One of the things that I have personally been frustrated with the Emergent Church is that they never “have a position” on anything. The claim is that people are simply having discussions and conversations about theology. However, I find it somewhat counter “conversational” if they have their own “leaders” (even though they wouldn’t claim to be one), have their own conferences, and annual meetings. Kevin DeYoung does a great job of explaining the Emergent Village and the people there within. Also, I appreciate the fact that he covers a lot of grounds regarding the bad habits of tradition evangelicals as well.
Here’s are some quick excerpts
“You MIGHT be an emergent Christian: if you listen to U2, Moby, and Johnny Cash’s Hurt (sometimes in church), use sermon illustrations from The Sopranos, drink lattes in the afternoon and Guinness in the evenings, and always use a Mac…” then he goes on.
Obviously, DeYoung pokes at fun at the emerging movement, but he also discusses some of the serious red flags about the movement including penal substitution, inerrancy of Scripture, importance of authentic community, etc.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. :-)
Was I drunk last night? No, of course not. Easter is the time of the year where Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ our Savior. Also, it is no surprise that most everyone reading this post had a great time this past weekend. Then…… why the “hangover”?
- Good food
- Egg hunting
- Egg dying
- Relaxing after a big meal
- Watching the Final 4
- Family fun time (cards, movies, croquet, swimming, etc)
- Candies and chocolates
- Family vacation
No wonder that people love Easter. Both Christians and non-Christians have the excuse to have a relaxing weekend with family and friends. I mean really, who doesn’t like having a good time? No matter what your spiritual background may be, everyone enjoys having a good time. Again, no wonder people have the Easter “hangover”.
But what happened to Jesus? What happened to having withdrawal symptoms because we want more of Jesus? Isn’t that what this season is all about? Jesus is the ONLY reason why Easter exists and it is the most important event in history. Because of Jesus we are saved, and through Him alone we are able to have relationship with Jesus. The Bible clearly states that “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
So if we ARE going to have some sort of a Easter “hangover” or a “withdrawal”, let it be because of Jesus and not anything else.
How do YOU feel about this? (comment below)
Spring of 2003—It is 2:30am. I am sitting in my room still trying to figure out what happened. My heart is beating extremely fast as if I had 5 bottles of Red Bull. Now I know what it means when people say “my life flashed before my eyes”. I just couldn’t believe myself for getting into that kind of a situation. Was I THAT dumb? I could have been killed!! What was I thinking?!
With a sigh of relief, I looked at the clock again. Only a minute had gone by. Anyhow, the worst had passed, and I should be good to go now. Right? Then, why am I still in the mode of “my life flashing before my eyes”…………….
I was born in 1985 in Korea to a faithful Christian family (or at least family that went to church faithfully). My parents had always gone to church and both of them became a Christian at a young age. However, I was also born into an unsuccessful businessman and a mother who did not work.
In the summer of 1996, my family moved to the land of milk and honey, the land where anything is possible—the United States. We lived in the ghettos of Columbia, SC as my dad found his new calling of becoming a church pastor. He started taking classes while only making $1500 on a good month. Financial crisis had begun all over again. We were still going to church faithfully, and I got baptized along with all the other 12-year-olds who were pretty much forced to go through with it. I knew life shouldn’t be this way, but I didn’t know what was wrong with it. I hated life.
After few years had passed, my family decided to move to Atlanta, GA with hopes of more opportunities for my dad. None came. Where was God that my parents prayed to? Where was Jesus who came to rescue us? I came to hate everything that my parents stood for and everything Christianity had to offer. I committed myself to never become like them and never to be in a financial struggle.
As I entered high school, I was given an unique opportunity to make lots of money (euphemism for profiting from illegal activities). I was racing cars on the weekends, taking my first drink as a 14 year old—Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch 15 Years (I know, I remember the most random things)—and selling dope on the side for extra cash.
My parents? They were oblivious. I got straight A’s for the most part and I did some sports. I went to church, attended youth group, went on mission trips, and every now and then I would read the Bible. I actually got them to think that I was a good kid! Even some of my not-so-close friends thought I was a just a good church kid. My parents were so deceived that they took pride in their parenting abilities and raising a well-crafted Christian kid. Life is good when you are invincible.
My whole life was solely built on my ability to impress other people. Nothing more, nothing less.
………….…I’m back in my room. My adrenaline is still pumping. My body is shivering. I could still see the barrel of the gun held by a Vietnamese gangster pointed straight at my face. I was so scared that my legs went numb. Then I heard the sound that I had always feared and avoided, but tonight I listened to it as if it were music to my ears. Cops were coming, and everyone split up. I got back home safely, ran into the house, and into my room. I just sat down on my bed not really knowing what had exactly happened and what I needed to do.
For the first time in a long time, I felt the need to pray and actually have a conversation with God. I blamed God for leaving me. I was angry that He had left me. Then I started to remember the message of the gospel. How we are saved by grace through faith. How I am born a sinner. How Jesus died for my sins so that my broken relationship with God could be reconciled. My life was built on trusting myself, and not on the Lord. My prayers turned into repentance, and I committed myself to Jesus Christ. This took about two hours. I finally fell asleep around 5:00am.
I am not exactly sure if this was the time I ACTUALLY became a Christian, but my life hasn’t been the same since. Praise the Lord.
by Jessica Moses
LaQuentin (Q) was first introduced to The Impact Movement as a student
at the University of Toledo. At the time, Q was not living for Christ,
but while attending an Impact Conference he rededicated his life to
Christ. Q vowed to never miss an Impact Conference after that.
Eleven days after that conference Q joined the U.S. Army Reserves and
has completed one tour in Iraq as an engineer and is currently on his
second. For every tour of duty each soldier gets two weeks of leave;
instead of Christmas or his birthday. Q used his leave this year to
attend an Impact Regional Conference.
Even in the midst of war, Q remains unwavering in his pursuit of Christ.
His faith overflows to those around him. A fellow solder rededicated his
own life to Christ with Q by his side in Iraq. Q and other Christian
troops gather regularly to encourage one another and live by Proverbs
27:17, sharpening one another as iron sharpens iron.
Q is not anxious about his role in the war. “I can’t think about what
might happen. I really try to have the same mind that Paul had as he
faced death for what he believed, ‘to live is Christ, to die is gain.’”
Would you pray for Q? Pray for his safety and others as they serve our
nation in Iraq. Pray for the hearts of the troops there and for those
who minister to them. Pray that in the midst of the turmoil that
surrounds them, that they turn to Christ to be their strength. Pray for
the troops that Q will come in contact with, and that his fervor for
Christ will be contagious among them.
