Call me overboard, but I’ve admitted this many times before.
I do enjoy wedding videos (every… now and then).
This will be the only one that I share;
It’s my favorite.
Tag: God
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Zack and Sarah – Wedding Film
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Of Superheroes and Saints
On May 4th, I saw The Avengers: Age of Ultron, the second Avengers movie.
Without spoiling anything, it will suffice to say the obvious: it was epic. And although I could write a fascinating post about Biblical parallels with certain superheroes and plot-lines, I will focus all my attention on a certain aspect that I find within every single superhero movie that I watch.
So to bring out this aspect, I will paint a picture which is of some vague resemblance to one of the battle scenes that I remember watching:
The small band of nine-ish superheroes stands back to back, facing their present foe with his massive army behind him. It appears as though that these few superheroes are outnumbered a thousand to one, but as their foe gives his signal to attack, this band charges into the fray with one accord! The magnificent soundtrack music in the background begins, adding to the glory of the scene as each superhero aids the other in kill, after kill, after kill. From every direction, the enemy is leaping and bounding, but each offensive attempt is met with an equal, yet greater force by the superheroes. Right! Left! Up! Down! Out! In! Around! Up-side down! Inside out! Ten birds with one stone, as the (skewed) saying goes. Every blow with full strength. Every leap with full agility. The one with the bow never seems to run out of arrows (I’ll leave that issue to the critics)! The blonde one chucks his hammer through five bad dudes in one throw. The patriotic one deflects an enemy’s blow with his shield, does a back-flip, kicking his foe from under his shield, lands on his back, blocking an enemy that lands on top of him, pushes his enemy upwards with his shield, then kicks him forwards, proceeding to get up and ram his shield through his enemy’s throat. The iron one continues to not run out of electricity or bullets. The mean and green one continues to do the brunt of all the kills, smashing bad dudes like a hyped-up child in day care, thinking he’s at Toys-R-Us. The spider lady continues to wrestle bad dudes to the ground and somehow win, even though she’s still a woman. And in the midst of such chaos, the leader of the superheroes goes after the main bad guy as his fellow comrades fend off the plethora of littler bad guys..
But pause, take a deep breath, and let me ask you this:
Are not God’s battles even grander?
If the battles of the spiritual realm were visible to the naked eye, would not every knee crumble to the ground, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of all? Of course! But we Christians are not called to fight by sight; we are called to fight by faith: the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Why? Faith is the only lens through which we are able to see the enemy forces charging at us, the only weapon through which we are able to deal blows to the enemy, and the only armor which is able to withstand the pressures of darkness.
However, without faith, we seem to confuse Saving Private Ryan for High School Musical. We prance through the (knock-off song) halls of life, thinking everything is sparkles and glitter when we’re really hopping over dead corpses and calling them our lively friends. We laugh about the subtly of sin in our lives, thinking it’s “tolerance” and “living under grace” when in reality, Christ’s face is dripping with the spit of His own children.
Such being the case (and despite popular thought), God is not looking for positive thinking! He’s looking for faith! His army is built upon nothing but faith in who He is, what He’s done, and what He’s going to do. But not to worry, He doesn’t expect us to walk up to a mountain right away and say, “Move!” But He does expect us to walk up to a pebble and say, “Move!” And although a pebble might sound really pathetic, if we can’t look at a small pebble and say, “My God cannot lie!” what could possibly make us think that we can look at a mountain and say, “My God cannot lie!”
That is exactly why there are so many tiny pebbles in our Christian walk. If we can confidently tell a pebble to move, God will place a rock in our path. If we can confidently tell a rock to move, God will place a boulder in our path. If we can confidently tell a boulder to move, God will place a tree in our path. If we can confidently tell a tree to move, God will place a hill in our path. If we can confidently tell a hill to move, God will place a mountain in our path and listen for us to say, “Easy!”
Here is the problem: contentment. Too many are content to tip-toe around the pebbles. All hell is waging war against heaven and so many of God’s children are whining because of bruises and paper cuts! The travesty is that these children act as though there isn’t even a war at all. “It’s not so important anyways..” “God wants me to be happy, and I’m happy where I’m at!” “Well, I’m glad you have such strong convictions, but as for me..” No! Time and time again the Apostle Paul tells the Church to grow in grace and strength in Jesus Christ! Embrace the fact that there is a tiny pebble in front of you and believe that God can and will move it! Then, don’t be content with the fact that God moved the pebble! Charge into the rock, the boulder, the tree, and the hill!
