Judaism...

So much for writing about another religion every day! It will probably be much easier for me to do once this semester is over and I have some free time over the summer (if I have any free time over the summer, because I am going to be working about 60 hours a week!) Anyway, I thought I would write a little about judaism and what I know about it. I wrote about Islam in another blog and I got no responses. I am sure it is because not many, if any, people read my blog... its cool though. Anyway, if I leave anything out or am misinformed with my information (because that is VERY possible... because I am going straight off the knowledge in my head... and that knowledge does let me down sometimes)... anyway, let me know. This is a learning experience for you and I.

Judaism is a religion of people (jews) who really seem to take their religion quite seriously. It is something I envy at times, to see people worship and respect their word the way the jews do.  The jews follow the Hebrew bible, which is basically the New Testament. Judaism starts off with abraham, being an 'Abrahamic religion'.  God made a covenant through Abraham and from what I understand, that is basically where Judaism starts off.  Christianity on the other hand believes that Christ was the Messiah and it was said in the bible (New Testament), that He was the king of the jews, but the majority of Jews deny this claim altogether.  Jews have a lot of interesting traditions and ways of doing things.  The hat the men wear is called the Kippah, and it is worn to remind the men that there is always something above them, being God.   I never really knew why they wore those hats until about a week ago. 

Honestly, that is the jist of what I know about Judaism.  I know that there is SO much more to know, so please enlighten me if you'd wish to. 

My first time seeing snow... Slideshow!

Islam...

I am going to start talking about other religions to try and not only learn a thing or two about other religions, but to hopefully educate other people. Some blogs may be longer than others. If there is anything anyone would like to say, please feel free to say it. I am not an expert or a scholarly reference of any sort... there are things I have learned and am still learning about other religions. I am going to start with Islam, which is the fastest growing religion in the world.

The word Islam is actually translated as 'submission'. The religion is all about submitting themselves to God, or Allah. It is a monotheistic religion, meaning they believe in one supreme God or deity. That would make Islamic people Muslims, which means 'one who submits himself to God'. I know a lot of people think Muslim is a religion and Islam is a separate religion, but they go together.  The book, which is their source, is the Koran or Qur'an which is believed to have been inspired through God to Muhammad, who was the last prophet. The Koran is what Islam base their lives upon.  Islam is the second largest religion in the world, next to Christianity, but it is said that it will be larger than Christianity by the end of the 21st century.  Muslims believe in Jesus and that he was a prophet, but they believe that the savior is yet to come. They believe that Christians and Jews distorted the bible centuries ago by altering the text of the bible.  Muhammad isn't the founder of the religion, but he is the restorer. That is basically what I know about Islam. I know that there are five pillars of Islam, but I don't know too much about them yet.  Please educate me is any of this is false, or if you would like to add something.

I looked up the 5 pillars and this is what I got:

The 'Five Pillars' of Islam are the foundation of Muslim life:

• Faith or belief in the Oneness of God and the finality of the prophethood of Muhammad;
• Establishment of the daily prayers;
• Concern for and almsgiving to the needy;
• Self-purification through fasting; and
• The pilgrimage to Makkah for those who are able.

that is from:

http://www.islam101.com/dawah/pillars.html

I hope this helps some of you to better understand Islam and what it is about. I still have so much to learn!

Missions blurb.

What am I doing with my life? I am so confused sometimes about what is going on and what on earth I am actually going to be doing.  Confusion is awesome.  Because then you think. And thinking is good. 'I think therefore I am'... it makes me remember that I am alive. Haha.  Seriously though, I am alive, but who am I living for and on what purpose and I basing my life? Hopefully on only Christ in whom all my hope is found.  

I have been looking around into different missions organizations, asking for information and brochures.  I have looked into faith-support based organizations and also paid organizations... Paid meaning I would have an actual job as a missionary.  Both which are appealing...  What I would like to do is get a job somewhere... preferably teaching English or working in a radio or television station(Preferably TV)... but being there as a missionary and using my work, my job as my main tunnel for ministry.  In TV I can impact many lives, and in teaching English I can impact the lives of students, one on one, which is REALLY awesome and I would LOVE to do that.  There are so many ways in which God has and can use me and I jut want to give it all to Him, making sure I am constantly focusing on Him and laying my selfish desires to the side.  I have a big heart for Europe and China.  The church in China is growing and the church in Europe is dying.  Europe is a post-Christian society, as America seems to be becoming more and more each day. Other countries are actually sending missionaries back to America, which isn't illogical... it makes perfect sense. The countries that received the gospel from America see that state in which we are in right now, which is a sad one, and they are having compassion on us, as we should be having on ourselves.  As Christians we need to stand up and do what it is God is calling us to do. There is a voice inside of all of us that is saying, do this, do that, go here go there... and if we are faithful and trust that God will provide, awesome things will happen.  I believe with all of my heart that everyone who is saved is called to do something.  It may not be missions work overseas or in the states... it may be working in an orphanage or for a church or leading bible studies or being the next Billy Graham.  Your life is to be that of a disciple.  

