So Halloween is just around the corner, so last night I went to a haunted corn maze with a bunch of awesome people. After several wrong turns, u-turns, and driving out into the middle of some guy's farm, we finally got there. Like most haunted attractions, there was a guy wielding a chainsaw. Of course being the stud of a guy that I am, I was not frightened. It was a great night! Later I got to thinking about the chainsaw and drew an analogy from it.
Of course the chainsaw they used did not have the bladed chain on it. That got me thinking about how a lot of Christians aren't wielding a blade. A chainsaw, as it was originally made, is useless without the blade. Try and cut all you want, but you will never get anywhere. Essentially it is turned into a noise maker. In order for us as Christians to have our blades, we must spend time in the Word and in prayer everyday. Those are essentially the only two means we have to communicate and hear from God. To dismiss them is to drop our blade. Those are the people that make a lot of noise, but aren't necessarily accomplishing anything. They are trying to do it all on their own without realizing that they can't do anything without God. He is the source of our power and strength! We must return to him each and everyday to renew that strength.
What happens if you have a very sporadic quiet time (or as Pete might call it, "Passion Time"), and it's not a priority in your life. Maybe you put your desires ahead of God's will and align yourself more with the world than with God. Your blade just won't be as sharp. It's gonna dull out, and it won't take long. Trying to cut down a tree with a dull blade is a lot of work. It won't be long before you are worn out and just can't go any longer. That is why we need to spend time each day putting our chains on the saw and "sharpening" our blades.
Lately I have experienced the effects of this. I've been so wrapped up in so many things with friends and school that I have skipped out on my quiet times several times this past week. Because of this, even though I am out having fun with friends, at the end of the day, I just feel run down and unsatisfied.
At the time it may seem like an inconvenience to have to sharpen your blade everyday. You feel like your still good from the day before, but I promise you that you will NEVER think to yourself, "You know self. I wish I wouldn't have wasted all that time reading the Bible and praying." You will NEVER regret time spent with God sharpening your blade.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Glorious Dependence
So this year will probably go down as one of the most influential of my life and its only been two months. Of course by year, as a student, the year starts when school starts. We go by a different calendar than the rest of the world. More specifically, these last three weeks have been so monumental. October of 2012 is a month to remember. So after such an introduction, you must be wondering what the heck is going on at UVA to make such an impact on me. Well here it is. Wait no longer.
Three weeks and one day ago, Chi Alpha's weekly prayer meeting started. It's just a time for some of us to come together and pray as a group. Alex had invited me last year, but I never ended up going. I really wish that he would have been a little more pushy to get me to go knowing what I know now. Well I came out of that first week's prayer meeting feeling pretty good. Also the next day, 2 x 2 evangelism started. This is something that I really wanted to get involved with after hearing about Alex' evangelism spring break trip to Cornell. Last year, I couldn't go because I had a class during that time, but I was happy about that. It gave me an excuse not to go. It is just something that is so unnatural for me. So this first week, I was paired with Alex. He pretty much dominated. I didn't speak much, but I learned a lot from him that day. However, I didn't walk away feeling that great about it. It wasn't quite as encouraging as I wanted.
I didn't go to prayer the next week out of my own laziness. Somehow I decided it would be better for me to cuddle up under a blanket on the couch and watch a movie... I did, however, go to the evangelism the next day. This time I was paired with Jenni. I obviously didn't know her like I knew Alex, but it was really good. We talked to a few people, but one stuck out in particular. She was a 1st year. Basically she told us that she didn't think this was all made from nothing, that it was all random creation. She seemed really eager to learn more about God. She asked us several questions about our lives. She saw Chi Alpha tabling with hot chocolate a few days prior and made a comment about us finding her. It seemed really promising that Jenni would be able to follow up with her and get her connected with a core group.
So now we're back to prayer night, yesterday. I went in there excited to see what would come of it. The prayer was deep and fulfilling. I left that night feeling on top of cloud 9. It was an amazing feeling. Since I started going to these prayer meetings, my prayer life has increased and deepened tremendously!
