I'm continuing the Revolution!
Craig, 18, Gainesville, US
I was going to the bookstore today to pick up a study guide for one of my classes. This is a big class, with several hundred students in it, and this is the best study guide. Plus, with finals next week, these things are flying off the shelf. So I picked two up, and when I went to pay, I asked the cashier if she would do me a favor and give one of the study guides I just paid for and a TGR card to the next person looking to buy that study guide. She was a little confused at first and asked, "You want to give one away?" I told her I did, and then she went on about how nice that was. I told her I was just trying to make the world a better place and to check out the website. I hope this helps someone in my class and they pass it on.
Strength in Numbers
So, I was reading today and came across a lot of verses that seemed to be pointing me in one direction. I read in Proverbs 4:23, "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." It got me thinking of the whole garbage in, garbage out philosophy. That if you take junk into your life, you're going to spit it back out. This could be with the music you listen to, TV you watch, or the company you keep. I love praise music and there is a lot of far out stuff on TV, however, I don't think that is an excuse for us Christians to make ourselves a little wholesome bubble and only listen to Christian radio and watch the 700 Club. We need to stay in touch with the world, to stay in touch with reality, so that we can be relevant to non believers. I do think this verse hits home when applying it to the company you keep. If you bring the wrong people close to your heart there is no describing the depths of the pain you could encounter. Its really making me long for a strong body of believers up here. I know they are here, I just haven't found them yet.
It frustrates me, because I know I could be doing so much more for Christ if I had a support group behind me. I know that I don't need one, I know that I can do all things through Him, but one of my human weaknesses is that by myself I can be timid. Sure to some I seem like an extrovert, but in a campus of 50,000 strangers, some extremely far from God, I can get intimidated. It's almost laughable how little I talk about God or church up here, whereas this summer I was talking to strangers about church on a street corner in Lima. Just because I had some people with me doing the same thing.
I do not think life is meant to be done alone. Even the Bible talks about strength in numbers, comparing people to a rope. I believe that is what the heart of the church is. A group of people trying to live for God, together. We can accomplish so much more as a team than as an individual. We are all members of one body, and Paul stresses that we go towards the kingdom of heaven in unity.
I think sometimes we forget about what we're here for and what the church is for. Sometimes we make it about deep theological insight, or a self help service. Neither is bad, but its not Jesus. I think believers grow in their spiritual walk and forget what drew them in to begin with, Jesus. We think we need a bigger building, more lights, louder music, we forget that we need to rely on Jesus. I think this is a huge cause of people getting too big for themselves in ministries or other positions. When it becomes more about how well you preached, how well you sang, how well you played guitar, and less about Jesus, we're doing something wrong.
I know I'm rambling, but I guess all I'm saying is that we need to work together. Believers need to join together as much as they can, they need to put away personal aims, glory, and accolades, and look to the Father for direction. Sure one person can make a difference, but the whole body of Christ going in one direction, for one purpose, in Holy Unity? That's what changes the world.
It frustrates me, because I know I could be doing so much more for Christ if I had a support group behind me. I know that I don't need one, I know that I can do all things through Him, but one of my human weaknesses is that by myself I can be timid. Sure to some I seem like an extrovert, but in a campus of 50,000 strangers, some extremely far from God, I can get intimidated. It's almost laughable how little I talk about God or church up here, whereas this summer I was talking to strangers about church on a street corner in Lima. Just because I had some people with me doing the same thing.
I do not think life is meant to be done alone. Even the Bible talks about strength in numbers, comparing people to a rope. I believe that is what the heart of the church is. A group of people trying to live for God, together. We can accomplish so much more as a team than as an individual. We are all members of one body, and Paul stresses that we go towards the kingdom of heaven in unity.
I think sometimes we forget about what we're here for and what the church is for. Sometimes we make it about deep theological insight, or a self help service. Neither is bad, but its not Jesus. I think believers grow in their spiritual walk and forget what drew them in to begin with, Jesus. We think we need a bigger building, more lights, louder music, we forget that we need to rely on Jesus. I think this is a huge cause of people getting too big for themselves in ministries or other positions. When it becomes more about how well you preached, how well you sang, how well you played guitar, and less about Jesus, we're doing something wrong.
I know I'm rambling, but I guess all I'm saying is that we need to work together. Believers need to join together as much as they can, they need to put away personal aims, glory, and accolades, and look to the Father for direction. Sure one person can make a difference, but the whole body of Christ going in one direction, for one purpose, in Holy Unity? That's what changes the world.
The Gift Revolution
If you haven't been up on the Gift Revolution. Get on it! I started one today in Gainesville and posted about it on the website: thegiftrevolution.com
We're trying to change the world. Go check out the site and see some of the cool stories, I'll post my entry here as well.
