April 28, 2006
“When the heart is not being fascinated, when the heart is not being won over, it will pursue anything to move it ? and is therefore ripe for the seeds of compromise to be planted.” - Dwayne Roberts, One Thing
What fascinates you? Is it your faith? Or is your faith confined to a pew, to a church experience, or Wednesday night youth?
Faith is so much richer and deeper than just going to church. It’s knowing God. It’s discovering your purpose in life. It’s hearing the voice of God and responding as you follow him.
Knowing God is fascinating, but many times his own believers settle for a distant kind of relationship. No intimacy. Not one-on-one with God, but rather a pen pal relationship where you hear about God through others. You know he exists, but he seems very far away.
Today I challenge you — not in a “I dare you” way, but with an invitation. Take ten minutes a day and get alone with God. Read his Word. Tell him about your life. Invite him to be a part of the ups and downs and screwups and successes of your existence.
In the beginning, it will be hard. But tune out and unplug and stick with it. You might be used to having to have hype and music and directions on how to connect with God, but his word says that when you seek him, you will find him because he’s not far away.
I pray that you will ask God to reveal the fascination with the him, the God of the Universe, beginning right now.
~Real Review — Planet Wisdom~
James Blunt
Album: Back to Bedlam
Song: You’re Beautiful
Reviewed by: Steven Harrell
The Song
“ You’re Beautiful” is the classic story of unrequited love, an almost universal experience that has been the inspiration for countless artists throughout history. Someone has passionate feelings for another person, but since the feelings aren’t mutual he must put his emotional energy toward something else. In this case, the something else happens to be a multi-platinum radio single. Think The Police’s “Every Breath You Take” without the creepy stalker vibe.
Blunt’s lyrics tell of a guy who sees a beautiful woman on a subway and, while the encounter is brief, it seems to stir up some buried emotions that need to be addressed. In several interviews, Blunt has explained that the “angel” the song describes is actually a former girlfriend of his. The relationship ended, but he never really dealt with his feelings after the breakup. Because of that, he never moved past it.
“She smiled at me on the subway/ She was with another man/ But I won’t lose no sleep on that/ Cause I’ve got a plan”. The pleasantness of a smile is put right next to the pain of the fact that his former love has found someone new. Blunt deals with those contrasting emotions by claiming to have a plan to get her back. He’s trying to believe the breakup is just temporary in order to make himself feel better about the situation. Another example of this denial is the line, “We shared a moment that will last till the end.”
In the final lines of the song, though, Blunt admits the reality of what’s going on. He says, “But it’s time to face the truth/ I will never be with you.” After all of his denying, excusing, and reflecting, Blunt decides the relationship really is over and the breakup is permanent.
Read the rest of this review at one of our favorite websites, Planet Wisdom.
Corbin J. Stilwell says:
So many Christians, not just teens struggle with wishy washy faith. I do not claim to be in love with my savior as I ought, on my face in worship of Him at every moment, but I know that if I only could grasp a hold of the full signifigance and magnificence of who Christ is and all that He really did, then I would be on my face every waking moment…