Monthly Archive for October, 2007

Footnote To Sunday Night’s Sermon

Published
by
Chris
on October 9, 2007
in General Christianity and Life As A Believer
. 0 Comments

At Crimson House on Sunday, Pastor John spoke about how Jesus’ light testifies of itself. He related how some people cannot see the light because they are blinded by sin, and used a visual illustration of a candle burning, but two pieces of posterboard obstructed the audience’s view of it. He finished by showing that when we get saved and follow God’s will, God removes the veil of sin from our lives and we can see Him clearly.

I found that interesting because I just got done reading 2 Corinthians, chapter 2 this morning and verses 12 through 18 really spoke to me. Here they are in the New International Version:

Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

I thought that expounds on the point that Pastor kept repeating on Sunday, that Jesus’ light testifies of itself. When we are saved, not only do we see the light, but we also reflect it to others. We are expected to be representations of Jesus for those who need Him.

One great point is how Paul wrote “…whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” That point serves as a backup to another Bible truth, “Whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” It’s a simple thing at first, turn to God…but to continue seeing the light and sharing it, we need to walk in it. Thus the reference to us continuing to be transformed, in verse 18.

Just thought it was neat what I read this morning, and wanted to pass it along before I head out to work.

Mitch Hedberg

Published
by
Chris
on October 8, 2007
in Movement In Still Life
. 2 Comments

From Funny or Die, here’s a clip of Mitch Hedberg’s stand up comedy routine on the Late Show. Enjoy.

Lofty Goals For 2008

Published
by
Chris
on October 7, 2007
in Movement In Still Life
. 6 Comments

So I have a couple lofty goals for 2008 that I know I never could achieve in Oregon, but can achieve here in Missouri due to a number of reasons.

The number one goal is to become the owner of a small house in the Springfield area by late next year. Whether it be in Springfield, Nixa, Ozark, Republic, Strafford — anywhere in the local area works as long as I can have a basement that I can turn into a video and audio editing suite.

Which brings me to my next goal, and that is to start my own freelance video company. Ideally I would shoot, edit and master DVDs and other media for clients wanting a cost-effective yet professional product. I think I could build up a good list of clients and make it a good secondary job.

I never told many people that before, but if I don’t have something like that to aim for, what am I going to do with myself? I know I’d have to throw a ton of money into the house and studio but I’d reap the financial benefits later.

I look forward to my future here and I’m here to stay for a long time. I’m tired of moving around — 6 times in four years is enough for me.

Shout Out To My Alma Mater

Published
by
Chris
on October 6, 2007
in The Wide World Of Sports
. 6 Comments

Even though I graduated there five years ago, I still keep tabs on what happens at my alma mater, Rainier High School in Rainier, Oregon — student body population 350 or so, give or take (probably take) about 25 to 50.

Tonight, Rainier football fans have reason to be proud. They beat Clatskanie, their Highway 30 rival and probably their toughest league matchup of the season, 30-22 tonight. They pulled it off without the services of running back Austin McGlone, whom I read suffered some sort of shoulder injury or something like that.

Great job guys, and way to make someone who suffered through those infamous years of Rainier football ineptitude proud.

Of The Holy Spirit And Speaking In Tongues

Published
by
Chris
on October 5, 2007
in General Christianity and Life As A Believer
. 2 Comments

If you’ve known me for any length of time you know that even as a Christian, and one who has been raised in a Pentecostal church and household, I do not personally speak in tongues or necessarily agree with how the church in general has adopted the practice. I believe it is definitely a biblical concept, but in my studies of 1 Corinthians 12 and 13 this morning, I was prompted to take a closer look at speaking in tongues as a general practice.

In 1 Corinthians 12:4, we plainly find out that there are a vast array of spiritual gifts, but they all come from the same Holy Spirit. In verses 8-10 we’re told the spiritual gifts are as follows: knowledge, faith, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in tongues, and interpretations. While those aren’t the full spectrum of the gifts of the Spirit, it does show that there is indeed more than one gift that we all too often try to exercise too much of, when another gift may be needed in a certain situation.

