tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17300858926510736472024-03-05T00:34:14.205-08:00Written In iStonerandom personal blog - rants - thoughts - prayers - dreams - questions - whatever inspires or moves me at the momentiStonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13433819208408753459noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730085892651073647.post-36554516461987842852010-10-18T11:58:00.000-07:002010-10-18T14:30:33.244-07:00Make A Joyful Noise: What Makes True Worship Music Holy(set apart)?<b><b></b></b><br />
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<b><b><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: 800;"></span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">PSALM 100</span></b></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">*[from the Geneva Bible]</span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A Psalm of Praise. Sing ye loud unto the LORD, all the earth.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Serve the LORD with gladness: come before Him with joyfulness.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Know ye that even the LORD is God: He hath made us, and not we ourselves: </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Enter into His gates with praise, and into His courts with rejoicing: praise Him and bless His Name.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">For the LORD is good: His mercy is everlasting, and His Truth is from generation to generation.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Our Creator wants us to praise and worship Him. He created us. We are all created in His likeness. He loves us more than we can ever imagine. To be truthful, perhaps we cannot even imagine love. It is the most misused and abused word in the world (aside from "God" and "Jesus"), <i>especially</i> in the English language, but I digress. That is another blog. </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Our Creator loves us powerfully, loves us passionately, and loves each of us equally. Nothing that we do can cause Him to love us any more than He already does, <b><i>or</i></b> cause Him to love us any less than He already does. His love is the most powerful force in the universe. He loves us all just as we are. <b><i>That</i></b> is amazing! Because He loves us, He would like for us to return the favor. </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We may not feel worthy of His love. After all, we're <b><i>so</i></b> not perfect! How can One so perfect love me? I suck! I fail miserably, <b><i>daily</i></b>! Be that as it may, He loves me. He loves you! That's just how, and Who, He is. We need to show Him the love that is due His Name. </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Psalm 100 gives us very simple and clear instructions on what true worship and praise to our Creator looks and sounds like. The first thing the Psalm says is to "sing <b><i>loud</i></b> unto the LORD". He wants us to make some noise! In addition to singing loudly to the LORD, Psalm 100 says to "serve the LORD with gladness". That clearly states that our hearts need to be glad all the time, because serving Him is a 24/7 lifestyle. (Pollyanna was <i>definitely</i> onto something!)</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Psalm 100 then tells us to "come before Him with joyfulness". That goes right along with being glad 24/7. Our LORD wants us to come before Him with hearts <b><i>full</i></b> of joy. It's not that He doesn't understand that we suffer trials, pain, and trouble. He does. When we praise Him, however, he wants us to come before Him rejoicing, simply because He is the One who saves us from those things. He alone is our source of joy. (The subject of "joy" would be another cool topic to cover in its own blog.)</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We are reminded next in Psalm 100 that the LORD is God, that He created us, we didn't create us, and that we are His people-the sheep of His pasture. That is a call to humble ourselves before Him, knowing that we are nothing without Him, and, <b><i>yes</i></b>, we can rejoice and be glad while being humble before our LORD. :) See, He actually <b><i>esteems</i></b> us when we humble ourselves before Him! (Isaiah 66:1-2) How cool is <b><i>that</i></b>?!??!!</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Psalm 100 then tells us to "Enter into His gates with praise, and into His courts with rejoicing", and to "praise Him and bless His Name." Yep! You see <b><i>exactly </i></b>what I see - the Psalm is repeating what it says at the beginning. Why? The reason is clear. The LORD wants us to remember that point. It is <b><i>important</i></b> to Him. </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Psalm 100 closes with a reminder of Who our LORD is, and <b><i>why </i></b>we need to always have hearts full of gladness and <b><i>why </i></b>He wants us to rejoice and be glad, singing <b><i>loudly </i></b>to Him: "For the LORD is good: His mercy is everlasting, and His Truth is from generation to generation." That's enough reason right there for me to do as He asks. It should be enough for us all.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">*</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">The Geneva Bible holds the honor of being the first Bible taken to America, and the Bible of the Puritans and Pilgrims. It is truly the "Bible of the Protestant Reformation."</span></i></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Many people tend to cling to traditional hymns, believing that modern music used to praise and worship the LORD is not appropriate. While taking a "History of Music / Music Appreciation" class in college when I was in my 20s, I wrote a term paper on that very topic, comparing original Christian rocker Larry Norman and his music to traditional hymns as the subject of my report. In that term paper, I did not claim that one was better than the other, nor do I make any such claims today. As Psalm 100 states, it's the heart of the worshiper that makes true worship. Both traditional hymns <b><i>and </i></b>modern praise and worship music can be "joyful noise". It depends on the hearts of those singing.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63mGfX7AvBh-I7ve3AHGvTUv8_zbwzKrLhtl-TxGuhmfBPVsFtyvLFdbBg5J7EY-e2U9f8gMFBu_Bp4Khsq8HulGlf_J3-TFmRgw-XNvbCa248kp4c2Dug0t0Yx8ouaG3ABFdffygpkM/s1600/++SolidRockLogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63mGfX7AvBh-I7ve3AHGvTUv8_zbwzKrLhtl-TxGuhmfBPVsFtyvLFdbBg5J7EY-e2U9f8gMFBu_Bp4Khsq8HulGlf_J3-TFmRgw-XNvbCa248kp4c2Dug0t0Yx8ouaG3ABFdffygpkM/s200/++SolidRockLogo.jpg" width="192" /></a></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">In January 1975, Larry Norman wrote a well-researched article about the history of Christian music titled, "The Story of Solid Rock-1975" </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"></span></span></b></b></span></div><b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"></span></span></b></b></span></div><b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Here is that entire article:</span></div></span></span></b></b></span></span></b></b><b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"></span></span></b></b><br />
