Small Towns and Easter

This weekend, I may have visited Babbitt, Minnesota for maybe the last time of my life. Ok, for many of you, you A) have no idea where the heck Babbitt, Minnesota is or B) know the town and really wonder if there is something wrong with me that I would actually miss it. For the second time in my life, I visited the wonderful, small, Iron Range town in Northern Minnesota. This is where one of my roommates from last year lives. Town = about 1300 people on a good day. It is kind of weird, there is not too much in the town except of course The Babbitt Golf Course, The Teen Center, a few churches, a school, and of course Tank’s Bar. The reason Babbitt plays such a special role in my life is because it is the first real small town I have ever actually spent time in. All my life, I grew in a big town with multiple gas stations, stores, and five Wendy’s restaurants within a few mile radius. If any of you have never spent time in a small town, it is something you must do.

The unity of people in a town like that is incredible. For many small villages in Northern Minnesota, the entire community is dependent on one thing, the local mine. I never understood the implications of how one thing could really effect so many people at a deep level. The thing about a mine is that after a few years or decades, there just is not anything left to mine, meaning all those who worked there would have to be laid off. It is as if each day you go to work, you are actually working away at eliminating your job. Maybe a decade ago or so, a mine closed down in Babbitt, decreasing the need for schools from three to one and shutting down numerous business. Families have been affected greatly. It is not just the parents, but also their kids and grandkids. For many, growing up in a tough environment with an unstable job is common. The implications for the children are great and heavy at the same time.

What I wanted to establish here was the implications of one thing (in this case a mine) that could effect so many people for generations to come. As today is Easter, it is crazy to think of how deep the implications are of what Jesus did on the cross on Good Friday, but further the unbelievable joy in Jesus being raised from the dead. What implications are there in these activities? For us as humans, we have the ability to accept a gift that redeems us from the penalty of our sins. Although the physical act of Jesus dying and then being raised occurred thousands of years ago, the result of this act effects each of us today and for our eternity. So often the spirit of Easter is lost in activities, family, and food. While these things are important, the true meaning of Easter is often overlooked. Let us not forget what it meant for Jesus to overcome the sins of the world on the cross in being resurrected. There would be no Christian faith, no atonement for sins, no eternal life in Heaven, no forgiveness of sins, without Jesus being raised. What an incredible gift that is offered to us that is often overlooked?

Lastly, I must add that although my stay in Babbitt this time around was about 24 hours, I do not think a family outside my own has ever treated me so nicely. It was as if I was their son for the weekend. I always said that one of the biggest reasons why I came to the U was because the people were so nice. I never knew that the parents and friends of the people I became friends with would treat me as one of their own too.

Others

For many people, this Cross may mean, represent, or symbolize various things. Some may see hope, peace, prosperity, and salvation. Others may see anger, disappointment, or bewilderment. The range of emotions and feelings may be wide.

The thought that ponders my mind when I see that Cross is that it represents a person who thought of others before himself.

As a culture and society, the constant focus in our lives is ourselves. What can I gain? How do I look? What does everyone else think of me? Where I am going? When will something happen for me? Why is this happening to me? These are questions that consume our minds daily.

Granted, it is impossible to go through life and not think about yourself some. But the thing for me is that, often, when I think about myself, I compare myself with others who are better than me. It is this competitive attitude combined with a certain feeling of inferiority. The biggest challenge for me, and most people from the U.S., is to realize how blessed we are.

Why is it that I stress about which article of clothing I am going to wear when many in the world would be overjoyed with a set of clothing? The education that I stress about and often complain about is what many in the world, young and old, long for. I always say that I am “starving.” I do not even know what starving is. How many people in the world would beg for the leftovers of what we have eaten?

With our hearts, can we please stop looking at ourselves and see the world. Let us who have so much help those who do not have much at all. This may be in the physical sense of food, clothing, and shelter. But this can also be in the spiritual sense too. Why do we often see people as what one is wearing or what another is driving? What about their eternal spiritual souls?

This all comes back to the fact that the source and meaning of the Cross. Jesus Christ gave up his LIFE for people like you and me who deserve nothing remotely close to that kind of love. Let us stop thinking about ourselves and start seeing the needs and pains of those around us.

