For a moment, a band of thieves in ripped up jeans ruled the world.

Wow, it's been like, FOREVER since I posted. So, I'm just gonna go for it.

Since we last spoke, a lot has happened! I have my official last day at Spring Creek Friday, I leave for my scuba trip on Saturday morning, and I'm done with my freshman year of college next week!

So what am I up to now? Well, I have decided I want to adopt a child when I grow up. I still want to go skydiving, I got the final plans for my first tattoo today, and I still want a motorcycle.

I want a tattoo. Sorry critics. I want this one because it carries meaning. It's a statement of faith. It's what I believe and what I preach. I'm not getting a naked woman, or a boat anchor, or my zodiac sign, or a face of a person. I'm getting the Cross. The most powerful thing that has ever happened to the Earth. And I'm getting a verse: One that sums up a lot. 1 Corinthians 1:18. For the message of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to we who are being saved, it is the power of God.

I don't want it because it's cool. I mean, it IS cool, and I DO want it, but that's not the main reason.

Sorry if you don't like it. But know I'm not gonna just rush off and get it done. I'm gonna let it sit for a while. But, it will happen one day.

Decide what to be, and go be it.

Philos, Justin

Tonight's the night, for the sinners and the saints.

Two worlds collide in a beautiful display. Today was long, long longfellow. Lol. School, then work. Met the new associate manager. She seems pretty chill. Little out there, but hey, so am I.

That being said, because I didn't blog last night, due to the RANGER GAME! I have decided to show some sweet videos I've seen recently.

Enjoy.


Washed by the Water-Needtobreathe



Far Away-Lecrae. This song gave me goosebumps the first time I heard it.



Let Us Love-Needtobreathe




Just some good music. At least I think so.

Alright, goodnight world.


This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
(1 John 1:5-10 ESV)

Philos, Justin

Decide what to be, and go be it.

So, this weekend has been amazing! The overarching theme has been like, idk. Winning. That would be a good word. Or victory. Or accomplishment.

Friday, after my whopping 45 minutes total of class, I chilled at my house then went back up to UTA to run in the Alpha Chi Omega Light the Night 5k, benefiting the stop of Domestic Violence. I killed that sucka! 27:45 seconds, to run 3.1 miles. Not bad for my first race ever! Then I went to a friend's house and watched a sweet movie, then woke up at 7 the next morning and ran the Fort Worth Zoo Run, another 5k. I was slower, but finished 28:21, and was 364th out of 2200 people. That, by itself, to me is incredible.

But, I'm not just going to stop there. I want to run a 10k by September, the Mud Run in October, and have completed a half and full marathon by the time I turn 21. I think that is an awesome goal to have.

The coolest part about Saturday's race, was on the final half mile, Taylor Swift's song Change came on. It's basically about how if you face an obstacle, the greatest feeling in the world is overcoming it. The part that played as I ran to and crossed the finish line was "These things will change, I can feel it now. These walls that they put up to hold us back, fell down. It's a revolurtion! Throw your hands up, because we never gave in! We'll sing hallelujah!"

It was so cool. And I had my hands raised as I crossed the finish line. So, FACEBOOK PICTURE! Once Brightroom uploads it...

Anyhow, I'm beat. My legs are still sore!


I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
(2 Timothy 4:7 ESV)

Philos, Justin

Birthday post for Ally

Today is her birthday. The coolest little sister in the world. She turned 13 today, and I got to take her to her friend Megan's before school. She and her cousin, Amren, share the same birthday, and so they had to sing Happy Birthday to each other. I wish I was at church that.

Ally is growing up so dang fast. It's crazy. I'm not ready for her to be this old. Teenage years are gonna be hard on her, but if there's one thing I want her to know, I'm always gonna be here for her, and so will Andy. And, if any guy ever hurts her or breaks her heart, we'll beat the crap out of him. No one messes with my sister.

Ally, I know you probably won't read this, but here are some videos for you. From brother to sister.

