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

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 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:

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

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

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

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

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:

"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!

---- The Running Man

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

Back to School

Hey guys so its gonna be a back to school week. I’m moving back in on Wednesday and to be honest, I can’t wait. I love being in Birmingham, but Nashville is also tons of fun and its somewhere I’ve missed this summer. Anyways, just a fill in on the past two weeks.

 

So for most of it I was in Boston for a week as well as New York. I got to see Sister Act on Broadway which was so cool. But once I got back I had my last Hurrah with Leo and Kuhn, Andrew was there too, but I’m seeing him soon. Anyways, It all started on Wednesday morning. To start we went to the Wesson’s lakehouse and I caught the biggest dad gum fish I’d ever seen. Including the biggest bass all summer. We went home to chill for a few hours then I got picked up and Leo, Kuhn, Maggie, and I went TrailRiding in Leo’s jeep back behind Pelham. So sick. On our way out we ended up in Helena and we stopped at the river to do some swimming and slacklining. We then proceeded to Leo’s house where we fixed up his jeep and I cut up my first fish ever! My massive bass ended up to be a good first attempt. Then we went to Kuhn’s house to cook the fish and watch cool runnings. After we dropped Maggie off, we headed out and got pulled over by the cops who thought we were car thieving hooligans. We made it the 2 hour drive up to Sand Rock where we climbed from 3am to 7am. We watched the sunrise and then hung up our hammocks on a cliff to take a short nap before we drove home. Such a cool trip.

 

Then we had impact weekend which was also fun and tonight is yomo. All in all this summer has been good. Coulda been a little bit better, but its still something I’ve enjoyed. Going back is going to be a busy blast. Can’t wait to see you guys!

 

----The Running Man

A Different Answer

Well today I’ve kinda realized a little bit of my struggle this summer. It’s been a continual fight against apathy and anger and constant frustration due to being stressed out and being a generally irritable person. But what I’ve wanted to think about all summer is why on earth its such a difficult struggle this summer. Why can’t I simply overcome these struggles with the help of the Lord. Here’s my answer.

 

It says in God’s word:

 

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

-- 1 Corinthians 10:13

 

God does not tempt you beyond what you can bear. How does that help me? Well for those of you that haven’t seen me in a while, God helped me grow incredibly through amazing resources and people this past year at school. He has grown me so much and I’ve enjoyed getting to see Him work in glorious ways around me. But, once again, how does that help me realize why I’m struggling?

 

In the book of Job we can see that God has allowed Job to be tempted because He knows how strong Job is. Job is a powerful warrior for the Lord. Well in a similar way through my growth I’ve been becoming opened to more and more trials and temptations. God has been allowing me to face more and more because He knows that I can face each temptation and overcome it. That’s why He has placed them in front of me!

 

He has placed His confidence in me and to be honest I’ve let Him down quite a bit, but there’s one more part of my answer that still is yet to be revealed. Why have I failed to overcome these previous trials?

 

Like I was saying, my trials and temptations are becoming increasingly harder to deal with and harder to overcome. But how did I overcome them in the first place? By being poured into. I want to encourage to each and everyone of you to find someone to pour into your lives. I’m not saying go to church and Youth Group, I’m talking about one on one mentoring. My struggle has been through lack of growth in order to adapt to my challenges. No one has been pushing me to grow. That’s what we all need to fight our demons. Is the assistance of God and the encouragement from our brethren. It says in Romans 5:8 “Take on the burdens of your brethren and so fulfill the law of Christ.” We are called to help our brothers in Christ and they are called to help you. Get someone in your life NOW!

 

With Love.

 

----The Running Man

A Brand New Day

Well soon starts a brand new day. A whole new set of hours that we can screw ourselves up with. I’m so excited. I get to sin again. And then attempt to earn my forgiveness and feel like such a wicked person. Should be a great day.

Unless…. I remind myself of the Gospel. Of my daily need for it. And how often have I neglected having serious time with God? To be quite honest its been since early June. Over a month since I’ve really put effort into my quiet times. Why?

I can’t answer that. I can’t comprehend why I wouldn’t want to remind myself that I’m imperfect and why I wouldn’t want to continually humble myself before the almighty God. Its so confusing. Why wouldn’t I want to do those things?

It’s cause I’m human. I mess up. And I’m so selfishly inclined it quite honestly sickens me. The idea of how perverse we really are. How abominable we are. of how filthy we are and lost we are in our own sin is something that keeps reminding me that I’m in need of a Savior. But it at the same time keeps me from running towards Him with all I’ve got. I need to be striving for Him and so do you. Love you guys, run well.

