“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter”
I have a real problem, I am insecure. That’s right, very insecure. This is a problem I think that most normal people have, in fact if you don’t have at least some insecurities I would argue there is something wrong with you. But mine is insecure to the extreme. I worry so much what other people think that I don’t ever stand up for what’s right, I never take a stand, I never do much at all except go along with it. And that’s bad.
I do this because I don’t want enemies, I want everyone to like me, but what ends up happening is that no one likes you anyway. Alexander Hamilton once said, “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything”. And that’s what happened to me. I let people walk over me, I let them say things, I let things happen that I never should, but I do because I’m insecure. Insecure that if I stand up to them, then they’ll stop liking me. I’m scared that if I stand for something bigger than myself then bad things will happen. I don’t have the courage to take a stand.
The quote I quoted above is from Martin Luther King Jr. He stood for something. A very great thing, equality for all mankind. Yeah, people hated him for that, people hated him so much that they murdered him. But that is what made him great, he stood for something unpopular, he made his voice heard, he didn’t care what others thought of him. He knew what was right and went for it. I only wish I could be like this.
There are hundreds of people throughout history who have stood for something that would make them quite unpopular, and many paid the price of doing so, but at the same time they knew what they were doing was right and went for it. They didn’t look back.
Take William Wilberforce. He fought against slavery in the late 1700s, introducing bill after bill to Parliament that kept getting shot down. He earned himself many enemies, but he didn’t give up. William said this: "So enormous, so dreadful, so irremediable did the [slave] trade's wickedness appear that my own mind was completely made up for abolition. Let the consequences be what they would: I from this time determined that I would never rest until I had effected its abolition." I want this kind of drive.
I want to be someone who when people look at me they know who I am and what I stand for. They know that I’m not someone who backs down, is afraid, or gives up. I want to be someone who when people look at me they know that I’m someone who is passionate about what I stand for. And yeah, it might make me lose friends, or make enemies, but if I’m to take a stand for something, I need to be ok with that.
I want to stand against injustice, against prejudice, against hate towards fellow man, I want to stand for God, for freedom, for love, for helping others. I want my heart to break for issues like project AK47: An organization that frees child soldiers in places in like Asia and Africa, or International Justice Missions that frees sex slaves around the world. I want my heart to break for the things that breaks God’s heart. I don’t want to focus on myself anymore, I want an outward focus, a focus on others. I believe if I can achieve that, my insecurities will be gone, and I’ll finally take a stand for something.
I leave you with some quotes to ponder on:
“You have enemies? Good, that means you stood for something, sometime in your life.”
W. Churchill
“When you have decided what you believe, what you feel must be done, have the courage to stand alone, and be counted.” E. Roosevelt
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
What I Crave
Maybe this is just boredom speaking, or maybe I'm just going through some "mid-college" crisis, but lately I have been thinking more and more about my intense want, and need, to be apart of something grander and bigger than myself. I've talked with a lot of people my age recently who are actually doing things like this; Going on mission trips, going to Turkey, or Africa, and other amazing things. These people are taking a stand, my generation is finally getting up and saying no more to injustice, and doing things to help out others and further God's kingdom.
I watch movies and TV shows and see people taking a stand, people who aren't living the comfortable life, who are out there getting messy and making a difference. And all I can think is, "Why can't I do that?"
Yet, despite my intense desire to change the world and be apart of something grand, I still find myself sitting around twiddling my thumbs, being bored, and wondering what to do. Monotonous day after day goes by yet I still do nothing about it. I want a life that isn't comfortable anymore, I want to be dead tired at the end of the day, yet knowing I did a job well done. I want things to go bad, so that I can learn to lean more on God, and learn from my mistakes. Most of all I want at the end of my life to skid into the grave bruised and broken, but knowing, that was quite a ride.
I watch movies and TV shows and see people taking a stand, people who aren't living the comfortable life, who are out there getting messy and making a difference. And all I can think is, "Why can't I do that?"
Yet, despite my intense desire to change the world and be apart of something grand, I still find myself sitting around twiddling my thumbs, being bored, and wondering what to do. Monotonous day after day goes by yet I still do nothing about it. I want a life that isn't comfortable anymore, I want to be dead tired at the end of the day, yet knowing I did a job well done. I want things to go bad, so that I can learn to lean more on God, and learn from my mistakes. Most of all I want at the end of my life to skid into the grave bruised and broken, but knowing, that was quite a ride.
Monday, December 27, 2010
My Top 10 of 2010
Here is my list of top 10 favorite movies of 2010. I wish I could have movies like 127 Hours and The King's Speech on here but Saginaw likes to be dumb and not get good movies. These are kinda in order of favorites, some could definitely be moved around a bit, but who cares really…
10. How to Train Your Dragon: This is such a beautiful animated film, the visuals are stunning, and the music is soaring. Of course being for kids it has it’s fair share of cheesiness, but nonetheless, it pulled me in.
9. Book of Eli: For me this was one of the most important spiritual movies I’ve seen in a long time. The movie is about a guy who’s memorized the whole Bible and is trying to take it to safety. It really made me think and reminded me about how much we take it for granted.
8. Kick Ass: This film was the epitome of awesome comic book movie. It’s hilarious, has a quick, witty script, great acting, insane sequences of violence, and is exactly what the title suggests.
7. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: For those with ADD, this is for you. Every scene has a bazillion visuals, frenetic action, and more sound than your ears can take, but that’s why it’s awesome, and oh so much fun.
6. Toy Story 3: The film that makes grown men cry…for me Toy Story has grown up with me, I saw the first one when I was 6, and now as Andy goes to college and grows up, so do I. For my generation this film signals the end of an era, we’ve come of age, and so has this movie.
5. True Grit: I’ve seen the John Wayne version and this one wins, hands down. Jeff Bridges plays Cogburn so much better than Wayne, cause Bridges can actually act. The best thing about this movie is the actors, Matt Damon, newcomer Hallie Steinfeld, and others. This is up there with O Brother for best Coen Brothers film.
4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: I was completely blown away by this movie! Especially the acting by the trio, the biggest improvement was Emma Watson who has FINALLY learned to act without moving her eyebrows. I loved how dark and ominous this movie was, a far cry from some of the previous Potter films.
3. Black Swan: This was the most uncomfortable, disturbing movie I’ve seen all year. It’s about a ballerina’s descent into madness as she starts to become her role, and the descent is not pretty. Natalie Portman will for sure take home the Oscar, it was truly haunting. Plus Darren Aronofsky just knows how to make amazing, compelling, yet horrifying movies.
2. Social Network: At first I was leery about seeing a movie about Facebook but I’m glad I did. It was so interesting and compelling to see what people will do to gain fame and how they will stab each other in the back.
1. Inception: Christopher Nolan did it again, he’s made another masterpiece! I can’t really say anything about this, I’m sure you’ve seen it so there really isn’t a point. If you haven’t then watch it now…like right now. Go!
