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.

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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..

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....

1. I am totally hooked on this MLB 2007 :THE SHOW. By far the best baseball game made as of yet.
2. I love sleep and sleep is what I will get this weekend...thank You God.
3. It is Friday!! Two more days till Sunday....
4. powerful POWERFUL verse.....Proverbs 27:5-6 (Thanks Doug)

PEACE LOVE

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.

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

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".

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.