Video compilation

After wrapping up the month of November, and taking the time to remember the things to be thankful for in my life i wanted to resurrect this blog - sort of.  I mean, since it is not an actually living being, it never really dies.  Well... at least not in this world... but obviously in the world of TRON it would be derezzed eventually.
 

Well, over the course of time i had saved a few videos i absolutely found fun and wanted to share them somehow.  Well, sure, Facebook is the normal way to go, but hey, i never claimed to be normal, so, i thought, why not share them here.

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The first one i want to share is an NFL Play60 promo.  I first saw it while watching the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins play on Thanksgiving Day.  First, as any regular reader of this blog knows, i am a fan of the Carolina Panthers, and this one features Cam Newton, their 'prodigal quarterback'.  In his first year he set all kind of rookie records.  I was able to see him break 4 records last year, in person:

• First rookie quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards in a season.
• Most total touchdowns by a rookie NFL player: 35 (21 pass, 14 rush).
• Most rushing yards by a rookie quarterback: 706
• Most rushing touchdowns in a single season by a quarterback: 14

As well as a few Panther Franchise Records:

• Longest offensive scoring play (91) to Brandon LaFell, December 24, 2011 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
• And longest Quarterback scramble for a touchdown (49)

I am liking that he is growing a sense of humor. He just seems to be growing into a really nice young man. A well rounded team leader, on and off the field.  I completely agree that a Rookie, and even a second year player - even one as talented as Cam is - should not be a team captain.  There are just too many other things on their shoulders to take on that role and responsibilities.  Let them mature and grow as a football player, and let them learn from the veterans around the locker room.

Anyway, i love this commercial.  It has a great message about kids eating right and exercising, along with a great tongue in cheek humor.  I am snickering even as i type this and think about the video.

The kid is priceless.

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The next one a friend shared.  I really laughed hard enough to have ice tea come out my nose when i first saw it.  It's just so NOT me and my family in style, but in content it was spot on.

There are so many times as a parent, and you are up to your eyebrows in insanity and you just snap.  There is nothing even remotely funny...not until you can put some distance of time between the present and the event.  There are quite a few things that happened around my 'dojo' that i was truly peeved... but now, it brings a smile to my face, and a laugh with the family.  The key is, don't take things too seriously.  Be honest with yourself, that you are not perfect -- and then just learn from the mistakes, and enjoy life.

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The last video in this blog entry for todayis titled, "How Bad do You Want IT!".  It is straight up a motivational deal.  There are some people that think i am like this, that i drive and drive and drive, but the truth is, there are a lot of times i take my eyes of the prize and look at the 'storm' that is surrounding me.

In one of my 'Being thankful' blog posts, i mentioned how i ran on my High School's Cross Country team two years in a row, and both years the team went to the state championships, and both years i dropped off the team - just stopped showing up to practices and everything.  Fortunately for the team, i was not one of the top runners, and this really didn't impact their performance at the finals (if memory serves they one both years).  This was not the only time i had done something like this.  In the sixth grade i had the role in a class play, and i think i was pretty good, but on the day of the play, i refused to go on.  The teacher had to get the understudy.  In many ways... i feel like i let everyone down, over and over again.  I see this video, and i want to charge right out and never let anyone down again, but i know i can't go about it that way.  But, what this video does, partnered with the grace of God i experience everyday, gives me incredible motivation to pick myself up.  To begin again, to do what i can, then get up the next day and do it again, and when i trip and fall - to get up and get on again. 

Right now, i am not there mentally... but one has to have an objective to aim for.  In driving you do not stare at the road right in front of the vehicle, you look up the road so you can anticipate the corrections needed.  When i was taught to perform land navigation in the Army, i was taught to not stare at the compass, but to use the compass to get a direction and then to look out and find an objective along that line, and then aim and head towards that objective - all the while navigating the obstacles of the terrain as needed.  I am working on this, but i have formed a saying that helps at times. 

"If you aim at nothing, you will hit it everytime."

There is, i believe, something in each of us, that want to make a difference, to make our mark in some way, but unless we actually get up and do something... we will fulfill that saying above.

