redemption is a word i never heard growing up. it is a fairly new addition to my vocabulary, but it is a concept that often leaves me awestruck and humbled. i have been talking about it a lot more, especially now that i have it tattooed on my body for life. but i think a good question, one that has been brought up several times recently, is: am i truly living like i believe in redemption?
grant talked about redemption on sunday night. ((brief discourse: i love community group, but sunday night worship hits a completely different part of my heart. singing, being challenged, taking communion and then standing in a circle surrounded with other believers...i find so much encouragement in it.)) anyway, on sunday night, we sang "dearly we're bought" (one of my absolute favorite songs ever) and then grant talked from colossians 3:1-17. some thoughts from his talk:
-"dearly we're bought"-the price was high, it cost dearly
-"highly esteemed"-God looks highly upon His people; "my delight is in her" (isaiah 62)
-"redeemed with Jesus' blood, redeemed"-The Prince thought we were worth the sacrifice of His life
-Colossians 3:5-no one is exempt from these sins, but they DO NOT characterize us in Christ!
-Christ will not let His bride go...ever. He will fight for her, love her, take care of her.

Then we sang "in Christ alone," another GREAT song ("and as He stands in victory, sin's curse has lost its grip on me..") and grant said "only in Christ are we 'dearly bought, highly esteemed and redeemed.' how should this change the way we live?" which totally brought several things to my mind. then we took communion and sang isaiah 43, which i have blogged about before; hearing "i am the Lord, do not fear" repeated over and over gives me chill bumps every time. it was a great time of togetherness in the Lord, and in hindsight, it really was a blessing to have my heart focused on the Lord to begin my week this week. it has been a rollercoaster, but He is in control. That is so scary...but definitely best.

musings on otr: round 2!

ok, please allow me one fangirl moment.
I MET OVER THE RHINE!!!!!

okay, moment over.
but seriously. i did. they were outside the handlebar before otr:round two when i was walking in. they were really cool about me being all spastic to meet them. i was trying to be cool and not ask for a picture...but i wish i had.
the concert was, once again, amazing. there was enough variety that i didnt get tired of the music (like that could happen!) but it did follow the same general setlist. i still absolutely loved karin playing the cookie sheet on "dont wait for tom"....crazy times.

(mel's reaction to not meeting over the rhine like i did)

i was thinking tonight about the trumpet child cd, and how there is one song i generally avoid on it. and then i realized why "the trumpet child" makes me uneasy. there is so much soul, so much power and passion, true honesty in the lyrics and music...i truly believe every time i hear it could be a time when Jesus comes back. there was a point tonight when the music came to a swell and Karin's voice took on this tone...i swear i could hear a trumpet playing and all i could think was "here it comes..." as a Christian, i feel kind of ashamed that i am scared of a song that may or may not have any true indication of the Second Coming. i think it is the uncertainty that does it to me. i mean, there is always a bit of uncertainty about life, but as for where, when, and how Jesus is coming back? that is totally up in the air, at least to me. there is so much i do not understand, do not want to think about, and just pretty much shut out of my mind. does this make me a bad person? (answer: i am already a bad person, so no, feeling this way doesnt MAKE me bad. but i should probably be more jubilant than fearful about my Redeemer's return.)


either way, it was a great concert, even just 2 days later. i think this week has firmly cemented over the rhine's status as one of my favorite bands ever.

i don't wanna waste your time...

if you want a recap of one of the best nights of my life, check out my friend mel's blog @ http://melboles.blogspot.com.
she put it beautifully.

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades.In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?”The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.”Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.-John 5:1-9a

i want to be healed.
i need to recover.
i am going to get better.

there is a pregnant anticipation, like the one i feel when i am standing out on the floor right before starting to dance with a great lead. i do not know what is coming next, but i know it is going to be good.

the Lord is the ultimate lead.
i am praying He will teach me how to be a better follow.

this is going to be good.

all must work for good to me

its been a while. i have been at furman for a month now, although that doesn't seem possible. things here are intense; i mean, i had heard all along that furman would be challenging, but i do not think i realized to what extent the intensity is spread. everything here is competitive, from grades to exercise to how many religious groups you can cram into your schedule. thankfully, i have definitely begun to develop relationships with some awesome people who are very supportive and encouraging. the Lord is providing an awesome core group for this transition time.
speaking of the Lord, He is pretty amazing. going to RUF has been great; i have felt like the gospel has been brought every week thus far. this week hit especially hard. tim talked about building God's Kingdom instead of our own. it was heart breaking, convicting, honest, and absolutely full of Truth. i am starting to pray that i will be able to follow the "thread" no matter where it leads, even if that means i am left feeling like i am fumbling in the dark.