Friday, January 15, 2010

ANYONE (anyone) out there? Got the Time?

Just a short and to the point question is anyone out there? Could you please make a reply and perhaps we could actually have a discussion or such. I actually saw the best description of most of us and it was at Facebook (where else) somebody posted that they was so busy they needed more time in life to get things done. But somebody came back with a Great reply..yet you have time for facebook. Once it was chat, then myspace now its facebook (something will come along to replace it sooner or later) anyway somebody along with Mr "Anonymous" (seems to want sunshine when it rains and rain when its sunny) leave some comments.. last blog was WHAT TIME IS IT IN YOUR LIFE?..
Posted by selah at 11:10 PM 2 comments
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Sunday, January 10, 2010

Happy New Year, What Time is it?


SO what are your resolutions? Better question yet are there any left that you still havent broken. Its "okay" that you have broken them just start all over again. I mean thats all one can do. Of course dont wait till ah 2011 but start over now. Sometimes we need to offer a bit of grace and mercy to ourselves as well. We will mess up, some more than others (by the way doesnt make you better than others just perhaps a better opportunity to encourage others with a taste of grace and mercy). And while we are starting over how about we think on things greater than ourselves such as things that may last eternally. We tend to fool ourselves thinking we have "tomorrow" and for most of us that means we promise ourselves old age of 80 plus will come before we leave this place. And I would say we really take away from the value of time by the way we use it.

I read an interesting thing about what time it is in your life.

  • If your age is 15, the time is 10:25 A.M.
  • If you are 20, the time is 11:34 A.M.
  • If you are 25, the time is 12:42 P.M.
  • If you are 30, the time is 1:51 P.M.
  • If you are 35, the time is 3:00 P.M.
  • If you are 40, the time is 4:08 P.M.
  • If you are 45, the time is 5:15 P.M.
  • If you are 50, the time is 6:25 P.M.
  • If you are 55, the time is 7:34 P.M.
  • If you are 60, the time is 8:42 P.M.
  • If you are 65, the time is 9:51 P.M.
  • If you are 70, the time is 11:00 P.M.

SO what time is it in your life? Lets say its not even noon or perhaps 11pm. No matter the time in our life we should be using this gift carefully and wisely. This definitely sounds alot easier than it is, well at least for me. In hindsight most of us will be sadly shock for not getting away from things like the TV and computer to deepen relationships. The conversations we only talked and fail to truly listen. Take in the beautiful creation around us.Fix your eyes on the stars and moon at night. Appreciate all that we do have rather than whine and wish we had more. Be in awe of the things your body can do and the so many things we simply take for granted. The Word tells us a prayer should be is to ask our Creator to teach us to number our days. This resolution would change our world if we made this our resolution. The little things in life will matter little to us as we take in the more important things in life. Now you the reader must decide what is of most importance to you and live accordingly no matter what time it is in your life.

PS actually started this blog to say Happy New Year and to say we have a newborn about 2 weeks old. So yeah according to his clock he isnt even getting up yet. Which is good since at the moment hes sleeping right by me as I blog this entry. Its 4am, and that seems to be about the time in his life.
Posted by selah at 12:09 AM 3 comments
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Sunday, December 27, 2009

Is It Well With Your Soul?

At the end of this year, I want to make sure everything is ok...with you and your soul. The video above is a more upbeat rendition of the song, but Denver & MHO do a great job at it.

My pastor says that how you leave one season will determine how you enter the next. Before we go into 2010, make sure your are healthy and whole. Make things right that need be. You should already be eating healthier. Your relationships with your family and friends should be healthier than ever. If you say that you will take care of that after the new year, then you are only deceiving yourself. Seldom do we keep New Year's Resolutions. Don't wait until the new year.

Enjoy the music and make the declaration that IT IS WELL WITH YOUR SOUL. God's peace is available to your through His Son Jesus Christ. Let Him take your life so you can have peace of mind, soul, and spirit.

