Story Called Life

It's not just a plot twist or a crazy scheme.
It's not just a memory or a forgotten dream.
It's more than how the dice have been played,
And it's more than how the cards have been layed.

Perhaps, in the grand old scheme of things,
Someone has flown away on golden wings.
Maybe, you've thought you had it all planed out,
To find that there's something to make you shout.

But worry not, for it's not random chance.
There's someone above who has had it all planned.
The plot of your life was written by His hands,
Whether we like it or not,
He was watching from the stands.

So even though you think you may have lost,
Or you think that your own dreams have surely been tossed,
Remember that God is there for you with a friend,
Even when it appears that you have...reached your end.

Lame title...wrote it when I found out an Internet buddy of mine had cancer and wasn't supposed to live past this month...decided to post it today.

Independence Day

The boom of the fireworks,
The colors in the sky.
The smell of hotdogs on a grill,
And the wonder of a wondering sigh.

Independence allows us to celebrate
What we have every day.
The freedom to be who we want to be,
And the ability to say what we want to say.

So on this day I remember
Our men and women in arms.
The ones who fought for us then,
And the ones who fight for us now.

So lift up your voices, let freedom ring!
Remember how their blood was shed,
For you and for me, for our country.
And thank them, with a bow of the head.

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Tea Parties

Did you go to one? Alas, I could not. You know, with school and mom and dad both having to work... So, unfortunately, we didn't get to a tea party. What's that? You don't know what I'm talking about? Okay, here it is:

Across the United States of America today, "Tea Parties" were being held to protest the governments outrageous spending program and the fact that the governments gotten a little bit too much into our personal lives. They're called Tea Parties because of the Boston Tea Party where Americans protested against taxation without representation. So, that's what the Tea Parties are about.

Glenn Beck went to one at the Alamo in Texas, and we watched while we were eating dinner. It was cool. He talked about how we as Americans need to stand up for the truth, not just parties. We need to stand up for what's RIGHT. Not "right" or "left", just for the truth. I love America, but we need to get our senses together. Mostly common sense. We're on the road to Socialism, which, let me tell you, isn't a good thing. It's a very BAD thing. Very bad. So, let's get our heads together and tell the government that they work for us. We elected those people! It's time they start doing what we told them to. Their job is to protect us and our freedoms, not take them away.

Now, I don't want anyone commenting on this post. Usually, I like to know people are reading my blog, but I don't want to get into a debate with someone on my blog. So just read, or not read. You have that freedom. For now. ;)

Warning: Preachy Post

This is some of the notes that I've taken at chapel at camp and at church from the past few weeks. I thought they were cool, so I wanted to post them. (I'll also post the verses)

2 Truths regarding my spiritual development (1 John 2:12-17)
1. I must realize realize that spiritual maturity is a process that is strengthened by God's Word.
(2:12-14) 12. I write to you, dear children, ("children" means all believers)
because your sins have been forgiven on account of His name.
13. I write to you, fathers, ("fathers" means the spiritually mature)
because you have known him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, dear children,
because you have known the Father.
14. I write to you, fathers,
because you have known him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God lives in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.

What areas do I wish to improve?
Worship
Fellowship
Discipleship
Ministry
Outreach

2. I must realize that I have a strong opponent that can hinder my spiritual growth. (2:15-17)
15. Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16. For everything in the world-the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world. 17. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

Dealing with obstacles
1. Identify the issues
2. Recognize it doesn't help me love God better
3. Find out what God's Word says.


3 reasons why we need Jesus Christ in our lives to be useful. (1 Corinthians 1:26-31, 26. Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are, 29. so that no one may boast before Him. 30. It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.")
1. Because most of us are foolish and not wise. (Proverbs 14:16, A wise man fears the Lord and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless. 15:5, A fool spurns his father's discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. 17:10, A rebuke impresses a man of discernment more than a hundred lashes a fool. 18:2, a fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions. 26:11, As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.)
2. Because most of us are weak and not strong. (Strong or weak in spirit, not muscle.)
3. Because most of us are common, not noble.

3 lies I can easily believe about my sin. (1John 1:6-2:2
1. Sin doesn't affect my relationship with God and others. (1:6-7, 6. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.)
2. Sin doesn't exist in my nature. (1:8-9, 8. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.)
3. Sin doesn't exist in my conduct. (1:10-2:2, 10. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 2:1. My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But it anybody does sin, we have one who speaks for the Father in out defense-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.) ("Confess" means "say the same thing"; If God says it's wrong, I say it's wrong.)

This post is already really long, so I'll post the rest later.

I just love this...

This song is just so...wow...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmmTtn58xCs&feature=related

And this picture goes really well with it...

http://kicsterash.deviantart.com/art/Freedom-s-Never-Free-69645244

I love church...

A year ago, I probably wouldn't have said that to you. I dunno where we were a year ago, but I know it wasn't here. But I love it at our church. Our pastor makes you look at things differently, and it's really good. He taught our Sunday school lesson this Sunday, and it was about Psalm 23. He had us write it down, then split it up into 9 couplets, like a poem. When we looked at it again, we realized there was a beginning, middle, and an end. We just looked at it in a different way. It was awesome. :) I thank God that I like my church so much, and the people there too.

AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

:D Have a great new year, guys! My New Year's Resolution: Not to have as many stomach aches. Whoo! :D

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Merry Christmas, you guys! (If anyone actually read my blog, that is. :P) Happy holidays to you all! :D Wow, it seems like Christmas has jumped up on me...anyways, last night we did a Christmas program at our church, and it turned out really cute, I think. My baby brother was a little angel (in the part of the Christmas story where the multitude of angels come to the shepherds) and he sang "Away in a Manger" with some of the other little kids. IT WAS SO CUTE! And bonus, when the angels were supposed to run up the aisle, he just walked behind them, making everyone laugh. :) So cute.

Well, anyways, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOODNIGHT! :D

Dear Heavenly Father,

Please help the families of all those people who were in the World Trade Towers and didn't get out. Please, Lord, help them. Give them courage, and help give them a shoulder to cry on, because You know they'll need it. Lord, help our troops, our President, and help America to open her eyes to the tragedy of it all. Help us all to remember what we're fighting for. Please, Lord, help our troops, keep them safe. Lord, help my family this day, and my friends. Help Rae, VJ, D, Ali, and Xingu, and all the others that I didn't mention. You know them, you love them. And, Lord, please, please, please help the men, women, and children who lost loved ones that day.

In Your name I pray, Amen.

That's how my prayers go, today. Not exactly like that, but along those lines. I remember, vaguely, what happened. I remember that the towers fell while my mom watched news in the kitchen. It was Fox news. She watched. She looked at it, shocked, I guess, then I remember tears. I don't remember if I cried, I can't remember that. I remember that the news was on all day. I remember that Mom couldn't watch it all day, so she went to her spinning wheel and began to spin. She spun a lot of yarn that day, then knit it into a scarf later. She calls it her "9-11" scarf.

This morning, after I brushed my hair, I came out of the bathroom and looked up at the T.V., just in time to see the World Trade Towers coming down. It was a recorded video on the news. Replaying it. I felt my breath leave me. I sat down at the table and poured my cereal, trying not to cry. I might have, a little though. But I didn't let anyone see it. We left the house, right after three kids had said something about their dad who had died in the collapse of the Towers. The last words said were from the girl. "We love you, daddy." A tear slipped out.

Today, my friends, I take my hats off to those men and women who are serving our country. (Figuratively speaking) And finally, MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA!