Vote For Something Better

When I reached Los Angeles and found a place to live after a month of searching and sleeping on floors- I was ecstatic. I discovered a small but perfect place in North Hollywood. As I walked into my room my first night there, my mind suddenly burst with ideas about how to make my space complete. Immediately I began to make it the best place to live I could, hanging up pictures on the plain white walls and arranging furniture in the most feng shui way possible. But I also found out other people had ideas about what was the best way to arrange the apartment. Living with three other people, my roommates and I (of course) often differ in opinion on the best arrangement for our shared space. Our most common discussion is where the best place for a TV. So we (more than we should) talk back and forth about where the optimal placement for the old hunk of screen is. We weigh where the light would be best and where the sound would have the most epic feel. But as I think about it, I realize, rarely do we ever actually care where the TV actually is, and we end up not even moving it at all. I think the reason for this is, at the end of the day, we know while making our apartment the best it can be is important and fun- we know somewhere in the back of our minds, that this tiny old apartment is not our permanent home. Each of us have dreams of moving out someday to better places and even owning our own homes.

While, I never want to diminish the importance of elections or leaders, I think it important to remember that this physical  earth/country/state is not our permanent home. Our creator and designer has not called us to set up on earth a kingdom but rather add to the kingdom of heaven.

In these last hours as we eagerly await to see who will run out country and become essentially the most powerful man in the world. I think it is our nature to get caught up in the worries and fears of losing, or the excitement of what winning would feel like, to feel hope when we see our candidate speaking of how they will make a better world for us. But among all this political talk and policy toting, I think we forget maybe where our hope actually lyes.

To be honest, no matter who wins the election to run this country, God is still in control. And yes, while building a better place and country and world is optimal, it still is all passing, it is all part of a world that we will leave. It is all part of a temporary home.

We are living for a country beyond this, a place where we will be face to face with our creator living in true purpose and fulfillment.

So today, pray for God's will, and HIS kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven. And remember no matter what happens we are passing through on our way to the best country of all.

The Artist, The Scientist and ME.

I am an artist, in my head there is always something new to be made, sung, seen and created. I was made this way, I was made this way because I was made by a designer who made me to follow him on his love for creation.

When I write a song, draw a picture, or create a story, I am literally living in the image of my creator who loves artistic expression so much that He - being the first artist - after creating beauty in nature for his and our pleasure, created ME to create beauty for his and others pleasure, to greater reveal his nature as an intelligent designer and bring share in his artistic endeavor called life.

But there is a belief now, that if you believe that god is an artist, you don’t believe in science.

But I also think God is the master scientist!

Individuals who believe in intelligent design, don't not believe in science, in fact it's the opposite, they believe in science to it's fullest, they respect science far more than those who think it simply happened. They honor the beauty of science by believing that something as beautiful and increasingly complex as something like DNA must have had a master designer. That the amazing life we find in our scientific searches is simply to beautiful to have just happened, and rather was built intentionally and specific purpose.

Scientific exploration no more negates the idea of intelligent design, than opening up a computer learning about how and why it works, and coming to the conclusion that there must have been a programmer does.

I cannot ignore the beautiful intent of what I see every day.

Wherever I look I see finger prints of a master craftsman left scattered across his masterpieces.

When I look into the night sky and gaze at the ever expanding splashing of stars, I see a master designer, when I look at a close up view of a human cell I see an engineer, meticulous and sensical. When I study the human brain I see a programmer carefully installing the necessary programs to sustain life, When I see a human face, I see an artist passionately molding beautiful form utilizing all different colors to create beautiful eyes hair and skin.

If you choose, to look at these things and simply see an accident, that is you choice and you have every right to it your opinion.

But, I will always implore you to look again.

Make Your Demons Dance To a New Tune (Guest Post)

Tonight I rushed home from work…feeling exhausted, a little sick, and rundown. I was ready to curl up with my dog and watch some mindless television.  I didn’t want to be convicted, or forced to think, or have any deep realizations. So, I turned on E News.I was thinking I’d see some “who wore it better” or “fashion police” type of stuff. But instead, one of the hosts was talking about how many young Hollywood actors, full of potential, tragically died under the age of 25. The exact words of this host were: “These talented young people succumbed to some very dark demons.” This immediately sent chills down my spine. We all know that Hollywood can be a very dark place. One of my goals in being here is to somehow bring light to this city. But it’s not just temptation we’re fighting…it’s our own demons. We are fighting a war everyday…and remaining complacent about it. The host said that the most common downfalls of these young starlets were drugs, addiction, depression and suicide. I think not only Hollywood, but our entire generation, puts so much pressure on being “famous”…being “liked”…even on Facebook, it’s all about how many people “liked” your food photo of the day. We are longing for something so deeply in our hearts and souls. We are aching for love. We are hurting for affection. We are in pain because we are lacking this crucial affirmation. This pain leads to anything that will numb us. This is exactly what Satan wants.

