There has been a lot of talk about healing and restoration in this age of Christianity that we live. I know some people that probably don't believe completely in healing and restoration, but let me share with you what's been going on with me and my life since I've came back to Christ along with coming home from Iraq after being wounded.
With war comes a lot of unseen wounds and some physical wounds as well. You see a lot when you're in a combat zone, death, life, and everything in between. When I returned home from Iraq there was and still is a lot of stuff that needs to be decompressed and let out. In the first coming months there wasn't really anything showing up in my life, but a few more months down the road the depression came out and it was bad. For about six months I did nothing, but eat, sleep, talk with my family, and play video games. Then about six months after being home I realized that I needed help and help bad because the path I was heading down wasn't good. In May of 2008 I put a call into my leadership and told him that things needed to change and change quick. That drill I started talking to a counselor which continued for about a year and a half. That fall I started back in school which brought in new friends, new contacts, and just another step forward in life. At this point I started going to church again and started down on that path again something that needed to happen to get my life back on track.
In 2009 my life really started to change in so many different way. One friend who really was my best friend for a good part of time started sharing with me the things I needed to change in me. That Christmas he asked me to the church I'm currently attending. That sermon I laughed more so then I had in a very long time. You might ask what would cause me to laugh and I'll share with you what it was. Youtube the movie "It's a wonderful Life" because this movie shows a lot of different parts, but the part that made me laugh was the seen when Mr. Bailey finds the money to save his bank, his home, and everything that he loves.
For me I knew in an instant that this is where I needed to be. Through the time that I've been at Anchor Point I've watched, listened, learned, and participated in many activities. I watched as God began his work in my life shaping me, molding me, and reforging me into the man He created me to be. There has been healing in many areas of my life where there had been nothing, but darkness for a long time, then there was light in my life again. The restoration has been very cool to watch because I can see it in the way I think, solve problems, communicate, and how I handle life. My life began to change slowly and steadily, bit by bit and piece by piece God began to put my life back together. Some people look at me kind of strange and others are "WOW!!!! Really ?!?!" when I tell the story of how things have began to change and how they are so very different now then what life was like for me when I first came versus what it is now.
God has done a marvelous work in my life and He continues to change me into what He wants me to be and I'm okay with that. It's not always easy, but then again when is life easy honestly. Life continues to get harder as we get older. I mean 18 it's college and by that time we have a car most of the time, then we need to figure out what to do with our lives, 21 we are able to drink which brings up a lot of risky situations, thinking about moving out, finding a job, finding a spouse. The more we grow older the more life gets harder which is the way it is honestly. It's a reality that sometimes I don't wanna acknowledge to be truthful, but it is. I hope you have enjoyed reading this as much as I have had typing this.
© Nathan Fahlin
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Almost Dying
This topic hit me like a brick wall when I started doing some lifting this morning because of certain frustrations that come up from life. I never realized it nor even considered it a concern, but recently with stuff from my time in Iraq coming back I'm almost shocked that I hadn't truly acknowledged this as an issue.
Here's what's been going on. For close to half a decade I've had the thought that I should be dead no question about it. The night I was wounded by the I.E.D., I should of died and for some unforeseen reason God decided to save my life yet again. The first time you might ask was when He sent His son to die on the cross so that everyone of us may have eternal life. This thought has been subconscious and hardly even recognized by me at all. I can look back through my memories and a lot of the time when I talk about what I did in the military or Iraq that's usually one of the things that I talk about. That's this conversation shouldn't be happening, but it is.
Please don't ask me what God's plan is or what His intentions are because I really don't know. What I do know is this: I believe that there is some greater purpose to my life that God saw value in saving me and returning me home to the family that loves. I'm truly grateful of this time I have been given, but I'm struggling to accept such a mighty gift because the greatest gift one person can receive is life which was first given by God our Creator. Just about everyday I wake and have this thought that I shouldn't even be here, but I am so I guess now the question is: "What do I do with the time that's been given to me?" I think some people would say enjoy life, experience everything that life has to offer, have a wife and kids(which is oddly enough something that I do want lol!), or do whatever you think you would want to do.
