A continuation of my conversation with myself...in Thai...
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
Distracted
Some people run to chocolate or ice cream, others turn to movies, a lot of people use sleep. But when I'm stressed I reach for my laptop. I can waste so much time doing absolutely nothing on it. It seems every now and again I lay in bed and wonder why it doesn't feel like I ever make any forward movement. My life always feels so busy and full...but whenever I stop to think of what it is that is making me so "busy" I realize that if I wasn't so distracted I would probably have plenty of time to do what is required of me and still have a little left over.
I've really been struggling with the realization of how distracted I am. I come home and turn the TV on just because. When "nothing is on" I reach for my laptop. StumbleUpon is the devil...I literally just sit and kill time, only to lament that I don't have enough time to accomplish "everything I need to do". What a stupid cycle. I hate it...until I try to give it up.
Naturally the Christmas season only fuels my thought process. I went to Best Buy to get an co-ax adapter (it keeps pulling away from the wall, interfering with TV and Internet signals which, naturally, can not be tolerated).
Yeah yeah...my stories of seeing grown people publicly and physically fight over cheap, meaningless crap aren't a shock to anyone. And I'm obviously not the first person to note the obvious irony of thousands of people rushing around in search of items to hoard while "Silent Night" blares from speakers in the ceiling.
But this year a new-to-me thought hit me while I was standing in line to check out: "This place is a media crack house." That is to say that everybody here is looking for a distraction fix whether for themselves or for somebody else. It's super wack, really. I mean I bet most of the people in here didn't even come with anything specific in mind. They are just aimlessly browsing around picking up DVD's, rubbing their chins while reading specs on the side of an LED TV box, wandering back and forth between the cameras and computers, and assuring themselves out loud that "yeah, I think he'll really like it..."
I'm no different. Heck, my whole purpose in coming here was to fix my favorite distractions waiting for me at home.
Here's a horrifying thought: What if my computer broke? What if the TV quit working? What if my phone got turned off? Or, most simply, what if the power went off for a month?
I get the feeling that my number one concern wouldn't be figuring out how to keep my FOOD from going bad.
So here it is. Two forces that are juxtaposed in my life.
I beg God to be present and active in my life. To show me direction. To give me clarity. To shape and mold me into a better person. And I genuinely mean it.
But then I get distracted...like a baby who sees something shiny. I turn up the volume. I surf TV channels and the internet like the tide is coming in. I fling birds at pig fortresses for hours on my phone...and for what?
It would be a miracle if I heard Him shouting...much less speaking in a still, small voice...
God, trying to serve two masters is exhausting. Please break these chains. De-clutter my life. Help me to let go of these distractions, not just for the sake of letting something go, but for the sake of gaining clarity, purpose, and passion for things that last.
I've really been struggling with the realization of how distracted I am. I come home and turn the TV on just because. When "nothing is on" I reach for my laptop. StumbleUpon is the devil...I literally just sit and kill time, only to lament that I don't have enough time to accomplish "everything I need to do". What a stupid cycle. I hate it...until I try to give it up.
Naturally the Christmas season only fuels my thought process. I went to Best Buy to get an co-ax adapter (it keeps pulling away from the wall, interfering with TV and Internet signals which, naturally, can not be tolerated).
Yeah yeah...my stories of seeing grown people publicly and physically fight over cheap, meaningless crap aren't a shock to anyone. And I'm obviously not the first person to note the obvious irony of thousands of people rushing around in search of items to hoard while "Silent Night" blares from speakers in the ceiling.
But this year a new-to-me thought hit me while I was standing in line to check out: "This place is a media crack house." That is to say that everybody here is looking for a distraction fix whether for themselves or for somebody else. It's super wack, really. I mean I bet most of the people in here didn't even come with anything specific in mind. They are just aimlessly browsing around picking up DVD's, rubbing their chins while reading specs on the side of an LED TV box, wandering back and forth between the cameras and computers, and assuring themselves out loud that "yeah, I think he'll really like it..."
I'm no different. Heck, my whole purpose in coming here was to fix my favorite distractions waiting for me at home.
Here's a horrifying thought: What if my computer broke? What if the TV quit working? What if my phone got turned off? Or, most simply, what if the power went off for a month?
