Weimar Clubs
Art Club:
If you are interested in learning how to develop artistically for the glory of God, Art Club is the place for you! We will be holding creative space meetings for beginners to advanced individuals on a weekly basis. In the weekly meeting, you will have the opportunity to learn basic art skills, work on collaborative art projects, or simply work on your own projects with artistic individuals. On a few weekends during the semester, we will also hold field trips to go out and enjoy the landscape in a whole new way! We are looking forward to doing art with you!
Gardening Club:
The gardening club is an agriculturally focused group of awesome people who farm at the Weimar greenhouses from now until February. Each group in the club picks the amount of land they would like to garden, enabling each person to adapt the gardening club to their schedule. The club also presents opportunities to learn about agriculture in occasional group meetings. At the end of the year, the garden club will host a harvest party around the end of February.
Pre-Med Club:
Pre-Med Club is a community of young students who aspire to be medical doctors. We provide resources for getting into medical school, shadowing opportunities, networking with physicians, and social events. This year we have exciting endeavors like setting up a mentorship program where you can have a physician of your interest help guide you on your medical journey. Sign up today so you can be a part of our members-only events!
Running Club:
The goal of the running club is to promote health and wellness among the student body. Joining this club is a fantastic opportunity for students to socially engage with others while getting adequate physical exercise. The club meets twice a week on Sundays and Thursdays an hour before breakfast. There are three different levels in the club which cater to the fitness level of the members: fast, medium, and slow. Club members will get free gear and entrance for the Weimar Institute 10k trail race on November 8th.
If you are interested in joining one of these clubs, email weimarsa@weimar.edu.

Welcome to Weimar!
Welcome to Weimar! This blog post has fallen into the hands of your 2020-2021 student association team as we seek to welcome both new and returning students to campus. In the words below, we have each created a personal message of greeting, encouragement, and advice for the year to come. So please, allow us to introduce ourselves!
Andrew Robinson, President
Hey Gang, new and old, welcome to the 2020-2021 Weimar College school year. I am excited to get to know all of you better this year! I am honored to serve this year on the Student Association team as President. One of my favorite things about Weimar College is the love that the students have for each other and for God. Although the first half of 2020 has been full of unprecedented challenges and hardships, I believe the Lord desires us to continue to walk with Him in thankfulness and gladness of heart. My hope and prayer this year is that we can unite together through our similar goal of reflecting the character of Christ. Let us strive this year to share His love with a hurting world both on and off campus.
Nathan Hold, Vice President
Hello, I’m Nathan Hold and I can’t wait to meet you all. This is going to be an incredible semester despite some of the challenges we might face under our current circumstances. My advice to you is to always remember the reason for what you are doing. It’s easy to forget your purpose in the riffraff of everyday life, but by remembering, you will be able to work through the times when you wonder, “Why am I doing this?” If you remember your reason, it will keep you on track to accomplish what you set out to do. I am excited to join you in making this semester unforgettable!
Emma Claridge, Secretary
Greetings! Emma here. I don’t know how to express in words how excited I am for this year, but I’ll do my best! Weimar has held a very special place in my heart ever since the day God answered two very specific and unlikely prayer requests. Through this miracle, the way was opened for me to enroll in this one of a kind college, and I can confidently say God led me to Weimar. With this history, I can’t help but look expectantly forward to the coming year.
As a member of SA, I have made it my personal goal to get to know each and every one of you. (But if you do see me slacking socially, please have mercy. I am a nursing student after all!) So please! Come find me, come talk to me—I can’t wait to get to know you! We have so many amazing things planned for you this year, and I know God has great plans too. Yes, this will be a semester unlike any other, but we can choose what will make it unique. I believe God is ready to pour out His Spirit on this campus like never before, and that is what will make this semester different. All He needs are hearts that are seeking Him. Why not give Jesus yours today?
“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him” (2 Chronicles 16:9).
Hannah Robinson, Event Coordinator
Hey! Welcome! My Name is Hannah Robinson. I’ll be your event coordinator this year. I have immensely enjoyed all that the Student Association has planned in the past, and this year I have no doubt the fun shall continue. I’ve always enjoyed planning events and I love investing in people, therefore I hope to highlight the hidden talents you all possess as I believe that we all have something to offer. I also hope that through the events of this coming year we will all become a family—as that is everything. Please join in on all our events as we aim to make this year unforgettable!
Lily Schultz, Treasurer
I distinctly remember my first week at Weimar College as one of the most challenging and hilarious transitions of my life. Sitting across from the enthusiastic upperclassmen that first morning at breakfast, I nearly dropped my (totally vegan) sausage when I was informed that my first class would be in the fishbowl.
