Eschatological Football

New Site!

2007-01-12T11:50:00.000-08:00

Eschatological Football has moved.

Go to www.eschatologicalfootball.wordpress.com for the new site.

Ken

Forget Nov. 7th...You can vote for the Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest

2006-10-29T15:29:00.000-08:00

The 3rd Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest.

Go to www.kenandbeth.blogspot.com to vote and see Ken and Beth's entries.

Here's a sneak peak...

Don't forget to check out Jessi Gate's Pumpkin, Billy Blakey's Pumpkin, and Scott Burns' Pumpkin for the full voting options...stay tuned, their entries are forth-coming.

Why We Are Not a KJV-Only Congregation

2006-10-11T17:03:00.000-07:00

So Scott Burns was studying in the office today to teach the College group at church and he is teaching 2 Cor. 6:11-18. Then he came to verse 12 and read it in the King Jimmie on Bibleworks:
KJV 2 Corinthians 6:12 "Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels."

Mmmm...thats a great way to translate King James..."Straitened in your bowels." Is that kind of like being constricted by your own intestines?

I couldn't resist but apply a little drawing to the word-picture...Here it goes.

Sometimes a picture is not worth a thousand words.

Hokies Week 5

2006-10-01T07:49:00.000-07:00

Hokies lost to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets...1st loss of the season.

They are off week 6 and play a big game against Boston College on October 12th in Boston.

Hokies, Week 4

2006-09-24T08:44:00.000-07:00

Tech defeats Cincinatti and moves to 4 and 0.

Next week is a big game: Georgia Tech @ Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, VA.

Week 3 Hokies

2006-09-17T08:33:00.000-07:00

Virginia Tech: 36 Duke: 0

3 and 0 ...next week.... Cincinatti

The Whole Story

2006-09-14T10:17:00.000-07:00

Rob and Roberta (fictitous names) are newly married. They were one of those "hey, why don't we get married" couples that tied the knot within two months of knowing each other. Needless to say, they don't know each other very well. If you were to ask Roberta what Rob's favorite ice-cream is, she would only be able to venture a guess. If you were to ask Rob what highschool Roberta went to, he may be able to give you the name of the town it was in. Now, this lack of knowledge of each other's history is fairly understandable because they have only known each other for two-plus months. But what if I were to tell you that now that they are married, they have no desire to get to know each other's history. Ok, I will tell you that, "they have no desire to get to know each other's history." How would you respond to that? It doesn't seem like the beginning of a beautiful relationship, does it? Instead, they both claim that what has happened in their lives in the past is irrelevent. What matters now is the present. It is enough for Rob that Roberta fulfills his needs and brings joy to his life now...it doesn't matter what past experiences have shaped her into who she is now.

This selfish, me-centered, "I only care about how you affect me now" marriage between Rob and Roberta is a picture of how we sometimes approach the Word of God. We approach it with a me-centered selfishness. We care only that this Word helped us get insurance from hell and tells us how to live the right way today.

In "Gospel and Kingdom" by Graeme Goldsworthy. He believes that Christians have lost interest in the Bible as a whole, particularly the Old Testament, because they have made the Bible centered on themselves. It is enough for them that Jesus provides personal salvation. It does not matter who Jesus is and the entire story of how and why He provided this redemption. You cannot worship and follow Jesus without understanding the redemptive history that finds its focus and fulfilment in Him.

Goldsworthy states concerning the gospel, "The core of the gospel, the historical facts of what God did in Christ, is often down-graded today in favour of a more mystical emphasis on the private spiritual experience of the individual." Instead, he says the Gospel is, "the good news about Jesus, before it can become good news for sinful men and women. Indeed, it is only as the objective (redemptive-historical) facts are grasped that the subjective experience of the individual Christian can be understood.

What does this boil down to? If we are going to be disciples of Christ who are focused on Him and His mission, we must grasp the entire redemptive story that finds its climax in Him. To start, we must begin reading the Bible as a whole story.

Two other posts by the pastor of my church that help me think through this are found on David Hegg's blog, www.heggthought.com

Here are the links:

http://heggthought.blogspot.com/2006/09/jesus-advisor-auditor-or-king.html

http://heggthought.blogspot.com/2006/08/what-is-biblical-authority.html

These two posts are great...

Any thoughts on this? Please comment

Week 2- Hokies

2006-09-10T07:59:00.000-07:00

Not against a national powerhouse...but still, its a win.

Next Saturday...Duke at Lane Stadium.

Week 1

2006-09-03T09:10:00.000-07:00

A good start for the Hokies...

Next Week: UNC

Back in the Saddle Again

2006-08-30T14:48:00.000-07:00

So, I have started my fourth semester of seminary at Talbot...only 3 more to go after this. I am taking 4 classes this semester:

- Exegesis of Genesis
- Theology I
- The Dead Sea Scrolls
- Seminar on the Kingdom of God

I will probably be writing more about the "seminar on the Kingdom of God" later. It is going to be a really good class. It is an arranged course with Dr. Wilkins where I research and write a paper on the Kingdom of God. I have been reading a lot about this recently and it has been really good.

