As One Without Authority

“...The separation of form and content is fatal for preaching for it fails to recognize the theology implicit in the method of communication. When a person preaches, their method of communication, the movement of their sermon, reflects their hermeneutical principles, their view of the authority of Scripture, church, and clergy, and especially their doctrine of man. This is revealed verbally and non-verbally in the point of contact made with the listeners and the freedom to respond permitted them. It is a fact that much preaching contradicts by its method the content of its message.” Fred Craddock, "As One Without Authority."

The Getty Center, LA, CA

These are a few pictures of the famous Getty Center of Los Angeles, one of the best museums/gardens in the U.S. It has some incredible exhibits, its centerpiece show being an exhibition of a number of icons on loan from St. Catherine's Monastery on Mt. Sinai in the Negev, Israel. It was an incredible showing of ancient pieces of artwork, much of which had Greek writing on it which I had a fun time trying to understand.

Hollywood!

Upcoming....

I will soon be posting a bit about Urbana as well as the last couple of months. Sorry, I've been swamped with school work and am getting ready for a little vacation over reading week. I'll also be posting a few pictures and a term paper on the topic of Authority, Tradition, and Scripture. Cheers!

Living from the Center

My favorite quote of the week! May God fully realize this in my life and in yours.

"[He] was now ready to live from the Center. He would no longer live absent from himself, walking alongside himself. He had experienced what we all may experience: the Presence calling forth the true self out of the hell of the false self. In this resurrection the true self, no longer repressed, fearful, or unsteady, shakes off the pseudo-selves with their myriad faces and comes boldly forward with one face, gathering all that is valid and real in the personality into itself. It is united within. Only then can we realize the freedom to live out from that Center of our being, that place where His Spirit indwells ours and our will is one with His. We begin to practice not only His Presence, but the presence of the new man. We are free from practicing the presence of the old man in whom the principle of sin and death holds sway."

-Leanne Payne, Crisis in Masculinity, p.42

been a while....

Hey all, sorry its been so long since I've posted. Just thought I'd say hi to ya'll. I just got back to Vancouver three weeks ago and am glad to be back. I am enjoying classes: Biblical Exegesis, New Testament Foundations, Christian Thought & Culture, and Soul of Ministry.

Favorite books that I'm reading right now:

New Testament and the People of God. NT Wright. (excellent book!!)
The Aids Crisis. Dortzbach & Long (book from Urbana, written by World Vision directors)
Roots of Western Culture. Dooyeweerd. (a neo-calvinist classic, apparently)
Loving Homosexuals as Jesus Would. Chad Thompson. (refreshing read, was a speaker at Urbana)
Let Your Life Speak. Parker Palmer. (on vocation, calling, etc.... really good)

Well, I've got lots of homework to do right now so I must make this a (very) short posting. But hey, at least I updated! A shout out to all my Midland hommies who read my blog!!

My Sister's Engaged!!

To my Friends y Amigos

Hello Friends and Family!

I just wanted to send you all a quick email to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May God fill this coming year for you with grace and peace from on high. May the reality of the Incarnation of the incomprehensible and otherwise unknowable creator God in the person of Jesus of Nazareth transform our lives and fill us with hope in his promises!

Below are a few pictures from this past semester. I'll soon be putting together another little newsletter to give you all an update on how things have been going in Vancouver.

Big Prayer Request: I and another 27 young adults from my home church (Midland Evangelical Free Church) are leaving for Urbana on the evening of Dec 26th. If you are unaware of what Urbana is, it is a huge Christian student missions conference put on in St. Louis by Intervarsity Ministry. About 25,000 students will be attending - yes, it is huge - and there is so much potential for impact upon people's lives. Please pray for myself, my sister and brother who will be attending, and for those going from my church, that our lives would truly be changed in deep and substantial ways and that God would bear much fruit through our lives after the conference.

Many blessings! Hope to see you all soon,

Matt

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Queridos Amigos,

¡Les deseo un Feliz Navidad y Año Nuevo! Espero que en este nuevo año puedas experimentar la gracia de nuestro Señor tanto en los gozos que en las tristezas, en las derrotas y en las victorias. Que te siga fortaleciendo por su Espíritu Santo y renovando tu corazón en amor.

Te cuento un poco de lo mío: En el Septiembre pasado entré a estudiar en un seminario en Vancouver, BC, llamado Regent College. Es un programa de tres años, asi que me faltan un par de años mas. Estoy muy contento y privilegiado de poder estudiar en Regent - es una escuela muy sólida, tanto en doctrina que en formación espiritual. Estoy en el programa que se llama ¨Masters of Divinity¨ que prepara a uno para trabajar en el ministerio, sea como pastor, misionero, etc.

Mi familia esta muy bien; hoy mismo mi hermana se comprometió con un chico de nuestra iglesia que es amigo mío. Estoy muy, muy contento de que ellos se casen. Mi otra hermana también entró a estudiar para sacar un Masters en Obra Sociál. Mi hermano Miguel esta en su primer año de universidad; quiere estudiar Educación pero trabajar de misionero después.

¡Muchas bendiciones! Si tenés un momento escribime un par de lineas y contame como estás y que pasa en tu vida. Hasta pronto,

Tu amigo y hermano,

Mateo

The greatest compliment...

They say that imitation is the greatest compliment you can pay someone....

Encounter Between Saint and Sultan

Here's a link to my History term paper that I just wrote on St. Francis and his missionary encounter with the Sultan of his day.... if anyone feels like reading it.

ENCOUNTER BETWEEN SAINT AND SULTAN