How's your dad?

Hey ec readers! We know it's been a whole week since Father's Day, and we just wanted to check in to see how your relationship with your dad is going. Maybe you saw our article on pages 16 and 17 this month about how to treat your dad with respect. Remember this top 12 list?

12 ways to make your dad mad:
1. Lie to him.
2. Roll your eyes at him.
3. Say "Whatever" and sigh loudly.
4. Don't take care of your stuff. (He probably paid for it!)
5. Walk away when he's talking.
6. Return the car with no gas so he's late to work the next day because he has to fill up.
7. Demand total freedom with zero responsibility.
8. Disrespect your mom.
9. Disrespect him around other adults.
10. Yell at him to express your opinion rather than discussing it rationally.
11. Ignore his opinion.
12. Cop "the attitude" (you know what that is!).

Did those ring a bell? Hopefully you didn't do any of those things on Father's Day last Sunday, but how have you been treating your dad lately? Take our poll below and let us know! (And if you feel like typing, leave us a comment about which one of the 12 ways [above] most frequently makes your dad mad. And maybe, you know, how you're trying to be better about it...)

Music Minute: An Assignment

Hi y'all! I hope you are enjoying your summer. I hope for everyone's sake you are not out getting sunburned or accidentally bleaching your hair orange or running the lawn mower over your mom's nice flower beds or scratching up Dad's car. :)

This time for Music Minute, I have an assignment for y'all. I know it's summer, so I promise this won't take long — but hopefully you'll enjoy it.

Back in the day, my friends and I used to have a lot of conversations about our 'desert island' music. (I seriously hope people still do this.) The question was something like: If you were stranded on a desert island, possibly for the rest of your life, what music would you want to have with you? Whatever the person listed said a lot about their interests and what was important to them. Sometimes we'd limit it to ten songs, or ten albums.

What I want you to do today is write up a list of YOUR top-10 all-time desert-island songs. You can do your 10 all-time best, 10 that you love right now, 10 from each of the last 3 years, or if you're feeling really ambitious, make your list as long as you'd like. They can be worship songs, classical music, pop music, rock-and-roll, secular music, a song your mom used to sing to you when you were little, or anything else that moves you.

But—and that's the key—each song has to be an important one to you. Was it playing on one of the best days of your life? Does it make you happy every time you hear it? Is it a certain type of music that you just plain love?

Someday you'll think back, and high school will be a complete blur. You'll remember very little (I promise). So take a few minutes to write out your personal soundtrack. Put a date on it and stash it somewhere you'll remember it, like a yearbook or a keepsake box. When your musical tastes change a little, make a new list. Someday, you can read your list again. You might laugh at what you liked, or your might discover an album you used to love and put it on like a comfy old sweater. It will take you back.

You can post your list in the comments section or on our Facebook page. We promise not to laugh—or at least not laugh very much. :o) Make a list of the music you care about, and share it with us if you like.

Friday Snippets and Soundbites

Ah, Friday. And you know what that means: Snippets and Soundbites! Who's ready for all the news of the strange you can handle?

Remember: if today's edition isn't enough weird news for you, please check out page 38 in this month's (and every month's) issue of ec. You won't regret it!

An all-time low

For a singer from southern Illinois, hitting an all time low isn't necessarily a bad thing. That's because Roger Menees, a southern gospel singer hailing from Anna, Illinois, officially holds the record for singing the lowest note ever produced by a human voice. Back in February, Menees was in his Carbondale, Ill., studio and hit a low note that measured in at 0.393 hertz (a very low F-sharp for you musicians). That note was lower than the previous recorded low note: 0.797 hertz. Menees received his certificate from Guinness World Records this week, but thinks he can still do better. He says he'll probably make another attempt if his world record is challenged anytime soon. Read all about it here.


What's that delicious smell?
Billboards are a way of life in the U.S., right? You're used to seeing them along interstates and highways, advertising gas stations, attractions, and where to eat at upcoming exits with brightly colored pictures and catchphrases. Well, in North Carolina one billboard is using more than its enticing photo of a steak to lure drivers' attention; it's also using smell. Yep, that's right. The billboard, on N.C. 150 in central North Carolina, emits the aroma of black pepper and charcoal from 7-10 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. every day for the past month of so. The billboard is advertising a new line of beef available at a local grocery store chain and officials say a high-powered fan at the bottom of the billboard spreads the smell by blowing air over cartridges loaded with fragrance oil. To learn more, go here.

