Where There's a Will, There May Be a Deep Thought

Satan, the Fallen Worship Leader

2009-02-09T13:47:00.000-08:00

I saw this on guitarpraise.blogspot.com and thought it was a very important read to anyone who participates in worship at the church.

"The Bible names three angels - Michael, Gabriel, and Lucifer. The last angel is, of course, better known as Satan. Ps 103:20 tells us that angels are "mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word" - each of these angels represent the various ways we serve God.

Michael is known for being an angel of works, putting into action what is needed to help others ("then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me", Dan 10:13). He is also an angel of warfare ("Michael and his angels fought against the dragon", Rev 12:7), and represents the spiritual battles we fight for others in the community. The second angel is Gabriel, who is known for delivering God's Word. Gabriel is most well known for preparing Mary for Jesus' birth (Luke 1:26-38); he was also called to speak to Daniel about a vision (Dan 8:16).

The last (ex)angel, Lucifer, served God in worship, like many of us. I find it quite uncomfortable to be compared with the devil, but the truth is that we we need to keep on our toes against vanity and pride.

Ezekiel 28:12-14 tells us that Lucifer was a beautiful creature:
"You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.. every precious stone adorned you... Your settings and mountings were made of gold; You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones".

In the same way, musicians can look quite good on stage, and do get quite abit of attention from their friends. I do get abit of 'fame' in church, from people recognising (recognising, not admiring!) me from playing the guitar. When I meet friend's friends in church, I'm always introduced as the guy who plays the guitar on stage, like its something cool.

The attention can get to one's head, as was with the devil:
"Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor" (Eze 28:17).

Satan himself has walked down the path of pride, and tempting people into self-glorification could very well be his most powerful weapon against us. After all, it was what led to the first sin and the separation between man and God. As a result, musicians are very exposed to his temptations. We must guard our hearts and minds, and constantly walk down the path of humility. We must also see ourselves not as musicians, or worse, rock stars, but first and foremost servants of the Lord.

Look forward not to your friends' praises, but to the Lord's delight in you. James 4:10 tells us to "humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you". Imagine finally coming before the throne of God - seeing His glory, we prostrate in unworthiness before Him. Yet, God comes to us, brings us back to our feet, and tells us that He is proud of us, for putting Him before our pride. Just as Ps 84:10 writes that "better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere", better is one word of praise from the Lord than to have fame amongst the multitudes.

On a more practical level, here are two tips:

The small things matter. There's alot of 'menial' work in the ministry, like hauling amps and mixers around. You might also feel reluctant to serve for smaller services, like prayer meetings. Take up your cross and serve in these areas wholeheartedly.
Deflect & avoid attention. Sometimes, my friends say I 'perform' on stage. I usually tell them, light-heartedly of course, that I prefer to use the word 'serving'. Also, don't do anything that gets you too much attention on stage, e.g. running to the front during a guitar solo.

Do drop a comment if you've more to share!"

Spiritual Lesson I'm really struggling with

2009-02-07T16:58:00.000-08:00

I was encouraged to read this by a friend since we have had such a big political shift. I find it ironic that the author spent most of his time in jail and this is what he says about authority:

"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for the police are not there for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.

This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor."

Obviously if you know the Bible, you recognize this as Romans 13. I've really been chewing on these verses the last few weeks and trying to obey. I know most of the reason Paul spent in jail was because of trumped up charges.

I do not really like the folks in authority, but it is very clear that God has them their for a reason. It seems as though God is giving America exactly what they deserve for fleeing from His ways.
I guess all I know how to do is pray about it. This pray by Reverend Joe Wright seems appropriate:

"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good,," but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.

We confess:

We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it Pluralism. We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism. We have endorsed perversion and called it alternative lifestyle. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.

Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent to direct us to the center of your will. I ask it in the Name of Your Son, the living Savior, Jesus Christ.

Amen."

Mr. Obama: Modern Day Trojan Horse! That was CHANGE for Troy!

2009-01-23T09:10:00.000-08:00

I really think we need to start referring to him as Mr. Obama, as he is already failing to protect the Constitution and the people that it governs and is thus no longer our President. Waiting to see when impeachment proceedings will begin.

