Success = Happy?

There are alot of things wrong in our society. Our society, by which I mean our culture. Specifically speaking the American culture. It’s such a results driven society. People are judged, not so much by who they are, but by what they do, what they’ve done, and what they are going to do. A results driven society. It’s all about doing the best you can and doing nothing but and if you do the best your a good person and you don’t your a bad person.

That’s wrong. What’s worse is it’s infecting our religious beliefs. It’s affecting how we view God. How we view each other. College students, in particular are susceptible to this. I mean, everything we do is judged. We compete in a multitude of ways. Academics, Sports, Clubs, Friends, How many of each we do. We compare ourselves based on grades, on how good we are at sports, how many clubs we’re in, how many clubs we have leadership we’re in, how many people are in the club we are in, how many friends we have, who we know, whom we’ve met, and on and on and so forth and it NEVER ends. We have this insecurity within us, and we all have to justify ourselves to everyone all the time.

Thats wrong. There is alot of controversial and opinionated things I can and could say on here. There’s alot of opinion. Everyone has one. But one thing alot of people don’t have is truth. As a Christian, I believe the Bible is true. And the Bible tells us about how Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came and died for our sin. Our sin, keeps us from a relationship with God. God is holy, God is good, and thus, God can have nothing to do with sin. We are in sin. However Jesus Christ died, and thus, paid the price for the sin. God, being holy, HAD to judge sin. And since we are born into sin, He had to judge us. sin equated to death. But Christ’s sacrifice, paid the price. God judged Christ on our behalf. So through Faith (and NOTHING but faith) we can have a relationship with God. A personal relationship with God.

But we have perverted this Truth. We believe that we have to earn merit with God. We believe we have to NOT sin and God will be happy with us. We believe our actions affect how God is going to handle us. We believe, to be successful in the Church, we have to be these perfect Christians to be able to be used by God. Because if you sin, God can’t use you.

A results driven religion.

A results driven life.

The thing is, there has already been a result. Christ died for our sin. We are made justified through a relationship through Christ. Our sin has been judged, we have been made righteous.

Now, does that mean Christians no longer sin? No, of course we still sin. Does that mean anybody should be in a position of leadership JUST because they are a Christian? No, not everyone should be in that position. Does that mean that Christians no longer have to meet standards set up by God through the Law, JUST because Jesus Christ accomplished this already for us? No, there is a level of responsibility, there will be a level of judgement on us by God, who is Just and thus, even though it doesn’t affect our salvation, still judges the sin in our life.

HOWEVER, in todays society, its all screwed up. I don’t wanna call it legalism because that’s taking it lightly. We, as Christians, CONDEMN, JUDGE, even HATE because other people, Christians and Non-Christians alike, because they don’t meet the standards that we essentially make-up.

Don’t be like this. This is not love. and isn’t the greatest commandment is to love? (That doesn’t trump everything else, I’m just making a point).

The American dream is to do the best, make the best grades, get into the best school, get the best job, get the best wife, not be sick or handicapped in anyway, retire and do nothing for the last 30 years of life. The American dream sucks. I don’t believe we are called to that.

What are we called to? Welp, I think that differs from person to person. People are called to different things. God is sovereign, and I believe, to an extent, “predestines” us to our lots in life. But I know that at the end of the day, what we are NOT called to do, is judge, to bicker, to hurt others.

God wants us to be successful. BUT not successful in the American dream sense I talked about above.That “success” does not equate to true happiness. It never will. Our happiness is in the success of the Cross. The death of Christ that paid for our sin. Success does NOT equal happy.

What does happiness equate to? Well, I think true happiness can happen only in a relationship with Christ. Other factors? Well, I don’t think you earn it. I think it’s a gift.

What do you think? UNderstand this is from a Christian perspective, and more specifically my perspective, which is sure as heck NOT without fault. I would def. like some feedback.

Post #79

How great is God? How great is God? How can I put it into coherent words. I wish I could describe it. The funny thing is though, right now, I’m not really going through a spiritual high. I wouldn’t say I’m spiritually dead either. I’m , something. That probably makes no sense. When do I ever. But I think it’s worth noting that God is great no matter how I feel or you feel.

I have no real point to this post other than to say A) I want more theologically challenging posts. I don’t know why, but I’ve been on this big kick about doing a new Bible Study on my campus. One that reaches new believers and answers their questions about Christianity, but at the same time, I want to challenge college students, whom I know and are involved in Ministry with, whether it be through Cru or Church, and hash out discuss issues of Theology and Doctrine. So, I’ve been asking around and I’m not going to lie I’ve been discouraged by almost every response I get. Some people think its a bad idea, some people think it should be just evangelistic, some think it should be just for theology, some think I should do it within my church (though I don’t think they would go for that), Some think through Cru. So, being the young impressionable person I am, I have no clue what I’m going to do. But God has placed this on my heart, because I enjoyed a similar discussion group over the summer that I felt was really beneficial to me, and I want an atmosphere like that in Greensboro.

