Is this it?

I've caught myself getting caught up in politics of life and work etc.  You go to work everyday, you do your job, you work hard.  Is this it?  Is life just about making a paycheck and waiting on a promotion?  What a boring life, what a meaningless life that would be if that's all there was to this life.  I've thought about this a lot.  I think I have figured a little something out in my own life.  When my focus is off of the Lord and His Will, I can get caught up in the day to day.  I can find myself just going to work, thinking like the rest of the world, thinking almost like a lost person.  The cool thing I like about the way the Lord deals with me is this.  He never gives up on me.  He knows what I need to get me back and thinking clearly and focus my mind back on Him. 

I used to pick people up on the side of the road all of the time.  I've shared stories about that before on here.  It's the most amazing thing, some of the stories I've heard and just being able to hear the story of strangers.  I haven't picked anyone up in a long time it seems like.  I was leaving work today, after a long week at work, and just in processing thoughts, feelings etc.  A heavy week.  Well I'm leaving the office and I see two people on the side of the road.  I ask them if they need help and they need a ride, so they jump in my Jeep.  These were the sweetest people.  They were the most country people you could meet.  Their car broke down and the police had it towed away.  They didn't have any way to get home the day before so they had to sleep on the floor at someones house.  I had a bag full of chips in the back of my Jeep that they started eating.  (Thanks to Julie Edwards who gave them to me) They hadn't eaten anything, they were tired, thirsty, and just worn out.  We found their car and it need a new fuel pump.  They needed a ride to a town about 20 minutes away.  I honestly was tired and really didn't feel like going that far out the way.  It's funny how the Lord will bless you when you are obedient.  I gave them a ride and it gave us a chance to talk.  I heard about their life and what they had been through and really just paid attention to their story and where they were going.  They talked about how they really just wanted to get married.  I thought they were married, but I guess they were just dating.  We got to talk about the Lord and I found out that they were believers.  They were happy to finally get home and I was happy that the Lord encouraged my heart through talking to them. 

I've also learned that it is not cool to have poison ivy in randomly scary places on your body.  I don't think I have consistently woke up so early in the morning in my life.  Just scratching.  I feel like this is a temporary thorn in my flesh :)  Literally!  It's also not cool to have to get a shot in the hip.  I'm such a baby.

Questions...

Is there something wrong with this article?  Read it and tell me if this seems normal to you.

just like a kid again

When I was a kid, we would play in our neighborhood all the time.  We would go back as far in the woods as the river would let us, sometimes we would even push that line.  I loved being in the woods but occasionally bad things would happen.  Like the time my buddy Chad built a fort out of vines.  Vines that happened to be poison ivy and that I am extremely allergic to.  After spending the day in this fort and waking up the next morning with no sight, I realized that playing in a fort made of poison ivy was not good.  I had it in my eyes, throat, face, and well, you name it.  It's been years since I've had it.  I have to go the doctor immediately.  My mom said I looked like the elephant man.  It was bad. 

Well I woke up about 5AM this morning in torment.  Let's just say that I have poison ivy again and it's not in the best place.  It's on my face, my arms, my legs, and ...well let's just say the worst place it could be.  This is not fun. :(

JT

Lick the Bowl

Psalm 51:17 (New International Version)

17 The sacrifices of God are ^[a] a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.

I know I have talked about this verse before, but I really do think it's one of my favorite verses. It seems that we (Christians) always have this tendency to go away from brokenness. It's tough to stay broken spiritually before the Lord when all is good, the salary is nice, the house is comfortable, and you have a 401k. We just have these comfortable lives and is a blessing, but usually causes me to take Him for granted. My brother shared a story with me this past week that broke me down spiritually. It's so neat how God can use people close to us to do that. I'm just blown away by God's interaction in my life. I had just been thinking and telling my brother that the Lord was in the coincidences of life and that, well, they really weren't coincidences and if you want to call those little crazy things that happen, "coincidences" then...I say that He is also Lord of them. Okay, that was a run-on sentence. Forgive me. It seems that...in brokenness...it's like the ears of our heart have amplifiers on them and we can hear everything around us. Before, the Lord might have to scream for us to hear, but now, He can give a gentle whisper and we wake up. There are people in this life that live a life of brokenness and constantly are enamored with heartache. Our Lord was enamored, and we can know that He has been through anything and everything that we could ever think about going through. That's comforting. I just want to come to a place where telling people that "I love them" is fresh and sweet on my lips. It's not something that makes me feel uncomfortable or makes me feel weird. Lee Cunningham, whom I love, told me that he loved me as we left a party this weekend. That's brotherly love. People that care about each other w/o asking for anything in return. Jesus lived like that.

When I was a kid and my mom would make a cake. She would pour the batter out and then give me the bowl and mixer. Man, I am not going to lie, I would like this bowl until there was not an ounce of mix left. I would get my tongue between the mixer blades and get every last bit of it. It was sooo sweet. I am hoping that one day, I will seek the Lord and His Word with that intensity...well of course...w/o all the licking :)

Just a few details

It really amazes me that the Lord cares about the details of our lives.  I think we all know that He does, but I don't think we ever really thank Him for it or really believe that He is in the details.  I'm just now realizing that He is in every detail of our lives and we cannot surpise Him.  He was there before the world began, before we were thought of, and after we are gone, He will still be there.  He's in the coincidences and mishaps, He's everywhere.  That's good news.  I think I can rest in that. 

