we're exhausted. the baby is a pretty good sleeper, but has his fussy moments of course. my wife is taking care of him while i'm at work. it's especially tough because his brother who is a very active, soon to be 3yr old it's been rough on her, so i've been helping as best as i can by taking the night shift so she can sleep. i think i'm averaging about 3 hours of sleep a night. but we're keeping our sense of humor, so that helps. our 3yr old is very challenging at times. he is always in go mode. he has an amazing amount of energy!
i've been in a not so safe space lately. i've been finding all kinds of great music!! paypal....ahhh...so easy. click here, click there, next thing you know i've got a new album on my mp3 player!! the average price for the albums are $10. too easy!! i'm amped about these albums, they've been edifying for me.
if you know a christian or anyone who is listening to secular hip hop, put them on to some of these artists. i have a friend who i think this kind of music could benefit. my hope is that it could cause him to possibly examine himself. i've been thinking of making a mix cd for him. he has about an hour plus ride to and from work and i could hook him up. the funny thing is he's the one who played the cross movement's holy culture cd for me. i think that was back in '03. i've been hooked since and this music was a breath of fresh air. it also caused me to re-examine where i was in my walk and to reflect on how serious i was taking it. of course the music is a supplement. God's word is the meal. for me, His word was in me from how my parents raised me, from getting saved at a young age and from being a bible quizzer for 4 yrs (i'll admit it was mostly about winning the quiz meets back then). hearing it in rap form was the gravy. so, anyway here's a few of the artists, keep my friend in prayer.
the novelist - spoken word
hansoul - Jesus Saves
cehah - color outside the lines
phanatik - crime and consequences
the yuinon genocide; the sequal-
lesun - the kiss album; keep it short and simple
i'm waiting on shai linne's "the atonement" and redeemed thought's "truth, beauty, goodness" also. i found a few free mixtapes too, mostly through myspace. maybe if i get the time/and or energy, i'll post some links one day.
i also got mercyme's all "all that is within me" and "coming up to breath". very nice cds, i really like coming up to breath, i've had that for awhile, all that is within me is a more recent purchase. i love their music. i'm pretty sure adrianne archie's cd, "he that hath an ear, let him hear" will be my next pickup. it came out in '06, but is very good. another Christ glorifying cd.
ok, the newest member is waking up for his next feed. gotta run
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Brand New Day
awhile back i had talked about meeting with my pastor on a regular basis because i was looking to have a deeper relationship with the Lord. well my pastor recently discovered that he has some serious heart issues that needed to be taken care of so i'm not sure when/if we'll be getting together at that level. he has had to slow down some of his activity for now.
we finished up on our group bible study, the Sacred Romance series and we've started a new study. i'm not quite sure what this study is about, although i've seen what one of the group leaders had in mind. i haven't made it to the study, due to the new baby and all the changes that it's brought.
our church as whole, well some of us, have started on reading the bible in a year. a few different plans have been handed out and me and the wife are doing the same one. the reading was going well, right up till we had the baby. it was cool, cuz me and my wife would at random times talk about the reading we'd done and things we were surprised at or noticed for the first time or things we just didn't know. i was behind in my reading and she was possibly ahead, but we both have some catching up to do now.
the bible reading was really bring up alot of questions for me. time is limiting me to get into an example of the questions right now, hopefully i'll be able to post some of my thoughts. the reading format is about a chapter from the old testament starting in genesis a chapter from the new testament starting in matthew. then we read a few verses from the psalms and proverbs. i really like the format. man...the old testament is a trip, just genesis alone!! i've read it before, but as always you see something new each time. but i do like the format.
as always, it seems like the harder you try to get closer to God, the harder the enemy tries to prevent you. i recently had a HUGE temptation for me come my way, and i fell. i've been fighting depression from falling to this temptation. it's that great of a weight. on my way in to work this morning, the song posted below came on, (more and more i believe God creates a playlist for me). the thing that stood out the most is that today is a brand new day. i can't dwell on yesterday, His mercy is new every day! sorry, i have to cut it short, but peep the lyrics below. i'll be back to continue my thoughts on this post if necessary.
the analogy is a shot clock in basketball and one's day in life.
