So while in high school I took a year of simple physics because I'm not good at science. One thing that we obviously went through are Newton's Three Laws of Motion. When I was taking karate in the past we talked about the 3rd Law a lot as well.
What Newton's 3rd Law of Motion says is this: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
If you're pushing forward against a block, you're also pushing away from the ground with equal force. If you throw a punch with one arm the other goes back with the same force.
What does this have to do with Christians?
1 Corinthians 4.12b-13: When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.
Well that sucks.
I don't know about you, but I've been attacked for my faith before. Not in a major way, but I have endured some slander and ridicule for my beliefs. There was a force that was pushing against me, and the only thing I could do was react, in an equally measured way opposite of what they were doing.
I'm told that I'm stupid for believing in a god, I give my reasons for my belief.
I'm called a bigot, one who is intolerant of another view, I tell of how I'm open for other views on different events such as the beginning of all things.
I'm told I'm intolerant of same sex marriage, I show how I'm accepting of all people no matter their religion, sexual orientation, or political views.
I'm not a push over, I'm not one that takes things lying down. I push back which someone pushes against me, I give them a reaction, but it's not full of hate and fear and intolerance of another view like theirs is.
I have been saved by Jesus from my sin, my anger, my need to always be right. I have been given peace by him, and now I attempt to pass it on to those around me.
No matter what you go through in the coming week, months, years, no matter how bad people are to you; bless, endure, entreat. We may be the scum of the world, the least respected at times, but I'm alright with that. My citizenship is not here, but in Heaven.
When they attack you with hate, attack them with love. Always pass on the love you have received from Christ.
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Monday, July 13, 2015
Let's get practical
So today I want to do something a bit different. Want to give tips and tricks, or to use a popular term, hacks, to reading the Bible.
Today I was reading through Zechariah. I have a strange infatuation with the Minor Prophets. Just really enjoy reading them on a regular basis. Anyways, as I'm reading it I'm seeing connections to other Minor prophets that I've read.
Today I just read chapter 10 and I noticed that it was very reminiscent of the entirety of Zephaniah. The point that I got out of Zephaniah was the future restoration and characteristics of Israel. Really the New Israel, or us Christians. Not just in chapter 10 though, but also chapter 8. I also noticed that the first half of chapter 9 sounded a lot like Amos. And looking forward to chapter 11 sounds a lot like Amos as well, all about justice from God.
All throughout scripture connections can be made between books, chapters, verses, passages, etc. God speaks to us in this way. While reading Zechariah I made a connection between 6.12-13 and Ephesians 2, which I connected with 1 Corinthians 3, Ezra, 1 and 2 Samuel, and 1 Peter 2. It's a running theme about the Temple.
How did I make these connections? Well first off God is revealing them to me which I greatly appreciate. But I also take notes, write, underline, and draw in my Bible. You can always tell when I read a book because 1 I check it off at the table of contents, but also the pages are usually pretty torn up with ink. There is one page that is literally torn up because my cat decided to attack it. But whatever. Little demon.
Like I've said before and I'll say again, I love getting into the Word. I love growing in the Knowledge of God. And one of the best ways to do that is to visibly wrestle with the text. When you get into the Bible, and I highly encourage you to do so, grab a pen that you're going to like, because you'll be using it a lot, and run it dry. God a question? Put brackets around it and put a question mark in the margin. Like what something says? Underline it. See a connection to something else you've read? Underline and write on the side the connecting scripture. Idea for a Bible study? Find a blank page or semi blank page and write it down with the scripture. Can you summarize a verse or concept? Do it.
Get that pen to bleed on those pages. When it's all filled up grab another Bible and get to work on that one. Get into the Word every day, wrestle with the text, cover those pages in notes and questions, underlines and highlights.
Then see how you relationship with God grows.
Today I was reading through Zechariah. I have a strange infatuation with the Minor Prophets. Just really enjoy reading them on a regular basis. Anyways, as I'm reading it I'm seeing connections to other Minor prophets that I've read.
