Obvious from the title of this post, and the overflood of comments on my Facebook profile, today is my birthday. Despite that my brithday is actually today, I think my birthday celebrate occurred last night, and today will be more of 'a regular day'.
We celebrated a teen's birthday and my birthday with a little jingle. After the craziness of junior high chapter Chris and I went to my parents' house. After watching a bit of the election results, I received a stereo dock for an iPod and was super excited. [Although I don't have an iPod myself, Chris does and I thought it'd come in handy as his speaker is croking.] It was very nice and puts out good sound [which will also be great for chapter!]
After leaving my parents we headed to Chris' parent's house where we learned that Obama had officially won, and I got my birthday surprise from him! Using some creative wrapping [read: hidden under his zip-up hoodie], I unwrapped my gift to be given an iPod Touch!! While I was able to guess that this may be what I would be receiving, it didn't take any of the excitement away. Even more was that my parents had just given me the stereo dock. Sa-weet deal! : )
I then headed to home to Bluffton and received my most surprising surprise: while Chris and I were at the junior high chapter, my parents went to Bluffton and decorated my door at school! It was complete with a banner, streamers, balloons and flowers!! I'm pretty sure that even though I have had some great presents [even my super great iPod] I think I appreciated my parents decorating my door more than anything else! : )
So now I was back in Bluffton with lovely birthday gifts in hand and my door sreaming happy birthday and my parents' love for me, I began welcoming my birthday with writing a 10-page paper. Okay so really that part wasn't the best, but it took up the first 5.5 hours of my actual birthday so it was worth noting.
So there you have it. The adventures of my birthday up to noon. Since I'm going to snooze now, that's the exciting part.
Thanks for all the birthday wishes and have a great my birthday day. ; )
Wednesday, November 5
Thursday, October 23
Puzzles, Snowflakes, 4-Wheeler, and a Treasure Hunt
Here's a back flash to the story of how Chris and I became us. I know it's a bit delayed : ) but since I typed it all up for our wedding story, I figured I 'd post it on here as well.
*********************************************
In the summer of 2006 Chris and Rachel met while volunteering for The Slice, the summer TFC chapter. They took notice of one another but not much more than that. In the beginning of August, after getting to know each other a bit through hanging out with mutual friends, we were at the TFC Leaders Retreat. While there we had opportunity to truly talk for perhaps the first time. This conversation was cut short though due to some little one's bedtime. Nevertheless we spent the rest of the evening with other leaders our age chatting and laughing. [A couple of memories from this weekend was that Chris knew this card trick and said that if he could guess the card that I had, we were 'meant to work together' in the chapter. Needless to say, he guessed Rachel's card, and she was excited. A second memory was that the two of us were talking about how Rachel had never seen a shooting star. Chris walked outside and upon his return commented that he had just seen 3 shooting stars. He liked having this edge to rub in. : ) ]
It was after that weekend that we knew that we would be leading the Spencerville High School TFC Chapter together: Rachel as the director and Chris as the leader. This is where and how our relationship took off.
Over the course of the school year, we began spending LOTS of time together. Monday nights was Chapter night, when we not only spent the 3 hours together leading the teens, but we also spent an hour and an half in the car chatting and getting to know each other more. Wednesday nights we would see each other briefly as Rachel helped with a youth group and Chris met with a friend. Thursdays became our 'The Office' night, which began with Amber and the two of us, be she seldom showed up to watch the tv series so it was just the two of us. Then eventually we thought that it was getting a but raunchy so we stopped watching it each week, but we didn't stop spending our Thursday evenings together. Fridays we occasionally saw each other as we hung out with mutual friends or sometimes even just the two of us. Saturday Night Prayer was another weekly occasion that we would commonly see each other. Finally Chris began going to Lima Baptist Temple where Rachel attended and they both went to Summit on Sunday evenings. As very clear we saw each other a lot and spend lots of quality time together.
All of this brings us to April 14th. On this Saturday morning Rachel left her house as her mom asked her feelings about Chris. Rachel promised that there was 'nothing really' but WHEN something came about she'd let her mom know. [Rachel had no idea how soon she'd be letting her mom know.] TFC was hosting a Dodgeball Tournament at Temple so both Rachel and Chris helped work this. After playing/reffing/getting dodged the two of them went to Pizza Hut with the other leaders. After this Rachel went to Chris' because they had planned on hanging out afterwards due to an invitation Chris sent her the night before. He requested she bring 'clothes to the Dodgeball thing that you can get dirty, in case it's not too bad outside for 4 wheeling...b/c it's definitely wet and muddy!!! Which is great!' So Rachel brought her clothes and they headed to Chris' house.
When they got there they hung out and eventually began working on a puzzle that they'd been working on for a few weeks. [This puzzle consisted of a ton of smiley faces that was two sided, it's hard to describe, but trust us, it was difficult.] They had put hours into this thing, but it happened on this day that they finally put that final piece into puzzle!! This was quite exciting, and alone would have made Rachel's day.
[As a sidenote, as they finished this puzzle the song 'When Did You Fall' by Chris Rice came on the radio. Chris commented that he like that song, especially the ending. It was cute and sent some 'hopeful' butterflies into the stomach. Just look the song up. : ) ]
After supper, we decided to finally go outside and go on a ride on the 4-wheeler. Because it was snowing on this day [strange, eh, since it was April!] we layered on the clothes and headed outside. We got on the 4-wheeler and after a short ride in the neighboring field, Chris stopped and said he had an 'activity' for us to do.
He pulled out a map and a hint. He explained that Rachel would have to figure out where we would have to go next. With a little help, the first destination was determined and we were off. Upon our arrival, Chris handed Rachel the first scroll. She was instructed to read it aloud, and so she did:
'One time--though It hAppens everyday in every nation, in every language, and in Many different ways--two people began a journey.This journey required every part oF them--their best effort, Attention, and focus. All their strength, all their passions, and all their Lives. This journey brought out their best.'
After reading it, and a bit of confusion yet still oblivious, Rachel got the second clue and they were on their way. Mind you at this point she still had no idea what was going on because a week or so prior Chris had told her that he had an idea for a four-wheeler ride, so she just thought it was a 'riddle' or game they were playing. Suspicions grew though when on our way to the second destination, Chris slowed the 4-wheeler and said that one requirement was that Rachel had to hold on. She didn't mind : ) so she did and thoughts started racing.
The second spot brought the next scroll:
'Most days they enjoyed the journey together.In part because the experiences were good; in part because they enjoyed the adventure with the other person.Once in a whiLe, neIther was good. But they got through that and continued the journey anyway. They overcame many obstacles and celebrated maNy successes. Something was drawinG them.'
