that time

It's that fun/fast/weird time between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

So Thankful

Psalm 107:1
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

life on trial

Put everything in your life on trial. See if it stands against your design to advance the kingdom of God in your life and on the earth.

Jesus

Josh Coy (AIM)
11:50
you are freeeeeeee!!!
11:50
sure, we need to change, but Jesus is the same before and after the dream.
11:50
he doesn't budge.
SkylineScrunge (AIM)
11:51
word....what you saying?
Josh Coy (AIM)
11:51
haha
11:51
I guess, that we've got a ways to go in so much. But the hope of Jesus never changing and ever loving and always transforming us is amazing and so tricky to grasp;
11:51
.
SkylineScrunge (AIM)
11:52
agreed
11:52
hmm
11:52
the answer is always press into Jesus
Josh Coy (AIM)
11:53
press in=falling into His arms backwards

9am

I'm learning to dream big. Real big. I must. It's part of my destiny.

me read book

I read it cuz people said it was AMAZING. I read it, it was OK.
Blue Like Jazz

what it IS about

"It's Not About Striving, It's About Abiding."
-Robby Owen

Winsome Wind Down

...

Psalm 130

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
2 O Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.

3 If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand?

4 But with you there is forgiveness;
therefore you are feared.

5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I put my hope.

6 My soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.

7 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD,
for with the LORD is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.

"photogenicity"

I used that word when Brendy told me I was photogenic. "I appreciate your encouragement in regards to my photogenicity." No no, I'm not retarded. But, she and Matt told me to put this pic on my blog, I thot it looked crappy, but here it is.

Just Cuz

Ever feel like blogging just because? These past few days have been pretty interesting. Like, in my insides sorta way. A lot of battling...I think. Decisions. If you aren't ready for random, stop reading now.
I feel a certain way when I wake up, for a reson. Chemically, spiritually, whatever it may be. These past few days I've just not wanted to feel anything. I almost feel bad for not feeling. Some will tell me to "press in" or "press through." :\ I just want to watch a movie that feels for me. Maybe I'll do that.
I'm learning stuff about God too. Religion can so get on my nerves, and no, I'm not the controversial Christian type, I just get frustrated with many people who claim to be Christians or get it all wrong. (not saying I'm all right, that's near impossible.) But I love God, more and more just because who He is, how unique, creative. He loves me too much. Really. I have people approaching me all the time, being a loudspeaker for God. No joke. Robby has approached me at least 5 times with specific encouragement and confirmation of what God had begun hours or days prior. Freaks me out.
So, I was at church Sunday. The pastor is very solid. He doesn't sugar coat it, he delivers it straight (thank you PD.) He was praying and asking God to forgive us for being unfaithful. unfaithful. unfaithful. I repeated that word a few times. I claim to have a personal and intimate relationship with God. It implies that I love Him and He loves me. Mutual. Like a marriage. I know it says in the Bible that I am the bride of Christ (I supress all jokes that could go here.) So, God and I are one, I in Him and He in me. Married to God. Does that seem funny? Well, I think it's true. I thought to myself after I heard PD pray like this, "I am married to God and I am unfaithful...how many times do I worship other things including myself...how many times do I run to myself or others for answers and fulfillment...now, I can't beat myself up, God wouldn't dig that at all...if I ever want to be faithful to my spouse and think I wouldn't cheat on them, what says I wouldn't? It seems so shiny, scary, and adventurous to be committed to someone...if I can't be faithful in my current relationship with God, how do I expect to be faithful to that someone?"
That hit me hard. I like it when things hit me for real. I probably have heard 10 teachings on this, but it has struck me for real. I have class in 15 minutes. I'm gonna go. I wonder how I will respond to this revelation. It makes me see it.

Chicago Metro: Amazing

Is this life really happening? I love that feeling. Last weekend I got some perspective. I am the kind of guy who needs to travel every so often to see the big picture. Ya know? A few months back I booked some cheap flights to Chicago, thinking I would definitely get some good time with my friends Justin (wheaton, IL) and Erich (toledo, OH.) I picutred the leaves falling in the foreground and the city in the back. It was so much more than that. The weather rocked. Clear skies and mid 60s and it was halloween in the city. I think it would he healthy if I just ran down my trip:
-Thursday night, flew in to midway about 8PM, did dinner with Justin and caught up.
-Friday morning, grabbed starbucks and went to IKEA for the day (additional 15% off everything for their birthday.) amen.
-Friday afternoon, picked up Erich from the airport.
-Friday night, Justin made Erich and I a roast dinner, went and met Chris (Seattle) and Justin's friend at Starbucks.
-Saturday morning, starbucks and caught a train into the city, I phoned Joel (St. Louis) and Tim (Peoria) and Chris to see if they wanted to meet on Michigan Ave. at Cosi for lunch across from Millenial Park.
-Saturday afternoon, met Joel, Tim, Justin, Erich for lunch. Walked down to H&M. Split up and went to Justin and Erich to the north of the city for more shopping. crazy.
-Saturday night, Tim invited us over to his brother's flat in Logan Park for dinner with his siblings. Random, but amazing. We cooked a huge mexican feast, sipped mulled wine on the patio and danced. went to starbucks to chat with our new, amazing friend, Ruby (soon to be in Laguna beach.) Met Chris on campus and hung out till 1:30AM
-Sunday morning, went to Mario Bergner's church with Justin and Erich and dropped Erich off at the airport (after starbucks of course).
-Sunday afternoon, Justin had the idea of grabbing my luggage and heading to the city for dinner before my evening flight. We did that. I crammed all my ikea stuff in my bags and headed off.
-Sunday night, we met Joel for dinner at Chipotle and I hopped on the orange line L train to Midway. The train, Justin and I were running late! We grabbed 2 ikea carry ons and my huge bag and dashed! It was a scene from an early Bette Midler film. Sweaty and grateful I bid Justin my farewell.
-57 mins later, back home in Nashville.
I love God, people and perspective...and these memories will fuel my fondness of each of you.