less like a bike ride......more like flying

I continue to be nothing short of enchanted by God's presence. When i say this i'm not referring to corporate worship. Although that is a vital part of my life, it's not the place of spiritual fulfillment for me. About a year ago i started finding my TRUE relationship with God while simply taking walks around my neighborhood. With my iPod in my ear, i just walked. And walked. And walked. And stared. I stared into the night sky wondering how insane and ultimately ridiculous it was that the guy who fashioned each one of those extravagant stars into place had His eyes focused on me. And each night i realized that it was because HE is so extravagant! I thought about how i might be technically upside down in space. Only, God holds me there, not with gravity, but with his might and mercy. It just felt SO RIGHT to walk the earth with just me and God.

After about a year of "no time for it", my life, as expected, became so devoid of a clear image of what God looked like. I found myself looking "up" and finding only an image of Him that i tried to come up with. Gosh it was annoying! It was kinda like living in Louisiana, breathing through a hot wet rag every time you walk outside. So anyways, my father and i found an old bike in his shed behind his house and decided to clean it up. We replaced the chain and readjusted everything. My dad suggested that i use it on campus---mostly likely NOT going to happen! But i brought it home and decided one night to test it out around the neighborhood. Immediately i was brought back to that wonderful oasis of tranquility and awe that had been lost for some time. My iPod turned to "Your Love is Extravagant" by Casting Crowns. BAM. love. done. It was AMAZING! He was literally RIGHT THERE! I would pedal really fast so that every now and then i could stop pedaling and feel like i was flying! I've found no time or place where i was closer to God! I highly recommend such an experience. My God is one who is sovereign enough to form mountains and arrange stars but also intimate enough to firmly grasp the handlebars of our lives, stopping everything in its tracks, and whisper, "i love you."

imprint......

This week has been quite an intense one. I find myself discovering more and more everyday. The odd thing is that many of the things i'm just now discovering have been thrown in my face for some time now. It's literally nothing new. Here i sit, grateful for things reiterated.

Last week my bible study leader/great friend Jason Sheridan spoke to me and the rest of The Council of Kings about leaving an imprint on the world that declares God's name. We've all heard the basis of christianity which is: believe that God is the father of us all, that Jesus Christ was the messiah who saved us from our sins, and that we are TO MAKE DISCIPLES. That latter part was the least prominent in my little Jesus Agenda for my life.

My view on the matter was, "okay God, you know the kind of person that i am! You know that i'm not the type of person who is gung-ho about speaking to strangers and who is gonna push people even sometimes to the point of their unsatisfaction. You know that i like when everyone is happy. Soooooo that MUST mean that me not partying, drinking, cursing, sleeping around, etc. is what i'm called to do. Cool, thanks bro!"

WRONG!!!!!!

Sure, the things that i thought were the important parts of my placement in God heart are in fact very important in the grand scheme of christianity. But they are only compartments of the one major reason for my existence. Jason made a HUGE point when talking to us. He said, "trying to love one another," something i forgot to mention prior to this quote," is not the only thing that we are called to do here." He said, "JUST loving someone doesn't save them from Hell, does it?" That beast shot right through my charcoal human heart!

How dare i lay here dormant in my faith as i try to work out every single kink in my own spiritual life and not make it so that other people share the reason i have for living. I'm so sick of sitting here, in this cesspool of shame and guilt concerning the things i keep screwing up in my life! I want to actually leave an IMPRINT of God's name on this earth, no matter the size! I want to come boldly to the throne of grace and accept my title as fisher of men!

So that was my mental state all during thanksgiving. And i KNOW it was Jesus! i mean, other than the obvious reasons for the accusations, i felt SOOOO empowered by the Spirit. So, i prayed, and prayed, and prayed. And today i got to put it into action. I asked God, "please give me the strength to do SOMETHING for you kingdom today!" He did. I decided to take a walk around campus after class and came across this girl sitting outside of the music building, obviously waiting for a class to begin. Her name was Olivia. I saw her reading some science fiction novel and just KNEW that this was going to be very interesting. I went up to her and told her that because finals were coming up, i wanted to just pray with her over the entire student body. She looked at me and said, "Sorry, i'm not really religious." Now, the normal Dillon would have, you guessed it, said, "ok, sorry" and walked off. Automatically i replied, "You don't have to be religious to pray. Here, i'll do the talking!" So we sat there for about a minute and i prayed aloud my thanks to God for our opportunity to receive an education and for His son Jesus who died for our sins. I finished, asked for her name so that i could continue to pray for her, smiled (which was returned) and walked off. I felt sooooo empowered! Enough to inspire me to do the same with a nice gentleman by the name of Daniel who was sitting about fifty yards from Olivia. This guy looked a little split-minded, not unlike myself. We prayed, i got his name, told him i would be praying for him, and asked him to do the same for me. And that was my day with God. Bam. It's not that hard.

