Ski Trip

After a long weekend out with some of the church guys and leaders, a group of about 15 guys - including myself - all went to South Vermont for a ski weekend. Simply said, it was one of the most exciting, relational and heart-throbbing experiences I have ever had. Not only did I get to ski, but too were my eyes opened to God's existence through conversations, scripture, discussions, seeing the beauty of the mountains, crashing on moguls and talking with some old folk on the chairlift.

Here were some of the things I learned and did:

In relation to skiing, I was able to hit some of the largest mountains I had ever seen, ride down some of the steepest black diamonds on the East Coast, fall and injure myself due to being cut off by other skiers and moguls, hit one of the largest jumps I'd ever hit and ride along a simple, smooth path that cut between pine and spruce trees which overlooked a beautiful frozen lake and mountains in the distance. But that was not the greatest reason I experienced God.

In relation to our friendships, it was beforehand that I barely knew anyone with the exception of four friends, but this gave me the opportunity to make many knew friends and learn something about the leaders that has allowed me to build new friendships. And still, this is not the greatest reason I experienced God.

In relation to our discussion topics, I was able to walk away with a wider view of what God intends for us as people, learn a powerful new verse from scripture and gain a perspective of Biblical knowledge that has changed the way I view "Christianity." Yet this is still not the greatest reason.

The greatest reason I was able to experience God on this trip was through something most people wouldn't call a "God miracle." It was a car crash. On our trip, we had two vans, one - the church van, the van I was in - and the other - Mr. Reed's van - in which the church van carried a heavy trailer behind it full of our equipment. Mr. Reed drove ahead of us most of the trip, and as we went through Troy, New York - an almost all downhill city - we were caught at a yellow light. Mr. Reed stopped at the intersection and as our van had too much weight in the back, we were not able to slow down enough to stop, hence we hit the back of Mr. Reed's van (pictured above.)

But in all of this, it truly was God miracle if we could look at the circumstances. For one, the crash shattered the trunk and the safety glass in back, but in that nobody was hurt, the cars still ran fine, no airbags popped, the cops and emergency vehicles arrived in less than a minute, and we were given God's grace that our speed wasn't a lot, because if it was so, I would've gotten whiplash because there were no headrests, people in Mr. Reed's van could've been hurt, and it could've cost us an extra day and lots of money. God was evident in this because if it was to be a bad crash, we were about 5 hours from home with no place to stay, meaning that we would have to find a hotel and I had nothing but 75 cents left, and we would've had to find an alternate for a car, which again, could've cost a lot. So next time you think God might not be in a bad situation, try and look at what went right rather than wrong.

So in conclusion, ski more and think of what God has done in your life.

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

"To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about (to) himself: "God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get." But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner." I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."" - Luke 18:9-14.

As usual, I'll sometimes find a verse in the Bible that ends up rocking my world for some time. This verse - from the Book of Luke - has done that. To me, this verse confused me in a way that I actually thought it might be wrong. I'll explain: I believe - personally - that prayers should be out of honest and heartfelt justice that one should pray his every thought. God sees everything anyways - our struggles, addictions, aspirations and wishes - so why not pray what is on your mind, whether it be anger or complete joy? Plus, He sees all of that anyway; so it struck me when it says to "pray humbly."

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But after a few days of figuring it out, I found that this not only can it be applied to our prayers, but too our walk with Christ and our everyday lives, because if we can live humbly and justified, there will be a reward and a fulfillment - and an exaltation. We need to be justified before the Lord by not [just] praying our thoughts and wishes onto Him, but too our burdens and need for forgiveness. I noticed that just this morning I hadn't prayed "Forgive me Lord" in such a long time, and so I did... And it happened to be the most weighted object off of my shoulders. I don't even think we as people realize how much of a burden it is to carry around the fact that we have been unforgiven. So all I'll say is this; it was just this morning that I applied what the Bible said in this verse. I tried praying my thoughts and requests for others and myself, but too did I humbly admit my wrongs, and it had never felt so good!

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Later today, I also went for my sunset run - as usual - and had experienced God's presence like I haven't usually. With an exceptionally beautiful sunset over the crest of the farmland mountain, it seemed as though I were set free from society. And for some odd reason, my mind felt clear, my heart felt clean, and my overall being felt good. So maybe, it doesn't hurt to be forgiven. Maybe it doesn't hurt to take just a little [honest] time to be justified before the Lord. Maybe the inner relief of forgiveness can truly set us free...

Jonah

A very short chapter, but probably one of the most confusing and - at the same time - comforting as it very well relates to who we are as humans and how we react to God's callings. Basically, in this four chapter book of the Bible, it talks about how God brings this large calling upon a man named Jonah. Now Jonah has a background of anger and disobedience problems, so when God calls him to minister to the city of Nineveh - one of the most ungodly cities in the Bible - what do you think Jonah did?

