Yes, it’s that day of the year. Super Tuesday. “In the United States, Super Tuesday commonly refers to the Tuesday in early February or March of a presidential election year when the greatest number of states hold primary elections to select delegates to national conventions at which each party’s presidential candidates are officially nominated. More delegates can be won on Super Tuesday than on any other single day of the primary calendar, and accordingly, candidates seeking the presidency traditionally must do well on this day to secure their party’s nomination” (Wikipedia.org). 24 states held primaries or caucuses today, with 52 percent of all pledged Democratic Party delegates and 41 percent of the total Republican Party delegates at stake. It was a good night for John McCain, and Barack Obama, both front-runners of the republican and democratic parties respectively.

Here are the results:

For results in a more interactive format go to foxnews.com

North Greenville University

Yep. It’s that time of year. The Holidays are over, and school is starting back up. I’m headed back to school tomorrow, Monday morning. Once i get back, i will check in, get my key and start unpacking. Then two days later, classes start. I can’t wait to get back and see people. It’s gonna be a blast. This will be my second semester at North Greenville University. I’m a Freshman, studying Mass Communications with a concentration in Print Media and Web Design. I enjoy it. I miss hanging out with friends, so I’m ready to get back.

This semester I’m taking 17 hours, two hours more than last semester. I decided to take more hours to get more classes in a little faster. I plan to study more this semester and pull up my grade point average. Overall, I believe it will be a great semester, and I’m looking forward to it.

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LOST Returns to ABC on Jan. 31

Many of you Lost Fans already know Lost will be returning on January 31, 2008 at 9:00 PM EST. No word on to how many episodes will air or if the episodes that do air, will air continuously. To sum it up, Lost returns in 27 days.

Download ABC’s Mid Season Schedule

Haven’t had a chance to catch up? Haven’t seen the first 3 seasons? Well if you don’t want to be “Lost” in LOST, you can see how it all began on abc.com. ABC is currently streaming the FULL episodes of ALL 3 SEASONS of Lost on their website in HD Quality!

Watch LOST Seasons 1, 2 & 3 Now

www.find185.com

Over the next month it appears fans will be able to wet their “Lost” appetites with a new alternate reality game entitled Find 815. The game’s main protagonist appears to be Sam Thomas, an IT technician for Oceanic Airlines who is disgruntled by the company’s decision to stop searching for Flight 815. Sam has been contacted by a mysterious individual or group, hinting that they may have the answers to what he seeks – what happened to Flight 815 and his girlfriend, Sonya.

The game is expected to end at the end of January 2008, coinciding with the Lost Season 4 premiere. Until then, fans can enjoy a tale which promises interesting revelations in the show’s mythology. So go ahead and get started at find815.com

lostpedia.com

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Wes and Kevin from Rush Of Fools teaching their new song “All We Ever Needed” from their debut album “Rush Of Fools” on New Song Cafe.

Direct Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB6QZMnt-2A

worshiptogether.com

Skillet
Deluxe Edition
Genre: Rock
Release Date: December 26, 2007

Massive rock riffs, swirling drums, monstrous hooks and undeniably catchy choruses. Hints of progressive rock mixed in with modern alternative flourishes and touches of classical influence as swelling strings intersect with sonic adrenaline rushes. It’s indeed a fusion unlike any other, marking the latest chapter in the continuous evolution of Skillet, whose moniker couldn’t be more fitting come its explosive release Comatose.

Deluxe Edition Content:
• New cover art
• Comatose CD
• 5 acoustic tracks
• 1 NEW studio track
• 3 videos (Rebirthing, Whispers in the
Dark, Looking for Angels)
• Making of the record
• FREE Wallpaper
• FREE Ringtone

Here’s the brand new song featured on the album, Live Free or Let Me Die.
Download: http://www.wikiupload.com/download_page.php?id=29265&code=p6pf

newreleasetuesday.com

Ah. Another year has passed. It is early morning on New Years Day. No partying for me. I’m sitting at home, reclined in a chair, watching Dick Clark’s Rockin New Years Eve, thinking about the past 365 days. There were some great ones, and well, some not so great ones. Overall it was a phenomenal year. Happy 2008, Everyone!

This is a new video in the New Song Cafe guitar instructional series from the always wonderful resource, worshiptogether.com. In this issue, Matt Maher, the host, meets with David Crowder, a worship leader and songwriter from Waco, Texas. He shares his song “O, For A Thousand Tongues to Sing” a remake of the old hymn, and he also teaches how he plays the song. It’s a great video. Check it out!

Direct Link: http://youtube.com/watch?v=72LfltazzQE (Hosted on YouTube)

Here’s my schedule for the Spring 2008 Semester:

Monday
10:00am – 10:50am: Chapel / Turner Chapel
1:00pm – 2:15pm: English 1320 Composition and Literature / Thompson / Admin 212
2:30pm – 3:45pm: Spanish I / Gonzalez / Avery 103

Tuesday
10:50am-12:05pm: New Testament Survey / Rollins / Admin 201
1:40pm – 2:55pm: Music Appreciation / Weaver / Hayes 117
3:05pm – 4:20pm: Media Technology / Gopal / Mac Lab

Wednesday
10:00am – 10:50am: Chapel / Turner Chapel
1:00pm – 2:15pm: English 1320 Composition and Literature / Thompson / Admin 212
2:30pm – 3:45pm: Spanish I / Gonzalez / Avery 103
4:00pm -4:50pm: Interactive Media Practicum / Eller / Mac Lab

Thursday
10:50am-12:05pm: New Testament Survey / Rollins / Admin 201
1:40pm – 2:55pm: Music Appreciation / Weaver / Hayes 117
3:05pm – 4:20pm: Media Technology / Gopal / Mac Lab

This song basically describes how i feel right now.