Case in point one:
Executive Order to Close Guantanamo

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123258578172604569.html

The terrorist who are residing in Cuba may soon be joining or fellow prisoners or even be set free in the United States. This is a direct failure to protect the Constitution and the people that reside under the Constitution.
I am beginning to wonder if Obama is a modern day Trojan Horse. He has duped millions of Americans into voting for him based on promises of getting out of the recession (which was supposed to be the first thing he signed. Great job Democratic Congress at getting it done in time) and universal health care. Instead what was his first action: Freeing the terrorist at Guantanamo within the year (by freeing, yes even in American prisons they are more free than the holes they came from in Iraq and Afghanistan).

What I think is funny is watching the politicians who agree with the move, but do not want the terrorists in their state/federal prison facilities within their jurisdictions.

Case in Point two:
Obama to Lift Ban on Funding for Groups Providing Abortions

So I hear that he is also lifting the ban for federal funding for abortions, but can't find it on CNN or in my handy New York Times (I'm really trying to help them from going bankrupt). I find it on Fox News online. I generally try to get my information from Fox last, but this one is a monstrous one for me, and I'm beginning to believe that Fox is "Fair and Balanced" at least more fairer than CNN or NY Times.

Not only are we in a recession, we are now going to fund abortions both here in the US and abroad (sounds like China to me...How long before the government mandates abortions until we get out of a recession, the sky is the limit with Obama). I cannot justify our government supplying funding for genocide to innocent children.

I know their are Christians who are pro-choice. I know their are parents who are pro-choice. To me a Christian being pro-choice is just the same as the Christian murdering each and every aborted baby. I just cannot understand how someone can justify this stance. Yes, for medical conditions and in some instances of rape my heart breaks over the choice that has to be made.

Even some medical conditions concern me. When we were pregnant with Ray we where told he would be a Downs Syndrome Baby. The very next thing the doctor said was, their are options you have available to terminate this fetus. They called my baby whose heartbeat I had just hear a piece of non-formed flesh. We were willing to trust God to either give us a child with the true loving heart of God (Downs Baby) or to give us what we call a normal child. We were blessed either way and the doctors wanted to kill this blessing.

We truly believe God healed Ray of Downs. About 4 days after birth one of the Doctors checking on him said "hmmm, that's interesting". As a new parent you always freak when the doctor uses words like "interesting". He said "Nothing to be concerned about, but he has a straight line across his hand, which 90% of the time is only found on Down Syndrome children". Alicia and I broke down praising God at that very instance.

So now we are increasing the number of terrorists in our country and decreasing the number of people who might be able to fight them off. Sounds like change to me!

Inauguration. PROOF that we will NOT SEE CHANGE!!

2009-01-20T08:45:00.000-08:00

I really feel sorry for Obama. He's supposed to be the hope of our nation, yet on his desk right now (probably piled on the floor all over the oval office) are billions of issues that he has to somehow deal with.

So today is inauguration day and I was really looking forward to the change being brought. I don't get to watch much news, I don't get to take off from work to attend an inauguration, I don't have time to protest, because I own a business and help run this country. People complain about the taxes out of their paycheck, yet for small business owners it's double and in some cases triple that tax percentage that you see pulled out of your paycheck.

With that being said, here is the change that I am seeing and it MAKES ME SICK! As liberal as Bush was in spending, I thought we'd pretty much see the same type of idiotic spending with Obama. Then OBAMA comes in and spends anywhere from $150 Million to $160 Million of my tax money on an inauguration(Bush spent $42 Million in 2005, but it was fully funded by private individuals). I understand Obama wants to separate himself from any one person so he limited inauguration donations to individuals and they could only give $25,000 dollars (Bush set it at 250,000 and corporations as well as individuals could give). I do notsee $100 Million worth of security, so why this amount?

Congress moaned about the wasteful spending on the automaker plane rides, yet have given a clear wave for this inauguration. They say nothing because they get to rub elbows with the political rock star that is Barack Obama. Did they travel from their home states by green cars or coach?

Obama had a chance to say NO to wasteful spending and he did not. He had a chance to prove he wanted positive change. His failure to conserve money at his inauguration should be a wake up call to anyone that pays taxes. You just worked so that Obama, congress, and the senate could have, not just one inaugural ball but 10! I pray they all get a hangover on our tax dollars.

