Hey everyone, it’s been awhile since I have just shared some normal life stuff. So I figured I would just share some stuff that has been floating in my head and my daily life: books, website, music, etc. So take some time to check out the websites and things. Hope I can give you some inspiration.

://life.inspiration

Greater Lighthouse Church (home church)

>>revoluton.youth (coolest youth group ever)

*been playing a lot of Call of Duty MW:2 with our students lately as well!

*Ice-Skating trip with revolution.youth students (I was the only one to do a 360 on the ice btw!)

*Preached Part 1 of new Series: txt_MSG at >>revolution. Talked about the importance and power of the Word of God

PerryNoble – blog

Steven Furtick – blog

Relevant Magazine

TG Church “3 Years”: video

Virginia Tech Football!!!

Virginia Tech Basketball!

:://Books:

Through Painted Deserts by Donald Miller

Serve God, Save the Planet by Matthew Sleeth

Jesus Wants to Save Christians by Rob Bell

*Just finished study through 2 Chronicles

:://Music:

The Cinematic Orchestra

Anberlin

Ra Ra Riot

Bonnerfide Radio – podcast

The Postal Service

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (Romans 8:38)

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:39)

We read in these few verses that “neither death nor life” can separate us from the love of God.  I just wanted to share a thought with you…

Death is hard, and everyone meets it at some point in their life.. Wether it is a loved one or a friend you stand next to at the funeral home, or when a season of life/friendship dies, death is a part of everything.  And sometimes death can be one of the hardest times in life, and causes us to feel faraway from God.  But obviously death is something that draws us closer to Him.  It is a reminder that we are not infinite, but finite in a world that acts like we will live forever.. 

But I wanted to point out the “life” part in particular.  I heard that one man said, “God said he would give us life, and life more abundantly.  You know what I think of when I heard ‘life more abundantly?’ I think of bills, taxes, packing lunches, soccer games, etc.  I don’t know if I want more of that!”   Although this man was joking when he said it, he was speaking truth.  Maybe Paul wanted us to remember that through “life” (i.e. stresses, pain, taxes, mortgages, kids, work, pain, paychecks, job loss, family struggle, etc) that even the things of everyday life, can’t keep us from the love of God.  Although we feel far from him during “life” at times, He is still there.  And his love is there too.  Don’t be fooled, death can make us feel far from God, as well as many other things but life can too at times.

Is a statement, and certainly a feeling I know many of my friends, anyone college-age, and even myself can feel or say sometimes.  Please understand me, trying to “figure out life” is something that there seems to be so much pressure put on by parents, teachers, and even random people that strangely pop into your life that have no investment in you, but feel the need to tell you to “get the ball rolling and get your life together.”  The great question “what are you going to do with your life” is a huge one; and strangely becomes overwhelming after highschool.  I hope this post gives someone struggling with a job, school, or life that doesn’t seem to be going as planned.  One man said, “Life isnt about a title or position, but about who you are at the end of life.”  I know that life for me hasn’t always turned out as planned, and no dream is always as sweet as it is when it is in your head, but when life gets hard please remember to “look to the Author and Finisher of our faith,” Jesus, and be reminded that he is writing your story..our story… and the story of the world… Check out this post from Relevant, it deals with this discussion….

Also, be reminded, God isn’t “upstairs” trying to make life harder for you for no reason, neither did He create you to live a life to seek money, big houses, multiple cars, and fancy clothes.  He didn’t create us to meet a certain quota, or pray a certain amount of time a day to fill some sort of ”spiritual time sheet” as if to appease him.  Jesus came to set us free from living lives that live up to other’s standards, and freedom from feeling like we have to “do it all” and keep up with the Jones’.  Jesus-life is about peace, grace, humility, and realizing that its ok to be yourself, without apology.  So if it is a hard time, be patient, because Jesus is working on you, to make you more life him.. and that is always beautiful.  Even in the midst of job hunting, college, school work, and simply life.