----The Running Man

Howdy Y’all

Hey thur. I’m gonna change my background… Probably tonight, but I wanted to also share with you guys some vital information!. THE CHADWICKS ARE BACK IN TOWN….. till saturday. But that’s ok cause we still get to see them. Anyways that and I have a new movie out. Some Birmingham Adventures. Check this out.

So let’s keep talking. What’s going on with life? Work. Play. Chatter. You know the deal. Yesterday we took a trip out to lake providence and did some fishing (Me, Leo, and Smeds). We caught a ton of massive Brim, but no bass. We did see a massive one come up and start attacking one the of the Brim that Leo had caught, but it seemed too great a task for the bass to actually sink in. It was frustrating.

That’s what I want to share with you guys right now. It’s the core of fishing and the key to life. Patience and Persistence. Now persistence invokes a sense of determination to get the job done. A determination to catch a fish or make that trick. But where we need persistence the most is in our daily walks with God. Sometimes, the problems that we encounter are just our own selves not wanting to want to overcome them.

For example, You walk up to a wall. You climb over it. You come to a bigger wall and you are daunted by the task of climbing over it and getting past the last wall has made you weary. Now you just don’t want to put the effort in to get over the wall, even though you want to be past it.

My boy Leo and I like to do a lot of crazy things, rock climbing, fishing, mountain biking, slacklining, and tons of other things. But the one thing that we need when doing our crazy stuff is the persistence necessary to get up and try again and attack that wall. When Leo gets it and I feel my strength fading, I decide that its time to give up and I tell that to Leo. Everytime I say that his response is always, “Well not with that attitude you won’t”. Then I decide to push through the pain and I get it. At my weakest point all it took was some encouragement and some self belief and PERSISTENCE to get it.

That’s what we need in our spiritual walks. We need that persistence. But if you notice how I was able to get it. I had someone there to encourage me and push me. That’s the same in our walks. For me personally if I ever want to work out I have to have a buddy with me or I just won’t try and I’ll waste my time. Likewise, we need to surround ourselves with Christian friends that can guide us and encourage us (BUT NOT DROWN US). We need to be focused on growth but remember that we don’t isolate ourselves.That’s all I’ve got for today! Love you guys!

----The Running Man

And We’re Back!

Greetings folks. So I got back into Birmingham after a really long week, and guess what? I got my charger! So now I will be posting far more frequently for those of you that care. Anyways, I’ve been in Callaway Gardens this last week at a “Family Reunion” I say that with quotes because not all the family was there and cause I like quotes. Anyways it was good fun, I had Leo come down and visit for a while and we did some fun stuff. Like this!

That’s a backflip off the top of the ski pavilion! WHOOP WHOOP! (sorry for the horrible quality and the fact that the sound is off. Just focus on the idea.)

Anyways, to be quite honest, it’s been a long week and its been a rough week. I’m gonna be honest with you guys I’ve been struggling with apathy all week. I have felt very much on the defensive in all things and I haven’t really tried to be with God at all. It’s so tough trying to go through life without that comfort. I know we’ve all been there and I just hit that rough spot this week. So for encouragement I’m gonna say this. God says that He is always with us and that He will never forsake us. As many times as I turn my back on Him and run towards selfishness and greed that many times and more He remains faithfully by our side.

Its so difficult to realize. Its so hard to understand why such a great and powerful God could give us this powerful and redeeming agape love. Not one of us is deserving and not one of us could even hope to deserve it. Yet His love never fails, it never gives up, it never runs out on me. Its always there. Smiling down on you when you think you’ve lost it all. Love you guys

 

----The Running Man

Maggie Chadwick

So Maggie Chadwick is getting mad at me for not having posted in around a month. Yeah I did mean to post about St. Lucia... but o well. It was a great trip you can ask me about it sometime. I just wanted to take some time and profess my true love for Maggie Chadwick. PSYCH! Not the true. My love belongs to another. Anyways, time for some candied bacon, I hope to get my laptop up and running soon and then I can post more often and share with you guys my train wreck thoughts. I just thought Zac Brown cause of there song that mentions a woman making a train take a dirt road and make it stop on a dime.

Anyways, its picture sharing time and I'm hungry for bacon so maybe I'll share some thoughts on relationships since thats what our College Class Bible Study has been about on Wednesday Nights. Until then, I will post to satiate the reading appetite of Maggie Chadwick!!
---- The Walking Man

And We're Back

Well hey guys. So like I say every time its been just too long since I last posted. I'm back in Birmingham Alabama and I still like my Chicken Fried, so not too much has changed. I have alot going through my head right now, but I just don't know what I really want to talk about. All I can think about is being home and then school and prayer and work and money and girls and friends and camp and trips and vacation and... well the list goes on and on. So I'm gonna start with prayer.

