Rain's A Comin'

Hello, I know it's been so long.  I haven't forgotten you!  I just haven't finished my other posts. 

I love C.S. Lewis.  I am hard pressed to find some writer, or even an individual, who is both so incredibly intelligent and having such a love of fun!  Last week, I was reading his Mere Christianity and thought I'd share a beautiful piece of word-craftsmanship from his book.  This really strikes me: either you love Christ or you don't.  You cannot tolerate Him; there is no middle ground with Jesus.*

You know, I think one of the hardest verses in the Bible to pray is Revelations 20:22b
 "...Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!"

Am I really ready and willing to give up everything and to ask Him to come? 
Do I want Him to end the world?  Do I want Jesus more than this life?
 I don't know.  I am simply trying, all by His power and grace, to desire Him more than everything else.


Book 2: Chapter 5. Last Section:

...Why is God landing in this enemy-occupied world in disguise and starting a sort of secret society to undermine the devil? Why is He not landing in force, invading it? Is it that He is not strong enough? Well, Christians think He is going to land in force; we do not know when. But we can guess why He is delaying. He wants to give us the chance of joining His side freely.  I do not suppose you and I would have thought much of a Frenchman who waited till the Allies were marching into Germany and then announced he was on our side. God will invade. But I wonder whether people who ask God to interfere openly and directly in our world quite realize what it will be like when He does. When that happens, it is the end of the world.

When the author walks on to the stage the play is over. God is going to invade, all right: but what is the good of saying you are on His side then, when you see the whole natural universe melting away like a dream and something else—something it never entered your head to conceive—comes crashing in; something so beautiful to some of us and so terrible to others that none of us will have any choice left? For this time it will be God without disguise; something so overwhelming that it will strike  either irresistible love or irresistible horror into every creature.

It will be too late then to choose your side. There is no use saying you choose to lie down when it has become impossible to stand up. That will not be the time for choosing: it will be the time when we discover which side we really have chosen, whether we realized it before or not.

Now, today, this moment, is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It will not last forever. We must take it or leave it.





*(By Jesus I mean the Biblical Jesus.  I am assuming the Biblical accounts of His life are true of course.  Based off the evidence, specifically 1 Corinthians chapter 13 and its surrounding research, I believe this this belief to be perfectly logical and rational. However, this topic deserves a longer post.)

A Quick Update

Hello you faithful few, you very faithful few: I have not forgotten thee! I apologize for the lack of content! I have been very occupied of late, and I have been writing some stuff for y'all.  I just don't believe they're up to my professional standards of eloquent excellency.   Stay tuned for more after a word from our sponsor!

"Beautiful Eulogy"

(This is an entry in Wisdom from Musicians.  A series dedicated to bringing you wisdom from artists.  Despite how hard it may be to find. )


This is a rap/song from Beautiful Eulogy (yes, the song is from their title).  I just thought I'd share it with yall.  but first, let me props a thought to you: what is a beautiful eulogy?  First of all, an eulogy is type of poem dedicated to someone's life after they have died.  It is supposed to praise or commend them for their life, or at least some part of it.  So what is a beautiful eulogy, from a Christian perspective? 

"When it is my time to go, go ahead and take me home, I wanna be with You."

"Well done, good and faithful servant.  Enter into your rest."

This is not our home, nor is it where we belong.  We are in enemy controlled territory.  Some day we will either join our King as He prepares to invade this world, or we will join Him when He lands.  Either way it's all good: we either live as Christ or we die and meet Him.  Either way it's about Him.  So a Christian/beautiful eulogy is one about a life that ends in Jesus. 

With that, enjoy the song! (you can download it for FREE LEGALLY in my previous post)

"Beautiful Eulogy"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78MXG7NEE2M

There used to be a time 

      when we were fine 

living life

 with no particular religious bend. 

Pretending to be our own Gods
inventing our own systems of belief so as to not depend 

on anything other than our own self governing consent. 

Defending an impending doom 

with no perceived need to concede or repent.

 Presuming our innocence in a sense dissent. 

The sting of death was only the inevitable end 

of everything we could never rightly understand or comprehend. 

We used to fear the unknown 

until God made himself known and atoned
mending the relationship between God and men. 

Giving his life as a ransom for many when he died and ascended,

and in that one event the certainty of eternal death was circumvented.
Making a way for the day when history stops and time suspends. 

Spending eternity in fellowship that never ends. 

We see the greatest expression of God's love extended
in the moment when those who were once enemies instead became
God's friends.

When it is my time to go, 

go ahead and take me home 

I wanna be with You.

I wanna be with You.

How sweet the Gospel sounds to ears like mine,

well acquainted with pain and strained relationships,

 friendships that suffer from long distances, 

or even worse they get severed from something more severe. 

And He still hasn't wiped away all my tears yet.

My cheeks get wet every now and then. 

Even when I give my best, I know I fall short.
I get scared when the ball's in my court. 

Focused on my performance, wretched and poor,

It makes the message more real when I preach it.

 I'm not there yet so I'm reaching,
reaching for a goal:

to stand before my King and be speechless.

Then, never again,

will I question if his grace 

is sufficient to cover my sin. 

Cause death is gone, and all
the effects of, evil and wrong 

will be conquered when His kingdom comes. 

So this is my hope and my prayer. 

The air that I'll breath in eternity with lungs that never fail me.

 If it pleases my Lord, and only by Your grace, 

use my life till it's poured out for Your sake. 

Until then I'll remain where You have me, 

with joy when I feel unhappy. 

And a peace that surpasses all my understanding,

 my life is in the hands of Your love everlasting.

When it is my time to go, 

go ahead and take me home 

I wanna be with You.

I wanna be with You.

Legally Free Music from Artists you may enjoy

Ok, So I've been doing some research for awhile on legally free music and thought I'd share some resources with y'all.