Today I just read chapter 10 and I noticed that it was very reminiscent of the entirety of Zephaniah. The point that I got out of Zephaniah was the future restoration and characteristics of Israel. Really the New Israel, or us Christians. Not just in chapter 10 though, but also chapter 8. I also noticed that the first half of chapter 9 sounded a lot like Amos. And looking forward to chapter 11 sounds a lot like Amos as well, all about justice from God.
All throughout scripture connections can be made between books, chapters, verses, passages, etc. God speaks to us in this way. While reading Zechariah I made a connection between 6.12-13 and Ephesians 2, which I connected with 1 Corinthians 3, Ezra, 1 and 2 Samuel, and 1 Peter 2. It's a running theme about the Temple.
How did I make these connections? Well first off God is revealing them to me which I greatly appreciate. But I also take notes, write, underline, and draw in my Bible. You can always tell when I read a book because 1 I check it off at the table of contents, but also the pages are usually pretty torn up with ink. There is one page that is literally torn up because my cat decided to attack it. But whatever. Little demon.
Like I've said before and I'll say again, I love getting into the Word. I love growing in the Knowledge of God. And one of the best ways to do that is to visibly wrestle with the text. When you get into the Bible, and I highly encourage you to do so, grab a pen that you're going to like, because you'll be using it a lot, and run it dry. God a question? Put brackets around it and put a question mark in the margin. Like what something says? Underline it. See a connection to something else you've read? Underline and write on the side the connecting scripture. Idea for a Bible study? Find a blank page or semi blank page and write it down with the scripture. Can you summarize a verse or concept? Do it.
Get that pen to bleed on those pages. When it's all filled up grab another Bible and get to work on that one. Get into the Word every day, wrestle with the text, cover those pages in notes and questions, underlines and highlights.
Then see how you relationship with God grows.
Friday, July 10, 2015
Does whatever a Sandwich can
Last night I went to VBS, then came home, then went and got gas, and finally went to eat dinner. At like 9:30 at night. I went to Primanti Bros. and got a When Pigs Fly sandwich which had turkey, ham, bacon, and an egg on it. It you don't know what a Primanti sandwich is like, it also comes with fries and coleslaw on it and a slice of cheese, all on two thick slices of Italian bread.
My mouth is watering just thinking about it all again... Gotta focus.
But I was sitting there, by myself, waiting for my food to come out and I just got a big smile on my face. No idea why. It was just really odd, just a big smile on my face. I was alone so it wasn't anyone with me. There were people around by they didn't give me a reason to smile. I've only been to Primanti's a few times so it wasn't an incredibly good memory.
But I was just filled with Joy. And I realized my joy came from having God in my life.
My past three weeks have been pretty nuts. Two weeks of camp back to back, then my girlfriend was in town, and finally this week I got back into my routine of regular time spent with God, and I loved it. Getting into his Word, reading, hearing what he has to say to me, I was joyful because of the relation that we have.
Yes, I can always do better. I'll freely admit my prayer life sucks, and it's something I continually try to work on, but it's hard for me. But sitting and reading scripture for a few hours? Love every second of it.
So as I sat there staring at this gigantic sandwich in front of me, with a stupid big smile on my face, I remembered that God has given me freedom from my sin. All because of his love for me and mine for him. We have been reconciled, we've come back together, and we're growing our relationship day by day. And this brings me joy that can't be explained.
Recently I read through Psalm 40. Psalm 18 is probably my favorite, but as of right now 40 is a close second, though I'm only on 44.
But this is what stuck with me in Psalm 40. Verses 6-17 are telling of God's salvation of David. 13-15 talk about how those around him mock him and try to take his life. But then in verses 16 and 17 David says this:
My mouth is watering just thinking about it all again... Gotta focus.