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."  ~ Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt ~ "Citizenship in a Republic," Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910 

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Well, that is all i have for today.  If so inclined, please pray for me as i too strive to "take no days off", all the while, keeping a proper balance in my life with my relationship with God, with my family, and with my career.  Thank you for reading.

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Being thankful, Day #26

Looking back over a lot of 'Being Thankful' entries, there is not a lot of substance to them.  In truth, there is little anyone can really take through life.  Each breath is a gift, everything else is a bonus.  Enjoy what you have, no matter what it is, but you should also be willing to let it go in a moments notice if the need was great enough.  Do not sacrifice the essential, for the trivial.  "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." (Jim Elliot)  So, a quick note that, while i am truly thankful for each of the things i have posted, they are not all of the same importance to me.

Today, i am thankful for the Carolina Panthers.  My mother was, and my father is, a huge Washington Redskins fan.  My first memories of American Football was of the Washington Redskins.  I grew up with the likes of Sonny Jergensen, Sam Huff, Art Monk, Joe Gibbs, and many other names that escape me right now.  My mother was IN to watching the Redskins, and it sometimes got pretty intense.

(AP Photo/Bob Leverone) *

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/11/11/3659041/panthers-vs-broncos-111112.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy

  My dad is a much more subdued observer of the games, but when they lose, you can see it affect him some.  Well, around when i got married i came to the realization that the only reason i was a Redskins fan was that my parents were fans, and i was pretty much only a half hearted one.  Well, when the NFL announced the expansion of two new teams, i decided right there and then, that i would follow which ever team ended up in the NFC, for no other reason than the Redskins were in the NFC, and the AFC were just a bunch of pretenders anyway. (joke btw)  I didn't even know the cities that would be given a team, or even what the potential team names would be, but when Charlotte was awarded the team for the NFC, and the team name was the Panthers (basically a melanistic color variant of any of several species of larger cat) - man, it just fit.  I still remember the quizzical looks, and my father not understanding, but i was determined to 'make them my own' - insofar as me claiming a team to be a fan of.

That first season, my father took me to the first meeting between the Washington Redskins and the Carolina Panthers.  The 'Skins still played at RFK then, it was Christmas Eve, 1995.  My dad scored seats just a few rows up in the endzone!  The Panthers lost that game 17-20.  I didn't have any Panthers gear except an old fashion pennant like deal.  But each time the Panthers scored i waved and shook it, and i was fortunate enough to see each score in the endzone right in front of me.  I still have the ticket stub.  It was cold, it was loud, but my dad took me, on Christmas eve, to see his son's favorite team play against his favorite team.  It was pretty cool, and will always be a great memory of mine.

* Picture used from the Charlotte Observer's website; Carolina Panthers' Jonathan Stewart (28) runs as Denver Broncos' Mike Adams (20) pursues during the first quarter of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone) - used without permission

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/11/11/3659041/panthers-vs-broncos-111112.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy

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Microfiction, the Carolina Panthers, and other random topics

Susan, over at Stony River, has a weekly writing challenge called Microfiction Monday.  She provides a picture and you provide a story to go with it in 140 characters or less.  It's a lot of fun, and a little bit challenging.  I had mine all typed up and ready to go for this week, but i have no idea where it got off to... so, here it is for this week... a day late, and a dollar short...

Yes, we are doing cheese now... no sir, it does not contain any petro... yes sir, it has been tested by the. F.. I'm sure if you just... *sigh*, ok, thank you for your time.

I "met" Susan through her blog, or she "found" me through mine... i can't remember.  What we have in common, other than enjoying to write (although she is MUCH more serious, and better, than i am), we both have Autistic children.  I enjoy reading her material, and she also has a lot of great links to help aspiring writers.  Both with tips, but also submission leads.  If you enjoy writing, i highly encourage you to check out her blog at Stony River: A Writing Life.

