Party like it’s Nineteen Ninety .....SVI:

I am not totally aware of the reason or if there even needs to be one, but today at work we took the opportunity to party. I think that the reason for that is that someone or multiple people passed their MRI registry. So now we all got something from a local grill. I ordered what I thought was going to be an adequate sized meal for the resident tower of power.

I was wrong.

I don’t think I have seen such huge-mungous pieces of chicken in my life! Woh. I am so amazingly stuffed right now... and I didn’t even finish it all. That is amazing! I mean, I can eat. Not as much as some people think I can, but this was just an amazing amount of food. I am impressed.

I Fought a Battle Today:

Today I am at work, like every day before it. I drove to work, set up my work area, and sat down. Today was a little different. I fought a battle that many refuse to admit. I fought a battle that few men openly admit.

Today I fought a monster. I fought a monster which takes on different embodiments, forms, shapes, colors, and sizes. This monster has destroyed kingdoms, brought down wise man, and made the righteous falter. Everyone fights it at some time or another. Everyone fights it more than once. It’s everywhere from the television, to the magazine rack, to walking down the street in broad daylight or by moonlight. Not everyone wins, not everyone loses. Today, I fought against the despicable monster called lust.

As I walked into my “office” (the SVI kitchen, if you didn’t know), and to my shock and surprise to see a magazine on the table with a huge title “j. Lo - The Pinup Picture!” with a scantily clad Ms. Lopez. I was shocked that it was sitting on the table in our kitchen, especially considering that most of the office workers are older and female. After my initial reaction of surprise, there was that voice that everyone is familiar with....the enemy. “Take a look, it’s only one picture. Feast on her beauty.”

Praise God that great is He that is in me than He that is in the world. I am also thankful that I know that though she may be a very attactive woman, what is personified in the cover and probably inside as well (to the comfort of my readers and myself, I did NOT open the magazine, I turned it on its back) are NOT love or even beauty.

Honestly, it is disgusting to realize how big the industries based on sex are. Girl who may be reading this, I want you to hear me out, even though guys suffer in this battle more, it is a struggle. Try to help us guys out by not showing more than absolutely nessicary. I know that it is difficult for you girls to find stuff that is both modest and fashionable, but it can be difficult for guys to keep pure thoughts when everything is being shown.

So here is my basic point. Everyone, let’s not sell out to Society’s steriotype of girls being pinups and guys being mindlessly sex-driven. Break out of the norm. Think for yourself. Fight the battles.... and win.... I know that today I did.

Is He Safe?:

“Safe? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good” - Mr. Beaver from C.S. Lewis’ “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe”

In this quote from C.S. Lewis’ allegory, Mr. Beaver is talking about Aslan, the lion. This character draws a parallel to someone that Lewis knew back then and someone that I know today: Jesus Christ. The illustration of Jesus as a lion is biblical. Many times, He is referred to as the Lion of Judah. This brings an interest question to mind. If Lewis understood this quality in Jesus, why do we have this wimpy, white, North American view of Christ?

Lately, I’ve been reading Isaiah in my devotions and last night I came across a chapter the talked about The Day of The Lord. In this chapter, it depicts the horrifying demise of Israel’s enemies and judgment. This made me curious. There are other places where I have read that talk about The Day of The Lord with the same type of behind it. Again I ask: why do we have this wimpy, white, North American view of Christ?

Yes, God is merciful, He is compassionate, loving, etc. But, He is terrible, but He is good. Does that make any sense? When the Bible says “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” , they’re right. When we can understand that God is both good and full of holy wrath, we can understand the desperate need to be on His side and get others there as well.

