Squatty Wisdom

I Like Big Equipment

2007-03-26T17:09:00.000-05:00

Last Thursday I got the chance to use the tractor that we have at work (pictured above). Before using it, I was timid to say the least. At first, I was still uncomfortable using it. However after using it for a while, I really liked driving it and using the front-end loader to move mulch and sand. The next day, I got to use it again. I thought, "I could get use to this." All in all, I had a lot of fun using the tractor.

Variety

2007-02-05T22:37:00.000-05:00

I don't like doing the "same ol' same ol'." I believe that a lack of variety is dangerous. I think that variety is a gift from God and takes creativity, another gift from God. So here are some areas in which we should inject some variety. Do whatever it takes; just do something different once in a while!

Reading

But, I don't get it! Read something that challenges you. Are you artistic? Read a science or history book. Are you a science person? Read literature or poetry.
I can only read ____. Does your library look like only one section of a bookstore? Read something different. Mix up the style you read. Don't read one genre, like me. Read biographies, comic collections (i.e., Calvin and Hobbes and The Far Side), famous fiction, literature, a textbook, poetry, theology, or philosophy.

Vary your reading to keep your mind out of a rut. Variety is as refreshing to the mind as it is to the body.
J. Oswald Sanders, Spiritual Leadership, p. 106

Eating

Meatloaf again?! Eat something different. Do you usually eat something containing: avocado, feta cheese, or some spice that is hard to spell? Try making/ eating something really simple: no fancy spices, no nuts, no presentation, and no fancy add-ons. On the other hand if all you eat is prepackaged and out of a box, try making/ eating something fancy. Experiment with spices and meats. Trying making the food LOOK good, too.

Dancing

There's more than swing. Dance a different dance. This applies to anyone who dances one style or a few styles only. There are dances from Aar Oyun to Zydeco (here). Pick one! Learn to dance it. Teach others. Be willing to do it and mix it up. Now, most dances will not apply to group settings and parties, but you get the idea. Do something different.
Put on your dancing shoes. If you don't dance, start doing it. Don't worry that you "can't." Do something. Have fun. That's the point.

Music

Change the tune. Listen to other genres of music. Do you listen to rap? Try jazz. Do you listen to classical? Try techno. Listen to polka? Ok, so no one does that. From Acapella to World, there are so many styles of music. Give them all a chance. Music is so very different yet basically the same.

8 Signs That You Are a Sovereign Grace Ministries Fan

2007-01-31T11:40:00.000-05:00

1. You know exactly when to say, "All my days!" in the song Grace Unmeasured.
2. Girl and Talk are two words that will never have the same meaning again.
3. You find yourself using words like: Propitiation, Justification, Courtship, Reformed, and Orthodoxy.
4. Tiny books seem to have big impacts.
5. You have role models like: John Owen, Jonathan Edwards, Elisabeth Elliot, Charles Spurgeon, Carolyn McCulley, and Martin Luther.
6. Men: You have this odd desire to shave your head and have at least 38 kids.
Women: You enjoy modesty and words like femininity and womanhood... oh yeah, and desire to have at least 38 kids.
7. You own a book or poster with "The Puritans" written on it.
8. 'Na' does not register as sodium in your mind.

_________

2007-01-22T22:25:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the long down time between posts. Do not fret. I am alive and have not forgotten you (if any), my loyal readers. New posts are on the way!

Teach Me, pt. 3

2007-01-03T21:50:00.000-05:00

Humility

Oftentimes, I find myself not expressing true humility. First, when dealing with vertical humility (relating to God), I find myself admitting depravity and thinking that that is humility.

Christian humility does not consist in denying what there is of good in us; but in an abiding sense of ill-desert, and in the consciousness that what we have of good is due to the grace of God.
Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians, p. 317

For instance if someone points out something good in my life, I often respond with an admittance of depravity ("I am not capable of _____.") While this isn't false humility, it isn't humility either and is as bad as if I was having an attitude of pride.

Humility, then, gives credit where credit is due.... Pride, which is the opposite of humility, seeks to find within ourselves some innate goodness or even to ascribe to our own commitment or faithfulness the cause of any blessings of God in our lives.
Jerry Bridges, Transforming Grace, p. 201

While I am not taking credit for myself, I am not giving proper credit and glory to God. Pride takes the glory that God deserves, for doing good in our lives, for ourselves. While I am not taking glory for myself, I am not giving it to God either. Either way, God is not glorified.

Humility begins with God's grace and recognizes that the good in us in the form of Christlike character, and the good done by us in service to God and other people, is totally undeserved on our part and is due to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. But humility does not deny the evidences of His gracious work in us and through us. To do so would be to dishonor Him as much as to ascribe the cause and results of His working to ourselves.
Jerry Bridges, Transforming Grace, p. 201

May I learn to honor You, oh God, with true humility.

Second, when dealing with horizontal humility (relating to others), I do not pursue that others would be successful. I see myself as superior.

Pride...is comparing ourselves with others and seeing ourselves as superior to them in some way - whether it be in character, conduct, or achievement. One of the worst forms of pride is spiritual pride, and attitude that I am more holy, or righteous, or faithful, or obedient, or more fruitful in evangelism than others. Humility towards others, then, is...a recognition that all we are and do that is of any worth is a gift of God's grace.
Jerry Bridges, Transforming Grace, p. 202

The Gift of Gifts

2006-12-14T17:40:00.000-05:00

As we approach the Christmas season, I think it fitting to draw our attention from presents to a Gift.

O Source of all good,

What shall I render to thee for the gift of gifts,
thine own dear Son, begotten, not created,
my Redeemer, proxy, surety, substitute,
his self-emptying incomprehensible,
his infinity of love beyond the heart's grasp.

Herein is wonder of wonders:
he came below to raise me above,
was born like me that I might become like him.

Herein is love;
when I cannot rise to him he draws near on
wings of grace,
to raise me to himself.

Herein is power;
when Deity and humanity were infinitely apart
he united them in indissoluble unity,
the uncreated and the created.

Herein is wisdom;
when I was undone, with no will to return to him,
and no intellect to devise recovery,
he came, God-incarnate, to save me
to the uttermost,
as man to die my death,
to shed satisfying blood on my behalf,
to work out a perfect righteousness for me.

O God, take me in spirit to the watchful shepherds,
and enlarge my mind;
let me hear good tidings of great joy,
and hearing, believe, rejoice, praise, adore,
my conscience bathed in an ocean of repose,
my eyes uplifted to a reconciled Father;
place me with ox, ass, camel, goat,
to look with them upon my Redeemer's face,
and in him account myself delivered from sin;
let me with Simeon clasp the new-born child
to my heart,
embrace him with undying faith,
exulting that he is mine and I am his.

In him thou hast given me so much
that heaven can give no more.
Puritan Prayer, The Valley of Vision, p. 28-29

Teach Me, pt. 2

2006-12-11T20:25:00.000-05:00

Contentment

...contentment is....focusing on the fact that all we do have, we have by the grace of God. We do not deserve anything we have, materially or spiritually. It is all by His grace.
Jerry Bridges, Transforming Grace p. 199

Following Teach Me, pt. 1, contentment goes along with gratitude.

Gratitude is a handmaiden of contentment. An ever-growing attitude of gratitude will certainly make us more content since we will be focusing more on what we do have...than on what we do not have.
Jerry Bridges, Transforming Grace p. 199

When a proper view of gratitude is obtained, contentment is based out of realizing that I don't deserve what I have. If I am discontent, I am thinking that I am not getting what I deserve. Therefore, desiring things that I do not have now as though I should have them now is a perversion of appropriating God's grace in that, God is gracious to give me more than I deserve. If I am grateful for grace, I am content in the sufficiency of it and not looking for satisfaction in other areas or possessions. So by looking to other things out of discontentment, I am not only saying that Christ is not all satisfying but also saying that I am not grateful for God being so gracious. Obviously, having things I do not have now (i.e., a spouse) is gracious of God, but taking the mindset as though I must have them now displays the same ungratefulness of a spoiled child and leaves me discontent.

But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Timothy 6:6 (NIV)

I Am Most Like a Fox

2006-12-05T17:21:00.000-05:00

While at my dad's house for Thanksgiving, I happened across this gem from my childhood. It is a story about how I am most like a fox that I wrote for school, many years ago. I hope that you, like me, find the style and wording to be hilarious. Enjoy!

I Am Most Like a Fox by Travis Evans

I am most like a fox because I am smart like one. I use my brain in tough situations. If I am having a problem, I try to solve it cleverly.
I can handle stressful situations. A fox can't panic, or it will get caught by hunters. I say this because in some situations if I were to panic, it would mean big trouble for me.
I have good eye-sight, like a fox. A fox can see for long distances. So can I. A fox isn't near-sighted or far-sighted, just like me.
I can smell really well, like a fox. I can smell things that are pretty far away. I can also tell what the smell is.
The fox is different from me because it can hear really well; I can't. It is slim; I am not. It has a tail; I don't. It has claws; I don't.
I am still like a fox.

Teach Me, pt. 1

2006-11-27T22:00:00.000-05:00

Gratitude

I ask myself, "Am I grateful? Am I grateful for what Christ did for me?"

