Civility is not a sign of weakness

In the current climate of today's world I believe that it is in the greatest interest of the people that we work together in order to improve the well being of all. As a child of God I believe that we as followers of Jesus should be the ones who lead that charge in the world. For far too long now followers of Jesus have been linked exclusively to political conservatism and the Republican party. The beautiful thing about being a follower of Christ is that we are all diverse. It is time that we regain our independence from political alignments. If you feel that democratic ideals are closer to your outlook on life, by all means vote so. Regardless of the way politics have been played in the past 20 years, the Republican party is not the Christian party. Christians do not have a party because Christianity is not a political lobbying group, it is a way of life. Unfortunately during my lifetime we have seen what can happen when people feel that they know what the "Christian way" is. We have seen people set bombs in front of abortion clinics killing innocents mothers, we've African Americans drug behind moving vehicles until their bodies are unrecognizable, and young gay men beaten and hung from a barb wire fence and left to bleed to death, with a large majority of these being done under the auspice of being the morally right thing to do, because being gay or getting an abortion is against God's will. Apparently they missed the part about loving their neighbor and the whole thou shalt not murder thing. Probably wasn't listed in the chemistry set directions on how to make a pipe bomb. My point is this... We as Christians need to be the champions of change, not be tied to the anchor of overbloated Republican politics. Instead of throwing out ridiculous accusations of the religious affiliations of our president, we should be working with him in order to help build a more perfect union. We should learn that to be civil does not make us weak. In actuality that civility will be what will save us. There is a time to fight and a time to make peace. We are embroiled in a spiritual war but we are losing it everyday that we fling stones in the glass house of our own making. Christians have become the biggest hippocrites in the world, lambasting all those around us for the splinter in their eye while we look at them through the forest in ours. It's time that we stop fighting the unnecessary battle in order that we do not lose the war that is vital to our life. Put down the bombs, put away the ropes, chains, guns, brass knuckles, and the instruments of hippocritical hate and realize that only when we become a civil people again will we be able to enact the change we cry out for. You see, John F Kennedy said that civility is not a sign of weakness, and in a relatively short time after that someone killed him. For all I know, there may be some who react just as violently to what I have said here. But the fact of the matter is that it is time for Christians to face the fact that we can no longer enact the change we supposedly seek simply be proclaiming that we are Chrisitians. We need action, we need purpose, we need civility. Not as a sign of ceding power to those that we are in disagreement with, but as a sign that we are truly what God has called us to be... A people who will embrace those less fortunate, who will clothe the naked, feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, and will be a light in dark corners. For we have been called by name by the name who is above every name, to follow Him, whatever the price. And at this time, the price is being willing to stand along side those around us, regardless of political or social status, and realize that our country needs a change. And we are the instrument.

Back from the Dead

It seems like so long since I've written here. Probably because it has been several months. I can hardly believe that my last entry was written in March. My how things have changed since then. But the changes since March are nothing compared to the change over the last 5 days. The people around me had best be praying and preparing themselves right now, because there is a mighty thing coming their way. God spoke truth into my life tonight and there is so much more coming. For the first time I feel the true Spirit of God within my chest, like a real fire burning and I'm ready to feed it. The time has come for us to embrace what we were called for and it starts right now. This evening I experienced a full on God attack and met with him in such a mighty, mighty way. I hope that you are all ready to experience God because He's about to move in this place. The fire I feel in my chest can't be contained and there is nowhere for it to go but out. For so long I've felt spiritually dead and the adversary has told me that I'm not worthy to carry the torch of the Lord but the devil is a lie! Those things that come from him cannot bear truth for he is chief among the deceivers! For the first time in a long time, maybe ever, I am content with who I am because I know that I am a child in Christ! The enemy shall fall because I will proceed forward in His righteousness, in His Spirit, and His truth. I will do justly, I will love kindness, and I will walk humbly with my Lord for He is my shield. I proclaim with loudest voice His promise that His word will not return void!! Truett, Waco, Texas, maybe even this whole country, you had best pray, because I have set my eyes upon the mark that I press on towards and that is to make His name made known. On this night I proclaim that I am back from the dead and the first order of business is reviving the spiritually defunct in the city of Waco. Revival is coming!!!

Father You're the One

This may seem kinda weird coming from me but um, this is basically a rap song that I just wrote. Enjoy.

