"Empty manger, perfect stranger, about to be born.
Into darkness, sadness, desperate madness, Creation so torn."
These are the first two lines of 'A Night Before Christmas,' written by Brandon Heath and the epitome of why I love Christmas.
For the first time in years I was actually able to turn on Christmas music before Thanksgiving rolled around (I know that's still hard for some people and I understand why).
In my 2 1/2 years at college I've grown immensely in my understanding of the gospel and my relationship with Jesus. Before I got here I was stuck in the coma that many people in the Bible Belt still live in.
That is, I knew all about this Jesus and the stories from the Bible. I grew up in a Presbyterian church from the day I was born, but my personal relationship with Jesus was quite small.
One of the greatest and most disappointing things about college is a month long Christmas break. There is usually only a week or so after Thanksgiving break and it is a small window to get myself into the Christmas spirit. By the time I do get into the Christmas spirit my friends have all gone their separate ways.
So this year I vowed to get in the Spirit before Thanksgiving even rolled around. I had my Spotify Christmas playlist full of Michael Buble, Pentatonix and Ariana Grande ready mid-November.
While listening to my plethora of Christmas songs I asked myself the question. What exactly is Christmas spirit?
Here's what the Pentatonix say in their song, "That's Christmas to Me."
"The fireplace is burning bright, shining all on me,
I See the presents underneath the good ole Christmas tree,
And I wait all night till Santa comes to wake me from my dreams,
Oh why? Cause that's Christmas to me."
And thats definitely part of it.
Singer/Songwriter Francesca Battistelli describes Christmas as a time where heaven is everywhere.
Now I know you've heard the story a thousand times. Mary travels to Bethlehem, the inn is full and Jesus is born out back in a manger. The Nativity scene is reenacted every Christmas by numerous churches and schools.
Luke 2:10-11 "And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you this day is born, in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord."
Just let it soak in and think about what this actually means. The savior, the messiah who God's people prayed for throughout the Old Testament, the one who would come to make everything wrong with us right has arrived, born into a world of sin.
This innocent child was sent into this world for one purpose and that was to die on the cross to bear the sin that we could not. He gave up his freedom, so we could be free.
This is the beginning of the story of Jesus. The beginning (birth) of the end (crucifixion) of the beginning (resurrection). This is the beginning of my story and your story.
A little more than a week ago Mockingjay Part 1 was released in theaters. The movie is a great setup for the second movie set to release next year. It is a setup for something bigger yet to come. That's what is going on with the birth of Jesus. It's the perfect to setup for what is to come.
"Empty manger, perfect stranger, about to be born.
Into darkness, sadness, desperate madness, Creation so torn."
How else would the man who came to make broken things beautiful be born? He was born into a sinful world, there was no room in the inn. If you read through the story of Jesus everything that could go wrong went wrong and it is still one of the greatest individual stories in the Bible.
And that's what the Christmas Spirit is. It's understanding how great this story is and how the good news pertains to us.
So I hope I was able to add to your Christmas spirit in this advent. It's just that time of year.
Monday, December 1, 2014
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Yik Yak, and What Really Happened With the Guy at The Amphitheater
Sometimes you go out looking for a fun experience, and sometimes the fun experience finds you.
About 6 or 7 months ago Yik Yak became popular on college campuses and at Winthrop University. Yik Yak is a social media application that allows students to post anonymously and read yaks that are posted in a nearby area.
For example Winthrop students can read Winthrop yaks because of the radius that surrounds the campus.
Last April Winthrop students may remember a Yik Yak story about a guy who was at Winthrop's amphitheater and appeared to be crying. Everyone has their own little ideas about what happened that night, including me. But I feel like I have a bit more insight than the rest because that person....was me. *gasp*
So for those who think they know what happened and for those who would just like to know, here is what really happened with the guy at the amphitheater.
The week of April 25th last year was a rough time for me. The campus minister of RUF (a campus ministry I attend) had announced he was leaving for a new job the day before and I was blindsided by it. I was frustrated, sad and confused.
Ever since I came to Winthrop, when I need to think, I went to the amphitheater to clear my head. So on April 25th, 2014 I was in the amphitheater and had just finished reading my Bible and praying. I decided to pull up Yik Yak on my phone (this is where the fun begins), just to see what people were saying, when I saw this.
followed immediately by
What I hadn't realized is two girls had been sitting at the bottom of the amphitheater the whole time. I was happy they were concerned about me, but did not want to make a big deal out of anything so I 'upped' the yaks and refreshed my feed. Here are the responses to the above yaks.
Wow. People seemed to be getting legitimately concerned. I didn't need anyone in their pajamas coming to check on me, because it wasn't that big of a deal, so I made the comment above.
As posts continued to come in I figured it would be best to 'attempt' to let people know what actually happened.
It is worth noting that some of the other posts this night were downright strange as well. One even included a potato going through an identity crisis.
Regardless, here are the responses to my Yak.