Hoozah!  The 2010 regular NFL season is finally over for the Carolina Panthers.  Normally, i would be disappointed that it was over before a single game of the playoffs have been played, but this was a particularly hard season to muscle through as a fan.  At 2-14 there were very few highlights to enjoy.  I thought it was good for the Panthers organization to finally make it official that Coach Fox would not be returning.  It's something that has been speculated for over a year now.  Still, i think it is a shame.  Coach Fox has literally been the best coach the Panthers have ever had, and the only one with greater than .500 record.  He will be missed, at least by me.  I have no idea what the future holds for the NFL right now, but with everything in limbo... i do not have very high hopes for the 2011 football season either.  I just hope John Kasay is still kicking the ball through the uprights for them.  At least for another season or two, but definitely for as long as God continues to give him strength.  (A nice article with the same sentiments over at the Charlotte Observer: What Does Kasay's future hold?)The Panthers do have the #1 draft pick in April, and everyone seems to think that Andrew Luck is the real deal... but how many times have i heard that before.  Only God knows for sure.  But, i admit... the writers have me excited about the possibility.

Speaking of the Panthers... i have been wanting to make a football fan pilgrimage to Charlotte since they started playing in 1995, but i've always allowed other life priorities to bump my dream to the back burner.  This year, with my beloved's blessing,i hope to make a game (assuming there is a season in 2011... if not 2011, then 2012) next year.  At first i made an arbitrary decision to go to whichever game they wear their alternate blue jerseys... but now i see they will be playing the Washington Redskins in Charlotte... my father has been literally a lifelong Washington Redskins fan... so... i think i will try and take him with me.  At least that is the plan as of 3-January-2011.  We shall see.

2011 kind of limped on in for me this year.  I was broadsided with some kind of serious cold/bronchitis/flu deal.  Lots of fatigue, lots of congestion, and now some serious head congestion.  First time i ever had chest congestion move up into the head.  it is usually in reverse.  Mucinex and Alka-Seltzer Cold are my best buddies right now.  Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, Oh what a relief it is, fast, FAST, FAST!  

My oldest, LONG-SHANKS, recently experienced a loss of a schoolmate.  It was not someone he was close with, but he did know of him and he knew of my son.  DS1 is closer with the other student who was in the care with this young man.  As a parent, i struggle a lot with how to best lead each of my children.  DS1 is not very similar to DS2, not is he very similar to my DD3 (being a male versus female aside).  Each child is unique and requires unique approaches, but even so... i was (and still am) not really sure what to say. I did go with him to a small get together with their teammates.  I have related with him that while i do not know everything he is thinking, or going through, i did experience something similar when a cousin with whom i was somewhat close to, was murdered (i was a little older than my son is now).  Teens today are different than when i was one... and they will be different if/when my son has a teenager... but... by God's grace, i can only hope i am help shape him into a man of God, who is a true Christian.  Life is hard, life is not fair, but God is always there... and i just pray that he sees this... and that the family of this young man, who tragically has to deal with this loss, my feel some of God's grace and peace... i know i would never be able to survive such a loss without it.

I know this is sort of a down point to wrap up with... but if life has taught me one thing... it is to really do the best you can to balance all things as best you can (Ecclesiastes 3)... be open to the Holy Spirit and God's grace (both for others AND yourself)... and really do NOT take a single day of your life for granted.  We are not guaranteed a tomorrow, and you never know when either someone else's (or even your own) tomorrow is going to be canceled.  Never miss an opportunity to stop and smell the roses or tell someone you love them (and this begins with God).

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Wednesday Wickedness - 20100714

Hi and welcome to Wednesday Wickedness. We are like other memes in that we will ask you ten questions each and every Wednesday. But our little "twist" is that each week we will pick a famous person and pick ten of their quotes. Each of our questions will be based on the quotes. Got it? Great! Let's begin this week's meme!

Today we picked George Steinbrenner (who passed away Tuesday morning at age 80). Here's Wednesday Wickedness!

1. "But why shouldn't I speak out? Don't you speak out in this country?" Do you speak out as often as you should?

I tend to bite my tongue more often than not.  Growing up, and even as a young man, i found that my opinion was usually wrong or unwanted so now i prefer to keep my opinions to my self.  That is unless i am talking with my beloved... or blogging.

2. "I am tough. Sometimes I'm unreasonable. I have to catch myself every once in a while." Are you ever tough and unreasonable?

Just ask my Beloved. To be honest, i don't think i am.  In my opinion i say what i mean, and i mean what i say.  Sometimes what i will ask for is not fair, and i will share that i know this, but i still need it to happen and i appreciate the effort.

3. "I haven't always done a good job, and I haven't always been successful - but I know that I have tried." Do you believe that sometimes you learn more from a failure than a success?

