Death and Life

Death and Life.
These are themes that weave through every minute of our lives.  They are controlling.  There is uncertainty and fear related to both subjects.
Ask anyone you like, no one really wants to die.
Death is the great unknown.  Life is all that is known.

Today, I found out about the death of a young friend of mine.  She was killed in a car accident.  She wasn't even 22!  It happened so fast, so unexpected.  Why did this happen?  
The news speaks almost constantly of death.  It happens everywhere!  Murders.  Suicides.  Car accidents.  Shootings.  Fires, the list goes on.  Death is inevitable and unpredictable.

Life
This is more than just breathing moment by moment and having cognitive brain function.  True life is eternal life!  As believers in Christ, we have the hope of an eternal life with God when we die if we have placed our faith in Jesus alone for salvation.  Death has no fear for us (aside from the fear of physical suffering and pain).  Death is not the end of our "lives", but the entrance into Life with God!  Though we hear of death everywhere around us, we need not fear that end.  We sorrow for those who lose loved ones, because physical loss is hard to bear.  We rejoice, however, to know that that child of God is in the presence of their heavenly Father.

As I have been traveling around the past month with the singing group Evidence from college, we have been singing the popular song "I will rise".  In thinking about these two themes, this song has come to my mind over again.

It starts out by saying, "There's a peace I've come to know, though my heart and flesh my fail."   This is the peace of the fruit of the Holy Spirit of God.  This peace is not found in our circumstances, but only found in the joyful contentment of resting and trusting in God.  "There's an anchor for my soul.  I can say, 'It is well.'"  As a result of God's peace, we can say 'It is well' in the midst of frustrating and difficult times.  But what is our anchor?  "JESUS has overcome, and the grave is overwhelmed.  The victory is won.  He is risen from the dead!"  He is our peace.  He is our anchor.  He is the promise of eternal life.

Therefore, I don't have to fear death.  For when He calls me home, "I will rise, when He calls my name, no more sorrow, no more pain.  I will rise on eagle's wings.  Before my God, fall on my knees and rise."   In the presence of our Great, Almighty, Omnipotent God, we will join the host of heaven singing, worshiping and praising God.  "And I hear the voice of many angels sing, 'Worthy is the Lamb'.  And I hear the cry of every longing heart, 'Worthy is the Lamb'"  

"Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads or myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, 'Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!'  And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, 'To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!'"  Rev. 5:11-13

This is life!  

Grace says...

Grace says: 

...God is in control. 

...Christ is all that we need!

... the best is yet to come.

...I know who holds tomorrow in His hand!

...God is my strength and my song!

...I'm forgiven.

...I am an undeserving child of God.

...love, joy, and peace are fruits of God's Spirit in me.

...Jesus loves me!

...I have a home in heaven.

...hope in Christ!

..."I will be with you!  I will never leave you, nor forsake you!"

..."I have loved you with an everlasting love."

"And from His fullness (the fullness of the Godhead dwelling in the person of Jesus Christ)

 we have all received, grace upon grace."

John 1:16

Our world has no hope.  It offers money, pleasure, and other selfish gains.  But it cannot offer anything that lasts.  All these things will not last.  They will burn!  

People try to offer consolation.  They seek to relieve the pain.  But they can't.  

Men offer pretty words, cunning phrases, poignant thoughts, but without Christ's truth they are nothing more than emptiness.  

Christ offers His grace freely, fully.  There is no measure to the love that He shows for us.  We are undeserving, but He is more-merciful.  

Praise God for His grace!!! 

But for Grace: the end of the semester

I can hardly believe that it is the end of the year!  It really seems like just yesterday that I was moving to Kansas City for one year of school to finish out my degree.  Funny how time and God "change" our plans!

Graduation was Saturday.  There was a lot of "Pomp and Circumstance".  My family was here!  It was a nice, but very hot day.  I walked across the stage in the traditional cap, gown, and tassel to receive my diploma from our president.  Oh, the anticipation and excitement!  Yes, it really is just a piece of paper.  But I was also reminded that that paper is a Bachelor's degree that will go with me the rest of my life!  It is an accomplishment that I can be proud of.  
Yet, I know the truth.  I really didn't accomplish anything.  It was all of God's grace!  I was listening to this song with my brother, and it reminded me of this past year.

"God's grace has brought me safe thus far, 

and grace will lead me home..." 

But For Grace

Eph 2:1, Psalm 23, John 14

Matt Papa

But for grace, where would I be

Just a ship lost on the ocean

Like a bird with broken wings

Iʼd have no place, but for grace

But for grace, could I be saved

Can one dead by works be pardoned

Lift himself out of the grave

Thereʼd be no way, but for grace

But for grace, Iʼd go astray

Often wandering from my shepherd

Even on my best of days

Iʼd fall away, but for grace

But for grace, how could I stand

Present trials overcome me

Under this worldʼs heavy hand

Iʼd surely break, but for grace

But for grace, could I get home

See that city Heʼs preparing

Join the saints around the throne

Thereʼs be no place, but for grace

Iʼm just a sinner on my own

Couldnʼt see His face, but for grace

The "newest" standing stone...

