What Defines You?

Ok. I've got to be honest. I HATE blogging. Mostly because I don't have time to sit down and do it. Occasionally there is something I do want to write about, so posting these set-lists (see below) gives me a chance to collect my thoughts at times.

So this weekend I had 16 hours to ride in my little civic and think about things. On the way home I started to ponder upon things, and I really wanted to write these thoughts out, so I wouldn't forget.

I began thinking about my dad. Mostly because I'm teaching science right now, and because he would LOVE to talk to me and relate all his knowledge of God-centered-science through me to the kids that I'm teaching. While I was home, I looked through all this fossils and cool things he had aquired and wished I would have listened a little more when he was driving me crazy with all his Creation research. :)

So, that got me started. Then as I was thinking about this, I began to see a common thread of thought, when I thought about my father. I think of the things he was passionate about, the things he talked about, and the things he did. It's kind of funny. I asked my dad on several occasions to try to explain to me what he actually did at work. (Insert "Office Space" quote here..."So, what is it that you would say you actually do here?") He took the time to explain it to me when I would ask, but it really didn't sync in my head. That was REALLY about the only time I ever heard my dad talk about his job. I remember him working hard, and putting in some late hours, and working on "projects," but that was the extent of it. To this day, I can't tell anyone what my father did for a living.

I'm sure I've noticed this before, but it hit me as I was driving down Route 35 in Ohio. So many times we define and associate ourselves with what we "do" ...in reference to our jobs. A lot of times, I notice it's the center of our conversations even.

What I realized as I was driving was that my dad didn't find his worth or his definition in his job...even though he worked hard. He was passionate about Jesus Christ, and declaring His truth to people. I began to see this in my memories of him. He was so passionate about Creation and that truth would be taught in science. He was passionate about revealing false science and strengthening his faith in what he saw in Creation. ...this lead me down another string of thoughts.

I saw his passion of Jesus Christ IN his passion for Creation but also THROUGH his love of people...specifically youth. My dad NEVER seemed to be the type of "Youth Pastor" or "Mentor" that would attract myself. ...yet, I can't believe all the young people that were constantly telling me how "cool" and amazing he was. He had a passion to BUILD into the lives of young people and disciple them to love Jesus and strive to be more like Him. ...honestly, I took that for granted. I saw it, but didn't realize the significance and definitely didn't realize the DEPTH of it until recently.

This made me recall several stores that I have heard since my father's passing away. Mostly, I heard more about "When Marc Became Radical." (This was before a wife and kids...) You see, he was a "Christian" by definition of the world's standards, but there was point when something became drastically different in his life. This was marked by the evidence of grace in his life. He began doing crazy things like picking people up off the street and bringing them home to stay for the night and have a nice breakfast in the morning. He even allowed a troubled teenager live with him in his house...and continued to keep him there after he realized things had been stolen from his own house!

All of this made me think of the core issue. The LORD had captured my father's heart in such an amazing way, that he could truly see that "life is but a vapor or a mist that is here for a while, but then vanishes away." He simply was in love with the Lord in such a way that it had transformed his life and enabled him to love others and love his family the way that the Lord had called him to. We put a quote on his tombstone that I truly think would capture the way he perceived his life:

"Only one life, twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ shall last." -unknown

I can remember ever since I was in middle school... Dad would get up at insane hours that I truly couldn't comprehend. He would be awake between 4 and 5 EVERY morning, when the rest of the house was sound asleep. I could walk by the living room if for some reason I was awake, and see him...still in his green robe, v-neck tshirt (yeah dad!), and plaid pants, sitting in his chair, reading the Word of God! ...often times I found this was the springboard for ideas for new worship songs, or refutes to theologies that we differed on awaiting me, whenever he would come across something.

I realize that it's ONLY by the grace of God that my father was the man that he was. It's only by grace that "he became radical." ...and the way I see it, his radical lifestyle never waned. This is something that I don't think I've realized until now. ...that he was just as "radical" in his later years as he was when the Lord saved him! How radical is it that a man would devote himself to the Word of God, and loving, praying with, and pointing his family as well as others to the Lord.

It's pretty insane when I think about it, and I feel blessed to have had that influence in my life!!!



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ETERNAL CHURCH (09.20.09)

:ALL I CAN DO (UNDONE): CHANN CARROLL

:THERE IS NONE: JESSE SCHLICHER
:UNTITLED: CHANN CARROLL
:WATER TO WINE: AMY COCCIA

:BE THOU MY VISION: HYMN
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ETERNAL CHURCH (09.13.09)

:HOPE NOW: ADDISON ROAD

:PSALM 103: AMY COCCIA
:YAHWEH (WORTHY LORD): JESSE SCHLICHER
:FALL ON US: JESSE SCHLICHER

:MARVELOUS LIGHT: CHHARLIE HALL
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ETERNAL CHURCH (09.06.09)

:ALL I CAN DO (UNDONE): CHANN CARROLL

:MAJESTY: DELIRIOUS?
:THERE IS NO ONE: JASON MORANT
:BECAUSE HE LIVES: HYMN

:WHERE YOU GO I'LL GO: BRIAN AND JENN JOHNSON
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