Chapter 19 (Book 3, Chapter 9)
In many respects, this chapter felt like it was thrown together without much sense of definite direction. Many of CS’s other chapters have felt like there was a strong theme running through them or a central thought to tie them together. This chapter didn’t feel that way. Don’t get me wrong, there were some good thoughts in here on charity. But this chapter didn’t seem as strong as others in this book.
One of the interesting thoughts… and this is totally backed up by my personal experience… is that “good and evil both increase at compound interest” (page 117). CS, in this chapter, is talking about how as Christians, we are called to do little acts of “charity” for others. We aren’t called to do these because we “like” the person that we are doing it for. In fact, he even goes so far as to say that often liking person complicated the charity. But we ought to do little acts of charity for all of those that we find our lives. And part of that reason is that both good and evil compound. He goes on to say that’s “why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance” (page 117). Part of the distinction that CS is trying to draw is between doing something nice for everyone because something nice has been done for us and doing something nice in hopes that someone else will notice. We ought and are called to do acts of charity for those around us because acts of charity have been done for us… namely by God.
Part of what struck me in this chapter was this idea of doing little acts of kindness, regardless of your level of appreciation, love or even “like” for a person. One of the difficult things in my life is being around people that I don’t like. If I’m upset with someone… co-worker, student, etc… I just don’t even want to be around them. But the problem is, most of the time, out of sight/out of mind doesn’t always help. And I usually find myself more frustrated with them than I was at the first. But in those occasions, when I have tried to do something nice or treat them in a way that maybe they didn’t deserve, I began to see my heart and attitude change towards them in a good way. Which seems to be exactly what CS is talking about here in this chapter. And really… isn’t that what God did for me? Didn’t he do something incredible for me before I really did anything to deserve it? Indeed, He did.
Jim
Monday, April 07, 2008
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Good night...
We had a really great night tonight at High Voltage.
Several students were back that hadn't been in a while, plus we had a couple of visitors. It's always great to have visitors. But the message a little below par... But overall, it was a great night.
Plus, Live Wire this morning was pretty good as well!
Jim
Several students were back that hadn't been in a while, plus we had a couple of visitors. It's always great to have visitors. But the message a little below par... But overall, it was a great night.
Plus, Live Wire this morning was pretty good as well!
Jim
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Visiting a church tonight...
One of the assignments that I really enjoy about my Church History/Historical Theology major is the action step option to visit a church. This will be the third time that I have done it (see HERE & HERE for a previous visit... the last visit didn't seem to make my blog... although I thought it did... but I couldn't find the post... oh well).
I have really enjoyed seeing how different churches worship and then having the chance to ask questions... which is part of the assignment, talking with a staff member.
Tonight I'm going to visit The Orchard Church Community. Their history (and Google... which is how I found them) show them as an "Assemblies of God" congregation. Now, their website doesn't necessarily reflect that. But hopefully after the visit tonight, I'll have a little better picture of whether or not they are "still" an AG Congregation.
Historical Note: As a church group, the Assemblies of God organized as an offshoot of the Pentecostal movement in 1914.
After tonight, I am planning to have a phone conversation with their Student Minister on Monday and maybe grab lunch later in the week. Should be fun! But I'd better go get changed!
Jim
I have really enjoyed seeing how different churches worship and then having the chance to ask questions... which is part of the assignment, talking with a staff member.
Tonight I'm going to visit The Orchard Church Community. Their history (and Google... which is how I found them) show them as an "Assemblies of God" congregation. Now, their website doesn't necessarily reflect that. But hopefully after the visit tonight, I'll have a little better picture of whether or not they are "still" an AG Congregation.
Historical Note: As a church group, the Assemblies of God organized as an offshoot of the Pentecostal movement in 1914.
After tonight, I am planning to have a phone conversation with their Student Minister on Monday and maybe grab lunch later in the week. Should be fun! But I'd better go get changed!