Just sayin

You know, as I sit here and realize that the "f" key has come off of my keyboard, I also came to the conclusion that out of an entire day, this was the worst thing that happened to me. 

Today was the first "official" meeting of CrossPoint.  It was quite cool to have so many people in church and to see the entire football team and coach Bowden in church.  There was not enough room to sit, it was really cool.  We also had the start of our small groups which we are calling "connecting point" groups.  It was pretty neat to have them over to my house and get to know some of them.  I love having random people coming together, there is something that is electric in that.  The semi-awkwardness of it does it for me.  It looks like we have a very unique and awesome group of people and I'm excited to get to know them. 

So I just finished Rob Bell's newest book, "Velvet Elvis."  It was a really interesting read.  I would not consider it a very deep book but he does go through a lot of Jewish customs that will better help you to understand Jesus and the scriptures.  In one chapter of the book, he discussed coming to people and treating them with an agenda.  Do we group people in a "saved" and "not saved" category?  Do we love them based on what category they fit in?  He brings up the idea of service also.  How can we show people Christ?  By serving them, the gospel is good news for everyone is the point he makes.  If a woman in an apartment complex becomes a Christian, then this is good news for the entire apartment complex.  This woman should now be even more caring, giving, kind, and serve the people around her.  It makes sense.  I've been trying to get to know my neighbors.  I desire to serve them and want them to know Christ.  We have to give an account one day, I've been convicted lately that I haven't used everything I've been given.  Thank God that Jesus and the disciples didn't stay in the upper room, I'm glad they didn't post a sign, and invite people to come hear them.  I am glad they went out and found the lost people, reached them where they worked, and shared life with them.  I'm trying to really see Christianity in its purest form, the way Jesus showed it to us.  It's tough to read the book of Acts and not label them "super Christians."  They weren't super at all, that was "normal" Christianity.  Whew, I've got a long way to go. 

In other news, I have officially set-up a mini-recording studio in my closet.  Yes, I said, my closet.  I realized that it was the best place to set-up with the least amount of distractions.  When I just recorded in my room, I noticed that the mic would actually pick up the dog scratching herself, or well, maybe that was me, but anyway, I moved to the closet.  My first major personal project is to record the New Testament and eventually get it out on CD for you, my fine friends.  If you would like to record a few chapters for me, please email me and let me know.  It's been a great way to read through the scriptures and I hope it all works out! 

That was Neat

This was a very relaxing weekend. I haven't really felt good for the past month and have something wrong with my head. I went to the emergency room with a bad headache one night and I really thought I was going to die. I have been putting it off, but I think I am finally going to go get a brain scan. I just hate to pay all that money and then say that nothing is wrong with me. Oh well, I guess I'll finally go. Anywho. So this weekend I just hung around the house. I played on the computer, caught up on my geeking and talked to a friend of mine, Brent Sears. Brent is a really awesome guy. He's one of those people that you can meet and instantly know that he knows the Lord. He quit his job to follow the Lord and it turns out...a few months after he did that, he found out that they are closing his office. You telling me that God doesn't know our future? Wow. He has helped me a lot in getting started in doing voice-overs. He let me borrow a mic of his for a few weeks to get up and going. I think I am going to buy one just like it. So on Saturday, Cheatham and I drove around and looked at some investment properties. It's kinda fun, I feel like there should be a tv crew rolling around with us. Okay, maybe not. Saturday night, I just came home and watched a Josh Turner and Randy Travis special. So good. If you can check it out, do so, on CMT.

I woke up this morning and went to CrossPoint. It's just been amazing to see this church grow and be apart of it. We were probably about 60% of the building, it was great. Next week, the football team is going to visit and it should be crazy. I'm excited. I left church, came home, took a short lil nap, and then headed out to Greenville to meet my little girlfriend at Macaroni Grill. MMMM. I had a gift card that we have now used 2 times. Penne Rustica...mmm. We devoured it and then enjoyed a slice of cheesecake :) I drove my motorcycle over there so afterwards, we rode around some neighborhoods in Greenville and came back. I drove back to Clemson for a meeting at church. Now, for my whole life, I've never been a member of a church. I've felt the Lord dealing with me in this for a long time but just haven't found a church that I feel "apart" of. People said that I should just join a church and then it would feel like home to me. I just disagreed. I don't want to sit down at a meal, not like it, and then someone tell me, keep eating it, you will eventually like it. I have always felt like when the Lord wanted me somewhere, He would make it very clear. I have known for a few months that I wanted to join CrossPoint, but I kept missing the join meetings. Today was the day I was going to join. Well on the way there, my motorcycle breaks down just outside of Clemson. This is about right. I didn't get upset and quietly said in my heart that this was not from God and was from Satan :) I really believe that Satan wanted to keep me away from joining a church. You might think that is a little much, but I believe it 100%. I got the bike cranked enough to get me a mile and then cut off. I did this for about 4 miles and eventually had to push a little ways. I got home about 30 minutes late and enough time to jump in my Jeep and drive to the meeting. It was an informational night and just a chance for people to hear about the vision of the church etc. I fit right in. All of the things I have wanted from a church are there, teaching, people, style, evangelism. AND all the gifts that I have, I feel like can be used there! I really had to fight tears when they played some music. It just felt natural to sign my name on a card and commit my time and life to a place. I really look forward to what the Lord is going to do in and around the people there. It's exciting that He can use broken pots and pans to prepare a meal could last for eternity.

