Fresh Start

There is something exciting about starting a new year. It can feel fresh. Today is an especially fresh day: 1/1/11.

Make the best of it!

Song of the day:

He Reigns
by the Newsboys

It's the song of the redeemed
Rising from the African plain
It's the song of the forgiven
Drowning out the Amazon rain

The song of Asian believers
Filled with God's holy fire
It's every tribe, every tongue, every nation
A love song born of a grateful choir

It's all God's children singin'
Glory, Glory, Hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns

The quiet Christmas night

It is a rare night. All the kids gone, Denise shopping, and I am listening to Christmas music at home.

May you be blessed with peace.

Song of the day;

Christmas Song
Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds

Father up above, why in all this anger do you fill
Me up with love, love, love


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Decharles St,Tyler,United States

McGurk Effect

Song of the Day
Patterns
Devo

Dedicated to the ability to see the effect of patterns!

Patterns all around you, patterns everywhere
Patterns of behavior, sometimes seem unfair
Can you recognize the patterns that you find?

Patterns unfamiliar, patterns lead you through
To patterns of discovery tracing out the clues
Can you recognize the patterns that you find?
Stuck in your mind

In this land where stability is hard to find
You can rearrange the patterns so unkind
Don't bother asking why a pattern never cries
Old patterns never die, they just go on and on

Patterns multiplying, re-direct our view
Endless variations make it all seem new
Can you recognize the patterns that you find?
Stuck in your mind

In this land where stability is hard to find
You can rearrange the patterns so unkind
Don't bother asking why a pattern never cries
Old patterns never die, they just go on and on

Jesus Freak

Noah has not been a huge music lover. His most common response to my music is, "Can you turn it down!" If it was not funny enough having the son tell the father to turn it down, now the tables have turned. Noah now has an ipod touch. He made a good deal with one of the HS students who bought a new mac. After he got his "Adventures in Odyssey" put on the ipod he wanted me to add a few songs. The one he has been listening to? The one he has been singing, with earbuds in, at the top of his lungs....Jesus Freak.

What do I do when he says, "What will people think when they hear that I'm a Jesus Freak? What will people do when they find that's it's true?" Well this dad can only smile...and think, "It is about time!"


Song of the Day
Jesus Freak
DC Talk

Dedicated to Noah and all the first time Jesus freaks

[What will people think
When they hear that I'm a Jesus Freak?
What will people do
When they find that's it's true?]

Separated, I cut myself clean
From a past that comes back in my darkest of dreams
Been apprehended by a spiritual force
And a grace that replaced all the me I've divorced

I saw a man with tat on his big fat belly
It wiggled around like marmalade jelly
It took me a while to catch what it said
Cause I had to match the rhythm
Of his belly with my head
'Jesus Saves' is what it raved in a typical tattoo green
He stood on a box in the middle of the city
And claimed he had a dream

(chorus)
What will people think
When they hear that I'm a Jesus freak
What will people do when they find that it's true
I don't really care if they label me a Jesus freak
There ain't no disguising the truth

Kamikaze, my death is gain
I've been marked by my Maker
A peculiar display
The high and lofty, they see me as weak
Cause I won't live and die for the power they seek

There was a man from the desert with naps in his head
The sand that he walked was also his bed
The words that he spoke made the people assume
There wasn't too much left in the upper room
With skins on his back and hair on his face
They thought he was strange by the locusts he ate
The Pharisees tripped when they heard him speak
Until the king took the head of this Jesus freak

(repeat chorus 2x)

People say I'm strange, does it make me a stranger
That my best friend was born in a manger
People say I'm strange, does it make me a stranger
That my best friend was born in a manger

(repeat chorus 2x)

What will people think
[What will people think]
What will people do
[What will people do]
I don't really care
[What else can I say]
There ain't no disguising the truth
[Jesus is the way][What will people think
When they hear that I'm a Jesus Freak?
What will people do
When they find that's it's true?]

