Show this to your biology teacher ... and your evolution friends. ;) 

Picture time again! This time me standing with my wonderful parents. Or rather them standing by me. Love you mom and dad! :) 

Romans 8:28

I would have thought I'd have shaken this cold by now ... but I was proven wrong ... went to work today feeling rather yuck.

Unfortunately, I had to miss Wednesday night service...'cause of work. Parents couldn't pick me up as that's where they were. So I had a good experience. Walked 3 and a 1/2 miles home.

I never thought I was spoiled...but maybe I am. Never thought of myself as an American middle class spoiled white boy. But maybe I should fess up and let God take my pride away.

Walking along the lonely highway of Military Road tonight wasn't bad or anything...it was a good experience and made me more appreciative of vehicular transportation. It wasn't even a big deal, but it and other circumstances in my life are showing me that God uses all things ... All things ... A-L-L things ... to work together for our good ... if we love him and are called by Him.

Other than that, I'm a bit down about the fact we could lose the house ... but then again, we've come close before and God saved the day last minute. Jesus definitely is my Superhero, our family's Superhero.

But even if what we don't want to happen does happen now ... we'll make it. I'm learning painfully that:

a) "We Are Not As Strong As We Think We Are" (Rich Mullins song)
b) We don't need as much as we think we do.

We only need what God says we do.

I pray that I'll maintain Job's attitude of "Though He slays me, yet will I trust in Him."

The words of a U2 song have been floating around in my head. It's like God's is speaking to me ... "what you don't have, you don't need it now."

I feel like I've shared too much information publicly on the internet, but I'm keeping it real...and I won't say what, but our family seems to be facing some dark days. I'll confess even in that there's the desire for someone to take pity...

...don't feel sorry. Jesus didn't need people to feel sorry for Him when He was pouring out His blood. It was necessary. Now, I'm in no way equating my situations to Jesus' pouring out his soul to death ... but the point is that a lesson we all need to learn is just what it means to take up our cross daily.

What did we think Jesus meant when he said in Philippians 3 (i think verse 10) that we must enter into "the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death"? I mean, what did I, ME think when I read that scripture?! It means what it says! To know Jesus is to know pain ... we, through much tribulation, enter the Kingdom of God (the Bible says).

I want You Lord Jesus to take my pride away ... take my vanity, my selfishness awaaaaay, Lord. Make me humble. Psalm 51:17 says a broken and contrite heart You will not despise.

Bob Marley may not have known why ... but He was right, and I know why, 'cause I know Who...

Every little thing's gonna be alright.

Geaux Tigers

Geaux Tigers

It’s 3:40 P.M. It’s been a long day. I sit composing this in the visitor center at Louisiana State University staring at the gloom. This dismal weather, the clouds and rain, contrasts so starkly with the scorching, tongue-drying heat that blazed as I walked the campus earlier.

I awoke at 7:15 this morning and Dad and I were on the road for the center of the State of Louisiana by 8:15. Only I drove Dad’s Mitsubishi Galant – my Buick LeSabre is in the shop awaiting several hundred dollars of repair work, including a new radiator. Dad dropped me off at a quarter of 10:00 on the LSU campus. He proceeded to take a legal deposition in downtown Baton Rouge. So I proceeded to wander aimlessly around the massive campus for nearly 2 hours. If I could sum up my personal tour in one word, it would be “hot.” At least I could immediately wipe the sweat from my nearly bald head. Heehee.

I started at the visitor’s center and really walked along the extremity of the campus, venturing int to see points of interest and catch some air conditioning from time to time. I still must say this campus is beautiful and I’m falling in love with it – especially the many stately oak trees with massive Spanish moss hanging down, giving that charming scent. Apparently, there is a lot of construction going on at the school this summer.

I stopped inside the historic French House to look around. Now the Honors College faclility, this building, with its grandeur, tiled roof, and singular spire, is a great place for intellectual stuff.

I briefly explained to a janitor I was just a future student exploring. She was friendly and her joviality seemed to harmonize with the stately spiral staircases and wooden floors. I finally found the main lobby. Yes, strangely enough, I had to “find” it. When you first walk into the building, you’re greeted by staircases. The lobby is actually on one side of the building, a symbol of the age of the building, I suppose.

