Letter No. 2

Dear Fountainview Class of 2012,

Wow! Can you believe that there are 91 days till grad? That's 13 weeks, or about 3 months.

Before you read any further, I want you to temporarily forget that I'm an assistant dean—and still keep in mind that I have been with you all for the past 7 months of your senior year. Can we work with that? Yea? I'm an alumnus, a graduate of the class of 2011. I've been to school with y'all, laughed with y'all, played music with y'all, and picked up y'all's different ways of saying things. I've worked with most, prayed with some, cried with a few, and had meaningful conversations with many.

So then, let's get to the meaningful stuff.



The children of Israel were travelling in the Wilderness, on their journey to the Promised Land. A great pillar of cloud guided them by day, and a pillar of fire gave them light and protection by night. They could trust the pillar, because they knew the presence of God was in it. Wherever the pillar guided them, they went. Whenever it remained at camp, they stayed. And sometimes, the staying was more like waiting.

You and I are on a journey. God leads us like the pillar of cloud led the Israelites, through gorges and over rocky mountain passes, in deserts and by sweet waters. In any and every trial, God has provided for us, and brought us safely through. He has directed our paths where we should go, when we should go. I know each of you can look back and see how this is true in your own life. Too often we forget.

You know, I find this interesting: many times it is easy to follow God where He leads, but sometimes much harder to wait for Him to lead. I'm sure the Israelites wondered how much longer they had to stay at Mount Sinai after they had waited for almost a year. They wanted to get on to the Promised Land. But even after that necessary time of preparation and learning, when push came to shove, they weren't ready. Oh, how God longed to bring them speedily into the Promised Land! After waiting for so long at Sinai, however, they still complained about the difficulty of the way. Their perpetual stubbornness and distrust of God delayed them even longer, and at the end of 40 more years, they still did not trust God fully.



It is God's will for you to be here at Fountainview. If you don't believe this, then you better pack your bags and leave. God's cloud for you is resting here; this is where He has led you. I know, because I've experienced this myself, that if you look back at what He has done in your life since coming here, you will see threads woven into the tapestry of your life, and glimpses of a beautiful picture. You will see that even the dark threads have their part. You will also see that the picture is far from complete. He has taught you much; He is still teaching you. You have had many trials; I guarantee you there will be more. Last but not least, the many joyful experiences of the past 1, 2, 3, or 4 years are not over yet, either.

And so I appeal to you: Remember where you are.

Remember whose you are.

God has led you here, and you will never, ever find a place like Fountainview again. There may be similarities in other places, but Fountainview is unique.

The experiences you have here you will never have again.
The years you have lived here you will never live again.
(Keep in mind that this is true of any place God leads you.)

God is doing everything He can to make you ready for the next step, and ultimately, ready for the Promised Land. Right now—right here.

Live.
Laugh.
Learn.

Savour it while you can. 

Don't let there be any reason for regret.

And when the cloud finally leads you on, trust God. He may stop at the most inconvenient times, or go through the most uncomfortable places, but you can trust and wait patiently for the God who has led you faithfully in the past, and who will continue to do so in the future.

Because He loves you.

                                                                                                   Sincerely,
                                                                                                                   Val                                                                                  

Another Thought From a Friend to You

Well, dear friends, I meant to share this earlier, but just didn't get around to it. Maybe someone needs to read it more now than then...

Another one of my favourite writers and friends posted this very thought-provoking blog post a couple of weeks ago. I hope it blesses you as it blessed me.

Spreading Sunshine: The Master of the Wind: As we gathered in the inner cabin to begin sundown worship, I scrambled up into the loft, perching myself precariously on the tilted window ...

The Only Thing

"The only thing I'm going to wish my life away for is Heaven."

I was sitting on the bus with my friend Esther, driving back from our Chiliwack concert. Somehow we got started talking about grad, and she asked me all about how it works and what happens with the candle-passing and on and on. I showed her pictures. I told her what transpires. I tried to convey feelings—both of the juniors and the seniors. And inevitably, I ended up telling her one of my favourite stories.

