...and the truth shall set you free!

Recently, someone I hold very dear accused me of being both controlling and manipulative.

And to be honest, those words cut me to the core. I don't know what my reaction would have been if I didn't love him with all my heart.

I was stunned and had no idea what he was talking about...until today.

Today, God showed me that I am a liar...and I'm thankful that he did...

You see, I have this man-made ability to take the truth and stretch it, mold it, and even tear it to one degree or another to make it somehow come out in my favor. I'm masterful at using what I know to be the truth, and saying "just enough about it" at "just the right time" to work people toward the outcome that I'm looking for. That's what I do best...and that makes me a liar, a manipulator, and a control freak. It also keeps me away from God...

I want so badly for those around me to feel good about themselves, so I pretend not to know what is going on; it helps them to see themselves as smarter or more informed than me.
I call it "flattery"...God calls it a lie.

I take the facts and add a little "unfounded" detail or two when telling a story.
I call it "making it more realistic"...God calls it a lie.

I want others to believe what I'm saying without questioning the source, so I rearrange the facts or details and put them in an order that seems more credible; always to my favor.
I call it "proving my case"...God calls it a lie.

I don't do these things on purpose mind you...I do them very indirectly. But that's only because I've been doing them for so long, they've become second nature to me. Why do I do these things? God showed me this morning by using Max Lucado to walk me through it.

"The truth, we learn early, is not fun. We don't like the truth. Not only do we not like the truth, we don't trust the truth. If we are brutally honest, we'd have to admit that the truth seems inadequate to do what we need done...The plain fact is we don't like the truth. Our credo is You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you squirm."
Max Lucado
Just Like Jesus

So there it is in black and white...Somewhere in my mind, I don't believe that the truth is strong enough for people to see who I am and to love me for it. I don't' trust God to take care of me and do what he says, so I help him just a little by stretching and shading the truth...

But God doesn't want me to be that way. He loves me so much that when I tell the truth, he controls the situation. He will control everything...but only if I let him. When I speak the truth, he takes the "inadequacy" that I feel, and completely turns it around...he uses the truth for his good...I just have to BE STILL and let him do the work.

What about you? Sound familiar? I hope not...but it's OK if it does...it's not too late to be honest.

Today I committed myself to the truth. I prayed that God would hold me close and that I would speak the truth in everything I did. And you know what? Once again he showed himself faithful. He brought to mind every time I wanted to speak the truth in a way that was not actual. And I'm ashamed to say that he did it all day long, and at almost all times. But he kept me honest...and I'm thankful for that. And it was truly an amazing day...

So I sincerely apologize to everyone who has ever felt manipulated or controlled by me, but chose to love me unconditionally anyway. Though there were times that I knew exactly what I was doing, there were honestly times when I had no idea what was coming out of my mouth...my intent was not to control or manipulate, even though that was the result. Please forgive me...

Jeff, you and Chris have seen it firsthand...thank you for loving me unconditionally anyway...

Shana and Kelly, you've been kind enough at times to let it pass without buying into it...thank you for loving me unconditionally anyway...

Michael, Kent, Catherine, Trisa, Kati, Rise, Conley, Kasandra, and Veronica, you've always been able to look past what I do, to see who I am...thank you for loving me unconditionally anyway.

And Edgar...you had the courage to tell me the truth. Thank you for being honest...

So from now on, there must be no more lies. Speak the truth to one another.

Ephesians 4:25

I'm gonna do my best...

I promise...

And that's the truth!

You got your "M's" mixed up...

As most of you know, I began my teaching career in Stafford, Texas. Yolanda Kelley was the "veteran" teacher across the hall and for 3 years we maintained a very good friendship. At the time, she had been teaching math for 17 years and I thought that she knew everything. She helped me write lesson plans, create unit tests, and once even collaborated with me on putting up and maintaining a bulletin board in the hallway. She was an awesome partner teacher.
But the best part about working with "Yo Yo Ma" was in the way she taught me to deal with the students.

One day in particular, she came out of her room to post the attendance on her door, just as I had pulled two students out of my room for arguing. I don't remember the reason for the argument exactly, but suffice it to say that they were not focused on linear equations in the way that I thought they should be.