I feel it everyday it’s all the same
It brings me down but I’m the one to blame
I’ve tried everything to get away
So here I go again
Chasing you down again
Why do I do this?

Over and over, over and over
I fall for you
Over and over, over and over
I try not to

It feels like everyday stays the same
It’s dragging me down and I can’t pull away
So here I go again
Chasing you down again
Why do I do this?

Over and over, over and over
I fall for you
Over and over, over and over
I try not to
Over and over, over and over
You make me fall for you
Over and over, over and over
You don’t even try

So many thoughts that I can’t get out of my head
I try to live without you, every time I do I feel dead
I know what’s best for me
But I want you instead
I’ll keep on wasting all my time

Over and over, over and over
I fall for you
Over and over, over and over
I try not to
Over and over, over and over
You make me fall for you
Over and over, over and over
You don’t even try to

I haven’t made a post to this blog in over 5 months. Thats insane. So i decided to say a little something. Well I’m in college now. I’m a Freshman at North Greenville University. It’s really great here. Homecoming is this weekend. My family is coming down for the football game. It’s gonna rock. I’m pretty excited. I’ll probably  post some pictures later. We will be playing Concordia in the football game tomorrow. Hopefully we can win, because losing homecoming is always lame. So far our football team has a terrible record of something like 1-6. Yep. But i’ll keep you filled in this weekend. Who knows, i might actually start posting some more.

3 days left of school. Then i have 3 exams. Then i graduate 3 days later. Lol. Yep. I can’t wait ’til graduation. I’m going to school at North Greenville University, in the fall. So yeah, I can’t wait. Today was a pretty good day, for the most part. I’m starting a study, with Cassidy. We are going through the book of James together. She’s an amazing girl, and It’s going to be a great learning experience. I just know it. I kinda screwed things up with this other study i was doing before. So we are taking a little break. Hopefully i don’t screw things up with this one. And hopefully i can fix things with the other person. That would be nice. But yeah. School’s almost out. Can’t wait, man. Summer, here i come!

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Direct Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjKQ7HYrygs (YouTube)

The band “Rush of Fools” teaching their new song Undo on New Song Cafe. A great song, fresh and powerful. And just because I’m a nice guy, I’ll throw in a Bible Study written by the songwriter, Kevin Huguley.

Date Created: 5/24/2007
Author: Kevin Huguley of Rush of Fools
Scripture References: 1 Romans 7:15, 2 Romans 7:18-19, 3 Romans 8:29

It’s pretty cool to read letters from people you can relate to. This guy we know as Paul from the scriptures is a really neat guy. He is a church planter, a missionary, and a real person with real problems. In his letter to the church in Rome, he openly shares about the struggles in his own life. “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”1 He goes on to admit, “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.”2 When first reading this part of his letter, it’s easy to get a little confused, but it’s probably because Paul himself was pretty confused. It didn’t make sense to him that the sin in his life, even as a believer, continued to bring him down. Why is it that we often feel like Paul? Why can’t we do what we know is right?

We find the answer in this same letter. In Romans 8, Paul talks about how we, along with the rest of creation, are eagerly waiting our adoption as sons. God is not through with us yet. Though we are still in the flesh, we look to the coming Kingdom that God has planned for us. “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”3 What an incredible journey to be adopted into. Jesus alone is the answer to our problems in this life. He truly is the only One who can undo what we’ve made of ourselves. Our encouragement is that He is preparing us for something so much better. Let’s pray that God will keep reminding us how desperate we are for His grace in our lives.

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What I’ve Done, Linkin Park’s new lead single from their Minutes to Midnight album, made its debut in the top ten on Billboard Chart’s Hot 100. What I’ve Done is a thought-provoking, reflective music video, drawing attention to a wide range of social issues today’s teens will be confronting for decades to come. The music video dramatizes issues ranging from war and terrorism to famine and pollution. Add in the clips of racism, addiction, obesity and environmental concerns, and you have a catalogue of many of the key areas in which society has ‘missed the mark’ and failed to do the right thing.

Sound depressing? Actually, the song’s lyrics present a very different picture from the haunting images that make up much of this music video. The lyrics focus on acknowledging the mistakes, facing the problems, ‘fessing up, seeking forgiveness, letting go and moving on.

Check out these lyrics:

So let mercy come,
And wash away…
What I’ve Done.
I’ll face myself,
To cross out what I’ve become.
Erase myself,
And let go of what I’ve done…

I’ll start again,
And whatever pain may come.
Today this ends,
I’m forgiving what I’ve done.

Everyone’s life holds mistakes, regrets, major mess-ups, sin…whatever tag you want to label it with. But in the end, the Bible’s terminology is on target – the Bible calls it ‘missing the mark’. And whether you view this song from a societal level or a personal level, it speaks to the ugly consequences that result when we mess-up.

Our human response to ‘missing the mark’ can include a whole range of reactions: denial, excuses, anger, guilt, withdrawal or depression. And even if we take the right steps, seek forgiveness from those we’ve hurt and strive to make amends, we can still struggle to ‘forgive ourselves’. That’s what makes Jesus’ gift of forgiveness so radical and life changing! When the lyrics to the song cry out “Let mercy come, and wash away, what I’ve done,” they capture the essense of Jesus’ salvation message and describe the gift of forgiveness He offers to all who are willing to accept it. Jesus is the answer to the cry for mercy and for new beginnings!!