First of I gotta say, there's TONS of artists giving out their stuff for free, so I'm not posting everything I've found.  I'm putting up websites that are excellent resources for that stuff and some examples, not every single thing I've found.  IOW, if you like what I put up, you'll probably be able to find more yourself if you look.  Anyway, let's go:

B. Reith is coming out with a free remix-mixtape!  It'll be out the 29th this month.  B. Reith is what would happen if Eminem was fused with Jason mraz.  Honestly, I have a friend who hates rap/hip hop, and he enjoys this guy.

To download this song: http://www.tweematic.com/breith/thanks.php
 (If you don't have a twitter or facebook, click the twitter icon then in the next page click "<- Cancel and return to app" to go to a page that will let you download it)

Jesus Freak Hideout has a 37 song multi-genre sampler out! Click here to find out more and how to download it. I highly recommend it. (They also have a page for free music with samples from all genres--Sara Groves to Thousand Foot Krutch to Matt Maher.): http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/downloads/freemusic.asp

Alright, sorry, but I have more rap stuff.  Bear with me.

Beautiful Eulogy's newly released "Satellite Kite"  and Theory Hazit's "Thr3e" are available from their publisher as FREE Downloads!!  If you like spoken poetry, you will love Satellite Kite, maybe even Thr3e.


To download these two FULL LENGTH ALBUMS (among others): http://humblebeast.com/downloads/

Heath McNease:
This guy is a beast of a work-horse. (Rapper/acoustic guitarist)  His albums here(Thrift store Jesus, Wed White Wu, and Outta Console) are free, unless you choose to leave a tip.  Just put the amount as 0 and you will be emailed the goods.  He's fun and goofy ("Tanuki") yet very mature at times(Ground Hog Day, Thrift Store Jesus, Survival of the Fiddest). If you like experimental/hip hop/video games/acoustic stuff, you will probably find something to like from him.

http://heathmcnease.bandcamp.com/album/thrift-store-jesus
http://wedwhiteandwu.bandcamp.com/album/wed-white-and-wu
http://heathmcnease.bandcamp.com/album/straight-outta-console-the-nintendo-thumb-mixtape
 


Noisetrade Stuff:

I can't recommend Noisetrade enough!! (Now there are a lot of non Christian musicians there too)  This is the site that I am most unfamiliar with, but here's what I do know. All the music is free, leave your email and they'll send you the music(you don't have to press the leave a tip button).  They're lots of artists, Lecrae(he has a full album for free!), Tedashii, Trip Lee, KB, Sho Baraka, This'l, and Andy Mineo as far as rap goes.  Sara Groves, Jars of Clay, Poema (pretty good sister piano pop duo.), Five Iron Frenzy, Iona (a cool Irish band), and Jon McLaughlin are some more artists you may be interested in.  There's so many! And so many I don't know! (And I know about a lot of musicians, albeit more of the lesser know variety). 

Here's the link: http://noisetrade.com/

Sheesh, who says there is no good Christian music.
 Take Care!


If you have some artists you wish to share about, leave a comment and let us know!  Just make sure the free music is LEGALLY free.  Just sayin.

To my Father

Yes yes, I know Father's Day was yesterday.  I wrote this yesterday but forgot to re-write and post it. Then I lost internet connection, until now that is.  Sorry! I'll be updating more often.

I love my family a lot.  As you all know today* is Father's day, and I just want to quickly say thanks to you Dad for your love and guidance.  We've been through some tough times together (though you've seen much more pain than me), but God has always taken care of us. 

The best thing about my Dad is how he loves my family and me.  I believe the definition of a man, in other words, what specifically makes him a man, is based on his ability to execute hard choices.  Furthermore I believe to love with a true, unconditional, self-less love is the hardest choice any person can make--especially since a man with such a lifestyle must make that choice every day.  To love much is to suffer much.
 
I believe that's why so many marriages fail--so many people are unwilling to sacrifice their desires and wants in order to love their spouse.  "Love is a choice" my mother would say.  There are so many "men" who think only of themselves and nothing or far too little of the needs and wants of those around them.  It's easy to love someone when they please you; it's hard when they wrong you.

But my father has always been loving to us. 

I don't mean he says "I love you" a lot. He makes mistakes; he's not perfect. No one in my family is!  But he always will show us that he loves us.  He is always showing (or trying to get us interested in) how to fix a bike or change the brake pads or how to set up an internet server, etc.  For example: once my mother's shoe was untied and he just stooped down--without saying anything-- and tied it for her.

Thank you Dad for your example of true love (the kind that can only come from God)

We need more real and true men in our world.

*By today I mean yesterday.

Mark 4:35-40

This passage really struck me the other week.

³⁵  On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” ³⁶ And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. ³⁷ And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. ³⁸ But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” ³⁹ And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”

"Let us go across to the other side."
That's a promise!  It's like He's saying, "Relax! We're gonna make it."  Think about it: Jesus--God Himself--told His disciples that they were gonna cross to they other side, shouldn't they believe Him?  


But then comes the storm, and as the huge waves and mighty winds buffet them, the disciples forget what Jesus said not 20 minutes ago and panic:

"Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?"

Of course He does, He is in the boat too!  Besides, He just told you everything is gonna be alright.  He is so relaxed, so secure, that He falls asleep!


But what does Jesus do?  He delivers them at just the right time. And then He looks at them and says:

"Why are you so afraid?

Have you still no faith?"

   Man do I relate to those disciples.  He has delivered me through and from so much, why should I worry?  Why do I become discontent, sad, doubting, confused, afraid, or unsure?  Have I still not learned?  What reason do I have to worry?  I mean, what real reason can I muster?  All my questions and worries melt away when brought to Him.  God allows us to go through storms, usually to teach us and better us, and He may not always calm them for us, but He has promised that everything will be alright.  What comforts me is that even in the dire midst of the storm, Jesus was there.  He was always with His disciples, and He is always with us now.  Life may become hard and painful at times, but so long as I'm with Jesus, I wouldn't have it any other way. I pray He'll give me strength enough to rest in Him.

