Aaron Ivey Between the Beauty and Chaos

I have always been very thankful for the music, passion, and purpose of Aaron Ivey and all the guys and girls involved. They proclaim the Beauty of Christ in the midst of our chaotic lives. Please support them and buy this album. I promise it will immediately become an album you will listen to over and over for years to come. Every song I have buy these guys (and that is quite a few by now) is a personal favorite of mine.  

Thank you Aaron, Bush, Jimmy, and everyone else I Thank the Lord for using you as he does in your ministry.

We Apologize for the Delay

Sorry for the lack of updates.  i have had a lot i want to talk about but just have not found the time to post them.

Heavenly Father keep me faithful in this endeavor as i hope to proclaim the gospel of your grace.

Gospel Coalition Conference Countdown:  2 days.  Get excited cause i am.  I'm sure I will have a whole lot to post after the conference if my mind does not overload and explode first.

The Blessing of the Inadequate

As this weekend approaches, i am faced with a feeling that for me has become common for this time of year. The past couple years at this time i am overcome with a great feeling of inadequacy. Inadequacy is a word that comes with baggage and very specific connotations for many people. Most of these connotations are negative. For me, my feelings of inadequacy are feelings of peace and joy. As Easter Sunday approaches, i am focsing my heart and mind on the life and death of Jesus Christ. I am thinking about the ultimate sacrifice that was paid for me. i see the great ability of He Who Knew No Sin and in light of this i am left with only one option to truly recognize my own inability, my own sinfulness, my own inadequacy. Yet these feelings cannot be ends in themselves. These feelings are detrimental, unless they lead me to see the Holiness of my Savior.  

This time of year that we as the church have set aside to focus on the death and resurrection of our Savior is a blessing that i pray you take advantage of. Let the gloriousness of our Holy Heavenly Father reveal to you your own inadequacy and from that i pray that you would be able to joyously lift your humbled hands Sunday morning to the One who is Worthy. i pray that you would live your life in the light of knowing that you were called out of darkness and redeemed from your own inadequacy.  

Heavenly Father, use this weekend as a ceremonial time to remind me of my inadequacy and Your Majesty that i may live a life as your humbled servant proclaiming the glories of Your grace.

Monday Musings 4/6

First of all i would like to say that i have always had an aversion to rain.  It is a little depressing.  It is inconvenient (especially when you have to go to class on a college campus like Auburn because there is just no way to avoid getting soaked).  i just do not like it.  But after over three weeks of practically unceasing rain, my aversion has escalated into a strong loathing.  i do not understand how you Seattleits do it.  (Mark Driscoll, your faith must be exceptional to put up with those conditions).  i mean i do understand the pros to rain i just feel they do not out-weigh the cons.

So i saw Wicked on Saturday.  It was...........good.  i actually really enjoyed the show.  Let me take this moment that i have never at anytime--even as a child--liked The Wizard of Oz.  i don't really have anything against it; i just never enjoyed it.  But this in no way prevented my appreciation and enjoyment of a quality off-Broadway production of Wicked at the BJCC with my sweet Catherine.

Sunday morning i was blessed to be at my favorite place with my favorite people.  After attending the High School Senior's Sunday School class for a Q&A on college life.  i was able to attend the 9;30 service where, as always, my pastor, Buddy Gray, brought the Word.  i am blessed and excited any chance i get to hear him preach.  He is in the middle of his series HOPE.  Check out this weeks sermon on I Peter 2:18-20.  It is a very challenging sermon on how Scripture commands us to submit to authority.

Speaking of things to check out:  Hear what Dr. Mohler had to say in a Newsweek cover story, "The End of Christian America".   <>  Very interesting article.   btw: Dr. Mohler will be on CNN tonight at 7pm c/t.

Well that is about all for Monday.  And i should probably be trying to type my 7 page Political Philosophy paper thats due Wednesday instead of this so...

Father, thank you for rain.

Gospel Coalition Conference Countdown: 15 days!!!

Geek Update:  Jon Favreau started filming Iron Man 2 today.  Be excited.

Morning Back Pain and Musicals: A Man in Love

Yesterday i packed a bag, drove 2 hours home to birmingham, and then slept on an uncomfortable couch pushed up against another uncomfortable couch.  Why would i do that you ask? Because a girl i know wanted to go to see Wicked today.  And i happily obliged, because one year ago this past Thursday i started dating this little girl, the love of my life.  The Lord has blessed me with the perfect woman for me.  He so loving created a girl who can patiently put up with all of my quirks (and they are many).  She is my loving support and encouragement.  She is the source of strength that lets me know that i can live the life God has called me to.  i hope i enjoy Wicked, but even if i don't it is a small price to pay for the immense blessing this girl is for my life.  

Heavenly Father, thank you so much for brining Catherine into my world.  Thank you for giving her the ability to put up with me.  Give me the strength to love her and honor her and provide her with the tender care she deserves.  Give me the calm patience to appreciate her and serve her in a manner that reflects my Lord Jesus Christ in order that our relationship brings glory to your name.

Catherine, i love you baby.

Let's Try This Again...

748 days.  That is how long it has been since I have touched this blog.  I was so excited when I started it.  I was able to give it the title I wanted:  surrendered to grace (the whole theme of what I want my ministry to be).  I was going to write all these amazing posts, calling the church out of apathy and into radical reformation.  Well almost 3 years and 6 posts later and so far I haven't made too many strides.

Perhaps one day (grace willing) i will publish such a blog.  But for now i find myself with simpler goals and a (hopefully) more resolute and humble attitude.  i greatly appreciate the roles that a blog can play.  And i find myself wanting to not miss out on what it might do for me.  I have no delusions of thousands who will wake up every morning and log on with the longing desire to see if i have made a new post.  i feel no pressure for radical effectiveness in this outlet of my life ministry.  The only pressure i feel, the only conviction i believe in, the only aspiration i have is to glorify my Sovereign Lord and humbly serve him.  And if this blog is seen only by He who has and will seen all then i pray He finds it to His pleasure as it proclaims his glory.

Heavenly Father, i pray that your glory and your magnitude would find me humbled as a desperate  sinner rescued by your grace.  i pray that my life (including this small outlet of it) would do nothing if it does not bring You glory.  I pray your blessing, that anyone who would read the simple words expressing my journey in life would see only the work of your sovereign hand and the love of Jesus Christ.  To Your Glory God.

Here's to a new adventure...