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Since we haven’t seen enough jokes about Occupy Wall Street (riiight), here are a few other “Occupy” movements that are quite popular, but haven’t gained as much national attention.

Occupy My Pew- I’ll get to church 45 minutes early just so no one else can take the pew I’ve been setting in for the past 38 years.

Occupy the Deli- Using basketball’s “blocking out” method to make sure no one else gets the food you’re eyeing.

Occupy Target- The art of sitting outside Target at 11:00 PM on Thanksgiving night to ensure you will save $2.50 on a video game on Black Friday.

Occupy Twitter- The art of self-promotion. Tweeting nonstop so you show up on everyone’s main feed daily.

Occupy Jeans- Guys wearing jeans that were made for girls. They’re so tight that there’s absolutely no room for space between leg and denim. Not even a can of denim spray paint could make them look tighter.

Occupy the Bathroom- You made a late night run for the border. Now you’re…yeah, you can figure out the rest of the Taco Bell joke.

Occupy Walmart- Have nothing else to do with your kids on a Friday night? Let em loose in Walmart and let them ride the bikes, run all over the store, and leave things in the aisle. This seems to be very popular in Nashville.

Occupy Cracker Barrel Rocking Chains- The “Occupy” movement perfected by the 65+ crowd. They’re there when you arrive; they’re there when you leave.

Occupy a Mediocre TV Station- Check out the listings for the CW.

Occupy Sesame Street- If this was New York City, the police would have already asked Oscar to grab his things and keep moving along.

Occupy the Buffet- If you’re a fellow Baptist, no explanation needed!

Image Source: http://bit.ly/nfHImp

I don’t have time.

I’m usually late to the party when it comes to technology. I feel like I know quite a bit about technology, but due to that thing called money, I’m usually a bit behind the early adopters. I don’t own an iPad, I don’t have an eReader, and I got my first smartphone about 7 months ago. Needless to say, it wasn’t an iPhone 4; it was an iPhone 3Gs.

In mid-June I caught wind of something Daniel Webster was doing. He had created a group on Facebook called “B90X.” The aim of the members was to read through the entire Bible in 90 days. It sounded pretty lofty. In high school, I once read through the Bible in a full year, but even then I found myself speeding through 1 Peter-Revelation on December 31. But, I decided to give it a try.

Today marks Day 27 of the journey. I am currently 29.5% through the Bible. I’ll be honest, it hasn’t always been easy. Some days have been a struggle, especially on days when I have to read 16 chapters that focus on Old Testament sacrifice rituals or the construction of the tabernacle. But thankfully I’ve stuck with it, and to be completely honest, it has been one of the most uplifting and edifying things I have ever done.

So what does this have to do with my iPhone? Well, my iPhone has made this possible. Through the YouVersion app, I’ve been able to create a 90 schedule that helps keep me accountable with my reading. I’ve also had my choice of 25 English translations, as well as translations in languages I’ll never be able to speak. On top of that, many of the translations have audio. It may sound boring to some, but it’s actually pretty cool to go out for a run and listen to the book of Joshua. The luxury of this app is that I can take Scripture with me anywhere. As long as I have my phone, I can read. If I’m waiting for a movie to start, I can read a chapter or two. If I’m waiting for an appointment to start, there’s another chapter.

As crazy as it sounds, my iPhone has made reading the Bible much easier!

If you haven’t tried something like this, give it a shot. If you have a smartphone, it’s free, convenient, and an incredible resource. You may not start out on the 90 day trek, but there are plenty of other plans you can try and customize.

Only 63 more days to go…

[Photo source: http://bit.ly/nMbCoc]

As if the D6 Conference wasn’t already packed with awesomeness, the conference is adding a new layer by adding a concert with Leeland and Sanctus Real on Wednesday night, September 21.

Tickets are $25 at the door, but you can get them for $20 in advance, or $18 if you purchase tickets in groups of 2 or more.

Leeland, out of Baytown, Texas, has been nominated for three Grammys and eight Dove Awards.

Sanctus Real has been nominated for two Grammys and 7 Dove Awards and was nominated for the 2011 Song of the Year with “Lead Me.”

If you’ll be in the Dallas, TX area on September 21, or if you’re on the fence about attending the D6 Conference, maybe this will help make up your mind.