After a minute or two the two girls got up, which made me think they were coming to talk to me. As I tried to prepare myself for the upcoming conversation, Girl 1 looked at Girl 2 and said something along the lines of, "Hey look, watch this!" (<----This quote never ends well)
Girl 1 then ran toward a large tree, which had a branch hanging fairly close to the ground. She tried to jump on the underside of the branch, much like a sloth, which resulted in this.
Later Girl 1 reveled herself on Yik Yak
This night was far from ordinary and was beginning to seem a bit unreal.
For the next hour Yik Yak was flooded with posts about what was happening at the amphitheater.
First let's start with the people that were curious as to what was going on.
And here are the responses from people who thought they knew exactly what was going on.
What's funny about all these posts is that nobody had come and talked to me.
I can only imagine that from the perspective of the average Yik Yak user at Winthrop I was a severely depressed individual bawling my eyes out in the amphitheater, when all of a sudden a large group of people came over to console me, making me feel extremely uncomfortable.
Next are the yaks from the sappy, heart warmed individuals who were proud of their school, which also resulted in some confusion about the school newspaper.
(Replies below)
At this point, I lost it. I'm not sure I've laughed so hard in my life. Nobody had any idea what was going on, yet everyone thought they did.
Next came the dude who actually asked "Winthrop has an amphitheater? Where?"
Then along came someone who actually had some idea what happened, but we will come back to that.
About 45 minutes had passed at this point. I was still sitting at the top of the amphitheater laughing at the social media insanity unfolding before me.
Then, to make things crazier, about 8 or 9 people showed up with a boom box and started dancing.
I posted this, which then turned the amphitheater story into PARTY AT THE AMPHITHEATER.
Everyone was obviously at the amphitheater (or not).
No beer ever made it over, in fact, I'm pretty sure nobody who said they would come on Yik Yak actually came. Nobody came and talked to me and nobody actually knew what was going on.
Now this is not to bash people for not coming and talking to me because I probably wouldn't have talked to me either. But why is that?
The simple answer is it's awkward and uncomfortable. My question is, what if it had been someone who actually needed help? Would anyone have come and talked to that person?
Yik Yak, while it somehow united people and made them feel good for a night is just a screen for people to hide behind and say things anonymously. I'm pretty sure most of the things people say they are going to do on Yik Yak don't actually happen.
Here is my ultimate example. On some of the Yaks I posted there was a post that said something about a positive Yik Yak meet up happening the next day at 1 pm.
So the next day I posted to Yik Yak to see if anyone actually went.
The responses were exactly what I expected them to be.
Yik Yak is all talk and no walk. It can be funny at times but you have to be careful about you read and believe.
When I retell this story I always include two things. 1.) How absolutely hilarious and unpredictable it was and 2.) How everyone kept saying they were going to talk to me or come to the amphitheater and nobody ever did.
I ended up going down and talking to those people and dancing with them. I made some cool friends and it was definitely a pick-me-up/distraction in the midst of a rough week.
So now you know what happened on April 25th at the Winthrop amphitheater.
(Comments in red beside the yaks are comments I made after the fact meant to be humorous and provide context)
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Midterms, Finals and the Stresses and Worries of School (GIF Edition)
Midterms are next week and each day I seem to add a new task to my agenda. Next Wednesday and Thursday I will enter into a gauntlet of exams and projects due. As stress begins to build I am going to attempt to relax, before I throw myself into the books. If you know me at all I am a huge fan of GIFs. So for my sanity and your enjoyment here are 10 GIF's to describe the horrifying nature of midterms, school and finals and 8 GIF's to help you make it through.
Midterms are coming up and that means that you won't be able to procrastinate, but will actually have to study.
But let's be honest? How does one actually begin to study for midterms?
Well there is the period of stress and freaking out where you realize how much you actually have to do in such a short amount of time.
You repeatedly ask yourself, "Why didn't I start studying sooner?"
You are completely sure midterms will be the death of you.
Papers are scattered all over your desk and all week you are running around like a chicken with your head cut off.
If you are like me the combination of studying and stress makes you want to eat.
Like a lot.
There will come a point where you feel like you just can't handle it anymore.
And you will feel completely and utterly exhausted.
8 GIFs to Help Get You Through the Week
1. Puppies! If this doesn't cheer you up something is wrong with you.
2. And Pandas on a slide
3. Emma Watson believes in you.
4. Along with this penguin.
5. So put on some good tunes.
6. And get pumped up for the week.
7. It will be over before you know it and you will be equally overjoyed and relieved.
8. And the sleep that comes after it's over will be nothing short of spectacular.
Midterms are coming up and that means that you won't be able to procrastinate, but will actually have to study.
But let's be honest? How does one actually begin to study for midterms?
Well there is the period of stress and freaking out where you realize how much you actually have to do in such a short amount of time.
You repeatedly ask yourself, "Why didn't I start studying sooner?"
You are completely sure midterms will be the death of you.
Papers are scattered all over your desk and all week you are running around like a chicken with your head cut off.
If you are like me the combination of studying and stress makes you want to eat.
Like a lot.
There will come a point where you feel like you just can't handle it anymore.
And you will feel completely and utterly exhausted.