I could go on and on about all this, but I think I have made my point.  If you want me to say more, just ask.   One thing I do want to mention, that I mentioned in my second blog (I think it was my second) is about how we are so naive to other cultures and other beliefs and religions. I kind of want to start blogging daily on a different religion and try to talk about what I know and I want to learn something new every day. There are hundreds of beliefs out there, and it is horrible to know nothing about what we are going up against as Christians.  I encourage everyone to get to know and understand other religions... it is so important, especially in the world we are living in today.

This summer has been figured out.

I'm not too sure if I talked about this in one of my previous blogs, but do you remember how I was trying to figure out what I was going to do this summer? Well, now I know. 

I will be staying on campus, working on campus to pay for room expenses and I will be working hopefully 40 hours a week at Chick-fil-A so that I can pay some bills and save some money for when I get married in December. It is a good feeling to not be confused about it anymore.  Last summer really screwed me up. I ended up going home for the summer and I couldn't find a job ANYWHERE, because it was basically for the summer, so no one wanted to hire me... so I had to do odd jobs for people and I couldn't pay my insurance, so I had to use my card and all that, so then the card got to be too high and I wasn't making enough money... It is a mess.  Anyway, I will be happy to pay off what I owe this summer. 

As for missions, I am still seeking an organization that I can go full time with. I dont really know what I am doing right out of school yet, but I am trying to seek God and His will throughout all of it. God Bless!

Until the nets are full,

JFW

Hard to keep the focus...

Sorry... its been a few days since I have said anything! I can tell that I have kept you on the edge of your seats. It's just been a crazy past few days, so I haven't wanted to write and/or there just has been NO time.  It is funny how one minute you can be so passionate about doing something, and then all of a sudden you put it off and don't feel like doing it.  This is a regular part of my life.  

This brings me to my missional focus in my life.  I am very focused on wanting to be a missionary full time for the rest of my life.  After going to Germany and coming back, God has shown me so much and taught me so much about myself and other people.  He taught me about leadership, service and how to love in different ways.  These are all things that I do not want to EVER lose sight of... things that if I can focus on them, it will truly shape me into a better man for the ret of my life.

Getting back to the states, back into the swing of things, can be so hard to do.  For those of you who have ever done missions work, or been on a short term missions trip, you know that sometimes the biggest culture shock is coming back to the states and seeing how we have it or how we are in comparison with other countries.  Life here is so different from other places... which makes sense.  I find that some people come back to the states with a bitter heart against America and Americans, which I am probably guilty of plenty... but that is NOT the approach to take, and I have learned that over time. But my focus for this blog is not on culture shock, it is on focus, procrastination and commitment. 

Focus because, it is so hard to focus sometimes on the things that really matter in life, even those things that may actually be most important to you.  Finding quiet time with the Lord is sometimes the hardest thing to do as a student on this campus... at least for me sometimes.  Trying to keep up that awesome one on one time with God that I had while overseas... thats what I want and that is what I am striving for.

Procrastination.  If you know what the word means, then I really don't need to say anything.  Trying to fit God into your schedule later... ok, 10 minutes... ok, after lunch... oh man, is it really 7 pm already? Ok, I'll do it in an hour. You wake up the next day and you are like, 'WHOA, where did my day go? I didn't even spend time in the word!'... and that becomes routine. I think procrastination is really one of the subtle works of the devil. I know that sounds corny or dorky, but it is so true.

And the there is commitment. Truly committing your whole self to something is so hard to do. I plan on doing this in 9 months by getting married to my beautiful Angel, Lee Ruth.  I normally don't have any problem committing myself to her, so what happens to committing my time to the Lord? When am I giving myself to God to let Him use me?  

It just gets so tough. I want to keep that same heart, that same passion I have while I am doing missions work.  Lord God, please don't let that fire burn out, but only ignite it more, so that my fire will burn into other peoples lives.

Until the Nets are Full,

JFW

'Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.' Romans 12:1-2

Oh Glaucus.

So the past few days have been quite interesting.  I just found out the other night that a guy I know has cancer. Im not too sure how severe it is, but it is something that needs prayer for sure.  I have a good friend, Kyle, who recently fought cancer and one. He's a funny guy. He is also a very God-centered man. Awesome to see now-a-days, especially in guys around my age range (18-25)... I am excited to see how God is going to work in this situation, and I hope through it all, they trust in Him completely.  

