God??? A wuss??? SHOOT!!! YOU CRAZY!!!!

Hey there friends. I just want to say that this has been a great weekend, and good times. Friends have came and visited and it was so good to see everyone. I enjoyed every second of it. I am so thankful that God has blessed me with awesome people in my life. It is great to have people surounding you that can you build you up, and make you a stronger person. 

So anyway. I am sure that you are wondering about the title of my blog tonight. Well I was doing my devotional and it was talking about God being a lamb, and a lion. And it just made me start to think about how many times that we see God in a light that he is so loving and careing. And he is certainly all of those wonderful things, and it is awesome that he is that. BUT!! At the same time he is a lion. And we forget that as well. 

I was reading in the book of revelation. I mean you usually dont read in that book but the devotional that i am doing directed me in that direction. AND IT WAS AWESOME!!! It had all these verses showing me that God is indeed a lion. Let me just quote a verse for you.

Revelation 14:9-11

   A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and recieves his mark on the forehead, or on the hand , he too, will drink of the wine of Gods fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tourmented with burning sulfer in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their tourment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who recieves the mark of his name."

WOW!!! I mean it doesnt sound like God is playing any games. I mean He pretty much is showing us that he hates sin, and hates the devil and look what happens if you follow him. Not only will you sufer but God himself will stand be side the edge of the lake of fire and you watch you in tourment. I mean pretty epic. God is indeed Epic. I like how it doesnt describe him as a lion when he is standing and watching. It describes him as a Lamb. I mean Imagine what he must be like when he is a Lion. 

All i know is that im glad my God is EPIC!!! Im so glad that my God doesnt play games. So next time someone says that your God is weak. Or says that he never shows anger. You might want to take them to this passage and let them see how freaking Epic your God really is. 

Mike is the coolest ever...

Hello, all. 

This is Sandy in place of Michael Stemler. Let me tell you, we just had the most awesome weekend ever at his casa in Concord. 

Heather, Laura, Quinny, Ythol, Yaron, Andy, and I all came down from Raleigh to hang out with Mike before the summer ended. Last year, some of us did the same thing and visited Mike and went to Carowinds and since it was so much fun, we did it again this year. 

We drove down yesterday and had a beautiful dinner of enchilladas and dump cake. Baller. It's so much fun with everyone being together. Basically, we have the best group of friends in the history of mankind. No joke.

Today we got up early to head to the wonderful land of Carowinds. We spend all day running around the park, taking silly pictures, going on roller coasters, screaming our hearts out, and venturing to the water park. Needless to say, we left exhausted. After a few naps and showers, Aaron and Baird arrived to hang out with us for a few hours, being so close to the area. We had some great food at Foster's Grill. Lots of good times. Tomorrow's church then we head home. 

Thanks for the fabulous weekend, great food, and good times at su casa, Mike. I speak for everyone when I say, we love you lots and lots. You are awesome. 

:)

Three Kings

So let me frist start out by saying that I had an amazing weekend. I got to go to Raleigh and see my Heather. Every moment i spend with her i feel like God keeps strengthening our relationship. Keeping God at the center of our relationship is a huge priority to both of us. I am so thankful for that. I know that if he remains the center and we both grow close to him while we grow closer together God will bless our relationship in ways we never imagined. I loved spending time with Heather this weekend and being a goober face. I got to meet her amazing friends, and dine at the great establishment known as good berrys. I got to go to church with her and her family and that was great. So thanks Heather for a great weekend. 

Today I was talking to my good friend blake oakley. I told him that i was looking for a good devotional and some good books to read until the end of the summer. I thought that he was just going to write some stuff down for me to look at. I came downstairs and he had three books for me. He said that i could boorrow them for as long as i needed too.

These are the three books that blake gave me to read. My utmost for my highest by oswald chambers is a daily devotional. Seeing and Savoring Christ by john piper is another devotional that you could do daily but is pretty in depth and is filled with refrences to verses in the Bible. A tale of three kings is a really easy read and is written as a play. It helps relate to brokeness and how we as christians have to go through pain and suffering. I am so excited to read all of these books. I began reading them all today and it was great. So i sugest that if you are looking for some good books to read you should check out these books. 

MY MOM IS MY SUPER HERO!!!!

I found this new band, and saw them at warped tour. They have an awesome song. So i wanted to blog it. This one goes out to my mommy. LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!