Because when I see the climax battle of an epic superhero movie, I see God’s will. I see a small band of superheroes counting themselves as nothing, sacrificing life and limb for a greater cause, and I get a glimpse of God’s Holy Giborum behind the scenes. But as I watch the tiny group of nine-ish superheroes fend off an entire army, I realize that God’s army is very much the same way. Only a handful of people will ever lay everything down on the line and start charging down the narrow way. And though few may ever truly take up their cross and fight the good fight of the faith, what a privilege it is to stand among the few, only to stand side by side with Jesus Christ!
Man can make an epic movie, but a movie is still a movie. It is nothing but a fantasy filled with special effects, mere actors, and a multi-million dollar budget. God, on the other hand, is interested in nothing but reality and eternal life. He longs for faith, and the amount of faith that each of His children has, He intends to grow. And even though it may not seem like we’re these awesome superheroes hopping around and winning these mind blowing battles, who’s to say that God doesn’t have even greater exploits for His children who pursue the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ?
For through man’s eyes, the life of faith is ultimate stupidity,
But through God’s eyes, the life of faith is ultimate victory.And that.. is epic!
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The Genesis of a Warrior Poet
09/26/2014 – 22:46
I have chosen, this day, whom I will serve. I have enlisted in the ranks of those who have chosen likewise and consequently died. Their deaths have been daily, gruesome, and unimaginably horrific. Their reputations have been spat upon, mocked, and beaten to a pulp. They have died lonely deaths, only to arrive home in time for a standing ovation.These are those of what one is called a “Warrior Poet: an absolute nobody who is fully and completely yielded to the all-consuming command and rule of the absolute Somebody. A champion of all Truth and a guardian of all gentility, meekness, affection, femininity, and grace.” I have, this day, prayed in full faith that I would be granted to join such ranks, knowing that such would come to pass, and the acceptance letter came swiftly.
The mustard seed has been planted, and although it has yet to flourish, it has already begun to grow. An infant tree has been birthed, and as sure as the sun shall rise, it shall grow to bear a cross-beam, and soon-after, me. Positionally, I have been crucified with Christ for years, but as the saying goes, “Holiness is in right action and courage on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves. And goodness – what God desires – is here and here. And what you do every day will decide if you are a just man or not.”
This being stated, the true right action is ultimately this: to take up the cross. And today, my once lukewarm and cultural-driven feet have now felt the dusty, gravelly, and blood-soaked road to Calvary. Splinters now pierce my fingers, forearms, and shoulders, but such pain pales in comparison to my imminent fate: death.
While most veer away from this temporary fate, it is now my reasonable duty to valiantly embrace it. My heaven-driven love is provoked by an infinitely greater love which shall usher me through the flames of unwavering obedience to God’s Holy Word. Such flames shall burn hotter than I can humanly bear, but shall bring me forth as gold.
Much to my previous dismay, the ranks of Warrior Poets have been forgotten. Their war cry, the Gospel, which once victoriously roamed the field of battle, has been tuned out by the majority populous by whining, whimpers, and pats on the back for “unconquerable” re-occurring struggles. However, my acceptance letter was clear and concise:
“Welcome. These are the ranks of the few, the brave, and the despised. You are at war. Your war cry is the Gospel. i.e. you are on the offensive, for to be at war means one thing: kill or be killed. You do not compromise with, deal with, or bargain with the enemy. You defeat the enemy. Your weapon, protection, sustenance, lifeline, and everything in between can be found within your General’s Holy Autobiography. Meanwhile, you are granted the inconceivable privilege of staying in constant communication with your General, which is of the utmost importance to attain the means and end of victory. Victory is not merely the end, but is also the means. Being a Warrior Poet means more than swinging a battle-ax; it means to embrace affection in all it’s pain and promise, and being intimately close with your Lord, Savior, King, and General. Do not be discouraged when you fall, but remember that, ‘A just man falleth seven times and riseth up again.’ The General is pleased to have you. Carry on.”
