Half-Way Rays

Typography: Moped

2009-03-26T20:16:00.000-07:00

Today in design class we did a typography exercise where we created an object using nothing but letters. I drew a moped as my objects and used American Typewriter as my typeface. Hope you like the results.

Heart Change = Life Change

2009-02-24T15:30:00.000-08:00

I'm putting together a poster series featuring B&W photography. The tagline is Heart Change = Life Change and I want to show the change in a person that comes after accepting Christ. I want to know your story, how has God come through for you in a big way? If through faith in Him you were able to get away from a pornography addiction and you feel comfortable being featured in one of the poster designs, please let me know.

What I want these posters to do is encourage people to get away from the things that push them far from God. If you have struggled with pornography, cutting, drugs, pride, whatever has caused you pain and pushed you from God. I want you to be willing to share your pain with others so that the people who see these photographs find encouragement and healing. They're not alone and I want them to know that, loud and clear. Who's game?

Contact Me via Twitter and I'll Give You the Details
Twitter

Lovin' the Reading List

2009-02-01T23:10:00.000-08:00

Typically, I'm reading three books at a time. I don't like focusing on one book because my moods vary and I like a little bit of everything to read, so...this is my current list of three:

1. The Designer's Guide to Marketing And Pricing by Ilise Benun
- Being a graphic designer, one of the most important things to do is market yourself. I love doing research so this is the "research" book on my list.

2. Bushido: The Code of the Samurai by Inazo Nitobe
- I've always been interested in Japanese culture and history in general, so this is the "historical" book on the list.

3. The Orc King: Transitions Book I by R.A. Salvatore
- I absolutely love this author! Think Lord of the Rings except without ALL the detail and throw in some killer fight scenes. This is the book where I can escape from everything else and enjoy some good hacking and cleaving.

YouTube Speaks

2008-11-17T12:33:00.000-08:00

I was checking out a Youtube video for an Aquaman trailer and I read the below comment:

"Jesus Jewmericans! will you stop showing off to the world how 'powerful' you are? i mean please its just hollywood special effects, its getting really boring bombarding viewers with your military, economy etc, strength like hulk, ironman, spiderman now this! its all just a joke, you're just a bunch of immature showmen, a world laughing stock..."

Christians, what are you showing the world? Jesus wasn't judgmental. Everyone knows John 3:16 but few read on to John 3:17 where the Bible says, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." The thing is, everyone knows what we're against but no one knows what we're for. What are you showing people? What are you telling them? Are your actions and words out of love or judgment?

Beauty In The Broken

2008-10-13T23:16:00.000-07:00

I'm sure everyone has heard the phrase, "beauty is only skin deep" but have you ever realized how true that is? I'm beautiful on the outside but once you peel back the mask I am selfish, dishonest and quite frankly, evil. I'm evil because I want everything to be about me. It's about my career, my house, me me me. The thing is, in order to have a joyful life I must die to myself. I can't live my life for myself, I have to live it for others in hopes that they see Jesus through me. If only one person accepts Christ as a result of my seeking His truth, then everything is worth it. If all the pain I've ever suffered encourages someone when I tell them my story and they begin to see themselves through God's eyes, then it's all worth it.

In Ecclesiastes 3:11, the Bible says, "He (God) has made all things beautiful in its time." How encouraging is that?! I'm ugly on the inside. It's not pretty but God is working in my life and will make what's ugly inside of me beautiful for His glory. There is beauty in the broken.

NEXT Steps

2008-10-09T13:57:00.000-07:00

Christianity is a series of next steps. Each one of them brings you closer to God in your daily walk with Him. In Psalm 119:105 the Bible says: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Think about that verse for a moment. It says that God's word is a lamp not a spotlight because God isn't going to reveal His entire plan to you. He doesn't work like that. He gives you a lamp and all that you can see is the step you're about to take and with each step the next one is revealed. But if you stop moving your path becomes dark because you can't see before you. Your closeness with God depends upon you taking those next steps. You have to consistently seek God's word and move toward Him or you'll never truly realize the reason He custom designed you. You gotta move.

North vs. South....Again?

2008-08-12T11:44:00.000-07:00

We all know there are differences between the North and the South but only now do I realize how very different we are:

Ma’am

- Southern Perspective - it’s very polite and expected for someone to say, “Yes Ma’am. No Ma’am.” You should do it or someone might be offended if you don’t.

