There is something in my mind that has a problem with Calvinism. I have read many of this writings and studied them. I have had discussions in class and with other students. But there is something about the idea of predestination that my mind struggles to get its arms around. I guess, I have a problem with the idea of God determining the fate of a man. Or more specifically, I have a problem with the idea of a loving and irresistible God determining that I will never know Him, salvation or the peace that comes from a relationship with Him. I get the whole irresistible grace idea… but I struggle with the thought that some have no chance to experiencing it. Maybe it’s the “American freedom” that is lodged in my bones (since I have grown up in this country where freedom is such an abiding thought that it is impossible for this thought to not flow over to my relationship with God) that I find it difficult to know what to do with passages of Scripture from God’s Word that seem to lean otherwise than in the direction of freewill.
I liked the first part of this chapter because CS deals with this argument straight on. And as I was reading it, it made me think of our cat “Spot” that we had to put down a couple of weeks ago. We are considering adopting a new cat or kitten (preferably the kitten aspect). But in thinking about this adoption, it seems rather silly to consider the idea of adopting a cat, spending the money to feed it and take care of it if there is no possibility of it ever loving me (in the way that cats and dogs and other animals can ‘love’ a human being) or at the very least appreciating me (in that animialish kind of way). To me, that would be a total waste.
It would seem the same with humans. It would seem like a huge waste of time for God to have created all of this and all of mankind, spending countless hours (as we understand it) designing and setting up this up, only to be rewarded with a fraction of the whole who worship him but really don’t have a “choice.” Instead, they worship because he has set it up that way.
But then I’m stuck with the idea of how can a God who set it up and designed it and is completely sovereign, not be a God who knows and understands the future and the outcome of every man? And so I find myself stuck. But I tend to find myself stuck more in terms of talking myself into predestination (Calvinism) than into free will (Arminianism). I tend to find myself more on that side of the fence than on the other side. And I guess it’s that part of me that resonates with what CS says on page 53… “The happiness which God designs for His higher creatures is the happiness of being freely, voluntarily united to Him and to each other in an ecstasy of love and delight compared with which the most rapturous love between a man and a woman…”
Jim
Thursday, February 14, 2008
National Youth Ministry Conference
There's just something about this conference next weekend that really thrills me...
And I'm not really sure what it is. I was catching up on some blogs this morning and I was browsing Josh's. And as I was reading his couple of posts (HERE, HERE and HERE)... I just found myself getting excited.
I can't really put it into words. I'm just really pumped!
Jim
And I'm not really sure what it is. I was catching up on some blogs this morning and I was browsing Josh's. And as I was reading his couple of posts (HERE, HERE and HERE)... I just found myself getting excited.
I can't really put it into words. I'm just really pumped!
Jim
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
45.2 inches of snow this year...!!!
I was watching the nightly news on ABC7... which is my usual habit.
They said that we have already gotten 45.2 inches of snowfall this year (at O'Hare) compared to 11.5 at this point last winter. Wow!!! I know we've gotten a lot of snow, but that's a lot more than I had thought.
And they are calling for another inch tomorrow... ugh!
Jim
They said that we have already gotten 45.2 inches of snowfall this year (at O'Hare) compared to 11.5 at this point last winter. Wow!!! I know we've gotten a lot of snow, but that's a lot more than I had thought.
And they are calling for another inch tomorrow... ugh!
Jim
Weird Al Yankovic - I'm Fat
I stumbled on this today on YouTube and I just had to share it... classic!!!
Jim
Check it out HERE.
Looking forward to the National Youth Ministry Conference
I'm totally stoked about the National Youth Ministry Conference coming up in a couple of weeks.
This morning I'm working from home as I try to get a couple of outlines written so that I can hand them off to volunteers to teach while I'm gone. (I'll be gone on the 24th for the Conference and then on March 9th for CIY Middle School Believe.)
I'm pumped about going to the conference for a couple of reasons... but they aren't the usual reasons for going to a conference. I've been to conferences before, but this time it's different...
First... I'm pumped because I get to see some old friends. This conference is being put on by friends... I've already got soft plans to do Skyline with Josh. That will be awesome. But it will be great to catch with Doug, Neely and Jana as well as other PDYM guys from around the country (I'm hoping that Neil will be there... as well as Vince, Joby, Danny, and others are there...). The PDYM Community is a great thing to be a part of and so even if there wasn't any conference going on, I would still show up just to see my friends.
