Spending waaaay too much time on tech support with Dell these days - I think the new system I bought in Dec has a bad motherboard - I thought this all along, but finally after 3 phone calls they might agree with me.
What a great way to spend your first week in a new town - on hold with a PC company who hasn't been able to help.
Joy doth not cometh from things - even cool computer things
--------
POC Blog
The random technotheolosophical blogging of Reid S. Monaghan
An Ode to Stuff...
Stuff flows in and flows out
Stuff piles in our attics and garners much clout
Stuff sneers and and lingers with a life of its own
Stuff fills up and explodes and will constantly roam
Furniture, knick-knacks, and storage galore
And yet we continually buy more and more
Stuff stays around from primary school days
with little league trophies leading the way
Stuff that sprawls and Stuff that spreads out
If I could just one day through it all out
Oh stuff how we love thee in the great USA
How much of our hearts do you steal away?
Will stuff, homes and things gain rule in our souls?
Oh God grant us mercy that it never take hold
What is the solution to our dilemna this day
To follow Him faithfully and to give it away
Open hands are an enemy of an abundance of stuff
and may God grant us the words - Enough is Enough...
--------
Arriving in Franklin Tennessee
Kasey, Kayla, Kylene, and I are arriving in Franklin Tennessee this week. Though we have arrived in town, it still feels as if we are in a process of arriving. What do I mean? Physically we are in town, the boxes are gradually emptying and we are finding our way around this great town south of Nashville. We are slowly merging our hearts to this our new home. It will be a process for us this summer as we will be in and out quite a bit, but overall we are so thankful for where the Lord is leading us. Are there questions and things yet to be known? Oh yes, and we thank God for the adventure. We are praying that Kayla will adjust well and not miss her friends in Blacksburg too much...well, we are praying that for us all.
Many Blessings to all of you who have prayed for us as of late.
Reid
PS - No, we didn't us follow the truck schematic 100%...the motorcycle wouldn't fit so we will get that later in the summer. Overall the move wasn't that bad - a 7 on a scale of 1 to 10.
--------
Boxed in and all booked up!
These days, life is starting to get a little crazy. An armada of boxes has assembled in my home threatening an all out invasion any day now. If that were not enough, the seminary class I ordered (an external studies class) arrived late with an abundance of books to read and papers to write. Life will be in flux for quite a while now, but I have noticed my prayer life deepening as a result. I don't like chaos that much and as much as I can with my feeble efforts try by God's grace to order my world as much as possible. Case in point. Last night I couldn't sleep because I was thinking about how I will get all our "stuff" (save that for another blog) into a moving truck. To confirm I am one weird dude, I got out of bed and produced the following:
Yes, Mom - that is strange - but I hope it packs well - :)
On a more sober note, a friend of mine e-mailed today with news that his wife has cancer. A very operable one with a good prognosis, but still a very humbling piece of news. Praying for him today.
Out
...
--------
Coming up on 8 years
This Tuesday, Kasey and I celebrate the wonder of eight years of marriage. We thank God for his grace to see us through each of those years. It is amazing to see all the changes that we as people go through in such a short period of time - yet certain things about one another remain constant. Our circumstances have certainly changed. After spending over five years without children, the last 2 and a half have been with little babies and toddlers about. We never could have guessed the changes little Kayla and Kylene have brought to our lives, even our marriage has been deeply impacted. Although it has been adjustment, my love for Kasey has deepened as I have watched her grow as a mother. Her beauty and heart shining out to all of us on what we have coined "the Monaghan Home Team." I pray that God grants us many more years together and gives us the grace to love, forgive, and to grow towards one another in the years to come. As we move to a new place, we will undoubtedly lean on each other more without our existing networks of support and friends - I pray we enjoy this time as a great gift of God.
I am my beloveds and she is mine - enough mushiness, but I love that woman.
Out
...
--------
Thankful for the sweet blowing wind of silence...
After several years of seemingly unending e-mails, phone calls, and to-dos, the Lord has brought a sweetness of calm to the office and my soul. Although I have only been "done" with many of my AIA duties for a couple of days, the rest has been great. I have spent time logging quotes into a database (being a guy who loves great writing, this has been fun) and spending time in prayer. I am learning to be happy in the ambiguous "in between" time in which we are living and adjusting down expectations for where I am heading.