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</span></div><div style="color: #351c75; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>THE STORY OF SOLID ROCK - 1975</b></span></div><div style="color: #351c75; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Once...there was a tune and everyone knew how it went, but as time went by, people began to forget, until at last no one could remember.</b></span></div><div style="color: #351c75; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>("The Tune" - 1971 by Larry Norman)</b></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>F</b>rom the discovery and development of music by Jubal (Genesis 4:21) and the psalms of David up until modern time, music has been used to worship, praise and proclaim the majesty of God. Today, most of us think of the hymns as holy songs - both the melody and the lyrics written as a direct inspiration from God. We think of the hymns as totally separate from secular music, but in reality, when many of the traditional hymns were first composed, they represented the sound of their day, just as "Jesus Rock" might represent the sound of today.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">In 1524, then Martin Luther borrowed popular drinking song melodies and grafted Christian lyrics onto them, he outraged his spiritual colleagues and no doubt gave new ammunition to his critics; but today these same songs, such as "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" and "Away In A Manger" are considered among the Christian classics.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #351c75; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>THE MODERN CONFLICT</b></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A young boy complains to his father that most of the church hymns are boring to him because they are so far behind the times. His father becomes angry and states that "the hymns are good enough for your Grandfather and me, and they will serve you just as well". But the teenager says that not only are the tunes boring, but the words are meaningless ... the songs are just too old fashioned. Putting an end to the discussion, his father says to him, "Well, if you think you can write better hymns, then why don't you?" The son says that he will. He goes to his room and writes his first hymn.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The year was 1690, the teenager was Isaac Watts, and the hymn was "Behold the Glories of the Lamb". During the next few years he wrote other songs. "We're marching to Zion", "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross", and "Joy to the World" are among the almost 350 hymns he created. The lyrics were his own but sometimes the melodies were similar in origin to Luther's ... seized from the streets or from popular theatre.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #351c75; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>THE ORGAN IS REPLACED BY DRUMS</b></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A few centuries later, William Booth was moved to update the music of the church. Only, instead of writing all new songs, he removed the fabric of religious music by discarding the organ and the piano, and in their place putting trombones, trumpets, tambourines, drums (drums??!!!), tubas, piccolos, clarinets etc. and the took this <i>menage a brass</i> out into the streets. His marching Salvation Army Band disgusted and outraged many of the Christians in his day, but he was confident that Christian music should be taken where it was conspicuously absent ... to the people ... and played in a fashion that non-Christians could understand.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Music is a powerful and spiritually persuasive art form. The young shepherd boy David soothed the tormented mind of King Saul with his songs, and his lyrical psalms are still among the most poetically uplifting that we have. The music of the teenager Isaac Watts supported the large evangelistic thrust of his day. William Booth took his band out into the streets and reached thousands that had been overlooked by the religious community. His music and message helped harvest the soul of many a businessman as well as the skid row mendicants. And these are but a few examples from Christian church history.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #351c75; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>CRITICS BE CAREFUL</b></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The lesson is clear, or should be. Continually embracing the current musical forms to present the Christian message, religious music has again and again become relevant to a contemporary world that would accuse it of being outdated. Today, the new Christian music (Jesus Music, Jesus Rock, etc.) is accessible common ground between the religious and secular world. With the advent of the vinyl 45 and the non-stop disc jockey, music has become the second language of the youth. It has the power to lead or mislead. Just as it once influenced the misdirection of the youth into drugs and campus revolution, it can be (and is being) used to proclaim in a modern tongue a message that is almost 2,000 years old.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: 800;"></span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><div style="color: #351c75; display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>UNHOLY VESSEL?</b></span></div></span></span></b></b></span></span></b></b><b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"></span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></b></b><br />
