Music from Iceland is like nothing else... so weird... so awesome.
This is a clip of Bjork's show from ACL about a month ago... so crazy.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
Questioning Religion...?
I question things a lot... little things... other people... and yes even god things.
Someone said to me today that they thought it was weird that I am the type of person who questions things because of "how religious I am". He didn't mean that I just accept and believe anything... but I guess typical Christians don't question thing as much as non-Christians.
I picked up a book at Barnes and Noble the other day called "Why I'm Not a Christian". I only read a little bit of the book but I found it extremely interesting. The author had a lot of questions and thoughts... which I very much disagreed with... but I think it's good to see other sides of things and where people are coming from... and it also helps me to really dig into my faith and understand what I believe and why.
Just from reading a chapter of that book, I think the author probably had some bad experiences with "Christians" or at least has seen Christianity mis-represented one too many times. It brought back a lot of thoughts of my own experience as a Christian...
I used to think Christianity was about religion. Period. It was about going to church (check), reading the bible (check), living a morally good life(check). Rituals. Religion. And oh how unfulfilling that was. Empty religion.
Then, I questioned.
And I realized this revolutionizing point: "It's not about religion, it's about a relationship". Christ-followership. Intimacy with Jesus. Loving people. Obedience springing from love, not a check-list springing from conviction and duty. Following blindly with my life, not doing my monthly act of service. Letting my heart be broken with the things that break His heart, not ignoring others and only focusing on me me me.
Relationship not religion.
And it's so not empty.
It's so more than fulfilling too.
It's Beautiful... the most beautiful thing there is.
Someone said to me today that they thought it was weird that I am the type of person who questions things because of "how religious I am". He didn't mean that I just accept and believe anything... but I guess typical Christians don't question thing as much as non-Christians.
I picked up a book at Barnes and Noble the other day called "Why I'm Not a Christian". I only read a little bit of the book but I found it extremely interesting. The author had a lot of questions and thoughts... which I very much disagreed with... but I think it's good to see other sides of things and where people are coming from... and it also helps me to really dig into my faith and understand what I believe and why.
Just from reading a chapter of that book, I think the author probably had some bad experiences with "Christians" or at least has seen Christianity mis-represented one too many times. It brought back a lot of thoughts of my own experience as a Christian...
I used to think Christianity was about religion. Period. It was about going to church (check), reading the bible (check), living a morally good life(check). Rituals. Religion. And oh how unfulfilling that was. Empty religion.
Then, I questioned.
And I realized this revolutionizing point: "It's not about religion, it's about a relationship". Christ-followership. Intimacy with Jesus. Loving people. Obedience springing from love, not a check-list springing from conviction and duty. Following blindly with my life, not doing my monthly act of service. Letting my heart be broken with the things that break His heart, not ignoring others and only focusing on me me me.
Relationship not religion.
And it's so not empty.
It's so more than fulfilling too.
It's Beautiful... the most beautiful thing there is.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Listen.
Well I guess it's been about a week... since I was last on here... yea, not that long... but I usually post pretty often...
Maybe it's because I have nothing to post about... but that's not really true... more of the reason is that I feel like I've been going 500 miles an hour... school, church, homecoming, stuff. It's tough.. cause I haven't been with my friends in forever. And if you know me at all, you know that's beyond important to me. I need them.
But back to the 500 miles an hour thing... so basically I realized today that I've been pretty ignorant of a lot of things since I'm doing so much... I've neglected sleep, homework, friends (not on purpose).. and today I sadly realized... God. I've been ignoring God... well I mean I've been reading His word and praying... but just not listening. Basically I've been having a one-way conversation... all me... none of Him. Yea, pretty lame relationship I know.
I ignored the nudging of the Holy Spirit today... later I paid the consequence. And I'm glad that happened.. because it made me realize my ignorance... but it really sucks that it had to come to that for me to listen... or even think about listening for that matter. I think I just need to be silent.
I love this poem... He listens... and so should I.
Silence
What’s happening here?
I was once so alive and now I’m so full of dread and almost dead
Show me your wounded head that has led to communion with the father
But where did he go?
His presence seems farther and farther away each day but I’m trying so hard to steer his way
Yet still lonely and confused on this cold hard ground I lay
Speak to me wise mouth and say “it’s all good kid, it’s nothing that you did, and though it feels like I’m not here with you right now just be still and silent and listen for that sound..
Shhh..
Did you hear it?
