Tune in Tuesday

Let's be honest with ourselves here - as dignified American citizens, there would be nothing worse than having to publicly admit we listen to Country music because after all, listening to music about tractors, alcohol, dogs and just plain evil revenge plots, is a little - well, silly. Most of us don't spend our days thinking about dates that take place on tractors or about driving the trucks of our loved ones who have died (because quite frankly that's weird . . .) and would never want to admit that we have emotional attachments to our animals.

If you have been with me long enough to have read this post you may know that I confessed to possibly having a new found appreciation for this strange American genre known as Country. 

One of the songs from said genre that I absolutely adore is When I Die Young by The Band Perry 

(although when I sing it out loud I usually get the lyrics wrong and say bury me in cotton - it is, after all, the fabric of our lives). When I heard their newest single Better Dig Two I loved it immensely. The song is so wrong yet so right all at the same time. The song is powerful and definitely evokes a wide range of emotions. 

You know music means something when it makes you feel. No matter how you feel, you are not - not feeling. 

That is one of the main reasons that I love music so much, especially songs that tell stories

 (maybe country is for me after all . . . ).

I decided (possibly on a whim) to buy Pioneer, the latest album by the sibling trio because 1) I was with my little sister and we were supposed to be having fun 2) I needed some new music and 3) The album booklet was autographed with actual Sharpies and not just a copy of the band members signatures printed onto the booklet. 

That's cool, right? 

My little sister has yet to open her copy because, "It's worth more if you don't open it." I on the other hand being the older, more mature sibling demonstrated self control and opened the CD immediately

 (really - this isn't Elvis - the record label is using the signatures to create a demand in order to increase sales - but part of being older and wiser is that I the said older and wiser siblings keep these things to themselves so as not ruin the enjoyment of others). 

I have at least listened to the first five songs on the album and have yet to have heard the rest because I love the first five songs SO much.

 Like, for real!

If country's not the genre for you, maybe give the album a listen on Spotify before making a commitment. 

My favorite songs are Don't Let Me Be Lonely and Pioneer. 

I love the concept behind Pioneer (also the title of the album) which you can learn more about here.

If you've heard any songs from the album, what do you think so far?

Join the conversation by commenting below or click the button on the right sidebar. 

A Theology of Tragedy

In light of recent events (the shooting at Sandy Hook, the Dorner shooting and today's explosions in Boston) I believe that I have a responsibility as one who follows Christ to shed light on why tragedy happens and what your response should be whether or not you follow Christ. 

I would like to begin by admonishing you to not hold God responsible for tragedy.

 In a world full of evil events, I often hear people say,

 "If God is so good, then why does he allow suffering?" 

Ultimately God is sovereign over all circumstances. God created people to glorify Himself but instead of choosing to follow Christ, we choose to follow our sin. 

God could have wiped out all of humanity by killing Adam and Eve as a result of the original sin. Instead, being merciful and gracious, God punished their sin and allowed them to live although His relationship with His people would be tainted by sin. 

The Bible tells us that God sent His son to die and take the penalty of the world's sin upon Himself so that those who were and are to be saved could have a relationship with God. 

So, what does this have to do with tragedy?

1. As Christ followers, we have a responsibility.

Tragedy reminds us that many people die daily without having turned to Christ for salvation. While God does work to change hearts, if we claim to follow Christ, we have a responsibility to share the Gospel with others. We need to help people understand that we live in a fallen world and that the only hope we have is in Christ who is showing mercy to us by allowing us to live in the midst of tragedy and have the current opportunity of repentance. 

2. No one's sin toward you is greater than your sin toward God.

(And it never will be). Instead of thinking about how wicked and evil the criminals are in this case, consider how wicked and evil you were before Christ changed you. 

3. Show compassion.

This one is sometimes hard because it involves emotion and sometimes people have a hard time with that. Step outside of your comfort zone and serve the suffering in a way that is meaningful TO THEM.

Since Christ gave up his entire life for His children, what sacrifice is it to consider some else's needs as more important than your own? 

4. Tragedy is A Time of Thanks.

The truth is that as sinners, we deserve nothing. We all get to enjoy things and experience life on earth without knowing the full weight of our sin. My pastor always reminds our church body that for the Christ follower this life is the only hell they will ever know and for the world follower, this life is the only heaven they will know. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 states, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (ESV). Of course this is not possible by human efforts but by the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in individuals who have turned from their sin, trusted that Christ's sacrifice on the cross is enough to cleanse them from sin and now allows God to see them as guiltless.

5. Repent and trust in Jesus.

Tragedy reminds us to treasure life because it is brief. Life in continual, unrepentant sin will be made shorter. Isaiah 59:2 tells us that our sins have separated us from God. Being One who is just, God must punish sin. If you don't turn from your sin and trust that Jesus' death on the cross was enough to save you, you are going to face eternity in hell separated from God. Romans 10:9-11 states, 

". . . If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, 'Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame." (ESV).

I am praying for the citizens of Boston, runners from the marathon, those who are injured, families who've lost loved ones, wisdom for law enforcement, repentance of the criminal(s) and justice. I hope that if you are experiencing any kind of minor or major tragedy that you will turn to Jesus and cling to Him in the midst  and aftermath of it. 

Love,

Lolo

P.S. Credit for the title goes to my friend Josh who preached a message of the same or a similar title.

Apartment Living Part 2

Money Matters

Money is something that everybody wants but nobody seems to have

 (even though we all know that whatever our circumstances are, we really are blessed considering that we are doing far better than we deserve). 

In order to grasp financial planning on any scale, 

I highly recommend purchasing Financial Peace University by Dave Ramsey. 

I listened to the lessons via C.D. and the points listed below are some of the financial lessons I have learned so far. 

