Flossing teeth and reading the Bible

Two things that I have been doing more of lately. I have never been a great flosser. My dental hygienist is always letting me know that my gums bleeding when she cleans them is a result of not habitually flossing. I apologize for the metal image, and I do understand that there is truth in what she is saying. A friend of mine humorously stated it this way, "Of course my gums are bleeding, you are poking them with sharp objects!" I have never been ashamed of my smile. I went through the braces faze of my life, thank you Mom and Dad. But I do notice the much more pearly white, healthy mouths of some of my friends, and so I have decided to floss more religiously. It is not that I have never flossed before, but sporadic would be more accurate as opposed to twice daily. In two days I have noticed phenomenal improvement; nough to ask those around me, "do you notice anything different?" unfortunately, no correct answers yet. : )

What on earth does this have to do with reading my Bible? Well you could also describe my reading scripture as sporadic and not twice daily. But fortunately I gained new fervor for my reading habits along with my frequent flossing miles. I have always had an appreciation for how the Bible always has new application for my life. It is neat to see the work of the Holy Spirit in that way. I also appreciate the years of AWANA that provided a strong foundation of memorized scripture. But habitual Bible reading has also shown to bring more joy to my life. I would bet that some of you may be thinking, "you are a theology major, shouldn't you be more of a Bible scholar than the average Christian." I was given many assignments in college that required critical analysis of scripture, but most of you college grads would agree that the amount of retained information from year one to year four has an tendency to blend together by graduation.

Furthermore, the Bible should always be a progressive and repetitive habit, never a quick read through. Silly. Again, I frequently enjoy the new revelation, interpretation and application of scripture given by the Holy Spirit.

All this to say that I am pleased with the results of both my renewed zeal for dental care and reading of scripture. A meticulously clean, merry mouth and a daily devotion to the Divine Word is sure to bring more smiles and joy to your Christmas season.

Observations. Yeah, cool.

Sometimes it is really entertaining to just watch people. Two things I saw this morning that made me laugh.

1. An older man in a really nice, black, convertible, Chevy Corvette and cruisin' through freeway traffic...with the top down and wearing a santa hat. I believe the temperature this morning on my thermostat outside was around 15 degrees? Yeah, cool.

2. A mother hauling her aqua blue mini van at forty mph through a school zone, JUST to get her child to school because she is already 5 minutes late. Are these not the same people that flip out about the safety of our children, because of reckless driving? Yeah, cool...really cool.

Enjoy the crisp December weather everybody, and try to find some joy in the little things.

The Interview

I have been hunting for a job for a while now. There have been a few interviews, nothing successful, but something I have always struggled with is feeling comfortable in interviews. Some might say, "well duh, nobody feels comfortable in interviews on either side of the process." But I am starting to realize that there is more to landing a job than a well structured resume, grammatically correct cover letter and experience. All of these being the foundation, but there is something to build on top of these.

Rapport.

When I worked for Vector Marketing selling Cutco for a summer, rapport was a huge topic. "The best way to sell the product is to build rapport with the customer." This may sound cold and I do not want anyone I sold Cutco to think I swindled them into buying the product. For two reasons...I had a hard time building rapport with people I knew never mind strangers, and I actually believe Cutco is a good product. That aside, I have yet to master the art of rapport. I feel like I can read a person's body language pretty good, but to translate that into a conversation is a challenge.

I need to make the distinction that I believe the rapport you build with a future employer and a future girlfriend are two different worlds. While you may use the same tools in each situation, said future employer might not always respond positively to flirty smiles and complements on wardrobe...especially if it is a 50 year old man. Disclaimer: I do necessarily use previously stated techniques to pick up a girlfriend. I digress.

I don't know how much TV you all watch, but there is an extremely entertaining show that me and some guys in college would watch purely because of how preposterous the idea was. Have you ever heard of "The Pick Up Artist" ? I will not go into details, but it is based on this guy that calls himself "Mystery"(See Picture above). He believes he can pick up any girl he wants and uses this competitive show to teach a group of guys to do the same with his techniques. Like I said, it was for entertainment not practical application. But the point is that much of his techniques could be considered building rapport.

This whole thought process on rapport was triggered by some articles about building rapport on a resume builder website. It mentions how the interviewer, maybe not even intentionally, will make a decision on who is offered the position based on emotions and how memorable the interviewee was and if there was a "connection". So the challenge is perfecting the art of connection. This website also suggests practicing in other contexts to refine one's ability to build rapport before going into an interview. I just might go to the library today and do some observing and approach a complete stranger to see if I have appropriately read body language and interaction with other people. Maybe the grocery store is a better idea.

Happy job hunting to all my unemployed readers!

Tear Down the Walls.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-R314tcUFw

Tear down the walls see the world
Is there something we have missed
Turn from ourselves
Look beyond
There is so much more than this

And I don’t need to see it to believe it
I don’t need to see it to believe it
Cause I can’t shake this
Fire burning deep inside my heart

Look to the skies hope arise
See His majesty revealed
More than this life there is love
There is hope and this is real

Cause I don’t need to see it to believe it
I don’t need to see it to believe it
Cause I can’t shake this fire burning
Deep inside my heart

This life is Yours and hope is rising
As Your glory floods our hearts
Let love tear down these walls
That all creation would
Come back to You
It’s all for You

Your Name is glorious
Glorious
Your love is changing us
Calling us
To worship in spirit and in truth
As all creation returns to You

Oh for all the sons and daughters
Who are walking in the darkness
You are calling us to lead them back to You
We will see Your spirit rising
As the lost come out of hiding
Every heart will see this hope we have in You

Cause I don’t need to see it to believe it
I don’t need to see it to believe it
Cause I can’t shake this fire burning
Deep inside my heart

This life is Yours and hope is rising
As Your glory floods our hearts
Let love tear down these walls
That all creation would
Come back to You
It’s all for You

Your Name is glorious
Glorious
Your love is changing us
Calling us
To worship in spirit and in truth
As all creation returns to You
(x2)

Soli Deo Gloria.

