Well, I've posted so many random things, but I have yet to really post an update on what's going on in my life.
Hmm. Let's see...
I'm finally starting to get in a groove with my accelerated Spanish class. I missed the first two days because I added the class late. And for anyone who has taken an accelerated class, you know that missing two days is like missing two weeks of a regular class. So I made a low C on my first test, but I made a B+ on my second test. So hopefully things will continue to improve in that class.
People keep asking me what I'm going to do next semester. I'm still not entirely sure, but as of right now my first choice is to transfer to Bethany College of Missions all the way up in--*gulp*--Minnesota. Yeah. God would be taking me waaayyy out of my comfort zone on that one. We'll see what happens. I'll keep you updated.
I'm currently praying about spending a good chunk of my summer on a missions trip to Daytona. I know that sounds more like a vacation than a missions trip, but you have to hear the details. I would be there for approximately ten weeks. For the first six weeks, I (and others that are there) will be discipled and taught and just poured into. Then we go out and do the missions thing. Throughout this whole time, we are working somewhere, and our place of employment is actually supposed to be our primary mission field. We use what we learn to try to reach out to those who we work with. It seems like an awesome opportunity. I hope God allows me to go there. I wanted to go to Argentina, but that trip is already full. Daytona sounds like a great experience though.
My birthday is coming up on February 12. I'm turning 21. Man, I'm getting old. ;-P
Those are the main events going on in my life right now. Catch ya later!
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This ain't my American dream
I wanna live and die for bigger things
I'm tired of fighting for just me
This ain't my American dream
--from "American Dream" by Switchfoot
So I was talking to my friend Diane earlier today, and she mentioned how she is thankful for God's grace because she has so many things that she doesn't need. Well I, being the critic I often am, took that statement and turned it into a conversation about how Americans are incredibly spoiled.
Now before I step onto my little soapbox, I'd like to say that I am just as much at fault as the next person. This is in no way meant to be condescending because I am on the same level. Nor is this meant as a generalization. I'm well aware that there are plenty of people out there who aren't spoiled and/or selfish.
Anyway...
Most Americans are spoiled rotten. Look around. People have houses, televisions, computers, cars, cell phones. But what do you hear so many people say? I can't tell you how many times I've heard students on CSU's campus say stuff like, "I can't wait until I get a new car" or "I've had my phone for a year already. It's time to get a new one." Once again, I have to confess that I'm just as guilty as anyone for this. My freshman year in college I drove a decent '98 Nissan Altima and I had a standard camera-phone, which was better than what most students my age had at the time. But I wanted something new and "better." My car and phone were working perfectly fine, but I wouldn't be content with them. I wanted a new truck and a new phone. So now, two years later, I have a 2004 Ford Sport Trac and a Verizon enV. Yet even now I'll catch myself thinking, "Man I wish I could get another new car" or "Dude I want an iPhone so bad!"
Not only are we spoiled, but we're also ungrateful. So many Americans have so much stuff, yet they take it all for granted because, well, that's the American way. This certainly applies to "rich people" who have tons of money, cars, big TV's, etc. But this even applies to people who would be considered "lower class." Consider somebody who lives in a single-wide trailer in a trashy trailer park with just one little black-and-white TV and one junky car. That sucks, right? That's pretty low class, right? Well now consider the people in third-world countries who would literally kill to have a life like that. The people who literally live in boxes. The people who not only don't have a TV or a car, but don't have running water or electricity. Living in that trashy little trailer doesn't seem so bad to them.
So what? We're Americans. We work hard for what we've got, so we deserve to have it. Okay. No arguments here. You deserve to enjoy the fruits of your labor. But do you really need all that you have? Do you really need the biggest HD flatscreen TV? Do you really need the fastest computer? Do you really need the most high-tech car? Do you really need a phone that can play music, surf the net, take pictures, and record videos? No, I really think most people could get by without those things.
I don't really know where I'm going with this. I don't really have a solution to it. And it's not really just Americans. The human race in general is innately selfish. I'm just kind of irked about this because I heard a couple of days ago that the United States has enough food to feed all the starving people in this world. So I can't help but ask the question, "Then why are they starving?"
That's my soapbox for the day.
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So this past weekend I went to a conference hosted by SCBCM called Converge. It's basically a gathering of high school and college students who want to learn how they can best glorify and worship God. It was a great experience. I met some new people and saw some people I hadn't seen in a long time (Mandy and Dee especially).
Before I went I prayed. I told God that if He for sure wanted me to go into missions, please tell me at this conference. So what happens? The whole conference is focused on missions. Haha. God is usually pretty subtle in telling people things, but He was quite the opposite this weekend.
So that's it. I'm sure that God wants me somehow involved in missions. I still don't know what I'm going to do school-wise. I'm still looking at several different schools. I'll be sure to keep everyone updated on it.
I may post a more in-depth description of everything that happened at Converge, but right now I'm pretty tired. I hope everyone had a great weekend!
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This is a poem (if it can be labeled as a poem) I wrote about 4 months or so ago. I decided to repost it here. Let me know what you think.
The Rocky Road
by Adam Hunter
I saw two paths before me
One was cleared and simple
The other rocky and dangerous
I looked to the One next to me
"Where do I go?" I cried out to Him
He pointed down the rocky road
I wondered why He would send me that way
But I didn't question Him
I began to walk
He walked with me
I began down the rocky road
Not knowing what awaited me
Immediately I was attacked by a beast
The beast has many names
But I called him Fatigue
The beast pinned me to the ground
I called out to Him, "Help me!"
