March 31, 2004
Zestfully Clean Zell!
How awesome is Senator Miller??
Remarks by Georgia Senator Zell Miller at Democrats for Bush Rollout:
"On tax cuts, on education reform, on adding a prescription drug benefit to Medicare, and most importantly on the war against terror – some national Democratic leaders are so eager to defeat George Bush that they don’t realize he’s acting on the ideals we have supported for years: promoting prosperity and equal opportunity; giving help to Americans who need it most; defending America’s security and promoting freedom.
"Frankly I’ve had it up to here with the politicians who claim to represent my party but really represent nothing but special interest groups and their own partisan agendas."
The Orioles Way
Baseball has always been one of the cornerstones of my life. And I have been an O’s fan for as long as I can remember. My father was invited to Spring Training by the O’s and the White Sox when he came out of High School in 1961. Unfortunately, the week before he was extended these invites he joined the Marines. He proudly served his country as a Marine for 8 ½ years, which included tours in Vietnam. He obviously missed his window of opportunity to play in the Major Leagues.
I was born in 1977, the year Brooks Robinson retired, promptly being named after him (Jeffrey Brooks). My parents have had season tickets since 1973 and the first game I attended was Father’s day 1978 (8 months old). We are very passionate about baseball and especially the Orioles.
Teams of the past have always been marked by outstanding defense, tremendous pitching, clutch hitting and an incomparable work ethic (known as the Oriole Way). These last 6 seasons have been tough ones to swallow and grind out. Being a faithful fan though, I have continued to go to 20 – 30 games a year.
This season looks like it is shaping up for the O’s to be contenders again. Like the Terps (ACC Men’s Basketball), they will be playing in the best division in the sport. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. To play the best in the league and to compete at that level is what every professional athlete wants to do.
I am really looking forward to seeing the baby birds like Jerry Hairiston, Brian Roberts, Jay Gibbons & Larry Bigbie continue to develop into All-Star caliber players. While our newly acquired All-Stars flourish in Orange and Black, and our young pitching staff develops into the next Oakland A’s staff.
There is always excitement for me when it comes to baseball and I always think they will contend and compete, but there is definitely more a buzz this year. As Nasty Nestor said at Fan Fest this year, “Boston’s chemistry is shot, New York doesn’t have any pitching anymore – except the guy that we should still have, Toronto improved – but the guys we got are better than the ones they got, and Tampa Bay is that unfortunate team playing in the best division that always have to finish last.”
Orioles Magic, Feel it happen? I sure do!
March 25, 2004
Cameron Manning
Congratulations to Chris & Jess on the birth of their beautiful daughter! May the God of peace and love be upon you and shine down His tender mercies for the new life you have to celebrate.
Radical Religious Right?
My fiancé and I were gripped last night with a conversation on homosexuality and the unfortunate emergence of gay marriage. This lead to an impassioned prayer for the survival of the traditional family and the restoration of righteousness and holiness found in this God ordained institution.
There is no “vast right wing conspiracy” here; there is no selfish – self-righteous, Holy Roller mentality in our hearts over this issue. It is the preservation of God’s word, of His commands, of His righteousness. It is not simply enough to say, “That marriage between a man and a woman is our tradition and we aim to keep it that way”. Why is it a tradition? Why is it so important to keep it? It is certainly not because we are afraid of change, we are afraid of the unknown, we are just more comfortable with it. It is because the great I AM, Yahweh Himself, has shown us that homosexuality is immoral behavior and as such does not reflect His righteousness.
James C. Dobson, Ph.D., Founder and Chairman of Focus on the family had this to say in a recent letter titled “In Defending Marriage – Take the Offensive!”
“Marriage is a sacrament designed by God that serves as a metaphor for the relationship between Christ and His Church. Tampering with His plan for the family is immoral and wrong. To violate the Lord's expressed will for humankind, especially in regard to behavior that He has prohibited, is to court disaster.
“Despite the danger that confronts us, I am hopeful that the death of the family can be averted. Most Americans still believe in the Judeo-Christian system of values, and millions of them are people of faith who are calling on the Lord for a miracle on behalf of our nation. That is the source of our confidence at such a perilous time.”
“Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.” (Philippians 4:5)
It is important to say that defending the sanctity of marriage, in no way condones any hatred towards homosexuals. These people are in desperate need of God’s love and grace in their lives, as I know that I am. There are sins that I struggle with just the same. I must repent and ask for forgiveness and I urge those that live a homosexual lifestyle to do the same and flea from that sin. Or else it is as Dr. Dobson says, “We in North America and Europe are not simply "slouching towards Gomorrah," as Judge Robert Bork warned in his best-selling book; we are hurtling toward it.”
Whether or not you agree with him on other issues, read what the President has to say on this critical issue. President Calls for Constitutional Amendment Protecting Marriage
Take action in support of the Federal Marriage Amendment:
Contact your legislators
Sign the petition
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" (Mark 12: 30) If this makes me a member of the Radical Religious Right than I am guilty as charged.
March 24, 2004
Hot Corner
Just another example of why Brooks Robinson is the greatest 3rd basemen of all time!
In God We Trust
Indivisible by Pillar (Fireproof (2003))
Listen Now
For all the people in the world that don't understand
Exactly what it is we have here in this motherland
See the Father's hand started up a master plan
There's been many through the test of time take a stand
But had they ran who knows where we would be now
I thank God it's something I don't have to think about
Instead my thoughts are on the ones who laid it on the line
KIA gave their lives to let freedom shine
But in the meantime I think of those of your kind
And wonder how it is you get things so messed up inside your mind
Just think a second how long it's been going on before you
They're the one's who even helped you have the right to argue
Stop complaining move along
Open your eyes and see what's going on
We need to get back to the ways of the days of old
One nation under God indivisible
Chorus
All the people let me hear you give a holler
In God we trust, In God we trust
We stamp it on our penny, nickel, dime, quarter, dollar
In God we trust, In God we trust
The people of the nation let me hear you give a holler
In God we trust, In God we trust
We stamp it on our penny, nickel, dime, quarter, dollar
In God we trust, In God we trust
The other day I saw the news somebody else complaining
They want the motto taken off of the Benjamin Franklin
They got a problem with my God and that I believe in it
But the don't got a problem with the money when they spend it
They're so offended by 4 words that need no explanation
In GOD we trust the motto of this greatest nation
Not just a motto but something that we truly believe
If you don't like it you can pack a bag and you can leave
One nation under God indivisible
You can't take back that, that was never yours
I have loved this song since the first time I heard it. And I think it speaks directly to my desire to play a part in Building a safer, stronger and better America that looks to be “One nation under God” and that is “In God we trust”.
It especially speaks to me in light of the recent stirrings at the Supreme Court and the possibility of those precious words being stricken from the Pledge of Allegiance. What a victory it could be for the secular humanists, for the atheists? What further evidence it would be that our nation is turning from its creator? Why do we continue to thumb our noses at a Father that loves us enough to count the hairs on our head (Luke 12:7)?
My prayer today is that our nation and our leaders would recognize there is a power greater then them and a law greater than the law of this land. That they would bow down at the throne of our King, our God and submit themselves to His will and His righteousness.
Additional Reading:
Pledge of Allegiance Case Could Hinge on Child Custody Dispute
Pledge of Allegiance Resources
March 23, 2004
Armor Bearer
Working in a University environment, we are asked to attend workshops from time to time. Several months ago I was asked to attend a “Team Building” Workshop. In the end it was clear evidence of the spiritual warfare that wages daily by the ideas that were presented.
These ideas were self-actualization, self-empowerment, self-esteem and spiritual oneness. While reaching one’s full potential (self-actualization) or feeling worthy (self-esteem) are not, on the surface, bad ideals to achieve, how they are achieved is a very heart based issue. These ideals cannot be achieved without the renovation of one’s heart and by building it up in one way or another. There are some very inherent dangers in some methodologies used for those purposes as presented at the workshop.
