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This article describes something that has been on my heart for the last few years, but has been weighing more heavily as of late. As many of my friends have graduated from college or are finishing up their senior year, I see how much they've changed. And while change can be good, many of the ones I see are sad. They don't want to be around their families, their lives revolve around their friends, late night movie marathons, and ways to cheat death, and they are sheltered away from real life. Now this may not be true for everyone, but read on and see if this doesn't sadly describe the majority:

Not long ago I made a trip to Los Angeles. I went to see an old friend and to visit a college. One day of the five-day trip would be spent on the campus, the rest with my buddy. We'd known each other all through high school and grown up together in our church. Now he was living by himself in Hollywood making a go of acting. The time was a nice break in my usual routine of being at home and working on the magazine. And it gave me an opportunity to get an up-close look at two things I was curious about: the single lifestyle of someone my age living on his own, and the campus lifestyle of a bunch of people my age living together. I was curious because, well, I guess because of, peer pressure. Most of the people I know I absolutely insist that getting out of your home after high school is one of the most vital things a human being can do. I'm not exaggerating this. I remember the college-age leader at my youth group, a student at a local Bible school, who counseled me to "get away from my parents" as soon as I could. He said it would help me grow as a person...

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Labels: around the web, Godliness, Living for God, School

While attending the Desiring God 2007 Regional Conference, I got to personally speak to John Piper for a few minutes. I asked him "If there was one thing you could say to Rebelutionaries who are striving to 'Do Hard Things' and live for God, what would it be?" He said (paraphased),

Jesus is the ultimate example of doing hard things. He did the hardest thing ever when He came down to earth and died for us. As we go about working to make a difference in our world, we need to remember that Jesus is not only our Savior and Lord, but the example to follow.

Labels: Godliness, Living for God, Young Adults

This is late, but the Desiring God 2007 Regional Conference was amazing! It was held in west Sacramento at a friend's church where it was rumored they redid the lighting just for the conference! The topic was the Pleasures of God. If you've ever heard John Piper before, you know he's an incredible speaker. He is so passionate about what he believes that it carries over to the listeners. You can tell he knows God intimately . Yet he somehow causes you to forget about him and just be delighted in and focused on God! Thankfully for all those of you who weren't able to attend, you can download the audio and video sessions! I'll be posting more pictures from the conference on my photography site.

Download Links:
Session One Audio
Session One Video

Session Two Audio
Session Two Video

Session Three Audio
Session Three Video

Q&A Audio

Labels: around the web, Free Offers, Godliness, Life, Living for God, Photography

I don't know how to even begin describing the past month of my life. God is incredibly wonderful to me! My family was finally able to get broadband. Now we're not sure how we ever lived without it! On top of that, my parents bought me an iPod 80GB classic! The biggest blessing though was being able to attend the Institute of Photographic Studies (IPS) in Dallas, Texas. You ever want to do the impossible? IPS was that for me. I finally had to surrender my hopes and dreams to God believing at the time that His answer to me was "no." Then almost two years later I find myself (and my sisters!) sitting in class being welcomed to a week of intense and insanely awesome classes. This doesn't even begin to tell you all that God did in my life on that trip. His goodness is overwhelming!

Labels: Godliness, Life, Living for God, Photography, Prayer Requests, Technology, Vacations

Check out what I'm doing this week. I've been living an unexpected blessing from God!

Labels: Fun, Godliness, Life, Photography, Technology

Everybody's doing it. So what's the big deal? Yoga is one of the most well known forms of exercise practiced today and has been embraced by many Christians. But is it just another way to stay in shape or does its foundation in paganism make it something believers should pass up?

Be sure to watch the end where John MacArthur doesn't pull any punches!

Labels: around the web, Godliness, Living for God

Link

If you needed another reason to move to California, you've got it. The Desiring God 2007 Regional Conference will be held in Sacramento at the Bryte Russian Baptist Church on October 12-13. The church is large, but you will need to register ASAP as registration will close once they run out of room. Check out the schedule and plan to join an awesome conference in the best state!

Labels: Godliness, Living for God, Newsflash, Sermons

You will need what you learn in high school--algebra, chemistry, history, etc.--later in life. Yes, what your teachers/mom told you is true. You will need to remember all that stuff to pass your general ed. courses in college. After that you're free to clear you mind of all the unnecessary stuff that cluttered your head.

Or not. I was blessed to have teachers (BJU HomeSat) in high school that loved what they taught and communicated that love to their students. That didn't mean that I didn't struggle at times, but I was learning how to see God's hand in each and every subject. Now years later I'm studying those same subjects again (and wishing I had CLEPed them back then). Very often I get tired and just want to get through everything. And then I listened to a good reminder from Alex and Brett Harris: do hard things, pursue excellence, use this time wisely.

