New Year, New List.

Looking back on 2007, I feel like I grew in a lot of ways (spiritually, mentally, emotionally). 2007 was a good year of life - new experiences, new relationships, new journeys set out upon. Now that 2008 is upon us, I have created a list of goals for the year. We'll see how it goes...

. Finish The Brothers Karamazov {Before May}
. Memorize Hebrews Chapter 10
. Start Running/Training {Not For A Marathon, For The Use Of The Shoes You Already Own}
. Create A Healthy Meal Plan {And Stick To It}
. Try To Eat Out Less {It's Expensive}
. Walk More
. Develop The Discipline Of Intercessory Prayer
. Learn More About Photography
. Take More Pictures {Print And Give Some To Friends...They Might Like Them}
. Journal {Private} And Blog {Public} More
. Don't Let Your Left Hand Know What The Right Is Doing {=Generosity – Increased and In Secret}
. Do Something With Your Guitar. Seriously – Learn Something
. Leave KY Again {It Worked Out Well Last Year}
. Camp/Hike/Backpack {Finally Use All The Stuff You Bought}
. Institute A True {As True As You Are Capable} Sabbath Into The Week
. {Try To} See At Least Half Of Your Most Wanted Concerts
. Graduate Your High School Guys “Successfully” {Don't Lose Touch With Them Afterwards}
. Find Peace/Purpose/Practicality In Regards To Work
. Drink More Water
. Develop A Daily Devotional Time {God Is Worth It}
. Finish Celebration of Discipline
. Finish The Screwtape Letters {And Finish Discussing It With Will}
. Less Is More. Get Rid Of Stuff You Don't Really Need {Practice Minimalism/Frugality}
. Continue To Practice Being Quick To Listen, Slow To Speak
. Continue Practicing The Art Of Silence
. Read More. Theology. Fine Literature. Newspapers. Magazines.
. Work On The Whole Worry/Anxiety Deal
. Learn To Trust God, And Others
. Practice The Discipline Of Patience
. Learn To Worship In Spirit And Truth
. Stop Comparing Yourself To Other People {Being Better Or Worse}
. Be More Intentional About Expressing Love And Thanks
. Strive To Win Your Lady's Heart By Presenting It Wholly To Jesus
. Be Honest With God {You Still Have Room To Grow}
. Continue To Broaden Your Horizons – Musically/Artistically Speaking
. Try New Foods, New Experiences, New Things
. If Nothing Else, Study These Books {Job, Ecclesiastes, Isaiah, John, and Revelation}
. Visit At Least Five Different Churches {Different Denominations, Different Demographics}
. Spend Quality Time With Family And Friends (Schedule It If You Have To}
. Meet At Least One New Person This Year {In An Intentional, Real Way}
. Don't Be Ashamed Of Who You Are – Celebrate God's Unique Creation Of You
. Take One Class At Seminary {Seriously, Just Try It Out – No Obligations}
. Live More Independently – Don't Be Afraid To Try Something On Your Own
. Ask More Questions
. Take A Seat At The Lowest Place At The Table {Cultivate Humility}
. Watch More Movies {Go Ahead, You Know You Want To}
. Delete Your MySpace Account. Log Into Facebook Less. Try Out The Real World
. Stop Being Embarrassed About Being A Christian Around People Who Are Not Believers
. Be A Really Good Roommate {Even If Kaleb Turns Out To Be A Bad One}
. Open Your Apartment To Friends, Family, Neighbors, And {As Appropriate} Strangers
. Make Top-5 Lists Relating To A Plethora Of Topics
. Make A Budget And Stick To It {Be Wise With Your Resources}
. Start Looking For A House And Figure Out A Couple Things About Life Before Buying
. Pray For Eduardo {At Least} Weekly, Write Him {At Least} Monthly {Send Him Polaroids, Too}
. Add More Stuff To This List {Try To Mark Some Stuff Off As Well}

Who To Choose?

I'll admit that I am {very} out-of-step when it comes to staying current regarding politics. I'm as far as having opinions about things - which leaves knowing nothing about currently running candidates, their respective views, and whether or not I should even show up Election Day.

I found this nice little site {which is very well-designed, by the way}. It should, obviously, not be the end-all in regards to who you will support this year - but it's a good way to spark interest, to dip your toe into political involvement, and find out a little about the various players.

After taking the test, it seems I match up best with Barack Obama.



I want to investigate further before I make any decisions - but I'm definitely more involved now {than I've probably ever been}. Shame on me, of course - but at least there's growth potential - right?