In my opinion, this workshop entered into one of those danger zones. There was an emphasis on the individual person and his or her inward energy. There was an emphasis on the personal achievements, goals and abilities of the individual. Again, on the surface these seem like valuable insights and are helpful in personal growth and development, but any value is overshadowed by the danger involved in going down this path.
What then is the danger? When bringing these ideas together and into focus with giving one’s self the authority (self-empowerment) to act upon and achieve these inner developments and cultivating this in an atmosphere of an individual spiritual being completely capable of these purposes, the religion of “new age” thinking is born. It is impossible to answer the great questions that our hearts yearn for, without entering into spirituality. This is what a true renovation of the heart requires, the indoctrination of some form of spirituality.
This is what the eventual focus of the day took and it was all under the false pretense of building better teams and communication skills. It was this focus and this ideology that I was most uncomfortable with, especially after being singled out by the presenter as Christian. Feeling as an alien and stranger in this world, I was not uncomfortable with being singled out for my beliefs. I truly believe in the words of Jesus Christ, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:26) But the idea that I was not open to growth and that I was close-minded and intolerant was the approach taken by the presenter in undermining my beliefs and promoting the focus of the presentation even further. In terms that the presenter would use, “I was not going to take his energy”.
It was this approach and these attacks that I felt were contrary to the foundations of Christian theology. I realize my views are based upon this theology and not everyone shares the idea that "(Christ is) the way and the truth and the life No one comes to the Father except through (him).” (John 14:6) Very exclusionary theology, I will admit. But it is also a theology that teaches grace, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22), which is foundational to Christianity and was completely absent from the presentation. I doubt many people would disagree that these are valuable virtues to live by.
This absence and the focus on the power of oneself, is the danger zone that I am referring to. When the focus of your heart and your mind and your spirit are on yourself, it is impossible to focus on God and those people around you. It is a very easy step to become a selfish, prideful and self-centered human being with this focus, which is a frightening reality in our world today, that more and more people are focused on their own needs, wants and desires and less focused on those around them. We have become increasingly unaware of the altruistic belief that the author of the book of Hebrews reminds us of, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10: 24-25)
For myself, this requires that I live my life in an upwardly (towards God) and outwardly (towards others) manner. This standard of living helps me to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with my God (Micah 6:8). I realize I fail at these tasks daily, but those are my ultimate goals. And to ask me to act contrary to those is not acceptable. I do not judge others for not holding these beliefs, but carefully discern that theirs differ from mine.
I firmly believe in our 1st Amendment rights to freedom of religion, as opposed to freedom from it. However, this workshop was falsely portrayed as “team building” and not accurately stated to be an attempt at the indoctrination of a religion. As a Christian, I understand the necessity of evangelism and spreading the Gospel message. But I don’t hide who the author of my Gospel message is, the Lord my God and Savior. Who is the author of the self-actualized and self-empowered religion? Just look at the words and you will see.
March 22, 2004
To Slot or not to Slot
Is this a question of morality or a question of fiscal responsibility? Arguments get presented that “we have enough problems, gambling is only going to add to it” and then of course “all this money is going to our neighbor states, why can’t we capitalize on it”? Both of which I heard on the radio on the way to work this morning.
Governor Ehrlich is a proponent for bringing slots to Maryland, and the democratic leaders either directly or indirectly are determined to link them to an increase in taxes. This undercuts any “moral” obligation House Speaker Michael Busch had against slots. And I’m not sure I know anybody who is excited about paying more taxes.
However, this does spark a debate in my own heart about the morality of slots and gambling in general. I myself do not gamble anymore, but is it because the friends I am closer with now don’t? Is it because my fiancé doesn’t like it and doesn’t think it’s moral? Is it because I am more financially responsible and see it as a waste? Is it because God commands us not to? If I was positive about that last question, this would be a much easier issue for me to deal with.
I know we are called not to do anything that may cause our brothers to stumble (1 Corinthians 10:31-33, Romans 14:19-21). As a testament to that, Amy & I will not be having alcohol at our wedding. We will be inviting friends that are not walking with the Lord and do not want to see them stumble, quite literally if they were to get drunk. But are we proponents to bring back prohibition? Certainly not! Yet as Homer Simpson has said so poignantly, “mmmmm…Beer, the cause and the solution to all our problems”.
