here's something cool i learned about recently. i had a question regarding exactly how judas iscariot (the dude who betrayed Jesus) died. in the book of matthew it says he hung himself, in acts it said his guts spilled out. so i took the question to my cousin who just graduated seminary. here is his answer:
Luke's account of Peter's speech in Acts should be seen as supplementary to Matthew's account and not contradictory. As you have noted, Matthew records that Judas returned the money to the chief priests and then went and hung himself. In Acts, Luke records Peter's message with Judas as the buyer of the field. Remember in Matthew that the chief priests would not accept the money and put it in the temple, so the money still belonged in Judas's name. They used Judas' money to buy the field, so indirectly Judas is the buyer of the field.
Luke leaves out the phrase that he hung himself and only mentions that he fell headlong and burst open in the middle and his intestines spilled out. We deduce from what we know in Matthew (that he hung himself) that the falling headlong was a result of being hung - either the rope broke from the weight of the hanging or someone cut it down. Also deduced is that Judas died on the field that the chief priests brought, and the people hearing about Judas gross death referred to it as field of blood (according to Luke's account). From Matthew's perspective, it was called field of blood because it was purchased with blood money.
Conclusion: Matthew's and Luke's account are not contradictory, but rather supplementary - we get a fuller picture when both are placed side by side.
cb
i thought that was a convincing answer. plus, hes a pretty smart guy.
veterans day
hey everybody, sorry i haven't updated in quite a while. i guess i could tell you all i've been busy with other stuff, or just haven't found the time. but to be honest, nothing that interesting has happened to me. i've spent the last month up in gainesville, and haven't seen shannon in that span. most of my time up here goes to class, homework, the gym, then doing a whole lot of nothing. school stuff is good though, i was able to get ahead since i didn't have anything to distract me, and i'm pulling pretty good grades, so that's the plus. my pitiful loneliness is the downside. i'm just kidding, its not that bad.
anyway, to the better. with veteran's day and my awesome schedule, i ended up with a 6 day weekend. i used this to travel. i went home and visited with the family. the babies are getting bigger everyday, they make a lot more noise and laugh a lot more so that's cool. my sister is in the process for some big positive transitions, so thats good. and my parents are the same as they've been for the past 30 years.
i also got the chance to go see shannon, which is always a blast. long distance relationships are hard. but i have learned to really enjoy my time with her because of our situation. we did a whole lot of nothing this weekend. we hung out, watched tv, she did some homework, we went to church, and just relaxed. it was great to recharge and just be with her. i love her company and miss her as a friend, and as my girlfriend. but God has a bigger plan in the end, and this is just a step.
so that's whats been going on in my life if you were wondering, i'll try to put something deep up in a little bit.
thanks for reading.
anyway, to the better. with veteran's day and my awesome schedule, i ended up with a 6 day weekend. i used this to travel. i went home and visited with the family. the babies are getting bigger everyday, they make a lot more noise and laugh a lot more so that's cool. my sister is in the process for some big positive transitions, so thats good. and my parents are the same as they've been for the past 30 years.
i also got the chance to go see shannon, which is always a blast. long distance relationships are hard. but i have learned to really enjoy my time with her because of our situation. we did a whole lot of nothing this weekend. we hung out, watched tv, she did some homework, we went to church, and just relaxed. it was great to recharge and just be with her. i love her company and miss her as a friend, and as my girlfriend. but God has a bigger plan in the end, and this is just a step.
so that's whats been going on in my life if you were wondering, i'll try to put something deep up in a little bit.
thanks for reading.
college food
i love college, but one thing i'm not too fond of is the small menu i'm currently living off of. my choices each meal consist of peanut butter and jelly sandwich, turkey sandwich, mac and cheese, or chicken noodle soup. anybody have any suggestions for some good college foods?
thoughts running through my head
i can't sleep tonight.
shannon visited this weekend, she left this afternoon. those are always the hardest days. long distance relationships are hard, i can't say otherwise. i feel like i get updates on her life throughout the day, not like i'm doing life with her.
i have this drifting feeling today, kind of empty, almost anchor-less. probably from being sad about shannon leaving.
there is always a chance for joy, and when these days come, and i actually remember to go to God, i always feel closer to Him than before.
so in a way these days are good.
i'm in awe about how much life experiences teach you about yourself, God, and faith. i feel like new ways to connect to Christ are opened every day if you are willing to look.
this day has seemed hectic and sad, but since i quit trying to sleep, i feel peaceful and happier.
i'm not sure this post has a point, but i'm also not sure that's a bad thing.
i was reminded again today, the direct link between consistency in my quiet time and how that leads to good things happening. why don't i put the ball in God's hands more?
