There are two very important anniversaries approaching in my life.
Beatrice and I will have been together for an entire year in 4 days. April 30, 2009 was the day we were united. It has been a year of bliss. The first couple days were rocky, but once I mastered the stick shift, it was sheer love.
More importantly, sometime here in the next couple of weeks-- I'm not sure of the exact date-- will mark the ten year point in my relationship with Christ. That blows my mind. Jesus and I have been together for about half of my life now-- one decade. It has been a crazy one at that. There have been ups and downs, but overall it has been so good. I have gotten to experience so many sweet things, so many things so much bigger than me. I think I might put together a top ten list or something to commemorate... but I just had that idea so that might be another post. Most of all, it is crazy to look back on my life and think, "Wow Jesus, I can't believe you pick me but you sure are faithful."
I love Him so much. I can't wait to see what the next 10 years hold.
-Vern.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
I found this while I was writing my ethics paper...
Things like this make me love people.
"Why Men Should Never Be Pastors."
-Men are too emotional to be pastors. Their conduct at football and basketball games proves this.
-Some men are so handsome they will distract women worshipers.
-Their physical build indicates that men are more suited to tasks such as chopping down trees and wrestling mountain lions. It would be "unnatural" for them to do other forms of work.
-The person who betrayed Jesus was a man. Thus, his lack of faith and ensuing punishment stand as a symbol of the subordinate position that all men should take.
-Men are overly prone to violence. No truly masculine man wants to settle disputes without a fight. Thus, men would be poor role models, as well as being dangerously unstable in positions of leadership.
-Ordained pastors are required to nurture their congregations. But this is not a traditional male role. Rather, throughout history, women have been considered more skilled than men at nurturing. This makes them the obvious choice for ordination.
-For men who have children, their pastoral duties might distract them from the responsibility of being a parent.
-Men can still be involved in church activities, even without being ordained. they can sweep sidewalks, repair the church roof and maybe even lead the singing on Father's Day. By confining themselves to such traditional male roles, they can still be vitally important in the life of the church.
Two parts humor, one part food for thought.
-Vern.
"Why Men Should Never Be Pastors."
-Men are too emotional to be pastors. Their conduct at football and basketball games proves this.
-Some men are so handsome they will distract women worshipers.
-Their physical build indicates that men are more suited to tasks such as chopping down trees and wrestling mountain lions. It would be "unnatural" for them to do other forms of work.
-The person who betrayed Jesus was a man. Thus, his lack of faith and ensuing punishment stand as a symbol of the subordinate position that all men should take.
-Men are overly prone to violence. No truly masculine man wants to settle disputes without a fight. Thus, men would be poor role models, as well as being dangerously unstable in positions of leadership.
-Ordained pastors are required to nurture their congregations. But this is not a traditional male role. Rather, throughout history, women have been considered more skilled than men at nurturing. This makes them the obvious choice for ordination.
-For men who have children, their pastoral duties might distract them from the responsibility of being a parent.
-Men can still be involved in church activities, even without being ordained. they can sweep sidewalks, repair the church roof and maybe even lead the singing on Father's Day. By confining themselves to such traditional male roles, they can still be vitally important in the life of the church.
Two parts humor, one part food for thought.
-Vern.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
The irony, of course, is...
While it is so easy to feel your love for others, my heart is so often blinded to your love for me.
Being prayed over at church--> season of weeping is unfinished.
love.
Being prayed over at church--> season of weeping is unfinished.
love.
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Blessed are Those Who Mourn
For they shall be comforted.
I'm in a weird season of life. It's a season of mourning-- but there's nothing really terrible happening to me. It's kind of hard to explain.
I have been confronted over and over again in the recent weeks with the world's desperate need for Jesus, often being moved to tears. This is weird for me. I'm not the stereotypical "not a crier" but I'm definitely not usually the first person to cry about something and tears are very rarely my first response to anything.
But it's been surprisingly good. I've been very aware of God's love for people. And whenever I'm confronted with someone who is running from Him, my first thought is not about their sin, but the fact that, above all, God is still pursuing their heart. Because His love for any person will always far outweigh whatever things they've tried to throw between themselves and Him. But He does not ravish, He only woos.
And so at the end of the day I rest assured that my heart is beating. And He is shaping it to look more like His. His heart hurts because of the brokenness in this world. But He is also the Comforter.
In all things, love.
-Vern
I'm in a weird season of life. It's a season of mourning-- but there's nothing really terrible happening to me. It's kind of hard to explain.
I have been confronted over and over again in the recent weeks with the world's desperate need for Jesus, often being moved to tears. This is weird for me. I'm not the stereotypical "not a crier" but I'm definitely not usually the first person to cry about something and tears are very rarely my first response to anything.
But it's been surprisingly good. I've been very aware of God's love for people. And whenever I'm confronted with someone who is running from Him, my first thought is not about their sin, but the fact that, above all, God is still pursuing their heart. Because His love for any person will always far outweigh whatever things they've tried to throw between themselves and Him. But He does not ravish, He only woos.
And so at the end of the day I rest assured that my heart is beating. And He is shaping it to look more like His. His heart hurts because of the brokenness in this world. But He is also the Comforter.
In all things, love.
-Vern
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