This Latin phrase is the proclamation of Dordt College."To God alone be the glory." It has always been something that the President would end his speeches for graduation and convocation and any other chance he had the opportunity to say it. As with anything that is repeated, it can become old and lose meaning. I never really appreciated this phrase while I attended the college, and it really is bizarre how I came to appreciate it today.

Since yesterday I have been in one of those moods, the kind where I get in this funk of feeling a little down and a little "woe is me" syndrome. I don't particularly enjoy it, and at first I was worried I was getting sick. Even as I write this I am feeling a little bit of vertigo. But I think there is something else that is contributing to my woeful feelings. I have never struggled to find things in my life that I am not pleased with. I have recently prayed that the Holy Spirit's voice be very clear to me, and specifically giving me an awareness of my sin. Simply put, guilt. It terrifies me think I could possibly become ignorant of the sin in my life and do not feel guilt for my actions! Please, no!

So today I woke up in my funk and considering the ways that I am just coasting. Watching films is one way that often convicts me and gets me to process how I am living my life. Sometimes it's inspirational and other times discouraging. But today I was listening to some music by Lecrae and I had one of those inspirational moments.


"while Im here livin man I gotta ask why
what am here fo I gotta figure out
waste my life/ no I gotta make it count
if Christ is real.
Paul said if Christ aint resurrect then we wasted our lives
well that implies that our life's built around Jesus being alive
everyday I'm living tryin show the world why
Christ is more than everything you'll ever try
We created for Him outta the dust he made us for Him
Elects us and he saves us for Him Jesus comes and raises for Him
Magnify the Father why bother with something lesser
he made us so we could bless Him and to the world we confess him
resurrects him so I know I got life matter fact better man I know I got Christ
if you don't' see His ways in my days and nights
you can hit my brakes you can stop my lights
man I lost my rights I lost my life
the cost is Christ
and they could never offer me anything on the planet that'll cost that price

Here are my gifts and time cause I'm constantly trying to be used to praise the Christ
If he's truly raised to life then this news should change your life
and by his grace you can put your faith in place that rules your days and nights"

Surely there are people that are thinking "rap? really? come on Joel, I thought you were more of music snob than that?" Nope. At least not for this rap. The point is that I am encouraged by the truth in these words.

My hope is that I am willing to sacrifice anything for the sake of the gospel. But words come so easy. Talk is cheap. Right? Absolutely right.

So I think the last 24 hours have been a gut check. Maybe it is the Holy Spirit maintaining my awareness of how incompetent I am. Because I know that when I acknowledge my short comings, it leads me crawling back to the cross. Jesus I have nailed you there once again,I am so wretched, I love your law for makes me aware of my need for the grace and forgiveness that you can give. Do not let me abuse what you have given to me. "what wondrous love is this, oh my soul? That cause the Lord of bliss to bear the dreadful curse for my soul." Gaaaaaaah! There is such a disconnect from my words to my actions.

The song posted on my blog right now is a Hillsong that speaks the same message. I will post the lyrics in my next post.
Stay hungry!

Magnificat by Arvo Part

The piece of music that is currently playing on my blog is a choral piece that the Concert Choir from my school sang in the fall of 2008. It has been my favorite piece that we sang while I was in the choir. The following is a translation.

Text of the Magnificat: (The New Jerusalem Bible and The Vulgate)

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
Magnificat anima mea Dominum
et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo.

Because he has looked upon the humiliation of his servant.
Yes, from now onwards all generations will call me blessed.
Qui respexit humilitatem ancillae suae,
ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes.

for the Almighty has done great things for me.
Holy is his name.
Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est
et sanctum nomen eius

His faithful love extends age after age to those who fear him
et misericordia eius a progenie in progenies timentibus eum.

He has pulled down princes from their thrones
and raised high the lowly.
deposuit potentes de sede,
et exaltavit humiles.

He has filled the starving with good things
sent the rich away empty
esurientes implevit bonis
et divites dimisit inanens

He has come to the help of Israel his servant
mindful of his faithful love.
Suscepit Israel, puerum suum,
recordatus misericordiae suae.

According to the promise he made to our ancestors
of his mercy to Abraham and his descendants for ever.
sicut locutus est ad patres nostros
Abraham et semini eius in saecula.

My favorite musical part of the piece is at 4:30-4:50. Especially the chord at 4:50. How could we ever live with out Music?

Words without action...

On Thursday nights I meet with a group of guys to talk about life and a chapter from the book we are reading called Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. So far the book has sparked some really good conversation and last night was no exception. The chapter was titled Husbands and Wives as Analogous to Christ and the Church we discussed the issue of obedience and our role as the church to be obedient and submissive to Christ and then asked how that is reflected in a marriage relationship. The nice part of the group is that some are married, one guy is engaged and couple of us single which gives some interesting insight from different perspectives.

