i am saddened that our china friends have stopped blogging for the most part, and also that i cant go to the reunion in june. I feel like i need to see those people the most, China recently has been becoming a lost memory. I would think about it all the time, at least once a day. It hasn't been that way. I dont want to forget the places and people i saw, the people we were with and the laughs, tears and happiness we all shared. I guess it all fades as life goes on, though we do have remnants of memories when we look into the faces of our girls. I miss everyone lots and i hope i can see someone from the group SOON!
Summer has been enjoyable thus far, its only been 2 weeks. I still cant believe its summer, i feel like im on a break and i need to go back to school. I also cant believe im a senior in college, so bizarre. i feel like i just left yesterday, and i can remember like it was yesterday too. This summer i am a volunteer at a child and youth services agency. I like it a lot so far, it gives me a taste of what my future will be like. I do mostly clerical stuff but i get my own office and desk and everything. It feels very professional. Its weird to think that this time next year i can have a real job. an actual grown up nine to five full time job. it blows my mind.
May 20, 2009
March 10, 2009
what does that even mean?
This is going to be a deep one, so if you are not in a contemplative mood i suggest you stop reading now.
Lately i have been thinking about what it really means to be like jesus. I haven't been so concerned with being a 'good christian' what does that even mean? Is that a contradiction within itself? We are all sinful by nature so shouldn't it be a sinful christian? Shouldnt that be excepted of us? God knows we are sinful beings, he should expect that from us, so why do we (as the collective christian community) feel guilty sometimes for doing things that God excepts from our sinful selves? Why does the church condemn some who decide to go party and have a good time with friends? We get sometimes so concerned with the end results. "Who are we saving? Who are we reaching out to, who this, who that" What about the seed planters? why do we have to always be under the mindset of 'saving souls' Cant we be a testimony though our lifestyle? and im not talking about the fluffy duffy "be in the world but not of the world' because sometimes i dont think that is relevant. And we should be relevant to our times right? Im talking about being loving and compassionate beings toward other people and to those who dont know Christ.
I was having a conversation with someone whose friend is involved in the homeless ministry at their school. First of all, that is straight up out of the bible, to take care and look after those people. Anyway, this person was outside in the cold having a cigarette with this homeless guy and they were just talking about nothing in particular. You all could be thinking, a christian who smokes?? Why isnt he being a better example?? Well.....i dont see you out there ministering to the homeless. He is building a relationship with this homeless guy, who could be thinking, wow this person i dont even know cares about me so much, that he is out in the streets in the middle of the night to give me food and the pleasure of company, why?
Now that i think about it, should christians even be ministering to other christians? I mean there is church for the sake of fellowship and growth, but what if that is all your christianity consists of? Shouldn't you be out in the world, loving and showing hope to all? Isnt faith without works dead?
I feel the majority of christians view other Christians who drink, smoke, curse, whatever not a good example, or not being able to 'reach the unsaved because you are being of the world" i am starting to believe that is not the case. Cant God use everything and everyone if the person is willing? Look at some people in the old testament that God used to do amazing things. God used them because of their faith in Him, not because of the things they did, or did not do.
Now im not saying go out and be an animal and be a drunken idiot everyday with buddies. I believe you need to be responsible, have self control, make sure you have a handle on things and not make whatever you are doing excessive because then that can be a problem...but there is nothing wrong, i feel, with having a good time (whatever a 'good time' means to you)
Its things like that, that i feel is the definition of christianity. Compassion, empathy, love,hope.
A good christian....what does that mean?
Bottom line, i feel, is if we stop being SO concerned with other christians and what they are (or are not) doing in their 'walk' , we will then finally be able to reach out to the world, and change the way the world (as a population, and not as the super spiritual world call it in reference to the unsaved) views christianity.
Lately i have been thinking about what it really means to be like jesus. I haven't been so concerned with being a 'good christian' what does that even mean? Is that a contradiction within itself? We are all sinful by nature so shouldn't it be a sinful christian? Shouldnt that be excepted of us? God knows we are sinful beings, he should expect that from us, so why do we (as the collective christian community) feel guilty sometimes for doing things that God excepts from our sinful selves? Why does the church condemn some who decide to go party and have a good time with friends? We get sometimes so concerned with the end results. "Who are we saving? Who are we reaching out to, who this, who that" What about the seed planters? why do we have to always be under the mindset of 'saving souls' Cant we be a testimony though our lifestyle? and im not talking about the fluffy duffy "be in the world but not of the world' because sometimes i dont think that is relevant. And we should be relevant to our times right? Im talking about being loving and compassionate beings toward other people and to those who dont know Christ.
