Old things passed away; all things created new 2Cor 5:17

There is such a theme of Redemption throughout this album. The words are great! But, you really must listen to the song to really appreciate it to the fullest.

Welcome To Wherever You Are

Maybe we're all different but we're still the same
We all got the blood of Eden running through our veins
I know sometimes it's hard for you to see
You're caught between just who you are and who you want to be

If you feel alone and lost and need a friend
Remember every new beginning is some beginning's end

Welcome to wherever you are
This is you life; you made it this far
Welcome, you got to believe
That right here, right now
You're exactly where you're supposed to be
Welcome to wherever you are

When everybody's in and you're left out
And you feel you're drowning in the shadow of a doubt
Everyone's a miracle in their own way
Just listen to yourself, not what other people say

When it seems you're lost, alone and feeling' down
Remember, everybody's different; just take a look around

Welcome to wherever you are
This is your life; you made it this far
Welcome, you got to believe
Right here, right now
You're exactly where you're supposed to be

Be who you want to be
Be who you are
Everyone's a hero
Everyone's a star

When you want to give up and your heart's about to break
Remember that you're perfect; God makes no mistakes

Welcome to wherever you are
This is your life; you made it this far
Welcome, you got to believe
Right here, right now
You're exactly where you're supposed to be

I say welcome...
I say welcome...
Welcome...

- Bon Jovi

"I AM who I AM" Exodus 3:14

I just love this album!!! And this is the song that sold it for me:

I AM

How you spend your minutes are what matters
All tomorrows come from yesterdays
When you're feeling broken, bruised and sometimes shattered
Blow out the candles on the cake like everything's a big mistake
It seems you always wait for life to happen
And your last buck can't buy a lucky break
If all we've got is us then life's worth living

And if you're in, you know I'm in
I'm ready and I'm willing

I am
When you think that no one needs you, sees you or believes you
No one's there to understand
I am
I'll be there to be that someone
When you think that no one is there to hold your hand
I am

We're just who we are, there's no pretending
It takes a while to learn to live in your own skin
Say a prayer that we might find our happy ending

And if you're in, you know I'm in
I'm ready and wiling
I ain't go no halo hanging over my head
I ain't gonna judge you, I'm just here to love you

I am
I am
I am
When you think that no one needs you, sees you or believes you
No one's there to understand you
I am
I'll be there to be that someone
When you think that no one is there to hold your hand
I am

-Bon Jovi

When I went to the store to demo the album, just listening to the first few songs was getting me close to the sale. As I'm reading the titles, I see this title for song 9. I skipped ahead to this song and heard Jesus singing to me.
If this was the message behind what God spoke to Moses on that mountain those thousands of years ago, is it any wonder that he was able to lead the Israelites to the promise they'd been waiting hundreds of years for? When the One who is Love is holding your hand, don't you think that you could do anything?

Oh, how sad it is what religion has done with the image of the Lord. In our journey to understanding the unfathomable, we put God into a box and chase everyone who challenges what our box should look like away.
As hard as it is, I want to encourage you - who ever's reading this - to let God say, "What if I am more than what's in your box?" If your measuring rod for Who God is, is the Bible (as it's mine), perhaps it's time to ask Him to 'open the eyes of your heart' and give you a 'spirit of wisdom and revelation to know Him more'. Let Him speak to your heart as you discover who He is, and not just rely on your own (or someone else's) understanding.

Blessings.

Album of the Year

I bought it about a month ago, but have just been really listening to it in the last few days, and I must say that Bon Jovi's Have A Nice Day is the best album I've bought, or even listened to in a long time. This could very well be the best compilation of original music the band as put together... EVER! Yes, it's that good!
The lyrics on most songs are quite vertical - meaning they seem to include God, and a heavenly truth to them. As I have time, I'll share a few of the songs here because I think they're worth sharing.
Many of the songs remind me of a friend I had. We used to listen to Bon Jovi together, and were the two biggest fans I knew. I'm sure they have the album to! :)

Here's to all the Bon Jovi fans out there!

HAVE A NICE DAY

I found this article while reading the headlines in Today's Quebecor Media online publication (basically, a combination of The Sun from major Canadian cities).
How Michael Platt describes modern playgrounds kind of reminds me of how I see my life. "What happened to all the fun stuff??"

Enjoy the article:

Thrill Is Gone
by Michael Platt

I've been hanging around playgrounds. No, not like that -- there's no need to call the police, or keep your children locked indoors.
Maybe what I should say is we've been hanging around playgrounds.

You see, I have my own little girl, so my presence among the slides and swings is perfectly legitimate. Like any dad, I'm a slave to my wee one's thrill-seeking demands.
I push, slide and climb, both to make her happy, and to ensure she's safe.

