February 17, 2009
July 27, 2007
Standout Poster
Here are a couple recent posters that I've made for StandOut - www.myspace.com/standoutmusicministries (CCM).
May 15, 2007
Food for thought
“Do you suppose that abuses are eliminated by destroying the object which is abused? Men can go wrong with wine and women. Shall we then prohibit and abolish women?”
– Martin Luther
This made me laugh. Men can go wrong with a lot of things, because we're sinful creatures. Our first father is the devil, so we are easily taken captive by his lies. This quote is mainly food for thought. =)
April 03, 2007
God only is holy
God only is holy; He alone knows how to lead His children in the paths of holiness. He knows every aspect of your soul, every thought of your heart, every secret of your character, its difficulties and hindrances; He knows how to mould you to His will, and lead you onwards to perfect sanctification; He knows exactly how each event, each trial, each temptation, will tell upon you, and He disposes all things accordingly. The consequences of this belief, if fully grasped, will influence your whole life. You will seek to give yourself up to God more and more unreservedly, asking nothing, refusing nothing, wishing nothing, but what He wills; not seeking to bring things about for yourself, taking all He sends joyfully, and believing the ‘one step’ set before you to be enough for you. You will be satisfied that even though there are clouds around, and your way seems dark, He is directing all, and that what seems a hindrance will prove a blessing, since He wills it.
~ Jean Nicholas Grou
March 26, 2007
Love Rules
And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 22:35-40
Love is the ultimate rule. When we love someone, everything we do will be to please that person and/or for the good of that person. Rules are left behind when we have love as the goal. Rules exist and are in place for a reason. But with active love, the object of our love will be set above any laws or rules.
The greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and mind. Our focusing on Him, knowing Him and loving Him is how we become more like Him. That will in turn be shown out to others as we love them as ourselves.
November 23, 2006
Today
Happy Thanksgiving!!
"It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union."
Abraham Lincoln - excerpt from his speech proclaiming this national holiday - 1863
November 09, 2006
Love
The following poem came to mind the other day as I drove past the exit to Carl Sandburg's house. I memorized it and presented it in my Speech Interp class in college. It's very fun, a little bit long (about 12-15 mins) so I've only put a small excerpt bellow. Find it and read it all, it is very good.
Love is a little white bird
and the flight of it so fast
you can't see it
and you know it's there
only by the faint whirr of its wings
and the hush song coming so low to your ears
you fear it might be silence
and you listen keen and you listen long
and you know it's more than silence
for you get the hush song so lovely
it hurts and cuts into your heart
and what you want is to give more than you can get
and you'd like to write it but it can't be written
and you'd like to sing it but you don't dare try
because the little white bird sings it better than you can
Carl Sandburg - "Little Word, Little White Bird"
October 31, 2006
Happy Halloween
Enjoy the wonderful fall weather today!
I made pumpkin bisque last night. Yup, quite the adventure especially since I've never made bisque before - let alone pumpkin soup. The weather, fall, halloween, pumpkins everywhere just made if feel like an appropriate adventure. It turned our really yummy! To quote my roommate: "Wow!! It doesn't taste like pumpkin and that's a good thing. It dances on your tongue!"
I found a receipe for squash bisque and modified it a little bit to make it pumpkiny (is that a word?). The receipe calls for lots of black pepper and nutmeg, so right after you swallow your first spoonful, you get this really cool combo of spices that just attacks your palate. It's really good and the receipe serves about 10. So, if you are in the area, feel free to drop in at my house and I'll heat some up.
Happy Fall, Happy Halloween.
Here is the receipe that I used (in a general sense). I used 1 small pumpkin and two cans of pumpkin instead of the butternut squash. I also added two chicken bullions for a stronger flavor. After I puréed the soup, I added a cup of already cooked rice to add some texture. The bisque was my lunch just a few minutes ago and its still fantastic.
October 11, 2006
Letter
This letter has been circulating recently. Its a very frank letter about what is going on in Iraq, without compromising the classified nature of a lot of what is done there. And kudos to that Mayor in Fallujah!
