So here I am. In a very familiar situation. At a Starbucks, listening to Leeland, decaf Americano w/skim milk in my hand, and my Bible and journal out like I'm a soldier cleaning his gun (which is how it feels. Yea I'm super "BA").
The only difference today is that I have been "forced" to post this from my iPod Touch (not itouch like everyone loves to call it ... I don't call your TiVo a Tevoh or TV-Recorder thingy, just as an FYI).
How interesting is this technological world we all live in. Not only can we not stay disconnected to the internet for more than an hour, but we continually find more ways for us to do so. Laptops, iPods, iPhones, cell phones, etc. I think even at my old dentist's office (before I started going to the "adult" dentist aka when i turned 18) you could go surf the web while you waited. That is a bit much.
Think about this the next time you go out. If you were desperate to send an email, how long would it take you, without using your own stuff, to send one out? It would take me 8 minutes to drive to the nearest Best Buy and get the job done.
I know we all seem dependent on our Blackberry and our iPhone, but take 24 hours and fast from it all. Take a Saturday or a Sunday (if you're in the working world) or any day of the week (for the students out there) and leave it all at home. Cell phone, iPod, laptop ... pager? (who still uses those??), and take a break. Bring your Bible and a notebook or journal along instead and spend some inward time with the Lord.
Honestly it will change your week. And eventually, as we all begin to change our routine to include less "me" time and more God time, we'll find ourselves better off in every way than we were.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Super Powers
So I just got done watching "Push" at the theater. I enjoyed the movie a lot and recommend it to anyone who loves a good superhero movie that involves beating up the bad guy, uncovering a secret plot and people doing supernatural things usually involving their hands.
After the movie was done all I could think to myself was, "why do we as a society love anything that has to do with super powers?" Especially after my fiancée asked me the standard question, "if you could have a power from the movie, what would it be?" Now there was a group of characters in the movie that could put a thought, idea, memory or even life events into your head-memory and make you believe that it was real. Naturally that's what I chose because it seemed the most hardcore and, well, my flesh was all over it.
Honestly, there is this evil coniving part of you that thinks, "well, if I could make everyone do whatever I wanted, then everything would be amazing, because clearly I know best."
It just struck at the core of human existence for me. Adam and Eve. Me. You. Everyone. We all think at some point in our lives that we know better than God. That Our way, is the best way. It's ironic really, that as a Christian I know that God knows best. He is the creator of everything. He has been around forever (literally). He is also the knower of everything. In that, He knows what was, what is and what will be. Meaning that He knows best. So since I have created nothing (except for maybe a few sand-castles, a handful of computers and some arts and crafts), have been alive for a grand-total of 23 years and 8 months (almost to the day ... my birthday is on the 23rd) and I only know in part since I am only a flawed human (1 Corinthians 13:9, check it out).
Then why and how can I ever think for a second that I know best or even better than God. It's the same thing as a teenager thinking that they know better than their parents. Honestly, I know I'm only 23, but I know now that my parents did know better than me growing up, and that in instances even now they still know better than I do (that's a different subject for a different day (obediance vs. respect for parents)).
We should all take a lesson from Adam and Eve and be reminded of it frequently. Our sinful nature began with the idea that we knew better than God. And we paid dearly for it. But God in His ultimate love for us allowed for us a way to return into His presence. Jesus Christ coming down from Heaven, living among us as a man. Dying on the cross a sinless man in order to take the place of the entire sins of the world (past, present and future). And rasing from the DEAD with a new heavenly body and ascending into heaven to prepare a place for us.
God's love is everlasting, amazing and intense. We will never know better than Him and the best thing we could ever do with our lives is to give them up completely to His will and let God lead our lives completely.
After the movie was done all I could think to myself was, "why do we as a society love anything that has to do with super powers?" Especially after my fiancée asked me the standard question, "if you could have a power from the movie, what would it be?" Now there was a group of characters in the movie that could put a thought, idea, memory or even life events into your head-memory and make you believe that it was real. Naturally that's what I chose because it seemed the most hardcore and, well, my flesh was all over it.
Honestly, there is this evil coniving part of you that thinks, "well, if I could make everyone do whatever I wanted, then everything would be amazing, because clearly I know best."
