Facebook, part deux

I almost forgot to mention this little deuce about Facebook.
In fact, just by looking at Chase Sears, it reminding me of mentioning this.

The status update Bar.
At the risk of sounding heartless I will only say, "Why?"
If we all truly cared what you are doing 100% of the time, we would be living together.
I do not need to know that you are "watching TV," nor that you "have not gotten enough sleep," or that you are "feeling tired." Honestly, if something truly important happens in your life, then BY ALL MEANS post it. However, if you just want attention, tell me so.

Gus is... SEEKING ATTENTION FROM YOU

Facebook: Friendship with no Strings Attached

Let me preface this post by saying, I do have a facebook account and I use it.
Facebook has become a crazed in the last few years, in fact it was launched in February of 2004 a mere 4 years ago. By september of 2007, facebook had over 64 million subscribers and about 14 million uploads DAILY!
Facebook is a new technology that I call Friendship with No strings attached. It is easy to be a "friend" in facebook, you only have to ask someone to be your friend and 99% of the time, they will say, "YES."
The amazing fact that I have people on my "friend's list" that I have NEVER EVER EVER spoken to. In fact, I was asked to be friends with people at the School that I attend that I normally would not recognized.
Another "important" aspect of facebook are applications. One can get the "daily verse," or "the farside of the day," or "fun fact." However the most revolting part of this application comes by way of SUPERPOKE. Superpoke, which I could never sign up for, is an application that allows you to, "dance with," "throw a sheep at," "hug," "eat thanksgiving with," etc. This application allows you to do things with people that you would never do in real life.
Facebook is a great technological advance, it allows people to keep in touch with others, and helps you find people that you have not seen. YET I have to ask, if you have lost touch with someone, why do you need to find them again?
If you are not friends with someone, why are you looking to be "friends" with them over facebook?
If you are not going to throw a live sheep; why must you do this on facebook?

Facebook is Friendship with no strings attached! I wanted you to know that.

gap

With all this busyness... Here is a Proverb!

I have not posted for over a week.
It has been quite a busy couple of weeks at school and work, and I could not get time to post.
I was thinking about what to post early this morning. The truth is that for days now, I have had in my head the passage that I will be teaching on this Friday night at Hillside.
Proverbs 15:11
Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD;
how much more the hearts of the children of man!

Sheol was consider for the Jewish people as the place of the dead.
Abaddon was the place of destruction.
The NIV says, "Death and Destruction lie open before the LORD;"
This is an argument from the Greater to the lesser; that is, God can see Death and Destruction open before Him... How much more can He see your small heart.

I will not give you the whole lesson, but suffice it to say that Knows it all, even your heart.
As I was thinking about this for Friday, I pondered on the fact that God is omniscient and that He is omnipresent. These truths should not only be a deterrent to not harbor hidden sin, but they also should be an encouragement to look for vindication only before our God.
As we think of our God, let us worship him and fear him because even Death and Destruction Lie open before Him.

American Karaoke!

Melissa, my dear wife, convinced me that I should prefer her and that I'd watch American Karaoke err... Idol with her.
I did, well I guess I am. She told me that tonight they were going to do songs from the Beatles and I love the Beatles.
American Karaoke is probably the biggest show in television right now, but I do not seem to understand the point.
I told Melissa that if I wanted to see average singers, I would go to my local bar, which I do not frequent, and see some dude attempt to sing "Boulevard of Broken Dreams."
But I digress, these Beatles songs were completely trashed by these amateurish mediocre singers. Melissa kept asking me if I liked the singers, I kept saying, "they are nothing special."
American Karaoke might be huge in pop-culture, but I will stick to NOT watching, unless my sweetheart insist.
For now, I will continue to listen to my IPOD, where TRUE artists reside!

gap

One of Those Verses

Sometimes we need a reminder of how valuable Scripture is to us.
Yesterday I was in a meeting where this verse was read.
I have had this verse in my mind ever since; I want to share it with you.

1Pet. 3:18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

Rick Holland said yesterday that this verse is "pregnant with gospel truth." It is so true!

Enjoy our Savior as you meditate on this verse.

When I grow up I want to be a...

