The First Stone Spot Wallpaper.

If you actually care I'm posting 2 wallpapers for you computer. enjoy.

posted by shark_maul @ 10/30/2005 11:01:00 PM 0 comments

Leaves.

posted by shark_maul @ 10/30/2005 10:45:00 PM 0 comments

Speaking.

There is a lot of talking I do. The nature of a blog lets me show you who I want to be more than who I really am. I can talk spiritual on here and fool you into believing I've got some of it together but let me tell you it's hard. Everyday I struggle with making my speech and actions hold hands. They're like a second grade girl and boy, no matter how hard you try they won't go together. I want to help the hurting but it has become increasingly tough because I can't make the time to do it. I can, but I'm not. My money is going to things I don't want to spend it on. I'm becoming who I don't want to be. I think God places in our hearts the desire to be different from who we are now so we can change. Not change our looks or personality but our core and how we relate to others. It may take personality molding but probably not a revolution. Make your words walk hand in hand together. Maybe better, my Dad once told me an old girlfriend of mine and I were connected at the lip instead of the hip. I think that your actions and words needed be connected at the lip because movement of one's mouth will affect the other.

posted by shark_maul @ 10/30/2005 10:34:00 PM 0 comments

Turning

Turning a 180 away from sin is the wrong answer. Never should life take you back through sin to the beginning. If you 180 then you'll be going back to the way you were as a child...sinful. When life's revolutions happen it should not be a 180 but 90 degree turn. Christ wants us on a different path one that takes us away from sin but on a path towards him. Romania was a 90 degree turn for me. The experience has forever changed who I am. I will walk with the knowledge that there is no other way to live but in the service of my God. I learned to care for the hurting. God said don't turn around and go back through the sin you've already experienced, go to the right and follow me on a new path that I will guide and lead you on daily. I chose to follow and the rewards have been endless.

posted by shark_maul @ 10/28/2005 07:42:00 AM 0 comments

Love them...

Love your neighbor as yourself. Love (the)... Democrats and republicans Jews and Gentiles Smart and Stupid Black and White Canadian and non canadian Lost and Saved Churched and unChurched Wealthy and poor Legends and the forgotten boistrous and quiet long haired and short haird free and enslaved broken and perfect humans and nature men and woman racist and non-racist forgetful and nonforgetful virgins and non virgins addicted and free desperate and whole unlovable and loved brother and sister mother and father grandmother and grandfather windows users and mac users known and unknown feared and fearful There is a reason Christ said that this was one greatest things a person could do. He did not say voice thy theology or rally thy troops in my name. He said love. It comes first no matter the situation. I would like all of you who read daily to pray for my grandfather. He's in Minnesota and I'd just ask you pray for him daily that God would give him peace and healing. For my Romanian people remember the greatness through prayer. Pray for my Grandfather and also the ones who need love and pray to the point that it is hard on your soul. I aplogize for not posting in the past couple of days, it's been hectic and just crazy. God is working in might ways and just ask God that the Christians in this house give off Christ's love instead of his sarcasm.

posted by shark_maul @ 10/27/2005 11:52:00 PM 0 comments

Save Them To

I don't care what they say about me It's all right, all right I don't care they think about me It's all right, they'll get it one day I love you, I'll follow you You are my, my life I will read my Bible and pray I will follow you all day I don't care what it costs anymore Cos' you gave it all and I'm following you I don't care what it takes anymore No matter what happens I'm going your way All Day All Day now All Day I'll follow You Anyone around can see just how good you've been to me For all my friends that don't know you I pray that you would save them too Look at those last 2 lines. For all my friends who don't know you. I pray that you would save them too. What a statement. There is no way that it could get any better than to think aobut others when we praise. The song is a prayer that is like look God my friends are lost. SAVE THEM!! I love them and I want to see them have the same joy I have. I love foreign worship for a few reasons. From what I've seen from video and real person it's wholy authentic see it's totally free from our legalistic stuff because these people have nothing and the only thing they know is Christ. So the only thing that matters to them is Christ. I will read my bible and pray I will follow you all day. Lord my God all day because you are a holy and righteous God.

posted by shark_maul @ 10/27/2005 12:22:00 AM 2 comments

Majesty.

