The Pursuit of Happiness

Part of our human nature is the pursuit of happiness.  What are we striving for?  What do we hope to achieve in our lifetime?  Why is happiness such a desire for us?  Is our perspective more important than His perspective?  Do we run to Christ before we set forth into our pursuit of happiness?

I have spent a lot of time recently contemplating my future.  As I now, am less than a week from becoming a bachelorette prepared nurse, I find myself asking what’s next.  I’m sure we have all been there, and maybe you’re there now.  There are times in our lives, when either success or failure leaves us striving to set forth a new goal, a new ambition, or a new dream.  Whatever it may be, I am reminded of the importance to seek God in these new pursuits.  Have you ever jumped head first into something, later realizing maybe that wasn’t the best idea or maybe you leapt without fully discussing it with God.  I’ve been there, looking back it was those times that I was not fully living within God’s will.  How can we stop ourselves in an effort to seek Him first? 

Psalm 37:5

Commit everything you do to the Lord.
    Trust him, and he will help you.

(New Living Translation)

“There are many benefits to talking with Me - before, during, and after your quest.  The Light of My Presence illuminates the pursuit so you can see it from My perspective.  As your perspective lines up more with Mine, you gain a growing desire to please Me.”

-Jesus

In order to be living in God’s will, I believe we need to do a self-inventory and align that according the principles that God has set for each of us.  This requires the ability to let go and let God.  What in our life is done in self-ambition, of our own will and desire?  Hard questions, I know...  As Christians, we must be daily evaluating ourselves and aligning our desires with the will and purpose of God.  Living out a daily relationship is more than living a good life, it’s about laying it all before the King and seeking Him out daily.  When was the last time you spent some one-on-one time with your Heavenly Father, how is your daily prayer life?  Relationship is key to achieving the desires, ambitions, and goals that are set before you. 

Proverbs 19:21

You can make many plans,
    but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.

(New Living Translation)

I leave you with this: what are you not accomplishing on your own, that you could accomplish if you brought it to the feet of Jesus?  Do you love Him enough to (fill in the blank)…  If faith as big as a mustard seed can move mountains, how great is your faith?

Jesus At the Center (Israel & New Breed)

Jesus at the center of it all
Jesus at the center of it all
From beginning to the end

It will always be, it's always been You Jesus

Jesus

Jesus at the center of it all

Jesus at the center of it all

From beginning to the end

It will always be, it's always been You Jesus

Jesus

Nothing else matters, nothing in this world will do

Jesus You're the center, and everything revolves around You

Jesus You

So Jesus be the center of my life

Jesus be the center of my life

From beginning to the end

It will always be, it's always been You Jesus

Oh Jesus

Nothing else matters, nothing in this world will do

Jesus You're the center, and everything revolves around You

Jesus You

From my heart to the Heavens

Jesus be the center

It's all about You

Yes it's all about You

Nothing else matters, nothing in this world will do

Jesus You're the center, and everything revolves around You

Jesus You

Jesus at the center of it all

Jesus at the center of it all

From beginning to the end

It will always be, it's always been You Jesus

Running 25,000 Miles to Eternity

Last night I had a dream.  I was standing in line to see Jesus and receive my eternal placement.  The anticipation of not only seeing Jesus, but hearing my eternal destination was overwhelming and terrifying.  I went over and over in my mind how I had chosen to live my life and my personal relationship with God.  I knew I could have done better and that scared me.  Finally, my turn was up, Jesus looked at me, looked through his papers and stated, “you must run 25,000 miles before going into Heaven”.  What?!  My heart sank, I was devastated, but determined that I must run those 25,000 miles.  I then proceeded to go to a green grassy field, where I was instructed to run my miles and upon completion I would be re-evaluated for entry into Heaven.  Next to the green grassy area was a wooden bridge, crossing over into a new place (that of which I did not realize the significance until later on).

