JUST NOT YET

In between services yesterday (I went to all the services yesterday) I went to a wedding of a couple I have gotten to know over the last several months. I am glad I am not getting married anytime soon. I think the more I think about what it means to get married the more I am not ready to step into anything that could lead me to getting married. It is a committment thing.

Singleness is so great though. I feel bad for people who get into relationships for all the wrong reasons, like they just have to have someone there so they can know they are liked by someone. That's no bueno. Why not just know you are loved by Jesus so much more than anyone could ever love you? Why go looking for a pseudo love in a shallow relationship? Then you don't have to spend time talking on the phone checking in nor do you have to spend money, none at all. You don't need a phone to talk to Jesus.

I think it is silly, even on the virge of absolutely stupid when people use the phrase, "I am going to date Jesus for awhile." Seriously. Why do people say this? You must want a shallow relationship with Jesus. That's harsh. But seriously, don't say that. You could rather say, "I am going to let Jesus be the source of my affirmation and fulfillment because He gives me love, true love, not the other stuff that makes you tingle inside. His love brings me confidence, it brings me security because His love is faithful, He would never stop giving it. Even when I whore myself to the world he comes and woows me and buys me back from my captors. I don't date Jesus, Jesus is my lover, He is mine and I am His."

Its funny how after reading that last part you will be like, Shawn, that sounded kind of gay. Maybe so I mean it kind of does. But seriously why do our minds have to instantly be fixated on sexual intercourse at the sound of the word lover. Lets, for a moment, throw aside what our society has done to our minds and purely look at the word lover for how our Father sees it. Lets look at it through the lens of the relationship we were originally created to have with the Father. The word lover denotes the idea of deep seaded intimacy with another. Sex is very much apart of intimacy. But sex is only an outward or physical expression purposed to satisfy a longing within the soul of every human. A longing to be loved, to be adored, to be sought after and to be connected on a level so deep words struggle to define.

Yet, is this not the the heart of our Father, that this part of us, that longing deep with in our souls for a lover, that part of the soul which longs for intament connection, be met by Him and Him alone? For I am His and He is mine.

It is you, child, who have been chosen to be showered with His holy and untainted love and it is He who in return longs for our love, a love in process of being made perfect. Let your lover, The Lover, meet you within the longings of your soul. Long for love, but let your longings first be satisfied in Him. For in this place will you find what you are looking for. It is when you invite in the one who can satisfy will you know love and how to love in return.

All this to say. Marriage will one day be great. Just not yet.

GIVE SOME LOVE

It is hard to believe! Christmas Day is only 40 days from today. Truly, this is my favorite time of the year. Eggnog, Christmas tree decorating, cold weather, watching Christmas Vacation, the seasonal tunes, the gifts, O the bliss! I mean it does not get much better than this right? For some who have not left this stage of life. Stay there as long as you can! It is a beautiful and merry time of life.

Note to the receiver: (If you are 13 years and younger stop reading here)!

For others on the fringes or who may be way on the other side of the blissfulness you know what time of year it is. It is that time to begin asking the infamous question. Yes, you know the question. That one you seem to ask with such joy and enthusiasm because no one should be a Scrooge this time a year, yet deep down hoping could be whispered out the corner of your mouth, knowing that its very words in the right persons ears could be the end of that rather large savings account you intended on not touching for another two years. Yes the days of the great asking are quickly approaching.

"So, (insert name), what do you want this year for Christmas?"

I might be making myself a little to vulnerable here. You might be thinking by this point, "Well Shawn this doesn't sound to merry and your suppost to be merry during Christmas. He must be one of the greedy ones!" Stay with me! Granted this may be the scrooge in me coming for a visit. But then again was Scrooge not created by the capitalist as a reminder to the consumer? Maybe not, Charles Dickens actually made him up, still.

I am quite astonded by how, I, over the last several years, have transitioned from a mindset of what the Christmas season has BECOME into what it SHOULD be about. Indeed, the holiday season at least for the follower of Jesus Christ, marks the beginning of the celebration of the incarnation of Jesus the Christ. However, over the centuries, I am guessing, the celebration of Christmas has evolved from a celebration of a man and the salvation He has provided into a celebration for both the capitalist and for the consumer. It has transitioned into a celebration for all to add to their collection of stuff! It is a season for the consumer in all of us to shine and for the capitalist to make a buck. Yet it is true, my mindset of what giving and receiving has been framed by both the blessing and the cures of our society, plenty. Now I know this might sound quite harsh as this observation quickly points the finger. Yet, I would say that it might not be to far away from the truth.

Some give to make themselves feel good, some give to receive, some only receive because they don't have the means to give, some give for the sake of meeting a need to those who rarely receive, while others give because they love those they give to. Who are you? I tend to be all the above with the last of these used the least. Here is a concluding thought to wrap all of this up.

Christmas is not so much about being a consumer nor is it really about being a doner. It is not about getting a gift for those who already have to meet a want nor is it about getting a gift for those who have not so that you can feel a sweet feeling. Rather Christmas is the day we can celebrate the day humanity was first loved. It is a day humanity can corporately celebrate their ability to look at others and love them whether they be a loved one or a least one. Is it not true that we can love because we were first loved? Let Christmas be a celebration of the incarnation of love in flesh and blood. Use your ability not to be a consumer this year nor a doner. Use your ability to be a lover. Let love motivate your wallet. Let love motivate the gift.

Here is one way to love this year. Visit Gospel for Asia Christmas to start giving some love!

CHRISTAMS GIFTS -- LOOK NO FURTHER

Nathan George started an organization called Trade As One. You have the oppurtunity to use your spending power to change lives! Please watch this video. Visit Trade As One to start shopping!

BLOGGING THOUGHTS

I think I am going to start blogging on this thing more often. There is always time to write about life and the random thoughts that filter in and out of my mind. In fact I need to. I don't even know how many people actually read any of this, except you mom and dad. Its always nice to have parental support. This blog has that same support I find strikingly simular to that received at friday night high school football games. You know, where even though you are the athlete that is not even good (in fact you don't even fall into athlete category it is more the category of, "I post pictures on myspace of an incredible tackle I made, even though it is my own team mate, (thank goodness for photoshop) so that people think that I am good at football.") you still receive the parental pat on the back and a hearty "Great job" though it sounds more like, "You looked so good sitting on the bench," and "O the way you handed out the water to the starters, yes that was so great." Anyways, thanks mom and dad for your support for the blog.

But nonetheless it will be a little more text for you to read then the typical once a month update about some extremely random, deep sounding thought of mine, that is written in such a way that invokes entirely to much confusion on your part. Those will continue to make an appearance, of course, but I hope to entertain you with even more random real life stuff, like "I just bought some new "organic" fiber to help my body detoxifies all the evil poisons that live in my body." Or topics like the top thoughts that go through my mind why I sit in on meetings.

Now it could be entirely true that I may never follow up with any of what I have written, like writing more often. It is just kind of what I am feeling in the moment. I didn't even mean to write this much. Blogs are like the akward conversations where you don't know when to stop the conversation so you just keep on going. The end.

PANDORA

If you enjoy listening to music but you have not been able to purchase any new tunes as of late check out pandora. It is a one of those priceless finds on the internet. Enjoy.