Life Lessons from Intramurals

Intramural dodgeball is intense. People from all over campus (and off-campus) come together to throw dodgeballs at each other for a half an hour, and it is a sight to be seen.

My team this year is pretty good and only have one loss so far (we only lost by one point that game). I am on a team with a bunch of other guys from my wing (3rd East Wengatz). For many of us, this is our forth year playing together, so it's extra special.

Working as a team and playing smart is sometimes difficult in dodgeball because of its individual appeal and glory. My self-designated role whenever I play dodgeball is to play conservatively at first in order to stay in the game for when things really matter. I avoid high risk throws and vulnerable positions to give myself the best chance for survival. There are always a few guys who start out too aggressive and predictably they get out early and aren't much help to their team in the end.

My favorite thing is to be one of the final guys on the court staring down the opponent, that's why I do what I do. This is when I thrive in dodgeball and feel my best when the heat is on. Now I may not be the best dodgeball player in the world (although I would consider myself above-average in both throwing abilities and catching), but I hold my own and like to be in control of the game.

Scoring in intramural dodgeball is based on time. If the winner wins quickly, they get more points than if the game is stretched out.

In our past couple of games we have gone down to the wire in several matches with each team down to one person. I have confidence when I am in times like these because I mentally know what needs to be done and I try my best to do it. It doesn't always mean victory, but more times than not things turn out the way I want.

The mental aspect of sports is huge, just ask Yogi Berra. He's the one who said, "Baseball is 90% mental, the other half is physical."

Good quote. Mentally knowing what you need to do in any situation helps you get things and succeed. This is true in the world of academia, sports, and our relationship with Christ.

It may be thrilling to run up to the middle for a really close range throw, but if you're just going to be pegged by the other team, it's not worth it.

This dodgeball example is obviously not perfect; don't wait until the end of life to be aggressive and give your all. Considering danger and looking ahead to the future is something Christians need to be doing.

1 Peter 5:8 says, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 2 Corintians 4:18 says, "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

It's funny how God many times uses the little times in life to teach us, even dodgeball.

Conversation with a Cult Member

Of course he wouldn't tell you he was from a cult.

Yesterday while waiting for a friend to be done with class at Harper College, some people from the "Church of God" came up to me and asked me to go to a bible study at his church to uncover the "secrets of the Bible".

A red flag went up because since when are there secrets in the Bible?

So I asked him about those secrets and he told me that "along with God the Father, there is a God the Mother that many people don't know about". No wonder the red flag went up.

After quoting me a half-dozen unrelated Bible passages (possibly to woo me with his knowlege of scripture, but he didn't know that I know my stuff a lot more than the average guy) I ask him to just show me where God is called 'mother'. He points out Galatians 4:26, "But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother."

After one quick look in a Bible concordance I saw that "Jerualem" signified Sarah (Abraham's wife) because Abraham is the father of Israel (and Jerusalem) which means Sarah is the mother---and NOT God.

That is just one of the qualms I had about this cult along with their not directly answering questions, always going back to the same Biblical passages, and pointing the finger at us. He said that "worshipping on Sunday is not in the Bible" and I quickly responded that "Wearing that shirt you have on is not in the Bible, but that doesn't make it wrong" and of course he tried to hold back a smile (cuz he knew I was right!!) and went back to something he already said a few times that didn't make much sense.

Overall, he was very confusing to talk to and I was frustrated at the end of the conversation because I knew he did not listen to what I had to say. He just listened for the "trigger words" that would give way to an argument he had....

The School of Biblical Evangelism has this to say about what makes religious groups cults:
"A group is non-Christian when it denies the essential doctrines of the Bible: -The diety of Christ which involves the trinity, the Resurrection of Jesus, Salvation by grace alone" and goes on to say this about twisting scripture, "Some of the errors they commit in interpreting Scripture are: 1. Taking scripture out of context;
2. Reading into the Scriptures information that is not there;
3. Picking and choosing only Scriptures that suit their needs;
4. Ignoring other explanations;
5. Combining Scriptures that don't have anything to do with each other;
6. Incorrect definitions of key words; and
7. Mistranslations"

The people I talked to did #1, 2, 3, and 4 (and possibly 5-7 but I just didn't remember that). Needless to say, there is a lot to be learned from this experience.

1. We need to know the Bible and how to read it (click here for a suggestion on learning how to read the Bible, I have this DVD and you can borrow it if you'd like, it's sweet)

2. We need to be bold in preaching the Gospel in any way we can and take advantage of opportunities we've been giving, and then look to create more opportunities. True Christians need to let the world know the truth that they are sinners who are bound to be judged by a just God. We also need to let them know that by believing in Jesus they can have their sins covered and their fine paid.

We need to do this so the cult people don't reach them first!

Summer

This summer is more relaxed than the last couple. Instead of delivering mail 50+ hours a week with barely any free time, I am taking a couple of classes at Harper and working at the Wave pool concessions stand about 15 hours a week.



Needless to say, I have a lot of free time. I have been reading a lot and enjoying the nice weather when I can. I also have garage saled a little and put some of those findings on eBay.



A couple of the books I have read so far are:

• Mistaken Identity (the story about the Taylor van accident mixup) The things I like best about this book is how you can see God's faithfulness in the terrible situation, how God used this story to bring people to him, and how strong the two families faiths were through it all and what a testimony they were.


• Success God's Way - I started this back around Christmas and was too busy thoughout the semester to finish it. Charles Stanley shares some great stories and tips about how to succeed in this life God has placed us in and how seeking God will help us meet the true definition of "Success".


• Boy Meets Girl - Yeah I know it sounds cheesy but it has some good stuff to say about dating and relationships from a Christian perspective and has cleared up some wrong ways of thinking that I have had in the past.

