so hey, this month, in children's ministry, we are teaching the kids about hope. so i ask myself, what exactly does that mean. what does it mean to have hope? why should i have hope? is there really anything left in the world to have hope in? or have we as a human race become so jaded that we see life as hopeless?
i mean, really! the economy is going down the tubes. the world, as a whole, seems to be at war. people all around me are losing their jobs. loved ones are getting bad health reports. shucks, even i had to go to the hospital and have my appendix removed a couple weeks ago. so, really, where can we find hope.
i've had several conversations in the last couple of weeks with people that i truly love and respect. (no, not just YOU ;) btw) and they are totally disheartened. they seem to be losing their faith because of things going on in their church. and they are on the path to being some of those old bitter sourpuss christians that we all know (and love (: ). where is the HOPE?
i must admit, there have been times when my faith was shaken. there have been times when i blamed God for the shortcomings of His people. and there have been times when i have even asked God, "are we really worth the trouble?" and every time, He gently reminds me, "yes, my son, YOU were worth it all".
you see, i have no delusions of grandeur. i know that i am just as bad as the people that almost made me bitter. i've hurt others. i've discouraged others. i've let others down. and i've broken their hearts. not intentionally, of course. but i am human, just like them. the thing that we need to understand, is that, most of the time, when we are hurt, it was NOT intentional. like the old saying goes "the road to hell is paved with good intentions". sometimes, when we are wounded by "friendly fire" it is not so much "on purpose" as it is "a fallen human was involved".
that is why the bible tells us not to put our faith in men. that is why we know that Jesus, not the pastor, or the deacon, or the assistant pastor, or the woman in the third row, etc. etc etc, is our savior, and is the one who we should look to. is the one that our faith should be in.
how many of you remember the late 80's and early 90's????? were you old enough to remember all of the televangelists that fell? and ALL of the people who fell away from the church. i mean, who remembers the group "suicidal tendencies" song "send me your money"? and ozzy osbournes' song "miracle man"? it seemed like the whole world lost sight of Christ because a few highly placed preachers, fell from grace. lost sight of the savior. my question is this, why did the world fall away? was it because Christ let them down, or because their faith was in men?
billy graham once said that "the greatest cause of atheism in the world today is christians, who say that Jesus lives, then deny that he does by their lifestyle" how true is that? i wrote a blog a long time ago that asked the question "are christians their own worst enemies?" and covered this before. so, i have to ask again, where can we find hope?
2 of my favorite groups are third day and skillet. (yeah, i know) and 2 songs that by them that i love are "my hope is you (td)" and "you are my hope (S)". it really doesn't get any simpler than that. when you are all out of hope, there is really only one place to find it. if you are tired, there is only one place to find rest. if you are scared, there is only one place to find comfort. and if you are hurting, there is only one place to find healing. it is not in yourself, it is not in a bar, it is not in a bed, it is not on the road, it is not on the run. and i've said this a thousand times before. but if you are finally at the end of yourself, and your tired of running. the best place to run, is home. to the loving, waiting arms of YOUR savior. because it truly is only there that you will ever find hope. and the hope that you are desperately searching for is there waiting for you.
i love you all
much love
theoldmusicbox
Monday, March 16, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
I'm dying, so i'm writing my own eulogy
not anytime soon, but, yes, i am dying. you see, i have this condition that there has no cure. and i am hopeless to fight it. my condition is called humanity. and my demise is because of the side effects of this thing called sin.
sorry for the heart stopping title, but now that i've got your attention, let me tell you what has been on my heart lately.
one of my best friends, and most loved people in the whole world has lost 2 people that she loved dearly in the last month. both to cancer. a guy that i work with is watching his wife slowly lose that same battle. the girl who lives next door to me is suffering from kidney failure and is waiting for a transplant, and she has only been home 6 days of the new year so far. and now, she has to sit around dying, praying that someone else that matches her blood types and other factors has a bad accident and dies, and is also a donor so that she can live. how bad would that suck? i can't even imagine being in that position. and, my mother just had double by-pass surgery.
