God is not a three letter word.
'God is love'. | erwin mcmanus, soul cravings

Okay, if this just doesn't scream "Justin's Quotes", then I don't know what does. Thank you, Erwin, for yet another provoking and deep thought. And you know what, I seriously need to meet this guy...not for like a celebrity spotting, but just to sit down and have coffee, pick his brain, pray with the guy...Yes. He and Crowder and Shelly Giglio and JK and me.

Actually, Erwin is the only one I've never talked to. I mean, I've had conversations in my head of course...but never any real, tangible, actual dialogue. Ah well...one day.

it is maddening to search for love and run from GOD, because GOD is love. | erwin mcmanus, soul cravings

i quite much enjoy this quote. maybe because it's something that is so evident in our world today. we see people who go mad searching for love. and yes, it's because it could be in all the wrong places, but more than that - it's because it's in the wrong direction. they are running away from GOD, who is love...

so this weekend i will be on the other side of the camera. i will be officiating my very first wedding saturday evening.

of course, i will have my "mini-e" (e-500) with me anyway, just won't be able to take those photos throughout the ceremony. haha.

oh well - i would rather have this awesome opportunity over the other, to be honest.

so anyway. here's to my very first wedding.

cheers.

There comes a time when one leaves home. They hear another song, and they follow that melody...for a time. And then, in a slight crescendo, their ears go up at the sound of a familiar tune; and they return home, even if only for a time.

It has been a year since I have driven down a familiar street in Michigan; who would have thought it would take 52 weeks to travel 520 miles.

I am really looking forward to seeing friends and family this Christmas. Many stories to be shared, photos to be explained, card games to be fought, and coffee to be had.

Of course, there will be gifts, bot only for a time. The real treasure is found in the company of people coming together again, if only for a time.

And you know, isn't that the message of Christmas? And the Church?

Jesus came for such a time as this, but this time will come to an end; and we shall see clearer when we live once again with our Creator dwelling among us.

We come together, and we leave again. But one day...one day, we will come together and we will never have to leave...joined in the eternal community of saints living in the greatest Kingdom of all time and space.

And that's awesome & wonderful and altogether amazing.

i put my lips to the ember
and kiss november goodbye
wipe the ashes from above
and watch the crash with my eyes
lyrics by (me)

sometimes it feels like life is lived in a constant state of "car-accident". you know, like that's the actual feeling: car accident. someone might say to you, "how are you feeling today?" and you would respond by shrugging your shoulders, pulling your lips slightly to the right, and letting the words fall out, "car-accident." you know that something else should go there, like "good" or "alright". but "car-accident" slips out.

everything is a blur with the beautiful ambient light of the sun going down for the entire season.

so i guess all that's left to do is unbuckle our so-called seat-belt and get out of the car. walk away from the crash site and embrace the beauty of a new 3-month era. breathe deep the cold air that infiltrates your lungs. why? because we can. and that, in and of itself, is reason to wipe our eyes and smile.