mark driscoll is a pastor in seattle, washington.  in some of his services he gives his congregation an opportunity to text questions to a certain number regarding the message he’s teaching.  at the end of the service he candidly responds to one or many of the questions.  i thought i would share one of those question and answer dialogues where text messaging meets pulpit preaching.

we’re studying the work of Christ (soteriology) in my systematic class at school.  i was reminded of this song during class.

when i survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of glory died
my richest gain, i count but loss
and pour contempt on all my pride

see from his head, his hands, his feet
sorrow and love flow mingled down
did e’er such love and sorrow meet
or thorns compose so rich a crown

o the wonderful cross
o the wonderful cross
bid me come and die
and find that i may truly live

if the whole realm of nature mine
that were an offering far too small
love so amazing, so divine
demands my soul, my life, my all

o the wonderful cross
o the wonderful cross
bid me come and die
and find that i, may truly live

i was recently reading a book that was mapping out a new strategy of combating poverty in america.  in part of the book the author discusses our educational system in america.  i came across the following quote:

“in spite of much lower salaries ($12,000-$20,000 less per year!), teachers in private schools were more than three times as likely as public school teachers to say they are ‘highly satisfied’ with their jobs.”
- ron snider, just generosity, 211

to all of the teachers who taught me in elementary school and middle school, thank you.  to all of the teachers who had me all four years in high school, potentially losing out on $80,000 in wages, thank you.  i appreciate the sacrifice that you and your families have made to teach from a Christian worldview.  it was life changing for me.

our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate
our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond all measure
it is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
we ask ourselves, who am i to be brilliant,
gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
actually, who are you not to be?
you are a child of God.
your playing small does not serve the world.
there is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
we are all meant to shine, as children do.
we were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
it is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
and as we let our light shine, we unconsciously
give other people permission to do the same.
as we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

-marianne williamson

i just wrote an in-class essay (basically a test of just two essay questions) the second  week of class.

are professors allowed to do that?

how can i pray for you?  leave any requests as a comment, or you can email me at aaron.caluza@gmail.com .  i would feel honored to pray for you.  please allow me that gift.  nothing is too big or too small.  unspoken requests are fine too.

i read gustaf aulen’s Christus victor this past week for a class.  it provides a solid foundational understanding to the atonement and salvation.  a quote of luther in the book really caught me eye:

“what is it now to be a ‘Lord’?  it is this, that He has redeemed me from sin, from the devil, from death and all the woe.  for before, i had not yet had any Lord, nor King, but had been held captive under the devil’s power, doomed to death, ensnared in sin and blindness…now, therefore, those tyrants and gaolers are all crushed, and in their place is come Jesus Christ, a Lord of Life, righteousness, all good and holiness, and He has snatched us poor lost men from the jaws of hell, won us, made us free, and brought us back to the Father’s goodness and grace.”

(side note: i had to look the word “gaoler” up in the dictionary.  it is another spelling for “jailor.”)

just thought i’d share.

i am a fan of “progressive,” contemporary worship.  i have been around enough churches to realize that hymnals and organs still exist.  there has, since i can recall as a child, always existed a tension between the contemporary and hymnal styles of singing.  the argument goes something like this:

contemporary: “we are the new wineskin.  we like this music.  we feel God in it.”

hymnals: “you sing the same lyrics over and over again.  our hymns have deep, rich theology.”

contemporary: “your music isn’t reaching this generation of people.  why should we allow people to be turned off to Jesus because you want to sing hymn #376?”

hymnals: “our music truly expresses what our faith is all about.”

the argument goes on like that for minutes, hours, weeks, and years until the church eventually divides and hates each other.  i’m exaggerating a bit but unfortunately not much.

i grew up with the contemporary, and it is most definitely my preference.  however, i have sung enough hymns to fully appreciate many (not all) of them as well.  i came across these lines from a song written by charles wesley today and wanted to share them with you all:

“guilty i stand before Thy face;
on me i feel Thy wrath abide.
’tis just the sentence should take place;
’tis just–but o Thy Son hath died!”

beautiful.  whether you prefer the “rock” stuff or the hymns, we can all agree that we sing out of gratitude and praise of who God is and what he has done.  i hope these words, regardless of how they are sung bless you this day.

last year in school i studied some pretty gnarly people that the church classifies as mystics.  they are often marked by their passionate desire to encounter God in extreme and radical ways.  i became somewhat enthralled with these people and read some of their writings.  let me tell you, it is some pretty cool stuff.  i wanted to share a quote from one of these mystics, julian of norwich.

“our courteous Lord does not want his servants to despair because they fall often and grievously because our falling does not hinder him in loving us.”
-julian of norwich

when you read some the writings of these mystics you quickly sense their profound and intimate understanding and relationship with God.  i hope this quote blesses you as you read it.

just amazing.  i would love to see a choir do this live.