My total miles completed was around 20,000, when Jesus decided to check in with me.  He asked me what I was learning and how many miles I had left.  I thought to myself, “what I was learning?...”  I was totally not expecting that question.  I had to think about it.  Suddenly, I realized I was actually learning way more than I realized.  As I was running, I was also reflecting back on my life.  I began to understand the purpose of running 25,000 miles.  It was not to earn my way, but it was meant to reflect back on what I could have done better, and how I could have influenced more lives for God’s Kingdom. 

I started to discuss with Jesus opportunities that I missed and where I took a backseat to what He was asking me to do.  After this time of reflection, Jesus had to be on His way.  He looked at me with His eyes of ultimate, unconditional love, which made me feel astounded, amazed, and overwhelmed with a love that I had never known before.  As He walked away, to my surprise, I shouted out, “I love you!”  He looked at me and replied, “I love you too”.  This test of 25,000 miles was all about obedience, perseverance, and learning to love.  Running was no longer a task, it was something that I wanted to do because I loved my Father.      

The day was finally here, I had run the 25,000 miles, Jesus looked at me and we walked across the wooden bridge and into His eternal Kingdom.

This morning, I woke up and knew this dream was not just intended for me, but that I needed to be obedient and share its message with others.  The completion of running 25,000 miles was not to earn my way into Heaven.  Nothing we do will ever earn our way into Heaven.  Salvation is freely given when we accept God and His gift to each of us. 

Ephesians 2:8-9,

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it” (New Living Translation).

This dream signifies that God desires us to not only be obedient and persevere through the trials in this world, but to remember the love that He has for each of us.  That love is not menial, it is not insignificant, it is real and alive, and He desires us to love Him back.  As I was running those 25,000 miles, I began to realize just how much Jesus desires me to love Him.  That love that I have for Him, enables me to complete tasks that are far beyond what any of us could do on our own.  This love means ultimate obedience and endurance to complete this life, in which we have been given.  We should not take this lightly, we should run 25,000 miles.  What in your life seems like running 25,000 miles that you have been putting off?  If you were to stand face-to-face with God and tell Him that you love Him, what would you be compelled to do?      

Someone is CRAZY about you!

How often do you find yourself looking at the mirror and lacking confidence in yourself?  We are all created differently, but that does not define our beauty.  Merriam-Webster defines beauty as, “the quality of being physically attractive; the qualities in a person or a thing that give pleasure to the senses or the mind; or a beautiful woman” (2014).  The world has defined a women’s beauty as outward, and often times that is something that we see as thin, flawless, and perfect in every expression of the female body.  We must each understand that no one is the same and we are each perfectly created by the Master.  One of the most beautifully written love letters from the bridegroom to the bride is in Song of Solomon.  This book was written to express God’s love to us as His children.  

Song of Solomon 4:7, 

“You are altogether beautiful, my darling, beautiful in every way” (New Living Translation).

Take a moment and let that verse sink in, let it penetrate every fiber of your being.  You are beautiful, beautiful in every way.  

For me this is a daily struggle.  I must continue to remind myself that God created me just as I am.  Now, am I saying that living a life of complete and total unhealthiness is okay?  If we are all beautiful then shouldn’t we stop taking care of ourselves?  Absolutely not, our bodies belong to Christ, so we must honor God with our bodies and that means choosing to live a healthy lifestyle.  

1 Corinthians 6:19-20,

"Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body" (New Living Translation). 

We each have a choice to make, we can either let our physical appearance, disabilities, and/or imperfections define who we are or we can choose to honor God with our life, our bodies, and our whole spirit. 

“None of us would turn down the opportunity if God said, ‘Pick one thing you don’t like about yourself and I’ll change it.’  If you’re like me, you might even say, ‘Lord, may I pick ten things?’” (Squier, 2010, p. 67).  Satan is great at making us feel like we’re worthless, ugly, and completely imperfect.  In those moments we must also remember, who we find our strength and confidence in.  Jesus loves us just as we are; we are completely perfect in His sight.  

