Just do it.

Psalm 118:22-23 The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD'S doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

People tell us slow and steady wins the race. Our parents teach us that being popular doesn't really matter, but what it boils down to, we all want to be accepted.

The truth is, God has already accepted us. The world won't be accept us unless we're like them, but that's not who we are at our best.

Jesus, I mean, what was there to like about him? He was homeless, not attractive, probably smelly, big-time rebel. He was born in a barn!!! How many people do you know that were born next to a cow? No revolutionary hippie would could be that awesome unless he was of God, God's son actually. The point is, even when the world rejects YOU, when they see God in you, they'll like it.

Okay, so besides that, and maybe John Wesley's dorky group called "The Holy Club," I can't give an example that you don't already see daily. When you look around you see it everywhere. So don't worry about what others think, just do the right thing.

Thanks, Facebook

"Work; Many people who like Church like this."

Suggestion made by Facebook.
I'm gonna think and let think about this.

No Nonsense

Don't give me idle games,
Don't give me chats filled with nonsense.
They may lift my heart momentarily,
But they can not cure my soul.
Just give me Jesus,
Straight up Jesus.

I'm worn and I'm tired,
This is my refuge.
Fill me back up again.
I don't want food,
I don't want drink.
Just give me Jesus,
Straight up Jesus.

I don't want to talk,
I want to do.
I want to help,
I want to serve.
Just give me Jesus,
Straight up Jesus.

I'm busy,
I have no time.
Fill me right now,
skip all the play.
Just give me Jesus,
Straight up Jesus.


We are young,
But we aren't all new.
You've shown us the Light,
And we love to see it shine.
Don't bring it a shadow,
We want the full effect.
Just give us Jesus.

Pope Man and Pigs

Carly is the girl who likes pigs. This is probably one of the things I'm best known for by Glen Rose High School. I draw them a lot. I talk about them a lot. I carry around toy pigs in my backpack. I make pig faces. Animal Farm is one of my favorite books. Spirit days at school? I've got my pigs. To this high school bubble, I am pig girl.

This whole thing is pretty ridiculous. I traced back the origin of this bacon explosion back to one boy, Trey Sexton, aka the Pope Man. Anybody who knows Trey, knows that he can be a ham. When he first got old enough to come to youth, as is now, was always an entertainer. My group of friends would sit by him during snack supper, because there was no telling what he would do. Our favorite was hid pencil topper pig, that would appear on the table, in drinks, buried in nacho cheese. This was a weekly occurrence. Naturally, when I found toy pigs at World Market, I joined in this great fun. Thus begins this saga of pigs.

That began the sty of pig-related issues I now find myself wallowing in daily. I look back and see that as the main cause. But when I look back further, pigs have always been there. One of my favorite movies was Babe, and Squealer the pig? My favorite Beanie Baby. What kind of animals did I feed on mission trip? Pigs (one we named Gimpy.) And of course, a plate of Bacon was always the thing to eat for breakfast.

The potential for something is always there, but sometimes we need that extra push to get started. Who has pushed you?

Disciple Bible Study Guy

Our youth group has been doing Disciple Bible Study this summer. This study can be pretty intense, and since its our youth doing it, we've got an interesting perspective on a lot of stuff. The guy in the video for example.
I come in late on Wednesday after I get off work. Usually the video clip we watch has already been seen and we're already into a discussion about Saul or Paul or what the color of the flames are in the Methodist cross (it's "PMS red" if you didn't know.) When I got there today I got to experience DBS guy. He looked like he was out of the 90s, had eyes that might scare you, and his torso rarely moved. He spoke as if he was narrating the history channel, and was shot from many awkward camera angles. As I saw this, I couldn't help but laugh. I tried to keep it in, but that didn't work out. The stuff this DBS guy was telling me was legitimate, but it was hard to get past all the weirdness so I could really hear him.

Okay, I'm not that shallow, I exaggerated a bit. But how important is it how Jesus is delivered to us? Certainly it is not the clothing or outward appearance, Jesus wiped down those barriers Himself. But when we don't deliver Jesus to people in a way its relevant to them, they're likely to miss the point. Maybe that's why Jesus came as common folk, so it would be relevant and we could understand Him better.

Task vs. Purpose

This summer on mission trip, the pastor from our host church gave us a little spill over task vs. purpose.
"Your task may be to build a wheelchair ramp, but your purpose is to spread God's love."
This didn't mean a whole lot to me at that moment, but it has stuck in my mind the whole summer.

When the youth are asked what we did on mission trip, we'll respond something like "painted a 42-story building." And when people ask how the trip was, the typical answer is "fun! Great!" Uh, those two don't really mix.

The rewards of purpose fills the heart much more than task.

When the purpose is seen the sight of task becomes numb. We complete the task, whatever it may be with purpose, so that it is done with our whole heart, not working of men, but God.

When we strive to be a servant, we are giving all we have, and depending upon the grace of God to get us through. Then we do not worry what we will eat or drink, or wonder where we will find rest, because we see the greater purpose of it all.
When we don't act as a servant, and we lead by our own account, being dependent upon ourselves as we "just get by" with our tasks. If this worked then Christ dies in vain.

Pollutants

I've heard this lesson a million times, you have too. But yet there is something so powerful in the Holy Spirit that it can take something you've heard before and present it to you in new eyes, with new ears, because His truth does not fade away or become complacent. What I heard at reflection tonight were the same stories I've heard all summer, but yet they bring a new meaning each time. With that said, here it goes...

The world isn't cool with what I have. I worry about this too much. The world keeps changing, and I try to change with it. If I can understand it, I can fix it, right? It's a lame excuse, but I use it. I change my appearance to be closer to the world, but that means I've conformed.It is true, in fact, that the world does not, and will not ever love me.

But I am not made of this world... So the yucky stuff, all that garbage, doesn't have to pertain to me. Because God don't make no junk. I am not made from imperfections. I am called to be set apart because I am of God. And God made me without the bad stuff, God made me like Him, He made me "good."

Because I am made of God and not the world, I am called to be different. I am called to be the good that He has made me. Called to be set apart, because I am an alien in a foreign land. I should let God's light shine through me to others so they can see Him too. I should be a lighthouse, just letting His light shine through me, to what should be His world.

I should forget about how the world has shaped me to fit in with them, because its all junk. I need to go back to the core of who I am, the part made out of love, the part that God intended me to be.

Call me weird, its true. The world is not cool with what I have, because it doesn't belong to them. I would, however, be inclined to share....