Some other books I plan on reading this summer: Against All Odds: the Chuck Norris story, Renovation of the Heart, and The World is Flat.

The classes I'm taking are History of Latin America and a Spanish Literature class (that is online). I enjoy learning about L.A. because of my time in Ecuador.

I have been thinking about what I want to do after I graduate Taylor in January and have been looking online a little for companies or opportunities I might like to work for or do. I found a really interesting internship opportunity in the Dominican Republic through a Christian organization.

The good news is that I would be in a Spanish speaking country for about nine months and also that I would get some more experience in the business world (which I would really like) that companies would value.

That is something that excites me but I know that it could just be me putting my hope in something worthless (Isaiah 40:31), so we'll see where this idea goes.

Lastly I would like to close with the funniest picture I have ever seen. Every single part of this picture is hilarious.

Since the Word of God is "living and active, sharper than a double-edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12), I shall close with this verse:

Proverbs 16:3, "Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed."

International Economics

This past semester I took a class called International Economics at TU. The teacher I shall call "Dr. E" (since i don't want to bad talk someone) is less than captivating in his teaching style. In fact I know someone who said a big reason he transfered is because he would have to take another one of his classes.

It was kind of hard for me to respect this teacher because he was so incredibly dry and I could not find motivation to pay attention or study a lot for that class.

Flash forward top the last month of class, I found myself with a high C, desiring to pull it up to a B-. I studied hard for the each of the last quizzes and wound up getting that B+.

But the whole reason I told that story that you probably don't care about is because of this. One day before a different class, I walk into the Reade Center bathroom to do my daily post-chapel pee before class. I walked in and saw none other than Dr. E doing his business, but when I passed him, he let out a fart that sounded like a big "toot".

Needless to say, that brought a smile to my face.

This Blog

I never know what to call this blog. I think the current name is kind of stupid sounding because most people's blogs have some clever title.

I thought to myself "What should I call my blog?" and then I thought that I would name it something refering to what it is about. I almost called it "Random ramblings" but when I hear something described as a 'rambling,' I think of something I don't want to read.

Then I thought that all I really blog about is what I have been learning and thoughts I have been having. So thus I kept the dumb title because as dumb as it may seem it serves its purpose in describing what this is.

My "Sample Blog" I Submitted to TU Admissions to be a Blog Rep

College life is quite the 180 from high school. Independence, discipline, life decisions and Ramen noodles all have a higher significance in college.

Mom and pop aren’t around to tell us what to do anymore; you have a chance to decide what kind of person you want to be for the rest of your life.

There are many decisions that need to be made that really shape who you are.

I decided to study abroad last semester and that was a shaping experience. I went without seeing some of my friends for 7 months. That time away from all of them really showed me what friendships were most important and what the foundations of the relationships were built on.

I found that the relationships that were centered on Christ were the ones that not only meant the most to me, but they were the ones that I missed the most. Learning that has really helped me focus on a small handful of quality relationships instead of trying to be best friends with everybody.

Proverbs 18:24 echoes this, “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother”.

Something else I learned while studying abroad was that all over this world there is pain and heartache and a universal need for Christ. Getting a different take on poverty and sin showed me how as Christians we need to cling to Christ with all that we are and share him wherever we are.

God taught me what eternal life was; knowing Him (John 17:3) and that I need to cherish our relationship.

Academically, coming back to many upper-level classes at Taylor from a lighter-than-normal semester is more work than I expected; but very worth it. Digging deeper and deeper into my major (International Business) is fascinating and gives me a good challenge to learn and apply myself as best I can.

The more I learn, God shows me how little I truly know. But I know that as long as I seek God and his will, I am going to be in the right place.

Super Bowl Thoughts

I rooted for the Giants.

I did not want the Patriots to win, go undefeated, and possibly become known as the greatest team ever and steal the title from my 85 Bears.

The game was really intense and I may have witnessed the greatest play I have ever seen (that broken tackle/miracle catch).

I am glad the Giants won. I would not be half as glad if they did not win in such a dramatic way. It was a good time to chill with some of the guys watching funny commercials and men hit each other.

Thats it

Adjustments

Getting back to Taylor has been different than I expected.

It has been good to see everybody, but getting used to all of the new faces, "How was Ecuador" questions, and finding my new role on campus and my wing has been interesting.

Having people think that I'm an Ireland freshman isn't flattering, but hey being humbled is always good.

Since it's J-term, that means I have a lot of free time. I plan on studying for my class (it would be nice to get an A in Astronomy), reading the Bible a lot, working out, and hanging out.

Something God has taught me is that I need to build my foundation on Him for every area of my life. He also told me that trusting and hoping in people is worthless and that most of the desires I have for relationships can be satisfied in Him. Sweet huh?

Its interesting to remember my freshman year and what I thought of upperclassmen. On a wing, most upperclassmen have a lot of influence over the youngsters, and I hope to use that to influence others to seek after God with all of their heart. I can still remember somethings that upperclassmen said to me as a freshman. Wow.

Its crazy to think that I'm an upperclassman.

I have to start thinking about future, jobs, graduation and other stuff.

If I can graduate early, I think I will. Saving the fam $11K+ would be worth it. Also I could always live in the Upland area and work somewhere until graduation so I could spend time with friends here. You never know.

I just need to pray about stuff like when to graduate, where to live while attending Taylor, future jobs, the Daytona Beach Spring Break trip, and other stuff.

Seeing that the end of my college career is in sight, I need to focus on the stuff I wish to accomplish while here and cultivate relationships while there is still time. I am very thankful for my time at Taylor and for all God has taught me and know that if I keep seeking Him and loving him that He will make my paths straight as it says in His word.

Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.
John 14:21