So, yesterday I was extremely busy after work with a friend's birthday get together and then just a hangout with some other friends. I didn't get home till 1 and I needed to sleep immediately to be able to get up for work the next day. I did jot some thoughts down that I wanted to share so here they are.
People are cool if you take the time to talk to them. The reason you think people aren't cool is because you haven't taken the time to figure out their coolness. As I get to know my friends at work more and more, they get cooler and cooler. Same with the people that I've known for longer than four months. It's just awesome to see how God has placed everyone in my life for a specific reason and purpose, which includes them being cool.
Current Jam:
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Forgiveness
No one deserves forgiveness. Yet, if we ask God for it, we receive it. I'm dealing a lot with asking forgiveness from people because of my actions in the past and I believe God is working through this. Something that has caught my attention, probably because I work with it every day, is the story of Jonah. I mean, just think about Nineveh, a city that is entirely corrupt with thousands of people who have no desire to be righteous. Along comes an unwilling prophet to say they will be destroyed. The entire city repents and is forgiven. What?!?! That doesn't make any logical, fallen man, current societal sense. Yet God forgives. Even more so, when Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive someone. Peter probably thinks he's pretty righteous and generous with his number of 7 times. Jesus says, no no no, 70*7. So 490 times. No, not 490 times. Jesus' point is not a number, it's the fact that the amount of times you forgive someone should not matter, despite what he/she has done. Why is this? We are to live a Christ like life, and he did not put a limit on his forgiveness.
The show Jonah at Sight and Sound is going to be amazing. The entire world should see it.
Current Jam:
The show Jonah at Sight and Sound is going to be amazing. The entire world should see it.
Current Jam:
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Lent
For lent this year( I have never really done anything for lent before), I am going to blog and write in my journal every day. Today I am just putting the idea of lent out there, and what I hope to accomplish through this time.
One goal is to establish writing my thoughts as a somewhat regular routine in my life. Second, I am going to be writing about what is on my heart and at many times, search out biblical ideas and truths through my own wanderings. I will also be posting a song a day that may or may not relate to what I'm talking about. This shall be fun.
Current Jam:
One goal is to establish writing my thoughts as a somewhat regular routine in my life. Second, I am going to be writing about what is on my heart and at many times, search out biblical ideas and truths through my own wanderings. I will also be posting a song a day that may or may not relate to what I'm talking about. This shall be fun.
Current Jam:
Monday, January 16, 2012
Broken Relationships
First of all, I desire for God to be glorified in everything that I do. Now, me desiring Him to be glorified is not the same as accomplishing it in everything that I do. This blog is going to be about me asking forgiveness and repentance.
This was spurned by the sermon that was delivered Yesterday at my church. The main idea was about resolution within relationships, and how the only way what is broken can become complete is through confession and repentance. So that is what I'm here to do today.
I would like to ask for forgiveness from anyone who I've wronged in someway, whether you know I have or not. From those who I've backed away from or gave excuses as to why I couldn't hang out, talk, or listen. From you who I've just shut out and abandoned. I have at many times turned away from friends. Perhaps it is something within me that likes a lot of space at times and then I allow myself to completely break a relationship over a rash decision. Then once I have started down this path, I formulate lies and half truths to get myself an excuse as to why I have done such a thing, and another excuse as to why I can't continue to be active in a friendship.
I am here right now, broken, asking for forgiveness from those whose friendships I've broken. I want to repair these relationships, but I can't fix them on my own. Those who I've scorned, maybe you can't accept this from me now. All I can ask is that you go to God about it and try to come to a place of understanding. I cannot undo what is done, but I do have the strength, through Christ, to reshape the after effects of what I've done. I'm asking God, and you, for repentance, to do a U-turn in these relationship that I've thrown away.
As I go through this process I ask that you have patience with me. I know many people in my life who Love people way better than I do, and are able to sustain and fight for relationships a lot better than I can. So, here is my pledge to try, to the best of my ability, to fight for you, my friends.
If you are someone who I have hurt, I ask that you get in contact with me. I am also going to start trying to rectify relationships with those who I know that I've abandoned and watched suffer.
I also ask God to give me his love as a begin this process and I hope that you also receive God's love. This song is about Christ's love, and since it is Christ's love, I therefore wish to replicate his love as well.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Never Once
Current Jam:
I spent this past weekend with Lindsay. We've been dating for a month now (which at times it seems incredible how fast 1 month went) and we're starting to uncover each others spiritual and emotional intricacies that make us who we are. Aside from being super excited to see her after 2 weeks and meeting many many new people (all of whom were great), I was really looking forward to a conversation that we had today. It began with talking about vulnerability and apathy and just more of an overall, "this is what I'm struggling with" kinda deal. Something that has been key in our relationship is God's faithfulness. I whole-heartedly believe that God brought us together for his glory. Whether we get old and die together, or we're only together a few more months, God has a plan and is teaching both of us something that we cannot be taught without pursuing this relationship. More importantly is the fact that God is revealing himself to me through Lindsay, in a way that cannot be understood without her.
