Deep Thoughts…….

So God gives me some strange analogies. But, they make perfect sense to me. And, I guess that is all that matters. These analogies often have to do with athletics/working out. So today when I was working out I got this analogy about how I tend to be in my relationship with God.

I enjoy working out, the way it makes you feel, the energy that you have, and even the way it makes you look, as vain as that may sound, but it is a reason most people work out. Moving forward with the point. There are times when I will get on a really good streak of eating well, working out consistently and seeing results. So, I will start to feel good about myself, and become content with how I feel/look. I then hit a streak of weeks where I don’t do a lot physically, work out sparingly……Results gone. The results that I had don’t really matter after this period because they are gone.

It doesn’t take a genius to see where this is going. But my spiritual life has a tendency to be very similar to this. I will have weeks where I am in God’s word, in prayer, reading books,serving others etc. you know the drill. I will start to feel ‘holy’ if you will, so I’ll feel like it will be okay for me to not read for a day, not pray for a day, that turns into days which turns into weeks. This is a pattern that I am currently breaking in my life. I cannot become the Man God designed me to be if I keep on with this pattern. I will keep starting over from the same point. I have to get over this hump in my life.

I was just thinking about this too specifically about my prayer life. Consistency is going to yield results that are lasting. I cannot just workout for a week or too and expect results to stay. And I can’t expect results in my prayer life if I am not consistent in that. The Bible says over and over again to “seek” after God. Seek is more than praying for something once, asking for something once. It is a constant, consistent asking, wanting, desiring. Seeking, takes time, it takes discipline and patience. Patience not to bail out when it seems like God isn’t moving, when you are not seeing immediate results. And it goes back to working out, when you feel like you are working your butt off in the gym and seeing nothing it can be discouraging and you’ll often throw in the towel for a bit, I know I do. In my life God has very very rarely been about immediate results. He really opened my eyes up to that today in the gym, if I really want Him to move and answer prayers I am going to have to stick in there with consistency and discipline.

And another quick analogy, also having to do with working out………..

If it isn’t hurting, if you aren’t challenged and pushing yourself  to your limit in the gym or running then most likely your muscles aren’t growing. Going through the motions may maintain your body, but when you really get after in and push through the tough part then you are going to see the results. You can relate that spiritually however you want. But I feel like this principle is true for me spiritually as well. So my prayer for me and for you if this applies to you, is that God would discipline us to be consistent in our walk with Him, in reading and in prayer. To not become satisfied with where you are, and to not be discouraged when things are happening immediately. To challenge yourself and allow God to challenge you. To push through the tough parts so we can see the results, so we can enjoy the growth and the fruits of that.

Its that time of year again…

….and you know that that means? Yes, Christmas. Yes, New Years. But what I am talking about is time to crown another top 10 albums of the year! The year has flown by. It seems like yesterday when I was crowning 2008’s top 10 and here we are again. Now it’ll take me a couple of days to finalize the list. I have a lot of listening to do. I have 21 albums to choose from right now so it’s going to be tough. Here is a list of what I am working with….

Alexisonfire, August Burns Red, Between the Buried and Me, Brand New, Every Time I Die, Fall of Troy, Grizzly Bear, He Is Legend, Jay-Z, K-OS, The Bronx, Maylene & the Sons of Disaster, Mute Math, P.O.S, Russian Circles, Thrice, Me Without You, Dave Crowder Band, As Cities Burn, and Portugal the Man.

 

John 6

This scripture has been on my mind a lot lately. Why? I do not know. I have not gotten anything theologically from it that I didn’t already understand. More than anything it just blows my mind. If you fast forward to the verse 25 in the chapter Jesus begins to teach. He teaches all the way up to verse 60. This is what catches my attention. Verse 60; “On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “this is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”  Jesus then asks if this was offensive to them… crazy right…Jesus offend someone….?… Okay, continue to fast forward to verse 66. It says, “from this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.”

So to me this is a HUGE WOW! These people were called disciples of Christ, had been following him for who knows how long. Then there came this point…..

….They decided that it was now too hard to follow Christ….

When we are following God, things will get tough

We will be called to do things that are further outside of our comfort zone

He will lead you down roads you never thought you would go, or wanted to go

He will call us to become more disciplined

Call us to lead when we don’t want to

Just because you follow God does not lead to the promise of a wealthy/healthy life

One other thought here…

It is scary to think that people can “follow” Christ so long and be his “disciples” without actually following him and without actually being a disciple. This makes me re-examine myself. I hope I’m not just getting caught up living the “christian” life ? I hope I’m not just following God to a certain point until it gets too hard..?

crazy to think that people can be called disciple, and get to a point where they can no longer follow God.

But it is also scary to look at all of Christ teachings…..they are tough….like real tough.

Comfortable

So, it has been a while…A long long while. I am going to try and keep up with this blog, mainly just because it helps me to process my thoughts.

So here is what has been on my mind today.

I went to the gym today, and I like to shoot the basketball a bit before I work out, to get warm and just because I enjoy it.

