Thump 09-26-2010
Personal notes from a Sunday morning at Denton Bible Church:
Music:
- Knowing You
- Lord I Lift Your Name On High
- Praise the Savior
- Amazing Grace/Chains Are Gone
Text Reading: Philippians 3:1 and 4:1
Thump 09-12-2010
Personal notes from a Sunday morning at Denton Bible Church:
Music – 10 hymns…10 standards of the faith:
- Praise God All Creatures
- Almighty Fortress
- How Great Thou Art
- Wonderful Grace of Jesus
- He Lives
- I Know When I Have Believed
- He Leadeth Me, O Blessed Thought
- What A Friend We Have In Jesus
- Sweet By and By
- Nearer My God To Thee
Reading of the Text: Philippians 2:12-17
Thump 09-19-2010
Personal notes from a Sunday morning at Denton Bible Church:
Music:
- For All You’ve Done (a favorite of mine)
- Nothing but the Blood of Jesus
- God You Reign
Text Reading: Philippians 2:17-30
Showing Face
I signed up with Facebook some 18 months ago out of curiosity and because of the popular buzz surrounding it. I quickly learned one could enjoy the everyday happenings of family and friends, and pictures (always the posted pictures). Facebook has found many of my old friends and has reconnected me with family members that long ago traveled a different path than mine. It has been more fun than not catching up with those folks. With that promise, I had hoped it would truly be a “social network”, but alas the Facebook allure has lost its luster with me. Read More…
EIR: Communion
This is a story without the bickering of politics, rumor-izing, sharp-tongued disagreements, and doom and gloom predictions…isn’t that what Christianity is all about? I trust this will put all our daily lives into some kind of perspective, and affords an appropriate reminder of one of my favorite Bible verses and songs: This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! (Psalm 118:24).
Email Inspiration Received (EIR) and checked out on snopes.com and truthorfiction.com…my kind of story for sure despite the discrepancy between Buzz Aldrin being Presbyterian or Esipcopal – he’s a Christian regardless of the church doors he walks through!
This from an email received from my friend David S. – the pictures are from my personal photo library.
Read More…
A knock on the door, or one on the head
Guys, this is the kind of stuff where you either re-introduce yourself to all the single malts in the house, or you go to church.
If you recall, a couple weeks ago I did a quick post on Erma Bombeck. It was about how, after watching a PBS program of her life, it spoke in such a way as for me to better understand the attraction my mom had for the lady. So here I sit again tonight, moved to sniffles and teared eyes (damn you PBS) watching yet another favorite of mom’s, Chet Atkins, and coming to very similar conclusions with this man as I did with Erma.
Something is going on here gang and I’m not sure how to go about wrapping my arms around it. I could use some help, but if I’m drowning here, don’t be tossing me rocks….
Hallelujah
Last night’s televised ”hope for haiti now” fundraiser was moving at times and inspirational. Besides the obvious need for the event, the music was a true delight. I celebrate and support both the cause and artistry of the night.
Being one that loves music and sometimes wishes a singing career would have been in the “chords”, I’ve learned to appreciate artists that perform with their heart and soul, and are not afraid to throw their emotions to the end of a long sleeve with songs that touch them in some way.
Last night and live, Justin Timberlake and Matt Morris had the performance of the night with their moving rendition of ‘Hallelujah”.
“Hallelujah’ is a song that can take center stage all by itself. The artist merely puts a melody and emotion to the words. I’ve sang this song myself, without much talent, but with conviction of one voice with a congregation in song knowing the stage is sometimes, something more than where the microphones are placed.
I went to bed last night thinking of the song and its lyrics…I got up this morning with it still on my mind. ‘Hallelujah’ has been a favorite of mine for some time, as it has been for many an artist as well. In searching iTunes and YouTube this morning, so many good versions of the song were found, done by professionals and amateurs alike, and performed in several languages. Read More…
A Christmas Made More Difficult, but We Celebrate
Tis the season of Christmas…it has always stirred emotions in me. Not just for the religious joy it brings, but also for family traditions, memories, anticipations, sadness, and pride; they all swell from my withins and give a unique reflection on Christmas each year. It was some 12 years ago – December 14, 1997 – when this family lost a daughter, sister, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and friend – Mom was all one in the same person, our life-long Santa Claus that brought joy to us all. Christmas will forever be her time in my heart.