The Apostle Paul describes it this way in Romans 8:1-4:

With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death. God went for the jugular when he sent his own Son. He didn’t deal with the problem as something remote and unimportant. In his Son, Jesus, he personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all. (The Message)

So use this song to talk about Jesus and His incredible free gift of forgiveness with your friends! You might try some of these conversation starters:

• What emotions does this music video stir up in you? Fear of the future? Depression? Forgiveness? Encouragment? New beginnings? Hope? Share how your relationship with God has helped you as you deal with those same types of emotions in everyday life.
• Ask your friends if they have a particular response when they mess-up. Denial, excuses, anger, guilt, withdrawal,depression? Share what Jesus’ gift of forgiveness has meant in your life.
• What do you think of when you hear the lines from the song that say “Let mercy come, and wash away, what I’ve done”? Share the Christian view of God’s mercy and how Jesus washes away our sins.

What I’ve Done provides a natural bridge for bringing God’s mercy and forgiveness up in your conversations. So let mercy come, and wash away, what I’ve done…

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Donald Miller, author of Blue Like Jazz, To Own A Dragon, Through Painted Deserts, and Searching For God Knows What, is defiantly in my top 5 when authors are concerned, and probably people in general. Although I’ve never met the guy, it seems that he has became someone I’ve known for years, after recently starting Blue Like Jazz. So i thought you would need to listen to this. It is a message he gave at Mars Hill Bible Church, in Grand Rapids, MI, where lead pastor, Rob Bell teaches on a regular basis. This message he gave is titled “God Is Fathering Us.” In this talk, Miller talks about how Jesus is not like a Magic Bullet, or a product at all for that matter, but he is our Father, and we should treat him that way. Take a listen.

Download MP3 (Right Click & Save Target As…)

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David Crowder is at it again! Unfortunately not a new live album yet (that is coming soon though), But still a good live recording from Passion 07.

Called “Oh The Glory Of It All” it seems to be, musically and lyrically a progression in the line of “Deliver Me” and “Coming Towards”. If you put these three songs together you get a nice pretty straight line. Not sure if that’s what they intended or not, but that’s what I’m hearing.

Take a listen:

Nice work, guys. Hope you don’t mind if I post the lyrics?

Oh the Glory of it All
David Crowder Band

At the start
he was there, he was there
In the end,
he’ll be there, he’ll be there

And After all our hands have wrought
He forgives

Oh the Glory of it all is:
he came here
For the rescue of us all
that we may live
for the glory of it all
for the glory of it all

All is lost
find him there, find him there
After night
Dawn is there, Dawn is there

After all falls apart
he repairs he repairs

Oh the Glory of it all is:
he came here
for the rescue of us all
that we may live
for the glory of it all

oh he is here
for redemption from the fall
that we may live
for the glory of it all
oh the glory of it all
the glory of it all
oh the glory of it all

After night
comes the light
dawn is here
dawn is here
it’s a new day
it’s a new day
everything will change
things will never be the same
we will never be the same
we will never be the same
we will never be the same
we will never be the same

Oh, The glory of it all is
you came here
for the rescue of us all
that we may live
for the glory of it all

Oh you are here
with redemption for us all
that we may live
for the glory of it all
for the glory of it all
oh the glory of it all

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Hillsong United has done it again! They have a new release “From All The Above” coming out in the United States next month. It’s already out in Australia. This a video i found on YouTube, of there new song “Solution.” It Rocks! It’s an amazing song. So heres the video. Enjoy!

Direct Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMBITMFsdvE (YouTube)

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This is an episode of New Song Cafe, one of the many great features on WorshipTogether.com. This episode featuers Brenton Brown, teaching us how to play his amazing song, “Everlasting God.” Chris Tomlin also preforms this song, featured on his latest album, See The Morning. Check it out.

Direct Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YePOcs88kqw (YouTube)

So i was planning on going to a concert with a few friends last night. But it turns out they were sold out, and guess what… We didnt have tickets. It kinda make me mad, becuse i really wanted to see Skillet, and Flyleaf. I was disspointed. We went to see a movie instead. We saw “Are We Done Yet?” It was alright. It wasnt that great of a movie. But it was alright. I dont think i got my moneys worth. Thats alright though. I still had a good time.

Today i woke up around 9:30, to go help out with the easter egg hunt at my church. Little did i know i would be the only teenager helping out. A few other youth showed up, but i was pretty much the only one helping. So that was fun. I guess. But anyway I’m really excited about Easter. Its tomorrow! So I can’t wait. It’s gonna be awesome.

This is an article i read, and i’m reposting it from Dare2Share.org

Of course you probably thought I meant something else by ‘homophobic’- right? These days it is narrowly defined as an ‘irrational fear of homosexuals’- however if you break this wildly popular mud-slinging adjective down to its roots, you have ‘homo’- which is Latin for ‘man’, and ‘phobic’ which is ‘a fear of’- so homophobic is technically a fear of man.
What kind of man? Well, I’m talking about a fear of a homo unius libri… a man (or person) of one book.

This phrase came from an amazing preacher named John Wesley who helped start one of the greatest revivals America has ever seen. His one mission to serve God by spreading the gospel and helping the oppressed came from his one focus to be a homo (man) unius (one) libri (book).
You can probably guess what ‘one book’ he was talking about. It was the best seller of his time, and still is the best seller of all time. It has been translated into over 3000 languages and is the only book that was written by 40 different people over a course of 1500+ years in three languages and on three continents that contains one consistent theme.

