Since he was so heartbroken over my lack of blogging during spring break, which I might add was BAND TOUR!!! then I decided to blog again. Back to my own little world...
Um, I have a post drafted about tour, I'm just waiting on a picture to put with it, so it may be a while in coming.
Hmm, what to write about??? The only thing coming to mind is the tangle of wires currently attacking my right knee. That's right. I am sitting in our very own Computer lab 205, typing up on my blog when I should be working on my drawing for art class. But alas, I am here, not there, so tough. Anyway, if you have ever had the once in a day-time opportunity of visiting lab 205, you know the wires from all.........................twenty-one computers (I had to count them there,) are merely pushed to the back of the table upon which they sit. I am sitting at computer M-0095, which, if you look, is in the middle island type set of PCs. Facing the AC. With my back to the color printer. So anyway, there are not only the wires from computer M-0095 at my beck and call, but there are also the wires from computer .......... M-0092 (yes, I just got up and looked) at my demand. However, as every seasoned female knows, sitting is simply more comfortable with the legs crossed at the knees. However, sitting in this manner elevates one knee over the other (quite obviously) and to make room for the legs under the table, the chair must be decompressed and lowered. However...... I just did that, and low and behold, it is uncomfortable to type in such a lowered position. So I returned my chair to it's original position, once again cramping my leg style, effectively relegating my right knee to the spagetti of light gray, dark gray, blue, and black wires that lurk bewteen computers M-0095 and 0092.
Thus, the subject for this, probably most random, blog.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Shout out to Mouse
Just wanted to say that I had a great time on Band Tour! Many many memories were made, and I wanted to dedicate my first band tour blog to Mouse. I am one of the few who held Mouse and did not get execreted on...yes, there were those who Mouse thought were the toilet, sorry guys! But Mouse and I have this understanding. She doesn't pee on me, and everyone is happy. I think it's the portrait I drew of her. She loved it. In case you didn't hear her exclaiming over it. But then her lovely owner lost it! What in the world!?! But anyway, I luckily have a sort of copy in my sketchbook because I wanted to count it for art class! So anyway, it is late and I need to head to bed, but I just want to say good night to Mouse. Matt, I hope you don't give her any cookies, because "If you give a Mouse a cookie..." she might ask for a glass of milk... I love those books! Fun stuff. Anyway, good night Mouse! (Or Galina, Jemima, Priscilla, Maxine!)
P.S. this was my first band tour post, but I couldn't publish it because I wanted to put a picture up...that's me drawing Mouse.
Monday, March 13, 2006
Sanctification
Well, the Lord has been working in my heart a lot today about the topic of sanctification. I used to say that it'd be nice if there was a tonic for Instant Sanctification. But that if there was, I'd probably use it for selfish gain.
Well, I discovered the secret to sanctification. Not that it was hidden, actually it was right there in front of methe whole time! Dr. J. was preaching today in chapel and he was in John 17, the prayer that Jesus prays for believers. Dr. J. was talking about truth vs. traditionalsim, and as Sanctification is the theme of the Baptist Fundamentalism conference today and tomorrow, he was talking about that too. Anyway, I was reading down in verse 17, and Dr. J. used it to show that Truth is found in the word of God, but the Holy Spirit brought to mind the first part of the verse: "Sanctify them (believers) through thy truth: they word is truth." So, all that to say, IS tonic is the Word of God! As we are filled with the Word and saturated by it's truth, God will sanctify us, because that's what Jesus prayed for. Wow, let that idea stick to your brain for a while!
So, don't give up hope of sanctification progressing in your life--it's right here, practically staring us in the face! Immersion in the Scripture, the Truth, will grow sanctification in us. No, it's not instant, and yes it takes more work than swallowing a spoonful of tonic, but isn't the end result totally worth the sacrifice? And when you think of the end result and the wondrousness that it is, to call the means of attaining it "sacrifice" seems somewhat silly. Sacrifice is only giving up that which is precious to us--is our own flesh so precious to us that to give it up--or to put it death--such a great sacrifice??? Hm, I'll have to think on that for a while.
No, don't think that I have discovered the secret entirely. This is only a small scratch on the surface, but I'm letting it marinade in my head for a while. My heart too!
