I am very excited to announce that Cross-eyed Blog and Webzine has an e-book out in honor on their first anniversary and it includes an article written by yours truly. My article is entitled “What is You Motivation” formerly titled on my blog Imperishable Beauty as “Modesty and Pride”. So go over and check out the new e-book packed with some good articles on modesty and practical tips.
Filed under Uncategorized
All of a sudden I blinked… and all of a sudden it was September and all of a sudden I hadn’t posted for almost a month! I can’t even remember the last time I went that long without posting. Of course I could think up some good excuses for not doing so, like starting my 4th week of school, having two adorable but busy baby brothers to look after, and general business. But truthfully? Well, truthfully I just haven’t been diligent enough in my writing endeavors and have struggled just to finish anything I start writing.
But that shall stop and I really hope to try to write more, write better, and just plain write. Hopefully I’ll get writing into my daily routine and that’ll give you a few posts a week (or even one would be good…). Anyhoo… onto some other stuff…
This post is partly in honor of Abigail, my sweet friend with so many lovely quirks… including the obsession with the number 32. :D So when I decided I wanted to post some of my own quirks and wanted a number… none seemed more perfect the 32. Now brace yourself…
Love you girly!
{Serious posting will continue shortly… I just had to mix things up and give y’all a fun random post.)
Filed under Uncategorized
I just saw my dad’s status on Facebook and they found Nathan’s body. Please pray for the family. Nathan is in Heaven, but his family is left here and I’m sure their hearts are broken. A friend of mine reminded me that the fact he is in Heaven is a miracle. Again, please pray.
“I write to you with a heavy heart. This afternoon, Pastor Nathan Junker and Al “Herm” Hermiston, a long-time youth leader at Faith Baptist Church, were with the Jr. High youth on Pokegama lake. The two of them and 5 of the youth were on a sand bar near Drumbeater Island and were swept out by the waves and wind, unknown to others who were on a beach nearby. They struggled to swim back. Several of the youth and Herm were wearing life vests, but Herm gave his to one of the kids who did not have one. All 5 of the youth made it safely back, but the two men did not. Herm was found face down in the water and taken to the hospital, where he died. At this time, Nathan has still not been found in spite of the search efforts of others in the party and law enforcement. Please pray for Herm’s family, especially his wife Nancy, and for Nathan’s family: wife Samantha (Sam), and children Lauren, Alexandra, Journey, and Lincoln. Nathan’s father Randy Junker is pastor of the Grand Rapids Alliance Church. His mother’s name is Debbie. And pray for the people of both churches and the community who have been affected by these men.” (http://www.hogshadows.com/2009/06/praying-for-nathan-family.html)
Last night we received the news that Nathan Junker was missing. His father pastors my grandma’s church. He is a casual friend of my dad and a fellow pastor from the area. This winter when our church hosted the yearly Missions conference in our area, he was involved in a skit with my dad, another associate pastor, and a missionary that we were sending out. I remember his kids. They were so little. He is only about 30 himself.
It’s so hard to look at these situations as see God’s goodness. I’m struggling today to do just that. Baring a miracle, Nathan is dead, his wife widowed, and children fatherless. To see God’s goodness in such a devastating situation is hard. But no matter what we think or feel, God is good. He is good and this is all in His perfect plan. Even when our heart screams against it, God is still good.
In all… we hold on to the future hope. While hope that Nathan is living wears away more every minute, we have a future hope. “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”(Revelation 21:4) Nathan was a believer therefore, we do not grieve as those that have no hope. “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep,that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.”
Please keep the Junkers in your prayers, as well as Al Hermiston’s family. I still am praying for a miracle, but the fact that Nathan had no life jacket and it’s now been overnight… they are only expecting to find a body. But in all of this. God is good.
Filed under Faith, heroes, Uncategorized
*Happy sigh* It’s now been one year since “Nobody416” was “born” (June 26th). I had started writing a little before and I felt that words without someone to hear them are pointless (I have since changed my mind on that matter slightly). I had very little clue what blogs were and how to get one… all I knew is that the Rebelution had started as one. :) I had the silly idea that if you started a blog you would end up with thousands and thousands of people reading it, a book deal, and a national conference. My current response to that is… “yeah right”.
Even though I haven’t been offered a book deal or a chance to talk to thousands… I’ve learned a huge deal through blogging this last year and met some amazing people! I’ve had the chance to make some wonderful friendships that I would never of had the chance if it wasn’t for this blog. Both casual friendships (I term them my “blog palls”) and some of my closest friends. I’ve had some contact with some people big in the blog world and even the assistant to one of my heroes Leslie Ludy.
