For my first Sunday in Mexico, my family and I went to church together... and it was amazing. If you've never experienced church in mexico, its a must. But, I'm gonna blog about what I learned.
Todopoderoso was a word that I heard over and over and over again during the message. And in English, it translates to "All powerful." The message was over the power of God and Christ, and how it is at work in us.
In the front of my Bible, just above where it says in large print "Holy Bible" I wrote this: "God is much bigger than the rules and regulations of this book. If we trap Him only in these pages, we limit his power."
And after hearing all of the preacher's message, I couldn't believe how true that really was.
In Mark 5:30, we get a sense of just how CRAZY Jesus' power is. When a sick woman came close enough to touch His cloak, she was healed. Christ's power passed through his cloak to the woman, and the first thing the Word says is that "Jesus realized that power had gone out from Him." Here, we see Jesus as a vessel of power... a physical power that by through touch, is shared with believers. He was so incredibly attuned with this power, that he knew the instant that it left his body. What an unimaginable thought. So, we see that God has power over the physical.
Next, we looked at Mark 4:35, when Jesus calms the sea with a single utterance. The disciples say, "Who is this man? Even the wind and waves obey him." Here, we see that Jesus shares His power through his words. All Jesus said was "Quiet, Be still." and the storm passed. So, God has a power that exudes from His words.
2 Corinthians 10:4 is my favorite example of the todopoderoso power that is in Jesus. It shows us that this power, though not used through weapons of force or destruction, has the strength to "demolish strongholds". Pause here, but keep this in mind.
Ephesians 3:20 says "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory..."
Ephesians 3:20 and 2 Corinthians 10:4 go HAND in HAND. 2 Corinthians 10:4 continues like this: "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we TAKE CAPTIVE ever thought to make is OBEDIENT to Christ." What an incredibly powerful string of words. This power... this todopoderoso power that Christ exudes through his words and even through his robes is at work in ME... its at work in YOU.
Its time to start acting like it.
Lets live our lives IN this todopoderoso power... not only in the knowledge that Christ owns this power, but that it really, truly exists and works in us. Let's take every thought captive and make it obedient to the power of Christ.
Its incredible what I learned through a sermon delivered completely in Spanish, huh? Well, that's the work of the Holy Spirit.
- Not missing home one bit,
Seth
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Drowning
I find it disheartening when I go to church, and the only people that talk to me are the ones that I already know.
I find it disheartening that our preacher feeds us the word so incredibly well, but I can't seem to fit into the community in my church yet.
I find it disheartening when I'm asked to invest my time in the church, but no one from the church except the pastor is investing in me.
I find that I'm drowning in my own heart. I'm fully immersed in the messages, but can't seem to penetrate the surface with the community. I'm flailing my arms, trying to find balance and safety.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Tough, but rewarding
I honestly feel like the words that I'm beginning to type will not do justice to the subject: My sophomore year at Friends University.
Last thing I knew, it was CORE week for campus ministries. I was spending sweet fellowship time with people I felt like I had just began to get to know. Some great and challenging things happened that week, but they lead right into RA training. Seth Oldham, 18 years old, weighing in at 155 lbs and standing 5'9" would be paired with guys all over 6' and most well over the 220 lb mark, some even in the 300 lb range. Why in the world would they respect me? I'm younger, smaller and less assertive. Needless to say, I was FREAKING out about how I would control my neighborhood. Despite my fears and hesitations, I was blessed with phenomenal room mates, awesome co-workers, and the greatest boss I could've been given.
August was jam packed with Residence life events, and the fall semester proved to be the toughest semester academically of my life. It was incredibly difficult and hectic. I remember looking at my planner for the two weeks before finals and literally being unable to write anything else on the pages. But, with the help and comfort of the Father, I trucked through.
I made leaps and bounds spiritually as well. My faith was stretched and tried by one resident in particular, one whom I prayed for frequently and prayed that the spirit would work in his life. The first time that I ever shared my faith with anyone was with Alex, my very dear friend. I cannot begin to express what I felt afterwards. I felt like a true servant and proponent of the Kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit definitely spoke through me that night, brining to my mind several scripture references that I hadn't studied in years. Christ humbled me that night, and show me the joy can come through sharing my faith.
