we're all sinking

epicucsb:

Some notes from today’s EPIC, for those who missed it!
(Last EPIC of this school year)

New, important announcements:
• Potluck/Mission Send-off next week on Tuesday (June 5th)

• Senior Send-off on Saturday (June 2nd)

Senior Snippets
some wisdom from our seniors

Ada Marie Sison
• Ada grew up in the church.
• Used to think that Christianity was like a set of rules and that if you follow these rules, you will get into heaven.
• Wanted to transfer from UCSB because she thought that there wouldn’t be anyplace that she’d fit in.
• Says that the reason she is standing here before us today is because of community
  o “When people gather and share their strengths, it breeds competition. When people gather and share their weaknesses, that’s community.”
• In her freshman year, became involved in Real Life and joined a bible study.
  o God provided Real Life as a place of belonging for her.
• Gathered confidence to take a step of faith and go on summer projects to Tokyo.
• Was asked to join EPIC because of a need for leaders.
  o She felt God’s calling and was humbled to go wherever you’re needed.
• Now feels welcomed, accepted, and loved by EPIC!
• Philippians 2:1-11
• God brought me to EPIC not only to be part of a community, but to be part of this family.


Alexis Tai
• Grateful to God to be standing before us; loves us so much!
• Came into college, not being a Christian.
• Was raised Catholic all through high school. Didn’t understand the gospel.
• Spent high school striving to get her heavenly Father to love her and her parents to love her.
• Got into a relationship, bad things happened between them, and ended up heartbroken and in pain.
• Her friend called her and comforted her and loved on her. Alexis felt undeserving of this love that was being shown to her, and began to see the gospel being played out in her life.
• Went to Real Life in her freshman year and the gospel began to help her, seeing all of those transformed lives.
• Tried so hard to get out of her despair. She finally realized that she had already tried as hard as she could, and finally let God try for her.
• “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. “
  o 2 Corinthians 5:17
• God loves us even though we’re lame and broken.
• Went to Tokyo and started to learn about what it is to share your faith.
  o Impacting the world with the kingdom of God.
• Went to England for one year
  o Launched an international students’ ministry
  o Was really hard without much community
  o Put weight on herself because she felt like people’s lives/salvation was in her hands.
  o God revealed to her that it’s not all about ourselves.
• Has learned these 4 years at UCSB that it’s ok to be learners, and God wants our hearts to be for Him. He will walk us through our seasons of failure.
• Today, God revealed to her a vision of England. It was really cold, dark, and wintery, but then spring came and she had never seen anything so beautiful. It when from dead things, to life springing from the ground, this never happens where it’s sunny all the time.
  o God will walk you through the wintery seasons, but He is so worth it.
• God loves you and accepts you.


Message from David Hoang
• Mark 12:28-34
• Love God, love others. (LGLO)
• A motto is the thing you live by. Let “Love God, love others” be your motto.
• The gospel is: Jesus lived, died, and rose again.
• Love God with everything.
• Are you spending time with God outside of things like worship music, Jesus Burgers, EPIC, Upper Room, etc.?
  o Sometimes we use these things as a crutch.
  o Our relationship with God should be direct.
• “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’” Mark 12: 30
  o Christ demands this so simply.
• How is your heart doing?
  o Our hearts are the main thing that God is working on.
• Love God with every part of your being.
  o Your mind: every thought.
  o Your heart: your emotions.
  o Physically: your strength
  o Your soul: your spirit. We are spiritual beings.
• Love your neighbor as yourself.
  o This means that you have to love yourself first.
• “My life was a double life before I truly met Christ.”
  o How many of you would want to be with someone who’s two-faced?
• Because of our sin, we deserve to be in a fiery dumpster
  o But GOD. He lived a perfect life and died on the cross, shedding his blood for every person.
  o “ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
  o “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23
• God, being rich in mercy, turns it all around for us.
  o “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17
• We can’t love ourselves when we’re stuck in shame.
• Love your neighbor.
  o When you love God with everything, you will love other people.
  o When you love someone, you start looking like them.
  o We will begin to look like God, who is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, praiseworthy, and excellent. (Philippians 4:8)
• 1 Peter 2:1-10 
  o We are a royal priesthood, holy nation.
  o That’s who we’re called to be.
  o We have been adopted to proclaim God’s excellencies.
  o “A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14)