Why did you get out of bed today?

Posted by adamlepp in Questions

So a question that seems to keep coming up in conversation lately:  why did you get out of bed today?

And so I want to pose that question to you.  How would you answer it?  Post your answer to this question in the comments.  I don’t care who you are, what your religious beliefs are, what you do, or anything like that.  I just want your honest answer.

Cradle to Grave

Posted by adamlepp in Heaven Bound, Life

Today’s post comes not from me but a friend of mine.  We were in church the other day when she handed me a piece of paper with the following poem on it.  It’s too good not to share.

Cradle to Grave

From the cradle to the grave,
God is with us.
From the littlest embryo,
God is with us.
From the toddler years, through teething,
God is with us.
From the the teenage years, going through the ups and downs and temptations,
God is with us.
From young adulthood to midlife,
God is with us.
From career satisfaction to retirement,
God is with us.
From the cradle to the grave,
God is with us.

heavy rain

Posted by adamlepp in Hope, Life

It’s been raining here this summer…a lot.

And when it rains, it down pours.  you can’t stand in it for more than 2 seconds without becoming drenched.

Farmers are having a tough time with all this rain, and a lot of people are complaining about it.

But I have something else to say about it.  Let it rain!  Let it rain!

I believe God is trying to show us something through all this rain.  Water is a symbol of cleansing, of healing, and of restoration.  I believe God is beginning something big, so big that we can’t begin to comprehend it.  I think God is starting to cleanse this generation.  I think God is starting to heal our wounds.  I think God is going to restore these lands.

So let it rain, let it rain!  God we ask, we beg of you.  Open the flood gates of heaven and let it rain.  Let your grace, your mercy, your holiness rain down on this generation.  Purify us and make us holy.  Open our eyes to the wounds in our life.  Show us where there is emptiness and hurt in our beings, and fill those holes with your joy, with your healing power.  Restore this land.  It was was green and lush with vegetation, but now is dry and dusty.   Make it full of life and peace once again.  Let it rain, let it rain.  God, won’t you please open the flood gates of heaven and let it rain.

Forgetful

Posted by adamlepp in Identity, Life

So there I was in church this morning thinking about where I was.  And I don’t mean physically.  This summer has been one of my toughest yet, under almost constant spiritual attack, and to be honest, not doing all that great of a job at fighting back.

While sitting there, the worship team leading us in some great songs, I just start to listen.  Not to the music, but listening for God to speak.  And guess what, He did!  And He reminded me the very simple truths in life.  Why was I struggling so hard this summer?  Well, in the terminology of John Eldredge, I wasn’t partaking in a battle and I definitely wasn’t on an adventure.  And without those two very important things in a man’s life, it’s easy to loose purpose and get caught up in sin.

The thing is, I know where the battle is on campus, and I know what it looks like.  I love fighting there.  But what do I do when schools not in session and the battle seams liks it isn’t there.  The truth is that it still is, but I believe the lie that it is far away.  The truth is it just looks different durring the summer.  As for my adventure, I’m still not sure what that looks like.  I can tell you though that in my adventure, I have no idea whats going to come next.

So, with that in mind, I’m going to fight.  I going to fight till my last breath and give it my all.  And I can almost bet things are going to get messy.  As the pastor was giving his sermon this morning, he quoted a couple of different guys (whose names I don’t remember).  One of the quotes talked about how the safest places to be was in the center of God’s will.

The safest place in the world is to be in the center of God’s will.

The other quote:

The center of God’s will is dangerous. To live outside God’s will puts us in danger, to live in His will makes us dangerous.

I love the second quote.  I love being dangerous.  I love being inside of God’s will.  It’s adventurous, it’s exhilarating.  It brings purpose and meaning to life.  It taking steps based on faith, rather than facts.  It’s scary.  It’s awesome!

So yeah, I have no idea if this post made any sense or not.  I have the strangest feeling it doesn’t, but that’s ok.  Love to hear your thoughts.

