Today will be 3 years and 11 months that Jo and I have been dating. Wow!! Only 1 more month and it will be 4 years. I really need to start getting my stuff together on "some things" ;) ...lol. No really, I just can not thank God enough for blessing me with such a wonderful girl. I have to admit I take her for granted to often and am not the warrior that I should be for her. Anyways, HAPPY "MONTHAVERSARY" JO!! I Love You!!
So, if you have not noticed I have inserted a new play list loaded with some great songs from the 80's. I love the 80's. I hope listening to it brings you as much pleasure as it brought me. ALL SMILES!! This music brings even the biggest enemies together for much happiness. It was a revolutionary time in our worlds history...I know, I know, I am weird. BUT... Long live the 80's!
Big props to the Thrashers and Falcons in being in the bottom % of there respective leagues. I have given up on the Falcons for this season...BUT BELIEVE IN BLUE LAND!! I love hockey for this purpose...any team can win... any game... and it is a long season. Support the boys in blue...Long live hockey in the south...or I will move north!!
So, another random blog has occurred again..oh well that is fine. My life is busy and that reaps busy blogs!
If you have made it this far in the blog then you are a true friend. Drop me a comment and let me know...I need the support. :)
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Another day off
Well today was yet another off day. What fun!! I got up early and headed to Savii and got fitted for a tux for Jason and Jenni's wedding. After that I wasted time... I walked around the mall for an hour and a half waiting to for Jo Lynn to get done with her class. I was going to meet her for lunch. :). So walking around the mall was fun as always...I love people watching and checking the new stuff in all the fancy stores. :(
Okay sooo...she finally got out of class and I met her and her friend Taylor for some Japanese food before I had to go and get my physical and drug test. I did not get a word in the whole time due to the oober exciting gossip that filled the conversations across the table. HA...;)
So after that wonderful international food consumption...I headed to what I thought was going to be a quick pee and cough and be on my way. UHH NO....It was ridiculous. I so responsibly arrived at this place at 1:19...thinking I was smart... and did not leave until a little after 4:00. It put me right in the middle of freakin rush hour @ Town Center. Enough Said.
So now I am chillin at Jo's Casa watching all of Jo's tivo'd programs...not...and waiting for the Thrashers to come on...hopefully she will let me watch the game. LOL
......................................................................................................
I also recommend this website. I bought one of there Cd's and it is amazing.
BabyRockRecords.com
whats for dinner? I am hungry!!
Okay sooo...she finally got out of class and I met her and her friend Taylor for some Japanese food before I had to go and get my physical and drug test. I did not get a word in the whole time due to the oober exciting gossip that filled the conversations across the table. HA...;)
So after that wonderful international food consumption...I headed to what I thought was going to be a quick pee and cough and be on my way. UHH NO....It was ridiculous. I so responsibly arrived at this place at 1:19...thinking I was smart... and did not leave until a little after 4:00. It put me right in the middle of freakin rush hour @ Town Center. Enough Said.
So now I am chillin at Jo's Casa watching all of Jo's tivo'd programs...not...and waiting for the Thrashers to come on...hopefully she will let me watch the game. LOL
......................................................................................................
I also recommend this website. I bought one of there Cd's and it is amazing.
BabyRockRecords.com
whats for dinner? I am hungry!!
Saturday, October 6, 2007
My trip to the Rockies in 4 days !!
Well, I have done it. I have accomplished one of the many things I have wanted to do for a while now. I drove to Colorado and experienced the Rocky Mountains and everything in between. It has taken a couple of days to sink in but I am starting to think about everything now and it is amazing.
My dad and I headed out Monday morning @ 2:00 am. We were in Northern Kentucky by sunrise. It was beautiful! The scenery of rollings hills of the eastern Appalachians into farmland at sunrise is truly beautiful!
Southern Illinois was mainly farmland. It kinda reminded me of middle Alabama. It literally was farm land and woods all the way into Saint Louis, Missouri. It was cool seeing the farm land give way to the cityscape.
St. Louis was very cool. We stopped and experienced the Gateway to the West (St. Louis Arch). This was my journey westward. As I stood on the banks of the Mississippi with the arch behind me, I had no idea what was ahead of me. My dad and I were a modern day Louis and Clark.
Middle Missouri was surprisingly "hilly" all of the way into Kansas City. Kansas itself was in fact "hilly" in the Eastern part only with less trees than Missouri. That part of Kansas is called rolling hills Kansas. It was beautiful. Topeka,Kansas marked the end of our day. A long grueling day.
We started our journey Tuesday with a typical Kansas storm. It was so cool and an awesome way to experience the eastern plains.
As we headed west we increased elevation to about 4,000 ft, but everything slowly became flat, VERY FLAT. I will not get into geographic stuff but it is awesome to think about how earth works. So Kansas is big very big. We finally reach eastern Colorado about 2:00 that day and it was incredible. It looked a lot like western Kansas but with no farm land just ranch land.
Heading into Denver we noticed a slight profile of mountains about 80 miles out. At that point the car started traveling faster. As we got closer it was crazy to see how the rolling ranch land just shoots up from the land some 10,000 ft. forming the Rockies. It is nothing like the Appalachians.
From Denver we headed north to Ft. Collins where we stayed that night. Wednesday morning my car battery was dead...more on that later
Wednesday we traveled into the Rockies as far as we could because the roads were closed due to SNOW!! But what we saw was crazy beautiful. I want to live there so bad! Then we headed toward Colorado Springs and saw the Air Force Academy which was really cool and then Garden of the Gods which was breath taking. From there we decided we were going to try to make it home by Thursday Night...lol...so we kept driving south toward Pueblo, Co and into New Mexico. Northeastern New Mexico is some of the most beautiful landscaping next to the Rockies. Flat land rising to steep plateaus and mountains. Most of the land in that part used to be Volcanic and actually has some dead volcanoes that scatter the land.
The panhandle of Texas was kinda like everything else in Middle America...big boring but amazingly awesome. The sunset was one the most beautiful ones I have seen and the stars at night were overwhelming. All that aside, we stopped in Amarillo, TX and dad had a 21 oz steak and I had an awesome burger at the place known for the 70 oz. steak. From here it was nothing but driving till Georgia.... from here everything was kind of a blur.
By Thursday we were in Oklahoma. I have never seen a big city so dead at night as Oklahoma City was...it was weird and Arkansas was kinda lame...but what would you expect from a state that produces a guy like Bill Clinton. :)
Not to mention we had the privilege of sitting in one of the worst traffic jams in Little Rocks history according to the traffic man on the radio. It was just another Atlanta rush hour to me...just another day at work. Memphis was cool...what I saw of it...I definitely want to go to the city and soak up its history.
UHHH....Northern Eastern Mississippi and North Western Alabama welcomed me home with some of the prettiest scenery of rolling Appalachian foothills. Birmingham is pretty disgusting as is I-20 into Georgia.
So now I am home and my car battery is officially fried...did you know that smoldering battery acid smells like rotten eggs? Yeah well it does. It is a miracle that we made it home. It is also a miracle that my front tire did not blow out. I woke up Friday morning and it was completely flat. I patch had worked itself loose on the trip and fortunately decided to wait till home to leak out.It is well worth the price though. The adrenaline still has not worn off. Thank you God for watching over us on this trip. We left early Monday and were home by Late Thursday...wow
I will never forget this.
My dad and I headed out Monday morning @ 2:00 am. We were in Northern Kentucky by sunrise. It was beautiful! The scenery of rollings hills of the eastern Appalachians into farmland at sunrise is truly beautiful!
Southern Illinois was mainly farmland. It kinda reminded me of middle Alabama. It literally was farm land and woods all the way into Saint Louis, Missouri. It was cool seeing the farm land give way to the cityscape.
St. Louis was very cool. We stopped and experienced the Gateway to the West (St. Louis Arch). This was my journey westward. As I stood on the banks of the Mississippi with the arch behind me, I had no idea what was ahead of me. My dad and I were a modern day Louis and Clark.
Middle Missouri was surprisingly "hilly" all of the way into Kansas City. Kansas itself was in fact "hilly" in the Eastern part only with less trees than Missouri. That part of Kansas is called rolling hills Kansas. It was beautiful. Topeka,Kansas marked the end of our day. A long grueling day.
We started our journey Tuesday with a typical Kansas storm. It was so cool and an awesome way to experience the eastern plains.
As we headed west we increased elevation to about 4,000 ft, but everything slowly became flat, VERY FLAT. I will not get into geographic stuff but it is awesome to think about how earth works. So Kansas is big very big. We finally reach eastern Colorado about 2:00 that day and it was incredible. It looked a lot like western Kansas but with no farm land just ranch land.
Heading into Denver we noticed a slight profile of mountains about 80 miles out. At that point the car started traveling faster. As we got closer it was crazy to see how the rolling ranch land just shoots up from the land some 10,000 ft. forming the Rockies. It is nothing like the Appalachians.
From Denver we headed north to Ft. Collins where we stayed that night. Wednesday morning my car battery was dead...more on that later
Wednesday we traveled into the Rockies as far as we could because the roads were closed due to SNOW!! But what we saw was crazy beautiful. I want to live there so bad! Then we headed toward Colorado Springs and saw the Air Force Academy which was really cool and then Garden of the Gods which was breath taking. From there we decided we were going to try to make it home by Thursday Night...lol...so we kept driving south toward Pueblo, Co and into New Mexico. Northeastern New Mexico is some of the most beautiful landscaping next to the Rockies. Flat land rising to steep plateaus and mountains. Most of the land in that part used to be Volcanic and actually has some dead volcanoes that scatter the land.
The panhandle of Texas was kinda like everything else in Middle America...big boring but amazingly awesome. The sunset was one the most beautiful ones I have seen and the stars at night were overwhelming. All that aside, we stopped in Amarillo, TX and dad had a 21 oz steak and I had an awesome burger at the place known for the 70 oz. steak. From here it was nothing but driving till Georgia.... from here everything was kind of a blur.
