Heading up to James Madison University to address a student led AIA group this evening. Last night we had our VTAIA student leaders over and it was great to reconnect with them. This summer, from this group alone, we are sending out students to Alaska, Spain, Colorado, and one to work with inner city kids. We are excited that the Lord would raise up from our group, young people to reflect his glory in the earth.
Lots of opportunities are being placed before Kasey and I so we are praying that the Lord give us wisdom as to which ones we should NOT be involved with. Prayer needed...
Off to the library to study and prepare for tonight's message.
Out..
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POC Blog
The random technotheolosophical blogging of Reid S. Monaghan
Book Reviews - Soul of Am Univ, Orthodoxy, Prophetic Untimeliness
Another semester starts today and we are preparing to engage again with the students. Tonight we have our servant leadership team meeting - should be fun to see everyone and see how the break went. The break has been good for our family, although not actually "restful" with the new little one. I did find some good time for reading which was a great encouragement
The Soul of the American University by George Marsden
An excellent history of the American University - from "Protestant Establishment, to Established Unbelief" - Traces the thought and beliefs of the founders and shapers of American Higher Education and how the ground work which was laid, inevitably led to a determined secularism. The protestant schools founded to train Christian leaders and ministers had such a desire to be "Non-sectarian" that it eventually led them to be "open" to any ideas as to exclude a distinctly Christian viewpoint in the academy - although not their intention, the trajectory of equated "learning" and the "Highest ideals of civilization" with Christianity, made it easy to remove Christianity and somehow hold onto it's essence. Today, Marsden recommends a distinct, faithful, and scholarly Christian viewpoint in an academy which values an equal voice to all. All should mean all, even the viewpoint of Christian academics.
Orthodoxy by GK Chesterton - A classic work by the late 19th, early 20th century British Journalist defending orthodox Christian beliefs. Includes a critique of "popular" thought of his day - harsh materialism and nascent existentialism. Very engaging and highly quotable stuff. A true soul refresher
Prophetic Untimeliness, Challenging the Idol of Relevance by OS Guiness - How does the church remain relevant yet faithful in each generation? Guiness suggests believers should be a "prophetically untimely" people. That we should maintain a distinct and faithful voice, grounded in the timeless Word of God, to which we can speak to our culture while not becoming absorbed by it. The book has a great critique of contemporary American evangelicals adapting to the culture so much that they loose their identity and take marching orders from the culture. A timely book for people who desire to be untimely:
His closing recommendations for believers to escape the captivity of culture (and yes, we do believe this is possible)
1 - Be aware of the Unfashionable - Realize that the unpopular views of the gospel are just those we need to keep in focus. While certain elements are neglected or unsavorary to our culture, we need to hold fast to the views of the gospel which might not be fashionable today. Here is where we can speak to the culture. "Nothing Sharpens us better for resistance thinking and guards us from slipping into lazy, cowardly thinking than wrestling with truths that are unpopular" Guiness calls this the "Challenge of the difficult" - The true prophet in the OT many times spoke against the current power structures, the false prophet would simply give a nod...
2 - Be refrehed by the fresh breaze of widom of History - Read old books, learn from redemptive and church history, gain perspective from tradition.
3 - Attention to the Eternal - "To be always relevant, you have to say things which are eternal" - Simone Weil God breaks into our silence in revelation - The Christian advantage is that God has spoken to us in his Word and through the incarnate Word. Excellent treatment of a view today that says "even our views of the Word are conditioned by culture" so we cannot escape - there simply is not outside perspective...Guiness handles this objection very well on page 109.
"To be sure, the danger is real. But this fear confused the church's view of the Word with the Word of God itself. God is always bigger than our misunderstandings of him. However distorted and inadequate our views may be, it only takes the real Word to speak to wake up the church and the world. The difference wll be clear. Either there really is a Word of God, in which case it is separate from us and our misunderstandings of it, or there isn't and we are shut up once more to the uncertainties of silence."
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Well, we begin to ramp up for our AIA Winter Retreat Feb 6-8. Schools from all over VA and NC will be rolling together in about 3 weeks. Much work to be done in preparation - may the Lord bless our conference and our speaker, Derwin Gray, of One Heart at A Time Ministries.
I'm out...
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Logos...
This morning I am spending a few moments studying 2 Sam 15...where the son of the
King is planning a conspiracy to make a power grab. Enjoying the use of modern tools Logos Libronix System - software that makes books much more portable - smile. Seriously, the amount of Biblical reference I can throw on my hard drive, search, study etc. is truly amazing...
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Wrestling is a great stress reliever
After a few long days, I finally got to return to a love I have had since 7th grade. Tonight, I did the PA announcing at the Va Tech wrestling match. Although I'm starting to get too old to go at it any more, it sure is fun to be around the sport. Tonight we even pulled out a W.
Today, reminds me of why we are called to ministry - God's glory and his love for his people. I had a great time with our AIA staff at UVA - Chris Porter...such a good friend. I am blessed to serve with He and his family.
Quote for Today
"We live in a world that is soaked with secularity" Dallas Willard
Longing for transcendent glory...satisfied in Christ
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Simple Pleasure
Having little girls brings back some of the simpler pleasures of childhood. Just this afternoon, someone had left out some peanut butter and vanilla wafers made into little sandwhiches...man, those are good.
Sleep is overated...we will all rest in a real rest someday, today there is work to be accomplished and glory to shine forth. Second, simple pleasure - sleeply, bloodshot eyes, with good reasons behind them. A baby girl, a great mission (Matt 28:18-20, Matt 25), and a marvelous King.
On to a conf call
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Busy day...
It is funny how much some days put before us...may His grace fill the soul with zeal for a long push in the office! Off to produce a video for our coming winter retreat - Mid Atlantic Retreat
Quote for today - He who marries the spirit of the age, soon becomes a widower - Dean Inge
Choose wisely...
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Finding Nemo DVD - The Official Web Site
Computers with Kayla tonight...mainly watching a certain pixar animated fish
Finding Nemo - The Official Web Site For now she is in computer observation school...once she learns logic we'll be on to boolean algebra and binary search trees - well, maybe, maybe not. We'll have no technological idolatry either - only a tool for higher purposes...
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To blog or not to blog, that was the question
Well, I wondered if I would ever enter the blog universe after being a blog reader for soooo long...alas, that day has come. I guess my own musings will liter net space for some time to come. For those of you who are friends and supporters of Power of Change, please take this blog with a grain of thought. Most of it will probably be me thinking deep thoughts out loud in a very raw form. Hopefully it will also give insight into our day to day life and ministry with Athletes in Action at Virginia Tech and elsewhere...that said, I have 3 ladies (Kasey, Kayla, and baby Kylene Monaghan) I want to go get some fun play time with.
Blessings - I'm out
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