I think I am going to have to spend half of my spring break expanding on these thoughts! I love that I am having them though :)
Today's list and then expanding on some:
-Faith is personal, but never private.
-Where have you seen God today?
-Being 100$ sure in your faith.
Tonight in bible study, we looked at Colossians 2:6-10. One of the things we talked about was "School's out! Quit studying the subject and start living it!" (Col. 2:7, The Message). So what does it mean to START LIVING it?
The way I see it, faith is a two way street. You can go to Church every Sunday or pull the Bible out every night and get nothing from it if you do not PREPARE yourself. This is not preparing in the sense that you make sure your cell phone is off or you have that glass of water by the bed before you start reading... this is prepare in the sense that you pray that God enters your life and speaks to you, with you, and through you.
I have sat in many worship services in the past and "got nothing" out of it. A lot of these services I went into expecting everything, but I never said "Here I am God and I am ready for you." Other services I went into with the idea that I already didn't agree and wouldn't enjoy it. Surprise, surprise... I got nothing.
As my Pastor said tonight- it isn't the Pastor's fault, or the choir's, or the liturgist's, or even God's fault that you get nothing out of a service. It your fault alone. If you do not open yourself up to the experience there is no way to receive anything. It is also important to realize that you won't necessarily find it in the sermon. It may be in the anthem, or the scripture, or even in the person sitting next to you (this is probably the most powerful and most common for me).
So what do you do when you have witnessed and received God's love in this way? YOU SHARE IT! That is what faith is about for me. FEELING, RECEIVING, and SHARING. This what I think is meant when Peterson translated Col. 2:7 as "School is out! Quit studying the subject and live it!". We have gone to church, we have studied the Bible, now it is time to go out into the world and LIVE, RECOGNIZE, and SHARE it.
Faith is a two way street. Once we RECEIVE it, we should SHARE it. Our faith is incomplete until we do this. I see it like I do with teaching trumpet lessons. Tonight I was teaching lip slurs to one of my students. A very basic technique that has always been present in my playing and was something I never thought too much about. Tonight my student asked me what the purpose of lips slurs was and why she should do them every day. I never completely KNEW lip slurs until that moment when I had to SHARE what I knew with someone else. This "completed" the process- years ago, I learned how to do a lip slur. I did them on my own, not really understanding why except that I was told to. Tonight, I shared what I knew- I quit STUDYING the subject and instead LIVED the subject.
That is what we should do with our faith. As my Pastor said tonight, "Faith is personal, but faith is NOT private." So go out there and open up your entire self to faith, and then go live it and share it in any way you can!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Do this in rememberance of me...
This morning I got involved in a fairly common discussion (for me). Communion.
I never really put any thought into the subject when I was younger. I grew up in the Disciples of Christ church where communion is taken every Sunday. Yes, it does get slightly redundant, but it is also an important centering point of the service each week. When I joined the Presbyterian church, I only had communion once a quarter or month. This made me really start thinking about it in a new way.
When I was younger and going to church camp every summer, we closed out every week with a special service by the water and took communion. Usually, we used the common elements- bread and wine (juice). However there were times that we used cheese puffs and hot cocoa or diet coke, doritos, grahm crackers... whatever we had. Thinking back on it, these were the more meaningful services for me.
The discussion this morning was about what elements are used and where communion can take place. This may be part of my Disciples upbringing (I have already heard from many in the Presbyterian church that don't agree), but I look at this as a way to come together in Christ's name anytime, anywhere, with anything. It does not have to take place during a worship service, and while I do understand the reasoning behind the Presbyterian way of only having Elders oversee communion, I think this does slightly defeat the purpose.
"Whenever two or more are gathered in my name." It does not say whenever an elder and two others are gathered in my name. Simply, and quite plainly, two or more. I think it is important that EVERYONE feel that they can take part in communion at anytime, even if an elder is not present. I have done a "Love Feast" before (communion minus the elder) and it was incredibly meaningful, but there is something about the actuality of Communion that puts me at ease.
We are also not instructed that we MUST use bread and wine. If so we would use wine in church rather than grape juice. Even further beyond that, bread and wine was used at the last supper simply because that was what was available at the time. Some say that they use them because they symbolize the body and blood of Christ, which is true, but anything can symbolize that. As I asked my friend this morning, why does it have to be grape juice/ wine? They answered because it looks like blood and it is what was used. SO... what if it was WHITE grape juice or wine? It no longer looks like blood. Does that change it?
