I'm one of those kids

I saw the trailer for the 6th Harry Potter this summer and was quite intrigued by it. I made it my goal to watch all 5 of them so I could be ready at midnight with everyone else when it comes out. And even though they pushed the release date back, I am ready cause I watched them all this week. I know, I know I should read the books and I promise I believe you people when you say this. I just don't have the time and the truth is I like movies more.

This may make me a bad christian, but I hate it when people try and get the gospel out of every movie these days. I mean just let Nick Spark's do his thing, ok? BUT I will say the 5th Potter is my favorite for just that reason. Towards the end, Voldemort gets inside Harry's head (literally) and starts to control his mind. All of these images of bad things that have happened to Harry over the years flash through his head but Harry fights back by controlling his own mind. It's my favorite part of the whole movie, when he says to Voldemort, "You're the weak one. And you'll never know love. or friendship. And I feel sorry for you." It's a really intense scene and I love the whole story of Harry Potter because of the constant battle between good and evil. And all of us have both inside of us. It would be so sweet if we were all wizards.

Problems I Can't Fix

I don't really know what a "soap box" is, but I think I'm about to get on board one. Bear with me.

I just recently had a friend "break up" with a guy she was seeing. She was completely digging him, and she's wonderful, so he was pretty into her to. They are both strong christians, and during the time they were hanging out he told her all kinds of things like how thankful he was that God put her in his life. Ya know, those kinds of lines that sound even better when you throw "God" and "Blessed" into them. After a couple of months of this relationship, things just kind of didn't work out. The details aren't important, it's just that she thought she knew this guy. She thought he was this awesome Christian who really loved Jesus and cared about her. Turns out that wasn't the case. And it makes me think about people like that. Christians like that. That's the point I'm really getting at.

Where's the point where we stop talking crap and using "God" in every sentence, and actually live like we love Jesus Christ? Lately I've had frustrations with the church in general, not just my church specifically. Some churches put on a good show, complete with guitars and drums and videos and cool-haired youth pastors. Some churches are hanging on by a thread with no one willing to step up and serve. And few churches operate how Jesus did and by stepping out of their walls and reaching their community. Christians wonder why church attendance sucks. Why our campus ministry attendance sucks. Why our youth group has three teenagers. And I really have no idea behind the math of any of that or the exact reasons, but I do know a lot of it has to do with Christians.

I realize every bit of this is my opinion. I also realize I am one of those Christians who are part of the problem. What if we would open up the Bible and actually live like that. Man, this world might see a little something different. But it's easier to talk about it. It's easier to act the way we always have. It's easier to care about ourselves instead of giving a crap about our brother and sister. I just feel like if we make Christianity first about Jesus, then other people, and ourselves last, we would all be more effective. This is my blog so I can say whatever I want :)

Feel free to opinion-ize this topic too.

Ramblings

It's been 25 days into my 40 day Coke fast. I tell you folks, it hasn't been easy. My friends have been great, though. Grace bought a cheerwine in wal-mart the other night instead of a coke which was pretty cool of her. Most places I go out to eat requires sweet tea anyway, so it's really been ok. There are those places like Moe's, Waffle House, and Steak and Shake where nothing else will do and then it hurts. But it's been good overall.

Confession time. I may be the most competetive person on the planet. That ones a shocker to most of you I know. I'm coaching 8 & 9 year olds in rec league soccer this fall and practice started in full force this week. Tuesdays practice was awesome. It was semi-raining, cold, and the kids were all scared of me because I was taller. At Thursdays practice, such things were not the case. They didn't listen to a word I said and they couldn't keep their hands off the ball. And what's the ONE part of the body we don't use in soccer? yea. I was 8 years old when I played my first soccer game, and I have been on exactly one team with a winning record since then. I know losing builds character and all that fun stuff, but I really want this team to win a few times. No one, no matter how old you are, wants to be on a losing sports team. But as the coach I have to keep "FUN" written on my hand during games. ha.

I'm in a fantasy football league with my Pastor and I think that's really cool. The Panthers are actually winning this year, and with every player in the NFL getting hurt recently, heck, we may make it to the Super Bowl. Doubtful.

Your Love is Strong

My obession song for the week is "Your Love is Strong" by Jon Foreman. He's the lead singer guy from Switchfoot if you don't know. I came across it this week just because I really hadn't heard his solo stuff and thought I'd give it a listen. I'm living by myself officially now which I honestly absolutely hate. I'm one of those people who needs personal alone time like once a month. Maybe. I like having other people around, including someone to live with and to be around to talk to all the time. Yes, God is breaking me of that because it's not always a good thing. I value relationships a whole lot and being by myself makes me go nuts. This week with Maggie moving and other things I've felt pretty weak. I'm just so tired of all of my best friends moving away and being here still with no answers on anything I've prayed for. And this isn't meant to to be a pity party, because God is strong. And as weak as I've felt recently I love being reminded of that. He's given me everything I need in life even though this life is kind of hurting right now.

In other news...Slopfest was amazing! Our youth group had a big messy 2-hours of games yesterday. They had to do some crazy stuff like pass a dead fish on a rope through their clothes, have marshmallows stick to their faces with peanut butter, dig around in the mud, drink 5 different sodas mixed together, and a lot of other things I'm kinda glad I didn't have to do. Greg and I have been planning it for a really long time and this week I was having my fair share of doubts. But 17 students showed up, the gospel was heard at the end, and the church parking lot was covered with shaving cream when we pulled in this morning. I was glad.

