Living In Between Now and Not Yet

What you do while you're waiting makes a difference.  As Christians, we are living in between the birth of Christ and the time when He will return. So that begs the question, what are we doing until then?  The word Advent is defined as 'Coming' and often times we use the weeks leading up to Christmas as a time to remember the birth of Jesus. At the same time, while that's good, we should also use it to look forward to when He will come again.  The already, but the not yet. A season of celebration, and a season of anticipation.

Things seem chaotic, espcially around this time, seasonally.  The stress might be high.  The question we should be asking now is, God, how do you want to change my plans?  So this season, we remember to put our hope in Jesus and know that He will not disappoint us.  For when he comes again it will not be like the first time. The first time was in weakness, He will return in strength.  The first time He was a sereant, He will return a ruler.  The first time He was a baby, He will return as a mighty King.  The first time He came was to die, when He returns the dead will rise.  The first time He came the world barely noticed, when He comes again, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Family Is Here

We've all heard the saying, "You'll understand when you're older."  Before coming to HU, a lot of people told me that college is a lot harder than high school among other things that would be different.  That is true to an extent, but Huntington is a little different than other colleges.  I live fifteen minutes from the University of Louisville, and the first two years there you are taking all general education classes to get your Associates Degree. For public colleges I'd say that yes, it is true that the first couple of years are not that much different than the way other colleges run things.  For major universities like Indiana and Louisville, the professors don't normally have time to help you or care if you show up to class.
Huntington is a family, and a saying that I have picked up over the last couple of years is "I don't have friends, I got family."  I have family at work, at home, at church, and at school.  Whether it be with professors who take time out of their day to have lunch or with fellow classmates who have the same goals that I do, we are family.

AHA

We've all had an AHA moment in our lives.  That moment when you can't seem to understand something and then it hits you.  AHA! It is a eureka moment that you access in three steps.  Now, as teaching pastor Kyle Idleman writes in his book, AHA is three steps that may be God moments in our lives.  Yet they are not necessarily a self help step by step guide to life.  Awakening, Honesty, Action make up AHA moments.
Awakening gives you the realization that your world is not the way it was the last time you checked.  It has changed because you have gained knowledge or noticed something new that you hadn't thought of before.  Honesty comes into play when you are honest with yourself.  Being honest sometimes means that something has to change, and you may or may not like that change.  Which ultimately leads to the third part, action.  Taking action to change something in your life in order to help yourself will make an AHA moment complete.  God gives us these AHA moments everyday, it is up to us to take them.

Unoffendable

We don't have the right to be offended.  Now before you object to that, hear me out.  I know everyone thinks, "Isn't taking offense normal?" or, "Isn't anger at sin justifiable?"  Yet the truth is, we aren't entitled to our anger.  The truth is, if Christians were the most "unoffendable" people on earth, the "righteous anger becomes a myth.  Giving up the "right" to become offended can be the most refreshing, relaxing, relieving, and encouraging thing that we do.
If you drop your anger, then self-centeredness yields to humility.  If you let things go, then energy will replace weariness.  Embrace forgiveness and let go of pride, and you might find that it is easier to love others more.  Some things might go against that idea, such as the Message paraphrase of the Bible, which changes the words in Ephesians 4:26.  The Message says, "You do well to be angry," which is nowhere to be found in the original version.  Brant Hansen wrote a book about this subject last year and it changes the way that we look at life if we choose to be unoffendable.  In the end, we will get angry.  That is part of being human.  However, when we do, we should get rid of the anger as soon as we can.  No anger, no offense.

gods at war

There are gods fighting in your life everyday.  What you put above God our Father, whether you intend to or not, is an idol, and these idols morph into gods that want to control our lives.  Television, video games, movie stars, lust, gluttony are just a few of the many gods at war everyday.  We however, have the power to control this.  Through the power of prayer and the trust in Jesus Christ, we can overcome even the largest of our inner demons.
Lust and gluttony are both physical idols that we crave to control.  The control of another person, or how much you have to eat fall into these categories.  Video games and movies fall into the control category of time.  We want to have time to do everything, but if we let the things we do to kill time control us, then we lose ourselves in time.  Now, none of these things above are bad, but we must not allow them to consume us, or over time, we will lose ourselves.  Everyday there are gods at war, but as long as we rely on God our Father and not lose sight of the things that He wants for us, we will get through the hard times and survive our own battles inside.

not a fan

I am many things. I am an artist, I am a voice actor, I am a race car driver, I am a comic book writer and Illustrator. However, these are only things that I do. No matter which way you look at it, none of these things defined me. What I hope refiners me and my life is ultimately my relationship with Jesus. 