Jim
Master Mentor #19
Chapter 18 (Book 3, Chapter 8)
Today CS takes on what he considers, and I agree, to be the biggest issue facing people as they seek to live lives and as they seek to follow God… that thing of Pride. In the midst of his discussion of pride… which is interesting because we just read several of these selections in Staff Prayer on Thursday… he states that Pride is the source of all other sins. Over the course of the chapter, he uses various examples to drive home his point. And does well at that.
But as I’m reading, I’m thinking to myself: “Am I a prideful person? Would I consider myself prideful? Would others consider me such?” I’m not sure how I would answer that. At first thought, I would say “no.” But then in saying that, am I displaying pride that I’m not too prideful of myself? At second, if I said “yes,” then am I saying so simply so that you won’t think that I’m being arrogant about not being arrogant or am I simply admitting it so that it doesn’t show up in my life?
CS wraps up this chapter with this paragraph: “If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realize that one is proud. And a biggish step, too. At least, nothing whatever can be done about it. If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed” (page 104). So in many respects, CS has everyone in a bit of a “catch-22” and for good reason. If you don’t admit our pride problem… which we all have… myself include… then it means that we have a very large pride problem. And if we do admit our problem, then it means that we have a problem (and who really wants that?). But he’s right.
Earlier in the chapter, CS talks about Pride being the only sin that is competitive in nature. He states that other sins can be competitive, but it’s really only pride that is so which is behind the competitiveness of the other sins. One can say that someone is greedy. But is it really that that person is greedy or that his pride is driving him to acquire more and more until he controls all? Indeed.
I almost hate meeting other youth workers for the first time. Don’t get me wrong, I love youth workers… especially others from other churches. But I hate the first meeting. Why you might ask? Because I know that about 3 to 5 questions into the meeting, I know that there is a question coming. The question might be phrased differently depending on how old or young the other youth work is. But I know that the question will be basically: “How big is your student ministry?” And I hate the question. I hate the question because it is a comparison question. They aren’t asking how “healthy” the group is… they aren’t asking what’s going “great” right now… they aren’t even asking where you’re “struggling.” They are looking for a number. And every time, you do this you lose (according to Doug Fields… whom I happen to agree with). Because every time you do this you feel your pride problem. If my group is smaller than the group leader’s, then that leader feels pretty great about himself (especially if this is a local meeting that I’m talking about and the church is down the street from my church). If my group is larger than his group, then he or she will begin to look for other ways in which their group is “better” or else they will feel like a “failure” because their group isn’t the size of our group. And in which case, they usually start looking for another group that is smaller so they can save a little “face.” But it’s always a losing deal.
But it’s pride. And it shows up in all of the areas of life. I would dare say that it shows up in all of the areas of all of our lives from time to time. The only difference is the degree. But, in line with what “GI Joe” always used to say… “Knowing is half the battle.” Realizing that you have a problem is the first step to dealing with your problem… whether it’s alcoholism or pride.
Jim
Today CS takes on what he considers, and I agree, to be the biggest issue facing people as they seek to live lives and as they seek to follow God… that thing of Pride. In the midst of his discussion of pride… which is interesting because we just read several of these selections in Staff Prayer on Thursday… he states that Pride is the source of all other sins. Over the course of the chapter, he uses various examples to drive home his point. And does well at that.
But as I’m reading, I’m thinking to myself: “Am I a prideful person? Would I consider myself prideful? Would others consider me such?” I’m not sure how I would answer that. At first thought, I would say “no.” But then in saying that, am I displaying pride that I’m not too prideful of myself? At second, if I said “yes,” then am I saying so simply so that you won’t think that I’m being arrogant about not being arrogant or am I simply admitting it so that it doesn’t show up in my life?
CS wraps up this chapter with this paragraph: “If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realize that one is proud. And a biggish step, too. At least, nothing whatever can be done about it. If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed” (page 104). So in many respects, CS has everyone in a bit of a “catch-22” and for good reason. If you don’t admit our pride problem… which we all have… myself include… then it means that we have a very large pride problem. And if we do admit our problem, then it means that we have a problem (and who really wants that?). But he’s right.
