The Prevailen of Justice

Inside the Mind:

Before microeconomics class this morning, I was sitting out in a lobby looking over my notes from the last class when another student from the class sat down across from me and started eating his breakfast. After a while we started talking about the difficulty of the class(as it is a very difficult class) and how much work was needed to avoid flunking. This soon turned into him talking about a business he co-owned in Belize (a small country south of Mexico). It was a large dvd business that took dvds from the U.S. and mass-produced them to sell in his country. Because the police do not care about copyright laws in this country, they make a ton of money doing this. He was telling me how every now and then he would receive a bunch of money from the business even though he was not doing anything. He even told me a couple stories about how several people tried to tell the police and was just laughed at.

The conversation was eventually cut short because we needed to get to class, but it got me thinking about justice. How can a just God let someone sit on his behind doing nothing while still making tons of money from his business that sells illegal copies of dvds and porn videos in another country and on EBay? This question reminded me of the book of Habakkuk. Habakkuk sees Israel being threatened by the growing power of the evil and immoral Chaldeans and even sees Israel tearing itself apart in their own evil ways. He brings these problems to the Lord and the Lord answers in chapter 2 verse 2: For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.

There will be a time when the sinful are brought to their knees in humbleness, and yet it would be too late for them. Until that time, God still has a plan for each and every one of them. Some may yet turn from their ways, while others are used to impact the lives of others. Although the world may seem like utter chaos at times, God is still sovereign and nothing escapes His eye. Despite the sinfulness that goes on around us, we are to focus on the mission that He has provided us. He will take care of the rest.

Prayer Requests:

With only about two and a half weeks of school left, pray that I would finish the quarter strong.

Verse of the Week:

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the ways of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. - Psalms 1:5-6

Shout Out:

Congratulations World Champion Chicago White Sox!!!

Welcome Aboard the Happy Bus!

Inside the Mind:

On my commute to school this morning, I jumped on the first bus available when I arrived at Union Station. It just so happened to be the “Happy Bus”. There were several decorated posters in the windows that said “Happy Bus” or “Smile Please”. The inside of the bus was decorated with large yellow smiley face balloons. The bus driver had some funky hat on and was welcoming everybody to the “Happy Bus” as they came aboard. This was definitely something I had never seen before. Just another adventure in downtown Chicago.

As I sat on the bus with a balloon in my face and several disgruntled commuters sitting next to me, my thoughts shifted toward the world’s view of happiness. All human beings strive toward happiness. It is a God-given longing of the heart. The question we should ask ourselves is this: How are we trying to fulfill this desire? Many people believe that wealth, honor, fame, or even a “comfortable” life could fill this desire of happiness. I have personally met several people of high standing or wealth and have learned that they were not only unhappy, but also bored and restless. As soon as they reached the goal they thought would make them happy, their happiness lasted only a short while. They soon longed for more. Many things on this earth provide temporary happiness, but it is only that: temporary. We will always have a longing for more.

In the book of John, Jesus said, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

The word ‘complete’ in this verse, comes from the Greek word which means perfect, or filled to the top so that nothing more should be wanted. What an amazing promise! God is inviting us to partake of a perfect joy that is overflowing, not something that is temporary. Why are we satisfied with only the happiness of this world when there is something greater available? Have we lowered ourselves to a point where menial things provide us with our fix of happiness? There is a huge steak five-course dinner available, and we are choosing the PB&J instead. Something is drastically wrong with this picture.

Prayer Requests:

We have our last InterVarsity Large Group Meeting of the quarter Friday the 21st. Several non-Christians and several others that are struggling in their faith will be coming. Pray that their hearts will continually be encouraged and worked on through the speakers, worship, students, and fellowship.

Verse of the Week:

All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for all my labor. Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.- Ecclesiastes 2:10-11

Shout Out:

American League Champions! Go White Sox!!!
On to the World Series!

