Recently my roommate placed a 35mm camera loaded with a roll of film in my hand and encouraged me to start taking photos. After a couple months I think I can say I’m hooked. It’s surprising to feel such a rush of excitement each time I pick up my processed photos (despite the cost of development). Film has this magical quality to communicate emotion that I can’t seem to grow bored of. hope you enjoy.
“To Him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins, Through his name.”
So you might be asking why i would title this entry slapps from strangers, well there is a reason and as soon as i find a good way to seg-way into it you will know.
tonight has been very humbling, i find myself stuck wondering how do i tell people what i believe without confusing them. although i don’t doubt what i believe because it is confusing, its like saying “i doubt what i believe in this computer because it is confusing” now computers are confusing, but how can i mess up the Gospel??? something so simple and beautiful, how could i butcher it?
this all comes to mind due to a recent conversation with an acquaintance of mine. we started talking about religion what he thought of God and what i though. it was very fun, supper peaceful and respectful. i was getting into it, explaining the wonderful news of God coming down to us, being innocent and dying on a cross for our sins. going deep into sacrifice, and how Jesus Chose to be born into a poor family that he might be tempted in every way, that he might now our pain, our suffering our betrayal. I thought i did a good job, but apparently i had left him in the dust. after a moment of silence. he says, “i guess me and a majority of my friends get, kinda left behind when you guys go off like that.” … slapps from strangers, COMPLETELY RECEIVED! i experience this allot at work, explaining products and services and after my three point presentation: what was that again. And if you think of it, it can be very intimidating. Add to the fact that this person may not even want to hear what you have to say.
i pray God would teach me how to Gossip his wonderful Gospel, how to communicate it in the least amount of words, in simplicity and truth. all to often we leave people in the dust, those who need to be included, not those who are passed up with their thumb in the air waiting for a ride.
we need to show the Paris compared to the life lived on the farm. Thank you andrew bird.
“but in your hearts honour Christ the lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do this with GENTLENESS and RESPECT.”
lets make a packed, how about we not us our samurai swords to chop off peoples heads, but rather remove the cancer from their dying bodies.
love you,
me
its a funny thing about this city. it bringing the idea of iron sharpening into a greater light for me. i am in a city of the best. the best artists, musicians, sales people, intellectuals, corrupt politicians, and i am mediocre at best. its become vital for me to grow, become excellent, to exert energy and try. to strive for the goal. with whatever God has given me to do. to be the best. to be the servant of all, to love unconditionally, to seek the peace of this city, to be great (not good) great at my job. to care and pour myself into something. to have goals. to agree with god on what he would have me do and not cop out on cheep grace, but to fully experience the great storehouse of grace i have. to ask god to do more than i believe.
just a little of spew from my mind.
our God is holy and excellent, lets strive to be like him.
by his spirit.
so here i am, all alone sitting in my apartment in san francisco feet freezing, kinda uncomfortable and very board..
yes thats right i have a place praise God. and the thing about it is that i had it the moment i walked into the city. God was faithful to provide, looking back i can see how some people would think it unwise to commit to moving with no Job, house but i had complete peace about moving. now i feel different, kinda scared and lonely. afraid of my idleness and praying God keep me from the evil one in this city. man the last few days i have felt so tempted, so enticed towards sin… an uneasiness is welling up within me, with this idleness i can feel my old man, and how much room he has in there. been reading “over coming sin and temptation” by John Owens learning how i have power to kill my sin, but by the spirit i am to over come. oh man, i feel so dead. so unoriginal i guess i have always tried to be original. now i feel generic. maybe god is breaking me of that, maybe God is stripping me of all things. maybe he is bringing me to bare bones and then breathing his spirit into me and making these bones walk and talk. i am here the city where i have felt God calling me for the last two years and i feel so intimidated, such like a puppy dog away from its mother, it an unsteadying feeling. God has shown me so many pitfalls in this city, that if not for the grace and mercy of God, i will fall into. i need jesus. i need prayer. this city needs jesus, this city needs prayer. we’re so alike, all of us. we have been weighed and tried and have been found wanting, the ground is level at the cross. i want this city to be free, i want us to see the beauty of Christ and the glory of his grace. i want the love of Christ to be real in this city. i want God to show up in this City. to Dwell in this city.
so here i am God. Here i am and here i will be. please pour out your spirit God.
“I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians.”
Exodus 3:8
“come i will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of israel out of Egypt.”
Exodus 3:10
this passage kinda weirds me out. God says to Moses “i have come down to deliver them” and yet he says later that Moses will bring the people out of the land. obviously it attests to God sovereignty and his graciousness in using men to accomplish his purposes.
although Moses was a great leader he was not perfect.. remember Aaron? remember the stone?? i guess what im getting at is that, as a leader i need to recognize God sovereign hand and leading over me. even when Moses complained to God about how inadequate he was for the job God assured him “But i will be with you” i am so young and often times i see the responsibility that God has given me as impossible for me to fulfill, and yet god is so faithful to speak gently and say “but i will be with you.” I love how assuring god is. not only is he with us, but he is faithful to let us in on what he is going to do, even if they are small glimpses. he did it for Moses. between verses 12 and 22 God gives at least 7 prophetic signs as to what will happen on Moses’ mission.
* when you have brought the people out of egypt, you will serve God on this mountain. That was mount Horeb of course. Exodus 3:12
*I will bring you out
Exodus 3:17
*And they will listen to your voice
Exodus 3:18
*But i know the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled
Exodus 3:19
* so i will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all wonders… after they will let you go
Exodus 3:20
* You shall not go empty
Exodus 3:21
* so you shall plunder the egyptians
Exodus 3:22
And indeed God did do all that he said. Praise God for he is faithful his loving kindness endures forever.
“the LORD of hosts has sworn: as i have planned, so shall it be, and as i have purposed so shall it stand.”
Isaiah 14:24
Looking for apartments please pray. Harder than I thought.
“For I shall yet praise him.” More prayer, more exercise of faith, more patient waiting, and the result will be blessing, abundant blessing. Thus I have found it many hundreds of times, and therefore I continually say to myself, “Hope thou in God.” —George Mueller
“I will go before you and level the exalted places, i will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God os Israel, who call you by your name.”
— L.B. Cowman
a young mans quest to find, truth, love, hope, and that which is greater than himself. A death-defying adventure to worlds many have not dared to go, and cities many people have only heard.
