jazz

piano, fiddle, and a voice
make a tune so pretty.
melodious, harmonious
music that is witty.

So be it this day

Over the last 2 months I’ve been reading and re-reading through the Book of Matthew, and in doing so, I’ve made a certain realization about my pattern of Scripture study. What I’ve discovered is that for some (unknown) reason, there are seasons in my life that I tend to study the gospels about as much as I do the minor prophets…which, unfortunately, is also incredibly unimpressive. While the engaging narratives of the Old Testament or the rich theological texts within the New Testament epistles seem to effortlessly capture my focus, how I can disregard these 4 books (the Gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) is truly bewildering.

As I’ve read through the Book of Matthew, however, I’ve once again been introduced to the weighty call of Jesus Christ and the challenges He puts forth to those who desire to follow him. While Jesus’ teaching is certainly not foreign to me, I did find myself thinking—and thinking often—“Wow, Jesus really said that. Hmm.”

As a seminarian, I realize (and have been thankfully reminded from time to time) that there is always an ever-present threat of becoming the scholar who is more in love with reading the blogs, studying the commentaries, developing stronger arguments, or becoming more theologically precise and biblically sound at the expense of growing in a personal and loving relationship with Jesus Christ himself. I am convinced that this type of relationship must be given utmost priority…before everything else. Everything! My prayer for myself and for you is that we—as followers of Jesus Christ striving to be more like Him—will neither neglect that relationship nor proper attention to the gospels.

I think it is for that very reason that Jerry Bridges is well-known for frequently encouraging Christians to “preach the gospel to yourself every single day.”

In light of all of that, I’ve included some of the tougher words of Jesus from the book of Matthew that challenged me and provoked quite a bit of thought. My hope is that you will read through these slowly, thoughtfully, and prayerfully—and perhaps they may challenge you the same.

• He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matt. 5:45-48)

• But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matt. 6:15)

• But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matt 7:14)

• Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Matt. 7:19-21)

• Whoever acknowledges Jesus before men, Jesus will also acknowledge him before his Father in heaven. But whoever disowns Jesus before men, Jesus will disown him before his Father in heaven. Do not suppose that Jesus has come to bring peace to the earth. Jesus did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For Jesus came to turn “a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law — a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.”
  Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Jesus is not worthy of Jesus; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Jesus is not worthy of Jesus; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow Jesus is not worthy of Jesus. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for Jesus’ sake will find it. (Matt. 10:32-39)

• He who is not with Jesus is against Jesus, and he who does not gather with Jesus scatters. (Matt. 12:30)

• If anyone would come after Jesus, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Jesus. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Jesus will find it. What good will it be for a man if he against the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matt. 16: 24-26)

Daddy Buck

So last week I updated the blog with my adventures through the woods of Youngsville, NC and covered my first hunting experience with Calvin White and Renee Miles. As exciting as it was to watch Renee take out her first deer, it only increased my own eagerness to get out there and get my own. Calvin and I, therefore, decided to go out this past Saturday and see what I could do…

I arrived at Calvin’s at about 4pm on Saturday and we didn’t waste anytime heading out there to the hunting hut. I was a little more familiar with the drill this time, so we got right on it. It was a little more difficult this week to walk the winding trail through the woods without making some noise because so many leaves had fallen. I wasn’t sure if their snapping and cracking would scare the deer away…but the sound of our footsteps didn’t compare to what would happen about 15 minutes later.

After we got settled in at the hut, and everything was situated within, we started to hear rumbling in the distance. It sounded a lot like a truck, which confused us since we were on private property. But the closer the noise came, the less it sounded like a vehicle, and the more it sounded like a locomotive! Turns out it wasn’t a locomotive though…which is a good thing, because that would have been reeeeally strange and would have definitely ended the hunting trip.

BUT…it was a team of 17 horses on the loose! Somehow they had knocked open the gate and were on the run. Flying by the hut, they stormed through our firing lane and disappeared into the woods only to return a few minutes later from an opposite direction. Fortunately Calvin and his brother were able to retreive them fairly easily and get them back in the pasture without too much of a problem. Once Calvin got back we both wondered how this would affect the hunt. Would it scare away the deer? Drive them towards us? We weren’t sure…

The next 1.5 hours were uneventful, but definitely enjoyable. Neither Calvin nor I fell asleep this weekend, although I came close to dozing off a few times. At one point I contemplated shooting those dumb crows that wouldn’t leave our corn alone, but figured that it just may have been possible that it was God’s way of providing for them that day. Isn’t it amazing that He demonstrates his faithfulness even to them?!

Eventually those birds took off, however…probably because they had a certain intuition that something was about to go down.

And that something would be a 145 lb, 6-point buck!

What a Deer!

As this fella strutted out into our lane, he wasn’t wasting any time. His demeanor was so different from the skittish doe last week that I was almost afraid he would walk right on by and I wouldn’t get a chance to shoot. (Last week we probably watched the doe for close to 40 minutes before Renee took her out!) That wasn’t happening on my watch though! I quickly grabbed the rifle, lined my shot up, and…BAM!…knocked him clear off his feet! Just like Renee’s deer, Daddy Buck dropped instantly and didn’t flinch at all.

Notice the tongue...

Me and the Pro

Loaded on the Truck

The Ride Home

[Now I've decided to make a disclaimer on the remainder of this blog post. The rest of the pics are from the dressing...so all you sissy boys that can't handle them oughta stop reading right now. That means you Barley and Harmon. Don't say I didn't warn you!]

Mr. Calvin starting us off

A Full Moon!

Calvin being a Man!

I'll let you figure out what this one is...

And he's naked...

Shoulders and Legs