Pastor for a Day

So since Kolton was still in the hospital on Sunday, guess who had to lead service at Church at home? Yeah it was me. And it was some experience. But the coolest thing was the fact that we had visitors for the first time in a while that just kinda showed up for no reason except they were looking for a small church, and we were that small church. The Sheppards enjoyed it and said they would be back next week hopefully. it was an awesome experience, but I'm even happier my dad will be home next week so i don't have to lead!

Be You, Be Real, Be Him

A few weeks back I, and two other young men, were asked to speak to the youth at the "big" church in Tyler. Considering I was asked two days before the night of speaking, I was scrambling hopelessly for an idea, but quickly God brought a thought to my mind and I shared it that Wednesday night. For some reason I thought of that tonight when I sat down to type up another blog, so I thought I would share this encouragement with you. It's rather lengthy, but I think that it's pretty good! Here is a somewhat condensed version of the notes I used that night:

There are a lot of “American Idols,” Celebrities, and people that we as young people are called to look up to. The girls have great idols like Disney’s Lindsey Lohan, that is a failed crack addict who hopelessly fails at rehab every time. Brittany Spears, every childhood girls idol at one time, has now turned into a 23 year old girl who’s been married 4 times, has 2 kids, and who has fallen into so many stupid situations she should get an award. Guys have great celebrities to look up to like Heath Ledger who played a gay cowboy in “Brokeback Mountain,” a Sadistic Joker in a Batman movie and who struggled with drugs so much he OD’d on drugs in his hotel room by himself. Or we could look at Mel Gibson, the director of the “Passion of the Christ” movie, where apparently the Catholic man got pulled over drunk so many times he figured if he made a movie about Jesus he’d get a Get out of Jail free card. The list goes on and on of celebrities that all have one thing in common. They are examples to everyone of us and they are failing miserably. There are already too many Britney and Heath Ledger clones walking around in this world. It’s time we did something about it.

In a world where there are so many people that are look a-likes and weirdoes, it’s time that we stood up and became somebody different…. us. Too many times we see how someone else looks or how someone acts or something that someone says and we try to become them. We want to be cool and different and fit in….I saw a sign once that said I am unique and different just like everyone else. It’s the truth though, we try to be different and original by being like someone we look up to. What if we did something shocking, different, original, and daring? What if we became……. OURSELVES. I know it sounds impossible but what if you became who you really are…you?

It’s also time that we, as Christian young people made a stand in worship, praise, and living for Christ. Those of us who have been raised in church can spot a fake UPCer a mile away and know what they look like and act like at church. It’s time we stepped up and made our Worship real for our great God. What does God really mean to you anyway? I don’t know about y’all but the drama that we put on was so amazing not because I got to be Jesus and show off, but it was amazing because of how much I finally realized that I mean to God, and it made me think of How much he means to me. How much does Jesus mean to you, how about how he died on the cross for you, does that mean anything?

And finally we need to be Him. We were created in His likeness a long time ago in His mind and thoughts, so why don’t we step up and become more like Jesus? If we first become ourselves and act just like we were made to be when he thought of us on the Cross 2000 years ago, we’ve made the first step. Second we need Be Real and show Him we are serious about living for Him and then one day we will….be Him. If we shape ourselves and let Him mold us we can become like as of His image and become a true Christian and be truly Christ like. I don’t know why it just hit me lately but I started thinking about why we aren’t more Christ like. But how many hours out of the day do we listen to all of the "nonchristian" radio stations, how about CD’s that aren’t Christian. How about those movies we all quote but act like we never watched or we saw the clip on youtube. I’m talking to me more than anything but let’s start thinking about why you aren't strong enough to stand against the trials you’ve come against. So let’s try being the only three people we need to

Be You, Be Real, Be Him

Life, Love, and Beating Hearts

What is a beat? Well, in music a beat is to mark time by strokes, as with the hand or a metronome. Beat can be used in sports and other activities where the winner "beat" his opponent. But the beat I'm referring to is regarding the heart. A throb or pulsation of the heart is considered a beat. As long as a heart is beating, there is life in the subject in question. My brother taught me something yesterday that even he probably doesn't realize, but it hasn't left me yet. He taught me to appreciate life just a little more. There is something about watching a body laying on a stretcher, bandaged, unconscious, and seemingly lifeless, that shakes a person up. I watched Kolton being wheeled down the hall, with the tubes all sticking in and on him, and watched the blue ball of a breathing machine inhale and exhale his heart's cry for air. And I watched as all 7 machines in his dungeon of a room blinked, blipped, and sputtered his life into only dots, lines, and a few beeps that once again is something else referred to as a beat. Every beep corresponds to a beat, every beat to one more time that his heart is working, working still, after being opened and examined by human hands, marveling at God's work. I just can not sit and see all of this in one day and not be changed.

And so...

I won't.

A New Leaf

So today, June 19, 2008, I have decided to (re)start a daily blog. I think that enough happens in my almost adult life (hear that Mom?) that it's time for me to step up and become a daily obsessed blogger like that as of W and Joseph James. So for my first blog I will give an update of my life thus far, and hopefully leave you with something spiritual to think on. I presently still reside at the residence of my parental units, but I am considering moving in to an apartment come September when a friend of mine gets home from a Summer internship. I recently acquired a new car which I am very fond of. I got a very good deal on a Silver 2004 VW Passat and so far have had no real problems with it! It was so good to sell my Green Grandpa Machine (to an older lady who I ripped off by selling it through craigslist.org, which by the way is a perfect place to sell ANYTHING). I also switched banks from Austin Bank to a larger bank with a better Opportunity: Southside Bank. It's the largest and fastest growing bank in East Texas and I'm a full time Retail Teller. I am still dating Ashley Riggle, and hope to be for the rest of my life (though hopefully marriage lies in the wake some where:). I have been playing guitar for my church in Bullard and for the Youth Ensemble group at Tyler Tabernacle. That's all the updates for now, but let me leave you with a thought that a youth leader passed on to me at a youth service last night. Think about the statement "In Christ Alone". Do you truly give and do everything for Him? Try to remember that God is always there. The statement is not In Christ I give my trust, alone, because we are not alone with Christ by our side. The statement is In Christ Alone i put my trust. In a world were sadly it is so hard to trust anyone, it's good to know that we can ALWAYS trust Him. Hope this is an encouraging word to someone.
Always look up, never look down, because when you're looking up you can smile, but looking down you frown.