My respect and prayers to all our boys in Iraq.
June 22, 2006
April 11, 2006
Landon Snow
This was a great book, so if you don't have it go buy it.
and while you're at it - buy the sequel. It's a great one too!
Written by R.K. Mortensen and Illustrated by this awesome guy named cory
March 23, 2006
V
Disclaimer: I really enjoyed this movie. The overall idea. There was one element (of course it has to happen) that they could have underplayed or not played at all. The following poem and conversation were just really really cool.
________________________________________________________
Remember, remember the fifth of November,
gunpowder, treason and plot,
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes,
'twas his intent
to blow up the King and the Parliament.
Three score barrels of powder below,
Poor old England to overthrow:
By God's providence he was catch'd
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, make the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!
Hip hip hoorah!
________________________________________________________
Evey: Who are you?
V: Who? Who is but the form following the function of What, and what I am is a man in a mask.
Evey: Well I can see that.
V: Of course you can! I'm not questioning your powers of observation, I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.
Evey: Oh, right...
V: But on this most auspicious of nights, permit me then, in lieu of the more commonplace sobriquet, to suggest the character of this dramatis persona:
V: Voila! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vestiges of fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished.
V: However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin vanguarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition.
V: The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous.
V: Heh ha ha, verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it is my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V.
Evey: Are you, like a crazy person?
V: I am quite sure they will say so.
January 05, 2006
very cool quote
"'You come of the Lord Adam and the Lady Eve,' said Aslan. 'And that is both honor enough to erect the head of the poorest beggar, and shame enough to bow the shoulders of the greatest emperor on earth. Be content.'"
C.S. Lewis - Prince Caspian
December 10, 2005
I love Lucy!
She is the cutest and most adorable movie star ever! Can I keep her?
In my opinion, Lucy was the star of the show.
Narnia was amazing!!! It was all that I expected and more.
Just go see it. Trust me, it was incredible!
December 02, 2005
Black Ninja Squirrels
I can see the headlines now...
Squirrels at Bob Jones University Attack a Student out of Desperation.
October 31, 2005
Quote
A small bit of faith will get your soul into heaven.
The stronger your faith, the more heaven you get into your soul.
parapharase from Charles Spurgeon
September 07, 2005
O'Cha
This is THE coolest place ever! (Like anyone could ever know that, Napoleon).
Seriously, it's is very cool. If you live in Greenville and haven't stopped in, it is a must!
And if you're brave you'll get Tapioca pearls in your tea. Yummy!
July 07, 2005
May 28, 2005
Book Reviews
I'm going to try something different. I'm creating this post, but it will be a post that I'll update from time to time. I'll have a link on the right hand side on my main page (current reading section) to this post so it can be easily accessed.
I'll just add links below to .pdf files (or something) with the book review as I read and review books. (For example: Book Tittle, Author - Link)
Below are some books that I'm working on either reading or have read and will shortly write a review. As you'll notice, I'm going to try to do books that are not super well-known (like Desiring God or Purpose Driven Life). The reason is that most people have read them and don't need to read my re-hash on them.
_________________________________________________
Blue Like Jazz - Donald Miller
Searching for God knows what - Donald Miller
Sex and the Supremacy of Christ - Justin Taylor and John Piper
Fidelity - Douglas Wilson
Why Small Groups - Various Authors, C.J. Mahaney (editor)
more coming soon...
*And yes, the comments section is for you to comment on the book reviews or on the books themselves. Just be sure to reference the name of the book or author.
May 11, 2005
The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth;
I believe in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord;
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary,
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day He rose again.
He ascended into heaven, and is seated on the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy universal church, the communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
February 27, 2005
just for fun
If you read my blog, or have stopped in sometime, even if I don't talk to you often (or even if we aren't friends anymore... or never were), please comment with a memory of me. It can be anything you want. It can be good or bad, just as long as it happened. Then you're welcome to post this in your own journal, if you want. See what people remember about you.
Or just say HI!