My class, Exegesis of Genesis, is the third-semester Hebrew class with Dr. Tom Finley. On the first day of class, he went through the syllabus (which is usually not very exciting-- except for figuring out how much work you have to do) and something really stuck out to me.

He included in the syllabus a section called "My Basic Assumptions". Here they are:

Part 4: My Basic Assumptions
1. I expect the Scriptures to tell the truth; they are from God and are absolutely trustworthy.
2. I must allow Scripture to stand in judgment over me. It must shape my beliefs and behavior.
3. My interpretations of Scripture are also subject to the text of Scripture. It means what it means regardless of my opinion of what it means.

Professors usually don't include this in their course outlines, but I wish they would...it was a great reminder to me.

No. 2, especially, stuck out to me. "I must allow Scripture to stand in judgment over me. It must shape my beliefs and behavior."

So often, especially when you are studying Greek or Hebrew, you develop a critical, and almost prideful approach to Scripture. You disect it, and break it apart, and argue about what the author meant to write. You try to reconcile it with your theology. And in the end, it is us standing in judgment over the Scriptures and not the Scriptures standing in judgment over us. Now, exegeting a passage and trying to understand the author's intentions are important parts of really grasping what the Word of God means. And I don't suggest that we stop doing those things. But, I am remembering that while I do these things, I must sit in humble submission to Scripture and let it stand in judgment over my life, my heart, my affections.

So while I diagramm a passage, and try to understand the flow and the intentions of the author, I must let the Word of God do its mighty work. As Kent Hughes says, "It can cut away our own religious facade leaving us flayed, exposed, and convicted.

The Flower's in Kenya

2006-07-13T13:33:00.000-07:00

At the end of May, my brother, Tyler, my sister Joey, and my dad, Dean got to go over to Kenya for two weeks to spend time with some close friends of our family, the Richardsons, who are serving God in Northern Kenya.

This first picture is of Daniel Richardson, Tyler, and Warner Richardson getting ready to go out on an overnight camping trip on crocodile infested Lake Turkana.

The next picture is Dad, Joey, and Joanna Richardson with some of their friends from Kenya.

To see all the pictures from this trip...go to www.tmmrichardson.com or click Here.

Tyler stayed over in Kenya for the whole summer...He will be bringing more pictures home that will be posted soon.

Jr. High Summer Camp on the Mountain

2006-07-13T13:29:00.000-07:00

On June 23rd through June 27th, Beth and I got to take the Jr. High Group at church to summer camp in Big Bear, CA. We had a great time together. Our theme was "Kingdom Come"...our speaker Brandon Kirby, spoke from the Sermon on the Mount about what it means to live as a citizen of God's Kingdom. It was one of the best camps we had yet...and it was a great way to start the summer for Jr. High ministry at CEFC.

Click Here to view a gallery of all the pictures from our camp.

Go to www.cefcstudents.com to learn more about the Jr. High ministry at CEFC.

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

2006-07-12T15:56:00.000-07:00

My new favorite band...

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Beth and I just found a great deal on their "Trilogy" box set...all three volumes of "Will the Circle be Unbroken".

Some interesting facts about the Dirt Band:

- They were the first American band to be allowed to play in the Soviet Union.
- They opened up for Aerosmith after playing in a large bluegrass festival.
- They have recorded many songs with the late Johnny Cash and his wife June Carter.
- They wrote the song, "Mr. Bojangles"

click here for some samples of their music...

Top Ten Things for a Top-Notch Summer

2006-05-26T13:41:00.000-07:00

Seminary has finally ended...well, at least another semester has ended (only 4 more to go).

What am I excited about for this summer? That's a great question, let me tell you....Top Ten Things that Make Ken's Summer the Tops

1. Spending time with my wife, Beth. (I didn't just put this first because I have to, I really am super excited to pursue my wife more this summer)

2. Camping- JH Summer Camp in Big Bear, College Retreat on Catalina Island, and especially family camping in Alaska with Beth's family...oh yeah, also camping in beautiful SoCal with friends.

3. Reading- So, I have not given up one of my favorite things about summers growing up in Virginia...the Summer Reading Program. Basically, Beth and I get prizes for how much we read this summer. My list is growing, but there are some books I'm really excited about.
- Currently Reading "A Long Obedience in the Same Direction" (Thanks to my sister Jamie) by Eugene Peterson
- Need to finally finish "The Brothers Karamazov" by Fyodor Dostoevsky (I've been reading it off and on since my sophomore year of college) Only 80 pages to go.
- "Jesus and the Kingdom" by George Beasley Murray- I need to read this for a paper I'm going to be writing all next semester on the kingdom of God.
- "The Kingdom of God in Teaching of Jesus in the 20th Century" by Mark Saucy- also for the paper.
- "Jesus and the Victory of God" by N.T. Wright- also for the paper
- "Jesus & the Restoration of Israel: A Critical Assessment of N.T. Wright's Jesus and the Victory of God" edited by Carey Newman
- "Out of the Silent Planet" by C.S. Lewis

4. Family- We will see my family in the beginning of July, they're (minus Tyler whose in Kenya) are coming out here for a week! We will see Beth's family in Alaska for a week later in July!

