This week in class, we learned about the Kingdom Era. I, unfortunately, was sick and missed all but the last hour of this lecture. I was able to look at a few people's notes, and what I saw throughout was the Old Testament being referred to in the New Testament.
Growing up, its so hard to put the bible together. Some think its just a great big story line, from start to finish. Others think that there isn't much order, its just how the Bible was put together. What I see is the "golden thread". There are so many connections as you go through the Bible, connections that I never saw before. This has made digging deep and learning the Bible so much more interesting.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Friday, October 25, 2013
Church History
This week, we have been studying the history of the church starting in 70 AD, and going through to present day. When we get to the more recent church, my thoughts about "church" and its members were challenged. The views on current day church was broken down by generations to explain the differences in expectations and acceptances. I had no idea how much I differed from the people who are only 7 years younger than me!
I also learned about my responsibility to the church. Not only is someone to be a member at a church, but there are many more responsibilities. Some of these are: spreading the word of the gospel, being faithful to a local church, attending local church meetings, participation in church works, submit to local church leaders, and participate in local church discipline. This means that "church hoping" and being a "Sunday Only" attender are out of the question. We are to be faithful, even through the small stuff, in order to be a better follower of Christ.
I also learned about my responsibility to the church. Not only is someone to be a member at a church, but there are many more responsibilities. Some of these are: spreading the word of the gospel, being faithful to a local church, attending local church meetings, participation in church works, submit to local church leaders, and participate in local church discipline. This means that "church hoping" and being a "Sunday Only" attender are out of the question. We are to be faithful, even through the small stuff, in order to be a better follower of Christ.
Monday, October 21, 2013
There Is Only One Fruitcake In The Entire World... And People Keep Sending It To One Another
(Turning 30 in a world full of 22 year olds... a bit of advice to them)
Let me tell you something you already know... the world isn't all sunshine and rainbows. Its a very mean and nasty place, and I don't care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently... if you let it. Nobody is going to hit as hard as life, but it isn't about how hard you are hit... its about how hard you can GET hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward.That's how winning is done.
Pain is temporary. It may last for a minute, for an hour, for a day, or even a year... but eventually, it will subside... and something else will take its place. If I quit, however,... it will last forever.
The margin for error is so small... I mean... one half a step too late or too early - you don't make it, one half a second too slow or too fast - you don't quite catch it, the inches we need are EVERYWHERE around us... they're in every break of the game, every minute, every second.
You have a dream... you have to protect it.
If you want something... go get it. Period.
Don't be afraid to fail. You can't always win, but don't be afraid to make decisions.
You have to believe that something different can happen. He who says he can, and he who says he can't, are both usually right.
Most of you say you want to be successful... but you don't want it bad enough, you just kind of want it. You don't want it more than you want to party. You don't want it as much as you want to be cool. Most of you don't want success as much as you want to sleep.
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is your light, not your darkness, that most frightens you.
You have to dig deep down and ask yourself... "who do I want to be?" Figuring out for yourselves - what makes you happy... No matter how crazy it may sound to other people.
Make a choice. Just decide... what its going to be, who you're going to be, how you're going to do it. Just Decide.
Get up. Don't ever give up.
You can stay here, get the crap kicked out of you.... or .... you can fight your way back into the light... you can climb out of hell... one inch at a time.
To be able, at any moment, to sacrifice what you are... for what you will become.
Most of you won't be successful... because when you are studying... and you get tired... you quit. "I don't do well in math." YOU'RE RIGHT!!! YOU HAVE NEVER STUDIED! "I'm not good at writing."... because you have never written before! Talent comes naturally. Skill is only developed by hours and hours and hours of beating on your craft.
If you are not making someone else's life better... then you're wasting your time.
Don't cry to give up, cry to keep going. Don't cry to quit! You're already in pain... you're already hurt... GET A REWARD FOR IT!
So if you know what you're worth... go and get what you're worth... but you have to take the hits. And don't point the finger and say that you aren't where you want to be because of him... because of her... or anybody. Cowards do that, and that isn't you! YOU'RE BETTER THAN THAT!
Every day is a new day. Every moment is a new moment. So, now you have to go out there and show them that you're a different creature.
Show them how great you are!
It is written, "The kingdom of God is within man." Not one man, nor a group of men... but in ALL MEN! Its in you! The people have the power, the power to create machines, the power to create happiness. You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful... to make this life a wonderful adventure.
Now... what are you going to do?!?!?!
Limits, like fears, are often just an illusion.