Unexpected Blessings

Do you ever do something that you completely dread and really do not want to do, but after you do it, you realize that it was actually for the better? I know that is a bit of a vague question. Tonight, I experienced an unexpected reality.
So often, we all get so caught up in what we are doing that we have no time to realize how much we have all changed, matured, or grown. Since so many things happen gradually, we just cannot see for ourselves what has changed. It is kind of like growing taller or growing out your hair, the people immediately around you everyday do not quite realize the difference, but someone you have not seen for a long time recognizes it right away.
Without going into details, tonight I got to see first hand a few things. First how great God’s grace has been in my college life? Second, because of God’s grace, how different I am from my first semester freshman year to now. Ultimately, the biggest factor I am slowly understanding is how unbelievable Jesus’ gift was on the cross. Is there a better example of complete love and forgiveness for those who run away from him?
To challenge each of you, I ask you to think back to who you were a few years ago. Maybe this means looking back into a journal, asking a friend what they thought of you, or simply sitting down and reflecting. What has changed in your life? What is different? Are you happy and satisfied with what you have become? Is their disappointment or regret? While it is inevitable for everything you think of to be good or positive, make sure to give yourself grace. And lastly, no matter what you have been or have become, the incredible love of God that offered his Son, as atonement for our sin, is never unreachable. The beauty in all of this iswhat Jesus said, “For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:12).

Minneapolis---Miami, Ohio---Minneapolis

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to go down to Oxford, Ohio to see some friends from this past summer. They go to the Miami University in Ohio, also called J Crew U (because many on the campus dress up a good amount). Anyways, while I was there, I started realizing some things that blew my mind away. Here are some of my reflective thoughts on the weekend.
- Why the heck would I spend way too much on a ticket to the Middle-of-Nowhere, Ohio to visit people that I have known less than a year? Logically, it really does not make sense. Many will say going on a Summer Project will change your life. Others say you will make friends for a lifetime. My question is why do people say that? All to often, the focus is on the person or the people themselves, not on what is at the core of that person that is missed. Here is where I am going with all this, all too often I think about people from this summer and really miss them in my heart. But is it solely the person that I miss, their personality, their smile, laugh, or conversations. I don’t think so. It is more than that. It is the way God was working in their lives. It is that special relationship each person had with the Savior of the world.
- As I continue to think about the core of people and their relationship with Jesus Christ, I cannot help but feel comforted. See, the unbelievable thing about it all is that the same God that I saw in the actions and personalities of people, that I experienced on the boardwalk, at work, or wherever else in Ocean City is the same God that is here with me in Minneapolis, Minnesota. What an amazing thing to remember and hold on to?!
- This thought of missing people so much more than what God was doing this summer is a bit scary. As I progress in college and start to realize that graduation college and entering the real world is actually going to happen, I continue to think about what my relationship with God truly is. Is it an activity? Is it volunteering or hanging out with others that believe the same thing I do? Is it doing something or going to a meeting? While all these things are great, all too often, people fall in love with the activity, meeting, or people, not the God that is at the source of it all. Why do we lose sight of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords among small things like a large meeting or a fun time?
- On to a lighter subject, I have realized something extremely cool of being with good friends. There is something special and unique about friends that are near and dear to you. Two guys that I was very close with drove down from Ball State, which is a few hours away. While I was excited and pumped to see them, I felt no pressure to have to say something or have a conversation. The pure joy in simply being in the presence of these guys and all the others at Miami was satisfying enough. What a blessing?! For some reason, I look at my relationship with Jesus often times in a different way. Why is it that we always need to be doing something or saying something to Him? While these are not bad things, many get caught up in those processes and routines instead of realizing that it is a true, real relationship.