For more information, visit www.d6conference.com

During the summer of 2004, I nervously walked into the doctor’s office for a checkup. I had been dreading the appointment for days, not because I was scared of having any deadly disease, but because I knew I would have to take part in a simple procedure by stepping onto a scale so a nurse could check my wait.

I made sure not to eat anything that day. An hour before the appointment, I got in my shower, turned the water as hot as it would go, and created a sauna. To try to lose even more water weight, I started jogging in the shower until I felt lightheaded. I did not even take a sip of water before that afternoon appointment because I wanted to do everything I could to minimize my weight.

I showed up to the doctor’s office wearing a t-shirt and basketball shorts, the lightest clothes I could find. Before I stepped on the scale, I emptied my pockets and took off my shoes. As the nurse announced my results, it seemed as though she was screaming it to the entire building: “264 lbs!”

In reality, I was probably over 270 lbs, but my dangerous morning routine coupled with strenuous exercise the days before helped mask my weight when I stepped on the scale.

If you’ve seen me in the last few years, you’ve probably noticed that I’ve shed most of that excess weight. I’m not skinny by any standard, but through discipline, healthy eating, and exercise I’ve been able to become much healthier by losing fat and gaining muscle. I’m not quite where I want to be right now, but at close to 60 lbs under where I once was, I feel like I’m on the right track.

Sadly, I feel like this struggle with weight is something I will always have. I’m jealous of people who get in great shape and say the thought of a McDonald’s double cheeseburger or Pizza Hut pizza makes them sick. To me, those sound delicious, and I could probably down 2 of each in minutes if given the opportunity. The temptation to overeat and eat unhealthy is still there and it’s something I still struggle with.

In order to discipline myself, I had to find out the triggers that were causing me to overeat. I was a social eater. That was pretty obvious. But the more I looked into the problem, the more triggers I found. I ate when I was bored and I ate when I was stressed. I let these two emotions take control of me and cause me to journey into an unhealthy activity that was borderline addiction.

As I’ve been thinking back on my problem, it has made me realize that every single person has certain struggles, addictions, and triggers that cause them to delve into their struggles. It’s very easy for me to point the finger at someone who cusses and wonder, “Why don’t they stop that? It has to be easy. After all, I don’t cuss. It’s not a problem for me.” Or to look at someone who struggles with alcohol and think, “Just put down the bottle. It’s as easy as that.” By the same token, the people I’m pointing the finger at can just as easily point a finger back at me and question me about my struggles and addictions.

We’re all tempted in unique and specific ways. It’s a scheme of Satan that causes even more division than we already have. When we think we’re better than someone else because we don’t share their struggle, we’ve revealed one of the deadliest struggles of all: pride.

Jesus made it very clear that we are to follow two commands: love God and love people. When a friend is struggling, we should help him overcome the struggle, not point the finger and judge him as though we are God. When a friend is swallowed by addiction, we should help rescue her out of the pit of destruction, and not leave her by herself to fight the battle alone.

We’re stronger together. No one wants to fight a battle alone.

One of my heroes, Mr. Bert Tippett, passed away last night. For those of you that have met him, very little needs to be said. Even if you were only around him a short time, there is no doubt you were touched by his generosity, kind spirit, and godly attitude. I’d like to share just a few thoughts with you about my relationship with Mr. Tippett and the role he played in my life.

I first met Mr. Tippett during my sophomore year of high school. I was attending the Truth and Peace Leadership Conference, and Mr. Tippett came and spoke to us on Wednesday night. The very first time I heard him speak I was amazed at how well he connected with a bunch of crazy adolescents. During my next two years of Truth of Peace, I always looked forward to Wednesday night because I knew Mr. Tippett would be speaking to us again.

When I got to college, I had some options about what to do on Wednesday nights. I could find a Christian service that met during that time, attend a local church, or attend services on the campus of FWBBC. The choice was easy. Mr. Tippett spoke every Wednesday night he was in town. Listening to him speak was by far one of the highlights of my college experience. His preaching/teaching was educational, applicable, practical, and transparent. He explained the truth of the Bible to us in a very real way. He showed us how the Bible applied to issues we were facing as young adults. But maybe most importantly, he showed us that he loved us and cared for us. He would often stay after the service for long periods of time, talking to and counseling students.