Lost AND found

Back in 1983, Jason Cottle went swimming with some friends in a quarry and lost his class ring. He even went back with a diving mask to search for the ring, but he ended up losing the diving mask, too. At that point, finding the ring seemed to be a lost cause, and he moved on with his life. Until this week. Cottle saw a picture in the local newspaper about the quarry being drained to restart mining and thought it was worth a shot to see if his ring was there. It was, lying on a ledge that would have been 35 feet under the waterline and right where Cottle and his friends used the swim. Also found in the newly drained quarry: more jewelry, clothing, keys, four pairs of glasses, unexploded blasting caps, $3 in change and a safe with a hole cut in the side—and the diving mask Cottle lost searching for the ring all those years ago. Read all about it here.

Exercise your brain this summer!

It’s summer, but that doesn’t mean your brain has to take a vacation, too. Summer is the perfect time to take a break and escape . . . into a good book.

(Yes, we want you to read. Books, mind you. Over your summer vacation! But a book isn’t necessarily homework, even if it is on your school’s summer reading list or that pesky list of books your teachers say you should have read before you go to college.)

So, go to the library, the bookstore, or grab your Kindle or iPad and read something worthwhile this summer. You’ll need something to do while you’re lounging around the pool, right?

 For people who only read the Spark Notes:
Yes, we know you’re out there. (Hint: so do your teachers!) These are some really good books you might have missed out on simply because reading it was an assignment:
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. It’s a classic for a reason and not a hard read. The subject matter—racial injustice and loss of innocence—is tough, though.
• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. These classic tales are best read as a set, and you’ve got all summer. You can read them in order of publication or in chronological order, beginning with The Magician’s Nephew.


 For history buffs: 
So, you like history. We think that’s cool. Here are a few suggestions for you:
• Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose. This is a biography of Meriwether Lewis and depends heavily on his and William Clark’s journals from their journey through the west.
• The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge by David McCullough. If you’re interested in history or impossible engineering projects, you’ll find this book an amazing example of American courage, corruption, and, ultimately, success.

 For those who’ve only seen the movie: 
Most good books have been made into movies, but a lot of the nuances and character development gets left out when a book is condensed into a 2-hour movie. Usually, the book really is better. Be the judge and read some of these suggestions:
• Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose. You may have seen or at least heard of the HBO series of the same name. Read the whole story of E Company and the important role they played in World War II.
• Emma by Jane Austen. Maybe you’ve seen the movie (with Gwyneth Paltrow) of the same name or the movie Clueless. Both are adaptations of this classic Austen tale of a young, spoiled matchmaker who overestimates her abilities.
• The Princess Bride by William Goldman. The movie is a favorite of the entire ec staff. The book is even quirkier.
• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. The 1939 movie starring Judy Garland is a classic, but it does differ from the book a little. Watch for subtle differences, like the color of Dorothy’s magic shoes.

 For fans of Christian fiction: 
We realize that there are many Christian writers who write good books. Why not give them a chance this summer? Books to consider include:
• Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. While the book is set in California during the Gold Rush, it is heavily influenced by the story of Hosea found in the Old Testament.
• When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin. A Nicholas Sparks kind of tale, this book tells the story of Annie and Reese and the intersection of their lives one fateful day. 

Summer camp must-haves

Many of ec's readers will be heading off to camp sometime this summer. Just one look at those we follow on Twitter this morning told us that many students and student ministries are headed off to camp today. And the ec team is even heading to camp late next week.

With so many of us heading to summer church camps, sports camps, and various other kinds of camps, we've got a few tips to help you get ready:

• Have a packing plan.
Generally, well before you go to camp, you receive information about what you need to bring and what you should leave at home. You may not agree with the staff's advice and may even plot to ignore those packing lists, but you shouldn't. The camp organizers have reasons for telling to you bring some items and leave some at home. You may need closed toe shoes to participate in recreation activities. They may ask you to leave iPods at home because they might get broken or stolen. A camp might restrict cell phone usage so that they can have your undivided attention. So pay attention to the lists and abide by them. The camp staff isn't telling you not to bring stuff just so you won't have fun; they have your best interests in mind!

