Chris' prayer: Big Daddy Weave's "Set Me Free"

The fruitful labor of my sin

I love Fuji apples. They are, far and away, my favorite apple, and most likely my favorite fruit. I love the texture, the crunchiness, the gradient of color from a very light green to pink, the perfect small-but-not-too-small size, and most of all, how sweet they are. I also love how they can be found at a restaurant I frequent- St. Louis Bread Co. They are the perfect side to the sandwiches of which I'm fond.

Once in awhile, though, Bread Co. just doesn't have good Fuji apples. They might be mushy, or a bit too sour for my taste. Something is just not right about them. They are just not good.

Today, God reminds me that my sin can be as fruitful as my works. If I'm not careful about the decisions I make, or how much attention I pay them, or if the reason I'm making those decisions is not pure, the results of my actions won't always be positive. I can end up producing bad apples. Each bad apple has a consequence. Each bad apple inhibits the growth of love and encourages death and decay. I must be careful that the fruitful labor of my sin does not bring me to my own death and destruction.


iTunes | Lyrics

Marie's Prayer: Big Daddy Weave's "Set Me Free"

You gave your life for me that day
So freedom I could know

It's awe-inspiring to think that someone would sacrifice so much for me. I still grapple with the idea of not being worth it. I don't know why I always come back to that one thing. I find it hard to think that anyone would do something that big for me. But God is always there, giving Himself for me. The other part of this is freedom. We hear about our freedom all the time, but we usually find ourselves trapped. This is coincidentally because of the choices we make. I find myself choosing the wrong thing in my attempts at freedom and am trapped by the choice. I am trying this new thing now, inspired by my friend, to always try to do the right thing no matter what. It's going to be hard for me, not going to lie, but right now I'm just handling it day by day.

Megan's prayer: Big Daddy Weave's "Set Me Free"

Most of the time when I sing along with songs it is with what I assume are the lyrics. Normally I am pretty close, but occasionally people will call me out on it. But even that embarrassment doesn’t inspire me to actually look up lyrics or stop singing my own version – I just hope that people stop listening so intently to the words I am saying.

Today’s song, and the assumed lyrics I sang, made an impact on my life over the summer. Shortly after having this song suggested by a friend, I found myself listening to it more and more often.

The “lyrics” that stuck with me were

Set me free
From this LIE that I’ve been living (Actual: From this LIFE that I've been living)

At the time, I did feel like I was living a lie in my life. I was still enrolled at the University of Dayton, but I was not truly happy there. I had done everything possible to convince my family and friends that I enjoyed it, but was still unable to convince myself. My assumed lyrics were a constant prayer – I wanted God’s help in finding a way to set me free from the unhappiness, from the lies I had been trying to pass as reality.

I finally realized it was okay to admit that I wasn’t happy at UD, and admitting that to myself and to my family was a huge relief. I was able to transfer back home and finally attend a college where I can truly say I am happy.

I’m reminded today that it’s okay to show others your true feelings, your vulnerability. It’s only in finally admitting them that we can change.

Catie's prayer: Big Daddy Weave's "Set Me Free"

Set me free
From the chains that bound me to my sin

When I hear this line about chains I think of Jacob Marley from A Christmas Carol. In the movie, Jacob is forced to wander the earth after he dies wearing the chains that he had linked together with all the bad things he had done in his life. Sometimes I feel weighed down in my sin like that, like my sin is holding me back from being better, doing better, loving better.

I know I can trust in You to come and set me free

This is the part I know, but I don't always remember. I forget that God's love is bigger than my sin, that he has already set me free and that sin has already been conquered. We can all be set free from our sin, all we have to do is ask for forgiveness and trust that God will take the chains away.