Sometimes I let myself forget that Satan is real. I forget that there is a war going on…and we are in the midst of it. Living in Hollywood, I sometimes feel that I am fighting so many battles…so many demons. Drugs, sex, alcohol, money, fame, glory. I sometimes become overwhelmed and wonder why God has called me to be in LA. What does He think I can possibly do? I’m trying my best, but how can a tiny girl have any power over these demons we all face? And then I remember…it’s not me who holds the power. Luke 10:17 says:

“Master, even the demons danced to your tune!”

Jesus goes on to tell the seventy he had chosen that he had given them “safe passage as you walk on snakes and scorpions, and protection from every assault of the Enemy.”

We all face demons everyday. The demons manifest into severe temptation. Maybe you want so badly to drink your depression away. Maybe you want to have sex with your boyfriend and you really don’t see the harm in it anymore. Maybe you’re tired of feeling alone and feel that a few pills could ease that hurt. We allhave demons…but we aren’t supposed to face them alone. Turning on E News (and informing yourself on Hollywood history) is enough proof that when we try to fight these wars alone, it doesn’t work. Like it or not, we will always have demons in our lives, twirling around us, that we are dancing with daily. But what if there was a way to change the tune of that dance? Place your trust in God’s hands tonight…and He alone can make even the worst demons dance to His tune.

-Rachael Lee Stroud

Read more by Rachael here

Am I too Immune?

The warm summer air hit my face as me and my friend stepped out into the 9 a clock evening.

We had decided it was the perfect night for some frozen Ice cream, so we headed to our usual down the street before we settled in for the night.

As we strolled down Magnolia Boulevard, the smells of ethnic food and the sounds of night life filled our senses, telling the story of the mash-up of cultures and backgrounds crammed into this small part of LA.

We passed our local grocery store enjoying the weather and plethora of unique and diverse characters that seemed to cover the streets in this area all on their way to who-knows-what.

The cheap rent and close amenities seemed to invite and nurture people from every walk of life to cohabitate in this place called the NOHO Arts District.

Once we had our hands wrapped around cups of heaping sweetness we headed to our usual eating spot, a wall next to the street that gave the best view of this part of the city, enabling good conversation and great observation capability.

Usually we were able to sit in peace while watching all the young actor/dancer/singer hopefuls, dressed in their slim cut pants and thrift store t-shirts, here to make it big, gathering together for a night stroll with others of their kind.

Or the large families pushing kids across the street laughing with their spouses.

Or a young-love filled couple holding hands for the first time, standing like a movie scene under streetlights.

But that night offered a very different scene.

As I crammed a huge bite of vanilla goodness into my mouth I asked my friend a question about an audition he had coming up the next day.

But he didn’t answer, instead his eyes grew wide and he looked past my head.

As I turned around, I saw a car full of young guys in the parking lot, it seemed as if they had been trying to leave but had been stopped by a young girl looking to be not much older than me.

She was leaning with attitude into their now open passenger window, talking and flirting to them.

She was wearing high heals and clothes that seemed to tight for comfort

The young men in the car started laughing and signaled her to turn around, she did, showing her self off, in a fashion-show esque style.

Then suddenly the car took off out of the parking lot down the road, their laughs echoing coldly into the warm air as it they faded away down the street.

The girl (who I had now gathered was a woman of the night) just stood there.

Perfectly still, like a statue, frozen where she had been left.

Then, coming back to the moment, she began to look around as if searching for another car or potential client.

I looked back at my friend, we stared at each other waiting for the others reaction.

My first impression was one of confusion, almost letting out a laugh at the ridiculous scene I had just been subject to.

Then remembering who I was -a caring and self proclaimed ‘good guy’- I quickly added “That’s very sad”

my friend agreeing with an “Of course”

The young girl walked by us on the sidewalk almost shamefully lifting her head to look at us.

My friend smiled and said “Hello” politely, unsure of how much eye contact was appropriate as she made her way into the darkness.

A few weeks earlier I had sat in the same place eating the same concoction of vanilla sweetness.

I had left the house to get some fresh air right after dinner and was hoping to have a relaxing time of contemplation and thought.

When suddenly seemingly out of nowhere appeared a young man.

As I lifted my head from my second meal, I saw he was shirtless and dressed in torn and worn out clothes, his short hair and young face were dirty.

