Barnabas’s grace doesn’t stop with just Paul either he not only forgave John Mark for leaving, but trusted him enough so that he could redeem himself. In chapter 15 verse 36 of Acts Paul suggests that he and Barnabas go back and visit each city they had preached at, to check up on the believers. Barnabas agreed full heartily with Paul’s suggestion to revisit the churches. Which is no surprise it is a great idea because God desires more from His servants, His friends [John 15:15], than to simply tell people who He and His son Jesus are then never come back, never try to form a relationship with them. It is good to help others grow in their faith. However, Barnabas differed with Paul on who to invite (verses 37&38). Barnabas was ready to forgive John Mark and allow him to work on God’s mission with them again, but Paul was not. Paul was still hurt that John Mark abandoned them in Pamphylia, Barnabas and Paul's disagreement got so sharp that they split Barnabas took John Mark also known as Mark with him, and Paul took Silas (verses 39&40). This is a low point post salvation for Paul, even though he once prosecuted and killed Christians; he could not forgive Mark for leaving the missionary trip early. To clarify this would be an equally low point for any of the other apostles as well regardless their history, nobody's perfect except for God Himself. As the Lord says in his example of how to pray forgive and you will be forgiven (Matthew 6:12)
Praise the Lord He doesn’t leave us when we fall into judgment of others, condemning them for the same things God forgives and pours out grace on us for. God asks nothing of us that He Himself didn’t do thorough His son Jesus Christ. In fact I am really glad I found this in the bible because it goes to show you all will fall short of Gods glory (Romans 3:23). Including apostles of Christ and even the author of multiple letters in the bible. It can be easy to put the humans written about in the bible on a pedestal thinking of them as more than human, looking at their works as impossible to do anything near as great never the less surpass. When in reality through Jesus we are actually capable of so much more then even Jesus did on this earth when we stay in His will and have faith (John 14:11-13). The biblical heroes were just humans with flaws, but God still desired to use them. He had to teach them, encourage them, and constantly guided them. They were not immune to the disease of flesh like pride (Luke 9:46-48) and doubt (Judges 6:14-15).
Then if these people in the bible are not perfect why are they blessed enough to make it to the holy book? Why do they deserve the honor of being substance in the living water? In short they don’t through their weakness God is made strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). That was going to be it for the humanity of the apostles, but while making sure I did not take 2 Corinthians 12:9 and 10 out of context , the Lord open another door of His amazement. I zoomed out a little and first made sure I knew who was writing these words. 2 Corinthians was written by Paul and Timothy but these particularly verses (12:9-10) were written by Paul. I can say this confidently because starting just 10 verses back in chapter 11 verse 33 the writer writes that he “I” had to be lowered in a basket through the window, which happen to Paul (Acts 9:24-25).
Side note: if you ever are thinking how hard your life is and how God is treating you unfair you might want to read 2 Corinthians 11:23-33, it is a short summary of what Paul went through for God. Which by the way did not come as a shock to God that he would suffer for His name(Acts 9:16). Being a Christian doesn’t promise a life of rainbows made up of kittens and sunshine that gently kisses your check, don’t let anyone tell you different. Even Jesus was persecuted and warns us that truly following Him will naturally result in persecution (John 15:20). But, this is not a hopeless faith, it is one of peace joy and love. This is because we do not put our worth in things that will fade and have no eternal value instead we put it in Christ (Ephesians 5:1-2, John 16:33 John 15:9-13 *Luke 23:34 get context* John 3:16 Matthew 6:19-21) these verses are just a start of the the message of the love God has for us, presented in the bible. It is impossible to sum this message up completely and certainly deserve full devotion, not a branch off another train of thought. I suggest reading the gospel of John to try and grasp what Jesus is all about do it with pray and don’t be afraid to ask clarifying questions.
Back to the life of Paul, the reason he had to escape out the window is because he was boldly proclaiming the Lords name (Acts 9:22-23).