The song above had been on my heart a lot recently after I heard it Friday night when it was playing in Katie's car when I was dropping Linds off with her. (maybe some background of what happened this weekend would be helpful. Friday I went to Eastern, got a tour and met some cool people, then went to an amazing campfire with more cool people before heading to lancaster to drop Lindsay off with Katie for the night. In the morning my friend Jarrod got married, which Lindsay, Katie, Jake and I attended. Post wedding and reception, Lindsay and I watched a movie at my house whilst awaiting Shelby to arrive at her house for the second of Lindsay's sleepovers in as many days. Sunday morning I played drums at two services at church and then played some good football before a great nap and then around 8 I headed out to meet Lindsay to head back to Eastern for the night. Back at Eastern I went to a worship service and then played Dutch blitz with Addison and Linds till maybe 1:30? I stayed with Addison and his roommates (cool guys) for the night and woke up around 7:45 to get up and go to breakfast with more people. After breakfast we were debating spontaneously driving to the beach but that was denied through availability of the current party, which turned out to be a better option because Lindsay and I then just traipsed the campus before settling at the base of a tree to indulge in the aforementioned conversation. Then I drive home.)(You may need to reread the beginning of this paragraph.) So whenever I had an opportunity, I was playing the song "Never Once". It is such a declaration of who God is to me all the time, even when I don't necessarily realize his presence. It reminds me that there has never been a time that I was alone. Even though I may feel so, it hasn't happened. That's not because of God not revealing Himself, It's because of me not seeking Him. As I was spending my time with Lindsay I continued to meditate on the lyrics of the song and apply it to our relationship. Even though she was at school and i was being a bum at home, we weren't alone, we are together. While we aren't physically right beside each other, my thoughts, prayers and actions are focused in such a way that we are. God reveals himself all the more through this because the action should be the same. Except, God is physically beside me at all times, though not visible, or necessarily tangible, He can be felt, He can heal, He can speak, He can listen. "You are faithful, God, You are faithful."
I spent this past weekend with Lindsay. We've been dating for a month now (which at times it seems incredible how fast 1 month went) and we're starting to uncover each others spiritual and emotional intricacies that make us who we are. Aside from being super excited to see her after 2 weeks and meeting many many new people (all of whom were great), I was really looking forward to a conversation that we had today. It began with talking about vulnerability and apathy and just more of an overall, "this is what I'm struggling with" kinda deal. Something that has been key in our relationship is God's faithfulness. I whole-heartedly believe that God brought us together for his glory. Whether we get old and die together, or we're only together a few more months, God has a plan and is teaching both of us something that we cannot be taught without pursuing this relationship. More importantly is the fact that God is revealing himself to me through Lindsay, in a way that cannot be understood without her.
The song above had been on my heart a lot recently after I heard it Friday night when it was playing in Katie's car when I was dropping Linds off with her. (maybe some background of what happened this weekend would be helpful. Friday I went to Eastern, got a tour and met some cool people, then went to an amazing campfire with more cool people before heading to lancaster to drop Lindsay off with Katie for the night. In the morning my friend Jarrod got married, which Lindsay, Katie, Jake and I attended. Post wedding and reception, Lindsay and I watched a movie at my house whilst awaiting Shelby to arrive at her house for the second of Lindsay's sleepovers in as many days. Sunday morning I played drums at two services at church and then played some good football before a great nap and then around 8 I headed out to meet Lindsay to head back to Eastern for the night. Back at Eastern I went to a worship service and then played Dutch blitz with Addison and Linds till maybe 1:30? I stayed with Addison and his roommates (cool guys) for the night and woke up around 7:45 to get up and go to breakfast with more people. After breakfast we were debating spontaneously driving to the beach but that was denied through availability of the current party, which turned out to be a better option because Lindsay and I then just traipsed the campus before settling at the base of a tree to indulge in the aforementioned conversation. Then I drive home.)(You may need to reread the beginning of this paragraph.) So whenever I had an opportunity, I was playing the song "Never Once". It is such a declaration of who God is to me all the time, even when I don't necessarily realize his presence. It reminds me that there has never been a time that I was alone. Even though I may feel so, it hasn't happened. That's not because of God not revealing Himself, It's because of me not seeking Him. As I was spending my time with Lindsay I continued to meditate on the lyrics of the song and apply it to our relationship. Even though she was at school and i was being a bum at home, we weren't alone, we are together. While we aren't physically right beside each other, my thoughts, prayers and actions are focused in such a way that we are. God reveals himself all the more through this because the action should be the same. Except, God is physically beside me at all times, though not visible, or necessarily tangible, He can be felt, He can heal, He can speak, He can listen. "You are faithful, God, You are faithful."
