World of Wonders

As I have now finished my exams and sit here in Sydney in my brothers apartment I can't help but remember the flight over, and the vivid feeling I got whilst looking out the plane window at the vast oceans and lands in the distance. I began to think "Jesus walked this earth, As did every other historical figure in history" as I came to this great thought my thoughts trailed on as they usually do and I started to think that maybe if for one day ever "Christian" that identifies with that title were to understand the cross, the significance of it, the sheer beautiful love and mercy that was poured out on that day, then maybe, just maybe we may see our world begin to shake of the wonders and works of God.

I thought that the land we live on today is the same land that Jesus himself lived on, so my great question of the night is simply. What’s changed?
Sure one could argue the masses of civilisations that have sprung up; the development of morals, economy's, societies, nations, infrastructure, transport, telecommunications... and the list goes on. I do not wish to regard all that as irrelevant but my simple thought is that the same land Jesus once walked on is the same land today. Why do we find it so difficult to put our trust and faith in the Lord when we have the living word of God as proof of the great wonders he performed thousands of years ago? Surely 'every knee shall bow and every tongue confess' but my thought is simply; what are we waiting for?

Some days we like to think that it would be nice if God could just sneeze and save every living person, and sometimes we question God's authority on that with the ever nagging "Well your all powerful, why don't you do it?" but to me I see the bible as God using man to reach man. Ever since the fall we have been riddled with sin and today is certainly no exception, I hear news of people torturing two month old babies, putting them in freezers and throwing them against walls and I can't help but think "Why can't God just stop this insanity" but at the same time I feel conviction.
Conviction that I have not done all I can to spread my testimony and my faith. Conviction that I have not discipled as many followers as possible. Conviction that we as a body are not the remedy for a world that is so sick. I think we all just need to sit back at one point in our lives and begin to understand that this same world we live on today is the same world that Jesus lived on, the same world on which he died the most gruesome possible death imaginable to simply make our lives better.

It is a conviction for each of us personally and we need not do things out of guilt, God is not here to guilt trip you by saying "well now I sent my son to die for you, you better give in that offering" and yet that is the view of so many. They either feel obliged to do something or don't want to do it because they think that God is too good for them. God loves us beyond our comprehension and he wants an A class life for each of us, that was true in the time of Adam and Eve. In the time of Abraham. In the time of Moses. In the time of Jesus and is still true today. What makes us think that anything has changed at all? Sure its an effort sometimes, and I do not wish to belittle that effort but so easily we can think "aw maybe I’ll do it tomorrow" but a friend recently told me of a moment like that she had and she automatically felt the spirit say to her "well maybe I didn't feel like dying on the cross" and I believe that should be our conviction. Mark 16:15 states to go into ALL the world and preach the good news, and I do not think that we should say "maybe tomorrow" to that. When it comes down to it it merely comes down to us opening our mouths and our hearts at the same time, sharing with strangers and friends why we have a smile on our face today, or simply sharing why life is so Good with God, sharing parts of our testimony.

One man changed the face of history; He loved life, Loved God, Loved people, and preached his good news to all the world that he encountered in his life. And he gave his life to see you follow in his footsteps. We all know that Jesus call's us to follow him, but are we taking it as seriously as a disciple? Or are we just part of the crowd?

Hmm rant over..

As usual thoughts are welcome :)

Boiling Frog

Well due to the post title, I must explain that just like that theory the reality of finishing school did not hit me until the beginning of the end (to make it sound from a movie) and by that I mean the beginning of the last day.

Now I've been all over the place with my years at high school, but 2008 has without a doubt been my best year since. This final day at school has wrapped it up so perfectly that not even tears could express my.. Joy. because i'm not sad, yet not particularly elated once again God is simply blessing me with the simple acceptance of where I stand in my current circumstances.

there really are no words to describe it, yet following trend of everyone else who has said "it left me speechless" I’ll keep writing anyway :) I feel God answering my prayers more and more recently, maybe it’s just that I haven't noticed in the past? but regardless I look back on my years of school and realise how heartfelt it was when all the adults lectured me about "I wish I was back in school! make the most of it" School really is the beginning of any life, the building of oneself, the learning. Be it practically, spiritually, relationally, friendly, physically, mentally and lets not forget academically! When you find yourself stepping out of childhood and into the adult world as the illustration may be regardless of whether or not we were ready for it at different points in our lives, the end of this beginning is the puss off the ledge that makes you finally realise "it's all over." As a friend of mine wrote in her song, 'we have all been waiting for this day to come, now we cant believe its here'

But rather than moan, mourn or have regret I find myself celebrating, firstly that I made it through with all my other dilemmas life has thrown at me and secondly because it truly has been an establishment of my life, my personality, my friendships and ultimately my purpose in life. I can now finally be on the alternate end of the lecture and tell you that I would rather stay at school, I can now lecture anyone (from my heart) and tell them 'you truly have no idea how these years of your life are the best'

And as I sit here, reminiscing and playing what would literally be a movie of my time in school, with my minds eye and memory in overdrive trying to piece all the good times together I cannot help but cry tears, tears of joy and complete satisfaction.
I have always felt sorry for drop outs, not only because the majority of them are simply drop kick losers in life but now also because they miss out on so much, so much opportunity, so many tears, so much laughter, so many friends, so many memories.

there really is nothing I can say to wrap this up nicely except.

Long live Class of 2008, Hutt Valley High School.