When You Say Goodbye, I Say Hello

Yesterday, my friend Matt Low and I went to Austin to drop his little brother off at ACL. While there, we found out the Robbie Seay Band is playing in Austin at Jesus Christ the Nazarene church, so we got our tickets and it was a great concert.

Lately I have been reading Phillipians, and I usually don't focus on one book too much, but i'm trying to this time. The more I read it the more it seems to come "alive." This passage has been tossed around in my mind a bit, Phillipians 2.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross

I feel like I'm going nowhere. Everyone else in college has a goal of achieving some certain degree in some special field that interests them. However I do not have any goals. Lately I have been longing for God like never before. I have been extremely unsatisfied with everything else. I want to give more, I want to love more, and I want to care more about what's going on.

Thursday

The Importance of Hell

by Tim Keller

1. It is important because Jesus taught about it more than all other Biblical authors put together.

2. It is important because it shows how infinitely dependent we are on God for everything.

3. It is important because it unveils the seriousness and danger of living life for yourself.

4. The doctrine of hell is important because it is the only way to know how much Jesus loved us and how much he did for us.

full article here.

God is enough.

For the past couple of months I have been thinking and praying about this phrase "God is enough." I've just been thinking, what would be the effect if everything we do reflected the realization that God is enough.

While sitting in a freshman orientation class, we were in a computer lab and the librarian was showing the class how to use the internet and look for books and research. (how many times have you sat through one of those before?) At that moment I began to feel like my life was wasting away, this is pointless, I wanna just leave and eat. Then out of nowhere I stumble across this article about children being used as soldiers. It caught my attention and stumbled across a profound quote that really shook me and has been haunting me. It was by a boy named Salifu Kamara, it said, "I was not born a boy soldier; my captives forced me to become one. I had to obey them to stay alive today. When you have nothing left but God, that is the time you realize that God is enough." (here's the story)

I'm not sure the means or what it means to have nothing left but God. It's a phrase that at times scares me as a christian to say that God is enough because there is so much that I want, money, success, attention, girls, comfort, etc.. In my heart I know God is enough, but my head wants to doubt that and say that there is better satisfaction in other things. It just does all sorts of things to me thinking, what it would look like, if the way we lived reflected the realization that God is enough. I want my life to have purpose, and when I take away everything about life that is meaningless: selfishness, anger and concern over stupid small things, worry, unsatisfaction, overspending, desire to be accepted, I end up with nothing left but God.

Freakin' Texas

If you paid any attention to the republic convention, the Texas delegation should've caught your eye at least once. Decked out in cowboy hats, sparkles, and shirts of the Texas flag (notice I capitalized Texas, because I am proud of the state, just when this happens I question myself).


"ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Delegate Dawn Gilbert has gotten her fair share of attention at the Republican National Convention this week.

She wanted a hat to wear, so a friend decked out a Dr. Seus hat with a boat on one side, a basket of blueberries and a lobster on top.

She has been interviewed by several news outlets, including some individuals from the Republic of Georgia.

Across the floor was the Texas delegation, who waved their cowboy hats in sync. She stopped by.

“Well boys,” she said she told them, “how’s this for a hat?”

“Now that’s a real hat,” Texas said......"

"If you want know how to act at a convention, check out the Texas delegation. First, they all wear the same outfit topped with a cowboy hat, so they are really noticeable. Anyway, the Texas delegation also leads cheers. On Tuesday night, during some of the breaks, the delegation would yell "McCain!" and the alternates would respond with "Palin!" They're also encouraging people to stand up and wave their signs, and they even tried to get the wave going."

Dandelion Heart

This is a new song I've been working on. While praying and talking with a friend of mine we got into an interesting conversation. He was telling me how hard his past was, and how making the transition back into high school was scary because he felt old and had this fear of not succeeding. I can relate, I'm not sure where I'm headed, but I think it's too early to worry about that.

are you way up there?
I hope that you are listening, hope to hear you whispering
how long can this heart beat
sink or swim is what they tell me and I'm a little scared
I'm jumping in the deep
but you can turn it all around and put me back in
the ground where you once found
my dandelion heart

what have I become
Am I the only one still hanging from a tree
shaking like a leaf
what if I should run
I'm like a ghost with noone to haunt
running in the dark

You will always shine
and together we'll brave the winters
you'll open up my eyes
and let me see your bigger than
what the world keeps telling me
what the world keeps telling me
You will hold me in your hands
and there i know my heart will be safe

you can change my mind
change is strange but im still listening, hardly hear you whispering
you know i can't stand long
had to bring me to my knees just to put me back on my feet
Lord your all i need
cause you can turn it all around and put me back in
on the ground where you once found my dandelion heart