Song Video: Now I'm Out

This is a song I wrote aways back. It's basically the story of me finding myself in a place where I was very unhappy. I had walked away from my faith and Jesus. I woke up one day and realized that my life was an utter mess. So after trying a variety of things I got on my knees and begged Jesus to come back into my life, however everything was not a bed of roses. Many of my "friends" left me. Family relationships were strained. I felt like with many people I was familiar with I was now "out". I don't regret my decision to rekindle my faith and set it ablaze like a raging fire. I am no perfect person. I am a sinner but I a so much happier now that I am on a journey to Heaven.

Shhh! The DONUTS are Calling!

You know I feel that I am destined to be fat. Why? No, I don't have a glandular problem. No I don't have a heart issue that keeps me from exercising. No, I have no other physical or mental disorder that keeps me from exercising or making wise choices. 

Why am I destined to be fat? Me, I am the reason. My habits make my life what it is and on Wednesdays we have DONUT DAY at work. Just so you know my heart swell just typing DONUT DAY. I can't say no to the donuts, or rather I choose not to. I have come to realize that the only thing that will hold me back in life is me. Sure, the world can throw a ton of stuff in my way, but in the end I make the decisions of what or what I don't want to pursue or put in my mouth that so willingly accepts donuts. 

God stands in heaven preparing a place for you, yes you and you alone. A place tailor made for you. You can come in and stay for an eternity. A place with no pain, sickness, poverty, it is sheer HEAVEN. Do you have to jump through flaming hoops or walk over broken glass or sacrifice your first born on an altar? No, you have to love. Yep you have to love. I know that doesn't sound hard but we are human and we have broken hearts and so it's hard. I know that its hard when I get cut off in traffic. I want to practice the little "sign language" that I know. 

God wants you to love and follow him. Will your life be terrible if you do? No, actually anymore I find that my life is "terrible" when I don't follow God, when I don't follow Jesus' teachings. I find that when I chase empty pleasures and refuse to love God is when I find unhappiness. There is a difference between happiness and pleasure. Happiness can sustain. Pleasure is over pretty much as soon as you stop doing what brings the pleasure. I find pleasure in eating donuts but when I stop cause I can't eat anymore I have an upset stomach and then when the sugar crash ensues... you get the idea. 

God is rules, rules, rules though, or so I hear. Look at those rules. Those rules are about loving. Does God want you to sacrifice? Yeah, but I guarantee that you will find no champion of any sport, business, lifestyle or discipline that does not sacrifice. You want to gain anything great you will have to sacrifice something. The greater the "thing" the greater you will have to sacrifice.  In my journey to become a good Christian I have had to sacrifice. I have lost friends. I have given up money to help others out of love. I have had family relationships strain. I have people mock and make fun of me. I have missed out on worldly opportunities, but none of that "pain" compares to being whipped to the point of having my flesh ripped off my body, being kicked, beat, and mocked, spit on and the forced to carry my own device of death to a place where I had nails driven into my body in full view of the public naked, left to hang and die and even stabbed in the side. Jesus went through that because he loved. He loved perfectly and he loved you so much he was will to go through all of that for you so you could gain entrance to Heaven and in return God wants you to love. Love God with all your mind , body and soul and to love EVERYONE  you meet as you love yourself.

Is it easy? No, but if you let him God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit will be there with you every step of the way. All the Saints and Angels will be cheering you on in Heaven. Will you make mistakes and fall? Yep, but if you go to God with a true, honest and regretful heart and ask for forgiveness he will forgive you. Jesus will never give up on you. He is waiting for you right now. He's the greatest life coach of all time, but here's the thing, you have to choose. It won't be easy. It will be hard. You will be challenged, but if you grab that desire with all your might and stand Jesus will be next to you, but you have to choose.

So do you want Heaven for all eternity, or do you wish to roll the dice and check Hell? Are you willing to sacrifice and rise like a champion or sit down and eat that donut?

Gospel MK 10:28-31

Peter began to say to Jesus,
“We have given up everything and followed you.”
Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you,
there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters
or mother or father or children or lands
for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel
who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age:
houses and brothers and sisters
and mothers and children and lands,
with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.
But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

How is Your Life? "Just Nice" or AMAZING!

