we don't speak

One great thing about countless hours of studying is countless hours of shuffling iPod. Discovered and rediscovered a few gems:

My most important rediscovery was Radiohead’s “Exit Music (For a Film)”. I forgot how amazing it was. I played that song on repeat (but I was very careful not to listen tooo much, because who wants to associate such an epic song with studying for finals?) and found myself wanting to scream in the library: “You guys have NO IDEA what music even is right now!!!!!!!!!”

but, I did not.

My friend Lily gave me some CDs by The Dodos (formerly known as Dodo Bird) weeks ago and I heard them and gave them a good rating. But last night I LISTENED to them!

Their song “Beards” made me laugh aloud in the quiet library. Check out the lyrics:

“Beards” by Dodo Bird

You can hide behind it

You can subtly pose it

You can wear it how you like, I know you will

They are taking over

It’s on every other

It will tell a story like the ones you read

I will never have one

I will never have one

It would grow in sparse and light

It would be an ugly sight, so please

Don’t look upon my face

Don’t look upon my face

And grow it out until it comes to standing still

Join the crowd of aging beards a’many

They are looking at me

They are looking at me

Through those beady eyes

They’re thinking what they will

They will keep them safe and warm

From the cold of other’s charm, I warn

Don’t look upon that face

Don’t look upon that face

And grow it out until you’ve found your inner peace

Join the crowd of aging beards a’many

Ah! I just love that! I think it so perfectly describes how much males fixate on their facial hair. “Grow it out until you’ve found your inner peace”…”you can hide behind it”…”they are taking over”…Ha! I never knew how much beards affected one’s psyche! But I certainly think beards deserve their own song. And the song itself is sad and gloomy sounding, but I thought the lyrics were hilarious…

The other Dodos song I especially appreciated was “Neighbors” (don’t you love how to-the-point and simple their song titles are?).

“Neighbors” by Dodo Bird

Ruby’s out there on the block

Chasing down her little dog

Calling out but he won’t stop

‘Cause he’s sick of feeling stuck

Can’t provide the things she wants

She won’t handle when he’s gone

He’s getting free, he’s going long

Feeling further as he runs

I hope he does

Neighbor’s out there in the yard

Doing pull-ups on his bar

Getting stronger, working hard

Gonna have a head start

Gonna look just like a star

Gonna go out stealing hearts

I hope he falls

I know them

They know me

They’re the ones

That I see

Everyday

Probably

We don’t smile

We don’t speak

Sammy’s out there painting trees

Covering up the graffiti

Mumbling something through his teeth

About the kids out on the street

He won’t leave it, let it be

Maybe they’ll come back and see

Painted over permanently

He’ll go mad, he’ll go crazy

I hope he does

I know them

They know me

They’re the ones

That I see

Everyday

Probably

We don’t smile

We don’t speak

Don’t smile, don’t speak



Now this one isn’t funny (though the topic is, to me at least), but it’s so honest. I’ve always noticed how people blatantly ignore each other, but it’s regarded as the norm. People will really go out of their way not to interact with strangers. They’d rather stand than sit next to you on the bus. When I’m running, I say hello to everyone and it’s surprising how many people pretend I don’t exist…! Dude! I saw you look at me from the corner of my eye! You and I both know that I’m running right by you! You don’t have to pretend you don’t know I’m here!

And it’s so true–people really don’t interact with their neighbors much, aside from an occasional hello. It’s a pretty convenient person to get to know, too. I have new neighbors and I’m gonna try to get to know those bros next quarter…and, try not to be such a stranger to everyone.

a prayer revolution

I promised to share some post-teaching thoughts on prayer.  Last week, as I taught women’s bible study, we came to John 14:13-14, when Jesus says:

“I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.   You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

This is an amazing promise.  Of course, it’s not a blank check for us to cash anytime we want to. Notice that there are two conditions.  The first condition is that we must ask in Jesus name.  Here’s one area where I wish I would have elaborated more at bible study.

We train ourselves quite well to end our prayers with the phrase, “in Jesus’ name.”   However, I don’t think that this is what Jesus had in mind when He made the promise.  We tack this phrase on the end of all of our prayers, but are we really mindful of what we are saying?   Are we contemplating the power of Jesus name at that moment?  Philippians 2:9 says that God gave Jesus the name that is above every name.  The Psalms tell us that the Lord’s name is so powerful, that we can run to it for safety.  We are cautioned not to use this wonderful name in vain. But how often do we say it out of habit, rather than awe???

What Jesus was talking about in this verse is our ability to call on His name in the midst of our need.  Being around my pastor, friend, and mentor Kathryn has taught me something about the power of Jesus’ name.  I noticed that something happens when she calls His name.  HE COMES.   Following in her footsteps,  I have felt His “arrival”  (so to speak) when I’ve called on His name.   JESUS.  In an anxious moment or situation, I’ve called out for Him, and I’ve sensed the wind of His Spirit blow into my presence.  Have you felt it too?

As I’ve faced spiritual opposition, I’ve learned to pray against the enemy’s tactics  “in the name of Jesus.”   Boy, that’ll do it.  The enemy can’t stand to hear that name, and he must bow to it. He must flee.

Then one day, I realized that it’s not just spiritual warfare that demands a request in the name of Jesus.  I’ve started praying more fervently and intentionally about things, and I’m requesting these things in His name.  Right there in the middle of my prayer.  I call on the name of Jesus.

When I do that, it makes me slow down.  I must think about what I’m asking.  I’m speaking the most powerful name, addressing the most powerful being in the universe.  Is this request worthy of His name?  Do you see how this line of prayer keeps me from praying selfish, thoughtless prayers?  I have to stop and think about it.

