The Anti-Type Priest

I remember a cell phone that I had a few years ago. The phone was basic; I could make calls, send texts and play the classic cell phone game of snake. That cell-phone defined for me what a cell-phone should do. Now it is buried along side of other obsolete electronics in the top drawer of my dresser. In my left pocket you will find an iPhone 3g. This device can make calls, send texts and even run a game of snake. To say that the device that I have currently is like my old phone is incorrect. Both phones share the basic function of being able to make calls and the concept of making communication easy. However they are not the same, the iPhone is capable of more functions than my previous phone such as email, browsing the Internet and pin-pointing my location on a map.

My original cell phone can be labeled by the term “type.” Type can be used to describe an event, person or idea from history. It is a real thing that set a standard for things like it in the future. My iPhone 3g is an “antitype”, the new thing, the better thing. Essentially the “antitype” is like the “type”, but far better (Richter, 178). We can find the things like the old cell-phone, the “type” in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, we find the iPhone 3g like things, the “antitype”. A major example of biblical “types” and “antitypes” can be found in the human priests of the Old Testaments and the ultimate priest, Jesus, in the New Testament.

People are sinful and people need someone to intercede for our forgiveness. The original priests were people appointed by people for the people to act on their behalf in their relations to God. Jesus was more than a person and when it came to his appointment, he was placed directly in the position by God the Father (Hebrews 5:1-10). When the appointed men, went to act on behalf of others, they had to make sure that they were right with God first. Jesus was sinless, he did not have to do anything for his relationship with God first to be able to serve others (Hebrews 7:26-28). The blood of bulls, goats and birds were the original sacrifice people and priests made for the cleansing sins. For the priesthood that we find in Jesus, the sacrifice is his own, personal blood. His blood is stronger and more potent than any other blood. The shedding of His blood as he hung on the cross is worth more than a continual flow of blood from the once used animals. (Hebrews 9:11-14). In the days with humans priests making the sacrifices, it seems as if faith was more of a social exercise, Jesus made faith personal (Hebrews 8:8-12) Jesus is indeed the "anti-typical" priest, he is the new priest, the much improved priest. He is the better way of restoring our relationship with God and having our sins interceeded for.

In two years my iPhone 3g, will be looked upon as just the “type” and a new invention will rise to “antitype” status. Jesus was the “antitype” priest of 2,000 years ago, he is the “antitype” priest of today, and forever will be the “antitype” What people need to discover is that Jesus is the one thing that will never be upgraded or out done. And to find that he was, is and will remain the one way to a restored relationship with God.

Relationships. Prayer. Spontenaity

Heather and I went on a date this past Friday. We are trying to work our way through a book called Ten Great Dates before you Say I Do. The point of this book is to outline topics to talk about before marriage over a nice dinner. I agreed to do this; It is very important that we talk about these issues both on our own and with a premarital counselor. However if we continue life with a book that guides our every discussion, how intimate can we become? What would happen to our spontaneity? Could we have a true relationship that is indepent of outside influences?

As I look at my experience with prayer, I feel that I have been taught to use a guided discussion, just like the ones that we would find in that book. I have been taught how to pray through a certain format or to pray as if we were reading off of a list. To be honest I have taught this style as well. Formated prayer has value; spiritually, historically and communally, but so do unstructured prayers. As much as structure may help us grow and make sure things are covered, unsturctured prayers give that spontaneity to our personal relationship with God. Spontenaity keeps the sparkle of a new or refreshed relationship with God.

Clear your mind. Get on your knees. See what comes out and where you go.

Brick Wall Syndrome

The past several weeks have been really tough. I started my masters of divinity online, while trying to balance hours at the bookstore and the YMCA, while trying to devote time to my relationships. School is not what I imagined and I have claimed to hate it. I do not though, I love that I have this amazing opportunity.

My problem is that I have taken all that I have on my plate and have built a wall that I cannot see over on my own. I see a insurmountable, cinder-block wall that blocks my vision of the great things that God has specifically me. I just feel that I cannot see. I know that I can, but I choose not too.

The reason that I have facing a brick wall syndrome is because I want to look out with out looking out. If I simply look up, I would realize that their is a God that is going to pick me up so I can see. Tonight I asked to be picked up and I pray that I never want to be put down.

If the wall gets higher, I know that I God will help me see over it more. I may have a lot ahead of me, but I will no let it block God-given visions.

I hope that you too can trust God to pick you up to see over the struggles that form a wall in front of you.

Ahh... Why are there so many voices out there?

Well I do not know how to begin, I could fill in the past few months first about my life in ministry here in Frankfort, IN. I choose not to do that because you either 1.) do not really care 2.) you care and already know what's been going on.

I am faced with making a decision between to right things. Basically, I could stay here in Frankfort, stay the course and beat my head against the wall. If I stay I will gain semi-valuable experience that will prepare me well to be the average Wesleyan Senior Pastor. I can continue living on faith, trusting that Jehovah-Jireh will continue blessing my current situations. I could do OK here at the church, grow more gray hairs and be moderately happy in the present and near future.