8 GIFs to Help Get You Through the Week
1. Puppies! If this doesn't cheer you up something is wrong with you.
2. And Pandas on a slide
3. Emma Watson believes in you.
4. Along with this penguin.
5. So put on some good tunes.
6. And get pumped up for the week.
7. It will be over before you know it and you will be equally overjoyed and relieved.
8. And the sleep that comes after it's over will be nothing short of spectacular.
Sunday, October 5, 2014
PUNO
Have you ever heard of the card game UNO? The one with skips, reverses and draw four?
Well since the semester has started, me and many others within my friend circles have been introduced to a new version of the game called 'PUNO.'
Our new RUF Intern Jaimie intruded this game earlier this fall and this is how you play.
Rules.
1. This game is exactly the same as UNO (Except not).
2. When someone plays a six, everyone slaps the table. Last person to slap the table draws two cards.
3. When someone plays an 8, everyone slaps their forehead. Last person to slap their forehead draws two cards.
4. If someone plays a zero, you pass your hand in the direction that the game is currently headed. (Example: If the game is moving to the right, cards would be passed to the person on your right and vice versa).
5. Cards may be played out of turn if it is an exact replica of the current card that was just played. (Example: Bob played a red three, I also have a red three. Even though I am sitting across from Bob I will now play my red three). It would then be the turn of the person beside me. (If it is your turn and you play the same card as the card in play you may not play another; it counts as your turn).
This becomes extremely fun/horrible when multiple Draw 2's and Draw 4's are played. As those cards are played on top of each other they begin to add upon each other. So if 5 draw 4's are played in a row, the person it ends on would have to draw 20 cards. If you have to draw you cannot play your turn.
But wait, it gets crazier.
6. If a card cannot be played, the player may say "cougar power." Cougar power allows others around the table to offer forth cards face down to the player in need of help. That player can choose any of the cards offered and play it immediately. People may offer cards that are not helpful. This is a deceitful twist that makes the game all the more fun.
Give it a try! Comment below and let me know what you think!
Well since the semester has started, me and many others within my friend circles have been introduced to a new version of the game called 'PUNO.'
Our new RUF Intern Jaimie intruded this game earlier this fall and this is how you play.
Rules.
1. This game is exactly the same as UNO (Except not).
2. When someone plays a six, everyone slaps the table. Last person to slap the table draws two cards.
3. When someone plays an 8, everyone slaps their forehead. Last person to slap their forehead draws two cards.
4. If someone plays a zero, you pass your hand in the direction that the game is currently headed. (Example: If the game is moving to the right, cards would be passed to the person on your right and vice versa).
5. Cards may be played out of turn if it is an exact replica of the current card that was just played. (Example: Bob played a red three, I also have a red three. Even though I am sitting across from Bob I will now play my red three). It would then be the turn of the person beside me. (If it is your turn and you play the same card as the card in play you may not play another; it counts as your turn).
This becomes extremely fun/horrible when multiple Draw 2's and Draw 4's are played. As those cards are played on top of each other they begin to add upon each other. So if 5 draw 4's are played in a row, the person it ends on would have to draw 20 cards. If you have to draw you cannot play your turn.
But wait, it gets crazier.
6. If a card cannot be played, the player may say "cougar power." Cougar power allows others around the table to offer forth cards face down to the player in need of help. That player can choose any of the cards offered and play it immediately. People may offer cards that are not helpful. This is a deceitful twist that makes the game all the more fun.
Give it a try! Comment below and let me know what you think!
Friday, October 3, 2014
A Broken Mess
Last Friday I was late for work.
About a month ago I started working for ESPN. My job there is to help insert the first down line graphics onto the screen and it is a job I feel very blessed to have.
So as you can probably guess I was mortified to discover I was late for work.
So how did this happen? Great question, I'm glad you asked.
Those who know me will be quick to speak about how forgetful I can be. My aunt says it runs in the family, which makes me feel a little bit better. Regardless, I can be extremely forgetful (See previous blog post "10 Things That Already Went Wrong in 2014.")
All week I had looked at my schedule with the mindset that I was working Saturday night when in all actuality I was scheduled to work on Friday night.
On Friday night my roommates and I went to all get haircuts. After my haircut I looked at my phone and realized the gaffe I had made. I called my boss back and told him I would be there as quickly as I could.
I hopped in my car and took off full speed to Charlotte meanwhile stranding my roommates at the haircut place with no ride back to campus (I think they've forgiven me).
It is important to note that a day earlier I had run out of data on my phone, rendering me incapable of using my GPS. I had not driven from campus to work without the help of my GPS yet, sending me into an even deeper state of panic.
What if I make a wrong turn? What if I miss my exit? What if I end up even more late and get fired?
I was behind the wheel lost and without a sense of direction. I was helpless, upset, confused and full of worry and anxiety. I was for lack of a better words, a broken mess.
Somehow in the midst of the chaos, God was able to turn this into a teachable moment. I realized that my life is lived much like a driver; without a good sense of direction. My life is a broken mess all the time and not just in that moment.
I recently began reading a book called "A Praying Life," by Paul E. Miller. In the book Miller talks about his daughter Kim, who began walking 2 years behind schedule.