Tonight we went out to bald rock just me and the guys and chilled. It was refreshing to just chill and be near nature. The stars were out in full force. I tried to take my camera but I couldn't find the shutter release cable....blast. Despite lack of camera it was still a lot of fun. I spent like 3 minutes praying because it was windy and I swear, God lives in the wind. While the wind blew I had momentary praise. Well I got Catalyst in the mornin' so I'm gone.

posted by shark_maul @ 10/22/2005 11:22:00 PM 1 comments

Lord I Pray.

Lord my God. I ask for wisdom and discernment. I pray that you my God would provide for my family, friends, and my future. I pray for the hurting people and that they are shown love everyday. The time for change is now and I pray that you my God, my holy God enacts change in our culture and subculture. I pray for my family and that guidance and wisdom from the Lord their God leads them daily. May they be provided for and looked after by those who love them. My friends. Where would I be without them? Lord God bless them and give each discernment for your path. Finally I ask that you change me, daily, hourly, by the minute so that I may serve you now and forever. May change be enacted through me. Lord you are holy and mighty. Amen. Prayer is something that we so often forget in our line of living. Remember daily that without it you will fail and be without guidance. Live in prayer and remember that there is a God who love you no matter the circumstance. Prayer and alone time with God are essential to life. Live daily in the word and feast on what it has to say. Goo'nite.

posted by shark_maul @ 10/22/2005 01:17:00 AM 2 comments

You gotta watch this

http://www.StupidVideos.com/?VideoID=1171 It's cool finish it.

posted by shark_maul @ 10/22/2005 12:45:00 AM 0 comments

Helping others.

Recently God's been really working me over and making me think about where money and time is spent and one thing he's really saying is that I need to help out with the poor and hurt. I'm trying to find a place to volunteer some and help people. I want faith in action. I was looking at the Sout Carolina Early Autism Project website and I miss Andrew when I look at the little kids and think about what they go through and what their families go threw. It's hard, very hard knowing that life will never be fully normal for them. Please pray that God reveals to me where he wants me and my money to be along with my time. Guys I know this is odd but be in prayer about where God wants you to work, maybe volunteer after school or something I don't know but serve in the name of Christ.

posted by shark_maul @ 10/20/2005 08:32:00 PM 0 comments

iPraise

iWorship in sweat. iDream in technicolor. And iPraise in video. When my eyes are closed and the world is silent with no interuptions or distractions and iPraise my God it's in video. In my mind I see a silhouette arms raise deep hues in the background and iPraise in video. I see the leader the camera swirls around him and then to the different band members. See I'm a visual person and iPraise through a video medium. I dance in my mind...I miss dancing during worship in Romania it was my love...even though I never did dance I did because in my heart I did. The people around me danced for their God and it was good. How do you praise, when you praise what do you see? Lemme know.

posted by shark_maul @ 10/20/2005 12:48:00 PM 2 comments

Crash

I don't remember if I posted about Crash last time I watched it but either way it bears repeating. I recommend this movie to anyone over the age of 15. Racism is still prevalent in our culture, see we are a racist people. The movie delves deep into the way people interact and how racism affects every bit of our world. In America it's something that we fight but Romania it's accepted. See America has it's issues but one thing is we are fighting battles that have raged since Genesis. See we are actually progressing in one area as a culture. When I was in Romania people in the church openly discriminated against gypsies and rockers, for the sole fact that they were different. It was disgusting and it hurt but I can't say more except...watch the movie...now. Go rent it, steal it, beat it out of someone. Make it next on your list.

