this morning i had communion at spring valley christian church. communion has always been a regular part of my church-going life but for some reason i was struck today with some interesting and sobering thoughts...
why is it that i do not weep every time i take communion? i don't mean loud, attention attracting crying (soren kierkegaard said that anyone whose tongue runs easily over the course of their own troubles has not tasted true suffering [training in Christianity], meaning, people who talk and talk about all their problems don't really know what it is like to truly suffer; i think he's right. that doesn't really have much to do with this post... my bad.), but expressing the heart-broken emotion in sincere and quiet weeping. has the essence of communion become so trivialized in our mindset that it no longer affects us when we do it? should not i walk away from each of these experiences where i recall the pool of blood beneath the cross and the cries of agony from Christ as he is beaten and disgraced by his own creation... different? i mean... what the crap? so there's a once a month schedule where the church, in its typical weekly gathering, will go out of its way to pull out some grape juice, break up some crackers and put it all in some elaborate dish so we can remember the very essence and center of all that brings us together?!
something is awry.
maybe something is just wrong with me and not everyone feels this way. thoughts anyone? differing opinions? help me out here.
marksantistevan.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
today we all are called to be disciples.
yesterday i went to westminster presbyterian church... *gasp* "mark, how could you?!" i know, i'm a faithless miscreant whose loyalty is ridiculously given to the cross instead of a denomination but i hope you will accept me...
anyway, this week we went to the traditional service (which i found to be much more interesting than the contemporary service that we went to last week... can someone enlighten me as to the purpose for a contemporary presbyterian service?) and there were a lot of interesting differences between their service and ours (ours being an a/g service as i am used to). both have many things i like and dislike and many things i find helpful and many things i find distracting. this post isn't going to go into all that stuff though, instead, there was a specific hymn that stood out to me that i wanted to write down and talk about.
the hymn was called "today we all are called to be disciples."
today we are called to be disciples of the Lord,
to help to set the captives free, to make plow-share out of sword.
to feed the hungry, quench their thirst, make love and peace our fast,
to serve the poor and homeless first, our ease and comfort last.
God made the world and at its birth ordained our human race,
to live as stewards of the earth, responding to God's grace.
but we are vain and sadly proud, we sow not peace but strife,
our discord spreads a deadly cloud that threatens all of life.
pray justice may come rolling down as in a mighty stream,
with righteousness in field and town to cleanse us and redeem.
for God is longing to restore an earth where conflicts cease,
a world that was created for a harmony of peace.
may we in service to our God act out the living word,
and walk the road the saints have trod till all have seen and heard.
as stewards of the earth may we give thanks in one accord,
to God who calls us all to be disciples of the Lord.
i don't know anything about the history of this hymn. the author was h. kenn carmichael and that's about all i know about him. i was very impressed though by this song.
i like the opening word "today." this expresses the urgency of the idea being expressed. today, now. it is to be lived out in the present. not a goal for the future. not an ideal of the past. today, now.
i am also impressed by the focus of the first verse, the beginning definition of "disciple" here is one who sets the "captives" free and serves the "poor and homeless" before themselves. i think this is a wonderful insight that would change the nature of the church if we could get that into our heads...
the second verse expresses the frailty and weakness of the human race who have failed as stewards of this planet. instead we threaten it with our selfish ambitions.
verse three expresses the desire for God to bring his justice and redeem the world that we corrupted through restoring us to righteousness in Him.
the final verse is a prayer for us whom He has called to be faithful disciples.
i found this hymn to be very interesting and inspiring, i had never heard it before.
thoughts anyone?
marksantistevan.
anyway, this week we went to the traditional service (which i found to be much more interesting than the contemporary service that we went to last week... can someone enlighten me as to the purpose for a contemporary presbyterian service?) and there were a lot of interesting differences between their service and ours (ours being an a/g service as i am used to). both have many things i like and dislike and many things i find helpful and many things i find distracting. this post isn't going to go into all that stuff though, instead, there was a specific hymn that stood out to me that i wanted to write down and talk about.
the hymn was called "today we all are called to be disciples."
today we are called to be disciples of the Lord,
to help to set the captives free, to make plow-share out of sword.
to feed the hungry, quench their thirst, make love and peace our fast,
to serve the poor and homeless first, our ease and comfort last.
God made the world and at its birth ordained our human race,
to live as stewards of the earth, responding to God's grace.
but we are vain and sadly proud, we sow not peace but strife,
our discord spreads a deadly cloud that threatens all of life.
pray justice may come rolling down as in a mighty stream,
with righteousness in field and town to cleanse us and redeem.
for God is longing to restore an earth where conflicts cease,
a world that was created for a harmony of peace.
may we in service to our God act out the living word,
and walk the road the saints have trod till all have seen and heard.
as stewards of the earth may we give thanks in one accord,
to God who calls us all to be disciples of the Lord.
i don't know anything about the history of this hymn. the author was h. kenn carmichael and that's about all i know about him. i was very impressed though by this song.
i like the opening word "today." this expresses the urgency of the idea being expressed. today, now. it is to be lived out in the present. not a goal for the future. not an ideal of the past. today, now.
i am also impressed by the focus of the first verse, the beginning definition of "disciple" here is one who sets the "captives" free and serves the "poor and homeless" before themselves. i think this is a wonderful insight that would change the nature of the church if we could get that into our heads...
the second verse expresses the frailty and weakness of the human race who have failed as stewards of this planet. instead we threaten it with our selfish ambitions.
verse three expresses the desire for God to bring his justice and redeem the world that we corrupted through restoring us to righteousness in Him.
the final verse is a prayer for us whom He has called to be faithful disciples.
i found this hymn to be very interesting and inspiring, i had never heard it before.
thoughts anyone?
marksantistevan.
Friday, January 18, 2008
welcome.
welcome to my blog. because this whole thing is new to both you and me i think the best thing for a first post would be to talk a little more about me and where i am and where i come from.
there is a a very general description of who/where i am in the "about me" section of this blog thing. for the sake of nothing else to put up for a first post i will give a short history of mark santistevan...
i grew up in a wonderful home with a wonderful family. faithful people who instilled in me good virtues. my parents are fantastic people who still amaze and inspire me with how they live their lives every day. my two elder brothers are my best friends and greatest inspirations. they have been the most excellent examples of righteousness. my younger sister is a great friend and has always been around for me if i needed her. my little sister is the most adorable girl in the world (i am not biased on this at all) and she always brings a smile to my face. the newest edition to the family, wilson (aka curious), is very little and very funny and very smelly. but i love him.
i am currently dating a cool girl named maribeth. it's a really long story. she's a great encouragement to me and it is truly a blessing to have her in my life. the rest of that story remains to be written...
the assemblies of God has been my church all my life. i have learned a lot in the churches and youth group in which i was a part. i am grateful for where God had me placed in the early stages of my life. great churches with sincere and devoted ministers of the Gospel of Christ.
as for my theology... if i wanted i could write paragraphs and paragraphs and thousands of words to express the simple fact that i don't really know anything. my theology consists of hundreds of questions and very very few answers. hopefully that will change as honesty and patience permits. for now it is sufficient for me to know Christ. His sacrifice for the sake of my utterly despicable wickedness to redeem me to His righteousness according to His good pleasure. i believe that, and my life is built on understanding this mystery and devoted to glorifying the one who chose me.
or at least i wish it was.
thank you for visiting. come back sometime. i promise it will be interesting. maybe.
be blessed.
marksantistevan.
there is a a very general description of who/where i am in the "about me" section of this blog thing. for the sake of nothing else to put up for a first post i will give a short history of mark santistevan...
i grew up in a wonderful home with a wonderful family. faithful people who instilled in me good virtues. my parents are fantastic people who still amaze and inspire me with how they live their lives every day. my two elder brothers are my best friends and greatest inspirations. they have been the most excellent examples of righteousness. my younger sister is a great friend and has always been around for me if i needed her. my little sister is the most adorable girl in the world (i am not biased on this at all) and she always brings a smile to my face. the newest edition to the family, wilson (aka curious), is very little and very funny and very smelly. but i love him.
i am currently dating a cool girl named maribeth. it's a really long story. she's a great encouragement to me and it is truly a blessing to have her in my life. the rest of that story remains to be written...
the assemblies of God has been my church all my life. i have learned a lot in the churches and youth group in which i was a part. i am grateful for where God had me placed in the early stages of my life. great churches with sincere and devoted ministers of the Gospel of Christ.
as for my theology... if i wanted i could write paragraphs and paragraphs and thousands of words to express the simple fact that i don't really know anything. my theology consists of hundreds of questions and very very few answers. hopefully that will change as honesty and patience permits. for now it is sufficient for me to know Christ. His sacrifice for the sake of my utterly despicable wickedness to redeem me to His righteousness according to His good pleasure. i believe that, and my life is built on understanding this mystery and devoted to glorifying the one who chose me.
or at least i wish it was.
thank you for visiting. come back sometime. i promise it will be interesting. maybe.
be blessed.
marksantistevan.
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