As I grow in my Christian life I have many valleys. Most of the time I do not understand the meaning of it. I have been going through a deep one recently. It has been a time of emotionless confusion. It is frustrating. I keep asking myself, “How can I just not be affected by the goodness of God?” I do not imagine that this has ever happened to you. I do not imagine that there are times of drought in your life where the ground seems so cracked by the lack of prayer and Scripture in your life. I say this rhetorically. When I go through times like this I find the words of brothers in Christ especially encouraging. They often seem like small ridges that I can catch a glimpse of the glory of Christ. A specific exerpt of a loved preacher of mine comes to mind. I hope it is just as encouraging to you as it is to me.

Another casualty has happened at North Greenville University. The Lord has taken home another worshiper. Tiffany Huff also died in a wreck earlier this semester. From what I have heard, Brandon Scott McDaniel got into a wreck at 3:00 this foggy morning and passed away. I have not heard all of the details yet.

I tried to do a bit of research on Brandon. I found out that he just got back from a missions trip to India. From what I can tell on his blog, his heart for Christ was infectious. (I wish that I could have known him.) His vibrancy for life and excitement for Christ are two characteristics that exude from his writings. I also noticed his faith in Christ for his life. He wrote on his biography for his blog, “I am alive because of Jesus Christ. I am passionate about music and love having the chance to lead worship. I’m not sure what God is going to do with my life, but I know He has a plan.” God’s plan for Brandon’s life has now been revealed to us, but the effects are still to be seen.

I would highly encourage you to give his blog a visit. I know that I have been encouraged by the little that he has written there. Maybe you will find encouragement in it also.

In Daniel’s words, “Our God is glorious and righteous.

Oh, praise Him.”

Josh Blaha

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Update on 18 March 2009

I found a couple articles as a follow up to the accident. One is from the Greenville News and the other is from WSPA.

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Update on 23 March 2009

I also just found the obituary for Brandon. Feel free to write a word of encouragement in the guestbook.

Hannah and I recently have been discovering how much what we eat really does affect our waist lines. Sadly, we have weigh much more than what we would like. This has thrown us into a diet, of sorts, to exercise more, eat less, and get fit. This has a lot to do with our health as well as the beach in a couple months. In this process, I am learning how similar weight loss and spiritual growth are. There are a few things that I see are especially similar.

Sweets – To help with weight loss, I have to be willing to give up sweets. Meats and vegetables are more filling and healthier. In spiritual growth, I also have to give up “sweets”, or things that are addictive and enjoyable but not edifying. This can be anything from entertainment to common talk. There is nothing wrong with Dark Chocolate. But if I keep a steady diet of it, it is really going to slow me down and help add the pounds.

Healthy Food – As I alluded to with sweets, I need to eat foods that are healthy for me and provide the most nutrients in the smallest amount of food. For me, I enjoy chicken, salads, and fruits. These fill me up as well as provide the nutricion that I need for my health. The same concept applies to our spiritual growth in that we need the meat from the Word. I find it rare that a lot of our laymen actually dive deep into theology and the “hard” texts. These are so helpful to us though. They are areas that will make us and break us.

Exercise – An obvious part of our walk with Christ is exercising what we learn. God providencially has had me read through 1 John lately. Three verse stuck out to me in this aspect. The verses are found in 1 John 3:16-18. They read,

“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”

I personally do not understand how God works this in our lives, but I have found that it works. When we act on what we learn either through helping others or in personal trust and faith, our relationship with Him is deepened. We grow and develop so that we can take more depths of His word.

I hope that you have found this insightful as I have. I encourage you to be in the Word and grow. Meditate on Him day and night. He will bless you. Do not do it just for the sake of doing it though. Do it because He is great and worthy to be praised. As a friend of mine recently encouraged me, “Be stubbornly godward…”

Enjoying the cross,

Josh