posted by shark_maul @ 10/19/2005 10:18:00 PM 2 comments

Running

Have you ever had a run by yourself? It's a quiet experience and for me it's a sometimes painful experience because of my knees. Yesterday I ran the mile and a half and I got to a point where I wasn't sure where to go because I'd never run it before. I was totally lost, I had to stand there and just not have a clue where to go. I knew where I wanted to be but not how to get there. We do that a lot with God. We know where we need to go and we know where it is but we don't have the foggiest idea how to get there. I'd say first we find how to get to where God wants us is to get away. My experience in Romania has somewhat led me to believe one of the best ways for God to get a hold of you is for you to put yourself in a situation where there is no choice but to rely on him. The second way to find your way to God's place for you is to love others. Now there was an interesting point made at Engage last night the opposite of love is not hate but apathy. So Satan has fooled us to believe we are to love but with limitations which in the end produces apathy. Those are two of the many ways in which we get lost on our path to find where God wants us. So take and practice and love what he wants for you. Sorry, that wasn't one of my best posts but for now it'll have to do.

posted by shark_maul @ 10/19/2005 12:54:00 PM 1 comments

Love

What is love? I don't honestly know. This isn't the Haddaway song from Night at the Roxbury but what is love? It's an emotion but an action a feeling but a choice a piece of clarity a source of confusion. I think sometimes we get our theology mixed up with the world. I've heard people say I love them but I don't like them. I don't know what the right theology is but for some reason that seems like a justification for lack of love and compassion. There is a better answer...I just don't know what it is. I've also heard people say "I'd take a bullet for them, see I love them." I don't know if that is love, it's sacrifice definitely but probably not love. Love is giving up our possessions, money, time, and life to invest in someone else for the sake of them growing closer to Christ and for the sake of the knowing God and his character. I'll never understand love or how it works or why it works but there is someone I'd like to make a reference to. Bono was asked why he named his newest album "How to Dismantle and Ataomic Bomb" his answer was I named it that because the only thing that can do that is love. Our world needs no other thing except for our love as Christians to flow out. We must become the makers and creaters of love for the rest of the world. If the world sees we as Christians as people who love unconditionally then we will be following God.

posted by shark_maul @ 10/17/2005 11:51:00 PM 1 comments

Finding my Place

I have a few favorite things one is praising my God. My iPod has been a Godsend because no matter what it's there to be my assistant for praise because when I can't play the music I can have someone who is much better gifted flow praise over me and assist in my praise. This weekend was great. I had a chance to do a quiet time in a secluded room and worship my God. It was the renewal I've been waiting and perservering for. I have a second thing that I love before computers, iPod, or xbox. It's talking about my wife. I know your like huh? you're not married. I don't understand it but for some reason I deeply long to be with my wife not sexually but just to meet and be with her. I want to meet her and look and be like look it's our future. All the married people reading are like yeah sure whatever...you're a little strange and you don't know what marriage is like. Well no I don't but I promise you I have grand dreams for my marriage. My grandest dream is this....serve God no matter where or what. That means possibly giving up my dream to live on the coast and take my son surfing every morning or doing my best to make a relationship with my wife that can withstand anything life throws. Those are the two things in life I love, both are actually love itself. See God is love and I love my wife. Alright I know this post was a little weird but spare the ridicule. I'll catch ya'll tomorrow with a little more content.

posted by shark_maul @ 10/16/2005 09:56:00 PM 1 comments

Waning.

Things in life never go like you think they will. If life is planned then plan for the unplanned. So is life recently. I have no means to digress from "blogging" to "journal" about life but this applies to everyday. Deep in my soul is what you as a reader get to hear. You hear the deepest heart beat of what I'm thinking but what exists is somewhat harder. Recently my quiet times have been waning and the stress has been mounting. Class, work, a waning quiet time all adding to the new adjustments. Your quiet time is the most essential part of your day even more important than breakfast. I would say give it an hour but most likely that won't happen. But don't cop out and do the 3 minute quiet time. I'd say spend the time with God his majesty requires. Please this isn't some sort of please help me call. This is a pray for me and that I find renewal in my spirit. I want to finish Jeremiah but for right now it's hard. Well I'm off to have my quiet time. Please this is one time don't post back just pray daily for renewal of your spirit and then for renewal of mine.

