http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab_Mri-M5go
Above is the link to a song and lyrics to a song that was suggested to me. Yeah, the voice is a little weird/creepy and hard to understand, but I think that it is almost perfect to the emotion I feel is being portrayed.
THIS IS WHY I'M DOING WHAT I'M DOING
There are people who are hurt all around me.
There are people struggling with true and deep hurts and pains (some self-inflicted) all around me.
There are people who need a friend all around me.
There are people who need to be loved and taken in all around me.
They don't just need my love, but Christ's love. These people need to find Christ's peace, friendship, love, and grace.
These people are all around me, and I need to show them to Christ.
This song served as a powerful reminder to me of all this.
Sometimes I wonder why I'm bothering with so much schooling and why I'm working so hard in school.
Sometimes I need a reminder.
This is why
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Peace of Mind
http://www.gregboyd.org/essays/essays-predestination-free-will/how-do-you-respond-to-romans-9/
This is in response to my last post.
I was comforted by reading this commentary after reading Romans 9.
This is in response to my last post.
I was comforted by reading this commentary after reading Romans 9.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
The scariest bit of Scripture I have ever read...
Romans 9:6-24
"It is not as though God's word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham's children. On the contrary, 'It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.' In other words, it is not the natural children who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring. For this was how the promise was stated: 'At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.'
Not only that, but Rebekah's children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad - in order that God's purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls - she was told, 'The older will serve the younger.' Just as it is written: 'Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.'
What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, 'I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.'
It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: 'I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.' Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
One of you will say to me: 'Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?' But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? 'Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?'' Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?
What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath - prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory - even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?"
The scariest part is the fact that I find it scary
"It is not as though God's word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham's children. On the contrary, 'It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.' In other words, it is not the natural children who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring. For this was how the promise was stated: 'At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.'
Not only that, but Rebekah's children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad - in order that God's purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls - she was told, 'The older will serve the younger.' Just as it is written: 'Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.'
What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, 'I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.'
It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: 'I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.' Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
One of you will say to me: 'Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?' But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? 'Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?'' Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?
What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath - prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory - even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?"
The scariest part is the fact that I find it scary
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
I Counter Thee!
"While at Dordt, take advantage of the opportunities you have now to learn and be involved! Sign up for more classes! Join clubs! Join choirs and bands! Never again will you have this many opportunities to learn! You're here and you're paying, so why don't you get your money's worth by doing all that you can now while you're here and young!"
Well, what about the fact that never again will I be surrounded by so many cool people that rock my face off? What about the fact that in a few years I will be working every day and I will not be able to walk down the hall and chill with the coolest people ever? Shouldn't I save some time in order to take advantage of THAT?
I rest my case.
Now time for more homework
Well, what about the fact that never again will I be surrounded by so many cool people that rock my face off? What about the fact that in a few years I will be working every day and I will not be able to walk down the hall and chill with the coolest people ever? Shouldn't I save some time in order to take advantage of THAT?
I rest my case.
Now time for more homework
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
God wants YOU to be involved in politics
I have actually picked up on a theme in my intro to politics class...
Something we as Christians should be doing is finding a unified political philosophy in which to base our voting on. By "finding a unified political philosophy," I mean to say that Christians that are involved with politics need to forget about the battle between Republicans and Democrats, and have our own party, one that captures and agrees on all political concepts from a perspective that finds its foundation firmly rooted in the Holy Bible. Can you imagine? Through this, we must strive to bring God's Divine Law and Truth into practice within our society on earth. Furthermore, we have to try to make this Divine Word of God attractive to our secular neighbor. Simply labeling our political philosophy as the right and Divine Will of God is most likely going to result in turning our secular neighbor away from it. Rather, we can use the term "The Common Good" instead of Divine Right. This way we can maybe, as a unified body of believers, attract the votes and support of all people from every religious (or anti-religious) background. All of this must be done in order to bring God's justice into our society and into our world.
There are some things that must be said about God's Justice, however, before I can stop writing. God's justice is not the type of justice that most people think of today. Most people equate justice as punishment or revenge. Justice is served when he who has done wrong pays for the sins he has committed. This is not Biblical justice. Throughout the Old Testament, the word justice is almost always used hand in hand with the word Righteousness. To bring justice in the world is to bring about righteousness. In order to bring righteousness, one must "make right" the wrongs of the world. In other words, when we strive to bring justice into our fallen world, we are simply trying to make right all the wrong that sin has caused in our world. This does not mean we must punish all wrong doers. Instead, it means that we are here to RESTORE our fallen world. Restoration falls more in line with forgiveness than with punishment. Wrongdoers, instead of being punished and isolated from society for the rest of their lives must be worked on in order to be restored, forgiven, and able to return to their calling of being and Image-Bearer of God!
