Shine Saturday, Jan 2 2010

What is the message I seek to propagate

Shredding up culture’s agenda and hope

My life distorted like cheese on a grate

Hanging culture like a noose with a rope.

Children of light, shine.

We are our own guillotines

A shallow lifestyle made to fit the gallow

The children of death groan to kill

They live to make me die

But what if I died to make them live?

Children of light, shine.

We can’t conceive of what we conceive

We live like Jacob, greedy and apt to deceive

Birthing so called vessels of life

Whose only cargo elicits death.

Children of light, shine.

How are we going to justify

Living solely to gratify

While the Judge is here to satisfy

Eternal payments due Adonai.

Children of light, shine.

Before it’s too late amplify

Lift the Name of El Elyon, God Most High

Land of death rise, and give unabashed cry!

Lest you drink better tears, fall, and die.

Children of light, shine!

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Remorse Friday, Jan 1 2010

You once called out my name

But (cheers) now you’re falling down in flames

(tired of all your silly games)

I can’t remember a thing.

As I wake has this all been a dream?

Am I nothing more than a heartless zombie machine?

Swallow the pill,

Captivate your sorrow,

A world of delight,

Shrouded in mystical fright,

Hiding in the jaded distance.

I’d never let go of your hand

For an instant

Peering inside your soul,

I search and find nothing.

The gregarious hole,

The mindless droll,

Its effortless toll,

Out of control.

And Hollow.

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Stuff for Sale #1 Friday, Nov 27 2009

In an effort to free myself from the things of this world and give my money to the poor in accordance with the commands of Jesus Christ, I am putting up some of my things I’ve had sitting around back home in New Orleans for sale.

-If you don’t live in the New Orleans area, I can easily ship the items to you provided that you pay for shipping and handling of them.

Stuff for Sale: [Get EVERYTHING for $150]

Original Xbox [$50]
- Comes with the original system and cords and 2 controllers (1 S-style, one original controller)
- (6) Games: Halo, Star Wars Battlefront, Fable, Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, Counterstrike, and Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords

Ice colored Nintendo 64 (N64) [Get it all for $50]
- Comes with the system and 2 controllers (1 of them is an unique style and the joystick doesn’t work) and a “The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask Official Strategy Guide”!
- (7) Games: Kirby 64, Pokemon Stadium 2, The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, Star Wars Episode 1: Battle for Naboo, Resident Evil 2, Goldeneye 007, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Original GAMEBOY, Game Boy Advance and Original Nintendo DS:
[Get it all for $55]
-Comes with the systems and the following games
-Also includes a FANNY PACK (for those wanting to look good) and a WORM LIGHT (helps you to see those bad guys on your GBA, yea!)
-GBA needs scotch tape to keep the battery cover from falling off. DS DOES NOT COME WITH CHARGER (Find one at a local gaming store, perhaps).
-GB Color games will only play on the GBA, which takes 2 AA Batteries
-GBA Games (3): F-Zero Maximum Velocity, Metroid Fusion, Metriod Zero Mission, Super Mario Advance
-GameBoy Color (4): The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons, Mr. Driller, NFL Blitz 2000, Super Mario Bros. Deluxe
-Nintendo DS Games (2): Super Mario 64 DS, Mario Kart DS
-Original Gameboy Games (2): Super Mario Land, Tetris

DVD Sets: [$45 for all Seasons together]
-Seasons 1, 2, and 3 of “Arrested Development” [$12 per season, $30 for all 3]
-Volume 4 and 5 of “Seinfeld” [$12 per season, $20 for both seasons]

DVD Set: [$20 for all 10 movies!]
-(4) Starsky & Hutch, Anchorman, Pulp Fiction, Undead [$8 for all 4]
- (6) Dodgeball, The Cable Guy, The Truman Show, The Day After Tomorrow, Hulk, Beverly Hills Ninja [$12 for all 6]

Nintendo Gamecube: [$10 for everything…must buy with another system!]
-It needs repair to function. Comes with the AC adapter, no controllers or games. Also does not include the cords to the televisions (although I think the N64 cords work for Gamecube as well)
-Also comes with a Gamebattery which adds power to your Gamecube so you can play it on the go!