But I was sitting there, by myself, waiting for my food to come out and I just got a big smile on my face. No idea why. It was just really odd, just a big smile on my face. I was alone so it wasn't anyone with me. There were people around by they didn't give me a reason to smile. I've only been to Primanti's a few times so it wasn't an incredibly good memory.
But I was just filled with Joy. And I realized my joy came from having God in my life.
My past three weeks have been pretty nuts. Two weeks of camp back to back, then my girlfriend was in town, and finally this week I got back into my routine of regular time spent with God, and I loved it. Getting into his Word, reading, hearing what he has to say to me, I was joyful because of the relation that we have.
Yes, I can always do better. I'll freely admit my prayer life sucks, and it's something I continually try to work on, but it's hard for me. But sitting and reading scripture for a few hours? Love every second of it.
So as I sat there staring at this gigantic sandwich in front of me, with a stupid big smile on my face, I remembered that God has given me freedom from my sin. All because of his love for me and mine for him. We have been reconciled, we've come back together, and we're growing our relationship day by day. And this brings me joy that can't be explained.
Recently I read through Psalm 40. Psalm 18 is probably my favorite, but as of right now 40 is a close second, though I'm only on 44.
But this is what stuck with me in Psalm 40. Verses 6-17 are telling of God's salvation of David. 13-15 talk about how those around him mock him and try to take his life. But then in verses 16 and 17 David says this:
But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation say continually, "Great is the LORD!"
As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!
Those that seek God rejoice and are glad in him. My joy comes from seeking God daily.
I love the salvation he has given me, and daily I say "Great is the LORD!"
I really am poor. And I have great needs. But I take comfort in the fact that God thinks of me and not only that but also takes care of me.
He helps me through all things, and delivers me from my sin.
And in all of this I find great joy.
Seek God daily. Take joy in what he gives, especially your salvation.
Have joy that comes from the Lord.
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Sell the Master
A few weeks ago when I was at camp I got to teach a lesson on the Banquet in relation to the marriage between Christ and the Church. I had a hard time figuring out what I was going to say about a marriage banquet to about 20-30 high school boys, but eventually it came to me.
Look at Matthew 22.1-14.
That was our text for the week, and that's what I looked at for my lesson. In the parable this is what happens.
A master is having a feast and invites all his friends via a servant. They all decline because they have "better things to do."
The servant comes back, tells the master that, he gets mad and sends the servant out to everyone else, all those who weren't his friend. And the servant goes.
The house gets packed with everyone else. The homeless, the drunks, the poor, the needy, the people you just don't want around.
And here's what I got.
God is our master, we are the servant, and the lost are the people we invite.
We go to those that think they have God, and we present the true Gospel to them but they blow us off because "Oh we got it already." (Reminds me of a time I was holding a Bible study at KCU, a guy in my section walks through and I ask if he wants to join to which he replies, "No I've had my fill of Jesus today.")
So God passed on his ministry to the masses, the ones that no one wanted to deal with because they matter too.
In the parable the servants are selling something, they're selling the feast. "Oh yeah there's gonna be all this awesome food, and good drinks, and a huge room for everyone to fit, with music, dancing, and it's gonna be an awesome time!"
Except the servants aren't selling just the party.
They're selling the Master. "He's rich, he pulled out all the stops, this is going to be off the hook because our Master put it all together!" And they continue to talk up the master and his greatness.
We're taking to gospel to the world, to bring them to the best party ever. And we're selling the one that sent us, we're selling God to them. He is the party, he is the feast, he is everything. He's the True Bread, the Living Water, "Taste and see the the LORD is good!" (Psalm 34).
We are telling the world of God and his wondrous works. In order to do that properly we have to know him in a highly personal and close way.