It is frustrating that terms such as submission, obedience, headship and reverence all have preconceived definitions tied with them. But if we reevaluate how these are used in relationship between Jesus and the Church, they paint a beautiful picture of how God designed relationship in a relationships to work. I think domineering, abusive, power and authority are often negatively coupled with the aforementioned list. God designed male headship in a husband's household to be sacrificial. Just as Christ lived and died sacrificially for His church, in that same way God is calling man to live sacrificially for his family. If we talk about a household being submissive and respectful to the authority given to the father and husband of the household, it should be evident in all areas of life. Spiritual growth, physical needs, health, provision and as the man initiating an attitude of repentance and reconciliation in the home. The father and husband leads by example, for better or worse, the household will follow. It's all about the gospel message being lived out in the home.

Crossfit.

I am not exactly sure where the name comes from, but today I went to crossfit in Kirkland. But lets start from the beginning. This past summer I was a leader at summer camp with Northshore Baptist Church. The speaker was Scott Ross, a solid guy who used to be the youth pastor at Northshore back in the day. I noticed that he had this shirt that said crossfit and started asking questions. He had blisters on his hands from all the pull ups he was doing at crossfit and had nothing bad to say about it besides "it's hard" but this followed by "it's changed my life".

Last week I went to Men's Retreat and met a guy that looked familiar and I also happened to notice that he was in really good physical condition. The week goes by and last night I saw Loren and his wife at a get together after church and somehow we got to talking about crossfit. And again "it's really hard" and "it's one of the best things for me" came up in the same sentence. Earlier this summer I had come back from camp and checked out the website and it seemed pretty cool, so when Loren asked if I wanted to come check out a workout with him today I thought "why not".

I have to say that the workout today was one of the hardest I have ever done, but the difference between today and other grueling days of football workouts was that I feel pretty good. Let me define pretty good: my stomach has been telling me that it is about to donate everything I gave it today to the surface closest to my mouth, my legs are so tired that walking resembles that of my 1 year old niece and besides the workout, talking off my shoes was one of the hardest things I did today. Huh?

BUT there is another side to pretty good: every person I met today and have talked to in the past about crossfit has testified that it has been one of the best things that has ever happened to them...ever. These life changing workouts have been compared to coming right below the life changing experiences of surrendering to Jesus Christ and getting married. Amazing. So now that it is all over I am lying on my bed still in healthy pain and hoping that there is a way that I can find a way to make it back to crossfit. I don't understand why besides the desire to lose weight and build muscle has become more desirable than the pleasure of eating good food. Speaking of good food...I drank a bottle of water and just ate 2 cloves of broccoli and both tasted sweet after this workout. Crazy.

But there is another side of this experience that has piqued my interest, but that is for the next post.

Blessings.
http://www.kirklandcrossfit.com/

Ephesians 5:1-20

Walk in Love

1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous that is, an idolater, has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7Therefore do not become partners with them; 8for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true, 10and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

"Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18And do not get drunk with wine, for that is(AL) debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Thought for today.

Why is it that music artists of all backgrounds, of all genres of music all walks of life tend to play/ perform music in the same way. Maybe some are more expressive than others, but if you were to silence the music and just observe...I don't think there would be much difference.

I write this keeping in mind the way we worship. We meaning anyone. It's like that saying that "we are always worshiping, it's just a matter of who or what.

So you tell me why band pictured is playing their music.

Words without action...

On Thursday nights I meet with a group of guys to talk about life and a chapter from the book we are reading called Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. So far the book has sparked some really good conversation and last night was no exception. The chapter was titled Husbands and Wives as Analogous to Christ and the Church we discussed the issue of obedience and our role as the church to be obedient and submissive to Christ and then asked how that is reflected in a marriage relationship. The nice part of the group is that some are married, one guy is engaged and couple of us single which gives some interesting insight from different perspectives.

It is frustrating that terms such as submission, obedience, headship and reverence all have preconceived definitions tied with them. But if we reevaluate how these are used in relationship between Jesus and the Church, they paint a beautiful picture of how God designed relationship in a relationships to work. I think domineering, abusive, power and authority are often negatively coupled with the aforementioned list. God designed male headship in a husband's household to be sacrificial. Just as Christ lived and died sacrificially for His church, in that same way God is calling man to live sacrificially for his family. If we talk about a household being submissive and respectful to the authority given to the father and husband of the household, it should be evident in all areas of life. Spiritual growth, physical needs, health, provision and as the man initiating an attitude of repentance and reconciliation in the home. The father and husband leads by example, for better or worse, the household will follow. It's all about the gospel message being lived out in the home.

Glen Hansard - Lies Lyrics

I think it's time, we give it up
And figure out what's stopping us
From breathing easy, and talking straight
The way is clear if you're ready now
The volunteer is slowing down
And taking time to save himself

The little cracks they escalated
And before we knew it was too late
For making circles and telling lies

You're moving too fast for me
And I can't keep up with you
Maybe if you slowed down for me
I could see you're only telling
Lies, lies, lies
Breaking us down with your
Lies, lies, lies
When will you learn

The little cracks they escalated
And before you know it is too late
For making circles and telling lies

You're moving too fast for me
And I can't keep up with you
Maybe if you'd slowed down for me
I could see you're only telling
Lies, lies, lies
Breaking us down with your
Lies, lies, lies
When will you learn

So plant the thought and watch it grow
Wind it up and let it go

What's up?

