I do not know what you think about the struggling economy, but I am honest enough to admit that I am clueless about what is going on. I do not understand enough about economics to even make a guess at how to fix this problem. But I do realize that things are not right, and I can see that through the stock market. So the question I have, is what is the solution? Is this stimulus bill the way to go? I am not sure. All I know is that it did not work back in the Fall, and so I do not know if it will work now. But hopefully we will find the solution. I pray that someone in Washington will be able to figure out what the answer is.
As for the weather, what can I say except that it has been crazy. 2009 has been colder than 2008 so far, but we still have had storms. Watching the weather today, I noticed that Alabama, Georgia, and Florida have had tornadoes. But thankfully, 2009 has not produced as many tornadoes as 2008 had by the end of February.
And today, we have the complete opposite weather, snow! Looking outside right now, there is at least 2-3 inches down. But this is not unusual. Actually, this is what winter in West Tennessee should be. Many times, this type of weather will extend into the beginning of April. So it is really nice to see some snow outside tonight. Snow may cause some problems, such as power outages and wrecks. But in my opinion, it is far less dangerous than severe weather. So bring on the snow!
I ran out of S's to talk about for today. There is a lot going on in our country and in the world. in some ways, things seem to be spiraling out of control. But I have learned not to worry as much about the events around us. Worry will not solve any of our problems, so why even waste our time? But it is always useful to stay informed about the things going on in the world, and this is just my view on some of the current situations in the country today.
Matt
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Total Commitment - Part 1
So one of the reasons why I took a break from the Pastoral Epistles was because I was preparing for a sermon for the youth at my home church. Since I have not looked at a passage of Scripture on the blog in quite some time, I thought it might be a good idea to take a look at Luke 9:23-24, the passage from which I preached just a little over a week ago. I am basically going to give you the outline that I gave to the students with some quick thoughts on each point. By the way, this only the first part.
Luke 9:23-24
And He said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it..."
The Road to Total Commitment
1. Denial of Self - v23a - The first thing that Jesus requires is a denial of self. We must get off of this kick that life is all about us and that we are all that matters. We are not the most important person in the world, and as Christians we should be focusing in on Him anyways. But even if we have this attitude, many times we want people to notice our service. We find ourselves serving God in various ways, and then we expect people to acknowledge our accomplishments, wanting to take in all the praise. In reality, He is the only one that deserves the praise and glory. So we must first get rid of the self, and this happens in two ways.
a. Losing Life (self-centered) - v24 - Instead of seeing this as a salvation verse (which I believe it is), I think we can also view it in light of verse 23. We must first lose our self-centered life style.
b. Gaining Life (God-centered) - v24 - And by giving up that self-centered lifestyle, we gain a new life that is centered on God. No longer do we look on our accomplishments and receive the praise. Instead, we give that praise to Him.
2. Daily Commitment - v23b - The second step in a life of total commitment is a daily commitment to follow Him. This does not happen over night, and we cannot decide to follow Him this minute and expect it to be an easy task. We will stumble and fall. We are going to mess up at times. But that is why Jesus told us to take up our cross daily. It must be something that we desire to do on a daily basis, no matter how hard it gets to follow God. Think of the imagery Jesus uses here, "take up your cross." Now think of what that meant for Jesus when he took the cross up to Golgotha. He was weak, tired, beaten, and hurting. The cross was heavy and rough. And Jesus went up hill. Was that an easy task? No! And yet, that is what He requires of us each day. It won't be easy, but the good news is that we have Him to help us along the way. But this can never be done if we are still focused on our self.
3. Desiring God - v23c - So this brings me to my last point for today. If our focus does not shift to a complete desire for God, then commitment will never be a reality. He must become the focus in our life. And if you think about it, this should be the first step. As you can see, we are back to point number 1; focusing on God produces a life where we lose the focus on our selves.
The neat thing about Luke 9:23 is that Jesus gives us three steps on how to live, but this is not a step-by-step process. Instead, it is a process where all three things must be working in our lives at the same time. If we ever want to get to a point in our lives where we are totally committed, we must make it a daily commitment to deny ourselves and desire God.
I will pick up from here next time, as we look at the risk that is involved when we decide to live life in this way and what the results are of such a life.
Matt
Luke 9:23-24
And He said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it..."
The Road to Total Commitment
1. Denial of Self - v23a - The first thing that Jesus requires is a denial of self. We must get off of this kick that life is all about us and that we are all that matters. We are not the most important person in the world, and as Christians we should be focusing in on Him anyways. But even if we have this attitude, many times we want people to notice our service. We find ourselves serving God in various ways, and then we expect people to acknowledge our accomplishments, wanting to take in all the praise. In reality, He is the only one that deserves the praise and glory. So we must first get rid of the self, and this happens in two ways.
a. Losing Life (self-centered) - v24 - Instead of seeing this as a salvation verse (which I believe it is), I think we can also view it in light of verse 23. We must first lose our self-centered life style.
b. Gaining Life (God-centered) - v24 - And by giving up that self-centered lifestyle, we gain a new life that is centered on God. No longer do we look on our accomplishments and receive the praise. Instead, we give that praise to Him.