The very first character trait that should flow out of experiencing God's grace is gratitude to Him. Everything we are and everything we do that is of any value, we owe to the grace of God. This, of course, begins with our salvation.
Jerry Bridges, Transforming Grace p. 196-197

We all have seen a spoiled brat in a store before. We have seen a parent try to please the child while trying to enforce a rule, and we watch as the chaos unfolds.

Child: I want that toy. I don't have that toy.
Parent: You already have some new toys and plenty of other toys.

At this point does the child respond with: "Why, you are absolutely correct. And by the way, thank you for providing me with clothing, food, and a warm place to live."? Of course not!

Child: But, I don't have this one!
Parent: Maybe for your birthday.
Child: No, now! Tantrum ensues.

We, as bystanders, think, "What an ungrateful little brat. The only thing that kid needs is a good beating!" However, that brat is me! I am ungrateful. I have so much, yet act as though I have nothing. Not only am I secure in that I have food, clothes, and a roof over my head, but also I am secure in that my eternal state is secure because of my salvation by grace through faith in Christ! My greatest need is satisfied!

We actually ought to "say grace" continually throughout the day for the temporal and spiritual blessings that come our way so abundantly. I know many of us are going through some difficult times, and it's tough to have a grateful spirit. But if we will stop and consider, we will recognize that we are still recipients every day of the amazing grace of God. If we are truly growing in grace, gratitude--and its expression in actually giving thanks to God--will be an ever-growing characteristic in our lives.
Jerry Bridges, Transforming Grace p. 198-199

Meditate on the word abundantly.

Not only am I saved, not only do I receive perfect blessings from God, but also, on top of it all, I receive abundantly. What is there to be ungrateful about?! There is not even room for it!

Genuine Love, pt. 8

2006-10-31T04:45:00.000-05:00

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
2 Peter 1:5-7 (ESV)

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV)

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8 (ESV)

At first glance, these verses seem out of place for this series. However, I would say (and hope to express) that these verses are at the heart of any application that we can take away from all of the other verses in this series.

These verses call us to supplement and put on love with all other Christian traits. However, we are not merely putting on love along with these traits. Love binds them all together. Without love, what is the motivation of godliness, forgiving each other, patience, etc.?

It is out of love that we:

-cherish for others the very same love that we bear toward ourselves.
-in our dealings with others we never show selfishness, irritability, peevishness, or indifference.
-take a genuine interest in their welfare and seek to promote their interests, honor, and well-being. (Read this point again: Do you seek to promote others?)
-never regard them with a feeling of prideful superiority, nor do we ever talk about their failings.
-never resent any wrongs they do to us, but instead are always ready to forgive.
-always treat others as we would have them treat us.
-are always patient and kind, never envious or boastful, never proud or rude, never self-seeking. We are not easily angered and we keep no record, even in our mind, of wrongs done to us.

(see: The Gospel for Real Life - Jerry Bridges, p. 27-28)

Finally, remember CARE. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are supposed to care for one another, to have genuine love for each other. What does care look like? Remember CARE.

Challenge
Admonish
Regard
Encourage

Challenge each other in areas in order to live lives worthy of the Gospel.
Admonish, to warn in a gentle or earnest manner, each other; correct one another.
Regard each other. Have brotherly or sisterly affection toward one another.
Encourage each other. Point out evidences of God's grace and work in each other's lives.

I am not capable of properly or adequately loving any of you reading this. If anything is shown to the contrary, then it is all by God's grace and to Him be all the glory. Please, keep me accountable to being a proper brother to you my brothers and sisters in Christ. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series, especially for my own sake. I have been convicted time and time again. God has shown me the sinful desires of my heart. The core selfishness and pride that make it up. Yet, I do not despair. God is gracious. He extends grace that I do not deserve, and He loves me with a holy love, a perfect love, and a love that is free of wrath because Jesus Christ paid for my sins with the greatest display of genuine love!

If you have any questions, feel free to talk to me in person or email me. Also, please listen to these following messages and seek to apply them:

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ - John Piper
Courtship, Shmourtship - Joshua Harris

Genuine love will be addressed again in a later series: Brother/Sister Relationships

Genuine Love, pt. 7

2006-10-29T22:30:00.000-05:00

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:3-8 (ESV)

Before this Genuine Love series draws to an end with one final post on application, I want to cover what I call "The Mottos" of genuine love.

1. Genuine love in our spirit makes our motives.
Do nothing from rivalry or conceit. We should never be motivated to act based on rivalry or conceit but rather out of love, genuine love. No matter the action, we should do it with a heart of genuine love. Also, we must make sure to never disguise actions as though we are doing them to serve one another but are really being motivated out of rivalry or conceit. Those are selfish motivations.

2. Genuine love in our spirit drives our actions.
In humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Only out of humility can we act out genuine love. What are these actions? They are any action rooted in counting others more significant than yourself and rooted in looking not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others -- laying down your life.

3. Genuine love in our spirit is based on the Standard.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. We must have this mindset of genuine love because Christ, though He was equal with God, did not hold on to the position He had (being with God) and displayed perfect humility and genuine love by lowering Himself (taking the form of a servant) and dying on a cross for our sins. Think on that.

Christ was with God, yet he did not view that a thing to keep. Why? Obedience to the Father that Christ would redeem us with His death. Think of a high king stepping down from his throne in order to be a peasant. Why would/should he? How much more awesome when it's a High King becoming our sin. WHY!? Christ had equality with God, yet laid down his life for us. Therefore, whatever we have equality with (money, free time, etc.) we should be willing to lay down for each other, considering ourselves least of all.

Latest Update

2006-10-28T07:53:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to call your attention to some changes. In the sidebar, a new blog is linked under Blogs. It is Confessions of a Reformed Baptist by Dave McCarthy. YES! My life has waited for this moment! Dave is so very full of wisdom and knowledge. His blog will be excellent I just know it. Also, there are now links to the Genuine Love Series posts under Genuine Love Series for those who have not read them all.

Finally, the music will be totally changed out for all new songs in a short period of time. Any requests?

The Image of Death

2006-10-23T19:50:00.000-05:00

Note: I am the one wearing the mask in the blue sweatshirt.

I may not be able to jump very high, but that doesn't mean I can't strike fear into the hearts of people. Gentle Squatty? HAH! Little babes wept at the sight of my ferocious killing nature. The elderly trembled before my presence of death. Everyone else is chit-chatting while I, the mad beast, am sporting a look of terror. Be afraid...be very afraid!

Now, where do I get the ability to aim and talent to go with my look?

A Walk in the Rain

2006-10-19T21:16:00.000-05:00

How often do you see people running to get out of the rain? A walk in the rain can be so sobering (and I don't mean when you are drunk). Humans flee the elements. Most of that I understand, but rain (unless it's a flood of course)? Now, I am a person who hates wearing wet clothes, especially wet socks. I mean I HATE it.

Yet, now and again I will just stroll through the rain letting myself slowly become drenched in it. The best time is when you have an umbrella or rain jacket and you forgo using it and carry it while getting wet. Do I deserve to be kept dry?

Rain excites the senses. It makes the body scream, "I am alive!" and not dead as I deserve. As I walk, I will often look up and watch the rain fall to the ground. Rain is so fascinating. Look up the science behind it some time. Rain is gentle yet can be firm and beat against you. Rain exposes our failure to depend on ourselves. (If you don't think so, how often has rain changed your plan?) Rain can start up slowly and stay all day, or it can start up in a hurry and leave in a flash.

These days, we want to exclude ourselves from nature. We can set our own temperatures (with A/C or heating), stay dry in the rain, keep warm in the snow, unburned in the sunlight. Now, I am not saying that we get rid of these things that make life easier on us. But, we should not totally remove ourselves from the wonderful changes and power of nature.

If you have never done so, I encourage you to take a slow, long walk in a good gentle rain some time. Soak it in, and think about these things.

1. I do not deserve to be kept dry. Is it pride that drives me to stay dry?
2. God is masterful and nature is beautiful.
3. Rain can be gentle and powerful, creating small puddles or mighty rivers.
4. If the creation is so wonderful, marvelous, and beautiful, how much more so is the Creator?

For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Matthew 5:45 (ESV)

Manspeak

2006-10-17T11:48:00.000-05:00

That's right, the Manspeak blog is officially up and running. Whether ye be lad or las, stroll on over and peruse the site.

Manspeak

Editor's note:
Fear not faithful SW readers, Squatty Wisdom will still be as active as ever (as if that really means anything).

The Most Relaxing Music in the Universe

2006-10-05T21:23:00.000-05:00

If you are like me and enjoy really good music (especially to relax to), then you are going to love this!

I bring you: The Most Relaxing Series

This collection of music is greater than great! No matter what type of music you like, this collection is for you!
Just check it out. Plus, the CD's are cheap.

Genuine Love, pt. 6

2006-10-04T20:00:00.000-05:00

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 (ESV)

In other words, for this is how God loved the world, that he gave his only Son.... How much does God love us? He loves us so much that He would freely give his Son to die for our sins so that whoever believes in Him should not perish, as our sins deserve, but have eternal life!

