The Redeemer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DMtSaHoKKA

The above link is for the song "The Redeemer" by Sanctus Real and the lyrics are below this post.

          I listened to this song recently on my iPod and after paying more attention to the lyrics, I noticed that the words resonated with my own life. Lately it seems that maybe I have more prayer requests than usual. With my mom's back having troubles, my 10 year old dog Maggie getting sick recently and having to be put down, uncertainty about my future education, car troubles, and a few others, I find I'm having to rely on God's strength rather than my own efforts more often than in previous years. Now I know that there are myriads of other people out there in the world with WAY worse problems than mine, but in the moment, it feels like each problem is a mountain to climb over before I can see the promised land of a more peaceful life. I keep reaching the summit of one mountain and make my way over it, only to find another one looming at me just ahead, just waiting for me to struggle and give up. Whenever I feel this way I try to listen to songs like "The Redeemer" that remind me that no matter what comes my way, I still believe in God because He can make anything new, even my own tattered heart that I don't always wear on my sleeve. This song serves as a reminder to me that I might want to give up on my problems, my faith might be waning and I may have lost hope for some things to happen, but despite it all we can keep faith in God because he is unchanging and will always be there to carry us when we can walk no more. We can't always explain why people constantly have problems or have unanswered prayers, we can only pray that God will one day give us a clue as to why some of these things happened.
          For example, I was reading the book called Crazy Love by Francis Chan. In one of the chapters, he wrote about a young 14 year old girl named Brooke Bronkowski who loved God and who spent her money to buy Bibles to give out to her friends. She said this in an essay she wrote at the age of 12:  "You see, I'll be one of those people who live to be history makers at a young age."  She ended up accomplishing her goal because, sad as it was, her freshman year of high school, she died in a tragic car accident. Because of her legacy as a person who loved God, over 1,500 people attended her funeral, at which there were around 200 people who came to Christ during the service. Because of the Bronkowski family's loss of someone they loved, there are now 200 people that now have a place in heaven because of the power of a single life's influence.
          Like it says in the song: "I don't have every answer in life, but I'm trusting You one day at a time." We can't know God's ultimate plan. All we can do is to trust that He has everything under control and that no matter what happens, God is always there to run to for comfort when we need Him.

Verse 1:
Sometimes I just wanna start over
Cuz' everything looks like a wreck
And I need the courage to carry on
Cuz' I can't see what's ahead

Verse 2:
And there are places I've wished I could be
Battles I've wanted to win
Dreams that have slipped through my hands
I may never be back again

Chorus:
But I'm still a dreamer
A believer
Oh, I lost my faith in so many things
but I still believe in You
Cuz You can make anything new

Verse 3:
Sometimes I just wish we could say
All the things that are easy to hear
Ignore the injustice we see
And explain every unanswered prayer
But I'd rather speak honestly
And wear a tattered heart on my sleeve
Cuz' in the middle of my broken dreams
Redemption is here

Chorus 2:
And I'm still a dreamer
A believer
Oh, I lost my faith in so many things
but I still believe in You
Cuz You are the answer
The Redeemer
Oh, I've given up on too many things
But I'm not giving up on you
Cuz You can make anything new

Bridge:
I don't have every answer in life
But I'm trusting You one day at a time
Cuz You can make a weak heart stay alive
Forever
And this is where heaven and earth collide
I lift my hands, I give my life
This is how my weary heart stays alive

End:
Oh, I'm still a dreamer
Still a believer
And You are the answer
The Redeemer
Cuz You can make anything new
Yeah, You can make anything new

