First One

So I decided my-space was super trendy and annoying. Therefore this blog was born. I am chilling out at home this evening because I am home for college. YAY. Its been a really good time so far. I spent Friday hanging out with the Fischers, EJ, Kate, and Ben because my rents weren't home. They gave me food! We watched the Sabres kick some butt too! Sat wasn't so great I worked at Anjons which is always an adventure. I actually still reek like onions and it is making me feel sick. We were wicked busy. I love working at a place where if there is a problem you hand the phone to your boss and if the customer is wrong he cusses him out. Today was Fuel. It was pretty good John nailed an awesome message about why we need Christ in our life. For once I did slides and Kevin ran sound. If you know me at all you know that is a big deal and progress in a relationship that was complicated by sound.

This week is going to be nuts. I am doing video for the district youth conference in Boston on the 27th so there will be a lot of planing for that as well as working at Anjons. I am so excited about Boston. If you ever asked me if I thought I was going to be the one controlling all the stuff at a conference for 2000+ kids I would have said Heck No! I can't believe I was given the opportunity. I know it is going to be a stretching time even tho I am crazy looking forward to it. There is a lot of work that needs to get done between me and Kevin. If it is anything like summer camp it is going to be 4 days with little sleep and living off Mt. Dew and chips because I don't have time to eat. Its going to be nuts. I live for this stuff. The videos I made for Houghton are also going to be debuted at the conference. It will be kinda cool to see a bunch of stuff I created shown in front of all those kids. It should also be fun to see some people from camp that I haven't seen because they are pastors in other districts. Oh yeah and I am staying with the world champion aggressive inline skater. Can't get much better than that yo!

So John gave this message today "What does it mean to be a Christian". While it was basic (yeah you go to college and you want people to include geography,timelines and context-sheesh!) it was super good and something I have been thinking a lot of about recently. In Rob Bells new book Velvet Elvis he talks about how people put a large emphasis on sin and people need to know we are forgiven first. That is awesome and I agree but when do you get to the point where you need to do something more? When do you get to the point where sin is not okay. Yes, it is never okay but if we are saved faith and we can't be perfect what's the point?

"You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deed is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith was made complete by what he did." James 2:20-22

"You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone." -James 2:24

"Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, though the law we become conscious of sin." Romans 3:25

"What than shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about--but not before God. What does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God. and it was credited to him as righteousness.' -Romans 4:1-3

So-what does it mean to be a Christian. How far can we take Grace. Its funny because this was supposed to be any essay question for a class and thats why I started to dive into the subject really. Do Paul and James have opposing viewpoints? Those who put the bible together didn't even want James to be included! So my answer for the essay question which relates to what we were taught in class is-No they don't present opposing viewpoints. Paul was talking to Jews who were strict observers of the law. They went so far as to think that in order to be come a Christian grown men needed to become circumcised and follow Jewish food laws even if they weren't Jewish. James appears to be writing in addition to what Paul said and combating those who took it to far.

So what does it mean? Faith in Christ is the number one thing but there has to be something that follows. Okay so I am not the best Christian but I am still saved. So last night at work, there was this guy working the oven who seemed to be eternally pissed off and was covered in tats. I immediately got defensive and was pretty scared of him because he was swearing and what not and lets just say Anjons doesn't really hire the best employees. When we slowed down a bit he asked me where I went to college. He was familiar with Houghton and asked me if I was a Christian. I said yes-to my surprise he said he was too and showed me a king of kings tat he had on his neck. It was a really interesting experience for me because I totally judged this guy and I have done it in the past. Everyone has there own struggles he may swear and get pissed at work but I am just as bad. I just look like the typical white goody-goody Christian kid that grew up in the suburbs. The great thing is God loves everyone. "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

Thats all I got-and I have a meeting in the morning so its time for me to get some rest.