I’ve also seen growth as a writer. I look back on some of my first posts and I cringe at times and I’m sure I’ll do the same with my current writing in the future. It’s amazing to see how much natural progress has come from just sitting down and writing. Writing has produced spiritual growth as well as I’ve learned how to articulate my beliefs better.
So now I want to hear from you! All of you that have stayed in the backgrounds and refuse to comment (or rarely do), come on out and let me know who you are! I would also love to hear what some of your favorite posts have been. Also, what would you like to see me write about in the future?
Because of a very busy past few days (and my longing to go to bed)… I’m going to stretch the celebrating out for awhile with some new fun stuff. Stay tuned in the next week or so for a intro to a new series (or two ;)) and maybe even a book giveaway! Thank you all for your support and readership, without you I would have no one to write to! God bless!
Filed under blog, Uncategorized
Sam and I when we were little...
For those of you who don’t know, Sam is my older brother. Five years older than me, he has still become one of my dearest friends. This year he is graduating and moving a few hundred miles away from his poor, carless, sister. :) Over the last two years or so we’ve had so many great memories blasting music in the car, late night chats, hanging out with friends, watching random old movies (ahh… Duck Soup… classic randomness… :D), and many other things.
We've always been crazy!!
In our lifetime together we have had some… umm… interesting moments… Hugging Barney, creating an imaginary world, walking around Walmart wearing Sombreros, arguing about if my dolls were real or not, all that sort of fun stuff. It’s been a fun and crazy ride. He’s always been around to make me smile and laugh.
Our one eyed dog Rusty... poor Rusty...
Though this is a post about Sam I must mention our dog Rusty that we had many years ago. This was no ordinary dog. Not in the least bit. He had only one eyes, that in it’s self makes him unique. But he also was a bit of a… hmm… how should I put this? A pack rat? A collector of random things? Crazy? Those things all describe dear Rusty. He would bring home bags of bread, lawn gnomes, umbrellas with pictures of dogs on them, toilet paper, and other things. But Sam and I still loved that dog and had fun with him.
Sam, Corina, and I shortly after Corina joined our family
Eight years ago this May, Corina came into our lives and family. It took us from a twosome to a threesome and we’ve had a blast together. We are so thankful to have Nina with us.
Sam had to get into the picture that was being taken by a friend last winter in AL.
Sam is one of the best brothers in the world and one of the nicest too! Despite what this picture might tell you about Sam, he’s very nice and picks on me only in limited amounts. :) Compared to many other guys I know Sam is an angel! He is a fantastic guy with a passion for the truth, manly gentleness, compassionate, and he loves the gospel. I’m so blessed to have him as my brother and friend.
Sam and I have shared almost fourteen years together and for the first time in my life, starting this fall I’ll be facing life without my big brother right by my side. While our childhood is coming to a close and we are growing up, I’m excited to see what the future seasons of life will hold for us. To everything there is a season and this one is coming to a new end, but a new one is starting. I trust that our relationship will only grow as we go off into the world.
Sam, I love you and I’m going to miss you! You are the best and the only good thing that’s coming from this is me getting your room! :D
Filed under Everyday Life, Family, Uncategorized
Hey Y’all!
Lately I’ve been really busy with school and my little bros and all that sort of stuff. My older brother is graduating high school this month and we have major work to do in order to host a few hundred people at his open house. It’s also that time of year where you are scrambling to finish your work in time for summer, there are concerts and graduations, and general business. Instead of feeling pressured to have to get a post up several times a week I’m going to work more on writing better posts. Many of my posts haven’t been very good lately and I haven’t been satisfied with the quality.
I do have some treats coming up for you though! I’ve been starting work on a series entitled “Hope for the Prostitute”. (I’m not saying any more about it.) You guys are in for a big treat with a guest blog series by my good friend Joshua on the topic on Biblical manhood. (He is also very busy right now with finishing up school for the year so there might be a little wait on this.) I’m also planning on getting some book reviews up here since I plan to do a lot of reading this summer. Last but not least, I’m adding a new page entitled “My Favorite Things” and will try to update that often with some good picks of books, music, quotes, and whatever else happens to come. So check back there often. (Note, as of now I have very little actually on it. Be patient please!)
One very last thing, you guys can still keep in contact with me, especially through Twitter. I caved to the fad last night and am testing it out right now. (If I find it too addicting or too pointless I’ll delete my account.) So all of you on Twitter be sure to check me out!
