O Jesus My Hope

The Rationalist

2011-05-02T10:54:00.000-05:00

The optimist says, "The glass is half full."
The pessimist says, "The glass is half empty."
The rationalist says, "This glass is twice as big as it needs to be."

- from Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar by Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klien

Two Totally Different YouTube Videos

2010-09-06T15:05:00.002-05:00

Amsterdam Sinfonietta plays in KLM 747

RSA Animate - Drive by Dan Pink

None Before

2010-05-19T09:06:00.001-05:00

"It is necessary that that which hath a beginning must have some cause, some author that gave it a beginning, but God never had a beginning; there was none before him, and therefore none that gave him his being. He thanks no one for his being; doth not, nor ever did depend upon any for it, but receives his being from himself, and depends alone on himself. Neither doth he thank anyone for anything he enjoys: his power, his wisdom, his excellency, his glory, his honor, and authority are his own, and received from none other."

- Jonathan Edwards, Works 10, 419.

Mr. Memorization

2010-05-18T23:58:00.001-05:00

-noun. the act of committing to memory.

Me: Will I not lose my mind?

Mr. Memorization: Is learning my only end?

Me: What is your other end?

Mr. Memorization: By me the wax of truth languidly drips into the heart.

Mr. Meditation

2010-05-17T05:55:00.002-05:00

-noun. continued or extended thought; reflection; contemplation.

Mr. Meditation: It has been a long time. Where have you been?

Me: Avoiding you.

Mr. Meditation: Why? I can help you.

Me: Help me? How?

Mr. Meditation: By exposing truths long trodden upon by the clog of familiarity.

Mr. Liturgy

2010-05-16T08:46:00.001-05:00

-noun. a form of public worship; ritual.

Me: I have heard of your insincerity?

Mr. Liturgy: You, having neglected me entirely?

Me: Well, not me personally. My fathers feared staleness.

Mr. Liturgy: In turn, demeaning language, they brought disgrace and shame.

Mr. Invocation

2010-05-16T01:10:00.003-05:00

-noun. a form of prayer invoking God's presence.

Me: Is it acceptable to enjoy you for your sake?

Mr. Invocation: No, for I am nothing but a billhook cutting the weed of vapidity.

Me: Then, why must I employ you?

Mr. Invocation: Because the weed grows deep in the soil of your heart.

What Are You Then?

2010-03-30T07:55:00.003-05:00

A quote from The Confessions of St. Augustine:

"What art Thou then, my God? What, but the Lord God?... Most hightest, most good, most potent, most omnipotent, most merciful, yet most just; most hidden, yet most present, most beautiful, yet most strong; stable, yet incomprehensible; unchangeable, yet all-changing; never new, never old; all-renewing, and bringing age upon the proud, and they know it not; ever working, ever at rest; still gathering, yet nothing lacking; supporting, filling, and overspreading; creating, nourishing, and maturing; seeking, yet having all things. Thou lovest, without passion; art jealous, without anxiety..."

- p. 3

Ineffably Good, Beautiful, and Loving Beyond Human Comprehension

2010-03-20T23:01:00.004-05:00

A quote from Jonathan Edwards: A Life by George M. Marsden.

"A crude interpretation of Jonathan's experience might suggest that his vision of God was a cosmic projection of his father. While there is always a grain of truth in such reductionist observations, the essence of the matter is nearly the opposite. So long as Jonathan's God was substantially a projection of his father or of other human analogies, he could not believe. If God were simply a cosmic version of the greatest imaginable human, God would still be by human standards a capricious and unreasonable tyrant, the father whose love turned out to be petty control, harsh judgments, tenderness mixed with fits of anger, unyielding disciplines, and punishments. In fact, it was only when Jonathan's vision expanded to appreciate that the triune God who controlled this vast universe must be ineffably good, beautiful, and loving beyond human comprehension that he could lose himself in God."

- pp. 42-43

2010-03-18T23:26:00.004-05:00

Just a few thoughts...

1. I've been watching a music video every morning while I eat breakfast. The song and footage drill home that you will waste your life unless Christ is in the center. That re-enforced by Isaiah 43:11 and Psalm 33: 13-17 has opened my eyes to other functional saviors in my life. Saviors like clothes (if only I had that shirt or style), money (if I had money then I would be secure), relationship (if I had a girlfriend...), job (if I had the perfect job, I would be happy), etc. God whispers, "No, I, yes I, am the Lord, and there is no other Savior." I have confessed many times this week that I have failed by putting my trust in something or someone other than Jesus.

2. I am thankful for where I am. Its easy to wish I was somewhere else or in different circumstances, but I don't want that. Not now. I want to live here, where I am right now, living for Christ. Not neglecting the future, but living simply. Dr. Doran calls it daily simple devotion to Christ. I have to have that.

3. Integrity. I am not sure what it means, but I want it more than any other quality, and I think I lack it more than any other quality. Please God.

If anything I am writing this to myself. Still, I hope someone finds it encouraging.

Easier Not To Pray

2010-02-28T07:19:00.001-06:00

Praying exposes how self-preoccupied we are and uncovers our doubts. It was easier on our faith not to pray. After only a few minutes, our prayer is in shambles. Barely out of the starting gate, we collapse on the sidelines—cynical, guilty, and hopeless."

-pg. 15 A Praying Life, Paul E. Miller.

4 Truths

2010-02-23T22:37:00.006-06:00

From James 4:13-17

1. Our confidence is not in our plans, but in God.

2. Since we understand only God knows the future, we seek Him above all else.

3. Life is short, so don't waste it.

4. Bringing your plans before God, submitting them to His will, reveals a dependent heart.

All I Need (I Didn't Catch Her Name)

2010-02-22T06:15:00.000-06:00

By Randall Goodgame / Mighty Molecule Music

Did not catch her name
Did not catch her tears
but they hit me like a train
When her story hit my ears
Mother of eight sons
Father off to war
Got no home address
Just bricks on a dirt floor
Jesus is all I need

Tiny plot of land
Corn stored up in piles
The years it doesn't rain
They just stay hungry for a while
With no fatted calf to kill
She made a feast of cuy and corn
She said, "Who else knew my name
Before the day that I was born?
Jesus is all I need
Jesus is all I need."

She bragged about her boys
How they're growin' into men
How they learned to praise the Lord
Old Style Ecuadorian
But to buy the new guitar
we had to sell the swine
See, my boys go to school on a foreign angel's dime.
This world calls me poor
I bore my babies on this floor
But he always provides
Sure as the sun will rise.
So I sing Him songs of praise
'Cause I know He keeps me in His gaze."

Rain fell from the sky
We raced back to the van
Tears in the eyes
Of this poor, forgetful man
Mother of eight sons
She knows the peace of God
Lord, help me learn to lean
On thy staff and thy rod
Jesus is all I need

Grace

2010-02-15T06:15:00.001-06:00

Laura Story

My heart is so proud
My mind is so unfocused
I see the things You do through me
As great things I have done
And now You gently break me
Then lovingly You take me
And hold me as my Father
And mold me as my Maker

I ask you, "How many times will you pick me up
When I keep on letting you down?
And each time I will fall short of Your glory
How far will forgiveness abound?"
And you answer, " My child, I love you.
And as long as you're seeking My face,
You'll walk in the pow'r of My daily sufficient grace."

At times I may grow weak
And feel a bit discouraged
knowing that someone, somewhere
could do a better job.
For who am I to serve You?
I know I don't deserve You.
And that's the part
that burns in my heart
and keeps me hanging on.

You are so patient with me, Lord.

As I walk with You
I'm learning
What Your grace really means
The price that I could never pay
Was paid at Calvary
So, instead of trying to repay You
I'm learning to simply obey You
By giving up my life to You
For all that You've given to me

"My child, I love you. And as long as you're seeking My face, You'll walk in the pow'r of My daily sufficient grace."

