A Delicate Balance~

My father is the kind of man who won't stop until the job is done. What makes this worse is that my dad also is an achiever, one who won't turn the last light out until something of value has been completed. The genetics played out in my father's favor while I was in the womb, and so I was born with a fiery passion to accomplish task upon task. Not to say my mom isn't an achiever. Her desire is almost just as flaming, but she was blessed with the counteracting trait of harmony, so she has her limits.

As an achiever, I get SO caught up in what I need to do for school, what I need to turn in, etc. I begin analyzing what I should be doing differently to better manage my time. I tell myself I should be more involved at school. I tell myself, in short, that I'm not doing enough achieving, when in reality, I'm not doing enough breathing! There comes a time when we all have to let go and remember that this life isn't for our own benefit or glory. It's for the glory of Christ. In trying to be more involved in one area, and trying to meet standards or criterion in another area, I lose focus of my true mission: making disciples of every nation. In the end, being a top-notch athlete isn't going to matter. Being a member of half of the high school clubs won't matter either. What will matter is the heavenly rewards of heaven, and more importantly, God's eternal glory. I would encourage all of you to make a choice with me to reorient yourselves. Our moral compasses are subject to changing magnetic fields, as our lust-driven heart pulls for one thing, and the Holy Spirit another. Christ tells us we must give up everything, count up the cost, and decide to follow him. Achieving is good and all, but I know that I definitely need to stop trying so hard to achieve earthly rewards, and become more willing to achieve things in the church and in my own journey with Christ. 

The difference between my father's (earthly, or course) eagerness to achieve, and my own, is that my father is able to find a delicate balance in achieving things for the family and home, and for Christ and is kingdom. It's a sort of teeter-totter. I know I'm far from balanced, and it's time that I let go, and find that balance of will.

Seeds of Doubt~

Do. Hard. Things. Why? Because the outcome of pushing yourself to the edge of human limits will grow you not just as a person, but in your spiritual walk with Christ. Psalms 118:6 says, "The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Phillipians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Psalms 23:4 says, "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." What do we gain from these verses? That we can do all things with the help of Christ, fearing no evil, and fearing nothing that may hinder us from doing what we seek to do. Doing hard things is no easy challenge. Doing hard things means accepting the challenges that bring discomfort, humiliation, and frustration. However, with the help of Christ, we gain perseverance, integrity, and empowerment from these tough challenges. Seeds of doubt are often sowed in our minds by the infamous Devil, and by those around us who aren't doing a very good job of building us up. God, however, can clear our heads of these seeds if we just say YES, and go against the desire to cower away from the challenges ahead of us. So accept the challenge, even when those seeds of doubt tell you otherwise, and danger lies ahead. Remember, Christ triumphs in the end!

Undeniable~

At a recent bible study, we were discussing the physical evidence for God as part of an apologetics study, and the universe in its infinitely large proportions was brought to the table. However, I couldn't get my mind off of a whole other aspect of evidence for a spiritual entity, whom we call God. How about answered prayers, or spiritual revivals? I know that I have experienced God not only in his physical creation, but spiritually. What many of us forget is that God is spiritually engaged with us, more so than it seems. He hears us, and wants to grow closer to us. This should be all of the more proof for a creator than the physical evidence, because there's an eternal God who answers prayers and works in our sin-ridden hearts! Just a little thought as you go about your days today...

Christ's Redeeming Love~

I recently read David Kinnaman's UnChristian, an eye-opening read in which Christianity was retold through the eyes of a new generation. The statistics and facts all supported the point that modern-day Chrisianity has a dangerous image problem that is turning people away from Christ. The author focused on key reasons so many people are repelled by what the Christian Church has to offer. One of these reasons was that "Modern Christians are Perceived as Being Anti-homosexuality". The sad part is that I, as a fellow believer, completely agree with this. Having a lesbian friend at school, I know the hardships of those who are attracted to the same sex. Although this issue makes many feel squirmy and uncomfortable, the topic of homosexuality needs to be addressed, as an emerging generation of believers is in the midst of a Gay Rights Movement.

