Christmas love!

   Upon arriving in Joseph’s hometown, instead of love, Joseph and Mary were shunned by some family members, at first.  Their residence was Nazareth, in the region of Galilee, which had been a region within ancient Israel.  But the ten northern tribes, called Israel at the time of their demise, were conquered by the Assyrians in 722-721 B.C.  Yet Joseph was an Israelite from the tribe of Judah, and a descendant of King David.  Thus when the Roman emperor demanded a census, the newly married couple had to travel south to Bethlehem, the town of Joseph’s lineage, to register.

   Scripture gives the brief explanation as to why they had to spend the night in a stable: “…there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7).  Could not an innkeeper do anything possible to take in a woman about to give birth?  Ancient near east inns were more than likely to be dens for liquor and adultery.  Since business was hopping, the beautiful realm of birth was shut out.  However, most Hebrew travelers would stay with relatives in Judea.  I have long been convinced that Joseph and Mary, at a desperate hour, were trying to get a room in the inn at Bethlehem since all of their relatives had refused to welcome the couple into their homes.  Why?  Mary had become pregnant out of wedlock.  Relatives shunned Mary thinking she had committed adultery.  They responded in the opposite manner of Elizabeth, a relative of Mary, who was aware Mary was impregnated by the Holy Spirit, and who was elated to have Mary stay with her during the time of her early pregnancy (see Luke 1:42-43).  Thus, Mary had to give birth in a stable, or barn.

   How incredible that from such suffering by Mary and Joseph, God the Son gloriously entered into this hurting and needy world.  And Jesus will bring goodness from the suffering of all of us who are obedient to Him.  Jesus Christ died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone.  Jesus was the atoning sacrifice for the consequence of sins, which is spiritual death.  Then Jesus was resurrected.  If you believe in Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you will be saved, and you will have everlasting life.  Jesus loves you!!!

Merry Christmas!  love, Hunter

Make your own college decision!

   In your search for a college to attend, make your own decisions.  And the final decision needs to be 100% yours!

   If you are a student considering college right now, it is wise to get advice from various sources, including your parents and your guidance counselor.  And it is wise to ponder such advice.  And there are always financial issues to take into consideration.  Yet then make your own decision!

   You are the one who is going to study at that university.  You are the one who must live it.

   You might get pressure from parents or friends.  Please know that pressure or no pressure, the decision is yours.

   There is only one Person who fully knows what the best choice is for you: God.  Pray with all your heart for help from God the Father, the One who wants the best for you.  If the Holy Spirit dwells in your heart and you have peace in your heart about your decision, you are on the correct path.

   And no human being knows you better than you.  So make a decision with the best of your ability, and then stand by your decision.

   On the slim chance your experience at that college ends up being different than you expected, or if the university is not a fit even though you did research galore, you can always transfer after a year.

   In my opinion, it is a rough time to be a student.  University admission has become ridiculously competitive!  Also, there has been a polarization between in-class and online education.  And the cost is outrageous.

   However, there has never been a better time to research details about a university because of all of the information on the Internet.

   Give your college search a complete effort.  And in the midst of the challenging endeavor, know you are loved by the Lord God Almighty!

Hunter Irvine

Write a great college admission essay

1) PASSION

If you have a passion, express your passion in your essay.  Then your enthusiasm will naturally shine through.

If you have interests which could grow into a passion and career, express those interests.

2) PLAN

Have a single theme:

Twice I attended a Christian writer’s conference in the early 2000’s in Colorado.  My core seminar speaker stated that an author should be able to state the theme of his or her book in one sentence, or even one word.

That is wise for an essay.

Years ago, one Friday night when I was in the mood, I wrote an application essay.  My theme: “Home.”

I add my thesis was: “I am on a journey to my eternal home.”

Before you start writing, determine your theme!

Do stay within the boundaries of the question:

Shifting for a moment to a test, when answering an essay question on a test, it is a must to specifically answer the question.  So called “essay” questions on tests are usually only “long answer” questions.

Now for college admission essays, questions are often more broad in order to encourage a real essay.  This gives you the opportunity to get personal and to get creative.  However, make sure the core of your essay covers their broad question.

Start with an outline:

Writing an outline is my weakness.  When I am in the mood to write, I have a thought, and I get excited, and I like to start rolling.  Yet then I have more editing in order to give needed structure to my piece.  It is best to have at least a scant outline at the start.

And hit the following two points if they fit the essay question or questions:

- The reason studying a particular subject or subjects would foster future opportunities to carry out your passion.

- The reason that particular university has potential to be a fit for you.

3) POUR IT OUT!

Be yourself!

This is the most important point.  Write as though you were talking to your reader.  Use vocabulary you would use if you were talking to an enrollment counselor in her or his office.  The common expression is: “Use your own voice.”  In your own words, convey from your heart why you want to study a certain subject for the next four years.

Give an illustration:

If you can stay within the word count, close with a story if it clearly illustrates your point.  For example, if you want to study “Communication,” and you tell about a time you had fun making a video for a class project, this will serve as an illustration.  In most cases, you probably want to give the shortest version of the story, rather than getting into all the details.  And whatever the word limit is for the essay, do not go a single word over!

Yet in telling a story, you “show” by offering important descriptive details.

Edit big time!

The key to all good writing is to edit much.  Right here on Scripture Love Blog, I have written more than 300 pieces over the past fifteen years.  For almost all of those pieces, I did much editing, often waiting until at least the next day to do a final edit.  When you put the writing away for a period of time, you are able to freshly edit so the piece is truly polished.

Read it out loud:

One of the best classes I took at Colorado Christian University was “Research Writing.”  Dr. Windy Petrie, who now serves at a Christian university in California, is an incredible professor.  I learned some of these good writing principles from her.  And she taught me a lesson, which I had not practiced previously, which has greatly improved the quality of my editing: When editing, read it out loud!

When you hear yourself read, you recognize whether a sentence flows or does not flow.  You also catch little errors.

4) CELEBRATE

Be proud of your piece:

Your objective in writing a college admission essay is to be accepted into a specific university.  However, in the current overly competitive university application process, a wonderful essay is not a guarantee of being accepted.  The best you can do in the moment is to work hard to write a quality essay which genuinely expresses your heart.  If you have done that, celebrate your writing.  (I like to celebrate by taking a special scenic walk, which is an occasion to take a few precious minutes to relish in my accomplishment.  You might want to get a milk shake.)

Be encouraged:

The other day I was looking at the acceptance rates of some random universities, and I was astonished at how low their acceptance percentage was.  Even if you apply to such a school with a realistic expectation that the odds are against you, it still hurts to get rejected.

Yet do not let potential rejection thwart your dream!

Engage in much web page research regarding each university you apply to.  Talk with someone at the university if you have questions.  Get extra assistance from your guidance counselor.  Work hard to write a good admissions essay!  And give the entire process your full effort!  Then you will have an opportunity to be accepted into a fitting university.