It just struck at the core of human existence for me. Adam and Eve. Me. You. Everyone. We all think at some point in our lives that we know better than God. That Our way, is the best way. It's ironic really, that as a Christian I know that God knows best. He is the creator of everything. He has been around forever (literally). He is also the knower of everything. In that, He knows what was, what is and what will be. Meaning that He knows best. So since I have created nothing (except for maybe a few sand-castles, a handful of computers and some arts and crafts), have been alive for a grand-total of 23 years and 8 months (almost to the day ... my birthday is on the 23rd) and I only know in part since I am only a flawed human (1 Corinthians 13:9, check it out).
Then why and how can I ever think for a second that I know best or even better than God. It's the same thing as a teenager thinking that they know better than their parents. Honestly, I know I'm only 23, but I know now that my parents did know better than me growing up, and that in instances even now they still know better than I do (that's a different subject for a different day (obediance vs. respect for parents)).
We should all take a lesson from Adam and Eve and be reminded of it frequently. Our sinful nature began with the idea that we knew better than God. And we paid dearly for it. But God in His ultimate love for us allowed for us a way to return into His presence. Jesus Christ coming down from Heaven, living among us as a man. Dying on the cross a sinless man in order to take the place of the entire sins of the world (past, present and future). And rasing from the DEAD with a new heavenly body and ascending into heaven to prepare a place for us.
God's love is everlasting, amazing and intense. We will never know better than Him and the best thing we could ever do with our lives is to give them up completely to His will and let God lead our lives completely.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Who Am I?
Remember that Jackie Chan movie "Who Am I?"?
Anyway, I am Erick Horrmann. No surprise, I'm a Christian. To steal from dc Talk, I'm a "Jesus Freak," and I love it!
Born in Seoul, South Korea (and no, I'm not from North Korea. Everyone always manages to ask me that when I tell them I'm from "Korea"), I was adopted at the age of 13 months and have lived in South Minneapolis, MN since then (and yes, I'm actually from Minneapolis. Everyone manages to think that I'm from a suburb when I say "Minneapolis" and not a suburb ... interesting).
I was raised Lutheran (Missouri Synod represent!) in a very traditional church (Holy Cross Lutheran).
It means a lot to me as it is where my paternal-grandmother went to church as an adult and also where my dad grew-up going to church. Hymns, memorized liturgy, organs, choirs, etc. all make me feel like I'm in a holy place and that I'm "home."
I attended public schools until the start of 6th grade (when I started private Christian school). Graduated high school somewhere in the middle of my class of 126 students at Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis.
I moved on to attend the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire for 5 1/2 years where I pursued a Print/Broadcast Journalism major and a Psychology major (journalism for the first 3 years and then I switched to psychology) and an Information Systems minor.
There I was actively involved with Campus Crusade for Christ and found myself traveling across the country and across the world to spread the Gospel and share it with college students in Eau Claire, WI; North Myrtle Beach, SC; and parts of Eastern Asia.
I also found myself actively involved with the worship band for our weekly meetings we had for "CRU." I was a part of the team as the bass player for a year and then went on to be the team leader for a year playing guitar and singing. Worship is amazing, and it is one of the few things on earth that I believe give us a very small glimps of what we will be doing in Heaven.
The rest is just details, and you know what they say, "the devil is in the details" ... or is it "God is in the details?" I think I've heard it both ways ... but I'm using the former in this case. If you want to know the details however, then God IS in the details and I would be happy to give you more as you seek it.
Anyway, I am Erick Horrmann. No surprise, I'm a Christian. To steal from dc Talk, I'm a "Jesus Freak," and I love it!
Born in Seoul, South Korea (and no, I'm not from North Korea. Everyone always manages to ask me that when I tell them I'm from "Korea"), I was adopted at the age of 13 months and have lived in South Minneapolis, MN since then (and yes, I'm actually from Minneapolis. Everyone manages to think that I'm from a suburb when I say "Minneapolis" and not a suburb ... interesting).
I was raised Lutheran (Missouri Synod represent!) in a very traditional church (Holy Cross Lutheran).
