I was at Wal-Mart about a half hour ago standing in line at Register 16 when a young man suddenly fell backwards on his head unconscious. Though I was completely calm and responded by calling an ambulance, this put the fear of God into me, as a Believer. There was a huge pop-sound that could be heard half across the Wal-Mart. He lay there with his eyes starring straight up, glazed over – no tremors. He was unconscious with his eyes open for about 30 seconds, then started moving around slightly. He was still breathing and mentally alert and able to respond to the people surrounding him to help him. There was blood on the floor and on his face. I pulled out my cell-phone and called for an ambulance and described to them what was in front of me, calmingly. I had First-Responder training a few months prior to today and knew how to describing the scene, at least. I said, “He's stable,” to which someone else replied, “No he isn't,” but they didn't know that from an emergency-medicine perspective stable means breathing and alert. They told me what to do for the nose-bleed and I handed the phone to his girlfriend for them to speak to her. The paramedics came. Let me tell you what lead up to these events and why I was out shopping at 1:30 AM in the morning.
I was in my room when I got a call from a friend of mine who's an associate Pastor, Joseph Pittano. He's coming into town tomorrow morning and wanted to see me (awesome friend). He wanted me to drive him. So, I wanted to clean out my car – it was 12 AM or so. So, I drove to the gas station to use the vacuum. I vacuumed it out and everything when a man rode up on his bike with a flat tire and asked me for some food, a shower, and a place to sleep. I got out $2 and put it in a One Heartbeat Away and got ready to witness. He told me he just left jail and is going to work a temp. job tomorrow but has rode 30 miles or so and is just really tired. I told him I was a broke college student with very little. So, I witnessed to him. He almost rolled his eyes like he'd heard it all before. I prayed with him for his needs. He thanked me and took off. Then I realized something:
James 2:14-17, “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” (KJV)
Matthew 25:41-43, “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.” (KJV)
As I drove away, I asked the Lord to forgive me for not fulfilling this. Though I'm a broke college student, I have a small room in a student housing apartment where he could have spent the night on my couch – I'm single with no family to endanger, am allowed by my lease to have guests up to 3 days, have extra clothes and sheets, and could have spared him my food and everything. He might have been more open to receiving what I had to say if I'd have given him these things. I also possess nothing really valuable and can lock my room-door at night. I knew this well when I was with him but didn't want to be burdened with upsetting my normal routine and thinking about security. What a joke. Fell for one of Satan's lies, I suppose.
Well, after this I was really dismayed with myself. I decided to go to Wal-Mart to pick up some items to prepare for tomorrow. I was walking through the door-way when someone in a dirty wife-beater asked me for $0.18. It's so funny when people ask for such an exact amount. I handed him a quarter and immediately asked him if I could buy him some food. He followed me and we walked the aisles as he picked out what he wanted. Apparently I'd witnessed to him before! I met him in front of Walgreens and I'd given him my personal copy of the Bible after witnessing to him and he said he'd been reading it. He had a place to stay with a relative and a place to store food. So, after that we went to wait in line. We remembered that he forgot to get the $0.16 noodles, so he went back. That's when it happened and the young man fell.
He was surrounded by paramedics, all of which didn't do very much. I told them what I'd seen and they said, “Thank you, have a good night.” to get rid of me. I returned and told them that he'd fallen on the back of his head really badly (which no one seemed to have mentioned) and probably had a concussion and that is why his nose is bleeding. They accepted it and told me that they were C-spining him and that it was fine. But, the man didn't know that I'd taken the class and knew what C-spining was for – just for axial spine stabilization in order to transport the patient safely and so that they aren't a liability. They C-spine everybody for everything! If he fractured a rib or sprained an ankle they'd C-spine him! I felt really bad for the young man because his girlfriend mentioned that he wasn't diabetic at all and it certainly wasn't a seizure – he had no prior history of falls. They don't know what it was. The paramedics walked in. They didn't rush in. And they walked very slowly.
