A Jump Start to the Year

Hello friends!

Summer is definitely, undeniably over now and with the advent of school, I think that it's probably about time to get some more blog posts out there. I plan on doing some real topics soon (within a week? hopefully) so remind me to do so if you see me at school or something! Thanks guys.

A few notes:

• Wayzata Evangelical Free Church has started youth group again, which I will be going to on Sunday mornings and evenings. Kind of my senior year with my church so it should be a lot of fun.
• This past Wednesday night I took the opportunity to attend the youth group of Wooddale Baptist Church down in Eden Prairie. It was a ton of fun, great pastor, awesome kids, and big church. It's definitely something that I will come back to, especially as I got to see old friends (shout out to Kalli, Sonia, Elisabeth, Mari, Cam Fox, Charlotte, and others) and got to meet some new ones.
• I will unfortunately not be able to attend either of the fall retreats for these churches this year. They are on the same weekend, so I would go to the Wayzata one, but I have football and my dad is not letting me get away from it.
• The FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) is going through a little turmoil right now, as the teacher who hosted it last year is for some reason unable to host it this year. Although I haven't had the chance to go, Nick Martin tells me that it's an awesome thing and we are really trying to get a steady attendance set up. My good friend Alex Hunter is the leader of the Hopkins FCA and tells me that that one is awesome as well.

I think that that's about it guys, so I should go work on some MoPro. Think of something you want me to post on and comment it (cause that worked out so well last time, haha). I'm proud to have you guys reading this, and there have been a few efforts by people to get me to stop this blog. But I plan on having it go on strong!

Please pray for me this week, as I'm having a few issues with a former friend of mine. I also would like prayer for my dad and his work.

Have a great week! Love you all.

If We Are the Body

           Last night I went to The Exchange at Woodridge church, and I listened to a sermon about homosexuality. No, I’m not going to talk about homosexuality, but I am going to use it as an example to show how non-Christians view us as a church. A shocking 91% say we are anti-homosexual. Note that this is not anti-homosexualITY, but anti-homosexuAL. Essentially, 91% of non-Christians think we as a body are completely against people who are homosexual. This is just one of many statistics about how people view the church….is this really how we want to be viewed? It makes me wonder people view us about other issues. Too judgmental? Stereotypical? Hypocritical? Not respectful of other people’s beliefs? I don’t know about you, but if this is the rap that Christianity is getting, I think that something has gone terribly wrong.
          Let’s look at Jesus. Was Jesus judgmental? No. “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world” (John 12: 46, 47).  Jesus ate with sinners- he didn’t have a haughty greater-than-thou attitude at all. He welcomed them in and accepted them as they were - which is probably why He was able to reach so many. Did Jesus stereotype? Nope. In John 4: 1-12 Jesus went to the well for a drink of water. A woman came to the well while Jesus was resting, and He asked her for a drink. Jesus was a Jew and the woman was Samaritan- in that time, it was unheard of for a Jew to associate with a Samaritan. But Jesus was different. He asked the woman for a drink of water, and began to speak to her about her past even though they had never met before. Jesus didn’t walk away from the well just because a Samaritan was there as well- He sat and spoke with her just as He would with anyone else. Was Jesus hypocritical? “Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could become right with God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).  He lived what He preached. Was Jesus not respectful of other’s beliefs? Not as far as I can see. With all the scripture that I’ve read, I’ve never come across an instance where Jesus was forcing His beliefs on another person. Although he stressed that there was a great deal of sin present in the world and in idol worshipping religions, I think that He did so very respectfully.

          Here’s my point: If we are the body of Christ, why aren’t Christ’s qualities prevailing over the sinful qualities? People view us the wrong way entirely- or maybe not. Maybe we really are judgmental, stereotypical, hypocritical, not respectful, and the like. Regardless- Jesus had none of those qualities. Shouldn’t we as Christians strive to be like Christ? When Jesus says “Come, follow me,” He is placing His faith in us. Essentially He’s saying- hey, I think that you are good enough to live like me from this point on. So, come on and follow me, and I’ll teach you how to be righteous like I am. Back then, it was a REALLY big deal for someone to tell you that. Usually, the people who were chosen as disciples of a Rabbi had been studying the Torah their entire lives, and had even memorized the ENTIRE THING! That’s the whole Old Testament! It takes an incredible amount of faith in someone to say those three simple words, “Come, follow me,” yet Jesus placed his faith in the entire world- that was, and is, and is to come. He deems us worthy to follow Him.

