Christmas story: from a different perspective part 1

It was a dark night out on the fields. Me and my brothers were in charge of the sheep that night. It was my turn to keep watch. I always loved keeping watch just because I could see the grass glisten in the light blue moonlight. It makes the fields seem like a completely different place. Like I'm far from this planet and on a new world. The only word to describe it is beautiful. I was watching two lambs being full of energy, as they usually are, and chasing each other around while their parents and siblings slept.

I was walking to the little lambs and then out of the darkness came a blinding light and the sound of trumpets. I began to look around for the king that had been announced. But no king came forward. Instead this hideous creature that looked like something from a nightmare began to shout something to me. "Do not be afraid!" It shouted to me. I looked around for my brothers. They too had been awoken from the great commotion. "I bring good news of great joy! Today in the town of David a savior has been born to you. This shall be a sign unto you: You shall find the babe wrapped in cloths and lying in a feed box." He disappeared. My brothers and I wondered what just happened. Suddenly, the creature was back, with friends. "Glory to God in the highest!" the creatures shouted. "Peace on earth to whom His favor rests." They continued to shout this as they rose higher and higher in the sky and disappeared from sight.

We stood gaping at the sky, our jaws on the grass. My oldest brother was the first to regain composure. "Let's go see what the Lord has told us about." We agreed and followed him to Bethlehem, the City of David. We don't know how we got there, but we found a barn and entered. There before us was a sleeping baby wrapped in cloths. His mother held him gently, singing softly to him. I looked upon his sleeping face. I saw the baby and began to question many things. This was going to be the Messiah? The conquering Covenant King? This little baby? So pure and insignificant? If God told us through those creatures, I suppose I should believe him. Yet, something within me wanted to move closer. I took a step closer and nodded to the father and mother. She told me to come near. As I approached, the baby opened his eyes. They were the most beautiful and calming thing I've ever seen. Yet in those eyes, an infant's eyes, I saw the glory of God. Pure light, peace, power. All coming from this little Child. Surely this is the son of God. I reached up to stroke his face when his hand gripped onto my fingers. Such frail little hands, yet so firm a grip. Surely this is the Son of God. In that instance, I felt peace. How can such a peace come from a baby? Surely this is the Son of God.

Surely this is Jesus.

Why?

I haven't posted in a while, but I need to put my thoughts somewhere. I've got several notes on Facebook that you could check out if you want to.

Today I went to Church, but after that, my day went into a downward spiral. I left church and went back to my dorm. I had to go back and forth to the third floor because i kept forgetting things. I left for lunch with the family, but got there as they were finishing up. Then I left and texted a friend to meet me to help fix my hair for my costume. She said she could help and said she would be at the fall festival about the same time it started. I said "ok," and went to Guitar Center. Played some Ukuleles and guitars. then I went to the U of A gardens to get ready for the fall festival. I had my costume on and spent thirty minutes trying to get beads to stay in my beard. (I was Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean.) After that failed for the umpteenth time, I walked in late and visited with some people. Then I left to go to a Halloween party at one of my proffessors' house and was pulled over for speeding. I didn't even see a speed limit sign! I got there, late, and they were also almost done. when i left, shortly after arriving, I went back to JBU to get to the gathering. I changed and walked in late. All i wanted to do at that point was run. Run as fast as i can in the other direction. I wanted to leave. I didn't want to be there. but i still stayed. I don't know why i did. I could've run. I should've. I guess i felt kind of like Jonah. Run in the opposite direction and hope God doesn't find you. (see how well that worked out for Jonah...) anyways, i stayed there the whole time and walked back to my dorm. I grabbed my stuff and went to my car down at north hall parking lot and then to Pour Johns. I started to order a tea, when i realized that i left my wallet back in my room. I walked out, feeling rather stupid, and then drove back to the dorm and got my wallet. went back to PJ's and then started talking to a friend. I told her how i felt. my brutal and honest opinion of how my life was going. here's how it kinda went:

"I don't see how God can use me...How can he guide someone who can't see a speed limit sign? How can he use someone who cant even get to a family lunch on time? how can he use someone as a teacher when that someone can't even keep his OWN grades up? how can he use someone who is bound to fail at everything he does?!"