You and I know it as the Bible, and despite its supernatural qualities and super powerful impact it can have on our lives, most Christians just have a super dusty copy lost on a shelf somewhere.

Why? Because they are homophobic in a ‘people of one book’ sort of way. They fear being people of one book because this one book just might get a hold of their lives and turn them into some radical sold out servant of Christ.

Don’t believe me? Then go out and ask people how often they read the Bible. Or better yet, ask them how many verses they can tell you from memory. They’ll know that God so loved the world, and that Jesus wept, but generally speaking they’ll connect better with Harry Potter than with the Apostle Paul, and know more about a series of unfortunate events than the events leading to Christ’s death and resurrection. They think Jesus was born because Mary had an immaculate contraption, the people who followed the Lord were called the 12 decibels, and the epistles were the wives of the apostles.

Oh they’ll say they don’t read and study the Bible because they don’t have time, don’t know where to start, don’t think it’s relevant, or don’t understand it. But I think the bottom line is they are homophobic. And in many ways, they are right. We should be just a little afraid of a book that describes itself as “alive and powerful”, and

“sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” (Hebrews 4:12)

But for me, I have a bigger fear. It’s called ‘theophobia’- and that is a fear of God. Not an irrational fear, but a very rational one based on verses like these:

For the Lord’s great anger is burning against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words in this scroll. We have not been doing everything it says we must do.” (2 Kings 22:13)

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. (Psalm 111:10)

So are you ready to be cured of your homophobia? It doesn’t require rehab or therapy- just carve out a sacred time each day to dive into this sacred book and let it change you from the inside out- because:

The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s charter. Here Paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of God its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.

So don’t be homophobic- instead be theophobic and let your fear of God help you overcome your fear of becoming everything He wants you to be!

(Reposted from Dare2Share.org)

As easter is coming our way, We must take some time to remember the One who makes everything glorious. Jesus Christ died, and rose again, making everything glorious. What a great truth.

Direct Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsfsSLa0u8w (YouTube)

Spring Break is here! Finally. I have no plans to do anything, other than chill around the house. All though i might go to a concert on friday, with Skillet and Flyleaf, (Justice and Mercy Tour) at Tremont Music Hall, here in Charlotte. That would be a good concert. Besides that I have no plans. So hopefully i wont be bored too much.

Also i might be going to Sri Lanka, in August for a Mission Trip. Sri Lanka is a island right off the coast, south of India. A team from my church is going, and I dont know if i’m going yet, but i might be. I wanted to go to Costa Rica, but that really didnt work out, so maybe this will. If this doesnt i might go to Brazil. So i’ll be praying a lot, to figure out where God wants me to Go, or if he wants me to go. So yeah. Thats all i got for now.

When i was at KALEO Conference (a confecence for students who feel God is calling them into ministry) at North Greenville Univeristy last weekend, i took a Breakout Session, led by Matthew Harding which talked about this idea: 7 Dangers ministries should avoid. So these are some of the notes i took.

The choices that you make now, will impact your ministry in the future.

A minister with no integrity is no minister at all. You have to be real. You have to have integrity.

1. Choosing to have random quiet times with out a plan

– Your relationship with God and having a daily quiet time must be a priority.
– Set a time, place, and where you meet with God everyday.

2. Believing You don’t need accountibility

– Every guy needs a man that keeps him accountable

3. Acting if your current relationship won’t affect your future

1. What type of person do you want to be with?
2. What are you doing together?
3. Are you ministering together?

– The reason God brings couples together is so that they can minister together

– THE THREE M’S
1. First, Who’s your master?
2. Second, Whats your mission?
3. Third, Who’s your mate?
(This is the order they MUST go in)

– What is your bond?
Self, sex, or service? It should be serivce.

4. Allowing your tounge to run free

(lying, gossip, exageration, joking)
– This is a big one. This is what sets us apart. We are called to be set apart, and to be HOLY, we must be different from the rest of the world. (Romans 12:2)

5. Thinking your money management will work itself out

– What you spend your money on, will show where your priorities are

6. Believing what you think about won’t affect your actions

– What you think about will eventually find it’s way out.

7. Jumping too soon on a good oppurtunity while missing out on God’s best oppurtunity

– Even though an oppurtunity is good, and is a godly idea, coming from the word of God, doesnt mean it’s God’s will for you
– God might have different plans

How do know God’s will:
– Train your mind
– Define your defense
– Starve your eyes

Of pastors who fell morally they all had this in common:

1. No daily time in the word of God
2. 80% had sexual fantasies before ever acting on them
3. 100% had no accountability in their life
4. 100% never beleived it would happen to them

The best gift you will ever give your ministry is your own personal holiness

Yeah, we got midterms this week. But the good thing is, i just finished my last one. So i got those over with. Also we are out of school tomorrow. I’m going to a conference with my church this weekend. So that would be fun. Also, Carolina plays Southern-Cal tomorrow night. We’ll beat’em. For sure. So i gotta watch that. Anyway. I don’t have much else to say. That’s pretty much it for now.

Here’s another great message from Francis Chan. This is a little bit of a continuation of his “Luke Warm and Loving It” message, i posted earlier.

