The Finish Line of Thoughts

Sun up
Lids open
Covers removed
My thoughts start racing
I think one cheated
Steroids I presume
First place: the thought of concern
For I overslept my class

Hunger
Stole second
Resulting in
1 and 1/2 Poptarts
And a steak and cheese Hot Pocket

Forgetfullness
Tripped rememberance
And completed the race
Rendering me helpless
To attend my second class

Wearing a onesie
Goggles
And carrying a duck
Which might
Or might not
Have been stolen
Stupidity dove across the finish line
Provoking me to pour
Syrup into my mug
And milk onto my
Waffles that I am currently attempting to eat

Today is a Good Day.

God has made us unique in the way we think and create. It is so amazing how BIG God is and how many ways He seems to get through to us. I feel like any way I look at it, my human nature seems to put Him in a box. Maybe I can try to expand that box until the edges are no longer seen.

I'm gonna switch modes a little bit. I want to post some writings, poems and pictures...and I guess whatever comes to mind. Enjoy.

I Like God. He's Big.

Beneath scattered trees
Sat the pebble
Alone, awake, deafened
By the upbeat music
The pounding rain produced

Fleet footed
Flickering lights signaled
The clashing echoes
Of shattering thunders
Marching through the forests

There they found
Pride had fled
And sat
The humble pebble
Held up by the mountain


Most who do know God, desire to know Him personally. We constantly strive to be intimately close to our father so that we can whisper and hear His whispers. We wake up early to meet Him, and climb mountains to find Him. It is good that we are searching with persistence. Almost forcefully we try our best to meet God, in our time, and on our terms. God wants us to be close; and thus, rightly so, we begin to expect, and expect, and expect. But what if while we are expecting…..we begin to forget?

God is huge. We can’t imagine how great. Picture in your head everyone in the world standing next to one another. Hah! I bet you couldn’t. Well God is so big that He created all of those people that you couldn’t picture, as well as all of the people who no longer live. The God we serve is the same God that Moses and Elijah served. He is the same God who challenges Job. Read the beginning of Job chapter 38 and let that reshape your image of the Lord.

Perhaps before we expect to meet God on a personal level, we should assimilate what a privilege it is. He doesn’t have to meet us. Maybe He would appreciate it if we occasionally acknowledge His splendor before, during, after, or while we meet Him.

Okay bye.

Brainwashed: a photographically cured doubt

• My doubt was simple. But maybe it was more of a fear. What if my faith is just a brainwashing? The more books I read about God, the more I believe. The more I surround myself with Christians, the more I live like they do. I’m told how to deal with my questions, “If you have doubts it’s the enemy and it would be best to just ignore.” Well what if I don’t want to ignore?What if I have doubts because I’m believing a lie? Don’t tell me not to question!

Here’s what I mean. You are in a philosophy class and your professor tells you that money is the key to happiness. He also tells you that anyone who tells you different is only trying to discourage you . You then spend your free time discussing, reading, and strategizing how to make money. You have now thrown yourself into a life of money but have forgotten the most important part….discovering whether money is in fact the key to happiness. Your mind is being trained by a lie.

• So this led me to believe that this way of thinking is wrong; that maybe saturating our lives with God can lead to a fenced in belief so caught up in itself that it leaves no room for failure. And then I met photography…
  

I love the idea of photography and I love photography. There’s something significant about being able to combine my mind and God’s creation. At first I thought that by not knowing anything about taking pictures, I would be unrestricted. But as I read, practiced, and talked to others about photography my mind became more and more trained. Trained….but not restricted. I could do more than I ever imagined possible. I found that as I surrounded myself with photography, the more I understood my passions/perspectives and the more freedom I had to reach to those passions/perspectives. And now my doubt is cured…

• So I was scared that I was being brainwashed. But maybe God created our minds this way; to be influenced by our surroundings. Just because it can be a bad thing does not mean it can’t be a good thing. I voluntarily brainwashed my mind with photography. And now that I have seen through my flesh into the reality of our God, I will voluntarily brainwash my mind with Jesus.
  

I know there is something in here that you either don’t agree with or isn't clear ….tell me what it is.

