Monday, September 22, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
The Questions and the Answers
Here's something I wrote on the way back to school. Enjoy
The Questions and the Answers, all for Him
By Nicholas Moy
Hi, I’m Nick and I’m always interested in what’s going on with, be it with the news, the arts, science or what goes on at school. Occasionally, I would break out the New York Times and just read it, just because I had the need to know what was going on around me. I told this to a (former?) friend of mine and she said I was nerdy for doing this.
When did it become a nerdy thing to read a newspaper? I’m sure, or I hope, that most of you don’t believe that, but the fact that the idea actually exists in today’s day and age is saddening. As I examine my generation from an outside perspective, I have to ask you a few things. How do you know what goes on in today’s world. By word of mouth? How about print media or visual media? Or how about none at all. Whether you do or don’t, I get this impression that we choose to live under a rock. Today, I was at Sunday service and the speaker mentioned Sarah Palin, John McCain’s VP pick. The person next to me asked me who she is. It led to a face palm moment. How could you not know who she is? She’s been all over the media, taking all forms of crap right after she was announced to be McCain’s running mate. That’s right. How could you not know? Well if one person doesn’t know, then others don’t know either.
We live in a day and age where the Internet has given us to a wealth of information, literally, at our fingertips. Wikipedia is a godsend. Digg.com lets us see random news, relevant and irrelevant. And yet what do we do with this utility? Waste our time on facebook, myspace and games made from flash (I’m guilty of the facebook bit, but I know when enough is enough).
We have become so apathetic toward what goes on in our lives. We don’t stop and wonder, “Hey, what’s going on these days?” We just live life under a routine. I’m going to cite politics again. While reading my college’s self-published magazine, the editorial contained a question that I found funny. “How any of you feel empowered by democracy?” Do any of you? Politics, for sure, is boring, and even I don’t know what goes on in that mess, but having basic knowledge of some issues is the least you could do. After all, a democracy is only as powerful as the people that take part in it. Do nothing, and your government will just do whatever they want. As far as I can see, I see two possible futures: either our government will continue to run our lives and seep the people’s power, or we’re going to get pissed off and start some riots and take back what we want.
So where am I going with this? Well, I’ll let you in on something. I’m Christian. Sometimes when I meet people and go on about my likes, dislikes and things that are on my mind with the world these days, I would drop in that something that would hint that I have a faith. The person asks, I reply and they become somewhat surprised. Heck if I know why, but I guess keeping up to speed with things and Christianity do not go hand in hand, apparently.
I say that I am a Christian, but in truth, I am what they call a seeker. I have accepted Christ into my life, but there are just many questions I have about Him and God. Just so many. Too many, I might say. Some questions may not be answered, but as they say, it doesn’t hurt to ask.
Like how I am with world events, I just have to know things. Take a moment sometime to just be by yourself. It may not be now, it may not be tomorrow, but take the time to just examine yourself and ask yourself this. Why (or why not) are you a Christian? Really. Have you ever thought of that? For some of you that may live life day by day under a routine and don’t consider things except in the now, have you ever considered asking yourself that question?
I did not accept Christ into my life until recently. It was after I graduated high school. I’m still not baptized, but reasons for that I’ll share another day. My first experience with a fellowship was coffeehouse during my sophomore year of high school. It was something I really wasn’t expecting. I went for a good friend of mine. She just recently accepted Christ into her life, and she asked me to go, to give her some support. At the time, I really paid no mind to organized religion. It was just something that people did. You believe in what you believe, and I believe in what I believe. That is all. But this was for a friend, and friendship, I believe, transcends above personal beliefs and morals. I didn’t start going to youth group until junior year. My curiosity got the best of me, and I really wanted to know why my friend and these other people would believe in God. Why were some of these people happy, while I was somewhat miserable? Group games were good and fun and praise night, although weird at first, grew onto me. Then came small group and bible study. It was different story.
Bible study and small group gave me the opportunity to ask the questions I wanted to know. Sorry youth group, but I got nowhere. I got a few bits in here and there, but really, I felt I did not get much. Somewhere in the back of my head, I kept asking myself. “Why is this so bland? So dry? So slow? Aren’t you, as Christians, supposed to help me out finding this guy named Jesus?” Hindsight told me that I was just being overly critical of them. We were just kids, after all, and all we really wanted to do was have fun. Over time during my senior year, I thought I got my answer. Jesus died for my sins and through God and through him, he gave me all that I have. Very textbook answer, but that’s what I thought and it convinced me to accept Christ into my life. Still, during that summer, there was some feeling deep down in my heart that just lingered and it bothered me. Didn’t know what it was until I went to college.
Turned out that I was missing the point. So what if Jesus died for your sins? What good is it if all you thought about was yourself. It just made sense when you find that it was not about you, but it was about the grander scheme of things. It was, and it is, about Him. College and my first retreat the summer after my first year did that, and I am eternally grateful.
So I ask again. Why are you, or why are you not, a Christian? Consider it, and think. For me, I am because I believe. I give and He gives in return. It is the relationship I forged with God, all for Him. Keep asking, regardless of subject matter. Not only are we to be just individuals, we are to be smart individuals. As Christians, we are not just to be Christians, but smart Christians. Though the answers may not always be given to you, keep seeking them. Keep searching and never stop.