Friday, July 15, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Part one of "The Big Picture"
Here is the first part of something I have resorted to referring to as “The Big Picture”, this is some of what God has been teaching me as I dig into His word to try to have a mind that will be glorifying to Him who has authority over all. I have believed for awhile that Gods word is truly living water that can never dry up. I have study a single verse for over an hour and later discovered things that my friends and I missed, that have been revealed later at the right time, and I know there is much more still undiscovered. I also know it is important to keep verses in context by looking at a chapter or even a book as a whole which I also have enjoyed doing in times past. However this is a study, which I personal never conducted before, I have only heard sermons on it. It is looking at the bible and how it is all interconnected. I urge anyone trying to grow in the Lord with their knowledge to try this, it is by far the most challenging for me but it turns individual parts of the bible into a more whole message greater than even the sum of each part that goes into the whole. At Rock Bridge, a Christian camp I went to with my InterVarsity chapter, I walked through how to do a study like this with Peter’s life. It was here we turned seven different stories Peter was in from five different books in the bible into one look at Peter’s life, salvation, shortcomings and maturity into faith. All of which were great stories like how he dropped his net to follow Jesus, but when combined the message Jesus taught me through Peter broke me down an built me up stronger. When I started documenting what God was teaching me through His perfect word this summer, I was not planning on doing the kind of study I just descried. I just kept taking the doors the Lord was opening, fueled by the Spirit inside me ambitions to better understand the bible, and chronicling them so I would not forget what I was taught. Resulted in..
The start: I took a look at some commentary for Judges to better understand Judges as a whole, it is here I read how the tribe of Judah military collaboration (Judges 1:1-4) are compared to the joining of John Mark to Paul and Barnabas missionary trip (Acts 13:1-3). While investigating the similarities to these seemingly unrelated incidences, I saw that in both a set number was sent and blessed by God but more than that set number participated in said calling, not trusting that the amount God sent was sufficient. In Judges Judah was called to go against the Canaanites for they were given victory but they feared they would not be a large enough army so they invited the tribe of Simeon to join them in battle. In Acts John Mark doesn’t have any recorded praying for discernment if he should go on this mission trip like Saul and Barnabas did. Also according to scripture he was not sent out by the Holy Spirit as the other two were (Acts 13:4). He ends up accompanying the two anyways, nine short verses later we find out the direct effects of his rogue actions as he abandoned his two brothers in Christ to return to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13). Rogue in the fact that John Mark went without God’s blessing, as far as I can tell. This is a strong case that even doing good things can and will burn you out really quickly if you are trying to use your own strength to accomplish your goal and not letting God work though you. This is not the extent of the consequences that arise from John Mark’s premature exit.
However, before we get to that while reading another commentary I found out that it is suggested that an influence of why John Mark left could be his assumed Kinsman Barnabas went from leading to being lead. In Acts 11:22-25 it tells us that the Church sent Barnabas and he recruited Saul latter to be known as Paul to help him. It seems that his name change, first recorded in Acts 13:9, also marks the transfers of leadership. Immediately after the name change Paul is the one calling the shots. He is the one that blinds a sorcerer trying to harden the heart of the governor of Paphos by attempting to get him not listen to Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:10-11). Paul is the one speaking to the crowd in Chapter 13 verse 16. Although this is a suggested reason why John Mark may have left, it doesn’t seem to cause any tension between Barnabas and Paul; they continue to travel together doing God’s will. Before this day I have never thought that much of Barnabas, but his act of great discipleship and leading deserves to be explored. I believe him and Paul did not split over the trade of power because Barnabas prioritized God’s will above his own, and his selfless motives (Acts 4:36-37). God clearly willed Paul to be the vassal in which He uses to lead the Gentiles the Kings and the people of Israel alike to Himself (Acts 9:15). Barnabas wanting God’s will to be done cared not that Paul was making the speeches and becoming the figure head of their group. In fact it probably brought him great joy because he trusted in Saul when most people feared that his conversion was not genuine (Acts 9:26). Barnabas exemplified a true leader of Christ by allowing even encouraging a man better suited for the job to start leading over himself. Keep in mind Barnabas was the one that brought Paul in and groomed him, by letting Paul take the reins he is showing blatant disregard for his ego while simultaneously showing great respect for the Lord’s will.