“What?”
“Don’t worry” I was told, “It’s the classroom you toured during New Student Orientation.”
Well, I suppose that was meant to be helpful, but I, with the memory of a goldfish, soon ended up flopping helplessly through the different rooms in the college building until a kindly staff explained where the ‘fishbowl’ was located.
As I became familiar with my schedule and campus life, I found that I was truly enjoying my time. From the classroom to the dorms, I began forming genuine friendships with students and staff alike. Weekend hikes, intense study sessions, and even impromptu visits to the nearby Jamba Juice made for quality memories with the most amazing people. While growing in academics, I found I was in an environment that fostered my own spiritual growth as well. Dorm worships, outreach, and the way the professors pointed out God’s hand in every subject gave me a desire to know Him better.
Now, while I no longer get lost on my way to class (mostly), I still find each semester has its own challenges and joys. As we come into this new school year, I am praying that each and every individual will feel God’s presence in everything they experience. I am excited for what God has in store and I can’t wait to get to know each and every one of you better. Welcome to Weimar!
Nik Hold, Media & Marketing
I would not generally consider myself wise, but if I did have to give one piece of advice headed into this year it would be to focus on the things that matter. It is easy in college to get caught up with your grades and all the activities and forget about God, your family, your friends, your future, and all the other things that matter too. I deeply believe that the world will not last too much longer. We are the generation that could be able to see the Lord come if we are willing to give Him all of our light; in order to do this, we do need to focus on him. This is what matters the most.
Dr. & Mrs. Feese, SA Sponsors
Welcome to Weimar! When God made it clear that Weimar was where He wanted us some 2.5 years ago, we really had no idea what to expect. We were engaged, but I was living in Montana and recently finished with grad school and Miriam was doing short term missions through AFM in Thailand. We had no family in or plans to move to California, but both of us are committed to following wherever God leads, even California. It seems God has called you too to Weimar, and with that being the case, I can assure you it is a wonderful place to be! In Isaiah 46:10 God says, “I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: My plan will take place, and I will do all My will” (CSB). In The Desire of Ages Ellen White says, “God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led, if they could see the end from the beginning, and discern the glory of the purpose which they are fulfilling as co-workers with Him” (pg. 224.5). As long as we continue to dwell in the center of God’s will for our lives, no matter what may come, no matter where we are, or what challenges arise, we can rest assured that God is working all things together for good (Romans 8:28). As SA sponsors we look forward to getting to know each one of you during this coming year and learning more about the journey God is taking you on!
Dear Maggie
First of all, we love you. (And we miss you something fierce so come visit soon, okay?)
For the past couple of weeks we have seen a little bit of the journey you are taking in your battle against Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. There’s a power in this world that is unmatched and undefeated. That power is the testimony of someone who refuses to believe anything but that God is still good as they walk through fire.
Maggie, you have faced giants, but not alone. You have shown us how faith is faith—whether it feels feeble or firm—and it’s okay to feel feeble sometimes. You have shown us your courage, downright bravery, and vulnerable fear. You have shown us your beautiful, joyful, and sometimes tearful smile. And you have refused to believe anything but that God is still good. You possess this power, Maggie.
We know that there are easier days and there are harder days— and we just want you to know (during both) that you have a whole school of friends who are praying for you, and with you.
These are our little tokens of faith, grown from the seeds of the fruit we see in you.
Love,
Your Weimar Friends
Love Letters
When was the last time you wrote a letter? No, not an email or a long text message. No, not even a thank-you card. I am talking about a handwritten, heartfelt letter to a loved one. If you are like me, you probably have not written a letter in the past 5 years. Decades ago, long before social media and smartphones, young couples would write letters when they were in love. Love letters, as they were known, contained messages of humor, reality, and of course, expressions of love. Young people looked forward to receiving mail in the expectation of hearing from their “special someone”. Like winter snowflakes, no two love letters were alike. Each was unique its own way. Love letters were a revelation of the nature of the couple’s relationship.
Did you know that you are a love letter? The apostle Paul once wrote, “You are like a letter from Christ.” (2 Corinthians 3:2 CEV). You, my dear reader, are a uniquely gifted and potential packed letter from Jesus to the world. That question that begs to be asked is: what message are you communicating?
