Green Arrows, Fishing, and Kelly Clarkson

A few random thoughts...

Some things have been bouncing around in my mind lately and so this is going to seem like a really random post but…tonight I just don’t care. I have to write about them because then maybe I can better grasp what’s going on instead of feeling like I am chasing the waves as they advance and retreat along the shoreline. It’s basically things that have inspired me, annoyed me, and changed me in the last few weeks.

1.      I was really struck with how happy and cheerful the workers are at this one taco bell that I frequent here in the springs (Hey, what can I say, I really like the hard tacos). But, it just made me realize I could certainly try to make more peoples’ day better and that I don’t say thank you enough to the people who brighten mine.

2.      “…when I have nothing to write about, it’s time to be more adventurous. And when I have nothing I can freely post publicly, then I need to point my adventures in a more positive and productive direction…” This was written in a blog by one of my friends and it really made me think about the writing I do and the way I use my free time. Extremely thought provoking stuff.  And definitely an area I could improve on.

   

3.      I hate when I am sitting at a light…it turns green and the MOMENT, nay the SECOND, it turns…the person behind me honks as if I have been sitting there, oblivious, for the last 27 minutes. Rrrrr!!!!  Yes. I see it turned green. I apologize that my foot wasn’t able to transition from the brake to the gas faster than your hand to your horn. My bad. Sorry for slowing your day down (you moron).

4.      ‘Left on Green Arrow Only’ signs. This has been a pet peeve for years. I feel I have enough personal responsibility to see if a large, moving vehicle is hurtling towards me. If one is coming…I probably won’t turn. Don’t need your help Mr. Arrow. Thanks, but no thanks.

5.      “Maybe I’ll find you…maybe I won’t. I’ll try to…even if I don’t…”  Yeah. That’s where I’m at. I love where I am in life and where God’s placed me and really am enjoying the things I’m experiencing. But I’d be totally cool with doing some of these things with someone else. Like a girl for instance.

6.      “I won’t spend the rest of my life…catching my breath… letting it go. Turning my cheek for the sake of the show…”   I feel like I’ve been doing that a lot over the past few years and recently decided that I’m finished with it. There are standards. There are things I believe. I will stand for them because I believe they are right. It doesn’t mean I will never be wrong but it will mean that I live my life with purpose instead trying to tiptoe around not offending people that, quite honestly, might need to be offended if it will make them think.

7.      Warning: Poor analogy approaching…this one will involve fishing. If you have someone ‘on the line’ and you are just keeping them around so you won’t feel lonely, or so that you will have a fallback if the person you are currently dating doesn’t work out….CUT THEM LOOSE. Please. It’s not fair to girls, or guys. And truthfully, it’s selfish. It’s cruel to do just enough to keep someone hoping for a ‘someday’ that will never come.

8.      People who have amazing marriages/dating relationships are inspiring. I am really blessed to have several examples in my life and it makes me want to aim high if and when I ever date again. Hey… that last sentence rhymed.  I think that means I should end this post now.

Dancing in a Downpour

“…I’m breathing in, you’re breathing out the same…we give and take. And let the water fall… on the flame that’s not burning out…”

Everyone’s had a relationship, whether current or in the past, where the beginning stages feel like a dream. The stages are happening either in slow motion or spinning so fast you can’t even comprehend them. You feel “…in midair…floating off to space…”. It’s wonderful and something that is hard to understand fully.  Ironically, many of these same feelings come at the end of a relationship or at a time when things are difficult with the person you love. You feel lost…but in a much different and horrible way than when you were lost in how much you cared for this person that seems to have suddenly become a stranger. The first verse describes this surreal feeling of being with someone you care about more than you thought you ever could. Then, the tone changes…

“She’s in a town that holds a lonely road…and night is falling. In a home she’s in a lonely room…with music playing. Can she hear my heart…coming through on the door between?

In the second verse, these two people still exist in each other’s lives…but something has changed. Is it distance? Possibly… but what kind? Physical distance is hard, and can be the death of many relationships, but emotional distance can be far worse. To be in the same room/house/city with someone you love and not be able to express how you feel, or how sorry you are, can be nothing short of torture. You can hear the pain, the sorrow, in the bridge:

“Maybe I’ll find you…maybe I won’t. Baby I’ll try to…even if I don’t. You are what I never knew I needed...”

Do they give each other another chance? Can they rebuild? Or has the rain finally taken the flame that, at the beginning, could not be burned out? The easy answer is that they come running back to each other and dance in the downpour once again. But…sometimes it’s too late for that. Sometimes the chance to be with the person you love passes because we think that we can always “talk about it later”. What if this is the last day to save what you have? I don’t know if the characters in this song make it, I don’t know if I’ll make it…if you will. Some days I believe we will…and other moments…my faith is gone. But I do know that pride has no place in our lives and that it just might be the chain that is keeping us from the person we love. Is it keeping you? 

"...I'd rather be a comma...than a full stop"

            “Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice.”   -(Isaiah 59:14-15)

I’ve had all I can take. I cannot be silent anymore. I read the above verses in a few days ago and, if I didn’t know better, I would say that Isaiah is currently living in our time and speaking about our culture when he wrote these words. 

Politics. That one word makes most of us groan. We think of the 7,396,284 ads we see around election time and how many of us wish it would just all STOP! I am with you. I sympathize, more than that, I think it should change. But this post is not about that. This is about something else. I have run across several people from my generation(which is who this post is directed at)in the last few weeks that are planning on NOT voting because of various reasons.

This won’t be a long post. Probably three points…we’ll see if I can stop there once I get going. I’m going to lay out several reasons why we should…no…why we must vote. A couple of clarifying points before I begin. First, I am not going to advocate for a party, or a candidate, in this post. Second, this is my opinion. I realize that it could be wrong and I certainly welcome productive discussion about the topic. Alright, let’s begin.

 First, it is a privilege to vote. Most people in other countries only dream about such a privilege. Also, many, many people have died to give you this freedom. They’ve paid the ultimate price because they believe that you should have the freedom to choose how we as a nation are governed and how that in turn will impact our children and future generations. Now, one could argue that being ‘free’ also means that you could decide not to vote…because it’s your choice. I would say that you are right. You don’t have to vote. But, (and… get ready…beautiful transition approaching…) that leads me to my second point.

