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

A song.

Tonight, I wanna do one of these like, song-to-sermon kind of deals. I had a couple of songs in mind, but one that we just kinda played around with tonight at practice was Blessed Be Your Name. A lot of artists have done this song, I just picked a version I liked. Watch the vid, then ponder what I have to say about it.



I picked Blessed Be Your Name because it's one song I know that is taken almost directly from a book of the Bible. Some history on the story it tells. Job (J-ohb) was a man of God. He had it made too. Land, cattle, livestock, family, house, money, everything the American dream in Bible times was equal to.

One day, Satan came before God and God asked what he had been doing. Satan claimed to be strolling the Earth. God asked Satan if he had considered His servant, Job. A "blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil" Satan remarked that God had put a protective hedge around Job. God said He would remove the hedge so Satan could test Job. The only rule was, Satan was not allowed to touch Job's physical body.

So, Satan tests Job. He kills all of Job's cattle, takes his land, kills his servants, and kills all of his children. At the news of this, Job tears his clothes and shaved his head. He then falls to the ground and worships God. "'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."

Satan tests Job again, after getting the ok from God. This time he takes Job's health. Job grows these gross lesions on his body, so bad that he takes pieces of terra cotta and cuts his skin, to ease the pain of the boils. Job's wife turns to him in disgrace and says that he needs to end this nonsense. She tells him to simply curse God and die. But, remarkably, "In all this, Job did not sin with his lips."

The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. The entire book of Job is pretty ridiculous. At the very end, because of his faithfulness to God, Job is given so much more than he already had. And his friends get rebuked. Because they weren't that great of friends.

But it's just an amazing thought. In all that he suffered, Job never turned to God and said that it was His fault. Job never ceased worshiping his creator. I can speak personally and say that I don't think I could do that. But that is a statement against a lot of people. Especially in America. We are so prone to take everything we have for granted, and when something is taken from us, we more often than not blame God.

But I ask you this. If God does this to us, and takes things from us, do you not think He has something better to fill that hole?

Just saying. Tonight's practice was pretty stinking awesome, given the circumstances.


Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
  “Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”

  For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
(Romans 11:33-36 ESV)


Philos, Justin

My 50th post.

Wow. Can't believe it's been 50 posts. This thing is fun.

I just want to briefly talk. I'm reading through a book right now called "Desiring God." It's taken me forever to finally read this book, and I am so glad I am. It's a deep look at what it truly means to desire God and to be one of His disciples.

That being said, my brain is fried. Lol. So, I wanted to post a video of an amazing song or two.






So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
(Romans 10:17 ESV)

Philos, Justin

A prayer.

Just, what I'm feeling right now as I am supposed to be writing my English paper, but this needs to be said.

God, you truly are amazing. I lay in my bed here, and have one of those "ah-ha" moments. You made me so intricately and planned out my life before I was even a thought. I just want to apologize. God, I know I have fallen short of Your perfect glory. I ask for Your forgiveness. I know that I need you and that You desire to be glorified in my life. And truth be told God, I'm doing a terrible job of it. So please, change me. Create in me a new heart. I know You know what I am going to do with my life. I just pray that it is a life that honors You and gives You the most glory possible, because You deserve the most glory. I thank You for the cross, Lord. Thank you for sending Your perfect and spotless Son to live a sinless life and die a death that I deserve so that I can believe in You and live for you, despite failing miserably. Thank You for all You have blessed me with, because it is more than I deserve. Waaay more. God, I know that this prayer seems self-centered. I can only hope that Your Holy Spirit intercedes on my behalf and prays what I need prayer for. Because if left up to my own devices, I would condemn myself to death apart from You.

Thank you Lord, for everything you do for me. I pray all of these things in Jesus' name, Amen.

Philos, Justin

On the outside, we've found a home.

The Outsiders by Needtobreathe. Good song. Anyways, I wasn't going to post tonight, considering how later in the evening it is. But, I figure I wanna talk about this one. 