And here are my 5 worst films of 2010:
5. Robin Hood: No this wasn’t poorly made, it just was a tremendous disappointment to me, very dull, and very boring.
4. MacGruber: I love the SNL sketches, but draw it out for 90 minutes and it becomes painfully unfunny.
3. Nightmare on Elm Street
2. Resident Evil: Afterlife: Huge, epic failure. Not that I expected greatness (especially now that it’s in 3-D!), but I did expect it to at least be cool, but nope, not an ounce of cool in this film, just boring clichés and annoying monsters.
1. Grown Ups: I had big hopes that this movie would be funny, being a huge Adam Sandler fan, but it was horribly, horribly, awkwardly, not funny. I laughed maybe twice.
Honorable Mentions go to Karate Kid, Due Date, Tangled, Let Me In, The Town, Iron Man 2, Shutter Island, and Alice in Wonderland. Whew, I’ve seen a lot of movies. Now what are your thoughts? Am I completely off on any of these? Are there any I’ve missed that I MUST SEE?
10. How to Train Your Dragon: This is such a beautiful animated film, the visuals are stunning, and the music is soaring. Of course being for kids it has it’s fair share of cheesiness, but nonetheless, it pulled me in.
9. Book of Eli: For me this was one of the most important spiritual movies I’ve seen in a long time. The movie is about a guy who’s memorized the whole Bible and is trying to take it to safety. It really made me think and reminded me about how much we take it for granted.
8. Kick Ass: This film was the epitome of awesome comic book movie. It’s hilarious, has a quick, witty script, great acting, insane sequences of violence, and is exactly what the title suggests.
7. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: For those with ADD, this is for you. Every scene has a bazillion visuals, frenetic action, and more sound than your ears can take, but that’s why it’s awesome, and oh so much fun.
6. Toy Story 3: The film that makes grown men cry…for me Toy Story has grown up with me, I saw the first one when I was 6, and now as Andy goes to college and grows up, so do I. For my generation this film signals the end of an era, we’ve come of age, and so has this movie.
5. True Grit: I’ve seen the John Wayne version and this one wins, hands down. Jeff Bridges plays Cogburn so much better than Wayne, cause Bridges can actually act. The best thing about this movie is the actors, Matt Damon, newcomer Hallie Steinfeld, and others. This is up there with O Brother for best Coen Brothers film.
4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: I was completely blown away by this movie! Especially the acting by the trio, the biggest improvement was Emma Watson who has FINALLY learned to act without moving her eyebrows. I loved how dark and ominous this movie was, a far cry from some of the previous Potter films.
3. Black Swan: This was the most uncomfortable, disturbing movie I’ve seen all year. It’s about a ballerina’s descent into madness as she starts to become her role, and the descent is not pretty. Natalie Portman will for sure take home the Oscar, it was truly haunting. Plus Darren Aronofsky just knows how to make amazing, compelling, yet horrifying movies.
2. Social Network: At first I was leery about seeing a movie about Facebook but I’m glad I did. It was so interesting and compelling to see what people will do to gain fame and how they will stab each other in the back.
1. Inception: Christopher Nolan did it again, he’s made another masterpiece! I can’t really say anything about this, I’m sure you’ve seen it so there really isn’t a point. If you haven’t then watch it now…like right now. Go!
And here are my 5 worst films of 2010:
5. Robin Hood: No this wasn’t poorly made, it just was a tremendous disappointment to me, very dull, and very boring.
4. MacGruber: I love the SNL sketches, but draw it out for 90 minutes and it becomes painfully unfunny.
3. Nightmare on Elm Street
2. Resident Evil: Afterlife: Huge, epic failure. Not that I expected greatness (especially now that it’s in 3-D!), but I did expect it to at least be cool, but nope, not an ounce of cool in this film, just boring clichés and annoying monsters.
1. Grown Ups: I had big hopes that this movie would be funny, being a huge Adam Sandler fan, but it was horribly, horribly, awkwardly, not funny. I laughed maybe twice.
Honorable Mentions go to Karate Kid, Due Date, Tangled, Let Me In, The Town, Iron Man 2, Shutter Island, and Alice in Wonderland. Whew, I’ve seen a lot of movies. Now what are your thoughts? Am I completely off on any of these? Are there any I’ve missed that I MUST SEE?
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Identity
I find lately I've been ranting and raving so much about Facebook and other social networks. Lately I've had such a contempt towards these sites, and I'll explain why: I feel as if Facebook has become mine, and many others, identities. We edit our profiles in such a way to make ourselves look our very best. Nevermind if a lot of it is fake simply to make others like us. We carefully choose what to put on our profiles and our status' that would most make others like us.
This is the epitome of selfish. People say all the time that Facebook is a way to stay connected with old friends, I say thats crap. How is checking your facebook 20 times a day, and reading everyone's status's keeping in touch? It is mearly a way to make yourself look amazing in front of mostly complete strangers you would never even talk to in real life. The more friends you have the more popular you seem though.
All this ranting is getting somewhere :) I'm such a facebook addict, and it's ruining me arguably. I've seriously considered deleting it, and its something I'll have to pray about more.
What I really am getting it is our identity and love, we've made it all about what our profiles say about us, and not what God has done through us. We've lost so much love and relationship with facebooking all the time. This is just my rant, I'm going to write on love, selfishness, and more on identity later, this is just the set-up. I know you can't wait for more! I can feel it! :P
This is the epitome of selfish. People say all the time that Facebook is a way to stay connected with old friends, I say thats crap. How is checking your facebook 20 times a day, and reading everyone's status's keeping in touch? It is mearly a way to make yourself look amazing in front of mostly complete strangers you would never even talk to in real life. The more friends you have the more popular you seem though.
All this ranting is getting somewhere :) I'm such a facebook addict, and it's ruining me arguably. I've seriously considered deleting it, and its something I'll have to pray about more.
What I really am getting it is our identity and love, we've made it all about what our profiles say about us, and not what God has done through us. We've lost so much love and relationship with facebooking all the time. This is just my rant, I'm going to write on love, selfishness, and more on identity later, this is just the set-up. I know you can't wait for more! I can feel it! :P
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Savior King
Never have I ever seen a video more inspiring or chill/tear inducing. It never fails to amaze me how blessed Hillsong is in creating such beautiful music praising God to share with others.
Watching this video I was reminded of all the other believers out there, that stadium full of people all praising God. It reminds me of all the people so on fire for god, so on fire to reach the unreachable, so on fire to help those who are lost and hurting. All I can hope and pray is that I too will be on fire.