B)Ministry is hard. Imperfect people trying to do what the perfect man commanded us to do. I never know 100% what is right. I’m a skeptical guy by nature. But I also am pretty acute and understanding of what needs to be done, what needs changing, what doesn’t. SO I’m a confusing, reserved yet risk taking guy who loves God and places his Faith in Jesus Christ whom doesn’t understand what and how to continue to push things forward in Ministry. A stagnant ministry is not a ministry at all. It’s a club, it’s a museum, it’s a place to look at the past and pat ourselves on the back.

But a truly Christ-centered movement filled with Spiritual leaders taking the love and grace of the Gospel to their mission field, that’s something I can only dream to be apart of. Maybe I am now, and the sin in my life is keeping me from seeing that. Maybe those things don’t exist anymore, but I seriously doubt that. Ministry is hard. I pray that God continue to use me, wherever and whatever it is I do.

I don’t have a C. It might have something to do with feelings, but basically I don’t want an emotional ministry. I want a faith driven group standing on facts. I want Theology and Doctrine to supplement these facts. I want those facts to supplement faith. Then emotion can come. That emotion will come in reverence, to how great our God is.

New Design and New Feel

Oops I did it again! …

Yep, Changed the look of the blog again. It’s not much different than my old one, I just wanted something different to look at. Anyway I don’t wanna write too much because I feel as though that will make me not want to write at all. For instance on this paper I’m  getting ready to work on. That would be bad. Baaaaaad.

 

Thanksgiving thoughts.

So today is the day before Thanksgiving. I know there are probably alot of thoughts of what to be thankful for. I’m going to be Tweeting alot of things I am thankful for. Thats right, tweeting. Cause I think its a fun idea. So there. I have alot of spare time in Mount Airy.

Anyway I have been thinking about wha it TRUELY means to be thankful. With Thanksgiving coming up I wanted to thank on this. Fun Fact: Thanksgiving appears in 42 verses in the Bible (at least the ESV translation). 42 times. Now, there are other words, such as thankful, thanks, Thanking, and other forms of the word that appear in the Bible.

In 1 Cor. 1:4-9, Paul talks about giving thanks to God for all that he has done in the city of Corinth. In the same way I believe we are called to GIVE THANKS to God for all that he has done in our lives. So how do we give thanks?

Psalm 7:17, 30:14, 33:2, 54:6, 100:4, and other verses talks about giving thanks, 54:6 in particular  gives an interesting note.”With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good.”. A freewill offering. Essentially, what this means (thanks to some handy dandy ESV study notes), is enjoying a meal in the presence of the Lord. How cool is that? And with Thanksgiving coming up, being in the presence of the Lord is probably the best way we can give thanks to Him. BE IN HIS PRESENCE.

God of course is everywhere, but we, being sinners, are not always intune with Him. We ignore Him, we aren’t thankful of Him, we just kinda expect it. The things we receive we often credit to ourselves and others when, if we are to believe God is sovereign, it all belongs to God, and everything is a GIFT from God.

So all in all give thanks, by enjoying what God has done for you, and remember that God loves you.

A Heart of Worship.

Oooooh I have so many thoughts to put down. I’m procrastinating of course.

First off I want to talk about how God is working in my life. Thats the whole point of this blog. I have been reading My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. It’s a devotional book and I have been reading a little bit each day. A page a day. Todays was especially cool. (P.S is it weird to use the term cool when describing Spirtual things?)

Anyway, the book generally has a verse, and then he expounds on it, or relates it to a particular topic. Todays verse was 1 Corinthians 10:31 “So, whatever you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the Glory of God.”

That my friends is the very definition of worship, and also, a great measuring stick for how we are living our lives and how much Sin is affecting our lives. In the book, the author (do I call him Oswald? or Mr. Chambers?) talks how everything in life is ordained by God. Eating, drinking walking, talking, all that stuff is Biblical. And it is because the Son of God himself, Jesus Christ did these very things in his earthly ministry. Jesus was eating and drinking with people ALL of the time. Today’s little devotional also warns of being Shallow. In this sense he is concerned with Christians who are so worried about how they look and their ministry that they don’t concern themselves with Life.

Sometimes as Christians (and I know I do) that we get caught up so much in “Not Sinning” that we do not live our lives in worshipful matter, that we don’t just LIVE. Derek Webb, in one of his songs, says, very truthfully, that Christ died not only to give us Life but to show us how to live it.