Yolanda heard me talking to the students, and saw that I was getting nowhere fast. I was trying to figure out what was going on and why the girls were so upset with each other (a rookie, teacher mistake). So, being the kind, gentle, and extremely blunt person that she is, Yo calmly walked past me into the midst of the two arguing girls and made the following statement...

"Excuse me...I don't know what this is all about, and frankly I could care less, but the point is...You're talking MESS and you should be talking MATH. You got your M's mixed up. Now get over it and get back to class. Understand?"

Today, I came to a similar realization...I've got it mixed up.
The problem is, my mess is a little more serious than some 8th grade crush, or something said in the cafeteria at lunch.

Lately I've found myself full of fear and empty of patience.

Isn't that mixed up?

Shouldn't it be the other way around?

Doesn't God want me to have patience in abundance? Doesn't he tell me that fear is not from him? So what's the deal with me?

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate, I do.
Romans 7:15

Sound familiar?

Lately God is testing my patience...and I'm failing HARD!!

It isn't when I pray for patience that I necessarily need it most. It's in those times when I'm not focused on the power and presence of God that things like patience and doubt become confused and interchanged. And then it's easy to see why I can mix them up so easily.
If I don't "feel" patience, then not only do I allow myself to become overwhelmed by the very thing that I need patience for, I allow fear to creep in when the doors to my heart and mind are open. I began to doubt and fear...and instead of going to God for peace, I say things like... "What if patience doesn't come in time? Does God really care about my happiness? How long will I have to wait for him to give me the patience that he wants me to have?"

Hello fear...Goodbye peace!

For a while now I've been praying specifically for 3 things...
(1) Peace,
(2) Patience, and
(3) a God centered relationship.

Right now, he's giving me #3... which keeps me praying for#1...and completely screws up #2.
Just as a reminder, be careful what you pray for...God is listening. (Which has the ability to fill me with #1)

But He knows the deal. And he wants to help me with my tendencies.
He told Paul to write about exactly that; so that I would have hope...

It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.
I love God's law with all my heart. But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind.
This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.
Oh, what a miserable person I am!
Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin?
Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.
So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
Romans 7: 21-25

Looks like I'm in good company!
Jesus took care of the details...I just have to clean up the mess.
And the best part is, it's not hopeless.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus; because through Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:1-2

He did the hard part. I just have to keep the faith and wait. It just takes time...and patience..."D'oh!!"

If i were a fruit farmer...I'd SUCK!

One of the things that I have always tried to keep on my mind (usually with very little success) is the list of the fruits of the spirit...

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5: 22-23

I can remember various times in my life when these verses have come up in conversation and even a sermon or two. I even remember a devotion during one of my "college summer HOTBE experiences" when the goal for the week was to remember the fruits of the spirit and to keep a record of how often we lived them. And I can tell you right now that these nine fruits were "not plentiful in number" on the HOTBE campgrounds. But I still remember trying to concentrate on them all week long. And for the most part, I did pretty well...

LOVE... not a problem...I have plenty to give.
JOY...have you seen me in the morning? Every day is a brand new day to shine!!!
PEACE...a little more difficult to find, but not impossible. Mission accomplished!
Then we get to fruit #4...
PATIENCE. You kidding me? I can meet, get to know, fall in love with, get married to, raise children with, and divorce someone in under 60 seconds...(Shane can you vouch for me?) Every time, I get stuck on number 4. It's my downfall, so its obviously what I pray about most. And God is good...all the time. I pray for it, he tests me, I fail. Rinse. Repeat.
But I'm working on it! So let's move on...
KINDNESS...check!
GOODNESS...I do my best and I believe that nothing done in faith will ever fail...so I'm good!
FAITHFULNESS...Not a test I always pass...but one I'm willing to take over and over again.
GENTLENESS...Yes. Interpretation is not found in the giving, but in the receiving.
SELF-CONTROL...Ouch. I can't say that I'm very successful here.

Well...I still passed!!! 7 out of 9 is almost 78%.

