Soma

I haven’t always loved reading.  In fact, when I graduated high school I had only read one book (that didn’t mainly consist of pictures) cover to cover in my life (Jurasic Park).  By the time I graduated college that number had ballooned to a whopping 4 (The Firm, I Kissed Dating Goodbye, Boy Meets Girl…Josh Harris and I were tight!).  You may ask me how I got through school without reading (apparently) any of the assigned books cover to cover, and I have two words for you…Cliff’s Notes.  Man I loved those things.

On the other hand, Lara has always loved reading.  When she was a little kid punishment would consist of taking away her books for a day.  When we took classes together in college, I would always let her do the reading and then ask her what parts she thought were important (I would read those…I mean, I was literate).

After we got married, and I began seminary…everything changed.  While I could justify skimming over a book that I was asigned for a “Sociology of Dying” class is college, doing the same for a theology class or a class on how to study the Bible just wasn’t quite as easy.  So I began to read.  And read.  And read.

Those who are closest to me will tell you that reading is still not my favorite leasure activity in the world.  I still find myself having to re-read pages two or three times because while my eyes hit every word, my brain was thinking about what Manny Ramirez would look like if he shaved his head.  But I have been converted.  I love reading.  Reading is one of the greatest ways for us to fill our minds with truth.  Begining with the Bible, and extending to books that reflect on the Bible, and even secular books that cause us to think critically and practically about the truth in the Bible, there are few more profitable things for us to do with our spare time than to read.

In addition, there is a significant stewardship issue to deal with as a member of the less than 1% of those who throughout the history of the world have been both literate and had access to books.  We have been given the tools, ability and intelect to learn…to stop doing so is not only lazy, but I would possibly even say sinful.  Proactively learning is not a season in life that ends when you have a Bachelor’s Degree to hang on your wall…but that’s a topic for another post.

The topic of this post is simply this: Read.  Learn.  Wrestle.  Question.  And not just blogs…read the good stuff: books!   They’re so much more thought through and helpful that the random online rants of anyone with an internet connection.  If you have the opportunity, don’t waste it.  And to help you out I’m going to institute a weekly book review here at Soma.  If you like what you see, buy it!  Read it!  Let’s discuss it.  I’m not the most well-read person in the world (incredibly far from it actually), but if we can read more and more together maybe it will spur all of us on to actually use the faculties and opportunities that each of us has been given for the glory of God.

Well, since we’re still in beta-testing and Chris Morris has been the only one to take the challenge of breaking the blog network (which it seems like he’s done a pretty good job of), I thought an ode to him would be appropriate before we dive into more significant things.

I mean (per our conversation at Bible study last night)…the guy is planning on sleeping in his car (van) for a year! That’s awesome! I’m not sure if he’s actually going to make it happen, but if he does he will have one of the coolest “My senior year in college…” stories out there. He’ll have a story about the night that he was awoken to a bunch of drunk guys trying to figure out how to get their keys out of the trunk. He’ll have a story about the night he was awoken because some couple in the spot next to him decided it would be “exciting” to make out in their car…in their garage.  He’ll have the story of the awkward look he got when he stumbled out of his car at 7:00am and ran into one of his neighbors on their way to class. What could be better than that?!

On a more serious note, though, Chris is an incredible guy. I’ve been blessed to be in the same Bible study with him this summer, and have consistently been challenged by his passion for Christ and for the world. This is one of those young men who has taken Paul’s charge to Timothy to “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” I know he has set an example for me.  Watch him live.  I think his example will inspire you too…well, except for the whole “sleeping in my van” thing.

I know it seems a little typical (if not cheesy) to use a Greek word for the name of a blog, but I just couldn’t get away from it.  Soma is the Greek word for body and is used all over the New Testament in referring to the Church (the body of Christ).

Romans 12:4-5     For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

1 Corinthians 12:12-14     For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.  For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.  For the body is not one member, but many.

The reason for this blog (and really this entire blog network) is, simply put, for the health of the body.  God is building an incredible family and body of believers here at Shoreline, and this is intended to be a place where you can continue to be challenged, equipped, and strengthened to do the work of ministry God has placed you in the body to do.  And, as a pastor, hopefully it will also help me to fulfill God’s purpose for me here as well.

As we go, let me know how it’s helping (and how it’s not), cause i really hope for this space to not be for me (therapeutic ramblings of a pastor…as so many blogs are), but about you…the body.