- Northern Perspective – don’t say ma’am. It’s actually considered a curse word up here because it’s viewed as you calling a woman old. Yeah, that never goes over well. You can say it politely and it will still get the same reaction as if you’d said it in a rude manner.

Sarcasm

- Southern Perspective – it’s perfectly alright if you get a little jokingly sarcastic with a stranger in the south. Nine times out of ten, you make the person laugh.

- Northern Persepective – they will think you’re patronizing them. It’s ok to be sarcastic with people you know, but no one else.

Cutting Someone Off in Traffic

- Southern Perspective – oh no you didn’t! After this, you either got high beams flashed at you, the horn pressed on, and/or a “warning” shot fired.

- Northern Perspective – totally normally and expected. They don’t care. People up here are very aggressive drivers, but they’re also very safe drivers. You can trust them to put on the brakes and not get angry when you pull out in the right lane while you’re waiting for oncoming traffic to pass so you can make a left turn.

Food

This is the part where I mention a few food establishments that I WISH we had along with some great food.

- White Manna – this place is no bigger than half a living room and the burgers are half the size of normal ones (which is why Scott bought 5….for himself!) White Manna has been around since the end of WWII and they were named by GQ Magazine as one of the 20 Burgers You Must Eat Before You Die. These burgers are AMAZING!

- Carvel – they make the original ice cream cake. There is no cake…every layer is ice cream and it’s glorious. We stopped by a few minutes ago and I bought some coffee ice cream…it was delish.

- Pizza – the best pizza places aren’t chains. The water here is heaver and that has a surprisingly huge effect on the dough making process. It’s just different here! There will be more once I have pizza tomorrow.

Be Still...

2008-07-29T19:49:00.000-07:00

On the way home tonight there was a lightning storm. Most people wouldn't think much of it or others would be apprehensive because it's lightning...it's deadly. I decided to pull my car over to the side of the road, turn the ignition off and just sit there and watch. A little FYI, lightning storms and "All Your Waves And Breakers" by Lee McDerment is an excellent pairing.

I sat there watching the lightning as if it'd been choreographed to Lee's music and that's when God spoke to me. Lately, I've felt overly busy and thought that I really never took much time out of my day to simply sit. Sometimes, we need to sit and be still. In Psalm 46:10, God says, "Be still and know that I am God." I sat in my car marvelling at a show that even the best laser light show couldn't top and I'm completely in awe of God. All of us need to do nothing. Sit still for a few minutes and think about how amazing God is. That blows my mind!

Run

2008-07-02T18:22:00.001-07:00

I was driving home from church the other day and I saw a small turtle in the middle of the road. I straddled it with my car to keep from hitting it and stopped a moment. This wasn't a busy stretch of road but the cars that rode on it usually broke the speed limit by 20 miles or more so I turned around to help him across the road. It may seem silly to go save a turtle but I'm a huge animal person and I hate the idea of anything getting hurt. As I approached him, he got scared and turned around to go back the way he had come but before he could, I picked him up and took him to the other side of the road.

On my way home, I realized that that's how many of us are with God. He points us in the direction He wants our lives to go, and when He shows us the awesome and incredible plan He has for us, we get scared and want to go back. There are things coming at us from all sides to keep us from realizing God's purpose for our lives and when we think we're about to be crushed, He comes and picks us up and takes us through all the turmoil of life to the other side of the road...the one He wants us on. Ask yourself a few questions. What am I doing that's keeping me from going after God's plan for my life? Am I running in the opposite direction now that He's shown me that plan? Am I trying to convince myself that I'm not worthy of such an awesome destiny? Whatever is stopping you...whether it's an addiction, guilt, or fear...drop it and run.

Impact: Leave Your Mark

2008-06-03T12:01:00.000-07:00

I was listening to Erwin McManus this morning on the way to class and he was going through how we can impact and leave our mark on the world around us, so I thought I'd share his points with you.

FOCUS

Focus on what matters. Focus on what is going to matter. What are you doing now that will matter ten years from now? In order to truly make an impact, we have to focus on God and focus on the things that are going to matter in our lives.

LEVERAGE

Leverage your time and energy. Leverage your resources. One of the biggest problems in our society is that many of us aren't doing anything. We're lazy and expect everything to fall into our laps and it's not going to. If it's not laziness, then we'll say we're too tired. You'll notice that when you start doing the things you love, you will be energized. Stay energized by doing the things that make you feel happy, whether it's going hiking, reading a book, or taking the time out to sit down and draw for fifteen minutes. Whatever it is, do it!

