if you have come to my blog hoping to see some divine truth or profound thoughts, i have good news and bad news. the bad news is there will be no more of that on this site (boo hoo!). stop crying, though, because there will be plenty of dt and pt on the new blog i have started with some fellow bloggernauts (hey, i just made that up!) called 'theological synergy.' this is a revolution in web logging, as some of the brightest theological minds in the blogosphere have decided to join forces, mesh, become one, not unlike 'American Duos,' and blog together on the same site. despite what i have been saying this whole time, this blogomorphization (made that up too!) is an attempt to glorify God in a way that is more effective and beneficial than if we just blogged on our own, so i hope you all enjoy (and don't take me too seriously).

enter, you won't be risking anything:

theologicalsynergy.wordpress.com

luminosity 0.3: love overflowing

there are no two ways about it; Jesus is LOVE. that was His message from the start, and the central aspect of our walk with Him. i really don't think i could put this any better than any of us have heard it a hundred times. but, if we look close enough, we can see that we don't always love the way Jesus told us to. how many of us show the Love of Christ to everyone? how often, when we are wronged, feel nothing but that same Love for them? it ain't easy; and its not supposed to be. to love "your neighbor" as yourself, takes not only our submission, but the influence of the Spirit. most of the time, though, we're just doing exactly as Jesus said in Luke: loving those who love us, what the 'taxpayers' and 'sinners' did. also as Jesus said, that is no credit to us. sometimes, its even more covert than simply loving those to love us. if we're expecting something in return for our 'love', then it's the same situation. simply put, any love that expects anything in return is no Love at all. that is exactly what the world's view of love is, and it leads to a very half-hearted give-and-take attitude when it comes to love. because we know and have seen Love as Christ intends, we should be showing that Love to everyone we meet.

twitter will kill you

... and here's the proof

'Anonymous' said...

Is this your last post?

I was looking for some of your deep insightful truth and this is what I got?

do not be fooled: this is as true as it gets

luminosity 0.2: grace like rain

out of all the gifts we have received from Christ, one of the most important has to be grace. it is grace that has saved us; grace that has reconnected us with god; grace that has truly shown us God's Love. God's grace is truly amazing; simply in the sense that it is true Grace. such it is because it is a perfect gift, given freely, that we don't come close to deserving. our Salvation, relationship with God and just our newfound identity in Christ are each perfect, complete gifts which we should in fact be denied. life isn't fair; if it was we'd all be going to Hell. still, though, grace is something that we rarely understand, mostly due to the word's ambiguity. most of the use of 'grace' usually involves some degree of maneuverability, skill or poise. part of living out truth is being clear and free from ambiguity in our words and thoughts (just ask Jason). back to the point-- are we living out grace? do our lives reflect the grace we have been given through the grace we give to others? it's strange/scary how sometimes even the smallest things that people do irritate us the most. it especially convicted me when i actually thought about how i have to point it out whenever someone uses some grammar misusage that i consider a "pet peeve" (i don't even know if i spelled that correctly). any mention of "that that" or "farther/further" or "these ones" just sets off a switch or something or other, when i really shouldn't say a thing(i'm rambling on because i'm just now thinking of this). here's my challenge: let's not immediately point out when someone says something that bugs us, let's give that annoying person we go to school or work with the time of day, let's try to understand what makes a difficult person that way for once, lets not constantly judge in our head that person who's angry all the time, let's do whatever it takes to show somebody that we are not just like anybody else they have met. even the simplest things that others may not deserve from us might be the most important things we need to give away sometimes. when we give others grace, that is when it is the most evident it has been given to ourselves.