After understanding Biblical Justice, we can move toward restoring justice to those in our society who have become oppressed by social and economic injustice! God's justice in the Bible proves to be partial AND impartial. God does not excuse the poor, widowed, orphaned, and alienated when they do wrong. In this way, He shows impartiality. But He does show partiality in trying to restore justice to those who have suffered from injustice. He gives advantages and benefits to the poor throughout the Old Testament. The Old Testament Law demanded that every seventh year was the year of jubilee. Debts were canceled, slaves were set free, and the fields of the farmers were left unharvested in order that the poor could take advantage. Throughout the years between that of jubilee, the farmers were commanded not to harvest from the corners of their fields and not to go into the field more than once to harvest. Rather, what was left on the ground was to be kept there for the disadvantaged, those who were poor and alone. Every fifty years, all the land was returned to its original family that owned it, and never was there to be an interest put upon loans. All these laws were in place to restore justice to the poor who had been trampled by the rich and were unable to fulfill their calling.
Just as it was important then, now too it is important that we give aid to the poor. We must give what we can in order that the disadvantaged can live comfortably and as Image-Bearers of God. This does not mean that we have to give up all that we have and live among the poor. Ronald Sider explains that being rich is a blessing and it is good, under two conditions. First, we must not gain our riches through the oppression of others, and second, we must share our riches with our neighbor, giving to those who are poor. Personally, this thought lifted a weight of guilt off of my shoulder. I had begun to wonder in the past couple months whether or not Christians should give up all that they have and live among the poor. I think it is great that many do this, but I do not think it is necessary. Gaining riches and sharing it with the poor is a process that is beneficial. While you continue to gain, you are able to continually give. As long as you maintain the giving part, gaining is truly a blessing!
Anyway... I guess I am learning a thing or two in my intro to politics class. First, we are called to maintain justice in our fallen world. This justice is about restoration, especially in areas like social and economic injustice. All throughout both the Old Testament and New Testament, laws have been set up to love and build up our disadvantaged neighbor. You might say that all this can be done outside of politics. While it is true that if everyone who claimed to be a Christian would tithe, we'd be able to restore most of the economic injustice, think about how much more effective and efficient it would be if we could get the State involved in this process? A state built on Biblical principles would be a huge aid in the restoration process of the injustice within our fallen world!
This is why Christians need a unified political philosophy.
This is why Christians need to do their part in politics, whether it be through holding office or voting.
Whoofta
Oh, and just so I don't get in trouble for plagiarism, most of these ideas came from Ronald Sider's The Scandal of Evangelical Politics.
Something we as Christians should be doing is finding a unified political philosophy in which to base our voting on. By "finding a unified political philosophy," I mean to say that Christians that are involved with politics need to forget about the battle between Republicans and Democrats, and have our own party, one that captures and agrees on all political concepts from a perspective that finds its foundation firmly rooted in the Holy Bible. Can you imagine? Through this, we must strive to bring God's Divine Law and Truth into practice within our society on earth. Furthermore, we have to try to make this Divine Word of God attractive to our secular neighbor. Simply labeling our political philosophy as the right and Divine Will of God is most likely going to result in turning our secular neighbor away from it. Rather, we can use the term "The Common Good" instead of Divine Right. This way we can maybe, as a unified body of believers, attract the votes and support of all people from every religious (or anti-religious) background. All of this must be done in order to bring God's justice into our society and into our world.
There are some things that must be said about God's Justice, however, before I can stop writing. God's justice is not the type of justice that most people think of today. Most people equate justice as punishment or revenge. Justice is served when he who has done wrong pays for the sins he has committed. This is not Biblical justice. Throughout the Old Testament, the word justice is almost always used hand in hand with the word Righteousness. To bring justice in the world is to bring about righteousness. In order to bring righteousness, one must "make right" the wrongs of the world. In other words, when we strive to bring justice into our fallen world, we are simply trying to make right all the wrong that sin has caused in our world. This does not mean we must punish all wrong doers. Instead, it means that we are here to RESTORE our fallen world. Restoration falls more in line with forgiveness than with punishment. Wrongdoers, instead of being punished and isolated from society for the rest of their lives must be worked on in order to be restored, forgiven, and able to return to their calling of being and Image-Bearer of God!