Have a good day and watch some clean Christian comedy:

Here's some videos from my two favorite Christian comedians.  You'll like them.  Enough said

Jeff Allen:

"Happy Wife, Happy Life"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGVoPwKeJek

"Oh that Frosts me"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXlCxGRjNKE

Brad Stine:

"What about the bug rights activists?"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuJsiT9RClk&feature=related

"Atheists Are Irrational"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyKAr-gxxFE&feature=related

"Men Should Get Pregnant"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDrOUjfrMRo&feature=related

Just a quick thought

  What a petty, selfish culture we live in.  I hate being with "popular people".  You know the really pretty girls who flaunt and flirt and make sure you know they're pretty, and the guys who swagger about and talk about said girls all the time. (Ok I don't actually hate being with them, I rarely hate in general, let alone being with someone).  It's just that I'd much rather be with children or handicapped kids or some awkward homeschoolers in need of friends than them.  Children are so honest, so pure (well, usually). Haha Man, I love kids. They're not worried about college, or drama, or grades, they just want a mother and father that loves them, enough food to fill them up, a cozy bed, and some time to play. They understand what's really important in life. I have some friends who are 8 that understand God's love way better than some of my 18 year old friends!  And then we brush them aside like they're too young or weird to merit our attention.  What, a shame.
   I used to be that lonely awkward kid that no one cares about, (although sometimes I still feel that way.), the kid no one ever talked to because he was too shy to step out and make friends.  Well, God brought me out of that.  But I relate to them, I see their pain and I want to help them through it.  I guess I just don't enjoy being with selfish people--those who never see past their own desires and never strive to show God's love to those around them.  I mean, I would much rather talk with a little boy about spaceships and gorillas than talk with a teenager whose about crushes and hair.  I know no one's perfect, I'm not, I fail so many times simply trying to be a good friend to those around me.  I'm not trying to get on someone.  I'm just sad at how my peers are so small minded and self-centered sometimes.  We have so much BETTER things to think about (especially you, my Christian brothers and sisters).  You wanna change?  Pray for your friends, and ask them what you can pray for them about.  That's a good start.

Who did Jesus hang out with?  "Jesus loved the outcast.  He loved the ones the world just loved to hate."  Ultimately it comes down to love.  Jesus loved them so much that He died for them, are we willing to ask "How are you doing?"  Love is not selfish, it thinks of others first, it's a marvelous, wonderful thing and we need more of it.

   Just a quick thought
 (I struggle with this too, forgive me and my failures and especially if I wrong you.)

I just gotta quickly say:

I LOOVE YOU MOMMAAA!

Seriously, wouldn't be half the (young) man I am today without your wisdom, love, and patience.  All you true men out there: you better honor your mother (rule definitely applies to wives and grandmas!). GO out there and buy some chocolate!









Side note: Why we should celebrate this holiday? Well, I believe men should honor women.  Not because women are better than men (though they're much better than us at a lot of things), or that men are better than women, no, I believe men and women are equals.  But equal does not mean identical: there are some things men are better than women at, and there are some things that women are better than men at.  And that's okay, we've been purposely designed that way.  I believe men should honor women because women have made themselves to be more valuable than men.

 How so?  Women are better at feeling, and thus are more committed  to their relationships--stronger relationships mean stronger families, stronger families = better culture  and that means a better world. Men are no good at that. We have to learn how to love.
 "Yes dear, I will love you and only you, forever and ever--oh, dah deh look!--there goes another one." *SLAP* (inspired by Brad Stine)

Second: women can become pregnant.  That may seem a silly reason to you but seriously, you women can have a life inside you.  That blows me away.  I will never know what's like to have a life, another human being inside me.  And so I honor women, hold doors and whatever, not because I think women need help or couldn't do it themselves, but rather because they deserve that honor.


So get out there and buy some (low fat yet still tasty) chocolate.  Somebody will appreciate it, just don't eat all the good ones.

"Never Give Up On Hope"

     Three of my grandparents are dying.

(Oh, I see I have your attention? Heheh. )
But in all seriousness, they are.  Two grandpas and a grandma, all are very dear to me. One lost forty pounds and the grandma had a nasty fall, she was in so much pain that she missed my musical.  And this was what I've known since Spring break. 

    It would be easy to worry, to fear, or be afraid of what will happen.  To be frank, life in general has been rough.  I've been overwhelmed, almost this whole year it seems. Back and forth, I've fought hard to keep my head above water.   I have so many things I have to do, so many goals and dreams I want to accomplish;  so many little distractions that grab me and become intimidating and huge when so close.  There's so much I don't know or understand.

    But, I'm not afraid. Tired, and a little weary now and then, but I am...content (Phill. 4:11-13).  I'm blessed beyond what I deserve; loved far greater than I ever imagined.  I don't know what to pray for, what to expect, what to think.  All I know, is this: we'll never be alone. Jesus is always with me,  and that is all I need to know.

Haha!  Such small problems compared to Christ!  What is there to worry about?  God does not want us to give up on our dreams, He simply wants us to give them up to Him.  They are far better in His hands.  Are you worried?  God cares much more about it than you do, have you given it to Him?  That is painfully hard sometimes, but it is worth it.  How do you give something up?  Let it go from your grasp and into God's control.  In one word: prayer.  We have a world to win my friends, and yet we concern ourselves with things that are so very beneath us. Rise above it. We can't be grateful to God for all He's given us when we despair about what we don't have.  It's so hard to see God's love and mercy when my eyes are on myself.