luminosity 0.1: His mercy, mercy's on me like a jersey

Jesus is full of mercy. when the sick and poor cried out to Him, "Lord, have mercy on us!" He granted it to them. the 'expert' of the law described the Good Samaritan as the one who had mercy (Luke 10:37). Jesus describes mercy as one of the most important aspects of the law; above judgement and tithing (Matt. 23:23). Jesus showed mercy; the kind that does not merely stay one's hand, but spurs one to action. in our modern age, the definition of mercy has been severely distorted. when we cry 'mercy,' we're basically saying, "please don't hurt me because i know you can!" in Jesus' definition however, we're saying, "please help me because i can't." that is the mercy Jesus showed and that is the mercy we need to show others. He promises hope to the helpless, peace for the restless, and healing for the broken, and we promise the same when we live with the goal of spreading His Name. when we meet people where they are and do for them what they cannot, that is when we are showing mercy. Francis Chan says when we help people, that is when we look the most like Jesus. when we show mercy, that is when we are truly made in His Image.

luminosity 0.0

trivia question: what is the difference between a luminous and a luminant object? give up? know the answer? a combination of the two? tired of me asking questions to which i know i will never hear the answer? here it is: a luminous object emits light of its own volition, while a luminant object merely reflects the light shone on it from a luminous object. most of us remember from high school physics that the surface of an object is actually every color but the one that we actually see. when the full spectrum hits an object, most of the light is absorbed by the surface, while some colors are reflected back towards the eye. in some cases, though, the light reflected is nearly identical to the light that hits a surface, while very little of the light is actually absorbed.

why am i saying these things? (see, there i go again!) its because this tends to be how we respond to the Light of Christ. if His Light is shining on us, then our following action should be to reflect this Light on others. this doesn't just happen in the ministry sense, but in the sense that our lives should be reflective of His Life; including our actions, feelings, and attitudes. if our goal is to be Christ- like, then the presence of His Spirit in our lives should be an imitation of Him. the Gospel is not just this cool story that we tell people, it is the format for how we live and share God's Love.

the plan destroyer

there's a saying in war that no plan survives the battlefield. the same could be said in ministry that no plan of ours stands against God's. sometimes, even when we have the best of intentions, our ideas often fall short of God's Providence and Wisdom. we occaisonally have this concept of how "cool" or effective our ideas are, and how much "good" we can do, but no amount of planning, thinking, or development can ever compare to what God has in store for us. i had to find this out for myself last week when i had so many of my own ideas for what i wanted to do with my campers at Hume. as far as what to talk about, verses to go over, i thought i knew what was up. it was funny the way that God was able to hijack the conversations into what He wanted them to be; what was best for the guys and myself. as long as we let Him, God will destroy whatever plans we have for ourselves and put His in its place.

is this your Jesus?

i think there's a lot of depth to C. S. Lewis' famous reference to Christianity as the "one true myth." to nonbelievers and atheists, the Christian religion is put on the same par as any other; including those that we know as tall tales and legends. a more covert implication is the feelings of some Christians to Christ himself. due to dramatic representations of His image and the sometimes casual attitude towards His Name, it's easy for us to lose the realness of who Jesus was and is (and is to come, of course). it's odd that pretty much any depiction of Jesus shows Him in a perfectly clean white robe with a red sash, even though we know His real status was just about at the lowest caste. and i don't even think its a far shot to say that E-40 was right by saying Jesus had dreads considering all the hot desert air, dust, and the fact that Jesus probably didn't have TreSemme waiting by the Jordan. we sometimes need to give ourselves a quite literal reality check to remember that not only is the Bible truth, the Bible is fact (considering, of course, it isn't always literal). Jesus is real, the Bible is real, and God's Truth is fact; more real than we know.

what is poverty? what is wealth?

who is poor? who is rich? how is it that some of the richest people in the world appear to be the most depressed and unfulfilled and those who spend their lives in run- down, pest- infested homes seem to be the most content and satisfied ones of all? the answer is actually quite simple: riches do not define our wealth; Christ does. just like the age- old question of how is a generous non- Christian doomed to Hell when a serial killer accepts Christ on his deathbed and reaps the riches of Heaven, our realities are not defined by worldly situations, but by our relationship (or lack thereof) with the Lord Jesus Christ. you can often see poor villages in third world countries and wonder, "where is the poverty here?" or observe a rich family living in an oversized mansion and think, "what do these people really have?" most people don't ever receive what really matters and what really matters doesn't cost a cent. what is wealth? wealth is discovering a life more fulfilled by Jesus Christ.