I can’t stand cigarettes and think the “Smoking Stops Here” campaign is great, but I also enjoy smoking a cigar every now and then. I wouldn’t like it very much if I were not legally allowed to go to a bar, have a drink and smoke a cigar.
Christ himself is a stumbling block for those who do not believe (1 Peter 2:7-9). But would a Christian be against teaching others the Gospel message? Certainly not! So I struggle on with this inner turmoil like my Danish brother and pray that I do not meet the same end.
March 19, 2004
What Dreams May Come
Micah 6: 8
He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
I had a dream several months ago that I will never forget:
Amy & I were at some kind of large gathering where there was a speaker. Everyone was seated and very excited to hear what he had to say. I don’t remember being overly excited about it, but was just there checking it all out. As he began to speak the crowd got very fired up and started shouting their approval of what he was saying.
His topic was a religious one and seemed to be promoting a hatred of sin. The tone seemed to be one of such fervor and anger that I imagined it was similar to that of a KKK rally (to which I would never take part). Although, there were aspects of what he was saying that were Scripturally based, but he just seemed to be off with how he applied it. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what the problem was though.
I was growing increasingly uncomfortable with being there and was about to leave when I noticed an old man sitting in front of us. He was sitting there rather calmly, which set him apart from the fuming crowd and my own distressed body language. Just then he turned around and looked directly at me and whispered, with the most thunderous and resounding voice I’ve ever heard, “But there is no mercy there. Where's the love?!?!” Then I was wide awake.
All at once it was quite clear to me what was wrong with the message of speaker. There was no grace and no humility. He was not a man after the Lord’s own heart. This will always be a reminder to me to love mercy, to walk humbly with my God and forever be thankful for the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
March 18, 2004
March Madness Begins
Gear up for all the terrapin action you can handle!
Game Preview
Final Score 86 - 83
Too close, still a W though!
6 Months to the day!
So today we hit the six-month mark until our wedding, which means we’ve been engaged for about six-months as well. This has been one of the most exciting times in my life, even if it has sprouted some grey hairs on my head (I hope that’s really a joke).
I have had the pleasure of being a fairly involved groom-to-be, with all 10,000,000 details. I’m doing my best to support Amy through this time, because no matter how overwhelmed I’m feeling with all those details, I know she is feeling it times ten. Thankfully we are both very organized people.
By far my two favorite aspects of the planning so far have been tasting the awesome V-day cake that Amy made, that will be similar to the cake her father will make for the wedding. YUMMY!! And ZAPPING all the stuff for the registry! I guess that’s cause I’m an IT guy?!
For more details check out our nifty page
March 17, 2004
Happy St. Patty's Day
I'll have to score me a Guinness before the day is through!
UPDATE
So it ended up being a Killian's! Still yummy!!
Marriage. Marriage Is What Brings Us Together Today!
Announcement
A classic line from a classic movie (for the uninitiated The Princess Bride (1987)). The laughter and fun spurred on by this movie pales in comparison to the joys I experience with Amy. Entering into marriage is not something that either of us are taking very lightly and is not something that is based simply on emotions.
In fact, if our relationship wasn’t based on our faith in Christ, then neither of us would be entering into this. There is a deeper and selfless meaning behind love and marriage that occurs when God is the focus. He has been faithful to us both, growing and stretching us each in ways that we never imagined. I’ll admit that I can be slightly idealistic sometimes, but I can say this without hesitation, that Amy is the light of my life and she brightens up my darkest days.
It is with profound joy and elation that I know that Amy will make me the happiest man in the world by becoming my wife, as I asked her to do when I proposed atop Federal Hill.
March 16, 2004
More than The Reason
My lovely bride to be was an instrumental part of God’s plan for my life, as she was able to break through my atheistic façade and really affect change in my heart. She has had the light of the Lord shining in her heart since she was three. And I am extremely thankful she was brought into my life to share that light with me.