Time and time again, I disobey Him, but God just lovingly looks at me/us and says:

“Give me all of you!!! I don’t want so much of your time, so much of your talents and money, and so much of your work. I want YOU!!! ALL OF YOU!! I have not come to torment or frustrate the natural man or woman, but to KILL IT! No half measures will do. I don’t want to only prune a branch here and a branch there; rather I want the whole tree out! Hand it over to me, the whole outfit, all of your desires, all of your wants and wishes and dreams. Turn them ALL over to me, give yourself to me and I will make of you a new self---in my image. Give me yourself and in exchange I will give you Myself. My will, shall become your will. My heart, shall become your heart.”- C.S. Lewis Mere Christianity

You could easily find things to despair about.  There are plenty of songs, artists, philosophers, writers, movies, and books, all ready to give you ample reason, and they are more right than not.  We live in a horribly wrong world.  And I see what's wrong in it--human sin--but, I see something underneath the caked on layers of human filth.  Something real, higher, purer, truer, better: Jesus and His handiwork. That Jesus lives gives me hope and joy and life enough!

"I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free.
For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me."

Do you need a reason to sing?  You will never be alone--Jesus will see to that! It will be hard, but that will be enough.

I am praying for you all. Now, I write all this so that you will be encouraged.  We all struggle, so I urge you: be strong! We are conquerors! Rejoice my brothers and sisters, we are loved!

(BTW, To everyone who knows me: you may always count on me to be your true friend--to pray, or talk with you, or help however I may. Just let me know.)


Let me leave you with a song:

"A Reason to Sing" 

-All the Sons and Daughters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncwfhqm14y8&feature=endscreen&NR=1

When the pieces seem too shattered
To gather off the floor

And all that really matters
Is I can't feel you anymore
No, I can't feel you anymore

I need a reason to sing
I need a reason to sing
I need to know that you're still holding
the whole world in your hands
I need a reason to sing

When I'm overcome by fear
And I hate everything I know
If this waiting lasts forever
I'm afraid I might let go
I'm afraid I might let go

There be a victory
You sing it over me now

Your peace is the melody
You sing it over me now

That is a reason to sing

Edit: Ok, ok, I know I'm editing this again, buuuut  I have more songs! Dealz wid it yo.  My blog, my rules.  I'm putting 'em up. Cut ya some slack though, I won't list out all the lyrics, just links

I love these guys!

Alive - All Sons and Daughters

Keep Me Near

The Cost 

Build Your Kingdom here

- Rend Collective Experiment

Psalm 40 (thanks Biblegateway)

Last Sunday we--the church choir--performed a piece written by our director(s) Mrs. (and Mr.) Fata, and we beat boxed in it!  (Which was very fun. p-p-ts, k-p-p-tsss. yeaaaah) The piece was based upon Psalm 40, and I'd like to share it with the world! How great His love for us, like David said, my cup overflows with His blessings. So much that I can no longer find dry land untouched my His hand.

Psalm 40 (New American Standard Bible)

God Sustains His Servant.

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

40 I waited ^[a]patiently for the Lord;

And He inclined to me and heard my cry.
² He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the ^[b]miry clay,
And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.
³ He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;
Many will see and fear
And will trust in the Lord.

⁴ How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust,
And has not ^[c]turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.
⁵ Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which You have done,
And Your thoughts toward us;
There is none to compare with You.
If I would declare and speak of them,
They would be too numerous to count.

^6 [d] Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired;
My ears You have ^[e]opened;
Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required.
⁷ Then I said, “Behold, I come;
In the scroll of the book it is ^[f]written of me.
⁸  I delight to do Your will, O my God;
Your Law is within my heart.”

⁹ I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation;
Behold, I will not restrain my lips,
O Lord, You know.
¹⁰ I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart;
I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great congregation.

¹¹ You, O Lord, will not withhold Your compassion from me;
^[g]Your lovingkindness and Your truth will continually preserve me.
¹² For evils beyond number have surrounded me;
My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see;
They are more numerous than the hairs of my head,
And my heart has ^[h]failed me.

¹³  Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me;
Make haste, O Lord, to help me.
¹⁴ Let those be ashamed and humiliated together
Who seek my ^[i]life to destroy it;
Let those be turned back and dishonored
Who delight ^[j]in my hurt.
¹⁵ Let those be ^[k]appalled because of their shame
Who say to me, “Aha, aha!”
¹⁶  Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
Let those who love Your salvation say continually,
“The Lord be magnified!”
¹⁷ Since I am afflicted and needy,
^[l] Let the Lord be mindful of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
Do not delay, O my God.

How you love me

"Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
     blot out my transgressions. 

 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
    and cleanse me from my sin!

...

 Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a right spirit in me."

- Psalms 51:1-2, 10 ESV

\

     I've been thinking guys, you know, about how much God loves me.  I desperately wish that I could praise and honor You God in a manner worthy of Your glory.  But, I can't.  All I can do is give You all that I am.  Take it all God; let me hold nothing back from You.  These words are not nearly enough. Thank You, for it all, I'm so glad to be Your son. (Oh Joy unspeakable!)

(Titles are links to the songs)

Your Love is Strong-Jon Foreman

Heavenly Father
You always amaze me
Let your kingdom come
In my world and in my life
You give me the food I need
To live through the day
And forgive me as I forgive
The people that wronged me
Lead me far from temptation
Deliver me from the evil one

I look out the window
The birds are composing
Not a note is out of tune
Or out of place
I look at the meadow
And stare at the flowers
Better dressed than any girl
On her wedding day

So why do I worry?
Why do I freak out?
God knows what I need
You know what I need

Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong

The kingdom of the heavens
Is now advancing
Invade my heart
Invade this broken town
The kingdom of the heavens
Is buried treasure
Will you sell yourself
To buy the one you've found?

