All Because Two People Fell in Love

'All because two people fell in love.'

This phrase interestingly sums up my existence.  It sits on a plaque in front of my grandparent's fireplace.  As I sat in their living room, I thought about how inclusive the word all is.  It covers everything.

What's interesting is that plaques like this one are usually the kind you see in newlyweds' homes, not 80 year olds who have been married for 55+ years.

But it is more appropriate for elderly couples to have such a phrase:  their all is a lot further reaching than newlyweds'.  They have more to claim.  They have years of experiences shared together.  They have rough times and easy times, fun dinners, dates, children, and more.  Their children have children which just includes more in all.

I think of my grandparents family:  five children, more than thirty grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, and more coming.

All because two people fell in love.

Finals

Sometimes I wonder if exam week is meant to be a joke.  I'm not sure why.  But I haven't gone crazy over a final in years.  Today I've already taken 2, my third one starts in 30 minutes, and it's only 1030.  I think that it's just that I haven't had a final that has adequately tested what I learned in the class.  Or maybe I am actually in the top tenth, but I really don't think so.

I almost wish I could take the rest of my finals today, but the other two are scheduled.

I guess I might be bragging, so I'll stop.

But finals week is fun, I get to do lots of cleaning checks (38).  But there aren't any today, which is what matters.  Most are tomorrow night. Yay.

Jesus the Lamb

As Christmastime approaches, our awareness of the Jesus story increases.  His birth comes to our minds, and we remember why we celebrate the season.  However, one misunderstood aspect of our Saviour's birth story helps us better understand why He is the Lamb of God: the shepherds.

We know Jesus is the Ultimate and Last Sacrifice, sent by the Father to fulfill the Law of Moses.  On the day of Atonement, unblemished lambs were sacrificed as the offering for Israel's atonement.  With these sacrifices made, the nation once again stood pure before God.  Jesus was sent as the Final Sacrifice--the Sacrifice to End All Sacrifices by the shedding of blood.

Jesus' entire mission was spent leading up to the hours of his Atonement, but His birth, and particularly those to whom the message of His birth was announced, give greater insight to what he was.

We learn, from Luke, that there were shepherds abiding in the fields by night on the eve of the Saviour's birth.  Though we often think "wow, the angels came even to the lowly shepherds," this is not the intent of the announcement.  These were not ordinary shepherd, these were shepherds who watched over the temple's flocks (this is known because of significant internal and external evidence).  These were not the average, poor, run-of-the-mill shepherds.  These shepherds were well-cared for, well-off, and not what we think of when we think "shepherd."

So this may destroy the popular notion that the angels came even to humble shepherds.  But there is a reason the angels came to these shepherds--a symbolic, and, therefore, much more important reason--they watched over the sheep to be sacrificed for Israel's atonement.  The angels came, in essence, to say "Come, see the reason you have a job.  See who will end the need for animal sacrifice."  This symbolism, of shepherds leaving their flocks and coming to Jesus, foreshadows what the early saints had to do:  leave behind the Law of Moses--it had been fulfilled--and come to Christ, recognizing Him as the great and last sacrifice.

The Bible

My brother, like myself, was a strong proponent for Prop 8 (and as the legal fight continues remains so). On his blog, or facebook, or myspace--something--a friend of his posted the comment 'F... the Bible' in reaction to my brother's defense that the Bible condemns the practice of gay marriage (or gay anything for that matter).

"F... the Bible' is a strong comment. It comes from someone who doesn't recognise the foundation upon which Western society is built. The Bible is more than just the bestselling book of all time, it is the moral foundation upon which our society was laid. And, to all those who look, is what kept the world relatively pure for so many years. As we fall away from discipleship to Christ and, as my brother's friend said, 'F... the Bible,' our society will follow. The fact we even had to vote on Prop 8 shows way too many people are saying 'F... the Bible.'

And sadly too many Churches are saying the same thing. Churches that use the Bible each week during their sermons are saying 'F... the Bible' because they aren't willing to stand up for what it teaches. They piddle away the blunt passages in Exodus, Romans (really blunt in the Greek), and Corinthian as mistranslated, unimportant, or 'hatespeech.'

Funny that this book which has given the moral guidance to our society is being decried as 'hatespeech.' Stranger still that a 20th century word is used to devalue the most important book in Christian history--and it's working.

Now is the time for those who are disciples of Christ to stand for what they believe, what the scriptures teach, and face whatever persecution comes. We only stand for morality, for life, for our Saviour. 

Speaking of the times in which we live, Jesus prophesied:

9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.

10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

So where do you stand? Will you endure? or will you succumb? There are only two choices.

Education vs. Schooling

You know, it's funny, but I'm in an Honours Writing class and today the teacher talked about how trying to get a C in a class would change our university experience. She talked about how it would give us new insights to life and learning, among other things.

While I haven't been trying to earn a C in any of my classes (my presence in an Honours Writing class should give good indication to that), I have realised that, in some small way, I have been following some of the principles my instructor discussed.

As a resident assistant, my life has become one of service to my floor and building. I've given a lot of time to others to help them with papers and other assignments, putting my faith in God to bless me in m studies. And I've seen Him come through. As I've trusted that my service would help someone else, I've seen my own studies greatly blessed (and I've felt very rested on little sleep). In fact, I'm doing better this semester than my previous two--and I feel like I'm studying less.

It's pretty weird, but I have learned a lot as I've put my education (about life and all other subjects) in front of my schooling. I've learned more overall.

So to all you uptight Honours students, don't favour your schooling above your education. Put others first, and trust that the Lord will bless you. I've seen it.