I’m back. Good week of getting things done. Hopefully I can keep it up!

I lost interest in football this year as the Seahawks crapped out (again), there is always next year. I am studying but have the Super Bowl on just because it seems like something I should have on… Anyway, the National Anthem was great. I was very impressed. Members of the military cadet chiors sang along with the trumpet corps. Well done.

Enjoy the game!
Shalom

PS: This didn’t warrant a new entry:
Book I MUST buy - “The Bible for Wiseasses” heh, I love Simpsons.

Also, I have 50 Gmail accounts to give (along with half the country), so if you don’t happen to have one yet, just email me with your name and I will invite you!

New Year’s is upon us. I probably won’t be around until after, so I hope you all have a great celebration to usher in the new year. For many, it is hard to have hope at this new year with all thr troubles going on around them. It is important to remember that God is there in the good and bad times and is always there to fall back on. We are all in this adventure called life together and shouldn’t forget one another. God has called us all to something higher, no matter what our situation is. God bless you all and remember to pray for your loved ones as well as your enemies.

I will leave you, once again, with a really meaningful song. I know I have posted it before, but I really like it and it truly speaks to what the new year should mean. Plus it is my blog and I can do what I want.

Shalom and God Bless you in the new year, may YOU be new as well.
Blessings, Matt

This New Years Eve, something must change me inside, I’m crooked and misguided, and tired of being tired. This New Years Eve, I’m waiting for tomorrow. My heart is on my sleeve, and yes I still believe, in You.

FIF “New Year’s Eve”

Searching for more than mere lies disguised as dogma, tired eyes tend to wander, seek the light. Create in her a sense of awe that sees Your beauty, let Your splendor flash with blinding light. Standing tall all the aspen trees drink water as the rain falls down like laughter from the sky.

FIF “Something Like Laughter”

Night came and I broke my stride, I swallowed hard, but never cried. When grace was easy to forget, I’d denounce the hypocrites, casting first stones, killing my own. You would unscale my blind eyes, and I stood battered, but more wise, fighting to accelerate, shaking free from crippling weight. With resilience unsurpassed, I clawed my way to You at last. And on my knees, I wept at Your feet, I finally believed, that You still loved me.

FIF “On Distant Shores”

And sometimes when we touch
The honesty’s too much
And I have to close my eyes and hide
I wanna hold you til I die
Til we both break down and cry
I wanna hold you till the fear in me subsides

Dan Hill

I know I have posted some of these before, its ok, you can deal with it, I know you can. Read. Ponder. Meditate. Pray. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Go on, you’ll like it.

Shalom

I didn’t think I would write an entry until I had moved (up to Vancouver and Regent College), but I felt I needed to revisit this here because it is something I think people should read. Before I get to that I suppose I should explain where this came from. I am packing more stuff today and have had, of course, Five Iron Frenzy on in the background. One of my favorite songs on their last CD is “On Distant Shores.” I have read through the lyrics before, but I think they were more of a skim and I have tried to follow along during the song but often more or less trying to keep up with the pace and rythm of the words. Well since I have listened to that song so many times now I decided to sit down a read/sing the lyrics along with them. The bridge is quite fast but as I was singing and really listening to what was being said I was just flooded with emotion and started crying. It was this amazing feeling of God’s presence and His undying love for me even though I am a screw-up. I have so many thoughts going on this but I will just let the lyrics speak for themselves. PLEASE really read these words and meditate on them(especially at the bridge [which is the long section towards the end] and the end of the song - which is from one of their other songs “Every New Day.”)

“On Distant Shores”

I have been scarred so deep by life and cold despair, and brittle bones were broken far beyond repair. I have leveled lies so deep, the truth may never find. And inside my faithless heart, I stole things never mine.

If mercy falls upon the broken and the poor, Dear Father, I will see you, there on distant shores.

I have toiled for countless years and ever felt the cost, and I’ve been burned by this world’s cold, like leaves beneath the frost. On my knees I’ve crawled to You, bleeding myself dry. But the price of life is more, than I could ever buy.