As I continued to attending Wednesday night services and started playing in the praise band, my friendship with Mr. Tippett grew to new levels. He became more than just a teacher. He became a mentor, a counselor, a leader, and a friend to me. When my family experienced a loss, he was the person I talked to. When I went through a breakup, he was the person I talked to. He was always available and was always willing to sit down and listen.

During my senior year of college, the Student Body presented the “Bert and Dianne Tippett Award” to Mr. and Mrs. Tippett for the great work they had done over the years with students. I’ll never forget the look on Mr. Tippett’s face when we gave him the award. With a shocked look, he turned to me and said, “I had no idea!” There was no couple on earth more deserving of the award, and yet the humility of this husband and wife team was evident as they accepted the award in disbelief that the award was being given to them, and named after them.

When I moved back to Nashville several months after graduation, one of the greatest joys was attending church with the Tippetts and seeing their smiling faces on Sundays and Wednesdays. They were always a source of encouragement and so much fun to be around. Even when battling cancer, Mr. Tippett never complained or even talked about himself. He was always wanting to know what was going on in your life and what you were up to.

I used to joke with Mr. Tippett that there was only one thing he said that I ever disagreed with, and I strongly disagreed with it. After a Wednesday night service, Mr. Tippett told me, “I don’t think I connect with college students anymore. I’m too old.” Anyone who has ever known Mr. Tippett can find a good laugh in that statement. Those that sat under his leadership and guidance can attest that age had nothing to do with how well he connected with us. If anything, age brought wisdom and caused us to seek out his godly wisdom even more. While I love all of the administration and staff of FWBBC, no one at the school connected with me more than Mr. Tippett, and I know I am not alone in saying that.

Mr. Tippett will be missed greatly. He set an example as a Christian, husband, friend, mentor, and leader that I hope I can  emulate someday. Words cannot express the thankfulness we all have for this man of God that made a tremendous difference in the lives of thousands of people around the world. Today we are saddened that he has been taken from this world, but we also rejoice that he is in heaven and his sufferings are no more.

Even though he is gone, the legacy that Mr. Tippett left behind still connects with us today.

During this week leading up to Christmas, I will be posting a different Top 10 List each day focusing on a different aspect of Christmas music. Today’s Top 10 List comes from Ben Plunkett. You can visit Ben’s blog at http://plunkett1.wordpress.com/ or find him on Twitter @Plunketting

The Top 10 Most Theologically Rich Christmas Songs

I’m no Carologian, but I’m guessing thousands of Christmas songs and hymns have been written these past 2000 years. And Christian Christmas songs continue to be written. I did not review them all. Therefore, every Christmas song and hymn ever written is not represented here. I simply reviewed the songs I have heard or come into contact with.

10. Mary, Did You Know?

Mark Lowry composed the words to this song in 1984. I’ve never been a Mark Lowry fan, but you gotta admit the guy is pretty talented. The entirety of this song is a huge question—and a great one at that. It addresses Mary. Did she truly comprehend the immense magnitude of what was happening? Did she know the nature of Jesus life-changing existence? Did she really understand that her Son would renew the very fabric of existence? Did she know that He would even be renewing His own mother? Did she know that her Son would someday rule not only the whole world, but the whole universe? Sometimes the questions are just as important as the answers. This song proves that.

9. What Child Is This?

The words to this song were composed in 1865 by William Dix.

Picture this: The scene is a little stable full of livestock. Shepherds adoring the baby as He sleeps on His mother’s lap. Pretty cute scene, right? What an amazing fact that the little baby that lay in the manger was God Himself! A casual onlooker would be shocked to know that this baby was none other than Christ the King! That is the surprising picture this song paints. This innocent babe who lay in this humble stable before these humblest of citizens was the Messiah of the universe!

The baby slept. In the second stanza He is referred to as “the silent Word.” Even as a sleeping, silent baby He was pleading for sinners.

Hold your breath, the theology of this list is about to get deeper, a lot deeper.  (Help, I’m drowning in theology!)

8. Dost Thou in a Manger Lie?

The words of this song were composed by Jean Maubern in 1494. It was translated into English by Elizabeth Charles in 1868.

