God is in the Alps!

L’Abri, Huemoz, Switzerland

I have been here now for three days in the mountains of Switzerland more or less on a journey of finding myself,but also finding why I was existed, for what purpose, you know the big questions in life. I have been puzzled by Philosophy since arriving, and will attempt to focus my studies on this wide topic that is so necessary to any one who is not satisfied with the norm, to any one who is not comfortable with accepting religion or a set of beliefs just because it was taught them from childhood, but to really search out those deep questions in life, like does God exist, and if he does, what role do I play in this fabulous story that is unfolding before me as I live my daily life.
I started reading a book today called “Philosophical thinking, An Introduction” I have to admit I am quite puzzled but yet intriguingly enough find myself at the same time drawn to the complexity of the book, it is because I have never studied such a topic as Philosophy, and I find some of the ideas misleading and difficult to grasp the concepts of, I find myself at the same time not able to get enough of it. I want to continue to delve deeply into this, and begin to start thinking philosophically, I want to put my mind in gear, engage myself intellectually, and stretch the limits that I so often put on myself. There is no sense if I am a true follower of Christ, to relax my intellect and be satisfied with the normal life, the life that does not seem to have any worries at all about certain issues that are not quite clear or completely understandable about the Bible, or Christianity, or the way I relate and interact with it. Indeed it would be foolish to be satisfied with the normal, hum-drum way of life, that is satisfied with being a Christian and that is it, no probing, asking, wondering, pondering, thinking, loving, meditating, questioning the things that we have come to know as true. I am not saying at all that we need to question the deity of Christ, or that he came to earth in the form of man, while being fully God, and satisfied the wrath of God by dying for the sins of the world. Nor am I saying we should in any way question our Salvation or our identity in Christ. Instead, what I am saying is I think we should have reasons for the faith we have, and not be arrogant when sharing our faith, but simply state the facts of Christianity in love, and then explain why we do believe this to be true and truer indeed than any other human endeavor’s through religion.
Indeed L’Abri which simply means (The Shelter) in French, does have a unique atmosphere to it. I have not known many Christians like I have known here, I am beginning to enjoy every moment I have in this place, and I have been here such a short time. Christians here don’t seem to care about a whole lot, some curse, drink beer and smoke, which in themselves are not bad things at all, they are just a little abnormal for my way of thinking a Christian should act, which is a good thing that I am here. In a sense I am here because I want to meet Christians like that, who don’t have it altogether, and are living in a certain way as in a sense is how they want to, but also in a way that they think is pleasing to God. I believe this is a place for change in many peoples lives, and I believe that this is the case with some of the Christians that are here now, they are searching, looking for answers to life’s biggest questions: Who am I? What is my purpose in life? Does God exist, and if so, what does he want with me? Indeed I am blessed to be a part of this group, to be a part of life at L’Abri for a chapter in my life, one of which I will hopefully look back upon in years to come as a time of growth in many different ways.