The Empty Grave

As the semester draws to an end, it is good for us to look back over the year and see all the goodness that took place. I can honestly say this has been one of the best years of my life, if not THE best. Last summer I went to The Philadelphia Project where I was able to help people and excite youth groups. It was incredible! Then, leaving there, I came back to IUP where from the first week of classes we all knew something was different. A campus ministry of about 15 people jumped to around 75 over the course of the year. And do not think I am just impressed by the numbers. The numbers mean nothing. The seeds that were planted 7 months ago are blossoming and that is what we are to rejoice about! In addition to all of this I began dating my beautiful girlfriend on October 3^rd. Our relationship has been incredible! I cannot see myself with anyone else and I love how she challenges my growth and pushes me closer to God.

With all that said I am not even scratching the surface. There are a lot of opportunities on the horizon to allow this summer to be even more incredible than the last, but for totally different reasons! I cannot hold in my excitement for all that is going on in my life. But, I am not here to brag.

This, everything shown above, had nothing to do with me. Yes, I am a leader in the campus ministry and I was half of my relationship with my beautiful girlfriend, but in all honesty, none of it was me. It was all God. Every ounce of everything was Him! There was no way, in all of heaven and earth, that I would be a part of The Philadelphia Project and do as well as I did, that the campus ministry would explode in the manner in which it did, and there is no possible way a confusing bro, such as I, could get such an amazing girlfriend if it were not all for God. God had his hand on all of this and all of us! All of the glory goes to Him!

I will admit, I tried to take control of my life a lot of the time, but it all resulted in failure. There is nothing I can do. Every time we mess up we have to realize that if we do not have God then that would be our state of being all the time. It is because of God that we do anything good at all. It is because of Him all the lives were changed for eternity this semester. It is because of Him that Love is blossoming on this campus. It is because of Him that I love. 

Eric Metaxas, coming off writing a New York Times Bestsellers Bonhoeffer, writes 7 short biographies about men who should inspire us to go out and be better people. These are 7 people who are role models for our world or who, at the least, should be role models. These 7 men all gave up something great for the betterment of the people around them. Metaxas urges us to be like these men in our daily lives and to respect the good in people. He focuses a lot on the good things these people do because he believes that we focus far too often on the negative aspects of individuals. No one is perfect and we need understand that and give them grace. 

The 7 men listed are: George Washington, William Wilberforce, Eric Liddell, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Jackie Robinson, Pope John Paul II, Charles W. Colson.

This past summer I read Bonhoeffer and absolutely loved it. When I had an opportunity to read this book, I jumped on it. Metaxas is a beautiful writer and he is very poetic in the way in which he writes. As you start reading you will not want to stop. Each biography is designed like a novel and you will want to eat up page after page, not wanting to put the book down. As you go into it, as a reader, you should look at these people and understand that we have something to learn from them. Let their life impact yours to make you a better person. 

I would say this book is best for those who are new to biographies and want to garner some knowledge about some great individuals. Biographies are some of the best books you may ever read. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

This morning, like some others, I opened my Bible up to the Psalms. Today was Psalm 63 and it has become one of my favorite Psalms. Check this out. 

Verse 1: O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 

Did you see that? What is happening here? 

• You are MY GOD
• I earnestly seek you
• my soul thirsts for you
• my flesh faints for you as in a dry and weary land where there is no water

Do you ever think that you even miss God? David earnestly seeks, thirsts, and faints for God. This is a man of great distress, but he isn’t like us and just prays and waits until God does something. 

Verse 2-4: SO I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. SO I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.

David responds to his faint soul: He

• Looks upon God in the sanctuary
• beholds His power and glory
• He thinks about God’s steadfast love and its comparison to his life
• He lifts up praise
• Blesses the Lord for all time
• Lifts his hands

 This is so cool. David is giving us a way to respond to the rough times. He doesn’t tell you to meet up for a one-on-one or to read this book by this guy. No, he tells us how it is done. 

Verse 5-8: My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

David continues with more things to do. Take Note!

• my mouth will praise you with joyful lips
• remember you 
• meditate on you
• sing for joy

Then the kicker. Verse 8: My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. 

My soul CLINGS to you;

I just think of a a little ant holding onto a giant rock in the midst of a storm. The little ant has just one little hand still on, and then…

your right hand upholds me.

God is like, “Here you go little guy here is some help. I’m going to give you Jesus!” And then life becomes a never ending Christmas and Easter! 

God is incredible! Love it! Have a blessed day everyone! 

