In all actuality, I have quite a few words, and just not the time to express them.
My prayer is this, short and simple: "God, you are surprised by NONE of this. You have given me everything I need, help me to see to live a wholistic life. You did not create fragments, you created whole beings. Help me to live a wholistic life."
Or at least, it's something along those lines. I won't lie, there is exteme joy in my life. And I love it. But there also is some tension, some sadness, and some confusion. I don't aim to let those dilute my joy, but I don't aim to forget them either. Really, I just want to love more, and love better through all of the tension, sadness, and confusion.
I guess I should say/pray this: "God, teach me and show me how to live a life that brings you more glory, and protect me from the evil one."
I guess, really, I should just pray: "God, teach me how to pray. Please."
Amen.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
How can I keep from singing your praise?
My title has very little to do directly with this blog. This will just be a short snippet about prayer. Lately, I've realized I have a lot of free time on my hands. So with that free time, I've decided to invest it in prayer for my friends. I have friends that are in Belton, Boerne, New Braunfels, Austria, Africa, at home, away, here, there, and yon. I feel like the least I can do is pray for them for encouragement and protection, but if I have the opportunity to do better, I will.
So last night, as I was talking to Meg Roe, I asked her if there were specific things that I could pray for her for. It was in the middle of me asking this that this quote, more or less, fell out of my mouth:
"My prayers aren't mechanic, they are organic. You aren't some cog in my prayer machine, you are a seed that has been planted in my prayer garden. I'm wanting to learn how to care and pray for you better, more effectively."
I don't know how you feel about it, but I figured I should at least tell somebody. Plus, if I write it down, I'll have a harder time forgetting.
Thanks guys :)
So last night, as I was talking to Meg Roe, I asked her if there were specific things that I could pray for her for. It was in the middle of me asking this that this quote, more or less, fell out of my mouth:
"My prayers aren't mechanic, they are organic. You aren't some cog in my prayer machine, you are a seed that has been planted in my prayer garden. I'm wanting to learn how to care and pray for you better, more effectively."
I don't know how you feel about it, but I figured I should at least tell somebody. Plus, if I write it down, I'll have a harder time forgetting.
Thanks guys :)
Monday, June 2, 2008
Oops, I did it again!
I became a bad blogger.
It happens, I guess. Every blog I've used has had its low-swinging moments. It happened to me with Xanga, on Myspace, and especially here on Blogger. In fact, I've a blog I specifically block out so other people won't find it because it became so bad.
I wonder why this happens. Why do I go through cycles of blogging? My best blogging usually comes in the summer, or at moments of extreme free time or pressure, but why do I eventually put out "Meh" blogs? Does this happen to anyone else other than me?
Maybe my blogging is actually fairly normal and typical, it just happens to fail some of my standards some of the time. I don't really know.
Matthew Irvine (IT guy for FBC Belton) told me some woman somewhere makes $70k a month off of her blog. She puts up Google Ads and make about $1 each time some one clicks on an ad, and brings home 5 figures a month. Her husband quit his job because she was making so much money. I don't know if I'll ever have that compelling of content to draw in readers that regularly.
What I do know, however, is that I'll keep blogging. I'll keep writing, I'll keep thinking. I'll keep finding ways to re-invent myself as a blogger. So as I journey out into the void of searching for a better me to blog about, I'll leave you with a quote from my weekend.
"Those vows were pretty serious. Marriage seems like a pretty legit deal, I'm not sure if it's for me. I think I'll just have monogamous sex for the rest of my life."
--me
It happens, I guess. Every blog I've used has had its low-swinging moments. It happened to me with Xanga, on Myspace, and especially here on Blogger. In fact, I've a blog I specifically block out so other people won't find it because it became so bad.
I wonder why this happens. Why do I go through cycles of blogging? My best blogging usually comes in the summer, or at moments of extreme free time or pressure, but why do I eventually put out "Meh" blogs? Does this happen to anyone else other than me?
Maybe my blogging is actually fairly normal and typical, it just happens to fail some of my standards some of the time. I don't really know.
Matthew Irvine (IT guy for FBC Belton) told me some woman somewhere makes $70k a month off of her blog. She puts up Google Ads and make about $1 each time some one clicks on an ad, and brings home 5 figures a month. Her husband quit his job because she was making so much money. I don't know if I'll ever have that compelling of content to draw in readers that regularly.