inspired by track: What Is Poverty?, Braddigan, Live at the Belly Up

death by breath (or why the world needs christian rap)(or i've been reading stuff by david crowder, can you tell?)

i love Christian rap. unfortunately, there are those who do not share my sentiments that i feel are misguided. its curious that even when the themes in a genre differ from their mainstream secular counterparts, those that claim they simply oppose a genre because of said themes continue to dislike many rap artists and songs with Christian themes. see, i'm in the fortunate position of enjoying Christian rap for its subject matter and secular rap for its common non-sequiter ridiculousness (i hear you screamin dad). however, let me just explain my first statement. from the initial moment when i heard "Jesus is Still Alright" by DC Talk sometime within the first eight years of my life, i decided i preferred rap with a Christian flavor when it came to music. granted i am a fan of many other genres and Christian rap has come a long way since the birth (and subsequent dissolution; still waiting on the reunion) of DC Talk, rap has a way of delivering the Gospel that is unique to itself. in any other genre, the subject of God becomes somewhat narrowed by the repetition of a mere few themes (namely greatness of God meekness of man, stupid stuff we do, all great stuff). however, the rapid rhyme- based format of rap creates a necessity to get creative with the subjects within a song. now, when one has this mandate in addition the the constraints of being Bible- based (not a bad thing!) and sensible (somewhat), the result is usually a very thoughtful and theologically- based number. in a way, the call to be a Christian rapper is the call to be a well- studied theologian.

having said so, let me explain what's going on with the graphic (this is somewhat related). while listening to Breathin' to Death by my man LeCrae the other day, it struck me how profound and unsettlingly true the song is. if our death to ourselves should bring about Life, then our own life will bring about death. i can't tell you how much it bugs me when i hear the cliche "you're not really living unless you're _________." is that so? does my heart start only when i'm plummeting from a plane at 30,000 feet? is a lack of hallucinogens in my system equivalent to a multi systems failure? before someone goes off, let me just say that i do know the concept of a metaphor or whoever, but when such a blatant and ridiculous comparison like absence of life is so commonplace, it reminds me of the cavernous pitfall which is the lie of "life" that so many people buy into. they define their lives by these horrible, damaging (often times; if not, less than God- centered) activities that they think are bringing them meaning and purpose. but they're really just breathing to death. being this caught up in one's own life and own interests brings about the only real death there is: that which comes from rejection of the Source Jesus Christ.

favorite righteous rap lines:

"Satan's taking lives like Ethan Hawke..."

-Azriel

"swagga that's hotta than summertime in Nevada..."

-Group 1 Crew

"even if you don't know systematic theology, yo eschatology, you know Jesus is who ya otta see..."

-LeCrae

"when we spit, get a grip like boots in gravel..."

-Flame

liberation

i love a liberating experience. similar to my thoughts on simplification, my idea of a liberating experience is anytime i realize i don't actually need something and simply do without it. a couple months ago, i had my first experience flying without a carryon, and it was awesome. i've started to go to the gym without a bag, and not only is it liberating, i don't spend as much time getting my stuff in and out of my locker. most recently, as a process of moving out of my room, i tossed out a bunch of junk, some of it i've been holding on to for years, and now it just makes me feel so much better. there's an old zen saying, "it's not what we hold on to, but what we let go that defines us," and that's also the way we are liberated in Christ. when we let go of our control, our anger, our lives, that's when we grab on to the Salvation we receive through Christ and thr freedom that comes with it. we art therefore truly defined by all the nothing we are able to let go so we can grab on to the One who really matters.