Are You Becoming?

Each step suggests
Lack of focus
An enslaved mind
Remains ensnared
Breath and body
Breed indulgence
Glimpse of glory
Exposes error

Purpose paved path
One sacred soul
Limitless love
Found free of pride
Clean conscious proved
Complete control
Surrendered life
Stands glorified

Exodus 34: 29-35 speaks of when Moses would come down from Mount Sinai after speaking to God. The Israelites became fearful when they saw that Moses’ face was, “…radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.” He then put a veil over his head until he entered the Lord’s presence.

2 Corinthians 3:18 “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

I’m not sure if what I am going to say will ring true with everyone…….actually, I don’t know if it will ring true with anyone. But this is what I have learned over the last few months, so I want to share what I am passionate about.

What I’ve noticed: I’ve come to realize that when I feel stale or bored in my relationship with God it usually stems from a reoccurring problem. I am not becoming. I am not allowing myself to be transformed by the Spirit of God. It’s as if I’m waiting; maybe to hear something new, or for something big to happen. I’m simply not content……

What I’ve learned: Never will I be content in what I AM during the process, because I am not yet what I am intended to be. I find my purpose, passion, and fulfillment in the PROCESS of being formed by God; the continual shaping of me.

Thoughts: Selfish? At first I thought it was; why am I focusing on myself? Well now I know that thought is stupid. Why? Because to be transformed, one must put aside fleshly desires and allow God to be the controller of your life. As you are becoming who you are meant to be your life can better radiate God’s glory. I sure hope that’s not selfish.

I dare you to try it: Ask God how He wants to change you. Maybe He wants you to remove something from your life, or to practice being humble, loving, joyful, patient, obedient, fearless, or faithful. It could be anything I guess. Maybe it’s something obvious or something intricate.

Here’s the tricky part. Wait for an answer. Silently wait. I promise He will answer. He promises He will answer. I’m sure very few will do this, but it is so so so worth it.

Your Thoughts: Do you disagree with anything? What are some ways God has transformed you so your face can shine brighter? Do you agree with the ‘What I’ve learned' section? How often do you sit in silence awaiting God’s voice and has it been worth it?
“You think we can actually be radiant like Moses with an unveiled face?”

Spring Break

Sorry I was on spring break, which means I'm not allowed to do work. But here is something for you to think about...

To me it's always a good idea to carry two sacks of something when you walk around. That way, when somebody says, "Hey can you give me a hand?" You can say, "Sorry, got these sacks."

-Deep thoughts by Jack Handey

We (campus crusade for Christ at Radford) went on a "mission trip" to D.C. for almost a week. It was awesome. Crazy stuff happened. Now i'm back to the "mission trip" of real life, which I guess is similarly different.

Dear God,

I’m sorry for what I have let our communication become. You have blessed me with an eternity that I consistently fail to recognize. Though You live in me, I limit You to our scheduled meeting times; most of which I do not attend. Sadly my intentions to meet with You are not because I love You, but because I want You to “fill me up”. My mind classifies the event of Talking With God under the category of My To Do list, and places the event 3rd or 4th. When I get around to talking AT You, I am so distracted by other thoughts that our five minutes I aimed for is generally cut to about one and a half. Instead of telling You why I am distracted, I insist on forcing out meaningless words. I ignore my passions and embrace the expected prayers. I ignore my pains and send You my complaints. I hide my lack of faith by praying for generalities, and give You half the credit for half of the answered requests. Not only do I forget what I talked to You about, but I don’t even try to remember. I come to you with questions because I am too lazy to look in Your book of answers. I get more excited about eating breakfast than reading about You. When You speak I’m not listening. When You scream I rebel. When I hear silence I grumble, and I mistake Your whispers for myself.

Tentatively I apologize out of fear of reoccurrence, but I boldly state that I am willing to change. Living this way has produced a numbed voyage in a muddled quest to know You, and has formed in me the hardest of hearts. No longer will I TRY to assemble an expected, reproduced relationship. Nor will I pretend to comprehend the approach to loving You Jesus. I am simply pursuing my deepest craving. I WANT YOU.