Hahahaha wow. I haven't written here in over 3 years. I figured I might as well put something up here. Don't go read the old stuff though. I haven't read much of it yet, but I'm sure its silly and full of high school Michael crap.
I was thinking about this blog because of the rain today. It rains alot here in Washington (fun fact I'm in Washington state now), and today I was looking outside the office and thought about how little I appreciate the rain. I remembered a post I had written in high school about the beauty of the rain and so here I am. It's funny how sometimes we have the same thoughts as we did before and we have the same responses as our younger selves on some things, and yet other times we just laugh at ourselves for being immature.
I feel so old now. I'm an old old man. Taylor Swift made 22 sound like it was still young and hip and you would always be your young party hip self. Today I woke up at 645 and I'll hopefully go to bed around 1030-11. If that doesn't scream old man, maybe the fact that I'm almost finished with my second audio book will help out. The title? "The Leadership Pipeline". Not only have I become an old man, but I've also become "The Man" as well (not really, I pride myself in my current travel plans). Being an adult is in fact great, but there are definitely things I liked about not having responsibility.
I'm a different person than I was 3 years ago. But the last 3 years have been awesome, and I wouldn't trade any of it for another day the other way. That's all for now, but I'll probably post here again soon, so if you don't want emails go ahead and unsub :P :DDDDDDDDDD.
---- The Walking Man
Monday, March 7, 2016
Sunday, January 27, 2013
That's Why I'm Here
Well here's a little post since I haven't really talked with you guys in a while. James Taylor has this song called that's why I'm here. It's amazing. It's James talking about situations where he needed a friend and someone showed up. That's why I'm here. It's something to think about. Why are we here? I've seen alot of cool things come from the most basic friendships. Some of the people that I've met this year are people that I thought would just be another addition to my Christian friend group. Guys or girls that I might pass on the way to class and wave at. But some of the people I've met. One pbrother in Christ I've gotten to know quite well is one of those guys. He's a guy that I never thought I'd even meet when I first heard his name and now I'm planning on living with him next year!!
Friends are a cool thing. Philios. Brotherly love. You get to see something new in them everyday. Your friends are the people that are going to walk through life with you. They're newfound family in everyday situations. Inside jokes and awkward situations. They're full of ups and downs. Take a look around you and locate your friend. Think about what it would be like without them. It's a tough time imagining life without friends. It's essential. That's why God gave them to us. That's why I'm here. To glorify Him!
---- The Walking Man
Friends are a cool thing. Philios. Brotherly love. You get to see something new in them everyday. Your friends are the people that are going to walk through life with you. They're newfound family in everyday situations. Inside jokes and awkward situations. They're full of ups and downs. Take a look around you and locate your friend. Think about what it would be like without them. It's a tough time imagining life without friends. It's essential. That's why God gave them to us. That's why I'm here. To glorify Him!
---- The Walking Man
Friday, December 7, 2012
The Upcoming Christmas
Hey ya'll, sorry its been a while, but I heard some stuff about Christmas that kinda got me thinking so here's a rant about it for a while. Before that, here's my update:
So, we've had an end to the rush process, that was a blast haha. We capped everything off with Christmas semi-formal which was a blast in case you guys didn't get to see the pictures! I got some swing-dancing lessons from my date and that was lots of fun. Can't wait to show off this Christmas break haha! Anyways, I'm entering exams relatively low on stress which is great. I'm definitely not going to have perfect grades, but I've definitely been working hard this semester. Miss all of you!
Onto Christmas! So there was this girl talking at Nav Nite this week about what Christmas had meant to her being raised an atheist and then what she looks forward to this Christmas as its her first Christmas as a Christian! Wow guys, let's take a look at what Christmas is: Getting presents, giving presents, having good food, taking long naps, not worrying about school, right? Wrong.
I'm gonna be honest and say I haven't been super excited about Christmas the past two years and I couldn't figure out why. It just wasn't super exciting to me. I had had 17 years of Christmas's what's so special about the 17th or 18th? Well I can tell you, that when you hype it all up. You think about those things you really wanted, that one video game that now sits on your shelf and you never use. I just got tired of getting disappointed.
