Tonight will be the first attempt to kick off a new ministry for students at ccv. It doesn't have a name right now but its purpose is to provide a place for students to serve the community and world they live in. I hope it works out. For more information go to RIOT tonight, or contact me directly.
Ok so it didn't work out, try try again i guess
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Fear
very few people today are in fear of God. We always portray Him as kind, compassionate, and not going to hurt anyone or anything. We have no fear of God, even though we know His might and power. He could eliminate us without even raising a finger but we don't live in fear of Him. We think of him as a big teddy bear. Cute, kind, and soft. Is that how God really is? Or is that how we want him to be. In the book of Acts it is recorded that "31The church then had found peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in fear of the Lord." (Acts 9.31).
This topic is a common occurrence in the book of Acts. It is recanted in some way or other in Acts 2.5, 7.32, 9.31, 10.2, 10.4, 10.22, 10.35, 13.26, 13.50, 17.4, 17.17, and 19.17. In fact, God-fearing men, is one of the most common ways members of the early church referred to one another. Being God fearing was always a good thing. In Acts 9.31 fearing God strengthened the fellowship of believers. In Acts 10.34-36 Peter preaches that God "accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right." Being afraid of God was a good thing in the early church, and it made the believers strong. It gave them a will to go on. It gave them a reason to continue spreading the good news in the face of adversity because there was an all powerful being to fear if they didn't. The numbers of the Church "grew daily" all because they all feared God and therefore strove to do what was right.
So once again I ask you, has God changed, or have we changed. God is all powerful. He is mighty. He is something to be feared, and yet we don't. We don't spread his word because we are scared of what others will think. We don't live in fear of God and the growth of the Church has become stagnant. May be its time that we remembered just who our God is, and start living in fear of him again.
Now I'm not suggesting God is going to start randomly hurting people, because God is love, and He loves us dearly. But we have to remember that He is all powerful, and can do whatever He wants to, and just that fact should keep us in fear.
This topic is a common occurrence in the book of Acts. It is recanted in some way or other in Acts 2.5, 7.32, 9.31, 10.2, 10.4, 10.22, 10.35, 13.26, 13.50, 17.4, 17.17, and 19.17. In fact, God-fearing men, is one of the most common ways members of the early church referred to one another. Being God fearing was always a good thing. In Acts 9.31 fearing God strengthened the fellowship of believers. In Acts 10.34-36 Peter preaches that God "accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right." Being afraid of God was a good thing in the early church, and it made the believers strong. It gave them a will to go on. It gave them a reason to continue spreading the good news in the face of adversity because there was an all powerful being to fear if they didn't. The numbers of the Church "grew daily" all because they all feared God and therefore strove to do what was right.
So once again I ask you, has God changed, or have we changed. God is all powerful. He is mighty. He is something to be feared, and yet we don't. We don't spread his word because we are scared of what others will think. We don't live in fear of God and the growth of the Church has become stagnant. May be its time that we remembered just who our God is, and start living in fear of him again.
Now I'm not suggesting God is going to start randomly hurting people, because God is love, and He loves us dearly. But we have to remember that He is all powerful, and can do whatever He wants to, and just that fact should keep us in fear.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Leadership Vs. Service
Did you know that 3+4=5? It's true, at least when using vectors in physics. How bout this, did you know that leadership=service? Well it does, actually, depending on what perspective you take.
First lets look at the world's philosophy. According to my good friends at over at Merriam-Webster the definition of leadership is "1. the office or position of a person who has commanding authority or influence." The same people define service as "contribution to the welfare of others." So how the heck are these two even related? Well in our world today, they aren't, but according to the bible they are.
Before the Last Supper Jesus does something no one ever expected. He bent over, got on his hands and knees, and started washing his disciple's feet. This was a job that was only ever done when a student, or disciple, wanted to show that they were fully devoted to their teacher, or master (normally it was done by the person themselves, or by a servant). The fact that Jesus washed his disciple's feet would have been as unbelievable as if George Bush were to walk up and start washing your feet. This was unheard of. It was an unspeakable act of love, and humbleness.