That brings us to today and more evangelism. This time I was with another intern, Carly. I didn't really know her either, but I must say that we worked pretty great together. God really used me like never before. The past two weeks, I didn't speak a whole bunch. I was really secondary. So first we talked to a guy in CRU fellowship. As we left, he asked to pray for us, which was really encouraging. He prayed for us as we went to talk to more and more people. I'm convinced that his prayer really helped us in our next conversation. We talked to an atheist in the law school for the next 30-40 minutes. At first he seemed a little hesitant to talk to us when we first approached him, but he seemed really engaged. We talked about Jesus, the Bible, sin, life, humanity, and all kinds of things. It seemed to me like we got him thinking about a few things. I continue to pray that God will cultivate that seed we planted. That was really the first time I was really engaged. Carly and I were able to answer his questions pretty well and accurately. It was such an amazing experience. Keep in mind that I am not a quick thinker. God was speaking through me giving me a voice. I am so thankful just to have the opportunity to serve God in such a way.
It is important for us to depend on God in all we do. It is easy for us to try to set up our lives for success regardless of what God does. If we set up our lives to succeed without God, how little faith we have? It is in those moments that we depend on God or else fail that God is most present. That is what faith is. That is precisely what I've been trying to do more of, and that is exactly what happened today. This atheist guy challenged me in so many ways with his questions. Luckily I didn't have to answer them alone. God was there feeding me and encouraging me. How lucky am I to experience that? It's kind of ironic how during a time of evangelism where I am going out to spread the gospel on grounds and help others that others help me and God gives me the most encouragement, but it's not surprising. That is a moment where I depend on God perhaps more than any other time, and boy does he come through.
REJOICE IN YOUR DEPENDENCE! REJOICE IN GOD!
Three weeks and one day ago, Chi Alpha's weekly prayer meeting started. It's just a time for some of us to come together and pray as a group. Alex had invited me last year, but I never ended up going. I really wish that he would have been a little more pushy to get me to go knowing what I know now. Well I came out of that first week's prayer meeting feeling pretty good. Also the next day, 2 x 2 evangelism started. This is something that I really wanted to get involved with after hearing about Alex' evangelism spring break trip to Cornell. Last year, I couldn't go because I had a class during that time, but I was happy about that. It gave me an excuse not to go. It is just something that is so unnatural for me. So this first week, I was paired with Alex. He pretty much dominated. I didn't speak much, but I learned a lot from him that day. However, I didn't walk away feeling that great about it. It wasn't quite as encouraging as I wanted.
I didn't go to prayer the next week out of my own laziness. Somehow I decided it would be better for me to cuddle up under a blanket on the couch and watch a movie... I did, however, go to the evangelism the next day. This time I was paired with Jenni. I obviously didn't know her like I knew Alex, but it was really good. We talked to a few people, but one stuck out in particular. She was a 1st year. Basically she told us that she didn't think this was all made from nothing, that it was all random creation. She seemed really eager to learn more about God. She asked us several questions about our lives. She saw Chi Alpha tabling with hot chocolate a few days prior and made a comment about us finding her. It seemed really promising that Jenni would be able to follow up with her and get her connected with a core group.
So now we're back to prayer night, yesterday. I went in there excited to see what would come of it. The prayer was deep and fulfilling. I left that night feeling on top of cloud 9. It was an amazing feeling. Since I started going to these prayer meetings, my prayer life has increased and deepened tremendously!