Chris Moody tells of the Proposal to the Lod

This is hilarious if you know Moody. He was self-proclaimed "Bachelor to the Rapture".

So Chris finally made the jump and got engaged. I tell you, this guy is completely out of his league as Lottie is a hottie as she is formally known as. I do salute you Chris for becoming "that guy" and making everyone wonder how you got such a hottie and beautiful woman. The only way is that the Lord has "done gone and blessed you." You have freely relinquished the pimp juice and invested wisely :)

I wish you the best :)

The little things

What has always amazed me is ...well...how does God think?  What influences His decisions to do certain things?  Why does He allow some to be healed of disease and others to die?  Ultimately, He is sovereign and in control of all things.  The Bible says that everything on earth is under Jesus' feet.  We trust that He know all things and all futures.  You can bog your brain down to think about it.  A co-worker of mine had a tragedy in her family.  Her son was in a jet skiing accident and had extensive brain damage.  His brain stem was badly damaged which usually means there is no hope.  People have been known to take people off life support once this happens from what I'm told.  The family has been around this boy and just waited to see what would happen, even though doctors have not been very positive in his outlook for life.  He's been like this for almost two months, no response.  I heard today that he is now responding and has miraculously come around and started to write on a dry-erase board.  He said he was hungry and wanted spaghetti.  He also named friends that he wanted to visit him.  It looks like he is a miracle in the working.  Huge praise.  I pray that if God does completely heal him that he will have a clear understanding of grace and love the Lord.  That's huge news. 

In other news, I really love how the Lord deals with me sometimes.  I've been out of myself for a while.  I'm sure you have all been there.  It's that part of faith that you just don't have a desire to do the things that you used to naturally do, well with God's help.  I haven't really done anything the past few months.  I read every now and then and still grow to an extent, but my life has not been the abundant life that I know is there.  The Lord has been slowly getting me back and it's neat when He does the little things that let me know that He still knows I'm there and cares.  I was telling a story about Tom Conlon tonight, a musician that I absolutely love and have for years.  I was talking about this one song he has, "Water", I've probably talked about it on here before.  It's one of the best written songs I have ever heard.  I was sharing a story about it with my roommies.  How God used that song many years ago as I was preparing to give a message one Sunday.  I had heard the song for years w/o fully understanding the meaning.  It was about 10 o'clock and I'm listening to it as I'm writing down some thoughts.  It finally hit me.  I had Tom's cell phone number so I called him.  "Hey Tom, this is justin tanner...blah blah, I finally understood and got your song."  I was just in tears sitting at my computer listening.  It just amazed me that I could listen to it all those years and never get it.  It was so refreshing to see what he was talking about.  The song is about getting outside of your comfort zone and sharing Christ with people.  He describes us as water that is just sitting, sitting, sitting so long that it has become stagnant.  I got this picture of water in an alley that has been sitting there for months.  It's smelly, green, things growing out of it, and it's just disgusting.  I realized that even though I have this gift of evangelism, I don't use it.  I'm rotten, literally.  Selfish, complacent, stagnant water.  He talks about picking a guy up on the side of the road, now that guy knows the Lord and has a family of Christians because you didn't have fear of picking someone up. 

So back to the story, I walk in my room after sharing this story about "water" and guess what's just started playing on my computer.  Yeah, "Water."  I just have to laugh and get a little teared up and say that God is still around, He hasn't gone anywhere.  He is still there and wants me to realize that He still cares about me and wants me to be a good steward of my life.  He's in everything, even the little things.

Water Lyrics

It's a silent night, I'm sleeping in my bed
A studio apartment with a dream in my head
But nothing much changes unless I change it
But one day when the time is right, i just might rearrange it


We are like water, we fit the container, we look for an outlet
we know we can't just remain there
It's all about flowing out into dry land
Open mouth, dirty hands.

I heard about you, making friends with a stranger
Now he's got a new family because you had no fear of a danger
But i had my days of waitin on a roadside,
for a friend like you, who wasn't afaid to give me a ride


We are like water, we fit the container, we look for an outlet
we know we can't just remain there
It's all about flowing out into dry land
Open mouth, dirty hands.

I found that I can be, a friend and a lover
I got sweet water to fill your cup
I got this well of life, the source is high above me
I just let it out, i just let it out
it keeps filling up, filling up, filling up with neverending love
Feeling up...

Children of the light, sons and daughters
sitting in buildings, standing water
maybe someday soon, our hearts will open
maybe one of these silent nights will rush like a river flowing

We are like water, we fit the container, we look for an outlet
we know we can't just remain there
It's all about flowing out into dry land
We are like water, we fit the container, we look for an outlet
we know we can't just remain there
It's all about flowing out into dry land
It's all about flowing out into dry land
Open mouth, dirty, dirty, dirty hands.
Making soil out of sand...

Haven't seen for a while

There was a song I used to listen to all the time called "Haven't seen for a while"...what a great song. Pat Mcgee band sang it. The greatest part was when he talked about "it's 5:15"...because I know what that time of day is like...i'm coming home from work, done for the day, time to relax. I like music.