<div style="color: #444444; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">There are some who wrongly feel that contemporary rock music is a satanic, destructive force and is not conductive to communicating the gospel. Some feel that the innate sensitivity and nobility of quieter musical forms, such as "classical music" is more calming and more appropriate for religious worship. This is not necessarily true. They are overlooking the fact that much of classical music, opera, etc. relies on murder, jealousy and immorality for their themes. When Igor Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" was first performed on May 29, 1913, at the Theatre des Champs Elysees, the audience rioted and tore up the seats and curtains of the theatre. Yet, classical music can no doubt be used to glorify God when it chooses to. Handel did it with "The Messiah".</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #351c75; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE</b></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Music is one of the most strategic art forms we have today. It is more widely popular than literature, theatre, cinema, poetry, or any of the other art forms. It is also the most portable. **Radios fit into back pockets, cassette players weigh less than a text book, and almost every car has a radio. Most people have access to some kind of a record player. And for many, the live concert has become the height of social excursion ... a place where you can not only see your favourite group, but be with your best friends and somehow feel close to the forty thousand other people seated around you.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Today, Christian writers like Andrae Crouch, Randy Stonehill, Malcolm and Alwyn, and Steve Camp are redefining the cultural context of Christian music and often find themselves facing the same resistance that Luther, Watts, Booth and others have had to face. Innovation and creative direction are not always appreciated, because they are both often misunderstood. But the critics of modern Christian music should keep in mind that today's young Christians may be writing the hymns of tomorrow.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Larry Norman - January 1975</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">(used by permission)</span></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">**</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Note: Technology has jumped forward drastically since Larry Norman wrote that article, and music is more accessible and portable than ever, the smallest iPod being smaller than a stick of chewing gum, and with the capacity to hold literally hundreds of songs.</span></span></span></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></span></span></div></span></span></b></b>iStonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13433819208408753459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730085892651073647.post-45150079767240302722010-04-14T06:08:00.000-07:002010-04-14T06:08:23.258-07:00Life, Death, and LifeOK, I suck at keeping a blog on a consistent basis. Let's just get that out of the way right up front. I say it a lot, but, as long as that's the case, I'll say it. Now on to today's entry...<br />
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A very dear, beloved friend of mine passed away on Friday, April 09, 2010, less than a week ago. My wife and I have been good friends with he and his wife for quite some time. We are walking through this initial phase of grief, funeral arrangements, paperwork, etc., with his widow. She is now the only person living in her home, grief stricken and unsure of how to handle all that needs to be done in such a short time. My amazing wife has stepped in to stand beside her, to help her through all that she needs to get done. She is actually spending the week with her in her home. I sit at home with our two teens, homeschooling them, creating a memorial service "program card" for the funeral on my Mac, and grieving here. This coming Saturday, just 8 days after our friends passing, friends and family will say their last goodbyes at the memorial service. From then on, we all continue in the grief process, each of us in our individual way. We will be there for one another, and life will go on. For our departed friend, life goes on as well. Notice that that phrase says, "departed". That is because he isn't dead. He simply moved on. He is now with JESUS in Heaven. Had he passed away in his youth, perhaps that wouldn't be the case. God gives us all ample opportunity to accept JESUS and follow Him. It is up to us to make the right choice. Our Father in Heaven loves us <i>so</i> much that He created each of us with a free will to accept Him, or to reject Him. It is our choice.<br />
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Life is a journey, a quest, a pilgrimage. Life here on earth is just a starting point for every human. We begin here, and live here for whatever time we have, in preparation for the next phase of our lives elsewhere, whether it be eternity in Heaven with our Creator (Yaweh, Yeshua, Holy Spirit), or an eternal life of eternal separation from Him and of unending, unimaginable torment in the lake of fire. Our Creator doesn't send anyone to either place. The choice is ours, and ours alone. That being said, if you don't know what your future holds were your human life to end today, it is a very good time to repent (change your mind and ways) and turn to JESUS, accept Him into your life, and follow Him. He will be the Best Friend that you will ever have, a Friend that sticks closer than a brother. His love is boundless and powerful. He already paid the ultimate price so that you don't have to spend eternity without Him. It's just up to you. It's that simple. There is no perfect "sinner's prayer" to pray. Simply let JESUS know that you are sorry for leaving Him out of your life, sorry for your sins, and that you want Him to live in you through His Holy Spirit. Let Him know that you want to follow Him, and that you'll need His help to do just that. He'll take care of the rest. Your Father in Heaven is faithful. He will never let you down.iStonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13433819208408753459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730085892651073647.post-61584729732242932502010-04-06T16:42:00.001-07:002010-04-06T23:39:56.045-07:00NEED HELP! ANY SUGGESTIONS?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">I'll try to make this short, yet detailed enough to make sense.<br />
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My wife and I have been customers with the local public utility district (electric company), Cowlitz PUD, for over ten years, all at the same address where we live now. In the past there have even been several times when we paid extra over what our bill is into a program that helps low-income customers with their bills.<br />
