It's Tuesday...and Ronald Reagan was an alumnus of APU...
I forgot to mention that I discovered yesterday that former President Reagan had four honorary doctorate degrees, and one of them was from (what was then known as) Azusa Pacific College in May 1973--while he was governor of California. How awesome is that to know that he not only spoke at the commencement of a then very small college, but to also know that he had an honorary doctorate from here...that made me smile. :)
I woke up this morning--after getting about 5 hours of sleep this time, which is an improvement from the past few nights--in so much pain that I nearly cried. The whole morning thus far has been excruciating--and I have a very high pain tolerance. A lady at work today was helping me put aloe vera on my back, and she gasped when she saw my burn, and said that it's one of the worst she has ever seen. I am definitely lucky to not be blistering, or peeling, at all yet.
Let's just say that Lesa has learned this lesson well!! This pain is so much harder to handle than any of my long-lasting arm pain (radial nerve damage) or anything else I've dealt with...and it's my own fault!
Anyway, I only say all of this to hopefully prevent any of you from suffering from the same mistake I made. Wear sunscreen!!
Last night I had my Bible study group, and it was a wonderful experience. We have left Ecclesiastes for awhile, and have begun a study of Acts. We decided to do this because (1) it is always good to learn Church History--and it doesn't get "old" even after having classes on it! and (2) because of the book "The DaVinci Code", which I have yet to read. Our church is having a second discussion with a book club in Glendora on this book, and about the ways that the book tries to (poorly) prove that Christianity is false. There is also a movie coming out about this book next summer, so we want to be prepared for any questions that might arise from our friends and family.
Our group is so insightful because of the various backgrounds we have there. I go to APU, where I have had several Bible classes, and I have also been in church my entire life. We have a man from Fuller Theological Seminary; a man from UC Riverside; a woman from UCLA; two teachers who have had Bible classes as well; and three or more who have had no formal Bible training. We use several versions of the Bible, including the Knox translation from the Greek, which is regarded to be the most accurate translation from the Greek. It is a great time each week for in-depth discussions and great fellowship.
On another note, I feel that I need to clarify something: My short, not in-depth post about material things being unnecessary, etc. has been misunderstood, so I want to quickly clarify.
I am NOT planning, hoping, trying, wishing, to move away to the jungle and leave everything behind. That has never been a realistic thought in my heart or mind! After graduation, I still feel led to move to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to minister there, as well as to prepare for my eventual move to the District--Lord willing. Though to some Californians, Pennsylvania is a foreign land with "jungle" like conditions, it is not a jungle...and I'm not going to become Amish.
I was merely sharing my realization that our lives are not made more full by these things, by all this stuff we acquire...and I have been realizing how when I personally want more money, or more things, it causes a lot of other things to happen, such as worry, selfishness, etc., which are not good things.
Perhaps I should have mentioned more from Ecclesiastes--where the wisest man who ever lived tells us that in all his life, in his journeys, in his quest for happiness, he realized that if God is not glorified in what we do, it is meaningless. He was the richest man who ever lived, most likely, and yet he was not happy because of his money (see Ecclesiastes 1-3, primarily). Don't you think that counts for something? In my mind it does, and in my own life I am seeing how his wisdom could be heeded and applied.
If you look at the majority of Americans today, they are not content. It's just a fact! Our culture and society have trained us that we must have lots of stuff in order to be happy...and we always must "keep up with the Joneses" and acquire more "stuff"...
...and all I was saying is that I do not believe that to be true by any means. I am not happy because I own two computers, I am not happy because I own over 200 books...not at all...
Why am I happy?
Because I try to live life to the fullest, and I try to glorify God in all that I do.
I am happy because I believe that God is guiding me down this path and that He will take care of me, if I will trust and obey Him.
I am happy because I have been blessed with a great family and many amazing friends who have stuck by me through thick and thin.
I am happy when I use the gifts, talents and abilities with which the Lord has blessed me for His glory.
I am happy when I can make someone else happy, or when I can encourage them in even little ways.
That is what I was saying--though I didn't delve into the topic at all. I hope this makes more sense, and I am truly sorry for the inadequate post that was easily misconstrued.