Without permission, I boldly speak for my family in saying we have learned to cope, heal, and continue our lives over those 12 years. Our loss was made even more difficult in knowing Christmas time was an incredibly special time with our family. We’ve had our share of sadness as we have also reaped blessings of joy since her death. Many times we don’t realize either of those emotions until they confront us, with all the bluntness and suddenness a life changing event can muster. When that happens, we have learned to celebrate a life shared, a life lived, a life blessed, a life remembered. Read More…
EIR: To all whom I love … :o) bec
Email Inspiration Received: Got this email from OFSIL Becky this morning…many of you may have received or read it before this posting, but I certainly hadn’t. It makes starting my day knowing “enough” really is a pretty nice amount. Thanks Bec.
Subject: Wonderful message
Pray You ENOUGH:
Bebo
Bebo Norman, a favorite contemporary Christian artist of mine having 30-songs/1.9-hours worth of music on my iPhone.
I find his music to be great in that it will bring you back to where you’re supposed to be (not to mention easy to sing along with – you listen, you watch…you will be singing harmony with him before you know it).
Hope you enjoy the YouTube links to a few of his songs that have 5-star ratings on my playlist…. Read More…
ERR: “You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.”
I get, on nearly a daily basis, emails proclaiming the sky is falling and life is seemingly not worth living with the current political forces in play. Some exclamations are quite humorous, some are shameful, some will make you sick that civil people would actually forward such nonsense, some are good, some are worthy of my commentary. This one came today:
This is probably the 5 best sentences you’ll ever read. This is one paragraph that should be in every book in every school room in every city in every state in our great Union . Our educators should make a lesson plan on this one statement and beat these words into every head in every class in every state in these United States of America .
Profound short paragraph: ”You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is the beginning of the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.” Adrian Rogers, 1931-2005
Bubba likes Sunday too
In my personal (mental) series of “only in Texas” oddities, I have been inclined of late to rename it “ya jus’ gotta love Texas”….
Yesterday at my religion history lesson (a particular church sermon heavily laden with all sorts of old Egypt-Israel-Jordan geographic references) – before, during, and after the service - I noticed several unique characteristics of the congregation. Please know, I have always been one that prefers at least a casual (not even dressy-casual) wardrobe when attending Sunday service, and think everyone should wear the same (OK, call me a bit pretentious).
Knowing good and evil
Every month or so I venture to my long-time, golfing buddy, dear pastor friend’s church for what I call my dose of “Dr. Bill”. He speaks to the common parishioner with a simple elegance and understanding for even those that typically absorb Bible-based preaching on a Sunday morning rather slowly…like me.
Last Sunday, the “Dr. Bill dose” spoke of knowing evil. His sermon was based on Mark 1:21-28. Many times Bill’s sermons hit home with me for reasons I might share in another post, but this sermon struck the house, rattled the windows, and flickered the lights causing a re-reading of the passage multiple times. Here’s my take (not Bill’s words mind you, and maybe not even his point) on the message given by Bill to his congregation last Sunday.
The humility (and irony) continues
A follow up on my previous blog: Oh the humility (and irony) of it all :
So the Christian-based The Covenant School apologizes and says it was wrong to stomp, kick, beat, maim, crew them up & spit ‘em out Dallas Academy girls basketball team 100-0…
So the coach, Micah Grimes, says The Covenant School’s apologetic postion is absurd (my words used here)… Read More…
Oh the humility (and irony) of it all
So yesterday I read about this girl’s basketball game in the Dallas Morning News…and today it’s home page news on Yahoo.com:
The game was last week between two private schools – The Covenant School (a Christian-based institution) versus The Dallas Academy (known locally for having notable success educating students with learning disabilities). Anyone else find the teaching conflict (and irony) of a Christian school basically ignoring their Christian/Bible-based education philosophies, opening a can of whup, and dishing out a bucket full of wrath on their lesser opponent?
Religiously speaking
I, for one, am not well versed in the Bible’s scriptures. However, a good scripture discussion and interpretation is welcomed as long as I have my study Bible to reference. Perhaps that explains why I’ve had a Bible study class or two through my church over the last few years. As my old pastor told me many times – while sitting in a church pew, one-on-one over breakfast, and even in the passenger seat of a golf cart – religion and the Bible can really mess with your head. Perhaps Brother Bill’s point is the Bible is for all of us to take what we need from it, depending on the circumstance. I know many times I reference the Book for consolation, assurance, and inspiration. It has helped me countless times when in need, but it is used solely for my personal journey of faith and not to spread fear and condemnation. I know the Bible tells us to seek discipleship and congregate as a family in the house of the Lord. I try to do that through encouragement, patience, and as a living example – I think I am still ok in the Eyes from above. Read More…



FGs Lincoln was born March 18, 2012. Find posts, pictures, and updates by typing "Lincoln" in the Search box below to get a list for the kid. 








What say you?