Ephesians 3: 15,16 reads "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."

One of the Christian fellowships I spend time at has been studying the book of Ephesians. The purpose was to understand what it means for us to be the body of Christ, the church, and what it means to be individual members of this body.

The excerpt above speaks directly about these two topics. What I've learned and hope to continue learning is:

1) Individually, each member must be working properly. Personal devotion is important, but involvement in the Church is what Paul herein stresses. I, an individual member of a (the) body, can not function as such a member without the involvement of absolutely every other member. My spiritual health is directly related to the proper functioning of the greater Christian community - that which I directly identify with (local church, family, etc.) and the worldwide body of Christ (churches and believers in Africa, Bangkok, Vatican City, etc.).

2) And, one of the greatest personal needs that I can see in the church is greater emphasis on the importance and involvement of every member. Seeing as how we were not designed to function as Christians outside of the community, there's this need to feel as though we're important and make a difference within our Church. Maybe that need is not felt or noticed. This is often the case and may be a result of our own improper understanding of what it means to be the church.

So, we are in need of personal spiritual health in order to build up the body of Christ. And, our spiritual health depends upon our involvement with and being spiritually fed from the local Christian community (not merely fed by direct preaching of the word, but also fed in the sense of expressing our knowledge and love of the Word toward each other).

Thoughts, ideas? Pray, share, think, act . . . that the "body [will] grow so that it builds itself up in love."

You are a precious member of the body of Christ. Thank God for all of you that share in this faith!

Just another normal week . . .

Monday - fellowship of the huge; lab work; evening discussion on the Abrahamic covenant and circumcision, the seal of the covenant; and a nice chat with Sarah; very little sleep.

Excerpt from Monday evening's discussion (actual names are changed):
Rick: "No, I know guys that aren't circumcised. It's actually quite common to not be circumcised."

Lila: "What do you do go, around and ask guys if they're circumcised or not?"

Tim: "Yeah, as a matter of fact, that's usually the first question I ask a guy that I've just met."

Lila: "You know, you could split up your basketball teams in that manner. Circumcised versus not-circumcised."

Me: "Yeah, it would be like shirts versus skins, but skins versus no-skins."

Tuesday - more unsuccessful lab work, but I read some good research literature - evening BBQ w/ friends, including volleyball, swimming, and one of the best brisket (sp?) I've ever had.

Wednesday - fellowship of the huge - read more research literature - had a nice meeting with Pastor Dave. He's so passionate about relationship evangelism and just being a part of other's faith journeys. The work God has done in Dave is contagious - Free departmental lunch! - dismal afternoon in the lab - thunderstorms and bicycle riding (indoors). Jesse gave me a set of rollers (see picture) that laid out in my bedroom. After about fifteen minutes of holding onto a chair while peddling (and falling off three or four times) I was off for an hour long ride. It takes a lot of focus to apply equal pressure on your pedals to keep from wobbling or falling. - and I finished the night reading about the Mosaic Covenant: the Covenant of Law.

Roller track: the rear wheel sits on the back two rollers and the front, on the front roller. One starts peddling and centrifugal force keeps them up. It's a little easier than I expected.

Thanks to all of you who commented about my last post. I agree with you that it is a process and sweetly enjoyed when we recognize that it is God's work in us. Again, thanks for the encouragment and your friendship.

Therefore, patience.

1 Tim 1:16 – “But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.”

The present section of my devotional life centers on patience and the man of God. In meditating on the above text, I thought that striving for patience is healthy for two reasons (not meant to be comprehensive): A) Being patient unites us with Christ. Often it is easy for me to make a quick, uninformed judgment or snap at someone. In being patient, one senses the faithfulness of the Son toward the father. Jesus deeply trusted his Father and working toward and being patient lets us into the heart of the son – one that knows the love and justice of God. B) There is a beautiful eternal aspect to patience, whereby those who are ignorant of Truth are wooed to God by our manifesting this quality. Christ, the Light of the world, in us.

I do not think it healthy to be patient just because the Bible says it’s a good thing. Nike legalism, or the “Just Do It” mentality, is deathly and such motivation is anti-Christian.

Reservation canceled

Wednesday evening, before Thursday's trek to Chicago, I hopped on the bus to take me back to the office. I had left by bicycle at the office that afternoon, having elected to take the bus home during the thunderstorm. Ernie, an aquitance from Intervaristy volleyball and picnics, was sitting across from me on the bus. We hadn't seen each other for over 6 months, so he asked me to walk the quad with him on his way to church. We chatted about a number of things, but the last topic to come up was my research trip to Chicago. I told him that I drive around to streams, take samples of water and do some filtering in the field. Ernie's very emotional, enthusiastic reply: "Wow, that's awesome! That would be sooo much fun!"

We then split ways - I was off to the office and he departed for Uni. Baptist. God had used Ernie to help me remember that one of the reasons I chose this route because it was going to be a blast! Driving around, visiting streams, doing chemistry - this is what I wanted. Thanks be to a providential, loving, patient God!

