So this is the New Year?

It's a new year, and a new day. That only happens once a year, for those of you who don't know. It's late so this blog will no doubt be short.

I'd hate to make a resolution, because half the time they mean nothing. For me this isn't a dedication to loose weight, or eat better, or whatever the other resolutions typically are. For me, this is real. Why does the coming of the year mean all things are changing? Everything is new now, apparently.

But like Death Cab for Cutie, I don't feel any different...

Some good things, is the Santa God is dead for at least one more year. But I have no doubt that, that red suited idol will resurface next year, he can expect however, to be met head on by me and my two Santa hating allies...the McElroy's.

Any way I'm loosing myself here. The new year means nothing, it doesn't make things new. Only Christ makes things new. Hopefully this year...at least I pray....I am made new.

Because the old is getting so tiring.

Lates

On the "Big Cheese"

I would like to make a note that this blog was once posted, and once asked to be taken down. However since my return to Liberty University is currently pending and I am currently not enrolled in the University then I feel the need for this blog to make it's way back to the internet.

Wednesday started like every ordinary day for me here at school. I woke up went to breakfast, and then enjoyed a fascinating lecture from Dr. Gaylean Leverette. It's always wonderful to listen to a man speak with such high regard for the glory of God. With my hopes high I made my way to convocation, as usual the time of worship was wonderful. There is always a but isn't there? So, the time of worship was awesome...BUT...Jonathan Falwell stood to preach. This is the point of my blog that most are not going to personally enjoy, be that as it may, here goes.

I sat for 30 something minutes listening to a sermon on how to become great. This entire time my spirit was just in despair. I could not believe our idea of God had become so low that we would apply his word to our life to desire to become "Great"..."Not I, But Christ" he would say. Then who was the thunderous applause at the end for? Christ? Or you? Or was it simply because you preached a message so soothing to the itching ears you were speaking to?

My day was ruined. I began to overhear conversations of the great message preached that morning..and began to ask myself if anyone here gets it? Myself included.

I somehow was talked into going to the Virginia Christmas Spectacular. Charles Billingsly made his way on stage for some introductions, during that time period he said "Man how bout that sermon this morning?" TO which the entire audience decided to appluase once more. I then sat and watched a play unfold where the character of God's name is the Big Cheese, and where there are santa's dancing in unison on stage. To which I asked myself "What is this?" and the only reasonable answer I could find is "This is the church in America"....I wonder how many hungry families could have been fed, or how many heaters been turned back on with the money spent on the Virginia Christmas Spectacular. A play that supposively presents the gospel, however has Charles Billinglsy (drawing way to much attention to himself) singing "Santa Claus is coming to town" REALLY?

Santa Claus has made his way to center stage of a church musical that is presenting the gospel. What a sad state of affairs. The worst of all...is not that there was more about Santa than Christ...because that problem stems from the original problem which is the low view of the Creator God that this church and the majority of the church has in America. I wonder how God feels about being called the Big Cheese. I bet the Big Cheese wears a red suit and delivers presents to everyone on christmas eve. So go ahead Thomas Road Baptist Church and fellow Liberty University students enjoy your gospel that includes Santa and the Big Cheese...whoever that is. Because he is not the God of the bible.

On why I disagree with Universal Atonement pt. 2

This blog will once again be as titled why I disagree with Universal Atonement. I will not give a verse that implies Christ died for His church, rather I will give a verse that is a strong point for the opposite side that says Christ died for all.

Hebrews 2:9
But we do see Him who has been made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.


Crown Him the Lord of life,
Who triumphed o'er the grave.
Who rose victorious in the strife
For those He came to save.
His glories now we sing,
Who died and rose on high.
Who died eternal life to bring,
And lives that death may die.

He triumphed over the grave and rose victorious in the strife for those he came to save. "For those he came to save." These words seem to signal that the writer of this hymn believes that Christ had a design to really save a particular group of people by his death. He triumphed over the grave for those he came to save. It sounds like there are some he came to save, and that for these the grave is defeated and eternal life is given.

So my question is this: "For whom did Jesus taste death?" Ask 100 evangelical Christians in America that question and 95 will probably say, "Everybody." And there is something healthy about that answer—and something unhealthy. What's healthy about it is that it is not cliquish or elitist or sectarian. It has an eye on the world. It wants others to enjoy the forgiveness of sins that believers enjoy. It is not narrow and confined in its affections.

It tries to express the biblical truth that God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes might not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). It is healthy and right to believe that everyone who has faith—no matter what race or education or intelligence or social class or former religion—everyone who puts faith in Jesus Christ is justified and accepted with God on the basis of Jesus' shed blood. It's healthy and right to believe that no one can say, "I really want to be saved by believing Jesus, but I can't be because he did not die for me." No one can say that. There is no one who truly believes for whom Jesus did not taste death.
There are lots of reasons why this answer (that Jesus tasted death for everyone) is a sign of spiritual health. One of the most obvious reasons is right here in our text, Hebrews 2:9:
But we do see Him who has been made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

The answer that 95% of evangelicals would give is a healthy sign of desire to say what the Bible says.

But to say what the Bible says and to mean what the Bible means are not necessarily the same thing. Which is why I said that there is something unhealthy about answering the question, "For whom did Jesus taste death?" by simply saying "everybody." What's unhealthy about it is not, first, that it's wrong. What's unhealthy is that it stops short of asking what Jesus really accomplished when he died. It assumes that we all know what he accomplished and that this he accomplished for everybody in the same way. That is not healthy, because it is not true. My guess is that most of those 95% who say Jesus died for everybody would have a hard time explaining just what it is that the death of Jesus really, actually accomplished for everybody—especially what it accomplished for those who refuse to believe and go to hell.

In other words, it's unhealthy to say that Jesus tasted death for everyone and not to know what Jesus really accomplished by dying. Suppose you say to me, "I believe that Jesus died for everyone," and I respond, "Then why isn't everyone saved?" Your answer probably would be, "Because you have to receive the gift of salvation; you have to believe in Christ in order for his death to count for you." I agree, but then I say, "So you believe that Christ died for people who reject him and go to hell in the same way that he died for those who accept him and go to heaven?" You say, "Yes, the difference is the faith of those who go to heaven. Faith connects you with the benefits of the death of Jesus." Which would be a good arguement, and it really does sound lovely, and logical. However, keep reading, because I am going to share why it is not logical.

There are several problems here. I will only mention one. And I dwell on this because, if this is what you believe, then you are missing out on the depths of covenant love that God has for you in Christ by understanding it to be the same as the love he has for those who reject him. And you are, in one serious way, "neglecting your great salvation,". There is a greatness about being loved with Calvary love that you will never know if you believe that those in hell were loved and died-for the same way you were.

It would be as though a wife insisted that her husband loved and sacrificed for her no differently than he loves and sacrifices for all the women in the world. But in fact Paul, the apostle, says in
Ephesians 5:25–27: Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her; that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless.

That's what we(calvinist) mean when we say he died for the church, his bride. In other words there is a precious and unfathomable covenant love between Christ and his bride that moved him to die for her. The death of Jesus is for the bride of Christ in a different way than it is for those who perish.

Here's the problem with saying Christ died for all the same way he died for his bride. If Christ died for the sins of those who are finally lost, the same way he died for the sins of those who are finally saved, then what are the lost being punished for? Were their sins covered and canceled by the blood of Jesus or not? We Christians say, "Christ died for our sins" (1 Corinthians 15:3). And we mean that his death paid the debt those sins created. His death removed the wrath of God from me. His death lifted the curse of the law from me. His death purchased heaven for me. It really accomplished those things!

But what would it mean to say of an unbeliever in hell that Christ died for his sins? Would we mean that the debt for his sins was paid? If so, why is he paying again in hell? Would we mean that the wrath of God was removed? If so, why is the wrath of God being poured out on him in punishment for sins? Would we mean that the curse of the law was lifted? If so, why is he bearing his curse in the lake of fire?

One possible answer is this: one might say that the only reason people go to hell is because of the sin of rejecting Jesus, not because of all the other sins of their life. But that is not true. The Bible teaches that the wrath of God is coming on the world, not just because of its rejection of Jesus, but because of its many sins that are not forgiven. For example, in Colossians 3:5–6, Paul refers to "immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed," and then says, "On account of these things the wrath of God will come." So people who reject Jesus really will be punished for their specific sins, not just for rejecting Jesus.

So, I go back to the problem: in what sense did Christ taste death for their sins? If they are still guilty for their sins and still suffer punishment for their sins, what happened on the cross for their sins? Perhaps someone would use an analogy. You might say, Christ purchased their ticket to heaven, and offered it to them freely, but they refused to take it, and that is why they went to hell. And you would be partly right: Christ does offer his forgiveness freely to all, and any who receives it as the treasure it is will be saved by the death of Jesus. But the problem with the analogy is that the purchase of the ticket to heaven is, in reality, the canceling of sins. But what we have seen is that those who refuse the ticket are punished for their sins, not just for refusing the ticket. And so what meaning does it have to say that their sins were canceled? Their sins are going to bring them to destruction and keep them from heaven; so their sins were not really canceled in the cross, and therefore the ticket was not purchased.

