TReynolds08's photostream

Opening up and being real with people is oftentimes one of the hardest and scariest things ever. So instead of opening up to people and letting them see us for who we are, we put on layers of protection - a tough face, a laugh-it-off attitude, a fun-and-games personality - and we never really develop deep relationships...

Such is the case a lot of times, anyways.

I love these lines from "Stained Glass Masquerade" by Casting Crowns:

"When I take a look around me,
Everybody seems so strong.
I know they'll soon discover
That I don't belong.
So I tuck it all away,
Like everything's okay.
If I make them all believe it,
Maybe I'll believe it too.
So with a painted grin,
I play the part again,
So everyone will see me
The way that I see them.
The performance is convincing,
And we know every line by heart.
Only when no one is watching,
Can we really fall apart.
But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to be?
Would your arms be open?
Would you walk away?
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make you stay?"

This is something that my youth group did tonight as part of a series based on the movie 'To Save a Life.' Each one of us got a card, and then wrote in committments and laminated the cards for posterity's sake. So, if you can read what I wrote, my response was simple, and a given.

"I am committed to love God with all that I am; to love others how He wants me to; to not focus on ME. (God, give me strength...)"

That last part is there because, simple as it may seem, living that out is hard. It goes against the grain...and quite honestly, that's scary. The practical applications are endless, and doing that is something that I think we're all fearful of from time to time...

"Jesus replied, ' 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.'" - Matthew 22:37-40

Oh, the joys of mirrors and water vapor!

Except for cropping, coloring, and brightness/contrast adjustments, this is SOOC. Not that you guys can't guess how I got this anyways...=D

Giant inflatable bouncy slides are fun. Especially when you're trying to take a picture on the way down...(something went wrong when I hit the bottom because my arms were extended, and my back started hurting so bad that I had to lay down for a minute. Lol.)

In case this seems to be not a game (and believe me, getting a good picture on the way down was a game of sorts), here's one definition of game (as defined by Google): "A thing that is frivolous or amusing."

Amusing indeed. Slides are awesome!

This is a video of myself and six of my friends going down the slide at the same time. Fun stuff. (The one on the yellow section - the median - is my brother. I'm the one in the white shirt.)