If you are like me you have heard the term "Just pray about it and Jesus will answer you and direct you" about a million times. I do believe in the power of prayer and I do believe that the Lord will guide us. But I also believe that a part of having faith is being able to step out onto the water and trust Jesus just as Peter did. I believe that if you do something with the right heart and intentions and are truly trying to live and glorify the Lord, he will continue to use you as a disciple of Christ.
I say this because this issue of faith has come up in my life recently. I have been praying for quite some time to the Lord about where I should be after i graduate. Toledo, Hamilton, Philly, DC, Columbus... And I have been praying for quite some time about my passion and desire to do ministry and live life with kids with disabilities. Both of those things have consumed my prayer, thoughts, and anxieties. But I realized i just gotta have some faith and step onto the water. With the encouragement of some friends I stopped complaining about the slow process of seeing YL Capernaum (YL for kids with disabilities) in Toledo and I finally did something about it. I sent a potentially big email tonight. Now whether or not this will come to anything will be seen. But I realized i had to take the step, use my faith in the Lord and trust that he will not let me sink.
Friends, step out of the boat and have faith. Jesus is always there with a hand ready.
With Love Yo
Oph
Monday, September 26, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Pride Issues
I have been discovering lately the pride is deeply rooted in who I am. I am a prideful person. And I can see how that has been affecting me. I led Wyld Life which is YL for middle school kids, for three years. And I loved it, and I did trust the Lord for putting me there. But I always wanted to look like the sweet leader, have all the kids coming around and what not. Well I never had a ton of kids coming around and that helped break down my pride and by the end of my stint, if I had one kid I was completely happy. I knew the Lord put that one kid there.
Since Wyld Life was stopped in my area I have been struggling with more pride issues. I desperately want to be leading, to be living out my faith with these kids. Well the opportunity has not presented itself to me and its very frustrating. For a while I was questioning God about it. But he has shown me recently that he can use me in more ways than leading right now. I always help set up at church and help run the powerpoint and sound at a YL club. I enjoy doing this but for a while I was feeling like my gifts were not being used, that I was doing insignificant work. But God has really shown me lately that it does not matter what you do for him, that if you do it with all your heart, he values that. And although I want to be leading YL right now, God has me behind the scenes for some reason, and that for me is enough.
When pride gets in the way, knock it down. It will only keep us from the Lord. he wants us broken of it and to be at his feet worshiping him and doing what ever it is he asks.
With Love
Opher
Since Wyld Life was stopped in my area I have been struggling with more pride issues. I desperately want to be leading, to be living out my faith with these kids. Well the opportunity has not presented itself to me and its very frustrating. For a while I was questioning God about it. But he has shown me recently that he can use me in more ways than leading right now. I always help set up at church and help run the powerpoint and sound at a YL club. I enjoy doing this but for a while I was feeling like my gifts were not being used, that I was doing insignificant work. But God has really shown me lately that it does not matter what you do for him, that if you do it with all your heart, he values that. And although I want to be leading YL right now, God has me behind the scenes for some reason, and that for me is enough.
When pride gets in the way, knock it down. It will only keep us from the Lord. he wants us broken of it and to be at his feet worshiping him and doing what ever it is he asks.
With Love
Opher
Sunday, September 11, 2011
'Murica
I almost decided not to make a post about 9/11. I was afraid of sounding like I am using the date to garner attention or talk about myself. Obviously, this day has nothing to do about me, and is in honor, memory, and celebration of those who lost their lives on that tragic day AND those who have since lost their lives in an effort to fight terrorism.
But this blog is about being an Opher and I decided to post about how 9/11 has shaped parts of me. Like many of us I remember everything about that day. I was in 7th grade. I heard about it during "lounge" right after lunch. My friend Steven told me that the Pentagon was attacked and I distinctly remember telling him "yeah right, who told you that?" Word for word. Well soon after that our principal came over the speaker and told us what had happened. The rest of the day in our classes we watched those horrible images. Teachers were silent because they did not know how to react around students. Students were scared because in our life times we knew no war, we knew little evil.
