I'm beginning to think that the categories of "Introvert" and "Extrovert" are really descriptive of two ways people prefer to be selfish.
I admit that I'm starting to realize that there exists a fine line between the opposing worlds of confession of sin and excuse for sin. What am I really doing when I confess my sins to others? All too often, I am finding that confession, while partaking of the truth, can function in a way that excuses are intended to function: to lift the guilt that comes with sin, and to avoid or delay further judgment for it. The difference is that confession is 1) more therapeutic, 2) gives the social impression that one is accepting responsibility for sin 3) shows sign of repentance that leads to a corrective course of action or a sincere request for help.
It feels good to confess. Socially, I can use confession to elicit comfort or encouragement from others (e.g. "You're being too hard on yourself, Eric." or "you're not wholly to blame."). Excuses, however, can often appear like blameshifting, or at least not wanting to accept any personal participation in why things are not right. Thus, excuses have the disadvantage of possibily incurring further investigation and judgment about your own actions, intentions, and responsibilities.
Confession has the power of making one seem honest about themselves. Further judging someone who has honestly confessed something, seems uncompassionate, if not hypocritical ("Who can cast the first stone?"). But confession of sin, can easily turn into gaining acceptance for the problem one has with sin. Thus, I can confess sin in a way that convinces others of my being a helpless victim of sin, confessing (as a good lutheran-calvinist could quote from Romans 7) that I have no power in myself to correct the problem. In this manner, I hope that others will not be so hard on me in the future, or so hurt by me, when I fail to live up to God's law for their good and His glory. Thus, the act of confession can function as an excuse for further sin, public and private. Because of this, I think plain excuses can be more honest than confession.
Why do you think I am confessing all this to you? O my soul, go learn what this means "I desire compassion, not sacrifice."
Yesterday, I had my tuxedo measurements re-taken by Bill Cosby--yes, that was his name-- at Al's Formal Wear (Al's Crossroads #778, 7100 South I-35, Suite 7116, Oklahoma City, OK 73149. (405) 632-5639).
The engagement is the wedding of Greg Yankey and Elisabeth Gifford on Saturday December 11th, 2004. Apparently Elisabeth does not trust measurements from Tuxedo Specialists in general, and far less from Men's Warehouse. She told me that several people have had less than perfect measurements from those shops. Elisabeth used to work with Bill at a tuxedo shop, so she has some experience in the business. (And it's her wedding, so I do what she says.)
Here are my new measurements from Al's.
The measurements do seem to be more detailed than the ones taken during the summer at Tuxedo Specialists, adding Overarm and Hip measurements. The Neck and Sleeve measurements were a little larger, perhaps resulting also in the larger Coat Size (from 36 S, to 37 R). I don't remember the coat from the measurements taken at Tuxedo Specialists to feel too small for me though, so I'm not sure it'll make too much difference.
Greetings, friends and family, brothers and sisters in the Lord,
About two months ago, I was visiting some friends at Wycliffe's International Headquarters in Dallas, when I noticed a member of Wycliffe's software development team tending his yard. Ken stopped and crossed the street to talk with me. He encouraged me that his team was praying for me. "In expectation of your arrival, our department recently purchased a couple of new computers," he said, "We have one just waiting for you." My heart became even more excited about getting to my assignment. But then I expressed some doubt about making it there by the end of the summer. Ken reminded me, "God's plans are not always our plans, but they are always better."
Where am I? Several people have been asking me how close I am to beginning my assignment. As you may remember, my hope was to start serving Wycliffe Bible Translators as a Language Software Developer by the end of the summer. By God's good and wise counsel, I'm almost there! In response to your prayers, God has brought my partnership team near completion: In addition to the many people who pray for me regularly, I have over 90% financial commitment! So I am looking to God to provide partners to cover the remaining $135/mo. I am always thankful for more partners in prayer.
