Men, it's time we faced the truth. If we look at our everyday actions and thoughts, we don't respect the opposite gender as we should. Whether it be verbally making fun of someone, treating women as sex objects, or not treating them as equals, we just don't seem to really respect them.
Why? Why can we not respect for who they are: creations of God Almighty, created from man in God's image, important and EQUAL to men.
I chuckle now, because I know many of you will jump on the last three words of that sentence; "EQUAL to men". It's something that many people believe is untrue; that women are suppost to submit, which makes them weaker, lesser, and all around not as important as men. This is a FALSE assumption; the Bible clearly teaches submission, but does not teach inequality.
Men and women are created differently, for different tasks and purposes. Men are created and designed to be the more physical, rough, planning, logical ones, whereas women are created to be sensitive, nuturing, emotional, detailed. There is no shame in one or the other; it's the way GOD designed us to be. So, since there is no shame, say men are better than women is comparing apples and oranges.
Before moving on, I will state that I do believe the Bible teaches that men should be spiritual leaders - in the home and in the church. Again, this is not a matter of equality, but what we were created for and mandated to do by God.
What exactly IS respect? Is it the manner in which one esteems another? Or is it the acknowledgment of one's character? I would define respect as the showing and acknowledgment of someone's good character, their right actions, and their value as a human. Now, many people can only hit the mark on one of those three things (being a human), but that (as being made in God's image) still demands respect.
So, respect. How does one show it? Must it be earned? Can you lose it?
You show respect to another in the way that you treat them - do you treat them as valuable and important, worthwhile? Or do you treat them as inferior, distasteful, and not worth the time of day? Granted, that's the extreme, but I've made my point- each person you meet you ought to give respect to, as a fellow creation of God, made in his image. Do you treat them as YOU see them (the outside) or as God sees them (a beloved creation)? The implications of this follow with many actions, but be careful not to make it into a "to do list" that you must perform.
Respect is a different commodity in that it must be earned, but also freely given. You ought to, whoever you are, seek to be as much in the likeness of Christ as possible (therefore, seeking Him daily) and then the right actions and good character shall follow. At the same time, you are expected to give respect to others freely, based on the sole fact that they are made in God's image, just as you are. What a strange concept! It is contrary to what society and our culture tell us - that you must be valuable in our eyes to recieve respect - but it comes from a true understanding of God's love (that you must recieve before you can give- "He loved us first...").
Since respect is this strange commodity, then it is possible to lose it - on the basis of right actions and good character. A popular senator who has an affair, loses (and rightly so) respect when the fact is revealed. He has done a WRONG action, showing BAD character, and therefore, has lost respect. But he has not lost all respect - he still is loved by God, and therefore should be loved and respected (to a degree) by others. So, where some may have earned more respect than others, and some may have lost that same respect, no one should ever be without respect comepletely. In the Bible, we can easily see people who have earned different levels of respect (and many who have lost), but all are still human. Cain and Abel - earned and were given different amounts of respect, and rightly so - but, even still, God had mercy and loved Cain by not killing him immediately. By this example, we can see that it is possible to lose respect, but it is not possible to lose our humanity.
How does this applie to gentleman (or, as I shall now call them, "God's men")? It all seems so broad and general, and it is - it applies to all mankind!
In terms of ladies and God's men, we as God's men ought to show each lady that we meet (who, exactly, that is is covered in previous blog posts) respect. We ought to treat each of them as the utmost respect - the creation that is like us, and from us, and even part of us - THAT is how we are to treat them! As part of ourselves. In Ephesians 5, Paul says that husbands ought to their wives as Christ loved the church. Christ is the head of the church, but shows much compassion, love, tenderness, and mercy for his church. In the same way, we, as God's men, ought to show compassion, love, tenderness, and mercy towards others - ladies especially.
In societies and cultures past, the term "gentleman" applied only to the upper class - those who deserved and had earned respect from others. Let each one of us, as God's men, show the world what a man really is, and how he respects others.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
A Gentleman Apologizes
First, let me apologize for Blogger. After struggling to work with them on why my posts have not been appearing, they finally fixed it. So, now you can read my post (obviously).
Second, let me preface this post by saying that this is a true event, and not one I am particularly proud of. Therefore, gentlemen, take note of not only what TO do, but also what NOT TO do.
Recently, there was a gathering of friends at my apartment. We were sitting around, talking about lots of things, and the subject of this blog came up. As there were guys in the room, I started to extol not simply my blog, but the necessity of being a gentleman. As I had the attention of the whole group, I stood on my soap box and lectured, more or less.
The problem came when I realized that although I was trying to convince my friends of the importance of being a gentleman, I was most definitely not being one. My girlfriend was in the room, and for most of the evening I'd been make jokes at her expense. Not only this, but I didn't think to treat as a lady - I simply treated her as an object. I was very tired, and not running on all cylinders, but that is no excuse.
