Martin Luther

Martin Luther was a Catholic monk who realized that the catholic church was doing a lot of things wrong.  He wrote a lot of books and stated many ideas that made many of the higher catholic people very upset.  He was born on November 10, 1483 in Eisleben, Germany (http://www.religionfacts.com/).  He was ordinated as a monk in 1506 when he was 23 years of age.  One of the most important parts of his life were when he posted his 95 thesis, which was a list of grievances against the catholic church, on the doors of his church in Wittenburg (http://www.wiki.answers.com/).  This is important because this was the first time that someone had stood up to the Roman Catholic Church like he did.  His thesis quickly spread and people were starting to realize that the church wasn't  being all that truthful.  Luther extremely despised indulgences, which were pieces of paper you could buy to get a few years out of purgatory for you or your relatives, and made it known in many of his writings.  Another important part of his life is when he was 'kidnapped' by Frederick the Wise and placed in exile where he translated the Bible, which was only in latin at the time, into German so that common people could read it.

I thought that the movie portrayed a very accurate view of Martin Luther's life and was very well made.  I think that the movie was a little biased toward Luther because he did say some pretty harsh things to many members of the clergy at the time and it didn't show that as much in the movie, but otherwise, it was accurate.  I believe that some of Luther's strengths were that he wasn't afraid to speak out against people that were doing wrong.  One of his weaknesses, however, is that as a result of his having no fear, he could be really mean.  Another one of his strengths is that he's a pretty smart guy.  I mean, he could translate a whole bible into German and other languages and also be able to argue with some of the top religious leaders of the Church. 

Some of my thoughts about Martin Luther are that I think that he was a brilliant man that made a very big and lasting impact on the world and the Church.  God definitely was working in his life, despite his weaknesses and downfalls (just like all of us), and used him to cause a reformation that rocked the world.  He is definitely a role model for me and a great Christian.



   

Chapter 8 D.W.Y.L.

In class we have read chapter 8 in John Piper's book don't waste your life.  This chapter was mostly about our jobs and calling or our 'vocation'.  He said that not everyone was called to have a church or spiritual vocation but most of us are called to have secular vocations.  Spiritual vocations are like pastors and missionaries etc.  Secular vocations are things like being accountants or contruction workers or doctors or lawyers etc.  He says that you are not disregarding your spiritual vocation, because he may have called you to have a secular job and given you a desire to do that.  Plus, God has called us all to be missionaries.  Also in chapter 8, he says that when you go to work, God goes with you.  It is encouraging to know that because when you know that God is there with you as you work, you'll work your hardest for Him and then others around you will see that there is something different about you.  John Piper says that "Secular is not bad, but a strategy."  Another thing that hit me in this chapter was when he said that "work is not a curse, futility is."  What that means is that if you work to glorify something greater than yourself, you wouldn't view it as a curse, you would see it as a great demonstration of your love for God.  When you work with futility(which comes from the root word, futile, which basically means something has no meaning or it is for nothing) you have nothing to honor while doing it, so you view it as a curse, something you have to do just because you need the money.  That's chapter 8 in a nutshell.

Secret Millionare

In Bible, we watched an episode of the Secret Millionare.  In this particular episode, a man named John Ferber, went to skid row to help out there and eventually give people they think need money a big check.  First of all, I think that it is pretty awesome that this guy would would take time out of his day to come and help out in a place that really needs some serious work.  I also thought is was pretty awesome that he got to sleep in skid row and live off of what a person usually has to live off of every day, which isn't much.  I have heard a lot of stories about skid row and I thought I had an idea about what it would look like and I was about right.  It was dirty and hectic, and there were tons of people sleeping in the streets. 

I really liked the stories of all the people he helped, like the guy who makes the care packages and distributes clothes to people, the people that founded the basketball teams, and the children and women's home.  It was great that he gave the people a lot of money and things that would help the community.  But one thing that I didn't like is that he said at the end of the show something like," If you ever want to feel good about yourself, come down here and do something good."  It was good that he wanted to help even though his motives weren't in the right place.

DWYL Chapters 6 & 7

This past week we have been studying chapters 6 and 7 out of John Piper's book don't waste your life and a lot of what he said convicted me on some things in my life.

In class, we had to answer some questions and one that really got me was something like: If non-christians saw everything you spent your money on or how you spent your money would they be able to tell that you were a christian?  I really hope that they would be able to tell by my actions and what I spend my money on.

