Everything's New Two

Hey hey hey. Well, I'm in a new season where it seems like everything's changing. I just graduated from college, which is a pretty big transition. It's a little wierd having to think about things a little more long term now. When in school, you don't really have to have an answer for what the rest of your life is going to look like. Once you graduate, you have to come up with some sort of answer to some of these questions. It's pretty crazy. I'll let you know when I come up with one.

I just got back from summercamp two weeks ago. It was amazing to see God transforming young people to be champions and of those who do not shrink back, but rather press forward. I truly believe that revivial is going to come back to America through this next generation. I am just honored that I am able to take part in the Revolution. I'm even starting a youth cell group. How bout that?

I just moved too. It's a bittersweet thing. I loved my last year in the Lounge, and my new place doesn't quite feel like home yet, but I know there is a lot of new adventures in store for this year.

To top things off, I just signed up at Gold's Gym, where the ripped of the ripped hang out. Hopefully, I can turn some of these pounds into muscle real soon.

I know not yet what this next year holds in store with jobs, music, ministry and what not, but as my friend Luke says, "You're somewhere in the future, and you look much better than you look right now." Rock-n-roll!

-Justin

The Big Picture

    I'm sitting at a coffee shop right now working on homework.  I figured I would take a study break.

    Its funny, my life is all over the place right now, literally.  I still haven't quite made sense of how I'm going to get done what I need to get done in this next month, but oh well.  There is a verse in the Bible that says, "Trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."  Luckily, this verse alleviates my need for understanding how everything is going to work out.  

    The Bible teaches that when you are in Christ, one of the benefits is peace, a peace that surpasses all understanding.  It's a pretty sweet package if you think about it.  It's a divine exchange, your anxiety for His rest. 

    Peace is not something very many people have these days if you look around.  It's quite the opposite - we cling to anxiety.  People worry themselves to death about the economy, about school, about work, about how they are going to make it, about the future.  Even the thought of being at peace is overwhelming to some.  

     When you begin to understand truly what it means that God is with you, things don't seem to be as big of a deal anymore.  Relationship issues, financial issues, getting sick, not knowing what the future will unfold... none of these things really phase me anymore like they used to. When I take a minute to sit down and think about where I'm going , nothing else really matters.  This isn't it, so don't cling on to it so desperately.  

     So I challenge you today to look  above your circumstances, and not focus on what is in front of you, but on the promises of God for your life, where we have the blessed assurance of peace, hope, healing, and prosperity, and much much more.   It's truth.  

~Justin

Perfect Comes, Partial Fades

Sometimes we go through seasons where things in our lives seem like they are incomplete or lacking. These seasons can last a few days, a few weeks, or even a few months if you're really lucky.

Maybe you're kind of satisfied with where you are in life. Maybe you are kind of blessed by God, but not really. Maybe you are just sort of getting by in life. Maybe you have been healed a little bit by the Lord, but not completely restored. Maybe you do have some dreams, but they are a blur and you don't really have the vision to see them come about. Maybe you sort of have an idea of what love is, but you feel like no one sees you.

God's nature is wholesome, not partial. In 1 Corinthians, it says, "when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away." Wow, what hope we have! Partial happiness, partial healing, partial finances, and partial living will be done away with and the perfect blessing God intended will be upon you. It's a promise. Hold on to it.

-Justin

Pride Destroys

There is a saying that goes, "Pride comes before destruction". Well, pride seems to be a common tradition among the male species.

We went to In-N-Out Burger Sunday night to celebrate Howie's birthday, twenty five years and running. I think this is the year he finds his "rib", if you know what I mean. I'm rooting for him.

Anyways, I got in a competition with my friend Andrew over who could eat the most. I immedeately regretted this decision of course. All in all, I ate a 4X4, 3X3, and single cheeseburger (he ate two double doubles and a 4X4) along with some fries: enough food to feed a family of four I suppose. Seeing how destroyed our stomachs and wallets were, we agreed to a temporary truce.

I would love nothing more than to tell you I learned my lesson, but truth be told, if I had to, I would do it again. It's tradition.

The Champion,

~Justin