So I've been gone from the blog for a while and for the few people who still check this thing, well I'm starting back. So a lot, well some, has happened since I last had something to say. My grandmother passed away a few weeks ago. I woke up on a Saturday morning and went into the garage to clean up a bit and just started thinking about her really randomly. An hour later, my mom called and told me that she had passed away that morning. It's really crazy when things like that happen, it gives me just enough scent to know that God is still around and still speaks to us clearly.

She was a beautiful woman. She was like the spiritual rock of our family. She was the type of person that could cook really well and then when she would pray, you would almost cry. You could feel the Lord in her voice and the things she would say. She had an intimate relationship with the Lord and read the Word all the time. She had so many books that she would read. I didn't appreciate my grandma until I got older. Growing up, the prayers were just something you did before you eat. I used to think they were kinda long and I was really ready to just dig into the little biscuits she made that must have been like manna in the Bible. They were so good. As I got older and the Lord got my heart, her prayers started to make sense to me. I realized that she really knew the Lord and everyone that knew her was positive that she had a relationship with him. She didn't grow up with a lot of money so she liked to always make sure people had enough food and always made sure she cooked enough so we could give food to people around her town who didn't have much. She thought about everyone and if she knew you were coming to her house anytime around Christmas, you better believe she was going to give you a present. It might have been a couple of tshirts or a couple pair of socks, but you got something and appreciated it.

As her health started to go down hill, she always could catch me just as I would leave visiting her and ask about our family. She wouldn't ask how much money each one of us had, how big our house was, or anything like that. She was always concerned about each person in our family and their relationship with the Lord. She prayed constantly for the people who didn't know Him. My grandmother and I shared this same passion for our family, our whole family to know Him, really KNOW HIM. I could never leave her bedside without crying so hard. She would pray and it got to me. I learned a lot from her and I wasn't around her all the time. She lived an hour away growing up and when i went to college, I was hours away from her. The only time I would see her was if I went home and would stop by in the nursing home.

She asked me years ago to speak at her funeral. Along with two of her pastors whom she adored. It was such a blessing to be able to do that. I got to speak at the graveside and what an honor I thought that was. I got to summarize a life that was well lived. I talked about how she was a servant and cared for people and their needs. She didn't have much, but made much of not much. I told a story about how her dinner table was set-up. Everyone had a chair except her, she had a stool. I didn't figure out the reason for the stool until I was a lot older. She wanted to sit on that stool so she could get up really quick if anyone needed anything. And don't you dare try and get up and get something yourself, this was a sin. She was a servant and I will miss her...our whole family will. The crazy thing about a life that is well lived is that it doesn't have to stop with her. I've learned a lot from her and hope to carry on what she left with. She wrote this letter for me to read at her funeral. Talk about convicting and loving bound in paper.

In other news, I have found a church, finally. I visited Crosspoint a few months ago and absolutely loved it within the first 5 minutes I was there. I've looked for years and haven't been directly involved with a church that I could call mine. I wanted a church that was open and fun but still taught the scriptures verse by verse. I found it and love it. We start meeting in Tillman auditorium this Sunday, fun times! I hope to do some video work and start shooting some videos around the campus and use it as an evangelistic type tool. Please pray for that if you will :)

In the last bit of news, I started doing some voice-over work. I have desired for many years to get into doing commercials, radio, etc. I finally bought some equipment to start recording. I have a few projects that have been on the back-burner for many years. Soon they will be :)

Oh yeah, I still have a girlfriend after many months, why she keeps dating me, I'm not sure :)

Until next time, have your pets ...well nevermind. :)

Funny

Your results:
You are Superman

Superman 80% Green Lantern 75% The Flash 65% Spider-Man 55% Supergirl 55% Wonder Woman 45% Iron Man 45% Robin 42% Hulk 30% Batman 30% Catwoman 25%

You are mild-mannered, good, strong and you love to help others.

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Test

A Good Laugh at Christians

If we can't laugh at ourselves, who can we laugh at :)

Changing a lightbulb the Christian way:

Charismatic: Only one. Hands already in the air.

Pentecostals: Ten. One to change the bulb and nine to pray against the spirit of darkness.

Presbyterians: None. Lights will go off and on at predestined times.

Roman Catholic: None. Candles only.

Baptists: At least 15. One to change the light bulb and three committees to approve the change and decide who brings the potato salad.

Episcopalians: Three. One to call the electrician, one to mix the drinks and one to talk about how much better the old bulb was.

Unitarians: We choose not to make a statement either in favor of or against the need for a light bulb. However, if in your own journey you have found that light bulbs work for you, that is fine. You are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about your light bulb for the next Sunday service, in which we will explore a number of light bulb traditions including incandescent, fluorescent, three-way, long-life and tinted, all of which are equally valid paths to luminescence.

Methodists: Undetermined. Whether your light bulb is bright, dull, or completely out, you are loved. You can be a light bulb, turnip bulb or tulip bulb. A church-wide lighting service is planned for Sunday. Bring a bulb of your choice and a covered dish.

Nazarene: Six. One woman to replace the bulb while five men review the church lighting policy.

Lutherans: None. Lutherans don't believe in change.

Amish: What's a light bulb?

I've seen many thing

You know...there have been many interesting things that circulate around the net...but this is one of the strangest I do believe.

Human Beatbox

Famous!