Faith To Be Strong

2010-02-08T06:15:00.000-06:00

Preformed by Andrew Peterson

Give us faith to be strong
Father, we are so weak
Our bodies are fragile and weary
As we stagger and stumble to walk where you lead
Give us faith to be strong

Give us faith to be strong
Give us strength to be faithful
This life is not long, but it's hard
Give us grace to go on
Make us willing and able
Lord, give us faith to be strong

Give us peace when we're torn
Mend us up when we break
This flesh can be wounded and shaking
When there's much too much trouble for one heart to take
Give us peace when we're torn

Give us faith to be strong
Give us strength to be faithful
This life is not long, but it's hard
Give us grace to go on
Make us willing and able
Lord, give us faith to be strong

Give us hearts to find hope
Father, we cannot see
How the sorrow we feel can bring freedom
And as hard as we try, Lord, it's hard to believe
So, give us hearts to find hope

Give us faith to be strong
Give us strength to be faithful
This life is not long, but it's hard
Give us grace to go on
Make us willing and able
Lord, give us faith to be strong

Give us peace when we're torn
Give us faith, faith to be strong

Satisfy - A Prayer

2010-02-01T18:15:00.001-06:00

by Mike Donehey, Jason Ingram, Phillip LaRue

Before the sun has touched the sky
Colors bursting from Your eyes
Before the flood of the morning light
Before the earth has felt Your heat
Before I stand up to my feet
Before I begin to feel this weak

Satisfy me Lord, Oh Oh
Satisfy me Lord, Oh Oh
I'm begging You, to help me see
You're all I want, You're all I need
Oh, satisfy me Lord

When the day is closing in
Like the stars in the night I am falling
Into the pull of the earth and it's affection
In me, oh lord, can you create
A pure heart cuz I'm afraid
That I just might run back to the things I hate

Satisfy me Lord, Oh Oh
Satisfy me Lord, Oh Oh
Yeah, I'm begging You, to help me see
You're all I want, You're all I need
Oh, satisfy me Lord

You're beautiful, You're beautiful
You're more than all this world can give
You're beautiful, You're beautiful
You're love is all I need to live
You're beautiful, You're beautiful
You're more than all this world can give
You're beautiful, more beautiful
You're love is all I need to live

I am planning on posting lyrics every Monday morning for the month of Febuary.

99 Balloons and No, Mr. President

2010-01-31T16:51:00.001-06:00

Two videos (one from Igniter Media and the other from John Piper) revealing the sanctity of life and the deterioration of one of America's core values: Life. Abortion is to the 21st Century what slavery/racism was to the 19th (except arguably worse).

99 Balloons from Igniter Media on Vimeo.

Two Quick Ones

2010-01-04T22:33:00.001-06:00

1. I find this YouTube video amazingly straightforward for even Fox News. Don't get me wrong. I'm thrilled, and he has a point. Check it out here. (HT: James Grant)

2. Reading in Genesis 4, I thought of a strange question. Who did Cain marry? Where did she come from? Was it his sister? "Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch," vs. 17.

New Year Goals

2009-12-30T14:50:00.003-06:00

Here are a few goals for this next year (2010). These are two categories of many.

Mental Goals:

1. Read 10 Books - This may sound like small, but I am a slow reader and would rather maintain than speed read.

2. Read 15 Pages A Day (Jan-May) - Objective sub-goal of the above.

3. Play the Guitar (15 mins/day)

Financial Goals:

1. Give to Church Monthly

2. Develop a Budget (and hopefully live by it) - Deadline Jan. 31

3. Buy a Car

4. Open a Roth IRA

7 of 13 Goals for the New Year!

A Praying Life

2009-12-24T09:02:00.001-06:00

On my birthday I received a book, which I have been slowly reading since. Its a book on prayer. So I wanted to leave a few quotes on my blog to remind me of the powerful points made in this book. Here are a couple:

"If God is sovereign, then he is in control of all the details of my life. If he is loving, then he is going to be shaping the details of my life for my good. If is all-wise, then he's not going to do everything I want, because I don't know what I need. If he is patient, then he is going to take time to do all this. When we put all these things together—God’s sovereignty, love, wisdom, and patience—we have a divine story."

- A Praying Life, p. 22

"Unanswered prayers create some of the tensions in the story God is weaving in our lives."

- A Praying Life, p. 22

USC Draws Inspiration From No. 1 Fan - ESPN Video

2009-12-05T22:18:00.001-06:00

The Challenge - "Let Us Run"

2009-11-26T09:19:00.001-06:00

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. - Hebrews 12:1

Knowing his readers are going through trials and difficult times, the author of Hebrews in the beginning of chapter 12 encourages them to run. The word used is the word we get "agony" from. He tells them to agonize in this race. The race: a track for those who have experienced the life-giving power of the Gospel. And it is "set before us!" They do not run aimlessly or without purpose. Hope - "Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen" (emphasis added). He says, "RUN!" It's emphatic and assumes effort. If they were anything like me, this admonition was not easy or taken well. I don't like running; its hard. Still, no question that sometimes the Christian life is hard, and God calls us to obedience through perseverance and commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is this race that we run as well. The challenge is one of endurance ("with endurance")! Its not a sprint, but a marathon. Will they listen? Will we listen to the admonishment or challenge to run? Run by faith.

Reading Mark 9:14-29

2009-08-10T15:19:00.001-05:00

Reading Mark 9, I came across Jesus' statement "If you can'!All things are possible for one who believes." This truth is a response to "someone from the crowd" whose son was possessed by a demon. This father says, "If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." Jesus repeats the father's words, "If you can!" It is God saying "I can do anything, nothing is impossible with Me. How dare you doubt me?" Doubt does not belong, but it is there in the father. And even as it was there in that father, it is here in me. I know and hear it in the morning, afternoon, and evening. I am part of a "faithless generation." How then can we do impossible things? We don't. God still does. In verse 29 Jesus says "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer," and perhaps, this is a call for all who doubt: Pray to God. Still, our prayers yield no power except the powerful One listens and acts. And God still does the impossible, and we have hope.

God Moves In A Mysterious Way

2009-07-05T23:40:00.000-05:00

By William Cowper

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blue, you're my boy!

2009-06-08T16:23:00.000-05:00

Counselors

2009-05-19T18:10:00.001-05:00

Better Blue Team

2009-05-19T18:06:00.001-05:00

Blue Team This Summer

2009-05-19T17:52:00.001-05:00

Daily To Do List

2009-04-18T22:08:00.001-05:00

Today, I was overwhelmed with the load of work I have to do before I graduate, when a friend of mine share a simple, yet profound truth. "Take one day at a time," she said. I am not sure why, but it was as though I had never heard such a thing. The burden fell off, and I whispered to God, "I give the future to you, and help me to live today to its fullest." Thank God for friends, and thank God for mercy. God always sends me simple truths that I have heard all my life, and every time I fall on my face amazed.

So now I attempt my to do list for today . . . leaving the results and the future in God's hands.

User vs. Servant

2009-04-15T16:07:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, I listened to a sermon by Timothy Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian in Manhattan. This excerpt convicted me of my comfortable, moralistic Christianity.

Now a user and a servant sit together in the same pews in churches, and the question is: how do you tell the difference? It is their prayer life. For example, a user will only pray when he/she is in trouble . . . there is no desire to serve and know the Master. It is just a desire to get what needs to be gotten . . . A user and a servant differ utterly when [their] prayers are not answered. A servant knows that the one he is praying to is a father and when your father doesn't give you what you want, you can wrestle and struggle with that, but you still know He's a father. So you say, "I don't like this and I'm upset about it, but I know this: I can't make you jump through hoops for me. I am not in this religion for you to serve me. I am in this religion to serve you." But a user, when you pray and pray and you're not getting what you want, says, "What good is this religion?" [So] all along [the user]was using God.

Download the sermon for free: Here

(HT: McCoy)

At the Feet of My Enemies

2009-04-14T00:39:00.001-05:00

Written by David Brainerd on Saturday, September 18:

Felt some compassion for souls and mourned I had no more. I feel much more kindness, meekness, gentleness, and love towards all mankind, than ever. I long to be at the feet of my enemies and persecutors; enjoyed some sweetness in feeling my soul conformed to Christ Jesus, and given away to Him forever.

-The Life and Diary of David Brainerd ed. by Jonathan Edwards, p.99.

The Life of Harry Kalas

2009-04-14T00:32:00.001-05:00

Writings for the Christian College Student

2009-03-05T01:34:00.002-06:00

During college, I face so many issues day by day that are not addressed in current Christian literature (that I know of). This does not make sense. Since these years are pivotal and the choices I make impacting, why has so little been written about college life?

For instance, I have struggled with my study disciplines. During the semester, my relationship with Christ suffers as a result of constant pressure from schoolwork and other responsibilities. These burdens prey on my heart and mind, giving me a feeling of being far from God. Plus, the Holy Spirit sends conviction about my procrastination and laziness. But during the breaks (Christmas, Spring break, Summer, etc), I experience great communion with my God. My time with him is fresh and deep, and I experience a vibrant prayer life. The worries and cares of school no longer haunt me, for it is as if a heavy backpack (filled with bricks) was peeled of my back. Yet, I have never read anything concerning a Christian view on schoolwork and studies (specifically). How to develop those disciplines of a godly student in grace, while giving practical ways to eliminate laziness? Is there any book on this subject? (If you know of one, let me know)

Anyway, my overall concern is more general. Why have not more authors written about struggles of a college student? I know, I wish I knew more about developing spiritual habits and understanding myself during this time (my desire for friends, meaning, knowledge, etc.) from a Biblical perspective. Perhaps you feel the same way? Let me know how you have dealt with these issues.

Surviving Lunch...