Her initial response suprised me the most. and to be perfectly honest, i was thinking the same thing. "This doesn't sound like the Nathan I know," she said. I didn't know who it was that i was staring at in the mirror for a little bit tonight. But she brought up a valid point. She said the Christian walk isn't easy. "But getting deep into the word and studying it and putting your whole faith in God is important. Once you do that, the other things will take care of themselves." She's proven a valuable point. Matthew 6:33 says "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." So basically what it's saying is that if i can check things off the checklist, then i will be provided for, right? WRONG! It's saying that as long as i do what God says and give my all to do it, then God will provide what I NEED. That doesn't mean that i get a lamborghini for giving some spare change to the guy standing on the street corner. It means i get to live one more day to be able to do something similar tomorrow.

Strange how this post started out as "Why am I..." to "What can I..." Well, I need to get to bed. G'night world! Jesus loves you!

I'm Content

How do you start a blog post about being content with life? How about going into how imperfect it is? I'll do that.

Do i live in a perfect world with no wars, no death, or no pain? No.
Do i go to the perfect school with straight A's, nobody spreads rumors about each other, and everyone loves each other? No.
Do i have the perfect family with no quarrels, no sicknesses, and being totally rich? No.
Do i have the perfect schedule with a ton of free time, always able to hang out with friends, or able to do all the things i want? Nope.
How about reality?
I have an imperfect world with wars, countless deaths, and endless pain.
I go to a school where I don't have straight A's, (though that would be nice), people spread vicious rumors about  each other around, and a lot of people hate someone else.
I have an imperfect family with a few quarrels, some sickness, and not really rich.
I have a crazy busy schedule with very little free time, rarely get to hang out with friends, and I don't get to do all the things i want to do.
I have a brother who has been confined to a wheelchair for his whole life and doesn't get to walk. He hardly can communicate with us. It hurts me to see him sometimes. But somehow, through his imperfect life, he's able to smile. He's able to laugh at the little things. Doe he wish he wasn't stuck in his wheelchair? Probably. But I've noticed that he's able to live with it and make the best of it.
Wouldn't life be easier if we all did that? Make the best of a flat tire, the best of a best friend going to the hospital, the best of life crumbling down around you? It's hard, but then again, when did God ever say life was going to be easy? I can only think of one time. Revelation 21. Verse four tells us that God will wipe every tear from our eyes, and that there will not be any death or pain. I don't know about you, but that sounds like the easy life. Or even better, the Perfect life.
Yeah, my life isn't perfect, nor is it easy. But it doesn't really matter to me. I like my life where it is. It makes me want that perfect life and strive to bring others with me to that perfect life in Heaven. It also brings me encouragement because I know that my brother will be able to walk for the first time. He'll be able to dance on his own two feet. He'll be able to run with the track stars in heaven, dance with the most talented dancers, and hike Heaven's biggest mountain with me and  my dad when we all get there. When we both get to heaven, I can't wait to have a game of catch with him. I've been wanting that for a long time. I just can't wait to see Michael dancing with Jesus. Just the thought brings a smile to my face. Maybe Jesus will walk with Michael for the first few minutes and help him get used to his new ability.
By no means am I so ready that I'm leaving right now, but I just can't wait until God calls me home. One of my favorite hobbies is talking about how great life will be in heaven. No pain, no worries, no deadlines. Just praising God with all our hearts minds and soul. There's gonna be a party in Heaven. Now that I think about it, I think it's going on right now.