And so they continued on the hunt, all the while Rachel was noticing that particular letters were capitalized and bold, yet she couldn't remember what they all were. [And you just thought it was a typo. :)]
'They weren't drawn to the journey because they'd seen many take It before, though they had. They had seeN some excel, some fail, and many simply meander.Something else drew them, It was bigger--bigger than them and those who had traveLed and those still tO travel. What drew them gaVe them purposE, directing the Whole journey, making It an adventure.The force? PerfecT Love.And so they learned to love.'
[Perfect Love is capitalized in reference to God, not the format in which Chris wrote the 'hidden message'.]
Obviously at this point with the use of the word 'love', Rachel knew that something was either 'up' or she was setting herself up for some major disappointment.
Rachel nervously read the fourth scroll:'THey loved amidst foes of various tYpes. They loved despite the lack Of loving feelings. They loved becaUse they wanted to. The more they loved, the more they became like the Perfect Love. It kept dRawing them, forming them, giving them dreAms and goals. The PerfeCt Love perfected their love. Loving each other perfected their love.'
Chris then smiled as he gave Rachel the final clue that read, 'This prevents the iron Wagon from plummeting into the raging waters.' Rachel concluded that it must be 'The Crossing' which is more commonly known as the bridge for the railroad tracks. There we headed. As he got off the 4-wheeler he gave her the final scroll:
'One day--many, many days after tHat first day--they neared the end of their journey. They didn't look the samE as when they started, they didn't love like they did when they started, they didn't act like they used to either.The were more perfect, more wise, more beautiful, more loveLy and strong and exactly how the Perfect Love had designed them to be. They were inseparable and grateful for the other's company on the journey. Then they began a new journey, in a new place. And they were more and more perfect each day!'
At this point Chris instructed her to go back and ready the large bold letters aloud and so she did: 'I AM FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU RACHEL'. Chris then said something along the lines of, 'Soo.. what do you think? How did you feel?' In a shaky voice, due to the cold [it was snowing and we had been outside for awhile now] and excitement! Rachel told him that she felt the same way!
They stared at each other while 'sideways' hugging the other [kind of awkwardly looking back on it, but innocent and cute then] and shared few words. Chris suggested heading back to the house to warm up and drink some hot chocolate and Rachel didn't argue. This time when they got back on the 4-wheeler, she held him in a slightly different manner and with gitty feelings. : )
When they returned to the house they warmed up with hot chocolate and Chris tied the five scrolls together to make one long scroll.
They spent the rest of the evening together with Chris' family playing cards and dice and experiencing that 'warm excitement' every time their hands brushed one another...
And so that new journey began...
*********************************************
In the summer of 2006 Chris and Rachel met while volunteering for The Slice, the summer TFC chapter. They took notice of one another but not much more than that. In the beginning of August, after getting to know each other a bit through hanging out with mutual friends, we were at the TFC Leaders Retreat. While there we had opportunity to truly talk for perhaps the first time. This conversation was cut short though due to some little one's bedtime. Nevertheless we spent the rest of the evening with other leaders our age chatting and laughing. [A couple of memories from this weekend was that Chris knew this card trick and said that if he could guess the card that I had, we were 'meant to work together' in the chapter. Needless to say, he guessed Rachel's card, and she was excited. A second memory was that the two of us were talking about how Rachel had never seen a shooting star. Chris walked outside and upon his return commented that he had just seen 3 shooting stars. He liked having this edge to rub in. : ) ]
It was after that weekend that we knew that we would be leading the Spencerville High School TFC Chapter together: Rachel as the director and Chris as the leader. This is where and how our relationship took off.
Over the course of the school year, we began spending LOTS of time together. Monday nights was Chapter night, when we not only spent the 3 hours together leading the teens, but we also spent an hour and an half in the car chatting and getting to know each other more. Wednesday nights we would see each other briefly as Rachel helped with a youth group and Chris met with a friend. Thursdays became our 'The Office' night, which began with Amber and the two of us, be she seldom showed up to watch the tv series so it was just the two of us. Then eventually we thought that it was getting a but raunchy so we stopped watching it each week, but we didn't stop spending our Thursday evenings together. Fridays we occasionally saw each other as we hung out with mutual friends or sometimes even just the two of us. Saturday Night Prayer was another weekly occasion that we would commonly see each other. Finally Chris began going to Lima Baptist Temple where Rachel attended and they both went to Summit on Sunday evenings. As very clear we saw each other a lot and spend lots of quality time together.
All of this brings us to April 14th. On this Saturday morning Rachel left her house as her mom asked her feelings about Chris. Rachel promised that there was 'nothing really' but WHEN something came about she'd let her mom know. [Rachel had no idea how soon she'd be letting her mom know.] TFC was hosting a Dodgeball Tournament at Temple so both Rachel and Chris helped work this. After playing/reffing/getting dodged the two of them went to Pizza Hut with the other leaders. After this Rachel went to Chris' because they had planned on hanging out afterwards due to an invitation Chris sent her the night before. He requested she bring 'clothes to the Dodgeball thing that you can get dirty, in case it's not too bad outside for 4 wheeling...b/c it's definitely wet and muddy!!! Which is great!' So Rachel brought her clothes and they headed to Chris' house.
When they got there they hung out and eventually began working on a puzzle that they'd been working on for a few weeks. [This puzzle consisted of a ton of smiley faces that was two sided, it's hard to describe, but trust us, it was difficult.] They had put hours into this thing, but it happened on this day that they finally put that final piece into puzzle!! This was quite exciting, and alone would have made Rachel's day.
[As a sidenote, as they finished this puzzle the song 'When Did You Fall' by Chris Rice came on the radio. Chris commented that he like that song, especially the ending. It was cute and sent some 'hopeful' butterflies into the stomach. Just look the song up. : ) ]
After supper, we decided to finally go outside and go on a ride on the 4-wheeler. Because it was snowing on this day [strange, eh, since it was April!] we layered on the clothes and headed outside. We got on the 4-wheeler and after a short ride in the neighboring field, Chris stopped and said he had an 'activity' for us to do.
He pulled out a map and a hint. He explained that Rachel would have to figure out where we would have to go next. With a little help, the first destination was determined and we were off. Upon our arrival, Chris handed Rachel the first scroll. She was instructed to read it aloud, and so she did: 'One time--though It hAppens everyday in every nation, in every language, and in Many different ways--two people began a journey.This journey required every part oF them--their best effort, Attention, and focus. All their strength, all their passions, and all their Lives. This journey brought out their best.'
After reading it, and a bit of confusion yet still oblivious, Rachel got the second clue and they were on their way. Mind you at this point she still had no idea what was going on because a week or so prior Chris had told her that he had an idea for a four-wheeler ride, so she just thought it was a 'riddle' or game they were playing. Suspicions grew though when on our way to the second destination, Chris slowed the 4-wheeler and said that one requirement was that Rachel had to hold on. She didn't mind : ) so she did and thoughts started racing.