I noticed his vacant look on his countenance, that had at some point in his young life, taken up residency over his face.

From what I could tell He looked to be about my age.

As I gave another a quick and hopefully unnoticed glance at him, hoping he would just go away, I saw he had walked up to me, stopped and just stood beside me looking into the distance, as if he was an actor who had forgotten his lines.

I realized I had seen him before, wandering around this part of the city by my house.

He was clearly homeless, and alone.

I often became annoyed when seeing him hassle people for money, or hitting on girls as they crossed the street, I wondered why didn’t he just ‘get a job’ and live like a normal person.

The awkward seconds past as he stood there silent, just staring past my shoulder as if fighting to remember what he was doing, clearly under the influence of something strong.

I had seen it many times before, addiction ruining lives, but rarely this young.

I felt he had no excuse.

I’ve gone through hard things, but you don’t see me acting crazy like this, I thought judgmentally.

Then suddenly.

“Have you seen the girl with the cigarettes?”

He said breaking the uncomfortable silence, still looking past me into another world.

What? I thought

“No.” I replied coldly

Then suddenly he looked at me, I felt his eyes on my face, studying me as if to see if I was a friend.

I looked back into his probing blue eyes that seemed to speak of more sadness than most did for the amount of years he had been on this earth.

“Do YOU have a cigarette?” He asked a little quieter.

Again, I gave him the short answer.

“No.”

And with that he was off, he leaped over the wall and began looking for his smoke elsewhere.

On my my way home that night, I kept seeing his eyes as they would appear in my mind, interrupting whatever thought I had.

Like a movie that I couldn’t hit the STOP button on, the vision of his distant blue eyes looking at me kept ringing in my head.

I couldn’t help the feeling that somehow, I saw my self in his gaze.

We both were around the same age, living in the same city and we even both had blue eyes.

I wondered how I would have treated my self, had I ever chanced upon meeting my self in less than ideal circumstances.

Would I have turned my self away with a cold “No” like I had just done.

How could I have been so cold?

As I sit here at my desk this morning, just down the street from the wall I experienced these stories.

I think about my reactions to each one of these people, to the young girl in the throws of desperation enough, that she would sell her self and her body.

I think of the young man who felt so chained by addiction he had alienated himself to the point of poverty and living in a run down car, parked next to the grocery store.

I think of how my first reaction to each of the scenes was one of coldness.

I wonder why.

Have I become so used to looking at the world through a screen of my computer or TV or car window, that even while I am faced with real life, I look at it as if in third person?

As if the darkness around me doesn’t effect me that it’s not real?

Have I become so desensitized to the sadness of the world around me, I think it normal and something simply to be observed?

Even the beautiful things in the world I realize, have become normal to me.

I suddenly am taken back to the time when I was a child, when the first time I saw something as simple as snow, it was literally magical, and was shocked that anyone could ever be homeless or not have enough to eat.

I want that again, I want to be affected by the world, good and bad, I want to be amazed at sunsets and heart broken over heart break.

I want to once again to put my self in peoples places and remember when I was lost and in over my head, the people that looked on me with compassion and helped me through my struggles, not merely dismissed with with a cold word.

I wish now, I could go back and to the young woman, give her whatever money I had in my pocket and remind her there are good men in the world who are able to love her for more than her body, and remind her of her worth that God made her with.

I want to go back to the young man and buy him a meal and tell him we have all been there, dealing with vices we think we can’t break or escape from, but remind him, there is hope and a God who designed him with a purpose.

But I can’t.

So instead, I have made a decision, as I sit her typing away on my little Mac in the heart of North Hollywood- I will no longer be immune to life.

I will let my heart break for the broken in the world and do whatever I can to bring light.

By not being immune to the darkness the exists OR the beauty of world that can bring light.

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helples

The world needs Heros

The world needs Heroes. There will always be darkness. So let's raise out lights even higher.

Please pray for all involved in the horrible events of this morning.

Wouldn't You?

Even if it was all a lie, Even if it all turned out to not be true...

Wouldn’t you rather go through this life believing that-

You were made intentionally and with a specific purpose, by a loving creator that gave his life for you.

That this isn’t all there is, and there is a better place waiting for you after this world with no hurt or pain.

That you aren’t some random gathering of mass, that luckily got a few years to exist. But rather you were designed.

That you are a beautiful soul, instead of simply a decaying physical body.

That all of the love, laughter, pain, triumph, joy, sorrow, friendship, family and life you experience is actually shaping eternity. And not just a futile way to spend time?

Even if it was all a lie, and all of it was made up.

