state of all things as it will be (for so ye must speak) when there are no more possibilities left but only the Real, then ye ask what cannot be answered to mortal ears.  Time is the very lens through which ye see-small and clear, as men see through the wrong end of a telescope-something that would otherwise be too big for ye to see at all.  That thing is Freedom: the gift whereby ye most resemble your Maker and are yourselves parts of eternal reality.  But ye can see it only through the lens of Time, in a little clear picture, through the inverted telescope.  It is a picture of moments following one another and yourself in each moment making some choice that might have been otherwise.  Neither the temporal succession nor the phantom of what ye might have chosen and didn’t is itself Freedom.  They are a lens.  The picture is a symbol: but it’s truer than any philosophical theorem (or, perhaps, than any mystic’s vision) that claims to go behind it.  For every attempt to see the shape of eternity except through the lens of Time destroys your knowledge of Freedom.  Witness the doctrine of Predestination which shows (truly enough) that eternal reality is not waiting for a future in which to be real; but at the price of removing Freedom which is the deeper truth of the two.  And wouldn’t Universalism do the same?  Ye cannot know eternal reality by a definition.  Time itself, and all acts and events that fill Time, are the definition, and it must be lived.  The Lord said we were gods.  How long could ye bear to look (without Time’s lens) on the greatness of your own soul and the eternal reality of her choice?”

I’d like to know all of your thoughts on this passage and what you think it means?  Does it give a good description of Predestination v. Freewill?  (I must add: the conclusion of the book gives a better description, but I didn’t want to ruin it).  What are truths that can be found here, as well as concepts that we should questions validity?  If you haven’t read this book, READ IT, this is just a small passage and the book has so much more depth than this.  It elaborates much more on these issues, as well as many others. It has an amazing story too!

Remember: This book is fictional and theological/philosophical speculation, not the Word.

New Christianity

Christians are:

1. Judgmental
2. Selfish
3. Greedy
4. Self-centered
5. Temperamental
6. Jealous
7. Liars
8. Violent
9. Argumentative
10. Disrespectful
11. Prejudiced
12. Egotistical
13. Self-Righteous
14. Human
15. Not “Christ”

This is why I believe there is a Christian reform movement that stays away from the bad connotation that Christianity has.  The biggest hypocrisy in Christianity is the name itself, which means “Like Christ”.  How can we live up to that?!  I’ve sinned about 30 times since starting this post.  Besides humanity, we are nothing like the Anointed One, and will never be as perfect as he.  Yes, we are very much like Jesus in the trials and temptations we encounter, he relates to every struggle, but He is flawless.  People are beginning to call themselves “followers of Christ” and that relationship, I believe, is what everything is all about.

Less than two thousand years ago Christianity was a reformed Judaism sect.  

A hundred years after that it became Catholicism, a religion directly influenced by bishops and clergy.  A theology that was built on monasticism, a sacramental system, bishop authority, martyrdom, saints, etc.  None of these are inherently bad, in fact tradition is great, but when glorified to the level of Jesus’ sacrifice, it is a distraction of truth.

About a thousand years (It took that long!) after that Protestants realized the Catholic tradition was unnecessary in salvation and it is God’s grace allows gives unearned salvation.  Sola Scriptura.  I believe, we are slowly and steadily progressing.  However, Protestants can be just as off as anyone else.

Are we just now getting the bigger picture?  In a thousand years will we look back to this day and realize we were still so far off the mark in what it means to be a follower of Christ?  Will we progress theologically in the future or will it take the jump from “reformed Judaism to early Catholicism again”?  (I must add, I am speaking about the early corrupted Catholic Church.  I have many friends who are right on spiritually).  What social issues that Christians stand for now will we look back on disgracefully (Like slavery just three hundred years ago, or women not being able to vote?)  Where are we going with this belief we give our lives for?  Let’s steer clear of denominations and focus on what it means to follow Christ and his Word.

What “Stuff Christians Like” Has to Say About Worship

Recently my thoughts have been consumed by prayer and worship.  I was reading this blog the other day and I thought it was really funny and extremely true too.  I hope you enjoy it and I definitely recommend reading his blog whenever you get a chance.  It is from stufffchristianslike.blogspot.com.

#422. Singing when you’re supposed to be praying.

“You worship leaders, oh you tricky, tricky worship leaders. Every now and then as we wind down a praise song, you’ll say something like, “After we repeat this chorus, be quiet for a moment and think about the words you’ve been singing. Just reflect quietly for a minute before we lift our voices back to God.” But I don’t know what “repeat this chorus” means because you always repeat things and change the lyrics and switch the pace up.

What I think “repeat this chorus” means is that we’re going to sing the chorus one more time. But maybe you’re not assigning any numerical value to the word “repeat.” Maybe you’re just using it as a verb that means, “Sing this until I feel like we’ve sung it enough times.”

So what inevitably happens is that when you finish the chorus, when your secret number of repeats is met, I continue to sing the chorus out loud when I am supposed to be quiet. And somehow, everyone sitting around me knew when you were going to stop singing, so my secret singing cover is blown. They’re all engaged in deep personal moments of quiet reflection while I am stuck yell singing, “STRENGTH WILL RISE AS WE WAIT UPON THE LORD!”

I can’t stop that from happening. I think to some degree you’ve got to have the freedom as a worship leader to take the song where the Lord brings it. But that doesn’t mean I can’t say something after my loud solo chorus that helps remove a little of the embarrassment.

3 things to say when you’re suddenly the only one singing:

1. “I love God more!”
Holiness is not a competitive sport, yet. But when you’re still singing and everyone else is praying you’ll probably feel a little like a sweaty Philistine. So say the opposite of that feeling. Just yell out, “I love God more!” and then throw your bulletin down like Eminem threw the mic down at the end of the movie 8 mile and walk out.

2. “Singing loudly is how I express quiet reflection!”
OK, everyone around you has bowed their heads down while you’re still singing. But you know what? You’ve got to be you. You’re unique. You’re not a follower. You’re blazing a new trail. Sure it’s a trail that in this particular case leads to embarrassment, but it’s a trail nonetheless.

3. “Holy Spirit, that was totally the Holy Spirit.”
The Holy Spirit is such a mystery that maybe you ended up yell singing when you were supposed to be praying because the Holy Spirit was prompting you. Who is going to argue against you on that? Chances are you weren’t paying attention which is why you missed the cue to be quiet, but I’m just saying, it’s possible it was the Holy Spirit. (Please note: If it wasn’t, you’ve just thrown the Holy Spirit under the church bus and should start praying immediately.)

I hope these tips help you audience members out there this Sunday. And I hope it puts you worship leaders on notice. I’m listening and watching and clearly not above yelling, “I love God more” if you pull a “discreet repeat” on me.”

Transition Prayers

Recently my good friend James and I have been discussing the topic of “transition prayers.”  Specifically, transition prayers before and after worship.

What is a transition prayer?

Transition Prayer: A prayer that is used to bridge the gap between different segments in church.  Ex., Praying for the band before they start worship, Worship leader praying for the speaker.

There had always been something that felt off about the way we do transition prayers.  I’ll be one of the first to say that these prayers are great, even essential to getting our hearts in the right place, ready to accept whatever God has to offer us.  However, there are just a few things that I would change slightly.

From the Praise (Worship) Team Perspective:  I have been on the praise team at my college church group “Quest” almost weekly this year, and also have quite a bit of experience with playing for my high school ministry.  Though I have not led worship, I have been asked by quite a few people if I could lead praise occasionally throughout this year.  Worship is one of the most influential ways I feel connected with God; that and studying the word.  As I pray and decide whether I should lead this time of praise there are few things that go into my thought process.  I never really realized (recognized) this until recently, but it is almost expected that the praise team get up during the first “transition prayer” (the “meet and greet” to worship transition).  It is an unspoken signal that when someone gets up in front of the congregation to pray for worship, the band also gets up while everyone has their eyes closed and begins to set up their instruments.  I want to be apart of that prayer!  I don’t want to focus on plugging in and tuning my guitar while the pastor asks God to bless this time of praise.  I have tried a few times to just sit and focus on the prayer, but each time I have been gently tapped on my shoulder “remind” me to get up and prepare for worship.  For me, praying is preparing for worship.  Does it really take so long to plug in and tune that we have to do this while everyone else is getting centered?  It is such a small thing, but yet, so important (at least for me).

From the Community’s Perspective:  There have been just as many times for me playing in the praise band as there have been sitting in the church community worshiping.  Here is the thing, I love music so much.  I almost love music too much.  I know I am not alone in this, but during the “transition prayer” I will occasionally peak and watch the praise team set up.  I like seeing what kind of guitars they are playing with and seeing them set up.  Aren’t there enough distractions in church already?

Conclusion: I know not many people read this blog but this is something to really think about.  Just making the decision to wait can mean the difference between: genuine worship for everyone, and just feeling the need to “perform” so others can feel spiritually close.  Like I said, transition prayers are essential.  But lets try to just make it so everyone is prepared for this holy time.  Don’t you want your worship leaders to be completely moved by God while they praise?

Only In America…

Only in the United States would there be a Del Taco advertisement that takes up the whole side of an office building.  Del Taco is Nayusty!

Life

I have such a blessed life.  I thank God for every single experience that he puts/helps me through.  

Every single one.

I will constantly grow through him and he makes life more fulfilled.  I am so thankful.  

Like the ocean, He gives and takes away.

I don’t understand God, but I trust him.  I understand that I won’t ever understand completely who or what God is.

I am so pleased to live this life and now I get to live in the next great chapter in my life.

Thank you God.  I love you more than anything.

If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8.

Life is beautiful.

 

Oh yea, and we just found a cat in our kitchen.  What the heck?! hahaha.

Portland, Oregon: It’s All About The BumperStickers

On our way to Seattle, Jenn and I decided to stop in Portland along the way for a day.  If I learned one thing about that city is that they are very fond of bumper-stickers.  And I’ll be honest, they are pretty ridiculous and hilarious.  Nearly every car there has a few slapped on to their back window or bumper so that everyone who reads it will know their interests and political perspectives.

I get it ok!  These things distract me when I drive as I struggle to squint my eyes enough to see the whole thing.

The typical backside of a Portland car.

I’m sorry buddy, but it’s a little late for that.  May want to take that one down now and put up an Obama one.  The best is seeing old Elect Kerry/Edwards still on peoples cars.

This one was very popular!  I never could spell this word ‘Weird’.  What’s that i before e rule. I before E… Alllllways?

Not a fan of Jesus much I see.

BumperSticker for the financially declined.

 

I must say that the bumpersticker culture in Portland was fascinating, but could it also have been a little obsessive?  But I must say that I really loved Portland!