That Song's Too Vapid.

This article is a good read if you have found yourself, as I often have been, uninspired and wanting in regards to truth, beauty, and depth in Christian music.

Thankfully, I have found artists like Derek Webb, Michael Card, John Mark McMillan, and Mark Mathis to be a breath of fresh air when it comes to Christian worship and genuine musicianship. Of course these are not the only players worth mentioning - but are a few that have helped move me towards God in ways I wasn't always aware existed.

If we limit our musical expression of worship to specific feelings, too often, we run the risk of relegating our beloved tunes to the graveyard of baseness. All things are lawful, but not all things are beneficial.

I Wanna Be A Pagan!

This book review highlights a lot of the problems I have been seeing in regards to "movements" within Christianity - focused specifically on ecclesiology (to the desire of total Church reformation). I think this quote sums it up pretty well:

[This book] will give ammunition to those who already dislike the churches they have encountered...

{emphasis mine}

Make no mistake, this review points out the implications not of the presence of some specific paper-bound item, but the hearts and minds behind it. As far as it raises good questions about our presuppositions regarding Church practice, etc. - I could agree it's worthwhile - but in the undermining of church history and tradition, I cannot consent.

It should be noted that I have not read this book, and am simply struck by seeing something in another realm that so accurately portrays problems I have witnessed in my own church community.

It is frightening how quickly the option has become either overhaul or division.

Self Aggrandizement

Well, not entirely. I know that some people who read this blog do not necessarily subscribe to the daily devotions sent out by my church - so I wanted to make it known that my new batch is finally making the rounds.

Please check them out here.

As always, comments, concerns, etc. are appreciated.

A New Year - An Open Letter.

To the saints, those called according to His purposes:

I adjure you, in the name of the Lord Jesus, to make peace with each other. Let there be found, within this Body, no quarrels, debates, arguments or dissension in either word or deed. Rather, let us stand against the rulers and principalities of this present darkness. I charge you, as ambassadors for Christ, to live the message of reconciliation both inwardly and outwardly. Let us live at peace with one another, and let us prove our words by our deeds. Let us live like the one we call Lord.

Division: Either/Or, Not Both/And

It seems, to me, that the division of the Church has come from - at its core - adherents to two particular ideologies refusing to exist cooperatively. Rather than seeking genuine ecumenism - a schism occurs. The blade that cuts is Traditionalism (adherence to tradition, especially in cultural or religious practice) vs. Innovation (the introduction of new things or methods). In other words - saying "This is how it is, and how it ever shall be" vs. "New things are happening!"

I see God, however, participating in both these acts in Scripture:

Paul admonishes us in Hebrews (13:7-8) to "Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith," because, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." {emphasis mine}

On the other hand, we hear God speak through the prophet Isaiah (43:18-19): "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing..." {emphasis mine}

It seems there is a unification that comes from remembering the saints before us (imitating the successes of their faith) - firmly established in the unchanging nature of Jesus - mixed with the realization that God acts creatively.

Can tradition and innovation co-exist?

Links:

Refuse to Choose

The Primacy of the Imagination

New Stuff, New Year.

I've been terrible about updating this little hole-in-the-web.

A new idea for the new year. We'll see how it goes.

Check back then (well, around then - January 1st-ish).

Ray LaMontagne - Forever My Friend.

More LaMontagne goodness.

I Like Ray LaMontagne

You should, too.

A New Narcissism?

A very good article that dives into finding what positives and negatives might exist within the realm of online social networking. It is a long read, but very much worth it for any person who currently uses some type of social networking site or wants to understand the draw (and possible negative ramifications) of such places.

Virtual Friendship and the New Narcissism

Check-Lists And Bullet-Points.

I've been thinking about freedom lately. What it means to live a life of liberty. Not having to watch my back. Not wondering if the scales are tipping one direction, about to drop me off.

I've also been thinking about the Bible. What is its purpose in our lives? I imagine its here for our benefit - but what is that? Should something happen in our daily(-esque) reading of the Bible? What?

Here's my writings, from my notebook, from this morning:

I've been thinking lately about the amazing, overwhelming amount of freedom that we have in Christ. This morning, as I was thinking about relationships and how best to "do them" (discernment, guidance, etc.) I wondered whether the Bible was ever meant to be a step-by-step "rulebook" or even a concise "guidebook" or if, in reality, God gives us broad statements like "love" and then lets us work out the details by trusting Him, listening to Him, walking with Him, and simply living. In this way, maybe the Bible is meant to introduce us to the person who will speak to us rather than the one who has already spoke all, definitively, for good.