The unknown of the future has been visiting us afresh and has brought about days of uneasiness and days of great trust in God. Will we have friends? Will I fit in with a new team? What will be the actual work I will be doing? Will I regret the decision? These questions have lingered at moments, but surrounding them has been a calming providence, a sweet wind of silence in the heavens that is calling us forward in faith.
We are thankful for our friends and partners who have prayed for us in these days. The wisdom and love from a few good men has been an abundant help as well.
Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die. “He that will lose his life, the same shall save it,” is not a piece of mysticism for saints and heroes. It is a piece of everyday advice for sailors or mountaineers. It might be printed in an Alpine guide or a drill book. This paradox is the whole principle of courage; even of quite earthly or quite brutal courage. A man cut off by the sea may save his life if he will risk it on the precipice.Seeking the Lord of the Great Inversion - who calls us to lose our life to find in order to find it. Out ... --------GK Chesterton, Orthodoxy (New York: NY, Image books, 1959) 94. Originally published: New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1908.
Packing up boxes
This week we have finished packing up the AIA office into boxes and moving it along to other souls. I have also spent time drafting a 13 pager documenting all VTAIA ministries and systems the Lord has raised up here over the years. It has been a sad time for Kasey and me. We had our Servant Team dinner on Sunday night - a great blessing to finish with our dear leaders.
We shared with them from 1 Thess 2 - how they were our joy and crown then they turned the tables on us and blessed us big time with a special gift.
A great gift to remind us of the faithfulness of God in the past as we trust him for tomorrow.
--------
Who is God...
Today I am talking with some Athletes in Action staff about who God is...here are some of our thoughts answering the question "What are some thoughts which come to mind when thinking about God?"
Some Ideas which - Groovy, All-Powerful, Grace and Mercy, Unlimited (Infinite). Psalm 78 - still pursues us even in our rebellion - faithful and patience. God is a refuge and help. Our Father - Love. Fearful and Awesome.
Holy, Simple in Being, Immutable, Impassible, Loving, Incomprehensible yet Self-Revealing, and Glorious in all His Perfections. To Borrow a quote from Jonathan Edwards, He is an Admirable conjunction of diverse excellences. Morally Perfect in all he is and does. He is our Sovereign Ruler and altogether Righteous, ultimately radiating his glory outward provoking praise and joy in all that he has redeemed and in final fear and trembling to those under his just condemnation.
--------
An Invitation to an Invitation…
Reading a great book during my travels this week – a book not in my scheduled reading, but nonetheless a pleasant surprise (as many spontaneous reads have been). The book is an interesting book in that it is an invitation and introduction to read other books. So, take this blog entry to be an Invitation to An Invitation to the Classics [Louise Cowan and Os Guinness, Invitation to the Classics (Baker Books, Grand Rapids:MI, 1998)]
Invitation to the Classics is just that – a renewed invitation to the corpus of great literature that has shaped Western Civilization. Beginning early in the Hellenistic era, tracing great works through the Roman Empire, to the Latin Church Fathers, through the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and into contemporary times, the book stands as a great introduction to a treasure trove of literature. Organized as a chronological encyclopedia, each section centers on a major work/author (i.e. Plato’s Republic, circa 375 BC). The section is organized with introductory material, a discussion of themes, questions to ponder during reading the work and suggestions for further study. Although most properly used as a reference or a launching into the works themselves, Invitation stands on its own as a fun “mini-introduction” to each of the authors and works. Interspersed throughout are several great articles on literary streams such as “Western Histories,” “Roman and Italian Classics,” “Early Christian Writers,” and “Medieval Christian Writers,” “Spanish Classics,” “Devotional Classics,” and many others.
A fun and recommended read...
Out
--------
One final stop on the AIA Journey
I am on my way to Xenia, OH location of the AIA World Training and Resource Center for some meetings with my campus ministry brothers and other leaders of the organization. It has been a great road with AIA – Kasey and I have been involved with the ministry as students and staff for some twelve years. It is hard to imagine our lives apart from AIA, which has made the last few weeks a bit difficult as we transition our various responsibilities. This week I will say some goodbyes to some great friends and soldiers for the cause of Christ; I will miss them dearly. Although I hope to see people from time to time reality is that our paths will be less intertwined. How will that feel two years from now, or five? I am just hoping and praying that Kasey and I will develop deep relationships and camaraderie where we are heading. We are hopeful to that end and thankful for the AIA friends the Lord has given.
