I-Heart.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. – 1 John 3:16 (NIV)

Take a look around you right now. If you are reading this, you are probably on something like a computer or a phone that you can access the internet with. Think about this, though. You probably already realize that there are billions of people without these kinds of amenities. But do you realize on what scale? There are kids dying every few seconds of starvation, disease, and things of that nature. And yes, I know what you are thinking. This is mainly in other countries nowhere near me. Well as stated above in 1 John 3:16, love is Jesus giving us His life. Him dying on the cross for us. And what did he ask in return? That we do the same for everyone. How do we do this? Through love. We always aknowledge that these things are going on, but we either learn to stop thinking about it and shut it out, or we just feel apethetic towards it. Apathy does not help out these people. It does not give the homeless a home. It does not give the hungry food. It does not give the thirsty a drink. It does not give God to those who who do not know Him. Our love, determination, and action does though. We, as a unified church, should help out our brothers and sisters have what they need to survive. Do you think if Jesus was here today, He would be sitting around in his nice home like that? No. He would be out serving this people, helping them. And when I use the word “Church”, I don’t mean your church, or denomination, or anything like that. Church is not a building, not a denomination, not music, or anything like that. We are the Church. People are the Church.

The church doesn’t exist to meet our needs. Rather we exist as the Church, to meet the needs of others. -Joel Houston

The I-Heart movie was amazing. Those are just some of my thoughts for now. More to come for sure.

Who is God?

In my last two blogs, I have compared God to two very different things. The first, God is Love. The second, God is Light. What do you see Him as?

To me, God represents everything. You can see God in each thing we do every single day. As Christians, it is our responsibility to do that. To show God each and everyday through our actions and what we do, so that those who do not know Him may be able to experience it through others.

So in my last two blogs, you know what I think God is. Now I ask you, Who/what is God to you?

Light.

Last night as I was trying to go to bed, every light I had on in my room just seemed too bright. So, I turned off the stereo. I covered the alarm clock, and I turned off my printer. But regardless of my efforts, there was still light on in there. I couldnt get rid of the power strips or various chargers… People try to do this in life too. They try to shut out everything good and just focus on bad. But the main point I want to focus on is that it can also be related toward God.  Genisis 1:3-5 says

^3-5 God spoke: “Light!”
And light appeared.
God saw that light was good
and separated light from dark.
God named the light Day,
he named the dark Night.
It was evening, it was morning—
Day One.

So figuratively speaking, we can call God light. God is the light of our world. (Some people, when going to Heaven, say they see the light!) So why do I try to get rid of all the light? Because it was bothering me? But the thing is, I was never fully able to get rid of all of the light that was in my room. No matter what, it would never go away. The light in my room is the same as God’s unfailing love for us. It will never go away. No matter what we do, God will always love us, be there for us, be there to guide us. Darkness will always be there to try and overtake us, to make us turn away from the light. But light always comes. There really is a light at the end of the tunnel.

God is Light.

Love Is.

What is love, exactly? Well, the Bible gives us a basic, clear definition of it. 

 

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

-1 Corinthians 13: 4-7

 

I was at a church one time. The youth minister there, his name is Johnny. He is one of those people who impact your lives and is a huge influence on you almost all the time. Well Johnny decided to preach one time about Love. The sum of this sermon was that “We Are Love”. That got me to thinking. How could we possibly be love? How did he make this connection? 

 

The first place I decided to look was the bible. I couldn’t find anything, until i subsequently stumbled upon 1st John 4:7-8. It says:

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

 

So God is Love. If God is love, how are we Love? We aren’t God. But, It says in Genesis that God created us in the image of himself. Genesis 1:27 says “God created man in his own image”. God is love. God created us in his own very image. So in fact, We Are Love. We are those very same people who are patient, kind, truthful, trusting, everything that the verse from 1 Corinthians tells us. The questions pressing us today are those brought up by these statements. If we are in fact love, do we always show love? Do we Love like the bible tells us to love? Or do we “love” in a fashion that is based on infatuation and loose descriptions of the word? 

Also in that Corinthians scripture, verse 8, it says “Love never fails”. If love never fails, then God never fails. Don’t doubt Him for a minute. He may lead you through some tough times and you might wonder why. But remember… 

 

God is Love. 

