Much

1. Put your iPod or iTunes on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Tag friends who might enjoy doing this as well as the person you got it from.


IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Trouble (Caedemons Call) H.I. larious

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Closer (Jars of Clay) cool, its a song about getting closer to God...

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
What I want (Daughtry)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Sing to the Lord (Hillsong) this is getting creepy

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Home (Daughtry) Yes! I'm going home!

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Beautiful, Scandalous Night (Robbie Seay Band) also creepy accurate

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Sovereign Hands (Hillsong United) God has those.

WHAT IS 2+2?
You Thought (Skillet) this is the most appropriate ever

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Blessed be your Name (Tree 63) oddly I think of this as his song

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Alive Forever, Amen! (Warren Barfield) Hmmm...

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
A Conversation (David Crowder Band) oddly enough, I thought I deleted it because its a phone call, not a song.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Grace (Phil Wickham)

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
You are my hope (Skillet) have already determined the "person I like" is Jesus....

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Stars (David Crowder Band) if you listen to this song, and know my self-appointed nickname as a kid was Starr... its getting eerie

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
King of Glory (Josh Bates) enough said.

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Song to the King (Pocket full of Rocks) AMEN!

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Where We Gonna Go From Here (Mat Kearney) Dave Ferguson would call this "What's Next?"

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
All Bow Down (Chris Tomlin) hey, that is not a bad secret, is it?

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Made to Worship (Chris Tomlin) now how could they not be?

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Arms of Love (Kutless) if that is the worse thing that could happen, falling into the arms of Jesus, I think I am set for life...

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Everlasting God (Lincoln Brewster) strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord! So, I die waiting?

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
Let Love In (Goo Goo Dolls) owning a song by the Goo Goo Dolls?

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Fuego de Dios (Fire Fall Down) ((Hillsong United)) yes, spanish cracks me up

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
If I have not Love (Matt Redmond) this is the most accurate meme ever!

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Praise Awaits You (Matt Redman) interesting, already married... so must be to Jesus.

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Love the Lord (Lincoln Brewster) you know, with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength....

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Pure Light (Matt Redman) guess God does

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Uncreated One (Chris Tomlin) how do you change that?

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Majesty (Matt Redman) this makes sense...

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Much (Ten Shekel Shirt)

I really needed a laugh

You have to watch all the way to the end.

Thank God for a sense of humor.

Emmanuel

God With Us by Mercy Me

Who are we
That You would be mindful of us
What do You see
That’s worth looking our way

We are free
In ways that we never should be
Sweet release
From the grip of these chains

Like hinges straining from the weight
My heart no longer can keep from singing

-Chorus-
All that is within me cries
For You alone be glorified
Emmanuel
God with us

My heart sings a brand new song
The debt is paid these chains are gone
Emmanuel
God with us

Lord You know
Our hearts don’t deserve Your glory
Still You show
A love we cannot afford

Like hinges straining from the weight
My heart no longer can keep from singing

Such a tiny offering compared to Calvary
Nevertheless we lay it at Your feet

This song has been our theme song since May. God wants Dave and me to know that He is with us, always.

So, I bought this book at the Leadership Summit by John Burke called Soul Revolution. It details a 60-60 experiment. Read all about it at SoulRevolution.net. Anyway, I got my husband to read it, and he really wanted to try it. So we went and bought some watches that beep every 60 minutes. (I love no sales tax in Oregon, gives me an excuse to shop.) My watch also keeps track of my golf score, so I guess I need to take up golf.

The point of the experiment is to see what happens when you live a life in constant contact with God. It makes you really conscious of God, and paying attention to His presence in your life. It makes you share even the dumbest details of your life with God. For example, I woke up and peed, then invited God to spend the day with me. Then I thought I guess God wants to be a part of everything in my life, including that. Because God is there, he knows everything, but he wants us to include him in everything. Its like God is in the room with you, but you don't include him, he feels left out. It breaks his heart. This 60-60 is supposed to help us be aware of him in the room, and include him in our lives.

