Love is Here

by Tenth Avenue North

Behind the Song:
“‘Love is Here’ is a song that was written in response to frustration of just hearing kid after kid after kid and adult after adult after adult just saying, ‘You know I would know that God loves me if. . .’ Fill in the blank with whatever, but we run a dangerous game if we start asking God to prove things that he’s already proven. Romans 5:8 says God demonstrates present tense, his love, in how, while we are still sinners Christ died, past tense, died for us and basically with that verse he’s saying, ‘Look God is proving his love for you today.’ Christ died on the cross and our responsibility is to simply fix our eyes on Jesus. Love is here. Everything we are longing for, whether we would say it this way or not, is really Jesus. Our hearts are made for him and are hearts are restless until they rest in him. That’s what St. Augustine said, so that song is just a call to anyone everywhere that the thing you want is here in the name of Jesus.” - Mike Donehey (Tenth Avenue North)

Honesty

"I’m convinced the number one deterrent to community is our inability to be honest with each other. The church often feels like the last place where we can really talk about what’s going on in our lives. There’s a cry in my heart for believers to be able to come together and truly confess to each other. We need to know that those confessions won’t be used against us, that prayer requests won’t be turned into gossip, that we can find real refuge. These days are difficult, and if we need to be in community with each other. The bridge of this song is a quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer from Letters and Papers from Prison, “Only the truth and truthfulness can save us now.”" - Sara Groves talking about her song Honesty

Perhaps I am a little late in discovering this site, since it was first posted a while ago. But, I really think that people, especially people involved in the church should read the comments. I am going to use some of the comments for my youth group on Wednesday, since it is summer and hardly anyone comes in the summer, we are just going to have more of a small group discussion thing and I think I am leading it. It is all about honesty really and how there are some things we just can't say in church or around other Christians. And since I am sort of leading the discussion I thought that I should probably think of my own to share. There is absolutely no way I am going to share what I commented on her blog. I feel a little bad even rereading it now and probably should have used more discretion. So, I am trying to think of something that I can be totally honest in sharing. I am not sure what yet. I mean, I have a lot of things I would probably love to say in church, but wouldn't ever actually say. Maybe I will think of something tomorrow, as I sit in church.

How would your life be different if you just used a little more honesty when talking to people?

After all, you don't need to be Abraham Lincoln to be honest.

How I Spend Saturdays

Most of the time, I am busy. Or at least I have something going on. However, today, nothing much is going on. My mom went to Aberdeen to eat lunch with a new guy. And my brother woke up at 10:30 and is not only still using the computer, but he is also still wearing his pajamas, even though it is 2:30 in the afternoon. And although my brother makes me feel less pathetic about myself, I still watched two movies on Lifetime and ate some buttered noodles (which is my current easy-to-make food obsession). Currently, I am just browsing the internet and reading blogs. I gave up on finding something actually productive to do.

Happy 4th!

I have already reached my quota of fireworks. Hearing them nonstop all week plus I went over to Kierra's house. Colton and Tony lit fireworks and even started to make the bush smoke. It was actually pretty fun, considering that I have never really done fireworks. You see, when my mom was a kid, she had fireworks go off in her hand and ever since, she has stayed far away from fireworks. Which means that I never really got to do fireworks when I was a kid and now I have no good memories of fireworks as a kid. However, I think I will be alright.

Not only that, but I went to my first baseball game of the summer. We won, which was surprising, considering that at one point we were 11 points down, but we came back and won it 17 to 15. And while I never have been much of a baseball game fan, it was actually a lot of fun. It helps being with Kierra, she was kind of explaining baseball to me, but it turns out that I know absolutely nothing about baseball. Kierra and I also went to Serenita's twice. The first time for smoothies and the second time for soup and sweet potato fries.

For the 4th, I think we are just eating out and going to the lake. We will watch other people set off fireworks from a distance. Maybe I will even get to go out on the boat again.

