tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75230738975837768192024-02-07T20:19:10.592-06:00Memoirs Of A Broken SoulAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578666399691920695noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523073897583776819.post-32067649012969602312012-05-06T22:24:00.001-05:002012-05-06T22:27:51.076-05:00My GrandfatherMy mom was digging around through some old folders or emails or something and found some old papers I wrote as homework assignments. Here is one of them. I'm not sure when I wrote it, but I present it to you essentially unedited; most likely from my Senior year of High School, but maybe older.<br />
<br />
My grandfather was born in the rolling hills of the Ozarks (which some mistakenly call mountains) and since then he has lived in numerous places, including California, Texas, New Mexico, Georgia, Utah, Alaska, and now a mountainside in Colorado. He has preached numerous sermons, worked with many good people, changed many lives, pastored many churches, and held many important positions, (including: Regional Catalytic Missionary, Language Missions Director, Director of Associational Missions, and Director of State Missions) and though those things are great, they do not compare to his work as a father to his four children (Audrey, Ken, Kerry, and my father William) and a grandfather to his thirteen grandchildren.<br />
Grandpa was born in Whit Springs, Arkansas on October 26th, 1936, he told me "I was born at a very young age, I was actually an infant when I was born," which is an example of his sense of humor. He was not expected to live, and neither was his mother, so that when his grandmother died on November 6th, his father did not go to the funeral, because he thought his wife was going to die. But they did not die, they lived on and eventually returned to full health.<br />
When he was a boy, his family traveled to California in the spring and summer time to do farm labor. They chopped cotton, harvested potatoes, (which he told me was very dirty work, by the end of the day only your eyes and your teeth were white) knocked almonds from trees, picked peaches (this involved climbing ladders to reach the peaches in 112 degree heat, with no breeze and very uncomfortable itches) and other such labor. When fall came, they would return to Arkansas, and he told me that they made very good money (for the times) by doing this.<br />
He went to the same school in Whit Springs first grade through to his High School graduation. The rooms were divided such that first-through-third grades were all in one classrom together, fourth-through sixth grades were in another class room together etc. etc. all the way up tenth-through-twelfth grades. Each student heard the lesson of the others in his room as well as his own lesson, so every student learned each lesson three times. Grandpa graduated from High School second in his class -- from a class of two students -- at Whit Springs High School. His graduation picture (which I have not seen) is him and his classmate sitting on a couch in his classmates living room.<br />
After graduating from High School he went to California and stayed with his oldest sister Wanda and got a job with a company that made swingsets, though he quit that job to work for a battery company as an Assistant Shipping Clerk.<br />
At this time, he attended Grace Baptist Church. One evening after Sunday school, he and some of the other young men of the Church were putting away the room-dividers when Grandpa saw three young ladies sitting at the back of the Church. He sat down near them and introduced himself to them. These girls were Mary, Barbara, and Susy Brisco. That night after she returned home, Barbara Brisco told her parents that she had met the man she was going to marry.<br />
My grandpa dated Mary, Barbara's older sister, but he wouldn't date Barbara because he thought she was too young. (She was maybe twelve at the time) Eventually though, Barbara asked Kenneth to the Sadie Hawkin's dance and he agreed to go, but then went to see his brother instead. His brother asked him why he was there, and he said<br />
"I was going to go to the Sadie Hawkin's dance with Barbara, but I don't really want to go." Then his borther told him that he should treat her better, because she was the "best-looking girl in that church."<br />
Later on Kenneth went with Mary and Barbara to visit a former girlfriend who was sick and on the drive there Barbara asked him why he hadn't shown up at the dance, he apologized and then he told them about what his brother had said about Barbara, and Barbara said<br />
"Well, I guess we'll have to get married then," so Grandpa gave her his class ring and they began dating and spending time together, though the plan of them getting married and her wearing his class ring was just a joke between them. But after a few months of dating, Grandpa asked Barbara if she wanted him to give her a real ring, she told him that he would have to ask her parents. So they asked the Briscos if they could marry and the Briscos told them that you could marry in one year; they figured it would all blow over. It didn't, and on June 28th --the day after Barbara's 15th birthday-- they got married in Texas. (A girl the age that grandma was at that time could not get married in the State of California unless she was pregnant, and grandma wasn't)<br />
Grandpa quit working with Trojan and went to California Baptist College; (now California Baptist University) he didn't know that he needed to apply, so on July 1st he just showed up on campus, he was asked who he was and he said "I'm Kenneth Chadwick, and I'm here to go to school." They told him that he had to enroll, so he worked out all the paperwork and he was ready for class by the beginning of the first semester.<br />
While going to college, he began working with Hispanics at the First Spanish Baptist Church in El Monte, CA as an associate pastor. At first there were two seperate sermons in the morning: one spoken by him in English to the English-speaking congregation and the other spoken in Spanish to the Spanish-speaking congregation, but eventually they moved to one sermon in Spanish to the whole congregation on Sunday morning and one sermon in English on Sunday night.<br />
When he finished college he went to Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley, California. While he was in seminary, he was pastor of First Spanish Baptist Church in Hansford, CA. During their time in California, my grandpa and grandma had their first three children, first my Aunt Audrey in December of '58, then my Uncle Ken in January of '60 and a while later, my Uncle Kerry in November of '63.<br />
After seminary, he took the family to San Antonio, TX for ten months for he and grandma to go to language school. After this they lived in Las Cruces, NM (where my father was born in March of '70) and then Albuqurque, NM, Atlanta, GA, Salt Lake City, UT, and Anchorage, AK. Grandpa served as Regional Catalytic Missionary, Language Missions Director, Director of Ethnic Church Growth, Director of Associational Missions, (for both the Salt Lake Baptist association and the Rainbow Canyon Baptist association) and Director of State Missions, respectively.<br />
Grandpa retired in 2002 and moved in with his son Ken in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado. In 2003 his house was finished, and he and Grandma moved in to their own home not far from Ken's. (though he has since sold it and moved to Longmont, CO) Since then, he has done missions in New Mexico, had a short stint in Torreon, in the state of Coahuila, Mexico, and spent six weeks in the Arctic Circle in 2004. He was also the Interim Director of Missions for the Southwest Baptist Association for nine months, and the Interim Director of Missions for the Longs Peak Baptist Association for another nine months after that. He was the Interim Pastor for First Baptist Kenai for nine months, and is currently the Interim Preacher (not serving the other roles of a pastor) for Canyon Ridge Baptist Church in Bellvue, CO.<br />
My grandpa is now a great-grandpa for the third time, the first time being last July when my cousin Kerrys's daughter Aithne was born, the second when my cousin Chad's son Trystan was born, and the third the day before I called him, January 25th, at the birth of my cousin Connie's daughter Drew.<br />
My grandpa taught me many important life lessons, whether indirectly through my father (who often prefixes his advice to me with "My father told me...") or directly from grandpa himself. Much of it was advice about girls ("Never date a girl you wouldn't want to marry," for instance) but a lot of it was also helping to instill a passion for God into my dad, who has passed that on to me.<br />
Grandpa likes to spend his time reading, -- he reads the Bible several hours every day, and he also likes to read Louis Lamour, John Grisham and different Christian authors -- watching basketball on television, going on walks, (he walks several miles on days when the weather is nice) and most of all, spending time with grandma. When grandpa is in a good mood, he often sings old hymns or bluegrass songs, and he likes to tell jokes and humorous stories.<br />
I feel that Grandpa's greatest legacy is his trust in God and his deep desire that all may know Christ.<br />
The view from my grandfather's wrap-around deck is amazing. Below his house is a valley with a river winding through it, (the fishing is good in that river, and he has caught many fish there) at the far end of the valley is a shining lake -- "Crystal Lake" by name -- that is pretty enough by itself, but is absolutely stunning when the sun reflects off of it. There are evergreens, short and tall, young and old, on both sides of the valley with small swaths cut through them for dirt roads and houses.<br />
