I really enjoyed this Christmas. The gifts where awesome, but I'm pretty sure that's not the reason that this Christmas was so special. I didn't even get to see my entire family (sister in France, sister&bro-in-law, niece, nephew in Alabama, mom-in-law in Houston). I think what made it feel so complete was that it was at my house, a 3 year old who is getting into Christmas, and with the expectation of a special arrival ourselves, it made me focus more on Mary and Joseph and the excitement of Jesus' birth.
We did not travel as it was not recommend for Alicia to be far away from the hospital, yet Mary and Joseph had to by order of the law. Had that one fact been changed in the Bible, the first of many prophecies would not have been fulfilled "Today in the city of David (Bethlehem)". Bethlehem = The City of David. I'll save how the prophecies that Jesus fulfilled amaze me for another blog on another day.
Ray is really into Christmas, or as he refers to it, "Jesus' Birthday Party". He was really shocked when he saw the tree. I'm not sure he really expected to get presents for "Jesus' Birthday". Will be a great transition for sharing Christ with my son one day. He is really starting to understand concepts, which I find amazing!
I really think the biggest reason, was that Christmas dinner was at my house. My family all around enjoying each other and visiting. Playing guitar with my cousin and Dad, talking with my Aunt Linda, and of course playing with Ray's new toys! It's really a different experience and some how seems complete and the way it's supposed to be. I liked having Christmas at my house, and will probably do it again next year!
Blessings to you this New Year!
Friday, December 26, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
All I Want by Staind
I don't often listen to a lot of secular music, except some Rock. I heard this song in the background of a sport center highlight and other than "shit" being used in the lyrics, this is almost like a worship song!
I am amazed at how many secular songs could be changed around just a little bit and are a praise to God.
Here are the lyrics:
I am amazed at how many secular songs could be changed around just a little bit and are a praise to God.
Here are the lyrics:
What I leave, When you go,
What I see, And what you show,
And what I guess, And when I don't,
Is something you all ready, all ready know,
[Chorus:]
I can't live without, All I think about,
All I want is you, You're all I dream about,
I can't live without, All I want is you,
The things I do, I go through,
And all I see, When Im awake,
And what I make, The shit that I take,
Is something you all ready, all ready know
[Chorus:]
I can't live without,
All I think about,
All I want is you,
You're all I dream about,
I can't live without,
All I want is you,
Ohhh,...
Is you,
Is you,
Is you,
Is you,
You're all I dream about,
That I can't live without,
All I want is you
[Chorus:]
I can't live without,
All I think about,
All I want is you,
You're all I dream about,
I can't live without,
All I want is you,
I just can't live without you,
When all I think about is you,
And all I want is you
What I see, And what you show,
And what I guess, And when I don't,
Is something you all ready, all ready know,
[Chorus:]
I can't live without, All I think about,
All I want is you, You're all I dream about,
I can't live without, All I want is you,
The things I do, I go through,
And all I see, When Im awake,
And what I make, The shit that I take,
Is something you all ready, all ready know
[Chorus:]
I can't live without,
All I think about,
All I want is you,
You're all I dream about,
I can't live without,
All I want is you,
Ohhh,...
Is you,
Is you,
Is you,
Is you,
You're all I dream about,
That I can't live without,
All I want is you
[Chorus:]
I can't live without,
All I think about,
All I want is you,
You're all I dream about,
I can't live without,
All I want is you,
I just can't live without you,
When all I think about is you,
And all I want is you
Saturday, December 20, 2008
2nd Samuel 23:5
For He has made an everlasting covenant with me, Ordered in all things, and secured; For all my salvation and all {my} desire, Will He not indeed make {it} grow?
The progression of my life is the order of things so far. God has secured them. I am blessed to be secured with a wife and a child and a child on the way. I am secured that he will care for me in the will he has for my business and life. He has fulfilled my salvation. Then comes the tricky part of "my desire" (NASB version by the way). I'm actually glad he doesn't always fulfill this at times, but sometimes wish he would. I hope He increases my desire for Him and less of my desire for the things of this world. The things that bind me and separate me from Him. Yet, he has ordered all things.
I often think of my degree from college as a waste, but then I know it delivered me my greatest earthly prize, which is my wife. I often am bitter towards Christianity as the training mechanisms that are used to teach ministers really kill off the creative aspects. I've heard seminary referred to as "The Cemetery" as it is the final mark of killing off any hope of the Holy Spirit working in a church. It further ingrains the denominational fence posts that separate us from one another. Why will tomorrow morning (Sunday) be the most segregated day in the country. Why can God not bond us as one? Yet I step away from my focus (digress, but I hate that word for some reason)
I pray that he does make it grow daily and that my desires become His and that I have the same emotional connection to God as it appears God has for me. A desire is much greater than just wanting, it is deep, it is passionate. When I say, "I desire my wife", it really means I want to know her more intimately than anyone else on earth. God wants that with us; though he knows us, He still seeks our desires and offers us free will to express those desires.......and sometimes, He gives us what we want even though it causes us more harm. He loves us enough to give us the choice! Make my desire yours oh Lord!
