I found this in the back of one of my sister’s old Bibles…and I love it.

Ben.

My Child,
You may not know me, but I know everything about you. I when you sit down and when you rise up. I am familiar with all your ways, even the very hairs on your head are numbered. For YOU were made in My image. In me you live and move and have your being for you are my offspring. I knew you even before you were conceived, I chose YOU when I planned creation. You were not a mistake for all your days are written in my book. I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live, you are fearfully and wonderfully made. I knit you together in your mother’s womb and brought you forth on the day you were born.

Love your Dad,
The Almighty and only God.

A follow-up from the last post on glory-seeking…

As you know, last night I was in a room with some very powerful people- 3 Members of Parliament, a bestselling author, the producer of a major investigation show, some publishers, and some heads of anti-trafficking initiatives.  Some were there in genuine support of helping women.  Others were just…politicking.

If a politician or band or a writer (or blogger!) or artist or preacher or teacher or coach or home mom or businessman does their job just to gain glory or fame, their doing it for the wrong reason.  Most end up realizing it’s a lonely life, trying to get people to love you.

Here’s the problem and we MUST understand this men:

We seek glory thinking it = intimacy, love, and acceptance.  It doesn’t.

But get this- for those in Christ, glory is the end prize!  When we seek glory, we’re really just searching for heaven.

We’re trying to live like dead men!  We’re getting too far ahead of ourselves and God’s plan for our lives.  We need to back it up.  We need to be patient.  We need to live out one step at a time.

So… rather than seeking glory on earth, seek to love and invest and add value to others.  In this way, you will find, in Christ, the fulfillment you desire.  It will make for living better here-and-now, and it will mean a glorious death  in the ever-after.  Glory-seeking?  Cut it out.  Just love.

You are not your own. You were bought at a price. Therefore, act like it.

Gentlemen, we need to throw down. It’s time to give up your personal quest for fame, notoriety, power, money, and women. All will destroy your life.

Life was not meant to be a theme park of pleasure. You weren’t put on earth to please yourself (though God knows you’re doing a great job).

God created you to fall in love with Him. God designed you to lead others closer to Him. God desires for you to think His thoughts. He planned for you to live out His dreams.

Will you be the one who stops enjoying himself and starts pleasing his King?

Last week I had a conversation with a dude that absolutely broke my heart.  I felt sick to my stomach and could barely sleep.  The only upside was that it kept me in prayer for him all day.  I was seriously spriritually depressed afterwards.  Just broken for a friend who’s being blinded by something that looks like ‘love.’  I even had a dream about him last week and warned him that an opportunity to fall would be coming up in the next few weeks.

Here’s the scenario that I need your advice on…

I have a friend who met a girl less than two weeks ago.

He’s already kissed her.

They hang out exclusively… zero community.

He’s not willing to commit to date towards marriage, because ‘marriage is a long time’ (But he’s willing to kiss another man’s future wife, no problem)

I asked him if he has any boundaries.  “What do you mean?” You know exactly what I mean- physical boundaries.

“Well I’m not going to have sex before marriage.” And???  “What else do you want me to say?”

Bear in mind this is a dude who calls himself a follower of Jesus.

I asked him, “okay, if I was her brother (I am in Christ) and Jesus was standing here (He was in Spirit), should I be concerned?  Should I be warning her about you?” He said no…he’s not worried.

I know I can’t change his mind, I’m not the Saviour.  What advice would you give this guy?

Sincerely,

A Dazed and Confused Jay Brock

“Cocky guys piss me off…it’s SO not attractive.”

I guess Shania Twain was right after all- we ain’t impressin’ them much.

Let’s get a few things straight:

-Your car isn’t straight out of The Fast and The Furious.

-You’re not August Rush, guitar-boy.

-Your band isn’t the Beatles, U2, or ‘the next Coldplay.’

-You’re not a gangster, you’re not a big pimp, you’re not a player, and you need to pluck that uni-brow.

-You don’t look like George Clooney and Brad Pitt combined.

-Your ’sexy five o-clock shadow’ looks like pubic hair

-Those aren’t abs

Interestingly enough, do you know what DOES attract smoking hot godly girls?

Praise of your character from other people.

So live a gentle, quiet, loving, humble, generous life.

Instead of showing off, live a life worth talking about.

Jay