There’s another condition for this promise from Jesus.  He says He will do whatever we ask, “so that the Son may bring glory to the Father”.  The thing we’re asking for must bring glory to the Father.  Doesn’t that rule out a lot of requests??  This is where I made a statement (at the evening bible study) that might seem perplexing to some:

We need to ask God what we should be praying for.

That seems kind of funny.  Ask God what to ask Him for?  Isn’t prayer about asking for what you want or need?   Isn’t it obvious what I should be praying for?

The question is, are you always sure of what God’s will is?  Haven’t you faced some needs in your life or the life of others that were SO overwhelming that honestly you didn’t know WHAT to pray for?

For years, I would throw out my wish list, my wants, my perspective on things in prayer.  Of course, I learned to add a quick,  “if that’s your will, Lord” near the end.  That sounded so spiritual.  But something changed over the last few years.  I’ve experienced a “prayer revolution” in my life.  I spent some time praying with an amazing group of women, and they taught me how to come to God and just be still.  To begin with praise and confession.  To sit and wait for the Lord to lead our prayers.  Soon, a nudge would come.   Maybe a single word like “patience” or “freedom”.   Sometimes a picture would come to mind, illustrating the true nature of the situation we were praying for.   Often I felt the urge to turn to a certain bible passage that gave me guidance for prayer.  There were even times that I was overwhelmed by an emotion (like anger or grief) and it showed me what to ask the Lord for.  I can also recall moments when the prayer I had on my tongue would not come out of my mouth, no matter how hard I tried.  Clearly, the Lord was telling me that this was not the direction to go.  In all these things, I learned to follow His lead in prayer.

When a situation is bigger than you (which is so often the case in our lives, right?)  it’s time to recognize your limitations.  We cannot see all the forces at work.  We cannot see the future.  We cannot predict what the enemy will attempt.  We may not be sure what God’s will is.  So why not let God lead the prayers?   If He knows the outcome, then He can guide our hearts to pray for the right things.

How often have I sat with someone to pray with them, and I was clueless what to pray?  I didn’t want to offend.  I certainly didn’t want to get their hopes up.  I have learned to be quiet and let God quietly whisper to me a word, reveal a need, or show me a picture in my mind that will guide what I pray for.  It’s okay to just be quiet and wait… instead of trying to fill the silence with unnecessary words.  Do you know how many times I have looked up from these prayer sessions and seen a look of wonder on the friend’s face?  They’ll inevitably say that what I prayed was perfect.  Even if they told me all the details of their struggle, I may not know what to ask God for.   If I wait for Him, God  gives me insight to pray in the right direction.  Praying this way can give God the opportunity to confirm or correct someone.  When we let Him lead, He does His work.

So, Jesus’ words present a promise and a challenge.  He WILL answer. All we have to do is seek Him first, so He can show us what to pray.  Then we can call on the mighty name of Jesus our Lord.  The rest is just watching and waiting for results.  Praising Him until the answers arrive.  He is so good!

The Jesus Prayer -Иисycoва молитва

Hi, My name is Joe and I'm an Addict....

So one of the last things my mom told me before leaving me for my first semester at college was that my grandpa, her dad, was an addicted alcoholic. Talk about a great time to talk about family issues, huh? As I heard her say that, I knew she was only trying to scare me and build a foundation against drinking. Its something I’ll never forget.

I have had the great pleasure in listening to one, if not THE, best radio show ever; LOVELINE. As the name mentions there is a lot of sex related questions (which in their own right scared me from a lot of stuff), but there is also a tremendous amount of talk about drugs, drug abuse, and addictions. My main man, Dr. Drew (yes the same Doc from Sober House and Celebrity Rehab), is at the tip of the spear in drug addiction rehab. I have learned SOOOOOO much from him and the show about AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) and all that is involved in rehab. 

I have come to truly admire the AA and rehab process, volunteers, and the whole thing. 

Hearing, thinking, and being thrilled by the addict’s treatment, has lead me to think about my own life. As I mentioned my grandpa was an addict and addiction can/does run in the family. I can tell you right now, that I have addictions. Not to drugs, alcohol, or other chemicals; and honestly, I am SOOO thankful that I’m not addicted to them. 

But it clicked with me tonight, I think I’m addicted to ANGER. Can I be addicted to anger? Do I get a buzz or high from anger? Well not really. 

Just sometimes I feel like I need to be angry. Sometimes I feel like I have to hit something, good thing I have a punching bag in my basement! 

One of the elements of an addiction is having a trigger. Oh boy, do I have triggers to my anger! I can’t count them on one hand, but here we go:

1. When my parents drill my little brother because they don’t want to or don’t know how to do  something. 

2. Stupid People- This is a BIG category. There are WAY too many ignorant, stupid, idiot, and just dumb people out there. For example, I heard of this lady today who has lived on Section 8 housing her entire life and thinks that she deserves a Plasma TV from the government, just because she’s poor doesn’t mean she shouldn’t be denied life’s luxuries… STUPID!!!

3. Bad Drivers- This is kind of a sub-point of the one above. 

4. People who think their dogs are better than any human being. 

5. People who think that the “rules” don’t apply to them or think that their time is more valuable than mine. 

6. People who cut in line, flat out.

7. Most all politicians, especially those who don’t do a lick of anything for their countrymen. 

8. Roommates who don’t clean up after themselves. 

9. People who don’t come through on their end of an agreement, a lazy team member, or someone who doesn’t do their portion of work. 

10. People who don’t take the serious stuff seriously. 

11. And so much more. 

So I don’t know, maybe I’ll try to go to an AA meeting. Maybe I’ll just realize these are some of my triggers and not to get involved with people like the above. I should probably start with some counseling or going to see a psychologist….

Rehab - It Don't Matter