comfortably disturbed

It's about time I updated. I've been very busy with school, college applications (not really, but I need to get on the ball), SATs, and homecoming. But for the most part, life has been pretty breeze-y. The weather has finally starting to settle, and today it was as perfect as a day could get. It's already autumn! Time to bring out the jackets and jeans. But for Texas weather, you're never too sure.

So I've been reading this book recently (I don't read very often, so this is a big accomplishment for me), and it is changing my life-literally. Shane Claiborne, an amazing writer and a disciple of God, tells about his life in his book The Irresistible Revolution. He tells of his life, his walk with God, and his journeys across the world finding God in the broken and in the oppressed. In his journey, he slowly discovers what it means to be a "living sacrifice", to "deny yourself", and to live radically for God.

This book will change the way you thought of Christianity; it sure has for me. One of the thing Shane says as he looks back on his trip to Calcutta, India:

"I long for the Calcutta slums to meet the Chicago suburbs, for lepers to meet landowners and for each to see God's image in the other. It's no wonder that the footsteps of Jesus lead from the tax collectors to the lepers. I truly believe that when the poor meet the rich, riches will have no meaning. And when the rich meet the poor, we will see poverty come to an end."

I am challenged not by what Shane Claiborne says, but by his strict interpretation of the Bible. His life reflects what he proclaims and that is God's love. For such devotion, it calls a lot. I know as a privileged American living in one of the richest cities, it's hard to care for others. We are constantly thinking of ourselves, what we want and say we need. We fill our desires with temporary stuff, it just destroys me how I walk into my closest and don't even wear half the clothes I buy. I want to be constantly challenged to live uncomfortably. Shane says in his book that "God comforts the disturbed and disturbs the comfortable". I know that God is pushing my heart to do so much more. To be "...a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God" (Romans 12:1). And if it takes a lifetime, then I might as well start now.

Here's some good, upbeat car tunes for now:
Spinning by Jack's Mannequin
The Longest Road (Deadmau5 Remix) - Morgan Page ft. Lissie
Human by The Killers
Wonderful World by James Morrison
People Get Ready by The Frames (hands down the greatest concert ever. they ended with this song, which totally blew the night away)