The new single from U2. What do you think?
U2
Great start…
… 2009 has gotten off to a great start. To begin with, on New Years Eve my daughter Valerie wanted to have a ring ceremony for her decision to “True Love Waits.” 
We had a private ceremony hosted by our friends Nat and Tonya in their home. Valerie invited some of her friends over to join in the celebration. My friend Joel was there and led us in a song. Valerie asked if Joel 
would sing Beautiful Day by U2 during the ring ceremony.
I challenged Valerie to hide God’s word in her heart so that she will not sin against God. She pledged to seek God and to keep herself sexually pure until she gets married. “I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart…” (The Message).
The next day Walker calls me to let me know something exciting happened!! He was so excited to lose his first tooth. He said he got 5 bucks for his tooth from TF (the Tooth Fairy). The only thing is that TF left the tooth under the pillow. I told him that maybe he ought to bring it over to my house the next time he is over to see if it works again!! 🙂
The Read Through the Bible has gotten off to a great start. I know that I have several friends who are also walking through the Bible this year as well. (Joel, Nat, Jason, Randy, and (Amy C, aka Raging Genius) Keep it up!! I hope to hear from others who are as well.
I’m praying some outrageous prayers these days too!! I know God is going to work in them, in my family, and through all of the praying!! I’m glad I can talk with Him about the things on my heart. God is good!! I look forward to seeing God work in my life in 2009!!!
I’m only 2 weeks away from the Full Gospel Business Men’s Advance too…
U2: I Believe in Father Christmas
U2: Praise & Worship
I was talking with a good friend of mine this morning. As we talked, he began to share a passage of Scripture with me from Psalm 116. As he read this passage to me I was reminded of this praise and worship set by U2. It’s a very moving moment.
According to RNS Blog, while speaking with reporters at the National Prayer Breakfast (February 2, 2006), Bono is quoted as saying,
I believe being a worship leader is the highest of all art forms, to worship and call people into the presence of God.
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
I’ll never forget when Joshua Tree by U2 was released (1987). I was in Cleveland, TN at Lee College. I headed over to the mall after classes and purchased the cassette. While driving back to campus I heard this song and was blown away. “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” is a powerful song. It is a deep song born out of a believers heart to know God more.
If you are familiar with how this song was recorded on “Rattle and Hum” then you know the song was recorded for the movie in a church with a choir. On the movie, the next song is by a guy on the street singing about freedom.
As a Christian, freedom from sin and the things of this earth is what we are looking for. We are looking to know God more… to go into a deeper relationship of knowing God. Our lives as Christians need to be about knowing God more. As we get to know Him more, we become His hands and His feet living in a world in need of His love… the freedom that only He can give.
In My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers states,
The Spirit of God has set a great many people free from their sin, yet they are experiencing no fullness in their lives— no true sense of freedom. The kind of religious life we see around the world today is entirely different from the vigorous holiness of the life of Jesus Christ. “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one” ( John 17:15 ). We are to be in the world but not of it— to be separated internally, not externally (seeJohn 17:16 ). (November 27).
Rock and Roll Stops the Traffic…
…at Keller Williams in Cartersville.
I had the pleasure of meeting many of the fine Real Estate Agents at Keller Williams Realty Northwest. Dean and Amy Cochran are agents I have had the great pleasure of working with out of this office in the past. I don’t know another husband and wife team that works harder for their clients.
Even Adam is the band that stopped the traffic just off of Tennessee Street.
Even Adam have been playing together for a little over a year now. Their first concert was played at the Church at Woodland opening up for Casting Pearls now known as Vota. Even Adam has done ministry as well with Oakleaf Church, Paulding County YDC, and other local churches. Even Adam is always excited to play for the building up of the body of Christ. I will have a video of them up soon so check back to see and hear the sound.
More photos from today…
Joel.
Dean.
Brad.
And love is not the easy thing…
… the only baggage that you can bring. It’s all you can’t leave behind. (U2, “Walk On” Bono).
I love the opening to the song “Walk On” by U2. I was listening to it today while burning up some of that cheap fuel I bought last Saturday!! The words just captivate my heart… it’s a captivity that leads to freedom.
Think about it: Love is not easy… yet Paul says it’s the greatest of all gifts. (1 Corinthians 13). I guess in the context of this verse love is the ONLY baggage you can bring… when a believer in Christ dies the only baggage allowed is love. Love is the only thing you can’t leave behind.
I realize this song is dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi. She is a political prisoner in Myanmar. As for her faith, she is a Buddhist. She has been a political prisoner under house arrest because of her fight… dream… of democracy for her country.
Because of this song I pray for her and people like her. People who are held captive for what they believe. It’s people like her who have a quality inside them that bars, prison, and persecution can’t hold.
That quality is LOVE. The truest form of this love is a gift given by Jehovah – The Lord God Almighty. This love was lived out and expressed in it’s deepest form in a man named Jesus Christ. The man who came to bring freedom to all men and women who would believe in him.
For God so loved the world – how beautiful are those six words. I sit here so late at night thinking almost imagining this love – in a way I’ve never known before. This kind of love gives and gives and gives. Seventy times seven this love gives… love is not the easy thing / the only baggage you can bring / It’s all you can’t leave behind.
You see – I have this thing. If you keep up with things here at focus, you will know something of this thing. I desire peace… not just some mamby pamby passive peace… I’m talking a strong victorious kind of peace. Peace must be found. I must not allow the love of God who fills me be tarnished by all of the opposing feelings, thoughts, and attitudes that try to win me over. I know it’s not the easy thing. And the fight must be waged on a spiritual level.
Jesus said, “Take up your cross and follow me.” Love is not the easy thing.
I know I have posted this song recently. I hope you will take a moment if you haven’t already to think about the lyrics here. They are posted below the video…. if you don’t want to watch the video and just listen and read them… think… pray… whatever God leads. For me they are inspiring and I hope they are for you too.
And love is not the easy thing
The only baggage that you can bring…
And love is not the easy thing…
The only baggage you can bring
Is all that you can’t leave behindAnd if the darkness is to keep us apart
And if the daylight feels like it’s a long way off
And if your glass heart should crack
And for a second you turn back
Oh no, be strongWalk on, walk on
What you got they can’t steal it
No they can’t even feel it
Walk on, walk on…
Stay safe tonightYou’re packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been
A place that has to be believed to be seen
You could have flown away
A singing bird in an open cage
Who will only fly, only fly for freedomWalk on, walk on
What you’ve got they can’t deny it
Can’t sell it, or buy it
Walk on, walk on
Stay safe tonightAnd I know it aches
And your heart it breaks
And you can only take so much
Walk on, walk onHome… hard to know what it is if you’ve never had one
Home… I can’t say where it is but I know I’m going home
That’s where the hurt isI know it aches
How your heart it breaks
And you can only take so much
Walk on, walk onLeave it behind
You got to leave it behind
All that you fashion
All that you make
All that you build
All that you break
All that you measure
All that you feel
All this you can leave behind
All that you reason
All that you sense
All that you speak
All you dress-up
All that you scheme…