It's the story of a group of teenagers. A bunch of unkind, drama-affected sophomores who were only slightly more mature the next year. A cliquey junior class of non-leaders, from which hardly a positive influence resulted. Until one day. Or many days. In a journey of ups and downs, of resentful feelings and piercing convictions, of broken then mended friendships, of prayer and effort, of awkward meetings then family time, of laughter and tears, of spider webs and charcoal, of gowns and purple, this once dysfunctional and disunited class became a family, close and tried. 

And none of them can take any credit for it whatsoever. It was God working in their individual lives, directing them to make an effort towards a higher standard of friendship, service, unity—of love—that made their class what it was. It was only as God individually refined them in the fire (and trust me, there was fire for each of them), that they drew closer to each other in drawing closer to God. It could only be a miracle. It was only God's grace. God's amazing grace. It's an experience that none of them would trade for anything else.

My friend Esther and I realized all over again the need to savour the time we have where God has placed us. To enjoy our current experience while it still current. Because the phrase, "One day, this too shall pass," unavoidably applies in the good times as well as the hard times. And too often, we don't realize how good the times are until they are past. Thankfully, God taught me this well enough so that I did savour most of my experiences last year. And He is still teaching me to seek and soak up every last drop of joy as it passes by. It's hard when you feel like you're squeezing awful hard, but you'll be glad when you can look back and have no regrets. 

I am not going to wish my life away. The future is inviting and exciting. But it will come when it comes, and when it does, it will only be present for a second, and then it will be past. Just think, the present used to be the future that you once looked forward to. And now, 5 seconds after you read that, it became the past. This is how life rolls, no matter how slow or fast we want it to go. Why wish it away and miss the blessing of today—and the privilege of the moment?

There is one thing, though, that I will wish my life away for. I wish I could skip years of my "joyful" life here on earth if it meant being in Heaven with Jesus sooner. Heaven is the only thing I will wish my life away for—the only thing.

I want to go to Heaven, and pick a never fading flower,

From the mountain overlooking the temple of my God.

I want to go to Heaven, where all is light and glory,

How I long to be with Jesus! How I long to be with God!

Some times I think that I could stay here no longer.

I feel very lonely here, for I have seen a better land!

Oh! That I had wings like a dove,

Then would I fly away, and be at rest.

Paradigm Shift

Original Picture: http://www.tooft.com/34-beautiful-digital-eyes/

An Old Photo

Original Photographer: Ceri Christiansen

A Prayer

Dear Father in Heaven,

Lord, it’s such a beautiful day today. I can really feel spring in the air, and the sun is coming out. Thank you so much for this wonderful place and this wonderful weather.

But Lord, You know what’s really on my heart today. I really miss my class, Lord. I think it’s the changing seasons and the nearness of grad. I can’t really put it into words. I know You know, though. Before You formed me in the womb, You knew me. You know the desires of my heart. And before I call, You will answer.

I have so many memories attached to this time of year. It makes me long for the time when there will be no more separation, no more distance, no more goodbyes. I guess that means that I long for Heaven. Deep in the depths of my soul, Lord, this is what it comes down to. I’m homesick for Heaven. I can’t shake it, nor would I want to. Now that I realize once again the true nature of the longings of my sometimes lonely heart—now that I see that it is Heaven (and ultimately, You) that I miss—it adds warmth and hope to the yearning inside. I pray that you would always remind me of this, and that you would fuel it in the direction of Heaven.

But now I’m reminded of Your promise, that You will not drink of the fruit of the vine until You drink it with us in Heaven. You must long for that day even more than we ever could. I mean, You invested Your eternal life just to gain even the possibility of having that experience with us. If I think of my nostalgic, reminiscent emotions right now, and multiply it by the worth of Your eternal life, I gain just a slight taste of how You feel about us.

I know You look forward to that great day. And I can hardly wait. In the meantime, Lord, thank You for being my Best Friend who will never leave, never change, and never be far away. Help me be so towards You as well.

                                                                     In Jesus’ name,

                                                                                    Amen

Job 23:10-11

“But He knows the way that I take;

When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.

My foot has held fast to His steps;

I have kept His way and not turned aside.”

From a Friend to You

I just wanted to share with you all a post written by one of my favourite writers, and one of my dearest friends. It was a big blessing to me, and I pray that it will be to you as well.

