Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Fall is coming...

Today is Wednesday.... I have a job interview this afternoon, I had one yesterday that I'm waiting to hear back on, and I move into my dorm room tomorrow. I picked up my books yesterday, I've got a USB drive to mail back to amazon because it is more expensive than it is worth; and classes start on Tuesday. I'm not sure whether I'm looking forward to classes or not- I hope my workload isn't too terribly hard...


I bought the newest Casting Crowns album... it's called "The Altar and the Door" The whole album is based off of the thought that "Christianity exists between the altar and the door-" between faith and actions. Between what we say we believe, and what we do about it. It's pretty true. So far there are several songs on this album that really present their messages really effectively and make you think. Like, "Somewhere in the Middle":


Somewhere between the hot and the cold ~ Somewhere between the new and the old ~ Somewhere between who I am and who I used to be ~ Somewhere in the middle, You’ll find me ~ Somewhere between the wrong and the right ~ Somewhere between the darkness and the light ~ Somewhere between who I was and who You’re making me ~ Somewhere in the middle, You’ll find me ~


Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control ~ Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense ~ Deep water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle ~ With eyes wide open to the differences, the God we want and the God who is ~ But will we trade our dreams for His or are we caught in the middle ~ Are we caught in the middle ~


Somewhere between my heart and my hands ~ Somewhere between my faith and my plans ~ Somewhere between the safety of the boat and the crashing waves ~ Somewhere between a whisper and a roar ~ Somewhere between the altar and the door ~ Somewhere between contented peace and always wanting more ~ Somewhere in the middle You’ll find me ~


Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control ~ Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense ~ Deep water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle ~ With eyes wide open to the differences, the God we want and the God who is ~ But will we trade our dreams for His or are we caught in the middle ~ Are we caught in the middle ~


Lord, I feel You in this place and I know You’re by my side ~ Loving me even on these nights when I’m caught in the middle


It really makes you think, huh? "the God we want, and the God who is....."... caught in the middle between surrendering completely to Jesus and keeping control of our own lives. This song depicts where I was in my life a few months ago really well... where I was when I opened my eyes and realized I was there in January and February... a place of being a hypocrite... and, like the song "Between the Altar and the Door" says... losing my resolve between the altar and the door- making a decision and the follow-through- I was there for quite awhile.. I still find myself there occasionally... this song made me think... it was a little bit sad... but it's really good.


"The Altar and the Door"
Careless, I am reckless ~ I’m a wrong-way-travelin’-slowly-unraveling shell of a man ~ Burnt out, I’m so numb now ~ That the fire’s just an ember way down in the corner of my cold, cold heart ~ Lord, this time I’ll make it right, here at the altar I lay my life ~ Your kingdom come but my will was done, my heart is broken as I... ~


Cry, like so many times before ~ But my eyes are dry before I leave the floor, oh Lord ~ I try but this time, Jesus, how can I be sure I will not lose my follow through ~ Between the altar and the door ~


Here at the altar, oh my world so black and white ~ How could I ever falter ~ What You’ve shown me to be right ~ I’m trying so hard to stop trying so hard ~ Just let You be who You are ~ Lord, who You are in me ~ Jesus, I’m trying so hard to stop trying so hard ~ Just let You be who You are ~ Lord, who You are in me ~ Oh Lord, I


~ Cry, like so many times before ~ But my eyes are dry before I leave the floor, oh Lord ~ I try but this time, Jesus, how can I be sure I will not lose my follow through ~ Between the altar and the door