Diving In

twentyonepilots: we’ll come back, London. thanks. (at Barfly)

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 17:20:19 -0400

we’ll come back, London. thanks. (at Barfly)

Vessel streaming live on EW.com

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 01:18:49 -0500

our full length album, Vessel, will be available on January 8th but Entertainment Weekly thought it would be cool to let everyone listen to it today on their site.

The Big Moment

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 19:05:26 -0400

You know when you have been waiting for something and that feeling that begins to rise up in your heart and you can feel it coming quickly. That feeling is the definition of the next few days for me. I am facing a lot of change and new things over the next few days which can actually define the next few years for me. I am expecting only one thing, that I will have to trust God in the face of trials and allow him to be my strength.

So... SBS complete

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 22:27:00 -0400

How do I feel? Ask me in a few weeks when I have had time to think about it. For now, I’m going to relax.

"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for..."

Sun, 17 Jun 2012 12:00:33 -0400

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

- Jesus - Matthew 6:34

Matthew

Sat, 16 Jun 2012 12:08:00 -0400

I am working on my last book after finishing the final paper yesterday. I don’t feel like it’s really that close to being over but this is pretty much it. Everything from this point on is the “last of”. and after 9 months of doing so, that is pretty significant.

I wanted to share a really awesome moment of honesty I experienced the other day between two friends of mine. I, along with some of my friends from school have been hanging out with the local LDS missionaries for the last 7-8 months, different ones as they transferred. As we said goodbye I asked them if they had any questions about my faith or why people may have reacted to things they said in a certain way throughout their missions. One of them responded by saying he doesn’t see this with us but he has continually run into it while going door to door. People who just hate them, who hate all that they stand for because they are LDS. These people don’t give them a chance and either slam the door in their face or say something to the same effect.

There were 5 of us there, 3 Traditional Christians and 2 LDS Missionaries. What came next was beautiful. One of my close friends turns to the missionary and says with all of his heart “i’m sorry”. These two words often lose their purpose but they had so much behind them in this situation. He told him he was sorry for what those people did and how they acted; he told him that it wasn’t right, and it wasn’t fair.

After he was finished I proceeded to explain that with the way I’ve been raised, and all that God has taught me, it was this that God had called me to. To break down all of the barriers that have been built between these two faiths, and to get people to stop arguing with each other and start talking with each other. I told them how I just read in Matthew that Jesus tells us in regards to our enemies we are to love and pray for them, how much more should we treat those who all want to make Christ’s name known? I said I wanted to be clear that I believe we have and preach different gospels, but the point is not to prove which one is right by beating the other one down, the point is to pursue Christ together, and with the tools he has given us, prayer, scripture, and humility we can come out with the truth he intended for us to have.

My point in this is to communicate that it’s time for change. I have been brought into a world where two people who say they believe in Christ cannot even sit and have a conversation together, I am devoting my life to changing that.

Yeah, things are about to begin moving

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 02:09:49 -0400

Sitting in our classroom writing my Final Paper, an overview of the bible. Being blown away by the path God has laid out for me. I cannot believe how good the God is we serve. He raised me to be who I am right now, so that I could be this incredibly excited. I just want to scream and let out a shout of intense joy!

Closing in

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 22:54:26 -0400

There are four books remaining. well, after the next couple of hours there will be. Esther, Haggai, Malachi, and Matthew. I will be turning Matthew in, in 13 days. I will be graduating in 15. How has it come to this point so quickly? It is really exciting, and really sad all at the same time.

You put enough time into something, and see how much it has changed your life, you just spend a lot of time thinking about the end. I feel as though I am finishing something that took longer than high school, I feel as though I have done more in nine months than I have the rest of my life. But that’s ok, because I know that it was so worth it. I know that all of this had such a deep purpose in my life, that it will effect everything from here forward.

I am ready to be done, but only because I know that God is ready with me, he will not leave my side in every decision that is made from this point forward, and where that may have frightened me at one point in my past, all it does is excited me.