INVEST

Invest in people. Invest in people who invest in people.

My Goals

2008-05-20T07:13:00.000-07:00

Trust me, I wouldn't normally make a post at twenty till four in the morning, but my mind wouldn't shut off until I wrote this post. Every have that happen? I was lying in bed thinking of all the goals I want to accomplish in the near future and in true Brittney fashion, I made a list.

Health

1. NO Caffeine during the week - Weekends ONLY (P.S. Water is your new best friend)

Those who know me personally know how difficult this one is going to be. I'm a coffee freak, not to mention the fact I work at a coffeeshop. Yep...I'm in trouble.

2. Take vitamins daily

I like vitamins. They make me happy, mostly because they remind me of the days when they were in the shape of Dino or Fred Flintstone. But more importantly, I know I don't get the recommended daily intake of some vitamins and I need a little help.

3. Gym - 3x a week

I've been bouncing around the idea of getting a gym membership for some time now. I'm not overweight, and that's pretty obvious considering most people say I'm as thin as a rail. Never liked that phrase, it's just odd. Anyways, I'd really like to get toned and back into shape.

4. Sleep no less than 8 hours EVERY day

I'm terrible at this. I'm a night person so staying up late is a given. I hate mornings, but I'm one of those pleasant non-morning people. I don't snarl when someone speaks to me at the wee hours of the morning. Once I get going, I'm as energetic as I am in the evenings.

Spiritual

1. Quiet time EVERY day

I've struggled with this for sometime now, but Scott's idea of doing a Bible study together has really held me accountable on this. I'm getting things out of the Bible that I knew were possible, but that thought had never truly sunk in until now. We're going through John by the way, and currently at Chapter 6.

2. Do something with my small group girls at least once a month

I love the kids I work with at youth! They're a blast to be around and it's nice having an excuse to be immature. I still think back to our trip to G-Vegas where we dressed up in vintage clothing and several of my kids tried on a gigantic afro wig. It was awesome!

3. Go to conferences

I've had an interest in going to church conferences for a while. I love checking out what other ministries are doing and picking the brains of other leaders. It's so much fun to me. I love listening to the podcasts of other churches as well. Other than Perry Noble, my favorite speaker is Erwin McManus, the pastor of Mosaic Church in L.A. Their series Vital Signs rocked my world!

Misc.

1. Read more books

Whether it's not having enough time or being too tired, I've made plenty of excuses as to why I haven't read much lately. It's not fun either. I'm realizing just how much I thrive on reading books. They're a nice reprieve from everything else. One of the books I'm currently reading is The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible by A.J. Jacobs. It's such a great read! I'm mentally eating up every word because it's just so entertaining. Pick this book up! You'll love it!

2. Take Sasha and Kota for walks more often

I think Sasha wants to pummel me for this one. I hate I haven't spent as much time with my dogs lately, but that will all change. I'll be taking them on regular walks so they better get ready for the leashing rather than the unleashing...ok, that sounds just as lame as I thought it would.

Broken

2008-04-10T19:10:00.000-07:00

In two weeks, I'll be making my return to NewSpring student ministry. It's been four months and God has taught me so much during my time away. I needed it. At some point, I had forgotten to take the time to rest, thinking that if I did I'd be failing my small group or the other leaders. God showed me that wasn't so. By remaining when I knew I needed the time away to rest, I wasn't as good of a leader as I once was. That was painful for me because at the time I didn't know what my problem was. I was too busy to realize that my problem was the fact that I was so busy!

But now I feel energized and now my pain comes from being away from my small group girls. I kept in touch with them while I was away, but it wasn't enough. I have to be there with them, lead them in small group and I can't wait to make my return. I'm a college student and next semester I'll be taking 19 hours. Pray for me! But whether I'm a college student, or a parent, or a successful businesswoman, I have to take the time to rest.

The time away has allowed me to grow closer to God and I'm so grateful for that. He's bringing the sins I've struggled with for years to the surface. Even now, He's breaking me and it's the most wonderfully painful experience on earth. I'm reminded of a line in "Let It All Out" by Relient K where it says, "And You said, 'I know that this will hurt, but if I don't break your heart then things will just get worse. If the burden seems to much to bear, remember the end will justify the pain it took to get us there.'"