The ticket for heaven which Jesus obtained for me by his blood is the wiping out of all my sins, covering them, bearing them in his own body, so that they can never bring me to ruin—can never be brought up against me again—never. That's what happened when he died for me. Hebrews 10:14 says, "By one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified." Perfected before God for all time, by the offering his life! That's what it means that he died for me. Hebrews 9:28 says, "Christ also [was] offered once to bear the sins of many." He bore my sins. He really bore them (See Isaiah 53:4–6.) He really suffered for them. They cannot and they will not fall on my head in judgment.

If you say to me, then, that at the cross Christ only accomplished for me what he accomplished for those who will suffer hell for their sins, then you strip the death of Jesus of its actual effective accomplishment on my behalf, and leave me with what?—an atonement that has lost its precious assuring power that my sins were really covered and the curse was really lifted and the wrath of God was really removed. That's a high price to pay in order to say that Christ tasted death for everyone in the same way.

I don't think that the Bible commands us or, in fact, lets us say that Christ died for everybody in the same way. And the context of Hebrews 2:9 is a good place to show that the death of Christ had a special design or aim for God's chosen people that it did not have for others.
What Does "Everyone" Mean?

At the end of verse 9 the writer says, "By the grace of God [Christ] tasted death for everyone." The question here is whether "everyone" refers to every human without distinction, or whether it refers to everyone within a certain group. As Tim and I say at Hall meeting "Is everyone present?" We don't mean everyone in the world. We mean everyone in the group I have in mind. What is the group that the writer has in mind: all of humanity without any distinction, or some other group?

Let's let him answer as we trace his thought in the next verses. Verse 10 is the support for verse 9: Christ tasted death for everyone "for it was fitting for him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings." In other words, immediately after saying that by the grace of God Christ tasted death for everyone, the writer explains that God's design in this suffering of Christ was to "bring many sons to glory." So verses 9 and 10 go together like this: Christ tasted death for everyone, because it seemed fitting to God that the way to lead his children to glory was through the suffering and death of Christ.

This means that the "everyone" of verse 9 probably refers to every one of the sons being led to glory in verse 10. In other words the design of God—the aim and purpose of God—in sending Christ to die was particularly to lead his children from sin and death and hell to glory. He had a special eye to his own elect children. It's exactly what the gospel of John says in 11:52—that Jesus would die to "gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad." These "children of God" that Christ died to gather are the "sons" that God is leading to glory through the death of Christ in Hebrews 2:10.

You can see this in the next verses too. Verses 11 and 12:
For both He who sanctifies [i.e., Christ] and those who are sanctified [the sons he is leading to glory] are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying [in Psalm 22:22], "I will proclaim Thy name to my brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will sing Thy praise." In other words the sons that God is leading to glory through the death of Christ are now called Christ's brothers. It was for every one of these that Christ tasted death.
Verse 13 goes on now to call them, not only brothers, but in another sense children of Christ:
And again, "I will put my trust in Him" [Christ's own confession of faith in his Father along with his brothers]. And again, "Behold, I and the Children God has given Me."

Notice, the sons that are being led to glory through the death of Christ are now called children that God has given to Christ. They don't just become children by choosing Christ. God sets his favor on them and brings them to Christ—gives them to Christ. And for every one of these he tastes death and leads them to glory. This is exactly the way Jesus spoke of his own disciples in the prayer of John 17:6: "I manifested Thy name to the men whom Thou gavest Me out of the world; Thine they were, and Thou gavest them to Me." So the picture we have is a chosen people that the Father freely and graciously gives to the Son as his children.

Then notice how verses 14–15 connect the aim of Christ's incarnation and death with this chosen group of children: Since then the children share in flesh and blood [in other words, since those whom the Father gave to the Son have a human nature], He Himself likewise also partook of the same [human nature], that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives [namely, every one of those children and brothers that God had given him to lead to glory by his death].

So here the reason given for the incarnation and the death of Jesus (in verse 14) is that the "children" share in flesh and blood. That's the reason Christ took on flesh and blood. And the "children," according to verse 13, are not humans in general, but children God has given to Jesus. And so the whole design and aim of the incarnation and death of Jesus was to lead the sons, the brothers, the children, whom God gave to Jesus, to glory.

I am not the least bit interested in withholding the infinite value of the death of Jesus from anyone. Let it be known and heard very clearly: God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son so that whoever believes on him, whoever believes in him—should not perish but have eternal life. Christ died so that whoever believes might not perish but live.

And when you believe as you ought to believe, you will discover that your belief—like all other spiritual blessings—was purchased by the death of Christ. The sin of unbelief was covered by the blood in your case, and therefore the power of God's mercy was released through the cross to subdue your rebellion and bring you to the Son. You did not make the cross effective in your life by faith. The cross became effective in your life by purchasing your faith.

So glory in this, Christian. Glory that your sins really were covered when Jesus tasted death for you. Glory that your guilt really was removed when Jesus tasted death for you. Glory that the curse of the law really was lifted and that the wrath of God really was removed, and that the precious faith that unites you to all this treasure in Christ was a gift purchased by the blood of Christ.

Christ tasted death for everyone who has faith. Because the faith of everyone who believes was purchased by the death of Christ.

Again...there will be atleast 2 more.

Lates

On why I disagree with universal atonement

It is my firm opinion that the doctrine of universal redemption is unscriptural and destructive of the gospel. I am also sure that there are many who have zero interest on the matter. These are the people who see no need for doctrinal exactness and have no time for theological issues which show up divisions between so called "Evangelicals". Many will read the title of this blog and find it so shocking they they will refuse to read this blog at all. But it is hoped that this blog will find itself some readers of a different spirit. There are signs today of a new upsurge of interest in the theology of the bible: a new readiness to test traditions, to search the Scriptures and to think through the faith. It is to those who share this readiness that this blog is offered, in the belief that it will help us in one of the most urgent tasks facing Evangelical Christendom today--the recovery of the gospel.

My last remark may cause the raising of some eyebrows, but it seems to be warranted by the facts.

There is no doubt that Christianity today is in a state of perplexity and unsettlement. In such matters as the practice of evangelism, the teaching of holiness, the building up of local church life, the pastor's dealing with souls and the exercise of discipline, are and of equally widespread dissatisfaction with things as they are and of equally widespread uncertainty as to the road ahead. This is a comples phenomenon, to which many factors have contributed; but , if we go to the root of the matter we shall find that these perplexities are all ultimately due to our having lost our grip on the biblical gospel. Without realizing it, we have during the past century traded that gospel for a substitute product which, though it looks similar enough in points of detail, is as a whole a totally different thing. Hence our troubles; for the substitute product does not answer the ends for which the authentic gospel has in past days proved itself so mighty. The new gospel conspicuously fails to produce deep reverence, deep repentance, deep humility, a spirit of worship and a concern for the church. Why? I would suggest that the reason lies in its own character and content. It fails to make men God-centered in their thoughts and God-fearing in their hearts because this is not primarily what it is trying to do.

One way of stating the difference between it and the old gospel is to say that is is too exclusively concerned to be "helpful" to man--to bring peace, comfort, happiness, satisfaction--and too little concerned to glorify God. (Read that twice if you need to.) The old gospel was "helpful" too--more so, indeed, than is the new--but(so to speak) incidentally, for its first concern was always to give glory to God. It was essentially a proclamation of Divine sovereignty in mercy and judgment, a summons to bow down and worship the mighty Lord on whom man depends for all good, both in nature and in grace, It's center of reference was unambiguously(ahem...point for word usage =) ) God. But in the new gospel the center of reference is man. This is just to say that the old gospel was religious in a way that the new gospel is not. Whereas the chief aim of the old was to worship God, the concern of the new seems limited to making them feel better. The subject of the old gospel was God and His ways with men; the subject of the new is man and the help God gives him. There is a world of difference. The whole perspective and emphasis of gospel preaching has changed.

From this change of interest has sprung a change of content, for the new gospel has in effect reformulated the biblical message in the supposed interest of "helpfulness". Accordingly, the themes of man's natural inability to believe, of God's free election being the ultimate cause of salvation, and of Christ dying specifically for His sheep are not preached. These doctrines, it would be said are not "helpful"; they would drive sinners to despair, by suggesting to them that it is not in their own power to be saved through Christ. (the possibility that such despair might be beneficial is not considered, it is taken for granted that it cannot be, because it is so shattering to our self-esteem) (again you may need to read that twice) However this may be the result of these omissions is that part of the biblical gospel is now preached as if it were the whole of that gospel; and a half-truth masquerading as the whole truth becomes a complete untruth. And so we appeal to men as if they all had the ability to receive Christ at any time; we speak of Gis redeeming work as if He had done no more by dying on the cross than make it possible for us to save ourselves by believing; we speak of God;s love as if it were no more than a general willingness to receive any who will turn and trust; and we depict the Father and the Son, not as sovereignly active in drawing sinners to themselves, but as waiting in quite impotence "at the door of our hearts" as we say, for us to let him in.

