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- I spent several hours throughout the last week and a half looking into martial arts, particularly eastern martial arts. This is more or less the conclusion I've come to: too much or all eastern martial arts are related to, either closely or distantly, to non-Biblical religious activity.... I don't plan to intentionally engage myself in such practices. If I learn some self-defense styles or martial activities through military or police training, so be it, but I think it unwise for someone to intentionally engage themselves in an activity they know to be closely related to wrong practices.
- But life is good! This weekend has been filled with much prayer, getting closer to God, and joy through gifts He has given to us, especially people we hold very dear. Anticipation and excitement decorate the thoughts of my future. What glories does God have planned for even such a simple, poor soul as myself? I only ask Him that I am given the grace to get through whatever happens, whenever it happens. God is good, and I praise Him for the life He has given me!
- lees: the sediment of a liquor (as wine) during fermentation and aging
- Isaiah 25:1:
O LORD, You are my God.
I will exalt You,
I will praise Your name,
For You have done wonderful things;
Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.
- Joshua 1:9: ". . . Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
- Deuteronomy 6:6-7:
[6] "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. [7] You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."
- Isaiah 55:8-9:
[8] "For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.
[9] "For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
- U2's No Line on the Horizon came out yesterday. I like it enough (and I'm "loyal" enough to U2) that I would like to get it. One song in particular, "White as Snow," harks U2's constant reminder of something more, something better. I have great hope that God has and does great good through U2:
Where I came from, there were no hills at all;
The land was flat--the highways straight and wide;
My brother and I would drive for hours,
Like years instead of days,
Our faces as pale as the dirty snow.
Once I knew there was a love divine,
Then came a time I thought it knew me not;
Who can forgive forgiveness where forgiveness is not?
Only the lamb as white as snow.
And the water, it was icy,
As it washed over me,
And the moon shone above me.
Now this dry ground--it bears no fruit at all;
Only poppies laugh under the crescent moon;
The road refuses strangers--
The land--the seeds we sow;
Where might we find the lamb as white as snow?
As boys we would go hunting in the woods,
To sleep the night shooting out the stars;
Now the wolves are every passing, stranger;
Every face we cannot know;
If only a heart could be as white as snow;
If only a heart could be as white as snow.
- So far, the Basic Life Principles seminar is very good. I would recommend it to anyone.
- Here is a very good variation of Johann Pachelbel's "Canon in D Major": http://www.scribd.com/doc/10511974/George-Winstoncanon-in-d.
- Joshua 1:9: ". . . Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
- Ever get the feeling that something isn't right . . . in the middle of a test? Well, I had that feeling a few days ago. I consider that to be a very bad feeling, but one thing makes it worse: getting the test back to find out that your feeling was correct. In other words, I did poorly on a test. Frustrating, yes; demoralizing, no. I just get to look forward to the next test when I can apply myself harder. Look at life like a challenge. Challenges are a ton of fun when you beat them!
- Job 23:10-11:
[10] But He knows the way that I take;
When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
[11] My foot has held fast to His steps;
I have kept His way and not turned aside.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2023;&version=50
NOTICE: In no way does the author believe that he is morally righteous as refined gold. He believes this because he knows it is lacking in truth. Such a statement of purity would be a lie.
- Psalm 73:25-26:
[25] Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
[26] My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2073;&version=50.
- The beginning of the third month of 2009 is here. I'll be turning 18 in twenty-three days. Lacrosse begins tomorrow as well as a Bible seminar. I will see old and close friends. The wedding of people I've known for many years will occur. Spring break will commence and end. Many things will happen, but will I go through them in a manner befitting an envoy, an ambassador? I pray I will. And in all truth and honesty, I will act in a proper manner as long as I depend on Christ for and as my strength, my all in all, just as in Psalm 73:26 above. I hope you too will challenge yourself to let yourself be free of challenge: give everything to Christ. I hear He's a pretty good manager.