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I am on a meager, limited disability income, and have been since 2002. My wife has not been able to work since August 2007 due to injuries suffered in a car accident. For the past 8 months or so, we have struggled to get our bills paid on time. While behind, we have always been able to get the bills paid, and have not had the service disconnected. Last week, however, Cowlitz PUD sent us a letter informing us that we need to pay them a $375 deposit within 5 days of the date of the letter, or they would disconnect our service. Our bill is one payment short of being paid in full. Thanks to a gift from a friend, the bill will be paid in full, and the balance will be zero first thing tomorrow morning (Tue. April 6, 2010). The "deposit" demand will still be in effect, however, and the plan to disconnect us tomorrow will still be in effect as well.<br />
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My wife discussed the situation with someone at Cowlitz PUD this afternoon, and they are STILL demanding the deposit. To me that is extortion. We have not been disconnected, and currently have service. How long-time customers, customers who have even helped others by paying extra at times, can be treated this unfairly is beyond me. I have contacted the Washington State Attorney General's office for help, but it may be up to a month before we get any response from them due to their workload. I contacted the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, and they informed me that they have absolutely no jurisdiction over our local public utility district. From what I have learned so far, Cowlitz PUD is free to do what they want to do, and may extort money from faithful customers whenever they wish to do so, because, apparently, there is no oversight agency that keeps an eye on them? What the heck?<br />
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If anyone reading this blog has any helpful suggestions/ideas, any information on who we can contact to help us deal with this situation, or can help in any way, please contact me by email. My email address is iStone.me@gmail.com We desperately need some help immediately, because Cowlitz PUD has scheduled us for disconnect tomorrow. This is SO ridiculous, but it's really happening.<br />
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Thanks for taking the time to read this.<br />
God bless you all.</span>iStonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13433819208408753459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730085892651073647.post-24335013487202048882010-01-31T20:08:00.001-08:002010-01-31T20:08:54.671-08:00Stones in Water II<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/aVStcIMUjm0' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/aVStcIMUjm0'/></object></p><p>My son and my daughter, both teens, were baptized at Living Hope Church in Brush Prairie, WA last night, Saturday, January 30, 2010, by LHC senior pastor John Bishop, and his wife, Michelle. LHC Woodland campus pastor Gary Holde assisted in baptizing my daughter. It was a memorable night for sure. My wife and I are both SO proud of them. GOD IS FAITHFUL.<br /><br />"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven, but whoever disowns Me before men, I will disown him before My Father in Heaven." - JESUS the Christ (Matthew 10:32-33 [NIV])<br /><br />ONLY GOD.</p></div>iStonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13433819208408753459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730085892651073647.post-55140097094664503322009-12-26T23:02:00.001-08:002009-12-26T23:02:28.678-08:00Information Society - What's On Your Mind + Walking Away - Mash Up by Victor Cheng<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/R77-w19H2r8' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/R77-w19H2r8'/></object></p><p>FREAKING AMAZING MASH/MIX, BRO! LOVE IT!<br />I was a nightclub DJ from 1977 until 1998, and THIS is the STUFF!<br />:)</p></div>iStonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13433819208408753459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730085892651073647.post-59072021070854844402009-12-23T12:15:00.001-08:002009-12-23T12:15:39.136-08:00Evie Tornquist - 1000 Candles<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/6L8b7x8eFms' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/6L8b7x8eFms'/></object></p><p>One of the best female vocalists of the 20th Century, Norwegian born Evie Tornquist. She may be only four feet eleven inches tall, but she has a HUGE heart, and a HUGE voice to match.<br /><br />HAPPY CHRISTMAS!</p></div>iStonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13433819208408753459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730085892651073647.post-51027633544079854452009-06-29T07:17:00.001-07:002009-06-29T07:17:52.526-07:00Phil Keaggy - "Let Everything Else Go" LIVE<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/SYo1TV8PIzo' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/SYo1TV8PIzo'/></object></p><p>I shot this video with my digital camera on May 10, 2008. Most amazing concert I've EVER attended, and I've been to literally hundreds.</p></div>iStonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13433819208408753459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730085892651073647.post-456474517515494942009-06-11T10:35:00.001-07:002009-06-11T10:35:24.863-07:00Bringing An End To This False Prophet Obama! Jon Voight<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/s75P8xNMZEE' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/s75P8xNMZEE'/></object></p><p>Jon Voight needs to be the next President of the United States of America. His are the most sensible words to come out of a Hollywood actor since the 1980s.</p></div>iStonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13433819208408753459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730085892651073647.post-40248391882153619112009-04-10T15:37:00.000-07:002009-04-10T18:04:36.288-07:00What they did to JESUS & what HE did for us.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2X169ncwqZTzoLGljGYnrJFI2iCPKdHuw2ucfj6tG8fBnHxUeIhzkCm40L1V6YsH4d2A8aVCAfSWTY-aGPwzW8M7v0T331EJNaHbOkBq0qBVxAGll13b8YdXwIbzcC_L7MIsYjq8MKAU/s1600-h/33.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2X169ncwqZTzoLGljGYnrJFI2iCPKdHuw2ucfj6tG8fBnHxUeIhzkCm40L1V6YsH4d2A8aVCAfSWTY-aGPwzW8M7v0T331EJNaHbOkBq0qBVxAGll13b8YdXwIbzcC_L7MIsYjq8MKAU/s200/33.