By Thursday we were in Oklahoma. I have never seen a big city so dead at night as Oklahoma City was...it was weird and Arkansas was kinda lame...but what would you expect from a state that produces a guy like Bill Clinton. :)
Not to mention we had the privilege of sitting in one of the worst traffic jams in Little Rocks history according to the traffic man on the radio. It was just another Atlanta rush hour to me...just another day at work. Memphis was cool...what I saw of it...I definitely want to go to the city and soak up its history.
UHHH....Northern Eastern Mississippi and North Western Alabama welcomed me home with some of the prettiest scenery of rolling Appalachian foothills. Birmingham is pretty disgusting as is I-20 into Georgia.
So now I am home and my car battery is officially fried...did you know that smoldering battery acid smells like rotten eggs? Yeah well it does. It is a miracle that we made it home. It is also a miracle that my front tire did not blow out. I woke up Friday morning and it was completely flat. I patch had worked itself loose on the trip and fortunately decided to wait till home to leak out.It is well worth the price though. The adrenaline still has not worn off. Thank you God for watching over us on this trip. We left early Monday and were home by Late Thursday...wow
I will never forget this.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Don't Blink
..."Don't blinkJust like that you're six years old and you're taking naps and youWake up and you're twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wifeDon't blinkYou just might miss your babies growing like mine didTurning into moms and dads next thing you know your better halfOf fifty years is there in bedAnd you're praying God takes you insteadTrust me friend a hundred years goes faster than you thinkSo don't blink...
-kenny chesney
This weekend was not bad at all....
Friday, Jo and I went to the fair for the first time in our relationship. It was a blast. It was expensive but a still a blast. We got to see Little Big Town in concert for free and to no one's suprise they were very good live. We rode the rides until Jo got sick ;). We stuffed our faces with home-made potato chips covered with ranch dressing and bacon, along with the always amazing funnel cakes, and apple dumplings with vanilla ice cream. The temperature was cool all night which made it very comfortable. It was overall a wonderful night that I will never forget.
Saturday, I slept till about 9:00. That is all I can get to now-a-days. I started my day off by turning on ESPN College Gameday. Then , it was time to begin "Fall Cleaning". I do not think my room has ever been as clean as it is right now. It is amazing how a clean room will make you feel.
After cleaning, Jo came over scrapbooked with my mom. As for me....well it was pretty much college football for the rest of the night and what a night it was!
Sunday, was another sleeper. I got going about 9:00 and layed around and watched cartoons and old tv shows until the NFL preview shows started coming on. It was fab!! Then,Jo and I went to town and I got a green light up pumpkin for my room...ha... I am so festive! It was overall a "restful" sunday except for watching the Falcons defense blowup and loose the game later that day.
...and now it is Monday, the beginning of Fall, and the last week at my current job. It was a great weekend but it went by soo fast. Life is fast. I am reminded of that even today as I hear whispers of people talking of a young death in the office. It reminds me to cherish every moment that I have with loved ones around me and to remember that life can be taken just like that...so don't blink
Friday, September 21, 2007
VENT!!!!
- Mike Vick is a horrible QB. You do not want him as your QB. He did killed the dogs and you know it! Amazing that a idiot football player can cause so much junk.
- The Florida student who got tasered this week....DESERVED IT. If you act a fool in front of a U.S. Senator and do not cease when authorities tell you to...then for the safety of the senator they must use any means necessary for you dumb butt to sit down!!
- Racism in America is not as big an issue as everyone makes it. It is, except for a few nuts, extinct. But, if you keep making a big deal about "little things... then....it will recreate itself....I am sure.
- I am close to not supporting the way the war is being handled in Iraq....actually...I am very close to thinking this country is falling apart. God please help us :(
- Fantasy Hockey is soo hard...
- Lawn Care and Construction are modern day slave trade businesses.... where is the NAACP for that..lol.
- Sean Hannity needs to take a break...the Liberals are getting to him
- Isn't great that all of the rich people have watered their pretty green lawns and played in their nice blue pools so much that now their boat docks sit in mud and lake houses property value has gone down... because of low lake levels...now they want the blue collard workers to come up with a solution.
- Being gay is not normal...but I would love to help you get things "straight"...not support you.
Well that is enough complaining for know. Sorry I had to release some thoughts.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
GRANDE WEEK END
This weekend is going to be great! It's getting there that is the hard part.
Friday, Jo and I are planning on going to the North Georgia State Fair. Believe it or not this will be the first time we have been to the fair together in our almost 4 year relationship. So, needless to say I am pretty stoked about the whole thing.
Saturday,we "MAY" head to Helen, Ga for Oktoberfest. I have never been to it before. Well, I have never been to Helen before. So it should be interesting to see what it is all about.
and....
Sunday, we have to day off so we may go to North Pointe or something. We were going to travel to Perry Nobles church, but that would have been a ton of mileage for one weekend...I don't know it is still up in the air.
I love big weekends. It makes the long drawn out work week worth all you put into it. I hope you all also have a wonderful weekend!!
Here are some predictions for this weekends football matchups:
LSU (#2) over South Carolina(#12) - Spurrier needs a quaterback to hang with these boys.
Michigan over Penn State (#10) - I honestly believe the first two weeks were flukes.
Alabama (#16) over Georgia (#22) - Alabama's offense with Roll over a weak Georgia "D" ;)
Georgia Tech over Virginia- Despite Tech's history in Virginia...they will win this year!!
TOSS UP....WHO WINS THIS GAME????
Kentucky (#21) at Arkansas
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Things that I miss..that make me happy.
I miss:
- The old Nickelodean. You know the one with Doug, Ren and Stimpy, Hey Arnold, Rugrats, Rocko's Modern Life, Camp Anawanna, Wild and Crazy Kids, and all that other cool stuff from the 90's.
- MTV when it played something other than reality shows and hip-hop music videos.
- Staying home from school and watching all the kids shows that came on during the day.
- After School Program, Scholastic Book Fairs, P.E., and all the other fun stuff from elementary school.
- Friday night football games when PCHS was actually good.
- Saturday football games when I was in the middle school marching band. I was in the best middle school drum line this side of Georgia. yessss.
- Sunday school, sitting in church with the whole family squeezed on the bench, lookin foward to what mom had planned for lunch, and then taking a nap.
- LIFE WHEN IT WAS NOT SO HARD.
Memories are great. This blog was great for me... I sometimes forget about all the wonderful times in my past that have made me who I am today. It helps me realize all of the awesome things God has done in my life to make me happy.
I feel bad. I always seem to talk about the dark days of my life on this blog. So I figured I would reflect on the things that made me happy in the past and kinda bring memories out of the cellar that is in my head.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
The Fog is Lifting ;)
The past month has been eventful. It seems that God has provided me a new job and a new career opening. The paper work and stuff has to be filled out before I can start. So I must wait a little longer and make that long drive to Northridge Road a few more times.
My application also has been accepted to participate in the Paulding County Reserve Fire Fighter training program. It is the first of many steps you have to take to become a "career firefighter". This is one of the biggest opportunities that I have had in a while. Well....that and where I am about to start working. This could potentially jump start my career into a place where I find satisfaction at the end of the day. Please keep praying for my strength through all of this.
Life has its twist, turns, mountains, and valleys. Half the time I have no idea where I am going lately....its like a bad fog. I can feel the warmth of the sun creeping though it all. My surroundings are starting to lighten up and I can see a little further...my God has never left me.
My application also has been accepted to participate in the Paulding County Reserve Fire Fighter training program. It is the first of many steps you have to take to become a "career firefighter". This is one of the biggest opportunities that I have had in a while. Well....that and where I am about to start working. This could potentially jump start my career into a place where I find satisfaction at the end of the day. Please keep praying for my strength through all of this.
Life has its twist, turns, mountains, and valleys. Half the time I have no idea where I am going lately....its like a bad fog. I can feel the warmth of the sun creeping though it all. My surroundings are starting to lighten up and I can see a little further...my God has never left me.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Jumping
It has been 26 days since my last blog...I think.
A lot has happened between then and now. A lot of paths have been placed before me. All are scary, because they take me to difficult trails leading to giant cliffs that I have to jump from. All take me different places and will mold me into different things. I am afraid to take any of them in fear of failure...in fear of not being able to support a family later on. What I am losing sight of is that God is there all the time through every tough decision...just waiting patiently for me to place my faith in Him and know that He is bigger than this life...that causes me so much heartache.
Why has life become so difficult? Have I lost sight of who has control of it? Where has my faith gone?
I mean, I at this moment I have the words to a famous children's song running through my head..."He's got the whole world in His hands"... but I do not listen and believe it obviously.
The point is I have to grow up...stop being wishy washy... make a choice for my life and stick with it. I have to jump and know that He is there....stop being a wimp and just do something.
Life always is going to have its dark days where we must lean hard into our faith in Him... where we can't see the light at the end...where we feel that the world has beaten us...
I guess this is one of mine. I just have to jump...
Thursday, August 2, 2007
P-ractice!!
Well I am back playing drums and practice was last night. I was a little rusty but every one was glad to see me back, which made me feel good. It is good to feel needed/"loved" no matter who you are. It was gruelling though. I forgot how much work lugging drums around actually was....but it is all good. It felt good to play again.
It felt good to sit down and talk with the guys during devotional. We threw some junk on the table and we were pretty honest with each other for the purpose of trying to get a hold on teamwork and becoming more "professional" but never losing our "love" for one another. That "love" is what holds a team together no matter how big or small it is. But what does that "love" look like?
......................................................................................
I was thinking about the lyrics to one of the songs we are doing..."we were meant to live for so much more...but we lost ourselves". This song has been sort of... no... it has been an anthem for my life lately. I am realizing this more and more everyday. I am meant to live for something bigger and somewhere along my path the past several years I have gotten lost and it is more evident here lately.
God is Amazing though and He is constantly working and showing me new things. He is constantly molding me even when I do not see. I am stoked for what He has in store for my life...I am half scared and half excited about the challenges He has already put in my path. He could not have provided a better person to walk along side me, and help me through all of it, than Jo Lynn...I can not wait to see what He has planned for our journey together. I love her like crazy glue yo she is the most amazing girl I know !! ;)
We were meant to live for so much more...think about that!