2008-11-25T23:50:00.001-06:00

(Click to Zoom)

I Forgot Already

2008-11-19T04:38:00.003-06:00

by Jason Harrison

Some kids never learned. The parent or teacher told them one thing, and the kids instantly did the opposite. Many kids have this problem, and I was one of them. My childhood was summed up in one word: amnesia. I would do wrong, get in trouble, and get disciplined. Then I would repeat the cycle the next day. It wasn’t purposeful disobedience. Even though I tried, I just never remembered to obey. I was one of those kids who forgot everything they were told.

Since I grew up on a stunning, square mile property, I spent time outdoors away from my parents. I got into trouble for things I didn’t even know were wrong, but since I never learned my lesson, I repeated offenses. Day after day I would hear the same reprimands: Don’t hit your sister, leave the cat alone, stop eating dirt.

And I didn’t help my case. Since I lived on a hill, I went fast on my bike, sometimes hitting terminal velocity. I started in my driveway getting the bike up to full speed. Turning onto the hill, I would let gravity take control. I hit speeds most kids only dreamed of. Unfortunately, much of the time I crashed, hitting my head on the ground. This didn’t help my memory. And since I wanted to be cool, I rode my bike in winter too. Sliding and skidding along the road, I wiped out continually, never learning from my mistakes. Falling on gravel hurt my head, but falling on ice damaged my head.

One story in particular comes to mind. My brother and a friend were throwing rocks from the top of that hill. Since I wanted to be like them, I asked if I could throw rocks too.

“You’re too young.” I hated those words. My brother was only five years older than me, and he was less mature. His friend was less than two years older than me. Both of them disliked me, and if they didn’t want me around, they used the age-old age excuse. Throwing rocks was not different.

Now, I have no idea why we were throwing rocks or why I wanted to throw a rock, but I did. Defiantly, I picked up a rock and threw it with all my might. It whistled, flying through the air for what seemed like minutes. I stood proud, impressed with myself as I flexed my muscles.

Then it happened. A noise rang through the brush where my rock had landed. Crash! Next moment, I was standing alone. My brother and his friend had fled. As every strong ten year old does when he knows he’s in trouble, I cried.

I found myself in a precarious position. Here I was with rocks in my hand and a car window smashed fifty feet away. Anyone could put two and two together. I knew it was only a matter of time before my dad found out.

Within minutes I was standing before my dad and another man whom I did not know. My parents had a way of making kids feel uncomfortable beyond imagination. My dad just stood there waiting awkwardly. He wanted me to speak; I wasn’t interested. Then he said the words I dread more than any other words.

“Tell him what you did.”

I looked at the ground feeling like a Catholic in confession. I tried to push the words out of my mouth, but they refused to yield. I knew what to say, but the words stayed in my throat. My dad pressed; the discomfort increased. We all stood there in complete silence for what seemed like hours. I blurted,

“I did that to your car, and I . . . and I . . . I’m so sorry.”

All the words came at one time. I knew if I started crying I could leave, so like an honest child, I wept. My dad, convinced he taught me a lesson about life, told me I could go. Walking away I remember thinking life couldn’t get much worse.

Then guilt came. If parents knew what they put their kids through, whenever I saw that man, I thought,

“He thinks I am a terrible child who likes to vandalize other people’s property.”

This happened many times in my childhood. Sometimes I am not sure what I was supposed to learn. Don’t throw rocks, maybe? Even so, I forgot this lesson the next day. Apparently throwing rocks at your brother is just as bad as throwing them at a car.

A Biography

2008-11-10T03:35:00.000-06:00

I am reading the biography Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography by David Michaelis, and I am captivated to where I can't put the book down. I have never read such a biography; it is both sad and compelling. If only I wasn't in school, then I would finish it. Anyway, this comic was on Comics.com on my birthday, and I felt it connected to me somehow.

Renewed Hope in Jesus

2008-10-29T12:13:00.001-05:00

"Your real hope in trouble, your only certain hope in despair, is in God, the God who against all odds promised redemption for lost men—and delivered! All hope lies in Him, and that hope is realized only through His Son Jesus Christ. He delivered by fulfilling God's promise of salvation in dying on the cross for sins of those whom the Father had given Him that they might have forgiveness and life."

-Jay Adams, Christ and Your Problems, pp.18-17.

With new resolve I wrote a short purpose statement for my life. Leaving it in general terms, the phrase originates from Romans 8:That I would be conformed to the image of Christ to the Glory of God the Father. And I pray that this next statement would be my mission to accomplish my purpose: That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death (Phil. 3:10). This will push me to read the Gospels, read books about Jesus, study Jesus' ministry, pray to Jesus, write about Jesus, and meditate on Jesus. Be all about Jesus Christ, my hope.

"No Longer Walk..."

2008-08-27T16:44:00.005-05:00

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. Ephesians 4:17

The second verse of the second chapter of the letter to the saints in Ephesus, says that you were once dead in your sins in which you once walked following the course of this world. Yes, you were once following this world. You were a Gentile or one who lived according to his/her desires. You even once followed the prince of the power of the air. In other words, you were a follower, a disciple, a servant of Satan, the prince of this world! But this was before you learned Christ, before you put on the new man, before the Gospel totally transformed you by God's saving grace.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:4-10

So now, Paul says, believers must live differently. Because of this great Gospel, we should no longer walk in the same way. As a result, our lives should be changed; we will undergo a total transformation following our conversion. After being saved out of our rebellion, there should be a drastic difference between a believer’s walk and an unbeliever’s walk. How are our lives or our existences distinct from unbelievers?

Questions to ponder: How does this affect what I do? Do I still walk in the course of this world? Am I still grabbing the old man and putting it back on? Has my life been totally transformed? What about what I do? Does it seek to carry out the desires of the flesh? Do I wear the same clothes the world does? Do have the same worries that the world does? Do I participate in the same relationships the world does? Watch the same movies? Go the same places? Do I have the same reactions? Am I the same?

Paul says we must no longer walk as those who are ignorant of Christ do. Let us draw near to Jesus, and follow him instead of this world.

Posts on Ephesians

2008-08-10T12:25:00.008-05:00

Since I have not posted in a few months and since I have renewed desire to post, I decided to post a series. A series on the book of Ephesians. Meaning over the next few weeks I am planning on posting several notes, quotes, and thoughts on the book of Ephesians. Specifically, I will be focusing on chapter 4:17-32. As I am looking forward to giving a series of short messages from this passage this semester, I wanted another avenue to share my meditations, and so this blog is that avenue. My prayer is that these posts will be challenging, enlightening, and encouraging.

The focus of the Shared Items will also be the book of Ephesians.

Even the Cross

2008-03-25T14:44:00.002-05:00

"I am always thankful then, for this very human portrait of Jesus’s own agonizing struggle with his own suffering. For I know he shares my own struggle. And while I often reluctantly say to God, “Not my will but yours be done,” I remember that God transforms the evil of suffering and affliction perpetrated against Jesus. God takes the very death of Jesus, and brings about resurrection. In my own prayers during this holiest of all weeks, I bow my head and my heart to the king who reigns not from a throne, but from the Cross."

- Margaret Manning, Slice of Infinity: Via Dolorosa.

Another Day

2008-03-16T00:49:00.003-05:00

I still have another day. I just wanted to praise God for his grace. He is a God of second chances. Here I am, way behind in school (and I mean, way behind), and I find grace even in the coldest, darkest places. Tomorrow, his mercies are anew. Even though I have wasted many hours, God has graciously given more. Again, I don't deserve this. I deserve hell, so anything better than that is better than I deserve (even bad grades). I am so thankful for God's grace.

My Chains are gone,

I've been set free

My God, My Saviour has ransomed me,

and like a flood his mercy reigns

unending love, amazing grace.

(Christ Tomlin lyrics)

James 3:13-17

2008-01-26T10:50:00.000-06:00

13Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.15This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Friend Investments

2007-12-29T22:03:00.000-06:00

I think I have had a wrong view of friendship. You see, I defined friendship as a feel good, always agree, continuously together type of relationship. And since it always looked easy for others, I thought, “Why not for me too?”

So I have this image of it being effortless. As a result, I picture myself running into someone who would go out of his or her way to get to know me with little or no encouragement from me. There is the folly. As friendship is mutual, my image could not be true friendship.

As you can see my perspective was selfish, but real friendship is always selfless or looking to the needs of others. Okay, but is it easy? I think it is for some people more than others, but with that, deep friendship takes active pursing. Truth is, friendship is not trouble-free. Actually the converse is true, for a friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity (Proverbs 17:17). Just the same, it is easy to forget this. Remember then, God calls us to love our neighbors selflessly. So what does that say about our intimate relationships?

Now I see, friendship is like an investment. You have to give a little to get more in return, but you always have the danger of losing. Do not let this danger control you. Be a friend! Invest!

Rose from Brier (Excerpt)

2007-12-18T21:19:00.001-06:00

by Amy Carmichael

Thou hast not that, my child, but thou hast Me
And am not I alone enough for thee
I know it all, know how thy heart was set
Upon this joy which is not given yet…

I know it all; but from thy brier shall blow
A rose for others. If it were not so
I would have told thee, come, then say to me:
“My Lord, my Love, I am content with Thee”

(I first heard these words from a CD my brother gave me for my birthday)

Echo of a Tune

2007-12-14T00:15:00.000-06:00

Loneliness is not a feeling; it is an innate sense of longing for someone.

