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God History Music People Radio

My Fantastic Journey: It’s In The Lyrics

One of the greatest songs ever made during the mid-1990s was the debut smash from Collective Soul called “Shine”. It was their first hit – and their highest-charting hit of their entire (still active) career.

Back when “Shine” shone Collective Soul was frequently considered to be ‘a Christian band’, but they denied any such category. Not all of the band mates considered themselves to be Christians. Despite that the lyrics of “Shine” played out like a passionate plea to God:

Give me a word
Give me a sign
Show me where to look
Tell me what will I find

Lay me on the ground
Fly me in the sky
Show me where to look
Tell me what will I find

Oh, heaven let your light shine down

Love is in the water
Love is in the air
Show me where to go
Tell me will love be there

Teach me how to speak
Teach me how to share
Teach me where to go
Tell me will love be there

Oh, heaven let your light shine down

It’s in the lyrics, and it’s in the 2009 remake by a foursome that proudly exclaim to be a Christian Rock band. Here’s Pillar, and here’s how they “Shine”:

Categories
God Health Holidays Weather

The Major’s Walk-A-Thon

Time: 7:16 AM – 8:05 AM
Sky: Partly Cloudy
Temperature: 59°F
Dewpoint: 59°F
Relative Humidity: 99%
Winds: W 3 MPH
Barometric Pressure: 30.10 Rising

Here are my walking thoughts in 15 words or less:

– It’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day here in the U.S.A.
– That makes it a Federal holiday from coast to coast.
– Enjoy your day off, and make it a productive one.
– I didn’t walk this past Saturday morning, as I ended up sleeping in a bit.
– I didn’t walk the previous Saturday morning because it was freezing outside !
– But this morning was just right – a nice and comfy 59°F / 15°C.
– The air was totally saturated, and it felt real nice to my once dry skin.
– My hands were literally bleeding last week during the Arctic blast !
– But now the’re recuperating nicely in the typical South Florida humidity.
– There was little to no wind this morning, and that made it even more pleasant.
– I walked around my neighbourhood for the 4TH time during this cool season.
– It was the longest walk in modern history – 48.7 minutes / 2.6 miles !
– I’ve made tremendous progress on these walks over the past 25 months.
My very first walk was back on Christmas Eve in 2007.
– Before that walk I had never previously done anything like this.
– Of course that excludes all of my runs and walks during my USAF tenure.
– These walks today mean so much more to me than those from back then.
– These are physical walks that are part of my spiritual walks on this journey.
– They are to help me become healthier and stronger – physically and mentally.
– At nearly 43-years-old I am now in the best physical condition of my life.
– Anyone who knew me before the Summer of 2006 will testify to that.
– I must be healthier and stronger so that I may serve God and mankind.
– Some people do their best thinking while going to sleep or waking up.
– Others think best while alone in the shower.
– I’m sure that some of you daydream while you drive 75 MPH !
– I do my best thinking while walking around my neighbourhood.
– My mind is clear as put foot in front of foot and move along the roadside.
– It’s just me and my kool iTunes playing in my ear via my Shuffle.
– I come up with some of my greatest ideas while walking.
– I should carry a voice recorder with me so that I can remember them all.
– I hope to enjoy many more early-morning brainstorming walks in my future.
– My walks won’t stop until I reach the top !

Categories
God

Life Pointe Church Sunday Morning Tossed Salad

– It’s the middle Sunday (of 5) during this month of January of 2010.
– It’s my 3RD anniversary at Life Pointe Church !
– It’s a 3-day holiday weekend for most of us.
– It was 79°F at 10 AM & 11 AM – more than 40°F warmer than last Sunday AM.
– The A.C. was cranking inside.
– We were very comfy inside, but there’s an entire nation that suffering.
– We stood up and prayed to God for our brothers and sisters in Haiti.
– Where is God in all of that mass chaos ?
– God is pulling survivors out of the wreckage.
– God is spearheading the humanitarian efforts.
– God is getting fresh water and hot food to those who have none.
– God is in all of us who are standing up for a country in need.
– God represents all that is good that is goin’ on now.
– When the world is at its worst the church is at its best.
– The church body always bands together to organize resources where needed.
– We do this with little to no fanfare or recognition from the world.
Lead Pastor Travis J. kicked off our fresh new message series this morning.
– It’s all about Elijah – one of the prophets in Israel during the 800s B.C.
– Elijah was totally dependent and unconditionally obedient towards God.
– Elijah did what God told him to do, and he was treated for doing so.
– We must all depend on God and totally trust in Him over everything else.
– God is the answer and the solution to everything.
– This morning’s teaching was based on 1 Kings 17.
– I based this morning’s Communion (9 AM service) on Hebrews 4:12-16:

12  For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are.
13  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before His eyes, and He is the one to whom we are accountable.
14  That is why we have a great High Priest who has gone to heaven, Jesus the Son of God. Let us cling to Him and never stop trusting Him.
15  This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same temptations we do, yet He did not sin.
16  So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it.

Categories
God Music

My Fantastic Journey: It’s In The Lyrics

Every Sunday morning at Life Pointe Church – the church that I’m a member and a leader of – we kick-off each service with about 15 minutes of ‘Praise & Worship’ led by our talented band. It’s where we stand up and sing aloud and clap our hands and open our arms. We don’t do it to wake ourselves up or hear ourselves sing. We do it all for Him. We do it all for The One who is listening to us and watching us as we reach out to Him and reaffirm our belief and trust and love for Him. We are praising and worshipping Him in a corporate setting.

This Sunday morning marks the end of my 3RD full year with my church family. One of the toughest things that I’ve ever done in my entire lifetime was to return to a church setting and family for the first time in over 30 years. It was so tough that it took me a full 5 months to do it from the time that I was saved and rescued from the darkness of night on a random morning in August of 2006.

If you live near Homestead Florida, and you’re looking for a church family to call your own then I invite you to come on out and join in on the vibrant celebration that is every Sunday morning at Life Pointe Church. Make it a new beginning and follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ with us. You won’t regret it pal !

Here’s a song that we often sing aloud to Christ as we ‘Praise & Worship’ Him. It’s Chris Tomlin with “Holy Is The Lord (God Almighty)”. It’s in the lyrics: