A picture came up on my computer desktop that grabbed my attention. It was so . . . peaceful. I kinda want to go backpacking now. Enjoy these with me.
Peace to you
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Peace . . .
Spring Break has messed with my head. There are several things that I could be doing right now, preparing for this next week of school . . . and I'm not doing any of them. Instead, I watched three episodes of Seinfeld (fantastic show) with Justin, updated my xanga and my blog, talked with friends on AIM, and am considering going to bed real soon here.
A picture came up on my computer desktop that grabbed my attention. It was so . . . peaceful. I kinda want to go backpacking now. Enjoy these with me.
Peace to you
A picture came up on my computer desktop that grabbed my attention. It was so . . . peaceful. I kinda want to go backpacking now. Enjoy these with me.
Peace to you
W-2's
Okay, so who's upset because he def. can't find one of his W-2's?
Who def. put it in a safe place?
Who was pretty sure, after looking at home, that it was in his dorm room?
Who is pretty sure, after looking in his dorm room, that it must be at home?
Who is pretty sure that he needs another copy of his W-2, pronto?
Who lives in an age of abundance, and has to put all the STUFF he brought from home away?
You're guess is as good as mine - with all these clues, it'd better be!
-- edit --
oh, and who got a buzz cut?
-- edit edit --
Dude, I just found pictures that Impact Ministries (the hosting organization for Deeper d.t.i.) has on their website! There's some of me with my mohawk! Check 'em out!
Who def. put it in a safe place?
Who was pretty sure, after looking at home, that it was in his dorm room?
Who is pretty sure, after looking in his dorm room, that it must be at home?
Who is pretty sure that he needs another copy of his W-2, pronto?
Who lives in an age of abundance, and has to put all the STUFF he brought from home away?
You're guess is as good as mine - with all these clues, it'd better be!
-- edit --
oh, and who got a buzz cut?
-- edit edit --
Dude, I just found pictures that Impact Ministries (the hosting organization for Deeper d.t.i.) has on their website! There's some of me with my mohawk! Check 'em out!
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Shopping . . . grrrrr
I'm at home. That means,
1). Good food
2). Sleeping a lot
3). Free laundry
It also means
4). Dial-up internet
I'm weighing the benefits.
I went shopping today.
Grrrrrrr.
Right, the fact that I wear about the same fifteen shirts? Yeah, that should indicate that I don't so much do the whole shopping thing. But, for Celebration Singers, we're supposed to have grey pants and a black shirt. Well, I bought a black shirt off my roommate; lucky me. Gray pants, however . . .
oh, and which way do you prefer to spell it? Grey, or Gray? I'm not sure which I like better, so I use both.
First we went to Greensburg, the town near my village. Minears had black pants, blue pants, and khakis. No grey pants. There was a very nice old man though, I'd like to buy something from him sometime - aside from the fact that I simply don't buy clothes.
Off to Indianapolis. My sister needed to go up for Bible Bowl practice with the team she plays with, so during practice Mom and I went off to check in the large stores that should carry everything under the sun.
And, they do certainly carry everything under the sun. Except for gray pants, 28/32. Yes, I'm skinny, get over it. I have small feet too, take your pick, laugh at me for one or the other. I wear 7 1/2, maybe 8, men's.
Back to the stores. We looked. And looked. And looked. Macy's, JC Penny, Khols. And a side trip into Best Buy to look at external hard drives, my computer's getting full. Did you know that not many external hard drives available in your local Best Buy (if you live in Indy) come with both USB 2.0 and Firewire? They all seem to like USB. Which, is all fine and dandy, unless you want the speed of Firewire . . . which I do. I didn't end up getting anything tonight.
