counting crows

[never]Forsaken in the Drudgery

There is a promise God makes in Hebrews. He says, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you." (13:5) I have read that promise a bit differently today.

Most of the time, I have found that promise speak very clearly to me in times of trouble and struggle. There have been moments when loneliness comes in the form of a difficult situation I have faced, wondering if I really am alone in this. In those moments, I have been encouraged to know God has not abandoned me.

But today, this promise speaks to an entirely different loneliness I have found from time to time--the travail of day to day living.

There is a loneliness that settles in for us in the days that blend together in a boring gray. The routine becomes monotony, and the days are all the same. In those times my heart can be bogged and sandbagged. These are not days of difficulty, because even difficult times engage the heart and mind. These are not days of beautiful and spectacular memories. These are just days like one Counting Crows lyric:

"Today was just a day fading into another
And that can't be what a life is for." (Amy Hit The Atmosphere)

These times become very lonely spots, and then comes this promise of God to break down the loneliness of our own drudgery:

"I will never leave you, nor forsake you."

Even in your normal every day, I am here. I am present. I still come after you and pursue you. I have never left you. I have never and will never abandon you.

There is a strength that comes to the heart in the moments you can praise, sing, and remember this fact. No matter how monotonous and gray my day to day seems, God is still near to me.

Bullet pointed update

* Back from Mexico where God did some incredible work in mine and others hearts. Broken chains! Serving the poor and deported! Watching my students present and BE the gospel in a dark, dank basement.* Still pursuing and learning about restoration in many parts of my life * Got the flu a few days ago. First time in years! * Change is imminent and on the rapidly closing horizon. * Listening to: Ascend the Hill, new Counting Crows album, and Oddisee * Reading: The Hunger Games, Simple Church, Growing Disciples, and Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl * Discouraged by: turn out of our taxes, the weight of change not exactly "resting" on your shoulders * Encouraged by: amazing wife, beautiful daughters, stronger relationships with students, hope for futur * Right NOW I miss: football, Anderson University, my nieces, and SYTYCD * Watching a lot of: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Fresh Beat Band, Whitney, and SNL

An honor just to be nominated

Last week, my friend nominated me for the Versatile Blogger Award, and I am thrilled just to be nominated. My insecurity assumes my only reader is mom just clicking refresh over and over and over, but I have greatly appreciated each visitor as this page has grown over the last few years. Thank you so much. My nomination and awarding requires of me a few things, and I will honor all of those right now.

Thank the person who nominated you (including a link) Sarah is a wife and mother who shares her labors of wonder and love from each day with love and creativity to keep you reading and checking in.

Nominate 15 bloggers you follow regularly (in no particular order) 1. Life to Her Years - Posts consisting of a picture and a sweet statement about fathering daughters. 2. Malisa Price - Friend who exploded with blogging momentum in only a short year. Great posts about crafting, cooking, and blogging. 3. Tattoo Lit - An interesting post of tattoos with literary inspirations. 4. Moleskinerie - Just a great blog about people's creative uses of the famous journals. 5. Barefoot on 45th - Wife and mother and writer of beautiful reflections. 6. Faith on Campus - Great resource for anyone who works with college students. 7. Aloha Hoa Aloha - Student and friend with a creative zest for what she sees in life around her each day 8. Heart of Campus Ministry - Another great resource maintained by good friends and to which I sporadically contribute. 9. Ragamuffin Soul - Well he is a blogging superstar and worship leader, but you just have to visit to see all the goodness. 10. Daily Doodle - Simple doodles this guy draws in his moleskine each day. That is all! But I love it for some reason. 11. Anthony Price - Malisa's husband and a good friend. He has recently left that tumblr nonsense to be a REAL blogger. 12. Blaine Hogan - author and creative director at Willow Creek, and I only recently tripped upon his page. Dig around to find the goods. (Hint: youtube) 13.  Ze Frank - This guys finds and shares the most incredible, creative, and inspiring things on the internet. 14. Michael Hyatt - Another blogging powerhouse who certainly does not need my petty little nomination, but I learn so much reading this blog. 15. Yours - I don't have a link, because you haven't left it in my comment section yet.

Tell 7 things about yourself 1. Yes, I love coffee. No, I do not like it dark. 2. I have a wife, a daughter, and another daughter on the way, which means I'll have to begin wearing high heels just to fit in at my own house. 3. I like my beer like a like my women: with little hops, in a cold mug, from Belgium (okay its not like women at all) 4. In order, my favorite sports teams are: Notre Dame football, Oregon Ducks football, Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts. (so I like football) 5. I used to listen to Counting Crows all the time. I still do, but I used to too. 6. I love cold, rain, and snow while hating hot, sunny, summers. 7. If I were not in ministry or speaking, I think I would like to be a window washer or painter.

