I don't usually feature bands on my blog simply because ... I don't. There's not a real reason. That's changing for a moment.
Don't let their age or skinny jeans fool you. These kids are legitimate. Their talent blows my mind. They take their influences from Chopin and classical arrangements...and somehow turn your typical punk rock music into something actually worth hearing. I'm a bit biased, possibly, because I know these guys on a semi-personal level (they're part of my church family) and I've seen their hearts when they worship, but all bias aside their talent is unreal and their mission for God is mind blowing. They're actively seeking and actively DOING for God.
On another note, they're doing this by themselves. That's just one more example of their drive and desire to go and do God's will that puts the rest of us - complacent and lukewarm - to shame.
Help them out.....then go and DO what God has called you to do.
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30 June 2011
29 June 2011
butch walker < summer of '89
Sometimes I swear I have the oddest music taste in America, but then I remember that there are tons of people who like the music I like...maybe just not all of it at once.
This is one of those more random artists.
Butch Walker, Ladies and Gentlemen:
This is one of those more random artists.
Butch Walker, Ladies and Gentlemen:
17 June 2011
Laminin
You really should watch Louie Giglio's "How Great Is Our God" message, but for now you should watch this:
06 June 2011
complacent prayers
"God, thanks for all the stuff you gave me and for the new day and for all the fun we've had. Help us follow you and glorify you in everything we do. Amen."
Wow. What a complacent prayer. I'm more ashamed at how many times this has come out of my mouth in the morning before work. Sure, there may be a few more specific details, but this is the gist. Thank you Lord for this day and help me be a better person.
But isn't it more than that? By it I mean knowing and loving and being with God - talking to Him.
Isn't ANY relationship more than that? Or shouldn't it be?
Webster says a relationship is the way someone is connected to someone or something else. We're supposed to be connected to God by more than just a glimpse at the coffee shop or McDonalds Drive-Thru.
If God is supposed to be our most intimate confidant, why do we not spent more time talking with Him? It's intimidating that He KNOWS...I mean..He knows everything before we tell Him, but does that mean we should completely alleviate talking to Him about everything? He knows our needs, but does that mean we should stop asking or stop telling Him we trust Him?
When we pray, why do we skim the surface of what really needs to be said? Why do we "make do" with thank you for this and help me be better?
Honestly, that's more similar to your "relationship' with your school principal - you only talk with them when you get in trouble and even then you're just trying to ease the consequences.
Why do we expect God to respond so actively and fervently to our lukewarm prayers and non-existent relationship with Him?
James 2:19 says, "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder!"
"Prayer isn't just an empty box to fill in on your morning checklist." - Steven Furtick
It's so much more than just lip-service.
It's a relationship.
Wow. What a complacent prayer. I'm more ashamed at how many times this has come out of my mouth in the morning before work. Sure, there may be a few more specific details, but this is the gist. Thank you Lord for this day and help me be a better person.
But isn't it more than that? By it I mean knowing and loving and being with God - talking to Him.
Isn't ANY relationship more than that? Or shouldn't it be?
Webster says a relationship is the way someone is connected to someone or something else. We're supposed to be connected to God by more than just a glimpse at the coffee shop or McDonalds Drive-Thru.
If God is supposed to be our most intimate confidant, why do we not spent more time talking with Him? It's intimidating that He KNOWS...I mean..He knows everything before we tell Him, but does that mean we should completely alleviate talking to Him about everything? He knows our needs, but does that mean we should stop asking or stop telling Him we trust Him?
When we pray, why do we skim the surface of what really needs to be said? Why do we "make do" with thank you for this and help me be better?
Honestly, that's more similar to your "relationship' with your school principal - you only talk with them when you get in trouble and even then you're just trying to ease the consequences.
Why do we expect God to respond so actively and fervently to our lukewarm prayers and non-existent relationship with Him?
James 2:19 says, "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder!"
"Prayer isn't just an empty box to fill in on your morning checklist." - Steven Furtick
It's so much more than just lip-service.
It's a relationship.
02 June 2011
helpless
Today is one of those days when I just feel helpless all over and inside. I'm not in a bad mood and nothing has really happened out of the ordinary, but life seem so much heavier today.
I tend to take on the emotions and feeling of characters in the novels I'm reading - today might be a product of such. I started Francine Rivers's Redeeming Love this morning - yep, it's taken me this long to get around to it. That was purposeful. Everyone swears by this book and that didn't fit well with my anti-romance attitude a few years back. Part of that attitude came from the idea of fantasy - why build myself up for something that wouldn't happen to me (more the specific romance part, not the love part)? It was an understandable phase, but it's well past time to move on. It was a needed lesson.