I will continue to stay positive during this new administration and I really do hope for CHANGE FOR THE BETTER. His presidency will not effect my business too much. Maybe in taxes a little, but we can always stop paying that right? I EXPECT to see something different than what I have seen already. I don't want pretty speeches, I want actions! America, do not confuse movement with action.

In closing, I believe we are getting what we deserve as American's. We have fled from God and have ran towards sin and allowed it to take over our entire society. We allow racism to still exist both in the black and white communities. We allow our churches to be filled with Pharisees and Sadducee which keeps people from Christ. We have called an elected King our saviour

I will pray for President Obama and his leadership and his decisions, we still live in the most blessed country in the world and God will always protect the righteous.

Brooklyn Mae Burgin

2009-01-10T11:10:00.001-08:00

So Brooke is finally here!!! Here are the stats on my baby girl:
Weight: 7lbs, 7 oz
Length: 19 1/4 inches
Time: 10:27a.m
Date: 01/06/09
Other: She's got a full head of hair, beautiful eyes, that where open for about the first 2 hours (she was really peaceful and just looking around), she only cried when they poked her and bathed her.

This was a very peaceful delivery. Of course it was a c-section and planned, but the process (including Alicia's recovery) seems so much easier. We are back at home. Alicia is doing fabulous and up and about. Brooke is being extremely curious about her surroundings constantly looking around.

Ray is taking good care of his baby sister and makes sure she has plenty of kisses. He even gave her his favorite blanky to borrow for a little while. He has acted out a little, but I think this is because Daddy has been up at work and comes home and goes to bed as I am up helping Alicia feed, burp, and clean Brooke every 2 hours. So we don't get our good rough housing time in and haven't gotten it for about 3 days now. Tomorrow is a day just for him so he is well cared for and he'll have plenty of opportunity to beat me up.
Here are some pics:

New Year 2009!!!

2009-01-01T08:51:00.000-08:00

What a year this will be!!!
I'm going to try to not concentrate on this last year as it was one of the harder years I have had. It was a great year for God to show His blessings in my life and to show how He can carry us through. I still cannot believe my store is open after some of the hard times, but just as though God wanted us to depend upon Him, He gave us the hard times and gave us just what we needed to get by.

Just a review of the amazing things that happened in 2008:
1. We became pregnant with Brooke and are expecting her any moment
2. We bought our first house! Glad we didn't take the lenders advice and get into a bigger house.
3. We found a great church that really has ministered to us as though we were in Acts 2.
4. As a family we drew closer to God and each other.
5. I am in great physical health and plan to continue getting in even better health!

The plans for 2009:
1. Enjoy our new edition for 2009 - Brooke Mae!
2. Continue to grow in Christ!
3. Get physically stronger and compete in a Body Building show!
4. Start worshiping God more with the gifts he's given me, even if it means leading worship in a church! (I have grown to dislike the modern churches idea of contemporary worship and what is expected for a typical service...i.e. worship whip-lash)
5. Join Woods Baptist Church.

Mostly everyday is started looking at the positives in life. I need to attract more positive energy. I've got a blessed life and I often focus on everything else but the blessings! As American's we are blessed beyond comparison. Even when the market crashes we are more blessed than 98% of the countries out there. There is no greater place I'd rather be than right where I am at.
You are blessed and I hope you find that blessing daily. Start each day off with positive thoughts and see how much better each day becomes. The things we worry about are not ours to worry about. Do you think the bird wonders and worries all day about where it will sleep at night or if there will be food or if my windshield is going to be the cause of its demise? So what is keeping you from reaching your full potential, go and get what God has promised you. You know the promises He has for you. Maybe today it is Salvation, maybe you are promised a hit song, poem or book. Maybe have been promised a fulfilled life, so just look around and look at how fulfilled we are.

May you be blessed in 2009!!!

What a Great Christmas!

2008-12-26T15:17:00.000-08:00

I really enjoyed this Christmas. The gifts where awesome, but I'm pretty sure that's not the reason that this Christmas was so special. I didn't even get to see my entire family (sister in France, sister&bro-in-law, niece, nephew in Alabama, mom-in-law in Houston). I think what made it feel so complete was that it was at my house, a 3 year old who is getting into Christmas, and with the expectation of a special arrival ourselves, it made me focus more on Mary and Joseph and the excitement of Jesus' birth.

