tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4498906485498186712024-03-13T23:53:36.915-03:00Alex SweeneyThe thoughts and adventures of an autistic person who's in a relationship with JesusAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262530516841849743noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449890648549818671.post-66930344216086836062017-12-22T13:32:00.001-04:002017-12-22T13:32:32.247-04:00Reckless Love at Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwJs1jNhf4oM6QXajT0Pnbl1B7JWUJJYcidjezJkkruQ5GngYIgETrNyO9dLqtQM9cDgeI6FlC_m9sFIfdyGG-bBTFGzMeaKPh6MBNu0dGjihHabp9ipAM6fNxK0y3MUL8S6UM4Kyy1E/s1600/d3472c2c2091737456f0481312cea82f--catholic-advent-wreath-advent-wreaths.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="276" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwJs1jNhf4oM6QXajT0Pnbl1B7JWUJJYcidjezJkkruQ5GngYIgETrNyO9dLqtQM9cDgeI6FlC_m9sFIfdyGG-bBTFGzMeaKPh6MBNu0dGjihHabp9ipAM6fNxK0y3MUL8S6UM4Kyy1E/s200/d3472c2c2091737456f0481312cea82f--catholic-advent-wreath-advent-wreaths.jpg" width="128" /></a></div>
Do you know what I love about Christmas? Well, I can list quite a few things: the music, the advent celebrations with the local church, giving gifts to each other out of love, and just getting to be with friends and family over the season. However, I also know that Christmas can be very stressful (I currently work part-time in the retail and wholesale industry, so I can attest to that); it can also be depressing with the loss of loved ones over the years. But I want to focus more on why Christmas is significant to me.<br />
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a><br />
<a name='more'></a>As many people know, Christmas is when Christians celebrate how Jesus first came to the earth as a baby so that he would later reconcile us with God. We celebrate the fact that he came to live a sinless life and became the perfect sacrifice as payment for our sins so that he can give us eternal life, something that we don’t deserve, but is offered to us by his grace and mercy. Can you mention how reckless that is?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0lUjVu0oZk2VTfSEFnFpbvP93wm4m3fS-kZEhmTfZxjiYarKP5g5tMItxFWDzoZycAbJrig86zy6r-IBYbJTx9ueEF6XISHPalfgY0UaQfpEG-HMMGuR6yl8tz4DGQOwLWKtyRkbg6k/s1600/two-hearts1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>I know what you’re going to say: “Alex, what do you mean by ‘reckless’?” I’m glad you asked, I’m not so much meaning that God doesn’t care about himself, nor us, nor the consequences of loving every one of his creations. It’s because of who he is that he loves us despite our circumstances and in spite of whether we love or reject him. He already knows who will be <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0lUjVu0oZk2VTfSEFnFpbvP93wm4m3fS-kZEhmTfZxjiYarKP5g5tMItxFWDzoZycAbJrig86zy6r-IBYbJTx9ueEF6XISHPalfgY0UaQfpEG-HMMGuR6yl8tz4DGQOwLWKtyRkbg6k/s1600/two-hearts1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="946" data-original-width="1500" height="97" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0lUjVu0oZk2VTfSEFnFpbvP93wm4m3fS-kZEhmTfZxjiYarKP5g5tMItxFWDzoZycAbJrig86zy6r-IBYbJTx9ueEF6XISHPalfgY0UaQfpEG-HMMGuR6yl8tz4DGQOwLWKtyRkbg6k/s200/two-hearts1.jpg" width="155" /></a>with him. To us as human beings, it may appear to be reckless, or careless, but his love is so much deeper.<br />
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Perhaps this is why many of us sing about this “reckless love” that God has for us. If you look into the bridge of “Reckless Love” by Cory Asbury, it talks about how far God would go to reconcile us to himself, much in the same way that Jesus depicted this kind of love in Luke 15; this chapter gives us three parables of things and people being lost and found, and shows us that God does pursue after us. He values every life, even those who reject him. It’s this deep love that brought Jesus to be with us, die for us, and be resurrected. It’s the same love that brought Jesus to be born all those years ago to offer an amazing gift out of grace.<br />
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So I hope that we as Christians remember the why as we go forth this Christmas with our loved ones. I hope that we remember that we are celebrating a God who decided to enter our mess as a baby to save us, and my prayer is that we will be filled with joy through the Holy Spirit. May we all be blessed with joy and peace in our hearts.<br />
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Merry Christmas!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262530516841849743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449890648549818671.post-49789223706198251202017-11-08T12:55:00.000-04:002017-11-08T13:10:26.746-04:00#HardTimes – How Music Shaped My Life<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm back, baby!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After a long break, I have decided to try to get back to
writing, and it might be a bit more music heavy as I find that music is very
special to me. What I mean to say is, music has this influence in my life, as
it allows me to be more authentic and expressive, and it helps me get through
the day. And there are a lot of songs that I find to be encouraging and
reflective during rough or hard times. I've listed a couple of my favourites
below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Also in reflecting on these songs, there are various verses
that come to mind (Note: this is only a few selected pieces and verses that
came to mind to me, personally):</span></div>
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<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Romans 8:37</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1 Timothy 6:12</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Romans 8:31</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ephesians 6 (Armour of God passage)</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Warriors - Colton Dixon [<i>Identity</i>
- 2017]</span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I’ll openly admit, this song allows me to channel my inner
fighter, but it also reminds me about how God is with me, especially in the
spiritual warfare that is going on in the world. I’ll often listen to this song
when I’m on my way downtown to join my friends for Supper with Strangers, a
street ministry that some friends of mine started to build community with the
local panhandlers. I love the imagery that Dixon uses of being a warrior, and
how God is on our side, making us more than conquerors through him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://youtu.be/iaiLELYZ08Q" target="_blank">Click here to listen via YouTube.</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Heading1Char">Hard</span> Times – Paramore [<i>After Laughter</i> - 2017]<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hard Times is a very vibrant rock song with an 80’s vibe,
but the lyrics contrast the upbeat tempo; it talks about what it’s like to be
in a rough patch in life, and that the person is just getting by. Looking back,
I can connect with what’s being conveyed. We all have hard times in life, but
we can push through, stronger than ever. The lyrics are very playful on the
subject matter, much in the same vein as “Ain’t it Fun,” their previous single
from the band’s self-titled album. It’s a great track to dance to, and its
theme brings a lot of humility into perspective.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://youtu.be/AEB6ibtdPZc" target="_blank">Click here for the music video.</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Overcomer – Mandisa [<i>Overcomer</i> -
2013]<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Overcomer is a very uplifting song about moving beyond the
struggles in life by relying on God. This has been very helpful as I often must
remind myself that God is with me through every step of my journey with him,
and that he will give me the strength to break through every obstacle that comes
in the way of the plans that God has for you. I hope that this song becomes an
encouragement to you, too, as you continue to walk with God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://youtu.be/b8VoUYtx0kw" target="_blank">Click here for the music video.</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: medium;">Conclusion<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></h1>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">These were some of many songs that have made an impact on my life over the past few years. I've hit some bumps in the road of life (I mean, who hasn't?), but I found that music has helped to keep me grounded in my faith, and to keep pressing forward. I hope that these songs may give you some encouragement, too, but I also want to hear from you. What songs have you found to be an encouragement from God, and how have those songs helped you? I hope to see what songs come to mind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Blessings to all,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">- Alex</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262530516841849743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449890648549818671.post-82385796078902658592016-10-31T20:49:00.001-03:002017-12-22T14:26:09.718-04:00Heathens for HalloweenHappy Halloween, everybody!<br />
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Since this is Halloween, I thought I'd write about a cool song that came out in the summer and has been on my fall playlist for a while since my graduation from university. That song would be "Heathens" by Twenty One Pilots; this is also the lead single from the Suicide Squad soundtrack, and it perfectly fits with the spookiness that we're used to in October... especially on Halloween. However, that's not the only thing I like about the song.<br />