Let us look at the free nature of this gift.

But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. If, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:15-17 (ESV)

Paul refers to life in Christ as "the free gift" five times. Not just a gift, a free gift. Paul could have referenced "the free gift" once and just as "the gift" from then on. Yet, he words it as "the free gift" in every instance. Important? I think so.

Now (being saved), when we were dead in our sins, we were spiritually bankrupt. We were in "debt" and could in no way begin to "pay" any of that "debt". Jesus Christ completely "paid" our "debt" with His life. So, by faith, the "debt" to God that our sin created is completely "paid." Yet, we could be newly in "debt" to Christ for "paying" for our sins. (Like owing a bank for a loan that paid for debt because of school tuition). In essence, replacing one form of debt with a new form of debt. God would have been right to make us no longer in debt to sin but in debt to Christ's life. However, we are not (and cannot be) in debt to a free gift!

How is this true?
Well, Paul says, "those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ." Those who are in debt do not reign, over anything.

So, how can debtors reign?
They can't, debt must be removed. Therefore, we reign in (or because of) whatever took our debt away. Paul says that we reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. As stated earlier, life through the one man Jesus Christ is the free gift. This means that we reign in the free gift. Since we could not pay our own debt, we cannot reign in (or because of) ourselves. Therefore, all is in Christ.

Not only did God show us genuine love by giving His only Son to die for a sinful, rebellious race but also by giving His Son freely.

Genuine Love, pt. 5

2006-10-02T18:50:00.000-05:00

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends.
John 15:13 (ESV)

Here we find ourselves once again at the notion that genuine love means laying down our life, not for ourselves but for others. In part 3 of this series, we looked at 1 John 3:16. That verse showed us where our knowledge of love and our ability to love come from, the fact that Jesus laid down His life for us and by that we now know love.

Laying down our lives does not necessarily result in laying down our lives unto death, but that might be the result of laying it down. For what purpose are we laying down our lives? The gospel of Jesus Christ, whether that means sharing it or making sure others live lives worthy of it.

What does it look like to lay down a life?

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
Luke 9:23-26 (ESV)

Laying down our lives for our friends means that we:

1. Deny ourselves.
2. Take up our cross and follow Jesus.
3. Die to the world and not pursue any of its wealth (not just money).
4. Are not ashamed of the gospel.

No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.
Luke 9:62 (ESV)

Like Paul in Philippians 3, we must strain and press on towards the goal. We must press on by dying to ourselves and laying down our lives for the gospel. If we do this (seek the gospel and its futherance) for the sake of others, we cannot have a greater (or more genuine) love for them.

Happy Birthday, Squatty Wisdom!

2006-09-28T12:35:00.000-05:00

Today, the ol' blog turns 1. What a great first year! Thanks for reading. Sorry, no cake.

Happy Birthday, Gooooooogle!

2006-09-27T18:14:00.000-05:00

Everybody's favorite search engine turned 8 today! I hope there is some cake left...

Genuine Love, pt. 4

2006-09-13T21:19:00.000-05:00

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)

The call to genuine love is also a call to involvement in other people's lives (corporate living). First, genuine love at its core demands that interaction take place. Obviously, we could not express the aspects of genuine love that have been discussed in previous posts without interacting with someone. However, genuine love also demands more than simple interaction. Corporate living requires participation in the lives of others. Interactions do not require participation. I can interact with someone without participating in their life, yet I cannot be involved without participating in their life. Therefore, I cannot genuinely love my brothers and sisters without participating in their lives. (Whether you are convicted at this point or not, I know that I sure am!)

Corporate living (or living with active participation) helps us in not being self-sufficient, in increasing humility, in decreasing selfishness, in adding strength to pursuits, and in living lives worthy of the gospel (Philippians 1:27). This is God's design for His people. I believe this to be a context that He uses to work in our lives, not that we are each other's source for the previous statements.

Application:

1. Do you actively and intentionally encourage?
I know that at times I wait until someone is put on my heart for me to encourage them. Yet, I would say that we should be always considering encouraging one another, and I have seen the fruit of that. I recommend using a planner and writing down names on certain days, perhaps one a week to start. "But I don't know what to say." Step out in faith that the Holy Spirit will direct your speech. God is faithful to corporate living because He is actively involved in our lives and calls us to active participation as well.

2. Do you stir?
In other words, are you a source for moving your brothers and sisters to love and do good works? What this means is that you are actively involved in spurring others on to live lives worthy of the gospel, to apply works to the faith they claim, and to correct as necessary. I submit the following analogy (if it so works):

Our fellow brothers and sisters are water in a pitcher. Love and good works are kool-aid. We are called to be spoons, to stir up love and good works in our brothers and sisters as kool-aid is stirred up in water. Yet, the spoon does not stir without a Stirrer (God) nor does the water or the spoon add the kool-aid, meaning God is our source of love and good works. We do not love or do any good works on our own.

Genuine Love, pt. 3

2006-09-04T22:13:00.000-05:00

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
1 John 3:16 (ESV)

The repeating principle of genuine love is that God first showed love to us by laying down the life of His Son, Jesus Christ, and in light of that, we are called to count others as more important than ourselves--to lay down our own lives for each other, even unto death if necessary.

The theme behind a lack of love is, "I do not want to be the least of all." Christians know not to desire to be first, with the mentality: I want everyone serving me. We understand that we are to serve, but we do not desire to be the least. Our sinful nature and pride make sure that we "get ours." So even when we serve, we may look for some sort of repayment, something to "relieve" the "burden" of dying to ourself. Yet, I would say that we are to ever press on in service and love to the point of exhaustion and death, never once concerning ourselves with ourselves. The cost of following Christ and His example of love is exhaustion, even death. If we are to be exhausted, where is strength? In Christ! If we are to die, where is life? In Christ! With such a source, we should run with joy and passion towards exhausting all that we are to serve and love one another.

I know that I do not desire to exhaust myself in loving. I do not want to look like someone who has traveled in the desert for days, in that I am tired beyond tired, barely moving on hands and knees with tattered clothes, yearning for one drop of water, a moments relief. Yet, Christ did it for me. He did not and could not trade laying down His life for simple rest and comfort. Through it all, He was not unhappy. Love was His motivation. Likewise, because of His love, love shall be our motivation, and we will be joyful in the exhaustion. Scripture promises that Christ will be our strength, our source of rest, and our source of water (water that we need more than life and will make us to never be thirsty forever).

Yet again I say (from the song Audience of One), how can I not pledge all my love [and service] in light of all that He has done? There is no fear, no loss. Only hope and gain! I can be comforted because I cannot be more "least of all" than Christ. He perfectly served and loved in every way, never being selfish. He can support and be the perfect rock and foundation to all that I do. Therefore, I ought to lay down my life for the brothers and sisters.

Happy Labor Day

2006-09-04T05:00:00.000-05:00

In order to break up my "Paul Steele-ish" posts as of late, I have decided to inject humor and wish everyone a happy Labor Day.

Enjoy these fine odes to Labor Day:

Labor Day

Labor Dabor
Click on Puppet Stuff
Click on Labor Dabor

Hidden Stuff for Labor Day:
-Click on Chrispy's name to see the .
-Click on the cooler when the King of Town comes by and mentions the cooler.
-Click on the "Labor Dabor" sign to hear Homestar sing "Everybody Knows It."
-Click on Strong Bad's Diamond to see a Schenectady Crispies cereal commercial.

Hidden Stuff for Labor Dabor:
-Click on the upper third left-most popcorn (it's completely unobstructed) to see a "STRIKE" animation.
-Click on the mostly unobstructed popcorn directly beneath the "N" to see a "SPLIT" animation.
-Click on the huge popcorn piece beneath "DE" to see a "SPARE" animation.
-Click on the mostly unobstructed popcorn piece that is directly right of the large piece and underneath the "D." to see a "DOUBLE GUTTER" animation.
-Click on the lower second right-most popcorn (it's mostly unobstructed) to see an "IT'S STILL YOUR TURN!!!" animation.

SELFISH!

2006-08-31T20:55:00.000-05:00

Even as I write a series on genuine love, I am without a desire to put others before myself. I desire to please myself and pursue my own desires. I lack care for anyone else. I don't want to serve others. I don't want to be least of all. I need the genuine love that God showed to me! For grace is my strength. I entrust my power to serve and love as I should to come from the strength of Jesus Christ. I will boast in Jesus Christ! Without whom, I have no power, no strength to love. Holy Spirit, I am dependent on Your directions. Without them, I want to revel in my own desires, even my own pitiful emotions: anger, sadness, pain and hurt, jealousy, and others. How absurd-yet true-that I love to dwell on, better yet immerse and engross myself in, anger and selfishness! I am so very thankful for the propitiatory death of Jesus Christ, who died for these very sins! How can I not pledge all my love (and service) in light of all that He has done? God, I look to Your truth!

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
Romans 8:26

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10

The Sympathy of the Savior

2006-08-26T21:30:00.000-05:00

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:15-16 (NIV)

Let us notice that verse 15 does not say: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to have pity...." or "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to have compassion...." Rather, it says that Jesus is able to sympathize with us.

