Two Steeples

Here are two points that I have heard recently about the body of Christ, His church. I've really enjoyed them.


1. The church is not designed for isolation but for fellowship and accountability.

And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone..." Genesis 2:18a

ALTHOUGH our personal relationship with God should give us far more fulfillment than any other relationship. (Luke 14:26)


2. If the church is His body, even His appendix is vital.

From Pastor Francis Chan's book The Forgotten God:

"If you say you are called to be in the place you are, then a few questions need to be considered. For example, how would you be missed if you left this place? What would change? Basically, what difference does your presence here make? Or, as my youth pastor once asked me, what would your church (and the worldwide church) look like if everyone was as committed as you are? If everyone gave and served and prayed exactly like you, would the church be healthy and empowered? Or would it be weak and listless?
...My purpose in these questions is to get you to take 1 Corinthians 12 seriously, to believe that you have been given a manifestation of the Spirit and that your church, the worldwide body of Christ, and the world are crippled without your involvement. I write this beccause I love the church and want you to trust that you are more than just a helpful addition. You need to believe that you are a vital member. (I added the bold)
... It is true that God may have called you to be exactly where you are. But it's absolutely vital to grasp that He didn't call you there so you could settle in and live out your life in comfort and superficial peace. His purposes are not random or arbitrary. If you are still alive on the planet, it is because He has something for you to do... (Eph 2:8-10). Do you believe that you exist not for your own pleasure but to help people know the love of Jesus and to come fully alive in Him? If so, then that will shape how you live your life in the place where you are."

ALTHOUGH, we should not be prideful in our service but minister unto God with the heart of a servant. (Matthew 6:1-4, among many others)

The Chocolate Ugly Cake

Jillian Meacham visited campus this past weekend
To surprise our organic chemistry friend.
With the chocolate chips she held in her hand,
We could follow Carly's kitchen command.

Strawberries crackling in the frying pan
Signified that creativity (and salivation) had began.
Stacking cake upon filling and filling upon brownie,
At Agape that night, none would be frowning.

Walking to the chapel in seventy-two degree heat,
We four bakers met an unforseen feat:
Globs of chocolate ran down from our creation,
The cake layer shifting from its initial location.

Happy 21st birthday to you, David Wit!
Sorry your cake was only semi-legit.

Me So Confused.

I had Miso Soup for the first time yesterday! Miso paste, seaweed, baby shrimp... it was great! Except I was a bit confounded about the conflicting claims on the soup's history. My room mate introduced it to me as a Japanese dish. Later in the day, antoher friend contended that Miso Soup has its origins in Korea and that the Japanese have consistently been encroaching on Korean trademarks and claiming them as their own (case in point: Dokdo-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dokto. However, since Wikipedia (which is a dot org!) says that Miso is a Japanese dish, I will side with Japan this time.

Your first few bites.

How strange it is to post my thoughts online! I could avoid it for the most part with Facebook, but that aversion would defeat the purpose of a blog.

I woke up at six thirty this morning from a nightmare. I was too afraid to close my eyes again, so I flipped on the television.

I turned to TBN, Trinity Broadcasting Network. They air Joel Osteen, women pastors, and other individuals who preach the health and wealth gospel (see Galatians 1:6-12 for a contrary gospel, the gospel of grace). Don't ask me why I like listening to these people; I myself cannot be sure of that very thing. I always take TBN with a grain (or a canister) of salt, and often try to exercise my discernment of biblical truth from those words spoken to win the approval of men (Galatians 1:10).

Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? Matthew 6:27

The pastor on television was claiming that God wants to give us good health and that He wants to dress us more richly than King Solomon, which I find to be an extortion the scripture of Matthew 6:25-34. However, the truth that God cares for my anxieties (Matthew 6:27 & 1 Peter 5:7) made me feel better about my recurring nightmare. Isn't He my fortress and my shield? Do I have to worry about any threat in this life, whether of my conscious or subconscious?

Stature as used in this verse of Matthew 6 refers to life-span or age (according to TBN and confirmed by Strong). I have eternal life! There is no end to my days! And I can spend every single day from here on out with my God!! What have I over which to worry?

I read this in my QT when I woke up for the second time today, at noon:

Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31

Thank you, Jesus!

This is going to be the second promise from God onto which I hold tightly. I've noticed that a lot of my friends remember the Lord's promises from scripture and the ways in which these promises pertain to their personal lives. I feel like there has only been one promise that I can remember especially pertaining to my life from before today. God spoke it to me the night that I first got saved:

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. 1 John 4:18

I am seeing a trend here: fears and worries. Maybe this is something to which I should pay more attention. 1 John continues to state:

But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 4:18

So here is to remembering God's promises and being sanctified in His love :)

Which of His promises have you held onto most firmly of late?