Earlier in the chapter, CS talks about Pride being the only sin that is competitive in nature. He states that other sins can be competitive, but it’s really only pride that is so which is behind the competitiveness of the other sins. One can say that someone is greedy. But is it really that that person is greedy or that his pride is driving him to acquire more and more until he controls all? Indeed.
I almost hate meeting other youth workers for the first time. Don’t get me wrong, I love youth workers… especially others from other churches. But I hate the first meeting. Why you might ask? Because I know that about 3 to 5 questions into the meeting, I know that there is a question coming. The question might be phrased differently depending on how old or young the other youth work is. But I know that the question will be basically: “How big is your student ministry?” And I hate the question. I hate the question because it is a comparison question. They aren’t asking how “healthy” the group is… they aren’t asking what’s going “great” right now… they aren’t even asking where you’re “struggling.” They are looking for a number. And every time, you do this you lose (according to Doug Fields… whom I happen to agree with). Because every time you do this you feel your pride problem. If my group is smaller than the group leader’s, then that leader feels pretty great about himself (especially if this is a local meeting that I’m talking about and the church is down the street from my church). If my group is larger than his group, then he or she will begin to look for other ways in which their group is “better” or else they will feel like a “failure” because their group isn’t the size of our group. And in which case, they usually start looking for another group that is smaller so they can save a little “face.” But it’s always a losing deal.
But it’s pride. And it shows up in all of the areas of life. I would dare say that it shows up in all of the areas of all of our lives from time to time. The only difference is the degree. But, in line with what “GI Joe” always used to say… “Knowing is half the battle.” Realizing that you have a problem is the first step to dealing with your problem… whether it’s alcoholism or pride.
Jim
Posted my Playstation 2 on Ebay...
Well...
I've been wanting to make the jump to an XBox 360 for quite some time now. Too many of my friends have been on XBox for a while... but I've been playing PS2. So, I decided that I would sell my PS2.
I just got done listing it HERE on Ebay!! It comes with 11 games... but not my Guitar Hero games... GH1 + Guitar, GH2 + Guitar, GH Rocks the 80's... Those I'm going to list separately. Once it sells, hopefully it will put me well on my way to XBox 360-land!
Jim
Zelda watching the game...
The Cubs went on to win... It was good!
Jim
Awesome weather day!!
I just got back from a walk outside!
It was awesome. The weather is incredible today. I even opened up the screen doors on the apartment to let in a little fresh air. It's about 56 degrees out there now, but it's supposed to get up to about 65 today. Should be great.
I'm heading out to do some errands here in a few and I'm looking forward to having the sunroof open again... it was open yesterday too!
EDIT: I'm actually wearing shorts today for the first time this year!!!
Jim
It was awesome. The weather is incredible today. I even opened up the screen doors on the apartment to let in a little fresh air. It's about 56 degrees out there now, but it's supposed to get up to about 65 today. Should be great.
I'm heading out to do some errands here in a few and I'm looking forward to having the sunroof open again... it was open yesterday too!
EDIT: I'm actually wearing shorts today for the first time this year!!!
Jim
Friday, April 04, 2008
Dinner and a Movie
My wife and I hit "On The Border" tonight for an impromptu Dinner and Movie night. We both love this place because they have some of the most incredible 'chips and salsa' that they give you as an appetizer (if you've never been). We both tackled the "Endless Enchiladas"... Jackie put down 26 and I killed 6...
They were excellent.
Now, we're going to watch a little "I Am Legend." I'm looking forward to watching again after I read the book. Should be good.
Jim
They were excellent.
Now, we're going to watch a little "I Am Legend." I'm looking forward to watching again after I read the book. Should be good.