Now as it is, Jonah flees the Lord's calling by trekking to sea and fails in the process as God brings upon him mighty waves that sweep him over and he is swallowed by a huge fish. In this, he is humbled and realizes that truly [running from God only leads to failure, even if the failure is glory.] One may ask, how is Jonah getting glory by sitting in a belly of a fish? Hey, he has his own book in the Bible right? So I feel personally that the significance is that maybe there are people out there who do ungodly things - such as steal, oppose God, trade drugs, live explicit lifestyles, believe in racism, etc. - and are glorified for them in a way that they are encouraged through the things they do. Normally, when a bully picks on a younger kid, the bully's friends will praise him for what he has done, but they probably who reject him if he one day turned around and was nice to the younger boy. But think in this perspective, what kind of actions could the bully show to the young boy, and what actions will truly bring satisfaction?

So now that Jonah feels guilty, he listens to the Lord the second time around - which shows that God is a God of second chances; hence why he sent Jesus. Jonah then goes and ministers to the Ninevites, despite having doubts, he accomplished revealing God's glory and God was merciful to that nation. All ends well? Not exactly. You might think Jonah was happy that God's plan worked, but he was actually angry towards God for not obliterating that nation full of corruption and sin; and then... The End.

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So what does this story resemble to you? If my summarization wasn't the greatest, take a look at it for yourself. It is quite a neat chapter. But what I got out of it basically lie in these five words: doubt, listening, calling, opinion and action.

In relation to doubt, I have been reading recently a work of John Ortberg known as Faith and Doubt, which he talks about why having faith will bring doubt, and having doubt builds faith. It is really cool, but all I need to say about doubt in relation to Jonah is that Jonah doubted the plan God had for him, and when he do that, we obviously fail. Because God's plan is better than ours.

Now as for listening and calling, God does call us to great things - if you are open and listening to Him. And back to the fact that God's plan is better than ours, it is true because when we listen to Him and His calling, we are going to be apart of great work. If you do have doubts about listening to God though, think about this: has God's plan ever failed? If so, why? But in my general perspective of God, He is so majestic and powerful that even if we [think] He failed, He most likely didn't and we're just dumb.

And concluding with opinion and action, our opinion of what God does will not always be satisfying. Truly, Jonah wasn't happy with what God did, but that is because God is just. And it is tough for us as humans to establish our lives on justice, and that is why we may never actually see God's work eye-to-eye. But as for actions, Jonah ran from God's first calling but lived up to the second. Problem is that he not only fulfilled God's calling, but he wasted time beforehand. Just imagine if Jonah listened to God's calling the first time? What would've been different? These questions all apply to our lives; and as Jonah relates to our daily walk, try and ask yourself this: Am I truly listening and obeying God's calling?

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And maybe - just maybe - we aren't all that different from Jonah when it comes to listening to God's calling. But that is why God is a God of second chances.

Year in Review

As 2008 comes to a close and 2009 becomes foreseeable, we can simply look back on the good moments - and the bad. But for now, I think I'll review the spiritual and positive happenings of life in 2008 for me. (In the comment box below, feel free to type up your own retrospective timeline about what God or someone or something has done for you.)


Songs that Impacted My Life in 2008:

- Life In Your Way - Reach the End
- Skillet - The Older I Get
- James Newton Howard - Thought I'd Never Call

Movies that Impacted My Life in 2008:

- Blood Diamond
- The Passion of the Christ

Books that Impacted My Life in 2008:

- Greater Than You Think - Thomas Williams

Timeline of 2008:

- March 2 - First time I paid a visit to my church's Senior High Youth Group, which was one night that truly changed my walk with Christ - through new friends and an awesome small group. This was also a time that God had set me free from an absence of a true heart for Jesus in my life which had been a burden throughout my winter season.

- March 19 - Day that I participated in my first science fair competition, in which I brought home second place in my division.

- April 3 - Day that I participated in the regional science fair, in which I brought home third place and a special award from the Philadelphia Society of Coatings Technology.

- April 20 - The day on which I was baptized - a very blessed day.

- May 8 - Yet there was no real significance to this day, I was unnormally happy throughout the course of the day in which I could literally [feel] God working in my life. That was pretty cool.

- May 20 - The day that I broke a minute split in the 400m - my time was a 59.6.

- June 12 - Last day I was able to visit one of my best friends, Joshua Tibbetts as his family and himself moved to Thailand to work in mission with God - way to go Tibbetts family!!!

- June 14 - My 16th birthday took place when I received my iPod Touch.

- June 16 - School ended as I would then leave Indian Crest to go to Souderton High School - and I would enter the second greatest summer of my life.

- June 22-28 - Week that my family and I visited our relatives in Maine, and also celebrated my Granparent's 50th Anniversary.

- July 14-19 - Week retreat with my church's youth group to Harvey Cedars Bible Conference, which made an internal impact that was inspiring and life-changing.