VERSE 1
2:06 am
Thoughts running through my head again
Thinking bout all the times I keep failing Him.
But then I'm reminded that I'm not the first
And my thoughts move toward His people wandring in the dirt
It's seems it's in our blood to complain and gripe
To spout our own name and believe our own hype
You see God made us from the dirt not to be worthless
But the real reason that we're here is to serve His purpose
so as I lay here and think about the wrong I've done
It soon occurs to me

CHORUS
Father You're the only one
Who can take this life
Conform it to Your will
And make this right
Father You're the only one
And on this night
I give it all to You
So you can make this right
Cuz you're the only one

VERSE 2
2:18 am
Thoughts still spinning all around my head
This time it's all about the ones who gave their lives
The ones that paid the final price just follow Christ
You see sometimes in this life we're pulling at loose strings
Like when our names spelt wrong on our shirts and things
but while we're here complaining about our convenience
There's people round the world dying for proclaiming Jesus
So as I lay here and think about the work that's still to be done
The thought reoccurs to me

CHORUS
That Father You're the only one
Who can take this life
Conform it to Your will
And make this right
Father You're the only one
And on this night
I give it all to You
So you can make this right
Cuz you're the only one

SPOKEN WORD OUTRO
In this life, sometimes we only get one chance. To do something worthwhile for our God. To go out in service to Him. To give our lives for the throne. But only Jesus can make this life worth more. You're the only one Father God. We give it all to You. World without end. Amen.

Can Anybody Hear Me?

I hesitated to write
what I really wanted to say
but the words that come from my mouth
go right past your ears anyway

You say you can't help it
the fact that you feel that way
he's gonna be different this time around
I don't really care what they say

I admire your optimism
in spite of all events that transpire
but you have to learn that leopard's don't change their spots
no matter what your heart may desire

I hope you know you're not the first
nor will you be the last to bare your soul to me
I wish that one day you all could understand
what you're infatuation has made you blind to see

I thought about not speaking out
about just letting this one slide
but I wasn't sure that I could live with the guilt
live with the thought that I never really tried

So I cried out in protest to you
to try and make you understand
but still you chose to spend your time
with the one that you wanted to give your hand

I grow so tired of screaming
of having my voice lost in the noise
to see so many struggle aimlessly
all for the affection of certain boys

There's something more for you out there
something that I hope that one day you shall see
for you are not here just for selfish pleasure
you were created to be royalty...

But still you all stress and strive
all for the attention of one of us
most of whom only want one thing
"I'm gonna get this girl in my bed or bust!"

I really wish I could tell you
that things aren't really like that you see
but the more I look around my life
that idea is spread around like some disease

So let me scream out again
to those who are made like me
show a little respect for once in your life
God gave women to be more than just property

You see we're called to love them
as Christ loved the church
the last time I checked we weren't doing that very well
because I don't remember Christ treating his people like dirt

So cherish those who you are lucky enough to have
and if you don't think it's meant to be don't lead them along
it's hard enough for some to find love in this world
without you serenading with your cheesy love songs

So as I send this out to the world
I pray with all of my might
that my words would not fall on deaf ears
and that someone would hear me tonight

Am I ok?

Am I ok?
It's such a loaded question.
Can I be ok when the world around me attacks?
When the ones that should build me up teat me down?
Am I ok?
But what does ok really mean anyway?
I'm here aren't I? Isn't that enough?
Do I have to be more than just here?
Can I not just relish in the fact that I'm here for one more day?
I say to you today no!
I can't be complacent one more day.
I can't be complacent another second.
If a day is truly like a 1000 in Your kingdom, then I've wasted generations in my complacency.
Am I ok?
I can't be ok anymore.
Ok is gone for me, from this day on. You have made me more than ok.
You have made me more than what I see in myself.
You have made me to be Yours.
Am I ok?
No longer can I be that way
Oh Lord, I pray.

Together as one

as I sit in nokia theatre I can't help but be amazed by what I see. Black and white, sick and healthy, young and old, the downtrodden and the blessed. All coming together in the name of the one that we have the audacity to call father. The same God who tore open the heavens to declare his pleasure in the one who came from Him, we come to as if He is simply another person in our life. But when I think about, that is the way that God created us to act towards Him. We are nothing, and yet God has called us His own. He has called us his children. He has called us His friend. And as I worship with my family in Christ around me, I can't help but feel weighed down by the fact that we proclaim to be one body when the situation fits our needs, such as here in dallas on this night. Yet we go to our church and we go to our school and we set up our boundaries. It's time the walls come down. It's time that we embrace G3. It's time to become 1.