Max Lucado writes,

"If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.  If he had a wallet, your photo would be in it.  He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning.  Whenever you want to talk, he’ll listen.  He can live anywhere in the universe, and he choose your heart.  And the Christmas gift He sent you in Bethlehem?  He’s crazy about you" (Squier, 2010, p. 68).

Jesus has a “heart overflowing with love, saying, ‘I’m crazy about YOU!’” (Squier, 2010, p. 68).  What an amazing, wonderful, loving Father we serve!  From here on out, live like someone is absolutely CRAZY about YOU!  That will not only change your outward appearance, but it will also change your heart.  Look not only for opportunities to remind yourself of this, but also look for opportunities to remind others of this.  It’s so easy to let the world sway our opinions of ourselves and others.  I challenge you today to look for the beauty in yourself and in every person around you!  Speaking from experience – one compliment can change not only a person’s day, but their life.  Knowing you have purpose, beauty, and a life filled with people who love you is simply amazing! 

Psalms 139:14

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well” (New International Version).

Reference:

Squier, J. (2010). His majesty in brokenness. Lexington, KY: Judy Squier.

My Personal Worldview

My Personal Worldview

The Bible is not just a book, it was written for each and every one of us to apply in our everyday lives, being the very foundation for which we live.  Throughout the Old Testament we are shown example after example of how to live out our faith.  In the New Testament we are told of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection and how to live as God has called us to live.  That is why I have a Biblical worldview, in which the Bible is the absolute foundation for how I live out my life.  A  Biblical worldview believes that:

Absolute moral truth exists, the bible is the source of that truth, Jesus lived a sinless life, God created the universe and continues to rule it, Salvation is a gift from God, Satan is a real living entity, Christians have a personal obligation to share the Gospel, and the Bible is accurate in all of its teaching (Phillips, Brown, & Stonestreet, 2008, p. 91). 

Truth is defined by Merriam-Webster as, “the body of real things, events, and facts” (2013). Absolute truth is found in the Bible, it “is the source of that truth” (Phillips, Brown, & Stonestreet, 2008, p. 91).  Truth is not a mystery; God has made it known to all mankind (Bevere, 2006, p. 5).  Romans 1:19 says, “For the truth about God is known to them instinctively.  God has put this knowledge in their hearts” (New Living Translation).  “His life and teachings are the central core of truth” (Phillips, Brown, & Stonestreet, 2008, p. 98). 

Being a Christian is about following the example God gave us through His son.  Jesus showed us how to live out a relationship with Him.  He lived a perfect and sinless life; He was and is the ultimate example.  “Jesus was not a man who became a god; He was God who became a man.” (Phillips, Brown, & Stonestreet, 2008, p. 99).  There are many examples of Jesus living  a sinless life; Matthew 4:1-11 is  one of them.  Jesus was fasting for forty days and forty nights in the desert, during which Satan came, tempting Him to eat.  Jesus could have easily given into the temptation, but He did not.  Jesus responded to Satan, “’Get out of here, Satan,’ Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”” (Matthew 4:10).  Hebrews 4:15 states, “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.”  Think about your everyday life and how hard it is to withstand temptation.  It is very challenging, and yet Jesus withstood it for His entire life. 

It is extremely hard to imagine a God who existed before anything else, and then chose to create an entire universe.  John 1:1 says, “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  God has always been; there was never a time when God was not.  Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”  God desired to have human companionship, so He created man in His own image.  “When God created human beings, he made them to be like himself. He created them male and female, and he blessed them and called them ‘human.’” (Genesis 5:1-2).  God not only created us, but He continues to rule over us.  Nothing is more powerful than our God. 

For through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth.  He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see- such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.  He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.  (Colossians 1:16-17).

“Salvation is the restoration of the fullness of the divine image in man and the divine relationship with man; the act is a restitution of the relationship God intended: reconciliation, redemption, return, repentance.” (Phillips, Brown, & Stonestreet, 2008, p. 102).  Salvation is not something we earn or deserve based on how we act; it is a free gift God gives us when we choose to accept Him as our personal Lord and Savior. 

