Brings Back Memories

So, I totally was one of those kids if I didn't know the answer to the question and thought that if I could come up with something clever, I would totally make it funny. At least to make the teacher's day... Here's an example of kid kind of like me... You may need to click on it to read it.

yac.

Phillipians 2:4

"Each of you should not only look to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

After a long discussion of this section, this is what I gleaned:

This passage is particularly poignant when discussing how we should serve others. It is important to note that it does not say, "Disregard your own interests and needs." We have to take care of ourselves first before we are able to serve others. Is it okay to decline to serve others because it conflicts with our own interests? Personally, I think it is, and from here, it may be relevant to look at Phillipians 2:5-11.

Verses 1-4 set up what we should do to be humble and serve others. Verses 5-11 give Jesus as an example. Jesus, though he served others fully, never lost sight of his own interests/purposes (i.e. dying on the cross). If serving would have conflicted with Jesus' purpose of dying on the cross, then I doubt he would have served?

Is it okay to decline to serve in an area of the church if it does not align with one's purpose? I would say yes. If it does not fully align with the gifts that we are given, then we are likely not equipped to serve in that area. For example, would we ask someone to play the piano if they had no idea how to play the piano? No, of course not, and the thought of it is absurd. That person should serve where their gifts are best utilized, not where they can fill in a vacancy.

I think that there are times when (women especially) take on too much responsibility for meeting the needs of others and neglect their own interests. I would argue that they are not able to serve as well, but also they become resentful to their duties. If I dread doing something, then my heart is not really in the right place to serve.

And we have to realize that we are replacable and that we are a small speck of the larger equation.

yac.

Relient K

Relient K has been one of my favorite bands for awhile now...

Part of "I So Hate Consequences"

When I got tired of running from you
I stopped right there to catch my breath
There your words they caught my ears
You said, “I miss you son. Come home”
And my sins, they watched me leave
And in my heart I so believed
The love you felt for me was mine
The love I’d wished for all this time
And when the doors were closed
I heard no I told so’s
I said the words I knew you knew
Oh God, Oh God I needed you
God all this time I needed you,
I needed you
And I so hate consequences
And running from you is what my best defense is
I hate these consequences
Because I know that I let you down
Now I don't wanna deal with that

yac

INFJ

I am an INFJ...the rarest personality type may I just note...



Things about an INFJ (personalitypage.com):


Most INFJs are protective of their inner selves, sharing only what they choose to share when they choose to share it. They are deep, complex individuals, who are quite private and typically difficult to understand. INFJs hold back part of themselves, and can be secretive.



But the INFJ is as genuinely warm as they are complex. INFJs hold a special place in the heart of people who they are close to, who are able to see their special gifts and depth of caring. INFJs are concerned for people's feelings, and try to be gentle to avoid hurting anyone. They are very sensitive to conflict, and cannot tolerate it very well. Situations which are charged with conflict may drive the normally peaceful INFJ into a state of agitation or charged anger. They may tend to internalize conflict into their bodies, and experience health problems when under a lot of stress.



INFJ is a perfectionist who doubts that they are living up to their full potential. INFJs are rarely at complete peace with themselves - there's always something else they should be doing to improve themselves and the world around them. They believe in constant growth, and don't often take time to revel in their accomplishments.



People with the INFJ personality type are intense and perfectionistic. They have deep insights into many aspects of life, and usually have very high standards for their own understanding and accomplishments, as well as those of others. They are service-oriented and empathetic to other individuals. The INFJ strives for the ideal in every aspect of their life. An INFJ's feeling of success is centered around their own level of understanding and accomplishment, their usefulness or service to others, and the condition of their personal relationships. The INFJ feels successful when they haved used their very deep understanding of something to do a real service for someone. We often see INFJ personality types as counsellors and teachers, or in the medical and health fields.

Slacker

I have been a slacker lately with the blog... School has been madness. It should get better in the next few days. I am entering into my last semester as an undergrad... Now that is flipping exciting.

yac.

Look for the Extraordinary in the Ordinary...

Rain...

I have an intense love for rain. In fact, I don't think haven't used an umbrella since I came to college. There is something about walking through rain that makes me feel alive in that moment. Perhaps one of my favorite things at AU is to walk across campus when it is raining and hear Park Place's church bells ring.

Speaking of Church Bells...

I dig church bells something fierce. Every 15 minutes the bells ring on campus and I love it. Park Place used to have the bells play hymns at 12 and 5 for 15 minutes.... It was seriously the greatest thing ever.

yac

Relevant = Everything

I enjoy learning about a lot of different things. However, it is known that learning increases tremendously if one can make some sort of application of the knowledge to his or her life. While discussing a topic in one of my classes, I thought....

"This is really interesting, but it bears no real relevance to my life."

And though I learned a great deal about this topic, I found that it was hard to connect with it at the personal level.

Well...fast forward to now...and suddenly all that we talked about on this particular topic has become relevant to my life completely. God prepares us so appropriately for things we will have to face. I have had this professor for 3 of the best classes of my college career. Each one of them has come at a time where I have needed to hear certain things about myself, others, and God... and perhaps God, in his most infinite wisdom, knows that this is how I will listen best...

yac.

Thoughts on a Snowy Winter Day

"Because no matter how badly a thing is hurting us...sometimes letting it go hurts even worse. " -Grey's Anatomy

We cling to familiarity. We grip tight to all that is in our zone of comfort. Even if it is destructive beyond measure, we hold on to it. At what point do we realize that everything we have held on to for so long is the very thing that hinders our growth.

I've been thinking a lot about forgiveness this semester. How does forgiveness function in our lives as human beings? It seems to me that we have to experience forgiveness before we can offer forgiveness. I think this hinges on our ability to accept grace from God. There are times when I believe that I don't deserve God's forgiveness like everyone else. And what I often fail to realize, is that I am making it much harder (if not impossible) to forgive others in my life.

To tie the first paragraph to the second, it's important to note that we often cling to those hurtful things that people have done. In our minds, it seems justified, and yet, to let go off that offense allows us to do two things:

1. Realize that we fail too.
2. Realize that we are being Christ-like.

Those past hurts that we cling to for dear life are the very things that cut us off from communion with God, accepting forgivenss from God, and offering full forgiveness to others.

yac.

A Random Fact/Thought

The average four year old asks 400 questions a day.

Why do we stifle the explorative/knowledge seeking attitude as the child ages? Hmm...just a thought.

yac.

Pearls Before Swine

Pearls Before Swine has been one of my favorite comic strips for a long time. It is clever and witty.

yac

Acoustic #3

I just really forgot how much I love this song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnylqXn15Nc

Not to mention John Rzeznick is hot.

yac