Emptiness

As I walk through another day
pondering all the uncertainty that still clouds my way
I cry out for help from God
to again make straight this crooked way
to give me enough light for yet another day

"Why aren't you listening to me?
Why can't I hear you speak?
Are we really just going at this alone?
If you're still there why don't you speak?
Why can't you just let me know that you still hear me?"

I know I'm here for something more
to do more than just check my emotions at the door
For the present time I will wait for your plan to be revealed
I'll continue to walk your path through the open door
and pray that at the proper time you will lead me into something more

"My child why do you continue to worry?
You know so well that I've never left you.
All your life I have been right by your side.
For all your life I shall never leave you?
So why in this moment do you continue to worry?"

"Things are different this time, can't you see?
I've gone all my life and even now there is only me.
I know that you created us to be relational beings,
so why in the world is it still just me?
is there something wrong with me that I just can't see?"

"My child, My child, of course there is nothing wrong.
for I created all the world that you can see
and the most delicate balance between death and life
surely through my revelation you must now see
that from Me there can come nothing that is made wrong?"

"I tell you now my child, your time will come.
I am preparing you both even now to be one
to be the man and woman that I have raised up to carry my Word
when I am finished with you both, you shall be one.
Until then please by patient, your time has not yet come."

"My God, my God, forsake me not for my doubt!
I'm just truly scared to continue to live without.
I know that there is one out there that you have for me.
And I know that you have not created me to be left out.
Please God up above remove from me this doubt."

So until that moment comes I'll wait
on pins and needles until that coming day
when the one that is out there for me is brought into sight
when finally reach that slowly coming day
the emptiness I feel will finally go away: I can't hardly wait.

The Power of One

Last night we had our third community worship service which was held at the apartment of Omari Head and Erik Robinson. Each time that we have gathered we have increased in number, a visual confirmation of what each of us has felt God calling us to enact in Waco and in Truett Seminary.

In the past week we have bear witness to some incredibly amazing things in the lives of our fellow seminary students. Two of our students were involved in a car wreck and escaped almost completely unscathed, and another student's mother who has been severely sick and hospitalized was healed completely and walked out of the hospital doors under her own power. I myself have seen the power of Christ recently in being called to be the pastor of a small church in Coryell county.

These things that we have seen are a testimony to the power of Christ in our lives and the power of prayer that we have been granted. We as a group friends, nay as a family have made the choice to not be content with "making mud pies in the slums" but rather that we will press on towards something more, so that we might bring a revival amongst our school and our town.

We will no longer sit idly by and wait for the things to come.

Through Christ, we are stronger. We are passionate. We are convicted.

We are the Eklektos, and through Christ, we are ONE.

Time for a Change

I can't hardly believe that it has been over 2 months since I put fingers to keys and brought my thoughts to the world wide web. In a way, that 2 months has been the most eventful of my short life. Since last writing I have been hired as the pastor of Pearl Baptist Church, as well fallen in love with the scriptures that we call the Bible. These scriptures have always been a part of my life, but at this point in my life they have begun to speak to me in ways that I never thought would be possible with any written medium.

I had a conversation with a buddy of mine at Truett this morning where he told me that he appreciated my stories that I had written and that I was a good writer, so I guess you might say that he has convicted me that I need to write on my blog more often.

I brought to the attention of my covenant group this morning that I needed for something to change. As I told them this morning, I don't really know what it is, but something in my life right now just isn't right. I'm where I know that God has called me to be in school, I have more friends than I've ever had at one point in time, and I have been called to pastor a church where I am quickly falling in love with the people that I minister to, and yet something feels like it is missing. All I can do for now is pray that God would reveal this thing to me. Something needs to change. Maybe it is me, or maybe it's those around me, but I need something different.

I wish I could explain what that something was so that maybe I could try and find it, but until it is revealed to me by God, I will just have to continue on the path that has been revealed. So if you've been thinking of me recently, for whatever reason, don't just dismiss it. Pray for me, and I'll do the same for you when you come upon my mind. It's time for a change, and prayer is a great place to start when something needs to change.

Grace and Peace

William Allen Nelson

What inspires you?

I just finished writing my second 6 page paper in three days and yet instead of taking a well deserved writing break, I decided that it was time for me to once again put fingers to keys and bring another enlightening blog to the world.