I gave my former witnessee a ride back to where he was staying after we prayed for the young man together. On the way back to my apartment, it really hit me: men trust in doctors and trained professionals because they know exactly what to do for a given situation and to make them better. At that time if that young man were unconscious and not breathing, I as a first-responder wouldn't know what to do – I'd forgotten everything in my training. And the paramedics weren't doing very much. Who could have helped this man? He could have been dead in 3 minutes.
Pastor Dave Dodge of Calvary Chapel Saint Petersburg once said in a sermon – Christians are like tow-trucks. The world looks to us when they're on the side of the highway with a flat tire. And how much does it hurt when they're stranded and we just pass them by? We have the ability to help them it is clear. We have the authority to help them. But when we just do nothing – how awful is it a witness of our Lord's grace, love, and kindness as His chosen people through whom He chooses often to dispense His grace along with His gospel? If we don't bear witness to the Gospel message with our actions in actively seeking to help people, what good is it to try and preach to people? The Gospel is still the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16) and can salvation is still of God (Psalm 68:20) who can very easily save without our works – but we're still called to do what we're called to do – works apportioned to us from the foundation of the world (Eph 2:10).
“Here stands God on the day of creation. He looks at stars and He says “All you stars move yourself to this place And start in this order And move in a circle And move exactly as I tell you, Until I give you another word.
Planets-pick yourself up and whirl, Make this formation at my command, Until I give you another word.
He looks at mountains and says “Be lifted up” and they obey him.
He tells valleys “Be cast down” and they obey him.
He looks at the sea and says “You will come this far”, and the sea obeys.
Then, he looks at man and says “Come” and he goes “No!
Does that bother anyone?”
Michael Adams's comment: Isn't it amazing how many people, within church buildings alone, have problems with the Almighty Creator. I am finding more and more, many self made lawyers. I say lawyers because it seems that they spend a great deal of time trying to find legal loop-holes around Gods loving commands He gives us. Loop-holes that will allow them to dress sensual, to watch "R" rated movies, to pass along that racy e-mail, or to listen to that filth radio-station.
Maybe we need a rating system for our churches. And maybe we should have different seating assignments in our churches.
With many families it would go like this if their actual lives were reflected: Mom and dad would be seated in the "R" rated section. They would want their kids in the "PG or "G" section, but with what many kids are exposed to and are enjoying, they would see them either sitting in the "PG-13" or even right next to them in the "R" section.
I do not share these thoughts in judgment or in a legalistic view, although many would be shouting "Legalist" at me. I share these with you as a result of over 4 years now of meeting and talking to literally thousands of people.
I send now at the end of this post a message to my TA notifying him that my paper is in his mailbox: this represents the last component of the last assignment of the last class of the last semester of my Biomedical Science degree. I'll note the exact time I push the button at the end. But, I look back upon these 5 years of the degree...and I see a constant failure. Then, I see repentance and response to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Then, I see the grace of God at work pouring out His love and kindness on me in over several hundred (or I would say thousands - His grace was at work every day) different situations that coordinate together to show God's faithfulness on a very grand scale. I see the Lord at His finest to meet my needs and move on my behalf to do things greater than myself and my own ability. I see the Holy Spirit empowering me to do things that are superhuman and above my own natural abilities in order to get things complete and done. And last of all I see a man who's given himself to what he knew to be the will of God, being totally carried by the Holy Spirit. I give all of the credit to Jesus Christ. And none to myself. And it is my greatest and utmost pleasure to be able to bow down and point to one who deserves way more than I could ever credit to Him...the man Christ Jesus, still alive today. And He doesn't need high GPA and MCAT numbers to be as all-powerful as He is.
What I have seems so small, but I wanna give it all to you...