5. Beth and I's Summer Cooking/Grilling Program- We want to try making new things this summer...they're bound to be A.W. Awesome

6. Lost- Beth and I are going to try to catch up with the Burns/SantaMarias/Hintons and jump on the Lost train for season 3 next fall.

7. Thursday Movie Nights at the Ranch- All I have to say is that before the summer is over we will watch a few almost-worthless movies and have fun together in the process...."Mitchell"

8. The World Cup in Germany- The US is gonna have to play well to make it out of their bracket. June 12th- the US plays the Czech Republic at 6pm in Germany (I think thats around 9-8am in California...go to http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/w/schedule.html for a schedule.

9. Summer evening bike rides before the sun goes down with my wife! Maybe we could even borrow the SantaMaria's Tandem?! Or even do a group ride!

10. Last, but not least, serving and teaching my favorite Jr. High Group in the World, the CEFC Jr. High. Summer Camp and Hot Summer Nights, what could be better!

Pray that I will use my summer well to think, speak, and act to further God's mission of bringing glory to His name through worship in all that I do and through being a light to those around me.

Some New Licks...

2006-04-30T08:43:00.000-07:00

Some new music that looks promising...

Derek Webb's New CD- I really like "King and a Kingdom".

Sandra McCracken's New Hymn CD

The New Indelible Grace CD (IV)- "Beams from Heaven".

Taylor Sorenson- "Overflow"

Ehrman Interview on NPR

2006-04-26T15:36:00.000-07:00

I heard a really interesting interview with Bart Ehrman on NPR today on my way to seminary.
In the wake of Ehrman's new book, "Peter, Paul, and Mary Magdalene", he was questioned a lot on the Gospels and this whole "DaVinci Code" fad.

I must first say that Bart Ehrman does not believe in the authority of Scripture and is not a believer. He is prominant for attacking the historicity of Scriptural accounts such as the miracles.

Most of the questioning in the interview centered around the historical figure, Mary Magdalene, and her "supposed" relationship with Jesus. This was the focus of much of the interview because there are many people who make the unfounded claim that Jesus had some sort of romantic relationship with Mary Magdalene and may have fathered children by her. This, in fact, is part of the premise of Dan Brown's "Da Vinci Code". Based on a passage from the non-Scriptural Gnostic "gospel of Philip", Dan Brown (and many others) posit this affair.

It was interesting that even Bart Ehrman, one who does not even believe in the authority of Scripture, denounced these claims by Dan Brown and others as wholly unhistorical and unfounded. He stated clearly that Dan Brown (and others) have absolutely no evidence and merely conjecture for their theory. The one passage from the Gnostic gospel of Philip has so many gaps in it that it is not clear at all what is being spoken of. Really, all that can be deduced from the gospel of Philip is that Jesus love someone more than the disciples and someone kissed someone. That is it. Also, Ehrman states that the one other time "kissing" is mentioned in the gospel of Philip, it is speaking of special gnostic revelation being given to someone, not a romantic kiss.

Now, even if the gospel of Philip did say Jesus had a romantic relationship with Mary Magdalene (which it doesn't) it would not be a problem for Christians because the gospel of Philip is just one of many Gnostic gospels (another one being the recently discovered gospel of Judas) that the church has rejected as unscriptural from the beginning.

But it was interesting to hear even a liberal scholar who does not hold at all to the authority of Scripture denouncing the premise behind "The Da Vinci Code". Maybe he is doing it so that his new book will sell more copies than Dan Brown's?

Talblog #5- Something New

2006-04-24T20:37:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 43:18-21 ¹⁸ "Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past. ¹⁹ "Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert. ²⁰ "The beasts of the field will glorify Me, The jackals and the ostriches, Because I have given waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My chosen people. ²¹ "The people whom I formed for Myself Will declare My praise.

Throughout the Old Testament, it seems that often God calls His people to remember the things that He has done in the past and to trust Him based on how He has acted in the past. Most often, God will bring to their memory how He brought them out of the land of Egypt and how He brought them through the Sea. These passages are always encouraging to me as I am forced to think back on how God has constantly taken care of me and provided for me. If He has done these things in the past, will He not continue to do so in the future?

But, God proclaims something different through the prophet Isaiah. He tells them, "Do not call to mind the former things." Why would He specifically tell them not to remember the former things? Why would He command them to not ponder the past? He tells them this because He is about to do something totally new. Instead of bringing them through the desert to the land of milk and honey, He is going to turn the desert into an oasis.

This passage reminds me that...

...God can do things in ways we would never expect. He can turn the desert into a flowing river...rather than taking us out of the desert. I don't want to take this passage out of its context, but it seems that we often expect God to take us out of the desert or out of the situtation...He may choose instead to turn that desert into an oasis and turn that situation into a blessing.

...therefore, I must trust Him even if things aren't happening the way they have in the past.

...His amazing work should result in My praise.

Talblog #4- Equestrian Dependence

2006-03-27T20:50:00.000-08:00

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help

and rely on horses,

and trust in chariots because they are many

and in horseman because they are very strong,

but they do not look to the Holy One of Israel,

nor seek the Lord!