With my name handwritten in my General’s blood at the top of such a letter, it is only fitting that from this day forward, I choose the narrow road and the less beaten path. I expect very few to approve, and even fewer to accompany me. However, I shall no longer heed the voices of those who dare not follow my General’s footsteps, for I now heed the marching orders of Jesus Christ alone.
I am, this day, a mustard seed which shall grow into a great tree,
And here marks the beginning of a Warrior Poet.Matthew 13:31-32
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Stars
Ladies and gentleman, for five months, I have stumbled through this song and it has never come together. Yesterday though, I was on my face with God saying, “God! You must finish this song for Your glory! You alone, through me! This will be answered. Can’t wait to see what happens. Amen.”
And so I present to you, “Stars.”
(Thanks to Julia Van Luyk for doing most of the background vocals, lead vocals, and telephone sound effects, and to Jayden Webster as well for chipping in a little with background vocals)
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The Bold Petition
Once upon a time..
There was a young man
With weak knees and timid eyes
In the midst of the strong and brave.As their general entered the room,
His eyes instantly found the young man.
Smiling, he approached with a firm handshake.
“Hi! I’m —-, and you are?.. Glad to see you! We’ll talk at break!”Later, as the general finished first orders,
He straightway pointed to the distant young man,
And with a steady finger, motioned him closer.
(You. Yes, you! Come here! Let’s talk!)With anticipation and a grand smile, he asked,
“Tell me, what has God been doing in your life?”
The young man pulled out a small, worn knife.
The general took it and held it in awe.“Praise the Lord for this knife!
God has done so much to give you this!
Please, let me take you to my King.
I would like to put in a word for you.”Suddenly, the general kicked open
The doors to the throne room of heaven,
And with strong and confident arms, he carried
The weak young man before the throne.“Lord, see to it that this young man
Be prepared fully, to the utmost!
Train him to brave the front lines
And venture into the darkest of places!”The general, with all fervor and boldness,
Quickly sifted through the King’s arsenal.
“Train him to sustain this and perform this!
Prepare him to run like this and climb like this!”“This Sword! Strengthen his grip to swing this!
This shield! Grow his faith to block like this!
This armor of Christ! Build him up to wear this!
Provide every ounce of training necessary!”The general spoke with a heavenly confidence.
He spoke with a faith that shouted something of,
“Ahah! I have found yet another up-and-coming warrior-poet!
One day, he will certainly be added to God’s Holy Gibborim!”It was as though a lion had entered into the young man’s chest,
As though he had stepped out of Captain America’s steroid pod.
He felt an intense shot of Holy Spirit adrenaline rush through his veins,
Yet.. most of the specific requests will forever escape his memory.The young man trembled in awe, with holy reverence,
And with a resounding, doubtless “Amen!”
He looked up to see his righteous King
Nod firmly, as if to say, “I will see to it.”As the young man sat back down,
A single yearning was left in his soul.
“Never again do I want to enter the throne room
Without such an unwavering boldness and confidence.”For suddenly, his hand ached to swing that broad Sword,
His forearm longed to lift the solid, mighty shield of faith,
His skin cried out to embrace the fullness of Christ’s armor,
And his knees lifted with hope that God’s plans will be realized.It was “only” a four minute and twenty second break.
It was “only” one single minute before the throne of God.
But as the young man left the training quarters,
He knew that one thing was for certain:“My King will see to it all, beginning to end,
And I am willing, no matter the cost.”
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Help
This is a speech which I wrote for the MACS Speech Festival. It took first.
“Help…”
It’s a simple word, and it’s very small. However, it carries a sincere call. “A call?” You ask. “Yes,” I say; a call to you, for an answer today. You see, a call more than a voice. It’s a plea from the heart, provoking a choice. “Explain!” you demand, and such I’ll do, as long as you promise to hold your peace too.
