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So last week(ish) i wrote about feeling down in the dumps....well that hasnt really changed...except it has.

I made the mental decision to reject those feelings...and it worked! :)

Thats not to say i dont feel lonely at times...but rather that i dont allow those feelings to consume me/define me. You see, I had to actively fight off those feelings. You see, a lot of times I approach life passively...waiting for stuff to happen to me so that i can react to it...this usually ends poorly.

Hebrews 12:1(NIV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

belonging

For about the past month i've been slowly getting more and more depressed. I think a lot of it has to do with my friends moving away. In the past 3 months, 3 friends of mine have moved from HR to NoVA. I know we can all sing "friends are friends forever" but its just not the same. The thing is that I as a person desire friendships. I desire to be around people and laughing. Laughing is good.

So times like these when friends move away...i find myself feeling alone...i'm not close with my family...so i cant turn there. Where do you go to meet people that can become your friends? is there a place for that? lol

Anywho...the point is that I dont know what to do... A part of me says that God will provide at just the right time...but a part of me doubts(because i am an idiot) .

Lord, I don't know where all this is going
Or how it all works out
Lead me to peace that is past understanding
A peace beyond all doubt

Concert what what

A while back ago i wrote a wishlists of sorts of bands i wanted to see in concert . Well I just found out that September 3rd, 3 of the bands in that top ten list will be there. Here is a preview of them in order i listed them.

1. Disciple

2. Sent By Ravens

3. TFK

Is God All Powerful

Robshep wrote an extremely awesome blog question why things happen. While He didn't state this question directly...his blog basically put forth a debate question called "the existence of sin." This argument is basically summed up as:

• The Bible says God is Controlling Everything/All powerful
• The Bible says God is Love
• Bad Stuff still Happens

Basically, the question is "are those first two points true?" Because if they are, we would not expect the last one.

I answered Rob's question with the following:


I'll preface my thoughts by stating up front that I lean slightly more towards calvinism than free will.
I truly believe that God is working through all things(its in the Bible). I also think God is in control of all things.
Matthew 10:29 states a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without God willing it.
Ephesians 2:10-12 talk about how God has predestined us to certain things and that He is working all things to his will.

We look at all the bad that happened to Job(his family KILLED!) and God was behind it all. Allowing it to happen. In fact he is the one who gave permission for it to happen.
So if i truly believe God is in control..the question switches from "does everything happen for a reason" to "why does God allow bad things to happen?"

I was in Denver when Columbine happened. For so long people questioned why God would allow this to happen. Yet I also remember the story of Rachel Scott which brought many to their knees before Jesus. We was working this incident to bring people to him.

I think the key in all this is our definition of GOOD in romans 8:28. So many times i interpret that as MY good. Rather everything God is doing is for eternal good/aka His Glory.

Lastly...I believe that we perceive ourselves to have free will. But God created us and formed us in the womb. He knew the decisions we would make...and he created us to be the person that made those decisions. We can not surprise God with our decisions. I dont think God reacts surprised to us and then pulls together a plan around our mistakes. That takes away sooo much of Gods power. I do believe that we make decisions...but those decisions have been ingrained in our being but the God who created us. I personally lean towards calling that "predestination" but i understand the argument for free will.

What are your thoughts?

Musings(A Break From Songs As It Were)

These musings are the sole property of the brain of Michael Harper. They do reflect how scatterbrained he is. This post is not copied right from wikipedia and may be used without the expressed written consent of the National Football League

• Green Lantern flopped at the movie theaters. This did not surprise me..you know why: Ryan Reynolds. Hasn't the past 10 of comedy central shown us that Ryan doesn't make a good lead actor....or really a good actor at all.
• Transformers 3 did not flop...no accounting for peoples taste for explosions i guess.
• Future of Forestry and Falling Up have been my go-to bands for the past month.
• Tomorrow RED will be in concert in VA and i have to miss it :(
• I got a google+ account....its not anything special...sort of reminds me of linked in(thats not a compliment)
• I feel like i'm seriously lacking motivation...for anything...at all..ever
  

30 Day Song Challenge day 16 - a song that you hear often on the radio

I'm changing up the list a little of my own accord...i was getting really tired of "omg i hate this song now" post that it wanted me to do. The truth is I dont hate any song and every song i have at the very least allows me to reminisce back to that time period and usually puts a smile on my face.

Anywho...I very rarely listen to the radio when i am in the car as I tend to enjoy my peace and bc their aren't a ton of good radio stations. Also, bc the one station i do enjoy has tons of static in Yorktown/Hampton. :( But on the rare occasions where i do listen to the radio, this song ALWAYS plays....and honestly i can not complain...except for the fact its so catchy

Avalanche by Manafest

30 Day Song Challenge day 15 - a song that describes you

Gosh this is hard. I dont think a song can capture the essence of Michael Harper. I feel i'm a very hard person to describe by nature. One of my favorite quotes is by Ralph Ellison when he said:

"And my problem was that I always tried to go in everyone’s way but my own. I have also been called one thing and then another while no one really wished to hear what I called myself. So after years of trying to adopt the opinions of others I finally rebelled. I am an invisible man."

Basically saying I define who I am and really dont wish to be defined.

If i had to choose some songs it would be

White and Nerdy - Weird Al
Jekyll and Hyde - Petra
This is a Call - TFK