I've slept very little for the past week and a half. Last Thursday I spent all night into Saturday night studying for Microbiology without sleep. I finished the slides on Sunday...after missing church because my car was down and I missed my ride. I got them done. Done! That rarely happens like that. Then, I started studying for the Microbiology lab exam - slept a short amount of time. Then, there was no sleep all night and all day until the lab had been studied for. I studied hard, hard, hard. Got a 97.5 out of 120 on the practical (Praise the Lord!) and a 58 out of 60! The final score was a 90 on these two exams. Then, now it was time to study for the Microbiology Final Exam. But, I had to do a 16-20 paged lab report for Cell Biology lab. Well, they were both due on Thursday. But, I decided that rather than attempt to do the report, I should focus on the Microbiology Exam and scoring a top score on it (since there are only 3 exams) and do the lab report and turn it in a day late. Well, the studying for the Microbiology exam was so intense that there was no time to even get an introduction down on the Lab Report. No sleep on Wednesday either - and I'd already had Tuesday as a sleepless night. So, I spent my time doing that. I prayed and I knew that the Lord would move on my behalf. And so I was confident. I went to leave the EDU building on Thursday and come back. I guess I made too much noise because the security guard came over and threatened to kick us out of the building for trespassing. I told him that our test was in 5 hours (it was 3 AM at that time) and that we'd been doing this for 2 years now. He told us to get our things, but he took off when we went upstairs. So, I kept studying -- up until the very last minute sitting in the testing room. I took the exam...and got a 90!!! Praise the Lord! God did it -- He gives me the strength to do the superhuman and stay awake for nearly 7 days with less than a few hours of sleep!
Now, the lab report...It was due Thursday, I submitted a time-stamped draft on Friday, but the building was locked and so I couldn't turn it in on Friday. I have to wait until Monday. Well, my body won't rest until I can turn it in today. It's 2 AM and I will not rest until it's turned in. The turning in of this paper completes my degree. Please, Lord Jesus, help me tonight!
Oh Lord, there's just so much to be done. Oh Lord, so many souls to be won, Oh Lord, this world is falling apart, Dying for love from a broken heart.
Here am I, send me, though there's really not that much I can do. What I have seems so small, but I want to give it all to you.
Oh Lord, you said the harvest was great, But Lord, looks like the workers are late. It's getting hard to understand, How they ignore your great command.
Here am I, send me, though you said the ones who labor are few, Still my heart hears the call, and I wanna give it all to you. Oh, to reach the ones nobody does, Give up my pride and even work in the mud, I wanna be like those who spilled their blood, And gave it like water to you.
Oh Lord, there's just so much to be done. Oh Lord, so many souls to be won, It seem this world is falling apart, Lord won't you send me?
Oh Lord, there's just so much to be done. Oh Lord, so many souls to be won, Oh Lord, this world is falling apart, Crying for love from a broken heart.
Here am I, send me, though there's really not that much I can do. What I have seems so small, but I want to give it all to you. Here am I, send me, Though you said the ones you've chosen are few, Still my heart hears you call, And I wanna give it all to you.
Wow, I just saw the Holy Spirit move in such an awesome way! Praise the Lord! He made my prayer requests with the exam come true a thousand fold!
Please continue in prayer for me, please!!! I have this 20 page paper that is due by Thursday and a big quiz on Wedsnesday that is very difficult to study for - they ask very specific, minute-detailed questions that makes it very difficult to prepare for and I need to read through the lab manual and have memorized every thing. Please continue to pray! Thank you!
Please pray for me. Today in my lab is worth 75% of my grade. Please pray that by the grace of God I get the score that is enough for the best possible grade. Thank you! I haven't slept a wink all night. I've been trying to retain and memorize all of the tests. Mannitol Solt Agar, Eosin Methylene blue, Salmonella-Shigella, MacConkey plates, Meuller Hinton, Staph aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae... Eieieiei... Keeping all of it straight and the science behind it is hard. They require you to know what is a positive test for all of the different agars and what they digest and everything. So much to consume in such a short amount of time... I used my study time to study for the lecture...
Tomorrow I have a paper and a Final. Then, the next day is due a 20-page lab report (NOT Easy!!!) and my LAST final, Microbiology. PLEASE keep me in prayers! Thank yous!
INTROITUS [in Latin] Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Sion, et tibi reddetur votum in Jerusalem. Exaudi orationem meam; ad te omnis caro veniet.
TRANSLATION [in English] Rest eternal grant them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine on them. To thee praise is due, O God, in Zion, and to thee vows are recited in Jerusalem. Hear my prayer; unto thee all flesh shall come.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Just read an article. After pouring millions of pounds into this program, the British Goverment is finding that its program has actually doubled the number of teenage pregnancies in England. The program taught teenage girls about sex and gave out free condoms.
