Lately I've been really enjoying my two Cool Hand Luke cd's that I've had for a while. On one of them (The Balancing Act) is one song in particular that I've been listening to a lot lately titled "Cinematic". The song speaks about a dream where the singer's life was like a movie. Here's my breakdown of it:
The other night I had a dream
It unfolded to the silver screen
A tragic fire, some tears were shed
I woke to find our hero dead
And wonder, ”What if this was me?”
We all ask this sometimes. What if I was the hero? What if I was the one who died instead of the hero?
If my life was cinematic
With a soundtrack so dramatic
You’d be the hero and You would save me
And it would have the sweetest ending
We need to realize though the He (Christ) is the hero who died for us so that we could have "the sweetest ending". His sacrifice is what lets us spend an eternity in His love and grace.
I want to live in such a way
That when I’m gone my friends would say
That if my life was turned to film
I’d be standing on a mountain shouting victory in the end
But in my heart I know it’s only true
If I’m supporting actor and the Oscar goes to You
Sometimes we want the spotlight to be on us. Everyone cheering for what we did or who we are. We have to remember though that He is the one who deserves the attention, both from us and others, and that we need to show Him to others instead of taking the spotlight for what He has done. We must focus on Him.
If my life was cinematic
With a soundtrack so dramatic
You’d be the hero and You would save me
And it would have the sweetest ending
I don’t want to let You down
I want to make you proud
If anyone is watching me
I want to make it count for something
I know that I personally think this all the time. I feel like I constantly fail Him and want to make it right and earn His love. The beautiful thing about it though is that He loves us no matter what we do or don't do. Agape means "unconditional love" and we tend to forget the true meaning behind it. He loves us without the condition of us earning it. No matter what, He loves us for all of eternity.
What if it ended here?
What if the credits rolled now?
What would the critics say?
Would it be the biggest let down?
We also seem to focus on what everyone else thinks about us and what we do. We look to other people for recognition of our actions and deeds. We try to impress others with what we do and say. If things were to end now and we were to die, would we ask what they thought of us or what He thinks of us.
If my life was cinematic
With a soundtrack so dramatic
You’d be the hero and You would save me
And it would have the sweetest ending
Again though, we need to learn and discipline ourselves that it's not about us or them. It isn't about the opinions of others in our lives. It isn't about our opinions of our lives. It's about one thing and one thing alone - our hero who died and saved us. The one and only God which chose that our lives in Heaven were worth His here on Earth. "For man has no greater love than this: that he lay down his life for another" (John 15:13). If we have no love greater than to die for our friends, what does that tell us about His love for all of us? The one and only God of everything past, present, and future gave His life for us expecting nothing in return. Agape. The only questions left, is why don't we show it to one-another and just take it in? What will we sacrifice for each other and most of all, will we sacrifice who we are for who He is?
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Progression is better than soup
So unlike my first blog, I'll keep this one pretty short.
This weekend was the Thrive Men's Conference at The Rock Church. I attended (thanks to a sponsor who paid for the ticket) the conference expecting to be blown out of the water. It not only blew me out of the water but then drank all the water and spit it at me.
The theme for this year was "Man Vs. Mountain," speaking about how every man has his mountain to climb but with the help of God no mountain is too large or difficult. Both the guest speaker, Kyle Horner, as well as the senior pastor of The Rock, Kirk Bowman, gave great sermons during the main sessions. The following is a list of the scripture references as well as what I feel the largest points were.
Referenced Versus:
-Judges 6:2-6, 12
-Mark 6
-Luke 8
-Matthew 11:12
-Psalm 8:5
-2 Corinthians 8:11
-1 John 4:17
-Ecclesiastes 4:9
-Judges 7:9
-Matthew 16:18
-1 Samuel 14:4-14
-Matthew 12:35
-Luke 18:22-23
-1 Corinthians 12:7
-Exodus 4:1-5
-Acts 3:6
-Acts 13:36
-Matthew 4:19
-Genesis 2:18
-Joshua 14:10-12
-Joshua 15:13-19
-1 Samuel 18:25
-Zechariah 4:6-7
Main Points:
-Your past doesn't determine you future. Your choices today do.
