Verse of the day Romans 15: 13

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope"

Context: Paul is once again stating the inclusion of the gentiles in salvation, quoting from several passages of scripture including Isaiah 11:10 "The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the gentiles; in him the Gentiles hope." The hope then that Paul states in verse 13 is a hope for all who believe, not just for the Jews. After laying on such an extensive passage of what it means to follow Christ, this verse serves as an encouragement of how this is possible

Why this passage: I liked this verse because of how easy is is to break down, but how powerful and convicting it is.
May the God of hope - our God is not one who, as many people have thought, created the universe and then backed away to let us figure it out. He is always present as Paul characterizes Him as one who's nature is Hope. It is quite impossible to fully explain or understand God, but the idea that He is "of hope" is amazing. Hope, not in the sense like I hope the Leafs will win the stanley cup, but hope as in Jesus Christ died for me and saved me from the sin that lived within me. It is an absolute assurance and God is full of it. Amazing thing...He wants to fill us
"fill you with all joy and peace in believing" - for the race set before us in Christ, God has chosen to fill us so that we may be able to stand. When asked about my life in Christ it's pretty hard not to look at my situation and see blessings, but I am convicted, and rightly so, that this is not how I should esteem my relationship with Christ. If I were in a third world country with no possessions and no food would I still be loving God and loving to others. This verse reminds me that I am filled with joy and peace because of my belief in Christ regardless of whatever situation I am in, whether well fed or hungry.
"so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope" - this is where the conviction really kicks in. It is necessary to understand and believe that the joy and peace will only come by the power of the Holy Spirit and not by human means. We can not get this joy or peace by wealth or friends or good deeds, it is only coming from a belief in the God of Hope THROUGH the power of the Holy Spirit. What is so powerful about this verse I believe is that it ends with an abounding hope. Similar to the start of verse one where God is stated as being hope Himself, we, as followers of Him are going to be completely filled, overflowing, etc with the assured hope of what God has promised: The joy and peace of believing in Jesus Christ

Verse of the day - Romans 15: 7

"Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God"

Context: Paul is speaking to the Romans about the obligation for the stronger brother to help the weaker brother as Christ did not care for himself but for others.

Important point: 15:5 is a prayer from Paul that God would grant harmony. It is important to see that the unity of believers that is so often addressed in scripture is not one that is self made. God is the one who brings unity and without faith in Him there will be none.

Why this verse: So what is so important about this verse.
Well to start of it is a command. Suggestions are not really a part of scripture and so every time a command is given, a follower of Jesus needs to examine it and see how it applies to there own life. Am I welcoming to those around me? Other translations have accept or receive so the real question is am I loving everyone?
Secondly, Christ is the example. "As Christ has welcomed you". We are not commanded to welcome/receive/accept/love one another because it makes us feel good, we are to do these things because Christ has first shown this to us. The strength that Paul addresses in 15:1 is not one of human strength in superiority but one of God at work in the believers life because "Christ has welcomed you"
Finally, the purpose of it all is to glorify God. God has created all things to bring Him glory and the pinnacle of this is the life death, resurrection and saving power of Jesus Christ. No matter what we do God will always be glorified, and as this verse commands that we welcome one another, we must do so with the example of Christ in mind and for the ultimate purpose of glorifying God as "they may see your good works and glorify your Father, who is in Heaven"

Learning

Sometimes in university I'm in a class and I already know what the prof is talking about. I think to myself "how lame is this that I have to sit through another lecture on something I learned last year". I get distracted counting ceiling tiles or something like that and I barely hear the prof say something that I'm totally unprepared for and I suddenly realize there is a whole lot more to the topic then what I had previously learned. Now instead of being completely on top of the subject, I need to spend extra time understanding how all the new concepts fit in. If I had of just paid attention from the start everything would have made sense and I could move onto to writing this blog earlier.
This aspect of thinking I know something can often carry into my life with God and reading His word. I find myself reading a passage of scripture that I memorized in 5th grade and it having no impact on me as my mind is somewhere else. My approach to scripture becomes similar to that of my biochemistry class: I know the basics already so all the little details should just be easy to pick up along the way.
It doesn't take long however before I realize how completely lost I am in trying to understand what God is teaching me. Clearly if I think I have it all together and know everything there is to know, then I won't be putting a whole lot of effort into "going to class" to see what God has for me today. This leads to a putting aside of God's word for other things which have no benefit whatsoever. If I am going to be changed by the knowledge in God's word I need to be focused in my reading and realizing how very little I know of God
The solution for my classes is one of intentionality. I need to focus on what the prof is saying and make notes on the concepts he is teaching, even if I already know some of it. This way I won't miss any of the new ideas and I'll have complete notes to come back to.
With God's word it is the same. I need to intentionally read his word, study it, regardless of how I feel, in a structured way and not random bits here and there. At university my schedule of activities is based off of my schedule of my classes because I can't miss any of them. My schedule can not be determined from what I want to do or specific plans but it should be determined by the times I have set to read God's word.

