26 Aug 10

Cultural Cleansing – Part One

As you can guess from the title, I am being a little facetious. In our society, particularly among Christians, we have an antagonistic view of culture and our place and relevance in it. I want to not only bring a fresh perspective on a Christian’s role in culture, but also do it in such a way that relieves the constant, and most times, unnecessary tension. The purpose of this post is to demonstrate the necessity and importance of modeling Christ in a sinful world.

Why have Christians, particularly in modern society, acted in such a way that appears “extreme”? In a sense, our society has become extreme. Autonomy has plagued mankind from the Fall, but our culture, an with so many other things, has commercialized it. Every modern publication elevates man to an undeserved level. The self has become something to be praised. “Me” is the standard by which we all live. “To each his own” is the motto of our times. Don’t get me wrong, I can be as self-centered as anyone; I am NOT speaking from a neutral standpoint.

However, Instead of subtly “reforming” (a word I will use often in this series of blogs) the culture, we act just as strongly, often creating an impermeable bridge, and in a sense, elevated ourselves, the Christian community, to an undeserved level as well. We make ourselves seem “better” than those worthless sinners, doing more harm than good. But many Christians think that by not acting in such a way, they have compromised their Christian virtue and integrity. The point is that we are called to be Christians in a fallen world. We hold fast to the promises of God, leaning completely on Him for our strength, and yet, walking confidently into this fallen world in such a way to win others to the saving knowledge of Christ.

As I began this post, I realized the gravity of the topic I want to address. I have decided to make this a series of posts, addressing various avenues and aspects of Christianity and Culture, ending with technology specifically. I have had many friends threaten to abandon Facebook and give up their cell phones. The amount of time we spend online, for personal use, is alarming, and I will address some of the concerns, including the ones that plague my own life. Stay tuned…

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  Posted by joshlsulli
25 Aug 10

More than a profession…

I have been reading Anthony Hoekema’s book entitle, “The Bible and the Future”. At the end of the fourth chapter he says, “Being a citizen of the kingdom, therefore, means that we should see all of life and all of reality in the light of the goal of the redemption of the cosmos… It also includes a Christian view of vocation: all callings are from God, and all that we do in everyday life is to be done to God’s praise, whether this be study, teaching, preaching, business, industry, or housework” (54).

After reading that section, I started thinking about the profession to which God has called me, what all it entails, and how I should approach and allow it to reflect the internal calling. In essence, the Lord has called me to love people as He loves, revealing the life of Christ in my words and actions. My profession is formally called “ministry”, but is it far removed from any other profession. I may have gone through the formal training of seminary, but for all of us who profess Christ as our Savior have the same calling as I do. My job is to equip and train, but our job together is one of proclamation.

This leads me to think more and more about our daily interactions, including conversations, work ethics, etc and how they reflect the character of Christ. Do we, whether we are doctors, sales associates, carpenters, welders, housewives/fathers, present ourselves to a fallen world in such a way that shows the infinite love of the Savior.

At this point, I should stop and offer a two-part caveat to my last statement. First, by infinite, I mean the love that God has for those whom He has chosen. I chose the word infinite to describe the breadth and depth of His love. By leaving His heavenly abode and take on the flesh of man to save us from our sins is the supreme act of love, and infinite is one of the few words to describe such a wonderful act. Secondly, I am not speaking in relativistic terms by using the word infinite. I’m not saying that the love Christ exhibited and the love we are to show should overlook sin and sinful behaviors. Quite the contrary. By our love, we should stand against sin, in ourselves and others.

As I end this blog, let me ask you two questions. First, what do you call your profession? Secondly, how does/can your daily life reflect your citizenship in the Kingdom of God by His loving sacrifice of Christ on your behalf? I would love for you to leave a comment.

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17 Aug 10

The Big City…

I have been in Philadelphia for a week now, and I love the city. I live in more of a suburban area, but I am within walking distance of a central transportation hub, which will take me anywhere in the city and beyond. In 5 minutes from the house, I can go anywhere, including NYC, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.

There are many things I enjoy about living here. First, the weather is awesome. It’s not smothering hot here. The temps are great. I may post something different during the winter! Secondly, there is instant access to so many wonderful things, from restaurants to plays. There are a lot of free things to do and also great places to eat that are extremely reasonable. Thirdly, the people are great. Everyone is very hospitable and friendly. There are many other things I could say about living here, but I will leave them for future posts.

I do miss Mississippi, and everyone back home. I have many wonderful friends and was involved in many activities. I hope to return home often!

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6 Aug 10

Building Community

My initial reason for cycling was to move away from the impact of running to something less strenuous on my knees. It didn’t take long to realize how boring cycling can be riding alone. I met some people in Clinton and started organizing weekly rides. To be honest, I had no idea what I was doing. Before long, we had a group of 20-25 people every week.

