Odyssey of Oddity

Bible vs. School

While doing some reading this morning, I came upon this phrase at the last sentence of the reading: “…when the student is eagerly seeking knowledge of everything but his Bible, Christ comes as a thief.”

Ouch. As a student, I’m so busy seeking knowledge from all of my schoolwork, that I seem to neglect making the right efforts of seeking knowledge and wisdom from my Bible. Yes, I do morning devotions, and yes I pray… I even have a spiritual leadership position on campus! But I seem to put schoolwork before God. I seem to be seeking out knowledge and understanding through what the world offers, instead of what my Bible offers.

It needs to be the other way around. Schoolwork should be secondary. Seeking knowledge from academics should be secondary to seeking knowledge from the Bible. I don’t want God to come as a “thief in the night” to me. I want to be ready. Prepared.

The Bible needs to be first. God needs to be first.

May
14

Loma Linda? God Over Academics.

I’ve been back and forth recently thinking about grad school. Last summer, I had decided that even though there were other schools that were much better for getting a master’s degree in public health, that I would go to Loma Linda University instead, because it was a Seventh-day Adventist religious institution. I believed (and still do!) that Christian education is very important - when one is young and of elementary age, and even now in my 20s. However, recently I’ve been looking at other options for grad school.

I’ve been losing my focus on where God wants me to be, I think. A couple months ago, I prayed earnestly about Loma Linda, and all of a sudden just a few days after that, doors started opening for me to go there. I truly believe its where God wants me. I know that other schools may be academically better than Loma Linda University for public health, I know. And I know that its not a perfect institution, spiritually-speaking, either. However, when it comes to God over academics, I’ve been convicted long ago that Loma Linda was the better option.

So, Loma Linda is the plan. Its not perfect, but it provides growth opportunities in God that I think are important. Yes, I know I can find growth opportunities anywhere, but I really truly believe that for as long as I can, I should pursue Adventist education. That’s just my opinion.

Thanks, Mom, for insisting that I stay in Adventist education (ever since I was in elementary school). Your efforts of sacrifice for it definitely haven’t gone to waste. I now see its importance. God is to come first above academics. God is always to come first. :)

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40-Day Challenge: Day 15: This is My House!

40-daychallenge:

“Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the benches of those selling doves. ‘It is written,’ he said to them, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’ The…

To be honest, sometimes its really hard to give God full attention during worship. Usually, because of everyday life, there are always things on my mind. Its not easy to focus solely on the worship.

However, there are things that I have done in the past that do help. It might sound a bit silly, but staying away from Facebook for a couple hours before that worship help me to keep focused. Its not just in worship either. Staying away from Facebook helps me to focus in a lot of different areas. Something else that really helps me to keep focused during worship is to not bring my phone. Not just turning it off or on vibrate, but actually not bringing it at all. This keeps the possibility of distraction away.

These are just a couple of things that help me sometimes. However, it doesn’t mean that I still am able to give God the full attention He deserves. Its funny, being in a spiritual leadership position here at school. Everyone thinks that you’re good, and that you’ve got things under control - that you don’t have any problems when it comes to your spiritual walk with God. But that’s not true. I have problems just the same as anyone else. Oh boy, do I. It can become really hard, too, because you can’t admit you’re weak to just anybody. You still do need to occupy the leadership role. However, its important to have people to support you when you’re spiritually feeling down. That’s something that I feel is so important in helping us give full attention to God. Worshiping with others who are in a similar boat as you, others who understand where you’re coming from, others who are there with their full support for you, is super helpful for me.

Above all, seeking God in earnest prayer is key key key. Its not enough to just give a short little prayer here and there for me. When I am able to give God full attention the most - not just in worship, but throughout my day - is after I’ve spent quality time with Him in prayer. Sometimes it can be close to an hour in prayer. Its a long time. But its worth it. Its so worth it.

I’ve rambled on. But hey, this is what I think!

May
09

40-Day Challenge: Day 10: Enormous Little Things

40-daychallenge:

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and…

If anyone has taken Dr. Teel’s class, Religion and Society, you’ll know that this is passage of scripture is fundamental to the whole study during the quarter. Serving others; serving the poor, the widowed, the orphan, the stranger - serving the least. This kind of service has definitely been on my mind lately, and its so weird how it keeps popping up everywhere - like God is trying to really tell me something.