Wouldn’t you rather believe?

And if you did, wouldn’t just simply believing it...

Change        e v e r y t h i n g ?

Is God Bigger than the Fire?

Right now, my home-town is burning, a fire is ravaging its way through houses and neighborhoods destroying countless memories and lives. It burns almost completely out of control, sending tens of thousands of people from their homes and forced to seek shelter from this monster arriving in epic but tragic movie fashion, here to wreak havoc and ensue chaos.

I cannot even imagine the pain so many are feeling.

My home is filled with people seeking shelter from the fire, praying for Gods will.

But while millions watch as this fiery creature eats its way through so much beauty leaving only ash. I am forced to evaluate and ponder what I think about God and who He is.

I would be lying to my self and you if I were to say I haven't struggled and questioned him. I want to know how He could let this happen and how He could let this go on.

But, as I pray and ask these questions, as I look God in the eye and ask why and how?

I am met with an overwhelming peace. The same comfort we feel as children when our father is near, no matter what is happening.

Then I hear him ask me...

"Who do you believe is greater?

I look at the pictures of the fire covering my precious mountains I grew up in, again I hear him ask

"Who do you believe is greater?"

I see and hear the stories of people losing everything they owned in flames.

"Who do YOU believe is greater, me or the fire that rages on?"

---

No matter where we are or what happens in this life, the truth is - there will never be a time when there is not going to be a monster threatening to destroy, or a fire waging war.

Rarely do we see it so vividly. But none the less this world will never have a shortage of fires, figurative or literal.

So as I struggle and wrestle, at the end of the day as the fire roars on, I remember that my hope lies not in the absence of fires but the presence of a loving, powerful God.

I remember I am not living for this world where sickness kills, thieves steal and fires burn, but for a kingdom to come.

But until then, we have a loving God who cares about our smallest worry concern and heartache. He is ready to hold, love, comfort and remind us He is bigger than any fire we could ever face.

---

Please join with me in praying for protection, comfort, community, wisdom and peace.

Prayer is real and will change things. We have a powerful God. The Powerful God.

---

‎"We don't have a permanent city here, but rather we are looking for the city that is still to come. "So let’s continually offer up a sacrifice of praise through him, which is the fruit from our lips that confess his name." -Hebrews 13:14-15

23

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u8Ihq4Wtig My new song where I did my best to describe what it sounds like to turn 23.

Can you can feel it, in the night Lonely sheets, dancing lights Through the window, feel the cold Whispers softly, you're getting old

Hear the voices, in the wind rushing through these halls again Sending shivers to your bone Taste of somewhere takes you home

Chorus:

Can you hear me In the night, Telling stories of you and I Through the darkness we will fight Because the morning was made from the night

Feel the fire beneath your skin Wooden bed-frames and scary men Stealing gentility all your dreams Off your night stand stealing me

I swear I made your ancient glow Maybe a million years ago Your hair is different, but so am I Have you lost the fire you held tight

You are what you chase

Living in LA, everyday I see people chasing things. I’m no exception, about three years ago I came out here chasing a dream as well. For the first year I lived here, I very cliche’dly worked many different jobs supporting my dream of becoming an actor/musician/writer. One of those jobs; was being and extra in movies and TV shows. Before I got to LA, I always thought this would be a very exiting way to make money, some of the time it was. But, what many people don’t know that working as background on a movie, is not all explosions, special effects and movie stars. Most of the day spent as an extra, occurred next to the snack table surrounded by a group of other extras waiting for lunch. When you had hours in-between shots, the way you would pass the time would be to talk with people. what I found out very quickly is that It seemed that everyone else had come here chasing dreams as well.

When I first got to Hollywood- I would be on set, or at a restaurant, or church, I would meet someone and ask them questions like. “Where are you from” “What do you do” “What have you done” And things like that. But now, after spending a considerable amount of time out here I think I am going to begin asking people a different question. Something a little more direct. “What are you chasing?” I’m sure I will get some weird looks, but I think it will help boil down past the pleasantries most stand behind. Out here, if you posed a question like this, and asked for complete honesty, you will undoubtedly find answers like. “I’m chasing fame” “I’m chasing respect” “I’m chasing money” “I’m chasing love” Which should be no surprise to me finding answers like that, considering it being such a self centered world. But, to be fair, I don’t think it’s just Hollywood in which people are chasing things. I think everyone, everywhere is chasing something. You, are chasing something. We were made to.

