Technical Update

This blog now lives at http://excelsiorblog.net. This shouldn't make much of a difference to anyone, because my blogspot address redirects to the new site, but if you would like to change your hyperlinks for clarity's sake, feel free to do so :)

Excelsior!

Pictures of my Housemates

Remember my housemates, Jonathan and Rachel? Well, it's been about 4 months since they came to live with me, and we've had quite the time this semester! It's a wonder any of us got any work done! In case you're interested, I posted some more recent photos with them :)

Twins

Dethroning Dagon

"Now the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it to the house of Dagon and set it by Dagon. When the Ashdodites arose early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and set him in his place again. But when they arose early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. And the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off on the threshold; only the trunk of Dagon was left to him." 1 Samuel 5:1-4

What happens when God comes to dwell in your temple? Are the false gods competing for primacy in your life--Approval-of-Men, Temporal-Success, Self-Pleasure, and all the rest--toppled in the dust? Do they yield before the King of the Universe?

They don't always give way in my life, but it isn't because God lacks the requisite authority! If He can dominate Dagon, He could definitely defeat my demons. The question is simply whether I let Him!

Does that sound backwards? Do we really have to give God permission to do anything? (The short answer is yes--see Rev. 3:20).

They say that in a democracy, the people are sovereign. That may be true, but we only get to exercise our power, at least directly, every two or four years, when an election comes around. God's sovereignty in our lives is something we vote on every day! Multiple times a day!

I heard a simple statement recently that really struck me. (Actually, it was something Tom Waters said at Luke and Chantée's wedding :) All it was was that the time we spend with Jesus should be the most important part of our day. Wow--I was convicted! I have my devotions in the morning, yet how many mornings do I jump on the Internet before I jump into the Word? (This was one, I'm ashamed to report...) It's not that responding to emails and reading the news are bad, but for me, it represents a principle--a priority choice. I'll come right out and say it: in many ways, the Internet is my Dagon--one of the most powerful competitors with God for my attention and affections.

I don't know what's competing for uptake in your mind, but I have an idea about how to topple that idol: name it, claim it, and surrender it (then repeat the last step lots of times.) (No, not that kind:) Figure out what's getting in the way, acknowledge that you're allowing whatever it is to be on the throne of your life, and then give it to God, and ask Him to lay it in the dust!

Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."

I want God to be exalted in every part of my life, so that the onlooking world has incontrovertible evidence of the power and love of our God!

 Excelsior!

Wake Up Call

Rescue those who are being taken away to death;

hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.

If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”

does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?

Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,

and will he not repay man according to his work?

Proverbs 24:11–12 (ESV)

Every time I read this passage, it hits me like a blast of icy water in the face. 

"Wake up, Joel! People are standing on the brink of destruction all around you! You can't say you haven't seen them--caught in the lethal embrace of the transient pleasures of this life, tossed about in the vortex of self-gratification. But for the grace of God, you would be among them! What are you going to do about it?"

There's no mistaking the call. Now, how will I respond?

It's a question I've been earnestly wrestling with for the past year. I am convicted that the darkest hour of Earth's great night is nearly upon us, and I long to be among those who shine like the stars.

The secret to a successful, fulfilled life is to have an aim worthy of one's utmost endeavor. Guess what? "Such an aim has been set before the youth of today. The heaven-appointed purpose of giving the gospel to the world in this generation is the noblest that can appeal to any human being!"
(Ed. 262)

Are you in?


Excelsior

New Housemates

As some of you may know, my housing situation was recently upended. Fortunately I was able to find another place close by with two friends from church.

Things were starting to settle down again, but then last Sabbath I came home to discover that my friends had invited two more people to live with us! I'm all for hospitality, and it was their house, but I couldn't help but wonder if adding two new folks at the same time wasn't a bit excessive.

I wasn't too sure about this whole plan, and greeted my new housemates with a bit of apprehension.

My concern only increased as time went on, for several reasons (I'm sure you'll be able to empathize). First, our new residents seem a bit anti-social. I mean, they haven't said one word to me since they've arrived. Sometimes they even make faces at me, and once or twice they've actually started howling in response to my attempts to be friendly.

Second, they have rather strange habits, lolling about all day and disturbing the peace at night. 

They don't seem to get very much exercise (they haven't gone running with me yet, even though I've invited them), and they're always snacking on something. (It's a wonder we haven't run out of food, the way they go through it!) And I'm not even going to mention their personal hygiene...

Looking on the bright side, people have been very friendly since they've come to live with us. Yesterday my friends and I invited them to come to church with us, and you should have seen how welcoming everyone was! People have even been bringing food and clothes over for them, and the kids have at least been kind enough to share some with me (food, not clothes).

And to be honest, though they are a bit odd at times, they do have a way of growing on you :) 

Anyway, that's the scoop on my new housemates. If you stop by and visit sometime, I'll introduce you to Jonathan and Rachel (if they're awake) :)

Excelsior!