Acts

Some musings…

I recently read through the book of Acts, and a couple things struck me a little more forcefully than they have in the past.  Put yourself in the shoes of the disciples, after the resurrection of Christ.  And what, go out and change the world?  Transform society into recognizing Jesus Christ as the Savior, the Messiah, the Son of God?  Think about it…  I think my life is stressful, I’m not walking around trying to convince the world that God was born in human flesh, lived and walked among us, was crucified, died, and buried, and rose from the dead and ascended into heaven to live eternally with God the father.  What would it have been like to be one of the first Christians?  Discovering the love of Jesus for the first time?  Spreading the word and essentially creating the religion we call Christianity? 

The first disciples spread out, proclaiming the Good News.  How radical is that?  I believe in a 2000-year-old religion, they created this religion.  The uproars created by Paul and the others would be so intense and met with such adversity if they were to happen now.  And yet, still countless take up the cross and follow Jesus.  Talk about faith.

Is it really that different though?  Was Paul’s mission that much different then the mission before us today?  Jesus’ commandment still stands.  “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.  And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).  What is our excuse?  The opposition is really not that much more intense now.  Paul’s death was ordered, yet he did nothing worth death or imprisonment.  And when charged, Paul replied “…But this I admit to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our ancestors, believing everything laid down according to the law or written in the prophets.  I have a hope in God – a hope that they themselves also accept – that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.  Therefore I do my best always to have a clear conscience toward God and all people…” (Acts 24: 14-16).  Our actions are all too often driven by fear.  We forget, that with God there, with love there, fear is absent.  “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear…” (1 John 4:18).

How did they do it?  How can I do it?  “While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word” (Acts 10:44).  God did it.  Paul didn’t preach on his own, God was with him, and God is with me.  We are required to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with the Lord.  God will take care of the rest. 

Another question I asked myself, how has Christianity changed since the time Paul and the first disciples walked the earth?  As society and individuals change, does the faith change with us?  The building blocks are the same.  But are the practices?  The relationship with God held in such high esteem in the Bible, “pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18) is still just as applicable today as it was then.  Why then do I let life get in the way and cloud my focus on God?

A final thought, in Acts 26:8, Paul asks, “Why is it thought incredible by any of you that god raises the dead?”  A remarkable question if you as me, of course it is incredible, it’s a miracle!  But Paul’s faith is that great, “To this day I have had help from God…” (Acts 26:22).  God is here, with me always.  With Him all things are possible.

What are we waiting for?

“Be strong in the Lord and the strength of his power.” (Ephesians 6:10)

New Plan

So as stated in my earlier post, I have no idea what I want to be when I grow up.  Things are changing, constantly.  Turns out (as of now) that I’ll actually be taking Geographic Information Services (for a minor or possible double major in Environmental Science), Health Policy in an Era of Reform (an honors seminar), and Physics 1 and Organic Chemistry 2 (couldn’t shake those two – unfortunately) next semester.

Also on the topic of new plans – I’m going to visit both my grandmas over Thanksgiving break!  And I am very excited for that, although I just booked a taxi ride at 4:45 tomorrow morning… Not looking forward to that one.  It should be a good break though.  I’m going to try as hard as possible to not do any school work, though if I actually want to accomplish that I should get off the computer now and go do my homework.  Such a dilemma…  Doing work now, or later.  This reminds me of our discussion today in my Environmental Ethics class.  Basically some people think that we should save the environment for future generations, others think that future generations don’t count that much for a number of reasons*, so basically we discount the value of the future individual back to the present time, and they aren’t worth as much.  Crazy idea right!?  Although we kind of have to in able to justify all the things we do now.  And that relates to my homework problem in that I can do it now or put it off for my future self to do, in the same way that we as a society hand off the growing environmental problems to the next generation over and over again.