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The song has a lot of imagery in it when you think the lyrics over, and I find that it parallels a lot with how I see my life right now. Most of my friends and co-workers are not Christians, so the word "heathens", a term originally used to describe such people, would apply to them; however, society has also included criminals and "weird people" to fit in this category. But what I find relatable is that if I didn't have Jesus in my life, then I may have been a heathen in his eyes, but he chose to see me as a child of God, and loves us with open arms as we repent and turn to him, making us into new creations.<br />
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<i>"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,</i></div>
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<i>the new creation has come:</i></div>
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<i>The old has gone, the new is here!"</i></div>
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<i>-2 Corinthians 5:17</i></div>
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Another thing about the idea of being a heathen is that many people won't accept what you say if there isn't something to bond over, such as knowing the same people. But we can also be open and loving to all people just as Jesus does. We can love the homeless, give to the poor, even show compassion to friends who have yet to meet Jesus. And we can also do this by not being so quick to judge somebody before hearing their story.<br />
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If you have yet to hear this song, then you should check it out. The band members are Christians, though they are not classified as a Christian act, but their music is designed to be relatable and make you think. That's what I like about their music, and the song. Have a happy Halloween, and may God bless you.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262530516841849743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449890648549818671.post-77426447041885022992016-04-27T14:09:00.001-03:002016-04-27T14:09:45.729-03:00Stressed Out<div dir="ltr">
Today I thought I'd talk about stress. No, I'm not going to define stress for you. But, I'll tell you what stress is like for me. After all, student life can be stressful at times. Juggling coursework, a job and a personal life can be difficult to do, especially for five years - and believe me, it has been hard. But I'm thankful that God faithfully provides me with the best support possible. Then again, there have been times where I wanted to go back to a simpler time where I didn't have to handle so much responsibility, or deal with obstacles that try to cause me trouble.</div>
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I guess these mixed feelings of nostalgia and insecurity is what I found to be relevant whenever I listen to "Stressed Out" by Twenty One Pilots. The lyrics talk about how as young adults, we are often filled with insecurities and are weary from responsibilities and debt and such that we often want to go back to when we were children and had no worries within ourselves. The rhythms and choices in instruments and techniques really bring out the ideas behind the message of nostalgia and wanting to escape the pressures of our current reality.</div>
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Sometimes, when I'm really stressed out, I'm often reminded of what Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30. He tells the people that anyone who is tired will be given rest when they come to him. It's nice that Jesus offers us rest when we're tired, stressed and panicking.</div>
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If you haven't heard "Stressed Out" from Twenty One Pilots yet, I recommend that you check it out. It's a great song with relatable lyrics, and it was excellently produced. Did I forget to mention that it does a great mix of pop and hip-hop beats? You'll hear what I mean.</div>
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Stay classy, party people!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262530516841849743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449890648549818671.post-3855473721231810872016-01-19T18:06:00.000-04:002016-01-19T18:06:16.626-04:00Hello 2016 - #DiamondsHappy (belated) new year, everyone!<br />
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I know it has been a couple of months. I just haven't felt inspired enough to write or was too busy to think of writing here. However, I'll explain a little bit of how things have been and what we can potentially see in the future.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I came across these verses one morning as I was getting ready for the day.<br />
It was a helpful reminder that I am a work in progress.</td></tr>
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I found that the past few months have been a little roller coaster ride of mixed emotions. There have been times where I had been overly emotional because of things that people have said to me (it's a common thing for me); I don't always take well to criticism, especially when it doesn't come out as being constructive. I have questioned my own existence and whether or not God really has a plan for me. Fortunately, I have awesome friends to remind me how loved I am and that I'm still a work in progress.<br />
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There are a couple of songs that remind me about this truth. One of them is "Diamonds" by Hawk Nelson; this is from their most recent album, also titled, <i>Diamonds</i>. The song itself describes this idea that when we accept Jesus into our lives, that God takes us as coals and starts to make us into diamonds; all it takes is some heat and pressure over time to create the final result. It reminds me that even though I am not perfect, God is still working on me.<br />
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Another song from this album that came to mind is "Live Like You're Loved". The lyrics remind me that I am loved by God, and that it's okay for me to live like I'm free from my bondage of sin despite the struggles that I may be pushing through. I definitely feel comforted that he loves me enough that he died for us and offers us mercy and grace.<br />
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I know, it's a lot of Hawk Nelson to put in one post, but I believed that these songs spoke truth into my life when I felt like I needed to really hear it. I also like that I'm back into expressing my love and appreciation for music as it has this ability to penetrate and move us, and it's soothing to the soul. I really do believe that God uses music as a way to speak to me, to remind him of his truth and promises.<br />
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So, what's next from here? I think you can expect to see some more writings about music, and I'll try to keep you up to date on how things are going so far. There may also be a few surprises along the way.<br />
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Until next time!<br />
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-AlexAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262530516841849743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449890648549818671.post-43727657832514944022015-10-10T14:05:00.002-03:002015-10-10T14:05:46.595-03:00Fall 2015 - So Far<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgro5gpgH9hpPi6K0djFz64RYYxAf4L7jg1lIXvaL60w6BU-KlsWXwAZOBdBcrmREiAIrytcrjSl9OJrRqwWPk-G8pGcua4IgMnSOaUpZqZjv-wiZ9ztshUGWym2rmzRiwn7-LdSOlYDwE/s1600/11224061_10153270577228558_5808382109600036822_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgro5gpgH9hpPi6K0djFz64RYYxAf4L7jg1lIXvaL60w6BU-KlsWXwAZOBdBcrmREiAIrytcrjSl9OJrRqwWPk-G8pGcua4IgMnSOaUpZqZjv-wiZ9ztshUGWym2rmzRiwn7-LdSOlYDwE/s400/11224061_10153270577228558_5808382109600036822_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with my friend and MSVUSU president, Justin (left)</td></tr>
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I know it's been a few months since the last time I wrote here; I had been a bit occupied over the summer. However, I am already on the journey to see what God has in store. Also, I have come across a few new things and people recently, which is rewarding in and of itself.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Senior Orientation Leaders of 2015 @ the Mount</td></tr>
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Last month marked the beginning of what may be my final year as a Mount student. I've often said to a lot of my friends that this would be a bitter-sweet period for me as it means the end of a prominent chapter in my life. My Dad has even commented to me in a recent conversation about how much I've grown since I started my Mount journey, especially in terms of social skills (that's a plus). As I have done in the past, I became a senior leader for Orientation Week. It's been a fun experience getting to show new students how fun and not-so-scary university can be, especially when you have awesome friends to have your back. Also, looking back from this, I see that I have no problem interacting with these people, though what I'm most excited about is what God is doing on campus.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJ7D0YMznbs-_4yE2w4ID9FTPGsFpeVO-MX1PR5pSyrsaiPFs6S2EQfPdzgxKfC5SmjjyUxpR3fEpaUC2c594VM0ZVatt4Meh_vGLpghCbGYwy0APa_Juevz5HoDwZCLb_qnSwoyUaBc/s1600/12109102_10153035159741836_6333592821160100093_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJ7D0YMznbs-_4yE2w4ID9FTPGsFpeVO-MX1PR5pSyrsaiPFs6S2EQfPdzgxKfC5SmjjyUxpR3fEpaUC2c594VM0ZVatt4Meh_vGLpghCbGYwy0APa_Juevz5HoDwZCLb_qnSwoyUaBc/s400/12109102_10153035159741836_6333592821160100093_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The MSVU Christian Fellowship at Kingswood Camp for the NS Fall 2015 retreat</td></tr>