When I applied to colleges back in the last century, at some point in high school I got my heart set on one specific college, because I liked the campus and I liked the history involved with the university.  I applied early admission, but I was rejected.  I was upset.

Yet I did not let that rejection thwart my goal in any manner.  I continued to work to be accepted to a great university.  And I was.  Ironically, looking back these many years later, the university which I attended turned out to be much better for me!

Celebrate indeed:

After all of your hard work, every time a university accepts you, even if that number is simply one, celebrate.  (Treat yourself!  For example, you could treat yourself and a close friend to lunch.)

Then go by God’s guidance to choose the university or college which has the best potential to be a community where you can flourish.

Hunter Irvine

Scripture Love Blog

Thrive in college - DREAM ON!

                            Choose your own dreams!

   I happen to be one of those crazy Christians who is convicted that God wants good dreams to come true for us.  For a vision of good dreams you need God’s guidance and encouragement.  And for dreams to come true, the objective is to merge your passions with your dreams.  Fulfillment will result.

   In pursuit of a college education, align your major with your passion, or at least with your intense interests.  Then ponder whether your passion and/or interests fit your dreams, or can in some manner support your dreams.

   If you have yet to find your passion or passions, keep working to discover them.  Maybe you will find them in the midst of learning new subjects or embarking on new adventures during your early time in college.  Learning is a blessing.  Thus an opportunity to keep learning is a blessing.

   My junior year of high school was crummy.  Looking back, I realize four out of my six classes were not a fit for me.  Those four classes did not fit my gifts or interests!  From the start I was on a wrong track in high school because my mom wanted me to earn the “Governor’s Seal.”  She calculated that would look good on a college application.  Her intention was good, since mom sincerely wanted me to attend a good college.  Yet long term success from high school or college work does not come from highlighted accomplishments; rather it comes from a good education.

   Considering my ill-advised high school plan, in retrospect it makes sense that I became discouraged about future dreams.  In fact, as discouragement escalated in high school, attending college merely became a career goal.  (Yet it did become a strong goal during my freshman orientation, but I will spare you that story.)  Also, I did want to please my parents who were so supportive of a college education.

   Yet in the midst of my work at Virginia Tech, flourishing there became my dream!  And my education and degree from such a great university supported some future dreams.

   On a grand note, attending and graduating from Colorado Christian University was my dream!  I made a huge sacrifice to study there in my forties.  Goodness resulted, and again, future dreams were supported.

   To ultimately succeed, there is even a deeper foundation: Love.

   Whatever your pursuit, loving people is the best you can accomplish.  Loving people is what God wants us to do.  Radical!  Reflecting here on my years at Virginia Tech and my years at CCU, I realize my greatest accomplishment in college was loving people.

   And know today that Jesus loves you!!!

   In my college years I made many mistakes, yet I also made many great decisions.  This has been emotional reflecting back.  I hope this eight point series helps you to thrive in college, for real.

                            What is a dream you have?

+  Heavenly Father, in this world full of so much trouble, I pray for help for each of us to further gain opportunities to carry out our passions and to live our dreams.  And may we rely on You to love people all along.

It is through the loving name of You Lord Jesus I pray.  Amen.

Hunter Irvine

Thrive in college – PERSEVERE

                                                    Persevere by prayer!

   Reassessments are a part of persevering.  Sometimes adjustments are needed, such as changing a major.  Adjustments are a courageous part of persevering since they put you in a position to carry on.

   Reassessments are best when you are not under pressure.  Summers might be the most conducive time when in college.  That monumental career change I told of in my last piece was not finalized until weeks into my summer.  The pressure was less, and I had time to ponder.

   Praying is critical.  Once I talked with a minister in a café in Ithaca, New York.  Turns out we both shared the same Alma mater, though he studied four years earlier than myself.  Now I was not a Christian at Virginia Tech.  He was.  His major was Computer Science there at a time in history when the computer field was starting to swell from obscurity to being a standard part of society.

   Yet at some point during the spring quarter of his sophomore year, he was considering shifting to a career in Christian ministry.  What he did was wise.  One day when he had no commitments, he took the entire day off.  He went to some quiet area away from campus.  Then he prayed and pondered.  After doing so, he made his decision.  (He decided to enter the ministry, yet he also decided to complete his Computer Science degree at Virginia Tech over the next two years.)

   At some point in college, you should consider and pray whether you are on the correct track.  If you are, keep going!

   Be willing to pray for help, and not just when there is a crisis.

   I like to socialize.  Praying is simply talking with God, which includes listening to God, first and foremost through Scripture.  Then your heart will be prepared for you to make caring decisions, and your mind will be more focused to make wise decisions.

   Praying is not simply an action for huge decisions.  In order to persevere, sometimes you need to pray simply to make it through a rough week.  Seriously, I am long out of college, but last week I had a rough week.  I needed God to help me make it.  He did.

What is a challenging goal you accomplished which required perseverance?

Hunter Irvine

Thrive in college - DISCOVER

       Amidst all the learning, discover more about your passions and gifts.

   A life changing discovery at Virginia Tech came about in the midst of a period of being overloaded.  Spring quarter my junior year I needed to take 18 hours.  In working out my schedule months ahead, I had five intense classes all picked out.  There remained one elective to choose.  Looking at the academic catalog, I noticed a “Creative Writing” class.  That sounded enjoyable.  It also sounded easier, thus I could focus on my challenging law classes which supported my career track.

   Yet choosing that one elective class soon changed the course of my career plan.  The reasons: First, the professor, Ed Falco, was an excellent creative writing teacher who fostered an opportunity for students to discover their writing ability.  Second, I learned of my gift and passion for storytelling.

   As it turned out, Creative Writing gained my greatest attention that quarter.  I truly enjoyed it.

   My final semester of my senior year, I took “Advanced Creative Writing” with the same professor.  (Again, Virginia Tech switched to the semester system that year.)  Jumping to the end of that semester, I experienced one of the vital events on my journey in this world.  Late one afternoon near the end of the week just before finals, I happen to ‘run into’ Professor Falco in a stairwell of the English building.  Our conversation was brief, yet his sincere statement to me had a huge influence on my life.  Professor Falco told me I was the best writer he had ever had in any of his classes.

   What he said to me gave me the courage to change my career course that upcoming summer, a monumental change in my life for the best.

   In this complex world, there is an opportunity to learn every day.  Yet college is a unique opportunity to discover even more about your passions and gifts.  Maybe you will even discover a new passion or gift.  The only way to do so: Commit to learning and working.

       What is a gift you have?

Hunter Irvine

Thrive in college - PLAN, WORK, and ENJOY

                Plan to make it enjoyable.