After understanding Biblical Justice, we can move toward restoring justice to those in our society who have become oppressed by social and economic injustice! God's justice in the Bible proves to be partial AND impartial. God does not excuse the poor, widowed, orphaned, and alienated when they do wrong. In this way, He shows impartiality. But He does show partiality in trying to restore justice to those who have suffered from injustice. He gives advantages and benefits to the poor throughout the Old Testament. The Old Testament Law demanded that every seventh year was the year of jubilee. Debts were canceled, slaves were set free, and the fields of the farmers were left unharvested in order that the poor could take advantage. Throughout the years between that of jubilee, the farmers were commanded not to harvest from the corners of their fields and not to go into the field more than once to harvest. Rather, what was left on the ground was to be kept there for the disadvantaged, those who were poor and alone. Every fifty years, all the land was returned to its original family that owned it, and never was there to be an interest put upon loans. All these laws were in place to restore justice to the poor who had been trampled by the rich and were unable to fulfill their calling.
Just as it was important then, now too it is important that we give aid to the poor. We must give what we can in order that the disadvantaged can live comfortably and as Image-Bearers of God. This does not mean that we have to give up all that we have and live among the poor. Ronald Sider explains that being rich is a blessing and it is good, under two conditions. First, we must not gain our riches through the oppression of others, and second, we must share our riches with our neighbor, giving to those who are poor. Personally, this thought lifted a weight of guilt off of my shoulder. I had begun to wonder in the past couple months whether or not Christians should give up all that they have and live among the poor. I think it is great that many do this, but I do not think it is necessary. Gaining riches and sharing it with the poor is a process that is beneficial. While you continue to gain, you are able to continually give. As long as you maintain the giving part, gaining is truly a blessing!
Anyway... I guess I am learning a thing or two in my intro to politics class. First, we are called to maintain justice in our fallen world. This justice is about restoration, especially in areas like social and economic injustice. All throughout both the Old Testament and New Testament, laws have been set up to love and build up our disadvantaged neighbor. You might say that all this can be done outside of politics. While it is true that if everyone who claimed to be a Christian would tithe, we'd be able to restore most of the economic injustice, think about how much more effective and efficient it would be if we could get the State involved in this process? A state built on Biblical principles would be a huge aid in the restoration process of the injustice within our fallen world!
This is why Christians need a unified political philosophy.
This is why Christians need to do their part in politics, whether it be through holding office or voting.
Whoofta
Oh, and just so I don't get in trouble for plagiarism, most of these ideas came from Ronald Sider's The Scandal of Evangelical Politics.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Old Habits? DIE!
Don't ever start talking to yourself out loud in a public bathroom unless you have checked to see that all the stalls are empty when you walk in... I wouldn't know... but I'd imagine it's embarrassing...
At least he was nice enough to not say anything about it when we were both washing our hands at the sink
Fail
Thursday, February 3, 2011
I, Trevliam Boonspeare...
Have completed my first and finest piece of play art! A full ten lines of dialogue in length! I, being so proud, even paraded down my hall of dormitorium glory to make known the gloriousnessity of my genius! Only, when I arrive, I am met with darkness and emptiness! No "Hurrahs" or "Twiddledeedums!" I leave in shambles of shame, shuffling ever sho shlowly to my shire and shi- uh... sit... on my broken throne. As I hang my head in sorrow that only regret has ever known... My computer cries out!
"Nay Friend," I say, "Do not weep for me!"
But Alas! As I gaze upon the screen, I see that it hails a message for me! Surely this message is one of apology from the room that hath just rejected mua! One of regret and sorrow and plagued with the begging of forgiveness!
Nay
"Socks!"
"Nay Friend," I say, "Do not weep for me!"
But Alas! As I gaze upon the screen, I see that it hails a message for me! Surely this message is one of apology from the room that hath just rejected mua! One of regret and sorrow and plagued with the begging of forgiveness!
Nay
"Socks!"
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Activity For The Day
I thought I'd start off my blogging career with a fun (or maybe fun isn't the right word) activity. This is what I want you to do.