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I was recently out for a retreat with Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship where we had students from many of the Nova Scotia campuses come out to learn and reflect on the injustices both on and off campus and what God might be asking us to respond. Our scriptural text was John 1: 1-18, where we see Jesus being described as the Word and the light, and why he came to dwell on the earth. What has been striking my mind is the word, "witness," because we're looking at ourselves like John as witnesses to the light. So, how am I being a witness to the people around me? Or am I acting as a witness? That may be a bit complicated, but I'm hoping that I live out my life authentically, making sure that people know that there is hope in the world.<br />
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Anyway, that is what was happening during my little hiatus from writing (Man, I miss doing this). I'm going to be trying to do more on writing and reflecting on thing I'm learning. Who knows? Maybe I'll start incorporating more videos here in the future. But in all that I'm doing right now, and what I will do in the time that follows, I'm hoping to make it as an act of worship to my God and be open to his voice.<br />
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Stay classy, party people!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262530516841849743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449890648549818671.post-14550066348623886282015-03-22T21:04:00.002-03:002015-03-22T21:04:48.390-03:00Basic: Holy SpiritIn continuation with my <b>Basic Series</b> adventure with my college n' careers group, we watched the third video: <i style="font-weight: bold;">Holy Spirit</i>. This video talks about who the Holy Spirit is and some thoughts on why the Holy Spirit we read in the New Testament doesn't seem to be present today in our churches. Here are just a small amalgamation of some thoughts my group mates and I after viewing the video.<br />
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Is it just me, or have we sort of cheapened the person of the Holy Spirit? What I mean is, why is it that we talk about the Holy Spirit when we're in church, and we have this predictable nature with our services that nothing about it seems to be supernatural, if natural at all. Why doesn't the presence of the Holy Spirit not appear or sound similar to something like what the Apostles experienced in Acts?<br />
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<b><i>"Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled
the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of
fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with
the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."</i></b><i> <b>- Acts 2:2–4 (NIV)</b></i><br />
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Perhaps this has more to do with our desire to control everything in our lives. We like knowing what is coming first and have this order set in place. Or look at this lack in the Holy Spirit another way: are we often looking more inward rather than looking toward God? Are we still leaning toward the "wide road" with everyone else, or are we going to the narrow one, "the road that few people take" (reminds me of Robert Frost's <i>The Road Not Taken</i>). I know I tend to struggle with my own insecurities and forget that God is in control. So, I'm going to be praying that God will strengthen me and continue to transform me by renewing my mind. I need to let the Holy Spirit lead me through its conviction and holy, transforming power.<br />
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Another thing to note is that having the Holy Spirit with us is a gift, a promise that Jesus gave:<br />
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<b><i>"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." - John 14: 16-17 (NIV)</i></b><br />
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The way that Frances Chan put it was that this was better than having Jesus physically on Earth since the resurrection, Why do you ask? The Holy Spirit is our advocate (some manuscripts would say "counsellor"). He will convict us of sin and lead us in the right direction. This is much better than us leading ourselves, since Jesus is a better driver than I could ever be; that is why I have to let Him lead me, let him take control of my life because I cannot follow Jesus alone. This is also the same reason why Jesus built the church. That is the amazing thing: everything is connected...in <i>love</i> (God's love, that is). This is who helps us in building our faith.<br />
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That's all that I will discuss about the Holy Spirit discussion. It was a very good one that we had. I'm also hoping that God will draw us closer to Him as we continue to seek Him and His heart, and continue to grow in faith and maturity.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262530516841849743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449890648549818671.post-66657560416412575172015-02-07T12:38:00.002-04:002015-02-07T12:40:14.115-04:00Basic: Follow JesusTwo Sundays ago, I started going through a video study called the <b>Basic Series</b>. We had discussed about what it meant to fear God, and I like how we concluded on it (you can read that from my previous post on the video, "Fear God"). Last Sunday, we watched the video, "Follow Jesus", which is video #2 in this series.<br />
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So, what does it truly mean to follow Jesus? We know the textbook answer, yet as part of western society, we just can't seem to really put it into practice. Perhaps how we initially thought about it has been distorted from what it actually should be.<br />
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<i><b>"Just like how we can distort the concept of fearing God, we can distort the concept of following Jesus." - Frances Chan</b></i><br />
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What kind of distortion, you may ask? It seems like the Church in western society had made it as that when it comes to following Jesus, it's more of something that is done "in our hearts" so to speak. But I'm finding that this is not what Jesus wants. He doesn't want fans, he wants followers who are willing to sacrifice everything to be with him, Jesus, who died in our place so that the penalty of sin has been paid on our behalf. This is what I want to really be. I want to be so crazy about Jesus that his love overflows into everything I do. Think about Matthew 4:18-20, when Jesus called Peter and Andrew; he called out to them and said to follow him.<br />
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<i><b>"As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fisherman. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish or people." At once, they left their nets and followed him.</b></i><br />
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<i><b>- Matthew 4:18-20</b></i></div>
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They left everything to follow Jesus. All He asked was to follow Him as He was leading them into a life that, while marked with trials and struggles, will become more abundant, more worth it. He was leading his disciples into making a more meaningful story with the lives that they have been given b y offering them up to God. This is what Jesus wants to do with us; he wants to bless us, but only if we meaningly choose to follow him wherever he leads us. I know I'm not an expert, but I find that what I have been learning so far with these videos make sense and show how the Bible is so relevant with what's going on today.</div>
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Therefore, I'm not going to give up on following him. Even though I have my psychological and emotional struggles to go through at times, it's good to know that God is in control and that he's there for me. Jesus never promised that following him would be easy; if it were, would it have been worth the effort, faith and trust?</div>
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I guess I'll leave it here on that note. I believe the next video discussion will be on the role of the Holy Spirit. I think that will be quite a great topic to explore. But yeah, as far as I can say, true discipleship starts with answering the call to follow Jesus, and that journey will lead you to life.</div>
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Stay cool 'til next time!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262530516841849743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449890648549818671.post-17447436454486673492015-01-24T00:53:00.000-04:002015-01-24T00:53:07.973-04:00Basic: Fear GodMy college and careers group at church had started going through a video series presented by Frances Chan, called, "Basic". So far, it's a rather good series. We had quite a good discussion after watching the first video this past Sunday afternoon.<br />
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The first video was about the fear of God. Now, most people within the church might say, "Oh, when we say fear, what we really mean is more of having respect or awe." However, I think Mr. Chan had it on point when he says that we are going to tremble and fear in front of God when the time comes. However, this fearing of God (I'm more akin to the whole freaking out and panicking version) is actually what has us humbling ourselves and being brought closer to God.<br />
