Monthly Archive for October, 2003

Titus 3:1-15

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I grow weary of this exercise….I am waiting for this to be over, so I can stop writing down my thoughts on every little thing, but instead focus on what is going on in my head.

Q: According to verse 8, what are we to do in response to what God has done? What are some practical ways that you can “do good deeds” to others today? Be prepared to share your experiences with your small group members when you meet this week.

A: This verse says that we need to devote ourselves to doing what is good. I can’t think of any good deeds that I can do right this very second. I’ve been trying to do good deeds in a practical way around my little corner of the world lately, so I don’t know what else I can do, but I’m open to suggestions. So with that, 3 days down this week 4 more to go.
I’m out, time for class.

Titus 2:1-15

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Q: Paul instructs Titus to both show and tell the new Christians of Crete how to live. Who can you encourage in the days and years ahead with your own example and words? How do Paul’s words in verses 6-8 and 11-15 challenge and encourage you to action?

A: Haven’t I answered this question like 18 times in the course of this devotional. So once again, I try my darnedest to do right by my actions and words, but I screw it up pretty good a lot of times. I’m often challenged to stop talking, especially when I am talking about really stupid stuff. But I grow tired of this now, so I will stop, and do some reading for my mini group tomorrow.

Titus 1:1-16

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So I have been way busy lately, so I haven’t posted many of my devotions, but this is the last week, so I’m going to try to do better this week.

Q: Whom do you know right now that others might consider too far from God to consider the gospel? Take time right now to pray for that person. What can you do this week to demonstrate God’s love to them in a practical way?

A: Well I don’t know a lot of people who I won’t talk to. I’m not a big fan of really really dirty people, but that is usually because they smell bad, not because I’m not willing to talk to them. But usually I will talk to almost anyone. I don’t think there is anyone I’ve ever considered too far from God to accept the gospel. So, with that I’m done with the first day of the last week of my posting answers to the devotion questions on my blog, but stay tuned, I think I’ll post my thoughts on doing these devotions at the end of all this.

I’m tired

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So I was thinking last night about stuff on the Godsearch message board, and man it is confusing to try to talk with people who think just slightly different then you. Like for example I know that I think a lot like my pastor Jeff does. I’ve talked to him a lot I know his thought process is similar to mine in a lot of ways. But for some reason we can both read the same book or passage in the Bible and come to two different conclusions as to what it means. I find this interesting that we can be friends with people and very similar in some ways but very different in others.

At any rate, I had a hard time sleeping last night. I don’t know why, but it was just plain annoying to not be able to sleep. On the up side though small group was really awesome. I lost the lifeline with the scripture references for the lesson, so I played it by ear and used some of the passages from the devotionals and it worked out pretty well. I don’t really like winging my lesson, but today it seemed necessary. But then ministry time was really awesome, so I figured it all worked out in the end.

But now I must go to class and try to stay awake.

Later.

1 Timothy 5:1-25

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So today a lot is on my mind. God has really been answering some prayers, and kinda saying “HA! I told you to chill out and be patient, but you doubted.” and now I feel like an idiot. At any rate, I was reading this thing on greed and money and I don’t really feel like writing about because that is something Lauren and I have been arguing about and I haven’t had time to digest yet. Besides, I forgot to do a devotion yesterday and I feel like that is the one that is a little more important right now to write about.

Q: Paul makes it clear that our responsibility for others begins with our immediate family. Reread verse 8. Who do you most need to extend care to in your family circle? What can you specifically do today to extend God’s love to those closest to you?

A: I like to think that my family extends to my church family as well. But in my immediate family I think we take care of each other as well as we can, and I figure that my family is a good start. As I grow though it is more important to me to extend my family to my church family and non church friends. I think that I need to extend God’s love to the hard to reach people in my life. Sometimes when God slaps you in the head calls you a retard and tells you that your screwing it all up…….you should listen. And that is when you apologize for being stupid and move on again trying to be more loving and caring about the people around you. But now I am done writing for the moment, because I must check my laundry.

1 Timothy 4:1-16

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Q: What situations or responsibilities are you facing right now that seem big or overwhelming to you? What can you learn from Paul’s advice to Timothy in this passage?