It felt good to sit down and talk with the guys during devotional. We threw some junk on the table and we were pretty honest with each other for the purpose of trying to get a hold on teamwork and becoming more "professional" but never losing our "love" for one another. That "love" is what holds a team together no matter how big or small it is. But what does that "love" look like?
......................................................................................
I was thinking about the lyrics to one of the songs we are doing..."we were meant to live for so much more...but we lost ourselves". This song has been sort of... no... it has been an anthem for my life lately. I am realizing this more and more everyday. I am meant to live for something bigger and somewhere along my path the past several years I have gotten lost and it is more evident here lately.
God is Amazing though and He is constantly working and showing me new things. He is constantly molding me even when I do not see. I am stoked for what He has in store for my life...I am half scared and half excited about the challenges He has already put in my path. He could not have provided a better person to walk along side me, and help me through all of it, than Jo Lynn...I can not wait to see what He has planned for our journey together. I love her like crazy glue yo she is the most amazing girl I know !! ;)
We were meant to live for so much more...think about that!
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Headlines...
Monday, July 30, 2007
Almost August?!?!?
I can not believe that it is July 30th already. Wow…Life is coming at me so fast!!
This weekend was great!! I did absolutely nothing. I left my cell phone in my desk and just relaxed.
I am starting to work out and run everyday and it has been A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. I have forgotten what it feels like to be athletic. It is what I have been my whole life, but since high school I have done nothing but become a slob and it has caused me to be depressed and sick all of the time….EXCERCISE IS GREAT.
So, back to being a slob!!! I, with some help, went and bought Guitar Hero Rock the 80’s. It is fabulous!! This series of games is gonna break my wallet…I seriously should watch out and you should too cause this game rocks face!!
Saturday was also filled with some movie watching. After a few hours of Guitar Hero... Jo, Steph, and I watched Bridge to Terabithia. It was an alright movie. It had a good message but was a little childish and filled with bad acting.
Sunday, Jo and I attended West Ridge Church. The message was great. It was the last part of a 9 PART SERIES they had been in over the book of James called "Evident". You came out of the series with 9 challenging questions to ask yourself as a Christian that James addresses throughout his writings. Other than that the music was cheesy to me...lol (jk)…but that is besides the point...lol
Other activities to note are…the very cultural Chinese lunch buffet, reading the Sunday paper, studying and watching Jo scrapbook.
:)
This weekend was great!! I did absolutely nothing. I left my cell phone in my desk and just relaxed.
I am starting to work out and run everyday and it has been A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. I have forgotten what it feels like to be athletic. It is what I have been my whole life, but since high school I have done nothing but become a slob and it has caused me to be depressed and sick all of the time….EXCERCISE IS GREAT.
So, back to being a slob!!! I, with some help, went and bought Guitar Hero Rock the 80’s. It is fabulous!! This series of games is gonna break my wallet…I seriously should watch out and you should too cause this game rocks face!!
Saturday was also filled with some movie watching. After a few hours of Guitar Hero... Jo, Steph, and I watched Bridge to Terabithia. It was an alright movie. It had a good message but was a little childish and filled with bad acting.
Sunday, Jo and I attended West Ridge Church. The message was great. It was the last part of a 9 PART SERIES they had been in over the book of James called "Evident". You came out of the series with 9 challenging questions to ask yourself as a Christian that James addresses throughout his writings. Other than that the music was cheesy to me...lol (jk)…but that is besides the point...lol
Other activities to note are…the very cultural Chinese lunch buffet, reading the Sunday paper, studying and watching Jo scrapbook.
:)
Friday, July 27, 2007
The Picture...
Where I am right now, is the scariest place I have ever been. The point between youth and adult. At the point of a decision that could possibly make me into what God molded me to be. The point where I can define who I am....
I look at my life and what I have done and an accomplished. I look at my strengths and weaknesses. A picture of who I might be starts to be placed behind my eyes. Constantly scratching at the surface wanting out. I know that it is inevitable and it just keep bugging me.
It is not a picture of what I have been...it a picture of what could possibly be who I am. A picture that if followed could be the hardest thing I have ever done in my life...A picture that I am scared to follow...but Gods challenges for our lives were never meant to be easy. Or is that just my opinion from where I stand?. In my eyes, God's molding of people throughout the Bible was extreme, but in the end it made their faith in Him stronger.
What is it like making that decision? What is it like making that leap of faith? Realizing who you are and what you eventually could be is the scariest thing to face...
The kinda faith that leaves you saying "God, here I go...it is just you me now...take me where you want me".
Its like looking down a river of whitewater rapids that (if the right path is traveled) could give you the scariest, wildest, most extreme ride of your life leaving you speechless at the end and joyful. Or the worst ride leaving you wet, mangled, cut, and bruised. Alive but beaten.
NO MATTER WHAT I HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE..."Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same..."
I look at my life and what I have done and an accomplished. I look at my strengths and weaknesses. A picture of who I might be starts to be placed behind my eyes. Constantly scratching at the surface wanting out. I know that it is inevitable and it just keep bugging me.
It is not a picture of what I have been...it a picture of what could possibly be who I am. A picture that if followed could be the hardest thing I have ever done in my life...A picture that I am scared to follow...but Gods challenges for our lives were never meant to be easy. Or is that just my opinion from where I stand?. In my eyes, God's molding of people throughout the Bible was extreme, but in the end it made their faith in Him stronger.
What is it like making that decision? What is it like making that leap of faith? Realizing who you are and what you eventually could be is the scariest thing to face...
The kinda faith that leaves you saying "God, here I go...it is just you me now...take me where you want me".
Its like looking down a river of whitewater rapids that (if the right path is traveled) could give you the scariest, wildest, most extreme ride of your life leaving you speechless at the end and joyful. Or the worst ride leaving you wet, mangled, cut, and bruised. Alive but beaten.
NO MATTER WHAT I HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE..."Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same..."
Friday, July 20, 2007
Night Drives
Psalm 30:5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
Tonight my parents, Jo Lynn, and I are heading to Pensacola Beach, Florida. We are going to down to watch the Navy's Blue Angels put on their heavenly demonstration over the Crystal blue water of the Gulf of Mexico. We made the journey last year on a very spur of the moment decision by yours truly. My parents ended up loving it so much that they planned a trip this year. So off we go...
We will be driving in the middle of the night. We will arrive somewhere between 3:00 am and 6:00 a.m. just in time to see the sunrise.
I love these kind of trips because they remind me of life. The Christian walk. Its daylight when you first start. You are in the car ready to go, bags are packed, map is out, munchin on some chips. Then, there comes a point in your trip where the sun sets and all you got are the 2 headlights and 15 or so feet in front of you to see the road and exits signs. All you have to get from point to point is that map and road signs. You have no sunlight to tell you east from west or what is off in the distance...just a map and some signs. You have to rely on that map because it coordinates with the signs to get you to the right place.
If done correctly, it will keep you out of the ditch or having a head on collision. Eventually you arrive at you "next" destination. The sun will rise and shine beautiful light on the road just traveled. You will see where you are and that you are safe. You will see where you have been.
Also a side note: I remember my first night drive...it sucked. I was so scared that I would make a wrong turn and end up in california. The more drives a had to do the better I got. Now, my dad can do them with ease...he just need a bottle of coke and some peanuts and he is good to go. He is a teacher to me now. He has great knowledge of the map, car, and of the areas he has been throughout his life. I mean when I am lost or have car problems, I usually call him. He did not gain this knowledge by not having any problems. He has had plenty of them and still does.
Night drives are a great way to paint a picture of what happens to us in our walks. We are just little cars driving around constantly facing fork in roads, flat tires, oil changes, just mere maintenance problems, sometimes we break down and sometimes we have that long gruelling night drive. Fortunately we have our owners manual and road map all in one. The Bible. When you got no one else... you always have it. It is always there.
Gods word is a light for your path. We should use it all the time. The more you read The Bible the more prepared you will be when you have to take on what this world has to throw at you. The more prepared you will be on that night drive.
NOTE: DRIVING IN GENERAL IS EASIER WITH OTHER PEOPLE TO HELP YOU AND KEEP YOU ALERT AND AWAKE...DO NOT DRIVE ALONE...THAT IS WHY YOU HAVE PASSENGER SEATS...IT IS WHAT THE "CAR" WAS BUILT TO DO.
So, please pray for us on this trip that we will make it safely.
Tonight my parents, Jo Lynn, and I are heading to Pensacola Beach, Florida. We are going to down to watch the Navy's Blue Angels put on their heavenly demonstration over the Crystal blue water of the Gulf of Mexico. We made the journey last year on a very spur of the moment decision by yours truly. My parents ended up loving it so much that they planned a trip this year. So off we go...
We will be driving in the middle of the night. We will arrive somewhere between 3:00 am and 6:00 a.m. just in time to see the sunrise.
I love these kind of trips because they remind me of life. The Christian walk. Its daylight when you first start. You are in the car ready to go, bags are packed, map is out, munchin on some chips. Then, there comes a point in your trip where the sun sets and all you got are the 2 headlights and 15 or so feet in front of you to see the road and exits signs. All you have to get from point to point is that map and road signs. You have no sunlight to tell you east from west or what is off in the distance...just a map and some signs. You have to rely on that map because it coordinates with the signs to get you to the right place.
If done correctly, it will keep you out of the ditch or having a head on collision. Eventually you arrive at you "next" destination. The sun will rise and shine beautiful light on the road just traveled. You will see where you are and that you are safe. You will see where you have been.
Also a side note: I remember my first night drive...it sucked. I was so scared that I would make a wrong turn and end up in california. The more drives a had to do the better I got. Now, my dad can do them with ease...he just need a bottle of coke and some peanuts and he is good to go. He is a teacher to me now. He has great knowledge of the map, car, and of the areas he has been throughout his life. I mean when I am lost or have car problems, I usually call him. He did not gain this knowledge by not having any problems. He has had plenty of them and still does.
