Oasis and The Gospel

“Some might say we don’t believe in Heaven, go and tell it to the man who lives in Hell.” – Oasis, “Some might say”

As some of you know I’m a big fan of the British rock band Oasis. Today Noel Gallagher, their lead guitarist, left the band after getting in yet another fight with his younger brother Liam who’s the lead singer. There’s a part of me that would love to pull out the Kleenex and play “Wonderwall” full blast. I’m going to resist that urge and instead use it as a springboard to write about something meaningful.

As I was talking (texting) with Jimmy about this I made the comment that they were gifted musicians but incredibly lost people, which he pointed out is the general story of rock n’ roll and that it makes him look forward to the day we’ll be in Heaven. As much as I love Oasis’ music, I love the prospect of spending eternity with Jesus an enumerable amount more than that.

In moments in my life where something shakes up my world to some degree, I find it’s often easier to see life in light of the reality of The Gospel and eternity. While I’m saddened by Oasis’ split, I’m reminded that it’s God who gave me my love for music because He loves me and wants me to enjoy His creation. Someday I’ll join a choir of millions singing creation’s most perfect love song, and the loss of one rock band will be a distant memory.

Live from Denver

As of today I've lived in Denver for a week so it seems like a good time for new post. :)

The drive out was pretty uneventful until about 5 miles from our exit when we got stuck in a nasty hail storm. Chris took some pictures during the storm and there's so much hail on the ground that it looks like we drove through a blizzard. ( There was another storm that rolled through that had a little hail in it on Sunday, but nothing close to what we encountered.) After the four of us (Chris, Sara, Jimmy, and myself) got done lugging everything up to my apartment we spent the evening on the 16th street mall, including dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe. Which I loved solely for the fact they had entire wall dedicated to The Clash, including one of Mick Jones' guitars.

Friday we all went to Denny's to celebrate Jimmy's 18th birthday and then Chris and Sara went to see the house Chris used to live in and the hospital where he was born. Jimmy and I ran some errands and drove around town so I could show him some things around town. (Parks, the campus, the room where High View meets, etc.) That afternoon the toilet overflowed so we had to run out and get a mop and some bleach. (It turned into an adventure that took longer then it should have, but it was great for making memories.) Not long after we got that all cleaned up Brad, the Lead Pastor at High View, came over to say hi and meet everybody. We tried to talk him into coming to the art district with us for "First Fridays" but didn't have any luck. The art district was awesome, I really wish we would have had more time too look around and really enjoy it but Jimmy and I had to get up at 3:30 a.m. so he could make his flight and Chris and Sara had to start the 1,000+ mile drive back too Indiana in the morning so we had to cut our time there short.

Saturday morning sucked. There's no two ways about it. The three previous days had essentially been a road trip with my three best friends but now reality was setting in and they were all headed back to Indiana and I wasn't. It took everything in me not too cry when I hugged them good-bye. I spent the rest of Saturday unpacking, grocery shopping, and enjoying the fact that for the first time in my life I have a kitchen, bathroom, and living room all to myself. (I've had my own bedroom since I was a kid, so that wasn't very exciting. Actually it's the only thing I wish I was sharing. lol ) :)

Sunday I went to High View and once again got "roped" into being the greeter. (For those of you who don't know, when I visited in July I ended being a greeter that day also.) I really love my new church home and can't wait to watch, and be a part of, what God does through us. The rest of Sunday was pretty uneventful. We had another storm blow through, with smaller hail this time but not much else happened until Tuesday.

On Tuesday I had dinner with Brad at Brothers BBQ, which may be my new favorite restaurant, mostly because they played three Oasis songs while we where there. Playing/knowing Oasis will always get you on my good side. (Not that it's hard too get on my good side, it just expedites the process.) :) Brad and talked and hung out for awhile and then I signed my membership covenant which makes me member family number 3 at High View. (The joys of attending a church plant.) After we were full and had talked theology, church planting, and sports to our hearts content (Okay, so that probably isn't possible for either of us) we drove to the other side of town for community group. We studied James 3:13-18 which was part of Brad's sermon on Sunday and worked our way through some discussion questions and hung out for awhile afterwords.

Wednesday, yesterday, I bought my books for the upcoming semester and attended the new comers orientation, where I learned some interesting facts about Denver, like that Colfax Ave. is the longest continuous street in the country, but didn't learn anything new about the school. I didn't really expect too get any new information but it never hurts too check.

All that brings me to today. I woke up this morning and decided that a week of sleeping on the floor was all my back could take so I drove to Wal-Mart and bought an air mattress. I also purchased a Verizon Wireless broadband internet plan so I can live in the 21st century again.

Tomorrow should be a day to rest and relax and then Saturday and Sunday I have my first drill weekend before starting classes on Monday.

Thank you all for your prayers, I'll try my best to post stuff here on a regular basis.

Children of the world vs. children of God

I just got done watching the Oasis documentary "Lord Don't Slow Me Down" as an Oasis fan I loved it, but I was also struck by the world view. Noel, Liam, and the boys are very up front about their self centeredness it comes out in the way they talk with writers and each other, the way they live, it just permeates everything about their lives, they are quite obviously wrapped up in themselves. It got me thinking about how Christians are supposed to be that wrapped up and absorbed in Christ. What would it look like if we were as Christ centered as the world is self centered? How would that change things? Our lives, our churches, our communities, our world? Obviously that's a rhetorical question, we all know it would make a lot of things better, maybe not easier (just read the book of Acts), but better. People who are as wrapped up in Jesus and His Gospel and mission as the rest of the world is in their own agenda shake things up. They make a difference that can't be ignored, the world can't go without noticing their actions and words. Christians living passionately Gospel centered lives must be dealt with sooner or later by the world, are they nut jobs? Or is their Jesus really the one and only way to Heaven? May God gives us the strength, courage, and desire to live lives that are focused on the person and work of Jesus Christ and His Gospel.

Louisville and Oasis

I know it's been awhile since I've posted not that I think anyone really cares but here's what I've been up to the last few weeks.

The Sunday prior to Labor Day I went down to Louisville to visit Sojourn since I hadn't been in 9 months and I'm really glad I went. The sermon was something I needed to hear and it reminded me why I wanted to go there so badly in the first place. Afterwords I got invited out to dinner with a few people from Sojourn and really enjoyed it, it made the idea of living down there for 5 or 6 years for seminary seem like a better idea then it had recently so it was definitely worth the trip.

Then on Labor Day Chris came over and we grilled and watched the movie "Smart People" which was well worth the time it took to watch it. Then we found out my Grandma fell and broke her hip so that pretty much dominated the rest of last week. (she's still not home so please pray for her.)

Today: I FOUND VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE FOR OASIS' NEW SINGLES "THE SHOCK OF THE LIGHTING" AND "FALLING DOWN"!!!!!! (yeah, I'm a little bit happy about that.) :) Only 28 more days until the full album comes out. :)

I think that pretty well catches everything up, ciao.

Why ask why?

Jimmy and I went church hopping down in Indy on Sunday. It didn't make either one of us want to leave Tabor. (In fact quite the opposite.) Between the bad theology, self absorbed worship leaders, and overly loud sound systems I think we both came away more grateful for the church we call home.

Mom's home from getting her second eye worked on. So far both eyes seem to be doing well, of course with has bad as they were to start out with it would almost take more talent to make them worse then to make them better.

I only have 48 more days until the new Oasis album "Dig out your soul" is released! :) Yes, I am excited. (But only a little bit.) :)