i'm also pretty sure people busier with jobs and stuff don't have this much time to think. again, i don't know if thats such a good thing.
i like to think a lot of people think about the same problems and dilemmas as i do, but just don't post it on the internet.
i'm constantly impatient when it comes to waiting for God's plans to be revealed, and to wait on His perfect timing.
i believe that true humility is hard to grasp and that my search for it falls short for different reasons all because i don't depend on God enough to achieve it. the danger is that i think pride is the root of every other sin.
i've been thinking a lot about influence lately, how i've been shaped, and how i can shape other people positively.
i want to help someone, even when i did today, it turned into personal pride. i long to be a servant God will use to glorify His name through, yet i worry i'll try to steal the thunder.
i'm truly falling in love with the consistent peace in my heart, only experienced through saving grace.
i think this post is, once again, more for me than anyone else, but i thank you who give me some of your time and read it.
shannon visited this weekend, she left this afternoon. those are always the hardest days. long distance relationships are hard, i can't say otherwise. i feel like i get updates on her life throughout the day, not like i'm doing life with her.
i have this drifting feeling today, kind of empty, almost anchor-less. probably from being sad about shannon leaving.
there is always a chance for joy, and when these days come, and i actually remember to go to God, i always feel closer to Him than before.
so in a way these days are good.
i'm in awe about how much life experiences teach you about yourself, God, and faith. i feel like new ways to connect to Christ are opened every day if you are willing to look.
this day has seemed hectic and sad, but since i quit trying to sleep, i feel peaceful and happier.
i'm not sure this post has a point, but i'm also not sure that's a bad thing.
i was reminded again today, the direct link between consistency in my quiet time and how that leads to good things happening. why don't i put the ball in God's hands more?
i'm also pretty sure people busier with jobs and stuff don't have this much time to think. again, i don't know if thats such a good thing.
i like to think a lot of people think about the same problems and dilemmas as i do, but just don't post it on the internet.
i'm constantly impatient when it comes to waiting for God's plans to be revealed, and to wait on His perfect timing.
i believe that true humility is hard to grasp and that my search for it falls short for different reasons all because i don't depend on God enough to achieve it. the danger is that i think pride is the root of every other sin.
i've been thinking a lot about influence lately, how i've been shaped, and how i can shape other people positively.
i want to help someone, even when i did today, it turned into personal pride. i long to be a servant God will use to glorify His name through, yet i worry i'll try to steal the thunder.
i'm truly falling in love with the consistent peace in my heart, only experienced through saving grace.
i think this post is, once again, more for me than anyone else, but i thank you who give me some of your time and read it.
heat
is anybody else excited for the NBA season? this year is gonna be crazy. i'm a heat fan and nobody has any idea of how they're gonna do. dwayne wade is back in top shape, after the olympics he's roling, marion will be a good stat guy, and beasley is crazy talented and could be rookie of the year. the thing is we could still miss the playoffs. thats just nuts. thats what i love about the NBA, one player can change a whole team like no other sport.
we were the worst team in the league last year, and now we're two players away from a championship. all we need is a center and a point guard. maybe we can ship marion for a stud at one of those positions, and fill in a different swing man for marion. he's old, and we need more talent to build with. thats the thing, we have three great forwards, but a lot of people say point guard and center are the most important positions on the court. the celtics didn't have a true point guard or center last year, and they won it all. but then again KG is dominant enough to make up for a lack of center. we'll see, i'm just excited that we're building and contending again.
d wade is back to superstar form, beasley can be a beast, marion is talent we have the ability to make some moves, and some money to get a couple players in the off season. i'm telling you, next year we could be back.
we were the worst team in the league last year, and now we're two players away from a championship. all we need is a center and a point guard. maybe we can ship marion for a stud at one of those positions, and fill in a different swing man for marion. he's old, and we need more talent to build with. thats the thing, we have three great forwards, but a lot of people say point guard and center are the most important positions on the court. the celtics didn't have a true point guard or center last year, and they won it all. but then again KG is dominant enough to make up for a lack of center. we'll see, i'm just excited that we're building and contending again.
d wade is back to superstar form, beasley can be a beast, marion is talent we have the ability to make some moves, and some money to get a couple players in the off season. i'm telling you, next year we could be back.
understanding sin
Today I was reading about Paul's take on sin. The concept is so huge, that it's hard to wrap my head around. Praise the Lord, that we are free from sin, and that sin's power is broken once we are joined with Christ.