Jeremiah 29:7-12 says

"Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” ⁸ Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. ⁹ They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.

¹⁰ This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. ¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosperyou and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. "

Some powerful stuff if I ever did see. Now lets start with verse 7 and we will go in order. God is giving us a charge here to take care of the city he has caused us to be placed in. He has put us in "exile" in that we are currently exiled from Him, so wherever we go we should be trying to fulfill this charge. Now God here tells us how to take care of the city with one specific. It might not be what people expect God to tell us to do for our cities, but it is what we should do. God tells us to pray for the city. This shows that God is telling us how important prayer is.

Verses 8,9, and 10 are God telling us not to listen to the people of the world who claim that God doesn't answer prayers or that how you live your life will determine if God will answer your prayers. God says in verse 11. I know the plans I have for you. God knows what He's doing. He knows how to take care of  us. God plans to keep us safe in Him and to keep us going strong. He loves us and wants us to prosper. Then in verse 12, we can see that GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS. ALL OF THEM. God does not ever leave a prayer unanswered. Sometimes His answer is no, sometimes its not yet, but God never ignores you. That's something to take comfort in. That whatever His answer. We can know that God is doing what is best for us.

I love you all and can't wait to see you next! Here's some pics from St. Lucia! The full story on the trip will come at the next post.

---- The Running Man

St. Lucia

Well ladies and gents, tomorrow is the planned date of departure. I have all day tomorrow of either chilling or working (still not sure which) and then Os graduates. After graduation, when my grandparents leave, I will ride back to Atlanta with them. Then I will chill on Thursday, and Friday I go and join my group for our trip to St. Lucia. We depart Saturday morning and get back the following Sunday. Am I packed? Sorta, I'm about to go finish. Am I prepared? Well let's see.

Financially God has helped me raise/earn almost all of my support, I'm still a few bucks short, but at this point all I can do is trust that God will provide. Granted, that's what I should  have been doing all along, but I feel that when God puts the opportunity for me to try, but also gives Himself the opportunity to shine, I almost half-butt it. I try, but I trust, but I try.... its a vicious circle that causes stress and worry. But at this point like I said, He has left me with no ability to try anymore, He's simply reminding me that I can't do this on my own. I can't support myself without Him, I can't be prepared without Him.

So that brings me to the topic that I wanted to talk about for a paragraph or two, depending on if I space myself. Anyways, PREPAREDNESS. How do you know when you are prepared to do something important? Or even something unimportant? Some things change your life, and moving into those decisions to take on positions that you know will effect your whole life. I.e. taking on the responsibility of a relationship, or a leadership position. Alot of the time we just don't feel ready. I feel like there is always someone out there who is quite clearly more qualified than I am to take on the world. To fight for what is right. and to lead people towards Christ. I mean after all, I'm an awful sinner, I struggle everyday, and I can't even remember to pray sometimes during the day. There is no way I am in any position to lead a group, a girl, (excuse me a woman), or another person.

False. God prepares us for every situation and gives us a solutions manual to everything we think we aren't prepared for.

2 Timothy 3:16 says 

"For we know that all Scripture is given by inspiration from God, and is useful for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be made complete, fully prepared for every good work." 

So, from this we can see that God gives us the ability to be "Fully prepared for every good work." EVERY good work. Note that it says every GOOD work as well, because God gives shows us the right way to go. The right way to lead, because we know that in all things we are to be pursuing Him and glorifying Him. So isn't that what we should be leading others to do? God tells us the right way to go because it always points back to Him. Its His word, and we are His creation. How can we truthfully run towards anyone but Him if we want to pursue what is right and what is true? How can we lead someone in the right direction, but not point them towards God? How can we lead if we are not following? Answer: We Can't. So there's the other half of the answer, how do you know if you are prepared? You know that you are prepared when you are following. When you are pursuing our almighty maker with a passion and a love for Him. You know that you will be leading people towards Him as well. Because whom you follow, those whom you lead follow. Be leaders guys.

