"Life Comes At You Fast"

This past week was very hectic, stressful, terrible...you pick an adjective that is a synonym of "bad" and it probably fits. It was finals week for school, therefore I had my face in a book for about 8 or more hours a day studying. On top of that, most of my classes this past semester were online, which meant instead of actually taking a final, I had to write a paper. I literally have written close to 2 papers a week since last August. For finals week, I wrote one 4 pager, two 5 pagers, and a 7 pager on top of three quizzes, three discussion boards, and two test. (I also crammed in one extra credit paper for Philosophy.) If that didn't make my week interesting and stressful enough, my beloved 2002 Jeep blew up on the way to school on Thursday morning. The result...she's dead. I have to get the block rebuilt, which takes a lot of time and probably even more "chedda" (cash). I snapped a piston lifter which threw a rod which went through the engine block. My mechanic said that the chances of that happening in a Jeep in the good condition mine was in was about 1/1000. Why do I have to be the odd statistic!?

Although I had a bad week. I honestly shouldn't complain. Life is great. Good friends. Good family. And guess what? God still loves me and is in control of my life. I couldn't ask for more.

The Backspace Option

Well, a new page has been turned. A new chapter started. A new song has started playing. Life is good. Friends are good. God is good. Over the past few months I have seen a lot of change in my life. I think I like where this is going.

A few things have really weighed on my mind lately. Life has no backspace button. When I write, whether it be a song, story, or blog, I always have the option of using the backspace button. Mistakes can be fixed, things can be rewritten and said in a different way. Everything comes out perfect. Life cannot be backspaced. I have come to realize that I must do things right the first time in life. Priorities are crucial. My God must be worshipped and given praise. School has to be finished, and finished well. My family has to know that I love them. My friends need to know that I am there. What if I neglect my priorities? I cannot backspace. I must give everything I do my all. If I fail...I tried. But I would much rather try and not succeed than sit back and watch. I am reminded of a quote by 50 cent. (Yes 50 cent!) He said, "I would rather die like a man than live like a coward." My conclusion, God is great, in him all things can be done, therefore, I can do this.

Over in another rose bush, I have had a crazy urge to travel somewhere. Not so sure what that means, but I really want to go somewhere new. California maybe? Texas? I need to hit up Travelocity and just go...anybody wanna join?

What the World Needs to Hear

This article is from Huntley Brown. He is a fabulous concert pianist, man of God and is a black man.

Why I Can't Vote For Obama
By Huntley Brown

Dear Friends,

A few months ago I was asked for my perspective on Obama, I sent out an email with a few points. With the election just around the corner I decided to complete my perspective. Those of you on my e-list have seen some of this before but it's worth repeating...

First I must say whoever wins the election will have my prayer support. Obama needs to be commended for his accomplishments but I need to explain why I will not be voting for him. Many of my friends process their ide ntity through their blackness. I process my identity through Christ. Being a Christian (a Christ follower) means He leads, I follow. I can't dictate the terms, He does because He is the leader.

I can't vote black because I am black; I have to vote Christian because that's who I am. Christian first, black second. Neither should anyone from other ethnic groups vote because of ethnicity. 200 years from now I won't be asked if I was black or white. I will be asked if I knew Jesus and accepted Him as Lord and Savior.

In an election, there are many issues to consider, but when a society gets abortion, same-sex marriage, embryonic stem-cell research, human cloning - to name a few, then wrong economic concerns will soon not matter.

We need to follow Martin Luther King's words, 'don't judge someone by the color of their skin but by the content o f their character.' I don't know Obama, so all I can go on is his voting record. His voting record earned him the title of the most liberal senator in the US Senate in 2007.

NATIONAL JOURNAL: Obama:
Most Liberal Senator in 2007 ( 01/31/2008)

To beat Ted Kennedy and Hilary Clinton as the most liberal senator, takes some doing. Obama accomplished this feat in 2 short years. I wonder what would happen to America if he had four years to work with. There is a reason Planned Parenthood gives him a 100% rating. There is a reason the homosexual community supports him. There is a reason Ahmadinejad, Chavez, Castro, Hamas etc. love him. There is a reason he said he would nominate liberal judges to the Supreme Court. There is a rea s on he voted against the infanticide bill. There is a reason he voted 'No' on the constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. There is a reason he voted 'No' on banning partial birth abortion.
There is a reason he voted 'No' on confirming Justices Roberts and Alito. These two judges are conservatives and they have since overturned partial birth abortion. The same practice Obama wanted to continue.