We are Love. 

Love Never Fails.

THE TIME HAS COME!

TODAY IS THE DAY!

As most of you know, this week I have been counting down my 5 favorite FTSK songs. Here’s a recap.

 

5. I Don’t Know About You But I Came To Dance (IDKAYBICTD) – Television Off, Party On EP

4. Breakdown- Television Off, Party On EP and Underdog Alma Mater

3. Believe Me I’m Lying- Television Off, Party On EP and Underdog Alma Mater

EDIT*** Due to the fact that i cannot pick only 5, i have forgotten one and will put it in here.

2 1/2. Whoa Oh! (Me Vs. Everyone)- Underdog Alma Mater

2. Hey Brittany- Forever the Sickest Kids Single and Underdog Alma Mater

 

AND MY #1 FAVORITE FTSK SONG IS….

She’s A Lady!!!!!!

Television Off, Party On EP and Underdog Alma Mater

 

 

Now only one thing is left to do… Go to the show tonight!

God, Please forgive me…

Forgive us O Lord: A Prayer for American Politics

 

Forgive us O Lord, for being divisive rather than working to build unity.

Forgive us O Lord, for striving to be right more than striving to be kind.

Forgive us O Lord, when we desire to be understood more than to understand.

Forgive us O Lord, for placing our hope in a person, a system, a government – rather than in you alone.

Forgive us O Lord, for complaining about politics rather than thanking you for our freedom.

Forgive us O Lord, when we use our mouths – and our email forwards – to tear down “the other.”

Forgive us O Lord, for spending more time and energy thinking about the Empire than the kingdom.

Forgive us O Lord for speaking poorly and wishing ill will on another candidate.

Forgive us O Lord, when we are known more for following a party than for following the Risen Christ.

Forgive us O Lord, for claiming that God is only on “our side.”

Forgive us O Lord, for claiming and proclaiming that one political party completely and accurately represents the politics of Jesus.

Forgive us O Lord, when we forget that the heart of the king is in your hands.

Forgive us O Lord, for being more excited to speak to others about our candidate than about our Savior.

Forgive us O Lord, when we think this prayer is for someone else we know and not for ourselves.

Give us grace to treat others with dignity and respect, even in the midst of our differences.

Give us wisdom – not just with what we say and do, but how we say them and do them – so that we may not represent our political party, but that we may represent the one who has given us True Life.

Amen.

Source: Broken Stained Glass

 

Thank You Dave Brower and John Duvall.

 

Anyone I may have debated with or said anything to, I apologize. It’s quite amazing how much we get astrayed from our faith at certain times. But theres always going to be that forgiveness there. That forgiveness that never fails, never leaves, always there. Its so amazing what God tells us sometimes. Sometimes it comes directly, sometimes indirectly, but in the end it doesnt matter where it came from. No matter what happens, i will still continue to thank God for what he gives and has given me.

Thank You God.

A Name Can Mean Many Things…

I need a new name for this blog. I am quite unoriginal. Please help me out?

Wow. Definately Slacking.

Monday:

Breaking Hearts by Disco Curtis

www.purevolume.com/discocurtis

 

Tuesday:

We Own The Night- A Bird A Sparrow

listen     (thanks Johnny!)

 

Wednesday:

About A Girl- The Academy Is…; CD- Fast Times at Barrington High; Label- Fueled By Ramen

listen

 

Thursday:

Eighty Eights- Farewell

listen

 

Friday:

With Or Without You (U2 Cover)- Breathe Carolina

listen

Sorry I’ve Been Slacking!

Friday’s Song:

Dynamo Of Volition by Jason Mraz; CD- We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things; Label- Atlantic

listen here

 

Saturday’s Song:

One of THOSE Nights by The Cab; CD- Whisper War; Label- Fueled by Ramen

listen here

 

Today’s Song:

Lord I Want to Be A Christian, Hymn #402 in the United Methodist Hymnal.

Um, no link.

Today’s Song!

Six Feet Under the Stars by All Time Low.

CD- So Wrong It’s Right

 

purevolume.com/alltimelow