My pastor wrote a book in 2009 called 'not a fan' which dealt with the idea that it's hard to decipher who is a completely committed follower and who is just a fan of Jesus. You realize that you might know a lot about God, but do you really know Him? What I want to be known as is. I am not a fan of Jesus. I am a completely, committed, follower. 

Could It Work?

Yes, Pixar is at it again.  Cars 3 is hitting theaters on June 16, 2017.  For me personally, I am a huge NASCAR and auto racing fan in general, but many are anxious to see if the third installment of the Cars franchise will make up for the somewhat disappointing Cars 2 letdown.  The first trailer has hit the web and looks very promising.  However, I am hesitant to say that for two reasons, (1. Trailers always try to build up movies, it's their job.  2. NASCAR Heat: Evolution, the latest installment of the NASCAR video game franchise trailer looked awesome too, and the game flopped because of the graphics)  With that said, the animation team at Pixar has done their homework of making crashes, racetracks, race cars, and wear and tear more realistic.
Where light hits the track and mist rolling into view at the stands across the track in the launch trailer, Cars 3's graphics already hits the nail on the head if the entire movie holds up to the trailer's looks.  The story is supposed to run much closer to the first movie with emotion being the main aspect and focusing on Lightning McQueen's racing career and his relationship with Doc Hudson.  Only time will tell if it is as good as everyone says it could be, and of course, I will be in the theater on opening day to find out.

The Doctor Is In

Warning: Blog may contain spoilers if you have not seen Dr. Strange or Ant Man.

I recently went to see Dr. Strange and I must say that I am thoroughly impressed at the advancements that Marvel and Disney have made in the CGI and practical effects industry.  Breathtaking scenes that would be difficult, if not, nearly impossible ten or twelve years ago.  However, the story that goes along with great imagery plays key roles in whether or not a movie is a success in my opinion.
Dr. Strange is not the typical Marvel movie, (again, in my opinion), as it focuses on a more obscure character that only fans that have followed the comics know much about.  Much like Ant Man and Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel had a lot of room to change aspects of the character that would better fit a movie role.  Also changing around some character aspects such as the characteristics of the Ancient One and Dormammu, (also played by Benedict Cumberbatch) helped drive the story smoothly.  The movie also only gave slight references to being apart of the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) as opposed to Ant Man where the scene with Falcon was the only part that seemed to be dropped in out of nowhere.  Overall, I give Dr. Strange a 4 out of 5, as it was not my favorite movie of the MCU, but amazing nonetheless.

Strangers

I went home this weekend for the first time in over three weeks. It's never easy for me to be away from home for long spans of time, but it's slowly getting better. Going home, there are always new things that were either not there or not thought of the time before when I went home. From roads closing to Chick Fil A getting remodeled. I felt like was in the dark about a lot. That's how some things feel in life. You think you have a pretty good sense of where you are going and what you are supposed to do. But then you go back home and realize, your nothing more than a drifter. At the mercy of the wind, you are a stranger in your own home. Keep aware of the situations around you. Ask God for guidance often. And always go back home. There may be something you missed.

