We talk to each other in words and phrases

I want to write something to you, I'm failing at letting you in a little bit. I have a frustration that I am currently dealing with, one that is somewhat of a plague it seems with humankind. This crazy, unimaginable ability of the human race that is yet tampered with in a positive way. An ability that would make feelings known, directions clearer, leadership more noticeable, and relationships all the more better.

Communication

Communication..to "commune" means to talk together with profound intensity or intimacy, an interchanging of thoughts or feelings as the ever convenient dictionary.com would have it. What in the world do we have if we do not have our opinions and convictions, and furthermore the ability to make them known. I am sad to say I am a not immune to the unfortunate ways of letting communication slip, but we all are guilty of this in some area or another.

We try to pack it away into the recesses of our minds if we have an issue with a friend. We try to overlook, and overlook, and overlook, until the issue cannot be overlooked anymore...and usually at that point the damage is done. We try to be leaders and sometimes we forget one of the most important pieces of information thus making chaos for all those who need the information the most. In marriages there are mishaps in communication that leads to arguments and blame.

It is an essential part of our human ability to make everything frustrating, dire, or important known. It is an item in our warehouse of peacemaking, and leadership training that are used not nearly enough. This is a struggle for me and many others I'm sure. We just have to learn to open our mouths and speak the truth in love.

All to God

The clock ticks on

Oh my dears, forgive me for neglecting you, I have been busy since school started back up for my FINAL semester of my undergraduate studies, and so far so good. There are four very critical months that stand between me and the degree I have worked hard for. I ask you to pray for those months and all they entail; tests, quizzes, projects, very major papers, and all the homework.

A friend and I were looking back over the years, and I can remember one day where I was sitting out by the river with my journal. I can also remember writing "I can't believe I get to spend four years of my life in college" and now here it is. I wonder where I will be sitting the next time I write "I can't believe I get to spend ____ years here". It is amazing the time that passes and when we stop to think about it all, it blows our minds. It keeps reminding me that time is precious and what you do with it matters.

I know some of my time could have been spent in better ways throughout the years. I hope in my coming years I will spend my time in the soil that God has prepared, nurturing it with the water He provided, and allowing it to receive sunlight which He created, in hopes that it will bear fruit.

All to God

Would you?

Would you go with me to a place you've never been? Would you give up the life that you know and add onto it by an extraordinary measure? Would you sacrifice the white picket fence and surrounding family for small living spaces and no relatives anywhere in the entire continent? Would you realize that english is not the only language worth speaking?

Would you humble yourself and know that you couldn't do it alone? Would you be willing to take lessons from a small child because now you are the child? Would you be ridiculously honest with those who support you, even if it means they no longer want to support you? Would you have the faith that when all seems to daunting that you are more precious than a whole flock of sparrows to Him?

Would you have a hope that surpasses all understanding? Even where you stand now?

All to God

Apostled

I have started to read in the Acts of the Apostles again. I made this decision because I was thinking one day that if I am really an apostle, I should probably learn from the masters. Though I know that I never literally walked with Jesus I do strive to know him better and better, and while I'm on my relational journey, I should take some pointers from those who have walked with him.

So far I have read through chapter four and a lot of what this book is talking about thus far is the relationship of believers. The gift had been poured out on the Apostles and they were the teachers to those who believed. So I suppose I wanted to sit at their feet for a while.

As I am moving towards the mission field I feel more and more compelled to learn what it is to be a bold, adaptable, and pro-unification disciple. This does not just happen from reading about it but applying it to life, and to action. It is a true journey that anyone who is serious about discipleship and Christ must take. Many times it is a journey taken over a mountainous place full of valleys and mountain peaks, with sunrises and sunsets, mountain-sides full of daisies and flash-floods washing them away. But it is a journey worth taking.

To the world we go!

All to God

If the world hates you...

More and more I feel the weight of the world crashing in on my belief system with it's slander and it's vile understanding of who Christ really is and who Christians are suppose to be. Honestly the term "Christian" has become such a negative connotation to the world in many circles. I like calling myself exactly what Christian is suppose to mean and that is a "Christ follower". I may not get away from the connotation fully because even the name of Christ has become offensive to the world.