The progression of my life is the order of things so far. God has secured them. I am blessed to be secured with a wife and a child and a child on the way. I am secured that he will care for me in the will he has for my business and life. He has fulfilled my salvation. Then comes the tricky part of "my desire" (NASB version by the way). I'm actually glad he doesn't always fulfill this at times, but sometimes wish he would. I hope He increases my desire for Him and less of my desire for the things of this world. The things that bind me and separate me from Him. Yet, he has ordered all things.
I often think of my degree from college as a waste, but then I know it delivered me my greatest earthly prize, which is my wife. I often am bitter towards Christianity as the training mechanisms that are used to teach ministers really kill off the creative aspects. I've heard seminary referred to as "The Cemetery" as it is the final mark of killing off any hope of the Holy Spirit working in a church. It further ingrains the denominational fence posts that separate us from one another. Why will tomorrow morning (Sunday) be the most segregated day in the country. Why can God not bond us as one? Yet I step away from my focus (digress, but I hate that word for some reason)
I pray that he does make it grow daily and that my desires become His and that I have the same emotional connection to God as it appears God has for me. A desire is much greater than just wanting, it is deep, it is passionate. When I say, "I desire my wife", it really means I want to know her more intimately than anyone else on earth. God wants that with us; though he knows us, He still seeks our desires and offers us free will to express those desires.......and sometimes, He gives us what we want even though it causes us more harm. He loves us enough to give us the choice! Make my desire yours oh Lord!
Coolest Christmas Songs of All Time
#2 and #3 are interchangeable here. Mostly for the enjoyable part of the song, not the reasoning!
#4 Santa Baby - MADONNA
This is the hottest song and makes me want to make babies at Christmas....and give a lot of gifts away!
#3 Please Come Home For Christmas - The Eagles
Okay not a song to be combined with Alcohol or ammunition, but I love this song. I like to imagine that the girl comes back to the guy on Christmas day as a gift under the tree wrapped in something sexy!
#2 RamahanaKwanzmas - From the Glen Beck show
Kind of representative of the times we live in nowadays. My favorite is how the say "Merry "bleep"mas."
#1 Silent Night -
Really haven't heard a version I didn't like. It sort of encompasses the whole story of Christmas night. I'm sure Sheryl Crow will go and now create a version for me to hate or really really love!
#4 Santa Baby - MADONNA
This is the hottest song and makes me want to make babies at Christmas....and give a lot of gifts away!
#3 Please Come Home For Christmas - The Eagles
Okay not a song to be combined with Alcohol or ammunition, but I love this song. I like to imagine that the girl comes back to the guy on Christmas day as a gift under the tree wrapped in something sexy!
#2 RamahanaKwanzmas - From the Glen Beck show
Kind of representative of the times we live in nowadays. My favorite is how the say "Merry "bleep"mas."
#1 Silent Night -
Really haven't heard a version I didn't like. It sort of encompasses the whole story of Christmas night. I'm sure Sheryl Crow will go and now create a version for me to hate or really really love!
Friday, December 19, 2008
Top 5 Least Favorite Christmas Songs
This is sort of in response to my buddy Dave's Top 5, but I've been wanting to speak about my #1 for a long long time.
#5 Christmas Conga.....Cyndi Lauper
I think I've liked one Cyndi Lauper tune in the history of my life! It's just confusing, it's like a mix of her style music and synthesizers, mexican trumpets, and her saying "banga, banga, banga" and then her speaking in a very New York accent....maybe Boston. It's a catchy.....a little too catchy!
#4"Little Drummer Boy", David Bowie and Bing Crosby
No words....just a terrible duet!
#3 David Essex "A Winter's Tale"
Wow...does this song increases the suicide thought rate. If this is on the playlist of someone that you care about, take away all alcohol, pain killers, and guns. Not a healthy sign! My parents had this record for some reason and I accidentally listened to it alot. Evidentally David Essex is one fo the a-holes that doesn't like for his stuff to be posted on youtube, or at least sharivn of his music, so yet another reason to be on the list.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBQ3t6ezh2I
#2 Christmas Time by THE SMASHING PUMPKINS
I love smashing pumpkins, but they should leave Christmas albums to Country Singers. Billy's voice to Jesus' music just gives me nightmares. There's no typical Smashing Pumpkins drive behind it.....It's like they needed to sale an album one year so they just decided to produce a Xmas one. ( I use X in the respectful Greek way)
#1 Blue Christmas by Sheryl Crow
I typically like Blue Christmas and Sheryl Crow, but it's a lot like adding cottage cheese to corn on the cob when you put this two together. It would be a great song if I was planning a great evening with my pistol and Jack Daniels though! I promise you listening to this song will make you contemplate suicide.