I get the feeling that my number one concern wouldn't be figuring out how to keep my FOOD from going bad.
So here it is. Two forces that are juxtaposed in my life.
I beg God to be present and active in my life. To show me direction. To give me clarity. To shape and mold me into a better person. And I genuinely mean it.
But then I get distracted...like a baby who sees something shiny. I turn up the volume. I surf TV channels and the internet like the tide is coming in. I fling birds at pig fortresses for hours on my phone...and for what?
It would be a miracle if I heard Him shouting...much less speaking in a still, small voice...
God, trying to serve two masters is exhausting. Please break these chains. De-clutter my life. Help me to let go of these distractions, not just for the sake of letting something go, but for the sake of gaining clarity, purpose, and passion for things that last.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
One of These Things...
I just got back from the required all-day Foundations of Biblical Spirituality retreat. By the end of the day one thing became painfully clear...
Friday, September 30, 2011
Audit
It's Friday...we not excited. Instead, we so tired...we so very, very tired. But we is sitting behind a small metal desk in the corner of the University Towers dean's office listening to Switchfoot (that's pretty much all we ever listens to) because we is on duty until midnight. We has plenty of time to think right now.
Every now and again I randomly pause to audit the moment I'm in. What all had to take place in my life to find me sitting behind this metal desk sipping a Dr. Pepper to stay awake so I can eavesdrop on the collegiate flirt sesh going down in the lobby? Well, self, I got this job after moving here from California. We moved here because one day we got a phone call followed by a letter saying that it was voted by a committee that we move. We were in CA because we chose to move there to pursue what we thought was youth ministry. By "we" I mean my wife, Rachel, who I met while at Southern Adventist University. I went to SAU because my parents told me they didn't want me to go to Walla Walla...etc.
The first time I went through this momentary audit I was sitting in the parking lot of a Spanish-speaking SDA church in full Class-A Pathfinder threads waiting to officiate a combined induction/investiture program (something I had never done before) in a language I didn't speak. I remember sitting in our beloved Kia Sportage looking at the desolate lot (the program had been moved back by two hours because church had gone late) and genuinely wondering, "How the heck did I end up here...now...in this moment?"
It seems like the momentary audit is becoming more and more frequent. In the moving van, while unpacking boxes, in class, looking at the ceiling of our apartment at 2 am...sitting behind this desk.
There's a certain cognitive dissonance that comes with the realization that you are drifting farther and farther from where you want to be, especially when you aren't exactly sure where "there" is, you just know it isn't where you're at. I mean, whatever happened to all the exciting things I wanted to do as a kid...how come NONE of those things panned out? Why aren't I a fighter pilot or a race car driver? How come I'm not in a band or the NBA or a professional roller coaster critic? Or do all those people sit around and wonder why they aren't pastors? It seems like life just happens and every now and again I wake up, look around, and say, "Wait...what?!"
When does contentment become settling? Where is the balance between "being content in all things" and being honest with myself? Is this seriously what I was created for or simply the path of least resistance? Did I confuse convenience with calling? When will my life become "more abundant"? Or would I even know it if it slapped me in the face?
I feel like I've lost the ability to dream in almost every way. If I sleep at night I never seem to find myself in some surreal world with a ponytail that can connect with animals so that I can defend my planet against those who would destroy it in the process of harvesting precious "unobtainium".
But more significant still is the loss of the ability to dream practically. What is it that I want out of life? I mean really want? When all ulterior factors like money, power, fame, respect, etc. are stripped away...what's left? Because that's my true engine.
But what if nothing is left? What if nothing excites me anymore? What if nothing stirs my passion? What if all I have is almost total and utter indifference? Because that's exactly where I am...and I'm beginning to feel indifferent about it.
Meh...my shift is up...time to go home so I can do it again tomorrow...
Every now and again I randomly pause to audit the moment I'm in. What all had to take place in my life to find me sitting behind this metal desk sipping a Dr. Pepper to stay awake so I can eavesdrop on the collegiate flirt sesh going down in the lobby? Well, self, I got this job after moving here from California. We moved here because one day we got a phone call followed by a letter saying that it was voted by a committee that we move. We were in CA because we chose to move there to pursue what we thought was youth ministry. By "we" I mean my wife, Rachel, who I met while at Southern Adventist University. I went to SAU because my parents told me they didn't want me to go to Walla Walla...etc.