--------
2 Timothy - Leaving a Great Trust - The Final Installment
We spent our final evening with our Athletes in Action students on Tuesday night...we focused on the theme of "Leaving a Great Trust"
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SCRIPTURES TO UNDERSTAND THE TRUST
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
All Scripture is literally (theopneustos – breathed out of the nostrils of God) and is useful for:
- Teaching – the gaining of knowledge of God and his plans for his world - So many students I have met are starving for the knowledge of God and I have done my best in earnest here at VT to help teach – but many times, a question is asked and the Bible is left dusty, cold, undisturbed on many a desk here at Tech. I plead with you men and women, be not ignorant of the Word of God. It is hard to learn, it takes time, it takes effort, it takes discipline – the results are glorious – We come to know not just facts – but God himself as he reveals himself in His Word.
- Reproof (rebuking) – The calling out of wrong - If my daughter Kayla, is about to stick a fork into a power outlet. If she is about to run out into the street amidst racing automobiles, if she is talking back to her mother, if she is jumping up and down on her sisters stomach…she will get rebuked. As a loving Dad, I want her to know right from wrong – good from evil – God’s Word will rebuke us – He will use it in our lives to lovingly call out wrong
- Correction – setting wrongs aright - Giving us great instruction on how we should love God, others and live our lives in significant, joyful, and meaningful ways. Not only will I lovingly rebuke my daughter, I will also instruct her in the way of life!
- Training in Righteousness – paideia - The whole training and education of children (which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, and employs for this purpose now commands and admonitions, now reproof and punishment) It also includes the training and care of the body. 2 whatever in adults also cultivates the soul, esp. by correcting mistakes and curbing passions. 2a instruction which aims at increasing virtue. 2b chastisement, chastening, (of the evils with which God visits men for their amendment).Strong, James. The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible : Showing Every Word of the Test of the Common English Version of the Canonical Books, and Every Occurrence of Each Word in Regular Order. electronic ed., G3809. Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship., 1996.
As Athletes we do understand Training!!! – It is a consistent (not happenstance), disciplined (not lackadaisical) effort to get better at something – WHY? So that you will be thoroughly equipped for every good work: For the work of helping and serving the others – especially the poor and the downcast. For the work of preaching the good news of the grace of God to sinners For the work of discipling – faithfully passing on the trust – to othersFINISHING WELL IS THE IMPORTANT THING It must be said that not only do we want to challenge each other to guard the good deposit, pass on the trust, know it, love it, proclaim it to others, we too ourselves want to finish well. We all know that the runner who starts off super fast in a long race is either the rabbit, or will soon be ravaged by the length of the race. You see, it is finishing well with the trust that is important, start well, finish well…again we hear the last words of a great Christian…
Life is Full of Great Starts…bad finishes. In this Room there is potential:ON LEAVING – SOME MORE ON LAST WORDSBUT In this Room there is also potential:
- For Broken Marriages and Broken Homes
- For Violence Against Women
- For the Neglecting and Abuse of Children
- For Addictions to Drugs, Alcohol, and Gambling
- For Greed and the Love of Money to the Point of Corporate Scandal
- For The Collapse of Communities, to the Utter Undoing of Our Society
- For Beautiful Loving Marriages and Homes that are Lights to a dark world
- For the Love and Servant Leadership of Women
- For the Nurture and Love of Children Leaving a Godly Generation behind you
- For the Rescuing of Drug Addicts
- For the Godly use of Finances to help others and reach our world with the gospel
- For the Rebuilding and Establishing of Communities and the Rebirth of Goodness and Virtue in our Culture
Thus have I, in a few words, written to you before I die, a word to provoke you to faith and holiness, because I desire that you may have the life that is laid up for all them that believe in the Lord Jesus, and love one another, when I am deceased. Though then I shall rest from my labors, and be in paradise, as through grace I comfortably believe, yet it is not there, but here, I must do you good. Wherefore, I not knowing the shortness of my life, nor the hindrance that hereafter I may have of serving my God and you, I have taken this opportunity to present these few lines unto you for your edification.John Bunyan, Christian Behavior To awaken you, rouse you off of your beds of ease, security, and pleasure, and fetch you down upon your knees before him, to beg of him grace to be concerned about the salvation