Ephesians 2:8-9, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” 

Salvation is God’s gift to us.  God chose us and desires to have a real, living relationship with each and everyone of us.  “Salvation is initiated solely by God’s grace on behalf of a sinful humanity that is incapable of restoring its own relationship with God.” (Phillips, Brown, & Stonestreet, 2008, p. 103).  Romans 3:23-24 tells us that all have sinned; no one can be like God, but through God’s gift to us, His Son, we are cleansed from all unrighteousness.  John 3:16, “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”  To love someone so much, that He gave His own Son as a sacrifice, now that is what I call love!

Satan is real and living among us.  He was created by God as an angelic being, with the purpose of serving God, as all angelic beings were created to do (Ezekiel 28:14).  However, when Satan took on the form of a serpent and tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, Satan went directly against God, and was forever banished from God’s presence (Genesis 3:1-24, Ezekiel 28:1-19).  God defeated Satan, when He sent His Son, Jesus, as the ultimate sacrifice for all mankind (John 3:16). 

1 Corinthians 15:55-56, “Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is your victory?  O death, where is your sting?  For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.  But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Satan does not work on his own; he has fallen angels, known as, demons who also work in the world, waging war against God (Driscoll, 2008).  As Christians, we must be aware of Satan’s presence, so that we might be able to stand up against him.  2 Corinthians 2:11, “Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.” 

            Having a Biblical worldview, believing in God and His teaching, is not all that we are called to.  Christ desires so much more for us.  According to the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus commands us to:

Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. 

Being a Christian, I know that I am called to share the gospel, teaching those who do not know Christ, all about Him and His love. 

The Bible is not just a book; it is accurate and real in all of its teachings.  Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”  The Bible is not just alive and active; it also serves as a form of communication with God.  “Our relationship with God would begin at the point of revelation, in which God communicates Himself to us.” (Phillips, Brown, & Stonestreet, 2008, p. 113).  The Bible serves as a guide for us, guiding us in how to live out our life in the world among us.  “It is through God’s Word that we may properly understand God’s world.” (Phillips, Brown, & Stonestreet, 2008, p. 94).

Having a Biblical worldview is much more than just believing what the Bible says; it is about living out a life that reflects the teachings God has given us in the Bible.  This is something that we can see in our every day to day lifestyle.  Christ lives in me, and because of that He is apparent in everything that I do.  Having a Biblical worldview is great, but it means absolutely nothing, if you are not in a personal relationship with God, desiring to know and deepen your relationship with Him.  It is human nature to have selfish wants and desires, but with Christ one begins to lose those ties to selfishness, and your life will reflect Christ living in and through you.  John 3:30 tells us that, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”  “The key is to know what the King desires and looks for, not what seems good to society or human reasoning” (Bevere, 2006, p. 12). 

As for myself, I have a Biblical worldview, because of my relationship with my Savior.  I daily die to myself and choose to let everything I do and say reflect Him living in me.  I live out each day to fulfill the calling that God has placed on my life.  “Somewhere, mysteriously in the depths of our hearts, God is calling each one to make a difference” (Smith, 2011, p. 108). 

When we know and accept a Biblical worldview, it is then that we are called to action.  Having a Biblical worldview is more than just proclaiming it, we must live it out.  It is absolutely critical that we know and act on God’s Word. 

There is a Judgment Day, which has been appointed from the foundation of the world (Acts 17:31).  That day will not bring new revelations of truth; rather, it will measure all things by what has already been spoken.  His Word, which we currently possess, will judge us in that last day.  It is eternal.  It is final.  There are no exceptions, alterations, or revisions.  Wouldn’t it benefit us to know and live by what He says, rather than assume what He said?  (Bevere, 2006, p. 8).  

Being in relationship with Jesus is more than a daily, one minute, fix all prayer.  It means living by what He commands in His written Word and staying in constant communion with Him.  Having a Biblical worldview is essential in living out a true relationship with Christ.   