It was quite cool the way I stumbled upon it. I walked down this nondescript corridor that led past a janitor’s closet and the room opened up. Before me was a piece of the past. The room had a feel of artistic elegance quickly lost in the mass-produced layout formulated in suburban homes. A rock-your-socks chandelier dangled from the ceiling, a fireplace beckoned from the side, and a grand piano nestled in the corner. Everything was ornate. The rugs, the paintings, tables, and chairs. It seems like what I’d have expected to see in the majestic ballroom in a southern plantation in a scene from Gone With the Wind. And it was occupied only by me. It felt weird walking out of the building and being greeted by the traffic of Highland Road again.

I continued down Highland, trying to get a mental picture of where everything is, generally. Face it, there are just too many buildings!! I’ve come to use the following as navigational reference points: the Student Union, the bell tower, the Quadrangle, Tiger Stadium, the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, Kirby-Smith residence hall, and the parade grounds.

After finishing a huge loop around campus, my shirt was sweat-soaked. I’ve never appreciated a library so much in my life … or its A/C, at least. It’s got several floors and all the books, periodicals, and other resources you would ever (or never) want to find. I used one of hundreds of computers dotting the many floors to check the library online system. The girl sitting next to me was giggling at some odd news on a news website … I won’t even venture what the story was about. Too gross.

Finally, just before noon, I went inside the Student Union … the place has got serious vibe issues going on. Whether it’s fast food, bowling, pool, arcade games, e-mail access, hanging out, shopping, or a host of other activities, the Union has got it, for the most part. It’s the campus hang-out, and it’s a cool edifice too.

After lunch, I plopped down into a comfy chair to read the Bible. Then I slept for a few minutes, to be awakened by a cell phone call. I read Fast Food Nation for a while. It’s a book entering freshman like me are required to read for an academic convocation, in which the author, Eric Schlosser, will present a dissertation. It’s really a fascinating book. Example: Did you know that the same science that controls how your cologne/perfume smells is the same science that controls the flavor of your McDonald’s French fries? Furthermore, most of the foods you eat derive their taste from an area of New Jersey that houses several huge food flavoring corporations. Often, the difference in taste of some French fries and some other “healthier” food lies within a difference in the chemicals mixed at one of these flavor factories in NJ. Anyhow…

After enough of reading that, I went and bought an LSU baseball cap at the bookstore for $16. I then proceeded to read various books in the store. Among what I perused: Bill Clinton’s My Life, Time magazine, a book on the war with Iraq, a book on the making of Shrek, a book on Bono, a book on Blink 182, and a couple of Joshua Harris books.

The Harris books were (needless to say) the only edifying ones.

I read this cool part in I Kissed Dating Goodbye that melts the heart of a Christian in waiting (like me). This dude (not the author) was talking about when he was courting this girl, everyone was telling him to kiss before marriage. Even his parents/her parents. But he saved his first kiss for the altar, so that it could be like a gift he presented to his wife on that day they could treasure afterward. He said that it was the most awesome, enchanting moment of his life or something like that.

Then this part of Boy Meets Girl: Harris decided he and his then fiancée would nap together one afternoon in a hammock. It was hilarious the way he described the conversation he was having with his conscience … “sure, I’m getting turned on, but to the pure all things are pure!” Eventually, his conscience won. He got out of the hammock and walked away, telling his future bride, “I’m sorry. I wanted to lie next to you for the wrong reasons.” She replied with a smile, “It’s okay. I love you Josh.” He replied, “I love you too. It’s because I love you that I have to walk away.”

Waiting for my dad in the visitor’s center, I’ve started writing text messages on the cell phone:

“GOD SAVE THE QUEEN (she ain’t no human being.)”
“EVERY LITTLE THING’S GONNA BE ALRIGHT :)”
“BEING SINGLE ~ THE POLITICALLY CORRECT TERM FOR BOREDOM.”

I came up with the last one.


Anyhow, my dad picked me up while I was writing this. Apparently the rain weather mirrors the depo. He took. It was a crazy one, he says. I’ve got a headache ‘cause of my cold ~ he probably has one ‘cause of his client. Anyhow, we’re going to drop off my Sav-a-Center scholarship in downtown Baton Rouge and then we’re heading home.