2. Daily Commitment - v23b - The second step in a life of total commitment is a daily commitment to follow Him. This does not happen over night, and we cannot decide to follow Him this minute and expect it to be an easy task. We will stumble and fall. We are going to mess up at times. But that is why Jesus told us to take up our cross daily. It must be something that we desire to do on a daily basis, no matter how hard it gets to follow God. Think of the imagery Jesus uses here, "take up your cross." Now think of what that meant for Jesus when he took the cross up to Golgotha. He was weak, tired, beaten, and hurting. The cross was heavy and rough. And Jesus went up hill. Was that an easy task? No! And yet, that is what He requires of us each day. It won't be easy, but the good news is that we have Him to help us along the way. But this can never be done if we are still focused on our self.
3. Desiring God - v23c - So this brings me to my last point for today. If our focus does not shift to a complete desire for God, then commitment will never be a reality. He must become the focus in our life. And if you think about it, this should be the first step. As you can see, we are back to point number 1; focusing on God produces a life where we lose the focus on our selves.
The neat thing about Luke 9:23 is that Jesus gives us three steps on how to live, but this is not a step-by-step process. Instead, it is a process where all three things must be working in our lives at the same time. If we ever want to get to a point in our lives where we are totally committed, we must make it a daily commitment to deny ourselves and desire God.
I will pick up from here next time, as we look at the risk that is involved when we decide to live life in this way and what the results are of such a life.
Matt
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Humphry Clinker
The story is about Humphry, but he is not introduced for quite some time. The Bramble family travels around England, on "vacation." Each member of the family has their own problems that they must learn to deal with, and in many ways Humphry steps in later on to help resolve some of those issues. But Humphry is only a servant, a man who is not worth anything in the eyes of the upper class. So how can he impact decisions made by the Bramble family? His presence, his work ethic, and his attitude on life are the ways that Humphry makes a name for himself, and everyone takes notice. In the end, it all pays off for Humphry in a surprise that many readers would never see coming.
So why did I not like a story that had twists and turns (a feature I typically enjoy)? The first reason is the fact that this is considered an "epistolary novel." That means that the story is a series of letters. But to complicate matters, the letters come from 5 different members of the Bramble family. So readers get snapshots of these events from multiple perspectives, and at times I do not feel like the letters flow smoothly. Furthermore, some of the characters like to ramble about topics that do not relate to the story. And at other times they spend so much time describing the scenery that I got lost in the reading.
There is action at various times, and the plot (what little there is) is interesting. The storyline grabbed my attention from start to finish. But with the sudden breaks and long rambles and description sections, I tended to lose focus. I could not stay excited and interested in the story as a whole, and therefore I did not really enjoy Humphry Clinker. I would not say that the book should never be read because there were many good features to this novel. But if asked if I would recommend Humphry Clinker to someone else, I would have to say no.
Matt
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Where Have I Been?
Anyone who reads this blog on a regular basis may wonder what has happened to me over the last week. And I must say that I am not sure. This last week was extremely busy, and I lost track of this blog. I just did not have time to get on here and write like I have in the past. As a result, I have lost track of some of the things that I was writing about a week and a half ago. But I am here to say tonight that that is about to change. And this post will catch you up with life here at Union and the future of this blog.
So what has the first few weeks of Spring 2009 been like? Homework! I have found myself reading more than ever before. Between two classes, I will read 9 novels this semester! And I have already finished 1 of them. Also, I am in the middle of preparing for a big paper in another one of my classes, which consumed most of my weekend. And finally, Greek is taking more time out of my schedule this semester. It is gradually getting harder, and I am having to put more time into studying this go around.
As for Union, this is finally a normal semester. We started on time, and in May we will complete a full length semester (with no accelerated schedules). That is something we have not done since the Fall of '07. So it will be nice to take this semester at a normal pace again. Our commons is being built now, and the groundwork is being completed. So hopefully, they will remain on schedule to have that completed sometime in the Fall. And one of the more exciting parts of this time of year is basketball. Our men's team is currently number 7, and with just 2 games to go, we are looking forward to the tournaments. But the women are still number 1 (for 23 weeks running). Hopefully, they can pave the way to another championship!