Stop Signs

2008-03-14T13:40:00.000-07:00

February 14, 2008, could have been the day of my death, but God had other plans. I'm not sure what's going on with my traffic related posts, but God has given me these insights and I wish to share them with you. On the fourteenth, my mom, brother, and I were on our way to the movies when a guy ran the stop sign and plowed into the driver's side of our car going 50 mph. He struck the space between the left front-wheel tire and the door, right where the steel frame was. Had we not slowed up or had he been going slower, he would have hit directly where my mom and I were sitting.

I was reminded of this because on the way home, I saw someone blatantly run the stop sign. They never slowed up and judging by how fast they were moving, they had to have been going at least 60 mph. They disregarded a sign that was put there for their safety and others. I realized that that is how many of us are in our lives. We disregard the signs and continue on a road that leads to addiction, to pain, it steals our joy and when we look in the mirror we don't recognize the person we see. I've done this before. I saw the signs that God was showing me, He was trying to get me to stop and turn back but I ignored Him and because of that I had a wreck. I hurt myself and others with my disregard for signs. Maybe I'm describing you right now. You're driving down the road and you aren't paying attention to the stop signs, and I can tell you that the wreck is imminent. It's going to happen, but the question is when. Don't keep going until it happens, turn back now and God will accept you with open arms. He's not going to wave your mistakes in your face, He's going to wash them from you and lead you down the path that will truly bring you joy.

Defensive Driver

2008-03-05T06:03:00.000-08:00

I have been told that I drive like a New Yorker, which is kind of funny to me considering they sit in many traffic jams so do they really drive? I am an offensive and defensive driver, a little of both. When someone is going too slow, I pass them. When they pull out in front of me, I put on brakes. I was on the way to school earlier in the semester and got behind someone who wasn't going as fast as they needed to. I'll admit I was running a little behind but have you ever gotten behind someone who is going 10 miles under the speed limit? Doesn't that drive you crazy?

I knew there was a point coming up where I could pass and there was oncoming traffic, so I did what anyone else would do...I rode their bumper a little. I did this because I knew the second those cars passed I would be passing this SUV. The cars went by and I put on my turn signal to pass and the SUV guy blew his horn at me. I did nothing wrong accept offend him for being on his bumper for 1.2 seconds and that's when I realized we are like that in our walk sometimes.

Cause what are you really saying when you pass someone? "You're not going fast enough."..."Wow, you are really dragging your feet."..."It's going to take you forever to reach your destination."

When we are not moving closer to God the way we should and are called on it either by God or a Godly-person, we get mad. We are offended that they are "riding our bumper." Shouldn't they mind their own business? Who gave them the right to call us out? First of all, if you have the guts to say that to God...good luck and beware of lightning bolts. But God and those Godly-people are your friends and wounds from a friend can be trusted. So instead of getting mad next time this happens, take the time to really analyze yourself.

Heartbeat

2008-03-05T04:57:00.000-08:00

I was on the phone last night talking about youth ministry and I stopped for a second to take notice of what was going on. My heart was beating faster. Instantly, I was reminded of when Perry Noble was in the hospital and mentioned Joe Sangl pointing out that his heart sped up every time he talked about the church. When we are passionate about something and start talking about it, our hearts speed up. Mine was flying as I talked about the youth ministry at NewSpring.

I was looking over my internship application and instantly a voice said, "Why aren't you applying for a student ministry position?" So I am. I love student ministry and I love the kids I work with. I am passionate about student ministry and I want to see ours blow up for Jesus Christ. They are the present of the church, not the future and they are capable of moving mountains. I can sit and talk for hours about ministry and about my amazing small group. Love you girls!

It's something I love! I know this internship will technically be "work," but not to me. It won't be regular work and I instantly recognize that. This is work for a higher purpose. This is fun! God, not my will, but Yours be done!

Long time, eh?

2008-02-01T09:08:00.000-08:00

So, I'm a little scared of myself right now. Why you ask? Because I've become a money freak! Not in a bad way mind you. I'm reading finance books, doing research, all because I'm feeling the need to minister to people about money. America is in debt and it's reflected in its citizens. That's UNACCEPTABLE! Money is one of the number one reasons for divorces in America. Marriages are broken a part and I want that changed! I want to help people get out of debt. I want them to realize the dreams they have ARE possible. That financial freedom IS possible.

I don't know if this is what God has called me to do in my life, but even if it isn't, I want to minister to others by showing them the way to get out of debt.

Nostalgia Lane

2008-01-02T15:44:00.000-08:00

Collaborating with Big Willie-isms, we put together a list of old TV shows that you may remember. Each title has a link to Youtube where you can view the opening theme. Enjoy!