But as I was dribbling and shooting I began to just feel free, comfortable, everything about basketball comes natural to me (I am not the best by any means). I began to think, “Why can’t I feel like this in every area of my life?” Why is that that I can see things and move places on the court with ease, I can tell someone where they need to be to make a play, I can fix someones shot, and it is so easy. I am in charge and confident when it comes to something silly like basketball.

Why can I (Maybe you too) be so confident in one area and not another. Why isn’t every area of my life like basketball, in other areas I become fearful of failure, what others will think, etc….

Here are some reasons why I feel like I am more confident/comfortable on basketball court compared to others

1. I know the rules

Don’t you agree you do better when you know what you can and cannot do. When you understand boundaries.

2. I’ve had years of practice.

I have been playing ball for years I would say about 15 -17 years. It takes a long time to get good at something. I always want to be good now, it is hard for me to see into the future and see where practice at things could pay off. Also, I can be confident that  I have a lot of room for growth, and knowing that it takes a while to be good at something…and knowing is half the battle….Anyways, when you understand that you aren’t going to become great over night you and understand that you are going to fail and lose along the way, you don’t feel so much like a failure.

3. I’ve been coached

From my Dad to boys club to junior high to high school. That is a long time to be coached. Coaches can help you hone your skills and help you stay disciplined. Coaches encourage, break you down, and build you up.  We should have coaches in the areas of life that we want to get good at. (I need to take my own advice here)

4. I understand where to be and where others should be

This is much like knowing the rules. When you have been doing something so long you know where to be and where others should be. This in turn makes you a better leader on the court understanding everyone’s job. Just think about a job, sport, team, whatever the case may be where you only had a vague understanding of your job and didn’t really know what other people where doing. Chances are that team didn’t operate or you didn’t operate to your potential because of some in decision or confusion. When you know what you are supposed to be doing you can move full speed through it.

5. Dont know how to put this last one so ill just call it …..Pasison

When you know the rules, understand your role, others role, have been coached, and have experience you can do something will guided passion. When you are doing something with passion you dont have time to stop and worry about whether or not you are confident, you dont have time to wonder what someone else thinks.

So I am sure there are a hundred more points I could come up with but there are 5.  Maybe you can’t use these at all. But think of an area in your life that you just own. You step up to the plate and you dominate. Examine why you are so confident/ comfortable in that domain.

P.S. If I’ve been listening to a lot of Brand New lately …so check them out!!

In exile…

Thrice just recently came out with a new album…it is great… In my opinion they have some of the best “worship” songs out there. The song “In Exile” is my favorite of the album. It talks about this world not being our home. . Here are the lyrics for it as well….its pretty awesome…I highly suggest everybody check them out.

I am in exile, a sojourner
A citizen of some other place
All I’ve seen is just a glimmer in a shadowy mirror
But I know, one day well see face to face

I am a nomad, a wanderer
I have nowhere to lay my head down
There’s no point in putting roots too deep when I’m moving on
Not settling for this unsettling town

My heart is filled with songs of forever
The city that endures when all is made new
I know I don’t belong here, I’ll never
Call this place my home, I’m just passing through

I am a pilgrim, a voyager
I wont rest until my lips touch the shore
Of the land that I’ve been longing for as long as I’ve lived
Where they’ll be no penalties anymore

My heart is filled with songs of forever
The city that endures when all is made new
I know I don’t belong here, I’ll never
Call this place my home, I’m just passing through

A few nuggets

It has been a while folks, so sorry to keep all of you faithful waiting. Life is moving along pretty quickly as it always seems to. I just got back from Dallas got to hang out with one of my best friends I hadn’t seen in about 3 months, plus I got to see one of my favorite bands, Incubus. My brother has been in Conway the last couple of weeks, I always enjoy getting to hang around him. Really excited about being a part of what is going on at New Life Church (www.newlifechurch.tv) and Elevation (www.elevationblog.tv)

Just a few thoughts I have had lately

• Eternity really puts things in perspective
• Having all the knowledge and leadership principles written on your heart mean nothing if you don’t act on them
• Watch the way you talk to yourself. I am not very encouraging of myself
• “Thrice” is probably the greatest band ever invented
• Wife where are you?
• I think I am finally realizing how necessary failing is

Everybody’s Workin For The Weekend

We all know the song right?…..”Everybody’s working for the weekend”. And we all know the sayings like, “Looks like somebody has a case of the Monday’s”. There are several more sayings and what not that apply to where I am heading with this. But I think those two will suffice.

I have noticed a lot of people’s facebook status’ (not calling anybody out, I’m sure I have even done this) at the beginning of the week or during the week that refer to the sadness of the start of the week, or how they are looking forward to the weekend, or can’t wait for the weekend. I thought about what a bummer that is to live like that. Yea it happens to the best of us, and yea I do enjoy the weekends because I usually do not have to work or go to school. But to always be looking forward to the two days on the end of the week is sad. That is five days out the week that you dread and probably don’t take advantage of. What a waste of a life that is. It just saddens me because that is the culture that we fight to not be like. Culture tells us to grit our teeth and just make it through the week to get to those two days at the end. Ok, just think about this. If the good Lord allows you to live to be 70 you would have lived 25,550 days, give or take a few bc of leap years.  And there are about 260 weekdays in any given year, and only about 104 weekend days in a year. 18,200 weekdays in your life if you lived to be 70, and 7,280 weekend days in your life if you lived that long. So 71% of our life would have been weekdays and 29% weekends. So if everybody is really working for the weekend, then everybody is really only living 29% of their life and neglecting the other 71%.

