This Tuesday, I had the great privilege of talking with the youth group at Salem First about what God has been showing in my life. It was a personal testimony slash lesson learning talk. I shared the passage in John 1:19-28. I wont post the passage but I highly encourage you to read and chew on it, because the rest of this post will be referring back to it.
The emphasis of what I shared was on the question the pharisees asked John the Baptist. "What do you say about yourself?"(v22). John the Baptist (JTB) replies with truth; he quotes scripture "I am the voice of one calling in the desert. Make straight the way for the Lord"(23). Admiration runs over me with the way JTB responds, "he did not fail to confess but confessed freely" (v20). After meditating on this passage I began to ask myself this same question. It was then I realized how far away I am from coming to answer in comparison to JTB. The word admiration was not the right word, more jealous or envy, but not in a malicious sense.
I challenged the youth to ask themselves this question as well and see if they could answer in a way like JTB, with Truth and with out hesitation. In my life I have lost things I defined myself as: soccer player (finished with college soccer), student (I am not going to school). What left do I have to define myself as. And so I turn to God and ask: What do you see me as? What can I say about myself? I am on the road of discovering this question and look forward to the mighty truths God has for me along the way. I know I am a child of God, a truth I have yet to discover the full meaning of but am open and daring enough to venture into the inner chamber with Christ to find out.
Good luck with your Peace
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Chewing on Pi (even when it tastes bad)
When life hands you lemons you make sprite, right? Not always the case in life. I have come across an article and good conversation where lemonade (sprite) cannot be made from the lemons handed you. I am referring to the life of a pastor/minister. From what I gathered, Pastors face many sticky situations, whether it's spiritual, emotional, or physical. They face awkward messy life circumstances of people they may know well or may not know at all.
This blows my mind; it is awkward for me to call a girl I like sometimes, hoping I do not act stupid. How can I conceive a Pastor getting in the middle of a tragedy, divorce, or porn addiction a person is facing that he might not know. People come to Pastors for answers or guidance in these times, but it is not the pastor who has the answer, it is God. Pastors are called to a life of serving adn shining light on the darkness, however that might look at the time. Sometimes it is important to just be there as a Pastor, "it might be messy, but you just have to get in there and let yourself be apart of it" (quote from a dude). Presence can make a difference, no one wants to feel alone or abandoned.
Not to say I am a pastor, but recently I came across a situation such as this. It was weird; it was not easy; it was uncomfortable. Through Christ, it was possible for me to get past self and move to be present with a sister in Christ who was hurting. I had no idea what to do but be there and offer prayer, I am not sure I even helped. Hours passed and still no direction of what to do; my only comfort was trusting God is good and had a perfect plan for the things to come. Side note: I have a better understanding of what Paul means when he calls us to be faithful in prayer and pray continually (Rom 12:12; 1 thes 5:17). Things are still not worked out and I am not sure if they will be soon. I know God is in control and I pray the darkness would understand the light John 1:5.
Chew on that Peace
This blows my mind; it is awkward for me to call a girl I like sometimes, hoping I do not act stupid. How can I conceive a Pastor getting in the middle of a tragedy, divorce, or porn addiction a person is facing that he might not know. People come to Pastors for answers or guidance in these times, but it is not the pastor who has the answer, it is God. Pastors are called to a life of serving adn shining light on the darkness, however that might look at the time. Sometimes it is important to just be there as a Pastor, "it might be messy, but you just have to get in there and let yourself be apart of it" (quote from a dude). Presence can make a difference, no one wants to feel alone or abandoned.
Not to say I am a pastor, but recently I came across a situation such as this. It was weird; it was not easy; it was uncomfortable. Through Christ, it was possible for me to get past self and move to be present with a sister in Christ who was hurting. I had no idea what to do but be there and offer prayer, I am not sure I even helped. Hours passed and still no direction of what to do; my only comfort was trusting God is good and had a perfect plan for the things to come. Side note: I have a better understanding of what Paul means when he calls us to be faithful in prayer and pray continually (Rom 12:12; 1 thes 5:17). Things are still not worked out and I am not sure if they will be soon. I know God is in control and I pray the darkness would understand the light John 1:5.
Chew on that Peace
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Peace of Pi
The line between bravery and stupidity is very thin in my life. I easily cross over from one side to the other with out hesitation. I blame much of it on the fact I do not see life or the consequences of my actions past my arms reach. Living this way has brought me many exciting adventures and many regrettable adventures. However, I would not want to live any other way though, but rather live more recklessly for the things which mean most in my life.
What is most important in Life? How do you answer that? Is it family, friends, wife, daughter, boyfriend, Jesus, love, music, movies, money, soccer. A good determinant I have been told to understand what is most important in life is to measure where your time is spent. I confess, I really think Fantasy basketball is important for I check my stats two or three times a day. Not to give much more of my life away, because I rather use blogging to vomit out what God has been putting in my mind and on my heart. I have been hit by God with the question of what is important in life and if it is what God sees as important.
My calling card which I feel is clever is (instead of "how do you like them apples" a quote from a Matt Damon movie),
How do you like that Peace of pi?
What is most important in Life? How do you answer that? Is it family, friends, wife, daughter, boyfriend, Jesus, love, music, movies, money, soccer. A good determinant I have been told to understand what is most important in life is to measure where your time is spent. I confess, I really think Fantasy basketball is important for I check my stats two or three times a day. Not to give much more of my life away, because I rather use blogging to vomit out what God has been putting in my mind and on my heart. I have been hit by God with the question of what is important in life and if it is what God sees as important.
My calling card which I feel is clever is (instead of "how do you like them apples" a quote from a Matt Damon movie),
How do you like that Peace of pi?
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