February 17, 2005
Short Story
In legend there is a place referred to as Shaelo. Its beauty is beyond compare, yet it is said to be inaccessible and its location unknown. At least, anyone who has found it never returns. Where the legend originated, can only be guessed at…
The winds and bitter cold snow, lashed at the struggling man. He knew which way he was going or so he thought... He’d taken this trip a million times and in worse weather. His method was to keep a consistent pace and just use his inbred sense of direction to do the rest. The cold would force his eyes closed from time to time, to keep from freezing and in a futile attempt of warming them. During one particular time, blinded by the blizzard he continued to walk with his eyes closed…
Suddenly something wasn’t right… His feet didn't sink through the snow…The ground was actually firm…
He must be imagining. There was no way!
He couldn't believe it so he kept his eyes closed and took one more step.
The next step was even more unexpected than the first.
His feet sunk in, but... no... it couldn't be... He no longer felt the storm, not necessarily warmth, but lack of increasing coldness. As he slowly opened his eyes...
It was true!
He was standing knee deep in grass! There was a slight warm breeze and green everywhere!
He couldn't believe it so he took several steps forward... then the thought occurred to him as to how he got to where he was at... so he turned... nothing! It was green as far as the eye could see... what was going on?
There was green everywhere except for one place...
In the middle of the field, a soft hill rose. So he started towards it.
Right at the top of this hill was a most curious tree, arched just like a huge seat!
He settled back into it and because he was so weary, slowly closed his eyes...
A second later his eyes opened really quick. No! He couldn't fall asleep... maybe he was dreaming and the blizzard had turned him completely numb...
Then again, it was really comfortable here... and... it was really green and warm... it all felt real... and... an.. a...
Just as he was slipping away, it dawned on him... he had reached Shaelo.
"Shaelo" by Me
February 05, 2005
Blue like Jazz
"I never liked Jazz music because Jazz music didn't resolve. But I was outside the Bagdad theater in Portland one night when I saw a man playing the saxophone. I stood there for fifteen minutes, and he never opened his eyes.
After that I liked Jazz music.
Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself. It is as if they are showing you the way.
I used to not like God because God didn't resolve. But that was before any of this happened."
Donald Miller
January 30, 2005
Weekend
So it snowed...
I still had to go to work yesterday, even though the roads were really nasty. See when it "snows" in Greenville, it's not really snow. It's this nasty icy, grainy, freezing rain stuff that happens to be white. So hence, everyone freaks out and the whole city shuts down. Sunday morning services were canceled at church we are just going to have a earlier evening service at 4pm.
My roommates and I had some friend over last night and they just stayed the night. Now we're are just sitting around waking up and watching tv. Last night was sort of funny, everyone was falling asleep at like 11pm. I guess the weather can get depressing, but many of us still stayed up 'till 2 or 3.
January 12, 2005
Shadow-Bride
There was a man who dwelt alone,
as day and night went past
he sat as still as carven stone,
and yet no shadow cast.
The white owls perched upon his head
beneath the winter moon;
they wiped their beaks and thought him dead
under the stars in June.
There came a lady clad in grey
in the twilight shinning:
one moment she would stand and stay,
her hair with flowers entwining.
He woke, as had he sprung from stone,
and broke the spell that bound him;
he clasped her fast, both flesh and bone,
and wrapped her shadow round him.
There never more she walks her ways
by sun or moon or star;
she dwells below where neither days
nor any nights there are.
But once a year when caverns yawn
and hidden things awake,
they dance together then till dawn
and a single shadow make.
J.R.R. Tolkien
December 30, 2004
...gifts
He gives us gifts.
A wide variety.
Spiritual and Earthly.
Some in common with others, some more, some less...
Why is it our nature to stare at what others have while ours are idle?
Why do we compare what we have with what "they" have?
Why can we not be content with what is given?
There is ONE gift that is given to all.
Father, help keep our eyes on that.
Help make that gift overshadow everything.
Help us rejoice in all our gifts because of that ONE gift.
Help us.
Help me...
And this hits home even more when we consider all the people on the other side of the world that have lost everything. We so easily take for grated all that we have.