References

Bevere, J. (2006). Driven by eternity, making your life count today & forever. New York,

NY: Faith Words

Driscoll, M. (2008).  Spiritual warfare. [PDF document].  Retrieved from

http://cdn.marshill.com/files/collection/documents/spiritual-warfare_9080_document.pdf

Phillips, W. G., Brown, W. E. & Stonestreet, J. (2008). Making sense of your world: A biblical

worldview. (2nd ed.). Salem, WI: Sheffield Publishing Company

Smith, G. (2011). Courage & calling: embracing your God-given potential. (Revised and

Expanded ed.). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press

Truth. (2013). In Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved from:

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/truth  

Elements of a Worldview

In the book entitled: Making Sense of Your World, the authors reference questions Leo Tolstoy answered, “(b)efore he became a Christian” (Phillips, Brown, & Stonestreet, 2008, p.9). As my first paper in the class: Understanding Worldviews, I was asked to write my answers to Tolstoy's 6 questions:"Why am I living? What is the cause of my existence and that of everyone else? Why do I exist? Why is there a division of good and evil within me? How must I live? What is death – how can I save myself?" As, I answered each of these questions, I wanted to back up what I believe to be true, with what the scripture tells us is true.  Before you continue to read, stop for a few minutes and ponder how you would answer the above six questions.  Do you have the evidence to back up what you believe? 

Elements of a Worldview

In order to have a worldview, one must challenge themselves to discover what they truly believe about themselves, where they came from, and what their purpose in life should be.  There are so many questions that are contemplated as a person dwells upon what their worldview should be.  Is one’s worldview based on the convictions and beliefs that they’ve come to discover as true for themselves, or is one’s worldview based on what society says is true?  As I’ve challenged myself with questions of life and death, I’ve come to the conclusion that I have a strong Biblical worldview.

Why am I living?

If we were to truly believe there was no God, then what’s really the point in living?  As Christians, we know that there is a God, and because of that we know why we are living.  The fact of the matter is that we are all living because God created us.  In Genesis 1:27-28 (New Living Translation) the scripture reads, “So God created human beings in his own image.  In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.  Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.””  God chose us to take care of this land, this world, and govern over it.

Now, that seems easy, but later on in Matthew 28:19-20, God gives us the Great Commission, which states, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Not only are we living to care for this place God created for us, but we are to fulfill the great commission: to go out and make disciples, sharing with them how Christ has changed our life and how he can change their life. 

What is the cause of my existence & everyone else?

The cause of our existence can be extremely challenging to contemplate, but the Biblical answer is simple.  John 1:3 says, “God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.”  What does that mean?  We exist because God created us, and we exist to fulfill his purpose for our lives, just as the great commission commands us to do.

Why do I exist?

God gives each of us a specific calling for our lives, and that is the individual answer for each person’s existence.  If I exist to fulfill Christ’s calling in my life, then what is my calling?  I can’t answer that for each person, because no one’s purpose is identical.  One person may be called to go to Africa as a missionary, one person may be called to be a grocery store attendant, and another may be called to be a mom or dad.  We exist for the purpose that Christ has given us.

In John 6:37-38, Jesus shares his purpose, “However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.  For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.”  As Christians, we should follow Jesus’ example, our purpose should be to do God’s will.

                         Why is there a division of good & evil within me?

God’s original plan was not that of evil.  He created man with the intention of living in direct communion with them.  However, God chose to give us freewill, and with that freewill man chose to sin.  The first occurrence of evil was the sin of Eve in the Garden of Eden.  Genesis 2:15-17, “The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.  But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.””  Satan tempted Eve with the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  Eve was convinced by what the serpent had told her.  God gave Adam and Eve the ability to make their own decisions, causing them to fall into temptation and sin, resulting in all mankind now being born into sin.  Romans 5:12, “When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.”

The division of good and evil is due to Satan’s very nature being evil and God’s nature being absolutely perfect and good.  Due to everyone being born into sin, sin is a part of who we are; the only way to break the bondage of sin is to accept God’s gracious gift of forgiveness. 

