Worship with drums

After a week away in silence, maybe I appreciate the worship these guys lead us into with drums!  Oh yeah!

First, the Little Drummer Boy Rocks

And after listening to that, I thought of the Prayer as Creativity short video produced by 24-7 prayer guys

prayer-as-creativity

In the end, we have to give up control

Two outstanding songs here from JJ Heller. In the End and Control.

First a few of the lyrics to JJ Heller’s powerful new song In the End.

Oh this silly heart of mine

Looking for new things to buy
Nothing really satisfies
In the end, in the end
Greed is making fools of us
Waging war betraying trust
Empires only fade to dust
In the end, in the end

Safety is not for sale.
[You can not buy peace of mind]
Earthly defenses fail
[There's nothing new under the sky]
Build your kingdom all your life
And say goodbye
In the end, in the end

And you can listen here to the music on youtube.

Partial lyrics below to her song “control”

Oh, control
It’s time, time to let you go

Perfection has a price
But I cannot afford to live that life
It always ends the same; a fight I never win

Oh, control
It’s time, time to let you go

I’m letting go of the illusion
I’m letting go of the confusion
I can’t carry it another step
I close my eyes and take a breath
I’m letting go, letting go

You can listen to the song on youtube as well–I must admit that I did not care for the official music video and so I prefer just listening to the music at this youtube site

 

 

Enjoy beauty, simplicity and goodness. Today!

Here are a couple of short films that challenge me about being present, about living and enjoying each moment of every day. Enjoying God. Enjoying others.  All is a gift.  All is of grace. Beauty, simplicity, goodness. Until the end.

• I have no good apart from you Psalm 16:2
• Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me Psalm 23:6
• How abundant is your goodness Psalm 31:19
• My times are in your hands Psalm 31:15

“Eccl. 9:11   Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all. Eccl. 9:12 For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.”
(Ecclesiastes 9:11–12 ESV)

“Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;” (Ecclesiastes 12:1 ESV)

“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”
(Ecclesiastes 12:13 ESV)

The science, math, and physics of sound and music

Although I cannot fully appreciate all that they are talking about in the following video, how beautiful the creation of God–what order, compatibility, what complexity! Originally found the video here

May each of us learn to be present in the moment and embrace the wonder and mystery which surrounds us daily!

Personal photo from Seattle

A couple of quotes from David Benner’s Soulful Spirituality

• “Reason and wonder are not mutually exclusive—just distinct. In fact, we can quite easily use both faculties to encounter the world and, by so doing, know it in ways that neither alone makes possible. Whatever we approach on the basis of reason we attempt to tame and exploit, making it conform to our concepts and control.”
• “If we retain this radical capacity for amazement, we may be able to sidestep the impulse to control what we encounter and instead submit to the truly amazing and adjust our concepts to it.”
• “Wonder will only emerge in the presence of reverence. If nothing is sacred, nothing worthy of reverence, then nothing will evoke wonder. This is the plight of the cynic. Cynicism is the way we try to minimize the loss of wonder and idealism. It is the mask we hide behind when we choose to despise the simple and wondrous. Wonder may yet exist, but cynics will usually feel too vulnerable to dare to embrace it. Wonder demands openness, and that openness is simply too threatening for those who are cynical.”
• “The great mysteries of life—love, suffering, evil, death, beauty—do not need to be figured out in order to be engaged. But they must be befriended if the encounter is to be nurturing to spirit and soul. Any other attitude lacks the hospitality that transforms mystery from being the enemy to being a welcome companion on our human journey.”
• “The gift of wonder begins with the awakening of awareness. Our part is then simply being open to seeing the ordinary in a new light—through childlike eyes of wonder.”
• “Wonder is more a matter of heart-pondering than mind-thinking. It is rumination that leaves space for mystery, confusion, fear, uncertainty, awe, paradox, and questions.”

Check out this time lapse video to be even more awed by the wonder of creation

For the foodies, global nomads and life long learners

Thanks to Tyler Stanton for the link to the following videos

For the foodies in my life

For my fellow global nomads

And finally, for all of us committed to life long learning!