Direct Link: http://youtube.com/watch?v=mG7EStr8s3I (YouTube)

Velvet Elvis

I just finished reading Rob Bell’s book “Velvet Elvis: Repainting The Christian Faith” a few days ago. Wow. That is one great book! Rob Bell is an amazing author, i must say. Which doesnt suprise me, hes an amazing speaker, and he’s just awesome. I like his style or writing and speaking. He asks a lot of questions. And he gets you thinking. He brings up things you never really think about bringing up, until you read it. One of his quotes i really love is from this book:

“Why blame the dark for being dark? It’s far more helpful to ask why the light isn’t as bright as it should be.” — Rob Bell

Thats just one of the many interesting things Rob Bell mentions. This book really got me thinking. I need to be repainting the Christian faith for my generation and the ones to come. Its my responsibility, as a follower of Christ. Now i’m am reading David Crowder’s “Praise Habit”, which is another amazing, and quite intresting author. Rob Bell does have a new book out called “Sex God.” I HAVE to get that book. Thats a MUST. To find more information about his new book, visit my friends blog: Tisbury Lane. Thats all for now. Stay safe out there.

This is a message from a great dynamic speaker, Francis Chan. Check it out. Its about 40 minutes long. So it’s quite lengthy, but nevertheless… you won’t waste your time. Great speaker, great truth, great God.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBhqrtMqrv8 (YouTube)

In this unique night full of music, listen to the hearts of 7:22 worship leaders Todd Fields, Kristian Stanfill and Steve Fee. Each revealed what worship means to them, and how it can be an incredible outward expression of our personal encounters with the Holy Spirit.

Watch the Video Now

Why do bad things happen to good people? This question has been brought up many times in the existence of this world. But i tell you the truth; I have never seen one bad thing happen to a good person. You might find this hard to believe, but its true. The fact is, no human being, with the exception of Jesus Christ is good, was good, or will be good for that matter. We are all bad people. We all sin. We all fall short. We all miss the mark, on a regular basis. Paul, tells us in Romans 3:23, that “For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.” For some reason we think its so horrible of God that he would “watch us suffer”. We think it makes him so unloving, and impersonal.

When i was little i always wanted chicken nuggets to eat. Sometimes, and most of the time i could not have chicken nuggets. My parents did not let me have chicken nuggets every time i came to the table. I had to eat my spinach, or my broccoli, or my brusslesprouts. Now this made me very angry, a lot of times. I thought they were just horrible parents to let me go through so much pain. When a parent of a child lets their child suffer, for the sake of maturing that child; does that parent become a bad parent? Not by any means! Why would we think that? I know now, my parents weren’t doing anything wrong at all. In fact, They were doing everything right. They were protecting me.

Thats exactly what God does. God protects. Sometimes that means we have to suffer. God sometimes doesnt work the way we want him to. And that doesn’t make him some horrible, evil God. It makes him a loving, righteous, and just God. Thats what God is.

Have you ever seen the infomercial for the Magic Bullet? Tap it once, and you can slice things, tap it twice, and you can dice them, tap it three times, and you can — whatever. Well it turns out that it doesnt work the way the infomercial says it works. Its essentially, a magic… babyfood maker. Thats what it does. And all of a sudden, i want my money back becuase the product doesnt work. You know what… this is exactlly how a lot of times, we look at Jesus.

We think that there’s all these formulas, and ways of doing things, that if we say the right words, if we say long enough prayers, if do this, or that. that God will give us what we want. This idea is ubsurd. Theres nothing in the bible that says anything like that. In fact the bible tries its best to not give us one certian formula, that works every time. Jesus preforms miracles so many different ways. He spits in the mud, and rubs it in a guys eyes. He touches them, says “Go, you’ve already been saved.” Why should we think God would work in such a way?

Somtimes we think, being Christians our lives should be easy. But really, God never promised us easy lifes. In fact, he promised us tough, risky, “living on the edge”, lives. Lets put together a quick informercial for the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ. Ok. Go follow Jesus… and You will routinely be persecuted, run through the streets naked, betray Jesus 3 times, and hes not gonna go for that, be flogged 39 times or so, be bitten by a snake, shipwrecked for a few months, and oh yeah.. you and your wife will be crucified upside down.

Teriffic! You see…. God never promises us easy, no-hassel, lives. God does not work that way. He’s not some kind of product, that you get off the shelf only when you need it, and is guareneteed to work exactally the way the infomercial says it does, and if it doesnt we get our money back. God doesnt work that way. God’s our Father, and He is fathering us to Maturity. We need to stop looking at God like some kind of product, and start looking at him like our Father.

Sometimes i think the better question to ask, is this: Why do good things happen to bad people? Why does God bless us with what we do not deserve? Its only by his grace, we have been saved. Not by our works, so that no one can boast. Now, that is ONE GREAT GOD!

I just found this video on YouTube. This song was written by Matt Maher, an awesome worship leader, and song writer. Chris Tomlin redid it, and put it on his album, Arriving. This is Tomlin, performing it live Urbana, IL, back in October. Enjoy!

Direct Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIF5_shKdHs (YouTube)

To get the free sheet music, and bible study, and even a video with Matt, and Chris teaching you how to play it, you have to be a member of WorshipTogether.Com, which is totally FREE. The benifits are amazing, so go to worshiptogether.com and join today! Then you will be able to find the free sheet music. If you already are a member, here are the links:

Free Sheet Music
Free Guitar Lesson (Windows Media Player)
Free Bible Study by Matt Maher

There you go. Hope you take advantage of all these lovely resources. It’s amazing of how much stuff is out there for worship leaders. You never know what you’ll find. Well until next time, Be safe out there. God bless.

This is the Passion 07 Podcast, with Louie Giglio, and Eddie… uhhh Eddie somebody. So Yeah, i wanted yall to hear this one. It’s really good.

• Download This Podcast (Right Click & Save Target As…)
• Subscribe To The Passion 07 Podcast (RSS Feed)
• Passion Website

Americans want a holiday. Tell me you didnt see this one coming. Read this article. Tell me what you think.

