Faith under a tree

When the Pharisees heard how he had bested the Sadducees, they gathered their forces for an assault. One of their religion scholars spoke for them, posing a question they hoped would show him up: "Teacher, which command in God's Law is the most important?" Jesus said, "'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from them." (Matt 22:34-40 Msg)

Last week I was asked a question:

"How can you be rabid for Jesus and not come across as a bigot?"

Christians have had there time in the sun and in the mud. The worlds reception of Christians depends from person to person. Good or bad, we are asked to love God first and alongside that love our neighbor. To answer this question I must look at being solely sold out to Christ command of loving God and loving people. I think most time we think about how many people we can turn on to Jesus. But who wants to follow sheep that are really wolves masquerading as sheep. Not practicing what we preach. Sometimes we fail to be an example of Jesus. In our work place, schools, community and the many diffrent circles we run in. Some may say that the church is going to hell in a handbasket, but I would like to say it's not. Christ message is love with grace and in that grace we can find a peace/understanding that surpasses all things plain and complicated. I myself have not come to be a follower of Jesus to judge those around me, but to love (whatever that might look like). Its a tough job loving people at times. It stretches my comfort zone, pulls me places where I would normally wouldn't want to go. It goes against the grain of self perservation. But thats the amazing thing about the love I find that Christ gives. I don't do it for treat or sticker or be in the good graces of Gods eyes. But I do it because faithfully that is the only thing I know that can make this world a better place. It is the greatest commandment; to love. To love God and to love people where they are at.

Some quick thoughts...

Listening to No beginning, No End - Hawksley Workman

So here I go again. Blogging again. Maybe its because certain people have come back to their blogging ways and have inspired me to blog once again.

Have you ever heard of Vlogging? Video blogging your entries and recording your thoughts. I don't know if I could ever Vlog my thoughts. The fact that you could see me 10lbs heavier is something that doesn't seem appealing. Or what about Flogs. A blog dedicated to blogging about the meals you eat. The food you eat at restaurants or your own home cook meals. John Mayer did it once on his blog. It was funny.

But here I am again blogging. I've only really wanted to blog important thoughts and not useless information that will stay on the Internet forever. But sometimes you just need to write and reflect.

Today I almost died?!? When you drive in the snow there are people who like to drive slower than usual. And those people are me. Today I was merging onto Sarcee and this guy in the minivan was bearing down the backside of my little Honda Civic. I was pressured to move at a faster rate just so that we wouldn't collide. But at this point I was turning and turning in my car in the snow takes a little more grace. I started to feel the car lose its grip and my back side was starting to shake its tail. The guy avoided me and passed me while I span and did a 360. Luckily I didn't have to merge into any traffic at the time. But cars were heading towards me from across the overpass. I quickly collected myself from being a little shaken up. And quickly turn the car around and got going to church.

My only advice/vent, please slow down when driving in the snow. Some people don't wake up thinking it would be nice to have their life flash before their eyes in the middle of the road.

Something Random
I had a quick conversation with some of the grocery guys at Sobeys. We were talking about how the world is such a complicated and frustrating place. "I think its time for a INFESTATION of ZOMBIES." The name of the person will remain anonymous but I thought how our funny around the compactor can go from what the world is, to what we would do when if Zombies started to roam the streets of Calgary.

If anyone cares... I've had a PS3 for 3 months now. I've reached level 41 for my COD4 (WOOT!). Rockband is the great new addiction especially when you have a great names like Travs Supertramp(drummer), Jimmy Stones(guitar), and JJ Jeffersons(lead singer) to the newly formed band "Jefferson's Flavor". There is an audition for a bass player in the works.

Thats it for now. See you sooner than later.

Genesis

I wonder how many bloggers out there blogged about the new year? The beginnings of a new year, giving opening remarks about what this new chapter will entail. What hopes and dreams they have ... goals, aspirations they may conjure up.

This year I'm not gonna do that. But allow for what will come and embrace it. Whether it be good or bad. Heart breaking or blissful. I dare to dream, but for now not out loud. Being easily surprised is far better. [End blog]

Just a thought...

