So I have noticed that there have been a large amount of terrible accidents and crimes this past month. More than usual, at least where I live. News reports of car accidents, shootings, suicides, freak accidents, all taking lives or seriously injuring someone, have filled the newspapers in my hometown. I wonder if it's just coincidence or...something else.
I think it's important to remember that we are always involved in spiritual warfare. And while demons and evil spirits might not have any more power during the month of October then any other month. I think people are more open to the supernatural around Halloween.
This might give the demons a little more of a hold on people and allow them to twist their minds even further to the breaking point.
We all need to remember to pray very hard for our friends family and and for the general safety of people everywhere.
And never forget that we are always fighting a spiritual battle.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Music
So on my way home from town today ,where I had purchased a new battery for my car, I was listening to a mixed CD that I had burned earlier that week. I was amused at the thought of what other people would think if they heard my mix of music. Some might say I am diverse in my music choices. After thinking about it I decided to share a mix of the songs that i was listening to tonight.
The first song on the CD was the song Nocturne by the band Becoming the Archetype.
I don't listen to A whole lot of these guy but I really like this song
The second one was I'm Your's by none other than Jason Mraz.
This song is everywhere so i don't feel the need to post a link :P
The third song is one that I have seen shared alot on various social networks.
It's an amazing song so I understand why it has been passed around so much.
Moonlight by Steven Sharp Nelson
An amazing song because cello makes everything amazing :)
The third song was a country song that has been popular for a while. Watchin you by Rodney Atkins
A great song for dads!
The last song I went Gangsta! Blastin some Blazing Mic's by T-Bone.
This guy is an phenomenal rapper with a mouth that moves a million miles an hour.
So there you can see some of the different types of music I switch around to :)
Hope you enjoy these songs as much as I do.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Ramblings
Once again I apologize for being a terrible blogger. My summer schedule has really been hectic.
I am sitting in my favorite coffee shop in downtown Shawnee OK right now trying to study (emphasis on the TRYING)
I just finished a classic turkey sandwich and am sitting here listening to the chatter of old college friends re-uniting after the summer, smelling the smell of good coffee and hearing a small group of local musicians warm up for some live music they are going to be playing here tonight. Life is good right now. I put in a good days work, got some stuff organized. for my business and as always I have run into a couple friends that I have been able to chat with.
Such is life in a small town :) Not to small to be boring mind you! But still small enough to where you will most likely run into someone you know. Even if you don't know someones name you still usually recognize each other and can stop and chat for a bit. You probably know each other by names such as "He's that short guy that works at that one restaurant" Or in my case "It's the window washin guy"
In these cases my mind go's back to old western novels I have read in the past. In those books the cowboys names were never important. What was important was how hard a man could work and that he kept his word. A far cry from what help up as important these days.
Course this is just my humble opinion.
Don't mind me....
I'm just rambling.
I am sitting in my favorite coffee shop in downtown Shawnee OK right now trying to study (emphasis on the TRYING)
I just finished a classic turkey sandwich and am sitting here listening to the chatter of old college friends re-uniting after the summer, smelling the smell of good coffee and hearing a small group of local musicians warm up for some live music they are going to be playing here tonight. Life is good right now. I put in a good days work, got some stuff organized. for my business and as always I have run into a couple friends that I have been able to chat with.
Such is life in a small town :) Not to small to be boring mind you! But still small enough to where you will most likely run into someone you know. Even if you don't know someones name you still usually recognize each other and can stop and chat for a bit. You probably know each other by names such as "He's that short guy that works at that one restaurant" Or in my case "It's the window washin guy"
In these cases my mind go's back to old western novels I have read in the past. In those books the cowboys names were never important. What was important was how hard a man could work and that he kept his word. A far cry from what help up as important these days.
Course this is just my humble opinion.
Don't mind me....
I'm just rambling.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Farm life (part 1) Farm fowl and their classes
So living on a farm you get the chance to watch animals quite often. When observing animals you notice things about them that you never did before. many of these things are quite funny. Here I will start a series of posts about my observation of the hilarious antics of the animals that inhabit our humble piece of real estate.
Farm fowl and their classes.
Here on the farm we have three main types of fowl. Guinea fowl. ducks, and chickens.
Now the chickens are kept in a pen while the ducks and guineas run free. It's pretty funny how they all stay in their groups and how the groups interact with one another. It's like they are broken up into different classes.
The chickens make up 80% of the population here on the farm, and are the main labor force. They work day in and day out laying eggs for our breakfast each morning and our baking throughout the week.
