Okay. It has been a while since I have written in my blog, and I am sorry for the two of you the actually read this thing.
It is Saturday, a.k.a. College Football Gameday, and there have been some amazing upsets so far this week. The #1 team in the nation, USC, lost to the unranked Oregon State Beavers on Thursday. The #4 Florida Gators lost to Ole Miss, and even the #9 Wisconsin Badgers lost to Michigan. I guess you could say that it was a weekend of upsets in the college football world.
These unranked teams that have beaten ranked quality football teams are called "sleeper teams." No one knows they are going to win. They catch the other team metaphorically "sleeping," and end up beating them. These teams are what make college football exciting.
But on a serious note...some people believe that Christianity is a lost cause, a team that won't win. It is just a religion of "do's and do not's." Christianity is not relevant with today's culture. It is for people who are weak and have nothing else to do with their lives. But let me tell you this stereotype is wrong! We, Christians, are not a people who live with a lost cause. Its a religion of love and spiritual warfare. The truths of the Bible are timeless principles. And Christians are warriors fighting in the trenches of saving souls. Christianity is not a weak man's religion.
I guess you could say that Christianity is a "sleeper team." People believe that this way of life Christians are called to follow is futile. It all comes to nothing in the end. No one can beat death. But let me tell you, Christians, we will beat death, because our Lord and Savior defeated death almost 2,00o years ago. We already know the outcome of this life and its not death. Even Satan knows Christ is going to reign over the earth victorious, but he wants to take us down with him. One of Satan's greatest lies is that we can't beat death. People think they have sinned too much that they have gotten too far away form God's grace...thats not true at all!! We are winning this battle. We are going to win. Thank God Almighty for counting me worthy enough to play on his team, the "sleeper team."
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Hallelujah, Its Morning!
I hate morning people. There is no reason for people to be as happy as some are in the morning. Yes, of course God has made the day and all is good, but don't be so happy that it becomes annoying. Its like morning people know you don't want to be bothered, so they attack you with a, "HEY CHARLIE! HOW ARE YOU?" with a huge smile on their face. They know exactly how I'm doing...tired! They probably think I am mean, but all i do is look at them and continue brushing my teeth. Morning people are actually the ones being mean trying to shove their happiness on me...what are they thinking?!
For those of you that know me best, I'm not only a negative person in the morning but also when it comes to life in general. I guess the official term would be "pessimistic." I say that the nice cold glass of chocolate milk is half empty, not half full. If you ask me an outcome to a KU football game that will be a good match-up, I will probably say they will lose. Why? Because if they do lose, I was right, and if they win I am happy. In either cases its a win/win situation. Pessimism is the way for me!
But on a serious note, no one should allow pessimism to rule their life. Paul tells a young preacher named Titus about "the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time." Why should I look at life in a pessimistic way if what is promised to me is eternal life?! I shouldn't and neither should you. The God of eternity has promised eternity to us.
Today in Youth Ministry class, we talked about the ways people look at the world. Some view it with false optimism. They look at the world and all the evil. They say, "Don't worry, everything is going to be just fine. it will all work out." And so the people who say this don't do anything. They just hope things will get better. But they don't. Another view of the world and its state is habitual pessimism. They look at the world and say, "Things are terrible. It's so bad that there is nothing we can do about it." These people who say this don't do anything either. They forfeit any influence they could have had because they see it as a lost cause. Both of these views do nothing to change the world. They sit their and hope or complain.
However, there is something we can do! We can tell them of the hope we have in Christ. The benefits of being a Christian is awesome! Love, peace, and eternal life. Of course, the Christian life is not all peachy. Jesus didn't promise a perfect life, but its benefits totally out weigh the setbacks. We need to change the world that is crying out for help. Death is not the end of existence, and we need to let people know! We have hope in eternal life with our God. So is Pessimism a valid way to live? No Way! Will I start being nice to those "Morning People" in the morning? Never!