Updated Some Fun Links :)

Click here for Miss Wyatt

Click here for Herbert

Click here for flight of Moth Butterfly(It's LIVE)

Freedom Weekend Aloft 2006

Like almost every year, a group of us take off to Freedom Weekend Aloft in Anderson. It's a time of Hotair Balloons and multiple mullets amongst the crowd. My bro Greg, lil sis Jess, and I went and it was fun :) Jewel, Train, and well...we saw a few lesbians too. Interesting mix for Anderson :) 

Greg, Jess, and me :) 

 

 

 

Clemson Student

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=2019201

You never really think this can happen in a place like Clemson.  So sad.

Cute Jen and Cami after the wedding, well, not their wedding, but Melanie Reid's wedding ;) 

Linds Addison just acting crazy! 

No Dr. Greezy, I want to take a picture of you. 

 

 

Me and Greezy, MD, just acting crazy. 

 

Cingular

So I have been faithful to Cingular for around 6-7 years if you count the time that they were Bellsouth DCS.  I have spoken highly of her and always defended her.  Without Cingular in my life, I probably would have the shakes and have very little communication with some friends.  When others speak more highly of their wireless carrier, I alway speak even higher for my precious Cingular.  I exalt her name amongst the other carriers always. 

Things change!

As I was traveling down Interstate 85 last Friday something sparked inside me.  Let me tell you what happened.  I was talking on the phone and in good conversation when the dreaded happens.  DROPPED CALL!  As I look down at my phone, with no bars, and the terror runs through my heart, only to look up to the sky and see a huge billboard with the words..."CINGULAR, RAISING THE BAR."  How could this be?  How could they place a sign in an exact place that they have troubled service?  Were they not thinking of these things?  I was hurt, injured bad.  So now, to you, oh precious Cingular, I am starting to look other places.  Yes, I'm starting to look at other wireless carriers. 

Power Of Death

It is amazing how captivating death is to people.  I know this is a very morbid subject and very sad, but it's interesting how we are programmed spiritually.  We were created to never die...but to have life eternally.  Sin came into the picture and so did death.  Nobody has to be taught how to respond when they see a newly born.  It's much more difficult to respond to someone who has experienced a death in their family.  Look at this passage from Hebrews 2.  It's neat to see how the Bible speaks about people being held in bondage or slavery by their fear of death. 

 14Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. 17For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for^[f] the sins of the people. 18Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

This is the Gospel

I have listened to Ray Comfort for a number of years.  I have never in my life heard someone present the gospel as clear and correct as him.  I encourage you to listen to this message and maybe even burn it on a cd to send someone that you care about.  This is not watered down, it's not an entertaining message, it's the gospel.

Download Here.

My Boy Greezy

Yes ladies and gents, that man in black or green and other funky colors is my boy Jason Grier. I had the pleasure of attending this young doctor's graduation and it was actually pretty good. I didn't slobber on myself because of the boredom and all the speeches were really good and entertaining.

Jason has worked hard and made up for all of our lack of studying in college by busting his butt in med school. Congrats greezy!!!

Also pictured from left to right are THE Hunter Feemster, Miss Sandy Pirkle, the tall and elegant Brianne Siciliano, Dr. Greezy Grier, and myself. 

Goo Goo Dolls "Better Days"

So has anyone heard this song and really listened to the lyrics? Click HERE to watch the video.

GOO GOO DOLLS LYRICS

Better Days


And you ask me what I want this year
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days

So take these words
And sing out loud
Cuz everyone is forgiven now
Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again

And it's someplace simple where we could live
And something only you can give
And thats faith and trust and peace while we're alive
And the one poor child that saved this world
And there's 10 million more who probably could
If we all just stopped and said a prayer for them

So take these words
And sing out loud
Cuz everyone is forgiven now
Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again

I wish everyone was loved tonight
And somehow stop this endless fight
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days

So take these words
And sing out loud
Cuz everyone is forgiven now
Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again
Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again

Wrong Way

My work crew left today for lunch. There were about 7 of us in the SUV and we were going our merry way when we noticed something unusual. A car was merging onto a major highway in the "off ramp." We all wanted to see what would happen as the car approached the highway in the wrong direction. We were on the other side of the road merging onto the highway on the correct ramp. As we looked back and could see that the car was about to start on the road, we see that he realizes the mistake he has made. But at this point, he's stuck and can't really get off the highway. Other cars move around him, some go off the road, we all kinda laugh and find humor in it. We went along our merry way and had lunch.

After work, I was thinking, how in the world could that guy miss all the signs and go the wrong way. As I was passing the path he took, I noticed that there were two signs warning him but they were dull. The "Do not Enter" sign was blemished and dulled by the sun and you could hardly read it. The "Wrong Way" sign was pretty much the same way. It all made sense to me how this guy could have taken that wrong turn, he didn't really have many warnings.

This is a pretty good picture of the church for the most part. I get apathetic and complacent and end up being a dull sign and sometimes not even readable at all while people in this world blow right by me heading straight for Hell. I rejoice in the fact that I'm in the correct lane and merging safely while others are doomed. I wonder what it will take to lead us to be constantly on the lookout for lost people? Do we really really care? When we witness, do we do it out of some sheer feeling inside us that tells us that if we don't, we're not "good Christians" or do we witness because we care about lost souls?

Even for the mature Christian, I think we walk around spiritually drunk and oblivious to the people around us. Sometimes God takes some form of tragedy to sober us and pour cold water on our spirit to wake us to the fragility of life. He's only promised us today.

