(God-Wrestler)

It's been awhile

2009-08-27T21:36:00.000-04:00

Well I haven't done much in the blog-o-sphere lately. My life has changed a lot over the last few months after getting my new job. I am determined to start blogging on a regular basis again and to motivate me to do that I have made some changes. I have migrated my blog from blogger to wordpress. After using both for awhile I've decided that wordpress is the blogging tool for me. With that said you can continue to follow my blog at http://godwrestler.org/ . My posts will not be at http://god-wrestler.blogspot.com/ anymore. If you subscribe to my blog via rss or through blogger please visit http://godwrestler.org/ and use the subscribe links to re sign up. You can still use rss or you can get updates via email.

Thank you all for your support by reading my blog. Hope to see you at the new http://godwrestler.org/

Repost: They Don't See

2009-06-02T23:30:00.000-04:00

I was reading through some of my older posts and I came across this one. I forgot about it and I really like it. So I thought I would share it with you again.

The breeze blows by riding down the path
their lonely faces appear, some are filled with fear
all trying to avoid His wrath.

I keep riding, and just look away
their eyes give a stare, they think i'm unaware
and all i know to do is pray

They don't see His Good
They don't see He is forever
Blind to His faithfulness
Blind to His Love
They don't see

I stear my bike to the side
they watch me go, they are asking if it's no
I don't know why I duck and hide

Why don't they understand
how can i reach them all, but how can i let them fall
Why don't they reach for His hand

They don't see His Good
They don't see He is forever
Blind to His faithfulness
Blind to His Love
They don't see

The Lord is good,
His love endures forever
His faithfulness continues
They Don't See

They don't see His Good
They don't see He is forever
Blind to His faithfulness
Blind to His Love
They don't see

They don't see His Good
They don't see He is forever
Blind to His faithfulness
Blind to His Love
They don't see

I pray louder, louder, louder
Lord let them see Your Good
Lord let them see You Forever
See His Faithfulness
See His Love
Lord let them See

Psalm 100:5
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

2 Years Ago... a Broken Ankle

2009-05-10T22:31:00.001-04:00

This weekend is the 2nd anniversary of a major turning point in my life. It was a major turning point because it was the first of a sequence of events that just really threw me for a loop. It spun me off in directions I never thought I would have gone. Two years ago this weekend I broke my ankle playing a pick up game of baseball.

I never intended on playing that day but they were short players so I said why not. The game was fun even though we were losing. Then in the eighth inning I made the mistake of trying to slide, and here is the result of that.

Yep, I have lots of hardware in my ankle now. If you count that's eight screws and a plate. My ankle is surrounded by scars. I ended up breaking just about anything you can break with the ankle. I ended up giving my Mom a wonderful gift that year. 10AM Mother's Day I went into surgery to try and fix this mess of my ankle.

Many things happened after that from losing my job to breaking up with my girlfriend. My life was kind of like one of those sappy country songs. Luckily my dog didn't die. Those events are actually what led me to start this blog. I hoped it would provide me an outlet to work through the rapid changes I was dealing with. These events are also how I ended up titling my blog. The title comes from the bible story of Jacob when he wrestles with God and receives the name of God Wrestler or Israel. You can read that passage in Genesis 32.

In the past two years I have definitely come through those trials I had to face. They have shaped me in ways I never expected to be. I am in a place now that I never thought I would end up, but its good. Life is good. God is good. God is sovereign.

I'm on a Blob!

2009-05-05T20:57:00.000-04:00

I'm on the Blob (I'm on a Boat Remix) from C. Randall Waters on Vimeo.

Check out our music video fro I'm on the Blob. Its our promotional video for going to Rockbridge Young Life camp this summer.

CIncinnati's Super Hero

2009-04-30T23:32:00.000-04:00

I dont even know what to say bout this. Should I laugh? Should I feel safe? I really dont know. Either way this guy has got the city's attention and people talking. Who am I talking about, none other than, Shadow Hare. Cincinnati's very own super hero.

Another preview of The Noticer

2009-04-30T16:27:00.002-04:00

Book Review: The Noticer

2009-04-27T18:36:00.002-04:00

The Noticer
By: Andy Andrews

I saw the description for this book and decided to give it a go. I have never read anything by Andy Andrews before and I have never heard him speak before. I knew nothing about his writing, his life, or why this book was getting so much hype. So I sat down at work and began to read this book. (I was allowed to read all I wanted at work since I was a night auditor at a hotel.) Before I knew it I was completely wrapped up in this wonderful story.

Every page turned added new insight to my life and kept me wanting to know more about the way one man could make such a big difference just by paying attention to those around him. The Noticer takes you through lives of people touched and changed in the most radical, yet simple, way I have ever heard of. An old man giving new perspective an advice by simply breaking people's lives down to the basics. He takes out the complicated mess and provides a birds eye view.

This book, The Noticer, by Andy Andrews will entertain you and keep you wanting more. Then it will make you sit back and take a new perspective on your life all by looking at it in a simple way. It's a short and fast read that will not leave you disappointed.

Andy Andrews has also launched a project based off this new book, The Noticer Project. This project encourages you to reach out to the 5 most influential people in your life. It's not asking you to present a grand gesture to these people but in some way thank them for how they have influenced you. You can find more about the project here http://www.thenoticerproject.com/.

You can buy The Noticer by: Andy Andrews here.

On Twitter follow @AndyAndrews, @NoticerProject, and @Clyderandall

Taylor Scav Hunt 2009

2009-04-23T17:28:00.001-04:00

Every year we have a scavenger hunt and do all sorts of shenanigans. This year we had six teams and loads of fun even though it was wet and raining. Here are some highlight videos from each team.

Mary's team won this year. :P

If you missed it :P

2009-04-22T20:04:00.000-04:00

Here is some of what you missed if you didn't make it to Chicago with us last weekend.

Kyle leap frogging everything.

Snapshots.

Henri Wisdom 3

2009-04-14T05:31:00.000-04:00

Laying Down Your Life for Your Friends

Good Shepherds are willing to lay down their lives for their sheep (see John 10:11). As spiritual leaders walking in the footsteps of Jesus, we are called to lay down our lives for our people. This laying down might in special circumstances mean dying for others. But it means first of all making our own lives - our sorrows and joys, our despair and hope, our loneliness and experience of intimacy - available to others as sources of new life.

One of the greatest gifts we can give others is ourselves. We offer consolation and comfort, especially in moments of crisis, when we say: "Do not be afraid, I know what you are living and I am living it with you. You are not alone." Thus we become Christ-like shepherds.

I love this. I want this to be a way that my life is described. That I layed my life down for my friends in such away that it glorifies Christ.

Head, Shoes, Dog

2009-04-13T06:35:00.001-04:00

I have a really bad headache right now and it just will not go away. I think its because I have worked so many days straight. Even though my job consists of me sitting here doing nothing its still very draining. Only two more nights and I will be done here at the Forest Park Suites.

I ordered new shoes. They are being delivered today. I am very excited because its been since October of 2007 that I got new shoes.

My dog, Marty, had a seizure last night and my Dad and I got really freaked out. Marty is our long haired chihuahua and he's not the brightest dog but hes the cutest lil thing ever. He is so sweet and loving. I just love it when he lays in my lap and that he tries to play with the big dogs. We tried to take him to our animal clinic which is supposed to be a 24 hour place. When we got there around 10pm there was no one there and Marty was still breathing really hard and shaking really bad. I guess they aren't 24 hour when the next day is Easter. By the time we got back home Marty was doing better but we're still worried bout him. The interweb says that chihuahua's are prone to seizures. So I guess I have an epileptic dog.

Here's Marty McFly chillaxin with my Dad.

Sorry if i have some bad grammar here, my head really hurts right now.

