The insanity of love is not that your hearts become one.
It's that one heart holds the emotions of two people.
The insanity of love is not missing someone when they walk away,
but missing them when you are sitting right beside them.
The insanity of love is not crying because you are hurting,
It is crying because they hurt.
The insanity of love is not holding someone close because you love them,
it's pushing them further and further away because you love them too much.
The insanity of love is not that you care so much about them,
but that you care about nothing if you are without them.
The insanity of love is not trusting in yourself to be faithful,
it is trusting in another life to love only you.
The insanity of love in not a burning passion inside your soul when you see them,
it's the burning hurt that overwhelms you when they walk away.
The insanity of love is not that you would die for them,
it's knowing wholeheartedly that they would die for you.
The insanity of love is not that love is a good feeling,
but that our lives wouldn't be complete without it.
Love requires insanity.
Insanity requires sickness.
Sickness requires a source.
A source requires a person.
A person requires love.
-Cliff Jennings
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Don't Forget
God is always working. Sometimes in ways that are very obvious, some that are not. Do you know that feeling you have when you're not as close to God as you should be. Maybe it is in a moment or maybe for a long period of time. But the feeling is the same, sort of dry, empty, lost, confused...
I have been hit and miss the past month or so. I have had a lot going on. I just transferred into a new University, new job, new responsibilities at the church. Although, I know my heart has been right with God, I have just felt the passion coming and going. Almost by the hour. I know God works through me, but does he use my passion??
There is a person, who I have met through one of my classes. A "new" friend. "Hey whats up man?" "Hey dude, how ya doin?" That had been pretty much the extend of our conversation, until this day. I had been studying for the class in a lounge near by when my new friend came walking in. We small talked, no big deal. I had been feeling a little down that day. Until, we took our friendship to the next level. (Get the mind back on track...) MUSIC! Musicians always seem to find each other, and we did as well. He started talking about his drum playing and I commented back on my guitar playing and singing. We went back and forth about programming software, favorite bands, equipment we use. This was cool and all, except I knew that God had put him there for a reason. But, because of the lack of passion at the time, I simply ignored it and moved on with my life.
To make a long two week story short, my rotation band and TrueNorth Church had been needing a drummer. (We have weeks of gigs scheduled over the summer and no drummer to play in them...)
This is where my new theory comes into the game...
What if...when we [God's children] are feeling down, and we feel like we have lost our passion for Christ and his Kingdom. (I think this is so cool!) What if God takes some of our passion, not our belief and love for him, but just our passion and gives it away to those who are around us? Do you get it? Even when we are not FEELING God using us, he could be "cloning" our feeling of passion and putting back into someone else! Someone that might not have ever had it, or maybe even someone who has just lost their way. Like taking skin from someone's back to replace a wound on their face. God uses our pure love for He and His Kingdom and rubs it off on others around us!
After asking this new drummer if he would be interested in trying out for our band sometime, and he agreeing, I get a phone call from a friend who was more than excited. The phone call went something like this..."I can't believe he is playing drums for you...in church! I have been praying for him for so many years now. This is SUCH an answered prayer!" Throughout the conversation I find that our new drummer friend has had a difficult past, and that he had been turned away from church because of situations in his past. (Not going into the details...) The person who called me on the phone had literally helped raise him as a child and saw his downfall years ago, and has been praying ever since. God has used the abilities He has given me, once again, to further His Kingdom and to reach the lost. Even the lost who had purposely strayed away. I cannot describe the feeling. Thank you God.
My point is this...
Don't ever forget that God loves you.
Don't ever forget his power.
Don't ever forget that people around you are watching.
Don't ever forget that God is always watching.
Don't ever forget that lost people matter, because they are people too.
Don't ever forget that God loves the lost, just as He loves us.
Don't ever forget that God uses us.
Don't ever forget your passion.
and Don't ever forget your purpose.
I have been hit and miss the past month or so. I have had a lot going on. I just transferred into a new University, new job, new responsibilities at the church. Although, I know my heart has been right with God, I have just felt the passion coming and going. Almost by the hour. I know God works through me, but does he use my passion??
There is a person, who I have met through one of my classes. A "new" friend. "Hey whats up man?" "Hey dude, how ya doin?" That had been pretty much the extend of our conversation, until this day. I had been studying for the class in a lounge near by when my new friend came walking in. We small talked, no big deal. I had been feeling a little down that day. Until, we took our friendship to the next level. (Get the mind back on track...) MUSIC! Musicians always seem to find each other, and we did as well. He started talking about his drum playing and I commented back on my guitar playing and singing. We went back and forth about programming software, favorite bands, equipment we use. This was cool and all, except I knew that God had put him there for a reason. But, because of the lack of passion at the time, I simply ignored it and moved on with my life.
To make a long two week story short, my rotation band and TrueNorth Church had been needing a drummer. (We have weeks of gigs scheduled over the summer and no drummer to play in them...)
This is where my new theory comes into the game...
What if...when we [God's children] are feeling down, and we feel like we have lost our passion for Christ and his Kingdom. (I think this is so cool!) What if God takes some of our passion, not our belief and love for him, but just our passion and gives it away to those who are around us? Do you get it? Even when we are not FEELING God using us, he could be "cloning" our feeling of passion and putting back into someone else! Someone that might not have ever had it, or maybe even someone who has just lost their way. Like taking skin from someone's back to replace a wound on their face. God uses our pure love for He and His Kingdom and rubs it off on others around us!
After asking this new drummer if he would be interested in trying out for our band sometime, and he agreeing, I get a phone call from a friend who was more than excited. The phone call went something like this..."I can't believe he is playing drums for you...in church! I have been praying for him for so many years now. This is SUCH an answered prayer!" Throughout the conversation I find that our new drummer friend has had a difficult past, and that he had been turned away from church because of situations in his past. (Not going into the details...) The person who called me on the phone had literally helped raise him as a child and saw his downfall years ago, and has been praying ever since. God has used the abilities He has given me, once again, to further His Kingdom and to reach the lost. Even the lost who had purposely strayed away. I cannot describe the feeling. Thank you God.
My point is this...
Don't ever forget that God loves you.
Don't ever forget his power.
Don't ever forget that people around you are watching.
Don't ever forget that God is always watching.
Don't ever forget that lost people matter, because they are people too.
Don't ever forget that God loves the lost, just as He loves us.
Don't ever forget that God uses us.
Don't ever forget your passion.
and Don't ever forget your purpose.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
"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.
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.
Monday, November 17, 2008
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?
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?
Sunday, October 26, 2008
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
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
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