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Something I've seriously been struggling with is trying to understand why it is that certain churches so alienate people who are different. If the gospel transcends all boundaries and is really meant to destroy the dividing wall of hostility, then why do the churches of Jesus make it so hard for a Christian who is different to live and thrive and give glory to God? In my life, there have been three churches that I consider my church. In one of them, if you don't like softball, you're an outsider. In another one, if you're not studying at a prestigious Boston educational institution or able to converse about jazz or indie music, you will feel left out. In another, if you don't like meeting up to drink coffee and talk about life, you're not growing in Christ. In all three, if you're not committed to dropping 50 bucks a week eating out, then you're not fellowshipping with Christians . Call these observations unfair caricatures if you will, but caricatures ...

Dear friends, This past Sunday, Eugene from GracePoint church reminded us from the Scriptures the following : "The world's economy tells us to work so that we may gain, but God's economy tells us to work so that we may give." Isn't it a beautiful reflection of the gospel when our lives are not oriented around personal gain, but in giving? Well here's a chance to put the gospel's transforming work into practice: My birthday is coming up on July 17th! Instead of giving me a present, please consider donating to this charity in order to help people in the world get clean water. http://mycharitywater.org/ p/campaign?campaign_id=525 1 1 billion people in the world don't have access clean water. ONE BILLION! That totally blew me away when I found that out. But we can help change that. Since it is my 23rd birthday, I am asking for a donation of $23USD. If 50 people give that much, we can raise enough water for 57 people. But please feel free to give more if yo...

Why do you run? Because you want to be first, or because you don't want to be last?

Respect is recognition of worth . I would rather have someone hate me and respect me than someone contempt me and find me likable. An enemy that I respect is an adversary. A friend that I don't respect is a utility. Respect can be given or acknowledged. To the degree that I esteem someone who doesn't deserve it, I lose my own esteem.

What I fear vastly more than failure in trying is failure to try . To me the greatest buffoon isn't the one on the dance floor. It is the one coolly sipping his drink at the bar wanting to dance but paralyzed by uncertainty. I contempt those who've thrown in the towel before even stepping into the ring.

"His whole life was a million-to-one shot" Why wasn't Ivan Drago a hero? It's not because he lost. It was because he wasn't human. He was a caricature of adversity. At the end of the day, I can only believe in a hero who bleeds.

(As of 26th May: "It's been a long time since I've written a lengthy post. For the last few weeks, all my most profound revelations have come in brevity. Therefore, until further notice, I will be posting in the manner of aphorisms, perhaps with occasional commentary.") It is a fallacy to believe that we can “want to want”. If desire is measured by action, then what you want ALWAYS prevails. You can want what you don't choose, but ultimately what you choose is what you want the most. _____________________ Exposition When I say, "I want to get in shape" but I stay indoors and eat an extra bag of chips, I make myself a liar. I do want to get in shape, but I want the immediate pleasure of food more. When I say, "I want to forgive you" but my actions show otherwise, then I make myself a liar. When you say, "I want to live for God" but you can't rock up for a weekly Bible study, then you make yourself a liar. I will take your statement...