Agenda

So recently I have been thinking about how so many decisions in this life are based around people's agendas. Even when people have the best intentions in the world they always have some kind of agenda deep down whether they mean to or not. I noticed about a year ago how much of my agenda has ruled my life, and how much it still does. It is very difficult to make a decision completely void of one. So whenever I am faced with making a decision now I always think for a long time, "is my agenda getting in the way?" or "do I have an agenda behind this decision and not even know it?" and even "is this a worthy agenda if I am going to move forward with an agenda based decision?"

I think you can have a good agenda to help you make decisions but so often it seems that agendas are people's selfish reaction to decisions.

As a Christian I see this in the Christian community so much. One of the things that always makes me cringe is when I hear somebody say "I think God is telling me this or God wants me to do this". As a sceptic the first thing I want to say is "no thats what you want and you are putting God's name in the middle of your agenda". Perhaps this is to harsh but I honestly believe this gets abused all of the time. One of my favorite singer/songwriters David Bazan even sings about this and makes a point in the line that describes how people steer conversations for the Lord when the whole time the Holy Spirit is begging you to shut up. He actually uses slightly different words that may offend some but the meaning is the same and every time I hear that song I think "amen".

There are two times in my life when I said I think God wants this for me. And I have been very careful when I say that because I think that gets thrown around way too much. And how can you argue with someone once they say that. I just want to say "ok well if God says so" and move on in life.

We see this stuff in politics, in the church, in the media, and it is really time for us to be careful not to throw that kind of language around.

So here is my challenge to humanity. Before making any kind of decision in life think for a while and ask yourself, "is this my personal agenda?", and if your a Christian please use this caution tenfold before you start declaring what God has revealed to your master plan.

-cheers

Monday Update

Over this last weekend: Friday night was spent at the cabin once again. Nice weather has meant many nice days at the cabin. We had a "pirate party" to celebrate a friend of ours finishing her graduate degree. Saturday was spent doing some house cleaning and organizing. Sunday was church, and more cabin time. Plenty of time spent reading books, swimming, and chilling in the hot tub. Overall great weekend.

Todays Events: Today is the first day of my 12 day vacation. Today I spent the day helping my father-in-law and brother-in-law pull a pontoon boat out of the lake. My father-in-law has a boat house where people rent boats. Some drunk people decided it would be a good idea to crash and wreck/sink our boat then blame us. So that was most of my day.

To-Do-List this week: Blog every weekday and complete all of my goals.

Current Procrastination: Losing weight and writing songs.

Books that I am currently reading: Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Chabon. Bible.

Music that I have enjoyed this week: Ryan Adams - 29

How do I feel about this week: it's about time I had vacation!

Holiday Weekend Update

Over this last weekend: I spent all weekend on Silcox Island, which is just in the middle of the lake that I live on. My wife's parents own a cabin out there and we go there every 4th of July with friends and family. We had a blast. Lots of junk food though, I think I gained 5 pounds last weekend and now I need to lose it all again. Overall great weekend. I honestly can't remember everything we did. I swam in 60 degree weather and now it is 90 just 3 days later when I have to work.

Todays Events: Because I am writing on a Wednesday I will be getting ready for youth group. It is hot so I need to plan for some outdoor games so we don't have to be indoors much. I think I will go find something cold to drink, perhaps a milkshake or lemonade.

To-Do-List this week: Talk to God about where he wants me.

Current Procrastination: Losing weight and writing songs.

Books that I am currently reading: Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Chabon. Bible.

Music that I have enjoyed this week: John Mark McMillan <--- Seriously go buy his album.

How do I feel about this week: abandoned by people, embraced by God.

Monday Update

Over this last weekend: Friday was a normal night at home with my wife. Saturday I watched the US lose in the world cup. Then I strategized a 6 month plan with Robert Wade (a musical artist I backup). Afterwords I got some frozen yogurt and headed home where I relaxed and watched the movies, Amazing Grace, and Braveheart. Sunday was church followed by an annual meeting. We got to vote on a couple things and eat pizza. The rest of the day I spent strategizing my future. Starting to feel like I am at the end of the road here.