The first time I thought of that question I was probably under 4 years old.
I remember my grandfather, brothers and I were "working" in my grandpa's shed (which was huge) and I remembering thinking, "When I grow up I want to be a carpenter."
A carpenter? Yes, a carpenter.
I would love to tell you that I wanted to be a carpenter because Joseph, Jesus' dad, was a carpenter and thus he, Jesus, probably was in the family business, but no. I wanted to be a carpenter because I loved saws, hammers, and the smell of wood.
Unfortunately, it didn't take long for my dreams to be shattered, 4th grade wood-shop class took care of that. I realized then that I probably would need a desk job or talk to people in order to make money, instead of sanding, cutting and nailing.
I was reminded of that today as I was driving to work. It is funny to think that we usually end up a million miles away from where we first start and yet we end up in the same place that God wants us to be.
I was talking to a friend last week and I was telling him that for us Hollywood does not really apply. We could never think "I missed my chance." We know that we are exactly where God wants us. Somehow our choices and God's sovereignty work in perfect harmony.
You see, the best way I can explain this is: God is a great God, he knows all and somehow all things work together to bring him glory. So...
No... I did not get to be a carpenter, or a doctor, nor an astronaut, nor a soccer player, and I did not get to sail around the world, but wherever I am at, it is the perfect place where he wants us to be.

Dying to Self

Friday and Saturday, Crossroads sponsored a very different conference, it was called AWARE or it should have been called HOW TO MATURE IN CHRIST.
We heard four great sermons about maturing in leadership, finances, planning, and the value of awareness.
This latter one was quite convicting to me:

Download Here

Rick Holland finished his sermon with this great anonymous poem:


When you are forgotten, neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you don't sting or hurt with the oversight, but your heart is happy being counted worthy to suffer for Christ;

That is dying to self.
When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinion ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart or even defend yourself, but take it all in patient, loving silence;
That is dying to self.
When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any annoyance; when you can stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility, and endure it as Jesus did;
That is dying to self.
When you are content with any food, and offering, any raiment, any climate, any society, any solitude, any interruption by the will of God;
That is dying to self.
When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation or record your own good works or itch after commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown;
That is dying to self.
When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met, and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy, nor question God, while your own needs are far greater and you are in desperate circumstances;
That is dying to self.
When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself and can humbly submit, inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart;
That is dying to self.

After a break, I am back!

I am back after taking a prolonged break. School is starting on Monday the 7th. I am taking a "one week class" on the book of James.
I am exited about this, yet I know that I will be very busy.
I will be starting to write again!

Merry Christmas with Merry Worship

I was thinking about my history of Christmas. I have never been much of a Christmas guy, just because it always seemed to me like a business season, more than a spiritual season.
I was reading an article from a book that talked about the importance of Worship in Christmas; the author contended that Christmas without worship is just a regular holiday. Honestly, that has really call me to worship; Christmas without worship is just Independence Day, the reason that we celebrate Christmas is because we want to remember that our God became flesh long ago so that he could die for our sins.
So this season as you celebrate Christmas do what you usually do; eat, give gifts, have fun, and add a big entree of WORSHIP.

Here is my favorite Carol to help you get started:

Hark the Herald!

Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Semester Over...

Thursday marked the end of my fall semester. As you can imagine, i am relieved, mainly since I have not had much time off this year (2007).
One thing that is hard about ending the semester is letting go, letting go specifically of school work and knowing that all has ended is a great sigh of relief. I will start again in 2008, I am taking a winter class that starts the second week of January and from then on the spring semesters will start with a vengence.
One thing that I wanted to do is to write down things that I have learned in this semester through school. At times it seems so hard to even look back and remember what happened after such a grueling time, but here are some things.

I learned

1) Melissa's unwavering support while I'm school.
2) To love the Old Testament in my Introduction to OT Exegesis
3) The importance of Context
4) How much I need to learn about Pastoral Ministries
5) The importance of prayer
6) God's provision in different areas of my life.
7) The relevance of God's Word.
8) God's constant care for my family.
9) To be detailed as I try to interpret the scriptures
10) Grammar matters in Scripture

The Busyness of Finals

Finals week is here. I noticed that this semester is not like others semesters; it much harder. I was thinking this morning that when I was in High School finals were my favorite times of the year because we had a shorten schedule and it meant that school was OVER. Bah!... Silly me, Finals do not mean the same, in graduate school, they mean long hours finishing writing papers, long hours finishing reading books, long hours studying for exams, and long hours figuring out how to balance the rest of my schedule.
Yes, this is a hectic time, but I am excited that I am closer to graduation, hopefully 2 more semesters!
So, all that to say that I have not been posting as much, but I will come back soon with avengence.