I know hardly anybody reads this junk. I know of only one. I just pray that whoever does read it, may use my story and apply it to their life so that to Him be the Glory! He is worthy to be praised!

"If we are going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things -- praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts -- not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They might break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds."

C. S. Lewis On Living in an Atomic Age

something should be done.....

APATHY. It's one of my least favorite words of all time. Why? I'm pretty sure it's because it perfectly describes my relationship with Jesus Christ. It's hard to be apathetic, right? I mean you have to be Hercules to not get caught up in lying around, piddling on youtube, watching gLee, and ultimately just being lazy. NOT! This is something that i have found to be requiring of no strength whatsoever.

DISTRACTIONS. They really suck. Constantly i find myself praying for diligence and desire to always be focused on and thinking about the Word. If I'm not constantly in the Word, there is no telling whether or not i can use it on the lost. Do you ever find yourself aching from all of the mediocrity exuding from you whilst in the presence of God? So many times we've said, "Father, You are sovereign. Thank you for everything. Help me to live like Jesus. Give us the peace that surpasses all understanding." Yet we place God in a box, take everything for granted, we look like the world, and continue to mentally shame ourselves because of it all. Show me the scripture that talks about God being proud of those who take a few extra minutes to sleep and show up late, or those who take break after break during the day and continue to procrastinate, or those who don't serve others because they've done enough for today. It's apathy. Stop thinking. Start acting.

C. S. Lewis states in Surprised by Joy,

"Enough had been thought, and said, and felt, and imagined. It was about time that something should be done."

ah....my hammond friends

I'll start off with saying there is nothing like meeting new people in new places and forming new relationships! I've recently experienced this while beginning my college career. And it all started with a very special group of people known as the Council of Kings.

One of the things i continually hoped for, honestly didn't really pray for, was that i would find comfort from the new scene of college in new fellowship. I wanted to meet new people, experience new personalities, and start fresh with relationships. I started attending a guy's bible study that was held at the Southeastern BCM at 10 pm on tuesday nights. From the first meeting, we all totally connected. I automatically knew that these were the guys that GOD WOULD USE to save me while i was in college. And boy has He!

The original group consisted of myself, Willie, Johnny, Austen, Seth, and our leader, Jason. Let me tell you, outsiders looking in would say we were lunatics when around each other! We are so crazy when you put us all in the same room together. Since the first meeting in august, we gained a few new members and become closer each week.

Through each other we've actually met other people as well. Seth's friend Brandee has become somewhat of an honorary member of the council haha. We've even met people through her and we've all become great friends. Because of them i feel no more discontent from being away from my friends in central. Because i miss them so dearly, i needed this divine intervention. I can say that i truly love these guys and gals even after only a few months. It's true that when God is the link between people, all of the junk that keeps people from relating to one another is never a factor.

Aside from those from bible study, my relationship with the two ladies across the parking lot known as Sarah and Taylor, has become one that i cherish greatly! These two kids have raised my enjoyment of college exponentially and give me a reason to face the craziness that is a collegiate student body. Sarah's gleefulness could literally dissolve any frown it comes in contact with. Taylor's intense phrases and overall sarcasm could make anyone wet their pants with laughter.

So thank you father for these beastmode new friends of mine. Help me to be as much of worth to them as they are to me. Help us to collectively shine your light to those around us. Amen

paintings....

Here are some paintings that i recently did this month. Two of them were inspired by my favorite contemporary artist, Cindy Thornton :)

Top Left: "By My Side" by Cindy Thornton recreated by Me

Top Right: "John 15:5" Dillon Chustz original

Bottom Right: "Evening Wonderment" by Dillon Chustz with elements taken from Cindy Thornton

alanis morisette's You Learn lyrics

You Learn

Ooh, ooh, ooh...

