This week I have began reading a devotional book written by Mike Yaconelli entitled Devotion: A Raw-Truth Journal On Following Jesus. When I first began reading it I was slightly apprehensive - the title of the devotion for day one was Aliens. What a topic for a devotional! However, as I continued reading I realized that the Author was not speaking of extraterrestrial beings but of Christians instead.
As a child each of us has heard the word 'alien' associated with UFOs, Mars and other galactic beings. However the definition of an alien given on Merriam Webster's website is quite simple. It reads: a person of another family, race, or nation. If you think of this definition for a moment it is rather easy to see the parallel that the author is using.
Christians have been set aside by God as the body of Christ - a family. We comprise of individuals from different races, nationalities, genders, ages, and biological families. However, in Christ we are all united! Therefore, because we are separated from the world we can be considered 'aliens' in this world. For just as extraterrestrial beings are not of this world neither are we. In John 15:19 it reads: If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
Regardless of their situation every Christian will at sometime be confronted with a challenge against their faith. However, each of us must choose for ourselves who we serve. "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, [...] But as for me and my household we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)
Will you choose to be an 'alien'; separated from the world? Or will you become a child of the earth and be doomed to annihilation without God? The choice is yours, for only you can determine your future in eternity!
Friday, August 26, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Saying Goodbye To A Godly Man
On Saturday, August the 20th, my family attended the memorial service for my great uncle, Lewis Edward Andrew. The service was absolutely beautiful, an incredible tribute for an incredible man. My Grandfather, James West, officiated the service and shared many stories of both a serious and humorous nature from his memories of Uncle Lewis.
During the ceremony, one of my distant cousins, Issac Holton, recited a poem by Edgar Albert Guest titled, My Creed. After hearing this poem, I could only imagine what my own funeral will be like.
Will my friends and family be able to remember me in such a fond way? Will I leave a life worth remembering?
Guest's The Creed reads like this:
To live as gently as I can;
To be, no matter where, a man;
To take what comes of good or ill
And cling to faith and honor still;
To do my best, and let that stand
The record of my brain and hand;
And then, should failure come to me,
Still work and hope for victory.
To have no secret place wherein
I stoop unseen to shame or sin;
To be the same when I'm alone
As when my every deed is known;
To live undaunted, unafraid
Of any step that I have made;
To be without pretense or sham
Exactly what men think I am.
To leave some simple mark behind
To keep my having lived in mind;
If enmity to aught I show,
To be an honest, generous foe,
To play my little part, nor whine
That greater honors are not mine.
This, I believe, is all I need
For my philosophy and creed.
By Edgar Albert Guest, © 1915, All rights reserved.
In many ways this poem encapsulates the life of my Uncle Lewis. However, could it also describe my life? To me this poem is speaking to each of us through Guest's self-examination. Do we cling to faith and honor through the 'storms' of life? Are we determined enough to 'still work and hope for victory' when failures come? Are we the same alone as we are amongst friends?
Are we willing to commit to live as Guest's Creed suggests?
I pray that my life will leave a legacy worth remembering. I hope that every individual I come in contact with will experience the love of God through me! That I will be the same person alone and among my friends and peers. I desire for Guest's The Creed to be my life's legacy.
During the ceremony, one of my distant cousins, Issac Holton, recited a poem by Edgar Albert Guest titled, My Creed. After hearing this poem, I could only imagine what my own funeral will be like.
Will my friends and family be able to remember me in such a fond way? Will I leave a life worth remembering?
Guest's The Creed reads like this:
To live as gently as I can;
To be, no matter where, a man;
To take what comes of good or ill
And cling to faith and honor still;
To do my best, and let that stand
The record of my brain and hand;
And then, should failure come to me,
Still work and hope for victory.
To have no secret place wherein
I stoop unseen to shame or sin;
To be the same when I'm alone
As when my every deed is known;
To live undaunted, unafraid
Of any step that I have made;
To be without pretense or sham
Exactly what men think I am.
To leave some simple mark behind
To keep my having lived in mind;
If enmity to aught I show,
To be an honest, generous foe,
To play my little part, nor whine
That greater honors are not mine.
This, I believe, is all I need
For my philosophy and creed.
By Edgar Albert Guest, © 1915, All rights reserved.
In many ways this poem encapsulates the life of my Uncle Lewis. However, could it also describe my life? To me this poem is speaking to each of us through Guest's self-examination. Do we cling to faith and honor through the 'storms' of life? Are we determined enough to 'still work and hope for victory' when failures come? Are we the same alone as we are amongst friends?
Are we willing to commit to live as Guest's Creed suggests?
I pray that my life will leave a legacy worth remembering. I hope that every individual I come in contact with will experience the love of God through me! That I will be the same person alone and among my friends and peers. I desire for Guest's The Creed to be my life's legacy.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Giving Blood: Good or Bad?
Hello one and all!