That brings us to today and more evangelism. This time I was with another intern, Carly. I didn't really know her either, but I must say that we worked pretty great together. God really used me like never before. The past two weeks, I didn't speak a whole bunch. I was really secondary. So first we talked to a guy in CRU fellowship. As we left, he asked to pray for us, which was really encouraging. He prayed for us as we went to talk to more and more people. I'm convinced that his prayer really helped us in our next conversation. We talked to an atheist in the law school for the next 30-40 minutes. At first he seemed a little hesitant to talk to us when we first approached him, but he seemed really engaged. We talked about Jesus, the Bible, sin, life, humanity, and all kinds of things. It seemed to me like we got him thinking about a few things. I continue to pray that God will cultivate that seed we planted. That was really the first time I was really engaged. Carly and I were able to answer his questions pretty well and accurately. It was such an amazing experience. Keep in mind that I am not a quick thinker. God was speaking through me giving me a voice. I am so thankful just to have the opportunity to serve God in such a way.
It is important for us to depend on God in all we do. It is easy for us to try to set up our lives for success regardless of what God does. If we set up our lives to succeed without God, how little faith we have? It is in those moments that we depend on God or else fail that God is most present. That is what faith is. That is precisely what I've been trying to do more of, and that is exactly what happened today. This atheist guy challenged me in so many ways with his questions. Luckily I didn't have to answer them alone. God was there feeding me and encouraging me. How lucky am I to experience that? It's kind of ironic how during a time of evangelism where I am going out to spread the gospel on grounds and help others that others help me and God gives me the most encouragement, but it's not surprising. That is a moment where I depend on God perhaps more than any other time, and boy does he come through.
REJOICE IN YOUR DEPENDENCE! REJOICE IN GOD!
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Final Destination
Are you more afraid of going to Hell than you are excited to go to Heaven? It's a very simple question that I think reveals a lot.
I know for me when I was younger, it was the first of those two. By younger, I mean up through high school. I didn't really understand the gospel and God. I had been to church since I was about seven years old, but I hated every second of it and hardly ever payed attention. That really shows in my answer to the question.
I think for those that answer yes to the first question, there is a lack of understanding. That was most certainly the case for me, so I will ask another question. What makes Hell Hell? Why is it such a bad place, and why is Heaven such a great place we all want to end up? The answer is quite simple. God dwells in Heaven, while Satan dwells in Hell.
What it ends up coming down to is this. Do you wake up everyday longing to be with God? Are you looking forward to the day when you can be standing with God no matter when that day may come? Or are you looking at it from the other side? Maybe you are content with this life, but aren't sure what happens after death. You hear a lot about Heaven and Hell. Maybe you're kind of sitting at the edge of the pool just testing the waters. You're not submersed in the Gospel and living a life for God, but instead you're just trying to do enough to avoid Hell. That used to be me. What changed? I joined Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship at the start of my first year at UVA, and my eyes were opened. I am no longer testing the waters of God's mercy and love. I dived in and am now submersed in it, and there is no greater feeling.
So again I ask you. Are you more afraid of going to Hell than you are excited to go to Heaven?
I know for me when I was younger, it was the first of those two. By younger, I mean up through high school. I didn't really understand the gospel and God. I had been to church since I was about seven years old, but I hated every second of it and hardly ever payed attention. That really shows in my answer to the question.
I think for those that answer yes to the first question, there is a lack of understanding. That was most certainly the case for me, so I will ask another question. What makes Hell Hell? Why is it such a bad place, and why is Heaven such a great place we all want to end up? The answer is quite simple. God dwells in Heaven, while Satan dwells in Hell.
What it ends up coming down to is this. Do you wake up everyday longing to be with God? Are you looking forward to the day when you can be standing with God no matter when that day may come? Or are you looking at it from the other side? Maybe you are content with this life, but aren't sure what happens after death. You hear a lot about Heaven and Hell. Maybe you're kind of sitting at the edge of the pool just testing the waters. You're not submersed in the Gospel and living a life for God, but instead you're just trying to do enough to avoid Hell. That used to be me. What changed? I joined Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship at the start of my first year at UVA, and my eyes were opened. I am no longer testing the waters of God's mercy and love. I dived in and am now submersed in it, and there is no greater feeling.
So again I ask you. Are you more afraid of going to Hell than you are excited to go to Heaven?
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