Background

Writing my thoughts tonight is coming a little harder than normal...Usually, I am able to write and not have as much writer block as I am tonight. Lately there has been a lot of things going on in my life. Some stuff I love where its at and others I am not for sure what is going on. It has been one long and confusing ride. You know, trying to to figure out what the next step is something that I have been struggling with. I don't want to make a move that I am going to regret but at the same time I don't want to be stuck in the quick sand. I feel like a lot of people go through this feeling at times, or maybe its just me...but I feel pretty sure about others feeling this same feeling.

Play the background...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHnZRZiCYHE

Thanks Lecrae, I needed this one!

Make War (part #2)

MAKE WAR. MAKE WAR. MAKE WAR. MAKE WAR. I don't know how many people watched the video posted on "Make War (part 1)". If you haven't I will need you to do so before you read on. Honestly, some people may watch that video and not want to read the rest of this post. You may watch the video and automatically think that John Piper (Pastor) is one of those guys who stand on the side of the streets and screams that you are going to hell for all of your little imperfections. You know the guy I'm talking about, the one with the bull horn. The one that no one likes to talk to because he is just going to tell me that I am going to hell and going to burn. The one who I believe gives a bad name to Christianity. I don't agree at all with that style of witnessing. I won't go into full detail about that right now, but I don't agree with it...Where is the love?

Recently, I have been watching a lot of John Pipers videos on Youtube. I have come to realize that I really like him. If you haven't seen his video's, you should check them out. John Piper really brings the pain in his talks. He is very very passionate about what he talks about, thus leading him to turn a notch up on his volume. He reminds me a lot of Paul in the Bible.

MAKE WAR! John talks about MAKING WAR against our sin. He says in there that we need to have a mean streak in our Christian walk. Hear him out, not violence against any one or any thing. But a violence against "every impulse in our soul to be violent to other people". Yes, you heard him right...MAKE WAR against OURSELVES. This goes for every desire in ourselves that we have that leads to sin. The closet sins that we have, that we don't want to tell anyone all the way to the sins that are directly in front of others. MAKE WAR! You really need to take the time to check this video out. This video is something that I try to listen to at least once a day for a reminder. A reminder to MAKE WAR! The last thing that I will point out that John Piper mentions in his talk is something that I find my self guilty of at times.

Piper Mentions:

"If you feel like you are a mean person against others, a harsh person, a critical person...You know your problem...You haven't learned how to MAKE WAR! (piper goes on)...You complain of it and talk about it...but have YOU made war 24/7..."

Seriously, if you haven't watched the John Piper video. Scroll down just a little and copy and paste the URL on Make War (part #1)...

Friends,

MAKE WAR!

Shout out to Tedashii:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs1Sq7M7cIU&feature=related

&

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfgpOie9zfw&feature=related

MAKE WAR (part 1)

Make War...part 1. More to come. This video...this video right here...Says enough for now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrY0h33coR4

Break My Heart For What Breaks Yours

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiicZMV98tY

More to come later on everything that is going on with me. But just as 10 minutes ago I had realized why..."Break my heart for what breaks yours Lord!"

try it...if you dare

Hosanna

Hosanna...Hosanna in the Highest...

This past summer I got the privilege to have a night of worship with the Australian worship band Hillsong. My Mom, Sister, and Lindsay were present to feel the spirit of God moving. As with any "concert" everyone leaves with a song that they enjoyed the most. The particular song that I was moved by was the song Hosanna. I can remember as if I am sitting at the concert with my Mac and they are playing it in front of us while I am writing this, and to be honest I am listening to the song on repeat as I write. There was two acoustic guitars and one of the female vocalists. As they went through the song I was quickly reminded why I love that song so much...the lyrics. Don't get me wrong, the music side of the song is absolutely amazing but I believe the lyrics are unbelievable. While we could talk about this song and have a very long post, I would just like to focus on the bridge part of the song.

Heal my heart and make it clean

Open up my eyes to the things unseen

Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart for what breaks yours

Everything I am for your kingdoms cause

As I go from nothing to

Eternity

This past week I got to speak at chapel for Lakeside which is a Christian school in Morehead, KY. I made a reference to this song during my talk where I told the students that I prayed God "break my heart for what breaks yours" while I was in the Dominican Republic. After I was done talking I didn't think much about it until I walked to hand the microphone back to the lady in charge when she started playing the song for the students who were there and possibly have never heard it. During the song I was talking to a good friend of mine. We talked about the bridge of this song and were pondering on the words and thinking how powerful those words really are. I look at that phrase now and sometimes I feel scared to pray those words to God. Thinking of what God could open my eyes to. At the same time I feel that it is right for us to pray those words. If we want to make a difference in the world we have to be obedient and ask for guidance from God. I think a way to ask for guidance is this bridge. Heal my heart and make it clean...Open up my eyes to the things unseen...Show me how to love like you have loved me...BREAK MY HEART FOR WHAT BREAKS YOURS....Everything that I am for your Kingdoms cause...As I walk from earth into eternity. I know those are powerful words and God could seriously show us some unbelievable things but God promises that he will never give us something that we can not handle and with God on our side, think about it...Who can be against us....

