Well, I am a Christian with a diverse array of interests... Part time science fiction writer (never professionally published), Arsenal FC (BPL Soccer), Shadowrun (a cyberpunk - fantasy RPG).
Another thing i miss because of my own not posting blogs of late... Music Monday. This has been a song that recently has really grabbed my attention and brought forth meditations of God. To think that God would condescend and become flesh. To leave His glory, to leave heaven, to walk among man. He then proclaimed the word of God, and when He had accomplished all that He had come to do, He ascended back to his home. Because of this all those who come to receive Him and believe, will then get to share His home when our time here on earth is complete. What an incredible thing to think upon.
From the notes and the group and song writers: The hymn "One Day" was a big hymn for me growing up. All I knew was hymns until probably 21 or 22 years old; that’s what we had in our church. The chorus: "Living He loved me, dying He saved me, buried He carried my sins far away," that has just been a part of me from the start. As a youth pastor, you want your students to hear the theology of the hymns and sometimes you have to play it a little different way.
My song for this week was one that i happened to hear while listening to Pandora last week. It was on my "Irish Folk" station. For some time i have been searching for Christian Irish Folk musicians, and i have even had several comments recommending a few groups, but to be honest unless i can hear the music and experience it first hand, it's hard to know if i like it for sure. Moya's song "Hear My Prayer" was very timely and beautiful.
Hear my prayer
Bring me through the darkness, hear my heart
Draw me in
On this bright, new morning
Here I am, stay with me
Never too late to forgive
Here I am, set me free
Sing Hallelujah
Angels walk with me
Guide me to the water's edge
Wash away my doubts, my fears
Lord, strengthen me and bring me back to you
Change my heart
With a gentle touch you change my world
Hold me close
Fill my life with beauty
Hear my voice, stay with me
Bring cool water to my lips
Hear my prayer, set me free
Sing Hallelujah
Angels walk with me
Guide me to the water's edge
Wash away my doubts, my fears
Lord, strengthen me and bring me back to you
(2x)
To know, and to be known, by God is the ultimate. The scariest thing to hear is "‘I never knew you; depart from me" (Matthew 7:23ESV), and prayer and meditation on the Word of God is essential to getting to know our Lord. So this was a good song for me because it speaks to me about spending time with the Lord.
Hello and welcome to my rambling Music Monday and miscelanities. I usually have a Microfiction Monday contribution on Monday's, but i dropped the ball on that one. I also want to get back on the horse with regular Music Monday postings... so, that will be posted below. But, with my wanting to get something, anything, posted again... i am of course throwing several offerings in all at once. I am told that these kinds of posts are enjoyable... i will take the word of those who have left comments and feedback as... i don't see how, but... OK.
Oh, and since i will probably not post this until Thursday i should probably mention that "The Way of Walking with Christ" blog series has completed with last weeks post. I have placed a link to a single post with all entries on my "Blog entries with a samurai theme" list to the right. Or you can just click on the link i cleverly inserted here with the title.
This past Sunday i went over to my friend MOUSE's house (lol, pun not intended) for the Super Bowl. He is a huge Pittsburgh Steelers fan. It was nice to be invited out, and while his Steelers didn't win the big game, he put on quite a spread. Not only is he a football fan, and fond of tailgating... he is a Chef to boot. Win-Win for team samurai Sunday night. 8) One good thing for the Panthers right now... they are now officially undefeated once more, and they are #1! #1 on draft day that is. Let's see how the labor negotiations go between the owners and the players. The more i think about it... the more i am on the player's side when it comes to the number of games played in a season. Personally, i think 18 games are too many. Player's bodies have a hard enough time making it through a 16 game schedule now, and the "concession" to add two (or is it three) more roster slots... not enough. I feel that a minimum of five additional roster spots would be needed to help teams get through all of the inevitable injuries that would arise. I like the idea of the rookie salary caps. I like the idea of more money being set aside for players in the older ages to help with head injuries and other lingering issues. Now, i understand that there are only so many M&M's in the jar out there, and how they all get divided up is pretty tricky, but... i am leaning towards agreeing with a lot of the players issues. Still, it is hard to feel sorry for millionaires who get to play a game for a living - even if it is only for a few years (most likely), all the while the bulk of the fans - the ones who turn on the TV's. who pay the hard earned money to make it to the games, buy the products such as jerseys and hats, who are hurting to make ends meet. Just because there are some who can dish out hundred's of dollars on a Sunday to see their favorite team play does not mean that we all can. Well, anyway... the Panthers are undefeated once more, and they are #1! Go Panthers!
