I’m back, I won’t leave for that long again…
So it’s been a while since I blogged, life has been busy and trust me I have wanted to blog for the past few weeks just haven’t been able to get around to it. God has been still working in lives none the less and I am super excited about this blog post, it is a re-post of a blog I just read in trying to catch up with my google reader posted on July 20th.
When I was saved about 4 years ago now I really grabbed onto some artists that I thought were doing some great things. My friends never let me hear the end of it! Any time they would ride with me I would blast these songs and they would just laugh it off and tell me to stop listening to it, but I never did, well tell about a few months ago. However after reading this post by Josh Patterson, a pastor at The Village Church in Dallas TX I’m going to put them all back on my playlist. I think what these guys are doing is so important, and until now I haven’t really been able to put it to words in a way that made sense to other people. Josh does that for me here in this post. I hope you enjoy.
“It is interesting how movements begin. I love looking back and seeing how history unfolds. Opportunities arise for people to step up and call their generation to see things differently, to believe accurately and live passionately. Some movements are short-lived while others have a lasting impact. You have micro-movements of subcultures—smaller cultures within the greater culture. You also see macro movements that can change nations or potentially the world. They are led by imperfect people who oftentimes did not necessarily desire to start a movement. God, in His sovereign plan, weaves people into His story to play roles that bring about His purposes. They are bit players in a bigger drama.
I have been thinking about a specific group of guys for a long time. I have watched their lives and considered the impact they are having. I have wondered how far reaching their scope potentially could be and marveled at how God has orchestrated their lives for such a time as this. I have often thought about how powerful the gospel is to transform and redeem as I have considered their ways. In short, this group has been an encouragement to me in a way that has caught me off guard. This group consists of four front-line artists who simply don’t want to waste their lives: Lecrae, Tedashii, Trip Lee and Sho Baraka.
They are Christian rappers who formed ReachRecords and 116 Clique with a passion to reach this generation with the gospel. It’s not gimmickry. It’s not ego. It’s not hype. They are cultural missionaries who use the medium of rap to share the message of Christ. It’s not unlike a medical missionary using the medium of surgery to win the opportunity to share the message of Christ. They are preachers without a pulpit, teachers without a podium. They are slowly infiltrating the hip-hop culture with turntables and microphones, seizing the opportunity to share the gospel by utilizing their gift as a platform.
I found their calling significant for several reasons. First, they are unashamedly preaching the gospel of Christ. Their music is Christocentric and culturally decipherable. Every song and every lyric points to the Savior in some form or fashion. Every event is a crusade. Every medium is an opportunity to preach.
Second, rap and hip-hop is far reaching in scope. Rap music appeals to the inner-city teenager as much as it does to the upper-middle class yuppie. This style of music draws from a diverse group of people. It is hard to profile; therefore, their reach is wide.
Third, they are African-American role models. The fatherless epidemic has plagued the inner-city and contributes to many of the cycles that continue to bind this segment of society. Here is a group of men being faithful husbands and faithful fathers. Here is a group upholding the worth of marriage and esteeming the role of a father. Here is a group deflecting fame and fortune to show that Christ is better. As they live faithful lives, a generation is watching.
Fourth, they are doctrinally solid. On the whole, the African-American church has been strong in faith but weak in doctrine. These men espouse the need for both. They are not watering down lyrics to make them palatable; instead, their lyrics are rich with sound doctrine that teaches the deep truths of God’s worth. They are Christ-centered, not man-centered. They call a generation to forsake worldly pleasures and seek prosperity in Christ alone.
Fifth and finally, their calling reminds me that mine is no different. We certainly have different mediums and spheres of influence, but I am called to unashamedly preach the gospel of Christ. God has placed me in an arena of influence in which I am to be faithful. I am a role model to the next generation. Even if I impact no one else, I will impact my family. I want my wife to marvel at the love of God because of how I love her. I want my children to see a marriage saturated with grace, godliness and goodness. I want to pass on to my little ones the beautiful reality of the Savior and watch them, by God’s grace, pass it along to their own. I want to see chains broken and new branches of a family tree begin. I desire to see our little home play its part well in the drama of God’s unfolding, redemptive story. I want to teach them the rich and deep truths of Scripture. I want our home to be free in the Lord and bound in His love. Regardless of musical taste, we have a lot more in common through Christ. It is stronger than beats or rhythms. It’s a family called the Church and each member is faithfully playing their part.