Yesterday I was talking to my good friend, Bethany and she was talking about this weird sea slug thing. Keep in mind, she is a Marine Biology major.  So she was telling me 

about how she found one and it was washed up on shore, but still alive and her and a friend saved it and it laid eggs.. She was so excited, and I was like... well, its a slug, right?  Well, technically it is called a Glaucus Atlanticus.  She sent me the spelling on my facebook and I looked it up. WOW. What an intriguing looking creature. It is a sign, to me, that God is not only awesome, but creative.  It looks like some creative mythical creature... (See the picture).  How awesome is that? I just thought it was blog worthy information.  Now you can look and see that God is awesome to create such things.  Thats all for now. God Bless you.

Until the nets are full,  

JFW

I love Milka...

Thats it. I love it. Milka... It is in Europe... not here. Sad day.

It is like heaven to your taste buds.

JFW

Goodbye choir.

For those of you who don't know, I have been a singer my entire life. I have been in many different choirs that have been all over the country singing.  Currently I am in the University Concert Choir, not for requirement, but for a luxury more-so.  

Right now certain situations have arisen that have made it hard for me to stay in the choir. It was an extremely hard decision, because I adore singing and being in the choir.  Tonight is my last concert with the choir and then I am withdrawing from the class. It really hurts me a lot to do this.  The choir is going on tour in the summer to New York and stuff... I wish I could be there.  But sometimes life happens and you have to react accordingly.  It sucks to make the hard decisions, but those decisions will shape your future. I just hope that I am in a choir as good as this one again at some point in my life. I do not want to give up singing... it is a huge passion in my life. Thats all.. 

Until the nets are full,

JFW

Making it count.

Since my last time in China I have been seriously considering missions work full time.  I have looked briefly into a couple of different organizations, but I haven't gotten too deeply into it. There were times when I seriously thought about working where I am working now (Chick-fil-A) as a full time job.  I have now come to the realization that it is, without a doubt, NOT what I want with my life.  This is something I didn't realize until after my fourth missions trip, the one that verified to me that God wants to do something unique with my life.  I know that many people wont understand the feeling I have inside my heart, but it is a fiery passion burning inside of me to do work for the Lord. 

Everyone I know was kind of surprised when I said I wasn't going back to China this year and that I had decided to take another route.  I have always had a passion for Europe, and Germany in specific... Germany mostly because I have heard so much about it through my uncle, who has been a missionary there my entire life.  I felt God calling me to go there... and I felt it strong.  

I signed up to be a leader with a friend of mine, and we had the awesome pleasure of leading the team.  During the training and meeting processes, her and I had many difficulties with the team and how we felt things were going.  We felt like, a lot of the time, some people on the team were really only going on the trip to have a nice Spring Break vacation.  That broke both of our hearts... but we continued as normal... of coarse we addressed the issues of vacationing and made sure everyone knew that it was a missions trip, not a vacation.  It was so hard on me and my co-leader whenever anyone would talk about the things they wanted to do for fun, instead of for ministry... (they never talked about ministry, no matter how much we tried to talk about it.)  I was getting very frustrated as a leader, because for the most part I felt like no one listened to anything I had to say, and I felt like no one respected me at all. I am not saying that personally I have not or did not mess up every once in a while on the trip, in my life, but I am a person who is quick to apologize for my mistakes... I try my hardest to lead by example.  

So we got to Germany and right away we got to start working in a church doing service stuff... cleaning up a downstairs area completely... pulling down some walls, putting up new walls... painting, building sanding... we did a great amount of work for the week we were there, and the finished product looked completely awesome.  Everyone on the team pulled their own weight for the most part, although there was a lot of complaining from some people on the team about receiving free time. I tried to make it clear to them that we weren't there for ourselves, but it really never sank in.  That really got to me. 

Every night, except for Wednesday night, we led a youth group with a bunch of high school aged students... it really was an awesome time having the opportunity to lead worship, bible studies and spend quality time with the students we met there.  

Some people on my team really had a good time doing the opposite of what we were there to do.  Saying things to the students that were more damaging than good... not acting in a way a good Christian person should act... really showing through their actions, and a lot of times through words, that they weren't there for the mission... they were there for themselves. It broke my heart.

Although we had done a lot of good work and met a lot of great people and possibly help someone grow closer to the Lord, I had felt like I had failed the team as a leader.  God quickly let me know that we did do a lot of good, and to not think for a second that He is not going to use what we did.  God is in control, not us.  

fin. (Final;End)

Until the nets are full,

JFW