I wanted to end with another random event and thought. A few weeks ago, I had written that I lost arguably one of my most prized possessions, my Prayer Journal. By God’s grace it was found and returned to me through the mail. Alright, I know that is not that big of a deal to many of you, but reflecting on how unbelievable God is so amazing. The timing of God is so unknown but so perfect and right. A little over four years ago I had this serious allergic reaction to an Amoxicillin. Some of you from high school would remember this (Especially one guy). Recalling that time through the reflections and words that I wrote is incredible. See, the beauty of the situation was what I wrote the day before the entire allergic reaction happened. I was feeling lonely and down, wondering if my friends truly even cared about me. The next day, my life was on the brink of ending. While that was a bit scary, the after effects of seeing how much people cared and really did love me were incredible.
Here is my challenge to all of you and myself. Too often we go through life being reserved in our appreciation towards others around us. We think that it would be awkward to express how much a person means to us. We continue to shy away from being encouraging but some how attracted to insults, sarcasm, and put-downs. Why is this paradox so true? People, be encouraging today. Find one person today and compliment them on something. Tell someone how they have positively affected you. Be open and honest. Why is it so easy for many of us to be critical of someone but so hard to be uplifting? Do not just agree in your head that this is good or right; instead, go do it right now!

The Unexplainable

There is a part of life, a big part, which is so unexplainable. There are feelings we just cannot express completely in words. There are actions that do not have a legitimate reason in words but make complete sense in our hearts and mind. We have logic and common sense to guide us in so many of our routine decisions, but there is always this field of unknown that leads us, guides us and controls us.

It is that feeling you get before a huge game. What is that? A competitive spirit, not knowing what is going to happen, but excited to tackle whatever comes your way.

It is that feeling that money does not matter. That the thing you are about to do cannot have a price tag. It is like one of my friends flying to London for the weekend to see his girlfriend.

It is that rumbling in your heart that leads you to randomly talk to a stranger. That desire to decide against the logical and choose the radical.

What is IT? I cannot describe IT fully? It may be love. But then who can describe love.

Love is more than just kind words or a romantic moment. It is more than an intimate situation or deep conversation. It lasts longer than that. Love is consistent. Love is the feeling to give a stranger a hug because you have a connection with them. Love is seeing someone you have not seen in five months and thinking that it was just yesterday when everyone was together.

But I still have not come close to describing love. Maybe 1 John 4:8 will give some insight “…because God is love.”

Well, good luck to the person who wants to try and fully describe God.

My King (Remix)

I know I already let you all know about the speech by SM Lockridge. However, I just found this new site that actually has a video to go along with it. And it is only about three minutes long. So for those of you who were too busy to listen to the six minutes, try this out. It is totally worth your time. Just click here. (And if you haven't noticed, I just learned how to include links and pictures!) The picture is of SM Lockridge.

The Beauty of Simplicity

While I have been at home this break, I have been pondering the simple things in life. So often, I get caught up in immersing myself in complicated issues, discussions, arguments, and ideas. While these events are needed and beneficial for proper maturity, I often lose sight of the most important, yet simple, aspects of it all.

In the spiritual sense, it is so easy to get caught up in current, “hot-button” issues that are fun, interesting, and exciting. Finding a faith-based conversation on homosexuality, the death penalty, abortion, or whatever else is simple. However, how difficult it is to talk about the source and foundation of that faith. Why am I not digging deep into the well of the simple yet deep GRACE of Jesus Christ? How often I lose sight of my sin and superficially take God’s grace as atonement?

See, the ugliness of losing sight of simple yet foundational truths is that these very truths are perceived in a light manner. No longer do we attempt to feel the weight of our sin bearing down. I do not mean this in a way to prevent one from experiencing the freeing grace of Christ. Actually, I mean exactly the opposite. Attempting to understand our very sin helps us appreciate how beautiful and marvelous that saving Grace truly is.

Think of it this way. If you were expecting to get a 95% on a test and your teacher told you that you received a perfect 100% score, you would be pretty excited. On the flip side, if you knew you had earned a 50% failing grade, and your teacher came to you and said that one of your classmates agreed to take the consequence of a failing grade and give you their perfect score, what would your reaction be? My first emotion would be one of questioning. Can he do that? Is it possible? Is it right? After seeing that it is true, legitimate, and possible, I would be so joyous and awestruck. It would not even compare to the excitement I would be feeling if I expected it. At the same time, you would not be able to have that perfect grade unless you accepted it as your own. Just knowing that the offer is there does not mean you actually have the grade. (I know this may not be a perfect example to God’s grace).

People, this is what we have in Christ. We are sinful. We have all done something wrong and these things deserve a failing grade in the test of eternity. However, Jesus Christ, who had a perfect score on the test of eternity agreed to switch grades. He agreed to take the consequence of your sin. He was mocked, beaten, whipped, and nailed to a cross. He died in your place. And He gave us a way to reach Heaven, solely through himself. He gave us this free, undeserved gift. It is not enough to just to know that this amazing gift is there. We must all accept it as our own.