posted by shark_maul @ 10/15/2005 12:42:00 AM 1 comments

Jumping

When I was young I loved to jump down flights of stairs. It was by far my favorite thing to do. With time I moved beyond a certain age I got to the point where I didn't do it anymore. When I was walking down today to the music ed. building I wanted to jump off the stairs. I wanted so bad. How often do we do this with God? You know we often yearn to jump into God's arms early in our walk but with more exposure to the world we lose the want to jump and to trust. It's like jumping off the stairs in the dark. You know the stairs and the ground are there but you question how hard you will hit or whether it will be safe. We know how hard it hits when you hit the ground but we question the stability of the ground. That's what we do when we question God's ability to provide. We doubt the validity of the grounds ability to provide stability. (I totally didn't mean to rhyme) So when it comes to trusting God daily remember that jumping is fun sometimes scary but fun and that the ground will always be there to catch us.

posted by shark_maul @ 10/14/2005 10:03:00 AM 1 comments

The Bass Player

Have you ever noticed that the bass player in a band gets no recognition? The guitarist has his thing and he can solo and do whatever and people love him and the lead singer well he's the one that makes the band who it is. Without him the masses would have no lyrics to sing. The drummer keeps the ryhthm for the whole show just banging away in his own little world. The bass player, have you ever seen That Thing You Do? The bass player has no name even in the credits it says "The Bass Player" and he's left nameless. Why the bass player is the one that plays on a whole different level. He plays low while everyone else plays the treble cleff, he's off doing his thing and no one notices. What's the point? Youth ministers. Youth Ministers are the metaphoric bass player. Everyone knows they are there and the whole show rides on whether he's good at what he does but no one notices. The pastor appeases the masses and the music guy is cool because he's up there doing the music. And the assistant pastor is cool because he's well....the assistant pastor. But the "Student minister" is like the guy who just has the whole show to himself and no one notices. So take a minute today and thank you youth minister.

posted by shark_maul @ 10/13/2005 08:26:00 AM 1 comments

Seeing Things Through Different Eyes.

How do Christians do things? Abortion Clinic? What do you think about? I think violence, picketers, and people getting hateful. Today there was a talk on Christian worldview in chapel and I don't know how much I agreed with the guy. I think our faith should make the biggest impact in how we interact with our culture but I don't know where forcing our beliefs on the culture will do much good. We've done such a good job at alienating the world that we need to bring them back in. About a month ago I was talking to a friend who had said she was going to an abortion clinic (not to be a patient) and there were picketers outside and for a moment my heart stopped and I thought please don't tell me you picketed. After a momentary tense moment she said that no she prayed, she spent time outside the clinic praying for those inside and those outside. It rained that day, in the rain she prayed for the hurting people. That is Christian worldview when my Christian views interact with the world to give the world a view of Christ. Go and let the world view Christ not a Christian worldview.

posted by shark_maul @ 10/12/2005 11:24:00 PM 1 comments

New iPod

2 minutes....2 minutes till the new release of the video iPod. OMG I might go out and buy one. That'd be freaking awesome. Anyone wanna buy a 30 gig.

posted by shark_maul @ 10/12/2005 12:58:00 PM 0 comments

Psalm 42

When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse everything I know of you, From the Jordan depths to Hermon heights, including Mount Mizar. Chaos call to chaos, to the tune of whitewater rapids. Your breaking surf, your thundering breakers crash and crush me. Then God PROMISES TO LOVE ME ALL DAY!! Sing songs all through the night! My life is God's prayer. -Psalm 42:6-8 The Message