How must I live?

      I desire my life to be a complete reflection of what I believe.  I have a very simple outlook on my purpose, and that is to follow God’s calling on my life, sharing with others in order to further the Kingdom of God.  Romans 14:8-12 states, "If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead. So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.’” Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God."  That’s the way I choose to live, to honor the Lord, so that one day when I stand before him he will tell me, “Well done, my good and faithful servant,” (Matthew 25:21). 

What is death & how can I save myself?

There are two types of death: physical and spiritual.  When our heart ceases to pump blood to our body, we are physically dead.  However, spiritual death is separation from God.  Isaiah 59:1-2 states, “Listen! The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call.  It’s your sins that have cut you off from God.  Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.”  As shown in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Since we are born into sin we are spiritually dead, the only way to be alive is to accept God’s gift of salvation.

In order to receive eternal life and save ourselves from death and ultimately Hell, we must repent of our sins and turn from them, walking in relationship with Jesus.  We must completely separate ourselves from sin, by accepting God’s free gift.  Romans 5:16-17, “And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins.  For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.”

       I have accepted God’s gracious gift and I let my life reflect all that He has done for me.  I choose to follow Christ and his direction and calling for my life, no matter where that may take me.  As I contemplated Leo Tolstoy six questions, from Making Sense of Your World, I discovered how strong my beliefs are, with the biblical evidence to back them up.  Worldviews are formed by personal beliefs and convictions, which determine how each person decides to live out their life.

References

Phillips, W. G., Brown, W. E. & Stonestreet, J. (2008). Making sense of your world: A biblical worldview. (2^nd ed.). Salem, WI: Sheffield Publishing Company

Do I Have a Purpose, a Meaning, and do I Really Care?

Do you ever find yourself wondering what's my purpose, and do I really care?  It's so easy to let our lives go on day after day, and never truly understand why we are here.  Vaclev Havel (1988) wrote, "The tragedy of modern man is not that he knows less and less about the meaning of his own life, but that it bothers him less and less" (p. 237).

To completely understand Vaclev Havel’s statement, I had to read it a few times and ask myself, “what is more critical: to not know the meaning of one’s life, or to not care to know the meaning of one’s life?”  I would have to agree with Havel, in that it is much more tragic to not care to know the meaning of life.

There are a few reasons why I agree with Havel.  If you no longer care to know the meaning of your life, where is your purpose found?  The modern man has lost focus of what is truly important.  Most people I encounter on a daily basis are merely going through the motions.  What would happen if I stopped to ask someone, “what is the meaning of your life?”  Most would be speechless.  Sadly, our society has taught us that it’s okay to just “do life”, go with the flow, take opportunities when they come, because eventually life will be over.  However, when we get caught in that mindset, we forget the true meaning of our lives.  Whether someone’s worldview is naturalism, transcendentalism, theism, or postmodernism, we all have the desire to have some kind of purpose.  Yet, how can one truly understand their purpose if they don’t understand their meaning? 

Developing a worldview causes each person to answer questions about their own life.  Questions such as: “origin, meaning, morality, destiny, and identity” (Phillips, Brown, & Stonestreet, 2008, pg. 9), all topics which we seek to answer as we begin to discover what worldview we hold.  So, if one no longer cares that he doesn't know the meaning of his life, how is he to form his own worldview?  In this day and age young people, in particular, are so easily influenced by what society portrays as normal.  So, are people truly trying to understand what they believe, or are they following the crowd and choosing to believe something because that’s what society says is true?

“Worldviews have been adapted, modified, embedded, and enshrined in various cultures.  Now, in the information age, a smorgasbord of worldviews confronts us as we explore our global village.  How are we to sift through all these views and determine which (if any) reflects true reality?” (Phillips, Brown, & Stonestreet, 2008, pg. 15)  When a person no longer cares to discover the meaning of their life, are they now subject to choosing a worldview, based off of what everyone else is doing or saying?  For example, if you don’t know your name, then you don’t know your personal identity.  When you no longer know who you are, you become a compilation of beliefs and assumptions of what other people say you are to be.  The same is true for one’s meaning. 