Communion is not about making sure all of the right people are there and that you have the right elements. It is about being with our brothers and sisters in Christ and using what is available to "do in rememberance" of Christ. This means it can happen in church, around the dinner table, or even around a camp fire by the water with a bunch of middle school youth and no Elders.
Like I said... blame my Disciples of Christ upbringing :) (The Presbyterian Church will love having me around... lol)
I never really put any thought into the subject when I was younger. I grew up in the Disciples of Christ church where communion is taken every Sunday. Yes, it does get slightly redundant, but it is also an important centering point of the service each week. When I joined the Presbyterian church, I only had communion once a quarter or month. This made me really start thinking about it in a new way.
When I was younger and going to church camp every summer, we closed out every week with a special service by the water and took communion. Usually, we used the common elements- bread and wine (juice). However there were times that we used cheese puffs and hot cocoa or diet coke, doritos, grahm crackers... whatever we had. Thinking back on it, these were the more meaningful services for me.
The discussion this morning was about what elements are used and where communion can take place. This may be part of my Disciples upbringing (I have already heard from many in the Presbyterian church that don't agree), but I look at this as a way to come together in Christ's name anytime, anywhere, with anything. It does not have to take place during a worship service, and while I do understand the reasoning behind the Presbyterian way of only having Elders oversee communion, I think this does slightly defeat the purpose.
"Whenever two or more are gathered in my name." It does not say whenever an elder and two others are gathered in my name. Simply, and quite plainly, two or more. I think it is important that EVERYONE feel that they can take part in communion at anytime, even if an elder is not present. I have done a "Love Feast" before (communion minus the elder) and it was incredibly meaningful, but there is something about the actuality of Communion that puts me at ease.
We are also not instructed that we MUST use bread and wine. If so we would use wine in church rather than grape juice. Even further beyond that, bread and wine was used at the last supper simply because that was what was available at the time. Some say that they use them because they symbolize the body and blood of Christ, which is true, but anything can symbolize that. As I asked my friend this morning, why does it have to be grape juice/ wine? They answered because it looks like blood and it is what was used. SO... what if it was WHITE grape juice or wine? It no longer looks like blood. Does that change it?
Communion is not about making sure all of the right people are there and that you have the right elements. It is about being with our brothers and sisters in Christ and using what is available to "do in rememberance" of Christ. This means it can happen in church, around the dinner table, or even around a camp fire by the water with a bunch of middle school youth and no Elders.
Like I said... blame my Disciples of Christ upbringing :) (The Presbyterian Church will love having me around... lol)
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Why not simply GIVE?
Every year, 40 days before Easter, people give up something that is important to them. For 40 days, we go without this to recognize the suffering that Jesus Christ went through in the last days leading to his crucifixion. The idea is that our suffering will ground us during the Lenten period.
Growing up, I always saw this as a game. How long could I go without chocolate or soda? Could I go longer than my sisters or friends? I feel like that is what the idea has become for so many people- that and a great way to lose weight (how much weight can you lose by taking chocolate or fried foods out of your diet for 40 days?).
So here is my question- why must we always GIVE UP something? Why not simply GIVE? Imagine the good that would come if we all gave part of ourselves, in the name of Jesus Christ? What a concept- Jesus' suffering providing a source of hope for the world!
What if we started simple and gave a gift to the church program of our choice each week rather than spending that money at the movies or bar on Saturday night? Five weeks of $10 gifts to the outreach committee would work wonders in someone's life who really needs it. Let's take it a step further. For five weeks, we wake up an hour or so earlier on Saturday and volunteer at a local food pantry or with Habitat for Humanity. Maybe you can take some time out of your busy week to visit some of the church shut-ins or the older lady down the street.
There are so many opportunities available to us the second we walk out the door. Why not take this opportunity to give OURSELVES rather than GIVE UP something. Why not put others first, just as Jesus did when he died on the cross, rather than looking for a new diet? Even better, what if we did it TOGETHER as part of the BODY OF CHRIST?
Yes, Jesus suffered on the cross and it is important to recognize that, but why not help those around us that are suffering (and in turn help Jesus who suffered for US), rather than helping ourselves?