Peace and blessings,

Adam

Make War (repost)

Posted by adamlepp in Hope

I know this is a repost (original), but I’ve been thinking a lot about this video recently wanted to share it again.

10 things I know now that I wish I knew then

Posted by adamlepp in Identity, Life

As many of you (or at least some) know, I’m just completed my 5th and final year of college.  I graduated with a computer science degree!  I’m super excited!  I learned something the other day though, and I started thinking:  ”I’ve lived in Brookings for almost 5 years now and I had no idea about that.”  So I thought I would pass on to you 10 things I have learned at college that I think you should know.  Some are serious, some are funny, but all are true.  Here we go.

1. You can buy stamps at Wal Mart.  Seriously, I lived right across the street from Wal Mart for 3 years, but always made special trips to Lewis to get stamps.
2. The people you hangout with easily influence you.  Hang out with heavy drinkers, chances are you will start drinking too.  Hang out with people who care about social justice, chances are you will too.
3. Your friends are your family.  At college, it’s often hard to visit parents and family a lot.  Choose to befriend people who will care for you and love you.  Love and care for them too.  When something comes up, and it will, they are the first place you will go.
4. Don’t take your laptop to class.  You’ll never pay attention to a lecture again (trust me, I wrote this one while in class and I had no idea what the professor was talking about).
5. Your sin does not define you.  God create you, you are His workmanship.  Your identity is found in God and God alone.
6. Be unified.  Matthew 12:25 says that “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.”  I’ve see so much division, been apart of a lot it, and every time the group or people fell to ruins.  Be unified.  Humble yourself and love, even if that means you don’t get what you want.
7. Guys – “in the heart of every man is a desperate desire for a battle to fight, an adventure to live, and a beauty to rescue.” – John Eldredge
8. We are a mess, but it’s beautiful!
9. We might not always be faithful, but God Always is.
10. Be who you are.  Only then can you come alive and become who you are.

I thank God for the trials and tests of college.  Through those trials, God transformed my life into where I am now and I wouldn’t be here today if it were not for them.

I know I’ve learned many more things in the last 5 years, but these are just some of them.  How about you?  What are some things you have learned in college and want to share with others?  Post in the comments.  I’d love to start hearing back from you.

As always, may God bless you,
~Adam

Lost

Posted by adamlepp in Hope, Identity, Relationships

The Series Finale of Lost was tonight.

And it was a good show.  Why was it so good?  I think that is a simple answer.  It was good because, like any other good shows out there, it told the viewers that they are worthy and accepted.  The show took flawed people and turned them into something important.

It was a common theme from the 6 seasons, especially the last 3.  I remember a specific episode when Ben was going to Locke’s side because at least there he would be accepted.  Then he was asked to stay because he was accepted there too.

It happend again in this last episode.  Ben was asked to be number 2.

I think we are all flawed.  We are human, and we all want to be worthy and accepted.  But the show is over, the good feeling it gave while it was on the air has come to an end.  However, there is one place where you can truly feel worthy, where you are truly accepted.

God says He loved us before we were even conceived in our mother’s womb.  He created us to love us.  Like a parent loves a child, God loves His children.  You and I.  All we need to do is receive it.  I spent 2 years of my life running away from that love, but God showed me time and time and time again just how true it was.  And guess what, it doesn’t end after six years.  It doesn’t even end after 100 years.  Not ever.

So, are you searching for something.  Are you looking for validation, for your identity.  If you want it, cry out to God ad ask Him for it.  Then grab a Bible, go to church, email me, or talk to someone about it!

I pray that right now, as you are reading this God will reveal a new piece of His love for you to you.  I pray it would be more than just a feeling or an emotion, but something real.  I pray this because He has told me who I am, and I want you to know who you are.  You are a masterpiece, a beautiful masterpiece, created by a good God who loves you deeply.  I pray this in the name of Jesus the Christ.  Amen.