deeply, slowly.

how deep the father's love for us,
how vast beyond all measure
that he would give his only son
to make a wretch his treasure.

how great the pain of searing loss,
the father turns his face away.
as wounds which mar the chosen one
bring many sons to glory.

it was my sin that held him there
until it was accomplished.
his dying breath has brought me life,
i know that it is finished.

i will not boast in anything;
no gifts, no power, no wisdom.
but i will boast in Jesus Christ,
his death and resurrection.

Shad and Dallas Green

someday...

..i want to do this with my wife.

curveballs.

its so easy to make plans and assume that they will be realized. to bank on something and plan on things going off without a hitch. when things are easy in life, we expect them to continue to be. or at least i do.

something i've been learning is how we are not in control of this life. we often will put things in place to maintain a sense of control but those things are frail and can vanish in a moment. when we put those things in our lives, its all too easy to begin feeling independent. no need for God, no need for his grace, no need for his involvement.

i am reminded today that i am not in control of this life. things can come up unexpectedly and catch us off guard, totally relient on God for our next steps. and i think that is right where He wants us.

(trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean NOT on your own understanding. in all your ways, acknowledge him and he will make your path straight. proverbs.3.5-6)

called.

i was created by God, but i ain't wanna be like him, i wanna be him.

the jack sparrow of my caribbean.

i remember the first created being,

and how he shifted the blame on his dame

for fruit he shouldn't have eaten.

and now look at us all out of Eden,

wearing designer fig leaves make believin.

but God sees through my foolish pride,

and how i'm weak like Adam, another victim of lucifer's lies,

But then in steps Jesus,

All men were created to lead but we needed some one to lead us,

more than a teacher, but somebody to buy us back from the darkness,

you can say he redeemed us, taught us that real leaders follow God,

finish the work cuz we on our job.

Taught us not to rob, but give life,

love a wife like Christ loves the church,

without seeing how many hearts we can break first.

I wanna be like you in everyway, so if I gotta die every day,

unworthy sacrifice,

but the least i can do is give the most of me,

because being like you is what i'm supposed to be.

they say you came for the lame, i'm the lamest. i made a mess but you say you'll erase it. i'll take it.

they say you came for the lame, i'm the lamest. i broke my life but you say you'll replace it. i'll take it.

-lecrae Just Like You

always refreshing

this. i love it.

the rock.

Rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee; let the water and the blood, from thy wounded side which flowed, be of sin the double cure, save from wrath and make me pure.
Not the labors of my hands, can fulfill thy laws commands; could my zeal no respite know, could my tears forever flow, all for sin could not atone; thou must save, and thou alone.
Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling; naked, come to thee for dress; helpless, look to thee for grace; foul, I to thy mountain fly; wash me savior, or I die.
While I draw this fleeting breath, when mine eyes shall close in death, when I soar to worlds unknown, see thee on thy judgement throne, Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee.

(Rock of Ages)

Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, in whom I trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

a real struggle

'don't let your feeelings dictate your faith, let your faith dictate your feelings.'

a friend posted this and even though it is short, it speaks volumes to me. hopefully to you too.

Brett Dennen-Make You Crazy Video (official version)

if you haven't heard of brett dennen, now you have.
check him out; lot of fun to listen to.

Don't copy the behaviors and customs of this world but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will begin to know God's will for you-his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12.2

Thinking through this in these next weeks.

SHAD

i was introduced to this guy a while back and i love it. name's shadrach kabango, from london, canada. speaks french and english and raps a mix of both. he's gotten some recognition from different secular critics but lives his christian faith out through his music. give him a listen and enjoy.

close shav[ed]

tried growing out a bear dor the first time these past three months or so. i liked it and i'm going to do it again, but needed a break from it. evidence below. (and yes there's a stache leftover. thought i'd have some fun with it)

before:>

after:

quoted

Faith is a living, bold trust in God's grace, so certain of God's favour that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it...Because of it, you freely, willingly and joyfully do good to everyone, serve everyone, suffer all kinds of things, love and praise the God who has shown you such grace.
-Martin Luther

finals week playlist

this is a list of all the music i listened to over finals week. i put my itunes on shuffle and played through the album of whatever artist came up. quite an interesting experience.

Paramore: all we know is falling
Maylene and the Sons of Disaster : Maylene and the Sons of Disaster
John Legend and the Roots: Wake up!
Mae: The Everglow
Holding Onto Hope: To the Sea
Jonsi: Go Do
Mumford and Sons: Sigh No More
William Fitzsimmons: The Sparrow and the Crow
Frightened Rabbit: The Midnight Organ Fight
Owl City: Ocean Eyes
Incubus: Morning View
Acceptance: Phantoms
A Day to Remember: Homesick
Waking Ashland: Composure
Oh, Sleeper!: When I am God
Dashboard Confessional: A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar
Dead Poetic: New Medicines
This Will Destroy You: Young Mountain EP
Shawn McDonald: Simply Nothing
Joshua Radin: We Were Here
Ascend the Hill: Take the World but Give me Jesus
The Fold: This Too Shall Pass
Taylor Swift: Fearless (heck yea)
Imogen Heap: Speak for Yourself

live and learn?

"therefore dear brothers, in view of God's mercy, I urge you to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your minds. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing, and perfect will." Romans 12.1-2

active offering v. passive counters

A Generation of Men Raised by Women

i found this article and it was great. Something that resonates with me; specifically the part about how religion has left men alone. I hope that this changes for the better. Really resonates and I hope you enjoy it.


A Generation of Men Raised by Women

finals week

i'm going to make a running list of all the albums i go through as i study. so far i'm on number nine. i'll post the final list once the week is over. gotta love this week

quoted

"Take courage; offer him your pains incessantly; pray to him for strength to endure them. Above all, get a habit of entertaining yourself often with God, and forget him the least you can. Adore him in your infirmities, offer yourself to him from time to time, and in the height of your sufferings, beseech him humbly and affectionately (as a child his father) to make you comfortable in his will."

Brother Lawrence

thoughts

All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in

C.S. Lewis

thoughts from homework

i've been working on reading for my theology class and this popped out at me when going through a chapter on conversion. i'm going to need a gut check on this.

"It is important to realize that mere sorrow for one's actions, or even deep remorse over one's actions, does not constitute genunie repentance unless it is accompanied by a sincere decision to forsake sin that is being committed against God...A worldly sort of grief may involve great sorrow for one's actions and probably also fear of punishment but no genuine renouncing of sin or commitment to forsake it in one's life."

"It is also contrary to the New Testament to speak about the possibility of someone accepting Christ "as Savior" but not "as Lord," if that means simply depending on him for salvation but not committing oneself to forsake sin and to be obedient to Christ from that point on."

-Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology.