I hope this works but I am going to try and upload a video from youtube that I made for my media arts class. It's a promo for BigStuf camps this summer which is amazing. If it works out then I should also be able to post clips from Ignite as I upload them to youtube.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Success
Chi Alpha kick off, was amazing. It was cool to have some new people come in and share Christ in a different way. Chris Brown is a good worship leader, he's different in his style than what the igniters are used to, but it was still good to see that they engaged under a change like they did. The speaker Darren was hilarious, yet his humor and way of speaking was different from what the igniters are used to as well, again they responded well. I think that even though it's in Lexington, having a change like that will make it seem like they are miles from home, hopefully recharge them and get something "ignited" in the youth group. God is gonna do some big things this weekend. An interesting challenge is to wear a small rock in your shoe tomorrow and then wait until tomorrow night for elaboration. I love suspense, and trying to deduce what in the world a rock in my shoe all day has to do with Jesus.
I don't know but I'm sure I'll post it in my post chi alpha thoughts on sunday!
I don't know but I'm sure I'll post it in my post chi alpha thoughts on sunday!
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Mohawk
That's right you are reading this correctly right now... andrew stewart is the new proud owner of the mohawk. I'm weird like that and I don't know why. My mom flipped out and it made me happy cuz I like to surprise her with stuff like this cuz then she thinks i'm just weird. it's kinda for chi alpha and kinda just cuz i've always wanted to do it. i'm gonna load a picture on to facebook soon and then i think i'll make it my picture on here so that you can get a sneak peek... if not tonight then tomorrow you can see it at chi alpha!
UPDATE! the photo should be working now so let me know what you think... be honest cuz it really won't hurt my feelings if you think i look lame... cuz i always look lame anyways
UPDATE! the photo should be working now so let me know what you think... be honest cuz it really won't hurt my feelings if you think i look lame... cuz i always look lame anyways
Albums
This will be an attempt for me to try something different. I'm going to blog about music. It could be disastrous because I don't really know what I'm talking about, I mean I love music, but so does everybody in the world so I'm no expert at all. I have come to a realization though that I don't really like singles or "hits" or just one song from a band. I do listen to maybe just one song at times, but I don't think a one hit has ever really been my favorite. My favorite music comes from full length albums. My favorite band of all time is Relient K, and maybe that's typical church kid music, but I really didn't get into "Christian" music until I was in either 8th or 9th grade so most of my life has not been influenced by the christian music scene.
The reason I love Relient K so much is because I can sit through there entire CDs and not get bored of listening to it. I like sensing a theme and getting a feel of what they were going through and then applying it to my life. It's even been awesome through the years to hear the differences from their first CD to their latest. They have this good mix of witty funny stuff, mixed in with serious deep issues. On their new CD for example there is a song that is basically one big pick up line it's called "must have done something right" and here are some of the lyrics:
"We should get jerseys, cause we'd make a good team
but yours would look better than mine, cause you're outta my league"
and it's all happy and peppy, but yet the very last song on the CD is called Deathbed and that song makes me want to cry everytime I hear it cause it's so beautiful. It follows the same chord progression in one part of the song as their intro song, and I don't know it just makes me appreciate their creativity.
Yesterday I busted out some Hillsong and that whold album is all about Jesus and showing him loudly. I learn to like almost every song by bands like that who are just good at what they do and aren't concerned about just making a quick hit for the radio. It really does remind me of the Bible because even though there is so much amazing stuff in the Bible, it all points to Jesus. The bible isn't about one feel good book and then stops there, no it tells the whole story which at times is scary and depressing. But then again there is always hope found in the truth found in the Bible.
This whole thought process was started from lunch last Friday. I was sitting with Christian Tyler and Chad Rochester who are two awesome guys that play with Wade Sunday nights and are in Baumer. I asked them about their new CD that was about to release and they told me it was geared more towards being an Album rather than a compilation of "hit songs" and we just talked about how we prefer stuff like that. I love those guys, they are just real genuine guys and insane musicians.