Jim
Master Mentor #18
Chapter 17 (Book 3, Chapter 7)
In CS’s discussion about forgiveness today, he takes on the notion of “loving one’s neighbor as themselves.” In this midst of the conversation, he says something very interesting:
“Remember, we Christians think man lives for ever. Therefore, what really matters is those little marks or twists on the central, inside part of the soul which was going to turn it, in the long run, into a heavenly or a hellish creature. We may kill if necessary, but we must not hate and enjoy killing. We may punish if necessary, but we must not enjoy it. In other words, something inside us, the feeling of resentment, the feeling that wants to get one’s own back, must be simply killed. I do not mean that anyone can decide this moment that he will never feel it any more. That is not how things happen. I mean that every time it bobs its head up, day after day, year after year, all our lives long, we must hit it on the head. Its hard work, but the attempt is not impossible. Even while we kill and punish we must try to feel about the enemy as we feel about ourselves – to wish that he were not bad, to hope that he may, in this world or another, be cured; in fact, to wish his good.” (page 107-108)
One thing that always seems to be struggled with is applying this principle of “loving your neighbors” to the act of war. As I listen to Christians… some of which are preachers and ministers… talk about how terrible ‘war’ is and how it is opposed to this idea of loving our neighbors, I often wonder how they come together. CS has, in my opinion, found that middle ground that applies in both situations.
But he has, as it would seem to me, found the area that is somewhat unrecognizable to others. I cannot by looking at someone other than myself tell what is in their heart. I cannot tell by looking at someone else whether or not there is hatred in their heart. And sometimes I cannot tell if there is indeed hatred in my heart. But it does seem reasonable to make the attempt at “killing” that which is within me that hates.
Jim
In CS’s discussion about forgiveness today, he takes on the notion of “loving one’s neighbor as themselves.” In this midst of the conversation, he says something very interesting:
“Remember, we Christians think man lives for ever. Therefore, what really matters is those little marks or twists on the central, inside part of the soul which was going to turn it, in the long run, into a heavenly or a hellish creature. We may kill if necessary, but we must not hate and enjoy killing. We may punish if necessary, but we must not enjoy it. In other words, something inside us, the feeling of resentment, the feeling that wants to get one’s own back, must be simply killed. I do not mean that anyone can decide this moment that he will never feel it any more. That is not how things happen. I mean that every time it bobs its head up, day after day, year after year, all our lives long, we must hit it on the head. Its hard work, but the attempt is not impossible. Even while we kill and punish we must try to feel about the enemy as we feel about ourselves – to wish that he were not bad, to hope that he may, in this world or another, be cured; in fact, to wish his good.” (page 107-108)
One thing that always seems to be struggled with is applying this principle of “loving your neighbors” to the act of war. As I listen to Christians… some of which are preachers and ministers… talk about how terrible ‘war’ is and how it is opposed to this idea of loving our neighbors, I often wonder how they come together. CS has, in my opinion, found that middle ground that applies in both situations.
But he has, as it would seem to me, found the area that is somewhat unrecognizable to others. I cannot by looking at someone other than myself tell what is in their heart. I cannot tell by looking at someone else whether or not there is hatred in their heart. And sometimes I cannot tell if there is indeed hatred in my heart. But it does seem reasonable to make the attempt at “killing” that which is within me that hates.
Jim
Starbucks and the welcome
So...
Jackie and I are sitting in Starbucks killing some time while we wait
for an oil change. I've been to this one several times. But most of
the time I have head phones on... Today I do not. And I've noticed
that consistently with every customer that comes in, this barista
welcomes them with a hello.
Jackie and I are sitting in Starbucks killing some time while we wait
for an oil change. I've been to this one several times. But most of
the time I have head phones on... Today I do not. And I've noticed
that consistently with every customer that comes in, this barista
welcomes them with a hello.
It got thinking about our ministry. We are pretty good at the up-
front-welcome... But how good are we at the individual glad-to-see-you
welcome??? As good as Starbucks?
With every customer that comes in, she consistently creates that
welcoming environment.
Jim Clark
Student Minister
Sent from my iPhone...
Thursday, April 03, 2008
iPhones all over the place on CBS shows...
So...
Since the writers' strike earlier, we've been under the onslaught of "reality shows"... most of which stink in my opinion. (The only reality show worth anything is Survivor.)
But tonight, Jackie and I grabbed a place on the couch and settled in to watch Survivor... followed by CSI. In one of the inital scenes, they were taking some photographs and emailing them back and forth... on iPhones!!!
