July 2011
1 post
Book Review - Billy Graham in Quotes
Billy Graham in quotes is a lovely collection of Billy’s philosophies and thoughts on God. It is not a wimpy quote book- it is a full-fledged, nearly 400 page collection of passion. Topics are alphabetical from Abortion to Young People- this book touches on more topics then I could possibly dream up myself. This is a very good collection, and a great coffee-table book!
I have...
June 2011
1 post
Book Review - Jolt! By Phil Cooke
Jolt! Is a fast-paced self evaluation book, begging the reader to look into themselves and change for the better. Phil Cooke delivers 24 “Jolt“‘s to the reader, in short, chapter-like segments that are bite sized chunks. For people stuck in both internal and external ruts, Phil Cooke has the answer.
I really liked this book- it was simple, bite sized and packed a lot of...
March 2011
2 posts
Book Review - Doing Virtuous Business by Theodore...
Doing Virtuous Business is a rigorous academic tale of how businesses can succeed by building their spiritual capital, complete with many case stories explaining this theory. Theodore Malloch goes into great detail of how people of all faiths can weave their faith into their work, and how it is proven to bring them more success- through integrity and passion- and show how companies have...
Book Review - We Be Big
We Be Big, by radio personalities Rick Burgess and Bill “Bubba” Bussey, is a very very very funny, touching reflection on years of their radio career. Starting off in the sticks of Alabama, we follow Rick and Bubba on their separate journey’s, watch them converge, and go up and down in this roller coaster we call faith. Rick and Bubba comedically share their story, and...
February 2011
1 post
Book Review - This is Your Brain on Love by Dr....
“This is Your Brain On Love” by Dr. Earl Henslin is an interesting primer on how our brain works and responds to the crazy thing we call love. Dr. Henslin starts off simple, talking about the various hormones in our bodies that react to love, and explaining how our brains work. Then he moves into the bulk of the book, 5 types of lovers(since we needed another “5” of love)...
January 2011
1 post
Book Review - Slave by John MacArthur
“To be a Christian is to be a slave of Jesus Christ.” MacArthur starts and ends his book with the same question- “What does it mean to be a Christian?”. Throughout the book, he brings answers to the question, in a writing style that is part theology, part history. He goes from explaining the history of slavery to how God adopts us as slaves into His kingdom.
I...
November 2010
1 post
...
God loves us with a love marked by giving, not getting.
If he was waiting for something back, he’d be really depressed and mad at me.
but he doesn’t, and he’s not.
it’s a beautiful thing.
October 2010
1 post
Book Review - Love and Respect for a Lifetime by...
(And now we once again briefly interrupt this stagnant blog with a book review…)
Ever wanted peace in your marriage? Ever wanted to actually get along with your spouse?(I know I will when that time comes!). Emerson Eggerichs book is a guide to get pink and blue to make purple in your relationship. This guide will take you through the thoughts and feelings of men and women from the other...
September 2010
4 posts
Book Review - Your Money, God's Way.
(And now we briefly interrupt this stagnant blog with a book review…)
Amie Streater, like any money management guru, started off in debt up to her eyeballs. Your Money, God’s Way is her introspective look at what her and others did wrong, why, and how they fixed it. She uses “counterfeit convictions”, lies we believe about our money, to bring forth solutions for debt...
“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
– Philippians 4:13
I have learned so much about faith/trust this week. So much of me just wants to sit here and pray because I know that God has something fantastic in store for my life.
I just got rejected, and I am so happy. God never has, is, or will let go of me.
August 2010
3 posts
July 2010
1 post
3 tags
Coming Back.
I’m coming back- and I feel like I have so so much to talk about and share, and it’s going to take much time to get out of my crazy brain.
I’m thinking so much lately. Thinking of now, thinking of the past, thinking of future.
Thinking about how I know God’s never let me go,
he’s not going to tomorrow,
he’s not going to ever.
And his one desire is to love...
June 2010
4 posts
So it's been about a week....
since I posted about a week ago.
And to tell you the truth, I’m feeling a little blog-tired. See, I’m busy getting ready to move 12 miles down the road, booking work and trying to fit in the rest of my life.
So I’m taking a blog-cation. Like a vacation for blogging.
I know it’s gonna start now, and I don’t know when it’s going to end, but I know that in...
3 tags
so it's been a week.
It’s been over a week since I last wrote, and I’ve been thinking about lots of things, but for the most part, I’ve been thinking about this nugget my friend Matt gave me:
“Faith is not a feeling”
I’ve just been struggling though not “feeling it”, but I’m in the Bible every day, and I am so blessed.
It’s alot to wrap my head around.
6 tags
Blue, unlike Pop
“I believe that the greatest trick of the devil is not to get us into some sort of evil but rather have us wasting time. This is why the devil tries so hard to get Christians to be religious. If he can sink a man’s mind into habit, he will prevent his heart from engaging God.”