Music for reflection by Daniel Martin Moore

Here are a couple of songs by Daniel Martin Moore that I have enjoyed this year.  Best listened to when you can be in a quiet place and have some time for reflection.

O My Soul

In the Cool of the Day

The Bible is not about you

Praise coming from an unexpected place

Words fail me after watching this awesome video! in which Carlos Whittaker sings God of Second Chances

Here is a post on Ragmuffin Soul about what happened that day and about the theme of asking God to save us from these comforts.

He is Risen

Thanks Wayne!

Fastest longest zip line

Got this from mental floss–check out their post for more videos of speed!

Fear that arises when we put to death

“Just what do you think you are doing Dave?” From Kubrick’s 1968, 2001, A Space Odyssey.  Ray Ortlund ties in the clip below with Romans 8:13 and I have added Galatians 5:16,17.  Consider the fear involved when we put to death the deeds of the flesh

For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.  Romans 8:13 ESV

But I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of teh spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.  Galatians 5:16,17 ESV

The greater the struggle the more glorious the triumph

“The greater the struggle the more glorious the triumph”  From the Butterfly Circus. Amazing short video.  Well, it is about 20 minutes long so hopefully your internet speed is not too slow when you try to watch it.

Thanks to Michael Hyatt

Coaching in the unexpected moment

Just completed a fascinating week of coaching training last week in Bangkok.  So when a friend pointed me to the following video, I had to post it.  I know, it’s not exactly the classic coaching model we learned but the idea of coming alongside to help a person be successful–that is at the essence of coaching I think.  I did see tears in my wife’s eyes after she watched it so be forewarned!

Church for dogs and their owners

I like dogs.  I really do.  I grew up with them.  I would like to have a dog again some day.  I have been to churches here in which dogs roam in and out at will. It’s not that I am not opposed to having dogs in church but . . .  a church service where they are invited? Is there something wrong with this picture?

This really is happening at one California church. Thanks to Kruse Kronicle. Says the Pastor,

The concept is the entire family–2 footed and 4 footed.  There is love, there is God in some form or fashion.  And when we love a dog or a dog loves us, that’s a part of God and God is a part of that.

24-7 prayer videos

If passion moves you, watch the five short crazy wild videos on the 24-7 prayer movement.  Thanks to missions catalyst e-magazine.  Watched the first four of these already.  You can go find info on their website and see the first video here.

Following are a few favorite quotes from the first short, Prayer as movement

In this short, you learn about the story of a prayer movement started by a missional prayer group in U.K. inspired by Moravians.  They interviews a few people and asked them what words they would use to describe 24-7 prayer

• Subversive, foolish global
• Wild, passionate, radical
• Prayer, mission and justice
• Action, respect and responsibility
• Passion, fun, spirit

“It empowers people whoever they are, whatever circumstances young or old to step into the presence of God in a really fresh way.”

“It made me see how much God can use anyone.”

Theological Ignorance

When I see things like this, I feel shame that I might be connected with them and anger at their ignorance!  What foolishness. Thanks to Michael Hyatts blog.

Almost as bad as the sermon about why men should stand to pee!

Jesus is the king and yes, he’s my king too

Maybe you have heard this before like me but it still is worth a listen if you need pumping up

Who is going to bless America?

Just found this via James Fallows from Felix Salmon, who is also a new discovery.  I must admit that like Fallows, I get tired of hearing the over-used expression, “God bless America.”  He dates it to the time of Reagen but I remember after 9-11 how it began to proliferate. At the end of following video, at least there is a little passion when they sing it!  Don’t quite get all the jabs in the video about the current health care debate since I have purposely ignored what is going on out there about this topic.  But, about time to catch up. Welcome ideas on where I could read about the current flow.

Slide of your life

The Swiss really know how to play! Enjoy

Things you don’t say to your wife

Pretty funny and sent to me by my wife!