The Room

I read this story a number of years ago in I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris.
I found the video earlier today, while looking for the story, and decided to include it, although I think the text version of the story is much better than the video.



The Room by Joshua Harris

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features save for the one wall covered with small index-card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endlessly in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read "Girls I Have Liked." I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one.

And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match.

Written In

It's been said that Yuri Gagarin, the first Soviet cosmonaut, when back on earth after orbiting in space said of his experience, "I looked and looked but I didn't see God." (It's disputed as to whether or not he actually said that.)

It's also said that C. S. Lewis said Gagarin's statement is like Hamlet going up to the attic to look for Shakespeare. They're different dimensions.

There's only one way Hamlet could meet Shakespeare...if Shakespeare had written himself into the story. In the same way, the only way we can know God is because He chose to write Himself into the story - to reveal Himself to us.

Life Contemplations

I wish I would make time to post on here more often. Unfortunately, my blog is near the bottom of my day-to-day priority list.

I work anywhere from 20-70 hours a week all Summer, and I'm supposed to be doing school full-time as well (which isn't even close to happening.) So blogging, as much as I'd love to do it more often, just likely won't happen any more than it has been.



I've been contemplating my life. It's so easy to imagine living a model Christian life, but when it comes to living it, it's so much easier to stay in that comfortable hole of apathetic mediocrity.

Sometimes I get sermon podcasts on my iPod. I've especially liked Paul Washer, Breakaway Ministries (Ben Stewart), Mars Hill (Mark Driskoll). I'll go a week listening to the podcasts every chance I get. I build up a spiritual high, and I'm so excited by what I learn and feel. I just feel like I've taken in so much life-changing wisdom. I want to share it with all the Christians I know, so they can experience this life-changing wisdom as well.

...Only see, my life doesn't change. It's easy to think about how I'm going to live this model Christian life, but actually living it takes discipline and self-denial. It also takes much more than just trying to be different -better- than before. Change is short-term if you try to live on your own strength. God needs to empower you to change, and He needs to support you through your day-to-day life.

So I'm not going to try to make everyone I know go listen to those sermons. Instead, I'm going to pray that God would make the teachings I've filled my mind with come to fruition in my life. That the Holy Spirit would manifest itself in my life more and more. That I would show how well what I'm selling actually works.


I'm afraid my thoughts are pretty disconnected and my presentation of them is rough and unpolished, but it's nearly midnight and I've found I don't function very well without a reasonable amount of sleep. I suppose I could post this another day, after I've done some finishing work, but I know I'll never get around to it, so this is how I'm going to leave it.

Book: When Helping Hurts

I'm reading a book titled When Helping Hurts: How To Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting The Poor...And Yourself by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert.

Mom is having me read it before I go on a mission trip with my youth group.

I've not gotten very far into it (still on chapter one) but it promises to be good, and I'll likely lend it to the youth pastor and his wife after the trip.

A summary of today's Biology text with a few excerpts - Crayfish and Spiders

Every time I read in my biology textbook I'm awed that not everyone acknowledges God. Of course, not everyone reads my biology textbook, but still!

Today I learned about crayfish (representing all crustaceans) and spiders.

Crayfish have open circulatory systems. In other words, their short blood vessels just end and let blood pour our directly onto all the cells in their body. It's the most efficient circulatory system in Creation. It's only possible if a hard outer covering exists though (i.e. an exoskeleton or shell). Sometimes they lose a leg or antenna or claw in a fight, and you'd think they'd bleed to death, but they have a double membrane in each appendage, which means a membrane seals the opening in such a case, and the appendage regenerates!

Spiders spin webs, as everyone knows. But did you know a rope weaved of spider silk would be stronger than the strongest steel pipe yet almost as flexible as a normal rope? "In physics research, scientists are trying to develop a process called 'laser-induced nuclear fusion.' If it could ever be developed, it would result in a limitless, nuclear reaction that turns hydrogen into helium. This is a violent reaction but, when done on a tiny sample, it is controllable, provided the sample is held in a very strong, very flexible container." They've found no better material to use for these containers than spider silk.

There are spiders that make sheet webs, ones that make tangle webs, ones that make orb webs, ones that make trapdoors, and ones that make long sticky threads that they launch at their prey then reel back in.

"Now think about this for a moment. Consider the fact that spider silk is a marvelous material which 3,000 years of human science cannot even come close to manufacturing... As you study more and more science, you will see these kinds of engineering marvels exist all over Creation,... Through examples such as this one, we know that life is no accident. Such incredible systems cannot develop by chance. Clearly, Creation tells us what an awesome God we have!"

Excerpts are taken from J L. Wile and Marilyn F. Durnell's Exploring Creation with Biology, Module 12

Why is history class so boring?

An excerpt from Stephen Mansfield's More Than Dates & Dead People. He's explaining why history as taught in the classroom is so hated and monotonous, yet people like history (as shown by their interest in historical fiction, historical films, history channel, historical landmarks, etc.).

"...When you study history in a typical school today, the books you read, the lectures you hear, and the conclusions you're supposed to make are all conditioned by a certain philosophy. The people who write those books and plan your studies design what you are supposed to learn according to a certain set of principles, a certain view of the world. And that view is rooted in the philosophy of evolution...
Let's think about it. What does evolution teach? Evolution is the idea that life happened accidentally. Supposedly, the accidental mixing of some biological goo billions of years ago gave birth to the first living cell. In time, that cell grew into a critter. I won't bore you with technical language. Then, there were suddenly lots and lots of critters. In time, those critters eventually grew into man-like critters - namely, monkeys and apes - and eventually into cappuccino drinking, cell phone-toting, city-dwellers.
Ah, but lets think about what this means to our experience in the House of Historical Horrors. In other words, what does believing in evolution mean for the study of history?
First, according to evolutionary theory, all of life is an accident. There is no design or purpose. Everything just is - with no meaning, no pattern, no destination. Everything is random.
Secondly, notice that according to evolution, everything is growing from the very simple to increasingly complex - from the outdated to the new and improved. This means that what is old is not as good as what is new. Old is simple and goofy, while new is shiny and sophisticated. This means that the past is less important than today, and today will be less important than tomorrow.
Well, no wonder history class is so boring! If evolution provides the philosophy we use to understand the past (and it does, because evolution is the official public school explanation for what exists), then it only makes sense that history is going to seem like a silly thing to learn."

Happy Anniversary, Grandpa!

My grandpa went to live with Jesus seven years ago yesterday.

He was a devout Catholic his whole life, but became a Christian in the weeks before he died. In those weeks, he would gather all his children and grandchildren around him and talk to us all. Basically telling of life lessons he'd learned, of things he thought important to pass on. I don't remember most of it; I was 10 and I was for the most part oblivious to the more serious things that took place.

He had cancer for (I think) around 15 years. I'd say he lost the battle 7 years ago, but did he really? Yes, cancer is a terrible, painful disease. Yes, Grandpa died of it. But I see it as his ride to Heaven. We all have to die somehow, sometime. It's inevitable. Some people go to they're eternal home painlessly and some have a long, torturous journey to make. Grandpa had an uncomfortable ride, but what does that matter? He's in Heaven!!

What would be the use of a quiet, painless death if you're on the express lane to an eternal pit of misery? I cannot imagine the hopelessness and despair I would feel if I or a loved one was staring death in the face and I didn't have Jesus to comfort me.


Romans 10:9-13 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”


Praise God, for He is wonderful.