Luckily it is not easy to find and should probably be banned from existence! There is one out there from her "Home for Christmas" album, but that's not the one I'm talking about. I think it is on a specialty album from Kohl's (Kohls Cares for Kids). You can listen to a sample here:
http://www.ilike.com/artist/Sheryl+Crow/track/Blue+Christmas
#5 Christmas Conga.....Cyndi Lauper
I think I've liked one Cyndi Lauper tune in the history of my life! It's just confusing, it's like a mix of her style music and synthesizers, mexican trumpets, and her saying "banga, banga, banga" and then her speaking in a very New York accent....maybe Boston. It's a catchy.....a little too catchy!
#4"Little Drummer Boy", David Bowie and Bing Crosby
No words....just a terrible duet!
#3 David Essex "A Winter's Tale"
Wow...does this song increases the suicide thought rate. If this is on the playlist of someone that you care about, take away all alcohol, pain killers, and guns. Not a healthy sign! My parents had this record for some reason and I accidentally listened to it alot. Evidentally David Essex is one fo the a-holes that doesn't like for his stuff to be posted on youtube, or at least sharivn of his music, so yet another reason to be on the list.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBQ3t6ezh2I
#2 Christmas Time by THE SMASHING PUMPKINS
I love smashing pumpkins, but they should leave Christmas albums to Country Singers. Billy's voice to Jesus' music just gives me nightmares. There's no typical Smashing Pumpkins drive behind it.....It's like they needed to sale an album one year so they just decided to produce a Xmas one. ( I use X in the respectful Greek way)
#1 Blue Christmas by Sheryl Crow
I typically like Blue Christmas and Sheryl Crow, but it's a lot like adding cottage cheese to corn on the cob when you put this two together. It would be a great song if I was planning a great evening with my pistol and Jack Daniels though! I promise you listening to this song will make you contemplate suicide.
Luckily it is not easy to find and should probably be banned from existence! There is one out there from her "Home for Christmas" album, but that's not the one I'm talking about. I think it is on a specialty album from Kohl's (Kohls Cares for Kids). You can listen to a sample here:
http://www.ilike.com/artist/Sheryl+Crow/track/Blue+Christmas
Monday, December 15, 2008
Blue Letter Bible
Every once in a while I am amazed at the internet and the blue letter bible is truly an amazing resources. Play around with it and you'll see what I'm talking about. Truly wish this was around while taking Dr. Bobby Kelly's Biblical Greek I.....maybe I wouldn't have dropped out of BG II.
I've become obsessed with this resource and I have no desire to be a pastor, just seeking the truth of the scripture and the deepness of it. I think that is why we have so many translation, because 1: some Greek can be translated many ways and 2: God wants us to explore those ways as well as understand the context they are in.
Here is the link. Just for kicks look at it and just play around with John 3:16 and the many versions it has....especially the original Greek Lexicon!
www.blueletterbible.org
Blessings,
Will
I've become obsessed with this resource and I have no desire to be a pastor, just seeking the truth of the scripture and the deepness of it. I think that is why we have so many translation, because 1: some Greek can be translated many ways and 2: God wants us to explore those ways as well as understand the context they are in.
Here is the link. Just for kicks look at it and just play around with John 3:16 and the many versions it has....especially the original Greek Lexicon!
www.blueletterbible.org
Blessings,
Will
Just Arriving!
So as I sit here around Christmas time pondering Jesus, Mary and Joseph. I think of the anticipation, the excitement and the worry they must have had, as I possess these same feelings at this moment with my daughter coming in the next 3 weeks. Sure, I've been through this process before with my boy, but for some reason there is more angst, fear, and just overall wonder about the moment.
Maybe it's that I look at all the girls that are growing up and wonder how in the world am I going to raise a pure, Godly and mentally sound woman in this environment, this world we live in today. My grandmother confirmed it that she's never seen stuff (sin, flesh, and worldliness) so out in the open. I know each generation has its error and I know the world has always been a filthy place, but I look at it differently now with a small defenseless child coming into the mix. For some reason, this didn't bother me with my son, so why does it do so with my little girl.
I guess my answer as always can be found in scripture. How do you "train up a child"? I know 90% of what kids learn is by watching so I'll seek the scripture and try to let that inward reading become an outward expression:
Psalm 33:8 "Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him."
John 12:25 "The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."
John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
Maybe it's that I look at all the girls that are growing up and wonder how in the world am I going to raise a pure, Godly and mentally sound woman in this environment, this world we live in today. My grandmother confirmed it that she's never seen stuff (sin, flesh, and worldliness) so out in the open. I know each generation has its error and I know the world has always been a filthy place, but I look at it differently now with a small defenseless child coming into the mix. For some reason, this didn't bother me with my son, so why does it do so with my little girl.
I guess my answer as always can be found in scripture. How do you "train up a child"? I know 90% of what kids learn is by watching so I'll seek the scripture and try to let that inward reading become an outward expression:
Psalm 33:8 "Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him."
John 12:25 "The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."
John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
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