Assignment #9

First of all, I did not know the history of the "alter call" and that it even had a history.  Anyway, this article was very interesting to me because it has talked about some things that I have thought about before but, never really have been able to decide on.  The article basically talked about the history of the alter call, and the debated pros and cons of it.  Pros: It gives sinners the opportunity to accept Christ.  Cons:  People might confuse their physical act of "walking the aisle" with actually being saved, not all people would be strong enough to be able to get up in front of people to walk down an aisle to find their savior.  But despite these Cons, the alter call is still used to day in my church in know and many many other Baptist/Methodist/Presbyterian churches today.

Assignment #8

     We watched glee today in bible class.  The episode was about a guy named Finn who thought he had found Jesus on a slice of grilled cheese and Curt, who's dad had a heart attack and is in the hospital.  In this episode, the characters of Glee show what the writers of the show believe about our faith.  Most of what they say is innacurate, but there was one thing that Curt said on the show that is somewhat accurate.  The innaccurate things they portray in the show is that God is like a genie that is there to grant you wishes and give you what you want.  They also portray in the show that God is just something to hold on to when you are sad or things aren't going your way.  But one thing that Curt (who is gay, by the way) said was something to the effect of:  I don't believe in God because how could I believe in someone who made me gay, and then tells his followers to look down on me everyday.  What he says about God making him gay is not true (it is a sin just like lying and murder) and God doesn't make mistakes, so yeah.  But it is really sad how we treat the people that struggle with that sin and we think that homosexiality is worse than lying or cheating but it really isn't and i think the show got that thing somewhat accurate.

Giving to the Needy

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. - Matt. 6:1-4
     In Matthew chapter six, verses 1-4, Jesus preaches about giving to the needy.  He said that you shouldn't give to people and let people know about it like the hypocrites do, but to do it in secret so that no one knows.  This can be applied to my life when I give an offering or donation at church or some other organization.  I shouldn't tell people how much I gave or whatever, because then I am seeking glory from others to myself to show people how good I am like the hypocrites Jesus warns us about in his speech about giving.  He says that: "When you give to the needy, do not let you left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that you giving may be done in secret.  And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."  So we should not give in public knowledge for our own glory, but in secret so that we may serve and glorify God, who is the only one we should worry about pleasing. 

Assignment #7

  I have always grown up never trick or treating or dressing up (except maybe once or twice).  My parents always told me that Halloween is "evil and that it's Satan's night to have fun or something" (not there exact words, but something like that) and i've never had a problem with it.  We didn't even really go to the fall festivals either.  But lately, and after reading the article, I kinda realized that Halloween is just like any other night.  Satan and his demons are hard at work, like always, trying to do what they do.  It is just that the spiritual warfare is seen more because were thinking about it I guess.  I can see why my parents would want to "protect" me, but I don't think that there is anything wrong with carving jack-o-lanterns or walking door to door and getting candy.  Although Halloween did start as a pagan holiday, like Christmas, the first thing I think of when I hear Halloween is candy and costumes, not demons and evil spirits (In the same way, ask yourself what you’re doing on Halloween and why. Are you going to a seance, using the night as an excuse to wear an “adult nurse” costume or see how fast you can get throw-up drunk? Probably not a good idea. But are you dressing up as a member of Team Zissou, hanging out with friends and bobbing for apples? That’s probably OK. We haven’t Christianized Halloween like we have with Christmas and Easter traditions—but most of the Halloween traditions that American culture celebrates are innocent fun, not pagan. Carving Justin Bieber’s face into a pumpkin doesn’t bring to mind protection against evil spirits, and putting on a Snooki mask doesn't equate dancing around a fire to protect yourself against demons).  I do agree with the article that, unless you're some devil worshiper, Halloween can be a fun time to go around dressed like your favorite whatever and get some free candy(As with many of our traditions, it’s worth taking the time to look back and wonder, “Where did this come from?” Halloween is no exception. And, like many of our holidays, it can be misused, abused and downright non-Christian. But using the time to have some fun with friends and give kids some candy? That seems like a pretty Christian thing to do. Just don’t give the kids a tract instead of candy. That's just mean*).  Would I let my kids do it though?  I don't really know, because i've always grown up not doing it.  I guess i'll have to see when I get there.

