Friday, January 9, 2009

crazy love

OHMYGOSH! i just read this AMAZING book titled Crazy Love by Francis Chan. it's about God's love. isn't that so awesome that someone actually wrote a book about how crazy in love God is with us?

everything chan writes about is directly from the Bible. he writes about how how wonderful and mighty God really is. he also writes about how to become a better and more devoted Christian: just loving him wholeheartedly, doing good for others, loving everyone around you, living your life for God, etc. he writes about how doing good for others without expecting reward is just the same as loving God and just the same as doing good for Him.
" 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' " Matthew 25: 40
i love that everything chan writes all relates back to the Bible. what better way to connect with God and have faith in Him than reading the Bible. for so long i found the Bible boring. boring? wow, how lost was i? he helped me see the Bible in a whole light. it's so crazy that now as a teenager that i love reading the bible and just absolutely love God. this book inspired me.

My favorite part of the whole book would have to be this chapter filled with stories about people who have dedicated there lives to serving God through witnessing, teaching, loving, etc. there was this particular story that really stood out. it was about this woman who's brother was killed from this tribe in Ecuador because he tried to witness to them. she spent about 10 years of her life learning their language and customs so she could teach the Word of God. The thing that got me was that she forgave them for her brother's death. She had so much love in her. The tribe ended up following God's Word and realized how lost they were before. wow, that's love.

lately, i have felt a change in me and it's a good change. it's God. i am becoming more of a loving person and not judging people so quickly. i also feel happy. there is such joy and happiness in my heart from God. sometimes i feel like i'm going to burst if i don't tell people about God. i love talking about Him. i also love discussing Him with cathy and lori. they both turned me on to the book and i am so grateful. this book has also helped me to realize i NEED a better relationship with God. i feel like my life is so much better with God in it and i love it.
i leave you with this verse,
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8


Wednesday, January 7, 2009

wonderful music

sorry, i haven't posted a blog in awhile. (that's to jacky.) life's been pretty boring lately.

i watched Penelope on pablo in study hall today. i love james mcavoy, who is practically the best part of the movie. so, the movie was reaching
the end when this really beautiful song came on. it was rock 'n' roll, but poetic and mystic like. i rewound the part over and over again to listen to the song more closely. there was another element to the song that was really different and i couldn't figure it out. it was a mystery. finally, the genius in me decided to check the songs at the end of the credits.
the band was Sigur Ros and the song was called Hippipolla. sigur ros is an icelandic band and they sing in their native language. sigur ros is actually named after one of the band member's sister, victoria rose in english. no wonder the song was a mystery because it wasn't in english. wow. i thought i was listening closely, but apparently i wasn't. so, i went on their myspace and discovered another song called vid spilum endalaust. it
translates to we play endlessly in english.
the english lyrics are almost magical. i mean the regular version of the song is beautiful, but the english is even better. here are some of the lyrics:

the days flowed, ever-young

endless, and the brightness
smoke stings the eye
it pops up in my head and now i remember it.

it's not hypnotic or up-beat; it's simply beautiful. it's not about love or broken hearts; it's about simple things. i love it. now, go check 'em out.