Two things you told me
That you are strong
And you love me
Yes, you love me

Our God in heaven
Hallowed be
Thy name above all names
Your kingdom come
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us wicked sinners
Lead us far away from our vices
And deliver us from these prisons

House of God Forever -Jon Foreman

God is my shepherd
I won't be wanting
I won't be wanting
He makes me rest
In fields of green
With quite streams
Even though I walk
Through the valley
Of death and dying
I will not fear
'Cause you are with me
You are with me

Your shepherd staff
Comforts me
You are my feast
In the presence of enemy
Surely goodness
Follow me
Follow me
In the house of God, forever

God is my shepherd
I won't be wanting
I won't be wanting
He makes me rest
In fields of green
Like quiet streams
Even while I'm walking
Through the valley
Of death and dying
I will not fear
'Cause you are with me
You're always with me

Your shepherd staff
Comforts me
You are my feast
In the presence of enemy
Surely goodness
Follow me
Follow me
In the house of God, forever
In the house of God, forever
In the house of God, forever

 I Need Words-David Crowder

I need words

As wide as sky

And I need a language large as

This longing inside

And I need a voice

Bigger than mine

And I need a song to sing You

that I've yet to find

I need You

Oh I need You

I need You

Oh I need You

To be here now

To hear me now

Any one who reads this: pray for this ministry:VOM

I.....I... I have no....words.   My heart weeps for these people and the White family.

http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDkz&ministory_ID=NjY%3d&clickfrom=bWluaXN0b3JpZXM%3d

 RIP, Tom White.

This was a man who truly loved God!  So, I don't know why this happened...but:  "God works all things for the good of those who love Him."(Romans 8:28) Frankly my friends, this is beyond me. Oh. There's so much I don't understand.

But I still have hope: Jesus Christ died, for us.  He is right next to me, crying, holding me, washing my feet; loving me.  That is more than enough for me.

Edit: Also, please pray for those of the Kinkade family and the Colson family.  RIP Thomas and Chuck, you will be missed.

Sheesh, Satan attacking much?  Good thing we know How The Story Ends.

Some time to laugh/CAAAALVIN!

HaHaaaa!  "What a glorious day, what a wonderful day, today"-dcb
 Here's something I've learned from my Father: "Sometimes [when life hits you hard,] if you don't laugh, you cry." I believe in choosing to laugh, to laugh at my mistakes--for I make so many of them!--and even my pain.  I'd rather laugh about something than fight about it.

You want a good way to test how mature you are? See how well you can laugh at yourself.(from Brad Stine)

Anyway, I was at a homeschool convention, where I miraculously came upon A CALVIN AND HOBBES Collection!!!!!  I've never owned one before!  So I thought I'd share some awesome C&H comics.

FYI, C&H was a comic strip created by Bill Watterson.  It features a genius first grader(?) named Calvin who can't help being naughty.  He also has a horribly out of control (and out of this world) imagination. It's one of my favorites because it's not just downright funny, it's true.  You can learn from these comics. Ha!

Anyway, here's a semi-tribute to them(sorry there's so many! So good! I tried to keep them as readable as possible, usually zooming in will help):

 

Song for the Week

"Have Your Way"
-Britt Nicole

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9_caMq_iYc
 

"Feels like I've been here forever,
Why can't you just intervene,
Do you see the tears keep falling?
And I'm falling apart at the seams,
But you never said the road would be easy,
But you said that you would never leave.
And you never promised that this life wasn't hard,
But you promised you'd take care of me,
So I'll stop searching for the answers,
I'll stop praying for an escape
And I'll trust you God with where I am
And believe you will have your way,
Just have your way,
Just have your way,
My friends and my family have left me
I feel so ashamed and so cold,
And I feel so ashamed and so cold
Remind me you take broken things and turn them into beautiful
So I'll stop searching for the answers,
I'll stop praying for an escape
I'll trust you God with where I am,
And believe you will have your way,
Just have your way,
Just have your way,
Even if my dreams have died,
Even if I don't survive,
I'll still worship you with all my life,
My life, yeah,
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
Whoa, oh, oh
Whoa, oh
And I'll stop searching for the answers,
I'll stop praying for an escape
And I'll trust you God with where I am,
And believe you will have your way,
Just have your way,
Just have your way, yeah
I know you will,
I won't forget
Whoa, oh, oh
You love me,
Have your way,"

God, You know my heart, my dreams, hopes, and fears.  

But I have nothing to worry about when You are near.

"It's just You and me here now.

And I will worship You Lord, Only You."

Thank You so much God, my best friend and love. Keep me close to You.

"I want my life to come down to two words: I'm Yours"

Beauty?

"It is all a fake, of course; the figures in popular art are falsely drawn; the real women in bathing suits or tights are actually pinched in and propped up to make them appear firmer and more slender…than nature allows…” — P.92 -The Screwtape Letters

This is Taylor Swift.  

A charming young woman, whom many girls look up to.  And for much good reason: she is much cleaner and purer than most of our society's female role models. Observe: she has a coy smile, an almost playful expression, and seems to be playing with her hair. What girl wouldn't want to look like her?  In our world's eyes, she is beautiful.  

Why do I say this?  Well, I came upon Yubelina's story the other day.  She is an Indonesian Christian woman, who was brutally scarred by a Muslim attack upon her village. 

Here is a Mrs. Roberts' description of her face*:

Her skin is splotchy & ranges in color from light brown to red to white. Much of it is leathery. Her nose is disfigured. She has a purplish-colored patch of skin in between her bottom lip & the bottom of her chin. Her upper lip is peeling. Her left eye is white & red; her pupil is clearly no longer able to see.

But she is smiling. A huge smile. Joy radiates from her. Why?? She must receive stares. Children are probably afraid of her. The world would call her damaged. Ugly.

Yubelina has figured out where her identity lies. She is a treasured child of the King. She has traded “a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning” (Isa. 61:3). Her smile reveals Jesus.

Yubelina is beautiful. I guarantee she has a joy, a contentment, that no name-brand, trendy clothing; no perfect haircut & makeup; no flawless skin or toned body can bring.

