Monday, March 06, 2006
Fireworks
So Sparks in the Park got moved to Sunday night due to the weather. But it worked out wonderfully. I went to rock climb last night (which was way fun, by the way) and met some guys in the road walking to the gym (I were slightly lost). They were going climbing too and they ended up coming with us to Sparks. By "us" I mean Steph, Eva, and I. It was so fun! The symphony was awesome, they shot off cannons and the fireworks were so colorful and brilliant. A fun time was had by all.
I'm feeling better, just tired now. By the way, the day and time are off for my blog postings, as some people have been rather confused by. I think the blog keeps some sort of North American time, and obviously I'm not anywhere close. Oh, don't want to forget to mention my awesome friend Ashley Norris that got into Nursing School. If you see her, say something, that's incredible! I'm so proud! And if you don't know her, you should, she's awesome.
Today was back to beautiful weather. I had my first history tutorial (what UT would call a discussion group) today and met a lot of really cool people in my class. New Zealand's history is extremely interesting and frusterating at the same time because no one is exactly sure what happened and many accounts that contradict each other are accepted into their history books. With all of that said, history discussion is obviously interesting considering no one can really disprove another and you merely take your opinion and try to argue it as best you can, but you know all along that you will never truly be right or wrong. I'm just thankful that the Americans weren't in that time period because it would just add to the chaos and mixed feelings. I think I've learned more about our government being here than I ever knew in the states. I feel actually quite educated and able to slightly defend America's case against a lot of countries brutal news stations portrayal of us, especially republicans and Bush.
Church was good yesterday. Not my church home, but a great little place for the nurturing of believers. He, a guest pastor, spoke on the things we often try to make God out to be. I think that's awesome. Do we realize how much we do that? Try to make God out to be this teddy bear, I'll do anything for you to love me, or the dictator on the throne that makes us lead a hard, hard life with no breaks. It reminded me of Jeremiah 30 where God comes to Israel "as would an enemy and punished [them] as would the cruel" (vs14) but then promises restoration in verse 17. But what I think is interesting is that it's not at all because they deserve it or were owed it- He does simply because He is God and He is merciful. That's so us right there. I had a Christian group meeting today (it doesn't deserve the title of 'Bible study') where we were taught how to share the gospel with other people. It pained me to sit there. Over and over I heard the words, "Because God loves us." You have to see this love from Jeremiah or the love from David's affliction or the love from 10 of the disciples being allowed to be martyrs for the Glory or the other infinite accounts of the true love of God. How can we possibly fear God if we don't see this whole picture? The number of "new believers" that resort back to their old lives is stagering and disheartening. And why do they turn back? The question that must be raised is what god are we teaching about, what god are we going into the world to make disciples of- the god that can fit your every need and will do anything you ask or the God that sent plagues on Egypt and destroyed all life remaining on earth with a great flood? My point is that it's easy to see our version of love in gifts and 'blessings' we receive, but can we also see true love in everthing that God does? Do we believe part of the word of God or the whole thing? Does belief in our god crumble when bad times happen- maybe we're following the wrong god..?
I'm feeling better, just tired now. By the way, the day and time are off for my blog postings, as some people have been rather confused by. I think the blog keeps some sort of North American time, and obviously I'm not anywhere close. Oh, don't want to forget to mention my awesome friend Ashley Norris that got into Nursing School. If you see her, say something, that's incredible! I'm so proud! And if you don't know her, you should, she's awesome.
Today was back to beautiful weather. I had my first history tutorial (what UT would call a discussion group) today and met a lot of really cool people in my class. New Zealand's history is extremely interesting and frusterating at the same time because no one is exactly sure what happened and many accounts that contradict each other are accepted into their history books. With all of that said, history discussion is obviously interesting considering no one can really disprove another and you merely take your opinion and try to argue it as best you can, but you know all along that you will never truly be right or wrong. I'm just thankful that the Americans weren't in that time period because it would just add to the chaos and mixed feelings. I think I've learned more about our government being here than I ever knew in the states. I feel actually quite educated and able to slightly defend America's case against a lot of countries brutal news stations portrayal of us, especially republicans and Bush.
Church was good yesterday. Not my church home, but a great little place for the nurturing of believers. He, a guest pastor, spoke on the things we often try to make God out to be. I think that's awesome. Do we realize how much we do that? Try to make God out to be this teddy bear, I'll do anything for you to love me, or the dictator on the throne that makes us lead a hard, hard life with no breaks. It reminded me of Jeremiah 30 where God comes to Israel "as would an enemy and punished [them] as would the cruel" (vs14) but then promises restoration in verse 17. But what I think is interesting is that it's not at all because they deserve it or were owed it- He does simply because He is God and He is merciful. That's so us right there. I had a Christian group meeting today (it doesn't deserve the title of 'Bible study') where we were taught how to share the gospel with other people. It pained me to sit there. Over and over I heard the words, "Because God loves us." You have to see this love from Jeremiah or the love from David's affliction or the love from 10 of the disciples being allowed to be martyrs for the Glory or the other infinite accounts of the true love of God. How can we possibly fear God if we don't see this whole picture? The number of "new believers" that resort back to their old lives is stagering and disheartening. And why do they turn back? The question that must be raised is what god are we teaching about, what god are we going into the world to make disciples of- the god that can fit your every need and will do anything you ask or the God that sent plagues on Egypt and destroyed all life remaining on earth with a great flood? My point is that it's easy to see our version of love in gifts and 'blessings' we receive, but can we also see true love in everthing that God does? Do we believe part of the word of God or the whole thing? Does belief in our god crumble when bad times happen- maybe we're following the wrong god..?
