http://andrewlaparra.com/

dating...practicing for divorce?

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:51:34 -0500

“I think dating is practicing for divorce.” -Matt Chandler

God and Sex.

This message was so so powerful in my life today. I listened to this on my drive from MN to Topeka, Kansas. God used Chandler to teach me so much, to help me think more gospel centered, and to show me how much I don’t know about God, life, courtship, and sex.

I’m going to have to go back and listen to it a few more times, because I can’t retain that much information in one sitting, but it’s really good.

To listen to the sermon I did today, click this link.

Photo

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 11:56:23 -0500

Shot this tonight. Incredibly beautiful and romantic.

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:40:53 -0500

Shot this tonight. Incredibly beautiful and romantic.

NEW Don’t Waste Your Life iPhone Wallpaper. Spread...

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 21:57:00 -0500

NEW Don’t Waste Your Life iPhone Wallpaper. Spread it!

www.dontwasteyourlife.com

My brother and I singing for a Haiti Benefit concert in...

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:37:36 -0500

My brother and I singing for a Haiti Benefit concert in Minneapolis, MN.

Are you in the faith?

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:21:55 -0500

Have you ever questioned whether you’re a believer in Christ or not?

Don’t think this as a bad thing necessarily. 2 corinthians 13:5 tells us, ” Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”

That being said, if you’re constantly questioning whether you truly are a believer in the faith, take this time to test and evaluate your life.

A Christian is not simply one who joins a Christian church, nor one who adheres to a certain moral standard in their life or the fact that one consistently reads the Bible. Just because someone prays a prayer at an altar, doesn’t mean they have become a true believer. Just because someone goes to church, sings worship songs, closes their eyes to pray, feels something in church, and memorizes the whole Bible inside and out, does not make them a believer.

You could go to a Dave Matthews Band Concert and experience some of the same things.

The pharisees were great scholars. They knew the Bible so well they could quote any verse to you on the spot. But Jesus called them white washed tombs. He also says in Matthew 23:15, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte (trans.convert a single believer), and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.”

There were a few pharisees who were drawn to Christ, but the rest hated him and wanted him dead.

A reference for the fact that many people who go to church are not true believers. Matthew 7:22-23 ”Many will say to Jesus in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then He will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”

The point here is if your life is dry and lifeless and you recall a time when you prayed “a prayer” something, but it never really changed your life; and you are continually drawn to seek out worldly things rather than Christ,…

Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you. Ask Him to change you. It’s not an emotional experience of crying while listening to soft organ music, it’s knowing in your heart and in your mind that Jesus has taken over your life. And sensing in every living breath the passion to spread His Gospel through your life. You’ll know if you have the Savior if you are drawn to Him daily, and you see Him as the irresistible God that wants you to take pleasure in Him.

Please respond with questions or comments. If something I said did not come across as legitimate, let me know. Thanks.

I did this yesterday. It really hurt.

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:13:51 -0500

I did this yesterday. It really hurt.

Updated photo of me. Thanks to Mr. Carnahan:)

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 13:37:00 -0500

Updated photo of me. Thanks to Mr. Carnahan:)

"Pierced is my heart by the one whom I loved and who lovest me. Few things can merely express the..."

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 13:30:00 -0500

“

Pierced is my heart by the one whom I loved and who lovest me.
Few things can merely express the intense agony that has been swirling violently in my heart.
How can one say, I love you more than the living breath in me, then flee to another lover and forget about her prince, her lover, best friend.

Strange is this to me. For even in a thousand years could I not overlook the love we have had together. It is something I cannot unlearn. Some call it love that is unconditional, but I say it is true love. Nothing you ever did would have made me love you less.

But this, Oh this is different. Part of this frail heart, literally, has been shaven off to the point where it becomes hard to breath, hard to think. To this amount I have been weakened, that I do not know If I can continue to long for you for hope in this life. For another glimpse of your face, your touch. Your smile.

Goodbye My Beloved.

”

-

This view strangely brought me comfort this morning.

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 09:25:23 -0500

This view strangely brought me comfort this morning.