Warning, this may be hard to look at:

Here she is:

  

When I first saw her, I grimaced.  But I looked again, and....I saw Christ.  This woman has true beauty, look in her eyes: see the hope, the joy there?  That's not in Taylor's picture.   1 Peter 3:3-4 says

^"3  Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— ⁴ but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." 

I see so many girls worry about how they look.  That's exactly what Satan wants: to keep you from making your heart pure and precious in God's sight.  When you see a painting, the most important part of the painting, is the painting itself.  The painting's frame should exemplify and serve the painting, not overshadow it. Same with our bodies.  Nothing is wrong with wanting to look beautiful, but it shouldn't overcome the best part of a person: the heart.  Yubelina is truly beautiful.

I dearly love Voice of the Martyrs, a multi-denominational Christian non-for-profit dedicated to spreading the gospel and the word about Christian persecution, and I highly recommend their free newsletter.  I also recommend supporting them.

*Source: http://www.persecutionblog.com/2011/01/true-beauty.html

In the Light

The Word of Life

1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— ²  the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— ³  that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. ⁴ And we are writing these things so that our^[a] joy may be complete.

Walking in the Light

⁵  This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. ⁶  If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. ⁸  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

<In The Light>

 
I keep trying to find a life
On my own, apart from You
I am the king of excuses
I've got one for every selfish thing I do

What's going on inside of me?
I despise my own behavior
This only serves to confirm my suspicions
That I'm still a man in need of a Savior

[chorus]
I wanna be in the Light
As You are in the Light
I wanna shine like the stars in the heavens
Oh, Lord be my Light and be my salvation
Cause all I want is to be in the Light
All I want is to be in the Light

The disease of self runs through my blood
It's a cancer fatal to my soul
Every attempt on my behalf has failed
To bring this sickness under control

Tell me, what's going on inside of me?
I despise my own behavior
This only serves to confirm my suspicions
That I'm still a man in need of a Savior

[repeat chorus]

Honesty becomes me
(There's nothing left to lose)
The secrets that did run me
(In Your presence are defused)
Pride has no position
(And riches have no worth)
The fame that once did cover me
(Has been sentenced to this Earth)
Has been sentenced to this Earth

Tell me, what's going on inside of me?
I despise my own behavior
This only serves to confirm my suspicions
That I'm still a man in need of a Savior

[repeat chorus 2x]

(There's no other place that I want to be)
(No other place that I can see)
(A place to be that's just right)
(Someday I'm gonna be in the Light)
(You are in the Light)
(That's where I need to be)
(That's right where I need to be)

YEAAAH BOOYAH!

YEAAH, Tobymac and Jimmy Needham came out with new albums today! So stoked to get my hands/ears on 'em!

Check out JFH for reviews of them and samples.

http://jesusfreakhideout.com/default.aspx

(I've got more stuff a-coming, dontcha worry)

"The Christian army is the only one that shoots its own leaders." -Pastor Kimber Kauffman

(fyi, I got this from Steven Camp's blog a long time ago, but thought I'd share it)
 (To live this out in my life!)

By Arthur Pink:

"Do not speak evil against each other, brethren."
- James 4:11a

That which is here forbidden, is the saying of anything, be it true or false, to the harm of another. God requires that our words should be governed by "the law of kindness" (Proverbs 31:26), and anything which would hurt or injure the reputation of another, is to be rigidly shunned. Whenever I cannot speak well of my brother or sister, I must say nothing at all.

To speak evil of others, proceeds from ill will or malice--desiring that they should be made odious in the esteem of others.  It is devilish to take delight in exposing the faults of fellow Christians, and stirring up prejudice and bitter feelings against them (Rev. 12:10). God requires that our words should agree with love--as well as with truth. Since Christians are brethren--the last thing they be guilty of is defaming one another!

Except where the glory of God plainly requires it, and the good of that person demands it--we must refrain from all evil speaking of others.

If we are duly occupied with and humbled over our own many faults--we shall have neither time nor inclination to dwell upon or publish those of others! If we properly heed the exhortation of Philippians 4:8, we shall cultivate the habit of admiring the graces in our brethren--instead of being like filthy flies, settling on their sores!

Prayin for ya

A year and a half ago, I hated rap music.  Or at least was very predisposed to be against it. Then, I heard Lecrae's "Prayin for you". This is the song that piqued my interest in rap music. (I even performed it once!)


Here's the lyrics and a link to the actual song, but I encourage both listening and reading the lyrics.

"Father, I'm prayin' for a friend he and I are pretty close, and out of all my friends for this one I'm concerned the most.
He say he readin' daily but he ain't really learnin'. He been in church but say that he ain't moved by any sermon. His face weak, he ain't prayed in a week, he wake up and just weep with his face in the sink Lord, you gotta help my man,
 I'm prayin' for him daily, he ain't sinned but it just seem as if he goin' crazy. He say he feelin' trapped, can't even head up the mall coz every lady's half-dressed temptin' him to lust and fall.
 He keep the TV off, videos just make him feel that he ain't really nothin' without money, girls and shiny wheels.
The other day he told me that he felt less a man coz he ain't have a five-year plan or a piece of land
and man it's crazy coz his family think so much of him,
 plus he got a Godly wife who always showin' love for him
but he's strugglin', even though he talk to me, I tell him what to do but he don't listen when he oughta' be.
I'm scared for him coz there's people that look up to him, he got some younger siblings who been changed by what he's done for them
 but is it done for him?
 Lord don't let it be, if he don't wanna talk to you then Father hear from me.

 Is it done for him?

 Lord don't let it be, if he don't wanna talk to you then Father hear from me...