VHS Tapes!!: [$1 with any purchase!]
-That’s right, they’re back and cooler than ever! Comes with 6 VHS tapes including “Zoolander”, “50 First Dates,” 3 Episodes of “Lost in Space,” and an episode of “Bibleman”!!!

Dance Dance Revolution DVD Game: [$3 with any purchase!]
-Not to be confused with the actual game with an actually working pad, this DVD gives you something to follow on a “Twister” feeling pad with the normal directional pad. Probably best left for the girls to tackle.

Pokemon Cards!: [$25]
-Include a Pokemon binder and 100s of original Pokemon trading cards!
-Buy them, if for no other reason, because they are shiny and look cool! Or style the Pokemon binder with normal pages and bring it to class!
-Holographics include: Mew, Entei, Lapras, Gengar, Dark Arbok, Erika’s Vileplume, Dark Golbat, Dark Dragonite, Gyrados, Chansey, Erika’s Clefable, Machamp, Ninetales, Wigglytuff, Hitmonchan, Hitmonlee, Raichu, Aerodactyl, Vaporeon, Articuno, Moltres, Zapdos, Venusaur, Victreebel, Pidgeot, Blastoise, and 2 Japanese Holographics

*More to Come! (Golf Clubs, CDs, etc.- ask if you’re interested in these already)

M@ Pinckard

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Who do I BELONG to? Sunday, Aug 23 2009

Rating: GREATLY RECOMMEND! Adjusting to the style may be difficult at first, it’s a little darker at points, but likely because the album is dealing with heavy issues and therefore has heavy tones.

Project 86′s new album “Picket Fence Cartel” was released on July 14, 2009. The album features a heavier musical style that long-time Project 86 fans will recognize as more similiar to albums like “Truthless Heroes.”

The album has been timely in my life as I consider the foolishness of myself apart from God. Even Godless creation primordial soup believing universists (yes i just made up that term, I think) have to believe in some theory of creation which confesses that mankind has not always simply existed, but rather comes from something outside itself. In fact the more you ponder over it, the more you realize just how contingent your everyday life is dependent upon the lives of everyone else on this planet. We are all involved with and affect each other’s lives whether we like it or not.

Anyways, I Corinthians 1-2 is a great passage where Paul basically makes us feel totally dependent upon God. The entirity of a life well lived can be summed up in dependence upon God. God doesn’t need to use anything to add to His famouness or power. He is already famous. His law is written on EVERYONE’s heart (Romans 1).

We are all slaves to our perverted dictums and passions, less someone else come in and change us. Song #6 on the album, Cement Shoes, proclaims our helplessness and utter need for something outside ourselves to find serenity, or calmness. Isaiah 9 proclaimed that there would be one called the “Prince of Peace.”

A John Hancock with the Safety Off depicts the diseased culture we dwell within. We are prisoners to our perversions. Two Glass Eyes is very Psalm-like.

It’s ironic that the album begins with a  song about the Devil’s destruction and ends with questions about the truest depths of our hearts. It is a call reminiscent of Revelation. We fall on our faces to the ground to powerless. To Sand We Return seems to be a play on the biblical phrase “for dust you are and to dust you will return” (see Genesis 3:19).

Here is a quote from an article lead singer Andrew Schwab wrote that can be viewed on Relevant Magazine’s website. 

To be honest, for the longest time no matter how many meaningful things were going on around me, I found no satisfaction in any of it. Because when your treasure is success for success’ sake—or when recognition is your currency—you will never find peace in the things that truly matter. And I was so busy comparing the opportunities of my own career to those around me, always sacrificing the joy of the moment because my eyes were so fixed on climbing to the next level of status.