Night drives are a great way to paint a picture of what happens to us in our walks. We are just little cars driving around constantly facing fork in roads, flat tires, oil changes, just mere maintenance problems, sometimes we break down and sometimes we have that long gruelling night drive. Fortunately we have our owners manual and road map all in one. The Bible. When you got no one else... you always have it. It is always there.
Gods word is a light for your path. We should use it all the time. The more you read The Bible the more prepared you will be when you have to take on what this world has to throw at you. The more prepared you will be on that night drive.
NOTE: DRIVING IN GENERAL IS EASIER WITH OTHER PEOPLE TO HELP YOU AND KEEP YOU ALERT AND AWAKE...DO NOT DRIVE ALONE...THAT IS WHY YOU HAVE PASSENGER SEATS...IT IS WHAT THE "CAR" WAS BUILT TO DO.
So, please pray for us on this trip that we will make it safely.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
The Little "g" in My Life
Jo Lynn enjoys Harry Potter as "entertainment". She and I were "arguing" over Harry Potter and its morals....and I was pitching a fit about what it stands for...southern gospel style. A few hours later the weight of Gods hand crushed my heart with guilt...what a fool I had been.
It caused me to think about having gods...little "g"...over God. Too many times I have missed the cut on this commandment...hence the Harry Potter argument. I shrug it off as if it is ridiculous to think I would worship another god. I put the guilt on other people. Never do I praise the sun god for the sunlight or the water god for the rain... right? Nor would I become a Harry Potter fanatic and act out ridiculous spells for fun. I mean, that is crazy! But...
(ENTER GOD)
Rick, your problem is that you worship the god of sports. Can you say NFL Sunday Football? How about staying up too late on Saturday to watch a Braves game only to find yourself "dreading" to be at church the next day. Oh, and lets not forget about the thousands of people who stay out of church to attend NASCAR races, Golf Tournaments, and Falcons games. Think of all the alcohol,women, and negative advertisements that go along with it. It is a sin pit.
I honestly get mad if I am not at home in time for kick off, green flag, first pitch, etc. I do not even like to go out for lunch if a game I want to see is on.
See, when I notice myself doing this I realize that that something is controlling part of my life. I realize I have become a fool. My priorities are out of whack. It has become a god in a sense. I FREAK OUT.
I ask myself, "how do I control this...can I not enjoy anything in life anymore?". "God, do I need to just get rid of my TV and Computer?"
It is a scary place to be. It back to Newton's Hymn..."an object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by an outside force"
I ask what is your "god" little "g"?
It caused me to think about having gods...little "g"...over God. Too many times I have missed the cut on this commandment...hence the Harry Potter argument. I shrug it off as if it is ridiculous to think I would worship another god. I put the guilt on other people. Never do I praise the sun god for the sunlight or the water god for the rain... right? Nor would I become a Harry Potter fanatic and act out ridiculous spells for fun. I mean, that is crazy! But...
(ENTER GOD)
Rick, your problem is that you worship the god of sports. Can you say NFL Sunday Football? How about staying up too late on Saturday to watch a Braves game only to find yourself "dreading" to be at church the next day. Oh, and lets not forget about the thousands of people who stay out of church to attend NASCAR races, Golf Tournaments, and Falcons games. Think of all the alcohol,women, and negative advertisements that go along with it. It is a sin pit.
I honestly get mad if I am not at home in time for kick off, green flag, first pitch, etc. I do not even like to go out for lunch if a game I want to see is on.
See, when I notice myself doing this I realize that that something is controlling part of my life. I realize I have become a fool. My priorities are out of whack. It has become a god in a sense. I FREAK OUT.
I ask myself, "how do I control this...can I not enjoy anything in life anymore?". "God, do I need to just get rid of my TV and Computer?"
It is a scary place to be. It back to Newton's Hymn..."an object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by an outside force"
I ask what is your "god" little "g"?
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
A little Update Mixed With Some Emo
Not really much to blog about.
I have been doing a lot of reading lately and it has really opened me up. It seems to do that all the time. I guess I should read more. C.S Lewis has a very very deep mind.
I also listened to a message given @ Newspring by Steven Furtick. It is pretty hardcore and I suggest anyone reading this blog to hear it. Things like this always get me ticking.
Okay so…
I found out some semi-bad news yesterday. I thought my dad had been going to the doctor for his kidneys and the normal stuff, but it turns out he has this lump on his chest area. He claims the doctors do not think it is a cancer or tumor. So that is good. He gave it some name…???...but nonetheless it is just one more ordeal for my father. Please if you can pray for his health, strength, and faith.
It is just so hard at times to comprehend that you are under the grasp of death and sin … WE ALL ARE. Even right now, as I am breathing, I am slowly dying from this life. It is real easy to see that in your family and yourself as you get older. When you notice that it is happening it can be hard to deal with. You really want and try to make the most of everyday you see them and to always thank God for what He has done and going to do. I am so thankful for the family. I am thankful for the promise my dad, my family, and myself have in store after this life. It helps in knowing that this is not the end…it never was…not by a long shot. My God has something better for me waiting…IT IS TRULY… "All because of Jesus I’m alive".
I want so bad for every one in this world to have that mercy and grace that has been given to me.
I have been doing a lot of reading lately and it has really opened me up. It seems to do that all the time. I guess I should read more. C.S Lewis has a very very deep mind.
I also listened to a message given @ Newspring by Steven Furtick. It is pretty hardcore and I suggest anyone reading this blog to hear it. Things like this always get me ticking.
Okay so…
I found out some semi-bad news yesterday. I thought my dad had been going to the doctor for his kidneys and the normal stuff, but it turns out he has this lump on his chest area. He claims the doctors do not think it is a cancer or tumor. So that is good. He gave it some name…???...but nonetheless it is just one more ordeal for my father. Please if you can pray for his health, strength, and faith.
It is just so hard at times to comprehend that you are under the grasp of death and sin … WE ALL ARE. Even right now, as I am breathing, I am slowly dying from this life. It is real easy to see that in your family and yourself as you get older. When you notice that it is happening it can be hard to deal with. You really want and try to make the most of everyday you see them and to always thank God for what He has done and going to do. I am so thankful for the family. I am thankful for the promise my dad, my family, and myself have in store after this life. It helps in knowing that this is not the end…it never was…not by a long shot. My God has something better for me waiting…IT IS TRULY… "All because of Jesus I’m alive".
I want so bad for every one in this world to have that mercy and grace that has been given to me.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
An Office Type Question...
Jo and I can not wait for the new season of The Office. This show is so amazingly funny. It can push the lines and step on toe's...but I like the idea. Here is a link to an article on the new season... if you Office junkies care to read. Hint: the first few episode are an hour long :)
Okay on a darker note and following the theme of a work place. How do you handle someone who does not take stuff seriously or wants the "gold" now? How do you handle this in a church environment? I find myself all the time stepping back and trying to face reality of the fact that you have to plow the field before you can eat the food. You have to shuffle the sand, grime, and all the other junk before the Gold appears.
My question is...how do you handle a person who just does not get that? How do you wake them up to reality? At, times... how do I wake myself up to that reality...? So far my conclusion to this question is to just let them hit rock bottom. Is this right? Just treat them like you would anyone else at the company/church and they will eventually jump on the work line or leave the company and eventually hit "rock bottom"?
Fortunately, at this time it is not my job in any environment to handle this. I have been thinking about it a lot lately. Hopefully, it will be my job one day to be that kind of leader in my career. In the mean time... these kind of topics worry me and are my flaw. I have to much compassion towards people sometimes.
My question to those leaders is how do you reject these people....the ones that want it all now but just do not get the process? To gauge the fine line, to me, seems so hard to do.
Okay on a darker note and following the theme of a work place. How do you handle someone who does not take stuff seriously or wants the "gold" now? How do you handle this in a church environment? I find myself all the time stepping back and trying to face reality of the fact that you have to plow the field before you can eat the food. You have to shuffle the sand, grime, and all the other junk before the Gold appears.
My question is...how do you handle a person who just does not get that? How do you wake them up to reality? At, times... how do I wake myself up to that reality...? So far my conclusion to this question is to just let them hit rock bottom. Is this right? Just treat them like you would anyone else at the company/church and they will eventually jump on the work line or leave the company and eventually hit "rock bottom"?
Fortunately, at this time it is not my job in any environment to handle this. I have been thinking about it a lot lately. Hopefully, it will be my job one day to be that kind of leader in my career. In the mean time... these kind of topics worry me and are my flaw. I have to much compassion towards people sometimes.
My question to those leaders is how do you reject these people....the ones that want it all now but just do not get the process? To gauge the fine line, to me, seems so hard to do.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Bear's thoughts...
I was watching Man vs Wild last night and Bear had a very awesome realization. So I thought I would share....
Upon being stuck in the Amazon Rain Forest near Ecuador for DAYS!! He was in the midst on of the deadliest disorientating places on earth. His moral was down and did not know if he would make ever make it out.
After a rainy nights "sleep" he went out for another demoralizing day and at one point noticed ONE bright purple flower amidst all the jungle and tangled mess of vines and trees. He made it a point to tell the audience that it is moments like this that have helped him survive in the most deadliest conditions. The flower amidst all the ugliness survived...stuck it out...his view was that God's splendour and strength is there... through the most horrible situations. It can stick it out...you can not stop the beauty and love of God.
I love this thought. It is one that I feel everyday when I watch a sunrise or sunset...or the sun poke through the storm clouds. Event this particular TV show. I believe that if nature is here for a lot of things a few that are evident to me is... to show us that God is indescribably amazing...and that He is hear with us in the ugliest of situations we go through in our life.
God has blessed me with Martins biscuits so I am gonna go enjoy that...
Upon being stuck in the Amazon Rain Forest near Ecuador for DAYS!! He was in the midst on of the deadliest disorientating places on earth. His moral was down and did not know if he would make ever make it out.
After a rainy nights "sleep" he went out for another demoralizing day and at one point noticed ONE bright purple flower amidst all the jungle and tangled mess of vines and trees. He made it a point to tell the audience that it is moments like this that have helped him survive in the most deadliest conditions. The flower amidst all the ugliness survived...stuck it out...his view was that God's splendour and strength is there... through the most horrible situations. It can stick it out...you can not stop the beauty and love of God.
