Yes...I Am Still Alive

It has a been a while...and a few things have changed.

I am no longer in school. I just could not handle a full-time job, family responsibilities, church responsibilities and a band at the same time. Robin is almost finished with her degree so I will wait until she is working before I decide what my next move will be.

As of now...I think I may go to nursing school. More on that later. I just wanted to take a moment and actually update this thing.

I Live...

Yes...I am still alive. Things have been rather busy for me lately so I have refrained from popping in just to re-post some video or blog that I saw somewhere else.

I am deep into my first semester of seminary. I take classes online in 8 week sections. I finished the first section with a 97 in my class. I am taking two classes this section and am finding it much more challenging. I knew I would...but it is always an eye-opener to actually experience your deepest fears come to life.

My band (Denied 3 Times or D3X) is doing well. We're playing 2-3 times a month and have a show this Saturday. The four of us have a musical chemistry that is often hard to find. We also like each other...a lot. Our band also serves as our spiritual small group and our therapy. It is good to have that kind of support system.

I am still struggling with total surrender to God's will...but I think we all probably are. I look forward to next summer when (hopefully) I will finish this degree and I wonder what I should pursue? Do I look for a position in an already established ministry...or do I seriously look at planting a new congregation here? I do not know yet. I guess I will just have to wait and see. That is something that I am definitely not good at.

God, the Gospel, and Glenn Beck

God, the Gospel, and Glenn Beck

What Stops My Prayers From Getting Through?

Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

Isaiah 59:1-2 (ESV)

God managed to create the world without my help. I think it is safe to assume that He can handle anything that I may encounter in my brief time here on Earth. However...I have somehow forgotten that little bit of information. Whenever things don't go quite the way I want them to I get upset and wonder where God has gotten off to. How could He leave me in some of the messes that I have found myself in?

The prophet Isaiah gives us a pretty good idea. Sometimes we offend God and He turns His face away from us. Sometimes our sinful lifestyles cause such a separation between us and our Creator that He must turn a deaf ear.

Sin keeps our prayers from being answered. I don't think there's any other way to put it. That sure is a lot to think about...especially when it feels like my prayers are getting nowhere.

Marty Cauley: Creating a Third Place...

Marty Cauley: Creating a Third Place...: "Indigenous Jesus What A Third Place Looks Like What would a truly indigenous community look like? It would be a 'third place.' A third pl..."

The Ground Zero Debate: Exaggerating the Jihadist Threat

The Ground Zero Debate: Exaggerating the Jihadist Threat

Very interesting (and reasonable) take on the latest hot button issue to come across the wire.

Starbucks "Glen" Survivor Commercial