Growing up, I always saw this as a game. How long could I go without chocolate or soda? Could I go longer than my sisters or friends? I feel like that is what the idea has become for so many people- that and a great way to lose weight (how much weight can you lose by taking chocolate or fried foods out of your diet for 40 days?).
So here is my question- why must we always GIVE UP something? Why not simply GIVE? Imagine the good that would come if we all gave part of ourselves, in the name of Jesus Christ? What a concept- Jesus' suffering providing a source of hope for the world!
What if we started simple and gave a gift to the church program of our choice each week rather than spending that money at the movies or bar on Saturday night? Five weeks of $10 gifts to the outreach committee would work wonders in someone's life who really needs it. Let's take it a step further. For five weeks, we wake up an hour or so earlier on Saturday and volunteer at a local food pantry or with Habitat for Humanity. Maybe you can take some time out of your busy week to visit some of the church shut-ins or the older lady down the street.
There are so many opportunities available to us the second we walk out the door. Why not take this opportunity to give OURSELVES rather than GIVE UP something. Why not put others first, just as Jesus did when he died on the cross, rather than looking for a new diet? Even better, what if we did it TOGETHER as part of the BODY OF CHRIST?
Yes, Jesus suffered on the cross and it is important to recognize that, but why not help those around us that are suffering (and in turn help Jesus who suffered for US), rather than helping ourselves?
Monday, February 8, 2010
First thought of the night... I would love for Mozart to come back to life just so I can make sure he really dies. I am so tired of his music! I am sure he was great... but when I am studying 10 different Mozart symphonies at once (in 3 classes and doing full analyses of each), he isn't so great.
It has been a crazy long week. Great and terrible.
So last week I was running on this high of having basically no school because of the snow, having the chance to be snowed in with my friend and finally get some time with them, and a few discussions with big people at some potential schools for seminary.
I think the downfall started to happen when we started talking about friends at bible study last week. Granted, it was my idea, but I really didn't expect it to take the turn it did. I thought we would talk about our best friends and why we love them, not why we hate our ex-friends. That just brought up a lot of feelings I had pretty much let go about Ben. As much as I like to think it isn't true, I still hurt a lot in regards to that whole situation and that discussion just kinda threw it in my face.
I will say that as far as trumpet goes, it kinda made up for the friend discussion. I had a great run with Nancy, and an even better lesson with Dr. Bach on Friday. To top it all off, I got the extra burst of energy for trumpet when I got to see Mike again. The sad thing is I won't get to see him again until this summer... maybe.
The weekend was ok... thought too much. Came to some realizations that I had ignored for a while.
And then spent today on the phone trying to save myself from past mistakes.
Great day.
I guess it all just goes to show that we have no idea what is coming next. I have been thrown a lot of curve balls lately that I never expected. It also definitely proves that we have NO control over our lives... all of the control is in the hands of the guy upstairs. We just need to let go and enjoy the ride...
It has been a crazy long week. Great and terrible.
So last week I was running on this high of having basically no school because of the snow, having the chance to be snowed in with my friend and finally get some time with them, and a few discussions with big people at some potential schools for seminary.
I think the downfall started to happen when we started talking about friends at bible study last week. Granted, it was my idea, but I really didn't expect it to take the turn it did. I thought we would talk about our best friends and why we love them, not why we hate our ex-friends. That just brought up a lot of feelings I had pretty much let go about Ben. As much as I like to think it isn't true, I still hurt a lot in regards to that whole situation and that discussion just kinda threw it in my face.
I will say that as far as trumpet goes, it kinda made up for the friend discussion. I had a great run with Nancy, and an even better lesson with Dr. Bach on Friday. To top it all off, I got the extra burst of energy for trumpet when I got to see Mike again. The sad thing is I won't get to see him again until this summer... maybe.
The weekend was ok... thought too much. Came to some realizations that I had ignored for a while.
And then spent today on the phone trying to save myself from past mistakes.
Great day.
I guess it all just goes to show that we have no idea what is coming next. I have been thrown a lot of curve balls lately that I never expected. It also definitely proves that we have NO control over our lives... all of the control is in the hands of the guy upstairs. We just need to let go and enjoy the ride...
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)