So I guess to end off this particular blog leave me some feedback, you can be honest and it's totally cool if you disagree with me, because I mean obviously I'm no musician, but would you rather pop in your favorite band's CD or listen to a wide range of good songs from like 20 bands?
The reason I love Relient K so much is because I can sit through there entire CDs and not get bored of listening to it. I like sensing a theme and getting a feel of what they were going through and then applying it to my life. It's even been awesome through the years to hear the differences from their first CD to their latest. They have this good mix of witty funny stuff, mixed in with serious deep issues. On their new CD for example there is a song that is basically one big pick up line it's called "must have done something right" and here are some of the lyrics:
"We should get jerseys, cause we'd make a good team
but yours would look better than mine, cause you're outta my league"
and it's all happy and peppy, but yet the very last song on the CD is called Deathbed and that song makes me want to cry everytime I hear it cause it's so beautiful. It follows the same chord progression in one part of the song as their intro song, and I don't know it just makes me appreciate their creativity.
Yesterday I busted out some Hillsong and that whold album is all about Jesus and showing him loudly. I learn to like almost every song by bands like that who are just good at what they do and aren't concerned about just making a quick hit for the radio. It really does remind me of the Bible because even though there is so much amazing stuff in the Bible, it all points to Jesus. The bible isn't about one feel good book and then stops there, no it tells the whole story which at times is scary and depressing. But then again there is always hope found in the truth found in the Bible.
This whole thought process was started from lunch last Friday. I was sitting with Christian Tyler and Chad Rochester who are two awesome guys that play with Wade Sunday nights and are in Baumer. I asked them about their new CD that was about to release and they told me it was geared more towards being an Album rather than a compilation of "hit songs" and we just talked about how we prefer stuff like that. I love those guys, they are just real genuine guys and insane musicians.
So I guess to end off this particular blog leave me some feedback, you can be honest and it's totally cool if you disagree with me, because I mean obviously I'm no musician, but would you rather pop in your favorite band's CD or listen to a wide range of good songs from like 20 bands?
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Productivity
Checklists are the bomb. I love them a lot because I can physically scratch off things that I have accomplished that need to get done. It feels good and like a huge load is just lifted off whenever you scratch off that one thing you had to get done and finally did. I can't wait for the glorious feeling when this week is over and I will throw away my little yellow post it note of to-do's.
Needless to say it's getting crazy at USC because in 9 days I will be completely done with my Freshman year, so it's important that I finish out strong because there is a possibility that I might get four A's and that never happens.
I am totally stoked for Chi Alpha coming up Thursday. Last year it was amazing and I know this year will be "bigger and better". I get to chaperone with my homie Robbie Kopp, and David Crocker (he's the man too), in the Bouknights house where there are these awesome secret passages. I think I'm going to enjoy just being completely goofy all weekend and sharing Jesus with the high school crowd. I was at prom last weekend and got my groove on and that was probably the most fun I've had in a long while. The only downside is that I still haven't caught up on sleep from that night and I don't think it's gonna happen until school is over. But that's alright cuz the college life has accustomed me to being sleep depraved.
Here is a short list of things that make me happy:
1) Getting Fergie Songs stuck in your head
2) Country-Fried Steak
3) Finishing Self Paced Astronomy Finally
4) Hillsong... I've been listening to them today... still amazing
5) Trevor Miller, he's 24 and still the man, he gives people thank you cards for his B-day I mean how could you not love that?
6) Relying on God to provide for a trip to Africa
7) Going home to see my family (i'll be there tomorrow getting help with a spanish presentation)
8) Looking forward to Chi Alpha
9) You for reading my blog!
Needless to say it's getting crazy at USC because in 9 days I will be completely done with my Freshman year, so it's important that I finish out strong because there is a possibility that I might get four A's and that never happens.
I am totally stoked for Chi Alpha coming up Thursday. Last year it was amazing and I know this year will be "bigger and better". I get to chaperone with my homie Robbie Kopp, and David Crocker (he's the man too), in the Bouknights house where there are these awesome secret passages. I think I'm going to enjoy just being completely goofy all weekend and sharing Jesus with the high school crowd. I was at prom last weekend and got my groove on and that was probably the most fun I've had in a long while. The only downside is that I still haven't caught up on sleep from that night and I don't think it's gonna happen until school is over. But that's alright cuz the college life has accustomed me to being sleep depraved.
Here is a short list of things that make me happy:
1) Getting Fergie Songs stuck in your head
2) Country-Fried Steak
3) Finishing Self Paced Astronomy Finally
4) Hillsong... I've been listening to them today... still amazing
5) Trevor Miller, he's 24 and still the man, he gives people thank you cards for his B-day I mean how could you not love that?
6) Relying on God to provide for a trip to Africa
7) Going home to see my family (i'll be there tomorrow getting help with a spanish presentation)
8) Looking forward to Chi Alpha
9) You for reading my blog!
Friday, April 20, 2007
They Just Walked Away?
There is this guy named Jesus, and one days he's out in the Temple Courts preaching. I'm gonna borrow info from Clayton King here but Clayton said on a given day in the temple courts there were about 300-400 people, who would come out to hear what Jesus had to say. So he's just sitting there being Jesus and spreading the good word to a sizeable crowd when the Pharisees bust into the courts with a woman who was caught in adultery. She was "caught" meaning she was most likely still undressed and probably very freaked out. You see it was a trap to try and get Jesus, so that they could have an excuse to not follow what he had to say and kill him. The Pharisees were a sneaky bunch, they probably knew that this woman was known for having committed adulterous acts already. Maybe she was "that girl" who everyone around knew was a little shady. And it could even be that one of the pharisees agreed to be in the act with the woman . They catch only her. There is never mention of the man that committed adultery with her, and they drag her right smack dab into the middle of the courts. Then they demand that Jesus tell them his opinion on the situation.
That's like in the middle of sunday morning church, suddenly a mob of guys dragging a naked person in and being like "look what she did, what do you think about it pastor?"
Now the woman who is probably the most embarassed she's ever been in her whole life is also probably frightened for her life, because according to the law of Moses a woman who committed adultery was supposed to be stoned to death. She knows the law, she knows the consequences, and she knows that right now she is at this crowd's mercy and things aren't looking good, because the only person who might be able to save her is Jesus but this mob is trying to trap him and it seems like a pretty good trap. If he agrees and says that she should be stoned, then he is guilty of wanting to be a murderer, but if he doesn't let her go then he's not obedient to the law of Moses. It's a no win situation, you the pharisees don't care if this woman lives she's just a tool, it's actually pretty disgusting what they do here.
So now it's up to Jesus to say something, either way he's a bad guy. So here's what he does according John 8:6 "he bent down and started to write with his finger". Now probably most of you who read my blog know this story and have heard it hundreds of times and have heard of the theories as to what Jesus wrote, because John actually never says what he wrote. A theory that I like is that he bent down and started writing names of people that the pharisees maybe had inappropriate relations with, but were secret and only they would know, or that Jesus wrote down some of their own sins that been kept deep, dark secrets. I don't really know, but say that Jesus does point out their own sin, something that I never really thought about happens.
They walk away.
They are silent and they just walk away. Jesus says that if anyone is without sin then be the first to throw the stone. The law didn't change and woman still committed adultery, yet they just walk away.
How many times have I just walked away? I've really been thinking about how I talk to , think about, or treat the unchurched or the unsaved lately and it sickens me. So many times I just get angry at what non-christians say or do, I get mad at all the drinking, all of the shootings, the crazy messed up things that happen in the world and I look down on people with disgust. Now I'm not saying that sin is good for non-believers but why should I waste time being mad at them and wanting them to follow Jesus when they don't even know who he is.