I’m not saying that we should serve God out of fear or use scare tactics to win people over. What I am saying is that each person needs to come to a place where that can reverently fear God because He is holy. I think that Paul hit that wall on the road to Damascus. There he is all big and bad, persecuting the Christians “for God”, following the law to the letter. Then Jesus steps on the scene and Paul is never the same. I know the biblical text doesn’t say this but I’m sure in older manuscript the phrase can be found: “And Saul crappethed his pants when he saw the Lord Jesus in all His glory.” I mean, not only is Jesus standing there with His high beams on Saul, but HE is standing there. His question “Why do you persecute me?” probably echoed in Saul’s head. To me it kind of seems like one of those “and who do you think you are?” statements.

Maybe I’m over interpreting the text, or maybe I’m on the level with it. But all I can say is that I am discovering that God has a more wild personality than we give Him credit for. I mean, look at how Jesus threw the tables of the money changers. A “nice, young man” wouldn’t do that. Also, think about His upbringing. Jesus was born Jew and the “son” of a carpenter which means that he probably had a dark complexion and followed in Joseph’s footsteps in the trade for a while. Any carpenter I’ve seen has not been physically weak. I bet Jesus had some “pythons” on Him. He also lived on the edge. I mean, he let the people beat the crap out of Him, crucify Him, and kicked death in the hiney. That’s my Jesus.

Some of these insights come from the book that I’m reading, John Eldredge’s “Wild at Heart”, which I have to say has been an amazing book so far and I recommend it to EVERYONE. If you’re a guy, read it... if you’re a girl, read it... you might understand guys better.

At Least I’m Not Like All Those Other Old Guys:

I feel old. I am twenty years old. I have friends that are getting married or married with kids. I am in ka-hoots with people that are going grey.... Iwas at a family friend’s house getting my hair cut last night and she is married and has two kids that are both talkative and hyper. I remember being involved with a puppet team that was run by her and another teen in the youth group. I remember seeing her off to college at Houghton. Dude, I FEEL OLD!

Argh! I remember being 15, 16ish thinking that “20” was so far away. Now I’m there, I have a full time job, I’m going into my third year of college, I’m registered to vote, and I have bills. What’s the deal with that?

I wish I were Peter Pan in a way. I wish that I could be about 18 or 19 and stay there. Never grow any older, never feel the pull of a “responsable, normal adult” life. Also, I’d be able to fly as well as just do crazy stuff like that. I was given the shock and nasty surprise that the money I just shelled out for insurance doesn't even cover me for the year. It's only for like two months. I hate my life.

Honestly, what are the benefits of being old? I mean, yeah, there aren’t the worries of “age restrictions”, but as far as the things that are legal, none of them hold any appeal to me accept for being able to drive past 12 am.

I guess that the only thing I have to say is this: I may be old but at least I’m not like all those other old guys.

It Was Beautiful:

“Close to home in an ordinary room, we felt You there. It’s my favorite memory, you’re so beautiful to me. Thanks for these songs, these seven friends, and 8 good year. It is you that made them sweet You’re so beautiful to me.” - “It Was Beautiful” by Five Iron Frenzy

I wish that I could have written last night when I was affected by it most...I wish that every one of you reader could have been with us last night. Last night, Single Focus, the worship band that I am a part of played in a small church, out in the middle of no where. There wasn’t a big crowd, there weren’t flashing lights, or our name in banners.... but God was there.

I can’t explain what happened, but I do know that I was refreshed. It was something that made me glad to know that the God I serve is alive and He is God. I know that He lives because He has done an amazing work in my life. Not only that, but He has met with me in places that are unexpected and those places that people would go to seek God. It was beautiful.


This Ruined Muppet:

Again, this lunch break is my time to blog. I’ll probably end up reading my book (Wild at Heart by John Eldredge) later, but now is the time to write. Because I have a bit of time on my hands, I ran some films over to the local hospital. On the way over, I had some Dashboard Confessional in the CD player.... I have this twisted mind... I think of odd things. I started singing Dashboard as Kermit the Frog and Ernie!

It is quite disturbing to hear Screaming Infidelities sung by Ernie and So Long Sweet Summer by Kermit the Frog. I’m not sure where it came from, but I just had to laugh at it. As said before, I am an odd individual.