It is undeniable that this is how we preach; perhaps this is what we really believe. But it needs to be said with emphasis that this set of twisted half-truths is something other than the biblical gospel. The bible is against us when we preach in this way; and the fact that such preaching has become almost standard practice among us only shows how urgent it is that we should review this matter. To recover the old, authentic, biblical gospel, and to bring our preaching and teaching and practice back into line with it, is perhaps our most present need.

I'm certain that many who might read this would think that all I'm doing is trying to defend limited atonement--which is one of the five points of Calvinism, and assume that in speaking of recovering the gospel I just mean that I just want everyone to be a Calvinist.

These are worth considering so I will very briefly address them. Defending limited atonement as if this was all a reformed Christian who wanted to expound the heart of the gospel could every really want to do! And in consideration of wanting everyone to become Calvinist as if I had no interest beyond recruiting for a party and as if becoming a Calvinist was the last stage of theological depravity, ad had nothing to do with the gospel at all. It has to be understood that there is a drastic difference in people being able to choose and God doing the choosing. One proclaims a God who saves; the other speaks of a God who enables man to save himself. One view presents three great acts of the Trinity for the recovering of lost mankind--election by the Father, redemption by the Son, calling by the Spirit--as directed towards the same persons, ad as securing their salvation infallibly. The other view and any other view gives each act a different reference the objects of redemption being all mankind, of calling, those who hear the gospel and of election, those hearers who respond, and denies that any man's salvation is secured by any of them. One makes salvation depend on the work of God the other on a work of man man's own contribution to salvation; one gives all glory of saving believers to God, the other divides the praise between God, who, so to speak, built the machinery of salvation, and man, who by believing operates it. Where the free-willers say "i owe my election to my faith" the Calvinist say ''I owe my faith to my election"

Redemption according to Arminianism, secured for God a right to make this offer, BUT does not of itself ENSURE that anyone would ever accept it; for faith, being of mans own, is not a gift that comes to him from calvary. Christs death created an opportunity for the exercise of saving faith but that is all it did. Calvinist however define redemption as Christs actual substitutionary endurance of the penalty of sin in the place of certain specified sinners, through which God was reconciled to them, their liability to punishment was forever destroyed, and a title to eternal life was secured for them. In consequence of this, they now have in God's sight a right to the gift of faith, as the means of entry into the enjoyment of their inheritance.

Calvary in other words, not merely made possible salvation of those for whom Christ died; it ensured that they would be brought to faith and their salvation made actual. The Cross saves. When the Arminianist say " I could not have gained my salvation without Calvary" the Calvinist say "Christ gained my salvation for me at Calvary"

My salvation in the Arminianist view depends not on what Christ did for me, but on what I subsequently do for myself. Whether I call myself a Calvinist hardly matters, what matters is that I should understand the gospel biblically.

No If we believe this truth we will be lead to bow down before a sovereign Saviour who really saves, and to praise him for a redeeming death which made it certain that all for whom He died will come to glory. It cannot be over-emphasized that we have not seen the full meaning of the cross till we have seen it as the divines of Dort display it as the center of the gospel, flanked on the one hand by total inability and unconditional election, and on the other by irresistible grace and final preservation. For the full meaning of the Cross only appears when the atonement is defined in terms of these truths. Christ died to save a certain company of helpless sinners upon whom God had set His free saving love. Christs death ensured the calling and keeping--the present and final salvation--of all whose sins He bore. That is what Calvary meant, and means, The Cross saved; the Cross saves. This is the heart of true Evangelical faith; as Cowper Sang--

"Dear dying lamb, They precious blood
shall never lose it's power,
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved to sin no more"

You can rest assured this is only part one.

Lates

Grace is resistable...until it's not

Learn your doctrine from texts. It stands up better that way, and feeds the soul. For example, learn irresistible grace from texts. In this way you will see it does not mean grace cannot be resisted; it means that when God chooses he can and will overcome that resistance.

In Isaiah 57:17-19, for instance. God chastises his rebellious people by striking them and hiding his face: “Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry, I struck him; I hid my face and was angry” (v. 17).

But they did not respond with repentance. Rather, they kept backsliding. They resisted: “But he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart” (v. 17). So grace can be resisted. In fact, Stephen said to the Jewish leaders, “You always resist the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51).

What then does God do? Is he powerless to bring those who resist to repentance and wholeness? No. The next verse says, “I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners” (v. 18).

So, in the face of recalcitrant, grace-resisting backsliding, God says, “I will heal him.” He will “restore”—the word is “make whole or complete”. It is related to the word shalom, peace. That wholeness and peace is mentioned in the next verse which explains how God turns around a grace-resisting backslider.

He does it by “creating the fruit of the lips. ‘Peace, peace (shalom, shalom), to the far and to the near,’ says the LORD, and I will heal him” (v. 19). God creates what is not there. This is how we are saved. And this is how we are brought back from backsliding. The grace of God triumphs over our resistance by creating praise where it did not exist.

He brings shalom, shalom to the near and the far. Wholeness, wholeness to the near and the far. He does it by “restoring,” that is, replacing the disease of resistance with the soundness of submission.

The point of irresistible grace is not that we can’t resist. We can and we do. The point is that when God chooses, he overcomes our resistance and restores a submissive spirit. He creates. He says, “Let there be light!” He heals. He leads. He restores. He comforts.

Therefore we never boast that we have returned from backsliding. We fall on our faces before the Lord and with trembling joy thank him for his irresistible grace.

Heres to Mr. JP

Lates

On God's Glory pt. 2

This is pt. 2 of todays earlier post.

Five Passages on Unconditional Election

Of the many passages in the New Testament which provide the wider biblical foundation of this doctrine I will mention only five.

1. Romans 9:14–18

First, Romans 9:14–18. This chapter so captured my mind and heart about fifteen years ago that I wrote a book trying to understand it. The God of Romans 9 took me captive. No other picture of God ever commended itself to me as more true to what the Creator must be. If there is a God, he must be the God of Romans 9. After years of effort to understand this chapter it still seems to me that its essence is this: God's righteousness consists in his being an all-glorious God, and refusing to be anything less than all-glorious. It has began to be the delight of my life in these past few weeks to behold this God and to ponder his awesome sovereignty. If this blog had never been written it would still be a treasure to me. No one asked me to write it. Few people knew it was emerging. The Grand Subject drew me on. And to him I owe all "the willing and running."

Paul asks, "What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! For he says to Moses, 'I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.' So it depends not upon man's will or exertion, but upon God who has mercy. For the scripture says to Pharaoh, 'I have raised you up for this very purpose of showing my power in you, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.' So then he has mercy upon whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills."

Paul draws out of Exodus 33:19 the same doctrine we have. The basis of God's mercy to me is not my own will, but his will. When I choose God, it is because he has first chosen me. My will is not sovereign and self-determining. God's is.

2. Acts 13:48

Second, Acts 13:48. Luke records for us Paul's preaching in the synagogue of Antioch of Pisidia. Then he interprets for us how we should understand the response to this message in verse 48: "As many as were ordained to eternal life believed."

In other words it is not the belief of the people that determined whether God would ordain them to eternal life. Just the opposite: the prior ordination of God determined who would believe. Faith is a gift of God's grace and saving grace is given to whomever God wills—unconditionally.

3. John 10:26

Third, John 10:26. This is very similar. In Acts 13:48 we learned why some people do believe. In John 10:26 Jesus tells us why some people don't believe. He says, "You do not believe because you do not belong to my sheep." Notice, that Jesus does not say "You are not my sheep because you do not believe." In other words your believing does not make you a sheep. Being a sheep enables you to believe. You do not make yourself into a child of God by your own initiative to believe. God makes you into a child of God so that you have a nature that can believe (John 1:13). He is gracious to whom he will be gracious.

4. Ephesians 1:4–5

Fourth, Ephesians 1:4–5. "God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. He predestined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will to the praise of his glorious grace." God preserves his freedom in the dispensing of his grace so that when we boast, we will boast in the Lord and not in ourselves. All his choices are for the sake of the praise of the glory of his grace.

5. 2 Peter 1:10

Fifth, 2 Peter 1:10. If the glory and the name of God is his sovereign freedom, how then should we think about our believing and our obedience? Peter gives us the answer. He says, "Therefore, brethren, be the more zealous to confirm your call and election, for if you do this you will never fall." In other words our zeal of faith and obedience does not make us elect. It confirms that we are elect. Faith and obedience are a gift, and the possession of the gift is a confirmation of the favor of the Giver. God is not moved to choose us because of our faith. We are moved to have faith because God has chosen us. He is gracious to whom he will be gracious.

So the doctrine of unconditional election is not the product of an isolated text. It has a broad biblical foundation—much broader even than we have seen here. And this is what we should expect since the doctrine is rooted in the very name of God and is the heart of his glory.