Barnabas’s grace doesn’t stop with just Paul either he not only forgave John Mark for leaving but trusted him enough so that he could redeem himself.
The start: I took a look at some commentary for Judges to better understand Judges as a whole, it is here I read how the tribe of Judah military collaboration (Judges 1:1-4) are compared to the joining of John Mark to Paul and Barnabas missionary trip (Acts 13:1-3). While investigating the similarities to these seemingly unrelated incidences, I saw that in both a set number was sent and blessed by God but more than that set number participated in said calling, not trusting that the amount God sent was sufficient. In Judges Judah was called to go against the Canaanites for they were given victory but they feared they would not be a large enough army so they invited the tribe of Simeon to join them in battle. In Acts John Mark doesn’t have any recorded praying for discernment if he should go on this mission trip like Saul and Barnabas did. Also according to scripture he was not sent out by the Holy Spirit as the other two were (Acts 13:4). He ends up accompanying the two anyways, nine short verses later we find out the direct effects of his rogue actions as he abandoned his two brothers in Christ to return to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13). Rogue in the fact that John Mark went without God’s blessing, as far as I can tell. This is a strong case that even doing good things can and will burn you out really quickly if you are trying to use your own strength to accomplish your goal and not letting God work though you. This is not the extent of the consequences that arise from John Mark’s premature exit.
However, before we get to that while reading another commentary I found out that it is suggested that an influence of why John Mark left could be his assumed Kinsman Barnabas went from leading to being lead. In Acts 11:22-25 it tells us that the Church sent Barnabas and he recruited Saul latter to be known as Paul to help him. It seems that his name change, first recorded in Acts 13:9, also marks the transfers of leadership. Immediately after the name change Paul is the one calling the shots. He is the one that blinds a sorcerer trying to harden the heart of the governor of Paphos by attempting to get him not listen to Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:10-11). Paul is the one speaking to the crowd in Chapter 13 verse 16. Although this is a suggested reason why John Mark may have left, it doesn’t seem to cause any tension between Barnabas and Paul; they continue to travel together doing God’s will. Before this day I have never thought that much of Barnabas, but his act of great discipleship and leading deserves to be explored. I believe him and Paul did not split over the trade of power because Barnabas prioritized God’s will above his own, and his selfless motives (Acts 4:36-37). God clearly willed Paul to be the vassal in which He uses to lead the Gentiles the Kings and the people of Israel alike to Himself (Acts 9:15). Barnabas wanting God’s will to be done cared not that Paul was making the speeches and becoming the figure head of their group. In fact it probably brought him great joy because he trusted in Saul when most people feared that his conversion was not genuine (Acts 9:26). Barnabas exemplified a true leader of Christ by allowing even encouraging a man better suited for the job to start leading over himself. Keep in mind Barnabas was the one that brought Paul in and groomed him, by letting Paul take the reins he is showing blatant disregard for his ego while simultaneously showing great respect for the Lord’s will.
Barnabas’s grace doesn’t stop with just Paul either he not only forgave John Mark for leaving but trusted him enough so that he could redeem himself.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Mattie's and I Last small group of 2010
This is my outline I used for my last small group before Christmas. Mattie and I decided to run our finial small group of the year a little differently. Instead of just presenting a passage and some framework we decided were going to share more of what we learned while preparing for the small group and ask some thought provoking questions before we go into are usual “what stood out” method. Don’t get me wrong I love the “what stood out” method it gives everyone a chance to talk and, isn’t telling people what is in the chapter it allows people the chance to figure that out on their own before going in a group discussion format. However, Mattie and I felt that each week there are things we learn or notice that we simply run out of time before we have a chance to share them. So to change things up we decided we would do a blanket overview of two thirds of the passage (me-1/3 her 1/3 and 1/3 untouched) before completely opening it up to the group who would indubitably have some insight we did not catch, because the bible truly is living water.