Lark Ascending

2009-04-07T18:14:00.000-04:00

Lark Ascending
by: George Meredith

He rises and begins to round,
He drops the silver chain of sound,
Of many links without a break,
In chirrup, whistle, slur and shake,
All intervolved and spreading wide,
Like water-dimples down a tide
Where ripple ripple overcurls
And eddy into eddy whirls;
A press of hurried notes that run
So fleet they scarce are more than one,
Yet changeingly the trills repeat
And linger ringing while they fleet,
Sweet to the quick o' the ear, and dear
To her beyond the handmaid ear,
Who sits beside our inner springs,
Too often dry for this he brings,
Which seems the very jet of earth
At sight of sun, her music's mirth,
As up he wings the spiral stair,
A song of light, and pierces air
With fountain ardour, fountain play,
To reach the shining tops of day,
And drink in everything discerned
An ecstasy to music turned,
Impelled by what his happy bill
Disperses; drinking, showering still,
Unthinking save that he may give
His voice the outlet, there to live
Renewed in endless notes of glee,
So thirsty of his voice is he,
For all to hear and all to know
That he is joy, awake, aglow;
The tumult of the heart to hear
Through pureness filtered crystal-clear,
And know the pleasure sprinkled bright
By simple singing of delight;
Shrill, irreflective, unrestrained,
Rapt, ringing, on the jet sustained
Without a break, without a fall,
Sweet-silvery, sheer lyrical,
Perennial, quavering up the chord
Like myriad dews of sunny sward
That trembling into fulness shine,
And sparkle dropping argentine;
Such wooing as the ear receives
From zephyr caught in choric leaves
Of aspens when their chattering net
Is flushed to white with shivers wet;
And such the water-spirit's chime
On mountain heights in morning's prime,
Too freshly sweet to seem excess,
Too animate to need a stress;
But wider over many heads
The starry voice ascending spreads,
Awakening, as it waxes thin,
The best in us to him akin;
And every face to watch him raised,
Puts on the light of children praised;
So rich our human pleasure ripes
When sweetness on sincereness pipes,
Though nought be promised from the seas,
But only a soft-ruffling breeze
Sweep glittering on a still content,
Serenity in ravishment
For singing till his heaven fills,
'Tis love of earth that he instils,
And ever winging up and up,
Our valley is his golden cup,
And he the wine which overflows
To lift us with him as he goes:
The woods and brooks, the sheep and kine,
He is, the hills, the human line,
The meadows green, the fallows brown,
The dreams of labour in the town;
He sings the sap, the quickened veins;
The wedding song of sun and rains
He is, the dance of children, thanks
Of sowers, shout of primrose-banks,
And eye of violets while they breathe;
All these the circling song will wreathe,
And you shall hear the herb and tree,
The better heart of men shall see,
Shall feel celestially, as long
As you crave nothing save the song.
Was never voice of ours could say
Our inmost in the sweetest way,
Like yonder voice aloft, and link
All hearers in the song they drink.
Our wisdom speaks from failing blood,
Our passion is too full in flood,
We want the key of his wild note
Of truthful in a tuneful throat;
The song seraphically free
Of taint of personality,
So pure that it salutes the suns
The voice of one for millions,
In whom the millions rejoice
For giving their one spirit voice.
Yet men have we, whom we revere,
Now names, and men still housing here,
Whose lives, by many a battle-dint
Defaced, and grinding wheels on flint,
Yield substance, though they sing not, sweet
For song our highest heaven to greet:
Whom heavenly singing gives us new,
Enspheres them brilliant in our blue,
From firmest base to farthest leap,
Because their love of Earth is deep,
And they are warriors in accord
With life to serve, and, pass reward,
So touching purest and so heard
In the brain's reflex of yon bird:
Wherefore their soul in me, or mine,
Through self-forgetfulness divine,
In them, that song aloft maintains,
To fill the sky and thrill the plains
With showerings drawn from human stores,
As he to silence nearer soars,
Extends the world at wings and dome,
More spacious making more our home,
Till lost on his aerial rings
In light, and then the fancy sings.

Beauty in a Broken Mirror

2009-04-01T03:06:00.001-04:00

I was challenged this week to be creative and to find create something that represents me. This challenge got me very excited because I love to be created and to find ways to release my creative side. However, as the week went on I just could not think of what to do. As usual it came down to crunch time to finish my creative challenge.

Here is how my thought process worked at 4:30 AM yesterday. Got home from hanging out with my friend Mike and was very tired. I entered my bed room and saw the broken mirror on the floor that I had broke last week. (I was so mad at myself for breaking it, I just left it.) Hmmm, wonder if I can do something with that. Then I turned and saw my Nikon D40 on my dresser. Hmmm, wonder what kind of pictures I could take with a broken mirror. I began to play around with different ideas and well none of them worked that well. Since it was like 6:00 AM I decided to go to bed. (if you didn't know, I work as a night auditor at a hotel so I stay up all night all the time.)

I woke up took my shower and then it came to me.

Even though the mirror is broken it can still reflect beautiful things.

Here is what came out of that.

How do these pictures represent me? Well, to me, these images are a view of how my broken life reflects the beauty of Christ. Even though a mirror is broken doesn't mean it stops reflecting what's in front of it. As long as I keep Christ in my view, leading me, I will continue to reflect His beauty, love and sacrafice.

Andy Rooney Moment: Coffee

2009-03-27T06:23:00.000-04:00

Coffee has become such a cultural icon for today. If your successful, prosperous, well liked, or cool you drink coffee. A long time ago coffee was a drink for the ordinary man. The man who worked hard, played hard, and needed a cheap pick me up to get up in the morning. Now coffee is found in corner boutique like shops and you spend as much for a cup of coffee as you used to for a pound.

People have become coffee snobs. A cup of joe is just not good enough anymore. I spent a month working the office for a Young Life camp and had the responsibility of being the town runner. My job was to fulfill the needs of the camp and campers by running errands in town for them. Our camp medic would have me make a special trip in a different part of town to get him this special locally grown coffee. Starbucks coffee from Walmart wasn't even good enough for him. Why? Now I understand that coffee has degrees of quality to it but seriously.

You have your;

On top of all of these different types people spend immense amounts of time adding to their coffee so its just right. You got to add your sugar/sweetener, cream or milk. Then its one pack or five packs and has to be stirred so many times. There are also the people who want their coffee fresh but then add ice because its too hot. Is the drink really worth all this work?

What happened that coffee became this fad? Now maybe I'm biased because I don't drink coffee, but I missed the days where a plain old cup of joe was acceptable. As for me, just give me a nice refreshing Coca-Cola for my caffeine fix.

I don't see any Twouble wit Twitter

2009-03-21T04:34:00.000-04:00

Super News from current.com started a new season. Here is an episode about they did about the twittersphere. It pokes fun at the idea of what twittering really is. I don't know if I should take offense to this or not, but either way the video is absolutely hilarious. It brings up a great question though, "Why do you twitter?" What possesses you to hurl your life moments out into a community of people you may not even know? Why do we think or feel that people want to read about what your doing? Honestly I think its because we all do want to know.

Twitter to me is an easy way for me to gather information about topics I care about and then to stay connected with friends in a very simple format. Friends I have who live out of town love to see what I am doing back home and vice versa. The friends I see on a regular basis can cut through the formalities of what did you do earlier or yesterday and can cut to the deeper more meaningful discussions. Twitter is just a flat out easy way to share information with others.

If you're interested in what I do with twitter, follow me at http://twitter.com/clyderandall.

If I Could ...

2009-03-15T06:39:00.000-04:00

What would you do if you could do what ever you really wanted right now? What would you change or try to do differently? I have been asking myself this alot lately to try and really focus on what goals I have and how to work towards them. Here is the conclusion that I have come to.

If I could do what I really want to do right now, it would be to go to grad school. I really have a strong desire to go back to school for my masters. The next question is a masters in what. I have gone back and forth on this and its down to two choices. First choice would be a masters in divinity. My second choice would be a masters in some type of counseling, like to be a high school counselor. So if this is what I really want to do then why don't I go do it.

Well I have run into some problems. First problem is that I have no idea how I could pay for it. I took out more loans for my undergrad than I would have liked and I dont want to have to take out more for my masters. Then well my lets just say that my final gpa wasn't too wonderful. It was way better than I needed to graduate but still not good enough for the programs I'm interested in.

So where do I go from here is the next question. What do I have to do so I can do what I want to do? I don't know. I just felt like ranting a little. If you would of told me this is what my life would look like almost at age 25 back in high school. I would have laughed so hard at you. I guess thats life and how God works in his time and not my time.

Daily Mugshot

2009-03-12T11:55:00.001-04:00

Daily Mugshot

I stumbled upon this site dailymugshot.com a few weeks ago and decided to try and keep up with it. Here is what i got so far. I think my hair is really funny as it flips through each picture. Anyways this is a prime example of how bored I can get at work.

Hover over the slide show for speed and caption options.

Book Review: Coffeehouse Theology

2009-03-11T21:10:00.002-04:00

Coffeehouse Theology: Reflecting on God in Everyday Life
by: Ed Cyzewski

I have been trying to challenge the way I process my thoughts about my faith. Not necessarily challenge my faith but just how I view the scripture and how I see God in my life. Coffeehouse Theology by Ed Cyzewski has been a great read for me to learn new ways to challenge how I think. In this book Ed addresses how we can and sometimes need to view scripture and God with in the context of our lives today. He eloquently describes how that can change the way we interpret God through our everyday lives.

Don't be scared by the fact this is a book on Theology. Ed puts everything in terms for anyone to understand. He uses great examples from life that you can follow along with easily. I was scared that this would be a postmodern rant about the church but it embraces thoughts from everyone and just challenges you to see things in a different light. I found it to be a refreshing look at the way God is apart of our lives and in everything that we do. It also makes a good argument why theology is not a negative part of our faiths and isn’t just for scholars. Theology can be for everyone. Start you study in theology with Coffeehouse Theology by Ed Cyzewski.

Flashback to Highschool

2009-03-11T17:15:00.000-04:00

Here is the camp video from my senior year. I didn't even know I had this video till the other day. I can't believe how old I am now.

Cornhole Crazzyness!!!!