What love has meant to me lately.

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:58:59 -0500

I am no expert at this subject, but fortunately I have learned from many godly couples both younger and older.

And after reading, “When sinners say I do”, I was thrown back at the fact that I think I have had it wrong my whole life.

Most of my younger and teenage life, I was told to make a list of things that I want in a wife and look for that. Find this girl who matches up to every little thing that I want. And even everything doesn’t match up, but most, well that’s ok. And so I would go on to do that, and make this list and it went something like this…

1) Beautiful.

2) Christian.

3) Great personality.

4) Likes to sing and/or play piano.

5) A woman who can cook.

6) Great body.

7) Someone funny.

8) Someone who will support me and be a good wife.

9) Someone who has good fashion style.

10) Someone who will serve me.

So that was my list. It’s basically a list of “I wants”

Was I wrong or what? After reading this book, and observing many marriages after my move to MN, I realized that I had it ALL wrong. It’s not about who can I find that will fit my needs and that will take care of me and will just fit right into the mold and idea that I have for a wife. First off, It’s about finding a woman that realizes that she is a sinner and realizes that we’re both going to make mistakes EVERY day. Yes, maybe some days will be amazing, some not so amazing, but God’s grace is the only thing that will keep us in love, not each other. Yes, there are things that we do to show each other that we love each other like hugging, comforting, sharing, loving, kissing, praying, etc, but ultimately God is the key to upholding any relationship, and marriage.

I’m a sinner. I’m going to screw up everyday. So how messed up is that I would go try and find a perfect girl who doesn’t screw up at all and that in my head has to do everything right to fit my plan when that is an impossibility. We are all sinners and we do really bad things. We think awfully prideful thoughts against each other. We think we’re better than the other person in most arguments and so on..

Finally, it’s about finding a wife that you can serve. Not about whether she’s hot, smart, sweet, dresses nice, cooks well, or is brunette or blonde…it’s about finding a woman who knows she’s an awful sinner and she would be nothing without God’s grace, and finding a woman who you can genuinely serve with your whole life. Meaning serve as a husband spiritually, emotionally, and physically.

One of the points of this post is to say that I am no more looking for a woman that fits my list of things.

I am searching for a woman who loves Jesus with a burning, evident passion. And one who would allow me to serve her with my life.

(via pagesofmyheart)

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:27:03 -0500

(via pagesofmyheart)

Photo

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 12:14:32 -0500

one more reason why CS Lewis is at the top of my list of people to meet in heaven.

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:43:45 -0500

selfnotation:

genevieveolivia:

couldbekitschy:

shiningdefiance:

I saw coming towards us a Ghost who carried something on his shoulder. Like all the Ghosts, he was unsubstantial, but they differed from one another as smokes differ. Some had been whitish; this one was dark and oily. What sat on his shoulder was a little red lizard, and it was twitching its tail like a whip and whispering things in his ear. As we caught sight of him he turned his head to the reptile with a snarl of impatience. “Shut up, I tell you!” he said. It wagged its tail and continued to whisper to him. He ceased snarling, and presently began to smile. Then be turned and started to limp westward, away from the mountains.

“Off so soon?” said a voice.

The speaker was more or less human in shape but larger than a man, and so bright that I could hardly look at him. His presence smote on my eyes and on my body too (for there was heat coming from him as well as light) like the morning sun at the beginning of a tyrannous summer day.

“Yes. I’m off,” said the Ghost. “Thanks for all your hospitality. But it’s no good, you see. I told this little chap,” (here he indicated the lizard), “that he’d have to be quiet if he came—which he insisted on doing. Of course his stuff won’t do here: I realise that. But he won’t stop. I shall just have to go home.”

‘Would you like me to make him quiet?” said the flaming Spirit—an angel, as I now understood.

“Of course I would,” said the Ghost.

“Then I will kill him,” said the Angel, taking a step forward.

“Oh-ah-look out! You’re burning me. Keep away,” said the Ghost, retreating.

“Don’t you want him killed?”

“You didn’t say anything about killing him at first. I hardly meant to bother you with anything so drastic as that.”