Think about Acts 19 and the Sons of Sceva. These are good Jewish boys, not followers of Christ, and they're going around trying to cast out demons. Except they're trying to do it in the name of Jesus. But they don't know Jesus. So it's, "I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims!" or "I command you by this person that I heard of from this one guy one time!" Know how the story ends? The demon says, "Jesus I know and Paul I heard of, who are you?" then the 7 Sons of Sceva get "mastered" (possibly dominated like my cat does with his stuffed bear) and they run out of the house naked.
They were trying to present a Jesus they didn't know, and it backfired on them. I know a woman who tries to evangelize but she doesn't truly know who God or Christ is because she just recites what her priest tells her to.
The sons of Sceva and that woman don't know the master or the feast so they can't sell them properly without getting torn to shreds by people.
This means only one thing: Know what you're selling. We're all called to witness and testify about God. But we can only do that properly by knowing God, knowing what he has to offer, knowing what he can give others. And we can only know that by partaking in it, by tasting and seeing that he is good. Then we can go to others and say, "I've tried it, I've tasted and I've seen that God is good. He has so much to offer you. Come join the party."
How we do this is through prayer, fasting, getting into the word, and opening our lives to God and what he can do. So go out, see what God can do in our life, and let him. Learn who he is, and tell the world of what he has to offer. Sell the Master.
Look at Matthew 22.1-14.
That was our text for the week, and that's what I looked at for my lesson. In the parable this is what happens.
A master is having a feast and invites all his friends via a servant. They all decline because they have "better things to do."
The servant comes back, tells the master that, he gets mad and sends the servant out to everyone else, all those who weren't his friend. And the servant goes.
The house gets packed with everyone else. The homeless, the drunks, the poor, the needy, the people you just don't want around.
And here's what I got.
God is our master, we are the servant, and the lost are the people we invite.
We go to those that think they have God, and we present the true Gospel to them but they blow us off because "Oh we got it already." (Reminds me of a time I was holding a Bible study at KCU, a guy in my section walks through and I ask if he wants to join to which he replies, "No I've had my fill of Jesus today.")
So God passed on his ministry to the masses, the ones that no one wanted to deal with because they matter too.
In the parable the servants are selling something, they're selling the feast. "Oh yeah there's gonna be all this awesome food, and good drinks, and a huge room for everyone to fit, with music, dancing, and it's gonna be an awesome time!"
Except the servants aren't selling just the party.
They're selling the Master. "He's rich, he pulled out all the stops, this is going to be off the hook because our Master put it all together!" And they continue to talk up the master and his greatness.
We're taking to gospel to the world, to bring them to the best party ever. And we're selling the one that sent us, we're selling God to them. He is the party, he is the feast, he is everything. He's the True Bread, the Living Water, "Taste and see the the LORD is good!" (Psalm 34).
We are telling the world of God and his wondrous works. In order to do that properly we have to know him in a highly personal and close way.
Think about Acts 19 and the Sons of Sceva. These are good Jewish boys, not followers of Christ, and they're going around trying to cast out demons. Except they're trying to do it in the name of Jesus. But they don't know Jesus. So it's, "I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims!" or "I command you by this person that I heard of from this one guy one time!" Know how the story ends? The demon says, "Jesus I know and Paul I heard of, who are you?" then the 7 Sons of Sceva get "mastered" (possibly dominated like my cat does with his stuffed bear) and they run out of the house naked.
They were trying to present a Jesus they didn't know, and it backfired on them. I know a woman who tries to evangelize but she doesn't truly know who God or Christ is because she just recites what her priest tells her to.
The sons of Sceva and that woman don't know the master or the feast so they can't sell them properly without getting torn to shreds by people.
This means only one thing: Know what you're selling. We're all called to witness and testify about God. But we can only do that properly by knowing God, knowing what he has to offer, knowing what he can give others. And we can only know that by partaking in it, by tasting and seeing that he is good. Then we can go to others and say, "I've tried it, I've tasted and I've seen that God is good. He has so much to offer you. Come join the party."
