I’ll be gone to Mexico for about a week and I’m not counting on internet access… This way, both of you who view this will have all week to enjoy Paul Simon.

James 1:2-8

How do you feel when ’it’ hits the fan? James supposes that ’it’ isn’t bad in the long-run. ‘It’ can be viewed with a special lens; it’s like we can put on ”Faith-Vision-Goggles”, if there was such a thing…(I know how cheezy that sounds) like x-ray vision to see spiritual things beneath the surface. Anyway, how about you? When things aren’t going your way, when your soul is getting stretched beyond what you think you can handle, when everything is frustrating and there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel…how do you react? 

Here, Jesus’ brother, James, makes some seemingly odd claims that can only be understood with faith in a loving God with a good plan. James says that suffering and pain is redemptive…that is to say the hurt and stress can actually serve to build us and mold us into people like Jesus. Skepticism sees problems and thinks they exist to destroy you. Faith sees problems and knows they are there to establish you. Like intense and strenuous exercise turns flab into buffness; trials are like workouts that make a person’s faith chisseled and ‘not lacking anything’. Like this old Arnold Schwarzenegger photo illustrates; no pain, no gain.

FINALLY! — I’m done with my classes…I’m ready for my internship next year. Since last year’s 2nd Summer session, through the Fall, Spring, and now this Summer session, I’ve successfully completed 52 college credits. When I’m done with my internship, I’ll have my secondary ed./social studies teaching certificate on top of the Philosophy degree, nearly 200 college credits…for the effort I wish I could’ve got a master’s out of the deal. Anyway, it’s been a huge sacrifice, but it’s cool that I’m set up to be in a position where I can do something that I enjoy: teach and be around other people.

On the Dana Carvey Show…you’re welcome.

NT Wright on the Colbert Report. It’s a very brief interview that only skims the issue that Wright addresses in his book discussed on the show…an issue that I think is certainly with raising and clarifying.

1 Corinithians 1:18 

Here, the Apostle Paul is writing to a very immature and perverse group of Christians who lived in a happenin’ city in Greece. These people were notorious for quarreling, having sex out of God’s context, and idolizing people instead of Jesus. Paul writes them and tells them that they should actually be different from all the godlessness they see around them. In the specific verse above, he’s basically saying, “I know people think that your faith in Jesus is foolish, but you shouldn’t be surprized that non-believers think you’re crazy. The thing you need to do is discard what they think and realize that this supposedly ‘foolish’ thing is actually the most true and worthy thing that has ever happened.”

…often the cross just seems like an old icon of a major religion, a piece of jewelry, or decoration for a church building. I’d recommend investing an hour to listen to/watch the video of the teaching I linked below; it reminded me that the cross is so much more than we know or can ever imagine - something we can’t take lightly. Mark Driscoll talks through some extremely central and priceless aspects of ‘The Cross’. 

Click Here.

If you’re yet to see this… Kite and Jeremy - thank you for giving us this important message.

My dad sent this to me a few days ago. If there is one thing I love more than the Red Wings, it’s de-motivational posters. I can’t wait to have an office in some public type of setting, I’ll be sure to have something from despair.com on the wall:

This excerpt is from: http://lordsaveusthemovie.com/

Funny Riv video, check it out: HERE

Proverbs 18:2

Will you really help your views and opinions get adopted by just blurting them all the time?  Selfishly we think, ”I need everyone to think like me!” - as if my opinion is God’s gift to the world. But, someone once told me, “opinions are like butt-holes, everyone has one.” So, how is having one that impressive? We hear people talking about the importance of standing up for our beliefs, glorifying passion…yet, is that automatically wise?

People get nasty when they only seek to be understood instead of seeking to understand. When opinions are only about ‘my agenda’, they just cause arguments. Maybe my gift to the world isn’t my opinion, maybe it’s my ability to listen and understand…maybe then my views might be heard.

In one place in the New Testament, Paul tell a church to “…make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.” And then in another place, he urges us not to quarrel. I’m starting to realize that my views should exist to love/serve God and humanity. If we feel passionate about truth that blesses others, and we communicate in a way that is loving, then we’re on to something.

Brett sent me this link awhile ago; Nietzsche quotes with random cartoon pictures…the dorkier you are, the funnier it is!

Here is a good paper by a guy I met in March.

We’re going to Mexico again; a group in late June to Tijuana to build houses and a group in early July to help at an orphanage. You can help and perhaps help yourself with our silent auction found here: www.rivmexico.com

Ecclesiastes 3: 11-15 

Everything is as God made it; not as it appears to us. We have the world so much in our hearts, are so taken up with thoughts and cares of worldly things, that we have neither time nor spirit to see God’s hand in them. The world has not only gained possession of the heart, but has formed thoughts against the beauty of God’s works. We mistake if we think we were born for ourselves; no, it is our business to do good in this life, which is short and uncertain; we have but little time to be doing good, therefore we should redeem time. Satisfaction with Divine Providence, is having faith that all things work together for good to them that love him. God doeth all, that men should fear before him.