Filed under blog, Uncategorized
This summer and spring there are a multitude of fantastic conferences that I’m so excited about! Even though I sadly can not attend any of them, I know that God is going to do some amazing thing through these conferences. All the conferences I want to share with you are put on by fantastic people! I have had some form of contact with at least one person running each conference. So without further ado, here are the conferences to look into:
Tell me if you have any great conferences that you would like to share! Again, all of these look fantastic and I am confident in all of the people leading these to have sound Biblical doctrine and message. If you can attend any of these then you should definetely take advantage of that.
Filed under Uncategorized
“Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the king of Israel!” was the loud shout from the people as Jesus rode in to Jerusalem on a donkey. The had made a path for their king with their cloaks and others were waving palm branches in the air. I’m sure that the thoughts of many minds in the crowd were thinking, “finally we have our Messiah! Freedom from the Romans is here!” Israel had waited so long, God had been silent and nation after nation had taken over the country. They had hoped and prayed for a king, and now, with everything Jesus had done, this must be the king that would bring them out from under oppression.
Little did he know that in a matter of days this great and mighty king would be hanging lifeless on a bloody Roman cross. That this king would suffer and die for our sins. That He would endure God’s pure wrath that was supposed to be ours. Jesus didn’t come as a political king and redeemer like the Jews thought he would. Jesus came to die and His kingdom was not on earth, it was in heaven.
Jesus was different than all other kings that ever walked the earth. He didn’t seek His own power, pleasure, and luxury but He left His throne up in heaven to humble himself, become a man, and to die. He knew that His glory and His kingdom was heavenly, one that could never be destroyed. Here are a few of the great verses about the kingdom of God.
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;” (Psalms 45:6)
“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,and your dominion endures throughout all generations.” (Psalms 145:13)
“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,” (Col 1:13)
I love that last one. We are no longer under the kingdom of darkness but we are now in the glorious kingdom of Jesus! Isn’t that amazing to think about?! Jesus may not of come as a political saviour or an earthly king, but He is the king of Kings and lord of Lords and He will come again and victoriously reign over the entire earth.
~_~_~_~_~
On a different note, I’m sorry for my lack of posting. I’ve had a super busy week and I got sick on top of it! I was hoping to be posting more for my Easter series but it hasn’t worked out that way. I will try to post more in the upcoming week though. Remember that tomorrow is the monthly poetry and I’m looking forward to that! I need to get my poetry written! God bless you guys and I’ll post again tomorrow!
Filed under Christianity, Easter Series, Faith, Holidays, Jesus, Psalms, Uncategorized
“If God were not just, there would be no demand for his Son to suffer and die. And if God were not loving there would be no willingness for his Son to suffer and Die. But God is both just and loving. Therefore his love is willing to meet the demands of his justice.” John Piper – Fifty Reasons Jesus Came to Die (p. 20)
We can not wrap our minds around God’s complete and awesome holiness. It is beyond all human knowledge and is infinitely great. To think that someone could of never done anything wrong, never had even thought a wrong thought is too much for our frail minds. Because of God’s amazing holiness, God is also a God of justice. When we do things that are contrary to God’s holiness (sin) it’s treason and because of how big and great God is we deserve to die. The issue isn’t that a sin is “small”, it’s that the one whom we commit the sin against is so huge. The slightest bad thought earns us a place on death row.
Yet God is more than only just. He is also a God of mercy and love. He desires that we have life instead of the death we deserve and to be in an intimate relationship with Him. He desires that we glorify Him like He created us to do. He is filled with steadfast love for us. The extent of God’s love is also far beyond human logic and knowledge.
Though God loves us and desires us greatly, because of His justice He can’t just ignore our sins. To do that would be against His holy and perfect nature. So God sent His son, whom He loved and was a perfect spotless lamb, to take all the wrath of God that we deserve. Jesus was God-man, the only human to not sin a single time. He was the only man to walk the earth that was good enough to be a worthy sacrifice for our sins.
So God poured out all His wrath, that which should of been ours, onto Jesus. Jesus willingly drank the cup of God wrath and died so that we could have life. What marvelous love that God has for us! What wonderful sacrifice Jesus did by taking on God’s wrath!
“Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:4,5
Filed under Christianity, Easter Series, Faith, Holidays, Jesus, Justice, The Gospel, Uncategorized
Hey guys,
You might of noticed that there is a slight, ok, big change of theme. I was getting sick of my old one and felt it was uninviting and sort of cold, nothing like me. :) I also have a bunch of other reasons for the switch… one of them being that I wanted the widgets on the right side. I hope you guys enjoy it and aren’t too shocked! God bless!
Filed under Uncategorized
Nobody416 