Anyone who frequents this blog knows i am a fanboy of C.J. Mahaney, so it would only be natural for me to follow his blog. Now, he is not the only contributor to the blog, but he does indeed contribute from time to time... ok... getting off track here... anyway, last Friday's blog was something i had pondered from time to time, but never really sunk my teeth into it. It was titled "When Humility is Pride", and for some reason the title both caught me off guard, and glad to see as i know CJ has been accused of being artificially modest, that his humbleness is an act. Now, one thing i know from having lived with my mother long enough, anyone can faux whatever they want, and they might be able to fool not just themselves, but others too. The only impartial judge of the heart is God, but if you can be honest with yourself enough... it is good to perform self evaluations. Anyway, this blog post really had me chewing and thinking and i thought it would be good to share. Oh, and this is being added late, but... CJ has also been doing a great series on Criticism. This is an area i REALLY struggle in, and i am not in any sort of public ministry (well, other than this blog... if it can be considered a ministry). Anyway, i know that for me i can be very prideful, and when everyone does not agree with me, or think that i am doing things in the most proficient manner... i tend to take exception and want to react before i really listen and evaluate. I highly recommend this series as well.
Since last summer i have really been struggling to "pick up the pen" and get back to writing. TULIP has told me that she believes this is one manifestation of my depression (among other things of course). I am inclined to agree. When i am down i really don't feel like creating anything. I end up just trying to keep my head above water. When i finally start to claw my way out of it, and i get my fingers going once more... i do find an enjoyment of creating a story. Well, i have been writing again... and that is a good thing. I have a few chapters that needed to get posted over on my short story blog, Samurai's Yarns. While i am being encouraged to "just keep writing" and "go back and edit later", i am not willing to post them until i have a chance to review and edit at least once before posting. I am about 3,700 words into the next phase of the tale, with a rough estimate of another similar amount to go before this chapter is a wrap. I also have inklings on the next phase too... i've just not fleshed them out any yet.
OK, finally this was supposed to be my "Music Monday offering this week.
Bring springs of life into the wells that have been run dry
Rise up in this city
Gather in this light
Fall down on your people
Your glory and your life
Rain
Lord we thirst for water
Rain
We are desert Land
Rain
On your sons and daughters
Rain
Bring your rain again
Speak dreams into this water
And vision to this land
That oceans be divided
And bring forth life again
Rise up in this city
Gather in this light
Fall down on your people
Your glory and your life
CHORUS x 2
Let the tide roll in
Washing over our lives
Let your water fall again
Bring rivers in this wasteland
Clouds into the sky
CHORUS x 2
Bring your rain again
Let your water fall down
Bring your rain again now
(repeat)
This song was speaking to me this week. In the book of John we find the account of Jesus' interaction with the Samaritan woman:
A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again,but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.[2]The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” (John 4:7-15, ESV)
I have always related to the imagery rain and being "thirsty" for God. When we feel distant from God, and even before we confess Christ as our Lord, the deep desire of the need for that relationship... the need of a Savior, the need of fellowship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, can most be thought of... akin to if you will, a thirst. Not just a my-mouth-is-dry thirst, but a thorough sense of relief-from-dehydration-as-every-cell-in-my-body-is-rehydrated kind of thirst. Anyway... there are times in my walk where... i feel so very, very thirsty for the things of God, and when one gets a taste... it satiates like nothing else can. Well, with my struggles with depression it feels like a vast Mohave Dessert kind of need. The imagery of this song to me is off a rain storm in a dessert... of God's Spirit raining down and filling not just me, but others around (and through?) me. There is a reason scientists look for water on other planets... without it (as far as we understand the universe presently) life is not possible. The same is true for my walk with Christ... i NEED his Spirit to rain, and to reign. Especially as i try and navigate this valley known as depression.