2009-02-27T08:06:00.001-05:00

PLEASE COME PLAY IN OUR CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT!!!!

http://ylcornholeclassic.com

HELP US SEND KIDS TO CAMP THIS SUMMER!!!

http://ylcornholeclassic.com

Seriously if you have no plans for March 7th you do now. Find a partner and come play some cornhole with us. I promise it will be a good time. Even if you are not any good at cornhole just come and hang out or sponsor a team of people who are better than you.

http://ylcornholeclassic.com

If you're looking for a cornhole set we are auctioning off 10 sets. You got a great opportunity to get a great set for a great price.... too many greats there... nope trust me its great.

http://ylcornholeclassic.com

If you are still reading by the time you get here you have to come to the Young Life Cornhole Classic. I'm not kidding. You better be there.

http://ylcornholeclassic.com

We got cool shirts this year for players!

http://ylcornholeclassic.com

New Music in my Head

2009-02-26T06:04:00.001-05:00

So lately i've been on a kick to find new music. Pandora.com and the new genius feature on iTunes have helped alot to find and listen to new bands that are in the indie category. Here are a few bands that i've really been into lately.

I have also renewed my interest in Ben Folds. I am just drawn to his music now way more that I ever was before. I also really like The Fray's new album. I know some of you don't like The Fray but i dig them a lot. Death Cab has also really caught my attention these days. A few years ago I wrote them off. I don't know that was also back when I thought Apple was Satan. I have really grown up in the last few years.

In other exciting news about my music interest, David Crowder Band is working on their next album. Hopefully it will be released later this year. Once that album is released that is all I will be listening too for quite awhile. I'm a Crowder head, what can I say. They make really good music.

What are some bands that you have discovered lately or are your favorites? Leave a comment and share with me.

25 Things I Hate bout Facebook!!

2009-02-22T01:02:00.003-05:00

This video is so true and so well done!

Free Blackberry Storm!!!

2009-02-18T23:56:00.000-05:00

A few months ago Blackberry released their first touch screen phone, the Storm. My Mother was super excited about it, so we got it for her birthday/christmas present. Little did I know it would end up being a gift for me too.

Verizon started a new promotion this week offering buy-one-get-one on any Blackberry phones they carry. I was bummed since we already bought my Mother her phone that we missed this great deal. Well woulnd't you know, she gets this text message saying that since she was a loyal VZ customer and had recently purchased the Storm she could get a free storm on any line with and available upgrade. Guess who had the available upgrade. :)

So we go up to VZ and I walk out with a brand spankin new Blackberry Storm without paying a single dime for it. No pay now and rebate later, or any hidden fees. It was just FREE. I did buy a case and screen protectors but got a sweet discount on those too.

Not too many things are truly free these days but yesterday the Blackberry Storm was free for me. Thankfully my Mother loves me and lets me stay on her family plan. Thankfully I was available for an upgrade.

I know many of you have iPhones and will think that the Storm is an inferior device, but did you get yours for free, oh wait, I got an iPhone for free once too. Ha yeah, i just use it as an itouch though. I'm just to stubborn to leave the VZ network. They are the only network I've used since I got my first phone in 2000 and they haven't failed me yet.

Northwest Bball Crazy Shot

2009-02-14T18:26:00.001-05:00

My old high school made it on ESPN this week. Why? Well in a basketball game last week a player made a full court shot with one second left in the game to send the game into overtime. Sadly they still lost but it was still one awesome shot.

View the amazing shot here.

Reds New Commercial

2009-02-12T21:04:00.004-05:00

So I am starting to get excited for baseball season to start. I'm going to go ahead and say it now. This is the year for the Cincinnati Reds. HAHAHHAHA yeah i know we say it every year.

View the new Reds commercial here.

Book Review: The Shack

2009-02-12T03:04:00.037-05:00

The Shack

by: William P. Young

The reason I read this book was because I heard so much hype about it. I was very skeptical at first because it is a fiction book and I typically try to stay out of the christian bubble as much as I can. Though in all reality I am in the bubble deeper than I want to admit. I decided to add this to my Christmas list and if I got it cool and if not, no big deal. Well wouldn't you know that my Aunt got me the book for Christmas.

The Shack takes you through part of Mack Phillips life. He is a family man who has become disconnected from God. While on a camping trip with his children Mack experiences tragedy in a way he has never experienced it before. A few years later Mack is still scared by what he has dubbed as the Great Sadness and it has hurt his relationships with his wife, children, and God. Mack receives a mysterious message telling him to go where the Great Sadness all began, the shack. Mack ventures off to a rendezvous with none other than God. From there Mack is taken through a process of learning, healing, and being loved by God. When he returns he comes home a completely different man.

The Shack is one of the best explanations of where God is when bad things happen to us. It gives a great illustration of how God views us and tries to show us how much he loves us. Now this is a fictional book but is inspired by theology. It will leave you wanting a deeper relationship with Jesus. I don't know a lot of how the Holy Spirit, God, and Jesus all work together and are one, but after reading this I can begin to process just how it might all work.

If anything you should read this book because it is wonderfully written and is a great story. William P. Young does an excellent job describing scenes that I would have not known how to even begin to describe. Regardless of being a Christian, a seeker, or a non-believer you can't read this book and not finish without feeling hope and desiring something more.

Check it out at http://theshackbook.com

My Boys Rocking Out

2009-02-08T23:43:00.005-05:00

Taylor's talent show was this past weekend and some of the coolest guys put a band together for it. Here is a video of their performance. Check it out!

Henri Wisdom 2 and Football

2009-02-08T05:36:00.018-05:00

About a month ago I was shown a news article about the weirdest football game ever played. The other day I stumbled upon a video of the news report about the game. Then todays devo from Henri Nouwen Society addressed caring for others. I feel that the devo and the video go together really well. The devo explains how care for one another can be a cure. The video shows people caring for people in action and you get to see the true results from their care.

Care, the Source of All Cure
Care is something other than cure. Cure means "change." A doctor, a lawyer, a minister, a social worker-they all want to use their professional skills to bring about changes in people's lives. They get paid for whatever kind of cure they can bring about. But cure, desirable as it may be, can easily become violent, manipulative, and even destructive if it does not grow out of care. Care is being with, crying out with, suffering with, feeling with. Care is compassion. It is claiming the truth that the other person is my brother or sister, human, mortal, vulnerable, like I am.

When care is our first concern, cure can be received as a gift. Often we are not able to cure, but we are always able to care. To care is to be human.

Book Review: The Gift of Psalms

2009-01-28T05:14:00.022-05:00

The Word of Promise: The Gift of Psalms

About a year or two ago I was excited to learn about the production of The Word of Promise. It was to be the most thought out and produced audio reading of the bible ever. They got many great actors such as Richard Dreyfuss, Sean Astin, Jason Alexander, and Gary Sinise to be readers for the audio set. The Gift of Psalms is from that same collection. It is a devotional of what is said to be the fifty most inspirational Psalms. Just like The Word of Promise they spared no expense on this devotional.

Lets first take notice of how neatly this book comes packaged. It has a nice hard bound cover that seems to be coushined and super glossy pages with different script syle fonts. Its really designed to be that devotional you leave on the coffee table so it looks nice but you never actually read. Once you start reading it, you want to just leave it on the coffee table because its not that inspirational.

The devotionals seem to distract you from the heart of the Psalms. They try to relate and make you look deeper into the Psalms, but in doing so they miss the mark on the meanings of Psalms. Each devotional ends with a short prayer. I found the prayers to be great ways to end each devotional. Sometimes its hard to know how to pray over what I read and these helped me with that.

The book comes with three audio cds that are readings of the Psalms. The readings weren't great but they were not bad. I feel they were over produced. To much trying to set the mood or to be mystical. Sometimes I just want a nice voice reading to me, something natural. The scripture used is all from the King James Version of the bible. I really don't like this version because I find it hard to relate too, but I decided to give it a try. After going through this book I still don't like the King James Version.

Overall I would say don't run out to buy this book right away unless your really wanting some kind of devotional to get you through the Psalms. If you can find it on sale go ahead and pick up a copy. Like the title says The Gift of Psalms, this book would be really nice for a gift for someone.

Young Life and Cornhole

2009-01-23T16:16:00.000-05:00

The Buckeye Region Leader Weekend is this weekend. For me on twitter to see whats going on.
http://twitter.com/clyderandall

The Young Life Cornhole Classic is approaching. Its our second year. Find out details here
www.ylcornholeclassic.com

New Faces of Taylor Young Life

2009-01-20T05:11:00.001-05:00

God still has big plans for Young Life at Taylor. He answered some big prayers that we've had for sometime now by placing two new volunteer leaders on our team. Josh and Kelly fresh out of new leader training from the University of Cincinnati are now part of team Taylor. The team is the biggest its been in years with six leaders, 3 guys and 3 girls.

I'm so excited to have them join our team. Every time we get new leaders its like a boost of energy. They are always so eager to get out there to be with kids and love kids for Christ. After leading for five years I will say there are days where its hard to go to the school with a smile on my face, but with new leaders I get this renewing of my passion for students and their relationships with Christ. Their excitement poors into me, and not only am I excited for them but I become excited for the ministry.

I wonder where God is going to have us go or what He will have us do with our new team. I think we're on the verge of taking the Three Rivers community by storm. However God works in His own time, maybe we are still preparing the way for the greater things that will come. Either way I am thankful to be apart of this ministry and to be apart of this team.

