Live Like You Are Dying

          So these past couple days I've really been taken in by the idea of living like you were dying. I hear people say it all the time and automatically associate it with indulging in every pleasurable thing on the planet in a very frivolous way, thus sin. Yet, I wonder how life would be if someone who is completely surrendered to God lived like they were dying? Because, in reality, isn't that what God has called us to do? "And he said to them all, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it." (Luke 9:23-24) We have to "lose our lives" for Christ's sake  in order to save our lives from destruction. I have always pinned this destruction to be eternity in hell only, but now I wonder if it also means a "wasted" life. A life that revolves around the meaningless things that Solomon addresses in Ecclesiastes.

          As I look at my own life, I know for certain that I do NOT live like I'm dying! I make sure to avoid situations in which I feel extremely uncomfortable, especially awkward social situations. I worry about changing my major/career because of the possibility of it not working out as perfectly as I have it formulated in my head. I spend a large amount of time focusing on making my life easier and more enjoyable and more comfortable and more BORING!!! That's what it comes down to! I'm living a boring, meaningless life that will get the Kingdom of God no further than it would have been if I hadn't been born. How depressing is that.. To realize that my impact on this world and the world to come is so minute and will continue that way unless I surrender my plans to God and live life with reckless abandon!

          Be a game-changer. Not in the glamorous way the world paints it with fame, status, money, and momentary pleasures, but in the way God plans it. With an influence that will last an eternity and change the lives of countless people! Have the Word of God on mind, heart, body, and mouth at ALL TIMES! Never be ashamed of the Gospel, rather preach it like today is your last day! Because you never know when it might be... Make every second of this life count.

Express Me This

          "Creativity, today, is equally as important as literacy." This is a claim made by Sir Ken Robinson, PhD, a world-renown speaker on the essence of education. I watched a youtube video of a conference at which he spoke where he discussed the importance of creativity in our education systems. Sir Robinson began his speech by pointing out obvious yet uncontested facts about our education system. Such were included: hierarchy of subjects, emphasis on monetary gain, criteria for success, among others. He related to his audience (myself included) by addressing parental and educator influence in the activities and career paths of children. He stated that parents and educators tend to put an emphasis on subjects such as math and science and neglect or even criticize subjects such as art, music, and dance. This is because math and science lead to 'successful' occupations whereas the "arts", as they are known, have a low possibility for leading to a stable and successful occupation. So the arts are squashed beneath the discouragement of educators and parents and rarely find their way into the lives of children in need of creative expression. Sir Robinson said that he believed the world is changing in ways that will require more of the arts and less of the math and science. He encouraged his audience members to creatively express themselves and to pass on that encouragement to their kids and the people around them. I know that I have diminished my love and appreciation for the arts because I wished to conform to the 'social norms of society'. The culture we live in does not favor creative expression in the forms of dance, music, and art, at least not "for everybody". Maybe those 'select few' who are extremely gifted can participate but not everybody... Even harder still is the added stigma that is bestowed upon males who appreciate creative expression in the arts. Well I disagree with our culture and I don't give a crap what it says about creativity. I for one am going all in with who I am when it comes to creative expression, bring on the music...

Recovering from Religion

          I'm sitting in Kaldi's, staring upon a wall filled with fliers advertising events seemingly tailored for a hole-in-the-wall coffee shop. One invites me to participate in English Country Dance; one beckons me to join the Chess Club; one describes a film festival featuring "world-renown" documentaries. And yet, the one that catches my eye, commanding the bulk of my attention, is an informational brochure about a group titled, "Recovering from Religion". This harmless sheet of paper thrusts me through several stages of emotions including: anger, compassion, courage, and confusion. I study the words, trying to understand the viewpoint of its author- a viewpoint which completely contradicts my entire lifestyle... I am not angry toward the people of this group; rather, I am angry toward the source of their pain- the American Church. Recovering from Religion, as if it's a fatal disease, pressed upon its victims. And isn't it? Isn't religion fatal to the work of Christ Himself? Religion without spiritual fruit is a killer of souls. The country of America is plagued by the hypocrisy that is religion, but fleeing from Christ is not the cure. The Love of God expressed through action is the antidote, and we as Christians are the means by which this antidote is administered. How can the Love of God spread when it has no median through which to travel? Imagine we as Christians are syringes and Christ's love is the cure. Without a cure, syringes are just weapons which cause injury with the false hope of bringing healing. After so many effective-less injections, the church has caused more hurt than it has hope. No wonder people are searching for healing from religion...

