Man this year just flew by! So much has taken place in my life this year it's crazy. I never would have pictured myself where i am now at the beginning of this year. To sum it up:
2008 was great. (Yes, it does rhyme.)
Let's see where do i begin?
At the beginning of this year, i found myself working a miserable job as an irrigation installer, engaged to a beautiful girl and not exactly sure how i was going to provide enough for the both of us, let alone just her. I found myself taking a break from seminary in order to focus on job and getting married. I found myself at the end of short rope. One of my best friends, who i followed to that miserable job, had moved to Florida and became a youth pastor in Tallahassee. I found myself wondering what to do next.
On the most cold, miserable day of work a beacon of light erupted into my life. My friend from Florida called and asked if i was looking for a job. At first i thought he was pulling my chain, as he often does, but no, he was for reals. (As we say on the streets...)
At the church he was working at there was an open position at the church's TV station. I found myself intrigued. I then found myself going to a job interview, getting a new job, relocating myself to Tallahassee, adding stress to my engagement, leaving good friends behind, making new friends, renting my first apartment, and this was all before April.
On April 4th, i found myself in a wedding ceremony. Mine. I found myself no longer just Joshua Vasquez, but Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Vasquez. Two had become one.
With that, i found that my life was changing. She moved in, she decorated, i hung pictures, i hung curtains, i hung a lot of things i never would have if i was single.
I learned my new job. i found that video editing is a little trickier than it looks. i found that dumping programs to the air was also trickier than it looks. I found tricks of the trade.
I met a new youth group. I met new kids. I became a youth counselor to a new youth group.
I argued theology with a good friend to the point of frustration. I think we both secretly enjoyed it.
I read a book called, "The Way of the Master." I found evangelism is much more serious than "church growth."
I talked to atheists via Youtube videos. I began to blog. I still blog. I'm actually blogging right now.
I've grown in my walk with Christ. I've found that i hunger for his word. I have found myself becoming more conservative. I have found myself differing in opinion with a lot of people. I've found myself to be OK with that.
I've noticed that my view of Christianity is changing. I've also noticed its not the way my age group is changing or for the lack of better word, emerging.
I've discovered that Calvinism is not as wrong as i've been told. I've discovered that the Bible teaches a balance in salvation, which is often not presented today.
I learned that it's biblical to not like "the sinner's prayer."
My wife is awesome. I found out that i'm often not. I've learned that she loves me despite that.
I find myself at the end of a year. I'm looking to the next one.
I find myself wanting children and at the same time not wanting children
I find myself re-reading what i just wrote in shock. (Did i just say that out loud?)
I find myself racking my brain to try and remember anything else. Of course there's something else. There's always something else.
Oh yes. I had a major blowout with my parents. Surprise. (For the record, my wife said i was respectful.)
I think the biggest thing this year was that i am not who i was. And that's OK with me.
I've shared the gospel with close friends and haven't heard back from them. I found out that hurts.
I really don't know how to end this thing.
This next year, there are only a few thing i want:
1. To die to myself and follow Christ.
2. To die to myself and love my wife.
3. That's pretty much about it.
4. But an Xbox 360 would be cool. (you don't have to laugh, that one's for me.)
Monday, December 29, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
go towards the light...
1st John 1:5-10
5This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us
These five verses pack so much power and truth in them. I mean look at verse five. God is light. To emphasize that, John adds "and in him is no darkness at all." Think about it. God is light. Light is pure. Light illuminates. Light causes life. God is light. This verse sets up who God is and what follows explains where we stand.
In verse six, it says that if we claim to be in fellowship with Him, but yet continue to walk in darkness, we are liars and do not the truth. If we claim to be Christians, but yet continue to walk in our sins, we are liars. Now understand this: I am not saying Christians are perfect and don't sin. They sin, but if God (who is light) is in their life, then they repent and strive to to not sin in the sight of their Lord. Look at what Christ said in John 12:35-36,
35Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
36While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
He tells us to walk in the light, because if you walk in darkness, you don't know where you're going (surprise). Well, how do we walk in the light? It says in John 3:21,
21But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Abide in truth and you'll abide in the light. In verse seven, it says that if we walk in the light, just as God is in the light, we will have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse us from all sin. Two things to point out here:
One is that it says as "God is in the light", once again setting up where God is. God is light. In Psalm 104:2 it says how "He covers himself in light as with a garment." God wears the light like a clothing. In the verse before it says, "you are clothed with honor and majesty."