But I think I've figured out why. I've spent alot of time focusing on what I'm getting people and what people are getting me. I've though about what I want to eat and where I want to sleep and whatnot for the longest time. What I've realized is that most of the time I've completely overlooked the most important thing. The thing that I claim to dedicate my life to most other days of the year. I don't even think about the fact that I'm celebrating the birth of my Savior. I'm looking forward this year to celebrating His death and how it brought me life. I'm celebrating and mourning, if I focus on his life I have to remember his death. But then I have to think about the awesome life that I get to have with Him when I die. For those of you that have read Murder in the Cathedral by Thomas Becket. Its the same idea as the priest's talk on Sunday morning. Its cyclical, but its such a great thing to meditate on.
So this Christmas my challenge for you is to set aside some time to just meditate on those facts. The fact that on that day Jesus entered the world and then think about why He had to come down here. Think about how He didn't have to, but He did anyways. Love you all!
---- The Running Man
So, we've had an end to the rush process, that was a blast haha. We capped everything off with Christmas semi-formal which was a blast in case you guys didn't get to see the pictures! I got some swing-dancing lessons from my date and that was lots of fun. Can't wait to show off this Christmas break haha! Anyways, I'm entering exams relatively low on stress which is great. I'm definitely not going to have perfect grades, but I've definitely been working hard this semester. Miss all of you!
Onto Christmas! So there was this girl talking at Nav Nite this week about what Christmas had meant to her being raised an atheist and then what she looks forward to this Christmas as its her first Christmas as a Christian! Wow guys, let's take a look at what Christmas is: Getting presents, giving presents, having good food, taking long naps, not worrying about school, right? Wrong.
I'm gonna be honest and say I haven't been super excited about Christmas the past two years and I couldn't figure out why. It just wasn't super exciting to me. I had had 17 years of Christmas's what's so special about the 17th or 18th? Well I can tell you, that when you hype it all up. You think about those things you really wanted, that one video game that now sits on your shelf and you never use. I just got tired of getting disappointed.
But I think I've figured out why. I've spent alot of time focusing on what I'm getting people and what people are getting me. I've though about what I want to eat and where I want to sleep and whatnot for the longest time. What I've realized is that most of the time I've completely overlooked the most important thing. The thing that I claim to dedicate my life to most other days of the year. I don't even think about the fact that I'm celebrating the birth of my Savior. I'm looking forward this year to celebrating His death and how it brought me life. I'm celebrating and mourning, if I focus on his life I have to remember his death. But then I have to think about the awesome life that I get to have with Him when I die. For those of you that have read Murder in the Cathedral by Thomas Becket. Its the same idea as the priest's talk on Sunday morning. Its cyclical, but its such a great thing to meditate on.
So this Christmas my challenge for you is to set aside some time to just meditate on those facts. The fact that on that day Jesus entered the world and then think about why He had to come down here. Think about how He didn't have to, but He did anyways. Love you all!
---- The Running Man
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
The Resurrection
Mmmmmm... The resurrection. What a great thing. Do we ever take time to sit down and think about what it really is? What it really was? I mean wow. Tonight I got to hear a talk from my awesome friend Brant Bonetti about the resurrection. As we close out the semester with regards to our Bible Studies, we culminate into the purpose of the whole study. Entitled "The Jesus Study" we got to delve into the characters of Jesus and what He showed us through a few stories of His life on earth. In each of these stories, John 1 and Rev 19, John 2, Luke 4, Luke 5, Luke 7, Luke 9, John 10, and John 13, we see a little bit of God in Jesus. But Jesus also points us to something that He references in one way or another at one point in each of the passages:
---- The Running Man
The Resurrection
In each of those passages (I challenge you to go and read them and find where He does this) Jesus points to His death and resurrection. He's emphasizing how important it is. But why? WHY? Because the Gospel hinges on His resurrection. Everything He said and everything the Bible says would be a lie were it not for His resurrection on the third day. The resurrection is what makes Jesus God, its what makes our lives meaningful. Its what give us hope.
It gives us hope. Hope in what though? What do you hope for day in and day out? What does the resurrection confirm in your life. How does Jesus dying on the cross give you hope? Here's what I hope for: I hope to be with God. I hope to know Him and be with Him? Why? Because I'm human. As a human I'm selfish, and I want to be loved. I want to be loved. But everything that I know from God and from the resurrection is that God is love. God loved us enough to send His son to die for us. I want to be with Him so that I can be enveloped in His love. So that I can be surrounded by His almighty embrace. Meditate on Romans 8:31-39 and tell me that that does not sound awesome!