What ever happened to teaching people that sex outside of marriage is wrong?! When the honor of the institution of marriage is excluded from sexual education all thats being taught is how to have safe fornication, very literally. Sex outside of the context of marriage is not being taught as it should - morally wrong (notice the lack of mentioning the word 'abstinence' - it's not about abstaining for the sake of abstaining, but abstaining because it's wrong to do it outside of marriage!!!).
As Christians, let's contradict the world's faulty teaching. Let's teach the world the biblical view of sex, by teaching its proper context in marriage and that the marriage bed is something honor and this activity of sex, in its proper time & place, is a communication to be treasured and honored (Hebrews 13:4), but that fornication is wrong. We should teach boys how to be real men and to model biblical manhood. The bible teaches us to be men of integrity (Prov 10:9, 20:7), men of justice and morality (Prov 2:9), to respect governing authoritie s (Rom 13:1-6), to be trustworthy (Ps 15:2), to be men of reputation (Prov 27:21, 25:10, 25:8-9), to listen to mothers and fathers (Prov 1:8, 10:1), how to accept correction and instruction (10:17), to be discerning (28:7) how to keep private matters private and honorable (Prov 5:15), how to encourage and edify others (Prov 27:17), to be upright citizens that are profitable to the city around them (Prov 11:11), to be hard-working (Prov 28:19, 10:4-5), that faithfulness and determination accomp anies being hard-working (Prov 28:20), to make allegiances with friends who will be great influences (Prov 1:10-19), to bounce their eyes when women walk past (Prov 4:21), that morally corrupt infatuation and sexuality is foolish and to be avoided at all costs (Prov 5:1-14), how to choose a woman who will be a great mother and wife (Prov 5:15-19), to tell the difference between a real woman and a seductress (Prov 7:4-5, 7:6-27, 5:3-14), that adultery and prostitution are wrong and that real men stay away from mistress and affairs and harlots (Prov 6:24-26, 29:3, 6:32-35), how to stay away from the seduction and flattery of women with crafty hearts (Prov 7:10), to be men with skills that can benefit their families (Prov 6:6-11) with wi sdom of words and knowledge (), that contrary to the speech of their friends perversity of speech to be disdained and is a shame (Prov 4:24, Prov 6:12-15) and that excellent speech comes from an understanding heart and is to be desired (Prov 8:5-8), and to be reverent (Prov 28:14).
Some women are filled with lies (Prov 22:24), false beauty (Prov 7:15-17), will give a false sense of security in order to lure them in (Prov 7:18-20), and will be filled with seducing and flattering things to say. Young men should be taught the difference between the ton gue of wisdom upon which is the law of kindness (Prov 31:26) and sexual seduction - great swelling words of enticing speech luring him to fornication (Prov 7:21). They need to be taught that it's wise not to be alone with females for a prolonged length of time (Prov 6:27-28). They should be taught the deception of women who only use external beauty to attract men - that external beauty alone should not be their sole basis for judging the character of the opposite sex (Prov 31:30). Also, to be taught how to love the woman who will be his wife by nourishing and cherishing her (Eph 5:28) and not hitting or shaming her - best exemplified by seeing how his father treats his mother - gently and with love. The Bible exalts the highest roles of manhood to be that of husband and father. Not "baby's daddy." Not "boyfriend." This is REAL Manhood!