Listen again.
Did you hear it?
That silent voice that just spoke nothing, that is me, I’m listening to your plea with open ears
Counting all your tears flowing from your irritated eyes
Searching the skies looking for that hope that beyond there lies.
Oh you young worrisome sparrow, find rest
Lay your battered head upon my omnipresent breast and make it your nest
No strong cold wind could ever blow and carry you from this your home
Look around, see the life shooting up from the ground
Spring colors springing fourth and celebration of your trusting
It’s a constant process this is
Growing you into the man you are to become
But when you sense the setting of the sun know it is only rising and has just begun
Now go fourth, sing songs of faith, and lift up others in the midst of this race
And if you can’t keep the pace or lose sight of my face
Know that I’m always near so you need not fear
But don’t worry about all that right now
Just sit here and enjoy the peace I offer in my silence
When I am silent I am listening, and not abandoning.
-Bradley Hathaway
Maybe it's because I have nothing to post about... but that's not really true... more of the reason is that I feel like I've been going 500 miles an hour... school, church, homecoming, stuff. It's tough.. cause I haven't been with my friends in forever. And if you know me at all, you know that's beyond important to me. I need them.
But back to the 500 miles an hour thing... so basically I realized today that I've been pretty ignorant of a lot of things since I'm doing so much... I've neglected sleep, homework, friends (not on purpose).. and today I sadly realized... God. I've been ignoring God... well I mean I've been reading His word and praying... but just not listening. Basically I've been having a one-way conversation... all me... none of Him. Yea, pretty lame relationship I know.
I ignored the nudging of the Holy Spirit today... later I paid the consequence. And I'm glad that happened.. because it made me realize my ignorance... but it really sucks that it had to come to that for me to listen... or even think about listening for that matter. I think I just need to be silent.
I love this poem... He listens... and so should I.
Silence
What’s happening here?
I was once so alive and now I’m so full of dread and almost dead
Show me your wounded head that has led to communion with the father
But where did he go?
His presence seems farther and farther away each day but I’m trying so hard to steer his way
Yet still lonely and confused on this cold hard ground I lay
Speak to me wise mouth and say “it’s all good kid, it’s nothing that you did, and though it feels like I’m not here with you right now just be still and silent and listen for that sound..
Shhh..
Did you hear it?
Listen again.
Did you hear it?
That silent voice that just spoke nothing, that is me, I’m listening to your plea with open ears
Counting all your tears flowing from your irritated eyes
Searching the skies looking for that hope that beyond there lies.
Oh you young worrisome sparrow, find rest
Lay your battered head upon my omnipresent breast and make it your nest
No strong cold wind could ever blow and carry you from this your home
Look around, see the life shooting up from the ground
Spring colors springing fourth and celebration of your trusting
It’s a constant process this is
Growing you into the man you are to become
But when you sense the setting of the sun know it is only rising and has just begun
Now go fourth, sing songs of faith, and lift up others in the midst of this race
And if you can’t keep the pace or lose sight of my face
Know that I’m always near so you need not fear
But don’t worry about all that right now
Just sit here and enjoy the peace I offer in my silence
When I am silent I am listening, and not abandoning.
-Bradley Hathaway
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Motha' T.
Yea so I'm reading about Mother Teresa... she's pretty awesome. Like no joke.. one of the most selfless people in history... with the extreme exception of Big JC himself.
I found something really interesting that she wrote about in her person diaries... She talked about the fact that Jesus thirsts for us. I have never really heard that said before... She says, "Not only He loves you, even more-He longs for you. He misses you when you don't come close. He thirsts for you..." What an amazing way to express God's desire for us. He thirsts.
John 19:28 says, "Jesus, knowing that all was finished, said, "I thirst."' Jesus said this as He took some of his last breaths on the cross... and then some of the Romans held a sponge of vinegar up to His mouth... stupid Romans. That makes me laugh. I mean seriously, Jesus endured more pain than any human should... and did not complain once. Do they really think He's gonna ask for a drink NOW? No... this was a different kind of thirst... as Mother T said, "He spoke of His thirst- not for water- but for love, for sacrifice." God thirsts for these things... and He thirsts for us. Another brilliant quote of Mother...'"I thirst" is something much deeper than just Jesus saying "I love you." Until you know deep inside that Jesus thirsts for you- you can't begin to know who He wants to be for you. Or who He wants you to be for Him."
