RELIGION, FAITH AND ALL THE DEEP STUFF
I actually wrote a ton of stuff down on Thursday but lost all it while trying to post. Hopefully I can remember what I said:
I just wanted to post my own thoughts in regards to the comments made by everyone here on Feb. 14th.
First, let me clarify that whenever I use the term Christians (online or in real life) I use it non-specifically, in no way implying only Protestants but also including Catholics. I say this cuz I have personal issues about using the term "Christians" as only pertaining to one particular group. I believe that anyone, regardless of their denomination, who not only BELIEVES in Jesus Christ but also FOLLOWS Him in their daily life is a Christian. That is, Catholics are also Christians if they fit the above description; just as some so-called "Christians" aren't really followers of Christ.
Logistics aside (and I'm sure I'll be getting responses to the above statement), there are two parts of the Monday discussion that I wanted to try to wrap my head around. I am in no way claiming that I know everything; on the contrary, I don't know/understand a lot and I'm just hoping to organize some of my own ideas. Please let me know your thoughts and maybe we can come up with something together!
1. Christians use a check-list to measure devotion.
I think the reason behind this faith needs to be understood in order to see why it may seem like there's a check-list. I remember Ray saying once that "Christianity is not a habit but a lifestyle". It’s being intentional in what you do.
I think that as someone who believes is Jesus, you should try your best to remember and reflect Christ's love daily, in everything that you do. I know this isn’t easy or even always possible. And I’m definitely not saying that I’m anywhere close to the vicinity of achieving this; but I don’t think that our humanistic self-serving nature should ever be used as an excuse for not even trying.
This is what Jolyn insightfully said the other day: “I think we can all be a little bit better everyday. I'm not satisfied with anything, just so I can motivate myself to keep things dynamic and always moving forward. But I'm content with what I have, and I have faith in all that's around me.” That’s what I’d like to be able to say.
Remembering and reflecting His love not only includes praying, fasting, going to Church, etc. but also how you interact with others; and more importantly, your reasons behind these interactions. "If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."
Love, not just for our family and friends but also for the poor, the dirty, the sick, the drunk...it means for anyone and everyone who is in need of love. But most of all, it's love for God. Because He loved us enough to sacrifice Himself. And this is the reason why, or at least I think it should be the reason why people pray, fast and do all the other things.
It's with thanks that these things are done. We want to do them as our own personal way to show God that we love Him. If these things are done just because that is what’s always been taught but there’s none of our own individual reasons behind it then it really does just become a check-list and nothing more.
2. Sort of related and implied to the above...or if not implied, something that's been on my mind.
I have to somewhat agree that there seems to be a silent screening of amongst Christians. I see certain people within the religion who "screen" and place more importance on certain aspects. Eg. People who do missions are more spiritual than others. I completely disagree with this and I think Simon touched on this briefly with everyone being called to serve in different areas. No calling is more special than any other because they all ultimately contribute to a higher purpose. “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function”.
I say this because I actually have a personal agenda. I will be leaving for Haiti in less than 8 hrs for a short-term missions trip. It’ll be with my on-campus fellowship and we’ll be there for one week providing eye care.
Some of you will be surprised because I’ve never mentioned anything. And it’s because I don’t think it’s as big of a deal as everyone makes it out to be. Don’t get me wrong, it matters to me to a certain degree, but only because this is something that I’ve always wanted to do, to go somewhere else to help others and now I’ve been given an opportunity to do it.
I have to confess however, that my reasons for going don’t exactly align themselves with most mission trips. I don’t have a burden in my heart to share the Gospel with others. The thought makes me feel awkward and uncomfortable, not only because I don’t know how and that I’ve always been extremely turned-off by it when it happened to me, but also because I think my faith is a very personal thing that I don’t necessarily feel comfortable sharing with everyone. Does this make me less of a Christian? This was something that I was struggling with for the past couple of months and my answer is I don’t think so.
In the other post that I tried to write, I kept saying that I wanted to help others and that was my reason for going. It still is, but the closer I get to leaving, the more this reason becomes secondary. As much as I want to help others, I’m selfish and what I really want more than anything right now is for God to draw me closer to Him through this experience. My personal prayer is that I will be able to grow and become stronger in my faith through all the opportunities that He’s blessed me with.
I know I’m going to be humbled by this trip…It’s impossible to go to somewhere like Haiti, the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, and NOT be humbled. I am expecting extreme beatings on my pride. Especially since I’m going down with a mentality of helping others; when in reality I don’t even know the first thing about what it means to really love another human being. I know that I’m going to be receiving more than I ever expected to give. I’ve got to be honest, when I think about all this, my ego gets apprehensive about going. Am I ready for it? We’ll find out...
See you in a week!
BOYS START TAKING NOTES
I realize that this is belated but it actually slipped my mind yesterday that is was Valentine's day.
