Typography from Ronnie Bruce on Vimeo.

I know for certain that I lack what this guy is talking about. Perhaps it is something I must work at. Maybe people will start believing me. haha

Josh

I know this may sound like the underlying theme of my posts about me, but I feel like there is a constant war in me. Often it is a bit overwhelming. Nevertheless, I live to the next day. I am finding that God is my rock, my balance. He is the one who keeps me existing and growing from one day to the next despite the commotion going on inside me. He is so good and faithful. Right now I am spiritually not at a great point of my life to be honest. I have been giving so much to other things and not to God. But God tugs at my heart. He beckons me with his faithful kindness and tender mercies each day. In the end, He always brings me back to Himself which is when and where I find my rest. So, I leave you with this prayer from the Valley of Vision. I read this yesterday and it was one of the things that pointed me back to Him. I hope that it is as encouraging to you as it was to me. It is called Spiritual Growth.

O thou most high,

In the way of thy appointment I am waiting
for thee,
My desire is to thy name,
My mind to remembrance of thee.
I am a sinner, but not insensible of my state.
My iniquities are great and numberless,
but thou art adequate to my relief,
for thou art rich in mercy;
the blood of thy Son can cleanse from all sin;
the agency of thy Spirit can subdue
my most powerful lusts.
Give me a tender, wakeful conscience
that can smite and torment me when I sin.

May I be consistent in conversation and conduct,
the same alone as in company,
in prosperity and adversity,
accepting all thy commandments as right,
and hating every false way.
May I never be satisfied with my present
spiritual progress,
but to faith add virtue, knowledge, temperance,
godliness, brotherly kindness, charity.
May I never neglect
what is necessary to constitute Christian character,
and needful to complete it.
May I cultivate the expedient,
develop the lovely, adorn the gospel,
recommend the religion of Jesus,
accommodate myself to thy providence.

Keep me from sinking or sinning in the evil day;
Help me to carry into ordinary life portions
of divine truth
and use them on suitable occasions, so that
its doctrines may inform,
its warnings caution,
its rules guide,
its promises comfort me.

Leave me some thoughts or share with me what brings you back to God in times of struggle.

- Josh

This picture was taken while honeymooning on Grand Turk. We walked further along the shore than most people. I turned around and saw the perfect shot. So, I took it!

Also, do you have a favorite shot that you have taken? Why is it your favorite?

Aware
by Salvador

Even in the little things
That never seem too big to me
And the things I thought
Didn’t matter much at all

As simple as my daily bread
To the strength I need to get out of bed
When I fly, when I’m about to Fall

It’s you in me
That I fail to see

Make me aware, make me see
That everything I am is not all about me
Take my world, turn it around
So that the obvious can finally be found

Make me aware, make me aware

When my life is hanging from a thread
And I think about the things you said
That in this moment seems so far away

Help me see the guarantees
That first brought me to believe
So I can make it through another day

Oh, it’s you in me
That helps me breathe

Make me aware, make me see

That everything I am is not all about me
So, take my world, turn it around
So that the obvious can finally be found

Make me aware
I have been missing so much
Not recognizing your touch
All acknowledging that you’re the reason I’m even here

I have been missing so much
Not recognizing your touch

Make me aware, make me aware

Help me see,
That everything I am is not all about me
Take my world, turn it around
So that the obvious can finally be found
Make me aware, make me aware

- Josh

I am very proud of Hannah’s accomplishments. She is more creative than I’ll ever me. Her imagination is just like a kid’s. (I think it comes from watching cartoons every Saturday.) Several months ago she mentioned that she would love to make cakes on the side. She loved the creative part of it and loved the challenge. “OK”, I said. “I’ll buy you the stuff to do it.” So, I did. Since then, Hannah has made cakes for various events. Without any education (with the exception of YouTube), she has made some incredible cakes. If you want to check out some of her work, head over to the new Cakes page. You’ll be glad you did! Leave her a comment too! I’m sure she will appreciate it!

- Josh

My Father,

When thou art angry towards me for my wrongs

I try to pacify thee by abstaining from future sin;

But teach me that I cannot satisfy the law,

that this effort is a resting in my righteousness,

that only Christ’s righteousness, ready made,

already finished, is fit for that purpose;

that thy chastising me for my sin is not

that I should try to reform, but only

that I may be more humbled, afflicted, and

separated from sin, by being reconciled,

and made righteous in Christ by faith;

that a sense of my sufficiency and ability in him

is one means of being immovable;

that I can never be so by resting on my own faith,

but by trusting in thee as my only support,

by faith;

that if I cast away my faith I cast away thee,

for by faith I apprehend thee,

and as thou art is very precious,

so is my faith very precious to me;

that I fall short of the purity thou requirest,

because in thinking I am holy I do not

seek holiness,

or, believing I am impotent, I do no more.

Humble me for not being as holy as I should be,

or as holy as I might be through Christ,

for thou art all, and to posses thee is to possess all.

But to make the creature something

is to make it stand between thee and me,

so that I do not walk humbly and holily.

Lord, forgive me for this.

• The Chronicles of Narnia (The recent versions)
• Lord of the Rings (the whole set)
• Avatar
• Napoleon Dynamite
• Zoolander
• The Prestige
• Gladiator (Extended Edition)

Pretty extensive huh? So, I’m curious. If you have a lot of movies, which one’s would you want to keep if  you had to throw the majority of them away? If you don’t own a lot, which ones do you think you would want if you could get some?

- Josh

“…but what are you learning theologically?” I have been asking myself this a lot lately. I would have to say that I am learning the hardest part of theology – the application. Leading up to my first year of college in the fall of 2004 I had been learning about theological terms. Theological debates inspired me, grew me, and energized me. Now – not so much. Since that year I have been learning about people and God’s love for them. I have been learning that living with people is tough. Theologically speaking, God is supremely glorified in my utter weakness. This weakness in me has been pointed out to me through relationships with family, friends, co-workers, colleagues, and even online friends (whom I may never meet in real life). Knowing theology (academically) is nice, but it is in vain if never applied. In my life, God is teaching me love, forgiveness, weakness, pain, humility, and many other things that are also theological but tend to veer towards God’s relationship to people through me. Many times I feel like I am not growing, but I am struck in awe when I look back to see what works He does without my realizing it.

So, am I studying all the latest debates and theological hot topics? No. I am studying life through God. I honestly think it is more exhausting and time-consuming. I wouldn’t trade it for anything though. Maybe some day I will get back to studying commentaries and systematic theology books. For now, life in Christ will have to do.

I prod you now. What are you really learning?

- Josh

Ripley’s Aquarium Cam

Here are a couple screen shots that I got.

- Josh

Josh