Well, I discovered the secret to sanctification. Not that it was hidden, actually it was right there in front of methe whole time! Dr. J. was preaching today in chapel and he was in John 17, the prayer that Jesus prays for believers. Dr. J. was talking about truth vs. traditionalsim, and as Sanctification is the theme of the Baptist Fundamentalism conference today and tomorrow, he was talking about that too. Anyway, I was reading down in verse 17, and Dr. J. used it to show that Truth is found in the word of God, but the Holy Spirit brought to mind the first part of the verse: "Sanctify them (believers) through thy truth: they word is truth." So, all that to say, IS tonic is the Word of God! As we are filled with the Word and saturated by it's truth, God will sanctify us, because that's what Jesus prayed for. Wow, let that idea stick to your brain for a while!
So, don't give up hope of sanctification progressing in your life--it's right here, practically staring us in the face! Immersion in the Scripture, the Truth, will grow sanctification in us. No, it's not instant, and yes it takes more work than swallowing a spoonful of tonic, but isn't the end result totally worth the sacrifice? And when you think of the end result and the wondrousness that it is, to call the means of attaining it "sacrifice" seems somewhat silly. Sacrifice is only giving up that which is precious to us--is our own flesh so precious to us that to give it up--or to put it death--such a great sacrifice??? Hm, I'll have to think on that for a while.
No, don't think that I have discovered the secret entirely. This is only a small scratch on the surface, but I'm letting it marinade in my head for a while. My heart too!
Friday, March 10, 2006
Suffering and Persecution
What does suffering for Jesus mean? What does it entail? What is worth suffering, and to what degree? Why must Christians suffer at all?
“Loss and suffering, joyfully accepted for the kingdom of God, show the supremacy of God’s worth more clearly in the world than all worship and prayer.”
To answer the reason for suffering, one must first consider the question “what is a missionary’s primary goal?” This question could also be phrased to include every Christian, whether in full time vocational ministry or not. The driving passion behind any Christian’s life must be the revealing of God’s supreme glory. This zeal will carry him through any time of suffering.
Jesus commands that all Christians “take up [their] cross[es] and follow Him”—this means to “join [Him] on the Calvary road with a resolve to suffer and die with him.” Relegating this “cross-bearing” to mere physical afflictions such as annoying people and sick children removes the “radical thrust” from this command. Jesus’ idea of suffering was not the world’s idea of suffering—annoying people and sick children; rather, Jesus calls for obedience no matter the cost: betrayal, rejection, beating, mockery, crucifixion, or death. The apostle Paul realized and internalized Jesus’ idea of suffering when he said in Acts 20:24 speaking of bonds and afflictions that awaited him in every city, ‘But none of these things move me…’
“Jesus gives us the assurance that if we will follow him to Golgotha during all the Good Fridays of this life, we will also rise with him on the last Easter day of the resurrection.”
True suffering brings to mind martyrdom, both spiritual and physical death. A physical martyr is not killed because of his political standings, or because he has asked for death. He is martyred by the ones to whom he ministers, and this ministry is done out of a pursuit of love. A spiritual martyr is one who has truly been ‘crucified with Christ’ (Gal. 2:20) in order to say “nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me.”
Suffering must be born out of love. If one suffers with a proud attitude that says ‘look at me, I’m suffering for Jesus! I must be a super Christian,’ he is in sin. Pride is always a sin. Christ’s suffering was both a substitution for our sins (so we don’t have to pay the ultimate sacrifice of death in Hell) and a pattern for us.
“The suffering of Christ is a call for a certain mind-set toward suffering, namely, that it is normal and that the path of love and missions will often require it.”
This suffering of Christ is the “basis of our going with him” in suffering. We are commanded to minister ‘outside the camp’ where the unreached nations dwell. We are not protected from bodily harm outside the camp, but Jesus is with us!
Another aspect of personal suffering is the testimony it gives to other believers. When a believer (namely, a missionary; every believer should be a missionary!) suffers for Christ and responds in a Christlike manner, others take notice. Suffering should be accepted in faith and with joy. We are commanded to praise in every situation, even the difficult ones.
Sometimes we are tempted to think suffering (especially in death) is a loss for the kingdom of God. Else, how can the suffering/dead continue in their ministry for the Lord? Scripture gives us the proof of abiding suffering in John 12:24, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”
“God uses the suffering of his missionaries to awaken others out of their slumbers of indifference and make them bold…What obedience will not achieve, persecution will.”
