Goodbye 2007, Hello 2008!!!

I want to start off by wishing everyone a safe and happy New Year. May 2008 lead you into new uncharted waters.

That's what 2007 did for me. It started off right with the Gators winning the National Championship in football, but it soon went downhill from there. As most know, I suffered several injuries in a car accident (the worst being a broken femur,) on Thursday, January 11th around 1:50. That day has, and will forever change my life. I went through some dark times, and some good times since then. I have fought hard to even keep my faith, groping around in the dark looking for a flicker of life in my soul. I have seen a dull glow, and I remain optimistic that it will one day grow into a full-fledged forest fire, burning away the old to make way for the new. And so that's why I am looking forward toward 2008. I can see all the bad the accident has brought upon me; it has wrecked my soul (or more like God has,) and left behind shattered glass and crunched metal, and the smell of deployed airbags. It looks bad, smells bad, feels bad, but in the end you get $70,000 and 9 months off work. But here's the thing, looking back, I had some dark, dark days that I would not wish on my worst enemies. I have fought demons, and felt them preying on my body and soul. But I wouldn't have it any other way. I have learned invaluable lessons from this past year, lessons I could not have learned any other way. So yes, I have hurt this year, and yes I have doubted this year, and yes, I gone to the brink of giving up and back again. But I have also been so blessed to see God still work in me and around me, even while I doubted and sat numb. And that strengthens you, and you can feel your soul grown to the point where it feels like it is going to push it's way out of your chest cavity. So I say that to say this, look forward to what the new year may bring you. It might not be what you expect, but it's what you need. And when it happens, or as it happens, just know that this year, 2008, has been planned out for longer than either you or me can imagine. And know that you have two ways to handle it: you can stay crippled, broke, and lost, or you can push on, wage that war, win some and lose some, but still be holding on to the flag at the end of the day. Or year.

May you all have a Happy New Year! Welcome 2008 with open arms, and all that it already has in store for you. God Bless!

Some News To Pray About...

Just found out last night that Lora has been diagnosed with Preeclampsia. Check out Adam's blog for more info, and I ask for all of us to be in a constant state of prayer over this. They are waiting on some test results today, and so also pray for the calming of nerves and spirit.

Correction... It's Jaidan...

She's a premy. 32 weeks I believe. But she's a healthy 4lbs 13 oz baby. She is breathing on her own, but not eating on her own yet. They say babies don't learn to eat by sucking until the 35 week. So they think she should go home in about 3 weeks. Anyways, that's the update. Good news so far!

Jayden is on the Way!!!

My good friends Steven and Jannielle are up at the hospital right now getting ready to give birth to their baby. I'm going up there at 5, so I'll post more tomorrow on the status. I'm pretty excited! Anyways, going to get some sleep, and I'll put more info here tomorrow, for those who care.

More to Come...

So after pulling into our driveway, I turned off the car and lights and just sat there for a bit, no radio, no iPod. And I had been singing (for the first time in a long time,) a song to God. And something peculiar happened, but I'll have to save that for later. Anyways, I sat there in silence, and I thought, I need to read my Bible. Now I have several, but the one I read from is an ESV that for the past three months or so has been in my trunk along with my Life Journal from the last Life Group I went to. So I popped the trunk and got them out. Then I went inside and decided I needed to visit the men's room. So I took my Bible with me to read. And I didn't have my Life Journal, so I decided to flop it open to where I had left off with the last Life Journal, which happened to be around Luke 14. And so I began reading and I read these lines:

"Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?" - Luke 14:27-28.

And so I noticed two things. First, I have not bore my cross for longer than I can remember. The last time I went after Christ I cannot remember either. So things at this point are not looking up for me. Then I read verse 28. "Count the cost," struck me. Do I have enough to complete "it?" And I thought no, I do not. I lack the fortitude and strength of will to complete any task larger than taking out the trash, much less bearing a cross and living a life worthy to follow in the blood soaked dirt path that Christ has trodden. But I realize that Christ does, and that I must rely on and in Him. Sunday School answer, yes, but truth none the less. So how does one rely upon Christ? I hope to find out in the coming months. Anyways, I have read these verses many times, and have even written a sermon with verse 27 as the basis, but it has pierced my soul again tonight. I cannot be His disciple without bearing my cross. And so I must sit down and count the cost of attempting such a task and calling. Do I have enough to complete it? We will find out.

