Today I again realized how narrow-minded I am. My wife and I spent an hour talking about what kind of computer we should buy, discussion which would be the best investment and serve us best down the road. I feel like we handled it well and were trying to be down to earth with balancing needs versus wants and ease.
Shortly after this discussion I read and email from a dear brother wherein I was reminded about what's happening in Gulu, Unganda. There, most of the young children flee to the city every night for valid fear of abduction, brain-washing, and enrollment in a violent and evil resistance army. I remember from the video "Invisible Children" how three boys sleep in a part of the sewer system each night after the daily commute to the city. After they mop up all the stale and rancid water, they have a "dry" place to rest for a few hours before they head back out into the open.
Oh Lord, have mercy on me a sinner! And help your children in need! Give me grace to keep things in perspective and to think globally for your names sake.
Invisible Children
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Friday, March 2, 2007
You always remain
Brand new song I wrote today. Expresses some of the way I've been feeling as of late. The Lord is faithful. Suggestions are welcome.
I'll go away somewhere I can't find rain.
I'll go away somewhere I can't feel pain.
You remind me of who I've always been.
You, oh You, remind of who You are...
I'll stay away, this place where I've been hiding.
Stay far away, can't face this world today.
Frail, broken-hearted, a contrite heart have I.
You, oh You, won't reject me, for who You are.
Dreams fade away today my heart has stains
Dream away today, for You don't change, You always remain.
You say, "Stay away, I bought this one from slavery."
Chains loose their sway when Jesus Christ proclaims...
"You, my child, your pardon's sealed in blood."
You, oh You, remind me of who I am in You.
Dreams came today to stay, my hearts been changed
Dream away today, for You don't change, for You don't change,
Oh You don't change, You always remain.
I'll go away somewhere I can't find rain.
I'll go away somewhere I can't feel pain.
You remind me of who I've always been.
You, oh You, remind of who You are...
I'll stay away, this place where I've been hiding.
Stay far away, can't face this world today.
Frail, broken-hearted, a contrite heart have I.
You, oh You, won't reject me, for who You are.
Dreams fade away today my heart has stains
Dream away today, for You don't change, You always remain.
You say, "Stay away, I bought this one from slavery."
Chains loose their sway when Jesus Christ proclaims...
"You, my child, your pardon's sealed in blood."
You, oh You, remind me of who I am in You.
Dreams came today to stay, my hearts been changed
Dream away today, for You don't change, for You don't change,
Oh You don't change, You always remain.
Fade to Light
My last song was quite popular so I thought I should post a few more. This song is called "Fade to Light" and was written last spring. Enjoy!
You are the only God who saves;
there is no God, God like You!
Why should my eyes behold what's worthless?
Why should my gaze not be on You?
You've given me new eyes to see Your beauty.
You've given me new eyes to behold You.
You've taken off the blinders, I see! O Lord, I see!
You made the darkness fade away to light,
You made the darkness fade away.
You showered me with grace, and gave to me new sight.
You shinned Your light and showed me the way.
I've seen Your likeness in my life,
still I don't know the things I do.
Your perfect character enthralls me;
I want to be Lord, just like You.
You are the only God who saves;
there is no God, God like You!
Why should my eyes behold what's worthless?
Why should my gaze not be on You?
You've given me new eyes to see Your beauty.
You've given me new eyes to behold You.
You've taken off the blinders, I see! O Lord, I see!
You made the darkness fade away to light,
You made the darkness fade away.
You showered me with grace, and gave to me new sight.
You shinned Your light and showed me the way.
I've seen Your likeness in my life,
still I don't know the things I do.
Your perfect character enthralls me;
I want to be Lord, just like You.
jewelery boxes
Hey mom,
What do you think of these boxes? They don't have the final finish coat on them but, I'm not particularly fond of how the stain turned out. I should have left them natural because that's easier. At this point they can still be sanded down and worked with. I think what happened is I didn't do a good enough job on the finish sanding and so the stain didn't take well on the top of the box lids. Let me know what you would like done. If you want to take a stab at staining them that is fine, I know you're better at that then I am. Hope you doing well, talk to you soon.