Above his house are several rock outcroppings with dead, gray trees on them; when climbed these outcroppings offer an even better view than that from the deck, and one can see mountains in all directions for many miles.<br />
Looking at the beauty of God's creations surrounding my grandpa's house, one understands why he retired there.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578666399691920695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523073897583776819.post-41988404851157538022012-04-15T21:42:00.000-05:002012-04-15T21:42:51.048-05:00Margins<br />
Margins have been on my mind lately. Katie and I had a conversation the other day about our plans for the next twelve months. We're trying to decide how many credit hours I should take next year, among other things; I'm concerned about our margins. I hate being busy, so one of my goals for the next year is to minimize busyness as much as possible. Katie pointed out that no matter how many things we're actually doing,
we always manage to let our current tasks expand to fill all available
space so that we always feel busy.<br />
<br />
Which brings me to margins. How do I set margins and live within them when I feel busy no matter how much I do? The answer, of course, is self-discipline*. Living with margins takes discipline; mostly, it seems it takes the discipline to say 'No.' Yes, the discipline to say 'no' to other people, but mostly the discipline to say 'No' to myself. I would like to think there is some other way to live with margins, but that seems to be what it boils down to. Hopefully, when I learn to have the discipline to say 'no', I will find the freedom to say 'yes'.<br />
<br />
*I say this answer is no fun, but life must be more than fun (unfortunately).Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578666399691920695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523073897583776819.post-27715288267658147362012-04-12T15:57:00.000-05:002012-04-12T18:12:28.017-05:00On Reading, Writing, the Malaise, and Fantasy LiteratureI am currently reading Luke's Gospel, Tolkien's <i>Roverandom</i>, and Rossignol's <i>This Gaming Life</i>. Luke is challenging me, but I'm not sure I'm rising up to the challenge. I like <i>Roverandom</i> so far. It is much more whimsical than Tolkien's other pieces as it is a children's story, even moreso than <i>The Hobbit</i>, in fact. The introduction to <i>This Gaming Life</i> seems to be out to prove a point in defending the value of games by arguing for their ability to sharpen the mental reflexes of gamers and increase their ability to process information from multiple sources simultaneously. That's all well and good, but I look forward to seeing what else he has to say about video games and gamer culture.<br />
<br />
I'm considering enrolling in a course on Creative Fiction next semester as an elective, so I've been thinking lately about what kind of fiction I might write. I would like to write about the Malaise, but I'll have to come at it from my own angle. How does one such as me write about the Malaise in a way that people understand? The Malaise, for me, seems to stem out of tasks of mental abstraction. Ironically, some of the things I most love--computers and games--seem to be the triggers for the abstraction of my self from itself. If I want to write about the Malaise, I will have to relate it to those things somehow.<br />
<br />
Of course, I could also make an attempt at fantasy literature, as I have had an interest in doing since my childhood. I tend to feel very critical of modern fantasy literature. Tolkien invented the genre and very few have done anything truly original with it since then. For some reason, fantasy novelists seem incapable of separating the genre of fantasy from the epic scale it participates in within Tolkien's literature. My theory is that most fantasy novelists would be better off sticking to smaller adventures, or fantastical travelogues, rather than trying to create their own worlds. Maybe I just feel this way because <i>Fellowship</i> was my favorite of the trilogy and I think a lot can be done with the journey theme, but I also know that Tolkien spent years crafting Middle Earth, and he did it from his viewpoint as a linguist--it seems a little foolhardy for so many authors to try to start where he finished.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578666399691920695noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523073897583776819.post-77568231213290800622012-01-13T11:45:00.001-06:002012-01-13T11:46:38.780-06:00On How To Relieve Guilt Without Doing Anything of SubstanceThis morning I went to Wal-Mart to get some lunch foods. As I was leaving I saw an older man standing on a corner by a stop sign on the way out of the parking lot. I turned around and went back to Wal-Mart and bought him a jar of peanut butter, some granola bars, a pack of water bottles, and some plastic utensils. When I brought it to him, I noticed that someone had given him a cup of coffee from McDonald's. He thanked me for what I gave him and I turned around and left without saying much.<br />
<br />
I thought to myself as I drove away "I should have prayed for him." Then I did pray for him.<br />
<br />
But I don't know if I really helped him. It seems to me that if you really want to do something for a homeless man, you should take him to a home. Let him take a hot shower and a sink where he can make use of basic hygiene tools. Let him sleep in a warm bed and feed him good food. Make him feel welcome and give him some privacy.<br />
<br />
I gave him some food that might last him a few days because I felt guilty. Maybe it relieved my guilt a little, but I don't really feel like I did much for him. He's still in the same state I left him in.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578666399691920695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523073897583776819.post-86317268726207133692011-11-05T16:26:00.002-05:002011-11-06T03:59:31.508-06:00Life, Lately<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
feel different about life than I ever have before. I am working 25-32
hours each week while also going to all of my classes and doing a
full-time students' work-load. It feels like a lot to do, and it is, but
I am doing it all so that I can marry a sweet girl that I met a year
and a half ago. Even though I'm the busiest I have ever been and should
be really stressed out, I really don't mind.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Life
with Katie is moving forward as it should. We have found a place to
live and have budgeted out our income to ensure we can actually live
there. I miss her more when we are apart than I used to, and I
appreciate her presence for its own sake in ways I did not before.
Unfortunately, I do not get to see her as often as I am accustomed to
seeing her because of the times that I work--she works in the mornings
and afternoons, and I work almost exclusively in the evenings. After
homework is considered, we have practically no overlapping free time.
But still, it is not so hard. Maybe this is what Jacob felt like when he
was working to marry Rachel--he probably did not see her very often
either, if he was working as hard for Laban as I have always imagined
him to. Of course, he had to work for 7 years, and I am getting married
in less than two months, so I suppose I have the easier deal. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">In
the meantime, my spiritual development (which was just beginning to
blossom this time last month) has come to a dead halt again by nature of
my absence of discipline. Of course, it does not help that I am also
addicted to a board game and I find myself thinking about it when I wake
up in the morning, or even as I drift off to sleep at night; while I
find that disturbing, I do not find it as disturbing as you probably
do--you must understand, the game in question is <i>really cool</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">But
even though I feel like my spiritual development has halted, I know
that it hasn't. The season of my life right now seems to be one of
knowing God's presence without feeling it. Every time I get a paycheck, I
thank God for the ways that He is providing for us, and I take comfort
in knowing that He is taking care of me. Part of me would like to say
that there is some great struggle inside me, but on this matter there is
none. God is providing enough for me.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">In
some sense I feel that I have reached a point of spiritual maturity,
but I know that if I were also self-disciplined I would be grounded in
the spiritual disciplines. So there <i>is</i> a conflict within me, it
is just not an impassioned one. I am comfortable in my spirituality and
content to let God do the work of coming close to me, but I am not going
through any of the motions that will let me draw closer to Him in turn.
I know this is awful, but I don't feel bad when I try to do anything
different and fail. God's grace is more than anything I can <i>do</i>, and it is much more than a free ride out of sin.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Put differently, the struggle is this: there is no reason <i>not</i> to memorize Ephesians (a very real goal of mine), and there are many reasons that I <i>should</i>, but I don't <i>need</i>
to do so, so I do not. What I need is the self-discipline (or a smack
up the side of my head) to do the host of things that I will need to be
in the habit of doing later in life. But how do I get self-discipline?