God put in us a spirit to chase, to have ambition and seek out the things we are passionate about, God made us to chase him. But somewhere along the way we stop chasing God and start chasing other things. They’re not always even bad things, sometimes we are simply chasing love, or security. Longings that God him self has put in us. But, I think the failure to chase the creator of love and security and simply chasing the feeling- can lead us down destructive paths to places and relationships we can’t find the way out of.

I see this played out daily. As I grow up a little more each year it becomes more and more apparent in mine and peoples behavior. Every night when go turn on the TV, and see one more girl taking off her clothes for TV show ratings. Then, quickly change the channel to the news, and see one more powerful man, caught in a web of his own lies, ruining his life and the lives of those around him, just for money. Or, I will read about a star who overdosed on drugs because even the ‘good life’ didn’t numb his pain. Or hear the very real fact that where I live in the San Fernando Valley; There is more pornography made here, the anywhere in the world.

When I let theses things sink in, I start to wonder how these things could possibly happen. How and why do we end up, selling our dignity, start loving money more than people, give up on life and even sell our bodies for a few dollars?

I think the answer to HOW we end up in these places, are the things we CHASED there. Maybe we had no idea we would end up in those destructive life ruining places when we started chasing attention, money, relief and love. But now that we’ve arrived there, we can’t get out. So, is there any hope for us?

Yes...

God is the creator, redeemer and lover of all, and there is nowhere or place he can’t find us and make us new. I think if we have found our selves in a place we don’t like, or, even see our selves stepping in directions we didn’t think we ever would and want to get out or avoid hurt and pain, we must start chasing Jesus, the one who created perfect love, security and self worth. But, for that to happen we have to be willing to stop chasing everything else in our lives and begin chasing only him. When we do this we will start to see all the things we were looking for in the first place, but could never find, come in the ways they were always meant to.

In the pursuit of the creator we will find we are on the path that leads to life. God wants to give us the desires of our hearts but He also knows the way better than we could ever know on our own. So, when Jesus becomes the desire of our hearts, we’ll will find our selves more loved, more satisfied more content than we could ever imagine. Because only in the pursuit of him will find what we are truly looking for.

So I encourage you to ask yourself, “What am I chasing? Why? Where is it taking me?” And maybe if your up for it, try chasing the creator of every good thing, and just see where He might lead you.

When I was nineteen I had just moved to NY chasing a dream, shortly after I arrived God asked me the question, “Are you going to chase your dreams and desires, or are you going to chase me and the dreams and desires I have for you?” I chose to chase God, I am not perfect and I trip often, but nothing will stop me on my pursuit of him. After that I began writing a book Wisdom Chasers, a collection of essays formed into a bible study, pondering what it looks like to live a life in pursuit of Jesus.

If you would like to get a copy for your self (I would love if you did) Click here for the NEW printed version Click here for the Ebook

ineed

I woke up this morning and with no hesitation I went through the list of what I want,

I wanted to eat, so I planned what food I should give to my self.

Then, halfway through making my self breakfast I had an unhealthy desire for coffee, so I poured caffeine down my throat.

Then I wanted to sit down in my the blue chair, but my roommate was sitting in the chair I wanted to sit in, so I decided to have a bad attitude and be grumpy.

I pulled out my iphone, and wanted to send a text without moving my fingers and suddenly wondered why I had to be the only person in the world without Siri...Life is really hard on me.

Then I walked back to my room and saw this picture of a young girl living in a third world country, celebrating because her village now has clean water. She is ecstatically happy because of water......just water.....

I have water, in fact I have around 20 glasses of half filled drunken water on my counter. I sometimes take hour-long showers because I can. And every now and again I pay people to dump it on my car because there is a smudge on my car window. And I don't think I have ever once been as thankful as her for water.

I have lots of water, food, friends, but somehow I still find something to complain about, daily.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with having, wanting or needing things. But how often are the things we find ourselves buying spending time on or getting-revolving only around ourselves and what we think we should have.

How often do we need a cup of coffee so we buy one for four bucks, how often are we hungry so we get a snack for our selves, how often do we want a new ipad so we get one for our selves? There is nothing wrong with any of these things, but lets turn it on the flip side.

How often when we are eating, we think of the millions of people (thousands in our own country) who wont be eating today,

How often do we play angry birds on our ipad do we think of the fact that for the same price of single ipad an entire village could have a well providing clean water, saving the lives of thousands.

I every day, ignore, coddle, and intentionally live selfishly. I have decided to fight that. So I am not going to do that with you.

If you have a sink, and have eaten today, you are blessed and richer than 99% of the world. You need to give. You will never actually be happy until you do. Neither will I. So, I don't care where it is. But we need to give, I need to give, You need to give.