Second, as a Christian, you have a responsibility to vote.  Let’s revisit verse fourteen for a moment. “Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter…”. Why do you think that righteousness cannot enter and truth is not welcomed in the public square? Maybe it’s because evil people with no moral compass, or fear of God, have entered these places? Why have they entered? Could it be because, as Edmund Burke famously said, "...all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."? We must speak out for the values laid out in scripture, and help pull this culture out of the death spiral Satan would like to pull us into. By “not choosing a side”, and refusing to stand up for right, you are letting evil people have their way. It’s as simple as that.

The last issue I want to bring up is to counter this argument: “It doesn’t matter if I vote because God is in control and it’s doesn’t matter who wins…God is still in control no matter what”. This is a more difficult question to counter because, as first glance, it seems plausible…spiritual even. However, on closer inspection, this argument doesn’t hold water. Again, to return to my first point, it’s not a neutral issue. The world is being pulled toward evil because of sin and God has clearly called us in scripture to stand for what’s right. God could intervene, and sometimes does, but He has placed us on this world to be His hands and feet. To ignore this responsibility, I would argue, is to ignore what God has asked of us as His emissaries on this earth.  

I could go on, but hopefully this has made us stop and think. Once again, I call upon my generation to stand for what’s right. It is our time. Many of us are now of age to have an impact on how our children will live in the future. So do your research…study scripture…and then vote. I will. I want to be a link in a chain of generations that stand for God and for what is right. I don’t want to be the end of the chain…I refuse to be the final link. A line from one of my favorite songs comes to mind as I close:

“Don’t want to see another generation drop…I’d rather be a comma than a full stop…”

"All we have to decide". My thoughts from Haiti

How do you describe a sunset to someone who is blind? How do you quantify the number of stars in the nighttime sky? How do you talk about an experience that is still changing you when you yourself don't fully understand the ways in which you've changed? 

 

These are the types of thoughts and questions that have been pounding in my mind this last week as I've tried to understand my time in Haiti. There's so much to think about, I don't even know where to start...which is probably why I've turned to writing to try to describe it. When you write you can change, add, and delete the pieces and parts of your story that you don't like. You can type again and again until your thoughts and feelings are expressed. But in life, it's different. It's all permanent. You want to delete some parts, or at least change them, so they don't hurt so much. You wish you could hold onto, or at least appreciate more fully, the good parts of your story. I've made mistakes in my 24 years, but going to Haiti was not one of them. Instead, it is one of the best parts of my story and it's something that I'm trying to keep a hold of and be sure I appreciate as much as I possibly can.

 

Team. That short word is always what jumps to mind first when I think about this trip. Relationships are so important to me and the way that life-changing events form individuals together into a team is one of the greatest things that I've experienced. I loved our team. I could talk for hours about each person individually. I could talk about Chris leading us and the amazing amount of passion he infuses others around him with. Watching him and Marci serve and support each other is something that I certainly hope to emulate in my own life. Then of course I would have to tell you about how mature and giving Kennedi is, mention how many times Kylie inspired me with her enthusiasm and joy, or tell you about Kenzie's seemingly infinite patience with the orphans who kept trying to 'tune' her ukulele for her when she was trying to play it. 

What was it like to be with Colleen and Rita? Well...you would need to invent a word that means both 'hilarious' and 'inspiring' because that's exactly what it was like to be with them. The relationship that that mother and daughter have is a wonderful thing to watch. It was inspiring to see them together with the orphans and 'hilarious' doesn't even begin to cover what it's like riding on planes or talking with them. They make everyone around them smile...all the time. I miss each of these people and the ways in which they impacted all the lives they touched. I miss them impacting mine.

 

Family. I was so blessed to be able to go with my family and spending time with all of them together is something that is one of my favorite things to do. There's a lot of us, it takes us awhile to get places, and we're kind of weird, but I love the memories we make together. One of the best was seeing my parents celebrate 30 years of marriage in Haiti with all 6 of their kids. To have that kind of an example of love and commitment to family to look up to is something that I appreciate as I see more of my friends getting married and begin to look toward that step for myself. And then there's my siblings: Elizabeth, Rachel, Daniel, Rebekah, and Joshua. They're some of my best friends and they added so much to this trip. Probably the best part (other than having someone to talk to on the 24,000 hour plane rides of course), was seeing how they lived the same, consistent lives in Haiti that they do when we're home. I love them.

 

Orphans. I envisioned this trip as a way for us to help, and hopefully bless, the orphans that our church sponsors. But after spending time with these kids, most of whom have very little, I think I was the one who was blessed. They may not have many material possessions, but their joy and love for those around them made me question who was really living the 'better' life. I think I got a glimpse of what Jesus meant when he said "...for theirs is the kingdom of heaven". Loving like a child, forgiving like a child, believing like a child...these are the things that I think Christ was trying to impress upon us when he took time to play with, love, and speak into the lives of children. It left me with the question, are we doing the same for those kids (and other people) that God has placed in our lives?

So, that's it...the short version....that somehow got very long. God did much in my life on this trip. Some things are clear...other things I'm still processing. But in closing a quote from J.R.R. Tolkien seems fitting: "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us..." 

 

 

The path marked 'Forgiveness'

At some point forgiveness is the only path left. Or, more accurately, the only path that actually leads you out of the forest. How do I know? Because I’ve tried the other paths…seclusion, bitterness, and regret etc. And eventually they lead you in circles and you end up passing by the path marked ‘forgiveness’ again and again. You see it, know in the back of your head that it’s better than the path you’re on, but are still afraid (or, more truthfully, too proud) to try it. Now, to be clear, forgiveness doesn’t mean that you forget everything or don’t come out of the forest scratched, scarred, and sometimes bleeding. Those marks will probably be with you a long time, possibly the rest of your life. But when you make a mistake, or are accused, and you forgive, I believe you start to see the more complete picture. It’s the give and take of the world, and our Christian lives, to forgive and in turn be forgiven by those we hurt. It’s what Christ did for us. He has scars from what He went through for us. And part of learning how to walk on His path means dying to ourselves and learning to forgive others in the same way He forgave us.

