{Zoo Blues}

This isn't going to be an angry rant about animal cruelty, child endangerment, or hazards of zoo-life. It's not a petition, or an attempt to persuade. Just simply reflective thoughts.

But I honestly couldn't tell you that if that four-year old child was my son, whether I was the non-vigilant parent or the other parent who perhaps had to work that day, that I would let that gorilla have my son, my daughter, my child. And I'm not even a parent.

But you see, Someone did just that. When God relinquished His Son as a sin Offering for us, He said willingly, "Take my Son." That doesn't mean it wasn't hard for Jesus; did you read about Him in the Garden of Gethsemane? That doesn't mean it did not hurt God emotionally to sacrifice His only Son for unappreciative, sinful people; did you read about the way all of nature grieved as He breathed His last breath?

The truth is, we are like that gorilla. Not in the evolutionary sense, which opens up another can of worms, but in the behavioral sense. We toy with sin as the gorilla carelessly slung that boy around as he ran, causing him pain, as we cause Jesus when we sin. We take the Gift for granted, perhaps as the mother did until she recognized the immediate danger that her child was in. Instead, we should be treating our Salvation as the gorilla took the boy momentarily, under our figurative wings, protecting it.

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Photo Credits: http://www.southernbride.com/blog/we-love-the-memphis-zoo/

{Salutatorian Speech}

{Recently, I had the honor of addressing the Senior class of my high school one first and final time at graduation. I didn't want to act like a circus clown, try to talk down to anyone, or give a scholarly speech with big, intellectual words that I didn't even know the meanings of. Just 1008 words from the heart}

"Good morning, faculty, administration, family, friends, and fellow classmates of the Class of 2016. As we come together to celebrate the end of our high school careers, and the beginning of the next chapter in each of our lives, I am honored to be able to stand here as Salutatorian.

Class of 2016, look around you for a minute. You’re surrounded by your classmates, friends, parents, family, faculty, coaches, teachers, your entire support system up until now. This is the last time that we’re all going to be here, together. We are all about to embark on new journeys: different colleges, cities, and states. 

Some of us have been here for four years of high school, some just one, and a few of us for fourteen years. In the coming fourteen years, a lot is going to happen that will change everything. A lot of people in this class are going to go to college, get jobs, obtain degrees, get married, and maybe even have children.

Well, thinking back to the last fourteen years, a lot has altered us.  Each of us have had a plethora of teachers and faculty that have dedicated their time and energy within these walls to invest in us both mentally and spiritually, and they have all made an extremely profound impact. On behalf of the entire Senior class, thank you. This school has given us firm foundations on which we can choose to stand on.

To every parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, and everyone who stepped in and up to the plate to help us get through these last four years, thank you.  Thank you to all, like my parents, for equipping us, pushing us to do our very best, and helping us achieve our dreams. Your dedication to seeing us succeed, your investments in our education, and late Starbucks runs are greatly appreciated. We would not be here today without you.

Lastly, a challenge to every single graduate here. Let God use you ONE through your testimony, TWO to make a difference, and THREE after you choose Him!

First, testimony. If researched on google, the search engine that literally got me through high school, testimony is a “formal written or spoken statement” or “evidence or proof provided by the existence or appearance of something.”

As I deliver this testimony to you, let your life be yours. Let it be the evidence or proof provided by the existence of something bigger than yourself, a God that is not limited by any of man’s schemes, plots, or conspiracies. No matter who you are or what you’ve done, God can use you! What we lack in perfection, God makes up in love. Only God can turn a mess into a message, a test into a testimony, and a trial into a triumph.

Think of high school as one big test, and sometimes it really felt like it. If you’re sitting before me now, you passed the test, and that’s awesome. But did you pass with flying colors or did you barely scrape by? Because I know a lot of days I just wanted to do enough to get by. But that’s not what anyone here wants to happen to us when we all step into our “something news” this fall. Your testimony can change its path, right now, today.

You have probably heard this verse since you were in first grade. 1 Timothy 4:12. “Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

We may have been donned the title of “Seniors” for the past ten months, the highest position possible, but we are all about to fall quite a few rungs on the ladder. We’re back to being literal or figurative freshmen, the youngest of the legally titled “adults.”

Don’t let a petty fight, high school rivalry, or any drama, stop you from making a difference in someone’s life in the future, because our God is better than that.

Don’t let your grade-point average, ACT score, homeruns or goals, or what you can lift define your capability of changing the world. The world is bigger, and our God is bigger than those numbers. “Worldview” is a word that every single senior should know after this year, and can relate to. World changers, now that’s another word to know. God’s delight is received upon our surrender, not awarded upon our conquest.

                Third. Someone recently told me, “along with all of these other major decisions and things that are going to take place in the coming years, you’re going to make a definitive choice, whether it be conscious or unconscious.”