I, recommend getting your heart trampled on to anyone, yeah
I, recommend walking around naked in your living room, yeah

Swallow it down (what a jagged little pill)
It feels so good (swimming in your stomach)
Wait until the dust settles

You live you learn, you love you learn
You cry you learn, you lose you learn
You bleed you learn, you scream you learn

I, recommend biting off more than you can chew to anyone
I certainly do
I, recommend sticking your foot in your mouth at any time
Feel free

Throw it down (the caution blocks you from the wind)
Hold it up (to the rays)
You wait and see when the smoke clears

I, I, oh, oh

Wear it out (the way a three-year-old would do)
Melt it down (you're gonna have to eventually, anyway)
The fire trucks are coming up around the bend

You grieve you learn, you choke you learn
You laugh you learn, you choose you learn
You pray you learn, you ask you learn
You live you learn

all for the best.....

I haven't posted anything in a while. Sorry guys. Listen to me, as if people read this stuff :P Anyways, i have been embracing something i consider to be pretty awesome lately. One principle that i find i need reminding of every day is the fact that God commands us to praise Him in ALL circumstances! I, personally am getting sick of having my relationship with God depend on how many good things are going on around me! I'm tired of not remembering my quite time because there's hasn't been anything "of God" in my day. I'm ready to embrace truth.

How wonderful would our day be if we found strength to delight in even the most uncertain, heart aching, and terrifying things because they, like all things, are from God. If all there is is Good vs. Bad, then only praising Him in the Good would only be praising 50% of the time! Point to a place in scripture that says otherwise.

Another thing i've learned recently, thanks to the ever beastmode Glen Miers, is the crazy amount of FEAR that i surprisingly have in my life. I mean, how much to i really pay attention to the fact that excess of fear = lack of faith?! Honestly, i'm ready to take the life that God has given me head-on! I'm an artist. That comes with risks. Bring em!

Shout out to everyone who's been praying for my mom's recovery! Thank You!

youtube=evil

So this is a random one. I've recently discovered the dangerous effects of zoning into youtube for excessive moments throughout the day. I'm quite the ellen fan. I just love interviews in general. I love watching people be asked about themselves and them answer back. It's very intriguing to me. Unfortunately, one interview always leads to another! I've also recently seen how much of an effect this has on my spiritual life. It sucks. Time to step up to the plate and spend my time in thought. Even if i'm not always reading directly from His word, He still commands us to be full of wisdom. Wisdom doesn't come from plugging your mind into the computer screen. It comes from thinking, reading, and realize what's around you. So there's my plan. BAM

Random awesome Adam Robinson quote:

" You must put on Christ. The next time satan shows his fangs at you he will see a reflection of the only one who could rip him apart and throw him into hell!"

.....chills much?!

dawn....

I'm home. After a long and distant journey down a path of hostility and certain destruction..... i'm home. In more ways then one i had my life handed to me in the form of earth. Boy, was it pleasing earth too! The smell was simply bewitching, no matter how many sniffs it took. It's feel was electrifying, no matter how many bruises it caused. And it's taste was so succulent that every bite left a feeling of want for more.

No matter the intensity of my want, it had to go. Every irrational thought told me so. The more i tore, the more i lashed, simply provided more scarlet ink to write my message. It made it's way down that celestial stream. There i stood, hoping for an answer; hoping that my message would return answered.

My answer came when my precious coveted earth began to dissolve. Where was it going?!?! I needed that earth!! The more that went away the more my anger simmered inside of me. The last bit dissolved. An incubus ended.

That bright light took me by surprise. I recoiled at the sight of it. I quivered. Was it death? Was it life? In the twinkling of an eye i realize it was the latter of those two. goodbye fear. goodbye earth. This dawn would suffice-forever.

give it up...

Some of you may know that lately i've been trying to decide what on earth i want for my future. It's been really rough. It's hard trying to figure out what your career is going to be and if every morning you're going to wake up and be excited about your job. I know that i may never get that full effect but i really want something very similar to that. I was just given some very blunt advice about a career choice that i was really excited about getting involved in. It seems that i'm just not at the right school for what i want. Yet, i feel like i belong here. So i guess i have to find something to suffice that makes me equally happy.

I sit here listening to Sarah McLachlan's Angel.

"You're in the arms of the angels, fly away from here.

From this dark, cold, hotel room, and the endlessness that you feel.