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Balance
Current Jam:
This song just speaks to me as a person, as one half of a relationship or friendship, as a part of a small group, as a part of the body of Christ. We each have our own, unique voices that are beautiful, and when we put them together it creates more beauty and wonder.
The question then becomes, how loud do I sing, how quiet, which harmony. The trick is finding that balance that evens out the scales, keeps the teams fair, allows siblings to have the same amount of dessert.
Balance is the current theme running through my mind. How to balance the transition from camp to not camp, from community living to my own room/house, from seeing Linds every day to every couple days, every week, every 2 weeks... Not saying that not being able to see her all the time is a bad thing, just different and causes me to shift my weight to balance a boat. Sometimes I'll shift too much and the boat will flip, but thus is life. Just get back in and keep going.
I was reading in Matthew 5-7 today (the sermon on the mount) and some verses stood out to me.
Matthew 6 "19Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
The balance the incurs when we live in a materialistic society in the United States, where I have money to buy lots of stuff, and have lots of stuff worth more money than I have to spend. With all the stuff that there is, where is the balance? Where does the line come in that shows that I'm storing up on earth? I'm definitely attached to my computer, guitar, car. I guess I should let them go because they can rust and be stolen? I'm just having a hard time fully comprehending the truth and value in this verse. I also have a hard time thinking I'm fine where I'm at because so many other people have stored up way much more than I have and therefore I am better than them. That's when I think about India, Africa, Asia. What do they have to store up? Food? Dirt? Fabric? No, They are storing up treasures in Heaven. Love, Hope, Generosity, Humility. I want to desire these attributes in my life. I just have to find that balance.
This song just speaks to me as a person, as one half of a relationship or friendship, as a part of a small group, as a part of the body of Christ. We each have our own, unique voices that are beautiful, and when we put them together it creates more beauty and wonder.
The question then becomes, how loud do I sing, how quiet, which harmony. The trick is finding that balance that evens out the scales, keeps the teams fair, allows siblings to have the same amount of dessert.
Balance is the current theme running through my mind. How to balance the transition from camp to not camp, from community living to my own room/house, from seeing Linds every day to every couple days, every week, every 2 weeks... Not saying that not being able to see her all the time is a bad thing, just different and causes me to shift my weight to balance a boat. Sometimes I'll shift too much and the boat will flip, but thus is life. Just get back in and keep going.
I was reading in Matthew 5-7 today (the sermon on the mount) and some verses stood out to me.
Matthew 6 "19Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
The balance the incurs when we live in a materialistic society in the United States, where I have money to buy lots of stuff, and have lots of stuff worth more money than I have to spend. With all the stuff that there is, where is the balance? Where does the line come in that shows that I'm storing up on earth? I'm definitely attached to my computer, guitar, car. I guess I should let them go because they can rust and be stolen? I'm just having a hard time fully comprehending the truth and value in this verse. I also have a hard time thinking I'm fine where I'm at because so many other people have stored up way much more than I have and therefore I am better than them. That's when I think about India, Africa, Asia. What do they have to store up? Food? Dirt? Fabric? No, They are storing up treasures in Heaven. Love, Hope, Generosity, Humility. I want to desire these attributes in my life. I just have to find that balance.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Party Rock
I can't get this song out of my head.
It's been a while since I have endeavored to put my thoughts and feelings and emotions into a somewhat sensible, written form. I am not going to attempt to conquer them tonight but I just thought that I should let you know that I plan on getting back into writing often since I am not consumed with Camp. Some things that you readers should know that has happened since last writing are: I have a current furious passion for great chill, celticish music. I have a long standing desire to pursue Music in some shape or form while furthering my education somewhere that has yet to be looked into. I just finished my fifth summer at Black Rock Retreat. It was one of the most trying summers yet because of a switch up of my role from counseling to program, however it was the most rewarding summer in terms of growth and relational bonds formed and strengthened. I am in a relationship with an amazing person!
It's been a while since I have endeavored to put my thoughts and feelings and emotions into a somewhat sensible, written form. I am not going to attempt to conquer them tonight but I just thought that I should let you know that I plan on getting back into writing often since I am not consumed with Camp. Some things that you readers should know that has happened since last writing are: I have a current furious passion for great chill, celticish music. I have a long standing desire to pursue Music in some shape or form while furthering my education somewhere that has yet to be looked into. I just finished my fifth summer at Black Rock Retreat. It was one of the most trying summers yet because of a switch up of my role from counseling to program, however it was the most rewarding summer in terms of growth and relational bonds formed and strengthened. I am in a relationship with an amazing person!
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