Back to the stores. (I'm almost writing this in real time, so you experience what I felt this evening). About the only thing that made it tolerable was a new jacket that my family brought back from Nebraska. It has a line-in that'll fit all mp3 players/cd players/etc. So as we traipsed from one store to another, up and down aisles, straining our eyes for grey pants that would fit my apparently slowly-wasting-away body. (Get it, wasting away, waisting away . . . wow, sometimes I amaze even myself). Hmmm, I didn't finish that sentence. So, as we traipsed from one store to another, up and down aisles, straining our eyes for gray pants that would fit me . . . I was rocking out with Phil Keaggy, his 220 album. In fact, that's what I'm listening to right now, if you couldn't tell from the little music box thing up there. That helped me smile and laugh at the fact that I might not have pants for choir tour - that would be interesting.
It was time to go, we needed to pick my sister up. My mom finally asked a sales lady, who confirmed that they just don't make waist sizes that much smaller than length, for dress pants. But, she recommended a 30/30 pair. Apparently you can go for a shorter length in dress pants, and it looks fine. The waist was a bit loose, but it can work. I'll have a belt.
We're on the other side of the mall from the car, and it's time to be gone. I really enjoy walking fast through malls, it almost makes me feel important. To walk fast with my Mom, that was pretty fun too. We were bookin' it!
Do you ever try to capitalize numbers? Or slashes? I do it all the time, it's really frustrating. I want to put special emphasis on the number, and it comes out this odd looking symbol. And the worst part is, I usually do it several times in a row with several numbers, 'cause I really wanted to emphasize that part of whatever I was writing . . . sheesh.
I don't shop for clothes. Especially expensive ones. Tim says chalk it up to the fact that we don't have to buy books for the class. That helps . . . a little.
I don't shop for clothes.
I have a nice pair of pants, however you spell their color. And I'm pretty sure they won't match anyone else's pants, unless you had the same difficulty as me. Lemme tell ya, it's getting harder and harder to be skinny in this country. I'm thinking of moving to Prague, where they appreciate slim people. But, they don't do socks so well there. My socks from the Czech Republic are TERRIBLE!!! But since I don't shop, I just keep using them. They're very durable too.
My great-great-grandmother was from Ireland. That's pretty cool.
I like pudding.
1). Good food
2). Sleeping a lot
3). Free laundry
It also means
4). Dial-up internet
I'm weighing the benefits.
I went shopping today.
Grrrrrrr.
Right, the fact that I wear about the same fifteen shirts? Yeah, that should indicate that I don't so much do the whole shopping thing. But, for Celebration Singers, we're supposed to have grey pants and a black shirt. Well, I bought a black shirt off my roommate; lucky me. Gray pants, however . . .
oh, and which way do you prefer to spell it? Grey, or Gray? I'm not sure which I like better, so I use both.
First we went to Greensburg, the town near my village. Minears had black pants, blue pants, and khakis. No grey pants. There was a very nice old man though, I'd like to buy something from him sometime - aside from the fact that I simply don't buy clothes.
Off to Indianapolis. My sister needed to go up for Bible Bowl practice with the team she plays with, so during practice Mom and I went off to check in the large stores that should carry everything under the sun.
And, they do certainly carry everything under the sun. Except for gray pants, 28/32. Yes, I'm skinny, get over it. I have small feet too, take your pick, laugh at me for one or the other. I wear 7 1/2, maybe 8, men's.
Back to the stores. We looked. And looked. And looked. Macy's, JC Penny, Khols. And a side trip into Best Buy to look at external hard drives, my computer's getting full. Did you know that not many external hard drives available in your local Best Buy (if you live in Indy) come with both USB 2.0 and Firewire? They all seem to like USB. Which, is all fine and dandy, unless you want the speed of Firewire . . . which I do. I didn't end up getting anything tonight.
