Death is Like a Rude Visitor

"Death is like a rude visitor.  It sometimes arrives unannounced.  Other times, we see it coming.  It does not care about our feelings.  It takes no concern for the inconvenience it brings.  It wants only to be served and to be answered.  It takes who it wants and all we can do is sit helplessly by as it stomps through our lives making a mess of our emotions, wreaking havoc with those who are left to pick up the pieces.  Death brings discomfort and inconvenience.  It injures our hearts, robs us of joy, and takes from us our loved ones...

"Our mortality becomes all the more evident when a loved one dies.  We are reminded of the failings of our own bodies when we look at the frail and empty shell of the one we have loved.  We are reminded of where we are headed.  We see the horizon as it approaches.  Sometimes we look away.  Other times we stare out into the distance wondering when and how it will come.  We wait.  We know it will come because we sense its work on our bodies as they slowly succumb to its touch.  We ache, slow down, get sick, and endure the frame that imprisons us."

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These are words from an article I sought out after my grandfather passed today. I was looking for something I could relate to and hear after the crippling news, yet I still feel uneasy. I feel like I should have been there, but selfishly am glad I wasn't because it doesn't quite feel real yet. It is a very odd feeling to lose a loved one. Like I read and reposted, i feel discomfort, i feel robbed, and i feel the reality check of death walking down the street. My mortality as a young male is seldom remembered, instead arrogantly considered to be invincibility.

Yet in this time of pain and suffering that comes with a lost loved one, I still thank God. I thank Him that He even gave me a grandfather; one that loved and taught me, that loved my mother and raised her and gave her the attributes that she handed down to me. I am thankful for the 19 years I was able to spend with him, and that in those years he never ran out of stories to tell the grandchildren. I also thank God for removing him from the aches and pains caused by sin in the world that, although I fear losing my family and friends, I would be glad to be freed from as well... wouldn't we all?

I pray for comfort to my family in tragic times of losing a loved one, a father, a husband, and a grandfather. I pray for healing of broken hearts and wounded souls. Last but most importantly, I pray the Gospel work in the affected hearts and the work of God shine through in times of darkness. I pray that though Death be a visitor, his sting calmed with a quiet hush.

   "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

Psalm 23:4

John M. Swidecki 3/20/29 - 3/26/11

Long Time, No Blog

I suppose I've been lazy for a while; I like to say busy but realistically I just haven't made time to write a blog since Thanksgiving! Well since then, I hope you all have had a fantastic Christmas and New Years as I have.

I'm writing this, again, in the airport on my way back to Lomaland. Being alone and watching people interact in the masses is somewhat of a hobby of mine. I like to call it "people watching." It's interesting how you see a little bit of yourself in everybody, and a lot of brokenness. At an airport, nobody is happy, but rather stressed and anxious to get to their terminal and sit alone and awkwardly pretend to be busy on their phone or read a book.

From the time walking into the airport to sitting down at the terminal, thousands of interactions occur that we may not even think about. For example, while attempting to get through TSA, there was a woman in front of me who was stressed beyond imagination. She was very worried of missing her flight. I spoke a little to her and assured her she would get through as her bags were being sent back to be rechecked by hand. Those few easy words I said turned her frown upside down.

Out of the thousands of interactions we partake in throughout the day, imagine if we put it in our head and hearts to just simply smile at people or text a friend we haven't spoken to in a while, or even give a little reassurance with a kind voice.

Christ loved us so that we may love others. If God loves us with the immensity that he does, why are we so lazy that we can't even show love to our fellow brothers and sisters even a small fraction that God does? Thinking of this has encouraged me to do just that. Next time you see a friend or, better yet, a complete stranger, flash a smile. Ask how they are, and mean it. Let's make it a point to show we actually care about the people around us, it's nothing new.


For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. . .
-1 John 3:11 ESV

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Other White Meat

Hello friends and family! It's that time of year where beautiful shades of red, yellow, and orange cover the foliage and little pilgrims become the decorations at my house in Olympia. This year is different though. I'm stuck in San Diego where there are no such colors but rather green palms and blue ocean with a chilly 60 degree temperature. Better yet, 1200 miles away at home it is well below freezing and all is white! What a year I picked to not come home. I hope the winter wonderland stays around for Christmas time! Rather, I will be spending Thanksgiving here with my roommate Brandon at my R.A. Chad's house, for which I am thankful. Along with this, I realize the myriad of blessings in my life and count each of them to the Lord. The foremost ones I see are the relationships in my life that without I would surely fall.