There doesn't seem to be a switch in the back of my head labeled "Self
Discipline: on/off," because I have tried to flip it a number of times
to no avail. Do I wait for God to flip that switch in me? Because I'm
already doing that. Here I am again at the same conundrum I have faced
over and over again for countless months. God is good though, and He is
bigger than my conundrums--that is what keeps me from losing my head.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578666399691920695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523073897583776819.post-16328328930215791582011-08-15T12:01:00.000-05:002011-08-15T12:01:03.301-05:00God's Provision Through the SummerOver the course of this Summer, God has sent constant, material reminders that He is in control, that He cares for me, and that He will provide for my every need.<br />
<br />
At the end of the school year I knew that I wanted to stay in Shawnee, but I didn't have a job or a place to live. Per suggestion from my girlfriend, I got a job at the same place as her brother. Around Finals week at school, I mentioned to a friend at church that I needed a place to live and he told me that he had a place up for rent. He gave my roommates and me very cheap rates on it and we got the first half-month free for cleaning the house before we moved in. After about a month at my job, the company sent everyone home while it dealt with some internal legal issues.<br />
<br />
The day before I lost my job, I bought an antique ring with a petite diamond and proposed to my girlfriend. She said yes, and now we are getting married at the very end of December; our engagement is probably the biggest "I love you" that God has given me this whole summer.<br />
<br />
After I lost my job I was discouraged in my job search, but my fiance encouraged me to keep looking for jobs and pointed me to Freedom Personnel, where I got a job as a garbage man. I worked about 20 hours a week as a garbage man for two or three weeks. I was miserable, and I hated it, but I was (and still am) thankful to God for it because it was a job. With some encouragement (again) from my fiance, I found a temporary job as a Web Developer and IT guy for a local company while their Web Developer was on maternity leave. It was a great job, it paid well, and I learned a lot while I worked there.<br />
<br />
After that job ended my landlord offered to pay me to paint the house I was living in because he wants to sell it after we move out. Although this series of odd jobs in rapid succession may not look great on a job history sheet, I do not remember a single week in which I did not have a paying job.<br />
<br />
A week ago, my fiance's brother-in-law and sister told us that someone in their church was told by God to give them a car. They weren't sure why God wanted to give them a car at first, but then they realized that they should give it to us. My grandparents moved to Alaska for two years while my grandpa served as an interim pastor there. My family was staying at their house at the time, so they left all their appliances there and bought duplicates while they lived in Alaska. When they returned they had double of everything, so their extras are being passed on to my fiance and I once we get married. My parents were, at one point, going to move into a house with two living rooms so they acquired two sets of nice couches. They ended up in a smaller house with only one living room, so the extra couch set is also going to my fiance and I.<br />
<br />
My fiance and I are under no illusions that we won't have to work to provide for our needs, but we are realizing that it is God who really does the providing.<br />
<blockquote>Lord you are good and your mercy endureth forever<br />
People from every nation and tribe<br />
From generation to generation<br />
We worship you<br />
Hallelujah<br />
Hallelujah<br />
We worship you for who you are<br />
And you are good</blockquote>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578666399691920695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523073897583776819.post-50327859919447067462010-12-10T00:05:00.000-06:002010-12-10T00:38:25.484-06:00Culture<span style="font-family:verdana;">I </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.patrolmag.com/2010/12/culture/mark-driscoll-jay-z-avatar-engage-culture/">read an article</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> recently that blew my mind. I do not think I had ever heard this said before and it turns a lot of things pop-Christians are saying (and things I have been thinking) upside down.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">These are the parts that jumped out at me:</span><br /><blockquote style="font-family: verdana;">All this talk about engaging culture and being missionaries to your culture is a contradiction of terms, and, I believe, is why evangelicals tend to lose sight of the value of art and creativity and why, now, they’re desperately trying to get it back. But as long as this reclaiming of culture is done under the auspices that we have to somehow engage with culture, it’s a long way off.<br />So, what’s the problem with this view? It has become so pervasive to talk about culture as some thing that Christians are outside of and that we need to interface with, that we miss the obvious: we are a part of culture. Culture is not a freestanding institution that we plug into, rather it is something we create, shape, and move. Certainly there are things about our culture that we don’t like, but we don’t fix culture by creating subcultures, or by engaging culture, but by living inside culture: making art, writing words, playing songs.</blockquote><blockquote style="font-family: verdana;">... a lot of evangelical theology (until recently) tended to ignore the two thousand years of church history that preceded it, so too does this movement to bring art into the church forget that art has always been a part of the church. And, that is because the church is a major part of culture.<br />This is why I bristle at statements like <a href="http://blackbirdpress.org/about" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','blackbirdpress.org/about']);">this</a>, found in the mission statement of an online Christian magazine: “We oppose our culture, not out of juvenile nonconformity, but out of acceptance of the fact that Christianity is countercultural to a world populated by the half-hearted, the double-minded, and unbelievers.”<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">We can’t oppose culture! We are culture!</span>...</blockquote><blockquote style="font-family: verdana;">... Missionaries go to different cultures and, often, their greatest challenge is fitting in to the culture and thus gaining the trust of its participants. There are countless stories of this attempt to engage other cultures going horribly wrong, and egregious acts being committed in the guise of missions. The same is true when Christians imagine that we must engage our own culture. We become hostile outsiders.</blockquote><span style="font-family:verdana;">Wow! "We can't oppose culture! We are culture!" This throws "in it, not of it" into a new light for me.<br /><br />P.S. Mark Driscoll is incidental to this post. I have no beef with the guy.<br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578666399691920695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523073897583776819.post-14165897568176716782010-11-27T03:28:00.001-06:002010-11-27T03:37:50.005-06:00RE: The Baptist Faith and Message<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">First, check out the </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.sbc.net/bfm/bfm2000.asp">Baptist Faith and Message</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I more or less agree with all of the tenets of faith laid out in the Baptist Faith and Message. However, the following two passages I am not sure about yet.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><blockquote>"At the moment of regeneration [the Holy Spirit] baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ."</blockquote></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Regeneration is defined in the section on salvation. When I first read it, it sounded like cheap grace, but I re-read it and saw that was not so. This idea of regeneration by the Holy Spirit, as the first part of salvation through true repentance of sin and genuine faith in God sounds right--cheap grace does not.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><blockquote>"An adequate system of Christian education is necessary to a complete spiritual program for Christ's people."</blockquote></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">As a practical person, I think education is important, and as a Christian person, I believe that when it is sought it </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">should be</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> sought whole-heartedly as an act of service to God. But I don't know if I believe that "secular" education (which is what this seems to be addressing--see the section on education) is "necessary" for a Christian.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><blockquote>"The church should not resort to the civil power to carry on its work."</blockquote></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is, essentially, why I am a political conservative in matters of big government, welfare, healthcare, etc.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I guess this makes me a Baptist.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thatisall.</span><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578666399691920695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523073897583776819.post-34299205173051433082010-10-31T16:26:00.000-05:002010-10-31T16:29:24.796-05:00Paper Aeroplane<span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-family: verdana;">I spilled the ink across the page</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">trying to spell your name</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> So I fold it up and I flick it out</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Paper aeroplane</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> It wont fly the seven seas to you</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Cause it didn't leave my room</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> But it awaits the hands of someone else</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> The garbage man</span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family: verdana;">Got to say mmm</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> mmm mmm</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Got to say mmm</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> mmm mmm</span><br /> <br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> So he opens it up and reads it out</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">to all his friends</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Amongst the crowd a heart will break</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">and a heart will mend</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> He walks on home tired from work</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> The letter falls from his hand</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> He reaches out only to catch the sky</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Its gone with the wind</span><br /> <br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Got to say mmm</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">mmm mmm</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Got to say mmm</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">mmm mmm</span><br /> <br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> I spilled the ink across the land</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Trying to spell your name</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Up and down there it goes</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Paper aeroplane</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> It hasn't flown the seven seas to you</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> But its on its way</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> It goes through the hands</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Then to someone else</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> To find you girl</span><br /> <br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Got to say mmm</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/s/Paper+Aeroplane/39waBW">Paper Aeroplane</a> by Angus and Julia Stone</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578666399691920695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523073897583776819.post-38605591213298169672010-07-16T01:05:00.000-05:002010-07-16T01:10:41.946-05:00(A Double Header!)<blockquote>This one’s for the beaten down<br />The ones who lost their rock and roll<br />Rise up you lost ones, claim your crown<br />You were born to rock inside your soul<br /><br />Welcome misfits, orphans, all<br />The ones who feel they don’t belong<br />You were made to rock, so stand up tall<br />Go rock the world and prove them wrong<br /><br />Rock what you got<br />Rock what you got<br />Don’t ever let them make you stop<br />Rock what you got<br />Light up the lot<br />No one can rock the way you rock<br /><br />This one’s for originals<br />Who strike out towards the great unknown<br />Fear not the missteps, take the falls<br />The rock you find will be your own<br /><br />This one’s for the beaten down<br />Who gave up on their rock and roll<br />Lift your eyes from what drags you down<br />You were born to rock inside your soul<br /><br />Rock what you got<br />Rock what you got<br />Don’t ever let them make you stop<br />Rock what you got<br />Light up the lot<br />No one can rock the way you rock</blockquote>- Rock What You Got by Superchick<br /><blockquote>Follow the leader, stay in the lines<br />What will people think of what you’ve done this time?<br />Go with the crowd, surely somebody knows<br />Why we’re all wearing the emperor’s clothes<br />Play it safe, play by the rules<br />Or don’t play at all – what if you lose?<br />That’s not the secret, but I know what is:<br />Everybody dies but not everyone lives<br /><br />I’m gonna ride like I’ve got the cops on my tail<br />I’m gonna live my life like I’m out on bail<br />I’m gonna be out front, gonna blaze a trail<br />I’m gonna cross that line<br /><br />Everybody freeze – don’t step over the line<br />Don’t stand up, they’ll shoot down the first one who tries<br />Try to change the world, they’ll think you’re out of your mind<br />Revolutions start when someone crosses the line<br />They want us to lie down, give into the lie<br />Nothing has to change, and no one has to die<br />That’s not the secret, but I know what is:<br />Everybody dies, but not everyone lives<br /><br />I’m gonna ride like I’ve got the cops on my tail<br />I’m gonna live my life like I’m out on bail<br />I’m gonna be out front, gonna blaze a trail<br />I’m gonna cross that line</blockquote>- Cross the Line by SuperchickAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578666399691920695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523073897583776819.post-78086871764962194752010-07-07T01:42:00.000-05:002010-07-07T01:58:18.794-05:00Isaiah 30<span style="font-family: verdana;">It has been a few day since I spent time in the word and I was feeling the lack of it so before going to bed I sat down and read Isaiah 30. On the first read-through all the words went right by me and my mind was in another place, so I read it again and it began to resonate with me.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dr. McWilliams talked about this particular time of Judah's history in my Old Testament class last semester. As I remember it, Assyria had successfully invaded Israel (the Northern Kingdom composed of ten tribes of Israel), so Judah (the Southern Kingdom made up of two tribes of Israel) was concerned about their own safety and they were entering alliance negotiations with the Egyptians. But YHWH wanted the Kingdom of Judah to rely on Him, and not on the Egyptians, so He commanded Isaiah to deliver the following message.</span><br /><blockquote style="font-family: verdana;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NASB-18219">1</sup>"Woe to the rebellious children," declares the LORD,<br /> "Who execute a plan, but not Mine,<br /> And make an alliance, but not of My Spirit,<br /> In order to add sin to sin;<br /> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NASB-18220">2</sup>Who proceed down to Egypt<br /> Without consulting Me,<br /> To take refuge in the safety of Pharaoh<br /> And to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!<br /> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NASB-18221">3</sup>"Therefore the safety of Pharaoh will be your shame<br /> And the shelter in the shadow of Egypt, your humiliation.<br /> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NASB-18222">4</sup>"For their princes are at Zoan<br /> And their ambassadors arrive at Hanes.<br /> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NASB-18223">5</sup>"Everyone will be ashamed because of a people who cannot profit them,<br /> Who are not for help or profit, but for shame and also for reproach."<br /> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NASB-18224">6</sup>The oracle concerning the beasts of the Negev<br /> Through a land of distress and anguish,<br /> From where come lioness and lion, viper and flying serpent,<br /> They carry their riches on the backs of young donkeys<br /> And their treasures on camels' humps,<br /> To a people who cannot profit them;<br /> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NASB-18225">7</sup>Even Egypt, whose help is vain and empty<br /> Therefore, I have called her<br /> "Rahab who has been exterminated."<br /> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NASB-18226">8</sup>Now go, write it on a tablet before them<br /> And inscribe it on a scroll,<br /> That it may serve in the time to come<br /> As a witness forever.<br /> <sup>9</sup>For this is a rebellious people, false sons,<br /> Sons who refuse to listen<br /> To the instruction of the LORD;<br /> <sup>10</sup>Who say to the seers, "You must not see visions";<br /> And to the prophets, "You must not prophesy to us what is right,<br /> Speak to us pleasant words,<br /> Prophesy illusions.<br /> <sup>11</sup>"Get out of the way, turn aside from the path,<br /> Let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel."<br /> <sup>12</sup>Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel,<br /> "Since you have rejected this word<br /> And have put your trust in oppression and guile, and have relied on them,<br /> <sup>13</sup>Therefore this iniquity will be to you<br /> Like a breach about to fall,<br /> A bulge in a high wall,<br /> Whose collapse comes suddenly in an instant,<br /> <sup>14</sup>Whose collapse is like the smashing of a potter's jar,<br /> So ruthlessly shattered<br /> That a sherd will not be found among its pieces<br /> To take fire from a hearth<br /> Or to scoop water from a cistern."<br /> <sup>15</sup>For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said,<br /> "In repentance and rest you will be saved,<br /> In quietness and trust is your strength."<br /> But you were not willing,<br /> <sup>16</sup>And you said, "No, for we will flee on horses,"<br /> Therefore you shall flee!<br /> "And we will ride on swift horses,"<br /> Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift.<br /> <sup>17</sup>One thousand will flee at the threat of one man;<br /> You will flee at the threat of five,<br /> Until you are left as a flag on a mountain top<br /> And as a signal on a hill.<br /> <sup>18</sup>Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you,<br /> And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you<br /> For the LORD is a God of justice;<br /> How blessed are all those who long for Him.<br /> <sup>19</sup>O people in Zion, inhabitant in Jerusalem, you will weep no longer He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you. <sup>20</sup>Although the Lord has given you bread of privation and water of oppression, He, your Teacher will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will behold your Teacher. <sup>21</sup>Your ears will hear a word behind you, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left. <sup>22</sup>And you will defile your graven images overlaid with silver, and your molten images plated with gold You will scatter them as an impure thing, and say to them, "Be gone!" <sup>23</sup>Then He will give you rain for the seed which you will sow in the ground, and bread from the yield of the ground, and it will be rich and plenteous; on that day your livestock will graze in a roomy pasture. <sup>24</sup>Also the oxen and the donkeys which work the ground will eat salted fodder, which has been winnowed with shovel and fork. <sup>25</sup>On every lofty mountain and on every high hill there will be streams running with water on the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. <sup>26</sup>The light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven days, on the day the LORD binds up the fracture of His people and heals the bruise He has inflicted.<br /> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NASB-18245">27</sup>Behold, the name of the LORD comes from a remote place;<br /> Burning is His anger and dense is His smoke;<br /> His lips are filled with indignation<br /> And His tongue is like a consuming fire;<br /> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NASB-18246">28</sup>His breath is like an overflowing torrent,<br /> Which reaches to the neck,<br /> To shake the nations back and forth in a sieve,<br /> And to put in the jaws of the peoples the bridle which leads to ruin.<br /> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NASB-18247">29</sup>You will have songs as in the night when you keep the festival,<br /> And gladness of heart as when one marches to the sound of the flute,<br /> To go to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel.<br /> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NASB-18248">30</sup>And the LORD will cause His voice of authority to be heard,<br /> And the descending of His arm to be seen in fierce anger,<br /> And in the flame of a consuming fire<br /> In cloudburst, downpour and hailstones.<br /> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NASB-18249">31</sup>For at the voice of the LORD Assyria will be terrified,<br /> When He strikes with the rod.<br /> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NASB-18250">32</sup>And every blow of the rod of punishment,<br /> Which the LORD will lay on him,<br /> Will be with the music of tambourines and lyres;<br /> And in battles, brandishing weapons, He will fight them.<br /> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NASB-18251">33</sup>For Topheth has long been ready,<br /> Indeed, it has been prepared for the king<br /> He has made it deep and large,<br /> A pyre of fire with plenty of wood;<br /> The breath of the LORD, like a torrent of brimstone, sets it afire. </blockquote><span style="font-family: verdana;">- Isaiah 30 New American Standard Bible -</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Reading this passage, the righteousness, grace, and steadfast love of God for Judah stood out to me. Although He is a jealous God who will not abide His children depending on anyone weaker than Himself, He is also a gracious and loving God who always takes His children back when they repent. The image of God blessing the Southern Kingdom and spewing His wrath upon the Assyrians to protect His children is a very beautiful one.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578666399691920695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523073897583776819.post-66924184821513193592010-07-03T00:27:00.000-05:002010-07-03T00:31:23.002-05:00Loving A Person<blockquote>Loving a person just the way they are, it's no small thing<br />It takes some time to see things through<br />Sometimes things change, sometimes we're waiting<br />We need grace either way<br /><br />Hold on to me<br />I'll hold on to you<br />Let's find out the beauty of seeing things through<br /><br />There's a lot of pain in reaching out and trying<br />It's a vulnerable place to be<br />Love and pride can't occupy the same spaces baby<br />Only one makes you free<br /><br />Hold on to me<br />I'll hold on to you<br />Let's find out the beauty of seeing things through<br /><br />If we go looking for offense<br />We're going to find it<br />If we go looking for real love<br />We're going to find it</blockquote><a href="http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/s/Loving+a+Person/2u9HYF">Loving A Person</a> by Sara Groves (and Gordon Kennedy)<br /><br />(I'm not totally sure I've got all the lyrics here)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578666399691920695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523073897583776819.post-6413426042523262212010-06-28T00:42:00.000-05:002010-06-28T00:47:29.302-05:00Belong<blockquote>Fading memories ignored<br />I crawl across the forest floor<br />Pool reflects an orphan child<br />Dirty, lost, alone and wild<br />Fatherless and nameless still<br />Fallen heart and broken, will<br />there ever be a place where I belong<br /><br />I cower ‘neath the monster trees<br />And try to stand on tired feet<br />But gravity knocks me to the ground<br />Where I give up, and tears roll down<br />I claw the dust and beg the end<br />Curse the day that I began<br />to hope there’d be a place where I belong<br /><br />I hear a sound I recognize<br />You lift my chin and seek my eyes<br />Song of love You sing to me<br />I ache to sing it back to Thee<br />"Father Love prepares a place<br />Brother Jesus leads the way<br />Follow to the place where you belong!"<br /><br />How did I miss this wondrous song?<br />The forest sang it all along<br />"River rinses all your shame<br />Father offers you His name<br />Father Love prepares a home<br />Brother Jesus leads you on<br />Follow to the place where you belong!"<br /><br />"Father Love prepares a place<br />Brother Jesus leads the way<br />Follow to the place where you belong<br />Follow to the place where you belong!"</blockquote>Belong by Chris RiceAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578666399691920695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523073897583776819.post-897865554823757732010-06-25T02:25:00.000-05:002010-06-25T02:26:58.608-05:00Love the LORD Your God<sup>26</sup>He said to him, <span>"What is written in the Law? How do you read it?"</span> <sup>27</sup>And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."<br /><sup>28</sup>And he said to him, <span>"You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live."<br />- Luke 10:26-28 English Standard Version -<br /><br /></span><sup>15</sup>For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. <sup>16</sup>Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. <sup>17</sup>So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. <sup>18</sup>For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. <sup>19</sup> For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. <sup>20</sup>Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.<br /><sup>21</sup>So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. <sup>22</sup>For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, <sup>23</sup>but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. <sup>24</sup>Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? <sup>25</sup>Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.