It goes along with something else I read earlier this morning before I read this devotion for 40-day Challenge. From a book called Prophets and Kings, it said this: “None can know what may be God’s purpose in His discipline; but all may be certain that faithfulness in little things is the evidence of fitness for greater responsibilities. Every act of life is a revelation of character, and he only who in small duties proves himself ‘a workman that needeth not to be ashamed’ can be honored by God with higher service.”

According to day 10 of 40-day Challenge, in the scripture passage it presents, the little things that we are to to are to care for the least - the lowest - of society. Combining this with the other book I’ve read shows that these little things we are to do are to prepare us and shape us for greater responsibilities.

Its hard to sometimes not have ulterior motives to why we do good deeds. I am in the same boat as everyone else. Sometimes its to make me feel good or make me look good. But it shouldn’t be like this. I should be doing these things because its how to serve Christ. Period.

Today, I am asking God for help on this particular issue - serving the least.

May
07

Love.

This past weekend, I was at La Sierra’s Missions Retreat for all of our out-bound student missionaries. On Saturday night - which is always the most intimate and personal time of the retreat - there was a portion where we listened to a short sermonette and had communion. Now, the whole focus of the sermonette was on love. Love, love, love. There were examples of love, stories of love, and we actively listened to the reading of 1 Corinthians 13 - the Bible’s chapter on love.

I enjoyed the sermonette immensely and realized that I’ve been doing things all wrong. I know I’ve mentioned it before, but I tend to be legalistic in some cases when it has to do with religion, God, and the Bible. “The Bible says this… blah blah blah, so we must do exactly this… blah blah blah…” However, this weekend I noticed something that I haven’t really actively taken apart and dissected in my mind before. 1 Corinthians 13:13 says “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” Did you catch it? Love is better than faith.

When you read the whole chapter of 1 Corinthians, it shows that love is what brings everything together. Love is what makes faith worth something. Love is what makes following God valuable. Love is the glue. Love is the purpose. Love is what we are supposed to be doing. Following scripture is great, but if we were to have to choose one over the other, we should focus on loving more than being legalistic about what the Bible says.

Now, I am not in any way refuting the Bible’s authority over us. It is important. Definitely. The Bible is the very epitome on how to love. It is our example, our guide. It is not to be discounted or discredited. But the Bible itself shouldn’t be our focus. Yes, it is to be earnestly integrated into our daily lives, but it shouldn’t be our focus - for then, we become legalistic about things. The focus should be to love.

My boyfriend - the Missions student director - was the one giving the sermonette at the retreat. Now, I’m not saying this just because he’s my boyfriend, but I really truly believe that he was the perfect person to talk to us on this topic. You see, out of all of the people I have ever known, he is the one whose true being is that of love. He really does practice what he preaches. He’s not perfect (sorry, Alex!), of course not. But he is the closest I personally know whom is actually active in practicing love. Its why he is such an inspiration to others. Its why everyone comes to him for advice, for help. Its why people seek to be in his company - because he’s active with his love. He doesn’t just preach it. He lives it. Even if he doesn’t say it, it shows through the way he chooses his lifestyle that his focus is on love more than anything. More than hope. More than faith. Love, love, love.

My focus has been all wrong. I’ve tried to follow God’s commandments, but haven’t done them with the right focus, the right attitude. I’ve been legalistic with the Scriptures. Love is greater than faith. Faith in what? Well, I know what it means to me, but I’ll let you decide that one for yourself. But whatever the specifics, love is the greatest. Yes, I know that following the Scriptures is key in practicing love. However, the scriptures shouldn’t be the focus. Love itself should be the focus. God is love. We can’t be true Christians without practicing the definition of who and what God is. Love needs to be the focus. Love.

Apr
26

Prayer is the Solution

So I’m speaking for church this Sabbath. I’ve been stressing all week about what exactly I’m going to be saying. I mean, I have the topic down and the basic idea… but as for specifics, I’ve been caught at a standstill, not able to really come up with anything that flows or makes sense.