The hard part to get is that although we are free from sin, and it doesn't control us, as humans we still have a sinful nature. Due to this sinful nature, we do what is wrong. This is really depressing, because even when I want to do right, my flesh is pulling me to do what is wrong. The way I have broken it down is that my skin always wants to do wrong, even though I am no longer forced to do wrong. Because of Jesus, I have another option which wasn't there before, the option to do right. The power of God is able to break the chains of sin, but the reason I keep sinning and giving into my flesh is because I don't call on God enough. The reason I don't call on God enough is because of my sinful desires.
It is comforting to read what Paul says about this in Romans, he says that sin uses the law to put evil desires in us. Once we know what is right, sin then uses that to tempt us to do what we now know is wrong. I know its confusing, but try and bear with me. Paul says that since he knows what he is doing is wrong, it shows that he agrees that the law is good, and that he is not the one doing what is wrong, it is the sin within him.
This doesn't mean we can just accept the fact that we're going to sin and do it without thought. We must fight it, go to God more, and break these chains. That is the only way to get closer to God. God uses people that are close to Him to do amazing things.
I know this is a confusing subject, and I know this blog is probably more for me than anyone else, and probably very hard to understand due to me writing in circles. But I felt like God shed a little light on the subject for me, and that I should share. Who knows, maybe this will help somebody.
The hard part to get is that although we are free from sin, and it doesn't control us, as humans we still have a sinful nature. Due to this sinful nature, we do what is wrong. This is really depressing, because even when I want to do right, my flesh is pulling me to do what is wrong. The way I have broken it down is that my skin always wants to do wrong, even though I am no longer forced to do wrong. Because of Jesus, I have another option which wasn't there before, the option to do right. The power of God is able to break the chains of sin, but the reason I keep sinning and giving into my flesh is because I don't call on God enough. The reason I don't call on God enough is because of my sinful desires.
It is comforting to read what Paul says about this in Romans, he says that sin uses the law to put evil desires in us. Once we know what is right, sin then uses that to tempt us to do what we now know is wrong. I know its confusing, but try and bear with me. Paul says that since he knows what he is doing is wrong, it shows that he agrees that the law is good, and that he is not the one doing what is wrong, it is the sin within him.
This doesn't mean we can just accept the fact that we're going to sin and do it without thought. We must fight it, go to God more, and break these chains. That is the only way to get closer to God. God uses people that are close to Him to do amazing things.
I know this is a confusing subject, and I know this blog is probably more for me than anyone else, and probably very hard to understand due to me writing in circles. But I felt like God shed a little light on the subject for me, and that I should share. Who knows, maybe this will help somebody.
home and back again
so i went home this weekend. i dipped earlier than expected because i had mid terms, so a couple of classes were canceled. i went down and surprised shannon, it was pretty good, i got her to go outside expecting to see a comet, but instead she got me. so i just sat in her dorm for a couple of days while she went to class, and then we went home on thursday night. it was fun, but definitely busier being home than in gainesville. i got to hang out with my family, and my little nieces. i was surprised how big they'd gotten since i left, especially kayla's head (its ginormous). i hung out at church a lot, got to see theRUSH and help out. i even saw sawgrass youth doing theRUSH and it looked good. the kids seemed excited and going to one service has definitely created a lot of energy. i left today, which is always a horrible day. leaving day is emotional and generally sad. but i made the long drive back up to school and realized how different it is.
its weird, i feel at home in gainesville, relaxed and adjusted. but its still not home. i guess it never will be. going home this weekend wore me out more than if i would have stayed up here. but there was a lot of positives from going home. looking back this weekend wasn't as "easy" as i thought it would be. i was busy, had to see a lot of people, experienced a few changes, and had some hard conversations. but i think i'm the better for it. me and shannon really grew closer this trip and had some important conversations. stuff that we'll both have to adjust to, but will make us stronger. life is full of adjustment. its not always easy, but we can always rely on God to ease our burdens. i'm trying to stay focused on Him, i know i say that a lot. but i feel like every day you have to renew yourself and refocus on where He is at work. i'm starting to ramble, time for me to get off.
its weird, i feel at home in gainesville, relaxed and adjusted. but its still not home. i guess it never will be. going home this weekend wore me out more than if i would have stayed up here. but there was a lot of positives from going home. looking back this weekend wasn't as "easy" as i thought it would be. i was busy, had to see a lot of people, experienced a few changes, and had some hard conversations. but i think i'm the better for it. me and shannon really grew closer this trip and had some important conversations. stuff that we'll both have to adjust to, but will make us stronger. life is full of adjustment. its not always easy, but we can always rely on God to ease our burdens. i'm trying to stay focused on Him, i know i say that a lot. but i feel like every day you have to renew yourself and refocus on where He is at work. i'm starting to ramble, time for me to get off.