They are kinda dumb but they work hard and actually provide us with something. The rooster is the leader of the chickens (obviously) and we have had to replace our rooster several times. They seem to start out nice but then get mean with time. I have more than once had a rooster sink it's 1 1/2 inch spurs into my leg. Chickens are very curious and will examine any new thing that comes into their pen with much interest, pecking at it and uttering confused balks and squawks. Some mother hens are protective over their eggs. giving your hand a little "no no peck" as you gather their eggs. Others seem almost happy for you to take the eggs right from under them. I have learned to not feed the chickens with flip flops on. you will get your toes pecked.
The Ducks are like the aristocrats of the farm. They have a very superior attitude as the waddle around. They look down on the ducks and guineas and can easily show them who's boss if necessary.
There are six of them here on the farm and they all walk around in a single file line with their bills in the air acting like they own the place.
When disrupted in any way they will scatter and run away with much quacking
and wing flapping. and will then regroup and complain to each other in indignant quacks and murmurs about the nerve of the animal or person who disrupted them. They recently started laying eggs quite consistently so we are hoping to hatch some ducklings in a few weeks.
The guineas are the wild yahoos of the group. Much like wild Indians or a tribe of African Nomads. Running around constantly picking fights amongst themselves and among the other fowl on the property. They try to fit in with the Chickens but usually end up fighting with them over food. When not in the pen with the chickens they are constantly chasing each other around the yard, running so fast and turning at such sharp angles that they look more like little feathery motorcycles flying around than birds. The only use that they serve (besides providing entertainment to anyone watching them run around) is to keep the tick and insect population down. And they do a very good job at this.
They are extremely dumb however and can't make up their minds as to weather they want to fight you or run away from you. They usually end up doing an awkward back and forth charge at your feet that does nothing but make them look silly.
The only time i have ever seen a guinea actually attack a human was when my mom tried to catch a baby guinea that had hatched and was following the mom around. At first it appeared that the guinea didn't even notice my mom. But as soon as she turned around and started walking towards the house with the little feathery blighter in her hands, the father of the chick took off landing in my mothers hair! It proceeded to do a little dance on my mothers head and make a terrible racket until my mom dropped the chick and threw the creature from her head. It then acted like nothing had happened and went on it's way.
So there you have it. The three types of fowl we have on the farm here. All living together. Yet very clear lines separate not only where they live and sleep, but also how they act and what they do for us on the farm.
I am hoping to do a Farm life post every few weeks or so along with my regular blog posts. Let me know if you think it's a good idea and would like to see more, or if it's boring and stupid and you would rather me not do any more farm posts. :)
God Bless.
Farm fowl and their classes.
Here on the farm we have three main types of fowl. Guinea fowl. ducks, and chickens.
Now the chickens are kept in a pen while the ducks and guineas run free. It's pretty funny how they all stay in their groups and how the groups interact with one another. It's like they are broken up into different classes.
The chickens make up 80% of the population here on the farm, and are the main labor force. They work day in and day out laying eggs for our breakfast each morning and our baking throughout the week.
They are kinda dumb but they work hard and actually provide us with something. The rooster is the leader of the chickens (obviously) and we have had to replace our rooster several times. They seem to start out nice but then get mean with time. I have more than once had a rooster sink it's 1 1/2 inch spurs into my leg. Chickens are very curious and will examine any new thing that comes into their pen with much interest, pecking at it and uttering confused balks and squawks. Some mother hens are protective over their eggs. giving your hand a little "no no peck" as you gather their eggs. Others seem almost happy for you to take the eggs right from under them. I have learned to not feed the chickens with flip flops on. you will get your toes pecked.The Ducks are like the aristocrats of the farm. They have a very superior attitude as the waddle around. They look down on the ducks and guineas and can easily show them who's boss if necessary.
There are six of them here on the farm and they all walk around in a single file line with their bills in the air acting like they own the place.
When disrupted in any way they will scatter and run away with much quacking
and wing flapping. and will then regroup and complain to each other in indignant quacks and murmurs about the nerve of the animal or person who disrupted them. They recently started laying eggs quite consistently so we are hoping to hatch some ducklings in a few weeks.The guineas are the wild yahoos of the group. Much like wild Indians or a tribe of African Nomads. Running around constantly picking fights amongst themselves and among the other fowl on the property. They try to fit in with the Chickens but usually end up fighting with them over food. When not in the pen with the chickens they are constantly chasing each other around the yard, running so fast and turning at such sharp angles that they look more like little feathery motorcycles flying around than birds. The only use that they serve (besides providing entertainment to anyone watching them run around) is to keep the tick and insect population down. And they do a very good job at this.