Just look at the persecuted church through out the ages! Even the first church in the NT had to undergo persecution to obey the Lord’s command to go throughout Judaea, Samaria, and the uttermost part of the world. It is amazing that the more money, affluence, and comfort is afforded to the church of God, the more they relax and ‘enjoy life’ instead of giving what they have to further the kingdom of Christ.
“The suffering of missionaries is meant by God to magnify the power and sufficiency of Christ. Suffering is finally to show the supremacy of God…Christ’s power was Paul’s only power when his sufferings brought him to the end of his resources and cast him wholly on Jesus.”
*all quotes taken from Let the Nations Be Glad by John Piper
“Hold on my child, Joy comes in the morning.
Weeping only lasts for the night.
Hold on my child, Joy comes in the morning.
The darkest hour means God is just in sight.”
“Loss and suffering, joyfully accepted for the kingdom of God, show the supremacy of God’s worth more clearly in the world than all worship and prayer.”
To answer the reason for suffering, one must first consider the question “what is a missionary’s primary goal?” This question could also be phrased to include every Christian, whether in full time vocational ministry or not. The driving passion behind any Christian’s life must be the revealing of God’s supreme glory. This zeal will carry him through any time of suffering.
Jesus commands that all Christians “take up [their] cross[es] and follow Him”—this means to “join [Him] on the Calvary road with a resolve to suffer and die with him.” Relegating this “cross-bearing” to mere physical afflictions such as annoying people and sick children removes the “radical thrust” from this command. Jesus’ idea of suffering was not the world’s idea of suffering—annoying people and sick children; rather, Jesus calls for obedience no matter the cost: betrayal, rejection, beating, mockery, crucifixion, or death. The apostle Paul realized and internalized Jesus’ idea of suffering when he said in Acts 20:24 speaking of bonds and afflictions that awaited him in every city, ‘But none of these things move me…’
“Jesus gives us the assurance that if we will follow him to Golgotha during all the Good Fridays of this life, we will also rise with him on the last Easter day of the resurrection.”
True suffering brings to mind martyrdom, both spiritual and physical death. A physical martyr is not killed because of his political standings, or because he has asked for death. He is martyred by the ones to whom he ministers, and this ministry is done out of a pursuit of love. A spiritual martyr is one who has truly been ‘crucified with Christ’ (Gal. 2:20) in order to say “nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me.”
Suffering must be born out of love. If one suffers with a proud attitude that says ‘look at me, I’m suffering for Jesus! I must be a super Christian,’ he is in sin. Pride is always a sin. Christ’s suffering was both a substitution for our sins (so we don’t have to pay the ultimate sacrifice of death in Hell) and a pattern for us.
“The suffering of Christ is a call for a certain mind-set toward suffering, namely, that it is normal and that the path of love and missions will often require it.”
This suffering of Christ is the “basis of our going with him” in suffering. We are commanded to minister ‘outside the camp’ where the unreached nations dwell. We are not protected from bodily harm outside the camp, but Jesus is with us!
Another aspect of personal suffering is the testimony it gives to other believers. When a believer (namely, a missionary; every believer should be a missionary!) suffers for Christ and responds in a Christlike manner, others take notice. Suffering should be accepted in faith and with joy. We are commanded to praise in every situation, even the difficult ones.
Sometimes we are tempted to think suffering (especially in death) is a loss for the kingdom of God. Else, how can the suffering/dead continue in their ministry for the Lord? Scripture gives us the proof of abiding suffering in John 12:24, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”
“God uses the suffering of his missionaries to awaken others out of their slumbers of indifference and make them bold…What obedience will not achieve, persecution will.”
Just look at the persecuted church through out the ages! Even the first church in the NT had to undergo persecution to obey the Lord’s command to go throughout Judaea, Samaria, and the uttermost part of the world. It is amazing that the more money, affluence, and comfort is afforded to the church of God, the more they relax and ‘enjoy life’ instead of giving what they have to further the kingdom of Christ.
“The suffering of missionaries is meant by God to magnify the power and sufficiency of Christ. Suffering is finally to show the supremacy of God…Christ’s power was Paul’s only power when his sufferings brought him to the end of his resources and cast him wholly on Jesus.”
*all quotes taken from Let the Nations Be Glad by John Piper
“Hold on my child, Joy comes in the morning.
Weeping only lasts for the night.
Hold on my child, Joy comes in the morning.