For some reason, Hoobastank and their songs have resonated in my heart and reminded me of certain times in my own life. I’ve had their new album for a few months now and ever since I heard this song, it’s made me think of that time around when we met.
My idealistic/romantic side wants to give all the credit to her for giving me a reason to change my life, while theologically I know that’s not the case. But I do love this song and more importantly I love the Lord for brining me such a perfect partner to share my love and zeal for Him with!
The Reason - Hoobastank (The Reason, 2003)
i'm not a perfect person. there are many things i wish i didnt do
but i continue learning. i never meant to do those things to you.
and so i have to say before i go, that i just want you to know
i've found a reason for me, to change who i used to be
a reason to start over new, and the reason is you
i'm sorry that i hurt, its something i must live with everyday
and all the pain i put you through, i wish that i could take it all away
and be the one who catches all your tears, thats why i need you to hear
i'm not a perfect person, i never meant to do those things to you
and so i have to say before i go that i just want you to know
i've found a reason for me, to change who i used to be
a reason to start over new, and the reason is you
i've found a reason to show a side of me you didnt know
a reason for all that i do, and the reason is you
March 15, 2004
Definitely NOT the WWE
Romans 1: 16-17
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
Habakkuk 2: 4
"See, he is puffed up;
his desires are not upright-
but the righteous will live by his faith”
A current struggle of mine has been wrestling with the divisions that occur between Jews and Christians, which faithful believers in Christ will react with grace, mercy & peace and not violent Hitleresque behavior. And this, struggle of mine, is no doubt linked to Mel Gibson’s movie which has received a great deal of media & blog attention. Being Christian and wanting to not only support a Christian endeavor into an arena that is more often then not devoid of morality, I wanted to visually experience what Jesus Christ went through to bring me greater understanding of the cost of grace. A common thought for me throughout the movie was, “It should have been me”. I saw the movie for the first time with some friends, one of which was my pastor who said, “I knew that grace was free, but I had no idea it cost soo much”.
I have heard and read many charges about the movie being anti-Semitic; without backing it up with much else other than the accusation. The first argument that I could actually respect regarding the movie was found on certain sections of The Jewish Passion (provided by Greg) These arguments are scripturally based and actually meet the bases of the movie (The New (Greek) Testament) on similar terms. While I respectfully disagree with the assertions of Jesus not being the Messiah, at least the assertions are based on Scripture, unlike the New Yorker Review.
These assertions have challenged me though and for that I am thankful. They have also grown my desire to understand Judaism as the foundation to my Christian belief. Providentially, some of these issues arose in Sunday School and Worship yesterday.
2 John
The blessing of grace, mercy and peace will be given to those that believe in Jesus Christ through truth and love. To walk in love is to obey His commands and deceit is found in those “who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh”.
John 5: 16 – 30, 45-47
Jesus repeatedly says “I tell you the truth” and affirms that belief in Him is belief in God the Father, which gives eternal life. He goes on to say that judgment is not based on His accusations, but the accusations of Mosaic Law.
This truth is the foundation of the Christian faith and it is by this faith alone do we live. Jesus is the fulfillment of the law, the only one who has not “turned away” (Romans 3-18, Psalms 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Eccles 7:20).
It is my prayer in offering up the grace, mercy, peace & love that has been freely given to me in Christ, that our Father will bring his “old covenant” followers under the blood of Christ and they will believe and acknowledge their need for grace and faith alone.
Here are some articles on God’s election and its Old Testament foundation:
An Examination of the Five Points of Calvinism - Part II: Unconditional Election - Brian Schwertley
The Five Points of Calvinism - Part 3 - R. L. Dabney
March 12, 2004
From one former atheist to another
After coming out of the shadow of atheism a dear friend gave me a copy of the book below. It was instrumental in helping me formulate my early thoughts and ideas about Christianity. Here is one lesson that I really enjoyed and that has stuck with me by grace alone.