That day was the first time I really saw true evil in the world. Of course I knew about crime and murder, but to see 3,000 people killed, now that sinks in. I love America. Everyone who knows me knows I am an ARROGANT American. And I don't care. Screw politics, screw agendas, I am an American and I will always love and support this great country. I often struggle about my love and dedication to our country when thinking about how Jesus asks us to live. But you know what, he made me American so I will be American. I love our troops, they are braver than I could ever be. I am free to write what ever I want on this blog because our soldiers fight for our freedoms. Cliche, but true.
And yes, I was happy when that bastard Osama was killed. (excuse my language, but I only speak truth.) People told me I was less of a Christian because I celebrated the death of someone. I'll God decide that. But I have no regrets. He has organized attacks that have killed thousands of innocent people. he was a coward who ran and hid for the past 20 years. He attacked people who could not defend themselves. There were kids on those airplanes, moms and dads in those buildings. If I cannot be glad that someone who murdered well over 3,000 people had been killed, then so be it. But I have a feeling God is not gonna send me to hell for that.
I will step off my soap box and finish with this. That day forever changed myself, America, and the world. I honor those firefighters, EMTs, police and port authority officers, and brave bystanders who saved many lives by risking and giving theirs. I honor those people who lost their lives that day whether it be in the towers, the pentagon, or on Flight 93. I honor the soldiers who enlisted after 9/11 like my uncle did so they could serve their nation and fight back. Many of them died in war, I honor them.
I love my country, I love my country. And I am a different person because of what happened that day. But that day showed us that even though we may not agree with another's politics or views, we will always unite in the face of adversity. UNITED WE STAND. Do Not Tread On Us!!! And of course, USA AINT NOTHING TO ______ WITH!
'Murica!
But this blog is about being an Opher and I decided to post about how 9/11 has shaped parts of me. Like many of us I remember everything about that day. I was in 7th grade. I heard about it during "lounge" right after lunch. My friend Steven told me that the Pentagon was attacked and I distinctly remember telling him "yeah right, who told you that?" Word for word. Well soon after that our principal came over the speaker and told us what had happened. The rest of the day in our classes we watched those horrible images. Teachers were silent because they did not know how to react around students. Students were scared because in our life times we knew no war, we knew little evil.
That day was the first time I really saw true evil in the world. Of course I knew about crime and murder, but to see 3,000 people killed, now that sinks in. I love America. Everyone who knows me knows I am an ARROGANT American. And I don't care. Screw politics, screw agendas, I am an American and I will always love and support this great country. I often struggle about my love and dedication to our country when thinking about how Jesus asks us to live. But you know what, he made me American so I will be American. I love our troops, they are braver than I could ever be. I am free to write what ever I want on this blog because our soldiers fight for our freedoms. Cliche, but true.
And yes, I was happy when that bastard Osama was killed. (excuse my language, but I only speak truth.) People told me I was less of a Christian because I celebrated the death of someone. I'll God decide that. But I have no regrets. He has organized attacks that have killed thousands of innocent people. he was a coward who ran and hid for the past 20 years. He attacked people who could not defend themselves. There were kids on those airplanes, moms and dads in those buildings. If I cannot be glad that someone who murdered well over 3,000 people had been killed, then so be it. But I have a feeling God is not gonna send me to hell for that.
I will step off my soap box and finish with this. That day forever changed myself, America, and the world. I honor those firefighters, EMTs, police and port authority officers, and brave bystanders who saved many lives by risking and giving theirs. I honor those people who lost their lives that day whether it be in the towers, the pentagon, or on Flight 93. I honor the soldiers who enlisted after 9/11 like my uncle did so they could serve their nation and fight back. Many of them died in war, I honor them.
I love my country, I love my country. And I am a different person because of what happened that day. But that day showed us that even though we may not agree with another's politics or views, we will always unite in the face of adversity. UNITED WE STAND. Do Not Tread On Us!!! And of course, USA AINT NOTHING TO ______ WITH!