 I’m getting to practice this in my own life now and while it was very difficult, especially today, for me to forgive ; I realize that it’s a chance to practice what so many others have shown to me in my life. Really, it boils down to changing my pride into humility. I’m not there yet…I’m still in the woods but I’ve decided to try the path marked forgiveness. The words of Jesus when teaching us how to pray have really come alive tonight. “…and forgive us our debts…as we forgive our debtors…”

"...Reason for death and the purpose of time..."

Something from Lucado that has really inspired me lately:


"Should a man see only popularity, he becomes a mirror, reflecting whatever needs to be reflected to gain acceptance. He is everyone and no one.

Should a man see only power, he becomes a wolf — prowling, hunting and stalking the elusive game. Recognition is his prey and people are his prizes. His quest is endless. As a result, he who sees only power is degraded to an animal, an insatiable scavenger, controlled not by a will from within, but by luring from without.

Should a man see only pleasure, he becomes a carnival thrill-seeker, alive only in bright lights, wild rides, and titillating entertainment. With lustful fever he races from ride to ride, satisfying his insatiable passion for sensations only long enough to look for another.

Seeker of popularity, power, and pleasure. The end result is the same: painful unfulfillment.

Only in seeking his Maker does a man truly become man. For in seeing his Creator man catches a glimpse of what he was intended to be. He who would see his God would then see the reason for death and the purpose of time. Destiny? Tomorrow? Truth? All are questions within the reach of the man who knows his source."

-Max Lucado

"...For each age is a dream that is dying, or one that is coming to birth..."

I came across this poem recently and it has quickly become one of my favorite ones I have found. The final stanza is extremely powerful I think and holds a lot more meaning than first meets the eye.

"We are the music-makers,
And we are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers,
And sitting by desolate streams.
World-losers and world-forsakers,
Upon whom the pale moon gleams;
Yet we are the movers and shakers,
Of the world forever, it seems.

With wonderful deathless ditties
We build up the world's great cities,
And out of a fabulous story
We fashion an empire's glory:
One man with a dream, at pleasure,
Shall go forth and conquer a crown;
And three with a new song's measure
Can trample an empire down.

We, in the ages lying
In the buried past of the earth,
Built Nineveh with our sighing,
And Babel itself with our mirth;
And o'erthrew them with prophesying
To the old of the new world's worth;
For each age is a dream that is dying,
Or one that is coming to birth."
                 -Arthur O'Shaughnessy      

The Sounds of Life and Music in 2011

This will just be a (fairly) short post reviewing the year in music. Why am I doing this? Because music is one of my main hobbies, I want to, and this is my blog. So in short, I do what I want. ;) If you are looking for a deep/controversial/relationship/theological topic, like most of my other posts, this post is not for you. You can stop reading now and go check Facebook again to see if anyone has posted anything new(especially relationship status updates) in the last 42 seconds.

Here’s what I am going to cover:

-Favorite Song of 2011

-Favorite album of 2011

-Biggest surprise of 2011 for me in music

-Biggest let-down of 2011

-Music most excited for in 2012

Favorite Song: This one is hard but I am going to go with JoJo’s song “Disaster”

Explanation: Those who are a little older might remember JoJo. Super talented girl (one of the top 5 female vocalists I’ve ever heard) who burst on the scene a few years ago with her hit song “Too Little…Too Late”. Why do I like the song? Three reasons. First, the lyrics. It’s kind of a slam on some of the clichés you hear about love. Here is a couple lines:  “…the wall’s went up and our love fell down… and it turned into ‘whatever’…now we’re saying “never”. Feel the fire ‘cause it’s all around…and it’s burning for forever and always”.  I love the last part because you often hear people say “forever and always” with love and a lot of times that’s just not what ends up happening. Second, the beat. It’s driving, it’s fast, it fits…the end. Third, JoJo and her emotion and vocal range. You can almost hear her pain “…no happy ever after…just disaster” and the way she sings it is truly incredible.  

Favorite Album of 2011: Wow. It’s so, so close. It’s a tossup between Blink 182’s album “Neighborhoods” and Angels and Airwaves album “Love II”.  Definitely get both but…I’d have to go with Love II.

(Honorable mention: Avril Lavigne’s album “Goodbye Lullaby” and Daughtry’s “Break the Spell”)

Explanation: Here’s the bottom line. Angels and Airwaves has a very ethereal style driven by the extremely unique vocals and lyrics that Tom Delonge brings to the group. If you like the ‘futuristic’ type sound of AvA then you will probably love it. If you don’t….you will hate it. I love Tom’s lyrics and sound so I love it. However, if you aren’t into the sound…you would be better off getting the Blink album because it’s basically all that with more of a punk rock feel. And as I mentioned, they are both fantastic.

Biggest surprise: Two words: Michelle Branch.

Explanation: Most of you probably remember Michelle. If you don’t just check out the link and try, I dare you, not to LOVE the song.( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aViAxK3SKU ) It’s one of my top 5 favorite songs (and music videos). Well, Michelle is back. She was supposed to have an album out by now but…so far we only have a single. “Loud Music” came out around June and I loved it. I got to see her in concert with the Goo Goo Dolls a few months later and that was beyond awesome. Such an awesome concert and my favorite of the year for sure. This was a surprise because she’s been out of the music world for several years now and to see her come back with something so good was awesome. So yeah, check out the new single if you love Michelle, which you should. ;)

Biggest let-down: Sigh…this one hurts. But I’m going to have to say LIGHTS album “Siberia”.

Explantion: The reason this is so hard is because I absolutely love lights. Her first album “The Listening” was easily my favorite album of last year and so the dubstep and ‘dirty’ sound her second album took was disappointing to me. Now, not to say it wasn’t good. It’s growing on me a little but…..yeah, I was very sad. She was incredible in concert though…so nice and so down to earth. I love her for that. Totally would date her…just throwing that out there. ;)

Music most excited for in 2012: Hmm… ok I’m going to list 5 albums to watch for. You heard it here first.

JoJo’s album “Jumping Trains”: This could be a bust. But…I don’t think so. I’m getting it based solely on her vocal talent. And the incredible single ‘Disaster’

The Fray’s album “Scars and Stories”: Umm…it’s The Fray. Need I say more? If for some reason you don’t believe me…go check out the new single ‘Heartbeat’. You’ll thank me later.

Michelle Branch’s album “West Coast Time”: Again, slightly nervous, but…not really. I think I’m going to love this one. Again, based on Michelle’s ability on the guitar and the new single ‘Loud Muisc’.

