Hi, lights!
A couple highlights from this past week:
-There was a writers’ showcase where three Belmont kids got up on stage at the curb cafe and played songs they had written. And guess who showed up to play with them, none other but Steven Curtis Chapman. It was cool getting to hear him in such a small setting (cafe only holds 50 or 60 people). I had no idea he’d been on the music scene for 20+ years. I also had no idea he went to Belmont! I thought that was extraordinary. He told his story about how he was just singing in the Belmont Reasons (music ensemble), and one night at a concert, one of the guests in the audience was Phil Naish. Afterwards SCC got a phone call and…let’s say that was the end of his schooling. It just reminded me that I don’t have to try so hard to prove myself here or fight for as many opportunities for exposure or for participation I can get. What is important is seeking the Lord. I’ve learned that if I do that, and do it diligently and constantly, He will reward me by opening doors and showing me down the paths He wants me to take. So I’m just waiting on God to show me the next step.
-Apparently Belmont is getting sued by the TBC (Tennessee Baptist Convention) for signing contracts with faculty who aren’t necessarily allegedly “Baptist.” I don’t know the whole story but I know the two groups are affiliated and part of THAT contract was to only hire professors who are part of the Baptist denomination. And…they hired a few that aren’t. I believe they are Christians, just not part of the Baptist denomination. So now Belmont’s getting sued for $58 million. What has happened to the spirit of the Church in this country? How long will we not have our eyes fixed on the goal, to see the kingdom of Heaven come to earth? What about when Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6, “1 If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? … 7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be cheated?” The greedy will not inherit the kingdom of God. So please pray against a spirit of greed in the Church.
In other news, I miss Seattle. The weather here has actually become a bit less ferocious, but I miss so much about Seattle. I miss going downtown and smelling the salty sound air while walking the busy, crowded streets. I miss driving my explorer around the south end. I miss having a zip code that starts with 98—. I especially miss having the privacy of my own room but I’m learning how to make due without. I really miss my family. I miss my mother’s amazing cooking, my dad’s corny jokes, and my sister’s weird noises that she makes. I would say I miss Sarah too but I haven’t even gotten to meet her in person yet so that would be a little weird. I miss Kayla and all her cheesy blonde jokes. I miss Frisbee games. I miss worship in Bellevue, Brad, Ian, Vince, Reid, everyone else who was there. I miss salsa dancing. I miss going to the gym with my mom every other morning and working out. I miss Jamba Juice. I miss being able to bum money off my parents for Jamba Juice. I miss my doggies, even though they bark a lot. I miss band. As much as I hate to admit it, I miss Mr. Fosberg (although my oratorio director is an acceptable substitute). I miss all my friends. I even…miss the rain a little bit. Gosh darn it, I will always be a Seattlite at heart.
But I know it’s God’s will for me to be here. That alone makes all the nostalgia and all the insecurity go away…or at least makes it a little less bothersome. I know He’s watching out for me, and the notion that He wants to talk to me and He wants to be my friend…that right there is enough to keep me going.
Oh. And. The soil here is ripe and ready to plant seeds of revival. Just so y’all know.
The TBC vs. Belmont lawsuit is about Belmont changing the makeup of the Board of Trustees, not about hiring non-Baptist faculty. Belmont’s Board of Trustees voted to allow the composition of the board to change from 100% Baptist to 60% Baptist, 40% other Christian denominations. The TBC feels that this violate a 1951 agreement between the two parties…someone at the TBC must have missed the day they studied ‘per centages’ in math, 60% sounds a lot like a super majority of control.
Okay, that makes a little bit more sense. The Belmont Vision article wasn’t very clear on exactly what the TBC was fired up over. For me, I don’t have an issue with that really…an agreement’s an agreement, and even if the terms seem unreasonable to me, you, or either party, the terms were agreed upon and should be upheld unless renegotiated. It seems that Belmont is in the wrong according to the agreement. My issue is with the way that the TBC is going about trying to resolve the dispute…I don’t think it’s a Christian method of action at all. I think it’s centered around greed and selfishness and I personally am appalled that such a large Christian organization would take such a course of action, especially with another Christian organization, in front of a secular audience.
Aaron,
It is possible that the 1951 agreement in this issue changed over the years. I am guessing that the court will make that determination eventually.
I completely agree that this is not the way Christians should do business. Unfortunately, there are leaders in both institutions that don’t seem to understand that concept. I am saddened that both sides could not come to terms and actually demonstrate the right way to handle this sort of dispute.
Court case aside…wow!!!!!!!!!! Aaron you are an incredible and rapidly maturing man of God. As I read your blogs I always leave with a certain amount of change begun inside of who I am, and in whom I will become.
Never cease to allow the amazement Jesus to be abated or withheld. You will obstinate some…enrage others…and free many. We unfortunately become so caught up in what we “know” to be true that we forget to allow our Creator to challenge what we believe.
Our God is an ever revealing, yet never changing God of incredidle complexity, completely wrapped up in revealing Himself to us. He wants us to know His name. Who He is, His innermost thoughts intents and desires, and how much we mean to Him!
The church young and old alike will only experience and know God at the level or intensity in which we pursue and “overtake” Him. God wants us to catch Him in the act of releasing Himself in our lives, and then He wants us to give His “releasing” away.
Always respect the “vein” of the house you are in yet a prophets voice must be bold and unwavering. It will challenge us to our core…However if we are “tapped in” we will allow that challenge to facilitate change. Many will not but if but one is changed…priceless.
Also, remember that there will be times in which you are to but listen. God will reveal the truth to you in certain matters that He is also going to allow to run their course. The truth is revealed sometimes for you to simply know the truth in a matter that God is allowing to happen.
WE MISS YOU TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Brad