Right now I am in transition. I am finishing up one last course for my degree and living at home. My 15 hour, very part time job at the church just finished up a week ago and now I am hunting. Hunting for a full time job that is. I just applied to the hospital for a custodian position. I also applied to a job at the Woodland park zoo for security. Both would pay more than enough to live off of. Today I talked to a guy that is the youth pastor at Canyon Hills Community Church. He seems like a nice guy. He dropped the hint that they might be looking for another guy to work in youth ministry, but still need to work out what that looks like.

So who knows what is down the road. Hopefully full time work and not living with the parents, but we shall see.

Change.

"The key to change...is to let go of fear."

"There is nothing wrong with change if it is in the right direction."

"Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender who you are for what you could become."

"Any change, even change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts."

"The key to success is often the ability to adapt."

So why all the talk about change? I believe that to lack the willingness to change is a sign of selfish ambition that will only stunt the potential for God's work in my life. It's kind of a big deal. If I become so set in my ways that the thought of change stirs anger and resistance, then I don't find that I am allowing God's shaping and molding to occur in my life.

How much of the Christian life requires risk or maybe...Faith? How many examples of self-sacrifice, often giving up personal, self-serving desires, for the the sake of the gospel?

Thirsty for pure water.

The water that I drank while at school was the kind that people would joke about chewing instead of drinking. It was so full of minerals and other stuff that it tasted like everything but water...salty, chlorinated and filled with enough other stuff to boost the level my immune system was working at.



So now that I am back home the water that comes out of my hose tends to be more thirst quenching and pleasing than the water from school...never mind the deliciousness that comes from the tap or the fridge. But what was interesting to me was how anyone that grew up in the mid-west was so used to the "heavy water" that they liked it and thought that it was just the way water tasted. My point in all of this is to point out how my relationship with Christ and what I think is true for many Christ followers is the ignorance that they fully know what living water tastes like. Habitual sin, sin that we are addicted to, sin that is so deeply rooted in our lives it has become common and behavior that is unrepentant...these are the things that make the water heavy. So while we pledge allegiance to Jesus Christ and we have an idea of what living water tastes like, we do not fully understand what pure and holy and righteous, thirst quenching, delicious water really tastes like because of the habitually sin in our lives that is tainting the water. And like my mid-west friends assume, we assume that is what living water is like.

True living water leaves us to never thirst again. It gives us life!(duh) But it is not until we completely hand over our arrogance and pride to Christ that He may have complete control, do we become aware of how the water can be purified as Christ purifies our lives. That we can be made holy and righteous before God by His cleansing.

I am starting to taste purer water these days, and I am become more aware of the voice of the Holy Spirit. My spirit is being more noticeably concerned with the Holy Spirit is leading me to. It is that kind of light bulb moment that now I am aware, but along with this awareness comes the guilt of know what I have been ignorant to...my awareness has peaked at this realization of how wrong I have been to think I was on track, and to be cleansed is humbling to notice how detrimental the sin has been and yet thinking all the while that a severe problem did not even exist.

So how does your water taste?

Proverbs 3

My son, do not forget my teaching,
But let your heart keep my commandments;
2 For length of days and years of life
And peace they will add to you.
3 Do not let kindness and truth leave you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor and good repute
In the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your body
And refreshment to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD from your wealth
And from the first of all your produce;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty
And your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD
Or loathe His reproof,
12 For whom the LORD loves He reproves,
Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who gains understanding.
14 For her profit is better than the profit of silver
And her gain better than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels;
And nothing you desire compares with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways
And all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who hold her fast.
19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth,
By understanding He established the heavens.
20 By His knowledge the deeps were broken up
And the skies drip with dew.
21 My son, let them not vanish from your sight;
Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 So they will be life to your soul
And adornment to your neck.
23 Then you will walk in your way securely
And your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden fear
Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes;
26 For the LORD will be your confidence
And will keep your foot from being caught.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in your power to do it.
28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,”
When you have it with you.
29 Do not devise harm against your neighbor,
While he lives securely beside you.
30 Do not contend with a man without cause,
If he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy a man of violence
And do not choose any of his ways.
32 For the devious are an abomination to the LORD;
But He is intimate with the upright.
33 The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked,
But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
34 Though He scoffs at the scoffers,
Yet He gives grace to the afflicted.
35 The wise will inherit honor,
But fools display dishonor.


I thought this was appropriate for the state of our union these days. Maybe we need to be more closely trusting in what God's Word is telling us. Or do we not trust Him?

Did it ever occur to you that when you look into the mirror, it is not as you truly to others but the exact opposite? So that my perception of my physical self is backwards; that eye that is closed a little more than the other, the direction of the part in my hair and the way it lies, which side of my mouth curls up more when I smile and which ear has that little freckle that looks like a piercing.

Or I could assume that everyone else has a backwards perception to who and what I truly am. I have thought often that nobody really understands who I am, the good and the bad, for they know not my thoughts. Believe me, my blog posts do not scratch the surface of the deep wonder of my mind.

"True genius does not feel the need to pompously reveal itself, but rather is content with the knowledge of how it is transforming the world in which it dwells."

That was an original proverb by me. Crap. I just demolished the mystery of my genius and have lost it in doing so, if I were to believe in the proverb I just created. I should create a pen name to disguise my intellect once more.

O, the deep deep love of Jesus

1. O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean
In its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me,
Is the current of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward
To Thy glorious rest above!

2. O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth,
Changeth never, nevermore!
How He watches o’er His loved ones,
Died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth,
Watcheth o’er them from the throne!

