Well, it's painfully obvious, but there is SO much we have to catch up on here! :-) This time, and I really do mean this time, I WILL get this place going again! Be patient, and I'll try to get my review of Alex and Brett Harris's Rebelution conference up...be back VERY soon!! :-)
1 Timothy 4:12 - Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
How many of my entries have that title? Well, I'm not gonna pretend like I didn't abandon this place for the last few months, so I will say that I'm VERY sorry about that! I've figured out how to "recover" my site, and I've still got a few things to get fixed, but other than that, I'm getting things back on their feet. Oh, and I hope you like the new layout! Yes, I do realize that it is incredibly random compared to my normal layouts...but I hope you like it :-) I promise I really will be back soon and get everything fixed/finished! Until then...
Okay, obviously things have changed, but don't worry, it's only temporary (there was a big update thing and it changed the layout automatically, but everything's backed up). See you soon! :-)
Okay, so the new year isn't really that new anymore, but here I am now, with my first post and first new layout of 2008 :-) Yes, as you can see, the layout is very, very different from what I normally do. But I recently found an old coke machine and just had to take a picture of it ;-) Oh, that reminds me! I got a nice camera in December, for which I am EXTREMELY grateful. It take pretty good photos and I'm having loads of fun with it! Oh, and of course, you can see all of the photos I've taken with it on Flickr ;-)
Oh, and speaking of Flickr, it seems that my picture of a half-eaten oreo has gotten unexpectedly popular since I posted it on Sunday night. It's already gotten a little over 100 views just in a few days, and normally, it takes months for one of my photos to even get near that. What can I say, I'm flattered to have my first "claim to fame" on Flickr ;-D
Of course, I couldn't forget to mention that the new Stellar Kart album, Expect The Impossible, is less than two months away! It officially releases on February 26th, and it's already available for pre-order (I already took care of that for myself, of course ;-). On top of that, you'll get to hear a new song from the album every Tuesday (starting at 10:00 AM EST, 9:00 AM WST). As for my thoughts on the new album...well, the JFH has song clips available in their Album PReview section, and judging by what I've heard, I think the previous work of Stellar Kart is far better (especially the amazing "pink and black album," We Can't Stand Sitting Down). The only complaint I have about E.T.I. is that it tends to be a little over-produced at times (in other words, it sounds a little more run of the mill and "not Stellar Kart," if you know what I mean), but aside from that, I definitely do like it and plan to enjoy it! So far, my favorite songs are "Innocent," "Shine Like The Stars," and "Letters." Ah, and here's a link to the graphic I made in honor of the up-coming album...
As my mind is a bit empty/drained right now, I plan to be back soon with more important things to talk about :-) TTYL!
Funny: It seems that my niece, Emma got a little confused about how to play Rock, Paper, Scissors. She said, "Let's play Rock, Paper, Scissors. Okay, I'll be the rock, you (Juliet) be the scissors, and you (Jordan) be the paper."
Verse: "...walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." - Galatians 5:16 (ESV)
It's only one minute 'till the year 2007 is over and we say hello to 2008. What an amazing year, full of ups and downs, trials and mountain-tops, but ultimately, God's grace and faithfulness has been undeniably evident. Before the ball drops, let me share this verse with you...
"Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." - Isaiah 43:16, 18-19
Let's trust in the Lord with all our hearts and look forward to his best for us this year!
First of all, merry Christmas to all of you! I hope you all have had a wonderful season and a great day! In the midst of all the presents, Christmas dinners and family visits, I'd like to cut in and share with you guys the climax of Christmas, the real reason I'm making this post in the first place. While I don't have any special words of my own, God's word does have a lot to say...
...Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool...
...The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them light has shined...
...For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace...
...an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord"...
...he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed...
...For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die - but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation...
...and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised...
...Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Now, I'd like to close with a lyric from the song "Audience Of One" (by Sovereign Grace Music)...
"With all my heart and soul and strength
In every word and thought and deed
I’ll live for Him who died for me
To please the Audience of One
How can I not pledge all my love
In light of all that He has done?
There is one glory that I seek
To please the Audience of One"
Merry Christmas!
(PS: Updated the random song page.)
(scripture quotations from Isaiah 1:18, Isaiah 9:2, Isaiah 9:6, Luke 2:9-11, Isaiah 53:2-5, Romans 5:6-11, 2 Corinthians 5:15, and 2 Corinthians 5:17)