1. Budgets Are Beautiful

One of the most important things I have learned while living on my own has been budgeting. While budgeting is a concept most people hate, I have found it enjoyable. The beauty in budgeting is that you actually learn how to manage your money rather than having your money manage you. It is also an opportunity to thank and praise the Lord for providing you with money. I really like this budget print out because it is cute and simple. For the practical minded, this sheet from Dave Ramsey is also helpful. The key is to start somewhere (anywhere really) and to determine how much you are spending each month on different items.

2. Coupons Are Cool

I know that you're probably thinking, "Coupons?! What next? Mom Jeans?!!!" But fear not! Coupons are actually cool. I personally buy the Los Angeles Times because it comes with 3 coupon inserts. The trick is to look through store ads to see what is on sale and then find a coupon for that item. You can also create a Swagbucks account in which you earn 10 points for every coupon you print out and use. The points can be used for different types of gift cards and deposits into your PayPal account. It also helps to download the app for whichever store you shop at and to download the digital coupons for that store. I shop at Ralphs and am on my way to earning 100 fuel points which means my purchases will earn me 10 cents off a gallon. Finally, check out The Krazy Coupon Lady where a team of women work to find the best deals for you!

3. Saving is Savvy

There is wisdom in saving money even if you think you don't need to. Life never works in the manner we expect it to and it is best to be financially prepared for whatever circumstances we may face. If you are looking for a tool to help you save for something specific, Smarty Pig is a great choice. You are able to earn interest on the money you save. Keep in mind that this should NOT take the place of an emergency savings account. The point of saving is to SAVE something. Whether you have an extra $5.00 a month or $500.00 a month you need to be saving. Whatever you save will add up over time and a little self control goes a long way. Rather than buying that stuff you don't need in the Target clearance section (I'm obviously preaching to myself here) why not save for the unknown?

4. Offering is Opportune

And as a believer you will never understand this concept until you give. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver," (ESV). Your heart may not be cheerful at first and giving may seem like a burden but when you realize that it is God who has enabled you to work and earn money {hopefully} you will have a heart of gratitude and find joy in giving to your church and ultimately to God.

5. Giving is Glorious

"Really? Didn't you just lecture me about this in your last point?" No . . . well maybe, but this is different. It is important to use your money in a way that is not about you. There was a time in my life when I was convicted as I realized most of my money was spent on myself . . . and then I would gripe and complain about how I never had any money! Look for organizations to donate to that also support the mission of the church, which is sharing the Gospel and being the hands and feet of Jesus. I really like Compassion International and American Bible Society. Find an organization that supports a cause your passionate about. I challenge to find a means of giving to an organization and as a result do not experience balanced reciprocity. If you're unsure about an organization's credibility, you can always look it up on Charity Navigator.

Finally, keep in mind that with a little discipline, finances can actually be fun! 

Tune in Tuesday

Due to some of the news (if you could call it that) stories that I've heard about John Mayer, I can't say that he is someone I would consider to be a good example of a role model. However when considering John Mayer the musician, it is almost worthless to attempt to argue his talent. The only album I used to have of John's was Born and Raised and while I do enjoy relaxing and listening to the album I still felt as if I were missing out on the goodness that is John Mayer music by not owning some of his classics such as Daughters, Gravity, Say and Why Georgia. When I first heard music from his album Where the Light is Live in Los Angeles via Pandora (why yes, I do Pandora while I work), it was love at first listen. While browsing Best Buy's pathetic inventory of CDs (those shiny discs that used to exist before MP3s . . . back when dinosaurs still roamed the earth) on Saturday I began looking through the slim selection to see if it would be possible that there was actually decent music for sale (by decent I mean made by musicians - you know, people who can actually write AND play music? - If you are under 20 you may not understand this concept). 

After hunting around for a few minutes I discovered that Where the Light is Live in Los Angeles was only $6.99 and it contained not one, but TWO discs.

 Two discs for less than ten bucks?! Sign me up! 

I can now proudly say that I own two John Mayer albums and while the live album doesn't contain all of my favorite songs by him, I have not been able to stop listening to it. 

Sometimes in life you just need new music and that was me this weekend. 

But wait! There's more . . . to come next week because quite frankly, I love music and couldn't imagine my life without it.

 If you have Spotify, listen to Where the Light is Live (or drop the $6.99) and let me what you think!

Join the conversation by leaving a comment below or by clicking on the button on the right sidebar. 

It's Not Fair

One of my favorite quotes - It's from the song Be My Escape by Relient K.

When I recently found out that the first guy I had dated is now engaged, I thought to myself, "Now, that's just not fair!" As if I really deserve my life to be fair by my standards. When I find myself believing lies, I know I have to correct my wrong thinking with Biblical truth. What's really not fair is that Jesus hung on a cross to take the penalty of my sin. It's not fair that the wages for my sin is death (Romans 6:23) and since Jesus paid the price, I get to go scot-free. It's not fair that Jesus removed His wrath from me and in return gave me His righteousness and His Holy Spirit who daily enables me to be conformed to His image. It is unfair that He bestows His grace on me daily. The Bible tells us that God is a just judge (John 5:30) and being just means He requires punishment for my sin. I should be destined toward an eternity in Hell but by His grace, God chose to save me by punishing His son. I really don't deserve for my life to be fair according to my standards because 1) I am a sinner who daily sins against my Holy, perfect God and 2) The Bible does not tell us that life will be "fair." Au contraire mon amis. In John 16:33 Jesus warned, " . . . In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart I have overcome the world," (ESV). Additionally, James 1:2 says, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds," (ESV) - trials are not a matter of "if" but "when." My pastor has said that this world is the only heaven people will experience if they don't follow Christ and that for Christ-followers, this world is the only hell they will experience.

My penalty is paid and that, my friends, is what is really unfair.