Don't forget what you learned in high school. Not only will it help you in those college courses, but God will use your education to equip you to serve Him in great ways in the future.

Labels: Godliness, Living for God, School, Young Adults

Paralyzing and tormenting fear isn't from God, but it can work for your evangelistic good. It can make you trust in God. Fear shows us that we are weak, and it causes me to call on God for His help. So don't let your fears discourage you. Instead, let them drive you to Him that gives courage, and in so doing, your greatest weakness then becomes your greatest strength. -Ray Comfort, How to Turn Your Greatest Weakness into Your Greatest Strength

Labels: Godliness, Living for God, Missions

If I discounted the usual chocolate and candy, I'd have to say the best Valentine's Day gift I've ever received was a basketball. The guys in my church thought my sisters and I needed a new ball and since Valentine's Day was the closest holiday...yeah. Once we got over the shock, the funniness factor kicked in, and we had a good laugh. Sharing the love of God with others doesn't have to be all "lovely dovey," as my sister described it to the little kids yesterday. Gifts and words of encouragement throughout the year can do a lot to lift up those around you!

Need a practical suggestion? Guys, the Rebelution is still collecting signatures for their Modesty Petition. Encourage your sisters in Christ by adding your name! Girls, as a present to all of us, the Rebelution released the Modesty Survey Results! Read over them and then keep them in mind next time you go shopping. Helping to guard your brothers' purity is a great way to share God's love!

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 1 John 4:11

Labels: Godliness, Holidays, Living for God, Young Adults

A little discussion has been going on in one of my classes on the qualifications of deacons. Some have been questioning why we have to look so far into a person’s past life. Haven’t we all messed up before we came to Christ? Why should we keep a man who is so godly from a leading position in the church? Should past actions affect future living?

In some cases, yes. If you think about it, the church is not the only place where this is true. Consider a criminal just released from jail. He has served his time, maybe even been forgiven for his past crimes. He isn’t excluded from society as a whole, but his past keeps him from certain jobs or places to live. His past is affecting his future, even though he’s paid his fine and been forgiven.

What do you think?

Labels: Godliness, School

With the NBA preseason beginning in less than a month, it's easy to become enamored with basketball. Well, maybe that's only true for me. ;-) For many of us, though, sports are exciting and fun! We love to watch them, play them, talk about them, and dream about being really good at them. We cheer on those who can make touchdowns, shoot the trey, or hit a home run.

Thankfully, sports can be used to build and recognize godly character! To do this, Christians needs to look beyond the rim of the hoop into what makes a person truly great in God's eyes. C.J. Mahaney gives some great examples on how he teaches his son this as he participates in sports. Before games and practice he goes over how a person with character would play:

• Humbly receive correction from your coach and ask your coach how you can grow in character as well as athletic skill.

• Thank your coaches for the way they have served you. And thank the referees after each game.

• Encourage your teammates for their display of godly character and athletic skill--in that order of priority.

• Encourage your opponents during and after the game. If you knock someone over, extend your hand to help them up.

• Play the game passionately and unselfishly. Serve your team by playing aggressive defense [his father never did this] and passing the ball on offense [again, his father never did this].

• Humbly respond when the referee calls a foul on you. Do not complain or disagree in word or by facial expression [his father never did this].

• No inappropriate celebrating after you score; instead, recognize that others played a role [his father never did this].

• Thank the team manager for the way he served and recognize the humility and servanthood he is displaying each game. True greatness is sitting on the end of the bench.

Like Al Mohler said,

"know that athletic contest[s] can bring out both the best and the worst in human character... So, celebrate the good, root for your team, and learn to discern what is noble, good, and admirable in everything associated with [sports]. Just don't allow yourself to be fooled into thinking that this is what life is all about, or that life is over when the tournament ends. We are called to a much greater contest than this."

Life is more than throwing an orange ball through a hoop, there's more beyond the rim. The Christian life involves glorifying God in all that you do. This is true greatness.


To read more:
Fathers and Sons and March Madness
March Madness, The Big Dance, and the Meaning of Sport
March Madness, The Big Dance, and the Meaning of Sport Radio Program

Labels: Godliness, Sports

Over at The Rebelution, they ended an excellent series called "A Teenager's Resolutions" with a post titled "Reflections on a Teenage Edwards." If you want to get into the mind of someone sold out for Christ, this is the way to do it! Jonathan Edwards' devotion to Christ at such a young age is amazing! He saw the value of applying the Word to his daily living, and his life reveals the results. Praise the Lord for such a godly example to follow!

And for those of us who read the posts on Edwards as they came out, are we living up to the resolution we made? It's part of the daily grind--living out our faith!

Labels: Godliness, Living for God