As a Christian young adult, I have noticed that my generation struggles with a pessimistic faith. We tend to focus on our difficulties, often at the expense of our faith. Let’s face it. Life is hard. School can be challenging. Work can be overwhelming. When faced with the realities of everyday life, we often stow our smiles and complain of our busy schedules to any listening ear. Sometimes, instead of verbally complaining, we muse over our difficulties and internally whine. We trudge through life with heavy burdens. Burdens of fear, worry, excessive stress, and haunting memories. Instead of leaving our financial, academic, and social burdens with Jesus, we snatch little pieces of our burdens from His back. As our burdens become heavier, our outlook becomes darker. Gradually, many of us turn away from Jesus, only to wonder why hearts are filled with sadness.
When life is difficult, we easily forget our purpose. We forget that we are love letters in a world devoid of love. We forget that joy is an essential aspect of the Christian life. Perhaps, we struggle to be joyful because we do not understand what the love of Jesus truly means.
From personal experience, I have learned that I am happiest when I rely on the love of Christ. If you have been blessed with loving parents and siblings, you can relate to the feeling of being consistently loved. Like the love of Jesus, family love looks past your imperfections and sees your potential. Such love is inspiring and motivating. Personally, it drives me to courageously strive and joyfully conquer. Knowing that I am loved gives me confidence when I have none. I can’t help but be happy when I am truly loved. If earthly love is this powerful, consider the love of God. It is infinitely deeper than the love of family and friends. Understanding and experiencing this enables me to conquer life’s challenges. When I feel like a failure, Jesus reassures me that despite my weakness, He will always love me. Through His word, He reminds me that nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate me from His love. This gives me hope and empowers me to smile when circumstances dictate otherwise.
Unfortunately, there have been many times when my attitude or actions have misrepresented the love of Christ. Like an empty envelope addressed from a special person, I know I have often failed to relay the message of God’s love to those around me. Instead of being a love letter, at times I have allowed myself to be an empty envelope. At times, I have unintentionally been a misleading letter, leading people to make wrong assumptions about character of God. Maybe you have felt the same way, and have become discouraged. Slumping into the discouragement, my friend, is not the same as falling at the feet of Jesus. The love of God that was displayed at the cross does not leave the fallen in tears. It heals the broken and motivates the crestfallen to try again. Empty envelopes can be filled. Misleading letters can be re-written into beautiful messages of love.
You and I can fulfill our purpose as love letters from Jesus. We do not have to succumb to the pessimistic pitfalls of our generation. We can show the world that living for Jesus can be, and is, a beautiful experience. In a world devoid of joy and happiness, we can be sources of hope and confidence. Let’s stop sending conflicting and disappointing messages to the world. Instead, let us allow the love of Jesus to transform our hearts, and help us to appropriately express His love. Experiencing this, my fellow love letters, is the secret to rejoicing in Him. It’s that simple!
What to Do With Doubt
What follows is a story from my experience, followed by some scriptural advice on how to deal with doubts, especially in your Christian experience.
Most people can easily imagine their average day, but when nothing novel and exciting is going on, it’s quite hard for me to tell the difference between today’s lunch, yesterday’s lunch, and what’s that they call the day before that? Yeah, that lunch. The one rushed to, rushed through, and forgotten. The lunch that you devoured sometime during the week after you decided that you needed to slow down, chew your food, and take the time to cheer your friends instead of chewing till the eating ends. Let me tell you, this particular Sunday was nothing like that lunch. It was lit.
Or at least that’s what my imagination told me the day would be like. When many of the guys asked me whether I was going, I told them I was. I couldn’t wait to get to Dr. Celestine’s house and spend time hanging out in a new place. I couldn’t wait to get to know some of my friends in strange and unfamiliar circumstances. You never know how someone will respond to cold water until you push them in. My mind was filled with expectations and visions of the great time to be had and of plans for what to do when I got there.
Getting there was the hard part. Rumor said that the party was starting somewhere around 9:30am, and I wanted to be the first to get there. Running hither and yon like a headless chicken, I stopped each moving vehicle that seemed to be headed in the right direction and asked if I could hop in. As I settled into the first car that seemed to contain the right demographic and buckled myself in, it suddenly occurred to me that perhaps I should ask where the van was headed. As we rounded the corner outside Weimar’s front gate, I poked my head around to the driver and asked,
“Hey, where are you guys going?”
He replied, “We’re headed down to play Frisbee!”
Seems I had made a bit of a mistake. Quickly asking the driver to stop, I slid out of the van and stumbled back to find more vehicles to accost. Though I was a bit embarrassed, my purpose hadn’t wavered—I was going to the party, and I was going to get there first at all costs. When I saw Jonathan’s SUV, confidence and joy bloomed inside my heart. This was the right vehicle, and it was going to take me where I longed to go.