where is God in all of this? why does He let these things happen? Why doesn't He just save us all?
how many times have i posed these questions to God? the best answer that i can give is this. death, sickness, pain, and heartache are all in this world because of sin. we live in a fallen world. full of sin. and the wages of sin is death. so, hey, i guess that since i am a sinner (even though saved by grace), one of these days, i'm going to get paid. unless Jesus comes back before payday, or i go out like elijah (and really, how cool would that be?). no matter if i lose weight and take better care of myself. i'm still dying. (that's no excuse to not take care of yourself by the way) but it's true.
i heard a song today. one of the lines really caught my attention. it said "i wish this moment wouldn't be me dying, but me spending a little time with you" that is the kind of attitude that i want to have.
so, if i die, i don't want it to be an event that is devastating to people. i don't want people mourning me for months and months. i don't want people being angry at God because He took me. i don't want my funeral to be a mourning of my DEATH, i want it to be a celebration of my LIFE. i want people to be thankful to God that He allowed me to be in their lives for however long it was.
and honestly, if remembering me makes your teardrops fall, then please, don't remember me at all.
i want to be remembered as a man who loved God more than his own life. a man who loved his wife with every ounce of my being. a man who cherished my children so much that i sacrificed all i had to make them happy and gave all that i could to lead them to Christ. a friend who could always seem to make you smile. give that encouraging word when you needed it. and help you learn to hear from God for yourself. the minister that cried with you, laughed with you, prayed with you, worshiped with you and tried his best to leave you with something to think about. the singer who could move you with his spirit as much as his voice. and the writer who wrote the things that you just couldn't seem to put into words.
let that be my eulogy. to live is Christ, but to die is gain. and, while i don't want to die, i don't want to be mad when it happens :)
these are just a few things that have been on my mind lately.
much love
theoldmusicbox
sorry for the heart stopping title, but now that i've got your attention, let me tell you what has been on my heart lately.
one of my best friends, and most loved people in the whole world has lost 2 people that she loved dearly in the last month. both to cancer. a guy that i work with is watching his wife slowly lose that same battle. the girl who lives next door to me is suffering from kidney failure and is waiting for a transplant, and she has only been home 6 days of the new year so far. and now, she has to sit around dying, praying that someone else that matches her blood types and other factors has a bad accident and dies, and is also a donor so that she can live. how bad would that suck? i can't even imagine being in that position. and, my mother just had double by-pass surgery.
where is God in all of this? why does He let these things happen? Why doesn't He just save us all?
how many times have i posed these questions to God? the best answer that i can give is this. death, sickness, pain, and heartache are all in this world because of sin. we live in a fallen world. full of sin. and the wages of sin is death. so, hey, i guess that since i am a sinner (even though saved by grace), one of these days, i'm going to get paid. unless Jesus comes back before payday, or i go out like elijah (and really, how cool would that be?). no matter if i lose weight and take better care of myself. i'm still dying. (that's no excuse to not take care of yourself by the way) but it's true.
i heard a song today. one of the lines really caught my attention. it said "i wish this moment wouldn't be me dying, but me spending a little time with you" that is the kind of attitude that i want to have.
so, if i die, i don't want it to be an event that is devastating to people. i don't want people mourning me for months and months. i don't want people being angry at God because He took me. i don't want my funeral to be a mourning of my DEATH, i want it to be a celebration of my LIFE. i want people to be thankful to God that He allowed me to be in their lives for however long it was.
and honestly, if remembering me makes your teardrops fall, then please, don't remember me at all.
i want to be remembered as a man who loved God more than his own life. a man who loved his wife with every ounce of my being. a man who cherished my children so much that i sacrificed all i had to make them happy and gave all that i could to lead them to Christ. a friend who could always seem to make you smile. give that encouraging word when you needed it. and help you learn to hear from God for yourself. the minister that cried with you, laughed with you, prayed with you, worshiped with you and tried his best to leave you with something to think about. the singer who could move you with his spirit as much as his voice. and the writer who wrote the things that you just couldn't seem to put into words.