Another thing that John Piper discussed in chapters 6 and 7 is the effects of T.V. and the internet on us.  In my opinion, the greatest problem with T.V./internet is that there are many ways that the media makes a lot of things that are sinful seem ok.  Three ways that the media negatively affects me is: 1. The reason I just stated, 2. It distracts me from things that are really important in life and 3. It implants a lot of ungodly ideas into my brain.  The way I spend my time reading and studying the bible vs. T.V./internet time, I would have to say that I spend much more time than I should in the media than I should in God's word.

The movie

The past few days, we watched a movie in bible about how dumb the so called Christians are in America.  He went around to many people and asked them what they thought about Christians.  Some of the things the people said were pretty harsh, and they're probably right sometimes.  I thought it was pretty cool that the guy (i think his name was dan) was wearing a jumpsuit covered with bumper stickers that each had a controversial message on them and that he asked people what they thought about them and listened to what they had to say. 

Something that struck me in this movie was the little game show that the guy made.  He got two groups of people: (i dont remember their exact names but they were basically Christians and non-christians).  They were asked a few questions and at the end of the game, the Christians were beaten badly.  Why is that?  When the Christians were asked questions about their own faith and beliefs, they knew their stuff.  But when it came to the non-Christian questions, they knew zilch, unlike the non-Christians, who knew both point of views front and back.  It was really sad.  It shows that we need to know more about the other side's point of view to be able to talk with them inteligently and without arguing. 

Some more things that caught my attention was the gay pride convention he went to.  I thought it was really cool that he set up a confessional booth and caught people totally off guard by confessing the churches sins to them and apologizing to them.  It must have been very hard to do that to people that you know you have hurt in some way and not knowing what their reaction will be. 

Overall I thought this was a great movie and that more people should be courageous for Christ and take more risks.

Jesus Camp

In Bible these past few days, we have been watching a movie about a bunch of kids that go to a camp and worship God.  Sounds pretty awesome... till you watch the movie.  There were a lot of... interesting things that happened in this camp that these kids said and did that I don't think are exactly right.  Then again, the passion and faith these kids have for Jesus is amazing.  
In the movie, there are many things that left me a little unsettled.  For example:  the speaking in tongues, commanding God to do stuff, the "dead churches speech," and few other things.   First, I'm pretty sure that there are guidelines for speaking in tongues in the Bible (1 Corinthians 14, in fact) and I don't think that they use that correctly at this camp.  In this particular Bible passage, it says that you have to have an interpreter to speak in tongues or you are just talking into the wind and its useless. 

Secondly, in the beginning of the video, before the kids came to the camp, the camp leaders were walking up and down in the place where they worship and were praying that in the name of Jesus, that the electricity wouldn't go out, that the microphones wouldn't malfunction, etc.  They were pretty much telling God what to do.  I didn't really like that.  They meant well, but I don't think that they took into account that God's will might be different from what they want or what they think is best.

Third, one of the little girls at the camp said that there are churches out their called "dead churches" who only sing three songs in a monotone voice and then listen to a service, when they should have their hands raised and be screaming PRAISE GOD! HALLELUJAH!  If that is the case, then my church is pretty dead.  

There were also some good things in the video.  One of the girls was bowling and she witnessed to a lady at the bowling alley.  That was pretty amazing!  I wish I had the courage sometimes to go and talk to somebody I know, let alone someone I have never met in my life.  Even though a lot of these kid's ideas about God are a little misconstrude and they are pretty much told what to believe by their parents, they are very passionate for Jesus and that is just amazing to see. 

  

Don't Waste Your Life Questions #1-3

1)  Galations 6:14- But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.  I believe that boasting in the cross happens (or should happen) everywhere in our lives.  Not just in church or when you do your bible study or when things are going good.  Practically, in my life right now, it means that I should not boast in the things of the world and the things that don't point to the cross of Christ.

2)  Galatians 2:20- I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me.  It makes perfect sense to say that 'I' died and yet 'I' live because when you accept Christ into your life, the old you "dies" and the new you comes to life.  It says this in 2 Corinthians 5:17-
 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  Some key words or phrases in the passage that differentiate between the I that died and the I that lived are: It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me... the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God.  

3)  I try to live all areas of my life by faith, but many times it is hard because I am human and impatient and totally imperfect.  Right now, the main area of my life that I am not giving to God to take care of is my academic life.  For me it is hard to ask God to help me in this area because I am independant and I think that I can do things myself, but I can't at all.  That's the main area that I am struggling with in my life right now faith-wise.