• Don't walk in blind.
If you're going to a sports, band, or some other kind of skills camp, it goes without saying: don't go in unprepared. Practice, learn the skills you're supposed to know before you get there, and decide beforehand what you want to get out of this experience. Don't just go in blind without practicing or caring what or if you learn anything. The same goes for church camp. That may seem surprising to you, but it's true. Don't just show up at camp expecting to be entertained. Before you go, take some time to prepare spiritually. Why are you going to camp? Do you want to have a fresh encounter with God? Well, get ready for it. Read Scripture. Pray. Seek the Holy Spirit's guidance as you read Scripture and plan for your trip. Get ready to hear from God even before you board the bus!

• Get out of your comfort zone.
There are going to be tons of new people to meet and greet at camp—and that may even include people within your group. Maybe meeting new people is hard for you, but stretch yourself a little. Meet new people and make new friends—you're all there for a common purpose, so surely you have something in common! Take time to get to know the new members of your group and those you've overlooked. You may just be surprised by the new friendships that come out of it. Camp is also a good time to rekindle relationships you've let fade. You've got dedicated time together with few interruptions; make the most of it!

Friday Snippets and Soundbites

It's hot here in Nashville, and we couldn't think of a better way to celebrate the start of summer than with a new edition of "Snippets and Soundbites" on the ec blog. (Well, actually, we could think of some really good ways to celebrate: lounging by the pool, lemonade, sleeping late, hanging out at the park . . . but since we have to work, why don't you guys enjoy some fun in the sun for us?) And get the fun started right now with our recap of this week's news of the strange.

I just called (911) to say "I love you."
An Ohio woman might be rethinking her decision to call 911. We all know that we should only call 911 for emergencies, but Audrey Scott of Alliance, Ohio, apparently thought she had a big emergency. That's because Scott, 57, repeatedly called 911 in search of a husband. No, not looking for her husband, but in search of a husband. Scott called the number five times asking for a husband. At one point, the operator even asked, "You need to get a husband?" Scott said yes. At that point, the operator explained that Scott could be arrested for improper use of 911 and last week she was convicted of improper use of the 911 system. She served three days in jail and blamed the entire incident on alcohol. The bottom line is this: 911 isn't a dating service! Read all about the case here. To hear the audio, click here.

Meters and Miles
Remember all that stuff you learned about meters back when you were learning about measuring distance? You might have to put it into practice if you ever drive along I-19, an interstate that connects Tucson, Ariz., to the Mexican border. That's because every highway and distance sign on the 63-mile stretch of road is in kilometers. (And there are 400 such signs.) The speed limit signs still inform drivers about miles per hour and there are even mile markers alongside the interstate, but the signs still use kilometers. Why? The U.S. Metric Association, a group that supports U.S. adoption of the metric system, says other border areas, north and south, often add metric signs on segments of their roads to accommodate visitors. Now, the state is ready to replace the signs and considering converting them to miles, but that decision is being met with resistance, since many restaurants, tourist attractions, and sights along the interstate have the kilometer exit numbers in their promotional material. The state has done some surveys and expects to have a plan in place by the end of the year. To learn more, go here.

This ain't the Tour de France.
An Ohio man must really want to make a statement when he arrives at his 50th high school class reunion in Deerfield, Mass. That's because the 68-year-old is biking there. Yes, you read that correctly. He is riding his bike 800 miles from Ohio to Deerfield Academy, the prep school he attended in Deerfield. He was expected to arrive yesterday and says he decided to take on the challenge because he's in pretty good shape and thought it would be a cool way to see the country. But don't worry: he won't be biking back home to Ohio when the reunion is over. Instead, his bike will be loaded into a car and he and it will both ride back home. To learn more, go here.

Music Minute: The Rise of College Radio

I missed a deadline for this column yesterday, y'all, and I'm sorry. :)

What we've been doing in this column for the past few months is tracing the roots of pop music through all kinds of channels—soul, R&B, black gospel, early rock n' roll, Elvis, Bob Dylan. Music from the late 1960s and early 1970s was generally overproduced and overly commercial. And at the end of the 1970s, the music industry changed. Grungy, messy, angry, and shocking, punk music was the exact opposite of sugary, overdone 70s pop.