The first time I went through this momentary audit I was sitting in the parking lot of a Spanish-speaking SDA church in full Class-A Pathfinder threads waiting to officiate a combined induction/investiture program (something I had never done before) in a language I didn't speak. I remember sitting in our beloved Kia Sportage looking at the desolate lot (the program had been moved back by two hours because church had gone late) and genuinely wondering, "How the heck did I end up here...now...in this moment?"
It seems like the momentary audit is becoming more and more frequent. In the moving van, while unpacking boxes, in class, looking at the ceiling of our apartment at 2 am...sitting behind this desk.
There's a certain cognitive dissonance that comes with the realization that you are drifting farther and farther from where you want to be, especially when you aren't exactly sure where "there" is, you just know it isn't where you're at. I mean, whatever happened to all the exciting things I wanted to do as a kid...how come NONE of those things panned out? Why aren't I a fighter pilot or a race car driver? How come I'm not in a band or the NBA or a professional roller coaster critic? Or do all those people sit around and wonder why they aren't pastors? It seems like life just happens and every now and again I wake up, look around, and say, "Wait...what?!"
When does contentment become settling? Where is the balance between "being content in all things" and being honest with myself? Is this seriously what I was created for or simply the path of least resistance? Did I confuse convenience with calling? When will my life become "more abundant"? Or would I even know it if it slapped me in the face?
I feel like I've lost the ability to dream in almost every way. If I sleep at night I never seem to find myself in some surreal world with a ponytail that can connect with animals so that I can defend my planet against those who would destroy it in the process of harvesting precious "unobtainium".
But more significant still is the loss of the ability to dream practically. What is it that I want out of life? I mean really want? When all ulterior factors like money, power, fame, respect, etc. are stripped away...what's left? Because that's my true engine.
But what if nothing is left? What if nothing excites me anymore? What if nothing stirs my passion? What if all I have is almost total and utter indifference? Because that's exactly where I am...and I'm beginning to feel indifferent about it.
Meh...my shift is up...time to go home so I can do it again tomorrow...
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Thrive
Been fighting things that I can't see in
Like voices coming from the inside of me and
Like doing things I find hard to believe in
Am I myself or am I dreaming?
I've been awake for an hour or so
Checking for a pulse but I just don't know
Am I a man when I feel like a ghost?
The stranger in the mirror is wearing my clothes
No I'm not alright
I know that I'm not right
A steering wheel don't mean you can drive
A warm body don't mean I'm alive
No I'm not alright
I know that I'm not right
Feels like I travel but I never arrive
I want to thrive not just survive
I come alive when I hear you singing
But lately I haven't been hearing a thing and
I get the feeling that I'm in between
A machine and a man who only looks like me
I try and hide it and not let it show
But deep down inside me I just don't know
Am I a man when I feel like a hoax?
The stranger in the mirror is wearing my clothes
No I'm not alright
I know that I'm not right
A steering wheel don't mean you can drive
A warm body don't mean I'm alive
No I'm not alright
I know that I'm not right
Feels like I travel but I never arrive
I want to thrive not just survive
I'm always close but I'm never enough
I'm always in line but I'm never in love
I get so down but I won't give up
I get slowed down but I won't give up
Been fighting things that I can't see in
Like voices coming from the inside of me and
Like doing things I find hard to believe in
Am I myself or am I dreaming?
No I'm not alright
I know that I'm not right
A steering wheel don't mean you can drive
A warm body don't mean I'm alive
No I'm not alright
I know that I'm not right
Feel like I travel but I never arrive
I want to thrive not just survive
-Switchfoot
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Old School Photo
So Im finishing up the work day...or night...by installing a new keyboard on the student dean computer. (It's a PC so you have to install drivers for every piece of new hardware.) Naturally I needed to test the keyboard out so I googled myself and my dad's myspace page came up...so I visited it for a walk down memory lane. Well...his page lists Rachel as a top friend (remember when peoples feelings got hurt when they got bumped down or off somebody's top friend list?) So anyways...I went to Rachel's (DJ Classic) myspace page and found this.
