He has changed my life.

So, I admit it. A much as I want to do well on my Bio Diploma tomorrow, I had to take a break from studying.
...and I hadn't actually written a blog in a Loooong time.
(I wonder if anyone's actually reading them still, oh well I'll talk to myself, that's nothing new eh?)

So I don't even know how long it's been, but I'm sure an insurmountable number of events have occurred since I last was at this keyboard on this website, exposing my brain...
Something will be different this time, I hope not just to reveal a piece of my brain, or even a chunk of my heart, but this will, if all goes well, release the entity of my soul.

In late May, my life changed forever, and so much for the better! Edmonton hosted the annual YC Generation conference. Aspen Ridge Youth Group, now including me as a regular member, yay(!), trekked off to praise our Creator; the one, the only God; Jesus Christ; or as this year's theme reminds us, our King! On the first night we spent our time in Rexall Place, listening to speakers and bands, who wholly enriched my life and gave me a pleasant smack upside the head. Mike Pivilachi asked any of us in the audience who were feeling set apart from God to stand up and be taken by him, to hand our lives into his control. I stood up. I didn't know why I was standing up though, because I had gone to church all my life and thought I had already accepted Jesus into my life, well obviously I hadn't before, because I have never felt so enriched and blessed than I have felt in the past 2 weeks. That one brave act has changed my life dramatically. For one thing, possibly the most important at this time in my life, it allowed Ally and I to finally connect over Church.

Now, I find this ironic in a way, becuase the two of us were introduced to each other at church at such a young age and have been attending ever since. But, this was the first time I had really been introduced to God. I felt as if I had been immersed into something so over my head that I wasn't sure I would be able to continue on with the intensity, however, at the same time I knew that this was where I was supposed to be. Sharing stories of miracles, praising, loving. Living out the mission. Dreaming of The I Heart Revolution.

Everything about that weekend felt so right, but I fought it for a reason I still don't know. I was hesitant to totally immerse myself in the glory. But I did what I could. And I still am...I do what I can, every day. I love as much as I'm able. Although I can still find bits and pieces of my old self every now and again, I much more welcome Christ as my conscience, as my provider, as my mentor...everyday.
There's so much to do when you're part of God's kingdom, but it never seems totally impossible. The hurdles are often so much higher than I think I'm able to jump, and often are in reality. But with some time and some growing I'll be ready to serve. I want to, SO much.

Selfish pride is so callous, and I hope you can lower yourself solely for the purpose of being a utensil of God. I hope all of you can experience God. Not just for a day or a month, but to hold him in your heart, to promise to love him forever.

Want to Join a Revolution? Here's My First Choice...

I feel the best words have already been said, it's up to us to find them, follow them, teach them and repeat them...so, in that light, here's a message from Joel Houston about the wonderful idea that IS The I Heart Revolution.

I have a t-shirt.. it has an "I" which I'm thinking is in particular reference to the person bearing the garment.. a heart – which has accordingly become the universal symbol for love.. and an "N standing along side a Y" – which is intended to refer specifically to the city of New York as opposed to other acronymic possibilities such as "nebulous youth" or "ned's yaught"

Now I just like the t-shirt.. but the truth is; i heart ny.. I really do.. it's an incredible city; the skyline.. the lights.. the landmarks.. the frenetic pace of it all with it's orchestra of sirens, car horns and life in motion.. a statue called liberty? Banana coloured taxis.. the sky lost amongst scrapers.. and in the midst of it all a jungle within a jungle pretending to be a park.. I love it.. there's intrigue and character to be found around every corner.. it's a city of a thousand personalities.. a cocktail of cultures and colours fused together to create a landscape that in many ways has become a symbol of the modern era.. but what makes new york new york.. and what I love most about the place; is the people.. they are in truth it's definition.. they are the movement, the energy, the life within the structures.. they are the landscape the sound-scape.. the history and the future.. they are ny.. and they are what I heart..

see the world is a place made up of places.. and every place has a history.. and every place's history is reflected in what becomes it's culture.. and culture itself is defined through its people.. and the people; well, they are the future… and the future is now..

so then - looking at it in the same light but from the other side of the room; at this moment in history, we are the people in the places.. and we are the ones defining cultures.. and we are the ones creating history.. and so the question must be asked…. If we are the future; how's it gonna look..??

I don't know about you.. but if our generation is remembered for ipods, myspace, and youtube we missed it.. if history speaks of our generation as self indulgent pioneers of the digital age, reality television and purpose built celebrity we'll have failed.. the world will change by itself.. for better or for worse.. it changes daily.. but who will be the ones to shape it.. and how will it look?

in and of itself revolution is neither good or bad.. revolution represents change.. a shift in culture.. History is marked by revolutions.. social and political.. some have represented victory, freedom and justice, however on the flip-side.. too many have become infamous representations of despair, oppression and injustice.. all it takes for evil to prosper is for good men to do nothing.. for the church – the hands and feet of Jesus and His plan for the salvation of this big, broken sphere of dirt, water and life we temporarily call home, this has never sounded with more urgency.. it's time for a revolution.. fuelled by a dissatisfaction with self-centred living and complacent faith.. driven by a desire for truth, love and justice..

that's what this is all about…
every generation needs a revolution.. and this one needs to look, sound, walk and breathe like love..

it's not a new concept.. it's an eternal concept.. it's the reason we are alive.. it's the fundemental call of what it means to be a follower of Christ..

Love God.. love people.. that's it.. that's the revolution.. revolutionary I know.. but if we understand what that means.. if we get it.. if we establish in our thinking how that looks.. and we start living it.. we will change the world.. it's not so much about the big stuff.. it's just about the stuff.. it's about the people in the places being the answer - in the places.. and together; becoming the answer to the big stuff.. it's about your backyard.. it's about my backyard..

The world has watered love down to slogans and t-shirts.. lollipop pop songs and popcorn munching excursions in visual indulgence... all of which are fine.. but we throw the word around.. we confuse it's definition.. we diminish our understanding of God's command.. love is the quintessential human emotion.. it is the desire of every human being to experience, and in turn express love.. and God himself IS love.. and he desires to be loved.. and who are the carriers of His spirit..?? it's us…

So that's the call.. that's the mission.. that's what this is all about..

A generation expressing their worship; moreso expressing their heart for worship in the action of love.. toward God.. and toward the world we live in.. and the people who inhabit it.. it's not about highlighting the darkness.. it's about becoming the light that diminishes the darkness.. it's the gospel.. and it is now..
we're all in this together..

((please note: this is not called 'I heart revolution… we don't love revolution.. we're a part of a revolution fuelled by our love for God.. our love for life.. and our love for people.. it's called "the I heart revolution.."))