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323233425208039650" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmyQz7PxfMCEUXvUcPt7Fv472sIPXnmBmVD9jMMf548hQtE31G3KfCTek7c_pTVSqm80kZrsD9RwivZKeVdmp9PtWkZj-EQStEWQ9pcLbWFbod7ArNCRUqKkv2GT3eMINyEt9jUWEm3Y/s1600-h/33.jpg"></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Today is "Good Friday", which, for those of you who may be unaware, the Friday before Easter, the day that we remember the arrest and crucifixion of JESUS the Christ. On that beautiful, scandalous night and day some 2,000 years ago, the Pharisees, who were the church leaders of the day, were jealous of the fame of this MAN called JESUS (YESHUA) because He had a very large and growing following. This JESUS was teaching the Truth that the ancient Word of God foretold, but, being pious and jealous, the Pharisees plotted to have HiIM killed. They were successful. Their success was foretold as well, and JESUS told HIS followers all that would happen to HIM before it took place, as HE taught HIS disciples. Everything that happened to JESUS the Christ was foretold in ancient Scripture, and it all took place just as the prophecies said it would. What was done to JESUS was truly vicious, cruel, and appalling. What HE did for us at the same time is truly amazing.</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">JESUS was innocent and sinless, yet HE was illegally arrested under cover of darkness, tied up, betrayed by one of HIS disciples, and denied by another. HE was interrogated, slapped, kicked, spat upon, beaten until HE was unrecognizable, and whipped until HE bled profusely as the flesh hung from HIS back, exposing raw muscle tissue. A crown of huge Acacia thorns was forced down into HIS scalp, ripping and shredding into HIS flesh, causing more blood to flow from HIS body, and more torturous pain. HIS beard was plucked out, leaving swollen bloody flesh where it once was. HE was stripped naked, insulted, forced to carry the very cross that would be used to execute HIM through the streets of Jerusalem. Once at Golgotha (the "Place of the Skull") which is the hill just outside of Jerusalem where executions by crucifixion were carried out, JESUS was nailed to that cross, and HE was lifted up as the base of the cross was placed into the ground, and left there to die, as the insults continued. HE allowed this to happen because HE loves us too much to let us live an eternal death without HIM. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">While on the cross, HE took on all of the sin, guilt, shame, sickness, anguish, depression, fear, anxiety, and death of all human beings of all time. Basically, the Man God went from being the most perfect, sinless man in history, to the most vile, sick, and sinful man that had ever lived, or ever will live, all in an instant. We can never honestly say, "Yeah, JESUS, but YOU don't know how I feel" In the crucifixion, HE took upon HIMSELF every feeling and everything that does not point to HIMSELF in HIS perfection. Every single thing that misses the bullseye target of HIS righteousness nailed HIM in an instant. JESUS <b>does </b>know how we feel. HE has felt the hopelessness of trying to kick drug habits. He <b>does</b> know the intense craving for alcohol, cigarettes, and all other addictions. JESUS <b>did </b>die of A.I.D.S., polio, cancer, smallpox, rubella, pneumonia, leukemia, malaria, typhoid, and virtually <b>every </b>other disease that ever existed, or ever will exist. JESUS has felt our loneliness, despair, confusion, anger, fear, and desolation. There is not a feeling that any man or woman has ever felt, or ever will feel, that JESUS has not already deeply felt and experienced. HE endured it all on the cross. When HE took all of this upon HIMSELF, it was <b>so </b>horrible that the FATHER in Heaven had to turn and look the other way at that moment, the moment when JESUS cried out, "My GOD, My GOD! Why have YOU forsaken ME?" JESUS then gave up HIS Spirit as HIS human body died.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">What happened in the three days between HIS death and HIS resurrection is not totally a mystery. JESUS did go into Sheoul, into the very pit of Hades, and take the keys to death and hell from satan himself. JESUS then rose from the grave, victorious over death and hell, and showed HIMSELF to HIS disciples and followers, spending another forty days with them before HE ascended into Heaven. HE promised, just before HE ascended into Heaven, that HE would be with us always, even to the end of the age. We are living in those "end of the age" days right now, and JESUS <b>is </b>with us. How is HE with us if HE is in Heaven? HE explained all of that at "the Last Supper" the night HE was arrested. HE promised that when HE left, HE would send a COMFORTER, a TEACHER, the SPIRIT OF TRUTH, the HOLY SPIRIT, to live in us while HE is in Heaven preparing a place for each of us who choose to follow HIM. HIS HOLY SPIRIT <b>is </b>living in everyone who calls JESUS the Christ their LORD and SAVIOUR. HE kept HIS promise. We are not alone!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Thank YOU, FATHER in Heaven, for giving us Your SON to save us. Thank YOU, JESUS, for humbling YOURSELF to become one of us in order to become the final sacrifice, taking our punishment upon YOURSELF, just so that we can be with YOU forever. Thank YOU, HOLY SPIRIT for being with us always, and for always reminding us of what JESUS did for us, <b>and </b>that <b>JESUS IS ALIVE</b>!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">If you want to know JESUS, but are unsure how, feel free to contact me. I will be happy to help you. When we choose to believe on JESUS and accept HIM into our hearts, GOD the FATHER adopts us into HIS Family. It's more than a simple adoption! We are grafted into HIM! Not just another kid in the house, but a branch attached to the vine and having the same DNA as the host! Only with GOD, through JESUS, by the power of HIS HOLY SPIRIT, is that possible! Welcome to HIS Family!</span></div>iStonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13433819208408753459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730085892651073647.post-55594895863990462712009-04-08T00:37:00.001-07:002009-04-08T00:37:20.345-07:00Centraal Station Antwerpen gaat uit zijn dak!