He is Jealous for Me

I'm pretty sure I could push kids in the swing for days and not get tired. We have two kindergarten kids at the afterschool program I work at in the afternoons and they have been a blessing to me and to my job. It's not the best part of my job for a lot of reasons, but those kids have made it a little brighter this week. Today I was pushing Mark and Jaylen in the swings and the looks on their faces just made my day. They kept saying, "higher! That's not high enough!" They just kept wanting more and more of something so simple. Then Mark tried to push me in the swing and we didn't get very far. It was a really cool day and as dumb as it sounds, if you let them, kids will teach you more than you want to be taught about Jesus. It's so refreshing.

I've been reading Job lately and it's one of my favorite books of the Bible. Just because of all the stuff Job goes through yet he finds hope and life in the Lord. I also think it's rad that it's the book right before Psalms. hmmm....

"Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the almighty? They are higher than the heavens-what can you do? They are deeper than the depths of the grave-what can you know?

Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.

Yet if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him, if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and without fear. You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by. Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning; You will be secure, because there is hope."

- Job 11:7-9, 13-18

God has no limits!

Sports and Politics: An Analysis. or something.

There was no debating my clothes selection when I woke up this morning, for today is the first day of college football. And my Gamecocks play N.C. State at 7:00pm. Every Saturday from here on out don't expect me to rock anything but my carolina t-shirts and I will be unusually concerned with the tv, as if im not already. Clemson also plays this week, and there is the possibility that I'm more interested in Alabama winning that game than tonights game. Clemson is ranked 10th in the nation starting off, which is rediculous because they are in the ACC and that means they only play the worst teams in the country. So good job Tigers, keep that up.

As Christian as I am, I will not be voting republican this year in the election. Everyone calm down, I have my reasons. I don't watch politicalness on tv, just because I have no idea what anyone is talking about and it's mostly just yelling into the microphone. I only watch the Colbert report on special occasions and that gives me close to zero credibility as far as knowing anything about politics. I do watch sportscenter though. Obama was inteviewed by Stewart Scott of ESPN the other night on sportscenter and I learned that Obama is quite the sports fan. Does this fact help weigh my vote? Absolutely it does. Since I know nothing about politics really, I have to go on something. Yea yea, I realize that's ignorant and whatever but what's the difference. Either way America is in trouble in my mind. Three things he said that impressed me:

1.They asked Obama who he would have as his Vice President if it had to be an athlete and he said Michael Jordan. Great answer. He could have said Michael Vick or O.J. Simpson and we would have reason to worry.

2. He is a Chicago native so they asked, White Sox or Cubs? (these are both Chicago teams, by the way) His answer was the White Sox because he is not a fair weather fan, and that that's real baseball. Also another good answer, because there is nothing worse in America than a fair weather fan. You know those sports fans who pull for their favorite team only when they are winning, but when they lose they act like it never happened. Also known as just being a Tar Heels fan in general. That's just living in sin. Moving on.

3. His final remark was awesome and pretty much sealed my vote for the democrats this year. He said he was going to fight to get a basketball court put in the White House if he's elected.

"It's like telling Iran and Isreal to get along. It's just not going to happen."
-Spencer from The Hills

Giving up things.

I really miss the friends that have moved away. Ok, I miss Brandy. I thought this whole thing would be easier than it is and maybe I wouldnt notice it as much. But I was wrong and I miss my best friend pretty badly. I went over to the 321 today and called it "Erica's house." I didn't like the sound of that one bit either. I hate realizing that things like growing up and seperation have to happen in order to move on and grow, but that reality doesn't make it fun, nor does it hurt any less. Pastor Dan announced his resignation from Manchester Creek today and that was hard too. I have been blessed in my church families over the years with Pastors who have me over to their house and we talk football. I've been so hesitant to move away from Rock Hill with Manchester being a big factor in those thoughts. The people are great, but Dan knows the word and he handles scripture in a way that is different from what I'm used to hearing. I always learn something new from him, and I hate that that has to end, as far as his sermons go. His family has been a huge gift to me over the past few years and I was sad and felt peaceful today.

What has God been teaching me lately? I got asked that question recently and I literally laughed out loud. My initial answer was nothing, becuase He's not giving me any direction. But what He's teaching me won't always be understood, and I'm trying to learn to be ok with that. I'm not being persecuted and this is far from the kind of suffering most people face everyday, but everything seems to be falling apart, but being put back together at the same time. I'm learning that God puts things together, especially things that are broken. And not just all these situations in my life, but me as a person too. Because I am for real broken. The band played a song in church this morning by Jill Phillips, and my favorite line simply says, "nothing I feel is outside the reach of your arms." It talks about pain and how the hurt doesn't hurt any less, but theres nothing outside of God's hand. I've noticed in my life that singing that and saying that and being taught that in sunday school has no real meaning until you go through a tough time.

And if I'm not stressed out enough already, I'm fasting from Coke for 40 days. Why you ask? Well, it's time for a challenge. I always let Pastors and teachers challenge me, so its time I took on one for myself. One that I know will kick my butt. I hope it does. You're probably thinking thats no big deal, but if you know me at all, then you know I might die in about 10 days. 40 days seems like a good time. Not too long, but long enough for me to take a break from something I really enjoy. Not that drinking a Coke is hindering anything but my health, it's just something I want to try. October 3rd. Whew.

"For he wounds, but also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal."
-Job 5:18