I think that last statement is interesting..."who He wants you to be for Him." Mother Teresa seemed to get this too... she wrote about what she thought the job of a missionary for Christ is to be... she said our aim should be "to satiate the thirst of Jesus" and "to quench the infinite thirst of a God made man... by our love." God thirsts for us... and we are to satisfy... to completely suffuse... to drown His thirst.
I found something really interesting that she wrote about in her person diaries... She talked about the fact that Jesus thirsts for us. I have never really heard that said before... She says, "Not only He loves you, even more-He longs for you. He misses you when you don't come close. He thirsts for you..." What an amazing way to express God's desire for us. He thirsts.
John 19:28 says, "Jesus, knowing that all was finished, said, "I thirst."' Jesus said this as He took some of his last breaths on the cross... and then some of the Romans held a sponge of vinegar up to His mouth... stupid Romans. That makes me laugh. I mean seriously, Jesus endured more pain than any human should... and did not complain once. Do they really think He's gonna ask for a drink NOW? No... this was a different kind of thirst... as Mother T said, "He spoke of His thirst- not for water- but for love, for sacrifice." God thirsts for these things... and He thirsts for us. Another brilliant quote of Mother...'"I thirst" is something much deeper than just Jesus saying "I love you." Until you know deep inside that Jesus thirsts for you- you can't begin to know who He wants to be for you. Or who He wants you to be for Him."
I think that last statement is interesting..."who He wants you to be for Him." Mother Teresa seemed to get this too... she wrote about what she thought the job of a missionary for Christ is to be... she said our aim should be "to satiate the thirst of Jesus" and "to quench the infinite thirst of a God made man... by our love." God thirsts for us... and we are to satisfy... to completely suffuse... to drown His thirst.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Da Word.
The bible is so crazy... like the other day Amanda showed me a whole chapter in 1 Corinthians she found...it seemed like we had never even read it before. It was like God straight talking to her... like He just wrote it down. The living Word of God foreal.
And yesterday, I was going through the Old Testament and there were little books in there I've never even looked at. I'm really excited to start studying the O.T. because I don't read it as much as I should... and I'm pretty sure it's important.. I mean it's the bible Jesus read right?
It's kinna funny... the other day, someone at school told me that her teacher wouldn't let her read her Bible during our "designated reading time". The teacher told her she had to read a novel. I would have loved to ask her teacher some questions...
"Ok what.. so you want me to read some Nora Roberts romance novel? Well, actually the Bible is full of romance. In fact, it's the greatest love story ever." Or... "Would you like me to read a murder story? Well, the Bible includes one of the most brutal types of murders in history.. Crucifixion on a cross." Or maybe... "Should I read a mystery novel? Well, the Bible includes the greatest mystery... one that is still unsolved. The mystery of how God could love me and you, sinners, so much that He would die for us."
I have to say though... I do agree that the Bible is not just a novel... no it's definitely far more than a good book you read from beginning to end and then add to your bookshelf... like I said before it's the living Word of God... it's alive in our hands. We hold such a power... and so many times I forget that God's Word.. his voice to me... is right here in my grasp. Ephesians 6 calls it our sword. No wonder that teacher made my friend put her Bible away... no weapons allowed at school right?
And yesterday, I was going through the Old Testament and there were little books in there I've never even looked at. I'm really excited to start studying the O.T. because I don't read it as much as I should... and I'm pretty sure it's important.. I mean it's the bible Jesus read right?
It's kinna funny... the other day, someone at school told me that her teacher wouldn't let her read her Bible during our "designated reading time". The teacher told her she had to read a novel. I would have loved to ask her teacher some questions...
"Ok what.. so you want me to read some Nora Roberts romance novel? Well, actually the Bible is full of romance. In fact, it's the greatest love story ever." Or... "Would you like me to read a murder story? Well, the Bible includes one of the most brutal types of murders in history.. Crucifixion on a cross." Or maybe... "Should I read a mystery novel? Well, the Bible includes the greatest mystery... one that is still unsolved. The mystery of how God could love me and you, sinners, so much that He would die for us."
I have to say though... I do agree that the Bible is not just a novel... no it's definitely far more than a good book you read from beginning to end and then add to your bookshelf... like I said before it's the living Word of God... it's alive in our hands. We hold such a power... and so many times I forget that God's Word.. his voice to me... is right here in my grasp. Ephesians 6 calls it our sword. No wonder that teacher made my friend put her Bible away... no weapons allowed at school right?
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