New blogs I read

I have linked a couple new blogs that I read that you might want to check out.


Jerrod Nunn
Jerrod is a rookie to blogging but a veteran in youth ministry. He is my cousin and one of my best friends. Im sure he will have some very funny or insightful things that you could take away from his blog.


Jenny Simmons
I was good friends with Jenny in high school and college. She is the lead singer for the Christian band Addison Road. She is very intellectual and her blog is very interesting.

Check them both out.

A righteous response to promises that seem absurd

Sounds like a title of a sermon. If I let myself, I could turn this post into a 30 minute sermon but I will just give you a little snap shot on what I have been learning lately.
As I read through Gods word, I come to find promises from Him that I have depended on since I was in high school.
Certain ones like, "Trust in me, Ill take care of everything, I know the plans I have for you, not to harm you but for you to prosper. (paraphrased), All things work for good for those who love Him, Romans 8:28. All of these thick, hearty, powerful promises are ones that I live my life by.
But there is one promise that I really cant seem to get. One that is easy to understand but almost impossible to live by. Yes, It sounds absurd, but yes I believe it is true.
1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
Wow, I have an escape route? No sin will ever be able to master me? Sin doesnt ever have to take place?

What do you do with this promise when it seems like and it feels like it is impossible? What do you do when sin just owns you? When it stalks you, devours you, kicks the living crap out of you?

I think the question that it comes down to, Do I Believe that He loves me? It is that simple. Do I believe that His promises are true, Do I believe He wants the best?
I think there are many, including myself that sometimes likes to play the victim card. We might even think that God can sometimes be mean, vindictive, or just flat out doesnt care. And that is where the problem lies. Even though we have seen Him work in so many other peoples lives, we doubt His love for us.

I think once we swallow our pride and humble ourselves, when we start to trust Him, then He will make Him self known. His promises will start to come through.

Book Review

I am loving this book. It was recommended by Donald Miller when I went and heard him speak a while back. He said it was one of the best books he ever read but I have seen the movie Walk The Line. I wondered, really? that good? You are probably over doing it a little.
After reading, I now know. This book is basically his testimony in his own words. It was published in 1975. I never knew how much faith Johnny Cash had at such a young age. He eventually fell into the ways of the world but in the end, he found his way back. This book is authentic, honest, entertaining, and I have totally related it to my life. It is hard to find, but I recommend reading this.

Here is a section where he talks about how important church is.

This was the first night I'd spent away from home since I'd been married, and Sunday morning driving from Shreveport to Gladewater, Texas, something about it all didn't feel quite right. It didn't take many miles before I knew what it was.
The performance the night before had been emotional "high." The wild enthusiasm of the audience had been stimulating. I had sung at a fever pitch, putting all the energy I had into every song.
Now it was Sunday morning, and there was a little letdown in the naked light of day. Marshall was driving the car, Luther was beside him in the front seat, and I was lying across the back seat. Every few minutes we'd have to slow down to allow cars to turn in to the churches all along the highway.
"That's why I feel so low this morning. I ought to be in church," I said.
"Do you want to go? Marshall asked. "I'll stop at a church if you want to."
Luther turned around to look at me to see what my answer would be. "Ill go with you," he said.
I didn't realize it, but my answer would establish a precedent, the beginning of a habit, a working pattern which would stand for years. My policy of aloneness and severed fellowship from other committed Christians would weaken me spiritually. Not that missing church necessarily meant missing God. It was just that Jesus never meant for us to try and make it on our own. There is something so important in worshiping together with other believers. And missing it would leave me vulnerable and easy prey for all the temptations and destructive vices that the backstage of the entertainment world has to offer.

I knew I needed to stop and get some spiritual feeding. If every night in this business was going to be like last night in Shreveport, I knew I'd need not just weekly, but a daily dose of God.
But I laid back down in the seat. "Naw, let's go on down the road," I said. "We've got a show to do tonight."

What I want

How sweet would it be driving one of these bad boys down the side streets cruising at 40 mph?
If you havnt noticed, gas prices are ridiculous. It kind of makes a good excuse to invest in a moped. This thing gets over 100 mpg.
My only fear is hitting a pot hole and flying off of it or some truck crashing into me. I think it might be worth the risk.

Red Box

I think I just found my new way of renting movies.
You only have to pay a dollar a night. Someone should of thought of this a long time ago. You can find these at different grocery stores in your area. I highly recommend it.

A tragedy

Pray for Stephen Curtis Chapman and his family.

Stephen's daughter Maria, age 5, died today in a tragic accident.

His teenage son did not see her playing in the driveway and she was hit by his car, care flighted to Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, TN and passed away there in the hospital. She was the youngest of Stephen and Mary Beth's six children and was adopted from China.

I dont really know why but this news really hit me. I mean, I know it is very sad but tragedy happens to people everyday. I think it is mainly because from what I know of him and his family is that he is a great Christian example who has a huge heart. I cant even imagine the pain that his family is going through right now.

The Importance of Community

"It is healthier to eat a twinkie in a group setting than broccoli by yourself."

The topic of community has been on my mind for a while now. It is probably a selfish motive but I am realizing that community is something that is extremely important to the health and morale of every individual. It is true that some people cope with aloneness much better than others but the truth is we all need people to love us, encourage us, fight with us, play with us, argue with us, cry with us, laugh with us, and experience life with us.
My heart has been extra heavy and sensitive lately for people that I see on a weekly basis that are struggling with this very thing.

How does the church help out?
Every church that I have been involved with in my life, I have witnessed the challenge and struggles of the church trying to reach to the young adult singles.
Life out of college is a constant struggle for graduates to find community. I have also experienced it for myself.
Lately this has been my holy discontent. If I knew how to solve this problem, I would. But I dont. But I dont want to just give up.

I understand that bigger cities have a wider variety of options, but I question is, what can the church do?
If you have experienced this or have any ideas, I would love to hear your ideas.

Off to the coast

Im heading off to an annual staff retreat at the central coast tomorrow.
This will be my third one. I have really enjoyed the last two. We always take time to meet and talk "business", but the majority of the retreat is just hanging out and connecting with the other staff.
Our offices are set up where all the youth guys are on the west side of the campus and all the older pastors are on the east side. So besides our weekly staff meeting and Sundays we really dont interact as much as I would like.
I am looking forward to attempt surfing, eating at Splash cafe which has the best clam chowder I have ever had, pulling pranks on the staff. (Last year I set up a fart machine under my senior pastors chair during a meeting. Risky move, but he had a good laugh), and running along the beach to help get in shape for the half marathon.
It will be a lot of fun and hopefully I will learn something in the process.

Mr. Likes to Play Worship Music

Wrong on so many levels but pretty funny.

Scuba anyone?

I have a new goal. I think. For those who don't know, I ran a half marathon in September of 2007. It is still hard for me to believe that I actually went through with it and am still alive today. Seriously, I thought my last days were near. But after feeling the satisfaction of completing a goal that I had to work pretty hard for, I decided that I want this to be an annual thing. Not running half marathons. But setting goals and going through with them. Just wanted to make that clear.
I was at sports chalet the other day and noticed that they give scuba lessons right in the store. Actually the pool is behind the store. The lessons are every weekend for a month and then they take you to Catalina to scuba in the open waters. This makes me excited and nervous at the same time.
I'm nervous about
a. getting eaten by sharks or over sized fishes
b. drowning
c. current sweeping me away to where I am never found and have to live on an island the rest of my life.

But if none of that happens then it should be pretty sweet.