Deep thoughts resulting from deep conversations and prayer

I've been realizing more and more how we as Christians need to take a stand for Christ. Truth will not be heard if Christ's servants are silent. God's been convicting me of this for some time now.

I love RC Sprouls words, "Truth is too important to be killed in the streets for the sake of peace." Our churches are becoming more about cultural relativity and "peace" than about teaching solid Biblical truths from God's Word. Paul Washer addresses this in his sermon to "aspiring" pastors. He talks about how many churches are focusing more on "goats" than on "sheep." (goats being those who don't yet have the Holy Spirit within them, and sheep being those who do). And while churches are focusing so much on the goats, the sheep are starving to death. And if Christ's church is starving, how can it reach the lost?

Jason and I have realized that we need expository teachings from the Word of God. We realized we were starving for that. We were starving for someone to teach us the Word, unwatered down by culteral relativity. We realized that we are far more passionate about reaching those without Christ when we understand the magnitude of His mercy and righteousness- and when we fall more in love with Him on account of being saturated in His Word.

I have a friend who has a brother in seminary. She asked him one day how his classes were going, and he said something to the nature of, "Oh I'm learning how to water down the Gospel for the sake of church growth." It's heart-breaking to realize that this is being taught in seminary classes (obviously dependant, I'm sure, on where one goes).

God's been showing us just how infiltrated churches are becoming by the philosophies of the world. Scripture talks about being on guard against lies and deceptions getting into churches. Many pastors and ministers are well-intentioned, and good intentions are great- but good intentions aren't always equivalent to truth. And truth is what we need to be seeking after.

My mind is racing right now. Our nation is changing and I so desparately want to impact it for Christ. I also want to have the confidence in Christ to "speak aloud what He has whispered in my ear." And I want humility. Oh Lord, I want humility and boldness.

Words from Godly Men

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2zvqQ1w-Os

Corrupt Bird

I've been finding myself getting so caught up in politics lately. And I've developed strong conservative views on politics since following it so closely. I get confused at times when thinking of the role we, as followers, should have when it comes to politics. I've realized that it's wrong for me to try and separate the two- to omit myself from that realm. But I get confused when thinking about the extent to which I need to be involved. I've never thought about it so much before. And often times I wonder if I'm thinking about some of these things too much!

Jason comes from a Christian-liberal family. And I struggled for a while as I would listen to their views on how the church and state should be separated- how morality isn't a factor we should consider when electing a president since he ultimately has no control over that. I've realized, since Obama took office, that this administration does have control over that. Obama has done and has tried to do plenty to further abortion and embryonic stem cell research, and to tweak the marraige ammendment, among other things.

I feel faced, so often, with Christian-liberals telling me I'm not compassionate to the poor unless I share their views. And on the flip side I often find myself wondering how on earth a Christ-follower can vote for a party so supportive of lifestyles that victimize those weaker than they.

It's hard not to get caught up in politics, especially now.

Paul Washer (once again, great pastor!) gave me perspective on it through one of his sermons when he said, "Our hope is in Christ, not in any political party. And regardless of whether we're right wing or left wing, we're still riding a corrupt bird." I love that.

I know I'll still struggle with how involved to be. And I'll still struggle with all these frustrating thoughts. But I'm praying for God to give me clarity of thought. I want to see all this as He does. I want to approach it as He would. We live in a country where the American people have a voice and can influence the direction of their country. I want God to show me how and if He wants me to be an influence in my country.

Dad

I'm praying for a miracle. I'm praying God gives dad this job. I trust He'll provide for dad because He says He will, I just don't know how He'll do it. And we've been waiting on Him...for so long with this. I strongly feel this job opportunity would be perfect in so many ways for dad. From my perspective, I can't see how anything could be better. And so I'm praying, asking God specifically to orchestrate things so dad gets this job. I have NO doubt that God can answer my request. But will He in this way? Would it be His will, His plan? That I don't know. But I will still ask- trusting, believing, knowing He hears me and others who are praying for this.