Unfortunately, Jonathan, or whoever was driving, apparently didn’t share my enthusiasm for the party. The vehicle and all its occupants were dead set on going shopping, and in the end, I simply had to get out and find another vehicle.
Nobody seemed to be rolling around much, so I rushed into Hilton to find my people. Caleb A. Whiting was quickly tying his shoes, and by the look in his eyes, I knew that I had found my man and found my ride. He was also on a mission, and when he replied that I could join him, life suddenly became good. We dashed down to the Hillside parking lot and hopped into JJ’s old beater van. Ironically, when we swerved out onto I-80 heading west, I was too engrossed in getting Caleb’s GPS working to ask where we were going.
It was just about when we passed the Ophir Rd. exit that I began to realize that something was not quite right. That’s when the first shades of doubt began to cloud my enthusiasm. I had never been to Dr. Celestine’s place before, but I had the sudden and distinct impression that he did not live past Auburn. Quickly checking the address on my phone, I realized that I had made the ultimate mistake. Dr. Celestine does not live in the Roseville-Rocklin area, and JJ’s old van was faithfully bearing my tormented soul with its faded pool flip-flops past Loomis and steadily closer and closer to the Ultimate Frisbee game that I had tried to avoid earlier.
In the end, I gave up. As I ran back and forth as the newbie in the game, I consoled myself with the thought that remembering how to throw a Frisbee was a worthy challenge and that I did need some aerobic exercise after all. When I next met Dr. Celestine, we concluded that my Sunday-that-was-going-to-be-lit was entirely due to fate. Something about not exercising regularly enough must somehow have made it almost impossible to avoid. Strange thing: I still haven’t been able to visit Dr. Celestine and hear him tell his stories in the environment he’s accustomed to telling them in.
–~~~–
You’d be forgiven for concluding that the character in this story suffered from an almost pathological lack of doubt. In his haste to get to the party, he didn’t take the time to doubt whether he was using enough patience, directional skills, and effective communication to get him there without mishap. It may seem counterintuitive, but I believe that doubts are essential to real faith. To avoid temptation, healthy doubts are important, especially doubts concerning our motives and the reasoning behind our actions. It is even important to consider replacing our reasons for studying the Bible, for right actions don’t fix misdirected attitudes. When men study the Bible, there is often “a certain pride . . . mingled with the consideration of Bible truth, so that men feel impatient and defeated if they cannot explain every portion of scripture to their satisfaction. It is too humiliating for them to acknowledge that they cannot understand the inspired words. They are unwilling to wait patiently until God shall see fit to reveal the truth to them” (Steps to Christ, p. 108).
This trap has my name written all over it, because I like to think highly of my own intelligence. This spirit of self-sufficiency can have no association with finding truth. It turns out that God is the only one who can give us understanding. On the next page Ellen White says, “We (that’s me, John Hartman) are to beware of deifying reason, which is subject to the weakness and infirmity of humanity. If we would not have the Scriptures clouded to our understanding, so that the plainest truths shall not be comprehended, we must have the simplicity and faith of a little child, ready to learn, and beseeching the aid of the Holy Spirit” (Ibid, p. 109). If you are experiencing doubt about God, his love for you, and the truths in His Word, it is important to not only recognize the true nature of the problem, but also the true nature of the remedy. Instead of doubting God and your Christian experience when confronted by something that is too big for you, use it as an opportunity to grow. Here’s how.
When was the last time you beseeched anybody for anything? Even in my haste to get to the party, I didn’t think to beseech my friends to change their plans and take me to the party. That would be next-level asking right there. Perhaps now is the time to start doing more of this kind of asking. Make haste to do this: as you study God’s Word, ask Him to grow your mind to understand it, and know that He will do it. Keep the following texts in mind, and know that when doubts arise, the way to victory is to doubt yourself enough to seriously ask God for answers, and to expect that He will give them in His time.
Proverbs pronounces,
“My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
Keep my commandments, and live; and the law as the apple of thine eye.
Bind them upon thy fingers, write them on the table of thine heart” (Pro 7:1-3 KJV).
Lest you think you have some writing to do, God uses the same language from Proverbs to promise something:
“But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people” (Jer 31:33).
Paul the Apostle takes both of these texts a bit further, saying in Second Corinthians,
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor 7:1).
The promises Paul refers to are found in the previous chapter. He quotes Jeremiah,
“For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (2 Cor 6:16).
God promises, so ask Him to deliver. He delivered me.
Our Best Friend?