But silly me… why wasn’t I praying about it this whole time!? I finally prayed about it last night… and low and behold, this morning all sorts of ideas and words are coming to my mind. Its amazing how simply prayer can be the solution to our problems.

Why is it that we don’t pray more? Haa…

Apr
25

What Brings Peace?

I’ve been stressing a whole lot about all kinds of stuff lately. Every little thing, it seems, is hitting as a really hard blow… each and every time. Nothing seems to be going right this week.

But this morning, I read a few words in my devotional that really encouraged me. It said:

“In obedience to God’s law there is great gain. In conformity to the divine requirements there is a transforming power that brings peace and good will among men” (Prophets and Kings, 192).

Although the context for these couple sentences is about Jehoshaphat, and its not so much talking about stress over the hard things in life, I still take this to be very hopeful. Psalm 119:165 says, “Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble,” which goes along exactly with what the first phrase is talking about. Its dealing with living rightly before God. If we live in His will, we will have peace.

I have been neglecting quality time with God lately, mostly due to being really busy with other things. But I know this is against what He wants. He needs to go first. Not school, not sleep, not work, etc. This is, essentially, what God’s first commandment is all about - having nothing that goes before Him. I have been neglecting to put Him first, and this is disobedience to Him and His law.

No wonder I haven’t been feeling peace lately…

Apr
22

Healthy Living

“We have been entrusted with the most solemn message ever given to our world, and the object to be kept plainly and distinctly before our minds is the glory of God. Let us take care that we do nothing which will weaken physical, mental, or spiritual healthfulness, for God will not accept a tainted, diseased, corrupted sacrifice. Care must be exercised in eating, in drinking, in dressing, and in working, lest we detract from our efficiency and fail of doing our most exalted work in the best manner, in order that the results of our labor may be as lasting as eternity.

It is our duty to train and discipline the body in order that we shall render to the Master the highest possible service. Inclination must not control us. We are not to pamper the appetite and indulge in the use of that which is not for our good, simply because it gratifiest the palate; neither are we to seek to live by the starvation plan, with the idea that we shall become spiritually-minded, and that God shall be glorified. We must use the intelligence that God has given in order that we may be perfect in body, soul, and spirit, that we may have a symmetrical character, a well-balanced mind, and do perfect work for the Master.”

Our Father Cares,pg. 108

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I guess that huge cinnamon roll I had today at Festival of Nations probably wasn’t the best choice… >_< Oops!

Apr
20

Who Will Stand the Test?

“Has the standard of Christianity been lowered?…No; that standard remains just where God placed it. Holy men of ages past were required to give up all for Christ, to cherish His spirit, and to imitate His example. Nothing less than this will He accept now….When called to give up all for Christ, who will stand the test?” (Our Father Cares, 106).

Apr
19

Baal?

In my devotions this morning, the author of the book I’m reading compares worshiping on Sunday to the bowing down to and worshiping Baal. Now, I find this to be a rather harsh comparison. That’s like calling all my friends and family who worship on Sunday idol-worshipers, heathens. I don’t agree with this statement of calling those very precious to my heart these insulting titles. However, it got me to wondering why the author would say such a thing. There had to be a reason behind it, as there is a reason behind anything and everything we ourselves write and say.

After finishing the chapter, she made perfect sense as to why she made this harsh comparison. I’m not saying it makes sense to view those who worship on Sunday heathens, because that really seems like its just downright mean and not right. However, if you are reading this, I invite you to go find a copy somewhere (you can even find it online!) of the 14th chapter of “Prophets and Kings” by Ellen G. White. Before you turn your nose up at it because “its just that conservative Ellen White lady that Adventists always talk about who is just way too conservative for our day,” take a look at the points she makes with the scripture she’s backing up in that chapter. See for yourself why she says what she says.

“Men have allowed their minds to become so darkened and confused by conformity to worldly customs and influences that they seem to have lost all power to discriminate between light and darkness, truth and error” (Prophets and Kings, 178).

What is she talking about here? Look it up for yourself and see. I’m not saying that Sunday worshipers are bad people. Not at all. Please understand this. All I’m saying is that if you find this mean and/or wrong and/or confusing, go look it up for yourself to see why it is made.