This is the truth of the matter. I've come to the conclusion that I would rather do what God has set before me because I believe in this verse from the book of Ephesians chapter 2 verse 10: " For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." I believe this is another reason why that God spared my life on the day that which of I should of died. I do believe that there is more to this journey then what I've experienced already which means that there is a lot of living left to do.
I remember a quote from a sermon in which one of my pastors was talking about a friend that he lost to cancer if memory serves me correctly. As the pastor was dying he said this quote, " I've spent most of my years here preaching and doing my best to show on to live for Christ and now I'm going to show them how to die for Christ." The pastor had 6 months to live and I can't imagine what that must of been like. The part I want to focus on is where he talks about "living for Christ" which is a phrase that is to easily slung around. This phrase "living for Christ" means that we are living for a greater purpose then ourselves, a career that we want, and anything else that might be placed a head of living for Christ. I know, I know lots of people say this and few act it out, but I think what needs to happen is that people need to have a better understand of what it means to truly be a Christian honestly. If we look at these passages from Philippians 1:21 and Galatians 2:20 I think we might be able to get a good picture of what it possibly means "living for Christ."
Philippians 1:21 "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." What I believe this author is talking about is what people don't grasp in our modern day Christianity which is if we are to live as Followers of Christ, that we are to do everything to the glory of the one who saved us, who's blood was spilled on the cross, but it should of been our blood.
Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." This verse makes in crystal clear that we are live for Christ if you ask me and that we are to live a live that is Christ like, we are to be transformed so that we look more like Jesus and less like ourselves.
So this is what I've realized in my own life and I know I have my own downfalls simply because I'm human and not perfect. I know I make mistakes, stumble, fall, and do everything else that we as humans do, but it's how you handle those situations that will help transform into the imagine of Christ. One thing that I have a problem with is telling people I'm a Christian, my actions should show it by the way I live my life, talk to friends, handle situations, and every other aspect of life. To me being a Christian should be an outward expression of what Christ has done for us. That we may live our lives for something greater then ourselves. Yes, there will trials, pains, and everything else that life and the devil can throw at us, but in those moments which is all the time we need to rely on God to get us through not ourselves. SOOOOOOOOOOO be transformed!
© Nathan Fahlin
Here's what's been going on. For close to half a decade I've had the thought that I should be dead no question about it. The night I was wounded by the I.E.D., I should of died and for some unforeseen reason God decided to save my life yet again. The first time you might ask was when He sent His son to die on the cross so that everyone of us may have eternal life. This thought has been subconscious and hardly even recognized by me at all. I can look back through my memories and a lot of the time when I talk about what I did in the military or Iraq that's usually one of the things that I talk about. That's this conversation shouldn't be happening, but it is.
Please don't ask me what God's plan is or what His intentions are because I really don't know. What I do know is this: I believe that there is some greater purpose to my life that God saw value in saving me and returning me home to the family that loves. I'm truly grateful of this time I have been given, but I'm struggling to accept such a mighty gift because the greatest gift one person can receive is life which was first given by God our Creator. Just about everyday I wake and have this thought that I shouldn't even be here, but I am so I guess now the question is: "What do I do with the time that's been given to me?" I think some people would say enjoy life, experience everything that life has to offer, have a wife and kids(which is oddly enough something that I do want lol!), or do whatever you think you would want to do.
This is the truth of the matter. I've come to the conclusion that I would rather do what God has set before me because I believe in this verse from the book of Ephesians chapter 2 verse 10: " For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." I believe this is another reason why that God spared my life on the day that which of I should of died. I do believe that there is more to this journey then what I've experienced already which means that there is a lot of living left to do.