The second spot brought the next scroll:
'Most days they enjoyed the journey together.In part because the experiences were good; in part because they enjoyed the adventure with the other person.Once in a whiLe, neIther was good. But they got through that and continued the journey anyway. They overcame many obstacles and celebrated maNy successes. Something was drawinG them.'
And so they continued on the hunt, all the while Rachel was noticing that particular letters were capitalized and bold, yet she couldn't remember what they all were. [And you just thought it was a typo. :)]
'They weren't drawn to the journey because they'd seen many take It before, though they had. They had seeN some excel, some fail, and many simply meander.Something else drew them, It was bigger--bigger than them and those who had traveLed and those still tO travel. What drew them gaVe them purposE, directing the Whole journey, making It an adventure.The force? PerfecT Love.And so they learned to love.'
[Perfect Love is capitalized in reference to God, not the format in which Chris wrote the 'hidden message'.]
Obviously at this point with the use of the word 'love', Rachel knew that something was either 'up' or she was setting herself up for some major disappointment.
Rachel nervously read the fourth scroll:'THey loved amidst foes of various tYpes. They loved despite the lack Of loving feelings. They loved becaUse they wanted to. The more they loved, the more they became like the Perfect Love. It kept dRawing them, forming them, giving them dreAms and goals. The PerfeCt Love perfected their love. Loving each other perfected their love.'
Chris then smiled as he gave Rachel the final clue that read, 'This prevents the iron Wagon from plummeting into the raging waters.' Rachel concluded that it must be 'The Crossing' which is more commonly known as the bridge for the railroad tracks. There we headed. As he got off the 4-wheeler he gave her the final scroll:
'One day--many, many days after tHat first day--they neared the end of their journey. They didn't look the samE as when they started, they didn't love like they did when they started, they didn't act like they used to either.The were more perfect, more wise, more beautiful, more loveLy and strong and exactly how the Perfect Love had designed them to be. They were inseparable and grateful for the other's company on the journey. Then they began a new journey, in a new place. And they were more and more perfect each day!'
At this point Chris instructed her to go back and ready the large bold letters aloud and so she did: 'I AM FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU RACHEL'. Chris then said something along the lines of, 'Soo.. what do you think? How did you feel?' In a shaky voice, due to the cold [it was snowing and we had been outside for awhile now] and excitement! Rachel told him that she felt the same way!
They stared at each other while 'sideways' hugging the other [kind of awkwardly looking back on it, but innocent and cute then] and shared few words. Chris suggested heading back to the house to warm up and drink some hot chocolate and Rachel didn't argue. This time when they got back on the 4-wheeler, she held him in a slightly different manner and with gitty feelings. : )
When they returned to the house they warmed up with hot chocolate and Chris tied the five scrolls together to make one long scroll.
They spent the rest of the evening together with Chris' family playing cards and dice and experiencing that 'warm excitement' every time their hands brushed one another...
And so that new journey began...
Wednesday, October 1
Nightmares
So last night I had some crazy weird nightmares centered around one of my high school teens from my TFC chapter.
It's just strange so I figured I'd share it with you.
Alright so the first one was I was at 'Summit' at Buck's house and everyone was just socializing and hanging out after the meeting. The next thing I knew Taime was standing at the end of the bar [think like a bar you'd find in a basement], he has a gun, and is threatening to shoot people. Of course no one wants to say anything because no one wanted his attention because we thought that'd make him shoot us. So anyways I made eye contact with him and that was enough to set him off. He pointed the gun at me [by this time everyone who was standing at the bar had climbed under it]. He hit me in the foot, but for some reason it didn't really affect me. Nevertheless I froze and acted as if it was fatal. He walked over towards me to make sure I was no longer a threat and then walked away to determine who he wanted to shoot next. I realized that the noise from the gun would be loud eno
ugh to sneak out the back door. So on his next shot I ran out the back door, through two yards, and over a couple fences and knocked as loud as I could on Huffmans back door [Sutton's next door neighbors].
I explained to them what was going on so then we called the police and waited for them to show up. In the mean time other people escaped from Sutton's and ran to Huffman's. Mr. Huffman had a gun too now in case he needed to use it against Taime so we had to do the whole movie-like thing where as people came we had to reassure them that they were safe.
As the police showed up Taime came to Huffman's too. Some how we had come to the conclusion that there were really two Taime, one was the real Taime and the other was an imposter. Supposedly it was the impostor that was at Buck's. When Taime came inside he was tackled by some of the other people and people began to kick him, and some wanted to shoot him. I convinced people not to kill him, but rather allow the police to take him in. So that's what happened.
[I woke up about when I was shot, and then again after Taime came over to the Huffmans'.]
The next part of the dream was that Taime was 'walking free' and the police were no where and everything seemed normal. It was just as if he had gotten yelled out for his actions. [So he was gruff, but not violent at this point.] As I walked by him, he said 'It's not over yet.' I responded with 'Oh Taime, calm down, it's no big deal--move on.' I thought that he was just saying empty thoughts, but as Chris and I were walking to my car which was parked a bit down the street, Taime started rushing away and as he did so I tripped over a small cord and unplugged it from a hand-held box [think like the controller to a remote control car]. This was obviously not good by Taime's reactions. Nevertheless Chris and I continued to walk to my car, as we approached Taime flipped a switch and my car exploded. It was like in a movie. As the flames were roaring, Taime walked to each of the tires and slit them and 'popped' the tire off the wheel. He was very demon-like at this point.
Chris was trying to get into my car and put out the fire and I was screaming for help but no one could hear me because everyone down at Sutton's were celebrating and dancing because Taime was no longer a threat.
It was as I was screaming that I woke up again with adrenaline pumping. [I hope I wasn't really screaming and that was just in the dream though. : ) ]
So anyways, that is the gist of my dream. There was another little frightening scene, but I can't remember it anymore.
I've tried to think about why I had this dream and this is all that I can think of: a.) Tuesday night we were talking about Taime's innocents, b.) one of the teens Tuesday said something about hiring someone to kill so he'd be President, c.) we made an announcement for Summit at Mondays chapter meeting. That's really it!
In the past month I've had some pretty 'bad' dreams and they were quite scary at the time, but I was able to link all of those to an intense or scary movie I watched late the night before. I guess two nights of Teens For Christ can have the same effect!! ; ) Just kidding.
[As a disclaimer: Taime is a great guy, and there is nothing he has done that would have caused this dream!!]
It's just strange so I figured I'd share it with you.