-Potential is not a guarantee, it is an opportunity.
-The only thing our potential can't overcome is inactivity. Take Gideon for example. He was a man of inaction. He had enemy soldiers camped out in his fields but, instead of fighting them he merely endured in silence and "did what he could". Eventually, he grew so tired of it he finally started asking God why he was allowing these bad things to happen to him. God said to Gideon that all he needed to do was act. Joshua on the other hand heard God speak to him and acted on it- because of this the walls of Jericho fell and Joshua and his army took the city.
-The spirit is a lot like water. When stagnant, it can cause sickness or death. When moving it can bring life.
-As men who follow Christ, we are Kings. Kings think differently than others.
-Insecurity can undermine our potential and always will.
-When we stand united, we stand invincible.
-We don't need to fit in- we need to stand out.
-Passion is the birthplace of action.
-Take what you love and make it how you love.
-We can't do everything but we can do something.
-Prioritize God and spend time with Him.
-The type of girl you get is based on the type of guy you are.
-Most young women in church who are looking for a guy in their life are looking for a man who will lead them in life, not be lead by them.
-Instead of going out of our way to find a girlfriend or wife, we need to merely treat women as sisters. This is for multiple reasons- we'll learn to stop objectifying them, we'll learn about them, we'll build friendships, etc. When God wants us to be with someone, he'll make that someone stand out to us. We must learn to build our relationships on spiritual compatibility, then friendship, then everything else.
-Mountain takers get the girl.
-Mountain takers inspire other mountain takers.
-The church family need fathers and sons who will take mountains.
-Shout "grace, grace" to your mountain.
-We're in a world where everybody gets a trophy, win or lose. We need to fight this and constantly push forward and take mountains.
-We need to ask ourselves these questions (in this order): What's in your heart? What's in your hand? What's in your world? Then use all of the answers to grow closer to God and bring others to Him.
This weekend was the Thrive Men's Conference at The Rock Church. I attended (thanks to a sponsor who paid for the ticket) the conference expecting to be blown out of the water. It not only blew me out of the water but then drank all the water and spit it at me.
The theme for this year was "Man Vs. Mountain," speaking about how every man has his mountain to climb but with the help of God no mountain is too large or difficult. Both the guest speaker, Kyle Horner, as well as the senior pastor of The Rock, Kirk Bowman, gave great sermons during the main sessions. The following is a list of the scripture references as well as what I feel the largest points were.
Referenced Versus:
-Judges 6:2-6, 12
-Mark 6
-Luke 8
-Matthew 11:12
-Psalm 8:5
-2 Corinthians 8:11
-1 John 4:17
-Ecclesiastes 4:9
-Judges 7:9
-Matthew 16:18
-1 Samuel 14:4-14
-Matthew 12:35
-Luke 18:22-23
-1 Corinthians 12:7
-Exodus 4:1-5
-Acts 3:6
-Acts 13:36
-Matthew 4:19
-Genesis 2:18
-Joshua 14:10-12
-Joshua 15:13-19
-1 Samuel 18:25
-Zechariah 4:6-7
Main Points:
-Your past doesn't determine you future. Your choices today do.
-Potential is not a guarantee, it is an opportunity.
-The only thing our potential can't overcome is inactivity. Take Gideon for example. He was a man of inaction. He had enemy soldiers camped out in his fields but, instead of fighting them he merely endured in silence and "did what he could". Eventually, he grew so tired of it he finally started asking God why he was allowing these bad things to happen to him. God said to Gideon that all he needed to do was act. Joshua on the other hand heard God speak to him and acted on it- because of this the walls of Jericho fell and Joshua and his army took the city.
-The spirit is a lot like water. When stagnant, it can cause sickness or death. When moving it can bring life.
-As men who follow Christ, we are Kings. Kings think differently than others.
-Insecurity can undermine our potential and always will.
-When we stand united, we stand invincible.
-We don't need to fit in- we need to stand out.
-Passion is the birthplace of action.
-Take what you love and make it how you love.
-We can't do everything but we can do something.