This song pictures an individual questioning the infant Jesus Himself. This person is asking why the Creator and Master of the universe is lying in a humble manger. In the second stanza Jesus replies. This is not to be taken as if it actually happened. It is a hypothetical situation in which the infant utters the reply He might give to the questions. He says how “pitying love for fallen man” compelled Him to come down because we were a “race deep lost in sin.” He did more than become like a man. He identified with us completely. The “sinner riches” became His as well.

In the last stanza the inquiring individual responds to Jesus’ reply. The response is rejoicing. I picture this as the nonbeliever who has just heard the beauties of the gospel message. As always, it is God Himself who does the convincing work.

7. Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne

The words to “Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne” were written in 1864 by Emily Elliot.

The primary point of this song is the tremendous humility God expressed by lowering Himself for our benefit. He left His heavenly throne to come as a man to save us. He did this for us yet room for Him was not even made in a humble inn. We should all be entirely embarrassed that our human representatives showed gratitude toward our Lord in this way. But this was far from the last time humanity would be hard on Jesus. From beginning to end, the earthly life of our Lord was a huge burden. The beginning of the third verse makes an allusion to Matthew 8:20 in which Jesus referred to all earthly creatures as having a place to rest except Jesus Himself. He was saying that His life was a difficult one and those who followed Him could expect the same.

We rejected Jesus while He was on earth. However, the song goes on to reveal that we can be redeemed. No room was made for Him in a humble inn, but we can freely choose to make room for Him in our hearts—forever!

6. Hark! A Herald Voice Is Calling

Many are unfamiliar with this great song. It is a very old hymn written first in the 5^th or 6^th century. It was translated into English by E. Casswall in 1695.

The song is filled with beautiful, theological imagery. In the first stanza a herald urges us to cast away “dreams of darkness.” The second stanza refers to Christ as a “Sun” who “shines up on the morning skies.” The third stanza calls Christ “the Lamb so long expected.” He “comes with pardon down from heaven.” Finally, the fourth stanza tells how our “defender” will one day return in glory.

It is more than beautiful. It tells the whole story, the whole truth. The third stanza wonderfully urges us toward the ideal response: “Let us haste, with tears of sorrow, One and all to be forgiv’n.”

5. O Come, O Come Emmanuel

This song was written in the 12^th century. In 1851 John Neale translated it into English.

Look at all the names of Jesus presented in the song: Emmanuel, Rod of Jesse, Day-Spring, Key of David, Lord of Might. These are all tremendous names. Yet the writer chose to focus primarily on the name Emmanuel. Why is this?

The name Emmanuel means “God With Us.” The name showed that Jesus was more than a good man who did some good things. It showed Him to be the divine Messiah, God Himself who came as a man to save us. And that is what the song is praising. It is praising and glorifying in the fact that God came to be with us. He came to save us. He came to “ransom captive Israel” and “lonely exile.”

Yes, we rejoice that He freed us from “Satan’s tyranny” and the “depths of hell.” He came to give us “victory o’er the grave,” to “disperse the gloomy clouds of night,” to “death’s dark shadows put to flight.” But greater still He came to “open wide our heavenly home” and to “make safe the way that leads on high,” and to “close the path to misery.”

It is significant that the final stanza recalls the giving of the Law to Israel. God gave the Law that revealed sin. Now He was coming to give a law greater than that Law. He would give a new law in the form of Jesus Christ. Now we are no longer bound to the ancient Law. We are therefore no longer bound to sin. We have been set free through Jesus Christ. We have been reunited with God to live for and with Him forever.

4. O Little Town of Bethlehem

The words of this song were written in 1867 by Phillips Brooks. The words came to him one night as he rode from Jerusalem to Bethlehem by horseback to deliver a Christmas Eve message.

To be honest I’d never held this song in very high esteem—until I really read the words. The first couple of stanzas are very good but really nothing special. The last three stanzas of the song put it in this high place on the list.

The third stanza speaks of a “wondrous Gift.” This is obviously Jesus who “God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heav’n.” The gift, “the dear Christ enters” into the hearts of the “meek souls” (those who are humbled in their weakness and depravity) who “receive Him still.”

The fourth stanza personifies some key elements. It speaks of “misery” crying out to the child for help. It speaks of “charity” (love) standing watch and “faith” holding “wide the door.” This event causes a disturbance in our wretched world. “The dark night wakes” and “the glory breaks.”

