Friday, March 14, 2008

Weakness

Here is an interesting thought from one of my readings . . .

"We must remember that what is true for Jesus, Peter and Paul is no doubt also true for churches, since most of the Bible is written in plural and since the Scripture repeatedly show that the way of God is through weakness. If the church is most faithful to its true vocation as a created power through the weakness that gives way to God's tabernacling, then we must ask such questions as these:
1) Why have we turned pastors into successful CEOs instead of shepherds for the weak?
2) Why do we search for pastors who are handsome, sophisticated, charismatic - instead of models in suffering?
3) Who do our churches adopt practices of business life and its achievement models?
4) Why do we resort to gimmicks, or what Jacques Ellul calls Technique, instead of practicing an 'unadulterated handling of the Word'?"

I would guess the answer to most of these question arise from the fact that we all have become all too comfortable in our suburban Western lifestyle - wanting nothing to do with hardship and suffering. Thus, the Gospel has become another middle-class luxury and right that can only be bought when we have achieved the right financial and social status.

Saturday, March 1, 2008

My Latest Post

I don’t know if anyone still reads this blogg, but here my latest post since I have a bit of down time right now.

Well since my last post, not much has really changed. The only new thing that has come up is the fact that I completed Airborne School as a Chaplain Candidate this past February. Additionally, I’ll be done with my seminary course work at the end of the summer semester. I can definitely say that I have hit the academic “wall”. While I still have to finish a thesis to get my official degree, it looks like I’ll be able to accession as a USAR Chaplain prior to me completing the thesis.

With regards to Airborne School, all I have to say is that I have never felt my 33 years of age more than during those three weeks. Praise the Lord that he gave me the physical strength to finish. I also dropped 18 pounds. So if anyone is looking for a good weight loss program, Airborne is the way to go!

Here I am after my “combat” jump.