"We didn't critique how messy or late Kim was. What did we do? We screamed; we yelled; we jumped up and down. The family came rushing in to find out what had happened. Cameras came out, and Kim repeated her triumph. It was awesome." Miller said.
"This isn't just a random observation about how parents respond to little children. This is the gospel, the welcoming heart of God. God also cheers when we come to him with our wobbling, unsteady prayers. Jesus does not say, 'Come to me all you who have learned how to concentrate in prayer, whose minds no longer wander, and I will give you rest.' No, Jesus opens his arms to his needy children and says, 'Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.' (Matthew 11:28). The criteria for coming to Jesus is weariness. Come overwhelmed with life. Come with your wandering mind. Come messy."
This is the wonderful paradox of the gospel of Jesus Christ. If we come to Jesus as sinners, if we come messy and broken, he meets us where we are and wraps his arms around us.
One of my favorite examples of this comes from Luke 15: 1-7.
"Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him and the Pharisees and scribes grumbled saying, 'This man receives sinners and eats with them.' So he told them this parable. 'What man of you, hang a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it. And when he has found it he lays it on his shoulders rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors saying to them, Rejoice with me for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."
In this story I see myself as the sheep in both the figurative and literal sense. Sometimes I feel shame and embarrassment when I realize how much of a mess I am, but I am reminded here that God loves me in my messiness. And because I know this fact it allows me to rest in Jesus.
To provide some closure to this story I did make it to work and I still have my job. One of my friends was kind enough to text me some directions to help guide me to work (thanks Ashley) and by the grace of God I made it before the game I was scheduled to work began. My roommates were also able to find a ride back to campus (thanks Abby). It was nothing short of a miracle.
So if you are forgetful like me, or you feel like you are a mess right now, turn to Jesus, he loves you in spite of your mess.
Luke 7:47 "Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven--for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little loves little."
About a month ago I started working for ESPN. My job there is to help insert the first down line graphics onto the screen and it is a job I feel very blessed to have.
So as you can probably guess I was mortified to discover I was late for work.
So how did this happen? Great question, I'm glad you asked.
Those who know me will be quick to speak about how forgetful I can be. My aunt says it runs in the family, which makes me feel a little bit better. Regardless, I can be extremely forgetful (See previous blog post "10 Things That Already Went Wrong in 2014.")
All week I had looked at my schedule with the mindset that I was working Saturday night when in all actuality I was scheduled to work on Friday night.
On Friday night my roommates and I went to all get haircuts. After my haircut I looked at my phone and realized the gaffe I had made. I called my boss back and told him I would be there as quickly as I could.
I hopped in my car and took off full speed to Charlotte meanwhile stranding my roommates at the haircut place with no ride back to campus (I think they've forgiven me).
It is important to note that a day earlier I had run out of data on my phone, rendering me incapable of using my GPS. I had not driven from campus to work without the help of my GPS yet, sending me into an even deeper state of panic.
What if I make a wrong turn? What if I miss my exit? What if I end up even more late and get fired?
I was behind the wheel lost and without a sense of direction. I was helpless, upset, confused and full of worry and anxiety. I was for lack of a better words, a broken mess.
Somehow in the midst of the chaos, God was able to turn this into a teachable moment. I realized that my life is lived much like a driver; without a good sense of direction. My life is a broken mess all the time and not just in that moment.
I recently began reading a book called "A Praying Life," by Paul E. Miller. In the book Miller talks about his daughter Kim, who began walking 2 years behind schedule.
"We didn't critique how messy or late Kim was. What did we do? We screamed; we yelled; we jumped up and down. The family came rushing in to find out what had happened. Cameras came out, and Kim repeated her triumph. It was awesome." Miller said.
"This isn't just a random observation about how parents respond to little children. This is the gospel, the welcoming heart of God. God also cheers when we come to him with our wobbling, unsteady prayers. Jesus does not say, 'Come to me all you who have learned how to concentrate in prayer, whose minds no longer wander, and I will give you rest.' No, Jesus opens his arms to his needy children and says, 'Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.' (Matthew 11:28). The criteria for coming to Jesus is weariness. Come overwhelmed with life. Come with your wandering mind. Come messy."
This is the wonderful paradox of the gospel of Jesus Christ. If we come to Jesus as sinners, if we come messy and broken, he meets us where we are and wraps his arms around us.
One of my favorite examples of this comes from Luke 15: 1-7.
"Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him and the Pharisees and scribes grumbled saying, 'This man receives sinners and eats with them.' So he told them this parable. 'What man of you, hang a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it. And when he has found it he lays it on his shoulders rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors saying to them, Rejoice with me for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."
In this story I see myself as the sheep in both the figurative and literal sense. Sometimes I feel shame and embarrassment when I realize how much of a mess I am, but I am reminded here that God loves me in my messiness. And because I know this fact it allows me to rest in Jesus.
To provide some closure to this story I did make it to work and I still have my job. One of my friends was kind enough to text me some directions to help guide me to work (thanks Ashley) and by the grace of God I made it before the game I was scheduled to work began. My roommates were also able to find a ride back to campus (thanks Abby). It was nothing short of a miracle.