We Christians who have the enlightening of the character of Jesus in the scriptures, which bear Christ's image upon them, should be teaching girls how to be ladies. The Bible teaches them to be women of excellence (Prov ) , to have discretion (Prov 11:22) It teaches them true femininity and the beauties of being a wife and mother. The Word of God teaches the young not to be idle (Prov 12:11). That physical touch and intimacy is to be reserved for the husband and tha t women who give this away so freely and easily are associated with harlotry (Prov 7:13). That having "power over men" is also associated with harlotry (Prov 2:16, 5:3, 5:24, 6:26). To have discernment to know what to put on as a woman (Prov 31:22) and that this isn't some unfair law imposed over their choice of clothing but choosing what best becomes her femininity (Prov 7:10) - women need to be shown the difference between femininity and sexuality, and from what little is left to the imagination in some women's manner of dress in this day and age due to celebrities and television, girls today seldom can discern the difference between the two. She is to be taught that true feminity is to be treasured and is a rare, endearing attribute that quality men seek after (and that only boys seek otherwise in finding a wife). They need to know that the Bible teaches them not to be simple and ignorant (Prov 9:13), but wise enough to establish a household (Prov 14:1). She looks up to and respects honorable ladies (Proverbs 11:16, 31:10), like her mother, who are not loud and clamorous (Prov 7:11), impudent (Prov 7:13), or filled with bitterness and contention (Prov 21:9, 21:19, 25:24, 27:15). The role of wife and mother is to be desired! Her children are a blessing (31:28), not a hinderance to a normal social life that are to be aborted and put off for a "more convenient" time sometime later on in life when "things are serious." She should know that a wise wife is a gift to her husband (Prov 8:11) and that he will value a wife who is so wise that her good words make his heart glad and take away his anxieties (Prov 12:25). She's to know that she'll be praised someday by her husband and children for her excellent demeanor and character (Prov 31:28-29) which she began to build as a young woman (Prov 19:20)! That an honorable woman (Prov 11:16), a woman of excellent character, is worth far more than rubies (Prov 31:10). The Bible teaches that she should be trustworthy (Prov 31:10), upright (Prov 31:12), wise (Prov 31:) giving cheerfully rather than grudgingly (2 Cor 9:5-7) and cari ng for the poor and needy (Prov 31:20) and not greedy.
She should know that the Bible teaches that a woman of excellence doesn't sit at home and be idle (Prov 31:27) and do nothing. No - she willingly works with her own hands (Prov 31:13), so hard that she's willing to get up early (Prov 31:15) or catch a sleepless night (Prov 31:18) to accomplish her work. She needs to know that the Bible teaches of true womanhood that the woman is to be strong (Prov 31:25) and even girds herself with strength (Prov 31:17). She is bold in times of danger (Prov 31:21). The Bible actually describes her as someone who is making wise investments (Prov 31:16) of her time and money. Her husband safely trusts her (Prov 31:11) and she is free to make decisions over her own money (Prov 31:16). She is skilled and has a vocation (Prov 31:19), working hard to produce quality in her work (Prov 31:18). She's actually a provider for her family (Prov 31:15), in addition to her husband. She sees to it that her family, and even her business, have what they need (Prov 31:21, 24). Because of her work she is well-res pected (Prov 31:31). She's a woman of reputation (Prov 31:24) and even her husband is well-respected because of her excellent character (Prov 31:23). She's not to just be on the computer all day or be consumed with frivolous activities, but she should be striving to do something valuable (Prov 31:27). She is to excel in excellence and be involved in doing something praiseworthy (Prov 31:29-30). She is NOT to measure herself by the state of her friends (Prov 31:29). She is excellent in all things: Her wise choice of what to wear is to be excellent (Prov 31:22). Her choices of what to eat and what food to set before her household are to be excellent (Prov 31:14). Her saught-after word, her speech, are to be excellent (Prov 31:26). She's a happy, joyful woman (Prov 31:25b).