As always, I welcome your thoughts, comments, questions regarding any post. :)
I woke up this morning--after getting about 5 hours of sleep this time, which is an improvement from the past few nights--in so much pain that I nearly cried. The whole morning thus far has been excruciating--and I have a very high pain tolerance. A lady at work today was helping me put aloe vera on my back, and she gasped when she saw my burn, and said that it's one of the worst she has ever seen. I am definitely lucky to not be blistering, or peeling, at all yet.
Let's just say that Lesa has learned this lesson well!! This pain is so much harder to handle than any of my long-lasting arm pain (radial nerve damage) or anything else I've dealt with...and it's my own fault!
Anyway, I only say all of this to hopefully prevent any of you from suffering from the same mistake I made. Wear sunscreen!!
Last night I had my Bible study group, and it was a wonderful experience. We have left Ecclesiastes for awhile, and have begun a study of Acts. We decided to do this because (1) it is always good to learn Church History--and it doesn't get "old" even after having classes on it! and (2) because of the book "The DaVinci Code", which I have yet to read. Our church is having a second discussion with a book club in Glendora on this book, and about the ways that the book tries to (poorly) prove that Christianity is false. There is also a movie coming out about this book next summer, so we want to be prepared for any questions that might arise from our friends and family.
Our group is so insightful because of the various backgrounds we have there. I go to APU, where I have had several Bible classes, and I have also been in church my entire life. We have a man from Fuller Theological Seminary; a man from UC Riverside; a woman from UCLA; two teachers who have had Bible classes as well; and three or more who have had no formal Bible training. We use several versions of the Bible, including the Knox translation from the Greek, which is regarded to be the most accurate translation from the Greek. It is a great time each week for in-depth discussions and great fellowship.
On another note, I feel that I need to clarify something: My short, not in-depth post about material things being unnecessary, etc. has been misunderstood, so I want to quickly clarify.
I am NOT planning, hoping, trying, wishing, to move away to the jungle and leave everything behind. That has never been a realistic thought in my heart or mind! After graduation, I still feel led to move to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to minister there, as well as to prepare for my eventual move to the District--Lord willing. Though to some Californians, Pennsylvania is a foreign land with "jungle" like conditions, it is not a jungle...and I'm not going to become Amish.
I was merely sharing my realization that our lives are not made more full by these things, by all this stuff we acquire...and I have been realizing how when I personally want more money, or more things, it causes a lot of other things to happen, such as worry, selfishness, etc., which are not good things.
Perhaps I should have mentioned more from Ecclesiastes--where the wisest man who ever lived tells us that in all his life, in his journeys, in his quest for happiness, he realized that if God is not glorified in what we do, it is meaningless. He was the richest man who ever lived, most likely, and yet he was not happy because of his money (see Ecclesiastes 1-3, primarily). Don't you think that counts for something? In my mind it does, and in my own life I am seeing how his wisdom could be heeded and applied.
If you look at the majority of Americans today, they are not content. It's just a fact! Our culture and society have trained us that we must have lots of stuff in order to be happy...and we always must "keep up with the Joneses" and acquire more "stuff"...
...and all I was saying is that I do not believe that to be true by any means. I am not happy because I own two computers, I am not happy because I own over 200 books...not at all...
Why am I happy?
Because I try to live life to the fullest, and I try to glorify God in all that I do.
I am happy because I believe that God is guiding me down this path and that He will take care of me, if I will trust and obey Him.
I am happy because I have been blessed with a great family and many amazing friends who have stuck by me through thick and thin.
I am happy when I use the gifts, talents and abilities with which the Lord has blessed me for His glory.
I am happy when I can make someone else happy, or when I can encourage them in even little ways.
That is what I was saying--though I didn't delve into the topic at all. I hope this makes more sense, and I am truly sorry for the inadequate post that was easily misconstrued.
As always, I welcome your thoughts, comments, questions regarding any post. :)
"I thought in my heart, 'Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.' But that also proved to be meaningless...I wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives. I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them...I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces...I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me...I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure...Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun..."
"A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness..."
--Ecclesiastes 2:1,3-5,8-10,11, 24-26a.
posted by Lesa at 6/08/2004 10:21:00 AM
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