Monday, December 27, 2010
Confessions of a Discouraged Christian
Most of the time when I go to church, or even take the time to watch church services online or on tv, I feel like I’m going to a concert or watching a performance. Fancy lights, cool bands, and projector screens fill the stage area as hundreds of people passively sit by. I can’t help but wonder how many people would be there if we did not have such things. If we had no building to meet in, no Christian books to read, no Christian CDs to buy, no family festivals or youth group outings…if it were just the body of Christ, the Word of God, and Christ Himself…how many of us would take the time to meet? The fact is that materialism has the church in its grips. Yes, materialism is still materialism even when what you’re acquiring is “Christian.”
I’m not here to say that any of these things in themselves are wrong. On the contrary, they’re not at all. I’m just here to say that we must examine our minds and hearts and observe whether or not such a mentality has taken its hold of us. Are we following the Jesus of the Bible or are we following a Christian culture substitute? Are our church numbers growing because we’re reaching out with the Gospel or because we’re merely bringing in more like-minded people from other churches? Where is our money going? Where is our church money going? Are we buying what is necessary? Does what we are spending money on serve even the tiniest purpose to further the Gospel? Are we ourselves intentionally giving our time and money to the church or are we just another one of the Sunday masses? I ask these questions not to judge, but with a heavy and convicted heart, because I too have fallen prey to the trappings of materialism, selfishness, and the general desire to be a “cool” Christian. I see this in the young and old in the church, and I see this in myself.
It is my hope and prayer that we will no longer settle for mere books about Jesus, sermons about Jesus, or music about Jesus, but only for Jesus himself. I pray that we make room for the working of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and in our churches, letting him lead us rather than trying to lead Him with our prescribed songs, sermons, and routines. The church is dying, and giving the church a new hip Christian image is not what is going to bring it back to life, but rather a dedication to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the workings of the Holy Spirit in our lives. If you believe that anything other than this will ignite passion in the hearts of the people, then you have been deceived, because apart from Christ our efforts are useless.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)
Don't you think its time we stopped worshipping the fruit or branches and started worshiping the vine who has given them to us?
Monday, December 20, 2010
Music Monday!
For this video "From Your Mouth" by God Breathes Underwater, all they did was tape a world eating champion eat different foods, then played it in reverse. So simple yet so creative!
And well, I couldn't resist posting this vid. I suppose you could call it "creative," but to be more accurate I would probably place it in the "worst music videos ever" category. It's so bad it's funny. I watch and I myself feel embarassed for David Hasselhoff. Amazingly enough, though, this was a HUGE hit in Germany. I can't help but think less of all Germans for it...
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Tiffany's Totally Teriffic Online Holiday Gift Guide
1. T-shirts
These are one of my favorite gifts to give, just because they're so customizeable. For example, is your b.f.f. a huge Muppets fan? Then get her this t-shirt from Busted Tees.
Does your boyfriend love cats AND lasers? Then give him the best of both worlds with this t-shirt from Threadless that's guaranteed to make him appear both nerdy and cool at the SAME time! Who knew it was even possible!? (P.S. I couldn't pass this one up even for myself...)
2. Silly Toys
My favorite latest web discoveries are these silly action figures from Accoutrements. They're the perfect gift for fellow spinsters, librarians, musicians, historians, psychologists, and the like! Action figure options include: crazy cat lady, lunch lady, waitress, librarian, Alexander the Great, Anne Bonny, Annie Oakley, Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Wagner, Benjamin Franklin, Blackbeard, Casanova, Marie Antoinette (now includes a head!), Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde, Sherlock Holmes, Jesus, Moses, Houdini, J.P. Patches, Seth Godin Marketing Guru, and Sigmund Freud.
3. Practical Peteys
Sometimes the best kind of gift is the one that people will actually use, but if you're going to give something practical you might as well spice it up a little, right?
For example, these uni-corn holders from Gama-Go or these super cute Matryoshka measuring cups from Fred are a great option for those trying to add a little fun to their dinner.
