While riding on an airplane late one night heading to Orlando we look out the fog rimmed window, what do we perceive? We see vast amounts of space in a single gaze. Yet in this scope of our perception what do we behold? Light, the faint glow of the distant horizon, the sprawling metropolis with city lamps aglow, or the single glimmer of a bright lamppost on a farmstead, is set before our meager glimpse. We see light. Our curious eyes are drawn to it, we behold its brightness, luminescence, and beauty as it stands in solidarity amidst the darkness. The fact is that the darkness does not register. We do not behold the darkness; rather the only thing that is even perceivable is the light. The darkness is vast and expansive, but it operates only as the darkened canvas from which the lights burst forth their radiance. Contention, distinctiveness, and difference are inherent in this work of art. Yet despite the underlying conflict of this heterogeneous spread, we stand amazed, perhaps even breathless, at the grandeur of the entire view. This masterpiece is none other than the plan and eternal purpose of the Master.

Consider in Light of God’s Word-

Matt. 5:14-16- Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

1 Peter 2:9,12 - But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
-Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Grace be with you,

Caleb

It was almost ironic to hear our new presidents motto when he was on the campaign trail: change.

2008 was a year of change. This past year I have gone through more major changes than any year before. As I stop and ponder the changes that I have faced this year, I am humbled by God's providence and His faithfulness. From college, to work, from FL to TX, leaving old friends, making new ones, changes in my famly, my grandmother passing away, and finally getting out on my own- this year has been frought with joys and trials.

Yet, the constants in my life have helped me through it all. God, my family, the Church, and my friends, have helped me realize that no matter what change may come, I will be able to endure to the end.

I don't know about you, but when I stop and think about the changes over the past year, I feel old. I feel like life is passing by so quickly, and a deep urging need to make the most of every opportunity swells within me. Life is so short and such a blessing!

Speaking of change, I recently went through some of my old friend links here on pleo. It's interesting to observe how pleo has changed for me and many of my friends. In highschool pleo was a life-line. With very few christians around it was my link to my closest friends, but now most have abandoned the ole pleo. Instead of using it to stay close with my dearest friends, pleo has become more of a social network update: checking up every once and a while for the current buzz. Even then most of my closest friends on pleo during highschool have sinced stopped using their blogs. It's interesting how life changes.

Friends I was once inseperable with, I barely have the opportunity to speak to anymore. Some of my closest comrades I haven't seen or heard from in years. If this were the case in highschool I would have been completely devestated. Yet, everything is ok. Perhaps God gives us the blessing of certain people and relationships for the moments we need them the most, and then grants that blessing of that friendship to others elsewhere. I am content, knowing that no matter where my brothers, sisters, and friends are, God knows those who are His and is faithful to the end. - Some things never change, praise God!

Lordwilling 2009 will undoubtedly be another exciting year full of even more changes. May the Lord grant me patience and wisdom to endure faithfully through.

I hope you have had a wonderful 2008 and pray that the Lord will bountifully bless you in the coming year. May we realize the gravity of every opportunity and use them to His glory!


Ok, I know this was a rather serious post, but I've been in a rather somber and reflecting mood of late. Don't worry everything is dandy!

Next Post: What's the Best Root Beer? **Taste Test Results**

May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always,

~Westbrook


How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.
I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.

A tribute to Golfers, since I did hit my lowest round on 9 this past weekend!

And for those of you who are not golfers (I will forgive you for a moment) you will nonetheless find this story funny as well.

This is hillarious. Read it. It's definitely worth it!

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?section=magazine&id=3759605&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos1

lol, I love it.

Oh and btw it snowed in Houston!!! It was crazy, after church this evening I was attacked by a onslaught of snowballs. Then we went sledding on one of two "hills" in Pasadena. Actaully it was more like a large dirt pile, but it got the job done. It was a blast!!

None of these Houstonians have sleds, so we used the top of a toy box that some of the boys of the congregation loaned us. It was really funny, but it worked well. We all threw plenty of snow and were really wet and cold afterward, but it was well worth it. I even got to hit Jerry Fite with a snowball! Hoorah!

And the really odd thing was it was about 70 degrees yesterday, and today it snowed...odd, very odd. And if the locals are right it will be back up in the mid 60s by the end of the week. Strange, but hey it's good for the golf game!

Hope you have a Jim Dandy Day!

From snowy Houston
Chao

~Westbrook

I will praise You with uprightness of heart,
When I learn Your righteous judgments.
I will keep Your statutes;
Oh, do not forsake me utterly!