Often times, I think we tend to think of pity, compassion, and sympathy as being more similar than they are. Pity implies tender or sometimes slightly contemptuous sorrow for one in misery or distress. Compassion implies tender or sometimes slightly contemptuous sorrow for one in misery or distress along with a desire to alleviate it. Sympathy in the Greek means common (syn-) feelings, emotion, or experience (pathos). Sympathy is much more personal than pity or compassion. You can have pity or compassion for someone without suffering the same burden as them; however, you cannot have sympathy without suffering the same burden.

Therefore, verse 15 is saying that Jesus has a tender sorrow for our burdens, but, more than that, He went through the same burdens that we do.

It is pity; but it is something more than pity: it is the pity which a man of kind affections feels towards those who are suffering what he himself suffered....
The Son of God, had He never become incarnate, might have pitied, but He could not have sympathized with His people. To render Him capable of pity, it was necessary that He should become man that He might be susceptible of suffering, and that He should actually be a sufferer that He might be susceptible of sympathy.
Dr. John Brown, An Exposition of Hebrews, p. 231

I suspect, however, that many of us, especially when we are experiencing physical or emotional pain, question whether or not Jesus suffered in the same way we are suffering. After all, He never experienced prolonged unemployment, or had a child die in an auto accident, or endured the debilitating effects of a crippling disease, or watched a spouse die slowly and painfully from cancer.
Jerry Bridges, Transforming Grace, p. 175

While Jesus may not have experienced the exact same burdens as us, He suffered more than any of us will ever know. He was forsaken by God. The creation totally void of involvement from the creator, the sustenance of the creation. None of us have ever been cut off from the Creator, who sustains us. As God's creations, we cannot bare to be removed from the Creator. I believe this to be the biggest pain and sorrow of Hell, total separation from the Creator who is knitted into our very being. Jesus suffered such a burden.

So Jesus does fully understand and sympathize with us in our times of trials. We can be sure, whatever the nature of our hurts, they are not new to Him. Because Jesus can enter into our hurts and does sympathize with us, we can approach God's throne with confidence, without being ashamed to lay our weaknesses before Him. He understands and He cares.
Jerry Bridges, Transforming Grace, pp. 175-176

Genuine Love, pt. 2

2006-08-16T21:00:00.000-05:00

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:7-11 (ESV)

1. What does genuine love look like?
Genuine love is rooted in God, without whom there is no love. In order to love, we must know God because love was manifested by and began (before creation) with the love expressed to us that God would pour all of His wrath on His Son for us, sinners. While grace is for some (Exodus 33:19), His love is for everyone. Jesus' propitiatory death is for everyone. Whether God is being gracious or just, He is still being loving. We are commanded to love God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Luke 10:27). Notice that these two commands go together because we could not do one without doing the other. We could not love our neighbor without loving God because love is from God, and we could not love God without loving our neighbor because then we would not know God.

2. Why should we love?
Because God so loved us. Since God's love has so affected us, we should not want to do anything but love one another out of gratitude. Love is an outward expression of the "knowledge" of Jesus Christ in our heart. I say "knowledge" because we don't learn or obtain wisdom of the saving grace of Jesus Christ that changes our hearts, but we are born of God and then know Jesus Christ by grace through faith, making our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). So, we should love not as if God said, "Because I told you to," but because His loving kindness is more than we deserve for sinning against a holy God who cannot have sin in His presence.

3. How can we love?
Because love is from God. All love that is genuine that we express to each other is based in the original act of love shown to us from God. Therefore, God works in us to show genuine love, because apart from God we do not know love because we do not know God. To know love is to know God. Therefore, the power to love comes from the Holy Spirit. In order to know love better, we must know God better. The more we read God's Word and learn more about Him, the more we will love. I dare say that we cannot love more than we proportionally know God because Jesus was God, and He showed the greatest expression of love that ever will be. Simply put, How much we know God = How much we can love. I don't think that we are capable of loving more than how much we know God. Otherwise, that "extra love" would be based in something other than God, and that is impossible since love is God.

Genuine Love, pt. 1

2006-08-07T19:08:00.000-05:00

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Romans 12:9-13 (ESV)

We are called to genuinely love one another. Let us look at the aspects of genuine love.

1. Genuine love is marked by abhorring evil.
We cannot love evil and genuinely love each other. Our nature is to love that which is opposed to God (Psalm 14, Romans 3:10-18). Why is abhorring evil before holding fast to good? I would say that it is because, in order to genuinely love each other, we must rely on the grace of God and the work of the Holy Spirit because abhorring evil goes against our sinful state.

2. Genuine love is marked by holding fast to good.
Since we have "put off" loving evil, what now do we "put on"? Loving that which is good (Philippians 4:8). Because of the grace that God has shown to us in saving us from our sins by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, we, in gratitude, desire that which is good and of God. Therefore, we can (are able to) love because God first showed us genuine love.

3. Genuine love is marked by loving one another with brotherly affection.
As brothers and sisters in Christ, we should honestly care about the state of each other's souls and earnestly yearn that each lives a life worthy of the Gospel. That means we should continually encourage, correct, and spur on one another. What brotherly affection looks like will be addressed in other parts of this series.

4. Genuine love is marked by outdoing one another in showing honor.
Genuine love is not the task of one person. Because of the grace that we have been shown, we should want to love showing honor and encouraging each other so much that we do it more and more with each time and more than someone just did. Be careful! This is not to be rooted in pride. It is based in glorifying God. That is why we should "compete" in doing it, for God's glory.

5. Genuine love is marked by not being slothful in zeal, being fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.
Be passionate! Zeal is the enthusiastic devotion to a cause, ideal, or goal and tireless diligence in its furtherance. Focus on the last part of the definition: tireless diligence in its furtherance. Genuine love is displayed by tirelessly devoting our lives to the Gospel and its furtherance. That is how we show genuine love to unsaved people. We share with them the greatest news that they could hear! The news that can save their souls! Also, genuine love is rooted in serving the Lord. As we serve the Lord, genuine love will flow from our actions.

6. Genuine love is marked by rejoicing in hope, being patient in tribulation, being constant in prayer.
In other words, genuine love is marked by faith! [Application: Seek to apply this point to Howard's message from last Sunday (8/6).]

7. Genuine love is marked by contributing to the needs of the saints and seeking to show hospitality.
Love that is genuine does not commit the sin of partiality (James 2:1-13). Love does not have "sides" or "favorites." Genuine love is humble and sacrificial. Acts 2:45 demonstrates the care and desire (Philippians 2:3-4) that is needed in genuine love. There is no room for selfishness in genuine love.

Ninja Mak

2006-08-03T16:31:00.000-05:00

Josh Groban

2006-08-02T18:00:00.000-05:00

I have been a fan of Josh Groban for a long time. If you have never heard of him or listened to his work, you are missing a great vocalist with amazing talent. He sings so powerfully, and when he sings in other languages, he does it fluently. All of his music is filled with a captivating passion.

My favorite songs would have to be:
Oceano
Per Te
Mi Mancherai

Find out more about Josh Groban: here.

Tutorial Tuesday

2006-08-01T16:17:00.000-05:00

Colors

I have a shirt that guys call "pink." Girls, on the other hand, properly call it "salmon." Well, it's time that someone educated guys on colors. Salmon is as different from pink as maroon is from red. Or green yellow from yellow green for that matter.

pink

salmon

Here is a list of colors (well, HTML colors but a general understanding can be obtained) and what they look like:

alice blue
antique white
aqua
aquamarine
azure
beige
bisque
black
blanched almond
blue
blue violet
brown
burlywood
cadet blue
chartreuse
chocolate
coral
cornflower blue
cornsilk
crimson
cyan
dark blue
dark cyan
dark goldenrod
dark gray
dark green
dark khaki
dark magenta
dark olive green
dark orange
dark orchid
dark red
dark salmon
dark sea green
dark slate blue
dark slate gray
dark turquoise
dark violet
deep pink
deep sky blue
dim gray
dodger blue
fire brick
floral white
forest green
fuchsia
gainsboro
ghost white
gold
goldenrod
gray
green
green yellow
honeydew
hot pink
indian red
indigo
ivory
khaki
lavender
lavender blush
lawn green
lemon chiffon
light blue
light coral
light cyan
light goldenrod yellow
light green
light grey
light pink
light salmon
light seag reen
light sky blue
light slate gray
light steel blue
light yellow
lime
lime green
linen
magenta
maroon
medium aquamarine
medium blue
medium orchid
medium purple
medium sea green
medium slate blue
medium spring green
medium turquoise
medium violet red
midnight blue
mint cream
misty rose
moccasin
navajo white
navy
old lace
olive
olive drab
orange
orange red
orchid
pale goldenrod
pale green
pale violet red
papaya whip
peach puff
peru
pink
plum
powder blue
purple
red
rosy brown
royal blue
saddle brown
salmon
sandy brown
sea green
seashell
sienna
silver
sky blue
slate blue
slate gray
snow
spring green
steel blue
tan
teal
thistle
tomato
turquoise
violet
wheat
white
white smoke
yellow
yellow green

Eternity

2006-07-24T20:28:00.000-05:00

Today, I was sitting at a red light, and across the intersection in the median was a cross memorial for someone who had died in a car accident. I've seen them 1,000 times. However, this time it hit me. Just 30 feet in front of me was the place where someone went from being in this world to being in eternity. I realized that I could cross that same intersection when the light turned green and go from this life to eternity. Tonight, I could go to bed and then "wake up" in eternity. As Jonathan Oldacre said, "Christ is just on the other side."