1. Double Dragon
2. Dinosaurs
3. Slimer! And the Real Ghostbusters
4. Donkey Kong Country
5. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
6. DuckTales
7. Darkwing Duck
8. Tiny Toon Adventures
9. TaleSpin
10. X-Men

11. Cow & Chicken
12. Dungeons & Dragons
13. Reboot
14. Big Bad Beetleborgs
15. VR Troopers
16. Adventures in Wonderland
17. Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?
18. Count Duckula
19. Beakman's World
20. Under the Umbrella Tree

21. New Adventures of Johnny Quest
22. Animorphs
23. Welcome to Pooh Corner
24. All New Pound Puppies
25. Eureeka's Castle
26. Carebears
27. Muppet Babies
28. Adventures of the Gummi Bears
29. Garfield & Friends
30. Legend of Zelda

31. Beetlejuice
32. Freakazoid
33. Bobby's World
34. Attack of the Killer Tomatoes
35. Captain N: The Game Master
36. Dragonball Z
37. Alvin & the Chipmunks
38. The Tick
39. Sonic the Hedgehog
40. Megaman

41. Super Mario Bros. Super Show
42. The New Adventures of Super Mario Brothers 3
43. Super Mario World
44. Ronin Warriors

Frequently Visited Sites

2007-12-30T21:36:00.000-08:00

1. Gmail - Since switching from Hotmail, I have discovered that Gmail is one of the best free providers of email on the web. I literally have no complaints. It's awesome!

2. Lifehacker - From tweaking your new computer to a guide of making your own Moleskine-like notebook, this site is hands down one of the coolest do-it-yourself tools out there. I'm a geek and I love stuff like this. I can't help it!

3. Perry Noble - Since going to NewSpring three years ago, God has changed my life in the most profound ways. He did it through the church and through the teachings of its pastor, Perry Noble.

4. One Manga - I've been a huge fan of Japanese animation for years. I love it! I love the rich (and sometimes ridiculous) storylines and the amazing characters. One Manga is a great place to read Japanese comics but remember to read from right-to-left, top-to-bottom. Check out InuYasha first.

"I Will Not Take My Love Away" - Matt Wertz

2007-12-30T00:39:00.000-08:00

I worshipped to this song on the way home. The words are so powerful and really make you think of the love Christ has for all of us.

I will not take My love away
When praises cease and seasons change
While the whole world turns the other way
I will not take My love away

I will not leave you all alone
When striving leads you far from home
And there's no yield for what you've sown
I will not leave you all alone

I will give you what you need
In plenty or in poverty
Forever, always, look to Me
And I will give you what you need

I will not take My love away

NEW Anberlin Music Video

2007-12-21T17:21:00.000-08:00

This is one of the most amazing videos I have seen in a long time. It really makes you think about life, love, and the choices we make.

Glimpse of the Future

2007-12-11T17:20:00.000-08:00

Has God ever given you a glimpse of what he has planned for your life and the first thing that goes through your mind is, "You are talking about me, right? I can't do that!" Continually, God has been laying it on my heart to speak to teenagers. Whether professionally or not, I'm not sure, but one thing that I absolutely love is sharing Christ with kids. What makes this so interesting is that it makes no sense.. I have stage fright, which is awesome because when I get up on stage to speak to kids, I rely on my Father in Heaven to give me the words.

I'm a writer, but in no way am I a speaker. I get ridiculously nervous before speaking in front of a group, but the thing is...I LOVE it! God is equipping me with the tools I need to speak to kids and deliver relevant and effective messages to them. I am PUMPED!!

I know God is calling me into ministry and to be honest it's a little scary. I love working with teenagers and hanging out with them. I'm so tired of churches pushing the kids aside rather than lifting them up. Revolutions begin with the youth.

Plus Sizes $1 More

2007-12-04T17:20:00.000-08:00

I'm sure already you are trying to figure out the title of this post. Allow me to explain. I was in a department store a few days ago and was looking at the bath robes where I saw a sign that read: "Plus Sizes $1 More." That got me thinking. In many ways, that's how the modern church is today. We see people with extra baggage coming into our church and instead of welcoming them with open arms, we tell them they have to do x number of things in order to receive God's forgiveness. In Isaiah 64:6, the Bible says: "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags"

We will not receive God's forgiveness based off good works and when we see others who have had a hard life, who bear the scars from that life, we judge rather than assist. How does that make sense? That's just it, it doesn't. I'm a screw up. I've fallen flat on my face more times than I'd care to admit, yet I will admit I have. If we'd all quit focusing on ourselves, we'd see the needs of our brothers and sisters and not expect them to pay $1 more.

