Long Time No See
WOW! This weekend's been a long one already and it's only going to get longer. I just got back today from a Missions Retreat at Camp Allendale. I'm going to Piedras Negras, Mexico this summer with CRYM, aka. Chapel Rock Youth Missions. It was good. The theme was "A Storm Is Coming". We focused on Colossians 1:15-23:
The Supremacy of Christ
"15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. 21Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of[f] your evil behavior. 22But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation- 23if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant."
During the weekend, we were split up into small groups to discuss the things that we were talking about, and it was crazy amazing. I had a guy in my small group that has been coming to CRCC for quite a while, but is really struggling and pretty much flat out said that we can earn our way to heaven by being a good person. Whoa!! Hold the phone! After he said that I went into ultra-Romans mode. I looked up Romans 3: 9-18, talking about how no one, not even one, is righteous. I was able to verbalize my reasons fro why that was horribly wrong theology well, which made me very happy. Anyways, it was a real confirmation that the things that I have been studying in Romans is really sinking in, and I was proud that everything I said I was able to back up with scripture, none of that, "Well this is completely my opinion, but I think it's in the Bible somewhere."
En otras noticias, I got to see my dad's cousin (I have no idea what I would be to him) who has been in the millitary for the past 4 or 5 years and been stationed in places such as South Korea, Georgia (the country, not the state), Iraq, ect. We had a birthday celebration at MCL for my great-grandpa who is 88. He's been on a 3 week leave and got to come, but it was kind of cool and weird all at the same time, because even when we were growing up, I only saw him about once a year at Christmas, and since he's been in the millitary, I haven't seen him in about 3 years. So, like I said, it was cool and weird all at the same time. Even from spending just an afternoon with him, it was evident that war changes a man. When we all arrived he came up to EVERY SINGLE ONE of us gave us a big hug. Now some of you may be thinking, what's so weird about that?? Well, let's just say our family is not a hugging family, and it was especially for a 23 year old guyto be doing the hugging. Anyways, it was cool.
So, I'm going to Anderson University tomorrow for a college visit with my friend Amanda. So I'll be gone all day tomorrow. And then I get to come back in time to be a part of a special suprise. I would say more, but then I'd have to kill you. Sorry!
Welp, I think that's all. Have a wonderful President's Day Weekend!
raya
p.s. Over the weekend I got to see the new NOOMA video with Rob Bell. It was entitled "Matthew" and was about suffering. It was amazing and powerful as usual and caused quite a few teary eyes throughout the group.
The Supremacy of Christ
"15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. 21Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of[f] your evil behavior. 22But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation- 23if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant."
During the weekend, we were split up into small groups to discuss the things that we were talking about, and it was crazy amazing. I had a guy in my small group that has been coming to CRCC for quite a while, but is really struggling and pretty much flat out said that we can earn our way to heaven by being a good person. Whoa!! Hold the phone! After he said that I went into ultra-Romans mode. I looked up Romans 3: 9-18, talking about how no one, not even one, is righteous. I was able to verbalize my reasons fro why that was horribly wrong theology well, which made me very happy. Anyways, it was a real confirmation that the things that I have been studying in Romans is really sinking in, and I was proud that everything I said I was able to back up with scripture, none of that, "Well this is completely my opinion, but I think it's in the Bible somewhere."
En otras noticias, I got to see my dad's cousin (I have no idea what I would be to him) who has been in the millitary for the past 4 or 5 years and been stationed in places such as South Korea, Georgia (the country, not the state), Iraq, ect. We had a birthday celebration at MCL for my great-grandpa who is 88. He's been on a 3 week leave and got to come, but it was kind of cool and weird all at the same time, because even when we were growing up, I only saw him about once a year at Christmas, and since he's been in the millitary, I haven't seen him in about 3 years. So, like I said, it was cool and weird all at the same time. Even from spending just an afternoon with him, it was evident that war changes a man. When we all arrived he came up to EVERY SINGLE ONE of us gave us a big hug. Now some of you may be thinking, what's so weird about that?? Well, let's just say our family is not a hugging family, and it was especially for a 23 year old guyto be doing the hugging. Anyways, it was cool.
So, I'm going to Anderson University tomorrow for a college visit with my friend Amanda. So I'll be gone all day tomorrow. And then I get to come back in time to be a part of a special suprise. I would say more, but then I'd have to kill you. Sorry!
Welp, I think that's all. Have a wonderful President's Day Weekend!
raya
p.s. Over the weekend I got to see the new NOOMA video with Rob Bell. It was entitled "Matthew" and was about suffering. It was amazing and powerful as usual and caused quite a few teary eyes throughout the group.