James Macdonald Blog

I was reading James Macdonald's blog today and read a really cool letter he wrote to a daughter grieving her mother's death. Ironically, or perhaps Divinly, just yesterday I read Psalm 16, which talks about our great inheritance. Read both remember why we are really living and why we need not fear death.

James Macdonald Blog
Psalm 16

Memorizing

So this year I wanted to really start memorizing scripture. And I don't mean the memorizing that I remember for a day or week and then forget. No, I want to know these verses backwards and forewords. So far I only have one down:
Psalm 103:1-4
"Bless the Lord oh my soul. All that is within me bless the Lord. Bless the Lord oh my soul, and forget not His benefits. He who forgives all your iniquities, heals all your deceases, redeems your life from destruction, and crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies..."

Currently working on Jeremiah 9:23-24

"Make Jesus your day, not part of your week."

The above quote was a stroke of brilliance by my small group leader Tim Spencer. We are talking about going beyond what our perceptions of Christianity is. Most people think Christianity is a religion...ha, people who say that have no idea what Christianity. Christianity is not my religion, it is my life. Most people try to place their lives in different bubbles; my school bubble, my work bubble, my church bubble, etc. We, for some reason, think that if we are accepted and liked in all our bubbles, then hey, we got a good life. Unfortunately this just deceive our friends and most importantly ourselves. If all you are is a cool sud inside a bubble, then I'll tell you from experience that every one of those bubbles will pop, and you'll be left with nothing. Jesus Christ came to save us from this life of changing bubbles. Our life should not be a bunch of different bubbles, but a life of one solid leader, Jesus Christ. This is why people talk about finding Jesus and finding their identity. It is because we were created in God's image (Genesis 1:27) and because of this our soul rejoices when we strive to be like Christ. Jesus Christ is the only solid identity...an identity that won't change, won't fail, and won't fade...that a human can have.
Back to the quote, because Jesus should be our life, why don't we act like it? We think that enjoying Jesus once or twice a week will fulfill that obligation, but it won't. If you only talk to God at church, or only read the Bible at your small group; do you really love Jesus? Are you really giving your life to Christ? I was listening to James MacDonald recently and he said something very interesting, he said "If your faith doesn't change you, then it doesn't save you". In other words, if you don't put your faith into action, is it really faith (James 2:14-26)? I don't think so. Now, don't misunderstand, Jesus Christ is not about works; this isn't Mormonism. What I and James are saying is that if you don't do anything with your faith, then you don't have any faith.
So, now that you are all feeling scarred for you spiritual lives, what is the point of this? I simply want to challenge you to have faith, real faith in Jesus Christ. Live for Jesus, don't go to church or go to youth group for Jesus. Get up early to read your Bible, before you go to bed spend some time in earnest prayer, when you see a mountain filled with snow, thank God for creating it. Live for Him! "Make Jesus your day, not part of your week."

Quick Update

I am getting senioritus! I am so excited for this school year to be over and to be leaving home. It's super exciting to me that I have no real idea what my life will be like in 10 months. I received my Moody letter yesterday, but am waiting for my parents to get back on Friday to open it. If I get accepted there, then I have been accepted to all of the colleges that I want to attend; The Master's College, Biola University, and Moody Bible Institute (feel free to add a comment to give me your opinion on where i should go). Besides deciding on college i am enjoying life. Two weekends ago i went on a snowboarding trip to June lake, and it was super fun! I rode on my first box and went off my first jump. This Saturday I am going to Biola for a conference. Life is fun...

College Choices

So this weekend my college choices were switched around. Going into my weekend visit to Biola University my choices for college were clear cut; Moody Bible Institute first, then Biola, and then The Master's College a distant third. However, after spending the weekend hanging out in dorms, meeting new people, laughing at stuff that wasn't funny, and experiencing life on Biola's campus, Biola became the number one choice. The only problem left is how I can afford to pay the 35,000 dollars a year tuition fee. I will have to pray for awesome student aid and some help from God to get me enough money for me to attend. If I go there I will major in Biblical Studies.

Go Kings!!!!

Today I am celebrating the first victory of my Sacramento Kings. Last night we defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 100-95. The score also looked much closer than the game actually was; a late surge from the Grizzlies helped the score look respectable. We are still a disastrous 1-4 but our rebuilding efforts have not been in vain. Martin scored 33 points and Hawes was a force in the paint, as well as making two threes. Though this year may not be our triumphant return to greatness, but that time is coming to the present very swiftly...

Election Results

Check out Proposition 8 passing and how close Proposition 4 came to passing.