I hope this is much bigger than a movement. I hope it’s a revolution, a gospel-centered revolution. Rap it. Preach it. Live it. Don’t waste your life.
jp”
Don’t Waste Your Cancer
Do you ever come across a story that tears you apart inside? I am an emotional person, which leads me to believe that our God is emotional, and if this video and story doesn’t make you emotional, then I will be left speechless and confused (but still confident in God). The story of Zac Smith is remarkable, but not for the reason you would think. Watch this short clip, I promise its worth it and then stay tuned for some discussion thoughts.
The Story of Zac Smith from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.
You might ask, how is this story remarkable, you are sadistic, he still has cancer and might not live till next year! But thats what is remarkable to me, that this man, this mere man is much more with Christ. That he is so confident in his Savior that he can still praise God even though he may never be able to walk his daughter down the aisle, or see his sons turn into men. How strong is your faith? Would you react the same way Zac did when faced with a life changing event such as this? How would you glorify God in your suffering? Do you even have a theology for suffering? This video is so great because it just reminds me of how much we all need Christ and how much He really did for us.
I challenge you to take a moment and pray for Zac, but don’t pray out of pity or some selfish desire to say ‘see God I pray too, I help people’. But pray out of thankfulness for men like Zac, men who help us remember why we truly live day in and day out, to glorify God in all that we do. Pray also for Zac’s family, and that they would know that their comfort comes in Christ just as Zac’s does, that of course things are going to be hard when Zac dies, but that Christ is our foundation and that He is theirs as well. So pray for Zac and his family and pray for yourself, pray that you would know the love of Christ like Zac does.
Silence and Solitude part 5 of 5
This has been a wonderful tool for me to read, this has been just a joy and helpful blog series by Pastor Mark Driscoll. After reading through this last one you will understand why the man is so godly, and why he seems to have it together (as much as we can as broken, sinful humans). This last section is about Journaling, he lays out his way of doing it and gives some examples. Its brilliant. I like to journal, but I don’t do it quite like he does. At the beginning of December I am going to take a day of silence, I am going to practice what Mark has been teaching us through this blog, and I am going to adapt his questions and journaling for that day. It is wonderful and there is no way one couldnt learn and grow by doing this. Enjoy the last of this series.
“This the last post in a series by Pastor Mark where he helpfully lays out the importance of silence and solitude, as well as how he approaches and utilizes the time. We hope it has been helpful for you as you grow in your faith in Jesus.
Journaling
The following is a copy of the template I created for myself to organize my days of silence and solitude for the purpose of journaling. I offer it knowing that you can and should change it to fit your life. This is not Scripture, it’s not perfect, and I don’t claim it is. Rather, it is a simple tool for you to adapt as you need. For me, I keep notes in my Moleskine throughout the week, and sit down to answer these questions on my laptop in a Word document. This keeps it simple for me and allows me to see God’s work in my life over time.
Ideally, every Christian would do a modified version of this plan every week as an act of worship, taking around an hour to answer a few of the questions that are most pressing for them. In addition, it is wise to take at least one full day a month in silence and solitude to answer all the questions without being rushed, leaving time to open your Bible, pray, repent, worship, and ponder.
Silence and Solitude Journaling Template
“. . . the report about him [Jesus] went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.” — Luke 5:15–16
Date:
Modified or Full Plan:
Note: Here I am making note if it’s one hour or one day for silence and solitude.
Place and Conditions:
Note: I am someone for whom space deeply matters. On a nice day I sit outside by a river or at the beach in a beautiful spot. I don’t like coffee shops (too noisy and crowded) or the office (too much distraction). I like to be up high with a view, crave fresh air, love the sun, and cannot relax where it’s loud, busy, ugly, stinky, disorganized, poorly designed, uncomfortable, or too hot or cold, and yes, I am picky. So, I note where I was and that helps me keep a record of nice spots for silence and solitude days. I borrow friends’ vacation homes, have spots I like outside of town in the mountains, and so forth.