You were pulled from the wreckage of your silent revery.

You're in the arms of the angels, may you find some comforting."

Hello! I've been spending so many brain cells trying to buy any secure thought that i can find while all the while i have an entire book of them sitting right next to me. I've been praying over and over these past few weeks that God revive something in me that would take away some of the pain of worry. As hard and blunt as it was hearing the advice i was given, i was feeling some really weird contentment. I't felt sort of like " here ya go! " and i wept with both pain and relief. So imagine that, it might make you laugh. It makes ME laugh when i picture myself haha.

This is simply why i worship the God that i do! He has HIS timing and it is the only one supreme. What needs to be done with the time left over that isn't spent worrying about my future is building my relationship with Him. From there, He will provide. This may help people out there who are fighting the same thing.

thanks to Sarah McLachlan for that song and for my God for giving her the words to sing.

abraham....what a beast!

If any of you reading this have taken Mr. Randy Mitchell's bible class you may remember watching the movie Abraham. You may also remember how LONG it was! For some reason...I LOVED THAT MOVIE! Before finishing his class my senior year, i ran out to Barnes & Noble's and bought the dumb thing! So now i watch it every now and then just to remind me of not only the excellent times in Mr. Mitchell's class, but of the factual aspect of the story.

Last night i was sitting in my dorm room and all of a sudden had an urge to dive into my bible notes and such from last year! I was so pumped! So i whipped out my bible notebook (which is kept in a special drawer :P), my bible timeline, and of course....my ABRAHAM dvd.

I admit it, i got a little too focused on the dvd and neglected my notes a few times. Something about Richard Harris just makes me want to pay attention! All you harry potter fans might understand that one haha. The character of Abraham has always been one that i always envied as far as will power and strength are concerned. Every time he took a humongous step of faith, my heart just melted. I long for that kind of strength! Abraham was also a great man in regards to his love for his woman. He loved Sarai so much that he testified multiple times that God would strike him down before making him live without her!

There were so many points in the movie where the director portrayed each obstacle, may that be a person or place, as intimidating as possible. And as frail as ole Abraham was, all he ever saw was his God!

I mean how indescribably refreshing would it be to be in the midst of strife and discomfort, surrounded by gods for everything and anything-never being able to hear or communicate with any of them, and the one true God speaks to you in the midst of your confusion! Above the silence of all the other gods! I continue to be amazed by this man and by what God did through him! I'm continuing to learn the ways of great faith as his!

rising to the bottom.....

The following is from Men of the Bible by James Stuart Bell:

"In a culture where ambition is praised as a man's highest virtue, far too many Christian men adopt a "whatever it takes" attitude toward rising up the ranks.

Whether it's the CEO who cooks the books (just a little!) to make himself and his company look better to investors, the low-level business executive who bad-mouths his peers to make himself look better to his superiors, or the church member who creates problems in the congregation to further his own agenda, people take advantage of opportunities for self-promotion that abound in this world.

God takes a dim view of such strategies.

A man named Shebna held a good deal of power in the administration of King Hezekiah, but pride and vanity ruled his heart. He used his high position to promote himself by beginning to construct an extravagant tomb for his eventual burial.

In so doing, Shebna wrote his own ticked out of town.

Although he sought personal glory, Shebna discovered the quickest way to the bottom. The Lord put a stop to his plans, removed him from office, and exiled him far from Judah (see Isaiah 22:17-18). God had given Shebna everything he needed to become a great servant, but the foolish man squandered those good gifts by trying to rise to the top in his own selfish way.

No doubt you have some goals that you want to reach and the talents angd gifts you need to make them happen. God want to be at the center of all your plans. your part in the equation is to use all He has given you for His glory and the good of other."

So you might be wondering why i posted something like this. Basically it nails exactly what has been stressing my heart out this month/week. As you all know, i'm a theatre kid. Performing for and audience excites my heart and puts me in a state of sheer joy. As of right now i am a history major at SELU. Now, the big issue has been pondering what exactly i want to do with my life from here. I do love to study history, and the thought of teaching people about it does indeed excite my heart. But i find myself most often daydreaming of music, performing that music, and giving all the credit to God. But what would that cost? Am i ready to give up a more steady future like education for something that could fail with an injury? If it's what i love and continue to dream about it should be a no-brainer....right? Well here's where Shebna comes in! A more important question to ask myself is: am i idolizing the talent i've been given, building myself up, instead of focusing on God's plan and allowing Him to put my talents to the rhythms of His plans for me? Who knows what i'm supposed to be asking myself! I need prayer that i figure this out and that i grown to focus on what's in front of me and allow God to "take the wheel" , if i may quote ms. underwood :) I'm not going to give up working on anything. I'll just have to step down from pedestal right now and stop worrying.....

i will rest in YOU.....