As for the blog, here is what you can expect:
So what has the first few weeks of Spring 2009 been like? Homework! I have found myself reading more than ever before. Between two classes, I will read 9 novels this semester! And I have already finished 1 of them. Also, I am in the middle of preparing for a big paper in another one of my classes, which consumed most of my weekend. And finally, Greek is taking more time out of my schedule this semester. It is gradually getting harder, and I am having to put more time into studying this go around.
As for Union, this is finally a normal semester. We started on time, and in May we will complete a full length semester (with no accelerated schedules). That is something we have not done since the Fall of '07. So it will be nice to take this semester at a normal pace again. Our commons is being built now, and the groundwork is being completed. So hopefully, they will remain on schedule to have that completed sometime in the Fall. And one of the more exciting parts of this time of year is basketball. Our men's team is currently number 7, and with just 2 games to go, we are looking forward to the tournaments. But the women are still number 1 (for 23 weeks running). Hopefully, they can pave the way to another championship!
As for the blog, here is what you can expect:
- A look at Humphry Clinker, the novel that I just finished for one of my classes.
- More news on NASCAR, as the 2009 season continues.
- Updates on the GO Trip, which begins in a little more than a month.
- A continuation of the Pastoral Epistles series.
But I must be honest, with some other Bible studies that popped up at the beginning of the semester, I had to put my study of 1 Timothy to the side for a little while. I prepared for a sermon, which I gave last Wednesday, and now I am in the middle of a new study for our GO Trip. So hopefully there will be more from 1 Timothy in the days and weeks to come.
I am going to try to stay consistent with my posts again. I did not mean to wait so long to post this go around, but life gets busy sometimes. Look for more new posts from me in the near future.
Matt
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Daytona 500 - 2009
The long awaited "Great American Race" finally arrived earlier this afternoon. All during the off season, teams were not allowed to go to tracks to practice, including Daytona. There were no testing sessions, and many wondered how this would effect the new season of NASCAR. But surprisingly, it seemed to just increase the anticipation. The drivers had been out of their cars for weeks, so when Speed Weeks began, they were finally allowed to race again.
They had their practice sessions and qualifying (with the Duals) leading up to the big race today. And today's race started the 2009 season well. It was shortened by rain, but the drivers were able to complete 151 of the 200 laps. All the great aspects of Daytona were present today. There was great passing, the draft worked well, there were penalties (which is common in every race), and the "Big One" happened near the end of the race.
And the 2009 season has begun with controversy as well. Who caused the big wreck this year? Some will say Dale Jr. while others will point fingers to Brian Vickers. They were both involved, and no one will ever know who was truly responsible, but when it was over, 10+ cars were damaged. This changed the race, and with rain on the way, even more drivers raced harder. They took big risks when passing, and more wrecks occurred as a result. It became crucial each lap to gain the lead, and that is just what Matt Kenseth did prior to the final caution. During that caution, the rain came. When NASCAR saw that the rain was there to stay, and that they would not be able to get the track died until late into the night, they decided to call the race. So this year, Matt Kenseth is the Daytona 500 champion!
Jeff Gordon had a good start to the season. He had a dominant car, but through the serious of wrecks, he was shuffled backwards. If there had been one last restart, he would have probably surged to the front. But he did not have the opportunity to show his dominant car again, and he ended up finishing 13th. Jeff stands 12th in points, and with 25 races to go until the Chase, Jeff needs to remain consistent, win races, and work hard. I expect to see the 24 car in the chase for the cup come September.
Matt
They had their practice sessions and qualifying (with the Duals) leading up to the big race today. And today's race started the 2009 season well. It was shortened by rain, but the drivers were able to complete 151 of the 200 laps. All the great aspects of Daytona were present today. There was great passing, the draft worked well, there were penalties (which is common in every race), and the "Big One" happened near the end of the race.
And the 2009 season has begun with controversy as well. Who caused the big wreck this year? Some will say Dale Jr. while others will point fingers to Brian Vickers. They were both involved, and no one will ever know who was truly responsible, but when it was over, 10+ cars were damaged. This changed the race, and with rain on the way, even more drivers raced harder. They took big risks when passing, and more wrecks occurred as a result. It became crucial each lap to gain the lead, and that is just what Matt Kenseth did prior to the final caution. During that caution, the rain came. When NASCAR saw that the rain was there to stay, and that they would not be able to get the track died until late into the night, they decided to call the race. So this year, Matt Kenseth is the Daytona 500 champion!
Jeff Gordon had a good start to the season. He had a dominant car, but through the serious of wrecks, he was shuffled backwards. If there had been one last restart, he would have probably surged to the front. But he did not have the opportunity to show his dominant car again, and he ended up finishing 13th. Jeff stands 12th in points, and with 25 races to go until the Chase, Jeff needs to remain consistent, win races, and work hard. I expect to see the 24 car in the chase for the cup come September.
