The Life and Times of Wakeboard Church

I’m excited about 2008 for Wakeboard Church.  First of all, my prayer is that Matthew 14:33 would ring true for everybody that joins us this year.  “That all those who are in the boats would worship Him, saying Truly He is the Son of God!” 

The details are getting worked out, but the biggest thing on the roster for us this year is Wakeboard Church Camp.  I grew up going to a camp at Lake Murray (which is why I have a soft spot for that lake) where I learned to barefoot, and did a lot of kneeboarding.  There were two really cool aspects of doing that camp all those years.  1.  We got to get away from it all and really hone in on what God wanted to do in our lives.  2.  We got to get away and wakeboard at an epic location away from the crowds.  I want those two things to be true for Wakeboard Church camp as well. 

I’ve got a definate on a special guest coming, I promise you wont be disapointed.  For those of you who attend Thursday nights at my house you know who I’m talking about.  As I get more of the logistics locked down (ie. location, other guests, cost, boats, food, loding) i’ll be making “official” announcements.  Until then, if you really really want to know, email me, or call me.

Another cool thing coming up is the launch of our new forum based site.  We’ve been talking about this for a long time, and I think it’s finally going to happen.  The idea is to have a place where we can discuss scripture, find rides, and talk about what God is doing in our lives in a place that we can do that freely.  This will also be a resource for people outside the Dallas area that are interested in staring Wakeboard Church chapters…especially if they don’t have a local forum of their own. 

One of the things that will be on the website will be some interviews from a few of the top pros that we have all grown to know and love through the years.  It’s been pretty cool to be able to get into the lives of these riders for a bit, so I hope you take the time to read those interviews once the new site is up and running. 

As always, pray for what God is doing on the water (and off the water) in our lives, and the lives of those around us.

Ride On

-Alf Evans

New Years…something

So for Christmas I got an MP3 player (yay Aunt Casi!) and my wife got an iPod.  A good friend of mine told me that we’d need at least 8 gig of memory to keep ourselves interested, but I realized that we’re the kind of people that really chew on an artist or a musical genre for awhile.  So with that said us needed 6,000 songs give or take a hundred was un-needed.  To fill up the sum of our 5 gig of music that both mp3 players have I had to go back to some of our old CDs.  In that process I found a band that I listen to from time to time, but I haven’t just listened to their albums over and over in a long time.  That band is Five Iron Frenzy.  Sometimes I think I’m really passionate about the deep things of God, and then sometimes I think I’m way synical about the shallow things of church.  I feel that sentiment from Reese Roper (lead singer and song writer for FIF) through much of their music.  I thought it fitting this year that for new years this song was playing over the loud speaker at a retreat that I was at right before midnight on the 31st of Dec.

 New Years Eve by Five Iron Frenzy

It’s New Years Eve and I’m full of empty promises,
I half pretend to keep this time, just like last year.
The band is loud and I’m wandering the shadows,
wishing I was never here.
I persevere.
A crowded room, these whitewashed tombs,
they raise their glasses high, they kiss the past goodbye.

This New Years Eve, I’m waiting for tomorrow.
My heart is on my sleeve,
and yes I still believe, this New Years Eve,
will turn out better than before,
I’m holding on, still holding out,
until they close the door… on me.

It’s New Years Eve and I feel my insecurities,
are haunting me like ghosts, this sinking quicksand.
And then with thunderous praise and lofty adoration,
a second passes by, yet nothing changes.
I hate my skin, this grave I’m standing in.
Another change of years, and I wish I wasn’t here.

A year goes by and I’m staring at my watch again,
and I dig deep this time,
for something greater than I’ve ever been,
life to ancient wineskins.
And I was blind but now I see.

This New Years Eve, something must change me inside,
I’m crooked and misguided, and tired of being tired.
This New Years Eve, I’m waiting for tomorrow.
My heart is on my sleeve, and yes I still believe, in You.

I love this song.  Have you ever stuck with a new years resolution?  Ever?  I don’t think I have either.  At this point I don’t even give them a thought.  I think a few things about the whole concept:  Why wait until a moment to change the things that you know you need to change?  Isn’t now the best time to do that?  James 4:17 says: “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.  Second of all, I can’t remember ever really changing anything myself.  I’ve got a friend that stopped smoking cold turkey, that was pretty cool.  I still don’t remember anything that I really changed.  The only changes I ever can put a finger on in my life…well that finger gets pointed back to God.  Everything good that has ever happened in my life has come from my Father in heaven.  2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold new things have come.” 