Not gonna lie...i laughed for like 3 minutes. The keyboard works btw.
Not gonna lie...i laughed for like 3 minutes. The keyboard works btw.
Peter Gibbons Syndrome
This is a self diagnosis. I have Peter Gibbons Syndrome.
It's an attitude issue mostly I suppose. But here's the odd thing...I feel like I've been trying to change my attitude for a while now and nothing seems to be working. I'm trying to eat healthy and exercise when I can find the time. I'm drinking more water and sleeping as much as my schedule/responsibilities will allow. I roll out of bed 30 minutes early so I can read something spiritual outside of class. I make videos in an effort to turn the mundane into something magical and exciting so that I can convince myself that, "oh snap...this place really is awesome!" If only life had a soundtrack...
I thought being organized would do the trick so I scheduled out my life via Google,pre-ordered my books from Amazon or borrowed them from friends, and have been going to classes every day...but I'm still behind...way behind. And it's seriously reeking havoc on how I view this place.
I hate it here. Nothing fancy...nothing witty. No qualifiers. I just freaking hate it. The honest to goodness truth is that each day here IS worse than the day before it...each day I fall a little further back in my studies and perform a little bit worse at work.
Greek. It's supposed to help me better understand the Bible...to capture all the neat little nuances that have been lost in translation. The problem is I barely understand the English version...when I pony up the will to read it anyway. The rest of my time is used up with spiritual busy-work and tossing the professor a few deep-looking, yeah-I'm-tracking-with-you-buddy head nods during the lecture. But the truth is I'm not tracking...I don't get any of this stuff because I have no zero time to process any of it...much less to spend with my wife.
"Balance is key to your success here," says the professor during chapel. Ten minutes later the same professor is giving out a stern warning in class that if you fall behind there will be no hope for you. True, ultimate success is determined by God and is comprised of the sum of your life choices. Unfortunately, and perhaps ironically, the place that is supposed to help train me to make those successful life choices, even to the point of helping others make successful life choices, defines success rather differently...paying a bit of lip service along the way to a few hearty "Amen!"'s during Tuesday morning chapel.
"It's graduate school...it's supposed to be hard." Yes. It is. And I have no problem with hard. I have a problem with unreasonable. I have a problem with ridiculous. I have a problem with double-standards. I have a problem with lack of vision, purpose, and mission...or at least the lack of communicating vision,purpose, and mission. Are you interested in ME, the individual, actually growing and learning...or are you content in saying that you taught the material and everything else is my problem? Do you actually want me to be a good pastor...or would you rather I filled out the all the necessary paper work while you wash your hands of any responsibility for my "training"?
I had an undergrad teacher that proposed the idea of people having to be twice as honest online as in person in order to achieve the same feeling of communication or level of community. He's right. I probably wouldn't say any of this to your face...or at least not in these words. You might even see me smiling in the Seminary Commons...but don't be fooled. Unless something radically changes...I'm hating nearly every second. And here's my question: How many of the people that I fist-bump in the hallway or exchange "broseph" finger-points with in the parking lot are in the same boat? Who knows...maybe they all really are having the time of their lives...
Lord, I really hope you know what you're doing...because this is making less and less sense to me all the time. I felt like I heard a call...but it seems so long ago that I'm having to strain to hear even an echo of it. I'll take whatever you got for me...cause I'm totally out of whatever I had...
I'd love to talk to you more but I'm in class learning about you right now so...maybe later...
It's an attitude issue mostly I suppose. But here's the odd thing...I feel like I've been trying to change my attitude for a while now and nothing seems to be working. I'm trying to eat healthy and exercise when I can find the time. I'm drinking more water and sleeping as much as my schedule/responsibilities will allow. I roll out of bed 30 minutes early so I can read something spiritual outside of class. I make videos in an effort to turn the mundane into something magical and exciting so that I can convince myself that, "oh snap...this place really is awesome!" If only life had a soundtrack...
