Why I Blog

People who aren’t into blogging frequently ask me why I do it. Until recently, I have always thought about my blog simply as my own personal online “journal,” one that a small group of my more dedicated (or internet-savvy) friends might happen to read occasionally. Writing is for me very therapeutic. It helps me process the things that are going on in my life. Taking all of the happenings, thoughts, and emotions of the day and having to distill them down into something coherent and constructive helps me a ton. But recently my view on blogging has broadened a bit. I have seen how God can use it to encourage, challenge, teach, and even spark face-to-face conversations. And as a Christ-follower and a pastor, those are the things that I value and want my life to be all about.

The following article is aimed specifically at pastors, but it is worth a read for anyone. (especially my fellow bloggers)

6 Reasons Pastors Should Blog – Abraham Piper

 

Soundtrack

I love walking while listening to my ipod. It’s like being in that “musical montage” scene in a movie. I don’t really walk for exercise or anything, but occasionally I will have to walk somewhere downtown and it is always better with my “soundtrack” playing. I personally like the random mix the best… it is funny how much the music colors the things you see as you are walking, depending on the song. So pick a nice spring day sometime soon and go walking with your ipod, mp3 player, whatever. Especially if you have never done it before.

Addition

Thanks to my friend Tracy, I have an addition to the “things single people want their friends/family to know” post. Check it out – number 6 is the new one.

Virtual Friends

I love meeting new people. Yesterday I met someone who already knew a little about me from having run across this blog at some point. Welcome to the modern world of myspace, facebook, blogs, etc! Anyway – we ended up having a great conversation about life, church, and other stuff. Several years ago when the solidorange site was a pretty happenin’ message board, guys who had been interacting online for months would happen to meet each other at a football game, which was very cool as well. (although a little geekin’ to have to be introduced to people by your screen name – ha ha!)

I wish that the internet worked like that more often. That instead of causing/allowing us to retreat to “virtual life” in our cubicles and houses and effectively decreasing our actual contact with people, it actually functioned as a supplement to real life, increasing our connectivity and deeper interaction with each other. I hope that this blog is like that. I don’t ever want it to be just empty theories, ramblings, and shallow commentary. The content of this blog comes from and is mostly thoughts about my “real life,” and I hope that in some way God uses it to encourage and challenge you in your “real life” as well.

Melting

On yesterday’s prayer: In the middle of the pressure-cooker that is my life right now I can tell that God is shaping and molding me. And although the result of that process is always good, it is almost never easy or painless.

“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” 1 Peter 1:6-7

When fire refines gold, it does not pleasantly warm it up like a campfire does my face on a cool night. It melts it. It breaks it down to a puddle that cannot even hold its own shape. But the result is something of great worth. The same is true in my life. If I constantly run from the uncomfortable fire, I will never become the person that God intends for me to be.

So far I can tell that he is stretching, and in turn strengthening my faith. He is questioning and purifying my motives and desires. He is teaching me how true love is not passive and blissful, but engaging, bold, and often difficult. Who knows what else he is up to?

It is hot and I am definitely melting, but I am excited about what is on the other side.

Prayer

God, right now I am facing the most difficult and complex situations I have had to face so far in my life on many levels. I am not complaining or looking for the easy way out; I am simply asking, no, pleading for your guidance and strength. I will not make it without you.

“Hear my prayer, oh Lord. Listen to my cry for mercy. In the day of my trouble I will call to you for you will answer me.” Psalm 86:6-7

Happy Day!

The greatest day in history
Death is beaten, You have rescued me
Sing it out Jesus is alive
The empty cross, The empty grave
Life eternal You have won the day
Shout it out Jesus is alive
He’s alive

Oh happy day, happy day!
You washed my sin away
Oh happy day, happy day!
I’ll never be the same
Forever I am changed

 

Weak Sauce

At Dustin’s life group a few weeks ago:

___________

Kakaras to Dustin: Man, I had no idea you were so into chick flicks.
Dustin: Huh?
Kakaras: You know, all the ones you have been watching recently.
Dustin: What are you talking about?
Allen: (giggle) You wrote all about it on your blog.
Dustin: No I didn’t.
Kakaras and Allen: (laughing now) Yes, you wrote a whole post about all the chick flicks that you have been watching late at night after Renie goes to bed….

____________

I was reading Dustin’s blog a few weeks ago and realized that he had not logged out from his VOX account on my laptop. Oh lucky day! Of course I had to take advantage of such an opportunity and write a post for him confessing his little late night obsession with chick flicks. The post stayed up all day and he never realized it till the guys brought it up at his life group. Good stuff! The best part of the story; his blog had over 70 hits that day!

So tonight while some people were watching a movie at my house, Dustin decided to try and pay me back by getting on my laptop and writing a post for me. (Apparently I enjoyed the movie Sleepless In Seattle 3 times today.) All I have to say is that is some pretty weak sauce from Mr. Willis. He should take some prank pointers from the Midtown creativity team during their Tuesday meetings. Oh wait, that wouldn’t work. I happen to be on that team….

Why Music is Better Than Sports

I skipped the Baumer show tonight to watch the Tigers play in the NCAA basketball tournament. Bad decision. So I came up with this list.

Why Music is Better Than Sports:

1. With music everybody wins
2. Music does not make you sad more than it makes you happy
3. Referees don’t ruin a big concert
4. There are very few music injuries
5. Music does not make you a nervous wreck every time you listen to it
6. There are no “music talk” radio stations where people who know nothing about music talk about it all day long
7. Music doesn’t make you mad at your friends
8. Music does not leave you with a knot in your stomach
9. You don’t have to wait till next year
10. Music goes with anything
11. Dancing
12. Romance
13. Music can have depth and meaning
14. And of course, most importantly….. women love musicians!

March Madness

The Midtown staff is terrible at basketball. Shockingly so. This past Tuesday we got together for our monthly “staff” meeting. (”staff” being a loose term itself, since most of us are either volunteer or bi, tri, or even quad-vocational) We had a great dinner together and productive meeting, but things went downhill fast when we all went to play basketball afterward. I am glad there was some team-building and exercise value to it, because that’s about all it was! Aside from a few bright spots, (Dustin, Adam, and Jay) the rest of what happened on the court barely resembled the game that everyone is watching on tv this time of year! As multi-talented as most of the guys are, you would think that we could hold together a respectable looking game, but that was not the case. Maybe we should have a guitar-hero competition at our next staff meeting….