Henri Wisdom

2009-01-14T06:08:00.000-05:00

I get daily emails from the Henri Nouwen Society. They are like small devotionals and I find most of them to have some good nuggets of wisdom in them. I thought I would share this one with you.

If you like you can subscribe here http://henrinouwen.org/home/free_eletters/

From Unceasing Thinking to Unceasing Prayer

Our minds are always active. We analyze, reflect, daydream, or dream. There is not a moment during the day or night when we are not thinking. You might say our thinking is "unceasing." Sometimes we wish that we could stop thinking for a while; that would save us from many worries, guilt feelings, and fears. Our ability to think is our greatest gift, but it is also the source of our greatest pain. Do we have to become victims of our unceasing thoughts? No, we can convert our unceasing thinking into unceasing prayer by making our inner monologue into a continuing dialogue with our God, who is the source of all love.

Let's break out of our isolation and realize that Someone who dwells in the center of our beings wants to listen with love to all that occupies and preoccupies our minds.

More is Never Enough

2009-01-11T05:03:00.004-05:00

I heard this said that having more is never enough. This hit me hard. I say to myself all the time that if I could just have more of ______ then it would be all I need, it would be enough. I have slowly realized that more never becomes enough, it never becomes satisfaction, it never becomes contentment. Have you ever thought about what makes you content? Have you ever said if I achieved this I would be content? Why do we have the idea that being content is something we have to obtain or earn. Can't we just be content.

In Phillippians Paul writes about his contentment;

11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

There is something different about how Paul addresses contentment than how we typically hear contentment talked about. Paul writes that he has learned contentment. He has learned the secret of being content. Paul recognizes that being content is not something he earned or obtained, but rather something he learned. It is almost like a skill that can be mastered. We may never experience what it is like to be content if we do not know how to be content.

This leaves me to believe that Paul learned to be content through everything by learning to rely on Christ through everything, by realizing that Christ is more than enough for any need we may ever encounter. Paul says he can do everything through Christ. If we can do that, then we may learn what it is to be content.

More is never enough, but Christ is more than enough.

Chasing the Wind - Meaningless

2009-01-10T04:35:00.002-05:00

Is everything I do meaningless? Is the life we live like chasing after the wind, a task so pointless its hard to imagine? There are many moments that I find myself giving into this idea that I live a truly meaningless life. The author of Ecclesiastes addressed this feeling to in chapter 2:10-11.

10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
       I refused my heart no pleasure.
       My heart took delight in all my work,
       and this was the reward for all my labor.
11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
       and what I had toiled to achieve,
       everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
       nothing was gained under the sun.

Thinking this way begins to truly scare me. We must see that God gives meaning to our lives, that he provides the delightment of our hearts, not the labor we toil over. Our meaning can be found in God, we are told so in Ephesians 2:10

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Our meaning is found in doing the good works Christ has prepared for us. I would say that if we continue to find no meaning in what we are doing, then we may not be doing what Christ has prepared for us in advance. The meaning could also be lost be cost we do not know our own identity and purpose. I do not know where to find those except for in Christ. Who we are in Christ is a life lived to the full, a life of meaning and purpose.

New Years on the Beach

2009-01-06T15:11:00.000-05:00

So this year I was lucky enough to spend New Years Eve on the beach in Ft. Lauderdale.

Here are some pictures from our little beach bash.

The ten of us.

Ha! I made them jump like 60 times to get this picture.

Sparkling grape juice leaves a real weird after taste.

Introducing...

2008-12-28T15:53:00.002-05:00

Well I finally decided to make the blog official. I guess that is what you can call this, but really all I did was purchase a real domain name for my blog. Now you can go to godwrestler.org and get to the blog. No more -'s or .blogspots needed. However if you do go to god-wrestler.blogspot.com you still will get here. I am excited because this will help make it quick and easy to get to the blog and I feel like I really own the blog now.

So I am officially introducing ...

godwrestler.org

Nerf, Where was this when i was young?

2008-12-25T23:34:00.001-05:00

My cousins got some sweet Christmas gifts this year. Something that I always dreamed of when I was little. I remember watching Commando starring The Arnold. He was an ex commando trying to save his daughter and took out hundreds of men carrying this chain gun around. I would act out the scenes with my Nerf guns always wishing I could really do the chain gun thing. Well now my cousins can live my glory out if the so choose too.

Nerf always amazes me. Every year they get better and better. This gun comes with a reloadable chain that holds 75 Nerf darts and you can buy extra chains. The chain is stored in that side box and exits out the other side like a real gun.

This video here shows some guys who modified the gun to shoot the equivilant to 50 rounds a sec. Crazy Awesome!

Go on and buy one or two... you know you want it... think about playing Nerf Wars with this on your side. :)

Book Review: The Pursuit of God

2008-12-23T05:43:00.001-05:00

The Pursuit of God
By: A. W. Tozer

I received this book as a gift for graduating from college last year. When I got it I will admit that no excitement crossed my face. It has been on my bookshelf since then and almost daily it would catch my eye. So I decided to give it a try.

The pace was a change for me because many of the last few books I have read have been by modern day pastors and theologians. Once I slowed down and started to take it seriously I began to connect with Tozer's thoughts and passion right away. I did not want to put it down.

In The Pursuit of God, Tozer address' the never ending cycle of men searching for God. He describes our search as a type of bankruptcy or void that we so long to fill. He goes on in an eloquent manner through scripture describing how our search does not have to be so hard if we realized that God is here.

"The Universal Presence is a fact. God is here. The whole universe is alive with His life. And he is no strange or foreign God, but the familiar Father of our Lord Jesus Christ whose love has for these thousands of years enfolded the sinful race of men. And always He is trying to get our attention, to reveal Himself to us, to communicate with us. We have within us the ability to know Him if we will but respond to His overtures. (And this we call pursuing God!) We will know Him in increasing degree as our receptivity becomes more perfect by faith and love and practice." Tozer, The Pursuit of God, pg 67

I love this! It was so refreshing to hear. God is pursuing us! He is calling to us more than we have ever called to him. If only we could take the time from the stress and speed of our lives that we whine about so much every day our search could be over. Why, because we will not have to search anywhere but right here and God will find us. Oh! How simple this seems yet I can't even imagine how I will do this. I've heard it said so many times that God is near and that He calls to us, but never as Tozer puts it.

I highly reccomend this book. It may have an older tone to it, but the passion and ideas of it are so true for the world we live in.
Here is one last quote;

"God Wants the whole person and He will not rest till He gets us in entirety. No part of the man will do." Tozer, The Pursuit of God, pg 101

Go and search for God by letting Him find you!

Sing it Frank

2008-12-22T02:04:00.000-05:00

I was watching TV last night and the show I was watching closed with this song. "Someone to Watch Over Me" done by Frank Sinatra. Now I have heard this song so many times for some reason this time I actually got the lyrics to it. I just loved it.

There's a saying old says that love is blind
Still we're often told "seek and ye shall find"
So I'm going to seek a certain girl I've had in mind
Looking everywhere, haven't found her yet
She's the big affair I cannot forget
Only girl I ever think I will regret

I'd like to add her initials to my monogram
Tell me where's the shepherd for this lost lamb

There's a somebody I'm longing to see
I hope that she turns out to be
Someone to watch over me

I'm a little lamb who's lost in a wood
I know I could always be good
To one who'll watch over me

Although I may not be the man some girls think of
As handsome

to my heart She carries the key

Won't you tell her please to put on some speed
Follow my lead, oh how I need
Someone to watch over me
Someone to watch over me

Book Review: I Am Not, but I Know I Am:

2008-12-11T03:30:00.001-05:00

I Am Not, but I Know I Am: Welcome to the Story of God
By: Louie Giglio

Louie Giglio is the guy who helped bring me my most favorite band ever, David Crowder Band, and many other great artist like Chris Tomlin. He has spent a lot of time investing in young adults in the world of college. I have heard that Louie is a great speaker and usually has some interesting things to say. This book, I Am Not, but I Know I Am: Welcome to the Story of God, I found to be very disapointing.

Lets start with the fact that it was just boring. Nothing really grabbed my attention or seemed profound to me. Maybe it was his delivery but it just didn't keep my attention very well. The premis of the book is to help you realize your place with God and that God is the Great I Am, everything is him and he is everything. I was amazed that he could draw this topic out for so long.

The book never really picked up and seemed disorganized. I found it hard to keep relating his thoughts to what his point was. His examples and illustrations were lacking. Now don't let this stop you from reading the book I could be very wrong and this is all a personal opinion.

There were some good things in the book. It does a great job addressing how God is the Great I Am. Beyond that it doesn't say much else.

So give this book a read and let me know what you think. Am I wrong? Should I read it again?

Book Review: Back to the Basics of Young Life

2008-12-06T05:37:00.000-05:00

Back to the Basics of Young Life
By: John Miller

The ministry of Young Life has been effectively reaching teenagers for Christ for many decades now. John Miller was there almost right from the begining of Young Life's journey into figuring out just how to become so entrenched among the lives of so many teenagers. Back to the Basics is John's account of this faith testing start and how the minsitry shaped his family and so many others.

