In not Of

Al Mohler on... cell phones?

Jason Ketteman — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 14:54:36 GMT

In a peculiar post by one of the thought leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention, Al Mohler discusses the impact on cell phones on today's culture ?

Is having really strong thumbs the up-side?

Later.

God is!

Jason Ketteman — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 21:02:30 GMT

I know of a situation I'm not involved in. Hear me! I'm NOT involved and I'm not getting involved. I have loved ones on both sides of the situation. It hits at a tender place in my heart and memory. It saddens me in many ways that I'm afraid those closer to the situation may be calloused to.

People are not perfect. Whether those people are pastors or congregants, old or young, long-tenured or newly arrived. But God is.

None of us is capable of seeing into the hearts of anyone else. We can never definitively know the motives or intentions, sorrow or regret, or remorse or repentance of anyone outside of ourselves. But God is.

None of us have been appointed "Defender of God's Holiness". We have all tarnished God's Holiness more than we've polished it. Even if we could defend God's "God-ness", He doesn't need us to defend Him. It's not our job nor place. We're incapable of doing it. But God is.

None of us has been appointed Judge over matters and motives of the heart. Because we cannot see into the hearts of people, it is not our place to determine their guilt, predict their eternal standing with God, or to serve as jury and executioner of whatever penance we determine proper. But God is.

None of us is anything forever. We change. We start out immature. Hopefully, we mature. Sometimes we don't or perhaps we regress in an area we think we have conquered. But God is.

None of us is anywhere forever. We're born and we die. We come and go. We move and are moved. We befriend and estrange. But God is.

There are many people saying things they either don't fully understand what they say or are ignorantly and arrogantly attempting to wield powers that they are not entitled to use. The "noise" needs to end. The few remaining Godly men from both parties (and they DO exist on both sides) need to gather around a table, bathe the meeting in prayer, and seek to put and end to the non-constructive, unhelpful, and in many examples plainly stupid things people are saying on both sides.

I sincerely pray that ALL will act in humility and muster a willingness to, if not reconcile, at least be amicable and mutually supportive of each other's work for the Kingdom of Christ. My heart hurts for this family that was once was loving and supportive of one another as they worked for God's glory. My limited vantage point can see some things on both sides that can only bring a tear to God's eye.

Later.

Site issues...

Jason Ketteman — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 02:34:17 GMT

Until I can resolve the issues with my old site skin that showed up after the last upgrade, I've picked a stock skin. It's not very pretty, but it works... kinda like me.

Later.

Thinking Ahead: A prayer…

Jason Ketteman — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 17:22:52 GMT

This morning, I woke up knowing that tonight we’d be driving out West to see our church home for the foreseeable future. So many emotions are going through my head. We’re just starting to get organized. There have been lots of questions to this point even with many more to come. Thus far, it’s all been theoretical. But tonight, it becomes a real place where real people will be to worship a real God. I do hope we spend some time worshipping tonight.

As I drove into work this morning, I spent some time talking to God (as is pretty usual for me. My truck is a favorite place of worship). It went something like this:

God, please be with us tonight as we visit the site of what will be our church home. I claim the promise ahead of time that when we’re gathered in Your name, You’re with us. Where You are is holy. Therefore, what is a humble school of cinderblock, mortar, and other things will become Holy Ground – not because we’re there, but because You are.

Lord, I pray that you knit together the people that have agreed to set out as this new church body. I pray that you strengthen them and keep them motivated and energized even today as they look forward to meeting tonight. I pray that we’re undaunted by the tasks we have to complete. I pray that we can only look around and know that You completed the work – because we couldn’t have done it any other way.

God, already be working in the lives of those in the neighborhood around that school. I pray that they are tender-hearted and ready for Your Word. I pray we seek them out, wrap arms of love around them, and usher them into Your presence.

Thank You for this event in our [my family’s] life. I pray and have confidence that it’s Your will and will lead us closer to You.

Amen.

So, tonight we’re to visit this school-by-day come church-on-Sundays. I’ve seen them before. But I can’t help but be a little excited about seeing where we’ll be working, meeting, worshiping, and fellowshipping in the coming months. So much so, I Google’d the school to learn a bit about it.

...meanwhile, back at the ranch

Jason Ketteman — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 13:36:22 GMT

[Nearly one year passes. Everyone's a little older, wiser, and more attentive to details.]

Me: Whoa! What happened? Have I been away? Asleep? Bored?

You: Well, you've certainly been away. You always seem to be in a bit of a daze, but...

Me: <cough> Yeah, thanks. Anyway... Long time, no see...