This second paper was all about the inspiration and authority of scripture. This led me to wonder, what exactly inspires everyone out there? Everyone draws an inspiration from somewhere. Even the most vile psychopath wants to be the next Ted Bundy or Charles Manson. So where does inspiration come from? What is it about certain people, actions, and events that raises up in us something that wasn't there before.

For me my inspiration comes mostly from my family. Call me biased, but I have told everyone that I meet that Billy Graham is the second greatest preacher I've ever heard, second only to my grandfather. He is my constant inspiration and even in his death he inspired me all the more. I will never in my life forget the sheer number of people that attended my grandfather's funeral. And I will never forget dozens of middle-aged adults putting quarters into my grandfather's casket, returning the favor for the quarter that he had always had for them when they were young. Just the thought of it brings tears to my eyes even as I write this, and yet nothing could inspire me more to be the kind of man my grandfather was.

However, the inspiration doesn't stop with my grandfather. During the past two years I have had the privilege of being friends and working alongside some of the most godly men that I have ever known. Kelly Wolverton, Stanton Blackburn, Erik Kale, and Brian Dubose inspire me daily to be the kind of men that they are. There ability to be servants for those in need, and to be the husbands, fathers, and friends that God has called them be inspires me more and more as I spend time with them. There ability to act in the best interest of God and the people of God rather than just themselves is a testimony to what a godly man is supposed to be.

So if you are reading this blog, don't just read it and move on. Take some time to leave a comment and tell me, what or who is it that inspires you???

A "Christian" University?

I've tried to restrain myself from being involved in the current political climate too much because frankly I liked both candidates and did not think that we were going to be destroyed if one was elected over the other. However the recent events that have taken place on Baylor campus have left me at a point where I feel I must speak up.

After the announcement that Barack Obama had been selected as our president elect, there were several disturbing incidents occuring throughout the Baylor campus. A noose in a tree, a fight between black and white students, and many many other racially motivated incidents that make me sick to my stomach. Where I am at right now is supposed to be a Christian university. This place is supposed to be a beacon that lights the way for others. Yet at other universities that have always been considered the seat of corruption, violence, and immorality the students are celebrating the racial barrier that has finally been broken in this great country of ours, while this "christian" university is full of students that are filled with hate.

Now I realize that not every student at Baylor is a Christian. It is a very diverse university with a very diverse student body. However the actions that have occurred at this university have opened my eyes to so much more that is wrong in this country. It's opened my eyes to the problems we have in the church. I am proud of the fact that I grew up in a southern baptist church. That has shaped a lot of what my christian background is. But I'm proud of it because it is all I've even known, and that is something that is very sad. I shouldn't know anything about being a baptist, because we should be a church. We should be the church. The body of Christ. We are not meant to be seperated by ridiculous and mostly human enforced regulations that divide our church. Despite what some people may say, the baptist tradition doesn't trace back to the time of Jesus Christ! We were never meant to be churches with completely different belief systems. The church is not meant to be a politicized machine and it wasn't created to be tolerant of you if you believe in something different. The church is solely for the glory of the Lord, as should the actions of that church be. This age of tolerance needs to end. Scripture does not preach a God of tolerance, it teaches a God that desires for His people to live in the way that He commanded, with a life that is meant solely to glorify Him more!

If you have a problem with that, get out of the way. It's time for Christianity to change. It's time for the church to change. This is the real change that we need in America. Not an economic solution, not a health care solution, not an energy solution, but a Christ solution.

Grace and Peace

William Allen Nelson

What's in a Name

I guess that I should take a brief moment to explain the name that is attached to this blog. For those who know me and have not figured this out yet, this blog is written by Cory Schibler. I have chosen to use the name William Allen Nelson as my pen name, because I truly intend to one day in some form be a published author. I have chosen this pen name out of respect and tribute for my grandparents who I have lost in the past 2 years, who not only did I love as family, but who more than anyone shaped my religious views and inspired me to be who I am and where I am. This pen name is my final goodbye to them, until I see them on the otherside.

See you when I get home...
William Allen Schibler April 30, 2008
Onedia Nelson Schibler Novermber 24, 2008

Grace and Peace

William Allen Nelson

The Story of God is like Pro Wrestling

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a huge pro wrestling fan. What people in the know would call a "mark." Being as such, I look for ways to connect the other things that I love to pro wrestling and vice versa. This morning as I was sitting chapel listening to Dr. Ralph West speak, this connection sprung out at me. He was preaching on the passage in Genesis where Jacob wrestles with the Lord and Dr West said specifically that "this wasn't no WWF, or WWE... this wasn't a Wrestlemania." But as I sat there and really thought about it, the story that is laid out in the bible truly is laid out like one big pro wrestling match. I will try and explain this the best way that I can, but it will be readily apparent to any of you who have actually watched pro wrestling in the past. For the rest of you, I'll try my best to explain it.