Punk was very popular but never really took off in a mainstream way. New bands always kind put their own take on what's happening in music around them, and in the early 1980s, college radio was born.

College radio was independent (read: not major-label) music played primarily on college radio stations. It was music that was purposely out of the mainstream and owes a debt to punk without really sounding like it, and was made up of all kinds of cult and mainstream acts. (I once had an album by a band called Dread Zeppelin, which did only reggae covers of Led Zeppelin songs and wore Elvis costumes. Yes, I was weird.) This kind of music was spread around by word of mouth, small independent music clubs, mix tapes, and (of course) college radio stations. Most people agree that at the very least, it's guitar music, and alternative music often has some kind of message.

Today, we'd call college radio "alternative" music. The White Stripes, The Killers, Switchfoot, MXPX, Thousand Foot Krutch, Relient K, Skillet and countless other mainstream and Christian bands have college radio to thank for their success. And the Britpop, ska, power pop, and grunge sounds from the 90s all have their roots in college radio.

The two biggest bands you'd have heard of from the 80s college radio scene are The Cure and R.E.M. The Cure was an English rock band with big, messy hair, towering guitars and synthesizers, and a style that ranged from gloomy and weird to upbeat, happy and fun. At some point in your life, you've probably heard the 1994 song "Friday I'm In Love." A more upbeat Cure song to check out is "Why Can't I Be You?", the band's first journey into the Top 40.

A bunch of college guys from Athens, Georgia formed R.E.M. in 1980. The first hit R.E.M. had was in the early 80s with "Radio Free Europe" but their first mainstream hit didn't happen till the late 1980s (check out "The One I Love"). You've probably heard the song "Shiny Happy People."

Music changes every decade, but not necessarily every 10 years. The sound of the 80s more or less ended in 1991, when an alternative, college-radio band from the Seattle music scene called Nirvana released a single called "Smells Like Teen Spirit." The song was gigantic, and after that, almost everything about music changed. College radio became more mainstream and started to influence other pop music. The baggy flannel shirts and ripped jeans from the grunge scene replaced the bright, dressy colors of the 80s. Lyrics became more Nirvana-esque—vague, hard to understand, and open to interpretation. Grunge was a mash-up of hard rock, college radio, a bit of punk, and some heavy metal. Messy, distorted guitars and moody, introspective lyrics distinguished grunge from its college radio cousin.

And, of course, it carried over into Christian music, too. In 1995 grunge hit Christian music, DC Talk released "Jesus Freak," and suddenly Christian teens had their own grunge anthem. Modern skate culture and moshing have their roots in grunge. Christian punk and Christian alternative rock find their musical roots in college radio and grunge music.

Check out college radio and grunge this week. Here's hoping you find something new!

image © istockphoto / thinkstock.

Exit Strategy: Five things you need to know how to do before you leave home

This month, we began a summer series in the print edition of ec, detailing things you need to know before you leave home. The June story tackles things you need to know how to do; the July article focuses on things you need to do and conversations you need to have; the August article will focus on how to prepare spiritually. We'll feature the articles here on the blog, so be on the lookout for them this summer. 

For some of you, this will be your last summer before you enter the “real world.” Whether you’re going to college, work, or serving in the military, there are things you need to know before you’re on your own. And whether you’re leaving the nest this fall or not, we at ec want to help you learn those things. That’s why we’ve asked Julie Partin to write this three-part “Exit Strategy” series. She’ll talk about all the things you need to know, including the practical stuff you’ll see this month.

How to . . .
• Change a Tire. Vehicles come equipped with the essential materials (spare tire, jack, and tire iron) to change a tire. As a safety precaution, do not change a tire in an unsafe area. The car should be turned off, in park, on a level surface, with the emergency break and hazard lights on.
Step-by-step instructions:
Take the spare tire, jack, and tire iron out of car (usually, the trunk). Loosen bolts with the tire iron while the car is still on the ground. Place the jack underneath the door frame nearest to the flat tire. The jack is used to raise the car and requires a tire iron to operate. Stick the pointed end of the tire iron into the designated slot and rotate clockwise. The vehicle should slowly lift up. Make sure you raise the car high enough so that the new tire will fit.
To take off the flat tire, loosen bolts with the other end of the tire iron. Turn the iron counter-clockwise. Remember, “Lefty, loosey. Righty, tighty.” Do not lose the bolts because you will need them to attach the spare tire. Take the old tire off and place it in the trunk.
Put the spare tire on the vehicle. Place the bolts on the spare tire by hand-tightening them first. In a star (not circular) formation, tighten the bolts with the tire iron until they’re secure, then lower the vehicle completely. Remove the jack and finish tightening bolts in the star formation.
Drive under 55 mph immediately (or as soon as possible) to replace the spare tire.