Link to Award Site Check

Don't Cry for Me [list]

I married my dream girl I have a daughter I am smitten by I have a family who are vocally proud of who I am I have in-laws I am proud to call family I have 1.5 college degrees from expensive private universities I work with college students every day I have incredible students I have spoken and/or performed all over the country I have a day job that is VERY close to my 'dream job' I have some of the best friends I could ever wish for I lost 70+ pounds a few years ago and have not returned to "that weight" I live within 2hrs of the ocean, the desert, Tahoe, the mountains, SanFran and Fresno I had a hotdog and a coffee with Brennan Manning I have stood front row center at a Counting Crows concert I have seen 6 Counting Crows concerts I have learned life-lessons from homeless men I have jumped from a 100ft pole into nothing I still read and write with these things called pen and paper I have seen Michael Jordan play basketball twice I flush my toilet with cleaner water than most of the world ever sees My friends' dogs dress and eat better than most of the world's people My baristas know me by name (and I know theirs) I have sat in on a Second City comedy school class I was once Retweeted by Adam Duritz I get free books in exchange for writing about them. (win win) I drive a Scion xB I am a devout Mac user named PC I have tested and solidified a faith over time I have been ambushed by the love of Jesus in a way I'll never recover from.

No matter how stuck you feel or trapped you feel, you always have reason for a list like this.

Why I love one paragraph: music artist

Counting Crows

Adam Duritz is the primary reason i still consider Counting Crows my favorite band/artist of all time, because the music of CC has waned in time. But Duritz's writing has always struck my heart in a strange way. Adam's writing and even his performing is incredibly introverted; yet so expressive. When those two things combine, an inspiration really develops.

Favorite Songs: Anna Begins, Time And Time Again, Goodnight Elizabeth, Another Horsedreamer's Blues, Mrs. Potter's Lullaby, Amy Hit The Atmosphere, Four White Stallions

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In ONE PARAGRAPH, why do you love your favorite artist/band?

#WhyILoveOneParagraphWeek

 

Lyrics Week: counting crows

"Today is just a day fading into another; and that can't be what a life is for."

Life at times feels like just another day like the one before it fading into the one after it. We move at a crawl through each day without any sense of direction or reason.

When our days are limited, coming to the end of a day like that seems pointless and disappointing. At the end of today, will I be able to say it was significant?

Will today have been intentional in any way? Will today have made any difference at all? Will I have made any significant step toward a vision? A goal? A purpose?

Today does not have to be just a day fading into another!

Significance is not an issue of fame or even recognition. Significance is an issue of making a difference where you are.

If you are a person of faith, significance is making a difference where God has placed you now today at this moment. (Eph. 2:10)

The main thing that will make this day significant is intentionality.

Intentional about relationships around you now…today. Intentional about resting and taking it all in now…for a second. Intentional about creating something now…no matter how tiny…

My Most Favorite Music Ever

High Fidelity ruined me forever. I have an addiction for lists. After being inspired by a friend of mine and her recent post, I had to think about this one. I too go through phases, and I am always trying  out new music. So this is not too easy to list, but there are some artists who will never be far away from my heart. They will always keep getting play time no matter how many new artists I come across. This is that list...

Counting Crows Pedro the Lion The Glorious Unseen Mewithoutyou Ben Harper William Fitzsimmons City & Colour Mumford&Sons

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Who are the artists you simply will not ever get over?

You Are Insignificant?

"Today is just a day fading into another, and that can't be what a life is for." - Counting Crows Life at times feels like just another day like the one before it fading into the one after it. We move at a crawl through each day without any sense of direction or reason.

When our days are limited, coming to the end of a day like that seems pointless and disappointing. At the end of today, will I be able to say it was significant?

Will today have been intentional in any way? Will today have made any difference at all? Will I have made any significant step toward a vision? A goal? A purpose?

Today does not have to be just a day fading into another!

Significance is not an issue of fame or even recognition. Significance is an issue of making a difference where you are.

If you are a person of faith, significance is making a difference where God has placed you now today at this moment. (Eph. 2:10)

The main thing that will make this day significant is intentionality.

Intentional about relationships around you now...today. Intentional about resting and taking it all in now...for a second. Intentional about creating something now...no matter how tiny...

Run with that idea...