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<i><b>"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise." -Psalm 111:10, NIV</b></i><br />
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<b><i>"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." - Proverbs 9:10, NIV</i></b><br />
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Furthermore, once we recognize who God is, about His omnipotent power and that He can take us out in an second as He chooses, and we cower in the terror of it all, He then tells us, "fear not". Yes, that sounds confusing, but this was shown several times throughout the gospels: when Gabriel the angel appeared to Zechariah and Mary, he told them not to be afraid (Luke 1); when an angel appeared in front of the shepherds in Bethlehem, he calmed them by saying, "Do not be afraid" (see Luke 2). It's like how a father expects his children to fear and respect him and once they do, he turns around and tells them it's okay and that they don't have to be afraid anymore, pouring out his love for them. To me, that is what I now see about God. It's like, the fear that I have about God leads me to life, one that is more abundant, challenging and valuable.</div>
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Well, that's all I have to say about what I learned of fearing God. Stay tuned for next time as a new post on the Basic series will be made soon.</div>
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Peace out!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262530516841849743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449890648549818671.post-64671044377826793742014-12-04T16:12:00.000-04:002014-12-04T16:12:07.094-04:00Find Rest<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX57583830" style="-webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX57583830" paraeid="{6320e531-9ce3-4a31-82a6-1414b6a4689a}{12}" paraid="1802155667" style="-webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCX57583830" style="-webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Finding rest and peace seems to be a constant theme in my life. What I mean is, I find that I sometimes get myself worked up over many things when all I needed was rest and peace for my soul. I recently finished my fourth fall semester at the Mount before exams get written, and I know that exams, much like paper writing, can be very stressful. I also know that with the Christmas season upon us now, people are also going to be stressed over what to get their loved ones for the holiday. So, in a world full of stress and pain, how do we find rest and peace? </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX57583830" style="-webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Enter Jesus, the son of God. I know this is rather clich</span><span class="TextRun SCX57583830" style="-webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">é</span><span class="TextRun SCX57583830" style="-webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">, but Jesus' words in Matthew 11 come about in my head.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCX57583830" style="-webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCX57583830" style="-webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon</span><span class="TextRun SCX57583830" style="-webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX57583830" style="-webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and</span><span class="TextRun SCX57583830" style="-webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX57583830" style="-webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">you</span><span class="TextRun SCX57583830" style="-webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” </span><span class="TextRun SCX57583830" style="-webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">-</span><span class="TextRun SCX57583830" style="-webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX57583830" style="-webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)</span><span class="EOP SCX57583830" style="-webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX57583830" paraeid="{6320e531-9ce3-4a31-82a6-1414b6a4689a}{70}" paraid="1222277690" style="-webkit-user-select: text; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCX57583830" style="-webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">I like that Jesus opens the invitation to come before Him and that He would exchange burdens with us. Then again, isn't that kind of the same as choosing to switch places and die for the atonement of our sins? He also says that because of Him, we will find rest for our souls. I know that this is some</span><span class="TextRun SCX57583830" style="-webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">thing that I need, and He is offering it out to me, knowing what is stressing me out and telling me that I'm not alone in the suffering and struggle within my l</span><span class="TextRun SCX57583830" style="-webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">ife.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCX57583830" style="-webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX57583830" style="-webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">A song that I had come across in the past half-year was Francesca </span><span class="SpellingError SCX57583830" style="-webkit-user-select: text; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Battistelli's</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX57583830" style="-webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> "Find Rest". The lyrics in this song had greatly resonated with me; it was as though God was telling me to find rest in Him. I know all of this sounds greatly similar to what I had shared last month, but I can't just let go of the anxiety and fear. I have to give it to God so that in His Spirit, I can receive the rest and peace that He offers. The lyrics in the chorus were what struck me the most and what had connected me to the passage: "Find rest, my soul; put your hope in God." This is what I have to keep reminding myself everyday. My rest is found in God, and He is my hope and salvation.</span></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262530516841849743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449890648549818671.post-89014941910273090792014-10-21T23:59:00.001-03:002014-11-07T02:32:35.334-04:00To Cast My Cares<span style="font-family: inherit;">I recently gave a presentation for my animal physiology class. It wasn't a very good one, and it certainly was not among my greatest achievements, so after class, I had felt rather anxious about the whole thing. When I was talking about this with one of my fellow biology students, she reminded me about it wasn't anything to sneeze at and that I may have done better than what I thought I did. And you know what? She was right. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">More and more, I am starting to really learn and recognize that thigs happen for a reason and there's always something that I can learn from my mistakes (like learning to make more room for finishing homework). I think this is why God told us not to be so worrisome all the time and let anxiety and corrupted emotions get in the way.</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes." (Luke 12:22-23 NIV)</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus only wanted me to cast my cares and worries upon Him so that in the process, I can grow more in His image and likeness. Even though it's really hard at times (some times more than others), I can still hold onto the faith that He is faithful and will give me the strength I need to pull through the hard times. That hoping things will turn out okay in the end will become a reality. When God was giving Jeremiah a message to give the Jews as they continued living in Babylonia after the Babylonians invaded and laid seize over their land, He reminded the prophet that He was in control: "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV) God knows more about us and our future than we could ever fathom. And if we put our faith in Him, then He will guide us into a more abundant, purposeful life that will be worthwhile despite the challenges that come our way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In order for me to follow Christ's example and bring light into the world, I have to learn to let go of my fears and anxieties, and offer them to God so that He can deal with them and steer me back into the right path. I may have psychological disabilities, but God has made me this way for a reason; and everyday is a day where God is constantly at work in and through His creation. It is His Kingdom that has come, and His will that we (along with God) are working to establish in earth. Never forget that you are loved (because God loves you), that you have meaning (because He has a plan for each and every one of us) and that you don't have to be alone. Thank you and God bless.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262530516841849743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449890648549818671.post-50672838744509789082014-09-30T12:15:00.002-03:002014-11-07T02:33:02.755-04:00Kingdom WHAT?!?Rejoice for the Kingdom is here!<br />