My King (Second Post in One Day!)

I have to let you all know about six minutes of speaking that is unparalleled to anything I have ever heard in such short period of time. If you want to know what I am talking about, go to this link (http://www.theiowaharvest.com/harvestholler/archives/000085.html) and download (MyKing.ra).

For those of you who are not Believers in Christ, this short speech will give you a perspective of why people are so passionate about their faith and have such a peace and joy about what they believe in. For those of you who are Believers, this will blow your mind of what you may have already known but never heard in such a concise, passionate way.

Also, there is a separate posting I will have which is right after this. I just thought that these six minutes were important enough to have its own separate posting.

Christmas, TCX, True Joy

Look at this, I haven’t posted at all in the last few weeks, and now two postings in one day.

Over the past few weeks, so much has been going on: Christmas, TCX, and perspective changes.

Here are some thoughts from each of those events and other things mixed in. By the way, TCX stands for Twin Cities Experience, which is a Christmas conference through Campus Crusade for Christ. It was in Minneapolis, Minnesota from Dec. 28-Jan. 1 and encompassed 1400 college students from six states.

CHRISTMAS
- I probably have the sweetest family ever.
- This Christmas was special because it was my mom’s 50th birthday a few days earlier. So we all celebrated that together with Christmas.
- Throughout the season, it was great to continually focus on why the world even celebrates Christmas. O Holy Night!
- I am cheating a little bit and still listening to Christmas music.

TCX
- God is Big. He is so much Bigger than I can ever imagine. He is more powerful, graceful, caring, vengeful, peaceful, concerned, in control, wrathful, and loving than I my mind can attempt to absorb.
- I realized what my most prized possession probably is. At TCX I lost my prayer journal that I have been keeping the last four years. It was a journal started my junior year of high school that kept track of prayers. It was so cool to look back and see how God answered them in different ways. The thing about the journal is that I did not realize how important it was until I lost it. What a bummer. I was thinking to myself that I would have rather lost my digital camera or cell phone than my journal. Those precious thoughts, reflections, and pleadings are things that can never be remade or bought.

Going of my journal, think to yourself what truly is your most important possession. It has hit me that I would almost trade my laptop for that journal. Why is it that a few pieces of paper bound my cheap wire that probably cost less than a dollar means so much? It does not make logical sense. But think now, what really is important in life?

So often, it is easy to get caught up in the temporary things of life. Maybe it is the new car, or video game, or TV. But really, what does all that really matter? It seems like there is so much more to life than just material possessions. I am reminded of a perspective someone gave me of the people who were on that plane on 9/11 that went down in PA. When many of the passengers knew that they would only be living for a few more minutes, they all made phone calls to their closest loved ones. Most likely, none of them called their bankers to find out how much money they had. Their thoughts were probably not with the new house they just bought or the new promoted position they obtained at work. No, it was with people, those they would leave behind, or on their eternal savior, Jesus Christ.

It seems like so many things in life are just so meaningless. After their immediate luster and glory, they just fade away into rust and distant thought. For example, today was the NCAA Football National Championship. It was an unbelievable game that was exciting to the very end. But really, who is really going to care about the game five years from now? Ten years?

Why is it as human beings we get so caught up in temporary happiness? Why are we not consumed with the search for eternal, consistent joy? To be honest, I think every human being on earth is constantly trying to find this joy, but most find it in empty places that do not provide true joy. See, the difference between joy and happiness is that joy is the big picture while happiness is how you are feeling in a moment. Many attempt to find joy in clothes, position, money, jobs, sports, competition, friends, relationships, drugs, etc. Ultimately, all these things will fail at one time or another. They cannot provide constant, eternal joy because they are imperfect.

There will always be a new trend in clothes. Someone will always have a higher position, more money, or a better job then you. The essence of sports is that someone wins, and someone else loses. No one always wins. Competition is great, but eventually draining. Friends can turn on you or lose your trust. Relationships are broken. Drugs temporarily cover the troubles of the day, but always bring you back to reality.

