Just some thoughts after a conversation

Howdy all.

I had a fun conversation with my partner from impact a couple of summers ago, Kristin. We just got to sit and chat for a while about life and what we have been doing and what we see ahead of us. We got to talking about the Lord, which is always a good thing, and I think He gave me some great wisdom through what we talked about.

I am growing more certain that the Lord is going to do something amazing in our time. He is going to change us. I think we are going to be known for our love again: our love for each other, for other people that society (and possibly 'traditional' Christianity ) deems unlovable, and just the normal hurting people. I think God is teaching this generation to love unconditionally again. The gospel is good news and it should be proclaimed in love and should be carried forward with love. I want to see that again.

Also, I came to realize a truth about how I think I need to pray about my pursuit of what is next after school. I need to ask the Lord to guide me into His will, number one, but also I need to ask Him to show me where to go to be correctly equipped to carry out His will where He wants me to be. I don't know if I articulated that correctly, but basically, I want to be ready to move the gospel forward effectively where God puts me. So whatever His will is and whatever my role is, I want to go to school to learn the skills I need to accomplish that well.

Good. So basically, if I need to run a business I need to goto business school. If I need to teach His Word, I need to goto seminary. If I need to lead worship, I need to go somewhere to learn about that. I want to learn what I need to learn. And not just for the heck of it, but purposefully maturing towards a knowledge that will help the gospel go forth.

That is our purpose anyway. If we do anything without its purpose somehow being grounded in Christ and spreading His good news, we aren't really doing anything I guess.

That's that. I want to be somewhere effective. God will provide.
--Michael

Something terribly sad

It has been a while.

I just read this article: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,307058,00.html

It makes me sad to see what perversion of what the gospel was meant to convey lead to this Westboro Baptist church does to people and to fellow Christians.

Where Christ's love and ultimate care for someone should be shining through, there is hate and belittlement and malice and, really, stupidity. We are meant to convey remedy, love, hope, joy, peace to this world, not hatred. How can we reach people if they are turned off by our ability to be the biggest jerks in the world? Gah.

1 Peter 2:1-3 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Titus 3:1-8: Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men. At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

They missed the point. That is terribly sad.

Writing Music / Songs

I have been writing some poetry and specifically setting them to music. I have been writing songs, if you will. :) I wonder firstly, if anyone reads this. Second I wonder if any said possible readers get that joke. Probably not, but good thoughts none the less.

Anyway, back to the point. I have been writing songs and it is rather difficult. I really enjoy it, and it is certainly a worthwhile use of my time, but moving from a world of just worship music to trying to write songs that appeal to people's emotions and challenge them to think or at least entertain them is quite a different animal. The same laws do not apply to "regular music" and "worship music."

For instance:
Worship Music

• Point to Christ
• Glorify God
• Help you praise God
• Not about show
• Easy to sing
• Less "Do do do"
• Straightforward

Normal Music

• Make a point or have a point
• Glorify God
• Help you enjoy life
• About Show
• Whatever I want to say
• "Do do do" encouraged
• Complicated or simple (either)

Anyway, it is interesting trying to write something significant and real that really sounds good and is not always preachy or worship specific music. I want to write about real things that people can identify with, which is worship to Christ, just not in the traditional worship chorus style. But that is what comes out sometimes because of my experience with leading worship.

It is a good problem, because as I work through this even if I don't get a lot of "Normal Music" right now, I am getting some good praise music :)

-- Michael

Been A Month

It has been a month since I wrote here.

A lot has changed. Well I guess not a whole lot, but some.

I might be going to the Czech Republic the Spr. of '09.

I am excited about that!

Anyway, I'll write more later.

God Timeless in Eternity

I found this article today while searching out some info on eternity to share with my kids this summer at Sky Ranch. The topic is eternity and how God plays into that.

Read this:
http://www.leaderu.com/offices/billcraig/docs/eternity.html

Really interesting stuff. Footnote 25 is great too, talking about several issues depending on the Trinity. I tend to believe the relative view of time, with God existing timelessly before creation, however I take issue with the conclusion:

"Thus, the proper understanding of God, time, and eternity would be that God exists changelessly and timelessly prior to creation and in time after creation."

How I have envisioned how God exists in eternity and not just envisioned but seen exposed in scripture and thinking is that God exists in eternity, timeless, etc. now, as well as before creation. He interacts with time from his place outside of time, but is not bound to it.

<------------------------Eternity---------------------------->
| (Time) |
Beginning (Creation) <- -> End (Judgment)

This is a figure describing kind of what I am saying. Time is an outside entity created from eternity and accessed from eternity by God. The problem with this model is that Eternity is on a timescale, which is not philosophically correct, as Eternity is timeless, almost like an eternal instance where past, present, and future combine into one. Thus, God is able to enter time for any moment as long as he wants, as his existence is outside and independent of time.

Dr. Craig seems to suggest that post creation, God is dependent upon time or bound by time, which is what my ideas above try to take a different point of view on.

Just some thoughts. Anyone?

Stall Out...another encouragement

This one is by MuteMath

Another encouraging song in the midst of stuff going on in my life. God and I are still far from over. And That is the best thing I have ever heard of. Check it out...listen to this song. At least read it below:

Racing on a fault-line
Bracing for a landslide
Conscious of every move getting harder
Has the race gone underwater?

I keep stalling out; I just can't keep up
There's alarming doubt; am I good enough?
But you keep coming around to convince me
It's still far from over

We are still far, we are still far
We are still far from over (repeat)
God is good.  He doesn't abandon us!