   College is hard work!  Success in college for me involved countless hours of reading and reviewing.  Yet if you are diligent on planning, you can create some enjoyment!

Take the Best Classes

   Overall, I did not like high school.  In retrospect, though there were several reasons.  One key factor was the fact I was studying subjects which did not fit my interests or gifts!

   Carefully ponder all of your course options, and choose classes you want to take.

   “General education” classes are a negative issue for many college students, as they were for me.  The fewer general education classes the better in my opinion.  Then deal with what you must do.

   For example, when I was a student at Virginia Tech, you often had general education options.  For example, being in the College of Arts and Sciences, I had a choice as to whether to take either Statistics or Computer Science for one quarter to fulfill one general education requirement.  (Virginia Tech switched to the semester system my senior year.)  Statistics was not for me!  Computer Science was not for me, however, in reading the class description, I learned that class was simply learning how to use a few software programs.  That class turned out to be a practical class which helped me immensely for future classes and even for future work.

   If you are willing to learn some new things, you can even enjoy classes which are a bit out of your realm, as long as they do not venture way off into the distance in that particular field.

Get Good Professors

   Your determination is always important, yet in an environment where professors have so much power and control, a professor can make or break a class.

   The summer before my first year at Colorado Christian University, I was working on my course schedule at a computer in the library.  I needed to take a history class as a “general education” requirement, and I found a class which fit well with my school and work schedule.  Yet there were other history professors I could take at different times.  Since it would be my first semester in college in many years, I wanted to get off to a great start.

   No joke, there was only one other person in the computer lab there in the middle of summer.  I gently interrupted her at her computer and asked, “By any chance did you ever have Dr. Dyke as a professor?”  She had.  She told me about his style, and she recommended him.

   So I enrolled in the class with confidence.  And he turned out to be a great professor.  Why?  Because he was a superb “Socratic method” professor.  Since I am an interactive learner, I learned much from him.  Plus, he was a man who cared about the students!  I was blessed to have Dr. Dyke for two classes.

   Another example: At some point in high school, I developed an idea that taking a college astronomy course would be a quintessential college experience.  Not considering that elements of astronomy, such as math and physics, did not fit my gifts, I wanted to take astronomy.  And when the opportunity came at Virginia Tech, I went for it.

   I had the great fortune of getting a professor who was a great person.  Knowing the class consisted of students of a variety of majors, the professor was fantastic at explaining challenging scientific facts and concepts in a manner that a liberal arts minded person could understand.  The man was cheery.  The man was kind.  And it was obvious the man loved teaching astronomy.

Get a Tutor

   A “general education” requirement for all students at Virginia Tech in the College of Arts and Sciences, back in the last century when I was there, was a quarter of Algebra, a quarter of Trigonometry, and a quarter of Calculus.  Crazy.  My Trigonometry teacher was a grad student.  Guess what?  She flunked out of Tech the next semester.  It is a weird story about that poor class, yet on the flip side, an inspiring story about my wonderful Calculus teacher the next quarter.  Rather than getting into those detailed stories, I simply say here that for Trigonometry, I needed a tutor!  (But I did not get one, and it was my lowest grade ever.)

   Tutors cost money.  Yet if you need one, and if you get someone good, it will likely make a difference.

Create Some Fun

   In this world, you have a number of options.  I advocate you should choose options which bring some fulfillment and enjoyment.  And yes, I think there should be some fun.  And fun often starts with you.

   At Virginia Tech, returning to the subject of that Astronomy class, that great professor made it fun!  So I keep rolling with that fun!

   Near the end of the quarter, to assist students who had a low grade, the professor offered a sole extra credit option.  That option was to visit the Virginia Tech observatory within the last few Fridays of the quarter, and look at stars and galaxies through their giant telescope.  The observatory was up on a mountain in beautiful southwest Virginia, and was operated by a graduate student on Friday nights.

   Getting a friend from the class and another mutual friend to attend one Friday night, I had a blast.  I will spare you the details and simply say looking through the telescope for me was interesting, however, the reason it was so much fun was because my two friends and I made it fun.  No alcohol.  No admission fee.  Plus extra credit.  It was one of my most memorable Friday nights of college.

Work before play!

   Closing likewise with that Astronomy class: I went one step further beyond simply enjoying his entertaining teaching.  I paid close attention to what he said.  Now I took great notes in all of my classes, yet there was a special focus by me in that class.

   I have a distinct memory of studying intently for his final exam.  The night before the exam, two friends came to my room wanting to play sponge basketball.  I said ‘no.’

   I kept studying intently for Astronomy, reviewing my textbook and notes.  I figured the exam would even involve a few physics equations, and I carefully went through the material.  The result: I got the highest grade in the class on the final exam.  (I know this because the professor told me, and he said I was the one who determined the “curve” on that challenging exam in the class of about seventy students.)

   I worked hard in that class, and enjoyment resulted.  And there was the incredible bonus for me, a “liberal arts guy,” of an “A” in a class within the Physics department at Virginia Tech.  I am proud of that to this day.

            When was an occasion when you were intent on working before play?

Hunter Irvine

Thrive in college - RECREATION and REST

   Both exercise and rest improve a mode of studying.

Regarding exercise:  When your body is getting more oxygen, your brain functions better.  Exercise fosters this.

   So what exercise should you do?

                                                Whatever you like to do!

   When I do a physical activity I like, it is not “exercising,” it is a fun activity.  For example, I will get out of bed early to play a game of golf.  Pick a physical activity you like, and then engage consistently.  And hopefully you like several physical activities.  Mix it up a bit.

   A college is a unique environment where you can find people to do one of numerous sports or recreations.

   And walking, running, swimming, lifting weights, etc., can all be done by you any time you want.

   Get creative!  At Virginia Tech, my friend and I use to throw a flying disc on the drill field in the afternoon sometimes.  That is still a fond memory.

   To keep active daily my senior year, I would walk up the stairs in my seven story dorm every day after classes and after eating.  What a great daily practice!

   And I learned Friday nights were my time to shine on the basketball court my senior year since all of the athletes were out socializing.

   Honestly, if I had Virginia Tech to do over again, I would spend less times watching sports, and much more time going on a Saturday hike in the beautiful mountains.

   Stay active!

Regarding rest:  Weekly you should take a day of rest from school work, or two half days if that is the way your schedule works out.

   You and I are human, and we humans need rest in order to refresh our souls, our minds, and our bodies.  Make this a top priority!

   Honestly, working various jobs through my life, I have always preferred the routine of the work world, because at 5:15pm or whatever time, I am off until the next day, and I have my weekends free.  Whereas in college, there is always another chapter you could be reading.  Having that load looming can cause stress.  And having a sporadic schedule can add stress.

   Develop your own schedule!  Build your own routine!

   There will be plenty of occasions when it will be best or necessary to call an audible, yet a consistent routine leads to success in college.

