Tell Me You Love Me(Part 2)

This is the second near-death experience I have been fortunate enough to live and blog about(see http://jordancor.blogspot.com/2007/01/tell-me-you-love-me.html). Adam's ridiculous post about popcorn and fire alarms actually made me think of the subject!

It was a regular day in the halls of Henry Clay high school. It was the start of second hour and I was just dragging into class...I was tired, ok? Anyways, right when I got in the room and put my stuff down the fire alarm went off. These “drills” happen all the time so I wasn't too quick to get up as I was still half way asleep. Frustrated, the class slowly began to exit the room.

I was just thrilled when we walked outside where it was pouring rain. Thinking we would only be out there a few minutes, I handed my friend my coat since she had short sleeves on. An HOUR later, I decided that was a bad idea…

Now soaking wet, we were all a little peeved. I just thought a student pulled it and we had to wait for the firemen to inspect. Suddenly fingers started raising to point up to the hallway window. Black smoke consumed it! I was awe struck! My I-Pod was definitely still in the room! I guess that probably wasn’t the first thing to think about but I’m being honest.

Everyone now a little scared, our teachers got the bright idea to move us into the gym since it isn’t connected to the building. Wonderful. I’m so glad the Henry Clay staff can think of such a convenient plan an hour after we have been freezing in the rain.

Here we waited another hour. No Heredity class! Eventually we were informed that someone lit toilet paper on fire in the bathroom and it burnt out into the hallway but the firement took care of it. Sweet.

Oh, and of course there is a moral to the story. Don’t skip school. Because if you do decide to sleep in and then come to class late, someone may decide to put the school on fire and then you may become a suspect because you were in the hallway at the time. I’m innocent until proven guilty at least!

So that is how I survived the Henry Clay Toilet Paper Fire. I was an inch away from death once again! So…tell me you love me!!

Passion D.C.!!

WOW. There is absolutely no other way to start a post about my weekend in D.C. WOW. God showed me some amazing things and I can’t help but share them. I don’t know how or where to start but I’m just going to jump right in!

I had a fuller picture of who God is this weekend than I have ever had in my life. It is funny how you can grow up in church your entire life and hear the same things a million times but suddenly after years of hearing it, it just…clicks. The most elementary truths were made so alive to me. God is our Dad…duh, right!? My three year old brother can tell you that. I knew that but this weekend I was closer to understanding how powerful that is than ever. In prayers, I call Him “Father” but I never really focused on how amazing that truly is. Before I pictured Him as a powerful God and in my mind I knew that the relationship was personal and he cared about every area of my life. I knew he came to die for my sins. I knew that I was the reason He had to die. I didn’t often look at Him as my FATHER though. My FATHER came to die for my sins. I was the reason my FATHER had to die. My FATHER cares about every area of my life…and my Father is GOD. Wow. So that is all obvious to you, I know…but it really hit me hard. When I mess up, which is constant, I don’t just stand before a condemning God anymore. I stand before a loving Dad. He is The Creator, The Healer, The Peacemaker, The King of Kings, The Lord of Lords, The Rock, The Redeemer, The Great Provider, The Strong Tower, The Holy One…and My Daddy. Before the words “the Father” didn’t mean “My Daddy.” It just was another way to say God. God, THE Father. My Father. Wow.

It made me realize just how forgiving He is. Duh, again. After this weekend I realize that he truly does forget my mistakes. I am God’s daughter…you are God’s child. As his children, He pours his love on us. I don’t know if you are with me, but so many times I ask for forgiveness for something, and I ask…and I ask…and I ask. This weekend I finally heard God scream “Give it up, Jordan! It’s forgiven. It’s gone! If you stop harping on your mistakes and start focusing on your decisions TODAY I can do so much more with you!”

This weekend I saw a bigger picture of God. What is so cool about it to me is that I didn’t just get “revived” like other retreats, I learned more. Being reminded and revived is necessary, but it is great to know I found something that isn’t going to fade. Yeah, the picture of My God, My Father…My forgiving Father may be hard to see sometimes, but I know now that He is all of those things…and I can’t forget it. It made my worship experience this weekend unlike any other. I felt like I got rid of the “baggage” that Francis Chan talked about. I saw my Dad and I could worship Him with the realization that no matter what I am His and I am forgiven. With that realization I could come before His throne and see Him. It was a piece of Heaven on earth. WOW!

