Farther Along

by Josh Garrels

Tempted and tried, I wondered why 
The good man died, the bad man thrives 
And Jesus cries because he loves em’ both 
We’re all cast-aways in need of ropes 
Hangin’ on by the last threads of our hope 
In a house of mirrors full of smoke 
Confusing illusions I’ve seen 

Where did I go wrong, I sang along 
To every chorus of the song 
That the devil wrote like a piper at the gates 
Leading mice and men down to their fates 
But some will courageously escape 
The seductive voice with a heart of faith 
While walkin’ that line back home 

So much more to life than we’ve been told 
It’s full of beauty that will unfold 
And shine like you struck gold my wayward son 
That deadweight burden weighs a ton 
Go down into the river and let it run 
And wash away all the things you’ve done 
Forgiveness alright 

Still I get hard pressed on every side 
Between the rock and a compromise 
Like the truth and pack of lies fightin’ for my soul 
And I’ve got no place left go 
Cause I got changed by what I’ve been shown 
More glory than the world has known 
Keeps me ramblin’ on 

Skipping like a calf loosed from its stall 
I’m free to love once and for all 
And even when I fall I’ll get back up 
For the joy that overflows my cup 
Heaven filled me with more than enough 
Broke down my levee and my bluff 
Let the flood wash me 

And one day when the sky rolls back on us 
Some rejoice and the others fuss 
Cause every knee must bow and tongue confess 
That the son of god is forever blessed 
His is the kingdom, we’re the guests 
So put your voice up to the test 
Sing Lord, come soon 

To lie on the shore forever?

My church, The Gathering Church, is continuing in a sermon series on the book of Acts. Though familiar, I can feel the prayer of the saints & the elders seeping into my spirit and my spirit is moving, wildly. The scriptures come alive, it becomes real, more than any other time I've read the same text. Prayers are a powerful gift.

The thing about God's word seeping into your spirit is that it is bewildering and deeply affecting. It constantly reflects, hoping to understand within the core of your being what is burning with passion inside you; and your life seems turned upside down married with chaos, and somehow the waves of peace and magnificent majesty you were gazing at earlier now ensnarl you in its wash, and somehow, you're undone. 

God's word has power upon ones soul to effect a most horribly beautiful turmoil. I am amazed every single time at the shedding of minute qualms in contrast with the glory of God's magnificence. Nothing seems to make sense anymore, and it's laughable, really. Because it's in this place where you find meaning in life. The meaning to life. 

I can't remember how many times I have read verses or passages of scriptures over and over again, and each time I read them there was no effect on me whatsoever. The words are beautiful, and your mind accepts and understands the meaning of those words, but rarely does it ever reach down deep into your soul. You can relax and watch the scriptures in all of the splendor they hold with so few words. You can enjoy the beauty of the stories and poetry that are painted before you. But unless you pass the shore and go deeper than your feet can touch, you're safe and nothing ever changes. 

I like to relax. Lay my blanket down in the safe zone where the waters don't come near, put on some shades, lie down on warms sands, feel the rays and close my eyes. And please don't bother me, I'm soaking up life. 

But I mean, I don't think that's what us humans crave. To just lie down on the shore forever? To just watch the action and adventures of those who dive headstrong into the waters, whether ferocious or not? We crave so much more. We are meant to live for so much more, right, Switchfoot? I covet those who really soak up life by actually soaking up the creative juices all around them. Those who understand beauty in every way and make it the potential it was meant to have. Invest, create, relate, resolve, forgive, motivate, inspire, learn and live! 

Scriptures are where we really have the ability to live. They speak to the very bones of our meaningfulness. They destroy you and build you back up again, they give you even more of a lust for the glorious God of the universe. They fill you in a way that hurts; the struggle is real, you know? But when you understand that the waves are just a part of the thrill, and that you can have rest, it's heavenly. It's you wrapped in majestic and holy glory, like skydiving without an "X" to land on. Like surfing a wave 10x bigger than you and resting on the trust that comes between you and the earth. Scripture is just like it, except it's the thrill of eternity in your hands, and it seeps into your soul, and it is inescapable. It's sexy. That's a good word, right?

It's pretty easy to lie on the beach, skin soaked with the bliss of the sun. But what about washed up on the shore, beaten by the salty seas, only to be warmed to the sweet presence of a sunny lullaby? Put back together again, but having experienced the life changing waves of God's creation? There's nothing worse than not being able to relate to your friends who leap headstrong into the water, excited for what life will bring them, and you've been sitting back and watching everyone be miraculously destroyed by something bigger than themselves and coming back to tell the story, alive. 

The scary part about scripture is that no one will ever know what will happen. No one will know what part of your heart God will touch, or the roots of horrible evil that he will pull out, and how painful it will be. But it will happen if you go there, and you will most likely be changed and more experienced at life. You will have seen a part of the face of God, but not much, because He is so large, and too glorious for anyone to see him in one breath. But it will still be worth it. To see any part of God.