   And if you worship in a church, there will be a number of periods when it is “crunch time.”  At such a time, it may be best to take a morning off from “church,” and spend that time in intimate worship of God in your room.  Corporate worship can be spiritually enriching, yet sometimes you need minimal distractions in order to relish and rest in the true love of our loving God.

                    What is your favorite recreation activity?

Hunter Irvine

Thrive in college - GO FOR IT!

    From the first quiz to the final exam, GO FOR IT!

   One of my favorite teachers at my high school was Mrs. Totten.  She was a popular teacher because she was fun.  She liked being with students.  She enjoyed coaching the cheerleaders.  She would even volunteer to help with prom.  She had a perpetual sense of humor.

   Once in the middle of class, the subject of college came up.  Mrs. Totten made one strong statement: ‘Go to class.  Even if you feel like turning off your alarm clock, and even if your room-mate is staying in bed, and even if it is really cold, go to class.’

   At Virginia Tech, I took her advice, and I think she was right.  I do not recall the exact count, because it was in the last century, yet I only missed around five classes in four years at Virginia Tech.  I missed even fewer as a part-time student for four years studying at CCU.

   The secret: Be determined to get to class.

   Once at CCU before an 8:00 am Monday morning history final exam in mid-December, it was about five degrees outside here in Colorado.  Snow and ice were in the crevices of my car doors, and in the crevice between the trunk and the body of the car.  I could not get my car doors open!

   Such had happened before to me with that old car, and I was ready for it.  I knew under such conditions it was easier to get my trunk open.  That car had back seats which would fold down in order to put long items like skies in your truck.  Yet you had to press a button from the inside.  The evening before the final, I made sure that button was pushed!  I even put the one seat down ahead of time I think.

   Thus that morning, I scraped the new layer of snow and ice which had collected during the night in the trunk crevice.  Then with a tad of muscle, my trunk lid opened.  I crawled through my trunk and was able to get into my car!

   Several times at CCU, I had car issues with my old car.  I remember two occasions when my housemate was nice enough to drive me to school.  Then in the afternoon, both times I ask two different classmates from two different classes, whom I knew lived off campus, for a ride.  Both were totally willing to drive me home.

   College is a once in a lifetime adventure, (for fortunate people).  Make the most of it, remembering that when that season is over, you will get paid for crawling through your trunk.

Tip: Ear plugs during a test help me concentrate!

If they might help you, be sure to get permission from the professor first, so she or he does not think you are putting an electronic device in your ear.

Hunter Irvine

Thrive in college - PREPARATION

PREPARATION is key.

                                            Prepare all out!

   When I was a student at CCU, students had Labor Day off.  It felt like a bonus holiday.  Several times I used that day for extra preparation, helping myself to a great start to the semester.

   For example, my second year at CCU, on Labor Day I went to Clear Creek in Golden, Colorado.  Sitting on a large flat rock at the edge of the water, I read a long chapter for my Introduction to Theology class.  Finding the chapter wearisome, reading outside by a river on a hot day eased the burden.

            Where is your favorite place to study?

Study suggestion:

When reading or studying something burdensome,

or when stress is high, 

it may be beneficial to find a unique study spot.

Hunter Irvine

Thrive in college - PASSION

PASSION is imperative.

            Choose a major which fits your passion!

   As a student at Colorado Christian University, I was totally engaged because I was carrying out my passion!  And I had much hope my studies would lead to a career which fit my passion.  Success resulted.

            What is your passion?

Study with success!

   The best way to engage in studying is by interacting with your textbook.  Do not just read a textbook, rather interact with that book!

   How do you interact with your book?

You highlight key points in your book.

You ponder what the author is saying.

You respond to what he or she is saying by writing notes in the margin.

   Interacting with your book, you go from listening to a long lecture to having a conversation.  You are more likely to remember what took place in a conversation.

   One of my great unexpected blessings as a student at Colorado Christian University was my opportunity to serve as the Biblical Studies tutor for one year.  I totally enjoyed it.

   In that position as a tutor, I stated to every student: ‘A highlighter is your most important study tool.’

   I know there is much more online reading today.  Yet you can still do electronic highlighting.

   One barrier to highlighting: When I was in high school, all of our textbooks issued to us students were the property of that school.  We were instructed not to write in them at all.  How limiting.  Unfortunately, many students develop the mentality that it is wrong to write in a book, even when they are at the university level where textbooks are often their own property.  If that is the case with you, write in one of the first few pages of one of your textbooks which you own: 'Highlighting my book is a good thing!'

   When reading library books for research papers, you obviously cannot highlight.  For a physical library book, plop sticky notes right where main points are stated in the book, so you will have that information marked for when you start writing the research paper.

   Finally, write all you want in books which you own.  It is your book, thus get personal!  When I really agree with what the author is saying, it often helps to write personal supporting statements in the margin, and to give my logical reasoning.  When I really disagree with what the author is saying, it sometimes helps to write out my disagreements in the margin, and to give my logical reasoning.

   Ponder what the author is saying!  Then respond in writing!

   The bottom line: Highlighting, pondering statements made by the author, and responding in writing in the margins of the book, fosters textbook engagement.

   My formal education at all levels was not interactive enough in my opinion, with the exception of Colorado Christian University.  Yet one great blessing regarding my life long education over many years: When reading, I have interacted with countless books with a highlighter and a pen.  If you do likewise, you will learn more.  And if you are a student, you will have key information on paper to review before you take an exam.

Hunter Irvine

Do great on a test!

   I am an interactive learner.  I am a thinker.  I am creative, in my own personal way.  On the flip side, I do not like standardized tests!

   Yet when a student at Colorado Christian University, I learned some techniques which aided my success.  I would have never graduated summa cum laude without implementing these techniques.  Consider them, and discover whether they will help you.

   When starting your exam, scan the entire exam to see the nature of the test.  Then my big suggestion: Start with the essay questions if there are some.  And of those questions, start with the one of which you are certain of your response.

   Why?

   Essay questions are the most challenging, yet if you are prepared, then you will be all set to write your answers without the distraction of the many issues covered in multiple choice questions.

   As you continue, if there is an essay question you do not know the answer to, skip it until later.

   Second, go to the short answer questions.  After doing the essay questions, thoughts should be flowing on the subject at hand, and you should rock the short answers.

   Again, skip any questions you do not know until later.

   Third, answer the multiple choice questions.  After writing those essays and short answers, you are on the downhill slope, and you can roll into multiple choice questions ready to focus on the correct answers, rather than getting distracted by the junk heap of possibilities.

   Again, skip any questions you do not know until later.

   A big tip: I use to cover the multiple choice possibilities with my arm when I was reading the question.  I would try to think of the answer without looking at the selection.  Thus I had my answer before looking at the various wrong choices.