True Worship

     "Clear the stage and set the sound and lights ablaze if that's the measure you must take to crush the idols. Jerk the pews and all the decorations too until the congregation's few then have revival." Part of the first verse of Clear the Stage by Ross King. Have you ever thought about how to have worship, you don't need anything? You don't need a sound system or lights to have worship? That you don't need a stage to have true worship? That you don't need somewhere to sit or something to make the place look pretty? It separates the people who are devoted to a life of worship from those who just care about a place that's big and fancy to worship in. The words of the verses ring true, but what really gets me is the chorus. "You can sing all you want to, yes you can sing all you want to, sing all you want to but don't get me wrong. Worship is more than a song." Do you really need to have a song and instruments to worship? Do you have to have a tune or music, lead sheets or talent? All that you need to worship is you. You can worship God in the way you pick up your coat off the coat rack. You can worship God in the clothes you choose for the day. You can worship God in the friends you choose. You can worship God in what you do at home when you're alone. You can worship God by the words you say. True worship is not being able to sing or play an instrument. It's being able to bring glory to God in any way you can. This kinda struck me last night as odd. I hadn't really thought about true worship that much, but now that I am thinking about it, it's a little strange. When you hear the word Worship, you probably think of Guitars, booming bass, a fancy light show, and a big stage. Well how about the worship services that are going on around the world right now as you're reading this? Some do have fancy sound systems and cool instruments. Probably even a cool light show going on in the background. But there's some where the audience and worship leaders are just standing in a circle singing their hearts out to God without a stage, lights, sound system, a church building, or instruments. Have you ever thought about true worship? Do you even need anything to worship? Do you even need to be making music to worship?
     I want to send a challenge out to the readers of this: next time you are in a worship service at your church, pay attention to the words you're singing. Don't sing them if you don't mean them. It doesn't take much to sing with your hands in your pockets, but when you get on your knees, suddenly the whole world seems to be staring at you. I'm not saying you have to get that extreme, but I'm saying that we shouldn't be afraid to worship God. He sent His Son to die a horrible death meant for us. So why wouldn't we be giving Him our all?
     Like I said before, worship doesn't have to be done in a big fancy church building, with lights and booming bass over the speakers, or even with guitars and pianos. It just needs you. You can worship God with everything you do. Worship in a worship service is only a small part of that. Think of it as a refuel for your Worship meter.
     "Clear the Stage and set the sounds and lights ablaze if that's the measure you must take to crush the idols." Are you going to clear the stage?

Second Post

Well this is the second time I’ve started this post. I apparently didn’t save it to the right spot and now it’s dead. Well, I guess I’ll just figure something out. Anyways, on a totally unrelated topic, have you seriously thought about the number 0? It’s not positive, but it’s not negative. It’s not a lot, but it’s not a little. If something is free, it costs $0. If you’re bankrupt, you have $0. 100 couldn’t be 100 without the help of our little friend the 0. Neither could 1000. Or 1,000,000. Anyways, sorry ADHD kicked into overdrive. I’ve been asked to tell a story with a little twist. So here goes:

It was a dark night. The rain was patting softly on my window. I was sitting quietly and peacefully in my office. There was jazz music coming from somewhere outside. I just listened to it. I didn’t try to figure out where it came from. But other than that, the only noise was from my fan circling above my head.

There was a knock on my door. The postman came in to deliver a package. “Slow day?” he asked. I nodded my head and took the package. “Well, hope you have a better day tomorrow,” he said as he left. I quietly agreed with him. It had been a slow week. Nobody had come to get me to find their lost puppy or track down their ex.

Right as a said this, another knock at my door came and in came this dame crying something about her old boyfriend. I said, “look, I’ll help you out, but please don’t cry. I find it rather annoyin.” She swiftly sobered up. She told me all they had done together and where he usually goes. I quickly narrowed down the list of place he could be when I finally figured it out. He was at the bar drowning his sorrows in a shot of whiskey. She thanked me and I noticed a slight change in her mood as she left. I began to wonder what would happen to the poor fellow. I opened up my package and there was a little present with tissue paper stuffed inside. I pulled out the tissue paper and I saw that there was a ticket to the Blue Man Group in there. I was happy. I loved the Blue Man Group. But I had to keep my calm composure. I didn’t want to be seen as a loony.

Shortly after I opened my present, I decided to go to the local pizza joint. I put on my jacket and hat and stepped outside. I heard the jazz music louder this time. It wasn’t just my imagination. I flipped up my collar and started toward the pizza joint. As I was walking, a strange thought came to my mind. The number 0. It was neither negative nor positive. Not a lot nor a little. What did it want with us? What did we ever do to it? It was an incredible paradox. After a time, I made it to the pizza joint. As I put a hand on the door handle, I felt a strong hand on my shoulder. “You ready to go?” I dropped my hand and said, “To the Blue Man Group? Yeah. Let’s go.” I turned around and my dad was standing there behind me. We went to see the show and had many a good laugh. After the show, I got to meet the fellows in the group. They didn’t talk much. But I did get them to stamp a handprint on my hat. Good times.