<br />- Romans 7:15-25 English Standard Version -Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578666399691920695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523073897583776819.post-39597522289547984012010-06-25T02:14:00.000-05:002010-06-25T02:18:11.924-05:00Beg<blockquote>Here I am<br />One more day of not<br />Loving Him the way He asks<br />In fact my heart is singing praises to the things<br />that make me feel alright<br /><br />So I’m sinking fast like a stone heart should<br />And on the way down<br />I’ve done what I could<br />To try and try to turn this stone to flesh<br /><br />I’m haunted by my God<br />Who has the right to ask me<br />What by the nature of my rebellion<br />I cannot give<br /><br />So I beg for you to move<br />I beg for you to move<br />I beg for you to break through<br /><br />So here I am<br />Got my deeds for the day<br />All my cute little words about<br />How I am saved<br />Am I saved?<br /><br />Could I love you with my mouth like a church kid should<br />At the end of the day<br />My words get burned as wood<br />Oh, but I was good.<br /><br />I’m haunted by my God<br />Who has the right to ask me<br />What by the nature of my rebellion<br />I cannot give<br /><br />So I beg for you to move<br />I beg for you to move<br />I beg for you to break through<br /><br />These songs are noise<br />In your ears<br />A clanging drum<br />You want my love<br /><br />So I beg for you to move<br />I beg for you to move<br />I beg for you to break through</blockquote>"Beg" by Shane & ShaneAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578666399691920695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523073897583776819.post-58277618203786839922010-06-24T12:36:00.000-05:002010-07-07T01:41:38.990-05:00Voices<span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-family:verdana;">In the silent hour I can hear them</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I pray to the mother</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">But the mother doesn't love my soul</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">In the blackened earth lay my secrets</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The hounds of hell know everything</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">At the moon they howl</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I cut away, I get away,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I hide away from the light</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Still they smell my fear, and they will hunt me like the animal I've been</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Cut cut cut a hole in the night</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The voices of the innocent are coming to life</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Cut cut cut a hole in the night</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> The voices of the innocent are coming to life</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">In a graceless world, I was graceless</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I'm just a murderer cause murder was my only chance</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Though I'm wretched, I am not faithless</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The ears of God hear everything</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">And He hears them still</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Every cry, every breath</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">In every land that have slain</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Just to save myself</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">How can God show mercy? I was merciless to them</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Cut cut cut a hole in the night</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> The voices of the innocent are coming to life</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Cut cut cut a hole in the night</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> The voices of the innocent are coming to life</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">"Your greatest sin is not the abortion that you've asked forgiveness for, or the adultery, or whatever it is that you did in your life, in the past, that you're ashamed of, that keeps hounding you -- your greatest sin is not that; your greatest sin is not believing God's word when He says that you're forgiven! You wanna' repent of something, friend? Stop repenting of sins you've already repented of, and repent of your unbelief!"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The voices of the innocent are coming to life</span></blockquote><span style="font-family:verdana;">"Voices" by House of Heroes</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578666399691920695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523073897583776819.post-84555125518103180712010-06-24T12:06:00.001-05:002010-06-24T12:36:01.816-05:00Things I Don't Understand<span style="font-family:verdana;">I keep thinking that I'm beginning to get things figured out, and then God shows me more scripture. I was reading the beattitudes this morning and saw some things I just don't get. Then I read 1 Corinthians 5 and my entire Christian attitude dynamic was thrown for a loop.</span><br /><blockquote style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Matthew 5:8 NASB:</span> "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."</blockquote><span style="font-family:verdana;">They shall see God... with their eyes? They will go to heaven and be in His presence? What does He mean when He says "they shall see God," anyway?</span><br /><blockquote style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Matthew 5:3,10 NASB:</span> "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."<br />"Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."</blockquote><span style="font-family:verdana;">What </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >is</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> the Kingdom of Heaven? Is it the presence of God? Is it "heaven" as most Christians tend to think of it? This white place that we "go" to worship God after we die? Thus far in Matthew, Jesus and John have each said "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near." So what is the Kingdom of Heaven?</span><br /><blockquote style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">1 Corinthians 5 ESV:</span><sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28439"> 1</sup>It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28440">2</sup>And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.<br /><sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28441">3</sup>For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28442">4</sup>When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28443">5</sup>you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.<br /><sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28444">6</sup> Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28445">7</sup>Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28446">8</sup>Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.<br /><sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28447">9</sup>I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28448">10</sup> not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28449">11</sup>But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28450">12</sup>For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28451">13</sup>God judges those outside. "Purge the evil person from among you."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Romans 14 ESV:</span> <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28266">1</sup>As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28267">2</sup> One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28268">3</sup>Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28269">4</sup> Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.<br /><sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28270">5</sup> One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28271">6</sup>The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28272">7</sup>For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28273">8</sup>For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28274">9</sup>For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.<br /><sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28275">10</sup>Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28276">11</sup>for it is written,<br /> "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,<br /> and every tongue shall confess to God."<br /><sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28277">12</sup>So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.<br /><sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28278">13</sup> Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28279">14</sup>I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28280">15</sup>For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28281">16</sup> So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28282">17</sup> For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28283">18</sup>Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28284">19</sup>So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.<br /><sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28285">20</sup> Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28286">21</sup> It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28287">22</sup>The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-28288">23</sup>But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.</blockquote><span style="font-family:verdana;">Looking at Romans 14 again I see that it's a different context -- eating unclean foods, rather than sinning sexually -- but I'm still a little confused. While it is obvious to me that sinning sexually is unacceptable -- Paul frequently condemns sexual sin in his letters, and Jesus told the adulterous woman to "sin no more" -- I am not sure that I understand how it is that some of the old law, like circumcision and unclean foods, are no longer necessary, but other parts, like sexual purity, are still necessary.<br /><br />I understand that holiness is a must for Christians. Does 1 Corinthians 5 change how I react to my friend who claims to be a Christian but is living with her boyfriend? What about someone who claims to be a Christian and says she is a lesbian as well? I know I'm supposed to love them, but Paul seems to be saying that love towards a sinning Christian is not always "nice." He tells the Corinthian church to exile a man for his sin! I see that it is so that "his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord," but it seems so harsh to me. Am I making it more complex than it needs to be because I'm reluctant to accept a difficult teaching?<br /><br />Does his council even apply to me, since the friend who is living with her boyfriend is not part of my church community? The Corinthian church was made up of all the Christians in Corinth. Does this mean that <span style="font-style: italic;">my</span> "church" is made up of all the Christians in my logistical community?<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />I'm not looking for an answer from human reason, but from scripture. I am sure that there is an answer and that I will find it eventually. I apologize for asking so many questions without offering many answers.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578666399691920695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523073897583776819.post-16885862216702818742010-06-22T23:53:00.000-05:002010-06-23T01:51:29.336-05:00Loved By A Relentless God<span style="font-family:verdana;">I am so thankful that God never lets me go.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">In the beginning of the fall semester of my Freshman year I began dating a beautiful young woman. This happened at a time when I had inexplicably ceased to study my bible or pray on a regular basis for several weeks straight. I tried a few times to pick the habit back up, but it never stuck and I spent the rest of the semester exhausting myself mentally, spiritually, and physically. I was not behaving as I should have and I was not walking with God. I remember once </span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-style: italic;">weeping</span> </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">in a worship setting and asking God where He was; begging Him to come back to me. It was not until after my girlfriend dumped me a week before the Spring semester began that I realized it was not God who had left me, but I who had left God. The day that my girlfriend dumped me I went out to the prayer garden near my house and got honest with God. I read Psalms 16 and 18 aloud and put all my hope in the God they spoke of.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14094"></sup><blockquote><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14094">1</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14095">2</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> I have no good besides You." </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14096">3</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">As for the saints who are in the earth,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14097">4</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">The sorrows of those who have bartered for another god will be multiplied;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> I shall not pour out their drink offerings of blood,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Nor will I take their names upon my lips. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14098">5</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> You support my lot. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14099">6</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14100">7</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">I will bless the LORD who has counseled me;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14101">8</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">I have set the LORD continually before me;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14102">9</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> My flesh also will dwell securely. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14103">10</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14104">11</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">You will make known to me the path of life;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> In Your presence is fullness of joy;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.</span></blockquote><span style="font-family:verdana;">- Psalm 16 NASB -</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14121"></sup><blockquote><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14121">1</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">"I love You, O LORD, my strength." </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14121">2</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14122">3</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And I am saved from my enemies. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14123">4</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">The cords of death encompassed me,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And the torrents of ungodliness terrified me. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14124">5</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">The cords of Sheol surrounded me;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> The snares of death confronted me. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14125">6</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">In my distress I called upon the LORD,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And cried to my God for help;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> He heard my voice out of His temple,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And my cry for help before Him came into His ears. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14126">7</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">Then the earth shook and quaked;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And the foundations of the mountains were trembling</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And were shaken, because He was angry. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14127">8</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">Smoke went up out of His nostrils,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And fire from His mouth devoured;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Coals were kindled by it. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14128">9</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">He bowed the heavens also, and came down</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> With thick darkness under His feet. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14129">10</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">He rode upon a cherub and flew;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And He sped upon the wings of the wind. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14130">11</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">He made darkness His hiding place, His canopy around Him,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14131">12</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">From the brightness before Him passed His thick clouds,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Hailstones and coals of fire. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14132">13</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">The LORD also thundered in the heavens,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And the Most High uttered His voice,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Hailstones and coals of fire. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14133">14</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">He sent out His arrows, and scattered them,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And lightning flashes in abundance, and routed them. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14134">15</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">Then the channels of water appeared,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And the foundations of the world were laid bare</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> At Your rebuke, O LORD,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14135">16</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">He sent from on high, He took me;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> He drew me out of many waters. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14136">17</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">He delivered me from my strong enemy,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14137">18</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">They confronted me in the day of my calamity,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> But the LORD was my stay. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14138">19</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">He brought me forth also into a broad place;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> He rescued me, because He delighted in me. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14139">20</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14140">21</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">For I have kept the ways of the LORD,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And have not wickedly departed from my God. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14141">22</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">For all His ordinances were before me,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And I did not put away His statutes from me. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14142">23</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">I was also blameless with Him,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And I kept myself from my iniquity. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14143">24</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> According to the cleanness of my hands in His eyes. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14144">25</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">With the kind You show Yourself kind;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> With the blameless You show Yourself blameless; </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14145">26</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">With the pure You show Yourself pure,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And with the crooked You show Yourself astute. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14146">27</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">For You save an afflicted people,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> But haughty eyes You abase. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14147">28</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">For You light my lamp;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> The LORD my God illumines my darkness. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14148">29</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">For by You I can run upon a troop;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And by my God I can leap over a wall. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14149">30</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">As for God, His way is blameless;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> The word of the LORD is tried;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14150">31</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">For who is God, but the LORD?</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And who is a rock, except our God, </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14151">32</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">The God who girds me with strength</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And makes my way blameless? </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14152">33</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">He makes my feet like hinds' feet,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And sets me upon my high places. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14153">34</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">He trains my hands for battle,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14154">35</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">You have also given me the shield of Your salvation,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And Your right hand upholds me;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And Your gentleness makes me great. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14155">36</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">You enlarge my steps under me,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And my feet have not slipped. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14156">37</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">I pursued my enemies and overtook them,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And I did not turn back until they were consumed. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14157">38</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">I shattered them, so that they were not able to rise;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> They fell under my feet. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14158">39</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">For You have girded me with strength for battle;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14159">40</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And I destroyed those who hated me. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14160">41</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">They cried for help, but there was none to save,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Even to the LORD, but He did not answer them. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14161">42</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">Then I beat them fine as the dust before the wind;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> I emptied them out as the mire of the streets. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14162">43</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">You have delivered me from the contentions of the people;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> You have placed me as head of the nations;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> A people whom I have not known serve me. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14163">44</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">As soon as they hear, they obey me;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Foreigners submit to me. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14164">45</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">Foreigners fade away,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And come trembling out of their fortresses. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14165">46</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And exalted be the God of my salvation, </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14166">47</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">The God who executes vengeance for me,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And subdues peoples under me. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14167">48</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">He delivers me from my enemies;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Surely You lift me above those who rise up against me;</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> You rescue me from the violent man. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14168">49</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">Therefore I will give thanks to You among the nations, O LORD,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And I will sing praises to Your name. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-14169">50</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;">He gives great deliverance to His king,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And shows lovingkindness to His anointed,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> To David and his descendants forever.</span></blockquote><span style="font-family:verdana;">- Psalm 18 NASB -</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I felt pretty low for a while after our breakup. The whole thing was very negative and I felt very much like "a worm and not a man" (Psalm 22:6).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Looking back I can see the way that God allowed me to suffer through that fall semester to learn valuable lessons about life, relationships, and most importantly, myself. What I am truly thankful for, however, is that God did not leave me where I was. He has brought me back to Him and is continuing to work in me to redeem my story. He is so good to me, always.