This Is Me

2007-11-19T17:19:00.000-08:00

God wouldn't let me sleep before sharing this, so here goes. When I turned 11 years old, I "accepted" Christ. I say it like that because I had no idea what I was doing just that I get something because of it (a Bible, which I never read). I'd go to the youth group off and on over the next few years but honestly I hated it. No one ever talked to me and I never felt an ounce of the love that God supposedly had for me. I was empty and alone and saw the hypocrisy of the people that claimed to be Christians. They'd praise Jesus on Sunday but go off and party and get drunk. So I stopped going to church. The sermons never sparked my interest. They were boring to me.

My sophomore year in high school, I received a wake up call after my mother was diagnosed with cancer. I was terrified and full of agony. Questions like "Would my mom live to see me graduate?", "Will she see me get married and have children of my own?" raced through my mind. I couldn't bear the thought of losing her. I realized then that I couldn't do this by myself. I couldn't handle the weight that was pushing down on me, so I accepted Christ into my life. Now I wish I could say I never screwed up again, but you'd be wrong.

I got into some things on the internet that I shouldn't have. I looked at things that were better left unseen and I began to turn from God. By senior year, a friend of mine kept inviting me to this church called NewSpring. She probably invited me a hundred times before I agreed to come and I went to my first FUSE service in October of 2004. I knew two people out of about 500 that were there and I felt very awkward when I first arrived, until I met some of the youth leaders. I've never felt such love like that in a youth group my entire life. For the first time ever, I felt accepted. By the time graduation rolled around and it was time for me to leave the student ministry, I decided against it and became a youth leader. They had had such a profound impact on my life that I wanted to do the same. I wanted the pain of my past to be used to glorify God and give others hope.

I've been with IGNITE for two years now and love it! I still have times where Satan will attempt to use past temptations against me, but I belong to God now. Jesus Christ has changed me in amazing ways. I used to have a bad habit of cursing and now I no longer do. I once was a pessimist and now I'm full-blown optimist. God has made me a new creation and I will glorify Him in all that I do, whether that is by walking down the street, eating out at a restaurant, or doing my artwork. He is my Savior and I wish to share Him with the world.

I Refuse to Be the Stereotypical Girl

2007-11-17T17:19:00.000-08:00

I can't stand the world's view of how a woman should be. Basically, they're telling me to be beautiful and when I say beautiful I mean runway model. They tell me that I should always wear makeup and have interests in fashion and shopping. I should look out for number one and be as "girly" as possible because what guy likes a woman interested in sports? I hate the stereotypical girl, because that girl is unhappy. I know it. She may seem like she's having fun, but she's not. So I thought I'd make a list to prove you can be a beautiful woman without complying with what the world says you should be.

1. I collect comic books and graphic novels (there is a difference) - Batman and Superman mostly, but I've recently gotten into one called Shidima.

2. When I want to see a movie, it's not always a chick flick - Mind you, I don't mind a good romance every now and then, but I'd prefer some action. Give me Bruce Willis!

3. I collect guns (and shoot them too!) - I currently own a M4 Carbine Assault Rifle, and I'm currently building an AR-15 Sniper Rifle with my dad. (I am not psycho)

4. I am fascinated with anything military. I love going to air shows, and collecting military stuff (I'm using a grenade as a paper weight, I kid you not)

5. I'm athletic - I played soccer and contrary to popular belief, that game can get very bloody. Trust me, just ask the girl whose nose I broke when the ball hit her in the face. (I felt terrible afterwards)

6. I am big into gaming - NCAA anyone? How about Final Fantasy?

7. I love watching sports - If you're yelling at the TV because your team isn't doing well, I'm likely to do the same thing. I love going to football games especially and have never hesitated to paint my face when my boys are playing. (Go Tigers!!)

8. I LOVE classic muscle cars! I will own a black, 1967 Chevy Impala hardtop and it will be amazing!

9. And this is what makes me the most beautiful and that is my love for Jesus Christ. Since 2004 when He changed my life forever, I have never experienced such joy. Yes it is difficult to be a Christian sometimes, but when you follow God and know that throughout your struggles He is there; that's so encouraging. I refuse to be what the world asks, because I would be hollow. I would find no joy in living as I do now. Thank you Jesus for accepting me despite my faults. I don't deserve Your love.