The story is told of two friends. Two friends, that when observed, could easily be labeled as best friends. One friend had been blessed with great riches and wealth, while the other friend was rather poor. Despite their differences, they loved spending time together. From school, to work, to church, to even free time, they could almost always be seen together. Even in the moments they were apart, they would think about each other and tell others about each other. Now the wealthy friend loved to share what he had with anyone who asked and even those who didn’t ask. He especially loved giving gifts to his best friend. In fact, one of his favorite things to do was to give gifts to his best friend as a surprise. To the outsider, their friendship was the epitome of perfection. However, there was something peculiar about their friendship. They never really conversed with one other. Odd as it may seem, it was true. Aside from saying “hello” in the morning and a few casual words throughout the day, nothing else was really spoken. This broke the heart of the wealthy friend. He longed for the day when they would once again have a meaningful conversation, like they used to. He tried to tell his best friend that two-way communication was vital for their friendship, but all he would typically receive was a nod. As time passed, their friendship began to wane, and although the wealthy friend continued to give his friend gifts, there was no acknowledgement that they were received at all.
While this is a true story, it is not your typical one. Why? Because this story of a strained friendship has been seen in over and over again in ages past and in the present day. If you hadn’t guessed it, God is that wealthy benevolent friend, and you are that poor friend. Far too similar to the story, God is mistreated. The facts are simple and the question is relevant. There’s you and there’s God. Are you best friends?
The good news is that God has claimed you not only as His child but also as His best friend. This is a great spot to be in! The God of the universe calling you His best friend! More than just claiming you as His child and best friend, He treats you as such. “The relations between God and each soul are as distinct and full as though there were not another soul upon the earth to share His watch care, not another soul for whom He gave His beloved Son” (Steps to Christ p. 100). He treats you as if you were the only soul in need of saving. Do you treat Him as your only Savior and best friend? The facts are still simple and the question remains. You and God. Best friends?
There is a lack, a piece missing in the puzzle. Far too often, prayer is the one point in your friendship with God that is lacking. Friends that have one-sided communication can hardly be called friends, let alone best friends. Communication, the foundation of friendship, is a two-way street. However, even when it is two-way, it does not mean it is the communication of a friendship. Through times of ease and prosperity, it is easy to thank God and praise Him, but when life goes horribly wrong, is it your first inclination to turn to Him? Even if it is, that doesn’t mean you are treating God as your best friend. Far too often, God is treated like a vending machine; going to Him when you have wants; praising Him when you get what you want; being frustrated when there is an outcome that is wrong in your eyes; and thinking you didn’t say the right prayer when nothing comes out. You and God. Best friends?
Every morning something special happens. While you are still asleep, your best friend is waiting. Waiting for the perfect time to wake you up so you can spend the entire day together. When the appointed time comes, He wakes you up. As your eyes begin to open and you realize it’s time to get up, His heart leaps for joy inside, for the long awaited time has come for Him to commune with you. But His heart is broken as He sees you get out of your bed, flip through your Bible pointlessly, and begin your day, leaving Him behind, and losing that special appointment with God. You rush off to class, to work, to the various appointments throughout the day, doing your best not to be late. All the while, not realizing that you were not just late but completely neglected your appointment and privilege to commune with God. You and God. Best friends?
Real prayer is more than treating God as if He’s done nothing for you, missing your appointments with Him, and treating Him like a vending machine. To truly commune with God is so much more! Communing with God is not just having your mind continually drawn to Him. “In order to commune with God, we must have something to say to Him concerning our actual life” (Steps to Christ p.93). Your wants, joys, sorrows, cares, and fears are to be kept before the Father. Every minute detail that affects your day-to-day life is to be shared with God. This is what it means to commune with Him. As blessings are continually poured out throughout your day, will they go unnoticed? Or will every evidence of God’s watchcare be a reason for praise? As you rise each morning, will you miss your appointment with God? Or will it be your greatest joy to commune with God? God longs for the day when the facts and question are still there, but have changed. You and God? Best friends.
To Adoniram
Dear Adoniram,
I got your text about the “knowledge of God”. Honestly, like you, I’m really struggling to understand what it is. I read the chapter in Ellen White and looked up every verse I could find with some form of the “knowledge of God”.
Here’s what I’ve got so far:
In this life of our’s, we are called to seek a knowledge of God. A knowledge that should affect all things “that pertain to life”. A knowledge that brings us upward and onward toward virtue, glory, and “the divine nature”. In 2 Peter, an encouragement is given to“grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Knowing God is the stuff of the Christian’s life. With a knowledge of God you will not sin (1 John 3:6), and without it, you cannot love (1 John 4:8). We know Him “if we keep His commandments” (1 John 2:3-4). In a place where “there was no knowledge of Him;” His “people was destroyed for lack of it” (Hosea 4:1, Hosea 4:6). The Christian’s life is the “fragrance” of this knowledge to the rest of the world (1 Corinthians 2:14-17). If man is to “glory” in anything he should glory in that “he understandeth and knoweth Me” [God] (Jeremiah 9:24), A knowledge of God is eternal life (John 17:3).