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12

I want to live with the knowledge that eternity is at hand. That at any moment I will leave this life and enter into eternity, and because of faith in Jesus Christ's finished work on the cross for my sins by God's grace I will enjoy heaven with the Father, forever! Just because eternity is far-reaching does not mean that it is far away.

Like a Child

2006-07-13T15:08:00.000-05:00

Today, I was riding on a mower to hole 7. As I passed hole 6, I saw this little boy standing on the fairway near the cart path. He was watching his dad and grandfather play golf. When he heard me drive by on my mower, he turned and looked at me. With the biggest smile and as loud as he could (enough to be heard over a mower), he waved and said, "Hello!" All I could do was smile and wave back. Then, I thought of Matthew 18:1-4.

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

I was challenged: Why am I not afraid like this little boy? He acted as if he knew me his whole life, but I had never seen him before. I should be so joyful about seeing people I don't know! The little boy was not afraid; he only wanted to convey "Hello." Lord, make me like that little boy in that I will not be afraid and will want to convey the gospel.

Me, My Talents and My Skills

2006-07-07T17:37:00.000-05:00

I thought I would make everyone feel better about themselves...by letting them know that no matter how hard they try, they can never be as good as me. Let me just highlight some of my many successes.

Here I am in my Coffeyville Community College (Go Ravens!) football days (I was very tan back then):

A common sight on Sunday afternoon: Travis Evans
sprinting into the end zone. Evans scored
four touchdowns in the game.
Real Story

A host of Ravens congratulate Travis Evans (19)
after a first quarter touchdown run. Evans ran for 127 yards on just six carries.
Real Story

Real Story

Here I am when I played baseball for the Kennesaw State Owls:

Travis Evans (featured) was 2-for-4 in the Owls’ Apr. 12 Game #1 victory over the Braves.
Real Story

Travis Evans watches the ball he hit fly over the outfield wall.
Real Story

Here is a Mule Deer I killed once in Utah:

Travis Evans
4x4, 30 1/4" wide
Utah 2004 Archery
Real Story

I am a member of Higher Ground: Appalachia A Cappella:

Travis Evans
Musical Influences: High school choir, Harmony Six, Tim McGraw, Boyz II Men
Voice Part: Bass, Baritone
Real Story

I am a racer:

Friday I-Stock Winner
Travis Evans
Real Story

4th of July with Sparklers

2006-07-05T17:45:00.000-05:00

The following videos are proof that sparklers (along with a little duct tape) can make for a very enjoyable 4th of July. The second video took place in the water (for a better echo). Enjoy!

Sparkler Bomb

Sparkler Bomb on Water

Walking in Memphis

2006-06-26T18:45:00.000-05:00

I got to experience Memphis for the first time this past weekend. Daniel Jinks and I went to his parents' house for the weekend. Although I never really got to see the city of Memphis (but rather its suburbs), I really enjoyed it.

Some things I learned from my trip:

1. Daniel Jinks' dad is very funny and also very weird
2. I really miss David Dugas (who lives in Memphis, for those who don't know)
3. Every male in Millington has a handlebar mustache and a Dodge truck
4. Andrew Thornbury has a big dog that thinks it is a little dog (You just have to experience Elliot for yourself)
5. There is no 'S' in Collierville
6. Germantown has cameras at EVERY red light
7. David Dugas' mom is super nice
8. The age of EVERY building in Millington/Munford - courtesy of Daniel Jinks: "Those buildings weren't here when I graduated, and that one was built 3 months ago, and that one was owned by a pirate with a peg-leg before it burned down and was rebuilt last October."
9. There is an Ethiopian restaurant in Collierville...How? Ethiopians don't even eat (not my joke but apparently the official joke of Collierville)

I had a lot of fun in Memphis. I would visit it again.

Yeah, well, not every post needs a title...

2006-06-15T18:53:00.000-05:00

Eating Raisin Bran, listening to Charlie Hall - How Great Thou Art, and thinking about how Jerry Bridges in Transforming Grace talks about how God owes us nothing.

Truly, God owes me nothing. Even if I perfectly obey the law, I would only be doing my duty. I don't deserve any reward for simply doing my duty. Unworthy! I am unworthy to even simply be enjoying Raisin Bran and music.

Just thought I'd throw that up on the ol' blog as I enjoy Raisin Bran and Chris Tomlin - How Great Is Our God . (Playlist randomly played them back-to-back, I like it!)

So God, I Trust in You

2006-06-13T17:10:00.000-05:00

Lord, all sufficient One, meet me with new grace and new mercy, today. Teach me to boast only in the cross of Jesus Christ. Help me to be as transparent as glass, hiding nothing from anyone. God, Your opinion of me is the only one that matters, and You see all, even the depths of my heart and thoughts! Christ intercedes for me! Therefore, I should not be afraid of what others think of me. I am righteous before God by faith in Christ, my Mediator and Savior! Father, I cannot be self-sufficient and do good. Any good thing I do is by Your grace and Your omnipotence. God, thank You for redeeming me by the cross. Only in Jesus' name can I pray. Amen.

What/ Who do I trust?
Myself. "I have to do ___ myself in order for it to get done correctly." I rely on my own (limited, though I think unlimited) strength and knowledge. I judge a situation based on whether I think that I can or cannot do it.

What do I think about?
My circumstances. "What do I have to do, today?" Mostly, my satisfaction is based on my circumstances. As they change, I want to be satisfied, so I spend much of my time thinking about them.

What do I talk about?
My knowledge/successes. I don't mean that I directly talk about my knowledge and successes: "Well, my IQ is ___ and I did ___." Rather, I indirectly talk about them by answering questions I don't have to answer, or I express them in a way that is arrogant. I don't express my thoughts as follows: "I think ____ but am not sure about that." I express my answers in a way that says, " I know ____ to be true and am not wrong." Also, I express things I just learned as if I knew them all of my life. Plus, if someone doesn't know something that I know, I am quick to think of them as stupid, even though I didn't know it once and that they know things I don't know.

What do I fear?
Failure, of any kind. "I don't know," is not allowed. I don't want people to view me as ignorant or as a sinner. Though, I am! I don't want anyone's view of me to be soiled by a mistake or failure. I want myself to be highly esteemed in other's eyes.

God, You should be the answer to all of these questions. That is why there is joy in grace! You generously and sovereignly provide and sustain me, even while I am sinful. Grace abounded all the more! Lord, thank You for showing me my sinful answers to these questions and helping me to be like Your Son.

If anyone reading this ever sees that God is not the answer to these questions in my life, hold me accountable to it and correct me.

God Moves

God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform.
He plants His footsteps in the sea,
and rides upon the storm.
Deep in His dark and hidden mines,
with never failing skill,
He fashions all His bright designs,
and works His sovereign will.

Oh fearful saints, new courage take:
the clouds that you now dread
are big with mercy and will break
in blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
but trust Him for His grace.
Behind a frowning providence,
He hides a smiling face.

God's purposes will ripen fast,
unfolding every hour.
The bud may have a bitter taste,
but sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err
and scan His work in vain.
God is His own interpreter,
and He will make it plain.

So God, we trust in You.
O God, we trust in You.
When tears are great and comforts few,
we hope in mercies ever new.
We trust in You.

Respect the Little Guy

2006-06-09T13:35:00.000-05:00

Hummer-schmummer! Is there anything a golf cart can't handle?! Well, yes a lot in fact, but that is beside the point.

Today, I dished out a lot to my poor little golf cart at work. Let's just say that golf carts can serve as an amphibious assault vehicle. If you don't understand that, my cart rolled down a steep embankment and wound up in the creek and came to rest over rocks and water (very precarious). I bailed for safety and was left to helplessly watch it roll away. The little guy had to be pulled out by a tractor. Yet, nothing was broken and it continued to run the rest of the day. In fact, I later zigged and zagged the cart in and out of a really deep ditch along the road to the golf course. Leaning, raring back, and rocking! Words fail to describe the madness except to say that it stayed on two wheels more than on all four.

I've seen carts roll over, hit concrete posts, smash into trees, and fly into the air. Every cart at work has severe body damage, but they take every beating we dish out...and keep on a-truckin'!

2 Week Hiatus

2006-05-20T15:52:00.000-05:00

Starting tomorrow, I am going to be on a 2 week hiatus from the Internet (except from email, which will be checked a lot less often than usual). I want to see if the Internet is, and if so kill, an idol of my heart that demands my affections. Please pray for me during this time to rely on God's grace and to earnestly seek Him. See you in 2 weeks!