It means a lot to me as it is where my paternal-grandmother went to church as an adult and also where my dad grew-up going to church. Hymns, memorized liturgy, organs, choirs, etc. all make me feel like I'm in a holy place and that I'm "home."
I attended public schools until the start of 6th grade (when I started private Christian school). Graduated high school somewhere in the middle of my class of 126 students at Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis.
I moved on to attend the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire for 5 1/2 years where I pursued a Print/Broadcast Journalism major and a Psychology major (journalism for the first 3 years and then I switched to psychology) and an Information Systems minor.
There I was actively involved with Campus Crusade for Christ and found myself traveling across the country and across the world to spread the Gospel and share it with college students in Eau Claire, WI; North Myrtle Beach, SC; and parts of Eastern Asia.
I also found myself actively involved with the worship band for our weekly meetings we had for "CRU." I was a part of the team as the bass player for a year and then went on to be the team leader for a year playing guitar and singing. Worship is amazing, and it is one of the few things on earth that I believe give us a very small glimps of what we will be doing in Heaven.
The rest is just details, and you know what they say, "the devil is in the details" ... or is it "God is in the details?" I think I've heard it both ways ... but I'm using the former in this case. If you want to know the details however, then God IS in the details and I would be happy to give you more as you seek it.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Life as A Messenger
Who are we. And when I say "we" I am speaking about Christians. Well, at least my own view on Christians.
My opinions are simply opinions, but they have been based on living a life for Jesus Christ devoutly for the past 6 years, and a believer in Christ and God and the Holy Spirit since I was 4 years old. But more on my personal history later.
Matthew 28:16-20 tells the story of the last command that Jesus gave to his 12 disciples before ascending into Heaven. He tells them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age."
This is the last thing that Jesus decided to say before He left this earth. There are a lot of core things when it comes to being a follower of Jesus, but this (once you have made a decision to follow after Jesus and be a Christian) is the most important to me.
He first reminds His disciples (and us) that He is God. That all authority in HEAVEN and on EARTH is His. All of it. He is the ruler of Heaven and Earth.
He then commands His disciples (and followers of Him) to go. His last command is to take action. Not get comfortable, stay where we are, relax and just be. No, he commands them to not only go, but to go with a purpose. With the action point of actively spreading the teachings that He laid down for them. To not only do that around them, or in their city but to ALL nations. Everywhere. To go, spread the Gospel any and everywhere. To baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Finally He assures them that even though this task is BIG and may seem impossible and difficult, that He is still with them through it all. Until the end of the age. That is a clear reminder to us who exist about 2000 years (give or take a decade or two) after this event and the events of Jesus' time, that He is STILL with us even now (as the "age" has not ended).
So Go. Don't be afraid because Jesus, the ruler of heaven and earth, is with you. Spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth. And don't stop until you've truly reached all nations.
My opinions are simply opinions, but they have been based on living a life for Jesus Christ devoutly for the past 6 years, and a believer in Christ and God and the Holy Spirit since I was 4 years old. But more on my personal history later.
Matthew 28:16-20 tells the story of the last command that Jesus gave to his 12 disciples before ascending into Heaven. He tells them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age."
This is the last thing that Jesus decided to say before He left this earth. There are a lot of core things when it comes to being a follower of Jesus, but this (once you have made a decision to follow after Jesus and be a Christian) is the most important to me.
He first reminds His disciples (and us) that He is God. That all authority in HEAVEN and on EARTH is His. All of it. He is the ruler of Heaven and Earth.
He then commands His disciples (and followers of Him) to go. His last command is to take action. Not get comfortable, stay where we are, relax and just be. No, he commands them to not only go, but to go with a purpose. With the action point of actively spreading the teachings that He laid down for them. To not only do that around them, or in their city but to ALL nations. Everywhere. To go, spread the Gospel any and everywhere. To baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Finally He assures them that even though this task is BIG and may seem impossible and difficult, that He is still with them through it all. Until the end of the age. That is a clear reminder to us who exist about 2000 years (give or take a decade or two) after this event and the events of Jesus' time, that He is STILL with us even now (as the "age" has not ended).
So Go. Don't be afraid because Jesus, the ruler of heaven and earth, is with you. Spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth. And don't stop until you've truly reached all nations.
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