After washing His disciples feet Jesus said to them, "13 You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and you are right, because that's what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you." (John 13.13-15). He is setting the example of what true Leadership should be, undying love, devotion, and servitude to those who follow you. He is also saying that leadership is not something that you can be given, nor is it something you can randomly decide you want, it is something that you have to earn.
Leadership could be better defined as "love so strong for someone that they wish to be like you." At least true leadership that is. Working for someone or something, and putting maximum amounts of efforts into it is the best way to earn the status of a leader. It takes an uncanny amount of devotion.
Leadership is something that is impossible to have without God. It is extremely taxing, and wears you down. That is why you need God. You need Him to keep you energized. You need Him to help keep your heart in it. Finally you just need Him period.
Though Leadership is trying, and difficult, it is also very rewarding. It helps to build strong friendships, it is enjoyable, and it is something we are called to do as Disciples of Christ. We need to be leaders (and thus servants) to the world we live in. We need to make everyone look to us with our undying love. We need to be the men and women God has called us to be.
First lets look at the world's philosophy. According to my good friends at over at Merriam-Webster the definition of leadership is "1. the office or position of a person who has commanding authority or influence." The same people define service as "contribution to the welfare of others." So how the heck are these two even related? Well in our world today, they aren't, but according to the bible they are.
Before the Last Supper Jesus does something no one ever expected. He bent over, got on his hands and knees, and started washing his disciple's feet. This was a job that was only ever done when a student, or disciple, wanted to show that they were fully devoted to their teacher, or master (normally it was done by the person themselves, or by a servant). The fact that Jesus washed his disciple's feet would have been as unbelievable as if George Bush were to walk up and start washing your feet. This was unheard of. It was an unspeakable act of love, and humbleness.
After washing His disciples feet Jesus said to them, "13 You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and you are right, because that's what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you." (John 13.13-15). He is setting the example of what true Leadership should be, undying love, devotion, and servitude to those who follow you. He is also saying that leadership is not something that you can be given, nor is it something you can randomly decide you want, it is something that you have to earn.
Leadership could be better defined as "love so strong for someone that they wish to be like you." At least true leadership that is. Working for someone or something, and putting maximum amounts of efforts into it is the best way to earn the status of a leader. It takes an uncanny amount of devotion.
Leadership is something that is impossible to have without God. It is extremely taxing, and wears you down. That is why you need God. You need Him to keep you energized. You need Him to help keep your heart in it. Finally you just need Him period.
Though Leadership is trying, and difficult, it is also very rewarding. It helps to build strong friendships, it is enjoyable, and it is something we are called to do as Disciples of Christ. We need to be leaders (and thus servants) to the world we live in. We need to make everyone look to us with our undying love. We need to be the men and women God has called us to be.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
A Beautiful Disaster
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q39XH3D0R9o
(stupid youtube disabled the embed code, sorry, you'll have to visit the page to view the vid)
John McLaughlin
I don't know much about him, but if this song says anything he knows a lot about this world. Just listen to the lyrics...
(for those of you who don't want to listen to the whole song here they are)
She loves her mama's lemonade,
Hates the sound that goodbyes make.
She prays one day she'll find someone to need her.
She swears that there's no difference,
Between the lies and compliments.
It's all the same if everybody leaves her.
And every magazine tells her she's not good enough,
The pictures that she sees make her cry.
And she would change everything, everything just ask her.
Caught in the in between, a beautiful disaster,
And she just needs someone to take her home.
She's giving boys what they want, tries to act so nonchalant,
Afraid they'll see that she's lost her direction.
She never stays the same for long,
Assuming that she'll get it wrong.
Perfect only in her imperfections.
She's not a drama queen,
She doesn't want to feel this way, only seventeen but tired
She would change everything for happy ever after.
Caught in the in between, a beautiful disaster,
But she just needs someone to take her home.
Cuz she's just the way she is, but no ones told her that's ok.