The Origins of St. Patrick's Day

In light of the recent holiday celebrating the life of the Catholic saint, St. Patrick, I thought I might try to shed a little light on the origins on this holiday since it sometimes seems that many people misunderstand the purpose of this holy day. The following story talks about how St. Patrick's life earned him respect after his life and how we have come to celebrate his life by setting aside this particular day in March to recognize his extraordinary accomplishments. St. Patrick was a former slave who, by the grace of God alone, was able to return to the place of his slavery, the land of his enemies and have the courage to share the gospel to the people who enslaved him in Ireland. He was actually captured in England during a raid on his hometown in England, was taken to Ireland and was sold into slavery. A druid priest was going to buy him for a sacrifice to the pagan gods but Patrick was saved by a sheep owner who kept him in slavery as a shepherd for several years but, by many accounts, treated him well. Patrick had a dream one night after a long night in the fields that talked about how "his ship was coming" that would carry him home. Patrick felt this was a vision from God and wanted to leave his job to search for the ship but his master wouldn't let him leave. He escaped and returned to England on the ship depicted in his dream. Years later, after finding some of his family and studying the Christian faith to become a priest, he had another dream of the people of Ireland crying out to him to return to Ireland. Believing this was another message from God, He left for Ireland soon after having the dream. He was able to find the courage to return to Ireland after being enslaved there. Upon arrival in Ireland by boat, he and a few other priests began travelling across the country, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ despite persecution from those of the Druid faith. I know that this might be a pretty random subject to blog about, but I just thought that people might want to know why they were wearing green (or orange for catholics) on St. Patrick's Day. The holiday is not just about Ireland, leprechauns, four leaf clovers, pots of gold, good luck or maybe even getting a day off from school, but serves to annually remind us of the strong faith and heartfelt compassion of one man to start a revival that spread throughout an entire nation.

Imagination

Watching in wonder, children playing with ease,

using their imaginations to transform

boxes and sheets into bright, shining castles,

or pirate ships in search of long-lost gold treasure.

I'm jealous of their innocence, fun and joyful,

devoid of any knowledge of violence or hate.

No thoughts do they have about anything like

getting a job or of going to college.

They have no idea of what lies ahead,

of troubles and triumphs or tears to be shed.

Either from anger or love, for sorrow or joy,

each of their lives defined by experiences.

Superchic[k]: Hero (Red Pill Mix)

     I recently saw the Christian movie "To Save A Life" (2009) where this song was played at the end of the movie as the credits rolled. If any of you have seen this film already, you already know what powerful and necessary messages the film addresses throughout the plot. This is one of the few Christian films I have seen that I would readily recommend for anyone to go see since the scriptwriters made sure to keep the story as realistic as possible. The film addresses strong issues such as teen suicide, teen pregnancy, divorce, and drug/ alcohol abuse during the vulnerable teenage years. The message they try to convey throughout the movie is that by taking the time to get to know the kids around you who feel like they're ignored and that their life doesn't matter, you can affect their life just by the simple act of showing that other people care a lot about them. The lyrics of this song reflect this message clearly and address the issue of teen suicide head on. I would greatly recommend either seeing the movie "To Save A Life" or listening to the song "Hero" by Superchic[k].

Superchic[k]: Hero (Red Pill Mix)

Verse 1:

No one sits with him, he doesn't fit in

But we feel like we do when we make fun of him

Cause you want to belong do you go along

Cause his pain is the price paid for you to belong

It's not like you hate him or want him to die

But maybe he goes home and thinks suicide

Or he comes back to school with a gun at his side

And a kindness from you might have saved his life

Tag:

Heroes are made when you make a choice

Chorus:

You could be a hero

Heroes do what's right

You could be a hero

You might save a life

You could be a hero,

You could join the fight

For what's right, for what's right, for what's right

Verse 2:

No one talks to her, she feels so alone

She's in too much pain to survive on her own

The hurt she can't handle overflows to a knife

She writes on her arm, wants to give up her life

Each day she goes on is a day that she is brave,

Fighting the lie that giving up is the way,

Each moment of courage her own life she saves

When she throws the pills out a hero is made

(Tag, Chorus)

Verse 3:

No one talks to him about how he lives

He thinks that the choices he makes are just his

Doesn't know he's a leader with the way he behaves

And others will follow the choices he's made

He lives on the edge, he's old enough to decide

His brother who wants to be him is just nine

He can do what he wants because it's his right

The choices he makes change a nine year old's life

(Tag, Chorus)

Little Mikey D was in the one class

Who everyday got brutally harassed

This went on for years

Until he decided that never again

Would he shed another tear

So he walked through the door

Grabbed the .44 out of his father's dresser drawer

And said I can't take life no more

And like that life can be lost

But this ain't even about that

All of us just sat back

And watch it happen

Thinkin' it's not our responsibility

To solve a problem that isn't even about me

This is our problem

This is just one of the daily scenarios

Which we choose to close our eyes

Instead of doing the right thing

If we make a choice

And be the voice

For those who won't speak up for themselves

How may lives would be saved, changed, and rearranged

Now it's our time to pick a side

So don't keep walking by

Don't wanna intervene

Cause you just wanna exist and never be seen

So let's wake up

Change the world

Our time is now

Chorus (2x)

What A Friend We Have In Jesus

Lately I have seen many people put up notes on Facebook or write on their blog about their faith and different epiphanies or realizations that they have had, so I felt that I might contribute an entry of my own. I hope you enjoy reading it.

