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Rose Hill Youth - Welcome
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Written by Aaron Sparks
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Sunday, 13 September 2009 14:27 |
It’s interesting to me how our consciences will lead us to make drastically different decisions in life. It is evident we will undoubtedly have differing opinions of what is correct and incorrect as far as the things not directly defined by the Bible. I know I’ve been guilty of expressing an opinion on my Facebook status or in the classroom that isn’t exactly how others believe, and it results in a plethora of ideas that flow from it in conflicting comments.
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Written by Aaron Sparks
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Sunday, 30 August 2009 15:11 |
In the United States Declaration of Independence, the most remembered and quoted phrase is:
“We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Many will uphold this phrase as their own guideline to life and will defend it to the death. I would like us to think about the danger in that last phrase though, “the pursuit of Happiness”, that leads many people to chase after the things which only provide temporary reward. Unfortunately, this can be a hedonistic philosophy of life (meaning that the pursuit of pleasures is the ultimate goal of life). Many feel the need to strive towards this, many times, at the expense of others. Another phrase of worldly wisdom, “Do what you will, but harm none.” That phrase is actually a foundational phrase of the Wiccan religion.
Unfortunately, it may take a long time for many of you to realize that the purpose of life isn’t actually to achieve the “Happily Ever After” of fairy tale stories. Some may never discover this little bit of wisdom that I’m about to share with you.
Happiness is a fleeting emotion. The more you depend on it to find fulfillment in this life, the more you will experience the ups and downs, and this life wreaks havok on your emotions. Happiness will disappoint you if you depend on it. But pursue everlasting joy. Joy is something entirely different from happiness. Joy is only offered and given through one pursuit and one pursuit only.
“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.” -Psalm 37:4
The first time I came across that verse, I thought I understood it immediately. I was wrong, but not entirely. Later on, life and wisdom taught me differently.
Jesus says this...
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” -John 15:9-11
If you didn’t understand that, simplified it means, “Follow God and you will find an ongoing joy.” This how we can rejoice in our sufferings as Romans 5:3, 1 Peter 1:6, and 1 Peter 4:13 instructs us. It’s how the apostles were able to rejoice when punished for spreading the gospel (Acts 5:41). In their desire to seek God first in their life, situations faded away, and the ever present reality became aways before them.
If you think joy is found in the possession of material goods or the pleasures this world has to offer, you’ve missed the point and your insatiable hunger will consume you (Eccl 5:10). But if you seek God with all your heart, I can absolutely promise you, you won’t be disappointed. |
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Written by Aaron Sparks
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Sunday, 02 August 2009 10:40 |
He was like no one else I had ever met before. From first appearances you could tell something was different about this man. It was the way He walked. His stride was confident, but without the pride the Priests had made sure to exhibit. There was something in His eyes, it was deeper. You know, like the window into a person’s soul? Only this man’s soul happened to be God!
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First Impressions: Matthew |
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Written by Aaron Sparks
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Sunday, 09 August 2009 21:41 |
It had been a typical day. Many people would walk by the booth giving us dirty looks. After all, we were considered the worst of traitors to our kind, the Jews. Not only had we sympathized with the occupation of the Romans, but we were in charge of doing their dirty work, collecting taxes. Nobody likes the taxman. Especially, when some were known to estimate the taxes a little bit higher than necessary in order to keep more of the share. I admit, I was guilty of the same. It was the only thing at the time I thought was worth living for... money. But even with having everything we could ever want, our lives still seemed oddly empty.
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Written by Aaron Sparks
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Sunday, 26 July 2009 10:38 |
As you go through life, there will be times of great difficulty. It may be a split in a relationship, or a death in the family. It may be a difficult situation at work or at home. You might have had some unexpected tragedy catch you off guard.
The way of life is, we will all suffer in our life at some point in time. The good news that in spite of bad things happening to us in our lifetime, God uses those moments to help us grow spiritually. The other good news is we can read about people in the bible that went through difficult times, but trusted in God and were rewarded for their faith.
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