Forgotten God Part 1

The book "Forgotten God" by Francis Chan is highly recommended. Recommended if you want to be challenged, stretched and changed. I've read it once before and now are small group has decided to read it together. I figured even though I've read it I will go through it again just in case I missed something. Missed something....lol Yeah I definitely missed something. I just finished Chapter 1 and I already feel as if this is a different book than before. I am not sure that I internalized it in my first go round. Reading it with my small group and having group discussions will hopefully help all of us have deeper understanding and walk with the sometimes forgotten person in the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. 

At some point in history Christians quit focusing on the Holy Spirit. If you read the book of Acts the Disciples and these first Christians were rich in the Spirit. They didn't have all the knowledge we have now concerning the spirit, they just experienced it without abandonment. Jesus told them that one would come after him that was the same as him, another comforter and counselor. They believed him, they received the Spirit and the walked in the Spirit. As stated before, at some point Christians quit relying and even teaching about the Holy Spirit. Oh sure He is mentioned. But He is mentioned in a flippant way. "We are Spirit filled", "Walk in the Spirit", things like that. But where's the experience? As we quit experiencing the Spirit it seems as everything else got diluted as well. 

The Disciples got to experience Jesus physically. Wow. Sometimes I wish I could experience that. Wouldn't that make things easier? Having Jesus as your personal guide, you couldn't make a wrong move right? Well, as we know even having Jesus there physically the Disciples still sinned, made mistakes and sometimes fell into the "I don't get it crowd." However, having Jesus physically there man, what an experience. But the scripture say that the Holy Spirit dwells within us and it is clear that the Holy Spirit is God. So as Christians we need to understand that God lives in us. The same God that empowered the Disciples lives in you. He hasn't changed. He is here, in you and in me. So I am going to try and stop looking at it as Jesus isn't here physically. It doesn't matter. Because if I believe that the Bible is the infallible and flawless word of God, then I must believe Jesus when he said he was going to send a Comforter and a Counselor, one that is the same as he. (Reference of Jesus speaking of the Holy Spirit from John 14).

I believe it. Now I want to experience it. This was just Chapter 1. Whew. Are you ready small group? 

Here we go again..

As you can see I have tried several times to be a "blogger." If that is even what it's called? I started this blog several years ago when a friend was overseas, and then tried to blog again when I was a Youth Leader. It didn't last either time. I really love to write though and I found in the past when I was able to keep a journal and write down some of my thoughts, feelings, prayers and just ramblings, that it was a good outlet. It is the only way I really know how to be creative. I am not an artist. I can't even draw a stick figure. The one thing I have been able to do is write.

With all that said I am going to try this again. Arlie, my wife, is encouraging me to do it as well. I wrote in my profile section that life is a journey. So I guess I am going to try and share my journey with you. If no one reads, it's okay. This is more for my own growth personally, emotionally and spiritually. If you do read then welcome to my life. Maybe we can both learn something.

God bless.

Well, as you can see Arlie was right. I did not keep up with this blog. I did log on now and then while Patrick away to read his posts, but I didn't post anything myself. Today however is a new day! I have more incentive to post now. That reason is because of the youth group. I have to keep up with the rest of the leaders! They have all posted like crazy and now it is my turn.

I am very excited about the youth group this year. We have a lot of fun events planned for this year. I am most excited about the youth camp this July. I have had to miss it the last few years because I couldn't take off work. That has all changed now though. Now that I have graduated college and have advanced a little in my job I have plenty of vacation time to take off. So, I get to go to youth camp this year! I wish I could go to Mexico with too, but someone else at work has that week off and I was unable to take it off too. I guess I just have to trust that the Lord wanted me to go to the youth camp instead. I can accept that.

To Blog or Not To Blog?

My good friend Patrick has recently went to Taiwan to study. He sent me a link to his new blog so that I could keep in touch with him while he was gone. I wanted to comment on his blog, but I realized that I couldn't comment unless I was a member of the blog. So, here I am....blogging. I use to have a Xanga and I guess this is similar, because I see that people post their thoughts and such. We will see how this whole blog thing goes. My wife doesn't think I will keep up with a blog. She might be right. However, I am going to at least try and keep this up while Patrick is in Taiwan. I am not even sure how to use this thing, but I will try my best to be interesting.