What I do know, however, is that I'll keep blogging. I'll keep writing, I'll keep thinking. I'll keep finding ways to re-invent myself as a blogger. So as I journey out into the void of searching for a better me to blog about, I'll leave you with a quote from my weekend.
"Those vows were pretty serious. Marriage seems like a pretty legit deal, I'm not sure if it's for me. I think I'll just have monogamous sex for the rest of my life."
--me
Monday, May 26, 2008
Here Comes the Bride
So, the girlfriend I had three years ago this summer is now engaged. He proposed to her this weekend.
That is so weird to me. A girl I dated is going to be married soon. So weird. Maybe not to some of my readers, but to me, a 20 year old nothing, that's weird.
But then it got me thinking.
What would be my wedding song one day...?
Here are some of my thoughts.
"Fix You," by Coldplay
"How to Save a Life," by the Fray
"Ms. New Booty," by Bubba Sparx
"Golddigger," by Kanye West
"Everything's Not Lost," by Coldplay
"Don't Panic," by Coldplay
"Lonely Day," by Phantom Planet
"Bad Day," by Daniel Powder
"Highway to Hell," by AC/DC
"Giving it Over," by the Newsboys
"Taking Care of Business," by BTO -- Bachman Turner Overdrive
"I Want You To Want Me," by Cheap Trick
"Live and Let Die," by Paul McCartney and Wings
"Stuck in the Middle With You," by Stealers Wheel
"Save Me," by Remy Zero
"Wave Goodbye," by Steadman
"It Won't Be Long," by the Beatles
"Happiness is a Warm Gun," by the Beatles
"All You Need is Love," by the Beatles
"He's a Tramp," from Disney's "The Lady and The Tramp"
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart," by Elton John and Kiki Dee
"I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues," by Elton John
"Barracuda," by Heart
Okay, so yeah, there's a lot to choose from. I just pulled these off of my iTunes, so if you think you've got one that should make the list, LET ME KNOW!
That is so weird to me. A girl I dated is going to be married soon. So weird. Maybe not to some of my readers, but to me, a 20 year old nothing, that's weird.
But then it got me thinking.
What would be my wedding song one day...?
Here are some of my thoughts.
"Fix You," by Coldplay
"How to Save a Life," by the Fray
"Ms. New Booty," by Bubba Sparx
"Golddigger," by Kanye West
"Everything's Not Lost," by Coldplay
"Don't Panic," by Coldplay
"Lonely Day," by Phantom Planet
"Bad Day," by Daniel Powder
"Highway to Hell," by AC/DC
"Giving it Over," by the Newsboys
"Taking Care of Business," by BTO -- Bachman Turner Overdrive
"I Want You To Want Me," by Cheap Trick
"Live and Let Die," by Paul McCartney and Wings
"Stuck in the Middle With You," by Stealers Wheel
"Save Me," by Remy Zero
"Wave Goodbye," by Steadman
"It Won't Be Long," by the Beatles
"Happiness is a Warm Gun," by the Beatles
"All You Need is Love," by the Beatles
"He's a Tramp," from Disney's "The Lady and The Tramp"
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart," by Elton John and Kiki Dee
"I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues," by Elton John
"Barracuda," by Heart
Okay, so yeah, there's a lot to choose from. I just pulled these off of my iTunes, so if you think you've got one that should make the list, LET ME KNOW!
Monday, May 19, 2008
I need a change of sceneryyyyyyyyy!
Those are really lyrics to a song, I promise. "Pleasant Valley Sunday," by The Monkees.
Well, I'm back from the UK. I didn't catch gingivitis, or any bad teeth disease. My plane didn't crash. I wasn't part of a bomb blast in the Tube. I'm here. I'm alive. I'm back.
I know that sounds pretty graphic, maybe pretty gross, but I had the...gloomiest and...doomiest(?) feelings about my trip. I just felt like something awful was lurking around every corner.
Turns out that there was nothing there.
So, yeah. I'm back.
I know that Jeff Wetherbee wants an update. I'll give a brief rundown of things.