I love this thought. It is one that I feel everyday when I watch a sunrise or sunset...or the sun poke through the storm clouds. Event this particular TV show. I believe that if nature is here for a lot of things a few that are evident to me is... to show us that God is indescribably amazing...and that He is hear with us in the ugliest of situations we go through in our life.
God has blessed me with Martins biscuits so I am gonna go enjoy that...
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Rob Bell Tour
Hello world!! Rob Bell will be in the Hot-Lanta on Novemeber 19th @The Tabernacle (8:00) It is his the gods arent angry tour. You can click the highlighted link for tickets.
GOOD NIGHT!!!
GOOD NIGHT!!!
This nothing new just a refresher...
PLEASE know that this is just a topic of conversation (blog) it is not necessarily a feeling I have right now...it has been in the past though.
Communication.
What is it? an act or instance of transmitting; a technique for expressing ideas effectively (as in speech)
Do you believe good communication is necessary to run a successful organization?
Do you feel employees of all ranks should be completely up to date with vision of the company?
How long would a company keep production if the VP’s, Managers, and supervisors kept everything to themselves and rarely communicated with the employees?
What if they were arrogant and did not care about your success?
They only considered their importance…not yours?
What if you emailed your upper management or lower with a question about how the dept. is doing and they delayed in response or never responded at all? Due in part because you really did not need to know what was going on because you are not at there level of authority.
Would this keep you motivated?
It is true and fact that there are some things the lower level employees should know and stuff they should not…but do you ever let them know that? NO
Making a team or individual feel equally as important as the rest with up to par communication, I believe, is KEY to a successful and productive organization.
......................................................................................................................................................
I feel this carries over to the production of the “staff” of an organization known as a church. So many times I here pastors talk about the church being like a business…but they run it like a dictatorship or communist(these forms of leadership DO NOT work...it is historical fact)...the pastor is a leader...but he can not do everything.
And no…I am not some broom handling stock boy…I have a real job with a real company that is pretty successful. So, I have constant picture of a successful business in front of me for 8 hours a day every day. People are people...we are human...we are normal...we having feelings.
Communication.
What is it? an act or instance of transmitting; a technique for expressing ideas effectively (as in speech)
Do you believe good communication is necessary to run a successful organization?
Do you feel employees of all ranks should be completely up to date with vision of the company?
How long would a company keep production if the VP’s, Managers, and supervisors kept everything to themselves and rarely communicated with the employees?
What if they were arrogant and did not care about your success?
They only considered their importance…not yours?
What if you emailed your upper management or lower with a question about how the dept. is doing and they delayed in response or never responded at all? Due in part because you really did not need to know what was going on because you are not at there level of authority.
Would this keep you motivated?
It is true and fact that there are some things the lower level employees should know and stuff they should not…but do you ever let them know that? NO
Making a team or individual feel equally as important as the rest with up to par communication, I believe, is KEY to a successful and productive organization.
......................................................................................................................................................
I feel this carries over to the production of the “staff” of an organization known as a church. So many times I here pastors talk about the church being like a business…but they run it like a dictatorship or communist(these forms of leadership DO NOT work...it is historical fact)...the pastor is a leader...but he can not do everything.
And no…I am not some broom handling stock boy…I have a real job with a real company that is pretty successful. So, I have constant picture of a successful business in front of me for 8 hours a day every day. People are people...we are human...we are normal...we having feelings.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
I'll be okay...3 and 1/2 hours of sleep is great...
JUST AN UPDATE ON THIS BLOG...PLEASE READ THIS ARTICLE...AND NEVER FORGET THE IMPACT GOD CAN MAKE THROUGH US.
...................................................................................
I currently feel like I was hit by a Mack truck…
The Fray concert was amazing. Our seats were right behind the sound/lighting board so I saw some amazing skills at work…plus I got pictures of the tools. I can talk more about that later.
The show, overall, was great. They have amazing skills as musicians and vocalist. Definetely one of the better bands I have seen live and worth the money I paid for the seats.
Oh and Eisley and Gomez, the two openers, were not that bad either. They were very bland but had quality sound.
On a side note, the parking was some where between here and hell. I am leaning toward hell. I stayed in ONE SPOT for 30 MINUTES.
I am getting way to old for this or I am getting older because of this…
...................................................................................
I currently feel like I was hit by a Mack truck…
The Fray concert was amazing. Our seats were right behind the sound/lighting board so I saw some amazing skills at work…plus I got pictures of the tools. I can talk more about that later.
The show, overall, was great. They have amazing skills as musicians and vocalist. Definetely one of the better bands I have seen live and worth the money I paid for the seats.
Oh and Eisley and Gomez, the two openers, were not that bad either. They were very bland but had quality sound.
On a side note, the parking was some where between here and hell. I am leaning toward hell. I stayed in ONE SPOT for 30 MINUTES.
I am getting way to old for this or I am getting older because of this…
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Music to Me...
What is music to me? Music is life…My heart beat races with every kick of the bass and snare. My lungs breathe words with every line of the song. My feet begin to fill up with eagerness as the rhythm guitar syncopates my walk. My mind wonders and imagines Greatness with every melodic tone of the electric guitar. The bass begins to add the blood flow as the vibrations fill every party of my body. It brings my body together… all the parts together as one bring me to life. It gives me meaning, purpose, a way to worship my God. It puts me in a different place. It is not the only way to worship Him…we worship with Him with our life… but music to me is the one that brings us all together in one voice… all together singing his praises…all together feeling that one emotion…for in that moment when everything clicks…when we feel that emotion in the music and our body feels that joy…maybe just maybe it is a glimpse of what Heaven feels like.
That’s what music is to me. That’s why I do what I do. That’s why I take what I do seriously. I want my drumming to create an atmosphere within the “music” that gives it a heart beat. I do not do it because it is fun. I do it for His glory! I do it so that some way some how what I am feeling and playing through my drum will bring the music to life and that that music “we” are creating will connect with someone out there and bring them closer to Him.
That’s what music is to me. That’s why I do what I do. That’s why I take what I do seriously. I want my drumming to create an atmosphere within the “music” that gives it a heart beat. I do not do it because it is fun. I do it for His glory! I do it so that some way some how what I am feeling and playing through my drum will bring the music to life and that that music “we” are creating will connect with someone out there and bring them closer to Him.
Monday, July 9, 2007
"Slap the Human Out of Me"
Well this is the first week of my "break" from my duties at the church. It is a time to reflect, refocus, re-energize, and figure out what path God has for my life.
I have to find what I am good at...what I love doing and do it with all of my heart. Unfortunately the music industry is cut-throat and evil so I shall have no "career" path in it... except for what I do in the ministry. So, other than music what do I love to do? What can I do that is realistic? I am stuck again....
I love what I do for the church. I would love to have a job where I help people for a living whether that be in the community or BIGGER. I do not want to do this average shuffling papers kinda work I do now...I find it to have no purpose and to be a waste of time and ability. I a want "job" that gives me purpose...
....maybe it is just to early in the morning...but it bugs me...someone needs to slap the human out of me.
I have to find what I am good at...what I love doing and do it with all of my heart. Unfortunately the music industry is cut-throat and evil so I shall have no "career" path in it... except for what I do in the ministry. So, other than music what do I love to do? What can I do that is realistic? I am stuck again....
I love what I do for the church. I would love to have a job where I help people for a living whether that be in the community or BIGGER. I do not want to do this average shuffling papers kinda work I do now...I find it to have no purpose and to be a waste of time and ability. I a want "job" that gives me purpose...
....maybe it is just to early in the morning...but it bugs me...someone needs to slap the human out of me.
Friday, July 6, 2007
HEADLINES?!?!
These are just some quick headlines I would like to point out....
- They say "can't get hope...get a loan"....it is all a conspiracy. Fortunately I only owe 3,000 on my student loan @ 7%. Lord help the people in this article. WHAT A MESS: http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/20070706/cm_usatoday/ourviewonthecollegeloansscandalshiftthedollarstostudentsandawayfromlenders;_ylt=AmPvj2bdkriUotiRjT94OEzMWM0F
- This woman is simply nuts...but the guy is nuttier...what a loser for staying around: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070705/od_nm/hongkong_chopstick_dc;_ylt=AjnfCfiyc2xMY.kAFIMo1_bMWM0F
Thursday, July 5, 2007
STUCK
This job has got to go. I have gotten myself in a mess. I started this joB after I got laid off from a construction job... just to pay the bills. Some would say an answer to prayer and it was. At the time they told me I could work part time and go to school everyother day. IT WAS GREAT. Then being a temp I had to eventually become hired permantely or risk not having a job again. They decided to go back on their word...I made a choice to drop school and take it on full time. I could not afford to loose the job nor the money. I mean this is life right?
Now everyday that passes is another day I am unhappy. Everyday I wish I could be doing "college kid" stuff. I want to explore the country and what it has to offer in the most "christian way" experience what God has for me. Seing the beauty of this land and its inhabitants..
One side says be responsible, stay at the job, make a living.
The other side says trust in God, live fully in him, there will be other jobs.
Now everyday that passes is another day I am unhappy. Everyday I wish I could be doing "college kid" stuff. I want to explore the country and what it has to offer in the most "christian way" experience what God has for me. Seing the beauty of this land and its inhabitants..
One side says be responsible, stay at the job, make a living.
The other side says trust in God, live fully in him, there will be other jobs.
Lost in Time
LORD, you will grant us peace; all we have accomplished is really from you. Isaiah 26:12 NLT
Why is it I always forget this. I get all tangled in the messes of living life always praying and praying as if God is not gonna take care of me. Given I place my life in his hands...have total faith in him... he will give me "peace" in the end.
I believe this verse has been forgotten by many of the "top dogs" of our country. We should never forget what America was founded for. God has blessed us with so much to serve Him and spread His word only because a certain few put there lives in His hands and had ultimate faith to come to this great land and start the country...but ALL of us being the selfish sinful creatures have taken all glory for ourselves...I believe the word is "introverted". We have lost our purpose in time.