I've received a few new commitments from churches and individuals over the summer. The main development since my last update, however, is that my monthly missions quota has been lowered because a friend of mine has graciously offered me a place to stay without rent. To ensure that I will not be a financial burden to him, I have offered to cover half of his monthly utility bills. So, most of my remaining partnership will go towards our utilities each month. Keith is handicapped, so I will also be happy to help him with the upkeep of his house.
Where'd the summer go? Most of my time has been spent working on partnership related activities and serving churches in some fashion. In August, I mailed my summer newsletter out to over 135 contacts along with personal notes to partners and others interested in keeping up with me. My mailing list continues to grow steadily.
In July, I shared about missions and technology at a church in my home town, following my 10-year class reunion for Noble High School. (Has it really been that long?) I also served the youth from several churches as a photographer at a church camp in Amarillo, TX. In September, I distributed CD's with camp photos and video to the youth from that camp.
Also in September, I attended my seminary's opening convocation and a couple of software technology talks at Wycliffe's International Headquarters in Dallas.
What's next? With only $135/mo remaining to complete my partnership team, my hope and prayer is to be at my assignment by the end of the year. I could be there much sooner by God's provision through your prayers. Autumn is an important season for finding new partners because many church leaders are making decisions about their budget for the next year. Please pray the Lord would continue to provide opportunities for me to share with churches about the impact of technology in the work of Wycliffe Bible Translators, and that hearts will be moved to join with me in the mission of bringing God's Word to millions who still need it in their own language. I'm ready to put that lonely computer to work! :)
If you'd like to know how you can join my partnership team, please email me at eric_pyle @ wycliffe.org or reply to this letter.
Your partner in the Kingdom,
Eric D. Pyle
O for a thousand tongues to sing / My gracious Master and my God,
My great Redeemer's praise, / Assist me to proclaim,
The glories of my God and King, / To spread through all the earth abroad,
The triumphs of his grace. / The honors of thy Name.
Webpage: www.opcNorman.org/Wycliffe/EricPyle
Personal Address: 6001 W Cedar Hills Dr, Noble, OK 73068 (469-222-2865)
Wycliffe Bible Translators: P.O. Box 628200, Orlando, Florida 32862-8200
It was good to see Linda and Victor DeBrunner at Prairie Kitchen (Norman, OK) this morning. They were two of my Electrical Engineering professors at the University of Oklahoma (1994-1999), and still teach there. It is Oklahoma Sooner vs. Texas Longhorn weekend, which is an official holiday for the campus, so Linda and her husband were celebrating their day off by having breakfast together. I had just finished a men's Bible study there over the opening chapters of Isaiah. (The Bible study meets there every Friday morning at--YAWN--6:30am, under the teaching of the local PCA Pastor, Mike Biggs.) It just dawned on me, after I departed the DeBrunners, that Linda had introduced me to their five or six year old child with whom (I believe) she was pregnant (and gave birth to) while I was taking EE classes at OU. It appeared also that she was blessed with another one on the way. I think guys are generally slow about recognizing such things, especially early in the morning, but once in a while we come to our senses (with the help of some coffee). :) Above all instruments that were made to tell of time or to measure it, children, by their growth, demonstrate to the previous generation that time is actually ticking. :)
College seems like a blur to me now. Perhaps graduation did not give me a full sense of closure for it. Maybe because I commuted and never fully felt the solidarity of the college community. Or maybe because a month later I started taking seminary classes part time and still have yet to finish a degree from it. In any case, I still have dreams where I am back in college and realize that I have somehow forgotten to attend one of my classes for most of the semester for which I now have a final exam. Phew! I am always so thankful to awaken (and escape) from those dreams! But I wonder about the significance of such dreams. Perhaps I have negletted responsibilities in the present that need to be dealt with for which I am accountable? There are so many ways we can "escape" from the difficult things in life that need attending to. And I suspect those things are often deeply rooted in our past. For that reason, college remains in my mind an unescapable metaphor for life and eschatology.