God: First, Foremost, and Always

2006-05-15T18:02:00.000-05:00

I tend to put my hope in other things. The latest one is relationships, not the action but the idea. I found myself believing, "Once I am in a relationship, then I will be satisfied." But my desire is to be satisfied in God first, foremost, and always.

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Psalm 90:1

Our Father, we know that Thou art present with us, but our knowledge is but a figure and shadow of truth and has little of the spiritual savor and inward sweetness such knowledge should afford. This is for us a great loss and the cause of much weakness of heart. Help us to make at once such amendment of life as is necessary before we can experience the true meaning of the words "In thy presence is fulness of joy."
A. W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy, p. 74

Every god besides Jesus is a lousy god.
Joshua Harris

Jesus You Alone

Jesus You alone shall be
My first love my first love,
The secret place and highest praise
Shall be yours shall be yours

To Your throne I'll bring devotion
May it be the sweetest sound
Lord this heart is reaching for You now

So I'll set my sights upon You
Set my life upon Your praise
Never looking to another way

Day and night I lift my eyes
To seek You to seek you
Hungry for a glimpse of You
In glory in glory

You alone will be my passion
Jesus You will be my song
You will find me longing after You

To Your throne I'll bring devotion
May it be the sweetest sound
Lord this heart is reaching for You now

To Your throne I'll bring devotion
May it be the sweetest sound
Lord this heart is reaching for You now

So I'll set my sights upon You
Set my life upon Your praise
Never looking to another way

You alone will be my passion
Jesus You will be my song
You will find me longing after You

Day and night I lift my eyes
To seek You to seek you
Hungry for a glimpse of You
In glory in glory

Only by His grace on my life can I have such a desire. I wish I could properly portray all I want to say about this in writing. Maybe it will come up in personal conversations.

Scripture is Profitable for Reproof

2006-05-14T18:19:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, my Daily Bible Verse had Proverbs 3:11-12

My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline
or be weary of his reproof,
for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
as a father the son in whom he delights.

Immediately, I thought of Brent Detwiler's message from 2 Timothy 3:16.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

The Bible reproves because God loves us! As a father the son in whom he delights--as a Father the Son in whom He delights (Matthew 3:17), and we have been made joint heirs with Christ by faith. God delights in us because He delights in Jesus Christ.

Need a Moment?

2006-05-12T16:04:00.000-05:00

Today, I got this craving for a Twix chocolate candy. Eating it was rather delightful. My favorite, and usual choice, chocolate bar is the 3 Musketeers. What do you care? Well, you probably don't. However, what is your favorite candy? What do you go for when standing in a check-out line?

Rapper Mak

2006-05-08T18:32:00.000-05:00

Blogging

2006-05-04T20:08:00.000-05:00

Tutorial Tuesday

2006-05-02T10:43:00.000-05:00

Tables

The code for a sample table looks like this:


<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" width="100">
<caption>Table Elements</caption>
<tr>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Quantity</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13.95</td>
<td align="center">72</td>
</tr>
</table>

Table Elements

Table
<table>...</table>
Required to create a table; contains all other table elements.

Table caption
<caption>...</caption>
Optional; adds a caption or title, which appear above the table by default.

Table row
<tr>...</tr>
Required; contains all data for a table row.

Table header
<th>...</th>
Optional; typically designates the top row or left column. By default, text in a header cell will appear bold and centered.

Table data
<td>...</td>
Required, unless <th> is being used; designates table cell contents.

Attributes for <table>

align
Aligns the entire table horizontally on the page.
Values include "left", "center", and "right".

border
Determines whether a border will appear around the table. By default, boders do not appear on tables.
Values include "1" (higher number = thicker border) and "0" (no border).

cellpadding
Determines the amount of space between cell content and the inner cell border.
Values can be specified in pixels or percentage of the browser window.

cellspacing
Determines the amount of space between table cells.
Values can be specified in pixels or percentage of the browser window.

width
Determines how far the table will extend horizontally across the page.
Values can be specified in pixels or percentage of the browser window.

Attributes for <tr>

align
Aligns content horizontally in all cells in the row.
Values include "left", "center", and "right".

valign
Aligns content vertically in all cells in the row.
Values include "top", "bottom", "middle", and "baseline".

bgcolor
Determines the background color for a row of cells.
Values can be specified by color name or hexadecimal code (e.g., "green", "#00FF00").

style
Specifies custom formatting for a row of cells.
Values are a text or numeric definition (font, size, color, etc.).

Attributes for <td>

align
Aligns content horizontally within a single cell.
Values include "left", "center", and "right".

valign
Aligns content vertically within a single cell.
Values include "top", "bottom", "middle", and "baseline".

colspan
Specifies the number of columns that a cell will span across (i.e., occupy).
Values are specified by number.

rowspan
Specifies the number of rows that a cell will span across (i.e., occupy).
Values are specified by number.

bgcolor
Determines the background color for a row of cells.
Values can be specified by color name or hexadecimal code (e.g., "green", "#00FF00").

height
Determines the vertical height of a cell.
Values are specified in pixels.

width
Determines the horizontal width of the cell.
Values can be specified in pixels or percentage of the browser window.

For more about tables, visit: w3schools.com

Capt. Mak

2006-05-01T22:15:00.000-05:00

Mak

2006-05-01T22:12:00.000-05:00

Meet Mak! He is a curious-looking little guy of my own creation. He, like me, has many personalities. He will be making random appearances in the future.

New Group, New Song

2006-04-28T22:41:00.000-05:00

I have come across this gem. "O Magnum Mysterium" - Robert Shaw Chamber Singers. Check it out.

Unique?

2006-04-17T21:45:00.000-05:00

Ok, it appears that I am "unique". So what if I blare music really loud while conducting it with my hands; enjoy random humor; love the country, country music, and country food (polk salad, all kinds of cornbread (no sugar), and fried chicken liver)?

Decide for yourself. Here are some things about me:
-I like techno
-I have had my nails painted more times than I can count
-I like movies (especially Meg Ryan movies)
-I like good hair
-I go bonkers for Flash games
-I use the word bonkers
-I love singing more than I can actually do it
-I admire Dan Kittrell
-I love shoes
-I absolutely love pumpkin pie
-I like to dress up in a suit
-I make faces at myself while driving
-I like hanging out with my dad (no matter how bizarre he can be)
-I have let a friend (a 12 yr. old girl) and my sisters completely dress me up as a woman--at times including makeup, wig, and hat
-I like sports but am not terribly good at any of them
-I am not weirded out by Paul Steele's tongue
-I like the water
-I like math and science, but I am in art
-I enjoy flowers
-I love the smell of perfume
-I regularly trim my finger and toe nails (and keep them quite clean)
-I don't like cats, but I do like kittens
-I cannot cook (except for breakfast because it is my favorite food)
-I am not allowed in the kitchen in any family member's house
-I think Jeremy Bryant is a 34 year old man
-I lived with above for 2 years and have been friends for ~11 years
-I love Mexican food
-I often wonder what it would be like if words had different meanings (Could you not eat with your watch open?)
-I love books but don't like to read

Some of my favorite secular artists and musicians:
-Alabama
-Boyz II Men
-George Strait
-Barry Manilow
-Enya
-Beethoven
-Rod Stewart
-Trans-Siberian Orchestra
-Backstreet Boys
-Elvis Presley
-Sting
-Michael Bolton
-Chicago
-Josh Groban

That is by no means all of them, in fact my entire iTunes playlist is my favorite.

What do YOU think? If nothing else, I have seriously hurt my pride.

New Blog

2006-04-06T21:08:00.000-05:00

Attention everyone, a great new blog has arrived!

Check out: This new blog

Tutorial Tuesday

2006-04-04T10:30:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the newest part of Squatty Wisdom! Most people have Friday Funnies or some sort of weekly post. Well, now I do as well. Tutorial Tuesday! On Tutorial Tuesday, I will try to offer step-by-step instructions in areas (particularly, but not limited to, web) that people may find useful. Please, feel free to ask questions.

To kick off the first Tutorial Tuesday, I will cover a common problem.

Links

If editing for your Blogger blog, first look in your Template for this:

<ul>

<li><a href="http://news.google.com/">Google News</a>
</li>
<li><a href="http://help.blogger.com/bin/answer.py?answer=110">
Edit-Me</a>
</li>
<li><a href="http://help.blogger.com/bin/answer.py?answer=110">
Edit-Me</a></li>

</ul>

Now, it is time for a brief lesson. <ul> means an unordered list (bullets). <ol> means an ordered list (1., 2., 3.). <li> means the start of a link. </li> means the end of a link. <a href="URL"> is where you will put the website URL for the link (inside the quotation marks). Now, whatever you type between <a href="URL"> and </a> is the title of the link and will appear on the web page. <a href="url">Text to be displayed</a>

If you want to change the title of your box for your links ("Links" on your blog sidebar), just change the word Links in <h2 class="sidebar-title">Links</h2> to whatever you want to appear.

Want your link to not be underlined?
<a href="URL" style="text-decoration: none;">.

Want your link to open in a new window?
<a href="URL" target="_blank">.