Bigger

Go back to the days of you childhood, for some of us it seems like yesterday
Do you remember those really lame arguments? "I'm better", "I'm stronger" , "I'm faster"
We could always find something bigger and better about ourselves and make sure everyone knew about it.
As we grow we forget about the pointless arguments but continue in our belief that we are better
But most often we find ourselves in a situation where supposed superiority fails and we break down to where can't handle things anymore
We become so enthralled with ourselves and the 'good' things about us that we put God on the shelf and move on.
I believe that one simple line, when applied, could break apart our pride, but also allow our fear of helpless times to be taken away. Simply
"God is bigger"
First off God is bigger than us. We need to dispense with the notion that there is anything particularly special or great about us. God is 'stronger, faster, better, bigger, smarter' and everything else more than us.
But more than God is bigger than me or you, He is bigger than our circumstances and fears
I'm often reminded of the Veggie Tales sing along "God is bigger than the boogie man, He's bigger than godzilla, or the monsters on TV...and He's watching out for you and me.
Such a simple song and as a kid I remember believing that God had all the monsters taken care of (which I for sure thought were real).
Today though, we find it much harder to have faith for the littlest things not to mention the big ones. I mean if our faith in God when we were children could take care of the fear of ravenous monsters, what has happened for us to believe that God will provide for us with all of our needs.
We need to get back to the GOD IS BIGGER mentality before we can try and put our faith in Him. If we don't believe that God is bigger that how will we have faith that He can get us through our tough times,
God is bigger. He's bigger than my exams, my relationships, my finances, my future, my (insert entire vocabulary here)

Why I hate snow

Long story short

1) Decided to go see a movie (mistake)
2) Stuck in parking lot (5-10 minutes)
3)Out of parking lot and off to the movie (15 minute drive)
4) Park on opposite side of the parking lot of the movie theater (mistake)
5)See movie Be Kind Rewind with Jack black
6) Finish movie and walk AROUND the theater to get to the car (mistake)
7)Back to school parking lot, decide to drive to back of parking lot (mistake)
8) Stuck at the back of the parking lot, 4 guys help push car out (10 minutes)
9) Middle of the parking lot stuck again, same guys come and push me out (10 minutes)
10) Decide to turn into parking space (biggest mistake), car no longer works in reverse
11) 4 guys come back AGAIN, help push car into new space (20 minutes)
Now is the part you ask why? Well if you know me than you know that if I decide to do something, than you can pretty much guarantee that I'll follow through with it
tonight was a night that I should've called it quits before I started
The snow won tonight
But the sun is on my side

Part 2

With so many blogs out there with discontinued part ones and half-hearted part two's i think it's time for a solid part 2 blog
part 1's always get the most attention, the most comments, and clearly has the most effort put into it
with part two's dragging behind in their follow ups and they're "coming soon" is never soon enough
i mean common if you've got enough in your head to write "part 1" in the title then you shouldn't be skimping on the part two, you should save your best so the readers come back and are amazed its even better than the stuff you wrote the first time around
part 2 needs more respect, it's been humiliated enough and it's time for a comeback
so here's what you can do
if you don't have a blog
get one
and borrow this one start you off
if you do have a blog
make your part 2's even sweeter from now on and make your part one's a little more sucky
just to make the part 2's feel better about themselves after being mistreated so much in the past
let part two come in first for once

Dr. Amazing

I sat down at my computer, opened up a sweet Dr. Pepper
and checked out my facebook
And I found out something horrible
there is actually a facebook group called "i hate dr. pepper"
now i didn't go searching for such groups i just so happened to see it on the news feed as i was taking a sip of my delicous dr.p as some like to call it (i don't really)
i think this is very offensive
and impossible for me to understand
i mean what is there not to love
23 flavors in one sweet can of delicious carbonated soda
it's refreshing
it goes with pretty much any food (currently pizza)
david crowder (who i am currently listening to... coincidence?) actually owns the house that Dr. Pepper owned
that right there pretty much says it all
i think it should be called Dr. Amazing for all of it's amazing attributes,
so from now on i drink Dr. Amazing