Shades of Life: The Struggle

For the Love of Egg Rolls

Imagine standing in line at the cafeteria (at Fountainview). Straining your neck to see what's being served, past the curving line of hungry young people, you see that it's is absolutely the best thing that ever happened. At least, that's what you think at this moment. Egg rolls! Excitement and hunger rumble in your stomach. You are just itching to take the first luscious bite, because you know it will be good. You've tasted it before. But as you keep a sharp lookout on the progress of the line and the diminishing number of egg rolls, your rumbling stomach begins to sink. Anxiously you crowd the person in front of you in a futile effort to make the line go faster. You forget that this won't do you any good; the egg rolls will only disappear sooner. Finally, you make it to the table, only to find that there are no egg rolls left. Turning away in sorrow, you come face to face with a cafeteria worker carrying a deck-pan full of fresh egg rolls, straight out of the oven. They're the best egg rolls you've ever had.

You forgot the most important thing: there will always be enough. The cafeteria is well known for providing an abundance of food. There was nothing to worry about. They had everything under control.

Sometimes I feel like I'm standing in the line of life. I'm waiting, and when I catch glimpses of God's plan for me, my hunger for it grows. The fulfilment of God's plan for me is like an egg roll. I know it's going to be good. I've tasted it before. I can't wait to get my teeth into it and take that luscious bite. So, I try to make the line go faster. I want God to fulfil His plan for me right now, or at least reveal His plan right now. Can't He hand me an egg roll (reveal His plan) and give me concrete evidence that I will get to eat it?

But I don't run the cafeteria. I forget that there will always be enough. No matter how long God takes to fully work out His will in my life, the supply of egg rolls will never fail. God will supply me with everything I need at just the right time; He has everything under control, and I don't have to worry that I won't get any egg rolls. Sometimes, He leaves me waiting at the table, confused by the empty deck-pan, until I come face to face with Him. Then He'll give me the best egg rolls I've ever had.

"So the LORD must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help." - Isaiah 30:18 NLT

A Future and a Hope

Consider the experience of Moses. - Ministry of Healing, pg.474

I've been reading a lot about Moses lately. God worked miracle after miracle for the Israelites, but shortly after they would forget and murmur (complain) about present difficulties. It was a constant roller-coaster going from, "Praise the Lord, He is so good and has led us thus far," to, "Bitter water!? Come on Moses, did you bring us out here to die of thirst?" What a stupid question! God didn't bring them out to die in the desert. How could they forget all the wonders God worked in Egypt? How could they possibly forget crossing the Red Sea on dry ground? Just think, Moses had to deal with this stubborn bunch of whiners for more than 40 years! And that only because they were a stubborn bunch of whiners!

What prepared him for such a great and difficult work? Well of course, everything about him shouted, "LEADER." He had been trained in the royal schools of the most powerful nation on earth. Everything from diplomacy to strategy to governing was included in his training. All of Egypt, including his royal grandfather, once looked to him as the next Pharaoh. Surely this is what qualified him to lead the multitude of God's people. Right?

Not so.

The education he received in Egypt as the king’s grandson and the prospective heir to the throne was very thorough. Nothing was neglected that was calculated to make him a wise man, as the Egyptians understood wisdom. He received the highest civil and military training. He felt that he was fully prepared for the work of delivering Israel from bondage. But God judged otherwise. His providence appointed Moses forty years of training in the wilderness as a keeper of sheep (MH 474).

What? A shepherd? What happened to the great military leader, the heir to the throne of the most powerful kingdom in Egypt? Wasn't that the kind of training that would prepare Moses to lead his people? Doubtless it aided him greatly when the time came. But God knew that he wasn't ready yet. He had much to unlearn from his life as an honoured grandson of the Pharaoh, surrounded by heathen worship and glorified man-made structures. Here in the majestic mountains of the wilderness God revealed His power and greatness. Moses was alone with God, and he learned lessons of service, humility, tender care, patience, faithfulness, and meekness. He came to know God as a mighty but personal friend.

And then, the call came. Now God knew he was ready. Now, after he had let go of his own self-sufficiency, was he prepared to lead God's people from Egypt. In fact, he had become so humble and distrustful of himself that he shrank from the mission. It seemed impossible to him. God was patient, however, and provided everything he needed. And that encounter at the burning bush would be one of many near face-to-face meetings with God.