"Lord, i'm in the dark,

seems to me the light is dead

when i come calling. No one there.

The sky is falling.

Lord i need to know! My mind

is playing games again. You're

right where you have always been.

TAKE ME BACK TO YOU!

The place that i once knew as a

little child. Constantly the eyes of

God watched over me.

LORD I WANT TO BE..

In the place that i once knew as a little

child, fall into the bed of faith prepared

for me.....

Tell me i'm a fool. Tell me that you

love me for the fool i am. And comfort me, like

only You can. Tell me there's a place,

where i can feel your breath like sweet

caresses on my face again...."

What a thing to sing praises to! How often do we forget about Christ's love in the sense of something like this. How he doesn't simply make us feel good, but in His sovereignty and His worthiness we find rest and He appears as an actual father to us!

Lyrics to "I Will Rest in You" by Jaci Velasquez"

Check out the video :)

oh buggah......

So i am terribly sorry if you are disappointed in me after reading the following. I find myself in dire need to smear all that is on my heart on this canvas of a blog.

If i have the ultimate master of the universe driving my ship, why do i find it so hard to simply row with the other shipmates even while the driver hands me more than i need to do it? On top of that, the driver insists that i stop trying to help him control the boat. I still want to. I feel obligated. So i slump to the back of the boat and try to decipher the directions to steadying a ship so massive as this one. Only, i already know it all. So i sit there confused....very confused. Is there something i've been doing wrong all this time? Why do i have this passion to take hold myself? Why do i not pay attention to the directions that i already know?????

Now, if you are anywhere close to having the amount of confusion and odd mental pictures flying around in your head as i do now, perhaps i can explain it in rhetoric or something of the same nature.

How hard is it to give up YOU? To anything. Perhaps you find it easy to give up yourself to your spouse or someone very dear to you. In this case i mean giving up YOU to God? I just recently was reminded of many truths of christianity. Truths that are more than often hidden underneath the veil of perhaps sunday school or your standard church sermon. How many years of preaching have lacked not only gumption for the truth in the church, but the audacity to sing it to the heavens and to one another?! The truth of christianity is that it is NOT about us! The basis of my relationship with God has been ME wrapping HIS commandments around MYSELF. If you didn't notice, the ratio of myself to God in that sentence was 2:1. My heart should be hardwired to want to praise God even if while i'm doing it, i'm being thrown into hell.

I tell you today that i am not at that point. It's terrifying. It's satan. And it's sinful. That's me. Is there hope? Yes, there is. Am i capable? Yes, i am.

There you have it. I tell you, reader of this blog, that i am working on this. Hopefully in time it will be at His pace and not mine.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

life on the head of a pin.....

Life recently, for me, has consisted of many things making it seem as a piece of dental floss easily cut in half by the dullest of blades. Friends are moving away. Relationships are ending. Old times are being packed up. And a new chapter of life is about to begin. In all of this i find it hard to find one thing to really focus on as far as what God is doing in my life. I mean obviously He's doing the whole "comfort me in the mist of trouble" thing. But somehow i feel like I'm so focused on the metaphysical proof of His pursuing me. Maybe he waiting in His armchair flipping through the book of life. Maybe He's watching me pace the floor as i try to count the number of ceiling tiles. He's waiting for me to sit next to Him and ask Him what the book He's holding is about.

I've found, mostly this summer, how much of an adventurous person i've come to be. Indeed i still want to do God's work in being a servant of Him and His people. But i also want to see this world that He has placed me on. I want to interact with it's people and discover it's places. Unfortunately for me, discovering this meant discovering that some parts of my life i was no longer in love with. I'm very sorry if this is scatter-brained. I've been the type of person who is a dreamer. Who sits back and dreams off of what other's have experienced. I loved to watch as people went out into the world and wrote books on their discoveries and on the universe as a whole. I was content with this. But now i find myself more and more pursuing the experience part of that. I keep awaiting someone who knows me so much and knows my strengths and weaknesses is going to shove me into the airport terminal whether or not my nerves like it! Whooda thought that person might be God?! I know, right? IDIOT! But this is where the story gets a little different.

