?Diotrophes or Demetrius?

So I'm guessing some of you guys are kinda clueless as to what I'm referencing at this point.  Maybe you aren't.  

It's not Psych.  


It's not The Classic Crime.  

It's not a Jesse Spencer interview from two years ago.  


It's not a Richard Gere movie.  

It's....

!!THE BIBLE!!

Demetrius and Diotrophes were two guys mentioned in the book of 3rd John.  And I swear I will explain what the post title means.  When I get there.  


So last night I was thinking about the fact that I really don't know all that much scripture by heart.  I've been really convicted about that lately, and I finally decided to do something about it.  


So I looked up some of the shorter books of the Bible.  I want to move up to memorizing James, but that's 108 verses, so I'm starting out easier. 

And 3rd John is 15 verses long.  


But, of all the shorter books, I felt like God was saying, "3 John.  Learn that one."  


I didn't know why, but, yeah, it's true.  So I read it and looked at the notes one who the people mentioned in John's letter were.  


Gaius was the guy the letter was addressed to.  John was sending "traveling teachers" to his and Diotrophes' city.  When Diotrophes, a leader of the church, turned them away, Gaius welcomed the teachers and learned from them.  


Back to that Diotrophes kid.  He was a leader in the church who wanted to have everything the way he wanted it without any outside opinions or input.  I bet he was kinda annoying.  But what John talks about being wrong about Diotrophes was not whether or not he was annoying, but the mistakes he was making.  He was not following Christ's teachings and wouldn't listen to people tell him differently.  


Then there's that dude Demetrius.  Well, he's pretty cool.  John says Demetrius "has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself."  He's kinda the opposite of Diotrophes.  


So that brings us to the post title.  


I wonder if I'm always being a Demetrius, or if I start to become a Diotrophes.  I don't lead others astray intentionally, but I'm not always open to the opposing opinions.  If someone tries to help me on Sudoku, I will claw their eyes out.  I shoot down others' ideas, occasionally just because I don't agree with them.  

If I'm not open to other people's opinions and ideas in simple things like music and Sudoku, will I be open to their suggestions when I'm wrong about scripture??  


So, over the next five weeks, starting on Sunday, I'm going to be memorizing the book of 3 John.  I hope that this task will put me closer to Demetrius, farther from Diotrophes, and much closer to God.  


An Indigo Goodbye from CatCooper<3

Easter is...

Sweet Jesus Christ, my sanity.


Easter is hiding the eggs in the branches that are way to high for the kids to reach.
"Hey, can you get that egg for me up there? Thanks, Meggy!"


Easter is pretending to be excited for the Easter Bunny.
"Wow, how did the Easter Bunny know that I would think glee nail polish is funny?"
"He's magical..."


Easter is finding the most epic spot to hide the big silver egg.


Sweet Jesus Christ, my clarity.


Easter is getting to explain to someone what a Jell-o Egg is...


Easter is eating so many Jell-o eggs you start feeling nauseous.


Bread of Heaven, broken for me.


Easter is wearing nice clothes, just because it's Easter.
"You look nice in your Easter duds."
"Ha, I've only changed one thing since last year."
"Really?"
"Last year my tie was white, instead of blue. And you also look nice."


Easter is getting back to writing blog posts.


Cup of salvation, held up to drink.
Jesus, Mystery.

Easter is wondering if it's a bad thing to throw away the plastic cross from your cupcake.

Easter is when your cousins make fun of you, because you can drive now.
"I drove all the way to your house, and you weren't there to see it."
"Really?"
"Yep."
"Did YOU hit my truck?"
"NO!!!"


Christ has died, and
Christ is risen...

Easter is having a casual conversation with a friend, and sometimes finding out what tweepop is.

Easter is seeing family. Even if you don't always feel included, and even if they don't always get along, you love them anyway.


and Christ will come again.


Easter is crying during "Christ is Risen" because the deeper meaning finally gets to you.


Easter is eating lunch with your grandmother and uncle, because you love them, even if it can be a little awkward.


Easter is when you know that God does care for you, no matter how bad it can get.


Easter is when you...


