Not to Remind You of School!

Hello from Shane! I am very much enjoying Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis! Seeing him talk about the great classical authors makes me want to pick up each one of their books. Then I have to remind myself that it's godly wisdom that I should shoot for, not pop-culture-knowledge. I cannot wait until I read about his accepting Jesus as His Lord and Savior. Here is one of probably many snippets from this work that I would like to share with you:

But the essential evil of public-school life, as I see it, did not lie either in the suffering of the fags or in the privileged arrogance of the Bloods. [... Spiritually speaking, the deadly thing was that school life was a life almost wholly dominated by the social struggle; to get on, to arrive, or, having reached the top, to remain there, was the absorbing preoccupation.

To fully appreciate Lewis's insight, one would have to read the whole one-and-a-half pages he thoughtfully devoted to this issue. Oh, for clarity, "fags" were the schoolkids' general name for usually smaller kids that got pushed around and made to do the Bloods, the bigger smarter kids, favors. The world's classtimes would be much better-spent if we lifted each other up instead of putting each other down! My application is that I want to be a good example to the people in my church who are especially (for it is in Christian schools as well if they are not careful) put down by the dog-eat-dog struggle. I want to show them the love of Jesus, Who in Casting Crowns's words (thanks, Miss Moore! I love this song!) "paid much too high a price so we could pick and choose who could come".

With this update, I also want to say I'm almost finished with the book now! It should have taken me only a few days, but I have not been in reading-mode, where I could respectfully pay attention to the authors, for a while. hee It's excellent, and I am going to ask my grandma first thing tonight what book I should read next! If you have not really read anything by him, especially if you're my age, I would recommend (besides Narnia!) maybe Mere Christianity. I actually have not read that one yet, though.

What I've Learned So Far

But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

--James 1:4-5, read at Girl's Bible Study this afternoon

Bask in my wit and wisdom! Ha, simply jokin'. But I do hope you enjoy this poignant and sometimes amusing compilation of life lessons that I would like to share. Check back on this post often, as I'm rather sure that I don't know everything yet, and that God has much more to teach me for becoming complete in Him!

• As I.T.L. said in his speech at the eighth grade banquet, "The things you spend time on most show what your priorities are."
• When you have a falling-out with someone or are feeling frustrated in general, it is much more rewarding to embrace them and resolve the issue together, rather than holding grudges like pitbull on Milkbone. --After praying first, of course! What right do we have to be angry?
• When you make a chocolate chip cookie pizza, YOU HAVE TO LET IT COOL ON THE PAN BEFORE YOU SLIDE IT OFF!
• Younger kids really do want to emulate you. (Therefore, do not climb a tree when you perceive them wearing a lovely dress)
• It is hard to be stressed, falling-into-habits, unforgiving, and cranky when you place your sufficiency in God's grace. Dedicate your day to Him each morning as you stay in His word. The instruction will stay with you!
• Your family can tell when you're using your I'm-about-to-ask-you-for-something tone. Drop it.
• You have to clean it up. (And that doesn't mean shove it somewhere else, which is really just setting you up for more cleaning-time.) It isn't going to go away, only get worse!
• It is good to have a specfic time and place away from interruptions to worship God on your own. It seems like many great men of the Bible had a turning point when they went out and it was just them, God, and the wilderness. (Moses, David, Joshua, Elijah, Jesus [Not that He was just a "Great Man"!] when He went out on His own away from the crowds...)
• Put your favorite CD on while you're cleaning. It's like you're dancing!

Personal Testimony

I had the privilege of giving my personal testimony in my youth group about three Mondays ago. I think it made a good impact on people, especially people who were somewhat familiar with the verses I used! I said a lot more than I wrote in this simple, general outline that I had prepared, and will try to add those things on from memory later. I hope this helps encourage you to think of a general idea of what you would say for your testimony. What more powerful witness is there than the very example of how Christ has changed you?

I. Introduction—I came to know Christ because of the many great influences around me.
A. Guys, you’ve got to know that God’s love and grace are illuminating and pure, just like light. In Matthew 5:15, Jesus gives the example that someone would not light up a lamp and then put it away where no one could see it; he would show it everywhere. My mom, dad, and first-grade teacher at Grace Academy shone their lamps for everyone, especially the little kids they were in charge of, to see. My first grade teacher Mrs. Howard talked to us about inviting Jesus into our heart, and I talked with my parents about it. Then, on May 30, 1995, my life changed as I invited Jesus Christ into my heart at my parents’ bedside.

II. Body—So what happened? What are you leaning on now? How is your walk going?
A. The Change; verse I lean on
I say my life changed because now I am not the scared, shy little first grader I used to be; 2 Corinthians 5:17 talks about that change, how we can become a new creation. It says, “Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Maybe you guys look at your past, or how you are identified by people today, and think, “A new change would be great! I want to be known as something other than the jock, or the liar, or the guy with the red Corvette, or the goth, or the hottie with blue eyes.” This is where I want to show you the hope in Christ, which gives me faith every single day! A verse that 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds me of is the verse I have come to lean on ever since eighth grade, Philippians 3:12-14. The apostle Paul said,

“I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be. No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.”

Apostle Paul was saying, “I don’t care about the horrible things I did in my past, or even the things that I would like to be proud of from then.” –‘Cause, you know, we’re talking about a smart, good-looking guy who used to kill Christians. “All I’m focused on,” he says, “is my future in Christ.” Since I became saved I’ve always felt, well, safe because I don’t have to be afraid of my past sins. They’re dead and buried, and like 2 Corinthians 5:17 said, I’m a new person because of Christ. Now let me tell you how I’m being focused on my future in Christ, just like Paul. I hope it encourages you.

B. What I’m doing now, devotions, spiritual gifts
God rescued me from my crippled, disgusting old body of sin, which I didn’t know in first grade but knew it was much better to live for Him. He does that every day, in a process called “sanctification”. We won’t be fully like Him until He comes back to us, but until then I’m trying to stop worrying about everything and step out of my comfort zone. You all can help me with that!
Someone prays in Psalm 51:15, “Unseal my lips, O Lord, that I may praise you.” I went through this revolutionary time in my sophomore year learning about what it truly means to worship God. Pastor Adam Jensen and Mr. Erickson from this church; and the speakers at my school, Grace Academy, defined worship as giving worth to God. It isn’t about singing; from being on the worship team in junior high at youth group, I can tell you that the people up there aren’t performing for you. It’s about taking time to praise God for how worthy He is, and I think I needed to learn that because I get caught up in the piano and singing that I love so much. God helps me to use all of my spiritual gifts, like encouraging people and music, to live a life that reflects His worth. He wants all of us, you guys. And that’s great, because He gave Himself, even died on a cross for us, and every part of us needs Him.

III. Conclusion – Thanks so much for the encouragement YOU GUYS are in my faith! Ever since seventh grade I’ve felt welcome here. Don’t waste the opportunities here…
1 Timothy 4:12-16 “Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. 13Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them.

Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecies spoken to you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right, and God will save you and those who hear you.”

Please pray for me as I try to come here consistently, and read my Bible every day in the wholeness of God’s truth. I want that so badly because it makes you FREE. I don’t have to care about what others will say, but I’ve just got to believe in God like nobody’s business!