Just Be Yourself

2007-11-16T17:18:00.000-08:00

God answered a question tonight that I have had for a while. I have always wondered if God would withhold certain things from us if we were disobedient. The answer is yes. Now allow me to explain. I once thought that God wouldn't do that because in my opinion it was wrong. I did not like the idea of God withholding something because I was being bad. Then it hit me. When you actively pursue God, He will bless you. Even if you have sin in your life, because lets face it...that's 99% of the time, but if you are actively seeking to grow in your walk and remove that sin, God will bless you in profound ways.

Since we're on a parenting series at church, I will use an example like that. Lets say, your son or daughter is being bad. They're blatantly disobeying you even though you have their best interests at heart and want them to succeed. What do you do? Well for one, you wouldn't shower them with gifts because that reinforces their bad behavior. I believe God does that. Now He doesn't do it with everything, but He will do it with the more major aspects of your life such as meeting your future spouse, etc.

Why would He have you meet the man or woman of your dreams if you aren't ready? He wants you to be ready, because in being ready you will be happy and truly joyful. You will be yourself. I've been trapped in sin and felt no where near myself. I was moodier, no longer found joy in my artwork, in fact...I wasn't inspired to create anything. You know how frustrating that is to an artist to be incapable of creation? When you sin and do not take steps to remove that sin from your life, you become someone else. Someone God did not intend you to be and He will not introduce you to your future spouse as anything but yourself.

Enough Already!

2007-11-13T17:17:00.000-08:00

I am tired of Christians arguing with one another about whose doctrine is more correct or whether or not contemporary worship is "Godly." You and I both know that those are only half the story too. Now before I move on, I ask that you take a good look at this world. The moral decay is obvious and yet there are Christians verbally bashing other Christians? Are you kidding me? Now is not the time to bicker amongst ourselves. It's pointless and the name of Christ does not become famous as a result. Non-believers see us fighting amongst ourselves and laugh. They will never take Christ seriously because of such actions.

Some Christians are angry because one church is supposedly "stealing" people, while others don't agree with the way one church does praise and worship or advertises a new sermon series. The list goes on.

In Philippians 1:15-18, Paul is in chains in jail and writes, "It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, CHRIST is PREACHED. And because of this I REJOICE."

I added those capitals and bold letters so that each of you would see that we as Christians were not put on this earth to attack one another but to attack Satan. As Paul said, I will rejoice because my amazing God is being preached. I may not agree with a church's doctrine, but in the end it doesn't matter because CHRIST is being PREACHED.

God Is Awesome (But You Already Knew That)

2007-11-12T17:17:00.000-08:00

I heard Perry say it again and again. If you honor God with your money then He will bless you. Recently I left my job due to schedule conflicts and had I remained at my former job, I would no longer be able to be a youth leader at Ignite. Two years of ministry? I'm not done yet!

So I had to live on the remaining paychecks but it wasn't long before those ran out. I made good money, but $30 a week for gas alone can get pretty expensive. But wow! God is so much bigger than my problems! From the time I left my job, to now, he has provided for my financial needs from random checks in the mail that I didn't expect to bank errors. He's also blessed me with a new job. I'll be working at a local Christian bookstore and couldn't be more pumped!

Now was it easy living this way? By no means. I had to seriously define wants from needs. God taught me an amazing lesson through this experience and I'm eternally grateful. This entire situation reminds me of a verse in Matthew 6:26: "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" That verse assures me that God has my back. I may not get what I want, but I'll get what I need.

God, you are awesome! Thank you!

Obeying God

2007-10-13T17:16:00.000-07:00

Oh my dang! I had to share this with you. I was reading Joshua chapter three and God rocked my world! Joshua is leading the nation of Israel across the Jordan and asks for them to "Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God. This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites." Joshua 3:9-10.

What's really awesome is that just before, God speaks to Joshua and tells him that, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: 'When you reach the edge of the Jordan's waters, go and stand in the river.'" Joshua 3:7-8

Wait, it's about to get even cooler: "Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing." Joshua 3:15-16

Now here's how we can apply that to our lives. When we follow God's instructions, great things will take place. Right now you may feel like you're stuck and walking in place. You don't feel as close to God as you once were, but when you listen to His voice and obey His will, He makes the road easier. Had Joshua disobeyed God right here, people could have died. The Jordan was very dangerous to cross at this time because it was flooded. But since Joshua and all of Israel obeyed God, their path to the other side was made easier. I'm sure they passed by obstacles on the way, small ones and big ones, but they pressed on. They didn't allow them to effect their walk.