For more about links, visit: w3schools.com

David Ash

2006-03-29T22:16:00.000-05:00

Attention! I believe that we have all been deceived. I believe that David Ash is not who he claims to be. I believe that David Ash is a super model who has gone incognito so as to avoid the paparazzi. Take a look for yourself:

Music

2006-03-01T16:05:00.000-05:00

Even though I am an amateur musician at best (at the baritone and trying to learn the bass guitar), I love music. I am very passionate about it.

Some of my favorite composers are:
Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Rachmaninov, Strauss, Stravinsky, Brahms, Chopin, Gershwin, Handel, Haydn, Pachelbel, Tchaikovsky, Faure, Vivaldi

I especially love the work of most modern sound track composers. You may recognize some of the names, but in parenthesis is a movie that you may know their work from.

Klaus Badelt (The Pirates of the Caribbean), John Williams (Star Wars), Hans Zimmer (Gladiator), Edward Shearmur (The Count of Monte Cristo), Harry Gregson-Williams (The Chronicles of Narnia), Howard Shore (LOTR) If you get a chance, check out their work at Amazon.com

Also for those of you who read music, melt your mind with these:

Hemidemisemiquaver (64th note) - This is my favorite word!

Semihemidemisemiquaver (128th note)

Think they're never used? Check out Beethoven's Sonata "Pathetique" Op. 13, 1st Movement (pg. 148) here.

Red Light

2006-02-27T17:55:00.000-05:00

I was taking the Bridgewater exit off the interstate today and was listening to Worship God Live when Grace Unmeasured began to play. At 4:44 long, I knew that I would get home before the song finished, which was not a wonderful thought since I enjoy the song. Then just as I went over the hill of the exit ramp and neared the interesction, the traffic light turned yellow and then red. My usual reaction is, "UNH! Now I will be behind for [insert next task I have planned here]." However, this time I was unexpectedly happy for the red light because I could continue to worship with Grace Unmeasured. I arrived at the house just as the song was finishing.....all because of the break in my planned order of events.

As I began to think about this moment, I asked myself, "Why didn't the light change after me or so much earlier that I would only catch it red for a short time?" Then, I began to think of other times when I had had X, Y, and Z planned, and something slowed me down during Y and Z. I realized that I should use times like these to worship in song, by reading my Bible, or in another way. I normally view these moments as a curse, but they are moments that can be used to bring so much joy and can be looked upon later as wonderful.

I also realized that slowing down can be so good. Humans are set on HURRY. We don't want to slow down. So, carry a Bible, have worship songs handy, or have anything else ready to worship when moments that you did not forsee pop in on you.

Paul Haiku

2006-02-16T11:10:00.000-05:00

As swift as the deer
Hands raised is how you'll know him
Paul is made of "Steele"

* By the way, this picture is from a crazy photo. Even a crazy Paul, raises his hands.

This Blogging Stuff Is Easier Than I Thought...

2006-02-08T22:45:00.000-05:00

When I first started blogging, I thought, "People want insight and wisdom so as to be better equipped for a more meaningful existence." And yet, I find that no one really cares about knowledge.

Here is my reasoning:
1. Post with a pointless video of Jeremy laughing - 6 comments
2. Post with nothing more than a brick wall - 5 comments (1 fake)
3. Fake post (the last one) made by Jonathan Oldacre (by the way I am appalled that no one knew the difference--the sloppy grammar should have been a GIVE AWAY!--"so that I can look even more Mr. Cruise.".....honestly.....) - 9 comments
4.Post about Isaiah 6 - 2 comments (1 of them mine)

So having processed this logic with the wisdom that is Squatty Wisdom, I give you my latest and greatest post:

P.S. - I think Paul Steele is great (and comments that say otherwise are not mine)!

Question

2006-02-08T12:18:00.000-05:00

Many people, especially the ladies, have recently informed me that they think I look like Tom Cruise. I'm usually just flattered, but lately, I've been trying to grow out my facial hair to match this photo so that I can look even more Mr. Cruise. I think Paul Steele looks nothing like Tom Cruise, mostly beacuse I do think I'm far more attractive. What do you think?

Blogger's Block

2006-02-03T02:29:00.000-05:00

Barking...Gorillas?

2006-01-24T17:15:00.000-05:00

This is a video of Jeremy Bryant laughing uncontrollably. Why is he laughing? Well, Jeremy likes to blame passing gas on "Barking Spiders," and after this particular "passing" Chris Poulopoulos said, "That was more like a barking gorilla." Jeremy lost it. Enjoy!

Video provided by Daniel Jinks...blame him not me, Jeremy.

Jeremy Laughing

Lost and Found, how may I help you?

2006-01-10T23:07:00.000-05:00

--Yes, hello? I need to report a missing Squatty. I think I left him in Knoxville before UT's Christmas break. Last I saw him he was updating his blog for Christmas, but it has been the same for a month! HELP ME, PLEASE!

--Ok, calm down. It turns out that Squatty is not lost or dead. He just went home for the break and suffered from a disease known as 24 Kbps dial-up.

--Oh! How horrible! Is everything ok? Will he ever post again?

--I know things were bad, please remain calm. However, he has safely returned to Knoxville and is using 11 Mbps cable daily. Also, new posts will be churned out as soon as he makes a full recovery.

--I'm so relieved! Thank you so much!

--All in a days work.

Squatty Wisdom Goes Christmas

2005-12-10T21:37:00.000-05:00

It is indeed that time of the year, CHRISTMAS! In all honesty, I absolutely love Christmas! You will now see the blog sporting appropriate music and backgrounds. The blog will remain this way until some time after Christmas. The music selection may change between some of my favorite holiday tunes as the season goes along. Finally, just remember these few things: stay warm, it is better to give than to recieve, and have a very merry Christmas!

Where I Lay My Head

2005-12-01T23:29:00.000-05:00

Ok loyal Squatty Wisdom readers, I think it's time to clarify something. I do NOT live in either Andy Holt or the Pink House. Shocking? Yes, I know. I reside out west in the house that Joe Hamilton owns (and lived in until he got married and will return to it to kick us out some day). Now, I do understand the confusion for I do spend a lot of my time at Andy Holt and the Pink House and treat each as a sort of home, however not enough to owe RENT!

Board Games

2005-11-29T17:21:00.000-05:00

When was the last time you played a board game? If you go to buy one these days (if Hasbro makes the game), you will see a fake yellow post-it note on the box that reads: "Plan a Family Game Night". I'm sure everyone has seen this new addition to the boxes by now. While it may be rooted in clever marketing, it's not a bad idea. If you're a parent, taking one night a week and playing a board game with your child(ren) is very beneficial to them, and it's FUN! If you're not a parent, why not begin to play board games more often? One of my personal favorites is Battleship.

In this day and age, turning to board games for entertainment seems harder and harder to do. Why? They require more than just the participation of yourself, unlike video games. However, the bonding that can develop from playing board games is worth it. The benefits of board games over video games, especially for young children, have been told time and time again, and sadly most people only play them when the power goes out.

I challenge you: The next time you and your friends are going to get together for another Halo Tournament, dig out a board game instead.

For more information on planning a Family Game Night, click here.

Isaiah 6

2005-11-14T10:30:00.000-05:00

6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” 4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that hehad taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this hastouched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” 8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” 9 And he said, “Go, and say to this people: "'Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keepon seeing, but do not perceive.’10 Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy,and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

As I read these verses, several things stuck out to me. The seraphim, even without sin, covered their faces and feet from the Lord. They feared and revered God. After seeing this, Isaiah says, "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!" He recognizes that he is not worthy to look upon or be seen by the Lord. Then, a seraphim flew to him and put fire to his lips ,and his sin was atoned for. I think this foreshadows the role of Jesus. Now, God tells Isaiah what He wants him to do. When I read what God told Isaiah to say to the people, I asked myself, "Why does God want the people to hear and not understand, etc. and turn and be healed?" Then, while flipping through my Bible, Matthew 13:10-15 caught my eye.

10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “‘You will indeed hear but never understand,and you will indeed see but never perceive. 15 For this people's heart has grown dull,and with their ears they can barely hear,and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.'

Indeed, God was setting up Jesus to speak in parables and be the healer. The only change from Isaiah to Matthew is "turn and be healed" becomes "turn and I would heal them." Jesus is proclaiming that He is the One foretold of in Isaiah.

To hear Todd Agnew sing Isaiah 6, click here.

It's Your Bible Calling...

2005-11-07T17:30:00.000-05:00

Released yesterday was the newest "version" of the Bible. Called the SMSBible, the Bible can now be sent as text messages. Read an article about the SMSBible here. Or check out their website here.

I would say that few love gadgets and technology more than I; however, I fear that this new technology, while designed to draw youth to the Bible, will become nothing more than a fad.
Remember these?
I think that all this technology does in the end is promote poor grammar. The last thing we need is illiterate youth, especially with the Bible.

