Things We Said Today

Its the most weirdiful time of the year!

2011-12-22T11:30:00.000-08:00

To me, Christmas always seems kind of weird. There's so much contrast in what people think and feel about Christmas. You have the people who hate this time of year because of its commercialism, or the loneliness they feel when they are surrounded by so much happiness and they themselves are so broken. You have the people who go all out and put up lights on their houses and host ugly Christmas sweater parties and get presents for anyone and everyone they know. There are old traditions and new trends that pop up every year. I love Christmas time, but I also hate it at times.

This year is especially filled with contrast as I begin to understand what it means to be a married man. I got married on December 3rd, a mere 22 days before Christmas. My wife and I went on our honeymoon, and then we moved her from Illinois to Pennsylvania, where I had moved 2 months earlier. We arrived on December 14th. I guess with the hustle and bustle of the wedding I kind of forgot that Christmas was coming. It seems almost inhuman to forget such a thing. But I think because of that it has been easier for me to get caught up in the hubbub of Christmas.

We as Christians often feel bitter over the commercialization of Christmas, but we are guilty of it in a different form. We are so caught up in the Christmas programs and caroling and not getting caught up in Christmas that we often forget what Christmas is all about:

A rider on a white horse with eyes of fire and a sword in his mouth.

Wait, what? Hear me out.

When I took my last semester of Greek my professor gave us a devotional one morning before glass started. We read the Christmas story according to John. Some of you may be saying to yourselves that there is no Christmas story in the Gospel of John. That is correct, but John also wrote other books in the Bible, including Revelation. In Rev. 12 John shares a vision of a woman giving birth to a son... a son who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. John's vision continues, and in chapter 19 we see heaven standing open with a rider on a white horse. This is one frightening rider, because his eyes are like fire and he has a sword coming out of his mouth. His robe is dipped in blood and he has a tattoo on his thigh that says King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This is a powerful conqueror. The thing we should notice is that John says that with his sword he will strike down the nations and "rule them with an iron scepter."

I believe that Jesus was the baby that was born in chapter 12. To me this serves as an important reminder at Christmas time. It's great to get caught up in the story of the little 6 lbs. 7 ounce baby Jesus, but we also need to remember that he didn't stay in the manger.

He grew. He performed miracles. He healed the sick and dying. He died on the cross and was raised to life and put sin to death, and that is something he will do once and for all when he comes back on his white horse.

This Christmas, as you celebrate with family and friends the birth of our savior, may you also celebrate the fact that God came down and lived among us. He knows our struggles, and he knows our joys. Celebrate that, even though its Christmas time, Easter is also coming, a time to celebrate the Lord's resurrection. And may you also celebrate the fact that Jesus is coming again, as a conqueror and a King.

Merry Christmas!

Butter Pecan Cake is Good, God is Awesome

2011-09-14T15:48:00.001-07:00

How often have I found myself saying that something is awesome, only to then move my thoughts almost instantly to something else? How often have I been watching football and seen an incredibly skilled athlete make and incredibly skilled catch and exclaimed about its awesomeness, only to be captivated by something else a few plays later?

Someone once said that if everything is awesome, then nothing is awesome. And so I sit in a Panera, contemplating how my awesome God has brought me to this point. How wonderfully awesome is it that I decided to apply for Youth Hostel Ministries almost two years ago, only to meet my soon to be bride? How awesome is it that God never allowed pieces to fall into place for that same woman and myself to go to Hong Kong, only to show us another opportunity that could be knocking at the door very soon? How awesome is it that this same God acquainted me with a man named Aaron, who served as an interim pastor at a small church in Pennsylvania; a small church that I applied to work at, and am now making final preparations to go and interview at tomorrow? And how awesome is it to have a God that will sustain and maintain me no matter what the outcome of this weekend is?