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578666399691920695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523073897583776819.post-78243155788429462302010-06-15T01:37:00.000-05:002010-07-07T01:41:54.767-05:00Say When<blockquote style="font-family: verdana;">I see you there, don’t know where you come from<br />Unaware of a stare from someone<br />Don’t appear to care that I saw you and I want you<br />What’s your name, cause I have to know it<br />You let me in and begin to show it<br />We’re terrified cause we’re heading straight for it, might get it<br />You been the song playing on the background<br />All along but you’re turning up now<br />And everyone is rising to meet you, to greet you<br />Turn around and you’re walking toward me<br />I’m breaking down and you’re breathing slowly<br />You say the word and I will be your man, your man<br /><br />Say when and my own two hands<br />Will comfort you tonight, tonight<br />Say when and my own two arms<br />Will carry you tonight, tonight<br /><br />We’re coming close and then even closer<br />We bring it in but we get no further<br />We’re separate, two ghosts in one mirror, no nearer<br />Later on if it turns to chaos<br />Hurricane coming all around us<br />See the crack, pull it back from the window, you stay low<br /><br />Say when and my own two hands<br />Will comfort you tonight, tonight<br />Say when and my own two arms<br />Will carry you tonight, tonight<br /><br />I come across you lost and broken<br />You’re coming to but you’re slow in waking<br />You start to shake, you still haven’t spoken, what happened<br />They’re coming back and you just don’t know when<br />You want to cry but there’s nothing coming<br />They’re gonna push until you give in or say when<br />Now we’re here, and it turns to chaos<br />Hurricane, coming all around us<br />Double crack throws you back from the window, you stay low<br /><br />It all began with a man & country<br />Every plan turns another century<br />Around again, another nation fallen<br />Maybe God can be on both sides<br />Of the gun, never understood why<br />Some of us never get it so good, so good<br />Some of this was here before us<br />All of this will go after us<br />It never stops until we give in, give in<br /><br />Or say when and my own two hands<br />Will comfort you tonight, tonight<br />Say when and my own two arms<br />Will carry you tonight, tonight</blockquote><span style="font-family:verdana;">"Say When" by The Fray</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578666399691920695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523073897583776819.post-63259444862376545572010-05-09T23:00:00.000-05:002010-05-09T23:03:16.944-05:00Musing on Loneliness - Written Amidst 9:30 Honors English<span style="font-family:verdana;">I could dwell so long in my own "loneliness" and make so much more of it than there is to be made. I could beg the question "Must I always be alone?" but then I would forget: I am not alone. I do not lack companionship and I do not lack love. Why do I long to be "On Fire" like one shivering without a blanket? I have a blanket, and I have a fire, a fire that consumes me.<br /><br />What do I need a woman for?</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578666399691920695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523073897583776819.post-35211122152634084232010-02-04T15:12:00.000-06:002010-02-04T15:42:02.413-06:00Questions About PrayerWhy do we pray for people?<br /><br />How do we pray for people?<br /><br />Maybe these sound like stupid questions to you, but I've been thinking about these two things quite a bit lately, especially the second. People often ask me to pray for them, but what exactly are they asking? Are we just to say "God, I lift Jimmy up to you," or more like "God, please be with Jimmy." Either way it seems kind of silly -- who are we to lift Jimmy up to God, and surely God is already with Jimmy; why are we asking Him to "be with" Jimmy?<br /><br />Maybe we need to pray specifically for people: "God, please help Jimmy in his struggle with anger. Give him peace and calm and remind him that a man who can't control his anger is like a city without walls," or "God, please give Henry strength in his battle with temptation. Let him remember that lust is just as sinful as adultery in your eyes. Make him clean and pure."<br /><br />Of course, that requires knowing something specific to pray about. What about cases where the request for prayer is private, and we can't be given any specifics? Perhaps the best strategy is to, as Dr. Nichols* puts it, "pray blessings upon" the person requesting prayer.<br />*one of the math professors at OBU, a dear old man.<br /><br />So the next time you ask someone to pray for, be specific about what you want them to pray or about what you are struggling with. The next time you pray for someone, think of their situation and tailor your prayers to fit them. I'm sure machine gun prayers ("God, be with Jimmy. God, please bless Chris. God, be with Henry...") have <span style="font-style: italic;">some</span> effect, but is that how we are meant to speak to our Father?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578666399691920695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523073897583776819.post-73554231276843744262010-01-18T02:48:00.000-06:002010-01-18T17:04:07.217-06:00Psalm 19:14"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer."<br />- Psalm 19:14 NASB -<br /><br />Are the words of your mouth acceptable to God? God wants us to speak in such a way that we build others up and glorify His name. Ephesians 4:29 says<br /><br />"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear."<br /><br />According to <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=pcL&q=define%3A+edification&btnG=Search">Google</a>, "edification" brings about enlightenment or is uplifting. When we speak, we should be looking at the needs of the moment and speaking words that encourage and improve the people around us.<br /><br />Grace is unmerited favor, and it is what God has given us. We have done nothing to deserve his Unconditional Love, but He has given it to us anyway. That's grace. Do your words give grace to those who hear them?<br /><br />Are the meditations of your heart acceptable to God? Philippians 4:8 says:<br /><br />"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."<br /><br />That verse doesn't need any summary. We are to dwell on, or meditate on, things that are excellent and worthy of praise.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578666399691920695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523073897583776819.post-90075398922076013422009-07-22T23:16:00.000-05:002010-01-18T16:45:18.792-06:00Holiness<sup style="font-family: verdana;" id="en-HCSB-30562" class="versenum" value="14"></sup><blockquote><sup style="font-family: verdana;" id="en-HCSB-30562" class="versenum" value="14">14</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;"> As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" id="en-HCSB-30563" class="versenum" value="15">15</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;"> but, as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" id="en-HCSB-30564" class="versenum" value="16">16</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;"> for it is written, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Be holy, because I am holy.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">- 1 Peter 1:14-16 Holman Christian Standard Bible</span></blockquote><span style="font-family:verdana;">Lately, God has really been convicting me about Holiness. To be holy is to be set apart. My God, Jehovah, is a Righteous and Just God. There is nothing unclean, impure, or sinful in or about Him. He is perfect in every way, and to be in communion with Him requires perfection. This is why Christ died for us, so that His perfection would cover our imperfection and we could have a relationship with God.<br /></span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" id="en-HCSB-28289" class="versenum" value="1"></sup><blockquote><sup style="font-family: verdana;" id="en-HCSB-28289" class="versenum" value="1">1</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">- Romans 8:1 Holman Christian Standard Bible</span></blockquote><span style="font-family:verdana;">To have a relationship with God we must follow Him and obey His commands.</span><br /><blockquote><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" id="en-HCSB-26854" class="versenum" value="15">15</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span class="woj" style="font-family:verdana;">If you love Me, you will keep</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span class="woj" style="font-family:verdana;"> My commandments.<br />- John 14:15 Holman Christian Standard Bible</span></blockquote><span class="woj" style="font-family:verdana;"></span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" id="en-HCSB-26860" class="versenum" value="21"></sup><blockquote><sup style="font-family: verdana;" id="en-HCSB-26860" class="versenum" value="21">21</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span class="woj" style="font-family:verdana;">The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father. I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him.<br />- John 14:21 Holman Christian Standard Bible</span></blockquote><span class="woj" style="font-family:verdana;"></span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" id="en-HCSB-26880" class="versenum" value="10"></sup><blockquote><sup style="font-family: verdana;" id="en-HCSB-26880" class="versenum" value="10">10</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span class="woj" style="font-family:verdana;">If you keep My commands you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commands and remain in His love.<br />- John 15:10 Holman Christian Standard Bible</span></blockquote><span style="font-family:verdana;">And what are His commands?<br /></span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" id="en-HCSB-24872" class="versenum" value="30"></sup><blockquote><sup style="font-family: verdana;" id="en-HCSB-24872" class="versenum" value="30">30</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span class="woj" style="font-family:verdana;">Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" id="en-HCSB-24873" class="versenum" value="31">31</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span class="woj" style="font-family:verdana;">The second is: Love your neighbor as yourself.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span class="woj" style=""><span style="font-family:verdana;"> There is no other commandment</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> greater than these.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">- Mark 12:30-31 Holman Christian Standard Bible</span></span></blockquote><sup style="font-family: verdana;" id="en-HCSB-24383" class="versenum" value="19"></sup><blockquote><sup style="font-family: verdana;" id="en-HCSB-24383" class="versenum" value="19">19</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span class="woj" style="font-family:verdana;">Go, therefore, and make disciples of</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span class="woj" style="font-family:verdana;"> all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, </span> <sup style="font-family: verdana;" id="en-HCSB-24384" class="versenum" value="20">20</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span class="woj" style="font-family:verdana;">teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember,</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span class="woj" style="font-family:verdana;"> I am with you always,</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span class="woj" style="font-family:verdana;"> to the end of the age.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">- Matthew 28:19-20 Holman Christian Standard Bible</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></blockquote><span style="font-family:verdana;">So we see that we are to love our neighbors and share the Good News of Christ's sacrifice with them. Wonderful!<br /><br />For a long time I felt that to do that I had to put up with some of the impurities of this world so that I could share the Gospel; that to be "in the world but not of it" I had to allow some things in my presence that I might not have otherwise. God has been showing me otherwise.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" id="en-HCSB-30515" class="versenum" value="4"></sup><sup style="font-family: verdana;" id="en-HCSB-30515" class="versenum" value="4"><br /></sup><blockquote><sup style="font-family: verdana;" id="en-HCSB-30515" class="versenum" value="4">4</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the world's friend becomes God's enemy. </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" id="en-HCSB-30516" class="versenum" value="5">5</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Or do you think it's without reason the Scripture says that the Spirit He has caused to live in us yearns jealously?<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">- James 4:4-5 Holman Christian Standard Bible</span></blockquote><span style="font-family:verdana;">Wow. "Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God?" This really leaped out at me. God has been using these and other passages to make me question what I let in to my mind.<br /><br />Foul language is the first thing that I'm wrestling with. It's not enough that I not cuss myself, I need to not even think about cussing. I need to look at the movies I watch and the music I listen to and assess it to see "is this really something I want rattling around in my head?"<br /><br />The next thing I'm wrestling with is humor. What is okay to laugh and talk about? Lewd and crude jokes do not need to be in my head; especially the former. Lewd jokes bring things to mind that I don't need to think about.