At Least One Way To Annoy Your Girlfriend

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my boy dr. greezy in da pimped suit

Again...just one of the many reasons why i luv my boy dr. greezy grier. Please note the pimptaciousness of this spectacular suit. I give it a high five.


  

Rachel West Wicked Skating Party

I love my friends. Twenty-somethings keeping it real on the skating rink floor :)

Song of Solomon Columbia

Well it was another fun weekend going through Song of Solomon. I have listened to this message about upteen million times and I continue to learn from it. It amazes me that God would actually be so candid and real about the areas of love, sex, dating, marriage, etc. At some point during the conferences, you might see a few people turn red. Below are some of the fun people that helped volunteer :)








 

Flight of the Dwarf Moth Butterfly

So it's been a long time since a highly produced video has hit the blog...well...there is sarcasm in that. My friend Loren gave us a caterpillar in a small cup. We almost forgot about him as "lil Jimmy" has been on the window for a few weeks now. Yesterday, I was sitting at our bar and heard something, next you will see what I heard. Magnificent!!!!

Butterfly

Just a note...

So we had a spend the night party last night.  Went to Fuse to help Pastor Sandy Gibbes and then went to eat with the Cheat, Rhett Cheatham.  After enjoying the modern day manna of Chick-fil-a...Sandy and I convinced Cheatham to come spend the night with us.  We spent an hour bonding over me crushing their faces in Halo 2.  How fun.  It's fun to have fun friends.  Speaking of one of them, this is a picture of my friend Billy Roger's dog...so funny.  His name is Mogley. 

Does anyone need a registration packet for the Cooper River Bridge Run????

Facebook

And you thought you couldn't make money being social, read this about Facebook.

My sister makes the news

So my sister has a pretty cool job.  She works at the Hague in the Netherlands.  The Hague is the UN's place where they put internation war criminals on trial...such as Milosevic who just died in prison.  She has a pretty cool job.  So apparently she is a Dutch pimp because they wrote an article and used her to teach people how to flirt with Dutch men.  Hilarious.

few things I like...

So I totally have the greatest friends ever. I think I got more emails, phone calls, facebook messages, etc etc than ever before. My mommy sent me the sweetest card too.

It really is nice to have friends all over the place. I am so thankful for all of them, and if you are reading this, you are probably one of them. Unless you are one of those weirdos that searches google for really strange stuff and ends up finding my blog. Well I guess that says I'm strange too because, well anyway. Oh yeah, I also have a super sweet girlfriend who made me two cakes and extremely fat over the weekend. She's also a great gift giver and quite attractive. I mean, not that I look for that kinda thing in a girl. uh huh.

I have been visiting different churches for a while now. I never really feel that feeling that most people feel when they want to become apart of something. Some people say that you should just go, commit, and then it will grow on you. I just have never felt like that, it's like I don't want to taste a meal for the first time, not like it, but continue eating it because someone says I will aquire a taste for it. No, I want to like it from the first bite and continue to like it more and more, ie. Zaxby's and Chick-fil-a. But anyway. I visited CrossPoint in Clemson this weekend and liked it the first time. I felt welcome and it was a very friendly environment. There were many people there that I've crossed paths with through the years so that was neat. The teaching was superb and just right on point. He went through verse by verse and still provided a relevant message. It's a tough thing to find a church that can have a relevant message and still have solid biblical teaching and an open and welcoming atmosphere.

I have to admit, I straight up watch people. On business trips, I am a people watcher, in airports, I am a people watcher. Well, in church, I am a people watcher. A woman that was sitting a few rows across from me was crying during the message. You could tell that she was fighting it and was doing the thing girls do when they try to fight crying. The keep pushing out the corner of their eye as if their eyes are doing something wrong. It's neat to see a visual of what conviction and understanding does in a person, it's goooood.

I also like funny stories, like Stunningman's girlfriend, everytime she visits, I make her tell me a gross story about her doctor's office. It's so funny and gross to hear, but I luv it. We all went to Wild Wing on Friday and I got to her some new ones from another friend of ours...well, Standy had a hard time eating after a few of them, if that tells you anything.

I started listening to Relient K again and also to The Fray...man, now that's good stuff. Not to mention that I love Johnny Cash and his music is GOOOOOOD.

News from the air force 1a Jet

You will enjoy this nice lil video from the office of Air Force 1A. Home of my private jet.

Jesus Videos

So every once in a while, I stumble across a video that I just must share. These videos take a look at people's perceptions of Jesus and their ideas about who He is and how He feels about us. This is hilarious and I guess, when you really think about it...sad.

Jesus Video #1
Jesus Video #2
Jesus Video #3
Jesus Video #4

Way of the Master

I have spoken about these guys many times. Yes, it's Kirk Cameron from "Growing Pains." I started listening to Ray Comfort before his ministry really took off. He now has a show on Sirius radio and it's podcasted for those of you ITUNERS. Just go to Podcast and "Way of the Master" is the podcast. Amazing. I could listen to it all day.

These guys have such a whit about them which allows them to communicate the gospel very clearly, sometimes with a little controversy.

