What would you die for?

"My life has never been this clear
Now I know the reason why I'm here
You never know why you're alive
Until you know what you would die for
I would die for You."

I just bought MercyMe's 2006 album yesterday.....without even listening to it first, because I know their albums are always fantastic. This one was no exception.....and the final song "I Would Die For You" really hit home...in a rather sobering way. It's been a long time since I've been this moved and challenged by a song. Truly, "You never know why you're alive, until you know what you would die for."

Listen to the song and 2 others here: http://jazzymoo.multiply.com/music/item/491

There is an incredible story behind "I would die for You" too...and it's really worth sharing here in its full length. It's about this remarkable kid, BJ Higgins, who really showed the world what it meant to live for Christ. Lord help me...I've got such so much to learn.

"My name is Brent Higgins. BJ Higgins was my son. He was a very ordinary young man, who had an extraordinary grasp on the things of God. Ultimately, he gave his life because he was obedient to God's call. From an early age, after giving his heart to Christ, he shared his faith. He talked to anyone who would listen, about Jesus. He and a friend started a website in which the sole purpose was to bring glory to God. Here he often discussed spiritual issues at length, always with the intent of sharing the gospel. BJ wrote extensively for his age. He wrote mostly in journals. The depth of his understanding is humbling. We have posted many of his writings on prayforbj.com. This website also chronicles his illness, and includes stories about his life from each of his family.

When he was 14, he went on his first overseas mission trip. He spent his summer in Peru with a missions organization called Awe Star. While there, BJ grew a great deal in his faith. He also shared with hundreds of Peruvians, and saw many give their hearts to Christ. At 15, he returned to Peru. Once again, he led countless people to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The impact the Lord had through BJ and his team was amazing.

When he returned home this past summer, he came down with a mysterious illness. Doctors believe he contacted the Bubonic Plague while on the mission field. He often spoke and wrote of our need as Christians to be willing to suffer for the cause of Christ, and to be even willing to lay down our lives for Him. He loved his Saviour with all that he was. He fought a valiant six week battle in the hospital, where medical staff used heroic measures to attempt to save him. On September 26 2005, he passed away. Just five days prior to his 16th birthday.

In his life, and in his death, BJ pointed to Christ. His desire was to make Jesus known to all the nations. Moved beyond words, MercyMe has committed to keeping the spirit of BJ alive. Through the Go Foundation, MercyMe is donating 100% of the money generated by the song "I Would Die For You" to send students into the mission field to pick up where BJ left off. I challenge you to follow their lead by contributing to "BJ's Hope". You can visit www.theGofoundation.com to make contributions. BJ would be the first to say it has never been about him, but about advancing the Kingdom of God." -Respectfully, Brent Higgins

"Relate To Me"

“We must stop setting our sights by the light of each passing ship; instead we must set our course by the stars.”-George Marshall

Some thoughts that transpired after a slightly disquieting exchange with a good friend, some insightful Jack Johnson songs, and an evening at the Rachael Yamagata concert. I was quite amazed at how much the young kids loved her songs…they knew all the words, they were cheering loudly for her all the way. But then I realized….they could really relate to her honest songs of broken, wrecked relationships. In her own words, her songs chronicle “the highs and lows of relationships and this delightful junk called love.”

We’re all reaching out for something to fill us….and sometimes, we don’t know when it’s safe to give of ourselves, and how much to give. Still, in spite of the the risks, we plunge into the deep….in the hopes of finding something which we lost a long time ago.
If only we learn to turn to the Author of love….

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"Relate to me baby,
don't walk away just yet.
Let's hold on to each other,
I'll be your safety net if you'll be mine."

Me? I'd rather fall into the abyss.
It's gotta be love or nothing at all.
Convenient companionship isn't enough.
At the end of the day, it's just skin on skin.
What seems real, isn't gonna be there tomorrow.
“How's your soul?
Is it still cold?”

"But tell me, what's good enough?
How do you know?
C'mon, no one is perfect gal!"

Maybe I'm an idealist, a lost cause.
But I believe that deep inside you know...
if you're brave enough to listen to your heart
So I’ll keep on travellin’ on my own,
Cos I don’t want to be lonely next to you….

Bizarro

My dear colleague and fwen Bernice (whom I can't live without btw), is very well-known in the office for talking to herself. Her most famous phrase is "Oh Berno!!" Occasionally, she will also refer to herself in 3rd person. eg. "Bernice's head going to explode." And it's a trend that a lot of us have picked up in BMI as well. haha!

