OK- I’m not currently watching Spidey 2—-but I did see it last night at 12:01 AM and IT WAS AWESOME! I can’t tell you too much about it for fear of giving anything away, but I must say for entertainment’s sake, it was undoubtably the best movie I’ve seen all year. Obviously, I will forever be impacted by The Passion of the Christ–which is why I say, for entertainment’s sake…Mike Janke told me before hand that Roper (of Ebert and Roper) said it was the best super-hero film of all time, or something like that, and I totally agree! It was exponentially superior to the first film. It was like watching Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade after seeing the Temple of Doom…it was so much better than the first! Holy Smoke you gotta go see it…ten thumbs up!

Planned for God’s Pleasure (Chapter 8 of the Purpose Driven Life). Excellent chapter…I love how Rick Warren flows through all of this information with subtle confrontation that doesn’t really feel confrontational–it’s more just matter-of-fact. Worship isn’t music-worship isn’t a style of music-there are no Christian songs, only Christian lyrics-God didn’t preserve any musical notes in the BIble, just text-it is not what we do but HOW we do it that matters to God. Changing a poopy diaper can be worshipful if I do it with the right attitude and I am talking to the Lord! What a concept! Oh yeah, and God invented all styles of music so He loves it all! (except maybe country… just kdding!)

Ooh- and worship is not for your (our/my) benefit…great point. BUT my favorite part of this chapter says the following:
“In Isaiah 29 God complains about worship that is half-hearted and hypocritical. The people were offering God stale prayers, insincere praise, empty words, and man-made rituals without even thinking about the meaning. GOD HEART IS NOT TOUCHED BY TRADITION IN WORSHIP, BUT BY PASSION AND COMMITMENT. The Bible says, ‘These people come near to me with tier mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.’ ” (emphasis added)

SO AWESOME!

God is so good- I want to fall in love with Jesus, not just muddle through life going through the motions…

see you later…oh yeah- and Christy is having another crazy week…she was up all hours of the night last night freaking out about the nursery stuff…just go to sleep crazy woman!

Last night we studied James 2–talking about putting our faith into action. It was some dynamite stuff! Every week, to go along with the study, the authors give you a scripture passage per day to corroborate the point(s) of the study. But today was a little different, and GOOD diffferent.
Today I read 1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore, encourage one another, and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” And instead of building up the points from the study last night, it just simply gave some practical instruction. Encourage. Build up. Make this the first thing you do when you put your faith into action.

I also loved the phrase, “Our faith is not determined by what we do, it is demonstrated by what we do.” Good stuff…

Chapter 7 of the Purpose Driven Life. Incredible. This chapter was one of the first to really grab me the first time I read through this book, and it still my favorite in the book. The very first time through I was so impacted by it that I got up, got a pen, and just started underlining TONS of stuff. I’m not exactly sure why, but the fact that we were created to bring glory to God just resonates with me. It’s something I’ve felt for a long time, and it is so nice to see someone else say something you’ve thought about before but never really nailed down in your mind…it just gives you this feeling like “YES!”

Gosh, I just re-read the above paragraph and it sounds really arrogant. Hopefully you know that’s not what I mean…that chapter just really spoke to me…and God is still speaking…I must find enless ways today to bring glory to Him…and encourage and build up those around me!

I don’t like this album as much as Mike Janke. He loves it, I just don’t…not yet, I guess…

Romans 15:7 “Accept one another, then , just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”

So, not only does showing love to all people bring praise to God, but it is the purposeful action of modeling oursleves after Christ that brings glory to Him. A simple idea, but it is just sticking with me today–it is not just what we do, but HOW we do what we do. It comes down to our attitude/heart.

Man, I really try not to show favoritism to anybody, but I’m not sure I am succeeding. I’ve gotta pray that God will keep me in check…This is the last scripture on favoritism for this week-tonight we start a new topic for next week…

I read chapter six from PDL–it’s titled “Life is a Temporary Assignment” I’ve never really connected with stuff that focuses on life in Heaven. Maybe I’m too young? I don’t know. I just don’t think about life after death yet, I guess cause I feel like the Lord has me here for a while. Maybe that’s stupid or crazy, but singing songs like “When the Roll is Called up Yonder” or “Sweet By and By” just don’t speak to me.

Nevertheless, I don’t connect with this chapter like I do others, but there is still great things to take from it. For instance, when you think of life on earth being temporary, it really can give you better perspective on, perhaps, how you spend your money-or how you treat people. Gaining accolades and accomplishing things that the people of this earth hold value on seems less important. I don’t really need a Master’s degree, or to become a film composer, or whatever. But more simply…How can You use me today, Lord?

just a thought…

BTW- I love songs on this album “Amazed” and “Everyone”- awesome!

I started reading the PD Life again (i think this in the third time through in a couple of years) and it is good to be reminded the truths contained in this one. Rick Warren is really a God-gifted communicator.

Today is Chapter 5- Seeing Life From God’s View. (Oh yeah, and if you haven’t read this book, go get it NOW) Life is a TEST and life is a TRUST. It really does help to put your life and all of your circumstances in perspective when you just view your problems as tests from God. My back is KILLING me lately, I really am trying to exercise, but I can’t because of the pain. My joints and my arms & legs hurt as a result. TEST. My computer at work failed to boot on Thursday morning (computer IS life…) TEST. Yikes, I’ve probably been failing some tests lately…

Memory verse this week: James 2:8-9 “If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.”

This one comes out of the PD small group study on James. It’s dynamite! This week’s study is on not showing favoritism. This is week five of a 12 week study-and everything so far has been super-incredible. What a time of growth! And PD stuff is so practical. It really makes a difference.

Off to face a day full of tests….

Oh yeah- and Mike thinks he’s better than he really is at Nertz. He only wins when i start to get tired (usually at our game nights at about 10:30 PM)

WOW! We just got back from seeing the broadway show “Movin’ Out” and it was fabulous! Not at all what Christy or I expected-but as a BIlly Joel fan (and a die-hard one at that) I was more than pleased. It was excellent! The guy who sang/played the piano for the show did an outstanding job. And get this-it’s all ballet…Nutcracker-shmutcracker, if you’re gonna see ballet, see it put to 24 of Billy Joel’s best songs. I am hard to please and i am very pleased! Good work everyone…I hope this show stays around for a long time…

Hello to all. This is my first entry. I probably won’t say much whenever I write, but I plan to put some info on here on a semi-regular basis about what God is teaching me in my personal time with Him. I hope you are encouraged when/if you read! Oh yeah, and BabyPraise…I think Noah is addicted. I may be currently watching that one a lot…hasta for now.