-Prioritize God and spend time with Him.
-The type of girl you get is based on the type of guy you are.
-Most young women in church who are looking for a guy in their life are looking for a man who will lead them in life, not be lead by them.
-Instead of going out of our way to find a girlfriend or wife, we need to merely treat women as sisters. This is for multiple reasons- we'll learn to stop objectifying them, we'll learn about them, we'll build friendships, etc. When God wants us to be with someone, he'll make that someone stand out to us. We must learn to build our relationships on spiritual compatibility, then friendship, then everything else.
-Mountain takers get the girl.
-Mountain takers inspire other mountain takers.
-The church family need fathers and sons who will take mountains.
-Shout "grace, grace" to your mountain.
-We're in a world where everybody gets a trophy, win or lose. We need to fight this and constantly push forward and take mountains.
-We need to ask ourselves these questions (in this order): What's in your heart? What's in your hand? What's in your world? Then use all of the answers to grow closer to God and bring others to Him.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Where To Begin?
So, I'm completely new to this whole blog deal. Really, I'm new to this whole writing about your life thing (unless you count facebook status..?). First things first, I apologize if I ever seem to jump from one topic to another or seem completely random. That's just who I am. I guess I can make this first blog about my life and how I got to where I am. Nothing like a history lesson to help everyone understand what I come from. Well, here we go...
I was born and raised in Florida. Moved to Tennessee and North Carolina after that. I've lived here in Asheville, NC for a good 10 or so years. However, that will be changing in a couple weeks when I move to Ft Bragg, NC where I will be stationed with the Army. I enlisted in high school between my sophomore and junior year when I was 17 and plan to make a career out of the Army. I attended Infantry School at Ft Benning, GA and since have served with the Honor Guard (Military Funeral Honors). I was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in early 2009 and was there for a short 9 month tour. I now will be attended the John F Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School where I'll be training to receive a Green Beret.
Three things have affected my life greater than anything else- God, the Army, and my friends. It might seem difficult for people to see sometimes, but I am a practicing Christian. I find that term ("practicing Christian") amazingly accurate because I have yet to perfect it and haven't finished working on it yet. There have been times in my life when I felt God abandoned me. In actuality though, I know that I'm the one who abandoned Him. He has always been the reason I have been successful in anything I've done and I constantly know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that He loves me and doesn't expect anything in return. Sometimes I try to ignore that knowledge but my heart and mind will never be able to deny it. He is my best friend and while I'm not much of a good friend to Him, He's always there for me with His arms wide open and waiting to catch me when I fall. He IS love.
Now for part two of the things that affect me most- the United States Army. I should warn you all now, I sometimes talk non-stop about the Army. I have lots of stories from it and drink too much coffee to shut my mouth. I love my job. There are times and events that I don't like it but it defines who I am. The only things I ever felt truly accomplished about are things I've done in my career. I'm not the best soldier but I try and I will always seek to progress and improve myself. I plan to become a Special Forces Operator (which I'll begin training for once I arrive at Bragg). My time in Iraq changed my life big time. It changed who I was. Some things good. Some things bad. If I could go back and change the way things happened, I wouldn't change almost anything. It taught me a gigantic mess of things that nothing else could. As a quick side note, let me say this now: DO NOT ASK ME IF I HAVE KILLED ANYONE! There are things everybody, military or not, that they don't want to relive or talk about. Anyways, enough about the Army. I'll stop myself before I can't stop.
Lastly for life-altering things- my friends. I'm pretty sure this one goes without saying since most people feel like their friends help them in tough times and keep them happy. I will say this, however, while I might not say it or act like it at times, I am thankful for all of you and love you dearly.
Now for some random facts about me:
-I love the show Scrubs. Not the new seasons. The old ones (aka the good ones).
-I absolutely love photography. I currently am without a camera but will have a new one soon... I hope.
-While I have zero musical talent, I love music.
-I am sarcastic. Only a little though... *cough*
-I have one tattoo but want more. A lot more.
-I don't know what to put right now thanks to a brain fart.
-I love food. Lots and lots of food.
-I take long very hot showers.