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Kingdom WHAT?!?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6uqHISrgzuaZQj7HQwupOFRWcvdal4Jyz9iMy9hUJGxp_Erf7kXI0APuQxAFIxJAs1CYJ0nOBPiWnMfv32kkL3_N9lntW_bhpTob1AxEkDFNmPNXb2gH1pyo2PkHje2G1EYky-qswFk/s640/blogger-image-1430922578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6uqHISrgzuaZQj7HQwupOFRWcvdal4Jyz9iMy9hUJGxp_Erf7kXI0APuQxAFIxJAs1CYJ0nOBPiWnMfv32kkL3_N9lntW_bhpTob1AxEkDFNmPNXb2gH1pyo2PkHje2G1EYky-qswFk/s400/blogger-image-1430922578.jpg" width="400" /></a> That was the theme for this fall's Inter-Varsity Nova Scotia Retreat. What is the Kingdom of God? Who is the King/Father and part do we play? The past weekend involved three sessions of Bible study in a manuscript-styled fashion where we took a look at the context, the contents and the connections, the three major C's that staff worker Shu Yin Wong was teaching us as we looked through the parable of the prodigal son as well as when Jesus went to the Samaritan town of Sychar. So what did I get out of all of this?<br />
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First off, with the prodigal son, I was reminded of the character of the father, and how he was giving, patient and forgiving...a man who rejoiced in the return of his young, rebellious son who came home after making some bad choices (leaving his father like he was dead to him, sleeping with women, succumbing to the famine and barely getting food); that son had recognized something about his father, that he was a loving man and, though he was rich, was generous and gentle even to his servants. The father didn't care about what the son did with his property; he cared about him and having that relationship of love with each other. As with the elder son, he appeared to have not been rather appreciative of his father. Here, Jesus would be emphasizing that we should be appreciative and thankful of what He has done for us.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKR0s98esuY3qf_kpInWIbHC2PwrAiRCdNaTE8rPcAaysfkbYJpujzIU4jlDjnRbIrCudiZbkH1yzdhqKygZwk_W0k0edIP4x0f8h_HFU_bJPAa8H-VOnjW62rZPkVe3_zgw6RmZd9_ro/s640/blogger-image--945432287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKR0s98esuY3qf_kpInWIbHC2PwrAiRCdNaTE8rPcAaysfkbYJpujzIU4jlDjnRbIrCudiZbkH1yzdhqKygZwk_W0k0edIP4x0f8h_HFU_bJPAa8H-VOnjW62rZPkVe3_zgw6RmZd9_ro/s400/blogger-image--945432287.jpg" width="400" /></a> Later, we took a stroll through a big event that happened in Samaria. We saw that Jesus had chosen to seize an opportunity and speak with a Samaritan woman who had felt ashamed and lonely (which would be why she had always drawn out her water at noontime). He offers up living water that which those who drink from it will no longer be thirsty and that they will become fountains of said water gushing up toward eternal life. Wouldn't you want that, to have living water that makes you quenched of your thirst rather than always going to a well? Wouldn't you want to be having that gushing up like a spring to eternal life?<br />
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Jesus also talked about food and harvests to his disciples after the woman left and went into the town to tell of her experience. His food was to do the will of God the Father and complete his work. And he extends this work to the disciples. He tells them that the harvest is ripe for the picking. This metaphor about the harvest was to the Samaritans in Sychar, that the woman has sown the seed after her conversation with Jesus, and the disciples were to reap the harvest alongside him. We even took a look at what happened to the town as Jesus came into town. Imagine what that could look like in our communities; we as Christians have the Holy Spirit inside of us, and we play both as sowers and reapers, collecting the wages so that we could all celebrate in what God is doing in this crazy, mixed-up world we live in.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOmA-XEBROCJaKMl_tWe_PLHkUkW29GNrWjO-wkwQwGU0elvHKKzVHzNBu5Gi65urOZQGxxXWIpOlPSiT-gEiXMHFbkpLaUEm2h76s4-m8nqp6QlvA6JPNC9-VRlbjaDmAQgWEi-FKcE/s640/blogger-image--1234582402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOmA-XEBROCJaKMl_tWe_PLHkUkW29GNrWjO-wkwQwGU0elvHKKzVHzNBu5Gi65urOZQGxxXWIpOlPSiT-gEiXMHFbkpLaUEm2h76s4-m8nqp6QlvA6JPNC9-VRlbjaDmAQgWEi-FKcE/s400/blogger-image--1234582402.jpg" width="400" /></a> This past weekend has been such a learning and growing experience for me as I joined into the larger extent of my community and gathered into discovering God's Word together. We discovered some amazing new things about the Kingdom. We even got the chance to enjoy being in fellowship with each other, both as people from different campuses and as brothers and sisters in Christ. I'm excited as to what God has next in store for these communities as we embark on the same mission. I pray that I take on this challenge that God will bring forth His Will, and that it will be done. Until then, let's step out and go to these communities and show some godly love.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262530516841849743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449890648549818671.post-11397081351887206622014-08-19T13:09:00.001-03:002014-11-07T02:33:23.199-04:00Islands and VinesI am made to be in a community.<br />
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Just think about that for a moment - you and I - we - are made to be relational. It's amazing that God had instilled in us from the beginning that notion of belonging somewhere or with someone that only He can completely fill and fix. After all, He is the embodiment of the perfect relationship - the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Because I believe that Jesus died and rose again for my sins, and have accepted Him into my life, I am in a relationship with Him; this also means that I am a part of a community bigger than myself.<br />
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Lately this month, I have been listening to a new song that was released by Tenth Avenue North called, "No Man is an Island". It's off of their Islands EP and is a very well-written song. I like that it expresses what God would be telling us about being a community, about having relationships with each other that are centred on the kind of relationship that we are striving to have with Him. In a video journal that was posted on YouTube, Mike Donehey, who is the lead singer in the band, creates a visual devotional that ties together with the song, saying that it's easy to live on our own islands but we also need to learn to get off of those islands and come to the shore and live life together.</div>
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This whole notion of community reminds me of Jesus' teaching in the beginning of <b>John 15</b>. He said that He is the true vine and that if we remain connected to Him as His people, we would bear fruit, meaning that our lives will become more abundant when we continue to come to God, worship Him with our lives and tend our ears to His words, and therefore, His commandments and promises.</div>
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<b><i>“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5 NIV)</i></b></div>
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So what will you do next? Will you remain on your lonely island all the time, or will you go out to the shore where the party of life is happening? Will you take on God's word and shre life with the other members of the Church or will you try to live life for yourself? I know where I'll be going, and as I move on with my choice, I pray that this inspires you and that the Spirit will move you to where He needs you to be.</div>
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Peace and love,</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262530516841849743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449890648549818671.post-74662101357094756232014-08-07T00:34:00.000-03:002014-11-07T02:33:53.064-04:00Fear and Provisions<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
Wow, it's been three months since I had
written here. The time sure does fly. I guess I should explain a little about
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I started a new job in the city about a
month ago at Costco, and I am one among a few students working at the front end
(what we call the cash register area). It's not too bad of a job, though
dealing with customers sometimes can be stressful and annoying, and I also have
to be careful about forklifts coming by whenever I have to work a night shift.
It's at least some work experience that I can add to my CV.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Though I appear to be doing fine at my
job, I sometimes can't help but worry and fear about possibly being fired; I'm
on probation, so you're only given a limited amount of time before you can be
more solidified in the company - in my case, that's three months. However,
thinking through the past months about this fear of not having a job reminded
me of a lesson that I had helped teach to some kids at a Vacation Bible School
session at church this past week of God being our provider and how He provides
our needs.<br />
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In<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>1
Kings 17</b>, we see how God had provided food to the prophet Elijah after
giving King Ahab a message that there would be a long drought in Israel, as
well as when Elijah visits a widow for some bread and God miraculously provides
enough flour to make bread for Elijah and the widow's family. A similar type of
phenomenon can also be found in the Gospels where Jesus fed five thousand men
using five loaves of bread and two fish (see<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>Matthew
14:13-21</b>,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>John 6:1-14</b>,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>Mark 6:30-44</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>&<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>Luke 9:10-17</b>). These were times
when a simple thing was needed (and one that we all can relate to): hunger.
