When Things Become Real

Going through the Old Testament can sometimes become boring and pointless and even frustrating as the repetitious nature of it becomes evident. The pages are filled with Israel fleeing Egypt being led by Moses and Aaron. The laws are repeatedly laid down by God for the Israelites to follow. The sacrifices that must be done in order for forgiveness to exists are explained countless times throughout the Old Testament. The transformation of Israel also is seen through the books. Israel begins to drift away from the will of God and soon follows the religions of the people around them. As enemies gather around them, the people cry out for a king just like the earthly nations, forgetting their purpose as a nation set apart by God, without the need for a king. Israel continually learns the consequences for allowing sin to go unchecked and they also learn the greatness of God's forgiveness and redemption. Each time a sin was committed, an animal had to spill its blood and die. But also, the person guilty of the sin had to come in contact with the animal to be sacrificed on their behalf. I wonder if we, who call ourselves believers and followers do the same today? Do we understand that for each one of our sins, Christ is brought forth and we are touched by Him and then His precious and perfect blood is spilled for us? And after reading further into the Old Testament, the stories of the judges becomes clearer. Israel needed continual direction from God in order to continue living as a nation set apart. And the funny thing is that the judges were from all over, but they all had a desire for the will of God to be done. Samson is praised by churches in Sunday Schools and from pulpits across the nation as being a warrior for God. But Samson didn't even pray to God! Each time he destroyed the Philistines he took credit himself, disregarding the fact that his strength was directly from God! But he still was used by God in order to fulfill the will of God. And only after being caught and blinded did Samson cry out to God! In his moment of weakness he remembered God and cried out for strength not to glorify God but to get revenge for him being blinded! And God granted the request! How amazing! And Israel finally appealed to Samuel for a king to placed above them so that they would not be defeated by the surrounding nations. They instantly forgot of the great things God had done for them as they left Egypt! They had no faith in God! And guess who they chose as their king? The best looking man! How often do we still do the same today? We "pick" those with the highest seminary degree to be our "kings!" How dare we have no faith or communion with the Holy Spirit as the Israelites! No! We should understand and grasp the significance of Christ's sacrifice on our behalf, we should have the faith in God and daily commune with the Holy Spirit and allow for Spirit led living that can only be done the strength and power of God!

God's Hand and the Love of Christ

New Orleans...the city of sin. I spent a week there. Yes there was sin and sin that I didn't even know was possible! Bourbon St. was a little weird for me. The Lower 9th broke my soul. The story of Red and his USS Budweiser brought tears of laughter and pain. The work ethic of Gail broke my back. The love expressed by Tim brought encouragement. Liz showed me that love is for everybody. Jr. taught me to be thankful and patient. New Orleans Seminary showed me to not accept the standard. The city of New Orleans is amazing. The people are still hurting. The work of the church is not being done or it is being done by celebrities from Hollywood. Why? Where is God's hand and the love of Christ? Where is the church? Where is the bride of Christ? And how does she look? Where are those that profess to believe in God? Why is there still people living in houses that have not been touched in 3 years? This week will be me writing out my thoughts and questions as I spent a week working with people in New Orleans rebuilding their lives. I have many questions and many thoughts. They are too many to write without writing a book. But they will tell the stories of a few people that I met and helped out and they will also present some questions for the church. Take them seriously. God is ready to reveal himself, but will we let Him?

Rain

Today I drove home in the rain. It has been raining every other day it seems like. But we need it and God is providing. Next week is spring break! I came home to rest and sleep...and eat real food...before I leave Sunday. A group of us from school are heading down to New Orleans to work with people from East New Orleans. We will be working with people in their yards, building houses, playing with kids, and so on. I am pretty excited to go down and share God with people. I pray that God will do amazing things this next week while we are there. I pray that people will see the glory of God through our lives and actions and words. And because the glory of God was revealed to them through our lives they well see Christ and experience His love! That is my prayer! So I ask all of you...or anyone of you who reads my blog to pray that as well! Thanks to all!

Is This It?

Is this it?
Is this the world God loves?
Is this the church
That is his bride?
Is my life
the one Christ lived for?
Is this it?

It Has Started Again

So, school has started up again! I just finished my first week back with classes and practice and it was pretty tough! I'm already stressing out and running around doing all these things and somehow already getting behind! I don't know how I am going to catch up with classes...each one requires a research paper of at least 10 pages! But I guess it's part of it! But it sure does get stressful! But it's great to be back on the hill and have so many people that need to just hear the love of Christ and feel the grace of God! I recently shared my heart and read some scripture at our BCM meeting this week and my heart broke at how simple it was to love people and how so often we refuse to do so. I read of how Christ sat with the woman at the well and how she drank of the living water and how her life was forever changed. My prayer is that I will have the strength and power to love people as Christ did and to show them how great a life of following Him really is!

New Layout

New layout...hope everyone likes it!

Neon?

So...I was looking at my blog page and I realized that it was all bright neon colors. It looks weird and goofy but I think I like it! Anyway, I've been home resting from YEC this weekend! I came home and slept for 13 hours and 10 hours the next night...I think I was a little tired! But YEC was a blast and God worked in some awesome ways! David Platt spoke all weekend and God worked through him to reach youth! His messages were based only on scripture and God was in everyone! Matt Papa led worship and as usual he did such a great job of providing a time for youth to reach God one on one! Third Day and Barlow Girl played the concerts at night and they were pretty good! I worked the stage all weekend and it was pretty stressful and tiring. But it was really fun to meet everybody and talk with them about all the things that God is doing in so many lives. It was such a blessing and encouragement. But it was really cool to see God working in the lives of people but it also opened my eyes to the fact that so many people do not have a clue what it means to have a personal relationship with God through Christ! So many kids seemed oblivious to the fact of their need for salvation! It was good to hear Platt speak about how God is seeking to make is name great and because of that He sent Jesus to live and die! It is as simple as that! But so many people have been distracted and taught so many wrong things that they do not understand that and it broke my heart! So I am beginning to pray for God to reveal himself to people who so much need to meet Him face to face! I am praying that people will come to the point that they realize the greatness of God and his love through Christ! That is my prayer!