3. O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Love of every love the best!
’Tis an ocean vast of blessing,
’Tis a haven sweet of rest!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
’Tis a heaven of heavens to me;
And it lifts me up to glory,
For it lifts me up to Thee!

What happens to my college degree when I die?

Hope, purpose and a pleasure driven society.

I would like to make a disclaimer thatt in my writing blog posts I have no desire and no intention of being grammatically correct. You will read run on sentences and you will see words mis-spelled and incorrect punctuation. Oh well.



Hope is the worst of evils, for it prolongs the torments of man.
-Nietzsche

If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all. And so today I still have a dream.
-MLK Jr.

If it were not for hopes, the heart would break.
-Thomas Fuller.

Many people have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.
-Helen Keller

I'm doing what I think I was put on this earth to do. And I'm really grateful to have something that I'm passionate about and that I think is profoundly important.
-Marian Wright Edelman

Everything--a horse, a vine--is created for some duty...For what task, then, were you yourself created? A man's true delight is to do the things he was made for.
-Marcus Aurelius

Say to yourself, ‘I’m here on purpose, I can accomplish anything I desire, and I do it by being in harmony with the all-pervading creative force in the universe.
-Wayne Dyer

Well there is certainly a variety of quotes you can find through the google search bar. Of course not all I agree with, but hope and purpose have been on my mind. Last night I was watching the news going over the immensity of Michael Jackson's memorial service. And then I saw a plug for a commemorative episode of Pitch Men for Billy Mayes, and I listened to some of the clips from celebrities and how they miss MJ. One that caught my ear in particular was Brooke Shields stating that "we must all be encouraged and happy to remember that Michael is up there sitting on his own crescent moon looking down on all of us." If you were not aware, Michael Jackson professed to be Jehovah's Witness. There were other short interviews of MJ fans that pointed out how wonderful MJ was and the greatness of his accomplishments. And then one man pointed out that it seems that the death of a person causes us to push aside all the controversy and the ridicule and the mistakes that someone dealt with in their life. He was right. Michael Jackson was a really weird guy with some great musical talent and he had a skin disease and problems with drugs and plastic surgery and perverted relations with children and all this stuff that is all tossed out the window when a the man dies. But this post is not about Michael Jackson.

After all the drama of celebrity deaths and the reaction of the worshipers of these people. Because it really is worship when you see 60,000 people at a concert that look more "slain in the spirit" of Michael Jackson than anything else. But it makes me wonder.

---How can anybody live without hope and purpose?"---

As a Christian, my hope is in Jesus Christ, but this hope is based on the realization that what Jesus Christ as done for me is significant. I would think that most people believe in right and wrong, but maybe the concept of sin is a little more vague. So Jesus died for my sins. Why did he even need to? It is sad to see mourners place their hope in lies. It is sad when Brooke Shields finds what seems to be hope and peace in the death of MJ because his religious beliefs told him he would be okay. But this same religion denies the very deity of Jesus Christ! And it occurred to me...of the many people in this world that do not know of the one true God and his Son Jesus Christ, or those that deny he exists, or those that deliberately ignore him...the only way of coping with life is to fulfill our lives with enough distractions to help us forget about purpose and life after death and our beliefs all together.

All kinds of distractions, anything that works! Anything that will prevent me from having time by myself when my mind and thoughts catch up to me and there is nothing to do but consider the meaning of life and the complexity of the world and everything in it and the realization that there is some sort of purpose to what we call "life". But what does it mean to REALLY LIVE?!?!? What fear would come over me! The kinds of knots that would tie up my guts! And to think that there are so many lies that try and suck us in. Lies that seem to have their own personality and attraction.

"Believe me! I will give you hope and purpose and you can be your own god while your at it."
"Believe me! There is no purpose accept to fulfill your own desires. Feed your own desires!."
"Believe me! I will make you FEEL! Make you feel good. Your senses with go wild, and you don't have to obey anyone or anthing but yourself."
"WORSHIP THIS, BUY THIS, TASTE THIS, SEE THIS, HEAR THIS, FEEL THIS, SMELL THIS! Stimulate your senses!"

Do we not live in a world that is enslaved to PLEASURE! And we flippantly throw hope around without meaning. I hope my car starts. I hope I don't have to work tomorrow. I hope they have the flavor I like. I hope they don't come over here...they are socially awkward.

The sin in my life sucks me into a life of pleasure. But as a Christian I think I am still driven by pleasure. But it is giving a new perspective to how we define pleasure.
Pleasure as most would define it is something that fulfills my desires, my selfish desires. Something or someone that pleases me. But because I follow Christ it is Him that I want to please. It is His desires that I want to fulfill. But this brings me back to why my hope is in Jesus Christ. My desire to please God is in response to my realization that there is phenomenal significance to the sacrifice that Jesus Christ has given to me. It is the realization that And this is the essence of being a Christian...to live a life of service and obedience to Jesus Christ, to please Him because we know that the Triune God is for our good.

Romans 5:6-8
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.


I find purpose and hope in a God that created me with gifts and passions that I can use to worship and bring pleasure to Him. And it is because this being what I was created for that I in return am pleased to do so. When we are fulfilling the purpose God created us for, we can be filled with joy and we are filled with new life. But it is not my life that I live, rather it is Jesus Christ who lives in and through me. Because my old, sinful self died with Him on the cross and it is through His resurrection that I have the promise of eternal life and the joy of fulfilling my purpose forever with God. It is s beautiful relationship and I am full of hope.

A desire accompanied by confident expectation of its fulfillment. Faith.



But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Relationship respect.

