Ladies and gentlemen of the assembly, I have covenanted to bind myself with others for No Shave November.
That's right. I'm growing a beard.
Well... I'm going to try to, at least.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Testing the Waters
Yesterday during my sojourning in the land of Illinois, I was assigned a job I've never had before.
I had the distinct privilege of hauling a baptistry from Morning Star in Rockford over to Tabernacle Baptist in Hanover Park. I had never even heard of Hanover Park. The job, however, remained.
Only the most dauntless of interns could rise to the challenge.
Actually, Jeremy was more than up to the task. I was coming down anyway so I was thrown onto the mission as back-up and as cannon fodder for jokes.
I rose to the challenge.
If I had my Illinois geography down better, I would've known that Hanover Park is a suburb of Chicago. that's a ways to haul a big tub! Upon arriving with a trailer, Jeremy and I securely fastened the baptistry with ratchet straps and... folding chairs? Yes. All manner of common items were utilized to keep said tub good and snug. Penguin hand towels were employed, yes (we don't want scrapes getting on the veneer now, do we?), and duct tape. Always duct tape.
I admit to wondering how long our makeshift caravan was going to hold together, but we eventually made to Hanover Park, and by gum! There was a baptistry, a folding chair duct taped to the floor of the trailer, two cement bricks, and two buckets of blacktop sealer!
Pastor Matt Black arrived after a little while and helped us set the baptistry up in a back room of his church and I at last met the man Jeremy speaks so highly of, and rightly so- he's an awesome guy! He was missionary to Spain for four and a half years before being called to Tabernacle, where he's pastored now for five years. God has used him to turn tabernacle around 180 degrees from lockstep fundamentalism to Reformed in that period of time and he says it's been a tremendous blessing for him and for his congregation.
We ate at Portillo's and tried to ignore the massive influx of calories coming our way, happily mowing down chili dogs, hamburgers, and cheese fries while reflecting on hermeneutics and amillennialism. That's a lunch, in my book! Pastor Matt was very encouraging, very insightful and knowledgeable, and very humble. He clearly loves the Lord and his congregation. He also enjoys scaring interns.
Driving in Pastor Matt's van from his church to go have lunch, he definitely tested the wide-eyed intern sitting in the (of course) back seat. The street directly in front of his church is split by a median, so it's effectively right turn only to leave Tabernacle. Imagine my surprise when he turned left to go to the restaurant. I gulped (twice, if I recall correctly) as we swung headlong into oncoming traffic. I fought the impulse to express my alarm and tried unsuccessfully to suppress the tightening of my esophagus and lungs. Fight of flight has limited application in the back seats of vans, I think.
I finally mustered an, "Um...?" (brilliant) just before Matt hopped the median to join traffic heading towards Portillo's. At last- it all made sense. I probably should've seen it coming.
Me: Oh, I got it.
Matt: What, were you a little worried there?
Me: Well, you know. I didn't want to sound like the typical intern and point out you were going the wrong way-
Jeremy: Every intern gets scared.
Matt: (to Jeremy) You got scared the first time I did that!
Jeremy: Okay, yeah, you're right.
Me: (to Matt) I should've figured you'd want to initiate me too.
Yesterday's odyssey continued with the adventure that is voting in Janesville, Wisconsin. After taking Kristin to the wrong school and realizing that I've been voting in the wrong ward for the last three years, we went over to Marshall Middle School which is literally right across the street from us. After address confusion and establishing my identity, it was a breeze! Mission accomplished. It's fascinating to me to reflect on how I am a Christian before I am an American, and before I claim any ties to any political party. I say "ties" because my allegiance is not to a party. My allegiance is to Christ and my citizenship is in Heaven. So even though I did vote along party lines, it is certainly not because I belong to the Republican party or even that I identify myself with them. As many differences as can be claimed between me and them, I nevertheless in good conscience couldn't pursue another option; in my heart of hearts I would be compromising too many non-negotiables. So to quote Zao, "Burn it down and walk away!"*
What an awesome day.
*For those of you that are afraid that I incited an act of terrorism, Zao is a hardcore band and I didn't burn anything. But I did walk away!
I had the distinct privilege of hauling a baptistry from Morning Star in Rockford over to Tabernacle Baptist in Hanover Park. I had never even heard of Hanover Park. The job, however, remained.