“It’s the only way,” said the Angel, whose burning hands were now very close to the lizard. “Shall I kill it?”

“Well, that’s a further question. I’m quite open to consider it, but it’s a new point, isn’t it? I mean, for the moment I was only thinking about silencing it because up here—well, it’s so damned embarrassing.”

“May I kill it?”

“Well, there’s time to discuss that later.”

“There is no time. May I kill it?”

“Please, I never meant to be such a nuisance. Please—really—don’t bother. Look! It’s gone to sleep of its own accord. I’m sure it’ll be all right now. Thanks ever so much.”

“May I kill it?”

“Honestly, I don’t think there’s the slightest necessity for that. I’m sure I shall be able to keep it in order now. I think the gradual process would be far better than killing it.”

“The gradual process is of no use at all.”

“Don’t you think so? Well, I’ll think over what you’ve said very carefully. I honestly will. In fact I’d let you kill it now, but as a matter of fact I’m not feeling frightfully well today. It would be silly to do it now. I’d need to be in good health for the operation. Some other day, perhaps.”

“There is no other day. All days are present now.”

“Get back! You’re burning me. How can I tell you to kill it? You’d kill me if you did.”

“It is not so.”

“Why, you’re hurting me now.”

“I never said it wouldn’t hurt you. I said it wouldn’t kill you.”

“Oh, I know. You think I’m a coward. But it isn’t that. Really it isn’t. I say! Let me run back by tonight’s bus and get an opinion from my own doctor. I’ll come again the first moment I can.”

“This moment contains all moments.”

“Why are you torturing me? You are jeering at me. How can I let you tear me to pieces? If you wanted to help me, why didn’t you kill the damned thing without asking me—before I knew? It would be all over by now if you had.”

“I cannot kill it against your will. It is impossible. Have I your permission?”

The Angel’s hands were almost closed on the Lizard, but not quite. Then the Lizard began chattering to the Ghost so loud that even I could hear what it was saying.

“Be careful,” it said. “He can do what he says. He can kill me. One fatal word from you and he will! Then you’ll be without me for ever and ever. It’s not natural. How could you live? You’d be only a sort of ghost, not a real man as you are now. He doesn’t understand. He’s only a cold, bloodless abstract thing. It may be natural for him, but it isn’t for us. Yes, yes. I know there are no real pleasures now, only dreams. But aren’t they better than nothing? And I’ll be so good. I admit I’ve sometimes gone too far in the past, but I promise I won’t do it again. I’ll give you nothing but really nice dreams—all sweet and fresh and almost innocent. You might say, quite innocent …”

“Have I your permission?” said the Angel to the Ghost.

“I know it will kill me.”

“It won’t. But supposing it did?”

“You’re right. It would be better to be dead than to live with this creature.”

“Then I may?”

“Damn and blast you! Go on can’t you? Get it over. Do what you like,” bellowed the Ghost: but ended, whimpering, “God help me. God help me.”

Next moment the Ghost gave a scream of agony such as I never heard on Earth. The Burning One closed his crimson grip on the reptile: twisted it, while it bit and writhed, and then flung it, broken backed, on the turf.

“Ow! That’s done for me,” gasped the Ghost, reeling backwards.

For a moment I could make out nothing distinctly. Then I saw, between me and the nearest bush, unmistakably solid but growing every moment solider, the upper arm and the shoulder of a man. Then, brighter still and stronger, the legs and hands. The neck and golden head materialized while I watched, and if my attention had not wavered I should have seen the actual completing of a man—an immense man, naked, not much smaller than the Angel. What distracted me was the fact that at the same moment something seemed to be happening to the Lizard. At first I thought the operation had failed. So far from dying, the creature was still struggling and even growing bigger as it struggled. And as it grew it changed. Its hinder parts grew rounder. The tail, still flickering, became a tail of hair that flickered between huge and glossy buttocks. Suddenly I started back, rubbing my eyes. What stood before me was the greatest stallion I have ever seen, silvery white but with mane and tail of gold. It was smooth and shining, rippled with swells of flesh and muscle, whinnying and stamping with its hoofs. At each stamp the land shook and the trees dindled.

