The Journey

Day Two (Sunday, March 15, 2009)

Back in the early days, Christians before they were actually called "Christians" were referred to in the Greek as "the way, or the path, or the journey." Today we had the opportunity to actually go to two amazing services at the church we're partnering with called "The Journey" and listen to both Pastor Darrin and Pastor John preach about giving and being called to sacrifice and what it looks like to live at a level that God provides.

What would this world look like if we were all a little bit less self-centered? If for once in our lives it wasn't all about us? If we had a whole body of people acting in the best interests of others and not themselves, what would change look like? Both pastors at The Journey related this change back to our pocketbooks. So often we either spend too much, or save too much, and we give too little to the things in life that matter. Essentially, the things that matter is our church and our community.

If, as college students, we can learn to live generously with our money, then other people will start to take notice. If we are able to say tithing to the church is something I can easily spend a hundred dollars on, then we are assigning value and worth to things not necessarily of this world but of things that further God's kingdom. If through our actions we can portray the love we have for Christ by the love we have for the church, then good things will come of it. Revival and growth are two things that are rarely used to describe the modern day church. In America especially students need to extend their generosity to the church and to others around them in an authentic way that says "I'm here to serve you."

So basically that's what we learned both at the morning service and the evening service. We did get to have some free time toward mid-afternoon and we had the opportunity to spend time together as a group in the park just posing in front of the Arch and playing random games that gave people like myself really large bruises on their ankles (calling out Dani on this one!) But I'd have to say just being able to enjoy the evening eating at Chipotle and ending with some deliciously smooth gelato was the perfect end to Day Two.

Until tomorrow, yours in Him,

Joanna Lynn. (ha, that rhymed)


Verse of the Day: Malachi 3:10

"Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need."