Monthly Archives: March 2008
Underline Ministries
Hey everyone,
While I was in college, a bunch of my friends and I had a vision to start a ministry concerning finding the truth by Humbly Investigating Scripture. It has taken many forms and many different turns, but for now, after collaborating with my good friend, Clark, we decided to continue on with our dream of Underline Ministries.
In its basic form, it’s an outlet to be able to underline the truth in life. We have set up a blog to be able to unite our walks with God and to share what we are learning from all over the country. I do not know where this will take us, but for now I know that I love seeking the truth with good brothers.
Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord
There has been a expression of grief that has been constantly coming up around me and it is the tearing of clothes. It all started when one of the most influential people in my life, Jamie, messaged me about how he was listening to a sermon about the “ancient near eastern custom of tearing the robes- and how it was the ultimate display of emotion.” He listened to the seriousness of the action while on the inside he was laughing about one time in college when I tore my t-shirt in half after we missed Mel Gibson being on campus. Apparently William Wallace was pretty important to me.
Next was this past weekend concerning Easter. Dr. Blackwood was teaching the passage in Matthew 9:18-26 concerning how Jesus is Master over death. He explained the practice of how the noisy crowd could have included two types of people. Men who would tear their clothes on behalf of the grieving family and women who would cry at the top of their lungs also.
Now I am getting ready for a mission trip to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. In August and September of 2005, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita changed many lives. It destroyed numerous cities and multiple states. The damage can still be seen today. To understand having everything and losing everything, two people come to mind.
On the way to Orlando for the Youth Pastors Summit last week, Jeff played a sermon by Andy Stanley called, “The Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes” [Daniel 4:25]. King Nebuchanezzar had the most powerful kingdom during his time, but he lost it all when he claimed that He had built it himself [Daniel 4:30].
The second person that comes to mind is Job. Job was the greatest of all the people of the east [Job 1:3] but he lost it all. Ultimately the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before [Job 42:10] but during his trial he tore his robe and shaved his head [1:20].
This was his ultimate display of emotion. He lost it all, but what is inspiring to me is the fact that In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong [1:22]. It was his attitude in the truth that saved him from charging God with wrong. I hope that we can be a source of light for the people of Bay St. Louis and help show them that they can say like Job,
The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” [1:21].
Cunning Linguistics
After an astute observation by my friend Clark, I finally realized the truth about something. No matter how difficult I find it to rationalize this truth I cannot escape its grasp. The truth is, Ashlee Simpson is a cunning linguist.
Ok. Seriously. She is not a cunning linguist (example – “You make me want to La La La”) but her rant about how her significant other makes her want to “La La La” brought a good point to my attention. When we as people are faced with an adversary or a difficult happenstance, we can either face it, grit and all, or just put our hands over our ears and yell at the top of our lungs “La La La.”
The latter option seems to make no sense because it does not evoke a resolution, but rather it provides an absence of awareness in order to delay the inevitable. I apply this situation to a person’s desire to understand truth, particularly the truth of life. Radical Christians make signs and throw Bibles in people’s faces, radical Muslims turn themselves into vessels of destruction, and people simply not willing to listen to each other do not give themselves the chance to reason with each other and find the truth about life. Is it not depressing that people are so consumed with knowing their “truth” as opposed to ultimate truth?
Variables within this dilemma always apply. The argument of whether life is just an illusion and a manipulating of our senses. The argument of what truly happens when one dies. There are so many different views on these subjects but few people have the self-control to not let their emotions get the best of them and actually have an intelligent discussion. If we honestly believe we have “truth,” should we not have the capability to discuss it with others without becoming irate?
I believe there is truth in life. I believe people are capable of finding truth. There is a way to find truth in this life, and I believe it is all encompassed in the Way, Truth, and Life.
For To Such Belongs the Kingdom of Heaven
Paul wrote this in his letter to the Corinthians teaching about childish ways of using the gifts that God has given His children. According to Paul, some are given prophecies, some are given tongues, and others are given various gifts. This passage has been used to validate the authenticity of modern prophecy and the use of tongues as confirmation of salvation, but I really think that is not the main message. Love is what does not end. Whether you believe tongues ended when the scribal pencil of Paul’s words hit the parchment or if you believe that tongues will not end until Jesus comes back, I honestly do not care. Love is all you need (cue The Beatles, and yes Jeff, they were good 
.
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. [1 Corinthians 13:13]
Dr. Don Fowler taught me that we can mirror faith, hope and love in our lives. Salvation comes through faith [Ephesians 2:8-10], and faith is what begins our adoption into the family of God for our new lives. Faith is the assurance, or foundation, of things that we hope for and have hoped for [Hebrews 11:1] in the Messiah. The final aspect is love because love is. Catch this. Love IS. In the here and now, this is how we live, in love. Faith is the past, our justification, hope is our future, our glorification, and the present is lived in love, our sanctification.
With all of this in mind, I want to issue a challenge that hits home with me because it involves my “Third Place.” Starbucks is expensive. Yes, Captain Obvious just said that. I know that coffee gets people going, but is not necessary. The Siren logo that you see captures the allure of Starbucks. A Siren, according to Merriam-Webster, is any of a group of female and partly human creatures in Greek mythology that lured mariners to destruction by their singing. Honestly, in the context of Starbucks, which was named after Herman Melville’s first-mate in Moby Dick, Starbuck, the Siren allusion makes sense. Do you want Starbucks to be a place where it lures you to financial destruction? Or for that matter, prevents you from being the vessel that stops destruction in others?
I saw this video that challenged me
Give up one cup a week for a great cause. Whether it be Invisible Children or another great cause like Compassion, World Vision, or something else. Give up one. It will add up.
For those who think I am unfair for saying this, I will go the opposite way since I work at Starbucks and only drink one a week. With the endless opportunities to make drinks for myself I will give up my drinks to make this point. There are certain things that move me. The innocence of children singing and understanding true joy, especially in a country like Tanzania where I have been to and visited a Compassion International house in Longido, moves me more than my “necessary” cup of coffee.
Please, keep the words of Jesus as your focus when He told His very own disciples to Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven [Matthew 19:14].
