Pinterest, Facebook, and Affirmative Action

I’m sitting in the Student Union doing research for a persuasive speech about banning Affirmative Action in college admissions that’s due next week, not because I’m on top of my work, but because it’s the only work I have. With finals less than two weeks away I can feel the stress building from the work I’ll have this time next week. So, for now I kill time researching Pinterest, my Facebook friends and Affirmative Action.

As I finally buckle down on this speech I find myself staring at a blank word document and a sudden belief in reverse discrimination. The smell of Panda Express and the lack of feeling in my butt tells me I should quit working on this speech and come back to it tomorrow—just like yesterday and the day before. While I’m distracted by the taste of imaginary orange chicken in my mouth, I meet eyes with a guy listening intently to his peer. As the guy was Asian, I sort of assumed it was some type of language helping situation. That was until I realize what they’re discussing. In the hands on his peer is a little blue booklet, a booklet I’ve seen before.

When CRU made the videos of our stories for the campus to watch, they gave each of us three soul-saving pamphlets, intended for those who have questions about Jesus. I saw this a as a joke at the time. I was being brave enough wearing the same shirt for a week and posting my testimony about how God found me that I had no plans on sharing a pocket-sized picture book with some stranger. It was then when I realize the peer is a boy I’ve seen at CRU, a boy whose video I watched. He sits patiently explaining the pictures and story line and openly shares his story with the young man when he has questions arise.

For the first time all week I felt calm. I no longer was consumed with what stress will be on my shoulders next week or what I need to say to persuade my audience, but what beautiful work God had planned for that boy; what beautiful work he had planned for me. So until He tells me what that is, I guess I should get back to this speech.

Jesus didn't die for you

For as long as I can rememer I've been told about the love Jesus has for me. It's been ingrained in my head that Jesus died for my sins, that He knows how many hairs are on my head, how many freckles on my face, and what time I'll wake up tomorrow morning as well as every morning of my remaining waking days--all of which I don't know the answers to. For as long as I can remember I've been told that Jesus did all these things for me.
Yes, Jesus died for MY sins, He loves ME but I'm sure He love you also; you're sins are forgiven because of His sacrificial death and even though Jesus did these things for our sake, He first and foremost did them because it was the will of God; because God asked Him to take on the sins of the world, He did it in obedience of the Lord. Jesus was a human, just like me and you, who did what was asked of Him.
I am saved by the grace of God. I am loved by the creator of the sun and lightbulb, the designer of oceans and puddles, the maker of rocks and iPads. He loves ME!
All too often I only focus on what God has to offer me, but I am not a follower of Christ solely because of what He continues to do for me. My faith is not based around the fact that God, the one who breathes life into the trees, can do immeasurably more than we can ever ask or imagine. Why is it so easy for me to remember during tests or hardships that God is there for me, but when I'm sitting outside wrapped in the warmth of the sun I forget that He is the one who created that?
My relationship with God can be so much like going out to eat. I do it when there's no food at home, only when I have to. All I have to do is ask for the food and the server will make sure it's prepared for me, fill my drink when it's low and brings me the food, warm when it's ready. I can never leave a restaurant without tipping the server, but how many times does God provide for me and I give Him less than 20 percent gratuity?
I've been to the point in my faith for a while that I no longer have to ask WWJD because I know what He expects of me. Now, I've gotten to the point that I don't even care what Jesus would do because I'm too distracted by all the wonderful things God's allowing me do that will forever impact His Kingdom. Just as Jesus was obedient to God, we should be also. I'm sure none of you are being asked to be publically humiliated, beaten, and killed with the pressure of the world's salvation on your back, but as His followers, God's asking something of each and every one of us. I no longer think I have to drown myself in His grace, constantly trying to clean myself up for my Savior, but I am forever trying to repay Him. Seven times seventy times what He's given to me. So I submit myself, then to God; I reach out, I have those awkward, Christ-centered conversations, I allow myself to talk freely about what He's doing in my life. And in return, I'm handed broken stories, hurt hearts and eager ears that want to know about attention deficit joy. Yes, Jesus died for me, He loves ME! So, how can I just sit here and not let everyone know about this freedom that is only found in Christ?
"And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled awith the fruit of rightousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."