Weddings, Babies and Things the World Needs Less Of

The last two weeks of my life have been crazy.

It's been 13 hour drives, airports, desert and introspection; so I figure now is just as good a time as any to write it all down and free myself up a little bit.

Wedding
My best friend Mike got married this last Saturday. It was such a blast. I'm a terrible dancer. I know it's going to be something I look back on and think "now don't we all look young and attractive in these pictures?"...and not in a depressing way. It was a milestone. We were all dashing in our vests, button ups, dresses and flowers. Somehow how the whole thing felt like victory or accomplishment.

When Mike and Seren had their first dance, I feel like God let me see something special. He values unity, oneness and sacrificial love. To see people seek after that, regardless of their beliefs, is inspiring.

Birth
As I was at the wedding, my cousin went into labor.

On my way to the airport, my family and I stopped to see the newborn Sophie. I've never seen a child so new to the world. She was beautiful in every way.

I've been thinking about all the ways I could write about this, about the ways that my cousin Mollie is so obviously in love with her daughter; or the feeling I got seeing something so small so full of life.

But I feel like I just don't have the words. It's the kind of thing that resets our experiences in this life, that wipes the slate of our heart clean. It inspires me to a better quality of love, to a kind of love that's too great for me to create on my own.

Things the World Could Use Less Of

1. Christian Dating Books. My roommate Erik said last night, "Maybe we should just try following Jesus", and I'm inclined to agree.

Things the World Could Use More Of

1. Jesus

2. Pop-punk bands that don't suck

3. Weightlifting Christians that will bring people into the Kingdom with their muscles.

4. An eagerness to learn and have it's beliefs challenged and slightly changed


Changed Hearts, New Creations, etc
So recently I began to question the "toughness" of the Gospel. Trust me, I still think it's an insurmountable task without Christ leading the way and the council of the Holy Spirit, but sometimes I find myself saying "well this is hard" and leaving it at that.

We're made new in Christ. That's a fact.

I am not the same person I was before accepting Jesus.

So here's what I have to say: If we truly believe in redemption and renewal then it's no longer acceptable to give worldly excuses for not adhering to the Holy.

He is always with us (Matthew 28:20), He came for us to experience the fullness of His way of life (John 10:10), He is the resurrection and saves us from eternal death (John 11:25-26), we should be dead to sin but alive in God!-and it's a choice to live this way (Romans 6:5-14), our light and momentary troubles are for His glory (2 Corinthians 4:16-18), if we live by the Spirit; we WILL see fruit (Galatians 5:22-25), it is by grace that we have been saved! (Ephesians 2:8-9); and that we should seek after His resurrection-somehow and know that all things are possible through Him (Philippians 3:10-11& 4:13). In short, He is Lord, and loves is passionately!

We are always coming from the Garden, from the fall, from the resurrection and we are always on our way back to a perfect relationship with Him. These are set ends and events!

Jesus humbled Himself to the point of death, even death on a cross. He has given us so much! If we consider these things to be true, that we are made new, that the rules have changed and we are in fact SET FREE, my challenge is to live out our time here like we believe it.

Okay, I'm going to get ready for class now.

-Geoff