#100

Exciting times: this is post #100 on rvaYM! It has been an exciting first 100, and I am very much looking forward to the next hundred and beyond. My New 100 Resolution is to post more often. We'll see if that happens...

BIRD POOP

hilarious...

PRAYER

Back in July 2007, Steven Furtick at Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC (The 8th fastest-growing church in America according to Outreach Magazine) preached a 5-week series titled "Confessions of a Pastor." This message was the 5th week and was preached by Shawn Wood, Weekend Experience Pastor of Seacoast Church.

We think of prayer like this:

1.] We should do it
2.] Jesus did it

What do we think about prayer? We don't know what to say. It's boring. We talk about the "weather" (you know, like people talk about the weather when they don't have ANYTHING else to talk about?). When it really boils down to it, how many of us would say we should pray more? But what if we didn't need to pray more? Maybe that's wrong. Bigger isn't always better. We live in a super-sized world where we want more, more, more. But maybe in our prayer lives, bigger [more] isn't better. Maybe better is better.

Ephesians 3:20-21:
Now to [God] who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to [God's] power that is at work within us, to [God] be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

1.]Now to God...

My prayers are usually about me, but they need to be centered around God. It's kind of like Santa Claus prayers: here's what I want, I was good, so I should get them.

2.]...who is able...

It's about a God who can do big things. We tend to be boring people with boring lives who pray boring prayers. We have framed our prayers in terms of what WE can think up or imagine, but God is able to do so much more.

3.]...to do immeasurable more...

We need to believe that God can do what God is capable of doing.

4.]...throughout all generations...

When only God could possible do what we pray, "to God be the glory." We need to pray prayers that could change generations -- not just what our small, boring prayers could dream up. We need to pray prayers that can change a life, change a church and change a city.

Are your prayers boring? Stop praying small prayers.

TOP 5 OF: 2007

With a couple weeks gone by, it's a good time to reflect on last year. After [read #1], it would be easy for everything to revolve around that. But I'll try to incorporate more of the year than just that.

5.] Unofficial "Sabbatical"

Finish one job. Wait a month until the next starts. Read a lot of books. Go to [see #3]. Family vacation in Emerald Isle. Get [see #1]. See where they film One Tree Hill (if you're wondering, I am not a fan. Yet. I'm sure someone will be working hard to change that in the next year!). I'd say that month-long break was a great experience, and well worth it!


4.] Spiders vs. VT: January 3

Jacob and I ventured out to Tech for a big basketball game against an ACC school. The trip was well worth the effort, even if the Spiders lost...without it, [#1] would never have happened.


3.] Myrtle Beach, SC/Greenville, NC

After finishing up work on Wednesday, I left for a beach/mission trip with a friend's church on Friday for a week to lead worship. It was a nice, relaxing trip, good food, good times. Then after a long trip back to Greenville, NC with that group, I went back to Myrtle Beach with Kim's family for a few more days on the beach.


2.] Loose Change Benefit Concert

We worked with the youth at the church to pull off a benefit concert to raise money for Loose Change to Loosen Chains. The event raised over $2,000 (I think? I can't really remember now...) and had some great music.


1.] Emerald Isle
I told her I needed new tires. She thought I had an itch. The "tires" was the ring, and the "itch" was pulling it out of my pocket. We have just over 5 months til the wedding now (and Kim could tell you to the day!), and the anticipation grows every day. That was another great, relaxing week at the beach with my family and we got to un-officially welcome her in as part of the family. I guess the official part comes in July.

I kind of went back and forth on what should be #1, but in the end it was the engagement. Actually, it was the #2-5 that were so hard. I could have included my first trip to Blacksburg for Hokie football. Cameron's choir singing the National Anthem at Oriole Park. Or the trek to Clemson to watch the Hokies beat up on Daniel's Tigers. 2007 was a good year.

DEPRESSED.

No, not me! Are you?

According to a study by Dr. Cliff Arnall from Cardiff University, today is the most depressing day of the year. He uses "a formula he developed, which factors in the weather, consumer debt from holiday spending and failed New Year's resolutions and arrives at that conclusion" (Time).

Today's been a pretty good day, so I think he missed it. Better luck next year...

NOTHING.

Nothing.

When you accomplish so much, expend so much energy, work so hard and feel so full of life, why do you have nothing to say?

That is the story of this January. The month has been great: a great class, good time with family (current and future!) and friends. Yet at the same time, I have nothing to say here, and nothing to show on the photo blog. I think about blogging every day, but you can't blog when there's nothing to say!

A busy week coming up, but after this things get back to a normal routine. In all likelihood, it would be a waste of time to check the blog before February!