Restored

This song is really good. It is an encouragement for sure:

Restored by Jeremy Camp:

All this time I've wandered around searching for the things I'll never know
I've been searching for this answer that only will be found in your love
And I feel it
My heart is being mended by your touch
And I hear it
Your voice that's shown my purpose in this world

(Chorus)
You have restored me from my feeble and broken soul
You have restored me

I've only come to realize my strength will be made perfect at your throne
Laying all reflections down to see the precious beauty that you've shown
And I feel it
My heart is being mended by your touch
And I hear it
Your voice thats shown my purpose in this world.

(Chorus)

(Bridge)
Laying all these questions down you've answered what I need
You've given more than I deserve your making me complete
You give me all these open doors I'm humbled at your feet
To show me what you've done for me.

(Chorus)

All this time I've wandered around searching for the things I'll never know.

Halo 3 Legendary Edition

So...I went ahead and did it yesterday...
Yes, I pre-ordered the Legendary Edition of Halo 3!!

What am I thinking? Well, I think you will agree it will be worth the extra $40 bucks for what I get! (Really, its only an extra $20 because Megan so graciously gave me a $20 dollar gift card to Gamespot for our 2 Year anniversary! (She also got me a journal) More on that later today).

Check this out:
|
<------ You get this awesome Mark VI Mjolnir Master Chief helmet case. Also:

• Behind-the-scenes at Bungie Studios with new insights into the Halo Universe and the making of Halo 3.
• A special hi-res collection of all cinematics from Halo 1 and Halo 2 with director commentary from the Bungie Team bonus
• Community content from Red vs. Blue, This Spartan Life and Exclusive Gamer Tiles & a Theme
• Each unit will be serialized for added individuality and collectability.
  

How the heck could I not get that!?!?! :)

Anyway, come over and play!

-out-

I've been set free

Have you ever wondered about that day? You know...that day.

The one where the title of this blog happens...where God takes one look at you, sees His Son living inside you, covering you, and gives you a smile that fills you with love and fear and knocks you forward to your face, destroyed?

You know...the one where our faith will finally be sight? The one where I get to walk by the big sea on streets of pure gold with Jesus talking about how He moved in my life. Where I get to talk to my family and never be apart. The one where I get to meet the angel who I share a name with.

Oh that day. We have been set free from death, the crap of this world, and given peace amidst ridiculousness in this world. Can I ask for more? It is the best we can have. We just have to have patience and strength to face the world as it caves in.

Beware. I am making a Dragon Ball Z reference.

It is like Goku on that planet facing Frieza. The world was crumbling around him, but he had to remain steadfast and focused to build up that Spirit Bomb. Fortunately, he did. Unfortunately for him, after all that. He missed. That is Lame-o, Goku. Capital L.

And while I duck a misplaced kah maya maya (work on that aim, Goku), it occurs to me that what God is building in us won't miss the mark. Christ says that the work He has begun in us will be finished. And that His word does not come back empty.

How cool is that? Shall we remain focused then? Yes. If we can, through His power, we will be able to walk into that day and smile back...

Crazy week

What a crazy week!

I have 3 tests on Thursday. I am studying like crazy and am not sure if I am going to get it done! I know the Lord will get me through it. I hope I am rested enough to do well.

God help me!

Just to satisfy the requirements

So yeah...its 11:45 and I am leaving my house. And if I didn't post now...I would miss today.

So here is my post for today. I will come back and write something else.

Check

It is always fun

It is always fun to stay up till 4:30am helping someone with VB. I mean that. Programming is fun.

It is always fun to go to lunch with Megan. McAllister's is great!

It is always fun to have 3 tests on Thursday of next week. This one is a joke.

It is always fun to experience God throughout my day, through little things and through everything. Glory to God that He shows Himself in everything and that His creation speaks so greatly of Him!

On another note, I need some rest. I am tired and I need to sleep! Hopefully this weekend will be good for that :)

A Meeting

Today I have my Software Engineering Meeting. Usually I have to get up and talk about my previous week, what I have done, and what I am going to work on this week.

I have been having trouble with a few parts of my project, but I think we are close to having a product that is usable and useful. Hopefully, this will happen over the next week or so.

My laptop has also been pretty weird lately. Running slow and having problems keeping up with my typing. I am not sure why, but I think it happens after I put it to sleep for long periods of time in my bag. It could be an overheating problem. I think I will reformat soon.

I have been really holding on to a few verses in Titus recently:

Titus 3:3-8
"3At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone."

It is just so good to know and hear daily of Christ's sacrifice for me. That my old nature is gone. That I have life that is coming and has already come. That we are heirs. That we are renewed and reborn. so much is here.

It is a good thing to hold onto when times are hard, we fall, or even just as a remembrance of what He has done.

My Room

My room is severely messed up. And by messed up, I mean messy. I do not know if I can stand it much longer. I will have to fix that soon.

Most of the clothes can be moved and some things just need to be sorted. Sometimes I feel so lazy. I cant even keep my room clean! What is that anyway??

I wonder what would happen if I changed my laziness into something else, like effort? Probably a good thing, I guess. yes...at least 1 would happen. I'll let you know.

Introduction

So I thought I would give blogging another chance.

I started on Xanga a long time ago (www.xanga.com/janson0), but nothing really came of that. It kinda died. Instead of restarting there, I figured I would just grab a blogger account and try again.

My blog title comes from pg. 52 of David Crowder's book Praise Habit : Finding God in Sunsets and Sushi. He is talking about God. If we were in a room with him and our eyes met and he looked at us and He ran to us. Here's the quote: "If I am ever in the same room with that Guy [God], I will not be cool. How could I? And what if our eyes met and I was found out? What if I looked up and saw Him running right at me with His arms spread wide and a torrential smile that would turn dry deserts green? That would be unreasonable."

And that is just it. There is no reason for the Guy who made up everything to want me. But I am humbled and astounded and destroyed by the fact that He does. And that makes me want Him. And I do.

So that is what this is about.

Peace