After realizing all of this, the thought of maybe i'm focusing so much on the "world" started to occur. After all, God did say that we could never love Him and the world together. That part i'm still trying to work on. But then i came across a quote by MAX LUCADO.

"We, like Paul, are aware of two things: We are great sinners and we need a great savior. We, like Peter, are aware of two facts: We are going down and God is standing up. So we...leave behind the Titanic of self-righteousness and stand on the solid path of God's grace. And, surprisingly, we are able to walk water. Death is disarmed. Failures are forgivable. Life has real purpose. and God is not only within sight. He is within reach."

Pretty legit, huh?! Through all the mental battles here comes the peace. My salvation and the promised safekeeping of my soul is not so much teetering on the head of a pin. The part of my life that matters: Not the girlfriend, not the travel, not the school, it's all placed in the margin. It all comes back to Jesus. So He is mighty. Dillon, stop worrying. I'll put my faith in Him and make sure i don't stray too far. Sure i'll fall on my face five million times. But with the help of a few disciples, intimate time with Him, and some perseverance, the path will always seem worthwhile.

two hands...

So a very good friend of mine just recently published a post about the jars of clay song titled "two hands". He talked about how we so often shove God in the corner why we continue life doing our own thing, building up our own selfish agenda.

The song includes a verse saying "lifted high, lifted high". I decipher that as an objective for christians to not only use both hands for the same cause, but that cause must be to LIFT HIM UP! I think it not so ironic that we have two hands along with two choices (God and Satan). I think what's depicted through this song is the human nature to hang on to sin and the world with one hand while trying to hang onto God's hand with the other. That's only giving half of yourself to the Lord!

Here are some examples of the song's lyrics:

I’ve been living out of sanity
I’ve been splitting hairs and blurring lines
I am a house that is divided
In my heart and in my mind

I use one hand to pull closer
The other to push you away.

So the "person" is SPLITTING hairs. He's cutting his soul in half trying to worship God and the world. He's blurring lines. Not only strangers but he himself can't even tell what he's living for. He's a house divided. In his heart he is dwelling in both the houses of God and Satan where his mind is cut in two.

Case and Point: We, yes WE in case i forgot to include my sinful self in this, are unable to live and proclaim God's glory to the fullest unless we use the whole self that God created. He didn't create us so that we could erase and rewrite the schematics to our lives to our satisfaction. So let's get rid of the sinful dichotomy we've created for ourselves and embrace the ultimate creator whose works never fall short.

For my friends blog: http://throughthecrashingwaves.blogspot.com

what's LOVE got to do with it?

Love is one of those things that have, in my life especially, comes with many tricks up it's sleeve. So many times i find myself questioning what exactly my love is based on. Is it based on a series of fundamental ideas created by the public eye? Is it based on one's need for companionship? Is it based on peer pressure? Is it based on physical attraction and/or esteem? And finally, is it based on some sort of divine targeting factor that pinpoints that one person that is "meant" for you?

As sad as it is for me, i have a hard time determining which of these is more prevalent in my life each day. Indeed it is scary at times, being unsure of such a thing. It's something that i've accepted about myself. We are to always have "agape" love for one another (love between God and man and christian love for the brethren). That, i know, is true in my life for most people. I won't try to take up that saintly pose by saying i posses it for everyone in my life. Wow i am really schizophrenic! Anyways, i'm trying to imply that i often ponder motivation for my love and whether or not it matches up with God's idea of love. We go through life looking for that ever-so-true love that every Jane Austen novel tends to point to. Not to offend Miss Austen, for Pride and Prejudice is on of my absolute favorite books! That's right fellahs! Bring on the stabs haha. But once we find that true love, can we hang onto it once the twitterpated effect starts to diminish because now the relationship is ours? What if we aren't looking for actual love but for the game in which the experience of love is the prize?

Point and Case: Love is fragile. So don't toy with your own or with anyone else's!

"Rich and Robbed"

" I don't want to be rich and robbed.

I just want you, well, i want to WANT You.

And i don't want to be content and lost.

I just want you, well, i want to WANT You.

And i don't want to be famous and forgotten.