I hope for heaven. How often do you think about heaven and the awesome things that God has promised us in that? Its a beautiful place and God is inviting us there! And Jesus' resurrection is my invitation to go with and be with Him there. Just sit and think about how glorious heaven will be. There is nothing better. I challenge you all to think of what you think of heaven. What are you hoping for? What do you put your trust in? Take some time to think about Jesus, about how He died for us, of His own will, having the power and authority to take it up again, (that one's in John 10:17-18). How He came to serve us! (John 13). You guys are awesome and I can't wait till I next get to see you all!!!
---- The Running Man
Glorifying God
Hey guys!
Just wanted to give you all an update on life and what God has been showing me lately in my life. So far, things have been pretty good with rush, but tonight it really took off. We had open chapter and we had a ton of the rushes show up and sign up for interviews! Like I've mentioned before its been something that I just have had to stress about all semester. However, I want to thank God for His awesome works. Its by His will that those men showed up tonight to witness our fraternity and unity.
Outside of rush, I've been uber busy with school. I had a test this past Wednesday as well as three homework sets, which I finished despite my decision to go see the midnight premiere of SkyFall! SO GOOD! Regardless I still have 3 tests, 2 labs, and a CS Project that stand between me and Thanksgiving Break. So what do I do? I procrastinate and blog. Judge me later guys. Don't hate for me wanting to give you guys an update!
So, onto more important stuff. God. Jesus. Yum. Just so much to digest when it comes to the Word and what God is trying to do in me. For starters like I may have mentioned in my previous post, God is just reminding me to continue holding things with an open hand. Whether that be with rush, girls, school, whatever, God wants me to remember that these things all belong to Him and that He gives and takes away according to His will, which is to further His glory.
There is just so much in that one statement. Romans 8:28 "All things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose." and
John 14:21 "He who keeps my commandments loves me, and he who loves me is loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself in him."
John 15:7 "If you abide in me, and my word abides in you, ask what you desire, and it will be done for you."
Those who love God do what He desires. He desires for us to keep His commandments. In keeping His commandments, we will desire what God desires and it will be done. So we get what we want when we follow God's law because we want what God wants. Its a complicated thought train, I'm having trouble thinking it through. But here's a question for thought:
---- The Running Man
Just wanted to give you all an update on life and what God has been showing me lately in my life. So far, things have been pretty good with rush, but tonight it really took off. We had open chapter and we had a ton of the rushes show up and sign up for interviews! Like I've mentioned before its been something that I just have had to stress about all semester. However, I want to thank God for His awesome works. Its by His will that those men showed up tonight to witness our fraternity and unity.
Outside of rush, I've been uber busy with school. I had a test this past Wednesday as well as three homework sets, which I finished despite my decision to go see the midnight premiere of SkyFall! SO GOOD! Regardless I still have 3 tests, 2 labs, and a CS Project that stand between me and Thanksgiving Break. So what do I do? I procrastinate and blog. Judge me later guys. Don't hate for me wanting to give you guys an update!
So, onto more important stuff. God. Jesus. Yum. Just so much to digest when it comes to the Word and what God is trying to do in me. For starters like I may have mentioned in my previous post, God is just reminding me to continue holding things with an open hand. Whether that be with rush, girls, school, whatever, God wants me to remember that these things all belong to Him and that He gives and takes away according to His will, which is to further His glory.
There is just so much in that one statement. Romans 8:28 "All things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose." and
John 14:21 "He who keeps my commandments loves me, and he who loves me is loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself in him."
John 15:7 "If you abide in me, and my word abides in you, ask what you desire, and it will be done for you."
Those who love God do what He desires. He desires for us to keep His commandments. In keeping His commandments, we will desire what God desires and it will be done. So we get what we want when we follow God's law because we want what God wants. Its a complicated thought train, I'm having trouble thinking it through. But here's a question for thought:
Does God always get what He wants?
What do you guys think? I have my own opinion of the subject, which I may explain but I don't feel like imposing that on you at the moment. The point of the matter is this, when we hold things with open hands we realize that they are not the most important things in our lives. We recognize that God is more important than any of those things we have in our hands. We end up keeping the things that God knows will glorify Him, the things that WE want as well because we want to keep His commandments and glorify Him.
So to close it all off, I'll put it as simply as I can. When our life is about God, we seek to glorify Him in all things. God, sees different ways for us to glorify Him sometimes so He takes things away, but when we hold those things with the open hand we get to approach those situations and continue to glorify Him. MMMM.... Jesus just makes you think doesn't He? He causes you to think through things that just continue to deepen your understanding of Him and bring you closer to Him. Such a great thing. See you guys at Thanksgiving! Love you all!