Back to the stores. (I'm almost writing this in real time, so you experience what I felt this evening). About the only thing that made it tolerable was a new jacket that my family brought back from Nebraska. It has a line-in that'll fit all mp3 players/cd players/etc. So as we traipsed from one store to another, up and down aisles, straining our eyes for grey pants that would fit my apparently slowly-wasting-away body. (Get it, wasting away, waisting away . . . wow, sometimes I amaze even myself). Hmmm, I didn't finish that sentence. So, as we traipsed from one store to another, up and down aisles, straining our eyes for gray pants that would fit me . . . I was rocking out with Phil Keaggy, his 220 album. In fact, that's what I'm listening to right now, if you couldn't tell from the little music box thing up there. That helped me smile and laugh at the fact that I might not have pants for choir tour - that would be interesting.
It was time to go, we needed to pick my sister up. My mom finally asked a sales lady, who confirmed that they just don't make waist sizes that much smaller than length, for dress pants. But, she recommended a 30/30 pair. Apparently you can go for a shorter length in dress pants, and it looks fine. The waist was a bit loose, but it can work. I'll have a belt.
We're on the other side of the mall from the car, and it's time to be gone. I really enjoy walking fast through malls, it almost makes me feel important. To walk fast with my Mom, that was pretty fun too. We were bookin' it!
Do you ever try to capitalize numbers? Or slashes? I do it all the time, it's really frustrating. I want to put special emphasis on the number, and it comes out this odd looking symbol. And the worst part is, I usually do it several times in a row with several numbers, 'cause I really wanted to emphasize that part of whatever I was writing . . . sheesh.
I don't shop for clothes. Especially expensive ones. Tim says chalk it up to the fact that we don't have to buy books for the class. That helps . . . a little.
I don't shop for clothes.
I have a nice pair of pants, however you spell their color. And I'm pretty sure they won't match anyone else's pants, unless you had the same difficulty as me. Lemme tell ya, it's getting harder and harder to be skinny in this country. I'm thinking of moving to Prague, where they appreciate slim people. But, they don't do socks so well there. My socks from the Czech Republic are TERRIBLE!!! But since I don't shop, I just keep using them. They're very durable too.
My great-great-grandmother was from Ireland. That's pretty cool.
I like pudding.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Beautiful Tears
I read something beautiful today . . .
. . . and I cried a little.
Tears of joy.
That's a big deal, for me.
Thanks God.
*smile*
. . . and I cried a little.
Tears of joy.
That's a big deal, for me.
Thanks God.
*smile*
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Some thoughts
Today went very well. Last night melk drove down to Louisville, KY, to take part in the North Bullitt Christian Church service this morning. We played three songs, and performed a short sketch exemplifying how we spend time on so many other things, but neglect time with God. On both the way down and the way back we had some excellent time to talk with each other, sharing stories and laughter.
But the real reason I am posting is the sermon that I got to hear at the church. It was pretty much about just encountering Jesus and being changed by Him. It was great! I’d like to share some thoughts that came out of that.
Are you obedient, or holy? God calls us in 1 Peter 1:15-16, as well as in several other places, to be holy because He is holy. Obedience to God is not merely maintaining the status quo in following Him, but also doing whatever He asks. Obedience is good. But, you can train a dog to be obedient! Holiness is something different.
Now, I had learned this verse about being holy because God is holy growing up. As I had pondered it I had never really come to any concrete conclusion as to what it was to be holy because (and as) God is holy. I knew the definition of holy is “Something set apart.” But what did that mean for me? I just figured that it must be different for each person, and for different times of life. And this is true. But today, as the preacher was speaking, God gave a simple new explanation to me.
In the Old Testament, the Israelites were supposed to be a people holy to the Lord. They were set apart from their neighbors by the Law God gave them. Their dietary restrictions, the clean and unclean things, the feasts and complete dependence on God, all set them apart as the Lord’s people. Within the Israelites, the Levites were set apart to the service of the Lord. The things that made them holy were their external actions, their obedience to God’s Law.