Yet, God had provided a way to feed His people. Since God has that kind of
power and then some, then He will provide for me because He knows what I need
before I do.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I think it’s great that I can count on an
all-knowing, all-powerful and all-present God who knows everything about me and
wants me to be in a relationship with Him. Yet I bet you’re wondering: “aren’t
I scared of God since He is so powerful that He can wipe us off the planet in
an instant?” Well, yes, I am afraid of God, but I am also in awe of all of the
goodness and love that He has shown me over the years. I’ve read that among the
Psalms and Proverbs (e.g. <b>Psalm 111:10</b>
& <b>Proverbs 1:7</b>), it is stated
that “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom/knowledge”. What I
believe this means to me is that the driving fear and awe of who God is and how
much He loves me will lead me into a more spiritually abundant life, one that
He intends to show me as I continue yielding to Him.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Living life for God is definitely never
the easiest thing – it’s truly sacrificial – but I believe that faith work and
community are great ways to get moving in your current path. God has brought
some amazing people into my life since coming to the Mount, and for that, I am
deeply grateful. I wouldn’t be where I am now without my family and friends to
support me like they do. And it’s through the power and grace of God that these
bonds will become stronger with each passing storm. Having a God-loving
community is such a blessing and a gift.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Until next time,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Alex<span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262530516841849743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449890648549818671.post-74695826068984101572014-04-29T23:00:00.003-03:002014-11-07T02:34:43.402-04:00Birthday Update - 2014<div class="" style="clear: both;">
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I recently finished my third year of university, which is a bit of a relief when you think about things like exams and term projects. Now that I'm done with all of those, I can focus on finding a job for the summer and preparing for my fourth year. Unlike most of my friends who started out in the same year as me, I decided to push graduation aside to 2016 and take lower course loads for the next two years.<br />
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Today is also my birthday, and I mostly spent it so far by having walked my sister's dog for nearly 50 minutes and going out for supper with the family. I also decided to take a silly selfie (just 'cause I can...why not?) To those of my friends and family who have given me birthday greetings, whether it was done in person, over the phone or online, thank you; it's been a blessing to hear from you.<br />
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As I have looked back from when I started university to where I am now, I've come a long way. Mind you, I'm still a little weird (in a good way, as you might be pondering), I still have issues to go through every now and again, but I'm okay with that. Often when I look at my own self-portraits, or portraits of others, I don't really get all nitty gritty about the physical features about a person's face because God has shown me that true beauty lies from within. I think that part of what I'm meant to dos to help show people that they are beautiful and significant in His eyes because they were made by Him.</div>
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<i>"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;</i></div>
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<i>your works are wonderful, I know that full well."</i></div>
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<i>-Psalm 139: 14</i></div>
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I find that this verse holds a great truth to me now because there have been times where I struggled to see the beauty within myself due to having a disability. God has revealed to me through the Bible studies of which I had been attend that I am loved and that I do have substance, that I have worth. Now, the whole idea of being a child of the King is deeper. If you haven't felt this way, believe me, it is so good.</div>
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I know that there are a lot of people who feel like they don't have value and that they don't feel loved. Let me tell you something: you are loved, you have value and you have a purpose. When we understand and accept that God loves us and gives us value and a purpose, we are no longer the same as before; we are changed. If that is what you're looking for, I'd suggest going into prayer and letting God show you your value.</div>
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I hope that this is an encouragement to you as you move along with your life. I know that this is encouraging myself as a reminder of my testament. Thanks again for reading.</div>
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-Alex</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262530516841849743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449890648549818671.post-38799085632827989762014-03-14T00:23:00.000-03:002014-11-07T02:35:24.307-04:00Moses, Peter & Setbacks<div align="left">
Lately this semester, my small group and I have been on a study through the book of Exodus and looking closely at Moses’ story and his relationship with God. We looked into how he came to be someone whom God decided to use to present His glory to the world. It was quite interesting as to the kinds of questions we've had so far.<br />
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For instance, we were looking at how Moses has been initially struggling with his faith in God and how He’ll rescue His people from the hands of the Egyptians. We had an application question that was asked: what’s holding you back? I find that this question gets asked a lot, but it still gets to the heart of the matter. What IS holding me back from living out what God intends for me to do?<br />
I guess what’s holding me back is having this sense of doubt, especially when different circumstances arise. It’s so much easier to do what God wants from us when things are going good in our direction, but I still find it hard to go through the hard times every now and then. What I can learn from Moses’ story is the same as with the apostle Peter. By learning to put my faith in Jesus and yielding to His Spirit in prayer, I can overcome whatever troubles me.<br />
There are other things that I could mention about specific lessons I have learned from Moses’ story, but this appeared to be an over-arching theme that kept popping up. The other great theme for me is to know that I’m not alone. I find that many of us are struggling to be accepted and loved when we don’t know that we were already loved and accepted by a God who chose to die in our place in order to conquer death and offer eternal life. If you are in a situation like this, the same applies to you; you don’t have to be lonely because there already is a place where you belonged before you could even realize such a place; you are loved when you have struggled to find “the One,” or have been told that nobody loves or wants you.<br />
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But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. –Romans 5: 8</blockquote>
I found that verse to be comforting. For me, it meant that God loved me so much to sacrifice himself so I could be free from my sins. It meant that I mattered, and that there is a reason for my existence. My hope is that this verse will also bring comfort into someone else’s life, like it has for countless others like me.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262530516841849743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449890648549818671.post-8527860622697534392014-02-14T01:10:00.000-04:002014-11-07T02:35:45.078-04:00Who's My Valentine?Ah, Valentine's Day, a day filled with love, romance, chocolate, cards...<br />
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But WAIT! WHO'S GOING TO BE MY DATE? This is something that many of us ask ourselves, and for most guys, this often includes trying to have sex. But what if there's more to love?<br />
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For me, I believe that God may already have a woman in mind for me to marry, so until it comes to that time (if that ever happens), I will wait and stay abstinent and single. I'm not saying that I'm really giving up (even though I question whether I'll ever be "in love"); I'm just saying that for now, my Valentine's Day date is Jesus. But what do I mean by that?<br />
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In John 15: 13, Jesus said to His disciples, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." (NIV) Later on, He demonstrated this sacrificial love by dying on the cross so that we don't have to do it. We don't deserve a second chance, but He now offers it to all who seek it. Because I have a relationship that is filled with God's love, I don't have to worry about being lonely.<br />
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So, for those of you who are greatly concerned about finding your mate, just know that God has it all figured out and that HE is in control. I find that we are often like Moses, questioning God about our part in His plan, our future jobs, our future spouse, etc. But if we put our trust and faith in Him, then we will start to see things more clearly.<br />
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A song about God's love that I find to be very powerful is called, "One Thing Remains." This worship song from Jesus Culture expresses the length and power that His love has. I'd definitely recommend giving it a good listen for when you want to find a way to express your love to Him.<br />
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Happy Valentine's Day, everybody!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262530516841849743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449890648549818671.post-29364283873700186672014-01-10T16:09:00.001-04:002014-11-07T02:35:58.096-04:00Lord, I Need You - A Song of Intimacy<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">There's something about music that draws me more
toward God and exemplifies how he makes me stronger in my faith despite how
weak I am without him. To me, music is very much therapeutic as well as
expressive; it's often how I feel the Holy Spirit move in me. I also find that
music has this way of opening me up more to love and prayer. More often, a set
of inspired lyrics just hit me at the core, and I just know it. It’s naturally
for me to be singing along when I know that deep down, that is what I feel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">“Lord, I Need You” is a song that is initially
recorded by Matt Maher, a Canadian-born, contemporary Christian artist who is
based in the States. The song’s lyrics are very powerful and intimate, and I
find this sense of comfort when I hear or sing it. I feel this nudge in me as
though God is saying, “Hey, everything’s okay. We are back and stronger
together. Just like how I was with my Son through his death and resurrection and
as I have promised the people of Israel many times before, I will always be with
you; don’t ever forget that.” This song is among many that bring in this
spiritual intimacy within me. Why music does that for me, I can never really
say other than that’s just a way for me to be more easily intimate and
connected with my Creator. Below, I have added the official lyric video to the
song. May God deliver peace and joy within your soul and shower you with grace
and love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262530516841849743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449890648549818671.post-57794412329147919562014-01-09T03:21:00.000-04:002014-11-07T02:36:17.206-04:00Stirrings in My Heart - January 2014<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Ming Std L";">I find that more and more, I still struggle with this whole
concept of love. It’s not that I don’t know what love is, but I find it much
more difficult to experience it sometimes in a physical sense. While I know
that my parents and sisters would tell me that they love me, I find that I see
and experience the love from my parents more easily and readily than I do the
latter. Why exactly do I struggle with this? What is it with love that I have a
hard time experiencing (feeling) it around me? It’s not like God is not with
me, right? Then again, maybe I have forgotten to allow him to fully take over
my heart. It’s been in pain before, and I feel confused about quite a few
things: how can God love and accept me for being such a wreck? Why is it that I
was born with Autism, and how will this be relatable with other people? It’s
not easy to live through life where you’re around people who hurt you at times
and often don’t forgive you. Oh, how there is such darkness in this dying
world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Ming Std L";">I guess this is part of how it feels to be shaped by God as
one of his diamonds in the rough. The pain and joys that I experience and the
darkness surrounding me are the heat and pressuring forces that are driving me
to toughen up in spirit as I continue to seek out and reach for God’s heart.