---- The Running Man
Monday, October 22, 2012
O my..... Its Life....
Hola Brochachos,
Just wanted to check up and say hey. Tell you guys a little bit about life. Well. For me, there are many places to start. Its the usual with tests and homework and classes and BYX and Navs and life and life and life. Moving on and on. I'm enjoying it right now though. SO much is happening around me and in me that there just aren't words to describe it.
On a physical note, the funniest thing to have happened to me this past weekend was that I kicked the crap out of a rock. Just boom. Running... in the woods... and wham rock. It was great. My toe is a little messed up, but you should see the rock! Its got a piece of my flesh hanging off of it!! People who go by the next day will probably see this super bloody rock and be like, "AHHHHH BLUUHHHHHDDDD". Anyways, I miss you guys, I haven't had the opportunity to talk to many of you in a while, but some of you I see all the time. What's that all about? Give me everyone please. Ha you guys need to come to Nashville cause there is no chance of me ever getting enough time off to go anywhere.
Spiritually, GOD IS AWESOME. He answers prayers and I got to see Him fulfill one in my life today which was great. I don't know who all of you are, or what you guys are going through, but I know that God is Good and that nothing can change that. The only thing that changes is our perspective on it.
On a totally different note, I got to have a conversation the other day about kids. *Woof* Marriage itself seems kinda far off, but regardless, we were talking about our families and how we would do things differently. How can you raise your kid to be a Christian without forcing them? Without telling them they don't have a choice? How do you get them to want to want the same things as you? There's no real answer. You just have to do your best to love them and hope that they want to model that love and share it with the world. You gotta trust God to do what is best.
That's something that God has been bringing into my life. The main speaker at navs fall conference was a guy named Norm Hubbard. One of the things he said was, "GO!!!!!!! but ask God if its the right advice first..." And my inclination is always to wait for someone else to go and for me to follow them. But God has really been pressing on my heart that I need to GO first. Be a leader and step up. So there's my challenge for you, GO! Love you guys!
---- The Running Man
Just wanted to check up and say hey. Tell you guys a little bit about life. Well. For me, there are many places to start. Its the usual with tests and homework and classes and BYX and Navs and life and life and life. Moving on and on. I'm enjoying it right now though. SO much is happening around me and in me that there just aren't words to describe it.
On a physical note, the funniest thing to have happened to me this past weekend was that I kicked the crap out of a rock. Just boom. Running... in the woods... and wham rock. It was great. My toe is a little messed up, but you should see the rock! Its got a piece of my flesh hanging off of it!! People who go by the next day will probably see this super bloody rock and be like, "AHHHHH BLUUHHHHHDDDD". Anyways, I miss you guys, I haven't had the opportunity to talk to many of you in a while, but some of you I see all the time. What's that all about? Give me everyone please. Ha you guys need to come to Nashville cause there is no chance of me ever getting enough time off to go anywhere.
Spiritually, GOD IS AWESOME. He answers prayers and I got to see Him fulfill one in my life today which was great. I don't know who all of you are, or what you guys are going through, but I know that God is Good and that nothing can change that. The only thing that changes is our perspective on it.
On a totally different note, I got to have a conversation the other day about kids. *Woof* Marriage itself seems kinda far off, but regardless, we were talking about our families and how we would do things differently. How can you raise your kid to be a Christian without forcing them? Without telling them they don't have a choice? How do you get them to want to want the same things as you? There's no real answer. You just have to do your best to love them and hope that they want to model that love and share it with the world. You gotta trust God to do what is best.
That's something that God has been bringing into my life. The main speaker at navs fall conference was a guy named Norm Hubbard. One of the things he said was, "GO!!!!!!! but ask God if its the right advice first..." And my inclination is always to wait for someone else to go and for me to follow them. But God has really been pressing on my heart that I need to GO first. Be a leader and step up. So there's my challenge for you, GO! Love you guys!
---- The Running Man
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
SOOOOOOOO
Greetings Yo,
..... I feel like I start to many posts off with "so" and "Hey guys so" so I'm gonna try things differently. Mix it up. My day today has been pretty uneventful, I spent an hour or two driving around for various reasons then got to be in a COMMERCIAL! I'm gonna be a star. Headed to Hollywood too fast for you. But really I got to paint my hair and scream and holler for this commercial for vandy Basketball. Since then I've had rush dinner, and created a robot, no biggie.
