So our electric company just sent us a bill for about $800. Unbelievable! Jess and I live in a humble apartment and rarely use either the heat or the air. According to TXU, they could not read our meter from February through April and now have the correct reading and are charging us accordingly. After a total of more than three hours on the phone and on hold with these people, I found out several things: 1) Everybody I talked to gave me a different story to explain the bill. 2) They charged us an average of $300 a month this winter and spring even though our highest summer bill was about $150. 3) They finally admitted that they could not read my meter (though they have no reason for why they couldn't) and therefore are charging us the price they charged the people who lived here before us in 2005, according to their meter readings of those months. 4) They recognize that it's unreasonable and unfair to me the costumer but conclude that I still have to pay this ridiculous ammount. 5) After all of these hours logged on my cell phone, they took off $100 dollars from my bill. 6) Since they recognize that it's unfair for them to ask me to pay this full ammount at once, they are splitting up the remainder over 3 months. I asked if they could split it up over more than 3 months and they said no. I asked why not and they said they just couldn't do that--Brilliant business!

In conclusion, we are now getting ripped-off $100 less than they originally wanted to--though still paying at least $300 more than we should have to--and it's all based on how much energy someone used two years ago in this same apartment. Furthermore, our bill will have $160 extra added to it over the next 3 months. One thing I have learned: TXU's bills and agents are usually wrong. Oh yeah, we plan to switch electric companies as soon as possible.

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Now that the semester is over and I am not constantly burdened with four different reading assignments, I plan to take advantage of my summer and enjoy reading several books that have long been on my personal reading list. I already have about eight set aside, and if I make it through those, I would like to explore some current authors that I have yet to read.

Right now, I'm reading a book entitled, "The Sailor who Fell from Grace with the Sea."

It was written by a Japanese author, Yukio Mishima. I have heard about him for awhile (he's dead now) and thought it would do me well to read him. Originally written in Japanese and then later translated, the background and culture of the characters in the story are quite different from what I know. They speak differently and about different things. It sort of carries a "life is meaningless" idea, and, to be quite honest, is somestimes boring. Extremely well written though. I love his descriptions and the prose-like poetry that seems to be burried throughout the dialogue. Here are my two favorite quotes from the book so far:

"Alienation and the long voyages at sea will compel him once again to dream of it, torment him with the absurdity of longing for something that he loathes."

"There isn't any fear in existence itself, or any uncertainty, but living creates it."

I especially like the second one. It's interesting to think about how many people pass so many days just existing. They're breathing and even doing things, but they're not truly Living. The book sort of romanticizes uncertainty and adventure and danger. Even though I don't think those are necessarily the most important aspects of life we need to be pursuing, at the least, it's a good awakening to the truth that we aren't meant to pass through each year bored and nonessential. We should desire all the things "living creates," and not settle for a life of mere existence.

One of my top 5 most favorite songs of all time is Will Smith's "Summertime," in large part because of my love for Summer.
I finished my finals a few days ago and am now done with school until the Fall.

This summer will surely bring countless enjoyable moments as we already have things planned, including: a trip to the Bahamas with Jessica's family, a mission trip to Mexico with our church, two weddings, and a trip to see Brian, Brooke & Ainsley in Florida. Should be a blast! I'm stoked!

This is another "Position Paper" (to see what I mean by "Position Paper" or why I write them, click here). Be sure to leave a comment with what you think and what more I may need to consider. It's a long one, so if you read the entire thing...Well Done.

"On Church Discipline"

As it is with most aspects of the church, there exists two extremes within the discussion and practice of church discipline. On one side of the spectrum are those who do not consider church discipline viable or crucial and, therefore, do not impliment its practice at all. Then the pendulum swings, paving the way for the other extreme. This side consists of those who harshly and ungraciously exercies church discipline, joyfully kicking people out of their church any chance they get. These people actually wear the number of expelled Brothers on their sleve as a badge of honor.

Finding a balance is imperative.

First, let us establish the Biblical directive for church discipline. Matthew 18:15-17 instructs believers to confront a brother who has fallen into sin by approaching him in private. If he refuses to listen, he is to be confronted by a group of two or three and then, if necessary, by the entire church. After all of these steps, if unrepentant still, he is to be viewed as an outsider.

Similarly, Paul instructs the church in Corinth to refrain from associating with a Brother who proves to be immoral or covetous or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or a swindler. Paul wrote that they should not even eat with such a person. He concludes his line of thinking with the truth that, while the church does not judge the lost, She is to judge Her members (1 Corinthians 5:11-12). Likewise, Paul directs Titus to "reject a factious man after a first and second warning" (Titus 3:10).

At first glance, the weight of these passages could easily lead one to swing to one of the extreme positions on church discipline. Where then is the balance? Well, I believe that these Scriptures, coupled with two other passages, will provide a healthy perspective on church discipline as outlined in the Bible and a right practice of such within the church.

Galatians 6:1 reads, "Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of genteleness." Here we begin to see that the purpose of church discipline is restoration. As we exercise church discipline, we must gently do so with the hope and prayer that it will lead our struggling Brother to repentance and restoration. James 5:19-20 also speaks of this aim of turning a Brother back to the truth. Even the most clear passage on church discipline--the previously cited Matthew 18--includes "winning your Brother" as the goal of the initial, private confortation. Having to approach the Brother a second time, much less a third time or having to consider him as an outsider, is an unfortunate measure in place that all parties should pray to prevent.

The balance is in the motive of the practice. What then can we say at this point about church discipline? It is not to be neglected. It is not to be abused.

My position on this matter, however, extends deeper, finding its culmination in confession and accountability. I suggest that church discipline neither works nor makes sense within a church that does not actively strive to provide an environment that is advantageious for both confession and accountability. The passage in James 5 that speaks of turning a Brother back to the truth is directly proceeded by the command, "confess your sins to one another" (James 5:16). In the same way, Paul follows his word on restoring a sinning Brother in a spirit of gentleness with the command to "bear one another's burdens" (Galatians 6:2).

Biblically, a relation seems to exist between confessing our sins while bearing each other's burdens and restoring one another through church discipline. I believe a church must encourage confession and accountability, viewing such as the preliminary steps of church discipline. That's when it starts; not when someone is so deep into sin that they refuse to hear your rebuke and end up being excommunicated. A chruch whose members confess their struggles and receive accountability will rarely reach the point of having to employ the final step of church discipline; namely, expelling a Brother from the church.

I conclude that a confessional and accountable Body of Christ will daily see the blessed fulfillment of the purpose of church discipline as restoration and repentance will reign.