Mr. Tall

...gifts

He gives us gifts.
A wide variety.
Spiritual and Earthly.
Some in common with others, some more, some less...
Why is it our nature to stare at what others have while ours are idle?
Why do we compare what we have with what "they" have?
Why can we not be content with what is given?

There is ONE gift that is given to all.

Father, help keep our eyes on that.
Help make that gift overshadow everything.
Help us rejoice in all our gifts because of that ONE gift.
Help us.
Help me...

And this hits home even more when we consider all the people on the other side of the world that have lost everything. We so easily take for grated all that we have.

We run to you

Show us Your ways, write them in our hearts, bind them in our steps.
Grant us the strength, to hold them ever near. so we will not forget.

Chorus:
We run to You, You make us strong. You are our God, we are Your own.
Bought with Your blood, held by Your love, Oh Holy lamb, to You we run.

We will remember, Angels are around when trouble is drawing near.
And we will stay strong, knowing they are sent to keep our paths clear.

With all our might, we will follow You. You will walk with us and we will carry on,
though all the world be shaken, we know that You will overcome....

Among Thorns
From CD - Draw Near

We run to you because you have bought us. Thank you, Jesus.

Wedding Bells

My little sister Tania got engaged this past weekend to Ivan Largent. They plan on getting married mid June and she already bought a dress! Yep, they really want to get married soon...

(Click to see larger image)

Isn't she beautiful? I'm so excited for her!

A debtor to mercy

A debtor to mercy alone
Of covenant mercy I sing
I come with your righteousness on
My humble off’ring to bring
The judgments of Your holy law
With me can have nothing to do
My Savior’s obedience and blood
Hide all my transgressions from view

The work which Your goodness began
The arm of Your strength will complete
Your promise is yes and amen
And never was forfeited yet
The future or things that are now
No power below or above
Can make You Your purpose forego
Or sever my soul from Your love

My name from the palms of Your hands
Eternity will not erase
Impressed on Your heart it remains
In marks of indelible grace
Yes, I to the end will endure
Until I bow down at your throne
Forever and always secure
Forever and always secure
Forever and always secure
A debtor to mercy alone

Original lyrics by Augustus M. Toplady, 1771.
Music and alternate lyrics by Bob Kauflin.

Mel, buddy 'ole pal...

When do I get my invitation?

"Mel Gibson's Tropical Island"

Read this

It is a bit long, but very eye opening...

"Religion: The Birth of Jesus"

For example: "To make their case in this congested theological universe, the Gospel writers collected traditions in circulation and told Jesus' story—not in a clinical way but, as John put it, so 'that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.'"

Apparently the Gospels and the nativity were just "created" to fit in with the current culture.

Voice of Truth

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes
To climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves

To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out His hand

But the waves are calling out my name
And they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy, you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
The voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Casting Crowns
Lyrics by Mark Hall and Steven Curtis Chapman

Sculpture

I have pictures! This is me working on my sculpture.
It's no one in particular, just a guy staring contemplatively into the night sky.

Here is a close-up of my work-in-progress. This is after three 2 hr. classes.

I'm soo excited, this is really fun and Mr. Young is a great teacher!