So I started a fundraiser for a group started by a young man in my church that is giving the most basic and necessary thing for life there could be. Giving water to those who need it.

I would be absolutely honored if you would consider giving to my fund-raiser Nathan John Clarkson's Give a Cup of Cold Water

Honestly, to reach my goal I need you, but for someone to live another day they need you. Please don't think about giving, just do. The new iphone can wait. A child's life cannot. Your awesome, no go be awesome.

Click this link to give to my fundraiser.

Give a cup of cold water. Jesus said so, that's why.

The next time you walk to your kitchen and turn on your sink to fill up a glass of water I want you to do a couple of things.

First- drink and enjoy it. Enjoy the wonderful nectar of life, let it satisfy your thirst and sustain you.

Then- when you're done, I want you to think of one billion people around the world, who have no access to clean water, or the ability to a basic necessity of life at their disposal, for maybe their entire life.

Recently yesterday I was at church, I had attended in hopes of doing my spiritual duty for the week expecting to make a clean entrance and exit, not expecting to be convicted. As I sat there counting down the minutes to punching my spiritual time card, a young man about my age (23) got up on stage and shared something that was on his heart. He was talking about a movement he had started after visiting a third world country in which people didn't have clean drinking water. Then he shared startling statistics.

• The lack of clean drinking water is the number one cause of death in the world, more than war, aids and famine combined.
• Nearly one billion people don't have access to clean drinking water (about one seventh of the world's population)
• 84% of the 9,800 deaths a day as a result of the lack of clean drinking water, are children under the age of 14
• The list goes on, but I think you might get the picture.

As I sat there and listened to what this young man had to say, it hit me in the face like a ton of bricks. So I decided to jump on board in what ever way I could. I love to write, I love being in-front of camera. So I decided to start my own fundraiser and raise 1000 dollars to help make wells and give clean water to those who have none. But honestly to do this, I need your help.

I am not going to spend paragraph to try and guilt you about you not doing your part, or trying to convince you why you should give. You know why. I just want to remind you of one thing.

"And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded."

-Jesus

So, I would absolutely love it if you would help me give a cup of cold water to Jesus, by giving it to someone who might never have it if it wasn't for you.

Click on the link to get involved in my and fundraiser for generosity water's nobel mission.

Then get involved and share this post with your friends and family and lets change the world one cup of water at a time.

-Nathan John Clarkson

I am 23 years old and looking forward.

Today is my first day of being 23 years old.

God is very good to me.

It meas so much to me, that anyone at all reads the words I write.

It would also mean so much, if you ever get a chance, to pray for me.

Pray for God's leading, open doors, and wisdom in everything I do.

God has always been faithful for the past 22 years of my life, I can't wait to see the way He will work as I step into this new adventure.

Thank you all for reading and sharing this journey with me.

Thank you Jesus.

-Nathan John Clarkson

He has risen indeed!

My church Oasis in Los Angeles

No matter who you are, or what you believe, it's impossible to ignore the incredible and unequaled death and mote importantly life of Jesus. I believe with all my heart he did it because he loves me and he loves you with all his heart. Happy Easter!

-Nathan

John 3:16

Hallelujah (I'll still sing) - New Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGUOtK5XmVk&feature=youtu.be I'm losing every part of me the end of me the start of me in the cold i tried to walk alone

I coud use some hope right now I'm buried deep inside my doubt I just can't seem to see the way out

hallelujah

I wish I had the words to sing the pain i feel more beautifully instead ill ware my heart upon my sleeve

can I say this honestly to the king of majesty im so hurt I just can't lift my hands

hallelujah

I thought if I could just ignore the things I put behind closed doors they would burn away and leave me be

but it tore right through the heart of me into the place no one can see right past the mask I tried to make for you

Fight for Light

"There is always light to be found, for the ones who fight to see it"

Don't stop fighting to see the light in your world. Hold strong and keep going.

Beautiful things should never be cheap.

As a poor starving artist, I rarely eat at the finest of establishments, not because I don't love fine food, but simply because if I did this on a regular basis, I would have to start choosing between that, or driving, and sleeping in a room that has a roof.

But every now and again, I find my more civilised self tapping me on the shoulder, handing me a collard shirt and nudging me out the door to a more than usual classy night. Recently I had an occasion to take a pretty lady to dinner, it was a night that called for a fancy place, and so I answered its call with a rooftop restaurant looking out over all of LA. It was beautiful, the music was playing softly and the entire space was lit in a way that made you feel as if you stood above the norm and grim of everyday life. For the first few minuets we enjoyed a the ambiance letting all the classyness that hung in the air seep in. Until of course the menu came. I opened to find a hear attack awaiting me in the prices of food, or at least the ones listed. I was about to decide to fill up on water when, a calming peace came over me, and God seemed to whisper in my ear. "It's worth it". So I made the decision to let go of my fears of price or anything of that nature and simply enjoy the chance to experience the finer things for a night.