---- The Walking Man

Back for the Summer... Sorta

Oi. So its been a while. I've been out and about and getting used to being back in the Ham. (Birmingham for  you chumps who aren't from the South. I don't think there are many of those people reading this... I hope not....)  But I'm finally settled down, sort of. Lately I've been working with Andy Entrekien and Entrekien Outdoors. AKA Mowing and weedeating and edging and doing lawns for 6-9 hours a day. PAIN. I've only done two days, but like today I went from 10:30-5:00 went to Leo's did math, climbed for a sec, then helped set up the stuff for the Barn Opening tomorrow. I start tomorrow at 7:00 which means gotta be up at 6. Meh. Its gonna be a long day tomorrow cause we have the concert and then I have to take everything down afterwards. Oi.

On a lighter note, Taylor Hudson has started blogging.... and I have an instagram, follow me Michael_nakayama. Wow, the world must be ending this year. I've been super busy and super stressed, but I wanted to talk to you guys for a minute about the importance of a quiet time even in the midst of these stressful times. (If you are ever unlucky enough to have to go through the schedule I'm going through now.) But y'all since I've been back its been a struggle to get my quiet times in. Its been some form of demon just pursuing me with apathy towards everything that would further my relationship towards Christ.

But don't be too afraid, the moment I get into them, all that apathy goes away and I am fully focused on God, and it makes my day so much better. I need your prayers, but I wanted to point out that apathy is nothing more than a demon or some fleshly desire gnawing at you trying to keep you from knowing God more. I'm not saying being apathetic is a good thing, but to me its been a sign of how much I've grown. Every time you grow closer to God, the temptations are harder to resist, but God pulls you closer. The enemy sees just how close you are getting to God and tries harder and harder to pull you away. So the fact that its harder is better, but it also mean I have to try harder as well. I have to pursue God with all I've got. And I want you guys to do the same. I want to challenge you all to have a quiet time every day this summer. Starting tomorrow. Preferably in the morning so that you can meditate on His Word all day (Psalm 1:2). But do it as much as possible. Spend time in the Letters of Love your Father has written to YOU!

---- The Walking Man

Island Party

Hey guys so last night was island party. Now this party took a little longer than green rave to take off, but it was by no means any less fun. Brittany White and Megan Thompson visited for the weekend and they got to come to Island Party 2012. There was some great music, lots of people, and tons of water. We had a water slide running at one point. One that I am proud to say I did probably the most out of everyone. Unfortunately I cannot find any pictures yet, because I am not on facebook. Anyways I have a final tomorrow and some more later in the next two weeks so pray for me if you remember. See you guys May 4!

Formal

So this was probably the best weekend I’ve had all semester. I got the privilege of going to Gatlinburg and hanging out for the weekend in these absolutely amazing cabins. They were so nice. But the dance was so cool as well. We went to this relatively new little hotel and had some italian food next to a river. Then we partied the night away like Vandy does in just about every respect. I can’t tell you how many great things there were and was a fun time it was. Here’s a pic to describe the night because I just don’t have time to type it all out. I have math test tomorrow so I gotta study! BYE LOVE YOU .

----The Running Man

Sorry

So guys I regret to inform you that I will not be coming home for Easter weekend. I really wanted to, but I didn’t get to work this past saturday and I’m not working this upcoming saturday because of formal. whoop whoop. But because I can’t work those two saturdays, my boss really wants me to work easter saturday. And since we don’t have off school its not a legitimate break and I don’t really have an excuse to go home. Besides, I need the money. Anyways, I just wanted to say I’m really sorry for leading you guys on in the wrong direction. I still love you and I’ll see you after I get out of school. Besides, its only like an extra three weeks. That’s like nothing in school time.

That being said, I also wanted to apologize for not posting lately. I’ve gotten back on top of school work and my grades are slowly turning around. They may not be too great, but if they’re too bad, I can always retake some classes.

So I want to know about what God’s been doing in your lives! Text me, call me! You get mad at me for not coming home, but at least I keep you informed on what’s going on! You guys haven’t said a word to me! Except Kathleen and Hudson. Hudson who came up and actually VISITED me. We had a sickkkk time at green rave. It was so cool he can attest to that.

So what’s God been teaching me lately? Hmm…. Since Spring Break, I’ve had countless meals with brothers and friends and just gotten to know so much about people. Its crazy how I’ve known some of these people since January and I feel like I’ve been in school with them since I was in elementary school. God’s really been showing me how great it is to have strong Christian friends. But He has also been pushing on my heart to also assure that I’m not secluded in a Christian society, but constantly branching out and being more outgoing that I have in the past. I need to make more friends that I can witness to. People that I can show love to.