On Monday I was at church doing some stuff for my internship. I hate that title. If I graduated from college, feel like my job title should carry a little more respect. But while I was at church I ran into my old young adults pastor from the past few years. He sometimes reads my blogs, but I won't let that influence my thought process. I realized that there is this list of people in my life that I hold high respect for. It is the kind of person that when I talk to them I almost fumble my words through the conversation because of my respect for the person. I think Chris would fall into this category. It was really nice to see him again.

Some other people that fall into the category are the former senior pastor of Northshore, Jan Hettinga. He is a good shepherd. I suppose there are multiple pastors that might fall into the "respected good shepherd" category. There are many that are on my mental list of people I really respect, but this is a special category, and fumbling words is not the only indicator. So my encouragement to all my readers is to find those people in your life that you highly respect and ask some questions. What qualities do you appreciate and why are they so attractive.

Something I would like to tag onto this post is a census. If you are a frequent reader then it would be nice to know who you are. I know of a few, but I suppose there are others. Post a comment saying "present" or something.

Cheers!(Josh)

Place preferred title here. I figure I should not have to catch your attention with a snazzy title.

Well I think it's about time I change the music. Don't you think. I think. I have noticed that my appreciation for the songs I have posted are declining. I have made an interesting observation in looking at pictures of friends that have been in Europe. In addition to person experience, I have noticed that slowly but surely the fad of the mullet is working its way back into society. You know, Business in the front, party int he back. Yeah.Oh dear.

I do not plan on participating in the fun anytime soon.

If you are a frequent reader of my blog, you will notice that there are a few more links to the side--------------------->
stuffchrsitanslike is a blog written by a Christian who makes observations about the church and the ironies of Christian behavior. And the other is a blog that I found by searching "popular blogs" in my google search bar. "thehomelessguy" is just what you might expect...a homeless guy. His plug for the blog is as follows, "I am chronically homeless, having experienced several episodes of homelessness since the age of 21 - spending about half my adult life on the streets. On this blog I write about my experiences, and my opinions and knowledge of homeless life." (I do not take responsibility for any content in my links that you might find offensive.)

Some other observation I have been making recently may only apply to those who understand the phenomenon that is facebook. There were a couple times this past semester, my last semester(hmm), that I almost deleted my facebook. It tends to be time consuming, and there is a twitch in my conscience that tells me how facebook is typically misused. Or maybe it is being used as intended by the creators, but are those intentions that christ followers should be participating. I am speaking of our definition of gossip and slander. Maybe it is also important to consider how God views voyeurism. Some might suggest that God is the ultimate voyeur, but don't you think he is allowed to. There is nothing private about our lives when it comes to God. Although the story of the garden of Eden comes to mind when God calls out to Adam, "Where are you? What have you done?" Don't you think he already knows. Interesting approach.

But back to facebook. The issue for me is that I know how I use facebook. I cannot suggest that I know how others use facebook, but I would like to think that I am not the only one who scans through pictures and the status of "friends" just to get a peek of what interesting things are going on. It reminds me of the neighbor that some of you might have, that stereotypical old lady that sits in her front window and knits while keeping a watchful eye on the neighbor hood to see what her neighbors are up to and imagine what is going on in each house and juicy details of what could be happening. Oh my, the jones' are getting a new refrigerator today. I wonder why? And who knows where the imagination may lead. Is it possible that facebook has become our modern day device to be that nosy neighbor? And what a convenience that you can slide through all parts of the website undetected.

There is one more thing about facebook that puzzles me. There is the issue of "friends". I put this in quotations earlier as well, but for a reason. Think about your definition of friends and now think about of the 500 friends you have(on average) are persons that you see on a weekly basis. Furthermore, when you see them is it a comfortable ineraction? When they pop up on facebook chat, how eager are you to chatter and lol your way into a completely non-audible conversation?

Yesterday I went to Costco for lunch, and while waiting in line I saw a guy in some stained painters clothes with long hair and some scruff on the face. It was not until I paid closer attention that I realized that it was a guy I went to high school with. he was only in the grade above me. So I knew who he was and I guarantee he would recognize me as well. We were in track and field together for a couple years and he had previously dated a friend that I had grown up with. There were certainly enough connections that if we made eye contact that we would acknowledge the other with a head nod. But any sort of conversation would be fairly worthless. What would there be to talk about? "Uhhhh, so remember that one time in high school? It was like 6 years ago.(while thinking that I have not talked to the guy at all in the that 6 years) How many "friends" fall in to a similar category, but we continue to keep as friends because it is a least interesting to see what they are doing with there lives? Is it any of our business? And shouldn't we really be concerned about how much time we are taking/wasting to be in the loop on facebook? I have found myself spending longer sessions on facebook than the amount of time it has taken me to think through and write this post.

Well, just a few things to think about. I think I will go check and see if there are any new pictures on facebook to click through. Wait, one more thought. What about the other side of the relationship? Why do we post pictures and update our status? I think it is a burning desire that every one of us has to be accepted, known and to be given attention. OOOO, someone just commented on my status and the pictures I posted yesterday! Gotta go!

Choir Tour

This is a link to a bunch of videos from our choir tour in the Netherlands. Any of the videos with a mass of bluish shirts is from tour. Enjoy!

www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=903CA27F34334347

Quick Update

Right now it is almost 12am here in Gouda. we are staying with host families and the family that I am staying is letting me use their computer to write this. We have only been here for a couple days and things are flying by. we had a full day of touring and traveling around amsterdam yesterday, and today we had 2 concerts in 2 cities.(Gouda and Dordrecht) Both went very well, but I am tired from how packed our days have been and it is not going to slow down. Tomorrow we go on to Delft, which is where the famous "Delft Blue" is made.