My husband said, "this sounds life-changing" and change is always scary for him, but he wanted it. For once he wanted a change, a good change. This is awesome.

We almost didn't make it onto the airplane yesterday.

I checked into the kiosk 3 minutes late and it said that our reservations were canceled, and the lady on the phone said she could put us on a flight to San Francisco at 8pm. I got MAD. Really mad. I said "this is retarded!" She wanted to delay our coming home and charge us 125 bucks for changing flights! Deep inside, I knew I deserved it. We were late to the airport. 3 minutes is three minutes. I could go into how Dave's son didn't want us to leave, and the Oregon traffic, but in truth, we did not deserve to be on that airplane. The guy behind the counter got us boarding passes, and we raced through security only to find they hadn't even begun to board the flight.

Coming out of the bathroom, I cried. This is grace. Grace, undeserved favor. God showed us how even a tiny error from the "law" can keep us from home. In the Bible it says if you break even one of the laws in the tiniest bit, you break them all. The whole law is broken. That is why we need Jesus, that is why we need grace. I cried because we did not deserve to be on that flight. I cried because I did nothing good to deserve heaven. Yet God was with us, he sent his son Jesus who obeyed the law, and then suffered and died for us, so that we could be with him in heaven.

I cried on the plane. I cried because there is a little boy we were leaving behind who was going to have to go through a lot of pain. It was nothing that was his fault. None of this is his fault, yet he has to pay the price. I cried because I wish I could take all of that away. I cried because he wanted us to stay. I cried because I needed to cry. I cried because this is going to be the hardest year of his life and he has no idea. I cry because I have no idea what his mom is telling him. I cry because she tells him things that I cannot control, and I cry because she makes him codependent. I cry because ripping off the band-aid hurts no matter if you do it fast or slow. I cry because God is with me, with us. I cry because I don't deserve it. I cry because the little boy knows nothing about my Jesus, and his concept is so messed up because of his mom. I cry because so much of him is messed up because of his mom. I cry because God wants me to cry. He wants me to feel. He wants me to know that his heart is broken too. He wants me to know it is okay for me to cry.

I cried when I went the wrong way, not because I went the wrong way, but because I was praying I would not see any homeless kids hitchhiking on the highway, and I did. This area is so impoverished, this area is so hopeless. I want to help them. I want to give them hope. I can't. But, my Jesus can. No one should have to be homeless in the United States. Yet poverty is horrible. Unemployment is horrible. The school system is horrible. The health care system is horrible. Welcome to America, where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Some people have Africa, the Phillipines, China.... I have America. My heart breaks for the things that break God's heart.

Listen to "Girl America" by Mat Kearney. Try not to cry and/or rock out.

Try listening to God, and see how that changes your life. I dare you. Check out http://www.soulrevolution.net/

Email me, twitter me, facebook me, IM me, leave a comment, let me know how God is speaking to you.

Ignite Chicago Rocked!

Yesterday, we un-officially launched our small group. For our first meeting, we had Jimmy Johns and went to Ignite Chicago!

It was awesome! My sister came down from Kenosha, and we met up with my buddy Bob. We also ran into a bunch of my friends from CCC.

Todd Agnew got on stage right after we got there, and he totally rocked! It was so good to hear live "Grace Like Rain" and some other awesome songs. When he finished, I went up to the concourse to browse stuff and fight the crowds to get more water. I ended up at the Todd Agnew table getting his new album right when this lady came up and said "Mr. Agnew is coming up now to sign autographs, you better start forming your line" to the guy in charge of the table. So, guess who was in the front of the line? ME! I got to thank Mr. Agnew for Grace Like Rain, because it has gotten me through a lot of hard times in my life and faith. He signed my CD and I asked if I could give him a hug. The man looked exhausted. Apparently there was a death in the family of one of the band members, so they had to catch a flight. That on top of the sweltering heat and crazy life of touring would have done me in. I am just so thankful for the opportunity to say thank you in person.