I thought being organized would do the trick so I scheduled out my life via Google,pre-ordered my books from Amazon or borrowed them from friends, and have been going to classes every day...but I'm still behind...way behind. And it's seriously reeking havoc on how I view this place.
I hate it here. Nothing fancy...nothing witty. No qualifiers. I just freaking hate it. The honest to goodness truth is that each day here IS worse than the day before it...each day I fall a little further back in my studies and perform a little bit worse at work.
Greek. It's supposed to help me better understand the Bible...to capture all the neat little nuances that have been lost in translation. The problem is I barely understand the English version...when I pony up the will to read it anyway. The rest of my time is used up with spiritual busy-work and tossing the professor a few deep-looking, yeah-I'm-tracking-with-you-buddy head nods during the lecture. But the truth is I'm not tracking...I don't get any of this stuff because I have no zero time to process any of it...much less to spend with my wife.
"Balance is key to your success here," says the professor during chapel. Ten minutes later the same professor is giving out a stern warning in class that if you fall behind there will be no hope for you. True, ultimate success is determined by God and is comprised of the sum of your life choices. Unfortunately, and perhaps ironically, the place that is supposed to help train me to make those successful life choices, even to the point of helping others make successful life choices, defines success rather differently...paying a bit of lip service along the way to a few hearty "Amen!"'s during Tuesday morning chapel.
"It's graduate school...it's supposed to be hard." Yes. It is. And I have no problem with hard. I have a problem with unreasonable. I have a problem with ridiculous. I have a problem with double-standards. I have a problem with lack of vision, purpose, and mission...or at least the lack of communicating vision,purpose, and mission. Are you interested in ME, the individual, actually growing and learning...or are you content in saying that you taught the material and everything else is my problem? Do you actually want me to be a good pastor...or would you rather I filled out the all the necessary paper work while you wash your hands of any responsibility for my "training"?
I had an undergrad teacher that proposed the idea of people having to be twice as honest online as in person in order to achieve the same feeling of communication or level of community. He's right. I probably wouldn't say any of this to your face...or at least not in these words. You might even see me smiling in the Seminary Commons...but don't be fooled. Unless something radically changes...I'm hating nearly every second. And here's my question: How many of the people that I fist-bump in the hallway or exchange "broseph" finger-points with in the parking lot are in the same boat? Who knows...maybe they all really are having the time of their lives...
Lord, I really hope you know what you're doing...because this is making less and less sense to me all the time. I felt like I heard a call...but it seems so long ago that I'm having to strain to hear even an echo of it. I'll take whatever you got for me...cause I'm totally out of whatever I had...
I'd love to talk to you more but I'm in class learning about you right now so...maybe later...
Monday, September 19, 2011
Stuff We Did - BC Youth Fair
We went to the Berrien County Youth Fair to celebrate Katie's birthday a few weeks ago...I finally got around to editing it last sunday.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Stuff We Did - Venetian Fest 2011
I'm trying to like Michigan...so I decided to start recording stuff we do to remind myself that my life is actually pretty rad...
Monday, June 6, 2011
"Neither"
“Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”
“‘Neither,’ he replied…”
“Neither”. None of the above. Not A. Not B. Not anything.
“Neither.” Really? I mean, maybe at first it makes sense…it’s just a guy standing out in the middle of nowhere with a drawn weapon who hasn’t decided who to fight for yet…but then he says he’s from heaven…and hasn’t chosen yet? Neither…really?!
This is God’s chosen people we’re talking about and you don’t know if you’re on our side?! What kind of confidence does that inspire? I thought we just crossed the Jordan in faith to take the land you promised us, God…and now your army commander is neutral? Should we go back? What kind of pep talk am I supposed to give these people? Neither?? Really??
“Neither.” What do you mean “neither”? For two years…neither. I mean is that a joke? And now we’re here…in faith we crossed the country in a U-Haul…neither??! We had options God…good options. We could have ended up in MD or GA…but we didn’t because you pointed us here…and now you don’t know if you’re on my side? Now we’re broke, living and working in a place we didn't think we ever would you say NEITHER?! REALLY??!
“‘Neither.’ he replied, ‘but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.’”