God Is Still In Control

A lot has been happening over the past week in our country.  Because of the recent election there has been a lot of hate on both sides, and many people, including me, have been attacked either verbally or physically over who we voted for.  Yet there is something that everyone who wants to go against our views seems to have forgotten.  God is still in control, and you cannot control God.
God wasn't nominated, He wasn't appointed, He wasn't elected, so He cant be impeached and will not be voted out of office.  His reign is universal and His term is eternal.  His platform is predestined and His agenda is inevitable.  God cannot be controlled and cannot be labeled.  God is too big for that so He is not a Capitalist, Socialist, Democrat, or Republican.  Everyone within those parties wants to claim God for themselves, shouting "God's on our side!"  The truth however, is God's on God's side.  No matter how we may try, you cannot control Him, for the earth is God's footstool.  Nothing surprises Him, it never has and it never will.  We cannot stop His will and power, and no matter what happens, whether it be an election or a supreme court decision, never has God ever said, "I didn't see that coming."
His decisions don't get overturned and He is all powerful, all knowing, and all present.  He is in all and lives in us.  He controls all and can move nations like pieces on a chessboard.  He is above all and all things work through Him.  You cant control God, and He is our Father.  No matter who you voted for, remember that God is still in control and it is through Him that everything happens.

Voting With a Purpose

To all who are voting. I give you this message.

The election that we've heard so much about in the past couple of years is coming today, November 8, 2016. The results that will be voted both locally, state wide, and nationally, will have repercussions for generations to come. It is in the great United States of America that we are blessed to have the right to vote and to make our voice known, so please don't neglect this responsibility and this opportunity. Now I won't tell you who to vote for, but I will tell you how to vote. Vote in such a way that you honor God by selecting individuals that can make a positive difference in the lifespan of America. In some cases, you may or may not like the choices that you have. In those instances I feel it best to look at the future and the long term implications. So I urge you to pursue, pray, and participate.
Pursue information on the candidates, their policies and party platforms. Then pray for God's wisdom and direction and try to follow through on the prompting that you feel God might be leading you in. Then participate in the process of voting and vote for those who will advance God's will in their principles. Yes, things are constantly changing in this age of information, but don't worry. God isn't caught of guard and I believe that He will guide us to make the wisest and best decision today based on the information available. And whatever the outcome may be, tomorrow, we need to pray for God to begin to heal our land. Because as of right now, we are a fragmented, divided nation, and there is only one who can truly reguvinate and make us the UNITED States of America.

Games in Industry and Life

"Geri's Game" is one of the most creative of Pixar's 17 theatrically released shorts.  From the time I was a child that one stood out to me the most as far as the story of it went.  It had no words, of course up until that point none of the shorts did, but this one stood out to me as one of the most creative.  Which reflecting on the Article, "The Secret of Pixar Storytelling," the team at Pixar did just that.  The article states that, "The process of storytelling is messy," and I 100% agree with that.  Storytelling is extremely difficult, and when one story is presented to three different directors, you will wind up with three different movies.

Toy Story took a total of 36 months to write, while Toy Story 2 from a character aspect, only took 3 months.  The article here doesn't quite take into account the fact that John Lasseter had to single handedly take over the project right off of coming out of the "A Bug's Life" tour, but aside from that, the second story plot is always easier when you have characters to work with.  I myself am a comic book writer and artist, and when I first wrote my very first issue, it took me 20 months to write.  The second issue only took me 4.

To summarize, "Geri's Game" is the best example of the Pixar artists attempting to keep away from the Uncanny Valley while actually attempting, and improving, models for humans.  Compared to their fourth short "Tin Toy," and even their third short, "Red's Dream," they were testing their abilities of getting human characters correct, and were getting better each time.

The Wait is Over

For 108 years we have waited. For 71 years we had failed to even go to the World Series, but today, the. Chicago Cubs at last flew the W once again! Everyone was going crazy (myself included) because at last, the curse is lifted and the drought is over. This is very similar to the greatest comeback found in the Bible. After 3 days of believing there is no hope left and Jesus really did die on the cross, He rose from the dead and defeated Satan once and for all. There have been many great comebacks. But none come close to that one.

Pain In the Cuts

Today we finished up shooting a reenactment of the interrogation scene from the Dark Knight and it was one of the coolest experiences I've been apart of. I've never acted before but as an animator, you must be one third artist, one third actor, and one third engineer. Ok so maybe I have the first two down. It was difficult but awesome to attempt to emulate each shot perfectly frame for frame. From Gordon walking in to Batman walking out, I have a new found respect for all actors in action films. My body will be stiff for a couple of days (On account of getting slammed into a table 9 times and my friend Andrew accidentally punching my hand for real six or seven times).