When I realized how I was treating her, I knew that I didn't need to be there- I wasn't going to do any better by staying there. So, I simply said "Goodnight, all." and went into my bedroom, and shut the door. Soon thereafter, I went to bed, but not without thinking about how I was going to apologize to her.
The next day, I didn't get the chance to talk to her until after a bible study we both attend in the evening. Afterwards, I explained to her that I was tired, but that was no excuse. I apologized, and asked her forgiveness. I committed to be more aware of my words and actions, and asked her to help improve me by gently pointing out my weaknesses. She accepted the apology and agreed to help me improve.
The moral of the story is this: No man is too big to say "I'm sorry." And no gentleman says "I'm sorry" unless he truly means it.
Guys, be mindful of your actions, and don't blow the "little stuff" off - if you were wrong, apologize. To whoever. Not just your parents, not just your friends, not just your girlfriend - to whoever you hurt by your actions or words.
A man not only admits his mistakes, but works incredibly hard to correct them. So, fellas, take time this week to think about what you might have said or done that hurt someone, that you haven't apologized for. And after that, apologize - and mean it.
Signing off,
The Gentlemanly Doofus
Second, let me preface this post by saying that this is a true event, and not one I am particularly proud of. Therefore, gentlemen, take note of not only what TO do, but also what NOT TO do.
Recently, there was a gathering of friends at my apartment. We were sitting around, talking about lots of things, and the subject of this blog came up. As there were guys in the room, I started to extol not simply my blog, but the necessity of being a gentleman. As I had the attention of the whole group, I stood on my soap box and lectured, more or less.
The problem came when I realized that although I was trying to convince my friends of the importance of being a gentleman, I was most definitely not being one. My girlfriend was in the room, and for most of the evening I'd been make jokes at her expense. Not only this, but I didn't think to treat as a lady - I simply treated her as an object. I was very tired, and not running on all cylinders, but that is no excuse.
When I realized how I was treating her, I knew that I didn't need to be there- I wasn't going to do any better by staying there. So, I simply said "Goodnight, all." and went into my bedroom, and shut the door. Soon thereafter, I went to bed, but not without thinking about how I was going to apologize to her.
The next day, I didn't get the chance to talk to her until after a bible study we both attend in the evening. Afterwards, I explained to her that I was tired, but that was no excuse. I apologized, and asked her forgiveness. I committed to be more aware of my words and actions, and asked her to help improve me by gently pointing out my weaknesses. She accepted the apology and agreed to help me improve.
The moral of the story is this: No man is too big to say "I'm sorry." And no gentleman says "I'm sorry" unless he truly means it.
Guys, be mindful of your actions, and don't blow the "little stuff" off - if you were wrong, apologize. To whoever. Not just your parents, not just your friends, not just your girlfriend - to whoever you hurt by your actions or words.
A man not only admits his mistakes, but works incredibly hard to correct them. So, fellas, take time this week to think about what you might have said or done that hurt someone, that you haven't apologized for. And after that, apologize - and mean it.
Signing off,
The Gentlemanly Doofus
Monday, October 19, 2009
The Definition of a Lady
So, you’ve heard the phrase “Ladies and Gentleman,…” more times than you can remember. And odds are, it probably just meant “girls and guys,…” the way it was said. In my first post, and restated in my last post, we discussed what a gentleman truly is, and why you ought to be one. Since our culture (and in this case, rightly so) pairs gentlemen with ladies, you need to know what a lady is. Girls, pay attention, see what you think of this guy’s definition of a lady and whether you fit or not, and then comment if you disagree (please state with what and why).
So, for all practical purposes, guys, a lady is… any girl. That’s right, you should treat (we’ll discuss how) any girl you meet, know, see, hear of, etc. as a lady. Why aren’t there more qualifications? Well, females are a gift, from God:
“So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, ‘This at last is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.’” (Genesis 2:21-23, ESV)
Because all females are considered “flesh of (my) flesh”, and because they were created by God, then they are also made in God’s image, and therefore to be treated just as well as we (guys) treat ourselves. In Ephesians 5, it talks about men loving their wives as Christ loves the church. That definitely applies in a specific sense to your wife, but it implies that women are special in their own way, and ought to be treated as such.
Now, for a better picture of a lady (besides the first definition I gave), so you know what to look for when looking for a wife, or even a good friend, see Proverbs 31. Just a few things to be garnered from that passage (v. 10-31) include: Trustworthiness (v. 11), helpful (v. 12), willing worker (v. 13), diligent (v. 15 and v. 27), caring (v. 21), wise (v. 26), kind (v. 26), and God-fearing (v. 30). I won’t discuss each of these things here, but take time to think about them. Guys, if you are in a dating or courting relationship, consider how many of the aforementioned qualities you see in her. And girls, when you think about yourselves honestly, is this a picture of you, or is this too much to ask?