I remember a quote from a sermon in which one of my pastors was talking about a friend that he lost to cancer if memory serves me correctly. As the pastor was dying he said this quote, " I've spent most of my years here preaching and doing my best to show on to live for Christ and now I'm going to show them how to die for Christ." The pastor had 6 months to live and I can't imagine what that must of been like. The part I want to focus on is where he talks about "living for Christ" which is a phrase that is to easily slung around. This phrase "living for Christ" means that we are living for a greater purpose then ourselves, a career that we want, and anything else that might be placed a head of living for Christ. I know, I know lots of people say this and few act it out, but I think what needs to happen is that people need to have a better understand of what it means to truly be a Christian honestly. If we look at these passages from Philippians 1:21 and Galatians 2:20 I think we might be able to get a good picture of what it possibly means "living for Christ."
Philippians 1:21 "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." What I believe this author is talking about is what people don't grasp in our modern day Christianity which is if we are to live as Followers of Christ, that we are to do everything to the glory of the one who saved us, who's blood was spilled on the cross, but it should of been our blood.
Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." This verse makes in crystal clear that we are live for Christ if you ask me and that we are to live a live that is Christ like, we are to be transformed so that we look more like Jesus and less like ourselves.
So this is what I've realized in my own life and I know I have my own downfalls simply because I'm human and not perfect. I know I make mistakes, stumble, fall, and do everything else that we as humans do, but it's how you handle those situations that will help transform into the imagine of Christ. One thing that I have a problem with is telling people I'm a Christian, my actions should show it by the way I live my life, talk to friends, handle situations, and every other aspect of life. To me being a Christian should be an outward expression of what Christ has done for us. That we may live our lives for something greater then ourselves. Yes, there will trials, pains, and everything else that life and the devil can throw at us, but in those moments which is all the time we need to rely on God to get us through not ourselves. SOOOOOOOOOOO be transformed!
© Nathan Fahlin
Friday, October 7, 2011
Comments or lack there of
I would like to take this time to encourage the readers of my blog to leave comments more often simply because as of right now I have one comment on all my blog posts. Please do not be afraid to leave a comment and share your thoughts and opinions.
Those of you who are following my blog constantly I would like to take this time to ask for any feedback whether it's my writing style, punctuations, spelling or lack there of. I guess this is your time to give me any grips, complaints, and or complements.
Sincerly,
Nathan Fahlin
Those of you who are following my blog constantly I would like to take this time to ask for any feedback whether it's my writing style, punctuations, spelling or lack there of. I guess this is your time to give me any grips, complaints, and or complements.
Sincerly,
Nathan Fahlin
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Worth dying for
What a beautiful morning drive it was as I headed to church on this cool crisp fall morning. The leaves in full turn, the colors so bright with the trees standing still. I was thinking about this topic yesterday as I was severely bored out of my mind, the topic kind of goes along with what I was talking about in my last.
I know this might not be the most pleasant topic, but the truth is that we need to look at is this: Is what we are living for worth dying for ? Is the gospel worth dying for ? Is Christ worth dying for ? This is something that I want to talk about more because the truth is that I hadn't thought much about this topic at all before this summer. As I read through Radical this summer with my mentor I came to realize that was the gospel worth living for? Was Christ really worth dying ? The decision came pretty quick for me with the answer a resounding "YES."
It was easy for me simply put and I'll explain it as best I can. By now most of you know that I served in the military and was in Iraq where there I almost died a couple of times. The more I thought about the topic "Is the Gospel worth dying for ?", the more I realized the answer in my heart. I'll explain it like this at the age of 19 I signed a piece of paper saying that I would serve my country and if necessary I would give my life in service to her. If I was willing to die for my country something that I truly love and believe in then was I willing to die for the Gospel the question came out as.
