Francis Chan speakin the truth.

Supposedly Francis Chan was at the Pacific Amphitheatre this weekend speaking at services.  I was bummed I wasn't able to make it because he is absolutely one of my favorite speakers.  Its his courage to just tell things how it is without sugar coating it.  Whenever I listen to him speak I feel such a strong conviction, a conviction about trying to live life comfortably on cruise control.  I know that naturally I always feel the world pulling on me away from God.  As Chan says in one of his books "The Christian walk is like running up the down escalator ; if you stop striving and running towards Christ, you go backwards.  I wish this were not true.  After all these years, I wish it all just happened “naturally” but this has been my experience too.  I guess we get a rest in heaven."  Not to say that we achieve salvation if we get to the top of the escalator, the bible clearly says we are saved by grace and grace alone, I understand this.  But I do know that when I am not intentionally meditating, reading the word, and spending time in relationship with Christ I am drawn to the worldly things that combat for my attention.  This went on as a rant, but I really just wanted to show you this awesome video, no matter what, this video always has the ability to put things back into perspective for me.  Enjoy.

The application is in!

   My application is in for the Direct Exchange Program to Buenos Aires, Argentina.  There is absolutely nothing I can do now except wait, probably one of the things I am worst at.  I don't think the reality of it has really hit me yet. I am too preoccupied with what are seemingly more important in the moment things, such as midterms, papers, and work. (and an upcoming Grand Canyon trip that will be the bomb.com...yes I just said that) But when I really do think about it that hits me is both daunting and exhilirating.  Dauting because I am leaving my comfortable existence at home to a foreign country where the main language is spanish.  Now I love Spanish, its cool to be able to spit off a couple of sentences with a spanish speaker and then nod your head when they are speaking pretending to be able to understand them.  But after about 20 minutes of this I am pooped and ready to ease my weak english mind.  I will be immersed in the language 24/7 with no way out, no teacher to ask questions to, no friends to bail me out.  It will be difficult but so worth it.  I was just reading one of Donald Miller's blog entrys this week talking about life as a meaningful story and I was intrigued:
   
    "Let me ask you this: What if your own life was so engaging that entertainment seemed boring? I mean what if you were involved in projects that so captivated you that turning on the television would be a distraction from your real life? Can you imagine such a possibility?
The elements of a meaningful story are the same as the elements of a meaningful life:
1. A character.
2. That knows what they want.
3. And is willing to overcome conflict.
4. To get it.
Do you know exactly what you want and why? And do you appreciate or bemoan the conflict you endure? Is your story more interesting to you than television? Is all of life boring or is just your life boring? Do you   believe you can make changes that will make your life more interesting? I do."

Its such a cool perspective to take that our life is a story, and the bigger and more conflict the better the story.  Not to say that we must always be in conflict or always be seeking it, but when it comes to embrace it.