          Here’s my challenge for you (and me) this week: Live like Jesus believes you can. Have the faith in yourself that Christ has in you.

          Please join us for Worship Night Part III this week! Stay updated on facebook, the group Psalm 150. I hope to see you there! GOD BLESS YOU ALL THIS WEEK!

Aftermath - Hillsong

Love, Mya Grace

The Gospel

In our generation, there are more people who haven’t heard the gospel message than in any other generation since the time of Jesus. It’s sort of ironic, isn’t it? We have so many more methods of communication than they did- facebook, twitter, cellphones, TV, and the like. All they had were the sandals on their feet and the message that the Jesus had given them, “to go out into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Yet, the latter are more successful than we are today. Why? Maybe it’s because they were obedient, and they intended to complete the task that Jesus gave them.  Maybe they weren’t ashamed of the gospel, and they believed it to be the power of salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). Maybe they put their faith in God’s power alone. Who knows? No one. But one thing I do know and believe: If we turn our eyes to Christ and choose Him over the things of this world, our generation can be one of the most powerful generations for God that has ever existed.

Many people believe that we are a “chosen generation.” I can’t count on my fingers and toes combined the number of times I’ve heard it. Whatever this esteemed title entails, I know that it’s something BIG. Something that is going to change the world. But, how do we reach those in our generation who don’t know the Lord? It’s easy. We put on the sandals that God has prepared for us with the message of peace- the Gospel. We let that message reap peace wherever we step so that the paths that we take are changed for good. So….what is this message of peace?

Here’s how I think of it (thanks to the video posted below): God Our Sin Paying Everyone Life. (Notice the GOSPEL? Clever, huh?) And, according to Dare2Share (also posted below), the Gospel goes like this:

1.       God created us to be with him. (Genesis 1 and 2)
2.       Our sin separates us from God. (Genesis 3)
3.       Sin cannot be removed by good deeds. (Genesis 4, Malichi 4)
4.       Paying the price for all sin, Jesus died and rose again. (Matthew, Luke)
5.       Everyone who trusts in Him alone has eternal life. (John)
6.       Life with Jesus starts now and lasts forever. (Acts, Revelation)

(Notice yet another GOSPEL?) This is the message that we need to carry with us wherever we go. This doesn’t mean we get to shove it down people’s throats or force it upon them in any way. We just have to let the Spirit work in us and through us to get His message across. Remember, we’re called to be empty vessels that are ready to be filled with God’s work. The change starts here. If we’re ready to see a change within us and in the world, knowing and believing the Gospel is the first step.

If someone you share with believes the Gospel, pray with them. Pray the sinner’s prayer:

“Dear Lord, I know that I have sinned. I believe that you sent your Son Jesus to die for me on the cross. I trust in You alone to keep me. Please forgive me for sinning against you, and come into my life to work through me.”

Or something along the lines of that. If you have thoughts, questions, prayer requests, or anything else comment below (please leave a screen name or something, not just anonymous)! Please please PLEASE check out these links! Dare2Share is a great organization that is impacting Christians everywhere. They made the video as well as the website listed below. Also, I found this scripture super encouraging this week. I hope you find it to be the same!

“His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you are named and kept for good by the shepherd of your souls.” I Peter 2 (The Message).

Love you guys so much!
Mya Grace  

http://www.dare2share.org/gospeljourney/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gb7n9B_8m8

Preserving Faith

Hey guys.  Been a while since my last post, I know, and I apologize (again).  I actually just got back from AWOL so another post should be coming soon about that, as soon as some pictures get on Facebook that I can put here too.

Recently, I got a comment on my Tongues post that I want to respond to.  It went like this:

I don't understand how to ask you to write about something anonymously on this blog so I'm just going to comment and hope you see this. Bradley, will you give advice on how to keep your faith strong? My sibling is agnostic and is continually telling me my faith is wrong. My sibling is very convincing and I fear I will lose my faith. I know the usual "read your Bible", "have Christian friends", "pray", "do devos", and "attend church". I feel like that isn't working and I am just drifting farther away from Christ. So, can you make a post about how to keep your faith in an enviornment that isn't 100% on fire for God? I would forever be thankful and I know that is a hard question.