   For the finale, go back and answer the questions you did not know and thus skipped.  (If you skipped many, scan the entire exam at the end to ensure you do not to miss any.)

   Hopefully by the end you are in a zone on the subject, and hopefully you are not feeling a time pressure, thus it is the best time to consider any answers you were not sure of earlier.

   For this last step, if you have extra time, take it!

   When I was a student at Virginia Tech back in the last century, I was often one of the last students out of a class during a test.  And some of those classes had more than a hundred students in them.  I studied for those tests, and I realized that spending an extra fifteen minutes or so working on my test could result in getting one or two answers correct which would have otherwise been wrong.  Those were some of the best spent minutes for me at Virginia Tech.

   Take your time and do it right!

   And stating this at the conclusion, I declare what should be done first: Pray.

   If you say a prayer sometime before the test, even if it is on the way to the class, you are opening yourself up for God to help you become more focused!

Hunter Irvine

All children need Jesus!

Matthew 18: 10-14

   I grew up in a large townhouse complex in a big metro area.  There were many children who lived in the townhouse complex, so there were often other children to play with.  I was considered a ‘goody-goody,’ which in retrospect I am thankful for, since being nice to people is always a good thing.

   A bunch of us kids were playing “kickball” one day.  Then one of the kids rolled on the ground, and grabbed the ball.  He said he was not going to let us have it.  We all circled around him and told him to give us the ball.  He said “no.”  So I gave the ball a kick, trying to knock it loose.  In doing so, I hit his finger.  That kid started crying in pain.  And we happened to be right in front of his townhouse.  I had never had something like that happen, and it scared me.  I left, going down to the end of the block of townhouses.  When I look behind, I could see the boy’s mom come out, and the other kids yelled to her, “He went down there.”  Then I was really scared.  I ended up running down an entire two blocks of townhouses, which was a long ways for me at that age.

   I looped around the edge of townhouses which face the parking lot.  Then I walked back up towards my townhouse row.  I perched behind a stairwell.  The kids had gone back to playing kickball.  All was back to normal with them, yet I was separated.  Being ‘in trouble,’ I did not know how I could go back.  I watched them play kickball for a while, but then they stopped.  I went down a bit by the road, and stood in the deep door well of a ground floor townhouse.  One kid, a kid I considered a bully, came walking right by.  He was calling out my name.  I stood still, and he walked right past me as I stood in the shadow of the door well.

   Yet the longer I stood there, the more distraught I became.  I wanted to go home, but I felt trapped.

   What may have been only a few minutes later, though it seemed like a long time, my dad walked by.

   “Dad!” I said in an enthusiastic yet muffled voice.  Dad and I took a walk around the neighborhood and he listened to me.  Then during the walk, Dad stated how it is always best to stay and deal with a rough situation rather than running away from it.  It was wise advice for a lifetime.

   Now Isaiah 53:6 states, “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his or her own way;

and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (NIV).

   In my youth, I was a ‘goody-goody,’ and I was Captain of the Safety Patrols, and I was an Eagle Scout, and I had much success as a student at Virginia Tech, yet there was a separation from my Father in heaven.

   Now I did gain in my youth a private belief there is a God, sometimes praying for young ladies I liked.  And God kept reaching out to me, and there came times when I was seeking truth about God.  But because there was a separation between God and myself, I was spiritually dying.

   On April 15, 1990, that separation came to an end as I gave my heart to Jesus.  The second statement in Isaiah 53:6 is: “…and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”  That Him is Jesus the Messiah.  Jesus was the One who took all of the sins of every person of all time, past, present, and future, in His own heart, and died for those sins as the substitute on the cross.

   And now the decision is yours.  Jesus has found you!  If you receive Him, you will be saved from the consequence of yours sins, which is spiritual death, and you will have eternal life.

   For those of us who have been saved, we have a mighty calling.  And that calling includes doing all we can to love the children in our lives.  May I get personal here and say that at this time in history here in America, we are living in a time of cultural decadence.  Even at a young age, many children are being exposed to a barrage of evil.  Even in some schools they are being taught many things which contradict the teachings of Jesus.  Even in some Christian churches, children are being taught some things which contradict the teachings of Jesus.  Instead, we followers of Jesus need to be warning people of the tragic consequence of sins.

   I am heartbroken by the sinful teachings our children are being enticed with.

   I know there is still hope, since Jesus goes after the lost now with endless vigor, just as He has daily throughout the past 2,000 years.  And Jesus works through the hearts of His followers.  We need the Holy Spirit to help us love children.

   The bottom line: We need to fully rely on God to give everything we have in order to love the children in our lives!

   Children need our genuine Christian love.

   All children need Jesus!!

Hunter Irvine

Blessed dependence on God

Matthew 18: 1-4        At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

He called a little child and had him stand among them.  And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (NIV)

   Serving as a youth minister, paid and volunteer, for a number of years at a small church in the Denver metropolitan area, I had a loving friend named Shirley.  A retired woman, that saint dedicated herself to volunteer ministry work at that church.  She was an expert quilter and a longtime quilting teacher.

   Every summer for many years, that church carried out VBS.  For those five days every summer, Shirley was there to teach the kids arts and crafts.  I was in my 30’s at the time.  I always carried out the Bible teaching sessions, and sometimes I felt as though I would not make it through all five days.  And year after year, Shirley would say, “This is the last year I am going to do this.”  Her statement was more emphatic each year.  Yet year after year, Shirley would come all prepared to teach.  She did so up until she died of cancer.  She loved those children.  And the children loved her.

   Throughout the year, after a typical church service, many students would rush to the fellowship hall and load up on donuts.  After having two or three, they would then run around the church, inside, outside, or both.  On the flip side, after worship Shirley was one to take the fellowship time to socialize.  A meticulous crafter, she did not remind me of a kid in her actions.  Yet Shirley was always young at heart.  She was quick to laugh, and simply full of life.  I never once thought of her as “old.”

   Shirley is in the kingdom of heaven now.  She fits the type of person Jesus was talking about, yet not because she acted decades younger than she was.  The reason: She was dependent on God.

   When Jesus states a person needs to become like a little child in order to enter the kingdom of heaven, dependence on God is what He is talking about.  Children are utterly dependent.  Children need daily help from their parents.  Children need to learn much.  (Many children love to learn if the learning has an element of adventure to it rather than being boring.)  And children need guidance and encouragement.  And first and foremost, children need love.

   Truth is, all of us people need daily help from our heavenly Father.  All of us need to keep learning from God.  All of us need daily guidance and encouragement from the Lord God Almighty.  And first and foremost, all of us need true love.  “God is Love” (I John 4:16).