Part 1 – Recent Evidences of God’s Grace
“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.” — 2 Thess. 2:16–17
Note: To have good words and works, we need hope and comfort by seeing and savoring evidences of God’s grace. I start with this topic to get me into a mode of worship. I can be quite a gloomy and moody person, so this gets me going in the right direction for my time with God. I often take an hour on this topic alone and make a long list, thanking God and praying as I go.
Part 2 – Deep Questions
“The purpose in a man’s mind is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.” — Prov. 20:5 (RSV)
Note: These are my questions and you can make your own or change mine. I don’t include Bible reading and study because they are like breathing to me, but you may want to add them. In question four I’m talking about my wife, Grace. I list each of my kids in question five because with a big family it’s too easy to treat the kids as a herd rather than knowing and pastoring each one. I put my work last, figuring that if the rest of my life is in order, work will go well. I rate every question on a scale so that I can be honest about how I’m doing and track progress over time. The prayer points are things I pray about as I’m journaling and things to put on my prayer list that week. The action items go on my calendar. Lastly, I share a lot of this with my wife, kids, friends, and others, and a lot of my blogs and ministry training are simply sharing what comes out of my journaling on days of silence and solitude.
1. How accurate is my view of God lately?
• Scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high)
• Prayer Points
• Action Items
2. How are my joy in the Holy Spirit and corresponding hope?
• Scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high)
• Prayer Points
• Action Items
3. What temptations and sins are most ensnaring?
• Scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high)
• Prayer Points
• Action Items
4. How is my connection with my wife?
• Scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high)
• Prayer Points
• Action Items
5. How is my connection with each of my children?
• Scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high)
• Prayer Points
• Action Items
6. How is my health (e.g., weight, diet, exercise)?
• Scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high)
• Prayer Points
• Action Items
7. How is my sleep (e.g., bed time, quality of sleep, length of sleep)?
• Scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high)
• Prayer Points
• Action Items
8. How is my energy level?
• Scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high)
• Prayer Points
• Action Items
9. How is my dominion over my technology (e.g., cell phone, laptop, email, text)?
• Scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high)
• Prayer Points
• Action Items
10. How is the stewardship of my wealth (e.g., finances, possessions, property, investments)?
• Scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high)
• Prayer Points
• Action Items
11. How is my social life with friends and extended family?
• Scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high)
• Prayer Points
• Action Items
12. Who or what is filling my tank lately?
• Scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high)
• Prayer Points
• Action Items
13. Who or what is draining my tank lately?
• Scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high)
• Prayer Points
• Action Items
14. Who has sinned against me and how am I responding?
• Scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high)
• Prayer Points
• Action Items
15. Who do I need to confide in and where should I seek wisdom?
• Scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high)
• Prayer Points
• Action Items
16. Are there any warning signs that I am burning out?
• Scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high)
• Prayer Points
• Action Items
17. Am I successfully getting out of the river onto the bank enough through silence, solitude, study, and Sabbath?
• Scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high)
• Prayer Points
• Action Items
18. What do I need to stop doing, do less of, or hand off to someone else?
• Scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high)
• Prayer Points
• Action Items
19. How are my self-deception and truth suppression?
• Scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high)
• Prayer Points
• Action Items
20. How is my writing (e.g., books, blogs, papers)?
• Scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high)
• Prayer Points
• Action Items
21. How is my preaching (preparation and results, in and out of Mars Hill)?
• Scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high)
• Prayer Points
• Action Items”
Solitude and Silence, part 3 of 5
Like i said before, I really enjoy Mark Driscol, and that means I really enjoy his blog. He is thought provoking and practical, things that I love in my life! I have been following his posts on finding solitude and why we need a time of solitude and silence. This is the third part of his five part series. Enjoy.
“Understanding Silence and Solitude
Silence and solitude is fasting from people and noise for a prescribed time to connect with God and replenish the soul. The opposite of solitude is isolation, where someone is burned out and goes into survival mode by disappearing. Solitude is godly, isolation is deadly, and if we don’t enjoy the former we’ll wind up pursuing the latter.