Separated, I cut myself clean
From a past that comes back in my darkest of dreams
Been apprehended by a spiritual force
And a grace that replaced all the me I've divorced

I saw a man with tat on his big fat belly
It wiggled around like marmalade jelly
It took me a while to catch what it said
Cause I had to match the rhythm
Of his belly with my head
'Jesus Saves' is what it raved in a typical tattoo green
He stood on a box in the middle of the city
And claimed he had a dream

(chorus)
What will people think
When they hear that I'm a Jesus freak
What will people do when they find that it's true
I don't really care if they label me a Jesus freak
There ain't no disguising the truth

Kamikaze, my death is gain
I've been marked by my Maker
A peculiar display
The high and lofty, they see me as weak
Cause I won't live and die for the power they seek

There was a man from the desert with naps in his head
The sand that he walked was also his bed
The words that he spoke made the people assume
There wasn't too much left in the upper room
With skins on his back and hair on his face
They thought he was strange by the locusts he ate
The Pharisees tripped when they heard him speak
Until the king took the head of this Jesus freak

(repeat chorus 2x)

People say I'm strange, does it make me a stranger
That my best friend was born in a manger
People say I'm strange, does it make me a stranger
That my best friend was born in a manger

(repeat chorus 2x)

What will people think
[What will people think]
What will people do
[What will people do]
I don't really care
[What else can I say]
There ain't no disguising the truth
[Jesus is the way]

The Cup

It had never happened before. As I picked up a communion cup, from the tray filled with small cups, I realized the cup I had chosen was empty.

I am part of fellowship that practices weekly communion. I have been a Christian 40 years. In over 2000 times of taking the cup it had never been an empty one. It made me smile. I could smile because I know that though there might be an empty cup there is also an empty tomb. Because of the empty tomb, I know that the cup of His spirit will always be full.

All that from an empty cup.

Song of the day:

Jesus' Blood
Delirious

Dedicated to everyone who desires the discipleship of Jesus

There's a secret I must tell
Of all the love I've found
And it's hidden in my heart
The day you tore my world apart

Hallelujah, King forever, friend and Saviour

Jesus' blood never fails me,
Jesus' blood never fails me,
Jesus' blood, Jesus' blood

And this secret, it will run
To the corners of the earth
Where every woman, every son
Will carry high their chains undone

Hallelujah, King forever, friend and Saviour

Jesus' blood never fails me,
Jesus' blood never fails me,
Jesus' blood never fails me,
Jesus' blood, Jesus' blood

Sing your songs of freedom
Praise the God of heaven
Love that never fails me
Jesus' blood, Jesus' blood

AARP

Since I have recently turned 50, I have been invited to join AARP. I am looking at 20 or more years of working, so why would I think I fit in a association of retired people. I think AARP should rename itself: AAOP. The American Association of Old People. Even though I do not think I fit in that group either, there are those people who think I do.

Song of the Day

Older
They Might be Giants

Dedicated to evryone 50 and older

You're older than you've ever been.
And now you're even older.
And now you're even older.
And now you're even older.

You're older than you've ever been.
And now you're even older.
And now you're older still.

TIME! Is marching on.
And time.. is still marching on.
This day will soon be at an end and now it's even sooner.
And now it's even sooner.
And now it's even sooner.
This day will soon be at an end and now it's even sooner.
And now it's even sooner.
And now it's sooner still.

You're older than you've ever been.
And now you're even older.
And now you're even older.
And now you're even older.

You're older than you've ever been.
And now you're even older.
And now you're older still.

Good Seeds

Many people are trying to recreate a past time. "If only it could be that way again!" If we could only ...!" The problem is the past is never as good as we remember it to be and the present is not as fragile as it appears to be. Our fears cloud our sight. We allow this process to cause us search for something that never was and keep us from what could be.

I want to live with hope. I want to shatter the darkness. I want to watch for what God will do.


Song of the Day:

Thistle & Weeds
Mumford & Sons

Dedicated to all the Shiloh college freshmen (and freshwomen)

Spare me your judgements and spare me your dreams
Cause recently mine have been tearing my seams
I sit alone in this winter clarity which clouds my mind
Alone in the wind and the rain you left me
It's getting dark darling, too dark to see
And I'm on my knees, and your faith in shreds, it seems

Corrupted by the simple sniff of riches blown
I know you have felt much more love than you've shown
And I'm on my knees and the water creeps to my chest

But plant your hope with good seeds
Don't cover yourself with thistle and weeds
Rain down, rain down on me
Look over your hills and be still
The sky above us shoots to kill
Rain down, rain down on me

But I will hold on
I will hold on hope

I begged you to hear me, there's more than flesh and bones
Let the dead bury the dead, they will come out in droves
But take the spade from my hands and fill in the holes you've made

But plant your hope with good seeds
Don't cover yourself with thistle and weeds
Rain down, rain down on me