In the not too distant

We all seem to have plans
Plans to buy things, plans to watch movies, plans to make the best friends, plans to read your Bible everyday, plans to go to university and become a doctor, plans to marry that girl who you've always known but never actually talked to, plans to get rich by working hard at whatever you do, plans to go to Africa and preach Christ, plans to work at summer camp and end up set for life with a groups of friends to boot, plans room with your best friend and have the best time of your life doing it, plans to go on a road trip with all the guys and let nothing stop you, plans to grow old and just be happy, plans live in Australia and see the kangaroos, plans to backpack through Europe for three weeks and forget everything you left at home, plans to be a pro hockey player and play for the leafs, plans to get up every morning before God and give the day to Him, plans to get in shape, plans meet for coffee, plans to just chill, and plans to give up

How often do our plans seem to fail but life continues
How often do they succeed and life seems to fail
The day is the Lord's

We live to glorify Him
He is always glorified

Make plans
but make them for the purpose
of glorifying God

by
enjoying His creation
worshiping His name
sharing His word
working for His Kingdom
walking with His Son

without God life is meaningless
so don't plan life without meaning

The Double Repeat Rule

you say something to someone
they don't hear you and say what? or pardon? or could you repeat that?
you say it again, clearer this time, with more volume
still they don't hear you, and of course feels impolite not to ask to repeat yourself a second time
the situation has gone from comfortable to incredibly embarrassing in no time at all
you question yourself. "do i have a studder", "am i not speaking english",
your only response is to say forget it
you have to, because what if they still don't hear you
A triple repeat may be the most embarrassing thing anyone has ever been subject to
Have you ever met someone who's gone for the triple. life is just never the same
it really doesn't matter the importance of the statement
who it is to, or where you are at this speaking duel
you could be telling someone that you're dying, or your leaving the country that day
if they don't hear you the first two times then they've don't even deserve to know what you said
unless they're half deaf or all deaf and they're trying to read your lips, cause not repeating your self to them is just wrong

What Song Are You

So it has come to my attention recently that most everyone I know reminds me of some song that I've heard so point in time in my life.
Now it would certainly take awhile to write a complete list of all of the songs that come to mind and who represents each one so I'll just put a few here. Just try and figure out which one you are and if you think yours isn't there then pick one that isn't on the list.
Its in alphabetical order by artist so don't feel to great if yours is first
Move Along - All American Rejects
God is Exalted - Carmen
Yellow - Coldplay
Fix You - Coldplay
Coffee -Copeland
Stars - David Crowder
December -Everman
Over My Head - The Fray
Chariot - Gavin Degraw
Ooh Ahh - Grits
Mighty to Save - Hillsong
Collide - Howie Day
Good People - Jack Johnson
Liquid - Jars of Clay
Sweetly Broken - Jeremy Riddle
Bold As Love - John Mayer
Everything - Lifehouse
Crazy 8's - Mae
Will You Be There (Free Willy Soundtrack) - Micheal Jackson
Misery - The Moffats
Standing On The Rock - NewWorldSon
Here It Goes Again - OK Go
Life is a Highway - Rascal Flatts
Snow (Hey Oh) - Red Hot Chili Peppers
I'm Not Alright - Sanctus Real
Sean Dayton - Surrond Me
We're Almost There - Seven Places
All I Need - Shawn McDonald
Tumbling After - Starfield
Eye of the Tiger - Survivor
Gone - Switchfoot
Move - Thousand Foot Krutch
Beautiful Day - U2
Switch - Will Smith
Life of a Salesman - Yellowcard

so i'm sure i didnt get the one you were thinking of as soon as you started the list or you think
i'm really messed up and should have a song for everyone lol
well i'm obviously bored and this is what i thought of to do
s

Middle Name Mayhem

If you could have any middle name in the world what would it be?
Now you may be thinking, where does a question like that come from?
Well I was recently involved in a conversation involving the best birthday present a kid could ever get
Now imagine this:
when your son, or perhaps daughter, is born you have the choice of giving them any middle name in the world. Thomas, John, Andrew, just don't cut it anymore in terms of great middle names, you need to be adventurous. So why not have some amazing fun with it and, as an added bonus, take care of there birthday present for when they turn 10.
Give them a middle name like "The Destroyer"
Can't you see it. Timothy Fredrick Johnson, now it TIM "THE DESTROYER" JOHNSON.
All you have to do is wait till there 10th birthday to tell them and then give them there birth certificate as their present.
Really what kid in the world wouldn't want that to be their name.
You could add any variation you like. Some that I've thought of are:
Bradley Smith to Brad "The Rad" Smith
Lance King to Lance "The Romance" King
David Thomas to Dave "The Wendy's Guy" Thomas
These are just a few of the amazing idea's for kids names
think about
s