It’s been so long since you felt like you were loved
So what went wrong
But do you know there’s a place where you belong
Here in my arms
When you feel like you’re alone in your sadness
And it seems like no one in this whole world cares
And you want to get away from the madness
You just call my name and I’ll be there
You just call my name and I’ll be there
The pain inside has erased your hope for love
But soon you will find
That I’ll give you all that your heart could ever want
And so much more
You just call my name
You just call my name
Call my name, say it now
I want you to never doubt
The love I have for you is so alive
Call my name, say it now
I want you to never doubt
The love I have for you is so alive
You just call my name
You just call my name
You just call my name now
The love I have for you is so alive
The love I have for you is so alive
You just call my name
You just call my name
You just call my name
.
I am at a really low point today... i honestly feel like there is little i can do right, and i am losing my grip on a great many things. Not that any of it is mine to hold...
When i took LONG SHANKS to the Youth group meeting at church last week i had gone with the intention of adding to my on-going story line. I shouldn't have gotten on-line if i had honestly wanted to get any writing done, but i did. In the long run i am glad that i did, but i didn't get any writing done.
I came upon a slide show presented by Together for the Gospel on Facebook. The song moved me deeply and though i needed to use it for my weekly (well, it supposed to be weekly) Music Monday post. You see, i feel we humans really do see our own contribution to the Savior's suffering and death far too superficially. I am not saying we remain there, merely that we take an honest look at exactly what our rebellion meant to the very One who created us, who breathed life into us. For me, when i do this... i feel the joy and immense freedom His supreme sacrifice on behalf conveys.
This week i would like to include a poem by John Piper.
Doubly Relieved
My patient Comforter, my God,
My Life, my Breath, my holy Zeal,
My soul is doubly sorrowful:
That I still sin against your Seal,
And sinning cause my Sovereign grief.
I know it is your holy way
To make your grief serve perfect joy,
But I still pray, O bring the day
When, in the twinkling of an eye,
My soul will doubly be relieved:
I will not ever sin again,
And you will nevermore be grieved.
by John Piper
For some time now i have felt a passion for the Character of God. While i feel inadequate to teach, or even express my own desire or opinion on such a subject, recently i went ahead and shared these thoughts with my Pastor. A little while later i was approached by our Youth Pastor about possibly joining his team. I thought and prayed about it, and after letting him know i was not one to get all hyper and goofy (for lack of a better word coming to mind). To be honest i am not even sure how i will fit in, but... we shall see. 8)
In any event this song came to mind and it just "felt" right to be used for my Music Monday offering...
As morning dawns and evening fades
You inspire songs of praise
That rise from earth to touch Your heart and glorify Your Name
Your Name is a strong and mighty tower
Your Name is a shelter like no other
Your Name, let the nations sing it louder
'Cause nothing has the power to save
But Your Name
Jesus, in Your Name we pray
Come and fill our hearts today
Lord, give us strength to live for You and glorify Your Name
Your Name is a strong and mighty tower
Your Name is a shelter like no other
Your Name, let the nations sing it louder
'Cause nothing has the power to save but Your Name
Your Name is a strong and mighty tower
Your Name is a shelter like no other
Your Name, let the nations sing it louder
'Cause nothing has the power to save but
(Nothing has the power)
Your Name is a strong and mighty tower
Your Name is a shelter like no other
Your Name, let the nations sing it louder
'Cause nothing has the power to save but Your Name
I had a completely different song selected for this week, but i woke up Saturday morning and found an e-mail from my co-worker. his wife passed away after being a quadraphonic for over four years. This man devoted his whole life, all of his resources, to taking care of this woman. His whole attitude is amazing. I believe he is a great example of what it is to be a Christian husband. Today's song is devoted to him and his wife.
There Will be a Day
by Jeremy Camp
I try to hold on to this world with everything I have
But I feel the weight of what it brings, and the hurt that trys to grab
The many trials that seem to never end, His word declares this truth,
that we will enter in this rest with wonders anew
But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering
There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we’ll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we’ll hold on to you always
I know the journey seems so long
You feel your walking on your own
But there has never been a step
Where you’ve walked out all alone
Troubled soul don’t lose your heart
Cause joy and peace he brings
And the beauty that’s in store
Outweighs the hurt of life’s sting
I can’t wait until that day where the very one I’ve lived for always will wipe away the sorrow that I’ve faced
To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery this is why this is why I sing….
There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we’ll see Jesus face to face
There will be a day, He’ll wipe away the stains, He’ll wipe away the tears, He’ll wipe away the tears…..there will be a day.