A Man in the Loop of Chicago

Inside the Mind:

Well, I just got back from my InterVarsity small group Bible study. In three weeks time, our small group has grown from 4 people to about 12 people. This is only one of the three IV small groups on campus! I know several of the students in our group are really struggling with their faith right now, so it is an awesome thing to be able to encourage them. God is truly amazing. In the study, we were going through the book of John where it talks about the fields being ripe for harvest and reaping where others have sown. We brought up the topic of being bold enough to share with others and trusting God to work in their hearts. It is not our responsibility to bring them to Christ, but to share with them the Good News. It is then in God’s hands to draw them to himself.

Interestingly enough, as I was walking back to Union Station to head home, a person asked me how I was doing. Shocked at first that someone was actually trying to start a conversation with me downtown, I continued to engage in the conversation. He went on and on about some political philosophy that made no sense at all and it seemed to me he was only wasting my time (he was walking with me toward Union Station). If it had been any other night, I probably would have kept on going to my train. But the discussion we had in the Bible study was nagging me, so I decided to steer the conversation away from whatever that was he was trying to explain to me, and talk about some spiritual things. As we talked, I found out that he was currently on some state disability plan and was in the process of trying to get into a government housing plan, but was currently homeless. He bought cigarettes cheap in Joliet and sold them for a profit in Chicago for some extra cash besides the social security checks. He claimed to be a Christian and went to a Baptist church awhile back, but does not go to any church at this time. It was extremely hard to keep the conversation on track, as he would continually steer the conversation back to his political philosophy. He seemed to know a lot about God, but would always try to tie him into this philosophy. Eventually, I figured I was going nowhere so I asked if I could pray with him. He accepted, so I spent a couple minutes praying with him aloud. When I had finished, it seemed that he was touched in some way and thanked me sincerely. He left me with some words about how I was part of this political philosophy along with all of society and God Himself.

I don’t know what the 45 minutes of conversation and prayer did for this man who I will probably never see again, but I believe that God had some reason for it. Maybe a seed was planted. It wasn’t a coincidence that we talked about planting seeds in our Bible study and it wasn’t a coincidence that I happened to be walking down the street at exactly the same time this man was.

Prayer Requests:

I have had the opportunity to bring up God and the qualities of God with a friend of mine who is in two of my classes. He was raised Catholic and believes in God, but is totally works oriented. Pray that he would be continually interested.

Also, pray for the man that I talked with. Pray that the words spoken would somehow reach his senses and that God would work in his heart.

Verse of the Week:

Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. - Matthew 4:35

Shout Out:

Marching on to Anaheim. Go White Sox!!!
World Series Magic Number: 4

Inside the Mind of Me

Inside the Mind:

I just finished reading a biography on the life of George Muller, and was simply amazed at the way God was able to use this man of faith for His purposes. Throughout his life, he was put in circumstance after circumstance that tested his reliance on God to the limit. It was almost like a puzzle slowly being put together. God used each and every trial to build his character and reliance on God and prepare him for his orphanage and missionary work. Once Muller was ripe for the picking and the puzzle complete, God was able to do some amazing things.

The reason I mentioned this story, was to bring up the process in which Muller trusted God. He gave up all his worldly possessions along with his reliance on outside help, and trusted in God completely to provide all his needs. Throughout his life, God did not let him down even once. As I think about all these things, I start to notice how dependent I am on man for everything. I find myself looking to man for help instead of God. Could it be that God is just waiting eagerly to bless us beyond imagination, but we are so satisfied with what the world can do for us that we totally miss out on those blessings? Are we so blind that we are settling for this inferior worldly provision, when God is just waiting to pour out his blessings on us if we only ask Him? What does it take to shift your reliance from the world to God? At what point do you give up your earthly possessions as Muller did (If every Christian gave up all their possessions, there would be no one to contribute to missionary and other Christian work)? These are some of the things that have kept my mind spinning over the past week.

Prayer Requests:

So far, I have been able to park on the street at the Lisle Metra Station, but come winter, I will not be able to park on the street after more then 2 inches of snow. This of course means that I will need a spot in one of the commuter parking lots before the winter quarter starts in January. You can pray that God would provide (And that I would trust God to provide).

Verse of the Week:

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. - Matthew 6:28-34

Shout Out:

Gotta give a shout out to my Chicago White Sox! Go Sox!!!
World Series Magic Number: 9