<br /></span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" id="en-HCSB-29480" class="versenum" value="2"></sup><blockquote><sup style="font-family: verdana;" id="en-HCSB-29480" class="versenum" value="2">2</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;"> And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" id="en-HCSB-29481" class="versenum" value="3">3</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;"> But sexual immorality and any impurity or greed should not even be heard of among you, as is proper for saints. </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" id="en-HCSB-29482" class="versenum" value="4">4</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">And coarse and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks.</span> </span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" id="en-HCSB-29483" class="versenum" value="5">5</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;"> For know and recognize this: no sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of the Messiah and of God.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">- Ephesians 5:2-5 Holman Christian Standard Bible</span></blockquote><span style="font-family:verdana;">The final thing I can think of is imagery. What images am I allowing to pollute my mind? But imagining the things I imagine, what am I choosing to focus on?</span><br /><blockquote><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" id="en-HCSB-23431" class="versenum" value="28">28</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span class="woj" style=""><span style="font-family:verdana;">But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">- Matthew 5:28 Holman Christian Standard Bible</span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /></blockquote><span style="font-family:verdana;">As a Christian, God is calling me to be Holy; to be set apart from the world. It isn't an easy thing to do, but I will do anything for Immanuel. My God suffered and died for me because He loves me; I love Him, so surely I can sacrifice these little things for Him.<br /></span><sup style="font-family: verdana;" id="en-HCSB-29624" class="versenum" value="8"></sup><blockquote><sup style="font-family: verdana;" id="en-HCSB-29624" class="versenum" value="8">8</sup><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">- Philippians 4:8 Holman Christian Standard Bible</span></blockquote><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578666399691920695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523073897583776819.post-26190194783531166402009-07-06T19:38:00.001-05:002010-01-18T16:44:45.749-06:00Falls Creek<span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >Falls Creek was a good week, but I don't feel like it needs a day-by-day summary like the other two weeks did. During this week, God grew me more than he taught me. I learned better how to love and teach. The most tangible thing I got from Falls Creek was a connection with the youth group of FBC Tulsa; they want me to visit them when I can and I will not be surprised if their youth pastor asks me to help out on youth trips occasionally. They're all really great kids and I like them a lot.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578666399691920695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523073897583776819.post-27308576182443252072009-07-06T19:31:00.000-05:002009-07-06T19:35:31.947-05:00Roadtrip to the Golden Brownies<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Introduction</span><br />The camping trip was amazing. I basically “adopted” three sisters, which makes me happy. When I get to OBU I will have female friends with whom I can give & receive hugs, talk with, and spend time with without worry of romance. I love them all. I learned more from the three of them than I did at Super Summer and Falls Creek combined.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">Saturday, Day 1</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">We made camp, ate leftovers, swam, and shared our testimonies. We were very comfortable with each other; there was no awkwardness amongst us. After swimming we went to Wal-Mart around midnight to get some necessities for Sunday and were back at the camp site and in bed sometime between one and two AM.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">Sunday, Day 2</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">After breakfast and quiet time, we discussed prayer together before hitting the showers.</span> <span style="font-family: verdana;">That morning we attended Heritage Church in Shawnee. We all really liked it. Their worship music was relaxed and acoustic – it reminded me of Jon Foreman. The preaching was also good. They were going through the book of Acts and that morning was Acts 19:1-7. It was a good sermon.</span> <span style="font-family: verdana;">After church we met my roommate, “Beans,” at Taco Bell where we had lunch. Then we went to Wal-Mart and got our breakfast for the week and our dinner for the evening.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">Monday, Day 3</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">This was the first day that we worked with the kids. We were working in a dirty gymnasium with no a/c and only two very loud fans to keep us cool. It was a difficult environment to work in because the noise made it difficult to have casual conversation with the kids and hear what they said. We didn't realize that this was an obstacle until later in the week. We met a girl named Morgan on this day. She was a pretty little girl; I think she said she was a fourth grader. Just the sight of her tugged at our hearts. It wasn't really anything about her physical appearance as much as it was the look in her eyes. She was lost and hurting. By the end of the day, she was smiling and talking to the girls, especially Megan and Chloe. The work we did for the ranch on Monday was pretty simple; Alice and I had to drill fifty holes into two big plastic barrels for a game on Tuesday – the kids were competing to fill the barrels up first – and the other three set up some obstacles – a spider-web like construction the kids were supposed to lift each other through, and a rope they were supposed to all step over while holding hands in a circle.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">Tuesday, Day 4</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Several of us said later in the week that Tuesday was the best day. I'm not sure there was any one thing that made it that way, I think it was just a really good day overall. The only scar on the day was an incident that happened while we were working with the kids. The whole time we were at the site that day the girl Morgan was getting piggy-back rides from Chloe and Megan. After lunch, Morgan was climbing on to Megan's back for a piggy-back ride when Megan stood up too soon and Morgan fell forward off Megan's back. Morgan split her lip on the gym floor and we walked her home. That afternoon our work consisted of simply putting away some tables and such after the kids left the ranch, and then trimming some trees that hung over the driveway.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">Wednesday, Day 5</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">In contrast to Tuesday, Wednesday was probably the worst day of the trip. It began with Chloe having an upset stomach and staying at the campsite while we went on to work with the kids in Shawnee. After we were done working with the kids we got some limeades at Sonic. We were on our way home when we got a phone call from Chloe letting us know that her car had been hit pulling into the Wal-Mart parking lot. She was fine, and her car had only suffered aesthetic damage, but she was a little shook up. That afternoon we worked on cleaning up a horse-trail they created with a tractor. After we were done working we borrowed some bikes and went on a bike ride. Megan crashed on the gravel roads and scraped up her left side pretty badly, especially her left arm. The rest of the week we had to clean and dress one of her cuts several times a day to prevent infection.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">Thursday, Day 6</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">This was the last full day we had with all of us there because Beans had to leave on Friday afternoon. It was a pretty good day. After working with the kids we went to OBU and did our laundry. It took us a while because we didn't get out of there until almost nine o'clock that evening. We had a good time though, the girls did each other's nails while Beans and I just hung out.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">Friday, Day 7</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Upon the Ranch owners recommendation, Megan went to the Urgent Care on Friday morning to get some antibiotics and Chloe went with her. Beans left the campsite around the same time we did, but we didn't see him again after that because he went back to Missouri after having lunch with a friend in Shawnee. Throughout the week a youth group from Mississippi had been helping with the mission, but they left before Friday lunch so the four of us were split between three sites instead of all going to the same one; Chloe and Megan went late to our regular site as soon as they were finished with the doctor. When we got to the ranch that afternoon, we were told we weren't working that afternoon because it was too hot. We went to the Shawnee Mall that afternoon instead. Friday evening we watched Saving Private Ryan because Chloe (and Alice?) had never seen it, and Chloe wanted to. Chloe and I were the only ones who stayed awake for the whole thing. That night the girls slept on the couches in the TV room and I slept on a bed in one of the guest bedrooms.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">Saturday, Day 8</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">On Saturday, the girls decided they wanted to go to Oklahoma City. Their reason was simply that they hadn't been there yet. So we went to Oklahoma City. We ate Chinese for lunch and then went to a mall and shopped. I think all the girls bought something or other, and I briefly considered buying a hat. After the mall we went to Hobby Lobby so the girls could buy string for friendship bracelets. Saturday night we ate pizzas and watched Slumdog Millionaire at my friends' house – we didn't do it at the ranch because the owners were having a date night. We were tired, and I was the only one who didn't almost drift off at some point in the movie. After the movie my friend – an OBU alum who's lived in Shawnee ever since he graduated – told us that we were building strong bonds of friendship on this trip and that we would continue to build lifelong bonds when we got to OBU, he then regaled us with instances in his own life of friends he made at OBU that he is still in touch with and other friends whom he can talk to as if no time has passed, even though they haven't kept in touch regularly.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">Sunday, Day 9</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">We went to Heritage again the second Sunday. Chloe and Alice both wanted to visit Immanuel but they gave in and we went to Heritage instead. We were late. The irony of this is that if I had skipped shaving we wouldn't have been late, and the girls didn't tell me until after I shaved that they thought I looked older/better when I was scruffy. After church we had popcorn chicken at KFC and then went back to the ranch and packed up our campsite. It took us four hours or so to pack up the campsite completely. After packing up the campsite I think we went to Starbucks before heading back to the ranch. We spent that night – from about eleven or midnight until four in the morning – talking. First I talked to the girls about healthy relationships, romantic or otherwise (of course, it was crammed full of tangents, because all of our conversations are). I did this not because I am wise but because some wisdom has been imparted to me by those wiser than me and I found that much of that wisdom had not been given to the girls, so I passed it on to them. After I was done lecturing, Chloe shared part of her life story and how she had come to live with her mom and step dad rather than her father – the story was long and took about two hours for her to tell entirely. After she was done we went to bed about four AM, as I said before.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">Monday, Day 10</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">We got up around eight on Monday morning and got ready to leave. I believe we all left before nine thirty. Alice went back to Oklahoma City, Megan and Chloe drove back to Missouri, and I met up with the FBC Tulsa youth group to go to Falls Creek.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Conclusion</span><br />This log doesn't really tell the full story of the week, there was so much more to it. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">The heat index throughout the week was about 110 degrees. We usually spent our evenings in the pool until dark before going to IHOP and hanging out and talking there for an hour or more. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">We spent a lot of time talking and learning from each other, discussing life issues and wrestling with theological concepts, laughing and cracking jokes, opening our hearts and sharing our minds, and of course there were many other smaller events throughout the week that I failed to mention – either from forgetfulness or for the sake of prose – that helped to make the week what it was. God used us to teach each other that week, and we built bonds of friendship that I think will stay with us the rest of our lives.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578666399691920695noreply@blogger.com2