C.S. Lewis said:

“These things⎯the beauty, the memory of our own past⎯are good images of what we really desire... but they are only a scent of a flower we have not found, the echo of a tune we have not heard, news from a country we have never visited.”

I think this is also true of loneliness. The people and things we long for cannot fill our loneliness completely. For each possession is an echo. Only the person of Jesus Christ can take our loneliness away.

Anxious About Your Life

2007-11-05T00:50:00.000-06:00

I tell you, the world and its cares have my soul in its grip. I want more and more things even to the point of coveting other people's clothes, shoes, phones, computers, etc. I say all this to introduce the passage I am going to be meditating on all this week. I have a busy week ahead of me so this will be my only post this week, and considering the busyness, I am going to use my devotional time to meditate on this text: Matthew 6:25-34. I have much to learn about this passage, and I am looking forward to posting on it several times over the next few weeks. I know I care way too much about what I will eat, drink, and especially wear (Materialism). I am praying for God to change my heart and to show me how to place Him as my treasure.

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

The Root of Mueller's Faith and Ministry

2007-10-29T11:49:00.000-05:00

John Piper speaking of George Mueller:

And when he is about to lose a piece of property that he wants for the next orphan house, he says, “If the Lord were to take this piece of land from me, it would be only for the purpose of giving me a still better one; for our Heavenly Father never takes any earthly thing from His children except He means to give them something better instead.”[1] This is what I mean by confidence in God's sovereign goodness. This is the root of Mueller's faith and ministry.

[1] George Mueller, A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealing with George Muller, Written by Himself, Jehovah Magnified. Addresses by George Muller Complete and Unabridged, 2 vols. (Muskegon, Mich.: Dust and Ashes, 2003), 1:505.

(Complete Lecture)

A Peddler of God's Word

2007-10-22T21:45:00.000-05:00

Found this in my morning Bible reading:

For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

2 Corinthians 2:15-17

Oh, how I want to be that fragrance—an aroma to those who do not know Christ. Still, I am just a pilgrim wearily making my way to the Celestial City. May God give me the grace to show others the way…

Technology Fast

2007-10-15T11:39:00.000-05:00

"Ask yourself when the last time was that you went an entire day without the tools of information technology."

"After drinking from the firehose of information a day without info tech will seem like a year long drought. But by unplugging the god of Technology you might just find something new in the pause — a still small voice sharing the information that truly matters."

Check out the whole conclusion here.

Wisdom From Coach

2007-10-13T18:31:00.000-05:00

First of all, those who know me recognize that I love Michigan Wolverine football. And most who know I love Michigan Wolverine football also know that I am not too keen on Lloyd Carr. But maybe I’m too harsh on the old man. Yes, Michigan struggled at the beginning of this year, but how you start is never as important as how you finish. During a press conference a week ago he was asked if he learned anything about himself from the first half of this year. In response, Carr said, "No, not really. I think no matter what profession you're in or what you're doing, you're always learning, because if you're not learning, if you aren't getting better, you're regressing.” I thought, “Hmm…that was good.”

I find this concept rings true in my spiritual life. Paul says we are to forget past failures (and successes) and press toward the mark (Phil. 3:14). If I am not pressing on and growing in Christ, then I find myself “regressing” in my daily walk. Putting off my Bible reading for school, fun, or sleep is more than standing still. It is falling back (even if I feel ok). So this just reminded me how important it is to forget past failures and press on. Do not neglect spiritual disciplines. Grow up in Christ.

Also: Interesting Post Concerning Singleness

Worshipped or Used

2007-10-02T23:27:00.003-05:00

"Casual religion has serious consequences. Religious hypocrisy is altogether deplorable....Within us is the tendency to center all thinking and concerns in the self, the propensity to give attention only to things that seem to offer immediate yield or gratification, and the inability to rest, relax, or be satisfied unless we are constantly stimulated or perpetually entertained."

- Stuart McAllister

"Rather than understanding God as the meaning in all things, he becomes the means by which we gain some things. Rather than a God to be worshiped, he becomes a god to be used."

- A.J. Conyers

We Are Not Islands

2007-09-29T11:48:00.000-05:00

"We are not islands of spiritual autonomy, but pilgrims who think, live, and serve with the truth and power of a thoughtful chorus."

- Jill Carattini

Please Pray With Me

2007-09-27T16:42:00.000-05:00

Every autumn brings the same question. What am I doing next summer? And every autumn season the question comes too early. This fall is no exception. Only this fall I know what I want to do; I want to go to Argentina. You may ask, "Where did this come from?"The answer: I have no bloomin' idea, but come it did...and the opportunity along with it.

It began a few weeks ago, when my friend, Steve, assumed I was on board concerning a Brazil trip this upcoming summer. I had given some interest, but honestly, I was not very excited (for no apparent reason). Then, the destination changed to Argentina, and out of seemingly nowhere, I was surprised by joy. Since I had been praying for some time that God would allow me (if it was his will) to go aboard, I felt like Scooby Doo in a pizza shop with a ten dollar gift card, when I heard the change in destination.

But…

Much is still in limbo. First, I am in the middle of auditions for a travelling team for Maranatha (something I want to do too), and if I make it then the mission trip will more than likely have to wait. Second, the details of the trip are far from settled, and many particulars have to get ironed out before May.

(Sigh) Wisdom is essential. Thankfully, God gives wisdom if we ask for it (James 1:5). Well, I’m asking for it. Please, pray with me. Pray that God’s will would be done in my life this school year and summer, whether travelling for the school or going to Argentina (or something entirely different). He knows what is best. Pray that God would give me wisdom to discern what to do if I make the team. If God shows me Argentina, pray that God would supply all my needs.

Please pray with me.

Praying For You

2007-09-18T15:25:00.000-05:00

Forgive me for posting so many articles lately. I keep coming across relevant material that I have to share. And since I could never say it better, I just post their writings hoping you will spend time reading them. Anyway, here is another article on prayer. It meets me where I am. Maybe you too often find yourself saying (or hearing) these words, "I am praying for you." Here are some thoughts along that line:

But what about the times when someone has told you that they are praying for you, and you know that they are doing just that: crying out to God on your behalf. Have you ever heard anyone say that they could feel the prayers of believers moving them through a difficult situation? For these people, the power of prayer moves well beyond encouragement.
In fact, when uttered on sincere lips, "I'm praying for you" can be as frightening a thought as it is encouraging. Someone is standing at the throne of God with your name on her heart. This introduces an entirely new set of concerns: Is she praying for me the way I'm praying for myself? Is he asking God for the answer I'm longing for? When my dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer, I was livid when someone told me they were praying that God would take him home quickly--despite the fact that in between our cries for healing, we were praying God's will would be done. As someone once noted, prayer requires more of the heart than of the tongue. Knowing that someone is standing before God on your behalf is powerful not because she is standing with you but because she is standing with God.

Carattini, Jill. Slice of Infinity: Power of Prayer.

The Only Way To Truly Live

2007-09-13T13:40:00.000-05:00

Must read from Slice of Infinity titled Who Am I:

Regardless of what we may have been told, the way of Jesus is ultimately the way of the Cross. Signing up with Christ won't give you worldly benefits, but all the forms of suffering that arise from carrying one's cross. As we proclaim in our religiously pluralistic context that Christ is supreme over all other gods of this world, we need to be reminded that his supremacy and victory cannot be divorced from the heavy price that he paid.
Often, like Peter, we tend to expect a Lord who fits our preconceptions or ideas--perhaps one who is always "successful," or one who is validated by signs and wonders. Even the disciples were not spared this temptation. All of their questions about who would sit at his right hand and what one would secure from discipleship reveal that they were expecting glory as they walked with the Son. Their expectations likely did not include getting killed.
However, as they soon learned, any commitment to Christ that does not feature the Cross is merely devotion to an idol, for following Christ is costly. For some, following will mean death itself. It will mean taking up the Cross. It will mean living beyond our comfort zone. It may mean you will have to leave the country you call home. It will mean stepping out in love and conviction and perhaps undertaking a calling that many will scorn. Choosing to call Jesus the Christ may mean losing our lives, but then, this is the only way to truly live.

- I'Ching Thomas

By Its Cover

2007-09-10T14:23:00.000-05:00

Jill Carattini, the senior associate writer at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, writes:

In a recent study included in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine children were shown to overwhelmingly prefer the taste of food that comes in McDonald's wrappers. The study had preschoolers sample identical foods in packaging from McDonald's and in matched, but unbranded, packaging. The kids were then asked if the food tasted the same or if one tasted better. The unmarked foods lost the taste test every time. Even apple juice, carrots, and milk tasted better to the kids when taken from the familiar wrappings of the Golden Arches. "This study demonstrates simply and elegantly that advertising literally brainwashes young children into a baseless preference for certain food products," said a physician from Yale's School of Medicine. "Children, it seems, literally do judge a food by its cover. And they prefer the cover they know."