Perhaps part of my stirrings has something to do with me feeling contempt, and
that not much has changed. I need a change in my life, a strong, spiritual
resurgence from him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Ming Std L";">Well God, here’s my prayer as I continue through this month
called, “January”. Search my heart, fix what is wrong with it, and fill it with
your love and light. Only you are the true bringer of love, light and life.
Just like how Matthew 5: 14 tells us that we are the light of the world, help me
to experience the reality of your love and that your light will always shine
brightly. I know that I have failed you and that I cannot guarantee that I can
make another attempt on my own; I need you to help and guide me as I continue
on this journey and learn to work on whatever you have called me to do. I thank
you again for your love and forgiveness, and for the sacrifice you have made
for my soul and for the souls of all nations. Please help me to not be so
selfish and to focus on serving others for your glory. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Ming Std L";">In
Jesus’ name,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Ming Std L";">Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262530516841849743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449890648549818671.post-87183070282364515962013-12-24T23:58:00.002-04:002014-11-07T02:36:44.135-04:00The Light of ChristmasAh Christmas, it's a season filled with love, joy and peace...<br />
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"WAIT a minute? PEACE?" you say. "What's so peaceful about Christmas? I love Christmas, but it's gone all commercial and retail has made it even more crazy."<br />
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Yes, Christmas has become, and still is, quite commercial since people have discovered how far others will go just to find the perfect gift, and sometimes just to cross a name off a list. But what is the REAL meaning for this season? What's is the reason that Christians celebrate Christmas again? Well, just to be rather obvious, by taking off -mas, you get "Christ".<br />
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In Luke 1: 26-38, we see the closer foreshadowing of Jesus' coming birth through Mary as she was visited by the angel Gabriel and accepted her given favour. In relation to this story, Joseph was visited by an angel in a dream in Matthew 1: 18-25, where after learning that his wife-to-be was carrying Christ (the Word coming into flesh as talked in the first chapter of John), accepted his role to help raise the child. It took faith for them to do what they did at the time, and faith is something that we must hold onto this season.<br />
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The magi mentioned from Matthew 2 probably didn't come to Jesus until He was probably two years old, which would explain why Herod would order every baby boy two years and under to be killed after the magi deceived him. As for the gifts, they were meant as a way to love their love and appreciation for the Messiah's arrival. To give a gift should mean that you're giving from your heart.<br />
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So, this Christmas, remember that as Jesus is the light of the world, He is also the light of Christmas. Here's a little video clip featuring a fun new Christmas song that emphasizes more on what I'm communicating.<br />
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Merry Christmas and a happy new year!<br />
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AlexAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262530516841849743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449890648549818671.post-59293555758124369422013-11-30T17:00:00.000-04:002013-11-30T17:00:21.860-04:00Life with GodWhat exactly does life with God look like? I think that it looks like a life where we are actually listening to God, and understanding that He wants to give us. I also came across this video on the web a few weeks back and thought that it would sum it up better than I could.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262530516841849743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449890648549818671.post-29115768912622882402013-10-31T22:23:00.001-03:002014-11-07T02:37:10.157-04:00Forgiveness, Faith and Needs Met by JesusI find it rather soothing that Jesus meets us where we are. Where else in the world can you find past recordings of someone choosing to come over to find somebody and show them love and forgiveness without condemning them? Who else would decide to come to our level so that we can eventually learn to understand what he is getting at?<br />
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Lately this month, I had gone through passages where we see Jesus coming to meet people's needs. For example, John 4 depicts about Jesus coming to a well in Samaria to talk to a woman about the gift of Living Water found within His kingdom; she was in need of water and was not expecting God, but Jesus saw her bigger, more spiritual need and helped to quench it. Another spot where we find Jesus meeting the needs and whims of others can be found in Mark 2: 1-12, where we see Him forgiving and healing a paralyzed man who was brought forth by his well-determined friends.<br />
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The second passage here shows a more important thing that involves our spirit: forgiveness. What does this mean? It means for many to let go of the things that they hold against others, starting fresh and wiping the slate clean for a fresh start. From personal observations, I believe that we as a society have forgotten how to forgive those who hurt us. In Matthew 6: 14-16, we are told that God will forgive us when we also forgive those people; Also, since God chose to forgive us through the sacrifice on the cross, it also makes sense that we model this act among others (please see Colossians 3: 13b). But I also know that forgiving others is not very easy and is very much so against our nature as sinners.<br />
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So how do we find the courage and strength to forgive? My best response to that question is to pray to God; ask Him to strengthen you and find the courage to forgive the who have hurt you so that you can move on. This requires a lot of faith on our end. Remember that it is by grace through faith that we are saved and forgiven of our sins (this is an overarching theme that is found throughout the New Testament, especially in Paul's letters to the Early Church). Faith and forgiveness should be evident in our walk with God.<br />
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I can definitely say that we all need faith and forgiveness in our lives, and I love that we have a God who loves us so much that we cannot fully fathom it; He meets us where we are in our lives (in the physical world and in our understanding) and fulfills our most fundamental needs. So if you need something, you can pray to God and address that need (thank goodness the Holy Spirit knows us so well to intercede on our behalf as we come to the Father). So my challenge for you is to forgive your enemies, and pray for God to strengthen you so that your faith can become stronger; remember, God will never leave us nor forsake us (Joshua 1: 9), so you don't have to do this alone.<br />
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God bless you, and happy Halloween!<br />
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AlexAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262530516841849743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449890648549818671.post-57967798945032592712013-09-21T11:42:00.000-03:002014-11-07T02:37:25.198-04:00Image of God - Understanding His Character So this past Monday night was the beginning of a small group Bible study being held in one of the student residences at the Mount. The piece of Scripture that we studied was Genesis 2: 5-25 (which constitutes the majority of the chapter). This is actually a first for me in the past two years that we have conducted an inductive study in the Old Testament, as with Inter-Varsity, it is usually focused more on the story of Jesus. However, this year's study theme for the Mount is focused on living life and the things that corrupt and restrict us from living a prosperous life.<br />
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From the text, my group had noticed that the text gives us a good general idea of God's character, which is that He is a loving, caring creator and provider who enjoys interacting with His creation. His goodness is greatly reflected in this passage as it depicts how everything He made was good, and that there was no shame that existed. He provided food for Adam by creating plants that were edible, and later provided him with his helpmate, Eve. God was also talking toward Adam, even giving advisable instruction not to eat one of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.<br />
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I had been meditating on this passage throughout the week, letting it all sink in as I was moving forward with my life. I believe that this is a really great image of God that the original author had made here; however, we often misconstrue this when we're having a rough time with life. It is sad to see that the image of God we use in our hard times is not the same as the one mentioned here. I know I have often fallen prey to doing this. But I want to remind you all that we don't have to be alone in those hard times. God is always going to be with us, even when we think He is too far away to be reached. We have a comforter in the form of the Holy Spirit, as Jesus has mentioned a few times in the Gospels (He tells us more in particular about Him in John 16). Since the Spirit lives in and among us, we can know that everything will be OK in the end.<br />