Let's take a look at the practice he wanted to continue. The 5 Step Partial Birth Abortion procedures:

A. Guided by ultrasound, the abortionist grabs the baby's leg with forceps. (Remember this is a live baby)
B. The baby's leg is pulled out into the birth canal.
C. The abortionist delivers the baby's entire body, except for the head.
D. The abortionist jams scissors into the baby's skull. The scissors are then opened to enlarge the hole.
E. The scissors are removed and a suction catheter is inserted. The child's brains are sucked out, causing the skull to collapse. The dead baby is then removed.

God help him.

There is a reason Obama opposed the parental notification law.

Think about this: You can not give a child an aspirin without parental notification, but that same child can have an abortion without parental notification. This is insane.

There is a reason Obama went to Jeremiah Wright's church for 20 years.

Obama tells us he has good judgment, but he sat under Jeremiah Wright's teaching for 20 years. Now he is condemning Wright's sermons. I wonder why now?

Obama said Jeremiah Wright led him to the Lord and discipled him. A disciple is one in training. Jesus told us in Matthew 28:19 - 20 'Go and make disciples of all nations.' This means reproduce yourself. Teach people to think like you, walk like you; talk like you, believe what you believe etc. The question I have is what did Jeremiah Wright teach him?

Would you support a White President who went to a church which has tenets that said they have a:
1. Commitment to the White Community
2. Commitment to the White Family
3. Adherence to the White Work Ethic
4. Pledge to make the fruits of all developing and acquired skills available to the White Community.
5. Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources for Strengthening and Supporting White Institutions
6. Pledge allegiance to all White leadership who espouse and embrace the White Value System
7. Personal commitment to embracement of the White Value System.

Would you support a President who went to a church like that?

Just change the word from white to black and you have the tenets of Obama's former church. If President Bush was a member of a church like this, he would be called a racist. Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton would have been marching outside.

This kind of church is a racist church. Obama did not wake up after 20 years and just discover he'd been going to a racist church. The TRUE church can't be about race. Jesus did not come for any particular race. He came for the whole world.

A church can't have a value system based on race. The churches value system has to be based on biblical mandates. It does not matter if it's a white church or a black church based on racial values, it's still wrong. Anyone from either race that attends a church like this would never get my vote.

Obama's former Pastor Jeremiah Wright is a disciple of liberal theologian James Cone, author of the 1970 book 'the goals of the black community'. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him.

Cone is the man Obama's mentor looks up to. Does Obama believe this?

So what does all this mean for the nation?


In the past when the Lord brought someone with the beliefs of Obama to lead a nation it meant one thing - judgment.

Read 1 Samuel 8 when Israel asked for a king. First God says in 1 Samuel 1:9 'Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do.'

Then God says

1 Samuel 1:18 ' When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day.' 19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. 'No!' they said. 'We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fi ght our battles.' 21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the LORD. 22 The LORD answered, 'Listen to them and give them a king.'

Here is what we know for sure.

God is not schizophrenic

He would not tell one person to vote for Obama and one to vote for McCain. As the scripture says, a city divided against itself cannot stand, so obviously many people are not hearing from God. Maybe I am the one not hearing, but I know God does not change and Obama contradicts many things I read in scripture, so I doubt it.

For all my friends who are voting for Obama; can you really look God in the face and say; Father, based on your word, I am voting for Obama even though I know he will continue the genocidal practice of partial birth abortion. He might have to nominate three o r four Supreme Court justices, and I am sure he will be nominating liberal judges who will be making laws that are against you. I also know he will continue to push for homosexual rights, even though you destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for this. I know I can look the other way because of the economy.

I could not see Jesus agreeing with many of Obama's positions. Finally I have two questions for all my liberal friends.

Since we know someone's value system has to be placed on the nation,


1. Whose value system should be placed on the nation.

2. Who should determine that this is the right value system for the nation?

Blessings,
Huntley Brown

Personal Religion

This is a paper I wrote for a religion class I am taking this semester. Thought that some of you might enjoy! (I made an "A" by the way...)