Second thing is, it places those who walk in the light under the shed blood of Christ.
Hebrews 9:14
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
In order for there to be redemption, blood always has to be shed. We see it in Genesis 3:21, that God killed the first animal in order to cover Adam and Eve's nakedness. They had lost their righteousness and The Lord shed the blood of an innocent animal to cover their sin. The fig leaves of their self-righteousness could not cover them. I learned that fig leaves are soft like velvet and will shrink under the light of the sun to about a quarter the original size.
Ok, now think about that. God is light. Adam and Eve tried to cover themselves with fig leaves. When God found them, since He is light, what effect do you think it had on those fig leaves? Let's just say they probably weren't covering up much.
But we are so quick to do the same thing. We think good works and being a good person will cover our sins in the eyes of God, but we have no idea who he really is. God is light and in the light of his law, it shrinks the fig leaves of our self-righteousness and exposes our true hearts. Look back at verse eight:
8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
We can put up this front that we're not sinners, but who are we fooling?
1 John 2:4
He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
We're not fooling anybody.
The last two verses just repeat the thoughts of the others. John repeatedly drives this home (almost like he is trying to make a point). "If we say we don't have sin, we decieve ourselves. If we say we don't have sin, we're liars. If we say we don't have sin, the truth is not in us."
I've been accussed of painting things black and white before, but i really think this passage can only be taken in that way. Either you abide in the light or the dark. Either you live in sin or you confess your sins and strive for righteousness. In verse nine, it says:
9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
My friends, if you are walking in sin, confess them to the Lord and turn away from them. Serve Jesus as Lord and walk in the light of his prescence.
"He that has an ear, let him hear..."
5This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us
These five verses pack so much power and truth in them. I mean look at verse five. God is light. To emphasize that, John adds "and in him is no darkness at all." Think about it. God is light. Light is pure. Light illuminates. Light causes life. God is light. This verse sets up who God is and what follows explains where we stand.
In verse six, it says that if we claim to be in fellowship with Him, but yet continue to walk in darkness, we are liars and do not the truth. If we claim to be Christians, but yet continue to walk in our sins, we are liars. Now understand this: I am not saying Christians are perfect and don't sin. They sin, but if God (who is light) is in their life, then they repent and strive to to not sin in the sight of their Lord. Look at what Christ said in John 12:35-36,
35Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
36While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
He tells us to walk in the light, because if you walk in darkness, you don't know where you're going (surprise). Well, how do we walk in the light? It says in John 3:21,
21But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Abide in truth and you'll abide in the light. In verse seven, it says that if we walk in the light, just as God is in the light, we will have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse us from all sin. Two things to point out here:
One is that it says as "God is in the light", once again setting up where God is. God is light. In Psalm 104:2 it says how "He covers himself in light as with a garment." God wears the light like a clothing. In the verse before it says, "you are clothed with honor and majesty."
Second thing is, it places those who walk in the light under the shed blood of Christ.
Hebrews 9:14
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
In order for there to be redemption, blood always has to be shed. We see it in Genesis 3:21, that God killed the first animal in order to cover Adam and Eve's nakedness. They had lost their righteousness and The Lord shed the blood of an innocent animal to cover their sin. The fig leaves of their self-righteousness could not cover them. I learned that fig leaves are soft like velvet and will shrink under the light of the sun to about a quarter the original size.
Ok, now think about that. God is light. Adam and Eve tried to cover themselves with fig leaves. When God found them, since He is light, what effect do you think it had on those fig leaves? Let's just say they probably weren't covering up much.
But we are so quick to do the same thing. We think good works and being a good person will cover our sins in the eyes of God, but we have no idea who he really is. God is light and in the light of his law, it shrinks the fig leaves of our self-righteousness and exposes our true hearts. Look back at verse eight:
8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
We can put up this front that we're not sinners, but who are we fooling?
1 John 2:4
He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
We're not fooling anybody.
The last two verses just repeat the thoughts of the others. John repeatedly drives this home (almost like he is trying to make a point). "If we say we don't have sin, we decieve ourselves. If we say we don't have sin, we're liars. If we say we don't have sin, the truth is not in us."