...Now the Egyptians are men and not God,

And their horses are flesh and not spirit;

Isaiah 31:1,3b

This passage from Isaiah has been super encouraging to me in the past few days. Judah is afraid of Sennacherib and Assyria coming down from the North and wiping them out. It makes sense that they, being a small nation, would seek the help of a more powerful nation to help them defend themselves against the brute Assyria. It makes sense politically and militarily. But it doesn't make sense if your King is the Holy One of Israel. Judah wanted to turn first to Egypt and ask for help and protection rather than turning to the sovereign Creator of the Universe. To Him, the nations are as a drop in a bucket. He laughs at those who think they are powerful and can challenge Him. Therefore, Isaiah reminds Judah that if they rely on mere men instead of God and on mere physical horses, instead of God who is spirit; then "Woe to them". We have already seen what happened to the Northern Kingdom when they trusted in other nations instead of God. Isaiah is reminding the Southern Kingdom of the same thing.

What are the mere "horses" that we trust in today? Armies, tanks, military, or how 'bout having enough money, savings accounts, insurance, our jobs, physical strength and health, or even people; family and friends. Is it wrong to look to these things for help? Was it wrong for Judah to look to Egypt for help? After all, didn't Persia help Judah get out of the Babylonian exile?

These things aren't wrong in and of themselves. And God usually uses these as means of providing and protecting. But the problem is that we so often turn to these things first rather than turning to the Lord of Hosts (Lord of the Angel Armies). God may use many of these things to protect us and provide for us and comfort and encourage us. But we have to turn to Him in full dependence and not to these other things.

Talblog #3- Steadfast

2006-03-13T20:38:00.000-08:00

"The steadfast of mind You will keep

in perfect peace,

because he trusts in You.

Trust in the Lord forever,

For in God the Lord, we have an

everlasting Rock."

Isaiah 26:3-4

Isaiah has been in the hopper for me for a while now (I've been in it a lot and am taking a class on it). This verse really stuck out to me the first time I read it...in fact I even tried to write a song to it...didn't go so well.

This past Saturday, Beth and I were at a memorial service for a lady from our church who loved the Lord and is now in Heaven. Our pastor was preaching for the memorial service and was speaking of the Old Testament woman, Hannah. He was speaking of Hannah because she was a woman who continued to put her complete trust in her God even when everything in life seemed to be going against her. He drew comparisons between Hannah and Julie (the lady who the memorial service was for). Julie had that same faith and trust in God...even when things seemed to be going against her.

During his message, our pastor said that Hannah had put her trust in the unmovable Rock...this got me thinking about this passage in Isaiah.

It first says that the "steadfast of mind" will have perfect peace. That is a great thing, but that means it is up to us to have a steadfast mind...and I don't always have a very steadfast mind. Then Isaiah says that he will have perfect peace because he trusts in "You". Isaiah then calls his audience to action by imploring them to "trust in the Lord forever". His basis for imploring them to trust in God is the fact that the Yahweh (the LORD) is an everlasting Rock.

This passage finally came alive to me during that memorial service. The quality (or measurement) of the steadfastness in one's mind is directly related to the quality of the steadfastness of the object in which one trusts.

For example: If I put my trust in a poodle (which to me would have a rather low level of steadfastness), then the level of steadfastedness (if that is a word?) in my mind would be pretty low.

But, If I put my complete trust in God our Rock (who has the highest and perfect kind of steadfastness--He never fails) then the level of steadfastedness in my mind will be very high.

Therefore, perfect peace (vs. 3) comes from a steadfast mind that is completely trusting in the steadfast Rock who cannot be moved. Let us put our full trust in our steadfast God so that we too will not be moved and therefore will have perfect peace in the midst of whatever may come our way.

Talblog #2

2006-03-06T20:28:00.000-08:00

The newest in a series of logs written in the Talbot lounge after Hebrew during my 30 minute period of waiting every Monday night for my friend Donovan to get out of class so we can head home....

Beth and I just got back from Spain a week ago tonight...in fact, we were leaving LAX this very minute one week ago.

What did I learn in Spain? (when I was in 8th grade, my Dad asked me "Ken, what did you learn from your science project?" I answered, "I learned that sound travels the fastest through the denser matter and slower through less dense matter like air." He then rephrased the question to show that he was really asking, "What life-lesson did you learn? What did God teach you?" That was a whole new way of thinking for me. Since then, I have tried to think through life experiences and ask the question, "What is God teaching me through this?")

So rephrased, "What did God teach me in Spain?"

The biggest thing that I learned in Spain is that our "calling" is a calling to faithfully love Christ and therefore serve Him and follow Him. This "calling" can be fulfilled in either France, Madrid, Corona, or Africa. We are called to follow Christ. We are called to give up our lives: our identity, our plans, our abilities, our resources; to the God who gave them to us and align ourselves with His mission and His purposes. This should be done wherever we are. For Beth and I to figure out whether we do this in Corona, in another state, or another country...we must pray for wisdom, we must rely on those around us for affirmation and guidance, we must think through where there is need, and we must make the best and wisest decision we can based on many factors. But the liberating thing for us to know is that we don't have to try to figure out "where" we have been "called" to. We just need to faithfully serve, pray for wisdom, and seek guidance and affirmation from our family, friends, and church....then we can make a decision and know that we are doing what God has called us to do.

