Friday Thoughts and Sunday Sermons

This really all started a few weeks ago. Justine and I were discussing discipleship and what it looks like to disciple someone. We left the conversation after quite a while of discussing it and parted ways for the evening.

Over the next couple weeks I was discussing that very topic with many of my friends. I would ask them questions like, "What do you think it means to disciple someone?" and "What does that look like in our lives?" I'm sure some of them got sick of it but, that's beside the point. :)

It has been on my heart to be developing a relationship with someone within the context of discipleship. I want to be discipling someone and pouring into them. This past Thursday I was talking to my good friend Ethan about it and we had a good conversation about discipleship and even discipling non-believers. It was encouraging and gave me very good guidelines.

The next day at lunch I was eating with my friend Luke and we discussed some of the same things. We shared what we've been learning lately and then we were able to encourage each other in that and deepen our conversation to other pertinent issues, as well. On Saturday I was able to think through some of that conversation and then when I went to church this morning, God really got a hold of me.

The text for this morning was Luke 9:23 which says, "And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'" To begin with, I was not quite sure where Dr. Mooney would go with this text. However, he went somewhere I very much needed to go spiritually.

There were three questions that we focused on this morning.
1) What is being a disciple?
2) What does it look like to disciple someone?
3) Why do we make disciples?

Let's begin with a definition of disciple...

A disciple, "always implies the existence of a personal attachment which defines the disciple." (Dr. Mooney)
This attachment is to a person. A disciple of Christ would display that attachment to Christ and it would define him and his life.

A statement which was made (and I find to be quite accurate) was "All Christians are disciples but not all disciples are Christians." I may be getting slightly controversial here but I believe what I am about to say is accurate and beneficial. A Christian by definition is a disciple of Christ. However you can be a disciple outwardly by doing good works in God's name and yet not be a true Christian who is personally involved with Christ. The difference here is that some things are outward while others are inward. And smoeone who claims to be a Christian and yet does not live the life is, in actuality, going to eventually stop acting like a Christian, as well. Another statement which was made was, "An unrepentant sinner is not a Christian." On the surface I think most people find this easy to believe but it struck me hard. I always like to believe that people will eventually become repentant and come back to Christ but what if they don't?

We also discussed that one is a disciple because of a relational attachment, not a duty bound action. That takes away all genuineness of the action. To be a disciple is to imply a very intimate attachment. And in the 1st century, to sign on with Jesus was to sign on to die. (Dr. Mooney)

Being a disciple means turning your back on the worldly values and gladly accepting its condemnation. It means putting aside all wordly pleasures and accepting the true joy and reality that Christ is giving you. It means no longer caring about what car you drive, what bed you sleep in, what food you eat. It means caring that Christ's name is being shared wherever you go and caring that you are showing His love to people.

There are three defining characteristics of disciples which Dr. Mooney presented us with.
1) A disciple perceives Jesus as supremely valuable.
2) Their life is redefined by Jesus (Always undersatnds his/her life is bound up with Jesus).
3) A disciple must be willing to die.

To make a disciple we must not be focused on our abilities to persuade and inform. Our abilities in the end count for nothing except that Christ works through them. He is the one truly calling people to Himself and He uses us to do so but by NO means is it because of me that anyone has become saved.

We are commanded in Scripture to be making disciples. There are some questions which we were faced with today which play a huge part in our understanding of where we are with Christ. Does it bring me to joy to see death brought to life? Is my life being constantly shaped and reshaped by Scripture? Can people tell I'm attached to Christ? Am I filled with joy by seeing others closely attached to Christ? Why will I so gladly do overseas work and yet shrug off on diong the same work here? (Actually, I'll write some more about that later...) Do I judge myself on other people's opinions? (I shouldn't...)

A last statement which hit me hard was that a Christian that is not producing fruit is someone who is not connected to the Vine.

As far as work here..

I am actually going to begin going to a local coffee shop regularly and striking up conversations and getting to know more people outside of the CBU bubble. I want to have more non-believing friends and I want to share with them. If you want to join or if you want me to give you some other ideas, let me know. I've got a few stored up. ;)

Prayer

So today I was having a discussion with a good friend of mine. You should check out Luke's blog. Anyway, we were discussing prayer and specific prayer. We can always say, "God, please have Your will in this." And many times we do. But lately, I have been realizing just how effective specific prayer is.

When I say effective, I mean in my personal growth. We were discussing this very topic in my small group this past week. When we pray, I think it changes more about me than it does about the actual outcome. But prayer is still important. It is still the way we communicate our desires, needs, and life to Christ. Yes, He knows it all. But He still wants to hear it from us. So when I say effective, I mean it effectively changes me to bring my will more under Christ's will.

For instance, if I was praying about my trip next summer I might say, "Lord, please provide for me a partner for this trip that we may most glorify You." And if He does, that's awesome. And if not, I still have the faith that what He did is best. Period.

