Theology is not just for me.

I have a big theology assignment looming over me. I have to write down my own personal doctrinal statement. I know some of what I believe, but trying to put it concisely yet with enough content is rather difficult.  Needless to say, this Theology assignment has certainly not been my favorite.

I came across this statement from J. I. Packer.

"Knowing about God is crucially important for the living of our lives...We are cruel to ourselves if we try to live in this world without knowing about the God whose world it is and who runs it. The world becomes a strange, mad, painful place, and life in it a disappointing and unpleasant business, for those who do not know about God. Disregard the study of God, and you sentence yourself to stumble and blunder through life, blindfold, as it were, with no sense of direction and no understanding of what surrounds you. This way you can waste your life and lose your soul."

Theology is a task that is important to do. It is important for yourself so that you do not stumble throughout life, but it is imperative in helping others. See, theology is not a task that is left to the pastors, seminary students, or the people that go to Bible colleges, it is for everyone. One of the best things I learned last year, is that every Christian is a theologian. Every one. If you know God, even if it may seem little, you know him. You have your view of God. Theology doesn't have to be pouring over books, and spending all of your time in a study. It is about knowing God more personally and understanding some of the depth of who God is. Even the term, the "greatest" theologian does not exist. No human could ever completely grasp the depth of who God is. God is limitless, and why do we not bother to look at the surface of who God is?

If you don't really know God a deeper way, you "are cruel to yourself" and even your friends on this journey. How deeply you know God will help you in the difficult times in life. When life gets hard, and your friends are struggling, how are you going to help them? If you are not secure in God's faithfulness and his goodness, how in the world can you help your friends? How about down the road, when you have a spouse or children, will God be enough for you when you all hurt and need answers?

Theology is not just for me. It's for others. Theology is about knowing God more deeply than I knew him yesterday. It is about trusting, and turning to the God that will never fail in the easy and the difficult times.  

I Can't Do That?!?

It's one of those words that I say quite often.  How many times have I said "No!" because of fear?
At home, I was known as a musician, the guitar player, the one that played on the worship team.  At school, I never once touched a piano key for the entire year.  Literally.  And it's not like the pianos were a far walk from my dorm.  I was in the chapel building at least three times a week.
 
This past summer, I have been doing a study on the book of Second Timothy.  The verse that has challenged me the most is

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a Spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

I succumbed to fear last year at college. There is so much talent at LBC, and the worship teams are amazing. It was actually easier not playing then let to tell others that I did play.  I listened to lies.  I believed that I would fail, and that everyone would notice.

This semester, I had the courage to audition for worship team at school. I went to the chapel and walked through the auditorium, up to the three hundred foot stage, placed my music on the grand piano and waited...  

Next thing I knew I was playing "I Will Rise" for my audition and the music was moving through the building.

"It is not what you bring to the table"- John Fain from last year's mission's conference stated.

 I was very intimidating to do it, but I knew that the fear of playing was not coming from truth.  God has given me a talent that I wasn't willing to let God use, or to trust him.  See, auditioning for the worship team was not about me.   It was about Christ working through me, through my limitations, and my fears.

"But he said to me, 'My Grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."  2 Corinthians 12:9

For the weary

It has been a long few days back, feeling rather weary.
   
 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
                  The LORD is the everlasting God,
      the Creator of the ends of the earth.
                  He does not faint or grow weary;
      his understanding is unsearchable.
               He gives power to the faint,
      and to him who has no might he increases strength.
              Even youths shall faint and be weary,
      and young men shall fall exhausted;
            but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;
      they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
                  they shall run and not be weary;
                     they shall walk and not faint.
                       ~Isaiah 40:28-31 ESV
Thankfully, through His strength I'll make it through the next few days.

Let it start with me

You cannot change something until you change yourself.

 If you want to make an impact on the world, you have got to start with you.  If God has called you to something, do it. If it is as simple as knowing you need to encourage someone who is by herself, or it is going into full-time ministry, you have a call.

It begins by being available. We have all been called to make an impact on the world and in our community.

Just let it start with me.