words

Theology does indeed make our worship more wholesome and complete. I realize that the Christian camp atmosphere makes almost depressing to come to real world, and i’ve been to quite a couple.

Speaking from experience, i know that is it easy to be lost in the sea of emotions. Why not? Emotions are a powerful aspects of our lives. It drives us; it makes us feel something. But like the speed in which it came, it will leave in the same way. Fleeting emotions leave us as empty shells that can only dwell in the past.

This spans across not just “camp highs”, but anytime God encounters us where we are at. God can move powerfully, but we limit Him by just leaving it as a feeling and not as a dedication and a purpose filled passion.

Feeling good about life today. Just finished my last final, cleaned up my apartment, and ready to hit the gym again (I have grown a little pudgy). Then I see this homeless outside my apartment as I threw out the trash digging through the dumpster. He actually found some pretty edible items. I saw a box of expired spinach, a can of peanut butter, and I think I saw some fruit, but for the most part it would be stuff that I would have thrown out if it was a little past expiration date.

I see homeless people everywhere in Austin, but especially today the idea that these people are “desperate” hits me. I’ve been exposed to homeless people for awhile, but today was different. I saw homelessness for what it was. It wasn’t in the form of a motivational video, a homeless testimony, or even a pastor preaching about feeding the homeless. It was what it was.

This small minute encounter reminds me that life is much different for the majority of the world. My self perceived plight ended today in CPE 2.214 at 11:45am with the end of my last final, but their empty stomachs and desperate situation continue.

I have always kept homelessness at arm’s length. I volunteer a couple times a month at “Feed my people”, occasionally give and buy them a meal, or when I am feeling extra compassionate sit down and enjoy a meal together, but i just don’t feel like I am living the way God calls us to live.

These things are things that I do, I don’t genuinely love these people and live out Micah 6:8

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
-Micah 6:8

What does it look like to love even the most undesirable of people?

This seems to be the most unorganized and least coherent post I’ve put in awhile, so i apologize if this makes no sense, but if you do feel the same way please share your thoughts!

Christianity shall stand on its own merits. I shall this quote one of my friend’s wall, and I was blown away by the truth of it, and how we as Christians shall live with those who aren’t. [I also feel like quoting Jefferson is stretching it, but I love this particular quote]

The phrase “Freedom of Religion” has been used to suggest that this country was not founded by Christian leaders with Christian principles, and that America is not Christian nation. While our American Founders believed that people of all religions should be welcomed, they also intended that America be a Christian nation, believing that “Christianity… would prevail on its own merits without the need for force or coercion”.

“Truth can stand by itself… Why subject religious opinion to coercion?… If there be one right religion, and Christianity that one, we should wish to see the nine hundred and ninety nine wandering sects gathered into the fold of truth. But against such a majority we cannot effect this by force. Reason and persuasion are the only practical instruments. To make way for these, free inquiry must be indulged…”

-Thomas Jefferson

When you want to receive, give. Life is so much more rich when we are poor, ironic huh? When our treasures become the people around us instead of ourselves, we’ll find that life means more. Love conquers and rises above every and any sin between us. Ultimately this love points us back to the One who loved us first.

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves”
-Philippians 2:3

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
-Luke 12:34

God forbid the day that I turn away from my faith, the day I turn away from Christ, but if it ever did come I would essentially reduce my purpose here on Earth from sharing the hope of eternity and sharing a relationship with my creator to merely producing babies to populate the earth.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not trying to generalize and offend those who do not believe in Jesus Christ, but this is my honest train of thought for myself and myself only.

I can’t imagine what life would look like without eternity to look forward to. The idea of earthly treasure that will one day fade holds no weight with me when the concept of a heavenly realm exists.

This is merely my opinion and muse, but my hope is that wherever you are in life that you will try to find your true purpose.

There are some days you just know God is real. Sometimes in the sorrow and valley, sometimes in the joyous pastures. Follow your heart and you’ll find what you’re looking for.