Continue reading ‘Of The Holy Spirit And Speaking In Tongues’

Dreading The Nine-Hour Workday

Published
by
Chris
on October 4, 2007
in Movement In Still Life
. 0 Comments

Come visit me. You’ll receive 250 Brewer Bucks. I work noon to 9 tonight so stop on by and say hey, and buy something. RadioShack on Independence.

Oh, and this one’s for Evin — after our phone conversation last night, I looked up a Wikipedia article about Portland. More info than you’ll ever need to know about the place, but maybe it’ll pique your interest about visiting there sometime. Just look at the photos, they’re great.

As for everyone else, take care of yourselves.

This Isn’t Racist, It’s Simply American

Published
by
Chris
on October 3, 2007
in Movement In Still Life
. 2 Comments

Jim Brossard is my hero of the day. Watch this.

Only thing he did wrong was cut toward himself. That’s it.

So There Was This Song…

Published
by
Chris
on October 2, 2007
in Movement In Still Life
. 0 Comments

…that I heard at Sonic in Hillsboro, Oregon in early August while eating there with my older sister from another mister, Danielle Parker (I have two “adopted” sisters, it’s kinda neat).

It had this catchy little whistle interspersed throughout the song, and we both ended up remarking later on in the evening that we couldn’t get that tune out of our minds.

Well, this morning right after my short but exhausting run, I stood by my car, wiped the sweat from my face and began to whistle that tune. I don’t know why, but it just came to me somehow.

Fast forward about 6 hours, and I was whistling it again while I was organizing the parts drawer at the Radio Shack at which I have received gainful employment.

Fast forward two hours from there, and I used Google to figure out which song it was. I found a Youtube video, which is kinda crazy but it quenched my desire to find out what the song was.

So without further adieu, I present to you the video for “Young Folks” by Peter, Bjorn & John.

I love these words in the song, too:

If I told you things I did before
Told you how i used to be
Would you go along with someone like me?
If you knew my story word for word
Had all of my history
Would you go along with someone like me?

Now listen to the song again and again, and next time I see you, if you whistle that tune for me, you get 35 free Brewer Bucks.

This One’s For You, Dustin

Published
by
Chris
on October 1, 2007
in Movement In Still Life
. 0 Comments

Check it out, ladies and gentlemen. I was talking with my friend Dustin tonight while we were at prayer meeting, and somehow the subject came up of the Pink Floyd prank we tried to pull when I was stationed at Lajes.

“You were a radio DJ?” he asked.

“Yeah I was,” I said.

“Naw, for real…” Of course he didn’t believe me.

“Um, yeah dude, I’ll show you a photo sometime.”

So here it is. What you’re looking at is a picture of me broadcasting the news during the Island 96.1 Morning Show on my 20th birthday, July 20, 2004. My, how time flies.

I Missed A Genuine Opportunity

Published
by
Chris
on October 1, 2007
in Movement In Still Life
. 1 Comment

Tonight, we had a wonderful church service.

Or maybe I should say, they had a wonderful church service.

As has been the norm with me for a few years, yet something I’m desperately trying to change, I failed to take advantage of an opportunity in which the Holy Spirit had moved and I was being called to respond.

True, I had been running sound and had left the booth to go pray with one of our young men, but I should have also gone to the altar for myself and poured my heart out before the Lord like he was calling me to do.

I’m proud of every person that prayed and was encouraged, healed, delivered, etc. It was good to see my dad praying at his bench, the adults praying up front, the girls praying in the back, and others worshipping at their selected seats.

But when will I go from simply being an observer to a participant? I stood around and I can’t say I am proud of myself.

I’ve made some huge strides in the past three weeks, but tonight I missed an opportunity to go even further. God still has some work to do in me and I failed to jump at the opportunity to receive instruction, healing, a good word, or whatever he may have had in the spiritual grab bag at the moment.

I’ve learned my lesson, I missed the boat once, and when it comes around again I’m jumping in.

Maybe prayer meeting tomorrow night will be that opportunity.

I hope it is.