Craig, 18, Gainesville, US
I walked into the dining hall today on campus and paid for my meal. I also told the lady working the register that I wanted to pay for the next person in line and handed her a Gift Revolution Card. She was confused and almost looked concerned, like I was crazy. She eventually came around and agreed. I went to get some food, and I was with my room mate. He asked me what that was all about, and I told him about thegiftrevolution.com. On top of that, the lady from the register came over and also wanted to know why I did that. I was able to tell her about our church, and she invited me to her church up here. I told her I would visit sometime, and for her to check out thegiftrevolution.com. It's crazy how such a simple act of kindness can stir up so much attention.
We're trying to change the world. Go check out the site and see some of the cool stories, I'll post my entry here as well.
Craig, 18, Gainesville, US
I walked into the dining hall today on campus and paid for my meal. I also told the lady working the register that I wanted to pay for the next person in line and handed her a Gift Revolution Card. She was confused and almost looked concerned, like I was crazy. She eventually came around and agreed. I went to get some food, and I was with my room mate. He asked me what that was all about, and I told him about thegiftrevolution.com. On top of that, the lady from the register came over and also wanted to know why I did that. I was able to tell her about our church, and she invited me to her church up here. I told her I would visit sometime, and for her to check out thegiftrevolution.com. It's crazy how such a simple act of kindness can stir up so much attention.
back home from the down home
i drove back up to gainesville monday. luckily missing most of the holiday traffic, the day before. thanksgiving was great. as a broke college student, there are very few things that make me more excited than lots of free food. so i pigged out on turkey and hung out with my family all weekend. i spent a lot of time with shannon, and watched her sing at theRUSH. she has some serious talent, i know i'm biased, but still. after thanksgiving, our family turns right around in support of the next holiday. we went out and got our christmas tree, and decked out the house in lights. its fun for the first 10 minutes, then you just kind of want to be done. but it looks good. but like i said, i drove up to g ville the next day, and had classes all tuesday. now is my day off, and i'm studying for finals coming up. its weird to think that my first college semester is already in the books, and how i'm so used to this lifestyle after a few months. its really not too bad, and its only going to get better. thats about all thats going on in my life. i plan to update on a random topic sometime later this week, if i get around to it. thanks for reading.
things going on in my head
hey everybody, i was just reading, and had some things running through my head
- if you know God, do you think about how lucky you are to have been called by Him, to Him? without Him initiating this loving relationship and calling you at one point or another, you would still be out there, lost, and searching.
- are you like me? do you wish sometimes you could just say, "hey God run my life." or at least have the strength/focus/intelligence to rely on God 24/7?
- i was reading in 2 Samuel about the amazing friendship between david and jonathan. i was wondering why this isn't brought up more when people are looking at how to deal with relationships. especially when people aren't sure of what to aim for in a friendship. this is an amazing example of genuine love, care, and self sacrifice for a true friend. go check it out.
- one of my prayer requests is that i can find where God is at work up here. where he is really present and growing a community of Christians. i want to find that place and join them.
- sometimes i can beat myself up over past mistakes, feeling distant to God, feeling like i don't pray enough, read my Bible enough, and the like. but what i have to remind myself is that God doesn't love me any less because of these things. His love for me can not change, and that it is always a joyous occasion when i go to Him. He knows i am imperfect, but still He has given everything to me in our relationship. He knows i deserve nothing but through his amazing grace i have everything. i think if i could fully grasp that. how much God has given me, how much He has done for me, how much He loves me, i would be closer to Him than ever imaginable. i encourage everyone out there to stop thinking that is impossible. go try and attain that. focus on His love, His grace, His eternal giving. and when you think you've thought about it too much, think about it more. there is no way it won't have a positive impact on you.
anyways... that's what's going on in my head.
- if you know God, do you think about how lucky you are to have been called by Him, to Him? without Him initiating this loving relationship and calling you at one point or another, you would still be out there, lost, and searching.
- are you like me? do you wish sometimes you could just say, "hey God run my life." or at least have the strength/focus/intelligence to rely on God 24/7?
- i was reading in 2 Samuel about the amazing friendship between david and jonathan. i was wondering why this isn't brought up more when people are looking at how to deal with relationships. especially when people aren't sure of what to aim for in a friendship. this is an amazing example of genuine love, care, and self sacrifice for a true friend. go check it out.
- one of my prayer requests is that i can find where God is at work up here. where he is really present and growing a community of Christians. i want to find that place and join them.
- sometimes i can beat myself up over past mistakes, feeling distant to God, feeling like i don't pray enough, read my Bible enough, and the like. but what i have to remind myself is that God doesn't love me any less because of these things. His love for me can not change, and that it is always a joyous occasion when i go to Him. He knows i am imperfect, but still He has given everything to me in our relationship. He knows i deserve nothing but through his amazing grace i have everything. i think if i could fully grasp that. how much God has given me, how much He has done for me, how much He loves me, i would be closer to Him than ever imaginable. i encourage everyone out there to stop thinking that is impossible. go try and attain that. focus on His love, His grace, His eternal giving. and when you think you've thought about it too much, think about it more. there is no way it won't have a positive impact on you.
anyways... that's what's going on in my head.
judas iscariot's death
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.
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.