So if you are forgetful like me, or you feel like you are a mess right now, turn to Jesus, he loves you in spite of your mess.
Luke 7:47 "Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven--for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little loves little."
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Jesus I Am Resting, Resting
Monday evening Clemson Sophomore Tucker Hipps was pronounced dead. His body was found in Lake Hartwell in Clemson, SC around 4:30 p.m. Hipps went to high school at Wren High School in Piedmont, SC, which is about 15 minutes from my home in Easley, SC. He went to church at Rock Springs Baptist Church, also 15 minutes from my home.
I never spoke one word to Tucker to my memory. I saw him play church basketball a couple times and saw him at some social gatherings in high school, but he probably would not know who I was if you had asked him.
All day I have been asking myself the question, "If I didn't know him so well, why is this situation so troubling to me?" I wasn't this distraught when my grandmother passed away. I wasn't even close with many of his friends.
Here are a few things I have been able to wrap my head around.
1. Tucker was young and it is always sad to see someone die so young
2. I wasn't horribly close with my grandmother and she was old when she died. Her funeral was a celebration of her long life, while Tucker's will be one of sadness and mourning.
3. Because I grew up in the general area he did I see the outpouring of emotion all over social media.
This outpouring has been more than local. Yik Yak, a social media outlet normally used to bully people and post crude things anonymously exploded with updates and support for the family, friends and school. My cousin who attends Florida State University said the news had reached her Yik Yak.
Clemson started a hashtag called #Orange4Tucker encouraging students around the state to wear orange on Tuesday, to honor his life.
So in my thinking about this today I asked myself
A: What does our society tell us about death?
B: What does Jesus have to say about death
C: And How should we react?
A: The most common fear among people around the world (along with public speaking) is death. People do not want to die. Most people do not wake up in the morning thinking they might die that day. In fact, scientists everyday do everything they can to expand the life span of humans, to avoid death. Death is sad, sudden and in no way just.
I have not had anyone extremely close to me pass away before so I cannot completely know how any of his close friends and family are feeling. Tucker's death is a tragedy, happened incredibly quickly and in no way just. The people closest to him will not get to hug him again or hear his voice and it's just not fair. And I hurt for those people.
B: With that in mind I turn to what Jesus has to say about death and bring it back to the most important event in the history of mankind, Jesus' death on the cross. Jesus' death was also tragic, sudden (but prolonged), and in no way just. Three days before his death, on Palm Sunday, he rode into town with people praising him.
John 12:13 "So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!"
6 chapters later in John 18 Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested.
(I'm sure many of you have heard this story before but bear with me).
He is then betrayed by the same people who had praised him the previous Sunday, who chose to free Barabbas the robber instead of Jesus.
Bear in mind, while Jesus (in his human form) walked on the Earth he did not sin, but temptation and the sin of the world was still all around him. Jesus was tempted in the desert by Satan for forty days (Matthew 4:1-11)and betrayed by one of his disciples and people who had previously praised him.
At this point I imagine Jesus felt in a sense a little bit abandoned and hurt by those people, but he put his trust in his Heavenly Father and trusted him.
Even before his arrest Jesus prayed to his Father that he might not have to bear the cross.
Matthew 26: 38-39 "Then he said to them (Peter and the two sons of Zebedee) 'My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here and watch with me.' And going a little farther he fell on face and prayed saying, 'My Father if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as you will."
God is silent in this passage, which in some way may have made Jesus feel distant from him, which in turn is also how many of us feel a lot of the time.
Jesus then takes his place on the cross and bears a gruesome, torturous death full of mockery and pain during which he bore the sins of mankind. The sin on him became so ugly God the Father turned his back on his Son, leaving Jesus dying and completely abandoned.
Matthew 27: 45:46 "Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice , saying, 'Eli, Eli, lena sabacthani?' that is, 'My God, my God why have you forsaken me?"
But as we all know the story doesn't end there. Three days later Jesus rose, finishing all remains of sin and death.
C: From all accounts I have heard Tucker was a good Christian guy. His death comes as a story of sadness and it is completely to understand and question why God would take Tucker. But more importantly, to ask those questions understanding that God is sovereign and powerful and loves us all very much.
One of my favorite songs that I have come to learn in recent years at school is called From The Depths of Woe from Psalm 130. The last verse reads.
I never spoke one word to Tucker to my memory. I saw him play church basketball a couple times and saw him at some social gatherings in high school, but he probably would not know who I was if you had asked him.
All day I have been asking myself the question, "If I didn't know him so well, why is this situation so troubling to me?" I wasn't this distraught when my grandmother passed away. I wasn't even close with many of his friends.
Here are a few things I have been able to wrap my head around.
1. Tucker was young and it is always sad to see someone die so young
2. I wasn't horribly close with my grandmother and she was old when she died. Her funeral was a celebration of her long life, while Tucker's will be one of sadness and mourning.