-I don't sleep much but when I do it's at oddball times.
-Coffee makes me a better person.
-I'm still learning how to dress myself so don't hate.
-I, like everyone, have had a troubled past. Big deal.
-I carry a pen and paper almost everywhere with me. It's a military thing.
-Yet another brain fart.
-I joke around a lot about my PTSD. It is a very serious condition though that does affect me.
-I play video games, board games, and mind games.
-Now I want some coffee but am out of it. I hate life at this moment.
-Only the first part of that last one was true.
-Nough said yo
I think that's all for now. I'll try thinking of something good for next time. I'm going to end this with a cool Bible verse. Yeah, going out with a bang.
PSALM 91
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
I was born and raised in Florida. Moved to Tennessee and North Carolina after that. I've lived here in Asheville, NC for a good 10 or so years. However, that will be changing in a couple weeks when I move to Ft Bragg, NC where I will be stationed with the Army. I enlisted in high school between my sophomore and junior year when I was 17 and plan to make a career out of the Army. I attended Infantry School at Ft Benning, GA and since have served with the Honor Guard (Military Funeral Honors). I was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in early 2009 and was there for a short 9 month tour. I now will be attended the John F Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School where I'll be training to receive a Green Beret.
Three things have affected my life greater than anything else- God, the Army, and my friends. It might seem difficult for people to see sometimes, but I am a practicing Christian. I find that term ("practicing Christian") amazingly accurate because I have yet to perfect it and haven't finished working on it yet. There have been times in my life when I felt God abandoned me. In actuality though, I know that I'm the one who abandoned Him. He has always been the reason I have been successful in anything I've done and I constantly know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that He loves me and doesn't expect anything in return. Sometimes I try to ignore that knowledge but my heart and mind will never be able to deny it. He is my best friend and while I'm not much of a good friend to Him, He's always there for me with His arms wide open and waiting to catch me when I fall. He IS love.
Now for part two of the things that affect me most- the United States Army. I should warn you all now, I sometimes talk non-stop about the Army. I have lots of stories from it and drink too much coffee to shut my mouth. I love my job. There are times and events that I don't like it but it defines who I am. The only things I ever felt truly accomplished about are things I've done in my career. I'm not the best soldier but I try and I will always seek to progress and improve myself. I plan to become a Special Forces Operator (which I'll begin training for once I arrive at Bragg). My time in Iraq changed my life big time. It changed who I was. Some things good. Some things bad. If I could go back and change the way things happened, I wouldn't change almost anything. It taught me a gigantic mess of things that nothing else could. As a quick side note, let me say this now: DO NOT ASK ME IF I HAVE KILLED ANYONE! There are things everybody, military or not, that they don't want to relive or talk about. Anyways, enough about the Army. I'll stop myself before I can't stop.
Lastly for life-altering things- my friends. I'm pretty sure this one goes without saying since most people feel like their friends help them in tough times and keep them happy. I will say this, however, while I might not say it or act like it at times, I am thankful for all of you and love you dearly.
Now for some random facts about me:
-I love the show Scrubs. Not the new seasons. The old ones (aka the good ones).
-I absolutely love photography. I currently am without a camera but will have a new one soon... I hope.
-While I have zero musical talent, I love music.
-I am sarcastic. Only a little though... *cough*
-I have one tattoo but want more. A lot more.
-I don't know what to put right now thanks to a brain fart.
-I love food. Lots and lots of food.
-I take long very hot showers.
-I don't sleep much but when I do it's at oddball times.
-Coffee makes me a better person.
-I'm still learning how to dress myself so don't hate.
-I, like everyone, have had a troubled past. Big deal.
-I carry a pen and paper almost everywhere with me. It's a military thing.
-Yet another brain fart.
-I joke around a lot about my PTSD. It is a very serious condition though that does affect me.
-I play video games, board games, and mind games.
-Now I want some coffee but am out of it. I hate life at this moment.
-Only the first part of that last one was true.
-Nough said yo
I think that's all for now. I'll try thinking of something good for next time. I'm going to end this with a cool Bible verse. Yeah, going out with a bang.
PSALM 91
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
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