There are things in life that escape me. Actually there are things in life that escape us all. One of my talents that I have been given is that of an artist. I love to create. In different mediums and in different ways. Recently it was my anniversary and I decided to make breakfast for everyone. Within moments I was cooking up a storm. Now most things were rather self made. Sausage, waffles, the drinks, toast and the like, but the eggs were different. I had an opportunity to really have a go at those eggs. So peering through the fridge like an artist does with a pallet of color I grabbed a little bit of this and that and executed my batch. While I got many compliments on my eggs it just seemed as though something was missing, and that bugged me. It's like after coming in from the studio and looking at one of my family members and asking them, "how did the band sound today?"

"It sounded nice", is a dreaded reply.

Many of us in this world wish to achieve all we can and deep down we know when something is missing. Being ourselves it can be hard to see what is missing because we are in the middle of everything. We don't have the ability to step away and find that clarity of a bird's eye view. This is where Jesus comes in so handy. By reading the Gospels I get  a personal check each day I make time to read. I have other "coaches" that help me as well with the same spiritual point of view. I am so thankful and so invaluable. If you ask the average person what a Christian is supposed to do and be you will hear a long list of rules and regulations, though in actuality it is very simple. To be a Christian is to love. Love God with all your mind, body and soul and love everyone else you meet as you love yourself. Close study of the 10 commandments reveals this to me. Loving is easy. What makes it hard is our egos. Our pride, our self-worth makes it hard. 

"Why should I give that homeless bum on the corner the 10$ in my pocket?", I ask sometimes. The answer, because she/he is a person. A brother or sister in humanity that was put on this planet just like me. Who should be loved just like me. Who should be cared for just like me. Who deserves deserves mercy and compassion just like me. Why should I give the homeless person 10$? Because as a Christian I am called to love and to love is to care for those in need.  I sometimes try and legitimize not giving my money. "I need that! I deserve that! I worked hard for that 10$! But that is not love speaking. 

To be honest it's hard being Christian, but with Jesus' help I succeed. When I try to be a Christian on my own I fail, so why be a Christian? Because I find peace, when I follow the discipline of Jesus Christ I find peace, serenity and happiness. I still have bad days. Actually I still have bad weeks, but I find that in following Jesus I can take all the world has to give and deal with it. If I ask and follow Jesus I get the grace to overcome anything. If I find stress wiggling in, its usually because I have allowed myself to get distracted and have stopped following Jesus' way. Anyone can have this peace. Anyone can find eternity in Heaven with God. For some it is harder than others but that is why God is standing there waiting, to help. That's why Jesus came to earth, to teach us the way. That is why the Holy Spirit is sent to us, to give us strength in our times of need, but we have to ask. We have to choose. Do we choose the world and Satan's ways, or do we choose God's ways. Do we feed our own desires or do we choose to love, moment by moment, day by day, week by week and year by year. Will we make mistakes? Yes, for NO Christian is perfect, and that is what Jesus is there for. He is waiting to give us forgiveness if we truly seek it. Jesus wants to heal our wounded souls so that we can learn and grow and continue our journey home into heaven, If we choose.

Gospel MK 10:17-27

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up,
knelt down before him, and asked him,
“Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good?
No one is good but God alone.
You know the commandments: You shall not kill;
you shall not commit adultery;
you shall not steal;
you shall not bear false witness;
you shall not defraud;
honor your father and your mother.”
He replied and said to him,
“Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.” 
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him,
“You are lacking in one thing.
Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor
and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”
At that statement, his face fell,
and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,
“How hard it is for those who have wealth
to enter the Kingdom of God!”
The disciples were amazed at his words.
So Jesus again said to them in reply,
“Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God!
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”
They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves,
“Then who can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said,
“For men it is impossible, but not for God.
All things are possible for God.”

What is Your Dream

The things dreams are made of are beautiful things. Dreams make our hearts soar to the heavens. Dreams give us hope, or at least they do to me.

but...

What am I doing to achieve my dreams? This is where I hear tires come to a screeching halt in my brain. What are you doing to achieve your dreams? If we never do anything to achieve our dreams they will never become a reality, I know simple fact, but it's worth being said.

My overall dream is to be happy. I want peace serenity and happiness. I work hard in my marriage and my relationships to have that here on earth, and I work to study the discipline of Jesus Christ so that I can hopefully enjoy happiness in Heaven for eternity. 


One of my small dreams is to play on stage again. I am a musician and a songwriter. I have been out of a band for years, and so I have been working on solo material in hopes to one day get back on that stage. I have to write songs, rehearse, prepare and the DO IT! I will tell you like any other "dream" in life there are many things that will deter you from achieving your dream. If you do not successfully remove those "distractions" you will not achieve your dream. Simple right? Yet it is so hard sometimes. I will admit that there are plenty of times I let my "distractions" win in part because I am fearful of failing at my dream.