Which makes me wonder...
If Patience and Self-Control are missing from my life...what have I replaced them with?
If there are Fruits of the Spirit to guide me in the way I should live...are their Fruits of the World that drive me when I fail in the pursuit?
And how would a verse like the one from Galatians sound if quoted from the Worldly Human Perspective?

But the fruit of the World is hate, sorrow, worry, nervousness, selfishness, evil, doubt, force and abandon. With such things there is no hope.
Earthbound 1:2-3

Instead of LOVE...would I focus on HATE?
I casually use this word to describe my feeling toward movies and food, but how do I use it when I don't get my way?

How often do I trade JOY for SORROW...on purpose?
Is it easier for me to wallow in self-pity than to try to understand the circumstance and what God would have me learn from it?

Why is PEACE so carelessly replaced with WORRY?
I tend to over-analyze everything. I'm told that it's human nature; but am I only human?

Do I dare let you know that it's not PATIENCE that I possess but NERVOUSNESS.
"What if...I just need it right now...I could be wrong...but what if I'm not?" I have an earthly need to be in control.

Is what I think an act of KINDNESS really done out of SELFISHNESS? I always have the best of intentions...but what's really in it for me?

GOODNESS can't be EVIL in disguise...can it? I mean, if I hide the talent that God has given me, rather than multiply it for his glory, it's only because I didn't want to lose it...I want him to see how well I can take care of things...I want him to be proud of me.

I know that I sometimes lack FAITHFULNESS...but that's only because I have so much DOUBT. What if I screw everything up and make the wrong choices? I mean, I only get one chance at life right?

And GENTLENESS...what is that really? Isn't FORCE a better way for me to get what I want? Nobody is going to hand me life on a silver platter...besides I never intend to hurt anyone, so that makes it OK doesn't it?

SELF-CONTROL is impossible...lets face it. Reckless ABANDON is what seems to keep the world spinning.

Are these the seeds I sow? Is this the harvest I reap? Is this my fate?
Not on your life...and thankfully, not on mine.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
John 16:33

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:16

WHEW...

I think I'll leave the farming to the one who knows how to do it...I'll just buy my fruit from his stand and be about my business.

a new day to say I love you...

I've just finished reading The Five Love Languages and it probably comes as no surprise to you that my language is Words of Affirmation...I didn't really need to read the book to know that, but I did need to read it to confirm what I believe to be the love language of the person I plan to spend the rest of my life with (more on this to follow soon).

And I personally believe that the book is right on the money. I've spent the better part of a week speaking the language of physical touch to my future mate, and I'm amazed at how much more relaxed and focused our relationship has become.

If you haven't read the book (and I encourage everyone to read it), the 5 languages are:
Words Of Affirmation
Physical Touch
Acts of Service
Receiving Gifts
and Quality Time.

Gary Chapman is the author and he even has a version written specifically for men. It's a great read...but I must admit that I didn't start out reading the book to understand myself...I wanted to understand someone else. But what I found was that understanding my own love language was valuable for me. It is a wonderful tool for me to use in all my relationships. Now, I better understand why I act the way that I do when I don't feel loved, and why I sometimes react to those around me in ways that they don't understand.

If you want me to know that you love me, tell me straight up! Don't beat around the bush and don't say it sarcastically. Just be honest and tell me how you feel. That is the way that my mind processes the feeling of love. No gifts and no quality time necessary...just be sure to tell me as much as possible...

I guess that's why I've often felt apart from God. I don't hear an audible voice from him say, "I love you." But that's OK. I'm mature enough as a Christian to hear it from those he's placed in my life and to understand that each person is a blessing from him...his way of telling me that I am loved and treasured.
And I've read enough of his word to hear him tell me that he loves me through his parables and deeds. For me, it's enough to look at my life and see that he tells me that he loves me every morning when I wake up. In the groggy state between snooze and the smell of coffee I hear;

"Good Morning Dale. Guess What? Yesterday is gone and today I've given you a fresh start...a clean slate. I've been singing over you while you slept and our father has given you a new day of freedom. Today, my mercy is new and my grace is sufficient... So let's do this!"

A fresh start...New mercies...Grace...Freedom...
If that doesn't say "I love you"...I don't know what does!

And guess what...I'm not the only one he sings over...