Nathan and I headed to Chi-town at 7 am, Thursday morning. We worked efficiently and skillfully. Traffic wasn't bad at all, nor was my driving! Nathan did a great job navigating, too. As a result, we were able to hit all 5 sites in one day, rather than breaking them up over two days (fyi, I cancelled the hotel reservation. Hence, the title). My last sample was filtered by 6:15 pm in the parking lot of the Dominick's grocery store at the corner of 31st and Wolf Rd. We were back in CU by 9 pm.

God worked wonderfully through your prayers!

Tis the season to sample

My dear friends and family,

I'm in need of specific prayer over the next few days. I'm headed to Chicago Thursday morning for an over-night trip to take water samples at my five research sites. This involves a complicated, in-field filtering process. God has been with me in preparing for this, especially through all of the hurdles. Thankfully, He has also provided a very helpful undergrad worker - whom I get along with very well. Please pray for capacity to work quickly, yet with keen skill; God's grace upon traffic and my driving abilities; and that my undergrad worker and I would work well together.

Honestly, I'm nervous about this whole thing.

Commissioned by the King,

Paul

CTNYC

Over a week ago I left Champaign to take short trip to the East coast. My older (by 8 months) step brother was getting married in Ridgefield, CT; thus much of step family, that on my dad's wife's side, made the trip as well.

I left Chi-town, arriving at La Guardia three hours before any other family. When the rest arrived, though, they all came in a bunch. So much so that we needed to 13 passenger van to haul all of us around. With Grandpa Ronnie behind the wheel we all set off for Danbury. Unlike the pirates in the last post, our van was full of chiefs. It was stressful drive having 10 people yell complete different driving directions at Ronnie. While sitting quietly in the back, I watched my family go through a wide array of emotions as we got lost, went the wrong direction, and got stuck in rush hour traffic. Yes, we eventually made it to CT and only three hours late.

Friday morning Dad, Michelle (my sister), Mike (Michelle's husband) and I took the train into Manhattan. We walked around downtown for the afternoon. No list of "to dos", just out for a saunter. On our day trip we were amazed at the massive buildings towering over every street. The BMW yacht from the 2003 America's cup rested in front of one of those famous buildings (the name slips my mind); it was brazen with carbon fiber-everything. Nice, very nice. Here are two pics from that day:

BMW '03 Yacht; and a picture of Hebrew's Messiah Bold: The Chosen Beer.


A local Italian restaurant hosted us for the rehearsal dinner that evening. I give mad props to the servers and cooks for dealing with such a large party - making wonderful food and serving us so quickly. Also, looking for a nice red wine? Try Crane Valley's Merlot (CA).

The day of the wedding the same clan (Dad, M&M, and I) visited Keeler's Tavern for some revolutionary fun, literally. This Inn is located at the site of the Battle of Ridgefield, fought during the Revolutionary War. In light of the season, the historic site offered a day of arts, crafts, and reenactment. There's even a cannonball lodged in the side of the house.
Here's an original (1790) tapestry from inside the house. The next pic is of Mike and I ducking out of the way of the British cannonball. Those bloody Brits!


The wedding and reception dinner were quite nice. It would have been for enjoyable to taste a bunch of drinks from the open bar, but in light of ample over indulgence among the guests alcohol seemed distasteful that evening. Nonetheless, it was good to dance and socialize. Here are Josh and Kate doing the wedding thing. And, here's a pic of the tent and backyard where the dinner was held. I've heard that the "tent" thing is very common for weddings in this area of the states.


Sunday after the wedding we headed back to NYC. Michelle and Mike left for KC, while my stepmom's parents accompanied dad, my stepmom, Tyler (my stepbro) and myself for an extended stay in Manhattan. Briefly, we were able to visit Times Square, Canal Street, the Statue of Liberty, the Bronx Zoo and big fireworks display on the East River.

A) Here's I am with Lady Liberty in the background.

B) Tyler w/ Lennon's guitar.

C). Times Square.

D) NYC Street at night.

E) A tapir (it's like my favorite animal) at the zoo.

F) Yep, Tyler and I are breaking the law (see the red sign), but so to are 250,000 other people. Where else were we supposed to stand?

G) Tyler and I at the fireworks.

H) Chemistry, baby.


The one souvenir that I didn't have to purchase while out there: cough/cold/infected crap in the chest, all rolled into one big fat bug.

Arrrr . . . They be pirates

Some friends and I went out to dinner and a movie Friday evening. In light of our choice of flicks, Pirates of the Caribbean, we opted for dinner at Jolly Roger's, an eating establishment in Urbana. Dinner was so-so, bu tthey night was made when some crazy pirates took the place by storm! Even before entering the scoundrels had taken Austin hostage.



Here's their famous leader in full regalia.



This one they called the "Italian Charlatan".


I caught one more pic as these three went out for their after dinner raid and pillage. The one on the left has a menacing, yet sexy look in his eye; and look at that shirt! With such dynamic chivalry, I bet he gets all of the ladies to smile!


The movie was pretty good for a sequel: plenty of swashbuckling action, a few decent one-liners and great special effects. The movie was quite long and lacked a comprehensive ending.

Line droppin' from NYC

I'll update this coming weekend. The wedding went wonderful and NYC has been a good experience - so far!

I tried to edit in a pic, but it's not working on this Dell.

Peace Out.