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