For those of you that know me best, I'm not only a negative person in the morning but also when it comes to life in general. I guess the official term would be "pessimistic." I say that the nice cold glass of chocolate milk is half empty, not half full. If you ask me an outcome to a KU football game that will be a good match-up, I will probably say they will lose. Why? Because if they do lose, I was right, and if they win I am happy. In either cases its a win/win situation. Pessimism is the way for me!
But on a serious note, no one should allow pessimism to rule their life. Paul tells a young preacher named Titus about "the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time." Why should I look at life in a pessimistic way if what is promised to me is eternal life?! I shouldn't and neither should you. The God of eternity has promised eternity to us.
Today in Youth Ministry class, we talked about the ways people look at the world. Some view it with false optimism. They look at the world and all the evil. They say, "Don't worry, everything is going to be just fine. it will all work out." And so the people who say this don't do anything. They just hope things will get better. But they don't. Another view of the world and its state is habitual pessimism. They look at the world and say, "Things are terrible. It's so bad that there is nothing we can do about it." These people who say this don't do anything either. They forfeit any influence they could have had because they see it as a lost cause. Both of these views do nothing to change the world. They sit their and hope or complain.
However, there is something we can do! We can tell them of the hope we have in Christ. The benefits of being a Christian is awesome! Love, peace, and eternal life. Of course, the Christian life is not all peachy. Jesus didn't promise a perfect life, but its benefits totally out weigh the setbacks. We need to change the world that is crying out for help. Death is not the end of existence, and we need to let people know! We have hope in eternal life with our God. So is Pessimism a valid way to live? No Way! Will I start being nice to those "Morning People" in the morning? Never!
Sunday, September 7, 2008
A Cookie-cutter Lifestyle
I love my mom's homemade chocolate chip cookies! If you guys remember the old TV show Rugrats, than you will remember Angelica. She was obsessed with cookies, so if i could compare myself to any nickelodeon cartoon character, it would be Angelica. I'm usually not around when my mom bakes the cookies, but I'm almost certain of the steps to cook them. You throw some ingredients together in a bowl, and then roll up the dough and put it on the cookie sheet. Let them cook in the oven for like 12 minutes and ta da, a sheet of awesomeness.
My mom doesn't use special cookie cutters to make pretty shapes out of the cookie dough. All she does is roll the dough up into a ball and cook them. I don't see any reason to make something look attractive before I devour it.Don't get me wrong. I don't hate cookies that have been cut into particular shapes for appeal. I actually like the idea. I think i am just to lazy to ever form my cookies in a particular shape (actually, I'm to lazy to even bake cookies, so I leave that to my mom).
But on a serious note...I thought about those Christmas tree-shaped cookies everyone eats on Christmas, and how before they were made, the cookie dough was pressed through a certain mold to reach a certain outcome. In this case, the mold was a cookie cutter and the outcome was a Tannenbaum. Jesus tells us that our lives need to go through a mold in order to reach the outcome Christ calls us to. This mold is no holiday symbol, but a cross. The outcome is a mature follower of Jesus. Mark 8:34 says, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." The cross is no longer a symbol of our religion but a lifestyle.
I will be the first to admit that my life does not always follow the way of the cross. In fact, most of the time I decide to use the world as the pattern for my life. It's easier and usually benefits me. A lifestyle mimicking Jesus' path to the cross is not easy...it is difficult. Being shaped by the cross never benefits me...it benefits others and the kingdom. This lifestyle when correctly lived out results in death. But if I truly die to myself, I will receive life and I KNOW that eternal life is better than my momma's cookies!
My mom doesn't use special cookie cutters to make pretty shapes out of the cookie dough. All she does is roll the dough up into a ball and cook them. I don't see any reason to make something look attractive before I devour it.Don't get me wrong. I don't hate cookies that have been cut into particular shapes for appeal. I actually like the idea. I think i am just to lazy to ever form my cookies in a particular shape (actually, I'm to lazy to even bake cookies, so I leave that to my mom).