He drew His sword and killed the beast
I rose to my feet
I wondered once again why I had to take this path
But I didn't question Him
I continued to walk
He walked with me
Suddenly a two-headed monster approached me
He was called Stress and Anxiety
I continued to walk
But the monster pushed me back
"Why do you push me back?" I asked
He didn't answer
He only continued to push
Overwhelming me with his strength
"Help me!" I called out to the One beside me
He stepped forward and pushed the monster down
Because He was stronger than the monster
I continued to walk
He walked with me
As I walked
I noticed a frail man on the side of the road
I gave in to curiosity
"Who are you, and why do you sit here?" I asked
"I am called Fear," he replied
"I am afraid of what's ahead.
I don't know what will happen.
You should be too!
Do you not fear the unknown?"
The One beside me held up His hand to the man
And the man became mute
No longer able to speak
I pondered what the man had said
And I fearfully began to turn around
But He grabbed my hand
And tugged me forward
I wondered why He made me do this
But I didn't question Him
I continued walking
He walked with me
I approached a bridge guarded by another man
This man was named Discouragement
"This bridge is shaky and unstable
You will never make it across alive
And even if you did
You don't deserve what's on the other side"
I pondered what the man had said
I turned to the One beside me
"Why did you bring me here
If I can't cross this bridge alive?"
He looked at me and smiled
Pushing the man aside
He crossed the bridge Himself
And called for me to follow
I hesitated at first
But I didn't question Him
I crossed the bridge unharmed
And I continued walking
He walked with me
Then I saw it
At the end of the rocky road
I saw a beautiful beach
With bright blue waters
And sand with ever-changing colors
I looked to the One beside me
"What is this place?" I asked
Once again He only smiled
I felt like I was at home
I felt loved, accepted, and protected
Not only by the One beside me
But by the beach itself as well
The rocky road was long and difficult
Many enemies rose against me
But He defeated my enemies
And led me to paradise
I walked along the beach
Enjoying its beauty and warmth
He walked with me
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"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." --Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:19-20)
So this past week I've discovered how big of a hypocrite I am. At Campus Crusade, Elevate, evangelism class, and the Sons of Thunder small group (love those guys), there has been a message or conversation about spreading the Good News to people.
The Spirit has been convicting me about how I don't reach out to people and tell them about what Christ has done for me. That's part of the reason why I started this blog. I want people to know how God is working in my life.
I think my biggest witness to other people is the way I act and conduct myself. If you know me, then feel free to disagree with me (I would actually appreciate the criticism), but I think I do a decent job in this aspect of witnessing. I've had people actually walk up to me and tell me that there's something different (in a good way) about me.
While that's a powerful witness to others, I think I've gotta take it a step further. I've gotta start actually telling people about Christ. This is hard for most Christians to do, but it's especially hard for me because if you know me, then you know that I'm not a very outspoken person.
I'm working on some ways to help myself with this. For instance, in the Sons of Thunder small group that I'm part of, I suggested that one week we should meet at a restaurant. Having a Bible study in a public place like that could open up some great opportunities to witness. Also, I plan on going on some missions trips over the next few months. That should hopefully increase my confidence in spreading the Good News.
This is something I think most, if not all, Christians struggle with. The world today is not exactly thrilled with Christians because most people have an incorrect view of us. They have been influenced by the media or by coming in contact with Christians who don't represent our faith very well. But the world is in critical condition right now, and it's up to us--or rather it's up to God
through us--to save as many as we possibly can.
That's my soapbox for the day.
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Up until recently, I had a fairly normal life. I grew up in a Christian home with two Christian parents who loved each other and still love each other to this day. They took me to church every Sunday and Wednesday, encouraged me to be active physically and active within the church. They did what good parents are supposed to do.
I accepted Christ into my life when I was only five years old. Some people don't believe me when I tell them that. "How can the mind of a five year old grasp something like that?" they wonder. I don't really know how. I just know I did. I've always seemed to have a mind that looks beyond the surface of things.
So I got saved, but nobody really told me what to do after that. I still went to church with my parents. I did the Sunday School thing. Went to Awana's on Wednesday nights. But I still didn't know what to do. My tiny little five-year-old mind knew I was supposed to go deeper with Christ. I knew it was more than just salvation. There was supposed to be a relationship there. But nobody showed me how.
So I grew up like that. I even ended up going to a Christian high school. But I still lacked that relationship with God. I didn't know where to look or who to ask about it, and even if I did, I was too afraid to ask anyone anyway.
I think it was my senior year in high school when I met this girl named Diane. She's one of my best friends now, but at the time I didn't really know her very well. But I could still tell that she had what I was looking for. She had that relationship, and ever since we met, she has been a huge help in pursuing a relationship with God. But even with Diane's help, I still didn't feel like I was getting anywhere with God.
So I left to go to college at Charleston Southern University. I immediately got involved in some ministries on campus such as Elevate and Campus Crusade. I even became part of Campus Crusade's student leadership team. But I only did those things because that was all I knew how to do. I knew how to be involved in the religion of Christianity, but I was still clueless when it came to the relationship of Christianity.
It went on like this until recently. I'm now in my junior year of college. Just a few weeks ago, I was sitting out on the balcony of my apartment reading an amazing book called Wild at Heart when God just flat out spoke to me. It almost seemed audible. He told me to drop athletic training (my major at the time) and follow Him. For the first time in my life, I actually listened to God. The very next day I left the athletic training program here at CSU. I picked up a few religion courses because it seems God has called me into some kind of ministry, particularly youth ministry and/or missions.
Ever since I heard God's voice and decided to follow Him without question, I've had this incredible sense of peace. He keeps blessing my life and opening doors to things I never thought would be possible for me.
So right now I don't know where I'm gonna go or what I'm gonna do. I just know that I'm following God wholeheartedly. My friend Stephanie once said, "Life is forever changing, but Jesus is my constant." I can't wait to see how God is going to change my life.
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