Trash or Treasure? It's all about perspective. Ask Mariano

[Pastor Jon]

Mariano Hernandez has made an art of turning other people's trash into the green stuff that pays his bills. Everyday, hundreds and thousands of students throw away cans and bottles that Mariano recycles for cash. Read about him here...
What students see as trash, has become Mariano's treasure. It's all a matter of perspective.

Here's my question to you. Do you have God's perspective for your life? Do you think that your heart beats for the things that His does? Do you cry for what Jesus cries for and do you laugh at what Jesus laughs at? In your opinion, why don't more people have His heart? What's the problem?

Having heaven's perspective about yourself and the people around you is the first step to getting CLEAR. What's your perspective?

[Kenzie Ochsner]

WOW... all it takes is one person to change the world. In my personal relationship with God I am still a toddler learning new things. Each day I get closer to what He wants in my life and all though I face struggles on a daily bases I know that He is there for me. My prayer is that I would become a mirror image of Him and that I would live my life for what He wants me to live for. It's like that song we sing in youth group "Hosanna." "Break my heart for what breaks yours." Powerful words. I look forward to everything He has in store for me and hunger for the ultimate closeness. I think the world gets in the way with all its distractions and thats what causes so many people to stumble. You could be locked in a dark room by yourself and still have distractions from God. God knows what going to happen and I trust in Him!

[Pastor Jon]

Great comments Kenzie, made me think about Matthew 5:6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." One of my buddies in HS youth group (a long time ago) used to always say, "you don't know that Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have". Now he's a missionary in Romania with his wife and 3 kids. Check out his blog if you're interested. Maybe you'll find yourself in a far away land serving Jesus someday.

Kenzie Ochsner said:

WOW... all it takes is one person to change the world. In my personal relationship with God I am still a toddler learning new things. Each day I get closer to what He wants in my life and all though I face struggles on a daily bases I know that He is there for me. My prayer is that I would become a mirror image of Him and that I would live my life for what He wants me to live for. It's like that song we sing in youth group "Hosanna." "Break my heart for what breaks yours." Powerful words. I look forward to everything He has in store for me and hunger for the ultimate closeness. I think the world gets in the way with all its distractions and thats what causes so many people to stumble. You could be locked in a dark room by yourself and still have distractions from God. God knows what going to happen and I trust in Him!

[Kenzie Ochsner]

Thanks Pastor Jon! That's encouraging. I have always enjoyed the mission feild since I can remember. I guess it helps growing up participating in them. Who knows what God has in store. Thanks again

[Kenzie Crabbe]

First off, that guy, I want to meet him. Shake his hand and say,"you're amazing".

As for the question... This journey that I'm on right now is hard and confusing and I find myself shaking my head a lot. Sometimes at myself, my parents, sometimes even God. I want to know his perspective for my life more than anything, But sometimes he feels so distant, like most people I long for a tangible God, someone I can see and touch. Sometimes I cry out to him, asking for help, seeking direction and I want to hear his voice! But I can't, I can't hear him sometimes. When I made the decision not to play volleyball this year, I heard him loud and clear. But sometimes I just can't hear him and I feel hopeless, lost, and confused. I know that given time my relationship with him be so strong I feel like he is tangible. And his voice will be as loud as an air horn in my brain. In my opinion, the reason more people don't have his heart is because they feel distant from him. They feel like he doesn't listen to their prayers, and they can't hear him. So why try? It's sad, but very close to home for most people.

[Sarah(can't.say.my.last.name.on.the.internet...)]

I think my sole desire is to be 'jesus with skin on', a commonly used expression with sooo much meaning behind it. Back in the Bible times, the word "christians" came from people seeing someone who from far off was assumed to be Jesus himself, but when they approached them they saw it was one of his followers. I want to be so much like Jesus that people would mistake me for Him! Not realistically of course, but I want to be a true and devout CHRISTIAN. It bothers me when people claim themselves to be Christians but they don't do anything about it, or have no desire for a relationship with Him at all. I really hope that myself and my friends will step up and shine Jesus' light where the darkness lives.