one more song

american dream, Switchfoot

as i was listening to this song today, it suddenly struck me that it is extremely profound and frighteningly true. it points out that so many people's goals are solely financial and selfish. the only reason many people go to school, work hard, and get a job is simply to enrich their lives and live "comfortably." so many are simply occupied with this American Dream idea of comfort, stability, and wealth. all completely insufficient, all completely enslaving. a lot of people are convinced that they have been failed by someone else if they haven't achieved this "dream" of wealth and success, but if that is your only goal, or just a main priority, you become a captive of your own selfish ambitions. the point is, this isn't even the brunt of the matter, because if anybody searches for purpose or meaning in anything less (other) than God, they will come up short and unfulfilled. everybody's looking for answers, but very few realize there is only one.

when success is equated with excess

the ambition for excess wrecks us

as top of the mind becomes the bottom line

when success is equated with excess

if your time ain't been nothing but money

i start to feel really bad for you honey

maybe honey put your money where your mouth's been running 

if your time ain't been nothing but money

i want out of this machine

it doesn't feel like freedom

my kandinsky

i was feeling bored for a moment today so i decided to put on my 'whassup worship' playlist and 'draw' the first four songs that came up and these creations came from those sketches, so i thought i'd share them with you.

one like You, Audio Adrenaline

first of all, this has to be my favorite all time song from Audio A. this is a seriously legit jam that i could pretty much listen to anytime. i like it so much because it describes so simply yet so perfectly the feeling close to God in the midst of worship. i know i've said things before about how we shouldn't live from mountaintop to mountaintop, but those feelings of spiritual closeness just get me so pumped up about life (Jason knows what i'm talking about).

You are my joy, David Crowder* Band

another seriously legit song. this could perhaps be my favorite DCB song, but if i keep going with this, i could quite literally get into an argument with myself. this also has a similar vibe to one like You. it attempts to describe in extreme and vivid ways the inexpressible joy associated with closeness to God. the way we feel simply praising or listening to Him is just awesome and He can fulfill and devastate us with His Grace and Love at the same time.

revolutionary Love, David Crowder* Band

here's another prime example of a really cool DCB song. on the obvious side, Dave is talking about God's Love that radically changes and influences everyone who runs into it, but there is a lot more to this jam. the obvious idea is contrasted with the unchanging aspect of God's Love. God never changes, His Love never changes, yet they change everything when one meets up with His Love for the first time. it has sort of 'an unstoppable force meets an immovable object'  feel, though we are nowhere close to either of those.

how wonderful, Leeland

this song springs to my mind the idea of 'sold (souled) out worship.' just the exuberance and passion emanating from Leeland's (yes, the band is named after the lead singer) voice puts you in that place of silent personal worship (i mean toward God, of course, just like in your thoughts an within yourself...  yeah). i've always like the idea of worship songs with 'how' in them, as if the only way to express the Greatness of God is to ask a question ( you know, i just realized i should've put a question mark instead of a cross, snap!). the song also gives the idea of us being captivated and simply mesmerized by God's Love and Grace, which i find to be so true. how wonderful is His Grace?  

verses for a troubled mind

but He said to me, "My Grace is sufficient for you, for My Power is made perfect in weakness." therefore i will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the Power of Christ may rest upon me.

II Corinthians 12:9

do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.

Proverbs 3:25-26

we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the Death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

II Corinthians 4:8-9

You keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.

Isaiah 26: 3

and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Matthew 28:20

beautiful scandalous night

go on up to the mountain of mercy

to the crimson perpetual tide

kneel down on the shore

be thirsty no more

go under and be purified

follow Christ to the Holy mountain

sinner sorry and wrecked by the fall

cleanse your heart and soul

in the fountain that flowed 

for you and for me and for all 

at the wonderful tragic mysterious tree

on that beautiful, scandalous night you and me

were atoned by His Blood and forever washed white

on that beautiful scandalous night

- smalltown poets

an image of Him

have you seen Jesus? seriously. have you seen a cloud with a crown of thorns? did your danish have a beard this morning? did you get a sunburn in the shape of a cross? i always find it interesting when people have these "Jesus sightings" that basically could be anything, but interpret it as a sign of God. one look at a wood grain that bears resemblance to Chris Ferguson, and someone figures that he or she should never allow harm to come to that wood because it is somehow sacred. the simple fact is these images could be pretty much anything. what may be Jesus Christ to one person could be Willy Nelson to the next and just because you spilt your Kenyan coffee beans in the shape of a cross doesn't mean that God is calling you to the mission fields of Africa. however, there are certain messages in nature that can directly be related to the Gospel simply by design. from a tree's death bringing new life to a habitat to a bird migrating to a strange place in order to survive, tiny truths can be found in the span of all creation. often times we look for a sign in the unusual (which is still possible), but we tend to somehow lose sight of God's Providence in all things. its similar to some people's ideas of miracles. some may define miracle as only an unnatural occurrence or an anomaly, but they don't see that most of God's work is done through what we know as natural or scientific (despite what Esqueleto may say, belief in God could be considered synonymous with belief in science). we often pray for God to 'intercede' for us in a situation, but that exact situation may be what God wants for us. God doesn't operate outside of the world, He is  in the world. He is everywhere. and we will see Him everyday if we are looking. as we are made in His image, so is the universe.

if

son=identity

there's an untold advantage to reading two parts of the Bible at once. for instance, i've been reading through the old testament as well as doing a study in Matthew 5 and 7. as i read in the Beatitudes about the 'peacemakers' being called Sons of God, i was reminded of the several instances in the new testament where we are given that title. i also noticed that in the old testament, most of the people named were so by their own and their father's (e.g. David son of Jesse). this brought to mind the idea that men of those times were only fully identified when associated with their father. these two ideas spring to mind our identity being truly found in our relationship with Christ. this isn't just in the sense that we are created by God, as i used to think, but in our new purpose and life found when we submit to Him. we know that we are Sons of God, so we find out who we were meant to be in this relationship; our only identity is found when we're identified with God. a lot of people say they need to "find themselves" (however a terrible cliche that is) and search for that sense of identity in the world, in money, or in relationships. the good news that few ever hear is that they can find that in God. as Sons of God, we are who we were truly meant to be.

ps- check out 'identity' by LeCrae

taking time to be thankful

God, thank You for Your Love.

You give me all i need and so much more.

God, thank You for Your Grace.

i don't deserve a thing yet You give me everything.

God, thank You for Your Mercy.

the penalty for my actions is death yet You stay Your Wrath.

God, thank You for You.

i am less than dirt, yet You pursue me and allow me to do the same.

the disturbing savior

that's not the usual word that comes to mind when it comes to Jesus. you'd expect Jesus to be loving, caring, and so on, (which He of course is) but the disturbing and threatening nature of Jesus is often overlooked. not only was He a countercultural revolutionary who challenged the major religious authorities, He created a new reality that reverberated for the rest of history. Jesus said that He came "not to bring peace on earth, but a sword." this institution, this Salvation that He created also came with a side effect of separation between men. time and time again people have been rejected for their belief in Jesus, and even for the opposite action. just like the ubiquitous fish against the flow, those who follow Jesus are heading the other way, and when people are going in opposite directions, they are bound for collision. one prime example of this could be historian Jackson Spielvogel's (and other writers') contentions on the fall of Rome. i was somewhat surprised when i read in my history book that he thought Christianity was the reason for Rome's downfall, but as i kept reading, it began to make sense. the book stated that Rome, like the world itself, was built on principles completely different from those of Christianity. that, and the widespread conversion of Romans lead the the deterioration of an empire. these same differences are still present today. Christianity goes against the grain of the world in every way, and this agitates the norm. a lot of the time, we may feel like what we believe is too harsh or intolerant in some ways, but what we teach is not supposed to be easy to swallow. what we believe is the opposite of what the world thinks to be right. what i'm learning more and more is that when we try to teach someone who doesn't know Jesus, its only natural for them to reject it. this can even be characteristic of believers themselves who think that, because of Jesus' Love, He doesn't want people to change when they come to Him, as long as they have Faith in Him, which is a very faulty way of thinking. Christ made it possible to go the other way, and at the same time started the spark of constant collision.

