Making a Game out of Worship

When I go to baseball games I go crazy. I have my favorite players, my favorite teams, and I act like I have something to do with the outcome (no matter if it is a win or a loss). The bast games are those one in a million where you get to see one of your favorite players (or any player for that matter) break a record or reach a career milestone. You join in the player's emotions of happyness and completion, and you feel (as a fan) that you played a major role in theie success.

How is it that we can get so serious about a game and can't get serious about worship? I can't remember all the times that I went into a worship time half heartedly, and I hate saying that (but I'm coming clean). I don't want to be that way anymore. I want to worship God with everything that I have and with all that I am. I hate the feeling that I get when I know that I could have done better. It is time to stop playing around with worship and take it seriously for a change.

The picture above is of Rafiel Palmeiro getting his 3000 hit at Safeco Field. I was there and it was awesome.

What I've Learned in My 21 Years

I am now officially 21 and I have got to say, I never thought I would make it this far. If anyone would have told me that I would be sitting in my dorm room posting on your blog on your 21st birthday, I would have told them:

"What's a blog?"

Anyway, I have been thinking a lot this week about what i have learned over the past 21 years and I have come up with a list:

1. Be Happy! Nothing is worth getting worked up over.

2. God only gave us one mouth, but he gave us two ears.

3. When someone says duck, they usually aren't talking about the thing with feathers.

4. The only difference between ordinary and extraordinary is the little extra.

5. Sleep is a gift, do it as often as possible.

6. "No" is not a bad word, use it when needed.

7. There is no reason to worry, your parents do it enough for you.

8. If you can't stand the heat, stay off the field.

9. That there is a $550 fine for not having proof of insurance when you get pulled over in the state of Washington.

10. Your real friends stick with you when you are at your worst (and it is not always a pretty picture.

11. No matter what happens, God is always with me.

12. If you fall asleep chewing gum, you better be ready for a hair cut.

13. Orange fights are the best way to get loose before a game.

14. Water boils at 212, don't stand at 211.

21 years of life, and I am still learning. I am blessed to have had people come into my life to teach me how to live. So thanks to all who have contributed to my life lessons. And I promise that there are many many more, I just couldn't write them all down.

I'M 21 TODAY!!!

I'm Going To Greece

Yes, you read it right, I am going to Greece this summer on a mission trip. This has kind of been a decision that I have come to in the last month. I wasn't really sure what I was going to do this summer (whether to take classes or to go on a mission trip has been my debate lately). Finally I desided to just let the Lord handle it and as soon as I did that, he came in fast. I got a call yesterday from the Edge (the group I am going with). Jessica gave me my interview over the phone and by the end of the conversation, I was placed on the Greece Team.

I will be based in Athens (right outside Athens) and an encampment. I will be on the Camp staff and help with lifeguarding, music, drama and other everyday camp tasks. My team will meet on June 10 in Chicago for our oreintation. After about four days we will fly out together to Athens. We will be overseas for about nine weeks. We will fly back together for a debriefing time in Orlando. Then I will Fly into Little Rock on August 16. (after that I am not quite sure, I will either come straight to Monticello for Summer band, or I will go home to Texarkana for a day or two and then come to Monticello.)

I am really excited about this. I really feel that this is where God is calling me and I know that he will provide for it. Right now, my grandparents are not 100% for me going. I ask that ya'll (my faithful readers) pray for me and my family for patience and for wisdom in this time.

I'M GOING TO GREECE!!!

Commission is Blind...

I have come to the realization that people who work on commission will say anything to sell you something.

Case in point:

I went shopping with a couple of friends for my birthday (my birthday really isn't until Friday). I was wearing my camo capris and a UAM Intramurals Champion shirt (this will come into play later).

My friens and i had been walking around the mall and descided to go into Dillards to see what they had. I found the cutest top and thought that i should try it on. To the dressing room I went, followed in tow by Jamie and Nancy. I tried on the top and came to show the girls (remember that I am wearing my camo pants)

"How does it look guys?"

"Not really sure," came their reply,"turn around."

That was when I saw the sales person kinda evesdropping into our converation. So I thought that I would play with her mind a little.

"The best thing about it Jamie, is that the top goes great with these pants."

The sales person tried to hide her shock and then stated that she never would have thought to put the two together, but that it looked "alright". To which I then told her that I wore those pants into the store and that I was only kidding.

THE BIGGEST LOOK OF RELIEF CAME TO HER FACE. I wish I would have taken a picture because it was hilarious.

But it got me to thinking. She would have sold me that outfit, even though she thought it looked hidious. I guess commission is blind.

Don't Want to be Just Hot Water

Let's see how good your memory is from seventh grade science class. Your question is:

At what temperature does water boil?

If you said at 212 degrees, you would be correct. Now:

What happens to water at 211 degrees?

Absolutely nothing. At 211 degrees, water is just hot. It is absolutely useless. But when it gets boiling, water is a very useful tool.

Why do you ask am I giving you a science lesson? Because most of us are just hot water when it comes to spirituallity. We are doing just enough to get hot, instead of giving our all and boiling over, to be a great tool for Gods work. Our society today is in a habit of doing just enough to get by (grades, work, dieting), and getting the mediocre rewards from that. But if we were willing to do one degree more, how much more rewarding would it be.

So I am ready to give that one degree, because I don't want to be just hot water.