What do you think of these boxes? They don't have the final finish coat on them but, I'm not particularly fond of how the stain turned out. I should have left them natural because that's easier. At this point they can still be sanded down and worked with. I think what happened is I didn't do a good enough job on the finish sanding and so the stain didn't take well on the top of the box lids. Let me know what you would like done. If you want to take a stab at staining them that is fine, I know you're better at that then I am. Hope you doing well, talk to you soon.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Minnesota winters are back!
Some shots from Thursday - posted mostly so my mom could see just how snowy it is down here - man I love Jeeps!
Monday, February 26, 2007
work in progress: for Abraham to wordsmith
Hey Abraham,
This is a new song I've been working on from Isaiah 46. Please feel free to critique and rework as you think would be beneficial. The recording is solely for you to have a melody to keep in your mind as you look at syllables. I'm also wondering, should it be changed to from the first person to third person? Let me know what you think.
Isaiah 46
Verse:
For I am God, there's none like me, for I am God alone
I am your God, there's none like me, declaring the end from beginning.
Call this to mind and stand firm, call it to mind you sinners.
Remember everything that I've done, for I am God alone.
Verse:
When you are old, still I am He, I'll carry you to the end
That I have made, and I will bear, I'll carry and I will save.
Whom can you find that's my equal? To whom shall I be compared?
For when you cry I will answer, for I am God alone.
Verse:
Come to me all with heavy heart, and I will give you rest
Take up my yoke and learn from me, finding rest for your souls.
My yoke is easy my burden light, come to me little children.
For I am gentle and humble, see that I'm God alone.
Chorus:
I've spoken, I'll bring it to pass
I've purposed and it will be done.
All I've spoken, I'll bring it to pass,
My purposes, all will be done.
They will be done.
Bridge:
Listen to me, you hardened of heart, you who are far away
I will bring near, all that I am, salvation will not delay.
I will save you
I will save you
I will save you
For my glory
This is a new song I've been working on from Isaiah 46. Please feel free to critique and rework as you think would be beneficial. The recording is solely for you to have a melody to keep in your mind as you look at syllables. I'm also wondering, should it be changed to from the first person to third person? Let me know what you think.
Isaiah 46
Verse:
For I am God, there's none like me, for I am God alone
I am your God, there's none like me, declaring the end from beginning.
Call this to mind and stand firm, call it to mind you sinners.
Remember everything that I've done, for I am God alone.
Verse:
When you are old, still I am He, I'll carry you to the end
That I have made, and I will bear, I'll carry and I will save.
Whom can you find that's my equal? To whom shall I be compared?
For when you cry I will answer, for I am God alone.
Verse:
Come to me all with heavy heart, and I will give you rest
Take up my yoke and learn from me, finding rest for your souls.
My yoke is easy my burden light, come to me little children.
For I am gentle and humble, see that I'm God alone.
Chorus:
I've spoken, I'll bring it to pass
I've purposed and it will be done.
All I've spoken, I'll bring it to pass,
My purposes, all will be done.
They will be done.
Bridge:
Listen to me, you hardened of heart, you who are far away
I will bring near, all that I am, salvation will not delay.
I will save you
I will save you
I will save you
For my glory
Sunday, February 25, 2007
what ministers to you?
I've had a time grieving as of late. Something happened in our family that caused great heaviness in the heart. What is the healing balm that attends the broken spirit? Christ is the balm! What form does he take to do such ministering? Christ is seated in heaven at the throne of God. I'm not suggesting modalism, simply that Christ is in all, and is all!
When Paul talks about members of the body in I Corinthians 12 he uses language like, "hand, foot, ear, and eye." We, as many different members, are all part of one body, the body of Christ. In times of sorrow, how are the different members of the body ministered to.
Does the hand have the same needs as the foot? The ear the same as the eye? The hands need protection from the cold, bandages when scraped or cut. Or the foot, does it not need a covering to pass through rough terrain? The ear needs a buffer from loudness. The eye a shield from burning brightness. Are not all these things that which minister to the body? They are protection, healing, safety, but they are all different and minister in differing ways.
The first day of my sorrow after the news I was left to myself as I worked on a friends basement. I had my prayers, my time in the word that morning, encouraging words from my wife, but my thoughts wouldn't subside. They overwhelmed me. The next day my dear wife complied a play-list of songs and burned them to a CD for me to listen to while I worked. This make a world of difference for me!