For God alone my soul waits in silence; 
from him comes my salvation.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.
How long will all of you attack a man
to batter him,
like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.
They take pleasure in falsehood.
They bless with their mouths,
but inwardly they curse. Selah
For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah
Those of low estate are but a breath;
those of high estate are a delusion;
in the balances they go up;
they are together lighter than a breath.
Put no trust in extortion;
set no vain hopes on robbery;
if riches increase, set not your heart on them.
Once God has spoken;
twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.
For you will render to a man
according to his work. (Psalm 62)

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” (1 John 3:1)

Read this verse throughout your day and watch your self esteem elevate! 

LOOK! Just LOOK! Look at this love the Father has given to YOU! Look at it!! Take a look and really take it in! It’s so much love that you are now called a CHILD of GOD; AND SO I AM!

SO I AM! just keep saying it. AND SO I BE! What you going to do about that world. I am a Child of God! Take that! 

He says, “Look at me now! Back up, I’m a Child of the God most high! What now!?” 

Live like it

I’m thinking about writing a decent paper to be published for the school collection. It would be really cool if I could do something covering how great God is. But if it is title “God is Awesome” no one will read it. So it has to be about something that may not initially come off as Jesusy, but it totally drenched in the Gospel and Grace? 

Any Suggestions?

What’s Your Mark? Every Moment Counts

·         Curation and photography – Jeremy Coward

·         Interviews and written content – Annie F. Downs

·         Layout and Design – Brad Davis

·         Producer – Michael Moore

Everyone is important in life. You are here for a reason and God placed you where you are right now for a purpose. There are no excuses, just marks to be made. Throughout this book, you will find glimpses of marks being made around the world. You will be able to read a short story about how someone is making a mark on the world. These glimpses may stir up your interest and make you want to learn more. Also, in between the stories, the book goes through the book of Mark. So, not only do you have fun little stories, but the Gospel of Mark.

I really liked this book! It is done very well, having 120-pages of full color! I would not recommend the Kindle Version because of this reason. It just isn’t the same. It is exciting seeing and feeling this book. The cover asks “What’s Your Mark?” and has a mirror looking back at you. Very thoughtful and provoking! Like I said above, the order is astounding. You have a story, then the book of Mark, a story or two, than Mark. I loved how Gospel centered it was. I was really happy about this book!

At Jubilee I learned how everything can be worship! In the book we see in practice how art can be worship! Whatever your calling is, God wants you to do it for the Kingdom! Oh boy, it’s fun!

Should I get it? If you want a very well made book with fun, short stories about how God is moving in the world you should. I wouldn’t say it is a book for someone who is trying to grow in faith because faith grows more through hard times; this is a book for those who want something cute and touching. Like I said, it is incredibly well done. It is like a step up from short night time stories. Actually, more appropriately, it may be better for good morning stories!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me;
all day long an attacker oppresses me;
my enemies trample on me all day long,
for many attack me proudly.
When I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
What can flesh do to me?
All day long they injure my cause;
all their thoughts are against me for evil.
They stir up strife, they lurk;
they watch my steps,
as they have waited for my life.
For their crime will they escape?
In wrath cast down the peoples, O God!
You have kept count of my tossings;
put my tears in your bottle.
Are they not in your book?
Then my enemies will turn back
in the day when I call.
This I know, that God is for me.
In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
I must perform my vows to you, O God;
I will render thank offerings to you.
For you have delivered my soul from death,
yes, my feet from falling,
that I may walk before God
in the light of life. (Psalm 56)

I Won’t Give Up

When I look into your eyes
It’s like watching the night sky
Or a beautiful sunrise
Well, there’s so much they hold
And just like them old stars
I see that you’ve come so far
To be right where you are
How old is your soul?

Well, I won’t give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I’m giving you all my love
I’m still looking up

And when you’re needing your space
To do some navigating
I’ll be here patiently waiting
To see what you find

‘Cause even the stars they burn
Some even fall to the earth
We’ve got a lot to learn
God knows we’re worth it
No, I won’t give up

I don’t wanna be someone who walks away so easily
I’m here to stay and make the difference that I can make
Our differences they do a lot to teach us how to use
The tools and gifts we got, yeah, we got a lot at stake
And in the end, you’re still my friend at least we did intend
For us to work we didn’t break, we didn’t burn
We had to learn how to bend without the world caving in
I had to learn what I’ve got, and what I’m not, and who I am

I won’t give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I’m giving you all my love
I’m still looking up, still looking up.

Well, I won’t give up on us (no I’m not giving up)
God knows I’m tough enough (I am tough, I am loved)
We’ve got a lot to learn (we’re alive, we are loved)
God knows we’re worth it (and we’re worth it)

I won’t give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I’m giving you all my love
I’m still looking up