For us, under the New Covenant of Jesus’ blood that brings us each into personal communion with God, things are a little different. We don’t have lists of rules that tell us how to be holy as God is holy. Instead of being set apart physically from all the sin and people around us, we are rather called to be set apart in our hearts. To be holy is to have a heart that is set apart for Just One Thing. Now, I realize that sounds a little simple. “Duh, Joel.” Yeah, the pursuit of God is simple – a child can understand it. But it’s not easy.
This is really, I’m realizing, just another facet of the same principle that I learned in Deeper. The question that I learned there was, “What do I need to do to be more intimate with God today?” This question is, “What do I need to do for my heart to be set apart to God today?” It’s the same question, just asked with different words. For our hearts, and thus our whole selves, to be set apart to God . . . wow. Lord that I would be caught up in You.
It’s time for me to go through the Psalms again. I had been in Genesis with Joseph, Exodus with Israel and God, then Deuteronomy being impressed with God’s awesome ultimate holiness, and how all of His decrees are for the purpose of bringing glory to Himself. Now, as I pour my heartcry out to God, it’s time to be in the Psalms again. Psalm 62:5-8.
-- philosophizing on returning home --
It’s kinda funny, returning home this time. My family is gone in Nebraska right now, visiting relatives and competing in the Nebraska Christian College Bible Bowl tournament. So I have time to contemplate. This house that I grew up in, will soon not be my home anymore.
The dogwood tree out front is budding; it will bloom soon. The crocuses are coming up; they’ll be red and yellow when they blossom. Little things are changing, being moved around in the house, rearranged to serve my family without me. It’s a little bittersweet. I am in the correct time of life for me now, but I’m not with my family. I’m not with them as they experience life, not able to share in the joys and sorrows like I could if I were here all the time. My little brother misses me something awful, and I’d say it’s a safe bet my sisters miss me too. I know Mom and Dad do. When I’m off at school or wherever else I am, I hardly give them a thought, caught up in what I’m doing, what I’m responsible for. I think that’s because I know that they are all here at home, and I will see them again. I’m not worried about never seeing them again, I just move in and out of my house and they move in and out of my life. Coming home reminds me they are still here – and that they won’t be for very much longer.
What a strange thing time is. It keeps moving onward. Why was I placed at exactly this place in time? Why was I blessed with exactly these parents, these siblings, and these advantages in life? I have been given the heritage of those who fear God’s name http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2061:5;&version=31;. I have been blessed in exceeding measure. There is a measure of sadness in the fact that never again will I be a part of my family in quite the same way. What does God have for me?
I want to protect my sisters, share with them things that I’m learning, and share their lives, because I love them. They have been given to me as people who share my life, people who love me, people who I want the best for. Sure they get a little annoying at times, but I dearly want good for them, not evil. I want to protect them, smooth the way for them, have fun with them. Maybe I should take them on a picnic. That would be fun. I love my sisters. And there is so much of their lives that I’m missing. Soon they will be gone, and I will see them less and less. Such a strange thing time is, going on and on, slowly separating some people. Have I been a good brother? What must I do to be a good brother now, so that I don’t look back on this time of life and grieve for opportunities I missed.
But the real reason I am posting is the sermon that I got to hear at the church. It was pretty much about just encountering Jesus and being changed by Him. It was great! I’d like to share some thoughts that came out of that.
Are you obedient, or holy? God calls us in 1 Peter 1:15-16, as well as in several other places, to be holy because He is holy. Obedience to God is not merely maintaining the status quo in following Him, but also doing whatever He asks. Obedience is good. But, you can train a dog to be obedient! Holiness is something different.
Now, I had learned this verse about being holy because God is holy growing up. As I had pondered it I had never really come to any concrete conclusion as to what it was to be holy because (and as) God is holy. I knew the definition of holy is “Something set apart.” But what did that mean for me? I just figured that it must be different for each person, and for different times of life. And this is true. But today, as the preacher was speaking, God gave a simple new explanation to me.