If you’re reading this and have already failed miserably at holding your end of the new years resolution bargain down…rest easy.  You never had a chance.  Allow the God that is good to change your life.  He made you anyway, he can change you. 

Cosmic Christmas

This is an exerpt from from a book we read each year at our house with friends and family present.  In the midst of this season that is supposed to draw us to Jesus, it seems to do an awfully good job of pulling us away.  Enjoy the words of Max Lucado from Cosmic Christmas, and think about the reason why we do what we do…all year long.

 So this is He.  Immanuel.  So this is God’s gift.  A Savior.  He shall save His people from their sins.  “Worthy is the Lamb,” I whispered, as I knelt before my God.  My heart was full.  I turned to Mary as she cradled her child and I spoke.  It didn’t matter that she couldn’t hear me.  The stars could.  All of nature could.  And most of all, my King could.

“Do you know who you hold, Mary?  You secure the Author of grace.He who is ageless is now moments old.  He who is limitless is now suckling your milk.  He who strides upon the stars, now has legs too weak to walk; the hands which held the oceans are now an infant’s fist.  To Him who has never asked a question, you will teach the name of the wind.  The Source of language will learn words from you.  He who has never stumbled, you will carry.  He who has never hugered, you will feed.  The King of creation is in your arms.”

“What manner of love is this?”  Michael whispered, and again we were covered with silence.  A blanket of awe.  Finally, Michael again opened his mouth, this time to sing.  He began quietly, pausing between the words. 

“Glory,

glory,

glory to God in the hightest.”

One by one we joined.  “Glory, glory, glory to God in the highest.”

Gradually the chorus grew louder and faster: “Glory, glory, to God in the higest.  Glory, glory to God in the highest.  Glory, glory to God in the highest.”

Our praise rose into the realms of the universe.  In the most distant galaxy the dust on the oldest star danced with our praise.  In the depths of the ocean, the water rippled with adoration.  The tiniest microbe turned, the mightiest constellation spun, all of nature joined with us as we worshiped Immanuel, the God who had become flesh.

Crazy Idea

I had this crazy idea.  I can’t do it this year, but it might be fun to attempt it next year.   Lets call it “Board all the time”.The idea is to wakeboard everyday for a year.  Jan 1 to Dec 31st.  Crazy huh?  In some places that would be possible, but in Dallas it wont be as comfortable as others.  On the other hand, Dallas has just the right mixture of elements where it’s doable, and a bit of a challenge.  Email me your thoughts on it.  alf88@juno.com 

Life and times of Wakeboard Church

What a rocking season of our lives right now.  I’m not just talking about Christmas either.  Yes, I still call it Christmas.   God is tweaking and moving and working in our lives in cool little ways.  There’s way too much talk about here now (What I started to write about it has turned into a novel), but I would love to share it with you personally if you just can’t wait to hear what is going on.  I prayer through all of this is that I hope you are being directed and lead by the Holy Spirit in this season of your life.  Notice I didn’t say this season meaning Christmas.  I said this season in your life.  We’re all going through different things in our relationship with God.  That could mean anything from not having a relationship with God, to being a “veteran”.  In any case my challenge is that you would test the limits of your intellect and comfort zones listen to that voice inside you and trust what God is doing.  We have been lately, and it’s the most radical, amazing ride we’ve ever been on in our lives.  I pray that everybody gets to experience life like this at least one moment in their life.   Listen to Him, wait for Him, trust Him. Ride On. -Alf 

Some pics leftover from the year

These are a few pics that I don’t think were ever uploaded.  Enjoy as you wish you could go out and ride. 

Sure a little hero worship.  Erik would have nothing of it.  As humble a guy as I’ve ever met. 

I call this picture presence…cause thats what it feels like. 

The vandal, grabbing longer than most, and floating longer than most. 

Gizmo’s SAN.  We’re watching the Vandal ride.

Thursday Night Wakeboard Church

I was going through some old posts looking at the history of what God has done with Wakeboard Church.  It’s been an amazing ride and I’m excited about what God is going to do through us in the future. 