*Underlined portions from the REVELANT  Magazine article: http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life/current-events/features/23301-is-halloween-good-or-evil

Assignment #6

Today we went to the bowling alley to help with the special olympics.  At first I was really nervous and I didn't know what to expect.  I was afraid that I was going to be with someone that had anger problems or something, but I hadn't ever spent much time with a person that had a disability and I didn't really understand what I do now, that you just have to love on them and they will love you back.  At first it was kinda awkward and I was a little shy.  But when they started to bowl, I began talking with them and having fun.  Most of them are better bowlers than me!  As I started to have fun with them and cheer them on and talk to them, I saw that they're just awesome people that God made and that they have personalities and thoughts like everyone else and I don't have to be afraid of them, they just want to be loved and talked too.  Most of them are just like little kids and they are really fun to be around.  All the guys in my group were awesome.  Mike, one of the guys in my alley, was really funny and would always make jokes and stuff.  James, an older man, said the whole time, "Everyone is doing great today!" And Jared and Ivan didn't talk much, but they would always high five me and smile when I cheered them on.  At the end of our time with them, one of the guys in my alley, Mike, went up to me and told me that he really appreciated that we came here to spend time with them and have fun with them and just talk with them.  It really made me happy that I had made their day by being with them and helping them do what they like to do.   

Assignment #5

This week, for spiritual emphasis week, Andy Braner spoke about asking ourselves questions like: What is it that I believe? etc.  I learned alot from everything he said this week but one thing that stood out to me the most was on Wednesday, when he asked us the question, "Behave?"  How do we behave?  Basically, the way we behave or act is the result of what we feed our minds with.  If we feed our minds with good things, good things will come out.  If we feed our minds with unrighteous things, unrighteous thins will come out as a result.  Andy gave a great analogy about this.  He said, "You are what you eat."  If you eat alot of fat, greasy things, then you'll turn into a fat, greasy person.  If you eat your vegtables, you won't (usually) become a fat, greasy person.  Just like if you are constantly listening to music that has bad words in it, then that is what you are filling your mind with and what will eventually show up in your actions or words.  Then, towards the end of the chapel, Andy asked us what are some spiritual junk foods that are in our lives.  I had thought about that alot and I realized that there are so many junk foods and things in everday life that we are numb to and don't even think about.  For instance, video games.  I had gotten Call of Duty for my birthday one year and one day my brother played it.  A few days later, my mom heard him in his room playing with his army guys, saying the d word.  I had played the game before and heard that they said that on there and it didn't bother me until I heard my brother say it.  Video games themselves are not bad things, but they can cause others to stumble.  Also if you are constantly playing them, they can become addicting and they can make you lose focus on what is really important.  Another thing that is a spiritual junk food in my life and many other people's is T.V.  What we watch on television or on YouTube, or whatever can also really shape how we act or what we say.  Our spiritual food should not consist of worldy things, " Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.(Romans 12:2)", But we should feed on the thing that really matters in this life.  That question really convicted me this week and I am making it a goal to go on a spiritual diet.  The Jesus' flesh and blood diet!  " Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  The eye is the lamp of the body.  If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eyes are bad, your whole  body will be full of darkness.  If then the lighen withen you is darkness, how great is that darkness"      

Assignment #3

I think that "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room" is about a man and his relationship with his girlfriend or wife.  Throughout the song, he states that their relationship is going downhill and that it's not going to get better.  Basically he is saying that he doesn't want their relationship to end, but it is inevitable that it will.  He says this in the chorus, "We're going down,And you can see it too.  We're going down, And you know that we're doomed."  I think he is getting a divorce with his wife instead of just breaking up with his girlfriend because it makes it seem much more serious than just a breakup.  The song has a sad tone to it and it makes you feel sad that this couple's relationship is slowly degenerating.  It makes you even more sad when you know that God made marriage and you see people take that special, amazing thing and treat it like nothing.  Marriage is like a mechanical pencil.  How much led you put into it determines how much work you are going to get done.  But you can't just put in a few pieces of led for the whole school year, you have to continually put in more and more(And mechanical pencils are always sharp).  Marriage shouldn't be like a wooden pencil where you sharpen it and then it gets dull and so on until it's run out of wood and then you just throw it away and find a new one.   I think that this song shouldn't be totally censored because it's a pretty catchy song, but you should'nt listen to all the time because what you put in your minds, you replay in your actions. 

Assignment #1

     It is really depressing to hear about people that have been decieved so much by the satan and his lies that they would worship him!  When I read things like this, it awakens me to how real the spiritual world really is and that things like this go on every day and we don't realize it.  Every temptation is a spiritual war in us and every time we give in, the devil wins.  We need give God our all and he will sustain us, we don't need the things of this world when we have a Savior that came and died on the cross for us to forgive us of our sins.  Ephesians 6:10-13: "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."  We shouldn't be so ignorant to the battles that are going on around us and in our own lives.  We need to be in the word every day and have our armor on to fight off the devil's schemes when he hurls them at us.