... I'm not the same person I was last year. We're constantly changing and growing, into hopefully better people and more Godly people. There have been so many things going on, that I don't really have a chance to write about them all. I went on field trip with the tenth graders, and had a good time with the students. I had a fun in the villages we spent time at, and really got to know students (and practice Tamil on occassion).
Over the week, our HoD decided to leave the school, leaving us with issues to straighten out and slowly but surely we are working on them. One step at a time. Only a few weeks left until the end of the semester.
This brings a lot of changes to ideas I had about my future, and I think it's God yelling at me. I was considering so many things a few weeks ago, and now He's just stopping me and telling me what He wants and where He wants me right now. I spent a lot of time in prayer, and talking with people I trust and mean a lot to me. All in all, I found good advice and people who understand and support me.
I really hope this is a turning point and that things change. We'll see where they go, and later I can be more open and honest about what's going on, but this is what you get for now.
<3
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
"Because we're Hindu"
I spent the evening with some friends over at their house, and it was amazing. I met some of their other friends and I haven't laughed that much in a long time. I also learned a lot through listening to their conversations. It was really interesting, even if he didn't think I was interested. :-)
He shared a story about when he was on a train one time, and a family was there with their child, and they'd shaved his head and pierced his ear. Pretending to be a dumb tourist, he asked the father why they pierced his ear, with the response "Because we're Hindu". He explained that he understood that, but what does it mean, why did they do that. "Because we're Hindu," the man replied again. "But why the pierced ear?" And the gentleman turned to his wife and asked hime why they pierced their son's ear, and she told him to say "Because we're Hindu".
I tell this story because it reminds me of how complacent Christians become. We do things because other people do them. We see someone raising their hands during a song, and we do it. We see someone praying, so we pray. We know that we're supposed to be baptized during our lives, so we say we're ready for baptism. But do we really understand the reason? Do we really note the implications of our actions and wonder where they came from, what they symbolize?
There is so much complacency going through America, but at the same time, I see places that are beginning to address this. People are starting to realize that high school and college are huge turning points in the lives of young people and are a ministry that needs attention. And I'm glad to say that I see HUGE things taking place among those populations. It is a time where so much is changing in our lives, and where we make decisions that affect us for the rest of our lives.
I read an article a few months ago that stated that once people hit 25-30, the chances of them coming to Christ decrease significantly. I wonder why that is? Do we become so hardened or stubborn at that age that we can't change our patterns? O, to see God do amazing things... I am so blessed to witness them!
<3
He shared a story about when he was on a train one time, and a family was there with their child, and they'd shaved his head and pierced his ear. Pretending to be a dumb tourist, he asked the father why they pierced his ear, with the response "Because we're Hindu". He explained that he understood that, but what does it mean, why did they do that. "Because we're Hindu," the man replied again. "But why the pierced ear?" And the gentleman turned to his wife and asked hime why they pierced their son's ear, and she told him to say "Because we're Hindu".
I tell this story because it reminds me of how complacent Christians become. We do things because other people do them. We see someone raising their hands during a song, and we do it. We see someone praying, so we pray. We know that we're supposed to be baptized during our lives, so we say we're ready for baptism. But do we really understand the reason? Do we really note the implications of our actions and wonder where they came from, what they symbolize?
There is so much complacency going through America, but at the same time, I see places that are beginning to address this. People are starting to realize that high school and college are huge turning points in the lives of young people and are a ministry that needs attention. And I'm glad to say that I see HUGE things taking place among those populations. It is a time where so much is changing in our lives, and where we make decisions that affect us for the rest of our lives.
I read an article a few months ago that stated that once people hit 25-30, the chances of them coming to Christ decrease significantly. I wonder why that is? Do we become so hardened or stubborn at that age that we can't change our patterns? O, to see God do amazing things... I am so blessed to witness them!
<3
Sunday, September 13, 2009
For a Higher Purpose...
"I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun."
Ecclesiastes 2:10-11
When we work for worldly things, it is of no use. It is not until we are working for a higher purpose that it means anything. "Nothing was gained under the sun." Man, what a powerful statement.
I find it easy to get discouraged here, and feeling that nothing is being accomplished under the sun. The other day, during one of my tutoring sessions where I have about three students in my office at one time, we somehow got into an interesting discussion on denominations of Christianity and variations of worship practices. It was a really interesting discussion and I learned a lot about those particular students. It was refreshing and reminded me that there is a higher purpose in all of this. We're all learning together and growing. I'm really glad my students feel comfortable enough to have discussions like that with me.
I've had a couple really good discussions with staff at the school this week that have left me feeling encouraged and reminded that God leads us and when He does, we can stand anything.
Only one week of school left until field trip week and then I think there are only 9 weeks left until break.
Ecclesiastes 2:10-11
When we work for worldly things, it is of no use. It is not until we are working for a higher purpose that it means anything. "Nothing was gained under the sun." Man, what a powerful statement.
I find it easy to get discouraged here, and feeling that nothing is being accomplished under the sun. The other day, during one of my tutoring sessions where I have about three students in my office at one time, we somehow got into an interesting discussion on denominations of Christianity and variations of worship practices. It was a really interesting discussion and I learned a lot about those particular students. It was refreshing and reminded me that there is a higher purpose in all of this. We're all learning together and growing. I'm really glad my students feel comfortable enough to have discussions like that with me.
I've had a couple really good discussions with staff at the school this week that have left me feeling encouraged and reminded that God leads us and when He does, we can stand anything.
Only one week of school left until field trip week and then I think there are only 9 weeks left until break.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Spiritual Attacks
So, I had just written an entry, but it didn't save. That's okay. Here's the verse I was pondering:
"The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet."
Romans 16:20
It's time for me to make some pretty big decisions. Decisions I was hoping could wait for a few months. Decisions that now need to be faced sooner than expected. Thankfully, I have some wonderful friends that help me keep my head on straight. Expecially in situations like this, where comments bring up the past and my past tries to beat me down. I have overcome these attacks before, and I can and WILL do it again by the power of God.
And now to lotion the sunburn. <3
"The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet."
Romans 16:20
It's time for me to make some pretty big decisions. Decisions I was hoping could wait for a few months. Decisions that now need to be faced sooner than expected. Thankfully, I have some wonderful friends that help me keep my head on straight. Expecially in situations like this, where comments bring up the past and my past tries to beat me down. I have overcome these attacks before, and I can and WILL do it again by the power of God.
And now to lotion the sunburn. <3
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