“Neither.” Yeah…you heard me right. I’m not on “your” side and I’m not on “their” side…because I’m on MY side. I command God’s army, I’m here, and I’m about to handle MY business. The question isn’t whether or not I want to be on your side…it’s whether or not you want to be on mine. Check my track record…I don’t lose…ever. And I take care of whoever’s on my team…so they don’t lose either…ever. So Joshua, Donnie…you can keep worrying about who’s on your side and whether or not it will be enough…or you can join My side. Neither. What’s it going to be?
“‘Neither,’ he replied…”
“Neither”. None of the above. Not A. Not B. Not anything.
“Neither.” Really? I mean, maybe at first it makes sense…it’s just a guy standing out in the middle of nowhere with a drawn weapon who hasn’t decided who to fight for yet…but then he says he’s from heaven…and hasn’t chosen yet? Neither…really?!
This is God’s chosen people we’re talking about and you don’t know if you’re on our side?! What kind of confidence does that inspire? I thought we just crossed the Jordan in faith to take the land you promised us, God…and now your army commander is neutral? Should we go back? What kind of pep talk am I supposed to give these people? Neither?? Really??
“Neither.” What do you mean “neither”? For two years…neither. I mean is that a joke? And now we’re here…in faith we crossed the country in a U-Haul…neither??! We had options God…good options. We could have ended up in MD or GA…but we didn’t because you pointed us here…and now you don’t know if you’re on my side? Now we’re broke, living and working in a place we didn't think we ever would you say NEITHER?! REALLY??!
“‘Neither.’ he replied, ‘but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.’”
“Neither.” Yeah…you heard me right. I’m not on “your” side and I’m not on “their” side…because I’m on MY side. I command God’s army, I’m here, and I’m about to handle MY business. The question isn’t whether or not I want to be on your side…it’s whether or not you want to be on mine. Check my track record…I don’t lose…ever. And I take care of whoever’s on my team…so they don’t lose either…ever. So Joshua, Donnie…you can keep worrying about who’s on your side and whether or not it will be enough…or you can join My side. Neither. What’s it going to be?
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Buyer's Remorse
Buyers remorse. The fear following a purchase that I got ripped off, or at least could have paid less somewhere else, that other’s won’t approve, or that a better version of the product will come out, making my purchase less valuable than what I paid. I struggle with it. I’ve even had to resist the notion of returning groceries because of buyers remorse.
A while ago I bought a new digital camera. It wasn’t cheap. For several days I was torn as I looked at my purchase. What if a better one comes out next week? What if it breaks right after the warranty expires? What if one of my friends knows where I could have gotten it cheaper? If I paid too much they’ll think I’m an idiot for sure.
Jesus bought me…and I wasn’t cheap. He didn’t just hop on the internet and order me from Amazon.com with a credit card. No, He cashed in His divinity so He could come down to the store, in person, and pay with His life. What’s more, I’m defective and He knew it before He paid. That’s right, Jesus Christ knowingly purchased a defective product in me.
Do I give Him buyers remorse? Does He ever look at me and wish He hadn’t paid so much…or paid at all? When He sees the version of me that I could be…Donnie 2.0 so to speak…and then sees me content to stay Donnie 1.5, does He want to return me for a refund? Does it bother Him that Satan laughs when my actions make His choice to pay for me look foolish?
No. It doesn’t. Because Jesus is in the business of refurbishing people. That’s what we mean by the word “Gospel”…good news. It means Jesus can take a worthless and broken product and fix it. And when He’s finished it’s more valuable than what He paid...to Him anyway...and that's all that matters.
So it’s impossible for Him to have buyers remorse because He sees value in humanity, a value that doesn’t diminish over time. He doesn’t want the latest version…He wants you…and He’ll pay full price. The question is do you want to be bought?
A while ago I bought a new digital camera. It wasn’t cheap. For several days I was torn as I looked at my purchase. What if a better one comes out next week? What if it breaks right after the warranty expires? What if one of my friends knows where I could have gotten it cheaper? If I paid too much they’ll think I’m an idiot for sure.