After CSI was over, we typically watch ER... which isn't on until next Thursday night... so we ended up watching Without a Trace. As they were shaking down a criminal, they asked him to identify a face... and they showed him on an iPhone.
iPhones are popping up all over the place tonight on CBS. It makes me wonder if maybe Jeff Probst was using one on Survivor and I just missed it...
Jim
Since the writers' strike earlier, we've been under the onslaught of "reality shows"... most of which stink in my opinion. (The only reality show worth anything is Survivor.)
But tonight, Jackie and I grabbed a place on the couch and settled in to watch Survivor... followed by CSI. In one of the inital scenes, they were taking some photographs and emailing them back and forth... on iPhones!!!
After CSI was over, we typically watch ER... which isn't on until next Thursday night... so we ended up watching Without a Trace. As they were shaking down a criminal, they asked him to identify a face... and they showed him on an iPhone.
iPhones are popping up all over the place tonight on CBS. It makes me wonder if maybe Jeff Probst was using one on Survivor and I just missed it...
Jim
Cubbies first win of 2008!!!
So...
Finally, the Cubs got their first win of the 2008 season. They got one back from the Brewers this afternoon in a 3-6 win!!
About time!!!
I didn't get to listen to all the game. But they seemed to hit well and had few errors. It took a while, but we'll take it.
Jim
SYM Podcast... TODAY 2pm CDT!!
I've already got my seat for the Simply Youth Ministry Podcast... set to air today at 2:00 CDT... I went ahead and went on over and logged in, found the stream and logged into the chat.
I just want to make sure that I get a good seat!!!
Jim
I just want to make sure that I get a good seat!!!
Jim
Master Mentor #17
Chapter 16 (Book 3, Chapter 6)
In CS’s last chapter, he dealt with the issue of sexuality. This chapter, he turns to a somewhat expected topic when he talks about marriage. Which is similar to me talking about how to parent teenagers because CS is not married (or at least wasn’t married at the time of this writing by his own admission). (And it’s not that I don’t know anything about teenagers, their culture, trends or their lifestyles… because I do. It’s that I’m not sure that I can give practical advice on how to parent a teenager to the parents of teenagers since I have none of my own to try out my ‘theories.’) But his discussion of marriage is interesting.
First, he focuses his discussion on the idea of the promise behind marriage. Which I think is an excellent place to focus. He even goes so far as to dispute on several occasions the popular notion floating around in culture that marriage is all about feelings and how I respond to them. Instead, he focuses on the commitment aspect of marriage and how we ought to maintain that aspect in light of the fact that “feelings” change from time to time. (His example… my situation… this morning I felt hungry. After I had breakfast, I no longer felt hungry. Feelings change. But my commitment to my need to eat regularly continues regardless of whether I feel hungry at this moment remains.) I feel that this promise aspect of marriage is something that is currently lacking in Christian circles. I don’t feel, in terms of divorce situations, that we remind people of the fact that they made a commitment before God, their friends and themselves. Now, I am speaking of the majority of divorce cases in which one or the other “chooses” to get a divorce. I totally recognize that there are a group of situations in which one person had no choice in the matter or in which case, divorce was the only viable solution (marital unfaithfulness and infidelity, abuse, etc). But in many cases that I am aware of, someone or both gave into a “feeling” that they were experiencing or not experiencing and wanted to experience some more. CS compares this idea of helplessly falling in love to “something quite irresistible; something that just happens to one, like measles” (page 101). Good comparison.
But he also discusses the idea of Christians trying to impose their views of marriage and divorce on their unbelieving neighbors and their society. Which to me is absurd but it happens all the time. We somehow expect that those who aren’t Christians or don’t believe in God to live and act like those who do. Which is just crazy to me. And yet the way of enforcing that those who aren’t Christians act like those who are Christians is that we should make laws so that they “have” to like Christians. Again, absurd. Rather we ought to set the standard and then challenge people to live up to that commitment by making the commitment to honor God with their whole lives.
Good thoughts on marriage… from a guy who hasn’t ever done it.