• Sort Laundry. This should help you understand how to separate your dirty clothes into appropriate loads. Always check the tags in your clothing, but here are a few general tips:
Darks: (cold water) Deep colors such as red or black.
Lights: (warm water) Cream, pastel, or light colors.
Whites: (hot water) Most of the time a light cycle can include white items, but there are times when heavily worn items like socks and underwear require bleach.
Delicates: The water temperature depends on the colors of the clothing, but just be sure to use the gentle cycle and/or spin with these items.
Towels and linens: (warm or hot water) Use the normal spin cycle.
Some guys (and a few gals) avoid separating clothes altogether. Your clothes will not last as long and you run the risk of colors bleeding, but it can save you time and cash. One option is to get a delicates bag and use it to shelter different textures of clothing from each other if they are in the same load.

• Cook. The best thing you can do for yourself is develop a nutritious and inexpensive diet. The worst is to constantly stuff yourself on fast food. Here are a few go-to meals:
Decide on a good, simple breakfast, and make it a habit to eat at the beginning of each day. Your morning classes and practices will be much better. Some healthy examples are:
• Whole grain cereal and milk
• Bagel and cream cheese
• Fresh fruit
For lunch and dinner, find a sandwich you love. It can be as simple as peanut butter and jelly. The best option is to include a source of protein such as turkey or ham. Experiment with cheeses, condiments, and vegetables until you find one you crave.
Burritos/soft tacos are easy and cheap. You need tortillas, shredded cheese, and refried beans. It is helpful if you have a pot to heat up the beans, but they are edible without. To add extra taste, include lettuce, tomato, sour cream, cooked chicken or beef, and hot sauce.
Pasta is a little more complicated but still not difficult. Boil some water, throw in pasta, cook it until it is soft, drain the water, dump your sauce of choice in the pan with the cooked noodles, wait until it is steaming, and voilà!—a delicious meal.
Good snacks to keep you going:
• Nuts and trail mixes will help on a day when you are feeling tired.
• Hummus with pita chips
• Cheese with crackers

• Change Sheets. It is helpful to have at least two sets of sheets that fit your bed. Wash one while the other is on the bed. There are typically two pieces of material in sheet sets; some also include pillowcases. The sheet with the ends that curl over with elastic is called the “fitted sheet” and is used to cover the mattress. Put these on one corner at a time, tucking each corner under the mattress. The flat sheet goes over your body when you sleep. It is helpful to tuck the bottom corners (that will be by your feet) under the mattress to hold the sheet in place. If you have allergies or are sick, it is best to change your sheets once a week. Since laundry can be expensive and inconvenient if you have to use a laundromat, you can probably get away with twice a month. At the very least, though, change your sheets once a month. However, it is important to still change your pillowcase every week to keep you from breaking out and getting sick.

• Make a Budget. While you will probably not experience the full brunt of bill-paying until later in life, it is necessary and helpful to do some financial planning now. Determine how much money you have to spend every month or week. Then determine what things you will need to spend your money on. Some common examples are:
• Food
• Gasoline
• Tithe
• Rent
• Toiletries
• Bills (such as cell phone, electricity, or school expenses)
• Events (dates and concerts)
• Clothes
• Savings
• Miscellaneous

Determine your own categories based on your personal needs and desires. Decide how much money you can spend on each of these categories. Try not to go over budget in any category. Simple boundaries will save you lots of stress and set you up for success in the future.

image © Martin Poole / Thinkstock

Friday Snippets and Soundbites

Memorial Day marks the unofficial start to summer (unofficial because summer doesn't actually start until June 21), and we couldn't think of a better way to kick off the lazy days of summer than with "Snippets and Soundbites"!

Admit it: you're excited!