   After graduating from college, I backpacked the entire Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine.  It took me 164 days.  It was one of the greatest accomplishments in my life.  I loved the hiking, and I would engage in thinking galore as I spent hours and hours of hiking.  After one afternoon of hiking and thinking in Maine, I stood at a vista pondering.  And that pondering led to my personal embrace of a consideration which I decided was true.  I wrote it down on a piece of paper.  Turns out, that conviction is the principle being taught by Jesus in this passage.  Thus I close with my quote from 1990:

“True freedom is an acceptance of your absolute dependence on God.”

Hunter Irvine

Love God

Matthew 22:15-22

   Please allow me to jump ahead for a day to a passage involving paying Roman taxes, since the message has the same principle as the passage regarding the “temple tax.”  In my previous piece regarding Matthew 17:24-27, a drachma was the coin used for the temple tax since it was a Greek coin, and gave no homage to the Emperor.  Yet here a Roman coin, a denarius, is the fitting visual for this subject of paying taxes to Rome.

   Quite tragic you had religious leaders of Israel, the Pharisees, working to get Jesus in trouble.  And they were exerting much effort to do so by inviting some Herodians to accompany them as they went to ask Jesus a question.  I speculate Pharisees and Herodians rarely cooperated before the time of Christ’s ministry.  A perceived threat to their power brought them together.

   I own Nelson’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Bible Facts, an excellent resource, which has an informative piece on “The Herods,” a family who ruled for about one hundred years.  The title I personally give King Herod is Herod the Horrible, though most western historians for many generations have called him Herod the Great.  A deranged murderer, for starters, he killed a number of family members.  Matthew Chapter 2 reveals much about that evil monarch.

   Key context for this passage involves two points stated in that “Encyclopedia” piece.

   First: “In his will, Herod the Great divided his kingdom among three of his sons.” (1)

   One of those sons, Herod Antipas II, ruled the region of Galilee and Perea during the time of Christ.  The Bible refers to him by his title, Herod the tetrarch.  He is the man who executed John the Baptist as we learned earlier here in the book of Matthew.

   Second: “Herod’s death in 4 B.C. brought a new era to Judea.  Just before his death, Herod formally gave the Roman emperor power to supervise his kingdom.  (Rome had been the real ruler of Palestine since the overthrow of Aristobulus in 63 B.C., but it now exerted its control more directly.)” (2)

(Please note Jesus was born around 6 or 5 B.C., since the early Christian calendar was off due to not taking into account leap years.)

   Thus, we can understand Rome had an increasing role in that region of the near east.

   Back to the entrenched though unstable monarchy, Herod the tetrarch and his family had their supporters.  And the Pharisees invited those Herodians along for what must have seemed to them like a no lose confrontation.

   Wicked win scenario number one: Jewish people, under the Mosaic covenant, were supposed to be serving the one and only true living God.  However, if Jesus said paying taxes to Rome was not necessary, He was going to get in big trouble with the Herodians, who relied on Rome for power.

   Wicked win scenario number two: Many Israelites tolerated Rome, yet many Israelites despised Roman rule which blocked Judah’s self-rule.  Thus if Jesus favored Rome, He was going to get in big trouble with the Pharisees.

   Being confronted by this power house conglomeration of religious leaders and monarchy cronies, Jesus was asked to share His conviction.  Jesus did, giving a preface to this answer which involved calling them all “hypocrites.”

   Then Jesus, using a visual all of those leaders knew well, a coin, made the statement: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

   Wow.

   We know what the Emperor required: tax money.

   Yet what does God require?  Israelites knew the “Shema.”

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 states: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.  Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

   From you and me, God is asking for love.

   Money can be given for doing good for God, yet the core issue in devotion to God is not money.  At issue here is what flows from your heart.

   If you want the fruit of your heart to be love, you first need to receive what Jesus offers to give you!

   I John 4:16 states: “…God is love…”

   Jesus offers true love, which involves Jesus offering Himself.

Jesus physically died for you on the cross, and He spiritually died for you on the cross.  And now He desires to spiritually dwell in your heart.

In order to receive Jesus into your heart, you need to believe in Jesus.

Then living by His love, you will bear much fruit for Jesus Christ!

Jesus loves you!

Hunter Irvine

(1) J.I. Packer, Merrill Tenney, William White, Jr., eds., Nelson’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Bible Facts (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995), 635-636.

(2) J.I. Packer, Merrill Tenney, William White, Jr., eds., Nelson’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Bible Facts (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995), 635.

Matthew 17:24-27 A son or daughter's privilege

   Having studied and pondered the book of Matthew since November of 2020, I have reached Chapter 17:24.  So soon?  Seriously, I have studied and pondered the book of Matthew several times before, yet this time has been more meditative.  Also many other short term studies have been interspersed during the time.  I do emphasize that going slow and being meditative is the way I learn best.

   This grand study has been expressed here within Scripture Love Blog over these two and a half years.  We will continue.

   Continuing on, let us start by recalling the very first verse of the book: Matthew 1:1   “A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham:”

   I made the following statement in my first blog piece for this current study back in November of 2020: “The literary nature is established from the start: historical.  Yes the content of what is to come is going to involve the supernatural, however the author is tactfully stating from the start that this is no fantasy story.”

   That is a great reminder as we look at this passage where an unusual supernatural event takes place.

   Even if there was a rare natural occurrence that a fish swallowed a four-drachma coin, it was supernatural that Jesus would know this had happened, and supernatural that the first fish Peter caught after being instructed by Jesus to do so was that particular fish.  Probably for the sake of saving precious ink and papyrus, there is no record of Peter obeying Christ.  We trust the tax collectors were the ones to get that down on papyrus.  It was a miracle, a quite unique miracle compared to others in the Bible.

   A crucial contextual point is the fact the temple tax was not a standard Roman Empire tax.  King Herod began a grandiose expansion of the area surrounding the temple in Jerusalem in 19 B.C., and much of it was completed in ten years.  However, even though the tyrant King Herod died in 5 or 4 B.C., (our calendar is off due to leap years), his plan for temple expansion galore was not fully completed until around 64 A.D.  Herod’s project probably even involved some renovations on the temple itself, yet the temple was a basic structure from the start.  The dimensions for the temple are given in 2 Chronicles 3:3-4.  “The foundation Solomon laid for building the temple of God was sixty cubits long and twenty cubits wide (using the cubit of the old standard).  The portico at the front of the temple was twenty cubits long across the width of the building and twenty cubits high.”  But Herod’s temple and temple grounds renovations and expansion became an ongoing endeavor.

   What started as an apparent act to please the Israelites ended up being yet another tax burden on the Israelites, in addition to the Roman Empire’s giant tax requirement on people who were subjects but not citizens.

   Note the coin used to pay the temple tax, the drachma, was a Greek silver coin.  This detail is important, because using a Roman coin was not permissible for temple purposes.  The Roman denarius, a silver coin of a similar value, honored the emperor.