John recalls his first interactions with Jim Rayburn the founder of Young Life and how he heard his call into the uncharted waters of the Young Life ministry. He explains the sacrafice and faith that went into following the call of God into this new profession. Along the way John discusses the underlying theology and ideaology of why Young Life is the way it is.

If you are in Young Life now you need to read this book. It will give a glimpse of the big picture that you are apart of and just how important your role is to the ministry. For those of you who have never done anything with Young Life, I highly suggest giving this book a read over. I believe once you are done with it there will be no way you won't want to get involved with Young Life and it's simply radical ideaology for reaching youth for Christ.

Whateva!

2008-11-28T23:42:00.001-05:00

Book Review: Messy Spirituality

2008-11-28T07:26:00.002-05:00

Messy Spirituality: God's Annoying Love for Imperfect People
By: Mike Yaconelli

If you feel like you just suck at your spiritual life or Christianity in general then this book will be a breath of fresh air for you. Mike Yaconelli lays it down plain and simple that there is room for us to be screw ups within the Gospel of Christ. This book helped me to really ask myself if I truly experience freedom in Christ and allow real grace into my life.

Mike Yaconelli lived a somewhat radical and uncoventual life but he knew how to relate God's amazing love to the things we go through in this life. Messy Spirituality by no means says we are free to sin and live as we please but it assures us that when we do experience times when our faith is small God's grace and love can still reach us.

I say go ahead give this book a chance, it may surprise you.

Giving Thanks

2008-11-27T14:30:00.001-05:00

Here is my reflections on what I am thankful for:

1. The relentless, all forgiving, always there when I need it; Love from God
2. My friends, I honestly don't know how I am so blessed with so many good friends. I really don't know where I would be with out them.
3. My family, that they love me so much and support me in all I do.
4. Young Life, that I get to share in the ministry and how it made a difference in my life.
5. My pets, they love me so much, the can always make me smile and I never feel alone with them.
6. My toys, keeps me busy and gives me things to do.

Fallweekend 2008

2008-11-21T02:07:00.000-05:00

This weekend is our fall weekend trip for Taylor Young Life. I love fall weekend, I mean it's the best weekend of the fall! This weekend every year is nothing but absolute fun, building relationships, and Christ. This weekend is completely bathed in Love. You can't help but to feel the presence of God at a Young Life fall Weekend. Maybe I have a little biased few considering that I first met Christ at fall weekend, but I know for many this weekend will be there first encounter with Christ.

I feel slightly overwhelmed about this weekend. For one I'm older and no where near in the shape I used to be in, and all the games and football are gonna tire me out. Second, we have a lot of guys coming. I am so used to like 5 or 7 guys between Mike and I but there is gonna be more than that this time and I don't know how I'm going to keep up with them.

Friends, please pray for our weekend. We have a few guys who don't know the Love of Christ and I pray that they will find that this weekend. We also have a group of girls who will encounter Christ for the first time this weekend. Please pray that we can have good, deep, and meaningful conversations. That we don't get tired and stay strong. That we can ask the questions that no one else will. That we will be real and unconditional with our friends. Pray that God is there in a big way!

Thank you all!

Shenanigans meets the Wake Up Fairy

2008-11-11T23:57:00.003-05:00

The woods of clifton...

Not in the mood lately and The JOB

2008-11-11T04:16:00.000-05:00

So I haven't been in the mood or really wanting to write anything lately. I feel like all the creative juice has just been sucked out of me. If you weren't aware I actually have a job now. Well its a job in the fact that they pay me for being there. I took the night auditor position at Forest Park Suites. If you can't tell i'm not the least bit excited about this except for the fact that i will actually be bringing some income in.

I had so many dreams, desires, and ambitions. They all seemed to fly out the window when i started working here. This is not what i had in mind at all and well it has sunk me into a reality that i never saw coming. I would venture to say that i am depressed. Well as depressed as my personality will let me be. There is nothing happy about this job, but I am trying to learn the joy that this job can offer me. I know God has to be using this situation in my life for something, I guess i was hoping that i was past this learning phase of my life.

I was hoping that I would be doing something that I found meaningful. I know that I do many meaningful things through young life and sharing my life with others but I just wanted my job to also have a greater purpose than just taking people's money and printing useless reports.

I don't know what more to say, I'm tired of saying it. Just pray for me that God gives me peace with this job or leads me to something new.

Young Life is.... (the video)

2008-10-29T00:38:00.001-04:00

So a few weeks ago I was asked by our great YL staff to create a video that could explain what Young Life looks like in our area that we could show at our banquet. I knew this task would be big and fun so i decided to it. I am convienced that this video is one of the reasons i have been unemployed for so long now. God wanted me to work on things like this.
Anyways I really impressed myself with this one and I am super excited to share this with you.

Young Life is... from C. Randall Waters on Vimeo.

I sigh and groan...

2008-10-24T01:08:00.001-04:00

Romans 8:26-28 (The Message)

26-28Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

Shawn Shenanigans Presents - Foolin with Fearghus (episode 1)

2008-10-14T19:10:00.002-04:00

Walking Bible 1.0

2008-10-10T00:57:00.001-04:00

Stuck

2008-10-09T18:27:00.002-04:00

So I feel like I'm stuck in pit of quick sand. The more I try the more it feels like I'm seeking. I got no help in sight. I can't get a job anywhere. At this point I applied for over 110 different positions and have only had two interviews which have gone no where. I have given up on going for jobs that I want and have applied for anything that seems to be feasible. I'm not asking for much, just an entry level salary and decent hours.

I guess a bachelors degree just doesn't cut it anymore. I am either not qualified for the position or I look over qualified. I can't seem to get a call back on a stupid retail job. Needless to say I am beginning to get very discouraged and losing any bit of motivation I have.

One positive thing I am trying to get out of this is how I am defining myself. I see that in most peoples lives today the define themselves essentially on the jobs they have. Ask somebody who they are and most of the time they would reply with well I'm so and so I work for blah. I want to say, I'm Randy and I live for Christ. Christ is the only hope that I have right now. I have faith that he will provide me with any needs I have.

Bible Across America

2008-10-02T04:24:00.002-04:00

Zondervan is putting together a new version of the NIV bible. It will be a hand written version, and some of the writing can be done by you. They have put together a cross country trip in an RV stopping through many cities and letting people contribute by writing a verse in the new bible.

On Friday October, 3rd they will be in Cincinnati, OH at the Berean Christian Store 1183 Smiley Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45240, from 10am to 6pm.

I plan on going to put my mark in this new bible. I hope you have the opportunity too.

The Club Room

2008-10-01T16:24:00.000-04:00

Well for awhile now I have been wanting to get a site together that would be for all the people I know involved in youth ministry. It would contain encouragement, ideas, help, and so on. Its been slow coming but i'm starting to get the blog portion up and going now. You can find it here http://theclubroom.wordpress.com/. Hopefully soon it will be at theclubroom.net but like I said its slow coming. I have some post up there already with game ideas and other stuff so stop on by and check it out.

My last post is about success. Read it here.

Team Taylor Olympified

2008-09-30T18:38:00.003-04:00

This week at club we had pizza olympics. To help introduce and sell the pizza olympics we showed the students what we did this summer at the olympics.
Check this out.

Innovative Yard Work

2008-09-19T01:44:00.004-04:00

B-Wack, the drummer for David Crowder Band, was very innovative with mowing his lawn.

What a hurricane in Cincy?

2008-09-17T01:55:00.000-04:00

On Sunday, September 14, the remnants of Hurricane Ike mixed with another storm front and hit Cincinnati with the force of a hurricane. I watched with amazement as tree branches, shingles, and siding were being blown all around my street. The violent wind left the area as fast as it came in. However it left, at the peak, 900,000 or more homes with out power. This is the worst power outage in Cincinnati history.

Needless to say, I saw this as a great opportunity to go out and get into some SHENANIGANS.
Here are some pictures I took.

Since the power was out we had to cook on the grill. MMMM... Spaghetti from the grill.

Pictures from Philly

2008-09-09T20:13:00.000-04:00

The Cheese Steak Adventure

2008-09-09T11:06:00.003-04:00

Friday, September 5th, four young men set out to experience the best cheese steaks known to man. It was believed that these cheese steaks could be found in the city of Philadelphia. The city where our great nation built its core basis for the government. The city where our fore fathers argued, debated, and decided upon the great documents that hold this nation and its values together. Apparently our fore fathers liked to this while eating steak sandwiches covered in cheese.

Our first stop was at Jim's Steaks. All the locals said it was the best and I will say it was very, very good.
Stop two was at Grand Ole Cheese Steak in the Bourse near Independence Hall. This place was alright but not my favorite.
Next we had a cheese steak with pizza sauce from a pizza place that i totally forget right now. I will update that later when i figure it out. Again it was alright, i didn't like the bun all that much.
The fourth cheese steak stop was at Sonny's and it was amazing. It was my first with whiz instead of provolone and it was sooooo good.
The fifth stop was a return trip to Sonny's. Yeah it was that good.
Our last stop was at Lorenzo's Pizza and it was my favorite of all the cheese steaks I had. I think overall i just liked the place and the fact that i could get pizza by the slice and a cheese steak and a fountain coke all at the same time. Plus it was the absolute cheesiest cheese steak around.