This last Monday night I decided to participate in a blood drive hosted at my church by the Red Cross. Although I was apprehensive and nervous at first I finally found the gumption to register along with my older sister Morelle and both of my parents. This would be a first experience for all if us. What a special memory for us to share together!
Unfortunately things did not go as planned. Because we had never given blood before we were unfamiliar with the effects associated with such a donation. Therefore we were unprepared for the exciting adventure to come.
On Sunday August the 14th our family loaded into our van with great trepidation. Upon our arrival we were promptly assisted in signing in and given a booklet explaining the entirety of the process.
After a brief wait, one of the nurses informed Dad that it was his turn. Bravely he stood up and followed her to a cubicle to begin. While Dad was still answering questions Mom's turn came. Before 10 minutes had passed Mom came out from behind the make shift wall. Unfortunately The nurse had informed her that due to her weight she would unable to donate.
Not long after it was Morelle's turn. While she was being prepared Dad was getting hooked up to begin. During the preparatory process Laneah stood by with a look of confusion and dismay upon her face.
Coming up beside her the coordinator of the event spoke. Her sweet words of comfort are a memory that I shall never forget. She said "Honey, did you know your Daddy is a hero?" Although I have always known these words to be true. I had no idea that I was about to see them in action.
A few minutes later I was called back to begin the necessary process prior to a my donation. The nurse began by asking me a few basic questions. Then she took my blood pressure and drew a blood sample. After doing so she asked me how tall I am and how much I weighed. To which I answered as honestly as I knew. 5 feet 4 inches and 117 lbs. She then informed me that to donate blood I would have to be 118 lbs. if I was 5 feet 4 inches. I was so disappointed because I was really excited and eagerly looking forward to donating.
With my eyes filling with tears I sat at the cubicle table waiting to be excused. After the nurse filled out a letter of deferral I was dismissed. Leaving the cubicle I was shocked to find my father laying in the medical chair throw up. Standing next to him was my Mother and three nurses. Each of which we assisted my Father.
Later I was informed that due to the loss of blood that my Father was suffering he had blacked out and when he came to was unable to control his body. Therefore he was extremely sick. Thankfully in the past few days my Father has been recuperating and hopefully on a safe road back to normalcy.
Honestly I feel as though I could describe this experience as both unique and informative. I believe that he lesson learned is this: Never jump into something without first considering both the consequences and the price. Especially when it includes the donation of blood!
This last Monday night I decided to participate in a blood drive hosted at my church by the Red Cross. Although I was apprehensive and nervous at first I finally found the gumption to register along with my older sister Morelle and both of my parents. This would be a first experience for all if us. What a special memory for us to share together!
Unfortunately things did not go as planned. Because we had never given blood before we were unfamiliar with the effects associated with such a donation. Therefore we were unprepared for the exciting adventure to come.
On Sunday August the 14th our family loaded into our van with great trepidation. Upon our arrival we were promptly assisted in signing in and given a booklet explaining the entirety of the process.
After a brief wait, one of the nurses informed Dad that it was his turn. Bravely he stood up and followed her to a cubicle to begin. While Dad was still answering questions Mom's turn came. Before 10 minutes had passed Mom came out from behind the make shift wall. Unfortunately The nurse had informed her that due to her weight she would unable to donate.
Not long after it was Morelle's turn. While she was being prepared Dad was getting hooked up to begin. During the preparatory process Laneah stood by with a look of confusion and dismay upon her face.
Coming up beside her the coordinator of the event spoke. Her sweet words of comfort are a memory that I shall never forget. She said "Honey, did you know your Daddy is a hero?" Although I have always known these words to be true. I had no idea that I was about to see them in action.
A few minutes later I was called back to begin the necessary process prior to a my donation. The nurse began by asking me a few basic questions. Then she took my blood pressure and drew a blood sample. After doing so she asked me how tall I am and how much I weighed. To which I answered as honestly as I knew. 5 feet 4 inches and 117 lbs. She then informed me that to donate blood I would have to be 118 lbs. if I was 5 feet 4 inches. I was so disappointed because I was really excited and eagerly looking forward to donating.
With my eyes filling with tears I sat at the cubicle table waiting to be excused. After the nurse filled out a letter of deferral I was dismissed. Leaving the cubicle I was shocked to find my father laying in the medical chair throw up. Standing next to him was my Mother and three nurses. Each of which we assisted my Father.
Later I was informed that due to the loss of blood that my Father was suffering he had blacked out and when he came to was unable to control his body. Therefore he was extremely sick. Thankfully in the past few days my Father has been recuperating and hopefully on a safe road back to normalcy.
Honestly I feel as though I could describe this experience as both unique and informative. I believe that he lesson learned is this: Never jump into something without first considering both the consequences and the price. Especially when it includes the donation of blood!
Monday, August 15, 2011
The Beginning Of My Adventures
Life is full of adventures and goodness knows that I have had a few! From the moment I was born, I experienced things that many would consider the highlight of their lifetime. When my parents walked out of the hospital, I saw for the first time the beauty of my home: Alaska. Since then, things have only gotten more exciting...
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