The second thing I learned in Spain was that it should be normal for me to talk about my relationship with God and the fact that I am a disciple of Christ and a citizen of heaven with people I encounter in the everyday world. I don't have to amp myself up to share the Gospel with someone. It should just normally come out in conversation with someone that I am following Christ with my life and that everything I do must fit within my desire to follow Christ and bring glory to Him. That's who I am...how can that not come out? I learned this because many of the missionaries that I met from France, Spain, and Tunisia view every relationship they encounter in the world as someone who could be a part of the same bride of Christ.

The third thing I learned is that squid tastes a lot like "nothing".

And the final thing I learned is that I really do like dark chocolate.

Talblog #1

2006-02-06T20:37:00.000-08:00

Today in class...

A professor told us today that it is important for us, as leaders, to understand things like what an essence is in relation to a subsistent. He also told us that it may be something that we will never talk about or think about again...it will definately not be something that people in church will ask us about. But we do need to know it because it is important that we, as leaders in the church, are ready to answer any question. Basically he then stated that most people in the church are happy to love their wife, love their kids, and go to church. They may not be interested in these things of theology, but we should be in order to be ready.

Now, I know that my professor said this in order to drive the point that ministers must be watchful over the flock and seek to protect it from false ideas and heresy.

But it made me think...

Why is it that we think it is normal for the average faithful church-goer to exist as someone who lives an average life of family, church, and work...not much more, not much less.

Why is it not expected of everyone who will claim to be a part of the bride of Christ to live missionally? Why do we not expect that every believer; whether a teacher, plumber, pastor, mom, hamburger flipper, engineer, etc...; will live as someone who is on this earth as a citizen of a much greater kingdom--the kingdom of God. And as disciples of this kingdom, they use every part of life (family, work, church) to bring glory to the King.

I guess what was disturbing about his short statement about the average believer who is content to "love their wife, love their kids, and go to church" is that it seems so inward focused. Its the self-centered, "this is my castle", sort of idea that permeates our American culture. It fails to recognize that as believers in the Messiah, who came to die for our sins and make us citizens of His heavenly kingdom, we are here on earth with a mission. We are a part of something much greater than OUR life, OUR family, and OUR local church.

I don't want to take away from the simplicity of following Christ. Loving your wife, kids, and church is essential if you are a follower of Christ. But I fear that I, and much of the church, has reduced following Christ to His saving you so that you could have a good life. He saved us to be a part of His mission. As my pastor puts it, "We are not the end users of God's blessing."

Let us live with a mission.

Ken Flower

A Refresher

2006-01-11T12:43:00.000-08:00

Have I forgotten... that I am a disciple of the kingdom of God and that I am here for a purpose- to bring glory to God by living life as a kingdom disciple and preaching this kingdom Gospel until it comes in fullness?

I have forgotten this when...

- I wake up and view my day merely as going to work, coming home for dinner, and maybe watching something fun on TV that night with my wife.

- I view taking Jr. Highers to winter camp as just one more fun event for the year.

- I begin viewing ministry (which is my full-time job) as merely a job that pays the bills.

- I view relationships as something to benefit me.

- I view Seminary as just another degree to get and a stepping stone for a good job.

- I worry about whether we will have enough money to pay the bills.

"Father, please help me to remember that..."

- Each day and the night you graciously give my beloved wife and I, every passing moment, is an opportunity to serve You and Your kingdom and to bring glory to Your name.

- Every thing I do with my Jr. Highers (fun events, times of teaching, cofffee...) is another chance to encourage them, challenge them, love them selflessly, and teach them...in order that they also might be disciples that live to pursue You and Your glory by serving Your kingdom.

- The goal of every relationship in my life is to present them complete in You, lacking nothing. My first and most important relationship being my wife, and then everyone else You have blessed me with. That through conversations, non-conversations, coffee, fishing, drives, Survivor, and every other type of interaction I might love them selflessly, care for them, laugh with them, encourage them, build them, grow through them, and in the end stand beside them before Your throne having walked on this earth with them in a way that increases Your glory.

- That seminary is one more amazing opportunity to grow more in love with You through understanding You and the way You have worked in redemptive history and also to become more prepared to become a tool that you can graciously use in whatever way brings the most praise to Your name.

- That a flower never fades and a blade of grass never withers apart from Your sovereign hand and how much more will You care for Your own children. That You have always provided in the way You see best and You always will...that You have fed the 5,000 and the 4,000 and therefore can certainly provide for dinner tonight for 2.

Vick Part Deux

2006-01-09T15:41:00.000-08:00

Marcus Vick arrested after saying he'll go pro

Associated Press
RICHMOND, Va. -- Former Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick, booted from the team last week for his behavior on and off the field, was charged Monday with pulling a gun on three teenagers during an altercation in a restaurant parking lot....

Read the full story here...http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2285819

Read the blog post below for more comments regarding this.

Vick-tory or Defeat?

2006-01-09T12:23:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the cheese title...