I try and trap Jesus too, I'm like well the way these people are living means they are going to end up in Hell and if I start talking to them or trying to get to know them then some of that Hell might rub off on me Jesus and I just can't have that. I act like I'm a little too good for that. Yet I always say that I want to reach those people, but I suck at doing it. Jesus has that power to forgive, to change, and to restore people to what he intended for them to be, and he's challenging me everytime I look down on others. The Holy Spirit has been convicting me so much lately, and so much in the past but it seems like once Jesus gets all up in my grill, I just walk away from his challenge.
The next part of the story is amazing. All of the people leave, and it's just Jesus and this naked adulteress woman who hasn't said a word the whole time. It's probably very awkward just standing there with Jesus totally exposed. She has just had a near death experience and then this guys starts writing in the sand and people don't want to kill her anymore. I probably would have been silent too. Jesus then asks her "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
and she says "No one, sir"
and Jesus declares "then neither do I. Go now and leave your life of sin."
That's the kind of guy I want to be. When people are convicted of their sin, and they know that they are far from God and are completely exposed (not physically exposed) I don't want to condemn them. I want to tell them that Jesus has beat sin and they don't have to live life this way anymore. I don't want to throw stones, because who am I besides just another sinner like the rest of the world?
That's like in the middle of sunday morning church, suddenly a mob of guys dragging a naked person in and being like "look what she did, what do you think about it pastor?"
Now the woman who is probably the most embarassed she's ever been in her whole life is also probably frightened for her life, because according to the law of Moses a woman who committed adultery was supposed to be stoned to death. She knows the law, she knows the consequences, and she knows that right now she is at this crowd's mercy and things aren't looking good, because the only person who might be able to save her is Jesus but this mob is trying to trap him and it seems like a pretty good trap. If he agrees and says that she should be stoned, then he is guilty of wanting to be a murderer, but if he doesn't let her go then he's not obedient to the law of Moses. It's a no win situation, you the pharisees don't care if this woman lives she's just a tool, it's actually pretty disgusting what they do here.
So now it's up to Jesus to say something, either way he's a bad guy. So here's what he does according John 8:6 "he bent down and started to write with his finger". Now probably most of you who read my blog know this story and have heard it hundreds of times and have heard of the theories as to what Jesus wrote, because John actually never says what he wrote. A theory that I like is that he bent down and started writing names of people that the pharisees maybe had inappropriate relations with, but were secret and only they would know, or that Jesus wrote down some of their own sins that been kept deep, dark secrets. I don't really know, but say that Jesus does point out their own sin, something that I never really thought about happens.
They walk away.
They are silent and they just walk away. Jesus says that if anyone is without sin then be the first to throw the stone. The law didn't change and woman still committed adultery, yet they just walk away.
How many times have I just walked away? I've really been thinking about how I talk to , think about, or treat the unchurched or the unsaved lately and it sickens me. So many times I just get angry at what non-christians say or do, I get mad at all the drinking, all of the shootings, the crazy messed up things that happen in the world and I look down on people with disgust. Now I'm not saying that sin is good for non-believers but why should I waste time being mad at them and wanting them to follow Jesus when they don't even know who he is.
I try and trap Jesus too, I'm like well the way these people are living means they are going to end up in Hell and if I start talking to them or trying to get to know them then some of that Hell might rub off on me Jesus and I just can't have that. I act like I'm a little too good for that. Yet I always say that I want to reach those people, but I suck at doing it. Jesus has that power to forgive, to change, and to restore people to what he intended for them to be, and he's challenging me everytime I look down on others. The Holy Spirit has been convicting me so much lately, and so much in the past but it seems like once Jesus gets all up in my grill, I just walk away from his challenge.
The next part of the story is amazing. All of the people leave, and it's just Jesus and this naked adulteress woman who hasn't said a word the whole time. It's probably very awkward just standing there with Jesus totally exposed. She has just had a near death experience and then this guys starts writing in the sand and people don't want to kill her anymore. I probably would have been silent too. Jesus then asks her "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
and she says "No one, sir"
and Jesus declares "then neither do I. Go now and leave your life of sin."
