So recently my parents opened up a wine store in new york and while my dad/brother work there all day, my mom will go help out after she gets off from her own job. So basically a lot of time now it's just me and my little brother at home because my parents don't get back till ten thirty or eleven, plus they work the weekends now too, and I realized all the things my parents do for me. At first I was really annoyed because my parents always come home exhausted and generally very irritated if the house was messed up when they came home. Also I guess it was a transition for my family life, since now I guess I'm responsible for taking care of my brother and the house more than usual, but I remembered a verse I memorized in my old church:

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Romans 12:9-10

Now honestly when this was going on I was kind of thinking a lot of selfish things because I felt like this huge load was dumped on me without being asked, and school basically takes up a good deal of my time. But, remembering the verse was a blessing, especially the last part. Honor one another ABOVE yourself. So even though at first I thought it was completely unfair that my parents were gone all the time, I realized that love isn't something that is measured in fairness. If it was, I really don't think we'd deserve Christ's love at all. I love my parents, and I love my brothers. We may not always show it through affection, but I am thankful God has blessed me with parents who work so hard to support their family. If Scripture tells us that we must honor one another above ourselves, then I should treat my family so. I really hope that God will help me shine His light in my own family, and that they can see Christ's love working through me, even if it starts just by me washing the dishes and making dinner.

Patience.

And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

1 Thessalonians 5:14

Man okay so I'll be the first to admit that I have temper problems. Whenever something goes wrong or someone does something in a way I don't like, there's a good chance I'll snap at them or end up saying something that hurts their feelings. I don't know if alot of you guys have seen that side of me, not many things annoy me when I'm hanging out at retreats or worshipping. But it's the times where I'm not directly worshipping, praising, learning about God that I forget myself. That would pretty much leave my time at school, home, etc. It's how I've reacted since I was a little kid. Lacking in patience. But this verse is so good that I stuck it on the bulletin board in my room as a reminder, cuz as a follower of Christ it's important to do more than read the bible. Gotta live up to the Word, gotta live up to be like Christ, amen? So I guess the very last part of the verse is what speaks to me the most, be patient with everyone, no matter how they are or what they've done.

Work

But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.
2 Chronicles 15:7

This verse centers around one thing: work. A life for Christ includes things like joy, love, hope--but alot of times we tend to focus on those things because those are the things we want for ourselves and the people we care about. We forget that without work, our spiritual lives are empty. Reading the bible every day, praying every day, going to church; these all require our time and effort, and not putting our heart into it is what keeps us from having a truly intimate relationship with God. Another thing is letting guilt get to you. Sometimes it's really hard for me to get back on track if I haven't read the bible that morning because I know that I should have...but didn't. There has to be a connection between wanting to know God and realizing that the way to know God is through hard work and daily discipline. It's the same thing with school pretty much; you'll get more out of it if you work harder at it, and even more so if you place your heart into your studies instead of doing it begrudgingly. A while back Pastor Steph made an analogy to our lives and a salmon run--basically when all the salmon swim back to freshwater as a part of their life cycle. Some of them travel thousands upon thousands of miles up waterfalls and against rapids against gravity and against the tremendous force of rushing water...now how is that not amazing? But if the fish falters, if the fish stops swimming, there is no doubt that it will be swept away by the current. The same thing applies to our lives...if we stop working to fill our minds with Scripture, with God, we will be swept away by the world, taken in by temptation and sin. That is why it is so easy for christians who don't know Scripture to fall back into patterns of sin. The world we live in basically encourages us to get as much possible by doing the least amount of work; our human nature only encourages this if we give in to our laziness. Not to say that I always feel like reading the bible in the morning, but keeping in mind Christ's love and the heavenly reward of eternal life is more motivating than just thinking "Ugh, I have to read the bible because I promised myself I would every day". After all, what's a bit of time each morning compared to the promise of eternal life?

Jesus is my truth

"You are a king, then!" said Pilate.
Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

John 18:37

Truth is something we all search for. Some people devote their whole lives trying to come up with the answers to life. A few summers ago I took a philosophy course at JHU during the summer and we learned about a lot of philosophers; old school guys like Socrates and Confucius, and newer ones like Bateson and Dewey...anyways. These guys spent their years coming up with a whole bunch of theories on a variety of topics. Point is, people want the truth about everything. About creation. About mankind's existence. About love, hatred, happiness...the list goes on and on.