Posted by Donny at 10:20 AM 0 comments
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Friday, December 25, 2009

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas to you! I Certainly haven't kept up with the blogging. Again it would help to have comments to keep it more consistent. But the last 2 weeks have been a bit busy to say the least with a newborn son coming into this world. But more on that later (I'm sure)...After a "Merry Christmas" or Happy Holidays (for the PC People?) the first thing usually people ask "is what did you get"...a week later or perhaps even a day later we could follow up with do you feel different or better ? I certainly don't have a problem with gift giving its just the extreme we have taken it to. At one time this meant a time for family and friends and a few gifts at best. Now its black Fridays, and sales on behalf of a baby in the manger. We actually have people trampling one another to get to the latest toy on sale. I believe all of us can learn from a child when he gets a present. This little one can find just as much if not more pleasure in the wrapping paper and the box. And we could learn from this in letting the simple things, the things we take for granted be what comforts us but not just doing the holidays but everyday. Christians have taken this season out of context if not more than non-Christians. God sent Jesus to get messy. And ever since this Jesus dives right into our mess to offer us grace, mercy, comfort, correction, love, life. Check out: "He Came To Get Messy" on YouTube or SkitGuys.com its worth 4 minutes of your time during this time of the year. By the way tell some one today, you love them, give them a hug, take time for family and friends and show thanks to God who has blessed you to bless others..,if nothing else say hi to your neighbor and wish them a Merry Christmas!

ppl make less than $2/day thats 730 a year.. See I think that alone is enough for a blog. I believe the majority of us would agree that we spend way too much. Yet that doesnt stop the majority of us from buying for others things they dont need and in return they get us things we dont need so we can say Merry Christmas. Could you imagine if we only spent on gifts the amount we drop in a Salvation Army bucket then perhaps use that "spare change" to buy the gifts. Im not sure how any family spend 800-1600.00 and then explain to the kids its not about the gifts. Im no scrooge in that theres nothing against celebrating this Holiday season and exchanging gifts but we could actually make a difference in helping out those in need of help and perhaps let that be our giving/gifts. This church in the Houston area led by Chris Seay held a Advent Conspiracy program where the people agree to actually give their money away to help provide clean water for those in need instead of buying clothes someone will return or the latest game your kid will be bored with in a day or three. In 2006 three churches combined to give 500,000, In 2007 more churches got together and gave over 3 million. Its estimated 10 billion dollars is need to Solve the clean water epidemic. Sounds like a lot until one hears the world spends about 450 million on Christmas. Okay its late in the year but each of us can do something for somebody (someone that cannot pay us back) without expecting or wanting something in return. Perhaps next year plan to do more, give more. After all that is the reason for the Season, right? Its not the PS3, Wii, Black Fridays, returning 1 million gifts, etc. If you are reading this you are so bless, and you simply are bless to bless others. Merry Christmas.
Posted by selah at 1:24 AM 1 comments
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Sunday, November 22, 2009

Stones of Remembrance


While having a conversation with someone the other day, I began recalling the story of my grandmother’s conversion. She was a wonderful woman who didn’t come to know Christ until she was 80 years young. I remember how a neighbor came and sat down with her and shared the Good News of Jesus Christ. What a glorious day it was for her and our whole family.

Thinking about that caused me to remember some other great events in my life. I have been so blessed throughout my years to have some great times with family and friends. In the midst of turmoil, it is good to have joyful memories to recall. No matter what happens, I will always have these embedded in my mind.

While certainly not being one who totally understand all of the complexities of the human mind, I’ve come to learn that major events of joy and pain cause a chemical to be released in the brain that in essence burns the experience in. What is so miraculous is that even many years later, you can still remember the smells and sounds of the occurrence. It’s not just confined to the emotional tag either. Many times a sound or a smell can trigger the emotional tag.

In the Old Testament they had sites where they piled some rocks and named the place after the event. They were called stones of remembrance. Everyone around knew what took place there. Some where places of great joy or victory. There were a few places where the memory was not one of happiness but of defeat or mourning.

