so most people are looking at this as an ending but perhaps it's just a beginning....

well here we are.
the beginning of another school year, and as a few of us couldn't sleep last night from excitement, most of us dreaded the sun rising this morning. but perhaps our outlook is slightly jaded, we look at this as a requirement opposed to an opportunity.

to make a difference this year
to be the difference.

and even as the days go by i know we will convince ourselves that this will be the year

we will study more instead of cramming
we will be more organized
we will reach out to others
we will stop hanging with the wrong crowd
we will read our bible everyday
we will turn in everything on time
we will smile at that weird kid in the hall
we will go to church every week

we will stop that.

we will start this.


and the list continues on and on.

but really we try to change these specific aspects of our life without dealing with the main problem, its like putting a band aid on a paper cut when our leg has been torn off. its just a flesh wound. maybe we've missed the point. the underlying cause.

because we cant be expected to be this super christian (which really is an unobtainable goal), if we don't have a true relationship with Christ. and while many of us have memories of accepting Him as a small child, the relationship is frayed and on life support. and really he just desires to be with us.

He already knows us, but He'd love for us to truly know Him, His h e a r t. and then when we know His h e a r t, and his will for our life, the rest seems to fall into place.


and this week my prayer for us is that we dig deeper, and go to the root of our inconsistencies, our struggles, our hurts, our tendencies not to trust.

this weeks verses are:

1 Peter 3:15:
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

Romans 3:23:
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

to me 1 peter 3:15 represents the call we have to reach out to nonbelievers, and not just to show them kindness, although i do not want to diminish the importance of that, but also to actually share the gospel with them. which is something that i know scares me, and i realize this fear many of us have is fear of rejection. and while i don't know the absolute best way to share the gospel with someone, i know that actually knowing what you are talking about would be a plus. i think much of our generation has lost touch with the immensity of the value of knowing the Word. really knowing it. which involves really reading it. more than just a verse a day.
christians are often labeled as hypocritical. and well we should be. we preach about the lost, and how they need to be saved, but do we actually know and understand the material we are preaching. perhaps we know the principals, but is that really enough.
should it be enough?