Saturday, October 1, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Question 2.0
For one part of my New Year's resolution, I asked the question: What do I believe?
I have broken down that list into more specific topics that I will be researching this year. I'm not going to put a time line on each, rather I will research until I am satisfied with the information.
My topics (as of right now):
1. The Bible
- accuracy
- God-breathed
- inerrancy
- infallible
- authority
2. God
- existence
- Trinity
- providence
- prayer
3. Creation
- evolution
- soul
- man
- sin
4. Jesus
- existence
- soteriology
- miracles
5. Holy Spirit
- existence
- role
- authority
6. The Church
- church
7. Afterlife
- Heaven
- Hell
8. Spiritual world
- angels
- demons
9. Uniqueness of Christianity
- other major world religions: Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, etc.
This is quite an extensive list to be researched in just a year so I know I won't have all the answers by the time 2012 comes around. Since I've been raised in the church, I do have ideas on each subject, but I long for depth! Further up and further in is what my goal will be this year. Ok, here we go!
I have broken down that list into more specific topics that I will be researching this year. I'm not going to put a time line on each, rather I will research until I am satisfied with the information.
My topics (as of right now):
1. The Bible
- accuracy
- God-breathed
- inerrancy
- infallible
- authority
2. God
- existence
- Trinity
- providence
- prayer
3. Creation
- evolution
- soul
- man
- sin
4. Jesus
- existence
- soteriology
- miracles
5. Holy Spirit
- existence
- role
- authority
6. The Church
- church
7. Afterlife
- Heaven
- Hell
8. Spiritual world
- angels
- demons
9. Uniqueness of Christianity
- other major world religions: Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, etc.
This is quite an extensive list to be researched in just a year so I know I won't have all the answers by the time 2012 comes around. Since I've been raised in the church, I do have ideas on each subject, but I long for depth! Further up and further in is what my goal will be this year. Ok, here we go!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
New Year's Resolutions 2011
Happy New Year!
I love this time of year. It just seems like people are so hopeful, optimistic, and ready for something new. I love that attitude. I'm looking forward to 2011 and accomplishing the goals I set for this year. So, without further ado, here are my 2011 New Year's Resolutions:
1. A project: I want to get involved with an organization to raise money to help people in need. I want to raise funds by running some kind of race. I'm being vague with this one because I'm still researching races and organizations. I definitely have some ideas going, but if any of you (I know, all 2 of you... if that many...) can point me in a certain direction or have any thoughts or ideas, I would love any help!
2. A question: If you know me at all, you know that 3/6ths of my family have felt the faith and turned to atheism/agnosticism. So, with that, I am going to ask: What do I believe? I want my faith to be strengthened and I don't want to take any of it for granted. While I know I will never have all the answers this side of Heaven, I want to know as much as I can, so I intend to focus my attentions on as many questions and topics regarding my belief system. I am so excited!
3. A quest: My quest will help in my research of what I believe. I am going to visit both the Creation Museum and the Smithsonian's Human Evolution Exhibit. (Special thanks to the Relevant Magazine, again, for that idea!) It should be very interesting!
What are your New Year's Resolutions?
I love this time of year. It just seems like people are so hopeful, optimistic, and ready for something new. I love that attitude. I'm looking forward to 2011 and accomplishing the goals I set for this year. So, without further ado, here are my 2011 New Year's Resolutions:
1. A project: I want to get involved with an organization to raise money to help people in need. I want to raise funds by running some kind of race. I'm being vague with this one because I'm still researching races and organizations. I definitely have some ideas going, but if any of you (I know, all 2 of you... if that many...) can point me in a certain direction or have any thoughts or ideas, I would love any help!
2. A question: If you know me at all, you know that 3/6ths of my family have felt the faith and turned to atheism/agnosticism. So, with that, I am going to ask: What do I believe? I want my faith to be strengthened and I don't want to take any of it for granted. While I know I will never have all the answers this side of Heaven, I want to know as much as I can, so I intend to focus my attentions on as many questions and topics regarding my belief system. I am so excited!
