2B

Just to be...

Just to be still...

Just to be still and sit...

Just to be still to sit and to listen...

Just to be still to sit to listen and to hear...

Just to be still to sit to listen to hear and to look...

Just to be still to sit to listen to hear to look and to see...

Just to be still to sit to listen to hear to look to see and to wonder...

Just to be still to sit to listen to hear to look to see to wonder and to feel... GOD

"Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10

Amost Famous

It has been a privilege to watch you embrace the gift that God has given you. From that nervous voice leading worship in an old barn to hearing your songs on the web. From you sounding like Dave Mathews to now having your own sound. From just being that guy with ear rings, who is dating my sister, to being my friend and my brother. When I think of worship, pure worship, the kind that doesn’t care what other people think, the kind that lets tears run down your face, the- in a crowded room its only me and God kind of worship, I think of you singing that night you joined Victory Point. I don’t exactly remember all the words or the tune, but I remember that you were gleaming. In that crowded sanctuary you were singing only to GOD. You set that song on the alter before our KING. Don’t ever lose that. That is what makes your music great. I am writing this to encourage you for your journey ahead. Only God knows what is in store for you. Remember to take time to listen to GOD and stick true too him. “The praise’s of man will never ever stand”. You have encouraged me and pushed me and I thank you. As popularity grows and stage lights get brighter my prayer for you is that you never lose your fire!

1John 3

This passage hit me like a billboard today:
1 John 3:16-19 (New Living Translation)
16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?
18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 19 Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.

-OHappy Day-

God

If God were small enough for me to understand,

Then God wouldn't be big enough for me to worship!

Steve

Dear Friend,
The sun showed it’s face today over a fresh blanket of white snow. The sunlight was glistening in the frost on the tree branches and I thought of you. I miss your smile. It’s been almost two and a half years since your funeral and I still haven’t dealt with your death. Instead of facing my feelings about you dying, I have withdrawn myself from people and activities that remind me of you. I can’t carry you around with me like this anymore. I can’t cry every time I need to do some electrical work. This is me dealing with you. This is Maverick throwing Goose’s dog tags off the back of the ship. I’m sorry I made your death about me and how I feel.
When I walked away from your funeral I realized what wasn’t important in my life more so than what is. I’d invested so much time, money and energy into things, crap, that doesn’t matter. I was letting my stuff own me and take priority . There was a lot of conversation about what was going to happen with all your stuff. You did have some pretty bad-ass toys, don’t get me wrong. A lot of great relationships are formed through working on things, hanging out in garages, and leaning over the hood of a truck. What Jesus gently spoke to me through all this was ” In the End all your toys won’t matter”. I needed to hear that and want to change that about me.
I am realizing the impact that you left on my life and what a good friend you were to me. The kind of friend you could trust with your life and your wife. I liked our friendship. We were comfortable with each other. There could be those silent times and it didn’t feel weird. I could just be myself. No B.S. and no apologies. We could talk about lifts and tires, engines and paint without getting sick of it. Rarely did we talk about church and never about Jesus. I’m sorry I didn’t ask the uncomfortable questions. In many ways, though, you lived out Christianity through your life. I read James 1:19 “be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” This was you my friend. You lived this verse. You were the friend I could always call for help. You didn’t need to know for what or why… you would just come over. You lent us your Tahoe when Daysha’s car broke down two days before our wedding. “ I’ll take care of it and it will be fixed and in the garage when you get home from your honeymoon.” You left our wedding reception , just when it was getting good, to take us home. You stayed back at the campground with me, in West Virginia, when the others went into town for the night because good friends stick together. I don’t know how many other countless projects you helped me with, but Thank you.
I have this rolodex of your memories that is triggered randomly. Some things always make me think of you: suburbans, wiffleball games, Silver Lake, Burger King chicken sandwiches, frisbee with Fletcher, a skid of shingles, Captain Morgan, BLACK= GOLD, WHITE=CHROME, Thursday nights in the summer, and DICK CEPECK to name a few.
You had a childlike innocence and it was a joy to be your friend. I never met anyone who didn’t like you and I am a better person for knowing you. I always valued your honest opinion and the fact that you weren’t afraid to give it to me. I’m sorry I got you sick on your 21st birthday. I love you friend and will visit you in my next memory.
~Rotman

It's a Jeep thing

I was driving home from a youth retreat last weekend, it was late, like 12:30 and freezing rain had developed and visibility wasn't real good. I had one of Brad's cd's cranked up loud enough that I couldn't hear myself sing. It was one of those great personal worship times with God. I started thinking about how I am like my jeep and how my life is like the road in front of me. Sometimes the visibility is real good and it seem like I can see for miles when other times I can't see more than ten feet in front of my nose. Either way I have to trust that God is directing my life no matter what the weather is like. Sometimes I may have to adjust the speed my life is going. The road has many different ways to get to the same place. Some ways are dirty and bumpy while others are smooth and fast. God will always show me the way He wants me to go even if the visibility is not good. I need to pay attention to His signs. Sometimes I don't like stop ahead signs or red lights, but most of the time they are there to protect me. I get impatient as I want to go my own way at my own speed, but God knows best and He has a little better view of my life than I do. My jeep also needs fuel. I need my small group. I need to listen to sermons and read the Word. I need a spiritual fill up. I also need to keep my jeep clean so it doesn't rust. I need to keep my mind pure and armor all it against evil and wash it out with the forgiveness of God. I also love to spin donuts with my jeep. Any suggestions on that one?????

Church or Jesus

Church people worry about offending someone

Jesus people ask the tough questions