This got me to thinking….why would you want to remember the bad things? Wouldn’t it be much better to only focus on the happy moments? I for one don’t want to think about the bad things that have happened.

I don’t believe we should focus on or dwell in the times of pain or regret but I do believe it is healthy to visit those places. Just don’t stay there. There is, however, one place of suffering and shame that we could all probably do better by visiting more often….the Cross of Christ. In fact, during the Passover, He broke the bread and gave them drink symbolizing His body and blood. He even said “as often as you do this, do it in remembrance of me.” What happens here is that a horrible act is remembered and because of that joy is birthed within. While I believe in being reverent during communion, there is also something to the joy that erupts within. His sacrifice bought my freedom. His death gave me liberty. His atonement brings me life eternal. For the joy that was before Him, He endured the cross.

I invite you to take some time to remember. Remember the good things. And old song I recall hearing in church asks God to remind me. It says to “roll back the curtains of memories now and then. Show me where You’ve brought me from and where I could’ve been.” Get into the discipline of taking communion at home once in a while. Remember the Cross. Remember the sacrifice. Remember Him.

This I recall to mind, therefore I have hope.
Lamentations 3:21

Posted by Donny at 12:55 PM 1 comments

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Stryper,DC TALK, Carman, Petra, Newsboys..

Any of you readers have these CDs, or should I say Cassettes? I was just reading a blog someone did on Stryper and I recalled when they were the one and only Christian rock/metal band until the crosses (White, Barren, & Neon) came along. I used to have all of their stuff but I actually don't own any of their music now. My wife says they are extremely talented but just cant sing (she says this about almost every Christian Rock band from the 90's). They say history repeats itself but I don't see the spandex and high hair thing coming back anytime soon. Although stryper is back at it with cds and tours. Nothing against them but I thought of this when the Rolling Stones came back out and started touring that perhaps there should be a "force retirement" age for all bands. I mean seeing Jagger with a walker or cane singing Jumping Jack Flash or a few years from now Van Halen and the boys singing Jump at a rest home just doesnt cut it. Then again it would make a interesting reality tv show. Then there is Petra they may be the dinosaur of CCM music and have made more changes to their lineup then Menudo (see wikipedia if you have no clue and just thought I named a Mexican food?) to keep going through the years. As for the Newsboys well they are very much still around but no that new lead singer is not from Australia. I met theses guys back in the 90's when they were touring over 300 days a year playing any place available (i do mean ANY, I think they would have played at your cookout or even a yard sale) as I use to listen to the heavier music I would joke with my friends and say I was a closest Newsboys fan. But Steve Taylor did turn them to in a real band with his added lyrics to the songs. I mean "when you come back again will you bring me something from the fridge" only Taylor could put those lyrics to a reference on the second coming. DC Talk ,well they brought SAFE Christian Rap to a all new level. Perhaps the Pat Boone version of "gangster rap" and much better then Carman. What can I say about Carman. He actually won best rap/hip in 1996 Dove Awards.. That says so much for those awards in a major small way. I would have open the envelope and said REALLY? Seriously? is this a typo? Can we go to a commercial? I actually got all warm and fuzzy inside when I heard the news and realize I was about to throw up. I'm sure he has talent but please save the rap and hip hop for somebody Else, anybody! I recently saw him on tv in concert (okay I was just flipping the channels) and he was singing(?) as animated veggies danced on the screen and with Carman was four young men dressed in some loud green,orange,silver,blue outfits perhaps a version of the Baptist Street Boys? Anyway to each their own. I Mean there are really bad Christian and Non Christian artists and "btw" I'm not sure why we even label music in such a way. But it gets me how really bad artist become famous and sell out concerts and some really really good musicians have a hard time making a living at the same thing. In any case now that you are finished reading this go to Itunes and listen to those great 90 bands or better yet break out those cassettes.
Posted by selah at 2:00 AM 3 comments
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