Here are some suggestions to win your way to a girl's heart:
- Offer to tutor her; get offer accepted and then proceed to spend at least 1 hr/wk one-on-one
- Invite her skating & dinner downtown
- Make her hot chocolate and then bring it to her room when she says that her nose or toes are cold
- Bring back advil from the store when she's not feeling well
- Make her a ham and egg sandwich when she's not feeling well
- Bring her chocolate cake for no reason
- Bring back food every time you go out with your friends, especially if it's sushi
- When out partying with your friends, go back home early to watch a movie with her once you hear from her voice that she's had a rough day
- Invite her to the Eyeball and then sit with her friends even though it's your last school event to hang out with yours
- On Valentine's day, leave each of her friends a Disney card in their mailbox
- Send an e-mail card to the friend whose name you messed up
- Leave a dozen gorgeous red roses in the security office for her to pick up after work
Here are some things NOT to do:
- Act like you're already her boyfriend when you're not yet
- Be all over her when she's out; especially if you're meeting her friends for the first time
- Be jealous of her spending time with guys whom she's known longer than you
- Refuse to hang up when she says she needs to go study
- Hang out with her brother to the point that you sleep at each other's place (when you weren't friends prior to meeting her)
- Leave her online msgs asking why she's not responding
- Throw a hissy fit saying that you don't mean much to her when she can't recall the last mark you got in your class
- Continue to smother her after she's requested some space
- Send a Valentine's card with a 2 page list of why you love her (including how her nostrils flare)
What? People who does these things really do exist?!! Mega props to the first guy...even if he doesn't get the girl; he's definitely got her friends rootin' for him! =) So moral of this story: don't forget the friends when you're interested in some girl...*laughs*
P.S. On a completely unrelated note, check out Dennis' blog for a little story about the existence of evil.
FRIENDSHIP (PART II)
Do you ever wonder how well you know your friends? I do. There are times where even with those that I grew up with, I am surprised by something that they say or do. Not to say that it was something bad - just something that I wouldn't normally expect from them. Like there's a side that I've never seen and it just throws me off. It makes me wonder whether number of years really have any significance in how well you know someone. Part of me says it doesn't, cuz it all depends on how much you are willing to share and open-up. People can know each other for years and still be perfect strangers.
But another part of me wants to say that the friends that I have, I DO know pretty well. Unfortunately, it doens't always seem like the case. Granted, we've known each other for a heck of a long time; but how much time have we actually spent together? And how of the time we spent together was real quality time? Time spent getting to know personalities, beliefs and what makes you and I tick?
I guess what I'm wondering is how well do you really know those that you call your friends and how well do they really know you. I know that there are some things and parts of yourself that you'd share with some people that you wouldn't necessarily feel as comfortable sharing with others, but still...it's weird no? That potentially someone could have friends but not really be friends. Another thing that I wonder, do those that I consider to be my friends consider me as their friend? Why or why not?
This friendship thing has been boggling my mind lately. Actually, a lot of things have been boggling my mind. *laughs* It sounds like I'm going through so sort of teenage angst. As you can tell, I'm in a weird thought process right now; most likely stimulated by the fact that I don't want to study for my next final.
I just want all this icky-ness to be over with!
QUICKIES
1. I have a headache. It started this morning and has been driving me insane all day. Make it go away!!!
2. Bought 2 new books yesterday at a conference =) I know, I really shouldn’t…especially since I still have TONS that I haven’t read. But I’m excited – they both sound really good and I’m halfway through one of them already. I’ll probably give a review sometime.
3. Also read some other books since I came back from the holidays: The Da Vinci Code and also The Alchemist. Interesting how two secular books that touch upon Christianity can have such different approaches/views. I may also post some quotes I like from these two later on.
4. Been slacking off more this quarter. (ie. not studying as much and hanging out with people from the church instead). I always do the complete 180 when I see a need to change. Last quarter I totally focused on school but this quarter I focused on fun…where’s the balance?
5. Oww! My head is still killing me.
6. Been thinking about fellowship and what it takes to have a genuine relationship with others. I mentioned about needing to be more vulnerable in a past posting and I had a bit of a breakthrough in my small group last week. I still need to take initiative though. I tried today but I found out that God had something even better in mind for me. As per usual.
7. Had a weird dream last night…almost a premonition. Glad I followed through today and called to check up on an old friend. It WILL happen, I KNOW it will. It’s only a matter of time and in the grand scheme of things, that’s not very long =)
8. I have 2 lab practicals this week. I went to practice my optometry tonight cuz I need to be able to complete my exam within 25 mins. I’m STILL forgetting too many little things! And I’m debating whether or not I should bring my calculator. It’s so unprofessional but I wonder if I’m going to get too nervous and forget how to subtract properly.
9. Throbbing …why won’t you just disappear?!!
10. I need to pray more…more earnestly, more honestly, more humbly. I have Isaiah 43:1-13 on my mind. Came across it when I needed it the most. Taking comfort and encouragement from it.
11. I was resenting being in Chicago for bit. Couldn’t understand why I was here ; particularly since I made the decision with God in mind. Didn’t feel as though I was growing/learning. My eyes have been really opened these past two days by just how much God really is working in this city. All I can do is just stand in awe of His power. Have to remember that there is more to life than my own little world!