Again, if you (and this applies to all posts – past, present, and future) disagree with anything I say, let me know. Maybe I’m wrong - it wouldn’t be the first time. But I’ll never know until someone challenges me. Oh, and check out the guestbook and poll on the right hand side of the page, too. Let me know what YOU think.
-The Gentle Doofus
So, for all practical purposes, guys, a lady is… any girl. That’s right, you should treat (we’ll discuss how) any girl you meet, know, see, hear of, etc. as a lady. Why aren’t there more qualifications? Well, females are a gift, from God:
“So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, ‘This at last is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.’” (Genesis 2:21-23, ESV)
Because all females are considered “flesh of (my) flesh”, and because they were created by God, then they are also made in God’s image, and therefore to be treated just as well as we (guys) treat ourselves. In Ephesians 5, it talks about men loving their wives as Christ loves the church. That definitely applies in a specific sense to your wife, but it implies that women are special in their own way, and ought to be treated as such.
Now, for a better picture of a lady (besides the first definition I gave), so you know what to look for when looking for a wife, or even a good friend, see Proverbs 31. Just a few things to be garnered from that passage (v. 10-31) include: Trustworthiness (v. 11), helpful (v. 12), willing worker (v. 13), diligent (v. 15 and v. 27), caring (v. 21), wise (v. 26), kind (v. 26), and God-fearing (v. 30). I won’t discuss each of these things here, but take time to think about them. Guys, if you are in a dating or courting relationship, consider how many of the aforementioned qualities you see in her. And girls, when you think about yourselves honestly, is this a picture of you, or is this too much to ask?
Again, if you (and this applies to all posts – past, present, and future) disagree with anything I say, let me know. Maybe I’m wrong - it wouldn’t be the first time. But I’ll never know until someone challenges me. Oh, and check out the guestbook and poll on the right hand side of the page, too. Let me know what YOU think.
-The Gentle Doofus
Monday, October 12, 2009
Why be a Gentleman?
So, maybe you checked out last week’s post. Maybe you haven’t. Whatever the case, focus on this post. It’s going to (hopefully) put the rest of what I will say in perspective. So, let’s do a quick review of what a gentleman is:
“Gentle - not rough, uncouth, but kind, tenderhearted, gracious, and thoughtful.
Man - not simply a male, but a guy who has devoted his life to seeking Christ, all the while seeking to build a home and career on his faith. The combination of these two things make up a gentleman.”
So why be a gentleman? “What’s the point? Will I have to sacrifice my masculinity? I don’t want to be weak.“ The answer is simple, yet hard to grasp. Are you ready?
God commands us to be men- HIS men. At the basic level, it’s that simple.
First of all, he wants us to dedicate ourselves to him:
Romans 12:1 (ESV) “I appeal to you therefore, bothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual act of worship.” So, we are to give ourselves completely (sacrifice) to God.
Second, he wants us to glorify him:
I Corinthians 10:31 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” So, our WHOLE LIFE should be to God’s glory.
God also sets our example as Christ:
I Corinthians 11:1 “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” Christ was perfect, so we have a perfect example of a (gentle)man before us. So, if you have questions as to how to be a gentleman, look to Christ.
So we know that we are commanded to be men, but what about gentlemen? The bible doesn’t mention specifically the word “gentleman” but instead talks about what a man should be and why, because God assumes that a man and a gentleman are the same thing. “Gentlemen” is just what "men" have labeled it to differentiate between "gentlemen" and "men" - so that we can be "mnn" without having to do the things God requires of men.
Besides the fact that being a gentleman is what is expected of us by God, it’s what God designed to help us find wives. THAT is a whole different blog post in itself.
Till next week,
The Gentle Doofus
“Gentle - not rough, uncouth, but kind, tenderhearted, gracious, and thoughtful.
Man - not simply a male, but a guy who has devoted his life to seeking Christ, all the while seeking to build a home and career on his faith. The combination of these two things make up a gentleman.”
So why be a gentleman? “What’s the point? Will I have to sacrifice my masculinity? I don’t want to be weak.“ The answer is simple, yet hard to grasp. Are you ready?
God commands us to be men- HIS men. At the basic level, it’s that simple.
First of all, he wants us to dedicate ourselves to him:
Romans 12:1 (ESV) “I appeal to you therefore, bothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual act of worship.” So, we are to give ourselves completely (sacrifice) to God.
Second, he wants us to glorify him:
I Corinthians 10:31 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” So, our WHOLE LIFE should be to God’s glory.
God also sets our example as Christ:
I Corinthians 11:1 “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” Christ was perfect, so we have a perfect example of a (gentle)man before us. So, if you have questions as to how to be a gentleman, look to Christ.