Perhaps music is the glove that ministers to this ear. Consider nature being the shoe that minsters the hurting foot, and poetry that which peaches healing to the crying eye, and fellowship that which tends the overwhelmed hand. What are all these things except channels for Christ's healing to flow!
This week I have been so thankful to the Lord for giving me Christ-saturated music to listen to, and for healing my wounded spirit.
When Paul talks about members of the body in I Corinthians 12 he uses language like, "hand, foot, ear, and eye." We, as many different members, are all part of one body, the body of Christ. In times of sorrow, how are the different members of the body ministered to.
Does the hand have the same needs as the foot? The ear the same as the eye? The hands need protection from the cold, bandages when scraped or cut. Or the foot, does it not need a covering to pass through rough terrain? The ear needs a buffer from loudness. The eye a shield from burning brightness. Are not all these things that which minister to the body? They are protection, healing, safety, but they are all different and minister in differing ways.
The first day of my sorrow after the news I was left to myself as I worked on a friends basement. I had my prayers, my time in the word that morning, encouraging words from my wife, but my thoughts wouldn't subside. They overwhelmed me. The next day my dear wife complied a play-list of songs and burned them to a CD for me to listen to while I worked. This make a world of difference for me!
Perhaps music is the glove that ministers to this ear. Consider nature being the shoe that minsters the hurting foot, and poetry that which peaches healing to the crying eye, and fellowship that which tends the overwhelmed hand. What are all these things except channels for Christ's healing to flow!
This week I have been so thankful to the Lord for giving me Christ-saturated music to listen to, and for healing my wounded spirit.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
funny search
My brother-in-law showed me this a while back. Here's what you do. Do a Google search for "French military victories" and hit the "I'm feeling lucky" button. See what you come up with.
I've included a fantastic picture of my brother-in-law for your viewing pleasure...I hope he doesn't beat me up.
I've included a fantastic picture of my brother-in-law for your viewing pleasure...I hope he doesn't beat me up.
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
understanding the scriptures can only result in worship!
Today I was reading out of the four gospels the passages on the Great Commission. I was struck as I read the portion from Luke. In verse 44 of the 24th chapter, Jesus is talking to his disciples saying, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." Luke then records this amazing comment, "Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures..." I can only take this to mean that up until this point, they hadn't been clearly perceiving who Jesus was, and what he came to do. Next in the passage Jesus states the purposes for which he came, and gives promises and commands upon his leaving. Then during the account of Jesus' ascension, after Jesus had led them out of the city and gave them a blessing Luke writes, "And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God."
When I think of the implications of this, I'm humbled. One of the promises of Christ was that he was leaving us his Spirit, the Helper, not just to come upon us as he did in the O.T. times, but to actually dwell within in us...amazing! As we read the scripture, the Spirit is continually opening our minds, the eyes of our hearts, to understand what we're reading, and our response should always be that of worship. I'm feeling very blessed today, though it's no different than any other day in that I'm blessed. I'm reminded of the passage in Ephesians wherein Paul is giving his thanksgiving and prayer for those in Ephesus. He writes, "For this reason...I never cease to give thanks for you, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you...the riches of his inheritance...the immeasurable greatness of his power..."
Pressing on to know Him with you, that we may glorify Him together!
When I think of the implications of this, I'm humbled. One of the promises of Christ was that he was leaving us his Spirit, the Helper, not just to come upon us as he did in the O.T. times, but to actually dwell within in us...amazing! As we read the scripture, the Spirit is continually opening our minds, the eyes of our hearts, to understand what we're reading, and our response should always be that of worship. I'm feeling very blessed today, though it's no different than any other day in that I'm blessed. I'm reminded of the passage in Ephesians wherein Paul is giving his thanksgiving and prayer for those in Ephesus. He writes, "For this reason...I never cease to give thanks for you, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you...the riches of his inheritance...the immeasurable greatness of his power..."
Pressing on to know Him with you, that we may glorify Him together!
the new/old picture
My wife recently commented on how she didn't like the picture I was using for the blog, so I decided to upgrade. I believe this was 4th grade. What ever happened to cool hair? (notice, this picture was taken pre-braces). Yeah baby!
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