Additionally, God’s just been putting on my heart the desire for a disciple. A lot of what I’ve been learning in Navs is the constant reciprocation and reproduction of disciples from mentorship. I never really had a direct mentor in high school, but this semester I’ve seen what its like to really be directed and led and its great. God has just been giving me a desire to lead someone in that way this summer. This can be like leading a new Christian, an old Christian, or a non Christian in some way that grows him or her closer to God. That’s why I cannot wait for pledge next year when I can get my own little. Being a big and doing things like rush chair and being an officer in BYX are just things that right now make me so excited for next year. Even if my schedule will be something like Digital Logic with lab, Physics B with lab, Linear Algebra or Diff. Equations, Computer Science 201, and something else. 17 hours! Get pumped for next year you guys! Maybe God will give me someone to directly mentor this summer.

Anyways, I just want to encourage you guys to continue in your quiet times, remember to pray every minute that your feet are moving, and especially when they aren’t, and know that God loves you and that I love you too! Back to homework…

----The Running Man

Green Rave 2012

Hey guys so green rave is this weekend…. wait sorry let me start that again….

 

GREEN RAVE IS SATURDAY!!!!

I’m so very pumped about green rave. Its really gonna be an awesome party. And you may ask… Is it because you are gonna be super economic or whatever? noooo. Are you gonna be super environmental??? nooo0000. Areeee youuuuu gonna be raving hard core with a bunch of Christian men without alcohol and drugs and sex???? nooo--- well yeah, but that’s not why I’m excited. I’m pumped because HUDSON WHITE is coming up to Nashville TN for a visit and he’s gonna be at the party. Unfortunately DJ Hamsta dance will only be an attendee and the real DJ will be DJ Dirty and DJ… I forget…. its Brandon Goodman. Anyways, its gonna be awesome.

So what I was thinking of changing the background of my blog to this:

because GREEN RAVE is gonna be totally wicked, but I feel like it would only be able to last until Saturday and then I would have to change it….. Its unfortunate. O well. Just thought I would put those siccckkk pics created by my big, and some cool info about Hudson for all you skiers. Meh I bite my thumb in your direction. So love you have a good break!

 

----The Running Man

St. Lucia

Hey guys, so I have some awesome news to share with you! First, I’M NOT DROPPING MY MATH CLASS! I just might have to retake it next semester. Second, I’M COMING HOME FOR EASTER! For those of you that aren’t excited now….. Thirdly, I’m headed to St. Lucia this summer for a week. From May 26- June 3, the Vanderbilt Navigators have dedicated a week to going down to St. Lucia in order to establish a connection with the natives there and teach them about the love of Jesus as well as foster their growth and ability in spreading the word.

In far simpler terms, the population of St. Lucia is mostly African, having been brought over during the slave trade, but were mostly left to their own fate for a good while, becoming mostly a tourist attraction and popular honeymoon location. But the problem has arisen with the rise in MTV and BET culture which has taken a VERY firm footing down in St. Lucia. Men, women, and children often sell themselves in order to buy the things they find “coolest” on TV. It’s a materialistic culture much like our own, but there isn’t even a portion of their culture that claim Christianity.

Our goal in going down to St. Lucia is to establish a connection with them, so that we might be able to return there once or twice a year and help them to grow in their Christian population. While we are down there we will be having workshops and training sessions for the few Christian children down there so that they can evangelize better and so that they can stand stronger in their faith.

This mission trip, if it is successful in establishing a connection, could lead to the change of an entire country to a massive servant for God, and this would not be done by any human means. The only way that we could possible hope to accomplish this is with the help of God the Father Himself. I don’t have the time to tell you the things He has shown me this semester, but I have felt led to go on this trip to help those who are in a struggling community.

The FIRST and MOST IMPORTANT way that you can help is by prayer. We know that prayer is the most powerful support anyone can give. If you feel led, the financial need of this trip is also $1800 and as some of you may know, I am not able to pay for all that myself. So for any of you that can or would be willing to help support me, simply send me your mailing address so that I can send you commitment card and envelope. Send your mailing address to david.m.nakayama@vanderbilt.edu and I will be sure to send you a letter!

Thanks for all the support, I love you all!

----The Running Man

Tim Ree and Best Wok

So Tim Lee (Ree in Chinese) and I are chilling tonight. I found out I did absolutely horrible on my math test this morning, and so I’m going to drop the class most likely and take it again next semester. So as a result, I decided I don’t need to worry about my math homework due on thursday until I talk with my teacher about whether or not I’m dropping the class. Thus, Timmy and I are hanging out tonight and playing Call of Duty while eating some delivery Best Wok (Chinese FOOD). By the way, for those of you that care, Peace Tea iS AMAZING with Chinese food.