I couldn't have said it better...

I found a verse that says what I've been trying to tell everyone the last few days.

1 John 5: 14-15
This is the confidence we have in approaching God:
He will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will.
And if we know he is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure that he will give us what we ask for.

Think about it...and believe.

Options...

My small group met last night and as usual, somewhere in the middle of the bible study we got a little off course...but that's never a bad thing. Something about what we are studying always leads us to question something else, which always brings us back to the way God works in our lives. And I think that's the point...isn't it? I enjoy chasing these rabbits!! (thank you Mr. Popnoe)

Last night we were discussing the humanity of Jesus and the purpose of him being tempted by Satan. I can tell you right now why I'm not Jesus...I wouldn't have lasted 40 minutes, never mind 40 days. But as we began to talk about Jesus' reaction to the temptations, and compare our own reactions, I was reminded of a verse that I learned a long time ago...

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

He will provide a way out...that's the key.

You see, earlier that day, I had allowed myself to be placed in a situation that I knew would not be good for me. I hadn't actually gone through with it yet, but after small group, I would have to follow through on my commitment and I didn't know what to do about it. So I asked God to provide a way out of the upcoming situation, even though I didn't see how it could possibly happen. But I didn't' worry about the logistics. I chose to believe that he would show himself faithful and I finished the evening with my small group without worrying about what would happen later.

As soon as I left the group, I checked my voicemail. I had a message that the obligation had been cancelled. I wouldn't have to follow through after all. I wish you could have seen the reaction on my face...and my heart.

Believing and expecting are the two things that God has chosen to teach me about this week and I am thankful for that. As you think about the convictions that God has given you and the way that you deal with temptations, just remember that nothing is impossible. It's not up to us to find a way to deal with those things that lead us down the wrong road...that's God's job. Just tell him about it and believe that he hears you and will help you know what to do.

Thank you God for hitting me upside the head with your grace and protection!!

...better than I could have ever imagined.

THANK YOU JESUS...Today I lived!!!

I began the day by falling to my knees, conversing with Christ, and believing that my God would take care of me...and he did...better than I could have ever imagined. I spoke with my Lord and told him what was on my mind. I gave to him my thoughts, my desires, and my sins. I've done this a hundred times before, but something was different today. It wasn't God who had changed, or even the depth of our conversation. It was that I believed and expected that he would show himself faithful...and he did...better than I could have ever imagined.

You see, I understand the importance of giving ourselves over to Christ and asking for him show us his will and purpose for our lives. I've never doubted that this is what we are called to do as Christ followers. The part that until today has been missing for me is in believing and expecting that he would actually do it. I've always known that he COULD, I just never really expected that he WOULD.

Now don't get me wrong...God has shown himself faithful, all my life, IN SPITE of me. The fact that I am who I am today is proof of that. What's different about today is that I chose to realize that he would hear my cry, I expected that no matter what happened today would be from him, and I believed that every thought, encounter, and moment of peace was God speaking to my heart...because that's what I asked for.

So here it is in a nutshell...
1. Just talk to God the way you would anyone else...he already knows your heart and he's big enough for you to ask the hard questions. Tell him what's on your mind...
2. Believe that he is listening, that he will be faithful to speak to you, and that he will show himself in everything that comes your way.
3. Live your life...better than you could have ever imagined.

Over time you’ve healed so much in me
And I am living proof
That although my darkest hour had come
Your light could still shine through
And though at times it’s just enough to cast
A shadow on the wall
Well, I am grateful that you shine your light on me at all

Who am I that you would love me so gently?
Who am I that you would recognize my name?
Lord, who am I that you would speak to me so softly
Conversation with the love most high
Who am I?

Well, amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind, but now I see
And the more I sing that sweet old song the more I understand
That I do not comprehend this love that’s coming from your hand

Who am I that you would love me so gently?
Who am I that you would recognize my name?
Lord, who am I that you would speak to me so softly
Conversation with the love most high
Who am I?

Grace, grace, God’s grace
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within
Grace, grace, God’s grace
Grace that is greater than all our sin

Who am I that you would love me so gently?
Who am I that you would recognize my name?
Lord, who am I that you would speak to me so softly
Conversation with the love most high
Who am I?