So stop for a moment, put self-thoughts aside, and imagine a girl at her bedside. Her tears remind you of those tears you once had: tears from your childhood with your loving mom and dad. But back to her, for her story gets worse. It starts with her parents and ends with a hearse. It was a dreadful day she had to face, with a horrible car wreck at too quick a pace. They pushed her out at the cost of their lives, pushing her to safety, from certain death to life. And as time’s flown by, we now see her cry at her bedside with one unspoken plea:
“Help…”
But on to the next, although you seem vexed, and think of a man, asleep alone in a van. “A van?” You ask. “Yes,” I say. But don’t judge too quickly, because I’ll explain today. You see, the van’s not his, and not his to keep. But on this stormy night, he needed somewhere to sleep. Now, we look down on his life choices that led him there, and yes they’re his, so let’s be fair! He threw his life away and gave himself to death; he obtained every drug from alcohol to meth. And yet, as he lay in his choices of pain, can’t we hear his unspoken call through the rain?
“Help.”
“Stop!” You say. “Why not something more relevant to today? Something for me, within my reach, something that doesn’t fall through my silent breach.” Alright, my friend, a fair request from you, but consider my answer. It’s thought-provoking, but not new.
Consider the people you walk beside: your closest of friends, your daily ride. How about the strangers you pass day by day? They’re always so busy, but have nothing to say. Have you ever thought that they have a past; that they too have baggage that was built to last? “Everyone has baggage, whether they say it or not.” That’s what my mom had always taught.
And if you don’t believe me, think back, and I don’t intend to attack, but remember that day your friend seemed to have something to say. Recall that so sad look in your friend’s eye: the look of one about to cry. You asked if your friend was okay or alright, and all your friend said was, “I’m fine, good night.” It crossed your mind, I’m certain to say. You heard that word, I’m sure, that day. You heard it ring in your ear all night, you heard the cry of an endless fight. You thought to help, but were content with such, so you let it be and never said much. But remember that word, soft and sure:
“Help…”
Now let me remind you about Someone who answered that call: Someone who decided to lose it all! Someone who looked into angry eyes, and looked beyond their endless lies. He stopped to listen and heard that cry. He saw that word in every eye. He looked through every moment of time, and said, “Enough! No more of ‘I’m fine.’ You’re broken and dead! You’ve lost all stead! Enough! Wake up! I’ll help you right now, but first, accept My final vow.” And with that, He hung on a tree, and it was there I realized He hung for me. His moment had come, the time was right, that’s when He said his final vow with all his might, “It is finished!” rang through an endless crowd, an answer to a call so clear and loud:
“Help!”
That cry was answered that very day. And with that, I have little else to say. Not even the grave has a comment to give because even the grave knew the Savior must live. But stop and consider what you claim yourself to be. Because if you’re a Christian, you’re nailed to the same very tree. You’re dead to self, the grave still claims your blood; you’ve been rescued through the ark of Noah’s flood. Only Christ walked out of the grave that day. Through Him you live, so you have nothing else to say. That being the case, hear this word once more,
“Help…”
Because it’s through us now, He answers that call. So if we never answer, why be here at all? If we claim to be the body of Christ, let’s remember that we live for strife. We live for those souls who cry out in pain, we live to run through that pouring rain. We live to lift up that girl beside her bed, and we live to hold up that wretched man’s head. We live to share our hope with the lost, and we live to help the helpless at all cost.
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Juxtaposition (A Comparison of Realities)
Dear Mr. Murray,
You long for the world’s greatest FTP MMORPG (Free to Play Massive Multiplayer Online Roll Playing Game) with the following features:
- It must be compatible with both PC and Mac.
- It must be a mix of machinery and magic, set in the future, yet with some old-school styles.
- The graphics have to be insanely real and/or cool, making you feel worthy of such an awesome look.
- It must run at the utmost of smoothness, making the game run at ease.
- It must be 3D, and the kind where you click and your character goes/attacks, including WASD keyboard movement.
- At the beginning of such a game, the character creation process has to be like a creative mind explosion containing, races, classes, customization galore, and stat combinations making your character very unique.
- The race selection process must be a sense of teamwork spirit which will never end.
- The classes must go farther than the simple warrior, mage, ranger, and mechanic.
- Your username must be epic, short, simple, and above all else, not taken.
- The tutorial must make you like the game and not get bored right away.
- The weapon, armor, and upgrade variety must expand beyond anything else, including personal customization of armor and weapons.
- The maps must go on and on, containing 1000’s upon 1000’s of different monsters and bosses.