I missed out on countless tastes of true peace because I was always bent on becoming more…important

So the question is…who do you belong to? What gives you satisfaction in life? Whose praise to you desire? Whom do you seek? Have you lost all control and given it away? Do you feel powerless? May the presence of God Almighty cause you and I to fall on our faces, and may we proclaim that He is the One I belong to. Amen.

Stirring the pot,

M@ Pink

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Tight-rope Walking Tuesday, Aug 11 2009

Life is like walking a tightrope-line. It requires concentration and balance.

Jesus showed this in His life. He was intentional and thorough in His time with the disciples, but He spent ample time with the Father.

i’ve been learning a lot about balance in my life, and the lack thereof, recently, and I’ve decided to back up consistent blogging as a hobby this semester. I’m going to form a cartel with you and trust that you won’t presume anything that’s not really there in the blogs. Kind of like when you’re reading the Old Testament and looking for references to Jesus. But, to paraphrase Spurgeon, it would be better to assume it refers to Jesus than assume it doesn’t.

I hate buying white shoes. The reason is quite simple- white shoes dirty more quickly. They don’t stay shiny very long.

It’s kind of like that as we travel in the world. If every person in the world wore a white shirt on the same day, we would be so quick to point out the dirt on another person’s shirt.

Look, an imperfection! How did you get that stain? That’s despicable!

Can’t you see it?

White shirts. White shoes. Doesn’t matter. We like to be spotless. We want to be spotless. We need to be spotless.

The Bible tells us to fight for our “spotlessness.” 1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV) says “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”

Be holy. Be clean. Be stainless.

The church is the anti-thesis of a clean-cut club. Think about most society organizational clubs that require membership criteria and I am almost certain none of them require you to be a wicked sinner.

Seems like that is a criterion reserved for [true] Christians. We are all part of this club together. It’s like Alcoholics Anonymous, except we shouldn’t be anonymous to each other. People ought to show up to church and expect to be able to sigh relief because they can bear their true selves to others.

I wonder if we’re creating an atmosphere in our so called “worship” where this is actually awkward and difficult.

God is glorified in this and we are able to spur others on to be more like Christ. To not do so is to rob Christ of glory and the church of what it needs: the body needs all of its members to function cooperatively.

My prayer for incoming freshmen this year is that they won’t be afraid to join a church where they can really bear their sinfulness and be knit to others, weaved to them like as a weaved makes carpet.

That’s hard for a people who need to do laundry daily. Sometimes we need to check our pits because our ATTITUDES STINK!

I was thinking of a practical application to be holy. There are many. I will elaborate on one.

I started reading through the Bible once a year since I’ve got to college. I’m in Exodus right now so a week or so ago I was in Exodus 16, shortly after the Red Sea has split, and God begins giving commands to the Israelites on how to live to please Him (more on worship next time). God graciously provides the Israelites with bread (manna) to survive in the desert.

Exodus 16:16 “This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Each one is to gather as much as he needs. Take an omer (about 2 liters) for each person you have in your tent.”‘…(v19) “Then Moses said to them, ‘No one is to keep ANY of it until morning.”‘

Shortly after we see the Israelites rebelling and gathering excessive manna.

Exodus 16:20 “However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.”

Later in the chapter God gives more requirements, and the Israelites once again go and try to gather more than they need.

I wonder if we can say that we are people who just “gathered as much as he needed.” We are consumers. We eat excessively. We consume excessively.

What if God sent maggots to consume all the excessive “manna” in our lives? How much stuff do we have that we really need?

There ought to be anti-dumpster diving laws. No one should be forced to sink that low. What if we all had the attitude of “If I just got water instead of coke, that little bit could add up eventually to really mean something for someone.” Remember the widow who gave her two coins-thought it be little, she gave ALL THAT SHE HAD? May we do so.

Remember God? He dumpster dived and walked among filthy scum- sinful men. Consider Psalm 146:7 “He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free.”

If we want to follow this God, we must uphold the cause of the oppressed and feed the hungry. May we be so hungry for Him that we hunger for nothing else (see John 4:34 “‘My food,’ said Jesus, ‘is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.’”)