In the fifth stanza the speaker begs God to make this be true. He begs God to “descend to us,” to “Cast out our sin,” to “enter in.” He asks God to not only be born in Bethlehem but to be “born in us today.” As we have seen Emmanuel means “God With Us.” That makes it significant that the speaker ends his plea by referring to Jesus as our Lord Emmanuel.

3. Let Heaven and Earth Combine

The words of this song were composed in 1744 by the inimitable hymnist and Methodist co-founder Charles Wesley. Let me just say that when it came to theologically rich hymns, Wesley was the man. Two of his Christmas songs have earned a place in the top five here.

There are songs and stories written with such precision, skill, and knowledge that it boggles the mind. This is such a song. No word is wasted, no phrase is needless. Every phrase of every stanza is dense with divine meaning. This song might very well in itself in itself convince a sinner of the truth of Christ. Every word of this relatively unknown song is so noteworthy. Here it is in its entirety. Enjoy!

Let earth and Heaven combine,
Angels and men agree,
To praise in songs divine
The incarnate Deity,
Our God contracted to a span,
Incomprehensibly made Man.

He laid His glory by,
He wrapped Him in our clay;
Unmarked by human eye,
The latent Godhead lay;
Infant of days He here became,
And bore the mild Immanuel’s Name.

See in that Infant’s face
The depths of deity,
And labor while ye gaze
To sound the mystery
In vain; ye angels gaze no more,
But fall, and silently adore.

Unsearchable the love
That hath the Savior brought;
The grace is far above
Of men or angels’ thought:
Suffice for us that God, we know,
Our God, is manifest below.

He deigns in flesh t’appear,
Widest extremes to join;
To bring our vileness near,
And make us all divine:
And we the life of God shall know,
For God is manifest below.

Made perfect first in love,
And sanctified by grace,
We shall from earth remove,
And see His glorious face:
His love shall then be fully showed,
And man shall all be lost in God.

2. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

The words to this song were written by Charles Wesley in 1739.

Christmas tunes are great, but sometimes they can be distracting. Sometimes in singing these hymns we do not realize the beauty of the theology of what we are singing. Yes, Christmas music is great, but Christmas is really in the words of our Christmas hymns. (That being said, Christmas ain’t over until I’ve heard some Jingle Bells Rock.) The popularity of the tunes of these last two songs sometimes keeps us from considering the awesomeness of their theology. The last two songs in this list are so perfect I’m not going to offer much in the way of commentary. Do your best to hone in on the beauty:

Hark the herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled”
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
“Christ is born in Bethlehem”
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris’n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”

1. O Holy Night

Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure composed the words to this song in 1847.

O Holy Night is by far my favorite Christmas song secular or Christian. I suppose, then, that I might be wrongly biased in placing it here. I doubt it, though. I’ve gone over and over the song through the years. In my mind its beauty and perfection are unmatched in Christmas hymns. I present to you numeral uno on my list:

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

Coming later this week….

The Best Modern Christmas Songs
The Worst Covers of Christmas Songs
The Worst Christmas Songs

[Image Source: http://bit.ly/gmc5DF]

I’m tired of hearing about Brett Favre.

I was tired of hearing about him when he retired. I was tired of hearing him when he came out of retirement. I was tired of hearing about him when he retired again. I was tired of hearing about him when he came out of retirement again. I was tired of hearing about him when he contemplated retirement again.

If having ESPN dominated by “Will he or won’t he?” stories was not enough, several weeks ago a scandal broke with Favre at the center.

(If you are not familiar with the story, I am purposely withholding certain details because of their graphic nature.)

The scandal that broke alleged that Brett Favre had sexually harassed Jenn Sterger, a reporter who worked for the New York Jets when Favre was their quarterback.

Within hours of the allegations, the Internet was flooded with suspicion of a possible suspension for Favre. Favre’s wife, who recently wrote a book, became a commodity for morning talk shows and magazine interviews. Sterger, the one who was allegedly harassed, became the victim in the incident.

Before I continue, please let me say that if the allegations have any truth to them at all, then Favre is in the wrong, both as a person and as a husband. Harassment is never right in any situation and cannot be justified nor can excuses be made.