let that be my eulogy. to live is Christ, but to die is gain. and, while i don't want to die, i don't want to be mad when it happens :)
these are just a few things that have been on my mind lately.
much love
theoldmusicbox
Sunday, December 7, 2008
NEVER EVER mess with a Davis
this is my cousin. you never ever, ever want to mess with a Davis.
http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/35606739.html
have a nice day
http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/35606739.html
have a nice day
Friday, November 21, 2008
ozzy osbourne comes to town!
for those of you that don't know it, one of the things that i do to help pay the bills is to be the d.j. at a local rodeo in waynesville, oh. that being said, this last weekend, ozzy osbourne and his family came to visit us!
ok, at the expense of sounding like a name dropper, i have to say that i actually felt like i was being punked when they told me last wednesday that they were coming. i was like, yeah, sure, ozzy osbourne is coming to hang out with the bumpkins in no-where-ville ohio. right. well, it ended up being true. it was actually pretty neat.
i must admit, like most true children of the 80's, i use to be a huge ozzy fan. i owned blizzard of oz, no rest for the wicked, tribute to randy rhoades, and many other ozzy albums. yes, in all of my 80's hair metal glory, i use to bang my head to the sounds of his albums.
and of course, like all aspiring singers, i enjoy watching america's got talent, and my children adore sharon osbourne. so when i found out they were coming, i was like "wow" but i wasn't suppose to tell anyone so i tried to keep it under wraps.
they were actually really nice and genuine. not at all like you would expect. and i must admit, it was neat to be that close to people that you feel like you've known for years because you see them on t.v.
at the end of the day, they were just normal people. just like us. kind of makes you think about some things. normal people like me. what an impact they have made on the world. be it good. be it bad. you'd have to go to a remote spot in a jungle far far away to find someone that doesn't know that ozzy bit the head off of a bat. i'd say that even the amish know who ozzy osbourne is.
one person. one normal person just like me. full of good. full of bad. full of desires. love for his family. fear for his children's wellbeing. just like me. and it makes you wonder. if he can make that kind of impact on the world. why not me.
the answer is simple. he did something. he chased his dream. whether you like him or not, agree with him or not, you have to admit that because he chased what he believed, the world knows what he believes.
what is our excuse?
i challenge you today. make a difference in those that you can. not an excuse for what you won't do.
much love
theoldmusicbox
ok, at the expense of sounding like a name dropper, i have to say that i actually felt like i was being punked when they told me last wednesday that they were coming. i was like, yeah, sure, ozzy osbourne is coming to hang out with the bumpkins in no-where-ville ohio. right. well, it ended up being true. it was actually pretty neat.
i must admit, like most true children of the 80's, i use to be a huge ozzy fan. i owned blizzard of oz, no rest for the wicked, tribute to randy rhoades, and many other ozzy albums. yes, in all of my 80's hair metal glory, i use to bang my head to the sounds of his albums.
and of course, like all aspiring singers, i enjoy watching america's got talent, and my children adore sharon osbourne. so when i found out they were coming, i was like "wow" but i wasn't suppose to tell anyone so i tried to keep it under wraps.
they were actually really nice and genuine. not at all like you would expect. and i must admit, it was neat to be that close to people that you feel like you've known for years because you see them on t.v.
at the end of the day, they were just normal people. just like us. kind of makes you think about some things. normal people like me. what an impact they have made on the world. be it good. be it bad. you'd have to go to a remote spot in a jungle far far away to find someone that doesn't know that ozzy bit the head off of a bat. i'd say that even the amish know who ozzy osbourne is.
one person. one normal person just like me. full of good. full of bad. full of desires. love for his family. fear for his children's wellbeing. just like me. and it makes you wonder. if he can make that kind of impact on the world. why not me.
the answer is simple. he did something. he chased his dream. whether you like him or not, agree with him or not, you have to admit that because he chased what he believed, the world knows what he believes.
what is our excuse?
