Circle, Circle, Dot, Dot....

Speak to your kids about cooties before cooties speaks to them.

Embracing Accusation

The father of lies
Coming to steal
Kill and destroy
All my hopes of being good enough
I hear him saying cursed are the ones
Who can’t abide
He’s right Alleluia he’s right!

The devil is preaching
The song of the redeemed
That I am cursed and gone astray
I cannot gain salvation
Embracing accusation

Could the father of lies
Be telling the truth
Of God to me tonight?
If the penalty of sin is death
Then death is mine
I hear him saying cursed are the ones
Who can’t abide
He’s right Alleluia he’s right!

Oh the devil’s singing over me
An age old song
That I am cursed and gone astray
Singing the first verse so conveniently
He’s forgotten the refrain
Jesus saves!

-Shane and Shane

This is another one of those songs I have been jamming out to lately. I found this video online today--it's actually just audio, but I love the end.... If you don't listen to the song at least listen to the end.

But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we've compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.
-Romans 3:21-24

May the message that Jesus saves us from ourselves never get old. Many have polluted it throughout history--from wreckless Christians to televangelists with pink hair to pastors without integrity and the list goes on....

But the message is the same--we need Jesus desperately. And in Him, we're not just forgiven--though we don't even deserve that--we are also made righteous. Wow.

Jesus X-Rays

If you think you have seen it all, think again. Check this out.

Jesus is showing up in x-rays now. If you are feeling unspiritual just go have an x-ray taken, and you just might have an encounter with Christ Himself!

I think what's maybe the funniest part--or maybe the scariest--is that the radiologist agreed that He saw Jesus too! I mean, this guy literally has Jesus in his heart! And apparently enough of Jesus to cause chest pain.... :0)

A Glimpse Into My World at the Moment...

This is 14 seconds of my life this past semester. Yeah, I'm a nerd for posting it.... Just thought I'd share the bliss!

Smarty Pants

Be sure to check out this interesting article about what it takes to raise 'em up smart....

Here's an excerpt:

People do differ in intelligence, talent and ability. And yet research is converging on the conclusion that great accomplishment, and even what we call genius, is typically the result of years of passion and dedication and not something that flows naturally from a gift. Mozart, Edison, Curie, Darwin and Cézanne were not simply born with talent; they cultivated it through tremendous and sustained effort. Similarly, hard work and discipline contribute much more to school achievement than IQ does.

I don't think it's really rocket science--just a friendly reminder that your hard work will pay off.

Something that's been meandering around in my head today as I study for a slew of tests these next few weeks is that pain is temporary but the reward is eternal. The sacrifice is short but the prize is forever.

I hope that encourages you as you work hard in whatever season you may find yourself right now.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all you heart as working for the Lord and not men."
-Colossians 3:23