I use Mozilla Firebird (thanks to Benjamin), so if you use Internet Explorer and my post doesn't make sense, please ask me to check it in IE. I forget to do that sometimes. IE isn't smart enough to figure some things out. It took me forever to get that stupid poll to show up in IE in my last post. And something that was fun at first became a hassle. Oh well, I learned things from it. I'll try to check IE since it is still used so often (needlessly: download Firebird here).

Sometimes I think the Borg were right:

Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated. Your biological and technological disticntiveness will be added to our own.

When I posted this, my brother asked me what my superhero power is. Quite frankly, I don't know. Out of these three choices, what do you think you would like the best?

I use Mozilla Firebird (thanks to Benjamin), so if you use Internet Explorer and my post doesn't make sense, please ask me to check it in IE. I forget to do that sometimes. IE isn't smart enough to figure some things out. It took me forever to get this stupid poll to show up. And something that was fun at first became a hassle. Oh well, I still learned things from it.

Hey has anyone seen these things? It's mindless fun. And I enjoy mindlessness from time to time.

sticker page

In a music discussion at Dave's Blog this song was noted. I was listening to it today and wanted to post it here. The words are by John Stocker written in 1776.

THY MERCY, MY GOD

Thy mercy, my God, is the theme of my song,
the joy of my heart and the boast of my tongue.
Thy free grace alone from the first to the last
hath won my affection and bound my soul fast.

Without thy sweet mercy I could not live here--
my sin would reduce me to utter despair;
but through thy free goodness, my spirit�s revived,
and he that first made me still keeps me alive.

Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart,
which wonders to feel its own hardness depart.
Dissolved by thy goodness, I fall to the ground,
and weep for the praise of the mercy I've found.

Hallelujah�
Hallelujah�

Great Father of mercies, thy goodness I own,
and the covenant love of thy crucified Son.
All praise to the Spirit whose whisper divine
seals mercy and pardon and righteousness mine!

~ written by John Stocker in 1776

(Proverbs 25:25) Like cold water to a weary soul, So is good news from a distant land.

I guess Michigan counts as a distant land if I am in Virginia. I am having the most delightful conversations with friends from Saginaw, MI! I love my friends and church from Saginaw. I pray that God will get me back up there to them and to Immanuel some day.

I am just so thankful to have such good friends. Here in Virginia; there in Michigan; down in South Carolina; and all these friends I'm making blogging.

Thank you all for loving me and for praying for me!

grace and peace,
jmb

For all of you (and me) out there who experience unwanted music occasionally:

Don't let the earworms get you...

And here are some home grown solutions:

Help me Obi-wan! I can't get this song out of my head!

I had this "Pattern of Life" in my church notes. The message was by my Pastor on July 16, 2003. There is no credit given to an author. The message was from Psalm 139:23-24. It was entitled: "Why come clean with God?"

Here is a pattern for life:

our thoughts become our
words,
our words become our
actions,
our actions become our
habits,
our habits become our
values,
our values become our
destiny.

So I finished my long poem. I sent it to Jennifer and my sister for their opinions and ideas. Christa's criticism wasn't too harsh: she knows I'm on "drugs." Overall, I think the poem is coming along nicely, but it isn't ready to post. I just feel so relieved that it is done and needs only revision that I thought I would give a little post in its honor.

In an effort to improve awareness of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy/Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, here's a link to the facts page of rsds.org.

Just the facts, please!

This is the problem I have been dealing with for these many years. I am one of the people that got it without knowing exactly what I did to cause it. It started with my right foot and has spread to my right knee and hip. Fortunately, I am receiving medical treatment at a Pain Clinic.

Yes, it's that time again boys and girls: Daylight-Saving Time (yes, if you didn't know, it is Daylight-Saving Time, not Daylight-Savings Time) is over. It's time to fall back to Standard time. I found a very interesting and helpful article on it on encarta.msn.com. If you have a chance check it out. But being the good sport that I am, here a some very valid reasons from the article for the insanity:

• It saves energy. When we're awake, we're more likely to have our TVs, VCRs, and lights on (among other home appliances). By shifting the hours we're likely to be awake to correspond with the daylight outside, we're less likely to have the lights on, so we use less electricity.
• It saves lives. When people's waking hours correspond with daylight hours, they're safer. Traffic accidents, for example, are less likely when it's light out.
• It cuts down on crime. Crime tends to happen after dark. As is the case with accidents, people are less likely to fall victim to crime when their waking hours are synched up with the sun.

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

Stuart Townend
Copyright � 2001 Kingsway's Thankyou Music

I went to the Pain Clinic again today. I was disappointed with the results of the "epidural" last weekend. I was expecting more than 72 hours of relief. But my doctor explained to me how things work. First of all, he said, there is no easy all or nothing solution in most cases. Though I should have been expecting a miracle with all the prayer going on for me, but I guess my faith was weak, or I still have my infirmity for the glory of God so that His works can be manifest in me.