Let now our hearts burn with a flame
A fire consuming all
For Your son's holy name
Monday, September 6, 2010
Technology
Soon silence will have passed into legend. Man has turned his back on silence. Day after day he invents machines and devices that increase noise and distract humanity from the essence of life, contemplation, meditation...tooting, howling, screeching, booming, crashing, whistling, grinding, and trilling bolster his ego. His anxiety subsides. His inhuman void spreads monstrously like a gray vegetation. ~Jean Arp
Technology... the knack of so arranging the world that we don't have to experience it. ~Max Frisch
I like my new telephone, my computer works just fine, my calculator is perfect, but Lord, I miss my mind! ~Author Unknown
I don't know about you, but I have been so conflicted lately about technology and all the aspects that come with such great technological advances. The quotes above speak volumes about what I'm talking about. Take the first quote; it talks about how we are turning our backs on silence. And we totally are. Can you even remember the last time you were completely silent? The last time you just sat and pondered the sweet song of birds, or the rushing sound of the wind away from all distractions? The quote says the absence of silence is robbing us of our essence of life, and I couldn't agree more. More so, hearing the voice of God. I believe the more bells and whistles we put in our lives, the less and less we can hear God's direction for our lives.
The second quote involves something I've talked about before, how we are using movies, books and the like to live our lives for us instead of making our own stories great.
I've been so conflicted lately about how much technology I've been consuming. I've found there have been times where I'm on Facebook, watching a movie, and texting all at the same time! I walk down the halls of school and see everyone's faces buried in their phones, oblivious to the other human beings walking the halls along with them. Has technology made us even more selfish than ever?
How much are things like Facebook and texting hurting our social lives? We opt for technology as opposed to face to face time. I am so guilty of all this. For so long I've been trying to back off the use of so much technology, and for so long I've been failing. And I wonder why it's hard to hear God's direction for my life, it's cause He's being drowned in noise.
What are your guy's thoughts? How can someone so into technology back off a bit? It's so in our culture now that you could never totally get rid of technology! No, that would be terrible, technology is a great thing, though in moderation. But how does one back off enough to, as Jean Arp put it, get back into the essence of life? As the third quote so aptly says, "I miss my mind..."
Technology... the knack of so arranging the world that we don't have to experience it. ~Max Frisch
I like my new telephone, my computer works just fine, my calculator is perfect, but Lord, I miss my mind! ~Author Unknown
I don't know about you, but I have been so conflicted lately about technology and all the aspects that come with such great technological advances. The quotes above speak volumes about what I'm talking about. Take the first quote; it talks about how we are turning our backs on silence. And we totally are. Can you even remember the last time you were completely silent? The last time you just sat and pondered the sweet song of birds, or the rushing sound of the wind away from all distractions? The quote says the absence of silence is robbing us of our essence of life, and I couldn't agree more. More so, hearing the voice of God. I believe the more bells and whistles we put in our lives, the less and less we can hear God's direction for our lives.
The second quote involves something I've talked about before, how we are using movies, books and the like to live our lives for us instead of making our own stories great.
I've been so conflicted lately about how much technology I've been consuming. I've found there have been times where I'm on Facebook, watching a movie, and texting all at the same time! I walk down the halls of school and see everyone's faces buried in their phones, oblivious to the other human beings walking the halls along with them. Has technology made us even more selfish than ever?
How much are things like Facebook and texting hurting our social lives? We opt for technology as opposed to face to face time. I am so guilty of all this. For so long I've been trying to back off the use of so much technology, and for so long I've been failing. And I wonder why it's hard to hear God's direction for my life, it's cause He's being drowned in noise.
What are your guy's thoughts? How can someone so into technology back off a bit? It's so in our culture now that you could never totally get rid of technology! No, that would be terrible, technology is a great thing, though in moderation. But how does one back off enough to, as Jean Arp put it, get back into the essence of life? As the third quote so aptly says, "I miss my mind..."
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Punching Holes in the Clouds
Ever since I was old enough to know what skydiving was I wanted to do it. I would say every summer that this would be the summer I would do it, but always put it off, be it money or lack of nerves. But finally last Sunday...
I did it!
There is no feeling in the world quite like it, it's totally unique and completely exhilarating. My brother Dave and I went to Mt. Pleasant to do it. We received only about 10 minutes of instruction before suiting up in super uncomfortable jump suits. They were tight in all the wrong places.
Before we knew it we were headed for the plane, this tiny, cramped thing that looked like it could barely make it off the ground anyway let alone with us all in it. Dave and I, along with our two instructors, squeezed onto the floor of this plane and off we went. I admit, I was N.E.R.V.O.U.S. There is no way you can mentally prepare for something like jumping out of a perfectly good airplane, therefore my nerves were pumping. After an agonizingly long 17 minute flight we reached 11,000 feet and WHOOSH! there goes the door.
The wind whipped through the tiny plane as Dave and the instructor he was strapped to inched to the door. One second they were sitting there, the next they were gone. This did nothing for my nerves. We inched our way to the door, and put my feet on a step over the wheel and suddenly my mind registered that I was going out of the plane, to plummet thousands of feet to the ground. I had a moment of clarity while Scott goes 3,2,1! And out we go!
I couldn't even register what was happening we were falling so fast and the wind was so loud! I felt a rush of adrenaline unlike any before, and in that moment I had never felt so alive. It never one registered in my mind the thought of, "Uh oh!What if my parachute doesn't open!?" All I felt was pure excitement like never before. After 30 seconds of shooting to the ground our parachute opens and I got to experience the biggest wedgie known to man. For the next 5000 feet we coasted to the ground while trying out some twists and turns which made me feel quite ill so we stopped that.
All I have to say now, is you MUST experience this for yourself! You MUST!! There is nothing like this and I can describe it all day long but you won't truly know till you've felt the wind in you face and seen the ground rushing towards you at 100s of miles an hour. It is insane to say the least.
Now go forth, and punch some holes in clouds yourself...
Monday, July 19, 2010
Why We Are Here
"As long as I see anything to be done for God, life is worth having; but O how vain and unworthy it is to live for any lower end."
-David Brainerd
I read this quote earlier this week and have been dwelling on this for a few days now and really felt compelled to write in this long forgotten blog of mine. I really do miss this ol' thing, it's nice to write my thoughts out, despite if anyone reads these ramblings or not.
This is something that has been on my mind a lot lately. The idea that everything is meaningless unless done for God or for the love of others. If you really start to think about it it's so mind blowing to realize that nothing we do here on this earth will last after we die. All the money we acquire, the cars we own, the big house we buy, the movies we watch, all these things are meaningless.
I've realized that the only things that will truly matter are what we do to further God's kingdom. Sharing the gospel with the unreached, helping those in need, loving people, and living with a outward focus. I've learned something very valuable in these months since leaving Americorps, that the only time I'm truly, genuinely happy is when I'm helping others and serving God. As soon as my focus turns inward everything starts to fall apart.
