Carried Away

Welcome to my blog! I have finally taken the plunge and submitted to the pressure of the blogging epidemic. I welcome myself to the ranks and look forward to quickly having more readers than my wife.

I have not completely decided how I will use this blog, what I will write on, and how often I will write. Mainly I think I will simply see how things go and fly by the seat of my pants.

For my first post though it seems reasonable to explain what is meant by my blogging title/name. I have taken this phrase "carried away" from John 21:18 which says, "Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go." (Interpretive Note: I do realize that this passage is probably talking specifically about Peter, however, the rest of the Bible certainly teaches the points which I will make.)

The context of this verse is the interaction between Jesus and Peter after the Resurrection when Jesus restores Peter following his denial. Peter has been challenged to "love" Jesus as demonstrated by Peter's care for Christians. Finally, Jesus once again makes the call to Peter to "follow me."

I have been thinking a lot about this passage recently as it relates to my own call to become a pastor in the church. I have been convinced that this idea of being carried away where I will not want to go is a critical affirmation for any Christian. I have begun to think that this phrase would be a helpful motto to constantly be reminded of the call of the Christian. Namely, to follow the savior to the cross, both in a daily life of laying down our own desires; and ultimately, in our death as well. This life is not my own, and where it may lead may not be towards comfort. If I take the name of Christ, then I take the call to follow him where he would lead me.

What exactly does this mean? Yet to be determined ...

Philippians 3:7-12 "But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith - that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own."