I took a long weekend to get some errands done, and to visit with my "favorite sister-in-law" and her two really cool girls. (Sorry, no funny nick names for them yet... ) On Thursday i took care of personal errands. Friday we headed to Hershey Park. Wow that was hot day, but a fun time was had by all. By the time Saturday came around my Beloved and i were feeling the lasting affects of heat exhaustion.
I have dealt with heat exhaustion over my years. Especially during my times with the National Guard. I've learned to not only be preemptive, but to learn how to "push through" it. Sometimes, no matter how much water you drink, or sodium you put into your body, it will just not handle the heat. I've struggled with the heat since coming home with the flu from school one year. I was so sick i didn't leave the couch i collapsed on until i went to the hospital with dehydration. It sucks. Not much you can do except just muddle through it and continue to drink adequate fluids and ensure proper diet. The body will bounce back, but you have to take care of it. Since i am more used to dealing with this i have been trying to help my Beloved stay in a rest state. Yesterday i took THUMPER, PIRATE, and PUMPKIN to the early service and let my Beloved sleep in. I arrived a little late to the service for reasons i shan't go into here, but at the end the worship team sung the song that seemed to express my hearts desire, and thus i thought i would use it for today:
The more i seek you,
the more i find you
The more i find you, the more I love you
I wanna sit at your feet
drink from the cup in your hand.
Lay back against you and breath, here your heart beat
This love is so deep, it's more than I can stand.
I melt in your peace, it's overwhelming
For me it fit my desire to draw closer and closer to Christ. I want to sit at His feet, i want to just be near Him. And yet, unless the Father open my mind and my heart, my desire would never have been such. I've remembered thinking how it would be to recline at the Last Supper like the Disciple John did. To be among Jesus' followers and to walk with them, to see what they saw, and to hear what they heard. And yet... i fall short of even my own basic desires. I often allow distractions to interfere with my quiet times, and that is frustrating. I long for the day when i no longer have to look as into a dim mirror.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will
pass away. When I was
a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a
child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror
dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know
fully, even as I have been fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:9-12, ESV)
After surfing around Kari Jobe's website i may have found yet another new "young" artist (i have no idea how old she is, only younger than me ) that i enjoy. She seems to have a heart for God that, from what i can tell so far, comes through in her music. It is wonderful to hear.
In a way, this entry probably should have preceded my Music Monday from last Thursday, but this song is a wonderful compliment to that post. As God is leading me through a "growing season" my finite selfish mind leads me to believe that God has forsaken me instead of actually helping me along the path He has for me.
I want to say that God has forsaken me during these times of "trial", but the truth is i will NEVER be left alone like Christ experienced on the cross ~ suffering the wrath i deserved. But because He did allow Himself to be suspended in my place, i can know that "[He] will never leave [me] nor forsake[me]" (Hebrews 13:5). Words cannot adequately express how wonderful that promise is to me.
I waited for you today
But you didn't show
No no no
I needed You today
So where did You go?
You told me to call
Said You'd be there
And though I haven't seen You
Are You still there?
[Chorus:]
I cried out with no reply
And I can't feel You by my side
So I'll hold tight to what I know
You're here and I"m never alone
And though I cannot see You
And I can't explain why
Such a deep, deep reassurance
You've placed in my life
We cannot separate
'Cause You're part of me
And though You're invisible
I'll trust the unseen
[Chorus]
We cannot separate
You're part of me
And though You're invisible
I'll trust the unseen
I've lost count how many times i've caught myself not really paying attention to my walk with the Lord. Ever wonder where God went? Ever thought that He has abandoned you? I am going through a "stretching" period where God is helping me see some things that He is working on in me. I don't know about you all, but those times feel pretty lonely, so when i heard my song for this week... it really bolstered and encouraged me.
By Your Side Tenth Avenue North
Mike Donehey, Jason Ingram, Phillip LaRue
Why are you striving these days?
Why are you trying to earn grace?
Why are you crying?
Let me lift up your face
Just don't turn away
Why are you looking for love?
Why are you still searching?
As if I'm not enough?
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run?
To where will you run?