However, I think so often we are scared to pray specifically for our desires because what happens if it's not the answer we were hoping for? I believe this is where faith in His goodness comes in. (Thanks, Luke!)

For some news:

God HAS provided a partner for me for next summer. There is very little left in the process but it looks like I will be spending 2 months in SE Asia next summer with some people very dear to my heart!

God's goodness is overwhelming. I almost cried when I received this news and I have definitely been very excited to tell people all day. SE Asia, here I come!

New prayer request:
My computer crashed and I'm now on the lookout for a new one! :)

Check check check it out!

Hey guys! For something to pray about getting involved with and to just pray about, check out this website:

TEAM SWEETWATER

Enjoy!

These guys are dear to my heart and could definitely use your support in any way available. Please seriously consider helping in any way you can. Thanks! :)

Keeping the Faith...

Recently some awesome opportunities have arisen for me. I have talked to my parents and received their blessing. Now all that's left is for God to provide.

I am constantly praying He will. Tearfully, even. He is so good and so merciful and just that I can completely rely on Him to do what is best for Himself. And that's all that really matters, right? I believe so.

All I can ask you to do now is to pray, also. Pray that He would provide for His will (which He has already promised as I was reminded by a dear friend tonight). Pray that He would make His will clear (which He always does). Pray that He would remain faithful (which He always has).

A friend just said to me, "Don't lose hope." Oh, I haven't. In fact, my hope is strengthened in the fact that God is good. God is just. God will do what is best for Him.

It's just a matter of me accepting whatever that reality may be.

So also pray that I would graciously accept His answer - no matter what it may be.

I'd really appreciate it.

Goodness, Truth, and Beauty

So in following tradition of my original blogging habits, I am back with more thoughts. This semester I am enrolled in an Apologetics class here on campus that could not be any more wonderful than it is. I have been growing so much in my knowledge and love for God and His son Jesus Christ. Today, some of our discussion brought me to some serious internal dialogue.

We are currently reading/just finished a book called Proslogion written by Anselm. We are still discussing it in class and today we were discussing the ideas of goodness, truth, and beauty. No matter what we say or do, many of the past philosophers believe that these three things are transcendental. They are far above time and limits. They are above past, present, and future. And they are the standard by which we judge things here on earth.

Of course as a Christian I understand all these things are found in God Himself who is all these things fundamentally. Also, because He is one in essence and in existence, as well as the creator of all things, these things exist through Him.

Take a minute and process that...sometimes it's a little tough.

Anyway, so I was so deeply impacted by these thoughts today that I almost started crying in class. My facial expression definitely showed that I was processing and working through these ideas and the more my professor spoke, the more I realized just how GOOD, TRUE, and BEAUTIFUL God is!

No matter what anyone says, we all understand that there is a truth by which we judge all things. There is a moral standard. (See C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity) Also, we understand that there are things which are inherently good and we understand that there is true beauty around us. Who would deny that a flower is beautiful?

Understanding that God is all these things, and understanding HOW He is all these things, takes some time to reflect and glorify and thank Him. He deserves our awe and love, devotion and adoration, respect and a healthy fear. I cannot fully express in this post all that I was thinking and feeling in class. But please understand this if nothing else: God is good far above all else. His goodness, truth, and beauty are fundamental characteristics of Himself. It is ok for us to enjoy these things.

Questions: Feel free to ask. There are definitely more thoughts, these being the basics.

God is good and He provides.

The passage of time

It was pointed out to me yesterday that I haven't updated in a while. Trust me, I've tried...but nothing has come of it yet. I guess that's both good and bad.

Good because it means I'm focusing on here and now, school, friends, etc.

Bad because it means I have not updated anyone as to my recent dealings...

Do you ever have a picture taken of you and then not remember it at ALL later on? Yeah, that's how I am about this photo, but I like it...

Things are slowly progressing for next summer. I cannot say much yet because nothing is quite certain yet. I am praying for God to provide. Please keep me in prayer. Once I know more, I will share. For now, things are looking great and I am very excited for all the potential that is available right now!

Today in chapel, Dr. Mooney spoke and gave an awesome message. One of the lines that stuck with me most was in relation to John 15. He reminded us that We are the branches, Christ is the Vine, and the life that the Vine has PRESSES through the branches. If His life is not pressing through me, something is most definitely wrong with me. I am not living as I ought.

As humans it is so easy to get caught up in ourselves and how we can look our best through our actions. But it's not about us! I make this mistake for sure. Please don't feel like I'm saying I'm perfect. In no way am I. I do think, however, that we all need to be evaluating our actions. It's so easy for me to do something nice because I know it's what's right, because that's how I was raised. But I should be quick to do something nice because Christ would do the same thing and since He is living in me, He is acting in me. My mindset could use some changing from time to time.

Thankfully I have been completely rescued from a horrid life because Christ has, for no reason I could EVER imagine, chosen me and called me to Himself. Because of this undeserved love, I am now an heir with Christ. I need to be living like one.

This has been somewhat of a ramble. Hopefully something can be gleaned from it...