weird?

my roommate and bestfriend is sitting in front of me picking boogers out of her nose, eating carb smart icecream out of the carton with a fork, all the while pretending to be pregnant to point of false labor pains.

and earlier we had our afternoon embrace while sitting on the ottoman.

killer music you should know

Sometimes there are songs that you just love, but they're not really songs one would hear on the radio-- so unless you open your big mouth and tell other people, no one will ever know about it.
So, today I'm doing my part!

Songs I Love that you may not have heard of:

1. Windfall by SunVolt-- May the wind sweep your troubles away- both feet on the floor, two hands on the wheel- may the wind sweep your troubles away.

2. Baby You're Right by Derek Trucks Band featuring Susan Tedeschi-- I just love this song. Love her voice. Great song to dance to :)

3. You Said by Shane & Shane- This isn't a new song by any stretch, but it's one of those songs that puts the Word of God to melody- and well, it's amazing. Ask and I'll give the nations to you!

4. January by Micah Dalton- I've known Micah since before he played guitar-- and he's turned out to be a pretty good musician. I blame by problems on January.

5. Great Things Take Time by Ed Cash-- I can tell you where I was the first time I heard this song (Mobley Hall at FFA/FHA) and it changed my life. If your destiny is to be carved into a perfect thing, life does not begin until you die to the way you live.

6. On a Night Like This by Dave Barnes- I love this boy. And his voice. He's amazing. New album out. But this song will change your life.

7. Lonely Long Enough by James David Carter- oooohh, Lawd, this boy's voice is ridiculous. this song may make you faint.

8. Brown Eyes by Andy Davis- Saw this guy in concert when he opened for Dave Barnes- so good. This song is supposedly about my roommate (well, she thinks it is)-- you'll like it!

9. Girl America by Mat Kearney- I love everything that Mat Kearney does. Such a jam. Love it.

10. Stars by David Crowder Band- I love this song. I love the words. It's an older jam. But man, oh man- the words bless me every single day.

Marandy

One of my best friends has been serving as a missionary in East Asia for the past year. She just got home this week, so we've been talking about it a lot.

If you don't know much about the state of affairs on the other side of the world, it is an interesting place. Due to government controls, it is illegal to share the Gospel or start a church or talk about Jesus without being suspected of being some sort of criminal.

Christians are questioned, persecuted and killed for believing Truth.

But God is bigger than any man's government. Despite all of the controls, the Christian church there is massive. By church, I am not referring to any building. I am talking about people who love God and believe Jesus is the WAY to get to Him. They are the church. And in East Asia, it's exploding. God is faithful.

Maranda has been working with a Christian organization on a college campus to share the Gospel with students. They don't stand on street corners and preach. They don't start churches with awesome bands, lighting and programs. They don't stiff their waitress of a decent tip by leaving a copy of "The Four Spiritual Laws" (not that there's anything wrong w/ TFSL- but seriously, that's their INCOME-- can you imagine if you opened your paycheck and there was an outline of Romans Road- please-- leave a tip!!!!)

They don't do that stuff.
They just go make friends.

Maranda has spent the last year making friends with college students. And using the bridges she builds with them to share the Truth of God.

In a place with no hope and little truth, she shows them real truth and points them towards eternal hope.

The coolest thing about the ministry this ministry is that they don't want it to be about "Americans coming in to save the day"-- the goal of the entire ministry is to leave.
And let the nationals take over. Let them be the ones to shine the Love of God in their own country.

Even bigger, the nationals desire to be the largest (missionary) sending nation in the world by the year 2020. And they want the Middle East. A place where Americans are NOT welcome, but (because God is really smart and cool) Asians are welcomed and embraced by the people of the Middle East.

So Maranda has spent a year investing in the lives of people in Asia. And by the mighty work of God, people in the Middle East will come to know the True God.

If you pray, include East Asia in your conversations with God. There are Americans there working and laboring along side of National believers. If you want some names of people to pray for, you're welcome to pray for my friends-- D (who has been there for 5 years), Matt and Kelly (who are on years 6 and 4), Teddy (who will be leading a brand new team in his city), and Courtney (who is going for her first year in the fall).

Look at the nations and watch—
and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told.
-Habakkuk 1:5

Happy 4th of July!

I love the Fourth of July. Because I love America.

Here's why:
1. People volunteer to fight to defend our honor.
2. We DECLARED our independence. Like, excuse us, you no longer control us. Burn.
3.We celebrate our nation's birthday by blowing stuff up.
4. People from our nation don't look alike. At all. Like opposites. But we're all from here.
5. People still come here for something better. We may not be perfect, but we're better.
6. You're allowed to complain.
7. We may know more about the antics of pop stars than world affairs- but at least we're embarassed by it.
8. Ok, so the Beatles didn't come from here- but we did show up with The Allman Brothers AND Steely Dan AND Tom Petty. Not too shabby if I do say so myself.
9. We're still idealists. We REALLY want people to have that life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.
10. At the end of the day (and the song), the Star Spangled Banner DOES fly- over the land of the free, and the home of the brave.

Here's an annoyance of mine.

When you ask someone to do something for you and they don't do it. Then procede to give you some "SPIRITUAL" reason as to why they did not do it.

But we all know that it's because they were just too lazy.

I enjoy calling people out on stuff like that.
Don't blame God for your laziness.
Please. Good grief.

don't play hard to get- you might miss something..

the greatest movie. EVER.