I'll be by your side wherever you fall
In the dead of night whenever you call
Please don't fight these hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you
Look at these hands at my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life
Here at my side wherever you fall
In the dead of night whenever you call
Please don't fight these hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you
And I, I love you
And I want you to know
That I, I'll love you
I'll never let you go
2008 Essential Tunes / West Main Music / Formerly Music (SESAC) All
rights admin. by Sony/ATV Sounds LLC (SESAC). / Peertunes, Ltd. (SESAC) /
Grange Hill Music (SESAC) / Windsor Way Music (SESAC). Grange Hill
Music and Windsor Way Music administered by Peertunes, Ltd. / Phillip
LaRue Publishing Designee (ASCAP)
There are a couple of lines in "By Your Side" that to me really
encapsulate the whole song. One is in the second verse that says, "Why
are you looking for love? Why are you still searching as if I?m not
enough? To where will you go child? To where will you run?" And the last
verse it says, "Look at these hands and my side, they swallowed the
grave on that night, when I drank the world's sin so that I could carry
you in and give you life." By Your Side is just a call to anyone who?s
struggling or fighting against God thinking they have to work to earn
it. It's calling them to stop looking for what you can do for God and
fix your gaze upon what God has done for you. Let that motivate you. We
love because He first loved us. -Mike
To me this song is incredibly encouraging. It speaks of His unfailing love, of his unfailing faithfulness. The One who was offended is the faithful one, the one who never leaves me.
Father God, thank You for Your unfailing love. Even when i wander and fail You... again, You are there to light my feet along the path. Father God i ask that you continue to show me the way to go, help me to not look to myself, but to continually draw my eyes to You. Lord God i ask this in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ's name, according to Your perfect will, and for His glory. Amen.
My apologies, to those who come by this blog, for my diminished frequency that i post blogs of late. So many things in the 'real world' are going on it is distracting, but it will contribute nicely to the ramblingness of today's offering.
To start off, i had a song that i wanted to use for my Music Monday 'feature', but i am drawing a blank trying to remember the title of the song, let alone the artist that recorded it. It went along with the sermon on Jonah that our Pastor was preaching on yesterday, and again next week. I had it all written down and everything. but then my notes got washed in the sink, so i laid it out to dry on our deck... gone. I will still try and post it, because i really liked the song... so my Music Monday might not get posted till tomorrow... or Thursday...
Have i mentioned recently that i am really liking MouseHunt on facebook? So far i have been able to feed two "addictions" at once. For every new type of mouse i catch, i add a piece of flair to my collection, which is helpful in that regard because changes in my daily routines, etc., have somewhat limited my searching for new pieces of flair of late. Right now i am hunting in the Catacombs where i am finding a lot of mice like the Terror Knight and Spider Mouse. There are two more area to hunt in here, but from all of the advice i have been able to find, i am going to need the ACRoNYM (Arcane Capturing Rod of Never Yielding Mystery) trap. This puppy is expensive, but like i've said before, this is not a game where things are just handed to you. You must be patient, you must be willing to try and figure things out, and you must be willing to seek advice from more experienced players, and sometimes you just have to be patient and put in plain ol' time to get where you need to go. In my case i need some gold for this next trap... and i know i am going to have to revisit an "old" location to get the last component. I share this, not because anyone really cares, but because it's of interest to me.
For the past several weeks the area in which i live has been going through a dry-spell. Some intense heat and little rain makes it for a brownish summer. It is looking like we might actually get some today, but then i smelled that "rain smell" last week too. We got some, but not enough. I am glad only because i've not had to mow my grass in near 100 degree (Fahrenheit) heat. Still, that smell is one reason i like Thunderstorms so much. I am one of very few of those who prefer it to rain more than not. Maybe i need to consider a move to Seattle someday... Nah... i love the Shenandoah too much.
I have been slowly working my way through Stonewall Jackson: The Man, the Soldier, the Legend, What is the Gospel, and The Path of the Warrior. The first, and the last books, have been on hold as i have been focusing on just reading and meditating on the basics of my faith of late.What is the Gospel has been a very good down to Earth book for me. As i walk out my faith in Christ i learn more and more of just how awesome the grace of God really is. You see, i am an addict to sin. My flesh craves it. Ever since i tasted my own piece of fruit from the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil" i have struggled with this fight. It would seem that i am still learning what it means that in my weakness He is strong. When the man who came out to fix my A/C unit we had a really good conversation about the things of God. It also refreshed my desire to seek to know, and more importantly BE known, by God. I do not want to walk through my whole life going this way and that, doing things in Christ's name... and never be known by God. (Matthew 7:21-23) How is a relationship developed, how is it maintained? By spending time with one another. Spending time in God's Word, by spending time in prayer with God. To my shame, i have neglected that time with Him... but i am working on improving on that. By His grace and mercy it is possible.