1. Go to your facebook profile (as if we don't all spend too much time on facebook already, do it anyway).
2. Under your picture, click on photos.
3. In the section entitled "Photos and Videos of You," click "View Photos of You."
4. Let the page load. If you're like me, it may take a while for it to load the billions of pictures of you that are on facebook (I know, I am so popular).
5. Starting at the top (which are the pictures of you that have been added to facebook most recently), take some time to scroll through all of the pictures until you reach the bottom. Don't just simply look at the pictures. Take some time to dwell on them.
As I did this, I was able to see 934 snapshots of my life from sophomore year of high school up until now. It's not surprising that this activity became one of upmost nostalgia. What was your life like during the photos at the bottom of the page were taken? Who were you? What were your plans? Where were you going? Who did you hang out with? It's insane to see how much life has changed in just four years. Until you really take time to dwell and reflect on it, you really don't notice. Unless there is a sudden and significant occurrence in your life that jolts you out of your normal routine, you just really don't notice the change that's occurring. Life has a habit of changing so slowly that you don't even notice what's different now than what it was just a few years ago.
These photos that you just viewed show where you have been, and the most recent ones show where you are now. It's almost scary to think that this group of photos is going to continue to grow throughout the future. In another four years, my photos on facebook could double, showing where I've been. What are these photos going to look like? What am I going to be doing? Who will I be in the photos with? Where are these photos going to be taken? I have an idea, but I can't really know... scary.
Someday we'll be referring to days like today as "back then." Hopefully I can look back at a picture of today and not have to think to myself, "Wow, I really wish things were the way they were before... I really miss some of those relationships that I had and the things that I did with those people for fun." Of course, when I'm all growed up and out of college, I won't have the opportunity to mess around and have a good time with my friends like I do now, but I really don't want to have to look back at old photos and think to myself, "man, I wonder what these people are up to now" and "when's the last time I did something fun like that?" I guess the ol' cliche saying that is driving this post is something like "live life to the fullest." But more than that, don't forget the people, places, and things (hey, nouns!) that made an impact on who you are, where you are, and who you are with. Although you may see people or things in old photos that are not a part of your life in the present, they nevertheless helped lead you to where you are now, and have made it possible for you to live the life in which you live.
1. Go to your facebook profile (as if we don't all spend too much time on facebook already, do it anyway).
2. Under your picture, click on photos.
3. In the section entitled "Photos and Videos of You," click "View Photos of You."
4. Let the page load. If you're like me, it may take a while for it to load the billions of pictures of you that are on facebook (I know, I am so popular).
5. Starting at the top (which are the pictures of you that have been added to facebook most recently), take some time to scroll through all of the pictures until you reach the bottom. Don't just simply look at the pictures. Take some time to dwell on them.
As I did this, I was able to see 934 snapshots of my life from sophomore year of high school up until now. It's not surprising that this activity became one of upmost nostalgia. What was your life like during the photos at the bottom of the page were taken? Who were you? What were your plans? Where were you going? Who did you hang out with? It's insane to see how much life has changed in just four years. Until you really take time to dwell and reflect on it, you really don't notice. Unless there is a sudden and significant occurrence in your life that jolts you out of your normal routine, you just really don't notice the change that's occurring. Life has a habit of changing so slowly that you don't even notice what's different now than what it was just a few years ago.
These photos that you just viewed show where you have been, and the most recent ones show where you are now. It's almost scary to think that this group of photos is going to continue to grow throughout the future. In another four years, my photos on facebook could double, showing where I've been. What are these photos going to look like? What am I going to be doing? Who will I be in the photos with? Where are these photos going to be taken? I have an idea, but I can't really know... scary.
Someday we'll be referring to days like today as "back then." Hopefully I can look back at a picture of today and not have to think to myself, "Wow, I really wish things were the way they were before... I really miss some of those relationships that I had and the things that I did with those people for fun." Of course, when I'm all growed up and out of college, I won't have the opportunity to mess around and have a good time with my friends like I do now, but I really don't want to have to look back at old photos and think to myself, "man, I wonder what these people are up to now" and "when's the last time I did something fun like that?" I guess the ol' cliche saying that is driving this post is something like "live life to the fullest." But more than that, don't forget the people, places, and things (hey, nouns!) that made an impact on who you are, where you are, and who you are with. Although you may see people or things in old photos that are not a part of your life in the present, they nevertheless helped lead you to where you are now, and have made it possible for you to live the life in which you live.
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