Spirit-filled Living

Going out on a limb... read on.

So right now I am sitting at O’ Henrys coffeehouse, one of my favorite places to hang out and study, where it is officially crunch time. Only about 2 1/2 weeks of school left but they will be weeks filled with reading, writing, and more reading and writing... I find myself struggling to keep up with all the fund raising, papers and other time commitments right now and thats why its taken me so long to update this blog!

Right now, I am tired of writing for my classes, so I thought I’d take a break and let the 7 of you, who actually read this blog, know a little more about my journey to raise money for my mission to Cape Town.

The other day I received my first donation in the mail and it really surprised me how encouraging it was. Because of such little time I haven’t been able to send out a single support letter yet (although I hope to get them out by tomorrow). Anyways the letter I got the other day was from a nice lady who I haven’t had much of a chance to get to know. It was just really encouraging to receive that kind of a letter from someone who barely knew me, but was still willing to give me her money and prayer over the summer.

It really is amazing how the little things we do, here and there, can really build someone else’s spirit up. Speaking of the “spirit”, In neglecting some of my schoolwork and have been reading through Francis Chan’s new book: Forgotten God. In this book, Francis focuses on the often forgotten about person of God, The Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God is something the Bible says dwells within us, yet somehow we often forget it (He/she?) is there!

-There are Non-Christians and there are Christians.

-There are people without the Spirit of God and there are those who carry within them an all-powerful, all- knowing, and infinitely loving Holy Spirit.

But... How often do I (or we) live as if this is the case? Can people really tell the difference between those with the Spirit and those without? I wonder how much different I would act if I was constantly aware of the fact that God has my back, and not only is Christ at my side but His Spirit dwells inside of me...

I think I would be much more bold in sharing my faith. After all, who cares whether or not we are rejected? As Christians we don’t need the approval of others... It sounds cheesy, but we already have all the approval we need! Maybe we are scared of having some awkward moments... But honestly...

Isn’t an awkward conversation or two worth a persons eternal salvation?

But you may say: “I am not a very good Christian, I sin all the time. I don’t think I am able to put myself and my faith out there.” But guess what, we don’t have to do it on our own! Although we may mess up and fall short, we have the advantage of having our God living and working inside and through us!

However, as it is written:
"No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him" - but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. - 1 Corinthians 2:9-10

The Holy Spirit guides us in the way we should go...

Are you willing to risk an awkward moment this week?

Also, as always, I’m still in need of some help...

If you would be willing to help me get to Cape Town, I would very much appreciate it! I’m asking you to partner with me, both in prayer and financially. I can’t do PayPal, but a check would work great. Put “Josh’s Africa Ministry” in the note and the nice folks back at home will make sure it gets into the Africa missions account (if you see me on campus or in the coffee shop, of course, that works just as well, too).

Joshua Sheppard

8203 Joshua Ct.

Laurel, MD, 20708

Josh Sheppard [jshepshep@gmail.com]

Blessings,

Josh Shep

Dates Confirmed! - and some reflections

Ok so second post:

Once again thanks for checkin out the blog!

I have the dates for this summer!

May 27th - August 7th

Get excited.

From time to time I’ll update this blog with some of my thoughts and experiences I’m having on this journey to follow Christ’s call.

So I was just finished this book called Blue Like Jazz the other day by this guy named Don Miller.

*Side note: (some people have criticized Don’s theology, my purpose here is not to argue for or against a certain theology - since, believe it or not, no one’s theology is perfect - but I just plan to discuss some of the ideas he writes about in his book)

I have to admit I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There is this one chapter entitled “belief.” This is one of the most convicting chapters I have read this year.

Don writes about what we really believe and that if we really believed it, we would live differently.

He ask the reader to imagine what the world would look like if Christians actually believed and cared that half of the world lives in poverty. “Do you think they would change the way they live, the products they purchase, and the politicians they elect?”

I think this is a very interesting thing to give some serious thought. Actually believing the truth carries a responsibility with it. It is certainly a lot easier to pretend (or at least not think about) the serious problems around the world, and even in my hometown.

- 1 in 6 people in Alabama are currently living in poverty, real people who don’t know how they are going to provide for their child who may suffer from malnutrition.

- Girls who attend high school in Baltimore are more likely to leave high school pregnant than with a diploma.

More girls are pregnant than graduate in a place 30 minutes from where I grew up...

This really bothers me and it also really convicts me. If I really believe that Jesus Christ is my Saviour, He has called me to help those who are in need:

Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. - Luke 12:33-34

It makes you wonder, where is my heart? No really. Where is it? Am I so focused on my own comfort that I conveniently “forget” about other peoples problems?

But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? - 1 John 3:17

Its never fun to admit hypocrisy, but thats exactly how I live so often. I am a hypocrite too often because I don’t always live what I believe...

Don continues to talk about what it means to really believe. His friend Andrew says something that rings true for me. That is simply: that what we believe is not merely what we say we believe, what we believe is what we do. (James 2:17-20)

I keeping saying I believe in a God who calls me to live differently. Man, I fail everyday to live up to this standard. I’m just thankful God is in control of my salvation and that he keeps me in his flock. Not because I am a good person but because He is greater than all my mistakes and shortcomings. (Eph. 2:8-9)

All this goes to say that Don really called me out on the fact that I need to live my life as if I really believe what I say I believe. He writes “that dying for something is easy because it is associated with glory. Living for something... Is the hard thing.”

Well thats all for this entry. I hope this has not come across as too cliche but I guess thats the risk you take when you try to talk about these kinds of things!

Thanks for taking a little time out of you day to read this,

For a quick laugh, I’ll leave you with a few of my favorite quotes by some pro athletes:

-- Chuck Nevitt, North Carolina State basketball player, explaining to Coach Jim Valvano why he appeared nervous at practice: "My sister's expecting a baby, and I don't know if I'm going to be an uncle or an aunt."

Auburn Fans this is for you:
-- Steve Spurrier, Florida football coach, telling Gator fans that a fire at Auburn's football dorm had destroyed 20 books: "But the real tragedy was that 15 hadn't been colored yet."

And finally for those of us who really want to graduate on time:
-- Senior basketball player at the University of Pittsburgh: "I'm going to graduate on time, no matter how long it takes."

**Amen senior basketball player at the University of Pittsburgh, Amen... Thanks to a real genius we know that time is indeed relative! Not everyone in sports should be considered a genius though, A genius is someone like Norman Einstein... ;)

I am still trying to raise money, so if you would like to donate please send a check or cash here:

Josh Sheppard

800 Lakeshore Dr.

Birmingham, AL 35229-1633

Thanks for your prayers, donations, and encouragement!

Hope you enjoyed and feel free to comment or ask any questions,

Josh Shep