Song of Solomon

So for the past few weeks I have been helping with Song of Solomon. I am not a big promoter of someone or something unless I really believe in it. I'm very critical of what I tell people to listen and learn from. I heard Song of Solomon taught by Tommy Nelson my freshman year of college. He spoke at Ridgecrest and it was super good. I have listened to the messages a bazillion times and always learn something new. He goes through the Song of Solomon verse by verse and teaches how a man is to pursue a woman, date a woman, respect, love, affirm, court, romance, and eventually, well...the romance and sex parts :). I have heard many sermons on dating and they all offer good advice but in reality, many of them are some man's opinion of what he has or does with his wife. Good advice is good, but when you hear something directly from the Word it holds so much more power and weight. Probably one of the biggest struggles in mature Christian singles is dating. We just don't have a clue. I know most guys don't. In the Bible, God always spoke to men two times...Saul Saul, Moses Moses, Samuel Samuel. We need help! The conference goes through:

Art of Attraction
Art of Dating
Art of Courtship
Art of Conflict
Art of Romance
Art of Intimancy
Art of Commitment

You will learn things that are in the Bible that you never thought would be there. Unless you understand the cultural context and history, many of the ideas and verses won't make as much sense. Like...Solomon talks about the womans...well, I'll just let you listen to the teaching yourself. Some of it might make you turn red :)

The next conference will be in Columbia, SC on March 31-April 1. It starts on a friday night at First Baptist Church. It will start again on Saturday morning from like 9 until noon. You can register online at SongofSolomon.com.

It is a good conference if you are single, dating, or married. If you are in college, I think the cost is around $20. If you would like to volunteer, there are a few tickets available free.

I totally just had a commercial on my blog. :)

A good read

Blake Wilbank's post on preaching.

Enough Said.

talk about a sign...

I was driving down the road one afternoon and saw this sign.

The feeling of getting it done

This totally should not make me happy. Yes, I just took a picture of my bed. See, after buying a house from Stunningman, he left much of his furniture in the house until he bought another house. Yes, I was sleeping in Stunningman's bed until the repo man himself came and took everything, haha. Hey, he's got another house now, and his furniture needed him. So I have been furniture shopping. 4 years ago, I could have cared less to go furniture shopping, how boring. Well, I have become domesticated. I think I used that word right. Anyway, I have been roaming around looking at beds, couches, and all sorts of other stuff. Being the manly men we are, Standy and I got a nice tv and surround sound system before we really got anything else. Men. Mizz Wezz went with me to Greenville yesterday, well we didn't actually go. On the way there, I asked her if she minded driving to Atlanta on a whim. She was happy, so off we went. I bought a bed! It didn't fit very well in the back of my Jeep, so we stuffed it. I really wanted to get a really cool bed that looked different. I got home around 11:30 and could not go to sleep. I kept looking at the box and had to start putting it together. When I get something on my mind, I have to get it done. I stayed up until about 1:30 putting it together. Today, I went and bought a phat mattress...ammmmm....a beauty rest. How awesome it is. So right now, I'm laying in my new bed, new mattress, and very thankful for my job and the things God has blessed me with. It feels so good to work really hard and sit back and relax after everything gets done.

On a side note, I went to a Vietnamese restaurant on Monday night. You are talking about good. I had never eaten anything like that, so good, and so healthy. They bring out this big bowl of soup with shrimp, chicken, and beef. Then they bring out a plate full of stuff that looks like they got it from the backyard. You pull the leaves off and put it in your soup. I really like eating at the "not so normal" places. I also met a man inside that taught us some really cool ninja type moves, popped my friends back, and then found out that I went to school with his son. A very fun evening.

On another note and I have talked about this many times. Why are women breastfeeding all over the place these days? I mean c'mon. Just because the weather is getting warm and people are throwing frisbees does not mean you can do that in a restaurant. I mean...at least try to shield yourself! Men cannot have a normal conversation with a woman if she has her boob in her hand, I don't care how natural many of you say that is. Maybe in Africa, but not in Walhalla, SC. haha. 

on the road again

It seems like lately, I have been on the road nonstop and the funny
thing, I love it. There is something about going from place to place
that does it for me. Seeing new people, eating at new restaurants,
and of course, king size hotel bed, or queens too. I'm going to start
helping my friend Ashley with the Song of Solomon conferences as an
MC. Today it snowed really hard and worried that kids might not come
but they did, so that's good news. I got to do something today that
I've always wanted to do. Well I shouldn't say always wanted to do,
but u know what I mean. I asked the kids to say the "S" word really
loud in church, in the sanctuary of all places. Yes, I had the repeat
the "SEX" word really loud. It was great and made my day. Everything
went well and I really hope these kids carry home something of good
use!

Derwin Grey was the speaker and he did a good job. At one point, he
was explaining to the kids about how to "consummate" the marriage.
But instead of saying "consummate", he says, and this is how you
"constipate" the marriage. I about lost it. Whitley, you would have
definitely lost it. We get to get up tomorrow and do it all over
again, fun times ahead!

Not that you asked

Have you ever had one of those days where you really can't remember anything? One of those days where you really can't remember if you put deodorant on in the morning. You have a feeling that it is not there, so you have to do the "stick your finger in your armpit" test. Don't act like you haven't done it. We need honesty here people. Well the good news is...I do have on deodorant and the reason I thought I didn't was because it's the gel kind. I do not think I am a fan of the gel kind. It's like putting on 3 hours of working out in the morning. Well not that I know what 3 hours of working out would feel like or what it would translate into underarm sweat, but I can imagine.