The posts that I was reading made me miss our Thursday night outings on the water.  There’s something electric about the entire process.  It’s awesome!  Everybody scurrying to drop a boat in the water and get the first set.  I truly miss the “on” season.  All that said, it was fun Thursday night to have Jake Sonnevelt whoop our tails all night long at Wakeboarding Unleashed on the XBOX.  Mind you, none of us had played the game in a while, and based off of Jenn’s eagerness to have the first game against me I thought she would dominate all night long.  Alas, Jake beat us off the water too.  Good on ya Jake.

It was fun times had by all. 

 Whether you are praying for Wakeboard Church, being involved by coming to events or just reading this post…thank you for being a part.

Ride On.

-Alf Evans. 

I love this sport

My friend Jamie laughs at me just about every time we are out on the boat because in some facet, I’ll express those words.  Much like the different contexts the word “dude” can be used, “I love this sport” can also be used in several different situations.  For example: Defiance Set – The wind is horrible.  The sun is not out.  The air temperature is less than desirable.  You’re on a new wake, and a new board.  Every possible factor into the equation that we called wakeboarding is off.  The regulars don’t even dream of coming out on a day like today.  The walley’s think you’re nuts.  What do you say?  (With an amusement in your own audacity)”I love this sport.”New Trick Set – It happened to me this year a couple of times.  One set in particular.  I hardly ever ride on Sundays cause I’m at church.  I like to go to the early service because if I go to the second service I feel like the day is too short.  This particular Sunday the kids were with the Kelly (my wife) and out of town.  Jamie says, “Dude, lets ride.”  Easy choice.  I can get a few sets in and go to the second service.  This day was important because we had been pushing progression so much lately that it was almost taking the fun out of riding.  So this day we made a point to relax, have chill music on the boat, not stress about how well we rode and have fun.  The fact that only one ramp on the lake was open and we pretty much had the lake to ourselves was nice too.  I think I’ll remember that day for a long time.  The water was really high, and there was debris all over the lake.  There were little piles of fire ants floating in the lake and we’d ride over them and imagine it being armageddon for that particular nest of ants.  We rode in long strait lines.  One line was about 5 miles long, almost the length of Grapevine lake.  I remember riding just trying to link tricks as I felt them.  No pressure.  When I fell, it was fun and relaxing.  When I got tired, I’d just try a trick that I didn’t think I could do to fall so I could rest.  One of those tricks happened to be a switch roll attempt.  That attempt happened to be my first switch roll.  I gave the rock fist to Jamie in the boat, and said out loud in a normal voice, “I love this sport.” Walley’d – It’s Saturday morning in the middle of the summer.  You got up early thinking you would beat the walley’s out.  You drive to the best spot on the water and lo and behold…there’s an I/O pulling a tube in big figure eights right in the line.  Understanding this is better than chores or fishing…or tubing for that matter you say, “I love this sport.”Thrown the wall – This is when the walley can’t handle the 3K of ballast you put in the boat and hates driving over your wake competing for the line.  He drives to another place on the lake.  You victoriously say to those in the boat, “I love this sport!” There are countless scenarios where I have verbalized that.  In the middle of thunder storms, getting towed in by a fisherman, having the most epic set in the history of the sport, these are all reasons why we love what we do.   Enjoy your off season.  Enjoy your love for the sport. Ride on.-Alf 

The Weight of It All

Or should I say, “the glory of it all”? In either case it’s exciting to be in the middle of what God is doing.

I remember a few years ago my boat left us stranded in the middle of the lake. It has only done that once actually. Every single time I’ve had my boat in the water it has made it’s way back home under it’s own power. Except this time. It was fun…we were wakeboarding and then the boat died. Not a huge deal cause it had done that before. So we made some sandwiches and hung out for a while. In the meantime a pretty cool line of storms were showing up on the horizon. That’s no problem cause they were a ways off and they wouldn’t have been there for a few hours…so we thought.

After an hour or so we decided that just hanging out was not the wisest course of action and that it was time to paddle the boat back to the dock. That wasn’t a huge deal because the dock was in sight and a relatively easy row. The storm hit us when we were just a few hundred meters from the dock. Once it hit us we just couldn’t fight it’s power. We tried, believe me we tried. All we could do was just let the storm take us where it wanted. That just happened to be into a cove where we would nearly be struck by lightning, and where we would find help from the fire department. It was an adventure.

