The title is relevant to the post, I promise.

Okay, maybe not.

So, I'm sitting here, trying to think up of a witty way to start this post so that you'll read it.

Huh?

Oh come on, everyone knows that you'll only read blog posts with interesting titles and/or first 2.3 sentences.

Unless you're one of those madly devoted followers who clings to every word a person says like it was sent from heaven above.

But I don't think I have any followers like that.

(on that note, do we cling to God's words like they were sent from heaven above? cause you know, they kinda are.)

Anyhow. I've got this weird writing style stuck in my head because, guess what? I just read a blog with a similar writing style, and it got stuck in my head.

Yeah, I'm one of those people who feeds off of others creativity. Get over it, you know I have your attention now. (come on, you gotta admit it was pretty witty. I couldn't do it more than once though, darn this creativity thing.) (hence why the post is witty, and the title is dumb)

;)

But now that I've wasted a perfectly good 45 seconds of your life, I'll tell you why I'm blogging at 11pm at night.

I want to share with you Jon Acuff's blog. He's got two, actually.

I came across this post this evening, and wow...let me tell you that man can write some powerful stuff. (Go read it. Now. You can read the rest of this later. )

(aw, aren't you devoted! you're still reading!)

I've never heard of him before, aside from a hazy memory of picking up his book in the bookshop of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (wilst in Boston) and being mildly amused.

I haven't scoured his website or been a long time reader, but in only reading a few posts on his blog, it's evident that he loves the Lord.

The cool part is? He's human, just like you and me.

I feel like it's so rare to find blog authors who are bluntly honest. People put up so many masks in hopes that it will attract attention. (of course, they'd never say that, because you know...that'd be....honest.)

But lately, I just need to know that I'm not the only one. And even if he's famous, he's a sinner saved by grace...just like me.

Rest assured, this is not the last you'll hear of this blog on my blog. It's like hearing a good sermon, one that God wrote for you....so refreshing.

The thing is, I really really want you to go read his blog. No, I'm not advertising, the stuff on there is amazing.


Jesus Christ is the formula killer. He won’t behave according to our formulas. He won’t fit into our incredibly tiny expectations. He refuses to be controlled by our logic. {Jon Acuff}

Check it out, then tell me what you think.

Actually, no. If you checked out the blog, and you liked it, comment. Hopefully that won't scare you away from checking out the blog for fear of being guilted into commenting....rather it will enticingly woo you to type into the comment box....okay I'll stop now.

Enough to let go

This is probably the single most impacting song in my life this school year - You Can Have Me, by Sidewalk Prophets.

I've been thinking particularly on this line a lot lately:

I will love You enough to let go.

Do I love Jesus enough to let go of the cares of this world? The people, places, the things I hold onto? Love is consuming, moving, life-changing. Does my love for Jesus change me?

I say I've given my life to Jesus, but what about the things I want to keep? Have I given those to Him? It's so, so much harder.

Father of love, you can have me.

Meditation 1, First Series
By Edward Taylor

What love is this of thine, that Cannot bee
In thine Infinity, O Lord, Confinde,
Unless it in thy very person see,
Infinity, and Finity Conjoyn'd?
What hath thy Godhead, as not satisfide
Marri'de our Manhood, making it its Bride?

Oh, Matchless Love! Filling Heaven to the brim!
O're running it: all running o're beside
This World! Nay Overflowing Hell; wherein
For thine Elect, there rose a mighty Tide!
That there our Veans might through they Person bleed,
To quench those flames, that else would on us feed.

Oh! that they Love might overflow my Heart!
To fire the same with Love: for Love I would
But oh! my streight'ned Breast! my Lifeless Sparke!
My Fireless Flame! What Chilly Love, and Cold?
In measure small! In Manner Chilly! See.
Lord, blow the Coal: Thy Love Enflame in mee.

True Obsession.

I love this song.



I was just going to leave it at that, but then my awesome cousin-in-law Mandy wrote this on her blog yesterday. (isn't it cool how God coordinates things like that?)

Children are often described as sponges - they pick up and put out everything around them. If God has asked us to be like children, then we should be very aware that we will put out whatever we surround ourselves with. If we surround ourselves with the spirit of God, then we will display the character of God. If we soak, then we'll have a little something to squeeze out. If we soak MORE, how much more filled will you be when someone else in your world feels dry?

(you can read the whole - very amazing - post here)

Lord, this is my prayer. I want obsessed with knowing You, to be surrounded with Your Spirit, so that my sponge is full of nothing but You.