On a slightly different note… I’M DONE PLEDGING! I’m now an official brother of Beta Upsilon Chi! BYX! BUCS! Brothers Under Christ, etc. etc. These are the coolest group of guys I know, among whom Timmy here is one of…. (Insert Asian eyed emoticon smile.) Brothers rock! Haha. I love it, but in Math… well… I’ve fallen too far behind to catch back up in there.

However, I’ve decided that I will most likely be coming home for Easter! Keep it a secret from my mom though, I don’t want her to know. And since I’m coming home that weekend… You know what that means? Hudson, Leo, Andrew, rest of you who read this and ignore what I say…. YOU MUST COME VISIT ME! I get kinda lonely of all you guys way up here. But its no further than Auburn! And I have free food for you! And a cool city…..

Anyways, so while we’re on the topic, E-training (Evangelism training) ended tonight. I don’t know if any of you guys get the opportunity to participate in anything like it down there in Alabama, but if you EVER get the opportunity, TAKE IT! Its probably one of the most spiritually growing things you can do, and it will prepare you for continuing in your walk with God.

On that topic of growth I have something for you gentlemen out there. There are Godly men in the Bible, whom we are called to emulate. Men that exemplify qualities that strive to lead us to God. We can see men like Stephen in the New Testament who exemplifies being bold in your faith, David for being meek in his control of his power, and various others who carry qualities that we should have as men of God. But why don’t we pursue them as actively? “They are men of God! How could we possibly be anything like them?”

The answer is that they were men just like we are. They messed up and turned away from God, but they came back. They pursued God. They made the choice that defined them as choosing to follow God and thus, they chose to become Men of God. We need to make that choice everyday.

---- The Running Man.

Go Dores.

Sooo tonight was Sanctuary and it was totally awesome. I got to walk to Lipscomb and see my two good friends Ashley and Emily before walking over to Sanctuary and praising God with 300ish? other people. It was awesome. Plus I got some Chick-Fil-A for the first time in… A long time. Great meal.

Anyways, I was reminded of something today that I hadn’t really thought of before in depth. Bluntly put, its that we become leaders by following an example set for us. We are Christian leaders because we follow the role set up by Christian men in the Bible. These men were not super-human, they were man, just like you and me. Any one of us is just as capable of walking on water or praying like David or even being persecuted in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. We are called to follow their example and to lead.

But how do we lead? The trait that we can find in every single character in the Bible that is used as a leadership figure is the trait of servitude. BYG does a great job of emphasizing this and reminding students that their job is to serve, serve one another and serve God.

But how do we serve? This is what I was reminded most of tonight thanks to my pal Jackson Reimers. He’s my… bowling… chaplain. Pretty cool guy. Anyways what he said to me was something echoed by someone else in authority over us, “In order to learn how to serve, sometimes we have to be served.” How true is that? I’m not saying tell everyone to serve you so that you can be reliant on them and “learn a lot.” But What I’m saying is that sometimes, its easier to allow someone to serve you, so that they can lead, and so that you can learn how to lead. Make sense?

In short, we are called to lead, and thereby to serve, but in order to learn how to do those things, we have to have an example and that comes from characters in the Bible, and the people around us, that people around us are the ones that we can see in everyday situations serving us and showing us how to lead one another in a manner that reflects that which Christ showed here on earth.

This is my last thought I promise. When Jesus was washing the feet of the disciples, Peter said something along the lines of, “ Lord I am not fit to have you wash my feet.” and Jesus responded, “Unless you are washed then you will not be able to enter the kingdom of heaven with me.” Peter then says, “Lord wash my feet and my head and my hands also.” Peter realizes that in order to spread the Gospel, he must be one of the people who has it, (cause who can share what one doesn’t have?)  Peter needs the Gospel (or salvation) and the only way for him to get it is through allowing Jesus to serve him in His death. Jesus’s death was the ultimate act of service, and if we refused that, well, we wouldn’t have much to look forward to. So Peter saw that the service Jesus was doing was something that served him and ENABLED him to share the Gospel in the name of Jesus Christ.

I love you guys, talk to you soon!

 

----The Running Man

Well… Welcome to College

Well guys, its official, I’m in college. I’m pulling my first all-nighter. I’m really proud I was able to wait this long to do it. I’m also disappointed that I got so far behind that I have to do it. Falling behind is definitely hard to catch up with in college. Relative to high school anyways, and so I’m gonna keep this brief so I can get back to studying. We can’t always put off our studies and obligations in life. Sooner or later slacking off catches up to you and you pay for it. Some pay almost immediately, others, further down the road.