The last few hours have been spent studying physics. Spending a good portion of my time (except for right now) trying to learn this stuff so that I don't forget it all before the test tomorrow. Another piece of exciting news! Tomorrow starts fall break! After I ace that physics test I'm home free!! However, I do have some sad news for you folk. I won't be coming home to Birmingham for this gloriously extended weekend. Instead I'm going to be headed up to Chicago with my roommate for a party weekend drinking beer and smoking pot.... But really we will just be in Chicago having fun (doing mostly legal stuff [I, however, may need a drink for having to go so far north....]).
Regardless, I want you guys to know that I love you all and miss you dearly and can't wait to see you when I come home for Thanksgiving break.
Thinking back to this past week or so since I've last posted I'm trying to think of what God has really impressed upon my heart. Got it. As you guys may know, I have the privilege this semester of being a Rush Chair for my Fraternity BYX. Being in that kinda position puts a large portion of the responsibility for the growth of the fraternity. Its a weighty responsibility and last week I saw an event totally flop. But, in spite of that, I got the opportunity to see God restore the event and cause me to trust in Him. During the process I was just so tired, so worn out from trying to be so many places and trying to do so much. I just didn't want to do it. I gave up. I went and talked to God about it and He helped me realize how insignificant my troubles were and how much more I could be doing to glorify His name.
I'm far from perfect, God knows that, I know that, and despite my hardest struggles, you guys know it too. But when we can recognize them and God helps us to fix them and grows us through them. Last week I really had to depend on God. I had no choice because I was mentally and spiritually incapable of trying anymore. And it was great. Find something that you need to stop fighting over. Give it up to God. Love you guys!
---- The Running Man
..... I feel like I start to many posts off with "so" and "Hey guys so" so I'm gonna try things differently. Mix it up. My day today has been pretty uneventful, I spent an hour or two driving around for various reasons then got to be in a COMMERCIAL! I'm gonna be a star. Headed to Hollywood too fast for you. But really I got to paint my hair and scream and holler for this commercial for vandy Basketball. Since then I've had rush dinner, and created a robot, no biggie.
The last few hours have been spent studying physics. Spending a good portion of my time (except for right now) trying to learn this stuff so that I don't forget it all before the test tomorrow. Another piece of exciting news! Tomorrow starts fall break! After I ace that physics test I'm home free!! However, I do have some sad news for you folk. I won't be coming home to Birmingham for this gloriously extended weekend. Instead I'm going to be headed up to Chicago with my roommate for a party weekend drinking beer and smoking pot.... But really we will just be in Chicago having fun (doing mostly legal stuff [I, however, may need a drink for having to go so far north....]).
Regardless, I want you guys to know that I love you all and miss you dearly and can't wait to see you when I come home for Thanksgiving break.
Thinking back to this past week or so since I've last posted I'm trying to think of what God has really impressed upon my heart. Got it. As you guys may know, I have the privilege this semester of being a Rush Chair for my Fraternity BYX. Being in that kinda position puts a large portion of the responsibility for the growth of the fraternity. Its a weighty responsibility and last week I saw an event totally flop. But, in spite of that, I got the opportunity to see God restore the event and cause me to trust in Him. During the process I was just so tired, so worn out from trying to be so many places and trying to do so much. I just didn't want to do it. I gave up. I went and talked to God about it and He helped me realize how insignificant my troubles were and how much more I could be doing to glorify His name.
I'm far from perfect, God knows that, I know that, and despite my hardest struggles, you guys know it too. But when we can recognize them and God helps us to fix them and grows us through them. Last week I really had to depend on God. I had no choice because I was mentally and spiritually incapable of trying anymore. And it was great. Find something that you need to stop fighting over. Give it up to God. Love you guys!
---- The Running Man
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Whilst I'm Waiting
So today I made the decision to skip physics class in order to go to my Math Professor's office hours. Great decision since I didn't have tons of help I needed, but I kinda enjoy my math professor more than my physics class. He's kinda a quieter guy, but it's kinda funny to watch him do math and make jokes about how much we enjoy doing some of the stuff we have to do (which is crazy, I might add). But regardless I also got the opportunity to pull out my laptop and check the answers to the math problems I had, well I got them right(YAY!), and now I have a few minutes to post before my math class starts.
