Matt Balogh's Blog

Any Questions? I Hope So.

mattbalogh — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 08:00:20 +0000

When it comes to life and faith we simply have questions.

Sometimes looking through our bible we can figure them out. Other times they get answered on Sunday morning or Friday night at LP. A lot of times we just walk around with them unanswered. Do you have a question that you want answered? I am collecting questions about life and faith. Things you just want answered. We will be answering them at LP and posting the answers here as well. I will also announce when we will be answering the question. Just put your question as a comment on this post.

If you’re not part of LP feel free to post I will still answer.

Can’t wait to hear from you all.

Book Series Review: Fablehaven

mattbalogh — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 22:02:41 +0000

A month ago I finished reading the last book of the fantasy series Fablehaven by Brandon Mull. Essentially the book series follows the adventures of 13 year old Kendra and 11 year old Seth as they go to theirGrandparents estate. The estate turns out to be a preserve for magical creatures: centaurs, fairies, satyrs, etc. I have always been intrigued by writers taking different mythos and adding some creativity. Mull creates a wonderful story centered around the idea of different preserves bound by treaties by both good and evil magical creatures.

The first book in the series, titled simply Fablehaven, was not particularly good. While it was a good introduction and Kendra and Seth are a joy to laugh at, especially if you have ever been around teenagers, the plot was easily foreseeable and the foreshadowing was very poor. In the next books Mull goes awesome!! They are a true treat. Usually I pick up quickly on Children’s novels foreshadowing, but Mull surprised me several times. It really was a treat.

In books 2 through 5 multiple themes are addressed. Mull really captures the young mind in Seth and Kendra. Their embarrassments and thought processes just make you laugh and remember your own childhood or if you have teens in your life it gives you some fun insight to their mind. Mull really captures the essence of early adolescence.

The First book of Fablehaven

For kids to read I recommend it. Some amazing life principles are taught. I always felt Harry Potter books (which I did enjoy) glorified being disobedient and painting adults as somewhat stupid. Fablehaven does a great job of showing virtues and failures of both the adult and teen mind. That is probably what I enjoyed the most. The series showed how adults have to begin seeing teens and pre-teens differently as they age, while showing the aging teen how they still don’t quite get life, though they definitely get it more than many adults give them credit. In a fun way it examines this and really has lessons for both the adult and teen.

If you want an easy read for some fun I highly recommend the Fablehaven series.

Any thoughts on Fablehaven or the perception between teenager and adults? Comment!

Confusing confused confusers

mattbalogh — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 18:49:34 +0000

Ever notice that most of the time you talk to confused people? I think you can tell this when they bring a problem and the answer is fairly straight forward and they are oblivious to it or when they hear something that will absolutely solve the issue they brush it off or say “that’s not for me.” You like me do this you know you do. I know I do. I’m thinking again of the Israelites begging to go back to slavery in Exodus and even Joshua. The answer for them was: continue to trust God and you will be fine. But a huge number just couldn’t see it. Reading through what they said and did a few themes come to mind.

One is they know what they want, they’re just scared of it. When we want something or want a resolution to a problem it will always take us to somewhere new. If it had been somewhere we had been before we would be there. New is scary because it is the unknown. We are primally afraid of the dark. Why? Because it is unknown. We can’t see it. If we refuse to be bold with courage like Joshua and the Israelites we will find ourselves running to be enslaved.

Two: while our words convey a reality, what we really desire or at least judge our happiness by is a feeling. We don’t want to be loved as much as want to feel loved. That simple fact creates so many rifts in so many relationships. The Israelites had the same issue you and me do. They wanted to feel secure not trust they were. God loves us and knows we, like the Israelites, have extremely little faith so he allows us to feel His presence at times to remind us He is there. But, for the most part he has us trust Him. Trust is unknown therefore it is scary.

The unknown scares me and it scares you. We both hate trusting anything. We know we have to but we hate it. Heres the thing. When we are in an area where we are firmly away from the feeling and surrounded by the trusting of God, miraculous things happen in our lives. What are you doing or what do you have set-up in your life that is there to make you feel ok that you should be trusting God with instead? Do you have the courage to change it?

I’m praying we both do.

Would love to hear from you.