Of course, it was awesome as usual to see the David Crowder Band up on stage. They put on a great show, complete with the Keytar, the Guitar Hero guitar and the banjo. Not to mention the crowd interaction and the ho-down. Of note there was some girl next to me dancing like an MTV HO, and I said to her friend "that's the wrong kind of ho-down" and I don't think she got it.

Then we pushed up front for Mercy Me. Now, I know I know Mercy Me, and like their stuff, but couldn't have named a song they sing until now. Just because I have a hard time matching songs with artists, especially names, I have a hard time with names. Anywho, I was with my girl Pearl, and we had a great time worshiping God and rocking out together. We had a shared holy moment, and I got us some Mercy Me T-shirts to commemorate it, so we will remember it always.

Our legs were wiped, so we got some food and drinks, and sat down on our blankie for Newsboys. They did this awesome thing during the encore with the drums, I cannot wait for someone to post it on youtube. The lead singer kinda is creepy to me, but Paul Coleman totally is awesome. AND GET THIS, Paul likes them! Sweet!

After finding our way home, and almost destroying my car in the garage, we ate at Los Burritos Tapatios and came home exhausted. Of course we stank, so everyone had to shower before bed. But, great times were had by all.

Thanks to Edan concerts for throwing this together. It rocked!

Cheesy Lyrics

A little bit is better than nada
sometimes you want the whole enchilada
a little bit is better than nada
a little bit or nothing at all...

I thought this was Jimmy Buffett, but nope, its The Texas Tornados.

Seems like just a snippet of cheesy lyrics was appropriate today in my conversation with my friend. I was trying to explain how while God wants all of you, He knows how its hard to start out that way.

He knows how frail we are, he remembers we are only dust. God knows when we have been broken down and damaged. He knows that it might take you a while to trust Him. But He would rather a little bit of you than have none of you.

You know why? Because God wants to show you that if you trust Him with a little bit, he will blow your mind. Then, you can start trusting Him with more. He is worthy of your trust, and He knows if you need time to work on it, its okay.

Just don't get me started on Margaritaville.

I am not the only geek, dude

I no longer feel bad about this post. It seems we all get a little fan-boy like every once and a while.

While I was at home getting all anxious about next week, many folks were down in Florida. Sunny Orlando played host to the Exponential Conference. One of the speakers, Rick Warren showed up and spent time with some New Thing folks. He even gave them all hugs.

Super T-Roy dropped some names as well as Dave pretending to be Andy's brother, or is it the other way around? Don't believe me? Be our guest...

Seems its quite cool to get "geeked out" by church greats.

I guess I am a geek, is that so wrong? I must have a heart for the church and church planting if news like this gets me excited dude! Dude, seriously! Seriously dude.

I hear the strike is over

Sadly, I have yet to watch any TV. I can barely keep up with the movies my friend loans me.

Maybe this is a good thing.

Keeping my eyes focused on what really matters...

For where my treasure is, there lies my heart. See Matthew 6:21

My treasure has not been in TV. My heart has been far far away from that. I will however take the time to go and do this, despite my hatred for Broadway.

Sheep go to Heaven

You should check out this fun game online. Its free and easy to play. I just love anything with sheep, okay!

It is based on the story in Matthew 25 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left."

Also, it features a fun song by Cake. Cake does the "I wanna girl with a short skirt and a long jacket" song that I love.

So you use the "S" key to choose salvation. Click on sheep to send them to heaven. Use the "D" key to choose damnation. Click on the goats to send them to hell. Try not to mess up, time is limited and the levels get more difficult.

Its a really fun waste of time. Enjoy

I am not so secretive

Who doesn't stop by Post Secret? Well, I found this little tid-bit interesting.

I really don't think any of my cousins sent this in, but it makes you think, doesn't it?

I know that my family reads my blog, or can at any time. I don't hide it. In fact, I have started to put the link attached as my email signature.

I want people to read my blog, that's why I do it. Its a way for me to share my life, my thoughts, and not have to call a million folks up.

I have friends that know a lot more about me than I do about them because they read my blog. (Yes, I am talking to you.) I have co-workers that read my blog. (No, I am not talking about you.) I don't put anything online that I wouldn't want used against me in a court of law. I am not an idiot (at least most of the time.)

