lg reflection

1) How is Christ’s love compelling you to finish off this semester in your classes?

it's been kind of hard for me to figure out what it means to represent Christ in the way that we study. a lot of people say that we need to be the best of the best so that God can use us in greater ways, but in the Bible God used the uneducated to do some pretty amazing things. but it doesn't feel right to do the opposite either, to neglect my studies and purposely not be a good student. so what is the answer then? a verse that comes to mind is "whether you eat or drink do it all for the glory of God" but that's more so referring to the issue of what type of food is clean to eat and whether or not to drink alcohol, so making that verse about studying probably wouldn't connect. i'm not all too convinced the parable of the talents really is related to us trying to study hard. yeah.. i don't really know. i mean, i feel that God's called me to u of m and that my calling is to be a faithful student. but other than that, i don't really know.

2) How is Christ’s love compelling you to finish off this life group, PBinJ?

in light of Christ's sacrifice to save me, i should be moved to have the same kind of love for those in my life group. to see Christ's love move through me and transform people's lives. there are only a couple weeks left of life group so all the more there should be an urgency in my own heart to see Christ change people's lives just as He has changed mine. we have seen several people come to know Christ but there is still so much more to be done. not only are there other preChristians who don't know Christ but there are other believers who really need to experience more of Christ's love in their lives. people who need to know God on a deeper level and experience God in more powerful ways. as God has done these things in my life, i should desire to see Him do these things in others.

3) How is Christ’s love compelling you to use your time, as you plan ahead for the summer?

well, this summer i've committed to stay in aa. i'll be working for a start-up but other than that my schedule's pretty free. i really wanted to reach out to incoming freshmen by being an orientation leader but that door has all but closed. but my heart still needs to be the same. not just to reach out to incoming freshmen but to reach out to people in general. just because i'm not doing summer missions or not doing orientation i still need to have the same heart to love and serve others. this starts inside of the church as i will be serving in different ways, but it needs to extend to my work life, home life, and just going around campus to constantly be a witness of Christ to anyone i meet.

"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again [2 Corinthians 5:14-15]"

music guy

in my musicology discussion the other day, we had this music composer come in and talk about his life and how he goes about writing music. strangely i found a lot of connections between his view on life/music and the life of a Christ-follower.

1. "i feel like it wasn't me who chose to go into music, but that music chose me. i just can't escape it."

as i learn more and more about the gospel, the more i realize that it's not about how i found God but how He found me and chose me. it's crazy to think that the creator of the universe chose me to be a part of His family.

"And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. [Romans 8:30]"

2. "i teach not because i love teaching, but because it's a way to support me financially so that i can do what i really love, which is composing music."

as a college student, it's hard not to get consumed by pursuing after a particular career or position, but that really isn't what it's all about. i've been really challenged to make my career not an ends, but simply a means to glorify God, whether directly or indirectly. to be faithful in but not consumed by studies/career opportunities.

"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ. [Philippians 3:7-8]"

3. "i could go into composing music for movies and make more money, but that's not what i love. i know i'm not going to make a lot of money but i'm fine with that. i'm content with the lifestyle i have chosen."

it's hard not to compromise with what God's calling me to do. it's easy for me to disobey God's will for my life and say that i will glorify God through it. yeah, i could pursue a well-paying job in new york and i could use that job to be a witness to my coworkers, to use that money to support the church, and become an influential person in the business world. all these things i could do to glorify God, but is it really what God's will is for my life? maybe it is, maybe it isn't. but the key is obedience, not sacrifice. and to be content in obeying the Father, not matter what His will may be.

"I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. [Philippians 4:10-13]"

"But I did obey the LORD," Saul said. "I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal." But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.[1 samuel 15:20-23]"

who knew someone could learn so much from a music guy.