[Scene fades except for single spotlight around Me. Me addresses the audience directly. You attentively but silently listen.]

Me: Hi folks. What you've just witnessed is my return back to this world. "What world," you ask? THIS one, where I pretend like you care about my thinking, opinions, questions, or struggles. You occasionally respond back, either publicaly or privately with counterpoints, words of encouragement, or disparagement and we move on to the next discussion. It works well for a while, then I get distracted by something "out of this world"...a blinky light, shiny things, kids, blinky-shiny-kids...

But for now, again, I'm truly back. This time I mean it! :)

Although I reserve and will exercise the right to post on just about whatever I like, I'm particularly interested in documenting a fairly significant event in my and Mrs. Me's life - we're starting a church plant. I think it would be interesting to document our (probably only my) experiences. I have no doubt that we'll have some.

Anyway, if you're here, reading this. Thanks for sticking around during my "hiatus". If you're not, well, we'll be here anyway.

Later.

[End Scene. Fade to black.]

(P.S. I'm having some server issues that I'm working on. So, if you click on something and it blows up, my apologies. I'm working on it.)

Oh yeah...

Jason Ketteman — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 23:15:12 GMT

...I'm back.

At least, I'm planning on it.

Later.

Funny Kid Story #8

Jason Ketteman — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 23:13:06 GMT

Says my eldest man-child upon evaluating the consequences of a potential vehicular accident:

"That would hurt like the deacons!"

To my ordained brethren, please know I've never shared anything about our meetings with him!

Sometimes, the things he says scares the DICKENS out of me... :)

Later.

Happy blog-day to me!

Jason Ketteman — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 23:51:21 GMT

Today, September 27, 2006 is my 3 year anniversary of blogging. 3 years ago today, I started blogging, as opposed to just "being on the web".

To be clear, this site is not been my first. I've been on the web for a VERY long time. I've had many sites before I started blogging. But they were very circa-90's-decade-personal-site, ya know? Infrequently updated. Look was more important than content. This site is very light on flash, but I use this site to discuss things that are on my mind and heart.

3 years blogging isn't a overwhelmingly significant milestone like my 1000th post or anything (which is like 18 years away, at my current post rate), but it's an opportunity, nonetheless, to stop and see where I've been and what has happened through this site.

First, 3 years ago I worked for a different company in a different industry focus than I do now. I spent quite a bit of time training, leading, implementing and fixing Microsoft CRM 1.0 all over the country. In fact, many of my first posts were about that application, either directly or indirectly.

Second, personally, life was a little different 3 years ago. I was one child younger. I was sub-30. I hadn't yet started teaching my Sunday School (now, Connection Point) class. I wasn't pursuing going back to school. I was almost 30 pounds heavier.

Socio-politically, we weren't yet at war in Iraq. We were waging a war on terror and Osama bin Laden. No one worried about a tsunami destroying thousands of lives off the Indian Ocean.

This blog has brought folks to me that I never would have had opportunity to meet. I've heard from servicemen in Iraq that used some of my lesson notes for their Bible studies. I've heard from a private Christian school teacher who wanted to add one of my book studies (Romans, I think). I've heard from a priest from Korea that wanted more information on Daniel. None of these people were my initial targets, but God saw fit to not only draw them to my site (via Google, no doubt), but to bring them to contact me. What an encouragement!

What I'm happy about is that from the beginning God was central to my posts. By way of this blog, I can see and reflect on the journey God has brought me on in these three years. I'm also happy that I'm nearing 10 years of marriage - which is related to this site because I COMPLETELY believe it has saved my relationship with my wife by sparing her the discussions that she just doesn't want to have with me... :)

I hope to continue to use this blog to bring glory to God and Christians closer to Him through provocative discussions and challenging thought. I pray that God continues to bring me along the journey that He started - I plan to keep talking about it as often as I can.

Later.

Reflections: "Twelve Ordinary Men" by John MacArthur

Jason Ketteman — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 07:34:55 GMT

After reading "Twelve Ordinary Men" by John MacArthur, I find it nearly impossible not to compare myself to these men.

MacArthur analyses the men in order of how they're usually referenced in Scripture. As such, he starts with Peter and ends with the traitor Judas Iscariot.

For me, I found myself identifying with each disciple in some way as I read their respective biographies. At times, it was surprise that I didn't know a certain feature about that person. Other times, it was shock at the extremes from where Christ called them from. In all of them, they made a journey.

