Full Ride Scholarship

At the time I was smart and confident, as time passes I can see I was an idiot. My freshman class at Everett High School went out one day and put a time capsule in the ground. We put down what we wanted to accomplish in life. My list looked like this: get a full ride scholarship to either Michigan State, Western or Central Michigan to run track or swim. If I failed at that I wanted to be a sports writer. I put more stuff down but can’t remember it. As I look back now, I wasn’t that bright.

I didn’t have a standout freshman season and in no way was capable of getting a full ride as most swimmers and runner weren’t even offered full scholarships. You couldn’t tell the 14 year old me this. I thought I would work hard and improve. Man was I off base. Sometimes in life we give ourselves more credit than we deserve. I thought I was wise and knew what I was talked about. I was off base.

Sometimes in life we think we are wiser then we truly are. No matter how smart, there is always someone smarter who knows more. I thought this about faith, I thought I understood this and nobody could tell me otherwise. God wisdom trumped my wisdom though.

1 Corinthians 2:6-8…

“We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord or glory.”

It took me all of high school to realize, God is way smarter than me and there is a lot I don’t understand. Ever pray to God and not know the result or be disappointed when things didn’t go your way? I have many times, sometimes I look back at my prayers and think if I got what I wanted I wouldn’t have been taught a valuable life lesson. Sometimes my prayers were a want list from God, I want this….please make this happen…etc.

God’s wisdom goes beyond our own. There are many times he has proved that I am not as smart as I think. I appreciate that time. It’s a time where I can learn. Can you look back and see where you were wrong and thought you were right? God’s wisdom goes beyond our own, it’s nice to know that there is a greater plan that goes beyond our own understanding.

How can we explain the world when we don't know much

As I was reading scripture today, I read through this scripture and thought it deserved to be by itself.

Rather than writing around it, I just wanted to share it Romans 11:33-36 (The Message)...

Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom? It’s way over our heads. We’ll never figure it out.

Is there anyone around who can explain God?
Anyone smart enough to tell him what to do?
Anyone who has done him such a huge favor
that God has to ask his advice?
Everything comes from him;
Everything happens through him;
Everything ends up in him.
Always glory! Always praise!
Yes. Yes. Yes.

 

Man, there so much we don't understand and that is why God is so awesome.

 

Have a great day.

Telling a girl she has fat ankles

We all make mistakes, some small and some huge. Once while Hailee and I we were dating, I thought nobody ever jokes something is fat that isn’t. I thought about a bone or area of the body nobody says fat about.  I thought I was funny when I told Hailee she had fat ankles.  I didn’t think anything bad would happen because ankles are a bone, there is no way it’s fat. After Hailee went away and cried, I realized that it wasn’t funny.  It ends up it’s never ok to say anything is fat on a females body. I had to seek forgiveness on that one, thankfully she forgave me.

 

We are people that like to think we have all the right answers. Often at times we are so thickheaded we don’t realize the mistakes we are making. Paul tries to explain in Rome how people have messed up in history. He said this in Romans 1:21-23…

“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.”

 

People messed up. During this time they saw the glory of God and amazing things he did. They still turned their backs on God. They relied on themselves instead of God. The people paid the price for that. A key line for this they thought they were wise and became fools. We like to think we have all the answers and yet can have none of the answers.

 

I still have a lot to learn about God. At times I have been foolish. I thought I couldn’t believe in a God that… and you can fill in the blank. I doubted faith a lot because there was a lot I didn’t know. I needed all the answers before I would follow Christ. Through talking with friends, I found out I would never have all the answers.

 

Even when you have all the answers, it doesn’t mean you do the right things. I could tell you how to eat healthy and lose weight. If I went to McDonalds, got four Mcdoubles, a large fry and a large drink, it would be over my daily calorie intake in one meal. You can be smart and still be an idiot.

 

Being smart is good, but if you don’t do anything with it or apply it to your life you’re a fool. Truly wise people can continue to learn and realize they don’t have all the answers. Maybe there is something that is keeping you from being the person you want to be. Or you would have faith in God accept you can’t accept why bad things happen in the world. It’s okay to seek help and get a deeper understanding. What do you need to do today to prove you are wise and not a fool? You can improve and continue to learn.

 

Have a great day.

Knowledge is power

Gaining knowledge can be key.

When I was young I remember the first time I got online.

I was in seventh grade and at my friend Kevin’s house.

We were messing around on the computer he said, hey do you want to chat to people online?

Ummm sure?

I remember thinking it was extremely boring as we dialed in through his only phone line.

It cancelled and disconnected so much I never thought we were going to go online.

After a long time, we connected.

We got in a chat room and started talking to people instantly.

I couldn’t believe I was talking to people online.

I never thought it would catch on.

Wow.

Look at the computer and how we contact people today.

If there is anything the NBC taught us through the more you know, knowledge is power.

I would have invested so much time and effort to see how the internet would impact society.

Some of those people are absolutely huge right now.

Apollos was a great man known for having “a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures.  He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor.”

He was a great man.

Some of Acts 18:27-28…

“When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.  For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving, from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.”

Knowledge is power.

He was moving in the right direction and a lot of debate is knowledge.

Not just having knowledge but the ability to listen and refute.

Jesus is the Messiah.

He was and is the savior.

He is there to make everything improve.

Apollos knowledge helped lead people to Christ.

Knowledge is power.

Having knowledge is what can change your life.

You won’t make the same mistakes and struggles when you have knowledge.

You will learn from situations and be able to answer people and have confidence.

What do you need to gain knowledge in?

How can that further your life?

Have a great day.