1. Because I know you LOVE Glee.



2. This song won't mean much now, but I hope you still appreciate the message behind it.



3. GOOD MORNING HATUHS!




Anyways, words can't describe how awesome this girl is. I LOVE YOU ALLY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!


Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
(1 Timothy 4:12 ESV)

Philos (Means I love you like a brother!), Justin

Oh, oh oh, it's magic. You know, never believe it's not so.

Alright. Today has been pretty sweet action. I'm also kinda excited about tomorrow. We're watching a movie in English. YAY MOVIES! And lunch tomorrow...something's going on... I forget.

Oh well.

"I'm right smack in the middle of a love triangle!" Haha, this show All Worked Up makes me laugh. It's a show that follows a bunch of people who do the jobs that no one else has the right mind to do, like process servers, repo men, code compliance. People who realize that everyone they meet will more than likely hate them. But, they do it. And it's funny.

Ok,  here's some things that will make you laugh.






I feel funny. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME?

For the Word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved is is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV

Philos, Justin

Scrubs

I love that show. I'm slowly working my way through every episode. Right now, I'm on the season finale of season 1. So, yay! Haha.

This weekend has been crazy fool. Like, Friday night, I went to church for a spur of the moment picnic with some friends of mine, then from there went to one friend's house to watch Law Abiding Citizen. That movie still gets me all...Idk. Anyway, Saturday took me and Ally to the mall for her to get some new...drumroll please....shoes. Surprised? I didn't believe so. That afternoon, I chilled before work, where my allergies drove me insane. Today was church, then a meeting, then work, where I said goodbye to two very good friends on their last day. Now I'm here.

My mind is squished. A lot to think about. So, I hate to cop out, but here's a video or two. By an artist that might surprise you. But, to his credit, he sounds amazing.





Owl City.

In Christ alone, my hope is found. Or, to reword it. My hope is only found in Christ. Nothing else. He's the cornerstone of our faith, a solid groung that will never give way. How amazing it is. The thought that one day, I can be in His presence.

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
(Matthew 7:24-27 ESV)

Philos, Justin

Run, fat boy run.

I took Ally running with me tonight around the neighborhood. She couldn't keep up. In a way, it made me feel better. I can outrun my cheerleader sister. BOOM! Needless to say, I'm beat. So, I decided the best thing to do would be to post a couple of videos that make me get the warm fuzzies.






And, I know I've posted the video for this like, a bajillion times, but it is one of my favorites.





Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
(Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV)

Philos, Justin

Jammin'

I got to go back to the youth group today. That, in itself, made today totally worth getting up for. Not the Rangers winning, (WOO!), not Fuzzy's for lunch, going back into the youth group. Going back to the friends I missed, and the lessons I REALLY missed. And, getting to meet some new friends!

Tonight is short. I had to finish writing an English paper and my brain is fried. So, here's a video of a song we played tonight, that has a simply powerful meaning.





Praise the LORD, all nations!
Extol him, all peoples!
  For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Praise the LORD!
 (Psalm 117 ESV)

Philos, Justin

Wash.

So, in light of today and the theme, I wanna talk about servanthood.

Today was One Day Without Shoes. I walked around barefoot for 90 percent of my day, and my feet got filthy. When it finally came time to get ready for bed, I sat on the edge of my bathtub and washed my feet. Which got me thinking. It reminded me of something pretty awesome.

The first summer I met one of my best friends, he washed my feet. One of the things he talked about was how Jesus, as awesome and powerful as He is, always considered Himself a servant. And likewise, so should we. As he told us about it, my friend washed my feet. My gross, stinky feet. But, to this day, it was one of the first real memories I have of one of my best friends. Odds are, he may or may not read this.

But it makes you think. Jesus, in all of His might, still washed feet. Now, back in the day, you walked wherever you went. Some people had sandals, and some just barefooted it. And it wasn't asphalt roads, they were dirt. And sand, and dry. Your feet got filthy. So, when you went to a friend's house, they usually had someone there to wash your feet for you when you entered. This servant was the lowest on the ladder. His entire job involved just, washing feet. Stinky, dirty feet.