Anonymous,

Although I know that some people will pounce on me for saying this, I am going to tell you.  I know how you feel.

Yeah, I know what it is like to doubt God.  I know what it is like to doubt his existence, his love, and the fact that he somehow has a plan through all the bad things that happen.  I know what it is like to feel that every single Christian has a more fervent faith than myself. But don't give up, ok?

My personal belief is that if you don't have the fire for God, none of the things you listed will help.  Even when you do have God inside you, sometimes it seems like He is far away.  Almost my entire Dad's side of my family is not Christian. Many of my friends from school are non Christian and in fact ridicule me for my faith.  Others call themselves Christian and do not believe or follow basic teachings of Christianity.

And, even more than I fear for myself, I fear so desperately for them. 

I have had several times when my faith seemed weak.  I have experienced the deaths of loved ones, the seeming pragmatic logic of evolution in the classroom, the ridicule of family and friends.  And, I have no doubt that both you and I will experience even greater trials in the future.

But as I sit here and listen to the rain, I don't feel afraid right now.  I feel confident. I know that there is a God because I have seen what He does.  I have seen inevitable rainclouds part around from the picnic ground at community gatherings when we prayed together.  I have seen people turn from their lives of drugs and sex in the belief of him.  I have seen or heard of him healing those desperately ill.  I hear of those in other countries that die in his name every day. And I see him in everyday life, too - The kids that I just spent a week with at AWOL, for example.  The middle schoolers I led that matured under His teachings.  I see it at school when Satan tries to convince me that we, beautiful and loving human beings, came from the same place that the bacteria on my desk came from.  That we, intelligent and thinking, are somehow related to the animals of the earth (none of which think, like we do).

I guess, anonymous, that when all is said and done, I cannot convince you.  That is something that you have to do for yourself.  I have a gift - I trust.  I trust God.  I have the ability to say that "Even if evolution is true, even if God lets this happen, even if that is the way that it ends - then it is for God's plan."  I can believe that.  I know that many of my friends, including my best friend, cannot do that.

My faith really took off in the last couple years.  Something I would recommend? Go on a Mission trip.  It helps sometimes to see how God is using people to help other people.  Try talking to God and believing that he hears you.  It's like talking to yourself - even if nobody audibly replies, you know that somebody hears.

I hope that I helped.  I also hope that you don't let your sibling drag you down with him/her. 

What would any of my posts be without a Bible verse? This verse is one that a few friends told me as a joke - ironically, it was already one of my favorite verses. I'll bold my favorite parts.

Psalm 23 (A psalm of David) -

¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
³ he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
⁵ You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

Prayer Requests

Hey guys! This week Bradley, a bunch of kids from our youth group and Wooddale Church, and I are going to be on a trip called AWOL (A Work Of Love). We're putting on a Vacation Bible School and hanging out with all the kids. There's a heat index warning, and we're staying in campers that don't have AC. If you could pray for our safety, and most importantly that God would be working in us and the campers at VBS, it would be really appreciated! God bless you all this week!

Much Love,
Mya Grace

Humility

I think that God deserves some praise. He’s done a wonderful, amazing, crazy, fantastic work in our lives and half the time I think we forget how blessed we truly are. Specifically, I want to talk about Jesus.

I’ve been looking at Jesus’ life more closely lately, and I’m constantly blown away by him. Man, is Jesus cool! He seems like the kind of guy you want to be like- the perfect role model. After all, as Christians one of our goals is to be Christ-like. Jesus lived the perfect life, and he wasn’t afraid of what he believed in.

Something that strikes me the most was Christ’s humility. Every time someone insults me and makes me really frustrated, all I want to do is let them have a piece of my mind and tear them apart. But then I remember Jesus. Can you imagine how frustrated he was when people denied Him as the Messiah? Jesus knew that he was the chosen Messiah and he performed countless miracles- from turning water into wine to healing someone 3 towns away from him- so that people might believe. But people still denied him even when he did miracles right in front of their eyes. If I was Jesus, I would have cried from frustration; how could they be so ignorant and blind? But instead, he reacted with kindness and gentleness. He prayed.

But that’s not even the best part. After the people demanded that a murderer from prison be released and sent Jesus in instead, he was forced to carry his cross along with two other prisoners who were going to die with him. Jesus was spat on, whipped, and screamed at. The men who were doing this to him said “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!” and “He saved others but he can’t save himself! Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Even one of the prisoners being crucified with him was heaping insults on him, “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

All the while, Jesus said nothing. He said nothing to defend himself when he was being accused. He remained quiet and trusted in God.