How we do this is through prayer, fasting, getting into the word, and opening our lives to God and what he can do. So go out, see what God can do in our life, and let him. Learn who he is, and tell the world of what he has to offer. Sell the Master.
Monday, July 6, 2015
Be the Letter
I'm in campus ministry. I've been in youth ministry. I've been an RA and I've been discipled. I've played a lot of different roles in a lot of different places.
Paul in 2 Corinthians 3 writes that the church in Corinth is his letter of recommendation, they are the proof that he is the real deal. What he's fighting against are "super apostles" coming with letters of recommendation and leading the church astray. But Paul writes that he poured himself out for that church, that they are the proof that he is an Apostle of God.
Another verse that connects to this idea is that of 1 Thessalonians 2.19-20. "For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy."
You are our boast. We don't boast about you, or the work in you that was accomplished. We just present you. This is so profound for me.
I make disciples. And my hope in making disciples is that they go our and make disciples who make disciples. That is the point of discipleship. My students that I had and will have will be my resume, my letter of recommendation, my proof that I can do what God has called me to do. And they are my joy and glory. I take joy in the work that God has enabled me to do. They go out into the world and speak of Jesus and what he has done in their life. They have become disciples and go out to witness and disciple the world for Christ.
All this is being said because many of you go to church, you sit there on Sunday's, listen to sermons, go to Bible studies, and you apply it to your life. But sometimes you slip up, other times you do things on purpose and you don't live a life according to the calling you have received. Sometimes you do well as a letter of recommendation, you are the joy of your teachers, and other times you fall short. We all do. But we are to strive to reciprocate the righteousness that Christ has given us.
Take a close look at your actions, and see if your youth minister, your Sunday School Teacher, the people who disciple you would approve of them. If so, keep on keeping on. If not, it might be time to reevaluate.
Also! Next blog is my 100th! Got something you want me to write on? Tell me! And we'll go with it!
Paul in 2 Corinthians 3 writes that the church in Corinth is his letter of recommendation, they are the proof that he is the real deal. What he's fighting against are "super apostles" coming with letters of recommendation and leading the church astray. But Paul writes that he poured himself out for that church, that they are the proof that he is an Apostle of God.
Another verse that connects to this idea is that of 1 Thessalonians 2.19-20. "For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy."
You are our boast. We don't boast about you, or the work in you that was accomplished. We just present you. This is so profound for me.
I make disciples. And my hope in making disciples is that they go our and make disciples who make disciples. That is the point of discipleship. My students that I had and will have will be my resume, my letter of recommendation, my proof that I can do what God has called me to do. And they are my joy and glory. I take joy in the work that God has enabled me to do. They go out into the world and speak of Jesus and what he has done in their life. They have become disciples and go out to witness and disciple the world for Christ.
All this is being said because many of you go to church, you sit there on Sunday's, listen to sermons, go to Bible studies, and you apply it to your life. But sometimes you slip up, other times you do things on purpose and you don't live a life according to the calling you have received. Sometimes you do well as a letter of recommendation, you are the joy of your teachers, and other times you fall short. We all do. But we are to strive to reciprocate the righteousness that Christ has given us.
Take a close look at your actions, and see if your youth minister, your Sunday School Teacher, the people who disciple you would approve of them. If so, keep on keeping on. If not, it might be time to reevaluate.
Also! Next blog is my 100th! Got something you want me to write on? Tell me! And we'll go with it!
Friday, July 3, 2015
Religion the Verb
So I've been hired (I think, they can't pay me but I'm hired?) as campus minister at Altoona, PA. Woo! And I've been thinking about what I want to talk about during the year n'at. And I've decided to talk about Religion as a Verb.
Today many talk about how "I'm spiritual but not religious." Well religion really is no more than practicing your faith, or spirituality. And as James says, "Faith without works is dead" which I would translate in this case to "spirituality without works is dead" or even better put, "spirituality without religion is dead.