1000s of years after the Israelites were fed manna Jesus Christ came. He spoke these words:

“I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.” (John 6:48-51a NIV)

Signing out,

Pinkmeltingpot

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[Re]-form. Thursday, Jul 2 2009

I’m seeking God and in Him I’m constantly growing
Daily in His Word I invest time and charts ain’t showing
The greatness of His truth makes me holla in woah-ing

I’m talking “Woe, woe” to all who don’t repent!
Live your life for Him for that’s a life well spent
Conforming to His will despite our natural bent
Truth passed down way before the council of Trent
Apostle’s Creed says he went to hell, but actually he made no descent
Christians ought to fast more than just 40 days of Lent
My space in heaven is a place folks can never rent
Christ paid the price and rose and then ascent

To God our frustrations we must first and humbly vent
Not to each other cuz that tends to leave a nasty dent

To God be the glory forever that’s why we sent
Can’t earn your way to God, can’t pay a cent
Jesus came to glorify the Father and He gave more than a hint
Speak His truth and refresh your mouths just like a Junior mint
To God be the glory man, hope that’s why you went

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No Condemnation Tuesday, Jun 30 2009

[NOTE: this is a rap song by me. Yes, feel free to criticize. Don't be ashamed to verbalize. For the message of the gospel opens many sinner's eyes.]

Therefore there is now no condemnation
For those in Christ Jesus there is no condemnation
He came as an agent of eradication
To spread His glory through all the nation
So that from God we may receive blessings and vindication

For those who seek your face, such is the generation
We living according to the Spirit and not sin as our obligation
Those dwelling with sin set their minds on destruction
But we build each other up like workers in construction

Set your hearts upon the Lord in consecration
For God’s temple must be spotless and without desecration
For the creation was itself subjected to frustration
One day to be brought from bondage to liberation

As children we groan eagerly through adoption
Being made in the likeness of His Son is our predestination
So we boldly proclaim God’s kingdom and our redemption
Until God returns and reigns in glorification

For those who dwell in the love of Christ
what shall bring separation?
Shall trouble, hardship,
famine, or persecution?
Shall nakedness, no phones, or starvation?

I am not ashamed of the Gospel for
it is the power of God for salvation
to the Jew first and also the Greek
which means God’s kingdom is representing all the nation

Nothing shall separate us from the love of God to damnation
For who hopes for what he has?
We just bring truthful proclamation
Our present suffering is worth nothing
in comparison with future glorification

The creation waits in eager expectation
By grace saved through faith
This the puzzle of justification
The cry of Luther and co. in the Reformation
And now we trying to bring this truth in clear articulation

Like a bride in meticulous preparation
We daily engage in the process of sanctification
God’s plan suffers no disruption
He is sovereign and has a plan without frustration

Sainthood is my status in classification
God’s intercession continues in endless duration
We can’t persuade your hearts like propagation
Only the Holy Spirit’s conviction leads to your salvation

Of the gospel, I hope to never make simplification
4 laws, pray a prayer, ABC seems like an abberation
Christ covers our sin with His blood, expiation
Jesus took on the wrath of God
this we call propitiation
And thus leading to the believer’s justification

Magnify Christ and minimize man is the application
Make God great in your lives like amplification
I’m praying these words increase your love for God like multiplication
And now we out to create a gospel legacy tradition

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The Case of Grace Friday, Jun 19 2009

Oh to think of God’s saving grace!
To find myself in light with sins erased! (or “light drenched grace”)

once my status full of abase
my mind did God consider debase
but came a bloody, scarred and ridiculed face
like one abused by a daunting mace
a man with sorrows and afflictions -this the preface
this man to save the human race?
this man to crack the unsolvable case?

a hopeless plot soon to erase
three days gone- and God to praise!
the Son raised and ascended to His place
the truth a soul must warmly embrace

for it is no longer I but Christ as the base
upon which God set the runner’s pace
for a runner competes to win the race
less he be gone and without a trace

-M@ Pinckard

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GO Providence Report Thursday, Apr 23 2009

For my Spring Break, I had the delight of traveling with a group of (6) other Union students and (1) leader, Mr. Lee Wilson, to the city of Providence, Rhode Island.  Providence is located south of Boston and north of New York (just a few hours either way). This trip, through Union University, happened March 21,2009 through March 28,2009.