The most startling thing about the study with the preschoolers is how clearly we can see that a carrot in a McDonald's bag is still inherently a carrot. Yet how often are we similarly blindsided by mere wrappings? Is the mistake of a child in believing the food tastes better in a yellow wrapper really any different than our own believing we are better people dressed with the right credentials, covered by the latest fashion, or wrapped in the right theology? Covered in whatever comforts us, or completely stripped of our many wrappings, we are the same people underneath.

Read the whole article.

Calls Us To A Better Way

2007-09-07T16:23:00.000-05:00

This quote, which I found on Josh Harris' blog, expresses what I like to call old orthodoxy:

"If you have humility without orthodoxy it's hypocrisy-a form of pride wearing a gentle mask. At the same time, orthodoxy without humility is contradictory-with one hand it offers true words and with the other hand it takes away that truth with a worldly tone. God calls us toward a better way: boldness that is broken; truth-telling that trembles; contending that communes."

-Justin Taylor on New Attitude (Whole Article)

Keep Your Life Free

2007-08-29T18:13:00.000-05:00

Beginnings are extraordinary. This week, the start of my fifth semester of college, I am opening a new study/reading of the book of Hebrews. Already, God has spoken through the reading of this New Testament book. I am looking forward to what God is going to do with this study. It could not come at better time.

Although I am planning on reading through the book several times, I finished it today. This is some of what I read:

5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." 6 So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear;what can man do to me?"

Lately, I have found myself desiring material things: clothes, shoes, computers, etc. This exposes my heart; I am not satisfied enough in Christ. In other words, I am trying to satisfy my soul with money and possessions instead of satisfying it with Christ. Here is where Hebrews comes in. “Free from love of money,” says the author, “Be content with what you have.” Why? “He has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So now we can say with confidence, “God, You are my helper. You will take care of me! Why should I fear? “What can man do to me?” And there it is. Why do I struggle so much with loving money and things? I fear man more than I fear God. May God show me my sin and not leave me in my fear.

Check Out My Shared Items

Wonderful, Merciful Savior

2007-08-20T21:03:00.000-05:00

Wonderful, merciful Savior
Precious Redeemer and friend
Who would have thought that a lamb could
Rescue the souls of men
Oh, You rescue the souls of men

Counselor, Comforter, Keeper
Spirit we long to embrace
You offer hope when our hearts have
Hopelessly lost the way
Oh, we hopelessly lost the way

You are the one that we praise
You are the one we adore
You give the healing and grace
Our hearts always hunger for
Oh, our hearts always hunger for

Almighty, infinite Father
Faithfully loving Your own
Here in our weakness You find us
Falling before Your throne
Oh, we're falling before Your throne

Dawn Rodgers and Eric Wyse (emphasis added)

So Walk

2007-08-13T17:39:00.000-05:00

I am so thankful for what God has done this summer in my life in spite of my failures. God transformed and quickened my walk with Him, and the best part of it is He is not done yet.

I've learned (though still "prone to forget") too many lessons to share all of them, but I will share a few:

1) My spiritual growth depends on my obedience to God. This includes obeying his commands, doing his will, and not neglecting spiritual disciplines. So often, I almost think that waiting on God is waiting on God to work, when in reality God's power is always available (Phil. 2:13). It is me who necessitates a heart yielding obedience to the Spirit, for the same power of God that was in Abraham, Moses, and Jeremiah is available to me. Oh, how often I blame my lack of growth on God and circumstances while overlooking my desperate weakness and disobedience. Father, let me yield to Your working.

2) Trusting God means I place no trust in myself. I have repeatedly said, "I trust God, but I just do not trust myself." Now I see how this is actually not putting my full trust in God. If I put my trust in God as the my creator, I would trust Him for my weaknesses and failures (1 Cor. 12:9). Thus, I would be confident even joyful in my deficiencies. Father, let me know Your faithfulness over my spiritual infidelity.

3) Feelings can be misleading, and decisions should be made based on the premise of truth, not emotions. This is not to say that God does not employ our emotions in life, but that feeling alone should never determine our actions. My mind must meditate on things that are true (Phil. 4:8). Father, let me live in Your truth, not in my fleeting emotions.

4) Only God satisfies (Psalm 73:24-25). "It is not that we don't want God," says Josh Harris, "but we want God and something else." Below are some lyrics from a popular Christian song by Chris Tomlin (1,4 - picked up from Josh Harris):

All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough

More than all I want
More than all I need
You are more than enough for me
More than all I know
More than all I can say
You are more than enough for me

Father, let me be satisfied in Your presence alone.

5) God is good all the time (Psalm 84:11). Whether sunshine or rain, God loves with a pure love. Thus, I should trust him no matter where I am, what I am going through, or how I am feeling. Father, let me appreciate Your goodness to me.

Thank You, O God, for changing me this summer. Now, help me not to live in the past, but in the present realizing "obedience is never a permanent state." And so let me walk. Crown Him with many crowns. Amen.

"As ye have therefore receive Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in him." Col. 2:6

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

2007-08-05T21:30:00.000-05:00

How does God take my failures and make them His victories? I have no idea, but He does.

Glory to God!!! This is amazing! I am so thankful to God that he takes my shortcomings and produces a beautiful picture of His faithfulness and providence. Even this weekend I have seen mistakes in my every day conversation where God has taken sinful motives and desires and used them for His ultimate glory. Yes!

I am a fool, but God is good, powerful, and all-wise!!! Why don't I trust Him?

Old hymn of the faith (pumps me up!):
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou for ever will be

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To thy great faithfulness, mercy and love

Great is thy faithfulness
Great is thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed thy hand hath provided
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me
Great is thy faithfulness

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside

Give me wisdom, O Lord.

Beyond the Sky

2007-07-04T13:09:00.000-05:00

A while ago I came upon this song by Fernando Ortega...

One morning
When time is done
Bright heaven
Will be our refuge
The city of God most high

I long for
That holy day
This longing
Sometimes it captures my heart
And carries me far away

Beyond the sky
Beyond all telling
Our Father himself
Will be our light
His arms will hold us
And with his hands
He'll wipe away the tears
That stain our eyes

When darkness
Falls over me
This promise
It's like a fire inside
Burning the dark away

Beyond the sky
Beyond all telling
Our Father himself
Will be our light
His arms will hold us
And with his hands
He'll wipe away the tears
That stain our eyes

God, my hope

2007-06-09T08:06:00.000-05:00

Some reading this morning:

I was a stranger, an outcast, a slave, a rebel,
but thy cross has brought me near,
has softened my heart,
has made me thy Father's child
has admitted me to thy family,
has made me joint-heir with thyself.

Psalm 34

1 I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt his name together!

4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

11 Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 What man is there who desires life
and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous
and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;
not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Trusting Love

2007-05-26T21:42:00.000-05:00

Sometimes faith becomes hard. We think of God, “Can I really trust you with my life?” Because to be a Christian means we have to surrender control of our life. I have to say, “God is wiser than Jason Harrison” or “God is more intelligent than I am.” If we are totally honest with ourselves, sometimes it is hard to do. We are naturally proud and independent. Do you know what I mean? Do you ever find it hard to trust God?

The key: God is love. If this God is a God of love then whatever he had intended for my life or whatever he wanted me to do is going to be best for me. Honestly, he can make better decisions than I can. So I have to understand God loves me, for I cannot trust God if I think he doesn’t love me.

Leaving

2007-05-15T00:05:00.000-05:00

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

I am never satisfied with what I have. I desire a new shirt, a new book, stronger relationships, more knowledge & wisdom, and even a stronger love for Christ. In other words, contentment is not one of my strengths or (even) attributes. May the Lord teach me to be satisfied in Him...and Him alone. Michael Card sings:

Trust in Me,
Keep your life free
From what the love of money will do
Am I not enough for you?

Never will I leave you,
That's something I'll never do.
Forever remember that it's true,
Never will I leave you.

And when you fear,
The scars and tears.
Remember what I have sworn.
I'll be with you through the storm.

Never will I leave you,
That's something I'll never do.
Forever remember that it's true,
Never will I leave you.

And when you fear,
That's when I'm near,
Your soul's security.
Oh, when will you believe?

Never will I leave you,
That's something I'll never do.
Forever remember that it's true,
Never will I leave you.
Never will I leave you.

- Thank you, Lord, for never leaving me. Thank you for all you give me each and every day. Thank you for the family you have given me...we aren't perfect, but we do love one another with an enduring love. Thank you for keeping us close all these years. May you strengthen us and protect us as we go our separate ways this summer and...for the rest of our earthly journey. Bring us closer together...though we are many miles apart... Thank you, Lord. -

She Walks Away...