Many that hate religion will argue "Religion is the reason for the war in the Middle East, the Crusades, Spanish Inquisition," etc. etc. True. But all of those are not the religion that Christ has called us to.
During my time thinking about what to talk about and what to focus on for the year I've come to this conclusion.
We must understand GRACE in order to RELIGION properly.
What?
What I mean is this. James calls a religion that God views as pure and blameless as one that takes care of the widows and orphans. One that loves people and acts on that love. But we can't love people without God because God is love and anyone that loves has to know God. And if you know God, truly know God, you can't help but love him. (I don't mean fully know him, because your head will explode, but actually know him and have a relationship with him and grow in knowing him daily.) The greatest commandment is also to love people with all we have, but more importantly to love God with all we have. To live out our faith. To act like we're saved. To religion.
To believe in Christ, to die and come back to life with him, To trust in him is to have faith and by having faith we have salvation. To have salvation we need grace, because it is by grace we are saved. To receive grace we need faith. See Ephesians 2.8-9 and Romans 10. Those are the two off the top of my head I know there are more. By receiving grace we also receive Christ's righteousness as our own, giving us his perfection making us perfect in God's eyes. See Romans 8. Faith leads to grace, leads to salvation, leads to righteousness, leads to perfection, and we are to live as if we are saved, as if we have faith, as if we are righteous. Live the righteousness that Christ has given you. These are big truths, hard truths to understand, but they are true.
To live as if we are saved is to practice our faith. And we can only practice our faith perfectly if we understand grace. And understanding grace and living as if we have been given grace is to religion.
We must understand grace to religion properly.
I encourage you to live as if you are saved, to religion properly, to love those that God loves and act on it.
Today many talk about how "I'm spiritual but not religious." Well religion really is no more than practicing your faith, or spirituality. And as James says, "Faith without works is dead" which I would translate in this case to "spirituality without works is dead" or even better put, "spirituality without religion is dead.
Many that hate religion will argue "Religion is the reason for the war in the Middle East, the Crusades, Spanish Inquisition," etc. etc. True. But all of those are not the religion that Christ has called us to.
During my time thinking about what to talk about and what to focus on for the year I've come to this conclusion.
We must understand GRACE in order to RELIGION properly.
What?
What I mean is this. James calls a religion that God views as pure and blameless as one that takes care of the widows and orphans. One that loves people and acts on that love. But we can't love people without God because God is love and anyone that loves has to know God. And if you know God, truly know God, you can't help but love him. (I don't mean fully know him, because your head will explode, but actually know him and have a relationship with him and grow in knowing him daily.) The greatest commandment is also to love people with all we have, but more importantly to love God with all we have. To live out our faith. To act like we're saved. To religion.
To believe in Christ, to die and come back to life with him, To trust in him is to have faith and by having faith we have salvation. To have salvation we need grace, because it is by grace we are saved. To receive grace we need faith. See Ephesians 2.8-9 and Romans 10. Those are the two off the top of my head I know there are more. By receiving grace we also receive Christ's righteousness as our own, giving us his perfection making us perfect in God's eyes. See Romans 8. Faith leads to grace, leads to salvation, leads to righteousness, leads to perfection, and we are to live as if we are saved, as if we have faith, as if we are righteous. Live the righteousness that Christ has given you. These are big truths, hard truths to understand, but they are true.
To live as if we are saved is to practice our faith. And we can only practice our faith perfectly if we understand grace. And understanding grace and living as if we have been given grace is to religion.
We must understand grace to religion properly.
I encourage you to live as if you are saved, to religion properly, to love those that God loves and act on it.
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
He doesn't go back on his promises, so praise him.
So the past two weeks I've been at camp, and this week I have my girlfriend visiting the 'Burgh so my schedule is a bit filled. But I'm going to be updating this definitely today (Wednesday) and probably Friday as well. One way or another.
Also, yes, the Supreme Court made same sex marriage legal in all states. If you want to see my thoughts on the idea of same sex marriage look here. If you want to know my thoughts on how we, as Christians should act, especially with other Christians that disagree with your OPINION look here.
