poison ivy

don't get it.
under any circumstances.
it is never worth it.

my skin is on fire.

another moment

i've only been home 2 weeks, and i've quickly moved back into helping out at our youth group. the worship leader, josh, has been taking us through a 4 week series about worship and its purpose.

tonight, he specifically talked about how we worship in a corporate setting, and how important it is to not hold back. to not be afraid; a good lesson for everyone to relearn, not just the students.

the order of the songs went

undignified
salvation is here
here i am to worship
o praise him
blessed be your name
you never let go

at the end of o praise him and into blessed be your name, i started to lose it. tears of joy just poured out as i realized how God works in us. i was reminded about how salvation is not just a moment, but process. how God is gradually working all the crap out of my life to make more room for Him.

and then the band started blessed be your name. more tears. more joy. in the wake of God taking away something that i thought for sure was going to be the next big step of my life, a step towards a career, towards consistent earnings, a step towards preparing for the future; with all of that gone, i realized what has been given to me here. being and worshiping with mckinna. developing deeper community with josh and jami. seeing how God is working in a church that i had a huge chip on my shoulder towards.

i hope again.

as nathan says, "we serve an Easter God." a God who doesn't let death win out. a God who brings new life and who is continuing to restore our souls in such a deep and profound way that i don't understand, but i know its happened, and i know it is continuing to happen.

salvation is here
cos You are alive
and You live in me

may our lives be a joyous noise to and for a Creator. One who continues to create new life, and new hope, and new joy in our lives. One who works in us while we are unaware of it. One who brings us out of the darkness after we have wrestled with our demons, and have faced ourselves, so that we know beyond a shadow of a doubt whose we are. His. and only His.

be good to each other. look at Christ. peace.

demolition

i'm working at my mom's store for the time being. tearing apart the second floor of their building before its remodeled. there's something cathartic about demolition work. tearing something apart so that something beautiful and new can be built in its place.

plus i really enjoy construction. i don't think i could do it for a living, but its not totally out of the question. i just love to build things. take it slow. enjoy the process of it all.

oh yeah, and i get free lunch cos it's my mom's store.

thats a great bonus.

its good to be home.

m

wow, henri

"When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand." - Henri Nouwen

i know i know. i'm on quote kick. but these are really good.

more eckhart

"Some people want to see God with their eyes as they see a cow, and to love Him as they love their cow - for the milk and cheese and profit it brings them. This is how it is with people who love God for the sake of outward wealth or inward comfort. They do not rightly love God, when they love Him for their own advantage. Indeed, I tell you the truth, any object you have in your mind, however good, will be a barrier between you and the inmost Truth." - Meister Eckhart

how bout them apples?

chew on this

"People should not worry as much about what they do but rather about what they are. If they and their ways are good, then their deeds are radiant. If you are righteous, then what you do will also be righteous. We should not think that holiness is based on what we do but rather on what we are, for it is not our works which sanctify us but we who sanctify our works." - Meister Eckhart

what's good about home

my love - mckinna
better communication
family
my mom's birthday
cooler weather
new ministry opportunities
my dog - chewy
going deeper with old friends
people who don't let me settle
bean-o
sangria
dunhill red's
giant zebra eye print
my brother's hair
3 hour game of tennis
superman returns
the breakup
sleeping in
a moment to reflect
fireworks
bellydancers who should never ever belly dance
parades
rooftops
muldoon's

i'd say that its been a good start.

the confessional: independence day

click on the title for a great read on independence day.
i don't usually post links to other posts, but this is brilliant.
so check it out.

m