My one third of Luke 1-12
We started, as I would ask you to, by reading the passage slowly and carefully marking anything that might stick out to you. This would include anything that speaks to you makes you curious, or question even seemingly small things like the repetitiveness of a particular word.
Luke 2:1-12 (New International Version, ©2010)
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Vacancy for Jesus?
It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that Christmas started out the extravagant winter monopoly, it is today. That simply isn’t the case, as I am sure you notice while reading over the true Christmas story. The birth of our Christ and savior Jesus was not one of famed limelight. In fact Joseph and Marry had to take to the streets after Jesus was born to avoid the evil plot of King Herod.
Matthew 2:13
When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
So not only did Jesus come into a world that did not want to make room from Him, (can someone read Luke 2:7?) but then He and His family was pushed out of their own hometown.
Before we move on, last week we talked a little about apologetics, defending your faith. I want to scratch the surface of that iceberg, by authenticating the circumstances surrounding Jesus’ unwelcomed birth, with a little extra biblical text. Like first, would Joseph really have to go back to his home town? This is an insert from a papyrus found in Egypt that confirms one would have to travel back home in order to register. "Because of the approaching census it is necessary that all those residing for any cause away from their homes should at once prepare to return to their own governments in order that they may complete the family registration of the enrollment and that the tilled lands may retain those belonging to them." There is another ancient inscription found in Antioch that confirms that Quirinius was the governor of Syria in 7 BC. These are just two minor examples, that get straight down and dirty, to insure that a statement is legitimate; you would want to make sure the extra biblical text is creditable, but that’s a whole another story.
Now back to our homeless Savior, Jesus being God in the flesh, could have been born with a silver spoon in His mouth, made out of solid gold even (pause for laughter)… but much like the free will He gives us to turn from Him, He came to this world allowing the world He created to reject Him and outcast Him. Jesus must have been the youngest person to ever have a bounty on His head. You would be hard press to find a fetus that could get into that much trouble. What could he/she have done, a 300 style kick knocking a Prince over a cliff throw the mother’s stomach? Then imagine a little baby coming out with the tiniest little hand cuffs (pause for a mixture of awes and laughs).
Yea it’s funny to think about it in that way, but kinda essentially that is what happened, Jesus was born with a bounty on His heads because He had exponentially growing rap sheet. Well if Jesus never sin how does He have a rap sheet, how can someone not make room for a birthing mother and most importantly what kind of persons tries to kill a baby, I mean honestly? He has an increasing growing rap sheet because he came to bare our sin, and free us of its captivity. Sin is anything thing that goes against God’s will, it creates separation from us and God. We hurt Jesus constantly because we do not measure up to Gods standard, but if He didn’t take the blame then the wrath of God would destroy us all. It’s because of Jesus, that our records are white as snow. Why then could no one around make room for a pregnant woman, carrying the Messiah no less?
Well let me ask you this, do you make room for the Messiah in your own heart, or is He still in a manger on the outskirts of your heart?
A.) What does it look like to make room for Jesus in your heart?
a.) What kind of external actions change, internal?
And lastly why is that man trying to kill a baby? Well as we all know hatters just mean you’re getting somewhere and Jesus came out of the womb accomplishing more than any King ever did.
My one third of Luke 1-12
We started, as I would ask you to, by reading the passage slowly and carefully marking anything that might stick out to you. This would include anything that speaks to you makes you curious, or question even seemingly small things like the repetitiveness of a particular word.
Luke 2:1-12 (New International Version, ©2010)
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Vacancy for Jesus?
It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that Christmas started out the extravagant winter monopoly, it is today. That simply isn’t the case, as I am sure you notice while reading over the true Christmas story. The birth of our Christ and savior Jesus was not one of famed limelight. In fact Joseph and Marry had to take to the streets after Jesus was born to avoid the evil plot of King Herod.
Matthew 2:13
When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
So not only did Jesus come into a world that did not want to make room from Him, (can someone read Luke 2:7?) but then He and His family was pushed out of their own hometown.