Instead of clearing up this issue, the above paragraph sounds more like a riddle than a description. After some prayer and some thoughtful quotes from the Spirit of Prophecy, I think we can synthesize it down to what it is instead of what it does.
But to do that, I need you to tell you a story.
There was once a family doctor, beloved of all his staff and patients. He often would get into trouble with his staff for spending too much time with the patients — which I suppose is better than the alternative. For you see, he genuinely wanted to see his patients improve and do better. One of these patients was a man who had been a chain smoker for many years. Each time he came in with his various ailments the doctor would begin to ask the patient about his smoking habit. As if on cue, the gentleman would simply respond, “I know what you’re gonna tell me Doc. ‘Quit smoking’ — well it’s not gonna happen.” The doctor would stress how much this choices was going to hurt him in the long run, but the patient simply wanted to smoke.
However on one such trip to the doctor’s, the conversation took a very different turn. The physician looked at his chart as he walked to the exam room, knowing this man and his typical ailments very well. He stopped short in the hallway as he read the purpose for the gentlemen’s visit: Wants To Quit Smoking read the chart.
“Just can’t be…” the physician squinted at the words. This man had for years on end had refused any and all encouragement to stop smoking. “What could have changed his mind?” “Some new scientific study maybe…no it couldn’t be that.” “Perhaps a friend of his has passed away due to lung cancer?” “What could have possibly changed his mind.” The baffled physician stepped into exam room #3. Before he could even ask the question-the gentlemen, looked up, and met the physician’s confused look.
“See, doc, I’ve just got to quit — you have to help me quit.” The doctor taken aback by the unusual sincerity in his patients’s voice answered, “Believe me, I’ve been wanting to hear that from you years, but what could have possibly changed your mind?” “You were committed you would never quit…” Such a shift of gears seemed to jolt the physician’s usual flow. As if a dam had broken, and his patient had lost all of his fight.
“Well Doc, it happened like this.” “My wife and I were visiting our grandkids, which is probably one of our favorite things to do. Our youngest granddaughter who’s just the cutest little thing you ever did see, she loves to talk, play house, and sit on my lap whenever I come to visit.” The physician could see the gleam of joy in the old gentleman’s eye as he continued his story.
“One evening, my little granddaughter had on a princess dress and was pretending she was getting married. I watched her prepare and go through all the motions and mid-“wedding” she ran over to me and sat on my lap- looked up at me and asked me a question. “Grandpa?” “Yes,” I replied, “Do you love me?” she asked. “Of course I do,” I replied. “Are you going to be at my wedding grandpa?” “Yes of course I will be there — wouldn’t miss it for anything!” She then replied, “But if you love me and you want to be at my wedding than why do you keep smoking?” “If you keep smoking grandpa you won’t be at my wedding ‘cause you may not live that long grandpa.” With that she jumped off my lap and continued her wedding preparations.
I realized she was right. And I supposed, just supposed, that maybe if I kept at it, smoking that is, her little wedding play is the closest I’d ever get to the real thing.”
“Boy that got me.”
“I’d never seen it that way. Got kinda choked up.” That’s why I called in here to get an appointment as quick as I could. Please Doc — tell me what to do.”
Take a minute.
Adoniram, that’s where the story ends. That man is still in the present tense as far as I know. He may have gone back or sworn off of smoking ever since. But let me ask you to play pretend a little bit yourself. You’re the doctor now, what’s your prescription? More science? Counseling? Electronic Cigarettes? What would you prescribe?
Stay with the granddaughter.
“Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him” (1 John 3:6).
The devil’s greatest ploy is not to get you to make mistakes. It is to separate you from the “little girl” — the knowledge of God. It is to twist and malign that knowledge so that your knowledge of God is powerless. He doesn’t exist, He does but He doesn’t care, He does and He hates you, or the all time favorite — you are God: the ultimate authority. In many ways the descriptions I have just listed are the true idols we worship. Not of wood and stone, but of ideas and culture. Powerless unlike Philippians 3:10 which reads, “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection.” The power of His resurrection is the power of living a victorious life.
Who then could crush these ideological idols? 1 John 5:20 sums it up nicely, “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.”