Jim
In CS’s last chapter, he dealt with the issue of sexuality. This chapter, he turns to a somewhat expected topic when he talks about marriage. Which is similar to me talking about how to parent teenagers because CS is not married (or at least wasn’t married at the time of this writing by his own admission). (And it’s not that I don’t know anything about teenagers, their culture, trends or their lifestyles… because I do. It’s that I’m not sure that I can give practical advice on how to parent a teenager to the parents of teenagers since I have none of my own to try out my ‘theories.’) But his discussion of marriage is interesting.
First, he focuses his discussion on the idea of the promise behind marriage. Which I think is an excellent place to focus. He even goes so far as to dispute on several occasions the popular notion floating around in culture that marriage is all about feelings and how I respond to them. Instead, he focuses on the commitment aspect of marriage and how we ought to maintain that aspect in light of the fact that “feelings” change from time to time. (His example… my situation… this morning I felt hungry. After I had breakfast, I no longer felt hungry. Feelings change. But my commitment to my need to eat regularly continues regardless of whether I feel hungry at this moment remains.) I feel that this promise aspect of marriage is something that is currently lacking in Christian circles. I don’t feel, in terms of divorce situations, that we remind people of the fact that they made a commitment before God, their friends and themselves. Now, I am speaking of the majority of divorce cases in which one or the other “chooses” to get a divorce. I totally recognize that there are a group of situations in which one person had no choice in the matter or in which case, divorce was the only viable solution (marital unfaithfulness and infidelity, abuse, etc). But in many cases that I am aware of, someone or both gave into a “feeling” that they were experiencing or not experiencing and wanted to experience some more. CS compares this idea of helplessly falling in love to “something quite irresistible; something that just happens to one, like measles” (page 101). Good comparison.
But he also discusses the idea of Christians trying to impose their views of marriage and divorce on their unbelieving neighbors and their society. Which to me is absurd but it happens all the time. We somehow expect that those who aren’t Christians or don’t believe in God to live and act like those who do. Which is just crazy to me. And yet the way of enforcing that those who aren’t Christians act like those who are Christians is that we should make laws so that they “have” to like Christians. Again, absurd. Rather we ought to set the standard and then challenge people to live up to that commitment by making the commitment to honor God with their whole lives.
Good thoughts on marriage… from a guy who hasn’t ever done it.
Jim
Need Harmony - Skit Guys!!!
I love the Skit Guys! They are awesome!!! This is a great video! "I lowered my standards and this is what I ended up with..." I love the guy looking like Napoleon Dynamite!
Jim
View it HERE!
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Simply Youth Ministry Live Podcast tomorrow!!!
Josh is reporting that tomorrow at noon (PT), 2 pm (CT), there is going to be a Live SYM Podcast on uStream. I participated in last week's live podcast the chat is great. I've already got my calendar marked and will be taking a late lunch so that I can participate.
It should be awesome! I can't wait!
Jim
Monday, March 31, 2008
Cubbies first day bummer...
Well...
I waited through the initial rain delay and then enjoyed an hour or so of good baseball before the second. Steve and I watched a bit this afternoon while we worked on the new student ministry website (fvcc.com/students) which will be launched later this week!!!
But then, because of Dinner for 5, I had to head out. When I left the church building, it was 0-0. By the time I got to the car, it was 3-0!!! But then Fuko hit the homerun in the bottom of the 9th to tie it up, I almost wrecked my car. So, I hurried into the apartment only to be disappointed in the bottom of the 10th.
Struggle.
Jim
I waited through the initial rain delay and then enjoyed an hour or so of good baseball before the second. Steve and I watched a bit this afternoon while we worked on the new student ministry website (fvcc.com/students) which will be launched later this week!!!
But then, because of Dinner for 5, I had to head out. When I left the church building, it was 0-0. By the time I got to the car, it was 3-0!!! But then Fuko hit the homerun in the bottom of the 9th to tie it up, I almost wrecked my car. So, I hurried into the apartment only to be disappointed in the bottom of the 10th.
Struggle.
Jim
Dinner for 5
Edit: Elisabeth went on to win... Ugh! Another Dinner for 5 without a win in Life for me.
Jim
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