Archive — Responding to God
18 Nov
Seeking to Pursue
Recently I went on a trip with some friends I like to hang out with. We were all sitting around one night and I asked my buddies, “What do you think it takes to grow in your relationship with Christ?”
Now I asked the question to stir up some conversation, but I have to admit I was very surprised at their answers. When I say “surprised,” I’m not referring to the good kind of “surprised.” I was saddened how they responded. My heart was hurt and I felt so discouraged. Their answers focused on church attendance on Sundays and “being a good person” the rest of the week. No one mentioned pursuing the love that God gives or becoming more aware of the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. The best word I can find in the Bible to describe the type of growing I was talking about is “seeking.”
I discovered that the word “seek” appears in the Bible more than 150 times. In order to grow in our relationship with Christ we must pursue that growth, and want it.
14 Nov
Sunday Morning Shoes
Sunday morning. Alarm clock rings. I swing my arm down upon the snooze button; a momentary lapse in noise, a momentary lapse in judgment. A few minutes of restless quiet envelope my sleepy frame before reality smacks me in the face. It is Sunday morning. It is SUNDAY morning! I am going to be late for church!
3 Oct
Burning Ring of Fire
When you are a male, there is an instinct that attracts you to fire. With danger involved and possible destruction, man is drawn to fire like a teenage girl to a shoe sale. However, every once and a while, man underestimates the power of fire.
A couple years ago, I was hanging out with several friends at my parents’ house. When it started to get dark, someone eagerly suggested we use the fire pit in the back yard, and I jumped at the opportunity.
26 Sep
Rock and Roll…
I was having one of those days where I couldn’t seem to stay awake. After class I went out to my car and started driving home. When I finally pulled up to the apartment complex, beautiful thoughts were beginning to fill my head: Thoughts of my soft pillow; thoughts of my quiet room; thoughts of the giant rock right in front of me. GIANT ROCK?!
22 Sep
It’s all Greek to Me…
Blood ran thick with battle lust. The line between friend and foe became blurred. The fierce would defeat the fainthearted in pursuit of the ultimate prize. There would be casualties, but that is the price of war. It was sixth grade class presentations and only one set of parents would be left standing.
17 Sep
Dare to Compare
Last evening a rodeo evangelist spoke at my church. Yes, you read that right. A “rodeo evangelist.” Before he began, I wondered how I could relate to what he would have to say, but as I listened I was delighted by his passion for sharing the gospel in such a unique way.
16 Sep
Wishing and Waiting
Have you ever had the wonderful fortune of taking a trip to your local Department of Motor Vehicles? Well let me tell you, it’s a party! Make sure you bring something to entertain you and clear your schedule for the day because you’ll be there for awhile —regardless of what it is you’re there for.
7 Sep
The Hills Are Alive! And They Took My Pride…
Several years ago I fell in love with the idea of snowboarding. I knew how to ski, but my teenage spirit yearned for new thrills (and boots that didn’t make me walk like a robot). I immediately jumped at an opportunity to take lessons with my brother and a couple of our best friends.
27 Aug
Still Our Choice
Last Sunday my pastor preached an awesome sermon on the “Posture of Purity” from Psalm 141. People were visibly moved by the challenge, and I heard many solemn comments about his request for us to grade ourselves on six areas: prayer, worship, words, emotions, thoughts, and our relationships with Jesus. It was evident that many of us felt conviction and realized the need for change in our lives. But as the week has gone on, I wonder how many have put their thoughts into actions?
5 Aug
Childhood Games
When I was little my favorite game to play was hide and seek. It was my favorite because I was good at it! I could fit in those hiding spots that people wouldn’t even think to look at! In my early days of playing hide and seek, if I wasn’t found I would get tired of waiting and just come on out. Sometimes I would make funny sounds to try and be found after what seemed like an eternity of waiting! As I played more and more though, I developed a love for being unfound, and could stay in my spot all day!