Do I really want everybody to have the freedom I have been blessed with? Do I want people to know God?
Sometimes I wonder where I would be if our ancestors had the same attitude...
Why is it I always forget this. I get all tangled in the messes of living life always praying and praying as if God is not gonna take care of me. Given I place my life in his hands...have total faith in him... he will give me "peace" in the end.
I believe this verse has been forgotten by many of the "top dogs" of our country. We should never forget what America was founded for. God has blessed us with so much to serve Him and spread His word only because a certain few put there lives in His hands and had ultimate faith to come to this great land and start the country...but ALL of us being the selfish sinful creatures have taken all glory for ourselves...I believe the word is "introverted". We have lost our purpose in time.
Do I really want everybody to have the freedom I have been blessed with? Do I want people to know God?
Sometimes I wonder where I would be if our ancestors had the same attitude...
Monday, July 2, 2007
ACT
So here I stand. I’m ready for anything. Just a man, but I’m giving everything. We’re here only for a second. And then we’re gone when we least expect it. So do more than survive. Let’s live like we’re alive! (nevertheless-live like we're alive)
Some where deep down inside of me I have this urge to do something great in this life. I wonder what it must feel like to help children in Africa or handout supplies to the needy in other third world countries. What if this is what life is supposed to be like? Where there was no calling to live in little white houses, work 9 to 5 jobs, fill up on gas, ect. What if... there there was no need for financial control or retirement. You just live to help others. Live to help others live another day.
How do you just stop being one way and change to another?
It "seems" somewhat hypocritical to call yourself a Christian and to have this take care of myself first attitude. You attend VBS do your part in recreation...while in another country in this same world that you live in with the same people that God created and loved as much as you....there are children who never once think about retirement or driving the latest cool car...have no luxury of A/C and you can forget video games...they just want to live another day. They see the world and what God has given them in a totally different light than we do. That inspires me.
Do not get me wrong I am one of these spoiled Amercian Christians. But, the more I see God in this world and what could happen if all of us "Christians" got together and forgot about America for one day... thought about the World the way God made it... just decided to help...just decided to actually open our eyes and realize what it means to be Christ like and follow in his footsteps...help people and let them see that the same God that reigns over us reigns over them and is with them ALWAYS and loves them like nobody else...
How would that one day change the shape of this world?
It may be totally radical but radical was my Jesus...
"For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do-this I keep on doing"(Romans 7:19)
This blog was inspired by Newton's Hymn an article in Relevant Magazine written by Dan Haseltine (lead singer of Jars of Clay).
Newtons First Law of Motion is our Hymn: An object in motion tends to stay in motion unless acted upon by an outside force. An object at rest tends to stay at rest unless acted upon by an outside force.
MORAL OF THE STORY IS THINGS ARE NOT CHANGING UNLESS WE ACT...
Friday, June 29, 2007
"I Want to Find God In The Most Peculiar Places..."
Is what I think going to make me happy really going to make me happy? Is all this just some sort of test? Is this some wrong road that I do not need to take? I AM CONFUSED!! Am I where God wants me? How do I know if I am where God wants me? Is this time on earth about me changing lives or my life changing? Could it be both? Probably. How does my life need to change? I am never perfect. God should constantly be molding my life…right? What or who am I truly putting my faith in? It needs to be God! Not myself or my job.
Could I, by doing something totally out of the box, help my walk of faith? Maybe change some body’s life by changing mine. If I fall flat on my face could it lead somebody in a better direction? Should I not, as a Christian, be an extreme adventurer…one who is not afraid to take chances because I know who holds my fate?
The way I see it… if everything I do is “cookie cut” then where I am putting my faith. How am I leading people to trust in God if I play it safe is my own life?
Truth is…I am not happy with my job situation and where it is going. I need to set my chains free. Yeah I will be taking a pay cut… but my life can not be the way it is right now for ever. It is too safe. Too Monotonous. I need to find what makes me thrive. If by doing something “out of the box” helps me then so be it. If it does not then lesson learned…right….life is learning lessons.
Some may say it is going to be a mistake….some may say it will be the best thing for my life. Solutions to problems are only solved when you “act” and attempt to solve them. Faith is about having faith. My life has purpose. So I have my Bible (Instructions)… I have Jo Lynn (my sidekick) and I have a great family. Now…all I want to do is discover what this place…this life… is all about. I want to find God in the most peculiar places.
Could I, by doing something totally out of the box, help my walk of faith? Maybe change some body’s life by changing mine. If I fall flat on my face could it lead somebody in a better direction? Should I not, as a Christian, be an extreme adventurer…one who is not afraid to take chances because I know who holds my fate?
The way I see it… if everything I do is “cookie cut” then where I am putting my faith. How am I leading people to trust in God if I play it safe is my own life?
Truth is…I am not happy with my job situation and where it is going. I need to set my chains free. Yeah I will be taking a pay cut… but my life can not be the way it is right now for ever. It is too safe. Too Monotonous. I need to find what makes me thrive. If by doing something “out of the box” helps me then so be it. If it does not then lesson learned…right….life is learning lessons.
Some may say it is going to be a mistake….some may say it will be the best thing for my life. Solutions to problems are only solved when you “act” and attempt to solve them. Faith is about having faith. My life has purpose. So I have my Bible (Instructions)… I have Jo Lynn (my sidekick) and I have a great family. Now…all I want to do is discover what this place…this life… is all about. I want to find God in the most peculiar places.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
FAITH
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”- Hebrews 11:6
Main Entry: earnest
Function: adjective
1 : characterized by or proceeding from an intense and serious state of mind
2 : GRAVE, IMPORTANT
synonym see SERIOUS
- ear·nest·ly adverb - ear·nest·ness /-n&s(t)-n&s/ noun
Nothing I do or give will ever be good enough unless my FAITH, wholly, is in You. It will never be what You need it to be without my trust that Your hands are guiding it. It is all about You, God.
God, I hear You on this one….give me strength and patience… for it is all for You!!
Main Entry: earnest
Function: adjective
1 : characterized by or proceeding from an intense and serious state of mind
2 : GRAVE, IMPORTANT
synonym see SERIOUS
- ear·nest·ly adverb - ear·nest·ness /-n&s(t)-n&s/ noun
Nothing I do or give will ever be good enough unless my FAITH, wholly, is in You. It will never be what You need it to be without my trust that Your hands are guiding it. It is all about You, God.
God, I hear You on this one….give me strength and patience… for it is all for You!!
Monday, April 30, 2007
Eye Doctors Appointment
I have bought two potentially eye opening books. Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell and the Complete series of C.S. Lewis’s inspirational writings, which includes Mere Christianity.
My observations are on the first chapters of each book.
SO FAR…
Velvet Elvis is Rob Bell’s commentary on repainting the world’s view of God. If we know anything about God it is that He is not boring. He is not a velvet Elvis painting we buy at a thrift store and put in the basement. It has taken 2000 years for people to lose sight of how awesome He is and how GREAT a sacrifice His son Jesus made for all of us.
From what I have read and understood so far, Mere Christianity is C.S. Lewis’s commentary on denominations and man’s natural tendency to create them. Man’s natural tendency to create a way they believe is the “right way” to worship God. While in another part of the country/world another human has created a denomination of Christianity they believe is “right”. How we argue and argue over how the other is wrong and that we are right, while we both strongly believe we are “right”….
The writing is really deep and I am taking it one day, one chapter at a time and letting it really soak in. IF ANYBODY HAS ANOTHER WAY THEY VIEW THE BOOK PLEASE SHARE. I AM INTERESTED IN OTHER’S VIEW POINTS.
On to Chapter 2
My observations are on the first chapters of each book.
SO FAR…
Velvet Elvis is Rob Bell’s commentary on repainting the world’s view of God. If we know anything about God it is that He is not boring. He is not a velvet Elvis painting we buy at a thrift store and put in the basement. It has taken 2000 years for people to lose sight of how awesome He is and how GREAT a sacrifice His son Jesus made for all of us.
From what I have read and understood so far, Mere Christianity is C.S. Lewis’s commentary on denominations and man’s natural tendency to create them. Man’s natural tendency to create a way they believe is the “right way” to worship God. While in another part of the country/world another human has created a denomination of Christianity they believe is “right”. How we argue and argue over how the other is wrong and that we are right, while we both strongly believe we are “right”….
The writing is really deep and I am taking it one day, one chapter at a time and letting it really soak in. IF ANYBODY HAS ANOTHER WAY THEY VIEW THE BOOK PLEASE SHARE. I AM INTERESTED IN OTHER’S VIEW POINTS.
On to Chapter 2
This is my weekend (if anyone cares)
What an awesome weekend!!
Friday- I asked Jo out on a date and she accepted my invite. We went to Bahama Breeze and just chilled. That place is definitely going get another visit from us. We then went to our most favorite place to relax and spend time together…the bookstore…in this case Borders. I think we spent every bit of an hour an a half in there. I left there with 3 books…Jo with none…more on that later. Next was Best Buy. Jo really wanted a CD. So we went there and killed some time until we met one of her friends from KSU. It was sort of a double date from there. Her and her boyfriend sat with us at Starbucks and just conversed for about an hour and a half until it was just too late…we had to get home…we had a big day on Saturday.
Saturday- Did not get into bed until 1:00 that morning and woke up 7 hours later. That means 8:00 a.m.! I basically was a waste of human life for about 5 hours until I realized that I had to be at the school @ 2:00 to set up for Saturday Celebration.
Saturday celebration was amazing. The production team and everybody just really gave it all this time. I know us guys in the band were just worshiping our faces off and we hope that it overflowed into the people in the gathering. It was an awesome session.
The night just got better. A few of us went and sat around a camp fire and just conversed and talked about life. Sharing, at times, very intimate things that really just help us grow from hearing and sharing them. We sang songs, ate food and really just enjoyed the beautiful night that God had provided us.