Celebrate his death and rising.
Lift your eyes.
Proclaim his come.
Celebrate his death and rising.
Lift your eyes.


Lift your eyes.

Merry Christmas Eve!!! (Here's another story from a guest writer!)

"The Unconventional Christmas Gift" by Melissa!

I look through my closet trying to find something to wear because today is December 25, and that means today is the most anticipated family holiday of the year, for most people anyway. I feel like I’ve seen this all too many times before, so I move my eyes from my closet to the half open boxes lying around my floor full of the newest items in my wardrobe. “Santa” had done very well this year, yet it’s just not as exciting to get exactly what I want. I bend down to grab quite possibly the softest sweater ever created and pull it over my head as my hair starts sticking to ever surface within reach. (Don’t you just LOVE static?) 

“Lesley! Can you come help me finish cleaning before everyone get’s here?” 

“Yeah, Mom. I’ll be down in just a sec.” This is what my Christmas had become - a routine. I wish it could be more than that. Jesus is the reason for the season, right? Well, it hasn’t always been that way for me.

Uncle Allen is the last to arrive with twelve little gift bags filling his hands - one for each niece and nephew. I promptly shut the door behind him trapping in all the heat I can; Christmas in Massachusetts is brutal. As we enter the living room where all my family is waiting, I sneak a peak into the bags Uncle Allen has and see little envelopes in each one. I’m pretty sure of what these envelopes contain considering Uncle Allen’s new business has had the highest sales rates in Osterville this year. “Mom! Everyone’s here!” I yell across to the kitchen where she and the food await. I look over to my little brother Cayden and whisper, “The faster we eat; the faster we can open the presents, and I think Uncle Allen brought the perfect gift.” 

All the kids are shoveling in their food just trying to get enough before they can open presents. Although they finish in record time, the adults render their efforts futile. “We have to wait for everyone to finish eating before we can open presents,” my mother informed us all. A simultaneous sigh released from our lungs as if it had been practiced. I wait with very little patience but too much anticipation. Finally we gather round the Christmas tree with stacks of intricately wrapped boxes and bags stuffed with matching tissue piled high. My aunts and uncles along with my own parents begin grabbing the gifts with the names of their children on them when Uncle Allen announces, “I would like for the kids to open my presents last because I have some special planned this year.” 

“I knew it!” I mouth to my brother. “I wonder how much?” I ponder to myself. Once again our living room and its guests are submerged in wrapping paper, ribbon, bows, and all the other sorts of trash that come with Christmas time. 

Now we sit with Uncle Allen’s little gift bags in front of all twelve of us. “This may surprise you,” he states as we pull out the single piece of tissue separating us from the envelopes inside; they are plain white with no clue as to what they may contain. I eagerly rip the seal to find a folded piece of ordinary computer paper with Acts 20:35 printed across the top. Under that is a list of gifts I saw just last week in a newspaper article printed about the local Crisis Center. “Instead of buying you all presents this year, I decided that I would let you share in the idea expressed in Acts 20:35, ‘It is more blessed to give than receive.’ On your piece of paper is a list of toys that need to be donated to the Crisis Center in order for children in less fortunate families to have a good Christmas too. You can all pick one item, and I will donate it to the Crisis Center with your name on it. I wanted this Christmas to keep it’s focus on the reason we have Christmas at all. It’s not about the presents, it’s not about the decorations, it’s not about the delicious food we eat; the whole reason we celebrate on December 25 is because a baby was born over two-thousand years ago - a baby that would change the world.” 

Uncle Allen and I have become much closer this past year; especially since last New Year’s Eve he led me to accept Christ as my Lord, not just my fire insurance. I can’t even explain how much my life has changed. I still don’t have everything exactly figured out, but Christmas has become a time when I like to reflect on the one thing worth celebrating, my Savior. From His birth, Jesus knew that He was here so that He could one day hang on a cross - for you and for me. This year I realize how different I am particularly because I’m not even excited about the presents, well except for one. “I wonder what Uncle Allen will do this year,” I mention to my mom. 

“Honey, who knows. Who knows.”