So, over the past week, I haven’t been blogging. If you’ve followed me as close as I...
Slowing Down and Silence
Today I’m just learning to slow down,
be still,
and be silent.
(That’s all).
May 2010
14 posts
3 tags
A great day
I had a great day working today.
It was fantastic.
People were happy.
I am thankful.
Sometimes it doesn’t feel like work when you like it so much.
(I like it so much.)
That’s all for now!
4 tags
Brokenness (is where I need to be)
Last night I was praying.
I’m in a tough place with work. I don’t have much of it.
My pride tells me I need to get moved out of my parent’s house, but I’ve literally contacted everyone I know about work, and lots of people say they want to hire me but there’s no work.
I was telling this to God last night, and I just felt peace.
Peace that it’s going to be...
5 tags
Love
I don’t really know what to write today, so here we go:
Love each other. With love that says, “I understand we are all messed up people”.
Spend time with Jesus.
Love the Bible.
And let all that pour out in your life today.
Because without love we are nothing.
5 tags
Forgiveness and Pride
The reason I struggle with forgiveness is because I struggle with pride. On the surface I think I can appear perfect even though deep down inside I know the truth….or at least most of it.
If, for just one second, I can let go of trying to look like I have it all together, then I can forgive. Then I can actually do what God has called me to do.
After all, Jesus could have saved his own...
5 tags
Patience...and Slowing down.
Anne Jackson wrote an awesome post a couple days ago about slowing down.
I quickly scanned through the words and tried to pick something up on my way through various blogs. I didn’t get much.
Then I talked on the phone for half the day, booked some new work.
Then I ran out the door to hang out with my girlfriend.
Spent those next few hours mostly running around, not stopping to enjoy...
5 tags
Our God
“Our God is greater
our God is stronger
God you are higher than any other.
Our God is healer
awesome in power
Our God, Our God.
And if our God is for us
than who can ever stop us.
And if our God is with us
than what could stand against us?
Think about these words for a few minutes today. This is our God, who we get to serve.
(lyrics by Chris Tomlin)
6 tags
on communication.
Over the past few months I have really been learning a lot about communication.
One day it’s making sure I talk with my boss so we’re on a same page. I learned this the hard way- getting a call saying “you still on for tomorrow?”, when I wasn’t ever confirmed for that date of work.
Other times it’s been between Abby and I- we are a ridiculous couple. God has...
6 tags
On Boundaries
Today is 2 days short of Abby and I’s fifth month dating-versary. I mentioned earlier this week that we are super-glad because we setup some fairly tight physical boundaries.
When we first were dating, we set these boundaries not really knowing why, but we knew God wanted us to, and it seemed like a good idea…then came this passion thing.
We have both developed an incredible amount...
5 tags
An Alternative to Wandering...
So picture this- Abby and I- a young couple working together at a college radio station, organizing CD’s. As the day went by, so did many conversations, about music, life, the internet and oh yeah, our relationship. Me being myself, I decided to be transparent and let her know that I was evaluating other women as they crossed my path, and that she was better(for me) than anyone else...
9 tags
Transparency
I was talking with Abby the other day about how being transparent has become a great ministry for me, and it’s really been a surprising journey.
See, it wasn’t always this easy. I used to struggle a lot, thinking that God wanted me to share my story with people and be transparent, but I’m an introvert. There were many prayers that sounded, “Why God?, why ...
6 tags
What's On My Mind
So, it’s been awhile since I updated you about my personal life, and I sometimes forget that a few people whom I don’t know in real life read this blog, so there might be some holes….
As of next Monday, I will have been dating Abby for 5 months. We’re more in love than ever, and really really glad we set up physical boundaries. We have so much passion for each other,...
6 tags
Encouragement
I’ve been talking with a few hurting people lately, and it’s been reminding me of some great times in the past where I was hurting for myself and other people. Here’s some quick things that God has been reminding me:
Nothing will happen to you that you can’t overcome through Jesus
God has a PERFECT plan for your life, and that includes right now.
God can and will bring...
8 tags
Redemption.
The other day, I opened my email inbox and found something I wasn’t expecting- someone had sent me a personal email confessing some ways they were really messed up. All I could do was remember the redemption that God has given me, and I’m so pumped for this guy because I know God can and will do the same for him.
4 years ago I didn’t even know who God was and was really screwed...
Pride.
So, believe it or not, I have bad days.
That’s right.
Days where I feel like poop.
Like I can’t function.
Like I’m not worth much.
Days when people ask “How’s your day going?” and I answer, “Great!”.
I’m so prideful at times,
not wanting to show anyone that I have hard times…
maybe admitting them when it’s over.
We just...
April 2010
13 posts
8 tags
Freedom
I have so much freedom in Christ. Over the past 4 years God has slowly been teaching me about freedom and I finally feel like I’m in a place where I actually grasp it mostly.
I may sound like a broken record to some of you, but here’s the deal: When you submit to God’s authority in your life, and actually listen to God and do what he says, there is great freedom.