During this experience there were different people that were on the boat. There were people that made sandwiches for others. There were those who barked out orders to fix the situation. There were those that complained, and have never been on a boat since I think. There were those who were pretty relaxed through the whole deal, smiling as each moment dealt it’s hand.

I wonder how the disciples felt while Jesus slept during the storm. I mean ultimately God sent the storm that frightened them so much in the first place, so logic would dictate that it was in God’s plan, and ultimately so that they could learn a valuable truth about Jesus. Maybe one of the reasons we have that account in scripture is just so we have the story to give God glory for.

In my life I’m about to go through a storm. I’m watching the horizon and seeing the clouds get darker…and I’m excited about it. I really am. I have days where I’m pretty nervous about what is ahead, but there are other days where I’m honored to be on the boat with Jesus. I mean really…think about it. I could be on the shore where it’s safe. I could be next to a camp fire with some fish and some bread. Instead I get to be next to Jesus. Any minute now He’s going to get up and calm the wind and the waves and it’s going to be pretty cool. The clouds will part, the sun rays will come through the clouds and it’ll be one of the more memorable moments of my entire life. But for now, I’m okay with taking a nap in the boat as we get tossed next to Jesus. For now I’m going to appreciate the size of the waves and the strength of the wind. I know that He is in control. Even the wind and the waves obey Him.

Pray for the storm that you are in, and for those around you that are in storms as well. To God be the glory for the storms in our lives!

Ride On

Alf

Give Thanks

We throw that around pretty easily each year.  I know I do, “Happy Thankgiving”, “Happy Thanksgiving”. 

 We truly have so much to be thankful for.  The kids that we have.  The little miracles that they are.  Having jobs to go to that put good food on the table.  Maybe we don’t even eat on a table, and we’re drive thru people.  Thank God for cars, for this country we live in.  Thank God for your health.

 This one sounds a bit superficial compared to the rest, but I do thank God that we get to wakeboard as much as we do.  This is a luxury that we take for granted.  This should not be so.  The next time you’re out, think about the blessing it is to strap on a board, fill up the sacs, and ride to your hearts content. 

1 Thes 5:16-18

Wake review: 2007 Super Air Nautique 210 Team Edition

This is the first real review for the ‘07 SANTE 210 that i’ve done, but I’ll give it a shot.

First off knowing a bit about me and the wake that I prefer will help you know where I’m coming from. I’ve always been a “poppy” wake kind of guy. There was a time in my riding life where I actually liked a good strong trough. Somedays I still do a bit. I’ve always been a huge fan of the Holy Grail of wake boats, the older 210 hull. I still think it’s a classic hull and a wake that people will seek after for years and years to come. That hull will ultimately keep those boats selling well in the future. However, we aren’t doing a review on the older 210’s…we’re doing one on the new ones.

I’m going to be review my friends Black and White one. If you’re a CC fan you’re probably aware of the opposite direction of the prop on most of them. Get ready for a change. PCM went with Chevy motors this year and the 210 spins Left handed now. So now they’re like everybody else. I’m not sure if I like that or not. It’s not really that big of a deal, but it’s been fun to banter with other boat owners about how “our” boats spin the “right” way. Anywhoooo. The next noticeable item to me with regards to the powerplant was the noise that the motor put out. I didn’t have a decible gauge or anything, but there was a significant increase in engine noise compared to the older models. That could be due to a couple of reasons in my opinion. 1. My friends boat hasn’t been propped yet, so that might be the motor working harder than it needs to. 2. It could just be that the Chevy is louder than the Ford used to be.

Next thing I noticed about this boat was the lay out. I really got to spend some time in one before my friend got his at Pat McElhinney’s wakeboard school. What I love about this seating is that 6 people were all facing the rider, and all of them were behind the windshield. That made for a cool approach to being in the boat. There is an optional seat that creates a bench seat that goes from one side of the boat to the other that holds 4 people. The standard port two person passenger seat is still there, with room for a 6′0 guy to put his legs behind the bench seat. The captains chair is comfortable with a recessed floor for the legs to get a full stretching. One of those little “attention to detail” things that CC does so well.