I want an awesome God. I want to enjoy other things, and appreciate the wonderful football plays and the delicious butter pecan cake with cream cheese frosting, and the grandeur of a great rock concert, but I do not want those things to be the things I yearn for. I want to be amazed by the Amazing. I want to be captivated by the great Captor of my heart. I want to be in awe of the Awesome.

May you remember what the LORD has done for you, and may you be in awe of what he does in you and through you today, tomorrow, and forever.

The Simple Things

2011-03-27T13:39:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it takes something simple to remind us thatlife is good. I had one of those experiences today. Well, I guess it started yesterday. My girlfriend's aunt was in town and took us grocery shopping. I didn't want to get to much because I didn't want it to seem like I was a mooch. But when we walked past the meat aisle, Liz's aunt asked us if we wanted any. Liz laughed and said "Elliott was just talking about how he wanted to grill something." "Well go get something!" said Becky.

Reluctantly, I went over and started looking for something small, so I wouldn't seem greedy. I looked at the ribs and decided that would be to much, so I started to look away. But then my heart grew hopeful. Had I just seen a small, half rack of ribs that I could get without making Becky think I was taking advantage of her generosity. I moved a rack of ribs to the side. My heart sank. It was indeed, another full rack of ribs. I was about to reach for some modest bratwurst, when I heard one of the most beautiful sentences that has ever graced my ear drums: "Ooo, those ribs look good. Get them." "Are you sure?" "Absolutely!" I quickly picked them up and put them in the cart, and then promptly gave Becky a great big hug.

"Get something else!" I excitedly looked through more types of meats than I could have hoped for. I ended up with ribs, bacon, and BEEF BACON! I never even realized that such a thing existed. But there it was. It was delicious.

There's nothing profound about this post. Just remember to relish the things you enjoy, and don't let your own pride get in the way. My inclination was to be modest and not let someone bless me. But that's just what this was: a crispy, hot, meaty blessing.

Storms and weathering

2011-03-14T19:23:00.000-07:00

This is a picture I took of one of the cleaners at the hostel I worked at in Amsterdam this summer. I wouldn't call myself an amateur photographer. The term amateur implies that you have spent time honing your skill. I'm somewhere between that and a beginner. Is novice the right term?

It kind of shows how I have felt lately: old, worn, weathered. I'm tired of it.

Pardon me if this is cliche, but the storms of life are swelling up over the sides of my little boat. Here is a poem I wrote about it:

Paddle! Paddle! Sharp rocks are near,

Refuge is distant and death is near.

The river rampant, quick and swift

Will not relent and let me drift

Rest, I desire nothing else for me

To sit in silence and tranquility

But the rapids of thought display their power

And erode my joy hour after hour after hour.

There is no break to come my way

And I lose myself day by day.

O God! Reach down and give me relief,

Give me joy in this life so brief.

Amend the thoughts that drive me from thee

And let me rest in your Divinity.

I know the rhythm isn't what is proper, and the structure probably isn't anything they would teach you anywhere, but I kind of just went with it. I hope you enjoy.

Listening to: Pedro the Lion- Achilles' Heel

The First Late Post

2011-03-14T16:08:00.000-07:00

I officially started this blog on January 25th. Then in my ridiculousness I neglected to make the first post until now, March 14th. I'm starting to write on the ww Web as an outlet for a lot of the things I feel that can't find words in real life. Once, I liked a girl, and my introverted brain would often be lost in thought about what to do about it. When this girl would ask me what I was thinking about I would smile and say, "Oh, many things." Then I would point to my head and say "There's a lot going on in here." This blog will often be a peek into the things that are "going on in here."

I guess I've always questioned why anyone would want to read something I write. I was hesitant to write anything, fearing that it wouldn't be good enough. Now I don't care. I need an outlet. I need to try and sort out what I'm thinking and feeling, and why I feel the way I do, and putting it out there for anyone to read could, perhaps, get me some feedback from different perspectives. So here it is, world. I'm excited for the possibilities.

More to come, hopefully soon...

Currently listening to: B.O.B.- B.o.B. Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray