The Rebel Jesus

This song cuts me to the heart.  Especially the 3rd and 4th verse...

All the streets are filled with laughter and light
And the music of the season
And the merchants' windows are all bright
With the faces of the children
And the families hurrying to their homes
While the sky darkens and freezes
Will be gathering around the hearths and tables
Giving thanks for God's graces
And the birth of the rebel Jesus

Well they call him by 'the Prince of Peace'
And they call him by 'the Savior'
And they pray to him upon the seas
And in every bold endeavor
And they fill his churches with their pride and gold
As their faith in him increases
But they've turned the nature that I worship in
From a temple to a robber's den
In the words of the rebel Jesus

Well we guard our world with locks and guns
And we guard our fine possessions
And once a year when Christmas comes
We give to our relations
And perhaps we give a little to the poor
If the generosity should seize us
But if any one of us should interfere
In the business of why there are poor
They get the same as the rebel Jesus

Now pardon me if I have seemed
To take the tone of judgement
For I've no wish to come between
This day and your enjoyment
In a life of hardship and of earthly toil
There's a need for anything that frees us
So I bid you pleasure
And I bid you cheer
From a heathen and a pagan
On the side of the rebel Jesus

Powerade was enough

So I biked in to work again today.  It's the Friday after Thanksgiving and there was very little traffic.  Either everyone is at the malls or they are at home sleeping off the meal/s they had yesterday.

Anyhow...after I got to the office, I went over to the gas station to get a sports drink (cause that's what athletes have to do after they do their...athlete-ing). 

Powerade was on sale. 2 for $2.50

So I got one red and one blue.

As I was walking back to the office, I saw my buddy Steve at the bus stop.  He said he was listening to the LSU vs Arkansas game (I should've asked him the score)...on a new walkman that he got (which is cool cause his other one got stolen). 

I say, "Hey that's cool.  You want one of these (Powerade's)?  Red or Blue?"

He takes the blue and says thanks.

After short meeting, at the office, I go back to the gas station and pick up a 3 spam musubi's.  2 for me, 1 for Steve.  With my musubi's in hand, I walk back to the bus stop and offer one of them to him.  "You want one of these?"

I expect him to say yes and thank you as usual.

But he says, no.  He's fine.

It's not that he doesn't like them.  I've gotten some musubi's for him before.

"Ok," I say, "take care."

And as I'm walking back to my office with Steve's musubi, I wonder if he was too proud to take it?  I wonder if he doesn't like to just take and take and take.  I wonder if he'll receive things that he needs...but for the things that he doesn't...he won't.

I look at him and ask myself: What does he want out of life or does he have everything he wants?

I wonder.

But for today all he wanted was a Powerade...and that was enough.

Random thoughts while riding to work

So today is Wednesday.  I usually try to ride bike into work.  Not sure exactly how long it is has been since I started, but it has at least been a few months.  It's getting easier.  Now that's not the same as easy.  Just not as hard as it was when I started. 

But it has gotten to the point where my mind can wander to other thoughts than, "Crap. I am so tired" or "Should I just turn around and drive to work?" or "I wonder if my wife would pick me up from here and take me the rest of the way..."

So here's some randomness...

1.  All you cars shouldn't bang me.  You know why?  Me using less gas getting to work means there's more gas for you!

2.  Wow, gas is $3.99 now!  Maybe me riding to work IS helping?!?!?  Gas has gone down.  That fact is indisputable.

3.  I love it when cars cut in front of me only to be waiting at the stop light for me when I pull up. <-- insert heavy sarcasm

4.  It is very fulfilling when I pass cars in traffic.  I take it to mean that I'm getting into better shape.

5.  Thank you all the cars and drivers for not banging me.  My wife and kids thank you as well.

6.  I wish PRP would start a bike lane campaign. <-- not really.  and I didn't think that up while riding.  Just while typing.

Ok, that's all.  I'm pretty sweaty and tired and am still typing on this keyboard.

Laters...

Paula Fuga & Mike Love - Misery's End

Really like the feel and groove of this song.  Just thought I'd share.  Enjoy!

FREE Jesus Culture Song

This song is free for a few more days before the album releases next week some time.  You can sample it before you download.  I got it.  The song is good.  (Very appropriate for where I am in my journey with God.)   Hope you like it too.

Song Time - Tell The World

Here is the latest...not necessarily the greatest...song from yours truly. 

Possibly the most upbeat song I've written.  Song is about telling people of our Savior.  The main part of this song (for me) is the pre-chorus based on Matthew 5:14.  That we would let God shine His light, his love through us.  Then the second half of that comes out of Matthew 28:19 where Jesus is says to go and make disciples.  Most of the songs I write are just prayers.  I hope that even without music, if you just read the words, they would make sense and would be something you could imagine yourself saying to God.  Anyways, if you have any questions about the songs or whatevers, just comment below.  Thanks for stopping by and for listening.

And with out further ado...




Tell the World
You are the truth, the life, the way
Our hope is found in You
We will declare
We will proclaim
Our hope is found in You

    Make us shine like a city on a hill
    Let Your light shine
    God let Your light shine
    Send us out so the world may hear
    For God You so loved the world
    That you came for us

    You came to seek and save what was lost
    You came to save the day
    Rescue us from the grave into life everlasting
    Joy, You are the hope of the world
    Lover of our soul
    We will tell the world
    We will tell the world

You are the light shining in the darkness
Our hope is found in You
You are the peace that comforts in the storm
Our hope is found in You

When we were lost and far away
You came for us
When we were broken and in pain
You came for us

Now we will testify of Your love in our lives
Of all You've done and all that You are
God be lifted high

Failure

I've always been afraid of failing.  I am still very much afraid of failing.  But I came across a great new perspective on that subject recently.  I was watching a movie with my wife and two girls and this little clip kind of...got to me.  Now I didn't start crying right there on the spot.  (I waited till everyone went to sleep then had a good hour and a half sob session.  Just kidding.)

But it actually did give me a push...

To go try things...

Go try things that I might fail in.

Learn from it.

Then try to get better.

Here's a clip from the movie "Meet the Robinson's"



"Keep Moving Forward"