Four Practical Implications of This Doctrine

Now I must turn finally to some practical implications of this doctrine on us.(the Church that is..)
(and they've all started with H's so you might remember them)

Humility for the best of saints.
Hope for the worst of sinners.
Help for the cause of missions.
Homage for the name of God.

1. Humility for the Best of Saints

There is no doctrine that tends more to the humility of the saints than the doctrine that every virtue they possess is owing to the sovereign grace of God. O how we need to dwell on the truth that our faith is an absolutely free and unmerited gift. It will make you tremble when you realize how utterly dependent on God you are.

You were dead in trespasses and sins, unable to lift the little finger of your will to please God (Romans 8:7–8; Ephesians 2:1; John 15:5). And God, in absolutely free and unconditional grace, set his favor on you and made you alive. He took out your heart of stone and gave you a new heart of flesh, with a will to believe and obey. Therefore every act of faith and every hint of obedience is the work of God's grace in your life. This should humble us to the dust, and cut out of our lives every motion of pride. The doctrine of unconditional election means humility for the best of saints.

2. Hope for the Worst of Sinners

This is what the doctrine supplied to Moses. Moses needed hope that God really could have mercy on a stiff-necked people who had just committed idolatry and scorned the God who brought them out of Egypt. To give Moses the hope and confidence he needed God said, I WILL BE GRACIOUS TO WHOM I WILL BE GRACIOUS.

In other words, since my choices do not depend on the degree of evil or good in man but solely upon my sovereign will. Therefore no one can say he is too evil to be shown grace. The doctrine of unconditional election is the great doctrine of hope for the worst of sinners. It means that when it comes to being a candidate for grace, your background has nothing to do with God's choice.

If there is anyone reading this today who has not been born again and brought to saving faith in Jesus Christ, do not sink into hopelessness thinking that the excessive rottenness or hardness of your past life is an insurmountable obstacle to God's gracious work in your life. God loves to magnify the freedom of his grace by saving the worst of sinners.

Turn from your sin; call upon the Lord. Even in this message he is being gracious to you and giving you strong encouragement to come to him for mercy. The doctrine of unconditional election means hope for the worst of sinners. "Come, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool" (Isaiah 1:18).

3. Help for the Cause of Missions

If this doctrine means hope for the worst of sinners, then it also means help for the cause of missions. David Brainerd, the young missionary to the Indians in New England 200 years ago, drew strength from this doctrine again and again, as have hundreds of other missionaries.
On Monday, June 25, 1744, Brainerd wrote in his journal, "I was enabled to cry to God for my poor Indians; and though the work of their conversion appeared impossible with man, yet with God I saw all things were possible. My faith was much strengthened." Missionaries never need to despair as though any people or tribe were too hard or evil for God to revive. He will be gracious to whom he will be gracious. And so it does not finally depend on the will or the running of the missionary or the people, but on God. There is always hope for the worst of sinners and so there is always help for the cause of missions.

4. Homage for the Name of God

The name of God is I WILL BE GRACIOUS TO WHOM I WILL BE GRACIOUS. His sovereign freedom is his glory. If we knew God for who he really is, we would be a different people. Oh how full of reverence and lowliness and meekness we would be. We would stand in awe of the absoluteness of his sovereign freedom. We would bow low in his presence. We shrink in fear from any attitude which belittles him. And we would rejoice with unutterable and glorified joy that he has set his favor on us.

Here's to this beautiful Doctrine

Lates

On God's Glory

God's Glory and God's Name

Moses asks to see God's glory. God proclaims to him his name. In other words, if you grasp the name of God, you have seen his glory. God is not playing games with Moses when Moses cries out, "Show me your glory!" and God answers, "This is my name!" The names of God are the manifestations of his glory.

The name in verse 19 is Yahweh, (the LORD, in your versions). This name typically means I AM, or I WILL BE, but this time the name is given a different explanation, "I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy to whom I will show mercy."

In Exodus 3:14 the name Yahweh was explained with the words, I AM WHO I AM. Here it is explained with the words, I WILL BE GRACIOUS TO WHOM I WILL BE GRACIOUS. Notice how these sentences are both built in the same way. In Exodus 3:14 the focus was on the existence of God—that he is what he is without anything outside himself determining his personality or power. In Exodus 33:19 the focus is on the gracious action of God—that he does what he does without anything outside himself determining his choices. This is what God reveals about himself when Moses asks to see God's glory.

The Glory of God Is His Sovereign Freedom

And so, I would draw out this doctrine: It is the glory of God to be gracious to whomever he pleases apart from any constraint originating outside his own will. Or another way to put it would be that sovereign FREEDOM is essential to God's name.

God is utterly free from the constraints of his creation. The inclinations of his will move in directions that he alone determines. Whatever influences appear to change his will are influences which ultimately he has ordained. His choice to show mercy to one person and not to another is a choice that originates in the mystery of his sovereign will not in the will of his creature. And Exodus 33:18–19 teaches us that this self-determining freedom of God is his name and his glory. If God ever surrendered the sovereignty of his freedom in dispensing his mercy, he would cease to be all-glorious, he would no longer be Yahweh, the God of the Bible.

Moses' Astonishing Request

Before we unpack some of the practical implications of this doctrine, let's put the context into better focus. This will help us see just what implications this doctrine had for Moses.
Back in chapter 32 the people of Israel had rebelled against God by making a golden calf to worship. God says to Moses in Exodus 32:9, "I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people; now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them."

Moses responds to God (in verses 11–13) with a desperate prayer for the people. He makes his case not on the basis of Israel's worth but on the basis of God's worth. "Your name will be profaned among the Egyptians, and your word to the fathers will fall." God relents. Instead of destroying the whole people, he appoints the sons of Levi to kill 3,000 men (32:25–29) and sends a plague among the people (32:35).

Then God resumes his purpose to send the Israelites to the promised land. In verse 34 God says to Moses, "But now go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you; behold, my angel shall go before you." But Moses will not be satisfied with an unknown angel. In 33:15 he says, "If thy presence will not go with me, do not carry us up from here."

This is an astonishing request. For God had said in 33:3, "I will not go up among you, lest I consume you in the way, for you are a stiff-necked people." In other words God had said that if he goes up with them, he will wipe them out along the way. But Moses says that if God will not go up with them, he won't go either. Moses is holding out for something unspeakable—that a holy God will have so much mercy upon a stiff-necked people that he will not only go up with them to the promised land, but also, as it says in 33:16, that God would make them distinct among all the peoples of the earth.

If Moses' request was unthinkable, God's answer in Exodus 33:17 was doubly so. He simply says, "This very thing that you have spoken I will do; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name." In other words, God says Yes, he will go up with this stiff-necked people. He will let the grace that he gives Moses flow over onto this rebellious people. You can see from Exodus 34:9 that this decision of God to go with the people is pure grace. There Moses says, "If I have found favor in thy sight, O Lord, let the Lord, I pray thee, go in the midst of us, although it is a stiff-necked people." The people do not deserve the blessing of God's presence. They are stiff-necked. But in mercy God is going to give them another chance to follow him in obedience.
Why Does Moses Request This?

Now the question rises why in 33:18 Moses prayed to see God's glory? "I pray thee, show me thy glory." I think the reason was this: Moses knew that his request for God's presence with a stiff-necked people would never succeed if it were based on any qualification in himself or in the people. (In 34:9 he included himself in the sin and iniquity of the people.) So for Moses to have assurance that God would actually be this gracious to Israel, he needed to see some basis in God and not in himself or the people. He needed a glimpse into the nature of God.

He knew God was an all-glorious God. But was this glory of such a nature that it would encourage Moses to believe that God would really be gracious to a stiff-necked people? So Moses says, Show me your glory. Let me have a glimpse into your divine nature. Let me see the meaning of your great name. Show me the foundation of this amazing promise. Give me some assurance that you will indeed grant your saving presence to this stiff-necked people!
To this God responds in verse 19, "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you my name YAHWEH; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy." In other words, when Moses asks to behold God's glory, God reveals as of first importance his name, which he explains with the words, "I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious."

So in its Old Testament context the declaration of God's absolute freedom to be gracious to whomever he pleases is intended to give Moses hope and assurance that God indeed can and will be gracious to the stiff-necked people of Israel and go with them to the promised land.

Theology and Everyday Life

The Bible never gives us glimpses of God's nature merely for intellectual discussion. It opens the name and glory of God to our understanding in order to help us revere God and love him and trust him and obey him. So when God stands before Moses and uncovers his innermost soul—the glory of his absolute divine freedom—he is doing it for a very practical purpose, namely, to give Moses encouragement to get on with his mission of leading a stiff-necked people on to the promised land.

The deepest doctrines of God have to do with everyday life. Theology is the most relevant and practical of all the human disciplines. If that isn't our experience, it's either because our theology is untrue, or because we go about it in a spirit of irreverence and make a game of it. The doctrines of God revealed in the Bible are of immense personal, practical, and eternal importance. O how we need to study the name and glory of God. The God of Exodus 33:19 is virtually unknown in popular American church life today.

The practical relevance of God's freedom for Moses leads to some practical implications for us too. But before we unpack some of these, let's define our doctrine more precisely and survey its wider biblical foundation.