Listen and look closely to this song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQGJdTpMUcU&feature=related

Lyrics:

Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna in the highest

I see the King of glory
Coming down the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes, the whole earth shakes

I see His love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing, the people sing

Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

I see a generation
Rising up to take the place
With selfless faith, selfless faith

I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees, we're on our knees

Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me

Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity

Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna in the highest

Break Every Chain

Recently I have been doing a lot of thinking about everything that is going on in my life at the moment and to be honest it has been a crazy whirl wind. I just don't know if I am holding on to things that I should just let go. Here is a song that has recently spoken to me and thought I would share. This band is called New Pursuit Band and I came across them from a couple of friends while I was down in the Dominican Republic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mohyR5xowFw

Team Jeffrey

Not this past sunday, but the sunday before was an emotional roller coaster for myself. After worshipping at Trinity, I had to make a quick trip down to my hometown of Danville, KY. There waiting for me was a benefit supporting one of my very good friends from high school. Just over a year ago he was in a car wreck that has left him paralyzed. After going through surgeries and coming to a stable condition, the doctors proceeded to tell him that if he didn't walk in the next year then he will not walk again. Jeffrey, who is a father and also found himself in that wreck is not ready to accept it. Just like the Jeffrey I have always known, he doesn't give up.

A benefit was put on trying to raise $30,000 that would cover all of his cost for rehabilitation. Pulling up to the fair grounds I remember being a little nervous. To be honest I don't know what came over me, I never get this way. Pulling into the fair grounds it was almost like I wanted to just let the tears of joy just run down my face. I just couldn't believe what I was witnessing. What looked like 500 vehicles parked outside of the pavilion where the benefit was being held, children running around playing on the equipment assembled some many years ago and smoke coming from the many grills outside was reassuring. Walking inside I luckily caught Jeff giving his speech to the people there at supporting him at the benefit. When he was finished, the unthinkable happened. Coach Little was asked to come and pray over the food. If you know who Coach Little is, then you know he isn't little at all. It is very ironic that his last name is little. To be honest with you, Coach Little stands about 6'4 it seems and as I don't know his weight, lets just say that he is a big boy that you wouldn't want to see in a back alley at anytime let alone past midnight. What he had to say was absolutely amazing. Getting up giving the motivational speech that beats a lot of motivational speeches that I have ever heard, including any movie you may think of. Speaking out of Job, Coach Little made it known that this man. A man of God, was robbed of everything. His family, land, wealth...absolutely everything. After talking in much detail about the situation. Coach Little described Jeff as a modern day Job. Although not everything was stolen from Jeff as in Job, but a lot of it was gone (for the moment). Coach made it known that Jeff was in need, and it was up to us. Black, White, Asian, what ever race you may be, it is time for us to come together as one and help a brother in Christ. This was one of those times that I wish I could have recorded everything that Coach Little had to say. Talking to Jeff after eating what was probably the best BBQ that I have ever eaten, I was reminded the heart that this guy has. One of the biggest hearts that I know. If anyone, and I do mean "anyone" is going to walk after something tragic like this...It will be him. I believe 110% that Jeff will walk again and will be able to coach his son.

After that was over and headed back to the house, I decided that I was going to stay around for a little while. Everyone came over and we had a good sunday meal. As you can imagine I was very full after that sunday was over with. To my surprise, and probably to your surprise (if anyone ever reads this) Extreme Home Makeover came on. Of which I am a HUGE fan of. I love that show. It makes me want to turn the faucet on again and let the tears of joy run down my face. In this particular episode, there was a young man who was a football coach. He was married and had a little boy and a girl. He was recently diagnosed with ALS and wasn't able to do what he use to be able to. All during this episode which was featuring the true Michael Oher and his foster family (The movie Blindside) they gave this man a helping hand, a lift so to say. But I noticed something during this episode. With what this man was going through, he didn't seem to let what was being a hinderance physically, get him down emotionally or spiritually. He just lived for the day. Took one day at a time and what ever came with it, he dealt with it. He reminded me a lot of my friend Jeffrey, who I spoke about earlier. Here is two guys that have been robbed of of walking fluently and they still fight, living for the day and filling up every little second. They don't go through the day feeling bad for themselves, or getting depressed. Not saying that, they are perfectly fine and the thought of never walking again doesn't affect them, because I am sure it does. What I am saying is this. People who are fortunate that we don't have to go through something tragic like this needs to take a lesson from these two. We need to live life, we only get one. We need to take a day at a time, we don't need to worry. We go through our days, our busy days and we miss a lot. We sit on the past and worry about the future thus making us miss what is right in front of us at times. I don't think God programmed us like that honestly. I could be wrong, but to be honest with you. I don't think that I am. Jesus speaks in Matthew stating that:

"So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own"

We need to start taking a day at a time before we miss out on something big. Who knows what that may be. But I know one thing. The two that I mentioned, they aren't going to miss out. They are living life to the fullest, a lesson we should take from them and start living like they do. As for my buddy Jeff. From what I heard, he got what he needed and then some. So sit back and pray. Watch a miracle about to happen!