Erinnicole's Prayer: Pillar's "Frontline"

It's not like I'm walking alone
Into the valley of shadow of death

Even being in a Catholic school, I often feel so alone in my faith. I love being places like life teen and retreats, especially huge ones like Stuebenville Conference because I know I'm not alone. I have a bunch of people who truly just get it. When I am there, I become selfish, though. I don't want to leave because I love belonging and being understood. But I know that the whole point of being a tool of God's hand is to let Him use me for people that don't know Him. But it so much easier to help people who already get it - to just remind them! I, like pretty much everyone, just don't deal with rejection well and rarely do I find people that fully embrace Jesus on the first try. More often, people don't give faith a try at all. But this kind of thing, this song, reminds me that I am not doing this alone. There are a lot of Christians out there and they understand and the real idea is for all of us to come together and save the world as one. I don't know where I got this idea that it is me versus the world, but I never honestly considered until just this moment that this idea I have is so the opposite of what God meant when He gave me fellow believers. He wasn't really saying, "take notes"...more-or-less, He was saying, "ALL of you, help Me out!" I feel like I truly am understanding something for the first time.

you forgot what this is for

I guess I couldn't really forget if I never really understood...but my prayer is that I remember. This is for Him.

Marie's Prayer: Pillar's "Frontline"

'cause it's only begun

I love this line because, as a writer, I begin things all the time. I'm constantly finding new ways to start things. But it's really hard for me to finish them. I must've started at least twenty stories and have only finished one. That's something I need to work on. I need to finish things I start and not give up on them. As you may have noticed I'm not the best at posting every day and this really struck me. I am going to try really super hard from now on to keep up and finish what I start. Because not everything is easy at first, but it's only the beginning.

Chris' prayer: Pillar's "Frontline"

When it's over, we can say, "Well done"
But not yet, 'cause it's only begun

I must confess. I do not understand the question "Are you saved?" I have been asked numerous times in my life if I'm saved, and I really don't know how to answer that question. I know what the asker wants to hear, and I know what he or she is actually asking me, but I still don't know how to answer the question.

For me, salvation seems to be something more of a work in progress. I can accept Jesus Christ into my life one day, only to deny Him the next. And I have. The question "Are you saved?" seems to imply to me the end of the journey. Rob Beckley sings here that it is anything but. Instead, it is the beginning of the spiritual journey, one that will include many battles, many successes, and many failures. Hopefully, one day, I'll be able to hear Christ tell me, "Well done."


YouTube | iTunes | Lyrics

Catie's prayer: Pillar's "Frontline"

We've got to lead the way!
We've got to lead the way!

Leading. I think leading is one of those things people either love doing or hate doing. When it comes to faith it can be very difficult to be a leader just because it's hard when everyone is looking to you to see where to go, what they need to be doing, etc. The thing is, if we aren't the ones to step up to lead the way, who is? We can't expect that someone else will just lead so we can just sit back and not do anything. If we want change, we have to be the ones to change it. No one is going to do it for us. We have to be willing to step up, even when we are on the frontlines, even if we're scared. With God on our side we don't have to be afraid to be on the frontlines because he is always with us. What more could we ask for from our God?

Megan's prayer: Pillar's "Frontline"

In yesterday’s gospel, we saw Jesus going out and gathering some of his apostles. He drew them away from their boats, away from their families, to come and follow him. Jesus didn’t just want people to passively sit there and watch him… he wanted people to get up, to follow him, to spread the Good News. He wanted people to actively live for him, not just be bystanders.

Today’s song seems to convey a similar feeling to me.

We live our lives on the frontlines

Just as Jesus wanted active followers in his time, God is calling us to do the same now. We cannot just sit around, hoping others find Christ, we need to be out there sharing his love and leading others to him.

At last night’s lifenight, we only had a dozen teens show up, which is far from being considered a “great” turnout. This is not the first time we have seen numbers low, and in fact we have talked about ways to bring more teens in, but so far it has all seemed to be talk. Maybe something like today’s song will serve as a much needed reminder: we have to live our lives on the frontlines… we have to actively go out and find teens to come share in the lifenights, and not just hope that by some miracle they start showing up more often.

Megan's prayer: Jars of Clay's "Redemption"

I've very stubborn. I like being right, I like to do things my way. I have a hard time putting aside my pride and letting someone else lead, letting someone else be right. I tend to break away from that, and still choose to go my way. Not the most attractive of qualities, but I'm just hard headed.

We're way gone, be gone, looking for our own way

Sometimes I get lucky, and taking my own way leads me to new adventures, leads me closer to God or to others. Sometimes my own way ends up being the perfect choice for me.