As of recently, I have been struggling with an idea. A question, rather. And it's taking some discussion with a good friend to help me out, despite my friend needing to sleep, to my dissapointment. My question stands, do people in countries that have never heard the Gospel die, and spend eternity in Hell, separated from God?


Originally, my answer was no. Because God is a merciful and just God. And I couldn't imagine a God that would punish people for something they never knew about. But as I talked with my friend more and more, and read through Romans 10, I have a new opinion. 


All people are born into sin. We are all wicked by nature. That wickedness separates us from God, eternally. Regardless of if we ever hear about the Gospel or not. Should we hear and God chooses to save us, and use us for His glory, then we can one day live forever with him. But if we never hear, then we are condemned to die alone.


However, this is where the evangelical Christian comes in. We are called, once saved by Jesus, to go the the corners of the Earth and preach the Gospel. So because of our lethargy and lack of desire to do the work of Christ, millions of people die and spend eternity separated from God.


David Platt, in his book "Radical" said that "There are no innocent people in the World just waiting to hear the gospel. Instead there are people all over the world standing guilty before a holy God, and that is the very reason they need the Gospel."


Just something to chew on. I'm sure gonna be chewing for a while.


How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. 
(Romans 10:14-17 ESV)


Philos, Justin

So won't You take the lead?

I have such awesome friends. My friends have an amazing taste in music. I heard three new songs today, and I thought that you guys should enjoy them, so here are some videos. Two are just lyrics, then one is a real music video.








If I picked favorites, I like them all. Background is really easy to sing along to. All of them are amazing songs and have messages presented in awesome ways.

Also, I found out today that someone else reads my blog. I'm excited!


For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
(Romans 3:22-26 ESV)

Soli Deo Gloria.

Philos, Justin

Calvinism.

I was gonna tackle this post last night, but, I didn't. So, here goes.

I believe I am a Calvinist. Let that sink in.

What is a Calvinist? Well, there are a bunch of different definitions. And people have a bunch of differing opinions on Calvinism. But this is my interpretation, based on what I have learned.

I believe that God made me. I believe that when God made me, he could look at my life like a picture, and see one edge of the frame, my birth, to the opposite edge of the frame, my death or His return. The picture looks like, at least in my mind, a big maze like when you were little. They had a starting point, and a destination. Between them were lines that crossed, weaved in and out of each other, and covered the entire page.

I see that as my life. The lines on the picture are choices and "lives" I have the opportunity to live. God drew all the lines, and knows which one I'm going to take. I just have the mindset that I am in control of it. That is the first aspect of Calvinism I believe in. Man has no true free will. Every choice we make, no matter how freely we believe we make it, was predetermined by God. Even the bad choices.

There is an acronym that describes it better than I can. Ladies and Gentlemen, TULIP.

T-Total Depravity: Because of the Fall, or when sin entered the world, every human is born into sin. It surrounds us and we cannot escape using our own device.

U-Unconditional Election: God does not choose who will believe in Him and be His follower by their merit, actions, or His faith in them. Rather, He determines everything by His mercy. And, that means that there are some that walk this Earth that are condemned to face His wrath.

L-Limited Atonement: This is a kinda controversial topic. Basically, what it means is that the propitiation (Big word for the pouring of God's wrath on Jesus at the Cross) and the sacrifice that Jesus made for sin is sufficient for every man, but efficient for those whom God has predetermined. In essence, if God saw fit to give everyone his unconditional grace, and all were chosen by Him, then the sacrifice that Jesus made would be enough to cover everyone's sin. But, because not everyone will be saved, the sacrifice Jesus made is enough regardless. It's kinda confusing.

I-Irresistable Grace: By far, one of the coolest things I believe. In essence, the grace and love of God is so overwhelming, that if you are destined to accept Jesus as your savior, the message of the Gospel and the saving grace that it brings will bring you to Jesus. If God desires for you to be saved, you will be saved.