Alrighty, there’s my post for the night.  Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say Rejoice.  Let your gentleness be known to everyone.  The Lord is near.  Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.”
          – PHILIPPIANS 4:4-9

* Reasons future individuals don’t count as much as those alive today

1) The Swamping Problem – There are SO MANY MORE future individuals than people alive now, that in order to help them we would essentially have to give up everything in live now.

2) The Uncertainty Problem – We don’t know what future generations will actually need, so why save stuff for the.

3) The “They will be Gods Problem” – People in the future will be better off than us, so they don’t need help from us.

4) The Nonidentity Problem – Those future people don’t actually exist.

Update!

I realize it’s been awhile since I’ve given an update on where I am… in school, in life, in general.  Things have been busy.  I had my last two midterms this week, and then spent the last couple days doing all those things I put off when studying for those midterms.  So here’s an update of cool things/important things that are relevant to my life now. 

1) Care packages

Sometimes I forget just how blessed I am.  Being in Boston so far from home is hard for me.  I miss my family, friends, mountains, snow, church, Birchwood… I could drag this list on forever.  But I’m ok, because I know that those back home truly care.  So thank you Grandma, Uncle Billy and Aunt Lisa, and Christ First United Methodist Church, for sharing your love with me this semester. 

2) YES

I’m volunteering with Youth Enrichment Services this year, which is an organization that takes inner city kids skiing and snowboarding in the winter, and does all sorts of fun things with them in the summer (hiking, camping, biking, rock climbing, kayaking, etc.).  I’m signed up to be a ski instructor!  I started last week working in the ski shop, and will do that until January when trips begin!

3) Life Plan

It’s that time of the year again, the time when I have to pick my schedule for next semester.  I don’t like this time; its too stressful, I make it too stressful.  There’s a lot of pressure associated with picking out the right classes.  Which classes are best going to prepare me for my career?  Wait, that means I need to know what career I want.  Crap.  Ok, I have no idea what I want to do when I grow up, but I think I’m taking Physics 1, Organic Chemistry 2, Environmental Pollution, and Organizational Behavior next semester.

4) Remember God (in response to above) and Everything Changes*

“Do not fret… 

Trust in the LORD, and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security. 

Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. 

He will make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like the noonday. 

Be still in the LORD, and wait patiently for him.”

~PSALM 3:1-7

I get so caught up in all the decisions that need to be made, and am so worried about making the wrong one, that I forget God is here, leading me, directing me, exposing the path that He has already laid out for me.  All I need to do is follow.

“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” ~JEREMIAH 29:11

And there is no need to worry, because God has met and will meet all of my needs.  He will take care of me, because I am His child.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap no gather into barns, and yet you heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?  And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your life span?  And why do you worry about clothing?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil or spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.  But if God so clothed the grasses of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you – you of little faith?  Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we wear?’  for it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own.  Today’s trouble is enough for today.” ~MATTHEW 6:25-34

And because of God, I have been given gifts to use on my journey; the drive to answer questions and help people, the desire to explore and discover new things, and the capacity to recognize that the complexity, wonderment, and awe of life is so much more than I will ever be able to understand.

“We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us.” ~ROMANS 12:6

And I am so thankful, that God is in my life.

5) My Prayer

Dear Lord,

Thank you for this day.  Thank you for filling my life with your light.  Thank you for clothing me, for providing for me, for loving me despite how many times I have turned my back on you.  I do not need to worry.  I do not need to fear.  I trust in God to lead my life, guide my choices, and carry me when I cannot walk.  I know you are always with me, embracing me with your love.  Thank you for this reassurance.  Nothing is more powerful or perfect than your love.  I pray today for all those who are suffering, who have lost loved ones, who are sick and hurting, may they find comfort in you.  Draw us in, the weak and the crippled, the sinners and the lost, myself and all those reading this; fill us with your love, your grace, and your peace.  Let your love wash over us, fill us with new spirit, make our hearts pure, cleanse our souls so that your light might shine through us so all around can see.

In Christ’s name I pray,

Amen

*From a previous post