However nothing should allow yourself to be "distracted" on the road to Heaven. Make no mistake, God wants us ALL to be there. God loves you and wants nothing more than to hang out with you, but Satan and this world are full of distractions, sin. Some distractions don't seem like a big deal. Oh that big game on Sunday, well if I miss Church one week it's not that big of a deal right? Yeah it is, on different levels. Temptations, or "distractions" come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Be careful because distractions can become a lifestyle and once a lifestyle becomes habit it can be hard to change and get back on course. 

Know this though, God is ALWAYS waiting for you. He is ALWAYS willing to help you. God will ALWAYS love you. So just as I have examined my musical aspirations and look to remove the distractions  I look to remove the distractions/temptations that will keep me out of heaven. I look, examine and then pluck them out. Some are bigger than others so I as for God's help. He is ALWAYS willing, but you have to be too.

Gospel MK 9:41-50

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink
because you belong to Christ,
amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, 
it would be better for him if a great millstone
were put around his neck
and he were thrown into the sea.
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.
It is better for you to enter into life maimed 
than with two hands to go into Gehenna,
into the unquenchable fire.
And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off.
It is better for you to enter into life crippled 
than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna.
And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.
Better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye
than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna,
where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.

“Everyone will be salted with fire.
Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid,
with what will you restore its flavor?
Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another.”

What Have I Missed Out On?

Sometimes I can't help but wonder how much I have missed out on in life. How many times have I judged a "book" by its cover and missed an opportunity because I decided to walk away instead of being engaged? I have learned one thing for certain, and that is that EVERYONE on this planet has talents. Some are obvious because they have been refining them. For others their talents are hidden because they believe they have none or haven't ever looked for them.  Talking with people over time I have been surprised how many believe that they have no talent. Often I hear, "I can't paint, write or play music." Others lament because they cannot play a sport to any degree so they feel they have no "talent", be sure of this though, we all have talents. We are all special. We all have purpose in this life. God call us all to be with him. Why? Because he loves us and wants to spend time with us, and like any other great friend he wants to share our talents. God wants to encourage us. God wants to embolden you because he can see deep into your heart and what you have the ability to become because he made you. Each day you are surrounded by wonderfully talented people. I challenge myself everyday to find the talents in others. Why? Because God put us all here for a reason. We are each a unique puzzle piece in the life that when put together makes a beautiful picture. I am sure God has surrounded me by the people he has for a reason. The people that surround me have talents given to them by God and through love that God wishes we have for each other we can work together to make a little "Heaven" here on earth, but we have to open our eyes. We have to look past the "cover" of each book on the shelf of our life. I realize though that I have to be open. I realize that I have to set aside my ego sometimes. I realize that I have to love. I realize that I have to suspend judgement. Easy to say, sometimes hard to do, and that is why I am thankful that I have Jesus in my life. He was an awesome teacher, but I have to listen. What have you missed in your life? What opportunities might you have missed because of being so driven in where you were "going"? I encourage you to take a second and push that "pause" button on life and take a look around. God is everywhere. Sometimes its hard to see in this cold world, but he is there and God is a guiding light that will lead you to amazing peace, serenity and happiness if you let him.

Gospel MK 9:38-40

John said to Jesus,
“Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name,
and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.”
Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him.
There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name
who can at the same time speak ill of me.
For whoever is not against us is for us.”

Why Now?

Life is precious and no one should be taken for granted. Don’t look at me like some noble man. I have been used but I have also used others. Everyone on this planet deserves respect, and if you aren’t getting it then you strongly need to consider moving on. I wrote this song to say sorry for all the hearts I have broke and deserved better. Wether it was a best friend that I turned my back on in a time of need, or my God that just wanted to love me, I am sorry. Be careful of who you let yourself become and how you treat others. You only get one spin on this planet and somethings you never get to take back no matter what you try and do.

Song: Help Me I'm Blind

The world seems so broken right now. It's almost as if like everything has even been flipped upside down at times. I am no great man, but I feel like I have been asleep at the wheel. I try each day to do my part to put a little love out there, whether it's giving that homeless guy what I got in my pocket, or locking eyes with a stranger and smiling. The world needs more love and this is a song that I wrote in regards to those feelings.

Song Video "Dirty Little Boy"

This is a song I wrote. Took me a while to actually play with without shedding tears. It's a tale about homeless children. No one should be thrown away or ignored. I am no grand man, but I try to help when I can, though it seems never enough.