This life is not about me at all, it's about what I can do to serve God. And this is exactly what Mr. Brainard was saying, and it resonated so greatly in me. Coupled with the fact that I'm reading Ecclesiastes which is all about discovering the meaningless pursuit of material things, and how great a life can be merely when you turn your focus upwards. It's so crazy to think about how material and selfish I am and how much I really need to change. There is so much pain and hurt all over the world and I'm worried about what shirt to wear that makes me look better. That is so embarrasing.
This quote by Nate Saint sums this up nicely and also sucker punches you:
"I would rather die now than to live a life of oblivious ease in so sick a world."
wow...
-David Brainerd
I read this quote earlier this week and have been dwelling on this for a few days now and really felt compelled to write in this long forgotten blog of mine. I really do miss this ol' thing, it's nice to write my thoughts out, despite if anyone reads these ramblings or not.
This is something that has been on my mind a lot lately. The idea that everything is meaningless unless done for God or for the love of others. If you really start to think about it it's so mind blowing to realize that nothing we do here on this earth will last after we die. All the money we acquire, the cars we own, the big house we buy, the movies we watch, all these things are meaningless.
I've realized that the only things that will truly matter are what we do to further God's kingdom. Sharing the gospel with the unreached, helping those in need, loving people, and living with a outward focus. I've learned something very valuable in these months since leaving Americorps, that the only time I'm truly, genuinely happy is when I'm helping others and serving God. As soon as my focus turns inward everything starts to fall apart.
This life is not about me at all, it's about what I can do to serve God. And this is exactly what Mr. Brainard was saying, and it resonated so greatly in me. Coupled with the fact that I'm reading Ecclesiastes which is all about discovering the meaningless pursuit of material things, and how great a life can be merely when you turn your focus upwards. It's so crazy to think about how material and selfish I am and how much I really need to change. There is so much pain and hurt all over the world and I'm worried about what shirt to wear that makes me look better. That is so embarrasing.
This quote by Nate Saint sums this up nicely and also sucker punches you:
"I would rather die now than to live a life of oblivious ease in so sick a world."
wow...
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Sorry Screen, but you just might be ruining me!
What I'm about to write may seem hypocritical, being that I am a huge movie buff, but I'm not saying I'm good at this, that I also should change. Ok, hear it goes:
Lately I've been thinking that perhaps we may be too entertained as people. Do you ever find yourself sacrificing time that you should be doing homework to instead play on facebook? Do you ever stay home and watch TV instead of hanging out and cultivating relationships? Do you ever wonder if your brain is wasting away to nothing as we sit in front of a screen showing things that other people have written?
We watch as other people live glorious lives of adventure. As people go through trials and hardships only to come out on the other side unscathed and a better person. We watch as the people on the screen LIVE their lives. Why can't we do this? Why do we have to watch others take risks, make mistakes, and pick themselves back up? We often wish that real life could be as cool as movies or tv. Well, I believe it can be. Only if we decide to stop watching other people live and instead start living ourselves.
Let me ask you; take any movie: In it, are the characters ever shown just laying about watching TV, or playing on the computer all day? No! They're out having adventures. If they are shown doing that, then its to get the point across that that character is either lazy or sad and lonely.
We are spending far to much time in a fake world and not enough making our own stories great. I'm not saying tv or movies are bad! Heck, I LOVE movies. Everyone needs to escape sometimes. I'm just saying that sometimes there is too much of a good thing. I've found lately that I'm not doing certain real life things just so I can laze about and watch someone else's life. I need to change, I need to start making my own story something worth "watching". See, I think God has a hard time using christians who are so conditioned to be entertained. We as christians need to be out in the world, helping others, and witnessing all the splendor of the earth! Not dying in front of a box.
Anything I've ever read from people on their death bed have always said they wished they had spent less time watching tv and more time with family, friends and enjoying life. Perhaps we should start living that way now, and not wait to regret it when we're dying.
So let's start creating our own great "movie". And like any great story you'll need your own call to adventure, the point when you cross the threshold into the unknown, you'll need your own tests, and climax/battle, you'll need to get messy and make mistakes. It won't be easy cutting back on screen time, but I guarentee it will be worth our whiles. Cause through this all we'll come out better people and more useful in God's kingdom, more ready to do his will, and maybe, just maybe, you'll live a story so grand, they'll make a movie about YOU someday, to inspire generations to come to live a great adventure.
Lately I've been thinking that perhaps we may be too entertained as people. Do you ever find yourself sacrificing time that you should be doing homework to instead play on facebook? Do you ever stay home and watch TV instead of hanging out and cultivating relationships? Do you ever wonder if your brain is wasting away to nothing as we sit in front of a screen showing things that other people have written?
We watch as other people live glorious lives of adventure. As people go through trials and hardships only to come out on the other side unscathed and a better person. We watch as the people on the screen LIVE their lives. Why can't we do this? Why do we have to watch others take risks, make mistakes, and pick themselves back up? We often wish that real life could be as cool as movies or tv. Well, I believe it can be. Only if we decide to stop watching other people live and instead start living ourselves.
Let me ask you; take any movie: In it, are the characters ever shown just laying about watching TV, or playing on the computer all day? No! They're out having adventures. If they are shown doing that, then its to get the point across that that character is either lazy or sad and lonely.
We are spending far to much time in a fake world and not enough making our own stories great. I'm not saying tv or movies are bad! Heck, I LOVE movies. Everyone needs to escape sometimes. I'm just saying that sometimes there is too much of a good thing. I've found lately that I'm not doing certain real life things just so I can laze about and watch someone else's life. I need to change, I need to start making my own story something worth "watching". See, I think God has a hard time using christians who are so conditioned to be entertained. We as christians need to be out in the world, helping others, and witnessing all the splendor of the earth! Not dying in front of a box.
Anything I've ever read from people on their death bed have always said they wished they had spent less time watching tv and more time with family, friends and enjoying life. Perhaps we should start living that way now, and not wait to regret it when we're dying.
So let's start creating our own great "movie". And like any great story you'll need your own call to adventure, the point when you cross the threshold into the unknown, you'll need your own tests, and climax/battle, you'll need to get messy and make mistakes. It won't be easy cutting back on screen time, but I guarentee it will be worth our whiles. Cause through this all we'll come out better people and more useful in God's kingdom, more ready to do his will, and maybe, just maybe, you'll live a story so grand, they'll make a movie about YOU someday, to inspire generations to come to live a great adventure.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Are We Gentleman?
I have written a note on Facebook blog about being a gentleman and what that means. I would like anyone's thoughts or suggestions on it. Or even criticism.
Nothing more manly than baseball :PMonday, November 2, 2009
Why I Left Americorps
This is probably coming as a surprise to you all, and I don't expect most of you to understand my reasoning. From reading my blogs it looks like I was having the time of my life, and I was, So I shall try my best to explain.