This is not exhaustive by any means, but written to stir up thought and to generate a better understanding of our God, The Holy Spirit.

In Colossians 1:27 Paul states "...the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
Also, in 1 John 4:15, John writes "Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him..." In these passages it appears that deity is within us. Yet, we understand that the actual person of Christ or the Father is not literally inside of us. We know that Jesus and the Father are in heaven (Acts 2:33; 7:55). It is also apparent that a person is not able to be divided and still maintain identity as a singular being.

These previous passages use metonymy, which is "a figure by which one name or noun is used instead of another." Thus, when Christ is referred to as being in you, Paul is meaning that the knowledge of the resurrection is within us (our hope of glory), not the person of Christ. Also in 1 Jn. 4:15 “God abides in him” does not refer to the actual person of deity within us, rather God’s authoritative Word and Will in our minds and lives.

Even though the concept of metonymy can be clearly understood with the person of God or Christ, sometimes there is unnecessary confusion regarding the person of the Holy Spirit. The scriptures clearly reveal that the Holy Spirit is a being that is identified as a person: He is described as deity(Acts 5:1-4), He speaks (1 Tim.4:1), He can be grieved (Eph.4:30), and He can be lied to (Acts 5:1-4). There are several other passages that show aspects of the person of the Holy Spirit, however, we can be absolutely certain that He is a distinct person and He shares in the nature of deity with God and Christ. Since the Holy Spirit shares the same attributes of a person of deity this would mean that He is a singular being who would not be able to be divided and still maintain personage.

Thus the same concept of metonymy that is applied to Christ(Col. 1:27) and God (1 Jn. 4:15) should also be applied to the Holy Spirit. For example, in Acts 2:17, Peter quotes the prophet Joel showing that on the day of Pentecost, God began to pour out His Spirit (the Holy Spirit). With our knowledge of metonymy we can correctly understand this passage to mean the power of the Holy Spirit was being poured out, or ushered forth, to all flesh. This does not mean that the person of the Holy Spirit was being poured out, rather His power. This came through the power of the miraculous gifts, the gift of salvation to man and eventually through the complete revelation of God's word, not some mystical indwelling. This is particularly evident in light of Acts 2:17-21 which demonstrates the effect of the pouring out, namely prophecy.

Also in Titus 3:5-6 we find that God “saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ.” The same thought applies to Titus as it did in Acts 2. Paul is not alluding to a pouring out of the person of the Holy Spirit within each individual Christian, but he is referring to the effects or works of the Holy Spirit. Paul illustrates this in the context by referencing the renewing of the Holy Spirit in regards to salvation, not a indwelling of the person of the Holy Spirit. The "renewing of the Holy Spirit" is an adjustment and recalibrating of our thoughts and actions to the Will of God generated by the Spirit through the Word. This Word works in us today! (1 Thess. 2:14).

It was not the Person that was poured out, it was the Holy Spirit’s work.

Hope you are having a great week! God bless!

Chao

~Westbrook

You have commanded us
To keep Your precepts diligently.
Oh, that my ways were directed
To keep Your statutes!
Then I would not be ashamed,
When I look into all Your commandments.

Well, Im back in Houston and I am surprised to find that coming back felt like I was coming home, not sure why but it did.

So Chicago was interesting. I got to spend some quality time with my cousin Matt. We had a bit of disagreement over "culture"

In my time around downtown Chicago I began to notice a trend in most of the regulars. They seemed kinda preppy. I mean, they had their nice slacks/polo-shirt/pressed black coat (and/or accesorizing scarf)/ drank their coffee at the corner coffee shop, while checking the internet on their Mac/ Shopping at the overpriced-organic-stocked-supermarket/ all the while frequently "cultured" locales around downtown. I deemed this preppy.

Matt disagreed- he calls it "urban-metro" culture. I think it is rather snobbish and overly pretentious. Is this a legitimate "culture" or just an extension of people trying to be hip? What say you?

Coming back from Chicago was an event. We flew through a thunderstorm. It was bumpy and a bit nerve racking. I was wondering what it would be like to hear thunder while on an airplane. Anyone here have that experience?

Word of the day- "Theodicy"

Hope ya have a fantastic week!

Chao~

Westbrook

Blessed are the undefiled in the way,
Who walk in the law of the LORD!
Blessed are those who keep His testimonies,
Who seek Him with the whole heart!
They also do no iniquity;
They walk in His ways.