I have very rarely tasted food as good, every bite was an experience, enhanced only by the beauty of the view, the girl and the ambience of the night. So that when the check came, the price seemed small for the memory we were able to share. I think even though I might be eating from the 99 cent store for a year, that God was happy. God loves special things, God loves when beautiful things are expensive.

It's very sad to me to watch our culture, tares apart, throws away and makes fun and light of the things God has made sacred and beautiful. It's as if we are putting 99% off sales, on things that should cost a fortune. Turn on the TV and just watch as sex; something that was made beautiful by God to be shared with one person, is made into a game to play and win at. Or our as we flip through magazines you'll see the young girls who jump at the chance to sell their own bodies take and off their clothes just advertise a new makeup.

I think more than anything it makes me sad. Because I don't think we know what we are doing. And I don't think we are looking at the effect it will carry out on our lives. But when we begin to cheapen the things that were made to come a very high price, we starting losing touch with what we are worth. I guess if you take nothing else from this, remember that you are expensive and you came a high price. So recognize what is worth a fortune and don't take the knock off brand. And be willing to pay a fortune for something that truly deserves it.

Especially you ladies, you are beautiful and wonderfully made, you are made to be honored and respected. Your level of worth is that God would die for you. So that being the standered, never let your self be bought for anything less than a fortune. If any man is worth being with, He will remind you of your true worth and treat you a such.

Sorry, a little ranty and disorganized this post, but I live in a place where people aren't valued and people don't value themselves. So I just wanted to remind you all of the amazing immaculate worth you have. You were made in the image of God, and are truly priceless.

-Nathan

Did God make you fast? Then RUN!!!

"I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure."

-Eric Liddell

As I sit here at my desk and read this quote for the seventh time. It continues to punch me in the chest, as I let the words hit me time and again. I read the saying aloud one more time and again, I am struck with a life altering truth, that I find my self consistently forgetting: I was made not as a commodity, or simple tool, not to simply do some work then die, not a some cog in a machine. But rather, I was made creatively and beautifully. I was made with purpose and intention. God hand-made me specifically to bring him pleasure.

I remember when I was 18 I had made it to the showcase of a talent competition. I was standing back stage, waiting for my go at charming the audience, while nervously rubbing my hands together and making sure I remembered every note and word I had to play and sing. The act that was scheduled to perform before me stepped out onto the stage. He was a dancer. But I remember even just from the stage right-wing of the theater; I was amazed as I watched the young man come to life as the music started. His feet knew every step  by heart, and his hands and body were in perfect unison, hitting every mark on every beat. But the entire dance was almost completely out-shined by the light on his face. As I watched him skillfully and beautifully hit every mark; I couldn't take my eyes off of his face, and the passion it held. And it suddenly occurred to me that, this is what he was made to do. Not simply something he can do, or is supposed to do, but what God had made him to do. It was then I decided, there are very few things more beautiful than watching someone do what God has created and designed them to.

You were made to bring God pleasure, he has made you, as the bible says "fearfully and wonderfully". With specific desires and skills that are made for the sole purpose of bringing your creator pleasure.

So, today and everyday I encourage you to do the things, not that you are obligated to do, or feel that you should do, or even the things you think you are good at, but rather pursue, hone, and practice the things you were made to do. When you do this you will begin to feel God's pleasure.

So, that being said, I'm off to sing at the top of my lungs.

Love Day

In a time of stores filled with red cut out hearts for sale.

A culture spending millions of dollars on the constant search for love.

And every commercial, movie and TV show depicting and promising us love-

What a refreshing, romantic, poetic, and beautiful description of what real love actually looks like, written by the one who invented it.

Happy Valentines Day

 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Talking with a real life movie star, about romance and real love.

This weekend, I had the opportunity to go and see the new romantic drama, "The Vow," staring Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams. This movie will be coming out a few days before Valentines Day.

I have to admit I walked in to the packed theater full of people, with my expectations already set.

I could foresee a sweet, and cliche movie I had seen before many times in different skins, and would no doubt see repackaged again next Valentine's Day.

 But as the opening credits appeared and the movie began, I quickly found out that this movie would pleasantly surprise me, and destroy my preconceived ideas. (Not to say it was without it's classic love story scenes; Male lead in the rain, etc..). But as the story began to unfold, I found my self immediately drawn in.