That's the kind of guy I want to be. When people are convicted of their sin, and they know that they are far from God and are completely exposed (not physically exposed) I don't want to condemn them. I want to tell them that Jesus has beat sin and they don't have to live life this way anymore. I don't want to throw stones, because who am I besides just another sinner like the rest of the world?
Monday, April 16, 2007
holy cow
dumb title I know, but in all honesty I don't know how else to put what I'm feeling right now. Three nights ago I was almost crying over life stuff and just being confused. Africa specifically is where I was struggling the most. I stayed up late in Charleston Friday night after going to a formal with Sarah Moon, she told me that up until last semester she had never surrendered her life truly to Christ, we then had a very good convo about what it means to follow Jesus, in which I'm sure I may have sounded like a whiny baby venting over how my situation was with the Africa trip.
After we talked I went into the living room where I was sleeping and I realized how lame I can be. Sarah had been one of my best friends for more than a year and not once had I taken the time to have a 5 minute conversation with her about how her walk with God was. Someone else did, and now she's changed forever, it was so encouraging yet so convicting talking to her. I layed there questioning my own character as a so called Christ Follower and just thought of countless things that I have let go wrong. Last summer feeling energized and totally on fire I was ready for a campus takeover of USC, now with only 2 weeks left I don't think I've had a real genuine meaningful conversation with more than 1 or 2 non believers.
I'm laying there not able to fall asleep and just asking myself and God what went wrong, I had a good long vent about it all with God and eventually he comforted me enough to fall asleep. I told him that I really needed to know whether or not I was the guy he wanted to go to Africa or if I just wanted to glorify myself.
The next night for whatever reason coming back from Charleston I decided that I would stay here in Columbia for a change and go check out First Baptist with Michael and Rob because they had told me some good things and I've been meaning to go like all year. Matt Mays was with us and he stayed in my dorm room and we had yet another amazing convo in which I just poured out to him all the stuff that I was scared about and so insecure about. I hadn't been raising the money, I still don't have a renewed passport or all the immunizations, and important paperwork was due Friday which I just mailed today and I could go on and on. I prayed to God that if he wanted me to go or stay that I needed to know something soon, because I was literally freaking out.
They started a new series Sunday at First Baptist the talk was a big talk on how more than %40 of the world still hasn't been reached with the Gospel. In the end there were two ways to respond:
1)They passed out cards to pray for a foreign country where the Gospel needs to be advanced
2)They have an account with Thousands of dollars that they like to empty out to help people who have been called to go to these places. All you have to do is fill out the application.
I nearly had a heart attack. Eight hours ago I'm begging God to show me something, and instantly he humbled the mess out of me. Not only that but now he's just showing off, from people who I talked to today at Mount Horeb I'm getting $600. Tonight I saw the movie Invisible Children about child soldiers in Uganda with Gretchen and she called me about an hour ago (at 11) and said that from various people and even her sorrority I have at least $300 more coming and she was pumped up about it.
It is insane, and that's from 2 sources in one day. I mailed 15 support letters so far so I really just have no clue what God is gonna do, but he definitely has overflowed my cup and got me to shut up in a hurry. Tomorrow I get the passport made and then Friday I get the shots I need to travel, and then I'm pretty much set. I just know God is all over this and I'm more than ready to do whatever it takes.
After we talked I went into the living room where I was sleeping and I realized how lame I can be. Sarah had been one of my best friends for more than a year and not once had I taken the time to have a 5 minute conversation with her about how her walk with God was. Someone else did, and now she's changed forever, it was so encouraging yet so convicting talking to her. I layed there questioning my own character as a so called Christ Follower and just thought of countless things that I have let go wrong. Last summer feeling energized and totally on fire I was ready for a campus takeover of USC, now with only 2 weeks left I don't think I've had a real genuine meaningful conversation with more than 1 or 2 non believers.