Please keep those previous statements in mind when you read what I am about to say next. While people had no problem pointing the finger at Favre and condemning him for his (alleged) behavior, I was surprised that very little was said about Sterger. From all reports, it appears that Sterger did not accept the (alleged) advances and even tried to shut them down, which is what a person should do. She also was not the one to come forth with the allegations. That credit belongs to a trashy sports tabloid site. However, Sterger’s background may provide a learning opportunity and teachable moment that far exceeds Favre’s.

While Sterger is often referred to as a reporter and TV show host, she also has less credible things on her resume. Sterger has appeared in publications that are considered “pornography” and “soft-core pornography.” She also received plastic surgery to try to help her with here career. In addition, Sterger is known for wearing revealing clothing on camera, including during her days with the Jets.

Before you start thinking I’m running to the defense of Brett Favre, let me be quick to say that’s not happening. Harassment in any shape or form is wrong. Regardless of dress, talk, and action, no one should ever be harassed. This includes verbal, physical, and sexual harassment. Harassment is wrong. End of story.

Here is the point I am finally getting at and why this post is labeled “Sending Mixed Signals to the Opposite Sex.” When Jenn Sterger posed for pornographic magazines and underwent surgery to try to help her career, what message was she sending to guys? What kind of guys did she think she would attract? When a girl poses in a pornographic magazine, she’s not sending the message of “I’m a professional. I’m an intellectual. I respect myself.” Instead, she’s sending the message of, “I’m an object. I adore the attention of men. I’m using my body to gain attention. I am making money off of the lust of others.”

This absolutely boggles my mind. No woman wants to be harassed, used, or taken advantage of. Yet why do women present themselves in a way that screams, “I’m an object. Desire me for what’s on the outside, not the inside”? It seems that some women crave attention to such an extent that they’re willing to sacrifice their values and integrity just to be noticed. It’s sad. It’s sickening. It’s a double standard.

Now this does NOT excuse men for lustful thoughts, harassment, or improper conduct. Men, if we lust after a woman or harass a woman, it is a sin and a very severe sin. No matter how a woman dresses or acts, we are to remain pure in thought and action. If we cross the line, it is OUR sin.

But women, when you present yourselves in a way that is immodest, indecent, and even pornographic, what are you expecting to happen? In an extreme sense, you’re inviting harassment to take place. Put in a milder way, you’re being a stumbling block to men everywhere. And for what? To get noticed? To get a better job? To gain the eye of a man who only sees you for your body? It makes no sense.

Many times we think we have two lives: we have a professional life, and then we have our personal life. In many ways, we don’t want the two to overlap. We want to be like an actor in a movie, stepping on the set, playing a part, and then walking away from all of it hours later and becoming someone else. The truth is, we can’t have it both ways. We don’t get to live a compartmentalized life.

There are too many mixed signals in the world. Guys send them to women. Women send them to guys. Sometimes we think we know what we want, but we don’t always like the consequences of our decisions. That’s why it’s so important to decide now what you want to be later. If you want to be a person of integrity who is respected, start acting that way now. Don’t waste your life today and expect everything to fall into place tomorrow.

I’ll be honest. When I read most devotions from single people about how they’ve struggled to find contentment being single and yet finally found their contentment in God, I’m a little skeptical. No, I’m not skeptical that God brings contentment, and no I’m not questioning their faith. But when I read many of those thoughts on contentment, what I read is anything but contentment. By the end of the reading, the question in my mind is typically “Are you trying to convince me you’re content with being single, or are you trying to convince yourself? Cause neither is happening!”

In some ways I consider myself an expert at being single. I’ve been this way for about 25 years. That’s enough time to get a few Ph.D’s. However, in no way am I an expert at telling people how to survive the single life or find contentment in life. But along the way, I’ve picked up a few pointers from observations, mistakes, successes,  talking with married people, and talking with single people that seem to help. Here’s a few of those ideas:

1. Do NOT try to find your contentment in the opposite sex. This one is obvious, right? We’ve heard this since high school and we know this in our minds, right? Yes and no. We can recite this “law of dating,” but very few people live it out. I’m amazed everyday at how many twentysomethings are so dependent on dating relationships with the opposite sex. When we become single, it’s like someone kidnapped us and dropped us out of a plane right in the middle of Ethiopia. Everything is foreign, we don’t know how to react, we don’t know how to cope, nothing seems to make sense anymore, and we do everything we can to find some form of familiarity. If you’re dating and you seek to find all your contentment in your relationship, you’re going to be disappointed whether you’re single or maybe even in a relationship. I’m willing to be the same is true for marriage. So you’re single…okay. Does this diminish your self-worth or value? It shouldn’t. Unfortunately in today’s culture, that’s exactly what happens.

