8 Weeks on The Holy Spirit

     On the first Lord's Day in June, I will begin an 8-week series on the Holy Spirit. The Spirit (pneuma) of God is mentioned throughout the Bible: the beginning we see Him waiting for God's command to separate the waters, He speaks through the prophets, He descends upon Jesus, He descends at Pentecost, and He speaks to the churches in Revelation. My first class will address the issue of the Spirit's personhood. The Spirit is described throughout God's Word as a person, not a mere force like what we hear about in Star Wars...or in the Jehovah Witness cult. The Spirit speaks, searches, discerns, convicts, vivifies. He can be rejected, grieved, insulted, and blasphemed.

    

In case you're interested, here's an outline for the class:

1. The Holy Spirit: What or Who?
2. The Holy Spirit throughout the Old Testament
3. The Holy Spirit's Role in the life of Jesus
4. The Holy Spirit commissioned by Jesus (pre/post resurrection)
5. The Holy Spirit's conviction of the world
6. The Holy Spirit's vivifying new persons in Christ
7. The Holy Spirit's fruits and gifts
8. Question of Cessation/Continuation of the miraculous gifts

     I may perhaps put up portions of each study on the blogosphere, so if you're interested leave a comment and I'd be happy to post them.

Recommended readings:
Doctrine of the Holy Spirit by George Smeaton
Perspectives on Pentecost by Richard B. Gaffin, Jr.
The Holy Spirit by Sinclair B. Ferguson
The Christian Faith by Michael S. Horton
Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem
Finally Alive by John Piper

Dadisms

I love my Dad. Over the years I've grown to love and appreciate him more and more, especially since I've left the nest and have gone to live on my own. Where I'd be in life without him, I could hardly imagine if I would've turned out the way I have. I'm forever grateful for times we get to hang out, whether its moving stuff in the house, going to visit Granny, etc. There's just something about father-son time that is hard to put in words, but it's the best feeling in the world.

Over time, I began picking up and doing things my Dad did. Here are but a few:

1. Work ethic. My Dad worked all week growing up; even now with him being retired, he stays busy.
2. Grunts. Whenever my Dad would reach down to pick up something, he'd let out a brace-yourself grunt...do this on occasion even when the object isn't heavy.
3. Farting. Whenever he'd let one go, he'd look around the room puzzled and would jokingly wonder where that noise came from.
4. People skills. I've watched him interact with his customers during the job; good habit to pick up.
5. On occasion whenever he would get furious with his laptop for work, he'd let out a "DANGIT ALL." lol He would also talk to himself as he worked through the issue "Ok so I go here;" "trying to print;" etc.
6. Chair recliners. How it's nice to lean back on that couch and take it easy. This will be an important buy in my first home.
7. Coffee every morning. Took me a little while, but now I'm engulfed in coffee; though, I don't drink it black like him. yuck.
8. Taking good care of possessions. "You treat your stuff better because you own it, but when something isn't yours, you aren't as careful."
9. TV shows. "24" was the best series ever. Even when we weren't watching it together, we would turn the lights out and never answer the phone while it was on. If Mom came in the room, she would be silenced (because she knew it was the Bauer-hour not to be disturbed and wanted a reaction from us haha).
10. He's a family man. Dad loves Mom very much, and cares very much for all his kids. I desire and Lord-willing I'll get an opportunity to have my own family to pass on this fatherly love.

...but seriously, where's my green grass?

My previous post was a plug for a book by Stephen Altrogge, The Greener Grass Conspiracy, in which he makes the case against the empty promises this world offers. Get the new iPad, and you'll be brushed up on the world's newest technology. Invest in this new company, for your nest egg will be secure. Watch this movie filled with all manner of perversion and your hormones will be raging. Drink this beer and you'll have a good time. Use this make-up, ladies, for you'll have countless men running after you. Use this body spray, men, and the ladies will flock to you. Even though partial satisfaction is given in these situations and more, we're still left empty every time. The fix we desire becomes stronger every time we give in. And though paradise is waved in front of us, we find ourselves in a barren field disheartened, empty, and fooled.

Where's My Green Grass?

This book looks interesting and will be released by CrossWay at the end of the month. The author is addressing the "if only" notion that we tend to audibly and/or tacitly say to ourselves when we desire something. My life, up to this point, has consisted of many "if only" moments, desiring both good and bad things, both leading to utter disappointment in some way, shape, or form. I don't agree with Buddhism that desire is bad and you should get rid of it, but if we have experienced the rebirth of the Holy Spirit then everything falls in place after we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. We have salvation, that which is paramount, but if we desire the things God gives over-against God Himself, we find every time that the grass we yearn to lay on isn't so green after all.