It's the oldest form in the world, but on an emotional level it still works today as well as it did in the 60's, 70's, and 80's. Pro Wrestling Pychology 101 is simply this. In the beginning, the babyface(good guy) shines. For whatever reason, he is proved to be superior to the heel(bad guy). Maybe he is faster, stronger, or smarter, but for whatever reason he outshines the bad guy in the beginning of the match. Then, the heel takes the advantage away from the babyface, usually by cheating in order to gain the advantage away from the babyface. The heel then unmercilessly beats down on the babyface , with occasional spots of hope where it appears that the babyface will overtake the heel once again, before he is once again cut down by the heel. Then when all seems to be lost, the babyface makes the triumphant comeback and in the end is the prevailing victor.

So it is in the story of the bible. The babyface, in this case the Lord, shines in the beginning. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." This can be considered the shine because there is only God at this point and therefore he is by default "shining." Then, the heel cheats to take the advantage from the babyface. In the case of the scripture, Satan tempts the Lord's creation into disobeying the command that He gave them. Thus, God is forced to banish His creation from the garden of Eden and the sin of Adam delivers all future peoples into Satan's hand. The occasional spots of hope in the scripture come in the form of the different leaders that God raises up from His chosen people who in spite of how much hope they inspire in their people, they all have their faults and all end up failing to be the deliverer that they seem to be and Satan retains the advantage. Finally we must have the comeback and the victory. This comeback begins in the form of a baby born in a manger in a stable, and ends when Jesus is crucified and resurrected in order that Satan may be vanquished forever. This is the ultimate comeback in the ultimate wrestling match, one that has been going since the beginning of time, and continues to this day.

Grace and Peace

William Allen Nelson

Sorting out Salvation

As I sit in my home pondering the things I've just read, I can't help but feel conflicted. I've just read a set of articles debating Calvinism and Arminianism. I am conflicted because even though I consider myself an Arminian, there are parts of both sides that I both disagree with and agree with. I will start with Calvinism because it is first int he articles that I've just finished reading. For those that do not know, Calvinism is usually defined using the T.U.L.I.P. pneumonic. These components are total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and perseverance of the saints.
As far as total depravity is concerned, I absolutely agree. Unconditional election in the Calvinist sense I do not agree with, as it says that God has only chosen certain people to be saved. I do believe however that election does exist, but refers to election to ministry at the least, and at the most to election of a chosen group of people. Limited atonement I absolutely disagree with because this says that Jesus sacrifice was only for the people God elected to be saved and not for the entire world as scripture repeatedly states. Irresistible grace is a gray area for me because I truly believe that God desires all to be saved and my own personal experiences have shown me that there can be no other explanation than a God who loves us. However, there are those that resist God's love no matter what happens in their life and therefore I cannot in good conscience endorse the view of irresistible grace. I will save perseverance of the saints for a little bit later.
As far as Arminianism goes, I wholeheartedly believe that we are given free will by our creator. I believe that God loves all people and that He empowers people to accept or reject His gift of grace through His son. However, I do not believe in the final component of Arminianism (which I didn't know was a component until this very night) which is conditional security. This is why I decided to save perseverance of the saints for a little (very little it seems) later in this writing. I believe that scripture teaches us about a security that is eternal, and not about a salvation that we must continually work at to keep from losing. Grace is a gift! What kind of gift can this truly be, if it is plucked from our hands if we do not fulfill certain requirements? The gospel of John plainly lays out eternal security in chapter 10 where we are told by Jesus that "[he] give[s] eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of my hand."
It is for this reason that I am once again conflicted on this issue, because I believe that Arminianism is closer to correct view of salvation, and yet as I read scripture I cannot accept that salvation is a conditional thing that can be taken from us. Perhaps one day this will become more clear to me (I very seriously doubt that, but we are called to have faith). Until then I will continue to read about these difficult issues and despite everyone's efforts to tell me that you have to choose a side of these arguments, I will most likely continue to try and put at least one foot in the very little middle ground there is in between the issues, if only just to aggravate those other scholars around me...

Grace and Peace

William Allen Nelson