Alright so the first one was I was at 'Summit' at Buck's house and everyone was just socializing and hanging out after the meeting. The next thing I knew Taime was standing at the end of the bar [think like a bar you'd find in a basement], he has a gun, and is threatening to shoot people. Of course no one wants to say anything because no one wanted his attention because we thought that'd make him shoot us. So anyways I made eye contact with him and that was enough to set him off. He pointed the gun at me [by this time everyone who was standing at the bar had climbed under it]. He hit me in the foot, but for some reason it didn't really affect me. Nevertheless I froze and acted as if it was fatal. He walked over towards me to make sure I was no longer a threat and then walked away to determine who he wanted to shoot next. I realized that the noise from the gun would be loud eno
ugh to sneak out the back door. So on his next shot I ran out the back door, through two yards, and over a couple fences and knocked as loud as I could on Huffmans back door [Sutton's next door neighbors].I explained to them what was going on so then we called the police and waited for them to show up. In the mean time other people escaped from Sutton's and ran to Huffman's. Mr. Huffman had a gun too now in case he needed to use it against Taime so we had to do the whole movie-like thing where as people came we had to reassure them that they were safe.
As the police showed up Taime came to Huffman's too. Some how we had come to the conclusion that there were really two Taime, one was the real Taime and the other was an imposter. Supposedly it was the impostor that was at Buck's. When Taime came inside he was tackled by some of the other people and people began to kick him, and some wanted to shoot him. I convinced people not to kill him, but rather allow the police to take him in. So that's what happened.
[I woke up about when I was shot, and then again after Taime came over to the Huffmans'.]
The next part of the dream was that Taime was 'walking free' and the police were no where and everything seemed normal. It was just as if he had gotten yelled out for his actions. [So he was gruff, but not violent at this point.] As I walked by him, he said 'It's not over yet.' I responded with 'Oh Taime, calm down, it's no big deal--move on.' I thought that he was just saying empty thoughts, but as Chris and I were walking to my car which was parked a bit down the street, Taime started rushing away and as he did so I tripped over a small cord and unplugged it from a hand-held box [think like the controller to a remote control car]. This was obviously not good by Taime's reactions. Nevertheless Chris and I continued to walk to my car, as we approached Taime flipped a switch and my car exploded. It was like in a movie. As the flames were roaring, Taime walked to each of the tires and slit them and 'popped' the tire off the wheel. He was very demon-like at this point.
Chris was trying to get into my car and put out the fire and I was screaming for help but no one could hear me because everyone down at Sutton's were celebrating and dancing because Taime was no longer a threat.
It was as I was screaming that I woke up again with adrenaline pumping. [I hope I wasn't really screaming and that was just in the dream though. : ) ]
So anyways, that is the gist of my dream. There was another little frightening scene, but I can't remember it anymore.
I've tried to think about why I had this dream and this is all that I can think of: a.) Tuesday night we were talking about Taime's innocents, b.) one of the teens Tuesday said something about hiring someone to kill so he'd be President, c.) we made an announcement for Summit at Mondays chapter meeting. That's really it!
In the past month I've had some pretty 'bad' dreams and they were quite scary at the time, but I was able to link all of those to an intense or scary movie I watched late the night before. I guess two nights of Teens For Christ can have the same effect!! ; ) Just kidding.
[As a disclaimer: Taime is a great guy, and there is nothing he has done that would have caused this dream!!]
Tuesday, September 23
*sigh*
I am more than overdue on this, but I guess in my own defense I warned y'all that I'm not good at keeping up on it!
Anyways, an update on my life-- it's good. I'm feeling much better about wedding plans than I did a week or so ago. Things are starting to fall into place. I like that. Even more so than the planning I look forward to marrying the love of my life. Coming home to him. Falling asleep with my snuggle bug. Going grocery shopping together. Making decisions about our home, our life. Before we were engaged, I said that 9 months would be ideal for 'planning purposes' and although I am so happy to be engaged to him, but 9 months is a long time to wait!! We're making it work though.
Volleyball is going well. I still wondering if I am learning more from them, and about me, than I am teaching them about volleyball. Hopefully this is the goal of all coaches, but commonly I think that Kristin and I are teaching them more life lessons than volleyball skills. This will be better for them in the long run of course, but I want to be kicking butt on the court as well!
TFC is going well as well. We had 14 teens for the third week in a row. It's our favorite number I guess. : ) Really though it is a nice number to start out with. The teens push me and teach me so much as well. They are great and make me laugh each week. What I love most perhaps about chapter is that it pushes me to study the Word in such a way that I can turn around and teach it to teens who may ask just about anything. Even more so it's the fact that God hammers something from the Scripture that I'm studying [to be able to turn around and teach] in my life and then I can turn around and present it to them who God is also working on in the same area. It doesn't always make sense to me, and I'm not sure how it all works, but it does. :) And that's what really matters.
To start off this Fall we are going through the book of 1 Corinthians verse by verse. It has been pretty good so far, at least I think so, and the teens seem to say as well. Tonight I was really hammered with 1 Corinthians 2.8
'...the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory...'
When studying this I just kept repeating in my mind, 'if they had understood it, if they would have only gotten it'. Over and over again 'if they had only gotten it...if they had only gotten it...if they had only gotten it...' I couldn't help but think, if I only would get it what would I be doing differently? How could I be used differently? What would I not be doing? If I only would get it, what difference could I make in the lives of those around me. If I truly, truly not just knew but believe God is who He says He is and I am who God says I am, if I truly got that, what would I be doing differently?
What would you being doing, if you got it?
G'night.
Anyways, an update on my life-- it's good. I'm feeling much better about wedding plans than I did a week or so ago. Things are starting to fall into place. I like that. Even more so than the planning I look forward to marrying the love of my life. Coming home to him. Falling asleep with my snuggle bug. Going grocery shopping together. Making decisions about our home, our life. Before we were engaged, I said that 9 months would be ideal for 'planning purposes' and although I am so happy to be engaged to him, but 9 months is a long time to wait!! We're making it work though.
Volleyball is going well. I still wondering if I am learning more from them, and about me, than I am teaching them about volleyball. Hopefully this is the goal of all coaches, but commonly I think that Kristin and I are teaching them more life lessons than volleyball skills. This will be better for them in the long run of course, but I want to be kicking butt on the court as well!
TFC is going well as well. We had 14 teens for the third week in a row. It's our favorite number I guess. : ) Really though it is a nice number to start out with. The teens push me and teach me so much as well. They are great and make me laugh each week. What I love most perhaps about chapter is that it pushes me to study the Word in such a way that I can turn around and teach it to teens who may ask just about anything. Even more so it's the fact that God hammers something from the Scripture that I'm studying [to be able to turn around and teach] in my life and then I can turn around and present it to them who God is also working on in the same area. It doesn't always make sense to me, and I'm not sure how it all works, but it does. :) And that's what really matters.