Second... I'm taking along 3 of my volunteers. Jeff and Chris, two of my weekend leaders, and Kathy, one of my small group leaders, are going with me. I remember back in 2004 going to the PDYM Conference at Saddleback with Jackie, my wife. She had never been before. And I remember some of the conversations that we had following that conference were incredible. I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to have those kinds of conversations with some of my leaders.
Finally... I'm looking forward to the recharge. Going to a conference like this is always incredible. There is so much to think about and process. Plus, there's just an energy about being in the same room with 2000 or 3000 other youth workers that is hard to miss. I always look forward to those times of refreshing.
Josh posted this morning about the live bloggers at the conference... of which I will be one... but when he did... I started to think about why I'm so pumped!! And that's why!!!
Jim
This morning I'm working from home as I try to get a couple of outlines written so that I can hand them off to volunteers to teach while I'm gone. (I'll be gone on the 24th for the Conference and then on March 9th for CIY Middle School Believe.)
I'm pumped about going to the conference for a couple of reasons... but they aren't the usual reasons for going to a conference. I've been to conferences before, but this time it's different...
First... I'm pumped because I get to see some old friends. This conference is being put on by friends... I've already got soft plans to do Skyline with Josh. That will be awesome. But it will be great to catch with Doug, Neely and Jana as well as other PDYM guys from around the country (I'm hoping that Neil will be there... as well as Vince, Joby, Danny, and others are there...). The PDYM Community is a great thing to be a part of and so even if there wasn't any conference going on, I would still show up just to see my friends.
Second... I'm taking along 3 of my volunteers. Jeff and Chris, two of my weekend leaders, and Kathy, one of my small group leaders, are going with me. I remember back in 2004 going to the PDYM Conference at Saddleback with Jackie, my wife. She had never been before. And I remember some of the conversations that we had following that conference were incredible. I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to have those kinds of conversations with some of my leaders.
Finally... I'm looking forward to the recharge. Going to a conference like this is always incredible. There is so much to think about and process. Plus, there's just an energy about being in the same room with 2000 or 3000 other youth workers that is hard to miss. I always look forward to those times of refreshing.
Josh posted this morning about the live bloggers at the conference... of which I will be one... but when he did... I started to think about why I'm so pumped!! And that's why!!!
Jim
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Cubs... Spring Training Starts tomorrow!!!
14 hours... 54 minutes...
Until Spring Training starts. Officially, the pitchers and catchers for the Chicago Cubs are to report for Spring Training tomorrow... I can't wait until baseball season starts!!!
Go Cubs! This is the year that the curse is broken!!!
Jim
Until Spring Training starts. Officially, the pitchers and catchers for the Chicago Cubs are to report for Spring Training tomorrow... I can't wait until baseball season starts!!!
Go Cubs! This is the year that the curse is broken!!!
Jim
Monday, February 11, 2008
Sometimes ministry pays off...
I got an email over the weekend from a former student of mine. He is an incredible kid with an incredible heart. One of the things that I always appreciated about this student, and I won't use his name since I didn't ask him if I could, was that he always did what was asked of him without lip or question... which is rare in student ministry.
This student was a part of our weekend worship band when I was in Meadville. He worked in the tech area for a while running the powerpoint show. But then felt the urge to get into playing the bass. Now, and I didn't even know this, he plays the bass, guitar and sings. I didn't even know that he could sing!!! But he does an incredible job!
But he sent me an email over the weekend about how God has been calling him to ministry... especially music ministry. What a thrill!!! Here's a snippet of the email that he sent me:
"I just want to say thanks. You always encouraged us to discover our spiritual gifts and to pursue that. I've been blessed with the gift of music and I really feel led to pursue that, plus I just love music. You were always such a positive influence in my life and you really helped to shape me into the Christian I am today. And for all of that I want to thank you."
I just finished emailing him back. And one of the things that I said to him as this... over the last almost 10 years of full time ministry, my mind tends to go to those students who "missed" it. They showed up... they went on trips... they paid their money... we hung out... we have conversations... but somewhere along the line, it didn't sink in. All the great messages (at least I thought so)... all the trips... all the thought and intentionality that went into trips and events and they just seemed to miss it.