Rumors started circulating that someone had nominated me to the board of Jackson Metro Cyclists, the local cycling club for Jackson, MS. At the annual meeting, the then president came up to me and said, “You have been nominated as vice-president. Do you want to accept the nomination?” I accepted the nomination and elected to the board that night. About 6 months into the year, the president stepped down to devote his time to other things, and I became president.

During that time, I also became an LCI (League Certified Instructor). Being president and a LCI, I decided to start a true beginner ride, focusing on individuals who not only wanted to learn to ride but also wanted to acquire the knowledge to be safe and responsible cyclists. The group began to grow and really changed the mentality for cycling in the Jackson area. No longer was cycling and JMC viewed as a place for people who wanted to ride as hard and fast as they could; cycling has become a recreational activity.

This is the second year of the ride, and it grew well beyond anything I could expected. More importantly, it provided an atmosphere for non-competitive cyclists to enjoy cycling with one another, in a safe setting. The group demonstrates that cycling is not only a recreational activity, it is a community. The beginner group, along with many other groups in the Jackson area, is an eclectic bunch of folks, who share a common bond of cycling but connect in many other ways.

Thank you for the love you have shown me over the years. I will truly miss all of you, but I plan to come back often. It will be like I never left! :-)

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  Posted by joshlsulli
25 Jul 10

Leaving MS…

On August 8th, I am leaving MS to further my education in Philadelphia, PA. My heart had always been for the church. I believe the church is ill-equipped to handle many of the problems it faces today. I believe CCEF (Christian Counsel & Education Foundation) has devoted much time to examine the current condition of the church and offer Biblical, thorough counsel. I look forward to not only attending one of the most prestigious seminaries in the country but also being a part of the work at CCEF.

Change is never an easy thing. We become comfortable in our current conditions and the unknown makes us nervous… at least it does for me. I have always lived in MS, and now the Lord has called me to move to a huge city. It’s definitely going to be a huge change but a great one though.

There is so much to see and do. Philly is located near NYC, Baltimore, and Washington, DC. Everything is accessible by train. One of Philly’s greatest appeals is public transit. It makes travel so convenient.

I look forward to returning home often, to cycle with dear friends and see family. My dear friends, Chris and Amy Green, are giving birth to their first child, Liam Green, in September. I can’t wait to come home, just to see him; I’m so excited!!!

Stay tuned. I will update my blog as often as possible!

Josh L. Sullivan

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7 Jul 10

Letter to publicize the JPF Bicycle Safety Act

Below is a letter that I wrote to tv stations, reporters, and newspapers across the state…

I am writing to you about an important matter concerning cyclists and the safety of cyclists throughout the state of MS! As of Thursday, July 1st, Mississippi now stands out as a leader in the cycling world. We are one of the few states in the nation to adopt a 3 Feet Law, which clearly defines the relationship between motorists and cyclists. The bill was named after John Paul Frerer. He was a young man in north MS. He was on a training ride one morning before school and was struck by an automobile, resulting in death. As an avid member of the cycling community and a instance that demonstrates the dangers we face as cyclists, we thought it was only appropriate to name the bill after him.

Several of us have worked tirelessly to promote the bill, from within the capital to newspaper articles. I never realized the amount of effort it takes to accomplishment such a task, but I am thankful to have been a part of it.

The bill serves two purposes: to call cyclists to be responsible as an alternate form or mode of transportation on the road by obeying all traffic laws and taking the appropriate precautions and to call motorists to acknowledge cyclists presence on the road and offer the utmost respect by safely passing allowing 3 feet between the car and bicycle. Its primary purpose, in conjunction with already existing law concerning cyclists, is to further define that relationship as cycling continues to grow in the metro Jackson area and other parts of the
state.

With the initiation of the new law, the city of Ridgeland created a sign and strategically placed them throughout the city. It is a square sign made the highest grade reflective material available. It clearly states that it is a “state law” and then diagrams the relationship by placing a bicycle and car with an arrow between them and the words “3 Feet Minimum”.

You can view the sign and members of Jackson Metro Cyclists by clicking here: http://flic.kr/p/8f6i1Y. You can also view Joe Mangino, ranger for the Natchez Trace Parkway, showing off his sticker, as the first government vehicle with one by clicking here: http://flic.kr/p/8fN8Xh. You can also contact me or anyone listed in the carbon copy section. With your efforts, we can spread the word to increase awareness for cycling and the growing demand to be a health-conscience community. Now is the time to change the national image of MS, and it is only possible with your help.

Josh L. Sullivan

President

Jackson Metro Cyclists

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2 Jul 10

John Paul Frerer Bicycle Safety Act

Yesterday was a historic day for cyclists and the cycling community in the state of Mississippi; the John Paul Frerer Bicycle Safety Act went into effect. Many of us have pushed for the bill for several years now, working with legislators and tweaking it along the way.