Cliff Jennings
September 19, 2008
Father Gregory Rogers
Personal Religion Essay

My Religious Beliefs

Religion has always been a part of my life. I was born in Fort Worth, Texas where my father was in seminary. This being said, I have literally been a “preachers kid” my entire life. Until I was in the fifth grade we were a part of a traditional Baptist church. In the tradition style church I learned to stand and sit in church only when told, sing the hymn that was specifically numbered from a dusty hymnbook, and read Old Testament stories at sunday school. I learned the ways of a “Christian life.” This was in the 1990’s, but the church seemed a few decades behind. We needed something new, more modern and fresh.
When my Dad told the family that he had decided to move to a new church, our family was a little skeptical, we were comfortable. The next nine years started a true spiritual journey. As I grew older, I began to understand what God really meant to me and how real he could be in my life as long as I trusted in Him. I had asked Christ to come into my life and live inside of me when I was much younger, it was not until my middle school years that I truly realized what this meant.
In middle school I firmly believed in God, and his plan and purpose for my life. I was picked on everyday because I was “God’s child” or a “church boy.” I learned to push the worldly things away and trust wholly in him. My seventh grade year I felt led to begin a bible study at my school. Myself and two of my Christian friends began to meet in the art room of Merriwether Middle School on Wednesday mornings before school at 7:00 AM. The first month or so consist of nothing but the three of us praying for our friends by name and praying that God would bring people to the art room before school to hear His word. Numbers slowly started to grow, as well as my faith. This continued through my seventh grade year and into my eighth grade year. Myself and two other musically inclined friends began to play worship music before I delivered the devotion that morning. By the end of my eighth grade year we averaged 70-80 people on Wednesday mornings. During the last month of school there was a particular Wednesday where I felt led to invite people to give their hearts to Jesus Christ. I made the invitation and a handful of people stood and accepted. My faith was on fire. I knew the Lord was very present in my life and using me in His ways. This continued in my churches youth group where I began to sing on stage with the praise team occasionally. Little did I know, my life was about to be flipped upside down.
High School definitely opened my eyes. I saw how people truly were and learned that the world and the people in it were not all good. Ninth grade was a very hard year for me. I did not have many friends and became pretty miserable. I thought that in order to have friends, I had to do the “cool” things. Through the next couple of years I grew further away from God and went away from the path He wanted me on. By the time I was a Junior in high school I was high on life, the worldly life. I was a football jock and dated all the pretty girls. Life was good. Halfway through my Junior year’s football season I had a terrible injury that put me on the sidelines. I was furious with God. I lost many scholarship opportunities and many friends because my social life consist of physical therapy and lying on the couch. My Senior year I was back on my feet and back into my party life. I was very far from God, and I never even realized it.
When I went to college I realized how wrong I had been and asked for forgiveness and began to walk the path God wanted me to walk again. The last few years have been challenging to say the least, but I have learned a lot about God and his plan for my life. I have been given many gifts, one of which is a good voice and the intelligence to play the guitar. I have learned that I have a place in the church.
I now attend TrueNorth Church in North Augusta where I am on part-time staff as a worship leader. I have been given the opportunity to lead God’s people in worship and lifting his name. I have learned that church is not about the fancy dress and the traditional ways, but that God wants to reach the people of the world we live in today. I believe that a church needs to reach out and touch the untouched. God does not want your effort in getting dressed once a week to go church, he wants your heart every hour of the week in the most humble spirit you can give. I am glad to be a part of the family of God. I am very grateful for the gift God gave us, his son. I am reminded daily that our sins are forgiven because Jesus Christ gave his life so that we did not have to. Our sins have already been paid for.
Most of all, I have learned that God is real. I have seen his power, felt his presence, and witnessed his miracles. I know that my relationship with God will be worth all of the worldly sacrifices when I get to heaven. There is nothing in this life that can compare to his greatness and his love. Jesus Christ has given his life so that I may live mine. “When you have tasted Him, really tasted Him, there is no going back.” - James Thrash.

A 'Wow' type of day...

Over the past few years I have had the opportunity to lead worship at a variety of churches and events. More recently I have been leading at TrueNorth Church. Being in a church all my life, I have had and felt many "God moments". These are the times when your knees get weak and your eyes fill with tears and it takes every bit of strength you have to keep from falling on the floor.

I love leading worship at TrueNorth, don't get me wrong, but in the last couple of months I haven't felt much God in our worship. Instead I think we have become consumed with making the church "cool" with the fancy production and expensive equiptment and we have lost focus on what REALLY matters. I have felt convicted of this as well as other leaders in the church. Through a few meetings and long hard talks, the lead worship team decided that many things needed to change in order to change our "heart of worship". I have been very excited about these changes, but in the same breath, skeptical that we would actually move forward with the changes. Today changed my skepticism, wow is the only thing I can say.

This week was not a normal week for me. I felt extremely anxious about what was to happen on Sunday morning. Honestly, this is way out of the ordinary for me. I generally do not ever get nervous. When I looked at the set list for the week, I immediately knew this was going to be a special week. I was right.

This morning during our practice, singing "I Stand Amazed" and "Unashamed" my eyes filled with tears and my voice was shaking because I was so overwhelmed by the feeling of God in the gymnasium. My anxiety turned to excitement as the day moved forward.