Sunday- I basically just soaked the day up. It was and amazing day. Jo and I slept in and just relaxed. Popped a couple movies in, sat outside for a while, played with the dog, and sat around some more. It was great to have a Sunday to just relax and spend time with family. Jo went home around 9:00 and I hit the sack at 9:30.
Overall weekend rating: A+++ God sent blessing
and I will get to the books later... ;)
Friday- I asked Jo out on a date and she accepted my invite. We went to Bahama Breeze and just chilled. That place is definitely going get another visit from us. We then went to our most favorite place to relax and spend time together…the bookstore…in this case Borders. I think we spent every bit of an hour an a half in there. I left there with 3 books…Jo with none…more on that later. Next was Best Buy. Jo really wanted a CD. So we went there and killed some time until we met one of her friends from KSU. It was sort of a double date from there. Her and her boyfriend sat with us at Starbucks and just conversed for about an hour and a half until it was just too late…we had to get home…we had a big day on Saturday.
Saturday- Did not get into bed until 1:00 that morning and woke up 7 hours later. That means 8:00 a.m.! I basically was a waste of human life for about 5 hours until I realized that I had to be at the school @ 2:00 to set up for Saturday Celebration.
Saturday celebration was amazing. The production team and everybody just really gave it all this time. I know us guys in the band were just worshiping our faces off and we hope that it overflowed into the people in the gathering. It was an awesome session.
The night just got better. A few of us went and sat around a camp fire and just conversed and talked about life. Sharing, at times, very intimate things that really just help us grow from hearing and sharing them. We sang songs, ate food and really just enjoyed the beautiful night that God had provided us.
Sunday- I basically just soaked the day up. It was and amazing day. Jo and I slept in and just relaxed. Popped a couple movies in, sat outside for a while, played with the dog, and sat around some more. It was great to have a Sunday to just relax and spend time with family. Jo went home around 9:00 and I hit the sack at 9:30.
Overall weekend rating: A+++ God sent blessing
and I will get to the books later... ;)
Friday, April 27, 2007
The waters fine...come on in.
Wow, I find myself sitting here listening to bluegrass music and I am completely at ease! HELP!! The banjo and fiddle just draw me into the beauty of the South. I will be fine…no need for a resperator. I AM ALIVE.
Okay….life is ok. I expect anytime anything is going good for there to be challenges. Well, I am right. It is cool though. “Everything is gonna be alright” (yellowcard).
Saturday Celebration this weekend which means another awesome worship service. I am stoked. God is doing the work. I’m loving the opportunity to take part in an witness His Greatness!
ROCK ON BLUEGRASS ROCK ON!! LOL
Okay….life is ok. I expect anytime anything is going good for there to be challenges. Well, I am right. It is cool though. “Everything is gonna be alright” (yellowcard).
Saturday Celebration this weekend which means another awesome worship service. I am stoked. God is doing the work. I’m loving the opportunity to take part in an witness His Greatness!
ROCK ON BLUEGRASS ROCK ON!! LOL
Thursday, April 19, 2007
God, where are You?
After Monday, I can not help but think of how small and out of focus we are in this world. We try to place blame on someone or something for all the chaos. With all respect to the grieving of ones lost. Some ask, as I did, “God where are you!?!?” Why not let him kill the ones who he claims “made him this way”. Why do innocent human beings, ones you love equally as much have to suffer? Ones who maybe never knew the man.
Then I seem to focus in on a glimpse of reality. A glimpse of something bigger than us. Bigger than of self centered minds. Maybe a little de-sensitized but all the while focused in on reality of this world. Whether you acknowledge it as evil or as satan, there is an ongoing battle, it is definitely consuming this world. It is bigger than us. But not bigger than God.
My personal belief is that Satan “everything evil” hates “everything good”. He hates anything that will glorify God, and absolutely loves anything that may cause people to doubt God’s (everything glorious) existence and greatness.
Whether we want to acknowledge that or not is up to us but that junk is here and it always has been. It is real. It is not going away.
In reality, America is a name given to an association of people and the “laws we follow” but we are still part of this cruel world consumed with sin and all part of God’s plan. Satan has no respect for your kid or your grandpa he really does not even care about you. All he care about is suffering, doubt, hate, and anything that may cause this.
These are sad time and times of doubt. I, personally cannot change the whole world, or change what happened. All I can do is act. My acts are just a piece of the puzzle. I cannot sit here and be consumed with my little bubble. I need to be on my face praying for this city, state, country, and world. I need to be out there making a difference in everyone’s life that I come in contact with, because the Jesus in me maybe the only Jesus they see.
In conclusion, I may not be too far off to say that in this particular instance that this man was too far gone and consumed with demons for us as measly humans to change. I also understand that not everyone is apt to be consumed like this. But one statement he made really made me cringe. He said that “you had a billion chances to change this”… “you made me this”… “this blood is on your hands now and you can not wash it off”.
WOW
I having nothing more to say other than, as for me, I am making a change in how I view my conversations with strangers and co-workers and even down to friends. All, I can do is worship God with all I am and spread the word of His love and His grace. Show them Jesus, not my opinions, but Jesus. Love, Acceptor of all, King of all, Sacrifice for All.
WOW THIS PUMPS ME UP…..IS THAT BAD?
Then I seem to focus in on a glimpse of reality. A glimpse of something bigger than us. Bigger than of self centered minds. Maybe a little de-sensitized but all the while focused in on reality of this world. Whether you acknowledge it as evil or as satan, there is an ongoing battle, it is definitely consuming this world. It is bigger than us. But not bigger than God.
My personal belief is that Satan “everything evil” hates “everything good”. He hates anything that will glorify God, and absolutely loves anything that may cause people to doubt God’s (everything glorious) existence and greatness.
Whether we want to acknowledge that or not is up to us but that junk is here and it always has been. It is real. It is not going away.
In reality, America is a name given to an association of people and the “laws we follow” but we are still part of this cruel world consumed with sin and all part of God’s plan. Satan has no respect for your kid or your grandpa he really does not even care about you. All he care about is suffering, doubt, hate, and anything that may cause this.
These are sad time and times of doubt. I, personally cannot change the whole world, or change what happened. All I can do is act. My acts are just a piece of the puzzle. I cannot sit here and be consumed with my little bubble. I need to be on my face praying for this city, state, country, and world. I need to be out there making a difference in everyone’s life that I come in contact with, because the Jesus in me maybe the only Jesus they see.
In conclusion, I may not be too far off to say that in this particular instance that this man was too far gone and consumed with demons for us as measly humans to change. I also understand that not everyone is apt to be consumed like this. But one statement he made really made me cringe. He said that “you had a billion chances to change this”… “you made me this”… “this blood is on your hands now and you can not wash it off”.
WOW
I having nothing more to say other than, as for me, I am making a change in how I view my conversations with strangers and co-workers and even down to friends. All, I can do is worship God with all I am and spread the word of His love and His grace. Show them Jesus, not my opinions, but Jesus. Love, Acceptor of all, King of all, Sacrifice for All.
WOW THIS PUMPS ME UP…..IS THAT BAD?
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Debbie Downer...but theres hope.
This Georgia weather is driving me crazy. I am so sick of being sick.
I digress
So, life has been pretty sleazy of late. Work, work, and more work seems to be the battle cry. So have done just that and the stress of it all does not go well with the bi - polar weather. So I stay sick.
Dad’s kidney is still sick so keep that little guy in your prayers. He still has another one but we all know two is better. I know God is working somewhere in this…it just hurts to see this stuff happen to my dad. L
We all have to keep our faith in God so that he can truly be God in our lives. He sends us through these dark holes in life to all the more show us that he is truly God. To test our faith in Him, so that he can show that in the end he is everything GOOD…and that everything good will come out of what He is in. He is awesome.
I digress
So, life has been pretty sleazy of late. Work, work, and more work seems to be the battle cry. So have done just that and the stress of it all does not go well with the bi - polar weather. So I stay sick.
Dad’s kidney is still sick so keep that little guy in your prayers. He still has another one but we all know two is better. I know God is working somewhere in this…it just hurts to see this stuff happen to my dad. L
We all have to keep our faith in God so that he can truly be God in our lives. He sends us through these dark holes in life to all the more show us that he is truly God. To test our faith in Him, so that he can show that in the end he is everything GOOD…and that everything good will come out of what He is in. He is awesome.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Long Time No Blog
Well the past week has been something. There was amazing forgiveness, an awesome practice, some sickness,and even a death. The details can be spared but please keep my family in your prayers and pray that my father can get back to his old self again.
okay...
I never realized until this week how everything and I mean everything in the history of this world has revolved around God along with realizing how amazing his creations are and even more amazing...the human body. I highly recommend Giglio's series "Indescribable" and "Alive"...both amazingly describe the awesomeness of God....
Also never realized how Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all relate...and that is through Abraham. Most will be saying duh by now...but for me...right now...I am seeing a lot of new things I have never seen. It basically goes all the way back to Abraham and his decision to sleep with his maid (because the wife said so) and had a son with her...and then later had a son with his wife(who was not supposed to be able to have kids)....This really is a very cool story...we should study it...
So that is what has gone on so far in my life since the last blog....The rest of this week consist of practice, work, and bagging groceries and Kroger on Sat. for CATR.
CHECK OUT THE VERSE OF THE DAY AND SEARCH ENGINE AT THE BOTTOM (powered by biblegateway.com)
okay...
I never realized until this week how everything and I mean everything in the history of this world has revolved around God along with realizing how amazing his creations are and even more amazing...the human body. I highly recommend Giglio's series "Indescribable" and "Alive"...both amazingly describe the awesomeness of God....
Also never realized how Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all relate...and that is through Abraham. Most will be saying duh by now...but for me...right now...I am seeing a lot of new things I have never seen. It basically goes all the way back to Abraham and his decision to sleep with his maid (because the wife said so) and had a son with her...and then later had a son with his wife(who was not supposed to be able to have kids)....This really is a very cool story...we should study it...
So that is what has gone on so far in my life since the last blog....The rest of this week consist of practice, work, and bagging groceries and Kroger on Sat. for CATR.
CHECK OUT THE VERSE OF THE DAY AND SEARCH ENGINE AT THE BOTTOM (powered by biblegateway.com)
Monday, March 19, 2007
Hey here's a thought!