In the Old Testament, the Israelites were supposed to be a people holy to the Lord. They were set apart from their neighbors by the Law God gave them. Their dietary restrictions, the clean and unclean things, the feasts and complete dependence on God, all set them apart as the Lord’s people. Within the Israelites, the Levites were set apart to the service of the Lord. The things that made them holy were their external actions, their obedience to God’s Law.
For us, under the New Covenant of Jesus’ blood that brings us each into personal communion with God, things are a little different. We don’t have lists of rules that tell us how to be holy as God is holy. Instead of being set apart physically from all the sin and people around us, we are rather called to be set apart in our hearts. To be holy is to have a heart that is set apart for Just One Thing. Now, I realize that sounds a little simple. “Duh, Joel.” Yeah, the pursuit of God is simple – a child can understand it. But it’s not easy.
This is really, I’m realizing, just another facet of the same principle that I learned in Deeper. The question that I learned there was, “What do I need to do to be more intimate with God today?” This question is, “What do I need to do for my heart to be set apart to God today?” It’s the same question, just asked with different words. For our hearts, and thus our whole selves, to be set apart to God . . . wow. Lord that I would be caught up in You.
It’s time for me to go through the Psalms again. I had been in Genesis with Joseph, Exodus with Israel and God, then Deuteronomy being impressed with God’s awesome ultimate holiness, and how all of His decrees are for the purpose of bringing glory to Himself. Now, as I pour my heartcry out to God, it’s time to be in the Psalms again. Psalm 62:5-8.
-- philosophizing on returning home --
It’s kinda funny, returning home this time. My family is gone in Nebraska right now, visiting relatives and competing in the Nebraska Christian College Bible Bowl tournament. So I have time to contemplate. This house that I grew up in, will soon not be my home anymore.
The dogwood tree out front is budding; it will bloom soon. The crocuses are coming up; they’ll be red and yellow when they blossom. Little things are changing, being moved around in the house, rearranged to serve my family without me. It’s a little bittersweet. I am in the correct time of life for me now, but I’m not with my family. I’m not with them as they experience life, not able to share in the joys and sorrows like I could if I were here all the time. My little brother misses me something awful, and I’d say it’s a safe bet my sisters miss me too. I know Mom and Dad do. When I’m off at school or wherever else I am, I hardly give them a thought, caught up in what I’m doing, what I’m responsible for. I think that’s because I know that they are all here at home, and I will see them again. I’m not worried about never seeing them again, I just move in and out of my house and they move in and out of my life. Coming home reminds me they are still here – and that they won’t be for very much longer.
What a strange thing time is. It keeps moving onward. Why was I placed at exactly this place in time? Why was I blessed with exactly these parents, these siblings, and these advantages in life? I have been given the heritage of those who fear God’s name http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2061:5;&version=31;. I have been blessed in exceeding measure. There is a measure of sadness in the fact that never again will I be a part of my family in quite the same way. What does God have for me?
I want to protect my sisters, share with them things that I’m learning, and share their lives, because I love them. They have been given to me as people who share my life, people who love me, people who I want the best for. Sure they get a little annoying at times, but I dearly want good for them, not evil. I want to protect them, smooth the way for them, have fun with them. Maybe I should take them on a picnic. That would be fun. I love my sisters. And there is so much of their lives that I’m missing. Soon they will be gone, and I will see them less and less. Such a strange thing time is, going on and on, slowly separating some people. Have I been a good brother? What must I do to be a good brother now, so that I don’t look back on this time of life and grieve for opportunities I missed.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
2 Timothy 1:7
Much to write. Too much. I love Jesus, He's gently turning my focus to only Him, to Only One Thing. That's where it has to be. I hate the pain I cause when I take my eyes off Him. The verse in front of my eyes right now is 2 Timothy 1:7 - For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.
For a long time God has been emphasizing the first part of that verse for me - being called not to fear, but to power. In fact, I was kinda curious why the rest of the verse was there, having a spirit of love and of self-discipline. But today, just this morning, as I look at it, I see that all three parts are integral. Think about it with me.