- There must be a strong sense of community, not big enough too make you feel like an ant, but not small enough to make you feel like a giant at level 30.
- There must be a simple leveling up system, making the max level around 65 or so.
- The PvP (player versus player) and PvE (player versus environment) must have many different parts to it.
- When not in towns/outposts, one race is able to fight against the other.
- There must be a part of the game when all races may come together to fight for a certain goal benefiting that race.
If you’re super awesome and OP (over powered), you get recognized in some way by rankings.- When playing against monsters, the environment must be interactive.
- The battles must be fast paced and epic like none else.
- May Americans play it and none else. Inter-communication is just the worst when it comes to MMO’s.
- The stats and skills must be vast and upgradable in creative ways, making PvE and PvP an extremely strategic yet fulfilling process.
- There must be an endless list of quests which get harder and more exciting as you play on and on.
- A good guild system must be in place.
- A good party system (forming groups with others in situations) must be in place.
- Obviously, some places must be restricted until a certain level.
- There must be a pet system.
- There must be a cool travel system.
- And may everything else not be said, but merely implied by the self view of perfection.
However, Mr. Murray, before you drool over your laptop, let us get things straight: even when you have found a game that has come close to such expectations, you still walked away unsatisfied. And when dissatisfaction had strangled countless hours out of you, you blamed your dissatisfaction on the fact that the game failed to meet your standards.
Now, on the other hand, here are the features of the alternative:
- Compatibility? It is reality.
- Awesome graphics? Well, you can’t see it.
- But if you could, you would see that the dark forces are scarier than all human concoctions of scariness throughout history put together.
- If you could, you would see the strength of the kind of armor and steel upon the finest of warriors carved throughout the fiercest of flames and forged in the darkest of storms.
- If you could, you would see evil at its height, surrounding every area of all human existence.
- But if you turned around, you would see the greatest Protagonist to ever walk the face of earth, heaven, and hell, holding out His hand for your servitude.
- Customization? You lay your life upon the alter of sacrifice, and the Lord and lords and King of kings (creator of all creativity, therefore infinitely creative) will carve a masterpiece out of a rotting piece of wood.
- PvP and PvE? There is none; only PvS (player versus sin).
- The enemy of sin is infinitely more dangerous than an atomic bomb lit for all eternity.
- It is everywhere, so warfare will never be in lacking.
- Win-loss ratio? The only fight that has ever needed being fought was won by your King. To wield His victory in every battle is to secure a win that will go down upon the pages of eternity.
- Guild-party system? You have the Church, a band of fellow soldiers that, if following heavenly orders, will be willing to aid you to the ends of the earth if able to.
- Skill-stat system? It is called sanctification. The more you allow God to work in your life, the more faith that you will have. Faith is simply the coinage for purchasing the already purchased (by the cross) promises of God.
- Level up system? It is called faith. The more of it that you have, the more impossibilities will be possible.
- Quests? The Lord of hosts has an endless list of souls to save and battles to win by means of prayer and humility, bringing honor and glory to Himself which will never fade.
- Battles? They are difficult like none else, yet the rewards that they reap can never rot or be forgotten in the heavenly realms.
- Other players? All of humanity is involved and is consequentially at stake for how you go about it.
- Fulfillment? To rely fully upon your God is to be fulfilled to the utmost. Show Him your faith, and He will show Himself faithful (which is not reliant upon your faith, for His name is Faithful and True, but His work in your life is reliant upon your faith).
Final clarification: the first one destroys you, and the second one not only saves you, but redeems you into the army of the Lord of hosts, fully committed to His glory and honor.
Free will is a gift, but any gift from God is always given with the intention of being given back to His will.
Count the cost.
Sincerely,
The Person of Grace
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Closer Than a Brother
By the way, this is free to download. Look to the upper right corner of the sound cloud player. =]
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Hope
Hope: a ray.
A light that’s at the end.
A gleam of joy that says, “Hello.”
A sign of something’s send.Hope: a shout.
A sound of victory.
A song of joy, that calls, “Horrah!”
A banner meant for me.Hope: a crook?
It hangs up high in doom.
How can life be switched with death.
Then buried in a tomb.Hope: a Truth.
A Knight of every star.
Even when all hope is lost.
It rises near and far.
cjmurray.blog 