The Doctrine of Unconditional Election

I've stated the doctrine of this text with these words: It is the glory of God to be gracious to whomever he pleases apart from any constraint originating outside his own will. Or: God's sovereign freedom is essential to his name. When this doctrine is applied to the salvation of individuals, it is called "unconditional election." "Election" refers to the choice God makes of whom he will save, and "unconditional" refers to the fact that his choice is not based on any condition or qualification that individuals have. It comes from the mystery of God's sovereign will.

I've tried to ask the question why God is the way he is, and the answer I received from him was, I AM WHO I AM. There is nothing outside God that makes him the way he is. His being originates in himself. He simply is who he is from everlasting to everlasting. We can worship in awe, or we can rebel in unbelief.

This week(especially after the things God has done in my life) I try to ask the question why God was gracious to me, and the answer I receive from him is, I WILL BE GRACIOUS TO WHOM I WILL BE GRACIOUS. There is nothing outside God that constrains his gracious election of me. His choices originate in himself. He chooses freely apart from any conditions in us. We can stand in awe of his sovereign freedom and worship with gratitude. Or we can rebel against this absolute authority and confirm that we have been passed over.

The doctrine of unconditional election is rooted in the nature of God. His very name, his innermost glory, is this: I WILL BE GRACIOUS TO WHOM I WILL BE GRACIOUS. If God were not free in the grace he gives, he would not be God. This is his name!

Here's to this beautiful doctrine.

lates

On Religion

This will not be one of those cliche` statements on religion. Ya know the ones that say like "I don't follow a religion, I follow a relationship"...or even the t-shirts that say "It's against my relationship to have a religion"...I can assure you it wont be that. Also just to go ahead and get this out of the way this will most likely be the longest blog to date. With that being said:

True Religion confronts earth with heaven and brings eternity to bear upon time. The messenger of Christ, though he speaks from God, must also, as the Quakers used to say, "speak to the condition" of his listeners; otherwise he will speak a language known only to himself. His message must not be only timeless but timely. He must speak to his own generation.

The message of his words/teachings do not grow out of these times but it is appropriate to them. It is called forth by a condition which has existed in the Church for some years and is steadily growing worse. I am refering to the loss of the concept of majesty from the popular religious mind. The Church has surrendered her once lofty concept of God and has substituted it for one so low, so ignoble, as to be utterly unworthy of thinking, worshiping men. This the Church has done not necessarily deliberately, but little by little and without the Churches knowledge; and the churches unawareness only makes our(believers) situation all the more tragic.

The low view of God entertained almost universally among Christians is the cause of a hundred lesser evils everywhere among us. A whole new philosophy of the Christian life has resulted from this one basic error in our religious thinking.

With the loss of the sense of Majesty has come the further loss of religious awe and consciousness of the divine presence. We have lost our spirit of worship and our ability to withdraw inwardly to meet with God in adoring silence. Modern Christianity is simply not producing the kind of Christian who can appreciate or experience the life in the Spirit. The words, "be still, and know that I am God," mean next to nothing to the self-confident, bustling worshiper in 21st century.

This loss of the concept of majesty has come just when the forces of religion are making dramatic gains and the churches are more prosperous than at any time within the past several hundred years. But the alarming thing is that our gains are mostly external and our losses wholly internal; and since it is the quality of our religion that is affected by internal conditions, it may be that our supposed gains are actually losses spread over a wider field.

The only way to recoup our spiritual losses is to go back to the cause of them make such corrections as the truth warrants. The decline of the Knowledge of God has brought on our troubles. A rediscovery of the sheer majesty of God will go a long way to curing them. It is impossible to keep our moral practices sound and our inward attitudes right while our idea of God is erroneus or inadequate. If we would bring back spiritual power to our lives, we MUST begin to think of God more nearly as He is.

Because what we think about when we think about God is the most, the most, the most important thing about us. No religion has ever been greater than it's idea of God. Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God. For this reason the greatest question before the Church is always God himself.

If I were able to extract from any man a complete answer to the question "what comes to your mind when you think about God?" I could predict with certainty the spiritual future of that man.

Without doubt, the mightiest, and heaviest thought the mind can entertain is the tought of God, and the heaviest word in any language is it's word for God.

Our real idea of God may lie buried under the rubbish of conventional religious notions and may require an intelligent and rigorous search before it is finally unearthed and exposed for what it is. Only after an ordeal of painful self-probing are we likely to discover what we actually believe about God. This is where I am in my religion. And I am totally okay with calling it religion.

I would like to end this blog with a prayer by the late great A.W.T

" O Lord God Almighty, not the God of the philosophers and the wise but the God of the prophets and apostles; and better than all the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, may I express Thee unblamed? They that know Thee not may call upon Thee as other than Thou art, and so worship not Thee but a creature of their own fancy; therefore enlighten our minds that we may know Thee as Thou art, so that we may perfectly love Thee and worthily praise Thee. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen"

So here's to all of you with your religious cliche`...

On Hosea

This is the lamp of Hosea's Love:
A bride made ready at the door.
A shabby slave waits her embrace,
Blood-bought and beautified by grace.

Amen, and Lates

On life...under the sun

it seems to me that my general focus is always on the next big thing. the new ipod, the new bands, the new clothes, the new phone. it's almost as if these things define me. and we live our lives out with our new toys. it's no different than when we we're kids. i for one know that all i wanted as a kid was the new G.I. Joe toys, woah, woah, woah let me rephrase action figure. so i would plead for these little toys..that would lose their luster after about a week. however i would spend a lot of that week not even playing with the toy, but just looking at it, taking it to church to show all my friends.

and theres nothing new under the sun. when i got a little older, and i got a pair of nikes i would make sure to clean them every night, so at school i had the cleanest and coolest nikes. so all my friends could see them. so everyone knew that Dakota Zook had some fresh kicks. again in highschool...if you're like a guy i know named Jordan who would come into breakfast every morning and being so very cool he would toss his keys on the table. not in his pocket where keys would normally go...no he needed people to know that as a sophomore in high school he could drive. and he was sooo cool because of it. it's no different. in highschool i followed what seemed to be trendy. i was a touch of a goth for a while...if you can believe that. yes it's true. i did decorate myself daily in my black dickies, my black chuck taylors, and my black band t-shirts. i hung out with all my gothic friends and we would talk about how much we hated shcool, and man we couldn't wait to get out of this town.

that didn't last very long.

i then returned as a skate boarder. and if you've ever seen me...i'm no skateboarder. the thing was i am too simply for those things...so i looked for what was simple, i found myself being best friends with Jacob Frazier...and we were friends. he was my best friend. we would drink the weekends away together(because we had such tough lives...) only to do it again next weekend. and while i still care for Jacob and he will always be a close friend...that scene got old fast. so i moved on to being a gooood christian kid. the problem with that was all my "christian" friends were worse than my "non-christian" friends. and they would often point out how i shouldn't hang out with my "non-christian" friends. i remember my AIM profile...(who doesn't? 8th grade anyone?) and i would put a bible verse in there...only to be approached by my youth pastor who so confidently told me "that's living the truth bro"...is he kidding? putting 1 John 1:9 in my profile made me a living breathing christian? that my readers is popycock. so i never had a balance.

and everything i ever did or tried to do was always what defined who i was. but thats not who i am, and it doesn't define who i will be. putting bible verses on facebook and myspace, and aim doesn't mean you're doing anything for the kingdom...it just means you're making yourself look and feel like you might be. all the while living a life of gossip, and finding yourself worth in your things, and toys. i wonder how many people have had a "G.I. Joe" so to speak? what is it that could be inside of our lives that makes us desire these objects that will all be gone? one of my friends who i wont mention by name, but she is named after a famous singer...who sang songs such as "after the glitter fades", "alice", and my personal favorite "edge of seventeen"...however each of us have these desires that make us who we are...and this friend imparticular wants to get married soo badly...i'm not sure why? but it's like that will finally define her...when i wonder if she knows that she isn't going to be married forever, once she dies...that's it. there's no marriage in heaven. we do and find things to define who we are...and everything under the sun is worthless.

until we are honestly ready to evaluate life under the sun...and realize that saying a prayer isn't going to save us, and putting bible verses on our profiles wont make us more of a christian...and that every toy we pursue is vanity...and step back and look at the big picture for a second and realize that Christ is the only thing that can begin to mold our hearts into what they need to be...and his love is what defines us...then we will never understand the point of this life.

see cause people say Christ said to enter the kingdom of heaven you must be born again...and Christ also said to enter the kingdom of heaven you must sell all you have and give to the poor...ouch...huh? not happening is it? when Christs people are hungry...the church fails. when the homeless don't have shelter...the church fails. when people assume that bible verses on there walls, and a sinners prayer will save them...the church fails. when we define ourselves by what we have on this earth...we fail. life is a breath...hopefully i can start to live that truth.