We did not travel as it was not recommend for Alicia to be far away from the hospital, yet Mary and Joseph had to by order of the law. Had that one fact been changed in the Bible, the first of many prophecies would not have been fulfilled "Today in the city of David (Bethlehem)". Bethlehem = The City of David. I'll save how the prophecies that Jesus fulfilled amaze me for another blog on another day.

Ray is really into Christmas, or as he refers to it, "Jesus' Birthday Party". He was really shocked when he saw the tree. I'm not sure he really expected to get presents for "Jesus' Birthday". Will be a great transition for sharing Christ with my son one day. He is really starting to understand concepts, which I find amazing!

I really think the biggest reason, was that Christmas dinner was at my house. My family all around enjoying each other and visiting. Playing guitar with my cousin and Dad, talking with my Aunt Linda, and of course playing with Ray's new toys! It's really a different experience and some how seems complete and the way it's supposed to be. I liked having Christmas at my house, and will probably do it again next year!

Blessings to you this New Year!

All I Want by Staind

2008-12-22T15:49:00.000-08:00

I don't often listen to a lot of secular music, except some Rock. I heard this song in the background of a sport center highlight and other than "shit" being used in the lyrics, this is almost like a worship song!
I am amazed at how many secular songs could be changed around just a little bit and are a praise to God.

Here are the lyrics:

What I leave, When you go,
What I see, And what you show,
And what I guess, And when I don't,
Is something you all ready, all ready know,

[Chorus:]
I can't live without, All I think about,
All I want is you, You're all I dream about,
I can't live without, All I want is you,

The things I do, I go through,
And all I see, When Im awake,
And what I make, The shit that I take,
Is something you all ready, all ready know

[Chorus:]
I can't live without,
All I think about,
All I want is you,
You're all I dream about,
I can't live without,
All I want is you,

Ohhh,...
Is you,
Is you,
Is you,
Is you,
You're all I dream about,
That I can't live without,
All I want is you

[Chorus:]
I can't live without,
All I think about,
All I want is you,
You're all I dream about,
I can't live without,
All I want is you,
I just can't live without you,
When all I think about is you,
And all I want is you

2nd Samuel 23:5

2008-12-20T23:21:00.000-08:00

For He has made an everlasting covenant with me, Ordered in all things, and secured; For all my salvation and all {my} desire, Will He not indeed make {it} grow?

The progression of my life is the order of things so far. God has secured them. I am blessed to be secured with a wife and a child and a child on the way. I am secured that he will care for me in the will he has for my business and life. He has fulfilled my salvation. Then comes the tricky part of "my desire" (NASB version by the way). I'm actually glad he doesn't always fulfill this at times, but sometimes wish he would. I hope He increases my desire for Him and less of my desire for the things of this world. The things that bind me and separate me from Him. Yet, he has ordered all things.
I often think of my degree from college as a waste, but then I know it delivered me my greatest earthly prize, which is my wife. I often am bitter towards Christianity as the training mechanisms that are used to teach ministers really kill off the creative aspects. I've heard seminary referred to as "The Cemetery" as it is the final mark of killing off any hope of the Holy Spirit working in a church. It further ingrains the denominational fence posts that separate us from one another. Why will tomorrow morning (Sunday) be the most segregated day in the country. Why can God not bond us as one? Yet I step away from my focus (digress, but I hate that word for some reason)
I pray that he does make it grow daily and that my desires become His and that I have the same emotional connection to God as it appears God has for me. A desire is much greater than just wanting, it is deep, it is passionate. When I say, "I desire my wife", it really means I want to know her more intimately than anyone else on earth. God wants that with us; though he knows us, He still seeks our desires and offers us free will to express those desires.......and sometimes, He gives us what we want even though it causes us more harm. He loves us enough to give us the choice! Make my desire yours oh Lord!

Coolest Christmas Songs of All Time

2008-12-20T17:08:00.000-08:00

#2 and #3 are interchangeable here. Mostly for the enjoyable part of the song, not the reasoning!

#4 Santa Baby - MADONNA

This is the hottest song and makes me want to make babies at Christmas....and give a lot of gifts away!

#3 Please Come Home For Christmas - The Eagles
Okay not a song to be combined with Alcohol or ammunition, but I love this song. I like to imagine that the girl comes back to the guy on Christmas day as a gift under the tree wrapped in something sexy!