The new-made man turned and clapped the new horse’s neck. It nosed his bright body. Horse and master breathed each into the other’s nostrils. The man turned from it, flung himself at the feet of the Burning One, and embraced them. When he rose I thought his face shone with tears, but it may have been only the liquid love and brightness (one cannot distinguish them in that country) which flowed from him. I had not long to think about it. In joyous haste the young man leaped upon the horse’s back. Turning in his seat he waved a farewell, then nudged the stallion with his heels. They were off before I well knew what was happening. There was riding if you like! I came out as quickly as I could from among the bushes to follow them with my eyes; but already they were only like a shooting star far off on the green plain, and soon among the foothills of the mountains. Then, still like a star, I saw them winding up, scaling what seemed impossible steeps, and quicker every moment, till near the dim brow of the landscape, so high that I must strain my neck to see them, they vanished, bright themselves, into the rose-brightness of that everlasting morning.

C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce

Oh my goodness, this was so awesome. Thanks for sharing this!

Benefit Video for the Disaster in Haiti. Give to the church in...

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:52:00 -0500

Benefit Video for the Disaster in Haiti.

Give to the church in Haiti at churcheshelpingchurches.com

Don’t Waste Your Life

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:50:19 -0500

Don’t Waste Your Life

"religion says: you need to go to church every weekend and on wednesday night too. jesus says: you..."

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:20:58 -0500

“

religion says: you need to go to church every weekend and on wednesday night too.
jesus says: you are the church and wherever you go, I am with you always.

religion says: you must give at least 10% of your income to church because God needs your money.
jesus says: I want 100% of your heart and sometimes a portion of that heart lives in your wallet.

religion says: you need to get yourself cleaned up and put on your sunday best for God!
jesus says: God has seen you on the dirty floor and much worse than that - no need for a show.

religion says: you don’t have enough faith - you haven’t done enough works - you’ll never be enough.
jesus says: I am the King of Kings and you are my son or daughter. you are Royalty and that’s plenty.

”

- ryan detzel (via brookebutler) (via genevieveolivia) (via iamsaved)

A friend gave this list to me 3 years ago.

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 02:32:31 -0500

A friend gave this list to me 3 years ago. It doesn’t guarantee no problems in a relationship, I have realized that as of late, but I’m sure most guys could learn from this…especially those who have wives.

108 Ways for a Husband to Offend His Wife

Ignoring Her.

Not valuing her opinions.

Showing more attention to other people than her.

Not listening to her or not understanding what she feels.

Closing her out by not talking or listening to her. (The silent treatment)

Being easily distracted when she’s trying to talk to you.

Not scheduling special time to be with her.

Not being open to talk about things that you do not understand.

Not being open to talk about things that she does not understand.

Not giving her a chance to voice her opinion on decisions that affect the whole family.

Discipling her by being angry angry or silent.

Making jokes about areas of her life.

Making sarcastic statements about her.

Insulting her in front of others.

Coming back with quick retorts.

Giving harsh admonitions.

Using careless words before you thing through how they will affect her.

Nagging her in harshness.

Rebuking her before giving her a chance to explain a situation.

Raising your voice at her.

Making critical comments with no logical basis.

Swearing or using foul language when around her.

Correcting her in public.

Being tactless when pointing out her weaknesses or blind spots.

Reminding her angrily that you warned her not to do something.

Having disgusted or judgmental attitudes.

Pressuring her when she is already feeling low or offended.

Lecturing her when she needs to be comforted, encouraged, or treated gently.

Breaking promises with any explanation or without asking to be released from the promise.

Telling her how wonderful other women are and comparing her to other women.

Holding resentment about something she did and tried to make it right.

Coercing her into an argument.

Correcting or punishing her in anger for something for which she’s not guilty.

Being disrespectful to her family or relatives.

Not praising her for something she did well, even if she did it for you.

Treating her like a little child.

Being rude to her or other people in public, like restaurant personnel or clerks.