And sometimes it ends up being a horrible and lonely choice. Others don't follow because they don't understand my reason for choosing that path. They think I'm wrong and have chosen instead the seemingly "right" way. Instead of choosing a path that would lead me closer to others and to God, I have chosen to go in the wrong direction.

Couldn't find a common ending

I hate that second scenario. I pray that someday, and someday soon, I can swallow my pride. I pray that instead of choosing the way that seems right to me, I can instead focus on what path is right for others. The path that will lead me closer to my friends, to my family, to my God.

Erinnicole's Prayer: Jars of Clay's "Redemption"

It was hidden in the landscape
Of loss and love and fire and rain

The part of these words that truly spoke to me was more a "revisit" of something that already spoke to me. I heard a friend of mine giving a talk one time to a group of Confirmandi and she said, "People always say they 'Found Jesus', but I have news for you guys...Jesus isn't hiding. He isn't some hidden treasure; He is always there." That was really powerful because it told me that I don't have to find Him, I just have to see Him, to accept Him.
The other part was that I would miss something that was hidden. I am very aware of details around me but sometimes I miss the most obvious things and I often feel like a lot of things are tricks. I guess thats a form of paranoia, but I'm not certain. I never feel that something can be easy and correct at the same time. If something comes easily, I must not be doing it right. So I think I would most often avoid the road that looks easy to get to Jesus. The one that says, "Just come, Erinnicole, it's this way." My prayer is to see the hidden.

Chris' prayer: Jars of Clay's "Redemption"

Like any story retold
Couldn't find a common ending
We're way gone, be gone, looking for our own way

These lines seem to mirror, for me, the divisions we have among different denominations of Christianity. Across cyberspace you will find all kinds of mud slung at and about Catholicism, taking my denomination for instance. This has ceased to surprise me. What will never cease to surprise me is who is sometimes doing the mudslinging- other Christians.

It would seem to me that Christianity in general has enough mud slung at it. We have enough enemies. Why do we feel the need to fight with each other, calling each other names and damning each other to hell?

Why do we spend all of our time looking for our own way instead of seeking out redemption?


YouTube | iTunes | Lyrics

Megan's prayer: Audio Adrenaline's "Get Down"

Being sick is not fun. Especially when it’s throwing up sick. Or when you have such an intense pain in your stomach that it hurts to both stand up and lay down. Even the joy of missing school to stay at home sick has been lost because now it is just a hassle to try to make up everything that is missed. Being sick is just not fun.

But when you are surrounded by people who care, suddenly being sick isn’t quite as bad. Whether it’s someone who sits with you all day, or brings you soup or Sprite, or even just an extra phone call or text message, it is nice to feel that extra love. Almost makes being sick enjoyable.

God is always there for us. He is there during our happy times and during our “alright” times. Most importantly he is there for us when we most need him. When we need his strength, his comfort.

In your weakness, he is stronger.

Erinnicole's Prayer: Audio Adrenaline's "Get Down"

I get down and he lifts me up

There are so many things connected with getting up. Rising above, overcoming (virtually the same thing), a literal falling and getting back up, persevering, etc. I am extremely uncoordinated, so I am really used to the idea of falling and getting back up. More-or-less, I am like toodlers, in the way that when they fall, they either look around in a confused manner or just get up and keep going like nothing happened. I never stay down for long simply because I have things to do. In the same way, when I get down emotionally, I know that I have more things to live for than whatever is upsetting me. God has given me the grace and the helping hand to get back up and rise again. And we all know that Jesus is quite an expert on rising!

Marie's Prayer: Audio Adrenaline's "Get Down"

You cant live your life to please yourself

Living life to please myself is something I struggle with. I don't go down the path of others and try to please others by acting like someone I'm not, but in the same way I act to make me, and only me happy. I need to think more of how things I say and do can affect other people. I need to realize that what I do needs to be to please God and not myself because it is only important what God wants of me.

Chris' prayer: Audio Adrenaline's "Get Down"

A couple of days ago, in honor of our first six months together, or perhaps just because she is wacky, my girlfriend baked me a cake. Not just any cake, mind you (that wouldn't be too wacky), but a yin yang cake. Half of the cake was white cake with white icing, the other half of the cake was chocolate cake with chocolate icing. The second layer of the cake was reversed exactly, so that each piece contained the same amount of white cake, white icing, chocolate cake, and chocolate icing. She even took the time out to cut the circle in the middle of each half of the yin yang and reverse them, so as to be completely accurate.