And if today's edition of "Snippets and Soundbites" isn't enough randomness for you, please check out page 38 in this month's (and every month's) issue of ec.

Let's get the show on the road. Ready?

Lost and Found

It took awhile, but Robert Bell has his wallet back. The kicker? Bell lost the wallet back in 1941 and he just got it back this week. Bell, a World War II veteran, lost the wallet in 1941 when he was attending a Navy vocational school in Chicago. The wallet contained Bell's Social Security card and pictures of him and his soon-to-be wife, and he'd long since given up on it ever being returned to him. An electrician actually found the wallet in the 1960s in a crawl space at the school. He'd tried unsuccessfully to locate the owner and didn't have much luck until last year when an American Legion Post and a congressman got involved. With the help of the Social Security Administration, they tracked down Bell, who now lives in Utah. He was excited about the wallet's return and can't wait to show his son the pictures it contains. To learn more, go here.

A wild ride

A Tennessee Waffle House employee has a lot to be thankful for this week—namely that he has no serious injuries and is alive to tell his story after clinging to the hood of a moving car. Andrew Brian McKnight ended up in that dangerous position after three teens left the Waffle House where he works without paying. McKnight says he wasn't trying to be a hero or necessarily even stop the thieves; he just clung to the hood when the driver tried to run over him during the escape. So with McKnight clinging to the hood, the driver sped off—a local newspaper even reported that the car reached speeds up to 60 miles per hour. Amazingly, McKnight managed to call 911 on his phone while clinging to the car's hood as it sped down the road. The driver did stop the car shortly before the police arrived and was arrested. To read more about it, go here.

It's not rocket science. Or maybe it is. 

Remember those guys who made all the videos with the Diet Coke and Mentos? If you don't, check them out here. Well, it turns out those guys weren't just making a mess or playing around. They've found a way to put their discovery to use and created a vehicle that's propelled by—wait for it—Coke Zero and Mentos. In a video posted online this week, the vehicle traveled more than 220 feet. Read all about it here.

June 2010: Going through the motions

When I was a child, I wanted to be a ballerina when I grew up. I had a tutu; I liked to leap around our living room and twirl on my tiptoes. I checked out books from the library, learned the basic positions, and even once convinced (read: begged) my entire family to go to St. Louis to see a performance of “The Nutcracker.” I even told people I wanted to be a ballerina, but something important was missing: I never took one ballet lesson. And because of that, no matter how much I twirled and leapt, I wasn’t a ballerina. I was just going through the motions.

We can go through the motions in a lot of things in our lives. Homework. Work, for that matter. Relationships. Church. Sometimes, we get so caught up in doing the things of church that we overlook the relationship we have with God. We’re caught up in a lot of very good, religious things, but we’re not doing them because of our relationship with Christ. We’re just doing them. We’re just going through the motions.

The thing is, going through the motions isn’t what God wants from us. He doesn’t want us to just do religious things that have no meaning or purpose in our lives. He wants to have a relationship with us. He wants to know you, to show you every day how much He loves you, and to change you for His glory. It’s easy to be religious and just follow the traditions or do the activities; it’s more difficult to give yourself over to a relationship with Christ and trust Him with absolute control of everything in your life. Jesus didn’t call us to simply do good things; He called us to follow Him and allow Him to work through our lives. And that implies relationship. It means trusting Him, being in constant communication with Him, allowing Him to know us for who we really are, and being willing to lay our own fears, doubts, dreams, and desires aside so that His plan can be accomplished. That isn’t going through the motions; it’s being known by and knowing God. That’s a relationship.

If you get one thing from this issue of ec, I hope it’s that God wants to have a relationship with you. He doesn’t want halfhearted commitment or religious acts; He wants you. I hope you see that in Rick Futch’s cover story “Religion vs. relationship” on page 26, Kaylan Christopher’s article on listening to God (p. 45), and David Bennett’s “More than a feeling” article on page 58. I pray that you hear it in this month’s devotions and can’t get that truth out of your mind. I hope that you realize as you read this issue that your faith isn’t something you do; it’s something you live. In relationship. With Jesus Christ Himself. Pursue that relationship this month. Don’t just commit to follow Christ. Surrender. Lay it all down. Stop going through the motions.

Because He doesn’t want all of that. He simply wants you.