The authors of the book probably put it best, but I'd like to reiterate what was said with a little bit of an alternative spin on things. First of all, the bible does forbid homosexuality. Knowing this, we know that we do not have to agree with the sexual preferences of those around us. However, we do need to love these people whole-heartedly, and share with them Christ's redeeming love. Being "Same-Sex-Attracted" is an extremely difficult struggle that can make one feel like they're unable to live a deep, well-grounded life. However, if we share our own love, and Christ's great love with these unique people, we can help them overcome the tough barriers ahead of them. This means that we can help homosexuals in reaching sexual celibacy along with sexual purity. However, in doing this, Christians can get a little judgemental, and some don't even think to give a hand to homosexuals, and these leads to what society might call "Gay-Hating". These are the people who publicly crack jokes about gays, and insult gays because they are abnormal and are hard to relate with. Let's maybe alter this approach. We should love on people's of all kinds, even if we don't agree with their decisions. If you can help a homosexual reach sexual celibacy, great! If not, your love should remain unaltered. Would God love you any less if you committed a sin? Regardless of your feelings on this topic, the Christian Church must at least be willing to share the news of Christ's Redeeming love for all.

The Christian Woods~

The woods. The tall trees, expansive across acres upon acres, each with thousands of leaves clinging to their countless branches. The woods is a place of beauty, serenity, and peace, but as we know, the woods also scares many away, with its array of creatures. I can kind of see the Christian Church as a woods, a collection of species abroad, all with different intentions. I see Jesus Christ as a aromatic pine tree, calling wanderers of the woods with a crisp scent. Around this great tree are hundreds of other trees, such as the gentle maple, and the triumphant oak. These trees represent the Christians who had an undying passion for Christ. The martyrs, the life-changing missionaries, the brave rebels of foreign religions, are all a tree somewhere in this great forest. You see, the trees provide a cooling shade for wanderers, and extend their long branches over foreign heads. They show grace to all who come by. These trees produce thousands of seeds, symbolizing the legions of Christians that were inspired by them. Besides the trees, there are also leaves, and creatures abroad. Some, such as wolves, stalk pray at night, and consume other creatures of the woods when no one is watching. This would symbolize the judgementalism and hypocrisy in the church, and the harsh accusers who push fellow Christians out of the church, or out of the woods in this case. However, as we know, Satan is the root of all evil in the woods, being a snake. Outsiders hiking the forest are mesmerized by his striking colors, but before they know it, the are venemously stricken by Satan's lethal bite. In between the creatures of the dark and the trees & seeds...are fallen leaves. This makes up the bulk of the Christian Church and of the woods. We originally are found a bright green, attached to the trees that are the framework of Christianity. We are dangling from the firm branches with child-like faith, fearless, ready to make something happen. But the moment that cold, bitter wind picks up, we can no longer hold on to the firm branches of our ancestors, and we are swept down onto the forest floor. We realize that we never went anywhere with our faith, and we don't really know what it means to be a Christian. It's just a label we always gave to ourself. Many of these once youthful leaves simply shrivel up on the forest floor, and are crushed under outsiders feet because they are unable to defend their unchanged faith, and reasons for being part of the woods! 

This analogous comparison to the church is pretty accurate in my opinion, but I guess it's not perfect.  In spite of the few kinks in this analogy, I want you to put yourself somewhere in this great forest. Obviously, the pine tree is already taken, and many of the other trees have already taken root. However, will you be a seed, following in the enrooting of dozens of other trees, soon to be a tree of your own? Or maybe leaf, a little blip in the Christian community that doesn't even know the first thing about grace, forgiveness, and Christ's love. Are you that wolf, scaring outsiders away from the church? The good thing about this analogy is that you are allowed to repaint the picture to better match where you hope to be in the upcoming years (in relation to the Christian Church).