don't force the fruit

i've given up trying to be good. no longer will i waste time simply trying to be thankful. its not worth it trying to be loving, joyful, or kind. sure, i can try and possibly come close to succeeding in any of these areas, but any attempt that is full of myself and empty of the Spirit of God is ended in futility. for the longest time, i always tried to do these things, failed, and wondered why. all my attempts had nothing but my own will in them. i would look at Galatians 5 and think, OK, i'm a Christian so this is how I should be. it never occurred to me that if i am full of the Spirit, this is how my life will look like. this is often the trap we fall in when trying to follow God's Law. we think, since You want me to be this way, God, I will do this. we lose sight of the fact that we do not accomplish His Will by human effort, but through His Spirit. that is specifically why the passage calls these things the 'fruit of the Spirit,' not the fruit of our effort or the fruit of our will, because that isn't how we reap these aspects of God's Law. therefore, our goal should not necessarily be to fulfill God's Law, but to be intoxicated by His Spirit (i always thought that was the best way to put it). we begin and continue with the Spirit, and the rest will follow.

who's your God?

this is a bit unusual, but the Lord's been burdening my heart on something for a while and i'd like to get some input from others on this. some of you may have seen or heard of this, but apparently there's a common drama that's been performed at several youth groups and the like of someone being tempted and kept from Jesus by several other idols each portrayed by a different person, all being set to the Lifehouse song, 'everything.' in case you haven't seen this, its quite a moving performance, particularly when enacted by a convincing cast. i even found myself getting goosebumps and even a little teared up, which is a little unusual for me. the reason i bring this up is Lifehouse, despite all their air1 airplay, and what most high school girls might tell you, is not a Christian group even in the lightest sense. now, i'm not saying at all that secular music is wrong. i listen to it all the time. here's what bugs me: Lifehouse music comes off as Christian to people because whoever writes their songs relates to their girlfriend or whoever much like a Christ- follower would relate to God. i could go on and on about how this is seen in their lyrics, but the point is, how can you play this song in relation to a drama that illustrates our need to come only to Jesus and have no other idols? i can understand that the song and the band in general are quite misleading, I can even understand using worldly concepts to illustrate a concept in the Bible, but what should our response be when there's such a figurative juxtaposition as this? and, perhaps more importantly, how should we respond when there is such a widespread misconception that a band or person is trying to praise God, when in fact they are praising other things? in all honesty, i'm not sure why i posted this and i don't know if i'm making this more than it really is, but i just really felt burdened to open this up for comment. 

you can see the skit here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_M33GcJAmU

or search 'lifehouse everything drama' on YouTube

possibly the dopest quote not from the Bible

"like the eye which sees everything in front of it and never sees itself, faith is occupied with the Object upon which it rests and pays no attention to itself at all. while we are looking at God, we do not see ourselves-- blessed riddance. The man who has struggled to purify himself and has had nothing but repeated failures will experience real relief when he stops tinkering with his soul and looks away to the Perfect One."

- A. W. Tozer

conTRAST

as a graphic design major, my education is deeply rooted in the basic elements of art. one of the most important of these is contrast. i have found out that whatever you are making, be it a painting or a webpage, it needs contrast to look attractive. if everything in a work of art looks the same, nothing stands out and there's no focus. that is exactly what Christ brought when He walked on earth: contrast. He became the white against the black; perfection amidst absolute sin. within us is no variation, we all fall short of His Glory. not only was Christ without sin unlike us (i make it sound petty, but that is actually His most perfect and defining quality), He was actually a physical contrast to our grounded- ness. He came to earth and defied pretty much every physical law (check this out). law of gravity.  Jesus walked on water. law of conservation of matter. Jesus took a couple of rolls and sardines and fed thousands (with leftovers). law of water is water is water. Jesus took water, called it wine, and walla! law of if you're dead, you're dead. not only did Jesus raise others from death, He conquered it Himself.

