Mission: Possible

Back from spring retreat late last night, I was able to stay awake through all of my classes today.
Spring retreat was great. The guest speaker was teaching on the Armor of God. The one that struck me the most was the breastplate of righeousness. The righteousness that we have as Christians is not our own. It's Jesus' righteousness counted as our own. We are covered by His sacrifice.

Later, we had some competitions. One of the games was Mission Impossible. Basically, everyone runs around in the dark and trys to get from one point to the other without getting tagged by a flashlight. It was a long trek, but I managed to make it twice for my team.

I'm Off

Maybe we'll have a snowman competition this year...

With the crazy weather this week (snow and a high of mid-thirties at the end of March. Come on people, it's spring), spring retreat may be an interresting experience. I'm heading off to spring retreat, but only for the first two days. After that, it's back home to start the new quarter at South Puget Sound.

Ordinarilly Extraordinary

Tonight I started reading a book by John MacArthur. The title of the book is Twelve Ordinary Men. It's a book about the twelve apostles, and what we can learn from them. The first point that comes to me is that the disciples were not special people. They were tax collectors, fishers, average Joes. But God uses the weak and makes them strong through Him. That way, the credit goes to Him, not to man. The same is true of us today. That's an important point to remember.


1 Cor 1:26-29
26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,28 and the base things of the world and the despised, God has chosen, the things that are not, that He might nullify the things that are,29 that no man should boast before God.(NAS)

Temptation

Luke 4:13 And when the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.(NAS)

After Jesus was tempted by Satan in the desert, Luke puts this verse. I don't recall Luke directly mentioning satan elsewhere in the book, but this verse gives me the feeling that Satan tried to cause trouble throughout Jesus' ministry, or at the very least once more.

When a temptation is conquered, it doesn't go away for good, it just waits until the opportune time: when we're weak. When Satan came to tempt Jesus, He had been without food in the desert for forty days. Then Satan came to tempt Him. Just because you win once, don't get lazy.

Prov 20:9 Who can say, "I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin"?(NAS)

It's Here

Our house has finally given in. The dreadful software has been installed.

Honestly, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. There are some nice options that will be really useful once I get used to them. I'm just a little adverse to change. But after the new operating system, the office program was easy.

Overall, Office 2007 isn't all that bad. The operating system that we all know and love but that will remain nameless: still a memory hog and oftentimes difficult to get along with, but I'll live.

Take The Next Right... Or Was That A Left?

Today was a fun day. Some friends came out to my house and watched a movie. Then came the really fun part.

The plan was to go ice skating. What ended up happening was we took a little detour from or plan and got lost in Bremerton. Well, we weren't really lost, we could have made it home, so the ice arena was lost. In any case, we couldn't get where we wanted to go for quite a while. Lots of guessing, exploring, and one or two phone calls later, we finally made it. We were only a half an hour later than planned.

He is Risen!

Jesus died for our sins and took all the wrath meant for us. But that's not where the story ends. He rose again on the third day!

Matt 28:5-7
5 And the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.6 "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.7 "And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going before you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you."(NAS)

Unnaccepted

Matt 2:1-4
1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,2 "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him."3 And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.4 And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he {began} to inquire of them where the Christ was to be born.(NAS)

These verses are interresting. I find it odd that as soon as Jesus was born that all of Jerusalem was troubled. Maybe they were troubled because when Herod was unhappy, bad things happened, but I'm not sure.

Even from the beginning Jesus was not well received as the Messiah, even when he was believed to be the Messiah.

33 years later, things weren't much better. The same people who brought Jesus into the city with shouts of hosannah and laying of palm branches shouted to have Him crucified. God's chosen people had rejected His Messiah.

Even now things aren't much different. There are many who don't believe in God at all or Jesus as anything more than a "nice guy." Then there are those who believe in Jesus and what He did and still refuse to accept Him. The cost of giving up their lives is just too high to save their lives in their eyes.

Matt 16:24-25
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.25 "For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it.(NAS)

Piper?

Last night our youth group met downstairs in the fireside room.

Apparently, it's become rather predictable what that means. So, the question arose: "Let me guess, John Piper?"

Everytime we're in the lower fireside room, we're watching a video. Normally it IS John Piper. Last night... well, kind of. Our youth pastor was talking about the John Piper book he read/is reading (not sure which). The title was something along "50 Reasons Christ Came and Died."

It's got me thinking, though. Whenever "Christian" holidays come along, I don't always take the time to think about the significance. For instance, today was Good Friday. The day we remember Jesus' death. Being crucified on the cross for our sins.

The thing that was said last night that stood out the most for me was this: Jesus' sacrifice didn't make God's wrath just disappear. God's rath was spent in Jesus' death. The wrath meant for us was put on Jesus.

This is a little bit of a different subject, but try to follow.

Luke 2:25-32
25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law,28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,29 "Now Lord, Thou dost let Thy bond-servant depart In peace, according to Thy word;30 For my eyes have seen Thy salvation,31 Which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples,32 A light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel."(NAS)

My question is: "Are we always as eager for Jesus' second coming as Simeon was for His first?" We should be.

I Jn 3:2-3
2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is.3 And everyone who has this hope } fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.(NAS)

Crammed to the Top

Lately, my brain has been absolutely full of stuff. I've constantly been thinking about what the future holds, both short-term and long-term. Why did that happen? What's going to happen next? Will this ever happen?

All this thinking has gotten my brain so overloaded that I can't think about anything in the present, which is where my brain should really be anyway.

Today I ran across this verse:

Prov 20:24 Man's steps are {ordained} by the LORD, how then can man understand his way?(NAS)

God is in control of everything that happens and everything that will happen. We don't need to, can't, and shouldn't try to understand it all.

