Prayer, Book Tour, Idolatry, and Wedding Music

8.06.2009

Hey all! Well, Vanessa has been doing a great job of blogging! It took her a while to see that it actually can be fun, but now she's taken off with it! I'm sure yall have enjoyed reading her thoughts just as I have. Anyways, I have a couple things I wanted to share, so I figured it was time to do a post.

Prayer
We've had the opportunity to help out with our church's youth group this summer on Wednesday nights. It's been a fun time. Vanessa and I really enjoy that age group. I've realized one of the reasons I really like hanging out with the youth is because now that I'm an adult and working in the real world I feel like I have to be all professional. Anyways, its just fun to be able to goof off with them. Of course it's not always goofing off. I also try to take advantage of the times God gives me when I'm with them to be iron and sharpen them, and hope that the Lord would use me as an instrument to grow and mature them...as Paul reminds us, we once were children, but eventually we gow up and must put away those childish things. But still, it is fun to goof off now and then.

Anyways, we've been going through Luke 15 and those parables. Last night we heard the parable of the prodigal son. Something the Lord hit me with was at the beginning the son says "Give me my inheritance" to his father. But at the end he says to his dad "Make me a hired hand". The teacher went on to point out how that is what our prayers should look like. As I was thinking about that I started thinking how often our prayers are so self-centered; "God give me this". Lots of times those requests can even be good things (such as give me patience, or give me wisdom, or give me deliverance from this issue). But when we say give me, what are we really saying. We are actually saying I am entitled to this. But the reality is, we are wretched, filthy, sinners. Our sin separates us from God, and therefore the only thing we are entitled to is eternity in Hell. But God being rich in mercy has provided us a Savior. And those who have been clensed in the blood of Christ not only will spend eternity with God, but now have access to God through prayer!

I think if we truly recognized how truly amazing that is, and how awesome a privilege it is to come before God in prayer, our prayers would begin to be "make me" prayers; "make me look more like You", "make my will be Your will", make me "loving/joyful/peaceful/patient/kind/good/gentle/self-controled/humble/slow to speak and anger", make me no longer walk in the flesh (sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. - Galatians 5:19)

I think also when we pray that way, we are reminded that it is only God who provides those things, and does the transforming.

Book Tour
My favorite musician, Andrew Peterson, is also an author. He wrote a book (the 1st of a trilogy called the Wingfeather Saga) called "On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness". It's aimed at children, but, just like The Hobbit and the Narnia books, adults can read it and will enjoy it too. I read it in like 2 nights when I bought it a year or so ago. Recently Vanessa and I have been reading it together because we thought it might be a good book for her to possibly introduce to her 4th grader. Anyways, the 2nd book is coming out soon, and they're going to do something called a Blog Tour. Bloggers will read the book and write a promotional review on their blog. I requested to be apart of it and just found out that I have been accepted. So I will be receiving a complimentary copy of the book and will be posting a review in September!

Idolatry
So, as you may remember, ABC Nightline did a Satan debate at Mars Hill Church with Mark Driscoll a few months back. Well, apparently ABC saw a "tweet" (that's Twitter-talk for those of you who have no idea what that it is) by Mark Driscoll remarking about the cult-like response by the culture to Michael Jackson's death. Well, ABC Nightline is doing a thing on the 10 Commandments, so they've interviewed Mark Driscoll about idolatry. They haven't announced when it will air. But I'll keep you updated. But here's more details about it.

Wedding Music
My friend Jamie Farnum is getting married on Saturday! I have the privilege of playing music in his wedding. Vanessa and I are going to Greenville tomorrow. We're going on a lunch date to Bangok Thai (one of the best asian restaurants ever), maybe shopping a little at the mall (it's tax free weekend) then got the rehearsal. We're staying at my Aunt Nancy's house (really she's my mom's aunt, but that's what we've always called her). The wedding is on Saturday early afternoon, so we'll be home that evening.

So there you go!

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