Let’s move on to Tower. No complaints here. Solid look and feel, with swivel board racks make this a no brainer. The forks on the board racks are a bit too narrow for my Murray to fit in. They fit, but it’s not easy squeeze. Also the rubber protectors that come stock seek to want to walk off when a board is taken from it’s perch.

The Dash: Pretty fun. The layout is each, and fresh. I appreciate a genuine attempt at something new. Nothing too fancy about it, but it’s something new. Nuff said. The ballast is different than I’m used to, but it’s easy to use once you’re taught. Hit the buttons once to fill…hold them till they blink to empty. They stop on their own. If you’re not sure how full your bags are, check the gauges under the throttle lever.

Most important thing…the wake: I was very concerned about this wake. Let’s face it, it’s predecesor kind of wrote the book on wake shape. Nautique boasted that this boat “did away with the trough”…I still don’t buy it. Do I feel a trough compared to the older 210’s? No way. But just looking at the wake from the boat, you see a trough. Anyway, this wake is the perfect combination between a peaky poppy wake, and a rampy trough. I know that I hear that alot, and see that alot in wake reviews, but I mean this one. I usually use the size of the wake to help me visualize where my board needs to be at what time. This wake gives me plenty to look at trough a trick, and isn’t deceiving. What I see is what I get. The Wake Gate allows the driver to drop the bow, which will ramp the wake out, or drop the stern which will give the wake more peak. I like it on 3 for more peak. It’s not peaky like an old 210, but it’s a healthy combination to make a rider out of you.

This is one of my favorite wakes now. Enjoy!!!

Defiance

We call it a defiance SET actually. It’s the set that you take when there isn’t a real good reason to go out wakeboarding. Wind is blowing, air is cold, water is cold, the wake might not be real good, but you go anyway. You go because you need it. You go because wakeboarding is more than just this thing you do on the weekend. It’s a representation of your character. Audacious, aggressive, striving, disciplined. To the normal person going out on the lake past Labor day is completely insane. That’s okay, you’re there for a reason. Sometimes you can’t really articulate that reason, but it’s there nonetheless.

So the next time you’re pondering whether or not you should really put the boat in the water and ride. The next time the wind, and the rollers, and the cold begin to convince you to keep the cover on the boat, and the board in the bag, think again.

This can be true in our walk with God too. The next time you feel God has told you to do something, the next time you feel that leading…don’t listen to the waves around you.

Get out of the boat and defy the circumstances aroung you.

Ride On.

Stern Prayers

This is a bit of a play on words, but you’ll soon understand.

When I first moved to St. Louis one of the first things I did was find the local wakeboarders. Afterall, not owning a boat I’d need to find some pulls…and quick.

The first rider I met was Jeff Danielson. Jeff is great, and he was completely inviting and friendly from the start. We rode a few times in St. Louis, but not nearly enough for the 6 years that I lived there. I remember when my family and his family finally got together for dinner one night. We had already made the desicion to move back to Texas and follow God’s plan for our lives.

That’s too far down the road though…let me back up a year. I was a youth pastor in St. Louis for a few years and we did an annual camp. Of course I did everything in my power to have that camp have as much wakeboarding as possible. Jeff and his wife Tammy came down to help us teach the kids how to ride that year. It was awesome. First of all, Jeff is the best coach I have ever had the pleasure of being in the boat with. Second of all…his wife is the second. The two in a boat together are an amazing team. Just for a bit of a back ground on Jeff, he and Shaun Murray used to ride together in St. Louis.

So it’s a day before all the campers get to the camp and we’re getting some sets in before the kids get there. This was going to be one of the first real years back at riding since my knee injury, and thanks to Jeff he helped me get back. So I’m strapping in on the swim deck and Jeff hops back there with me, bows his head and prays. It was such a cool time between brothers in Christ, and wakeboarders. It was a simple prayer, somthing like “God, would you let Alf have a great set worshiping You?” It was also an impacting prayer. That meant so much to me that he would be bold enough to pray with me. He later told me that Rob Struharik did the same thing with him at one point in time, and he had been doing that ever since.

I think this might have been spurred on by seeing the clips of Randall in Transgression. In the begining of the film you see Randall praying before a set on the back of the boat, and then in the end he prays on the back of the boat.

I encourage you to pray everywhere, not just on the back of a boat. I also encourage you to pray on the back of the boat. Doesn’t matter who you’re with, if you love your God, ask Him to be with you as you ride. Pray with others close to you as you get ready to ride. It just seems to fit.