Fall semester also included my very first half marathon and a New Testament Survey class, where I met one of the most amazing men and preachers I have ever met: Philip Wood. Philip challenged the class daily with short and inspirational devotions. He is such a man after God's heart and is SO led by the Spirit. Its inspiring. Philip mentioned in passing once that I should start a Bible study, which I belive was God's way of instilling that desire in my heart. One that he would carry into completion in the Spring semester.
Spring rolled in, and incredible things kept happening. Mancave, a men's bible study held in my room, started meeting every wednesday evening. The first week, I over prepared and planned to go through an entire chapter. After a glance at the clock an hour and a half later, we had only managed to wrestle over 11 verses. God taught the group a lot through The Sermon on the Mount, and taught me a lot about genuine friendship through the guys in that study. My room mate's and I got closer, I made new friends, and deepened the frienships that I already had. God spoke through me on several occaisions, bringing scripture and words to the front of my mind that I hadn't studied in years. He always fills me with the words to say exactly when I need them. Through this study, I saw at least 3 men turn and run to Jesus. I cannot think of a better investment of time!
Now, summer is here. I'm leaving for Cancun in less than 48 hours. Its incredible. I feel like I just signed up for the trip and got approval from my parents. This year flew by, and I know that this summer will too. I covet your prayers for my trip this summer: for safe travels, wise decisions, open eyes, ears and heart, and a Christ-like attitude in every situation. Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me and gotten me through this tough, but rewarding year. God has truly taught me what friendship is, and for that, I praise Him wholeheartedly.
*I'll try to update a couple times while im in Cancun!*
Last thing I knew, it was CORE week for campus ministries. I was spending sweet fellowship time with people I felt like I had just began to get to know. Some great and challenging things happened that week, but they lead right into RA training. Seth Oldham, 18 years old, weighing in at 155 lbs and standing 5'9" would be paired with guys all over 6' and most well over the 220 lb mark, some even in the 300 lb range. Why in the world would they respect me? I'm younger, smaller and less assertive. Needless to say, I was FREAKING out about how I would control my neighborhood. Despite my fears and hesitations, I was blessed with phenomenal room mates, awesome co-workers, and the greatest boss I could've been given.
August was jam packed with Residence life events, and the fall semester proved to be the toughest semester academically of my life. It was incredibly difficult and hectic. I remember looking at my planner for the two weeks before finals and literally being unable to write anything else on the pages. But, with the help and comfort of the Father, I trucked through.
I made leaps and bounds spiritually as well. My faith was stretched and tried by one resident in particular, one whom I prayed for frequently and prayed that the spirit would work in his life. The first time that I ever shared my faith with anyone was with Alex, my very dear friend. I cannot begin to express what I felt afterwards. I felt like a true servant and proponent of the Kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit definitely spoke through me that night, brining to my mind several scripture references that I hadn't studied in years. Christ humbled me that night, and show me the joy can come through sharing my faith.
Fall semester also included my very first half marathon and a New Testament Survey class, where I met one of the most amazing men and preachers I have ever met: Philip Wood. Philip challenged the class daily with short and inspirational devotions. He is such a man after God's heart and is SO led by the Spirit. Its inspiring. Philip mentioned in passing once that I should start a Bible study, which I belive was God's way of instilling that desire in my heart. One that he would carry into completion in the Spring semester.
Spring rolled in, and incredible things kept happening. Mancave, a men's bible study held in my room, started meeting every wednesday evening. The first week, I over prepared and planned to go through an entire chapter. After a glance at the clock an hour and a half later, we had only managed to wrestle over 11 verses. God taught the group a lot through The Sermon on the Mount, and taught me a lot about genuine friendship through the guys in that study. My room mate's and I got closer, I made new friends, and deepened the frienships that I already had. God spoke through me on several occaisions, bringing scripture and words to the front of my mind that I hadn't studied in years. He always fills me with the words to say exactly when I need them. Through this study, I saw at least 3 men turn and run to Jesus. I cannot think of a better investment of time!
