Ignorant Historian

“…you won her over. Gave up everything for her. Maybe that’s the only way to convince her you love her.” – Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, p. 329

“Many churches speak about homosexuality in terms of sin and judgment but about divorce in terms of forgiveness and grace. When a same sex couple goes down to the courthouse to petition for a marriage certificate, the Christians show up with sandwich boards. Do they also show up when their congregants go to the same courthouse to petition for an “unbiblical divorce?” Likely not. And the hypocrisy on this issue has not escaped the next generation.” -“Why Our Generation Doesn’t Care About Prop 8″ by Jonathan Merritt

“I asked the children [from the suburbs] where the slums were. But they said there were no slums near where they lived, only far away, in the city.” – The Love Wife by Gish Jen, p. 44

“We’re fickle, stupid beings with poor memories and a great gift for self-destruction.” – Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, p. 379

“Annie, being a virgin in this day and age is something to be proud of…you’re like a unicorn.” – Shirley, Community, “The Politics of Human Sexuality”

“He is the God that understands that I just miss being loved by a lover….I am blessed in the truest sense of the word.  I am also a little lonely.” – Amy Beth Bullard, “The God Who Understands”

“Finally, he can see me for who I really am. Violent. Distrustful. Manipulative. Deadly. And I hate him for it.” – Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, p. 232

“A proud person tries to reinvent reality. He tries to redraw the borders of human behavior to suit himself, displacing God as the Lord and boundary keeper of life.” – Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be by Cornelius Plantinga, Jr., p. 125

“I noticed, too, it was the cruelest thing you could say about a person–that they were small.” – Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl

(advice given against early engagements) “…if a man is going through a woods, and sees a good young sapling, he may mark it and come back afterward and get it, if he can.” – Most Famous Man in America

” ‘Oh, no. It costs a lot more than your life. To murder innocent people?’ says Peeta. ‘It costs everything you are.’ ” – Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, p. 23

Okay, so by now you might have realized I’m kinda nostalgic about my school days coming to an end. To celebrate (not eulogize) such an occasion, I’m going to post a new memory of school each week through the semester. I’ll try to do one from each grade, but really I just want to offer you the best stories I have.

This first memory happened in 8th grade science class. I’ve always excelled at math and science, but I didn’t enjoy science when I was younger. I think it’s because they focused too much on the life sciences. I’ve never been a fan of learning about animals or the human body. Anyway, 8th grade is when my love of science started to emerge, thanks to a strict teacher, Mr. Hagan, who taught us basic chemistry and physics.

I didn’t like one of my fellow students very much; I’ll call him George. There really is only one type of personality that I generally have a problem getting along with, and that is my own. I like to be right and be in control, and there is simply not room for two such people in the same group. As an adult and a maturing Christian, I’ve learned to handle situations like these for the most part with grace, but this wasn’t the case when I was 14.

So, George was as strong-willed as I was, and we had known each other for years, so there was probably some built up tension between the two of us. One day in our science class Mr. Hagan put us in the same group for a project. I don’t really remember what the point of the project was, but I know that we had a cup full of marbles.

At one point during the project, I wanted to do it one way, and George wanted to do it another. I knew I was right, so I didn’t budge but stayed put. He kept pushing for his way, and in the process knocked my arm that was holding the cup of marbles. I saw it coming, but I did absolutely nothing to stop it.

Everyone looked up as hundreds of marbles clattered across the tile floor.

Clearly there was an issue between George and I, and we both blamed the other for the spilled marbles. Yes, I could have prevented it and it was certainly my fault that they were now rolling under the desks, but I didn’t care because I wanted to make a point by not preventing it from happening. I’m not saying what I did was right, but it’s what I thought was right at the time. After all, how could I be wrong?

Well, Mr. Hagan walks over and asked what happened. After we each told our side of the story, he makes George, all by himself, pick up all the marbles. I felt vindicated in what I did, and perhaps this sealed my love of science.

I’m polished, organized, and in control. I am smart and funny, and have something to add to any conversation. I can handle any situation that comes up with poise and wit. Everything in my life is structured and follows according to my plan. I always know the right thing to say and do.

Or at least that’s how I want to come across. Lately though, God has been showing me that this is a matter of pride. Through teaching at church both Sunday morning and night and in personal time in God’s Word, the Bible, this has been the overarching theme that God has been making very clear to me. I need Him every moment of everyday, because I truthfully do not know what to say and do in every circumstance. Any “natural” ability I may have was already given by my Creator, and He is constantly providing me with spiritual help where I lack. I need His grace to handle every minute in a way that is honoring to Him.

This week I’m helping out with Power Camp, a sports camp put together by the FCA and my church. I’m responsible for leading the devotions for a group of about 15 children entering the 4th-7th grades, almost exclusively from the community. Because of work, I am only with the kids for the second half of camp, so I was quite frazzled yesterday as I tried to figure out how to handle it. This is certainly a situation where I need to rely on God for wisdom and patience, strength and boldness.

Please pray for these children that God would be working in their hearts. They have a great opportunity to hear the Gospel, study the Word, and interact personally with believers. There’s a good chance that some of these children have never been able to do any of those things before. I would also appreciate prayers for me that God would give me the words to say and the patience to show Christ’s love for them.

To all my friends: I haven’t forgotten you. This semester has been rough, and I’ve been thrown off my schedule. Forgive me for not keeping in contact like I should. I really do love you all and want to continue keeping contact with you. I long for heaven when our fellowship with the Lord and with one another will be sweet and uninterrupted!

I pride myself on having everything together. I love it when people compliment me on my organization and discipline. Notice the sin in this: pride, thinking I am self-caused and self-sufficient. God has been humbling me and making me realize that I need Him more and more. I cannot do this alone. I need to rely on God for strength, courage, and rest.

I know most of you are struggling at this time of year as well. Remember that God will never give you more than you can handle, at least not more than you can handle with His help. Seek Him in everything you do.

The Lord Jesus said: “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” – Matthew 6:33-34 NASU