Habakkuk

So I'm sitting here, trying to be random, but it's not working. Instead, I will just say that Habakkuk is a really cool book when you understand it historically. I've been studying it for the past two hours and it's amazing to see that Habakkuk was writing on the eve of the Babylonian captivity. He was scared, he was unsure about what was going to happen, and he had a bunch of questions for God. He was normal, in other words. I can identify with him easily. But I think the cool thing is that in the end, his final conclusion was that no matter what happened, God had been and would continue to be faithful. Awesome!

ngolden

The Office of Intern Affairs

Quick run-down of the things I never expected to do as a pastoral intern. I never expected to...
1. Clean out a 110 year-old church basement
2. Tow a Chevy Lumina minivan behind a Chevy Express van for 50 miles
3. Change a tire in a narrow canyon
4. Make Sunday School doughnut and cookie runs
5. Drive my hosts halfway up Nebo Loop and back
6. Visit a ski resort
7. Tour Temple Square for the 4th time
8. Learn enough in one day to blow my mind for the whole summer

The Lord is good. Sometimes, He feeds the truth to you crumb by crumb and allows you to digest it wholly before moving on; other times, He pulls out a side of beef and says, "Here, go at it." The analogy is crude, but that's how I felt today. It seemed that today was one of those learning days.

But what if every day were like today? Could I be that attuned to the Lord and His Word? Is there a valid reason why it couldn't happen? The answer: no. This is the Christian life at its fullest - each day full of surprises and blessings to be thankful for, and most importantly, lessons to learn.

It is my prayer that the Lord would work in me in such a way that the things that I caught a slight glimpse of today would burn in me like a raging fire. I don't want to forget what I've learned. I want to be...
1. quietly confident of God's work in my life
2. a leader by example
3. a man of fewer words
4. filled with the wisdom of our Lord
5. a lifelong learner
6. a truly grateful and loving husband (that's still on the way)
7. a man after God's own heart

I have set aside tomorrow as a day to seek the Lord in these things. I look forward to the morning.

I realize that this post is more serious than others I have written, but I think that's necessary sometimes. It's good to reflect on those things that God has given us to learn.

ngolden

Also, for the record, I am so thankful for my beautiful fiancee. She is truly a woman of God and so much more than I deserve. I am deeply in love with her and I am anxious to work beside her in whatever ministry the Lord calls us to. Marry me, Vanessa. (Mushy, I know, but I get to do that now without being embarrassed by it.)

Trial by fire

So I typed for a stinkin' hour and then lost it. Go me. I'll try again tomorrow.

That's not my Jesus

Yesterday, I returned to Temple Square after a two week hiatus. Josh and I have kept busy and managed to make time for one more visit before I move to Payson (that's tomorrow, by the way). A mutual friend of ours came with us (you rock, Kira) and the three of us set out to again be reminded of the chokehold that Mormonism has on its followers. This was my third time there and I think I'm finally beginning to get sick of it. The first two times I went, I was blown away by the huge arsenal of religious propoganda that is wielded by those in leadership. This time, I was heartsick. These people, especially the ones who are gung-ho about the Church, are some of the most pitiable people that I know. Their hearts and minds are enslaved to a religion that will not only prove unfulfilling, but will also put them on the short path to a place that is far from the heaven they imagine it to be.

I think at times that I get a little lax in my thoughts towards other religions. Even yesterday, I sat and listened to the spiel and found myself shutting down. And that's why I think it's important that I went. The experience, while sickening, served to reawaken me to the hardcore truth that these people are just like me, except they're lost - totally and completely lost without any hope at all. The thing that makes it so surreal for me is the revisionist type of history that they are promoting. They have taken what really happened to them in the Midwest and have made it seem entirely unfounded. I often wonder what would happen if they would just come out with the truth. Maybe their church would be stronger as a whole. Maybe it would disintegrate.

The day, on the whole was enlightening. Josh and I discussed our differing viewpoints (West/East; FSB/ABC; Utahan/Flordinian - props to you, Miller; and other various and sundry views) and we came to the conclusion that we both have learned from each other and have profited immensely from each others company. I like the guy a whole lot. He's definitely not afraid to have fun (i.e. get into a random argument about the fast lane - I think he won by forfeit, I'm not sure). I have thanked the Lord for putting us together this summer. Even though today is my last official day with him, we will still have plenty of time to hang out over the summer at camps and stuff. I'm stoked. It's gonna be good.

I'll update later once I get moved in to Payson.

Until next time remember . . . "Goldilocks: it's Skcolidlog spelled backwards."

ngolden

Starten up da shield!

Well, here it is. The first post on my new blog. Interesting, huh? I bet you're thinking, "Wow, this is so interesting, I might go have some more cheesy bacon tuna fish on pumpernickel bread." I know I would think that if I thought this were interesting. And I do. So 'scuse me whilst I make myself a cheesy pumpernickel bacon tuna fish sandwich.