I am going to head to bed, but just one more thing. the first place we visited yesterday was the largest international flower auction in the world. it is quite the operation. There are millions of flower on tons of carts that are all in the most massive wherehouse I have ever been in. Mom, you would have loved it. More flowers than you can imagine. I would post pictures but that requires me to save them to the computer and it is not mine. But I cannot read the Dutch to save it in the first place either.

Weltrusten...(goodnight)

"Profound, enticing title followed by thoughtful , concerning and then hopeful blog post."

That's the way all blog posts are supposed to go...

Right?

No.

I am drowning in expectations, and it all has to do with Dordt. Grrrr. This post will fall into the category of venting, frustration, complainging and "everything kinda sucks and won't get better until it's all over".

I am not done with exams, I have a 10 page, 4 page, 2 page (x4) and a 1 page(in spanish) paper(s) due in the next day. I have a list of people that I am avoiding because they are somehow related to reminding me of the pile of things to accomplish, when my own thoughts cannot think about anything else anyway. I have yet to start packing. Then I am torn each night when I have friends ask if I want to hang out, go get dinner and some drinks or whatever, and then have to regretfully decline because of the work I am barried in. But then of course I go work on the papers and the studying and cannot help but mourn that fact that I want to be with my friends so badly.

I will ALWAYS value people over work! But survival instinct is preventing me from committing scholastic suicide. Talk about the most bittersweet week of my life thus far.

When conversations tend to end in
"so when will I see you gain?"
"I don't know" (thinking maybe never)
When it takes 30-40 minutes to fall asleep because the brain cannot be distracted from the list of responsibilities long enough to recharge.
When the goal of exams is to just finish and never mind the point of learning and retaining what has been learned because I value/ enjoy the material.
When my school comes to me with a promisary note to fill out so they can ring out my bank account for the next 10 years and make sure I don't flee the country/debt.(almost make me feel like a fugitive)
When the list of responsibilities and expectaions has precident on the sabbath and everything is crammed into one last week of "you better hope you can get it all done, or you fail the last four years of life"

I tend to thing..."something is wrong here. This is not the way it's supposed to be. How can we/ do we justify this? This is so wrong. This is not serving the purpose of our goals."

And I will leave it there. No resolve, no solution and suspended from a relaxed ending.

Choir is still so good.

Note: if you do not want to listen to the music playing on my blog you can scroll down to the bottom and press pause. Silence is good too.

Susan Boyle is a new hero of mine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

I don't know what to say besides the fact that I watched this video 3 times in a row and I teared up and got goose bumps every time.

"When life has killed a dream I dream."

Hugs: the wonder drug

This is something I posted about a year ago while I was in the Netherlands. I got it from a friend who was given this by her grandmother who is the orginal author.

Have you ever wondered how effective hugs are?
You rarely give a hug that is not appreciated, or receive one that does not make your day a little brighter.
Can you think of any medication that has such pleasant side effects?

Hugs are good for you. They're not fattening and they don't cause cancer or give you cavitiies. They're
all-natural, contain no perservatives, artificial sweeteners or other chemical additives.

Hugs are cholesterol-free and contain 100% of the recommended daily allowance of hope and happiness. They are a completely renewable source of energy and they're available without a prescription.
Hugs don't require any special instructions. They don't need batteries, tune ups or x-rays.
They're non-taxable fully returnable and energy efficient.
They can be safely used in all kinds of weather: as a matter of fact, they work especially well during cold or rainy days. They are particaulrly effective in treating everyday probablems like stress, worry, anger, frustration, sadness or sorrow, and even the occasional nightmare. The best thing about hugs is you can use them without special training or prior experience. But a word of caution for those of you trying it for the first time. You should never wait until tomorrow to hug someone who needs it today. Once you realize how good it feels, you'll want to do it all over again tomorrow! Yes.... hugs are extremely addictive!

All in the same night.

These are just a few pictures that I took a little while back. We had some amazing sunsets, one crazy thunder storm and I am pretty sure all the pictures above I took on the same day. The weather can be a blessing and a curse when it comes to living in Iowa. And yes I actually did take that picture of the lighting. I was quite proud of myself.

Choir Pictures

Every day in choir we take the first few minutes to do warm ups and occasionally lemon and tiger faces are incorporated to stretch and warm up the face. No joke, it helps, but then when we took pictures of the choir we add a few extra poses.

By the way, you can click on the pictures to make them bigger, which I highly suggest to fully appreciate the photos.

Carmina Burana

Last night was the performance for Carmina Barina. I think most of you would recognize the piece. We were inivted as a choir to sing with 5 other choirs and the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra to perform. The practices were time consuming and tiring to say the least, but last nights performance was worth it. The soloists blewe my mind, and the Orphium Theater that we sang in was magnificent. The picture above is of our practice on Friday. If you are wondering...I am in the top right side wearing a blue shirt, about 3 guys over at the top. Below is a link to a recording of Carmina Burana for your listening pleasure...I personally like one the one second from the bottom the best.

http://www.playlist.com/searchbeta/tracks#Carmina%20Burana

Music is Healing

It was not even a good idea at the time.