All man I have got to quit talking about cheese steaks i'm craving one real bad.

I would say our adventure was successful and we returned home just fine.

Capture Cincinnati

2008-09-04T00:33:00.002-04:00

So Cincinnati has put together a coffee table book of photos that represent the city taken by the people of city. They did this last year and they are doing it again this year. I have submitted some photos for the book and I need you to help me out. The photos with the most votes get to be in the book. So go check out my photos and vote for me.

Either click on the photo badge to the right or go to http://www.capturecincinnati.com/people/crandall

Fireworks!!!!

2008-09-01T00:53:00.003-04:00

I think we did it right this year. Our annual trip down to the WEBN fireworks was a great time and a lot easier than it has been in years past. We went down the night before to rope our spots off and we got some great spots.

Here are some highlights of the day:

Didn't have to skip church
Had lunch before we went down
The weather was absolute perfection
We meet some people and played euchre
Saw a waterfall in the back of a BMW
Around 40 awesome people showed up to hang out with us
Steph and Greg got engaged
The fireworks were great
The best finale ever
OH yeah we were on TV in HD broadcasted world wide

Yeah it was a fun day.

Oh yeah we got interviewed for a website too

Songs in my Head (3)

2008-08-28T02:07:00.000-04:00

So this next song that is in the playlist streaming through my head is by a band that I found a few months ago. I really can't say why I like them so much, but I fell in love with there music instantly. To me, it sounds so real and fresh. I think if I was to make music it would have this sound to it. I also love the lyrics to their music. They always seem to relate well to me.

The Hush Sound
Album: Like Vines
Song: Where We Went Wrong

My heart has lost its wind now

Broken like a dead sail

My love has drifted out to sea

My body has been claimed

Soul has been shipped away

Can't feel the sand between my toes

We set the wrong course and headed due north

That's where we went wrong

We were young and learning steady hearts hate turning

That's where we went wrong

My will to fight has been flushed

Seized like blank babies faces

The water line begins to rise

Let the tide swallow me whole

Like morning light through windows

Let that dark water take me home

We set the wrong course and headed due north

That's where we went wrong

We were young and learning steady hearts hate turning

That's where we went wrong

[Greta:] Hey come back to me

[Darren:] Hey come back to me

[Greta:] Hey come back to me

[Darren:] Baby come back to me

[Chris:] (ba ba da ba ba ba)

We set the wrong course and headed due north

That's where we went wrong

We were young and learning steady hearts hate turning

That's where we went wrong

Songs in my Head (2)

2008-08-27T13:58:00.001-04:00

Here is another song that has been running through the playlist in my head. I really can say exactly what it is about this song that draws me to it. I think it might be the idea that I think being in silence with someone is almost as productive as talking with someone for hours. In the silence you learn a lot about people. I think people are vulnerable and and can't hide who they are when they are silent. Maybe thats why God can speak so much to us when we spend time with him in silence. Who knows, but I like this song.

Goo Goo Dolls
Feel the Silence

You lie awake at night
With blue eyes that never cry
All you remember now
Is what you feel

The truth remains
In midnight conversations
I asked for this moment
But you turned away

Sad like a lonely child
Broken the day you're born
I held the light to you
But I was so vain

And you remain
A promise unfulfilled
I ask you for more
But you push me away

And if we feel the silence
Holding this all inside us
Everything means more now than
Words could explain

And if we feel the silence
*Leaving this all behind us*
Looking for something more to say
I don't know where I'm going
Only know where I been
But you move through my soul like a hurricane wind
We've been so lost for so long
I don't know how to get back again
And we're drowning in the water
That flows under this bridge
When you're fighting the current
You forget how to live
And I wanted to reach you but I don't know where to begin
And you remain
A promise unfulfilled until today

And if we feel the silence
Holding this all inside us
Everything means more now than
Words could explain
And if we feel the silence
Leaving this all behind us
When it's gone what will you say

How do we hold on
How do we hold on
How do we hold on
How do we hold on
How do we hold on

You lie awake at night
With blue eyes that never cry

Songs in my Head (1)

2008-08-27T01:51:00.003-04:00

So lately I have been listening to lots of music as I work on remodeling my Grandpa's bathroom. A few of them have been stuck in my head and I keep listening to them over and over.

Here is the first one

David Crowder*Band
album: All I Can Say
Song: The Color Song

From golden fields
To oceans blue
From green mountain meadows
I'll think of You

From rolling hills
With misty moon
From roaring rivers
I'll think of You

And everywhere you remind me
That You are and
You were and
You will
Always be our God

Yeah.. thats nice!

FOOOOTBALLL!!!

2008-08-24T13:49:00.002-04:00

So by the look of things it could be a really long season with the Cincinnati Bengals. As you see here Carson Palmer, our beloved quarterback, had a really ruff pre-season game last night. I hope this was a wake up call to our offense to get their butts in gear. Last night was also the first shut out ever for the Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. How sad is that. Luckily it was only a preseason game.

Well one thing we do have to look forward too is Bearcat football. The Bearcat season starts off this Thursday with the home opener against EKU. I can't wait for it. I already got my ticket. OH YEAH RARRR RARRR RRRARRRRRRR!!!!!

Its so true

2008-08-23T00:27:00.004-04:00

What happens when fonts come to life!

I'm not gonna lie I have acted out fonts in my head before.

I'm for Hire

2008-08-22T01:07:00.002-04:00

I need a job!

I am pretty much open to anything at this point. Something that gives me some sort of income would be nice.

Something Big

2008-08-20T21:07:00.003-04:00

I got this feeling that something big is about to happen. That God is getting ready to throw me into something that he wants me to be apart of. What or when that is, I have no clue. All I know is that I'm starting to become anguish.

Questions to Ponder

2008-08-17T22:20:00.003-04:00

So here are some questions that I have been chewing on. I found them on a blog post by Craig Groeschel, the pastor of Lifechurch.tv.

What are YOU passionate about?
What has God put in YOU?
What needs can God use YOU to meet?
What breaks YOUR heart?
What are YOU uniquely equipped and called to do?

At a quick glance I found these questions to be easy to answer, however when it was time to write out the answers the questions took on new meanings and they became more real. These are some tough questions that I feel I need to pray over some more before I can truly answer them.

No Ranting Tonight

2008-08-14T00:34:00.009-04:00

I was prepared to write a rant about how I am finished loaning things out to people. I mean I have lost a lot to people who are irresponsible with the things that belong to me. Just to mention a few items that I have lost; 1 car top carrier, a tent that came back with out the tent poles, and a projector screen.

Anyways I have decided to post something from my more creative side. Here are some pictures from my night out last week.

Lost my Motivation...

2008-08-12T22:58:00.003-04:00

I have officially lost my motivation to do pretty much anything. I don't think I have ever been like this before, but I don't care about doing anything. I don't feel the need to do anything, and I have no reason to seriously get out of bed. This job search has really taken it all out of me. I have now put out ruffly fifty applications and have barely received any responses.

I should be excited about all of this "free time" that I have now. I could work on so many projects that I have desired to do but never had the time too. I could clean my room and organize my life, but instead I sit in front of the TV with my laptop not paying any attention to the TV or doing anything on my laptop but waiting for an email to come through. My life has always been so busy and now it has come to a complete stop.

You would think that this would be great for me to really spend sometime with God, but it has really been a distraction for me. I keep saying, "I have all day to do that," and then never get around to spending time with the one I love. I am just waiting as patiently as I can. I am waiting for the Lord to move in my life, to give me the direction I have been needing on where my life is going now. I might be missing that if I can't really listen to Him.

If you were to ask me a few years ago what my life would like now, it would not resemble anything like this. I would have never said that I would be 23 living with my parents, unemployed with a college degree, and over weight with out a girlfriend. I feel like such a loser. To top it all off my high school reunion is this coming weekend and well I don't feel good about it at all.

I can, however, say that I am where I'm at while following Christ and part of me wants to believe I am right where Christ's wants me and is preparing me for greater things in life. Its becoming harder and harder to truly believe that though. So, I will sit here patiently and wait on the Lord.

Lamentations 3:24
I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."

The Theme

2008-08-11T16:41:00.001-04:00

So one thing that was asked of me during summer staff was if I had a verse that was the my life theme. What piece of scripture do you look at as the the guiding principle of my life? Well I had no answer. I don't know if that is good or bad. I mean I have lots of verses that mean a lot to me and that I try to apply daily. I also feel that the bible as a whole is a theme for me. I mean its all God's word and God's direction in my life. So is it right/good to have just one theme verse in your life or does that limit the power the scripture as a whole has to work in your life?

Is there a balance I need to find to where one bit of scripture I focus on daily while I chew on other scripture in my life? Can I find different scripture during different phases in my life to act as the theme of my life? All I know is that when it was asked of me and I had no answer I was given the "are you serious what kind of a christian are you look." But in all honesty I don't know if its a bad thing to not have a theme verse for my life.