The same can be said for your spiritual walk with God. If you slack off and say hey, I’ll catch up sometime soon, you begin to realize that you can’t. You get confronted by people who think (and probably do) they know better than you when it comes to your God. This in turn causes you to either delve further into the Word, or quickly abandon the “rock” to which you were holding. Its as if the river has a rock in it right before the waterfall. You grab it, but never get out, never actively move towards getting to safety, you just hold onto it cause you know it can help you when you need it to. But you get caught off guard by some random wave or current and bam. You’re gone and your faith has left with you. And that’s somewhere I never want to see any of you. I want each and every one of you to be actively pursuing God in every aspect of your life. Thanks! Love ya’ll!

 

----The Running Man

What if my faith and beliefs dictated how I lived my life?

Yeah pretty crazy right? The idea of believing something and deciding that what you think is actually more correct. But wait, doesn’t that mean that you don’t believe in it? Doesn’t that mean that you think that your own views are better than what you “believe”? Doesn’t that just mean that you believe in yourself? You are supporting your own beliefs.

This was something that the Provost of our very own Vanderbilt University said tonight at the Town Hall meeting. A “meeting” that was designed to tell all the religious organizations that basically they have the opportunity to comply with the university’s “non-discrimination” policy, or they have the opportunity to leave campus. I cannot describe to ya’ll accurately the number of times that they stated stupid reasons and continuously made cyclical arguments that really had no bearing on what was going on and did little to answer our questions. One other statement made by the Provost was this, “Faculty rules and regulations trump what you want.” Everything we say, do, and think, doesn’t really matter to the school. What does matter? Basically the rules that they decide to selectively enforce, taking bits of the government and bits of their own private constitution and combining them to make them what makes them happiest.

But you know… thinking about that, I kinda realized that we do that a lot in our faith like Israel did in the old testament, many times over. We takes pits and pieces of the views that we enjoy, and we merge them all together to give us a hodgepodge of happy-go-lucky gospel of health and wealth story. How many times do we ignore those parts of the Bible that we just don’t want to confront? How many times do we do something and try and justify it by saying its not as bad as what the world says, and the world thinks that this is actually ok… I just wanted to let you know. That that’s wrong. Plain and simple. Vanderbilt may have the ability to combine their laws however they like, but we submit to an authority higher than Vanderbilt, higher than the US Government. We submit to God almighty, and when those other institutions are placed over us, God has done that for a reason, but not when it conflicts with His law. That is the point at which I will stand up and say I will not have this. Your prayers are appreciated and I will be praying for you as well.

 

Some cool pictures taken from the past few weeks.

----The Running Man.

A Paradoxical Universe.

Sometimes we create for ourselves a series of paradoxes that just never seem to make sense no matter how you put them. “Why do we drive on parkways and park on driveways?”, “Why don’t chick peas come from chicks?”, and so on. One of the few paradoxes that I’ve seen in the past week has come from the religious situations at Vanderbilt University. The problem is the confliction between two private institutions, the one housing the other, and both are disagreeing on the issue of diversity and acceptance, but neither willing to compromise their values. While I recognize the right of any private organization to subject itself to its own rules it seems paradoxical to… exclude an organization simply because it wants to reserve its own right of exclusion.

Whatever the principles are, one cannot simply walk into mordor. I simply cannot understand how a university is preventing the return of a religious organization on the grounds that its exclusive. Its too diverse. That makes no sense. The purpose of the organization is for the people that fit into its category to come together and experience their passions together and share them with one another. They are recognizing the beliefs that make them diverse, but  being diverse is too exclusive. We must be diverse together. So we must all be the same in that we must all be inclusively diverse. Well I can’t make head or tail of it, so I’ll leave it at that.

Well, classes are moving along, extracirricular activities are simply consuming all of my time, so if you would just pray for me that I would be able to manage all of them and simply remember which ones I have when that would be amazing. Also, I’m starting a prayer journal as a part of E-Training, an awesome training series that is simply focused on the growth of the Christian. If any of you are interested, I can send you some of the materials and ideas of what we are doing, because its really cool, and after just 2 sessions I already feel challenged to grow more in just one week than I have before. Back on track if you have any prayers just let me know and I’ll be glad to pray for them and keep you all in and on my heart. Thanks guys!

 

----The Running Man

Amarillo Sky

I really like that song. Amarillo Sky just talks about a farmer who lives an honest life. He has all that he can ask for and he is happy with it. He prays to God to protect his crops and family, and keeps on plowing. That was my first country song (courtesy of Katie Chadwick ;D) and my second was my lifetime favorite song Chicken Fried.