start with Love

as Christians, when it comes to sharing our Faith, you can hear several opinions on how to reach out to people. i've often heard ideas like handing out booklets, inviting someone to a church event, or simply inquiring as to someone's beliefs. although these might be thought up with good intentions and could very well be successful, i believe something gets lost in the midst of thoughts along the lines of, "i've got to do whatever i can for this person to believe what i believe." there seems to be a factor of misdirection when we approach someone with the attitude that all we want is to show them the way to True Life. there's a slippery slope at that point between "i'm doing this for you" and "i'm doing this for me." there's a reason that Christians have a reputation for being egotistical and hypocritical (the second one is a given, i know, but often perceived in the wrong sense). instead, i believe that our main approach (sounds like a sales pitch, but i don't know how else to put it) should be centered simply around Love. the reason most people don't understand the concept of Salvation is because they don't know the concept of God's Love (in order to understand something, the reason for it is critical), and that starts with seeing His Love in us. lives aren't going to be changed by wanting to change lives, they will be changed by seeing God's Love. so show someone that Love. if you can show that you love somebody, you can eventually show them the Love of God.

a list of words that cannot be overused:

Love

God

Jesus

Spirit

Life

home

i keep several cards that my family has written to me on my desk. ever since i started college, i have been keeping most of the cards i've received for christmas and birthdays, and read them whenever i feel sentimental or just when i feel far from home. although this helps me feel closer to those that mean the most to me, there's no substitute for the sense of belonging that comes from God. a lot of times, we search for belonging, we search for a home, in the wrong places. whether you look for it in food, comfort, or even friends and family, anything short of the perfection of God's Love is simply insufficient. a lot of times, we deceive ourselves into thinking that what we have at the the moment is sufficient. i can remember sometimes when i try to make something more than it actually is, hoping i'll enjoy it more, but in the end i realize i'm just kidding myself. other times, we keep on searching for something we think will bring some comfort and fulfillment, but come up short time after time. instead of coming to God, we search for a home somewhere in the physical. sometimes, we just need to relish in the neverending and perfect love comfort He has for us, and thats the only way to truly experience Home.

think the thoughts

"my thoughts become words, my words become actions. with our thoughts we change the world" is the scattered text imprinted on one of my t- shirts (courtesy of Jedidiah). the message of the shirt mimics the old adage, "so a thought, reap an action, etc." in a world of cliches such as 'talk is cheap' and 'don't just talk the talk, walk the walk,' it seems that we underestimate the importance of 'mere' thoughts and words a little too much. although thoughts dont count for much by themselves, they do nee to be in the right place in order for our words and actions to have any effect. lives arent changed (at least in the right way) by random actions and mindless words. to truly serve God our thoughts, mindset, and doctrine need to be right and this only happens by our own reflection and meditation.

zion and babylon

this song's been stuck in my head all week:

oh great mammon of form and function

careless consumerist consumption

dangerous dysfunction disguised as expensive taste

im a people disgraced  by what i claim i need and what i want to waste

i take no account for nothing

if its not mine its a misappropriation of funds

protect my ninety percent with my guns

whose side am i on? well, who's winning?

my kingdom's built with the blood of slaves, orphans, widows, and homeless graves

