Monday, June 15, 2009

2 Weeks Notice

Today I'm giving my 2 weeks notice. The notice is for you to know that I will be at Houghton College for most of the next 2 weeks. I am taking back to back week-long intensive courses as part of my plan to become Master Pat (Instead of Pastor Matt) by 2011. This week my course is on the Christian Spiritual Life and next week my course is on the Jesus of Film, Fantasy & Faith.

But fear not! Regular (Whatever that means) blogging will continue.

Free Nuggets from class...

- Instead of asking 'where would you go if you died tonight, maybe we should ask what kind of person do you want to be in 50 years or, if God doesn't return from another 1000 years, what kind of world do you want him to find?

- Spirituality is in vogue, but probably b/c it is left vague

- Your spiritual formation system is perfectly designed to produce the results you are currently seeing

- In Evangelicalism, we're not only saved by grace... we're paralyzed by it. Grace is not opposed to effort, it's opposed to earning

- We try to separate 'Christian' and 'Disciple'... try to make Jesus 'Savior' w/o allowing Him to be 'Lord.' We are vampire Christians (just give us a little blood Jesus)

- In America, we've lost our home court advantage... but the truly great teams are the one's the learn to win on the road

1 comment:

regan said...

Sounds like some interesting classes. In reference to the last two points, my Sunday School class was talking about the purpose of good works recently. My take on it is that we cannot earn our salvation, but after we are saved, we are called to good works. (Eph. 2:8-10) Also, being a disciple is not about following rules and regulations (legalism and law-keeping), but it is about keeping a relationship with Jesus Christ strong and being sensitive to the Holy Spirit. So often, we as Christians fall into a pattern of doing good things, while ignoring what Christ really wants us to do. When that happens, we are no longer "walking in the Spirit." That's when we lose the joy and peace that Christ can give.