But then... You get an email like that... and suddenly in the midst of the chaos, student ministry begins to make sense. You begin to feel like you are having some kind of impact in this world.
And as I look back at my time with this student, I remember the first time any of us had any idea that he could play the bass. Our student band was leading worship at a church and I was preaching. We went over the day before to set up our gear, practice and make sure that everything was tuned up. For whatever reason, our bass player couldn't make it. So Kraig, who was leading our band at the time, asked this student if he would play and reluctantly he said he would. I remember Kraig saying to me... "He's not half bad..."
And now... he's being called by God to serve him full time in ministry! In the words of Mike Yaconelli... "Woo hoo!!!" Woo hoo indeed!
And if you need to meet Mike... click HERE.
Jim
This student was a part of our weekend worship band when I was in Meadville. He worked in the tech area for a while running the powerpoint show. But then felt the urge to get into playing the bass. Now, and I didn't even know this, he plays the bass, guitar and sings. I didn't even know that he could sing!!! But he does an incredible job!
But he sent me an email over the weekend about how God has been calling him to ministry... especially music ministry. What a thrill!!! Here's a snippet of the email that he sent me:
"I just want to say thanks. You always encouraged us to discover our spiritual gifts and to pursue that. I've been blessed with the gift of music and I really feel led to pursue that, plus I just love music. You were always such a positive influence in my life and you really helped to shape me into the Christian I am today. And for all of that I want to thank you."
I just finished emailing him back. And one of the things that I said to him as this... over the last almost 10 years of full time ministry, my mind tends to go to those students who "missed" it. They showed up... they went on trips... they paid their money... we hung out... we have conversations... but somewhere along the line, it didn't sink in. All the great messages (at least I thought so)... all the trips... all the thought and intentionality that went into trips and events and they just seemed to miss it.
But then... You get an email like that... and suddenly in the midst of the chaos, student ministry begins to make sense. You begin to feel like you are having some kind of impact in this world.
And as I look back at my time with this student, I remember the first time any of us had any idea that he could play the bass. Our student band was leading worship at a church and I was preaching. We went over the day before to set up our gear, practice and make sure that everything was tuned up. For whatever reason, our bass player couldn't make it. So Kraig, who was leading our band at the time, asked this student if he would play and reluctantly he said he would. I remember Kraig saying to me... "He's not half bad..."
And now... he's being called by God to serve him full time in ministry! In the words of Mike Yaconelli... "Woo hoo!!!" Woo hoo indeed!
And if you need to meet Mike... click HERE.
Jim
Sweet... AT&T WIFI at Starbucks!!!
I saw THIS story today!!!
This is awesome. I would totally spend more time at Starbucks if I could get Wifi. But this should be great... when it goes through.
Jim
This is awesome. I would totally spend more time at Starbucks if I could get Wifi. But this should be great... when it goes through.
Jim
Sunday, February 10, 2008
I've heard some lame ones... but this one...
In close to 10 years of student ministry experience, I've heard some pretty lame excuses... But this one might top them all.
I had a conversation this morning with a student who hasn't been in church in a while. We talked about the need to be connected and some different things along that line. She said that she would be coming tonight. I told her that I would be looking forward to it. In times past, when she's said that she would be coming and then punked out on me, I've called her to see what happened.
Tonight, she called me just a few minutes ago to tell me that she couldn't come. She had stayed in the shower too long and wouldn't have time to get dressed and ready to get here. She's 15!!!! Not 5!!! Plus, she was in the shower for over an hour!!!! Are you kidding me???
I've heard some lame excuses in my day... but that one's pretty dang lame!
Jim
I had a conversation this morning with a student who hasn't been in church in a while. We talked about the need to be connected and some different things along that line. She said that she would be coming tonight. I told her that I would be looking forward to it. In times past, when she's said that she would be coming and then punked out on me, I've called her to see what happened.
Tonight, she called me just a few minutes ago to tell me that she couldn't come. She had stayed in the shower too long and wouldn't have time to get dressed and ready to get here. She's 15!!!! Not 5!!! Plus, she was in the shower for over an hour!!!! Are you kidding me???
I've heard some lame excuses in my day... but that one's pretty dang lame!
Jim
Wisdom On - Week 4 outline
Hey all...
Here is the weekend outline from both High Voltage and Live Wire. I'm posting it mostly so that parents from our ministry can get a look at the outline in ministering to their students. At the bottom of the outline, there is a "Where to take it from here" section. If you have questions, shoot me an email.