If there was one verse that reigned true for me, in hindsight, in regards to that week…

“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35

I’ve never felt the enormous welcoming, encouragement, and hospitality that I felt in Providence. God sovereignly provides all things.

We had the opportunity to work alongside Grace Harbor Community Church, a small knit of believers (less than 50) who meet inside the conference room of a Courtyard Marriot Hotel every Sunday morning. Our team handed out gum and hot chocolate (etcetera)at Kennedy Plaza (bus station) and universities in order to inform the city about the church and in the process share the gospel of Jesus Christ…intentional intentional intentional.

There is wisdom behind going to the same restaurants, places, etcetera- to build relationships for the sake of the gospel. In such a go-go, efficiency driven society, sitting around to do a nice gesture speaks volumes (even handing out gum). They are all means to proclaim the gospel.

I read this from an article while we were in Brown University’s bookstore…

“…the true essence of life is found in the sweet connection of two souls. It’s a high that can’t be reached by getting the newest iPod or following the latest celebrity scandal.” -Leon Logothetis in Psychology Today

God is the author of the universe and in Him alone should we delight, but He often speaks  (as we see throughout the book of Acts) by using people. Contagious joy surrounded our team as we got to know each other all the while delighting in and incessantly sharing the gospel through word and deed.

There is an urgency in eternity that we cannot be ignorant towards. There is no level of “super Christian” like missionaries in Africa or the best preachers. There are only men and women who are wicked but saved by grace.

Providence only reaffirmed in my heart that God has provided (no pun intended) ample opportunities for us to share His glory to others, if we are simply willing to be “radical” and step outside our comfort zones. Don’t be so concerned about saying the right things. You have forgotten grace. Man’s greatest concern should be to know and admire the ineffable God.

Do we know Him well? Do others know that?

People to Pray for (I’d encourage you to pick a few to pray for consistently):

• Blossom (79 year old lady we met on bus)- doesn’t know Jesus
• Kenny Robinson (former pimp)- doesn’t know Jesus
• Philip, Daman, Cameron, Leo and wife, Brittany - need Christ Jesus
• Tim Horton’s staff
• Grace Harbor Community Church (Leaders include Kevin and Andy, also Lou and James)
• Johson & Wales University (Andrew, Katelyn, Quentin, James, Alex, Andrea, Megan, Seoyurk)
• TNT @ Johnson & Wales (Leadership)
• Kim, Alyssa, Nathan, James, Dan, Jon, Elizabeth, Josh
• Rory, Amanda, Danny, Mark
• Susan, Stacia, Michael
• Danielle, Jess
• Pete (works at FBC Providence)
• Sean Carew and the Providence Rescue Mission (need especially prayer for building 2nd floor to host ‘homeless’ women)

Common Providence Phraseology:

• “I know a guy”
• “I’m all set.”

As Lee Wilson says, “Blogs are the new wikipedia.” But don’t wiki this. I love you deeply. And as Dwight Davis says, “Everything Paul says can be boiled down in 3 words: don’t be stupid!” And as Ashley says, “I’ll stab you, but in a good way.” May the Word of God cut to our hearts and change us. Amen.

Stirring the pot pink,

M@ Pink

Romans 11:33-36

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Heart Thoughts Friday, Jan 23 2009

At first glance, the title seems like a paradox. How does one’s heart think? Isn’t it the mind that thinks? Thoughts are very complex things. I find comfort in knowing that only God knows all my thoughts. Sometimes that scares the sock crud out of my belly button. okay thats not true, but it was a fitting analogy, i guess.

