You remember me before I learned to run

Last sunday at manchester, Bob Hay was making a point and I remember him saying something along the lines of, "whether youre a kid, senior adult, spouse, or student." And I sat there thinking, I am none of those things! I've had this conversation with several people lately. Maybe that's why I feel the need to express my thoughts. Being a single 20-something adult type person who works is like being homeless. I feel like we have a disease ya know. I mean those single/career/young professionals classes in sunday school are kind of a new thing to the church i feel like. That's not always been a category. We (and by we i mean I) never treat singleness as a blessing. Or if I have that thought for 2 seconds, it either leaves quickly or I'm actually lying when I say it. Singleness is always that stage of constantly trying to make yourself feel better by saying things like, "God has the right person waiting for me somewhere in the future." And then there are those books like "Do you think im beautiful?" which I own, and "Lady in Waiting." Those are good books. I think. Especially girls, have shelves of self-help books on the dating topic to get us through until Mr. Right comes along. I really want to get married, don't get me wrong. I'm just sick of thinking this time of my life is just some waiting stage until something better comes along to give me purpose. I mean who has time for that? I want to start treating singleness as a blessing, not a reason for a doctor's appointment. And then there's that whole thing about being out of college and working. For four years in college, life is wonderful and you think that's what real life actually is. Well it aint. And I've only been out of college for about 8 months, so I'm no expert. But having a routine job, a whole different set of responsibilites, and usually a different group of friends is quite different from anything else prior to this point in life. You actually have to go to bed earlier because you technically have to be able to function at work the next morning. I don't always follow that rule. But I get by ok. What I'm trying to say is that this stage, if you ever experience it, is a very different part of life. One that I've hated since May 10th. But with a lot of time with the Lord and talking with friends who are feelin me on this too, I've learned that it's a huge blessing. A lot of character building has happened, I've realized I have way more emotions than I thought, and I've learned again and again who I have no choice but to rely on.

This year will be better than the last

I don't think I've ever had a new years resolution. I mean maybe one time when I was a troubled teen out to make my life better, but I've always just thought them to be lame. No real reason why I thought that. I figure that I can't really say they are lame without ever having one though. So in order to meet myself half-way, I've come up with a few suggestions. Good ideas, but it's not life or death if I keep them in 2009. Afterall there's always next year.

1. Memorize Scripture
2. Make up my bed every morning-Although it may require me to wake up a couple of minutes early.
3. Go play golf on Saturdays when I'm bored.
4. Eat healthier.
5. Cook more-especially for other people.
6. Actually call (yes on the phone!) friends I haven't talked to in a while.
7. Write a song, start a band.
8. Pray rather than worry
9. Actually learn the F chord on the guitar.
10. Drink less coke-I just put this on there for kicks. It won't happen.
11. Start writing a book.
12. Handle my money in a not so selfish way.
13. Take more pictures.
14. Clean out the storage closet-might take the whole year.

Good as annual

My Aunt's house at the lake is one of my favorite places to be. It's like a vacation, but it's like home too. I could sit out on the dock all day, especially at Christmas because everyone has their lights up across the lake. Every year on the weekend of my parent's anniversary Scott, my Grandma, and I go there to spend the night. Every year it's the same tradition. On Saturday afternoon we see a movie, eat at Ryan's for dinner, do a little shopping, it rains, and we go home to open a couple of presents.

Movie Review: Four Christmases sucks.

I'm going to Gaffney on Tuesday and staying the whole week after Christmas. I couldn't be more ready for a REAL break from work!
holler.

I promise you the world. again.

I don't even pretend to pretend like I know anything about Revelation. The demon, spiritual warfare topic has been one that I could never wrap my mind around, and I guess that's a good thing. I hope no human fully understands it. But as opportunity would fall, it's my week to teach sunday school and we're in Luke chapter 8, where Jesus heals a demon-possessed man. I never know how to teach high schoolers, much less on anything demon-related. However, in my attempt to study up on it, I found some pretty cool things about the authority of Jesus. Ya know, one of those characteristics we say Jesus has because we're supposed to, but often do we think anything of it. I'm the worst at that game. The thing I find cool about these demons inside this man is that over and over they begged for mercy. When Jesus speaks, they first call Him by his name, then they beg him for mercy. A demon begging for mercy. To me it's a pretty solid example of Christ's authority over everything, even the spiritual world.

It says in Revelation 20:2-3 "He seized the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the devil, or satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended." So the abyss is no Disney World. No one wants to be up in there. I would imagine that's where most demons hang out, and that's where they belong. In hell with Satan. Luke 8:31 says, "And they begged him repeatedly not to order them into the abyss." That place must be pretty evil if the demons are terrified to go there.

Reading this makes me realize Jesus can heal anything. I act like my sin and my problems are too much to handle or sometimes too small to worry about. The man in Luke had hundreds, maybe thousands of demons inside of him, this lasting for years and years. Imagine being that man after you were freed from that. I very rarely ask the Lord to free me from my own sin. It's usually just a "hey, help me out." But Jesus heals because He has the authority to do so.

Greatest Hits are the Only Hits

Why do musical artists always seem to come out with their "greatest hits" album right at Christmas time? I saw one christian artist put out a new album called, "the yearbook," including all of his hits from I guess 2008. Putting out a new album is great, and around Christmas is a good time for purchasing purposes. BUT my problem lies within the fact that those artists only have like 2 albums out anyway. And then their gonna make a "greatest hits" album out of that? Na, man. I wish more people would think before they act.

EP albums drive me nuts too. I mean, let's just make a full album. I know you have the time.

Welcome back, love

When I was smaller, but not too small, my dad always made sandwiches with only one peice of bread that was folded over. Usually pamento cheese, which i loved. I thought it to be way cool so i started to do that and would have one like...everyday. I feel like I had way too much pamento cheese in those days, and I haven't had it for years. Until yesterday. I was re-introduced and the fire was re-lit. I realized it wasn't over.

Don't get excited but you should

I really have nothing substantial to say this time around, so i'll first express my excitement that the Christmas season is upon us once again! I've waited a whole year, and now I can drink hot chocolate out of my Penguin mug, listen to pop Christmas music, and watch the 25 days of Christmas countdown on abc family. I put up my 5 ft. tree this afternoon. Christmas isn't about the gifts I know, but I'm pretty sure I know everything I'm getting for Christmas from Mom and Dad and that excites me. I love surprises but surprises make me nervous, so I prefer knowing sometimes. Especially when I know my gifts will be awesome. Mom and Dad do a great job on me every year, I tell ya.

Thanksgiving was awesome dude. Laura, Erin, Erica, and I had our annual kfc feast that started when we all went to college. This is where we go to kfc and call it our thanksgiving meal together. This year at the table, I mentioned my recent trip to the original kfc museum in Corbin, Kentucky and Erin asked me where it was. I love them. Also in our attempt to fight boredom, we rode around Gaffney to find Christmas lights but on the day after Thanksgiving, the lights are hard to come by. I concluded that the Grinch blow-up thing will be the decoration of the season.

Tomorrow I'm going to the Gavin Degraw concert with Grace and Laura. It's all acoustic, with Matt Nathanson and We the Kings. Oh boy.