So what does this ancient familiar Bible story have to do with us today? Plenty. We are just as stubborn and whiny as those Israelites. We easily forget the ways God has led us in the past, and we complain and murmur about the smallest things.

Sometimes God leads you into the wilderness to teach you valuable lessons. This has to happen before He can really use you for the work He has called you to. You think that you are all prepared to do your lifework, or you think that you need education and power and honour in order to really do a work for God. But this is not reality. It may not make sense to the world, to your friends, to your family, or even to you, but God may place you in the most uncomfortable, uncanny, and unconventional circumstances to work out His greater purpose in your life.

And one day, you'll be ready.

One day, God will say to me, "Now you are ready. Go unto Pharaoh..." Whatever the work will be, I know that God is making me ready. He is using every experience and circumstance. And He is guiding every step. I may not meet a burning bush, or part the waters of a sea, but I KNOW, without a shadow of a doubt, that God has a plan for me.

And He has a plan for you.

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV).

Word of the Moment

bit·ter·sweet  [adj. bit-er-sweet, bit-er-sweet; n. bit-er-sweet]
adjective
1.
both bitter and sweet to the taste: bittersweet chocolate.
2.
both pleasant and painful or regretful: a bittersweet memory.

If you want me to explain, just ask.

We'll Walk if We Have To

"Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!"

That all too familiar sound. Again. We were pulling out of Twin Falls this morning, and our bus wouldn't stop beeping. You see, yesterday we were delayed almost 4.5 hours because of a problem with the air compressor on the bus. Praise God, the repair man came from over an hour's drive away, and he was able to fix it quickly. On top of that, he didn't charge us anything! He is a Christian man, and it was a huge blessing because Scott was expecting anywhere from $500-1000. We gave him two DVDs.

It was a pretty uneventful drive for the most of the rest of the day. Walmart stop, Taco Bell pick-up, and then a late drive with a confusing time change that we didn't actually change but the schedule says it changed (the way that I wrote it is about as confusing as it was for us).

We were almost to the church, and Scott was in the lead. At an intersection (oh, that fateful intersection), Scott and Alistair were discussing over the radios. Their two GPS's hardly ever agree, and we never know which one is right. So we turned left. And Alistair turned right.

He was right.

We soon discovered this fact, so Scott attempted to turn around. Pitch black outside, lonely straight road with dirt and fields on either side, lined by barbed-wire fence on one side and an electric (as someone said) fence on the other. Just when we were perfectly perpendicular to the road, and completely blocking it, a grinding noise brought us to a halt. Back and forth, Scott tried to get us unstuck, but in vain. We went out to investigate. The back wheels on the driver's side were stuck in a foot-deep hole, conveniently just large enough for the wheels. On top of that, we had a flat tire (which is why we couldn't get out of the hole). On top of that, it was freezing cold outside. By the time the other bus picked us up (Alistair backed in), we ended up getting to sleep around 1:00 am (Boise time, 12:00 am BC time...I think).

And so today, we were rolling out and -- "Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!" It just wouldn't quit. A problem with the air again. So now we are back at the school/church where we stayed, having wifi and playing basketball. And praying. Really praying.

It was a real blessing for us to be able to have worship together as a group while we waited for the bus yesterday. In small groups, we discussed the story of the loaves and fishes. It is amazing how much there is in there about buses and Las Vegas Tour! I believe that a major highlight of what we learned (and shared with the whole group together) is that God can do the impossible with little things, and only if we give all to Him.

Pray for us; the devil doesn't like what we're doing, and he's stopping at nothing to stop us. And if he can't stop us, he's going to try to distract us from our purpose on this trip. He will have succeeded in that case. Pray that we will not get distracted or worry about the buses, showers, sleep (or the lack thereof), or making it to concerts on time. Pray that we will trust God completely and not waver in our faith and purpose. There is nothing to fear; nothing to worry about. Except that we forget how God has led us in the past...

"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;
But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
They have bowed down and fallen;
But we have risen and stand upright." Ps 20:7, 8

If God wants us there, He'll get us there. Nothing can stop us.