I want to encourage you, if you are spying on me, on my blog, its okay! I would really like to know you, who you are, and what you think. I want to start conversations and make you pause to think on stuff occasionally. Sometimes, I am just sharing my life! All it takes to share yours with me is an email. icanseerightthroughyou at gmail. Or, for the not so bold, leave an anonymous comment.

Whomever you are, I wanna thank you (remember that Geggie-ta song?)

We all need someone we can lean on

This week has been ablaze with different emotions for me. Just when I am getting over Heath, I find out that one of the WGN news guys died last night in a snowmobile accident. Those are all surface things that it is easy to say are bothering us though.

I have a friend who just moved into an apartment with some other guys, he was nervous because he didn't know them. God was totally with him though, because turns out they are both nice guys, and he knew one of them from about a year ago. The rules are not as strict as he thought, and that means he can hang out with us as much as we want, or he wants. Anyways, we were all pretty stressed out for him yesterday, and this morning when I talked to him, I could relax. I knew God would provide, but I was more worried about how my friend would react.

I myself was stressed out on Tuesday. I was doubting myself and the whole Weight Watchers decision. Everyone asked me how I was, and I didn't want to answer them. I felt much better after Celebrate the Journey though. I connected with God, and I connected with other people who have gone through a lot. We read this passage from the Bible about being lost sheep without a shepherd. That is when it hit me, I was so busy looking at myself, I forgot to look up. I felt like a lost sheep, because I didn't recognize where I was, but when I looked up, I saw my flock, and I saw my Shepherd. I am surrounded by the love of God constantly in His followers and by Himself, but I was being so self-centered I got lost.

Maybe that is what it means to "be still and know" in a way, stop fretting over yourself and look around you. God is everywhere and in everything and everyone if you just stop to see.

I got Mick Jagger singing in my head (don't laugh) "We all need, someone, to lean on. And if you want to, babe, you can lean on God..." (please don't laugh)

My own Reality TV Show!

Yes that's right folks, according to my co-workers, I have been nominated most likely to star in their own reality TV show. I think this is hilarious. You know why? My life IS a reality show.

I look back over the last few years and wanted to share some highlights that probably got me qualified to "win" this title.

~I got stranded in Mexico (lost my ID and couldn't fly)
~My best friend shoved a piece of cake in my face at work (no, I did not laugh)
~I have been known to break into dance at random (especially at shift change)
~Mom's illness/death
~Dad's marriage to her caretaker 4 months after she died
~My engagement of only 3 months
~numerous "work" related dramas (I dare not say more)
~my dryer fire post remodeling
~an current event I cannot post yet

I laugh, I find this all funny, because I have survived! I am alive, and really happy (unlike most reality stars.) I don't care that people see me and my life and laugh, because I laugh. This is the joy of having Christ in your heart. Life is not easy folks, but it is for living and loving and laughing... enjoy! Thanks God!

I'm fixing a hole where the rain gets in

I missed having my life. I don't think I have truly appreciated my home until I lost it. Yet I still feel this empty spot, like something is not quite right. It still doesn't feel like home yet.

Am I trying to fill a hole with something that doesn't fit?

Maybe its because things aren't done, or because all the boxes are yet unpacked. Maybe because the kitchen is still unusable. Yet I sit here waiting for someone else to do it. I don't wanna. I am done with all of this remodeling, and I just want to live... get this pile of pictures to be hung off my couch!

Maybe my house will feel like a home when I can have people over? Who knows.

Until then... I'm fixing a hole... by going to where I belong...
I'm fixing a hole where the rain gets in
And stops my mind from wandering
Where will it go
I'm filling the cracks that ran through the door
And kept my mind from wandering
Where will it go
And it really doesn't matter if i'm wrong
I'm right
Where i belong i'm right
Where i belong.
See the people standing there who disagree and never win
And wonder why they don't get in my door.
I'm painting my room in the colourful way
And when my mind is wandering
There i will go.
And it really doesn't matter if
I'm wrong i'm right
Where i belong i'm right
Where i belong.
Silly people run around they worry me
And never ask me why they don't get past my door.
I'm taking the time for a number of things
That weren't important yesterday
And i still go.
I'm fixing a hole where the rain gets in
And stops my mind from wandering
Where it will go.