2 last thoughts. Worship is such a difficult thing to describe and put into applicable use in our life. I think 1 Cor. 10:31 is a wonderful and true statement of what worship is. Granted I am taking it out of the entire context of the Chapter (aka, I’m just reading this verse, not the rest of the chapter or book for that matter), but the wonderful thing about Scripture is that you can look at one verse, or several BOOKS of the Bible at once and receive Spiritual Truth.

Thought Number 2 is about devotionals. You here all the time about Quiet Times (or t least you do if your involved in the Christian Culture), and yet, very rarely, we understand what that means. Is it just reading scripture? How do we do it? Do we go a Book at a time? Or do we go by devotionals (books written by other people) and just kinda go off what they have learned? I think for Young Christians (and I myself, is a young Christian) one of the hardest things to do is to grasp and actually do Quiet Times.

So anyway, food for thought. Check my Twitter for my more random thoughts. Check my Facebook for Info about me. Woooord.

Ipod uPdate

I am a man of many thoughts. I am updating this blog from my iPod touch. I am tired. That is all. I am basically updating to check out my new wordpress app. I wonder why they decided to realese a seperate app instead of updating the old one. Oh
Well.

Dorm Life…

So…. I am living back on campus. I am in my Fifth year of college. I have lived off campus for 2 years, and, through a series of events, I am living on campus, in Cone Residence Hall in fact, the very same place that I lived my Freshmen year. Its been an experience.

First, I am living with people 3,4, sometimes 5(!!!) years younger than me. Its a weird place sometimes. I really like these kids. I have been able to build good relationships with some of these guys, and the girls on the hall are really fun. Rooming with Ben is fun too. He is a pretty awesome roommate. So its been fun, hard getting used to living in a very noise environment.

Second, its really cool to be on campus. Its been great hanging out with alot of the guys from Cru. I love getting to see them. It’s fun, good times. I am getting alot out of this experience, especially considering its more than likely the last time I will live in a dorm like setting.(never say never, but more than likely).

Thrid, Xbox 360 is awesome. So is Facebook and Twitter. So is Zombieland.

Fourth, the gospel is challenging me in new ways everyday. Sometimes subtly, sometimes very very in my face, me staring in the face of my sin.

Relief…

I want you guys to know how much relief i am enjoying right now.

That is all.

Up-date me, when September ends

OH NO! It is September. And I haven’t blogged since June!!! or July? It’s been awhile to say the least. So this will be the usual update post.

First off, I am living on campus at UNCG. Not only that, I am living with one Ben Tietje in Cone 414. It has been awesome, building relationships with students in the freshmen dorm.  It has been a great chance to share my faith as well. I really hope for some divine appointments, and most importantly, for me not to make projects out of people. I can’t save anybody. Only Christ can. So I just need to live a righteous life, share my testimony, and trust God to do the rest!

Cru has been going AMAZING! we have had over 160 people 2 weeks in a row! what a tremendous blessing! Right now we currently have some issues with the rooming situation. but whatever. it’ll get worked out.

Bible Study has been encouraging as well! We have had guys coming out and wanting to be a part of the group! and the study has been going great. All the leaders have been taking turns. It’s going to be m turn this week!

Alssssoooo I am seeing someone now. Yeah, its been that long since I’ve updated. Shes an awesome girl though and I am really excited about this relationship.

Another random note, my parents have a cat now. I think this is how they are dealing with Empty nest syndrome.

That is all folks!

Friday Ramblings

So I wanted to write but I don’t have a point to my writing or anything on my mind. But maybe thats my point. Maybe we always feel like we have to have a purpose to do something? Maybe I just wanted to flippin write. GET OFF MY BACK!

Anyway some rndom tidbits for you guys.

You guys who know me know I love Comic books. I don’t really collect, I just love to read them. I love the medium, love the stories, the whole superhero mythology. It’s just great fro me. So I want to share in this with you, go find a comic book shop and read Flash:Rebirth, Grean Lantern, Invincible, Batman and Robin, and Ultimate Spider-man. You will not be disappointed with these books. Great storytelling.

Another note. UNCG is doing alot of construction. Again. And they are replacing my favorite parking lot with a new education building. Really? I mean, what have teachers done for society? (note: I’m being sarcastic, I’m ok with it, just a little annoyed that my lot is gone).

I’m really enjoying my job at DQ. The kids are so fun. It can get a little tiring, both physically and mentally. But not at all Spirtually. I am really enjoying the ministry at DQ. These are some good kids. Funny little jokers.

I noticed Mike kinda gave up on his blog. I’m gonna bug him to read this tonight just so he gets annoyed with me.

I like wireless internet.