Media Fast

Starting tomorrow I am starting a week long fast of the media. No TV. No Internet (blogging, Facebook, Twitter, Dolphin Olympics 2, or BlogLines). I am giving all the time I usually spend doing those things to the Lord. Everything that draws my attention I am giving up for this week, the week before I go to the Gauntlet with NewSpring’s high-schoolers.

Number 1 I want to be prepared to minister to those students best as possible.

Number 2 I am tired of wanting to hear from God. I mean I want to — but I’m tired of just wanting to. I’m fed up with myself and my lack of commitment and patience with God. I want want want but won’t give God 2 minutes to speak. I’m done with that. I think God will be more real and evident in my life after these next two weeks.

I’ll talk to you then!

Definitely, Maybe

This movie paints such a pretty typical picture of what we, Americans, see as love. It was a decent movie but it disgusted me. As a young man in a relationship that has a ton of potential to go somewhere most relationships don’t get to, I want to see love portrayed as it is “only in movies”. This cinematic adventure is too worldly for me. I am into the movies that most people don’t like because they aren’t believable. I don’t want to watch believable; I live in believable. I want to watch fairy tales. And it isn’t Snow White anymore; it’s real movies, movies like Definitely, Maybe. But Definitely, Maybe didn’t do it for me. Before a tear began to drip out of my eye the pissed off part of brain was triggered. I just felt hopeless about the entire situation. You just have to watch the movie to know what I’m talking about but you can rest assured that I won’t be empathetic with a character that reaps what he sows. I just won’t.

And it isn’t that I know love and life is so hopeless that the only chance to see something happy is in a movie. I know there is good stuff out there; I’m going to be an example, myself. I just like to see movies that give an example of healthiness also. The world is influenced by this stuff and with movies like Definitely, Maybe then nobody will ever learn.

Obviously there are better alternatives than movies to learn your life lessons the easy way, one being uhhh, the local church. I won’t be naive when it comes to that either but I will keep my big dreams. Dreams that only God can make come true. (And he will)

What would the world look like if we started learning from the church rather than the big screen?

Break Free Worship

If Paul and Silas can worship their chains off while in pain and suffering (for spreading the Good News) then I can suck it up and throw my complaints out the window. I know, I know, we are supposed to be like Jesus, but right this second I am admiring these characters, no, these men, (Sometimes I forget that Bible isn’t a novel, or a thriller, but it’s as real as the Holocaust and WWII.)
in the book of Acts.

Would you stand around to be flogged, to be stoned, or even to be insulted for the sake of the Kingdom? Or when something is about to happen that isn’t picture perfect do you run off hurling insults at the situation and complaining to God telling him what is all wrong about life and the way he allows you to be treated? God wants us to realize what is right with him, not what is wrong with life. He’s got it under control.

What problem do you need to worship the chains off of? Break free.

Free Song (not for download)

But definitely worth leaving Safari up playing if, excuse me, while you’re wandering aimlessly online today. The CD from the guy’s at Elevation will be released to the awaiting world on Sunday at Elevation Church and online. (Actually I think you can already get it here) I’ll be buying on of the first online copies. Meanwhile, I’m praising God and thanking Him that nothing is too hard for him and in my head thanking the folks in Charlotte for gifting this CD to the world. It’s worth the dollars, and that church is worth giving to.

If any Elevators come across this, let it be known that I think you are awesome.

A Love Nugget From Me to You

A little nugget I took away from a wedding this past weekend.

Humans are hateful by default. We are born without accepting Christ’s love for us, even though it has been there from the beginning of time. Once we learn about it and choose to accept that, we are able to love. By God loving us first we are able to be loved and in return allow that love bubble out of us and into other people, like a bride or a groom. If we aren’t receiving the love of Christ we are not able to fully and honestly love another person. And love, including the love of Christ, is what a marriage survives upon.