Guys, realize that truth can be found at the cross. Truth is Jesus. He is the only one that satisfies that inner desire to know something is pure and can withstand time and all else. If we turn to the cross we can find the truth that will illuminate our lives with His light...only the love of God is capable of moving us in such a way.

The other day I saw this poster that said, "Why believe in a god? Just be good, for goodness' sake!"

For me I guess that was how I viewed life before I came to Christ, trying to be good and obedient to my parents and all that. We're raised to be the "bigger person", to overcome our troubles just for the sake of being good and moral human beings. As well intended as these teachings are, they aren't realistic at all. Despite your good intentions, how many times have you lied? How many times have you experienced anger, frustration, even hatred towards others? The mantra of being good just for the sake of goodness has no lasting motivation because we are depending on ourselves. The only way we'd be successful through depending on ourselves is if we were inherently good anyways, and there wouldn't be any problems then.

This is why the cross is truth-it acknowledges our sinful nature, instead of treating it as something that can go away by itself through sheer human willpower. Scripture acknowledges that man is imperfect, that temptation is always near. Even Christians do not walk perfectly straight paths--we all have our down times and fall victim to the things of this world. The cross offers us truth because it says that Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins now and forever, and through the love and sheer willpower of God we can live lives based on light and truth.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Christian Lifestyle

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:10-12

This verse is especially applicable to my life as I continue to grow in my spiritual walk with Him. The work that we do for Christ is for Him and Him alone. It isn't for our own self-image so that others will look at us like we're the perfect Christian--there is no such thing, otherwise we wouldn't need the cross at all. Alot of the churches I have visited in my past I feel like there are always kids and leaders who try to uphold this kind of "Christian" image or stereotype. But that's exactly what it is--an image, an imitation of the real thing. This is what happens when God is not the driving force of your life. I believe that if you are truly saved, the Lord will change the way you live your life drastically. It's not a part that you have to play while you're at church or around your Christian friends, which is what I feel like we've all done at some point in our lives. It is a genuine change of heart that will compel you to live your life that way. Christ is your motivation; God's strength and God's love will be able to help you see it through.

Having Everything We Need.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Colossians 3:15


Now I know this is so predictable, but with thanksgiving coming up I figure I might as well post about it. At school there have already been so many mentions of thanksgiving plans and food and stuff. Thanksgiving, of course, has always been a holiday full of food, family, and friends. We get all warm and gushy inside just thinking about it, right? It's hard to find people who don't like it.

I think that a lot of times people get so emotionally high during the holiday season. For a lot of people thanksgiving is all about the traditions-the thanksgiving fare, the football, the changing leaves, all that good stuff. Getting caught up on this ideal, this concept of the "perfect Thanksgiving", and allowing it to engulf our entirety during the holiday season is not only setting ourselves up for an emotional low later on, but ignoring the whole purpose of Thanksgiving. I know kids who have families that are absolutely OBSESSED with having a perfect Thanksgiving--meaning family, friends, EVERYONE has to be there and the food has to be an absolutely gigantic and mouth-watering feast.

The essence of thanksgiving is something that doesn't need the food, doesn't need the games or pretty leaves. At its heart, Thanksgiving is about appreciating what we have, and giving thanks to the God, the Provider who has given it all for us.

If you could pick one thing, one thing that you are the most thankful for this Thanksgiving, what would it be? For me, the love of God is all I need to give thanks. So even if maybe you don't have a traditional thanksgiving (I know alot of my friends don't!), you don't need it. All that you will ever need is God's love....you already have it.

His Will

"Teach me to do thy will, for you are my God, may your good Spirit lead me on level ground."

Psalm 143:10

The past week I've been reflecting really hard on my leadership at DEM and especially at christian club. I remember when Pastor Steph asked us to become leaders that it was, if we chose to accept the position, a position to serve God by serving the youth. Honestly I'm not really sure I'm doing much for the youth group, but I realized at least of late I have been forgetting the most essential part of my service to God--that it is His work being done, and it is His will that should be moving every act I carry out as a leader. So this morning I ask that God will teach me to do His will, and not my own.

It's so easy to be carried away by your own "position". Even if you are just a regular member of DEM, I feel like sometimes any believer feels that they are "above" unbelievers because we try to live holy lives and we look down on those who don't know about Christ and living a life for Him. Yet, these are the same people who we should be turning to and inviting them to Christian Club, or at maybe just starting up a casual conversation leading to Christ...these are the people we have been told to spread the love of Christ to.

Honor the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase so shall thy barns be filled with plenty….
Proverbs 3:9-10