I just want you, well, i want to WANT You. "

STORY OF MY LIFE!!!!

This always strikes me as being one of the truest songs out there when referring to my soul. So often i ask God, what the heck is going on?... How come sometimes i'm so eager for more of You and sometimes i want the world. This song is a nice little wake up call because it shows the world not only as "pleasing" but also deceiving. Extreme wealth often robs us of our connection to Christ. Being content often makes up too comfortable to fall on God. Fame may bring you abundant fans, but that's also creating more people to forget your name.

One thought that seems to continue reviving itself in my mind throughout the week is "Why do i praise the world so often when i know that everytime i sit down to read His Word i'm always totally at peace and my life doesn't seem like a finite track. So one prayer that i continue to pray throughout my life is that God may help me discern what is best and WANT more of Him.

Everyone should check this awesome band out! The picture above is me with them at camp.

http://www.branchmusic.org/

DRAW SWORDS! :P

Haha. So last week during vacation bible school one of the classes that i helped in was Bible Study with mrs. beverly. First off allow me to add that she is one of the sweetest old ladies i've met and she knows so much about the Lord and the history of the bible. Hence her class. Anyways, she especially liked to give the second graders "bible drills" where she made them hold their bibles at their sides at attention. She then commanded "DRAW SWORDS!" the kids were to then hold there bibles in front of them and, after hearing the bible verse indicated, were to look it up as fast as they could once mrs. beverly yelled CHARGE!

A friend of mine, Landon, and i loved to joke around about this because, i mean seriously? DRAW SWORDS?! what the heck. it aint that serious, lady! But this weekend especially i realized how easy it is to put my bible aside and not at least flip through it's pages to help myself memorize some verses or something. I remembered the song by Casting Crowns titled "What if His People Prayed?" in that song it asks the question: What if the armies of the Lord picked up and dusted off their swords and not let Satan have one more?

That struck me as pretty darn important. Shows how much i take christian radio seriously. 

But i really think we all need reminding every one in a while that filling our head with knowledge of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit and the commandments which we are to abide by is the essence and maybe even the foundation of Christianity. It's not something that we as christians can decide isn't needed at this time or isn't relevant in tomorrow's schedule. If we call ourselves the army of the Lord, why are our swords sitting there rusting when our city is on the brink of civil war?! 

Just some more Max Lucado for ya!

"...as appealing as a desert island or a monastery might be, seclusion is simply not the answer for facing a scary tomorrow. Then what is? Does someone have a hand on the throttle of this train, or has the engineer bailed out just as we come in sight of dead-man's curve? One of the themes running through the entire Bible can be summarized in two words: Fear not. Angels spoke it as a greeting. God commanded it from his people. Jesus used it to comfort his fearful disciples. no matter how out-of-control things appear, we are not to be afraid. He is in control. he will take care of us." - Max Lucado Knowing the Heart of Jesus

just a random thought for the night....

"No, the Lord is all i need. He takes care of me." - Psalm 16:5

So i was doing a lesson in my bible study called "Experiencing the Heart of Jesus" by Max Lucado.......excellent bible study. Anyways, he talked about a father with his arms spread out waiting for his child jump into his arms. The child, ready to face the mightiest jump, tells him to scoot back further. He asks, "is this enough?" She replies, "no, further!" But anywhere he moves she trusts that he'll catch her. 

THis is such a reflection of our relationship to Christ. Many times we tell God, "Okay God you can give me some more room and i'll handle the huge jump." Well...... no mater how far we want to jump He's always going to allow us that room. But whenever it's just a tad bit too far for us and in the midst of the jump we find ourselves falling, we know He's always going to be there to catch us. Maybe i need to realize that yes, God can catch me no matter the distance, but why become greedy for more room when God is always right by my side. God never commanded us to make giant leaps to Him. He said that He wants intimate time with us and He wants us to look to the left and right and see Him. No need to put space in between God and i because i get a little brave. 

