tonight Kipp Alexander, a good friend of mine, spoke for the last time at “Ignition” (youth ministry i’m involved with). He’s moving on with his life…a small change geographically, but a change of heart ultimately. His words tonight were good, they always are. I sometimes think that when he speaks, he’s unintentionally talking more to the adults in the room than he is the students…tonight was one of those nights. I think all of us came home just thinking about his words. with all that said…

it’s time for me to move on as well. i’ve sat too long idling, it’s time to get out and get my life in order, to do something new, something old, just something. my devotional life flat out sucks. i mean, i know that everyone struggles…but that isn’t even the word for me…my devotion life doesn’t exsist…somehow God still loves me. moving on…

besides that i’m still trying to find my place ultimately in ministry. i’ve been flirting with about half a dozen different ones, but haven’t sunk my teeth into any of them. that has to change. God will open the doors, I have confidence. He is always there when I call out to Him. He comes so far to meet me where I am, yet I find it so hard to just take that first and only step.

it’s time to start.

The “People’s Choice Awards” were tonight…did i watch? HA…HAHA! Yeah right, I have much better things to do with my time than to sit and stare as Hollywood pats itself on the back. However I did just read through the “winners” and must I say I am not surprised. Fahrenheit 9/11 won best picture…at least it didn’t win best documentary since we all know that it’s far from the truth. The other list of winners includes “Will & Grace”, Ellen DeGeneres x 2, and Desperate Housewives…ah yes, our morals are climbing here in America! The irony is that “Passion of the Christ” won for best Drama… How blind are Americans? Sure Passion was a great film from the artistic side of things, but if you didn’t see the plot, what’s the point?

Ah, that phrase reminded me of one of my favorite Newboys songs. Here are the lyrics:

When you come back again
would you bring me something from the fridge?
Heard a rumour that the end is near
but I just got comfortable here.
sigh.
Let’s be blunt.
I’m a little distracted.
What do you want?

When you come back again
would you bring me something from the fridge?
Heard a rumour that the end is near
but I just got comfortable here.

My first Christmas as a married man is in it’s fleeting moments. I am not distressed however, since it was an exceptional day. Jen and I awoke early to have our own personal time together exchanging gifts before heading to my parents to spend the afternoon and evening with my siblings and their kids. I really enjoyed every minute of it. Selfishly, the gifts I recieved were great (not a single piece of clothes!), but that’s not what made the day so good. I just enjoyed sharing it with the people I love. Seeing the kids’ faces light up was undoubtedly priceless, but it was in those few quiet moments that I enjoyed Christmas the most.

It seems like every year Christmas brings new, and often different meaning. This year it was the “fulfillment of a Promise”. A couple weeks ago I purchased Andrew Peterson’s new album “Behold, the Lamb of God”. It’s a Christmas album, but one like no other that I’ve heard. The first few songs don’t mention much of anything about the shepards, wise men, or a manger. I didn’t quite get it at first, I mean, this is a Chrismtas album isn’t it? After I listened closer I realized that the album focuses, in part, on the promise that God gave in the Old Testament to deliver His people. While God did deliver the Israelites literally from their slavery, He also did it figuratively when He sent His Son as a fullfillment of His Promise. To us it’s easy to take that for granted…our lives are pretty easy now, even as Christians. We don’t have to worry about violent persecution, slavery, or Jewish law for that matter. God is Good…and man am I glad that I am free of the Old Testament Law and most of all– sin. God gave me the ultimate gift on this day 2000 years ago…He fullfilled His Promise…and someday He’ll fullfill another when He returns.

I haven’t yet really posted about my faith, until now. After a somewhat frustrating, yet soul searching night I thought that I would just lay out in black and white what I believe in. I am not some watered down, take some of the bible and leave the rest, Christian. I believe wholly in the Bible– I believe that it is the infallible word of God. Rich Mullins has a song about just this, titled “Creed”. Here are some of the lyrics:

“I believe in God the Father
Almighty Maker of Heaven and Maker of Earth
And in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son our Lord
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit
Born of the virgin Mary
Suffered under Pontius Pilate
He was crucified and dead and buried

And I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am
I did not make it no it is making me
It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man

I believe that He who suffered was crucified buried and dead
He descended into hell and on the third day rose again
He ascended into Heaven where He sits at God’s mighty right hand
I believe that He’s returning
To judge the quick and the dead of the sons of men”

I could go on from here indefinitely, but I think these lyrics strike at the heart of my faith.

This is my creed.