Yes, the Hokies finally won a bowl game. They defeated Louiville last week in the Gator Bowl. But the sweetness of victory left a bitter taste in my mouth. They same bitter taste that remained after Tech defeated West Virginia and Vick made obscene gestures to the crowd. It wasn't the amazing 4th quarter comeback in the Louisville game that left this taste of bitterness, it was the character that was revealed.

Late last week the Athletic Director at Virginia Tech announced that Marcus Vick, the Hokies' starting quarterback, had been dismissed from the football program and from the school. This announcement followed a series of actions which culminated in Vick purposefully stepping on the calf of Elvis Dumervil during the Jan. 2 Gator bowl against Louisville. Vick's sophomore year he was suspended for the season for being charged with crimes including buying alcohol for a minor and driving under the influence of marijuana. He was given one more chance by the university and started at QB his junior year. His second chance was ended when in a fit of frusteration he was caught on tape stomping on the calf of Dumervil right before the end of the 1st half of the Gator Bowl. Vick now has announced his intentions to enter into the NFL draft. For the full story regarding this see...http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls05/news/story?id=2282642
and...http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft06/news/story?id=2283809
and...http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls05/news/story?id=2279427
View the University President's statement regarding Vick...http://www.hokiesports.com/football/recaps/2006016aaa.html

So what does this mean for the Hokies?

1. On the athletic level, they lose an exteremely talented quarterback.

2. On the leadership level, they lose an apparently weak leader.

3. They lose someone who was setting a terrible example for the rest of the team in his character and actions. (Vick is not the only one setting this bad example...but it's a start. I know that there is a lot more unsportsmanlike conduct that goes on that is never seen. And I know that many claim Vick was just retaliating to things done to him that were not seen. But does one wrong make another one right? Even Vick's mother said, "Everybody does it in the NFL and college football," Boddie, speaking to The Associated Press by phone from her home, said. "He just got caught doing it, and since he's been in trouble in the past everything just got blown all out of proportion." Because everyone does it, does that make it okay? And because not everyone gets caught or punished, does that mean that Vick should not be punished?)

4. The school and coaches set precedence for how they will deal with those who choose to not use self-control on and off the field. They set precedence for the grace they are willing to extend...they let Vick remain on the team after being arrested (he was only suspended for a year). And they also set precedence for the resolve with which they will deal with a player who continues to show no desire to change. The school has everything to lose and nothing to gain from Vick's dismissal, but it was the right thing to do.

Regarding Vick and the Hokies...

I do not know Marcus Vick. I don't know his heart, and I don't know his intentions. He may be genuinely sorry for the actions he has taken. This does not change the fact that there must be consequences for his sin. On a temporal level, the consequence of his action is dismissal from the school. But on a much more important spiritual level, His actions demand the consequence of eternal condemnation by our Holy God...unless He repents of his sin and trusts fully in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. I do not know his heart, but his fruit seems to reveal that this heart change has not yet occured in Marcus Vick. The only thing is...every other player and coach on that team is in the same boat as Marcus Vick. Unless they choose to trust fully in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and rely on Him for forgiveness of their sins, they will experience the same punishment. I am no different and you are no different. We are all sinners and none of us are righteous--even if you have never been arrested for driving under the influence or been caught stepping on someone's calf. Even the nicest guys on the team and the coaches with the most integrity must repent of their sin and put their trust fully in Jesus Christ.

But on this temporary earth, it is truly good to see that the understanding of right and wrong (the knowledge of God that every man is created with- Romans 1:18-19) still exists on some level in college football. I only hope and pray that this would be driven by a love for God and not just out of a desire to be a school with a good reputation.

Your Kingdom Come...

2005-12-21T12:16:00.000-08:00

Mark 9:1 And Jesus was saying to them, "Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power."

I got to teach this passage to the College group at church this past Sunday (it was a message I did for Jr. High about 2 weeks ago) and it was really good for me to think through this again. What an amazing passage!

So, Peter (and most likely the other disciples as well) have this expectation of what the Messiah is going to do and who he is. He has just confessed that Jesus is the Messiah (Mark 8:29). But, then, after Jesus reveals to them that He will suffer, be rejected, die, and rise again; Peter rebukes Jesus. Why would Peter do this? Because His thoughts were on the thoughts of men and not on the thoughts of God…He had his plan in mind—what He thought the Messiah would and should do. But he needed to have God’s plan in mind—what Christ was actually here to do. They thought Jesus would overthrow Rome and rule on an earthly throne…but Jesus was here to do something so much greater. He was here to overthrow Satan and to redeem His people through His death on the cross. So, Peter and the other disciples had wrong expectations of what the Messiah would do and what His kingdom would be like.

But then Jesus, after calling them to pick up everything and follow Him if they are true disciples, gives them some wonderful reassurance that the kingdom of God would come and some of them would see it before they die (Mark (9:1). This gave them hope again that, although the kingdom wasn’t coming in the way they may have expected, it was still coming.