of your souls. Following of me is not like following of some other masters. The wind sits always on my face and the foaming rage of the sea of this world, and the proud and lofty waves thereof do continually beat upon the sides of the bark or ship that myself, my cause, and my followers are in; he therefore that will not run hazards, and that is afraid to venture a drowning, let him not set foot into this vessel.John Bunyan, The Greatness of the Soul I am leaving the ship of the Church in a storm, but while the great Pilot is in it the loss of a poor under-rower will be inconsiderable The Correspondence of John Owen, p. 174.I feel this way of our departure from Va Tech -- Next year you will need to be reminded – and I will too – as I will miss you and long for you. We will need to be reminded that God is the great Pilot and Leader of VTAIA, that the Sovereign of the Universe will lead you on and use his servants to take you where you need to go. It is a lesson that we all must learn in life – John the Baptist who was the forerunner of Jesus, knew it well in saying – “He must increase, and I must decrease” May this be our song as we exalt, love, worship and proclaim Jesus to our world. --------
So it comes to an end...
Tomorrow night is my last AIA Meeting with the VT Hokies. In some ways it breaks my heart and I can't believe we will not be loving and leading these students in the coming years. VTAIA has long been God's song in our souls and now the song is reaching its final chorus. Such is the world with nothing at all being permanent.
Only one life, Only one life, and it soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last. -- Anonymous--------
Humbling Times...
The past few weeks have been a challenging season for us. Not that I can in any way say that we are suffering or that we have not been given immeasurably more than we could ever thank the Lord for. Yet this time of transition for us - finishing with AIA before moving on to Fellowship Bible Church has been challenging both spiritually and emotionally.
In some ways going to be a Pastor has brought great feelings of unworthiness, inadequacy, and fears of insignificance. I also feel like "lame duck staff" with AIA with little left to contribute as I am "on the way out." This has been very tough on me yet I have seen the Lord at work in a real way. I have been touched afresh by God's abundant grace to sinners (of which I am both categorically and experientially qualified), trusting more deeply to find my adequacy in Christ, and have abandoned myself to be nothing so that God may rightfully be known as everything.
I am off to a world where I will be "new staff", into the unknown, just hoping to have something to contribute. But HE is my portion and my song, so I will not fear, I will offer all that I am in service of His Glory - when I falter or succeed, his grace is my hope and refuge - there is no other way.
...
--------
Date with a great little girl today
Today, Kayla and I will take our monthly coupon from our Chic-fil-a "Cow Super Heroes" calendar and go on a great Saturday date. She awaits me upstairs with joy and expectation - Wow, what a privilege to be her Daddy.
Out
...
--------
Passing on A Great Trust
Tuesday Night I delivered our second farewell message from 2 Timothy to our students at VT...a few thoughts from the message - these are yanked out of context but still might be useful to share:
THE GRACE OF GOD – STRENGTHENED IN THE RIGHT SOURCE
Grace, Grace, Grace – Oh that we might understand, even get a glimpse of the Grace of God. You see to understand grace, one has to understand the depths of the sickness of their own sin. We have to look at our own sin, not someone else’s, with honesty and brokenness. 1 John 1:8-10 says this - If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. He saved us from the judgement upon our own sins, He calls us out of darkness to walk with him – to a Holy Calling. Why did God do this? Grace. John Newton was a captain of a slave ship in the 18th century. He was involved in the brutal, inhumane, ungodly slave trade on the West African Coast. Many people do not know much about this man until the hymns of the faith are sung worldwide….Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound that saved a wretch like me…the author of the Hymn, Amazing Grace had this to say:WHAT WE ARE TO DO TO MAKE OURSELVES USEFUL FOR HIS SERVICEI commit my soul to my gracious God and Savior, who mercifully spared and preserved me, when I was an apostate, a blasphemer, and an infidel, and delivered me from the state of misery on the coast of Africa into which my obstinate wickedness had plunged me; and who has been pleased to admit me (though most unworthy) to preach his glorious gospel. Richard Cecil, Memoirs of the Rev. John Newton, p. 90Our sins are various in kind and various in degree, but they are all sin against a good and holy God, deserving of judgment. John Newton Understood Grace. We should never forget what God has done for us in saving you and calling you one of his children. GRACE IS EVERYTHING FOR NOTHING TO THOSE WHO DON’T DESERVE ANYTHING – Our Daily Bread, Sept.-Nov. 1997, page for October 31.