Only the most dauntless of interns could rise to the challenge.
Actually, Jeremy was more than up to the task. I was coming down anyway so I was thrown onto the mission as back-up and as cannon fodder for jokes.
I rose to the challenge.
If I had my Illinois geography down better, I would've known that Hanover Park is a suburb of Chicago. that's a ways to haul a big tub! Upon arriving with a trailer, Jeremy and I securely fastened the baptistry with ratchet straps and... folding chairs? Yes. All manner of common items were utilized to keep said tub good and snug. Penguin hand towels were employed, yes (we don't want scrapes getting on the veneer now, do we?), and duct tape. Always duct tape.
I admit to wondering how long our makeshift caravan was going to hold together, but we eventually made to Hanover Park, and by gum! There was a baptistry, a folding chair duct taped to the floor of the trailer, two cement bricks, and two buckets of blacktop sealer!
Pastor Matt Black arrived after a little while and helped us set the baptistry up in a back room of his church and I at last met the man Jeremy speaks so highly of, and rightly so- he's an awesome guy! He was missionary to Spain for four and a half years before being called to Tabernacle, where he's pastored now for five years. God has used him to turn tabernacle around 180 degrees from lockstep fundamentalism to Reformed in that period of time and he says it's been a tremendous blessing for him and for his congregation.
We ate at Portillo's and tried to ignore the massive influx of calories coming our way, happily mowing down chili dogs, hamburgers, and cheese fries while reflecting on hermeneutics and amillennialism. That's a lunch, in my book! Pastor Matt was very encouraging, very insightful and knowledgeable, and very humble. He clearly loves the Lord and his congregation. He also enjoys scaring interns.
Driving in Pastor Matt's van from his church to go have lunch, he definitely tested the wide-eyed intern sitting in the (of course) back seat. The street directly in front of his church is split by a median, so it's effectively right turn only to leave Tabernacle. Imagine my surprise when he turned left to go to the restaurant. I gulped (twice, if I recall correctly) as we swung headlong into oncoming traffic. I fought the impulse to express my alarm and tried unsuccessfully to suppress the tightening of my esophagus and lungs. Fight of flight has limited application in the back seats of vans, I think.
I finally mustered an, "Um...?" (brilliant) just before Matt hopped the median to join traffic heading towards Portillo's. At last- it all made sense. I probably should've seen it coming.
Me: Oh, I got it.
Matt: What, were you a little worried there?
Me: Well, you know. I didn't want to sound like the typical intern and point out you were going the wrong way-
Jeremy: Every intern gets scared.
Matt: (to Jeremy) You got scared the first time I did that!
Jeremy: Okay, yeah, you're right.
Me: (to Matt) I should've figured you'd want to initiate me too.
Yesterday's odyssey continued with the adventure that is voting in Janesville, Wisconsin. After taking Kristin to the wrong school and realizing that I've been voting in the wrong ward for the last three years, we went over to Marshall Middle School which is literally right across the street from us. After address confusion and establishing my identity, it was a breeze! Mission accomplished. It's fascinating to me to reflect on how I am a Christian before I am an American, and before I claim any ties to any political party. I say "ties" because my allegiance is not to a party. My allegiance is to Christ and my citizenship is in Heaven. So even though I did vote along party lines, it is certainly not because I belong to the Republican party or even that I identify myself with them. As many differences as can be claimed between me and them, I nevertheless in good conscience couldn't pursue another option; in my heart of hearts I would be compromising too many non-negotiables. So to quote Zao, "Burn it down and walk away!"*
What an awesome day.
*For those of you that are afraid that I incited an act of terrorism, Zao is a hardcore band and I didn't burn anything. But I did walk away!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Sketches from a Young Married Intern's Album
Can anyone else believe that Kristin and I have been married for over a year now?? I still can't! Looking back on the past year, there's certainly a weight of history to reflect upon, and I can acknowledge that a lot happened, but a year? It doesn't feel like a year! I can remember when a month seemed like an eternity, much less a year- when you recollected a year back then, it viscerally felt like 365.25 days, and then some! It's unbelievable to me that a year should go so fast, yet at the same time, it's not completely shocking. Time flies when you're having fun, and marriage is fun!*
We spent Friday the 15th in Lake Geneva at a resort overlooking the lake. I was shooting for fancy, but holy smoke, that place was sumptuous! Two hundred dollar dinners taste even better when they're complementary, I've found... not that filet mignon and New York Strip really have to improve any.