When we obey God, others take notice. God said in verse 7 that, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses." If we listen to God's voice and obey Him, people will see that and know that God is in us. Ask yourself this: What am I showing the world? Is it God, or something else?

Dealing With Sin

2007-10-12T17:15:00.000-07:00

We've all done it. We've all asked for forgiveness and yet we still allow it to rule our lives because we can't forgive ourselves. So many times we want to believe that God will bring our forgiven sins up in the future, hold it in front of our face and belittle us with it but that's not the case. That's what Satan would have you believe. God is amazing because though we didn't deserve it, He gave us the chance to be with Him in eternity.

Satan uses your past mistakes to accuse you and shame you, but he cannot damn you. That weapon is gone. Only unforgiven sin damns. And that was what God nailed to the cross for everyone who trusts in Jesus. The reason you feel stuck is because you haven't forgiven yourself and until you do that it's going to be very difficult to move on. It's like being in a rocking chair, sure you're moving but you're not getting anywhere. God has forgiven you. He loves you and wants you to be with Him.

The prophet Micah offers us a picture of what to say to your enemy as he condemns you: "Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light. Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the LORD's wrath, until he pleads my case and establishes my right. He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness" (Micah 7:8-9). And with the words of Tyson Ritter (All-American Rejects), I conclude that "Even when your hope is gone, move along, move along."

It's the Small Stuff

2007-10-08T17:15:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday, I had a blast visiting Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC. For their first service, I worked with the preschool kids and helped speak to them about Neman and how God healed him after he washed himself seven times. The funny part was that I played Neman. I had a shield, a sword, and an army helmet (I'm not joking). The kids were great! I could tell they were really into the message and if I wasn't sure by their faces, their responses would do it.

What we wanted the kids to understand is that God wants them to help others. It could be as simple as washing the dishes, or helping their mom clean the house. Helping others doesn't have to be difficult but I think many times we believe it is so we're less inclined to help. Why is that? We think in order for it to matter, we have to do something BIG. Always BIG! Why?

The other day at Lander, I saw a girl on crutches and rather than watch her struggle to go through door after door, I followed her and opened the doors. She appreciated it and by doing that, I shared Jesus with her. My stance on evangelism is that when necessary, use words. Actions speak louder than words. Words mean nothing until you act on them. You don't have to say Jesus in order to share Him with others. Love on people, even when it's difficult. God does this for us. In no way do we deserve Heaven. We've screwed up so many times, and yet He still loves us. How amazing is that?

What I challenge you to do, is not to refuse helping someone because it doesn't meet your standards of what 'true help' is. Small things, lead to bigger things.

He LOVES You!!

2007-10-05T17:14:00.000-07:00

I'm a big fan of music and ever since becoming a fan of Bethany Dillon I can't say I've ever regretted buying a CD by her. She has amazing music with lyrics far deeper than the normal eighteen year old is capable of writing. One such song is "Tell Me." Everyone of us has gone through a point in our lives where we feel far from God. Maybe for some of you, that's right now. But don't lose hope! Satan would have you believe that there's no way to feel as you once did but that is a lie from the pit of hell.

There is hope and it's in Jesus Christ. Drop your worries and run to him! You've tried it your way already and if you're truly honest with yourself...you're not happy. Go back.

Tell me of a time when all this gray wasn't such a fight
A road I'd stay on for so long
How long have I been this way?
I'm so addicted to feeling guilty
Like the edge of a cliff, it's about to kill me
All the reasons why You wouldn't want to love me

Could I be loved by You?
I've got so much to prove

So tell me when this night is over
And the curtain falls
That I will know the truth
When it's the only thing that's standing tall

Still I know it's like pulling teeth
To try and convince me
That Your mercy can be bigger than what I deserve
I guess I'm just afraid to go head first
Into such a wave, drowning in wonder and peace
Knowing that it will never make sense
That I am loved by You, really loved by You

So tell me when this night is over
And the curtain falls
That I will know the truth
When it's the only thing that's standing tall

Unchangeable, unconquerable
Immovable, irremovable
Unwavering, untiring
Unflinching, stubborn love of God

So tell me when this night is over
And the curtain falls
That I will know the truth
When it's the only thing that's standing tall