Owl City ????: So…this is just a rumor, but we might have a new album form Owl City in the summer/fall of 2012. Which would be incredible. Adam Young just keeps improving. All Things Bright And Beautiful I listen to at least once a week and I still love it. Can’t wait to see him live again.

Newsboys album “God Is Not Dead”: So… I cheated. I pre-ordered this one and already know it’s great…as are all of the Newsboys albums. No defense needed. Just go buy it. It has Kevin Maxx of DC talk on a couple songs and if that doesn’t excite you then…I don’t even know what to say to you.  ;)

There you go! That’s my short (yeah right) thoughts on what I liked and what albums to watch for this next year. I’m already scheduled to see Matt Nathanson, Kelly Clarkson, Newsboys, Skillet, and JoJo live so I’m very excited!

 Thanks for reading…

Tebow and 'Divine Intervention'

And... hibernation is over! Yes, that is the excuse I am going to use for not blogging at all for almost 9 months. What could have possibly brought me out of hibernation you might ask? Well...two things. First, I think I actually have something valuable to say, the time to write it, and feel like I should. Second, (I kind of cheated by sticking three things in my first point but...sorry. Just work with me.) I was awakened from my hibernation by someone yelling "TEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEBOW!!!!!!!!"

But on a serious note, it has been interesting watching Tebow and the.....what is the right word....hysteria?....that has gripped the bronco nation, christian nation, and fine.....just the entire nation in general. Hysteria might be too strong a word but to say that he is one of the most controversial figures to come on the scene recently would not be an overstatement at all. The fact that his #15 jersey is the top selling apparel in the NFL should be proof that this guy is someone that fascinates many....whether you're a sports fan or not.

The question that I have in my mind tonight is some peoples' talk of 'Divine intervention' and what role it plays in Tebow's, and for that matter, every other Christian's life? Now, some have said that the reason Tebow has had success on the field this year is because God is 'intervening' in the games and bringing the Broncos back (from sometimes almost impossible odds) to unexpected victory. The idea behind this is that because Tebow is so vocal about his faith and seems to lead such a God-honoring life, that God is blessing with the direct result of letting him and the Broncos win football games. And....I don't know what I think about this. I am inclined to think this is just a little bit ridiculous.

Here's why:

1. There are plenty of other Christians in the NFL....some even on the teams the Broncos have defeated (ex. Lovie Smith, coach of the Bears). So...if that is the way God 'blesses' Christians that follow Him and play football, how does one reconcile that? One guy who is a Christian wins....one loses. Seems like a double standard if that's indeed the way it works?

2. Just because you are honoring God with your life, doesn't mean you will have 'success' as the world defines it. Yes, many times you might, because the principles of God are wise and very often benefit our lives in physical, financial, and social ways. However, think about Job, or prettymuch any of the prophets. They followed God like few of us do, and yet they had much happen to them in their lives that the world would have definitely not defined as 'success'.

These are a couple of the main reasons I disagree with it. Now, as I stated above, winning football games could be part of some of the other benefits that come from leading a holy life. How? Well,  I would argue that hard work, character, teamwork, leadership....these are all traits that are laid out for us in scripture by Christ. However, these are also traits that can be developed by any aspiring athlete, Christian or not, because they see that doing so will benefit their gameplay and performance.

Now, to be clear, God is blessing Tim Tebow in some form directly for the way he is leading his life. I just feel it's important to realize that it might not be in ways that any of us will ever see and, in my mind, is not shown by the outcome of a game on a football field. That is my point. I know I may have simplified some things here but my desire was to give what I hope is an accurate reflection of the Christian life and, more importantly, check to be sure that we are presenting an accurate view to the rest of an unsaved world.

Taking my own advice, late night dinners, popcorn, and cold hot-chocolate

The following story is one of the few interesting things that has happened to me during my short excursion in the south these last few months. I was originally not going to post it but...it's a good story and I love those :)So, pull up that computer chair, grab your favorite snack (popcorn in my case), some hot-chocolate, and get ready for story time. The lyrics I’ve inserted are from a song that I kept coming across during this time that seemed to fit perfectly. It’s from a song called ‘Kill’ by Jimmy Eat World.

“Well you’re just across the street…looks a mile to my feet…”

 

Chase. A lot can be summed up in that word. Namely what I have been spending the last week thinking about… a lot. Chasing, how to chase, when to give up the chase, and yes, just the word…Chase.

In this case it’s because it happens to be the name of a girl I’ve met here in Mississippi. Now, when I got down here, I said I would DEFINITELY not even look around to date anyone because it was, after all, Mississippi. Which might be biased but there are very few girls that are attractive in any way down here... not to mention I’m not from here. But all that changed last…Sunday I think it was. The days sort of run together down here but I think it was Sunday night I went in to Chilies and this very attractive and really sweet girl waited on me. I didn’t think too much about it that night, mainly because I only have about 2 more weeks here in MS, and I was able to (fairly successfully I might add) talk myself out of pursuing anything because of this reason. However, it kinda floated around in my mind most of the week so this past Friday night I thought I would go to Chilies again and catch a basketball game and see if I happened to run into her again.


“Could it be that everything goes round by chance?...Or only one way that it was always meant to be…?”

I sat in a different section, but she happened to be there and to be my server again. She remembered me, exactly what I ordered, and what I liked to drink. Which I thought was pretty cool, and also kind of amazing considering we had honestly very little communication when I had come in the previous Sunday. So I started to re-think my whole approach, mainly just because she was so nice and sincere and apparently, either had a great memory…or had reason to remember me. And more than all of that… you ever have one of those times where you and another person just ‘click’? It’s only happened to me three times in my life but…yeah, this was one of those times.



But still I wasn’t sure. Every logical thought process I went through was in favor of leaving the whole thing alone for three good reasons. First, as previously stated, I have two weeks left in this state and then it’s quite possible that I would never see this girl again. Number two, I don’t REALLY know anything about her. Yes, she’s nice, very attractive, and her personality just seems to ‘fit’ for lack of a better word. But at the same time, I have no clue if she’s a Christian, what her family is like, or what her personality is away from her job (because, let’s face it, people will probably tip friendly, attractive girls better than they would otherwise). And third, I had no clue if this girl had a boyfriend or anything like that but even if she didn’t, I don’t think long distance relationships work. Too much can go wrong, and often does, when you are more than about 100 miles apart from what I’ve seen.