Check out “To Build a Home” from The Cinematic Orchestra as well..

literally.. I can’t sleep.  But during this time of insomnia, I figured, why not relive some Catalyst 2009 moments on youtube.  I came across this video and wanted to share it with you.  Zach Williams, from Trinity Grace Church,  lead us in a powerful time of worship with a rendition of Come Thou Fount.. Watch this video.. and Enjoi

A few months ago I went through a study in the book of Luke and wrote down these notes, and I want to share them with you.. They aren’t polished or anything.. enjoy..

Luke 8:25

It wasn’t that the apostles didn’t have faith on Jesus, they did 
that’s why they went to him, but they didn’t have faith that they 
could be like their rabbi… They didn’t try to rebuke the sea

Sometimes we spend too much time trying to keep the boat a float or 
use buckets to empty the water when we should be rebuking the wind and 
storm

Luke 15:32

The story is left open ended.. The bible doesn’t tell us if the 
brother joins or still stays outside. Maybe it is left open because we 
can either choose to celebrate or be caught up in jealousy.

Luke 23:42
What do you do when you are shrowded with your mistakes and son and 
you look over and it seems like all you see is Gods plan failin right 
beside you?
Do you gave enough faith to ask God to save you and your future? Do 
you have enough faith to still believe he is God and he still has a 
plan?

The man built his house upon the rock

-when strong enough storms come, some all you may be left with is a 
foundation
- you better have a strong foundation! In Jesus Christ!

…Please leave some comments about some of your thoughts or takes on these scriptures!

A bit of creativity goes a long way folks.  Wether you are a small group leader, a teacher, blogger, or in whatever you do, using a bit of creativity helps anything and everything.  Deciding to teach in a different way, utilizing new methods and ways, can engage those people in your group, congregation, etc that usually arent engaged and those that have become bored.  Seriously.  I know, especially in teaching our highschool class “link,” that I have to change-up the ways in which I teach our students.  Between using music, videos, group activities, etc, I can’t rely on one example or idea to rule my class.  I have to engage those that are readers, those that learn visually, and those that are intrigued by competition.  So, in the spirit of creativity, enjoy how the city of Stockholm used creativity to encourage people to take the stairs.. literally…enjoy

article from Freakonomics inside the NY TIMES

So here I am taking a bit of time to read “Through Painted Deserts” by Don Miller, before I hit the hay, and I find myself firing the laptop back up to write a blog post.  As I was reading I was really struck by one certain portion/excerpt and I really want to share it with you.  Maybe it will cause you to read the book, or maybe not; but that isnt the purpose anyways (although I would surely recommend it).  I just want to share it with you hopefully to inspire you, or at least give your faith a deep thought or breath of fresh air. Strangely, today I wasn’t just hit by a passage from an author that was fresh and inspiring, but I read something from the Word of God that was simply beautiful, and was so fresh to me, all the while painting an amazing picture of creation that lives to worship God.  So excuse the length of this post, but please, read and enjoy..

Excerpt from “Through Painted Deserts” by Donald Miller..

“I was raised to believe that the quality of a man’s life would greatly increase, not with the gain of status or success, not by his heart’s knowing romance or by prosperity in industry or academia, but by his nearness to God.  It confuses me that Christian living is not simpler.  The gospel, the very good news, is simple, but this is the gate, the trailhead.  Ironing out faithless creases is toilsome labor.  God bestows three blessings on man: to feed him like birds, dress him like flowers, and befriend him as confidant.  Too many take the first two and neglect the last.  Sooner or later you figure out life is constructed specifically and brilliantly to squeeze a man into association with the Owner of heaven.  It is a struggle, with labor pains and thorny landscape, bloody hands and a sweaty brow, head in hands, moments of severe loneliness and questioning, moments of ache and desire.  All this leads to God, I think.  Perhaps this is what is on the other side of commercials, on the other side of the curtain behind which the Wizard of Oz pulls his levers.  Matter and thought are a canvas on which God paints, a painting with tragedy and delivery, with sin and redemption.  Life is a dance toward God, I begin to think.  And the dance is not so graceful as we might want.  While we glide and swing our practiced sway, God crowds our feet, bumps our toes, and scuffs our shoes.  So we can learn to dance with the One who made us.  And it is a difficult dance to learn, because its steps are foreign.” Pgs 90-91

Psalm 148

   ¹Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights.