3. A quest: My quest will help in my research of what I believe. I am going to visit both the Creation Museum and the Smithsonian's Human Evolution Exhibit. (Special thanks to the Relevant Magazine, again, for that idea!) It should be very interesting!
What are your New Year's Resolutions?
Friday, December 31, 2010
Too excited...
Ok, I seriously need to be better at blogging. I am so much better taking the time to decorate my blog than actually writing in my blog. Go figure. But, 'tis the time for New Years resolutions and I am just so stinking excited about mine that I simply had to tell you that I'm stinking excited about mine. I have to wait until New Year's Day to reveal everything, though... Right? I hope I can wait that long...
If you're struggling for some inspiration, check out Relevant Magazine's Rachel Held Evans and her 7 tips to a less boring NY Resolution. My resolutions are thanks to that article.
Ok, ok, let me just give you a hint so I can go to sleep!
My New Year's Resolutions involve:
1. A project.
2. A question.
3. A quest.
Oh man! I'm so excited. Are you planning your New Year's resolution(s)?
If you're struggling for some inspiration, check out Relevant Magazine's Rachel Held Evans and her 7 tips to a less boring NY Resolution. My resolutions are thanks to that article.
Ok, ok, let me just give you a hint so I can go to sleep!
My New Year's Resolutions involve:
1. A project.
2. A question.
3. A quest.
Oh man! I'm so excited. Are you planning your New Year's resolution(s)?
Saturday, August 21, 2010
do something
I just want yall to see this. Because sometimes when we see, we remember. And sometimes when we remember, we do: we pray, we give, we go. Please do.
Kisses from Katie's blog
Kisses from Katie's blog
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Adoptionbug.com
Adoptionbug.com is a wonderful site where families can raise money to help fund their adoptions! The site is loaded with awesome t-shirts and precious faces of orphans and families. Here's one t-shirt I ordered:
Love it!! Help bring an orphan home to his/her forever family!
"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." John 14:18
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Where My Heart Is: Ghana
I wish I would bring myself to Blog World more often. I have so much to tell you and I just never allow myself to sit down and type it all out. Currently, I'm sitting in an office where my man is working hard for his livin'. He really is so cute while he works, answering all those phone calls. Sweet boy.
Anyway, I suppose I'll get to my point of this post: Ghana Mission 2010.
When you travel to the same place more than once, you tend to compare your previous experiences to your current one (at least I do!). I prepared myself for these comparisons and tried not to do that this time around.... But really, how much more could He teach me in the same surroundings? with some of the same people? doing virtually the same activities?
(Ridiculous. Go ahead. Roll your eyes at me. I know I am.)
I had no idea.
The Lord blew me, along with my ever-present pride, out of the water. And I am so beyond glad that He did.
Going on mission trips, the focus is generally on other people. We (I) forget about the work God does in our own lives. And that's pretty much what God did: worked inside me. For two weeks, I was constantly discipled by Ghanian Christians who GET IT. They absolutely get this thing called discipleship. They absolutely get this thing called Christianity. They absolutely get the call of Jesus to deny themselves, carry their cross, and follow Him. They get it. Period. I told my dearest Ghanian friend, Gideon, that truly, they are the ones who need to come to America and teach us what Jesus meant when He said, "Follow Me."
During the course of those two weeks, we worked along side men and women who get up everyday at 4:00am, meet at church and pray from 4:00-5:30am. Then, they go home and the men lead a one hour family devotional. And then, they get ready and go to work! Everyday, they do this! I'm amazed.
Gideon's church is participating in a 30 day fast. Each night of the fast, they meet at their church for a two hour prayer meeting, and then break fast together when the sun sets. For 30 days, they are doing this! Everyday! For 30 days!