So we know that we are commanded to be men, but what about gentlemen? The bible doesn’t mention specifically the word “gentleman” but instead talks about what a man should be and why, because God assumes that a man and a gentleman are the same thing. “Gentlemen” is just what "men" have labeled it to differentiate between "gentlemen" and "men" - so that we can be "mnn" without having to do the things God requires of men.
Besides the fact that being a gentleman is what is expected of us by God, it’s what God designed to help us find wives. THAT is a whole different blog post in itself.
Till next week,
The Gentle Doofus
Monday, October 5, 2009
A New Direction
Ahh, how long it's been. Months! What a horrible blogger I am. Yes, I know what you are thinking; "It's about time! I've ben waiting for him to update his blog forever, just so I can know what he's up to!" Well, you'll have to wait a bit longer - this blog is no longer devoted to me and my life, but to my thoughts and convictions regarding chivalry - being a true gentleman. I hope that you, guy or gal, will enjoy this, but more than that - take it to heart. These aren't just the musings of a college student - the are the thoughts and wisdom of a student of chivalry - of a young man who strives to be the gentleman every man should be.
What is Chivalry? Dictionary.com defines it as " the sum of the ideal qualifications of a knight, including courtesy, generosity, valor, and dexterity in arms." I define it as the practice of being a gentleman. So what's a gentleman? A gentleman is not what the world considers a "manly-man". He doesn't do things to impress girls - he does things to respect girls. It's simple - split the word "gentleman" into its two parts:
Okay, ladies, I know that this doesn't seem like it has much application for you. Yes, you are correct in thinking that you do not need to know how to be a gentleman. BUT- you do need to know what to expect from any and every guy you meet. Part of the reason that the species "homosapiens -gentlemanus" has died out is because most girls don't expect every guy to be a gentleman, and so guys don't feel the need to meet an expectation that isn't there. So ladies, expect, no, DEMAND that any guy pursuing your heart (or any guy hanging around you, for that matter) be a gentleman. If he realizes that you are worth it, (which I know each and every one of you are) than he will learn quickly and gladly.
Guys, dudes, boys, and men - whatever category you think you fall into, odds are that gentleman is not one of them. Harsh, I know, but true. There just are very few males willing to act as a gentleman should anymore. If you are a gentleman (hold yourself to high standard to call yourself that), then I applaud you, and ask that you add your thoughts and wisdom through comments and emails to this blog. But the rest of you, take heart! Men were designed by God to be gentlemen - but sin has weakened us. If you have Christ as the center in your life, being a gentleman is SO MUCH EASIER. If you don't, you won't understand half the reasoning behind what I say.
If you read this regularly, you will read both abstract and practical, both physical and emotional, and both funny and serious advice. But it isn't advice for you to tuck away for a rainy day - it's advice to apply to your life IMMEDIATELY. It's also a good idea to pass this on. Girls, if you know of a guy (brother, friend, classmate) who could use a lesson or two, let him know about this blog. Guys, be man enough to tell your friends that they need to know this, too.
One last thing before I end - I don't claim to know everything, or be the perfect gentleman. As I said before, I'm a STUDENT of chivalry. But, someone needs to step up and say what needs to be heard, and that what I plan to do. I'll reference other sites, books, authors, bloggers, and people as I strive to drive home the points. Don't look at me as a Pharisee, but rather a disciple of Christ - humble, but speaking with His power and authority. If you have any questions, I may not know the answer, but I WILL do all I can to find the answer for you.
Signing off,
The Gentlemanly Doofus
What is Chivalry? Dictionary.com defines it as " the sum of the ideal qualifications of a knight, including courtesy, generosity, valor, and dexterity in arms." I define it as the practice of being a gentleman. So what's a gentleman? A gentleman is not what the world considers a "manly-man". He doesn't do things to impress girls - he does things to respect girls. It's simple - split the word "gentleman" into its two parts:
- Gentle - not rough, uncouth, but kind, tenderhearted, gracious, and thoughtful.
- Man - not simply a male, but a guy who has devoted his life to seeking Christ, all the while seeking to build a home and career on his faith.
Okay, ladies, I know that this doesn't seem like it has much application for you. Yes, you are correct in thinking that you do not need to know how to be a gentleman. BUT- you do need to know what to expect from any and every guy you meet. Part of the reason that the species "homosapiens -gentlemanus" has died out is because most girls don't expect every guy to be a gentleman, and so guys don't feel the need to meet an expectation that isn't there. So ladies, expect, no, DEMAND that any guy pursuing your heart (or any guy hanging around you, for that matter) be a gentleman. If he realizes that you are worth it, (which I know each and every one of you are) than he will learn quickly and gladly.