Jesus then takes the “inner three” (Peter, James, and John) up onto a mountain and is transfigured before them. Three amazing things happen. First, Christ is transformed before them into a person garbed in brilliant white that is non-earthly. Second, Moses and Elijah appear beside Jesus (testifying to the fact that Jesus is the One prophesied throughout the Law in the Prophets of the Old Testament—from Genesis 3:15 on). And third, YHWH (God the Father) appears on the mountain in a cloud (Exodus 13:21-22; Exodus 24:15-18) and speaks to the disciples saying, “this is My Beloved Son, Listen to Him!”. God the Father testifies that Jesus is who He says He is and their only response should be to listen to Him (which implies obedience).

Therefore, even though the kingdom wasn’t going to come in the way the disciples expected it to come, it was still coming, Jesus was the Messiah that He claimed to be, and their only response is to give up everything, pick up their cross, and follow Him.

Here are the thoughts that have been circling my brain while studying this and since teaching these passages:

I must make sure that I do not allow my plan and my expectations to take the place of what God is doing. Peter had his mind on the thoughts of man and not on the thoughts of God. That is why when Christ said that He was going to suffer and die Peter rebuked him. Peter couldn’t handle Christ dying because it didn’t fit his expectations and plan of what the Messiah was going to do. I must check my plan and my expectations and make sure it is not “mine”, but “God’s”. I must submit my will, my desires, my affections, my love, my ability, my talents, and everything God has given me—even my wife—to God. I must see myself as a part of His program and a faithful servant in His kingdom. This means that things won’t always happen the way that I expect, but I must continue to trust and follow my Lord.

The disciples were waiting for a physical kingdom to come, but Christ inaugurated a spiritual kingdom. Christ did set up His kingdom. Some people push all of Christ’s kingdom talk into the future and say that it is a kingdom that will only come when Christ returns physically a second time. This is not in fitting with what Christ says in Mark 9:1, among other passages. Christ said that some of his disciples would live to see the Kingdom come in power. They tasted the kingdom at the Transfiguration, and the definitely tasted it when they saw Christ rise again. But they most definitely saw the kingdom come in power at Pentecost when the Spirit was poured out according to Joel 2. Therefore, the kingdom of God is here today…it’s just not here physically. It is a real kingdom. Jesus has inaugurated His kingdom and we, as the church, are a part of this spiritual kingdom. But, as the disciples awaited a kingdom, so we await a future physical kingdom. Christ will come again as Revelation 19 prophecies and bring His physical rule to the world. He will rule physically over everything one day and we must live expectantly for that day.

- Therefore, I must live in the reality that I am now a disciple of God’s kingdom.
- I must live with the knowledge that I have a mission—to faithfully serve in the kingdom of God and proclaim the excellencies of the One who has called me into this kingdom (I Peter 2:9-10).
- I must be prepared for the coming of this future kingdom- always ready and expectantly waiting.
- I must live in this broken world as one who is already a part of another world…even though I am not yet there.

Hokie Update: Week 13

2005-12-01T15:50:00.000-08:00

(photo courtesy of hokiesports.com)

Hokie Record: 10-1

Current Ranking: #5

So far, so good...those Hokies administered defeat the the UNC Tarheels and clinched their spot in the ACC championship this Saturday against Florida State. They had a slow first half, but really laid it on in the second.

If VT wins the ACC championship (which will be tough), then its on to the Sugar Bowl against the winner of the SEC championshiop...which is either Georgia or LSU...we'll see.

The only problem is that they face the Florida State Seminoles this Saturday who although having a disappointing season are still good. They beat Miami and have won the last 11 meetings with VT.

Hokie Update: Week 12

2005-11-22T10:12:00.000-08:00

(photo courtesy of hokiesports.com)

Hokie Record- 9-1

Current Ranking: #5

The Joy of College Football...Who Knows What's Gonna Happen?

So, VTech rolls over top of big time rivals UVA this past Saturday- a great comeback after the last game they played.

Also, Miami lost to Georgia Tech on Saturday. What does this mean?

Well, it means Miami now has 2 losses and VT only 1. Therefore, pending their victory of UNC this Saturday, VT would go on to clinch the ACC Coastal Division over Miami. This would put them into the ACC championship on Dec. 3rd against either Florida State or Boston College (Against Florida State if they beat Florida this Saturday and against Boston College if Florida State loses to Florida this Saturday). Either way, Virginia Tech goes to the ACC championship.

Therefore...

1. VT must beat UNC this Saturday. (I don't want to speak to soon, but UNC's offense is ranked 101st in the nation and Tech's is ranked 13th.)

2. VT must then beat either Florida State or Boston College for the ACC Championship on Dec. 3rd.

3. VT would then go to the Sugar Bowl. They would play against the winner of the SEC. The SEC championship game (also on Dec. 3rd) is between Georgia and either LSU or Auburn (probably LSU). VT would play the winner of the SEC championship game in the Sugar Bowl.

(My prediction) Sugar Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. LSU

Winner: VT

Hokie Update: Week 10

2005-11-09T12:28:00.000-08:00

(photo courtesy of Game Day Murals)

Hokie Record: 8-1

Defeat...and unfortunately it was sound defeat.

The Hokies fell to the Miami Hurricanes this past Saturday 27 to 7. They kept Vick to throwing under 100 yards and rushing for hardly any. He only threw for 6 yards in the 1st half.