She opens up my bedroom door

She's waking me up soon

"I'm turning on the light" She warns

Its the little things that you do

She's the one that starts my day

my dear mom..... my comforter

my friend forever 

when life's right or wrong

she is also my laughter 

yet my shoulder to cry on

my mom is my super hero

my mom is my world

all out of gas no place to go

she knows just what ill say

she turns and laughs and opens up her purse

and gives enough for the week

she didnt have to give but she did

thats just the kind of women she is

love. she is love

my dear mom

my mom is my super hero 

my mom is my world

love is the action that she shows me often

even when it is not in her kisses

blessed with a mom who puts herself after her childred

it doesnt get much better than priceless

my mom is my super hero

my mom is my world.

www.myspace.com/betweenthetrees

"You Shine girl, oh you know you shine!"

Well all i have to say is that i have had a great weekend. Thusday night Heather Leigh Carnahan came to my house for the weekend. I have been looking forword to her visit for quite sometime. She arrived at my house and brought my grandma a milkshake. She met good old wayne, and barb. I have to say that my parentes loved her. It was awesome. After the introduction we sat down and ate dinner with the family and all that jazz. We then went upstairs later on in the night and watched sound of music with barb, and wayne. We sung along to all the songs and acted like goobers. It was awesome. We then went on a little walk and then went to sleepy land because we had a big day in store for tomorrow. 

We woke up and we went out to cracker barrel for breakfast. It was awesome. I love that place (not as much as cookout). After that we then went over to my dads work and took a tour around. He showed heather all of his killamanjaro pictures. My dad is a goon. After the great time at Hendrick we then went back to the house and got ready for our white water adventure. We arrived at the white water center and took a walk around the whole place. It was a great time. It was then raft time. Our guides name was Craig, and he was a starwars nerd. It was pretty funny. He was flirting with heather a little bit so i almost punched him in the face. HAHA JK JK...... But seriously. Anyway it was an awesome time. After our adventure it was off to our next event. 

We drove down to charlotte and went to southpark mall. I took heather to the Cheese Cake factory for dinner. She has never been there, and loves cheesecake so i wanted to take her there. We had a great dinner, and great converstaion. We then walked around the mall for a little bit and looked at alot of stuff that we couldnt afford. After the mall i asked heather if she had ever seen downtown charlotte. She said that she had not. So i decided to take her down there and walk around dontown charlotte. I have never been there at night. It was really pretty. We walkd around and had awseome conversation. 

After walking around Charlotte we then went back to concord. Heather and I then went on a walk. There is this pretty cool place in my neighborhood so i took her up there. There is like this gazebo deal and this pond. I wrote her a letter and i read it to her telling her how i felt about her, and about us. After all that i asked her to be my girlfriend. And then she said yes. It was a great time. 

The next day it was lake day. We drove over to mooresville and went to hollys house. We got to chill with all of my good old highschool friends. I loved it. I mean the lake is awesome, and being with heather just made it even more awesome. We all went to chilis for dinner. It was a good time. Who doesnt love chilis. I mean they have awesome blossems. THERE EXTRA AWESOME!! After that we then played some cheezy mind games. It was funny seeing people not able to figure them out. After that we came back to the house and watched The old disney movie Hercules. Loved it. We stayed up and chated for a good while. 

the next day we woke up and went out to lunch. After lunch time we had a devotional together. I just have to say that im so glad that heather and I make it a priority that everytime we are together we get in Jesus time with each other. It has helped out in so many ways. We then shared with each other, and spent some time praying for each other. After our Jesus time we went to see a movie with mom and dad, and then went to dinner. 

After dinner it was time for heather to leave. It sucked. I didnt want her to go. It was super sad to see her leave. But our time together was so great. I am so greatful that heather is in my life. I know that it was planned out by God. He has brought me someone who challanges me in so many ways. She has helped me grow closer to God and i am so greatful for that. 

Heather Carnahan, "you shine girl, oh you know you shine!" : )

Step up to the challange.

Today i had an amazing 5 minute conversation with a dear friend of mine Daniel Thomas. We didnt talk for long but it inspired this blog, and inspired the thoughts im about to write down. I look up to that man so much, and to hear him say things that he said to me, and about me really meant alot. So thank you Daniel for everything you have done for me. 

So many times we get on spirtual highs. We are living the good life. We feel like nothing can get us down. We are reading the bible everyday. Our deepest sins and addicitons dont seem to have any effect on us. There is no doubt about it. When you are on a spirtual high there seems like nothing can get you down. But we all know that there is an another side. 

It is inevitable. We will hit that rut. That hole that seems like it has no end. We keep falling, and falling. It may not be that we are giving into our addicitons. It could be a situation that we are. A time of hardship. And suddenly we seem so far from God. Its hard to find one on one time with Jesus. Were suddenly "too busy for that". Suddenly we find ourselves sleeping in on sunday mornings. Then to top it all off we say to God. Why are you doing this to me? I dont deserve this im a good person. We think God has totally forgotten about us. When the truth is we have forgotten about him. 