I would like to know your thoughts on this. Please let me know if you have a theme verse or what you think about this idea.

D*CB Is coming to a theatre near you!

2008-08-07T00:45:00.002-04:00

to hope

2008-08-03T13:20:00.001-04:00

To hope is to love, to love is to seek God, to seek God is Righteousness

just a thought i had....

HE's BAck

2008-07-26T22:05:00.004-04:00

Thats right everyone, i'm home... Its been a long month however i feel like i left yesterday. It feels good to be back, and yes i already had Skyline. :)

it was a SPICY week

2008-06-24T00:45:00.004-04:00

Camp this week was awesome! This picture should tell you how it was for the guys and I. We were "That Cabin." We won the VolleyBall Tourney and got in trouble for putting goldbond on the beds of a few cabins. In the end we all came home closer to God, knowing that we can have a personal and eternal relationship with Christ. Thanks for those who prayed for our trip.

I got it!

2008-06-10T20:02:00.001-04:00

Here it is everyone, my proof that I spent a lot of money and wasted a lot of time. My diploma. I'm not gonna lie, i'm really proud of myself. Also very disappointed, i expected much higher quality paper.

The Long Awaited.. you tagged me list

2008-06-10T12:00:00.001-04:00

Well Darren tagged me awhile ago and i'm just now getting around to doing this. So here it goes, six random things about me.

1. I can't whistle! I've tried to learn ever since i was young and have never been able to do it. I have always thought to myself that i would never be able to make it as an actor or be good at music stuff because i can't whistle.

2. Breaking my leg has to the most embarrassing moment in my life. I never really had an embarrassing moment until then. Some would say its tragic but for me its pure embarrassment.

3. Like Janet Jackson i once had a wordrobe malfunction. It was my freshman year at NW i was in the play murderers in the heir and there was a scene where we all had to wear pjs. I had on pjs with an open fly like no zip or buttons and then boxers that were the same. Lets just say i felt a breeze... then a few years later my junior year in the show Anything goes, i split my pants during a scene. YEah gotta love drama.

4. I am terrified of heights, but not being up high but the idea of heights. Once i'm up high and on a stable thing i'm good, i can look around up and down. However the moment you ask we to jump from up high or do something crazy from up high my heart just flutters. I also believe that the ropes at camp won't hold my weight and that freaks me out more than the heights.

5. I hate being naked. I can't stand it. Taking a shower is the only time I'm comfortable being naked.

6. I am nervous about finding a job. I have never been nervous about that before, but now is not a job its a career and I'm scared that my education wasn't good enough for me to do the jobs i want to do.

There you go....

I Tag:
Allison Foster
Morgan Berry
Michelle Bailey
Lauren Mae
Brandon Schnieder
Mike Stecher

Rules: You need to list 6 random things about yourself on your blog (or mine if you don't have one) and tag six more people. No pressure though. This isn't one of those ridiculous chain letters

Please Come Play Cornhole!

2008-05-28T23:44:00.003-04:00

Well everybody i'm not gonna lie. I am really starting to stress out. Our cornhole tournament to raise money for camp is coming up fast and well we're not getting the turn out i had hoped. Maybe everyone is waiting to sign up at the last minute. I don't know. All i know its really stressing me out.

If you can please sign up and play. Help support our Young Life area.

Here is the details for the tournament.

Register at www.ylcornholeclassic.com

Date: Saturday June 7th, 2008
Time: Check-In/Practice: 10:30 am — Tournament Starts: 11:15 am
Entry Fee: $40.00 if registered by May 31st — $50.00 if registered after

Location:
Northwest High School
10761 Pippin Rd
Cincinnati, OH 45231
Click here for directions

Prizes*: $500 to Winning Team — $200 to Runner-Up Team

If you register by the 31rst you save $10, but i understand if you want to register later and give us more money.

However you will have plenty of chances at the tourney.

We are going to have a basket auction and we already have some really cool stuff like an autographed ball from UC football coach Brian Kelly and more.

Plus there will be concessions.

AND*** If you want a cornhole set of your own, all the sets for the tourney, (which i made) will be auctioned off.

Please come and support us and have a fun afternoon.

Grades are in!

2008-05-14T13:15:00.002-04:00

Well I will say that my last semester in college was by far my best. I finished with 3 A's and 3 B's. A 3.5 gpa for the semester. WOW I am proud of myself and on top of that I had 18 hours of classes compared to the 12 I usually took.

The question is now what do I do.

maybe its time to write my book...

The Cornhole Song

2008-05-13T16:03:00.001-04:00

Joanna Montanna Finale video

2008-04-29T00:30:00.001-04:00

We made this video to wrap up our Run-on for club. It was a Hannah Montanna parody.

Hiatus

2008-04-25T16:31:00.003-04:00

Well the end of this semester is whipping my butt. I need to focus on getting all my work done so I will actually graduate in May.

Here are some things you can do why you wait around for me to update my blog.

typeracer its fun and addicting
beat box dog
bubble wrap great stress reliever

have fun!

513 Click!

2008-04-11T12:48:00.002-04:00

Here is a cool site about The Hometown, Cincinnati, OH.

www.space513.com

Get to know your city!

Umbrella Remixed- Coffey

2008-04-09T14:54:00.004-04:00

So I was out and about in the blog-o-sphere today, not doing my interactive fiction game that needs to get done, but anyways i stumbled upon this blog that featured this video.

Now I have never checked out godtube.com before but I was intrigued by this video.

All I gotta say is that this guy has got some talent, and well that remix is just awesome and absolutely hilarious. Hats off to this guy.

Talk about reaching students in a more relevant way.

check out other stuff of his at godtube.com/coffey

finish line...

2008-04-06T00:58:00.000-04:00

My days are going by so fast. I have no time to accomplish anything. My mind wonders and I lose focus. The pressure is on now.... only a few more weeks then I'm done with this mile stone of my life. Then sadly its off to start the next one.

All I want to do is worship!
All I want to do is serve!
All I want to do is love him!

I must persevere, I must cross that finish line...

Man its only Monday. Where is the beach when you need one!

2008-03-24T11:29:00.002-04:00

The light above me flickers, a jack hammer rings through the window, the sunshine is so bright it makes me smile. My non-linear interactive game is due in 20 hours, i need to start that, my org comm application paper is due Wednesday, my law exam is tomorrow, my book report for PR is due Thursday, my yard needs work, my ideas need to be written, my mission statement needs perfection, we're going bowling tonight, and my dog's need a lot of love.

Man its only Monday. Where is the beach when you need one!

Above all, through this I need time with Christ, 20 mins in the morning isn't enough anymore, i thirst for Christ, i starve for Christ, I am consumed with Christ.

Grant me Wisdom, Give me Vision, Light my Path, and Hear my Songs to You!

Morning

2008-03-21T10:40:00.003-04:00

I wake up in the morning... I tell myself that God loves me.... That God adores me... That i need to live up to what i have already attained. I have already attained my salvation, God's love, and Faith.

Then and only then my day begins.

Throughout the day I want my efforts to shine like this.

2 Peter 1:5-11
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Faith>Goodness>Knowledge>Self-control>Perseverance>Godliness>Brotherly Kindness>LOVE

GOD IS LOVE

The Camp Dilemma

2008-03-19T20:47:00.004-04:00

As most of you know, I am a volunteer Young Life leader for Taylor High School. Every year we take a summer camp trip and like usual camp is expensive and we need help raising funds to send underprivileged students to camp.
Here are the details.

click here for camp information

Help Send a Student to Camp

Here is your opportunity to help students go to camp this summer. With the growing cost of transportation and lodging the price for camp can be a lot for some high school students and their families. There are a few ways that you can support our students.

We are currently running a magazine fundraiser that our students earn 50% of what is sold. If you would like to participate and buy a magazine subscription here are the details.

Magazine Fundraiser

You can make your order online at http://www.aphearst.com/Shop.aspx

You will need to enter our group ID WC2471

Then you can specify a student that you know or put

First name: Taylor HS

Last name: Campership

Grade: 2008

to donate towards a general camp scholarship.

After that you will be directed to the catalog which you can select magazines of you choice and 50% of what you get will go towards our camp cost.

Campership Donation

If you wish to make a general donation towards our camp scholarship or for a specific student please make your check payable to Young Life. Note that the check is for Taylor HS Campership or to a specified student. Mail your checks to:

WCC Young Life

Taylor HS Campership

703 Compton Rd.

Cincinnati, OH 45231-5009

Taylor Young Life Thanks you for your support and generosity.

Letting Go of Our Fear and Trembling

2008-03-05T11:25:00.003-05:00

A few weeks ago I wrote a post about Fear and Trembling. I discussed my concearns of fearing God and what that really meant for us to fear God. I found an insight on this from Henri Nouwen, an author of many Christian works. Here is what he said;

Letting Go of Our Fear of God

We are afraid of emptiness. Spinoza speaks about our "horror vacui," our horrendous fear of vacancy. We like to occupy-fill up-every empty time and space. We want to be occupied. And if we are not occupied we easily become preoccupied; that is, we fill the empty spaces before we have even reached them. We fill them with our worries, saying, "But what if ..."