Super Bowl: National holiday?
BY JOHN JEANSONNE
Newsday Staff Writer

January 27, 2007

This is the real State of the Union: An estimated 85 million Americans voted in November’s midterm elections; next week’s annual National Football Lollapalooza is expected to draw a U.S. viewing audience almost double that, roughly 140 million. In North Carolina, four men are collecting signatures for a petition that would seek national holiday status for the Super Bowl.

That official day off would be observed on a Monday, in the grand American tradition of the three-day weekend — and in recognition of the debilitating Sunday excess of unhealthy food, strong beverage, televised sporting violence, relentless commercialism and not a small amount of gambling. No need to call in sick if the office is closed.

By Friday, 7,401 “yes” votes had been cast at the SuperBowlMonday.com Web site in favor of a day-after Super Bowl holiday observation. (There were 268 “no” votes.) This self-proclaimed “grass-roots political campaign,” begun shortly before the 2006 Super Bowl, is “serious,” said SuperBowlMonday creator Robert Chute, 40, of suburban Charlotte, generating “hundreds of thousands of hits a day.”

The goal, he said, is to present 50,000 signatures to North Carolina Congresswoman Sue Myrick. “If not this year, maybe next year or the one after,” Chute said. He and his SBM partners, brother Eric Chute and friends Marc Kinley and Rhys Lewis, contend that Super Bowl Sunday is “not just an ordinary day in America,” that it has “gained a significance that transcends the game itself,” that it is a “shared national event.”

It could be argued that this is an idea whose time came quite a while ago. “It already is a secular holiday,” University of Indianapolis marketing professor Larry DeGaris said. “And since it’s on a Sunday, everybody gets the day off, anyway.”

DeGaris, who has a master’s degree in sports sociology, agreed that the Super Bowl, as an event, “has outpaced the football game by far. It’s a celebration of American consumerism, a celebration of television commercialism and consumption.

“It’s also,” he said, “a big part of community, a time when people get together with friends. It’s really the only national event we have left.”

When Jack Ludwig, then a professor of English at Stony Brook University, wrote his 1976 book, “The Great American Spectaculars; The Kentucky Derby, Mardis Gras and Other Days of Celebration,” his examination of such happenings included the Indianapolis 500, national political conventions and the Rose Bowl game and parade — not the Super Bowl.

Ludwig contended that the Super Bowl more closely resembled the World Series, Stanley Cup Finals and NBA championship because, though “the nature and stature of the participating teams was very important . . . Were two mediocre teams by some fluke able to sneak into these sporting finals, interest would fall off drastically.”

That was 31 years ago. Overwhelming evidence is that the Super Bowl, once it abandoned more than a dozen years of early-afternoon kickoffs and settled into (East Coast) prime-time TV coverage in the early 1980s, quickly evolved into the very definition Ludwig gave to great American spectaculars: Far beyond the mere contest and specific contestants, its “special date” has worked its way onto “all kinds of calendars — social, sporting and political.”

SuperBowlMonday.com’s statistical research, which Robert Chute said is culled from countless submissions and Internet browsings, indicates that Super Bowl plans are made, on the average, 41 days in advance of the big game, as opposed to a 35-day advance for New Year’s plans and 30 days for anniversary plans. Early each autumn, Newsday’s sports department begins fielding telephone calls requesting the upcoming Super Bowl date, so that personal and public schedules — board meetings, children’s concerts, etc. — can be structured around the game. Chute’s group contends there is no slower weekend for weddings than Super Bowl Weekend.

Furthermore, what Ludwig described in making the Kentucky Derby a cultural touchstone more than 30 years ago clearly applies to the 21st-century Super Bowl — an “exploitation that works both ways: Everyone who used to pep up his or her recognition factor was also giving added publicity and exposure.”

Marketing executives, not sure if Super Bowl ads are worth the $2.6-million cost for 30 seconds of air time, nevertheless can’t resist being part of the highest TV ratings available. A similiar need to shout from the highest mountain has motivated a still-anonymous West Coast man to solicit donations and hire public relations and advertising firms so he can issue an in-game marriage proposal next week — what he is calling “the most public declaration of love in the history of mankind.”

Whether viewers out there (possibly including his intended) happen to view that as crass or uplifting, it will further boost the Super Bowl brand. In the words of singer John Mellencamp, “Ain’t that America?”

“The success of the Super Bowl,” DeGaris said, “is its ability to deliver an audience in excess of football fans. Maybe 40 years ago, people here in Indianapolis would tell you that was what the Indy 500 was; it transcended auto racing.”

Now, NFL marketing savvy, television’s reach and couch-potatoism have taken that old Indy 500 model and multiplied it many times over. Not only have major corporations grazed on the abundant slopes of Super Bowl visibility, but plenty of other folks, too, including a South Carolina minister named Brad Smith, who in 1990 founded what he called the “Souper Bowl of Caring.” Smith told his congregation on Super Bowl Sunday to “enjoy the game but don’t forget those without a bowl of soup to eat.”

He recruited volunteers to solicit donations — not to exceed a dollar per contributor at a spreading network of church services — then forwarded the money to hunger-relief organizations of the donors’ choice. Through a tangle of legalese and negotiations with the NFL, Smith was allowed to keep the “souper” tag, began in 2000 to hold pregame news conferences in Super Bowl cities and has raised, so far, $33 million.