Joshua 24:15. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

Choose Him and don’t wait. This last verse is something I pray over every single person in front of me as we leave here today.

Ephesians 3:20-21. “Now to him who is able to immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

                This morning, as you trudge along not quite awake yet, dance, or skip across this stage, remember.

1)             Remember what it felt like to sit here, honored, the most envied by under-classmen, and an example for others.

2)        Remember that if you choose to serve Him above all else, and there is a lot of else in this world, your testimony can be your most powerful tool to make a difference in others.

3)       Remember that we’re the next doctors, lawyers, authors, nurses, servicemen or women, musicians, engineers, etc., the world is ready for you. Are you ready for the world?"

(Six Important Things I've Learned from High School}

{808 words detailing the most important things I've learned in my last four
years of high school, as told by my senior pictures}

One. Take lots and lots of pictures.
Don't live solely through your phone's camera lens, but do make memories worth taking pictures of, and worth remembering. Looking through an old high school yearbook could be fun, but reminiscing about your own, individual adventures is going to be even more enjoyable. Graduation will most likely be the last day you see a good percentage of your graduating class, and maybe even some of your friends. So capture what you can with what time you have left, because they may not always be there two or four years from now.

Two. Sometimes you just have to laugh about things.
In high school, things may not always go as planned. Actually, they won't. You have to be flexible. That class that you signed up for but didn't get? The Chemistry labs that never quite worked like they're supposed to? The 3 huge term projects/papers that are due a few weeks before graduation? Just roll with it. "Go with the flow," as my friend says." And if you're really good, just laugh about it. Because the fact that it's due date is coming sooner means that you're just one step closer to being done.



Three. Sometimes you just have to get away from people and hug a dog.
High school friends are great, and they're there most of the time when you need them. But sometimes, after a really long day of school, it's better to just be around a dog. They don't lie, they don't talk back to you, and best of all, they're super fluffy. They're loyal, lovable, and lick a lot. So if you're having a bad day or need a super cool friend, get a dog. They're "man's best friend" after all.


Four. You have to learn to get along with people, no matter how they act, and no matter your temperament.
Someone once told me, "You meet the same people in every stage of life; they're just encased in different bodies." This is not wrong. This couldn't be more true. This is going to be really stereotypical, so don't hit me, please. But there will always be a partier, "cool" jocks, quiet, sweet, nerdy, intelligent, insensitive, or haughty guys. And there will always be super preppy, school-spirited, shy, extraverted, intuitive, chill, or unconcerned girls. We won't always get along with all of them, in fact, we won't get along with most of them. But we can't shut them out like they don't walk the same hallways or parking lots as us. So, we need to learn to be patient and understanding, and embrace each person that comes our way. Because there will always be someone smarter, prettier, and richer than you. But there will also be those who aren't as gifted, handsome, or affluent as you too. Just remember that we are all part of a complex dynamic, perfectly created by God to complement each other, not to crush.


Five. Staying in God's Word keeps you from wasting a lot of your time and life.
The time to live for Christ is not after high school is over, not after college is finished, and not when you settle down with a family. The time is now. In doing this, you'll be ready for whatever high school may throw your way, whether it be in your home, church, or school. If you stay immersed in God's teachings, you will be more likely to stay in a state of grace, maturity, and humility.
Also important, when the daunting task of choosing what to do after high school comes around, you will be prepared. Once you arm yourself with the firm mindset of "Lord, take me and use me exactly how You want, and wherever You want," you will truly be able to see God work, and the pieces will fall into place.
You won't have to worry about which college to go to, anxiety about which job to take, or fear about what the next four years will look like. This is one of the most exciting decisions of your life, so don't waste it on trying to take and control the wheel. Let Him take it.


Six. Don't miss "it" while waiting for the "next thing."
Change. Some people like it, some people don't. Either way, most seem to always be waiting anxiously for the next, new things to happen. To be an upperclassmen, to be a Senior, to be in college, to get a job, to start a family. But if you are constantly looking forward at what is to come, you will miss what is happening in the now. So don't let life pass you by while you're looking for your next landmark. Be content in the stage of life you are in, who God has made you to be, and what He has given you.

{Spiritual Streaks and Faith-Filled Fires}

{537 words of reflection regarding the day and age in which we live—whether strategically or subtly}

Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter. Everyone thinks that they need more points, likes, comments, and retweets to gain approval from others, and society in general. But what does it even mean?

For people today, it seems like a visual is helpful and motivating.  Well, if two people send a candid selfie or photo to each other, everyday, for a long period of time, they will slowly get to know each other better and better. They often strive for the "fire" emoji with a high and powerful number next to it, or the impressive "100" image. Next to these little treasures resides a name of someone very special, or at least important enough to daily carve out time for.