But I love Christ. 

Many don't want to hear the opinions of Christians because many "Christians" have given some opinions that are not progressive and not helpful for bringing the message of salvation to the masses. I will admit much of this I feel I am having to explain other doctrines from this dis-unified church to people who do not have a relationship with Christ. I, and many like me, are fighting people with doctrines such as the infamous Westboro Baptist. Also motives such as the pastor in Florida who was threatening to burn Qur'ans, both of these examples are what I would call ignorant, and lacking God's love. 

However, I have read articles and have watched shows/movies/documentaries advocating that Christians are ignorant fools who are unpleasant, unloving, completely hypocritical, and totally ridiculous. It seems that many (more so in America) are becoming more tolerant of other religions and philosophies but when Christianity is brought up, or talked about, it is a joke. 

I am a Christ follower, I don't hold up protest signs with hateful words like "So and so is going to Hell!" I am not the Judge. I do not stand on the street to yell "REPENT OF YOUR DIRTY SINS AND AVOID ETERNAL DAMNATION!" Because it isn't about avoidance, it is about a relationship with Jesus, and it's not all about being coaxed into a relationship because of the fear of damnation. 

I think it's ok to dance with joy

I think it doesn't matter what music you choose (granted it doesn't curse God)

I think it's good to debate with God

I think it's entirely appropriate to ask the hard questions

All I'm asking is that maybe those who judge us Christ followers, and those who may have preconceived notions to think about how you don't want Christians judging you. Well I feel the exact same way about people judging me for my beliefs. I am willing to talk about what I believe but I cannot MAKE someone change their beliefs, but I will love anyone just the same because God loved them first.

I cannot stop people from judging me, I am an imperfect being who just happens to love Christ, with this love I wish to share it. However, I cannot and will not use pressure, there will not be yelling, and I will only be compelled to speak the truth in love. Understanding Christ is understanding who I strive to be although I know I could never live up to who He is and was while he walked on earth.

All to God

Colored squares on Times Square

I wrote down a wish. I wrote it down on a tiny piece of colored paper. A man told me that on New Year's night in Times Square the wish that I wished would be flung out into the street. This wish could possibly be picked up by someone who providentially needed the words on that tiny piece of colored paper, or it could be swept into the gutter never to be seen by another human eye.

Whatever the fate of this wish that was written down, I still wish it into existence. I still pray it into being and I know it has been communicated to God over and over again.

I hope someone found my wish, but even if it wasn't found, the most important One has heard it. I hope that all of my lovely readers have a wonderful outlook, and a phenomenal hope for this year already among us. Maybe more will come to see the face of the God who has given us the choice of salvation.

All to God

Novo Godina

Whoa, it's been far to long since I've written. I hope everyone had a very good Christmas and I hope you were blessed by love and family this year. Now a new year is upon us! The Mayan calendar dreaded 2012...how doomified.

Well, I think it's obvious I do not take the stance of the innovative Mayans, but I am looking at this upcoming year at more of an adult-like stance. My LAST semester of college is basically here, May will come quickly and then something will happen that has only been a dream until now; no more school. No more tests or homework or teachers expectations. After this anything that drives my ambition has got to be purely my own incentive. That's going to be a life change in itself for some things.

I will be paying most of my own bills after graduation, and most of you are saying "welcome to life you little kid you" but really, it's different, something new. So...don't judge :)

Next on the adult bill, I will be living somewhere other than a dorm room, without girls up and down the hall and lobbies where friends normally reside. I will have to get out and make friends in the new community that i will be a part of for the time I am there. To be honest, that kind of excites me.

Also, making arrangements for my year long stay overseas which takes a lot of figuring and doing. This is a piece of my "career," something I have been working up to for a long time and executing it has to happen sooner than later. Once the gears start moving, I hope all things will...as they say....work together for my good.

Please be in prayer for all of this but specifically this last thing I mentioned it is definitely still in the works and need to be drenched with prayer. Thanks you guys.

So there are my adult happenings in the near future, Happy New Year everyone! May God work through His workers this year to bring more to Him!

All to God