when the muse strikes

you must let it out right?

Unfortunately the muse struck me at 1 am. Not fun, especially cause I've got mono and need rest now more than ever.

But inspiration is a God thing and he's always got his reasons right?

I've tried writing songs before, and they've never really been all that good.

But this song has been coming to me in bits and pieces for about 5 months now. I've got a melody bouncing around in my head, and the lyrics have meaning. This won't be one of those songs that you can sing without thinking about the words.

Last night/this morning was a MAJOR break through lyrically, and I'm now seriously working to finish it for faf this year.

I say all that to say 2 things.
1 - I would appreciate prayer for this. I can feel that this is one of those 'God things' and this song could touch people. I want that to remain my focus, not me being able to write a good song.

2 - Don't ignore God's 'voice', no matter how strange it may seem. When God tells you to do something, do it!

You'll never regret it

Real - Are You?

Who are you today?

I know who I am. I am someone who is busy, but loves every minute of it. I am a leader, and am scared sometimes that people will follow me and do what I say. I am a musician, cause music = life. I am a Spirit-Filled Christian (side note: Don't you love how we divide Christians up into different groups?)

But most of all I am real, cause I've worn the mask before and it sucks.

Being real is a skill that my generation doesn't understand. Yes we are bombarded by the world telling us what's cool and what's not: That showing love (real love, not that media stuff) is a sign of weakness, that nobody really cares how you genuinely feel on the inside. Well you know what? I've been there, and I can tell you that this world has got it wrong.

Straight. Up. Wrong.

Being who you are is as essential in this life as is near anything else, cause who's gonna believe a hypocrite?

But not only is it a must, I'd be willing to bet that God hurts everytime you put on that mask over who you are. He created you to be YOU. Do you get it? You are a special, one-of-a-kind miracle of creation that God made, and God ALWAYS knows what He's doing.

Real...Are you?

"Lightbulb Moments"

Ever heard that phrase before? When someone has a good idea and says "I just had a lightbulb moment".

I was doing devotions a few days ago and read Matthew 5:16. "Let your light so shine before men". I've heard all the sermons and how Jesus is to shine through you by what you say and do. And I understand that, but how can you make this 'relevant' to today's generation?

How about a lightbulb?

For a lightbulb to work it must be properly created or prepared. If it is not ready to shine its light, it won't work at all once the power gets turned on.

For a lightbulb to work, there must be power flowing through the connection between the lightbulb and its source.

For a lightbulb to work, someone's got to turn it on.

But you know what a working lightbulb does? It drives away the darkness and replaces it with light.

Eventually the lightbulb burns out, but the power is still flowing to the lightbulb. The lightbulb just needs its inner workings to be fixed and/or refreshed.

So are you a working lightbulb? Or are you an empty socket?

by the grace of God

I just saw the movie "The Express" and think it beats out "Remember the Titans" and "We are Marshall". No, I'm not smoking anything. It was just that good.

I don't want to ruin it for you, but I will say that a Bible verse is read and forms the basis of Ernie Davis' (main character) beliefs.

1 Corinthians 15:10 (NIV) says "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them - yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me."

Wow, did you catch that?

The grace of God is with you. Gives you a chill doesn't it? Just to know that God is always with you, and his grace shines upon you.

But what is 'grace'? How about God's favor, love, help, and enablement.

Got anymore chills now? Maybe something warm and tingly?

Because God's grace is with you, you are who you are, you will become who you will become. And God will be there every step along the way.

Life is...

I never want to simply just 'be'. That would be a sorry state. To simply exist with no purpose? Sounds like a pointless life to me.

That's probably one of the many reasons why I stay so busy. Its a miracle in and of itself thatI will be home most of the weekend. Probably a good thing, I need to get caught up in school and Bible Quiz anyway.

But the point of everything I do (or at least try to) is to utilize my talents and giftings that God has given me. To squander them would be "lying with my worship", which is a whole different blog.

"There's more to living than being alive." Isn't that a great quote? More to life than just 'being'.

Kinda hard to get your mind around it, huh?

I STRONGLY feel that this is a concept that XLR8 needs to 'get' to reach that next level. To be living OUT our faith, and not just living In our faith.

Coping with disapointment

You know what? You're gonna be hurt in life. Simple fact. There's no getting around it. But the trick is getting back up when life knocks you down.

P. Matt just resigned to take the role of Lead Pastor at Lifepoint church in Delaware OH. I know I was sad, I cried I'll admit, but I know that this is what God wants for them and for us. That has comforted me. And I know God has a plan for XLR8 youth ministries too.

But some of the students in XLR8 haven't gotten over that shock, or in some eyes, the disappointment. Now, this is probably a little harsh, but...GET OVER IT! LIFE HURTS! Yes it's sad that they're leaving, but God's in control. Do you really think you know better than God?

Another place I've been disappointed in was in not receiving either part I auditioned for in the Christmas Drama "The Gospel According to Scrooge". I was so let down by that, I actually considered not participating at all. But I know now that God wants me there. For some reason I just wasn't supposed to have that part. Maybe I'm supposed to focus on other things this semester? Who knows?

Holy Spirit

I was recently discussing the baptism in the Holy Spirit with a fellow Christian who came from a background that believes that the Spirit was only for Bible Times.

This discussion got me thinking about the gift of tongues. And I think I might have found a point at which I disagree wit the A/G.

A/G says that when you are baptized in the Spirit you receive the gift of tongues. I belive that you will receive your 'prayer language' after being baptized, but not immediately.

I believe that you can be filled with the Spirit, without speaking in tongues.

While every time in scripture someone was filled with the Spirit they spoke in tongues, I can find no verse that states that you receive the tongues immediately, as far as I can tell its just a trend.

Now, I have been baptized in the Spirit, and I have received my 'prayer language' and totally believe it to be the Spirit.

Just a thought I had, post a comment with your thoughts?

The art of screaming

Ah screaming, don't you just love it? Whether it's little kids who want something, a cry of pain, or a battle-cry, screaming is one of those annoying little constants that we don't really think about...but we know that when someone screams, something's up.

I recently found a band called Jonah 33, and I LOVE their song 'Scream'.
http://www.lyricscafe.com/hits/song.php?grid=11&id=1009887
there are the lyrics to the song, please at the very least read them, or listen to the song.

"Scream at the top of your lungs if you're ready to die tonight for what you believe!"
Them's finghtin words right there, and, as Christians, I think we need 'fightin words' more often in our lives.
But it's far to easy and human to say something and mean it, but to never follow through with it.

So go ahead! Let loose a scream! Let the world know that you're ready to die for what you believe...Trust me, they'll listen.

What's yours?

I recently read watched a commercial that said "So come and share your individuality with people just like you!" Yeah pretty funny, but it got me thinking...

What is individuality anyway? MW defines it as something that sets you apart and distinguishes you from others. You know how true that quote should be to Christian's? We SHOULD share individuality with others, ALL CHRISTIANS (not just Pentecostals) should be so alike and attuned to God and each other, that the world can't help but notice that we ARE different. And that we are unified.

One thing that really bugs me that Pentecostals seem to believe is that you must be baptized or be seeking the Holy Spirit in order to be a Christian. NOWHERE IN SCRIPTURE does it say this! The Holy Spirit is totally real, no doubts whatsoever, but you do not 'need' him to be saved. Just think about that for a minute...

Got to go get ready for the last softball game of the year! It'd be nice to go out with a win...

We leave for National FAF next Sunday! I'm SO STOKED for what God gonna do that week. But also, that morning, My worship band is playing at the Wood County Fair service. I am anticipating God touching lives there!