“…funny how I’m nervous still…I’ve always been an easy kill…I guess I always will…”



So I sat there… thinking through all these really good reasons to say nothing. However, and this is what always gets me, I HATE wondering. I hate not knowing for sure and losing sleep for who knows how long agonizing over why I didn’t say anything. I mean, as I often say in my blog, all the girl can do is say no. And if she does, you aren’t any further behind than you already are by not saying anything. So.. I was stuck. Totally didn’t know what to do. However, I listened and watched the way she interacted with people (covertly of course  ;) the rest of the time while I was waiting for my food.

Now, a qualifying statement. I have NEVER asked a girl out that I’ve met in a restaurant, Wal-Mart, on the bus, a petting zoo, or any other place for that matter. I am not that guy. I think the whole idea is a little over the top and kinda lame to be honest. It can be done correctly of course but most of us envision, at least I do, the creepy guy that hits on the waitress at the restaurant and uses some cheesy pickup line or something…usually right before she slaps him and walks off. And also, I would like to think I have a very realistic view of myself. I am quite average when it comes to looks and all that. So this type of approach would probably not work for me anyway did I decide to pursue it on a more full time basis.

Anyway, as I am going about all these ponderings I heard her talk to the table behind me. “Hi there how are you all doing tonight?...my name’s Chase and I’ll be taking care of you…” (my face:  0.0) A …GIRL… named Chase? I had never heard of such a thing. But I thought hey, something to ask her about right? Eventually my food comes and I talk to her a little (I was going to say more but I kinda chickened out and mainly just asked her if Chase was really her name and if there was any story behind that. Which, it turns out, there really isn’t. I guess her mom liked to use names that could be either boy’s or girl’s names). In any case, we really didn’t talk too much more. The only other event of the evening was that she put hearts all over my check but, again, I don’t read into that stuff too much because I think it’s pretty common when there is a tip involved. Anyway, she was nice, I was nice back, I found out her name…checked for a ring (always a good move…just don’t be obvious) and that was it. I walked out. However, as I am walking away I think wow… Lame. Really, really lame. And trust me, I kicked myself the whole way home that I didn’t talk to her longer. But hey, I figured she probably has a boyfriend anyway and it probably doesn’t matter too much… no need to agonize over it anymore.



“I pick up…put down the phone… it’s just like being alone”

Yeah right. I spent a fairly restless night trying to let it go…and pretty much failed miserably. Like I said, I hate not knowing far worse than I hate rejection. But the opportunity was lost. I hadn’t said what I should have. So I kinda went about the next day (Saturday) a little bit annoyed and thought the least I could have done was thanked her for taking the time to talk to me and tie up one of her tables for a couple hours while I watched the basketball game….which I actually did by the way for all those who think that was just a cover. ;)

So yeah, Sat night came and about 1030 I decided “FINE!!!!” (That was me yelling at myself) So I left my hotel and headed over to Chilies. Lame I know. And probably bordering on stalkerish. Sorry. And guess what…SHE WAS THERE AGAIN?!?! Yes, she was. She waved at me and I sat down.





“I know what I should do…but I just can’t walk away…”



So this time I think I am not leaving without talking to her more. Like for sure. “No way…”, I am thinking…"you are NOT walking out of this restaurant without tal---". That was about the time she sat down ACROSS from me… (Once again, my face… 0.0). Now, maybe I am just weird, but this does not seem like everyday activity to me. Maybe it happens to some guys a lot but, as discussed earlier, I don’t have the whole Brad Pitt thing going on so this is all pretty new to me. Anyway, she sits down and says: “hey how’s it going…it’s been crazy tonight…do you mind if I just sit here a minute and take a break?” Haha, seriously? Do I mind?? As if. So we sit there and talk about stuff for awhile. She’s a sophomore, studying to be a elementary teacher, and wants to know my opinion on if she should take statistics or college algebra (which, by the way, I think I lose a little bit of my soul every time someone says the word “statistics”…just throwing that out there). So we talk for probably ten minutes, she goes back to work and I decide: “yep, I think she’s throwing out signals, I am going to take the plunge and ask her out”. So the restaurant starts to empty out because it’s now 11:45 and I ask her for my check. She says “oh don’t worry about it tonight, you let me talk to you for forever so I don’t have a check for you this time”.

Wow. I would give you my surprised face again but it’s probably starting to lose its effectiveness due to overuse. ;) So I argue with her briefly about the whole check thing and then transition beautifully (cough cough) into something like: “hey…ok so…I know you probably get this all the time Chase but… you seem really cool and I don’t know if you have a boyfriend or anything but I’d really like to take you out for dinner or something next week? Would you let me do that?”



“You kill me…you build me up …but just to watch me break…”



Insert pause for dramatic effect here…. ;) (You could also take this opportunity to refill that popcorn bowl , reheat that cold cup of hot-chocolate that my riveting story has caused you to forget about...and get all set for the climax to the story)



She replies: “Aww how sweet… (always a bad sign when a girl starts off like this) …but I actually do have a boyfriend. He lives in New York… but that is really nice of you and I’d totally love to be friends.”




Ouch. Shot down. And I'm super confused. To me, her behaviour was out of the ordinary and I sure felt like she wanted me to take further action...but ha, I guess maybe I still have some figuring out to do with this whole relationship stuff ;) But hey, that’s ok… I finished the conversation, told her that her boyfriend was a lucky guy and (as gracefully as I could) made my exit.

Now, you might wonder what the point of this long and fairly anti-climatic story is? A just question. And ummmm…. I don’t know. Haha, I guess my point with telling this story is two-fold. First, I DO actually try to live what I talk about in terms of relationships. When I see an opportunity, and feel the leading that there might be something there, I take it. Second, I wanted you to know that I felt AWESOME afterwards. It felt so good to have taken a chance and done everything I could. There was not a feeling of regret at all…even though she said no. And I respect her a lot for telling me that up front. So I share the story to encourage and say that it does feel great taking chances and living without regret. I love it. And the next time, who knows, maybe the outcome will be different. ;)

Words, 2 a.m., and the joys of being pretentious

"Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny." -Unknown



Writing right words mainly deals with refusing to type refuse…or trash, so to speak.

