Being All There

I've mentioned Jon Acuff's blog, "Stuff Christians Like",  in an earlier post.

I also blogged at one point about waiting for my "real" life to start: http://efairbaugh.blogspot.com/2011/03/life-lesson-from-kid.html

Recently, I came upon a post of Acuff's entitled "The Quietest, Loudest Video You'll Ever See", which was all about that same topic.

I thought the video was very well done and worth sharing.

And it's always good to go back and ask questions that you've "already answered".

Here's the post containing the video (it's 7:30 minutes long, but so worth it!):

http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/2011/11/sclq-%E2%80%93-the-quietest-loudest-video-you%E2%80%99ll-ever-see/

Am I living right now?  In this day, in this moment, with the people that I am with and the task that is before me right now?  Am I living excellently and being "all there", wherever I am?

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith." [Hebrews 12:1-2a]

Challenged by Brother Yun

I read a book about a Chinese Christian this week.  His name is Brother Yun and he's been tortured for Christ. He's spent over 7 years in prison.  He once went 74 days (by choice) without food or water. He's a living miracle, a light burning brightly, testifying to the power and glory of God.

But his story was convicting.

His life as a Christian is hard.  Harder than I will probably ever understand or even fully imagine.  He does not currently live in China because he's a wanted criminal there - simply for being a Christian.  While in China he suffered daily for Christ, yet his confidence, faith and complete trust in God exuded from him (and still does).

It hit me between the eyes.

Because my life doesn't look like that.

I'm a Christian and I know God is sovereign. But I rarely live like I hold that knowledge dear.

I know I'm not (currently) called to be a martyr for Christ, in the sense of being physically tortured for my faith to the point of dying.  I know that I was not born in China, or in a country where being a Christian is against the law.

God has placed me in this country, in my family, in this generation for a purpose and a reason. 

But I am still called to radical faith.

I am still called to boldly proclaim the truth of God.

Brother Yun spoke of God and was beaten and imprisoned for his beliefs.

I fear to speak of Christ because I might be ridiculed or mocked.

How petty my fears seem compared to what he has faced and still faces.

"I pray that I will in no way be ashamed but will have sufficient courage, so that now, as always, Christ will be glorified in my body." Phil 1:20

I know this is true of Brother Yun. I pray that it will be true of me.  That I will learn how to live out the Gospel in a vibrant and bold way, that others in this country might see the power of God and understand the Gospel.

In this book, Brother Yun often exhorted his fellow believers to not mourn over what was happening to him, but to mourn over the lost souls that still did not know Christ.

I pray that I might feel the burden for these souls as Brother Yun does.  That those who do not know Christ would be impressed upon my heart.

May our faith be radical, our tongues be bold, and the Gospel become ever dearer to us. 

Sanctification, the Normal Way

Today was a day for sanctification.

Nothing profound happened.

There were no outstanding instances.

There were no terrible letdowns, or disappointments.

There was no startling or unexpected news.

It was an absolutely typical Wednesday.

And yet, today was a day for sanctification.

I heard recently this phrase: 

Sanctification provides a reason for everything.

Often times I take that to mean that all the unexpected, unusual, hard, challenging circumstances in my life, these God uses to sanctify me.  When something doesn't go my way - God's sanctifying me.

I forget that God uses normal days to sanctify me. God uses everyday circumstances to bring me further along the path to holiness.

Today was a day to live fully for Christ - in all it's normalcy. 

"Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." [1 Thessalonians 5:23]

Do Everything...

I complained today.

I complained about the food. (Sometimes, I feel justified in this...I mean, who really wants curried spinach and pea soup for dinner??  But, at least I have food. And I was still complaining.)

I complained about being bored in chapel choir.

I complained about the rain, although it had been brilliantly warm and sunny all morning.

I complained about my homework, what little there was of it.

I complained about the music department and some of their rules and expectations.

Then I walked to the bank and I was quoting Philippians as I walked, and I spoke these words to myself:

"Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God, without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe, as you hold out the Word of Life." Philippians 2:14-15. 

Ouch.

There's so much there, and the first four words pack a pretty strong punch.

Do everything.

Stop.

Everything?  Everything. Each moment. Each activity. Dealing with each person. Doing each task. Do everything.

Without complaining.

Stop.

Without whining. Without moping. Without groaning. Without bemoaning your situation.

Complaining is full of pride, gossip, self-centeredness, ingratitude.

Paul tells us to leave it behind.

Do everything without complaining and arguing. 

So that.

I'm learning that there is always a "so that".  Do this...because. Do this...and here's the reason why.

So. Do all things without complaining...here's the reason why:

So you may become blameless and pure, children of God.

Children imitate their parents.  Our Father, God, is holy, pure, blameless, full of love and grace.  This is what I am to imitate.

So that.

You may be without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.

Here's a secondary reason, a greater purpose.  So that others may see.  We live in a twisted generation (as the ESV puts it), and complaining is second nature in this world. We are to live differently, shining brightly, set apart from this crooked world.

As you hold out the Word of Life.

And here it is: the clincher. The Gospel message.  Do this, and the Gospel is declared and seen in your life. The Word of Life is being held out, that others might see.  As Matthew says, "Let your light so shine before men that they might see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven." (Mt. 5:16)

Do everything without complaining and arguing.  I once heard it phrased: Gratitude is a spiritual discipline. It takes work to learn to be thankful for, and not complain, about the daily things that come up in your life. But it's worth it, that the Word of Life might be displayed in my life, held out in this generation. 

More Random Thoughts

*It snowed in Grove City. In October. Nothing stuck, so I'm not really counting it as a snowfall.  But it made me anticipate snowy days, hot chocolate, the holiday season, Christmas break...man, I'm really getting ahead of myself here.

*I have only one more test remaining this semester (and three finals)...where on earth did the semester run away to?

*if I used proper English...that sentence would not have ended with a preposition...I apologize to all you English geeks out there, but I'm not changing it. [I'm stubborn.]

*Walking down memory lane can be so very fun. However, I was realizing what an odd picture I must have made, sitting alone in my room, laughing out loud, and commenting to myself as certain pictures came up.

*Eating dinner at 4pm: a first for me. However, the cafeteria is much preferred at this time. It's empty, so I can find a table and hear what is being said to me.  Unfortunately, the food still isn't hot…

*I accompanied a friend at his senior recital today: senior recitals are a big deal and it was a relief to be done, but we had fun. Plus, he gave me chocolate as a thank-you. Superior.

*Technology confuses me. So much.  Good thing my little brother is here to rescue me.

*My parents got to fly to Honduras to visit my sister and Texas to visit my brother and sister-in-law. I'm jealous.

*Two of my good friends are getting married (to each other) this coming Saturday. I'm so excited for them. However, the fact that my friends are getting married...still a bit odd. How are we old enough for this?

*2 weeks until Thanksgiving break. What happened to the semester? Didn't it just start?  I will never fully understand time.

1) Calvin and Hobbes cartoons are growing on me
2) This is what I'm picturing for Thanksgiving Break

*I've been reading Titus. It's always fascinating to me that books (in the Bible) that I've read before can suddenly appear totally new to me. And how such short books can pack such a powerful punch. Check out Titus 2, especially verses 11-14.