(Yeah, I'm prayin' for you, yeah, I'm prayin' for you)

God, his condition is worsen since we were last conversed and I'm with him now and he ain't doin' well and this I'm certain.
He say he tryna' trust you, doesn't wanna disgust you
but he was in the mist of sinners and did not discuss you
 and just today his anxiety's got the best of him,
he knows Christ but for hours refuse to rest in Him, he's not the best of men
but Lord I know he really loves you
and I can't understand why lately he's not thinkin' of you.
People trust this dude, you could crush this dude, Father he needs more of you I pray you touch this dude, what can I say to him? I'm determined to pray for him Father empty and break him I pray you'll just have your way with him, coz there's a change in him and the effects are strong,
 I pray you open up his heart before the next song and when he gets home, I pray he'll open up the sixty-six book love letter you wrote and soak it up
coz he ain't hearin' You and he ain't feelin' me and God I know it's killin' You because it's killin' me

and matter of fact there's somethin' else he's concealin' see,

the person that I've been prayin' about


is really me..."

Life's been real tough lately:

"And yet, this I recall to mind, and therefore I have hope.
You died Lord. You died.
Assuredly, like the coming of the dawn the Father's love song goes on
drowning out my bitter songs
Christ swoops in, removes sin, picks up His bride and carries her.
So I can sing in agreement with my King, this thing:
See, there's only one thing that pleases the Father
The God-Man on the tree in the midst of the scoffers.
Now, I finally see,
that Christ is
what Christ offers.
And I'm finally free,
in the love of my Father." - Jimmy Neeham "Not Without Love"




Jimmy's full poem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD-wnNnW4KE
More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmania.com/prayin_for_you_lyrics_lecrae.html
All about Lecrae: http://www.musictory.com/music/Lecrae

You know it's hard.. (A friendly Saturday post)

What does it mean to trust? (I think) it means to give up some thing to some one/thing else. To give it away. That's what God's been doing with me lately: teaching me to trust Him. To give Him not one thing, not most things, but everything. It's hard, and my life's been hard lately.

But why should I worry? Everything I've given up, is now in much better hands.

I could go on and about the specific things God is teaching me to trust Him with, and I could show you how He has used every circumstance for my benefit and His glory,(Romans 8:28). But I don't think I really need to: I know He's doing the same stuff in your life.  You may not see it now, but I bet the more you trust Him, the more you watch what is going on, and the more you are willing to be content with askew plans, the more you'll see Him working.

"Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word.
just to take Him at His word, just to rest upon His promise...

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him, I've prov'd Him o'er and o'er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus, O for grace to trust Him more."

"We will never walk alone."-Jars of clay, "Shelter"

On that note, glad to be back! Will plan on updating more often(honest!).

 What I've been:

Reading: Jane Eyre. So far so good.  Bronte is excellent at describing how a woman thinks and feels. Any writer who wishes to portray an elegant mind's thinking habits, should study Jane Eyre. Also, Bronte is excellent at description! I hope to finish soon, will update more then.

VG's: Just finished Paper Mario Thousand Year old Door. One of the funniest games I've played! It is nearly perfect in every way, (iow, I can hardly think of anything that could be improved).  Some of my favorite quotes:

 [a random goomba who wants a girldfriend]: "Will you go out with me?"
[Goombella]: No, I'm, uh, with Mario!
[Mario]: ??!?!?
[random goomba]: ".....................................................................
Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan,
I've had enough of this!
*walks a little*
PEACE!"
*leaves*

[Yoshi, a scruffy yet (dare I say it) cute little guy]:
"Big deal'?!? You stink, Mister! Why'd you wanna turn them into pigs, anyway?"
"They're sending us all their wishes and positive energy... That is so AWESOME!"
[at the arctic] "It's stupid cold!"
 "So, that last Crystal Star we got on the Moon… NO! We're IDIOTS!
 (I intend to write a review of this game sometime. Once I don't have a musical breathing down my back. I reccomend it to almost everyone.)

Music: Audrey Assad's Heart,(So good!) Monk & Neagle: "Fallin"(from 21st time), Mat Kearney's newest album :Young Love, a good amount of David Crowder(All I can Say, Church Music Give us Rest), and some Jon Foreman(Winter Ep).

What's everyone listening to?

Randomrantonlifeandwhatsup

love his expression

 Thursday was a glasses day.

I woke up Wednesday morning with a slight sinus headache in my left eye-brow- area. It spread. By Wednesday night I had a full fledged cold complete with shivering and high temperatures. It was pretty miserable. To make matters worse, I couldn't fall asleep! I did eventually, around 4. I slept on and off Thursday morning, waking at 11 or so. Worked a bit, did my econ homework, went back to sleep, woke up at 4 did some work, talked with neighbors, rested, worked, ate, played Bastion, worked, rested, went to sleep. I was feeling better than Wednesday night, but it was just one of those days where you sleep through most of it, and you don't get much done. It's a day where you stay in pajamas, don't comb your hair, and don't put in your contacts. That's a glasses day.

But, God again planned it all to benefit me.

Here's how I know: I had been thinking about buying this indie game called Bastion. It looked unique and I heard it had a fantastic story. I was pondering last Tuesday, should I buy it. What do you know, Blam! It goes on sale for half off(7.50)! When I got home Tuesday first thing, I... took a nap. And sorted other issues. But then bought it! Little did I know I would be sick all day Wednesday and Thursday. So when the sickness steamrolled me, I actually had time to play a video game! (I haven't really played one in about 2/3 weeks) It seems like He just planned it all perfectly. He knew I'd be sick, to sick to really work, and so He provided. The game, sickness, the sale, the timing of it all seems awfully perfect. (I loved the game too, It's narration and story design, I would argue, is equivalent/on par with Dicken's Tale of Two Cities. I will be blogging upon that sometime, perhaps later this week.)