In order for my blog to completely fulfill it's name, 

I must write about something that God has been doing in my life.  

This is "My Ebenezer"!  

For the last 2 years (my senior year at Cornerstone Bible Institute and this freshmen/senior year at Calvary Bible College), I have been living amid the questions pertaining to my future.  I know that people mean well when they ask about my future plans, but sometimes I really don't want to have to say the same thing again, "I don't know!"   


*Some friends of mine even thought of making a t-shirt for All Seniors that said "Yes, I'm graduating.  No, I don't know what I am doing with my life!" to make the whole questioning thing easier! :)* 

Yet, these years have been so good.  If only to learn over and over again of the reality of 

trusting God in everything.  

Just a little history:  It was actually last year, at about this same time, that I was frustrated (for the 1st time) with the whole "future" question.  I was just finishing up my last year at Bible school and didn't really have a goal in life.  One of my friends was planning on going on in school to finish up her degree, but I just wasn't sure I wanted to be in school any more.  After much crying and praying and asking questions and talking with my parents, I finally decided to apply for Calvary Bible College to get my BA.  


Standing Stone 1: And fast forward.  I was accepted and came to Kansas City, MO in August!  This is where God wanted me. That's all I can say.  There are so many things that I have learned/am still learning.  I have loved the opportunity to grow in my walk with Christ in a different environment.  


Fast Forward again:  February/March 2012  The question comes back to haunt me, "What are you doing after you graduate?"  This time I had a little more to answer, but I still am not sure what I will do.  I desire to move toward full-time ministry, but I don't know what that will be or how it will look.  All I know is that I want to be able to serve God wherever I am.  


Standing Stone 2: Once again, God is so faithful to guide and direct our steps as we wait on Him.  I was encouraged by others to pray about applying and interviewing for the Resident Director position here at Calvary.  


First thought: I don't want to go to school anymore!  


Second thought:  Remember, Bekah, you want to serve God wherever!  


Third thought: Maybe school wouldn't be too bad, especially if I can have the opportunity to get to know and minister to the other girls in the dorm.  


Fourth thought:  What about paying for another year of school?  


So, after much prayer, tears, frustrated phone calls, and talks with my parents, I went ahead and applied.  


PEACE.  
There was such a wonderful feeling of the peace of God that I had from just doing what I could (apply) and leaving that there...with God!  What does God do?  Supply His grace and faithfulness for every need!!!  


The Present:  I was accepted!  Lord willing, I am planning on coming back for the 2012-2013 school year as the RD.  I am going to take classes to fulfill that position, but as of right now, I am not planning on finishing out another degree.  
More than this, I don't know.  Sometimes, I still want the t-shirt, but then I remember something that my Mom encouraged me to think about.  
The next time someone asks me what I am doing with my life, I can say, 
"I don't know; but I serve the Almighty God who knows everything and has my life in His hand!"  


"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.  For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.  Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!... Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!  And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried.  For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you."  Luke 12:22-24, 27-31

Spring Break

This smattering of pictures is an attempt at describing my spring break...:)

The adventure to see the Big Horn Sheep...without seeing any sheep...we played in the water!

barefoot on the brown grass...

Graham and Jenna

The little kiddos wading.  

and of course...we played on the swing-set! :)

Me 'n my Mommy!

Project #1: sew a bridesmaid dress

Voila! 

Project #2: bake Birthday cupcakes for Sam.

Project #3: grill BBQ pizza!!!  (oh, man...this was the best)

Trip to see Aryn...and the Grace University Chorale

Liz, Leah, me, and Aryn!  

Yes, we are awesome people.  And yes, we get our coffee from Dunn Brothers

So, there you have it.  Not quiet all-encompassing, but it is a decent try!
All in all, break was really nice.  I loved getting to spend time with my family and also getting to see some old friends!
Now, to finish out the semester!  :)

A man who love the Bible

     One of my classes, "Great Christian Thinkers", have been studying the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer this semester.  I have really been enjoying the class and the opportunity to think critically about some of the contemporary issues that we are facing similar to the age of Bonhoeffer.
     For one of my assignments, I chose to do some research on what Bonhoeffer believed concerning the Bible.  As a theologian, he is almost impossible to "categorize".  Some say that he is very "liberal" because he studied under men like Harnack and Barth.  Others say that he is "conservative" because he seemed to stand in contrast to his teachers.  Where does he belong?  This is a hard question to answer, especially after reading through his biography, for I was struck again with the oddities of this man.  Yet, he also lived during a time when there were extreme political agendas being pursued--Hitler and Nazi Germany.  He was attacked by the German state church for preaching the Bible and speaking boldly for the truth.  He was faced with many hard decisions to make.  And in the end, he died a martyr.
While Bonhoeffer believe some odd things concerning the Bible (i.e. not inerrant, capable of human discrepancy, made the Word of God as God spoke through the human words), he did have a devotion and love for the Word of God that stood out in stark contrast to the "theological norm" of the day.  For a person, who according to our standard was less than "fundamental" in thinking, he loved the Bible.  He truly and honestly wanted to hear God speak to him.  He wanted to obey God.  He wanted to grow in the knowledge of God.  He counted it a privilege to preach the word of God.  Because of this, there are a few things that we would to well to learn from our brother in Christ.
     The following includes excerpts from my paper concerning Bonhoeffer's beliefs on bibliology:

