We're Back

We're back. Again. And this time for good. It has come to our attention that we really enjoyed doing this thing, and for some reason (life, girlfriends...Cole, not me...and others things) we just got off a rhythm of it. We are hoping that doesn't happen again. There are 2 main reasons we come back. NUMBER 1. Although, not many read it, I feel like there are times it is more for us than it is for anyone else. I hope that many do read it, and continue to help us form our opinions on things. Quite honestly, sometimes it just feels good to know that there are others out there that feel the same way that we do. I said it in the very first post a couple years back. We hope that this is a time where you can come and just be real. Be honest with yourself, because that's what we hope to accomplish through this. It is amazing to me looking back because Cole and I have grown up so much since then, and some of our ideals, thoughts, and opinions might have changed (I still hate Valentine's Day). Even with that said, we hope this this will be a real spot. Life very rarely makes real sense, and one thing is for sure, we are all in this predicament together. So let's have some fun! Blogging is kind of retarded if you don't have anyone to share it with. So I want to plug a couple for you to read. On the side, you can see the ones that we appreciate. Also, because I am too lazy to update it right now, you should look into these.

wilsonwayoflife.wordpress.com - Kyle and Lil Wilson
calebandchristie.wordpress.com - Caleb and Christie Wright
theplumiers.wordpress.com - Jordan and Sammy Plumier
brendonfoulke.com (man he's arrogant, who has a website of their name)

If you want your name on the list, and we don't already follow you...or anything like that. Just Comment it. We'll post it. Cole and I love all you guys very much, and the greatest thing we could ever do is help everyone stay connected with each other.

NUMBER 2. The more and more I grow up, the more and more I am realizing that things will never be the same. I graduate with a lot of good friends in less than a month. We are growing up. That sucks. It means, a lot less seeing each other, getting in the normal life cycle and just becoming busy, and priority changing. As much as I do not want that to happen it is. So in my view, this is the way to keep up with each other. Tonight I got to talk to my friend until about 4 AM on his balcony about how awesome our group of friends were. We got into talking about how we are so close, we do not even have to tell each other how we feel because we all just know. That being said, I understand we do not talk as often as we used to, or even should. Let these little blogs be a help and a reminder of what we all mean to each other. I know the phrase is beaten like a dead horse, but let's do life together. This is our way of edifying, helping, and encouraging one another. And for the love of all that is Holy, let's pray that Serb doesn't start a blog...

I love you guys.

Lama.

Cole Agrees.

I Think.

Anger and Grace

He(God) hated evil/sin so much that He placed it all on the shoulders of His son so that grace and mercy may be abundant in leading to life thereafter with Him. Author Timothy J. Stoner writes how grace and mercy would not exist without anger. How true it is that God is an angry God but His anger is not fashioned in human hatred. His anger is just, shining through because of His overarching love for mankind. His anger stems from complete separateness. It targets the sex offenders, murderers, kidnappers, rapist, idol worshipers, child abusers, corporate abusers, false teachers, and the list goes on. To be more specific.....He hates sin. It's difficult because of pride, but i must throw myself in with the people that have these such titles. Now enter grace that is so far from deserving. Somehow repeated failures lead to repeated mercies. Once again God defies logic. Now enter the cross. The cross is where Gods love and hate come together to form an ultimate triumphal love. Gods anger is not gone, it is broke by the broken body of Christ. I'm blessed to have a God with such loving anger because i know He is going to fight for me. In conclusion i will fight for Him.

Something

Recently in our community a child passed away because of head trauma. The death hit close to home with one of my work associates. Our employees were devastated to hear the news. It was in that devastation that i was asked a very difficult question. One of my superiors questioned why God allowed the passing to take place. She asked me my thoughts. I gave the best answer that i could in the moment but wish i had more time to talk to her personally about the subject. I reflected for some time after i encountered the question and came up with something i would like to share. In moments of death, especially accidental deaths like this one, my faith is God is strengthened in a strange way. To me it almost enhances the truth of the word of God. God created something perfect and is working His way back to that perfection through His Spirit and through His Son. I recently read a devotional about parents grief. It talked about how there is no greater suffering than losing a child. At the time i thought the devotional meant nothing to me because i found the application to be difficult. Now i realize that in Gods perfect plan he issued on Himself the greatest suffering a parent could endure. God mapped out the suffering and brutal death of His only child so that sinners like me could be forever with Him. God gave us free will for a reason. He gave us the responsibility to make choices. God is in control but does not control. Without the ability to make free choices we lose the ability to love.... God is Love. Love requires faith. God requires both.

Encourage

Sometimes i find myself in places of rest surrounded by people that know how to encourage. This past weekend i stumbled upon one of those places. It is in these places that i begin to notice little things that God has done in my life. I walk away from experiences like this weekend with a greater since of the reality of God. It makes me wonder why Christians are not encouraging each other all of the time. Encouragement leads to courage. It is courage that comes from our hearts that gives us the ability to start taking small steps towards greater things for our creators kingdom. I don't know about you, but i want that kind of courage.

The Last Word Is Rejoice

How will I drink from that stream
How will my heart sing your praise
How will I lay down in green grass fields
When my soul is so afraid to

Rejoice.

Wait Out the Days

"Often we speak about love as if it were a feeling. But if we wait for a feeling of love before loving, we may never learn to love well"- Henri Nouwen. The idea of love being an action is essential to the life of a believer. As human beings we want to be loved. To experience love we must attempt to love first. It is difficult and frustrating for me to find ways to portray love in some of my surroundings. Love can show up in the minuscule things of life. 1 Peter 4:8-9 says, "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling." I remember this verse because of the difficulty of its command. Verse 9 uses the term grumbling which is the same word used to describe what the Israelites were doing when with Moses (Exodus 16:8). The Israelite people grumbled to a God that was giving them food to eat miraculously. This is just one example of how difficult it is to love at all times but at the same time is a great example of God breaking the rules of human love. God loves us even when we do not have the experience of loving Him first. This is true love, a love that makes us His beloved.

Love Each Other Deeply
Bear

Reinventing Your Impact

"Wherever you go preach the gospel, only when necessary use words" ~ St. Francis of Assisi.