I was thinking to myself Wednesday night. I had finished the game and had seen how amazing it was. I was feeling horrible, and I had tons of work I knew needed to be done. But I wasn't frustrated, I wasn't sad. I thought that if so many of my friends who have far worse medical complications could live with far greater suffering, and still be joyful. Why not I as well?

so funny, so true

I... was almost happy that I was sick. I suppose the correct term would be content. I was content to simply trust that Jesus had it all taken care of. It was like last week when I got food poisoning. I sat next to the toilet for three hours, wishing I would throw up just so my stomach would stop hurting. But I knew that if Jesus took care of my friends who had gone through worse, I could be content to be in His arms. In moments like that, I've learned that if you don't laugh, you cry. And so I choose to laugh about it, rather than grieve, moan or complain. Hard? Yes, and I fail in that philosophy many times. But that's not going to stop me from trying. "For I do so love to laugh,[Mr. Darcy.]"

Well I should get back to work I suppose. I intend to be writing on this thing more often, just FYI.


Here's the song I listen to in situations like these.(BTW, yes I'm still sick, but I'm much stronger.) It's so simple, and yet so deep. I love it. I love music and playing music because of songs like this one.
All I can Say
Lyrics:
Lord I'm tired So tired from walking  
And Lord I'm so alone  
And Lord the dark Is creeping in  
Creeping up To swallow me 
I think I'll stop Rest here a while

And this is all that I can say right now 
And this is all that I can give  
And this is all that I can say right now  
And this is all that I can give, that's my everything

Lord didn't You see me cry'n?  
And didn't You hear me call Your name?  
Wasn't it You I gave my heart to?
I wish You'd remember Where you sat it down


And this is all that I can say right now, i know it's not much. 
But this is all that I can give, yeah that's my everything.  
This is all that I can say right now, i know it's not much.  
But this is all that I can give, yeah that's my everything.

I didn't notice You were standing here  
I didn't know that That was You holding me 
I didn't notice You were cry'n too
I didn't know that That was You washing my feet

And this is all
This is all that I can say right now, 
oh i know its not much.
But this is all that I can give,
that's my everything.

Some of my faaaavorite thiiings (hey, I can do that; I was in the play)

Hello again, I've been meaning to write this for some time. And so, it's uh, here. Yay?

I like stuff, good stuff. Here's some of my favorite stuff. It may or may not be "good" stuff. but it will definitely be stuff that I like.  I mean to give here a brief overview of stuff I like. Later, I plan to perhaps dive into why I like them. Almost every thing/item I mention here is one of my "favorites." When I say I like/love something, I really mean it. Without further ado:

Movies:
 Anything made by Pixar. Really! Pretty much everything! Particularly, I really enjoy Toy Story 3,(aside from Barbie and Ken. They're uh, interesting.). Why?

Two words: Spanish Buzz.

Muppet Christmas Carol, Tangled, How to Train Your Dragon, Captain America, Singing in the Rain, A Witness For the Prosecution, Despicable Me, and Ben-Hur are all some great movies that I love.

  Please note, these are some of my favorites. I like or like parts of, Inception, the Muppet Movie, Kung-foo Panda,Terminator Salvation(the cleanest Terminator ever), and a lot of other popular movies(this principle applies to the other topics below).  But are they my favorites? Do I want to be known for liking them? Maybe. These are the few that I remember as of now.  There's likely a whole lot more. I'll probably bring them up some time.

Actors:
Mark Hamil!!!, Harrison Ford, Cary Grant, Michael Kane, Johnny Depp, Gene Kelly, Robert Downey jr,(well, kinda), Liam Neeson, Basil Rathbone, Terrence Mann.  These are some really good actors. I will definitely have to update this list though. I love a lot of actors, but I can't remember what movies they're from or what their names are, unfortunately!

Books:
The Great Divorce-C.S. Lewis,(and pretty much everything he's ever written!),  The Reason for God-Tim Keller, the Kingdom series-Chuck Black, the Dragon Keeper Chronicles-Donita K. Paul, the Circle series-Ted Dekker, The Redwall series, Jane Eyre, Lord of the Rings,(I'll finish that Silmarillion some day!) the Hobbit-J.R.R. Tolkien. I love 'em!


Tv shows: Phineas and Ferb!!!, Batman the Animated Series, the Muppet show, I love Lucy, Classic Transformers, classic G. I. Joe, Static Shock! Oh so good. Does anyone remember the cartoon called Recess? It's the one with the kindergartners acting like a huge tribe of Indians. I like that one too. I'm not sure if it's a favorite though.  Ah so many good memories.

Music: 
Mmmm, here's a big one. I could spend hours writing down these! David Crowder Band, Tobymac, Steve Camp, Keith Green, Flyleaf, Mat Kearney, B. Reith, Lecrae, Jon Foreman/Switchfoot, Audio Adrenaline, Monk & Neagle, House of Heroes, Shawn Macdonald, Relient K, NEEDTOBREATHE, F.M. Static, Owl city, Jimmy Needham, Britt Nicole, Trip Lee, Tedashii, Newsboys, Gungor, Brooke Fraser, Skillet, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Alan Menken (his work, that is).  I could go onto artists I like, not love, but I'll stop here and say that I completely love these guys/gals.

Video games:
This is a really big one too. Every game I put here I absolutely delight in. Mega Man Legends 1 & 2(mostly 1), Mega Man Zero, Paper Mario, Paper Mario the Thousand Year Door,  Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time; Wind Waker, (ok, pretty much the whole Zelda and Mega Man series), Chrono Trigger, Half-Life 2, Portal 1 & 2, Sly Cooper 2 & 3, Starcraft 1 & 2, Star Wars Battlefront, Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, these are some of my personal favorites, mostly because of nostalgia and personal preference. So MUCH I could say about them; So many games that I love, but didn't put for odd reasons or others,(like Gears of War, Halo, Suikoden 2, etc.).

I intend to blog in-depth about these some time. Take this as a list of things to come! I hope you enjoyed my list. Hoo boy, just you wait, I've got lots to say about these. Run while you still can!


Bahahahahah!