I'm laying there not able to fall asleep and just asking myself and God what went wrong, I had a good long vent about it all with God and eventually he comforted me enough to fall asleep. I told him that I really needed to know whether or not I was the guy he wanted to go to Africa or if I just wanted to glorify myself.
The next night for whatever reason coming back from Charleston I decided that I would stay here in Columbia for a change and go check out First Baptist with Michael and Rob because they had told me some good things and I've been meaning to go like all year. Matt Mays was with us and he stayed in my dorm room and we had yet another amazing convo in which I just poured out to him all the stuff that I was scared about and so insecure about. I hadn't been raising the money, I still don't have a renewed passport or all the immunizations, and important paperwork was due Friday which I just mailed today and I could go on and on. I prayed to God that if he wanted me to go or stay that I needed to know something soon, because I was literally freaking out.
They started a new series Sunday at First Baptist the talk was a big talk on how more than %40 of the world still hasn't been reached with the Gospel. In the end there were two ways to respond:
1)They passed out cards to pray for a foreign country where the Gospel needs to be advanced
2)They have an account with Thousands of dollars that they like to empty out to help people who have been called to go to these places. All you have to do is fill out the application.
I nearly had a heart attack. Eight hours ago I'm begging God to show me something, and instantly he humbled the mess out of me. Not only that but now he's just showing off, from people who I talked to today at Mount Horeb I'm getting $600. Tonight I saw the movie Invisible Children about child soldiers in Uganda with Gretchen and she called me about an hour ago (at 11) and said that from various people and even her sorrority I have at least $300 more coming and she was pumped up about it.
It is insane, and that's from 2 sources in one day. I mailed 15 support letters so far so I really just have no clue what God is gonna do, but he definitely has overflowed my cup and got me to shut up in a hurry. Tomorrow I get the passport made and then Friday I get the shots I need to travel, and then I'm pretty much set. I just know God is all over this and I'm more than ready to do whatever it takes.
Monday, April 09, 2007
allergy season
My Easter wasn't the most pleasant of days. In years past I'm generally outside enjoying some amazing weather, but since last year I have developed allergies. I don't know how or why it didn't affect me in earlier years, but this year it has hit me with no mercy. For the past month I've been having all kinds of random crappy feelings and I actually thought I was getting better and coming out of the allergy funk until Easter morning. My body was ready to wake up and get ready for church, but a funny thing happened when I tried to open my eyes to get out of bed... my eyes didn't open. They were shut from this nasty gunky stuff that came outta nowhere.
I got up rinsed my eyes out with water and saw that they were bright red. Pink Eye. So I went back to sleep for a few more hours because I knew I couldn't go to church and give it to everyone. My mom has really bad allergies and pink eye is sometimes a cause of it for her so she has some medicine just in case, and of course it didn't help me at all, so we had to head to urgent care last night and get some more powerful stuff.
After waking up today it still hasn't gotten much better so my mom talked to an eye doctor friend of hers (Mitchell Bailey's dad actually) and he knows his stuff so he said that a bunch of people are getting like a stronger pink eye I guess that requires two different medicines, so my eyes are pretty drugged up. I did get to miss class today though which is kinda nice except I haven't been able to be very productive with other stuff I need to get done.
Being stuck inside has let me have a good bit of time to think about Easter and what it really is though. It amazes me to think about it. For the most part most of the people in this country probably agree with a few things...
1)Jesus was a real human being who lived about 2000 years ago
2)Jesus's teachings were "good" and that he was a good man
3)Jesus died on a cross after being beaten brutally, and was then buried
BUT the key part of what Easter is and who Jesus is, is the fact that Jesus's life didn't end there. The Bible teaches, with hundreds of people as witnesses, that the heavily guarded, stone covered tomb that he was buried in was EMPTY 3 days later, and that Jesus actually came back to life after physically dying one of the most brutal deaths imaginable.
