the Church

What portion of a church's income should be put in the building fund?

I'm hungry

One thing that bothers me is when people say they are no longer getting fed by their pastor.

"Oh really, you're a baby? I mean adults feed themselves, right?" I respond.
Now granted I'm arrogant and struggle with saying such a thing in love.

The point is: If we are not getting in the word everyday and having a daily quiet time then of course we will never get spiritually fed. We wouldn't have only one meal a week would we?

John 3:8 (New International Version)

⁸The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

John 3:8 is one of my favorite verses. It is crazy for me to think about how much time I have spent trying to figure out what I want to do with "my life". And every time I think about how things have gone, I think of this verse.

My ex-roomate and current close friend, Parker, and I have just started leading a high school small group. I would have never thought about such I thing. I liked high school a little but when I graduated I was ready never to see another high school aged person for the rest of my life. Boy, do I love the Spirit. The time I spent with the students and high school staff has actually been a joy. Who would have thunk it?

Me in High School. Nerd on left in Maroon tie.

True Love

Being married for about a month and a half has taught me a lot.

1: It's not okay to leave the toilet seat up.
2: Peanut butter sandwiches can't just be peanut butter. There must be another ingredient between those slices of bread before it could ever be called a sandwich.
3: All children are cute. Even the goofy looking ones.
4: I'm an idiot.
5: I am to love Ashley the way God loves me. (Not easy)

In Genesis Adam is given a "helper" called Eve. I've
only heard stories, but supposedly she was a babe.











God being a God of patterns, gave Man someone to love. We learn as men how to love by the people He puts in our lives. Right now the greatest example of that in my life is my wife.



We are the Bride of God. This definitely brings new meaning now that I am married. It's hard to imagine that we as believers will nag God for not rinsing off His dishes when He puts them in the sink, but who knows. I have been thinking about this a lot actually. I have heard people call the Bible a love letter from the Almighty. Seeing His Covenants with His people and what they mean to Him puts that theory into a new light for me.

derp

It is Wednesday. My days off are Wednesday and Thursday. (when I'm not trying to get over time at work)
Things I like to do on my day off:
...make sure to wake up at a decent time, as to not ruin my sleep schedule, consequently taking a nap later around noon and effectively ruining my sleep schedule.
...Farmville, TV, YouTube, maybe some reading
...Some sort of physical activity such as going to the gym or playing Bucce Ball.
...and if I'm lucky I eat some chocolate.

still at it

Romans 6:1-4 from memory
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that those of us who were baptized with Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried with Him through baptism and into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead for the glory of God we to may live a new life.

Romans 6: 1-4 Actual NIV
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Almost there.

I have been thinking about baptism lately. When Genesis begins creation is dark and formless. It is what other religions would call Chaos. God is hovering over the waters and calls for light. Our soul is dark we are baptized and then our life has God's light.
It is popular to say that our God is not one of rituals. He judges people for their heart, but when I read the Word, baptism certainly seems more than just an outward announcement.

How important is baptism by water for our salvation?

Romans 6: 1-4

Me trying to type what I've memorized
What shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin, how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know, that those of us who were baptized in Christ Jesus were baptized in his death. We were therefor buried through baptism and into his death so that ...

Actual NIV text
1What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Fail!

To help myself memorize what I am reading I am going to start writing on it.