And she would change everything, everything just ask her.
Caught in the in between of beautiful disaster,
And she would change everything for happy ever after.
Caught in the in between of beautiful disaster,
But she just needs someone to take her home
And she just needs someone to take her home.
Mclaughlin is right. The world has told girls they are useless. It has told them that if they aren't "hot" or "sexy" then they are a waste. Its no wonder that there are so many people who are clinically depressed, anemic, bulimic, cutters, or thinking of committing suicide. Most of the females in this world are living in a world where they can never feel good enough. They are told through music, tv, the internet, even their "friends" that they aren't ever going to be considered beautiful.
Just so everyone one knows, there is no such thing as good enough, because everyone is good enough. God loves you, and your true friends will love you, no matter how you look, act, talk, or think.
For the Disciples out there we need to start loving everyone again, no matter who they are. Jesus showed us unconditional love, now its our turn. We need to be the people who tell people their true value, as God sees their true value.
(stupid youtube disabled the embed code, sorry, you'll have to visit the page to view the vid)
John McLaughlin
I don't know much about him, but if this song says anything he knows a lot about this world. Just listen to the lyrics...
(for those of you who don't want to listen to the whole song here they are)
She loves her mama's lemonade,
Hates the sound that goodbyes make.
She prays one day she'll find someone to need her.
She swears that there's no difference,
Between the lies and compliments.
It's all the same if everybody leaves her.
And every magazine tells her she's not good enough,
The pictures that she sees make her cry.
And she would change everything, everything just ask her.
Caught in the in between, a beautiful disaster,
And she just needs someone to take her home.
She's giving boys what they want, tries to act so nonchalant,
Afraid they'll see that she's lost her direction.
She never stays the same for long,
Assuming that she'll get it wrong.
Perfect only in her imperfections.
She's not a drama queen,
She doesn't want to feel this way, only seventeen but tired
She would change everything for happy ever after.
Caught in the in between, a beautiful disaster,
But she just needs someone to take her home.
Cuz she's just the way she is, but no ones told her that's ok.
And she would change everything, everything just ask her.
Caught in the in between of beautiful disaster,
And she would change everything for happy ever after.
Caught in the in between of beautiful disaster,
But she just needs someone to take her home
And she just needs someone to take her home.
Mclaughlin is right. The world has told girls they are useless. It has told them that if they aren't "hot" or "sexy" then they are a waste. Its no wonder that there are so many people who are clinically depressed, anemic, bulimic, cutters, or thinking of committing suicide. Most of the females in this world are living in a world where they can never feel good enough. They are told through music, tv, the internet, even their "friends" that they aren't ever going to be considered beautiful.
Just so everyone one knows, there is no such thing as good enough, because everyone is good enough. God loves you, and your true friends will love you, no matter how you look, act, talk, or think.
For the Disciples out there we need to start loving everyone again, no matter who they are. Jesus showed us unconditional love, now its our turn. We need to be the people who tell people their true value, as God sees their true value.
the wonderful forwardings of my grandmother
UNITED STATES MAP
A father wanted to read a magazine but was being bothered by his little
girl. She wanted to know what the United States looked like, so he tore a
sheetout of his magazine, on which was printed the map of the country. Tearing
it into small pieces, he gave it to his daughter and said, go into the other room
and see if you can put this together. This will show you our whole country.
After a few minutes, the little girl returned and handed him the map,
correctly fitted and taped together. The father was surprised and asked how she
had finished so quickly.
Oh,she said, on the other side of the paper is a picture of Jesus. When I got
Jesus back where He belonged, then our country just came together.
haha, i have no clue who wrote this but its very funny, and true
A father wanted to read a magazine but was being bothered by his little
girl. She wanted to know what the United States looked like, so he tore a
sheetout of his magazine, on which was printed the map of the country. Tearing
it into small pieces, he gave it to his daughter and said, go into the other room
and see if you can put this together. This will show you our whole country.