Before we move on, last week we talked a little about apologetics, defending your faith. I want to scratch the surface of that iceberg, by authenticating the circumstances surrounding Jesus’ unwelcomed birth, with a little extra biblical text. Like first, would Joseph really have to go back to his home town? This is an insert from a papyrus found in Egypt that confirms one would have to travel back home in order to register. "Because of the approaching census it is necessary that all those residing for any cause away from their homes should at once prepare to return to their own governments in order that they may complete the family registration of the enrollment and that the tilled lands may retain those belonging to them." There is another ancient inscription found in Antioch that confirms that Quirinius was the governor of Syria in 7 BC. These are just two minor examples, that get straight down and dirty, to insure that a statement is legitimate; you would want to make sure the extra biblical text is creditable, but that’s a whole another story.
Now back to our homeless Savior, Jesus being God in the flesh, could have been born with a silver spoon in His mouth, made out of solid gold even (pause for laughter)… but much like the free will He gives us to turn from Him, He came to this world allowing the world He created to reject Him and outcast Him. Jesus must have been the youngest person to ever have a bounty on His head. You would be hard press to find a fetus that could get into that much trouble. What could he/she have done, a 300 style kick knocking a Prince over a cliff throw the mother’s stomach? Then imagine a little baby coming out with the tiniest little hand cuffs (pause for a mixture of awes and laughs).
Yea it’s funny to think about it in that way, but kinda essentially that is what happened, Jesus was born with a bounty on His heads because He had exponentially growing rap sheet. Well if Jesus never sin how does He have a rap sheet, how can someone not make room for a birthing mother and most importantly what kind of persons tries to kill a baby, I mean honestly? He has an increasing growing rap sheet because he came to bare our sin, and free us of its captivity. Sin is anything thing that goes against God’s will, it creates separation from us and God. We hurt Jesus constantly because we do not measure up to Gods standard, but if He didn’t take the blame then the wrath of God would destroy us all. It’s because of Jesus, that our records are white as snow. Why then could no one around make room for a pregnant woman, carrying the Messiah no less?
Well let me ask you this, do you make room for the Messiah in your own heart, or is He still in a manger on the outskirts of your heart?
A.) What does it look like to make room for Jesus in your heart?
a.) What kind of external actions change, internal?
And lastly why is that man trying to kill a baby? Well as we all know hatters just mean you’re getting somewhere and Jesus came out of the womb accomplishing more than any King ever did.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Update
I haven’t posted in awhile, but fortunately this time it is for a good reason. I have been planning time examining my walk at least once a week, but instead of posting my external thought process I have been sharing it with the small group I am co-leading with Mattie, called We are 12. So I did not feel like my walk, or relationship with Christ was any less then it was last year. Now this may be very well and true only God can judge one’s heart. With that said, I just finished reading a paper I wrote last year and the obvious Christ influence decorated the page like bright lights. This year I have only had a few papers, and still I wonder if I have been sprinkling culture in my work in order to insure I don’t ruffle the fathers of my possibly non-Christian teachers. Sprinkling cultural on Christ-like things is comparable to mixing NaCl with another substance, it loses its taste.
If this is the case it’s not because of a fear of offending my teacher that I dim my Christ influence. I am not a person who finds strong faith of any religion offensive. I take their boldness as something to value, and hopefully I will have the courage to share ideas planting seeds for Christ, but not expecting to see it grow immediately. Thanks to Christ patience is not as hard for me anymore. Side note: I have found Christians, non-Christians and Atheists alike who have pushed their ideas in an offensive manner however. Back on the subject at hand the reasons I may be slightly dodging the fact and truth all the good I have comes from Christ, is it takes humility and if you are turning in the paper to a teacher that has been wronged by religion you better believe that paper is going to be graded harshly. With that outlook I am only looking at the negative side of things, and not the viewpoint I am sure Christ would take. Ok, maybe one or all my teachers have a bitter taste of “Christianity” in their mouth. This would probably be due a mislabeled Christian, meaning someone who clocked themselves with the blanket of Christianity but did not allow Christ to give them the warmth of His love.
