I am not safer than a bank

Listening to: Fear Before the March of Flames- Drowning the Old Hag Got into these guys after seeing them live with Underoath and The Chariot. They are pretty schizophrenic musically; each album changes and progresses in a healthy manner. The Always Open Mouth is easily their best both lyrically and musically, not to mention it has probably the best album design I have ever seen. Looking forward to lots more from these guys.

Well, it has been almost two full weeks since I arrived in Kingston, and I can safely say I have "settled in" whatever that means. It could mean that I am now used to cooking all my meals for myself... or that the opening of my morning is comfortably Jim and Joe instead of Mom... or that I am used to missing my closest friends and my fiancee... or perhaps it just feels like "home" now.

Living, for all intents and purposes, alone and as a bachelor is bittersweet. The excitement of the freedom is palpable, as is the feeling of being alone and somewhat insignificant. However I am finding a growing significance in my work. I am excited about teaching again... but more than that I can now see it as something worthy of my life's devotion. Shaping the next generation is a privilege that is important, humbling, subversive, and above all that something Godly, something that can impact souls as well as minds... and to think that I can do this with Shakespeare and World War II.

I have also become more thoughtful than I have been in a long time... I have much more time to think, and I have devoted more time into pursuing specifically God's will, be it a burden or a featherweight. But conviction seems to burden as a featherweight, but one that is always present, always demanding, always significant.... "I smell a change with horizons..."

To bring some levity, I am also sporting a rather rocking beard... as beards are quickly becoming something only the rocking attempt to possess. I enjoy it greatly, I definitely feel as though it holds some significance at the moment, a symbol of change, of moving on, of growing up perhaps? Wait, where's the levity? I think it looks bad ass. Bad. Ass.



Maybe that is all for now. Make your mamma proud.

Grace & Truth

Truth without grace breeds a self-righteousness legalism that poisons the church and pushes the world away from Christ. Grace without truth breeds moral indifference and keeps people from seeing their need for Christ. [Randy Alcorn, "The Grace and Truth Paradox"]

I recently had a conversation with someone I know but don't often see from TCF. Certain issues came up, and eventually I quoted a sort of proverb that I obviously must of heard someone say before because it was too good to be mine! What I said was "Truth without grace is judgment; grace without truth is license." I believe Randy got it better than me, but the point got me thinking.

It seems to me that most Christians are either "Truth Christians" or "Grace Christians," and that we collectively lack the humility to be both. In North America we particularly have a lack of grace that leads many people being excluded from the church and us being labeled as hypocrites. Some seek to remedy this by ignoring sin, and but this as well doesn't work No one will come to Christ unless they are convicted that they are a terrible sinner.

Jesus would be the best example of grace and truth working together. For example, one popular biblical passage (John 8) discusses Jesus' response toth e religious leaders presenting him with an adulteress, who, according to Jewish law, should be stoned.

Jesus' response is intriguing. First, he draws some pictures on the ground. I have no idea why! But then he says "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." According to the biblical law, only those who were innocent of the sin being punished could participate in the stoning. In this case the sin was sexual, and you'd be hard pressed to find a man, any man, who has never lusted after a woman! So all the men disappear. Notably Jesus didn't deny the Jewish law, he just expected them to follow it all.

The only one there who could justifiably stone the woman was Jesus, but instead he shows her grace: he doesn't. But he also shows her truth: he tells her "Leave your life of sin." This simple statement is not necessarily as easy as it looks. Considering the laws of the middle east in Jesus' era, if this woman was sleeping around she probably wasn't married. Most likely she was a prostitute and made her living off of her body. She also (obviously) didn't have the best reputation. In order for her to "leave her life of sin" she would have to trust that she could make an income in another way (most women didn't work), but also she would have to fight to build a reputation as a good woman because everyone knew her as a whore.

So, her life was saved, but it would not be easy to live from now on. It is like being a Christian in every way. Jesus shows us the holes in his hands proving that our sin is forgiven and that we will go to heaven! But then he looks at us sternly and says "Leave your life of sin... take up your cross and follow me."

Have you?

That requires humility, that we be full of grace and truth, that we show the world God's unquenchable love for us, but also his wrath that is only quenchable by the blood from his son's veins. It is always a dichotomy. Fear and love, friends.

fun times

Hrmmm.... Yesterday was nice... The whole day went well except for one detail... notably I went downtown for the purpose of getting a police record check for Con Ed, but the office is only open Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, sooo looks like I'll be heading back over to the PO-lice stashun again today.

On the bright side, It turns out that Disc Depot is selling ALL their cds 3 for $10, which is a great deal and gave me an excuse to pick up a couple discs I've wanted for a while but for various reasons haven't got... also I found Sullivan's debut album Hey, I'm a Ghost, which combines the best of Further Seems Forever and Anberlin musically but unfortunately their singer has the tendency to hit notes of Michael Sweet of Stryper proportions... but it grows on ya after a while! At least the music ain't as cheesy as Stryper!