The darkest hour means God is just in sight.”
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
And Dave...
There are some friends who deserve an entire post all to themselves. Dave Marriott is definitely one of them. This incredibly funny guy has been a source of amusement to me about since I came here to Maranatha. Actually, just this year because I didn't really know him to well before that. Anyway, from State Street to SGI, Dave always has a smile ready and a joke to tell. But he knows when it's time to be serious. That's something I appreciate about him. His love for the Lord and passion for right are always challenging to me.
Oh yeah, and he always visits me at work. That's another plus of having Dave as a friend here at MBBC. (Course, John Magnus always visits me too and so does Abigail, but hey, this isn't their post!)
Oh yeah, and he always visits me at work. That's another plus of having Dave as a friend here at MBBC. (Course, John Magnus always visits me too and so does Abigail, but hey, this isn't their post!)
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Revival meetings
Well I had the awesome opportunity to visit Rock Lake Baptist Church tonight for their revival meetings with John Van Geldren. It was so good. The Lord really challenged my heart.
Bro. VG was preaching on Gal. 2:20--"For I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me..." That last phrase was a point of his. He was saying how it's actually, literally Christ living in us. Let that idea grip your heart and stick to your brain! So I was really pondering it, and wow, it's changing my life. If I am truly crucified with Him, I am dead to sin--no longer married to it, and it has no dominion over my soul. I am now married to Christ and yet I still struggle. Why? Because my spirit wars against my flesh. But it is Christ in me living out through my life, so the victory is really already won! Are my responses like Christ's responses would be? Because it is Christ in me. I was just listening to a song on a tape (yes, it's a cassette, not a CD, what can I say? they're old school!) and this song is so relevent, so I'm going to post it.
My hands are the Lord's hands
Without me, how can His work be done?
I will reach where He would reach,
Lovingkindness in my touch.
I'll be His healing hands to everyone.
My feet are the Lord's feet.
Without me, how can He walk with the poor?
I will go where He would go,
Blessing others as I do.
For Him I'll walk where I've never walked before.
Help me, Lord, let me give to my neighbor
What you would give if You were here.
Help me, Lord, let me live so my neighbor
Will know that You are always near.
My mouth is the Lord's mouth,
Without me, how can His voice be heard?
I will say what He would say.
Speaking love and life each day.
And everyone who's near will hear His word.
I don't really like the "Without me" lines, but my hands, feet, and mouth are the Lord's; do they look like it? Do I do, go, and say what would characterize Christ?
Bro. VG was preaching on Gal. 2:20--"For I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me..." That last phrase was a point of his. He was saying how it's actually, literally Christ living in us. Let that idea grip your heart and stick to your brain! So I was really pondering it, and wow, it's changing my life. If I am truly crucified with Him, I am dead to sin--no longer married to it, and it has no dominion over my soul. I am now married to Christ and yet I still struggle. Why? Because my spirit wars against my flesh. But it is Christ in me living out through my life, so the victory is really already won! Are my responses like Christ's responses would be? Because it is Christ in me. I was just listening to a song on a tape (yes, it's a cassette, not a CD, what can I say? they're old school!) and this song is so relevent, so I'm going to post it.
My hands are the Lord's hands
Without me, how can His work be done?
I will reach where He would reach,
Lovingkindness in my touch.
I'll be His healing hands to everyone.
My feet are the Lord's feet.
Without me, how can He walk with the poor?
I will go where He would go,
Blessing others as I do.
For Him I'll walk where I've never walked before.
Help me, Lord, let me give to my neighbor
What you would give if You were here.
Help me, Lord, let me live so my neighbor
Will know that You are always near.
My mouth is the Lord's mouth,
Without me, how can His voice be heard?
I will say what He would say.
Speaking love and life each day.
And everyone who's near will hear His word.
I don't really like the "Without me" lines, but my hands, feet, and mouth are the Lord's; do they look like it? Do I do, go, and say what would characterize Christ?
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Friendly times
Well I just wanted to post a shoutout to all my friends out there! I've been gone for a while...well just extremely busy, so I have been trying to be a good steward of my time, so I haven't been posting like all week. So I'm getting back into the loop here. So I just wanted to dedicate this post to all my cool friends out there! (Well, okay, to the not cool friends too...j/k!) I am so glad the Lord has allowed me to make so many friends here at good ole Maranatha. He is so good. Some of you know how I had a hard time coming, transfering not of my own desire, but the Lord has richly blessed me in some really great friends. There's no way I could name them all, but here's a few with what they are to me:
Emiley--my sit-in-the-office-pretending-to-work-while-taking-pictures-on-John-Magnus's-phone buddy!! I love you Em, we have so much fun together "hulaing"!