- July 19-August 4 - The weeks I was able to spend with my Chinese exchange student, Fu Yao. These weeks were powerful not only because they followed Harvey Cedars but also because it gave me an opportunity to share the Gospel with a person who otherwise may have never learned of it. The weeks of Harvey Cedars and Fu Yao totally strengthened my walk with Christ even more.

- August 4-8 - I was a camp counselor for Branch Creek Arts Camp where I was again able to make an impact on the lives of children through sharing the Gospel.

- August 17-23 - My family and I did our usual vacation time in New Hampshire with out relatives from Massachusetts - this was also the week that I suffered from heat stroke.

- August 31-September 1 - Weekend of astronomy at Cherry Springs.

- September 2-18 - The time when school was delayed due to a teacher's strike, which resulted in a lot of family time - such as a trip to Baltimore, Philadelphia, Longwood Gardens and Atlantic City.

- October 4-5 - The weekend that my father and I paid a visit to my Grandparents in Massachusetts.

- October 18 - The day that began my strong spiritual doubt in result of a convincing conversation with an atheist. (Which was also the beginning of my spiritual investigating.)

- October 29 - My father and I paid a visit to the NanoDay convention at University of Pennsylvania, which was inspiring toward my love for science.

- December 7 - The day that one of my best friends, Luke Moyer and I - along with a friend of his - went to New York City to celebrate his birthday.

- December 23-27 - My Grandparents from Maine visited with us for Christmas on their way to Florida, in which we were able to celebrate the birth of Jesus as a family.


And in all of this, God has never left me for a day. Although my spiritual walk with Him - as of now - isn't at its greatest or happiest, know that not always will it be. God will allow obstacles to come into our lives in order to make us stronger in our walk with Him. And as we approach 2009, just remember what God has done for you in your life, and if at all possible, try and comprehend what He may do in the future. Happy New Year!

God's Purpose - Part II

Today was good to me. Nothing vastly special came abrupt, but here is how it ran. I woke up at 5:30 - as I do every morning - and due to the clouds, I couldn't pull out my telescope and do astronomy, hence I took a nice long jog in the pitch black. Around 6:45 I arrived at Main Street Java to teach a lesson to an awesome group known as FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). The lesson went well and I was suprised by the number of people that showed up. And it was that night that I went out to my Old Testament course at Biblical Seminary, only to learn more about Yahweh and his creations.

In correlation to God's purpose, I think I will write about what God spoke to me today - leadership. Leadership - it's a very blatant topic. Often used in society, but one thing I wanted to do was see what the "definition" was. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as "the capacity to lead." The Encarta Dictionary defines it as "the ability to guide, direct, or influence people." Of course there is no wrong answer to this - it came out of a dictionary anyways - but I believe that there are [many] different traits of a leader and that God created everyone for a diffent purpose, in which everyone will lead in different yet similar ways.

For instance, take it as the analogy Jesus gives in Matthew 5:14-16: "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." That's how we - as humans - must act too. Why should we shelter ourselves when we have a message - the Gospel - in which it needs to be shared to this dark world. That's what Jesus was saying, we should be a light in a dark world, to provide leadership and guidance to the ones who need it and to provide an example of what Jesus would want. To shine our lights, we must live like Jesus, not only contemplate it, not only speak about it, but live on it. Make that our establishment for what we do in our God-given calling. God has called us to many different things, whether it is to be a scientist someday, or to be a College Football player, or to work in the business field; whatever it is use it for God, because in the end, to live a life like Christ will never lead to regrets. It may lead to struggle and hardships, but never will it lead to regrets. Because God is what it means to have true satisfaction.

"'...but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'" - John 4:14

God's Purpose - Part I

"...the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. There the hand of the Lord was upon him." - Ezekiel 1:3.

As the Bible states, God reached his hand out to Ezekiel, displaying to him his purpose and calling in which it was his job to fulfill. This applies to us as humans also, that we all have a God given purpose that needs to be completed. God may not reach his hands down to show you what he has in mind for you to do in your future, but it is through what you love most that he will guide you to your calling. And sometimes that is hard to wrap our brains around, that God knew in advance what we were going to do with our lives yet we still live through free [will], and that [will] could be to do good or to not do good. It depends on how we live our purpose out.

A question we may ask ourselves though - at any age - is "What is my purpose?" And that is one I cannot answer to you directly, only God can. It is through praying and getting to know Him better in which you will find inspiration, comfort and the drive to do well in your calling. Another way of considering a spiritual gift rather than asking "What is my purpose?" could be to find what you are good at. Sports? Music? Intellect? Arts? What is your gift? God didn't make you good at something for no reason, he made it so you could use it for Him. And now is the time: consider what your purpose might be and try to do as much as you can to use it for Him, and in the end, after all the worldly saturations and fads go away, it will be you and your gift that would have made an impact on what God used you for.

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." - Ephesians 2:10