John 3:16 (ESV) goes from this:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

To this:

"God luvd da ppl of dis wrld so much dat he gave his only Son, so dat evry1 who has faith in him will have eternal life & neva really die." Jhn 3:16 CEV

While I do not know anything about the CEV translation of the Bible, turning that translation into the language of text-messagers just seems problematic. Maybe it is only me, but I could not take the SMSBible version of John 3:16 seriously. It just didn't show me the splendor that is God's grace and love for us by giving His Son. I can't imagine having to reflect and meditate on "dis's and dat's." Are we so busy that we can only read from our cell phones? Is our society shifting away from what has worked for 1000s of years, sitting down and pouring over good ol' books? I think carrying my Bible is just as easy as carrying my cell phone.

Work In Progress

2005-11-03T22:23:00.000-05:00

I am sorry to say that the music for my blog will be temporarily unavailable. Do not fret, the music will return. Also, a new post is just around the corner!

The Cross Is More Than Jewelry [Revised]

2005-10-17T20:00:00.000-05:00

How many times have you seen a cross around someone's neck? In this day and age, the cross has become nothing more than fashionable. Rappers, pornstars, Christians, and anyone else wears one. You, YES YOU, have probably worn one. If not, you can be glad to know that the cross can be purchased as a necklace for a couple bucks or 1,000s of dollars. The cross is on necklaces, earrings, shirts, rings, cars, and anything else that has room to have it put on it. However, I fear that, for many, the cross is not where it actually belongs, in the heart.

Now, don't mistake me. A pornstar is as equal in wearing the cross as any Christian. Think not? Ever committed a sin while wearing it? If we do wear a cross, by doing so we should make Christ look valuable, like He is the most precious thing in our life. Maybe by the end of this, you will see that the cross is not about who can and cannot wear it, but is more about what the cross means.

At Anthem 2005, Craig Cooper spoke about the doctrine of sin. A part of his message pushed me to post this. He cited a story from his youth in which he was asked, "Is that cross around your neck real? Or is it just decoration?" He later went on to say this:

The cross is a declaration. It declares the holiness of God. It declares God is righteous and must punish sin. It declares the sinfulness of man. It declares God's love. It declares the righteousness of Christ alone. If we don't understand sin, then we cannot comprehend the need for the cross.

There in lies the problem. If we have lost an understanding of sin,
the cross has lost its meaning to us. Therefore, it is meaningless and is nothing more than the rest of the jewelry that you own.

When I talked to Craig after his message, he told me that those who meaninglessly wear the cross are doing nothing more than wearing an electric chair. What he meant by this was that crucifixion was a horrible Roman style of execution. So, take Christ out of the picture, and that is all you have left, a display of a means for execution.

Everyone has sinned. Christ died for that sin on the cross. Without Him, we are all equally viewed before God, unholy and unrighteous. If Christ isn't in your heart, it is worn equally. So, be you a church-going Christian or a pornstar, wear your crosses or don't. However, examine yourself. If you wear a cross, is it real? Or is it just decoration? Does it make Christ look like a precious treasure?

In Awe

2005-10-10T09:16:00.000-05:00

I am still captivated by Mike Plewniak's message at VFC about who God is. As humans, we pridefully bring down the view of God. I am amazed at how human beings know so much, and yet, know so very little. The verse Mike used was Psalm 8:1-4.

8:1 O Lord, our Lord,how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babes and infants,you have established strength because of your foes,to still the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

"When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you should care for him?" That is how we should look at the universe. It reveals who God is and how far above us He is. He made the universe with his fingers, with one voice He spoke it into existence, why should He care about us? Look at the picture of the universe above. The little dots to the lower right are the planets of our solar system. Imagine how small in comparison we are. We are insignificant in might and knowledge.

As humans obtain more information about the universe, one would think that our awe of God would increase far beyond David's, who was in awe when he new far less about what he was looking at. In fact, I think that the more we find out about the universe, the more prideful we become in our "knowledge."

Every day we should be in awe of how BIG God is. He holds the universe in His hands. And yet, God is personal. He knows us by name; He knows the number of hairs on our head; He knows our tomorrows. If God can create the majesty of the universe, why should we think that our future is out of His control? Indeed, He is sovereign in ALL things.

Another thing about the universe that should keep us in awe is its beauty. Ever seen a picture of a nebula? There is such beauty in the universe. What is truly awe inspiring is the fact that this beauty is only a fraction of God's beauty.

The universe should humble us. God is FAR above us in all things. Take time to reflect on the vastness of space, and remind yourself that God is big and far above us. He is not to be brought down to our level. Have you created a universe with your fingers and with one voice yet? Until you do, be in awe of God.

For more pictures of the beauty of space: Click Here

Squatty Wisdom Updates

2005-10-05T09:15:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to inform people about the items (new and old) available on this blog. I offer a daily crossword puzzle which contains 7 different puzzles and is automatically updated daily. Music is now available for listening throughout the day. The music is from 'My Playlist' and will be updated randomly, when I feel like adding different songs (song requests may be considered: make a comment to this blog concerning your requests). The Daily Bible Verse is automatically updated every day. The Word of the Day is offered as a way of stretching vocabulary (yours and mine); it is manually put in and will be attempted to be updated every day. The Quote of the Week is offered as a thought provoker or an encourager but will mostly just serve as a good laugh. It will be updated every Monday.

An Interesting Addition to My Interesting Day

2005-09-29T21:24:00.000-05:00

Well, the day got more interesting. When I went to get dinner at Moe's, I locked my keys in my car. SWELL! I called my friend David Ash, and he picked me up to take me to VFC (Volunteers for Christ). After VFC, David took me to my house which is quite a distance from my locked car. We get to my house, and what could be the worst thing? None of my housemates were home!! How was I supposed to get in when my keys were locked in my car? I don't have their phone numbers, and no one could help. What did me and David do? We broke in, of course. The whole time I was thinking, "Great! The police will show up any minute now." I'm not going to tell you how we got in, but it was very complicated and involved a screwdriver. We got inside, and I got my spare car key. He drove me back to my car; I got in and went home. Now, I sit here telling you all this excitedly because the day is OVER!

An Interesting Day

2005-09-29T11:04:00.000-05:00

I'm sitting in a computer lab listening to Duke Ellington for my Jazz in American Culture class and pausing from working on a lab report for Microbiology on biofilms--hence why I am pausing. Now, if you new my class schedule, you would be saying, "But Travis, shouldn't you be in Microbiology right now?" Well, that is why I figure that I will take some time to talk about the interesting day I've had so far and it's barely even noon.

It all started this morning at home at 9:00. Again, if you new my class schedule, you would be saying, "But Travis, shouldn't you be in Physics right now?" I had decided to skip Physics because my regular professor was not going to be there, and I didn't feel like trying to listen to some new guy that would do things differently anyway. By the time 10:25 came along, I had gotten out of the shower, had gotten dressed, and had packed my backpack. Micro didn't start until 11:10, so I decided to get online and update the Word of the Day section of my blog and to also email my biofilm lab report to myself so that I could work on it on campus. I got offline, went out to my car, and left for campus. It was 10:37. I thought, "I'm doing just fine. I'll be on time." I drove about a mile down the road and realized that when I got online I forgot (which is a common action I perform) to email myself the lab report. I had to turn around and rush home to email it to myself. When I left the house the second time, it was 10:46. I thought, "OK. I can still make it." So, I headed for campus again. I was about 3/4 (or closer) of the way to campus when what should stop traffic at 10:57? A TRAIN! A train on barely used tracks that has never stopped me there before! I was broken. I thought, "MAN! I was gonna make it." Was this a fast moving train? Nope. SSSSSSSSSSSllllllllooooooowwwwwllllllyyyyyy, the train passed. I was doomed not to make it. As I got to campus, class had already started. I didn't make it. So, I just parked my car and decided to head to the computer lab, work on my lab report, and wait for Jazz. 1 out of 3 classes today....not exactly a good average.

Rejoicing in Suffering

2005-09-28T22:05:00.000-05:00

Romans 5
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Just take some time to thank God for your sufferings, and rejoice in them because we have peace with God because of Jesus Christ. Make a time of stress or sorrow into praise.

I would love to hear from people about these verses.

What's in a name?

2005-09-28T14:31:00.000-05:00

In hopes that this story will never have to be told EVER again, I will enlighten everyone to the name Squatty. This will also explain the line stating "Wisdom that is slightly short and can't jump high either for that matter."

It all started my freshman year of college. I was playing kickball with people from Volunteers for Christ. At one particular--and enduring--point of the game, I was playing first base. A guy by the name of Stuart Daniels was kicking. He kicked the ball to the third baseman. Now, forgetting the fact that I would have had to jump 5 feet in the air to catch the ball, the third baseman launched the ball at me, and I didn't catch it. When Stuart got to first base, he said, "Nice job jumping for that ball." Being the nice guy I am and not wanting to put blame on another player, I said, "Anh, what can I do? I'm kinda short and can't really jump. I'm, you know, kinda squatty."

Squatty ('skwä-tE) adj. 1: low to the ground 2: dumpy

Being 5'10" and 210 lbs., I believe the word was, and still is, accurate. The word soon became my nickname but only in use by Stuart. Only Stuart called me Squatty until, like all good epidemics, the nickname spread rampantly.

So in short (no pun intended), I'm below average height, and I can only jump a few inches.