On a serious note, a friend of mine plans conferences for Song of Solomon. This is the absolute best teaching I have ever heard on the subject of dating/love/sex/conflict/marriage etc. If you have a youth group, there will be a few conferences in this area. The link for students is here and for college age and adult is here. The conferences around this area are in Columbia, Charlotte, and Taylors.

Fumblin around in Boston

Greetings campers...so I had to come up to the northeast part of our fine country this week for work. I had to work through Thursday but decided to call up a buddy of mine, John Scott and stay with him at Harvard. Yes, he is a nerd.

People up here seem to love the horn. It's amazing how many times a day you will hear the horn blow. I really want to look at most of them and say..."is your day that rushed that you need to act like an idiot?" I chose not to...in fear that they might pull out a gat and mow me down.

The city is pretty awesome downtown. They have MANY places to eat which qualifies as a good city in my book. I also discovered that it is impossible to have a car up here, you cannot park it. You might be able to drive around and get cursed at and beeped at, but you will not park your car, so fill up, drive around is what you do. :)

I really like messing with people on airplanes. As we were getting off the plane in DC, I noticed that a woman was listening to my conversation with a co-worker. So I say.."The President is going to be so excited to see us." I don't know why that stuff really makes me happy. Haha. I could have kept it going, but i figured that was enough.

I walked around Harvard yesterday, I felt like I was making all the students dumber just by walking by them. Someone told me that I even "looked southern." Now how in the world do you look Southern if you are not dressed southern. I had on dress pants, a long sleeve polo, etc. ??? Even Northern people have hair on their face. I should have asked.

Anywho, I'm going to roam around again. :)

Ray Comfort and the Gorilla Suit

Latest Article on the web.

I absolutely love these type of articles.  Charles Spurgeon once said "It would be very easy to prove that revivals of religion have usually been accompanied, if not caused, by a considerable amount of preaching out-of-doors, or in unusual places".  Interesting to read that quote and then read this article. 

Winterplace Ski Trip

 
 

After much ado and not knowing if we would have snow, our group ended up in West Virginia and it was quite a fun weekend! At age 25, things don't repair as quick as they used to.

See Pictures

So we had a party one time

 


So we had a New Years Eve Party. I think it was one of the most "fun" things we have done at the house since purchase. Rhett had originally thought it would be a good idea to have an oyster roast. The Sanch and I were hip to the idea so we set out to get it done. I think it was the most fun in the world to plan this thing. You never realize how much planning and work goes into a party for a lot of people until you start to actually plan one.

My mom and I met my cousin Mike down at the beach for the oysters. It was some good mother/son bonding. Mike took us out in his boat and we found some really huge oyster beds to get the "select" type oysters. (These type are the best and usually cost the most because they are big and snotty) We picked about 6 bushels in 2 hours and it was a lot of fun. A shrimp tried to attack me in the process, but anyway. Great time.

Back to the party. As the party got closer, I started to realize that more and more people were going to be coming. I was excited. I love people and the more the merrier is my attitude. A local "restaurant" sponsored our sweet tea and crushed ice. Some of the neighbors saw our coolers and oysters all in the driveway and kinda wondered what was going on. I invited them also. She replied that she and her husband were "kinda dorky." I then explained to her that she would fit right in with myself and friends, because we were also very dorky. She laughed.

The party ended up being a big fun ol time and we probably had between 50-60 people which was awesome. All random and different types of people. Sandy and I kinda wondered how we would "entertain" everyone but after about the first hour, I realized that people were entertaining themselves. When you have guys (Eddie) volunteer to put a helmet on and allow other guys (sanch, me, and jason) shoot fireworks at his head, that is classic and serves as good-hearted entertainment. I think I stayed up until about 5:30 that night. We brought 2006 in, very strong!

After all was said and done, I really had some just humbling thoughts about the kingdom of God. Man, there is a party coming that we cannot even imagine. The greatest party that has ever been thrown. It's in the planning stages and..well...has been since before the beginning of time. WHAT??? I like that kinda party. It's going to have the most random group of people you have ever seen. There are going to be people with funny hair, funny accents, and funny beards. There will be a smile on everyones face. It's tough as you live your daily life to really think about the future and what God's party will look like. Right now, we are in the planning stages. I've learned that some will not respond to the invitation, some will deny the invitation, some will have better things to do, and some will join full force and even begin to help in the preparation of it.

I started reading the parable of the Great Banquet. Jesus was telling a story about a guy who threw this massive party. Some of his invitees began to say they had better things to do.

See, the meal was prepared way beforehand. The party planner would decide on what type of meat to eat based on how many people were coming. If he killed a calf, 35-75 people could have eaten. The people that were invited did not want to come.

21"The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.'

22" 'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.'

23"Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. 24I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.' "

The idea of giving an order to go out everywhere you can with no regard to class and get as many people as you can amazes me. Do not pick just the "white ones." Do not pick just the "black ones." Do not just pick the middle class. Actually, I would rather you pick the ones that are socially challenged and the ones that are sick, hurt, unmarried, lame, blind. Yeah those are the people I want to come to my party.

I just totally wrote a book but this idea of a coming kingdom and massive party gets to me. I think if you are the average American Christian, you probably have a stack of invitations that you have never given out. OOOOOO, He is good to us!

A friend of mine called tonight and told me that a high school friend of hers suddenly passed away at age 27. It made me think about the people in my life who I have yet given an invitation to.