i sold their souls just to build my private mansion

some people say that my time is coming

kingdom come is the justice running down, down, down on me

im a poor child, im a lost son

i refuse to give my love to anyone, fight for the truth, or help the weaker ones

because i love my babylon

i am a slave, i was never free

i betrayed You for blood money

oh i bought the world, all is vanity

oh my Lord im your enemy

come to Me and find your life

children sing, Zion's in sight

I said don't trade your name for a serial number

priceless lives were born from under graves where I found you

say, My name ain't yours and yours is not Mine

Mine is the Lord and yours is My child

thats how its always been

time to make a change 

leave your home

give to the poor all that you own

lose your life so that you can find it

first will be last when the true world comes

living like a humble fool to overcome

the upside-down wisdom of a dying world

Zion's not built with hands

and in this place God will dwell with man

sick be healed and cripples stand

sing allelu

My Kingdom's built with the Blood of My Son

selfless sacrifice for everyone

faith, hope, love, and harmony

I said let this world know Me by your love

by your love

oh My child, daughters and sons

I made you in Love to overcome

free as a bird, My flowers in the sun

on your way to Mount Zion

all you slaves, be set free

come on out child and come on home to Me

we will dance, we will rejoice

if you can hear Me then follow My voice

-Josh Garrels

ode to a legacy

thanks Jay.

. deviance

when  i look around at people, one aspect that keeps recurring is conformity. whether its a persons personality, attire, or the way they talk, i always feel like ive seen it a hundred times. even people that want to stand out are so commonplace that they eventually just blend. sometimes i think that the only person someone wants to be is someone else. the state of the world is conformity. as Christians, ones distinguished from the world and ones who have casted off our old selves, our aim must be deviation from the norm. by our actions as Christ followers and, specifically, as ones who don't follow the ways of the world, we should stand out and contrast to the background of the world. our ways should not be the same because our goals are not the same. here's some inspiring imagery from Jesus Freak:

separated, i cut myself clean

from a past that comes back in my darkest of dreams

then apprehended by a spiritual force

and a Grace that replaced all the me i divorced...

prayer request

for those of you who are not acquainted with me through mc and have not explored the blog on my sidebar titled 'i am not', i'd like to make a prayer request for my buddy Hunter. you can find out more by clicking on the link, but Hunter and a few other friends from the school are in Botswana, Africa for the semester, working through the International Mission Board. he requests that we pray not only for the work they will be doing but for their own adjustment to the area, among other requests. i would and im sure Hunter would appreciate your prayers on this matter, and be sure to check his blog for updates.

i corinthians 13

my favorite new to me album

with my newly acquired wealth from Christmas checks, i recently went on a kinda itunes spree. among my new awesome albums was Jacaranda by Josh Garrels. if your familiar with Braddigan (and if you're not, you should get that way), this is the cat you can hear on the 'Walk on' track off The Captive. this dude has, what appears to be a dynamite sound, creating a unique fusion of funk, folk, and a tribal rhythm. more significantly, his lyrics are full of scriptural references and shared Truth. he also has an exceptional way of mixing his message with catchy phrases and pleasurable beats, enjoyable for any listener. check it out.

full(yeah, that's right, jay, i stole it!)

one of the biggest mistakes we sometimes make as Christians is this idea of expectation. we get caught up waiting for the next good thing to come our way. we often think that there are simply moments where we experience God at some level that is way above what we experience normally. we leap from mountaintop to mountaintop, rather than running a level(but not low) plane in the atmosphere. the truth is that since God never changes, our connection with Him never changes. sure, we may feel closer to Him sometimes like at a retreat or after hearing a deep sermon (for me personally, its simply when i'm singing one of my favorite worship songs without even the slightest inhibition; i can hear the nonverbal 'amens' already), but our relationship, and more importantly our Salvation with Jesus, have no bearing with our feelings. one of my favorite quotes regarding this idea comes from singer/comedian Mark Lowry, "if I have to feel saved in order to be saved, then i'm not going to be saved most of the time. because Salvation is something that runs deeper than our emotions." we do not have to wait for God because God is here with us; as much now as when we're singing David Crowder songs. speaking of Crowder, he expresses this same difference in his song Obsession, "sometimes You're further than the moon; sometimes You're closer than my skin." it may not be in the way we want it, but we are always connected with God. every aspect of our lives is full of His Presence and He fulfills us in every way. its just like when Jesus said "I have come that they may have life and live it to the fullest." in Christ, we live to the fullest. we rejoice to the fullest. we pray to the fullest. in Him we are full.