It is very hard to allow emptiness to exist in our lives. Emptiness requires a willingness not to be in control, a willingness to let something new and unexpected happen. It requires trust, surrender, and openness to guidance. God wants to dwell in our emptiness. But as long as we are afraid of God and God's actions in our lives, it is unlikely that we will offer our emptiness to God. Let's pray that we can let go of our fear of God and embrace God as the source of all love.

I thought that this was close to what I was trying to say in my last post. We need to learn to accept God as Love, to Love God back, and to share God's Love. If we spend time in fear of God how can we experience this great love that he promises us, and gives us so abundantly.

Now I also believe that sometimes the term fear is used to describe a deep respect for God, His authority, His power, and His control in our lives. However, I believe respect is apart of Love, so loving God and accepting God's love is our sign of respect.

Blogging is Contagious

2008-02-24T20:51:00.002-05:00

So i have noticed that everyone seems to be in the blogging game these days. I am excited about it. I believe that blogging is a good outlet to vent, ponder, and discuss what is going through our heads. It is a great way for some of us to stay in touch with each other and continue to understand what is going on in each others lives.

In an effort to further our blogging experience and to find more purpose with why we blog, I have started yet another blog. This one though is a collaborative effort from me and a few of my friends. The goal is for this blog to be an open forum for anything all in the hopes that truth will come through discussion.

The blog is www.captiveoutpost.wordpress.com .

Go check it out. Realize though that we just launched this and there isn't really much content on it yet. Check out the about page to see what its all about. :)

If you are interested in maybe joining us send me an email and let me know.

The sickness

2008-02-17T23:43:00.003-05:00

So I have been sick all day. This really sucks, because I am not one to really get sick, and I hate it when I can not do what I originally wanted to do. I was supposed to hang out with some of my friends from Taylor today, but I didn't want to risk getting them sick and I knew that I wouldn't have been and fun to hang out with being all drugged up and coughing up a lung.

I took this stuff earlier called Airborne. Its a vitamin supplement for vitamin C. One dose of this stuff is 1600% of your daily vitamin C dosage. It was really interesting. Anyways, i hate being sick and I hope that it gets better for YL tomorrow.

Already Attained

2008-02-15T09:44:00.001-05:00

Philippians 3:12-16

Pressing on Toward the Goal

12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

15All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

What have I already attained?
My answer to that would be my salvation. So let me live up to my salvation. How do I do that?

Live for God, Love God, Seek God, Fulfill the Great Commission, I press on and take hold to that which Christ Jesus took hold of me, Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.

This letter from Paul is so rich and so encouraging.

To live up to my salvation, I have to give my heart completely to Christ. I have to surrender my heart to him, let him take care of it, let him hide it. My heart will then be replaced with him, I want the only love I have to give to others to be the love of Christ coming out of me. I don't want to give my love or my heart to anyone else but Christ. I want all that I have to give, to be Christ!

fear and trembling

2008-02-13T11:00:00.000-05:00

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Philippians 2: 12-13

What is Paul saying here? Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. We should fear our salvation or be in fear of the fact that Jesus was able to be our salvation. I think this ties into the concept of being a God fearing man. Which is something that I have wrestled with for awhile now. Why should I fear God? Doesn't God love me and want to do great things with me? Aren't I supposed to love God back? How is living in fear of God going to let me grow closer to God?

Now, I have done some research into what this idea of fearing God really means. Most scholars have said it is a way to express a deep respect for God. I believe that is a valid point, however I feel being in love with God is another way to show deep respect for him. I still cannot fathom how fearing God will get me closer into his love. So I will continue on loving God and working on figuring out if I will fear him.

Claim It!... part deux

2008-01-25T10:24:00.000-05:00

So this is interesting and to me is proof of how God works in my life. The post I made yesterday about finding God's truth in our lives and emotions and then claiming them, had a quote from Rob Bells book Velvet Elvis.
"If it is true, if it is beautiful, it is is honorable, if it is right, then claim it. Because its is from God. And you belong to God."
I talked about how much I loved this idea and quote and thought it rang true to my life. Then today the verse of the day was Philippians 4:8. You just got to read this.

Philippians 4: 4-9
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

I was like WOW! That is so much like what Rob Bell was trying to say in his book. Think about all these things that are of God and you will know its God and God is going to be with you. I feel that through the random verse of the day God decided to affirm my thinking and help me to realize that I am with him.

SO again, I say go out and Claim it!

Claim it!

2008-01-23T13:05:00.000-05:00

So when do you know when something is true? How do you know when something is true? What is the truth?
Wordnet says that truth is:

a fact that has been verified

conformity to reality or actuality

Sometimes things are just true and you don't have to question it because they just conform to reality, like my car has four wheels. I know this is the truth because when I see my car in reality there are four wheels. I can also verify this truth by using math to count the number of wheels on my car. This truth can't be argued. My car has four wheels.

Now this seems simple, but we can look at our history to realize that truth is more complicated than that. For instance, there was a time when the world was convinced the earth was flat. You can see the land in front of you and behind, sometimes there are hills but overall the world was flat. That argument was never really settled until we were able to see earth from space and the round earth then became reality and our truth was forced to conform.

So from this I find that it is easy to discover the truth when you can take an objective look into what is being debated over as true or false. When trying to decide if the earth was round or flat no one could really prove it. There was evidence of the earth being round and flat but it was hard to really confirm that. Then when we were able to take a look from the outside in, it was like a big DUH moment because you could plainly see the earth was round.

What about deciding if our feelings and emotions are true. For some this isn't an issue, if I feel this then it is reality and it is truth. Others second guess their emotions and believe that they can have false emotions or feelings, because they are there does not necessarily make them true. This internal struggle I believe comes from the fact that we are in our emotions and feelings, like we are in the earth. Until we can come out of our selves and look into our emotions we can not really know the truth behind them.

So how can we truly understand if our feelings are the truth or a false emotion that we are projecting? For myself, I turn to God to help discern the truth of my feelings.
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
I know that God will give the wisdom I need to discern the truth behind my feelings.

I have been really digging through this book by Rob Bell, Velvet Elvis, and I have read some interesting things about what God claims and how we know its true. Rob talks about the writings of Paul in 1 Corinthians, particularly this verse;
1 Corinthians 3:21-23
So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.
Rob says that Paul is making the claim that truth is every where. God has everything, Christ has God, and we have Christ, therefore we have it all too. The truth of life is all around us and we should recognize that when we see it because we have what God has, and what God has is true.
Rob Bell puts it this way.
"Claim it. "
"If it is true, if it is beautiful, it is is honorable, if it is right, then claim it. Because its is from God. And you belong to God." (Velvet Elvis, pg 79)

This rang true to me. It made sense to me. This is how I want to look at things around me, in me, and that are apart of me. I do not believe it is an exact science, but I agree with how these elements can help me decide if they are of God for me to have.

So I ask myself now. Are these feelings true, beautiful, honorable, or right then I work my way from there to claim.

I say now, that I am claiming these feelings for I find they true, beautiful, honorable, right and of God.

Loud Noises

2008-01-14T15:59:00.000-05:00

So sometimes I want to go and scream really loud, but I want to do it in a place that no one will hear. The only place I have found that I can do that in is in my Head. So there are times that all I am doing is screaming in my Head.

Lauren I think Coldplay is growing on me.

Or maybe not....

yeah I still can't groove to that
Hahahha yeah I thought this song I liked was Coldplay but it wasn't

However Landon Pigg is pretty cool.

I found him because his song is in that Kay Jewelers commercial where the couple is driving together and holding hands. The song is something like Falling in love in a coffee shop.

check it out... just google search him

2008-01-14T00:35:00.000-05:00

HMMM...

2008-01-03T16:04:00.000-05:00

If you only knew
If I could only say
What was really on my heart

How would it be
Where would it go
would the world fall apart

Someday it will
Be known to all
but when will that start

yeah this one is in progress .... it might not go anywhere ... i'm starting to sound like a cheesy.... well some kind of cheesy thing.... oh well another day....

2007; Well, That Sucked.

2008-01-01T16:48:00.000-05:00

This is the design on my New Year's Shirt that I got from shirt.woot.com. When I saw it I couldn't pass it up, and apparently a lot of other people thought I should have it too. I guess my 2007 sucked so bad that it almost made for a perfect country song. All that was missing was either my dog dying or my Dad in jail. I lost my job, my girlfriend dumped me, and I broke my ankle.

Needless to say this year was a difficult year for me. The world that I knew was thrown upside down and all out of my control. It became hard to see anything good out of the crap that was thrown in my way.

I see now though that it was all for the best. That these obstacles help me grow in ways that I never thought I would have to grow in and completely changed how I rely on God. This past year deepened my relationship with God by leaps and bounds. Showing me how far I am from him yet how close I can be with him.

This past year may not be one that I look back on and say man that was good times, but it will be a year that I can look back on and say, wow that really helped to define who I am. This next year, 2008, has got me all excited. It has to be better than this past year. It feels like I am getting another fresh start, and can shape this year into another defining year of my life.

So, for as much as 2007 sucked, it was a good thing.

Happy New Year Everyone.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)