Here is something to remember. We have freedoms as an American, but more importantly we have freedom in Christ. Read this article, here is a little bit of it:

"Southwest Airlines’ tag line is, “You are now free to move about the country.” Did you catch that it’s not a freedom from something, but a freedom to do something? Jesus also offers a freedom to—a freedom to live each moment in the present reality of God’s Kingdom. In other words:
You are now free to be peace even when your life circumstances unravel.
You are now free to be love even when others reject or hurt you.
You are now free to be contentment even when you’re barely making it financially.
You are now free to be the beloved of God even when people put you down.
You are now free to be compassion even when others rationalize their apathy.
You are now free to be joy even when people or circumstances disappoint you.
You are now free to be grace even when others judge you.
You are now free to move about God’s Kingdom." [Source. Written by Jim Palmer]

Enjoy your Independence Day.

Throwback Thursday (Brother and Sister)

This is a picture of my brother and me. Even though to my mom "it was just like it was yesterday," it is from 1993. My mother told me later that this picture was taken the same day that I was being potty trained. I was like, "Thanks, Mom. I needed to know that." But my brother, Kyle and I look adorable. So, who cares what day it was?

Throwback something, too. Join the throwback fun.

I am an Uncool Human

You know, I read all these blogs about cool people who have lives. You know, they work at cool jobs and travel and do like amazing things. It challenges me to be greater and better, but it also is a little depressing. I read about people who are so cool and I just think, "I am so not cool." I am so not cool, I still use the word cool. It seems like everyone else has a larger vocabulary and uses fun, intelligent words that sound witty. They show what they are listening to and they are listening to bands that I have never heard the name of, but they seem like they are total rockin' bands. Of course, I also think that if I looked up any of these bands, I would not want to actual listen to any of it. I am currently listening to Relient K, Anberlin, Between the Trees, Barlowgirl, and some more Relient K. They have accomplished things and are really going places. They take pictures, work on books and music, work in churches. They are like superhuman. I know that they aren't really. I know in the back of my mind that they have flaws, that they fall short. They mess up and have to pick themselves back up again. But, it never seems like it.

So, I sit here in my room and read the blogs of people who are just about as close to superhuman you can get. I sit in my patheticness. And I think, I am uncool, I am not accomplishing anything, I am not doing anything super great or exciting. I am not going anything exciting (well, I am going to South Africa in 18 days). I am just me. I am Annie. My nose is running because I am sick (I think everyone else is so superhuman that I picture them as people whose noses never run and the thought of anyone reading about how I am actually writing about running noses is repulsive, but then I know that no one actually reads this, so I grab a tissue and feel a little better). I feel like any second a spider is going to crawl on me. Not that my house is at all unclean, but I am paranoid. I took my dog for a walk and was starting to feel a side pain after only going like ten blocks. I watch the Style network to see how someone's nest can be dressed. I watch the Food Network because I absolutely love love love Ace of Cakes. I bake desserts so often that there is never a time where there isn't something sweet in our house. I look up recipes. In fact, there are three things that I need the internet for: Read blogs, find recipes, and shop.

I am sitting here and my feet are falling asleep. My dog is snoring. My ceiling fan is making a noise that makes me fear that it will probably fall down on my head. And I realize something: That I am so human and I am so uncool. One day I hope that my blog will sound as cool and exciting as others, but for now, I am just here. I am living day to day. I am failing and falling and trying to be honest about it all. I am learning to live, learning to love, and learning how to change a tire. I am just an uncool human.

Relient K Makes Me Giggle

I give Relient K total props for creative genius.

Relient K Makes My Day Better

I was so super excited that their CD came out today. I pre-ordered it since I am obsessive compulsive. Or at least just obsessive. Since Relient K is just about as amazing as you can get, they are having clues on their myspace and sites in order to get some songs. I, however, slightly fail at life and can't figure this one out. So, if you can figure it out, be my friend and tell me. Or tell me and I will be your friend. Either way, you, well, I win. And winning makes me happy.