This morning I was reading from A Call to Die by David Nasser. The book talks about fasting from the world and realizing our own spiritual depravity and a call for us to die to ourselves and feast on God. Hit me up if you want to take a look at it. Its really good, but this morning, I was reading it and it was telling this story about a man named Chris Heurtz. THIS guy gave up everything to go and work with Mother Theresea in Calcutta. The largest city in the world and also the poorest. Thousands die daily, but what Chris did was he went out and would find those close to death and bring them in, give them a warm meal, fresh clothes, and a haircut so that they could die with some form of dignity. There were lepers, people with tuberculosis, all kinds of sores and nastiness, that would drive me wild. Regardless, he continued and he began to see them in a different light. Instead of seeing them as people who were sick and disgusting, he saw people who needed some love and attention. His first image of them was of the need of their souls before the needs of their flesh. He also described an instance where he had to take the trash out. Back behind the place where it just smelled of rotted flesh and dirty diseases. Whenever some fresh trash came out, kids would come running to scavenge through the trash to find something to eat, DESPITE BEING WARNED OF ITS FILTH. They were so hungry that they feasted on the filth and the grime of the world and ignored any opportunity to take on something better. Don't we kinda do the same thing?
Don't we often feast on sinful things that cause spiritual death despite the warnings from God and those around us? We spend so much time eating up those things that when the time comes, and we realize that we need to be feasting on God, we're too full. We've filled up with the things of this world and we no longer have room for God in our stomachs. How can we fix this? How can we cure ourselves of these diseases? We must feast on God. Not only is He going to make us full, He is going to heal us in the process. We can trust in Him to fulfill our needs and fight the disease in our lives. Sometimes it will hurt.
In C.S. Lewis' The Great Divorce there's a man who wants to become real. He wants to make the journey up the mountain to heaven, but this little lizard on his arm is convincing him not to. The spirit trying to lead him to heaven (sent from God) is trying to convince him to allow the spirit to remove the lizard and kill it. But the man is convinced that the pain will be too great and the lizard isn't all that bad. Finally, the man allows for the lizard to be removed and he feels the pain. But also he is made full. His body is complete and he is ready for the journey up to heaven. Granted its not always like this, but we do experience pain as the lizards are removed from our lives, and through this we are made complete. As it says in James 1:2 "Consider it a great joy my brethren whenver you experience various trials and tribulations for the testing of your faith produces endurance." Enjoy love you guys!
---- The Running Man
This morning I was reading from A Call to Die by David Nasser. The book talks about fasting from the world and realizing our own spiritual depravity and a call for us to die to ourselves and feast on God. Hit me up if you want to take a look at it. Its really good, but this morning, I was reading it and it was telling this story about a man named Chris Heurtz. THIS guy gave up everything to go and work with Mother Theresea in Calcutta. The largest city in the world and also the poorest. Thousands die daily, but what Chris did was he went out and would find those close to death and bring them in, give them a warm meal, fresh clothes, and a haircut so that they could die with some form of dignity. There were lepers, people with tuberculosis, all kinds of sores and nastiness, that would drive me wild. Regardless, he continued and he began to see them in a different light. Instead of seeing them as people who were sick and disgusting, he saw people who needed some love and attention. His first image of them was of the need of their souls before the needs of their flesh. He also described an instance where he had to take the trash out. Back behind the place where it just smelled of rotted flesh and dirty diseases. Whenever some fresh trash came out, kids would come running to scavenge through the trash to find something to eat, DESPITE BEING WARNED OF ITS FILTH. They were so hungry that they feasted on the filth and the grime of the world and ignored any opportunity to take on something better. Don't we kinda do the same thing?
Don't we often feast on sinful things that cause spiritual death despite the warnings from God and those around us? We spend so much time eating up those things that when the time comes, and we realize that we need to be feasting on God, we're too full. We've filled up with the things of this world and we no longer have room for God in our stomachs. How can we fix this? How can we cure ourselves of these diseases? We must feast on God. Not only is He going to make us full, He is going to heal us in the process. We can trust in Him to fulfill our needs and fight the disease in our lives. Sometimes it will hurt.