Monday, 5/5 -- Fly from Dallas to Houston, Houston to Newark, NJ, and from Newark, NJ to Manchester, UK
Tuesday, 5/6 -- Land in Manchester, UK. Drive from the airport to Saltburn by the Sea, a tiny seaside town in Middlesbrough right on the edge of the North Sea -- and let me tell you, she (the North Sea) is a cold, cruel mistress. Meet up with our host homes and spend most of the rest of our time with our hosts. Here was where I first experience a "parma." A rare "delicacy" of the people of the area. Ask me about it sometimes. It's not too bad.
Wednesday, 5/7 -- Were the guests at an assembly for two different schools, then spent time in schools doing RE -- Religious Education -- lessons, teaching and telling them about Christianity. Also played soccer during their PE time and after school. That night we went this thing called "Just 10," a big evangelistic thing that closely resembled a big-tent revival. The speaker, J John, spoke about the 10 Commandments in reverse order. Started working more seriously on my sermon, as well.
Thursday, 5/8 -- More RE lessons. Some time off to do what we like in the morning, a busy afternoon. Helped out that night with an event known as "Saltburn's Got Talent," a spoof off of "Britain's Got Talent," a spoof off of "America's Got Talent."
Friday, 5/9 -- Litter picking at a car park -- picked up trash at a parking lot by the beach. Some free time to explore the Valley Gardens -- ask me about these sometime -- and then that night did a cool thing with the youth.
Saturday, 5/10 -- Did, pretty much, Beach Reach UK style at the beach on the North Sea; hung out with youth and kids from 11-2 and played games. That night went to Redcar, the next town over, for a few hours while my host did some shopping. I worked on my sermon for the better part of the evening until I was finished, and then went to bed.
Sunday, 5/11 -- I preached a five-minute sermon from Hosea 10:12 in the 9:00, more traditional, Anglican service, and then in the 10:30 service I preached again about the Holy Spirit. That afternoon we had lunch to support Christian Aid -- something they're gung-ho about -- and then that evening there was a very relaxed, informal worship service that was pretty cool. I "ran sound," but really I just sat behind a sound table and messed with different controls for about an hour, or so. After that, I went and got a cheeseburger with jalapenos at a little place down by the train station. Oh, it was so good. Jeremy Kee, my roommate, got one too. We loved it. Oh, and the preaching went well. If you prayed for me about it, thanks.
Monday, 5/12 -- Today, half of us painted over graffiti in one of their "state parks," I guess you could call it. The other half of us picked up trash alongside the road and in the rest of the Valley Gardens for a bit. Then, more RE lessons, two, back-to-back. That evening we helped out with a youth cafe, but what I really did was play soccer outside for about an hour with some of the guys. Twas fun.
Tuesday, 5/13 -- We went to York, a city just up the road a bit. Or down the road. Whatever. We went and toured the York Minster, and wandered about the shops of York and got to do some souvenir shopping. That night when I got home, I was so tired I actually slept through dinner and didn't wake up until the next morning, around 7 o'clock or so.
Wednesday, 5/14 -- Our last day in Saltburn, we did our last RE lesson, and also played soccer in PE with the students. Then we went and looked at the bell tower of the church we were working with. Later that afternoon, we played some more soccer outside with another group of students at another school (primary, middle school, etc.). That night we had a big party at the pastor's house with lots of food for a big send-off for the Americans. Jeremy and I played on the trampoline for the better part of an hour with two of his kids, then went home and packed up our stuff to leave early the next morning. After we finished packing, we watched a little bit of the EUFA Cup Championship between a Scottish team and a Russian team. The Russians won.
Thursday, 5/15 -- This day started entirely too early. At 4 in the morning, Jeremy and I pulled together all our belongings, then went to the church with Mark, our host and the church's youth minister, to be picked up by the bus. Then we rode around the countryside of Britain picking up the rest of the Americans that went to England with us (all 30, or so, of them), and then rode on down the road southward to London. After we got to London, we had a bit of time to ourselves, then went on a tour in a charter bus. This is actually a very...more interesting story than I am revealing here, so if you're curious be sure to ask me about it next time you see me. We also got to go see Buckingham Palace, but the queen wasn't in. After that, we ate dinner at this place called The Texas Embassy. Be sure you ask me about that too. Good story there. Then we had the rest of our time to tour and sight-see and souvenir shop. I bought the rest of my souvenirs at this time, then wandered back to the hotel.
