"But God...." I said.

Don't you love that, "But God..."; it's something we all say at some point. It's something we say when we are doubting God and His Plan. During some quiet time Friday, I came across this concept (actually it was more of a big spiritual body slam), and I realized that deep in my heart, I was asking the same question, the same question as Gideon in Judges 6.

I Can Make You Believe What I Want You to Believe.

I can make you believe what I want you to believe.…

Yes, how is that for a blog post title? Did that one spark you interest?

But to some degree, it is definitely true. Wanna know how I know that? I did a little social experiment of my own- it didn’t start out as a social experiment; it started out as a joke, but ended up being a social experiment. Around 2 weeks ago, my friends Justin and Sydney and I were sitting at Subway enjoying dinner and conversation. At point in our time there, Sydney looks at me and Justin and says, “Hey, when you clasp your hands which thumb is on top?”

It has been fixed!

Just to let y'all know- An Old Story in a New Way has been fixed... The font was really hard to read before, and I couldn't figure out what was wrong with it until this afternoon. So, sorry if you tried to read it and it strained your eyes, but that has all been corrected :)

"Wow-za"

"We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God."
Acts 14:22

God's people have their trials. It was never designed by God, when he chose his people, that they should be an untried people. They were chosen in the furnace of affliction; they were never chosen to worldly peace and earthly joy. Freedom from sickness and the pains of mortality was never promised them; but when their Lord drew up the charter of privileges, he included chastisements amongst the things to which they should inevitably be heirs. Trials are a part of our lot; they were predestinated for us in Christ's last legacy. So surely as the stars are fashioned by his hands, and their orbits fixed by him, so surely are our trials allotted to us: he has ordained their season and their place, their intensity and the effect they shall have upon us. Good men must never expect to escape troubles; if they do, they will be disappointed, for none of their predecessors have been without them. Mark the patience of Job; remember Abraham, for he had his trials, and by his faith under them, he became the "Father of the faithful." Note well the biographies of all the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and you shall discover none of those whom God made vessels of mercy, who were not made to pass through the fire of affliction. It is ordained of old that the cross of trouble should be engraved on every vessel of mercy, as the royal mark whereby the King's vessels of honour are distinguished. But although tribulation is thus the path of God's children, they have the comfort of knowing that their Master has traversed it before them; they have his presence and sympathy to cheer them, his grace to support them, and his example to teach them how to endure; and when they reach "the kingdom," it will more than make amends for the "much tribulation" through which they passed to enter it.

-Charles Spurgeon, in the book Morning and Evening

The Wizard of Oz, Indiana Jones, and Scooby Doo: It's a Visual Media Salad

Life is full of hidden journeys and adventures. It is true that I may never actually get to go on a splendid adventure down the yellow brick road to the see the great Wizard of Oz; I may never go on a hunt for the Holy Grail or get chased by a giant boulder. But I get the chance to go on adventures of my own. Sure, they may not be the fun hikes through my neighbor’s backyard and into the green belt located not far from our homes, where I would come home wet and muddy, but I get to go on journeys through life that teach me things that no one person could teach me because it is something that comes through experience.

Simplicity At It's Finest!

So, I know that I've never done this before, but I wanna give a shout out to a good friend of mine, Lizzie Andrews, and she has an awesome blog that you all should go and check out! Lizzie is an amazing writer and such a heart for our amazing Savior, Jesus Christ! So, go check it out at....http://simplicityatitsfinest.squarespace.com/
-Morgan