"I believe we need to give young people the freedom to fail. We need to give them space to explore - to try different things - and totally bomb. Maybe we need to start celebrating certain failures... giving them credit for having the guts to go for it instead of just playing it safe. Look, I realize there are limits. We need to have dreams for our kids and our students. But we also need to encourage them to do what they want to do... free from the burden of our expectations.
So here's to getting knocked on our cans... getting back up, shaking off the dust - and getting back in the game."

These are some interesting thoughts from one of my theology professors.

O May I Join the Choir Invisible by George Eliot

O may I join the choir invisible
Of those immortal dead who live again
In minds made better by their presence: live
In pulses stirred to generosity,
In deeds of daring rectitude, in scorn
For miserable aims that end with self,
In thoughts sublime that pierce the night like stars,
And with their mild persistence urge man's search
To vaster issues.

So to live is heaven:
To make undying music in the world,
Breathing as beauteous order that controls
With growing sway that growing life of man.
So we inherit that sweet purity
For which we struggled, failed, and agonized
Rebellious flesh that would not be subdued,
A vicious parent shaming still its child
Poor anxious penitence, is quick dissolved;
Its discords, quenched by meeting harmonies,
Die in the large and charitable air.
And all our rarer, better, truer self,
that sobbed religiously in yearning song,
That watched to ease the burthen of the world,
Laborously tracing what must be,
And what may yet be better--saw within
A worthier image for the sanctuary,
And shaped it forth before the multitude
Divinely human, raising worship so
To higher reverance more mixed with love--
That better self shall live till human Time
Shall fold its eyelids, and the human sky
Be gathered like a scroll within the tomb
Unread for ever.

This is life to come,
Which martyred men have made more glorious
For us who stive to follow. may I reach
That purest heacen, to be other souls
The cup of strength in some great agony,
Enkindle generous ardor, feed pure love,
Beget the smiles that have no cruelty--
Be the sweet presence of a good diffused,
And in diffusion ever more intense.
So shall I join the choir invisible
Whose music is the gladness of the world.

Yeah I heard about it.

A couple nights ago I was reading some homework on a computer in the basement lab. A girl came in and started with a friend about someone she knew from high school that had just committed suicide earlier that day.

When I was younger I remember talking with a neighbor kid about the house down the street where a young guy had shot himself. "The picture of the EMTs rolling out his body on a stretcher is still so vivid."

I knew someone in high school that often spoke of his frustrations...parents, school, bitters words, words armed with pain and hurt, spoken to him from friends, family strangers. He mentioned thoughts of suicide. I could not stop thinking about his circumstance for months. Could I have spoken those words? Was it my actions that cut him so deeply? What if it was I that was the last drop in the cup to make it overflow? The breaking point.

There are others as well I have heard of...that we know of...similar feelings, similart circumstances, lack of hope or hope lost, those who we unknowingly have those same thoughts.

Sobering.

Psalms
39:7 "But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.
43:5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
71:5 For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth.
116: Sustain me according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed.
24:14 Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.

Romans
5:2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
5:5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
8:24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?

I CORINTHIANS
13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. I find it interesting that the greatest of these is love, significant. Should we not believe that if we express love and share love with eachother that it will foster faith and hope as well? And then this question is answered in Colossians.

COLOSSIANS
1:5 the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel
23: if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

EPHESIANS
1:18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.

HEBREWS
3:6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.
6:11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.

I PETER
1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
13: Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
21: Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.


3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

Suicide Causes(www.suicide.org)
by Kevin Caruso

Over 90 percent of people who die by suicide have a mental illness at the time of their death.
And the most common mental illness is depression.
Untreated depression is the number one cause for suicide

Depression and hopelessness. What influence do we have on these things. I have often considered how terrifying it would be to not believe in anything. No God, nothing after death, no purpose. How could I live with out purpose?

How can my faith not convict me? How could I let myself be silent? If I believe this to be true, we must speak the truth!

Isaiah 43

Let all the nations gather together, let the peoples assemble! Who among them could have revealed this, or foretold to us the earlier things? Let them produce witnesses to prove themselves right, that one may hear and say, "It is true!"
You are my witnesses, says the LORD, my servants whom I have chosen To know and believe in me and understand that it is I. Before me no god was formed, and after me there shall be none.
It is I, I the LORD; there is no savior but me.
It is I who foretold, I who saved; I made it known, not any strange god among you; You are my witnesses, says the LORD. I am God,
yes, from eternity I am He; There is none who can deliver from my hand: who can countermand what I do?

In one of my courses we recently discussed the word Martyr...it literally means witness. I beg of you. Be a witness. Give your account of the work of Christ. Your witness is the truth that plants hope in a person's life. Do not allow assumptions of what people want to hear hinder you from speaking the truth that people need to hear. "You will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth." Acts1:8 So how did you hear about it? Let your convitions be evident.

"There is no love left in this heart."

Don't forget that valentines day is approaching, and this holiday is not just for those in a "special" relationship. Or maybe we can broaden the definition of a speacial relationship to anyone you might have high appreciation for.

I just love these drawings.

"and everything was alright"

Quick note to start off. I posted a couple drafts from last semester that I never got around to publishing, but they are listed in order of date so you might have to scroll down to view them.

Now about that picture. Ever have that feeling like there is one person that drives you up a wall, and if some big claw would just come down and take them away everyone would be a little better off? Yeah I have one of those people, and I thought the picture illustrated this feeling appropriately.

Again these drawings I post are from explodingdog.com and the artist creates drawings based on titles submitted by whoever. Enjoyable I think.

Tootaloo.