I don't think that everyone is on the same page with that one. If we were then I think the world would look a lot different. I mean I have never seen anyone actually come back to life. As Wade Joye might put it, Jesus told death to "make him a sandwich". It's incredible. It changes everything forever.
So what happens after Jesus comes back to life? He appears to people, Mary Magdalene first and then the disciples (except for Thomas at first), they are overjoyed. So they tell Thomas, and they are just so happy to tell him that Jesus is back and alive and Thomas doesn't believe it, in fact he says the only way he will believe is if he literally sees Jesus and then puts his own fingers in the holes where the nails were from the cross. It's made me wonder how many Thomas's are still around even in today's world. Thomas believed Jesus existed, he was one of his followers. He knew Jesus was killed and buried, but even when his closest friends told him that they saw Jesus back from the dead, he doesn't believe that. The only way they can convince him is if they show him Jesus.
Jesus comes again and this time Thomas is with them. Jesus lets him touch where the nails went through, his scars. Thomas instantly believes. Whats interesting to me is that obviously Jesus could conquer death so couldn't he easily have filled up the scars from where the nails went through? I think so, but what would be the need? To see the scars and what damage it should have taken on him, and to see him there fully restored to life is amazing. I know when I decided to follow Jesus I got new life and yeah I think I still have scars to show from the life I was living, but it's what makes it amazing. To hear and see where Jesus can take a person is what it takes for people to believe. Some people have been hearing about this Jesus guy for a long time but they don't see him because his followers aren't showing their scars and showing people Jesus.
Yeah bit of a long post but hopefully you enjoyed what's going on in my allergy filled head.
I got up rinsed my eyes out with water and saw that they were bright red. Pink Eye. So I went back to sleep for a few more hours because I knew I couldn't go to church and give it to everyone. My mom has really bad allergies and pink eye is sometimes a cause of it for her so she has some medicine just in case, and of course it didn't help me at all, so we had to head to urgent care last night and get some more powerful stuff.
After waking up today it still hasn't gotten much better so my mom talked to an eye doctor friend of hers (Mitchell Bailey's dad actually) and he knows his stuff so he said that a bunch of people are getting like a stronger pink eye I guess that requires two different medicines, so my eyes are pretty drugged up. I did get to miss class today though which is kinda nice except I haven't been able to be very productive with other stuff I need to get done.
Being stuck inside has let me have a good bit of time to think about Easter and what it really is though. It amazes me to think about it. For the most part most of the people in this country probably agree with a few things...
1)Jesus was a real human being who lived about 2000 years ago
2)Jesus's teachings were "good" and that he was a good man
3)Jesus died on a cross after being beaten brutally, and was then buried
BUT the key part of what Easter is and who Jesus is, is the fact that Jesus's life didn't end there. The Bible teaches, with hundreds of people as witnesses, that the heavily guarded, stone covered tomb that he was buried in was EMPTY 3 days later, and that Jesus actually came back to life after physically dying one of the most brutal deaths imaginable.
I don't think that everyone is on the same page with that one. If we were then I think the world would look a lot different. I mean I have never seen anyone actually come back to life. As Wade Joye might put it, Jesus told death to "make him a sandwich". It's incredible. It changes everything forever.
So what happens after Jesus comes back to life? He appears to people, Mary Magdalene first and then the disciples (except for Thomas at first), they are overjoyed. So they tell Thomas, and they are just so happy to tell him that Jesus is back and alive and Thomas doesn't believe it, in fact he says the only way he will believe is if he literally sees Jesus and then puts his own fingers in the holes where the nails were from the cross. It's made me wonder how many Thomas's are still around even in today's world. Thomas believed Jesus existed, he was one of his followers. He knew Jesus was killed and buried, but even when his closest friends told him that they saw Jesus back from the dead, he doesn't believe that. The only way they can convince him is if they show him Jesus.
