The Mysterious Origin Of...

It is typically both fascinating and exciting to learn the origins of the people in our lives. Gerald Ford, former president of the United States, had parents who divorced just weeks after his birth. He lived with his mother and her husband, a paint salesman, whom Gerald was named after. He entered Yale as a football coach before being accepted as a law student. James Brown, who died in the same week as Ford, was born in a shack in South Carolina. He was abandoned by his parents and was living in a brothel by the age of seven. As a child, Brown picked cotton, danced, and polished shoes for money. Neither of these men came from nobility or was born privileged.
I used to read a great deal of comic books. Some of my favorite stories were the origins of the various super heroes. Peter Parker, an outcast and “science geek”, was bitten by a radioactive spider to become the Amazing Spider-Man! Bruce Wayne’s parents were gunned down in front of him, motivating him to fight crime as the Batman! These kinds of stories inspire us to believe that people with humble beginnings can become anyone they desire. I believe that God chose the individuals we read about in scripture for this reason. The Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is packed with the accounts of simple people who were able to accomplish great things.
We read in Luke 5 to Luke 6:16 about the gathering of the apostles. Jesus doesn’t choose the church leader, the historian, or the great orator. There is nothing wrong with being one of these people, but one of the biggest obstacles people face in accepting Christ is the belief that his message is not for everyone. Jesus used people that we fisherman and tax collectors. He asked seemingly average men to leave their old lives behind and teach the gospel. No matter how average we think we are, this is our responsibility as well.

The Mission

We had an excellent time at Winterfest this year. I believe everyone that attended was uplifted and renewed by the worship and teaching that took place. We had a safe trip with no criminal infractions to report. I want to thank everyone who supported this trip from the bottom of my heart. Without your prayers, encouragement, funding, and general assistance, this trip would have not been possible. For parents, I know it isn’t easy to let your kids travel halfway across the United States without you. I want to say that you made the right choice as I believe trips like these change lives and create lifelong memories. I also want to thank the teens for giving up their weekend to get closer to our Lord and savior. Finally, I want to give special thanks to the chaperones that came with us to Winterfest. I know these trips can be expensive, time consuming, and generally exhausting. You are all irreplaceable and this trip wouldn’t be successful without you.
For those who don’t know, Winterfest is the largest gathering of teens from the Churches of Christ in the world. About 13,000 people traveled to Gatlinburg, Tennessee for this year’s event. In several sessions, those in attendance are provided with entertainment, worship, and powerful lessons. This year’s theme was “The Mission” and was focused entirely on Jesus Christ. In the first session, we learned that we must know Jesus through studying the scriptures. In the second session, we were told that our character must reflect that of Christ and we must be Christ in this world. In the third session, we discovered that we must see Jesus in others, treating others as we would treat Jesus. Finally, we were left with a message centered on evangelism, the sharing of the gospel. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus gives us our mission. We are to share the gifts of salvation and the knowledge of Jesus Christ with the rest of the world. We must never waiver from this assignment. There is no time to waste in sharing the gospel.

Who Possesses Us?

Seeing as how I spent an almost ridiculous amount of time in college studying he field of psychology, I often feel it necessary to share a portion of what I learned with others. I can only hope this knowledge does not fall to the same deaf ears I once presented my “ABCs” to as a child. It is fascinating to discover the complexities of the human mind. We are without doubt the creation of a perfect God. There are many distressing concepts one comes across in the study of psychology. Just as every human being is subject to physical illnesses, we are subject mental illnesses. One of the most intriguing mental illnesses is dissociative identity disorder. Dissociative identity disorder is the diagnosis given to individuals who display multiple distinct identities or personalities, each perceiving and interacting differently. Different personalities within an individual even have different handwriting. The causes of this disorder have not been identified, but many theorize that stress (often childhood abuse) causes one to create multiple identities subconsciously in order to cope with this stress.
Though few of us could be diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, we all take on identities that our not our true self once in a while. We are all created in the image of God. We each have the potential to be reflections of Jesus, living as Jesus did when he came to Earth. However, this way is not always easiest. We are overcome with powerful influences and temptations. I could turn the other cheek when someone hurts me. However, I often become vindictive and wish the same hurt on others that they have inflicted on me. I should help others but typically spend more time helping myself. In Luke 4:31-44, we find Jesus healing many demon possessed individuals. While we may never find ourselves possessed by demons, we will find ourselves the victims of selfishness and the suggestions of Satan. We need to find out true identity in Christ.