Oh, What a Beautiful Morning! Oh, What a Beautiful Day!

I woke up this morning, had some nice conversation with my roomies (Josh is now a security guard!), and headed out the door in these:

I was making my way to McDonalds, where I retrieved this (I love the text on this bag... YOU WANT SAUSAGE?!):

I also went to Walgreens because I wanted some OJ (did anyone know that Walgreens has its own brand of OJ?  Pretty good, and only three bucks!):

I brought it all home and sat down at the table to eat, while reading this:

And now I'm listening to music again (The Explorers Club - check it out at Daytrotter.com).  I'm chewing on an email from a close friend while spending some time talking to my best friend. What a great start to the day.

Later on, I'll shower and go to work for a bit.  Then I get to see this:

  

God is good.  Enjoy your weekend, everyone!

I Have Overcome the World

John 16:33 - "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."

The last part of that verse hit me hard as I read through it tonight.  Jesus truly overcame the world.  He overcame the temptation of materialism when He and Satan duked it out in the desert.  He overcame sin and lived a perfect life.  He died for our sins and rose again, conquering death and offering us hope of eternity with Him in Heaven.

I think about that - what Jesus did for me - and then I think about me.  I know that Jesus isn't looking for empty righteousness from me.  I know that He wants a relationship; He wants my heart.  I am ashamed to think of how much of my heart I give to things other than Jesus.  Even good things can become idols when they mean more to me than Jesus.  My relationships can become idols.  My possessions can become idols.  The talents God has blessed me with can become idols too.

While I think that the verse that talks about "storing up your treasures in Heaven" is overused and sometimes cliche, it's got so much truth to it.  Jesus didn't mean that we should stop trying to get joy from earthly things!  Indeed, I believe that Jesus wants us to enjoy life as much as possible.  However, we've got to keep in mind that everything in this life is temporal.  High schools, colleges and careers are all temporal.  Again, that doesn't mean that you should stop trying to do well in your endeavors.  What it does mean is that you shouldn't sweat the small stuff.  Jesus tells us to be anxious for nothing.  He takes care of the birds, so He'll definitely take care of us (Luke 12:22-34.)  

So, whether you lost your favorite shirt or failed your latest test, be at peace.  The things of this world will all perish some day.  This is not our home.  Heaven is our final destination.  

Live madly.  Love deeply.  Pursue Christ above all else.

Inaugural Address

Hello, fellow blogspotters!  My wonderful girlfriend made this site for me tonight, and I decided I should go ahead and get in on the action.

Life kind of feels like a scene out Kafka's "The Trial" right now.  I'm stuck in an institution that no one understands and where nothing of consequence happens.  I haven't missed a single class this semester, yet I don't feel as if I've learned much at all.  Good grades are coming easy, but I don't feel fulfilled when I get them.  I rarely read any of the five textbooks that I purchased for 200 or so dollars.  Work is slow - I put in 3 hours last week.  I'm tired of tagging promos, but thankful for the resume boost, and for the extra income on the side.  

All of that being said, I am in no way depressed.  I get frustrated and anxious some times, but I mostly happy these days.  God is moving in incredible ways in my life, my girlfriend's life and in the lives of my friends.  My pastor gave an incredible talk on Heaven two days ago and I, of course, had a paradoxical response.  I cried that night at church and the impetus for my tears was two-fold.  Firstly, I wept for the broken condition of our world - for the sinful nature of man and for hopeless souls across the planet.  I cried for unsaved friends and for violence, oppression, genocide, starvation and apathy.  I also wept because of the hope that we have in Jesus Christ and in the saving power of his death on the cross and resurrection from the dead.  I don't deserve salvation and I can't do anything to earn it.  God's grace to a ragamuffin like me is inexplicable, scandalous and beautiful.  I cried because I long for, desire and crave Heaven, where everything will be made right!  I can't wait.  

In other news, I've been really excited about what's been going on musically in my life.  My band and I (myspace.com/jameslepine) recorded in Austin, Arkansas, this past weekend and it was a blast.  I think God is making it clear to me that I should try and graduate in December and then move to Portland with the band.  I wanna try and make a living off of music for a few years.  If we can't do it, I'll have a degree to fall back on.  This I know for sure: I don't want to go to Grad/Law School - I want to try my hand at writing songs.

Here's a beautiful scripture to wrap up my post.  I think it fits nicely with what I said earlier about Heaven.  "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." -1st Peter 3:15-16

Love to all!

-James