2. Focus on holiness now, and not later. We often look to the future and think about the type of boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife, father/mother we want to be. However, have you ever considered that your holiness as a single adult now could affect the type of spouse/parent you become later? We should begin preparing for marriage and parenthood now by focusing on being the person God wants us to be. When you get married, the temptations and sins you struggle with aren’t going to disappear. I’m willing to bet some of your temptations will even be magnified. Guys, work on sexual purity now. Fight through the struggle to control your thought life. Ladies, be mindful of gossip. (Sidenote: When girls gossip and talk about people behind their back, it’s a huge turnoff to guys) Work on being holy now. It will affect who you are later.

3. Bring chivalry back from the dead. Guys, open doors for ladies. Be polite around them. Say “please” and “thank you.” Mind your manners. Compliment them. Ladies, encourage us. Notice when we’re trying. Simple things go a long way.

4. Have more on your mind than just the opposite sex. When we attend a social event, even at a church, it’s usually pretty obvious who is trying to find a boyfriend/girlfriend and who is actually there for the right reasons. Girls are pretty good at picking out the overflirtacious guy who is looking for a girl…any girl. Likewise, guys can see through the charades and find the girls who are interested in one thing and one thing only: marriage! And usually…that makes us run! So whether it’s church, a get-together at someone’s house, or any type of activity, have more on your mind and mouth than the opposite sex.

5. Enjoy the single life. Sure being married has its benefits, but so does being single. As a single twentysomething, you have so many freedoms at your disposal. Enjoy life. Hang out with friends. Make a difference in the community. Start a new hobby. Go on a road trip. What the TV shows you want to watch. Invite people over.

By now I’m sure almost everyone has heard about the flooding taking place in Nashville. However, due to the Times Square bomb plot and the oil spill, the news of the flood has taken second page. To say that things in Nashville are absolutely devastating is not an exaggeration. Thousands of people have lost their homes, businesses have been destroyed, nearly 30 people have been killed, churches are damaged, schools are near destruction, downtown Nashville is underwater, people are unaccounted for, the city is running out of clean drinking water, shelters are at capacity, and tens of thousands of people are without power at least until Friday. We can’t even start the cleanup efforts yet because the waters have not completely receded. We desperately need your help!

If you would like to help in some way, here are a few of the ways you can help:

1. Text REDCROSS to 90999. This will make a $10 donation to the Nashville Red Cross. You can also donate money at www.nashvilleredcross.org

2. Donate your time or money to Hands on Nashville. You can visit their website at www.hon.org. If you are looking for a place to work and help out, they can find a place for you, even if it’s just for 1 hour or even 1 week. From physical labor to mental health, we need everything right now.

3. If you live in the Nashville area, please conserve water. Some places do not have water, and reports are that some places have discolored water. Please do not wash your car, wash your dishes, or water your lawn right now. When taking a shower, try to make it quick. Do your best to consume half of the water you usually would.

4. If you attend a church in Nashville, tithe your income and then some. Let’s be honest, if everyone in the church tithed, we could fix all of our churches quickly. But that’s just not the case anywhere. Studies show a minority of people in the church actually tithe. If you don’t tithe, please think about starting right now. Tithe to the church, and then give above and beyond that. We’re a very rich nation. Compared to other countries, we have it very good. However, when we refuse to give our money to the church, the needy, or other needful organizations or countries, we’re basically saying our luxuries are more important than someone else’s needs. Give generously right now.

5. Donate food, clothing, bottled water, etc. Contact an organization like the Red Cross or Hands on Nashville and see if there is a specific need you can meet. Many people have lost everything in the flood. They need clothes to wear and food to eat. It won’t be long before organizations run out of these supplies.

6. Pray. Our city needs it.

If anyone else knows of ways to help, please post them on here.

The picture above is of downtown Nashville. The picture below is I-24 at Bell Road–the exit for my apartment.