Atychiphobia

You're probably wondering this means, right? It's the fear of failure. I'm far from being a scientific expert as to what causes this, whether it be neurotransmitters or some similar chemical malfunction in the brain, but the fear of failure can be minute or catastrophic. It could push someone to do better, or to quit. This isn't going to be an exposition of any portion of Scripture, as my posts most commonly are; rather, this is going to be an honest inward reflection of what really causes me to be anxious when considering present/future things.

"Philosopher in Meditation"

This painting by Rembrandt portrays me in an honest, deep way. I think a lot. Whether I'm reading a book, working, driving, sitting in church, etc. it's more than likely visible that I'm meditating on something. What am I thinking about? Well, it varies with the moment: life, God and His Word, future, girlfriend, work, failures, some undesired past event--I could go on. From time to time, dwelling on the uncertainty knocks me off my equilibrium: "What's going to happen next?" Also, "I've begun this path; what if a dead-end awaits?" I've found myself staring at this photo time and time again, seeing my reflection in how I can hang my head low and be lost in thought.

The Authority of Jesus - How Do You Respond?

All of us have authoritative figures above us, ranging from parents, bosses, police, tax agents, etc. Each draws a different type of reaction, but they all call for obedience in some way, shape, or form: you must pay your taxes, perform your tasks at work, follow laws and ordinances. And when we knowingly stray and an authority figure is nearby, we cringe and try to hide as if everything is fine. A vivid example would be getting pulled over by local law enforcement after getting caught in a speed trap; your stomach drops and fear has brought a chill down your spine. Yet, this fear of authority does not cause us to stop disobeying what we know is right, regardless of whether or not we are caught. Jesus in his earthly ministry manifested authority over numerous realms, especially the forgiveness of sins.

Read along with me from Matthew 7:28-9:13 as I expound on 1) Authority Acknowledged, 2) Authority Manifested, 3) Authority Affirmed, and 4) Authority Despised.

Managing Well

Since June of this year, I have been supervising with my office cleaning company: during the summer I was working with a team that moved furniture, various detailed cleaning, and some stripping & waxing floors. In August I was given a position as Site Supervisor over JCB, a tractor-producing company whose headquarters for North America abides near Savannah's airport. Looking back to June, I've gone through many things that tested my ability to lead; I've continued to ask myself this question daily: Am I being trustworthy of the job and resources that my boss has granted me?

In Luke 16, in the presence of the Pharisees, scribes, and the disciples, Jesus gives the parable of the dishonest manager. This comes after chapter 15 (didn't take a seminary degree to figure that one), where the Pharisees and scribes were grumbling because Jesus was receiving and eating with sinners. Jesus, in turn, gave them three parables: a) lost sheep, b) lost coin, and the c) lost son. These were aimed directly at the Pharisees and scribes, explaining that beauty is in the eye of the beholders (shepherd, woman, father), and they gave value on what they possessed--so also, who the Father extends compassion to, is not based on any self-worth in an individual or by their own merits.

Finding the Savior in Lamentations

I felt led to read through the book of Lamentations yesterday. And as I began reading, it was tempting to stop and move somewhere else because of the reality of destruction, exile, and guilt that the Jews were going through at the time. The Jews were cast into Babylonian captivity back in 586 BC because of their own willingness to serve idols rather than the living God:

"...she took no thought of her future; therefore her fall is terrible;" 1:9a

"The Lord is in the right, for I have rebelled against his word;" 1:18a

"Look, O LORD, for I am in distress; my stomach churns; my heart is wrung within me, because I have been very rebellious." 1:20a

"Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions; they have not exposed your iniquity to restore your fortunes, but have seen for you oracles that are false and misleading." 2:14

"We have transgressed and rebelled," 3:42a

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition comes to Savannah

So yesterday my father and I went down to the site in Savannah where Extreme Makeover is building a house for a family in need. And out of nowhere a reporter for the Savannah Morning News taps me on the shoulder and asked to interview me.

Be Ye Still

"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" Psalm 46:10

Kids have an extremely hard time sitting still. The past month I have had the opportunity to teach the 4th-6th grade Sunday School class, and I would've never imagined it being so difficult. Don't get me wrong: I love the kids and I've enjoyed teaching them, but getting them to sit still and pay attention was a difficult task; they were either getting up out their seat to run around, talking to someone while I'm talking, or just doodling on their paper when I'm going over a blank they need to fill in. I've found my patience tested because when I want to speak, they don't want to listen (sometimes). But this is not a post about unruly children, the aforementioned was only an illustration. In the miry bog of life, when all seems to be going wrong, I would much rather run around and try to find the solution myself than be still and know that God hasn't all of a sudden forfeited His sovereignty.