In the Vine

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it means to be a Christian. I think its funny when “Christians” say they hate religion and its a relationship instead. While this is true, i disagree with the first half of that statement. Wikipedia, clearly the most reliable source in the world, defines “Religion” as: A religion is an organized approach to human spirituality which usually encompasses a set of narratives, symbols, beliefs and practices, often with a supernatural or transcendent quality, that give meaning to the practitioner's experiences of life through reference to a higher power, God or gods, or ultimate truth..... So for all those Christians that say they hate religion... what part of that definition isn’t true for you? “organized approach to human spirituality.”-We are called to be part of the church. My best friends are the ones who are part of the church and keep me accountable in my walk with Christ. “narratives, symbols.”- We read the bible and learn from Jesus’ ...

Then this was written a couple months after graduation So I feel like everyone is always stressing out over what God’s will for our lives are. We think we need to have it all figured out. Its definitely not something I have figured out. As I went through senior year of college, there was a ton of pressure to have it all figured out and know exactly what I was doing after graduation. Well graduation was 2.5 months ago and I have no idea what i’m doing next week. I still dont even really know what I want to be doing. I feel like a lot of people are in that situation where you know God has a plan for your life and its far better than you could imagine. But you have no idea what that is. You know you want to serve God, but you really aren’t sure how. Thats where I’ve been for the past...well, forever. I know everyone has heard Jeremiah 29:11. But no one really looks at the next couple verses: “12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek...

This was my UM message one year ago today: I Think God has many ways of showing us he loves us. He’s got big ways and small ways, both having the same underlying theme: The God who created everything is designing the way the Universe works to show us in many different ways that He loves us. Romans 8:28, And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. “ I think we often completely look over these magnificent works of God. For example, how many times, do you wake up and say, “God, thank you that I’m breathing”? or even , “God thank you that the sun is shining?” Well, I also think God has made each of us unique in that he shows us each in different ways that he loves us. Have any of you seen the family guy movie? Good movie. Well, in one part Stewie tries to get the future version of himself to play the glad game. Basically, he lists the things that make him glad and these things put him in a better mood. The t...