Let us take advantage of the days that the Lord has given us, the weekdays are just as good of days as the weekends. Live each day with the same amount of freedom that you live with on your weekends. I know that I dont want to be caught up in the working for the weekend trend that most people get caught up in. That is not the way we were intended to live, and it is not that way that I am going to live. One of my goal/prayers recently has been that I could live each day with the same amount of joy and (for lack of better word) intensity. Always looking to seize the moments I have been given, no matter if it is a Monday or and Friday. I challenge you to do the same as well.

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” Psalm 118:24

The Middle East

Over the last 5 months or so I have taken quite the interest in the Middle East. Anything to do with it, the history of it, whats going on today and how it matters to us. After all it is where everything began, and is the center of most of the happenings in the Bible, so it had to be somewhat important.

I think what sparked my interest in the Middle East was my beginning to become more involved with prophecy and end times happenings, and there were just a lot of prophecy that has to do with things in the Mid East and more specifically, Israel. I then got suggested an author to read by one of my great friends Garrett, who had been becoming increasingly interested in the same thing I had. He suggested I read some stuff of Joel Rosenburg. So I began to read the books “Epicenter” and “Inside the Revolution”. Before Rosenburg wrote these to non-fiction books, he wrote a series of political thrillers, starting with “The Last Jihad”. In this series he based his writings on prophecy from Ezekiel 38-39.  Strangely enough a lot of stuff was happening in his books that was happening after he had wrote it. Such as the opening scene from “The Last Jihad” is two planes crashing into American buildings in an act of terrorism. “The Last Jihad” was published some time before the events of 9-11, at least 6 months I believe. But as I have read both of his books I have began to learn a lot about the Middle East. There are so many prophetic things come true that it is crazy really. Like in Eziekel it talks about how Russia and Iran will come together against Israel, and looks like it is coming true. It talks about how Israel will become united again and establish itself, which happened a good while ago. One that I just came across in reading “Epicenter” I found very interesting. There is prophecy in the Bible that says Israel will be given great gifts of the depths (oil?). Now Israel had never been known to be a place that had a huge surplus of oil at all. But over the past years there have been huge findings of oil in Israel, in fact I believe I read that it was there may be some of the biggest findings of oil that have ever been found in Israel (which is prophesied that Israel will have great great prosperity in the last days). Even crazier is that these findings have been found in the Valley of Megiddo, which if you don’t know is where the battle of Armageddon is supposed to take place. Somebody in Rosenburgs book asks, what could Israel possess in the last days that would make it such a prize for conquest that world’s armies would meet there to fight the spoils? …..perhaps the one of the greatest oil deposits ever found?

Those are just a few of the things that have interested in my pursuit of knowledge of what is going on in the Middle East. Rosenburg also gets into Islam and the difference in the radicals and the reformers, which is also very interesting. There is just so much more going on, I can’t even begin to get into it all, nor am I anywhere close to understanding it all. I think that everybody should take an interest and try to gain an understanding to what is going on over there. If anything just so you understand what is going on in the world. God is doing some stuff I believe, and I think we should all be paying attention to what is going on outside of our little worlds. Check out Joel Rosenburg’s blog at http://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/

Thrice- Moving Mountains

This is  one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite bands, Thrice “Moving Mountains” . Lyrics are pretty amazing. The bases is 1 Corinthians 13:1-3.

check it

Paralyzed by adventures….

This post is a continuation of what i was just writing about, there is just a flow from one into another subject, I thought that I should break them up since the last post was probably too long in itself.

After I got back from my trip I must admit I was pretty bummed for a week or so. Just because I went from adventure and something new everyday, back to the same ol’ same ol’. Which brings me to this thought…..

Are we supposed to be doing the same ol’ same ol’. Going to work everyday, doing homework everynight? Does it make sense? I wrestle with it all the time, do my days matter? Why do we go to work everyday? In my head I make the argument that it is because we have to be responsible and pay bills etc… Making myself to this world around me. I mean how crazy would I look to people, people close to me, even my family if I woke up tomorrow, quit my job, didn’t finish my last semester of school and just took off somewhere with what I had. Living adventure, not knowing where food was going to come from, not really knowing where I was going to sleep. Meeting people and telling them about Jesus. How nuts would I look?

I wrestle with thoughts of this all the time. Am I wasting my life by being responsible right now? Or will it pay off and I just need to be patient and let life unfold? Will me having a degree really help me spread the good news more effectivly, or is it just something I am doing? Perhaps I am being unresponsible by even thinking that those things are unimportant? I really dont know and just pray that Gods will for my life unfolds just how He would like.  I do believe that is it for the time. But if anyone who comes across this has any insight or thought to this feel free to comment, I would love to know what you think about this or if you ever do.

Next blog: thoughts on Iran and the Middle East