In C.S. Lewis' The Great Divorce there's a man who wants to become real. He wants to make the journey up the mountain to heaven, but this little lizard on his arm is convincing him not to. The spirit trying to lead him to heaven (sent from God) is trying to convince him to allow the spirit to remove the lizard and kill it. But the man is convinced that the pain will be too great and the lizard isn't all that bad. Finally, the man allows for the lizard to be removed and he feels the pain. But also he is made full. His body is complete and he is ready for the journey up to heaven. Granted its not always like this, but we do experience pain as the lizards are removed from our lives, and through this we are made complete. As it says in James 1:2 "Consider it a great joy my brethren whenver you experience various trials and tribulations for the testing of your faith produces endurance." Enjoy love you guys!
---- The Running Man
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Well Shoot.
Its been about 10 days since I last posted. That's a long while. I was sitting studying and reading when a blog was suggested to me by a friend. Well.... There goes study time. It wasn't important anyways. I also want to update you on my life and what God has been teaching me lately. So let's get into it.
Alright. SO lifewise, I had two tests this morning. We had one in Digital Logic and one in CS201. WOW! Digital Logic felt like such a breeze while CS201 felt like I just lost a life or something. Can you say rough morning? Either way, they are over and tomorrow I have no classes, so, I can return to being non-productive for the night. Studying is just a fun excuse to not slack off am I right? Regardless, there's that and then there's rush. I was talking with my fellow rush chair Josh Jeans, and last week alone I accumulated roughly 26 hours of commitments to either BYX or Navs for Rush or Bible Study leader training. WOOF! Tack on 18 hours (14 + 2 labs) and 28 hours of hw a week, and you've got a whopping 72 hours spent on BYX, Navs, and School. Then there's the great sleep generous estimate of 7 hours a night. 49 total makes 121 hours out of the 168 in the week. 47/7 = roughly 7 hours a day for free time! But wait! Quiet times and meals! thats like 4-5 hours a day total! Now that's a WOOF. (Sorry I'm a math major had to do it.)
But really as daunting as that seems, I'm getting plenty of sleep and having so much fun doing Navs and Rush ( I ALSO GOT A PET FISH :D LOOK AT FACEBOOK!!!!). BYX and Navs have meant so much to me that it's just awesome being able to pour back into them. That also makes me think about what I'm doing this summer as the possibilities come from the three realms of school, byx and, navs, but another day. So its transition time. From the My Life to the His Life. Something really awesome that I saw this week.
Well there's just so much that I just can't share it all with you guys in this post and as much as I claim I will, I probably will never get back to doing the rest of those things! But right now we can focus on the cool stuff that God taught me this week. On Sunday, Matt (my roommate) and I decided to start listening to the John Piper series on Romans. Something I recommend to all of you so far. I'm about to go and listen to the second one and I'm so excited. But, guys, John Piper spent 30 whole minutes going into the first verse alone of Romans 1. I sometimes spend an hour going through a CHAPTER! That's so crazy! It says:
---- The Running Man
Alright. SO lifewise, I had two tests this morning. We had one in Digital Logic and one in CS201. WOW! Digital Logic felt like such a breeze while CS201 felt like I just lost a life or something. Can you say rough morning? Either way, they are over and tomorrow I have no classes, so, I can return to being non-productive for the night. Studying is just a fun excuse to not slack off am I right? Regardless, there's that and then there's rush. I was talking with my fellow rush chair Josh Jeans, and last week alone I accumulated roughly 26 hours of commitments to either BYX or Navs for Rush or Bible Study leader training. WOOF! Tack on 18 hours (14 + 2 labs) and 28 hours of hw a week, and you've got a whopping 72 hours spent on BYX, Navs, and School. Then there's the great sleep generous estimate of 7 hours a night. 49 total makes 121 hours out of the 168 in the week. 47/7 = roughly 7 hours a day for free time! But wait! Quiet times and meals! thats like 4-5 hours a day total! Now that's a WOOF. (Sorry I'm a math major had to do it.)
But really as daunting as that seems, I'm getting plenty of sleep and having so much fun doing Navs and Rush ( I ALSO GOT A PET FISH :D LOOK AT FACEBOOK!!!!). BYX and Navs have meant so much to me that it's just awesome being able to pour back into them. That also makes me think about what I'm doing this summer as the possibilities come from the three realms of school, byx and, navs, but another day. So its transition time. From the My Life to the His Life. Something really awesome that I saw this week.