From day one I was in personal termoil over being there, I was homesick mostly at first, but I knew I would get over it. And I did. But as time went on I discovered more of what Americorps was about and after much prayer I eventually decided my time was up here. I gave it three weeks and I felt peaceful about leaving. Here are the reasons in no particular order:
(1) I hate dorm life. I am a person who very much enjoys my alone time, and there was none of that. I was with people literally 24/7. And I got used to that, but I wasn't getting used to how open everyone was about doing drugs all the time, and drinking every night. Yes, that is what many people call "real life", I call it an alternate universe where adults refuse to grow up.
(2) While many of the things Americorps is doing very good, I started feeling differantly, and this is one of my main reasons. Think about it, Americorps is going out and doing service, fixing houses and whatnot, which is all well and good. But these are material things, and we're not allowed to talk about God while in uniform. So yes, we are fixing things that matter on earth, but in the long run, have no eternal value. That is why organizations like Samaritan's Purse are so great, they are doing many of the same things Americorps does, but doing it under the name of God, and sharing his love. Americorps can not. Also, mentoring kids is another thing we could end up doing, and under no circumstances do most of these kids have any right to mentor a kid. I should have thought this all through before, but alas I did not. Also, if you think about it, we, as the government are making people even more dependant on the government by helping them out. Yes, it's good, but people are not independant anymore, we're also taking jobs away from the builders and others in the gulf who would LOVE to rebuild a house.
(3) I missed home, and my church family. No getting around that.
(4) Every morning I would wake up and think, "Why am I here? Really?" I prayed so very much and read the bible, and I truly felt like I was not meant to stick this out. I know that could be used as a cop out, but it's true.
All this being said, the three weeks were not wasted, not in the least. Because I was so far from my church support, family and friends, I relied on God's comfort and guidance more than ever. I feel closer to God, and more open to His leading now than ever before. That wouldn't have happened had I stayed home. I also learned a lot about myself. I learned a lot about others. I learned how to live in a community albeit only for 3 weeks. I met so many cool people. I got to spend tons of time with Sarah. I got to go on so many adventures I NEVER would have experianced. Like; Star Wars in Concert, Nuggets games, bouldering, rock climbing, eating at awesome new places, getting lost multiple times in Denver and always finding our way, experiancing the zombie walk, seeing Sarah in Rent...twice, packing boxes at the food bank with One Republic, making a running track at a school, hiking tall mountains in Red Rock, playing guitar and singing with other people (not just by myself), went to an awesome new church, driving a 16 passenger van down a mountain...and living, going to a hookah bar, and so many more experiances I'll never forget. All because I was here.
I know you're thinking, "But you could've had so many more adventures!" And that's true, I don't doubt it. But this just wasn't for me, I didn't feel a peace about it. I know for a fact though, it's where I was supposed to be for those 3 weeks, I feel changed, and renewed, and ready for the future. Yes, I quit, and no, this isn't a sign of things to come hehe.
Doing this also showed me I really want to serve, serve God, by serving others under His name. I plan on working with Operation Christmas Child when I return home, hopefully going to South Carolina to send off the shoe boxes, going to the Dominican Republic again next July, and hopefully working more with Samaritan's Purse. I discovered I have a heart to serve, but not under the name of the government. I will be going back to Delta, and finding a new, better job. No more coffee shop for me. I will also be taking the train home, so I will have time to reflect on my time here.
Overall, I had a great experiance. I will never forget these three weeks. I know you won't understand, believe me it was a hard decision. I don't even fully understand, but this is where I feel God is leading me now, back to Saginaw. And who am I to say no? If I see you in person and you want to try and understand better, I will try and explain better, but I can't make promises. :)
From day one I was in personal termoil over being there, I was homesick mostly at first, but I knew I would get over it. And I did. But as time went on I discovered more of what Americorps was about and after much prayer I eventually decided my time was up here. I gave it three weeks and I felt peaceful about leaving. Here are the reasons in no particular order:
(1) I hate dorm life. I am a person who very much enjoys my alone time, and there was none of that. I was with people literally 24/7. And I got used to that, but I wasn't getting used to how open everyone was about doing drugs all the time, and drinking every night. Yes, that is what many people call "real life", I call it an alternate universe where adults refuse to grow up.
(2) While many of the things Americorps is doing very good, I started feeling differantly, and this is one of my main reasons. Think about it, Americorps is going out and doing service, fixing houses and whatnot, which is all well and good. But these are material things, and we're not allowed to talk about God while in uniform. So yes, we are fixing things that matter on earth, but in the long run, have no eternal value. That is why organizations like Samaritan's Purse are so great, they are doing many of the same things Americorps does, but doing it under the name of God, and sharing his love. Americorps can not. Also, mentoring kids is another thing we could end up doing, and under no circumstances do most of these kids have any right to mentor a kid. I should have thought this all through before, but alas I did not. Also, if you think about it, we, as the government are making people even more dependant on the government by helping them out. Yes, it's good, but people are not independant anymore, we're also taking jobs away from the builders and others in the gulf who would LOVE to rebuild a house.
(3) I missed home, and my church family. No getting around that.
(4) Every morning I would wake up and think, "Why am I here? Really?" I prayed so very much and read the bible, and I truly felt like I was not meant to stick this out. I know that could be used as a cop out, but it's true.
All this being said, the three weeks were not wasted, not in the least. Because I was so far from my church support, family and friends, I relied on God's comfort and guidance more than ever. I feel closer to God, and more open to His leading now than ever before. That wouldn't have happened had I stayed home. I also learned a lot about myself. I learned a lot about others. I learned how to live in a community albeit only for 3 weeks. I met so many cool people. I got to spend tons of time with Sarah. I got to go on so many adventures I NEVER would have experianced. Like; Star Wars in Concert, Nuggets games, bouldering, rock climbing, eating at awesome new places, getting lost multiple times in Denver and always finding our way, experiancing the zombie walk, seeing Sarah in Rent...twice, packing boxes at the food bank with One Republic, making a running track at a school, hiking tall mountains in Red Rock, playing guitar and singing with other people (not just by myself), went to an awesome new church, driving a 16 passenger van down a mountain...and living, going to a hookah bar, and so many more experiances I'll never forget. All because I was here.
I know you're thinking, "But you could've had so many more adventures!" And that's true, I don't doubt it. But this just wasn't for me, I didn't feel a peace about it. I know for a fact though, it's where I was supposed to be for those 3 weeks, I feel changed, and renewed, and ready for the future. Yes, I quit, and no, this isn't a sign of things to come hehe.
Doing this also showed me I really want to serve, serve God, by serving others under His name. I plan on working with Operation Christmas Child when I return home, hopefully going to South Carolina to send off the shoe boxes, going to the Dominican Republic again next July, and hopefully working more with Samaritan's Purse. I discovered I have a heart to serve, but not under the name of the government. I will be going back to Delta, and finding a new, better job. No more coffee shop for me. I will also be taking the train home, so I will have time to reflect on my time here.