Friday, 5/16 -- Spent the whole day in London, wandering around being a tourist. Went to Abbey Road, saw Big Ben, went to Hyde Park, looked at Westminster Abbey, went to a service at St. Paul's Cathedral, went to two of the British National Museum's, rode the Tube numerous times, and got somewhat familiar with London, and took some cool pictures. Was a great day.
Saturday, 5/17 -- Longest day ever. It started at 4:something UK time, and didn't really end until 9 or 10 something TX time; the two are, by the way, 6 hours a part. Pretty much spent the whole day traveling, mostly on a plane, but also on a bus, a train at IAH, and the car home from the airport. Wasn't a bad day, just a long one.
All in all, not a bad trip. If you want to know more, just ask :)
P.S.
Sorry if there are any grammar/spelling errors
Well, I'm back from the UK. I didn't catch gingivitis, or any bad teeth disease. My plane didn't crash. I wasn't part of a bomb blast in the Tube. I'm here. I'm alive. I'm back.
I know that sounds pretty graphic, maybe pretty gross, but I had the...gloomiest and...doomiest(?) feelings about my trip. I just felt like something awful was lurking around every corner.
Turns out that there was nothing there.
So, yeah. I'm back.
I know that Jeff Wetherbee wants an update. I'll give a brief rundown of things.
Monday, 5/5 -- Fly from Dallas to Houston, Houston to Newark, NJ, and from Newark, NJ to Manchester, UK
Tuesday, 5/6 -- Land in Manchester, UK. Drive from the airport to Saltburn by the Sea, a tiny seaside town in Middlesbrough right on the edge of the North Sea -- and let me tell you, she (the North Sea) is a cold, cruel mistress. Meet up with our host homes and spend most of the rest of our time with our hosts. Here was where I first experience a "parma." A rare "delicacy" of the people of the area. Ask me about it sometimes. It's not too bad.
Wednesday, 5/7 -- Were the guests at an assembly for two different schools, then spent time in schools doing RE -- Religious Education -- lessons, teaching and telling them about Christianity. Also played soccer during their PE time and after school. That night we went this thing called "Just 10," a big evangelistic thing that closely resembled a big-tent revival. The speaker, J John, spoke about the 10 Commandments in reverse order. Started working more seriously on my sermon, as well.
Thursday, 5/8 -- More RE lessons. Some time off to do what we like in the morning, a busy afternoon. Helped out that night with an event known as "Saltburn's Got Talent," a spoof off of "Britain's Got Talent," a spoof off of "America's Got Talent."
Friday, 5/9 -- Litter picking at a car park -- picked up trash at a parking lot by the beach. Some free time to explore the Valley Gardens -- ask me about these sometime -- and then that night did a cool thing with the youth.
Saturday, 5/10 -- Did, pretty much, Beach Reach UK style at the beach on the North Sea; hung out with youth and kids from 11-2 and played games. That night went to Redcar, the next town over, for a few hours while my host did some shopping. I worked on my sermon for the better part of the evening until I was finished, and then went to bed.
Sunday, 5/11 -- I preached a five-minute sermon from Hosea 10:12 in the 9:00, more traditional, Anglican service, and then in the 10:30 service I preached again about the Holy Spirit. That afternoon we had lunch to support Christian Aid -- something they're gung-ho about -- and then that evening there was a very relaxed, informal worship service that was pretty cool. I "ran sound," but really I just sat behind a sound table and messed with different controls for about an hour, or so. After that, I went and got a cheeseburger with jalapenos at a little place down by the train station. Oh, it was so good. Jeremy Kee, my roommate, got one too. We loved it. Oh, and the preaching went well. If you prayed for me about it, thanks.
Monday, 5/12 -- Today, half of us painted over graffiti in one of their "state parks," I guess you could call it. The other half of us picked up trash alongside the road and in the rest of the Valley Gardens for a bit. Then, more RE lessons, two, back-to-back. That evening we helped out with a youth cafe, but what I really did was play soccer outside for about an hour with some of the guys. Twas fun.
Tuesday, 5/13 -- We went to York, a city just up the road a bit. Or down the road. Whatever. We went and toured the York Minster, and wandered about the shops of York and got to do some souvenir shopping. That night when I got home, I was so tired I actually slept through dinner and didn't wake up until the next morning, around 7 o'clock or so.