“We must know Him as He reveals Himself. A knowledge of God is the foundation of all true education and of all true service. It is the only real safeguard against temptation. It is this alone that can make us like God in character. This is the knowledge needed by all who are working for the uplifting of their fellow men. Transformation of character, purity of life, efficiency in service, adherence to correct principles, all depend upon a right knowledge of God. This knowledge is the essential preparation both for this life and for the life to come.” -Ministry of Healing p. 409, emphasis added.
What is a knowledge of God?
You know when people try to explain a seed sprouting? All the different things that have to be just right? Water, light, soil…and then…it just starts. That’s it. It’s that thing that makes a seed that goes from dormant to living. I think its that moment when all the Bible study, prayer, service, baptism…and then…it just starts. Your life just starts. Eternal life just starts.
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent (John 17:3).
When was the last time your knowledge of God changed?
Without your knowledge of God would you be in the same place in you life? I hope I wouldn’t. There’s a country song I heard recently called “That’s How I Got to Memphis”. I’m not a huge country fan, but I really like this song. Look it up if you get the chance. There’s a line in it that goes something like this, “If you love somebody enough, you’ll follow wherever they go, that’s how I got to Memphis”. Definitely a sappy song, but essentially this fellow ends up in Memphis because he’s looking for his lost love. Story goes that the word “Memphis” is interchangeable with wherever the listener is. So how did you get to Memphis? To where you are now? Hopefully it was out of a knowledge of God.
If there was a first step to the knowledge of God I think it would be this.
His Memphis was Calvary.
So in all our righteous desire to know God, to follow Hosea’s exhortation “Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord,” remember that He first knew you and loved you (1 John 4:19).
That’s how He got to Calvary, It was the knowledge of us, Adoniram, that got Him to Calvary. Such is the narrative we are called to emulate — to reproduce. Remember that the power of the knowledge of God is found not in your ability to “know God,” but rather in that you are “known by God” (Galatians 4:8, 9).
We’ll talk soon,
Mark
Uzzah, Kids, and Blessings
It was mid-July. You know, that part of the summer when it is sticky hot and all you want to do is – nothing. Well, I was definitely busy. My sister and I were leading out in kids programming at a week-long deaf camp meeting. These kids were all very special to me; most of them were CODAs, which means that they were Children of Deaf Adults. Our job was to teach them about Jesus while their parents enjoyed their grown-up camp meeting experience.
When I had seen the kids at the beginning of the week I had thought, “Wow, this is going to be an interesting week!” They all looked bored and tired and hardly responded to anything that I said. I had worked with kids in the prior to this was not surprised by their reactions.
One thing about working with children is that you don’t always know what is going through their heads. Sometimes, I wonder, Do they get what I’m trying to say? Am I making any connections with them? Are they learning anything?
***
It was an exciting time in Israel’s history. King David had finally prepared a place for the Ark of God to be moved to his new capital Jerusalem. And today, the Ark would be moved to its new home. Unfortunately, this day of rejoicing and excitement quickly turned to one of fear and anger. Uzzah, one of the sons Abinadab in whose house the Ark had been kept, reached out and grabbed the Ark in an attempt to stabilize it on the ox cart that it was riding on and was struck dead. David decided that it would not be a good idea to continue with the moving of the Ark that day, so it was placed in the house of one of David’s soldiers named Obed-Edom. I wonder what questions Obed-Edom thought about. Would he and his family die, like Uzzah? Or would they be blessed by the presence of the Ark in their home? Maybe nothing would happen at all. Like me, he must have tried to predict what the outcome of his actions would be.
Well, he was in for a surprise. The Bible says, “And the Lord blessed Obed-Edom and all his household” (1 Chronicles 13:14). But wait. Obed-Edom did not do anything out of the ordinary. All he did was open his home to the Ark of God. He welcomed the sign of God’s presence to his household for three months. That’s all. But God did not leave this simple act unnoticed. In fact, God was so pleased with that He blessed Obed-Edom and his whole family.
***
The week of camp was nearly over. We dismissed the kids as usual and sent them to their parents for lunch. It seemed as if the kids were constantly under our care, and meal times were the only times when we did not have to supervise them. This one day, my sister and I sat down at an empty table. Tired and hungry, I silently prayed for my food and all the kids that we had been working with. Even though we had spent nearly a week with these children, I still was not sure if the kids were connecting with us and what we were teaching. With these thoughts, I proceeded to eat. I had barely started eating, however, when I felt a little tap on my shoulder and heard a little voice say, “Can we sit with you?” When I turned around I saw several of “our” kids coming towards us with their trays of food. I thought to myself, Awww, of course! I wasn’t about to keep them from sitting with me! In no time at all, they filled the surrounding seats at the table and chattered excitedly as they ate. Later, I overheard some of the children enthusiastically telling their parents what they had learned that day and about the activities they had done with us.
