Saturday, January 2
Backpacking through life
It's a new year. Yep. I was hoping that the new year would be full of new opportunities, but so far everything has been rather crappy. And considering it's only the first day, that's really not a good thing! But here's the thing, I had a crappy day and ended up calling my good friend Carl, who I haven't had a chance to talk with for a while. Almost over Christmas, but it didn't work out. And I just got to tell him everything that was going on and everything that was frustrating me and it was really really good. I never really talk about myself to people, which is a little odd. But it was good. It was good to process a bit and just be frustrated and angry and tired. I'm too private, and I think that partly has to do with how I always pick the most troubled people as my closest friends. So I can focus on them and help them, but I don't feel I can put any of my problems or frustrations on them. Which probably isn't true, but that's the way I work. But Carl reminded me of something that I forgot, and something I need to do more thinking on. He reminded me that I can always see the good in people and in situations. And that is really important for me to remember because it's true. I often feel like I'm cynical, and to a point I am, but that's really only when it comes to general things. But when it comes to the specifics, to the people I see day to day, I really look for the good. And that gets me into trouble sometimes because I avoid seeing the bad that's going on. That gets me hurt sometimes. I really need to keep looking for the good though, because I'm struggling right now. I can see the good in others but I just can't in myself and my situation. I feel like a failure, like I just can't make it. I feel so tired. I thought to myself this morning, "could someone stop the world please? I'd like to get off". But there is good. I have some places where I'm learning. I have a job. I have friends here that, even if we're not as close as I used to be, care about me and I care for. I miss Rayne though. So much. God give me strength and endurance as I try desperately to run this race. Help me to keep my eyes on you. Happy New Years everyone. Good night.
Sunday, May 31
Life's like that
Just a quick update on my life right now, nothing too exciting. I guess this would be the stereotypical journal entry. Good good. I'm currently housesitting for my old professor Lee, who is in New York for the summer. I'm also watching her ferret Magnus Robot Fighter. He's cool and all, but he wakes me up at 4:45 each morning by biting my feet. I need to figure out how to stop that... I'm currently jobless aside from the infrequent painting stuff my friend Kyle gives me. Still not too much. I'm thinking of asking out Mindy, and I realized that I've never really asked someone on a date before. I've always kind of gone right to relationship, so this'll be interesting! And finally, I've made a friend named Kayleigh, who is awesome and a staunch atheist. This has led to some good conversations that I've thoroughly enjoyed, and I hope it will continue into many more! Also it's good for me to have someone picking at my beliefs so I make sure I actually know what I'm talking about! Rayne did that for me way back when, and still does to an extent, but I've been missing that person you know? Reach at church is officially over, so I'm no longer a young adult leader, which has been kind of weird to be honest. I just went to a bible study tonight and I didn't need to prepare or have an answer for every question or anything. It was kind of nice! But I'm afraid it might get me lazy... We shall see! Till then, good night, or whatever time it is, and I'll see you on the flip side!
Thursday, April 30
Are we the unchurched generation?
This is something I've been meaning to write for a very long time. A few of my friends have decided that they don't want to go to church. That they've got their own way of doing things. While I realize that everyone has a different way that they connect with God best, it's unbelievably obvious to me that they've been badly misguided. As Pastor Scott at my church is so fond of saying, "The church is God's plan A. There is no plan B."
As I've been fond of saying lately, let's have a look at what Jesus did. I figure that, being perfect, he probably has the best possible habits that we can follow. Starting right at Luke 2:41 there is the story of Jesus leaving Joseph and Mary and staying in the temple at the ripe old age of 12. When they ask him why he would do such a thing he replies, "Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" And in case you forgot, he's God. That means that there really wasn't much for him to learn there. I know he limited himself, but still, if God decides that it's good to go to the temple to learn, you'd better believe it's a good idea for us too! This attitude he continues for the entirety of his life. Later he was more into the teaching rather than the learning, but again, isn't that a good reason for us to go to church? If we're a little more knowledgeable than others, the best thing we can do is share it. We're all part of the team. We're all part of the family. So really, shouldn't we all be saying, "Didn't you realize that I must be in our Father's house?"
So, if you don't think that simply following in Jesus' footsteps was a good enough reason (though I'd be very worried if you didn't...) let's look at the early church. Acts 2:42-46 tells us that the early Christians devoted themselves to fellowship, attended the temple together and broke bread together. It seems that simply going to church together wasn't good enough! In Hebrews 10:25, Paul pleads for them to "not neglect meeting together, as is the habit of some..." It seems staying isolated is the exact opposite of what we're supposed to be doing as Christians.