Now, who's to blame? Would I suggest to you that it isn't the government's job to teach kids? Search Romans 13 - you won't find it in their job description. The Bible reserves this place for the parents. The young should be setting their minds on higher things than having sex with each other. All of these things spring from the character of Jesus and are fully displayed in the Gospels. If Christian parents were modeling these attributes, the character of Jesus, to their children, young boys and girls would look to be like their mother and father rather than their friends. They would grow up to dress and act like the adults they see their parents are rather than dressing like kids even into their late 20's. Parents would be teaching their children, and not allowing the television and Sunday schools to fill in the gaps God requires them as parents to fill in. They would be going to church and fellowshipping with other Believers in Christ themselves rather than just dropping off their kids at church, dumping this responsibility solely on the church (and school system). How can someone else do what you are clearly called to do? If God can't get you to do it, how do you expect Him to get someone else to do it, parent?! Father, you allow video games and television to raise your son, when a wise father should teach him how to be a man of nobility and honor (2 Cor 8:21). Mother, you allow your daughter to use chat programs and mindlessly chat on the phone and eat the bread of idleness at home (Prov 31:27) when you could be teaching her the virtues of how to be a woman of valor (Prov 31:10) and to be working towards doing something useful and doing it fervently (Gal 4:18). Young boys need models and examples of excellent character (1 Peter 2:21, Ex: 2 Cor 8:16-17, 10:1-2, Phil 2:20, Phil 2:2, John 13:15, James 5:10 cf. Hebrews 11). Then, though they are young, they themselves could be an example to their friends (1 Tim 4:10) of the behavior you modeled to them. You would indirectly parent someone else's kids.
America teaches the other nations. Britain started their sexual program for teenages modeled after a program in New York that taught girls how to have sex without commitments and was able to produce statistics that this lowered teen pregnancy. For example, America exports abortion. About 50 million abortions happen yearly in the rest of the world, being taught by America's 1.8 million yearly abortions. The other nations watch this one and follow suit to what we do. America has this 'Christian-nation' reputation. As Christians, we are the lights of this world, as Jesus said. Well, this is certainly a bad reputation because there's nothing Christian about abortion. There are so many politicians that are coming out of the dark in public professing they have committed adultery and then claiming to have been Christians. The Bible tells Christians to separate themselves from people who say that they are Christians and yet lead a life of secret sexual fornication or adultery (1 Cor 5). How much more of an exam should we be to the rest of the world of all the things the Bible exemplifies of the character of our God to a generation of people who doesn't know Him?
I just read an article about someone who is producing a film about pro-abortionist violence to counter the stigmas associated with the recent news of a "pro-lifer" murdering an abortion-doctor. This is certainly a contradiction in terms: someone who is truly "pro-life " would never take a life in order to stop abortions. If someone is killing abortion doctors they are some other form of life, but please don't call them pro-life because if they have to take a life to save a life, they aren't pro-life!!! So, the current presidential administration has no reason to try to make moves towards deeming all pro-life people a terrorist threat!
And if anyone accuses us Christians, please know that the Bible says anyone who purposes in heart to take murderously a life for the Kingdom of God or for any other sake isn't a Christian, isn't saved, and certainly isn't pro-life! 1 John 3:15 "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him." 1 Peter 3:9 "Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing." People that are pro-life and Christian repay evil with good, not evil with more evil. We fight fire with water (who in their right mind would fight fire with fire?!).
10:46AM Just left the gas station. I waited in line for a really, really long time for this old lady buying lottery tickets. She felt bad that I had to wait so long and she was turning around. Then, another gentleman cut me in line and I let him, and he knew it. So, when the cashier got to me he said, "Good morning. Sorry you had to wait so long." "No problem," I replied, asking for such-and-such amount of gas on pump so-and-so. I put a tract down on the counter and said, "I also want to give you one of these. It has a message in it." And with that I left. Then, it occurred to me that the Lord may have had me wait patiently in line for an excessively long time in order to display to this cashier, the recipient of Gospel literature, one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit -- longsuffering, or patience. It's just like the Lord using Paul or one of the others to perform miracles in order to testify to the people that what Paul was saying was true. Although not to the same degree, I'd suppose a display of God's power on a human heart in making him filled with love, joy, peace, or one of the other Galatians 5:22-23 fruit, would prove just as much that God is at work in someone and that the Gospel they witness to is from God. So, by making me wait in line, and actually patiently do it, the Holy Spirit was revealing Himself and making my witness more effective for the Gospel -- What an important lesson which can also be applied to the reasons for persecutions, suffering, and martyrdom for the sake of the Gospel and why the Gospel is declared and made more widespread because of persecution in countries such as China... Just a thought.
I'm really starting to feel down because I see how much growth I need in Christ... I'm really going to start praying about growing in knowledge and understanding of the faith and memorizing scripture... And more of the filling of the Holy Spirit.