----------
Wisdom On
Week 4 - Loving Learning
Live Wire/High Voltage – Jim Clark – January 27, 2008
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. Luke 2:52
Wisdom is making right decisions… Making wrong decisions leads to pain…
Learning does not always mean school…
As followers of Christ, we need to have a regular pattern of learning.
Cherish learning.
He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who cherishes understanding prospers. Proverbs 19:8
Apply what you are learning.
Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD. Proverbs 16:20
Reap the rewards of learning.
He who scorns instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command is rewarded. Proverbs 13:13
Learning can come from a variety of sources:
-Others
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the LORD my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it. Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people." What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him? Deuteronomy 4:5-7
-Resources
Books
The Bible
Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Psalm 119:34
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise. Psalm 111:10
If you are a Christian, you need to be learning about what it means to follow Christ.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
Action Steps:
1. Establish a plan or schedule that works for your life.
2. Examine your motives for having or not having a regular time in God’s Word.
3. Encourage others along the path toward learning.
The Bottom Line: A relationship with God that is active and alive is a relationship that is growing and learning.
------------------
Where To Take It From Here:
*This is just an idea... it isn't the only idea.
In the lesson, the comment was made that when we study, learn and grow, we honor God because God gave us a brain and he is honored when we use to it's fullest. One direction that you could take this lesson with your students is in that direction... "Do you feel that you honor God when you use the brain that God has given you to learn and grow? Would having this view change your opinion about studying?"
Jim
Here is the weekend outline from both High Voltage and Live Wire. I'm posting it mostly so that parents from our ministry can get a look at the outline in ministering to their students. At the bottom of the outline, there is a "Where to take it from here" section. If you have questions, shoot me an email.
----------
Wisdom On
Week 4 - Loving Learning
Live Wire/High Voltage – Jim Clark – January 27, 2008
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. Luke 2:52
Wisdom is making right decisions… Making wrong decisions leads to pain…
Learning does not always mean school…
As followers of Christ, we need to have a regular pattern of learning.
Cherish learning.
He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who cherishes understanding prospers. Proverbs 19:8
Apply what you are learning.
Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD. Proverbs 16:20
Reap the rewards of learning.
He who scorns instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command is rewarded. Proverbs 13:13
Learning can come from a variety of sources:
-Others
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the LORD my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it. Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people." What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him? Deuteronomy 4:5-7
-Resources
Books
The Bible
Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Psalm 119:34
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise. Psalm 111:10
If you are a Christian, you need to be learning about what it means to follow Christ.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
Action Steps:
1. Establish a plan or schedule that works for your life.
2. Examine your motives for having or not having a regular time in God’s Word.
3. Encourage others along the path toward learning.
The Bottom Line: A relationship with God that is active and alive is a relationship that is growing and learning.
------------------
Where To Take It From Here:
*This is just an idea... it isn't the only idea.
In the lesson, the comment was made that when we study, learn and grow, we honor God because God gave us a brain and he is honored when we use to it's fullest. One direction that you could take this lesson with your students is in that direction... "Do you feel that you honor God when you use the brain that God has given you to learn and grow? Would having this view change your opinion about studying?"
Jim
bachen it all week!!!
I'm bachin' it all week.
My wife is out of town at a conference, which means I'm going to be bored ALL WEEK. Struggle. Man... if I had my XBox 360, I could get some serious gaming in. But I'll likely get some serious school work in.
Off to the bachin' (adj. from the noun: bachelor).
Jim
My wife is out of town at a conference, which means I'm going to be bored ALL WEEK. Struggle. Man... if I had my XBox 360, I could get some serious gaming in. But I'll likely get some serious school work in.
Off to the bachin' (adj. from the noun: bachelor).
Jim
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Super Bowl 42 Trivia
I uploaded a powerpoint game based on last weekend's Super Bowl...
You can check it out HERE. It's pretty good... but then again, I made it.
Jim
You can check it out HERE. It's pretty good... but then again, I made it.
Jim
Car Craziness...
So...
As some of you know, I flew out to Pennsylvania to pick up Jackie's car yesterday (it looks similar to this Sebring... but it's olive colored).
Man... what a long day!!! I spent an hour an the flight... 2 hours driving to Meadville... a couple more hours working out the paperwork...
then 10 hours in car... ugh!!!