1st verse
Yes Sir/ Yeah Sis/ if you can hear through Hip-hop than hear this/Here it is fresh off the presses/ here to lift souls and clear all depression/Cuz I know what it’s like when the sun is all shining but your soul feels night/Feels like you’re caught under gloom’s dark presence/ with a little light shining like the moons sharp crescent/ How many days gone by/ when I said I was gonna win and I ain’t even try/I wake up at half court the day is half gone and time left on the board is madd short/Rushing my shot/ I hurry out the door/ I don’t pray I don’t take my worries to the Lord/How much time does it take to run the floor get the stop watch or maybe I should stop and watch the Lord/ Everyday is a new 24 on the shot clock either get your shot blocked or score
Chorus
Brand new day/With each new day that’s dawnin’ /Every time night turns to morning/Grace is new, Mercy is new, what you gone do with it/ If life is a game you can never play in again/ would you stay in your sin or start trainin’ aimin’ to win?
2nd verse
I’m so down in points at this point I’ll take brownie points/Especially with the people I love I wish I could win or at least take the lead by a hug/Sometimes when I’m leavin’ I shrug hoping they feel me like really E.Q.’d up subs/ I hope they see that I’m doing a good thing/ that’s the reason I’m not around as much as I could be/And when I’m around I’m often drained but I don’t want relationships getting lost and strained/ I’m always telling myself/ don’t have your lights out/ be a lighthouse for someone else/I could do more before I hit the floor let me cop a squat/ put in some quality time for sure/Everyday is a new 24 on the shot clock either get your shot blocked or score
Chorus
3rd verse
I love the way the Lord taught the church/ He had a simple game plan when He walked on earth/ a balance between doing/ and being with the people He loved/ and spending time with the father above/ if I could master the art of the latter part/ I could keep from always having to march back to start/ there’s so many things to do/ and this brings me to my chief need which is to cling to you/ Maslow’s hierarchy listed the priority of the order of the things that we need and I guess it varies/ from the need to feed and to find love and to seek to succeed but he missed the one thing that's necessary/ the Lord’s standing at the door of your heart knocking unlock it watch He’s got a lot in store/ today is a new 24 on your shot clock will you get your shot blocked or score
we finished up on our group bible study, the Sacred Romance series and we've started a new study. i'm not quite sure what this study is about, although i've seen what one of the group leaders had in mind. i haven't made it to the study, due to the new baby and all the changes that it's brought.
our church as whole, well some of us, have started on reading the bible in a year. a few different plans have been handed out and me and the wife are doing the same one. the reading was going well, right up till we had the baby. it was cool, cuz me and my wife would at random times talk about the reading we'd done and things we were surprised at or noticed for the first time or things we just didn't know. i was behind in my reading and she was possibly ahead, but we both have some catching up to do now.
the bible reading was really bring up alot of questions for me. time is limiting me to get into an example of the questions right now, hopefully i'll be able to post some of my thoughts. the reading format is about a chapter from the old testament starting in genesis a chapter from the new testament starting in matthew. then we read a few verses from the psalms and proverbs. i really like the format. man...the old testament is a trip, just genesis alone!! i've read it before, but as always you see something new each time. but i do like the format.
as always, it seems like the harder you try to get closer to God, the harder the enemy tries to prevent you. i recently had a HUGE temptation for me come my way, and i fell. i've been fighting depression from falling to this temptation. it's that great of a weight. on my way in to work this morning, the song posted below came on, (more and more i believe God creates a playlist for me). the thing that stood out the most is that today is a brand new day. i can't dwell on yesterday, His mercy is new every day! sorry, i have to cut it short, but peep the lyrics below. i'll be back to continue my thoughts on this post if necessary.
the analogy is a shot clock in basketball and one's day in life.
1st verse
Yes Sir/ Yeah Sis/ if you can hear through Hip-hop than hear this/Here it is fresh off the presses/ here to lift souls and clear all depression/Cuz I know what it’s like when the sun is all shining but your soul feels night/Feels like you’re caught under gloom’s dark presence/ with a little light shining like the moons sharp crescent/ How many days gone by/ when I said I was gonna win and I ain’t even try/I wake up at half court the day is half gone and time left on the board is madd short/Rushing my shot/ I hurry out the door/ I don’t pray I don’t take my worries to the Lord/How much time does it take to run the floor get the stop watch or maybe I should stop and watch the Lord/ Everyday is a new 24 on the shot clock either get your shot blocked or score
Chorus
Brand new day/With each new day that’s dawnin’ /Every time night turns to morning/Grace is new, Mercy is new, what you gone do with it/ If life is a game you can never play in again/ would you stay in your sin or start trainin’ aimin’ to win?