Or for the guy in your life, one of these tear-resistant, water-resistant, expandable, recyclable, and best of all affordable wallets from Dynomighty. My brother absolutely loves these things, and the designs are so fun. Yes, there are even a couple Star Trek designs. You know you've got a winner when Star Trek is an option. :-)
4. Books
No one is ever too old or too young to love a good book. Books are always a great gift idea for the avid readers in your life. Even for those who aren't avid readers, something like a unique coffee table book, comic book, or craft book can still light up their eyes instead of shroud them in disappointment if you choose the right one. Check out these great book titles for a starting point on what the perfect book could be.
5. The Gift That Keeps On Giving
6. Handmade Handicrafts
Nothing is more unique than a handmade gift. If you're a crafter, make someone a special scrapbook, knit or crochet something like a hat and matching scarf, or build someone a book shelf. Whatever your trade is, Christmas is the perfect opportunity to put some extra thought and effort into a gift for that special someone, and of course a great opportunity to show off your sweet skills. ;-) If you're not a crafter, then check out Etsy. You may not have made it yourself, but everything is still handmade and totally unique. Here are some of my Etsy faves: (Bearded hat from BreannaGunderson, necklace from Nest Pretty Things, owl hat from The Fuzzy Noggin, stationery sets from Draw! Pilgrim, bookends and bookshelf from Graphic Spaces, and scarflet from Francine Toukou.)
Monday, December 6, 2010
Music Monday!
First off, "Since I Left You" by The Avanlanches. Oh. My. Dad. This music video is fantastic. Just watch and you'll see why...:-)
And next up, "Undercover Martyn" by Two Door Cinema Club. This is definitely my new fave band. You should go here and listen to their album Tourist History. I've had it on repeat for the past several weeks. There really aren't many instances where I can listen to the WHOLE album over and over again, but this is one of them. (Others may or many not include N'Sync's Christmas album, Muse's "The Resistance," Casting Crowns' "Lifesong," Switchfoot's "The Beautiful Letdown," and any Disney/Broadway soundtrack) Seriously, this album is catchy. :-) I was stoked to find out they were coming to tour the U.S., and then was quickly let down when I saw they're only hitting the east coast. That's a no-go for me. *Sigh.* But perhaps someday...someday. In the meantime, I hope you like them!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Thankful Thursday!
5. Tiger. My cat. We've begun a tradition of cheesy Christmas cards in which dressing him up is a necessity. I don't want to give away what this year's theme is yet, but let's just say he's an incredibly patient cat...and to be honest a little bit dumb too. I simply can not wait to send out this year's card. It's epic.
6. Houndstooth. I am so obsessed with this pattern. Every time I see it, my eyes light up as if I've just discovered some long, lost hidden treasure. Things of a houndstooth nature that I've acquired thus far: Sweater, jacket, flats, rainboots, 2 decks of cards, hat, scarf, travel mug, storage tin, notecards, earrings, a necklace, and a konad plate that let's me stamp the pattern onto my fingernails. This is really getting out of hand...
7. Troll 2. The best, worst movie ever. There's even a documentary about how awful it is. This movie doesn't even have anything to do with the first Troll movie. In fact, there aren't even trolls in it. They're goblins. They're vegetarian goblins, who feed people green food to turn them into vegetables...and then they eat them. Why that doesn't count as carniverous I'll never know. And why they don't just grow a garden I'll never know either. What I do know, though, is that you should gather some friends and have a Troll 2 party. You will laugh your heads off.
8. Monday night basketball. I play with some friends at the church just around the corner from my house, and we always grab some half-price appetizers at Applebee's afterwards. It actually makes Mondays a good day for me, something that has previously never occurred in my short existence here on earth. No, I don't have mad basketball skills, but they still actually pass the ball to me...which is typically a rare thing when playing with guys. Plus, it gives me a good workout, which is something that's always much needed, especially around this time of year.
9. The International Children's Digital Library. It's just incredible. It's a massive collection of children's books from around the world scanned into digital formats. You can search by country, subject, author, language, character type, story type, age range, and even the color of the book cover! It's legit. You should check it out.
10. And last, but certainly not least. In fact, most of all, I'm thankful for Jesus this week. Because I am a damsel in distress, and he continually fights for me. He has saved me from the dragon, the evil sorceress, the poisonous apple, from every evil power there is. He is the prince I've always longed for, the man of my dreams.