But it's all taken care of today.
Then I spent about an hour outside putting on new windshield wipers. Putting on new wipers has become one of those tasks that I hate... and I did use the word "hate." I'm a relatively intelligent human being... although there are some out there who might disagree with that statement (shut-up Nate). But putting wipers quickly and easily requires some sort of advanced education in some field that I'm not sure anyone is up to speed on (the package says that they are "easy to install." Whatever!!).
But finally... after about an hour in the snow, outside in the Wal-Mart parking lot... I finally got them on.
Hopefully... I'm done messing with cars for a little while.
Jim
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Dinner for 5!!
and Matt came over for some pizza and old school Life...
Fun fun!
Leaving on a jet plane...
I'm catching a quick flight to Pennsylvania tomorrow. We are purchasing Jackie's mom and dad's 2004 Chrysler Sebring coupe. I'm flying out at 9:25 am (weather permitting of course... please... please... please) and will be returning tomorrow night to St. Charles (please... please... please...).
Should be fun!!!
And long!!!
Jim
Should be fun!!!
And long!!!
Jim
Wandering in the "desert" until April 10th
It's Thursday morning...
I'm hanging out and doing my morning reading at Panera Bread. I am starting to look forward, not just to the Bible study time, but also the 2 hours following Bible study when I can sit and read and do a little work. The getting up has struggled the last couple of weeks and especially this morning because it was snowy from last night and quite icy this morning.
But this morning... I entered the "desert" in my Bible reading. I'm working my way through the Bible in a Year. This morning I read Exodus 26:1-27:21. This begins the section on the law given to Moses by YHWH. I get that it's God's Word and I get that it's important. It's just really hard to read.
But it's making me look forward to April 10th. That's when I will begin Joshua!!! Oh, April 10th is so far away.
Jim
I'm hanging out and doing my morning reading at Panera Bread. I am starting to look forward, not just to the Bible study time, but also the 2 hours following Bible study when I can sit and read and do a little work. The getting up has struggled the last couple of weeks and especially this morning because it was snowy from last night and quite icy this morning.
But this morning... I entered the "desert" in my Bible reading. I'm working my way through the Bible in a Year. This morning I read Exodus 26:1-27:21. This begins the section on the law given to Moses by YHWH. I get that it's God's Word and I get that it's important. It's just really hard to read.
But it's making me look forward to April 10th. That's when I will begin Joshua!!! Oh, April 10th is so far away.
Jim
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Book #2... I Am Legend
At Christmas-time, I went with a couple of friends and watched "I Am Legend" (blogged HERE). After I watched it, I knew that I wanted to read the book ("I Am Legend" by Richard Matheson).
But I found the book to be quite different than the movie. In fact, the only similarities that I saw between the book and the movie (aside from this cover) was the name "Robert Neville" and the general set-up of the plague situation. Other than that, there was very, very little similarity between the book and the movie. But I'm not sure which one I liked more.
Also somewhat disappointing, the book, when I picked it up from the library is 317. But only 170 of those pages are the "I Am Legend" story. The rest are a collection of short stories that didn't have much to do with the "Robert Neville - I Am Legend" story. But I guess we can't have everything in life.
This is the second of 26 books that I am looking to read this year... The first was HERE.
On to other books. Although I'm not sure what it will be. But my copy of the "Memoirs of Alexander Campbell" by Robert Richardson came the other day. That one will count as two books if I start into it next as it was originally two books... combined in one volume.
Jim
Snowing like crazy!!!
Man...
It is snowing like crazy outside. I haven't seen any totals yet... but it's looking like we got close to a foot. I worked from home today. They have plowed our parking lot three times today. It's crazy and now the wind is picking up which is making it more crazy.
Oh well.
At least I'm home and it's warm.
Jim
It is snowing like crazy outside. I haven't seen any totals yet... but it's looking like we got close to a foot. I worked from home today. They have plowed our parking lot three times today. It's crazy and now the wind is picking up which is making it more crazy.
Oh well.
At least I'm home and it's warm.
Jim
Smiley face on Mars
I saw THIS this morning on Marko's blog (who is totally shaking in his boots over this diet... I'm coming for ya Marko... I've lost 5 pounds already...)
I'm not sure how you can say there isn't a God when you see things like this.
Jim
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