Yeah, I’m happy.

"For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and..."

Sat, 02 Jun 2012 15:31:36 -0400

“For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel”

- Ezra 7:10 (Study Obey Teach)

Daniel

Wed, 30 May 2012 18:17:09 -0400

Today in class, when we got to Daniel chapter 9, as our teacher was presenting Daniel’s position and cry to God. We were able to see how Daniel was crying out to God to be back in the city and done with this exile. He doesn’t want to rule over the people of Babylon anymore, or have all of the power given to him, he wants to be in Jerusalem, and worshiping God.

He is asking for God to save him, but God doesn’t answer him as expected. Rather than saying ok, you have been faithful, let me do this. God says ok, you have been faithful, I am going to rescue you, and bring you back to me, but it’s not going to happen how you are expecting.

It’s not going to happen how you are expecting.

What does this mean to us? How does this affect us living in the aftermath of all of Daniel’s prophecies?

God intended for the persecution of the saints to happen, and it’s purpose, was to make the people so reliant on God, that he was their only avenue to survival. Which resulted in his people trusting in him, and him alone.

Think about it.

Twenty One Pilots

Mon, 21 May 2012 19:22:00 -0400

I heard this band today, and listening to their music came across this line

“There’s faith and there’s sleep
We need to pick on please because
Faith is to be awake
And to be awake is for us to think
And for us to think is to be alive”

Such an interesting idea, Faith is to be awake is to think is to be alive. Which implies to be asleep is to have no faith which is to not think which is to be dead. Clearly this is primarily meant to be poetic and not necessarily some golden rule. But it’s truth remains the same. We can choose to be awake or to be asleep, We can choose to have faith or not have faith. In the end, it comes down to choosing death or life. I choose life, and I want with everything for you to choose faith as well.

Twenty One Pilots – Car Radio «< Spotify Link

Ezekiel

Sat, 19 May 2012 00:52:17 -0400

A thought I sent to a friend today about what I am learning in Ezekiel, I thought I would share it here.

All throughout this book, probably more than 40 times the statement is made “And they shall know that I am the Lord their God” This statement comes after many things, not the least of which is in times of restoration when God promises to bless Israel once again. But the most common moments are times of judgment. It just shows us that even in times of destruction and judgment, God is revealing himself so that his people will turn their hearts to him. So even when we question God of what are you doing?! I don’t understand! like these people would have when their homes were destroyed, city captured, and taken into slavery. He is saying, know that I am the LORD. and that, is the end of it.

Train Rides

Mon, 14 May 2012 17:14:51 -0400

With the opportunity to visit home for the weekend, came two train rides. On the way there, after sitting next to a stranger for about 6 hours, I had the opportunity to talk about my faith with him and hear some about his. We both encouraged each other and had some solid conversations about God, his character, and his justice. His name was Dave if I remember correctly.

The second train ride was and amazing experience as well. When I sat down, it was next to someone who I wouldn’t have guessed would result in what followed. The guy works in the oil industry putting pipes in the ground and had arms twice the size of mine. When I told him I was studying the bible we began what turned into a 4-5 hour conversation about God, his judgment on people, and his love. We both learned from each other and even got a free dinner from another Christian couple who we met and offered to pay for us.

The conversation started by talking about how we study the bible and moved into talking about “hell.” I told him my understand of hell is to be separated from God eternally as 2 Thessalonians tells us, and this is a full recognition of God’s judgment. I was open to hearing him out, but we dove into the idea of physical punishment in the sense of fire and burning eternally. I don’t agree with this idea, but I listened to him.

We talked about God’s wisdom, and his ability to “forget” sin by looking at Jesus rather than us because of our faith in his righteousness and his sacrifice. In the end, we both felt encouraged and got a little sleep. I guess sitting on a train for 12 hours doesn’t have to be all that bad!