A: Often just graduating seems overwhelming. Right now with my classes and everything I’ve been doing at the church it can be overwhelming to try to get my school work done while trying to lead a small group. It is all pretty daunting, the only up side that I really like in this passage is the part that says Timothy should move in the holy spirit and not worry about people calling him young and inexperienced. The other day my Dad said something about not being a bunch of 20 year olds project, and I was pretty offended. I’m at an age where I know that I’m not as wise as a lot of people, and I don’t know as much as a lot of people. But I do know that I’m not completely devoid of knowledge and wisdom and it is pretty annoying to have someone completely count me out because I’m 22 and he would be embarrassed to have God show him something from someone so much younger then him. But anyway enough of my whining, I’m done now, and I’m excited that LJ is actually checking my feeds more often now, so it won’t look so stupid on your friends pages. Alright….now I’m really done.

1 Timothy 3:1-16

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Q: How do the qualifications for leaders given in this passage encourage and challenge you? Which ones do you meet right now? Which qualifications do you need to grow in?

A: I would say that in general these passages tend to challenge me more then encourage. I often think that it would be better not to lead in any fashion because you are held to a higher standard. I don’t like being in the public eye so that people can judge me and make hypocritical decisions about me and the things they don’t like about me. I grew up with this going on constantly and so I tend to shy away from that sort of thing now. But sometimes you are called to do things that you don’t particularly want to do, and that is one of the tough parts about being a Christian, and sometimes you have to just do it. I actually think I could grow in most if not all of the qualifications Paul lists for being a leader. So I won’t spend much time on that, and just call this a wrap.

1 Timothy 2:1-15

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Q: In the opening verses of this passage, whom does Paul say to pray for? What does he say to pray for them?

A: Easy enough. Paul tells them to pray for Kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. I like easy questions….short simple and to the point.

Giving Props for Idiocy

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Read Rob’s Post, then read Seths and Dirks.

After you read this you will know what happened tonight in all it’s glory. But I am the official man to give props to all where props are due.

First, Props to Dirk, for buying the keg for his party, and subsequently he gets props for telling me to be the one to make sure it gets returned.

Second, Props to me, for forgetting to remind Dirk to return the half full keg, and it needs to be known that I did not loose the receipt for the keg. Oh no, I know where it is, but you are going to have to give me a day or to get for you, if we ever do actually return the keg.

Also more props to me. Because my part of the brain cell can assume sole responsibility for this idea. I did in fact sit down and think “wow, that beer has been out there for a long time in the hot sun, the pressure must have really built up by now. In fact, I bet I could get that to shoot across the street, and then I could use it to hit cars as they go by.” This seemed like a great idea to me, but no one liked it except me. So I waited. Tonight my waiting came to fruition. We did tip over the very nasty trash can with water still in it from icing the keg, and we did crack the seal to the keg. So we didn’t hit any passing cars, but we did see that it went a good 15-20 feet. But now that those props have been given to me, I must stop tooting my own horn and give props to the MSP (Most Stupid Player) on the evening.

Big Props must be given to the man, Rob Schmit. The team player on the night who was the one who got the screw driver and did the initial pressure test of the Keg which resulted in his face being covered in extremely skanky beer. Way to take one for the team man. Because of your initial testing and your crafty wit after the spraying we were able to launch beer down the driveway in a colossal fashion.

All around it was a good night, Kill Bill was excellent, I could go into detail but you should see it yourself if your at all interested in fun kinds of violence. Skanky Keg beer launching is an excellent pass time. In fact, we are working on a pressurization system by which to launch beer further and in a more mobile fashion, almost like a squirt gun, but something that fires more like a potato gun. Launching buckets of Beer in a fashion that could soak a hippo in one fell swoop. I will post more on this if we ever get the time to actually use our engineering skills for the good kind of evil (i.e. fun stuff) instead of just the bad evil …..a.ka. school. But for now I’m going to sleep. Good night.

1 Timothy 1:1-20

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Q: Paul was an extremely devoted and religious person before he met Christ, yet he says in verse 15 that he was “worst [sinner] of them all.” What did Paul look to for salvation before he met Christ? What did he rely on after encountering Christ? As Paul did in verses 12-14, take some time now to thank God for showing you his lavish mercy.