Now, summer is here. I'm leaving for Cancun in less than 48 hours. Its incredible. I feel like I just signed up for the trip and got approval from my parents. This year flew by, and I know that this summer will too. I covet your prayers for my trip this summer: for safe travels, wise decisions, open eyes, ears and heart, and a Christ-like attitude in every situation. Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me and gotten me through this tough, but rewarding year. God has truly taught me what friendship is, and for that, I praise Him wholeheartedly.
*I'll try to update a couple times while im in Cancun!*
Friday, May 7, 2010
I'm a Boring Christian
Typically, I'm a "boring Christian." My friends and I hang out, and conversation typically turns to our spiritual journeys and what we're experiencing. These aren't bad conversations by any means, but I believe that God can be glorified through conversations that don't even mention his name. Just because we're called to change our hearts and minds, doesn't necessarily mean that we change who we are.
God created me with passions, a sense of humor, and my very unique personality for a reason. I find joy by making my friends laugh, impersonating famous characters, and being a generally goofy guy. I love to go running. I enjoy cooking things that I've never tried before. I sincerely like buring myself in a fictional book and not leaving my seat for hours straight. I love having friends over to play board games. I think its a riot to sit around a table with friends and recounted our childhood stories. I think its refreshing to cruise with the windows down and blare my music just because.
Are these activities Christ centered? Not necessarily. Is my attitude while doing these activities Christ centered? Most definitely.
See, I don't believe that being a Christian always means going to only Christian concerts and discussing scripture or theology every time you sit down with a friend. I think it means living in the world, but not being of the world.
Have you ever caught yourself thinking that you have more fun hanging out with your friends that are non-believers that those that believe in Christ? I have. And its not because my non-believer friends do wrong things that I find exciting, or live counter-Christian lives, because most of them don't. I think its because their personalities are uninhibited. They embrace their bluntness, humor, and quirks. I think that as Christians, we tame ourselves. We don't embrace our personalities and uniqueness that God has blessed us with.
Its okay to be ourselves. Its okay to let Christ change our hearts and minds, but stay true to the way that he created us. We need to quit excessively worrying about guarding ourselves against conforming to the world, because I think the Spirit will help us win that battle. I think we need to quit conforming to who "The Christians" want us to be, and be who Christ made us to be. He has blessed us each with unique personality traits, gifts, and passions which all edify the body in different ways. Let's embrace them and quit being boring.
God created me with passions, a sense of humor, and my very unique personality for a reason. I find joy by making my friends laugh, impersonating famous characters, and being a generally goofy guy. I love to go running. I enjoy cooking things that I've never tried before. I sincerely like buring myself in a fictional book and not leaving my seat for hours straight. I love having friends over to play board games. I think its a riot to sit around a table with friends and recounted our childhood stories. I think its refreshing to cruise with the windows down and blare my music just because.
Are these activities Christ centered? Not necessarily. Is my attitude while doing these activities Christ centered? Most definitely.
See, I don't believe that being a Christian always means going to only Christian concerts and discussing scripture or theology every time you sit down with a friend. I think it means living in the world, but not being of the world.
Have you ever caught yourself thinking that you have more fun hanging out with your friends that are non-believers that those that believe in Christ? I have. And its not because my non-believer friends do wrong things that I find exciting, or live counter-Christian lives, because most of them don't. I think its because their personalities are uninhibited. They embrace their bluntness, humor, and quirks. I think that as Christians, we tame ourselves. We don't embrace our personalities and uniqueness that God has blessed us with.
Its okay to be ourselves. Its okay to let Christ change our hearts and minds, but stay true to the way that he created us. We need to quit excessively worrying about guarding ourselves against conforming to the world, because I think the Spirit will help us win that battle. I think we need to quit conforming to who "The Christians" want us to be, and be who Christ made us to be. He has blessed us each with unique personality traits, gifts, and passions which all edify the body in different ways. Let's embrace them and quit being boring.
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