Guys, dudes, boys, and men - whatever category you think you fall into, odds are that gentleman is not one of them. Harsh, I know, but true. There just are very few males willing to act as a gentleman should anymore. If you are a gentleman (hold yourself to high standard to call yourself that), then I applaud you, and ask that you add your thoughts and wisdom through comments and emails to this blog. But the rest of you, take heart! Men were designed by God to be gentlemen - but sin has weakened us. If you have Christ as the center in your life, being a gentleman is SO MUCH EASIER. If you don't, you won't understand half the reasoning behind what I say.
If you read this regularly, you will read both abstract and practical, both physical and emotional, and both funny and serious advice. But it isn't advice for you to tuck away for a rainy day - it's advice to apply to your life IMMEDIATELY. It's also a good idea to pass this on. Girls, if you know of a guy (brother, friend, classmate) who could use a lesson or two, let him know about this blog. Guys, be man enough to tell your friends that they need to know this, too.
One last thing before I end - I don't claim to know everything, or be the perfect gentleman. As I said before, I'm a STUDENT of chivalry. But, someone needs to step up and say what needs to be heard, and that what I plan to do. I'll reference other sites, books, authors, bloggers, and people as I strive to drive home the points. Don't look at me as a Pharisee, but rather a disciple of Christ - humble, but speaking with His power and authority. If you have any questions, I may not know the answer, but I WILL do all I can to find the answer for you.
Signing off,
The Gentlemanly Doofus
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Moving...sort of...
For those of you who are reading this for the mission updates, there's been a change: my mission team now has it's own blog, and that's where I'll be posting everything. Check it out:
http://www.airdrie09.blogspot.com/
Anyways, enjoy the new blog!
-Joel
http://www.airdrie09.blogspot.com/
Anyways, enjoy the new blog!
-Joel
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Arrived!
I've arrived!
After the grueling (not really) set of airports and flights (Kansas City-Chicago-London/Heathrow-Edinburgh), I'm finally in Airdrie, Scotland. I didn't sleep much on the flight over the Atlantic like I had planned, but hopefully tonight I'll be plenty tired enough to get some good sleep and get in to the right schedule for Scotland. Oh, and the Mountain Dew made it over okay, too. :P
In Chicago, I, Brett, and Amelia met up with 3 other team members - Ben, Heather, and Jacque. From there, we traveled together the rest of the way. The only other team member here currently (3:45 in the Afternoon)is Stephen McCollum, our team leader. The other three team members will be joining us later - Joe and Maggie will get here this Saturday, and Staci will arrive in the middle of June.
We met with Andrew Quigley, the pastor here at the Airdrie Reformed Presbyterian Church, and tomorrow, we'll start planning for the school presentations that we'll be doing.
I can't write too much - I haven't found a wall outlet adapter for my computer to charge with yet, and my battery is low. Here are some pics of the team members I have so far:
Stephen McCollum - our Fearless Leader
Brett Schmidt
Amelia Ward and Jacque Decker
After the grueling (not really) set of airports and flights (Kansas City-Chicago-London/Heathrow-Edinburgh), I'm finally in Airdrie, Scotland. I didn't sleep much on the flight over the Atlantic like I had planned, but hopefully tonight I'll be plenty tired enough to get some good sleep and get in to the right schedule for Scotland. Oh, and the Mountain Dew made it over okay, too. :P
In Chicago, I, Brett, and Amelia met up with 3 other team members - Ben, Heather, and Jacque. From there, we traveled together the rest of the way. The only other team member here currently (3:45 in the Afternoon)is Stephen McCollum, our team leader. The other three team members will be joining us later - Joe and Maggie will get here this Saturday, and Staci will arrive in the middle of June.
We met with Andrew Quigley, the pastor here at the Airdrie Reformed Presbyterian Church, and tomorrow, we'll start planning for the school presentations that we'll be doing.
I can't write too much - I haven't found a wall outlet adapter for my computer to charge with yet, and my battery is low. Here are some pics of the team members I have so far:
Stephen McCollum - our Fearless Leader
Brett Schmidt
Heather Miller
Ben Gordon
Amelia Ward and Jacque Decker
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Aye, Scotland!
Hear ye, hear ye: I'm going to Scotland.
"Scotland?!?", you say? Aye, Scotland. I'll being going over there for a month on a RP Missions trip to Airdrie (near Edinburgh). I will leave tomorrow afternoon, and be back in the US on June 25th. While I'm there, I'll be using my blog to post pictures and updates of what's going on. Stay tuned for some really good stuff!
What I, and 9 others, will be doing while we are over there will be several things:
Literature distribution - going door to door and handing out flyers and pamphlets about the Airdrie Reformed Presbyterian Church, etc. This will be the toughest part for me- I've never truly done door-to-door stuff before. Pray for me!
School Presentations - These will be (as far as I can tell) mini-Vacation Bible Schools. I don't know what age groups or schools we will be at, so keep posted to find out!
