Friday, June 13th, 2008
I’ve been extremely busy this past week (it was so death) but I’ve decided to turn my econ lectures into blogging sessions. What a way to waste my tuition, right? But we’re forced to bring our computers to class, and I can’t find a better activity.
I’m currently reading through Luke, and I get a lot of the “Oh, I’ve read this before” moments. But the scripture never ceases to teach me new things, even with old stories. So a few weeks ago, I came across the story of the “Good Samaritan” and I was deeply tempted to just skip it, but decided against it in the end.
And the first few verses, really spoke out to me..
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
He answered: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[c]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Then Jesus proceeds to tell the story of the Good Samaritan. But I was shocked to find those first few verses there, because pastors never talk about it, and we just tend to forget the context of this story. I mean these experts knew exactly what they had to do, to love God and then love the people around us. And when I read this, the first thing I thought about was us, Christians. We know what we SHOULD do, the experts of the laws knew it as well, but Jesus still gave it to them straight up and lectured their faces off. And so I asked myself do we really act on what we know?? Do we demonstrate God’s love and actively show compassion to our neighbours?
And it’s sad, cause the answer that came back was ‘no.’ We tend to just stick within our Christian bubbles and care for one another more than the ‘outsiders.’ And when I see non-christians demonstrating more compassion towards others than we do, I seriously question how well I’ve measured up to what God has called us to do. Do we really love those around us? Cause I know I needed the good reminder. Scripture is good.
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” – Luke 10:36
Thursday, May 8th, 2008
So it’s only been four days back, and I’m already falling off the blogging world.
However, it has been pretty busy these past couple of days. I can’t say that it isn’t a challenge to find time for God. School seems to have a good way to just grab you by the neck and make you worry needlessly. But, I do consider myself a bit lucky that I don’t get too uptight about school very often.
The distractions have been quite a handful. Especially upon getting internet back. So thats why I’ve only turned on the computer when I have a reason to do so.
What I seem to be more uptight and nervous about is things I do for God. Because I know I’m not qualified to be where I am at today, or to do the things I am doing. I’m fairly new to this whole thing and constantly am reminded that there are so many more capable people to stand where I am standing. But at the same time in my nervousness and fears – I realize that God has put me here for a reason and that “Godfearing-ness” isn’t a bad thing to have.
So whenever I get the feeling that I’m missing something. Or that I’m in over my head – I try to remember who’s in charge, and what I’ve experienced last term to pull me through. I’ve started a half dozen posts since I’ve gotten back. But I can’t seem to finish them, or get them finished to convey the right message I have in mind.
Anyways, if you guys want to pray for me – give me a short e-mail and I can give you more specific reply. But for now, pray that God will continue to guide the fellowship and myself to lead it to where He wants it to go. I’ve come into this term with only God’s expectation and I’m hoping He will continue to provide for me when I need it the most.
Tight on time this week, so I’ll leave it here for now.
Friday, May 2nd, 2008
The richest 20% of the world accounts for over a third of the world’s income. The poorest 40% of the world accounts for less than 5% of the world’s income. Half the world, nearly three billion people, live on less than two dollars a day. And we spend it for a cup of coffee in the morning like it’s pocket change.
I was talking to an Auntie and she was telling me that I really knew how to enter this world. I live in a family with lots of stability, and loving parents. I live in an amazing place, and a house that is far from ordinary. I am healthy, and have a fully functional brain that can get me through University. And it at first, I shrugged it off like what she said didn’t have any impact on me.
But really, I could sense the envy in her remarks. And it got me thinking about how lucky I am. From the statistics, I figure I probably reside in the top 2% of the world’s economy. That’s pretty much 120 million people. And of this 2%, I am fortunate to enough to live in a family with a profession that lands in the 0.2% of Canada. All these stats must be mind numbing, but really God has blessed me with so much. And I have to be constantly reminded that everything that I have, is not mine. But God’s. He has provided for me, long before I was even born.
People that whine about not having this or that – shouldn’t complain. Cause can you imagine living as a kid in a third world country? One out of every two kids in the world starve. And it’s just a good reminder to count your blessings everyday and lead your life in a way that demands God to continue to bless you.
Saturday, April 26th, 2008
composed in 1799 and still carries bethoveen’s emotions through the ages.
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Tuesday, April 15th, 2008
God has given each of us, men, a princess to rescue
but before we can get to her
there is this dragon we must slay
and we must first deal with the dragon.
before we can become the man fit for a princess