The Challenge

Everyday I come to my apartment complex and play a few games of 9-Ball by myself. I have a good time - and I get some good practice. The greatest reward is that you win every time. This is what the following post is about.

When we play games with ourselves - or when we study by ourselves we don't get the full benefit. Regardless if we're studying God's word, a class, or anything else. The only way we will challenge ourselves and learn anything is if we take the chance and ask others to help us. No matter what we're doing, we must have someone to challenge what we are saying. That's part of what this blog is - a way to reach a mass of people and have them challenge what I'm saying; a way for them to ask me questions so that we can all understand what God is trying to tell us. I encourage everyone to have some form of expression that can be shared with people so that others can look at it and challenge what they are saying and ask questions about it.

Even God challenged the beliefs of His disciples - He did this to ensure that they knew what He was saying. He wanted to make sure that the leaders He was sending out knew exactly what He would do. While I'm not saying I'm in any way, shape, or form blessed with the exact same knowledge and wisdom that the disciples had - I do know that we must challenge each other the same way that we are accountable for each other; if for nothing else than to gain a better understanding of the Lord's text.

And not just the Lord's text, but his meaning. Let's face it - Jesus loved parables, and even though He told us the meaning - we still must understand and relate that to what that means in our modern life. When you ask a friend if they are alright and they say, "Fine," yet look like something is clearly wrong, you don't just accept it do you? No, you pester them until you find a way to help them with the problem. I understand that this is a slightly backwards way of explaining this; but just as you pester that friend, you must pester the Lord's word until you figure out the meaning and interpretation to apply that to your life. And to do this properly you must have someone with whom you can challenge and ask questions. When you come to a conclusion, you may not always be right - in fact, more times than not you'll probably find yourself wrong in some way. However, when you work with someone and have them challenge you, you find that you can interpret things in a much clearer way. And when they challenge you, you find that you are challenging yourself to summon answers from a deeper place than the shallow answers you come up with on your own.

This is why people have a tendency to talk with God - He can challenge you in ways you could only dream about. Pray that He can challenge you enough that you can come up with the answer to that question of Faith you've been struggling with. Pray that He can challenge you enough to want to share His word to numerous followers. Pray that He can challenge you enough to live for Him. He will challenge you. Welcome it - it's the only you'll grow in His image.

Time to Grow Up

I moved Monday. Into my new town. Into my new apartment. Into my new school. Into my new life. I realize that what I have done is something new for my family. I have risen out of the ashes of mediocrity and gone to college. I have strengthened my faith, my hope, and my life with God. I have truly learned (in the short time I've been here) that isolation doesn't bring closer to yourself - it brings you closer to the one's you missed.

I went to sleep on Monday night. On Tuesday, for the first time, I opened my eyes for the first full day of this journey. I was born into my world, without dying out of the old one (at least I hope not). Yet, even as I laid in bed looking at my new ceiling, in my new bed, I realized the newness of this life isn't matched with the struggles and triumphs of the old life. I have grown into something more than I could ever have expected to be. I have conquered that which has plagued my family. I am going to college. I am going to succeed. Now, don't misunderstand me. I do not say that I am not proud of my parents, for they gave me more than I could ever thank them for. Nor am I saying that they did not succeed. What I mean is I reached a milestone which, up until this point, has not been conquered by any person in my family. I know that I'm where I'm supposed to be because of how ecstatic I feel being here.

As I stood out on my balcony, outside my apartment, I understood that everything in my life has, so far, been building up to this one magical moment. This time when I can grow, and live on my own. I understand now, that what God wants in my life is just this. He wants me to succeed. In every venture. I guess that promise has never sank in until now. This promise of fulfillment. This hope for the future. I know that I can do it, because God is with me. God is guiding me. Satan is trying to pull me down. But my success is not measured in how many times I fail, but how many times I overcome the failure. It's not measured in how many dreams I make, but in how many dreams come true. My success is not dependent on any one thing, except my desire to get where I want to go.

I travel through this world with nothing more than hope and faith - but I realize now, that is all I need. For God is guiding me. I know, as I stare out above these trees, that God makes Kings from the smallest peasants. For a Kingdom is nothing more than the intentional success of one lonely man, who wants to make a difference. My kingdom will be for God. My desire will be for God. My new life, in my new school, in my new apartment, in my new town, will be for God. I have been resurrected into a new aspiration to please God - through what I learn at school, and life.

They say every ending is a new beginning. But what if every beginning is a new ending? What if we go along one journey until something new happens? You don't quit one job until you start working at another. Then why would you end one journey before another begins? I know this is a beginning of my new life. This is also the end of my old life. My life where I desired earthly things. Now, I will live for God. In everything I do. It pleases me to please him.

This is my Declaration of Christianity. This is my Declaration of Independence. This is my new life. I will live, grow, and walk with the Lord. Live for him.

As I go to bed each night, I will wake with the knowledge that whatever God has planned for me, I will succeed.

My new life is Independence. My new life is Prospect. My new life is Success.