Love Wins

So if you haven't heard there was a book recently released called Love Wins. The book is written by Rob Bell, a pastor of a 10,000 member church in Michigan. He has also done a video series called Nooma that has made him very popular among Christians throughout the United States.  However, Bell's new book has caused much controversy because it deals with heavily debated ideas about Heaven and Hell and God's judgement on all of us.  I'm not saying you have to go out and buy the book but it's a pretty interesting read if you have some free time. Although I don't agree with all of Bell's views I think that, in the end, God's love does really win.


Tomorrow, Good Friday, is the day when God's love is most remembered.  As John 3:16 says, "For God so LOVED the World that He gave His only son..."  He died for me and he died for you.  All the sins that we have committed and the sins that we will commit have been forgiven.  We fall short, and the penalty for that is death, but Jesus' sacrifice on the cross saves us from that. Jesus saves.


Jesus says, "If you want to become my disciples, then deny yourselves, take up your cross and follow me." He's not talking about a literal cross but we all have pains that we carry.  It could be stress from work or school, emotional or physical pain, depression, conflicts with friends and family, addiction or any number of things that we struggle with.  God doesn't care what baggage you and I have.  He loves us in a way that is greater than any love we can imagine.  


This love is often called agape love.  This love is divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, and active. It is always present in our lives and whether we are willing to follow Him or not He loves us.  However, I will tell you from experience that embracing that love and following Him is a far more satisfying life than turning away from it.  

This is why Good Friday is still good even though Jesus died.  Because, in the end, God sacrificed His only son so that we would be saved.  He loves you and he loves me and love wins.  It's Friday but Sunday is coming!


"But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed." -- Isaiah 53:5

The Journey Starts Now

I guess this first blog should just be a little about me and why I am doing this so here it goes.

For a long time I have always thought about being a missionary to some extent.  I have wanted to travel and see the world and be able to help people at the same time.  During high school I went on many mission trips throughout the US with my church.  JoHanna Buchholz, the Youth and Missions Director at that time, was and still is a role model and inspiration to me.  She ignited the fire within me and helped me realize how much can be done with so little.  So, long story short, I would not be where I am today without her guidance and I am so grateful for all that she has taught me.

This brings me to where I am at the present time.  This past weekend I was in Williams Bay, WI with 53 other young adults and several members of the Global Missions staff of the ELCA.  After several applications and some interviews I was chosen to participate in the Young Adults in Global Missions program.  For a little information about this program the following is straight from the YAGM website.

What is the purpose of the YAGM program?

·         To provide ELCA young adults with a year-long international mission experience that will contribute to their development as servant-leaders for the church.

·         To utilize international settings for equipping young adults in the church with cross-cultural skills through service and relationship building.

·         To provide engaging and challenging opportunities that will result in young adults who are both globally formed and globally informed.

·         To provide young adults with opportunities to grow in their faith and to better understand their place in God’s world.

·         To share the gifts and stories of the global church and community with U.S. and ELCA communities.

I know that the term missionary can carry a very negative connotation these days but the goal of the ELCA Global Mission program is different than what most people might think. God is already at work in the lives of the people in the countries that we will travel to. We are going there to celebrate that and work alongside them in a partnership.  

With that said, I am very excited to say that I will be leaving to spend a year in South Africa in August! I am so grateful for this opportunity and cannot wait to see what God has in store for my life and all of the other people involved in YAGM. I know it will be great things!

I hope to keep up with this blog throughout the summer as my time abroad approaches and I will definitely continue it throughout my time in South Africa. I know that this one was not very exciting but hopefully they will get better!

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'" -- Jeremiah 29:11