First of all I would like to say that these are just my thoughts of things...this is my personal vent and the way I let go of things....
sooo....
I pray for those who can not forgive and forget. Do not tell me you are worried about somebody's integrity and then make a perverted gesture at me or say a perverted joke to me. Do not tell me you do not want someone around because they gossip...then turn around and talk about them. Do not tell me you want to grow this communtiy for God...and then tell me you just can handle this person being here....(I am not over this yet)
the truth is we are all the same....we all have flaws...we all tick others off in some way. You need to get over your self and your pride...and if you love God and you are for growing his kingdom then you need to live that way...accept all no matter what they have done to you.
Okay I am done :)
Sunday was great...God provided once again...as he always does :)
I am not sorry if I offended anyone...i believe what I am saying is the "right" way to be..
sooo....
I pray for those who can not forgive and forget. Do not tell me you are worried about somebody's integrity and then make a perverted gesture at me or say a perverted joke to me. Do not tell me you do not want someone around because they gossip...then turn around and talk about them. Do not tell me you want to grow this communtiy for God...and then tell me you just can handle this person being here....(I am not over this yet)
the truth is we are all the same....we all have flaws...we all tick others off in some way. You need to get over your self and your pride...and if you love God and you are for growing his kingdom then you need to live that way...accept all no matter what they have done to you.
Okay I am done :)
Sunday was great...God provided once again...as he always does :)
I am not sorry if I offended anyone...i believe what I am saying is the "right" way to be..
Friday, March 16, 2007
God Help ME!!
"I" am pretty much attempting the unachievable....but God is with me so lets ROLL!!
Well it has been quite a week. I have been told I have the gift of "mercy"...well this gift is a curse, but thats how it is for every one who has a gift.
I find myself constantly saying that statement...."this gift is my curse"...Why do i say this?
God has obviously given us certain gifts that he wants us to use. They all work hand in hand to complete His goals. They are not curses...the are simply challenges he has for us as Christians. There are times where I simply hate the gift of mercy. I would love to just hate!! It is not in my blood so I can't...(I AM JUST EMO). My prayer for Him to constantly use me for His Glory.
okay on a lighter note....
Well it has been quite a week. I have been told I have the gift of "mercy"...well this gift is a curse, but thats how it is for every one who has a gift.
I find myself constantly saying that statement...."this gift is my curse"...Why do i say this?
God has obviously given us certain gifts that he wants us to use. They all work hand in hand to complete His goals. They are not curses...the are simply challenges he has for us as Christians. There are times where I simply hate the gift of mercy. I would love to just hate!! It is not in my blood so I can't...(I AM JUST EMO). My prayer for Him to constantly use me for His Glory.
okay on a lighter note....
- I am totally hooked on this MLB 2007 :THE SHOW. By far the best baseball game made as of yet.
- I love sleep and sleep is what I will get this weekend...thank You God.
- It is Friday!! Two more days till Sunday....
- powerful POWERFUL verse.....Proverbs 27:5-6 (Thanks Doug)
PEACE LOVE
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Second Chances, No...Many Chances
God gives us many chances to get it right, more than we deserve. I find myself constantly falling short of what he wants me to be. He seems to always be right there waiting for me someway some how.
So my question is why do I not treat people in my life that way. As a Christian I am to be a follower of Christ and to live like He lives, though I am constantly holding grudges. So what do I do?
Give people second chances....be wise..but give other chances. What if God did not give you a second chance..or the next chance ...or the next chance. You never know who you are turning down as a friend. God could use you to change their life eventually and they could end up changing lives because you gave them that chance.
So my question is why do I not treat people in my life that way. As a Christian I am to be a follower of Christ and to live like He lives, though I am constantly holding grudges. So what do I do?
Give people second chances....be wise..but give other chances. What if God did not give you a second chance..or the next chance ...or the next chance. You never know who you are turning down as a friend. God could use you to change their life eventually and they could end up changing lives because you gave them that chance.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Monday Mornings
Ahh, It is Monday morning. It is 8:30 and the sun is just now coming up. You know, there is nothing like a good sunrise to start off your morning. Also nothing like a good blog!!
This weekend was...ummm.... "felt" very eventfull, but lacked every aspect of the meaning and has left me feeling like poo this wonderful Monday morning. So here are my thoughts...
It still amazes me how much God will show you when you actually allow him to. These past couple of weeks have been somewhat of a "renewing". I feel good ,for once in a longtime, about where I am. Every message I here,verse I read, and song I listen to seems to have given me something to walk away with.
I have been praying for and pondering ways to help the music ministry. It is a huge ministry and you can do amazing things through music. Every one seems to connect through music and it brings out the deepest emotions stored in people's hearts. I believe thats what makes it so special when involved in worship and the reason I love it so much. I have a burden...
I feel the "band" is starting to make that next step. I feel as if we are making a transition from friends to brothers. Playing the beginner stuff is becoming routine...and that is a good thing It is a long process...with God we can do anything.
Last thoughts.....Extremes Home Makover amazes me...is it ever about the home makeover ...or is it just that a little love and knowing people care can change a life...even for the viewer.
NOTE: Band -1: something that confines or constricts while allowing a degree of movement
2: something that binds or restrains legally, morally, or spiritually
This weekend was...ummm.... "felt" very eventfull, but lacked every aspect of the meaning and has left me feeling like poo this wonderful Monday morning. So here are my thoughts...
It still amazes me how much God will show you when you actually allow him to. These past couple of weeks have been somewhat of a "renewing". I feel good ,for once in a longtime, about where I am. Every message I here,verse I read, and song I listen to seems to have given me something to walk away with.
I have been praying for and pondering ways to help the music ministry. It is a huge ministry and you can do amazing things through music. Every one seems to connect through music and it brings out the deepest emotions stored in people's hearts. I believe thats what makes it so special when involved in worship and the reason I love it so much. I have a burden...
I feel the "band" is starting to make that next step. I feel as if we are making a transition from friends to brothers. Playing the beginner stuff is becoming routine...and that is a good thing It is a long process...with God we can do anything.
Last thoughts.....Extremes Home Makover amazes me...is it ever about the home makeover ...or is it just that a little love and knowing people care can change a life...even for the viewer.
NOTE: Band -1: something that confines or constricts while allowing a degree of movement
2: something that binds or restrains legally, morally, or spiritually
Friday, March 9, 2007
What are you living for?
Just got finished reading a study on the story of Caleb. He was a fighter. Willing to lay it all down for God along with 1 other person (Joshua). When no one else would, he was willing to put his whole self foward and sacrifice everything not knowing when his reward would come. At the end they asked this...
"Are you willing to follow God all the way to the end? Is it enough for you that He will go with you through the journey of life no matter where it takes you? Is it enough that you have a relationship with God? Do you have such a walk with God that you are willing to wait until a moment in eternity for Him to fulfill His promises? Remember, the Christian life is not about the destination. It’s about a relationship with God. It’s all about the Journey.
"This God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end" (Psalm 48:14) "
This really spoke to me and I asked myself, "how often do I give and expect something in return right then?". Also, how often to I turn down something because it scares me or I see no light at the end of the tunnel. How strong is my "FAITH" in God that he will "GUIDE ME TILL THE END".
"Are you willing to follow God all the way to the end? Is it enough for you that He will go with you through the journey of life no matter where it takes you? Is it enough that you have a relationship with God? Do you have such a walk with God that you are willing to wait until a moment in eternity for Him to fulfill His promises? Remember, the Christian life is not about the destination. It’s about a relationship with God. It’s all about the Journey.
"This God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end" (Psalm 48:14) "
This really spoke to me and I asked myself, "how often do I give and expect something in return right then?". Also, how often to I turn down something because it scares me or I see no light at the end of the tunnel. How strong is my "FAITH" in God that he will "GUIDE ME TILL THE END".
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Reality
I realized a lot last night...the hard part is implenting these realizations along with thoughts of my piers to effeciently and effectively meet the goals God has for Us. In the past I would have said, "okay lets all brainstorm", but this time I am not.
The leaders that God has placed in our church need ideas not opinions. One reason being that when one has an opinion about something they feel very strongly about it and may tend to get their feelings hurt and or hurt somebody else's feelings. This causes tension and a non-productive enviroment. I am the forefront leader in opinions and due in part to Doug's message last week I am wanting to break my mirror.
Secondly, Ideas bring diversity and that, in my "opinion", is what you need as a church. You want to reach the masses not just a group of people that like the same style of preaching and music as you. The more ideas you bring to the plate, the better chance you have of getting it right. Thus the more opinions your bring to the plate, the more frustrated leaders get and end up doing more counseling than producing quality worships enviroments.
Last night was such a wake up call to reality and how ultimately I just play a part in the band. It is not my job to lead the band, it is not my job to tell everybody what to do. The leaders want ideas and thoughts not selfish opinions.
I have a talent that God has blessed me with and I want to use it to glorify Him. Here Lately, I realize I have abused it with arrogance and selfish opinions. To a certain extent I have hurt the cause.
The leaders that God has placed in our church need ideas not opinions. One reason being that when one has an opinion about something they feel very strongly about it and may tend to get their feelings hurt and or hurt somebody else's feelings. This causes tension and a non-productive enviroment. I am the forefront leader in opinions and due in part to Doug's message last week I am wanting to break my mirror.
Secondly, Ideas bring diversity and that, in my "opinion", is what you need as a church. You want to reach the masses not just a group of people that like the same style of preaching and music as you. The more ideas you bring to the plate, the better chance you have of getting it right. Thus the more opinions your bring to the plate, the more frustrated leaders get and end up doing more counseling than producing quality worships enviroments.
Last night was such a wake up call to reality and how ultimately I just play a part in the band. It is not my job to lead the band, it is not my job to tell everybody what to do. The leaders want ideas and thoughts not selfish opinions.
I have a talent that God has blessed me with and I want to use it to glorify Him. Here Lately, I realize I have abused it with arrogance and selfish opinions. To a certain extent I have hurt the cause.
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