<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/0UE3CNu_rtY' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/0UE3CNu_rtY'/></object></p><p>This is just plain cool! If this video doesn't make you smile, you're definitely broken! :D</p></div>iStonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13433819208408753459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730085892651073647.post-12143780773906729502008-10-28T21:52:00.000-07:002009-04-11T12:34:27.935-07:00sǝnlɐʌ uʍop-ǝpısdn s,ɐɔıɹǝɯɐ<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-family:Arial;"><p class="paragraph_style_1" style="text-align: justify;font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; opacity: 1; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; font-family:HoeflerText-Regular, 'Hoefler Text', 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:12px;"><span class="style" style="opacity: 1; font-family:ArialUnicodeMS, 'Arial Unicode MS', HoeflerText-Regular, 'Hoefler Text', 'Times New Roman', serif;">¡ɐɔıɹǝɯɐ `poƃ ssǝlq ˙ɹoʌɐɟ ǝɥʇ uɹnʇǝɹ oʇ ǝɯıʇ ʇsɐd sı ʇı ˙ɹoʌɐɟ ǝɥʇ uɹnʇǝɹ oʇ ǝɯıʇ sı ʇı `ɐɔıɹǝɯɐ ssǝlq oʇ ǝnuıʇuoɔ oʇ ɯıɥ ʇuɐʍ ʎlnɹʇ ǝʍ ɟı ˙uʍoʇsǝɯɐɾ ǝɔuıs ɹǝʌǝ `sɹɐǝʎ 00ㄣ ɹǝʌo ɹoɟ ɐɔıɹǝɯɐ ƃuıssǝlq uǝǝq sɐɥ poƃ `ǝldoǝd ˙,,ɐɔıɹǝɯɐ ssǝlq poƃ,, sı sƃuos ɔıʇoıɹʇɐd ɹɐlndod ʇsoɯ ɹno ɟo ǝuo<br /></span></p><p class="paragraph_style_1" style="text-align: justify;font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; opacity: 1; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; font-family:HoeflerText-Regular, 'Hoefler Text', 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:12px;"><span class="style" style="opacity: 1; font-family:ArialUnicodeMS, 'Arial Unicode MS', HoeflerText-Regular, 'Hoefler Text', 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="paragraph_style_1" style="text-align: justify;font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; opacity: 1; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; font-family:HoeflerText-Regular, 'Hoefler Text', 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:12px;"><span class="style" style="opacity: 1; font-family:ArialUnicodeMS, 'Arial Unicode MS', HoeflerText-Regular, 'Hoefler Text', 'Times New Roman', serif;">˙uı ɯıɥ ʇǝl ʇ,uop ǝʍ ɟı sn dlǝɥ oʇ ƃuıɥʇou op uɐɔ ǝɥ puɐ `poƃ ǝʇɐuıɯılǝ ǝʍ ˙ʍos ǝʍ ʇɐɥʍ dɐǝɹ ǝʍ ˙ǝɔɹoʌıp uı puǝ sǝƃɐıɹɹɐɯ ɟo ʎʇıɹoɾɐɯ ǝɥʇ ʎɥʍ puɐ `ɥƃıɥ ǝɯıʇ-llɐ uɐ ʇɐ ǝɹɐ suoıʇɹoqɐ puɐ ʎɔuɐuƃǝɹd uǝǝʇ ʎɥʍ `slooɥɔs ɹno uı ʇuɐdɯɐɹ os ǝɹɐ ɹǝpɹnɯ puɐ ǝɔuǝloıʌ ʎɥʍ `ƃuıʞuɐʇ sı ʎɯouoɔǝ ǝɥʇ ʎɥʍ ɹǝpuoʍ uǝɥʇ ǝʍ ˙ʇuǝɯuɹǝʌoƃ ɹno ɟo ʇno puɐ `sʇɹnoɔ ɹno ɟo ʇno `slooɥɔs ɹno ɟo ʇno ɯıɥ pǝʞɔıʞ `poƃ uo sʞɔɐq ɹno pǝuɹnʇ ǝʌɐɥ ǝʍ ˙suǝzıʇıɔ ˙s˙n ɟo ʎʇıɹoɾɐɯ ǝɥʇ ɟo snʇɐʇs lɐnʇıɹıds ǝɥʇ sı ʇı ǝsnɐɔǝq uʍop-ǝpısdn ƃolq ʇɹoɥs sıɥʇ ƃuıʇıɹʍ ɯɐ ı</span></p></span>iStonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13433819208408753459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730085892651073647.post-27562740069980210402008-10-09T20:30:00.000-07:002009-04-11T12:34:45.663-07:00Righteousness & Love Prevail! McDonald's Boycott a Success!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family:arial;font-size:14px;"><p style="text-align: justify;"> This is <b>so</b> amazing! God is <b>so</b> faithful! McDonald's has changed their tune on all social and political issues! <u><i><b>The boycott of McDonald's worked!</b></i></u> Here is a "copy and paste" of the email that I got from the American Family Association just today, October 9, 2008;</p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-left: 40px; "><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 204); "><strong>"Great news! </strong>Because of AFA supporters like you, McDonald’s has told AFA they will remain neutral in the culture war regarding homosexual marriage. <strong>AFA is ending the boycott of McDonald’s.</strong> As you know, AFA called for the boycott in May after McDonald’s joined the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC).</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 204); "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 204); "><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-left: 40px; "><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 204); ">McDonald’s said McDonald’s Vice President Richard Ellis has resigned his position on the board of NGLCC and that his seat on the board will not be replaced. McDonald’s also said that the company has no plans to renew their membership in NGLCC when it expires in December.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-left: 40px; "><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 204); ">In an e-mail to McDonald’s franchised owners the company said, “It is our policy to not be involved in political and social issues. McDonald’s remains neutral on same sex marriage or any ‘homosexual agenda’ as defined by the American Family Association.”</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-left: 40px; "><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 204); ">We appreciate the decision by McDonald’s to no longer support political activity by homosexual activist organizations. You might want to thank your local McDonald’s manager."</span></p></span>iStonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13433819208408753459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730085892651073647.post-27870709495245055182008-09-10T10:54:00.000-07:002009-04-11T12:35:03.458-07:00Lost Dogs, Blogs, & God spelled backwards...<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(119, 119, 124); line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; ">So many times before I was married, God showed me Himself by using my rottweiler, Siouxsie, to teach me lessons. Siouxsie was a very big dog, but as gentle as a lamb. (Pay attention to that "lamb" part for a bit later). </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(119, 119, 124); line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:Arial;"><p style="text-align: justify;">Siouxsie shared my bed, always lying near my feet when I went to bed, and hogging my pillow by morning. One night, about 3:30 a.m., Siouxsie decided that she was thirsty, so she got up to get herself a drink of water. The problem was, the bed was right by the wall, and she was lying on that side of the bed. She tried to gently sneak over me without disturbing me, but she stepped right on the spot on my stomach where I had just had surgery for a hernia. Needless to say, a dog weighing in at 122 lbs. is going to wake her sleeping master, hernia surgery stitches or not. As I awoke, in pain, disoriented, confused, and frustrated, Siouxsie jumped off of the bed and scampered around out the bedroom door, into the next room. All that I could do was say, "Siouxsie!", irritated by the rude awakening, and still in pain. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">That precious dog then poked her adorable face around the edge of the doorway, peeking back in at me. I just looked at her. She then walked right back into the bedroom, right up between my knees, sat down and laid her head gently on my lap, looking up to me with those sorrowful eyes, obviously apologizing for waking me and hurting me. "I'm so sorry, Daddy" is what she was telling me. It was so sweet. She knew that I was unhappy with what just happened, but she still came right to me and repented. That is when GOD spoke. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Holy Spirit told me, "See, this is how I want you to be with Me. When you sin. When you do something that you know makes Me unhappy, I want you to come directly to Me, lean on Me. I always love you, no matter what. I'm 'Abba Father', your 'Daddy God'. What you are feeling right now for this dog that just hurt you is called love and forgiveness. I have that for you, and so much more, always. Always. I love you. Never be afraid to run to Me." </p><p style="text-align: justify;">After I was married, God obviously chose to use my wife and kids to reveal His nature to me, and to teach me about Himself. Still, however, He <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">did </span>use a few lost dogs to teach me, and my family, even more about himself.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In June of 2001 we loaded up our 35' 5th wheel trailer, our crew cab GMC, and headed out on a very cool adventure, touring with a band that we were blessed with the opportunity to be the executive producers (primary financiers) of. We set up our trailer at a KOA campground near Bakersfield, CA, then drove into Bakersfield to meet up with the band for the first stop on the tour. It was hot. REALLY HOT! The concert was part of an all day outreach put on by a Christian Biker group, and was taking place in a city park (in a relatively "rough" neighborhood. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The event was going well, the Good News of Jesus was being shared by several bands and artists throughout the day. Our daughter was six years old at the time, and our son was five years old. They came up to me during the event, and pointed out a little stray puppy to me. He was roaming around the area, looking for food scraps, and trying to lap what little water he could get from the drops of melted ice draining from a cooler under a picnic table. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">It broke my heart to watch how that poor little puppy was being ignored by most, kicked by some, and just so lost. He looked so sick, and almost dead. He obviously had not eaten in quite a while because he looked more like a dog skeleton with skin wrapped tightly around it, than he did a dog. From the appearance of his long legs and big feet, I could tell that, if he ever survived, he was not going to be a small dog. He was covered with hundreds and hundreds of ticks and fleas, emaciated beyond belief, and his future was obviously bleak.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I picked the little guy up and held him. Our kids wanted to pet him, and I let them pat his head for a moment, but, because of the parasites on him, I took him away from the kids. I showed him to my wife, who is not much of a dog person, but was obviously moved by this little guy's plight. I told her that I was going to get the poor little guy something to eat. I walked across the street to a convenience store/liquor store. There were quite a few dudes around that store, both inside and out, that were obviously of questionable character (gangsta's, thugs, drug dealers, pimps, etc.) The outreach across the street was for them. They were watching and listening from what they thought was a "safe" distance from those "crazy Christians". </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I took the dog <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">into</span> the store with me. I found a can of dog food, and got a bottle of water, and went to the counter. I was given a paper chili bowl when I paid for the water & dog food. I immediately opened the can of dog food right there in the store, and dumped the dog food on the floor for the little guy to eat. It was too hot outside for this little, weak puppy. I figured that this may be his last meal, so I wanted him to have something good to eat, some cold water, and to at least to know a bit of love. The people in the store looked at me like I was nuts. I poured the water from the bottle into the paper bowl. The puppy ate all of the dog food, and drank all of the water. I then picked him up and took him back across the street to the park. I put him on the ground, and he ran off. I figured that was the last we'd seen of him. It broke my heart, but at least he had a meal and some water.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">About an hour later, my wife walked up to me with the little puppy in her arms! I was amazed! She asked me if we could take him with us. This was the first tour date of a six week tour that would take us from California to Utah, Wyoming, Iowa, Illinois, Idaho, Oregon, and back to Washington. I was not sure what she meant, and I told her that we'd try to find a shelter or something for him. I said, "Come here, Bakersfield" (that's how he got his name) and took him from my wife's arms and carried him to our truck. I put the puppy in the back seat of the truck with another dish of cold water, and left the windows open. Later, we left the concert, and went to a Target store that was open 24 hours. My wife loaded the shopping cart with 20 pounds of puppy chow, 2 nice ceramic dog dishes, a cool "Harley Davidson" dog collar with flames on it, a nice leash, a tie-out cable, and a dog carrier kennel. I knew that we had a dog, and he wasn't going anywhere but with us. It would be a challenge, especially on the road, but I couldn't be happier. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">We drove back to the KOA campground, and, as my wife got the kids ready for bed in the "house" (BIG trailer), I opened the tailgate of the truck, hooked the dog's tie-out cable to the tailgate cable, put the dog carrier kennel under the tailgate with a dish of dog food and a dish of water beside it, and hooked Bakersfield to the cable. I then spent about 20 minutes just petting him, talking to him, comforting him, and letting him know that he had a family and he'd be OK now. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">When I finally went into the trailer, our kids said, "Is Bakersfield going to be alright, Daddy?" This is when the really cool, "ONLY GOD" part happened. I said, "Yes, kids, Bakersfield is going to be alright. It's just like how Jesus saves us. We're lost and alone. We're dirty, starved, basically dead, attacked by parasites, worthless, rejected, neglected, and abused. Jesus swoops down in all of His love, picks us up and holds us. He rescues us. He takes the time to show us His great love, to clean us up, to care for us, and take us Home with Him." That's when it hit me. That's the simplicity of the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus, and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">again </span>He used a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">dog </span>to show me the depth of His love, the simplicity of His grace, and how I can share Jesus with my kids. I almost cried, I was so moved. Jesus is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">so good!