Someone said something to me recently that implied that women are weak and therefore more easily deceived than men..and men are not weak or fearful. I'm having a hard time with this. Maybe it's the feminist in me? I believe with my whole heart that God created men and women for purposes specific to each, and I'm well aware that Eve took the first bite of the apple, but must we forget that Adam took the apple from Eve? Jesus says the Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41). The flesh - all of it - is weak and easily deceived. Women are more emotional, yes, but do emotions signify weakness? If so, crying really is bad and we all need to suck it up, rub some dirt in it, and move on. A marriage is a partnership, not a dominion.
I'm not trying to cause controversy and I've never claimed to have anything right so please correct me, inform me, teach me.
I tend to take on the emotions and feeling of characters in the novels I'm reading - today might be a product of such. I started Francine Rivers's Redeeming Love this morning - yep, it's taken me this long to get around to it. That was purposeful. Everyone swears by this book and that didn't fit well with my anti-romance attitude a few years back. Part of that attitude came from the idea of fantasy - why build myself up for something that wouldn't happen to me (more the specific romance part, not the love part)? It was an understandable phase, but it's well past time to move on. It was a needed lesson.
Someone said something to me recently that implied that women are weak and therefore more easily deceived than men..and men are not weak or fearful. I'm having a hard time with this. Maybe it's the feminist in me? I believe with my whole heart that God created men and women for purposes specific to each, and I'm well aware that Eve took the first bite of the apple, but must we forget that Adam took the apple from Eve? Jesus says the Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41). The flesh - all of it - is weak and easily deceived. Women are more emotional, yes, but do emotions signify weakness? If so, crying really is bad and we all need to suck it up, rub some dirt in it, and move on. A marriage is a partnership, not a dominion.
I'm not trying to cause controversy and I've never claimed to have anything right so please correct me, inform me, teach me.
01 June 2011
I always blog right before Spanish
Reading Beth Moore's latest blog post today for our Memory Verse #11 and WOW...
Exodus 34:4-7 first of all. I love the part in 33 when God hides Moses in the rock and he sees God's glory and all that jazz - talk about WOW moment. That's one of those climax, tension building, awe-inspiring, firework moments in a movie.
Okay, but now in 34 when God introduces himself as Yahweh to Moses - this is like the BIG DEAL - I mean God's saying "you don't have to call me Mr Awesome anymore..just call me Yahweh." that's like saying "I'm no longer Mr. President. Just call me Barak."
Hello. big deal.
But instead of just saying "Just call me Yahweh." he says "Hey I'm Yahweh. I'm gracious and compassionate."
God INTRODUCES Himself as compassionate and gracious. Because these are part of who He IS and He doesn't change, He is continually compassionate and gracious - He can't look at us without looking at us through grace and compassion..being slow to anger and FULL of faithful love.
wowowowow. Sometimes I think God can't possibly see me and show me compassion after some of the things I've done/thought/seen..or even just because I'm so mediocre, and yet He does. I'm not justifying any of my mediocrity or mistakes, but God is STILL God and He is STILL gracious and compassionate.
gracious.
compassionate.
faithful love.
wow.
Exodus 34:4-7 first of all. I love the part in 33 when God hides Moses in the rock and he sees God's glory and all that jazz - talk about WOW moment. That's one of those climax, tension building, awe-inspiring, firework moments in a movie.
Okay, but now in 34 when God introduces himself as Yahweh to Moses - this is like the BIG DEAL - I mean God's saying "you don't have to call me Mr Awesome anymore..just call me Yahweh." that's like saying "I'm no longer Mr. President. Just call me Barak."
Hello. big deal.
But instead of just saying "Just call me Yahweh." he says "Hey I'm Yahweh. I'm gracious and compassionate."
God INTRODUCES Himself as compassionate and gracious. Because these are part of who He IS and He doesn't change, He is continually compassionate and gracious - He can't look at us without looking at us through grace and compassion..being slow to anger and FULL of faithful love.
wowowowow. Sometimes I think God can't possibly see me and show me compassion after some of the things I've done/thought/seen..or even just because I'm so mediocre, and yet He does. I'm not justifying any of my mediocrity or mistakes, but God is STILL God and He is STILL gracious and compassionate.
gracious.
compassionate.
faithful love.
wow.
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