To start off this Fall we are going through the book of 1 Corinthians verse by verse. It has been pretty good so far, at least I think so, and the teens seem to say as well. Tonight I was really hammered with 1 Corinthians 2.8
'...the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory...'
When studying this I just kept repeating in my mind, 'if they had understood it, if they would have only gotten it'. Over and over again 'if they had only gotten it...if they had only gotten it...if they had only gotten it...' I couldn't help but think, if I only would get it what would I be doing differently? How could I be used differently? What would I not be doing? If I only would get it, what difference could I make in the lives of those around me. If I truly, truly not just knew but believe God is who He says He is and I am who God says I am, if I truly got that, what would I be doing differently?
What would you being doing, if you got it?
G'night.
Friday, August 8
Reactions
I've noticed that people have interesting reactions to discovering that Chris and I are engaged, so I wanted to have record of that some how. Here's the spot to do such.
'Well I'll be damned.'
-- Dad
'So you got a boyfriend yet?' ... 'Nope, I've got a fiance!'
--Mr. Prichard
'Look!' 'Oh wow, you got your nails done!...Oh and you got engaged!'
--Todd
'You're engaged and I have a boyfriend, all in the same day!'
--Amber
'You just made my day!'
--Ash
'So do you have anything to tell me about your vacation?'
--Brooke
'So anything memorable and wonderful happen last night?'
--Les
With squinty eyes looking at my left hand, 'What's that on your finger?!'
--Pam
'OH MY GOODNESS!!!'
--Too many to list
*Jumping up from the couch* with a high pitch, 'ahhh!!!'
-- Mafo
Oh and after hearing our story:
'Oh I just got goosebumps!'
--Too many to count
:-)
I'm going to continue to add to this...
'Well I'll be damned.'
-- Dad
'So you got a boyfriend yet?' ... 'Nope, I've got a fiance!'
--Mr. Prichard
'Look!' 'Oh wow, you got your nails done!...Oh and you got engaged!'
--Todd
'You're engaged and I have a boyfriend, all in the same day!'
--Amber
'You just made my day!'
--Ash
'So do you have anything to tell me about your vacation?'
--Brooke
'So anything memorable and wonderful happen last night?'
--Les
With squinty eyes looking at my left hand, 'What's that on your finger?!'
--Pam
'OH MY GOODNESS!!!'
--Too many to list
*Jumping up from the couch* with a high pitch, 'ahhh!!!'
-- Mafo
Oh and after hearing our story:
'Oh I just got goosebumps!'
--Too many to count
:-)
I'm going to continue to add to this...
Wednesday, August 6
I LOVE YOU!! Part Dos
For those who know what the title of this blog is, you know what it means: CHRIS AND I ARE ENGAGED!! And we couldn't be happier!!! :)
So for those of you who care to read the lovely details, enjoy the following:
Chris and I, along with 6 other friends, were in Myrtle Beach from Thursday through Sunday of last week. We enjoyed the beach and I enjoyed my first vacation ever with some people that I love. On Saturday evening Chris and I walked along Ocean Boulevard with Britney and Andrew [my engaged friends who I'm very excited for as well] and eventually made our way back to the hotel. Because our vacation was almost over and this would be our last night at the beach, Chris suggested that we head to the beach for a walk and to take some pics of the
waves and such. [He has an eye for that type of thing.] I was all about it because it meant 1.) more time with just him, 2.) we found really cool photo albums but didn't have pics to put in it, and 3.) who would want to pass up a walk on the beach at night! So we walked out the hotel and onto the beach and he begins taking pics as we walk along the shore. We got part way down the beach and Chris stopped to set up the tripod. So as he was capturing awesome pics like this lightening shot!!
While he was taking it, I began to draw in the sand. Since we've been together sometimes I would write 'RCM' standing for 'Rachel C
lum/Chris Massie' so I drew just that in the sand with a heart and the date under it. About this time my brother and the Bens walked up headed back to the hotel and they noticed what I wrote in the sand. Immediately my brother read it and thought that Chris had already proposed![Everyone on the trip knew what was about to happen, I was the only clueless one! :-) ] Wisely before saying something, Zac and Ben made some hard looks at my hand and realized 'it' hadn't happened yet, so they went on their way. After taking more pics as we made our way to the pier and took a few more! Eventually Chris stopped taking pics for a bit and laid out a beach towel so we could sit and chat [and enjoy our surroundings]. As we sat there Chris asked me if I had enjoyed my first vacation, I said that I did and we still had a bit more to enjoy. Then I asked him if he enjoyed the vacation. He said that it was good, but only one thing would have made it better. 'Finding a message in the bottle would have made it better' he explained.
As a side story, for a couple days leading up to the trip and the first days of vacation, Chris continued to talk about how cool he thought it'd be to find a message in a bottle washed up on shore. So I was not surprised that he thought that the was the only one thing that could have made it better. I responded with a 'yeah, that would have made it better' but in the back of my mind I was thinking, 'but that only happens in movies so why be disappointed'. Chris surprised me by pulling a bottle with a scroll in it out of his bookbag and said that he brought one from home!
As I opened the bottle and began to read the scroll aloud, I excitedly said 'oh I love it when you do these little things for me!' [Still I am clueless about the engagement because Chris is wonderful and does little special things for me just because on a regular basis!] The letter on the scroll ended with the following:
'Hear my final words: I am in love with you, but you already know that. But you must also know this...' I turned to him as I turned the scrolling over looking for more and inquired if there was more. He shook his head no, but got the cutest [I mean 'rugged-est'], indescribable grin on his face and he said, 'I love you!' I gasped and showered him with a bunch of kisses because I knew what that meant!
A necessary back story is that from the beginning of our relationship Chris had said that he did not want to say 'I love you' until the next words out of his mouth were going to be 'Will you marry me?' So when he said I love you, I knew that he was proposing!!
So he said 'I love you' and after many *muahs* he got up off our beach towel and down on one knee and said 'Will you marry me?' as he pulled out the beautiful ring he chose for me!!
I of course said YES! and we were officially ENGAGED!!!!!
Hearing I love you, receiving a beautiful ring from my most favorite person in the world, and hearing him officially ask me to be his wife was all like a dream, but the greatest part is that it's all a reality!!