Dreaming?

"To Breathe is to Survive;
          To Dream is to Live."


          Dreaming in life is something I have a hard time processing. I'm drawn to all the motivating quotes about achieving your dreams and 'shooting for the stars' and doing something great with your life, but I'm not sure I'm sold on the whole concept of making all your dreams come true. It appears that dreams are analogous to the deepest desires of a person; the deepest desires of a person are generally the natural selfish tendencies that accompany being a sinful human. Therefore, wouldn't making all your dreams come true be a selfish act...? Now I know that not all dreams are of selfish basis and most Christians, when asked the daring question, would state that following the will of God is their dream, but I'm not sure my definition of "dreams" parallels God's plan for my life. My prayer is that eventually my dreams will become worshiping Christ with my life in every way possible, but to be honest I'm not sure I'm there yet.

"Open my eyes to see the destiny before me,
  In a light guided by your wise understanding;
  Honestly preparing me for the daring tasks approaching,
  Powerfully preparing me to face the unimaginable."

An Excursion into the Realm of Poetry

"Mindless living,
          Careless conversation,
                    Inattentive relationship,
                              And thoughtless prayer,
                                         Equals
                                                                         Heartless Worship..."



"Your grasp onto my heart,
  Will never let me down.
  Though my sin breaks us apart,
  You will always be around.

  I stumble countless times,
  Sometimes monthly, weekly, daily.
  But your grace covers over mine,
  And you never fail to save me.

  My heart weeps in worship to You,
  May my sorrow bring a smile.
  For it's clear the things I've said are true,
  Yet serving You is worthwhile."




"I feel lost.
  A ship without a sailor;
  Cast into the sea with its many torments.
  Moments of peaceful bliss prevent me from
  Throwing myself overboard in emotional disarray.

  I feel broken.
  A prized possession whose flaws are made known;
  Flaws once concealed in the dark.
  Heartfelt acts of kindness and complete devotion
  Aren't enough to polish off the cracks.

  I feel alone.
  A childhood blanket abandoned for an XBox 360;
  Picked up and used when convenient.
  The days of uncontested friendship
  Are forever lost in the past.

  I am loved.
  A lamb lost in the pasture of selfishness;
  Devotedly searched for by the Good Shepherd himself.
  Perfect love displayed by a Father
  Who will never leave me nor forsake me."




"My God waits for me,
  With open arms He waits;
  Hungry for my affection and obedience,
  Longing for a chance at romance."




Now for a few Haikus:

          Straight Obedience
  Calling me to so much more
          Glorifying Praise


          Lost in thought again
     Pondering questions of life
          Answers never found


          Details overlooked
 Busyness leaves this world blind
          Shadows overwhelm


          Simple act of love
          Sacrifice doth validate
          Pride shall prove you false

Early Riser

          So in the whole scheme of college I have become accustomed to waking up 20 minutes before class and rushing every morning to get ready, eat breakfast, and make it to class on time. I miss the days in high school when I would wake up 2 hours before school just to have time in the morning... Those mornings were so peaceful and refreshing; they made me feel as though I was taking advantage of 'extra time' because no one else was up (or at least it felt as though no one was up). The house was dark and quiet, itself sleeping in a way. I would creep down the stairs and avoid turning on lights until it was absolutely necessary. No agenda to dictate how I spent those 2 hours, nobody watching to judge my 'laziness', and no distractions to deter me from enjoying a relaxing morning at home. Well I'm taking a chance to relive that this morning. Up 2 hours before anyone else, it has been nice to enjoy the peace that comes with early rising. Hallway, empty; lounge, empty; bathroom, empty; courtyard, empty. I LOVE IT! Now on to eat my breakfast in peace...