I was talking to a guy who was 37 the other day. He is currently an executive pastor at a church. He was telling me that he had it all, a great job, expensive possessions, a wonderful wife and family, and money. But in the end, he was unhappy. He was not fully satisfied.

People, there is only one source of true joy. There is only one person who will never let you down (even when you think He might be). You all just celebrated His birthday. His name is Jesus Christ.

So how can you tap into the ultimate source of all joy? Many may say they know Jesus but it is only intellectual knowledge. Others may say they know Him because they go to church, pray, volunteer, or do good things. But these things of itself do not represent a true relationship with Christ. To accept Him into your life means a yielding of your will. It involves understanding that your sins deserve a penalty, and that is eternal separation from God. It means giving up control of your life and asking Jesus, through prayer, to forgive you of your sins and accepting that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins.

Do not get me wrong. Being a believer in Christ does not mean my life is perfect and I do not have unhappy days. It does not mean that everything goes my way and I get whatever I want. However, the peace that comes with eternal joy and satisfaction is special and indescribable.

If any of you have questions or comments about what I have been talking about, please e-mail me. Here are some great sources to investigate: everygopher.com, www.livingwaters.com/good/.

Random Thoughts

Every so often, I get in one of those moods where I just feel reaaally mature or deep.

I just thought I would read my bible study leader’s blog, and now I am feeling a deep sense of joy, happiness, along with some unbelief and amazement that has caused me to be taken back. If you want to read the posting of how he became a Christian, it is at www.adamgo.blogspot.com.

Over and Over today, I have been feeling older and older. I know that I am only 21 years old, but it just seems like I am old. It is a bit weird, but I remember feeling like this in high school too. Now I am in college, and feel the same way. Here are some reasons why:
- The last few nights, I have been ready for bed before midnight. Ok, I know that may not seem that old, but man, I remember freshman year thinking that midnight was a good time to start something, like a movie.
- Tonight was Saturday night, and I checked out three board games from my residence hall and played until midnight. That of itself is not old. But we got there at 9:30 and were ready to be done and in bed by 11:30.
- I enjoy peace and quiet. A lot!!! The noise I used to enjoy, I now get annoyed with. I would much rather sit and read a book then watch TV (most of the time).
- Eating dinner at 5:00 p.m. is late for me.
- I have to plan a week ahead of time to meet someone for coffee.
- My planner is almost always with me. I actually schedule people in for things.
- I like Michael W. Smith a lot. I used to not think that was a very old thing, but after discussing which concert I would like to go to if I had a chance, and having Mr. Smith himself as an answer, people started laughing, as if I was joking around. (I was actually pretty serious.) And the funny thing right now is that most of you that are reading this are like, who the heck is Michael W. Smith. Wikipedia him.
- If you don’t know what Wikipedia is, Google that. If you do not know what Google is, ok, I am not even going to go there
- An ideal weekend is going out and having coffee with someone discussing deep issues.
- A lot of my friends will be graduating next year. Some might even get married. Some already have.

See, the thing about all this, is that I am not unhappy, sad, etc. at all. I am actually really joyful and confident of where I am. I feel accepted and loved just the way I am. It is kind of cool how God can make you feel that way.

Here is my challenge to you all. Think of the one thing that makes you feel old, sad, lonely, or whatever, and find the good in it. Maybe you feel like everyone else is doing something and you were not invited. Know that if you are reading this at a computer right now, you are looking at an electronic piece of equipment that most of the world may never see.

If you are feeling lonely because someone broke up with you or are coming off a bad relationship, remember that many people in this world will never even know what dating is. Even if they did, they would not have the means to even date.

If you are feeling stressed about school and finals coming up, find the joy in being able to sit in class, learn, and be educated. People, do you understand how lucky you are if you are currently in college or ever have been to college! There are people who would die to be educated. To be able to read, write, and communicate.

See, the thing about all this, these are not just statistics. This is real. There is a person, sitting in Minneapolis right now, wishing he or she could go to college but will never be able to afford it. There is a person working in some field in India, who does not know a thing about dating and even if he did, he already has an arranged marriage with a person he barely knows. There is boy in Ecuador who may never even know what a computer is. He may one day see a picture of it and hope to SEE one.

I didn’t write all this to make you feel sad. I wrote it so we could all find joy in the stressful, tough, sad, hopeless times of our lives. All the glory goes to God!