The rest of our weekend was spent at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, where we checked out the indoor waterpark, the theme park, and their very own haunted house. Their... not so awesome haunted house, complete with 40-something bald guy hitting on teenage girls, obnoxious tour guides complaining about her schedule and pay, and 5 minute tour of not-particularly-terrifying sights in an old farmhouse. I'm not complaining, honest! It was certainly a memorable evening and weekend. Praise God for his blessing on our marriage, now and always.
My internship is going really well- so well, in fact, that's it's deceptively easy to take for granted how cool an opportunity it is to apprentice under the pastors at Morning Star. Every experience they train me for and guide me through is so edifying and humbling; their importance in equipping me is so vividly felt. I appreciate so much the chance that they've given me in taking me on and investing themselves in my training, and it's just plain a hoot getting to hang out with them throughout the week. The Leadership Team meetings are these singular mixtures of blood-earnest contemplation and (infrequent) shenannigans. Case in point: Henry, upon noticing that everyone brought their laptop to last night's meeting except for him inquiring if there was a general laptop reminder e-mail forwarded to everyone except him. Disappointed, he grabs a nearby tablet to scrawl some notes, when Jeremy suddenly asks, "Where's the pizza you were supposed to bring?"
Henry: Oh, I guess I screwed that one up?
Ian: I'm the intern, stupid mistakes like that are supposed to be my job.
Jeremy: Well, we do rely on you for that!
Henry: That's why I have you saved in my phone as "InternIan."
I pretended to laugh, but I think everyone knows I was crying inside.
Driving home today was like an obstacle course in a car commercial, owing to all of the green recycling bins the wind had strewn throughout the streets. Swerving through an intricate, twisting labyrinth of recycling collections is not typical fare here in Janesville.
Was that random? Yes.
*Well, mine at least!
We spent Friday the 15th in Lake Geneva at a resort overlooking the lake. I was shooting for fancy, but holy smoke, that place was sumptuous! Two hundred dollar dinners taste even better when they're complementary, I've found... not that filet mignon and New York Strip really have to improve any.
The rest of our weekend was spent at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, where we checked out the indoor waterpark, the theme park, and their very own haunted house. Their... not so awesome haunted house, complete with 40-something bald guy hitting on teenage girls, obnoxious tour guides complaining about her schedule and pay, and 5 minute tour of not-particularly-terrifying sights in an old farmhouse. I'm not complaining, honest! It was certainly a memorable evening and weekend. Praise God for his blessing on our marriage, now and always.
My internship is going really well- so well, in fact, that's it's deceptively easy to take for granted how cool an opportunity it is to apprentice under the pastors at Morning Star. Every experience they train me for and guide me through is so edifying and humbling; their importance in equipping me is so vividly felt. I appreciate so much the chance that they've given me in taking me on and investing themselves in my training, and it's just plain a hoot getting to hang out with them throughout the week. The Leadership Team meetings are these singular mixtures of blood-earnest contemplation and (infrequent) shenannigans. Case in point: Henry, upon noticing that everyone brought their laptop to last night's meeting except for him inquiring if there was a general laptop reminder e-mail forwarded to everyone except him. Disappointed, he grabs a nearby tablet to scrawl some notes, when Jeremy suddenly asks, "Where's the pizza you were supposed to bring?"
Henry: Oh, I guess I screwed that one up?
Ian: I'm the intern, stupid mistakes like that are supposed to be my job.
Jeremy: Well, we do rely on you for that!
Henry: That's why I have you saved in my phone as "InternIan."
I pretended to laugh, but I think everyone knows I was crying inside.
Driving home today was like an obstacle course in a car commercial, owing to all of the green recycling bins the wind had strewn throughout the streets. Swerving through an intricate, twisting labyrinth of recycling collections is not typical fare here in Janesville.
Was that random? Yes.