(Bridge)
And off of the blocks, I was headstrong and proud, at the front of the line for the card-carrying, highbrowed. With both eyes fastened tight, yet unscarred from the fight. Running at full tilt, my sword pulled from its hilt. It’s funny how these things can slip away, our frail deeds, the last will wave good-bye. It’s funny how the hope will bleed away, the citadels we build and fortify. Good-Bye. Night came and I broke my stride, I swallowed hard, but never cried. When grace was easy to forget, I’d denounce the hypocrites, casting first stones, killing my own. You would unscale my blind eyes, and I stood battered, but more wise, fighting to accelerate, shaking free from crippling weight. With resilience unsurpassed, I clawed my way to You at last. And on my knees, I wept at Your feet, I finally believed, that You still loved me.

Healing hands of God have mercy on our unclean souls once again. Jesus Christ, Light of the World, burning bright within our hearts forever. Freedom means love without condition, without beginning or an end. Here’s my heart, let it be forever Yours, only You can make every new day seem so new.

Thanks all for reading, see you in Canada God is Love.
Shalom

One of my favorite groups is Five Iron Frenzy. They are an awesome Ska band that is always clever, often extremely insightful and genearlly silly as well.

“New Years Eve”

It’s New Years Eve and I’m full of empty promises, I half pretend to keep this time, just like last year. The band is loud and I’m wandering the shadows, wishing I was never here. I persevere. A crowded room, these whitewashed tombs, they raise their glasses high, they kiss the past goodbye.

This New Years Eve, I’m waiting for tomorrow. My heart is on my sleeve, and yes I still believe, this New Years Eve, will turn out better than before, I’m holding on, still holding out, until they close the door… on me.

It’s New Years Eve and I feel my insecurities, are haunting me like ghosts, this sinking quicksand. And then with thunderous praise and lofty adoration, a second passes by, yet nothing changes. I hate my skin, this grave I’m standing in. Another change of years, and I wish I wasn’t here.

A year goes by and I’m staring at my watch again, and I dig deep this time, for something greater than I’ve ever been, life to ancient wineskins. And I was blind but now I see.

This New Years Eve, something must change me inside, I’m crooked and misguided, and tired of being tired. This New Years Eve, I’m waiting for tomorrow. My heart is on my sleeve, and yes I still believe, in You.

“World Without End”

For all the deepest thoughts compiled,philosophy
to laws of physics,
no one’s ever heard or seen,
a more beautiful thing,
than this love that saved us.

[Chorus:]
In the soundless awe and wonder,
words fall short to hope again.
How beautiful,
how vast your love is,
new forever,
world without an end.

The very spark that burns the stars,
drew near to me today,
the God of everything that is,
whispered in my ear that His love is boundless.

The last stanza brings me to tears every time I hear it, even just reading it. God is so awe inspiring and yet so close, pretty amazing. I do suggest everyone checks out Five Iron. They are really fun to listen to and can then also make you think as well… check “Fahrenheit.”

Shalom

So as seems popular with me these last few days, I was listening to the Kill Bill soundtrack (Both Vol have awesome music) and Johnny Cash’s song jumped out at me (as his songs usually do).

“A Satisfied Mind”

How many times have
You heard someone say
If I had his money
I could do things my way

But little they know
That it’s so hard to find
One rich man in ten
With a satisfied mind

Once I was waitin’
In fortune and fame
Everything that I dreamed for
To get a start in life’s game

Then suddenly it happened
I lost every dime
But I’m richer by far
With a satisfied mind

Money can’t buy back
Your youth when you’re old
Or a friend when you’re lonely
Or a love that’s grown cold

The wealthiest person
Is a pauper at times
Compared to the man
With a satisfied mind

When my life has ended
And my time has run out
My friends and my loved ones
I’ll leave there’s no doubt

But one thing’s for certain
When it comes my time
I’ll leave this old world
With a satisfied mind

How many times have
You heard someone say
If I had his money
I could do things my way

But little they know
That it’s so hard to find
One rich man in ten
With a satisfied mind

Very cool song I think. So I pose this, what gives you a satisfied mind? Is it something you can stay with or does it come and go?