Home, home on the range

My heart cries "I want to go home." My husband comes up to me with that look in his eyes. They say there is no place like home, seriously they mean it. I love my dad and Jola, they have been very wonderful to put up with us. But moving back into our new home is so close we can taste it. I want my bed back. I want my space back, the feeling that I cannot describe other than as "home."

Also part of me knows that it is not my home, that it is just a rest stop on my journey. One day I will find myself Home, and my heart yearns for that even more than ever now. This world is not for me. Yet I have so much to learn, miles to go. I know His plans for me are great, but that doesn't stop the hole from calling out to Him.

Oh give me a home where the buffalo roam, and the deer and the antelope play, where seldom is heard a discouraging word and the skies are not cloudy all day. Awooooooo!

Its Friday but Tuesday is coming...

These guys are Tree63. They rock! I got to see them perform live at Ignite Chicago! Also, I got to meet them, shake their hands and get their autographs. John Ellis is the front man, lead singer and guy in the middle of the picture. Personally, he was so kind and honest. I have to give props to these guys for playing an awesome show, and then greeting us all afterwards. They were so tired. I love their music, I love their message, their passion.

Originally from South Africa, they now live in or near Nashville. If you like it, you can check out podcasts from the band on youtube or itunes. Want a preview of the new album, check out their MySpace page. You can listen to a full length version of the single "Sunday". Then on Tuesday, go buy the album. Seriously, it rocks!

Also out Tuesday is Remedy by David Crowder Band! Tuesday, alleluia, its not so far away...

On the brink

I am at a point where a decision must be made. One of the ways brink is defined is "point of onset" the other is "the threshold of danger." Wow, I never new that change was dangerous... but it is, if you don't put it in the right hands.

I asked God for help, I cannot decide this on my own. This is something big, something large. If God helps me decide, I will be stepping in faith, but landing. If I decide on my own, I will be jumping off the brink. Kinda like Indiana Jones in The Last Crusade. I need to take that leap of faith.

God, show up big time for me. I need that bridge to be there. Let me know which step is the right one to take. This is a big decision, I want your will done here, not mine.

David Crowder Band hits on this idea pretty well in Forever and Ever Etc. Check out the lyrics, and decide if you want to let go and jump. It is based on the fact that God loves you more than possible for anyone but Him. (Also click on the title of the song above for a link to the video on YouTube, hilarious squirrel war Anime action.)

Love so incredible to know
It's never gonna go
Never gonna go

Love too impossible and true
For anyone but You
For anyone but You

I think I'm on the brink of something large
Maybe like the breaking of a dawn
Or maybe like a match being lit
Or the sinking of a ship
Letting go gives a better grip

I'm finding everything I'll ever need
By giving up gaining everything
Falling for You for eternity
Right here at Your feet
Where I wanna be
I am Yours

Love so indelible to know
You're never gonna go
You're never gonna go

Love too unthinkable and true
For anyone but You
For anyone but You

Maybe like a match being lit
Or the sinking of a ship
Letting go gives a better grip

I'm finding everything I'll ever need
By giving up gaining everything
Falling for You for eternity
Right here at Your feet
Where I wanna be

I'm finding everything I'll ever need
By giving up gaining everything
Falling for You for eternity
Right here at Your feet
Where I wanna be

I am Yours forever...

I'm finding everything I'll ever need
By giving up gaining everything
Falling for You for eternity
Right here at Your feet
Where I wanna be

I'm finding everything I'll ever need
By giving up gaining everything
Falling for You for eternity
Right here at Your feet
Where I wanna be
I am Yours

Forever and ever and ever and ever
And ever and ever and ever and ever...