3. Because I grew up in the general area he did I see the outpouring of emotion all over social media.
This outpouring has been more than local. Yik Yak, a social media outlet normally used to bully people and post crude things anonymously exploded with updates and support for the family, friends and school. My cousin who attends Florida State University said the news had reached her Yik Yak.
Clemson started a hashtag called #Orange4Tucker encouraging students around the state to wear orange on Tuesday, to honor his life.
So in my thinking about this today I asked myself
A: What does our society tell us about death?
B: What does Jesus have to say about death
C: And How should we react?
A: The most common fear among people around the world (along with public speaking) is death. People do not want to die. Most people do not wake up in the morning thinking they might die that day. In fact, scientists everyday do everything they can to expand the life span of humans, to avoid death. Death is sad, sudden and in no way just.
I have not had anyone extremely close to me pass away before so I cannot completely know how any of his close friends and family are feeling. Tucker's death is a tragedy, happened incredibly quickly and in no way just. The people closest to him will not get to hug him again or hear his voice and it's just not fair. And I hurt for those people.
B: With that in mind I turn to what Jesus has to say about death and bring it back to the most important event in the history of mankind, Jesus' death on the cross. Jesus' death was also tragic, sudden (but prolonged), and in no way just. Three days before his death, on Palm Sunday, he rode into town with people praising him.
John 12:13 "So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!"
6 chapters later in John 18 Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested.
(I'm sure many of you have heard this story before but bear with me).
He is then betrayed by the same people who had praised him the previous Sunday, who chose to free Barabbas the robber instead of Jesus.
Bear in mind, while Jesus (in his human form) walked on the Earth he did not sin, but temptation and the sin of the world was still all around him. Jesus was tempted in the desert by Satan for forty days (Matthew 4:1-11)and betrayed by one of his disciples and people who had previously praised him.
At this point I imagine Jesus felt in a sense a little bit abandoned and hurt by those people, but he put his trust in his Heavenly Father and trusted him.
Even before his arrest Jesus prayed to his Father that he might not have to bear the cross.
Matthew 26: 38-39 "Then he said to them (Peter and the two sons of Zebedee) 'My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here and watch with me.' And going a little farther he fell on face and prayed saying, 'My Father if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as you will."
God is silent in this passage, which in some way may have made Jesus feel distant from him, which in turn is also how many of us feel a lot of the time.
Jesus then takes his place on the cross and bears a gruesome, torturous death full of mockery and pain during which he bore the sins of mankind. The sin on him became so ugly God the Father turned his back on his Son, leaving Jesus dying and completely abandoned.
Matthew 27: 45:46 "Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice , saying, 'Eli, Eli, lena sabacthani?' that is, 'My God, my God why have you forsaken me?"
But as we all know the story doesn't end there. Three days later Jesus rose, finishing all remains of sin and death.
C: From all accounts I have heard Tucker was a good Christian guy. His death comes as a story of sadness and it is completely to understand and question why God would take Tucker. But more importantly, to ask those questions understanding that God is sovereign and powerful and loves us all very much.
One of my favorite songs that I have come to learn in recent years at school is called From The Depths of Woe from Psalm 130. The last verse reads.
5. Though great our sins and sore our woes
His grace much more aboundeth;
His helping love no limit knows,
Our upmost need it soundeth.
Our Shepherd good and true is He,
Who will at last His Israel free
His grace much more aboundeth;
His helping love no limit knows,
Our upmost need it soundeth.
Our Shepherd good and true is He,
Who will at last His Israel free
From all their sin and sorrow(All their sin and sorrow)
From all their sin and sorrow(All their sin and sorrow).
From all their sin and sorrow(All their sin and sorrow).
It is times of pain and sorrow where Jesus works the most and where we can learn to grow in his grace and love.
In John 16 Jesus says to his disciples "Truly, truly I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
Tucker's death was in no way just and as his death is grieved and many people may be questioning God, rest in the fact that he will be seen again someday. Rest in the fact that God is loving and sent his Son to destroy sin so that one day we may live in joy with him.
Saturday, January 4, 2014
13 Things That Already Went Wrong in 2014
Have you ever had a bad week? Just a week where nothing seemed to fall in your favor?
This week was one of those weeks for me. It was as if a giant black cat walked in front of me, and sknocked over a giant container of salt.
The story begins in 2013, but the events in 2013 consequently caused events in 2014.
It began last week when I
(1.) Spilled water on my Macbook.
It wasn't alot of water either, but enough to completely shut down my computer to the point where it would not restart. This was extremely unfortunate because I was fixing to leave on a week long trip with the Winthrop basketball team to Dayton, Ohio. I would be traveling to Dayton, Ohio computerless.
I had planned to leave for Rock Hill the morning of the 29th (the day we left), but received a call saying
(2.) I needed to come up the night before because of a possible change in plans.
I packed in a little under an hour and needless to say was feeling a little stressed out. My mom was nice enough to offer me her computer for the trip because mine was unusable.
My friend Kevin was nice enough to let me stay in his apartment for the night. After unloading my things from my car, I locked it and went inside to watch Netflix.