Painting, Gardening, etc. - We will also be doing some manual labor around the Airdrie Church. Don't know what all that contains.
Working with the youth - the Church Youth don't have a lot of contact with Christian peers, so we'll hang out/work with them some, too. I really look forward to this part. I'll be taking Mountain Dew over there, because the youth really like it- but it's not available in the UK.
So, post a comment if you have questions, etc. I won't post every day, but I'll post somewhere around twice a week.
See ya'll later!
"Scotland?!?", you say? Aye, Scotland. I'll being going over there for a month on a RP Missions trip to Airdrie (near Edinburgh). I will leave tomorrow afternoon, and be back in the US on June 25th. While I'm there, I'll be using my blog to post pictures and updates of what's going on. Stay tuned for some really good stuff!
What I, and 9 others, will be doing while we are over there will be several things:
Literature distribution - going door to door and handing out flyers and pamphlets about the Airdrie Reformed Presbyterian Church, etc. This will be the toughest part for me- I've never truly done door-to-door stuff before. Pray for me!
School Presentations - These will be (as far as I can tell) mini-Vacation Bible Schools. I don't know what age groups or schools we will be at, so keep posted to find out!
Painting, Gardening, etc. - We will also be doing some manual labor around the Airdrie Church. Don't know what all that contains.
Working with the youth - the Church Youth don't have a lot of contact with Christian peers, so we'll hang out/work with them some, too. I really look forward to this part. I'll be taking Mountain Dew over there, because the youth really like it- but it's not available in the UK.
So, post a comment if you have questions, etc. I won't post every day, but I'll post somewhere around twice a week.
See ya'll later!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
A Guy Who Has No Clue
I'm a guy who has no clue-
No clue about what to do.
I don't know how to convey it,
I don't know how to portray it,
I just know how to pray it.
This start of a poem explains how I have felt the past couple of months. Yes, it's been a while since I posted, and I kept meaning to post something, but didn't. Right now, my life (spiritually, emotionally, academically) is crazy. I don't want to be a whiner (too late, right?) but I really don't know what to do in each of these categories. I will ask you (the reader) for some advice - you're probably smarter than I am. I will try to be vague in some ways, like not naming names, because I try to respect peoples privacy. Okay, here goes.
Spiritually, I am being constantly molded and perfected by God. This is not a bad thing - we all go through it, but it usually isn't easy. I am trying to constantly live a life worthy of Christ (and fail often), but have a hard time dealing with a specific sin. I have talked to people about it, prayed about it, asked God to give me the strength to resist it, and I keep falling into it. Any ideas as to what I should do?
Academically, I am doing okay in most of my classes, except for Calculus I. I took it in High School, but didn't learn anything, really (anything I learned was incorrect - the teacher was somewhat to blame, but it was my fault, too). So, I am taking it again in College, and it is owning me. I am aiming to just pass it, now. I really am having trouble - I signed up for a free tutor, but that hasn't gone through yet. Any recommendations?
Emotionally, I can explain it best this way:
"I" doesn't know what to do. "Me" and "myself" are arguing, and "I" is confused. "I" is still dealing with some emotional pain (yes, female-related) and is trying to work through that. "Me" is interested in another girl, who goes to KSU. This other girl is extremely nice, etc., but "Me" is not being very considerate of "I". "Myself" is growing more and more interested in a different girl than "Me", who is not nearby at all. "I" just wants the other two to shut up until further notice, but "Me" and "Myself" start arguing loudly and "I" can't help but get involved. Recently, "I" agreed to let "Me" have a chance, in hopes that "I" can overcome "Me" and when presented with an opportunity to continue down "Me"'s path, that "I" can stay "just friends". "Myself" seems to be biding his time, waiting for the right moment to take advantage of both "I" and "Me".
Now, that might not make much sense, and if it doesn't, ask me about it. Anyways, what should I do to help all three, "I", "Me", and "Myself", get along?
No clue about what to do.
I don't know how to convey it,
I don't know how to portray it,
I just know how to pray it.
This start of a poem explains how I have felt the past couple of months. Yes, it's been a while since I posted, and I kept meaning to post something, but didn't. Right now, my life (spiritually, emotionally, academically) is crazy. I don't want to be a whiner (too late, right?) but I really don't know what to do in each of these categories. I will ask you (the reader) for some advice - you're probably smarter than I am. I will try to be vague in some ways, like not naming names, because I try to respect peoples privacy. Okay, here goes.
Spiritually, I am being constantly molded and perfected by God. This is not a bad thing - we all go through it, but it usually isn't easy. I am trying to constantly live a life worthy of Christ (and fail often), but have a hard time dealing with a specific sin. I have talked to people about it, prayed about it, asked God to give me the strength to resist it, and I keep falling into it. Any ideas as to what I should do?