Todays Events: Today was my day off and I spent most of it in work meetings. I decided I will make up for it by working less when I should be working this week. I think people call that comp time.

To-Do-List this week: Pray for direction, relax.

Current Procrastination: Finishing Camp paper work....and sending in my Chacos to be re-strapped.

Books that I am currently reading: Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Chabon. Bible.

Music that I have enjoyed this week: John Mark McMillan

How do I feel about this week: abandoned.

Tradition

It seems that tradition usually holds a significantly high place in many churches. Perhaps some more than others but no matter where you go there will be some kind of tradition in place. You can usually find your tradition very easily by trying to change something. Usually and elder member of your church will speak up and say something that starts with "but we have always done it this way". I used to be very insensitive to this kind of talk. As a younger person working in ministry I always wanted to change everything and I usually had big ideas, I am a visionary. But as I start to get older I am growing some more respect for tradition. Though I am only 27 I have crafted my own traditions in the church and I started seeing them all around me. For instance I know the day my church destroys its old Holt Chapel that will be a very hard day for me. I grew up as a young Christian in the building, its where we had youth group. It is where I gave my life to Jesus. But at the end of the day it is an old building that is falling apart.

So in some ways I am being more sensitive to people and their dealing with tradition, but with still remembering that sometimes you have to let go. Sometimes we have to release our traditions for the greater good of the gospel, to keep giving it life. And while it may come in more important items than chairs over pews, or building being torn down, new service times, or what kind of coffee we serve we must always put the gospel first. I think so many times in the church we have given way to tradition and man made laws. And I think the man made laws are what bug me more than tradition. While its still apart of tradition it seems man made laws that are not supported by scripture (or that claim to be poorly supported by scripture through poor interpretation) are what I always want to destroy. The church has been so destructive over its history based on man made laws. And we still do it today. So many churches are marked by tradition of man made laws that you cannot find in scripture.

I guess what I am getting at is that this is my caution, that people's law through tradition would never hold a place over scripture. When the church does this it opens a door for evil and becomes very destructive. And soon we start worshiping policy over gospel.

I hope I can let my tradition be to live out the gospel. That is a tradition worthy of fighting for.

-cheers

Monday Update

this last weekend: I am actually going to start with Thursday night. Thursday night my wife and I went to the zoo for a members only night and it was a blast! Friday I worked and then that evening my wife and I got to go to a Mariners game where they actually won! Cliff Lee pitched a complete game only allowing four hits. Saturday I did the laziest thing I have done in years. I got together with friends and we had a Band of Brothers marathon. Thats right, 10 straight hours of watching TV. Sunday was Fathers day and also the celebration of my dads birthday which was Friday night. We had fun eating together and playing games.

Todays Events: day off - clean, read, play music

To-Do-List this week: Pray. Figure out my future in Youth Ministry.

Current Procrastination: Blogging, reading, writing.

Books that I am currently reading: Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Chabon and The Sacredness of Questioning Everything by David Dark.

Music that I have enjoyed this week: Pedro the Lion - Control

How do I feel about this week: wanting more answers

Monday Update

Over this last weekend: Friday night was another night spent at home watching tv shows with my wife. Two of my favorite shows on friday are of course, Friday Night Lights, and Whale Wars. Saturday we took our dog for a walk and to the local dog park. Then we walked her to a coffee shop and studied and read while our dog chewed on a stick. That evening we went over to a friends house for some delicious sweet potato pancakes! Christina went home after dinner and I joined a friend to go to the theatre to see Robin Hood. Pretty good movie but everyone can wait to rent it. Sunday was church followed by my last Ultimate Frisbee game of the season. Next week is the championship tournament and I really think my team is good enough to win it all this year if we play our best.

Todays Events: day off, bbq dinner with the folks.

To-Do-List this week: Pray. Finish some tasks that need to get done by July.

Current Procrastination: Taking inventory of youth room supplies, getting camp booked (although this depends on others first).

Books that I am currently reading: Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Chabon and The Sacredness of Questioning Everything by David Dark.

Music that I have enjoyed this week: Vampire Weekend

How do I feel about this week: pessimistic