Hola! From Barcelona!
It has been an amazing trip thus far and I'm just excited for every day to come. I had a little trouble at the beginning of the trip finding friends due to the fact that 98% of the population on the ship traveling just to get wasted and fraterinize with each other. It was a first rough few days, but than we started a bible study on the ship and I had the chance to meet some people with the same values. This was relieving except for the fact there still were no guys on the ship that I could relate to. I've been hanging out with three girls named Mollie, Kiley, and Emily. They all are great and love the Lord, but it is still kind of rough not having a guy by your side to make fun of the girls. Traveling in Barcelona has been amazing! I have got to see many of Gaudi's architectural works throughout the city including La Sagrada Familia, which was unbelieveable. He has definately become one of my favorite architects after learning about his work. Gaudi didn't believe in straight lines because God created no straight lines in his creation. Through this outlook on the world Gaudi created his own form of architecture leaving his genius behind for all to ooouu and Awe over. I also got to see the Picasso museum which was definately a trip. We have travled throughout Barcelona and have enjoyed the cafes and bars. I'd have to say the best part of Barcelona so far though has been seeing my friend kiley get water dumped on her from above the balcony after I had just walked by right in front of her. Definately set up a quite enjoyable and memorable moment as she just stood there and embraced it. We also got to watch the Spain vs. Chile game in a Restarante, which turned out to be pretty cool as Spain won the game. Tonight we are going to a Flamenco show, watching the Fountain lights, and going Salsa Dancing. It should be a pretty fun evening, but I must admit that I am pretty exhausted from all the walking around. Tomorrow is our last day here in Spain and not sure exactly what we have planned but Im excited for another day here. O, and Chocolate con Churros! Awesome! Gracias Joshua for making sure that I knew to get it. Well, more to come as I travel to Italia in the next two days. One day at a time.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Proverbs 31:8-9
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themsevles, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." Proverbs 31:8-9
Tonight I was doing a reading in proverbs and ran across this verse. It's one of those verses that jumps out at you, with some sort of extremity to it. It's a verse that has spoken to the hearts of many over the generations, and has guided many hearts to act out in myriad ways to protect and serve the lives of those that are left voiceless. Often times we get so consumed with the desire to spoon feed the gospel to people that we often times disregard the fact that many people around the world are suffering from diseases, corrupt goverment, and many have been stripped of their humanity due to heinous acts of human-trafficing and many other cases. Don't get me wrong here I truly believe in the message of Christ impacting the lives of the masses, but as Christ followers I have come to understand that we are called to much higher standards than just the simple act of sharing the gospel in its physicality. In actuality the gospel is meant to be lived out. The gospel message is not something that should be repeated by voice of mouth, like a robot repeating what it was programmed to say, but act out what the words illuminate from the pages. If this were so, we would begin to lose sight of the simple act of sharing the gospel in a constant verbal desperation, but we would begin to see the true beauty of its nature in it being acted out as it was intended. The definition of a Christian is simply "little Christ" or further "Christ-like in nature". This is who we are called to be, Christ! We are called to be Christ for the little one suffering from a disease, beacause he or she wasn't able to get drinking water. We are called to be Christ to the widow that is left in her loneliness. We are called to be Christ to the homeless family hiding behind an alley, because the are to ashamed to show their loss. We the church are "Christ"! When are we going to stop speaking of the beauty of the gospel, and begin acting out the true nature of it. When this becomes a reality lives will be changed, people will not just here of this wonderful God, but they will see the magnificent work of his hands. This is who we were called to be, to Speak out and serve those who are in need.
Tonight I was doing a reading in proverbs and ran across this verse. It's one of those verses that jumps out at you, with some sort of extremity to it. It's a verse that has spoken to the hearts of many over the generations, and has guided many hearts to act out in myriad ways to protect and serve the lives of those that are left voiceless. Often times we get so consumed with the desire to spoon feed the gospel to people that we often times disregard the fact that many people around the world are suffering from diseases, corrupt goverment, and many have been stripped of their humanity due to heinous acts of human-trafficing and many other cases. Don't get me wrong here I truly believe in the message of Christ impacting the lives of the masses, but as Christ followers I have come to understand that we are called to much higher standards than just the simple act of sharing the gospel in its physicality. In actuality the gospel is meant to be lived out. The gospel message is not something that should be repeated by voice of mouth, like a robot repeating what it was programmed to say, but act out what the words illuminate from the pages. If this were so, we would begin to lose sight of the simple act of sharing the gospel in a constant verbal desperation, but we would begin to see the true beauty of its nature in it being acted out as it was intended. The definition of a Christian is simply "little Christ" or further "Christ-like in nature". This is who we are called to be, Christ! We are called to be Christ for the little one suffering from a disease, beacause he or she wasn't able to get drinking water. We are called to be Christ to the widow that is left in her loneliness. We are called to be Christ to the homeless family hiding behind an alley, because the are to ashamed to show their loss. We the church are "Christ"! When are we going to stop speaking of the beauty of the gospel, and begin acting out the true nature of it. When this becomes a reality lives will be changed, people will not just here of this wonderful God, but they will see the magnificent work of his hands. This is who we were called to be, to Speak out and serve those who are in need.
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