(Watermark )

...we don't need no education!

Tomorrow I turn 37. It's not particularly a milestone year so I'm not sure how I feel about it at this point. There is no question that my 30's have been the best decade of my life, but I'm a little melancholy lately about getting closer to 40.

It's not that I'm scared, more like excited with just a "smidge" of apprehension. You see, there were always things that I thought I would have learned by the time I was 40...like how hard it is to own your own business, how being in love can make you want to be a better person, and how having kids can actually make you one.
I'm not giving up on these lessons just yet, but for now let me tell you what I have learned...

There are things that I can't change...

• I can't make people like me, that's their decision to make. And if they choose to not like me for who I am, then the best I can do is to respect them for who they are and go on with my life.
• I can't make things better for others if I can't help myself first. God is the only one who can change me from within, but I have to be the one to do the asking.
• I can't change the fact that our governor is an egotistical, self-centered, homophobic, hypocritical, bigot. I can only pray for him, our state, and my own state of mind.
• I can't change the past. No matter what has come before, I ask God to show me the grace in it and to help me use it to make myself a better man.

There are things that I can change...

• I can realize that perception does not equal reality. Just because I feel a certain way about something does not make it right. Feelings come and go but the way I deal with them is up to me.
• I can be bold. II Timothy 1:7 tells me that I have power over fear. Whether or not I choose to use it, is up to me. I like people to be straightforward and upfront with me, so I should show them the same respect. If I want something, I will pray about it...go after it...and not give up until God tells me otherwise.
• I can change those around me by living the example that Christ set for me. I don't have to be perfect, I just have to do my best in all things.
• I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. It doesn't say "some things" or even "most things." All means ALL!! If I can remember that, I can change the outcome of an event before it even begins.

There are things that I won't change...

• I won't change who I am just because it makes someone uncomfortable. "It's better to be hated for who you are, than loved for who you are not." (Unknown) I can be respectful of others and even try to help them understand me, but I'm proud of who I am, what I've accomplished, and where I've come from.
• I won't change the fact that I fall in love too easily. Corinthians tells me that by the grace of God, I am who I am. To me that means that I believe in true love, compassion, and the fullness of grace. I may get hurt, but for me, the pain is worth the risk.

I have learned that God has a plan for my life and that I may not know exactly what that is until I see him face to face. I've learned not to give up on my dreams, and not to be so foolish as to think that those dreams will never change. I've also learned that my dreams do not have to be accomplished in the next 3 years. But most importantly, I've learned to pray that God would continue to bless me with the wisdom to see things for what they truly are...and that we would continue to learn together!!

Happy Birthday to me!!

what is love? (baby don't hurt me)...

OK...so I took this little quiz online and I'm really surprised at how accurate the results are. If anyone out there is trying to figure me out...keep these things in mind:

The Keys to Your Heart

You are attracted to those who are unbridled, untrammeled, and free.

In love, you feel the most alive when things are straight-forward, and you're told that you're loved.

You'd like to your lover to think you are optimistic and happy.

You would be forced to break up with someone who was ruthless, cold-blooded, and sarcastic.

Your ideal relationship is lasting. You want a relationship that looks to the future... one you can grow with.

Your risk of cheating is zero. You care about society and morality. You would never break a commitment.

You think of marriage pessimistically. You don't think happy marriages exist anymore.

In this moment, you think of love as commitment. Love only works when both people are totally devoted.

What Are The Keys To Your Heart?

and I "quote"...

Dr. Pearl: People say, You must have been the class clown. And I say, No, I wasn't. But I sat next to the class clown, and I studied him.

Ron Albertson: If there's an empty space, just fill it with a line, that's what I like to do. Even if it's from another show.

Corky St. Clair: It's a Zen thing, like how many babies fit in a tire.

Ron Albertson: We consider ourselves bi-costal if you consider the Mississippi River one of the coasts.

Corky St. Clair: Well, then, I just HATE you... and I hate your... ass... FACE!

Sheila: He's teaching me to change my instincts... or at least ignore them.

