In the beginning...

My first blog.  And I do not mean my first blog on blogger.com, but my first blog ever.  This is huge.  One of those events in every man's life (at least in the 21st century) in which you cross a threshold and when you do, there is no turning back.  I will forever be a man who has blogged after I click the coveted, 'Publish Post' button.

I guess I ought to explain why I decided to begin web logging.

First, I decided to begin blogging because I have benefited from reading other blogs in my past.  I see this as returning the favor.  We are told to love our neighbors and I view this as a way of doing just that.  It will be one more piece of information, made available to the world, that wasn't available had it not been for me taking the time to express whatever it is I have expressed. 

Secondly, I will endeavor to bring the truths found in the Bible to light in the hopes that God may use the information found here to kindle a fire within others, that they would begin seeking God with their whole hearts.  Essentially, what is being said here is this:  God is worthy to be lived for.  Not just on Sundays or at bible study or when we are at home, but in every moment and in every sphere of our lives.  I pray that we all would begin serving Christ where it hurts.  Let us proclaim Him in the areas where we are sure to be ridiculed.  At work, school and in those areas where we still express our shame of Him and our love of ourselves by not speaking of Him when we know we ought to.  Let us mourn ourselves and go to Him in repentance and when we have found it, leave the cross, empowered to truly be honored with the privilege to suffer for His sake.

Thirdly, I will be posting my own thoughts and feelings on here.  I do not want to just 'teach' doctrine on this blog.  I would like others to see that nobody has it all figured out.  I will pose questions that I, myself, have not yet answered to the end that we would all come to a greater knowledge of Jesus Christ. John Piper encourages us to make much of Christ in our thoughts and dreams and plans and in this way they will not be wasted.  This blog is one of the ways in which I see myself honoring God with my thoughts.  By using them to possibly edify others in their walk with God.

In the beginning, Joe began to blog...