Campus and Community Day

Well this past Wednesday, Nov. 5th, was Day of Remembrance, Campus and Community Day here at Union University.  This is an annual thing Union does, ever since 2002.  This tradition has been going on for six years since a tornado hit the campus in 2002.  I’m sure it was devastating then, but it was nothing compared to what Union went through this past February.  Anyway, in fall of 2002, spring of 2003 and most recently, Feb of 2008, tornadoes came through Union and Jackson, TN.  God has done mighty things through each of those times.  One thing that has happened is that Union sets apart one day in the fall and students and faculty and staff go into the community and serve.  We didn’t have any classes on Wednesday, and there were tons of different things you could sign up to do, whether off campus or on campus.  It is so awesome to be part of a community that serves and gets involved with the city its in.  It’s not required for you to do anything that day, some students just enjoy the day of rest.  But about 800 students (we have about 3,400 here) served in the community.  And its so awesome that they willingly took the day to serve.  All the students have crazy busy schedules and most of them could have been doing so many other things, so to see so many students come together and serve is humbling and awesome.  Cory and I went to First Baptist Church of Jackson and helped in the student room.  It is a small group of us that went there and we tore up carpets, painted brick walls, sanded down walls, threw trash out, took stuff to the storage unit, and stuff like that.  I really enjoy doing stuff like that, so it was lots of fun for me.  It was great to be able to help a local church out.  We made new connections with people and enjoyed working hard.  I’m so glad to be part of this community and so humbled to serve our awesome and powerful and majestic and holy God!

~Sarah

Where To Begin

Well, I guess I can begin with…well Obama is President-Elect. I know to some people that just brings a slight pain to their hearts (not only their hearts, but their wallets…). But since i’m on the topic of our wallets…I have heard people say that they don’t want money to be in the hands of President Obama. I say…excuse me? Whos money? Being a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ (in rock paper sissors, Lord always beats President) it is not my money or anybody elses money. Even if they don’t know it yet. The Lord is sovereign. He knows all and sees all and makes all. And nothing….i mean nothing goes by him. In view of the latest presidency vote Obama was put into position for a reason. (maybe to bring all his people together to pray for the sake of this country)

Well what has been troubling me recently is the christian faith, I mean religion, I don’t have any doubt that my Saviour is real and presently here in this room. The Holy Spirit is an amazing thing. But, I have a problem with the notion that they can do anything they want. The Lord is a forgiving God, but He will spit you out of his mouth (Rev. 3:16). One thing that constantly has popped up int he country is abortion and this is a touchy subject and I of course do not believe in the killing of them, so all my views of course will be against. And yes I am bringing religion into this. A baby, what is a baby, a tiny human. When does life begin? Ok big question there huh? Well to us (corrupted us) life beings when people tell us. But to God when does life begin before you are born. In Psalm the writer is saying how He saw his unformed body. God is outside of time and space, In John chapter 1:1 we are confronted with the Word becoming flesh. Before time Jesus was with God. So God was wayyyy before time. A.K.A. Genesis 1:1.

So God is outside of time and space and knows all the days of our lives. So how can a child unborn be not of importance? Does God not weep everytime He sees His love being trampled on? God knows and sees the future of everyone, even that child who “can’t think for itself.” I have heard some people talk of how since the baby is completly dependent on the mother that they should be able to do what ever you want with it. Kill it or anything…so a mentally challenged kid who is completly dependent on a mother, can she just kill him? I know.

Now we have to be behind our country and our President since the Lord has put him there. But what I can’t understand is the fact that a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ can vote for someone with views such as abortion and same-sex marriage. I just don’t know what Jesus they are following or what Bible they are reading. I know that a canidate would probably have some very delicious options for the economy or something like that, but with the views of legalizing abortion, it should defer a ‘Christian” away. And letting their voice be heard in a different light. Lettng thier voice be heard by agreeing with the canidate but not voting because of the abortion, and I am not saying this because they should just vote Democrat or Republican, vote for someone else, write in, it don’t matter. I don’t know if anybody who voted for Obama was christian or not, but i am just letting you know the view of a servant of Christ who is trying to make his way through a broken, Satan reigned world. Its hard.

I don’t know if I am making sense, or anything, it is 11:33 and I am tired. But in my weakness I find strength in Him.

Ahhh the Church, good old church. Acts 4;32-35. Read, take in, enjoy the Truth at its best. Wow, what a picture huh? The church being what God intened it to be (well at least in one aspect, the church is a very fully functioning body, its very enjoyable). I don’t like to mingle with the poor. That is the truth. I will do it sometimes to make me feel better, but I can’t trust my feelings, they are fleeting. I don’t think i do nearly enough for someone in need. Do I think the church is doing enough for somebody in need? Well its a tough question. I think we can do better, I don’t think we are doing nothing. But this nation doesn’t need it, if the church would be herself. And she did not change, we did. Anyway, just something to think about.

Also, another great topic, the emergent church. I pray that you find this book at a book store Why We Are Not Emergent (By Two Guys Who Should Be) By Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck. The authors came and spoke at Union and they brought something that shook my whole foundation as a believer. The emergent church is a hard thing to tell you about, but it has to do about Rob Bell, and a disscusion that is taking place. In Florida it is all around us, in us. This is what I grew up on, but now, its different. I am questioning things more, but not to find fault, but to find truth. but I am currently reading that, and it is about 15 dollars and I am going to try and post up things about the book and about my feelings toward it. I didn’t even know the emergent movement was going on, but it is a real as sliced bread.

Well it seems my time is up here, I have to get going on important school stuff (watch last nights Heroes or Prison Break). Oh by the way 24 is about to come back on for I think just one day though. Weird.

- Cory