Oh yeah! And I wanna know when I get the e-mail to my LSU Tiger PAWS account offering me season football tickets for $60!!!!! GEAUX TIGERS!!

If you know me, you know I like a little British band from Littlehampton known as "delirious?" (Yes the question mark belongs there). Check them out at www.delirious.co.uk and an unofficial fan site @ www.delirious.org.uk. Anyhow, this is bass player Jon Thatcher's setlist from an April 10th, 2004 gig at Six Flags New Orleans. It was a rocking time of musical talent and worship of Jesus Christ. And the whole band signed the setlist! Ok, so I'm proud of my little piece of history. 

Wrestling match with God?

That's right. Maybe you didn't realize that, in the words of Mr. James Ballantyne, my advanced math/trig. teacher in high school, "the first sport mentioned in the Bible is wrestling."

Okay, so that's a bit of a stretcher. But we see a human being wrestling with the Almighty on one occasion in the Bible ... and the Lord proves Who is the all-Universe champion.

Anyhow, getting to the main point here, Genesis 32 (the latter part of that chapter) chronicles Jacob's match with God. Jacob, the "supplanter," one who used deception and manipulation to achieve his goals. In this chapter, we see the transformation of Jacob--->Israel, a new man. God makes a new covenant with a new man.

The renaming of Jacob signifies a new covenant.
What Jacob used to have to get by supplanting he would now inherit as a prince, a son, of God.

You see, the Jacob before and the Israel after signify two people within us. There is the flesh man (Jacob) scheming to get his own way, and our spirits (Israel) wanting to accept God's will. There is a battle between the old man and the spirit to serve God. We must allow God to remove the old and establish his new covenant. We must lose our grip and let Him take control...

When we wrestle with God and hold Him to His Word, we will enter into His new covenant. If we live in sin, we can only get blessings by our own scheming – and these are really just possessions, not blessings. But if we enter into perfect obedience (sonship), we will have power with God to receive our inheritance directly from Him as His sons and daughters…

…Genesis 32:28, “And he [God] said, ‘Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel [“A Prince of God”]: for as a prince thou hast power with God and with man, and hast prevailed.’”

This is what the prideful nature of humanity wants…power with God and man. Influence. Jacob represented the carnal man – a way of approaching life. Jacob is the self-made man. He holds onto life, and wants to make all his decisions.

Israel is just the opposite. It’s a mindset of dependence...dependence upon God for everything. Israel exists only because his Savior does. His Savior is also his King. If his King would cease to exist, he would cease to exist. Israel has power because he is submitted to God. The power and influence Jacob sought and could never attain to is posssessed by Israel because God can trust Israel with this power, knowing Israel will only use it in a way to benefit Christ and His kingdom.

We need to pray for the establishment of the new covenant between us and the Lord. We need to ask him to take our pride away...so that we become humble and bow down at His feet.

We may wrestle with God, but just remember: Jacob came out with a permanent limp.

Furthermore, once we fall in love with Jesus through knowing Him intimately through experiencing Him and His Word ...

...we will not desire anything but submission to our wonderful Judge/Savior.

--Josh

Ah...those were the days. The days of senioritis. Here I am sporting my school colors, red and white, for the homecoming football game. However, I jazzed it up with a patriotic theme. Don't mess with the PRHS Rebels...don't mess with R,W, & B either. 

Here's another picture of the same. This one gives a better view of the blue. 

Quizilla?

http://quizilla.com Try it out. Someone introduced me to it ... interesting cure for boredom.

Anyway, it said I belong in the movie Tarzan based on a quiz I took! Whatever.

Tarzan!


What movie Do you Belong in?(many different outcomes!)
brought to you by Quizilla

Another Day, Another Dollar

I am beginning to learn the meaning of that expression. Out of high school, with no books to study this summer, if I stay up late it’s just to chat online … no, there aren’t any term papers, no school events to attend, no exciting senior year. It’s just day in and day out of Sav-A-Center and of course 2 days off each week.

