Pre-bed humor...

ok, so what is with these computer automated, verification words? You know, the less than intelligent words your computer asks you to spell in order to verify that you have a friggan brain. I just posted a comment on a fellow circle slice's blog and my Mac, out of utter ignorance, asked me to spell "heptarzk." I mean, really? Why not something noraml? Like "cat" or "poop" or "cat poop?" Why "heptarzk?" I suppose computers are incapable of spelling anything normal. Yeah, that must be it. It must really take an intelligent, successful life source to properly replicate "heptarzk" in wavy lettering. What is the world coming to? A man can barely post a single word these  days without having his intelligence questioned by such queer shapes as "heptarzk!" All is lost. Good night! ;)

Jazz Living

I'm finding that Christian living is a lot like Jazz. You know the foundational tempo but there is definitely some improvising along the way.

BLUE VALENTINE

Just saw blue valentine in theaters. It crushed me. It was excruciating in a raw sorta way. I've never left a theater hurting so bad. I adored it. The film that is, not the pain...

food for thought...

I was doing some thinking today. It's kinda a new thing I've started doing from time to time. Somehow my mind drifted to all the different forms of people in the world. All the thousands of jobs, lifestyles and world views. I thought to myself "satan sure has done a wonderful job of really perverting things without having taken any of the credit." You see, I quickly came to the conclusion, as many of us have, that Satan is a being of subtleties. He doesn't need us blatantly worshiping him, he simply needs us doing anything but bringing glory to Christ. He doesn't need men who no longer love their wives, but rather men who love themselves more. He doesn't need us not going to church, he wants us in church, but with cold hearts. I suppose in the end, for him, it won't much matter if you were Hitler or a complacent accountant. He is simply in the business of attempting to rob God of the glory He is so worthy of. I continued thinking. How is it that it has become nearly impossible to have a conversation with someone living an anti-Biblical lifestyle; whether it be consciously or subconsciously? It is so difficult to even speak with someone pro-choice or homosexual without appearing to be "intolerant" or "close minded." After a few minutes of thought I realized that in many regards, truth in and of itself is intolerant. You see, when a man marries a woman, he is not only saying yes to one woman but also no to all others. We are all "intolerant" in some regard. For to simply choose one thing means to be intolerant of another. I suppose what I'm getting at, is that Christ is respectfully offensive. For to say" Christ is Lord" is to say "Buddha is not." I guess my prayer is that the Holy Spirit would empower me to speak the truth in love more often. Not out of a frustrated hatred for non-Biblical living, but rather out of an all consuming passion for everyone to know the truth. Suppose you saw a man wearing a watch as an earring. We ought not be disgusted with him for having such a tacky earring, but rather attempt to, in the most loving way possible, reveal to him that he has been greatly misinformed.

livin' the dream...

http://www.vimeo.com/19061363

Great song I came across and incidentally enjoyed the music video more, being a bike lover and alls. Enjoy. 

Who needs it?

Just deleted my facebook! Never thought I'd see the day. I'm now a free man. A Lone Wolf of sorts. In my heart of hearts, facebook had simply become a place about promoting myself. It was my personal billboard, which I used to "sell" how chill Nick Chiurazzi was to the rest of the world. It was simply public school on a screen haha. I was recently reading and reflecting on John 3:30 which reads: "He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less." I simply came to the conclusion that this task would be considerably more difficult to achieve when I was solely using facebook as a forum to become greater and greater. Yeah, I would post scripture like it was nobodies business, but it was so that others would see me as holy. Sure, I quoted the best on the reg! You name it, C.S. Lewis, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Oswald Chambers, Charles Spurgeon, G.K. Chesterton, Augustine, I've readem' all. And yet somehow, I hadn't allowed their kindred spirits and written words of wisdom transform my heart. I needed to be posting these things so that others came to know the truth, not that others came to know that I knew the truth; if that even makes any sense. I pray that now, free of facebook, I will spend more time in the Lord's love letter to me. I pray that all the time I would have been typing away trying to come up with the pithiest response, I will now be using to scour my Bible for passages of humility. I already feel the Lord at work in my heart. Drawing me back to my first love. Stripping me of my plethora of distractions one at a time. Sanctification sure ain't easy, but it is so, so needed. Especially for me. I hope this resinates with someone. It is always such a blessing when one shares their heart and another can relate. P.S. It was really rad having lunch with everyone at Rock Harbor today. It felt like a family luncheon. A family that doesn't quite know each other, yet a family nonetheless. God Speed.    

just found my senior pic

refiner's fire...

These past two days, the Lord has really put me through the wringer. Did it hurt? Yes. Was it a good hurt? Yes. For far too long, Christendom had become a tool which I had used for my own gain. Serving meant recognition for good deeds. Not sinning was being on God's "good side." Eloquence, a mere opportunity to gain approval. Reading Greek, a "one up" on theological knowledge. I had created a faith which fit the selfish desires of my heart; and in so doing, I took Christ off the cross. It ultimately brought me to my knees. My pride had led me to the end of myself(thank God). The Lord exposed and exploited my weaknesses. Christ directly confronted my lies. He brought me to a place of recognition. He brought me into the light(1John 1:7). Showing me that if anything is done for Christ for any other reason than to bring glory to Christ, then I am in the wrong. I now find myself living in truth and in the spirit. My zeal for the Lord is so refreshed and restored to a way of honest and transparent living. The truth has set me free.  

New Spots, New Thoughts

So tonight's first Circles meeting was soo rad. A bit antsy yet rad nonetheless. I truly feed off of awkward encounters within new groups of people. It is so intriguing to see how everyone reacts to one another. I love the diverse dynamics within the "circle." All different walks off life although we are all in love with Christ. Much love to all my new Circles home slices. P.S. Since we are going for the whole diverse vibe I think it would be wise for the group to incorporate a few more Pacific Islanders or possibly some Navajos. Just a suggestion though. ;)

Thank me later...

the essentials

Hi, my name is Nick Chiurazzi and I am a 37 and a half year old gymnast by day, jeweler by night. I enjoy an activity filled lifestyle, many of which are: yoga, slack lining, cutting diamonds, sub-water acrobatics and lastly 47 exhilarating minutes on my in-home elliptical which I use biweekly. Just kidding, Juuusssttt kidddiiinnggg, my name really is Nick Chiurazzi, but I'm only 20 years old and a full time student at Biola University. I'm currently a sophomore, Biblical Studies major praying to one day go into some form of full time ministry; wherever the good Lord leads I suppose. I am also a full time follower of Jesus Christ, and experiencing new joys each minute I spend in daily prayer, fellowship and Bible reading. My real interests unfortunately do not incorporate slack lining or yoga but rather reading, hanging with pals, going to the beach, seeing films and listening to music. While I am on the topic of music, my 3 most listened to bands recently have been the cure, blink 182 and taking back Sunday. Way 90's I know, but that's my steez. I am truly thrilled to have the unique opportunity to be a part of the Circle's Discipleship Program. I know that this group will supply me with the spiritual discipleship that I am so desperately in need of, while also empowering me to properly disciple younger brothers in Christ. I cannot wait to see where the Holy Spirit leads us as a group over the next several months. I consider it pure joy to have the opportunity to be able to learn alongside of other "20 somethings" for the glory of Jesus Christ. If you are also in "Circles" I look forward to fellowshipping as well as growing and getting to know you better as we enter into this next season of our lives. Thanks for reading a bit about who I am. May God bless you and your family. Later.

Nick