Think about it

for believers, earth is the closest thing to hell they will ever experience.

for non believers, earth is the closest thing to heaven they will ever experience.

Ask me

A lot of my friends have been creating formspring accounts. Formspring is an application that allows people to ask someone any question anonymously, and the user answers. The questions and answers can be seen by anyone.

I've been debating whether to consider creating one for myself. I like to think that people are interested in me and my opinions about things. But my idealism has precluded this. Do I, an 18-year old girl, have the authority to answer whatever question is posed to me? Why would people choose to listen to my opinion over those of say, a parent or teacher? Not to mention God.

It almost seems like a symbol for a culture that is hungry for truth but looks in all the wrong places.

Songs of Mercy

Away with the noise of your songs!

I will not listen to the music of your harps.

But let justice roll on like a river,

righteousness like a never-failing stream!

Amos 5:23-24

What an odd thought, that God abhors our musical praise! Isn't that what "worship" is all about? The music, the Chris Tomlin lyrics, the lifting of hands in a seeming effort to reach the Lord Himself?

In the Protestant Evangelical culture, I've found that the worship music is often exaggerated and emotionally charged. We declare that we will do whatever God calls us to; we'll follow Him wherever He goes; we'll give everything for Him. But at least in my life, those words are virtual lies. We don't give everything to Him: we'll give a small percentage, just enough to ameliorate the guilt but not enough to constitute a significant sacrifice on our part. We won't go anywhere He does: maybe to church on Sundays and perhaps even Wednesday nights, but to a foreign country? To my next-door neighbor's house to talk about my faith? No way.

I cannot speak to the culture that God was admonishing in this passage, but if it were ours, it would be no surprise that he desires acts of justice and righteousness over song. He desires that we cease the gossiping and fantasizing on Sunday mornings before we wail out "Let the Praises Ring." He desires that we seek justice— even if it simply means donating clothes to a needy local family— before we raise our hands to "How He Loves."

Friendship

In today's world of social networking, a time when Facebook recently reached its 500 millionth member, it's difficult to define a "friend". I have over 900 "friends" on Facebook, but how many do I have an actual relationship with? Maybe a few hundred. And how many would meet Jesus' definition of a real friend— "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13)? I could count them on one hand, if any. But more importantly, would I give my life for a friend? I really don't know.

Three things are integral to a friendship: time, trust, and talk. These are virtually nonexistent in the majority of my facebook "friends." So now we must specify using the "Top Friends" application because the term "friend" has become so trite.

There are three levels of intimacy in friendship, which Jesus modeled here on earth. Acquaintances are the people we know and converse with occasionally, but the connection lacks trust. These are analagous to Jesus' numerous disciples, the mob that followed him. Next come friends, who are closer. Jesus' 12 apostles represent this group. Finally are the closest group of friends— for Jesus: Peter, James, and John. They would— and did— give their lives and were his closest confidantes.

True Religion

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

James 1: 27

As a Christian, I often get caught up in what makes me a true follower of Jesus. Have I prayed enough today? Uh-oh, I missed church for the past two Sundays. Have I been tithing 10%? Does the money I give to Christian organizations factor into that 10%? Do I need to supplement my Scripture reading with Christian devotional books?

While there is certainly nothing wrong with these practices (in fact, spiritual disciples are absolutely necessary to growing our faith), James gives us a simple yet powerful picture of what God sees as a pleasing, Christ-centered walk: taking care of orphans and widows while maintaining a pure heart and mind.

These stipulations are so simple yet at times so difficult. I've had plenty of compassion for orphans and widows, but am I actually doing anything about that gut-wrenching sympathy? The idea of a pure mind is nice, but hey, I like my hip-hop music with its occasional cussing. Am I willing to take serious steps to change both the inward (heart and mind) and outward (caring for orphans and widows) realities of my life to honor Christ?

Don't Judge Me

There is a notion not only in popular culture but also in Christian culture that frowns upon "judging". To judge is to condemn, to be "judgmental", to essentially hate. So don't judge, the culture tells us. Love everyone. Tolerate. "Do not judge, lest ye be judged," we Christians say, vaguely recalling something Jesus said about a speck and a log.

Yet to fail to judge is to have no standards, to have no sense of right and wrong. Or, if there is a right and wrong, to be tolerant is to ignore biblical moral standards in the name of "love". Where does this leave us as Christians? Since we can never wholly remove the log that obscures our view of our neighbor's speck, are we destined to attempt prying that obnoxious log out while blissfully ignoring everything wrong in the culture and world?

Although Jesus did say "Do not judge, or you too will be judged" (Matthew 7:1), He also said, "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment" (John 7: 24). We must, as Christians, distinguish between right and wrong, between good and evil, between beautiful and ugly, and apply those differences to our lives. But not according to appearance. Not according to how culture stereotypes it. Not according to hearsay. But with righteous judgment.

A simple question to ask in determining if something is worth our time and thought is, Does this glorify God? If Jesus was here with me right now, would this bring joy to his heart too?

Cliche Christianity

"I'm just really leaning on God's strength."

"Grace and forgiveness are found at the cross alone."

"Jesus is my everything."

Too often I find myself living a faith of cliches. But instead of merely stagnating our walk with God, depending on cliches actually draws us away from God. Trials come, and the cliches mock us. God did not create the world and find it good, and eventually send His son to live a perfect life and die a criminal's death so we could live this cliche faith.

Abraham walked with God. Multiple New Testament writers refer to Abraham "believing God, which was counted to him as righteousness." A look at his life gives us a glimpse of what it means to know God. God promised him great things, far greater than he could imagined. He promised new life. He promised to protect him. The trials came, and Abraham came forth as gold. He KNEW God.

*Thanks to Steve Rea for the sermon "The Gospel According to Abraham"

Panting

God did not intend simply to save us, and leave us at that. That is but the beginning. He intends that we hunger for Him and keep pursuing Him, knowing Him more every day.

The director of the discipleship camp I attended tells of his friend's 4-year old daughter who, upon arriving at Disneyland, was content to stare at the flowered Mickey at the front of the park. Her parents pleaded with her to just let them show her Space Mountain, Fantasyland, the fireworks, everything else that is truly Disneyland. The girl screamed and resisted, so they picked her up and literally carried her into the park.

Why are we content to dwell in the outer courtyard? The veil has been removed; we have access to the Holy of Holies, the very Presence of God! May we never be satisfied with our current knowledge of Him.

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God." Psalm 42:1

"Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You." Psalm 73:25

Money

As I've become more financially independent this summer, I've come to see the value of a dollar.

A dollar can buy a cheap pack of spearmint gum.

A dollar can quench my thirst with a tiny 12-ounce bottle of dragon fruit vitamin water.

A dollar can cover the medical and basic living costs of a child in a third-world country for one day.

This summer, I hope to find a healthy balance in how I spend my money: on personal luxuries and/or donations to humanitarian organizations.