After a few minutes, the little girl returned and handed him the map,
correctly fitted and taped together. The father was surprised and asked how she
had finished so quickly.
Oh,she said, on the other side of the paper is a picture of Jesus. When I got
Jesus back where He belonged, then our country just came together.
haha, i have no clue who wrote this but its very funny, and true
Saturday, September 6, 2008
A Foundation of Love
17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
18 There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him.
(John 3 17-18 NLT)
We are so lucky to have such a loving God, for he judges not, and loves us regardless of our sins and faults. God is the ultimate parent. He gave us a clear set of rules as far as what we can and can't do. When we break these rules He does not anger, but instead gently nudges us back onto the right path. However; this doesn't mean that we can go and do whatever we want and then expect Him to forgive us. Will He? Yes, i believe He will, but still, shouldn't we want to do better for someone who is so kind to us? As God plays the ultimate parent, we should become the ultimate children. In everything we do we should strive to be like Him. Our greatest goal in life should be to make Him happy by doing what He has given us to do.
In order to do this, we really only have one rule to follow, and that is love. As you may be able to tell from previous posts i have a firm belief that love is what this world need. The reason why i think this, is first of all outlined in the research i wrote under the same title, but also because of our relationship with God. God has based how he interacts with us on love. He created man-kind and "saw that it was good." He gave his only son so that we as sinners may be saved. Our God is a god of love. That is why i say that all of our relationships in this short lifetime we have been granted should be based off of love to. Just imagine how much better the world would become. There would never be any problem getting things done. People would get hurt less. Cures to diseases could be found more quickly. Love is the tylenol for the world. Would it stop all pain? No, but it sure would make the world a better place to live in.
Unfortunately it is very difficult for every interaction we have to be based off of love, but that should be our goal. I hold a firm belief that the understanding of true and untainted love equals a firm understanding of the Bible, and makes it much easier to follow everything it contains.
For you are the Lord
And You are God above
Your love goes on and on
~The Everlasting by Third Day~
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me
~You Never Let Go by Matt Redman~
Just remember, God will never let go of you, so never let go of Him or each other.
18 There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him.
(John 3 17-18 NLT)
We are so lucky to have such a loving God, for he judges not, and loves us regardless of our sins and faults. God is the ultimate parent. He gave us a clear set of rules as far as what we can and can't do. When we break these rules He does not anger, but instead gently nudges us back onto the right path. However; this doesn't mean that we can go and do whatever we want and then expect Him to forgive us. Will He? Yes, i believe He will, but still, shouldn't we want to do better for someone who is so kind to us? As God plays the ultimate parent, we should become the ultimate children. In everything we do we should strive to be like Him. Our greatest goal in life should be to make Him happy by doing what He has given us to do.
In order to do this, we really only have one rule to follow, and that is love. As you may be able to tell from previous posts i have a firm belief that love is what this world need. The reason why i think this, is first of all outlined in the research i wrote under the same title, but also because of our relationship with God. God has based how he interacts with us on love. He created man-kind and "saw that it was good." He gave his only son so that we as sinners may be saved. Our God is a god of love. That is why i say that all of our relationships in this short lifetime we have been granted should be based off of love to. Just imagine how much better the world would become. There would never be any problem getting things done. People would get hurt less. Cures to diseases could be found more quickly. Love is the tylenol for the world. Would it stop all pain? No, but it sure would make the world a better place to live in.
Unfortunately it is very difficult for every interaction we have to be based off of love, but that should be our goal. I hold a firm belief that the understanding of true and untainted love equals a firm understanding of the Bible, and makes it much easier to follow everything it contains.
For you are the Lord
And You are God above
Your love goes on and on
~The Everlasting by Third Day~
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me
~You Never Let Go by Matt Redman~
Just remember, God will never let go of you, so never let go of Him or each other.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Yo
Just so everyone knows, I'm taking a break from blogging as i settle into the school year. I'll try to have something up this weekend or at the latest by next week.
Talk to you later
Keep walkin the walk
Talk to you later
Keep walkin the walk
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