Wednesday! :)

Woo hoooo! We're already half-way through the week! :)

I'm very slowly catching up on the BRP (I'm half-way through the April readings now). But I don't want to rush it. I mean, I could just read straight through for an hour and probably get a lot further but I'm trying to stop and reflect on/journal through what I read, so it's taking a while. My goal is to catch up by the end of June, though!

Earlier this week I was reading through 1 Timothy and the words of 1:5-7 really humbled me: "But the alm of such instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith. Some people have deviated from these and turned to meaningless talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they are making assertions."

I think that personally sometimes I'm too quick to rely on my own pride and I feel that I could do a lot more in the church (leadership-wise) because I had similar roles in my home church, but then it's verses like these that really humble me and remind me that even though I had those roles, it doesn't mean I was ready for them. Especially what struck me about this passage is the last part "without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they are making assertions." Realistically, I know a lot about God, but I confess that other than occasional revelations I don't always believe as much about God and have definitely not fully internalized the gospel. If I had, I would have such a greater intimacy with God and would much more readily share my faith! These are both things I really want to grow in this summer and coming year, taking time to wrestle through areas of the gospel and truths of God that I haven't internalized and figure out why...

"Train yourself in godliness, for while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." --1 Timothy 4:7b-8

Also, my LCG and I got on the topic of whether other religious beliefs are wrong, whether everyone has a place in heaven, etc. last night. And as most of you know the concept of God's justice (at least how it's taught at Harvest via the gospel explosion outline) is something that I really struggle with. Because of the way I was raised and even how I've wrestled out God to be, I struggle with the idea that God would send someone to Hell who never had the chance to know Jesus Christ. As well, I find it hard to support what I see as an elitist view that Christians have the whole truth and that other religions don't have truth to offer as well/see aspects of God that we're too blind to see. But what my LCG said gave me pause for thought. She asked me (paraphrased a bit), "Do you think that you put your justice, or your view of justice, over God's justice? And by that view, because it was God's justice that necessitated Jesus' death on the cross, why do you think Christ had to die?" I know where I stand on the question to a certain extent...but I'm still thinking it through. I thought I would offer it up to you guys as well!

Quick update: Our life group did Iron Chef this past Friday! My roommate Julie came out and it was a lot of fun. Also, Julie and I won as the citizens in Mafia...don't know that I've ever played when the Mafia hasn't won. haha. Then...our LG girls had a sleepover Sunday night and went shopping in Birch Run Monday. Awesome sales but I think I still bought a little too much. hehe.

My dad's coming through Ann Arbor Sunday afternoon to eat lunch with me. I think my youngest half-sister and my dad's fiancee might be there too...PLEASE lift up that time in prayer! Thanks guys. :)