Another line of reasoning is in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27. There we're told that we are all part of the body of Christ. There's the funny yet profound questioning of the eye saying it doesn't need the hand, or the foot saying it isn't as good as the hand. In verse 14 it says "the body does not consist of one member, but of many." So then I ask, isn't is foolish to think that we can be apart from the body? It's as silly as thinking that the head can live without the heart. Alone we're just ears, eyes, and hands flopping around not doing anything. It's only together that we can actually accomplish anything of any worth.
Church is where we can love one another (1 John 4:12), encourage one another (Hebrews 3:13), serve one another (Galatians 5:13), instruct one another (Romans 15:14), honor one another (Romans 12:10), and be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32). How can we do these things for each other if we're not around each other? How can we be know by our love for one another (John 13:35) if we're never seen together? I ask you, what are you doing?
The big reason that I haven't actually written this out until how (aside from the fact that this isn't as long as a full sermon) is because the people that I'd actually teach this to aren't the ones who need to hear it. I pray that God will use this as it's sitting here to maybe teach those of you who do need to hear it. I hope that I get to meet you! I have to say that that is one of my favorite things about church. Getting to meet together with people that share a lot of the same ideals and thoughts with me. Getting to go to a safe space where I can be encouraged and learn. I really do love learning. And the more I learn, the more I realize how little I really know! I hope that you'll go to church. I know that they're not all as great as mine. I know that there will be conflict, people that you don't like. I know that. But remember that we're all on the same side, part of the same family. Sure our brothers and sisters may drive us nuts sometimes, but I wouldn't trade them for the world. My dear brother or sister, I hope that I'll get the opportunity to meet you too.
As I've been fond of saying lately, let's have a look at what Jesus did. I figure that, being perfect, he probably has the best possible habits that we can follow. Starting right at Luke 2:41 there is the story of Jesus leaving Joseph and Mary and staying in the temple at the ripe old age of 12. When they ask him why he would do such a thing he replies, "Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" And in case you forgot, he's God. That means that there really wasn't much for him to learn there. I know he limited himself, but still, if God decides that it's good to go to the temple to learn, you'd better believe it's a good idea for us too! This attitude he continues for the entirety of his life. Later he was more into the teaching rather than the learning, but again, isn't that a good reason for us to go to church? If we're a little more knowledgeable than others, the best thing we can do is share it. We're all part of the team. We're all part of the family. So really, shouldn't we all be saying, "Didn't you realize that I must be in our Father's house?"
So, if you don't think that simply following in Jesus' footsteps was a good enough reason (though I'd be very worried if you didn't...) let's look at the early church. Acts 2:42-46 tells us that the early Christians devoted themselves to fellowship, attended the temple together and broke bread together. It seems that simply going to church together wasn't good enough! In Hebrews 10:25, Paul pleads for them to "not neglect meeting together, as is the habit of some..." It seems staying isolated is the exact opposite of what we're supposed to be doing as Christians.
Another line of reasoning is in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27. There we're told that we are all part of the body of Christ. There's the funny yet profound questioning of the eye saying it doesn't need the hand, or the foot saying it isn't as good as the hand. In verse 14 it says "the body does not consist of one member, but of many." So then I ask, isn't is foolish to think that we can be apart from the body? It's as silly as thinking that the head can live without the heart. Alone we're just ears, eyes, and hands flopping around not doing anything. It's only together that we can actually accomplish anything of any worth.
Church is where we can love one another (1 John 4:12), encourage one another (Hebrews 3:13), serve one another (Galatians 5:13), instruct one another (Romans 15:14), honor one another (Romans 12:10), and be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32). How can we do these things for each other if we're not around each other? How can we be know by our love for one another (John 13:35) if we're never seen together? I ask you, what are you doing?
The big reason that I haven't actually written this out until how (aside from the fact that this isn't as long as a full sermon) is because the people that I'd actually teach this to aren't the ones who need to hear it. I pray that God will use this as it's sitting here to maybe teach those of you who do need to hear it. I hope that I get to meet you! I have to say that that is one of my favorite things about church. Getting to meet together with people that share a lot of the same ideals and thoughts with me. Getting to go to a safe space where I can be encouraged and learn. I really do love learning. And the more I learn, the more I realize how little I really know! I hope that you'll go to church. I know that they're not all as great as mine. I know that there will be conflict, people that you don't like. I know that. But remember that we're all on the same side, part of the same family. Sure our brothers and sisters may drive us nuts sometimes, but I wouldn't trade them for the world. My dear brother or sister, I hope that I'll get the opportunity to meet you too.
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