2007-05-04T01:01:00.001-05:00

"Another judgemental glance
fading from my thoughts.
I think, "She shouldn't have done that."
"Why does everything have to be wrong?"

Always about her.
Her feelings and problems.
Her situation and ego.

I walk away
in disgust.
Such nonsence and complaints.
Such a sinner of unsavoring words.

I walk away
Then I hear myself say,
"I wish she'd stop, its annoying me..."

Stop...Now she walks away, not I.

She walks away
and in that moment I realize.
She's better than me..."

I say with Paul, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners;
of whom I am chief." Anyone can fall into the trap of self-righteousness. Still hope lasts, for Christ lives in me... I love this song from Soveriegn Grace:

Holy God in love became
Perfect man to bear my blame
On the cross he took my sin
By his death I live again.

For Mom

2007-04-25T11:55:00.000-05:00

This is for my mom...She told me to post some funny pictures or something. So this really is against what I do with my blog, but hey, it's for mom. (Pictures are from the recent "costume party.")

Alfonzo and I

Playing good old Mario on regular Nintendo with Bobby.

Need of Grace

2007-04-10T18:37:00.000-05:00

The Valley of Vision is a collection of prayers by puritan leaders and pastors. These prayers are theologically strong and full of hope and scripture, and even while reading them conviction floods my soul. This prayer has quickly become one of my favorite.

O Lord,

Thou knowest my great unfitness for service,
my present deadness,
my inability to do anything for thy glory,
my distressing coldness of heart.
I am weak, ignorant, unprofitable,
and loathe and abhor myself.
I am at a loss to know what thou wouldest
have me do,
for I feel amazingly deserted by thee,
and sense thy presence so little;
Thou makest me possess the sins of my youth,
and the dreadful sin of my nature,
so that I feel all sin,
I cannot think or act but every motion is sin.
Return again with showers of converting grace
to a poor gospel-abusing sinner.
Help my soul to breathe after holiness,
after a constant devotedness to thee,
after growth in grace more abundantly every day.
O Lord, I am lost in the pursuit of this blessedness,
And am ready to sink because I fall short
of my desire;
Help me to hold out a little longer,
until the happy hour of deliverance comes,
for I cannot lift my soul to thee
if thou of thy goodness bring me not nigh.
Help me to be different, watchful, tender,
lest I offend my blessed Friend
in thought and behaviour;
I confide in thee and lean upon thee,
and need thee at all times to assist and lead me.
O that all my distresses and apprehensions
might prove but Christ's school
to make me fit for greater service
by teaching me the great lesson of humility.

Waiting Room

2007-03-11T16:36:00.002-05:00

You're waiting. You think you deserve it now.
Whatever it is.
You are walking around the coffee table, pacing and pacing.
You want the doctor to say its time, you've waited long enough.
But you wait...

Relationship after relationship,
interest after interest,
fleeting passions.
You're still waiting...

Someone comes, looks at you and walks away.
You sit, but your stomach moves with utter yearning for something more.
So shallow, so empty.
Why can't the doctor give you something of substance?
You think this while you wait...

Finally the doctor stops next to you,
You think, "Maybe its time."
Then you learn the news and it leaves you empty...again.
Another one who doesn't care for the doctor as much as his hospital.
So where are the ones who love the doctor...?

You're still in the waiting room...someday she'll come.

Then the doctor grabs your hand,
and he whispers, "Here's my plan:
how you'll walk,
and how you'll stand...

I have sent for my only son.
Your friend, maybe your only one...

But he is... all you'll ever need.
And you'll find, He cares!"

Hope Against Sin

2007-03-06T15:19:00.000-06:00

The Lord has been dealing with me on a daily basis concerning my outward testimony. More specifically, the words I say or do not say. Many of the words that flow from my mouth are merely vain (they have no lasting impact for eternity). These words are my feeble attempts either to impress others or to belittle others, so with Solomon I say, "All is vanity." Why do I open my mouth?

Also, when in conversation with people, I sometimes choose to omit verbal expressions of my relationship with God. How often do I speak of Christ love for me? How often do I talk about God and his mercy? How often am I ashamed? Why don’t I speak truth in love? Is it fear? Truly, I desire my speech to be more God-centered, but I toil with the practice in conversation. So why do I struggle? Why do I do the things I do not want to do, and why do I not do the things I wish to do? Paul asked the same sorts of questions, and he finds the answer in Romans 7: our sinful nature. This nature is the reason we still sin as believers. So how do we deal with it? Here is what Paul says,

Romans 7:14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.

7:24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25a Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Those, who are in Christ, are free; not from war with sin, but from the death of sin. The story of the gospel is Christ's substitution for sinners. He took our sin upon his own body so that we might have life. Now “we can do all things through Christ” who strengthens us! This is our hope! Because of the cross, we can stand and resist the devil! O Jesus, My Hope!

May God allow me (and you) by His grace to speak of his love with others. God Bless!

Yesterday, I became an uncle

2007-02-16T15:40:00.000-06:00

Me and Eoin William

We're both sleeping...ok, not really. Only Eoin is.

(For pronunciation of Eoin see Jonathan and Karen’s blog)

Gentle Savior

2007-02-10T14:58:00.000-06:00

Have you ever felt afraid about the future? So many choices come and go. We make thousands of seemingly unimportant or important desicions each day, and how do we make the right ones? What is our life's path, and what or who guides us?

Recently, these questions have found there way into my mind. What is in my future? What will happen after this stage of life? Several unknowns are feeding this fire: life's path, life's occupation, life's compainion, life's purpose. What is this life about and where will God take me? Will he take care of me?

Then, I read Hebrews 13:5. "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." If this doesn't touch your heart, I don't know what will. God says, "I won't leave you, Jason." In truth, he says, "I will never quit on you or abandon you." How thankful we should be! God guides us and keeps us, and He will never let us go. He promised. I'll sum it up with this song I recently heard.

Where are the signs? Which way should I go?
I planned each step but now I don’t know.
Tomorrow is a chasm of uncertainty
But, I will go there, if You’ll go with me.

Gentle Savior, lead me on.
Let Your Spirit light the way.
Gentle Savior, lead me on.
Hold me close and keep me safe.
Lead me on, Gentle Savior.

Why can’t I walk away from my regrets
And why is forgiveness so hard to accept.
My past surrounds me like a house I can’t afford.
But You say, "Come with me; don’t live there anymore."

Gentle Savior, lead me on.
Let Your Spirit light the way.
Gentle Savior, lead me on.
Hold me close and keep me safe.
Lead me on, Gentle Savior.

And when I reach the valley
every soul must journey through
I’ll remember then how well You know the way,
I’ll put my hand in Your hand
like a trusting child would do And say…

Gentle Savior, lead me on.
Let Your Spirit light the way.
Gentle Savior, lead me on.
Hold me close and keep me safe.
Lead me on, Gentle Savior.

So in faith I pray. Lead me on...

Learn to Live

2006-12-05T08:40:00.000-06:00

People are the substance of life. I like to think that the most important thing in a day is people, and since everybody has worth, their feelings matter. Learn to touch and love people, and you actually learn to live.

1 Corinthians 13 notes on love: (I can never read these enough)
Love is patient,
love is kind, and
is not jealous;
love does not brag and
is not arrogant,
does not act unbecomingly;
it does not seek its own,
is not provoked,
does not take into account a wrong suffered,
does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but
rejoices with the truth;
bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things,
endures all things.

In My Puddle

2006-11-14T08:35:00.000-06:00

Someone is in deep sorrow tonight, at this same moment. He is standing in a quiet hospital room and weeping in the arms of another. For somebody, who has a soul, somebody near and dear to him has slipped into eternity, maybe a father, mother or even a wife. This precise moment this man is feeling great fear for the future. A future without a father or wife seems suddenly so uncertain. Later tonight, he will be lying restless in his bed trying to deal with the fleeting days of this life. So here I am, unable to see the needs of others...so consumed with my own days and time while this man is hurting and needs hope.

Here I am, walking through a puddle of trials, consumed with the mud on my pants, while this man drowns in an ocean of troubles. What have I said to the hurting? Nothing, and I know the One who has the answers and who has the hope...

Will we, who have hope, tell this man?

Six and Three

2006-11-06T12:17:00.000-06:00

Football is now over. We finished our season with a record of 6-3 in which we played competitively. I can’t believe my sophomore football season is finished, it went so fast. I am not completely disappointed due to all the work I have to get caught up with now, but I most likely will not see many of my football friends during the off-season. I'll miss the guys. Also, I had several close senior friends who played their last collegiate game Saturday which we won 14-7 against Martin Luther College (who we hadn’t beaten in over 10 years). Those guys I won't play with again...Football is a special sport and I miss it already, but I have to focus now on catching up with school...