We'll walk if we have to.

Headed to Sin City

Ok, so today is the worst time to write a blog post. But it's probably my only chance before we head to Sin City, so I thought I better get one more post in before the mass exodus occurs.

We are taking Fountainview Academy on the road. That is, we're having school on the road. We have been invited by It Is Written to come and play at a huge event they are hosting in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is called "Revelation Today." Almost very morning and evening from Friday, February 3 to Sabbath, February 12, Fountainview will be either playing a few numbers in the meetings, or having a full concert. The meetings will be broadcast around the world. And in the midst of all of this, we are having school. Yup, we're taking most of the teachers, some of their family members, and we are going to have classes in the place where we are staying. Talk about a full schedule!

Well, please pray for us as we embark on so great an adventure. Not so much for us (though we really need it), but more for our influence and part in the meetings. Sin City...you know there's a reason it has that nickname. But God has His people there too. Pray that many people will come to know Him more.

Well, that's all for today, folks! Sorry if this was kind of scatter-brained -- squirrel!

In this is Love

Here is the revelation of the last post's "sneak peek." It is the Vespers talk from last night (January 27, 2012). God taught me so much through this experience, especially in the preparation. He taught me to trust Him for every single word, and to trust Him even when it seemed impossible that I could be ready in time. I pray that it will be a blessing to you. And I can't say enough that all the glory belongs to Jesus.

Sometime I hope to transcribe it into written form. I'll update this post at that time. Feel free to download the file if you wish.

One more thing...there is a part around 10 mins or so where the video on the screen had some difficulty playing right away. Also, you might need to turn the volume up at that point to hear the video.

All the glory belongs to Jesus.
 

Just a sneak peak...

So, I haven't posted in a while, and I'm not really sure what to write. My mind is too full of this Vespers talk I'm working on. God has been leading in amazing ways and revealing fresh understandings of His love. Ahhhh....the complex simplicity of the gospel! Nothing new, just things we hardly ever stop to think about. But when you do stop, when you see...well, I don't want to give it away. Just a sneak peak, I guess ;) I'll post about it after. I'm not sure yet when I will share it. Soon, hopefully, soon...

The Long-Awaited California Tour Update

This one’s for Jo.

I had dreams of keeping up with my blog on Cali tour, but sadly, it never happened. So now I’ll have to update you all on how it went.

This year’s tour was quite different from previous tours I’ve been on. For one thing, I was a dean, not a student this time. That makes the whole experience a bit different. Well, maybe a lot different.

But in general, it was great. In most ways, it was better than it ever has been before. Where should I start? First things first, many seasoned Cali-tourists say this was the most restful Cali tour ever. The schedule was quite relaxed, with time to stop for meals and play at rest stops and PLENTY of time to shop (most of us went FOUR times). We also had a whole day off! The plan was to do laundry, go to the beach and go mini golfing, but we were apprehended by rain and seagulls, which made for just a short beachside picnic lunch and a mad dash to the bus, and yes, SHOPPING instead of mini-golf (who would have guessed?). We had no concert that evening and also on the Friday before (which has never happened before I believe).

Speaking of picnic lunches. The food was AMAZING on this tour! We had four lovely alumni ladies as our cook crew, plus Mr. Roque. MMM MMM MMMMMMMM… For that picnic lunch we had amazing veggie burgers on big fluffy buns, 3 or 4 varieties of chips (the gourmet, Costco kind), a small bottle of Naked juice for everyone (that’s for Liss and Amie). Other meals consisted of sushi rolls (anywhere from 1-5 each—that’s a lot of sushi rolls for over 100 people!) with rice, flat noodles, carrot salad; the famous Roque Filipino meal with caldaretta, pansit, and fried rice; baked potatoes with every kind of topping you can imagine (mushrooms, vegan sour cream, vegan cheese sauce, green onions, bacon bits, chilli, ETC.). For supper on the bus from Sacramento, we had Roots 500 (a delicious mix of potatoes, carrots, and other goodness), fruit trifle, AND fruit salad (mangos and watermelon included). For breakfasts, we had really good cubed potatoes mixed with tofu scramble, Fountainvew-canned applesauce, and among other things, they tried a new delicacy on us: chia pudding. A whole lot of healthy energy packed into some slimy, white goo full of frogs’ eg—I mean, swelled chia seeds.