Should I write my papers differently, hypothetically knowing that the grader has been wronged by religion in some way? Maybe a little, but in a way that amplifies faith and the way to live. I am not saying to blatantly ignore the prompt and write of Christ powerful love, but Christ is in all aspect of life, he even deserves our thoughts to be focused on Him. [Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest] - Hebrews 3:1. And/or [And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’] –Mark12:30- So whether you are writing about yourself, the global effects of media, or even a fictional story, I encourage the prominent influence of Christ to be boldly noted. This avenue might cause a few unnecessary point reductions, hopefully because of an accidently bias not intentional hatred, and it may also cause your actions to be studied under a magnifying glass by that teacher. However if we remember that [Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ] - Philippians 3:8- including grades and also the fact we are called to follow the example Christ set… and being under a microscopic great accountability to help you follow Christ and succeeding under the watchful eye of a critic is a strong witness.
This isn't the best written paper but I had a lot of ideas bouncing in my head and God uses are short commings to bring Him glory as well, something I like to keep inmind esp when I think I am better then another of Gods masterpices!
If this is the case it’s not because of a fear of offending my teacher that I dim my Christ influence. I am not a person who finds strong faith of any religion offensive. I take their boldness as something to value, and hopefully I will have the courage to share ideas planting seeds for Christ, but not expecting to see it grow immediately. Thanks to Christ patience is not as hard for me anymore. Side note: I have found Christians, non-Christians and Atheists alike who have pushed their ideas in an offensive manner however. Back on the subject at hand the reasons I may be slightly dodging the fact and truth all the good I have comes from Christ, is it takes humility and if you are turning in the paper to a teacher that has been wronged by religion you better believe that paper is going to be graded harshly. With that outlook I am only looking at the negative side of things, and not the viewpoint I am sure Christ would take. Ok, maybe one or all my teachers have a bitter taste of “Christianity” in their mouth. This would probably be due a mislabeled Christian, meaning someone who clocked themselves with the blanket of Christianity but did not allow Christ to give them the warmth of His love.
Should I write my papers differently, hypothetically knowing that the grader has been wronged by religion in some way? Maybe a little, but in a way that amplifies faith and the way to live. I am not saying to blatantly ignore the prompt and write of Christ powerful love, but Christ is in all aspect of life, he even deserves our thoughts to be focused on Him. [Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest] - Hebrews 3:1. And/or [And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’] –Mark12:30- So whether you are writing about yourself, the global effects of media, or even a fictional story, I encourage the prominent influence of Christ to be boldly noted. This avenue might cause a few unnecessary point reductions, hopefully because of an accidently bias not intentional hatred, and it may also cause your actions to be studied under a magnifying glass by that teacher. However if we remember that [Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ] - Philippians 3:8- including grades and also the fact we are called to follow the example Christ set… and being under a microscopic great accountability to help you follow Christ and succeeding under the watchful eye of a critic is a strong witness.
This isn't the best written paper but I had a lot of ideas bouncing in my head and God uses are short commings to bring Him glory as well, something I like to keep inmind esp when I think I am better then another of Gods masterpices!
Sunday, June 27, 2010
He is My Crutch, and That is Why I Stand Strong
I lead a Sunday school for the college students at Gatecity a few weeks back. I spent a good amount of time planning and taking notes on what to say, and it ended up being a pretty good class if I do say so myself. Was it my preparation, no. How about my thought provoking questions, no. In fact I did not use one single note or prepared question. The night before I was suppose to lead the class around 11:59 pm while I was putting the finishing touches on my message, I decided to give my message completely to God. I wanted to see what he had in store for me, the results were outstanding
The plan, of this non-planed study, was to take the stigma off having a Christ filled conversation. A spiritual high does not need to be attained in the confines of a Church structure, or with a formal meeting of the spiritual minds. When the belief in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, is the most important detail of your life, as it should be, then you should not need a planed agenda to bring up His Almighty name.