I should preface the next few things by noting that I have a tendency to be forgetful. I watched Netflix for an hour and a half without realizing
(3.) I left my suitcase sitting outside by my car.
Somehow in the process of locking the doors of my car I forgot I had a suitcase and just walked inside forgetting I ever left it there. I should have taken this was a bad omen for the week. Fortunately it was still by my car and nobody had taken it.
The next morning we practiced before driving to Hampton Virginia (a 6 hour bus ride) for our game the ensuing day. If you've never heard anything about basketball road trips, it is to expect the unxpected, especially as a student manager. Always be alert and ready to improvise. I can honestly say
(4.) I'm not sure we stuck to a single original plan on this trip.
The Winthrop basketball managerial staff redefined working on the fly this past week.
(5) The next day Winthrop lost to Hampton in a double overtime nailbiter.
Unhappy game results make for unhappy bus rides. Another 6 hours to Charleston West Virginia was ahead.
About 4 hours into our 6 hour trip to Charleston we stopped at McDonalds in the middle of nowhere to stretch our legs and grab a snack. I took my backpack into McDonalds to change from my polo and khais into a t-shirt and sweatpants.
After I changed I grabbed a snack and headed back to the bus.
(6.) 5 minutes after we had left the McDonalds I came to the traumatizing realization that I had left my backpack at McDonalds. My backpack containing my mom's computer, my new Bible, some gift cards and my car keys.
Well turning around to get it was not an option, because as a team we had places to be and had to be punctual. So I called the McDonalds and they had found it and locked it away in an office.
The next day was New Year's Eve and I was spending it in the great city of Dayton, Ohio. Most of my New Year's Eve was spent alone in my hotel room watching Johny Football take over the Chickfila Bowl. It wasn't as bad as it could've been.
(7) Winthrop played Dayton the next day in the first basketball game of 2014. A rough performance against a very talented Dayton team led to a 34 point loss and once again, an unhappy 8 hour bus ride back to Rock Hill.
(8.) In one week I spent about 22 hours on that bus. Think about that.
This is where the story gets all the more interesting.
(9.) I mentioned that I left my keys in my backpack, but didn't realize it until halfway through the bus ride home. I had planned to drive home at about 1:30 am and leave early the next mroning with some friends for the Orange Bowl.
I called my parents who at this point had found out about the backpack, and they found a spare key and decided they would drive 2 hours up to Rock Hill drop off the spare and drive home.
(10.) Problem was, when they got there, the key didn't start my car, it only unlocked it.
(11.) So my parents waited in Charlotte/Rock Hill until we got back at 2am to drive me home.
I'm not sure I have ever loved my parents more.
We got home at about 4am and went right to sleep.
The next morning came early, 7:30 to be exact. I had an hour to pack everything for Miami and be ready to go. Somehow going off
(12.) 3 hours of sleep
I succeeded in doing so and at 8:30 it was onward to Miami.
(13). 4 hours into our trip we hit some traffic and ended up rear ending some other friends we were following down to Miami. Their car was fine and no one was injured, but my friend's car was totaled.
After about an hour the technical details of the wreck had been taken care of, but I would no longer be going to the game. After 4 hours of waiting in the run down town of Hardeeville, Georgia, my friend's parents arrived and drove us 4 hours back home to Easley.
What. A. Day.
In the end my backpack was shipped back to my house, my computer is fixable, I got to watch the Orange Bowl with friends and family and more importantly I haven't been injured.
At some point in the middle of all of these misfortunes I picked up my Bible and turned to the beginning of Matthew and read the story of the birth of Jesus. Everyone remembers the wisemen bringing the gifts to the manger, but what often goes untold is the story of Herod's plot to kill Jesus.
Herod sent his wisemen to review the situation and God warned them in a dream not to return to Herod. Then an angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream and told him to flee to Egypt until he deemed it safe to return. Herod then proceeded to kill all male children in Bethlehem under the age of two, which if you think about it is worse than any tragedy that has occurred in my lifetime.
What I took out of this is that God had an elaborate plan to keep his Son safe, because he loved him and He has that same exact love for me. When I lost the backpack I was still on a trip doing something I enjoy doing. Sure I misplaced some valuable items, but my situation was nothing compared to the story in Matthew. For some reason, I was not intended to go to the Orange Bowl this year, and thats okay. I know that God still loves me and has a great plan for me just like he had for Jesus.
It is good to remind myself that he is watching over me in times such as these.
I can always think about what had happened if I hadn't spilled water on my Macbook or if I hadn't been in a wreck, but it made me rely on God and look to him.
It's been an extremely long, stressful week.
Bu I have is parents who love me, and a God who loves me even more.
This week was one of those weeks for me. It was as if a giant black cat walked in front of me, and sknocked over a giant container of salt.
The story begins in 2013, but the events in 2013 consequently caused events in 2014.
It began last week when I
(1.) Spilled water on my Macbook.
It wasn't alot of water either, but enough to completely shut down my computer to the point where it would not restart. This was extremely unfortunate because I was fixing to leave on a week long trip with the Winthrop basketball team to Dayton, Ohio. I would be traveling to Dayton, Ohio computerless.