C.S.Lewis. - Mere Christianity
Full Text
"And what did God do? First of all He left us conscience, the sense of right and wrong: and all through history there have been people trying (some of them very hard) to obey it. None of them ever quite succeeded. Secondly, He sent the human race what I call good dreams: I mean those queer stories scattered all through the heathen religions about a god who dies and comes to life again and, by his death, has somehow given new life to men. Thirdly, He selected one particular people and spent several centuries hammering into their heads the sort of God He was - that there was only one of Him and that He cared about right conduct. Those people were the Jews, and the Old Testament gives an account of the hammering process.
Then comes the real shock..."
"...Among these Jews there suddenly turns up a man who goes about talking as if He was God. He claims to forgive sins. He says He has always existed. He says He is coming to judge the world at the end of time. Now let us get this clear. Among Pantheists, like the Indians, anyone might say that he was a part of God, or one with God: there would be nothing very odd about it. But this man, since He was a Jew, could not mean that kind of God. God, in their language, meant the Being outside the world, who had made it and was infinitely different from anything else. And when you have grasped that, you will see that what this man said was, quite simply, the most shocking thing that has ever been uttered by human lips.
…Yet this is what Jesus did. He told people that their sins were forgiven, and never waited to consult all the other people whom their sins had undoubtedly injured. He unhesitatingly behaved as if He was the party chiefly concerned, the person chiefly offended in all offences. This makes sense only if He really was the God whose laws are broken and whose love is wounded in every sin. In the mouth of any speaker who is not God, these words would imply what I can only regard as a silliness and conceit unrivalled by any other character in history.
Yet (and this is the strange, significant thing) even His enemies, when they read the Gospels, do not usually get the impression of silliness and conceit. Still less do unprejudiced readers. Christ says that He is 'humble and meek' and we believe Him; not noticing that, if He were merely a man, humility and meekness are the very last characteristics we could attribute to some of His sayings.
I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.’ That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic - on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg - or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.
We are faced, then, with a frightening alternative. This man we are talking about either was (and is) just what He said or else a lunatic, or something worse. Now it seems to me obvious that He was neither a lunatic nor a fiend: and consequently, however strange or terrifying or unlikely it may seem, I have to accept the view that He was and is God. God has landed on this enemy-occupied world in human form."
March 11, 2004
T-U-L-I-P
"We believe in the five great points commonly known as Calvinistic; but we do not regard these five points as being barbed shafts which we are to thrust between the ribs of our fellow Christians. We look upon them as being five great lamps which help to irradiate the cross; or, rather, five bright emanations springing from the glorious covenant of our Triune God, and illustrating the great doctrine of Jesus crucified." C. H. Spurgeon
Total Depravity
Unconditional Election
Limited Atonement
Irresistible Grace
Perseverance of the Saints
Admittedly, the above will not carry much weight if you disagree with Chapter 1 of "The Westminster Confession of Faith", but I wanted to share one of the tenets of my faith.
"A Sketch of Calvinism" by David P. Henreckson expands upon them. I am not trying to drive "barbed shafts...between the ribs" of anyone. Rather my desire is to proclaim my love and faith in One God, and my commitment and covenant to serve Him with all my heart, soul and strength. (A passion for God paraphrased from The Jewish Passion for God)
March 10, 2004
A Personal Invitation
A personal invitation
To attend Sunday morning worship service:
8:00 AM – WORSHIP SERVICE
9:30 AM – SUNDAY SCHOOL
10:50 AM – WORSHIP SERVICE
[church name removed] exists to Glorify God and make known His eternal and unchanging purpose, fulfilled through a living relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Worship
• Evangelism
• Discipleship
• Fellowship
• Outreach
• Prayer
[church name removed]
March 09, 2004
My Testimony
When I was very young, my parents argued over the direction of my faith. My mother is Methodist and my father is Catholic. I was baptized Catholic, but my earliest memories of going to Church were with my mother & grandfather. They would go to church while I attended Sunday School. As I got a little older my father decided he wanted me to attend CCD classes, which were at a Catholic Church. In my house there was never any continuity in regards to faith.