Indeed i do.  If one succeeds to quickly the tendency will be to redo the same action as before and thus perhaps inhibit the desire to learn other ways of doing it.  One of the other ways can either lead to new discoveries, or a better way to make a widget.  Lessons can be learned from any result, if one is willing to take the time to evaluate the results.

4. "Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." Do you feel that you always have to win?

No sir i do not.  For me the only desired result i have when i am playing a game with friends is to enjoy their company.  The only time where i feel winning is important is in war.  When it comes to that it my objective to give the other side every opportunity to exercise their right to die for their country.  When the sword is unsheathed it should not be the objective to fight upon an equal footing, the objective to is to inflict as much violence upon the opposition so as to overwhelm it.

5. "It is unbelievable to me that the highest-paid team in baseball would start the season in such a deep funk.” Do you think money always buys greatness?

Nope!  Well, i take that back.  The Yankees play in a sport where there i no salary cap and thus you can just look at the achievements Mr. Steinbrenner's money has bought.  However, if you look at the Washington Redskins, it becomes obvious that the owner there has NOT been able to buy such goals.  Money is a tool, and required in almost any long term goal, and can be misapplied.  However, if applied correctly, it goes a long way.

6. "I take my last phone call at home at about 11pm." What time is too late to call you?

Anytime after 2100 hours (9 PM for those not accustomed to the 24 hour clock).I prefer to rise early, get most of my objectives done by noon, and pretty much be winding up my day no later than 1800 (6 PM).  By 2100 i am winding down and wanting to close the eyes - or just spend quiet time with my family and/or my Beloved.

7. "Don't talk to me about aesthetics or tradition. Talk to me about what sells and what's good right now." Do you think tradition matters?

I LOVE tradition, i love the familiar, i love to be able to just enjoy the setting and atmosphere that the familiar brings.  However, there are times when one has to be (and i can't believe i am going to say this publicly) flexible.  Sometimes new things need to be tried and experienced in order to get to where you are going.

8. "And what the American people like is to think the underdog still has a chance." Do you tend to root for the underdog?

I do.  When the New Orleans Saints made it past the first round of the playoffs last year i was pulling for them to go all the way.  When the New England Patriots first started winning Super Bowls i was like, YES!  It is great to see an underdog overcome the Goliath because in all seriousness, if the Goliath had not been prideful, had been taking care of their own business - more often than not... the underdog is going home having not achieved the goal.  But when a "David" steps out on to the field, and the Goliath takes a moment to pause and not overlook the opponent, and the underdog still wins!  Just awesome.

9. "I don't think I ever could exceed my father's successes. He was a completely satisfied man, he knew what he wanted to accomplish and he accomplished it. I did do a lot, though, to try to please him." Do you ever feel that you want to exceed your parents successes?

When i was younger i never set a goal to exceed my parents.  I wanted to find out where i could go, what i could do.  Success is really a relative term.  At one point in my career i opted to take a 20% and a 2 paygrade cut in order to be able to be home with my family in the evenings.  To me, that is success.  To be honest, i am not even sure what my parents thought "success" was, or if they ever achieved it, and i am not one to really determine if they were successful or not.

10. "I'm really 95 percent Mr. Rogers, and only 5 percent Oscar the Grouch." In terms of cartoon characters, who are you like?

That is an interesting question...  i really have no idea.  This would be a question better presented to friends and family than myself.  When i was younger Grover was my favorite Muppet.  I also felt a "kinship" (if you will) to the Elves in the Comic Elf Quest and Wolverine of the X-men.

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"I Love Your Blog "

"Jingle", who has recently begun to read my blog from time to time, has tagged my blog with a "I Love to Read Your Blog" award.  Now, i think that is pretty nice.  So, i thought i would share it with whoever else happens to read these ramblings. 8)  I am honored that anyone, other than myself, would actually continue to come back and read more than once.

The rules are pretty simple, i now list 10 Things I love...

1) I love Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior.  He is my rock and my sanctuary.  Since i responded to His call i have known unspeakable joy, and peace.  He is my Alpha and Omega.  Before there was time He knew my name, and He sought me out.  He was instrumental in my life when i still hated Him, and yet even then He reached out to touch and intercede for me.  Without Him, i have nothing.