Overall, I had a great experiance. I will never forget these three weeks. I know you won't understand, believe me it was a hard decision. I don't even fully understand, but this is where I feel God is leading me now, back to Saginaw. And who am I to say no? If I see you in person and you want to try and understand better, I will try and explain better, but I can't make promises. :)
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Weekend of Fun and Awesomeness
This whole week has seemed very unlike the other Americorps weeks because we've had so much time off! Being that apparentely Halloween is a federal holiday now, we had the whole weekend off. So I went to spend the weekend with Sarah!
Before leaving late Friday night our whole unit got to a huge indoor rock climbing and bouldering place. It was so awesome! And for those who don't know bouldering is basically leaping from rock to rock without a harness, and when you fall you fall into a nice cushy mat. I personally preferred that to rock climbing, it was a challenge to overcome!
That night was a campus wide Halloween party. Picture this; a small dance floor room loaded with 200 people, with strobe lights, disco lights, extremely loud techno music, halloween decor and lights, and a root beer keg, and you have a pumping halloween party.
I then spent the night with Sarah, and was so glad to be able to sleep in an "actual" bed, take a shower in something that wasn't slimy and grimy, and sleep in (in Sarah's apartment morning doesn't start till noon). It was also so nice to have they're puppy, Pugsy, snuggling with us, it reminded me of Snowball.
Sarah and I then spent the afternoon eating colorado style pizza, walking around beautiful downtown fort collins, and ending with eating cookies overlooking the Horsetooth resevoir. That night Drew cooked a home cooked meal which to me was heaven after so much cafeteria food. And we then preceded to be the coolest kids around and....watch scary movies! whoo!
I am now chilling on Sarah's couch watching the Jetson's while typing this, waiting to head to see Sarah in Rent again. Tonight we get to see the Nuggets! What an adventurous weekend, relaxing to! It was nice to get a weekend break from dorm life.
Even though its almost been three weeks now, I still miss home almost as much as the first week. I'm having so much fun, but its true what they say, home is where the heart is. I can't wait to return!
While listening to a sermon this morning by Todd Nighswonger from Cornerstone he was talking about doing God's will every moment of every day, and he said this thoughtprovoking statement: "When God says to you jump, your response should be, how high?"
Before leaving late Friday night our whole unit got to a huge indoor rock climbing and bouldering place. It was so awesome! And for those who don't know bouldering is basically leaping from rock to rock without a harness, and when you fall you fall into a nice cushy mat. I personally preferred that to rock climbing, it was a challenge to overcome!
That night was a campus wide Halloween party. Picture this; a small dance floor room loaded with 200 people, with strobe lights, disco lights, extremely loud techno music, halloween decor and lights, and a root beer keg, and you have a pumping halloween party.
I then spent the night with Sarah, and was so glad to be able to sleep in an "actual" bed, take a shower in something that wasn't slimy and grimy, and sleep in (in Sarah's apartment morning doesn't start till noon). It was also so nice to have they're puppy, Pugsy, snuggling with us, it reminded me of Snowball.
Sarah and I then spent the afternoon eating colorado style pizza, walking around beautiful downtown fort collins, and ending with eating cookies overlooking the Horsetooth resevoir. That night Drew cooked a home cooked meal which to me was heaven after so much cafeteria food. And we then preceded to be the coolest kids around and....watch scary movies! whoo!
I am now chilling on Sarah's couch watching the Jetson's while typing this, waiting to head to see Sarah in Rent again. Tonight we get to see the Nuggets! What an adventurous weekend, relaxing to! It was nice to get a weekend break from dorm life.
Even though its almost been three weeks now, I still miss home almost as much as the first week. I'm having so much fun, but its true what they say, home is where the heart is. I can't wait to return!
While listening to a sermon this morning by Todd Nighswonger from Cornerstone he was talking about doing God's will every moment of every day, and he said this thoughtprovoking statement: "When God says to you jump, your response should be, how high?"
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Snow for Halloween?
Yes sirree! We have snow here in Denver, and not just a light dusting, it's about 14 inches! SNOW DAY!!! I must say, it is positively beautiful out here with the snow, basically a winter wonderland. Because of all the snow our classes were canceled the last 2 days resulting in much free time, and sleep catch up.
Before I go into these last two days, let me tell you about tuesday. We went to the Rocky Mountain Food Bank to help pack boxes full of food. Upon arriving we learned that One Republic (a band famous two years ago, and no one really cares about anymore) was coming to help us out! And wait, it gets better! The film crew for Biggest Loser were coming to film them and us. We were on our second ever project and already the publicity is roaring. Of course, the band only worked for 30 minutes, but hey, it was fun! At the end of the day they said our team of 15 packers packed 2000 boxes of food, and they only expected us to do 1000. We Americorps workers are HARDCORE! Whoo!
These past two snow days though have been a bit rough on me, because we had a large amount of free time with not a lot to do, I started getting very homesick, and just about came home. It was the accumalation of many feelings at once. Like feeling like I'm totally cut off from reality( and glenn beck), hating dorm life, feeling like I'm the only person who's differant because of being a christian (even though thats not true), and just plain homesickness. But, crisis averted, and I'm here to stay! :) I feel like I have a job to do here, a job of being a light in a very very dark place.
And to save me from my endless boredom, today we tried out a hookah bar. It was a total new experiance for me, and I can't say I like pineapple flavored or juicy fruit tobacco. No fruity stuff for this real man! Ar ar ar!
I also bought a coffee maker for my room, so now people don't have to completely avoid me in the morning. I shall be the cheeriest person on campus, and thats a fact!
Before I go into these last two days, let me tell you about tuesday. We went to the Rocky Mountain Food Bank to help pack boxes full of food. Upon arriving we learned that One Republic (a band famous two years ago, and no one really cares about anymore) was coming to help us out! And wait, it gets better! The film crew for Biggest Loser were coming to film them and us. We were on our second ever project and already the publicity is roaring. Of course, the band only worked for 30 minutes, but hey, it was fun! At the end of the day they said our team of 15 packers packed 2000 boxes of food, and they only expected us to do 1000. We Americorps workers are HARDCORE! Whoo!
These past two snow days though have been a bit rough on me, because we had a large amount of free time with not a lot to do, I started getting very homesick, and just about came home. It was the accumalation of many feelings at once. Like feeling like I'm totally cut off from reality( and glenn beck), hating dorm life, feeling like I'm the only person who's differant because of being a christian (even though thats not true), and just plain homesickness. But, crisis averted, and I'm here to stay! :) I feel like I have a job to do here, a job of being a light in a very very dark place.
And to save me from my endless boredom, today we tried out a hookah bar. It was a total new experiance for me, and I can't say I like pineapple flavored or juicy fruit tobacco. No fruity stuff for this real man! Ar ar ar!
