Journal

More often than not in life I find the catchy phrase: “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover” to be fallacious.  My wife and I recently explored a ride at a park (that will remain anonymous).  This ride was simply called Castle and just by the outside it was pretty revealing that it would be a big fat let down.  It was one of those haunted, sit in a cart on a track, bad spray paint and glow-in-the-dark color schemes that gave it away. When considering my pregnant wife, I asked the ride attendant if the ride was “jolty.”  He then replied “It will jolt your disappointment.”  Pondering this man’s hidden wisdom, we hopped on.  For some reason, there’s always hope that “maybe this ride will be different.”  Rarely is that true.

Regardless, we rode Castle.  It was awful.  Why were we not dissuaded by the presentation of the outside of this ride?  Why were we not scared off by the attendant’s dizzying maxim?  We were hopeful.  I suppose that’s the punch line.  Christian or non-Christian, most of us find ourselves hoping against the odds.  We’re hoping against the spelled-out-in-neon-spray paint words before us that this thing has a chance.  This is why we rent movies without knowing what it is and watch the whole thing before concluding that we wasted 2 hours of our life.  This is why we want the hero to boldly venture forth when the island is covered in mist and the odds are against him.  This is why we hang out with tax collectors and lepers.  This is why we hope to rise with Christ when the world tells us chance is at play.

Like I said at the beginning, more times than not the cover is most definitely a discription of the character of what’s inside the book.  By all means- use discernment before you rent that movie or walk into Castle.  But also, deny your fear and any plausible arguments that dissuade you from truth.

Reading Matthew 6 this week.  Pretty interesting stuff going on here, guys.

In Matt 6:2-4, again in Matt 6:5-6, and then yet again in Matt 6:16-18 Christ speaks of doing good works, praying, and fasting in secret.
These things are not to be “announce it with trumpets” or “to be seen by men.”

Yikes.

How many times have I prayed so I can make sure other people hear me or to “influence” someone by what I’ve done?  Why is there this idea that if I tell people I’ve given money to those in need or served them in some way that they’ll think I’m a swell guy and feel the desire to serve the poor themselves?

I’ve heard a lot of preachers and fellow christians alike annouce with a trumpet or pray publicly.  I know less that do these things in secret.  If everyone kept these things a secret would I then say I don’t know anyone who gives or prays or fasts because they’ve never told me?  I don’t know.  Is this acceptible behaviour?  I don’t know.  I mean I’m not even supposed to let my left hand know what the right hand is doing. That’s crazy talk!!  THEY’RE RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER, JESUS.  That’s a serious statement.  Try asking your dog not to chase it’s tail.

It was most confusing to me because in the previous chapter Christ had just instructed us to be a city on a hill so that men can see your good deeds and praise our Father in heaven.  Why is there seemingly a contradiction?

I know that the Holy Spirit will guide me.  If I live by the spirit i will not gratify the desires of my sinful nature.  What are those desires, Mr Galatians?  Well, one is selfish ambition.  What’s my reward if I give and can’t get applauded by my friends?  What’s my reward if I fast and don’t receive sympathy from my peers?  What’s my reward if I pray and don’t get acknowledged by my elders?  Christ is.
BAM.

So I suppose things would have been easier if chronologically speaking the Salt and the Light talk were after the secrecy bits in Matthew.  Only when our reward is Christ for the things we do will we be that city on a hill.  Only when my good works aren’t motivated by human applaud can I receive true acclaim.

Will I pray tonight?   Where’s my money going?   Am I fasting?
Suppose you’ll never know.

A Coalition of Non Profit Organizations are Working to Prevent Human Trafficking and Exploitation of Haitian Children

Global Centurion, The Home Foundation, Love146, Call and Response, Renewal Forum, Fondation Espoir, Salvation Army, Olive Branch International, Doctors at War on Trafficking, Equitas Group, Gracehaven, World Hope International, Beyond Borders, Restavek Foundation, and Fondation la Limye Lavi announce a first response campaign to develop and distribute simple, clear information campaigns designed to prevent human trafficking after the earthquake.

Take action and join in our efforts to raise awareness in Haiti against the dangers of Human Trafficking.

1. Text SAFE to 85944 and donate $10 to help
2. Post this on your Page
3. Twitter and SPREAD THE WORD!!!

Read more about what we are doing in HAITI on our website www.thehomefoundation.net/blog

According to livescience.com they polled a lot of people and a lot of scientists to find the “Top 10 Greatest Mysteries of Science.”  It’s not surprising that in the top 5 you’ll find:
-Where is the rest of the universe?  only 4% of the matter and energy in the universe has been found.  How could they even know that?
-What drives evolution?  what is evolution?  That sounds made up…
-Who are you?  -I’ve been asking myself that for a long time now…
-How did life arise on earth?  -sounds like the evalootion question or however you say it.

Granted, I’m being ridiculous with my commentary, but really- it sounds like everyone’s looking for a beginning, and an ending and “science” has yet to yield solid results.  Really, we don’t even know how gravity works.  Still!  If we’ve only come this far in decades and generations of modern science and research, it doesn’t sound like we’re going to have the time in our lives to get to the conclusion.  Don’t get me wrong, I love science and nerdy things, but my faith hat hangs on God.  Searching for answers is just too much fun, but honestly, I don’t “believe” in science. 
Here’s a nerdy article: here
Just reading this makes me believe a lot of scientists believe in God but just don’t know it.

I’m a dork.  These are my ramblings.

Hello, friends, fans, and family.
Last night Mike and I had the opportunity to hear the heart of some of our fellow christian music artists about the current rising global crisis.  To my surprise it’s not famine, it’s not AIDS, it’s not financial deficit either.

I know I’ve blogged about this before and sorry for repeating myself.  I realized during this conversation we had recently that I am in a band that has a platform (although modest in size) to speak and “fight the darkness.”

This growing crisis is human slavery.  It is said that there are now more slaves in the world today than in any point in history.  This slavery isn’t working in fields or factories.  Children are being sexually abused.  And this isn’t an intangible reality.  This is a virus of the most evil nature that manifests itself in India, China, Africa, and just a few months ago even in my own back yard of Nashville, TN.  A local motel was raided and 8 girls were rescued from a prison of a room filled with mattresses.

I could fill this page with statistics and heart breaking, disgusting stories, but I’d rather fill this page with hope.  There are facilities and institutions in place that are making a change.  They will not be quiet and they are shining their light where there is no light.  Please, educate yourself on this subject that not many know about.  The church is oblivious to this situation and we must not wait for the government to deal with it like the last time.  Slavery is real and it pays less in our generation.

I’m excited because we’re working with other artists to help fight this poison that has silently crept into the streets of our world.  Pray that those who are oppressed will be saved.

God will break the chains.  He will deliver.  Allow him to work in you to fight the darkness.

www.ijm.org

www.thehomefoundation.net