When a man chooses to not know his meaning, and thus no longer cares that he doesn't know his meaning, he is ultimately choosing to not know his origin, his morality, his destiny, and his identity.  When unable to determine the answer to each of these questions, how are you able to determine your worldview?  It’s as if man has become a robot, merely doing what he is told, and not thinking independently for himself.  That is why I believe it to be absolutely crucial to know and fully understand the meaning and purpose of your life. 

"For I know the plans I have for you (insert your name), plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11

What will you say to God?

Let your answer be, "Yes, Lord, Yes!"

References:

Phillips, W. G., Brown, W. E. & Stonestreet, J. (2008). Making sense of your world: A biblical worldview. (2nd ed.). Salem, WI: Sheffield Publishing Company.

Havel. V. (1988). Letters to Olga.  New York, NY: Knopf Publishers.

Short & Sweet - Getting to Know "Becki"

It's been a while since I've had time to write...  A lot has changed since my last post.  I graduated nursing school and am currently working as a nurse - crazy!  I've enrolled in an online RN to BSN nursing program - in order to get my bachelors in nursing.  My first class is titled: "Understanding Worldviews," which I'm totally excited for!  For my first assignment I had to right a short autobiography and I thought I would share it with all of you. Throughout this semester  you can absolutely guarantee that I will be sharing with all of you, the new and exciting things I will be learning. 

Short & Sweet Autobiography 

Here’s a little glimpse into my life.  I am 26 years old, and a Nazarene “PK,” pastor’s kid.  My family has moved around more than the average family typically would.  I am the oldest child of three.  My sister is currently employed and living on her own, and my brother is a big freshman in college - showing off his athletic skills on the university football team!  Many people ask me, "Are you married?"  No, I am not.  It can be extremely discouraging the older I get, but as you will read below I know I'm exactly where God wants me.  I've come to accept the fact that even if I never fulfill my lifelong dream of being married and having my own family, I am fulfilling God's purpose in my life, and that above all things is my life's greatest accomplishment!

1 Corinthians 6:19-20a NIV

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price." 

In May I graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage with my associates’ degree in nursing.  I am employed at the local hospital as a Registered Nurse in obstetrics.  I consider myself extremely blessed to have the opportunity to begin my nursing career in my chosen specialty. 

I am currently attending Colorado Christian University because I loved the basis of CCU’s RN to BSN online program, nursing with a Christ centered perspective.  There were other universities that I was looking into, but God made it abundantly clear that CCU was where I should attend.  It was the only university that required me to complete one pre-requisite class before starting the core classes for the RN to BSN program, my enrollment counselor total me it was extremely rare for that to happen. 

 

I’m very excited to be enrolled and participating in the "Understanding Worldviews" class.  I want to leave this class with a stronger and clearer perspective into what I believe and why.  However, please don’t misunderstand what I’m saying.  I do know why I have the beliefs that I do, but how often do we challenge ourselves to think harder and deeper about them.  There are so many things that we all assume or take for granted.  For example, a child asking the question, “why,” and the parent responding, “because I said so.”  Leaving the child with no real definitive reason as to why.  With that being said, I want to discover what my worldviews are, with a strong biblically based perspective as to why I believe the way I do.      

We all have a purpose and whether we know what our purpose is or not, it’s still there.  Why do we live each day, going through routines day in and day out?  I've often found myself asking God, “What am I doing here, am I fulfilling your calling for my life?”   I get up each day, because I know whether it be something as simple as making someone smile, or as large as speaking the Word of God into someone’s life – I have a purpose and as I daily commit myself to God’s will, He will fulfill that purpose in my life.  I trust that God has me exactly where he wants me, and I daily look for opportunities, wherever I am, to make a difference for his kingdom. 

1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV

“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”