I also bought a coffee maker for my room, so now people don't have to completely avoid me in the morning. I shall be the cheeriest person on campus, and thats a fact!
Monday, October 26, 2009
Getting Used to Things
I apologize for not updating more, I find I'm quite busy, or just don't feel like typing with my two fingers. Yes, I never learned how to correctly type.
Things are going quite well. I'll briefly summerize all I've been up to. Most of the time we've been sitting through endless, boring, mind-numbing, bashing head to wall, power points about things like, Diversity and you!, Why sexual harrasment is wrong, how to swing a hammer, and other things I sometimes find I fall asleep too. (you would too, so don't judge).
Things have been more exciting lately though. We did a service project on Friday where we built a track for a school, planted flowers and trees, and rebuilt things. It would have cost them 80,000, but instead because of our 5 hours of work, and the help of the 8th graders, it only cost 5,000! Also, we got pizza and bagels out of the deal :)
It was nice to finally do some work. I spent a good part of the weekend exploring Denver with new found friends, going up and down the 16th street mall. And saturday night was the annual zombie walk, so there was 100s of people dressed like zombies walking around, and for the small price of a duct tape X, you could be "eaten"! BY ZOMBIES!
Abigail and I also got to try out this church called Bloom sunday night! It was so much like Hopevale, and so very refreshing to be around fellow believers and followers of Christ. We also had some fun times on the Rail. Don't ever buy a discounted ticket cause a rail police will get you for it, rip up your ticket and make you buy another. And if traveling late, you will run into a drunk father of four kids who we just happened to report to the rail police. Good times, gooooood times.
I must say, every day is certainly a new adventure. I got to see and hang out with sarah tonight too! Always refreshing to talk to family. And tomorrow we're going to work at the Rocky Mountain Food Bank, and I'm very excited!
Overall, things are well, though I do sometimes long for training to be over. I miss family, home, and friends, but I always keep in mind that God is here, comforting me, and that I shall return home soon. Time will fly and I have to make the most of my Americorps phase of life.
Things are going quite well. I'll briefly summerize all I've been up to. Most of the time we've been sitting through endless, boring, mind-numbing, bashing head to wall, power points about things like, Diversity and you!, Why sexual harrasment is wrong, how to swing a hammer, and other things I sometimes find I fall asleep too. (you would too, so don't judge).
Things have been more exciting lately though. We did a service project on Friday where we built a track for a school, planted flowers and trees, and rebuilt things. It would have cost them 80,000, but instead because of our 5 hours of work, and the help of the 8th graders, it only cost 5,000! Also, we got pizza and bagels out of the deal :)
It was nice to finally do some work. I spent a good part of the weekend exploring Denver with new found friends, going up and down the 16th street mall. And saturday night was the annual zombie walk, so there was 100s of people dressed like zombies walking around, and for the small price of a duct tape X, you could be "eaten"! BY ZOMBIES!
Abigail and I also got to try out this church called Bloom sunday night! It was so much like Hopevale, and so very refreshing to be around fellow believers and followers of Christ. We also had some fun times on the Rail. Don't ever buy a discounted ticket cause a rail police will get you for it, rip up your ticket and make you buy another. And if traveling late, you will run into a drunk father of four kids who we just happened to report to the rail police. Good times, gooooood times.
I must say, every day is certainly a new adventure. I got to see and hang out with sarah tonight too! Always refreshing to talk to family. And tomorrow we're going to work at the Rocky Mountain Food Bank, and I'm very excited!
Overall, things are well, though I do sometimes long for training to be over. I miss family, home, and friends, but I always keep in mind that God is here, comforting me, and that I shall return home soon. Time will fly and I have to make the most of my Americorps phase of life.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Why Did I Wake Up Early??!!
So I got up at the normal time of about 7:15 feeling like crap like I do every morning cause I would love to just sleep allllll day, and come to find out that we didn't need to be to our first class till 9! So I'm killing time by writing this blog update!
I've had quite a bit of fun lately, but not especially doing Americorps things, for now thats been more on the boring side. Like Saturday night some of us went on an adventure to find a movie theater a couple miles away. It should've taken 30 minutes, but instead took 90 minutes, because every time we took a turn there would be a stupid fence, river, or highway in the way. We did eventually find it after walking on some highways and scrambling down some steep concrete hills. But it was very fun, and it was great to spend some quality convo time with people.
Abigail and I then spent sunday with Sarah! And what a great day it was! She picked us up at 10:30 and drove us back to Ft. Collins. We then got a free lunch at The Carosuel Dinner Theater and a free show cause Sarah was in Rent! Free free free! Rent was quite good, it was the first time Abigail and I had ever seen Rent. The kids in the show and Sarah were so good, and their voices were beautiful. The play itself is a tad strange, but oh well.
We got to see Sarah's apartment and her cute pug named Pugsy! What an original name right? She then drove us back to Denver, and as Abigail chilled at a Barnes and Nobles, Sarah again treated me to STAR WARS IN CONCERT!!!! It was the most chill inducing thing I've ever seen! Watching a huge orchestra play Star Wars music, with giant screens playing scenes, and Anthony Daniels himself hosting, was a highlight of my year! You have to experiance this live to fully appreciate Star Wars music! We ended the perfect day with some Hard Rock Cafe. It was so great to spend time with my sis, "a little piece of home."
On the Americorps side of things we've just been doing a lot of training and lessons and having us drive 16 passenger vans up and down mountains. You know, mundane things. :) I was having second thoughts about all this Americorps stuff, but it gets better every day and I become more and more used to it. If you want to see pictures, check out my facebook. It takes many moons to load pics to blogger.
Hope all is well with those not here.
I've had quite a bit of fun lately, but not especially doing Americorps things, for now thats been more on the boring side. Like Saturday night some of us went on an adventure to find a movie theater a couple miles away. It should've taken 30 minutes, but instead took 90 minutes, because every time we took a turn there would be a stupid fence, river, or highway in the way. We did eventually find it after walking on some highways and scrambling down some steep concrete hills. But it was very fun, and it was great to spend some quality convo time with people.
Abigail and I then spent sunday with Sarah! And what a great day it was! She picked us up at 10:30 and drove us back to Ft. Collins. We then got a free lunch at The Carosuel Dinner Theater and a free show cause Sarah was in Rent! Free free free! Rent was quite good, it was the first time Abigail and I had ever seen Rent. The kids in the show and Sarah were so good, and their voices were beautiful. The play itself is a tad strange, but oh well.
We got to see Sarah's apartment and her cute pug named Pugsy! What an original name right? She then drove us back to Denver, and as Abigail chilled at a Barnes and Nobles, Sarah again treated me to STAR WARS IN CONCERT!!!! It was the most chill inducing thing I've ever seen! Watching a huge orchestra play Star Wars music, with giant screens playing scenes, and Anthony Daniels himself hosting, was a highlight of my year! You have to experiance this live to fully appreciate Star Wars music! We ended the perfect day with some Hard Rock Cafe. It was so great to spend time with my sis, "a little piece of home."