Recently I've been reading through the Minor Prophets. For some reason I really enjoy them, short books that are messages from God to his people. One of the more recent one's that I read was Habakkuk. I can never say that one correctly, but whatever.
Here's the outline that I see in this book, or sermon, or even series of sermons.
Habakkuk: God! Bad stuff is happening!
God: I'll take care of it. I promise.
H: God! More bad stuff!
G: My promises will take place.
H: Alright, let me pray.
H: Now let me rejoice and praise you you.
The overarching theme that I see is this: Crap happens. God promises and will come through on them. So praise him always.
Monday on my other blog I talked about the two weeks at camp and how I was a bit irresponsible and destroyed my throat by yelling. But I also talked about how God provided me with volume when needed. Later that night I got a text from a cousin of mine telling me how she's going through a lot of stuff and how my blog helped her a bit. I didn't think that was going to happen, but God uses what he wants. And I go, "Okay!"
But the point of that is that sometimes, a lot of times, our lives get tough. Crap happens. We hate it. We think God has abandoned us. For the record I don't believe in Karma because if Karma was real I'd be dead by now. Also God gives us grace which is not what we deserve, but gave Jesus the cross which he didn't deserve, so God doesn't always give people what they deserve, which is the entire point of Karma.
But God does promises us, those that follow him, a few things. One big one is that suffering will come. And he doesn't go back on his promises. He also promises that suffering will be good for us, and without it we cannot inherit his glory. And he doesn't go back on his promises. Another promise is that we are his temple and that his Spirit lives in us. And he doesn't go back on his promises. He promises that he will be with us forever. And he doesn't go back on his promises. He promises eternal life with him for those that live and die with him. And he doesn't go back on his promises.
And because he doesn't go back on his promises we should praise him always and always rejoice in him.
Also, yes, the Supreme Court made same sex marriage legal in all states. If you want to see my thoughts on the idea of same sex marriage look here. If you want to know my thoughts on how we, as Christians should act, especially with other Christians that disagree with your OPINION look here.
Recently I've been reading through the Minor Prophets. For some reason I really enjoy them, short books that are messages from God to his people. One of the more recent one's that I read was Habakkuk. I can never say that one correctly, but whatever.
Here's the outline that I see in this book, or sermon, or even series of sermons.
Habakkuk: God! Bad stuff is happening!
God: I'll take care of it. I promise.
H: God! More bad stuff!
G: My promises will take place.
H: Alright, let me pray.
H: Now let me rejoice and praise you you.
The overarching theme that I see is this: Crap happens. God promises and will come through on them. So praise him always.
Monday on my other blog I talked about the two weeks at camp and how I was a bit irresponsible and destroyed my throat by yelling. But I also talked about how God provided me with volume when needed. Later that night I got a text from a cousin of mine telling me how she's going through a lot of stuff and how my blog helped her a bit. I didn't think that was going to happen, but God uses what he wants. And I go, "Okay!"
But the point of that is that sometimes, a lot of times, our lives get tough. Crap happens. We hate it. We think God has abandoned us. For the record I don't believe in Karma because if Karma was real I'd be dead by now. Also God gives us grace which is not what we deserve, but gave Jesus the cross which he didn't deserve, so God doesn't always give people what they deserve, which is the entire point of Karma.
But God does promises us, those that follow him, a few things. One big one is that suffering will come. And he doesn't go back on his promises. He also promises that suffering will be good for us, and without it we cannot inherit his glory. And he doesn't go back on his promises. Another promise is that we are his temple and that his Spirit lives in us. And he doesn't go back on his promises. He promises that he will be with us forever. And he doesn't go back on his promises. He promises eternal life with him for those that live and die with him. And he doesn't go back on his promises.
And because he doesn't go back on his promises we should praise him always and always rejoice in him.
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