I had planned to leave for Rock Hill the morning of the 29th (the day we left), but received a call saying
(2.) I needed to come up the night before because of a possible change in plans.
I packed in a little under an hour and needless to say was feeling a little stressed out. My mom was nice enough to offer me her computer for the trip because mine was unusable.
My friend Kevin was nice enough to let me stay in his apartment for the night. After unloading my things from my car, I locked it and went inside to watch Netflix.
I should preface the next few things by noting that I have a tendency to be forgetful. I watched Netflix for an hour and a half without realizing
(3.) I left my suitcase sitting outside by my car.
Somehow in the process of locking the doors of my car I forgot I had a suitcase and just walked inside forgetting I ever left it there. I should have taken this was a bad omen for the week. Fortunately it was still by my car and nobody had taken it.
The next morning we practiced before driving to Hampton Virginia (a 6 hour bus ride) for our game the ensuing day. If you've never heard anything about basketball road trips, it is to expect the unxpected, especially as a student manager. Always be alert and ready to improvise. I can honestly say
(4.) I'm not sure we stuck to a single original plan on this trip.
The Winthrop basketball managerial staff redefined working on the fly this past week.
(5) The next day Winthrop lost to Hampton in a double overtime nailbiter.
Unhappy game results make for unhappy bus rides. Another 6 hours to Charleston West Virginia was ahead.
About 4 hours into our 6 hour trip to Charleston we stopped at McDonalds in the middle of nowhere to stretch our legs and grab a snack. I took my backpack into McDonalds to change from my polo and khais into a t-shirt and sweatpants.
After I changed I grabbed a snack and headed back to the bus.
(6.) 5 minutes after we had left the McDonalds I came to the traumatizing realization that I had left my backpack at McDonalds. My backpack containing my mom's computer, my new Bible, some gift cards and my car keys.
Well turning around to get it was not an option, because as a team we had places to be and had to be punctual. So I called the McDonalds and they had found it and locked it away in an office.
The next day was New Year's Eve and I was spending it in the great city of Dayton, Ohio. Most of my New Year's Eve was spent alone in my hotel room watching Johny Football take over the Chickfila Bowl. It wasn't as bad as it could've been.
(7) Winthrop played Dayton the next day in the first basketball game of 2014. A rough performance against a very talented Dayton team led to a 34 point loss and once again, an unhappy 8 hour bus ride back to Rock Hill.
(8.) In one week I spent about 22 hours on that bus. Think about that.
This is where the story gets all the more interesting.
(9.) I mentioned that I left my keys in my backpack, but didn't realize it until halfway through the bus ride home. I had planned to drive home at about 1:30 am and leave early the next mroning with some friends for the Orange Bowl.
I called my parents who at this point had found out about the backpack, and they found a spare key and decided they would drive 2 hours up to Rock Hill drop off the spare and drive home.
(10.) Problem was, when they got there, the key didn't start my car, it only unlocked it.
(11.) So my parents waited in Charlotte/Rock Hill until we got back at 2am to drive me home.
I'm not sure I have ever loved my parents more.
We got home at about 4am and went right to sleep.
The next morning came early, 7:30 to be exact. I had an hour to pack everything for Miami and be ready to go. Somehow going off
(12.) 3 hours of sleep
I succeeded in doing so and at 8:30 it was onward to Miami.
(13). 4 hours into our trip we hit some traffic and ended up rear ending some other friends we were following down to Miami. Their car was fine and no one was injured, but my friend's car was totaled.
After about an hour the technical details of the wreck had been taken care of, but I would no longer be going to the game. After 4 hours of waiting in the run down town of Hardeeville, Georgia, my friend's parents arrived and drove us 4 hours back home to Easley.
What. A. Day.
In the end my backpack was shipped back to my house, my computer is fixable, I got to watch the Orange Bowl with friends and family and more importantly I haven't been injured.
At some point in the middle of all of these misfortunes I picked up my Bible and turned to the beginning of Matthew and read the story of the birth of Jesus. Everyone remembers the wisemen bringing the gifts to the manger, but what often goes untold is the story of Herod's plot to kill Jesus.
Herod sent his wisemen to review the situation and God warned them in a dream not to return to Herod. Then an angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream and told him to flee to Egypt until he deemed it safe to return. Herod then proceeded to kill all male children in Bethlehem under the age of two, which if you think about it is worse than any tragedy that has occurred in my lifetime.
What I took out of this is that God had an elaborate plan to keep his Son safe, because he loved him and He has that same exact love for me. When I lost the backpack I was still on a trip doing something I enjoy doing. Sure I misplaced some valuable items, but my situation was nothing compared to the story in Matthew. For some reason, I was not intended to go to the Orange Bowl this year, and thats okay. I know that God still loves me and has a great plan for me just like he had for Jesus.
It is good to remind myself that he is watching over me in times such as these.
I can always think about what had happened if I hadn't spilled water on my Macbook or if I hadn't been in a wreck, but it made me rely on God and look to him.
It's been an extremely long, stressful week.
Bu I have is parents who love me, and a God who loves me even more.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)