Words have always fascinated me. This I would attribute to my mother who instilled a love for writing and words in me from a young age. I can remember countless times when I would ask her what a word meant and instead of telling me or giving me some simple definition, she’d rush over to the cupboard and pull out her “friend” as she called it. This friend was a tattered, almost coverless dictionary that looks like one of those ancient books you see in movies that they pull secret formulas or long forgotten secrets out of. Admittedly, I usually complained when she made me look things up but, looking back now, I see that her excitement for words and for the way they are used, crafted, and carefully chosen by there users is one of the highest forms of art. As I grew older, I began to realize this and my excitement would merge with hers as we would hear new words, or read an article that was brilliantly crafted into that art.


I’d love to be a great writer. There are few people that I read and admire because of their writing styles. And only one (possibly two) blogs that I think are worth the time to read. Most people that write, and blog, and post, and use Twitter, throw words out like they mean nothing. There was a time when I was that way as well, a classic case of the proverbial ‘pot calling the kettle black’, but after hurting some people with some foolish posts and words that I lashed out with, I realized that, like rocks carelessly thrown, people can shatter just as easily as glass. Since then, I have tried to be very careful with what I post and blog about. That is one reason why I had only 10 blog posts all of last year. I wish I had more useful things to say but many times I just don’t. However, I think that in that care that I have shown, I have become rather, well…boring. There isn’t too much that is funny or lighthearted in what I post. This is sad since much of what happens and makes life worth living are the moments we spend laughing. So to those that read my blog, I will periodically be posting things that I come across that are funny or have caused me to enjoy a few minutes of laughter. This is the balancing point of what I’ve hoped to achieve with writing. To write with care, but also to not always walk away from the writing without being able to smile. So, here are a few things that made me smile in the last few days… thanks for reading



First was a blog about the “top 10 dangers of attending seminary” I skipped the boring ones and put in the good ones... enjoy

#10 Walking on campus the first day and realizing… MEN! MEN! MEN! MEN!… no women…

*(This is actually a bonus for the few women attending seminary)

#8 Finding out that the Song of Solomon isn’t a nice book about goats

#6 Discovering that alpha, beta, gamma is not a Greek sorority; but Greek is your new girlfriend, and she owns your life.

#5 Finding out you must draw your Bible sword and choose your side:

• Calvinism vs. Arminianism

• Covenantal vs. Dispensational Theology

• Old vs. Young Earth

• The Galactic Empire vs. The Rebel Alliance

• Unicorns vs. Narwhals



Next was a quote from one of my Air Force classmates when he discovered that we had to get up at 0200 to cook breakfast:

Pete: “Wait… like 0200 IN THE MORNING?!?!?”

My response: “Yes Pete… that is the general idea of military time. There is only one 0200.” ;)



And finally, a few pictures that made me laugh:




This is such a problem...some people just can't see that you're brilliant





I laughed for several minutes with this one ;)



Being single, Chocolate, Taylor Swift, and...Owls?

Valentines Day. The word immediately evokes images of hearts, love, nice dinners (usually expensive), bears, chocolates, and stress (if you’re a guy that is ;). But overall, it is a pretty cool holiday I think. You can be bitter if you’re single (been there, done that…have the t-shirt), and that is certainly an option. Or you can be happy for the people in your life that do have someone (a better option in my opinion and hey, you save a lot of money right? ;). Or third, you are in a relationship and the last thing you’re doing is reading my stupid blog on Valentines Day because you have someone that makes your heart go pitter-patter and you’re probably out with them thinking about forever and pitying the rest of the single world (also an extremely valid option and one I hope you’re taking;).


But, whether you’re smitten, sarcastic, or single… I have a few words and then a pretty cool story for all those who want to still believe you can find love out there.

First, if you have someone, value them. It’s pretty incredible that the person you’re with has opened themselves up…knowing that they could get really hurt… and still choosing to take the risk and give you a chance. Don’t blow it. You might not get another one.

Second, if you’re single and know someone that you have feelings for…tell them. Life’s too short in my opinion. Is it a risk? Yeah, it really is. But if you aren’t into taking risks then I’m not sure you really want to get into a relationship anyway because the whole thing is pretty much a huge risk from start to finish. But it is worth it. If they say no, that’s ok, at least you know. Get out there and keep looking and growing.

Ok so now the story…

So most of you know Adam Young (aka Owl City). And most of you know Taylor Swift. Well, her song ‘Enchanted’ off of her new album was written for a specific person. With lyrics including "I'm wonderstruck, blushing all the way home, I'll spend forever wondering if you knew I was enchanted to meet you. Please don't be in love with someone else. Please don't have somebody waiting on you."

Taylor Swift mentioned in an interview last year she wrote the song "about this guy that I met in New York City, and I had talked to him on email or something before, but I had never met him. And meeting him, it was this overwhelming feeling of: I really hope that you're not in love with somebody." So the response to her song came out yesterday and we’ll see if true love is still possible in the celebrity world. It’s a pretty incredible story. Check it out: http://owlcityblog.com/ And, just for the record, I’m pulling for them. I don’t know what kind of person Taylor Swift is but I know Adam Young is a great Christian guy so I definitely wish him the best. Happy Valentines everyone!



Source: http://www.toofab.com/2011/02/14/taylor-swift-adam-young-owl-city-enchanted-speak-now-valentines-day/

Dreams of 2011

"...and here we go life's waiting to begin..." -AVA


 

So a new year has hit us… and the comings and goings that have taken place this last year made me think about what has happened, and what still will come, in 2011. For me, to sum up a year in a word or a short phrase is hard, and yet, easy at the same time. This year has meant many things to me… loving, finding yourself, losing some of who you thought you were…and in that process of loss discovering new dreams… or echoes of old ones that had somehow gotten lost in the frenetic pace that life takes us on. And while I know we’re already at the end of January, I don’t think it’s too late to think about some things that we want to do this next year. So that’s my challenge to you all, and to myself. What are you going to do this year that will make you look back with peace and happiness in years to come? Will you look back and think “now THAT was a great year…” or will it be simply another year where much activity took place, but so little was accomplished? So much of our lives we spend waiting for the next job, the next relationship, the next paycheck, or the next stage of life. We think “as soon as I get THERE” or “as soon as I have that person in my life…” when really, there will always be something that isn’t quite perfect that keeps us wishing for the next thing to happen. That’s why they call it a risk.