All your heart, soul, mind, strength

In Mark 12:30 Jesus says "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." This was in response to the question "what is the most important commandment?"

Notice how hard it is for everyone to follow this commandment. Even long practicing Christians find themselves holding things back from God. They choose to love themselves, or Elvis, or the new BMW, but not God. And not with ALL of themselves, body, spirit and thought, and definitely not as much or as strongly as they can.

Why do we hold back? What do we fear? Are we just being selfish? What good will it do anyway?

Everyone has their own reasons, for many it is lack of faith or fear of punishment. If you confess to God, he will forgive you. Jesus took on your sin so that you didn't have to die for it. You will not be punished, God is not up their with lightning bolts looking to hit you when you sin. God is here with open arms, waiting to hug you and love you. You just have to GO TO HIM! Jesus died so that you could have that relationship with Him. Do not be afraid of God.

When you let God in, healing can begin. Imagine what it would be like if you let him in with ALL your heart, ALL your soul, ALL your mind, and ALL your strength? God is faithful, he will never let you down. Its just us mere dusty humans that do the disappointing...

Heavenly Father, I just pray that we search ourselves and decide to reveal what we are hiding. You already know all of us, for you created us, but I pray we come to you with it, and allow ourselves to be forgiven and loved by you. Help us to open up to you, to love you with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. Help us to understand how deep, how wide, and how long your love is for us...
You have the power Lord, help us with what we cannot do on our own. In Jesus Name, Amen

Ephesians 3:16-21 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Step by step

I actually got some cleaning done yesterday. The first step was to see why the vacuum cleaner wasn't sucking. There was a gigantic fur ball, but the core of that was this balled up napkin. I am sparing you that picture. It was gross. The vacuum cleaner got stuck because it tried to suck up something too big to handle.

Have you ever gotten stuck? I have. I notice when I get stuck, it is because I try to take on something much bigger than I can handle. I keep forgetting that the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

God never gives us anything we cannot handle. I have always been convinced of this. But, he also never wanted us to do it all at once in a single leap. I forget that often. When I set a goal, or am faced with a challenge, I always want to get it done right away or not at all. That is not how God intended.

In the Old Testament, great reading if you ever get the chance, God promises the Jews the land of milk and honey. The land he promised is not conquered in one day, not even in one generation. They wanted to take it all at once, but God did not let them. If they didn't have to fight for the land, they would not appreciate it. Still, they didn't always listen to God, and that lead to them eventually losing the land. They were exiled from what was promised to them.

When I try to do things my way, and take it all on at once, I get thrown off! I bet you do too. What God wants us to do is listen to him, and take on our challenges little by little, step by step. You don't just walk into a gym and magically have six-pack abs! You have to keep coming back, and keep working out. You can't spend all day there either, you will end up unable to move for days upon days or seriously injuring yourself. God wants us to be his partner, and to do things step by step.

Its hard to have this patience in our day and age. Tivo lets you pull up a show when you want it, pause it, and fast forward through the programming. Real life means you deal with it when it happens, and there is no fast forwarding through commercial breaks.

You can deal with this when you have a relationship with God. Leaning on Him helps me to get through the challenges. The word "wait" is found in the NIV Bible 135 times, and in the NLT 159 times. Waiting is a part of what God intended us to do. So what do we do while we wait? Take it step by step.

Romans 8:25 But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently

Romans 15:4 And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

Hebrews 9:28 so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.

2 Peter 3:14 And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.

A wise man named Tom Petty once said "the waiting is the hardest part." Do your best to make the most of it, don't get anxious and jump ahead of yourself.

To be a child...

Sometimes when things get tough, you don't want to face it. You don't want to get up after you fall, you don't want to wake up in the morning and you certainly don't want to go through it again. But not kids. Little kids fall down all the time, but they keep getting up. Eventually they learn how to walk. How am I supposed to learn how to walk if I don't get up?
You are not alone. God is always there, holding out his hands. Take hold of them and pull yourself closer to him. Still having trouble? If you have some good friends, they should give you a nudge to help you along. Good friends don't say "yeah, that sucks, just have a beer and it will be okay." No, good friends get behind you and push. Good friends cheer you along, and help you get closer to God. Friends you don't need will be biting your ankles, trying to keep you down, stopping you from learning to walk. Hint: they are not your friends.