Ahh, I love him too. :-)
So for those of you who care to read the lovely details, enjoy the following:
Chris and I, along with 6 other friends, were in Myrtle Beach from Thursday through Sunday of last week. We enjoyed the beach and I enjoyed my first vacation ever with some people that I love. On Saturday evening Chris and I walked along Ocean Boulevard with Britney and Andrew [my engaged friends who I'm very excited for as well] and eventually made our way back to the hotel. Because our vacation was almost over and this would be our last night at the beach, Chris suggested that we head to the beach for a walk and to take some pics of the
waves and such. [He has an eye for that type of thing.] I was all about it because it meant 1.) more time with just him, 2.) we found really cool photo albums but didn't have pics to put in it, and 3.) who would want to pass up a walk on the beach at night! So we walked out the hotel and onto the beach and he begins taking pics as we walk along the shore. We got part way down the beach and Chris stopped to set up the tripod. So as he was capturing awesome pics like this lightening shot!!While he was taking it, I began to draw in the sand. Since we've been together sometimes I would write 'RCM' standing for 'Rachel C
lum/Chris Massie' so I drew just that in the sand with a heart and the date under it. About this time my brother and the Bens walked up headed back to the hotel and they noticed what I wrote in the sand. Immediately my brother read it and thought that Chris had already proposed![Everyone on the trip knew what was about to happen, I was the only clueless one! :-) ] Wisely before saying something, Zac and Ben made some hard looks at my hand and realized 'it' hadn't happened yet, so they went on their way. After taking more pics as we made our way to the pier and took a few more! Eventually Chris stopped taking pics for a bit and laid out a beach towel so we could sit and chat [and enjoy our surroundings]. As we sat there Chris asked me if I had enjoyed my first vacation, I said that I did and we still had a bit more to enjoy. Then I asked him if he enjoyed the vacation. He said that it was good, but only one thing would have made it better. 'Finding a message in the bottle would have made it better' he explained.As a side story, for a couple days leading up to the trip and the first days of vacation, Chris continued to talk about how cool he thought it'd be to find a message in a bottle washed up on shore. So I was not surprised that he thought that the was the only one thing that could have made it better. I responded with a 'yeah, that would have made it better' but in the back of my mind I was thinking, 'but that only happens in movies so why be disappointed'. Chris surprised me by pulling a bottle with a scroll in it out of his bookbag and said that he brought one from home!
As I opened the bottle and began to read the scroll aloud, I excitedly said 'oh I love it when you do these little things for me!' [Still I am clueless about the engagement because Chris is wonderful and does little special things for me just because on a regular basis!] The letter on the scroll ended with the following:
'Hear my final words: I am in love with you, but you already know that. But you must also know this...' I turned to him as I turned the scrolling over looking for more and inquired if there was more. He shook his head no, but got the cutest [I mean 'rugged-est'], indescribable grin on his face and he said, 'I love you!' I gasped and showered him with a bunch of kisses because I knew what that meant!
A necessary back story is that from the beginning of our relationship Chris had said that he did not want to say 'I love you' until the next words out of his mouth were going to be 'Will you marry me?' So when he said I love you, I knew that he was proposing!!
So he said 'I love you' and after many *muahs* he got up off our beach towel and down on one knee and said 'Will you marry me?' as he pulled out the beautiful ring he chose for me!!
I of course said YES! and we were officially ENGAGED!!!!!
Hearing I love you, receiving a beautiful ring from my most favorite person in the world, and hearing him officially ask me to be his wife was all like a dream, but the greatest part is that it's all a reality!!
Ahh, I love him too. :-)
Monday, August 4
Tuesday, July 29
First Vacation
Tomorrow evening I will be leaving for my first vacation ever; I'm pretty excited as well as nervous. I'm afraid all the chicks aren't in a line and that we're forgetting something major. I also don't know what to expect. I am just hoping that all the little things that I've been worrying about the last couple days will smooth out and we'll have a great time. I am sure that I will regardless though as long as I have a positive attitude about everything. We Chris by my side though, that makes it much easier to have such attitude. He's so wonderful about putting things into perspective and causing me to realize how great things really are-- all the time.
This one is going to be pretty short, but I'm just looking forward to the next 5 days so much and I look forward to telling y'all about my first vacation when I return!! : )
This one is going to be pretty short, but I'm just looking forward to the next 5 days so much and I look forward to telling y'all about my first vacation when I return!! : )
Monday, July 28
Motorcycling Mamas
Last Wednesday, Saturday, and yesterday my mom, aunt and I took a motorcycle class. When we started we were pretty excited because there were 8 women and 4 men--we didn't expect to feel as intimidated because there were so many women and beginner riders. Anyways the first night was all book work which was pretty boring, but then things got a bit more interesting on Saturday and Sunday when we were actually on the bikes.
Fast-forwarding and skimming those two days, I was really nervous but both the instructors continued to comment as to how well I was doing on everything. They even told my classmates that if they wanted to know how to do the skills they should watch me! I tried my hardest to not let any of it go to my head, and I thought I was pretty successful... Fast-forwarding to Sunday afternoon when we were practicing for the test-- I sucked! I was getting frustrated because I couldn't perform the tasks, and had no idea why! :S Long story short[er], I felt like I performed horrible and doubted that I did.
I passed though. Everyone in the class passed, including my momma and my aunt. Everyone was super excited but I was just disappointed in my performance and just didn't want to take my helmet off because it'd reveal my tears.
Perhaps the reason I'm writing is because there were two other females in my class that made me crazy. Towards the end of Wednesday night's class I was looking forward to a two day break from this mother-daughter team, but Saturday and Sunday left me shaking my head most every time they opened their mouth-- NOT GOOD! I figured I needed to take better control of my attitude [something I was thinking a lot about at Bootcamp in June] so I decided that I wasn't going to let this lady have that control over my attitude. Thinking of how I could take this control back, I decided to ask God to be able to see this lady as He did. I was expecting to receive some revelation and think about how wonderful this lady was. It didn't really happen, at all. So my next request to God was that I would be able to imagine the great things that this lady has done or perhaps has yet to do. I remember telling God that I didn't even care if what I imagined was competely bogus, I just wanted to see greater value in this woman. It worked. :) And it didn't stop there. After coming up with some great things and influences that this woman made, my mind continued to drift and think about the other 8 people in class that I didn't know and soon I had made up great things about each person.
Moral of this story: I don't always see people with God's eyes, and with some people I really struggle to do it, but I've found that even if I can't see another as a whole as God sees them, I can find at least one thing about someone that makes them special and of course valuable as well.
I am working on seeing.
Fast-forwarding and skimming those two days, I was really nervous but both the instructors continued to comment as to how well I was doing on everything. They even told my classmates that if they wanted to know how to do the skills they should watch me! I tried my hardest to not let any of it go to my head, and I thought I was pretty successful... Fast-forwarding to Sunday afternoon when we were practicing for the test-- I sucked! I was getting frustrated because I couldn't perform the tasks, and had no idea why! :S Long story short[er], I felt like I performed horrible and doubted that I did.
I passed though. Everyone in the class passed, including my momma and my aunt. Everyone was super excited but I was just disappointed in my performance and just didn't want to take my helmet off because it'd reveal my tears.