so here's to christianity...and all the misconceptions it has become

lates

On friends

Friendship is the glue that holds my life together. whether friends back home(whom i miss dearly) or friends here at school. friends hold life together. and while there may not be a spiritual lesson i've learned in todays post. it's just good to sit back and remember my friends love me despite my failures, they love me because of me.

there is no ammount i paid to deserve the friendship i've gained with some friends...which is the beauty of it. i love my friends. all of them. from my best friends harrison, trevor, evan, and derek. i love you guys, for being here in my life. to the ladies who keep me sane Lauren(who i am particularly fond of) emily, erin, heather, and jo.

if you didnt make this list it's because we're still growing in a friendship. i love all of you for the same reason you love me.

heres to the boys...and the girls

On shortcuts

Yesterday I was driving home from home. (for those of you who dont know me, believe me i realize this makes very little sense, just go with it)

anyhow, i thought (well i was positive) i knew a shortcut. i knew, i knew, i knew. however this shortcut proved to get me absolutely lost. like utterly. lost. after stoping at 2 gas stations and recieving 2 different sets of directions, i made my way back to interstate 81 and then made my way back to Home. this morning i was thinking about my shortcut, and realized that is a big way in how i treat my life, and not just my life but my relationship with christ. i enjoy shortcuts, and who doesnt? right? i mean they get you there faster, they make the trip seem so much easier...and hey who doesn't like a faster, and easier relationship with christ? i know i sure do.

but the issue with that is christ said to die to follow him. he said it costs something, he said it requires you to sell all you have to enter the kingdom of heaven. he says to help the poor, to love the sick, to love the ungodly, to live like he has...maybe instead of griping about how frustrated we are with the way the church is running and or operating we should go in and flip the tables over...but long before we can do that i've gotta let Jesus flip the tables of my heart, and drive out the selfish ambitions, the desire to serve noone but myself. then maybe things can start to look up.

maybe i'll continue to grow on this journey of knowing christ and making him known. maybe i'll continue to look for shortcuts...maybe i'm selfish. no scratch that. i am. maybe i'll allow christ to transform me for his glory. maybe one day i'll die to myself, one day i'll pick up my cross, one day i wont love my father and mother more than him. i feel like this is all going to happen for me..but when? cause i feel like christ is more in love with this future version of myself. the one who doesn't meticulously look for short cuts everywhere. maybe he loves that dakota more. but thats not grace is it? no, the beauty is christ loves me now. right now. how i am. dirty. rotten. ugly. impatient. arogant. proud. selfish. he loves me now and sees me clean. new. beautiful. longsuffering. low. humble. selfless. his love isn't based on what i will be one day. his love is based on the cross and what that means for me.

while i fully agree i need change, i need rest, i need strength, i need forgivness, i need grace, i need hope...i can rest, and have hope in the fact that right now christ loves me.

heres to shortcuts. they never work.

lates

oh if you interested here are some good bands i've been listening to that i think everyone needs to check out:

Maximo Park
Brendan Benson and the Wellfed Boys
El Presidente
Derby
Black Kids
Mint
Carolina Liar
and last but certainly not least....
The Lovemakers

On Treadmills

Today at work i had the distinct responsibility to deliver a note to north campus. as i was walking around north campus on my way out i saw several kids running on treadmills.

just so we're clear on what treadmills are here is a brief discription.
they allow you to run and excersise indoors, on a conveyor belt type thing.
very useful for stay at home moms.

but i just noticed these people running on these devices, and the sad thought dawned on me, these people are just running and running and running and running...but never really going anywhere. and i think that is how our lifes and or relationships are. not just with christ, but also with boyfriends, or girlfriends. we have this idea that we are doing things good, and accomplishing so much but we may never really be moving, or going anywhere.

we can appear to be in amazing shape, and to have all these great stories about the lord but have never really done anything but run in place. i like to call this conveyor belt christianity. we go solely on emotions to emotions...and we feel like we are doing so good, we dont break rules that the world has set up as standard. and we dont live by what the bible truly says. we dont live by faith. we dont let the bible be our standard. we just run in place on our convenient conveyor christianity with the worlds rules for our lives. i often wonder if jesus really cares if i listen to punk rock music. i often wonder if he minds the pixies, or the shins. anyone?

the point being today i realized that i had been going, and going, and going...but not going anywhere. this is not just in christ, but in everything i do. my relationship with someone wonderful*, my friendship with evan, and derek, the way i talk and treat my mother and father and brothers. it's all so flippantly based on this conveyor belt idea of running, and running, and serving and serving without ever having to actually do anything.

here's to treadmills and the death of me.

lates

On Hand Sanitizer

I like to often post things in my day that remind me of what to do, and what not to do. lessons learned, things i see that remind me of the God i serve. today i saw just that. i had just sneezed into my hand, which is what we're supposed to do, as opposed to blowing the snot germs on others we just blow them on our own hands infecting ourselves with nasty snot germs.

so this happened to me today. i then got some hand sanitizer that was so conveniently sitting next to me. i squirted a little bit on my hand and i was germ free. now i think there is an obvious example of how this relates to God. so many times in my life, and possible all christians..the data is not in yet, however so many times i blow germs all over myself...i make a terrible pit of my life...i dirty myself up...i allow my mind to be self focused...i dont seek anything other than my good. and when i feel dirty, i put a little bit of the scripture in my life, or a little bit of the Lord in my life and...TA DA! all clean. germ free. dirt free. ugly is now made beautiful. stains are now cleansed.

and this has been my idea on christianity, that when things go wrong we can just put a little hand sanitizer(so to speak) on our lives and all of a sudden we get this title of cleansed. and we actually feel better about ourselves. while hand sanitizer does clean your hands...or i guess whatever you apply it to.(as weird as that is, i however do not know the fettishes of whoever may read this, to each his own) but yes it does clean the germs, but what about the ones under the fingernail? it's just as apart of the hand...and the sanitizer falls very short of it's job of cleansing the whole hand. and what about the germs floating underneath the surface?

see while hand sanitizer cleans the outside, the outter shell, what about the inner? how bout the parts of our soul that we keep just deeply deeply hidden? so while we use the word of God to give us that quick fix, or maybe a short prayer so we feel a little better about ourselves during the week, maybe we might even go to a church service and donate that hour of our week to the Lord, then we can walk out still dirty; however appearing clean. we can even give some of our money to the poor, and walk away feeling clean.

ahhh the madness never ends. the word, and the Lord are not used to merely clean the outside debre of germs out of our lives, but rather to get underneath the fingernails where the infection lives, where the real dirt dwells, and sin is just increasingly more and more difficult to hide when we let the word of the Lord effect us like this. and not a mere heart sanitization where things are rubbed off, or waxed out...but not erased. not cleansed.

hand sanitizer is great for cleaning the snot of our our hands, and even some tiny germs, but how terrible is it when we use it like we use our bible, our God, our money, our family, our friends, our selfish desires. please dont get me wrong, i live sold out to myself much like everyone else. but please Lord im begging that i might die to myself.

so heres to hand sanitizer and the long blog it produced.

On emotions

Emotions seem to stir from time to time, and i think this may be the inevitable death of christs church. or atleast what appears to be his church. see it has become very evident that what the church does is we run off of emotions, we go from service to service feeling emotion towards the sermon, but never really connecting with christ.

and this is a huge problem because we lose focus. no. we dont have focus. we have emotions that keep us going just long enough to make life seem okay, to make us feel like we are doing good, everything is running smooth right? and so we continue living and accepting this system of life, and all the while we are sinking quickly. we are falling fast.

we are a brood bunch of people. always ripping eachohter apart. always back biting, and yelling, and gossiping, all the while the church seems to prosper because emotions overflow in the cup that christ has appointed us to carry. except when the cup overflows with emotion, it is actually empty. and this is going to prove to be a problem for the church. especially our church, our american safety net. we have our wealth, and our happiness, and our beloved desires, our star athlete children, our beautiful lawns, all of our beautiful possesions, our beautiful men, our beautiful women, our big houses, our fat bank accounts, our health, and our emotional connection to the Lord.

i really wonder when we will understand that un-understandable parable...the one about the camel going through the eye of needle, being so much surprisingly easier than rich people to enter the kingdom of heaven. my ideas aren't really shared, people often say i hate the american church. i do. ha. and all it stands for as well. because that isn't much. im not jaded, im not hurt, i am burdened for the people of God, who subsequently are actually people of their desires, and posessions. i guess you could say im jaded towards people who consistantly, and constantly choose creation over the creator.

heres to america. God bless our possesions.

lates

On Swelling

So last night several good friends of mine and myself were playing basketball. and i was undoubtably balla mcnasty all night long. so we're a few minutes into our third game of the night, and i drive to the basket and just pull up for a jump shot(which went in by the way) now i did jump which we all know the saying what goes up must come down...and i did come down. half of my foot landed on andy's foot the other half had about 230 pounds curl on it, and i just felt surges of pain all over my ankle/foot area.

we then made our way to the emergency room, the wait wasn't real bad..but then yada yada yada x-ray, yada yada yada...cast....yada yada yada....drive home. then i proceded to bed. which by the way was the most uncomfortable night of sleep i can recall. only to wake up to a delicious breakfast, and then finally getting to work with my terrible fractured ankle.

can i just say...trevor matthews is my main squeeze.

here's to basketball, broken ankles, and a best friend to take care of you the whole time.

lates

On Dark Knight

So...dark knight was definately worth going at midnight, and not getting home til 330...

i really enjoyed hanging out with my friends last night.
lots of laughs.
no cries.
boys dont cry.
except for andy.

anyway, i then proceeded in passing out on my couch. thats right i didn't even make it to my bed. (partly because my uncle is visiting from FLA and he was sleeping in it, so couch was my only option)

then woke up this morning and came to work..and the joy of that is just unspeakable (untypeable?)

we take our students on their summer trip soon, that should be fun.

here's to dark knight at midnight and no sleep...and filming the whole movie and selling it. (jk)

On Friday

If we're comfortable in our lives, perhaps we're doing something very wrong.