Another day, another dollar. Out into the real unsheltered world I’m just going through what every American teenager does at this time of life. It’s the coming of age thing that seems more important than it is…the world of minimum wage labor…although I praise God that I’m making $0.85 since more per hour than the minimum wage rate. :)

The thing is I understand why people in the business world are so grumpy now … it can get monotonous. And frustrating.

Like the time I could have cost the company $5,000.

Whoa, chill out, it’s okay. All that happened (all) was that I sent a Western Union before the woman had paid me, and her debit card wasn’t accepting the charge because lo and behold … banks have a limit you can withdraw from your bank account each day … and this order was for several thousand dollars. Yes, believe it or not, we’re only supposed to accept cash, as if people walk around with thousands of dollars … although one woman did come in and shell out $5,000 on the counter once.

Anyhow, I had to call Western Union and cancel the order since it couldn’t be paid … phew. What an ordeal…but that’s another thing I’m learning about a workday. It’s really more than “just another day, just another dollar.” What matters is that, even if I’ve made mistakes, “Have I learned anything valuable at the day’s end?” If so, if I’ve not just made money, but had a learning experience that will help me later on…I’ve accomplished something.

And another thing … my dad’s observation that the “another day another dollar” thing is a degradation of the American work ethic. That work used to have an inherent value aside from the making of money … just look at American history before the age of TV dinners, AIM, and MP3’s. The American Dream … people just being glad they could work in a non-Communist society where they were free to be employed as they chose. People took pride in their work and didn’t just curse and swear about how awful work is.

It kind of makes you wonder what kind of society we have become? “What have we become? … a self-indulgent people” (DC Talk)

Aside from work, though, other good things are happening. Because there’s more to life than just making money …

Louisiana State University. I thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the scholarships I have which will only leave me to pay a couple hundred dollars in books. Tuition, room, board, and fees are taken care of . :) I just visited the campus two days ago. I’ve been there many times, but it really is a beautiful campus. Lots of vegetation … and the architecture is really neat. There is a large Mexican-style influence…or maybe just generally Latino influence with red tile roofs and such. I got to see Mike the Tiger, our mascot ( a real live tiger! ). I also have my room assignment … in the honors dorm. It is a bit Spartan, but I’m blessed. Well, you know about college dorms. They’re nothing to do cartwheels about. But it’s nice that for $18 a month I can tap into the Ethernet connection in the room … there are two phone lines, one for me and one for my roommate, Thomas, whom I tried e-mailing to get acquainted, but with no response as of yet. There is a small but appreciated closet, a desk and bookshelf (even!) for both of us. And a bed of course. Just one sink. A hall bathroom … which is in (believe it or not) pretty good condition!! And the good thing about the furniture is it’s not nailed to the floor … it can be rearranged. I’ll have to start thinking of posters, rugs, and stuff to make the place more homey … I already know I’m going to miss home.

My meal plan looks good … I can dine at the cafeteria Monday-Thursday. And I’ve tried the food. It’s very good … great variety, all you can eat!! Then on weekends I can do meal-trade-ins in the Student Union … fast food places like BK and Pizza Hut.

My schedule for the first semester looks good … 15 hours (I tested out of 15 hours credit already…good to have that under my belt). Let’s see:

1. Economics (entry level) 3 hours
2. Western Civ. LECTURE 3 hours
3. Western Civ. SEMINAR (discussion) 3 hours
4. ISDS (computer techonology) 3 hours
5. Business Calculus 3 hours

I don’t feel like looking up the exact course names, but that’s my schedule. Plus, I’m going to have a Student Aide job on campus. I need to call today or tomorrow to get a job assignment. I can work as much or as little as I have time for … which is good. My parents have been wonderfully getting me all kinds of supplies ready … and my wonderful grandparents. What would I do without my dear Grandmother! (seriously!) I won’t be taking my car up first semester…it was a decision my parents made. They want me to get settled in at first … with the new responsibility and everything. They’re probably right. It’s a huge campus and there’s enough there to where first semester I’ll just be getting settled in and probably have everything I need on campus. LSU is a small town with over 30,000 students. I can catch a ride with people to church, the movies, etc. first semester.

Aside from job and college preparations … well that’s been pretty much it!! Nothing else exciting. Just trying to maintain my relationship with Jesus … I need to do a better job. :( Other than that I do get bogged down in the summertime boredom of coming home after work at 10 and just watching a little TV or surfing the web/chatting before I go to bed.