2) I am deeply in love with my Beloved wife whom has been such an incredible blessing in my life.  God has used her in my life to learn and grow.  She has been an oasis in a pretty topsy turvy world.  She is truly my best friend and soul mate.  A precious gift of God, and i can never say thank you enough for her.

3) I love my children.  What an amazing source of grace in my life.  Not only has God entrusted me to teach and prepare them, He uses them in my own life to learn and grow.  Even aside from that, what a source of joy each of them are in my life.  Each one unique.  Each one amazing.  May God continue to shower them with grace and mercy (to make up for my failures), and when the time comes, may each of them launch out into the "target" God has for them, and may they influence their world for the Kingdom.

4) I love American Football.  For as long as i can remember i've liked football.  I still remember watching the Washington Redskins (my father's lifetime favorite team) take on the New York Giants on a grainy black and white television.  Not long after my dad took me to a game at Giants Stadium when the Redskins came to town.  Loved it.  I've been to several baseball games, and while i love the atmosphere at a ballpark, the franks, etc.  There is something about Football that just stirs excitement in me. There is a strategy involved, strength of will, teamwork.  It's not just 22 guys trying to knock each other down.

5) I love Elves.  I am not referring to the older Scandinavian like Sprites or those associated with St. Nicolas.  I am referring to the Tolkien type.  To be honest i am not really familiar with the smaller cousins, so i cannot speak as to why i do not prefer them over the larger ones; however, i can speak to the reasons why i love Token's version.  For one, the have a love of music (see #10 below) and the study of the world around them.  They fight ferociously against the encroachments of evil wherever it is found.  They are unhurried in their study of the world around them, and they seek to live in harmony with the environment.  They can afford to be patient as they live 'forever'.  And they have a grace of movement which is incredible.  If God ever allowed me to be something other than human, i think i would ask to be an Elf.

6) I love writing.  It is my creative side.  It's like the world i write in is all mine.  I can immerse myself into it and create whatever i want.  It is an escape for me.  One way that i can, in a fashion, still play with my "little army men".

7) I love learning about grace.  One reason i have a growing stack of books to read on my nightstand is because i do love to learn more about grace, to learn more about God and the study of His word.  One thing i do suffer from having a hard time forcing myself to reread things i may have covered.  Even if it is from another point of view.  Like my pride says, "oh, i got this, next..."  Once i trip over this landmine of my own creation i often have to reread the section.

8) I love strategy games.  I still remember playing my first two different strategy games.  The first one was (i believe) a "block game" simply called Napoleon.  It was a board war game with wooden pieces designating Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery.  I was hooked within 5 minutes of being introduced to the game.  This happened the Summer of 1980.  I could probably still walk to the apartment my cousins had taken me to to visit with their friend.  The second one, and i am pretty sure it was at the same friend's house was a game called Tactics II.  Similar, but a more modern version and a little more dynamic in regards to the maneuver of troops, etc.  Later on i learned about Squad Leader (a WWII squad level tactics game), and Air War.  While i couldn't find a direct link to Air War, i remember devouring the rules and leaning about roll, pitch, yaw, inertia and how it required the build up of energy points to make turns, etc.  If only life were less complicated.

9) I love post apocalyptic science fiction.  I am not really sure when i was hooked, but there were several influences in my life.  Gamma World (RPG), Damnation Alley (movie) come to mind.  There is something to be said about over coming life difficulties, especially after having grown up with everything one needs to survive at one's fingertips.  I think it also has to do with a latent desire to simplify my life.  Granted... life would NOT be simple in such a world.  My more recent interests in this genre are the Terminator movie series, The Book of Eli, Shadowrun (RPG).

10) I love music.  Preferably music without lyrics.  My tastes range from Classical Symphony, quartets, rock and roll solos - guitar, drum, keyboard, or in the case of Jethro Tull - flute, to Celtic Folk music (i.e. River Dance).  I have had a desire, especially after joining our High School Pipe Band (TYNIE, a serious thank you for inviting me to join ~ my only wish is that i had participated longer), and really loving Jethro Tull back then didn't hurt either, to learn an instrument.  Preferably the flute or penny whistle.  Someday, maybe i will actually achieve this dream.

