It has been beautiful weather for the last 5 days or so. I drove down on the 280 today and man, it's just a nice drive. The blue blue sky, the lake around san mateo, the green hills near palo alto. I ate my lunch outside today and yeah, God's creation is just so awesome. Of course, I'm stuck in a cube right now, and the blue sky and the sun is just outside the window. But it's all good... :)
This passage has been stuck in my head for right now:
James 1:22-25
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does."
Ever since going to WCC, I just feel like I understand what it means to be a Christian more than before, and it's not just in my head, but more so in my heart now. Like it sits more comfortably than before, as things make more sense both in my head and my heart. I remember three takeaways from the conference, which are 'cat and dog theology' or (It's not about you it's about God), 'be strategic', and 'find the treasure in everyone'. The cynical side of me of course would dismiss all this talk as idealistic and file it under all the rest of the retreats that I've been in which a jaded heart would only say, "Yeah, that's nice, but when I go back to the city, everything will be the same." But amusingly this wasn't the case.
When I wasn't a Christian I hated Christians. I thought they were weak or innocent or stupid to believe in something that's not real. They didn't act real and it's like why would they act like they're all good, when you know inside everyone's got their dark side and you know they're just trying hard not to show it. When I first became a young Christian, everything was very exciting, and I would pray and read the bible with passion and even though things in my life was still messed up, I knew that God was there watching over me. Then I became an older Christian and I was more sure of the truth of the word, but I was also jaded about a lot of things. Hypocrisy in my life and also others in the church, evils around the world that God didn't intervene even when He has the power to, life being not fair for a majority of people in the world, and just overall feeling powerless. I think I might be getting into another stage in life, where I'm more sure of who I am and my identity in Christ. No more doing things out of guilt or obligation, as sometimes we're caught up in. But rather, the grace that is given to us by what Jesus did on the cross should propel us to want to love, to act, and to stand up and demand justice for the weak and poor. No more me power, but God power. If I mess up, grace covers me and I can get up and try again. Grace leads to voluntary love which asks for nothing back.
Another shift in thinking is that I thought the reason why we're here is to get as many people in heaven as possible, but I no longer see that as the case. Maybe the chief reason we're here in this world is to bring God glory, which He enjoys. If God created us, he would love to have us enjoy his creation, like the beautiful weather outside. He would love us worshipping him. He would love for us to go to him for help and comfort when there are struggles and trials in our life. God would want us to ask why things are that way when we can't understand them. Life is fuller when you've got a personal God to interact with everyday.
So I guess that's why I feel good right now, and not that I'm on a temporary high and not that I don't have my struggles and problems, but I think when I see the world I see God's sovereignty in it, even with the Good and Evil inside this world. God is beyond the topics of the day, beyond who will become the next president or debates about Gay marriages or Bush vs. Kerry, Iraq/Haiti/Afganistan, or even how Martha is gonna decorate her jail cell. :)
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:2
This passage has been stuck in my head for right now:
James 1:22-25
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does."
Ever since going to WCC, I just feel like I understand what it means to be a Christian more than before, and it's not just in my head, but more so in my heart now. Like it sits more comfortably than before, as things make more sense both in my head and my heart. I remember three takeaways from the conference, which are 'cat and dog theology' or (It's not about you it's about God), 'be strategic', and 'find the treasure in everyone'. The cynical side of me of course would dismiss all this talk as idealistic and file it under all the rest of the retreats that I've been in which a jaded heart would only say, "Yeah, that's nice, but when I go back to the city, everything will be the same." But amusingly this wasn't the case.
When I wasn't a Christian I hated Christians. I thought they were weak or innocent or stupid to believe in something that's not real. They didn't act real and it's like why would they act like they're all good, when you know inside everyone's got their dark side and you know they're just trying hard not to show it. When I first became a young Christian, everything was very exciting, and I would pray and read the bible with passion and even though things in my life was still messed up, I knew that God was there watching over me. Then I became an older Christian and I was more sure of the truth of the word, but I was also jaded about a lot of things. Hypocrisy in my life and also others in the church, evils around the world that God didn't intervene even when He has the power to, life being not fair for a majority of people in the world, and just overall feeling powerless. I think I might be getting into another stage in life, where I'm more sure of who I am and my identity in Christ. No more doing things out of guilt or obligation, as sometimes we're caught up in. But rather, the grace that is given to us by what Jesus did on the cross should propel us to want to love, to act, and to stand up and demand justice for the weak and poor. No more me power, but God power. If I mess up, grace covers me and I can get up and try again. Grace leads to voluntary love which asks for nothing back.
Another shift in thinking is that I thought the reason why we're here is to get as many people in heaven as possible, but I no longer see that as the case. Maybe the chief reason we're here in this world is to bring God glory, which He enjoys. If God created us, he would love to have us enjoy his creation, like the beautiful weather outside. He would love us worshipping him. He would love for us to go to him for help and comfort when there are struggles and trials in our life. God would want us to ask why things are that way when we can't understand them. Life is fuller when you've got a personal God to interact with everyday.
So I guess that's why I feel good right now, and not that I'm on a temporary high and not that I don't have my struggles and problems, but I think when I see the world I see God's sovereignty in it, even with the Good and Evil inside this world. God is beyond the topics of the day, beyond who will become the next president or debates about Gay marriages or Bush vs. Kerry, Iraq/Haiti/Afganistan, or even how Martha is gonna decorate her jail cell. :)
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:2
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