posted by shark_maul @ 10/12/2005 12:36:00 AM 0 comments

Mobilize the Photographer

Let's play a game, we're going to play mobilize the photographer. I can honestly say that I've talked to the people with sastudents.com and they said they are looking for people to travel with each team to photograph full time! This is what I wanted last year but God had much greater plans. Please be in prayer for me as this journey to raise money begins and as I prepare for yet another life altering trip. I can say that I'm really getting ready for a life of service. This summer could really prove what I will do with the rest of my life. If I enjoy it thoroughly then I could do this for the rest of my days. I love all you guys and girls this past summer and fall have been great encouragements to hear what you have to say to what's going on with me. I'm sure sometimes your like Ryan please spare me but thank you so much. It's such a morale booster to see I had 3 comments posted. I want to see people change through media and this is just the beginning. Wherever you are - be all there. -Jim Elliot

posted by shark_maul @ 10/06/2005 08:52:00 AM 2 comments

iPod Heaven

Well toight I spent about a half hour working on installing an FM Modulator in my car. Now I have full iPod integration in full CD quality sound which is stinking awesome because my iTrip's quality was definitely starting to get on my nerves. But hoora!

posted by shark_maul @ 10/05/2005 11:04:00 PM 0 comments

Preparing.

This summer I'm going on a mission trip. I don't know where but I'm going. I want to serve so badly, my heart yearns for the moment I step onto the airplane ready to depart on an adventure that requires faith, pain, suffering, perseverance, and most of all the quiet whisper and rolling change the results from following my God. I know that last year going to Romania started my journey from complacency to where I am now and most of you readers helped in some way. I'm asking that you begin praying about what would happen this year. It's going to require sacrifice and persisitance but I'm ready. These are the only things I can think. My Life for the Gospel. My time for the Gospel. My money for the Gospel. My LIFE for the Gospel.

posted by shark_maul @ 10/03/2005 09:47:00 AM 0 comments

Sorting Out Faith.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, -Philippians 2:12 Sorting out my faith is a hard thing. It requires diligent study and thinking. The diligent study part is a little harder than the thinking part but either way I've got to work out my faith in a way that is what God would want it to be. There are couple of things that strike me as so unfair. First, I don't know my political standing, reason being is that yes abortion is a big deal but so is enviroment, gay marriage is as important as everyone makes it out to be and overall we miss important facts of politics in favor of hot button issues. Someone once asked what it would be like if gay people could get married well I think it'd be the same they would just be married. Some of you are probably about to never read my blog again and that's fine...I wish you would because then you would be the type of person I like, the kind that can live with differences and see multiples sides of the issue. My views are not necessarily what people would view as typical "Christian," they are what I'd call views that seek to glorify my God. I'm tired of being looked down on for not saying I'm republican or not adhering to Southern Baptist beliefs. I want to see a generation of teens that look at our Christianity, world, and sin through the view of Christ, my God, and the Bible. Not some convention or big wigs theology passed down. I'm sorry if I've offended anyone I just want to see changed affected. Affect Change for the glory of our God.

posted by shark_maul @ 10/01/2005 09:07:00 PM 2 comments

Chillin'

My time at NGC has been marked by two extremes of faith. My first experiences confirmed my worst fears conservative people who really have no desire to actually think about their faith. There have been multiple times in which I've heard people slam others on campus because they had different political views or views on issues. These are people who are supposed to be upstanding in faith. I've lost respect for some people but thats the way life goes. On the other end of the coin I've had refreshing experiences like last night we went and ministered to some Katrina victims. The result was meeting some new friends from campus that were genuinely understanding of the differences of being human. One girl was like so are you a Christian? I think that may have been one of the first times someone didn't assume that I was. There is refreshment in new ideas and thinking that differs. It's hard reconciling these two differences but isn't that what we are supposed to do? See don't disgengage brain at any point in life because what will happen is people will get shut out. And if you have ever felt that you know all the bible answers (which I've met a guy who claims to know such a thing) then let's talk and read some, because the bible if actually read conjures more questions than it does answers and that's God's way of keeping us searching for the reality of who he is.

posted by shark_maul @ 10/01/2005 11:41:00 AM 0 comments