Let me tell you something you already know... the world isn't all sunshine and rainbows. Its a very mean and nasty place, and I don't care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently... if you let it. Nobody is going to hit as hard as life, but it isn't about how hard you are hit... its about how hard you can GET hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward.That's how winning is done.
Pain is temporary. It may last for a minute, for an hour, for a day, or even a year... but eventually, it will subside... and something else will take its place. If I quit, however,... it will last forever.
The margin for error is so small... I mean... one half a step too late or too early - you don't make it, one half a second too slow or too fast - you don't quite catch it, the inches we need are EVERYWHERE around us... they're in every break of the game, every minute, every second.
You have a dream... you have to protect it.
If you want something... go get it. Period.
Don't be afraid to fail. You can't always win, but don't be afraid to make decisions.
You have to believe that something different can happen. He who says he can, and he who says he can't, are both usually right.
Most of you say you want to be successful... but you don't want it bad enough, you just kind of want it. You don't want it more than you want to party. You don't want it as much as you want to be cool. Most of you don't want success as much as you want to sleep.
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is your light, not your darkness, that most frightens you.
You have to dig deep down and ask yourself... "who do I want to be?" Figuring out for yourselves - what makes you happy... No matter how crazy it may sound to other people.
Make a choice. Just decide... what its going to be, who you're going to be, how you're going to do it. Just Decide.
Get up. Don't ever give up.
You can stay here, get the crap kicked out of you.... or .... you can fight your way back into the light... you can climb out of hell... one inch at a time.
To be able, at any moment, to sacrifice what you are... for what you will become.
Most of you won't be successful... because when you are studying... and you get tired... you quit. "I don't do well in math." YOU'RE RIGHT!!! YOU HAVE NEVER STUDIED! "I'm not good at writing."... because you have never written before! Talent comes naturally. Skill is only developed by hours and hours and hours of beating on your craft.
If you are not making someone else's life better... then you're wasting your time.
Don't cry to give up, cry to keep going. Don't cry to quit! You're already in pain... you're already hurt... GET A REWARD FOR IT!
So if you know what you're worth... go and get what you're worth... but you have to take the hits. And don't point the finger and say that you aren't where you want to be because of him... because of her... or anybody. Cowards do that, and that isn't you! YOU'RE BETTER THAN THAT!
Every day is a new day. Every moment is a new moment. So, now you have to go out there and show them that you're a different creature.
Show them how great you are!
It is written, "The kingdom of God is within man." Not one man, nor a group of men... but in ALL MEN! Its in you! The people have the power, the power to create machines, the power to create happiness. You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful... to make this life a wonderful adventure.
Now... what are you going to do?!?!?!
Limits, like fears, are often just an illusion.
(Citation: Nike, Luke 17 (The Bible), Marianne Williamson)
Monday, October 7, 2013
Inductive Bible Study (11 months later)
This past week at The Kanakuk Institute (KI), we took an in depth look at Inductive Bible Studies (IBS). I have never participated in an IBS prior, and there was quite a bit of learning I had to endure. I learned how to do an IBS and its importance.
The key to studying the bible can be broken down into 3 steps: Observation, Interpretation, and Application. When starting with observation, look for repetition. Also, ask who, what, where, when, why, and how. Follow those questions by asking, "What does this passage mean by what it says?" This is the interpretation part. After completing those two steps, you must apply it. This can be broken down into two categories: Believe (doctrine) and Behave (actions). In other words, what do I do with it?
The reason all of this is important when reading your bible is that it causes you to slow down. It would be fairly difficult to do all three steps while reading the passage only once, and therefore, makes you re-read. Slowing down also causes you to look for the obvious: repeating words and significant words.
Even though this new process seems tedious and time consuming - I am looking forward to beginning to study my bible this way. I have hopes for great outcomes from the actually "studying" of the word, and not just reading it.
(11 months later = the last time I posted.)
The key to studying the bible can be broken down into 3 steps: Observation, Interpretation, and Application. When starting with observation, look for repetition. Also, ask who, what, where, when, why, and how. Follow those questions by asking, "What does this passage mean by what it says?" This is the interpretation part. After completing those two steps, you must apply it. This can be broken down into two categories: Believe (doctrine) and Behave (actions). In other words, what do I do with it?
The reason all of this is important when reading your bible is that it causes you to slow down. It would be fairly difficult to do all three steps while reading the passage only once, and therefore, makes you re-read. Slowing down also causes you to look for the obvious: repeating words and significant words.
Even though this new process seems tedious and time consuming - I am looking forward to beginning to study my bible this way. I have hopes for great outcomes from the actually "studying" of the word, and not just reading it.
(11 months later = the last time I posted.)
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