Jesus gathered His disciples together one night for dinner. At dinner, He stood up and began go around the table, washing feet. When He gets to Simon Peter, Peter gets kinda angry, feeling that Jesus is too good to wash his feet. If Jesus was to wash his feet, Peter asks him to was his hands and head. Jesus responds with "The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean."

Later, Jesus sits back down at the table with them and explains why He did that. "When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, 'Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him' "

Imagine that. A servant is no greater than his master. Despite Jesus being the Son of God, He still recognized that He was just a servant. A humble servant in the Father's hands.

It's pretty amazing. We serve an amazing God. That's just it. We SERVE Him. We are the ones who should be washing His "feet," and yet He sent His Son to wash ours.


For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
 (Psalm 84:10 ESV)

Philos, Justin

One Day Without Shoes

I'm so excited! Tomorrow, April 5, is TOMS One Day Without Shoes! In case you weren't aware from all of my ramblings and excitedness, I am so pumped!

A brief explanation. TOMS is a shoe company that was founded on one belief. Every child deserves a pair of shoes. So, they have a One For One Program, and for every pair of shoes you buy, they will give a pair of shoes to a kid somewhere in the world that does not have them.

Every April 5th, they encourage One Day Without Shoes. This day, TOMS asks that people go for 24 hours, or whatever part of their day that they can, without shoes to show what it is like for these kids that have none. I'm so pumped! And, I like being barefoot.. I have a ODWS tee shirt to wear too. :D I'm just trying to figure out if and how I am going to the Y to run. I guess I need to go, maybe run on the outside track. The weather should be pretty alright for it.

So, that's all I got for tonight.

That and a video. Because I like videos.





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 ESV)

Philos, Justin

If His Grace is an ocean, we're all sinking.

So, some interesting stuff. It's now after the fact, so I can talk about it.

Our church is in a time of transition. Our former pastor and Music Minister, Donnie and Damon Foster, have resigned for personal reasons. So, if you read this and are the praying type. be in prayer for Grace Baptist Church. This time is tough and we could sure use the prayer.

We played How He Loves today at church. Just, something about that song. I wanna blog about it.

Watch the vid. There's a music video by David Crowder, but you need to read the lyrics.




He is jealous for me. God is a jealous God, who desires all of our love in return for all of His. Love's like a hurricane and I am a tree, bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy.

I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory, and I realize just how beautiful you are and how great Your affections are for me. When we fully see God's glory and how truly amazing He is, and His love for us is, it makes us completely aware of how unworthy we are of Him.

Oh, how he loves us all.

We are His portion and He is our prize. I wrestled with this verse for a while. And with the help of a friend, finally got it kinda figured out. We are His portion. Because we have been bought with a price, the death and finished work of Jesus on the cross, we are now a portion of God. He effectively owns us. And He is our prize. He is the treasure above all treasures, the prize and priceless gift we are not worthy of.

Drawn to redemption by the Grace in His Eyes. If His Grace is an ocean, we're all sinking. The grace that God has, once shown to us, is so...irresistable. We have seen just how amazing His grace is, and the taste we have gotten makes us want it even more. If His Grace is an ocean, we're all sinking. Think of the Ocean. The Lorentian Abyss is the deepest part of the Atlantic, and the grace of God is so deep that we can't help but just sink into it.

So Heaven meets earth like an unforseen kiss and my heart turns violently inside of my chest. I don't have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way that He loves us. The collision of God's mercy with our sinful ways is like that of a surprise kiss. It takes your breath away like nothing else could. My heart turns violently inside of my chest. The emotions that surround us when we have our "ah-ha" moment are incredibly overwhelming. Or at least, they've always been for me. I don't have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way that He loves us. When all you can focus on is the love Jesus has for you, there's no room for anything else.

Oh, how He loves us all.

Anyway, that was on my mind today.


Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
(Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV)

Philos, Justin