In this way I realize one of the ways we have to become like children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. If we think we can get up by ourselves all of the time, we will never reach up and grab for God's hands, and we certainly will not lean on our friends for a push. We are not meant to be fully independent, we are meant for COMMUNITY.

This also means that we have to play fair. It is not cool to have your friend push you on the swings if you don't push your friend the next time. You cannot just take, you have to give back. The word for this "giving back" is service. CCC had a great service on service this weekend. Check out the message here when they finally upload it... click on contribute. Also, check out "Serving Back" on YouTube, an excellent parody of Justin Timberlake's hot song.

Yeah, I know I didn't really sum this up well, but you will get stuck playing on YouTube anyway.

Reindeer games

Do YOU know the secret words to Rudolph the Red nose Reindeer?

The other day, someone came in singing that song, and I chimed in with the extra words. The other person looked over at us like we were nuts. They didn't know that Rudolph had those lyrics.

So for those of you out of the loop, here (from my own recollection, not from any website) is the complete lyrics to Rudolph the Red nosed Reindeer.

Rudolph the red nosed reindeer (reindeer)
had a very shiny nose (like a light bulb)
and if you ever saw it (saw it)
you would even say it glows (like a light bulb)
all of the other reindeer (reindeer)
used to laugh and call him names (like Pinocchio)
they never let poor Rudolph (Rudolph)
join in any reindeer games (like Monopoly)
then one foggy Christmas eve,
Santa came to say (HO HO HO)
Rudolph with your nose so bright, wont you drive my sleigh tonight?
then all the reindeer loved him (loved him)
and they shouted out with glee (whoopee!)
Rudolph the red nosed reindeer (reindeer)
You'll go down in history (like George Washington)

In first grade, I went to a private school. We had the fifth graders come sing us a song for Christmas. Children are such bad influences on each other. This is the Rudolph song you won't forget.

Rudolph the rootin' tootin' cowboy
had a very shiny gun
and if you ever saw it
you would turn around and run
all of the other cowboys
used to laugh and call him names
they never let poor Rudolph
join in any cowboy games
then one foggy weekend eve
Sheriff came to say
Rudolph with your gun so bright
wont you shoot my wife tonight?
then all the cowboys loved him
and they shouted out whopee!
Rudolph the rootin' tootin' cowboy
you'll go down in history!

I want to know you, better than I do

My Bible reading has had me in John and Revelation. My cd player has Jennifer Knapp. The more I read the Bible, the more I know Jesus. The more I understand this trinity concept. The more I understand God's will. And the chorus for "Into You" run through my head.

She's a skin art junkie, all cute and petite
all her fat-cat schemes don't look around
don't you even blame me
it's a real bad thing to spill your shades for a blind man to find it
who can feel the whole earth move and don't even mind it

CHORUS:
I wanna know you
better than i do
relieve from myself, bring me into you
i wanna know you
better than i do
relieve me from myself, bring me into you

she's a wanna be hero
yeah, she try to be strong
but at the end of the hour
you find that the tower ain't standing so tall
it's a real hard thing
to show your weakness
if anyone can love you, i know my King does

-Chorus-

Your Holiness
Your Kingdom
Your Righteousness
My Freedom

she's an easy scare
she's a simple bluff
she's a timid girl
she's in love


That is me. I am in love. I want to give it up to Him so I can be free. I want to feel his love in me and through me and for me and for others. I can not use words to describe this. Read Jesus's prayer in John 17 then see if you get the feeling I do. One. Unity. Love. Not hate and disease and war.

My prayer is that this Christmas the world gets just a taste of the love of God. And it I pray that it makes the world thirsty for God. I pray that people turn to God to fulfill their thirst. I pray that all believers become stronger in their faith and learn to shine their light in the world. I pray that we all get to know you Father, better than we do.