Academically, I am doing okay in most of my classes, except for Calculus I. I took it in High School, but didn't learn anything, really (anything I learned was incorrect - the teacher was somewhat to blame, but it was my fault, too). So, I am taking it again in College, and it is owning me. I am aiming to just pass it, now. I really am having trouble - I signed up for a free tutor, but that hasn't gone through yet. Any recommendations?
Emotionally, I can explain it best this way:
"I" doesn't know what to do. "Me" and "myself" are arguing, and "I" is confused. "I" is still dealing with some emotional pain (yes, female-related) and is trying to work through that. "Me" is interested in another girl, who goes to KSU. This other girl is extremely nice, etc., but "Me" is not being very considerate of "I". "Myself" is growing more and more interested in a different girl than "Me", who is not nearby at all. "I" just wants the other two to shut up until further notice, but "Me" and "Myself" start arguing loudly and "I" can't help but get involved. Recently, "I" agreed to let "Me" have a chance, in hopes that "I" can overcome "Me" and when presented with an opportunity to continue down "Me"'s path, that "I" can stay "just friends". "Myself" seems to be biding his time, waiting for the right moment to take advantage of both "I" and "Me".
Now, that might not make much sense, and if it doesn't, ask me about it. Anyways, what should I do to help all three, "I", "Me", and "Myself", get along?
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Facebook/Internet Fast for February
Ahem.
AHem.
AHEM!!
Thank you. Now that I have your undivided attention, I would like to make an announcement. I shall not be on facebook, or the general internet, for all of February (starting tomorrow). I feel like the internet is distracting me from a lot of things (God, homework, etc) and that I need to spend a lot of time away from the internet. So, I will not post on my blog, check my facebook, or do any other internet action for February.
Be not alarmed, though - I still will have email. Because teachers use it to get in touch with me about homework, I will still check my email. I will also use internet for the online quizzes and homework I have to do, but that will be all. So, if you want to talk to me, call me or email me. You won't reach me any other way (that means no skype, aim, etc.).
Thank you. That will be all. Be back in March!
AHem.
AHEM!!
Thank you. Now that I have your undivided attention, I would like to make an announcement. I shall not be on facebook, or the general internet, for all of February (starting tomorrow). I feel like the internet is distracting me from a lot of things (God, homework, etc) and that I need to spend a lot of time away from the internet. So, I will not post on my blog, check my facebook, or do any other internet action for February.
Be not alarmed, though - I still will have email. Because teachers use it to get in touch with me about homework, I will still check my email. I will also use internet for the online quizzes and homework I have to do, but that will be all. So, if you want to talk to me, call me or email me. You won't reach me any other way (that means no skype, aim, etc.).
Thank you. That will be all. Be back in March!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Story, Part 4
As Jude pulled into Ryan’s driveway, he saw only two other cars there, neither of which he recognized. He wondered how many people were going to be at the poker party, and hoped it wouldn’t be more than nine or ten. He shut his car off, and as he opened the door, he heard a SPLAT on his windshield. As he looked through to water running down the glass, he saw Ryan aiming another water balloon at him. Jude dove out of the car, and ran for cover behind some bushes. After he heard Ryan launch the balloon, he started running straight for Ryan and the water balloons.
“AAARRRGGGGHHH! Take that, Jude! And that!” Ryan forgot about aiming and just threw the water balloons as fast as he could. Jude managed to duck all of them, and cried back,
“Ryan! This… is… SPARTA! Prepare for glory, you dork!” Jude reached Ryan just as he was pulling back for the next throw, and smashed the water balloon while it was still in Ryan’s hand, spraying both of them with ice cold water. As they stood there laughing at each other, Jude remembered when he and his dad would have water fights during the summer nights, and how much fun they had. I wonder if Ryan was trying to remind me of Dad. No, he couldn’t be; I don’t think I ever told him about those water fights.
“So, you ready to lose, dude?” Ryan asked. Ryan had been the one to teach Jude how to play poker, during homeroom in school.
“Um, no, not really. I came prepared to win, like always, man.” Jude had been getting better, but still had trouble remembering what all the different hands were called.
“Sure, Jude, sure. I invited some of the other guys over, like Dave, Robbie, and Josh. They’re all cool, you know.” Dave, Robbie, and Josh were all classmates of Ryan and Jude’s, and none of them were “party”-goers.
“Sounds like a plan. So, where’s the food, dude? I’m freakin’ starving!” Jude was pretty hungry, since he hadn’t eaten since breakfast.
“Inside. We got pizza, pop, and ice cream. Come on!” Ryan said as they walked into the house.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Those Murky Infested Waters
First of all, let me apologize for not posting for so long. Between other distractions, there was also the fact that I didn't know what to write. But, I'm back now (for better or for worse). Here's a short story to describe how I felt in my Biology class today.