Jesus bought me…and I wasn’t cheap. He didn’t just hop on the internet and order me from Amazon.com with a credit card. No, He cashed in His divinity so He could come down to the store, in person, and pay with His life. What’s more, I’m defective and He knew it before He paid. That’s right, Jesus Christ knowingly purchased a defective product in me.
Do I give Him buyers remorse? Does He ever look at me and wish He hadn’t paid so much…or paid at all? When He sees the version of me that I could be…Donnie 2.0 so to speak…and then sees me content to stay Donnie 1.5, does He want to return me for a refund? Does it bother Him that Satan laughs when my actions make His choice to pay for me look foolish?
No. It doesn’t. Because Jesus is in the business of refurbishing people. That’s what we mean by the word “Gospel”…good news. It means Jesus can take a worthless and broken product and fix it. And when He’s finished it’s more valuable than what He paid...to Him anyway...and that's all that matters.
So it’s impossible for Him to have buyers remorse because He sees value in humanity, a value that doesn’t diminish over time. He doesn’t want the latest version…He wants you…and He’ll pay full price. The question is do you want to be bought?
Sunday, April 3, 2011
The Generation Gap
I'm not exactly sure how I came across this article written for "J-wire", a website dedicated to young Jews living in Australia and New Zealand...quite a bit of clicking in Google News I suppose. However, I found it rather interesting that a different religion operating on the other side of the planet has nearly the exact same problems as SDA's in North America: youth and young adults becoming disenfranchised with a religious leadership that seeks to fit them into existing church and community models while resisting new ideas simply because they are...well...not old ones.
The author quotes another article in which the situation is penned almost flawlessly:
“Rather than focusing on giving the younger generations the tools to define their involvement and their identity—empowerment and enfranchisement—the vast majority of the organized effort has been geared toward retention and replacement.”
The article is kind of long but the similarities between Australian Jews and North American Adventism in terms of youth and young adult involvement are striking. The link is below.
http://www.jwire.com.au/featured-articles/the-generation-gap/15958
The author quotes another article in which the situation is penned almost flawlessly:
“Rather than focusing on giving the younger generations the tools to define their involvement and their identity—empowerment and enfranchisement—the vast majority of the organized effort has been geared toward retention and replacement.”
The article is kind of long but the similarities between Australian Jews and North American Adventism in terms of youth and young adult involvement are striking. The link is below.
http://www.jwire.com.au/featured-articles/the-generation-gap/15958
Thursday, March 31, 2011
what do i do?
What do I do when I’m about to move and nowhere near ready?
What do I do when my job drops a huge project on my plate that they've known about for months…19 days before I’m supposed to leave?
What do I do when I can’t find a home for an awesome dog that I don’t really want to give up anyway?
What do I do when I’m supposed to start school in a month…and still haven’t been accepted?
What do I do when I’m supposed to pay for a move I didn’t choose and I don’t have enough money?
What do I do when I’m leaving a system that is unhealthy, unprofessional, wasteful, uncaring, and broken…so I can study about it somewhere else?
What do I do when my attitude, my energy, my patience, and maybe even my faith have all hit rock bottom?
Seriously, God, what do I do? I’d really like to know…
What do I do when my job drops a huge project on my plate that they've known about for months…19 days before I’m supposed to leave?
What do I do when I can’t find a home for an awesome dog that I don’t really want to give up anyway?
What do I do when I’m supposed to start school in a month…and still haven’t been accepted?
What do I do when I’m supposed to pay for a move I didn’t choose and I don’t have enough money?
What do I do when I’m leaving a system that is unhealthy, unprofessional, wasteful, uncaring, and broken…so I can study about it somewhere else?
What do I do when my attitude, my energy, my patience, and maybe even my faith have all hit rock bottom?
Seriously, God, what do I do? I’d really like to know…
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Tube Amplifier
Classic vid i dug up starring ben foote. I think this was for digital video productions...circa 2005 or so...
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Let The Beat Ride
This Christmas I got some beat production software...super ill. So you know I had to head to the studio and bang out a hit. Here it is...my first 100% all original track...so bump dis in yo tape deck playah! Sidenote: if heard on laptop speakers you are fully missing out...HALLA!
Let The Beat Ride by dpain03
Let The Beat Ride by dpain03
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