The Worst Day of My Life

I remember this day, three years ago. On this day in 2013 it was a cold Sunday. Dreary and wet, I was going to the race track. I had only been racing for two years at that point, but I was extremely passionate still. A friend of mine who is a race car driver as well invited us to the track to watch him compete in his final race if that season.

After many exciting laps, a car got loose and went sailing up the racetrack, right into the side of my friend's door. After watching his motionless body in the car for what seemed to be an eternity, we finally saw him reach up and pull the window net down.

I went home to get ready for church and caught the tail end of the NASCAR race, where my favorite driver won for the only time that season, and then were off to our Sunday night youth service. It was there that I got my heart broken for the first time.

That was one of the worst days of my life, but it reminded me that through my struggles, God is always in control. Through our good days and bad, He will never leave us or forsake us, even when we leave Him.

Glass House

We deceive the world with lies.  We hide behind the smiles.  We can see the home of desperate hearts and  the very illusion we've become has become itself a fear we can't outrun. We're broken...

Yet God alone can see right through this glass house we call home. He can take away the pain and break right through this glass house of our souls. It is through God the Father alone that we can be whole again. Though we fight to cover up the scars from our charade. There's a war between who we are, and who we make believe. But God can see right through this glass house we call home
You alone, You can take away the pain. 

Tim Tebow spoke at my church this morning and it reminded me of this song by RED. We need to break away the chains that hold us down and let us become exposed and vulnerable. Two reasons he gave for leaving everything on the line. 1) We beat ourselves up over our mistakes, but we forget that God already paid for them. And if we do that then 2) we forget that we are not good enough to get into Heaven, but He was good enough to die for us on the cross. 

Let us shatter these mirrors down and let our glass houses break away. Let us be new in God.

Broken for a Purpose

We have all experienced it. YouTube Whiplash. You know, when you are watching one video and it somehow jumps to a completely different subject. When viewing a video on poverty, YouTube can provide you with a lot of things. Yet for everything it can provide, it cannot provide the feel of the air, the smell of the landfills, or the hopelessness in the people's faces. But the truth is, we are all broken. When Matthew 3:5 says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven," it is talking about all of us. And in Luke 7, when the prostitute washes Jesus feet, we are more like the rich man who owns the house. We cannot see the beauty right in front of us. The end of us comes when we realize that all of us are broken. In order to help others, we need to remember that we must be fixed first by God ourselves.

A note to me

Dear Me,

We love ourselves.  We have taken care of ourselves since we were little. Making sure we got what we wanted; the biggest cookie on the plate, the comfiest chair, etc. but what about when we got older?  Maybe now it's finally, hey, let's think about others and their needs. We can wait on that new toy or game after looking at our budget. We can wake up and take care of the sick baby. But how often do we choose not to? I love me, but I can't keep living for you is so often what we ultimately come to. We can choose the straight and narrow path, but we can't take ourselves with us. To truly find Jesus, we must come to the end of ourselves. Dear me, this is the end of you.

Sincerely,

Me

The end of me

"I feel like I reached a point in my life where I had absolutely nothing left, and it turns out for the first time in my life, Jesus has become real." This came from a man named Brian who had backed over his 18 month old son just a few weeks prior to this statement. When you lose everything you care about like that. It becomes hard to find peace and meaning in life anymore. We as humans either do one of two things, run towards God, or run away from him.
When you are broken, God is always there. It is always your choice to run to your father or hide away from Him. When you finally reach the end of yourself, you finally find Jesus. It's not easy, it's never easy for humans to let go of ourselves, but until we do, we will never truly find JESUS.

I See Stars

I was looking up at the stars last night thinking of how God created each one of them and knows how many there are in the sky. Like a Heavenly choir they all harmonize together and blend with each other beautifully. God is all around us, whether in nature, people, or otherwise. He is always around.