Second, my doctor explained to me that these injections (lumbar sympathetic block) usually work better in a series. Therefore, I am going to have two or three more in the next few weeks. November 3rd is the next one scheduled. Plus, my medication has been maxed out. I'm going to be taking 2400mg of Trileptal� (oxcarbazepine) a day. Yea for prescription drugs! No, seriously, this medicine seems to be working the best without many side effects.

When it comes down to it, Pain Clinic or no, pain or no, God is in control. And I will praise Him while I have breath.

I know, I know, two songs so close together. I was just tweaking this arrangement of All the Way My Savior Leads Me and I thought I would post it. To save it to your hard drive for listening right click on this link and hit save as. This is a 6meg file, even as an MP3. So it might take a while to download depending on your internet connection. This is an arrangement of All the Way My Savior Leads Me a tune by Robert Lowry with words by Fanny Crosby.

Here's a smaller mp3 (2.53meg)

All the Way My Savior Leads Me
Fanny J. Crosby

All the way my Savior leads me--
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my guide?
Heavenly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate'er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate'er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Savior leads me--
Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living bread.
Though my weary steps may falter
And my soul a-thirst my be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! a spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! a spring of joy I see.

All the way my Savior leads me--
O the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father's house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day,
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way;
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way.

More on Army Lt. Gen. William Boykin...

President Bush has said that Lt. General Boykin "didn't reflect [the president's] opinion" about Islam.

The article continues...

Boykin said in a statement Friday he was "neither a zealot nor an extremist," was "not anti-Islam or any other religion," and offered a "sincere apology" to those offended by his remarks.

I was a little disappointed in my senator (from Virginia, if you didn't know), John Warner, who wants Boykin to be temporarily reassigned. I've often wondered about public figures and faith. How much can they disagree with public opinion and get away with it. What he said is true (if you believe the part in the bible where it says God is the only God), but it seems like when Christians speak the truth as public figures they are censured and forced out of their positions.

Should that stop Christians from being so vocal? Should that make them more politically correct? Is it better for them to be politically correct and have a long career because they can have a long testimony in that job, or should they speak the truth no matter how short a tenure they will have if they do?

Here's more news on this story:

The General won't be fired for Islam remarks (this article is much the same as the previous one with a few new things set into it.)

It was Boykin himself who asked for the investigation on his remarks to make sure he wasn't being inappropriate.

If you would like to experience my latest musical creation, right click on this link and hit save as. This is a 9meg file, even as an MP3. So it might take a while to download depending on your internet connection. The song is called Praise Ye the Lord (my title). It is an original tune set to text from Foundling Hospital Collection (stanzas 1, 2) and Edward Osler (stanza 3). The text has its basis in Psalm 148.

to download smaller mp3s you have two choices:
small (4meg)

smallest (3meg)

Praise the Lord, Ye Heavens Adore Him

Psalm 148
Foundling Hospital Collection (stanzas 1, 2)
Edward Osler (stanza 3)

Praise the Lord: ye heavens, adore Him;
Praise Him, angels in the height;
Sun and moon, rejoice before Him,
Praise Him all ye stars of light.
Praise the Lord, for He hath spoken;
Worlds His mighty voice obeyed:
Laws which never shall be broken
For their guidance He hath made.
Praise the Lord, for He is glorious;
Never shall His promise fail:
God hath made His saints victorious;
Sin and death shall not prevail.
Praise the God of our salvation;
Hosts on high, His power proclaim;
Heaven and earth and all creation
Laud and magnify His name.

Worship, honor, glory, blessing,
Lord, we offer unto Thee;
Young and old, Thy praise expressing,
In glad homage bend the knee.
All the saints in heaven adore Thee;
We would bow before Thy throne:
As Thine angels serve before Thee,
So on earth Thy will be done.

Does anyone know anything about Army Lt. Gen. William Boykin? I read this article about him at yahoo and was disturbed and encouraged at the same time.

If you want to really get "upset" read this article by James Carroll. He uses William Boykin as a negative example of a "theology [that] is dangerous now."

I am going to pray for Lt. Gen. Boykin and for the leaders of this investigation, and for James Carroll. I will pray that Boykin didn't say anything inappropriate, and that he has a good testimony. And I will pray that the investigators don't take some things that Believers hold to be true about Islam as misconduct. As for Mr. Carroll, the words of Jesus come to my mind from Matthew 5:44. He commands us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Mr. Carroll has attacked our God. So we need to pray for him.

It makes me wonder how seriously this judge took Mr. Mathers III's case when she wrote a "rap-inspired poem to explain why" Eminem didn't take his poetry as slander against a person from his childhood.

She writes:

"The lyrics are stories no one would take as fact/They're an exaggeration of a childish act."
"Any reasonable person could clearly see/That the lyrics could only be hyperbole."

At least he went over with a smile...

jumper: depression or daredevil?

I am trying to figure the scripturizer plug-in. I think I changed what Ben said, but I'm not seeing anything different.

Well here's a verse for good measure, I am choosing one at random:

Isaiah 35:3

Hey, it works! Awesome.