   Understanding this context, we can know the teaching of Jesus here has nothing to do with paying taxes to a country or state.  All Christians are first and foremost citizens of the kingdom of heaven.  Secondly, most Christians are citizens of some country or state.  As citizens of a country or state, we Christians have no special privilege over our fellow citizens of our country or state.  Thus to not pay taxes to a country or state is a sin.

   Keeping that fact in mind, we can gain the intended message of this passage from Jesus.  Jesus, who started His teaching in a Socratic method mode, emphasized His point: “Then the children are exempt…”  Thus Jesus was gently stating that children of God are exempt from religious fees.

   Once again, Jesus teaches a radical lesson, and that lesson here is that a follower of Jesus is a child of the King of kings, and the relationship with the King involves love, not money.  Love is the foundation for citizens of the kingdom of heaven.

   To fully examine this passage, we must get into the controversial issue of the tithe, which was a standard or mandate under the Mosaic covenant, first of all, to support the Levites. (First, see Numbers 18:21-22, and second, see Deuteronomy 26:12-15 along with Deuteronomy 14:28-29.)  There was also a tithe involved when going to the three feasts, yet that tithe of an entire crop of food and olive oil was to be eaten and enjoyed by the family at a given feast in the presence of the LORD.  It was not given away. (See Deuteronomy 14:22-26.)

   Yet under the New Covenant we go by the commands of Jesus, the One who fulfilled the Mosaic Law.  And frankly, Jesus is teaching here that Christians are not under a mandate to give a “tithe.”

   A number of Christians disagree.  When worshiping at a church in 2014, one of the pastors gave a sermon in which he rebuked those in the congregation who did not tithe to their church.  He stated a tithe was mandatory for a Christian.  I disagreed, and I still do, with all due respect.

   Yet since the reality of Christian community ministry work usually involves plenty of expenses, how can a variety of needs be supported?  By realizing God wants us to give from our heart.

   Our heavenly Father provides blessings for us, not needing anything in return.  Yet our heavenly Father also wants us to give in love that we may carry out the mission of the Gospel and bless people.  For the offering of spiritual gifts and finances, a tithe might be a suggestion for some communities, yet it is not a biblical mandate.  The root mandate is to love God and love people.  A person who loves God and loves people will give, in a variety of personal manners, in love!

   And remember a final subtle point of this passage, which is that our triune God sometimes provides for His children in unexpected ways.

Hunter

Jesus is resurrected!

John 20:29   Then Jesus told Thomas, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

   Why?  Because faith in Jesus, faith of which is spiritually rooted in your heart, results in the desire to open your heart to Jesus.  Giving your heart to Jesus results in salvation.  Also you will know in your heart that Jesus truly was the atoning sacrifice for sins, and that Jesus is resurrected from the dead!

Hunter

Jesus gave the ultimate prophecy

   After Jesus told of His Church in response to Peter’s statement identifying Jesus as the Christ, Jesus gave the ultimate prophecy of His murder and of His resurrection, as revealed in Matthew 16:21.

   Then after what is commonly referred to as the transfiguration of Jesus, He stated the Son of Man was going to be raised from the dead, as revealed in Matthew 17:9.

   A third time, all of which may have been within a week or so, Scripture records Jesus again giving this ultimate prophecy:

When they came together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.  They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.”  And the disciples were filled with grief (Matthew 17:22).

   Thus we can know in our hearts it was God’s plan for Jesus to die on the cross as the substitutional atonement for our sins.  Why?  Considering Jesus knew ahead of time that certain chief priests and certain Roman leaders were going to convict Him, abuse Him, and take actions which resulted in His murder, Jesus could have fled.  In fact, Scripture reveals that Jesus is God the Son.  He had the power to prevent people from killing Him.  Instead, He allowed Himself to be murdered.  It was the salvation plan of God from all time.

   “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

   We people have done wrong in our hearts, all of us, which is often termed “sin” in the Bible.  God, who is just, demands an atonement for such wrong.  And since the consequence of sins is physical and spiritual death, the atonement must involve death.  And that is what Jesus did.  Taking the sins of all people into His heart, Jesus physically and spiritually died on a cross for anyone.

   Death is horrible beyond my ability to express.  Yesterday I was doing some genealogy research, and I re-read about how a great-great-great-Grandpa, Michael, through my Grandma’s maternal lineage, was robbed and then murdered.  His death even resulted in much hardship for family members for years to come.  And when I read that family history this fall, there was some grief for me as I suffered a bit for a relative murdered over 132 years ago.

   God, who is just, is also merciful.  His atonement on the cross is offered to all people.  Because of the ultimate suffering and sacrificial atonement of Jesus, we people can be forgiven of our sins.  And we people can be enabled to forgive others.  In order to receive forgiveness, you must believe in Jesus as your Savior and Lord.  In doing so, you will be saved of your sins.  Those who do not will spiritually die.  Those who are saved will have eternal life if heaven.

   I close with that last sentence in Matthew 17:22 – “And the disciples were filled with grief.”  When the disciples of Jesus were listening to Him, they latched onto His statement that He was going to be killed.  “Holy Thursday” and “Good Friday” are days where I personally devote some time to ponder the suffering and sacrifice which Jesus made on the cross.

   Yet thanks to God, we can know what happened next, which is what we celebrate tomorrow, and what we Christians can celebrate in our hearts every day!

Hunter Irvine

Overcoming in Love

I John 5:3-5

   All month we have been considering the “Church” due to the teaching of Jesus recorded in Matthew 16:18.  Yet an interesting fact: the word “church” is only mentioned in the Bible on rare occasions.  One exception is in the book of Revelation, chapters two and three.  Chapters one, two, and three involve seven messages from Jesus, which were written down by the apostle John, to seven churches, all seven having been in the region which is the modern day country of Turkey.  Local churches are the focus.

   Then in chapter four, the word “church” ceases to be used until stated one final time in Revelation 22:16 when Jesus is back to speaking of the present time.  Starting in chapter four, the narrative takes a completely different focus, a focus on heaven and the spiritual realm, where you have the consummation of Jesus’s Church.

   Many students of the Bible think the “rapture” will take place between chapter three and chapter four, since there is such a complete shift.  I agree the “rapture” takes place before the period of chapter four, yet the rapture is a whole other subject.

   Regarding one of those seven messages to one of those seven churches, in the message from Jesus to the church in Ephesus, Jesus states: “….You have forsaken your first love” (Revelation 2:4).

   That first love was Jesus.  And by forsaking the love of God, they failed to be loving people.

   Sin blocks love.

   Yet God did not leave the people of that church to be doomed.  They had the opportunity to overcome.

   How?  By saying sorry to God.

   God is Love, and He forgives.

   How about today?

   Since I was called to vocational ministry more than twenty-five years ago, I have seen consistent sin in churches.  And sometimes sincere repentance seems absent.  Sometimes it all seems hopeless to me.