Despite the constant pressures upon his time from family, friends, and fans, Jesus’ own life was marked by ongoing times of solitude. The following verses speak of how Jesus often practiced the spiritual discipline of solitude:
- “And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.” (Matt. 14:23)
- “And he said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.” (Mark 6:31)
- “And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place.” (Luke 4:42)
- “But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.” (Luke 5:16)
Furthermore, as we study Scripture we see that Jesus used solitude for a multitude of purposes. Following his baptism, Jesus spent forty days in solitude preparing for his public ministry (Matt. 4:1–11). After his cousin, John the Baptizer, was beheaded, Jesus spent time alone to mourn (Matt. 14:12–13). Jesus also used times of solitude as occasions for intense and focused prayer (Matt. 14:23; Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16). Jesus specifically used solitude as an opportunity to pray and seek the Father’s will before choosing the twelve disciples (Luke 6:12). In addition, Jesus used solitude to rest after a hard day of work (Mark 6:31). Finally, knowing he was soon to be crucified, Jesus spent time alone in the Garden of Gethsemane, coming to grips with the painful obedience that was required of him (Mark 26:36–46).
Other biblical figures also used solitude for a litany of purposes. Moses spent time alone on the mountain with God in order to receive a word from God, namely the Ten Commandments (Exodus 19–20). Isaiah was both saved and sustained by God through his times of solitude with the Lord (Isa. 30:15). In Psalm 62:1–2, 5 David says that in solitude God calmed his fears and encouraged his soul. Paul as well spent some three years in varying degrees of solitude being prepared by the Lord for ministry, according to Galatians 1:17–19.
Clearly, time alone with God serves innumerable good purposes in our lives. Therefore, to help you consider how to enjoy purposeful times of solitude, I would encourage the following. One, you may need to simply schedule a day of solitude to ensure that this is a regular part of your spiritual life. I do this at least one day a month and find it to be the most important and refreshing part of my life; it enables me to function in the other areas of my life because it helps me remain continually connected to Jesus. Two, find a place where you like to go. This may mean that you spend a day in God’s creation hiking or simply resting. Three, if you are a parent, this may mean that you have to get up early or stay up late to get some time to yourself at home.
There are many things you can do during your periods of solitude, including:
1. Nothing
2. Meditate on a short section of Scripture
3. Rest
4. Read long sections of Scripture
5. Pray, including a prayer-walk/hike/bike
6. Read a good book
7. Journal”
Solitude and silence from Pastor Mark
So as most of you know I love to read blogs, and recently I have been reading more blogs than writing. I’m sorry, but I have the type of personality that would rather listen and learn than to speak up and teach. That doesn’t mean I don’t like teaching or writing but I would rather read and listen. So here is a blog post that I truely loved. It’s from Mars Hill blog and Mark Driscoll wrote this one. It’s great and I will be following up with his posts on this series withy own thoughts. This first one is great, I fall into the reaction and independence side of how I am livingy life. This post excites me, it should be great enjoy.
“Organizing a Silence and Solitude Day (Part 1 of 5)
– by Pastor Mark Driscoll on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 9:06 am
This is the first post of a five-part series. Stay tuned via RSS, Twitter, or Facebook for the rest.
I am an introvert who is contemplative. This means I crave and desperately need silence, solitude, study, prayer, and journaling because the Holy Spirit uses these moments to connect me to Jesus that I might be more like him. For those like me, organizing days for silence and solitude may come rather naturally. But for those who are extroverted and active, the people and tasks in their mind and life can keep them from having regular and productive times to fast from noise and people and to hear from God, speak to God, and be with God.
So, this blog is the first in a series that will help you organize a silence and solitude day. The series of blogs will culminate in a lengthy template I use to organize my own silence and solitude days. I shared this document with the Mars Hill staff and so many friends on Facebook and Twitter asked for it after hearing about it that I decided to write it up in brief form and give it away in hopes of being helpful.