My friend Brad shared a verse with me today, Hebrews 3:15, that I think speaks to this:

// ...[T]oday, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion. //

To those of us who have heard his voice, who have laid aside our causes for rebellion, there now exists a loving call to do, as Paul admonishes in Romans, what is God's good, pleasing, and perfect will.

That will is being revealed to us daily - if we would search for it in Scripture and listen to the Spirit who, even now, is speaking.

May the Lord give you wisdom and discernment as you seek to know his will for your life.

A Prayer.

Father,

Give me ears to hear
And eyes to see
The telling of
Your majesty

Then my heart
Will surely be
Joy-filled
To follow Thee

In Jesus, I ask

The Conquering Lion.

Lauryn Hill

// The conquering lion shall break every chain
The conquering lion shall break every chain
Give him the victory again and again and again and again...
The conquering lion he's gonna break all of those chains if you just let him //

Up-Down.

Lord,
Lift me where i fall short.
Humble me where i stand tall.
I don't want balance, though.
I'm looking for abundance.

Vision Of You.

from Shane and Shane - Vision of You

// Awaken what's inside of me.
Tune my heart to all You are in me.
Even though You're here, God come.
And may the vision of You be the death of me.
And even though You've given everything,
Jesus come. //

Trust.

// noun. assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something. //

Looking back on the past three years, I can see many times where God has given me great reason to trust him. In fact, in hindsight, it is a very easy thing to trust the Lord - to see his wisdom, faithfulness, and goodness.

But foresight is a completely different matter altogether.

There are things happening in my life, and coming up, where I completely realize that:

1. Situations are beyond my control.
2. I am powerless to change this fact.
3. I must make a choice.

I can retreat into the darkness of despair, anxiousness, fear, doubt, and self.

Or I can embrace joy by trusting the revealed nature and purpose of my God.

One of these is easier, but is also what I consider the wrong choice.

So. I will cast my anxieties upon him, because he cares for me. I will trust him for his daily provision and protection. I will believe what he has told me and shown me.

I will deny myself. I will take up my cross daily and follow him. I will put to death the negative, natural tendencies and embrace the sanctifying, spiritual realities.

I will trust Jesus. So long as he gives me a spirit to do so.

He Tells Me Things.

Like tonight. On my way home. In the lyrics to "O, Porcupine" by mewithoutYou, he says:

// you have a decent ear for notes
but you can't yet appreciate harmony. //

And earlier in the day, through this article, he spoke.

And I can think of countless other times in Scripture where the message has been repeated.

Don't be foolish, child.
I love you, and all that...
but I AM God.
You play a very good game of make-believe.
Sometimes you even listen well.
But that doesn't work well to change much.
I AM still who I AM.
It's a good thing.
I promise.

It's a humorous image for me to see this great God hunched over, speaking lovingly, running after me - a little kid blissfully unaware that my diaper is full or about to fall off (how embarrassing), looking at some toy on the distant horizon, intrigued and determined to get there.

Humorous because it's very weird that the scenario is probably true.
Humorous because God loves me enough (for whatever reason) to be a Father.
Humorous in a wonderful way that makes you feel blessed, to laugh.

It's been a nice past week-or-so getting to know this side of my God.

Response.

My reaction to the movement of God has been a question in my mind recently.

I know the theology: God is good. God is for me. God will (ultimately) be/do good to me.

I trust this. It's not simple. I'm not without fault.

But I wonder.

If I am elated when things are going well. When things seem to be working out. When blessing comes.

Living with a spirit of thankfulness. Prayer. Joy. Celebration.

Does that make me a hypocrite when I become bitter? Saddened? Depressed? Dejected?

When those dark nights of the soul come and I am no longer...

...in a spirit of thankfulness. The same thoughtful, thankful prayer. The joy. The celebration.

Can I be present in this immediate state of blessing? Devouring it. Loving it.

And face tomorrow when it comes?

Is that alright?

Pro-Diggity. No Doubt.

You'll notice a red circle in the image above. Inside that red circle you will see a $25 Flickr logo.

Yes, that's right - I went pro tonight. I figured I would try it out for a year. I currently host all my shots on Flickr - and with at least 45 more pictures being uploaded tonight I thought it a good idea to get the flexibility of showing more than 200 photos (total), with more options for sets, resolutions, etc.

We'll see how it goes.

P.S. [Please Go To My Flickr Page And Say Great Things About My Photos So That The $25 Was Well-Spent] Thanks!