Headlines...

Just a few articles I wanted to share...

• This survey sums my world up and is not a good equation... :(

• This Map shows that America is getting chubbier by the decades. Where is my cheescake?

• This article set my toes on fire...you should read it too!!!

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.

:)

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..."

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.

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"?

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.

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.

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...

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!!!

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.
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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.

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.

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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…

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.

"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.

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

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.

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...

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...