So today I read alot of things that got me thinking.
First my wonderful friend Jess, sent me a link to this website http://www.cmfile.com/. This website bascially lists all the Universities, Colleges and Vocational Institutes all around that world that are unreached and which ones are priority. My jaw dropped when I checked out this site. If I had any doubts about being a missionary before, this email just confirmed it. I am praying God will send me anywhere (dangerous prayer I know, lol).
For example France has 86 level one Universitites (meaning it's a university with 4-year curriculum and has significant influence nationwide). Nine of those Universities are top priority campuses (meaning they will have a huge impact) and none of those 9 have Campus Ministries. So sad.
Then I was doing some reading for my tutorial and it was on shame and how Australians should be ashamed of how they treated Indigenous peoples because their nation will then be portrayed as one who "means well". Shame for the wrong reasons. People are now expected to be shameful whether or not they feel it, because it is the right thing to do.
Then I got thinking, people don't have to live up to these "expectations" if that's what you want to call them. There is freedom in Christ. Here we are thinking oh my goodness we are advancing in technology and we are reconciling ourselves with those we or our forefathers offended, but are we really? Are we doing it out of the sincerity of our hearts? Or are we doing it because it's what society says is the right thing to do? Wouldn't you love to live a life that is free from the expectations of society and experience true forgiveness?
The more and more I read and think, the more and more Jesus shows me, He is the only way.
Just to clarify here, I am not in any way saying that people should feel no shame for how they treat others. I strongly believe that if you have treated someone poorly that shouldn't sit well with you until you deal with it. What I am saying is that I don't think people or nations should pride themselves in their shame.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Food for Thought...
I saved two of my Starbucks cups because I really liked the quotes on the back of them:
"You can't lead the people, if you don't love the people. You can't save the people, if you don't serve the people."
Cornel West (Professor)
"All the darkness of the world cannot extinguish the light of a small candle."
Reza Deghati (Photographer)
"You can't lead the people, if you don't love the people. You can't save the people, if you don't serve the people."
Cornel West (Professor)
"All the darkness of the world cannot extinguish the light of a small candle."
Reza Deghati (Photographer)
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Things I Love
1. Retreats-After a week of school madness (something due Wed, Thur and Fri) I was looking forward to the Spring Retreat Campus for Christ took to Camp IAWAH this weekend. I am SOOO thankful for fellowship with AMAZING people, a time of reflection and relaxation.
2. Board Games or any game! What is it with Christians and games? I have no idea why I am such a board/card game fanatic, but I am always looking for new games to play!
3. The Jambaee- My new fave instrument and something I desperately need to learn how to play (once I learn the guitar lol). I really think that on Christ's return He should have a jambaee entrance (alongside the trumphet of course)...but that's not for me to say!
4. Investing into people's lives-Whether it be through spending time with them, praying with or for them, or even financially sowing into their lives, I really enjoy doing each one of these things.
5. Cooking (especially for others)-I LOVE hunting for new recipes! I could spend hrs in Chapters looking at Cookbooks for new meals to try!
6. Life (kind of cliche I know!) but, I enjoy learning and experiencing new things. I like adventures (ha sounds like I am creating a profile for dating!) and sometimes doing things that scare the crap out of me!
7. My future family (is it weird that I am praying for them now?). Well too late! I have already started. Lately God has really been laying it on my heart to pray for my children, that they will come to know Christ at a young age, be a witness to many and be firmly rooted in the Lord. I have also been praying that my family as a whole will be bound by the love of Christ.
8. Gain Laundry Detergant-Random I know, however I am picky about how my laundry smells (lol). The best part was coming home after my retreat and throwing a coulpe of loads in and once it was dry sniffing every towel and then hoping into nice warm, fresh smelling p.j's!
9. Being Organized! I like things going back where they belong and things being clean. If you know me, you will know that I try to keep alot of my things organized. I really can't stand clutter...thus why I love organization!
10. Lastly-A good book, blanket, cup of tea and a comfy chair=PRICELESS!
2. Board Games or any game! What is it with Christians and games? I have no idea why I am such a board/card game fanatic, but I am always looking for new games to play!
3. The Jambaee- My new fave instrument and something I desperately need to learn how to play (once I learn the guitar lol). I really think that on Christ's return He should have a jambaee entrance (alongside the trumphet of course)...but that's not for me to say!
4. Investing into people's lives-Whether it be through spending time with them, praying with or for them, or even financially sowing into their lives, I really enjoy doing each one of these things.
5. Cooking (especially for others)-I LOVE hunting for new recipes! I could spend hrs in Chapters looking at Cookbooks for new meals to try!
6. Life (kind of cliche I know!) but, I enjoy learning and experiencing new things. I like adventures (ha sounds like I am creating a profile for dating!) and sometimes doing things that scare the crap out of me!
7. My future family (is it weird that I am praying for them now?). Well too late! I have already started. Lately God has really been laying it on my heart to pray for my children, that they will come to know Christ at a young age, be a witness to many and be firmly rooted in the Lord. I have also been praying that my family as a whole will be bound by the love of Christ.
8. Gain Laundry Detergant-Random I know, however I am picky about how my laundry smells (lol). The best part was coming home after my retreat and throwing a coulpe of loads in and once it was dry sniffing every towel and then hoping into nice warm, fresh smelling p.j's!
9. Being Organized! I like things going back where they belong and things being clean. If you know me, you will know that I try to keep alot of my things organized. I really can't stand clutter...thus why I love organization!
10. Lastly-A good book, blanket, cup of tea and a comfy chair=PRICELESS!
Sunday, March 2, 2008
The Lord of the Sabbath
After a week of school and ministry it's nice to be able to take Sunday off! Although I cleaned up the kitchen, it really needed to be done before any relaxing could be done.
I sat down at my dining room table and put on some Norah Jones and just sat in my chair relaxing, literally unable to move with the sun beams brightly shining in and sipping a new juice I picked up (pomegrante, blackberry and rasberry).
It's weird not doing anything, but I realized how much I need it. If I don't have that one day a week to regenerate then I will burn out. God knew what He was doing when He commanded we keep the Sabbath Holy. He knows what we need.
On that note, Friday night I went out dinner with my friend on exchange from Australia (Claire, she's soo great!) and we got talking about our testimonies and I was explaining to her that when I was searching I discovered that Christianity was the freedom I was looking for/desperately needed. And she replied it's so funny you say that because alot of people today don't think Christianity=Freedom. It's so true! Then today I got thinking about other religions and how bound people are by the law and it devastated me. Then I got thinking about how people live who don't yet know Jesus and thought wow...so my life would be meaningless!
This is why the Sabbath is so necessary, to slow down, process what you have learned and apply it to life.
I sat down at my dining room table and put on some Norah Jones and just sat in my chair relaxing, literally unable to move with the sun beams brightly shining in and sipping a new juice I picked up (pomegrante, blackberry and rasberry).
It's weird not doing anything, but I realized how much I need it. If I don't have that one day a week to regenerate then I will burn out. God knew what He was doing when He commanded we keep the Sabbath Holy. He knows what we need.
On that note, Friday night I went out dinner with my friend on exchange from Australia (Claire, she's soo great!) and we got talking about our testimonies and I was explaining to her that when I was searching I discovered that Christianity was the freedom I was looking for/desperately needed. And she replied it's so funny you say that because alot of people today don't think Christianity=Freedom. It's so true! Then today I got thinking about other religions and how bound people are by the law and it devastated me. Then I got thinking about how people live who don't yet know Jesus and thought wow...so my life would be meaningless!
This is why the Sabbath is so necessary, to slow down, process what you have learned and apply it to life.
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