2 Timothy 2:22 So flee youthful passions (lusts) and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.--------
- Flee Something – run away
- Pursue Something – but not running to nowhere – but running to somethingMen and women, intentionally, with zeal, with vigor, with dedication, on purpose, with passion, with your time, your energies, your focus, your determination – Pursue! Righteousness, Faith, Love, Peace
- With Somebody – Not alone, not isolated
1 Corinthians 15:33 says this Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals. Ain’t that the truth…The exhortation here is to pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace "Along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart”
- Those who have been made pure by faith in Christ
- Those who are a pattern to you
- Those who will strengthen you in your convictions
- Those who will laugh, cry, pray, rejoice with you in the journey
A Blessing in 1 Corinthians
I met with a student today, one of our leaders and a young man who has become very dear to me. It was an exciting appointment, for today, in the morning, this young man had met with God reading 1 Corinthians. In Chapter 7 there is a rich discourse on marriage, singleness, etc. At the end of the chapter there is some exhortation to those who are in slavery. We had a rich time looking at what the New Testament actually has to say to the issue of slavery. Some have tried to argue that the New Testament endorses slavery; is this the case?
The first observation we made is that the New Testament actually addresses slaves - this fact alone shows that it is not an elitist, oppressive slavery endorsing document - for if that was the case, slaves - being the lowest people in ancient society, would not have even been spoken to. Yet the Bible addresses the people in the Roman Empire who were slaves, with terms of dignity, equality, and encouragement. A few of the examples from the text:
- Gal 3:28 - There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. There is equality in Christ - even if you were a slave
- Col 3:22-4:1 - 22 Slaves [greek - bondservant], obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. Masters, treat your slaves [greek - bondservants] justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. Those who come to faith in Christ as slaves or masters - were to live as Jesus did - justly and with sincerity of heart
- 1 Cor 7:20-23 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 21Were you a slave[3] when called? Do not be concerned about it. But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity. 22For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ. 23You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. One should gain his freedom if he can - and even if one was in a situation of servitude, he was still free in Jesus Christ
2 Timothy - MP3 Messages
I am posting the messages we are giving with the students as we leave VT - The MP3 Messages are available and will be about 8-10MB each. The first installment was not recorded, though we may give the message again for the web site. I'll try to grab some time to do that.
Out...
--------
New Gear
Looking at laptops today...must admit that it is fun. Live upon laptops? God forbid...but they are somewhat cool. Some like to hunt and fish, some play golf...I like computer gadgets.
Out
...
--------
To Live Upon God
John Bunyan, the English preacher and author from the 17th century, has much to say to us today. A man who suffered great persecution under a crackdown following the Act of Uniformity spent a great period of his life in prison for the gospel. In the later version of his autobiographical work, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, commenting upon 2 Corinthians 2:9 he says this
By this scripture I was made to see that if ever I would suffer rightly, I must first pass a sentence of death upon every thing that can be properly called a thing of this life, even to reckon myself, my wife, my children, my health, my enjoyment, and all, as dead to me, and myself as dead to them. The second was, to live upon God that is invisible, as Paul said in another place; the way not to faint, is to "look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."
I struggle with what it means to daily "Live upon God that is invisible" - when I think of the things I do live upon, I shudder:
- Food - sometimes too much of it
- Stuff - always too much of it
- Friends
- Family
- Opinions - or "counsel" from others
- Reputation
- Success
Men Of Whom the World is Not Worthy...
I have been loving listening and reading to some biographical sketches done by John Piper on some great men of faith who have gone before us. The manuscripts for the messages are found on Desiring God Ministries web site. The manuscripts are usually well footnoted and a treasure of great quotes...for any quote junkies out there, highly recommended.
--------