The Odyssey of Dillon Chustz: TO HELL AND BACK

 So my mother sells a little thing called Italian ice with her brothers at a bunch of the festivals across Louisiana and at certain functions all around baton rouge. Well this weekend i was made aware of the "glory" that is selling this product. First off, let me say that Louisiana is one big teaming bacterial pit of heat and humidity! Anyways, my truck was needed to pull the trailer carrying out set-up equipment and such. A generator is needed to keep the freezers on while making the trek out there because without a perfect balance of temperature, the italian ice will melt and it will be ruined. Both days were far from successful. We made maybe around six hundred dollars. The cost of buying the stuff was five hundred. so we barely made any money. But........of course the river styx only gets worse!!!! Around 12:30 the next morning, yes the "smoked meat festival" at which we were selling the stuff didn't end till one o'clock in the morning, my red chevy s10 starts smoking! So the first thing that pops up in my head is KABOOM! We had to leave the truck in the hands of three parol workers because we had to get home and the truck was undriveable. Today my uncle and grandfather drove there to pick up the truck and get the italian ice, which had been accidently unplugged by someone almost being ruined, and now it sits under my carport broken. I didn't mention the fact that both ALLYSON and GARRETT M. surprised me and drove all the way out there to see me and then helped us through the truck situation :)))))

Okay, now that i'm done rambling and whining, here's what i learned:

 The trip was definitely not a waste because i actually got to minister to my uncle and aunt and even my mom. Through all of the sarcastic remarks and complaints i felt God push me out there many times so that i could shine light on my family. Also, if the truck hadn't have broken down out there, who knows where i would have been when it did! All last week i cringed at the thought of helping out this weekend. But God wanted me there with these people! And in the midst of one of the most obnoxious experiences, He sent me some joy when my two best friends showed up. So the truck's home. It's not on cinderblock with the radio ripped out. I have a mother who is emotionally and physically drained, but is ever grateful for my help. And i have a God who works in mysterious ways. TAKE THAT HOMER!!!!!! :)  

A DILLON POST

Okay soooooooo.  One thing that i've been noticing about myself lately is that i'm having a lot of trouble with abiding. one thing that i've learned, mostly through adam and john 15, is that the whole "trying" concept doesn't work.......or at least my own concept of trying. Let's check Dillon's view of trying shall we......

1) oh snap i gotta read my bible for at least thirty minutes today

2) oh snap i should blow off this friend gathering because my friend minutes are up and i've got stinkin rollover minutes in the God bank!

3) well i screwed up and sinned here, let me show God i love Him condemning myself (more than humbling)

Yea....i'm an idiot. 

Hmmm i'm listening to "Letters From War" by Mark Schultz right now...gosh i love that song!

Anyways..... Jesus† never told His disciples of all the laws and of all the methods concerning missions and spreading His word. He simply told them to abide in Him and in the Spirit as a branch does a vine. If the branch is cut off.....DEATH! 

I've recently been noticing that about all aspects of my spiritual life and how i, and perhaps many people i know, struggl with it. I've had to stop trying to please many friends even when the relationships are in shambles. Mainly to allow Him† to work and because simply listening to them and receiving them with love.....like Jesus†......mends the gaps filled with bitterness. Also.....miss belgard helps me continually to realize that the most beautiful part of our relationship is when listen to each other and simply lay all on the table, whether in long conversation or just each other's presence. Not by trying and trying to make each moment matter and schedule each time together as if it is our last. Thank goodness i've got her here to smack me around a little when my head is split five different ways and none of them in the right direction!!!! know what i'm sayin fellas??!!!

okay that's enough :) goodnight

"LIFE OF FAITH"

 So I recently listened to an adam robinson sermon entitled “The Life of Faith” , which I highly recommend to everyone, and the idea he presented was absolutely breathtaking….. mainly because it both convicted and enlightened me. Basically he pushes the point that it’s time to stop being a fan of God, standing on the sidelines rooting on Him and his players, and time to begin playing for the Lord of lords, the leader that holds no tryouts because he knows our strengths and creates our own special position for us to play.

Adam comically presents a scenario of him being asked by Nick Saben to play for the Alabama Crimson Tide, requiring him to get up out of the bleachers and get out of his comfort zone. Obviously the initial offer would create awe and joy in our hearts to be a part of something so spectacular, even though BAMA sucks :P! He depicts human nature’s tendency not just to want to stay on the sideline, but to think of the actual players as those with more strength and those who “have it all worked out”. Adam relates it to our view of pastors and missionaries, etc. It really helped me to humble myself but also to remember to dig myself out of my self-condemning nature. Anyways, I could go on forever. But please listen to the podcast! It’s free!!! And duh, it’s ADAM ROBINSON!!! J God Bless

http://adamrobinson.org/adam_sermons.html