This song reminds me of that dessert.

Part of the song is a menagerie of paradoxes. To win, you've got to come in last place. To live your life, you've got to lose it. The other part of the song is a cluster of carefully balanced lines. In your weakness, He is stronger. In your darkness, He shines through. I get down; He lifts me up. All of it is great advice for a successful relationship with Jesus, and bearing an amazing resemblance to the cake sitting on my counter: perfectly balanced, with both parts working together, complimenting each other, and delicious!


YouTube | iTunes | Lyrics

Chris' prayer: Plus One's "Soul Tattoo"

I've thought, on and off for the past few years, about getting a tattoo. I've looked up tattoos on the internet, and thought about what I would like to ink myself with. Once or twice, I've even mocked something up, either on the computer or on a sheet of paper, before throwing it away unfinished. I can't always decide what I want to be emblazoned on my body permanently, or when I'm fairly confident about that, I can't figure out how I want to represent that thing or idea in a way that is beautiful enough to feel comfortable with its permanence.

Despite, or perhaps because of, that indecision, I love today's song. I love that, long before I was born, my God tattooed me. I love that His love is so true, so real, so permanent, so unchanging, so inescapable, so unconditional, that He chose to ink my very being with signs of that love. He has written on heart proof of that love so that, no matter what I may go through on this earth, I know of that love. It is a very real part of me, just as anyone who has been tattooed with earthly ink will tell you their tattoos are a part of who they are.

Etched on my soul
Your love is so true

iTunes | Lyrics

Marie's Prayer: Plus One's "Soul Tattoo"

'Cause you're the answer
To the questions

There are too many questions! Sometimes I get wrapped up in all the what-ifs and I find that I'm not listening for the answers. I have to realize that praying, like talking, is a two-sided thing. I can't ask a question and expect immediate gratification. If I do this I find myself walking circuital and not straight for an answer. I need to leave time for God to do what is right for me and not just let myself keep asking and asking like a child asking the same question so fervently that the parent has no time to answer because at that second another question is being asked.

Megan's prayer: Plus One's "Soul Tattoo"

It took awhile for me to actually believe this, but I finally know in my heart that God loves us no matter what. Today’s song served as a reminded to me:

I'd be some kind of fool
To think I could lose your love

It is so wonderful to have this type of constant in my life. No matter what I do – God is there. Even if I make a horrible mistake, God is still there with me, loving me. Even when I believe that I am unlovable, God shows me just how wrong I am. His love is something I can’t run away from, even if I wanted to.

Erinnicole's Prayer: Plus One's "Soul Tattoo"

Etched on my soul
Your love is so true
Stamped forever
Here in my soul

the ideas of having God as a tattoo on my soul is really powerful. I mean, the permanence of tattoos and the meaning behind them is something fantastic. Tattoos are so out of the realm of the "norm" to relate God to. I just love knowing that God will always be with me; and the things He has done for me will always be. Even when we go through hard times and I forget that it is there, it still is. And a grand majority of people don't just get a tattoo on a whim, and even when they do, it almost always has a meaning. Tattoos are a permanent dedication to something and a public statement telling the world "this means something to me".

my dad is a really great guy and very original. and he loves playing jokes on people; weird jokes. he went to a video game convention and came home with a bandage on his arm and said "i got a tattoo". my dad is known to go through really elaborate steps to make us believe a prank, so I didn't believe him and for days, my sister and I would check his arm to see if it was still there. Turns out - it's real. I can relate it to my relationship with God because there are still times when I am waiting for my dad's tattoo to wash off, times when I am not sure how real or strong it is - like times when I can't tell how real or strong my relationship with God is. And sometimes, I even forget that it is there because I am so used to it. But then, there is that really cool excitement when my dad shows it to a friend who hasn't seen it yet (it's relatively new) or someone notices it. My prayer is for me to be able to show off my relationship with God with the same enthusiasm that my father shows off his tattoo.
[for those of you wondering, it is a pinball]