God of Silence

Have you ever thought about it this way?



Holy darkness, blessed night
heaven's answer hidden from our sight.
As we await you, O God of silence,
we embrace your holy night.

I have tried you in fires of affliction;
I have taught your soul to grieve.
In the barren soil of your loneliness,
there I will plant my seed.

I have taught you the price of compassion;
you have stood before the grave.
Though my love can seem
like a raging storm,
this is the love that saves.

Were you there
when I raised up the mountains?
Can you guide the morning star?
Does the hawk take flight
when you give command?
Why do you doubt my pow'r?

In your deepest hour of darkness
I will give you wealth untold.
When the silence stills your spirit,
will my riches fill your soul.

As the watchman waits for morning,
and the bride awaits her groom,
so we wait to hear your footsteps
as we rest beneath your moon.

Lessons From Hours Of Speech Homework

I've just worked on my Illustrated Oratory boards for nearly exactly 5 1/2 hours.

I think I might explode or something.

At any rate, I got this idea while I was cutting various pieces of paper.

If you're like me, you can't draw in a straight line to save your life, unless you've got something to follow. And even then it's not all that great without a ruler.

Life is the same way. We're not going to be able to get to where we want to go unless we follow a path God has given us. And even then, without His word constantly guiding us, we will veer off the path.

What about your turban?

Our neighborhood is nearly entirely inhabited by Sikhs and Muslims. (You know, the turbaned people who drive taxis and pray five times a day and paint their houses neon orange)

But they're dedicated, rather peaceful people, actually. (at least the ones around us!)

I'm always seeing them walking and doing those weird stretches at the park. If you smile at them, they smile and nod, and sometimes they'll let they're overly hyper child pet your dog.

If you happen to be introduced to one by one of their English speaking children, they are always quite cheerful and happy to meet you.

And if you've ever had the opportunity to poke your head into their house, you would see rugs galore, tapestries, doorsigns, photos, and mats. There would also be a pleasant smell of food that lingers just about all the time. Their gardens are full of all sorts of fruits, vegetables, and other exotic plants.

Living in a neighborhood surrounded by them, I've met a couple myself. And they really are quite pleasant people.

They do all of this in their headcoverings, pillowing dresses, braids, turbans, and ancient slippers.

No matter how spiritually lost they may be, you've got to admire commitment like that. This is in today's world - where we are constantly being pushed and shoved around to fit under a certain expectation.

Haven't you noticed how easy it is to tell what religion they're from - or at least what group of people? Even from a really young age, you can tell - because little boys and girls aren't allowed to cut their hair. (at least, this is my understanding....)


As Christians, what makes us different? Are we always as pleasant to strangers as they are? People don't necessarily have to be able to tell your beliefs by a single glance. But what impression do they get after interacting with you?

No, I haven't forgotten. We are saved by grace through faith and not by works - which sadly many of these religions believe we have to do to be saved. So we don't have to dress up in long dresses and cover ourselves up to our noses and drive out to a temple five times a day.

But what God does want us to do is to be attentive to His leading - to separate ourselves from the world. You can't be the same "except for Jesus". There has to be change in your life.

Romans 12:2 says and do not conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind - that you may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

Am I willing to face whatever discrimination may come so that Christ is proclaimed? Giving up certain styles of clothing, music, or speech? Where does my identity lie, and how does that play a role in my life?

Our way of life is influenced so heavily on what we believe about ourselves. What do my actions say about what I believe? What kind of "turban" do I wear? =P

Crazy Jesus People

I was thinking about the word "Jesus" last night. Isn't it sad how much that word is thrown around?

"Jesus freaks!"
"Jesus is a crutch"
"Jesus, Mama, are you sure you want to do that?"
"I don't like that Jesus thing"
"She's one of those Jesus people"

It means something different to different people - and some people take it as offensive.

You people who are still doing awana quizzing (or still remember it) can tell me the reference in the Bible that talks about how the Gospel is foolishness to the Gentiles and a stumbling block for the Jews. (or was it the other way around?)

At any rate, unsaved people don't know the depth to the word "Jesus". But as Christians, think how much we can pull from that one word. Think how much meaning there is in that single word - "Jesus".

He is our refuge, our strength, our redeemer, comforter, friend, brother, GOD, Lord, master, savior, and everything else. Our ALL. Every part of us depends on Him (or should) and our life comes only through Him.