I was thinking about the songs I love to play over and over on my ipod and itunes at home. There are just some songs I can never out play. I can listen to them everyday even if they are 2, 5, 10 years old. I just can never get tired of them. Sometimes those songs get you through a tough time, or they take you back to a time when heard it in thebackround or some certain event. I just can't get tired of them. So I just thought I'd make a list and ask that you do the same and post your all time repeat replays. Heres 59 of many songs that I can play on repeat:

1. 30 Seconds to Mars - A modern myth
2. Alicia Keys - If I ain't got you
   Alexisonfire - This could be anywhere in the world
3. Amel Larrieux - Make me whole
4. Agualung - Brighter than Sunshine
5. Beatles - Hey Jude
6. BellX1 - Eve, the apple of my eye
7. Bic Runga - Sway
8. Bill Withers - Ain't no sunshine
9. Brian Mcknight - 6812
10. Brooke Fraser - Saving the World
11. Buckcherry - Crazy Bitch
12. Carrie Underwood - Before He cheats
13. The Cars - Drive
14. City and Color - Comin Home
15. Colbie Caillat - Bubbly
16. Coldplay - Sparks
17. Colin Hay - I just don't think I'll ever get over you
18. Crowded House - Don't dream it's over
19. Damien Rice - I remember/The Professor & La fille Danse (live at Cornucopia)
20. Dashboard Confessionals - The Best Deceptions
21. David Crowder - You're everything/Stars
22. David Gray - This Years love
23. Eminem - Till I collapse
24. Feist -1234
25. Jeff Buckly - Last Goodbye
26. John Legend - Ordinary People
27. John Mayer - Slow dancing in a burning room
28. Justin Timberlake - Lovestoned, My Love, What goes around comes around
29. Kanye West - Golddigger
30. Lenny Kravitz - Again
31. Lifehouse - Everything
32. Linkin Park - What I've done
33. Maroon Five - She will be loved
34. Michael Buble - Home
35. Michelle Branch - Breathe
36. Montel Jordan - Get it on tonight
37. Nada Surf - If you leave
38. Nelly Furtado - Promiscous Girl
39. Nelly Furtado, JT & Timbaland - Give it to me
40. Iron and wine - Such great heights
41. Incubus - Just a phase
    Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Somewhere over the rainbow
42. Nick Drake - Northern Sky
43. Nsync - Gone
44. Paolo Nutini - Last Request, Rewind
45. Peter Bjon & John - Young Folks
46. The Police - Roxanne
47. Rachael Yamagata - Meet me by the water
48. Rage against the Machine - Wake up
49. Rihanna - SOS
50. Rufus Wainwright - Across the universe
51. Ryan Adams - Come pick me up
52. Shania Twain - Don't
53. The Shins - New Slang
54. Sigur Ros - The nothing song
55. Solomon Burke - Don't give up on me
56. Switchfoot - I dare you to move
57. T-pain feat. Akon - Bartender
58. U2 - With or without you, Where the streets have no name
59. Wilco - Jesus etc.

There was a man who lived in Alaska. A very simple man and was liked by all the people in the small village he lived in. Every night he would take a walk and think about that hole in his heart. He didn't know why or what caused it. But he felt as if there was really a hole in his heart.

He would return home and lay in his bed and lie awake for hours thinking about that hole in his heart. This would continue for a year. He would take that evening walk in the rain, snow, and clear glass night, just before bed. And for a year he would lie in bed awake thinking about that hole in his heart.

But one day the towns people came together and brought him a log. He was never known for a carver. It took him 5 years to crave that log.

They raised that log some years ago. And when you stand there realizing that it took that log hours of carving to fill that hole in that mans heart. You stand there just looking at it and just wanting to cry because of it's beauty. That beauty of that mans hole in his heart.

Worn-down

"Worn me down like a road

I did everything you told

Worn me down to my knees

I did everything to please"

- Rachel Yamagta

I do my best. I try my hardest to please. I fall and I get up. I do better. I learn from the past and do what I can. And when I think I'm doing better. I just see more disappointment. I try to cross these bridges but it feels like we just keep burning them. I've failed. Not because I feel that way. But because you just keep telling me that. You've ingrained in me that it's suppose to build character. But what about that loving character. I don't see it and I don't get it. So I don't think I'll ever be able to trust you. Because you've worn me down so much that I'll never measure up. So I'll dig deep, find it in myself to do it on my own and when I get off my feet and find my place. I will give credit where credit is due and I thank you. I'm grateful and will always be. But when I'm gone, I'll be gone because of you.

Upchuck the boggie woggie

Well after the vomit attack I had last night. I am feeling a lot better. I really don't know how it happened. Food poisoning? Who knows, but my stomach is feeling a lot better. Lying in bed trying to read was what I wanted to do. But my stomach just started to have these pains. Like a ball of needles poking my insides from all angles. I tried to sleep it off. But I kept rolling in bed trying various positions to ease the pain...

30 minutes later...

I decided to get up and throw up. I got up. Walk up to the bathroom door and I felt this urge. I rushed to turn the light on. I lifted the seat and dry heaved. A minute later... goosh the dragon from my stomach decided to come on out. I haven't puked in a long time. And for good reason I remember why I hate throwing up. It hurts, it makes me tear up and taste of lunch hours ago isn't pleasant either. Now my decision to upchuck my lunch, dinner, snacks etc. open the door to consecutive time going to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

I don't want to ever want to throw up again or at least 5 years from now.