Libby Mae Brown: I been workin' here at the D.Q. for about, um... eight months? Seven? I don't know, somethin' like that, it's fun. Just do the cones... make sundaes, make Blizzards, 'n... put stuff on 'em, 'n... see a lot of people come in, a lot of people come to the D.Q... burgers... ice cream... anything, you know? Cokes... just drive in and get a Coke, if you're thirsty.

Corky St. Clair: I'll tell you why I can't put up with you people. Because you're bastard people.

Corky St. Clair: Everybody dance!

Libby Mae Brown: I'll always have a place at the Dairy Queen.

Corky St. Clair: What the city council did was really... give me a challenge, and it's a challenge that I am going to... accept. It's like in the olden days, in the... days of France, when men would slap each other with their gloves... say, y'know..."D'Artagnan!"... y'know, "how dare you talk to me like that, you!," and... smack 'em!

Glenn Welsch, Mayor: There's a saying in Missouri, if you don't like the weather just wait five minutes. In Blaine, with hard work, I think we can get that down to three or four minutes.

worth the price of admission...

Normally when shane calls, i look at the clock, think through the agenda for the day in my head, debate the pro's and con's of what i know will be an hour long conversation about literally nothing, and pick up the phone anyway. On the rare occasion that i don't answer, it's usually because the phone is either turned off or i am at work...in which case the phone will be turned off shortly. Shane and i have known each other for 29 years and somehow still manage to talk at least once a day...

About 8 months ago, Shane called and said that he needed the number and expiration date from my credit card ...and like an idiot, i gave it to him; no questions asked. He said "thanks, talk to you later," and hung up the phone. I am now the proud owner of season tickets to the gay men's chorus of houston. Just what i had always wanted...

After many attempts and no successes at attending even one performance, i was finally able to make it to the final concert of the season last night at the wortham in lovely downtown houston. The musical theme celebrated the works of broadway legends rogers and hammerstein and shane was part of a trio that parodied the wicked step sisters from cinderella...he was a natural!! (take that as you will my friend...you know i love you!!)

The music was incredible, the setting was breathtaking, and the evening was perfect...partially because of the concert but mostly because i got to spend time with friends and family whom i rarely get to see...shane's mom Judy, his niece Shalyn, Mike, Steve, Michael, Dennis, DonnaJean, and everyone else who made the evening great.

As we go through our lives, it seems to me that those enchanted evenings become less and less frequent...overtime at work, overcommittment to activities, and overcompensation in trying to keep up with the jonses just seems to keep us overstressed and overlooked...at least, it does to me. So when evenings like last night come along, i tend to hold onto them for just a little longer than i probably should...but i'm ok with that.

I'm glad that i had the opportunity to see my best friend, brother, and non-sexual life partner enjoy himself for a few hours...and i'm glad that he was able to do it in a grand ballroom full of friends and family...i'm glad i decided to answer the phone.

...pedestal problems

...so tonight my church small group met at my new apartment. I spent the whole day getting ready for them to come. I made a banana pudding and cookies, chopped fruit, put chips into bowls, and even used my pottery barn condiment tray for the first time. Everything was great.

The topic of discussion was supposed to be about the physical and emotional attributes of Jesus. But the conversation kept changing and we spent a lot of time talking about the old testament and the lineage of Jesus. It's amazing how much a person can remember from all of that time spent in vacation bible school...

Turns out that Jesus may not have been very goodlooking...just average [Isaiah 53: 2-3]. And most of his ancestors had a little "Peyton Place" in their lives...murder, theft, adultery, prostitution...you name it, they either did it or could find someone to do it for them [see the old testament].

Seems to me that God could have sent Jesus to be handsome, rich, and powerful...instead he was average looking, poor, and charismatic...Jesus had to be HUMAN to be human. And his family was no better than anyone else's. If he had come today, he could have lived my life...but that's the whole point. I can live my life because Jesus lived his. He knows me better than I know myself...and he loves me anyway [John 15:13-17].

i'm a genius!!

A Quick and Dirty IQ Test
Your IQ Is 125
Your Logical Intelligence is ExceptionalYour Verbal Intelligence is ExceptionalYour Mathematical Intelligence is GeniusYour General Knowledge is Exceptional