Ride On.

Alf

God is invisible

This week we discuss God’s invisibility.  It can be defined as follows:  God’s invisibility means that God’s total essence, all of his spiritual being, will never be able to be seen by us, yet God still shows himself to us through visible, created things. 

I’ve had a difficult time understanding the implications of God being invisible.  Okay so God is invisible…to me that makes him untouchable, less accessible, and just kind of…disconnected some how.  How do I explain to you that God is invisible and what does that mean to you…much less what does that mean to me? 

Well I’m reading through my chapter on this topic (out of Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem) and it’s awesome because there are these verses like this one: 

“To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever.  Amen” (1 Tim 1:17)

Pick in your head what you “see” when you “see” God.  I don’t really have anything anymore.  I think maybe I used to see Jesus on the cross, or this big pulsing orb of light or something.  God is beyond my comprehension of Him…even in my imagination.  He is the King of ages…he is immortal, he is invisible, he is the only God. 

Now that’s pretty smart if you think about it.  Lets face it, we are a people who loves to focus on things that we love.  Wakeboarding…who doesn’t eat/sleep/breathe it here?  If you don’t it’s because there are other things in your life that you value more.  The first thing I thought of when I got my computer at work was, “what wakeboarding desktop am I going to put on it?”  We’re really good at going over board on things.  Problem is that if we had some visual representation of God to focus on, my bet is that we’d be waaaay too focused on that thing. 

So God is invisible.  God’s total essence, all of his spiritual being, will never be able to be seen by us. 

Has God revealed himself to us (humans as a whole) in visible ways?  Sure.  These are called theophanies.  “an appearance of God”.  For example the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night in the Old Testament.  (Ex 13:21-22). 

The most amazing “appearance of God” was found in the person of Jesus Christ himself. 

(John 14:9)  He who has seen me has seen the Father”

One of my favorites and amazingly applicable here…

(Collosians 1:15) He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God.  The Firstborn of all creation. 

(Hebrews 1:3) “the bright radiance of the glory of God” “the exact representation of his nature”

So an unseen God can be seen through Christ.  To me one of the miracles of life is that Awesome God, Omnipotent Creator, Invisible Being…created…loves…communes…

Sacrificed.

 I pray that you would see Christ.  Invite him in to your heart…every moment.  Not just for a moment and then it’s gone.  Seek the communion between created and creator.  Go to the God that made you, through the visible image of the invisible God that he is. 

God’s Knowledge

Wakeboard Church June 14, 2007

 

This week we discuss God’s Omnipotence or God’s Knowledge

 

Defined: God fully knows himself and all things actual and possible in one simple and eternal act.

 

God is “perfect in knowledge” (Job 37:16)

 

God “knows everything” (1 John 3:20)

 

“For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.  For what person knows a man’s thoughts except the spirit of the man which is in him?  So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 2:10-11)

 

God knows the future, for he is the one who can say, “I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done” (Isaiah 46:9-10)

 

He knows the tiny details of every one of our lives, for Jesus tells us, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matt 6:8)

 

“Even the hairs on your head are numbered” (Matt 10:30)

 

This thought process rocks me.

 

The fact that God knows all things possible can also be deduced from God’s full knowledge of himself.  If God fully knows himself, he knows everything he is able to do, which includes all things that are possible.  The fact is indeed amazing.  God has made an incredibly complex and varied universe.  But there are thousands upon thousands of other variations or kinds of things that God could have created but did not.  God’s infinite knowledge includes detailed knowledge of what each of those other possible creations would have been like and what would have happened in each of them!  “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it” (Ps 139:6).  “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:9)

 Taken from Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology pg 191 

When we bring this home it’s amazing because “while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8)

 

And

 

Christ is “the bright radiance of the glory of God”  he is “the exact representation of his nature”

 

It’s comforting to me to know that God knows what is going to happen to me at work in the next two weeks, cause I don’t.  It’s comforting to know that God knows what is going to happen a year from now, cause I don’t.  It’s comforting to me to know that God is in control of these and all situations, because I trust Him.

 

I challenge you to trust Him with more than you are trusting Him with now. 

Wakeboard Church Camp

We’re going to do a Wakeboard Church Camp next year.  The idea is to stay close (within 1-2 hours of the DFW area), have some great water, and have a great time together. 