I’ve been hanging out with relatives a lot lately. I know I won’t see them as much starting August 18 (when I move into my dorm room). Also, I am blessed to have all 4 grandparents still alive … I want to be with them as long as I can, since I don’t know how long I’ll be blessed to have them here with me.

Also, here’s some interesting news. I shaved my head yesterday!! Your question, like most people’s is probably “Why?” LOL. Not totally sure!! I just needed a change! When I shaved it was a “3-ought” or something the barber called it…between a “zero” and a “one.” So there was the tiniest bit of stubble visible. I’m amazed how fast my hair grows…already this morning I woke up and it looked a bit longer!

Anyhow, aside from the desire for a new dew, I’ve started running again, so it helps to not have a wet mop on your head when working out.

I’ll admit since cross-country ended last December, I haven’t worked out at all. **blushes** I was sedentary. It was really bad, I didn’t exercise at all. So for a little over a week I’ve been getting my butt back in line. It’s really a shame that when it’s hot outside I only do a little over 2 miles…I used to be able to run 6. But there’s no time like the present to bring it on back again!! Actually this morning I ran just under 3 miles when it was overcast. That’s another thing that’s been going on lately … HEAT!!!

Anyhow, I don’t know how this post got so massive … I guess it proves I did not add a new blog post as soon as I should have. But I most go shower now and get ready for my day … errands to run, floor to mop, Bible to read, work in only 4 hours, 6 hours of that, then I’ll get home, eat, do dishes, and get online. (Actually I’m typing this journal entry in MS Word and I’ll be adding this to my blog tonight!)

Hmm…this is what I want to hear on Yahoo LaunchCast when I get home:
TobyMac’s “What’s Goin’ Down”
Hangnail’s “I Aspire”
Seven Places’ “Landslide”
Something by DC Talk
Something by Delirious
Something by Kutless

You never know.
Have a blessed day.
-Josh

Here's the other picture. I'm kind of new at posting pictures at putting the captions in the right place. Bear with me :) 

Now that I've finally got a scanner...I can begin posting pictures!! Yay! Well well. Here we have 2 pictures of me: my senior pictures. Just looking at them I miss high school again...SORT OF, okay.  

The Corporate Worship Experience

As we sat in our living room tonight waiting for family devotional time to start...

...well maybe I'm assuming you know more than you should reasonably be expected to. I'm a Christian, as are my other family members and we "devote" some corporate time to worshiping Jesus Christ each evening.

Anyway...

We sat waiting and Dad pulled out the Martin acoustic six-string as we commenced singing a familiar worship tune.

Several minutes later, I realized my mind had been wandering. Yes, I had been singing. I had given anyone watching me the appearance of worshiping my God. I probably seemed sincere about my worship for anyone viewing, everyone except...God, that is.

So I looked around the room as we continued in this corporate setting. Apparently, everyone else was singing, worshiping at a glance. But I must tell you I couldn't help but realize that the others in the room with me were probably in a similar mode. That of insincere worship.

That sounds harsh, insincere worship.

But looking at everyone, I wondered, "how does our worship seem to God, the One we're offering this to?"

I started thinking about "worship" in the church today. We come together to sing songs and offer thanks, but it's so impersonal. We're trained to the point we can say "amen" or hum the tune with our minds on what's for lunch after service, how beautiful or not so beautiful a neighbor is, or even something much more sinful.

The whole time, we can seem so devout to those watching.

The thing is that the One we're worshiping isn't impressed by appearances.

He wasn't impressed by the fact I was singing "Holy Holy Lord God Almighty worthy is the Lamb who was slain" ... just for the fact I was uttering those words.

He was probably grieved, wondering why after how good He has been to me, I can't focus more on Him for a few minutes of corporate worship.

But then again, I realized it seems easire for me when I'm having personal devotions. It's just me and God and more personal.

But I wondered tonight ... I wondered, just how it smells to God when we come together as a group to worship. If God did a video that had captions ... showing what was going on on the inside as we sang one service ... and played it for us... I think we'd all be surprised at each other.

Just food for thought.