Pray for me!

Love One Another

Hillside is the name of our Bible study. We meet in Shadow Hills, CA about 5 miles away from our Church. I have been shepherding that study for the last three years and going there since 2003 when it merged with another study.
For the last 3 years we have taught through Colossians, James, and this year we have been going through the One Another's. This has been one of the hardest things that I have ever done while at that bible study. Teaching every-week on something that I fail at a lot has been convicting, because these one anothers have stared at me for weeks before I preached them.
This week wont be any different, I will be doing my last sermon on Romans 12:9-13, Love One Another. Needless to say, even reading the passage will be most convicting to us.
Please pray for me as I continue to prepare this message in the midst of term papers and finals next week.
I will keep you posted,

gap

Why Do We Go to Church? Part 2

Friday, I had the opportunity to teach on Hebrews 10:25. 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

And there we found 2 reasons for going to church.

The first one was To Worship Corporately
There is no indication in the context of Hebrews as to why these believers were forsaking the assembly. Some commentaries suggested that it was because they were Jewish belivers, they were probably involved in some sort of Synagogue, other commentaries suggested that it was because of Spiritual pride, while others might think that it was fear of persecution. Either way, these were forsaking gathering together and were in turn forsaking worshipping with the other saints.

The Second reason is to Encourage Others
As the day draws near is an allution to the coming of the Lord. Again, the writer, encourages his readers not only to come to the assembly, but come ready to encourage others. The church is the body of Christ and this body is comprise by members that need one another to survive and glorify God.

Application-- I think that there is a problem in our society, we have become Spiritually individualistic and feel as though we do not need anyone. That is why we are called to not forsake our assembly, but in turn encourage others. As we do this we are able to practice the one another's of Scripture.

gap

--Update--

I went to see my dad after work today. He is doing much better, he will be released from the hospital tomorrow.
I am indebted to the Lord for his great work in my dad's life.
Continue to pray for a good recovery; my dad wont be able to work until January.
Thanks again for all of your prayers lifted up on his behalf.

Praise HIM!

gap

--Quick Update--

My dad is doing better. He has been tranferred to a private room, though he is still under careful watch. Please continue to pray for him.
Last night I went to see my dad and I read this Psalm to him, I pray that this will be an encouragement to you as it was for him and my mom.

Psalm 116
1 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.

2 Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.

3 The cords of death entangled me,
the anguish of the grave [a] came upon me;
I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.

4 Then I called on the name of the LORD :
"O LORD, save me!"

5 The LORD is gracious and righteous;
our God is full of compassion.

6 The LORD protects the simplehearted;
when I was in great need, he saved me.

7 Be at rest once more, O my soul,
for the LORD has been good to you.

8 For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling,

9 that I may walk before the LORD
in the land of the living.

Why do we go to church?

This week at our Bible study, as it is customary this semester, I will be preaching on the one another's: This week we will be going through Hebrews 10:

22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;

24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,

25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

I will be emphasising why church? Why must we be at church? Why is it that God chose Christians to be part of a body? This is a tough assignment in our individualistic society, yet God's word never stutters. We are call not to forsake our own assembling together.

Pray for me, I will let you know how it goes.

Cael got us sick!

Today I stayed home from work. I have a nasty cold, which I can feel getting better.
While I am licking my wounds reading/studying, Melissa is decorating for Christmas, what a trooper.

I will be back tomorrow.

By the way, we took Cael to see Santa, he had no idea what was going on and even though he will never believe in Santa, but we still thought it would be cute to take a picture of him. So here it is:

Thank You!

I thought of making a list of the things that I am thankful for; this list is not EXHAUSTIVE, but it helps me to have a worshipful thanksgiving.




The ABC's : I AM THANKFUL FOR:

A. Angels (Baseball)
B. Basketball: The Lakers
C. Cael Athanasius, my son and funniest baby around. A Great Blessing!
D. Decree of God
E. Eternal Life
F. Friends: Their Love and encouragement
G. Grace Community Church
H. Our Bible Study; Hillside, the best ever.
I. Imputation
J. Jesus, the Lamb of God
K. Kenosis
L. The Lawler Family: Melissa's parents and sisters
M. Melissa, my wife, my best friend and helpmeet. A Great Blessing!
N. Nature: That we see everyday
O. Organic Milk
P. The Pidal Family: My extended Family
Q. Quiet Times with the Lord
R. Radiohead's Music
S. Salvation; the fact that God chose me before salvation and that I am not longer an enemy of God.
T. The Master's Seminary:how much God has challenged me through that endeavor.
U. USA: For living in a Country where we are able to worship God freely.
V. Vitamins and Veggies
W. Weyerhaeuser: My job and God's provision
X. X-Mas and Xylophones
Y. Yogurt: my favorite snack
Z. Zucchini: my favorite vegetable