   The beautiful message in the midst of all the church problems in chapters two and three of the book of Revelation is that followers of Jesus can overcome.

   John, the apostle who wrote the book of Revelation on the island of Patmos, wrote in his first epistle how people can overcome.

   John states: “This is love for God: to obey his commands.  And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world.  This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.  Who is it that overcomes the world?  Only she or he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” (I John 5:3-5).

   For a person who is a genuine believer in Jesus, he or she will overcome!

   The result of believing in Jesus: He or she is loving.

   Wow!

   Jesus was the One who made atonement on the cross which resulted in the opportunity for you and I to have our sins forgiven, and to gain the righteousness of God.

   And for those of us who genuinely believe in Jesus, He is even able to soften our hearts so that we can say “sorry.”

   Saying sorry from the heart is a gift of true love.

   Jesus is the One who enables a believer to live a life of holiness since the Spirit of Christ lives in the heart of a believer, so that a person can truly love God and truly love people.  Reliance on Jesus is our privilege.

   Going back to the seven messages to the seven churches, there is an amazing fact.  Each one ends with an eternal blessing for the person who “overcomes.”  They are truly incredible, and can be found in the following verses:

Revelation 2:7

Revelation 2:11

Revelation 2:17

Revelation 2:26

Revelation 3:5

Revelation 3:12

Revelation 3:21

   Here, I will simply address the message for those in the church of Ephesus who desired to overcome near the end of the first century, which really is a promise for all overcomers: “…To he or she who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7).

   God offered Adam and Eve an opportunity to eat from the tree of life in the Garden of Eden (see Genesis 2:16-17).

   Thus a person who believes in Jesus as his or her Savior and Lord has the opportunity which Adam and Eve lost due to their disobedience to God.  Since Jesus was obedient on the cross, dying for anyone, paradise is available for you and me.

   In the meantime, we continue to live in this fallen world full of hurt and suffering.  Jesus was straight forward about our journey in this world.

   Jesus said: “…In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

   If you and I rely on Jesus, who is One with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and who is “Love” (I John 4:16), then you and I can overcome with the true love of God.

   Now it is a process.  One reality is that we “overcomers” still mess up in this rough world.  However, Jesus remains with us, thus we will continue to be “sanctified.”  Keeping growing in the love of Jesus by relying daily on Jesus.

Hunter Irvine

Loving relationships in church

Matthew 16:18

   Before I was a Christian, I was influenced by a loving singles group within in a large church in northern Virginia.  Most of the folks in “Salt and Light” had been Christians for much of their lives.  I had not.  For the first few months I sporadically attended, I might have been the only one there who was not a Christian.  Yet less than one year later, I gave my heart to Jesus!  For several years after that, the community of Salt and Light became an important community of “nurture” for me as a new Christian.

   The leadership team was co-ed, and one man was named Robert.  He and I had rather different personalities.  In fact Robert and I never got close.  Yet I liked Robert.  One morning when we were talking, Robert said: “Christianity is not a religion, rather it is a relationship.”

   All these years later, I agree.  Christianity is a loving relationship with God, made possible by the atonement of Jesus on the cross.

   By certain definitions, “religion” is working to get closer with God, whereas in a relationship, the union is there, and that union simply needs to be fostered.  For a person who believes in Jesus, she or he is forgiven of her or his sins, and she or he enters an eternal loving relationship!  Relationship fits what I have been saying about Jesus’s Church.

   In the past three writings, Jesus’s Church has been the focus.  Now I address the common usage of the term “church,” where it describes a group of people who worship God and fellowship at a certain location.

   And I state the nature of “churches” should be on the same line as Robert’s statement.  In fact you could say Christianity involves relationships, plural, starting with a relationship with Jesus, because you also enter a relationship with members of the family of God.  And local churches are opportunities for people in a loving relationship with Jesus to worship God and to develop loving relationships with one another.  God wants local “churches” to reflect Jesus’s Church.

   Thus the leaders of a church need to keep telling the Gospel of Jesus Christ to continually give all people an invitation to be in a relationship with Jesus.  Secondly, the leaders of a church need to keep teaching about Jesus in order to foster the growth of the worshipers in the love of Jesus, so they can also love others.

   At this time, I am looking for a church.  Having searched for a church one too many times during my Christian journey, I know what I am looking for.  I give five general principles here:

I am looking for a church where Scripture, which reveals Jesus, is trusted and advocated.

I am looking for a church which generally fits my doctrinal convictions.

I am looking for a church where people love Jesus.

I am looking for a church where people love other people.

I am looking for a church where I can be myself.

   If you were, (or are), looking for a church, what would you be looking for?

   Now the core of Christianity is God, not a church.  Times when I have put much hope in a “church,” (or a Christian ministry), or when I have become extremely dependent on a “church,” (or a Christian ministry), disappointment, or even despair, has resulted.  Our hope needs to be in Jesus.  Our dependency needs to be on Jesus.

   Churches are not even the core of worship for me.  Personally, I worship God every morning in my room, seven days a week.  I grow in a loving relationship with God right in my home with the presence of Jesus in my heart and with my Bible before me.  I would not trade that time for anything.

   Yet growth would be quite stifled if I only worshiped in my room all of the time.  And I sure would not be supporting my sisters and brothers-in-Christ.  On the flip side, churches can be a safe place where a Christian can worship, learn, fellowship, and be blessed along with brothers and sisters-in-Christ.  In doing all this, loving relationships develop.

   And churches should be a place where Christians can serve!  My favorite thing to do is preach.

   What is your favorite thing to do in a church?

   Regarding serving in a church, sadly in America, people in leadership of a number of churches suppress the involvement of people by allowing only a few privileged individuals and a few musicians to carry out all the fun stuff.  This is un-biblical.  People in churches should be serving in their local church according to their spiritual gifts and training.  (Yes, I think churches need to do more training.)

   Back to my search for a church, I know from experience there are many problems in a number of churches.  I have learned to rely on God for guidance, encouragement, and patience to find a loving church.  And I have learned to rely on God for guidance and encouragement to know when to move on from worshiping with a particular church. (This is hard for me, yet I know when I leave a particular church, that my love for the people remains!)  Yes, in every church community, and in every “season,” our purpose is the same: Love God, and love people!

   The moment any person believes in Jesus as his or her Savior and Lord, that person is adopted into the family of God.  From that moment, he or she is going to have brothers and sisters for the rest of his or her days.  Jesus wants you and me to love those brothers and sisters, and church communities are a prime place for doing so.

   The more you and I love people as Jesus loves His Church, the more fruit there will be in our families, in our work places, and in our “churches,” even in this day and age.

   We people were created to be in the loving family of God.  Churches, which have the commitment of genuine loving people, have an important role in the loving family of God.

   Hunter Irvine