Wednesday, 5/14 -- Our last day in Saltburn, we did our last RE lesson, and also played soccer in PE with the students. Then we went and looked at the bell tower of the church we were working with. Later that afternoon, we played some more soccer outside with another group of students at another school (primary, middle school, etc.). That night we had a big party at the pastor's house with lots of food for a big send-off for the Americans. Jeremy and I played on the trampoline for the better part of an hour with two of his kids, then went home and packed up our stuff to leave early the next morning. After we finished packing, we watched a little bit of the EUFA Cup Championship between a Scottish team and a Russian team. The Russians won.
Thursday, 5/15 -- This day started entirely too early. At 4 in the morning, Jeremy and I pulled together all our belongings, then went to the church with Mark, our host and the church's youth minister, to be picked up by the bus. Then we rode around the countryside of Britain picking up the rest of the Americans that went to England with us (all 30, or so, of them), and then rode on down the road southward to London. After we got to London, we had a bit of time to ourselves, then went on a tour in a charter bus. This is actually a very...more interesting story than I am revealing here, so if you're curious be sure to ask me about it next time you see me. We also got to go see Buckingham Palace, but the queen wasn't in. After that, we ate dinner at this place called The Texas Embassy. Be sure you ask me about that too. Good story there. Then we had the rest of our time to tour and sight-see and souvenir shop. I bought the rest of my souvenirs at this time, then wandered back to the hotel.
Friday, 5/16 -- Spent the whole day in London, wandering around being a tourist. Went to Abbey Road, saw Big Ben, went to Hyde Park, looked at Westminster Abbey, went to a service at St. Paul's Cathedral, went to two of the British National Museum's, rode the Tube numerous times, and got somewhat familiar with London, and took some cool pictures. Was a great day.
Saturday, 5/17 -- Longest day ever. It started at 4:something UK time, and didn't really end until 9 or 10 something TX time; the two are, by the way, 6 hours a part. Pretty much spent the whole day traveling, mostly on a plane, but also on a bus, a train at IAH, and the car home from the airport. Wasn't a bad day, just a long one.
All in all, not a bad trip. If you want to know more, just ask :)
P.S.
Sorry if there are any grammar/spelling errors
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Shine On
Web source for the latest music: onlylyrics.com
Somewhere between the end
And the point where we begin
There's a fire burning brightly
That's found it's way to dim
When the feeling's gone...
Shine on Shine on
and onto something new its long and overdue
I will remember you
Shine on shine on
And let the other's see you've got your victory
Will you remember me
I was with you in the valley
And up upon that hill
So take just one more step in front of you
For I am with you still you still
And you're not alone
Shine on Shine on
And onto something new its long and overdue
I will remember you
Shine on shine on
And let the other's see you've got your victory
Will you remember me
Can you see my hands are open I am waiting just ahead
And you think you need it all now
But you needed me instead
Shine on shine on shine on shine on won't you won't you shine
Shine on Shine on
And onto something new its long and overdue
I will remember you
Shine on shine on
And let the other's see you've got your victory
Will you remember me
Somewhere between the end
And the point where we begin
There's a fire burning brightly
That's found it's way to dim
When the feeling's gone...
Shine on Shine on
and onto something new its long and overdue
I will remember you
Shine on shine on
And let the other's see you've got your victory
Will you remember me
I was with you in the valley
And up upon that hill
So take just one more step in front of you
For I am with you still you still
And you're not alone
Shine on Shine on
And onto something new its long and overdue
I will remember you
Shine on shine on
And let the other's see you've got your victory
Will you remember me
Can you see my hands are open I am waiting just ahead
And you think you need it all now
But you needed me instead
Shine on shine on shine on shine on won't you won't you shine
Shine on Shine on
And onto something new its long and overdue
I will remember you
Shine on shine on
And let the other's see you've got your victory
Will you remember me
Friday, April 25, 2008
You gotta have faith!
I was kind of surprised with these results. Take the quiz and let me know where you fall in line.
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What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| You scored as Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan You are an evangelical in the Wesleyan tradition. You believe that God's grace enables you to choose to believe in him, even though you yourself are totally depraved. The gift of the Holy Spirit gives you assurance of your salvation, and he also enables you to live the life of obedience to which God has called us. You are influenced heavly by John Wesley and the Methodists.
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