We also worked alongside with a pastor, Pastor Mohammed, who, when he found out how sick some of our team were, stayed up all night long and prayed. I don't think my best friend would even do that for me, nor would I think to do that for her. :(
But this is how these Christians live. It is simply their way of life. They don't have access to all of our fancy Bible study books, our cushioned seats, air-conditioned churches. They simply read God's Word, study it together, and then live it out.
Wow.
I also had the privilege of holding babies whose mommies died while giving them life and whose daddies could not (or would not) care for an infant. Praise God He does not leave them (or us!) as orphans (John 14:18). Precious, precious babies. I'm pretty sure I met my future daughter in that bunch, by the way. One can hope. ;)
One day, while I was holding one of those precious babies, the CAPTIAIN OF THE BLACK STARS, JOHN MENSAH came to donate a palate of goods to the orphanage!!! Be still my heart!!! I sure did get a picture of us! Whew. Dream come true. I seriously need to post my pics.
Anyway, so basically, my heart was left in Ghana. Again. And I'm ready to go back. Today. We'll see what God has in store. All I know is, no matter where we are on this planet, our commandment is to go and make disciples.
Recommended reading: Radical by David Platt
"Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations...." Matthew 28:19
Anyway, I suppose I'll get to my point of this post: Ghana Mission 2010.
When you travel to the same place more than once, you tend to compare your previous experiences to your current one (at least I do!). I prepared myself for these comparisons and tried not to do that this time around.... But really, how much more could He teach me in the same surroundings? with some of the same people? doing virtually the same activities?
(Ridiculous. Go ahead. Roll your eyes at me. I know I am.)
I had no idea.
The Lord blew me, along with my ever-present pride, out of the water. And I am so beyond glad that He did.
Going on mission trips, the focus is generally on other people. We (I) forget about the work God does in our own lives. And that's pretty much what God did: worked inside me. For two weeks, I was constantly discipled by Ghanian Christians who GET IT. They absolutely get this thing called discipleship. They absolutely get this thing called Christianity. They absolutely get the call of Jesus to deny themselves, carry their cross, and follow Him. They get it. Period. I told my dearest Ghanian friend, Gideon, that truly, they are the ones who need to come to America and teach us what Jesus meant when He said, "Follow Me."
During the course of those two weeks, we worked along side men and women who get up everyday at 4:00am, meet at church and pray from 4:00-5:30am. Then, they go home and the men lead a one hour family devotional. And then, they get ready and go to work! Everyday, they do this! I'm amazed.
Gideon's church is participating in a 30 day fast. Each night of the fast, they meet at their church for a two hour prayer meeting, and then break fast together when the sun sets. For 30 days, they are doing this! Everyday! For 30 days!
We also worked alongside with a pastor, Pastor Mohammed, who, when he found out how sick some of our team were, stayed up all night long and prayed. I don't think my best friend would even do that for me, nor would I think to do that for her. :(
But this is how these Christians live. It is simply their way of life. They don't have access to all of our fancy Bible study books, our cushioned seats, air-conditioned churches. They simply read God's Word, study it together, and then live it out.
Wow.
I also had the privilege of holding babies whose mommies died while giving them life and whose daddies could not (or would not) care for an infant. Praise God He does not leave them (or us!) as orphans (John 14:18). Precious, precious babies. I'm pretty sure I met my future daughter in that bunch, by the way. One can hope. ;)
One day, while I was holding one of those precious babies, the CAPTIAIN OF THE BLACK STARS, JOHN MENSAH came to donate a palate of goods to the orphanage!!! Be still my heart!!! I sure did get a picture of us! Whew. Dream come true. I seriously need to post my pics.
Anyway, so basically, my heart was left in Ghana. Again. And I'm ready to go back. Today. We'll see what God has in store. All I know is, no matter where we are on this planet, our commandment is to go and make disciples.
Recommended reading: Radical by David Platt
"Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations...." Matthew 28:19
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