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Fortunately, the next stop on the tour was Lancaster, CA, and we were to be in that area for 4 days, so every spare moment I had was spent with Bakersfield. I purchased a flea comb and some medication to treat dogs for ticks and fleas. I then carefully, painstakingly, gently went over Bakersfield's entire body, inch by inch, hair by hair, even deep into his ears, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">everywhere</span>, removing every last flea and tick, applying the medication, and showing him as much love as I possibly could. My wife and kids were right there the whole time, talking to Bakersfield, petting him, and making him a part of our family. That entire time, the Holy Spirit continually reminded me of how much GOD cares for us, how He takes the time to clean us up, to remove every last bit of what harms us from our lives, all the while healing us, loving us, and making us part of His family. Adoption. That's one of the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">best </span>words in the world! :)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Several weeks later, at the very end of that same tour, we ended up finding another "lost dog", a beautiful Chesapeake Bay Retriever, while at an RV park. Needless to say, and to make a long story short, she joined our family as well. Maybe I can tell <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">that </span>story in another LOST DOG BLOG. Her name is Cocoa. She's another example of the grace, mercy, and love of ONLY GOD, Jesus the Christ.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Today, Bakersfield and Cocoa are very much part of our family. They live in a nice 50'X25' kennel in our back yard. They have two "Dogloo" dog houses, but they sleep together in one, and use the other to store "prizes", you know, things like balls, rocks, sticks, bones, etc. Every moment that I spend with those dogs reminds me of how faithful God is, and how much He loves us. It reminds me of how much that God does for us every single moment of every single day.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Yup. dog spelled backwards is... what???</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">:)</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">There's just something about Lost Dogs... </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">(yes, and the band, "Lost Dogs" was great, too! you can get their stuff at the iTunes store! good stuff. I have actually been listening to "Lost Dogs" the entire time that I was writing this Lost Dogs Blog)</span></p></span>iStonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13433819208408753459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730085892651073647.post-22461731058690001332008-04-14T10:32:00.000-07:002010-04-02T07:17:28.157-07:00beginning<div style="text-align: justify;">This is not exactly my first blog page here. I just lost my password to my other one, and since my ISP sold to another company, and I did not update my email information here, I cannot retrieve my password. That being the case, I now have a new blog spot.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">My last name is Stone. I am Stone. iStone. I chose "Written In iStone" for the name of this blog. I always intend to keep daily blogs, sometimes even more frequently, but, to be honest, I'm doing good if I get one blog posted every three months or so. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sometimes my blogs are thought-provoking. Sometimes my blogs can be a bit "wordy". Sometimes they're very brief. Sometimes my blogs are just silly. My blogs, at all times, are words from my heart and my mind. Some are inspired by the Holy Spirit. Those are my favorite blogs. When the Holy Spirit starts to tell me something, normally I can't get anything else done until I have it down, either on paper, or in a blog. When He is talking to me, the message is always for me, but I am compelled to share the message on a blog, just in case it is useful to others as well. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Some of you reading this are perhaps a bit amused at this point, perhaps thinking along these lines; "This guy thinks that God talks to him? What an idiot! What a crackpot! He's nuts!" Let me assure you, God speaks to all of us through His Holy Spirit. The problem in that communication isn't from His end. Most of the time, we're not tuned in, not listening for His voice. That is a very sad fact, indeed. The Truth is, anyone can hear God's voice, the voice of the Holy Spirit, if we give our lives to Him, change our thought and life patterns (repent), and trust Him with our lives. He said, "I am the Good Shepherd..." and "My sheep know My Voice..." Believe it or not, a lot of "Christians" never notice the Voice of God. None of us are perfect. Following the advice of the Holy Spirit, however, does cause incredible positive change every day. If we all lived like that, we would love and not judge. Christians would be admired and not hated. The world would be a much better place.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">My hope and prayer is that all people, "Christians" included, would truly repent, truly fall in love with Jesus, and grow in an intimate relationship with Him. Walking with Jesus is pure joy. Life sucks at best sometimes, but with Jesus living in you through His Holy Spirit, even the sucky parts can be full of peace, full of joy, and full of hope. It's not about religion. Religion sucks. It's all about having a personal relationship with Jesus the Christ, and that is not only possible, it's a reality. Jesus is my Best Friend. He has never let me down, and never left me alone. No matter where I go or what I do, he is there. If I run from him, no matter how far I go, when I turn around, He is right there. He relentlessly pursues us, romances us, protects us, and loves us. He is our Creator, and the reason that we are even alive. Even those who hate Him, or say that He doesn't exist, are given air to breathe... air that He created. That, my friends, is what we call mercy. His mercies are new every morning. Every day is a fresh start with Him. Can it get any better than that?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The "Written In iStone" blog is now rolling...</div>iStonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13433819208408753459noreply@blogger.com0