Praise the Lord! I'm staying in Tampa for another month! Another believer, a great friend, gave me $320 and I was able to afford my rent. I'm so thankful that God would provide for me and I trust in His hand! Thank you Lord, for your divine providence - you provide for me through a secondary means! I'm thankful! I was able to study for the exam without distraction. Please continue to pray for me as I still have no source of income. But, 'My God shall supply all [my] need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.' Phil 4:19.
Here's some wisdom I've gained from meditating on serving the Lord in academic study - studying for school - and how I think it applies to the Word of God.
Today I took an exam for Microbiology. I studied hard for it. I was in a study group. Two people in the study group went through the lecture slides all at once and memorized everything, which was an amazing feat because each lecture had between 20-25 slides with detailed information on each and there were 15 lectures. They memorized all the species names. They memorized every process. Everything. The rest of us took the time to break down the slides and understand what was going on. This way, though we may not remember the specifics, we can always answer any question asked on any topic in the lecture slides - because we understand it.
We met together and I asked the two that simply memorized everything some questions based on the slides. "What type of bacteria is staphylococcus aureus?" I asked. They both separately answered, "Impetigo, osteomyelitis, endocarditis, toxic shock syndrome, and food poisoning." I said, "No, no, not the diseases it causes, but what type of bacteria it is!" Yes, it lists the diseases, but you had to pay attention to the order of the lecture, thesubtitles of the sections in the lecture that it was under - Gram-positive anaerobic bacteria - and so on.
So, we thought we'd do better because we understood it more. Today we took the exam and the scores came in. I got an 82. One of the guys that memorized got in the 90's. So, it was better to just memorize the slides from rote than to even understand them to a great depth! As long as you knew your stuff, you were okay to be tested on it!
How does this apply to studying the Word of God? When I study the Word, I'm both understanding AND acquiring the information. If I accumulate the information, remembering what God's said and what is in the text, I can give exactly the Word of God to every situation outside of the text. I can act and operate on the verbatim utterance/revelation of the text, remembering the teaching and what I've studied. So, knowledge is good - having memorized and acquired knowledge is very useful and what we need to do. If I understand the Word of God and don't remember what it says verbatim, it's hard to remember and make judgment calls later on. Such as "The wisdom that descends from above is first pure, then peaceable, without hypocrisy, without partiality, ..." I forget the rest. And I know it's somewhere in James. I understand the text. It helps me to make decisions, to stear clear of false teaching and doctrine or people that will mislead, to disseminate the ;wisdom from God that I've prayed for from just my own thoughts or the advice of men. BUT! What if I'm tempted sexually? What if I'm in a hard place of temptation at school? Then it's moreso helpful to have the text memorized and to be able to remember/recall it verbatim than to just have an understanding of the text. Jesus did this in Luke 4 and Matthew 4. He recalled/recited specific words from the book of Deutoronomy on what God's said. If I just relied on my understanding - well, just my understanding of the text in the heat of carnal desires being empassioned can sometimes be overthrown (not diminishing at all the plain meaning of the text or the power of being able to understand it!). I really need to recall the exact words of scripture sometimes and recite them in my head. Therefore, it's more powerful for me to accompany my understand with knowledge - recalling exactly what God's said and deriving its meaning from it on the spot. Just like Jesus did. If they were going to kick me out of my apartment for a silly reason like because I'm playing praise music, I'd need to know exactly what the lease says. I need to be able to recall the section on disturbances and music and have a clear understanding of the lease, and also to quote the sentence that specifically talks about music and to tell them that my praise music never rises above a certain decibel level!
What I think would be more effective is if we went through the slides to understand it first, then afterwards went through and by rote memorization retained everything we just figured out. So, both approaches at different angles would be even more effective for studying for all of us. Though it requires a more effective managing and use of time, it's the best approach to study. I didn't think that just memorization was wise because shortly after the exam you tend to forget everything you tried to put into your memory. But, if we took the time to understand the lecture slides AND memorize them, we wouldn't have that problem at all.
Only Christ Can Fill The Nets and the Fish Are His, Isaac D.