Primarily, I am thankful for my parents. My parents raised me well and I don't thank them enough for it. Furthermore, they have been very supportive of recent as far as me going to college far away and declaring majors in Philosophy/Theology and Biblical Studies. Also to my brother, although he may pester me sometimes and I him, I love him very much and look forward to coming home and seeing him.

Also, I am thankful for my friends. I'm glad that they now span across the west coast too! I miss my Olympians and friends from Hope and look forward to the 17th when I get to come home to visit with them for three weeks. Also, my friends I've met here in San Diego are wonderful (especially Hendricks 1st South!).

Above all, I am thankful for the Lord, my God. His grace and providence in my life is bountiful and I praise Him for it. I pray you see your life the same.

While I will deeply miss spending time with my family on this holiday, I find comfort in all the good God has given me. Loving parents and brother and great friends, they are what I am thankful for. What about you?

"Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!"

              - 1 Chronicles 16:34

On My Convictions...

"I have three things I'd like to say today. First, while you were sleeping last night, 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition. Second, most of you don't give a shit. What's worse is that you're more upset with the fact that I said shit than the fact that 30,000 kids died last night. This is the problem with American Christianity today."
        - Tony Campolo

My roommate, Brandon, posted this on Facebook along with some wise words in a note a bit ago, and although I had heard this before, I was convicted. Convicted that that many children die from preventable diseases and I don't do anything about it. Even more so, I often don't think to do anything about it. It feels now as though I have a had in their death's by ignoring it, even not meaning to do so.

Conviction is a deep and heavy feeling. It is unlike guilt, though, by the understanding that conviction comes from the Holy Spirit and not from myself (John 16:8). This morning at the Resolved Church (my San Diego church), we read through the crucifixion of Christ in the book of Matthew. Although, I have read this multiple times, it burdened me. It is easy to become religious and go through the motions as a Christian, but how do I not constantly think of the most important event of all of history: Christ's death and resurrection. How wretched am I who does not intentionally make this my one focus everyday?

There is joy to be found with conviction though. The Holy Spirit who convicts first regenerates our hearts, my heart (Titus 3:4). Because I am in Christ and Christ in me, there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1). We may try our hardest, but what has already been done is all that matters. In remembering the crucifixion, I am sorrowful of the pain and literal heartbreak of Jesus, but more so I am filled with joy that Jesus sacrificed Himself in my place with my name on his mind as he uttered his last words and breathed his last breaths. This gives me hope that, although I don't deserve it, I am redeemed by Christ. By Him, I am continually sanctified to be made more like Him. This is, of course, not to say I don't have to try on my part, rather remember Jesus and his Word at all times, trying to live a life resembling His.

Knowing that the atrocities of man occur in the world, let's do something about it. Be a missionary, whether it is far off or to the kid who sits alone in the cafeteria. Better yet, build a relationship with them. Support a child who parents cannot otherwise support them. Be the example that Christ was and is, and show others the love of God by loving man. Go and be like Him.

"May He continue to break our hearts for what breaks His."
        - Brandon Aguillard, my roommate and brother in Christ

Dearest Olympians

It was great to be back in Olympia this weekend to see friends and family. I flew in Thursday afternoon with my roommate Brandon to surprise our friends and family and I ended up receiving a better weekend than I thought I could have. Seeing my parents becomes a blessing after separation from even last weekends "parent weekend" when they flew down to see me. It was enthusing to see friends who hadn't expected me and to view the shock or surprise on their countenance. It was great.

Each surprise was good (although Marilyn's lacked emotion, Amy made up for it by screaming at me in the Starbucks parking lot). I loved visiting with old friends and catching up on current events in their lives. Whether it was catching up and jamming with Aaron right before he left, grabbing lunch with the Roberts clan after planting trees at the church in extremely "ripe" soil, or spending the night at Justin's after swinging over trees at Anna and Kelsey's, every ounce of my short weekend home was packed with fun and good times. Panda was definitely the way to end my vacation at home after a fantastic church service at Hope. I thank God for my friends and home.

Being in the airport on layover waiting to return to San Diego is bitter sweet. I'm glad to return to California, to my school, my new friends and dorm, yet I deeply miss my friends and family at home and am sad to leave them until I return. In the words of Kenzie, "I wish December would hurry up..."

"I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, every one of them."

           3 John 1:13-15

Blessed Be His Name

And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”  (Job 1:21 ESV)

Recently I watched a sermon online by Pastor Britt Merrick down here in Southern California that moved me to these thoughts. His five year-old daughter Daisy was diagnosed with stage three cancer nearly a year ago, having a tumor the size of a football in her abdomen. The sermon was from the week following the horrific discovery of the tumor, in which he announced to the congregation the news and continued to teach the Bible in light of how we as Christians should react to such events in life.

It's not often that we think about all of tragedies and deaths that occur in our world daily. In all honesty, most of our thoughts are consumed by ourselves: what we're going to eat for lunch, when is my next deadline, what am I going to do this weekend. We are all guilty of this. Watching this sermon made me think about life and others around me though. So i ask not only what do we do as Christians when the doctor says to us, "your five year old has cancer," but what do we do when we discover another person's five year-old has cancer? 

Some may ask, 'Why would God do this if He is so good and just?' Some may begin to doubt their faith. Some even contemplate the existence of God. The largest thing that stood out in this sermon that I viewed was that Merrick did none of those. A man is brought to the lowest of low points in such a circumstance, but he said it was his knowledge of scripture that kept him from asking "why." God gives us in His Word the answers to nearly all of our questions in life, we just need to pray and seek them!

Psalm 119:71 says that it is good that we are afflicted so we may learn the statutes of God. Having God-given faith, we can overcome circumstances in which we have stumbled into the Valley of Death. And through these afflictions we learn; we learn more of ourselves and character but most importantly of God who is good and who helps us in all things. Also, God says in Isaiah 55:8-9 that His ways and thoughts are higher than ours. Who are we, created beings, to say that God is wrong or unjust, for we can not even begin to fathom His ways or reasoning.

The best characteristic example of this faith in times of distress and sorrow is Job. Job had everything taken from him, all allowed by God, but he proclaims this wonderful thing: "The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." We may not understand why God does everything that He does, why innocent are murdered, babies die, and children get cancer, but we know the Lord gives and takes away, so blessed be His name. His thoughts are light years higher than any of ours and I have faith that He is good and just. I have faith that his plans are greater than mine and I trust that His ways are good and his plans better than mine.

Daisy's much better and is now tumor free!

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

(Philippians 4:4-7 ESV)

Click here to read and follow more of Daisy's story.
Click here to watch the sermon prior to the discovery of Daisy's illness.

Book Review: The Five Points of Calvinism

 

Among my other recent activities, I just finished reading a book titled The Five Points of Calvinism: A Study Guide by Edwin Palmer. To get to the point in case you don't feel like spending time reading a review, buy it and read it. The book covers the title topic extensively yet in a concise and comprehensive way that any reader on any path in their spiritual walk can understand.

The Forward and Preface of this book are even worth reading. Written by Westminister Theological Seminary professor Michael Horton, the forward explains to the reader the value of the book they are about to read; a book that he recommends in company with those of J.I. Packer and R.C. Sproul. The Preface (written by Palmer) introduces the ideas and points that Palmer will talk about in the upcoming chapter as well as a small background on John Calvin himself and his theology.

Working a chapter at a time, Palmer delves into the acronym of TULIP explaining thoroughly what the definition and applicable verses are, what each idea is and is not, and any concessions an opposing view may have on the idea. Each chapter is riddled with explanation- not only of the idea, but other vocabulary within the text- and application as well as answers to frequently asked questions. The scriptural references are quoted in context and are studied humbly understanding that not even the author knows everything about the subject or, more so, the Bible.

After the five chapters of TULIP, Palmer addresses the "Great Mystery" of the Bible and offers some answers and ideas to ponder. One of my favorite parts of this book aside from the vast amount of information it provides is the humility of Edwin Palmer mostly noted in this chapter. He confesses that he humanly does not have all the answers, that we can't always stick logic with the thought process of God, because His is almighty and much more advanced than a man could ever comprehend. And lastly, he addresses the thing many Christians and calvinists ponder: the opposite side of election that is called reprobation. Palmer gives "Twelve Theses" on the Biblical evidence and thought of the idea and ties all of the points together, as you cannot have one idea without the other four.

This guide also provides numerous resources for the reader to further study in the back of the novel, noting the novels and articles that were read to compile the book. Furthermore, the author includes an article from John Calvin on his attitude toward the doctrine of predestination as well as articles and sections from The Belgic Confession of Faith (1561), The Westminister Confession of Faith (1648), and the Heidelberg Catechism (1563). And for any person who likes to read groups in small groups or ask questions of what they just read, discussion questions are at the end of each chapter to help the reader further grasp the idea that is no simple task to conceive.

All in all, the book was fantastic and helped ground in my beliefs in what the Bible has to say and how to explain it to others who may ask. Do yourself a favor and add this to your library along with the humility and knowledge it will bring.

"For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love." (2 Peter 1:5-7 ESV)