P-Perseverance of the Saints: Saints here is not what you think. Saints are defined in Calvinism as those who are set apart by God, not men who are holy, or canonized, or whatever. This means that those who are in Christ truly will continue in faith with Him till the end, because God's grace can't be outdone by human efforts. That means that those who fall from faith were never truly in it to begin, or will return one day.

That's TULIP. Another cool thing is what's called Sovereign Grace. Basically, it means that before a perfect God, all of us are condemned. However, God, in His sovereign grace, is merciful to some. It goes back to what I said earlier. You're not saved based on works, or the faith God has in you. Just by His grace and power alone, and because He desires it.

Anyway, that's what I think. For some good books on it, read just about anything by John Piper, R.C. Sproul, A.W. Tozer (Who isn't a Calivinist, per se, but he has some good stuff), David Platt (again, not a Calvinist, but an amazing author). C.S. Lewis was a hair away from John Calvin in doctrine, but did write some amazing stuff. Yes, the guy who wrote the Chronicles of Narnia was a Christian.

Well, that's a start. I have yet to read some books on my Kindle app by these guys, The Pursuit of God (Tozer), Let the Nations Be Glad, and Desiring God (Piper).

Hope that was enlightening to read!


He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
(Hebrews 1:3 ESV)

Philos, (Which, I told my good friend Jim that I would explain. Philos is the Greek word for love for the brothers. Basically, I love you like my family.) Justin.

Ink.

I have come to decide that I want a tattoo. Nothing like, ridiculous. Just something awesome.

It's gonna be on my shoulder blade, able to be covered up by a shirt. I want something symbolic. Probably a Bible verse or passage. Maybe Isaiah 6:1. I like that verse. Or something like Hebrews 12:1-2. "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."

The only problem is, THAT'S A LOT OF INK! AND IT WILL HURT! But, my friend Ashley (Pashley is her nickname) from Super Summer, got a tattoo. She got her right arm decked out in ink, with the verse Genesis 1:26. It's on a scroll thing, surrounded by animals and flowers and awesomeness.

I don't think getting a tattoo is wrong. I don't believe that if done for the right reasons, and getting a God-glorifying tattoo, that you're any more of a wretched sinner than you already are. (James might be proud of me for that. He likes calling us wretched.)

But, anyway. It's all talk for now. I'm gonna figure out what I want, and let it simmer for a while. That way I know I want to get it, when I finally do. Because it's there forever. The way I see it, my body is a temple of God. I just want to hang up a pretty sweet poster.


Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
(1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV)

Philos, Justin

iAssociate.

That game is ridiculous. Wanna know what I've been doing all spring break?

Monday: Finished camping with the guys, then mowed the yard for the first time this year. It felt good. Kinda.
Tuesday:Worked all evening, and I can't remember what I did during the day.
Wednesday:I worked all evening, and joked around all day.
Thursday: I opened at work that day, and then had band practice that night. Aaand, I went to my grandparents! They're so cool.
Friday: Went to the zoo with Ally, Andy, and the grandma. Took some sweeeet pics. They're on Facebook. For sure. Had work that night too.
Saturday: Slept in till like, 11. That was awesome. Just saying. Then went home from the grandparents and worked that night.
Sunday: Today. I had church, then put our shiny new grill together. Then, guess what? Work. For real. YAY!

Fun spring break, overall.

Tomorrow equals school, then working out. Gotta get back into that routine. And then I get to bust the new grill out, grilling some pork tenderloin.

I found an awesome song.




Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
(1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ESV)

Philos, Justin

Leslie Neilson

I'm watching the Naked Gun. It's amazing. Never a doubt with Leslie Neilson. Too bad he's dead.

This weekend was fun. The guys all went camping overnight yesterday, and we all got back around 4 today. Everybody seemed to have a blast!

Needless to say, I'm pooped. Tonight's post is not that deep.


Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
(James 5:16 ESV)

Philos, Justin