As I slowly placed my foot into the river, I felt the warmth of the water flow in between my toes. This isn't so bad, I thought. True, you couldn't see through the water because it was so murky, but maybe there weren't water-people in the river. Just to make sure, I stood with one foot in the water to make sure that the water-people that some people said were in there wouldn't come and drag me under.
Once I gained more confidence, I tried to figure out exactly where the stones were. The same people who said there were water-people in the river said that there were stones underwater that you could stand on to be safe from the water-people. I had faith that there were stones in there, I just couldn't see them. As I searched for the stones, I thought I saw something move in the water. Uh-oh. Maybe there are water-people in here.
As I continued wading deeper and deeper into the water to try and find the stones that I knew were there, I started to enjoy the warm, swirling water around me. Maybe I don't need to cross the river. Ah, it would be so nice to be in this water all of the time. I could just drift with the current, instead of having to fight it.
Then I saw her. A glowing lady, shining blue radiance in all directions, swam up to me. "Are you one of them?" I asked. She nodded, and beckoned me to follow her. "No, I don't think so. I need to find the stepping stones to get across." She looked quizzically at me, and I could tell she didn't believe the stepping stones were there. I went on to explain, "Well, you see, I need to get to the other side of the river, but don't want to drown. So, I know there are stepping stones to help me get across safely. I just have to find them."
At this point, the water-woman started to look angry. Then I heard her inside my head, "Joel, there are NO stepping stones. The water is warm, and if you follow me, I shall take you to a far better place than the other side of the river. Come, Joel, and feel the power of the water."
"NO!" I shouted, and started to dash through the water. I could feel the stones beneath my feet, but as the water-woman's cold hand grasped my ankle, I slipped. As soon as I fell off the stone, more of the water-people appeared and started to grab at me. As I struggled to rid myself of their grasp, I tried to climb back up on a stepping stone.
Upon making it back onto the stepping stone, I started to jump from stone to stone. Careful not to stumble, I kept going even as the water-people chased me. Once I made it to the other side, I stood gasping, and I realized that if I hadn't believed the stones were there, I never would have made it across. The water-people were there because they tried to cross the river without the help of the stepping stones. After living in the water for so long, they refused to acknowledge that there were stepping stones. It was by faith that the stones were there that I made it, and the lack of faith that the stones were there that the water-people didn't.
(If you can't figure out how this would apply to biology class - think evolution - then ask.)
As I slowly placed my foot into the river, I felt the warmth of the water flow in between my toes. This isn't so bad, I thought. True, you couldn't see through the water because it was so murky, but maybe there weren't water-people in the river. Just to make sure, I stood with one foot in the water to make sure that the water-people that some people said were in there wouldn't come and drag me under.
Once I gained more confidence, I tried to figure out exactly where the stones were. The same people who said there were water-people in the river said that there were stones underwater that you could stand on to be safe from the water-people. I had faith that there were stones in there, I just couldn't see them. As I searched for the stones, I thought I saw something move in the water. Uh-oh. Maybe there are water-people in here.
As I continued wading deeper and deeper into the water to try and find the stones that I knew were there, I started to enjoy the warm, swirling water around me. Maybe I don't need to cross the river. Ah, it would be so nice to be in this water all of the time. I could just drift with the current, instead of having to fight it.
Then I saw her. A glowing lady, shining blue radiance in all directions, swam up to me. "Are you one of them?" I asked. She nodded, and beckoned me to follow her. "No, I don't think so. I need to find the stepping stones to get across." She looked quizzically at me, and I could tell she didn't believe the stepping stones were there. I went on to explain, "Well, you see, I need to get to the other side of the river, but don't want to drown. So, I know there are stepping stones to help me get across safely. I just have to find them."
At this point, the water-woman started to look angry. Then I heard her inside my head, "Joel, there are NO stepping stones. The water is warm, and if you follow me, I shall take you to a far better place than the other side of the river. Come, Joel, and feel the power of the water."
"NO!" I shouted, and started to dash through the water. I could feel the stones beneath my feet, but as the water-woman's cold hand grasped my ankle, I slipped. As soon as I fell off the stone, more of the water-people appeared and started to grab at me. As I struggled to rid myself of their grasp, I tried to climb back up on a stepping stone.
Upon making it back onto the stepping stone, I started to jump from stone to stone. Careful not to stumble, I kept going even as the water-people chased me. Once I made it to the other side, I stood gasping, and I realized that if I hadn't believed the stones were there, I never would have made it across. The water-people were there because they tried to cross the river without the help of the stepping stones. After living in the water for so long, they refused to acknowledge that there were stepping stones. It was by faith that the stones were there that I made it, and the lack of faith that the stones were there that the water-people didn't.
(If you can't figure out how this would apply to biology class - think evolution - then ask.)
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