All posts by Faze7023

I've been doing good. The Lord has blessed me with the opportunity to pursue my BA and my master's degree at the same time in a 5 year hybrid program. I'm starting next year. After that I should immediately be able to pursue full-time church ministry in 4 years or so.

Wow. I haven't been on in awhile and this place is DEAD.

Sheesh, stuff has changed these past few months. After being so busy with college and only popping in every once in awhile, I come back to two legends leaving?

Miss you already Max and Emp. After these 6 years of knowing one another, it’s crazy to say goodbye. Take care.

I got some crazy news: IM AN UNCLE NOW!

Sup everyone, it’s been awhile. I thought I’d stop by and say hi. Been pretty busy with school and work. How has everyone else been doing?

Goofing off in a church service is the reason why I don’t sit with guys my age during a service.

Got the last of my required textbooks for this semester. I am specifically really excited to read Encountering the Old Testament by Bill Arnold. I read Encountering the New Testament by Walter Elwell for a class and it was excellent. My Bible survey teacher chose some excellent books.

The only class that I despise so far is my music class. Because I know nothing of music, it is quite possible my gpa will take a dive because of this, and I need like a 3.6 gpa to take seminary classes next year.

@Dare00Devil Philemon is a very interesting Pauline epistle because of how it fits into the timeline of Paul’s ministry. At the time Paul was in prison in Rome, probably soon before his death, and by the sovereignty of God he met Onesimus (a slave) and led him to the Lord, then encouraged him to go back to his master Philemon who was a church member I believe in Galatia, to which the letter is directed. Scholars believe the letter was carried by Onesimus from Rome all the way back to Galatia. Very interesting epistle.

Acts was the first book I studied on my own. Though, I didn’t know much of what I was doing in my study of scripture as a new believer, it was extremely beneficial to simply read the book and was a key influence for my desire to be in pastoral ministry.

There’s a reason why I’m a hopeful, pre-tribulation rapture believer.

I just spent the past three months studying the book of Ruth. I’ve gotta say, Ruth, through faith in God and her loyalty to Naomi, found favor with God and provided king David and later our savior Jesus Christ… Ruth is probably my favorite character. Also, Ruth is probably my favorite book of the Bible.

Accountability from mentors, prayer, and God’s Word. Such a mundane answer, I know. But it’s true.

Before I “fell in love” with the girl I mentioned, I was still a new Christian that was immature in the faith. I rarely opened God’s Word just to study, and I rarely prayed outside of for meals. I turned to God when I wanted His help, and did not depend on Him to get me through my days.

God’s grace is abundant, but He does at times allow His children to reap the consequences of our sin and even chastises us. That said, God did not do that with me in this instance with that girl. He convicted me, caused me to rely upon Him more, and turn to godly council from godly mentors and friends. Most importantly, I began to pray more often and read and study God’s Word. I started listening to a local teacher on the Song of Songs, which led me to a greater understanding of love, desires, and the great intimacy that God designed for a husband and a wife.

When the fire of jealous love would start roaring, the only flood that could extinguish it was the blood of Christ. I had to rely upon God to deliver me. Prayer was key in those moments when I noticed my sin.

FYI jealous love (romantic love for a person) is only sin when that person is not your spouse.

@Ensylum yep, that’s gonna hurt.

“Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised.” - Song of Songs 8:6-7

Love is meant to be permanent (a seal), strong (like death), and jealous (fierce). The fact you are jealous is expected, but understand that it is dangerous as well… fierce, and it could lead you to do some things to protect that which you love. On top of all of that, love is like a flaming fire- unquenchable, unending.

I remember from my own experience, killing my own desires for a girl I liked, and when she moved on to another guy I had to remain composed and in control, not allowing my jealousy to rear it’s head. I’ll be praying for you in this time, that you remain in control of your desires and emotions and that God would use this time as a sanctifying moment. Love you brother.

Hope college goes well Ensy. For me freshman orientation starts on Thursday and class starts next Monday. I’m looking forward to beginning my studies. I’m already on track to finishing my pastoral degree in 3 years. Time is gonna fly.

I finished my New Testament class with a A. Let’s go!

Oppenheimer is a solid 8/10. I think the biggest flaw of the movie is that it throws you headlong into the fallout of the creation of the A-bomb, and abandons standard biopic storytelling. Dates of given details are not shown, and that leaves some of the movie disjointed because it is being told through flashbacks that are out of order. The films editing was all over the place, and scene-transitions weren’t smooth in the slightest.

All these things aside, the movie does bring the entire story of Oppenheimer to life, albeit in a confusing way, and not in the normal Christopher Nolan way. It dramatizes it all very well and I could feel the moral-questioning coming off of the screen. Most scenes were riveting (so long as you understood their contexts), and among the best would have to be when the A-bomb was tested. What an amazing scene. Beautiful effects as well.

I know that feeling. There’s a kid in my youth group who could quite possibly have the dumbest opinions ever conceived by man. His opinions mainly revolve around sports, so half the time it’s just gibberish to me. However, he once said a mountain lion could kill a black bear. He couldn’t defend his position, as one would expect from such a stupid opinion.

Eh, not my thing. Also, I was still watching MLP at 15. Target audience doesn’t matter as much as you would think.

And that is why I was homeschooled…

Though I am not very knowledgeable of the concept of “the seven deadly sins,” using it as a lens to understand a comic character seems an interesting topic that could be fun to engage and converse on. Count me in.

I’m such a procrastinator when it comes to writing. I’m preaching at a summer chapel this Monday and Friday and I am only just about to finish writing my Monday sermon and haven’t even started on my Friday sermon. Ouch.