I have never...
4 tags
BOOK REVIEW - The Money Answer Book by Dave Ramsey
“No Matter what: I don’t borrow money. No Matter what: I give a tenth of my income to my local church in the Name of the Lord. No Matter what: I don’t spend over $300 without first talking to my wife.” When I first opened this book, those were the words I read. As I went through the book I found myself quickly bombarded with sound financial advice. This book is a quick guide to a vast variety...
7 tags
Galatians 6
“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” -Galatians 6:10
This is a quick nugget to remember through your day.
Do good to all others.
Every single person.
Even those whom you don’t agree with(I know I’m struggling with that right now!).
Just do good
in love.
7 tags
Galatians 5
“So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” -Galatians 5:16
I love this verse so much.
There are so many days where I struggle with whether or not something is sinful. There are so many little ways that Satan can try to trick us into doing something sinful, and our guard against this is to live by the Spirit.
As this verse says,...
8 tags
Galatians 4
Tonight’s nugget of wisdom comes from Galatians 4:17-18.
”Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you.
Here Paul is pointing out to the Galatians that outside of the church...
8 tags
Galatians 3
Before I get into Galatians 3 tonight, I just want to quickly touch on how grateful I am for this blog. These past few days have been really great knowing that you guys read this and take it to heart, and it’s pushed me further into God’s word so I can bring you something of substance. Thank you!
Tonight’s nugget of Galatians comes from Galatians 3:1-5.
I absolutely love how...
7 tags
Galatians 2
My favorite lesson in Galatians 2 starts in verse 11. Paul starts out with rather bluntly calling out Peter in public on his behavior. See, Peter had been hanging out with the Gentiles, and then some Jews showed up. Though he was saved by Jesus, Paul decided to hang out with the Jews because he was ashamed of changing to believing in Jesus.
I can’t even count how many times I’ve...
6 tags
This Week.
So, on Sunday, the speaker at my church challenged us to read Galatians this week, 1 chapter per day starting Monday. I am blessed that God put that book on my heart last week randomly, so I already read it. This week, as I read it, I am blogging about it every night(or at least, trying to). I’m really excited about slowing down and just doing 1 chapter each day.
As I read over Galatians...
6 tags
Urgency Vs. Importance
Sitting there, by my bed, I couldn’t help but worry about what I might be missing on Facebook or another blog. But the reason I was there wasn’t to catch up on the internet, no, it was to catch up with Jesus, and quite frankly, I wasn’t doing the best job. That’s when I remembered something I had read sometime prior. Urgency vs. importance. I think it may have been in “The War of...
10 tags
my heart's on fire!
I was poking around on my church’s website yesterday, and I came across an awesome analogy on purity. It’s been rocking my world:
“The idea of caution tape, a weak little piece of plastic just seems lame right? Go to a rock concert, it keeps mobs in certain areas. Go to a crime scene, the public dare not cross it. Go to a construction site, grown men know better than to pass...
7 tags
Ripping me to pieces...
“The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they praised God because of me. (1 Galatians 23-24)
This text has been ripping me up for a day or 2. This has been my prayer, just hoping, knowing that Jesus has forgiven me and hoping men have too.
I know that before I knew Jesus I tried to rip Christians apart sometimes. I can...
3 tags
refreshed
feeling refreshed today. I went to this awesome worship service last night. There’s just so many good words to scream to Jesus.
Umm…it a good day.
6 tags
Thinking about Impact
So today my boss said something thought provoking.
“Disco is always happy.”
My work name is Disco Dave(or just Disco, for short).
I try to stay positive always, and I believe that it’s a ministry that God has called me to.
(I learned a lot about positivity going through High School depressed.)
I have observed that just one person can either bring down or perk up the attitude...
March 2010
13 posts
7 tags
Tim Ferris and ADD.
So, over the past few days, I’ve read a book called “The 4-Hour Workweek”, by Tim Ferris. And while I don’t subscribe to everything he says, I got a ton out of it, the first of which I’ve been test-driving for a couple days now.
I have begun checking email only twice a day(at 12 noon and bedtime). I only check twitter at those times too(except for DM’s), and...
5 tags
What I'm thinking about today.
Here’s a little paraphrased nugget from my pastor yesterday.
“Pride is telling you that everyone else needs to change.”(Ken Landis)
I’d never thought of it that way before.
When we tell ourselves that someone else needs to change, it’s pride in our hearts, because that means we don’t have to do anything! It’s the easy way out, every time.
So this pride...
6 tags
God's Standards
So I’ve been thinking…
God’s standards are perfection. Think Jesus-like perfection.
We can’t do that. And there are many times when I drop my standards so that I can be comfortable, all knowing that God isn’t calling me to be comfortable.
Call me a hypocrite. Whatever, I already know about that. Unless you’re Jesus, you’re one too.
But that can’t stop me from being a hypocrite who...