Revolution Reality

Listen to the Desperation podcast, search for “Overcome: Kill the Devil” by David Perkins.

Entertainment captivates people. It’s something people pursue. Entertainment is a part of life, we all want to be entertained at some point or another during our day. Some people live for it, while others just enjoy it from time to time. Where does entertainment go from being just something we enjoy, to being an idol, something we obsess over?

I’m not going to say I know that answer, because I really don’t know exactly myself. Entertainment in itself isn’t bad. I like to watch movies sometimes, play games, and the like. There is always a point where too much can become a bad thing, though. There’s a point where it can steal away and blind a people from the things of God, from living our life in positive worship to God.

I enjoy playing video games. Is this wrong? No. Too much time spent playing them can be though. I’m writing to myself tonight. There’s been weeks I’ve spent hours and hours just wasting away at video games. I’m not alone, I’m sure there are other people who spend three and four times as much time as I do playing games. I think many times it’s a way to fulfill a need of just something to do.

I’m, in no way, trying to say spending a little time playing video games is wrong. There are certain games, movies, and music (all entertainment) that I do believe is wrong or can be wrong. I’ve wrote several things about my thoughts on those here.

I’ve been thinking a little bit tonight. I think often times pushes us away from Christ. From a military standpoint, I believe this would be a good idea for an enemy. If there is a way to preoccupy the opposing foe with fun and enjoyment, it will both blind and weaken the enemy. If this enemy is blind to the army all around it that is about to overtake it, it cannot fight (blinded). It cannot attempt to fight if it’s not trained (weakened). It’s a great strategy, and is used in diversions – where the opposing side brings a small force to the diversion front, but then surprise attacks from another direction.

In the same way, I believe, we can be – and are being – blinded and weakened. We spend time entertaining ourselves, while not realizing there’s an enemy at our doorstep. We are weakened by not knowing the Word of God. I think we’re all guilty, and no one can ever fully be prepared. However, we can prepare. We all cave in to sin at times even though we don’t want to, but even so God has given us everything we need for life and Godliness.

Do I know all of the Bible? Of course not. I dislike, and think I’m horrible, at memorization, and honestly take less time than I should at trying to memorize. I still need work in areas. There’s obvious things we can do though, such as limiting our time on the computer, watching TV, and just wasting time with stuff that doesn’t matter ten minutes from that point. I guess what I’m trying to say, is that I need to get more serious. It’s not always easy going through stuff alone. Sometimes it feels like I’m alone, but I know that I’m not alone. There’s always going to be valleys and trials, those are always the times where faith is decided. And we must go through those valleys, because those are the times where character is built.

To sum it all up, we need more of Jesus, less of us. More love for Christ and others, less self-love. There’s a real enemy out there. We, myself included, need to wake up. What are we going to be committed to?

Someone at church asked me for a list of worship music and all. I put together this somewhat quick list. It’s nowhere near complete, but it’s some of the good music I like. I added Worship, Christian Rock, and Contemporary Christian and split them up on different pages. If someone was looking for some good music, here’s a rough list to start you out. The bolded names are my favorites. Also, I didn’t put full albums all the time simply because I either haven’t listened to all the songs, or I didn’t find the rest of the album that great (sadly). If anyone has favorites not on this list, feel free to add them in a comment.

Good Christian Worship, Rock, and Contemporary Music

Last year I made “A New Years Resolution?” I guess I half kept some of them, and didn’t others. Some of them were a bit narrow minded thinking and I’ve only in the past few months, weeks, and days found that out. There are a few I succeeded in, and also a few I didn’t. I believe I speak a bit more now, and I’m a little more free in my worship to God. The places I kind of slacked up was the finish reading the Bible part. I’m not sure if I’ve finished it or not, actually, because I skip all over the place — but that’s not really the point anyway. I want God’s word to come alive inside of me like never before. I want to see the beauty of God, and behold the purity, holiness, and awesomeness of God.

The other one I “failed” was what I’m glad I failed in. I don’t want any relationship that will hinder God’s work in my life. In the same way, I also don’t want to push things into being when God has a perfect plan. Abram tried to make God’s will happen — it’s a lesson I need to learn. I don’t want any sort of relationship until I’m refined and made into the person God wants me to be. If something comes, then it comes. I like how I heard someone put it on a podcast I listen to: if while you’re running after God you find someone running alongside you, then you never know a relationship may come out of it. I’m willing to wait for someone who God’s placed there, and not someone I just “want” or “wish” to be there. If God has me to walk in the wilderness alone for a while, there’s no other place I’d rather be.

The thing that I’ve been learning lately is just the beauty of God and that God’s love for us is exponentially great, no matter where I’ve been or what I’ve done.

How we’ve put science into explaining the things God has made, while completely discrediting the creator of those things … So many times I completely forget the greatness of God. He’s King above all kings, Alpha and Omega, Beginning and the End, the Savior, the Holy One, Creator, Healer …

So my Resolution this year, 2007?

I want to be closer to the lover of my soul: the one who loves me more than I could ever know, understand, or imagine. The thing I want most is this. A deeper passion, longing, and desire for the Holy One. The one of perfect purity, holiness. That’s just the deepest part of who I am, who I want to be, and who I’m becoming. I don’t want any part of my life to reflect anyone or anything other than Christ.

Behold His Majesty, the King of every king!
Glorious God, You are Glorious God
He walks on wind and sea, creation joins to sing
Glorious God, You are Glorious God

Waves crash in honor of You
Skies break to make way for You
Worship our Glorious, worship our Glorious

Mountains bow down at Your throne
Valleys rise up to adore
Worship our Glorious, worship our Glorious

Saints who’ve been captured by grace
Rise up as one, take your place
And worship our Glorious, worship our Glorious God

You are Glorious God, You are Glorious God
You are Glorious God, You are Glorious God

Glorious God (words by Jon Egan)

He’s glorious, the King of every king! He’s wonderful, beautiful, glorious, matchless in EVERY WAY. Nothing can compare the greatness of our God. The light that outshines all light, the author of creation. Our God reigns. He’s matchless in every way, nothing even comes close in comparison to the greatness of our God. Everything fails in comparison.

That’s my only resolution. It’s all that matters, everything else just fades away. I’m not sure where I got this image, but it sums up just about everything, I think. Jesus Christ for Life. Everything else fades away.