The Heart of Thankfulness

Yesterday we discussed how Christians must be thankful and we said that thankfulness is what separates us from unbelievers. After writing that last night, I thought to myself. Why? Why must we, as Christians have to be thankful?
Thess. 5.18 says, "in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
As I read this passage there is one simple reason as to why we need to be thankful, It is God's will for us.
The importance of thankfulness can be seen in this passage, thankfulness is not an option for us, it is God who wants us to be thankful.
We answer the why, but what do we need to be thankful for? The passage says, "in everything." This is all comprehensive, there is nothing that fall outside that realm; good things and bad things. God wants us to have the attitude of thankfulness at all times, regardless of the circumstances that we are going through.

So as you celebrate thanksgiving, remember what Paul wrote, that it is God's will for us to thankful and that we must give thanks at all times regardless of our situation.

here is another great psalm to cultivate a thankful heart.

Psalm 118

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

2 Let Israel say:
"His love endures forever."

3 Let the house of Aaron say:
"His love endures forever."

4 Let those who fear the LORD say:
"His love endures forever."

5 In my anguish I cried to the LORD,
and he answered by setting me free.

6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?

7 The LORD is with me; he is my helper.
I will look in triumph on my enemies.

8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.

9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.

10 All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

11 They surrounded me on every side,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

12 They swarmed around me like bees,
but they died out as quickly as burning thorns;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

13 I was pushed back and about to fall,
but the LORD helped me.

14 The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.

15 Shouts of joy and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
"The LORD's right hand has done mighty things!

16 The LORD's right hand is lifted high;
the LORD's right hand has done mighty things!"

17 I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the LORD has done.

18 The LORD has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.

19 Open for me the gates of righteousness;
I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.

20 This is the gate of the LORD
through which the righteous may enter.

21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.

22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone;

23 the LORD has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.

24 This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

25 O LORD, save us;
O LORD, grant us success.

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you. [a]

27 The LORD is God,
and he has made his light shine upon us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up [b] to the horns of the altar.

28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.

29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

Thanksgiving vs. Thankfulness

Thanksgiving is coming up: This is the time when people stuff themselves with food, mediocre movies come out, and people remember their families and friends.
Unfortunatelly, thanksgiving has been hijacked by most of our society and turned into "Turkey Day." In fact, I saw this poll in the history channel website that is very telling about what Thanksgiving has become in our society; a holiday about football, food, folktales, and family.
History aside, thanksgiving, for the believer, should be one of the most important holidays ever, for the mark of a Christian is thankfulness.
So this thanksgiving enjoy the food, enjoy the football, enjoy the folktale, and enjoy your family. However remember to have a heart of true thankfulness to our God; for this is what separates us from the unbelievers. This is a good article about unthankfulness.

Here is a psalm that will fuel up your thanksgiving:

107:1 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
whom he has redeemed from trouble [1]
3 and gathered in from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.

4 Some wandered in desert wastes,
finding no way to a city to dwell in;
5 hungry and thirsty,
their soul fainted within them.
6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
7 He led them by a straight way
till they reached a city to dwell in.
8 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
9 For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

10 Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
prisoners in affliction and in irons,
11 for they had rebelled against the words of God,
and spurned the counsel of the Most High.
12 So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor;
they fell down, with none to help.
13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
and burst their bonds apart.
15 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
16 For he shatters the doors of bronze
and cuts in two the bars of iron.

17 Some were fools through their sinful ways,
and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;
18 they loathed any kind of food,
and they drew near to the gates of death.
19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
20 He sent out his word and healed them,
and delivered them from their destruction.
21 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
22 And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!

23 Some went down to the sea in ships,
doing business on the great waters;
24 they saw the deeds of the Lord,
his wondrous works in the deep.
25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind,
which lifted up the waves of the sea.
26 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;
their courage melted away in their evil plight;
27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men
and were at their wits' end. [2]
28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
29 He made the storm be still,
and the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad that the waters [3] were quiet,
and he brought them to their desired haven.
31 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people,
and praise him in the assembly of the elders.