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I hope that these thoughts have challenged and encouraged you. I hope that all of this has gotten you to think about what you believe about God, and to strive to build more on your relationship with Him. I know that not everyone is going to completely agree with me, but God works things out in many ways, ways that are difficult for us to fully understand while we are living in this world. But as we focus on Him and Hos promises, then our lives will be blessed.</div>
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Take care, everyone!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262530516841849743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449890648549818671.post-81137690692472273012013-09-13T20:22:00.001-03:002014-11-07T02:38:23.498-04:00From Bread to Ice Cream<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-rhvJ9a3qvdZzVcdnumSDBxDMDPrwGLrzJx0DvLTMnpb_ALnfCmTvecEgrV9Von58n-IcNDqD5K6hQMfYmApgTssnTpuAQlyeyKti8T3rs4_JoBNuJ81PoNMRD2Ymxs3YfOSB8aBaEA/s640/blogger-image-787004672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-rhvJ9a3qvdZzVcdnumSDBxDMDPrwGLrzJx0DvLTMnpb_ALnfCmTvecEgrV9Von58n-IcNDqD5K6hQMfYmApgTssnTpuAQlyeyKti8T3rs4_JoBNuJ81PoNMRD2Ymxs3YfOSB8aBaEA/s400/blogger-image-787004672.jpg" width="400" /></a>I'm really blessed to have such awesome friends through the Mount Christian Fellowship. During the past week, we have been reaching out to new students, giving them frozen treats during a high-energy orientation week event and inviting them to our upcoming events. This is also my second year as an orientation leader, which has been a big part of how I reach out to people on the campus. You know, this kind of reminds me of an event that was recorded in the Bible.</div>
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It was when there were five thousand hungry people hunkered along the shore (I often refer to Luke's recording, though I'm certain that there are other versions of this event in the other Gospels); recognizing an important need, Jesus was able to miraculously distribute five loaves of bread and two fish among them. Even though what we were doing was nothing the same as that miracle, the emphasis was that we saw something that the students were going to need later on as they were actively participating inside the gymnasium and used it as an opportunity to serve. I'm certain that a lot of students, new and returning, greatly appreciated the gesture that we were making (though it was probably just for the ice cream and such...that's okay). I was leading one of the events inside, so I couldn't help distribute the treats.</div>
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Going through my Bible to find something about giving and generosity, I came across this set of verses:</div>
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"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:10, 11 NIV)"</div>
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I found this to be rather intriguing and inspirational as it allowed me to reflect on how each one of us as followers of Jesus Christ has at least one or more spiritual gifts, God-given abilities that are designed to glorify Him and build up the Church; we each had our own role to play in reaching out to people who do not know God personally. For me, that was to act as a friendly face who can encourage others into doing what they put their minds to do, as well as to be a guide and friend to the new students. I do enjoy getting to meet new people, understand their backgrounds and help them along their own life journeys.</div>
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I'm really excited to see what God is planning to do here at the Mount, who He's going to bring into our lives, and the new and exciting challenges awaiting us. How does He want us to interact with the students and faculty? What kinds of things should we look into to help them along the way? I pray that He reveals these things within His time. I hope that this has encouraged you as you continue to live your life for God, constantly dying to your own fleshy desires.</div>
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Take care,</div>
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Alex</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262530516841849743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-449890648549818671.post-36174818135388038382013-08-25T22:28:00.003-03:002014-11-07T02:38:43.079-04:00More Than Conquerors: Thoughts on Chapter TwoIt's been a while since I last wrote about thoughts on the book that I had been reading (More Than Conquerors: A Call to Radical Discipleship). Therefore, I decided that I will share my thoughts on what Chapter Two was about. I still find that this book is getting me to think and reflect. So, here are some thoughts that respond to some study questions from the back of the book.<br />
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One of the study questions asked about what my "safe life" would look like and how I would see my life being more radical. If I were to think of it. I don't think I can fully see my life as being a very safe one. Sure, it has some luxuries (a TV, a laptop, iPad, a roof over my head, if you were to ask about material things), but I have lived with personal struggles, and still do. I'm in a position where I can choose to talk with a fellow student about Jesus, or not. I guess you could say that I'm being risky to talk to my friends and classmates about Him. I mainly explain that I was saved, and that Jesus loves and wants to help them.<br />
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Another study question discussed about the gifts and passions that God has given me. To me, I'm finding that God has gifted me with a passion for wanting to help other people learn about Him, and that I have a knack for knowledge and teaching (though, I'm still testing these out some more). I also found over the years that I'm developing more as a person who effectively exhorts others. While I do have these gifts, I'm also aware that I need to continue practicing with them and take on other risks in order to grow further as a follower of Jesus. In relation to this, another set of questions focused on attitudes that Christians have on the work in which other Christians participate. I believe that I have no real problem about what another brother's vocation turns out to be; as long as he serves Christ with all that he is, I'm cool with it. I also don't see that any real hierarchy should exist among fellow disciples (or people in that matter). We're all born equal and we have all sinned equally in God's eyes (see Romans 3: 23).<br />
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Guillebaud reminds us in the book that we are ambassadors for God, in the world but not of the world. I do see this aspect within me. To put it out in simple terms, anyone who is a follower of Jesus is an ambassador, or representative, of His kingdom; we are meant to spread the good news about His love and His acts of mercy. Because I now see myself as someone who represents God in the physical world, I am also working to apply what I learn about His character so that I can be more like Him over time as He continues to work in me and through me.<br />
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Guillebaud had brought in a few statements that reflect what it means to be a follower of Jesus. They are as follows (with a few notes from me):<br />
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<li>"Saying that God matters most doesn't imply that everything else matters little."</li>
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<li>What he means is, because God matters most, everything else must also matter greatly.</li>
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<li>"The term 'full-time Christian worker' is a misnomer, as all Christians are full-time."</li>
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<li>We do have missionaries out in the world, but aren't we all the same when our mission field is right at home?</li>
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<li>"Following Christ was never meant to be comfortable, easy or safe, but rather impacting, tough and real."</li>
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<li>This statement reminds me about how we are tested for our faith; will we cling to Jesus and see things through to the end, or will we let go and drown in our pride, fears and sins? As much as we want our lives to be easy, we learn that it is through these struggles that God helps us to grow deeper in Him.</li>
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<li>"From the outset, we admit we're all weak, fickle, proud - basically, we've messed up and need God's help."</li>
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<li>This is a bit self-explanatory, as God has all the strength and power in the universe. But because we wanted to go our own way, we have become cursed to die and be eternally separated by God, which is why He came as Jesus to die in our place and conquered death by rising again, fixing the relationship between God and humans.</li>
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I agree with those statements as they are well-rationalized and have been backed up with Scripture and related works. These statements show that God, His Word, they're all still relevant now. These statements are complimentary to the Bible.<br />
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Since I had brought up the notion of struggles here, I thought I'd share a song about it. The video embedded below has a song by the band, Tenth Avenue North, called, "The Struggle." The song talks about things that people struggle with, and how God has freed us from such bondage. I hope that this song speaks to your heart as you go about your day.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262530516841849743noreply@blogger.com0