Ethereal Thought Train

Adoption and Redemption

Todd Engstrom — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:22:15 +0000

Reflecting on Ephesians 1:1-14 the other day, God struck me with a profound truth about the very nature of salvation:

In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

I’ve certainly reflected on this passage often from a theological perspective, generally focusing on the predestining work of the sovereign God, but also in understanding the theological nature of adoption. The fresh revelation for me was that I don’t often think of them together with the experience of a loving Father, rather as theologically distinctive aspects of salvation.

Our redemption through the blood of Christ, however, is an experience of the adopting love of a Father, not simply an historical fact. In the same way that my friend Aaron Ivey longs to rescue his son, so too did God have the same longing as a Father, who sent his only begotten Son as a propitiation and sacrifice for redemption. Reflecting on the earthly process of adoption and fatherhood in general is giving such a fresh perspective on my own theology. To think of adoption and redemption independently of one another is the residue of cold, theological calculation and divorced from the experience of God as my daddy, and I desperately need God to transform my mind and heart.

My prayer for the coming year is that I would continue to experience the fatherhood of God through the work of Christ. May the knowledge of my head continue to be fused the affections of my heart.

Merry Christmas!

Todd Engstrom — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:54:16 +0000

Merry Christmas!

I pray that the simple, yet miraculous truth that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” rests profoundly on you during these few weeks!

2009 Top Posts – Ethereal Thought Train

Todd Engstrom — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:11:52 +0000

I’ve pretty much let Ethereal Thought Train go stale in the last two months, but I figured to close out 2009 I’d throw out your favorite posts of the year. Without further adieu, here they are:

Hopefully you’ll enjoy some old reading while I prepare some new material for 2010!

American Charitable Giving | mint.com

Todd Engstrom — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 20:57:06 +0000

I thought the image below from the Mint.com blog was fascinating. It’s long, but worth a look.

budget planner – Mint.com

Giving Thanks

Todd Engstrom — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:45:12 +0000

I’m sitting in the passenger seat on my way to the inlaws’ family thanksgiving and dwelling on this great American holiday, so I figured I’d jot down some thoughts. In no particular order:

Most of the country is taking the weekend off to celebrate WHAT they are thankful for. What an incredible opportunity to show for WHOM we are thankful.
Romans 1:21 – For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Thankfulness is generally a response to the provision of someone else and is a recognition of dependence. The greater the provision, the deeper the gratitude. The gospel is the greatest provision humanity has ever known.
I tend to be more thankful for the physical blessings I have received than the provision of Jesus on the cross.
Giving thanks is a natural component of worship.
I’m thankful for new mercies each morning, because I am continually not thankful for what I ought to be.

Thank you Jesus for saving me, and I pray that is the legacy I leave in my family and my city.

Lessons from a Razor

Todd Engstrom — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:42:43 +0000

As many of you know, I was in a South Asian country with two other pastors from The Austin Stone, and we had an unfortunate incident with some youth. My friend who was attacked has written his reflections, and I highly encourage you to read them. Here is a short snippet:

Unexpectedly, one of these youth sliced my left cheek with a straight razor. The wound was 5 inches long and an inch deep. It spanned from about my left sideburn to the left corner of my mouth. Fortunately, the two other men with me were physically unharmed. We ran for safety in the middle of the city, pleaded with locals for help, and finally ended up in the emergency room at a local hospital where a doctor stitched up my face with three layers of stitches.

…

The straight razor that scarred my face has become an altar of intercession for those South Asian youth who attacked us. My face is the sacrifice that was put on this alter. I doubt if any prayers have ever been lifted to the Father for those youth, that is, until they attacked us. Almost immediately, we began praying for them. Since then, thousands of people have interceded for them, for their joy. In this way, therefore, God turned their sin of unjustly attacking us into a great blessing for them.

I am so grateful for my friend, and for God’s provision and protection of us in a time of great need. Please continue to pray that God would move around the world, and the church would remain resolved in her calling to preach the gospel in the face of great suffering.

Home on the Range

Todd Engstrom — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:43:51 +0000

After flying ~15,000 miles in the past 6 days, and sleeping for ~16 hours over that span, I’m officially home with my family. I am grateful to God for the time I was able to spend with new friends, thankful for the power of Jesus to keep me and my team safe, and dependent on His grace to continue forward to share what I have experienced and learned.

The words to the great hymn “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” have been playing in my head, so I figured I would share them with you as an encouragement:

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

A Mighty Fortress is Our God

Todd Engstrom — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:41:08 +0000

Psalm 59:16-17

16 But I will sing of your strength;
I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been to me a fortress
and a refuge in the day of my distress.
17 O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,
for you, O God, are my fortress,
the God who shows me steadfast love.

I am singing of God’s steadfast love, because He has been a fortress for me in distress. To Him be all the glory, forever and ever, amen!

Being a Pastor – Fun Sunday Questions

Todd Engstrom — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:58:08 +0000

Here’s a rundown of some of the questions I was asked today from a variety of different people:

Are you a young earth or old earth creationist?
Can you tell me where the bathroom is?
Can you find some people to pass the offering baskets?
Why did God require a sacrifice for sin?
What role does confession play in our salvation?
Do you know of someone who could sublease my apartment?
As a college student who makes no income, how can I tithe?
What’s the most difficult question you’ve been asked about marriage?

Needless to say, that makes for a fun and exhausting day of conversation…feel free to fill in the answers you think I answered in the comments.

Something Smells… and Hyperlinks

Todd Engstrom — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:20:17 +0000

This blog is getting pretty stale…I guess I should try to pick up the pace. In all honesty, I’m not sure I’ve had many thoughts worth posting as of late, and I’m also running thin on time. Here’s a few links I’ve been enjoying as of late to keep you occupied in the meantime:

And finally, make sure you register for Verge 2010: The DNA of Gospel Movements hosted by The Austin Stone on February 4th through 6th in Austin. Hope to see you there!