This is for real.

I was stalking one of my friends from Butler on facebook and I was looking through his pictures from this summer. He had the opportunity to travel to Europe for an internship and took a vacation to Egypt. I found this picture of Mount Sinai. My first reaction was: the sky is really blue, my second was: Moses was there!
I got goose bumps thinking about how the places in the bible are real....they aren't just made-up, warm fuzzy stories.
I have been working through John and have really struggled with the whole miracle aspect of Jesus' ministry. I mean I believe that he performed these attesting miracles but it is hard to comprehend when you don't get to see them first hand. John wrote for this reason; he wanted people to hear and believe that Jesus was savior.
I was reminded of the verse in Hebrews 4 - THE WORD OF THE LORD IS living AND active, SHARPER THAN ANY 2 EDGED SWORD - God is for real, his word is for real.

Christ v. Christianity

I have really struggled lately with the concept of RELIGION.
Why is it that I have grown in religion and not in the truth of Christ?
It seems that I have been taught and have "known" about the idea of Christ; His saving grace, His love, etc.
But something hit me tonight at youth....when it is said "JESUS LOVE ME" what happens?
As Dustin put it, that thought should EVOKE something, should stir something inside.
I asked myself How has God shown that he loves me? and I know that as John 3:16 states, He sent his son into the world to die so that I can live. I KNOW that, but do I BELIEVE it.
I seek to find trust in the truth that by "surrendering completely to the action of resting fully in the AbSoLuTe & ALL-ENCOMPASSING sovereignty of God: His LOVE, POWER, justice, and grace through the KnOwLeDgE of HIS WORD I can believe.

Back Home Again, to....Montana?

Pictures from my recent trip to Montana....it's beautiful and just simply majestic!

1) Sunset from Austin's backyard.
2) Skikahoe Falls.
3) Our detour through Yellowstone.
4) Mountains!!!