Miracle

Fri, 04 May 2012 19:31:49 -0400

Balance Owed Yesterday = 1620

Balance Owed Today = 0

All because of God’s provision and the people who care about me and his mission were willing to give of their own finances. Thank you, so much, rejoice with me in this!

So, question.. maybe you could ask a staff or maybe you would know.. I am 29 and did Mercy Ships when I was 19 (so a LONG time ago) and God has put such a desire in my heart to do an SBS at the Montana base.. my question is, would I have to still complete a DTS first?

Thu, 03 May 2012 15:51:34 -0400

Hey there! this says anonymous so I don’t know who I am talking to, but, As far as I know DTS is a “requirement” but there are special cases. There is a student in my school who didn’t do a DTS but we were never told why that is. If you are concerned about your age in DTS I know that people actually do DTS’s much older than that. But anyway, SBS is incredible! and definitely worth looking into. Message me on facebook if you want my School Director’s email to talk to them about it.

Money

Tue, 01 May 2012 16:47:16 -0400

This is something that I have not had, in a while, but it’s also something that I have managed to learn so much about in the last seven months. It can be scary, it can be stressful, it can be annoying, it can be lacking, it can be abundant (I don’t know how I learned this one honestly haha), it can be rude, it can be boastful, it can be hidden, it can be flaunted. It has so many faces, but none of them are necessarily good or necessarily bad. It all really depends on how you use it.

I am in a season where I need to see provision, quickly. If I don’t have about 1500 dollars show up in the next few days, then I will be sent home from my school early. 7 Months ago this would have made me sad, it may have made me even frustrated. But what I have learned is that my emotions have no need to be tied to my financial situation because the happiness I have felt over the last few months has never been because of a financial situation. I appreciate this moment of need because it will be applied to the rest of my life. Times of financial strain are guaranteed to come, but now I can know that no matter if money is there or it is not, it doesn’t really matter.

Let’s be people who don’t live around what we have at our disposal, but rather people who live for what has already been given.

Jesus. Life. Choice. Love. Grace. Relationship.

If you want to support me hit the donate button or send me a message on Facebook. You guys are awesome thanks for reading all of my random thoughts.

The Hope That we Still Live For

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 20:50:26 -0400

And I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land, and I will make you lie down in safety. And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the Lord. - Hosea 2:18-20

God promised this over 2000 years ago, and we are still waiting for the fulfillment of it in Jesus’ return. But that’s ok, because I wouldn’t want to live with any other hope of what’s coming. This really is an exciting thought.

Life is good?

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 20:08:55 -0400

I don’t really understand it. But for some reason life has stopped being up and down. 2 weeks ago I needed 2400 dollars to stay in SBS, last quarter at this point I was nervous and scared, unsure of what god was going to be able to do, but this time I have forgotten about it several times in a place of certainty he will take care of me. Beyond this I am learning, all the time. God’s character is becoming more real every
day.

And the Result, is happiness. I hardly spend time worrying, and I absolutely love it. There have been several nights of needing to stay up all night long just to finish my work. But every time it seems to get done.

This post isn’t about any of that though, it’s about the realization that life really can balance out, and I am realizing that the only thing that makes that possible is a complete surrender of control to God.

I wanted to share about the opportunity God has provided for me as soon as SBS is over.

I have been offered an internship position at a small foursquare church in Idaho Falls. This was set up through my pastor Phil. He grew up here, and after talking about where I was headed, he decided this would be a good fit. It is really incredible because some of the opportunities I will have there really fit into the direction I want to head in life and my pursuit of God’s calling.

Please be praying for me that strength will continue as it has so far through the rest of this school, and that I won’t stop learning. Our next book is Amos and it marks the beginning of our time in the prophets. This is the home stretch of SBS and I am so excited for what God has in store.

Judges - How God opened up the story of Samson to me

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 23:02:00 -0500

I just wrote this interpretation for chapter 16 of Judges about Samson. I wanted to share it because I felt God really opened up a book to me that had felt so closed for the first 15 chapters. Sorry if it’s hard to follow, the observation is stating what text is there, the interpretation is what the text is saying from the view of the original people in the story and reader and the application is what this means today.