The other option that I have to choose is to return home, have a good engagement period with Heather and start my M.Div online. This sounds great, but I am scared of finding a job, living with my parents again and feeling like I am going to miss out on something in Frankfort. The positives of this far out weigh the down sides. The downsides can be easily lumped into "the unknown", but the same God that provided a check this week for me can provide support where ever I find myself in the next few weeks, months and well years.

I do know what I am going to do. Heather is ok with it. I am just tired all of the different thoughts and opinions of others, though I do appreciate their concerns. The many voices out there are getting in my way of hearing the One Voice that I need to be seeking.

I guess that when I am about to go through a major change, I Blog. I wish I did it more, but I guess I would just become one of the many voices out there. Please voice your concerns about my overall topic of today to our Lord... I need all of the prayer that I can get.

I Don't Want to Be a Flake

I don’t want to be a Flake!

For those of you that know me well, you will agree that I can be quite flakey sometimes. I am fine with that, my flakiness I guess could be one of my endearing qualities. Yes sometimes I wish I weren’t such a goofball, but this is not the flake that I don’t want to be.

AJ Thomas, planting pastor of Deep-Water church, has been the district teen camp speaker this week. Since the camp is held in my town, I have had the privilege of attending the chapel sessions. His message last night was amazing and very impact full. He made the point that we could be two different types of Christians, a frosted-flake Christian or a Rock Christian. The point was that when we encounter the world, which is like a glass of water, will we end up losing our characteristics or stay who we are in Christ. Truly, this was a had-to-be-there moment, but when it comes to it. I want to be the Christian and Pastor that is in the world, but not affected by it.

Tonight he spoke heavily on loving the down and out of the world. And how doing so is a way of loving Christ. I am really glad that Jeff went with me, because it is something that we are going to have to get the church realize that this is something that we are going have to do. It really has fit in well with the conversations that we have had at the Chinese buffet

Well, tomorrow is going to be another heavy job hunting day . Pray for me as I venture through town. Gas, at the price of $4.19 a gallon, is really discouraging me from going out of a biking zone. This weekend is going to be my first weekend being a prepared pastor. Scary, but it has been a long time coming. I am going to be starting a 10 week basics of the Christian Faith :).

I love Heather!!!!

Love is Hard

I think I am getting a true hang on this love thing. It is hard, no matter where that love is directed. Before proceeding, I will mention that it is a “very good” hard. Another “very good hard” for me is trying to reduce my car use by biking most places. It is physical and should take more time*, but in the long run it is very good since in is free and should keep me healthy. Hard for me in the sense is something that may take a lot of effort but has a tremendous result.

First of two things to write about. I had some long discussions tonight with my fiancee, someone whom I love dearly. It was a hard time for the both of us, and it was hard trying to figure out the right things to say. (Not just saying the right thing to make her feel better, but to express my true feelings for her.) To me this was one of the hardest things of the relationship. But in the end of our night, I feel that something were resolved and we are still deeply in love. Not everything, but we are still in the working process. I love her and I will do the hardest thing possible if I needed to.

Second, is about the church and the community. Pastor and I were talking about the purpose of the church. I am not sure if we mention loving God and truly loving the members of the community, but it sure came to mind after I had my discussion with Heather. I am seeing the road ahead for the church is quite difficult. But if we love God and the community, no matter the task and the length that we go through it will be a ‘very-good’ hard. In the end we are going to be glorifying God and serving our community. The first things should not be worrying about the little details, but to get the congregation to catch the vision of the fact that Jesus wants us to love the people that around us. I really wish they would be able to hear to songs that have a great message to the. “I Believe” by Building 429 and “The Face of Love” by Sanctus Real. I really need to share them with Pastor Jeff.

Please pray with me as we as humans are try to figure out the divine concept of Love and really what to do with.


*Yes it should take longer to ride a bike, but I beat someone to the same place, going the same distance and leaving at the same time. (You know who you are). Frankfort is a great biking town.

(I Love you Heather! :) )

First Post as a Youth Pastor

Since I am not the regular blogger which I desire to be, I need to mention a couple of things. These things have been major milestones in my life. I am engaged to a wonderful woman, Heather, whom I cannot wait for her to be my wife. Second, is that I relocated to a small Indiana town to serve as a Youth Pastor.

There are many reasons why I want to become a regular blogger. First to be cool like Heath Muliken. Second is to let friends and family know what is going on in my life and what may need to be lifted in prayer. Third is to have yet another way of communicating the teens and adults involved with the student ministries of Frankfort First Wesleyan.

With that said, here is the first post as the Youth Pastor of Frankfort First Wesleyan:

I began the job hunt today. I was discouraged from the get go with knowing two things. First, Frankfort does not have much of a job market. Second, with the price of gas it would not be a good idea to go out of town to find a job. All weekend and today, I had it my mind that I was the one that needed to find a job. The pressure was self-applied for me to find a source of self-support. However, I know that it was God that brought me here. I know that I am right where God wants me. I have always stressed over money. Maybe this is God’s way of making me deal better with that. I am searching for the perfect job, one that pays well and works with my ministry schedule. Yet I do not feel that I am trusting God enough to show me the one.

I hope tomorrow my focus will be more on God, than on finding the job.

I have so many ideas and things to do tomorrow. I hope I do well accomplishing them. Hopefully the weather will be good.