Too Much For One

A lot's happened this week. It's been incredible! God is so good and He is alive and well and doing some really awesome things in our towns, our countries, and our world! More on that later...

Right now I'm finishing a book called "Radical Together: Unleashing the People of God for the Purpose of God." It's phenomenal. Basically for my own sake I want to jot down some of the awesome key points/quotes I took from it that I will hopefully apply to my life and the furthering of God's Kingdom.

• "Then let us give God NO REST from our praising, confessing, interceding, and let us watch Him unleash His people in His church for His purpose in the world." 
• We are selfless followers of a self-centered God; we exist for the glory of God, and God exists for the glory of God.
• Prayer is fundamental, not supplemental. 
• "God does not need me."

This whole passage: "Humbled by the reality of a self-existent, self-sustaining, self-sufficient God, I realized:

• God does not need me
• God does not need my church
• God does not need you
• God does not need your church
• God does not need our conferences, conventions, plans, programs, budgets, buildings, or mission agencies.

          The reality is that you and I, your church and my church, al the structures we have constructed    and all the stuff we have created could turn to dust, and God could still make a great name for himself among the nations. God does not involve us in His grand, global purpose because he needs us. He involves us in his grand , global purpose because he loves us."

"So let us live radical together in eager anticipation of the day when we will see his face and, as a community encompassing every nation, tribe, tongue, and people, enjoy his beauty for all of eternity." 

Don't worry, I'll add more later. (: 

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ATLANTA.

I'm going on a missions trip. I'm so pumped.

Because we're called as Christians to GO - make disciples of all nations. But we're also called to take care of the least of these - the poor, the starving, the naked, the destitute, the unloved. Those are the ones we're called to love so I'm going to do it. Because I'm too comfortable. So I'm going to get uncomfortable and answer the call. God wants me to do more and to obey Him and love His people - His children.

Peace out.

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We Need Jesus

I feel like people are just going from one fad to the other. I'm sure this is no different that in the past, but experiencing it first hand makes me really sad.

Yesterday it was politics; today it's Hokie football.

I look around me and all I see are people looking for something substantial to cling to that gives them a sense of purpose and hope. That's why I say people need Jesus. I mean there are many other BIG reasons such as He is the only way to life and salvation, but this purpose it's because following Him and having faith in Him is the only thing in this life and beyond that is hope - the only thing that is constant, never-changing, and will always be there and will never fade or go out of style.

Of course, Jesus is never in style. We try to make Him "relevant". We're not relevant to the Gospel, the Gospel is relevant to us, because WE are the sinners who need grace and forgiveness and a SAVIOR. This Gospel of Jesus Christ is not about us, it's about God and His Kingdom.

I am convicting myself as I say this because I realize that I, too, get caught up in the fads that the world tells me I should get all excited about. But I'm trying not to. I need prayer for that - for God to create in me a clean heart (Psalm 51) so that I will be able to love Him with all that I am.

But love is a sacrifice. It doesn't provide the fluffy happy things that the fleeting things of this world do - all those things we spend our lives chasing after but never truly fulfill us. Running full speed ahead after Jesus will be the only thing that satisfies our souls. We are called to suffer for Christ's sake, but "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7).

"While the outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4:16)

Those are just my thoughts for the day. So much stock is put into politics and football, but so easily we lose the passion we once had for Christ. I want that fire. I need a Savior to rescue me from my sin. And God gave me Jesus. Why wouldn't I want to live for Him?

Jesus For President

This is one of those time where I'm glad only 7 people read my blog instead of my 900+ friends on facebook.

Because... I'm not voting.
The reason I'm not voting partly lines up with the reasons stated in this video (which I actually didn't watch until long after I decided why not to vote).

And also, because I have better things to do quite honestly. I don't feel strongly one way or another because my identity is not in a ballot, a president, a country, or a government. My identity is in Christ, and no matter the outcome of the election (because honestly I couldn't care less) I'm still going to pay my taxes, I'm still going to obey the laws, and I'm still going to strive to love Jesus and love people as much as humanly possibly with the strength from God through the Holy Spirit. I will obey the commands of Jesus from the Bible, and if they get in the way of America's laws, then I guess I'll be breaking the law.

It seems that as Christians we have forgotten that the ruler of the Universe for eternity has dominion over the ruler of the country for the next 4 years. So why are you putting more stock into voting in this election than you are obeying the teachings of Jesus and chasing after God's heart? I would implore you to reconsider where you place your allegiance.

Oh, and please watch the video.

Oh, and please don't hate because I'm not voting. You are free to vote, and I am free not to. Being persecuted for it has taught me a lot about acting and speaking in love in terms of Christianity, because it doesn't feel good to be berated by your decisions and beliefs. I've definitely gained new perspective.

People seem to forget the difference between obligation and freedom/choice. Until I am required by law to participate in elections, I will be abstaining from exercising that right (which is also my right).

I am free in Christ. My hope is in Him, not this country or the next 4 years (I mean really, 4 years <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< ETERNITY!). And that's enough for me.

Is it enough for you?

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