Abigail--my SGI-get-my-focus-straightened-out-memorize-Scripture-accountability partner!! I am so glad I've gotten to know you this semester! I love you!
Trevor--my counselor-when-I-need-to-vent-over-you-know-whom-with-your-same-initials confidant!! Thanks for being there when I need you, Trev!
Zac--my cowboy! what else could I say???
Amy B.--my laugh-with-while-eating-jumbo-marshmallows buddy!! Thanks for always making me laugh, I love you!!
Dana--my short-always-ready-with-a-hug chum! Love you girl!
Matt--my send-random-holiday-ecards-and-two-word-long-emails-to brother!! :D I am not a hypocrite! I always wanted a big bro, thanks for being mine.
Swifty--my lunkhead...[shrug shoulders here] Just kidding! You're not a lunkhead! (you know how to say it)
Melissa--my flute-playing-wiping-snow-off-the-car-roomie-for-band-tour-Isaac-stealer! I am so excited about touring with you! I'll just take Teddy from now on!
Mandy--my Swahili-speaking-and-spelling-Missions-major-deserting buddy!!! But I still love you even if you're not a Missions major anymore :( :( :( Fungeni midomo! j/k, cho ika wapi! just kidding again! ;D
Katie J.--my fellow-society-bud-clean-mud-maker-playing-in-the-snow-whistle teacher!! I love you Katie!! We still need to get together sometime!
Bryan--my cool-house-let's-go-to-Mukwonago-days-visit-my-dead-pregnant-cat's-grave-memory maker! I am not indecisive, and it's just too much fun to reminisce with you!!! And cup cup is not boat in Japanese--it's funa!
and everyone else--I love you guys too, I just have to get up for band tomorrow morning and there's so many of you that I don't have time to write everyone's name individually cuz I need to go to sleep in my nice, warm, conthy [Kellie] bed.
(Side note, Kellie is one of the triplets and that is how she says "comfy.")
Emiley--my sit-in-the-office-pretending-to-work-while-taking-pictures-on-John-Magnus's-phone buddy!! I love you Em, we have so much fun together "hulaing"!
Abigail--my SGI-get-my-focus-straightened-out-memorize-Scripture-accountability partner!! I am so glad I've gotten to know you this semester! I love you!
Trevor--my counselor-when-I-need-to-vent-over-you-know-whom-with-your-same-initials confidant!! Thanks for being there when I need you, Trev!
Zac--my cowboy! what else could I say???
Amy B.--my laugh-with-while-eating-jumbo-marshmallows buddy!! Thanks for always making me laugh, I love you!!
Dana--my short-always-ready-with-a-hug chum! Love you girl!
Matt--my send-random-holiday-ecards-and-two-word-long-emails-to brother!! :D I am not a hypocrite! I always wanted a big bro, thanks for being mine.
Swifty--my lunkhead...[shrug shoulders here] Just kidding! You're not a lunkhead! (you know how to say it)
Melissa--my flute-playing-wiping-snow-off-the-car-roomie-for-band-tour-Isaac-stealer! I am so excited about touring with you! I'll just take Teddy from now on!
Mandy--my Swahili-speaking-and-spelling-Missions-major-deserting buddy!!! But I still love you even if you're not a Missions major anymore :( :( :( Fungeni midomo! j/k, cho ika wapi! just kidding again! ;D
Katie J.--my fellow-society-bud-clean-mud-maker-playing-in-the-snow-whistle teacher!! I love you Katie!! We still need to get together sometime!
Bryan--my cool-house-let's-go-to-Mukwonago-days-visit-my-dead-pregnant-cat's-grave-memory maker! I am not indecisive, and it's just too much fun to reminisce with you!!! And cup cup is not boat in Japanese--it's funa!
and everyone else--I love you guys too, I just have to get up for band tomorrow morning and there's so many of you that I don't have time to write everyone's name individually cuz I need to go to sleep in my nice, warm, conthy [Kellie] bed.
(Side note, Kellie is one of the triplets and that is how she says "comfy.")
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