Just some thoughts after a conversation

Howdy all.

I had a fun conversation with my partner from impact a couple of summers ago, Kristin. We just got to sit and chat for a while about life and what we have been doing and what we see ahead of us. We got to talking about the Lord, which is always a good thing, and I think He gave me some great wisdom through what we talked about.

I am growing more certain that the Lord is going to do something amazing in our time. He is going to change us. I think we are going to be known for our love again: our love for each other, for other people that society (and possibly 'traditional' Christianity ) deems unlovable, and just the normal hurting people. I think God is teaching this generation to love unconditionally again. The gospel is good news and it should be proclaimed in love and should be carried forward with love. I want to see that again.

Also, I came to realize a truth about how I think I need to pray about my pursuit of what is next after school. I need to ask the Lord to guide me into His will, number one, but also I need to ask Him to show me where to go to be correctly equipped to carry out His will where He wants me to be. I don't know if I articulated that correctly, but basically, I want to be ready to move the gospel forward effectively where God puts me. So whatever His will is and whatever my role is, I want to go to school to learn the skills I need to accomplish that well.

Good. So basically, if I need to run a business I need to goto business school. If I need to teach His Word, I need to goto seminary. If I need to lead worship, I need to go somewhere to learn about that. I want to learn what I need to learn. And not just for the heck of it, but purposefully maturing towards a knowledge that will help the gospel go forth.

That is our purpose anyway. If we do anything without its purpose somehow being grounded in Christ and spreading His good news, we aren't really doing anything I guess.

That's that. I want to be somewhere effective. God will provide.
--Michael

Something terribly sad

It has been a while.

I just read this article: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,307058,00.html

It makes me sad to see what perversion of what the gospel was meant to convey lead to this Westboro Baptist church does to people and to fellow Christians.

Where Christ's love and ultimate care for someone should be shining through, there is hate and belittlement and malice and, really, stupidity. We are meant to convey remedy, love, hope, joy, peace to this world, not hatred. How can we reach people if they are turned off by our ability to be the biggest jerks in the world? Gah.

1 Peter 2:1-3 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Titus 3:1-8: Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men. At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

They missed the point. That is terribly sad.