The Living Word

Recently I had an experience that made me feel unlovable. It was one of those temporary issues that just threw me off the horse for an evening. When I sat down for my devotionals that night, I was amazed when I read the following verse as part of my Bible reading plan:

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love" (John 15:9).

At a time of emotional need - when I felt so unlovable - His Word met me right where I was. It is amazing when something written 2,000 years ago pierces your situation in 2006. And its even more amazing to me when I realize that God has promised that His Word will bring such power and meaning into my journey. My experience proves the words written in Hebrews:

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).

How marvelous and how wonderful is His unfailing love and His living Word!

Welcome to Lithos!

Hopefully you're visiting because you have received the new "Stone Sentinel" Christmas newsletter. Welcome to Lithos, our blog of life and seminary in Dallas. Though we are not in the Big Star State yet, we have uploaded some pictures and reflections from my first class on Bible study methods.

This blog was not originally my idea. My friend Scott Benjamin, who has his own blog, suggested we do this to chronicle what God does in our lives while we are in Dallas.

So far, I'm really enjoying it. Its an amazing feeling to type something, hit a button, and see your words published in real time.

We are not sure how often we will post things - my goal at this point is twice a week. And we would really be honored if you would comment on what we share. Nothing is more encouraging than knowing that people are reading - and responding - to our thoughts and experiences.

One final word: Lithos is the Greek word used in the New Testament for 'stone' and 'spiritual edification by Scriptural teaching.' We are the Stones and we are moving to Dallas to pursue such spiritual growth based on God's Word. How awesome is that!

Welcome . . . we are glad you're here.

Just enough light for the next step

The last time I moved more than 400 miles I was three or four. In just three weeks, though, Heather and I will climb into a sixteen foot rental truck and drive 800 miles from Atlanta to Dallas. We'll be moving from a two bedroom apartment into a one bedroom apartment. From a state I've lived in for almost twenty years to a city neither of us have spent more than a week in. Its a very exciting, exhausting, anxious time. At least, we're not doing this in the middle of the Christmas season!! :)

But we couldn't be moving for a better reason: in the spring, I will be attending Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) as a full time student. More on that later.

But we thought it would be great to share some pictures of the beautiful campus and our new apartment community with you. So here they are. . .

Pictures of Dallas Theological Seminary

James: Proverbs for the Christian's Path

We’ve spent about a month working on the New Testament epistle of James in my Bible Study Methods class. It’s a five chapter letter full of proverbs and wisdom on Christian living. It raises quite a high standard for those who follow Christ. For me, it became a source of great sadness as I realized (again) my complete inability to live the way God calls us. James presents a clear reminder that “all fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

The letter encourages readers to “be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God” (James 1:21). Those of you that know me know a verbal person who likes to talk for hours on end about almost anything. You also know that I’m extremely passionate about certain things. Such passion often leads to anger and frustration when I’m unable to fully influence others. So for me, the first half of this verse is tough medicine. In life, be quick to listen instead of just thinking about your feelings and thoughts and planning what you are going to say next. He’s not talking about me, is he?!? After you’ve listened to someone, be slow to speak. Don’t fly off the handle . . . don’t react based solely on emotion. Take a minute. Process what has been said and what’s really going on in the heart of the person who has been speaking. Regardless of their response, be slow to anger. These are hard commands to apply in life.

Until James explains the purpose of the proverb. “The anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” What a filter for life! Do my actions produce the righteousness of God? Flying off the handle without listening and responding to others with anger may make me feel better, may help release some steam . . . but these actions do not achieve the righteousness of God. So this proverb all of sudden gives us a grid, a filter to examine not only our actions but our motives and priorities. Is it more important for me to express myself and win influence or let my life be a conduit for God’s righteousness.

After Heather and I have both had hard days at the office and we’re not quite on the same page, its awfully easy – and a miss of God’s mark – to not actively listen, to respond to her words quickly, and let my anger rear its ugly head. So I’ve been working on this – listening more, talking less (not making much progress on this one) and being attuned to my anger level. Because I want my life to produce God’s righteousness everywhere that I go and with everyone that I know. It seems that James presents one of God’s upside down commands to us in his letter. Don’t do what is easy, pursue what is hard – and know that He will meet us and use us in that place.