Do you ever feel like you're missing the point? Like we're missing the point?

On Albums

The Strokes- Is this it?

Pretty much the best album by the strokes. a really nice addition to any indie rock collection. definately one i have listened to more than once, and have atleast referenced lyrics or titles in quite a few blogs as well as a few times on a facebook page. If you don't have it, get it, if you have it and it's been awhile put it on sit back and enjoy.

Jack Johnson- Sleep through the static

Honestly, his best work so far. i'm not real sure what else i need to say on the matter. he never upsets, always brings it to the table. so if you're in a mellow mood, and it's raining outside* then put on some jack and close your eyes.



Ryan Adams- Heartbreaker

Seriously, it's Ryan Adams. what else needs to be said?

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah- Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Classic, Classic, Classic, Classic, Classic. Listen to atleast a couple songs everyday. go grab it, or download it at the itunes store. or your nearest best buy and pick it up and enjoy.

On Smoothness

everything in my life is running smoothly (except for a 98' plymouth neon). i'm constantly on an adventure, atleast i tell myself i am. and it really makes me feel more adventurous. but i do.

i got a lot going on right now, with me trying to get everything squared away for school, and also my little brother (which is a pain to do double the ammount of FAFSA and double the ammount of dealing with a financial aid office) but thats life.

hey anyone who reads this. i need help. not like mental help, just some prayers. i know that probably means only 2 people will pray for me. but still, just pray.

heres to trying to get money for school, and the overwhelming burden that it has become on my life.

On Canada Dry

this isn’t about design, and is has no rhyme or reason; but more so some mid-summer thoughts i want to share and also a few interesting stories. harrison suggested i write a book, but…well we all know how that’d end. you might pick up my book because it caught your eye but anyone intellectual would start reading and be like, “who in God’s great earth allowed this dude to spit on the world of literature.” but…it’d have a great cover!

if you are like me then when you go grocery shopping you find yourself buying things, not because you think it’ll taste good but all because it looks so cool. Canada Dry Sparkling Green Tea. i bought it because the combination of the mint green and gold can design contrasted against the red canada dry logo, i loved it. its the kind of thing i look at say to myself, “i wish i had come up with that”. but it gets better, i’d venture to say it tastes like heaven in a can. yeah, it’s that good. touche Canadra Dry, your designers have pulled me into buying it.

On the 4th

So i survived another fourth of july, this was (i must admit) the worst of them all in years past. (although i do recall i pretty excellent 4th last year).

so the fireworks went off, and it was grand..but then the rain came and washed the fireworks away. and so. lauren and i end up underneath a tree. for the rain. only to realize that her friends had absolutely ditched out. and my friend was sitting warm in the car waiting for me.

this was a problem.

eventually lauren returned safely to her inconsiderate friends. and i returned safely (in about a mile of rain) to my very warm, very dry, very good friend.

then the wait in the traffic started, for about an hour or so we waited, with Copleand-Eat,Sleep,Repeat playing in our ears. only to rummage through a stack of cd's to run into Ryan Adams-Love is Hell, which we enjoyed for the duration of the trip.

the drive home was filled with laughs, and direct references to how much of the "man" we both were, for varios instances discussed. (hush hush) i was then safely returned home, where lauren and i had a very enjoyable phone call while i cleaned my room.

so merry 4th of july, and to all a wet night.

On Tila

I'm terribly depressed that tila did not choose bo, he seemed like an upstanding fella, while he did have some pretty ridiculous ear rings, and a 1995 hair cut...he still truly loved tila.

but tila did not choose bo, she decided to go with brook i think...i'm not really sure. I turned it off when I saw that she didnt choose bo. but from what i saw after i flipped back through, tila was rejected by brook. oh tila, how the tables have turned.

do i smell a third season?

heres to reality television, and the heart aching drama that it produces.

On the Summer Ahead

For those of you who don’t know me [or for those of you who do?], my name is Dakota Zook. I’m a student intern with First Free Will Baptist church this summa, and I’m lovin’ it. [Does McDonald’s own that phrase?] When I’m not kickin’ it down here in the The Volunteer State, I spend my days rockin’ the suburbs of the greater Lynchburg area. While VA may be "home", I think my heart really resides in Tennessee. (If you know what I mean)

I’m a student at Liberty University in Lynchburg, otherwise known as Lame City, USA. I’ll be a Sophomore this fall, and hopefully earn my degree by May 2010. No, scratch that. I will graduate in the spring, because I can’t afford not to. Ha! I’m a Biblical Studies major, with a potential minor in journalism. [I swear my professional writing style is much more sophisticated than this note would suggest. I’m just taking creative liberty with this blog and hoping you’ll track with me]!

My Facebook profile would inform you that I’m a huge fan of Coffe, sweet tea, laughter, hammocks, accents, YouTube, and bumper stickers. My favorite Canadian province is Ontario[though I've never been], and I don’t eat food with a face. I enjoy crafting paper chains to count down to important events, and it is my strong opinion that summer is the worse possible season. The Flight of the Conchords is [are?] undoubtedly my guilty pleasure, and I have an undeniable crush on Julia Roberts. And as my good friend would no doubt laugh while in the floor about this next tid bit of information, but I was once a huge fan of Arial [yes from the Little Mermaid], like legit...I had a doll; also I was a huge undeniable fan of Beanie Babies. If there is any remaining question, yes I am a hetero sexual male.

But the most integral part of who I am lies in my relentless pursuit of a God who loves me, redeems me, and excites me - a God who is alive, who left His Spirit with us, and who promises greater things in the days ahead. I’m on a journey towards discovering more and more about the Author of extreme love and scandalous grace. It’s incredible what the Spirit is stirring in the hearts and lives of our generation. I truly believe that we can and will change the world [much to the chagrin of a Mr. John Mayer, who would rather we sit around and wait for things to be different].

There’s so much more to say [type?], but I’ll leave that for another time. Talk soon, friends. Until then, keep spreading the Word and sharing the Love.

Also for the record this blog was posted because I always complain that noone reads my blog, so now that people may know a little more about me I can find a bigger fan base for my writing.

[In case you didn’t recognize it, the title of this post is ripped straight from ‘Ice Ice Baby.’ Word to your mother.]

Lates

On Soundtracking my life

1. Kamera- Wilco
2. At the bottom of everything- Bright Eyes
3. A lack of color- Death Cab for Cutie
4. Smile like you mean it- The Killers
5. Just a ride- JEM
6. Something Pretty- Patrick Park
7. Everything will be alright- The Killers
8. Hotel Yorba- The White Stripes
9. Til kingdom come- Coldplay
10. Maybe I'm amazed- JEM
11. Cecilia- Simon and Garfunkel
12. Hello Sunshine- The Super Furry Animals
13. Walnut Tree- Keane
14. If you leave- Nada Surf
15. Decent Days and Nights- The Future Heads
16. Eve the Apple of my Eye- Bell x1

I suppose I just created my own life soundtrack. That will probably change over the years. But for the first 20 or so this is what it is. Creating a life soundtrack is sort of a odd sensation. I am someone who is constantly soundtracking my life anyway. It goes with the territory of being nostalgic for my life as I'm living it. As any of you who are out there and are like me know- you can't plan your life's soundtrack. It's just one of those accidental miracles that occurs- you're having a moment, and a perfect song accompanies it, and suddenly your brain is seared with the understanding that this is a time and a place and a song you'll never forget. No matter how long its been, when that song comes on...? it's like being in a plutonium fueled Delorian- you've driven 88 miles an hour back to that memory.

I guess thats life.

hmm.

this weekend was amazing, and some of these songs made the list due to you, and our night together. Expect a copy sometime soon.

Here's to loving life and the soundtrack that comes along with it.