Four Ways to Live Your Life
In his book Leading On Empty, Wayne Cordeiro says that there are only four ways to live your life:
Reaction – passively dominated by urgencies and pushy people
Conformity – succumbing to the fear of man and just being and doing what everyone else wants, which is not necessarily following God’s will for you personally
Independence – nonconforming rebellion in the name of freedom, marked by doing only what you want and ignoring godly authority over you
Intentionality – reverse-engineering your life and living it prayerfully and purposefully, journaling your thoughts throughout the day, and using silence and solitude to hear from God and organize your life
Which one of these four most typifies you? Is your life a frazzled mess because you are in perpetual reaction mode? Have you not really even deeply pondered God’s will for your life but just done what you were told by other people?
Are you the sort of person who is defiant, independent, and self-reliant? Or, do you regularly (e.g., at least one hour a week and one day a month) get silence and solitude with God to work on your life before you work in it?”
A truly remarkable story…
A man by the name of Richard Leroy Walters died two years ago. You might ask why that is significant, you might even ponder a possible relationship between this man and I. Mr. Walters was from Arizona, Phoenix to be exact. I have never been to Arizona, or even close to that area. Mr. Walters was 76 at the time he died, he loved NPR, we never met, i don’t know much about Mr. Walters. But his story fascinates me. Do you ever come across a story or a news article that just really makes you think, that just really turns a new knob somewhere inside of you that you had no idea was there. The knob was crusted over, or ‘hardened’ or perhaps it froze. Well my knob was knocked of its debris when i gazed upon this delightful little story.
Mr. Walters lead a pretty normal life for anyone who was born in 1931, he graduated from college with an engineering degree, actually he was an honors graduate from Purdue where he also got his masters, he was a marine and probably fought in a few wars. He worked for AlliedSignal Corp where he retired from. He had no wife or kids and his brother was not a part of his life. Mr. Walters became homeless, he had no car to get around in and he would call people from a phone in the hospital where he would go to get food. He visited a seniors home for a while where he befriended a nice lady by the name of Rita Belle who was just a nurse. She cared about and for Mr. Walters when he would come in. He became special to her. Then he died. Normally we would feel some sorrow and pain for Mr. Walters and that would be it, but this story gets better.
Mr. Walters died an atheist. Rita was devout Catholic. Rita was surprised and said “that just blew my mind that somebody could not believe in the Lord.” However, she still cared for him. She became his nurse, helping him when he became ill. She also cared for him when she found out he was homeless, she showed unconditional love to a man who didn’t believe in God, and had one possession, a radio. This story gets better yet. The senior home Rita volunteered at mission, a Catholic non-profit organization became beneficiaries of $400,000. They were just one of ten places, all non-profit that would do so. What does this have to do with Mr. Walters, well it came from him. Mr. Walters died with an estate worth $4 million, all of which was entrusted to ten different places and Rita Belle.
I believe Christians and people all over need to take a page from Mr. Walters book. Mr. Walter, was homeless, car-less, phone-less, material-less and never complained. Rita, who became great friends with Mr. Walters and was a beneficiary of his estate, said “He just gave up all of the material things that we think we have to have. You know, I don’t know how we gauge happiness. What’s happy for you might not be happy for me. I never heard him complain.” A man, who was an atheist, followed doctrine from God, without knowing it. This man lead an example filled life, sure he had his faults, he was human, meaning he was broken, but this man, lead more of a Christian life, than I do sometimes. More of a Christian life than the majority of Americans who call themselves Christians, he sacrificed everything he had for what? He didn’t need anything, he was happy, he had something, but what?
I think a note needs to be taken from Mr. Walters. I don’t think we need to give up our faith, cars, homes, and phones, but we do need to think, what’s important to me? Happiness was important to Mr. Walters, and he had that, so everything else, was just extra.
