Hello all!

It is March 24, 2008.  Here is an update of where I have been and what I have been doing..

For starters, it is right in the middle of a favorite time time of the year for us accountants called “kill me now, seriously” or as you folks may know, “tax season”.  So it’s been 50-55 hours a week, but I’m getting through it alright.  It’s so weird to me, this year after college.  So hard to remember that one year ago I was preparing to lead 1200 kids in worship in Anaheim, and then to see where I am now, I have traveled a long road.  A good road, but, much different, and much less social.

In case you were wondering, me and Jessica are doing great.

I’ve realized a lot over the last few months that family is really important, and I have made an effort to spend more time with them and get along with them.

So I have been reading the word quite a bit lately, not really following a certain path, but seeing many different faces of God throughout time.  Reading and skimming through Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy reminded me of how Holy God is.  It’s really interesting how you can read these stories about God ordering Moses to lead the army into the tribes that were inhabiting the promised land to slaughter every man, woman and child.  You think, “Our God? Demanding for the destruction of human lives?”  Well, it’s all due to a concept of Holy war.  These people dilligently and defiantly lived out their lives in every single way that was the opposite of how God intended for us to live.  Whether it was blatant idolatry, or human sacrifices, God’s Holiness would not allow these types of civilizations to inhabit the promised land.  That really showed me a lot of God’s Holiness and changed my thoughts of how I approach him and his Word.

I also read the resurrection story according to John in “The Message”.  This time, I didn’t read starting in the garden, but rather I was reading the chapter before, in a section where Jesus prays for his followers (which includes us today).   Picking up in the middle of this prayer, in verse 13:

“Now I’m returning to you.  I’m saying these things in the world’s hearing so my people can experience My joy completed in them.  I gave them your word; the godless world hated them because of it, because they didn’t join the world’s ways, Just as I didn’t join the world’s ways.  I’m not asking that you take them out of the world, but that you guard them from the Evil One.  They are no more defined by the world, than I am defined by the world.  Make them holy -consecrated- with the truth; Your word is consecrating truth.  In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world.  I’m consecrating myself for their sakes, so they’ll be truth-consecrated in their mission.”

Substitute them or people for Paul, or “your name here” and it gives you chills.   It’s hard for someone out of touch with the Lord to connect him living and working in today’s world with our lives, but it is truth.  The very words spoken thousands of years ago hold the same meanings and power that they did back then.  Now, I’m no preacher, but I will say to remember to live in the power of Christ not just remembering his death and resurrection in this easter season, but each and every day.

And now for a Christian band that pretty much dominated the landscape from 1990-2000.