I recently was reading the words to a pretty well-known hymn called What A Friend We Have In Jesus. I've heard the hymn sung many times before but I had never really paid much attention to the actual lyrics. I find that just listening to a song is ineffective in finding the meaning hidden inside the words. I believe that a song is only as powerful as its lyrics. I read this hymn and realized that this song wasn't just meant to be sung in church services for no apparent reason, but was meant to be a message of comfort to people who feel alone and discouraged in the world.
The first verse says that Jesus is a friend who takes on our burdens and cares out of love. We often suffer needlessly, holding grudges or reliving past sins when all we have to do is come before God and lay our troubles before His throne. The verse says it is a PRIVILEGE to bring our sins to Christ and yet so many people choose to not take the time to ask God for forgiveness for past hurts that can damage us mentally and spiritually.
The second verse talks about trials and temptations that we face on a daily basis. It says in John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (NIV) Jesus took all of our sin so that we do not have to worry about future problems. There is no other person that will stick closer to us during our time of need. We may not always be able to see Him, feel His presence, or see how things will work out in the end, but nevertheless, He is there. It says that Jesus knows our every weakness. The Bible says that God will not tempt anyone beyond what they can endure and there is always a way out, whether we choose to escape or not. (1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV)
The third verse speaks about burdens and difficulties. Everyone experiences them some time or other in their life and some hardships may seem more extreme than others, however, they are still adversities. Some choose to seek God in times of trouble, while others choose to walk away from Him. Nevertheless, God is still our refuge regardless, and is standing there, waiting for us to return to Him and seek His comfort and grace. Some people have experienced rejection by someone, whether it is a loved one, a family member or parent, a friend, etc. This is devastating and many often take on the blame for the rejection; believing that they did something to merit the disdain. They might feel that there is no one out there that will accept them for who they are, just as they are. There is someone like that, though. It's Jesus. He loved all of us so much that he went against His own will to suffer and die for us on the cross, take all of our sins, and defeat death so that we might spend eternity with Him. If we feel unloved by others around us, there is always comfort in knowing that God cares for us. Psalm 27:10 says "Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me." (NIV)
Finally, the last verse, which some people don't tend to remember, and which I had never read or heard sung before. It talks about God's promise to always bear our burdens as long as we faithfully give them over to Him. It says that when we die, we will be in God's presence for all eternity, where there will be no need for prayer as there will be no more tears, sin or suffering in God's Marvelous Light. There, we will forever be praising God in heaven for His generous salvation, never-ending faithfulness, loving guidance, unconditional love and everlasting comfort.

Verse 1:  
What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

Verse 2:
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Verse 3:
Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

Verse 4:
Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.

The Final Bow

I walk through forests dark and still,

the music of crickets and frogs singing loud.

Not many creatures live here now

to welcome those who wander in.

The trees grow tall with branches spreading wide

that filter the fiery hues of sunset from breaking through.

The light gets gradually dimmer as time goes on

making it seem like night even though

the sun has only begun to take its final bows.

Look To The Sky

Why am I here just standing by,

with head raised up to look on high?

I see the birds in sky above

which God created each with love.

I dream of flight, to be up there,

seeing sights from in the air.

To find the beauty down below

and no, I still don't want to go.

The Stages Of Life

Our life on earth, like growing flowers

breaks ground quickly, green with youth.

Flower sprouts up, petals open

slow at first, tentative but sure.

More time passes, growing confidence,

color spreads across the way.

Soon it's standing just as tall

as others blooming 'round it near.

Its center blows seed to the wind

to plant new sprouts in fertile earth,

to urge them on the way to go.

Death's time approaches, petals wilt;

drooping, falling, one by one.

This season's time has ended, but

a new one has begun.

          I wrote this poem during my junior year in high school for a final project on poetry in my Creative Writing class. I wrote this poem to compare the short existence of a flower to our own brief lifetime.
          I enjoy writing, even though I haven't had much of a chance to do so recently. However, I plan to remedy that by putting up more entries of past and present works of mine, whether they be poetry, journal entries, scripture verses, favorite sayings, etc. I hope that some of the entries I write might help encourage others to either start writing or pick up where they left off with an old love of composition and writing.