Season overview: http://www.mbbc.edu/page.aspx?m=384
Season Stats: http://www.umacathletics.com/stats/football/UMACFB06/HTML/MBBC.HTM

What A Salvation!!!...even in cold Wisconsin

2006-10-25T12:40:00.000-05:00

I miss summer weather!!! Yesterday and today, I had to scrape the frost of my car windshield... It snowed this past week. It is almost twenty degress below the average for this time of year. I was looking at pictures from this summer, and I thought of how much I miss the heat...its not that bad.

Anyway, God has been good these past few days... The Lord is so gracious to the those like me even though we fail Him daily. Praise him for his mercy and grace. And praise Him for His wondrous Salvation. For now I live.

I take him at his word and deed
Christ died to save me this I read
And in my heart I find a need
For him to be my savior

That he would leave his place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my savior

Rejected by his enemies...
Denied by his friends...
Killed by his people...

All this for me...

Show Us Your Glory

2006-10-06T11:14:00.000-05:00

I just finished a paper on God's omnipresence and God's omniscience. I realize after doing that the reason I love this world so much, is because I am not amazed and interested in God enough. Oh, how as christians we fail to be enamored by God's holiness, power, love, justice, and grace. Lord, show us your glory.

J.I. Packer says,
"I am graven on the palms of his hands. I am never out of his mind. All my knowledge of him depends on his sustained initiative in knowing me. I know him because he first knew me, and continues to know me. He know me as a friend, one who loves me; and there is no moment when his eye if off me, or his attention distracted from me and no moment, therefore, when his care falters."

On A Walk

2006-10-03T13:03:00.000-05:00

This is all so simple.
A couple days ago following classes, I searched for my family's car to go home, and I found to my dismay that it was not on campus.

So, I had to walk home. Usually, something I like to do for relaxation and meditation, but with my schedule being so hectic, I just wanted to get home as quick as possible.

But, I began to walk. My home is less than a mile from my college campus so it doesn't take more than fifteen minutes to arrive at home.

I love the fall's colors, and as I walked that warm, autumn afternoon, I began to look and praise God for the beautiful trees and the sky which with its vastness glides into such amazing peace. While admiring God's undeniably gorgeous creation, I was humming the second verse of a song I heard some time ago:

Now close your eyes,
so you can see your own unfinished memories,
Now open them for time is brief,
and you'll be bless beyond belief;
Now take a glance up at the sky,
there is beauty there to fill the eye...

I love God, and the beautiful season called fall. I was rebuked at my forgetfulness of all God is. May we all enjoy it too its fullest this year, 2006.

Post Off the Cuff

2006-08-22T20:20:00.000-05:00

Because it has been a time since my former post, I might as well shake a few minutes out of my busy schedule to let everyone know that I am still writing on my classic blog.

Yesterday, I had lunch with three former Northland Camp Counselors (Carla Mallory, Jenn Wetzel, and Clinton Van Dyne). It reminded me of how much I miss camp. I long for camp again for several reasons: the relationships, friends for life, the only people I consistently email are my northland friends. The atmoshere, Northland Camp has such an emphasis on openness, accountability and discipleship that I find at school I need some type of spiritual outlet because I miss that openness and accountability. The power groups, no other camp has such an amazing program in their ministry; God used it deeply in my heart . The place, the picture of the sidewalk is one of my favorite pictures. I do not know how many struggles or joys I have shared while walking on that sidewalk. Whether it was walks with staff members, or walks with campers.

So if you are reading this post, and you worked at Northland Camp either the summer of '05 or '06, post a comment. Please, let me know how you are doing!

Next post: School is boring, but I have random pictures.

Glorious Hope

2006-08-16T16:54:00.000-05:00

"Why are you cast down, O my soul,and why are you in turmoil within me?Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,my salvation and my God." (Psalm 43:6)

May our prayer be to hope in God even when all earthly hope fades.

When we forget the matchless control of God,

Hope in God.

For God is our hope.

A Wave Tossed

2006-08-05T16:14:00.000-05:00

Recently, I was considering the journey that is my life. Have you ever felt the pressure of time? Often I come to the realization that life is short and fleeting much like David did in the psalms (Psalm 39:4-6). I am growing up too quickly. It only feels like yesterday, I was a little kid at Camp Cobeac (where I grew up) engaged in a joke of a wrestling match with a counselor or riding my bike to the dining hall from my house on the hill. I remember “showing off” in front of the campers. I remember standing with my brother and watching a tree fly by our window and both of us proceeding to run for our lives. I remember: watching M*A*S*H with my dad, playing horse with my sister, breaking a window with a rock, and then breaking my hand with a window. Life is a vapor. “What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” (James 4:14b, ESV) I recall moving to Wisconsin and the sadness it brought to my heart. I remember lying in bed and weeping while singing “Lord, I Need You.” I was young, but those nights have left an imprint on my heart. I am reminded of the trip out west with my Grandparents and Cara. Together, we made too many fond memories to mention. I think of all the friendships God has blessed me with over the years. Way too many names for me to mention. I recall the sad times. Where I was when the plane hit the World Trade Center. I remember where I was when Dan and Mike died. Too many tears. Life is short. Life is like a wave on the ocean. Now that I am grown and no longer a child, I wish I would have loved my family more and lived more for the moment instead of looking for the sunrise. Life is a flower quickly fading, here today and gone tomorrow! Still from this point on I can live life in joy and love. “Redeeming the time because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16, KJV) Thank God for my family and our memories; Memories of vacations, fights, arguments and just odd moments. Reminiscing the weddings, parties, graduations, ballgames, and camping trips. I love my family and I owe God thanks and gratitude. To my dad: You are my hero, and you are the man I ever wish to be. To my mom: You are the tenderness of our family. You have learned the art of listening like nobody else I know, and I relize you are always there when I am down. To Jonathan: You love by showing me areas of inconsistency in my life just by your life and your walk with God. To Christina: Your gentleness and kindness puts me to shame. I’ll miss our movie (Pride and Prejudice) nights that you never fell asleep during! To Cara: I adore you. Your spirit is always encouraging to me. I love your random hug in the hallway at school. To Karen: I cannot imagine our family without you. To Eric: I go to you often because I know your advice will be godly advice. All of you: I love you, and I miss you when I am away (even right now while you are all going to an Irish Tenor Concert without me). I love you all! I Praise God for you all. So now that I am in college, I pray for God to guide and enable me to live serving others. Expecting God to allow me to enjoy life and to live for the day, but always remembering...I am a wave tossed in the ocean.

My Sister's Wedding

2006-07-31T16:25:00.000-05:00

Eric and Christina Stanley married on July 8, 2006

When I Don't Desire God

2006-05-24T14:31:00.000-05:00

Have you every read something and the lightbulb in your head simply clicked on? Suddenly, you understand. I found this quote in a book I started reading yesterday by John Piper (for all you who asked, I like John Piper. Of course, I disagree in some points, but his books and sermons have helped to illuminate truth for my soul), When I Don't Desire God. The quote is actually by C.S. Lewis (an incredible man) and is originally found in his biography Surprised by Joy. When I Don't Desire God has moved me in a great way already, and am excited in anticipation of the impact it will have on my life. The subtitle of the book is How to Fight for Joy. Piper warns against pursuing joy, not Christ, and he places this quote by Lewis who wrote his whole biography around his mistakes. Here is the quote:

"You cannot hope and also think about hoping at the same moment;
for in hope we look to hope’s object and we interrupt this by (so to
speak) turning round to look at the hope itself. . . . The surest means
of disarming an anger or a lust was to turn your attention from the
girl or the insult and start examining the passion itself. The surest way of spoiling a pleasure was to start examining your satisfaction. . . . I perceived (and this was the wonder of wonders) that . . . I had been equally wrong in supposing that I desired Joy itself. Joy itself,
considered simply as an event in my own mind, turned out to be of
no value at all. All the value lay in that of which Joy was the desiring.
And that object, quite clearly, was no state of my own mind or
body at all. . . . I asked if Joy itself was what I wanted; and, labeling
it “aesthetic experience,” had pretended I could answer Yes. But that
answer too had broken down. Inexorably Joy proclaimed, “You
want—I myself am your want of—something other, outside, not you
nor any state of you.”

Christ, My All

2006-05-15T10:29:00.000-05:00

I found, yesterday, a great reminder as I read through a manuscript of one of John Piper's sermons (from desiringgod.org) of who Christ is. This was a great encouragement and challenge to me.