Check that verse out too, it is a good one.

This is amusing:

Yahoo! News - 80-Year-Old Woman Knocks Rat Unconscious

This is hilarious:

Old Crow from series of doors

Danielle you will be delighted to know that it was an epidural I got today at the Pain Clinic (well, it was a special kind).

Seriously, it wasn't as bad as imagination makes it out to be. I actually passed out from the anesthesia so I don't remember the procedure at all.

I remember speaking a lot. I said "indeed" several times. I remember speaking in French a little. Mainly I remember praying to God (when I woke up a little bit later) and thanking Him for staying with me and for how good He is. It's nice to know that even under the drugs I still remembered to thank Him. And finally, I thought of some songs. No singing out loud (I hope) but I was thinking about music.

Now though I just have a stiff back and a warm foot. But if all goes well, this will help with my symptoms.

Thanks for your prayers.

I've been trying to figure out this whole CSS thing. I think I am getting the hang of it.

I've changed some of the colors and made my font a bit bigger. Benjamin is still going to do some of the hard work that I don't have the code for (or knowledge probably).

It occurred to me the other day that I have had this blog for just a little over a year.

Thanks Ben, for hosting this thing and setting it up and all the things that you've done to help me. I'm really looking forward to continued blogging. And I am enjoying meeting and reading from this remarkable community we have going here between Ben's Friends and Andriven.

grace and peace be yours in abundance!

Would anyone care to comment on this article about religion in politics?

I have "scheduled pain" tomorrow. Joy asks what is it? Well, I'm not exactly sure what's going on.

Jbo, you ask in shock, don't you ask your doctor what he's going to do?

Of course, gentle reader...but I still don't know exactly what's going on.

Here's the run down:

1) 9th grade: my right foot turned blue. "they" gave me shoe inserts and said i was better.

2) after graduation: musical ministry team, me in agony, the shoe inserts not a solution.

3) that summer before going to bob jones in the fall: bouncing around to different doctors at portsmouth naval hospital

4) ah ha! you have Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy go to pain clinic, third floor, and to your right.

5) pain clinic gives me drugs that distort reality and make me depressed

6) i go to bob jones. have a tough first year

7) go to pain clinic again, change medicine, not enough, still weird thinking from mind altering meds

8) finally find something that helps

9) junior year, 2 semester have to leave bob jones, things only getting worse

10) saginaw valley state university, met really awesome people and found a good godly church where God had sent me to grow in Christ Jesus

11) home again, tomorrow pain clinic

So here I am again. Off to the pain clinic I go. The doctors are going to do a spinal block or something like that. Danielle said I was getting an epidural. Maybe. In any case just think: big needle in between vertebrae = not good, (well, maybe good).

This is primarily for diagnostic purposes, but it may also provide relief. I pray it's both.

Some things I've learned. God is good. God is in control. Because even if everything imaginable "goes wrong," you can still delight yourself in the LORD. Sometimes I'm down. But God is still with me, reminding me to trust in Him.

wake.
clock 4:11...
what?!

wake.
clock 4:22...
eternity in
ten minutes.

tree
tall, brown
positioning, nailing, cursing
my place by merit
hell

hope
eternal, secure
all-encompassing, sanctifying, glorifying
my place by adoption
heaven

~jmb~ October 9, 2003 03:28 PM

This is called a cinquain. There are rules and examples at effigy. See the post soliciting cinquains from Oct. 8, 2003.

Okay, why did no one ever tell me about this cool booklet thingy? Ben? Anyone? I feel so lame.

I need to go to bed.

james micah

What's going on these days? Why do people think that repackaging the Bible will actually help the cause of Christ? I freely admit that the Bible has a power of its own that can't be defeated by human thinking. But we want genuine faith and belief in Christ not hip Christians who "walk the walk and talk the talk" because it's the "cool thing" to do.

I'm talking about this article from ABC News. My friend Jen commenting on the article said, "We need to reach the lost." But she also said, "We are not like the world," and gave a very good example from Scripture: (Romans 12:2) "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."

We shouldn't be ashamed of the Word of God. We don't need to hide it or disguise it in a magazine. We are in a free country. We are blessed. We can freely speak Jesus' Name aloud and we don't have to fear that police will take us away from our homes and family. Are churches aren't in danger from the government. But the people of the church are in danger if this is our method of winning the lost and keeping young Christians reading their bibles.

We need to reach the lost. But we are supposed to do it the way Jesus and the Apostles did. We need to stand out. We need to preach the Word and share the Gospel.

We aren't supposed to mix into the system and become some worldly spiritual mélange.

Following in Ben's footsteps or web history, I have found out what book from the Chronicles I would be:

The final book of Narnia, you're a sometimes disturbing story about the end of the world and the beginning of a new one. Your characters include an evil monkey, a misguided donkey, stubborn dwarves and all the human characters from the previous books. You manage to be heartbreaking and beautiful at once.


Find out which Chronicles of Narnia book you are.

Interesting.
Follow the link to see what you are.

jmb