only live once!

Nate’s to do List:

Go skydiving at least one time.
Play a small part in an action movie
Eat dinner with a political leader in your country.
Go on a date with the President of the University.
Sing a song in front of thousands of people at a rock concert.
Travel to the moon with the astronauts on a special discovery mission.
Go bungee jumping from a very high bridge.
Drive a race car over 150 km/hr.
Spend all your money shopping for clothes.
Learn how to fly an airplane.
Travel on a submarine. Travel on a helicopter over a jungle.
Marry someone who is rich and famous.
Publish a book about your life.
Go scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
Go to medical school and become a heart surgeon.
Get your PhD and work for a University.
Chat on-line with a group of friends.
Text message a friend you have not heard from for years.
Ask an employer for a raise.

Run accross the great wall of China
Invite someone to a party on New Year’s Eve.

I haven't bathed in months...

I read Romans 12 today to renew my mind, and it was if cataracts were removed from my eyes. I am reminded again why Satan desires to separate us from the Word, as it is our only offense against him. Since Satan is considered the God of this age (2 Cor. 4:4), it is no wonder that the current mind set seen in the ideals, opinions, goals, hopes, and views of the majority of people are a reflection of Him. It is this world system that he has used to blind me of the things of the true God. Sadly I have formed a clinical addiction to a number of things that are against Him. This happened because I neglected spending any time with God, and when man is left to himself he follows the system of this world , deeping his state of moral darkness. I thank God that He has put in me the desire to read His Word again and be reminded of this. Romans 12:2 reminds me that the “renewing of your mind” (eph. 5:18) is a supernatural process where the Holy Spirit literally transforms our thinking through consistent study and meditation. The best comparison I can think of to understand this transformation process is when we wake up each morning and look in a mirror and take a shower. Forgive the flawed analogy, but what if Satan was able to distract us from this step every morning? Can you imagine in just a week what a state we would be in? The problem is we would not recognize this since we were no longer looking in the mirror. Scripture lets us see ourselves for what we really look like (not just what we think we look like in our minds eye) and the other disciplines allow us to clean (sanctify) our self so that we may be clean. It’s time I get back to bathing (Spiritual disciplines). Thanks God for this reminder!

Back to the basics...

I am reminded of the simple theological truths that the world seems to totally miss regarding the Christian Faith: Jesus Loves You. People try to add things on to this statement such as: "Jesus loves you, but..." or "Jesus loves you, if...", but they are wrong. Philip Yancey in his book "What's so amazing about grace"reminds us that one of Jesus' last acts before His death was forgiving a thief hanging on a cross. Christ knew the thief had converted out of fear. He knew that thief would never read his bible or attend church. He would never make amends to those he had stolen from and hurt. "He simply said 'Jesus, remember me.' and Jesus promised 'Today you will be with me in paradise'. It is a ... shocking reminder that Grace does not depend on what we have done for God, but rather what God has done for us... all we must do is cry 'help'". I encourage you to think on this when you feel burdened that you must "do" to maintain your faith, "God dispenses gifts, not wages". Second, follow the footsteps of our founding brothers in sisters in Christ who were known as history's pesants and simple folk. The many who could not read and write still would memorize the apostle's creed to known the foundation of their beliefs. They did this to keep from being led to beliefs of those that deviate from the Historical Church, being a Christian who affirms the historical church, I probably should do the same. Check it out below:

"I believe in God, the Father Almightly, maker of heaven and earth;And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into heaven, and is seated on the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church (meaning the church as a whole, not to be confused with the "roman catholic church"), the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen."

Have we lost our Roar...

Of course narcissistically I title this entry "have we lost our roar....", when in fact this is a confession of my own lack of courage. Yesterday while Ben (my office mate) and I were walking from our psychotherapy class back to our office, he was stopped by a fellow student and asked to fill out a blue survey. Ben reluctantly agreed to fill out the survey. I continued walking with a greater sense of urgency to avoid sharing his fate. I was in our office only a minute when he walked in. He informed me that the survey was for Campus Crusade, knowing I occasionally attend the event. He then proceeded to tell me the type of questions on the survey. Interestingly he started first with the declaration that he was "already set in faith" and then continued, "it asked me if spirituality was important to me, and if I wanted to know about Jesus more". He caught my interest, and I asked his response to the question. His abrupt reply of "No" caused me to miss the rest of the sentence. I was silent for a moment, and then asked him what he believed. He responded, "About what?" I clarified that I was interested in what his religious beliefs were. He stated, hesitantly at first, that he "Believed in Jesus Christ came and died on a cross. Again my surprise of his answer caused the remainder of his words to fall on deaf ears. I was perplexed on this acknowledgement Jesus. I responded by nodding my head in silence, but the voice inside me was anything but silent. It knew exactly what to say. In that moment was a chance to bring to light the apparent contradiction of Ben's beliefs. If he truly believed that Jesus came to earth and died for him (I knew from previous conversation that he was aware Jesus’ claimed deity), than it would only make sense that one would want to know Jesus and reciprocate this action through serving Him. I knew such a question would challenge Ben, perhaps cause him to be uncomfortable. I remained silent; Ben's conflicting statements remained hidden; his paradigm escaped unaffected. Ben probably would have preferred that at the present, yet I was convicted, for I knew I had missed my chance to speak truth into Ben’s life. Pondering this defeat has reminded me that if I am to impact lives as and when Christ calls me to, I need to show courage. I need to be able to challenge people even if it makes things uncomfortable. Considering that people often surround themselves with those who have perceptions like their own, it's possible such opportunities, when taken, can echo in eternity. I only can hope the Holy Spirit gives me another opportunity.