I've found myself wedged inside playground tubes too tiny to comfortably fit a dachshund, and I've smacked my head on steel bars, while helping her onto slides designed for kids and circus contortionists. I hardly even notice the park gravel anymore, as it trickles into my shoes.

It's all in a day's work for a dad. And my daughter loves playgrounds, or at least the swings. The sheer rush of being a 26-lb. pendulum leaves her giggling and wanting more.

No ride makes her day like a good old-fashioned swing-set, and it's the same story for a lot of kids. Swings are the place to be, while the rest of the playground -- a spaghetti of wood, plastic and old rubber tires -- is usually neglected. The basic swing, the only ride left over from my childhood (and the childhood of anyone raised before basic safety gave way to parenting paranoia) is now the most popular playground attraction.

It wasn't the case back then: swings were fun, but not like the skyscraper-high monkey bars, or slides that required a serious hike to the top, before shooting you back to the ground so fast your stomach felt a full second behind.
I don't have the heart to tell the truth to my daughter, even if she was old enough to understand.
She can't read, so it's safe to print it here. Modern playgrounds are boring.

Seriously -- they're tedious.

Since my playground knowledge contains a gap of about 20 years, can someone please explain what happened to all the good rides%

Unwell

I've got to get out of this mind-set! Sure life is going ok; but, lately all I can think of is how it used to be. Chuck Dickens was right when he said, "Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some." Although, I'm not reflecting on past misfortunes, I tend to think more about what's not happening now.

Here's a song by Matchbox 20 that inspired me to blog:

Unwell

All day staring at the ceiling
Making friends with shadows on my wall
All night hearing voices telling me
That I should get some sleep
Because tomorrow might be good for something

Hold on
Feeling like I'm headed for a breakdown
And I don't know why

But I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell
I know right now you can't tell
But stay awhile and maybe then you'll see
A different side of me
I'm not crazy, I'm just a little impaired
I know right now you don't care
But soon enough you're gonna think of me
And how I used to be...me

I'm talking to myself in public
Dodging glances on the train
And I know, I know they've all been talking about me
I can hear them whisper
And it makes me think there must be something wrong with me
Out of all the hours thinking
Somehow I've lost my mind

But I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell
I know right now you can't tell
But stay awhile and maybe then you'll see
A different side of me
I'm not crazy, I'm just a little impaired
I know right now you don't care
But soon enough you're gonna think of me
And how I used to be

I've been talking in my sleep
Pretty soon they'll come to get me
Yeah, they're taking me away

But I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell
I know right now you can't tell
But stay awhile and maybe then you'll see
A different side of me
I'm not crazy, I'm just a little impaired
I know right now you don't care
But soon enough you're gonna think of me
And how I used to be

Yeah, how I used to be
How I used to be
Well, I'm just a little unwell
How I used to be
How I used to be
I'm just a little unwell


I feel as though my confidence is wheining, and dreams are just a blur. Somehow, I've bought into the survival mode of everyone around me. I remember being one who inspired people to dream, to dare to strive for excellence; but, these days, I find myself preaching the status quo: "where you are is OK."

What a crock!

Deep down inside, I know we were born for greatness - each and everyone of us. But, I've bought into the idea that mediocrity is acceptable. "It's OK to be that way - everyone else is, " is what they say.

Something's gotta give....

Hole in the world

My life has been going pretty good. I feel like I'm getting back on my feet - no longer floating in a world of newness. A routine is being established, I guess. I'm becoming more comfortable with life. It's still exciting, and I'm loving it (no, I'm not infringing on any McD's copyright!), but it's also easier.

It's not this way for everyone, tho. I'm aware of a few friends who're struggling with life. Their worlds have been battered and beaten - some seem to have lost hope, some seem so confused. As I was pondering on these friends of mine, I was reminded of a relatively new song by one of my favorite bands, The Eagles.

Here's the song:

Hole In The World

There's a hole in the world tonight.
There's a Cloud of fear and sorrow.
There's a hole in the world tonight.
Don't let there be a hole in the world tomorrow.

They say that anger is just love disappointed.
They say that love is just a state of mind,
But all this fighting over who will be anointed.
Oh how can people be so blind

There's a hole in the world tonight.
There's a Cloud of fear and sorrow.
There's a hole in the world tonight.
Don't let there be a hole in the world tomorrow.

Oh they tell me there's a place over yonder,
Cool water running through the burning sand.
Until we we learn to love one another
We never reach the promise land.

There's a hole in the world tonight.
There's a Cloud of fear and sorrow.
There's a hole in the world tonight.
Don't let there be a hole in the world tomorrow......