You have now. I have now. Neither one of us might have next year, and our futures’ become our present before we know it. So what will you do? Make a list, or share a few things with someone close to you so that you can look back next year and see how you did. Where is one place you want to visit? Do you want to start a new hobby, job, or dream? Who can you impact that you have previously simply passed by in your day to day life? They might only have this year left…and they might be dying for someone to take the time to care about their dreams. What are some fun things you want to do while you are in high school, college, or some other stage of life?

picture from Fiji....yeah...it's that awesome there.

That’s really all I have guys. I know this one was fairly short but it was something I needed to tell myself as much as anyone else. And, just so I have something out there and actually walk the way I am talking, here are a few things I want to do this next year:

1. Start learning guitar. It’s always something that I’ve wanted to do and though I might not master it, I would really like to learn. I love music and think it’s pretty ridiculous that I don’t play anything. (As a side note to all you musicians or kids that are currently playing an instrument… don’t stop. You’ll regret it I promise.  ;)

2. Visit either Washington and Oregon or a foreign country…maybe Europe? I love going new places (as long as I can come back home ;) and am going to work on stepping out to see some places that are totally new this next year.

My two awesome sisters at Lake Dillon this year

3. Become more involved at a church. I’ve really pulled back the last couple years from being actively involved in church activities due to some stuff that I’ve gone through. And really, that’s not right. God calls us to be a group of believers helping each other and growing corporately so I want to follow that call and become active again.

Winter X Games with Josh, Tim, and Luke

4. Make specific, intentional memories with friends and siblings. Plan a trip; go see a concert, etc. That kind of stuff that makes for amazing memories later in life.

5. Start planning an active strategy for following God’s call on my life. I know what God has called me to and I need to start figuring out a plan allow me to serve in that capacity. Mainly, this means starting to plan financially, and making contacts for when God decides that the time has come for me to take the next step.

So there’s a few things from me, and I've added some pictures of some of my favorite things that have happened this year. Hopefully, some of this might get you thinking about some stuff you want to do in this next year. I’ll look forward to talking to you all as I run into you in the future years and talking about how awesome 2011 was. Oh, and as a side note, Valentine’s Day is coming (Feb 14th for all you guys) and I’m super excited to write on that next. So stay tuned for that post :)

You know it's true :)

It's just lunch... Part 2: "The girl at the coffee shop...Nascar...and the return of Communism"

“Do you ever wonder if we make moments in our lives, or if the moments in our lives make us?”

And there she is… and it’s perfect. She’s not being talked to by 13 people like usual. She looks peaceful sitting there and sipping her “No ice, skim milk, one pump, double-blended frap. Oh, and hold the whip cream.” You smile to yourself as you contemplate how coffee could possibly be so complicated. “Ha…” you think “…almost as complicated as why I’m still sitting here.” So you get up… and… sit back down. “Why is this so HARD!!” you yell at yourself. She looks at her watch and sighs… then, regretfully, starts to slowly gather the papers she had barley glanced at since she’d been there. You can think of a million reasons why you should go talk to her… and also a million why some other time might be better. This seems like such a great opportunity… but the moment is rapidly passing…what do you do?

After writing part one in this series of blog posts on relationships, I admit that I was a little lost at where to go next. Ok so maybe more than a little lost…maybe somewhere between hopelessly and miserably would be a better description. And after starting this particular post about seven times, I decided to mention the above scenario. Now, it is fictional and maybe is a situation you’ve never been in, but I tried to highlight the internal struggle that many guys face when considering asking out/dating a girl. And, trust me girls, it really is a struggle. But guys, I’m going to be blunt… I DON’T CARE if it’s hard. Now, it’s not that I don’t sympathize, because I do. I have trouble with this stuff too but I really think that if the girl is trying and doing some of the hard, sometimes difficult stuff that I mentioned in my last post about relationships, then we are wrong if we aren’t risking the same (and really, we should be risking more) to try to find someone as well. It should be hard. So below I’m going to put some things (much like I did for the girls) about what my personal opinion is on what guys should be doing. And, I’ll just warn you ahead of time, I probably going to be very honest and not extremely tactful because honestly, we are all guys and I know you can handle it and I’d rather hit you in the face with what I think is really important than beat around the bush for an hour and maybe have some of us miss the point.

-First, most importantly, and shortest. Get advice. Pray. Talk to those who you look up to. This is the easiest area to mess up because your emotions are involved and if you aren’t asking God and others for wisdom you have a better chance of “hitting a bullet… with another bullet… while riding a horse…blindfolded” to quote Star Trek.



- JUST ASK HER!!! Probably most of you were dying while reading the story above. I know after writing it I honestly wanted to go up and shake the guy as he sat there about to watch the girl walk out. To quote the old Nike slogan “Just Do It”. God has designed us to be the leaders in our future homes so we might as well start getting practice taking the lead now. And really, what’s the worst that could happen? Maybe she does laugh at you, or look really surprised because it’s totally out of the blue in her mind. I know what you’re thinking… “How could she NOT know?!?! I’ve only been making meaningful eye contact, “just randomly” running into her, and writing on her Facebook wall for the last 3 months…how could she not already know??” But it’s true guys, sometimes we think we are being obvious and think she’ll surely see it coming but a lot of times that is not the case… which is why you be very clear. Just go talk to her. Even if she says no, at least you’re both on the same page and you can move on. Because let’s face it… do you really want your thoughts on why you DIDN’T take your opportunity doing enough laps for a Daytona 500 later that night? Because I’ve done that and trust me… I’ve done it so much that I think it has ruined me from ever liking Nascar and/or racing.