Introduction  

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was an early twentieth century theologian and pastor.  He was known as an intense thinker and student.  While he decided to study theology at an early age, it was not until later on in life that he came to a personal knowledge of salvation and desired to live out the theology that he was learning.  It was this same fervor, excitement, and seriousness for the things of God with which he employed himself and taught his students. His passion for the things of God, the Word of God and preaching was his most telling characteristic.  This zeal for the Word of God is seen in most all of his writings.  He said, “I believe that the Bible alone is the answer to all our questions and that to receive an answer from it, we only need ask with persistence and a little courage.”

Bonhoeffer is to be commended for his commitment to the word of God.  We would do well to take up this “torch” and learn to approach the Word with the same attitude.  Many scholars during his time (and in our day as well) were forsaking the Holy Scriptures for man’s ideas and treating the Bible only as an historical book to be criticized.  Yet, Bonhoeffer truly believed that the Bible contained the word of God, and he desired to practice this truth in his life. 

The Word of God needs no decoration...

“How terribly dangerous it is for anyone who has stood in St. Peter’s in Rome to hear and love the heavenly voices of the Sistine Choir—and not to love the very voice of God as it sounds forth from the language of the Bible.  How close to blasphemy to use such rich, splendid accomplishments of human art to celebrate the memory of the man who wore carpenter’s clothes and spoke the clear and simple language of everyday life; this might obscure the poverty and lowliness of Jesus Christ.  That we love the creation more that God, this is the deep danger and temptation of all those who want to love music for God’s sake….There is great seriousness in this approach, much knowledge of the uniqueness and exclusiveness, the austerity of the divine revelation, for which there can be no replacement.  The word of God needs no decoration.  We want to keep this firmly in mind: the word of God, as found in the Bible and as it sounds forth to us in the proclamation of the gospel, needs no decoration."

In a letter that Bonhoeffer wrote to some of the former seminary brothers, he encouraged them concerning their diligence to the Word.  He wrote: “as well as meditation, however, daily, plentiful reading of Scripture must keep its place.  No day of our life in office may go past without our having read the Bible on it.  The very controversies of the last months (referring to the church struggle and rise of Nazism) have once again clearly shown to our shame how unversed in the Holy Scripture we still are….We must make it a rule to look for the Scriptural evidence for every decision that confronts us, and not to rest until we have found it.  Our confidence in dealing with the Bible must increase year by year.”

                                                              

                                                               Conclusion

            One cannot read any of Bonhoeffer’s writings without acknowledging the fact of his devotion and love for the Scriptures.  Even when he was imprisoned, his daily disciplines of meditation and the reading of the Bible were most important to him.  In light of this, we would do well to come to the word of God with as much fervor and love.  However, in contrast to Bonhoeffer, we know that the Bible is the Word of God which is totally breathed out by God and inerrant.  There is no new special continuing revelation of the Word of God.  There is nothing that can be added or taken from the revealed Word of God. 

In relation to the preaching of the Word, a focused seriousness of proclaiming the Word of God is necessary for pastors.  Yet, we know that preaching is the exposition of the special revelation of God from the past, rather than new revelation.  God has given all things that “pertain to life and godliness” through His Son and His completely revealed Word.  We need not seek any “new revelation” from God, but only submit and yield ourselves to the indwelling Holy Spirit for the illuminating of God’s revelation to us.  

Of dictionaries...and prolific hugs

You know those times when you say a certain word in a sentence that you believe is grammatically correct, and then the person you are talking to gives you a really odd look?  Then, you start thinking, "Wait, was that the right word?"  "What did I just say?"  "What does she think I mean?"  With these questions in mind, your face becomes a mask of quizzical-ness as you evaluate what it was that you just said. 
Now, I know that I am not the only one that has experiences like this!  (I think :)

My story has to do with the word "prolific".  I used it in the context of a friend of mine giving another friend a hug.  "You hugged her prolifically."  To this comment, we both started laughing.  Then the questions ensued. 

"What?" 

According to the dictionary, prolific has several different definitions, including: producing offspring, young, fruit, etc., abundantly; highly fruitful: a prolific pear tree. (2) producing in large quantities or with great frequency; highly productive: a prolific writer. (3.) profusely productive or fruitful (often followed by in or of ): a bequest prolific of litigations. (4.) characterized by abundant production: a prolific year for tomatoes.

Therefore, in the sentence that I used, giving hugs prolifically just means that they are given in abundance.    But does this really work? 

With this thought in mind, I realized how many "creative" words I think I know and yet may not.  There is definitely something to be said of expanding your vocabulary! 

Word of the Day: appertain; to belong as a part, right, possession, or attribute. 
Synonyms: apply, be characteristic of, be part of, be pertinent, be proper, be relevant, bear, have to do with, pertain, refer, relate, touch upon, vest

Try to use this word today.  It appertains to the development of your vocabulary! 
And tell me what you think of prolific hugs!!