Dying to feel loved
So the title of this post may sound like i am really depressed and that i just want some people to love on me, thankfully i have been blessed with people who truly do love me in my life. However, some of us are not as fortunate. I was thinking of how i could explain this and put this dilemma to words, when i realized that i am incapable of doing this, but Tim Downs is not. Tim Downs helped start Campus Crusade for Christ and won The Gold Medallion Book Award for his book Finding Common Ground. Excellent book. Where i lack the “art” of communicating how i feel he comes in and does it in a very good fashion. Take this story for instance:
“When I lived in Southern California, The LA Times carried a story one day about a very ordinary four-year-old girl from a very typical Southern California family. The family was very busy, always on the go, and the little girl was often left to play by herself. She had everything she needed-except the love and attention that all four-year-olds crave.
One day the family went to a poolside barbecue and, as usual, the little girl was left to play by herself. Everything went as usual until the little girl wandered too close to the edge of the pool, slipped, and plunged in. One of the adults nearby saw her and realized in an instant that she could not swim. Immediately he dove in after her. As he pulled her, coughing and whimpering, to the edge of the pool, all of the other adults gathered around in great alarm. They wrapped her in warm blankets and towels, and a sea of hands stroked her arms and legs and tangled her hair. ‘Honey, what happened?’ each one cooed in turn. ‘Sweetheart, are you all right?’ The little girl just smiled and looked up into each loving, concerned face, and in that one moment she tasted all the love and affection she had longed for all her life.
And so the little girl began to develop the habit of ‘accidentily’ falling into swimming pools.
Each time the family attended the poolside barbecue the little girl would wander a little too close to the pools edge, slip, and fall in. She would float face down, waiting patiently for the big soft towels and the warm loving faces to come to her rescue. She did this again, and again, and again-until the day that no one saw her fall into the pool.
They found her body thirty minutes later lying face down at the bottom.
The Coroner’s death certificate listed the cause of her death as ‘drowning.’ But those who knew her-and her all-too-ordinary family-knew that she really died from something else.
She died from a lack of love.”
There are two things that really stick out to me in this story. The first being the idea of living for something that we see as ‘desirable’,or ‘fulfilling’, not that i don’t think that love is fulfilling, but in this case, it was something the girl did not have right in front of her. God had not placed outside love in her life yet. The second has less to do with the story itself, but how the story was told and how the author moved us to their final thought about the situation. The latter of these ideas is not something i want to touch on right now, and will inevitably have to save it for another blog post soon. The former however, i think has many implications on our lives, and the lives of people around us.
Who has God put in front of us? What has God put in front of us? Where has God placed us? I know what you are thinking right now, ‘that girl was only four, how was she supposed to know where God was placing her?’ and your right, how was she supposed to know that ultimately God loved her more than the people around her, and that is the only love she needed in her life. However, this story really pieces together some thoughts i have been having about objects God has placed in my life or people God has placed in my life. Sometimes i feel my self striving or trying to move towards a group of people or situation/ideal that i want outside of what i have right now. Now, when i come to find this group, idea, situation, lifestyle, i am initially happy, content, fulfilled and feel like i can stay put where i am at. However, i find that some time later, usually a few weeks or months that i am striving for something else, that i am not as happy, content, fulfilled as i was initially. The reason for this is because i can only find constant love, acceptance, fulfillment, and happiness from one thing, Christ.
So where am i going with this? How do i relate this to the story we just read, that broke our hearts? This is my warning to people, and myself, don’t drown searching for something that is not going to fulfill your life, something that you think is going to bring you eternal happiness, because you are not going to find it, unless you are looking to Christ. Christ is the only eternal lover, and if we spend our time on Earth striving, and longing for something other than the love of Christ, and feeling the power of that on our hearts, we will inevitably drown ourselves as we jump head first into the world.
If you think your alone, your not!!
Paul Ridley everybody!