Something about truth that slowly chips away your own perspective. Something about Jesus, about His purpose, about humanity that makes the bigger picture so much more beautiful. A story that can only be told through the one that wrote it. I can only breath in and out when thinking about it because it is inexhaustible. The story of eternity cannot be contained in one person, in one brain, in one heart. It is told through the golden lines of history, of communal interaction with those who seek the truth, through the spirit of God that threads the golden line between us all, knitting together the most beautiful piece of art that is still being created. 

I cannot wait to be in the place of eternity where we live with Jesus, and to see the final piece. A gallery that will last forever and ever that we will stand in awe of. And we will worship the creator of heaven and earth with the most reverence that we can't even imagine, singing "holy, holy, holy. You are almighty and good and beautiful." And we will be consumed with his presence on our knees, our jaws will not grow weary from the unceasing smiles on our face. We will clap and rejoice and jump and dance. 

But we can only be a part of this beautiful masterpiece if we dive in. Scriptures call us to it. And we yearn for it, because we as humans crave it. Why lie on the shore forever when you can be thrown into the waves of mercy and divine grace? It's scary, but worth it.

Senior Portraits: Emma

Emma

My lovely friend, Emma. She's a quiet one, but a woman of fierce and bewildering confidence and graces of Jesus, mixed with a meekness that makes you anxious to find out what she's thinking, and a nod of "mmmm, yeah" when she tells you. I've learned a lot from Emma, especially the quiet part. I'd like to have enough self-control in me to be okay with not speaking all the time as she does. She's become my Sunday buddy. We love to sing together, to dream together, and to talk about Jesus together. Emma is made of gold; a gem. 

Although she's about 10 years younger than I, her maturity surpasses mine. I find that happens to me quite often... I wish I were as mature as her when I was eighteen. One thing I've found so impressive about her, is that difficult ability to trust in God, and to trust the people that God has put in your life. It takes a humble and gentle spirit to submit to those whom God has given to us, and to search our hearts and agree, when the sheep in us would like our own way. Emma can conquer that. She's just that cool.

I had the pretty cool chance of taking her Senior Portraits. She's a beaut, and boys beware: there are a lot of channels you must cross to get to this lady: a mighty warrior of a father, a pretty high quality bro that you'll have to match, a praying church, and well of course, me. Those are tough channels, so girdle up your loins and get to moving on becoming a real man. 

We had a pretty fun session in the blistering cold and, really really windy shores of the Willamette River on Portland's downtown waterfront. I feel lucky enough to have gotten a handful of decent photos with everyone's hair flying around and our fingers about to freeze off and such. We also found our way to Emma's most favorite place in the world -- Powell's City of Books and warmed up there with just about every other Portlander downtown. Good times were had by all. Props to Brooke for coming along and giving me pointers for some pretty sweet model poses. Thanks Brooke.

Portland Waterfront | Downtown Portland | Powell's City of Books

Majestic

Oh, my God. Oh, my God. It's too wonderful. 

Pacific City

Kiwanda Cape

September 27, 2014

Holy

After All (Holy) - David Crowder Band
I can't comprehend your infinitely beautiful and perfect love
Oh I've dreamed dreams of majesty as brilliant as a billion stars
But they're never bright enough after all

You are Holy
Oh Holy
Holy, Holy, Holy

I will sing a song for you my God with everything I have in me
But it's never loud enough after all

You are Holy
Oh Holy
Holy, Holy, Holy

Heaven and earth are full, full of your glory, glory
My soul it overflows full of your glory, your glory
Oh blessed is he who reigns, full of your glory, your glory
My cup, it can't contain all of your glory, your glory
Hosanna we are found after all you are

Holy
Oh Holy
Holy, Holy, Holy

I can't comprehend
You're infinitely beautiful

Lost Creek & Ramona Falls | Tribute to Summer 2014

   The Quezada's and I decided to go camping last weekend at the foothills of Mt. Hood (that there mountain you see in majesty, above). Beautiful, beautiful weekend to go. I thought summer was finally settling down for the year, and that fall had suddenly just become. It's only because the Clackamas River was too cold to swim in a couple weeks ago in Gladstone. I swore the weather changed in under 24 hours. But I was tragically wrong. The summer was in full force last weekend at a beautiful 95 in fahrenheit, and we had the cool mountain breeze to wipe away the sweat as we hiked a good four hour journey to Ramona Falls. 

Our fellowship was sweet. We were joined by newlyweds, Jesse and Brittany Califf for the first night as well. A lot of worship and scripture reading, and good laughs.

She got her wedding ring fixed! :D

We crossed this raging river. 

We found huge logs that continued a trend of sticking out of our camp fire. 

Our water well...

iPhone Photos

My new Diet Coke sub.