This approach of trying to have a untailored conversation in an every-day kind of situation was slightly complicated. Considering it was not in every-day kind of situation, chillin with friends. It was a Sunday school at Church kind of situation, making the spontaneity part of my message hard to display. Another small hiccup in leading was, I was still a leader of a message, so I could not fake that fact that I did have an idea of what I was going to say. It is hard to go to sleep knowing 5-15 people are investing about an hour of their life they can't get back, in what you have to say, and not think at least a little about what you are going to fill that time with. Granted I knew and know if I want to make sure their investments returned plentiful I need to depend on the only One who is truly good, God. That is truly what I tried to do, but that doesn't change the truth that there was a hiccup in trying to demonstrate that God can be seen everywhere. Everywhere evens includes our classes, the music we listen to, and especially the people we encounter, and we should not be afraid of noticing, and bringing it up to the ones around us.
I will be the first to admit it didn't go perfect, but we as the human race can't achieve perfection, and besides it wasn't bad. We started out sharing our highs and lows which is what was the best part of our week and what was the worst, something that might need prayer or need to be given to God. Afterwards I kind of awkwardly tried taking off the stigma by pointing out the observation that you will be hard pressed to find a profitable movie in western civilization that does not have a Christian motif. This point was made clear to me in one of my classes at Ecu matter of fact, it was a New Testament class but still it was taught in a secular viewpoint. After this people started sharing other places they noticed Christian motifs, or heard of a inspiring story sparked by a few people out of church focused on God.
So despite the complexity and the hiccups God worked through me, and other people in the room, to talk about how God is at work in every single life, and how regular situations can be amplified with the joy that comes from deliberately discussing and bringing glory to the giver of life Jesus Christ.
The plan, of this non-planed study, was to take the stigma off having a Christ filled conversation. A spiritual high does not need to be attained in the confines of a Church structure, or with a formal meeting of the spiritual minds. When the belief in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, is the most important detail of your life, as it should be, then you should not need a planed agenda to bring up His Almighty name.
This approach of trying to have a untailored conversation in an every-day kind of situation was slightly complicated. Considering it was not in every-day kind of situation, chillin with friends. It was a Sunday school at Church kind of situation, making the spontaneity part of my message hard to display. Another small hiccup in leading was, I was still a leader of a message, so I could not fake that fact that I did have an idea of what I was going to say. It is hard to go to sleep knowing 5-15 people are investing about an hour of their life they can't get back, in what you have to say, and not think at least a little about what you are going to fill that time with. Granted I knew and know if I want to make sure their investments returned plentiful I need to depend on the only One who is truly good, God. That is truly what I tried to do, but that doesn't change the truth that there was a hiccup in trying to demonstrate that God can be seen everywhere. Everywhere evens includes our classes, the music we listen to, and especially the people we encounter, and we should not be afraid of noticing, and bringing it up to the ones around us.
I will be the first to admit it didn't go perfect, but we as the human race can't achieve perfection, and besides it wasn't bad. We started out sharing our highs and lows which is what was the best part of our week and what was the worst, something that might need prayer or need to be given to God. Afterwards I kind of awkwardly tried taking off the stigma by pointing out the observation that you will be hard pressed to find a profitable movie in western civilization that does not have a Christian motif. This point was made clear to me in one of my classes at Ecu matter of fact, it was a New Testament class but still it was taught in a secular viewpoint. After this people started sharing other places they noticed Christian motifs, or heard of a inspiring story sparked by a few people out of church focused on God.
So despite the complexity and the hiccups God worked through me, and other people in the room, to talk about how God is at work in every single life, and how regular situations can be amplified with the joy that comes from deliberately discussing and bringing glory to the giver of life Jesus Christ.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
And the Dust Gathers
I was sitting on my bed hunched over a Rubbermaid container, were my computer and at the time my Bible laid, formulating a foundation for “The Boro Experience”, a small group I am trying to start up in Greensboro during the summer, when an unfortunate revelation accrued. The revelation was this; I bought a stack of paper back bibles somewhere in the ballpark of seven months ago, as I have been known to do from time to time as my supplies run low, but this last shipment has not run low. This last shipment of 7-12 bibles, have somehow made like bunnies and multiplied, or so it seems.