They are extremely dumb however and can't make up their minds as to weather they want to fight you or run away from you. They usually end up doing an awkward back and forth charge at your feet that does nothing but make them look silly.
The only time i have ever seen a guinea actually attack a human was when my mom tried to catch a baby guinea that had hatched and was following the mom around. At first it appeared that the guinea didn't even notice my mom. But as soon as she turned around and started walking towards the house with the little feathery blighter in her hands, the father of the chick took off landing in my mothers hair! It proceeded to do a little dance on my mothers head and make a terrible racket until my mom dropped the chick and threw the creature from her head. It then acted like nothing had happened and went on it's way.
So there you have it. The three types of fowl we have on the farm here. All living together. Yet very clear lines separate not only where they live and sleep, but also how they act and what they do for us on the farm.
I am hoping to do a Farm life post every few weeks or so along with my regular blog posts. Let me know if you think it's a good idea and would like to see more, or if it's boring and stupid and you would rather me not do any more farm posts. :)
God Bless.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews12:1-2
WOW! So much amazing stuff packed into those two little verses! Such a sense of freedom and joy can be gathered from those verses!
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews12:1-2
WOW! So much amazing stuff packed into those two little verses! Such a sense of freedom and joy can be gathered from those verses!
Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,
Don't let the cares of this life wear you down! We are saved by the blood of the lamb and will someday go to be with Jesus forever in a place with no more pain or sin. Can anything in this life be much to worry about with that in mind?
and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Patience takes faith and builds faith. Start with a little faith and it keeps growing the longer your patience continues. And it all brings glory to God.
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;
Christ is the author of our faith. Faith is nothing without something to put that faith in. Faith in the blood of Christ is what saves us from our sins and as such he is the author of our faith.
Christ is the finisher of our faith. In him our salvation is completed! What peace we can feel knowing that our salvation is secure in Christ!
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame,
Hanging on a cross was the most shameful way to die, You were branded as a criminal and a sinner,
Anyone who was left hanging on a tree was accursed from God! Yet Christ endured it all for the joy of saving us from our sins and welcoming us as his bride into the church!
and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The Bible says that Christ is the mediator between God and man. It also says that Christ is on the right hand of God interceding for OUR sins! He endured the cross! Being branded as a sinner and being accursed from his father, so you could be saved! But then he rose from the grave and rose to heaven! And is even now sitting on the right hand of God interceding for us. He's covered us with his perfect blood and as such we are nothing but holy in the eyes of God.
Praise Jesus Christ and to HIM be ALL the glory.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Total depravity
Recently my sister Hannah wrote a small report for school on total depravity.
I think it was very well done and that she made some excellent points.
I have posted a link to it below, let me know what you think!
Note: The first link I posted did not work...I posted a second like that hopefully will work.
https://docs.google.com/
I think it was very well done and that she made some excellent points.
I have posted a link to it below, let me know what you think!
Note: The first link I posted did not work...I posted a second like that hopefully will work.
https://docs.google.com/
Monday, February 28, 2011
Shallow Gospels
The Winter Jam tour spectacular! One of the largest annual Tour in Christian music. Featuring such names as Newsboys, David Crowder Band, Kutless, And many more.
Ten dollars at the door for ten artists.
This was the seventh Winter jam I have gone to and it was HUGE!
In Oklahoma city over 15 thousand people crowded into the Oklahoma city arena to watch the show. two years ago winter jam featured Skillet, Barlow Girl and Mercy Me and broke the record and became the largest concert ever in Oklahoma.
But as amazing and fun as the show was, there was one thing that I came away with that bothered me.
With that many people in one place and all eyes and ears focused on whoever was on the stage, why couldn't ANYone have given a straightforward gospel message!?
The speaker/preacher for the winter jam tour was a man named Tony Nolan. Tony has been on most of the Jam tours preaching and giving his testimony.
The basic jist of what he preached was this... No matter what sin you have done, no matter what your doing in your life right now, no matter what, God is still madly in love with you.
Is this true? Absolutely! But the problem was that they stopped right there!
They told people that God loves them and there is forgiveness for their sins. but they did not go on to tell people that if they do not turn to Christ and believe in his death on the cross,then they are going to hell when they die.
They did not mention faith all that much. and only mentioned the Cross and Christs death maybe once or twice that I can Remember.
people were not told that God wants to do more than just forgive you, he wants to change you into a new person! one that wants to follow him! Never was to concept of the old man being gone away and being a new creature in Christ talked about. Nor was Jesus taking our place on the Cross talked about. It was all just that God loves you even if your living in sin.