#2 RamahanaKwanzmas - From the Glen Beck show

Kind of representative of the times we live in nowadays. My favorite is how the say "Merry "bleep"mas."

#1 Silent Night -
Really haven't heard a version I didn't like. It sort of encompasses the whole story of Christmas night. I'm sure Sheryl Crow will go and now create a version for me to hate or really really love!

Top 5 Least Favorite Christmas Songs

2008-12-19T15:46:00.000-08:00

This is sort of in response to my buddy Dave's Top 5, but I've been wanting to speak about my #1 for a long long time.
#5 Christmas Conga.....Cyndi Lauper
I think I've liked one Cyndi Lauper tune in the history of my life! It's just confusing, it's like a mix of her style music and synthesizers, mexican trumpets, and her saying "banga, banga, banga" and then her speaking in a very New York accent....maybe Boston. It's a catchy.....a little too catchy!

#4"Little Drummer Boy", David Bowie and Bing Crosby
No words....just a terrible duet!

#3 David Essex "A Winter's Tale"
Wow...does this song increases the suicide thought rate. If this is on the playlist of someone that you care about, take away all alcohol, pain killers, and guns. Not a healthy sign! My parents had this record for some reason and I accidentally listened to it alot. Evidentally David Essex is one fo the a-holes that doesn't like for his stuff to be posted on youtube, or at least sharivn of his music, so yet another reason to be on the list.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBQ3t6ezh2I

#2 Christmas Time by THE SMASHING PUMPKINS
I love smashing pumpkins, but they should leave Christmas albums to Country Singers. Billy's voice to Jesus' music just gives me nightmares. There's no typical Smashing Pumpkins drive behind it.....It's like they needed to sale an album one year so they just decided to produce a Xmas one. ( I use X in the respectful Greek way)

#1 Blue Christmas by Sheryl Crow
I typically like Blue Christmas and Sheryl Crow, but it's a lot like adding cottage cheese to corn on the cob when you put this two together. It would be a great song if I was planning a great evening with my pistol and Jack Daniels though! I promise you listening to this song will make you contemplate suicide.
Luckily it is not easy to find and should probably be banned from existence! There is one out there from her "Home for Christmas" album, but that's not the one I'm talking about. I think it is on a specialty album from Kohl's (Kohls Cares for Kids). You can listen to a sample here:
http://www.ilike.com/artist/Sheryl+Crow/track/Blue+Christmas

Blue Letter Bible

2008-12-15T16:21:00.000-08:00

Every once in a while I am amazed at the internet and the blue letter bible is truly an amazing resources. Play around with it and you'll see what I'm talking about. Truly wish this was around while taking Dr. Bobby Kelly's Biblical Greek I.....maybe I wouldn't have dropped out of BG II.

I've become obsessed with this resource and I have no desire to be a pastor, just seeking the truth of the scripture and the deepness of it. I think that is why we have so many translation, because 1: some Greek can be translated many ways and 2: God wants us to explore those ways as well as understand the context they are in.

Here is the link. Just for kicks look at it and just play around with John 3:16 and the many versions it has....especially the original Greek Lexicon!

www.blueletterbible.org

Blessings,
Will

Just Arriving!

2008-12-15T11:59:00.000-08:00

So as I sit here around Christmas time pondering Jesus, Mary and Joseph. I think of the anticipation, the excitement and the worry they must have had, as I possess these same feelings at this moment with my daughter coming in the next 3 weeks. Sure, I've been through this process before with my boy, but for some reason there is more angst, fear, and just overall wonder about the moment.

Maybe it's that I look at all the girls that are growing up and wonder how in the world am I going to raise a pure, Godly and mentally sound woman in this environment, this world we live in today. My grandmother confirmed it that she's never seen stuff (sin, flesh, and worldliness) so out in the open. I know each generation has its error and I know the world has always been a filthy place, but I look at it differently now with a small defenseless child coming into the mix. For some reason, this didn't bother me with my son, so why does it do so with my little girl.

I guess my answer as always can be found in scripture. How do you "train up a child"? I know 90% of what kids learn is by watching so I'll seek the scripture and try to let that inward reading become an outward expression:

Psalm 33:8 "Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him."
John 12:25 "The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."
John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."