Posts Tagged ‘spirituality’

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focus ’06

Sunday, June 25th, 2006

[transmission]

Ok, it is getting pretty late, tomorrow (well, today, actually) I am headed off to Montgomery with most of the guys in the youth group for Focus. It’s going to be a lot of fun, and I’m very excited. I’m not sure the guys are actually planning to sleep at all, so I guess that will have to wait til I get back.

Also, I finally caved in. I finally got a myspace. It is here if you want to see it. However, faithful readers of this site, all my blogging will continue here. I just got it so I could leave comments for the rest of the population who has myspace. And I will say, I am happy to have found some people I might not have ever found again, were it not for this craze.

However, it is a little disappointing to see some of the pages. It seems a lot of the folks I spent time with as a teenager (and some people I still spend time with) have changed their values. Or maybe I just didn’t know them that well before. Of course, I’m not claiming to be perfect by any stretch; but it’s so frustrating that people in the faith do not live as though they know Christ. I do not expect non-Christians to share Christian values, but when Christians consistently choose to ignore self control in favor of what feels good, it’s not really Christianity at all. I’m not talking about mistakes, either. That happens, and that is the whole reason why we need Jesus in the first place. The hard thing to see is when it’s an unapologetic, un-Christian lifestyle with no intent to change.

In the end, we all have to choose how to use our time. Like any tool, it can be used for great good, or for harm. Anyway, this whole line of thought has lead me to really consider how I live my life. I know there are times when I choose my will above God’s, and I need to be more aware of how that affects God and how it affects those around me. Maybe your example or mine will discourage someone who needed encouragement. Or, maybe it will strengthen someone who was on the verge of giving up. It is our choice, and may God bless us with the will to make the right one. Praise be to God that no matter where we’ve been, and no matter what we’ve done, he still extends His awesome love and welcomes us back if we’ll just return to Him. If it were not so I would be without hope.

I’m so looking forward to getting a good spiritual re-charge this week, it’s been a rough month. And, of course, there will be pictures and videos to be seen when I get back, so stay tuned.

[/transmission]

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back in the saddle

Friday, June 23rd, 2006

Well, last night I got to speak at Church again for the first time in a long time. I even made a nice presentation for the class using Open Office Impress, which exported nicely to powerpoint. If you desire to see it, get the impress version, or the powerpoint version, if you must.

Unfortunately, my voice is really monotone most of the time, even when I’m excited about something, so I think it might have been a little dull. Anyway, the important thing is that I’m back teaching, and I need the practice. I think it will be easier with time. The teen class is still more fun, though.

Also, some great news: Futurama is coming Back!!! Yes, the show that has helped me maintain so much of my sanity is coming back for more episodes, and I am thrilled. And, though that news is music to my ears, some even greater news: my own little brother is engaged!! His fiancé is a wonderful lady. Props to him for actually talking to her, and props to her for not running away when he did. Just kidding ; ) Really though, I’m very excited for them, and I will update whenever they decide a date.

What else? I have been growing a beard. I really think I should have done this long ago. And I would have… had I been able to. But now I can. So behold, the MIGHTY BEARDED Lloyd:

beard2

Yes, I know, it is quite awesome. I’m fairly certain that this beard is going to be a critical tool in my conquest of the world. For instance, did you know that since I started this stubble of power, I have obtained (1) free movie from blockbuster and (2) half – priced subs at subway? No coupons, just the beard, thank you. Coincidence? I think not.

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welcome, minions.

Monday, May 8th, 2006

So it has begun. I was going to wait to start posting until I figured out wordpress and learned to develop my own themes, but frankly, that will take forever. I’m not getting any younger here.

This morning Chris’ lesson was a comparison of the first chapter of Joshua and Matthew 28. Namely, the need for Christians to have a little testicular fortitude when it comes to doing the work that God sets out for us. Since Christ went back to the Father, that work has been to spread the good news about Him, and teach what He taught.

I appreciated especially that Chris was not ambiguous. He wasn’t talking about the vague, all encompassing Church that we can criticize without feeling too bad, because deep down we know it is really all the other Christians out there with the problem, and not us. No, he was talking to the congregation that meets at Gulf Breeze.

Maybe it struck me personally because for the last couple of months, courage (or more accurately, fear) has been on my heart when I talk to God. How can I claim to trust God if my heart is plagued with fear, uncertainty, and doubt?. Sometimes, I wonder, “do I have what it takes to be a minister of the gospel?” (‘minister’ does not necessarily mean ‘pulpit preacher’). The fact is, it has nothing to do with what I have or don’t have. It has to do with whether God has called me. That’s always the real issue. If God has made the call, He will certainly provide the means to answer it. If you haven’t heard any calls, you may need to check your voicemail.

Enough sermonizing. After services tonight, in my weekly ping pong match with Chris, I finally won a set. That brings my record to 1 and some very large number. I’m fairly sure he was doped up on pain killers for his back, but I’ll take what I can get.

Today was Mom’s birthday and tomorrow is Dad’s. May is definately the month for being born if you are in my family. Unless you are me. Then it’s August.

My goals for this week are:

  • Set aside some time each day to pray instead of doing it randomly.
  • Buy a digital camcorder to get ready for Focus.
  • Mail out some things that have been in my room for a month now, such as Harkabus’ photo CDs.
  • Work some miracles with CSS so my Free Travel page won’t look so bad.

I’ll leave you with 2 Kings 7:9. The Samaritan lepers had it right: “Then they said to one another, ‘What we are doing is wrong. This is a day of good news; if we are silent and wait until the morning light, we will be found guilty; therefore let us go and tell the king’s household.'” Ever since Christ was raised from the dead, every day is a day of good news.

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