Good day and stay safe.
The Questions and the Answers, all for Him
By Nicholas Moy
Hi, I’m Nick and I’m always interested in what’s going on with, be it with the news, the arts, science or what goes on at school. Occasionally, I would break out the New York Times and just read it, just because I had the need to know what was going on around me. I told this to a (former?) friend of mine and she said I was nerdy for doing this.
When did it become a nerdy thing to read a newspaper? I’m sure, or I hope, that most of you don’t believe that, but the fact that the idea actually exists in today’s day and age is saddening. As I examine my generation from an outside perspective, I have to ask you a few things. How do you know what goes on in today’s world. By word of mouth? How about print media or visual media? Or how about none at all. Whether you do or don’t, I get this impression that we choose to live under a rock. Today, I was at Sunday service and the speaker mentioned Sarah Palin, John McCain’s VP pick. The person next to me asked me who she is. It led to a face palm moment. How could you not know who she is? She’s been all over the media, taking all forms of crap right after she was announced to be McCain’s running mate. That’s right. How could you not know? Well if one person doesn’t know, then others don’t know either.
We live in a day and age where the Internet has given us to a wealth of information, literally, at our fingertips. Wikipedia is a godsend. Digg.com lets us see random news, relevant and irrelevant. And yet what do we do with this utility? Waste our time on facebook, myspace and games made from flash (I’m guilty of the facebook bit, but I know when enough is enough).
We have become so apathetic toward what goes on in our lives. We don’t stop and wonder, “Hey, what’s going on these days?” We just live life under a routine. I’m going to cite politics again. While reading my college’s self-published magazine, the editorial contained a question that I found funny. “How any of you feel empowered by democracy?” Do any of you? Politics, for sure, is boring, and even I don’t know what goes on in that mess, but having basic knowledge of some issues is the least you could do. After all, a democracy is only as powerful as the people that take part in it. Do nothing, and your government will just do whatever they want. As far as I can see, I see two possible futures: either our government will continue to run our lives and seep the people’s power, or we’re going to get pissed off and start some riots and take back what we want.
So where am I going with this? Well, I’ll let you in on something. I’m Christian. Sometimes when I meet people and go on about my likes, dislikes and things that are on my mind with the world these days, I would drop in that something that would hint that I have a faith. The person asks, I reply and they become somewhat surprised. Heck if I know why, but I guess keeping up to speed with things and Christianity do not go hand in hand, apparently.
I say that I am a Christian, but in truth, I am what they call a seeker. I have accepted Christ into my life, but there are just many questions I have about Him and God. Just so many. Too many, I might say. Some questions may not be answered, but as they say, it doesn’t hurt to ask.
Like how I am with world events, I just have to know things. Take a moment sometime to just be by yourself. It may not be now, it may not be tomorrow, but take the time to just examine yourself and ask yourself this. Why (or why not) are you a Christian? Really. Have you ever thought of that? For some of you that may live life day by day under a routine and don’t consider things except in the now, have you ever considered asking yourself that question?
I did not accept Christ into my life until recently. It was after I graduated high school. I’m still not baptized, but reasons for that I’ll share another day. My first experience with a fellowship was coffeehouse during my sophomore year of high school. It was something I really wasn’t expecting. I went for a good friend of mine. She just recently accepted Christ into her life, and she asked me to go, to give her some support. At the time, I really paid no mind to organized religion. It was just something that people did. You believe in what you believe, and I believe in what I believe. That is all. But this was for a friend, and friendship, I believe, transcends above personal beliefs and morals. I didn’t start going to youth group until junior year. My curiosity got the best of me, and I really wanted to know why my friend and these other people would believe in God. Why were some of these people happy, while I was somewhat miserable? Group games were good and fun and praise night, although weird at first, grew onto me. Then came small group and bible study. It was different story.
Bible study and small group gave me the opportunity to ask the questions I wanted to know. Sorry youth group, but I got nowhere. I got a few bits in here and there, but really, I felt I did not get much. Somewhere in the back of my head, I kept asking myself. “Why is this so bland? So dry? So slow? Aren’t you, as Christians, supposed to help me out finding this guy named Jesus?” Hindsight told me that I was just being overly critical of them. We were just kids, after all, and all we really wanted to do was have fun. Over time during my senior year, I thought I got my answer. Jesus died for my sins and through God and through him, he gave me all that I have. Very textbook answer, but that’s what I thought and it convinced me to accept Christ into my life. Still, during that summer, there was some feeling deep down in my heart that just lingered and it bothered me. Didn’t know what it was until I went to college.
Turned out that I was missing the point. So what if Jesus died for your sins? What good is it if all you thought about was yourself. It just made sense when you find that it was not about you, but it was about the grander scheme of things. It was, and it is, about Him. College and my first retreat the summer after my first year did that, and I am eternally grateful.
So I ask again. Why are you, or why are you not, a Christian? Consider it, and think. For me, I am because I believe. I give and He gives in return. It is the relationship I forged with God, all for Him. Keep asking, regardless of subject matter. Not only are we to be just individuals, we are to be smart individuals. As Christians, we are not just to be Christians, but smart Christians. Though the answers may not always be given to you, keep seeking them. Keep searching and never stop.
Good day and stay safe.
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