Sunday Reflections

mattbalogh — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 19:50:46 +0000

Sunday Andy talked to FC about Joshua and Israel having to trust God and crossing the Jordan river. I’ve been thinking about all the thing involved in when God gives us direction but not details. How he waits for us to obey before we get the full picture. What it makes me wonder is: What I am missing out on that God wants to give me today because of my refusal to obey Him? Steps of risk and faith God calls on me to take that I miss and therefore fail to receive what He desires to give me. You ever feel that way? This week I am praying in the morning “God open my eyes to the risks and challenges you will put before me today and help me have the courage to take them.” When I read scripture it becomes painfully obvious that when we feel far from God it typically is because we are actively refusing His presence.

If you want to check out Andy’s message find it here

Valentine’s Day and Vampire Ducks

mattbalogh — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 21:55:34 +0000

I hate Valentines day. I started hating it right around the time I was old enough to perceive the concept of relationships. Some female would want me to quantify the relationship by some material means. Part of my hate is it was always hard to find the V-day gift that screamed “I sort of like you but love?… is well… a bit much to say.” Since then my hatred has grown with me realization of the stupidity of it. Honestly, one day where love reigns or something? The day you show your sweetheart you, love her? In consequence I have believed this: If you “love” someone they should know it…everyday. My business is that everyday my wife, Paula, should feel my love from the good morning to the welcome home. From work to the dinner, to the good night. Every sentence and move is meant to convey love. Gifts are certainly a way but they come as the time strikes. Honestly I have always felt the gift that came from being in a store and realizing it would just put a smile on her face is far more valuable and conveys much more love then some V-day thing. The former shows her I am always thinking of her and that she is queen of my heart and thoughts. The latter screams unoriginality, dullness and ordinary. One thing my wife is not is ordinary, dull, and unoriginal.

I really think that should be the love standard. Shouldn’t we get upset if we feel most loved only one day of the year. I aim to make everyday so amazing that nothing on something like Valentines Day could ever compare. Paula and I hated the whole heart thing so much with Valentines day that I used to draw on notes or emails to her the vampire duck. That is our symbol of love. I remember she gave me a rubber duck a few years ago as an anti-valentines day sentiment with two teeth glued on. The vampire duck is in no need of one day to show it’s love. Showing love is an everyday thing for Vampire Duck. If you truly love someone every day should demonstrate it louder than any candy heart. Besides if your special someone really likes V-day chocolate you can get them a lot more tomorrow. 75% off Clearance BABY!!

Live True

mattbalogh — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 19:13:40 +0000

Excited to be starting Live True tomorrow. This year we have been talking on what exactly Living Proof looks like. Ended Live Loud a few weeks ago now on to the next “chapter” Live True. I thought about extrapolating on exactly what it was but instead I want to ask a question. What exactly is truth?

Center

mattbalogh — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 19:40:14 +0000

If I say I am Christ centered or Christian or a believer…what am I saying? James 2:19 “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” I think we might too easily put that into the do more things category but that wasn’t really the point of James or Jesus. Shouldn’t we copy Jesus and center our life on God and just him. Doesn’t the bible really call for a total re-imagining of our life? When I read through the bible it has person after person who finds God, then totally restructures everything around Him. So many times we say we have found Him but simply modify or adjust our behavior or lives. We say “God is in control” but we are lying. God made it clear that we are in control of our decisions. So either our decisions are the ones he is telling us to make and follow or they are ours. To truly have God as the center means His will is the first and only consideration in our every area of our life. It’s an easy target to miss but are we even aiming at it?

Share. Respond. Be part of a conversation.

New Series

mattbalogh — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:44:01 +0000

So April has kicked my butt with being extremely busy and I am very happy to be blogging again. So excited for LP tonight and our new series starting next week called “You Choose”. So my Lving Proofers what do you want to hear about? This series you will pick the topics it will last for the month of May. Nothing is off limits so if there is anything you have been curious about or any questions about the bible, Jesus or Christianity just leave a comment and it could be the next topic at LP!

My Focus for Today.

mattbalogh — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 19:44:02 +0000

2 Corinthians 5:13

If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

Retreat time!!!

mattbalogh — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:38:51 +0000

W00t! Small Groups tonight then retreat Friday here we go! It is going to be so much fun this weekend you are missing out if you are not going. A lot of students worked hard these last few months to earn there retreat money. Sad thing is no LP this Friday I will miss so many of you. The lack of hugs is going to throw me into withdrawal. But I will see everyone next Friday and it will rock! Question: Where will you be this Friday? It’s wierd for me thinking there’s no LP so what are you guys doing? Hope your weekend is safe and fun!