 We are drawn into the love story between husband and wife, Leo and Paige,  who are suddenly shattered after a horrific car accident.  Leo escapes with only scratches but Paige has the last five years erased from her memory, causing her to forget their relationship, marriage, and even their meeting.

 This all happening within the first ten minutes of the movie, setting it up. Consequently, this is  not your typical girl meets "guy and falls in love", but rather girl meets guy, falls in love, then girl forgets ever meeting guy.

Without giving away to much, we watch as Paige (Rachel McAdams) struggles to find out who she is, how to deal with waking up being married to a man she's never met, and  Leo (Channing Tatum), fighting with everything he has, to hold on to his marriage and the woman he loves.

I think what surprised and drew me to this movie so much, was how different it seemed to be from your classic romantic film. In most of the classics, I feel we are let in on the very smallest and often the most unimportant part of the relationship. We usually watch as two people meet, fall in love and as my mother would say "Become twitter-pated with each other." Then, the screen fades to black, the credits roll and the movie ends. But is that really where the love story ends? Is that all love is, just a nice feeling? What happens when the "Feeling" goes away? What happens when relationship is hard and can only survive if fought for? The Vow seems to begin it's love story where most end. It begins when love starts to be tested, but where I think, love becomes real. In this culture of immediate gratification and 'Doing what we feel" I think we rarely get a realistic picture of what love is,  what we want, right now, without making the choice to stick with something, no matter how what the cost. We see every day on the tv and in Hollywood more splits between two people who promised to love each other forever. We see half of all marriages ending in divorce, and the sad thing is it's becoming the norm.

So how could we possibly be a culture that so desires love stories, that we will pay millions to go and watch them, yet, after all this time still don't know how to actually live out a loving relationship? That is why this movie was so refreshing to see and actually portrayed a realistic depiction of what a love story should. Not necessarily one involving memory loss, but still one in which love is not depicted as something that just comes easy, or free. We get to watch a man who, to save his marriage and keep the one he loves, has to fight. I actually had the chance to sit down with a couple of the Actors from the film and talk with them about the message of the film. I asked Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum why they think marriage is of value and something worth fighting for. A  few seconds, Mr. Tatum expressed his regret and disappointment in the state that marriage and commitment is in today. He playfully expressed his hopes of this movie showing a realer love. Then he said, "I don't think people go at it in the right way anymore, it's such a culture about right now, you know?  Things that are supposed to bring us together, just make us further apart."

Finally, he summed his views up by saying, "Even moral things, like how you want to raise children, I think that's the big hurdle when you get married. Every thing's fine when your together, then it comes time to raise a child."

I like what Channing said, and wholeheartedly agree, I don't think people go at it the right way anymore, and we have become a culture of right now. But what happens when it's not easy anymore, or like Channing stated, when a child is thrown into the mix?

Do we and Will we have what it takes, to make, hold and fight for a lasting love?

Later I asked the Director of the film Michael Sucsy, what he thought the elements of a lasting love were. He said. "Understanding, and commitment" I concur.

So, I thoroughly enjoyed, and was ultimately inspired by the movie- to, be a person that seeks out real love not just the easy kind. Interestingly,  I found out the film is based on a true story- and it is about a Christian couple who dealt with a wife's loss of five years of memory and the story that followed. I would have enjoyed spiritual aspect to have played a bigger part in the film, but, all in all, I think the movie is a beautiful picture of what real love often times should look like, with a man fighting through it to keep his marriage and the one he loves.

So,take your significant other, to see an esthetically beautiful movie, with quality acting, and a moving message, for a romantic night of REAL love.

My confession.

I have a confession to make, I Nathan J Clarkson have been lying to you.

Don't worry, not intentionally, but none the less, I have been being less than honest with you.

I remember when I was in high school , I began learning the art of saying what I thought God wanted to hear. If you were to walk into a room while youth group was going on. You would feel the eagerness of youth searching for answers to the barley tested waters called life. We would sit in circles staring at each other wondering how we would show and what we would say about what we knew about life god and love. But only now at 22 am I starting to get a picture for how much I don't know.

And that is okay.

I say "I have been lying to you" because, while not intentionally trying to deceive you- Almost every time I sit down at this computer I began going through my mind, searching,  to tell you (whoever might be reading this. Mom, girlfriend, etc...) all the things I know, all the things that should be told, or you should know, or points that need to be proven. But truth be told, I don't know much.

But.

What I have finally found out, is that their is freedom in not knowing. It not having all the answers. For I think (not know) that when we allow ourselves to put on the truth that we don't and don't have to know everything. We can greater know the one who does.