A Quote to ponder

"Besides theology, music is the only art capable of affording peace and joy of the heart like that induced by the study of the science of divinity. The proof of this is that the Devil, the originator of sorrowful anxieties and restless troubles, flees before the sound of music almost as much as he does before the Word of God. This is why the prophets preferred music before all the other arts, proclaiming the Word in psalms and hymns. My heart, which is full of overflowing, has often been solaced and refreshed by music when sick and weary."

Martin Luther

Perhaps we should all take some more time to sit and listen to good and edifying music. God created man to function in a holistic way, is it any wonder then that hearing something soothing might in fact settle our very spirits?

People Of God

I've been thinking a lot in regards to how the people of God ought to behave towards each, and the world in general these past few weeks. I can't say that I've come up with anything really deep or profound, but I have arrived at a few conclusions. First and foremost that the church is a family. Nothing more, nothing less. The reality of this is kind of veiled by our selfishness sometimes, but regardless of the fallen humanity within us we do have the means of grace that God has provided. Meaning that because we've been forgiven so much, we have the gift of being able to overcome ourselves, and our sinful desires. This means that when scripture calls us to view others as more important than ourselves, we, by grace, are able to be obediant. Secondly, in regards to the church, obedience is a choice. We've all been called by God into a higher means of life, an abundant life. He would not call us to something, and then prevent us from attaining the gift he is giving, therefore the only obstacle that stands in our way of this abundant life is ourselves. So what is this abundant life? I can't exactly answer it (and I sincerely doubt that any man can mine out the treasures in that phrase), but I think some of it's components are displayed in the Gospels. Abundant life is a life that would rather give than possess, rather serve than be served, that seeks the benefit of others instead of looking for it's own gain. Abundant life is a homeless man building a mansion for another, and returning to his shanty. We, as Christians, tend to sit and wonder why people aren't listening, and my answer to that would be the following question. Are we living the lives we ought to be? Do we tend to look after those who can't tend to themselves, or do we stare at the dashboard while a dejected man gazes hopefully through our car windows. Here's a thought to consider, in that moment, you are all the hope that man has. The Kingdom, in that moment, is within reach for both of you; all that needs to happen is for you to roll down your window, and reach into your wallet. To reach into yourself, and give for the sake of another in need.

Which brings me the second part of what I want to say, and that pertains to how we treat those around us who aren't living in covenant grace with God. I don't know why, but God seems to have decided that we are the best way for his good news to be passed on. God has revealed himself to us through Jesus, and wishes to reveal Jesus to the world through us. So the next time you wonder why people can't seem to get it together, perhaps it's because of our apparent inability to live the way God has called us to live. How are they going to see, if we're not even displaying grace to each other in the proportion that we've received it? Moreover none of us were much better when we were saved, so how can it be that we sit around and criticize those who are not empowered for holiness by the Holy Spirit? From the inside looking out, the world looks like a nasty place to be. People lie, cheat, steal, murder, the list goes on and on. Sadly, it will continue to go on and on unless we, the signs of God, walk in the midst of it. Not condemning but calling for justice and grace. It is not in our ability to see who is set apart, and who isn't until they respond. We just need to give them something to respond to. It's not the "Roman Road" or the Four Spiritual Laws. It's the Kingdom of God, and unless it's apparent in our lives, than the greatest treasure the world has ever known will remain hidden from those who need it the most.

True Ministry

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said,
"Today, if you hear his voice,do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."
Hebrews 3:12-15

If you really want to know more about who God is, and how he operates in your life, you must be careful not cut yourself off from other people, be that through hating the one who sins against you, or judging those who do no call on the name of Jesus. Each person walking past you on a daily level carries a unique stamp of God somewhere deep within themselves. Be that through his image being impressed on their hearts, or his spirit dwelling, and expanding inside of them. Therefore, we must not harden our hearts against each other, but eagerly pursue reconciliation and harmony (though not at the cost of truth) with all people. Exhorting, admonishing, rebuking, and encouraging each other to a deeper level of relationship with Jesus Christ. Before he ascended Jesus spoke to Peter near the Sea of Galilee; he asked Peter if he loved him, Peter said yes, and Jesus then instructed him to do something based on that love. He said "feed my sheep", what I've come to see in this passage is that if we truly love Jesus, we will then love those whom he created. You cannot hate people and claim to love God, in the same way you cannot claim to love people and hate God. If you want one you must embrace the othe. If you do not live in peace with his creation, you cannot live in peace with him. If you do not live at peace with Him, than it is impossible for you to maintain true peace with those around you.