After that I made my way to Jerry's for some casual hang outs... We also checked out Future Shop and had some Mr. Sub... yum. Following dinner we picked up Rach and went to Braidwood Bible Chapel for Wednesday night study, for the final installment of Church History as taught by Steven Yuille. Surely a blessing.

After a quick stop at the Beer Store we came back to my place, joined by Todd & Heather and Paul & Erika. It's been a while since I've had that many people over... it was lots of fun. Well, I guess I better get heading over to the police station, see ya!

aeroplane flies high

Ugh... 3-11 tonight, 7-3 tomorrow morning, another day with no sleep. For those of you who prayed over my foot thanks, the day after I made that most it was about 95% and now it's great! Of course, now Rachel hurt her foot playing soccer!

This weekend I'm heading down to Dundas for Rachel's sisters' birthday party. Should be fun meeting more of the fam, plus I will be discussing certain items of note with the parents... ahem...

I find it ironic that Smashing Pumpkins b-sides are often better than Smashing Pumpkins a-sides... notably all the b-sides from Adore and Machina are actually better than those albums... and I'm a big fan of the Pumpkins later period, more so than the early stuff actually. If you ever see a copy of the SP greatest hits record that includes the second disc Judas 0: B-Sides and Rarities 1995-2000 do not hesitate to make purchase of those shiny discs. Judas 0 was tres limited and contains some GREAT songs...

Rachel and I are now done 1 Timothy and moving on to 2 Timothy in our weekly studies. From 1 Timothy I believe I am starting to get more of a grasp on Ecclesiology, and what I find most interesting is how much the elders are told to say no. Paul instructs the elders to pretty much do a background check on anyone who requires assistance to make sure that they're not screwing the church... of course this is under the obvious assumption that the church offers support to those who need it.

Also the fiscal responsibility of being a husband really hits me hard... I have often been frivolous with money because I've always had extra cash but that will have to end when I get married... I assume that my wife will be staying home with the kids, and therefore I will be providing most or all of the money for living expenses. Yes, I believe in the "traditional" (a.k.a. biblical) family model. No, I am not sexist, and no, I don't think it is wrong for women to have careers. However I do believe that when a man and woman choose to marry that they should do so with the understanding that God intends for them to have a family and that God has ordained the husband as the provider for that family. 1 Timothy includes the chilling warning "If a man does not provide for his family he has betrayed the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" yikes.

I may go into more detail about this passage later but don't expect it!

Looking forward to the weeks to come, see y'all later.

All is quiet

Well I'm off to work soon for what will be the first of my four last midnight shifts ever. Sucks. I hate midnight shifts. Good news though is that my ESV "Journaling Bible" came in and I've been making some use of it. Quite nice to have the space to write ideas/notes and feel no guilt (I'm SUPPOSED to write in it!)

Had dinner with Rach and my mom. Jerry? Are you free tomorrow evening? If so you're mine!

Talk to y'all later.

moving and ESV-zing

Today was pretty sweet... with a little help from Jer and Todders we moved Rachel into her new apartment... It's on Aylmer and Charlotte. Yes, that's like ten minutes from my place. SWEET! Misty will also be livin' there next school year. Jer, Rach and I also had supper together at McThirsty's Pint and had a round of pints too, which was a great way to end our moving day bonanza.

Hung out with Rach all night... it's super fun being able to walk her home! Joyous!

The other day I ordered an ESV "journaling" bible from Emmaus. Pretty much it is a regular ESV but with some cool journal like features, like two inches pf margin with ruled lines, cream coloured paper for ease of reading, reading plans and a salvation plan (useful in preaching). I'm excited about having a bible with the purpose of writing in it, as this will enhance my experience with the text, making the study more profitable. The end result is a make-yer-own study bible filled with personal study notes and references. I will be putting this to much use in my Ecclesiological studies. In keeping with tradition, I'll give my current pocket ESV to Rachel so we can study from the same (great) translation. (I gave the previous one to Steve after getting my pocket one).

Speaking of the ESV, I recommend checkin' it out if you haven't already, I have linked to it on the right column. Hopefully it will live up to its name. It combines literal word renderings with readability. That is, it allows readers to judge the context of the original Greek and Hebrew words without being confused by the terrible English grammar that plagues other literal translations. Much love is due to the NASB, but the constant, purposeful grammatical mistakes drive this English student bonkers. I can't deal with it... I find myself correcting its grammar instead of studying its message! So the ESV helps this, Greek/Hebrew style and phrasing, English grammar. Great concept!

So yeah, check it out. The complete text is available at that website, and they also have a store (or you can get the ESV at Emmaus). The basic trade edition is available uber cheap, $3.99! But I would recommend a higher quality edition because it is truly suitable to become your main bible for all your needs. How's that for advertising?! lol, I just really like it!

Thanks again Jer and Todd for helpin' out, many hands make light labour, and Todd, too bad you couldn't do dinner with us but I'm sure there will be other opportunities, preferably with your wife too!