First of all, God did not give us a spirit of timidity, or fear. Fear is a strong driving force. For all without the hope of Christ's eternity, there is the fear of death. Even for those with the hope of Christ in glory, we can allow ourselves to be fearful, fearing that God's plan will not provide what we need. But God did not call us to fear. He did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid. His Spirit does not make us afraid! Are you reveling in your freedom from fear? Or are you remaining locked in fear?
Second, God GAVE us a spirit of Power! His Spirit is powerful. We have a spirit of power within us. Power does things. It acts. It drives. This can be a wonderful thing. It can also be detrimental, if we allow it to be. Power, unchecked, will destroy us and those around us. We are weak. Thus the next part is love.
In addition to power, we have a spirit of love. Colossians 3:14 says, "And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Love binds, holds, smooths. The strength of power is controlled by the spirit of love that God gives us.
Finally, a spirit of self-discipline. Maintaining control over ourselves. We have power, it is tempered by love. But self-discipline is vital as well. Otherwise we are apt to do the right thing at the wrong time. I must continually bring myself into line with what I know God has for me right now.
As many of you know, I grew up with a tremendous self-discipline. Unfortunately, it was employed in the service of a lifeless head-knowledge of Jesus. I had a form of godliness, while denying it's power. I was perfect . . . but not.
God has been calling me out of that lifelessness, in a process that started with Deeper in the fall of 2004. Beginning this January, He has been calling me to accept my emotions as an integral part of me, and to express them. I started moving away from the extreme self-discipline that I had imposed upon myself. Yet, according to this verse, I am still called to self-discipline, still called to hold fast to what I KNOW is right, right alongside the spirit of power and the spirit of love that I have been given.
That's hard.
Thanks for your encouragement and support, for helping me along the way to simply One Pursuit. I appreciate it more than you know.
For a long time God has been emphasizing the first part of that verse for me - being called not to fear, but to power. In fact, I was kinda curious why the rest of the verse was there, having a spirit of love and of self-discipline. But today, just this morning, as I look at it, I see that all three parts are integral. Think about it with me.
First of all, God did not give us a spirit of timidity, or fear. Fear is a strong driving force. For all without the hope of Christ's eternity, there is the fear of death. Even for those with the hope of Christ in glory, we can allow ourselves to be fearful, fearing that God's plan will not provide what we need. But God did not call us to fear. He did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid. His Spirit does not make us afraid! Are you reveling in your freedom from fear? Or are you remaining locked in fear?
Second, God GAVE us a spirit of Power! His Spirit is powerful. We have a spirit of power within us. Power does things. It acts. It drives. This can be a wonderful thing. It can also be detrimental, if we allow it to be. Power, unchecked, will destroy us and those around us. We are weak. Thus the next part is love.
In addition to power, we have a spirit of love. Colossians 3:14 says, "And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Love binds, holds, smooths. The strength of power is controlled by the spirit of love that God gives us.
Finally, a spirit of self-discipline. Maintaining control over ourselves. We have power, it is tempered by love. But self-discipline is vital as well. Otherwise we are apt to do the right thing at the wrong time. I must continually bring myself into line with what I know God has for me right now.
As many of you know, I grew up with a tremendous self-discipline. Unfortunately, it was employed in the service of a lifeless head-knowledge of Jesus. I had a form of godliness, while denying it's power. I was perfect . . . but not.
God has been calling me out of that lifelessness, in a process that started with Deeper in the fall of 2004. Beginning this January, He has been calling me to accept my emotions as an integral part of me, and to express them. I started moving away from the extreme self-discipline that I had imposed upon myself. Yet, according to this verse, I am still called to self-discipline, still called to hold fast to what I KNOW is right, right alongside the spirit of power and the spirit of love that I have been given.
That's hard.
Thanks for your encouragement and support, for helping me along the way to simply One Pursuit. I appreciate it more than you know.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)