But we didn’t go on Cali tour to eat (though the eating was much fun). We went to share Christ. And this, I believe (and I agree with Scott), was most important “better” thing about this tour. Overall, the spiritual impact of this tour seemed to be greater. The more lenient schedule allowed for more time for personal devotions, which meant that students and staff alike had the opportunity to establish their connection with God in the morning, thus making our interactions with the people at the concerts more meaningful. It allowed the Spirit to work more through us in the performances. Scott also pointed out that he noticed that we treated each other better than in years past (he would know, because he drives the bus for a bunch of us teenage girls). Because the love of Jesus was affecting our interactions with one another, it made our impact on others that much stronger. We also integrated some “Friends of Fountainview” cards to go in the programs that were handed out, with options for people to ask for more information, for prayer, and for Bible studies. We realized that the impression made on people at the concert should be followed up with an opportunity for them to learn more, to really be pointed to Jesus. The students were encouraged to go into the audiences after concerts, to talk and pray with people, and collect the request cards.

God also blessed our fundraising for newer buses (ones that won’t break down at midnight in the middle of winter on a high mountain pass). We raised enough to cover the expenses of the trip and at least half a bus. (For more info go to: http://fountainview.ca/donate/)

I’m so glad this year’s tour went so well, and that God is still improving our music and program even though we keep graduating many of our leading musicians and singers. It’s only because of Him that we meet with success. All the glory goes to Him. 

Fill Me: The Poem

Well, here's my second post inspired by my experience at GYC. It was a huge blessing; I learned so much, and God really "woke me up" again. I won't go into much detail because the previous post and this poem say it all. I pray you will gain a blessing, and maybe, just maybe, your heart's cry might echo mine.

Fill Me

Before Thy throne of grace I bow;

Speechless, it seems, to say

The things that You already know

Are on my heart today.

I find myself here once again --

An everyday routine;

But Lord, today, You see I thirst;

I plead with You, fill me.

Fill me, and take my prideful heart,

My fearful tendency,

My quest for recognition and

My self-sufficiency.

Take all these things, and in their place,

Give me a strong desire

To glorify my King alone,

Be lighted with Your fire.

Lord, move me where Your Spirit leads,

To go where You may call,

To say what You would have me say,

To willingly give all.

It may not be on mountain's height,

Or over stormy sea,

It may not be at battle's front,

Where God may soon need me;

If by a still, small voice He calls

To paths I do not know,

I'll answer with my hand in Thine,

I'll go, my Lord, I'll go.

But now, I pray, "Fill me."

This is my earnest plea.

Valerie Jacobson

Jan. 2, 2012

Fill Me

Lord, here I am.

Take me.

Take the elements of myself that are keeping me from you, that are distracting me from Your purpose, that are preventing me from truly being filled.

Take my pride. Instead make me humble.

Take my self-sufficiency. Instead make me dependent upon you.

Take my fear. Instead make me bold and unafraid to let You do with me, in me, and through me what You desire.

Take my desire for recognition. Instead let me live for Your recognition alone, and for Your honor and glory alone.

Fill me with Thy Spirit.

And Lord, as the work of Your Spirit is to glorify You, so also let me glorify You in letting Your Spirit transform my character into one like Christ's. For this work of changing me back into the image of God will bring glory to You alone.

Fill me.

Fill me with a burning desire for the baptism of Your Spirit -- a desire as strong as Your longing fulfill it.

Fill me with Your Spirit, to cleanse and sanctify my wandering heart, to consecrate my all to You.

Fill me with the Comforter who will enable me to ride through the storms of life, and emerge with greater faith.

Fill me, and guide me by Your Spirit to go where you would have me to be, to do what you would have me to do, to say what you would have me to say, to be who you would have me to be.

Fill me now.

In Jesus' name, amen.

: Simple

http://www.myspace.com/video/racing4home/001-re-ally-with-david-asscherick/33335682

A friend of mine posted this on his blog, and I hope he doesn't mind me sharing it again. I also have some thoughts that I shared in a comment I posted on his, which I will share here. 