However, an incident that occured last night really took the madness to new heights. I must say...it was quite timely too.

10pm@BMI. Danny, Berno and I had just finished our classes.
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Danny to Berno: You look different today....
Berno: We decided to change my hair-parting!
Danny (looks around....slightly alarmed): Who's WE???
*cue eerie Psycho music*

Mich: *rolling over in laughter* (seriously I was laughing so hard because Berno didn't even realize what she had said. It came out so earnestly)

Gals Night Out@Timbre

Steph's first time@ Timbre. After this, she's leaving for Japan for 3 yrs!!!
Sorry Winnie, still waiting for your pic with you inside. :)

Mighty To Save

I feel as if I'm going to war everyday at the office this week. Well, not battling people, but an insurmountable pile of work and deadlines. I really need God's help in fighting the giants..in facing my fears. God has been showing me Psalm 18 over and over again through various sources (it really is quite amazing)....and the song "Mighty To Save" really is the anthem for the season. :) Pray along with me please as I try to stay afloat.

Psalm 18:1-3
"I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer:
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise.
And I am saved from my enemies."

"Mighty to Save" (Hillsong)
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Saviour, He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save,
He is mighty to save
Forever, Author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave

"That's Gold!"

I love my students! They're a fantastic, hilarious bunch...they truly make my day. Check out what 2 of them said this week:

G: (after his guitar class, he sits outside my classroom with the rest of his classmates. once my door flings open, he shouts out to them....)
Let's go in and do the singing bit!

haha! gotta love the way he puts it. The 'singing bit'...as opposed to his earlier 'guitar bit'. hehe! I should hang that outside my door as a sign. "Let's go in and do the singing bit!" Brilliant!

Jet: (After class he sings the old 80's McDonald's "Rockin' Hotcakes" TV commercial jingle.)
"If you wake up, to a happy sound...yummy yummy yum, yummy yum yum yum! The rockin' hotcakes are comin' around. Shoobee dah buh doo bah arr rump perr pumm pum! the rockin hotcakes are really neat!"

Check out a video of the actual ad here: http://www.retrojunk.com/details_commercial/141/
Nobody can resist dancing, singing hotcakes man!

Poiema

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works," Paul wrote to the Ephesians. 'Workmanship' conveys rather clumsily the meaning of the Greek word poiema, origin of the English word 'poem'. We are God's work of art, Paul is saying. Of all people, Paul with his history of beatings, prison, shipwreck and riots, knew the travail involved in the fashioing of that art- and the role that prayer played. Prayer offers an opportunity for God to remodel us, to chisel marble like a sculptor, touch up colours like an artist, edit words like a writer. The work continues until death, never perfected in this life." - Philip Yancey

In Your Arms

In his book "Prayer-Does it make a difference?", Philip Yancey features excerpts from his interviews with ordinary people on the subject of prayer. This particular one, by a lady named Susan, is quite a sweet gem. :) And don't we find ourselves in that situation from time to time?

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"Often I pray myself to sleep. I try to calm down thinking to myself, I've gotta sleep, I've gotta sleep. Of course, nothing happens. Now when I can't sleep, I have someone to talk to. I don't have to manage life on my own. God can help keep my heart from jumping out of my throat.

I used to worry about falling asleep during prayer. Now, as a parent, I understand. What parent wouldn't want her child to fall asleep in her arm?"

Timeless Complexity

This is a really cool discovery! Sometimes we humans need to be reminded that God exists outside of time. :)

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From Philip Yancey's "Prayer- Does it Make Any Difference?"
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Physicist Stephen Hawking cites with approval Augustine's notion that any God must exist outside of time. We humans are confined to a space-time universe that began at a moment of time, but God is not......

How does God's timelessness affect prayer? C.S Lewis decided it altogether reasonable to pray at noon for a medical consultation that might have been conducted at ten o'clock as long as we do not know the final result before we pray. 'The event certainly has been decided- in a sense it was decided "before all worlds." But one of the things taken into account in deciding it, and therefore one of the things that really cause it to happen, may be this very prayer that we are now offering.' Lewis notes such a notion would be less shocking to modern scientists than to non-scientists.

Learning to Breathe

I'm learning to breathe...
I'm learning to slow it down.
I'm beginning to laugh at my own flaws and mistakes...
I'm beginning to step out of the shadows of my past....
I'm starting to realize that at the heart of the universe
lies a smile....