A: Before Christ revealed himself to Paul he was seeking to be a religious zealot. Perfect in all the rules, a great fighter for his faith. But Jesus showed him that he didn’t need to kill people to show them the truth. I liken this today to more of the “good person” syndrome that is so present in America. Everyone thinks that if you are a “good person,” which means not killing anyone, and not stealing, or being sorry for the things you did wrong that it will be all OK. But seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever met a “good person” but I have a little tougher definition. I think that a good person always cares about others before themselves, and never holds selfish pride and their egos over the people around them. Good people love everyone as Christ loved. They treat everyone better then they expect to be treated. They know how to say everything in the most kind and compassionate way, i.e. they don’t make mental mistakes that, or run their mouth until someones feelings are truly hurt unless it is the truth that someone needs to hear (and even then they will say it in the best way possible). I think that good person would never have to censor themselves, what would go through their head is the right and most caring thing to say. Also they would never move in sin purposefully, i.e. no sexual impurities, have never lied or deceived anyone, never manipulated anyone. So I challenge the reader now. You find me a “good person” that fits my definition, not just someone who hasn’t killed anyone, and I will reward you with a special place on my webpage, but I am willing to bet that no one fits my description that is alive. I believe that the only guy who was ever a good person was Jesus. Paul tried to be a “good person” but screwed it up and became obsessed with glorifying himself and increasing in status in his culture. So, now I have ranted about the “good people” syndrome annoyance I have, and I’m tired of writing…so I will leave you with my challenge and go to class.

2 Thessalonians 3:1-18

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Q: Summarize in a sentence or two Paul’s teaching on work and laziness found in verses 6-15. How does this teaching speak to your current work (or study) habits?

A: Paul is saying here that while he and his companions were with the Thessalonians that they worked to earn their keep. And he is saying that everyone should work so that there is no one free loading and being completely lazy. I think this is saying that it is good to work hard in anything you do. I try not to be too lazy in the things I do, but it seems that the tendency toward laziness is bred into my genes. I know a lot of my family is prone to workaholism, but somehow I would rather be sitting on my butt enjoying quality movies like “Super Troopers.” So maybe if I didn’t sit on my butt watching movies and studied more I wouldn’t have such a crappy time taking tests. But Sometimes I’m torn about what God is telling me to work hard at, but I think this is a good indication that you should work hard at whatever you are doing. So, now I am tired, and going to sleep. But first I want to say thanks for posting your thoughts after my little rant the other day. It is good to know that I’m not just doing this to entertain myself and that people do actually read it. As always, feel free to respond to any of these posts with thoughts about what I wrote or with your own answers to the questions. G’Night

2 Thessalonians 2:1-17

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Q: What do you find most encouraging in verses 13 through 17?

A: I like how this passage is building up the reader by saying that they are saved by the work of the Spirit. I like the fact that this whole part is like that. Paul is thanking God for the work he has done in these people, and can be also translated into us today. I think Paul would be very very thankful for all the Christians that God has reached today through the Spirit. I like a lot of this letter. I think it is very encouraging in general. Now I have to go to class, I’m out.

BTW LiveJournal is now only picking up my RSS feed once a day, so you will get two or three things together if I don’t post at the right time of day. If I don’t post before they pick up my feed it will lump two of them together the next day. Anyway, now I really have to bail.

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

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Q: What situations(s) are you facing right now where God is calling you to persist in faithful obedience to him?

A: There are a ton of places in my life that God is calling me to be more faithful in my life. I feel like over the past year and a half he has been just telling me to get one area after another in order. A lot of the areas require too much back-story to explain why God wants me to work on them, and some other ones are just a little more personal then I wish to publish on the web. Thats right, I said there actually is something I won’t write about online, and as most of you know I discuss my life pretty openly, but some stuff just isn’t meant for my blog. But I know that God does not call us to do things without giving us the strength and endurance to accomplish them. One of the things I’ve had to be persistent in is writing in this blog for my devotions. Does anyone read all of these things besides Janine and Lauren? I have wondered if I should even keep doing this. Everyone I talk to says they like it, but no one (except Janine, have to give props where it is due) ever chimes in with their thoughts or responses to what I write. So, I propose, that people click on the link that says “Post a new comment” which is to the left of the word “Devotions” and to the right of “Comments (0). Do not click on the “Comments: Add Your Own” linke because that is something Livejournal adds and I cannot respond to comments made that way. But Anyway, write something, what you think about my posts, what you think about this question, or whatever. Just let me know that more then 2 or 3 people read this and enjoy it. Ok, it’s late, I’m tired, and tired of writing and ranting. So I’m calling it a day. Night