Well there's just so much that I just can't share it all with you guys in this post and as much as I claim I will, I probably will never get back to doing the rest of those things! But right now we can focus on the cool stuff that God taught me this week. On Sunday, Matt (my roommate) and I decided to start listening to the John Piper series on Romans. Something I recommend to all of you so far. I'm about to go and listen to the second one and I'm so excited. But, guys, John Piper spent 30 whole minutes going into the first verse alone of Romans 1. I sometimes spend an hour going through a CHAPTER! That's so crazy! It says:
"Paul, a bondservant of Christ, called as an apostle, set apart for the Gospel of God."
Romans 1:1
Thirty minutes on THAT! And it wasn't just gibberish it was so awesome and powerful. He cross referenced passage after passage and revealed a deep meaning in the passage using Scripture. WOW! Two verses he referenced were 1 Corinthians 7:23 and Galatians 1:10. These were so cool because they referred to how Paul was a bondservant and what that meant. And it meant that he was owned, bought, and ruled by Christ. We are ruled by Christ. Something else we've been learning this week in our Jesus Study with Navs is how alot of us don't see the man side of Jesus that is portrayed in Luke. We mostly think of Jesus as a deity. I constantly feel like I don't think enough of Jesus as a deity and more of as a man. I see that He had actions and miracles that He performed as a man through God, not as God. But what we see is that He is both. He rules us and He owns us because He bought us. So I kinda took the letters IOBR (I am Owned Bought and Ruled) and turned them into IRBO. Because I was Ransomed. I was held up and Bought by Jesus. He paid for me and gave His life for me and so, I am Owned by His. I devote my life to Him. I give Him my all and He loves me like no other. And that's what I tack on at the end of that. He Loves me. That's why He did this. That's why I am who I am and why I stand where I stand. Take a minute each day and think about that. That He RBOLed you. I love you guys and I can't wait to see you guys again!
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Hey peeps, so I just wanted to check in with all you cats. Its been a while since I've been able to post due to computer issues as well as homework on homework on homework. I also wanted to let you guys know I miss you guys and love you all dearly.
That being said, how's everyone's year been going? I've been off to a busy start doing work and rush events as well as stuff with my Bible study. So many challenges in so little time its almost overwhelming. But be strong and courageous says the Lord. Today in Ethos (the church I am currently attending) Pastor Dave talked a good bit about the idea of suffering. How infrequently we call suffering upon ourselves, yet in Galatians 2:20 it says, "For I have been crucified in Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in Christ Jesus." Guys how powerful is that? We've been crucified with Christ.
But how many of you would actually show up to church next Sunday if it became illegal. If you knew you would lose everything, who would go? Who would want to willingly lose everything? But at the same time for those of you who would still read your Bible, why would you do it? Just to rebel? Do you actually do it when you have the free right to?
I'm not here to cast judgement upon any of you all. I just think its important to question ourselves and our motives from time to time. I can tell you there have definitely been times in my life when I would have skipped church. And this summer, I would have been violating no laws if they had come up telling me not to read my Bible.
Like I said food for thought. Gotta say I've really enjoyed being back, we've already had one date party, where I was dressed up as Danny from Grease haha. And we have a date party where we will be going to the State Fair this friday. So I'm pretty excited. Like I said I cannot wait to hear from you guys about life! I love you!
---- The Running Man
That being said, how's everyone's year been going? I've been off to a busy start doing work and rush events as well as stuff with my Bible study. So many challenges in so little time its almost overwhelming. But be strong and courageous says the Lord. Today in Ethos (the church I am currently attending) Pastor Dave talked a good bit about the idea of suffering. How infrequently we call suffering upon ourselves, yet in Galatians 2:20 it says, "For I have been crucified in Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in Christ Jesus." Guys how powerful is that? We've been crucified with Christ.
But how many of you would actually show up to church next Sunday if it became illegal. If you knew you would lose everything, who would go? Who would want to willingly lose everything? But at the same time for those of you who would still read your Bible, why would you do it? Just to rebel? Do you actually do it when you have the free right to?
I'm not here to cast judgement upon any of you all. I just think its important to question ourselves and our motives from time to time. I can tell you there have definitely been times in my life when I would have skipped church. And this summer, I would have been violating no laws if they had come up telling me not to read my Bible.
Like I said food for thought. Gotta say I've really enjoyed being back, we've already had one date party, where I was dressed up as Danny from Grease haha. And we have a date party where we will be going to the State Fair this friday. So I'm pretty excited. Like I said I cannot wait to hear from you guys about life! I love you!
---- The Running Man
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