Those bibles are a tangible but hypothetical slap across my apathetic cheek. This apathy doesn’t stem from not peddling the hopefully addictive substance on the street fast enough. No, it stems from not being on the street with the substance, the light, the living water, at least attracting traffic, with a shining example of what’s inside the book. Does God take one day off giving all living creatures the air we breathe, or the gravitational pull that keeps us on this planet He made, or the life we take for granted? Then should we, those who are truly saved by His grace, take one day off trying our best to bring Him glory? I have not turned from His path and started walking in the opposite direction. I do not write my constructive criticism to myself from the depth of the lowest rocks, I simply write to urge all of His followers to take up God’s armor and wear it proudly in the world. Dust accumulated due to apathy is detrimental to one’s fire for God.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
The Lone Wolf's Cry for Help
A blog post is well over due, not because of the amount of days that have passed since the last one, but because, the amount of stuff that I have been presented to write about but didn't. The primary reasons for this neglect is; I was finding less significant things to devote with the time God gave me, largely in part because of the difficulty I was having writing on a subjected I was trying to force out. I thought just because I had a sweet title I should finish writing the whole thing, even though I wasn't in a place in my life to do the subject justice.
I am sure I am not alone in being stubborn to having it my own way. It can be hard to walk a path that someone else picked out for you, even when that someone else is perfect and has plan for you to prosper. The flaw of being a lone wolf is a clear trait of mine when thinking of titles. I enjoy titling things, so when I have the responsibility to pick a title, I usual automatically dismiss all title people suggest to me. I am stubborn and prideful in thinking I can think of the best title.
That is the same thing that happen with my blog I had a great title picked out and a few well constructed sentences that rolled off the tongue, and suddenly I started thinking I, by my own power, I need to make this post a killer good one. Well that was riddled with flaws, first of all my goodness comes from the Father. [ Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow] -James 1:17-, and another thing it's not about how it reads but the authenticity and meaning behind the words I write. This blog is more for me then for anyone else, it is a way to stay close to Christ read back and see how he has worked through me, and the "you" sentences are directed specifically at me when I read them over again. Honestly, I need that sometimes, a straight call out or recall for encouragement, from someone I know and trust, me. "You" mustn't forget the reason behind your action or you have forgotten where you placed the heart.
This isn't a post on one issue there is a few things in there but I am not going to try to separate the issues, I am going to trust in God that He will provided what needs to be provided out of this to the reader, including , but, if I may be so blessed, not limited to myself.
I am sure I am not alone in being stubborn to having it my own way. It can be hard to walk a path that someone else picked out for you, even when that someone else is perfect and has plan for you to prosper. The flaw of being a lone wolf is a clear trait of mine when thinking of titles. I enjoy titling things, so when I have the responsibility to pick a title, I usual automatically dismiss all title people suggest to me. I am stubborn and prideful in thinking I can think of the best title.
That is the same thing that happen with my blog I had a great title picked out and a few well constructed sentences that rolled off the tongue, and suddenly I started thinking I, by my own power, I need to make this post a killer good one. Well that was riddled with flaws, first of all my goodness comes from the Father. [ Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow] -James 1:17-, and another thing it's not about how it reads but the authenticity and meaning behind the words I write. This blog is more for me then for anyone else, it is a way to stay close to Christ read back and see how he has worked through me, and the "you" sentences are directed specifically at me when I read them over again. Honestly, I need that sometimes, a straight call out or recall for encouragement, from someone I know and trust, me. "You" mustn't forget the reason behind your action or you have forgotten where you placed the heart.
This isn't a post on one issue there is a few things in there but I am not going to try to separate the issues, I am going to trust in God that He will provided what needs to be provided out of this to the reader, including , but, if I may be so blessed, not limited to myself.
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