This is a portion of an update that I posted on August 1, 2005 when I was 15 years old.  It still applies....

[The...thing] that I have really been thinking about consists of my own personal activities. I was reading the book of Philippians the other day, and throughout the book, various verses of the same theme leaped out at me.

Philippians 3: 7,8

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Chrsit....

I evaluated my life, and contemplated things that were gain for me. I began to find things that I strived for that would bring glory to me, and me alone. I have perhaps the most common sin in the world: that of pride.

When I go to church or school, I want the adults to see an acceptable young man, endeavoring to live by the values that they cherish. When I go to sports competitions, I want opponents to see a formidable challenge that cannot be overlooked. When I walk into the store, I want girls to see an acceptable young man with character/looks/poise/whatever.

Though the majority of these things are not wrong---things like wanting to uphold values and posses strong character are good, throughout all these things, I am making one undeniable mistake. In all these things, the focus is on ME. I want people to see a good ME. I want them to like an acceptable ME. I've been so wrong! Though I've always subconciously known that people should see CHRIST instead of me, I never actually applied the principle to my life. Jesus is the one that people need to see. Jesus is the one that people need. Besides, He's a whole lot better looking.

Though this gives me an opportunity to ask you, the readers, to pray for me in this area, writing the above paragraph had another success. Simply by posting that, I've humbled myself (Still, please continue to pray for constant humility in my life, because it is in that state that I am the perfect tool for God to use). Pray for humility with passion, passion with understanding in my life.

I cannot express how overwhelming and exhilarating it is to find this spark for God in my life. Let me clarify that. I cannot express how overwhelming and exhilarating it is to find this bonfire, this live wire, this intimacy in a relationship with God. The joys of being in God's will go beyond words. It's like hugging the sun without being burned. It's like being the one to score the game winning shot in an international game. It's like passing algebra. It's like getting a supersized mint chocolate chip milkshake. Except better.

"There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations -- these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit -- immortal horrors or everlasting splendours."

-Clive Staples Lewis

I've been working on my book report for the last hour or so, and looking over the pages, I came across some paragraphs that gripped my attention when I first read them.  This is taken from the book, The Next Generation Leader.

"The leader who accomplishes great things will not always be the most talented or the best educated ---it will be the leader who refuses to put brackets on his thinking.  It will be the leader who refuses to limit himself by what others have done or failed to do."

"Dream no small dreams, for they stir not the hearts of men."

"So dream!  Dream big.  Dream often.  Somewhere in all those random ideas that flood your mind is one that will capture your heart and imagination.  And that seemingly random idea may very well evolve into a vision for your life and leadership."

"You're afraid.  So what?  Everybody's afraid.  Fear is the common ground of humanity.  The question you must wrestle to the ground is, 'Will I allow my fear to bind me to mediocrity?'  [He then says:]  If so, there is no reason for you to finish this book."

"What could be?  What should be?  Write it down.  Hang it on a wall.  Broadcast it."

I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.

I am easily satisfied with the very best.

One ought never to turn one's back on a threatened danger and try to run away from it. If you do that, you will double the danger. But if you meet it promptly and without flinching, you will reduce the danger by half. Never run away from anything. Never!

History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.

~Winston Churchill

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You do not beat your opponent at game time.  You beat your opponent every waking moment leading up to game time.  You beat your opponent by providing your body with proper rest, hydration, and nutrition.  You beat your opponent by pushing yourself as hard as you can so that all energy is spent.  As soon as you are finished, you beat your opponent by doing it all over again.  That much is known.  The secret of the matter, however, is that the opponent you are defeating leading up to game time is not the team you shall face.  Rather, it is your Self.  If you possess the determination and passion to always conquer Self before game time, at game end, you shall always be victorious.

~Greg Buchanan