Regarding Christian Controversies

There are quite a number of things this Christmas season that many people have differing opinions on. It seems like the church against the world, but even on the inside of the debates and trifles we see the world against the world, and sadly the church against the church. I want to address two of these issues in this blog. First of all is the film The Golden Compass. I have not read the Dark Materials trilogy, nor do I know much about Philip Pullman that isn't heresay (which puts me on an equal footing with a great majority of those who so adamently protest against the film), but I must admit that, from the previews, it looks like a good movie. Even moreso, because I like good movies, I will go see it. I'll eagerly jump right in line with all those people who might be going specifically for the supposed anti-Christian message, sit right next to them in the theatre, and maybe even chat about the film superficially when my wife and I leave the theatre. I don't feel like the centuries of Christian truth can be swayed by a 2 hour movie. And even if they can, who's fault is that: Philip Pullman's, or ours? I do not at all feel that I need to convince people that they should see the movie (though I do feel it better that people see what is really going on for themselves), nor do I feel at all pressured by those who aren't going. However, I would say that we ought not to wage a war about a movie. Not on the unbelieving community, and much less opon ourselves.
Secondly, on the matter of the celebration of Christmas. I was unaware of such a controversy until recently. Clearly if one studies the bible it's pretty obvious that Jesus of Nazareth was not born on Dec. 25th. Just like it's equally obvious that the precise dates of his acsension are just as cloudy (but nobody will gripe about Easter). Does it have some weird practices....I can't say. I've never bowed down in front of a Christmas tree, nor have I prayed to Santa...although St. Nicholas might just be able to hear us from his place in glory. But to see the church, and the athiestic communities bickering so fiercely saddens me. That we, the church, should turn aside from a day to celebrate the fact that Jesus came, and is coming back to participate in such a childish diversion shows that the church in America clearly has too much time on it's hands. Even worse is the debate within the church. Ignorantly condemning people of participating in pagan ritual, judging Pastors and friends based on the installation of a Christmas tree into their homes and whether or not they sign their presents "Santa Claus". I will say that it is good to not buy into the materialism of the season. It's a trap set before us by those who would twist earnest sentiments into a bigger fiscal statement, and a higher stock quote. If you have a tree, do not judge those who don't. If you don't, do not judge those who do.

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and notholding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— "Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch" referring to things that all perish as they are used—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Col.2:6-23

So if you have a tree or not, or you see the Golden Compass or not. Understand that you have the freedom of the grace of God which is found in Christ. So whatever you choose to do this Christmas season do it for the Glory of God, and as such, do it in such a way that glorifies our Father in Heaven.

Progress

I see a new dawn rising,
like some ruffian conductor raising his baton to count the time.
It goes down like coffee in the frigid winter,
or summer rum with ice and lime.
All hard to explain,
Just taste for yourself.

I feel the blazing retire of the evening sun,
dragged down like a cokehead at lockup,
cold steel biting into tense determination.
stubbornly painting beauty into the darkness.
A jagged pill to swallow,
So shed your tear, and choke it down.

I've heard the quiet moon still rises,
casting solemn shadows like curtains over my ruined sphere,
some say it feels like a blanketed child breathing:
soft into the night air.
A quiet assurance that all is well with me despite the pain,
so brush off the dust of yesterday, and stroll on to hope.

Snow

I like the snow. My friend Wells tells me that everything gets quiet when it snows because the density of the snowflakes squashes soundwaves as they travel through the atmosphere. It also makes me think of hope, because if you're inside away from all the windows you don't even know what's going on. But once you look outside, everything is different. I think God works that way a lot. Which I think is great.
Somewhere in the Gospels Jesus tells his friends a story about a farmer that went out into his field and planted a bunch of seeds, and then his jerk of a neighbor came along when he wasn't watching and planted a bunch of weeds in with his crop. The farmer didn't know anything about it until all the plants had grown up, and when he looked out at what he had planted he noticed the weeds . I've done a little bit of gardening/farming stuff in my life (mostly when I was a kid), but I can say this with confidence. That would piss me right off. But the planter didn't really seem to mind all that much, his workers came in and asked if he wanted them to pull the weeds out, but he told them not to. He said that if they pulled up the weeds, it would damage the crop. He said that it would be better to harvest them all when the time was right and seperate the weeds from desired plants then. I know that's an agricultural fact because if any of the root structures grew close to each other they would be fairly tangled together. So pulling the weeds would have devastated the plants he wanted.
I used to think the field represented the all of Christianity, and that at the end of days Jesus would separate the sheep from the goats and so on and so forth. I've gone through some stuff this year that has showed me how this passage relates to me on a purely personal level. It's funny, sometimes we don't even notice the fact that we're changing, we don't really notice anything about it until the change is complete and we find ourselves behaving in a strangely more Christlike manner. I think God does that kind of thing in such a gentle patient manner because were somebody to tug at the weeds before we were harvested, it would destroy our softness of heart. I love that about God.

Hi Everybody

Welcome to the new and improved Head Room. I want to thank all of my readers from myspace who have supported my writing, and put up with my wacky ideas of life, love, and God. I hope you don't terribly mind the change from myspace to this e-blog. I'm hoping that by posting on this I will find a wider audience (which is good for a writer). Don't freak out, I'm not going to up and stop posting on myspace, it's just a copy and paste from one place to another kinda thing. But Matticus, why would you do such a thing? Simple....some people don't like myspace, and I don't blame them. Eventually I might phase the myspace blogging out to this page and close everything I've written on myspace out, but I will still announce my blog postings via myspace bulletin. Thanks for your time.