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Originally uploaded by Bradc314

Not sure how i feel about the new design

The thought occurs to me as I listen to the band rehearse for this weekend’s services: Are we leading worship, or just putting on a concert?

We have very talented singers and musicians, but they are struggling with a new arrangment for “Angels We Have Heard on High”. If they are struggling, how will the congregation do without the benefit of music to follow? They will attempt to sing the carol they have been familiar with for years, which of course is not what the band is playing. So, they’ll end up lost, and just stand there listening to a nice concert.

Is that the point?

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Originally uploaded by Bradc314

I saw the headline above this morning, and thought it was curious.  At first glance, I wonder why CNN called Mike Huckabee an ‘ex-pastor’ and not an ‘ex-governor’.  It would seem that his political experience is more relevant to the subject than his experience as a pastor.  Perhaps this article explained how Huckabee’s pastoral experience gave him some insight into reviving the GOP.  The article, however, makes no correlation between Huckabee’s experience as an ex-Baptist minister and his viewpoints on the GOP.

So, I’m left to ask myself: Why did CNN choose this headline?  What message is CNN trying to convey?  Is there some connotation to the title ‘ex-pastor’ that either lends or takes away credence from Huckabee’s message?

Playing in the Leaves

Originally uploaded by Bradc314

Wheeee!

Well, that settles it!

If Andy and Opie Taylor and Richie and the Fonz are all voting for Obama, I guess I should too.

Well, maybe I’ll wait to see who My Favorite Martian supports.

This verse jumped out at me this evening while reading the Bible:

Romans 12:12

“Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayful.”

Patience is something I’ve been lacking lately.

The other day I was having a heated political debate with a friend over IM.  I think I won, but then again, I’m sure my friend would disagree with that too!

As I was driving home that day, I was thinking of our discussions and pondering the economic news of the day and its potential negative impact on my present situation, and started getting a little depressed about things.

That’s when, all of the sudden, a hymn that I hadn’t heard in many, many years popped into my head:

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand

No matter what one’s religious viewpoints are, I think most will agree that Government, Republicans and Democrats alike, are nothing more than sinking sand.  They all say they have the answers, but really they don’t.

We dare not trust the Government or a political party with our hope for the future.  Our hope must be built on solid families, relationships, and yes, faith.

So, although I have a preference, in the end it does not matter who wins the election  It’s all just sinking sand.

When I got home from work last night, Becky was eager to share with me a piece of video she shot in our backyard.  This is by far the coolest wildlife sighting we’ve had in our yard.

We have an old straw bale in the back that we think is making an excellent home for field mice.  Now that the hawk has had such luck here, we hope he’ll be back.  It looks to me like he made his first kill, and before he starts eating it, he catches another mouse and ends up eating that one first.  Better in his stomach than my basement, I think.

When dinner is over, you get a very brief view of just how large of a wing span this creature has.  I think his departure freaked Becky and Our Oldest out just a little bit, as he flies straight toward them.