If we spend that much time maintaining contact with a friend, how much more should we strive for constant communication with God?

1 Chronicles 16:11 says, "Seek the Lord and His strength, seek His face continually." You see, God isn't that old friend who moved to Colorado. We aren't meant to check up on Him occasionally, shout a "Happy birthday" once a year, and see how he's doing when things get rough at home. Not only is He our Friend, but our Creator, Provider, and Sustainer. And because of this, He deserves so much more.

If we want Him to do big things in our life, we must treat Him like the big God that He is; to know is simply just not enough. It's like a trip. How can you get really, really excited about something that you know nothing about? How can you get excited about God if you really don't know Him or spend time with Him? But once you get that itinerary (I get unnecessarily happy about precise itineraries), packing list, and information, you can get really pumped about what is about to happen. With God, if we're in the Word, in prayer, and submersed in Him, we can get ecstatic regarding Him. We can be excited about what He is doing, what He has already done, and what He will do in the future! 

Matthew 7:11 reads, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father which is in Heaven give good things to them that ask Him?" He wants us to know Him, He wants to bless us, and He wants to redeem us. But we must let Him! We must be pliable clay in the hands of an Almighty and Everlasting God; not sifting sand, blown and tossed by the wind.

In closing, if you've never felt a spark for Jesus, let this be your match. Let God start something in you that no man can squander, that no thing can prevent. And if you have ignited a fire within for Jesus Christ, don't let it go out, don't waver. But even if you haven't felt something like this in a long time, just know that you are never too far gone to reignite that spark, to make a new "streak," a new start, and a new day. 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

"....You only need a spark to start a whole blaze, It only takes a little faith...."

{If life's a soda fountain, I'll drink the water}

{690 words of personal reflection that have less to do with the picture of absolutely delicious sweet tea to the left, and way, way more to do with Jesus Christ, Lord of the Heavens and Earth | Matthew 11:25}

I'm sure you've heard of "If life's a beach, then I'm playing in the sand." Well here's a new one for you: If life's a soda fountain, then I'm drinking water.

I think that some could agree that getting a fountain-drink at a fast-food place or restaurant could easily be one of the biggest wastes of money, causing it to also be an easy way to save some money here and there. In the moment, it may be fulfilling to indulge in an ice-cold Coke, but it can add up to hundreds of dollars to your yearly spending. You must ask yourself, is it a worthy investment?

I'm really not here to make you feel guilty about that weekly sweet tea or Arnold-Palmer, because I do love my sweet tea in copious amounts, and that would be hypocritical. However, there are evident parallels between the process of buying a costly drink, and the presence of sin in a Christian's life. A "Big Gulp" or "Polar Pop" may sound great at the time, but your wallet may begin to disagree, and after a few minutes, it's gone. Those "dollars well-spent" are never coming back, but was it worth it? Likewise, the desires of the world can and will be costly. But is it a worthy investment?

Some people look at the world like it is one big, personal fountain-machine, and they go through life with a white styrofoam cup in hand. They seek everything and anything that the world has to offer, including desires to taste everything they can fit into that one cup. They act as if buying one cup entitles them to keep refilling over and over again, day after day, with no repercussions. This is because the world tells us, "do what you want," "do it whenever you want," and "do it however you want." These can easily amount to the infamously sinful desires of this world.

Galatians 5:19-21 says, "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, or which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."

Because we know, as Christians, that this is wrong, we have traded in our cups. Now we hold in our hands the "water cup," lucidly visible and on display for all to see. We've said, "Take this world, and give me Jesus."

But now we have attained an accountability that those with a Styrofoam cup are not responsible for, and quite honestly, some are just waiting for us to mess up. To say the wrong things. To do the wrong things. We mess up daily, but we are never too far gone to right ourselves, our testimonies, and our walks with God. Don't be the person who gets a free water cup and then puts Coke in it. That ruins our reliability. Likewise, we ruin our testimony when we claim to have that "white cup," but choose to fill it with impure filth.

Though Romans 12:2 is one of my favorites, a less common verse is 2 Corinthians 6:17. It proclaims, "Therefore, 'Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.'" Though Paul's words in Romans are powerful, seeing them written in red causes them to take on a whole new level of meaning and authority.

Jesus is the ice to your drink. If he isn't in "the mix," then we will be warm, or rather lukewarm. And who likes a warm soda? Revelation 3:16: "So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. With him, not only are we refreshed, but also the ones around us as they 'feed' off of our energy."

You could attempt complete satisfaction within the confines of soda, pop, the world, desires of the flesh, or whatever, but in the highest of ways, Jesus Christ is the only way to attain COMPLETE and utter satiation and nutrition.