Awaken

So this past Saturday I went to hear my good friend Jake speak at the Awaken 2009 conference at NorthStar Church in Kennesaw. It was a great time, with Chris Huff leading worship. I saw a lot of old friends, and made some new ones!!

Here are my notes and quotes from Jake’s talk:

(keep in mind these are the shorthand that I wrote during his speech, but I think they make sense)

-”They were the cool Christian kids who didn’t dump over porta-potties.” – Jake Dudley

-More women go to church than men.

-Jesus was living, breathing, walking Love.

-As long as Jesus is being preached, it doesn’t matter what color carpet the church has, what type of pre-service music, etc…

-People talk about Jesus 2000 years later

-God sent Jesus down to Earth, and to die for the sins of men and women

-What if I, through everyone’s junk, life, etc…, just loved them the way Jesus does?

-The World says that for any problem, there is a program, pill, or person to solve it. That is crap. Jesus is the answer.

-Mark 12:28-31

-John 15:12-13

-”Sometimes leading people to Jesus is being Jesus to the people”

-Jake also talked about the Christy Nockels song “By Our Love”
-Check the lyrics here

-”If the world is supposed to know us by our love, then why do they know us for what we hate?”

Jake did a great job and so did the guys putting the conference on.

P.S. – I also bought John Mayer tickets in the parking lot right after Awaken. Pretty stoked on it. Fosho

Friday Feelings

Today, I am feeling absolutely amazing. I got up this morning and went to my second interviwe at Lowe’s and it went excellent. I then went with my mom to Doug’s Place to eat, and it was delicious. We got to hang, and it is always cool to spend quality time with your mom, no matter what other people think. I then went and gave blood, which strangely enough I like doing. I am eligible to give again on March 20, if I do not get another tattoo by then. I have felt nothing but Love today.

God has shown me so much Love this past week; it is crazy. I believe that I have opened myself up to accept His Love, for it has been there all along. I read this book “The Beauty of Love” yesterday, and it really taught me a lot. It had rad little stories about different kinds of Love, ways it is shown, and verses to prove all the points. Here were my favorites:

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend…the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.” – Ephesians 3:17-19

“And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him.”

I could have read those verses on the worst day of my life, and they would have made the day better. They speak volumes about how much God truly does care for us, for HE IS LOVE. Everyone needs Love, and everyone is Loved. Open up your hearts to Jesus Christ and see for yourself the fulfilling Love that is Him.

I am going to a party later on tonight, and I believe that it will be a grand time. I’m sure there will be alcohol there. I personally believe that people drink to forget they have been hurt, and they feel no Love. I want to show someone Love, and let them know that Love can never be taken from them. I may be the only non-drinker there, but that is fine with me. Don’t get me wrong; there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a drink or two to relax, but drinking to forget will get you nothing but hurt and empty. I want to show someone that the void doesn’t have to remain, but it can be filled by true Love, Jesus Christ. I am stoked for tonight.

“God Is Love, And Love Is Real”
Until tomorrow, I Love you all. God Bless.

It’s Been One Week…

…since I have posted a blog. What a loser. But from now on, I am going to try my hardest to post a blog every day. I have even thought of a theme or something like that for the blog: a different topic for each day of the week. I will discuss things in that category that have happened over the past week. So here they are:

Miraculous Monday – I will be talking about miracles that have happened over the past week or so.
Tuesday Tunes – I will be telling what music you should buy as soon as possible.
Why? Wednesday – I will be asking questions and explaining my answers, and asking your answers.
Thankful Thursday – I will be discussing what I am thankful for (duh!)
Friday Feelings – I will be discussing what I am feeling at the moment. (probably random)
Cinematic Saturday – I will be discussing movies that I have watched recently, or old favorites.
Sum-It-Up Sunday – I will be summing up my week and discussing everything great (or not) that happened.

However, this blog will be totally random, and a mix of all these put together, because I haven’t blogged in a week. So here it goes.

Everyday Miracles: Miracles, Everyday. Did you see the new story about the Hudson River plane crash? That pilot is a hero, and was the protagonist in a true story of God’s will. God’s will was to show those people that they were safe no matter how scared they are. That plane landed in the river, and the most serious injury was a pair of broken legs. Everyone will tell their kids and grandkids of this event in their lives, and hopefully they will realize that God saved them because He has greater goals for them. Also, probably the greatest story of perseverence I have heard recently was on American Idol last week. A man by the name of Scott MacIntyre? was on Idol last week, and he was blind. However, he taught himself how to play the piano and to sing.  He did not give up, just like Jesus did not give up on us, the terrible sinners that we are. That is what I thought about as this dude sang a great song, and made it to Hollywood. I am truly rooting for that dude. I think that he can truly make a difference in this society. Those are huge miracles, but if you look outside you will also see countless miracles. Just look at a tree and see how it perseveres from being a little helpless bush to a full-living tree. Just like the tree, we are so helpless until we accept Jesus as our saviour, but then we grow and turn into beautiful believer who has the opportunity to show someone the grace that has enveloped our lives. Also, everyday you can see a parent kiss their child goodbye. That is the purest form of love that I know besides the love of Christ. Love is amazing, and a miracle, and can be witnessed every day of the week.

Some CDs that I have been listening to lately are:
Ocean Is Theory – Into The Mouths Of Lions
For Today – Ekklesia
MyChildren MyBride – Unbreakable
Sent By Ravens – The Effects Of Fashion And Prayer
Butch Walker – Any CD That He Has Ever Been A Part Of

Why does God love me, and everyone for that matter, so much? The only thing that I can fathom is that He truly believes in us more than we can imagine and He loves us unconditionally. We are not worthy, but He has plans for us, and we can only do the best we can. God is Love, and Love is Real. Love God, Love People. Great quotes to remember.

I am thankful for all the opportunities that God has given me recently. I am truly thankful for the great relationships that I have with each of my parents, for my bro-for-life Zach, ChristCore Apparel, and for the new relationships with all the wonderful folks at OakLeafChurch.
I am feeling quite happy and stoked about life at the moment. However, I have been working on this blog for an hour so far, and my fingers are cramping. But it is totally worth it.

Recently I have watched:
My Bloody Valentine (original): B-
Role Models: A+

I have been doing great over the past week, and I am already stoked for Sunday to be back at The Leaf!!!!!!!!!!

Now for some random thoughts that I have jotted down in my journal today(word-for-word):
-New Ocean Is Theory video for “More Than Conquerers” is sick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Twitter is addictive.
-Jesus Christ has saved me from myself this year.
-Made a bunch of rad friends at OakLeafChurch
- Stoked for this year for ChristCore Apparel
-Check out Esau Apparel!!!
-I need to pray more.
-I need to write in my journal more consistently.
-I actually need to blog consistently.
-Today = no crappy feelings, a great day, and God showed me love everywhere.
-Lindsay Graham is a politician who was a big-time supporter of John McCain, but said today that he would help Obama any way that he could. That is a great dude.
-Finally: Today was the inauguration of Barack  Obama. People were cheering and crying for the hope that they believe he will bring to the nation. I saw all the people cheering and crying and jumping with joy. I think that people should act like this every day, when they think of the fact that Jesus brought them eternal hope when He died for us on the cross. I can’t say that I physically jump up and down every time I think of this, but it has brought me to joyous tears on more than one occasion, and I have cheered for Jesus in one way or the other almost every day. He brings me great joy, and I hope that He shows you love soon in your life. Read the Word of God, and find a love that you will want to experience every day. I will leave you with a Bible verse that I found earlier and has been on my mind. Until tomorrow, I love you all.

“But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints.” – Psalms 52:8-9