One of the fruits of my (not nearly enough) increased amount of time spent with the Lord, has been movement on a project of mine. A while back i saw a special on the life of Miyamoto Musashi. He is considered the epitome of the samurai of ancient Japan, and while he is decidedly NOT a Christian, i have found some nuggets of wisdom from him, especially in his Book of 5 Rings. Well, in this special i first learned of the a work titled "The Way of Walking Alone", written one week before his death of stomach cancer in 1645. It is a list of twenty one "maxims" that he worked on summarizing up what it takes to be a master of The Way. As i aspire to be a Christian samurai (i.e. i want to walk out my service to my Lord Jesus Christ in a way very similar to that of the devotion of the feudal samurai), i have been reading over and meditating on what God's Word has to say in those areas. To be honest, some of it has been a challenge, but as i have meditated on God's Word and the 'maxim's', God has been showing me His Word and what it has to say. Very good stuff in my opinion. This has both been good for me personally, but bad for my blogging because it has taken up a lot of time, and we all know men only have a very limited number of words to share in any given day... I am hoping to have the first contribution posted to share in the next two to three weeks (i am not only trying to get my thoughts down on the subject, but to have one or two people help me proof it before i post it). I've also noticed that it has been interfering (in a good way) with my short story writing... thus also giving me more time to read Gav Thorpe's book so i can do more "research" on my characters.
For me the worship of God is a deeply emotional thing. When i went to church growing up more often than not there would be the 3 Hymns, a time of prayer, and then the sermon. Even then, when i as yet did not have a relationship with Christ, i enjoyed the singing. But when the Holy Spirit came to dwell in my heart something changed. It felt like my joy could no longer be contained. Now, i am not an awful singer, but i am not all that good either. My song selection today is one that "still does it for me".
There is an endless song
Echoes in my soul
I hear the music ring
And though the storms may come
I am holding on
To the rock I cling
How can I keep from singing Your praise
How can I ever say enough
How amazing is Your love
How can I keep from shouting Your name
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing
I will lift my eyes
In the darkest night
For I know my Savior lives
And I will walk with You
Knowing You'll see me through
And sing the songs You give
I can sing in the troubled times
Sing when I win
I can sing when I lose my step
And fall down again
I can sing 'cause You pick me up
Sing 'cause You're there
I can sing 'cause You hear me, Lord
When I call to You in prayer
I can sing with my last breath
Sing for I know
That I'll sing with the angels
And the saints around the throne
While searching for this song i found that an older song, a hymn if you will, also bears this title. An interesting history to be sure. I found this article on Wiki.
, INO Records
) On Thursday i took care of personal errands. Friday we headed to 
It went along with the sermon on Jonah that our Pastor was preaching on yesterday, and again next week. I had it all written down and everything. but then my notes got washed in the sink, so i laid it out to dry on our deck... gone. I will still try and post it, because i really liked the song... so my Music Monday might not get posted till tomorrow... or Thursday... 
Nah... i love the Shenandoah too much. 
, 
, and 
. The first, and the last books, have been on hold as i have been focusing on just reading and meditating on the basics of my faith of late.What is the Gospel has been a very good down to Earth book for me. As i walk out my faith in Christ i learn more and more of just how awesome the grace of God really is. You see, i am an addict to sin. My flesh craves it. Ever since i tasted my own piece of fruit from the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil" i have struggled with this fight. It would seem that i am still learning what it means that in my weakness He is strong. 
. He is considered the epitome of the samurai of ancient Japan, and while he is decidedly NOT a Christian, i have found some nuggets of wisdom from him, especially in his 
. Well, in this special i first learned of the a work titled "The Way of Walking Alone", written one week before his death of stomach cancer in 1645. It is a list of twenty one "maxims" that he worked on summarizing up what it takes to be a master of The Way. 
I am hoping to have the first contribution posted to share in the next two to three weeks (i am not only trying to get my thoughts down on the subject, but to have one or two people help me proof it before i post it). I've also noticed that it has been interfering (in a good way) with my short story writing... thus also giving me more time to read Gav Thorpe's book so i can do more "research" on my characters.