It would be in your best interest to watch the video before you read on. It'll make more sense that way.

A few of my friends commented on the video, and said that at first David Asscherick's answer seemed cliché. Here's what I said:

...that's the beauty of Asscherick's answer. The fact that it appeared cliché at first only emphasizes how simple the answer should be. God is either there, or He isn't: Simple. We either find Him because we seek Him, or we don't find Him because we don't seek Him: Simple. Once we do find Him, once we see Him, we can't not see Him: Simple.

Faith: Simple. 

I think that all the "shallow cerebral motivations," treating it like an "intellectual rubric," is the very reason that people struggle with this. They are making it too complicated. Humans have become so over-analytical that when someone tries to show them the simplicity of the gospel, they pridefully shake it off. They say, "I won't believe in that, there's not enough science behind it. I'm more educated than that to believe."

Or maybe it's the simplicity that "scares" them off. They see how simple it is, yet because of their preconceived ideas and over-analytical mindset, they don't understand. They don't let themselves understand. But the fact that they can't understand something so simple is a rebuke to their "intellect." Again, it comes down to pride.

I think even we, as Christians who believe in God and who even know and want to know Him, have a tendency to over-complicate things. We are almost guilty of the same mistake. God’s been really teaching me lately that I sometimes over-analyse the Christian walk. All the things I should be doing, shouldn’t be doing, should have done, and should do in my spiritual life start to become more important than the Reason for these things. Jesus as our Creator, Redeemer, and Example is the most important: Simple. We get too wrapped up in living the life, in walking the walk. It becomes too much of an intellectual exercise.

To the Atheist: God is there, or He isn’t. 

To the Christian: God is here (see me pointing at my heart), or He isn’t. 

To the Christian: Why do you want to find Him?  

To the Atheist: Why do you not want to find Him?

Please think about it. 

Walking Through the Red Sea

With things gearing up around here for California Tour, I've had a lot on my plate. Mind you, I've voluntarily heaped up large helpings. Much of my recent busyness has been personal: praying about next year's plans, researching universities, and trying to keep my room clean in spite of the inevitable packing-for-Cali-Tour-and-Christmas-break-tornado. It's been so crazy that I have info and ideas and things I have to do and applications I have to fill and violin I have to practice and piano I have to learn and theory I have to finish and  friends I need to talk to and research I need to organize and packing I need to worry about oozing out of my pores. And that's just one half of my plate. The other, of course, is work-related. Putting together bus lists consists of more necessary work than you'd realize (especially the one[s] for Cali Tour); however, I'm learning a lot about logistics, behind-the-scenes planning, garnering information from people, and knowing from whom, how, and when to garner it.

So I guess my point is that I'm busy. Things are really busy around here at Fountainview, but I'm sure it's like that everywhere, to some extent. Life is simply busy (ok, maybe "simply" is not the best word). There's always things we have to do, things we probably should do, things we want to do, and things we wish we could do but can't. At every turn there are people that need to talk to you, people you need to talk to, deadlines to meet, messes to clean, things to plan, phone calls and emails to make. Right now I'm wondering how I have time to write this post (here's a secret: I don't).

Picture this: you're standing helplessly, staring at the deluge of busyness threatening to wash over you. A huge sea of stress and long to-do lists could crash down upon you at any moment. But now it's time to remember an old Bible story. The children of Israel had a large watery obstacle to pass, and God opened up a way for them, holding back the waters of the Red Sea. I always liked to imagine what it was like to walk by those huge walls of water, a miracle that defied the science of gravity and the like. "By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned" (Hebrews 11:29 NKJV). The Israelites had to have faith in God to walk through the Red Sea. The Egyptians, on the other hand, had no such faith, and as a result they were drowned. 

Are you an Israelite or an Egyptian? It's a question I'm asking myself right now. Do you have enough faith in God (even the faith of the Israelites was pretty puny) to trust that He can hold back the tidal waves of busyness and stress, and make a way for you to get through, unharmed? Or are you going to try to pursue your own agenda, without faith in God? The story says that only those who have faith in God will survive a walk through the Red Sea. But what an experience! God wants to do the impossible in your life. So, by faith, keep walking.