So while the Super Bowl exists as a multibillion-dollar exercise in self-indulgence, it is a chunk of Americana on several levels. It is a party, a feast, a common denominator. “It’s a typical winter holiday for people,” DeGaris said. “And it’s inclusive. At a time when there’s even a big furor over Christmas, because not everybody celebrates Christmas, this really is a national event.”

SuperBowlMonday.com creator Chute said: “You can’t offend too many people with this. Maybe baseball fans.” He said the most negative reactions to his holiday campaign were suggestions to spend his energy moving the game to Saturday night, so that Sunday could be a recovery day for working Americans and schoolchildren.

“We thought, ‘Who do we want to take on — the NFL or Congress?’” Chute said. “We decided to make it Congress” and go for the Monday holiday.

“But I’ve shot myself in the foot with this,” he said. “I used to take off on that Monday” — he owns an electronic products company — “but last year, right after I started this thing, I spent all Monday at work doing TV, radio and newspaper interviews.”

Article from: Newsday.com
URL: http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/ny-sphot0128,0,1000338.story

Nooma: 001 – Rain www.nooma.com

Description Things don’t always work out the way we want them to, or the way we think they will. Sometimes we don’t even see it coming. We get hit with some form of pain out of nowhere leaving us feeling desperate and helpless. That’s the way life is. Still, it makes us wonder how God can let these things happen to us. How God can just stand by and watch us suffer. Where is God when it really hurts? Maybe God is actually closer to us than we think. Maybe it’s when we’re in these situations, where everything seems to be falling apart, that God gets an opportunity to remind us of how much he really loves us. >> Watch Video (Windows Media Player) >> Download Discussion Book (Acrobat Reader) >> Buy Video

Looking for more NOOMA Videos?

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We can get anything we want, from anywhere in the world, whenever we want it. That’s how it is and that’s how we want it to be. Still, our lives aren’t any different than other generations before us. Our time is.

We want spiritual direction, but it has to be real for us and available when we need it. We want a new format for getting Christian perspectives.

NOOMA is the new format.

It’s short films with communicators that really speak to us. Compact, portable, and concise. Each NOOMA touches on issues that we care about, that we want to talk about, and it comes in a way that fits our world. It’s a format that’s there for us when we need it, as we need it, how we need it.

This is NOOMA.

NOOMA.com

This is the very amazing David Crowder Band playing “O Praise Him” live. Check it out.

Direct Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud3qCfqdKfo (YouTube)

Yep. Charlotte, NC got snow! And that means… No School! So now i’m sitting here in the house, trying to not be bored. So yeah. Its fun, i guess. Now all the snow is melting. Oh well. See you guys when i post again. Stay warm!

This one is for all the guitar players, and worship leaders out there. You might know all of these already, and if you do, that’s awesome! But if you don’t, you need to check them out. Here’s some really cool stuff to check out:

CCLI – www.ccli.com
The first thing i want to talk about is CCLI. CCLI stands for something, i dont know. But it is the Christian Copyright something, dealing with christian music copyright leagal smeagal stuff. Even though this site sounds irrelavant to your worship needs, it really is great, for getting lead sheets, or just new songs to play. All you gotta do is check it out, and it costs a lil bit, but once you get it, you can check out so many new songs, and get lead sheets for all of them. So check it out.

Worship Frequency – www.worshipfrequency.com
Chris Tomlin fan? Wanna learn his songs? Wanna just check some really cool worship stuff out? Then what are you waiting for? Go to WorshipFrequency.com and sign up, now. It’s FREE! The Member Benifits are amazing!

WorshipTogether.Com – www.worshiptogether.com
Alright. You’ve probally heard about this one. This is a must have for worship leaders. Let’s face it. Who doesnt want free sheet music?! And did I say free video guitar lessons? Check it out now, if you haven’t already. Sign up! It’s all FREE! Once again, this is a must!

That’s all for now. I’ll post more later. I can’t give you all of them in one post, or you will go worship crazy, and your eyeballs will jump out of your head. That would not be good at all. So there you have it, friends, fellow worshippers of Christ. Now go worship away! I’ll talk to you guys when ever I post again, when ever that may be.

This is a great worship song. Matt Redman is one of my favorite worship leaders. He lives in England, which you probally can tell, from his accent. Check it out.

Direct Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95KkfSvYSos (YouTube)

This is Chris Tomlin teaching us his song, “Enough”

Chris Tomlin – “Enough”

Direct Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaLNjeTEeE4

Here’s ALL of Charlie Hall’s Chord Charts. You could find anything here, you can look through them, and just get the ones you need, or you can just download the compressed file, to get all of them.

         Download All Files: zip – sit (Right Click and “Save As”)

This is an awesome worship song. One of my favorite david crowder songs.

David Crowder Band – You Are My Joy

I just wanted to wish all the readers out there (that means YOU!), a HAPPY NEW YEAR! So enough about 2006. Lets rock 2007 baby!

In 2007, I want to first and foremost grow in my relationship with Christ. In doing this I want to be a great encouragement to others. I want to reamin in the word of God, and be accountable to others in doing so. I want to read the whole bible through, spending time with God daily, praying, and seeking his will. I want to be known as a Christian in and outside of church. I want to go to Costa Rica, or some other country, for a mission trip. I want to reach my neighbors, and friends here in Charlotte. I want to save people in my school. Thats what i want 2007 to look like. So I’m gonna make sure it happens. I will not let this year be wasted. I’ve already wasted 18 of them.

What do you want 2007 to look like? What do you want to happen? What goals have you set for yourself?