Matt 6:34 "Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. {Each} day has enough trouble of its own.(NAS)

Is That On DVD?

Today I encountered a great deal. It was something that I wanted ever since it came out, which was a while ago. The problem was, I didn't have the right game system or the money to buy it.

Today, both problems were solved. Star Wars BattleFront II for the PC, and it's ten bucks!

Apparently it's been a while since I bought a computer game. They are putting them on DVDs because it gives you better graphics. I'm not complaining. Better graphics is not a negative. For anyone that already knew about these DVD-Rom games and considers me very slow, feel free to share such feelings. First, let me say that I had seen them before, but it just hadn't fully processed for me. Okay, now tell me I'm slow.

2 for 2

After taking one final and turning in my final PE assessment last week, tomorrow is the official last day of the quarter with two more finals. All has gone well so far, thankfully. It will be great to finish up tomorrow and have two weeks off before starting some new classes. Studying and prayer to keep my sanity this past week and a half seems to have gotten me through, but only tomorrow will tell.

Marriage

The sermon today was out of 1 Corinthians 7:6-9. One major point was that some Christians are not meant to be married. They have been gifted with the ability to remain single. This gives them an advantage in ministry opportunities because they aren't tied down by the responsibilities associated with a family. On the other hand, the greater percentage of people are meant to be married. It really depends on the ministry that God has/will called you to.

As for me, I don't think I'm one of those people that will stay single. But I suppose that remains to be seen. Maybe God has something different planned than I think He might.

New Book

Today, I got an awesome new book. It's called a Harmony of The Gospels. It basically puts the four gospels side by side chronologically so you can read the same story in each gospel. It is in the New International Version, and I was hoping to find the NAS or NKJV, but it's still a really cool thing to have.
Finding one today has been the conclusion of a long and arduous search for said book. Well, ok, maybe not THAT long and arduous. I was glad to find it, though.

All Scripture

Last night, the internet and myself were once again having creative differences. So, I was unable to post what I wanted to from youth group.

The lesson was about the Word. More specifically, the Word of God, or the Bible. It's importance, relevance, purpose, etc.

The verses that stuck out to me the most were 2 Timothy 3:16 & 17:

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;17 that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.(NAS)

It wasn't the fact that it was a new verse. It was just a different way to think about it. It's not just a list, it's a progression. The Word of God shows us what is right (teaching), shows us where we are (reproof), tells us where we need to change (correction), and shows us how to change in those areas (training in righteousness). And why study the Word of God? to equip the man of God to better serve God.

Closing In

The end of the quarter is almost upon us; well, some of us. Finals are approaching, and all of the other assignments are being turned in. This being the last week of the quarter before finals, it has been pretty busy. And tiring. And busy. It's time for the last kick to get through the end.

Isa 40:31 Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up {with} wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.(NAS)

Delayed

Here's one that I wanted to post yesterday.

Reading through Mark, I arrived at the trial and Crucifixion of Jesus in chapter 15.

It is absolutely amazing to me. All the questions His prosecutors asked Him, and yet He felt no need to defend himself. All the insults hurled at Him, all the challenges to show His power and save himself, and yet He chose to stay on that cross; he chose to die. Worse yet, He chose to be separated from the Father.

Mark 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is translated, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"(NAS)

He took on the sins of the entire world and suffered true separation from the Father. Wow.

Almost No Excuses

It seems like I've been getting more and more lazy with my blog posting. Last night was one of the occasions I had a legitimate excuse. The internet was being less than submissive.

In the future, barring technical difficulties or a night away from home, the blog will continue.

Challenge

Today in Sunday School: a challenge.

In our physical lives we expect to grow. We expect to mature.

The same should be true of a Christian's spiritual life. The challenge: am I growing spiritually? When a baby doesn't grow, it's an issue, right? We make a big deal out of it. Shouldn't we be just as concerned if we aren't growing spiritually. The question could even be raised: If I'm not growing, am I saved?

Sure, we're going to mess up. That's what grace is for, but the goal is to become more and more like Christ every single day.

First John is a great book for testing where you are spiritually. Do I love my spiritual brothers? Is my focus on God or in this world?

Weak

Mark 14:37-38
37 And He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?38 "Keep watching and praying, that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."(NAS)

This past week the homework just seemed to keep coming. By the time I finished my programming homework, the last thing I wanted to do was spend more time on the computer to blog. I even missed my Bible reading a couple times.

We still have the same problem that the disciples had: our earthly bodies. They're weak. And not just physically weak, but sometimes far too eager to give into temptation. How do we get past this? "Keep watching and praying, that you may not come into temptation..."

Not You

Mark 13:11 "And when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not be anxious beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but {it is} the Holy Spirit.(NAS)

In this passage Jesus is talking about things to come. The words will come. That is an amazing promise.

Prayer

Sometimes it is hard seeing friends going through something that you have no control over. Maybe circumstances prevent you from doing or saying anything, or maybe you just don't have the guts to do so. Sometimes all you can do is pray.

It is just as important to pray for those who aren't your friends, those who aren't your favorite people in the world. Sometimes we are called to pray for those who would rather see us dead (most often not literally, but you never know). I'm just not sure which is harder, to not be able to do something for a friend, or to be lead to do something for an enemy.

Matt 5:43-44
43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.'44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you(NAS)

Sit in the Passenger's Seat

The message today in church was out of 1 Corinthians 6:12-20.


The Corinthians had a major problem with sexual sin. The verses today gave a few great reasons to not engage in such activity.


The reason that struck me the hardest was found in v. 19 and 20:


1 Corinthians 6:19-20
19Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.


Remembering that God bought us out of slavery to sin should be a motivator more than anything else to flee from sin of any kind. That is another reason that this point is great: it applies to our entire lives. Living with a true understanding of that knowledge should make us want to live differently.

God should be in control.