Currently Reading The Barbarian Way : Unleash the Untamed Faith Within By Erwin Raphael McManus see related

Ephesians 1:19

...oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him--endless energy, boundless strength!

Oh how I love the Hagans.  They are amazing.  In reference to what God is saying to you:

“I know your name, and I love you. I LOVE YOU - the unique person that I
have created you to be. You are overwhelmingly wonderful, and I want friendship
with you. Do you see how I pursue you through the Psalms, Jeremiah, and
Deuteronomy? I offer you intimacy for your soul through your marriage. I speak
to you on the commute to work on Tuesday. In the silence of the captured moment,
I comfort you.  I answer your longings in my timing. I come over for dinner on
Thursday night through your friends. I inspire you through songs on the Absolute
Worship CD.  I show my creativity and extravagance in the fruit section at Whole
Foods. I talk to you through Amy’s poetry or Kathy’s art.  When you are
overwhelmed with joy as you hit the first ski run of the day, that is me
enjoying it with you. I interpret truth through Pres’s November newsletter. I
show you my exuberance through your children as they open their Christmas gifts.
I want to live life with you – hand in hand – in rich conversation. I gave
you my only son, Jesus Christ, to bring you back to me. I am the place where you
belong.”

Pure greatness

Currently Listening Passion: Better Is One Day By Passion Worship Band see related

Let me tell you about Beth...

A few years ago I traveled to Washington, D.C. for a leadership conference with about 600 other students from around the nation.  There for eleven days, I easily made friends with people in the group I was divided into.  Beth was in my group.  Beth was my age, about 16 at the time.  Beth was quite possible one of the nicest girls you could have ever meet.  Always with a smile on her face, Beth greeted you willing to talk at anytime.  The only thing different with Beth was her physical disability.  She had a massive limp and her left side was not as strong as her right.  Never letting this hinderence get in the way, Beth kept up with all of us. 

About three days before the conference was over, I ate lunch with my group at a Taco Bell in a mall food court.  Beth, sitting across from me, said something to the effect of, " Seth, I think it is cool that you stand up for what you believe and you know what you stand for.  I admire you for that."  (In no way is this story to boast on me, please continue to read.)  Immediately, I knew I should share the gospel with Beth.  God greatly tugged at my heart, but, ignoring the call, I said, "Thanks."

The conference ended, and life continued.  About three weeks later, I received an call from another girl who attended the conference.  We talked for a minute and then she said, "Seth, did you hear, Beth died last night.  She had a brain tumor and she did not make it."  Instantly my heart was taken back to Taco Bell in the mall.  Guilt, shame, sorrow, hurt, pain, regret, pride, pain- all things that rushed through my mind.

As Christians, we must take seriously this issue of Heaven and Hell.  They are real places.  Real people go there.  Real friends go there.  Do not fail to answer the call.  In no way do I wish to guilt, scare, and manipulate you into "saving" your friends.  But if our eyes are not opened to idea of death without Christ, we will fail to understand the greatness of this issue.  Do not take lightly the calling which Christ has called you.

SB

Exodus 14:14, "The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

In memory of                                                     Beth Buttita                                                                 6/3/86- 9/2/03

So I haven't updated in forever.  Well, normally I would leave it at that.  But today I am feeling kinda nice, so I will write more.  Really, it is just because I have some spare time finally to actually update to some degree.  College is great, time consuming in many ways but it is amazing.  Finals are approaching rapidly, a little scary but not really.  Just another test.  It is getting to the point in which late in the year you start to not care about your grades because you just want to get it over with.  (In no way am I condoning this way in which one should approach school.)  Finals start in about a week.  Then it is back to the big F of W.  That is Fort Worth for those of you who did not understad that.  Ummm....Thanksgiving was good.  The quickest 5 days of my life.  It was hard to try to do everything I wanted to do and hang out with family and friends.  But Christmas is coming soon and that means a month of play time.  I look forward to that.  Next semester I am taking some cool classes.  I think it is going to be a pretty easy semester.  Lets see what all am I taking: Intro to drama literature (okay, definately better than intro to non fiction literature), Political Science 2302: American Public Policy (I love me some politics) , Western Rhetoric Thought (I think fun), Edit: which is educational information technology (supposedly I can do all of the work within 3 weeks and be done with the class), and then my favorite: Consumer production in meat selection (heck yes!).  Well God stuff is going good.  Got a little emotional at Bible study.  Witness to your friends, they are not promised another moment.  you should hit up burt_and_h they have a great xanga about God stuff.  Alright, it is late and I want to sleep.

lata

Seth