I was having a conversation with someone whose friend is involved in the homeless ministry at their school. First of all, that is straight up out of the bible, to take care and look after those people. Anyway, this person was outside in the cold having a cigarette with this homeless guy and they were just talking about nothing in particular. You all could be thinking, a christian who smokes?? Why isnt he being a better example?? Well.....i dont see you out there ministering to the homeless. He is building a relationship with this homeless guy, who could be thinking, wow this person i dont even know cares about me so much, that he is out in the streets in the middle of the night to give me food and the pleasure of company, why?
Now that i think about it, should christians even be ministering to other christians? I mean there is church for the sake of fellowship and growth, but what if that is all your christianity consists of? Shouldn't you be out in the world, loving and showing hope to all? Isnt faith without works dead?
I feel the majority of christians view other Christians who drink, smoke, curse, whatever not a good example, or not being able to 'reach the unsaved because you are being of the world" i am starting to believe that is not the case. Cant God use everything and everyone if the person is willing? Look at some people in the old testament that God used to do amazing things. God used them because of their faith in Him, not because of the things they did, or did not do.
Now im not saying go out and be an animal and be a drunken idiot everyday with buddies. I believe you need to be responsible, have self control, make sure you have a handle on things and not make whatever you are doing excessive because then that can be a problem...but there is nothing wrong, i feel, with having a good time (whatever a 'good time' means to you)
Its things like that, that i feel is the definition of christianity. Compassion, empathy, love,hope.
A good christian....what does that mean?
Bottom line, i feel, is if we stop being SO concerned with other christians and what they are (or are not) doing in their 'walk' , we will then finally be able to reach out to the world, and change the way the world (as a population, and not as the super spiritual world call it in reference to the unsaved) views christianity.
March 6, 2009
Spring break!
Its been a drastic change in weather from my last post. Today felt like summer! It was great. I love the smell of spring and summer. This week has been stressful to say the least. I had a midterm yesterday that was actually a lot easier then i thought, and i had a paper due thursday that thank god i finished earlier in the semester. i have some work to do over break and the semester is really going to pick up after i get back from break but im trying not to think about that yet.
In other news- my mom always says the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Today i went to my advisor (who just so happens to be one of my favorite professors, seriously shes like so cool) and i told her that i want to graduate on time and if there is anything i can do over the summer to speed that up. Since the social work department is still in the works, it keeps chaning a lot so they allow a lot of exceptions, which is good on my part. They are combinding Junior Pracice I & II for me over the summer, and they are letting me do Junior Practicum in the summer which is 45 hours of field work (which turns out to only be 3 hours a week in the summer) Since my aunt is a social worker im trying to see if i can do it with her, it would be so cool and fun! When i get this done i will offically be a SENIOR IN COLLEGE! I will be able to take senior seminar, and senior practicum. SO EXCITED. from here on out im going to be very busy. I have to take around 18 credits this summer, then around 20 credits in the fall to catch up. All the social work classes are scheduled to be on monday, wednesday, friday (MWF) so the way it looks is that my MWF are going to be nonstop back to back classes from 7:55 till 5:15 at night, then one night class at 6 on Tuesday, Thursday...which isnt bad i guess. I am motivated, and i want to do it to get out of school! Hopefully i wont fail anything so i can actually graduate. Now i am off to enjoy my spring break, FINALLY!
In other news- my mom always says the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Today i went to my advisor (who just so happens to be one of my favorite professors, seriously shes like so cool) and i told her that i want to graduate on time and if there is anything i can do over the summer to speed that up. Since the social work department is still in the works, it keeps chaning a lot so they allow a lot of exceptions, which is good on my part. They are combinding Junior Pracice I & II for me over the summer, and they are letting me do Junior Practicum in the summer which is 45 hours of field work (which turns out to only be 3 hours a week in the summer) Since my aunt is a social worker im trying to see if i can do it with her, it would be so cool and fun! When i get this done i will offically be a SENIOR IN COLLEGE! I will be able to take senior seminar, and senior practicum. SO EXCITED. from here on out im going to be very busy. I have to take around 18 credits this summer, then around 20 credits in the fall to catch up. All the social work classes are scheduled to be on monday, wednesday, friday (MWF) so the way it looks is that my MWF are going to be nonstop back to back classes from 7:55 till 5:15 at night, then one night class at 6 on Tuesday, Thursday...which isnt bad i guess. I am motivated, and i want to do it to get out of school! Hopefully i wont fail anything so i can actually graduate. Now i am off to enjoy my spring break, FINALLY!
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