*Well, mine at least!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
The Spirit and the Bride Say, "Come"
I feel deeply moved when I think of the world these days, specifically the world amidst the backdrop of the Gospel. The hopelessness of the world's hostility towards God and the claims of Scripture inspire great grief in my heart. I feel an intense sorrow that the creature spurns and rejects the Creator, and that that for which we are all made is that which we despise and want nothing to do with.
There is nowhere that the light of Christ has not revealed itself. John 1:9-11 says, "The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him." That the Son of Man, who is our peace, should be scorned and despised dismays me to the utmost. Now, it does not elicit a desire in me for reprisal or a longing for vengeance, or anything of the sort- only heartache due to the hatred of Christ and to the self-condemnation of the world.
It makes me long for eternity at times that I may at last experience the perfect reconciliation of all reality with God and the joy of sinlessness and perfect communion with Him. I am in a strait between two worlds. I have one foot in the world that is and one foot in the world that is to be, but my desire for that world to be is not mere escapism from weariness here and now. Rather, I long for the consummation of the created order and the fulfillment of God's purpose in history, through which all strivings shall at last cease. Though God has granted me innumerable blessings here and now, I know that these are signposts pointing to the age to come when nothing and no one can ever be an idol again, when God will be glorified and enjoyed by His people with the infinite capacity that He alone possesses to glorify and enjoy Himself, and I say, "Come, Lord Jesus."
There is nowhere that the light of Christ has not revealed itself. John 1:9-11 says, "The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him." That the Son of Man, who is our peace, should be scorned and despised dismays me to the utmost. Now, it does not elicit a desire in me for reprisal or a longing for vengeance, or anything of the sort- only heartache due to the hatred of Christ and to the self-condemnation of the world.
It makes me long for eternity at times that I may at last experience the perfect reconciliation of all reality with God and the joy of sinlessness and perfect communion with Him. I am in a strait between two worlds. I have one foot in the world that is and one foot in the world that is to be, but my desire for that world to be is not mere escapism from weariness here and now. Rather, I long for the consummation of the created order and the fulfillment of God's purpose in history, through which all strivings shall at last cease. Though God has granted me innumerable blessings here and now, I know that these are signposts pointing to the age to come when nothing and no one can ever be an idol again, when God will be glorified and enjoyed by His people with the infinite capacity that He alone possesses to glorify and enjoy Himself, and I say, "Come, Lord Jesus."
Monday, October 11, 2010
MAWWIAGE is what bwings us togethew tewday.
Woohoo! My friend Pete Brotzman was married yesterday at Devil's Lake to his beloved Theresa and it was a pleasure attending and being there for them. Pete is such a righteous dude! It's amazing that him, Eli (his brother), and Joseph are all getting married this year, and talking to all of them, you just see God's fingerprints all over it.
Kristin and I will have be celebrating our first anniversary this Sunday- how incredible is that?? I've been reflecting so much lately on how awe-inspiring it is that I am loved. Loved at all- in the least! It defies common sense to me, to be totally honest. Me, in all of my imperfections and flaws, my infuriating idiosyncrasies, my oddities and my wrongdoings, am loved, and loved by the coolest girl in the cosmos at that! It's marvelous beyond words that in spite of all of this I am cherished and longed for. And if true for Kristin, how much more so for the One before whom all of these deficiencies are infinitely more glaring? For whom it would be altogether appropriate to sever all bonds with me and leave me to myself, whom I fail time and time again? As Kristin and I, and now Pete and Theresa, are bound by covenantal, unceasing love, so are God and His people; what a perfect picture with which to better understand eternity.
Kristin and I will have be celebrating our first anniversary this Sunday- how incredible is that?? I've been reflecting so much lately on how awe-inspiring it is that I am loved. Loved at all- in the least! It defies common sense to me, to be totally honest. Me, in all of my imperfections and flaws, my infuriating idiosyncrasies, my oddities and my wrongdoings, am loved, and loved by the coolest girl in the cosmos at that! It's marvelous beyond words that in spite of all of this I am cherished and longed for. And if true for Kristin, how much more so for the One before whom all of these deficiencies are infinitely more glaring? For whom it would be altogether appropriate to sever all bonds with me and leave me to myself, whom I fail time and time again? As Kristin and I, and now Pete and Theresa, are bound by covenantal, unceasing love, so are God and His people; what a perfect picture with which to better understand eternity.
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