The Hokies fell to 8th place in the nation and lost any hope of a national championship.

Such is life in the upset world of college sports. But maybe that's what makes it so exciting.

Maybe this loss is a reminder of that "eternal perspective" thing I remember writing about not too long ago.

This Saturday...big game @ UVA.

Hokie Update: Week 9

2005-10-28T11:12:00.000-07:00

Hokies: 8-0

Still Undefeated

Vick was 22 for 28 in completions and threw for a record 280 yards.

He also managed to rush for 52 yards and thow 0 interceptions.

Vince Hall finished the Eagles off with an interception returned for a touchdown...Beamerball at its finest.

Next Week- the 'Canes.

Hokie Update: Week 8

2005-10-25T09:50:00.000-07:00

photo from www.hokiesports.com

Hokie Record: 7-0

So, VT did have a good week last week, although Vick through 3 interceptions, they still managed to beat Maryland 28-9. Maybe that's because Vick also passed for 211 yards and rushed for 133 yards. The only problem is: Texas beat undefeated Texas Tech 52 to 17.

So, heres the dealio. For the Hokies to make it to the national championship....

1. They need to win the rest of their games... especially against Boston College this Thursday, Miami next week and the ACC championship (probably against Florida State)

2. USC needs to lose a game. The best chance of this happening is against undefeated UCLA on Dec. 3rd. (Tri, I will be cheering with you on that day for the Bruins)

Texas will probably not lose another game (because they don't really have any hard games left). Therefore, the first 2 things need to happen in order for VT to make it to the Rose Bowl.

Fee Quote

2005-10-18T21:06:00.000-07:00

In Gordon Fee’s book, Paul, the Spirit, and the People of God, Fee recalls being asked if what he would do and emphasize if he were to return to his pastoral ministry. He answers this: “No matter how long it might take, I would set about with a single passion to help a local body of believers recapture the New Testament church’s understanding of itself as an eschatological community.” He then says, “This already/not yet perspective, in which they believed themselves already to be living in the time of the End, even though it was yet to be consummated, is the eschatological framework that determines everything about them—how they lived, how they thought, and how they understood their own place in the present world, which was now understood to be on its way out.”[1]
[1] Fee, pg. 49 and 51.

Life in the Tension

2005-10-18T20:01:00.000-07:00

Views like this, taken today in beautiful Corona after the rain, always remind me that this earth is not my home. I am “not yet” in heaven. But, I am “already” to live as a “citizen of heaven” (Phil. 3:20).
In the previous post, I mentioned the “already, but not yet”. We live in the midst of this tension. We live in the “already” but we also live in the “not yet”. What do I mean by this?
Why does Paul address I Corinthians to “those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling” and then in Romans 6:19 he exhorts the believers to present their members as slaves of righteousness, “resulting in sanctification.” How can they be already sanctified and saints by calling while later on be encouraged to be slaves of righteousness which results in sanctification? Are we already sanctified, or are we being sanctified every day?
The not-so-simple answer to this is that we live in the midst of an “already, not yet” tension. The “already” is highlighted by Paul saying that believers are already sanctified (I Cor. 1:1; 6:11) or already redeemed (Eph. 1:7; I Cor. 6:20) or already children of God (Eph. 1:5). The tension is then created when Paul speaks of these same things as what the believers have “not yet” obtained. This is seen in the fact that believers are continually sanctified (Romans 6:19,22), that believers await the future redemption (Rom. 8:23; Eph. 1:14; 4:30), and that believers await the adoption as sons (Rom 8:23). The only way to understand this is that we, as believers, have already been sanctified but we are being sanctified every day. And that we as believers have already been redeemed, but we await the day of our redemption. Thus the Tension…
The only reason I write all this is to try to give more context to my life as a Virginia Tech Hokie fan who is a disciple of Christ and His kingdom. The “Hokies” stand for everything normal in this life that we enjoy now. They highlight the fact that I still live in the “not yet”. I am not home yet…I am still an alien on this earth. I must realize that these things are “not yet” and as a citizen of heaven I must forget what lies behind and reach forward to what lies ahead (Phil. 3:12). I must press on to obtain that which I already have (Phil. 3:12). I must work out my salvation with fear and trembling while fully trusting that it is God who works it all in me (Phil. 2:12-13). I must live with the understanding and genuine trust that I have already been sanctified by God and redeemed by Him. But I must also daily present my body as a slave to righteousness. This is life in the Tension.

Hokie Disciples

2005-10-14T12:19:00.000-07:00

What does it mean to live live with an eternal, eschatalogical perspective- as a disciple of the already inaugerated kingdom of God- while cheering for the Virginia Tech Hokies on Saturday mornings?

I believe the Gospels are clear...if we choose to follow Christ then we are disciples of a kingdom that has been inaugerated by Christ and will one day come in fullness physically when Christ returns a second time to reign. This means that we are citizens of heaven. (Phil. 3:20) This means that this earth is just temporary. We are strangers and aliens here. How do I live as a disciple who has picked up my cross and followed Christ and is all about His kingdom while I'm still on earth? How do I live in the "already" while I still live in the "not yet"?