Peace admist terror

I'm sad about what's going on in Iran. It's heartbreaking. I made the mistake of watching the vidoe of the Iranian woman being shot by the police. It was a gruesome video and I truly couldn't get the image out of my head all day. You hear about these things happening all the time...and they do happen every day. But then you see someone die up close and it makes it real. It hits you in a way it never did before. I know death happens every day. But what a scary transition....from this life to eternity. And what a scary thing...to not know where you're going. I know when I pass I'll be with my Savior, and yet I'll admit, there's a part of me that's terrified about the reality of death. Terrified about the pain. Terrified about how. Terrified of leaving this physical world- the only world I've ever really known. My faith is in Jesus Christ and I believe with all my heart in that true reality, and yet passing from a physical realm to a spiritual realm? Wow.... Leaving the known and entering the "unknown?" My spirit lives for the knowledge of that"unknown"...my spirit is joyful to die one day to go be with the One who gave it life. But my body knows nothing of that reality. My body knows this world, this reality, these feelings, this knowledge of good and evil.... It knows nothing else. And to separate the two by death? What will it be like???

All throughout the day thoughts like these were going through my head. Then on the drive to CUB Foods I turned on 95.3. On this station a man was being interviewed- a man who lost his wife and four children when he lost control of their van during a storm and descended into the flooded river below. He talked of the pain...and of God strengthening his faith through his near death and the death of his entire family. But when he began sharing about his close experience with death, tears filled my eyes. And the Holy Spirit comforted my heart. Because he talked of the fear he experienced while being tossed like a rag doll through the current, he talked of the pain of gasping for air and only getting water, and he shared the feeling....the feeling of knowing his family was probably dead and of knowing death was at his doorstep. But his testimony didn't end there... because he talked about the Holy Spirit. And of how God was with him....of the deep peace that unexplainably swept over him admist the terror of what he was facing. God was right there. He was facing death... but God there.

And God gave me peace. A reassurence that despite my fear of death itself, He will be with me through it. He never leaves me. And it will be no different when I face death.

Pastors

Lately Jason and I have been strengthened greatly in our faith by listening to pastors online. You Tube is a great source for a lot of immorality, but it can also be a great source for spreading God's truth. Jason and I choose to use it for the latter :) We have grown a lot through men like Paul Washer, Jeff Noblit, and John Piper. Typically, it's recommended that we listen to a certain pastor, we first hear him on youtube, and find his ministry website where we download more sermons. These men are abundantly inspired by God and preach solid truth from the Word of God without watering down what Scripture says. Jason and I have been longing and thirsting for fellowship with those more mature in their faith and experience. We've been longing for wisdom from those who take seriously Mark 8:34-35. Through these men and through digging into Scriptures, God has increased our deep deep thirst for Him. We are understanding, slowly, the depth of our commitment to Jesus Christ. We are learning how to be firm in truth, while doing it in the love of Christ, with the help of the Holy Spirit. God has overwhelmingly spoken to us through these servants of His. The body of Christ, teaching and abmonishing one another with passion for Christ. is an incredibly beautiful and necessary thing.

Amazing Friends

I should write more on my blog. Jason and I are thinking about "combining" blogs so he can share some of his thoughts from time to time. We'll see. I'm not convinced many people read blogs, so it's kind of a therapy and "processing" exercize I just enjoy doing for my own mental development. And then there are times I simply get excited about whatever, and blab on about that to who knows who.

This weekend my ex-roommates and I from Northwestern had a weekend "reunion" in Fargo. It was incredible having a girls' weekend of doing nothing but estrogen-oriented activities. And I miss those girls so much.

I love those friendships- the kind that remain the same regardless of time and distance. It's an incredible feeling to simply "go back in time," picking up where you left off as if nothing happened and no time lapsed between.

On Saturday we played tennis for hours. Jenn is a tennis coach and she was "coaching" Sarah and I how to become better tennis players. And now I'm obsessed with the sport. Jenn is incredible and has always been, so is Sarah- it's beautiful watching friends grow up, seeing how God's been shaping them...where He's bringing them....seeing how He's using their qualities you've always loved, for His glory.

I love it :)