So the title of this blog has two meanings, one is the obvious, God is always there, he is always watching out for us and “keeping our backs, yo”! Paul Ridley, most of you will have no idea who he is, some of you might have seen him on the news recently or earlier this year. Paul is somebody who, to me, is remarkable, somebody who sets his sights on something, and no matter what comes in his way, even if its 88 days of sailing across the Atlantic to get to it. See Paul lost his mother to skin melanoma in 2001 and that is when he decided that he was going to do something, going to make an impact. He started up the organization Row For Hope later that year that helps raise money for research for the same cancer that took his mothers life. Paul was determined from the beginning, raising money by doing rowing competitions and donating the money to the cause. However, his next adventure, that started on the first day of January in 2009 and ended on March 29th is one of the most courageous things i have ever heard of. Paul rowed, yes rowed, with ors across the Atlantic, that’s 2,950 miles and 88 days to raise $500,000 for research funds, by himself. Paul never said throughout his blog, but i would imagine that God was with Paul throughout that trip. Just think if you could row across the Ozark lakes by yourself, i couldn’t i would get too bored and lonely, Paul went 88 days away from people in God’s hands, through the treacherous waters of the Atlantic.
Paul inspires me, he doesn’t know it, im sure he could guess it, but he really makes me think about what am i doing for something i truly believe in. Am i being proactive, am i helping out my cause, or the cause that i want to help out? It puts a whole new face on inspiration for me. So look at Paul as inspiration or look at Paul as a cool story, its both to me. I think you should take a look at Paul and his cause and really think about what he did, its quite amazing! Link to story.
Platform 1, What is That?
January 5th, 2009 – Platform 1, What is That?
So I was sitting and trying to think of something to blog about since I missed last week with all the excitement that had gone on involving a random trip to Chi-Town with some friends for New Years and then the constant battle of work. I decided that this would be a good time to explain why I named my blog “Platform 1” and described it as an Inspiration. That can be a very deep and large thing in someone’s life to have an inspiration, and just thinking about it on the surface, most everybody has an inspiration regardless of whether it comes in the form of a person or of an object or in my case in a place. However my inspiration does not just come from the physical place itself but the place spawns thought, and imaginative ideas and ideals about things that read or heard during the weeks.
See Platform 1 is the eastbound platform at Euston Square in London that services the Circle Line, Bakerloo, and the Hammersmith and City lines. This would be the platform that the my fellow students and thousands of people would wait on everyday to go eastward in London which was home for me. Now this has probably raised some eyebrows and made people wonder what makes this platform so special, why not Kings Cross like Harry Potter or Notting Hill Gate in Notting Hill or one of the other 63 stops in central London. Well that is actually a very simple answer, at least in my mind it may not make sense to others, but that doesn’t matter. Simply put this was one of the only tube stops where my mobile phone would not work, it has one of the longest platforms that I came across and was simply quite and a great place to think, pray, read, write or just sit without anyone coming up and disturbing you or cramping up next to you to get onto the next available train. This meant more to me than anything else during the whole semester, I would practically run out of the school and then two blocks north and then a block east to then descend about 75 steps to the platform where I could walk all the way to the end and sit and read or just think.
To have a place like that, an inspiration, in a foreign city where you know all of twenty people and at some points in the trip can feel absolutely alone or just the opposite was more than I could ask for. I didn’t dream I would find such a wonderful place in such an everyday area. I always dreamed of my inspiration to stem from a perfectly green field with red and blue flowers and a single tree that covered me from the ever present sun where I could just pick an apple off every now and then. Not a place where trains come screeching through, a lady interrupts you every 5 minutes to tell you to “Mind the Gap”, while people stand and wait to rush onto their next task of the day, or where most people get frustrated because they can not call or send text messages from under the street. The dark grimy and somewhat damp platform was all this and more, which would make most people upset and depressed that they had to stand there for no more than 7 minutes, while it was a place that I could sit at for hours on end if I needed to and just think and read.
I have never really put much thought into Heaven and what it would be like, maybe because I don’t know where to start or maybe because my human brain just isn’t capable of comprehending the glory of Heaven and being next to God and Christ at all times. But one thing that I do know is that if Heaven is personal, or if the entry to Heaven takes you through a place where you are comfortable then my gateway would be at this platform, no, more than a platform, at this stage for inspiration and thought in central London. I hope this made sense to you; it makes perfect sense to me. Something that I pray about and hope for is that people can find places or things or people like this all over the world. Not just one but many, its something special to have, I know I miss that platform, but a lot of my knowledge and thoughts about a Christian life were met right there on that platform, so it only made sense to me to aptly name my blog after it. Enjoy.
The Infamous Platform
Attempted Elucidation 