Love is a verb

Ever read something and think "Yikes! That's me."?

Last Monday night we talked a bit about what people have done for us that has made us feel loved. Naturally, someone brought up the book The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman (an intersting read, if you've never read it before).

I've been told my "love languages" are quality time and physical touch. But still, it was a little disconcerting to read these articles and see myself in the type of people they described.

More importantly, it was a reminder to try to show love to my friends and family in ways that they would appreciate it the best.

So what is your love language? When do you feel the most loved and appreciated?

My parents are famous!

Check out my parents being interviewed on this clip from the local New Orleans news station.

http://www.wwltv.com/sharedcontent/VideoPlayer/showVideo.php?vidId=47666&catId=53

kindred spirts

There's some books or authors I enjoy reading because their words could very well have been my own (though much more elequently said by them). Their struggles, their joys, I can identify with. One of those authors is Phillip Yancey.

Some experts from his book "Reaching for the Invisible God":

"When exuberant, I look on my past writings and am shocked at the sloughs of despond I wallowed in; when depressed, I am shocked at the bright faith I used to have."

"So how do I act as if your alive? How do the cells of my body, the same ones that sweat and urinate and get depressed and toss and turn in bed at night --how do these cells carry around the splendor of the God of the universe in a way that leaks out for others to notice? How do I love even one person with the love you came to bring?"

I can definitely identify with Paul on this one........

"We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it."
Romans 7:14-19

A friend played this on the guitar for me the other day. Perhaps my favorite Jars of Clay song:

I am the only one to blame for this
Somehow it all adds up the same
Soaring on the wings of selfish pride
I flew too high and like Icarus I collide
With a world I try so hard to leave behind
To rid myself of all but love
to give and die

To turn away and not become
Another nail to pierce the skin of one who loves
more deeply than the oceans,
more abundant than the tears
Of a world embracing every heartache

Can I be the one to sacrifice
Or grip the spear and watch the blood and water flow

To love you - take my world apart
To need you - I am on my knees
To love you - take my world apart
To need you - broken on my knees

All said and done I stand alone
Amongst remains of a life I should not own
It takes all I am to believe
In the mercy that covers me

Did you really have to die for me?
All I am for all you are
Because what I need and what I believe are worlds apart

I look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
and wipe away the crimson stains
and dull the nails that still remain
More and more I need you now,
I owe you more each passing hour
the battle between grace and pride
I gave up not so long ago
So steal my heart and take the pain
and wash the feet and cleanse my pride
take the selfish, take the weak,
and all the things I cannot hide
take the beauty, take my tears
the sin-soaked heart and make it yours
take my world all apart
take it now, take it now
and serve the ones that I despise
speak the words I can't deny
watch the world I used to love
fall to dust and thrown away

take my world apart, take my world apart
I pray, I pray, I pray
take my world apart
"World's Apart"

Having your world taken apart hurts.

Isaiah on my mind

I've been reading through Isaiah recently. So it caught my eye when I read an old Switchfoot interview where Jon Forman talks about reading Isaiah 40 before singing "Let that Be Enough" at one of his concerts. And then I go to church last night and a woman I've never met comes and shares Isaiah 61:1-3 with me. And then another woman read from a different part of Isaiah (don't remember where)last night as well.

And the first verse I ever memorized is in Isaiah. "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on the wings of eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Issiah 40:31

Here's the link to the Switchfoot interview: www.crosswalk.com/540294.html

And the words to the song that is often my prayer:

Wish I had what I needed
To be on my own
Cause I feel so defeated
And I'm feeling alone
And it all seems so hopeless
And I have no plans
I'm a plane in the sunset
With nowhere to land

And all I see
It could never make me happy
And all my sandcastles
Spend their time collapsing......

.....And I feel stuck watching history repeating
Who am I?
Just a kid who knows he's needy

Let me know that You hear me
Let me know Your touch
Let me know that You love me
And let that be enough

Switchfoot's "Let that Be Enough"

lessons

Things I've been learning (or at least being taught)

1. Caring for people may leave you hurt.
2. Doing the right thing sometimes hurts.
3. I hate cliches.
4. Walking by faith is hard.
5. I'm not very good at patience.
6. I'm not very good at hiding how I'm feeling.
7. Surrendering my dreams is hard.
8. God's more concerned with my soul then my happiness.
9. Developing character hurts.
10. I have wonderful friends who make me feel loved.



"I knew the times would come and now the times have landed
With stinging abrasion
As ready as I seem to be
It's never like I planned it, yeah

I'm wrestling my thoughts, I'm overcome
Would you give me up I'm asking Lord
There's no where I sense Your presence here
So I will cry out, until I go

From protest to praise
You're always amazing me
You're changing me slow, but surely
And You're gonna see me to the end

How long will I be forgotten by You forever
You're not making sense here
Seems like eternity has made a home between us, yeah

You're changing me slow
I just can't help but see it that way
Cuz You're gonna see me to the end"

Downhere's "From Protest to Praise"

music, friendationships, and Texas will you marry me?

I reccomend you check out this website: http://www.taraleighcobble.com

Good lyrics. Good music.

That's not reason enough? Check out the message boards there......specifically the one about friendatshionships and Texas will you marry me?

Tara Leigh Cobbler will be playing in Georgia in a few weeks. I'm hoping I can talk someone into going with me (hint, hint).

Feeling better

Thanks Allison, Dave, Tran, Kent, and Thomas. I'm feeling a lot better and appreciate you guys showing your love. I'm so glad God doesn't call us to walk this life alone, but with a body of believers by our side.


Rising from the ashes
Lifted from the madness
Now you see my heart is
Deep enough to dream
Heal me from the deathblow
Lead and I will follow
Now you feel my heart glow
Mending at the seams

Bebo Norman "Drifting" (full lyrics here)

Borrow Mine

For Thomas and Tran, who let me borrow their faith when mine is gone (listen to the song Borrow Mine)

Take my hand
And walk with me awhile
Because it seems your smile
Has left you

And don't give in
When you fall apart
And your broken heart
Has failed you

I'll set a light up
On a hilltop
To show you my love
For this world to see

You can borrow mine
When your hope is gone
Borrow mine
When you can't go on
Cause the world will not defeat you
When we're side by side
When your faith is hard to find
You can borrow mine

And take my love
When all that you can see
Is the raging sea
All around us

And don't give up
Cause I'm not letting go
And the God we know
Will not fail us

We'll lay it all down
As we call out
Sweet Savior
Help our unbelief

When you are weak
Unable to speak
You are not alone
The God who has saved us
Will never forsake us
He's coming to take us
Take us to our home

Take my hand
Take my love
Don't give in, no
And don't give up

Bebo Norman "Borrow Mine"