- Have a plan. If you walk up to dream girl, ask her out, she says yes and you DON'T have a plan…wow. That's incredible...and I will rip your shirt off of you the next time I see you and choke you out with it. There’s zero excuse for not having a plan. Hopefully you know her well enough from all those hours of meaningful glances and eye contact that you at least have an idea of what she likes. Which brings me to the third point…

- Objective of your Date. The objective of your date should have two main reasons. Reason number one: give it your best shot and be watching to see if there are any immediate red flags with this girl. If you start to see so many red flags that you wonder if maybe communism is making a comeback... then stop and think. Don’t beat yourself up for not seeing them sooner, but just realize that if you can see problems this early on, it’s not fair to you or her to go out on 37 more dates before you drop her. Never lead her on. It’s not fair and it’s wrong. Now, if there are not any immediate problems then you should transition to objective number two. Reason number two for your date: set up, or at least get ideas for date number two. This really isn’t that hard if you have a plan and are intentional about what you are talking about all evening with dream girl. For instance, you ask what she likes to do or she tells some story about some of her favorite memories or passions. Bam. Figure out a way to work something like that into your next date. If she says the ONLY THING SHE LOVES IN THE WHOLE WORLD IS KNITTING!.... then you have a decision. You either might need to start taking some night classes on crocheting… or possibly consider that maybe you and this girl aren’t the best of matches. Either is fine, but just go in with your eyes open…and maybe make me a scarf to thank me if you choose the night classes.

- Where are you going? I don’t mean where are you going in the next ten minutes, I mean in life. One of my favorite quotes about this is from Dr. Nobel (founder of Summit Ministries) because he doesn’t beat around the bush. He said: “Girls… if some guy asks you out… and he’s on the bus to “nowhere”…you tell him to... DROP DEAD!” And I think he’s right. If you care so much about this girl then care enough to be able to provide for her. So, have a plan for where you are going in life because contrary to popular opinion, love is NOT all you need. Something that suspiciously resembles a job and a life-calling tends to do a lot more for your relationship than just having “love”. Remember what I told the girls because the same thing applies “meet someone you love…doing something you love.”

- Alright, there’s a lot more that needs to be said but this will be the last one. If you blow it but still think that you HAVE to date this girl because she’s that important and special…don’t waste time with regret. Plan better, get more advice, pray harder, and then try again. If she is not worth all those things then again, that’s not bad, but it also means she’s probably not the one for you.

That’s all I have for now guys. I will be the first to tell you that stuff doesn’t always work out and sometimes you do everything right and it just turns out wrong. Or you blow it and think it’s over for sure. But that’s ok, learn from it and don’t become bitter and you might really end up being a guy that some girl will love to date/marry because of it. To reference the quote I used in the first line of this post, take control of making those moments in your life... don’t let the moment pass you by.

Crying and Whispering Part 1: "The World's LARGEST PRAIRIE Dog!"

Yes...umm... skip the sightseeing on this thing

Silence. This, in a word, could be the best way to describe driving across the endless miles of…well…nothing that is otherwise known as Kansas. You know that you’ve truly reached rock bottom of the tourist world when you start to see signs urging, no…pleading would be a better word, for you to stop and see “the world’s LARGEST PRAIRIE DOG!!” Yes, you read that correctly… they want me to stop and see a large, flea bitten, disease carrying, cousin of a rat. And the sad thing is you’ve been driving for so long that you actually consider it. However, all humor aside, there are aspects of driving through vast expanses of nothing that I enjoy, chief among them being the time to think. Recently, as stated in previous posts, one of the topics that has been pressing on my mind is how living the Christian life should look on a day to day basis. Which led me to think about someone who DID indeed live everything that he was called to be by Jesus. The person I am speaking of was incredible. In fact, it would not be stretching the truth at all to say that he was the greatest man to live besides Jesus himself.

"A voice of one calling in the desert,
'Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.'”


Those who know this scripture know that I am referring to John the Baptist, and those that don’t…well, now you do. Anyway, John is always someone who I’ve wished to meet in person. I’ve always wanted to sit down at Starbucks with him, share a venti-sized, locust-flavored frapp (extra honey), and ask him about his preaching. Here is an excerpt I’ve always wanted to ask him about:

“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father. I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

Umm… yeah. Not exactly what you’d call a ‘seeker friendly’ message huh? But, I do really wonder what we all would think if someone like John the Baptist would come to our culture and be preaching the way he was? I think that personally I would really have a hard time with that, just based on his appearance alone. And yet, Jesus said of him:

"...a reed shaken by the wind?"

“What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written,



‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.'



And prepare he did. John shook the entire region of Galilee and eventually even Herod heard of him. And I know if I had been John I would have thought “Great! Now everyone knows about me and if I play my cards right I can probably even use this interest that Herod is showing to further my message into every part of his jurisdiction. Sure, I might have to turn a blind eye to the whole stealing-your-brothers-wife thing, but… just think of all the good I could do”. But John didn’t do this. I think the reason he didn’t is because he knew something that I think we’ve pushed to the back of our minds because, well…it’s uncomfortable. He knew that to truly prepare the way for Jesus, it was going to cost him something…Maybe everything. And guess what? It did. He was beheaded by Herod because of his outspokenness on Herod’s taking his brother’s wife.

This seems like such a horrible end for a man so honorable…so truly great. And yet, it occurred to me, he prepared the way for Jesus in every way possible, even by his death. And is there really any end greater than that? John showed that the kingdom that was coming was not going to turn a blind eye to sin… and that it WOULD cost something to follow the calling that Jesus gives each of us.

So my question to you and to myself is this: “What is it costing you?” What are we doing on a day-to-day basis to accomplish what God has given us. Now I know some might say that they don’t know what God has given them to do yet. But you can find out! Start searching and studying. I didn’t know for several years but it was by getting out and serving and following the example that Jesus left here on earth that I found what God has given me a passion for. And it’s not that we never have moments of doubt. Even John had those. When he was in prison he sent his followers to Jesus to ask if he was really the one that they had been waiting for. Do you remember what Jesus answered? He didn’t just say “yes I am”. He pointed to his ACTIONS…which is something that should always accompany our faith in Christ. I can just picture Jesus, eyes kind…perhaps even sad at the thought of what John would soon endure, but also full of passion and love…much as John’s would have been as he had been preaching to prepare the way. “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.” And then, I can just feel the love in his voice as he added one last encouragement, “…blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me”. Jesus knew that John needed encouragement and strength to not fall away in his last days and He knows that sometimes we need that too. So let’s ask Him. We must ask Him to reveal His purpose for our lives and to encourage us to remain faithful and strong just as John did. That is my earnest prayer and I hope that someday I can finish my race just as John did.
So what is following Jesus costing you? What is it costing me? James reminds us that supposed “faith” without works is dead...how alive is your faith?