There are so many times that i have asked God why i have to go through this stuff in my life. I remember thinking that i will never get out of this hole, and that it seemed so dark. After looking back on these situations, and times of hardships i realized God was challenging me. He was putting me to the test. Think back to when you had to face something and you didnt think you could ever get out of that hole. Think how much you have learned from that time, and how much better you are because of it.

God is always challanging us. He wants us to be something great. Think of all the bible stories about the Israelites in these battles greatly out numberd. Think of David and Goliath. They steped up to there challanges and became something great. As a great author said "dont you want to be William Wallace, or Maximus from gladiator." Dont you want to be noble and heroic? Dont you want to be great? Well you can. God wants us to be like that. These challanges make us better people, and better christians. So next time it seems like it cant get any worse. Think about the challange in front of you and rise up and freaking punch saten in the face. Show him that you are strong enough to withstand him. Because you walk with the ultimate warrior, the ultimate hero. You walk hand in hand with God Almighty.  

Jeremiah 46:3-4

"Prepare your shields both large and small and march out for battle! Harness the horses mount the steeds! Take your position with helmets on! Polish your spears! Put on your armor! "

AND PREPARE FOR GLORY!!!

Crickets in Stereo

The past few days have been slow. I have not had much to do other than sit around, fold laundry, and watch movies on HBO all the time. I watched this phat movie tonight called smoking aces. It was way better than expected. Crazy twist at the end. So i sugest you watch it. After the move i was feeling super lazy and i wanted to fix that. So i went on a night time run. 

I have not been a night run in a while. It was really enjoyable. I ran around my neighborhood and there was this cool spot by a pond so i sat down and just chilled for a while. All i could hear were crickets chirping in the back ground. It was really peaceful. I just took the time to think about certain things, and to pray to God. I have been neglecting my one on one time with Jesus latley so it was good to have a conversation with him. As i sat and enjoyed the peacefulness i couldnt help but think back to this song called Crickets in Stereo.

 

Back in the day when i started on my musical journey Phil and I stumbled across this band by the name of Forever in Motion (www.myspace.com/foreverinmotion). I just remeber listening to this song by them and loving it. It always reminded me of summer nights and great times as a kid. It took me back. I will never forget all those summer spent just chillin as a kid, and i will never forget all the good times i have had with phil listening to music. 

Crickets in Stereo 

Take me out to those summer nights

When i was just a little boy five years old

Lay down in the back yard and listen to crickets in stereo 

With a gental wind and whispering trees

The man in the moon similing down on you and me

and the fireflies all dancing to the sweetes serenades

Let me take you back to those summer nights

When we were just little ones five years old. 

We'll lay out by the swingset in the back yard

Listen to crickets in stereo

I will take your hand through the shade of the trees

As moonlight through the branches beams down on you and me

and the fireflies all dancing to the sweetest serenades. 

Good friend, Good times.

The past couple of days i have been hanging out with old friends and thinking back on old times, and just enjoying the awesome summer weather. On thursday i woke up and drove over to the great town of Troutman NC to meet up with phil, bryan, and blake. We were going to spend the day on the lake. When you get 4 awesome guys together and go out on the lake it is sure to be a great time. 

We went to the boat launch ramp and proceded to put the boat in the water. It was the first time Phil has gotten to take the boat out without his parents. So we felt pretty privileged to take it out by ourselves. After we put the boat in we drove up to the north part of the lake. It is pretty chill up there. We go to ride around on the tube for a while and act like goof balls. It was fun times. Then we travaled back down to the state park and went wake boarding. Phil went out and tried to do some jumps and all that jazz. Blake tried for the first time and was able to get up. It was a great time. 

After that i headed over o the oakleys house hold. Allan cooked us some awesome burgers and hot dogs. I love cook out food. Its probablly the best thing ever. We then chilled and holly, britt, and bethany came over. We spent the night talking and just chillin out. Then Blake showed us some Anime it was a great time.  Phil is hooked on it. LOL. 

The next day was the 4th of july and the oakleys were having there big cook out. We got to eat BBQ. GAA SOOOOO GOOOOOD. it was awesome. We got to chill out all night and play games and catch up with tons of good friends. We played Volly ball and our team won the tournament. Were pretty baller. After the festivities we drove home and i was pretty tired. But I  had a blast chillin with everyone. 

Heather is coming in like 6 days. Im excited.