Inevitably, we reached the end of the week. As we packed up to leave, I thanked God for the awesome week that I had experienced. I also thanked Him for the connection that my sister and I had been able to make with the children. Like Obed-Edom, I did not do anything out of the ordinary. It was just a simple week of lessons and fun, and nothing fancy. But I learned so much about Jesus and His love through these children. It was like God was telling me that He saw my work and was blessing me through these children.
Soon, the car was packed and it was time to say goodbye. The kids were sad to see us leave. They hugged us tightly and promised to invite all their friends to attend the next year’s kids’ program. I could tell that they meant it with all their little hearts. It was an emotional parting. At home, I reflected on this experience. If anyone had grown during that week, I certainly did!
Sometimes we do not know how things will turn out when we serve God. What we can know is that there is something special when you give what you have and allow God to turn it into something beautiful. There is something special about watching God transform our actions into a blessing. Do you get what I mean? You can only know this by experiencing it!
Giving Up the Paper
Stuck. Like strands of tough paper mache, my bad habits seem to enclose me with their relentlessly fragile grip. Every time I try to break free I hear another side of myself protest, But I like the paper mache. It’s pretty and it covers up my raw image. I’m comfortable here. Is it really worth it to break free just to have more freedom to fall?
At the same time, God created each of us with a desire to grow—to move forward. But somehow I believe that God’s desires for me to walk towards Him are overshadowed by His hatred of sin. Forgetting that God hates the sin but loves the sinner, this feeling of guilt holds me back. I am stuck.
This experience is not unique to me. As Christians, we often find it hard to hope for a change in our lives. Though Christ’s omnipotence has been unquestionably demonstrated, somehow we limit God’s power to change us. Often, we consecrate ourselves to God and resolve to do better. We believe that He is working in us and think that perhaps we finally are moving forward! But, alas! The devil’s temptation eventually proves too strong for our frail human will and we stumble and fall. Discouraged, we lie in the mud while he gleefully slaps on more paper mache. The spirit of resignation tempts us to stay there.
Who am I to think that God will help me? Just look at the mess I am in! Maybe I wasn’t sincere after all. Maybe I never have been. Perhaps…perhaps I am not the kind of Christian God can change.
Wait a minute! What are you saying? There is no limit to God’s power and there is also no limit to His desire to change you. The love of the Omnipotent Father was powerful enough to enable Him to give His Son for the very people who held no remorse for putting Him to death. What you should be saying is this:
Who am I to think that God can’t help me? Just look at the mess I am in! God hates this sin even more than I do. I may not always have the hatred for it that He does, but He is able to give it to me as He has promised. For “Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:31). Perhaps…perhaps I am just the kind of Christian God wants to change.
But you cannot change unless you believe this. You must reach up the hand of faith to grasp God’s outstretched hand of Omnipotence. He will help you up out of the mud and set your feet again on the firm path. He will wipe the stains of your failure from off your soiled paper prison. And then He will begin to teach you how to change.
“I will walk ahead of you”, He says. “I will walk backwards so I can face you and hold your hands. I know the trail. Keep your eyes on mine, beholding my love for you. I will point out the beauty along the way. I will show you the right steps. Do not look down at your paper but up to the real joys and struggles of the road which I have prepare to teach you.”
And though your prison holds you in an awkward gait, He encourages you—one step at a time. And yes, sometimes you stumble and sometimes you forget to look Him in the eye with honesty and trust. It is then that you fall. Again. But each time He has hold of your hands. He never lets go but gently encourages you to believe His power to change, to grow, and to mold you into His image. And so you walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Because when you occasionally steal that quick peek down, you still see the paper mache. But He keeps asking you to believe. So you determine to do so. Because, by this point, you love those eyes. And you are beginning to trust them too.
And then one day, the two of you reach the gate of the city of God. Fear is in your eyes because you wonder if you are worthy to enter. But the gate swings open and you safely pass through. Then He stops and says “Look deep into my eyes.” As you do, you are surprised. For they act like a mirror which allows you to see yourself through His eyes. In place of your paper mache habits and faults are strands of thread, each a different color. Together they are woven into a robe of many colors. In amazement you ask, “Where did my papers go, Lord?” He gently answers, “When you stopped looking at yourself but looked instead to Me, it was then that I could remove them. I took away each one and replaced it with good. It was painful and you often felt the road becoming steep as your muscles were made to work for the first time once free from the paper. But as you looked unto Me, you were changed into My likeness—a righteous child of God.”
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are change into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
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