There are at least seven things said about Christ in Hebrews 1:1-4.
(1) He is real—don't ever forget that. Cultivate a relationship with this person. Put Jesus at the center of your life. Relate to Jesus. Some of us became Christians through a form of evangelism that was exactly right. It said, "Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus?" That's the right question. Sometimes we take it very lightly, but here's a person and he's alive and he's here and he's in heaven. He can do that. And he's glorious. Let's see how glorious he is because it's the gloriousness of the glory of the person that makes the laying down of his life so spectacularly valuable and assuring.
(2) He created—through him all things were made.
(3) He is the radiance of the Father's glory --so if you want to know the glory, the moral beauty of the glory of the father, read the gospel and behold the person of Jesus because he's the radiance (the streaming out, the effulgence) of the glory of God.
(4) He is the exact character or representation of the father's divine nature. If you've seen me, you've seen the father.
(5) He upholds the universe --all things—by the word of his power. So today this person is infinitely powerful. He is speaking all the solar system, and all the Milky Way, and all the other galaxies into being , as well as all the molecules and all the wood and brick of this building. He's holding our flesh and hair and skin and lungs and tissue and fingernails in being right now. If he were to stop thinking you into being you would cease to be. That's how dependent you are on this person.
(6) He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty and the seating is an enthronement. He is the king of the universe. He's at the right hand of God the Father and he reigns over all government. He reigns over the devil. He reigns over weather. He reigns over heart attacks and cancer and Parkinson's disease. He reigns tonight.
(7) Therefore he is greater than the angels. Sort of sounds like an anticlimax. But the rest of the chapter is devoted to this— to the utter superiority of this person over all other heavenly persons save the Father.
So that's number one—we are dealing tonight with a person. He's alive. He's real and all seven of those facts are true about him. That's the person who made purification.

God's Gift of Music

2006-05-12T10:38:00.000-05:00

Have you ever stopped to consider the breathtaking creation of music? How music has an effect on your memory? How music has an affect on your countenance? What a gift God has given you and me! You and I can sing, praise, extol, and simply make a joyful noise before our heavenly father. To think music was created (for me) and now I can participate in God’s creation. God’s gift of music affects me personally in so many ways as I am sure it does you. Obviously, music has an effect on our physical bodies. When I hear music, almost instinctively my foot subconsciously begins to tap. This action is only one simple illustration of many that show the effect music has on my body. I do not want to look into the controversial effects of music (lifting your hands or dancing, not my place), but instead the joys that music has on our material bodies. God created music to lift up our hearts and to turn our focus on Him, but at the same time music exhilarates our being and encourages us bodily. There is more…

What about the emotional affect on our souls? After moving to Wisconsin from Michigan I struggled with making new friends and basically opening a new chapter of my life. And I still remember lying in bed nearly every night those first few weeks singing “Lord, I Need You.” Singing and weeping. My ten year old mind could not comprehend why God would move me from my home, my birthplace, my friends, my church, and move me from all I knew. The struggle of a little kid trying to make friends again was deep. I felt alone. So I would sing the song “Lord, I Need You” many times weeping. But He heard my cry and the music would life my soul. Then peacefully I would know this truth: God was near and he held my tears in his hands. How about you? How has music lifted your soul? I had a friend who lost her dad when she was in junior high. She would always play the piano when she would miss her dad. It always helped. Music has an effect on our emotions. There is more…

The spiritual effect of music often brings light to our eyes. God created music to praise him. I read three Psalms yesterday for my daily bible reading; Psalm 28, Psalm 42, Psalm 43. All three are not specifically teaching praise worship to God, but in the mist of trouble, of fleeting days, of evil within the hearts of men, and of souls cast down, each Psalm stops to thanks and to praise God.

- Psalm 28:7b “My heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.”

- Psalm 42:11b “Hope in God; for I shall again praise him.”

- Psalm 43:4b “And I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.”

Music should be full of thanks and praise to God. Now after we have considered music on earth, imagine what the music will be like in heaven. Music Divine. Some day we will be surrounded with glorious, overwhelming sounds that will flood our ears. Magnificent day! Remember the joy of music, today! I found another song that I read through, Love lifted me, words by James Rowe.

I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more, But the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry, From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help. Love lifted me!

All my heart to Him I give, ever to Him I'll cling In His blessèd presence live, ever His praises sing, Love so mighty and so true, merits my soul's best songs, Faithful, loving service too, to Him belongs.

Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help. Love lifted me!

Souls in danger look above, Jesus completely saves, He will lift you by His love, out of the angry waves. He's the Master of the sea, billows His will obey, He your Saviour wants to be, be saved today.

Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help. Love lifted me!

My New Phone

2006-05-08T13:25:00.000-05:00

Last Friday, I went to Verizon store in town not to buy a new phone, but I went to look at phones that were available (a possible mistake). I strolled out of Verizon with a brand new phone called the V! This phone is awesome! It is an Mp3 player, and it has video and camera capabilities. The phone flips up so I can text a whole lot easier than I could on most other phones (It also has games made just for my phone). I really can only thank God for the phone he gave me. Usually, I don’t get the nice phones. I have gone from owning the cheap phone (the free one you get with a plan) to the V. I hope in the future I will take care of this phone better than the others I have had in the past. I have had three phones since August (not a good track record). So I have dedicated this phone to the Lord, may all that is said and done with my phone be glorifying to God. He alone gets the praise!

Northland Summer Camp 2006

2006-05-04T20:52:00.000-05:00

Only a twenty-six days before I have the chance once again to serve the Lord at Northland with all my friends. I just downloaded my sermons off Northland camp's page. 26 days!!! I cannot wait!

Forgiveness Sets Us Free

2006-05-03T15:22:00.000-05:00

Think of David and Christian from Pilgrim's Progress and of the joy they were feeling when their burdens fell off their shoulders. Think of the joy David was feeling when he composed the first two verses of Psalm 32,

1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

After two years of struggling with sin and resisting confession (v. 3, 4), David finally gave up and gave his sin over to God. He pleads guilty before God to his sin with Bathsheba!

5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity;I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.

The release was no simple release. David during this time prays Psalm 51 and God forgives him. David was set free. He was not set free of the consequences as we see throughout the rest of David’s life, but he was set free from the guilt. No more hiding. No more reasoning. No more broken fellowship. No more running. David came and confessed his transgressions to God. The result is joy. Incomparable Joy!

So often I fight guilt in my own strength. I try to run from my guilt, or I try to reason my guilt away. All my efforts fail. Confess and God will forgive. Christ will take our burdens far away, as he did for Christian. If I only realized this truth: Forgiveness Sets Us Free.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Don't Forget Old Friends

2006-04-30T14:32:00.000-05:00

Yesterday (Saturday 30th), I traveled up to Northland Baptist Bible College for their annual Springfest, and I had a terrific time talking to teens and friends. Maranatha asked me to be the representative for the college, so for most of the day I was stationed at the college booth talking to teens. One of the greatest blessings of yesterday was seeing a long time friend and having time to catch up w/him. Micah Coston and I met as campers at Camp Cobeac at some stage in my grade school years. He and his brothers (and sister) would always come up for summer camp. In the summer of 2001, Micah worked as a junior program assistant at Camp Cobeac, and I had the privilege of spending two weeks getting to know Micah. However, those weeks were the last time I saw him until yesterday. I walked into the recruitment tent to hear, "Jason Harrison!" (I am still shocked he recognized me). I look up to see my friend, Micah, standing there. So throughout the day or whenever I got the chance, I talked with him and got reacquainted with him. He was an indescribable encouragement! I am so glad we still have a friendship. I am challenged now not to forget old friends.

Not only did I fellowship with Micah, but I also saw several other friends too. I spent some time with Rob Fipps, a Northland Camp program assistant. Rob was my power group leader from last summer, and a spiritual sustainer the whole time I was at Northland. I caught up with Helaine Rozelle (05’ Northland teen counselor) for some time. I chatted with Mark Whitcomb (05’ Northland PV counselor and fellow campus services worker) and Phil Trach (05’ Northland teen counselor) right before we left. Northland senior Aaron Scott and I talked about our futures and how God is in control, and all we have to do is sink beneath his wings. I also talked to Tammy Prine, Jeff Kahl, Kyle and Kevin Keltner and a few other friends.

It is so easy for our flesh to feel dependent of ourselves when God blesses us. No wonder He often chooses to place trials (sometimes small, sometimes big) in our lives to humble us and to cause us to depend totally on him. If only we could learn to depend on God through the good times. To think: some day we will.

Message of Hope

2006-04-28T20:41:00.000-05:00

First post has to do with the title of the my blog.

Today, I found a song written by John Wesley with a great message of hope for my days and your days.

O Jesus my hope, for me offered up,
Who with clamor pursued Thee to Calvary’s top,
The blood Thou hast shed, for me let it plead,
And declare Thou hast died in Thy murderer’s stead.

Come then from above, its hardness remove,
And vanquish my heart with the sense of Thy love;
Thy love on the tree display unto me.
And the servant of sin in a moment is free.

Neither passion nor pride Thy cross can abide,
But melt in the fountain that streams from Thy side;
Let Thy life-giving blood remove all my load,
And purge my foul conscience, and bring me to God.

Now, now let me know its virtue below,
Let it wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow;
Let it hallow my heart, and thoroughly convert,
And make me, O Lord, in the world as Thou art.

Each moment applied my weakness to hide,
Thy blood be upon me, and always abide,
My Advocate prove with the Father above,
And speak me at last to the throne of Thy love.

More soon...