Jesus comes again and this time Thomas is with them. Jesus lets him touch where the nails went through, his scars. Thomas instantly believes. Whats interesting to me is that obviously Jesus could conquer death so couldn't he easily have filled up the scars from where the nails went through? I think so, but what would be the need? To see the scars and what damage it should have taken on him, and to see him there fully restored to life is amazing. I know when I decided to follow Jesus I got new life and yeah I think I still have scars to show from the life I was living, but it's what makes it amazing. To hear and see where Jesus can take a person is what it takes for people to believe. Some people have been hearing about this Jesus guy for a long time but they don't see him because his followers aren't showing their scars and showing people Jesus.
Yeah bit of a long post but hopefully you enjoyed what's going on in my allergy filled head.
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Blades of Glory
Good times tonight with Wade, Ferris, Robbie, and Will Troutman. We went to five guys which turned out to be pretty good, I didn't get a burger because I ate before going, but the smell of the goodness of the burger filled me up. We then proceeded to Columbiana Grande cinemas and experienced Will Ferrell and Jon Heder pull off a very funny movie about figure skating. It was good, I mean even Pam from "The Office" was on it. I just checked my e-mail and as it turns out I did get an A on my Media Arts video which is really really awesome. Very good night I would have to say because it's not often at all that I get to hang out with all of those people especially Will and Robbie since Will is in Atlanta (doing really awesome things) and Robbie is at Erskine. It's always refreshing and awesome to catch up and hear about the awesome things they are getting to do and how God is using all of them.
I would tell you more but it would just be too "mind-bottling" you know when your thoughts just get trapped in your head like in a bottle. Good night.
I would tell you more but it would just be too "mind-bottling" you know when your thoughts just get trapped in your head like in a bottle. Good night.
Friday, April 06, 2007
Birthday
Yesterday I reached the age of 19 years. I have to be honest, it snuck up on me. And it came and went really fast. It was a pretty good day though I would have to say. I slept in through my morning class, but my roommate went and he got a paper back that we had to turn in a while ago and I got a 94. If that wasn't enough I turned in my BigStuf video that I made and my teacher literally started an applause after it was done and said it was way better than my first one... so hopefully that's another A. I had a good lunch and the soon to be birthday girl Gretchen gave me a cupcake, and to celebrate both of our birthdays we went to dinner with some people at the copper river grill. To finish off the birthday festivities I ate the cake and laughed at the Jokes that Megan Venters gave me.
Over the next few weekends I'm slam packed... here's what's going on
1) Next weekend I just got invited by Sarah Moon to go to her upcoming Formal in Charleston (she's in Zeta Tau Alpha if you're wondering) and it will be fun cuz I love Charleston and hanging out with Sarah.
2) Prom is coming up and I'm going with Megan Venters, should be the bomb we just went and picked out a vest and Tie that I am gonna wear (brown) to match her dress. I know I'm out of high school but that doesn't mean I can't still rock out a prom.
3) Chi Alpha I'm getting pumped about Chi Alpha, it really was incredible and it's crazy to look back to last year and see where God has brought me. It will be good getting to hang out with the small group fellas outside of just wednesday nights. This year's video team has been able to step it up and deliver some good Chi Alpha promos, last week was Survivor Reid part one and you'll have to be there to see the next one.
Over the next few weekends I'm slam packed... here's what's going on
1) Next weekend I just got invited by Sarah Moon to go to her upcoming Formal in Charleston (she's in Zeta Tau Alpha if you're wondering) and it will be fun cuz I love Charleston and hanging out with Sarah.
2) Prom is coming up and I'm going with Megan Venters, should be the bomb we just went and picked out a vest and Tie that I am gonna wear (brown) to match her dress. I know I'm out of high school but that doesn't mean I can't still rock out a prom.
3) Chi Alpha I'm getting pumped about Chi Alpha, it really was incredible and it's crazy to look back to last year and see where God has brought me. It will be good getting to hang out with the small group fellas outside of just wednesday nights. This year's video team has been able to step it up and deliver some good Chi Alpha promos, last week was Survivor Reid part one and you'll have to be there to see the next one.
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