Luke 11:11-13
11"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

10 Don'ts From This Week

1. Don’t run outside in flip flops when it is covered in ice.
2. Don’t cover up Jerry Ball's deer mounted on the wall with a blanket...even if you can't stand to look at poor ole' Bambi.
3. Don’t try to beat your parents in an argument...you always lose even if you are right!
4. Don't let your parents know about Facebook...they may make their own......
5. Don’t sync your I-Pod on someone else's computer when it is gonna erase all your previous songs. Urgh.
6. Don’t think just because the kid is five he can't beat you up.
7. Don’t leave your bag unattended to when Sammi Ball is in the house.
8. Don’t sing to Hannah Montana when you don't know who is watching.
9. Don’t joke around with new middle schoolers on the softball team...they might think you are serious and cry.
10.Don't eat a cookie out of the box in Kroger's even if you are going to buy them...it is apparently stealing still. Oops.

I'm pretty much a failure.


*Chelsea Ball thinks headaches are contagious

Doing it.

If you are looking for a devotion book that will kick you in the butt every morning and inspire you to become more than a mediocre Christian, pick up David Nasser's A Call to Die tonight. I am half way through it now and I am dreading when it is over. Today I read two...even though you aren't suppose to haha. I just got done reading the section "Be a Doer" and it really got to me so I want to share it.

Nasser says the church is full of "armchair Christians." These are the Christians that sit back and watch people. We judge someone’s heart by their attendance. We recognize a good sermon and wander who in the audience feels convicted and needs to repent. We are quick to tell people to pray but slow to do it ourselves. To me that isn't even mediocre Christianity. It is worse...and unfortunately I think that is where a lot, if not most, Christians in the church are today.

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does." (James 1:22, 25)

By merely listening to the word, we deceive ourselves. We may think we are growing Christians because we know the word, but when we add no action to it we are only fooling ourselves. Yes, we may decide not to curse the name of God or get drunk every weekend, but we are not fully devoting ourselves to Christ. Notice that James says the "perfect law that gives freedom." Isn't it ironic that what seems like a burden(the law) actually gives us freedom? When we follow Christ we have to humble ourselves and we feel like we are missing out on the fun, but we find a joy and contentment like anything the world can offer. At the time it is a very difficult act to deny yourself and choose Christ’s law, but when you put your head on your pillow that night you find joy in your decision.

Being a “doer of the word” doesn’t just mean avoiding sin, though. It means taking action for Christ. Tell others about this law that will give them freedom too. Pastor really hit it yesterday when he said “Evangelism is intentional and confrontational.” Evangelism won’t just “happen.” Situations will arise where it may be very easy to witness, but you still have to take the step. Take it.

Start with prayer. Pray for the people you feel God wants you to reach. Classmates, associates, even family will one day be out of your reach. Reach out now while they are there. Write down names and ways you can reach them. It doesn’t always mean sitting down out of nowhere and talking about God, sometimes maybe, but others it just means hanging out with that kid younger than you that thinks you are the world. Sometimes it means sending a nice email, or inviting them out with your church friends so they can just see the environment of Christ-followers. No matter what it looks like, just reach out to them.

Today.

Lets stop listening and start doing.

Saturday Morning Ramble

I have bolded the main points of my Ramble for those in a hurry...

The downfall of having two little brothers(well one of them) is Saturday mornings. What are you all doing right now? Probably in your comfortable little beds with your blankies all snuggled up. What is Jordan doing at SEVEN O’ CLOCK IN THE MORNING? Blogging. Just want I love doing on my day to sleep in.

One Saturday morning is not as entertaining as it was when I was little. I pretty much stick to Disney these days. OH, and what is up with all these little kid shows in the morning? Do they not think that older, more mature 18(almost) year olds are watching? WHERE IS THE HANNAH MONTANA?

Oh, ps...my brothers and I spent the night with my grandma last night...you can call her Nunny. I know they are old, but do they really need the TV on the loudest volume possible at SEVEN O’ CLOCK IN THE MORNING? I think they are siding with Banks and Hayes. Seriously, TURN THE VOLUME DOWN!

Chelsea was suppose to come over here last night too. I guess the party is just at my grandparents. Then I got a headache and didn't want her to catch it, so I told her to stay home. CHELSEA THINKS HEADACHES ARE CONTAGIOUS!

SEVEN O’ CLOCK IN THE MORNING?!