Through both services, there was a feeling in the worship that I had not felt in a long time. It almost seemed that the entire congregation knew something big was about to happen. As the band continued to play, I felt as if the band had put our instruments down. The music was truly about the words and hundreds of voices were praising our God together. I was blown away at the sound of his people singing praises and opening themselves to the Lord.

Today was an amazing day. I know that God changed people's lives today in powerful ways. The best part is, I am still anxious. God IS NOT done at TrueNorth. He has shown us just a glimpse of his greatness today. Are you ready? Hold on church, hold on. Greater things are still to be done.

To be or not to be...

Why are decisions that seem SO simple the hardest ones to make!? I feel my head is going to explode. This time in my life is sorta like going to Baskin Robbins Ice Cream...there are 14,000 choices and you feel that it is impossible to make a decision. I have SO many decisions to make right now...where do I start?

Oh Baby Sister...

Well, its official. My "little" sister is a legit college student. She packed up her things and moved to North Carolina where she is at Gardner Webb University. I almost don't know what to do because she isn't here! Although I am in a funk and miss her, I am extremely proud of her and all of her accomplishments. I wish her luck and send her on with my prayers pushing her along!

Comfortable?

It's just when life seems comfortable and manageable that God tends to show up and cancel your dinner plans for you.

At my church, TrueNorth, our pastor has been challenging us not to stay comfortable in our walk for too long. This can also be turned around and looked at from another perspective. God is saying to us, don't get comfortable because I have bigger and better plans for you. I have recently discovered that this is in fact truth. When you pray, "God, disturb me. Disturb my life." it is looking like God simply says, "Ok sure." I am learning that for God to build our lives up, they must first be torn apart.

I am at an age in my life where many decisions will be made. Some for good, some for "not so good." Every time I turn around something in my life is changing. Whether it be my school, major, job, house, or pants size, nothing stays the same for long. This may sound somewhat obvious, of course things change. Seasons come and go, time moves by as quickly as it did the day before, there is always change. So why is it that when we change things we aren't used to changing we feel so torn apart?

In the end change will have always happened, whether it have been for better or worse. But how is a decision supposed to be made when all paths look great? What is to tell you that the prize is actually behind a different door than the one you are thinking of choosing? If all of the doors are God-given, does it matter which path is taken? Is the decision left up to us? Why do we have to change? What would happen if we decide not to walk through any of the open doors?

My thoughts escape me...

Oh Toilets...

This video made me laugh so hard that I peed a little...Just thought I'd share...






This one is probably even funnier... but at this point I had already hyperventilated...

No Jokin...Growing Up Really IS Hard...

So I obviously never blog, and I have a few good reasons. One, not sure if anybody even reads it, but does that matter? Oh well.....two, I rarely find time to blog. School, 3 jobs, and a life makes it a little tough. Three, I don't like people to feel sorry for me, so if I write about a problem or something I don't want any sorry people out there!

So this past December me and a buddy got a bright idea of starting a business. Sweet! I thought, a little extra money wouldn't hurt and there is no way it would become a big deal any time soon. Well, guess what? Have you ever thrown a match in a pile of wood soaked in lighter fluid? Thats what the business has turned into. A BIG burning pile of wood, and all of the people who inhabit the csra just keep adding more and more wood. So you could be thinking...what is the problem?! Well, its not a problem that we are doing well, in fact I am SUPER happy that we are doing good. But I am not convinced with myself that I want to own a thriving business at the age of 20. Is that too young? If I didn't really enjoy what I do and how I help people I definately would not be here. Don't get me wrong I am thankful for every person who walks through our office door. But seriously? THIS much in a month and one week? I guess I just wasn't ready for this much so fast. I was honestly expecting 5 or 6 clients, just enough to get by. Oh well, I'm buckled up...time for take off!

Its not just a business that is bringing the reality of growing up...there is a girl. Of course just like any good movie there is ALWAYS a girl. But this girl, can't put my finger on exactly why, is incredible! I really don't think I could ask for more in a young lady. Maybe that she didn't live an hour away...but that's ok! The weirdest thing about her is that I, yes me, chased after her. I don't mean to sound stuck up or anything but I dont usually chase a girl. Thats just not me. But I literally tried to get her to go out with me for almost 6 months. Then when she finally said yes...I was terrified to go out with her! We have been together a grand total of almost 5 months and I am loving every second of it. The best part is that God is in the center of the relationship and I love that. We have something special, I'm not gonna use any words that start with "M" around her yet...but who knows? I am very excited to see our future...

So yeah...I guess I am just venting...the workout just wasn't enough tonight to releive all of the stress. Hope everyone in blogger world is doing great!