Well I had to go to the School for some detective work. I went in to different classes and told about what I do. The kids loved it, but the teachers weren’t so happy about it. Anyway, what did it matter? They were brainwashing the kids to do something productive instead of what they want to do. Not that I’m complaining, I love my job.

I was on my way out when out of nowhere, someone came and K.O.ed me with a single hit to the back of the head. I remember being dragged to some van, shots were fired, and I lost my consciousness.

I woke up without my hat. I was tied to a chair and suddenly a light came on, shining directly into my face. I heard a gruff voice say “Who do you work for?” I and my sarcastic self, couldn’t help but laugh in the face of danger. “Your waitress at the waffle house.” There was a quick punch to the gut.

“Is that all you got?!” I grunted. Apparently, he didn’t like it that much. I got kicked off balance and fell to the floor. “Who do you work for?” The voice shouted.

“Oh, so you gonna pitch a fit, cuz I won’t tell you?” I think the person behind the light got tired of talking to my sarcasm because he started to come forward. My hands being tied up, I couldn’t do much, but I pulled out some moves and was able to trip him and cut one hand loose. I had my hand on his Colt revolver before his friend could get up. “Don’t move or your buddy gets it,” I said. It didn’t take a master detective to see that the guy was lining up his shot. Before he pulled the trigger, I planted a slug in his right shoulder. He wasn’t getting up anytime before supper. With any luck, he’ll be able to move that arm within a month. I told the guy I was holding hostage to cut my other arm loose. I thanked the man and promptly repaid the favor he paid me outside of the school.

I took a quick search of the room and found my hat. I looked one last time in the room I was held hostage in. “Nobody takes my hat and gets away with it,” I said to the sleeping and unconscious fellows in the floor. I turned around and left. But I decided to turn the lights off. No use wasting electricity.

Well, It was a slow week again after that little stunt. Business was as usual and life was normal. I never got bothered again by those guys from the school. Like I said. It was a slow week. But somehow, I was alright with that. The jazz music was back again and I liked the tune. The rain was still patting against my window, but it wasn’t a threatening flood sound. More like a gentle drizzle sound. I liked that, too. I had a feeling that today was going to be a good day.

First Blog Post

So, I decided to make my own blog. I don't know what to write about so I looked up on google blog topics. Google. You can find almost anything on there, anything but FREE math homework help. Especially trig/pre-cal. Anyways, back to the blog topic. There's a list of one hundred. I'm sorry, but i don't remember who wrote the list, but he titled the list, "Here's Topics I hope YOU Write." So I'm doing what he told me to do. ANYWAYS, sorry ADHD. Terrible thing... But I chose topic number 25. Books I want to write. So I'm going to create a list.

Book Number One:
Crazy Things My Cat Has Done - You ask if she's done it, she probably has. She has climbed up a door frame, defied gravity, and has torn up a regular cat toy in under a week. Every day she does something funnier.

Book Number Two:
Random Thoughts - Every day I've thought something totally random and out of nowhere. From polar bears tap dancing to climbing Mount Everest, the funniest things come from my random brain. If you see me laughing while walking down the hallway or street, you'll know why. Something random popped up in my head.

Book Number Three:
The Life of a Total Stranger - If you think about it, you don't usually know very much about someone until you read about them or talk to them. So therefore, I want to follow someone around and write a story of their life. How fun would that be?! Who wants to be first?

Book Number Four:
The Unfinished Book - I want to write a book and then leave it in the middle of it and publish it. I sometimes like to drive people crazy and what better way than to leave them hanging in suspense?

Book Number Five:
Call of Duty Book - I like playing the video games and think that writing a book would bring me into the action even further. Books are a gateway into the world of imagination. With books, you can ride on the back of a dragon, fly with the eagles, and travel alongside whale sharks and not risk life and limb. What that has to do with Call of Duty, I don't know. But i felt like saying it anyways.

Book Number Six:
How to Climb a Mountain - My dad and I ATTEMPTED this and we didn't do so well. But we got most of the way. It would be about how much I learned up there and just the story of our trip.

Book Number Seven:
IDK - I think I would write a comedy of anything that popped into my head. For example: The purple elephant lives in Antarctica and is friends with the fuzzy penguins in Rome.

Well, that's what I've got. First post. Hope you liked it. I'll try to write again later.