But on a serious note...I thought about those Christmas tree-shaped cookies everyone eats on Christmas, and how before they were made, the cookie dough was pressed through a certain mold to reach a certain outcome. In this case, the mold was a cookie cutter and the outcome was a Tannenbaum. Jesus tells us that our lives need to go through a mold in order to reach the outcome Christ calls us to. This mold is no holiday symbol, but a cross. The outcome is a mature follower of Jesus. Mark 8:34 says, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." The cross is no longer a symbol of our religion but a lifestyle.
I will be the first to admit that my life does not always follow the way of the cross. In fact, most of the time I decide to use the world as the pattern for my life. It's easier and usually benefits me. A lifestyle mimicking Jesus' path to the cross is not easy...it is difficult. Being shaped by the cross never benefits me...it benefits others and the kingdom. This lifestyle when correctly lived out results in death. But if I truly die to myself, I will receive life and I KNOW that eternal life is better than my momma's cookies!
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Peter, James and John are college athletes?!
Everybody has something in their life that brings them enjoyment. Some people enjoy watching birds early in the morning. Taking a walk on a nice spring day makes some people smile. Still others somehow find enjoyment reading the Harry Potter books. For me...watching college football is the apex of good ol' fashion fun.
What could be better than athletes giving all their energy and heart for the satisfaction of victory? When I watch college football, I smile. It is amazing to watch someone perform the sport with perfection. I think the reason I am so infatuated with college football is the simple reason: they can do what I can't. Thats the reason so many kids love a man who has super strength, can fly, and wears spandex. Superman can do everything a young boy can only dream about. It is a thing of beauty when a quarterback executes a perfect pass to a wide receiver streaking down the sideline or when a linebacker stuffs a running back on the one-yard-line on fourth and goal. I love college football.
Lately, I have had the 12 Apostles on my mind. I am in my third year of Bible College training. The Apostles were with Jesus for three years before he was crucified, resurrected, and ascended to Heaven. They basically had three intense years of learning with Jesus. I am in the same boat as the Apostles, but will I be ready after my schooling to lead God's people, particularly the youth? The Apostles stepped up to the challenge as shown at Pentecost.
Just as I admire college football athletes, I admire the 12 Apostles and their work for the kingdom. But I shouldn't admire them because they did what i cannot. Sometimes I get in the mindset that I won't be able to do great things for God like the Twelve, but i know that with perseverance, hard work, and LOTS of prayer I one day will be able to be a shepherd to a lost flock. Peter, James, and John were great men, but they aren't college football athletes...they were just men who were willing to be used by God.
By the way, the Kansas Jayhawk football team is 1-0 baby! Rock Chalk Jayhawk KU!
What could be better than athletes giving all their energy and heart for the satisfaction of victory? When I watch college football, I smile. It is amazing to watch someone perform the sport with perfection. I think the reason I am so infatuated with college football is the simple reason: they can do what I can't. Thats the reason so many kids love a man who has super strength, can fly, and wears spandex. Superman can do everything a young boy can only dream about. It is a thing of beauty when a quarterback executes a perfect pass to a wide receiver streaking down the sideline or when a linebacker stuffs a running back on the one-yard-line on fourth and goal. I love college football.
Lately, I have had the 12 Apostles on my mind. I am in my third year of Bible College training. The Apostles were with Jesus for three years before he was crucified, resurrected, and ascended to Heaven. They basically had three intense years of learning with Jesus. I am in the same boat as the Apostles, but will I be ready after my schooling to lead God's people, particularly the youth? The Apostles stepped up to the challenge as shown at Pentecost.
Just as I admire college football athletes, I admire the 12 Apostles and their work for the kingdom. But I shouldn't admire them because they did what i cannot. Sometimes I get in the mindset that I won't be able to do great things for God like the Twelve, but i know that with perseverance, hard work, and LOTS of prayer I one day will be able to be a shepherd to a lost flock. Peter, James, and John were great men, but they aren't college football athletes...they were just men who were willing to be used by God.
By the way, the Kansas Jayhawk football team is 1-0 baby! Rock Chalk Jayhawk KU!
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