Being unaware of her needs.

Being ungrateful.

Not trusting her.

Not approving of what she does or how she does it.

Not being interested in her own personal growth.

Being inconsistent or having double standards (doing thing you won’t allow her to do).

Not giving her advice when she really need it and asks for it.

Not telling her that you love her.

Having prideful and arrogant attitudes in general.

Not giving daily encouragement.

Failing to include her in the conversation when you are with other people.

Failing to spend quality time with her when you’re at a party.

Talking her down.

Ignoring her around the house as if she wasn’t a member of the family.

Not listening to what she believes is important as soon as you come home from work.

Ignoring her at social gatherings.

Not attending church as a family.

Failing to express honestly what you think her innermost feelings are.

Showing more excitement for work and other activities that for her.

Being impolite at mealtime.

Having sloppy manners around the house and in front of others.

Not inviting her out on special romantic dates from time to time, just the two of you.

Not helping her with the children just before mealtimes or during times of extra stress.

Not volunteering to help her with the dishes or cleaning the house.

Making her feel stupid when she shares an idea about your work or decisions that need to be made.

Making her feel unworthy for desiring certain furniture or insurance or other material needs for herself and the family.

Not being consistent with the children; not taking an interest in playing with them and spending quality time and quantity time with them.

Not showing public affection for her, like holding her hand or putting your arm around her. (seemingly embarrassed to be with her)

Not sharing your life with her, like work, your ideas or your feelings.

Not being the spiritual leader of the home.

Demanding that she submit to you.

Demanding that she be involved with you sexually, when you are not in harmony.

Being unwilling to admit you were wrong.

Resisting whenever she shares one of your blind spots.

Being too busy with work and activities.

Not showing compassion and understanding for her and the children when there is real need.

Throwing money away and not saving, making her feel very insecure.

Being stingy with money, making her feel like she’s being paid a salary.

Wanting to do things that embarrass her sexually.

Forcing her to make decisions regarding the checkbook and bills.

Forcing her to handle overdue bills.

Not letting her lean on your gentleness and strength from time to time.

Not allowing her to fall—always feeling like you have to lecture her.

Refusing to let her be a woman.

Criticizing her womanly characteristics or sensitivity as being weak.

Spending too much money and getting the family too far into debt.

Not having a sense of humor and not joking about things together.

Not telling her how important she is to you.

Not sending her special love letters from time to time.

Forgetting special dates like anniversaries and birthdays.

Not defending her when somebody else is tearing her down, especially if it’s family or relatives.

Not putting your arm around her and hugging her when she needs comfort.

Being dishonest.

Discouraging her for trying to better herself, either through education or physical fitness.

Continuing distasteful or harmful habits, like coming home drunk.

Taking her for granted, assuming that a woman’s work is never done around the house.

Not including her in future plans until the last minute.

Never doing little unexpected things for her.

Not treating her like an intellectual equal.

Being preoccupied with your own goals and needs, making her feel like she and the children don’t count.

Threatening never to let her do something again because she’s made mistakes in the past.

Criticizing her behind her back. Even more painful when she hears it from someone else.

Blaming her for things in your relationship that are clearly your failure.

Losing patience or getting angry with her when she can’t keep up with your stamina or schedule.

Failing to repair items around the house.

Watching too much tv and therefore neglecting the family.

Humiliating her with words that pierce and hurt, rather than show grace.

Not taking the time to prepare her to enjoy sexual intimacy.

Taking vacations that appeal to your liking rather than the rest of the family.

Not letting her get away from the children so she can be with friends , go shopping, go out for coffee, etc.

Not understanding or helping out with the countless chores and responsibilities around the house.

America is Dreaming

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:37:00 -0500

It’s funny how after a few days of posting things for Haiti, letting EVERYONE and their grandmother know about what is going on in Haiti, people just goes back to posting crap on tumblr. Namely, porn, drugs, drunkenness, vanity…

Could this be God saying to America, “You’re next, if you continue in your wickedness.”

He did it to Sodom And Gomorrah.

Photo

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:59:57 -0500