By the time I was 23 I had experienced more then some people will in their entire lives who live in our great country. I had lost a friend, experienced first hand what an I.E.D. (improvised explosive device) can do to a person, and by the time I came home the amount of change that had happened was huge. I was in 2009 that I realized that I had been living for myself and I just wasn't going to have any of it anymore. By 2010 I had been attending Anchor Point for about 6 months or so and that when I really realized that there was way more to life then what I was living for. This is when I really saw God working in my life, I began a transformation that I wasn't really sure was possible. Then this summer I read Radical which opened me up more and to the concept that I needed to understand that if I was so willing to die for my country then the Gospel and Christ were worth dying for. The truth that I grabbed on to was that this isn't just life changing, it's eternal changing which means it has an impact of epic proportions in a sense it changes a persons stars. The hard thing for me is that I'm a soldier, a protector through and through which means it's hard for me to surrender. Which means if God asked me to lay down my life and be that martyr, I would struggle with that because I don't like going down without a fight. I know this is God's fight, not mine, but the truth is that I would rather go down swinging then on my knees. I sure hope he understands that and I'm sure he does. Yeah I know sad and depressing ending right, but it's the truth that we need to come to realize and understand.
So what is the Gospel worth to you ? Is Christ really worth it ? I have my answers, but now I challenge you to look at your heart and ask the questions to you. I have my answers and I can't answer any bodies questions. We all have to ask ourselves and look at our own heart and ask the tough questions. It's a heart check to see where we really are. Truth is that there are few of us that God may ask to lay down our life for the cause of the Gospel.
© Nathan Fahlin
I know this might not be the most pleasant topic, but the truth is that we need to look at is this: Is what we are living for worth dying for ? Is the gospel worth dying for ? Is Christ worth dying for ? This is something that I want to talk about more because the truth is that I hadn't thought much about this topic at all before this summer. As I read through Radical this summer with my mentor I came to realize that was the gospel worth living for? Was Christ really worth dying ? The decision came pretty quick for me with the answer a resounding "YES."
It was easy for me simply put and I'll explain it as best I can. By now most of you know that I served in the military and was in Iraq where there I almost died a couple of times. The more I thought about the topic "Is the Gospel worth dying for ?", the more I realized the answer in my heart. I'll explain it like this at the age of 19 I signed a piece of paper saying that I would serve my country and if necessary I would give my life in service to her. If I was willing to die for my country something that I truly love and believe in then was I willing to die for the Gospel the question came out as.
By the time I was 23 I had experienced more then some people will in their entire lives who live in our great country. I had lost a friend, experienced first hand what an I.E.D. (improvised explosive device) can do to a person, and by the time I came home the amount of change that had happened was huge. I was in 2009 that I realized that I had been living for myself and I just wasn't going to have any of it anymore. By 2010 I had been attending Anchor Point for about 6 months or so and that when I really realized that there was way more to life then what I was living for. This is when I really saw God working in my life, I began a transformation that I wasn't really sure was possible. Then this summer I read Radical which opened me up more and to the concept that I needed to understand that if I was so willing to die for my country then the Gospel and Christ were worth dying for. The truth that I grabbed on to was that this isn't just life changing, it's eternal changing which means it has an impact of epic proportions in a sense it changes a persons stars. The hard thing for me is that I'm a soldier, a protector through and through which means it's hard for me to surrender. Which means if God asked me to lay down my life and be that martyr, I would struggle with that because I don't like going down without a fight. I know this is God's fight, not mine, but the truth is that I would rather go down swinging then on my knees. I sure hope he understands that and I'm sure he does. Yeah I know sad and depressing ending right, but it's the truth that we need to come to realize and understand.
So what is the Gospel worth to you ? Is Christ really worth it ? I have my answers, but now I challenge you to look at your heart and ask the questions to you. I have my answers and I can't answer any bodies questions. We all have to ask ourselves and look at our own heart and ask the tough questions. It's a heart check to see where we really are. Truth is that there are few of us that God may ask to lay down our life for the cause of the Gospel.
© Nathan Fahlin
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