'Radical' Thoughts

          I read the book Radical by David Platt a couple years ago and it rocked my world in so many different ways! Such a challenging book which brought to light so much truth that I had suppressed in order to keep my comfortable lifestyle. Well, I ran across a couple videos tonight that David Platt had put out and they brought me to look up some quotes from his book. Here are a couple of my favorites:

     - "We waste our lives living out a Christian spin of the American Dream"

     - "But then I realize there is never going to be a day when I stand before God and looks at me and says, 'I wish you would've kept more for yourself.' I'm confident God will take care of me."

     - "We are settling for a Christianity that revolves around catering to ourselves when the central message of Christianity is actually about abandoning ourselves."

          My prayer is that I will radically pursue a relationship with my Savior Jesus Christ and that I will live a life of obedience to His calling! NO MORE COMFORT and NO MORE CONTENTMENT with this lukewarm life! May His glory be presented in my life and show people how amazing God can truly be!!!

A Simple Walk

     I took a walk this afternoon with one of the campus ministers at the university I attend which changed my life forever...

          Joe texted me yesterday around 5pm asking if I wanted to grab coffee sometime and talk so he could get to know me. I met Joe at the Freshman retreat that the Christian Campus House (CCH) hosted two weeks ago and instantly took a liking to him. He reminded me a lot of one of my mentors from back home: wise, caring, relational, humble, cool yet somewhat counter-cultural, and loving. Joe and I had our first conversation when He drove me back to the dorms from the Freshman Retreat along with three other students. We did the normal small talk, "Where are you from? What are your interests? Creamy or Crunchy Peanut Butter?" but never got into any on a deep level. So when Joe asked if I would be up for meeting together in hopes to get to know one another, I was more than up for it!
          I arrived at CCH around 1:45 and found him in his office on the main floor. We talked for a couple minutes while he finished up organizing some things from his desk (he had apparently just finished a meeting of sorts) before moving into the lounge. Joe asked if I had eaten and I said yes so he suggested going for a walk instead of getting coffee. I was thrilled and could not have been more pleased with where this meeting was already going. I've read about men/boys taking walks with their mentors, soaking in every ounce of wisdom they can muster, asking every question that comes to mind, and pouring out whatever was on their heart, but I never thought that would ever happen to me...
          Joe led me down the sidewalks, seemingly leading me to some sort of destination. He asked me questions about my life, what I desired in life, what my plans were for the future, but the most amazing thing was that he just let me talk. This experience was truly about him getting to know me: my heart, my desires, my passions, my life, my faith. He spoke very little compared to my ramblings, but when he spoke it was meaningful. We soon arrived to the destination he mentioned earlier, a chat path enclosed by a wooded paradise. For the next hour we walked and talked, me describing the details of my life, he relaying soft wisdom and prodding my heart. There were silences, awkward for me at first until I realized that they weren't awkward for Joe. In that truth, Joe taught me that silence isn't a bad thing. I told Joe things that I haven't even told my best friends. In those sixty minutes we were together he gained my complete trust because I knew where he put his hope and who he lived for. I needed that walk and talk, and Joe had listened to God's call to him that told him that I needed that walk and talk.
          We returned to the campus house where we refreshed with some cold water. Joe got my cup and filled it for me. In this, Joe taught me how effective a servant's attitude can be. That one action even further solidified my trust to him. We sat on a couch and discussed more topics, revisiting some from our walk in greater detail. Joe challenged me; without being off-putting he challenged me. This was not some "Let me hear all your problems and make you feel better about yourself so you'll come to CCH more", it was a genuine investment into the life of someone he saw needed a mentor. God changed my life through Joe today, and for that I am eternally grateful.

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
                    - Proverbs 27:17

Living Every Moment

I started reading Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom for the second time a couple days ago, and through it I am reminded of the sanctity of life and the urgency of God's calling. The book follows the life of a professor plagued by a terminal disease and focuses on how that feeble old man decides to take advantage of his time and live a fulfilled life. He doesn't mope about his troubles, he doesn't give up all hope, and he doesn't frivolously engulf himself in every pleasure of this world. Morrie makes every second count and lives in the moment. We are called by God to be living for Him NOW with EVERY BREATH that we take! Who are we to waste the time we have on this earth? Yes, this part of life is only temporary and cannot compare to eternity in Heaven, but we are here for a purpose and God commands us to fulfill that purpose! I think we all can take a lesson from Morrie about living life to the fullest and for the right reasons. Make every moment count, you never know when it could be your last.