Matt
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Preparing for Kansas
We had our first GO Trip meeting of the semester tonight, and we now know more of the specifics about our trip. As I told you before, we will be going to Fort Hays State, Kansas. We will be working alongside their BCM (which they call Christian Challenge). While there, they want us to help them in reaching their campus. Tonight we had a brainstorming session on different ways that we could reach out to the students at Fort Hays State.
For 3 days, we will do various acts of service on campus. What this will consist of we do not know yet know. But in some way we are going to reach out to the students on campus, showing them the love of Christ through small acts of kindness. And we will also be introducing them to the BCM, a place where they can learn more about Christ and a place where they can get involved.
On one day we are going to serve the Christian students associated with the BCM. We plan on doing some type of service project at the house where they meet or the church where they meet. We are also going to assist them in their Tuesday night worship session for the week.
There will probably be a few more things that we will be involved with during the week, one of which is connecting with the students, making relationships. We want to encourage them to continue to work hard on their campus, and in many ways they will probably encourage us as well.
Pray for the students we will be ministering to while we are in Kansas. Ask God to open their hearts even now. Pray for our team that we will work hard as we prepare for this trip. Pray that our hearts will be focused on them over these next few weeks. Pray that God will show up during our week at Fort Hays State. To Him be all the glory.
Matt
For 3 days, we will do various acts of service on campus. What this will consist of we do not know yet know. But in some way we are going to reach out to the students on campus, showing them the love of Christ through small acts of kindness. And we will also be introducing them to the BCM, a place where they can learn more about Christ and a place where they can get involved.
On one day we are going to serve the Christian students associated with the BCM. We plan on doing some type of service project at the house where they meet or the church where they meet. We are also going to assist them in their Tuesday night worship session for the week.
There will probably be a few more things that we will be involved with during the week, one of which is connecting with the students, making relationships. We want to encourage them to continue to work hard on their campus, and in many ways they will probably encourage us as well.
Pray for the students we will be ministering to while we are in Kansas. Ask God to open their hearts even now. Pray for our team that we will work hard as we prepare for this trip. Pray that our hearts will be focused on them over these next few weeks. Pray that God will show up during our week at Fort Hays State. To Him be all the glory.
Matt
Monday, February 9, 2009
NASCAR 2009
NASCAR is back, and for the next 10 months, there will be 36 races, all leading up to who will be crowned the Sprint Cup Champion of 2009. Many changes have come to NASCAR in recent years, beginning with the "car of tomorrow," which is now the "car of today." Teams are more alike than ever, with almost identical cars. With the shape of the economy, many teams have undergone layoffs, and NASCAR even banned testing during the off season. All of this has been in an effort to save money, and although things looked dim at first, 2009 promises to be a good year for NASCAR.
Along with those changes, many drivers and sponsors have been swapped around as well. Starting with Hendrick, Mark Martin joins the ranks as Casey Mears heads over to RCR, giving them 4 cars. Also, Tony Stewart left Gibbs Racing after 10 years and formed his own team, pulling Ryan Newman with him. This allowed Joey Lagano, an 18 year old, to fill the spot at Gibbs Racing. Richard Petty's team went under financially, but Gillett-Evernham Motorsports pulled him in and joined forces, keeping the Petty name in NASCAR. And with all of these changes, NASCAR is still going.
So what does 2009 hold? After the manufacture dual at the Bud Shootout Saturday night, 2009 looks exciting. And Daytona is right around the corner. The Gatorade Duals are Thursday afternoon, and the 500 is Sunday. And early projections say that Jimmie Johnson will not win the championship this year. Instead, they predict Carl Edwards to be on top come November. But that is all speculation. There are 43+ drivers, 36 races, and 10 months of racing to go. And no one will know who the champion will be until that final lap at Homestead, Miami.
Matt
Along with those changes, many drivers and sponsors have been swapped around as well. Starting with Hendrick, Mark Martin joins the ranks as Casey Mears heads over to RCR, giving them 4 cars. Also, Tony Stewart left Gibbs Racing after 10 years and formed his own team, pulling Ryan Newman with him. This allowed Joey Lagano, an 18 year old, to fill the spot at Gibbs Racing. Richard Petty's team went under financially, but Gillett-Evernham Motorsports pulled him in and joined forces, keeping the Petty name in NASCAR. And with all of these changes, NASCAR is still going.
So what does 2009 hold? After the manufacture dual at the Bud Shootout Saturday night, 2009 looks exciting. And Daytona is right around the corner. The Gatorade Duals are Thursday afternoon, and the 500 is Sunday. And early projections say that Jimmie Johnson will not win the championship this year. Instead, they predict Carl Edwards to be on top come November. But that is all speculation. There are 43+ drivers, 36 races, and 10 months of racing to go. And no one will know who the champion will be until that final lap at Homestead, Miami.
Matt
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