   ²Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.

   ³Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.

   ⁴Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.

   ⁵Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.

   ⁶He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.

   ⁷Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:

   ⁸Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word:

   ⁹Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:

   ¹⁰Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:

   ¹¹Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:

   ¹²Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:

   ¹³Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.

   ¹⁴He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.

…simply, beautiful..

This is probably the greatest way to start back posting.  I have been busy lately working at >>revolution, doing college work, and even had a great/amazing time attending Catalyst this year.  But the biggest thing I want to share in this post back, is that me and some friends are beginning to be a part of something BIG and we are going to create some change in a new way..

At Catalyst this year I learned about MicroFinance and how organizations are enabling everyday people from around the globe to help, other ordinary people from around the globe (sounds funny right?).  Well, everyday people with a bit of extra cash, are able to give a “small loan” to those who are able to work, but dont have the resources, in poverty-stricken areas of the world.  And as these people get the funds, they start a business, and then as they make profit, they pay you back so you can do it again. 

So I decided to take ten bucks (which was given at Catalyst) and go in with some friends and sponsor someone.  We are working together, everyone pitching in ten bucks, and are going to watch are bit of money effect someone’s: family, life, community, and country’s economy for the better.   Although I haven’t made the decision on which organization to go through yet, but the cool thing is there is more than one. (i’ll link at the end of the post).  But the cool thing is, that this is a new opportunity and a new way to help someone around the world, get out of poverty, and make a difference in their community by adding to their own economy.  I am very excited to take on this endeavour, and if you would like to be a part with me and my friends, just shoot me an email, or you can check it out for yourself..  We are a apart of something BIG, and it is helping someone around the world, it is CHANGE.

check out these sites:  www.kiva.org or www.hopeinternational.org

Check out this article here, about one guy’s view of strange Christian pop-subculture.. The article is good and shows us how sometimes we can try to “sell” Jesus instead of just being a Christian.

Hallo everyone.  Had a note wrote down and wanted to share it with you.

Our generation has become increasingly propelled to be a part of this thing called “social justice.”  Whether it is helping the poor, feeding the hungry, or just helping your neighbor, social justice has become a great part in how this generation views “church.” 

 In one part of the scripture, Jesus is explaining to his disciples how the Father is in him, and he ends up telling one of them “believe me, if anything just for my work’s sake.” Throughout much of the life of Jesus’ ministry, people followed him around.  When he was in the desert, they were there; the synagogue, they were there; on a boat, they stood on the shore, and anywhere he was they followed.  But don’t be fooled, not all of these people were devoted disciples, I imagine some stood around just to see the lady be healed of her blood disease, the man with the palsy be healed, or the girl who was dead be brought back to life..   But it got them there.  And that is what it is going to take.  Social Justice, or whatever name you want for bringing healing to the world, is a definite.  It is part of the kingdom.  Just as much as the supernatural power of God healing people of diseases is.  And the thing is we need both.  Because both are part of the Kingdom of God.

In Heaven there is no sickness, pain, tears, debt, hunger, disease, or death.  That’s why we need the power of Jesus in us to for people to be healed (Just as in the book of Acts) and we need people to be fed, clothed, and helped.   Because when all of this happens, it will draw a crowd.  And some more will believe… If anything because we got out and were the hands and feet of Christ, and did some works.

John 14:11

check out more on the discussion here