I’d like to get an idea of which direction we should go with this thing.  Should we have really nice accomodations and pay for it, or try to go budget for this and rough it a bit. 

I’m feeling like we make it really nice, but I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for Lake Murray Group Camp 2. 

 Post up Comments regarding this.  The plan is to have a few special guests come ride with us and lead us in worshiping God for the week. 

Pics from the BNE

Wakeboard Church Thursday November 15th

We’ll be going over 1 Samuel chapter 22.  It’s been pretty cool diving in to the life of King David.  We will also be watching a wakeboard vid.  What we are watching will be determined still.  I’ve got a whole bunch of old schools here that somebody loaned me, and i’m upt for a Transgression rerun.  Post a comment on what you’d like to see.

Interesting…

I was pretty pumped when at the end of Transgression the screen went blank and there was a Bible verse.

Isaiah 53:5.  It says this:

But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.

Transgression means a violation of the law, or to step across.

 Now before I continue, let me convey my desire for God to work through this blog.  Chances are I’ll mess it up, but I pray that I don’t.  You know me.  

So I come across that verse at the end of Transgression the video.  “Very cool.” I thought.  Then this morning Neil McClenddon was preaching at our church.  Neil is cool to me cause he’s barbaric in the way and what he delivers.  He’s very much in love with Jesus, but has a real cool way of just being genuine.

He was talking about Acts 8:26-33 this morning.  Phillip is told to go somewhere.  When Phillip obeyed, God put this Ethiopian Eunuch reading from Isaiah.  The Eunuch was readhing from chapter 5 verse 7 and 8.  Those Verses say:

He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before it’s shearer is silent, so He does not open His mouth. In humiliation His judgement was taken away; Who shall relate His generation? For His life is removed from the earth.

Laurie (from www.dallaswakeboarding.com) and I were talking this morning about the law.  She is in that line of work and is frequently in the court room.  I’ve always wonderd about the similarities or differences in how judgment is executed in our day, and in the days of past.  With some study maybe she’ll be able to shed some light on those things for me since she knows the field so well. 

One of the things that came up was how impossible it is to keep every law.  There are just too many.  Not only that, but how would somebody keep up with the changing laws or new laws that are put in to effect evryday?  It’s crazy.  Furthermore, what about religious laws?  I mean I have some basics that I have in my head like the Ten Commandments, but I can’t remember them day after day.  How am I supposed to adhere to all that? 

I can’t. 

So what does that mean? 

At some point I’ll have to answer for me not obeying the law.  I mean I’d like to think that I could just get by…well actually, I think I’m a different person now.  I’d probably at least want a chance to explain myself.  Even all the explaination in the world couldn’t get me out of that ticket.

So what happens?  Am I condemned for my transgression?  What are the consequences?  What happens when I break rules that I don’t even know exists?

…our well being fell upon Him.  By His scourging I am healed.

 Accept Jesus as the healer of your soul today.  Let your well being fall on Him.  He’s able, willing, and in love with you.

God is Spirit

Wakeboard Church May 17^th

God is Spirit

 

An attribute describing God’s being. 

 Spirituality – God’s spirituality means that God exists as a being that is not made of any matter, has no parts or dimensions, is unable to be perceived by our bodily senses, and is more excellent than any other kind of existence. 

John 4:24 – “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

 

God doesn’t have dimensions, even infinite ones. 

 

Psalm 139:7-10 – Where can I go from thy Spirit?  Or where can I flee from thy presence?  If I ascend to heaven, Thou art there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, Thou art there.  If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Thy hand will lead me, and Thy right hand will lay hold of me. 

 

1 Kings 8:27 – “But will God indeed dwell on earth?  Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain Thee, how much less this house which I have built!”

 

So bringing this down to our level:

 

It’s wrong to make a graven image of God because there is nothing that can really capture an accurate representation of him.

 

Next, God is huge!  I can’t even come up with the correct words to begin to describe what he is made of. 

 

The coolest part of all:  The huge indescribable God that could easily seem out of touch and too big to grasp wants to commune with you.  He made you personally and he wants you to know him personally. 

 

Take a moment, and close off and meditate on who God is, and where you stand with him.

 

(most of the material on this was taken From Sytematic Theology by Wayne Grudem)