I love jazz music. maybe it’s the melodic rhythms. or the screaming-for-attention saxaphone. so smooth, like pavement after a freeze. or maybe it’s just how the ending always finishes with, not a bang, but a whimper…it fades quietly. That’s depressing if you dwell on it, maybe. Or the most beautiful thing in all the world. And whatever is beautiful is worth thinking about.

Sometimes I wonder if one of the reasons Jesus asks so many questions is because of what questions do to us. They leave us thinking. They make us realize that there is always something fresh to be learned. It’s funny how children ask so many questions, and adults think they don’t have to ask questions because they know everything…all the “facts.” If life is just about absorbing a bunch of facts, I want no part of it. Maybe that’s why Scripture tells us to be like children. What are children? First of all, they are defenseless and needy. As an extension of that, they ask questions. I get sad when I see how many people are content with living for “the next thing,” whatever that may be. how sad an existence. Maybe we buy so many things because we don’t like to spend time building things.

I had the thought of a conversation that goes something like this…

“Do you believe in God?”….”How can I when there’s no visible evidence?”…”Do you have thoughts?”…”Yes, what’s your point.”…”Well I can’t prove you have thoughts, but you tell me they’re there. And it’s the same way with God, His law is written on our hearts, all creation reveals His glory, and He’s left plenty of other evidences too. Don’t you think it’s more viable for me to believe in the veracity of God than your thoughts?”…”Perhaps, but I have personal testimony, God doesn’t have that.”…”Didn’t Jesus say that the Father testifies for Him? And weren’t there over 500 witnesses who Paul said testified to the resurrection?”

I sometimes see life as a highwire act. It requires just the precise amount of balance, or you fall hard to certain doom. A hero’s demise is often hubris. It is good to take time and walk to a well for water, rather than always buying bottled water. Most learn this the pain-staking way.

I wonder how many people actually really love other people. I mean, like really genuinely care and wouldn’t mind sitting there letting them tell them just everything about their lives. But is it curious to think about how many people values others for their being useful, but then others for just knowing them? I guess sinful humans, by nature, are reductionistic.  We want to know everything about God.  Anything that we can’t totally grasp and have control of, or is unknowable…that scares us.

Being a Christian is like owning a flashlight.  Say that you were going into a cave full of darkness. Your buddy next to you can’t find his way around, and you have a flashlight, but you won’t tell him about it. How foolish does that sound? Why don’t you turn on the light so that he can understand how to see in the darkness? It is futile for us to make excuses on why not to tell others in the darkness about the light. How much do you really have to hate someone not to tell them about the light?

Christians without the Spirit filled life are like weather vanes without the wind, idly sitting by squandering their very purpose. What a bad trade!

I read The Little Prince tonight. It is a children’s book 113 pages with pictures. Everyone loves pictures! But it’s not your atypical “Goodnight Moon” children’s book. This one can leave you with thoughts to chew on for millions of iotas.

“What is essential is invisible to the eye.” The Little Prince

All roads go somewhere. Truly, life isn’t about quantity so much as quantity. By the way, when Jesus says “truly, truly”, it means “amen, amen.” Every word He spoke was with authority.

We are excellent judges of others, but how about of ourselves? Oh if egocentrism would perish…but alas, one glorious day!

As Christians, we are like beggars, telling other beggars where to find food. Paul Copan used that analogy last week at the Apologetics Conference I attended.

If every moment was a peaceful moment, I’d have a lot of peas…

Sometimes, if you feel like you have enough past baggage to leave you at the baggage claim all day, its best to just trust God that he’ll get you new luggage and go out into the city!

You may be satisfied with how you live now, but will it satisfy you in death? Eternity is a heavy thing to dwell upon.

Psalm 73:25-28

Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.  Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.  But as for me, it is good to be near God.  I have made the Sovereign LORD (lower level ‘ORD’) my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

Yours truly, stirring the pot one day at a time,

Pinkman

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