maturity

All this talk about accellerated maturity here at ozark, and yet, I don't see alot of it. Our conversations are ''less than spiritual'', and in the dorms :and sometimes outside them: we cuss as we discuss sex, drinking, and other ''forbidden things''.

Worship

It's kinda funny. All day i've been meaning to post on my blog about how bad the worship team was on wednesday night at church and how we botched my 2nd favorite worship song (Hosanna), and yet, now i'm here and, it doesn't matter. The students were worshipping. I had an encounter with God myslef later that night. Heaven forbid we have a spiritual experiance originating somwhere besides a hillsong song. The Lord will be praised. regardless of whether we are the ones doing or the rocks on the ground in our place, the Lord WILL be praised.

Who you Are ~Unknown

At the foot of the cross
I stare in Amazement.
My hands they reach up
I know that your real.
As my sin comes in contact
with your perfect nature
I'm changed, I'm cleansed,
and I'm healed

I am Changed by your love
I'm am Cleansed with your blood
I am healed just to know who you are...
Who you are...

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
~Eph. 2:4-10

I've missed having cats at college...

The slow moments at QuikTrip

Today I went back to work at QT. I got to work with my old manager and, surprisingly, with an old friend. I got to re-enter the world of retail, a world of corporate structure, of policies and procedures and standards. It was somewhat refreshing to once again be surrounded by structure that I was not responsible for. And yet, since my store was located in North Tulsa, I saw up close the reason I went to school in the first place.

I saw Emma, who stole some money from her parents(before they could buy drugs) and came to buy food for herself and her brother.

I saw a young girl come in and buy condoms so she could express her love to her boyfriend...little did she know what was in store.

I saw a young man come in and try very hard to be gangster. I could have done better. This young man was black. But that is his culture, and he was trying so hard to just fit in.

These people are who God has called me too. He won't let me escape them. I found them first in dallas. Then in Tulsa. Then in Mexico, and even in Joplin Missouri! The young ones, with so much future, so much life, so much potential. The ones who are broken, and helpless. When I see them, and think about them, I understand Chris DeWelt's passion for missions. The plight of Inner city youth brings tears to my eyes.

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
~James 1:27

Lets do it, Lets Fall in Love

Love is a profound mystery. It keeps you awake at nights and makes you daydream throughout the days. And the whole world becomes beautiful when you find that someone special to fall in love with. But it is easy to fall in love and difficult to keep it alive through the course of a relationship.

********

When the little bluebird
Who has never said a word
Starts to sing Spring
When the little bluebell
At the bottom of the dell
Starts to ring
Ding dong Ding dong
When the little blue clerk
In the middle of his work
Starts a tune to the moon up above
It is nature that is all
Simply telling us to fall in love

And that's why birds do it, bees do it
Even educated fleas do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love

Cold Cape Cod clams, 'gainst their wish, do it
Even lazy jellyfish do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love

I've heard that lizards and frogs do it
Layin' on a rock
They say that roosters do it
With a doodle and cock

Some Argentines, without means do it
I hear even Boston beans do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love

When the little bluebird
Who has never said a word starts to sing
Spring spring spring
When the little bluebell
At the bottom of the dell
Starts to ring
Ding ding ding
When the little blue clerk
In the middle of his work
Starts a tune
The most refined lady bugs do it
When a gentleman calls
Moths in your rugs they do it
What's the use of moth balls
The chimpanzees in the zoos do it,
Some courageous kangaroos do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love

I'm sure sometimes on the sly you do it
Maybe even you and I might do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love

needless

All my stressing, All my Worrying, was absolutely needless.

The retreat was great.

Today

Its here. Today is the day. Is all of my planning coming to fruition? is all of my hard work going to pay off? Am I going to be satisfied?

But wait, why did I even plan this retreat in the first place? To serve God. To spread the Good News of his Son.

So the better question is, Will I give the credit to God? Will I step off of my Pedestool and let God rule like he does anyway?

Surprisingly good time

Today I spent time with, laughed with, and enjoyed being with someone I never thought I would. It was both refreshing and convicting. I was so sure this person was not worth my time.

And once again, Pride rears its ugly head...

Story time

Once upon a time, there was a valiant knight, the greatest warrior in the kingdom. He attended an arena fight, and he brought along his lover, a very beautiful woman. He was deeply in love with her, and to illustrate he kissed her fervently throughout the battle. In sheer hardness of heart, she threw her glove into the arena with the gladiators and ferocious beasts, and said to him, "If you truly love me, you'll go and fetch my glove".

At no small risk to his own safety, he immediately entered the arena and recovered her glove and returned to his seat. Then, seeing her true character revealed, all of his love for her became contempt, and he threw her glove in her face. The King noticed this act of bravery, and discernment of character, and publicly honored the knight, shamed the woman, and offered his daughter in marriage to him for his service, wisdom, and of course the entertainment. The knight fell in love quickly with his new wife, Loved her fervently and passionately, and they lived happily ever after.