This was a great Christmas. Even though it was a wet one, here in Charlotte. It never snows in December. I need to move to Wausau,Wisconsin. Not really. But if i did, it would be snowing all the time. Not really, but if it did, that would be freakin’ amazing! It does snow quite a bit in the winter season up there. But anyway, enough about Wisconsin. Here’s some photos:

These are 2 new song books i bought with some money i got for Christmas. They are Chris Tomlin "See The Morning", and Passion: Everything Glorious. They are freakin’ awesome!

I’m playing my guitar in this picture. This is at my Aunt’s house.

For more Christmas Photos just visit my Flickr at this url:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/78029510@N00/

How was your Christmas?

This is my first Video posted to my blog. Its rather short, becuase my brother doesnt have a memory card for the camera yet. So it only can be a short 30 seconds or so. But nevertheless, here it is:
Video Blog – Episode 1

Direct Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHDEO4Y-Z0c (YouTube)

Friends don’t let friends drive drunk. Even Aliens. This is a little video a friend linked me too. I found it to be quite funny.

Direct Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT4o0nC72Co (YouTube)

Praying before a game, last season.

We won our game today. The score? 44-29. We went out there ready to win, and we did. It was a great game, even though we could’ve done better. We should’ve beat them by 30, with at least 60 points, but we made a few mistakes in the second half, and let up a little. We can’t do that. But anyway, It was a great game. Our record now is 2-1. So we are doing pretty good, and the outlook on the season looks great. I think we can go all the way this year. We just can’t make many mistakes, like turnovers, and missing easy baskets, and free-throws. So we just got to keep getting better, and we got the season down. But we can’t look too far ahead, i’m just looking at the next game. We gotta do this game by game. So we one. The Middle School boys also won. They have the same record as us, 2-1. They are doing good too. But the girls are a different story. They got killed. It was crazy. There record is 0-3. Hopefully they can get it together, and get a win or two. So thats basically it for basketball. It’s been a great one.

Yet another live worship video. This is Delirious? live with the very awesome song, “Our God Reigns,” off of there Live: At Willow Creek DVD. This is a great video. I love the song. Check it out.

Direct Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HygzdwBCjc8 (YouTube)

The Classic Crime’s new album, Albatross, threatens to change lives in such a way with the sheer expanse of its scope, conjuring the most brilliant moments of Brand New, Thrice and Third Eye Blind while alternately sounding refreshingly original. The vocals are unique, the lyrics are hopeful andthe boys’ hearts are all in the right place. The band is off to an impressive start with tours alongside Mest, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, as well as prime placement on the Tooth & Nail Tour with Emery and Anberlin. The Classic Crime is a new take on an old rock ‘n’ roll sound for a generation hungry to be heard. Producer Michael “Elvis” Baskette (Iggy Pop, Chevelle, Cold) helped The Classic Crime shape and hone their already considerably strong material into breath-taking anthems!

This is a really great album. Check it out using the links below:

BestBuy.com: http://ut.netmusicpromotions.com/5vsc3045148grm.html
SmartPunk: http://ut.netmusicpromotions.com/29y3304514nx8w.html
Tower.com: http://ut.netmusicpromotions.com/1yty304514xfi4.html
Watch The Classic Crime Videos on Yahoo: http://ut.netmusicpromotions.com/2zz13045144wak.html
Join the Crime Squad (Classic Crime Street Tream): http://ut.netmusicpromotions.com/7ojy304514j7cj.html

So, a lot has been happening the past few days. Yesterday was my birthday, just to let yah know. I turned 18. So now i can do all sorts of cool things. Go me. Today i got FINALLY got my learner permit. It’s really sad that i just got my learners permit, and i’m 18. Wow. I could have just went ahead and got my license, but i would have to take a road test (I havent drove in like 3-4 months), and also Insurance cost a lot of $$$$$ (I currently don’t have a job). So i just got my learner permit today. Yep. So here’s some advice to all the drivers in Charlotte: Stay off the road. Just kidding, but look out for me. I’m dangerous. Not really. But who knows. There are a lot of dangerous drivers out there. It’s crazy here in charlotte. But anyway, I have basketball practice tonight, and we WON our game on saturday. The final score was 49-39 i think. It was a good game. The other team had 5 people foul out! They finished the game with 3 players! So that was fun. Now we have practice tonight. Thats really all that has happened. Christmas is almost here! Can’t wait!

Here’s the second edition of the Worship Guitar Lesson feature. This is Charlie Hall teaching you how to play “Give Us Clean Hands”

Direct Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hkQS8A8FiY (YouTube)

Click here for the guitar chords for “Give Us Clean Hands”. (Ultimate-Guitar.com)

David Crowder Band

I’m just as suprised as you are. Don’t ask me how this happened, but it did. I don’t even know. It’s crazy, and just a little insane. But, David Crowder Band is nominated for MSN ARTIST OF THE YEAR! We’re talking about going upagainst INXS, Prince, Christina Aguilera, and Kenny Chesney! Kenny Freakin Chesney! Yeah. And one more thing. They are in the LEAD! I Can not beleive it. We arn’t just talking leading by 5 or 10%, either. Currently, they have 85% of the vote!! It’s amazing. Theres like over 135,000 responeses. I must admit, most of those responses are mine. Lol. I love this band. So go on, and vote for him over as MSN.com. Just click this link:

http://music.msn.com/music/artistofthemonth

And put in your vote! And do it again, and again, and again. As many times as your hand can click. Vote, Vote, Vote!!! I know this band can win, and they deserve it too. They are my favorite band, and i think its not hard to see why they are. They are amazing. Great band… So what are you waiting for… VOTE NOW!