I've been accussed of painting things black and white before, but i really think this passage can only be taken in that way. Either you abide in the light or the dark. Either you live in sin or you confess your sins and strive for righteousness. In verse nine, it says:
9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
My friends, if you are walking in sin, confess them to the Lord and turn away from them. Serve Jesus as Lord and walk in the light of his prescence.
"He that has an ear, let him hear..."
Thursday, December 11, 2008
check this blog out!!!
Hey guys you should definitely check this blog out!
www.teampyro.blogspot.com
The past two days posts have just been amazing. Yesterday talked about how a lot of evangelical churches are beginning to redefine homosexuality and how to deal with it. It's not the average stuff you'd expect nowadays from a "christian" blog. This blog is really strong into doctrine and theology. These guys know there stuff.
Today's was on how Spurgeon prepared his sermons(say that three times fast!) and wow, did it put things into perspective for me! So, for reals, check them out!
josh
www.teampyro.blogspot.com
The past two days posts have just been amazing. Yesterday talked about how a lot of evangelical churches are beginning to redefine homosexuality and how to deal with it. It's not the average stuff you'd expect nowadays from a "christian" blog. This blog is really strong into doctrine and theology. These guys know there stuff.
Today's was on how Spurgeon prepared his sermons(say that three times fast!) and wow, did it put things into perspective for me! So, for reals, check them out!
josh
Monday, December 8, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Rescue is coming...
There’s a darkness in my skin
My cover’s wearing thin, I believe
I’d love to start again, go back to innocent
And never leave...
My cover’s wearing thin, I believe
I’d love to start again, go back to innocent
And never leave...
the what-if game...
I hate the "what-if" game. With a burning passion i hate it.
My wife loves the "what-if" game.
The "what-if" game is when you take one scenario and say, "What if this happened?" or "What if that happened?" My wife likes to do this to an extreme, such as, "What if...the car explodes and pieces fly all over the place and a little kid gets hurt?"
To which i reply, "What?"
Anyways, i don't doubt you know someone who plays this game, or even better, you yourself is a player of such game.
Because i love my wife, i have learned to tolerate this game, but there is one time i absolutely hate this game:
When it comes to theology.
You hear it a lot more these days. "What if Jesus said this?" Or "What if Jesus meant this?" Or "What if the Bible is really saying this?" Or my personal favorite, "What if that's not what the Bible says?"
It is so imperative that we read our bibles. Don't know what Jesus said or didn't say? Read your Bible. Not sure what exactly one passage means? Read the whole book. Not sure what the book is talking about? Read the whole Bible. Not sure what the whole Bible is saying? Check your christian pulse and see if you're really saved. Seriously.
God repeatedly says, "I AM THAT I AM, I AM the LORD I change not." He very clearly he never changes. In John 1:1 he very clearly states that He is His Word. So if the Bible is supposed to be "God's Word," why do we not read it and devour it?
There is no room for the "what-if" in theology.
Today we live in a post-modern world, where no one can no absolute truth. Well, while that's what the world tells us, I beg to differ. God gave us His Word, His promises and salvation. It's all there, just read it.
My wife loves the "what-if" game.
The "what-if" game is when you take one scenario and say, "What if this happened?" or "What if that happened?" My wife likes to do this to an extreme, such as, "What if...the car explodes and pieces fly all over the place and a little kid gets hurt?"
To which i reply, "What?"
Anyways, i don't doubt you know someone who plays this game, or even better, you yourself is a player of such game.
Because i love my wife, i have learned to tolerate this game, but there is one time i absolutely hate this game:
When it comes to theology.
You hear it a lot more these days. "What if Jesus said this?" Or "What if Jesus meant this?" Or "What if the Bible is really saying this?" Or my personal favorite, "What if that's not what the Bible says?"
It is so imperative that we read our bibles. Don't know what Jesus said or didn't say? Read your Bible. Not sure what exactly one passage means? Read the whole book. Not sure what the book is talking about? Read the whole Bible. Not sure what the whole Bible is saying? Check your christian pulse and see if you're really saved. Seriously.
God repeatedly says, "I AM THAT I AM, I AM the LORD I change not." He very clearly he never changes. In John 1:1 he very clearly states that He is His Word. So if the Bible is supposed to be "God's Word," why do we not read it and devour it?
There is no room for the "what-if" in theology.
Today we live in a post-modern world, where no one can no absolute truth. Well, while that's what the world tells us, I beg to differ. God gave us His Word, His promises and salvation. It's all there, just read it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
