Thoughtful Thrilling Tasteful Tangible Tantalizing Totally Tite Terrific Tune Tuesday

Monday, February 1, 2010

It's been quite some time since the last Tune Tuesday. I'll blame it on not being able to come up with a "t" word for the title...

Go.

Song: Uprising

Artist: Muse

Album: The Resistance

Here's the video. Push play and read on:

I bought this song about a month ago and then a week later my church band played it one Sunday (and rocked it). I think the message in the song is pretty clear, but something about it being played in church really grabbed me and made me think about it in a new way.

I'm going to use this song as my anthem for my last semester at Winthrop. You'll see why...

The first verse really just describes how the world tries to influence us and control how we act and think. For instance:

They'll try to push drugs to keep us all dumbed down,

And hope that we will never see the truth around...

Another packaged lie to keep us trapped in greed.

And then to the powerful anthem chorus I love:

They will not force us,

They will stop degrading us,

They will not control us,

And we will be victorious!

When I first heard this song, I thought they=the world and us=my generation. After hearing it in church and reflecting on it in a different way, I thought they=the world, but us=Christians.

Instantly Romans 12:2 came to mind:

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The second verse is encouraging basically saying that we can do this together:

If you could flick a switch and open your third eye,

You'd see that we should never be afraid to die...

It's time that the fat cats had a heart attack,

You know that their time's coming to an end,

We have to unify and watch or flag ascend!

Then the strong chorus plays several times until the song ends.

Ever time I listen (and sometimes sing really loudly) to this song, I make that chorus my prayer: that we, as Christians, especially in my generation, will not let the ever-pressuring world force us into doing things we know aren't right or changing who we are, will not get discouraged by the world laughing at our choices, nor will we let them control our actions through fear of the above mentioned things. Through Christ, we will be victorious, as He has already shown us.

So I'm using this song as my anthem as I prepare to leave college, head out into the real world and start fulfilling God's calling on my life. This songs pumps me up to take this [scary] next step. It encourages me.

There's about 20 million others things I could write about this song, but just let this song take on any other meanings to you personally. Share if you want!

End.

Unplanned Plan 343

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Here's a little formula I created:

New Thru 30 + RELG 313 = Unplanned Plan 343

Let me explain:

New Thru 30: My church here at school, Elevation, is leading a series called New Thru 30. Basically, the congregation (plus churches and people from all over the world) are reading the entirety of the New Testament in the next 30 days. They designed a nice little reading plan that is available for everyone on the above web site. It's not too late to join in! I'm on day 4 and loving it so far!

RELG 313: I decided to take RELG 313 just because I love the professor and I needed a class in that area. RELG 313 just happens to be Intro to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. So, I'll be reading and studying (in a more academic way compared to New Thru 30) most of the Old Testament.

Unplanned Plan 343: Coincidently, I'll be reading through just about the entire Bible in the next few months. Woah. It's going to be a ton of reading, but I'm excited for the challenge. I can't wait to see what I learn and how I'm changed through this process. Wish me luck! I'll give updates along the way!

James' Lessons

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

I've been digging into James lately. And let me tell you, I was blown away by the first 18 verses and I just knew it was going to be good. Truth is, I've been reading it for a few weeks and I'm not past 2:13, because there is just so much good stuff in there.

I started reading it after I learned my small group from Rock Hill, which I left for the summer :(, was reading it too. Kelly and Jennica, our leader, are two amazing gals from my group.

A few things I've noticed:
-Be optimistic!

1:2 "Dear brothers and sisters, when trouble comes your way, consider it an oppurtunity for great joy."

I've been described as an optimistic person (except for with the Braves lately), so it was nice to read this. And I can easily apply it to the health problems with my dad.

-Do not divide loyalty.

1:6 "But when you ask him [for wisdom and guidance], be sure your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind."

Wow, strong image. If your loyalty is in the world too, the world is just going to toss you around. I can easily see the consequence, yet it's still a concept that I struggle with. I also think this verse relates to motives behind actions. Why do I ask God or seek God in some certian situations? What are my thoughts behind them?

-Just do it!

1:22-25 "22 But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.23 For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror.24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it."

Don't just listen to God's word, do it! This relates back to something I learned while in New Orleans: "Go after it" was a quote we used often. Don't complain, but act on it. Nehemiah didn't just complain about the broken wall, he prayed about it, acted on it, and began to fix it. Listening and talking alone can get us nowhere.

-Care for those in need.

1:27 "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you."

Refuse to let the world currupt you. Don't divide your loyalty.