Perhaps the reason I'm writing is because there were two other females in my class that made me crazy. Towards the end of Wednesday night's class I was looking forward to a two day break from this mother-daughter team, but Saturday and Sunday left me shaking my head most every time they opened their mouth-- NOT GOOD! I figured I needed to take better control of my attitude [something I was thinking a lot about at Bootcamp in June] so I decided that I wasn't going to let this lady have that control over my attitude. Thinking of how I could take this control back, I decided to ask God to be able to see this lady as He did. I was expecting to receive some revelation and think about how wonderful this lady was. It didn't really happen, at all. So my next request to God was that I would be able to imagine the great things that this lady has done or perhaps has yet to do. I remember telling God that I didn't even care if what I imagined was competely bogus, I just wanted to see greater value in this woman. It worked. :) And it didn't stop there. After coming up with some great things and influences that this woman made, my mind continued to drift and think about the other 8 people in class that I didn't know and soon I had made up great things about each person.
Moral of this story: I don't always see people with God's eyes, and with some people I really struggle to do it, but I've found that even if I can't see another as a whole as God sees them, I can find at least one thing about someone that makes them special and of course valuable as well.
I am working on seeing.
Friday, July 25
Girls Night
Tonight I had a girls night at my Bluffton apartment. I was reminded of how much I love each of the girls that were here and my lovelies that weren't as well. I really am blessed to have a great group of friends, and I feel as if I have such a wide variety of them as well.
I have a friend who will tell me just like it is, if that's what I need to hear.
I have a friend who is so similar to me, but great differences are evident as well.
I have a friend who is always there for an uplifting phone call or text any time day or night.
I have a friend who can make a car ride three counties to nowhere quite an enjoyable adventure.
I have a friend who puts so much thought into her words that she speaks power.
I have a friend who is my biggest support and loves me more than I deserve.
I have a friend who clicks so well that I feel like I've know her for years, but we've only shared a few months.
I have a friend who makes a quiet evening meaningful and insightful.
I have a friend who can always come up with an idea of something fun to do.
I have a friend who makes my joy, and life, more complete just by 'being' together.
I have friends who mean the world to me, and sometimes I feel as if I fail to remind them of that fact. I have friends who I would take a bullet for without a second thought. I have friends who I know would do the same for me. We all have traveled different paths and continue to travel on our own paths, but I am so thankful that these people's paths and my path have intersected and coincided. I know that they will not coincide forever and that distance will separate and time will pass. Regardless I have friends that forever have impacted my life.
And as a little [humorous] sidenote: I have friends who are zonked out because it's 4 o'clock in the morning and sprawled out all over my large bed and another one who just woke up for a moment to say 'huh' after I just sneezed! : )
Gotta love them all! : )
I have a friend who will tell me just like it is, if that's what I need to hear.
I have a friend who is so similar to me, but great differences are evident as well.
I have a friend who is always there for an uplifting phone call or text any time day or night.
I have a friend who can make a car ride three counties to nowhere quite an enjoyable adventure.
I have a friend who puts so much thought into her words that she speaks power.
I have a friend who is my biggest support and loves me more than I deserve.
I have a friend who clicks so well that I feel like I've know her for years, but we've only shared a few months.
I have a friend who makes a quiet evening meaningful and insightful.
I have a friend who can always come up with an idea of something fun to do.
I have a friend who makes my joy, and life, more complete just by 'being' together.
I have friends who mean the world to me, and sometimes I feel as if I fail to remind them of that fact. I have friends who I would take a bullet for without a second thought. I have friends who I know would do the same for me. We all have traveled different paths and continue to travel on our own paths, but I am so thankful that these people's paths and my path have intersected and coincided. I know that they will not coincide forever and that distance will separate and time will pass. Regardless I have friends that forever have impacted my life.
And as a little [humorous] sidenote: I have friends who are zonked out because it's 4 o'clock in the morning and sprawled out all over my large bed and another one who just woke up for a moment to say 'huh' after I just sneezed! : )
Gotta love them all! : )
Thursday, July 24
Mister
Another thing on this mind/heart? Chris. It's no secret, I like this man. I more than like this man. I am very much in love with this wonderful guy. I am more than in love with him actually, but those words are to be saved for a very special day. Anyways, his six months in Detroit was hard, but so good for our relationship. We learned a lot about ourselves together and individually. These past two week have been like an intensified time of missing him all over again. A week away with his best friend and now a week ministering to teens of the church we attend--both absolutely great things, but such a catch-22. [I think that is properly used, but I'll have to check with Amber on that.]
Anyways, missing Chris reminds me of how lucky I truly am. He is my favorite and the one that I look forward to spending the rest of my life with. We have absolutely no idea what that will look like, but we are excited and desire to simply do life with the ones we love.
Thinking about writing about Chris and us and the future just makes my brain scramble because my mind goes a thousand different directions and causes my heart to be filled with so many emotions. It's wonderful. It's a learning and growingperiod.
I'm learning what it means to be patient and to simply be. I've always been a planner. I want to know what I am going to do and when so that I can be ready for it. [I know part of that is probably a control thing as well. :S I'm working on it.] Lately though I am learning that planning and knowing isn't always necessary; I've got to step back and enjoy the journey. There are so many people in my life who are in such exciting times of their lives. Sometimes I just want to climb to the mountaintop and shout so the whole world knows how excited I am for them. Sometimes I just want them to 'hurry up' so that they are in the next 'stage' of their life and experiencing and enjoying that. I want to fast-forward my life too sometimes. Okay many times! I want to fast-forward and wake up next to Chris every morning. I want to fast forward and be done with my schooling. I want to fast forward and see breakthrough and not just the verge of it. Iwant to fast forward and be fulfilling our distant dreams. I want to fast forward and be doing that instead of simply doing this right now.
God's teaching me this right now and I really need to learn it, because I don't enjoy being taught it all the time. :-)
Before Chris left he gave me a letter, a story of the journey that we are on these two weeks while distance separates us. Although we knew that the time apart would be bittersweet he wrote:
'however, it was actually a time of discovery for both journeyers--to discover creation, discover God, discover more about who they are alone + together. these separate paths were also periods of needed refreshment + rejuvenation. though the times apart weren't completely enjoyable because of the distance between, they both realized those times were necessary for their growth, individually and together'
While he used those words to describe our bittersweet time apart, it adequately describe this time in my life when I am trying to learn how to enjoy the moment and be in the present versus looking to the future.
It's a work in progress. It's a journey. It's my journey.
Anyways, missing Chris reminds me of how lucky I truly am. He is my favorite and the one that I look forward to spending the rest of my life with. We have absolutely no idea what that will look like, but we are excited and desire to simply do life with the ones we love.