And that’s what gets me. I’m so not like Jesus in that way. I admire that so much in him. I mean, how could Jesus, the son of GOD and God himself (two in one), be so humble? He is King, yet he was the servant of everyone. The two are so opposite that it just doesn’t add up to me. Jesus sure is amazing.

I just think we all need to take some time to glorify and praise God. Thank God that Jesus is King. Thank God that he calls us his children. Thank God for Christ’s humility. Thank God that he knows the depths of our heart- that he knit us together in our mother’s wombs. I pray that we would all find the same humility that Christ had and apply it to our lives.

Mya Grace

Tongues

Something that people have asked me in the past is "How come, in the Bible, there were so many miracles and there aren't anymore? What happened?"

Well, obviously Jesus doesn't walk around anymore because he's in heaven.  But that doesn't mean there aren't miracles.  And I don't mean the smaller, everyday miracles - I mean the miracles that you can't deny or make up and the ones that people find hard to believe without a strong faith.

One of my good friends, Hannah, has had a few experiences with speaking in tongues.  She has a tremendous faith and is one of the people that I really admire. That's something that is relatively rare nowadays and I asked her to talk about it a little bit for my blog.  This is her email.

"The first thing that I want to say about tongues is that it is a gift-- similar to other spiritual gifts like prophesy, healing, hospitality, discernment (1 Corinthians 12:7-11) in that practicing and developing tongues is crucial if you want to experience the gift the way god designed it.   I would encourage anyone who wants to learn more about the gift of tongues to read 1 Corinthians 12-14.  Scripture is the best ways to find out about the things of God.  He WANTS you to know the truth (John 16:15), and WANTS to give you wisdom (James 1:5).

The gift of tongues in the bible is almost always mentioned with the Holy Spirit.  These two things relate closely.  For example in acts, 10:44-46,

“the circumcised believers who had come with peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the gentiles.  For they had heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.” 

To Peter, the fact that the people were speaking in tongues (other than their own language) was a sign that God was there.  This agrees strongly with 1 Corinthians 14:22 saying that “tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers […]”.  What is the gift of tongues then?  Romans 8 says

“In the same way, the spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through groans that words cannot express.  And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with god’s will.” 

Tongues are communicating with God through your spirit.  

After attending a church where I experienced the gift of tongues for the first time, I was skeptical and had to find answers for myself.  After absolutely exhausting the bible looking for information on the gift of tongues, my question changed from “Are tongues real?” to “How could god use the gift on tongues in my life?”.  If you believe that the bible is true, there is no way that you can say that tongues don’t exist.  The bible talks extensively about this gift. 

Because of 1 Corinthians 14:5 which says, “I would like everyone of you to speak in tongues,” I prayed with a pastor about receiving the gift of tongues and God blessed me with this gift.  I’ve been asked many times what this was like.  The best way to describe it is like when you were a little kid in school and you knew the answer to a question in class.  But, you had to raise your hand and wait till the teacher called on you.   Every thing in your being called for you to shout out the answer, but instead you had to sit and raise your hand.  You are reaching as high as you can and practically jumping out of your seat.  This is how it feels when god gives me something to speak in my spiritual tongue.  Yes, you must open your mouth and speak.   No, it is not uncontrollable—there’s fair warning and instruction, however,  when Paul says, “[…] do not forbid speaking in tongues.  But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way” and in 1 Thessalonians 5:19 saying, “do not put out the Spirit’s fire”(NIV) or “do not stifle the Holy Spirit”(NLT).  

As I prayed, I immediately began to speak in my own tongue.  Out loud.  God works in mysterious ways, and this I believe is one of them.  Paul explains how the gift of tongues “edifies himself” as opposed to prophecy which “edifies the church”.  He says that he would “rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue”.  This helps to let us know where the gift of tongues fits in our lives.  In no way do I believe that it is a matter of salvation, but I am completely convinced that it is from God and is real. 

There is much more I could say about the gift of tongues and this is by no means exhaustive, but I hope that this maybe sparked your curiosity about this wonderful gift from God."

 - Hannah

 Just a little thing for us to think about.  Remember what our God is capable of, because I know that sometimes I forget.  Until next blog...

 - Bradley