Lates

On the End of the Year

Well, tim and i have been doing prayer leader interviews for our hall next year. last night we interviewed two dudes from my hall. they are both just such stand up guys, and it would be super hard for me to choose between them, so that is why tim is going to.

after the interview tim and i just sat and chatted for a bit, and i am so excited about working with that dude next year. he just has such a heart to serve. then we left. and tim showed me some legit christian rap music. and i'm not even going to try and lie. it was legit.

today we have two softball games, a double header if you will. i am pretty excited about it. just being with the boys, messing around. should be a good time.

i am going to be heading back to the state of tennessee this weekend, to hang out with my peeps, but mostly and when i say mostly i mean mostly my wonderful # 1 peep. i am going to be getting measured for a tuxedo saturday morning i will be asking for some pockets on the inside that hold guns, so i can feel more like james bond. granted my tux will be far more slick than bond could ever imagine.

so now its time for me to get dressed and head to my communications class. which leads me to this brief letter.

Dear Jesus,

I dont really think it's necessary for me to sit through my coms class. so if you could maybe bump your return up a little bit, and just go ahead and rapture us that would be good.

thanks.

heres to writing letters to the God of the universe through a blog.

lates

On the Road

Well i am officially back from spring break and i just thought i would let you know how the trip went.

Day 1: arrive in south carolina late evening, go to steven curtis chapman concert, went back to jocies house and slept.

Day 2: meetings pretty much all day leading up to impact weekend, that night met the best group of guys you'd ever seen. first night of impact weekend, matt pappa leading worship, head back to host homes chilled with the guys.

Day 3: early morning start, breakfast with the claytons head to the church for all day of sessions for impact weekend. finished our sessions went back to the claytons to film our music video for the impact weekend video project. Check it out go to youtube.com and type in "weezy of bel-air" and enjoy. then we went to boots and sunny's and enjoyed some hamburger steak. amazing night back at the claytons with guys just pouring their hearts out. God moved, ofcourse.

Day 4: meet back at the church for morning session, impact weekend over. nap, nap, nap, nap. evening service with ergun caner! he did phenominal. back to jocies to sleep lots of driving for day 5.

Day 5: we drove from SC to FLA long drive, got there in time for dinner with my grandma. that evening jeff and i explored north FLA. we had a good time.

Day 6: lunch with Gramma and Granpa, off to macclenny, to meet up with cousin devon, for dinner at long horns. then off to ma's for the night.

Day 7: Wake up for breakfast at cracker barrell, then off to sardis baptist church to preach, and hang out with their students. good time. after the service off to melbourne beach.

Day 8-10: melbourne beach, chilis, tacos, hot-rod, late night conversation, sun-rise surfing, naps the open road.

Day 10-12: Jen, and Jimmy, Maddy, and Trev eastor and dinner, conversation with friends, late night nertz.

Day 13: 12 hours on the road with jeff. amazing conversation together. got back late this evening unpacked and did this now...thats all folks.

Heres to spring breaks, 2500 miles on the open road, music, deep theological conversation, tacos, surfing, inside jokes, spoiled ham, expensive gas, sketchy charactors, no t.v, no pc, and 13 days on the road with your best friend.

lates.

On the Surf

so jeff and i are in auburndale Fla.....and we are having a pretty "gay ole time" (note the flinstones reference). anyway. the past two days wednesday, thursday, and this morning, we were in melbourne fla at the beach with our buddy josh and his wife mise. this morning was our last morning in melbourne beach, we went sunrise surfing early this morning hopefully pictures will follow.

i could not believe the waves, and the sunrise God literally blew my mind this morning, jeff and i have had the most amazing time together. we are pretty much constantly on the road. and not really getting to talk to friends back home or family, which is good because the trip's main goal is to get away from everything.

i am excited about going home next weekend, i will be missing a very cheap david crowder concert but i am excited to go see veloria. "my veloria, my veloria, even i'll adore ya"

anyway thats all i got for you guys.

heres to surfing, the beach, and living the good life.

lates

On the 10th Grade

So, the trip is going amazing so far. we just finished up the most amazing weekend with a bunch of guys. they were 10th grade boys, and they were amazing. we had such a good time together just growing deeply in christ.

so we are now in my hometown, starke fl. and oh is it a blast.

that is a lie.

as any of the 3 people who read this know i'm with my buddy jeff, who is in the worship program at LU and we got asked to lead a service at Sardis Baptist Church here in FL. he will be leading the worship, and i will follow that up with a message. i am pretty stoked to be working with jeff this is our second time together, we led worship together once and that was it. so technically this is our first time together. and im stoked.

so...im going to go do some studying.

here's to florida, and opportunities from God.

lates.

On Carolina

So yesterday jeff, and i made the drive down to spartanburg SC which is pretty sweet. we are here to help lead small groups for this impact weekend at his sisters church. first baptist north spartanburg. we've been in and out of meetings all day...its been pretty hectic...picking up the rental vans and such. the kids will be arriving in a few hours and we had a quick break so i decided to take the time to blog it up.

after this weekend we head down to FLORIDA...which should be pretty sick. we've got a lot of time together on the open road...and im so excited for that but as for today and this weekend im just excited about spending time with the dudes that will be in my group for the next three days.

so i officially got picked up as the SLD on east campus dorm 17 floors 1 & 2...i will be working with Tim Rebert...and I am stoked for that. floors 1 & 2 are a bit different because there are not two RAS and two SLDS rather one RA and one SLD so...i am stoked to be given this amazing oppurtunity to work with deebs (tim) and when we go back to school next monday we've got a long road ahead of us...as we will be selecting our team of PL's to be working with. im stoked.

in other news i think that life is finally starting to make sense, i mean im happy, christ is doing a ton of stuff...lauren is right next to me on this journey and im just surrounded by friends, and family who are supporting me. so im stoked about life right now.

im going to go do some reading while i can.

here's to sunsets/sunrises on the open road carolina heat, and loving your circumstances...

lates

On Soda

As an avid soda drinker (especially a daily crisp refreshing can of Dr. Pepper), I was shocked and appalled by a recent post on the “Water for Life USA Blog” that outlined eight harmful health effects of drinking soft drinks cleverly titled, “8 Ways Soda Fizzles Your Health.” The title of the slanderous blog entry jumped off the screen this morning while checking my Email. Out of morbid curiosity, I clicked the link … certainly this couldn’t be true! Tooth decay?! Bone loss?! Brain damage?! There had to be some hidden agenda behind this article that was attempting terrify the soda drinking masses. After countless hours of research, a brief investigation by a private investigation firm and hundreds of phone calls to web-hosting providers, my search for a source came to frustrating end. Who were these people? Why do they hate soda?

Finally, after three solid days of independent research, I had given up my investigation. As I popped open my third can of DP, I noticed something. Just above the article entry in bold lettering read the phrase, “The exclusive US distributor for KYK Water Ionizers.” AhhhHaa!!! I knew there had to be some malicious plot behind the article, and now the devious plan was clear. This was a scheme by Big Water Ionization! The water ionization distribution industry has long been the hidden enemy of soda drinkers everywhere, and now their latest smear campaign has been blown wide open!

There’s only one way to combat this hateful propaganda. I give you:
8 Reasons Why Soda Is Awesome

1. It Is DeliciousThis is commonly known and was recently scientifically proven. In fact, researchers at M.I.T. have discovered it is so good, that many people drink it with every meal!

2. It Is CheapWith combo meals, a large soda is only an extra dollar, and you get fries!

3. It Helps Abandoned PuppiesMost abandoned puppies love soda too, and it helps them in many, many ways.

4. It Cures Hair lossJust pour it on your head several times a day, and you will grown a lush main of gorgeous long hair in just two weeks … guaranteed!

5. It Burns Cleaner and More Effectively than PetroleumIt’s true. I recently converted my ’98 Plymouth Neon to run only on Mountain Dew, and it gets 87 miles to the gallon!

6. It Stops Global WarmingThe natural gases released when opening a can of soda actually ascend into the atmosphere and fill the hole in the ozone layer!

7. It Champions Third World Debt Relief Don’t take my word for it … just ask Bono.

8. It Is the World’s Third Most Abundant Natural Resource(Just behind air and dirt)

Still not drinking soda?I think we’ve made our point. So go help yourself (and the environment!) and grab yourself a tasty Mountain Dew … this one’s on the house.

Here's to destroying pesky rumors about why Soda is harmful.

Lates

On Looking Ahead

so, as the weekend comes to a close...i am excited about a lot of things. such as. (and not all of them have to do with the closing of the weekend.)

but they are as follows

the road with jeff
my grandma
impact weekend
summer internship
ministry
being home
seeing lauren
seeing my brothers
seeing my mom, and dad
mid-terms being over
school being over
preaching at first free will
going to bed tonight
finishing this blog.

as i am making a list i figured it be cool to make another one. tonight lauren and i were talking about being stranded on a desert island, and if you could take 10 cd's what would you take. so since blogging is apparently something i do daily..i figured it be best to let the 3 people who read this what i would take.

in no particular order:

1. U2 18
2. swiss army romance- dashboard confessional
3. beneathe the medicine tree-copeland
4. so impossible-dashboard confessional
5. takk-sigur ros
6. anything by elliot smith
7. anything by john mayer
8. anything by the strokes
9. yankee hotel foxtrot-wilco
10. love is hell-ryan adams

that would basically work for me. as long as i was there for a year...and if i could somehow sneak a tom petty cd in.

alright.

here's to looking forward to new things.

lates