Thinking about writing about Chris and us and the future just makes my brain scramble because my mind goes a thousand different directions and causes my heart to be filled with so many emotions. It's wonderful. It's a learning and growingperiod.
I'm learning what it means to be patient and to simply be. I've always been a planner. I want to know what I am going to do and when so that I can be ready for it. [I know part of that is probably a control thing as well. :S I'm working on it.] Lately though I am learning that planning and knowing isn't always necessary; I've got to step back and enjoy the journey. There are so many people in my life who are in such exciting times of their lives. Sometimes I just want to climb to the mountaintop and shout so the whole world knows how excited I am for them. Sometimes I just want them to 'hurry up' so that they are in the next 'stage' of their life and experiencing and enjoying that. I want to fast-forward my life too sometimes. Okay many times! I want to fast-forward and wake up next to Chris every morning. I want to fast forward and be done with my schooling. I want to fast forward and see breakthrough and not just the verge of it. Iwant to fast forward and be fulfilling our distant dreams. I want to fast forward and be doing that instead of simply doing this right now.
God's teaching me this right now and I really need to learn it, because I don't enjoy being taught it all the time. :-)
Before Chris left he gave me a letter, a story of the journey that we are on these two weeks while distance separates us. Although we knew that the time apart would be bittersweet he wrote:
'however, it was actually a time of discovery for both journeyers--to discover creation, discover God, discover more about who they are alone + together. these separate paths were also periods of needed refreshment + rejuvenation. though the times apart weren't completely enjoyable because of the distance between, they both realized those times were necessary for their growth, individually and together'
While he used those words to describe our bittersweet time apart, it adequately describe this time in my life when I am trying to learn how to enjoy the moment and be in the present versus looking to the future.
It's a work in progress. It's a journey. It's my journey.
Wednesday, July 23
Why We Worship Him
So I will probably be a failure when it comes to keeping this thing updated, but I'm surely going to try, I'll try.
So what's on my mind, what's on my heart? There's so much that I probably won't even begin to give it justice. Number One thing on my heart and mind: God, and more specifically Jesus. Last night I listened to a sermon on a introduction to 1 John. We only got into the first 5 verses, but such good insight. The focus of most it was about why we worship Jesus. Seems simple, eh? Yeah that's what I thought too, but I was totally wrong. You are going to read this list and think, duh that's why I worship Him, but there's so much more to each statement. So I'm going to list them and not do them justice, but think more about it, or something, and hopefully it'll impact you a bit more!
So here's the list:
1. He says He is God.
2. He came from heaven.
3. He says He is sinless.
4. He forgives sin.
5. He said He's the only way to heaven and indeed He is.
6. He confirmed to others that He was God.
7. He accepted worship as God.
8. He made miracles.
9. He knew the future.
Like I said the list seems really simple, but when it was pointed out that no one really fulfilled any one of those, let alone all of those, it makes our God so much better than any god someone tries to fill that void in their life with. Even the big-wigs of the other religions/cults/belief systems didn't claim these things. Even though there are those who others label as gods, very very few people actually claimed to be god; and the ones who did weren't credible. Or others claim to have had a glimpse of heaven [or whatever they choose to call their 'final destination'] whereas Jesus said, yep that's where I came from and that's where I'm going. [RCV] Or how about the fact that Jesus claimed to be sinless and no one could ever prove otherwise? Could you imagine if I said I was sinless?! There'd be so many letters to the editor with lists of the sins I've made in my life. Saying I'm sinless is like an advertisement welcoming challenges to prove me wrong! It'd take one like 2 secs to do that, but Jesus now we're going on over 2,000 years and still can't do it! Pretty amazing huh? The final wow point that I had from the sermon was concerning the fact that Jesus accepted worship as God. When I first heard this point, I was thought, 'yeah makes sense, He's God why wouldn't He accept such worship?' Then a great point followed: say we suppose that Jesus was just a great teacher and nothing more. [This is something that is very widely accepted by non-Christians 'He isn't God, but He was a good teacher.'] Okay so suppose that, but then think about how He accepted worship as God. Would a great teacher accept such? I think not. I surely hope not too! That's where good teachers go bad, when people put them on high pedestals than they have the One they are teaching about. Churches are divided and great ones fall because of such acceptance. He would not have allowed people to worship Him as God if He were not God because that would have made Him a horrible teacher, not a great One!
Alright, that's just the surface of that topic...
So what's on my mind, what's on my heart? There's so much that I probably won't even begin to give it justice. Number One thing on my heart and mind: God, and more specifically Jesus. Last night I listened to a sermon on a introduction to 1 John. We only got into the first 5 verses, but such good insight. The focus of most it was about why we worship Jesus. Seems simple, eh? Yeah that's what I thought too, but I was totally wrong. You are going to read this list and think, duh that's why I worship Him, but there's so much more to each statement. So I'm going to list them and not do them justice, but think more about it, or something, and hopefully it'll impact you a bit more!
So here's the list:
1. He says He is God.
2. He came from heaven.
3. He says He is sinless.
4. He forgives sin.
5. He said He's the only way to heaven and indeed He is.
6. He confirmed to others that He was God.
7. He accepted worship as God.
8. He made miracles.
9. He knew the future.
Like I said the list seems really simple, but when it was pointed out that no one really fulfilled any one of those, let alone all of those, it makes our God so much better than any god someone tries to fill that void in their life with. Even the big-wigs of the other religions/cults/belief systems didn't claim these things. Even though there are those who others label as gods, very very few people actually claimed to be god; and the ones who did weren't credible. Or others claim to have had a glimpse of heaven [or whatever they choose to call their 'final destination'] whereas Jesus said, yep that's where I came from and that's where I'm going. [RCV] Or how about the fact that Jesus claimed to be sinless and no one could ever prove otherwise? Could you imagine if I said I was sinless?! There'd be so many letters to the editor with lists of the sins I've made in my life. Saying I'm sinless is like an advertisement welcoming challenges to prove me wrong! It'd take one like 2 secs to do that, but Jesus now we're going on over 2,000 years and still can't do it! Pretty amazing huh? The final wow point that I had from the sermon was concerning the fact that Jesus accepted worship as God. When I first heard this point, I was thought, 'yeah makes sense, He's God why wouldn't He accept such worship?' Then a great point followed: say we suppose that Jesus was just a great teacher and nothing more. [This is something that is very widely accepted by non-Christians 'He isn't God, but He was a good teacher.'] Okay so suppose that, but then think about how He accepted worship as God. Would a great teacher accept such? I think not. I surely hope not too! That's where good teachers go bad, when people put them on high pedestals than they have the One they are teaching about. Churches are divided and great ones fall because of such acceptance. He would not have allowed people to worship Him as God if He were not God because that would have made Him a horrible teacher, not a great One!
Alright, that's just the surface of that topic...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)