Reading:

Marcus Aurelius Meditations

John Eldredge Fathered by God

Julius Caesar Gallic Wars

I suppose that I ought to write here as it's been quite a while since I have. Primarily, my purpose is to muse on a bit of my thoughts over my holiday break from school, but also to put myself to some good use. I once heard it said that idle hands are the devil's tools. Surely, that may be the case for me in that honestly, I was ready for this break to soften me from the frustration/agonizing that I endured last semester.

Jokingly, I've blamed my dear friend Sam Kruvand for praying for God to work in his life which must surely have meant that I was implicated by my association with him. As arrogant as it may sound to "blame" someone for the fact that God worked in my life over the past few months, I think it almost human to buck the sensation of being drug through life without assenting to it. In one sense you have to laugh at this picture I've painted of myself (and to be sure, Sam and I have). Truly, I was angry at God at some point last semester, and yet in the most integral points during it, I surely felt that God was the only one capable of bearing me up through it all. Ah, what a satisfaction it is to say that I made it through all the academic/relational/emotional/spiritual struggles I have endured recently.

It seems to me such a marveling fancy that we as humans don't want to be challenged. I mean, seriously? Why not? I would say that the most highly recognized of any of us are those that have stuck it out through the life that has brought the most hardship. Many Christians talk of cliches such as "jewels in your crown" and yet I wouldn't be as confident of challenging myself and others around me was I not so confident that I'm fighting for something real. It disheartens me when I hear a non-believer voice his/her opinions against God (not my religion, my savior) for it speaks to me that this individual must have gone through so much without such a comfort afforded a son/daughter of God. However, as this pains me to hear or learn of, so much more so does it make me feel horrible when I'm close to a fellow brother or sister that doesn't endure such a closeness to God as I've seen in me and other dear friends.

For, in my opinion, a closeness to God not only bears the hope of a savior who deems us worthy of unending love but also the kind of life that brings us to a Christ-like humanity. It has been a great encouragement to spend time with my friend Gregg Webb as his faith is bent on a much greater sense of becoming more like Christ. Being Orthodox means that literally and figuratively, many traditions and views on salvation center on becoming more like Christ. So often, I have felt that my preconceptions as an Evangelical (especially in America) mean that much of my faith focuses on all that affords me attributing myself to the Christian religion, not Christ himself.

If we are to be effective leaders in this world, Christians must be committed to striving after a Biblical-Christian model of living that is evident in every avenue of observation. This is not merely calling out to the pastors, the elders, deacons, missonaries, Christian counselors, and Bible study leaders; this represents a declaration to every Christian that takes up social space in their community. No matter where we go, we ought be salt and light. Salt to preserve this world for when Christ comes to redeem it and light to shine where God's word has never been spoken.