Starting with Peter, it's easy and comforting to see the mature Peter as that human standard of who to look up to. Sure, he's rough around the edges as a younger man, but after Jesus gets done molding him, Peter is a model worthy to emulate. He's a leader's leader. He's confident. He's bold. He's respected. There's a lot to like in Peter the elder.

On the other end of the spectrum, James the Less wasn't in the spotlight. He was a faithful servant content to give his Lord the spotlight and his leader the front of the stage. Yet, he was diligent and trustworthy. He didn't grumble. In fact, he didn't say much of anything. He just did. He served. He obeyed.

Finally, Judas Iscariot is all too identifiable. Yes, he was the traitor that sold his Creator for little more than table scraps. Yes, he was the one that stole from the disciples' treasury. He's the icon of deceit and deception in the Bible, second only to Satan himself. He's a favorite target for hate in the Church. Yet, he's not that far removed from many of us. How many of us steal from Christ in how we tithe? How many of us deceive others about our relationship with God? How many of us sell our relationship to Christ for even less than Judas did? At times, I'm afraid we're all too like Judas.

...yet, we want to grow up to be a "Peter". We like seeing ourselves as the mature, refined Christian. We want to be thanked for our wonderful, glorious service to God. When we should be content to be "little James". We don't work for the accolades of men. We don't serve for honor on this earth. We should be content to quietly see that Christ is glorified and that we fade into the background.

Just my thoughts.

Later.

Book Review: "Twelve Ordinary Men" by John MacArthur

Jason Ketteman — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 22:38:24 GMT

I recently (and finally) finished "Twelve Ordinary Men" by John MacArthur .

I'll start by stating that for me, this book was a bit of a slow read. Perhaps it was something I did subconsciously so I could absorb more of the details he packs into this book. While it's positive that there's much information here, I usually pick up and put down a book in much less time than this one required and it kind of annoyed me. It's probably just a personal thing, but if you notice something similar, you at least have been warned and won't be surprised.

That said, it's certainly a most interesting book; lowering these men from the pedestals we usually put them on to a level we can approach and study them reveals facets of these men that we either didn't know, ignore, gloss over, or forget.

As such, I truly feel that I know these men more intimately than I have before. Not only can I identify with all of them to some degree (which is both good and bad), MacArthur gave me a sense of not just their characteristics, but their personality. I put the book down imagining which disciples I would have personally gotten along with. On the other hand, it seems at times like MacArthur "makes up" or at least infers and deduces a lot of the personalities and characteristics of many of the disciples. I don't disagree with his observations - they just seemed to be pulled out of thin air which, is not very "MacArthur".

I say it's not very "MacArthur" because MacArthur is a master of Scripture references and certainly uses Scripture in this book every opportunity he has. He not only references familiar verses, but has a command of leveraging more obscure references, making them familiar to us, and then drawing his conclusion from it. In this book, like most of his works, he references countless verses, Bible stories, and principles in his work. Very solid.

On the other hand, I'd appreciate better cross-references with the extra-Biblical references that MacArthur uses. I realize his writing style is to the general every-man and most may not want to get bogged down in such details, but I think a citations page with references is hardly asking too much. He does have a small citations page, but it's quite a small listing of the formal quotes rather than sources that he draws from or refers.

Overall, I appreciated the technique of analysis of the person followed by an "application" section very effective. It served to draw out what we might learn from a particular disciple or how he grew and changed over time from what he was (when Christ called him) to late in his ministry when the disciple was matured in his faith (well, everyone but one).

One odd thing, I sensed a bit of repetitiveness from MacArthur in some of his storytelling. Part of it may have been that the same stories involved multiple disciples. Another part of it may have been to use "repetition" to reinforce some concepts. Perhaps it was his "for the every-man" approach that assumed a lower level of reading ability or memory. In any case, I always remembered a story he'd just referenced a few pages ago. Yet he fully explained the same story, verse, or situation multiple times. Minor annoyance.

I found "Twelve Ordinary Men" to be a great read, even if a bit slow. It's rewarding to see these...well, quite ordinary men be chosen, refined, fail, be forgiven, doubt, be restored, boast, be humbled, be prideful, yet be blessed and ultimately, become the men that our Lord God Jesus Christ wanted them to become. It's a path that we can all follow, if we begin as they did - receive His calling. Accept His Lordship. Follow His Word. These men were not perfect, but they were Christ's. Christ protected them, provided for them, taught them, and guided them. Christ loved them when many were daft and at times nearly unlovable.

These disciples are not untouchable demigods - they are VERY identifiable. Perhaps a bit too much at times. All 12 of them, unfortunately. I'll probably post some thoughts after reading this book that didn't really fit into the context of a review (a little too personal) soon.