Anyways, I don't wish to over inflate this verse or my thoughts on this verse. It is what it is, it says what it says. I MUST take up my cross or I WILL NOT be His disciple. Plain and simple. So now I go about doing this. May God grant me the fortitude to endure till the end. I know I can only do it through and with Him.

"Great Debaters" a Great Movie...

So I saw an amazing movie tonight, "The Great Debaters." It stars Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker. I found out that Denzel also directs it. Anyways its based on a true story and it truly is inspiring and arousing. I highly recommend seeing it as soon as possible. Anyways, for a side note, after exiting the theater, I noticed that I and two others were the only non-black people in the crowd. And so I thought to myself, why is it that a movie about race and the struggle for equality has only 3 whites in the crowd watching it. Now I know many don't watch movies, and I know that many might have seen it earlier or watched a movie with their kids like Chipmunks or the Compass movie, but still how is it that it can be so overly unbalanced as that. 200 to 3? Anyways, sidebar done. So I say all that to say this: It has really inspired me. I think. We'll see how the week goes, but I can honestly say I heard from God for the first time in about 2 months. So that's making progress at least. More thoughts on this to come...

Go see the movie. I'll pay for your ticket. If I really like you. Just go see it!

My Favorite Christmas Commercial Ever!

I remember this commercial from a while ago. I distinctly remember watching this one a few days before Christmas, around the time it was ran, and I was over at my great-grandmother's house next door. She and my great uncle, my mom and dad, brother, and my grandpa and granny were all there. I was in the dinning room, we were all getting ready to sit down and eat a meal. And the T.V. was on in the living room, and I heard the commercial come on, and I freaked and ran into the living room to listen. I remember loving the silent scenes with the music playing in the background. It kinda allows you to make up your our story, your own lines in your head. I love the music too. It made me feel all warm and cozy inside, like I wanted that moment to last forever. That's what I told everybody after it went off that night. And so I just came across it now, and I watched it again, and it sent chills down my spine. One, because I still love the music and the scenes so. You can still add your own lines and story. And the music still gives me that warm and fuzzy feeling. Two, because now it also gives me a bit of a feeling of coldness as well. Because now, my grandpa has all but lost his sight, and what his eyes can't see, his mind makes up. He's getting old, and his days are surely coming to an end. My granny is in a rehab facility, recovering from her stroke she had a few weeks back. And so this will be the first Christmas without all of us all together. Don't get me wrong, I know I'm fortunate enough to even still have them here with us, but it still kinds stinks. I am very close to them, grew up with them, and I can feel them slipping away. I can feel my entire childhood slipping away. I'm a very sentimental kind of guy, I know that might sound gay, but what ever. Anyways, I can still feel how I felt that night a few years back, and my heart pains for that time again. But time marches on. And so I go, and everyone else, with it. Man, I had it made back then. Anyways, I know this kinda was a downer post, but watch the video, and reflect on it bearing in mind that Christ makes all things better. It's still an amazing commercial. Add your own lines, your own story. And let the music take you there, back to that time, or maybe even now, and let you just linger there for a few seconds. Relive and cherish them. And then move forward. Not forgetting, but pressing on still. They can make a grown man cry, memories. Thank God for memories. But don't let them become our idols. Enjoy the clip, and go out and buy a Publix Ham! And stay close to your loved ones, cherish them. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Rob Bell with a Good Insight...

...on the subject of spirituality and the human experience. He has some good ideas here. Watch it. What's your thoughts on it?

An Amazing Band...

Flight of the Conchords. They're two guys from New Zealand and have had quite the success considering their act. I love them! They actually have talent, and they're song writing ability is amazing. Here's some of my favorites:

This one is my fav. It has some sexual innuendos. But its PG13 I would say.



This on is funny given its in French. I can understand a few words they say. Its funny, cause the words their saying make no sense.

He starts out by saying he wants to buy a croissant.
Then he says "I'm delighted."
The passport is so random, "Oh wow, my passport."
Obviously the "supermarche" part is them just naming items.
Then in the park, they ask each other "ca va" which is how are you doing, and you can answer using the same word if your doing ok. Then he says, "voila, a convo in the park."

My favorite part though is when she ask him something to do with a fish, and he doesn't understand. He says I dont't understand you. She then ask him "Parlez-vous francais" which means do you know french. and he says no. I love it. Anyways, just trying to help those who never took french, to understand some of the dumb humor in the song.



This one was when they were on Letterman. Funny!



And this one is my second favorite becasue they actually display their true talent on this one, vocally. Watch this one!




Anyways, hope you enjoyed at least some of these. If they ever come to town, I'm going!