Seth Schwab

there really is a lot of wisdom in the Gen Alpha lingo and adage to "go touch grass."

enduring the persecution of my brethren in my dorm common room saying to me, "Brady washed," "Pats suck"

she is correct. (as someone who hates using illustrations)

from what the Lord wrought through the actions of the body, know the truth and through him might consider the Father. (Athanasius, 𝘖𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 15.1)

and the common Savior of all 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙖 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮 and dwells as human among humans and draws to himself the perceptible senses of all human beings, so that those who think that God is in things corporeal might...

For since human beings, having rejected the contemplation of God and as though sunk in an abyss with their eyes held downwards, seeking God in creation and things perceptible, setting up for themselves mortal humans and demons as gods, for this reason the lover of human beings

context informs meaning.

perpetuating a savior complex masquerading to be "incarnational" is not as spiritual as you think it is. in actuality, it is idolatry that is made in the image of yourself.

“Since believing is looking...neither does place matter in this blessed work of believing God. Lift your heart and let it rest upon Jesus and you are instantly in a sanctuary though it be a Pullman berth or a factory or a kitchen.” (AW Tozer, 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑃𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑢𝑖𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐺𝑜𝑑)

love serving the young adults here in the 757 @firstnorfolk!!!

You know you’re an ace pitcher when your team doesn’t score for you.

I have dreamt of this day many times.

Live slowly enough to think deeply about God. J.I. Packer

We’re back department just called

"I wept over Dido who 'died in pursuing her ultimate end with a sword'. I abandoned you to pursue the lowest things of your creation. I was 𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭." (Augustine, 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑓𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 I.xii.21)

"do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for 𝑯𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒏, as he said. 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞, 𝐬𝐞𝐞 the place where 𝑯𝒆 lay.” (Matt. 28:5-6, ESV) following Jesus means beholding His glory more than before. Happy Resurrection Sunday.

“how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'" (Isa. 52v7, ESV)

this makes me get up outta my seat every time

@Seth_Troutt "was it for him or for you?" in that convo was heart-piercing in the greatest way - such a fantastic question. so good.

“If I hit him in the head one more time with that microwave, he’d be dead.” Today in the sauna, a dude, late 40s, big beard, tatted-up arms and legs, about 6’2”, 275 pounds walked in wearing a shirt that said ‘Dead pedophiles don’t reoffend.’ “Tell me about your shirt,” I said to him. “Ah, my buddy started this company,” he responded. “Yeah, but you wouldn’t wear something with that punchy of a message if it wasn’t meaningful to you.” “You’re right. I wear it all the time. Only one guy has given me shit about it. I threw his gym bag across the gym. He never came back here. I’m a biker. We protect women and children. It’s part of our thing.” “How did you start caring so deeply about that? That has to come from somewhere?” I asked. “Yeah. I was molested as a child for a couple of years by a family friend. But it’s all good now - I was able to avenge myself.” “I’m so sorry that happened to you. That isn’t fair. How did that vengeance happen?” “Well,” he began, “when I was 32, I didn’t seek him out, but ran into him in the lunchroom in an office. I snapped on him, beating him within inches of death. I had to pay a lot of money in damages, mostly for the things that were broken in the lunchroom. But I didn’t get a criminal conviction. Other people came forward that he had molested. He’s doing time now. Sometimes I wish I’d killed him, but I think him having to live with the consequences of his actions is a better punishment. He can’t speak or walk anymore.” “This vengeance you got - was it for him or for you? Do you think you needed that to happen to him or do you think he needed that to happen to him?” I asked. “Good question. Maybe both. I’m a big justice guy.” “I have another question that might be offensive. Can I ask it?” “Go for it.” “People talk a lot about forgiveness. How does that apply here?” “Well. I’m a God-fearing man, so I believe in forgiveness. I also believe in consequences. I’m not always sure how they fit together,” he said. “I’m not always sure either. You’re a God-fearing man. Do you think you need God’s forgiveness?” “Yes. And I hope I get it. I think I’ll be with him in the afterlife.” “How do you think people get forgiveness? How do people get in?” “By being a good person. God can see your intentions. He weighs the good and bad. He knows your heart. I’m about 60/40 on making it, I think. I also think he understands that some do bad things because bad things have been done to them, so he’s more lenient.” “Where did you hear that? Where’d your view of how people get to heaven come from?” “Church. I go to one around here.” “Interesting. Do you believe the Bible?” “Yes.” “Well, I want to be very clear about something: what you described is not what the Bible teaches. It is wildly different, actually.” “Oh yeah? How so?” He asked with surprise, not offense, on his face. “It is by grace you have been saved through faith, not your own doing… so that no man can boast. That’s Ephesians 2:8-9. Faith is about believing your sins deserved death and that Jesus died in your place; it’s trusting the salvation offered by Jesus, rather than trusting in your intentions or deeds to get you saved. Nobody gets into heaven because of what’s been done to them by others or because of what they’ve done. Only by grace through faith. A God-fearing man knows he’s under the judgement of God. A good-news believing man also knows that Jesus was judged in your place.” “Ah. That’s in Ephesians?” “Yep. Do you believe Jesus died for your sin, rose from the dead, and is the Lord of your life?” “I haven’t put it that way before, but yes.” “Then you shouldn’t be 60/40 on heaven. You should be 100/0 on walking with God for eternity.” “But I still don’t know much. I’m still not that great of a follower.” “I feel the same way. You’ll grow in knowledge and obedience the rest of your life. In the meantime, pedophiles being afraid isn’t a bad thing.” “Good talk. I have some rethinking to do. I knew Jesus died, but I didn’t know it was about grace,” he said as we left the hot room. Three thoughts on evangelism: Someone being a God-fearer does not make them a Christian. But they are fruit ripe for harvest! More and more, people concerned with justice and ethics recognize that reality requires an author. I think most converts in the next few years will come from the “reality respecter” camp cc @jamesrwoods What people wear is a window into what they value. Fashion choices are about love; what they care about and how they want to be perceived. Almost every fashion choice connects to sex, money, or power. In this case, it was power and the abuse of power. If you want to start conversations with people, ask them, without being weird, about what they’re wearing and why, especially if it has text. Today I saw shirts that said “Normal mom’s club” and “All Pain No Gain” and “Lion’s Not Sheep” and “Kirkland Brand.” All of these would have been great conversation starters. Themes of frugality, pragmatism, desirability, “being normal” or accepted, and politics will emerge. These are bridges for sharing the good news. You can’t swing at every pitch. Trust the Spirit to pull you into the conversations he has for you.

Put on your dancing shoes, Liberty! The Flames are headed to the Big Dance 🕺