Maybe i am to cynical but I can just see someone almost feeling like God was ok with their sin because of what the preachers at Winter jam preached. Like sin is something that God doesn't really like, but he loves people so if we just repeat this little prayer that they say to us then everything will be alright. Then they don't really have Christ in their lives and they CANT change and turn away from Sin because that is impossible without Christ. So they show up next year and go through the same thing again.
It is really sad to me that A pastor with over 15 thousand men women and kids listening to them cant give a straightforward gospel message. It was convoluted and watered down. as if the people in the crowd are to dumb to understand anything deeper than A kids Sunday school teaching.
I have been to many concerts and I have only been to one where a straight forward gospel message was preached.
It was a small Sanctus Real concert at a college near where I live.
They didn't need a special Pastor or anything to give a message.
The lead singer of the band simply gave his testimony then proceeded to give a gospel message to the unsaved and a message of encouragement to the saved.
It was one of the most refreshing things to hear the Gospel preached like that, in such a straightforward way that people were not left guessing what they had to do to be saved.
Christians everywhere need to understand that the Gospel is something deeper than just "God loves you"
People need to understand that they are a sinner according to God laws.
They need to understand that because they are a sinner they are going to be punished by being sent to hell when they die.
And they need to understand that the only way to be saved is if you believe that Christ took that punishment
upon himself and offers his perfection in exchange for our sin.
That is something that is hardly preached in churches today.
I hope this makes sense.
I would love some feedback to...I would like to see what others think about this.
God Bless
Ten dollars at the door for ten artists.
This was the seventh Winter jam I have gone to and it was HUGE!
In Oklahoma city over 15 thousand people crowded into the Oklahoma city arena to watch the show. two years ago winter jam featured Skillet, Barlow Girl and Mercy Me and broke the record and became the largest concert ever in Oklahoma.
But as amazing and fun as the show was, there was one thing that I came away with that bothered me.
With that many people in one place and all eyes and ears focused on whoever was on the stage, why couldn't ANYone have given a straightforward gospel message!?
The speaker/preacher for the winter jam tour was a man named Tony Nolan. Tony has been on most of the Jam tours preaching and giving his testimony.
The basic jist of what he preached was this... No matter what sin you have done, no matter what your doing in your life right now, no matter what, God is still madly in love with you.
Is this true? Absolutely! But the problem was that they stopped right there!
They told people that God loves them and there is forgiveness for their sins. but they did not go on to tell people that if they do not turn to Christ and believe in his death on the cross,then they are going to hell when they die.
They did not mention faith all that much. and only mentioned the Cross and Christs death maybe once or twice that I can Remember.
people were not told that God wants to do more than just forgive you, he wants to change you into a new person! one that wants to follow him! Never was to concept of the old man being gone away and being a new creature in Christ talked about. Nor was Jesus taking our place on the Cross talked about. It was all just that God loves you even if your living in sin.
Maybe i am to cynical but I can just see someone almost feeling like God was ok with their sin because of what the preachers at Winter jam preached. Like sin is something that God doesn't really like, but he loves people so if we just repeat this little prayer that they say to us then everything will be alright. Then they don't really have Christ in their lives and they CANT change and turn away from Sin because that is impossible without Christ. So they show up next year and go through the same thing again.
It is really sad to me that A pastor with over 15 thousand men women and kids listening to them cant give a straightforward gospel message. It was convoluted and watered down. as if the people in the crowd are to dumb to understand anything deeper than A kids Sunday school teaching.
I have been to many concerts and I have only been to one where a straight forward gospel message was preached.
It was a small Sanctus Real concert at a college near where I live.
They didn't need a special Pastor or anything to give a message.
The lead singer of the band simply gave his testimony then proceeded to give a gospel message to the unsaved and a message of encouragement to the saved.
It was one of the most refreshing things to hear the Gospel preached like that, in such a straightforward way that people were not left guessing what they had to do to be saved.
Christians everywhere need to understand that the Gospel is something deeper than just "God loves you"
People need to understand that they are a sinner according to God laws.
They need to understand that because they are a sinner they are going to be punished by being sent to hell when they die.
And they need to understand that the only way to be saved is if you believe that Christ took that punishment
upon himself and offers his perfection in exchange for our sin.
That is something that is hardly preached in churches today.
I hope this makes sense.
I would love some feedback to...I would like to see what others think about this.
God Bless
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