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| And, finally:
I spend too much time on here when I could be doing much better things with my time. Not just xanga, or myspace, or facebook, or the million other similar things, but computer in general. So, instead of leaving me a comment, how about u give me a call?? So, bye bye xanga. Take it easy everyone.
Priebsey-cola (haha) | | |
| Hope everyone is awesome, I know that I've been doing well, considering I have a house, and drinking water, and a school to go to, etc. Met with my mentor tonight, did a lot of thinking.
Here's what I have:
First, God's glory is displayed through the tragedy and horror of hurricane Katrina, whether you can see it or not. Let me explain - During the fall of man, back when Adam and Eve sinned, sin entered into the world. The physical world, including all of what you see today. As a result, our climate today is not what was originally planned. I think that supernatural phenomenon is an awesome display of God's power, but at the same time, God doesn't enjoy seeing hurricanes wipe out entire regions. And after all, God didn't tell humans to build New Orleans under sea level. BUT...God is all-powerful, and in the business of bringing life out of tradgedy. One of the things that doesn't get mainstream media coverage is the effort of christians to bring aid and effort to those who are hurting. Many people call on God during times of trouble, and do you think he would do any less than answer? Of course not. I think that God will bring his glory to many people through this. A similar story is Indonesia. As a result of the tsunami, Bandeh Aceh, which was the most anti-christian place in Indonesia, is now ripe for new christians, because of the love of Christ shown through aid workers, as opposed to condemnation from their own religion. Anyways, I'm not saying God did this on purpose, that would go against his character, but I do think he will use this tradgedy to bring about his will here on earth.
AND more....
There is an idea that most people miss when considering religion. Its the idea of justification. Big word, I know. What does it mean? I'm getting there. We live in a value system driven by performance-reward. We do well at something, we get rewarded. We don't, we get punished. Since this idea is part of the air we breathe, many people think that God operates this way too. Like, he's gonna put our good deeds and bad deeds on a scale, and hopefully it tips our way after our life. This is why the real story of Christ is so revolutionary, because its contrary to what we're "programmed" to believe. It says that being made right before God has nothing to do with our ability to live up to God's standards. Nobody can live up to God's standards. The idea of God being perfect, and us being sinful and imperfect could be talked about for much longer than this, but I guess the idea I'm conveying that most people miss is this: Instead of us having to earn a spot with God or something, or be good enough to please God's just and perfect side, he took the initiative and put forth his own Son in human form who lived up to his standards for us, so that we could be "not guilty" in front of him. For free. Its kind of complicated. But its the single most important message a person can hear.
So, if u read all of this, cool. If not, its alright too. But this is the kind of stuff I'm about, feel free to let me know if u want to talk about anything.
In him,
Tyler | | |
| Hey everyone
Well school is in full swing. But things are different for me now....I don't know, I guess I had been in about a two month spiritual slump....I hadn't been intentional enough in seeking God, and I was feeling the consequences. I just didn't feel all that happy, because of what a high point my summer had been for me spiritually, what with church camp, YL, and Montreal. I know that God sometimes distances himself from us so that we will seek him more, and grow closer to him. I know that when I was trying to be close to him, I felt nothing, and it was frustrating.
But, I just thought about how much more rewarding it is when we seek God out, maybe even rearrange our schedules just a bit to fit him in. Its kind of like if you put the important things in your life first, everything else can fit, no matter what. I think that God rewards us when we are intentional, and we are expectant to hear from him, through the bible, etc, and also when we are vulnerable to him. Those three things are the most important I think, to grow near to God. Its something I learned in church this week. Sometimes I don't necessarily put a lot of effort in to church, but its amazing, when you go willing to learn and be spiritually fed, you can come out so refreshed it's unbelievable.
AND, of course, what is a daily walk with Christ when you don't have fellowship with others to strengthen you? From meeting with Keck and Rogie for coffee, to my mentor, to hanging out with the people at WC, and, of course, YOUNG LIFE, other people who are with me in this are so extremely important, and invaluable. I guess I'm just saying God is awesome, and he's definately in the business of teaching and growing his followers. If you don't understand a lot of what I'm talking about, feel free to ask me sometime. God bless, and have a good week everyone.
Tyler <>< | | |
| Whats up everybody.
School is back in session! Complain all you want, but I'm a senior, and this year is going to rock. Drumline is super smooth, and we're playing at a massive NCAA soccer game coming up, on ESPN and stuff. StuCo is awesome, the staff is actually appriciative of us, and the principal and I are both planning in the same direction. I have lots of great people under me, and Im looking forward to everything that is gonna go down, especially during football season. Topeka West Tailgate Team to the max!
God is good, he is showing me to actively love other people the way Jesus would, and I might add, there is not a better role model out there. Follow him, I promise there is no better way to live.
Rock on for being a senior, and all my fellow 06ers out there, lets have an awesome year. Check u all later. YL IS COMING UP!
Leave comments. Or you're lame.
-Tyler | | |
| Its been a while, so here's another post. I enrolled, so I'm officially a senior. Ehh, school is school but at least its the year we've all been looking forward to. The classes aren't too bad, a little tough but it'll be ok.
Things have been good, band has been wearing me down but its a great chance for me to be a leader for the new kids, and they're all doing great. Our show is gonna be amazing, and we're going to KMEA this year, which probably doesn't mean much to most of you, but its a top-two-or-three bands in the state kinda thing, so its a big deal. And our high school percussion ensemble is going, which is kind of a never before thing at KMEA either, so its fun to lead a kind of a groundbreaking group.
StuCo is also a buster, I've been having to meet and plan and call and shop and research and organize, etc, etc, just to get retreat ready to happen. But it'll be a blast, and there wont be any jerks in the group this year, all the execs and officers are great.
Anyways, not much else, I've been enjoying the last of my summer. I saw "singing in the rain" at starlight theater with sara which was awesome. I'm going to a Royals game tomorrow to see Zack Greinke pitch and lose. And I'm hopefully gonna go to Rock the Light in KC with some people in september. What else......College visits pretty soon, I gotta get those lined up before I start applying.
I didn't think I had much to say, but you all know how that goes. Everyone enjoy the rest of your summers, and best of luck to all my '05ers who are taking off this week. God bless.
-Tyler | | |
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