On the Americorps side of things we've just been doing a lot of training and lessons and having us drive 16 passenger vans up and down mountains. You know, mundane things. :) I was having second thoughts about all this Americorps stuff, but it gets better every day and I become more and more used to it. If you want to see pictures, check out my facebook. It takes many moons to load pics to blogger.
Hope all is well with those not here.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Americorps..The First Days
I just arrived in Denver on the 14th, and I apologize for not writing earlier, things have been a bit hectic.
So far we've spent the last few days learning the ins and outs of the campus and whats expected of us. Today, we had physicals; it was the best day of my life.....not! It was fun on the way home cause we got lost and ended up seeing lots of Denver. Also, I like being in "government" vehicles. I'm so important! hehe. I also woke up to late and missed breakfast, which means I missed my daily cup of joe which means I got a bad headache! Never again will the coffee be skipped. NEVER!
Everyone here is so nice! Literally everyone! It's a tad overwhelming trying to remember everyone's names. I'm pretty sure I met a hundred people the first day, then met the same hundred people the next day. But I'm starting to remember some names better now.
my room
more room 
campus
the view!
more campus
Abigail!
So far we've spent the last few days learning the ins and outs of the campus and whats expected of us. Today, we had physicals; it was the best day of my life.....not! It was fun on the way home cause we got lost and ended up seeing lots of Denver. Also, I like being in "government" vehicles. I'm so important! hehe. I also woke up to late and missed breakfast, which means I missed my daily cup of joe which means I got a bad headache! Never again will the coffee be skipped. NEVER!
Everyone here is so nice! Literally everyone! It's a tad overwhelming trying to remember everyone's names. I'm pretty sure I met a hundred people the first day, then met the same hundred people the next day. But I'm starting to remember some names better now.
My room is actually a lot nicer than I thought, and my roommate is super nice (pictures below, of my room, not my roommate :) It's very weird for me though being around people literally 24/7, since I'm so used to alone time. But I'm sure I'll eventually get used to it (maybe).
It's so nice having Abigail here though, and Sarah's only 45 minutes away.
It's so nice having Abigail here though, and Sarah's only 45 minutes away.
It's also extremely beautiful here, our campus sits on a hill overlooking Denver and the mountains in the background. It's literally breathtaking. And at night everything is all lit up. It's so serene. Abigail, my new friend Annie, and I played guitar last night overlooking the lit up city under the stars. It was great fun.
Also, the food is actually passable. We had a turkey dinner last night and it was fairly delicious. But even that wasn't enough so we walked to Little Ceasars later that night for some late night pizza... mmmmmm.
I don't have much more to say now, tomorrow we're doing a scavenger hunt around downtown denver so we can get aquianted with the city better, and then hiking in some place called Red Rocks. Should be the first really fun day! These past few days have been fun don't get me wrong, its just there's been lots of sitting around listening to lectures.
And here are a few pictures:
my room
more room 
campus
the view!
more campus
Abigail! Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Taking Things for Granted
Upon reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan (which is the best book on christianity ever written other than the bible of course), it made me think about how much we take things for granted sometimes.
Think about this for a second, god gave us this beautiful earth, and yet so often we just pass it by without a second thought. I mean, just stop and think about how beautiful it is, and so complex and intricate! You have things like birds that each have a differant song to seranade us with, differant creatures to marvel at, so many differant types of trees!
Also, the moon! Its this big glowy thing just chilling up in our sky. One inch closer to us and it would smash us to bits, one inch farther and oops, there goes the moon, no more tides, and life ceases to exist. god knew exactly what we needed. and yet we take all this for granted! Don't even get me started on the sun! oh look honey, its that silly little orange ball in the sky again, nothing special about that. without it, we would also cease to exist and freeze to death.
god did all this for a reason, and he made this planet so beautiful, yet we fail to realize this in day to day life. we should be waking up every morning, looking out the window and saying, holy crap! yup, those are the only words to describe it.
there is so much more i could get into about how beautiful and intricate life is, but this'll do for now. stop every now and then and just marvel at god's glorious gift to us.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
We are fakes
Lately I've been noticing a disturbing trend in the way christian people are acting. Most of the christian people I know are acting no better than the "people of the world". Swearing, sexual jokes, putting others down, gossiping, and the like is becoming common. Why is this?
We have one face on at church, "Oh I'm such a good christian person, look at me."
then a complete one-eighty outside of it, " Oh look at me, I'm so cool, look at me swear and say sexual jokes, haha I'm so funny!" WRONG!
What are we doing here people?
We are supposed to be ambassadors of Christ
How does this reflect on Him?
We are acting no better than the world.
I am guilty of this too, I get caught up in "cool" things and totally forsake everything that I stand for and believe in...and this has got to stop.
How are non-believers supposed to pick us out from the rest?
God calls us to be the light to a world of darkness.
And we are certainly not acting that way, or pleasing God.
Please people, lets try, i mean really try, to put behind us all the immature, disgusting jokes, the language, the gossip and slander, the hate, and instead show the world who we really are....
a light
that is all
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Music touches the soul...
Lately I've been listening to lots of worship music, mainly because I'm at a point in my life where I feel myself and my life totally surrendered to God, which is how it should always be. So I've been listening to this music and a particular song that I normally sort of passed right over while singing it in church really hit me. I've never paid attention to the lyrics till now. Its called How Deep the Fathers Love For Us. It is such a beautiful song and i recommend you find it and give it a listen.
How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocing voice,
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that helf Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocing voice,
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that helf Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
Monday, January 5, 2009
Americorp
I had my interview with Americorp exactly one week ago, and I have two more weeks to wait.
Waiting has never been so hard....
I want this more than anything I have ever wanted
Think about it, for 10 months you are helping others as God intended, you're seeing his beautiful creation all over the usofa, you're meeting new people who have similar thinking as you, and you're trying and seeing new things
every day!
Does that not sound like heaven to you?
Or at least a slice of it?
Our world is in pain, I want to do my part to make it just a little bit better for those less fortunate. That is what we are here to do as christians.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S38-mjy5NtA
watch this video, this is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. It's called Angels on the Moon by Thriving Ivory
Waiting has never been so hard....
I want this more than anything I have ever wanted
Think about it, for 10 months you are helping others as God intended, you're seeing his beautiful creation all over the usofa, you're meeting new people who have similar thinking as you, and you're trying and seeing new things
every day!
Does that not sound like heaven to you?
Or at least a slice of it?
Our world is in pain, I want to do my part to make it just a little bit better for those less fortunate. That is what we are here to do as christians.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S38-mjy5NtA
watch this video, this is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. It's called Angels on the Moon by Thriving Ivory
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