habits

i haven't posted on here in a while, so i'm trying to make up for lost time...

advent season at hope has been such an incredible experience. i keep wondering where this momentum is headed--it seems like God is reminding us of a lot of things we may need to hold to for our next season of life. it's funny how deeply i'm being affected by the story: the other day i was at a coffee shop and a christmas carol came on, and i started crying out of the awe and gratitude of Jesus' showing up. the word became flesh...it has never been so profound to me. i absolutely hated being away from church this weekend. i was at the airport, finding out my flight was canceled, wondering what amazing truths would come alive in the life of our body. if there are things any of you have realized through our advent journey this year, leave them in my comments and i'll share them in a post...

thanks to all of you who are supporting me both in prayers and finances for my africa trip--i'm going to put a post up soon with all the details i have so you can be praying. i'm not sure if we'll have internet at any point on the trip, so i don't know if i'll be able to send out anything from there, but i do want to keep everyone in the loop.

ok--side note--forty day fast just came on my shuffle, and i about fell out of my chair--if you don't know who they are, you are one of many.

lastly, i'm thinking i may open up a blog on behalf of hope--on thursdays, we have bible study before any rehearsal we do, and sometimes we write psalms--poetry, reflections, open and honest prayers about where we are in view of who God is. people have written a lot of things that are quite profound, and i've talked about posting them up in our church. but as i think about it, i'd rather post them online, so people who come to our website can link into some of the things coming out of our church; expressions of faith, struggle, and hope. if you think about it, mention to me next time we talk as to if you think this is a good idea or not...

an advent prayer by JD

read this on JD Walt's blog...thought i'd republish it. its an advent prayer:

Almighty God, Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, giver of the Holy Spirit, we gather to thank you for the gift of Christmas and for Advent, the season of preparation. With every week the lights grow brighter, our anticipation heightens and our attention sharpens. We affirm that the Spirit of the Lord God is upon us: because the Lord has anointed us. (Isaiah 61:1)

We are looking to you, the Mighty One, who has done great things. Teach us to worship you. Show us what it means for our souls to magnify the Lord. Instruct our spirits in what it means to rejoice in God our Savior. (Luke 1:47-49) For you have done great things for us and we are filled with joy. (Psalm 126:3) You have clothed us with the garments of salvation and covered us with the robe of righteousness. (Isaiah 61:10)

We affirm that the Spirit of the Lord God is upon us: because the Lord has anointed us.

As the Son of God was formed in Mary’s womb, so we bless you because your Spirit is forming His life within us for the sake of the World. In a time of unparalleled prosperity, we come before you to pray for the poor. Across the world, countless millions of children roam the streets in search of their next meal. We stand in your presence now on their behalf. In our own community we witness some of the worst poverty of all: lonliness. Make us to be good news to them. We take our stand with them now.

We affirm that the Spirit of the Lord God is upon us: because the Lord has anointed us.

We remember the brokenhearted, those whose loved ones have been lost to the hatred of war, the violence of disease, the injustice of death. As those among us stand, receive it as prayer and bind up their brokenness with our love.

We affirm that the Spirit of the Lord God is upon us: because the Lord has anointed us.

As your anointed, we plead for release to the captives. For many of our brothers and sisters around the world, the Gospel has meant persecution and captivity. By your Spirit, cause some among us to stand now as prayer for their release and reward. We pray for friends and loved ones in our midst who have become prisoners in webs of addiction. Make our standing on their behalf to become the seeds of your deliverance, the planting of the Lord, to display your glory. (Isaiah 61:3)

We affirm that the Spirit of the Lord God is upon us: because the Lord has anointed us.

Give these for whom we pray a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. (Isaiah 61:3) Fill their mouths with laughter and their tongues with shouts of joy so that it may be said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” (Psalm 126:2)

Lord Jesus Christ, make our lives and our life together to magnify you. Cause our glad tidings and good singing to combust into worship that moves the World. We bless you, the one who is, who was and is to come as we pray the prayer you taught us:

so i was wrong...HOORAY!!!

LSU is playing for the national championship. in a year of such absurdity in college football, i shouldn't have been surprised. we'll take it , though. and honestly, tOSU has no shot.

and the christmas nonsense begins...

i love christmas this much

goodbye national title hopes...

in honor of the death of LSU's chances to win it all, i offer two videos; for some reason, these songs popped in my head after the horrible loss today.





i hope to see you again next year--