Observation

Primary Observation - [question] Please tell me where your great strength lies (16:6)

Supporting Observation - [descriptive words] day after day she urged him, his soul was vexed to death. he told her all his heart, I have been a Nazirite, If my head is shaved, my strength will leave me (16:16-17)

Supporting Observation - [ descriptive words ] She called a man to shave his head and his strength left him. the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes. (16:19-21)

Supporting Observation - [ descriptive words ] he did no know the Lord had left him (16:20)

Interpretation

Why did Samson’s strength leave him?

Although Samson may have thought that it was because his hair was gone, it seems that something much deeper is happening. In order to better understand this the Nazirite vow needs to be looked at

Literary Context Numbers 6:1-2 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When either a man or a woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the Lord

So this passage in Numbers says that the purpose of the Nazarite vow is to be seperated to the Lord. This is seen when the Spirit of the Lord comes upon Samson as he fights.

Literary Context Judges 14:6 The Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him

Literary Context Numbers 6:5 “All the days of his vow of separation, no razor shall touch his head. Until the time is completed for which he separates himself to the Lord, he shall be holy. He shall let the locks of hair of his head grow long.

Here it is shown that the Nazirite shall not cut his hair, which is fine up until this point when his hair is cut, he has kept this part of the vow in his life.

Literary Context Numbers 6:6 “All the days that he separates himself to the Lord he shall not go near a dead body.

Here is the problem, Samson touched the dead body of the Lion that he killed when he took the honey

Literary Context Judges 14:8-9 …he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion and … in the body… honey. He scraped it out.

This is shown to be fixable later on in the Nazirite Vow, but Samson never does anything about it, he seems to not really care about this vow even though he has been dedicated since birth.

Literary Context Judges 13:5 … the child shall be a Nazirite from the womb…

So what does all of this mean?

What seems to be happening here is that Samson was a “Nazirite” but only in the sense that he was seperated to God. He never seemed to care much for the vow he was a part of, and seemed to be more concerned about himself. God was the one giving him his strength when the Spirit came upon him. when it comes down to it, the purpose of the vow originally to be seperated to God is what God had intended for him. When he shares all his heart with the woman, he is unseperating himself to God and giving whatever was for God into the hands of a woman. So when he does this, God leaves him to be with men rather than God.

The point is, his head being shaved isn’t the point, it is the fact that he seperated himself from God.

What does this mean to the Original Reader?

God may have seperated them from the nations around them, but if they make the choice to seperate themselves from God, then that is why they will no longer succeed. Samson is a direct parellel to Israel really, and they might be able to see this as they read his story. They were set apart before they were born, and they have chosen, to walk away from God, it is their own choice, God is no longer with them when they do this, and their enemies capture them and “gouge out their eyes” in a sense, because they become completely blind to what they are doing.

Application

Timeless Truth - God’s people walk away from God before God walks away from his people

I don’t know why, but suddenly a story in this book which has been able to speak to me in such small ways has suddenly become so real. I can see what God is saying through this story, and I can see Israel represented through one of their Judges. God is not ever walking away from his people, they are giving their hearts away to other nations, and there are those who do this today as well. We as people of God need to stand up against this and stop it! Because it doesn’t go well for Sampson from this point! And it will not go well for those who choose this path today. God loves his people, but really, really, no matter how much we hear differently he is not walking away from them and leaving them to fend for themselves. God helps Samson against a lion, and against 1000 men, it doesn’t matter the fight, if your heart is with him, then he is with you.

Satisfaction

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 22:10:25 -0500

I have never been so emotionally exhausted in my life, and wanted so badly to be nowhere but home, but at the same time, I just have this overwhelming desire to be with God, I want him to comfort me and give me strength, like he has done so many times. A few years ago this would not have been my escape, some video game or friend or distraction would have been the first thing I turned to. But now, it’s just him, he is the only satisfactory part of my life.