I reached the age to be confirmed and I decided that it was something I did not care about. My father decided it was something I was going to do regardless. I accepted that and eventually began to enjoy the process and felt a renewed faith in God. Church was still not something I attended regularly or something I even took very seriously. When I began college, I still had a belief in God, although it was a weak one. I took Philosophy & Theology classes and read a lot of Aristotle & Plato & Locke. In reading these authors as well as the Bible, I began to develop my own philosophy and lost my faith in God. I foolishly came to the conclusion that there was no God and that I was a man of my own destiny. That I was in charge of my universe and when good things happened it was because I made them happen. I saw many "religious" people who did not seem to live very virtuous lives nor take their faith seriously. I knew that I could not take mine seriously and did not want to be one of those individuals who had a false faith.
I continued down this path eventually succumbing to the idea that there was a central force in the universe. I was not prepared to call that force God and I did not believe in Christ. It was more of a Life-Force that we were all united with as energy in the universe. When we died this energy was absorbed back into the universe. It was right around this time that I met Amy, a professing Christian.
We began to talk about a lot of faith related issues and I felt as though I already understood her point, because I was raised Catholic and had read the Bible before. I did not see any reason in revisiting the Bible nor in understanding the God that she spoke of with so much love. Through countless discussions, as I liked to call them because I did not like the term arguments, we reached many impasses. I was unable to make neither my points clear to her or hers' to me.
I have always considered myself a very open minded individual, so I began to feel foolish when I did not really give Amy's point of view a chance. In the back of my head, I always knew that I would come back to believing in a higher power, but did not believe it would happen until I was much older. So the thought of believing in God and taking religion seriously was something that frightened me. I decided to revisit the Bible and began reading Romans.
I can still remember that night vividly, as I was laying in bed reading with my dog at my feet. I felt a very uplifting spirit with me and my heart was filled with a great deal of love & joy. I suddenly did not feel alone in the world anymore and I definitely did not feel alone right then and there. I was frightened by what I was feeling and experiencing because I knew my life was going to change from that moment on. It was not a fear of the presence that I felt with me, but it was a fear of what that meant to my life and how I lived it.
That experience was three years ago and I have gone through many changes and grown very much since then. The door to my heart has opened for Christ and He has filled it with more love and peace and happiness then I could have ever imagined was possible. I have been transformed from a boy that could do everything himself to a man that could not live without Christ in his life. He has brought me much understanding and patience. He has shown me what a sinful creature I am and how much I needed Him to die for my sins and to live the perfect life that I am incapable of doing. Everything I do on a daily basis is because of my love for Christ. Not because I want to go to heaven and this is the only way, but because I truly love the Lord with all my heart. I would not be where I am today, if it was not for having Christ in my life.
To say that my life made a 180 degree turn would be an understatement. Rather than spending all my time out at bars – getting drunk and doing many harmful things, I pursue a much more fruitful lifestyle. I am active at my church as a leader in the youth group and involved in a “College & Careers” group. I thirst for the saving knowledge and wisdom that comes from Scripture. Amy, the professing Christian, and I have built a relationship centered on Christ and our love for Him overflows into our love for one another. We will be getting married in September.
This transformation, this re-birth, and my continued sanctification have brought about much peace and happiness in my life. It has changed my view of the world forever and it is through this Christian lens that I now see everything. I thank my God, my Lord, my Savior, my Shepard for calling me into the fold and pray for others to seek Him.
March 08, 2004
Who are you?
"Who am I?...If somebody said it was a happy little tale... if somebody told you I was just your average ordinary guy, not a care in the world... somebody lied."
No I’m not Spiderman and I’m pretty sure that “somebody” was actually telling the truth. I just thought it would be a fun way to introduce myself. So what makes me the unique snowflake that I am? Beats me, but here are a few things that are important to me.
1) Faith in my Savior, Jesus Christ, through which all facets of my life are providentially built upon.
2) My Fiancé, Amy, who will be making me the happiest man in the world in September 2004.
3) Building a safer, stronger and better America that looks to be “One nation under God” and that is “In God we trust”.
4) “The one constant through all the years…has been baseball…It reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again” - Terence Mann (just like the Orioles in the near future)
Just a peak for now. Have a great day and God Bless!