Most artists generally have some sort of genre that they deal with using the sound of country music to get it across. Brad Paisley talks about everyone’s dreams in songs like Celebrity, Online, Ticks, etc. Blake Shelton talks about the good things in life and he romanticizes them. Jason Aldean refers to the redneck side of us all kinda like Justin Moore does. Carrie Underwood talks about party girl problems most of the time, and Zac Brown Band just sings about good living, the joys and the pains. Of course, each artist varies from these topics here and there.

Its kinda like the body of the Church. We are called together under the common bond of Christ, and we live out our lives in their genres with different stories signifying different parts of the body.

Anyways I’m leaving tomorrow for Nashville and when I think about it, I’ll be back in March for Spring Break, and I’ll be back in May after finals. Other than that. I won’t see most of you guys for a while. You Auburn folk I may not see until May if you don’t come to Nashville soon. I’m gonna miss you guys, and the hectic idea of real life again just kinda doesn’t sound fun, although I do feel kinda weird not working at all. O well.

Country Music and Jesus don’t really go hand in hand to often whether God is mentioned in the song or not (except God Gave Me You). And neither does my leaving. If we spent our lives looking for every possible connection to something. We may mistake something that looks like a pattern for something that’s actually just a random assortment. But that doesn’t mean God doesn’t have a purpose for it. It could be the most random addition of total opposites you’ve ever seen, but God can bring them together to be used for His good. And that is where the pattern never stops showing up. God always uses things to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Night Ya’ll.

 

----The Running Man

Funny Thing…

You know, its funny how little thinking I did while I was backpacking through the Appalachians. I had hours to myself to think about whatever I wanted and most of it was pretty trivial. Although we did have a pretty good time singing some praise songs and reading some scripture. We talked about the marvels around us, but I didn’t really do too much in depth thinking about the meaning of life or anything. But sometimes I just kinda learn to value time alone a little more. Time alone with God to think my life through and time alone to listen to and talk to God.

But do you ever find yourself not doubting God, but wishing you had some tangible or audible reassurance? Some sort of help so that when you really don’t know what’s wrong, you can be confident that something’s right. I don’t like feeling like that. I love feeling the arms of God’s love around me. Its times like that where I just break down and cry from shame and joy at the same time. Shame from being found out, but joy from knowing that God is there. Cause there honestly are times where I just feel like I need to feel something. To feel God’s love. And He pops up. Sometimes He will come through another person, but every now and then He does this wonderful thing where in my quiet times I just feel swept up in His arms and there is nothing I can do. I’m truly helpless, and it feels like the weight of the world has been lifted off my shoulders. It’s a feeling I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world. God is so good. Just remember that.

 

----The Running Man

I can only imagine

Hey guys so today’s post is actually my first of the new year, and it’s a post about how I spent the new year. After a great party at the Krueger’s I got home around 4 am and had to leave at 430 so that I could be at the church on new years to leave for a trip. At 520 I hopped in the car and drove to Chattanooga.We picked up Nathan Newman and drove up to the Smokies.

Day 1: We arrived at the Jake’s Creek Trailhead at around 1 and left with our packs strapped at 2. From an elevation of about 700 feet we hiked up to about 4800 feet in 5 miles (Quite a FEET if you’ve ever been hiking(haha that was a PUN)) then declined to 4100 feet to set up camp over the next mile. That night we built a fire and set up tents, but the temperature dropped down to about 10 degrees.

Day 2: We woke around 8 and went for a nice 7 mile hike rising in elevation to 5607 feet and then decreasing to around 5500 for camp. We had a shelter, but the temperature never really rose about 20 degrees. That hike took around 4 hours, a pretty good pace, and Leo, Jonathan, and I finished about an hour before the other three. After the others showed up, Leo, Jonathan and I decided to hike up to Clingman’s Dome (The second highest point on the east coast) A hike to 6500 feet over 3 miles. A VERY strenuous hike when its freezing out. But by the time we got through about 2 miles, the wind was hitting about 25mph and it was snowing pretty hard. By the time we got to the top, the wind was around 40 mph, and the temperature was around –20 degrees with wind chill. We hiked the 3 miles back in the dark and froze to death that night in –10 degree weather.

Day 3: we woke up and descended back to 700 feet over 12 miles in 4.5 hours. That’s super legit fast and we beat the other three by 3 hours because they left 2 hours before us and got finished 1 hour afterwards.

Dueces!

----The Running Man