2nd verse
I’m so down in points at this point I’ll take brownie points/Especially with the people I love I wish I could win or at least take the lead by a hug/Sometimes when I’m leavin’ I shrug hoping they feel me like really E.Q.’d up subs/ I hope they see that I’m doing a good thing/ that’s the reason I’m not around as much as I could be/And when I’m around I’m often drained but I don’t want relationships getting lost and strained/ I’m always telling myself/ don’t have your lights out/ be a lighthouse for someone else/I could do more before I hit the floor let me cop a squat/ put in some quality time for sure/Everyday is a new 24 on the shot clock either get your shot blocked or score
Chorus
3rd verse
I love the way the Lord taught the church/ He had a simple game plan when He walked on earth/ a balance between doing/ and being with the people He loved/ and spending time with the father above/ if I could master the art of the latter part/ I could keep from always having to march back to start/ there’s so many things to do/ and this brings me to my chief need which is to cling to you/ Maslow’s hierarchy listed the priority of the order of the things that we need and I guess it varies/ from the need to feed and to find love and to seek to succeed but he missed the one thing that's necessary/ the Lord’s standing at the door of your heart knocking unlock it watch He’s got a lot in store/ today is a new 24 on your shot clock will you get your shot blocked or score
Monday, February 04, 2008
wow...it's been awhile
where to start? so much has been going. we had the baby on jan 14. he was 8lbs 13 ounces 21 inches long. he is beautiful and we feel very blessed to have a second child. his name is aaron elijah.
as most newborns do, he has been taking up most of our time and energy. my 1st son has enough energy for 2 kids, so it has been a challenge to say the least. my wife is worn out and we're both exhausted. we don't have any family around so it's just us. we do have good relationships with two of our neighbors, so they help, but it's not the same as having family.
my 1st son has been doing very well with his new little brother and has been very sweet to him, kissing him and hugging him. trying to comfort him when he cries, but he's almost 3 and is used to being the center of attention. i think he's starting to feel a little differently now that he sees that is little brother needs alot of attention and it sometimes means he will have to wait to get what he wants. its tough. he's also the kinda kid that has tons of energy and needs to be re-directed alot. he's strong willed, which isn't a bad thing, but needs direction as most 3yrs olds do.
between him and my newborn, we're exhausted. last week i got 7 hours of sleep in a 3 day period. i'm still at work, i only got the first week off, haven't been at this job long enough to get maternity leave. so my wife has both of them for the majority of the day, then i come home and help out. fortunately, i have tons of experience with my 1st so that helped with me knowing what to do when it comes to feeding him, changing diapers, all that good stuff.
i'm at work now, and it's the only time i can sit and blog right now. way too much going on at home. i'll be back with an update on how things have been going spiritually and any other updates i can think of.
as most newborns do, he has been taking up most of our time and energy. my 1st son has enough energy for 2 kids, so it has been a challenge to say the least. my wife is worn out and we're both exhausted. we don't have any family around so it's just us. we do have good relationships with two of our neighbors, so they help, but it's not the same as having family.
my 1st son has been doing very well with his new little brother and has been very sweet to him, kissing him and hugging him. trying to comfort him when he cries, but he's almost 3 and is used to being the center of attention. i think he's starting to feel a little differently now that he sees that is little brother needs alot of attention and it sometimes means he will have to wait to get what he wants. its tough. he's also the kinda kid that has tons of energy and needs to be re-directed alot. he's strong willed, which isn't a bad thing, but needs direction as most 3yrs olds do.
between him and my newborn, we're exhausted. last week i got 7 hours of sleep in a 3 day period. i'm still at work, i only got the first week off, haven't been at this job long enough to get maternity leave. so my wife has both of them for the majority of the day, then i come home and help out. fortunately, i have tons of experience with my 1st so that helped with me knowing what to do when it comes to feeding him, changing diapers, all that good stuff.
i'm at work now, and it's the only time i can sit and blog right now. way too much going on at home. i'll be back with an update on how things have been going spiritually and any other updates i can think of.
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