'Murica!
Monday, September 5, 2011
Ministry is Life
I have been reading "The Irresistible Revolution" by Shane Claiborne. And he has got my mind thinking about a lot of different things. I have been challenged to rethink some things that I have always believed or lived out but never knew why. Mainly, his book has challenged me to live my life with people and not for people.
We always hear people saying how they believe in helping the poor or poverty stricken people. We hear this a lot from churches. And people, myself included, help out at clothing drives, canned food drives, and food pantries every now and then. We may donate money to charities that help the homeless but yet we never actually live with homeless or encounter them. We do not know a single homeless person by name! We do all this while staying safe in our own culture and socioeconomic comfort zone.
Now when I read the Gospels in the Bible, I read how Jesus is always going out and living life with the poor, the lepers, the tax collectors, the prostitutes. He does not just give someone else money or food to give to them. He goes to them. And he calls for us to live our lives in the same ways. I am not saying we all need to be homeless, some of us will be called to do ministry in the suburbs with the wealthy, and that is fine. I am simply saying that in any ministry that we do (ministry according to Jesus should be our whole lives) we need to be WITH people. Forming relationships, living with them, laughing and crying with them. And not just with people we feel comfortable with, but with people outside of our comfort zones.
I have felt Jesus screaming at me the past year or so to go live with people. Don't just show up at out reaches put on by my church once a month, don't just volunteer every now and then, but go and live life with the people I feel called to. I am comfortable at my church and I am comfortable with my Young Life guys. I do not believe that faith and ministry should be comfortable. We should always be risking something. This will look differently for me than it will for you.
But to get my point across, do not sit in your suburban home or apt and tell people you have a heart for the homeless. Go be with them, join them for meals and spend time with them. Not just donating old clothes and spare change. If you feel called to really spend time with and share Christ with high school kids then go live with them. Go to their sports games, go to their schools if you are allowed, take them grocery shopping with you. Don't just volunteer at a bible study once a week.
We are called to live our lives with people, to be in the middle of it all, not on the outsides offering our spare change or time.
Much Love
Opher
We always hear people saying how they believe in helping the poor or poverty stricken people. We hear this a lot from churches. And people, myself included, help out at clothing drives, canned food drives, and food pantries every now and then. We may donate money to charities that help the homeless but yet we never actually live with homeless or encounter them. We do not know a single homeless person by name! We do all this while staying safe in our own culture and socioeconomic comfort zone.
Now when I read the Gospels in the Bible, I read how Jesus is always going out and living life with the poor, the lepers, the tax collectors, the prostitutes. He does not just give someone else money or food to give to them. He goes to them. And he calls for us to live our lives in the same ways. I am not saying we all need to be homeless, some of us will be called to do ministry in the suburbs with the wealthy, and that is fine. I am simply saying that in any ministry that we do (ministry according to Jesus should be our whole lives) we need to be WITH people. Forming relationships, living with them, laughing and crying with them. And not just with people we feel comfortable with, but with people outside of our comfort zones.
I have felt Jesus screaming at me the past year or so to go live with people. Don't just show up at out reaches put on by my church once a month, don't just volunteer every now and then, but go and live life with the people I feel called to. I am comfortable at my church and I am comfortable with my Young Life guys. I do not believe that faith and ministry should be comfortable. We should always be risking something. This will look differently for me than it will for you.
But to get my point across, do not sit in your suburban home or apt and tell people you have a heart for the homeless. Go be with them, join them for meals and spend time with them. Not just donating old clothes and spare change. If you feel called to really spend time with and share Christ with high school kids then go live with them. Go to their sports games, go to their schools if you are allowed, take them grocery shopping with you. Don't just volunteer at a bible study once a week.
We are called to live our lives with people, to be in the middle of it all, not on the outsides offering our spare change or time.
Much Love
Opher
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