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Now i am to tag other blogs that i love to read (and follow up with a comment on their blogs to let them know how much i appreciate and love their blogs).

CJ Mahaney's View from the Cheap Seats ~ While the title has CJ's name, it is also authored by Dave Harvey and a few others. 
Of First Importance ~ This is a Theological blog (author unknown to me) that seeks to share the gospel of Christ first and foremost.
Thoughts of a Wood Elf ~ This woman has a passion to follow the Lord like i have rarely seen. it is a beautiful thing.
Big Mama's Blog ~ This woman and i do not see "eye to eye" on a few things; however, she has a passion for singing and seeking. And she is open and honest enough to share it with the world.
A Lumberjack's Wife ~ A recent find of mine.  Hilarious, she has on more than one occasion induced Dr Pepper through the nasal passageways.
Monkeys are Funny ~ A fellow beneficiary of ADD as well as a public servant.  Well before her back injury, and i have found that although the body has failed in some aspect, the mind and heart have not.
Lovin' and Livin' ~ A long time internet/blogging friend.  Through storms and deserts she still persavieers.

Yet more ramblings

This past Sunday was a blur. My family visited another church (for a second time ~ reference my blog from 20091012), DD3 had her last soccer game of the Fall U8 league, DS2 had a lot of homework over the weekend, my beloved was fighting both a cold and DS2 (his homework), etc. As a result i was not able to watch the Panthers and Redskins game until around 6:30. Do you know how hard it is for someone who LOVES the NFL to not watch football on a Sunday afternoon?!? What a game to watch (for me). For the first 35 minutes of game time i was not very fun as a Carolina Panther fan. But things got much better after that. I still have several concerns regarding how the Panthers will do for the rest of the season, but i am grateful to see that they will not go the way of the 2008 Detroit Lions (sorry Amy). The next few weeks is the "softest" stretch so i still feel the Panthers have to win the next two, and then be competitive against both Phoenix and New Orleans - preferably winning at least one of these two, before i really have hopes for anything better than a 7-9 season. Things i liked - it was good to see the defense so dominant again. They were in the backfield, they were sacking the Quarterback. That safty was sweet! What i am not liking is the offensive struggles they had. Jake Delhomme and the receivers seem to be a little out of synch. Also, the running game has got to improve if they are to change their fortunes for the foreseeable future. More specifics have escaped me now that this is two days history. Yesterday, on a whim, i entered "christian tin whistle", just to see what kind of results i would get. The one that intreagued me the most was for Robert Rife. I enjoyed reading his Bio on his website, and glad to hear that he still plays the bag pipes and performs within the region (the North West). He also has some samples from two CD's he has produced, but i was not able to figure out how to order them. I still may not get them, but i was really happy to find a Christian bagpiper and tin whistle player. I was hoping to find some examples of some kind of Christian hymns or 'regular' songs, played on the Irish Whistle. I've wanted to learn to play this instrument for a long time. Who knows... maybe i can learn after all three of my children go off to college. Interesting fact (to me): I was in a bagpipe band in High School. One that was sponsored and run by the school. I only played the tenor drum for a little while but i loved marching with them! 8) And now for something completely different... When i read my morning devotional the first scripture i read was:

And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. (Daniel 10:10-12, ESV)

It seemed like God was speaking to me and my doubts of late. "...your words have been heard..." is an encouragement. For me the verses "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’" (Matthew 7:21-23, ESV) are sobering. Most Americans, if you ask them, would say that they are a Christian. But it says plainly here... not everyone who calls the Father 'Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven. Does that not strike fear into your heart! So what is the difference between those who will, and those who will not, enter the Kingdom on that last day?!? The key in these verses seem to be "...the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven" and "‘I never knew you’". Of late i have really focused on the knowing, and being known, by Jesus. How can one be 'known' and not just 'known'... kwim? How does one get to know anybody? You have to spend time with them. Spend time not just talking TO them, but with them. Spend time listening. For me this was telling me that my words were not just be sent up, but that He was hearing them. While i need to work on my listening skills - it was a comfort to know that God has been hearing my prayers right where i am. Prayers may not be answered immediately, but to know that He is answering them in His timing is an incredible blessing. Especially since my prayers lately have been for me and my family to be drawn closer to Him and to know Him more.