This year, we gave it a specific name. John Paul was a cyclists in north MS. He was riding his bicycle one morning, during a training ride and was struck by a truck and died.

By giving the bill a name, it signified the reality that cycling is a dangerous sport.

However, the law further defines the relationship between cyclists and motorists. It puts stipulations upon cyclists and their responsibility to obey traffic laws, and it also requires respect from motorists. Rather than treating cyclists as a separate entity, with no rights to the roads, the bill acknowledges our right to the road and further requires that motorists provide “3 Feet” when safely passing.

Ridgeland has made great strides to make the city a safer place to enjoy cycling. Just this year, it was named “Bike Friendly” through the League of American Bicyclists. David Williams, city engineer, created a sign to bring awareness to motorists and cyclists about the new law. They are strategically placed throughout the city.

I am working with other cities and organizations to adopt the sign as a state standard. A group of Jackson Metro Cyclists members gathered together yesterday to have a photo shoot with the new sign.

As motorists and/or cyclists, we have a responsibility to uphold safety to the highest degree. Yesterday was a call to everyone in the state of MS to acknowledge that responsibility in light of a growing cycling community.

On a side note, we are only one of fifteen or sixteen states with such a law. It is a huge accomplishment for us as a state, and we should be very proud.

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13 Jun 10

The Importance of Understanding Covenant Theology – Part 1

In Sunday School today, we discussed Covenant Theology and the importance of covenants in Scripture. In order to appreciate the outworking of the triune God’s love for a fallen humanity, one must understand the significance of covenants.

Firstly, O. Palmer Robertson defines a covenant as “a bond in blood sovereignly administered.” What he means by this definition is that in order to have a covenant one party must act with knowledge and power above the other party. The covenant must also possess an element of sealing the lasting (or eternal) covenant.

Secondly, as hinted to earlier, the covenant must possess two parties. One party is known as a Suzerain and the other is a Vassal. The Suzerain is the stronger and more powerful of the two parties and defines the conditions of the covenant. Generally, the Suzerain is offering protection from an opposing party, as in wartimes. The Vassal agrees to the terms of the condition in exchange for allegiance and protection.

Thirdly, as part of the agreement, there are also stipulations for violation of the covenant. Generally, the Vassal would be cut off from the protection of the Suzerain, which meant immanent death.

When we look at biblical accounts, they resemble this form of agreement found in the Ancient Near East (ANE). It is known as a Suzerian-Vassal Treaty. Throughout Scripture, God is the Suzerain, establishing the conditions of the covenant, and His people are the Vassal, those who subject themselves to His supreme authority and rule. However, as we know from reading the Bible, the agreement is always broken due to the disobedience of man, which we call sin.

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3 Apr 10

"Pedagogical Cycling"

If you are a nerd like me and sit around thinking up words and phrases to describe various things, then you have come across the right blog! ;-)

When I became president of a local cycling club and a League Certified Instructor (LCI) through the League of American Cyclists, I decided to start a TRUE beginner group. It would be a non-competitive, educational ride. I wanted to take novice riders and teach them how to be “good” cyclists. Many people think that a good cyclists is a strong cyclist, and there is a big difference. I know a lot of strong cyclist with whom I would not ride. They are careless and negligent, particularly for the rules and laws of the roads (as an LCI, I teach “vehicular cycling, which treats a bicycle as another form of transportation). With this group, I wanted to set the standard for group cycling.

One day I was standing in line to get the new iPhone 3GS. I started talking to a couple who recently moved to the Ridgeland area. He said something that struck me and has really defined my approach to teaching. He said, “We really had to learn how to drive around so many cyclists.” It was at that point that I realized that it was a reciprocal relationship. Not only were we learning about being better cyclists, but we were also teaching motorists how to drive around us. Have you ever thought of your cycling as a pedagogical method for improving cycling safety in your area? You may want to consider your conduct while cycling the next time you mount the bike!

Josh L. Sullivan

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Filed in Cycling, Pedagogy, iPhone
  Posted by joshlsulli
9 Mar 10

Documents To Go®

As a grad student and someone always on the go, I am constantly looking for ways to utilize my time. The best way I have found is this application. It is an office suite for the iPhone. It is able to create and edit .doc and .docx files. It also can create and edit .xls and .xlsx files. The upgraded version can create and edit PowerPoint files.

I am able to dowload lecture, listen to them on the iPod program built into the iPhone and take notes. Although the screen is not very large, I have become proficient at typing on it. I even take notes in class. I always wonder if the professor thinks I’m texting! ;-)

The best feature is the ability to sync the docs from the iPhone with my MacBook. Over a wireless connection, creations or modifications made from either the computer or iPhone will sync between the two.

For $9.99, it is a must have if writing and editing is your profession or passionate hobby and you are on the go!

Check out the application:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id317117961?mt=8

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