New Years

I am normally opposed to making New Years Resolutions, but I can't ignore these. With God's strength, it will occur and it will stretch me physically mentally and spiritually.

1) I will read the Bible completely from cover to cover this year. It will be in addition to a REGULAR quiet time with God.

2) I will lose my last 40 pounds. In staying with pure foods -- chicken, pork, beef, fish, eggs, cheese -- and increasing my activities to include resistance training whether Pilates, Yoga or weights, this will occur in the first four months of the year. I still feel 40 pounds will bring me lower to where I ultimately want to be, but I guess I will not know until I get there. Item #3 as well as the 3 5Ks I am doing this year will help me achieve this goal as well.

3) At least one hike with the intermediate/advanced group with Saddleback Church. I have already sent an email to one of the leaders to get me on the email list. But this will be in addition to the beginning hikes I will be doing. I have no excuse not to living in Southern California.

4) I will go to a Dodger game. Oh, this is already going to happen, I just had to put it in here. Date and opponent will be determined soon. I believe I will also be going to an Angels vs Red Sox game but I will have to wait till the schedule comes out to confirm.

5) Whale watching. I will find out the details soon, but I know I have at least one willing participant to come with me.

6) Parasailing. I plan to do this in the summer, but if it doesn't happen it's not a huge deal.

Tommy Coomes Band

Thought I would mention an indie band I like. Not my typical style of music.... I'm more into the soft hip-hop (the dcTalk's Free At Last type, nothing like hip hop today), rock (Third Day, Jars of Clay, some Kutless), but I also have a soft side of music... Mercy Me, Michael W Smith, Caedmon's Call, and the old skool artists.. Randy Stonehill, Jon Gibson, Bryan Duncan. So I guess this goes more into the softer side of me. ha ha

The Tommy Coomes Band have a new-ish CD out (released in October or November). You can hear the samples at http://cdbaby.com/cd/tommycoomes but you can also purchase it there (hint, hint). I just ordered some, 4 to be exact, to give as gifts. Definitely worth listening to it. I don't have to listen because I've heard them live on the radio coming home from my monthly Tues meeting when Calvary Costa Mesa did the prophecy series a few months ago.

They don't need promotion or anything, just had to talk about them if you're interested in some really cool praise and worship music.

Oh, they're also on myspace.

Matthew 5

I listened to a sermon on the radio yesterday on the way to the store, it was Raul Ries from Calvary Chapel Diamond Bar. I've been having a problem with this one gentleman (in terms of a title only, not how he acts) for a few months and up until about two weeks ago I thought the best way to handle it was just to ignore him. Until I found out why he held things against me which caused me to send a rather candid email -- no, it definitely was not rude though I could have made it rude -- to him in response. I realized a lot of things and suggested we sit near each other for a while at any fellowship gathering so we know the other is harmless and try to reconcile the differences. Though, admittedly, it'll take me longer to get over the resentment I have towards him than it will take for him. He never commented back so I doubt he agrees with that assessment. Regardless.... the sermon yesterday was on Matthew 5 from what I could gather as I got in the car in the middle of it. The two sets of verses references was Matthew 5:23-24 and Matthew 5:43-48

23"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

For a few weeks I've been toying with the idea of stopping the Friday night group at Calvary. I have to admit the email I got from him set me on that thought pattern again and I've been plotting my escape for two weeks. I DID decide to stop going for sure for the next few weeks until January because I've been sick for two weeks and want to fully recover from it. However, the sermon and the sets of verses caused me to stop dead in my tracks. I cannot NOT go because of him... I have to continue going because of him. I realized that God is teaching me to be in a group of people that I love dearly but yet there is one person I don't seem to get along with. And that I have to learn that regardless of how I really feel, I have to show genuine Christian love towards him.

Last week an issue came up with a good friend I've known since 3rd grade. I was so mad at her, I couldn't believe how mad I was. So I was talking to another friend about it on Friday night and he said, "So when was the last time you talked to her?" I said, "Yesterday via txt message." He said, "That's not talking to her." Wow, this guy is going to make me learn to forgive people like Christ forgives me when I mess up. So instead of txting this gal today, I left her a voice message and we talked for a while on the phone tonight. Things are good now with her and me. We've overcome worse arguments in our years of knowing each other.

This also reminds me of an email I got from another friend... not even the slightest bit related to this, she has no idea about this stuff... but the email says "We will not find a friend that sticks closer than a brother...who accepts us as we are and never leaves us... until we've learned and chosen to be a friend like this ourselves" -- I love how God speaks to us on the same theme for three or four days in a row in various ways.

Fellowship

THIS is how the Christian life should be... building each other up and spurring one another to grow in faith and prayer with one another.

http://facelikeflint.blogspot.com/2007/11/two-is-better-than-one-and-you-know.html

Shooting Stars?

What happens when you see a shooting star other than seeing how awesome and mighty God is? I mean, that should be enough, but just wondering if there are any urban legends? Mom said that you are in love with the person you saw it with... to which I laughed and said "I must be in love with myself, or San Clemente."

It was awesome to see a shooting star in the middle of a city at 1030 pm. I could only gasp in awe.