i challenge you today. make a difference in those that you can. not an excuse for what you won't do.
much love
theoldmusicbox
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
precious memories, broken hearts
Isa 59:19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
hey guys,
sorry it's been so long, but i've had alot on my mind lately.
last night, i did something that i love and loathe at the same time. you see, i live with packrats. 2 of the worst that i've ever met. my wife and my son. i am one of those people that believes that everything has a place, and should be there in it, while they believe that if i ever touched it, i should never be thrown away. so, imagine my angst when i needed to find something that i hadn't seen or thought of in several years. uggghh.
however, the cool part is that while looking for that thing, i found some "old" tapes of me. preaching and singing. from like back in 1998 through 2001. these were some of the first times that i ever stood before the entire congregation to give the word of God. wow. it was very humbling as i listened to them. there was some good word there, but i am my own worst critic. i found myself listening to me grow over those first years. i saw the transformation of me trying to sound like other preachers and finding the voice that God has givin me. like i said, it was very humbling. sermons like "Jesus or Barabas" "taking back what the devil stole from me" "even tough guys need a friend" "forgiving yourself" and others actually brought back memories of church family that has gone on to heaven, and those who i haven't been in touch with for a long time. precious memories of the journey that God has brought me through.
the one that really got me though, was a tape that i found from way in the beginning. you see, when i first started preaching, a good friend of mine answered his call on the same night that i did. we often would do "tag-team" style sermons and anytime one of us was invited to preach, the other would go to support and encourage the other. he was my assistant youth pastor. he was my best friend.
as i listened to the tape of him preaching about the "wheat and the tares" being seperated, my heart began to break. he gave a great sermon and had me misty eyed. you see, a few years back, his heart was broken. the church let him down. and he turned his back on God. i'm not making excuses for him, don't get me wrong. i'm just saying that i saw what happened and know when the turning away started.
for the last several years, he and i have had a truce. i can talk about Christ, but not try to "win" him back. and we can still be friends.
he actually told me that he was going to come hear me the last time i preached, but he backed out. i believe that God is dealing with him right now. and, i need you guys to help me pray for him. his name is joe.
i honestly don't know what to do right now. my heart is broken for my friend, but i know that if I try, i would do more harm than good. but if God could send someone. if God would open the windows of heaven and pour out His spirit on him, i believe that he would come home. like i've said before, i don't consider myself a prophet, but i do hear from God. and right now, i'm hearing pray for joe. so, please, all of you that pray, please, pray for joe. God knows what he needs more than i do, so just let Him lead your prayers.
thank you, and i love you all
much love
theoldmusicbox
hey guys,
sorry it's been so long, but i've had alot on my mind lately.
last night, i did something that i love and loathe at the same time. you see, i live with packrats. 2 of the worst that i've ever met. my wife and my son. i am one of those people that believes that everything has a place, and should be there in it, while they believe that if i ever touched it, i should never be thrown away. so, imagine my angst when i needed to find something that i hadn't seen or thought of in several years. uggghh.
however, the cool part is that while looking for that thing, i found some "old" tapes of me. preaching and singing. from like back in 1998 through 2001. these were some of the first times that i ever stood before the entire congregation to give the word of God. wow. it was very humbling as i listened to them. there was some good word there, but i am my own worst critic. i found myself listening to me grow over those first years. i saw the transformation of me trying to sound like other preachers and finding the voice that God has givin me. like i said, it was very humbling. sermons like "Jesus or Barabas" "taking back what the devil stole from me" "even tough guys need a friend" "forgiving yourself" and others actually brought back memories of church family that has gone on to heaven, and those who i haven't been in touch with for a long time. precious memories of the journey that God has brought me through.
the one that really got me though, was a tape that i found from way in the beginning. you see, when i first started preaching, a good friend of mine answered his call on the same night that i did. we often would do "tag-team" style sermons and anytime one of us was invited to preach, the other would go to support and encourage the other. he was my assistant youth pastor. he was my best friend.
as i listened to the tape of him preaching about the "wheat and the tares" being seperated, my heart began to break. he gave a great sermon and had me misty eyed. you see, a few years back, his heart was broken. the church let him down. and he turned his back on God. i'm not making excuses for him, don't get me wrong. i'm just saying that i saw what happened and know when the turning away started.
for the last several years, he and i have had a truce. i can talk about Christ, but not try to "win" him back. and we can still be friends.
he actually told me that he was going to come hear me the last time i preached, but he backed out. i believe that God is dealing with him right now. and, i need you guys to help me pray for him. his name is joe.
i honestly don't know what to do right now. my heart is broken for my friend, but i know that if I try, i would do more harm than good. but if God could send someone. if God would open the windows of heaven and pour out His spirit on him, i believe that he would come home. like i've said before, i don't consider myself a prophet, but i do hear from God. and right now, i'm hearing pray for joe. so, please, all of you that pray, please, pray for joe. God knows what he needs more than i do, so just let Him lead your prayers.
thank you, and i love you all
much love
theoldmusicbox
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
carry me home
hey everybody.
wow.
that's really all that i can say.
sunday night, i finally got to preach a sermon that's been on my heart for quite some time. it was titled "Jesus said NO". while it didn't go quite the way that i had imagined it, it went exactly how God needed it to. and i am very thankful for that.
after the sermon, i was happy to see both my nephew and my dad at the alter, among several others who had responded to the word of God. also there were teens from Evangel that made recommitments to Christ. and much to my joy, there were broken people that were set free. and one certain person in particular.
you see, while i didn't know who it was, i new that God was sending me to minister there, on that night, for a specific reason. for a specific person. and i am thankful that they were open to the word of God.
i struggled during my sermon with whether or not to share a personal battle that i had faced several years ago. but God kept pressing me that it was something that would touch someone. finally, i told of a time when i had "lost" myself in my christian life. and the cause of it, and the pain and hopelessness that i had felt at that time. and i told of how God brought me through it.
during alter service, a woman came to the front, in tears, and told me that she was going through the exact same battle, and that i had described her feelings of despair like i had read her mind. i knew where she was. because i had been there and survived to tell of it. i was able to pray with her. and pray over her. and offer her hope. peace. joy. and the heart of Christ.
one of my favorite poems is the "footprints" poem. the one where, at the end, Jesus says "my precious child. i love you, and would never leave you. in the times when you saw only one set of prints, it was then that i carried you."
i can offer no better offer of hope than that. if you are tired. if you are broken. if you are lost. if you feel forgotten. if you feel hopeless. if you don't know how to stand anymore. you are not alone. it is in those moments that we realize the truth of the scripture that says "My strength is made perfect in weakness." because it is then. at that moment, that He can show us how much He loves us. by picking us up. cradling us in his arms. and carrying us home.
so if you are there. look up to heaven, and say Lord, i'm tired. i'm hurting. i'm sad. please, i have no strength left to stand. will you carry me home? and see if He doesn't cradle you, and carry you home.
much love.
theoldmusicbox
wow.
that's really all that i can say.
sunday night, i finally got to preach a sermon that's been on my heart for quite some time. it was titled "Jesus said NO". while it didn't go quite the way that i had imagined it, it went exactly how God needed it to. and i am very thankful for that.
after the sermon, i was happy to see both my nephew and my dad at the alter, among several others who had responded to the word of God. also there were teens from Evangel that made recommitments to Christ. and much to my joy, there were broken people that were set free. and one certain person in particular.
you see, while i didn't know who it was, i new that God was sending me to minister there, on that night, for a specific reason. for a specific person. and i am thankful that they were open to the word of God.
i struggled during my sermon with whether or not to share a personal battle that i had faced several years ago. but God kept pressing me that it was something that would touch someone. finally, i told of a time when i had "lost" myself in my christian life. and the cause of it, and the pain and hopelessness that i had felt at that time. and i told of how God brought me through it.
during alter service, a woman came to the front, in tears, and told me that she was going through the exact same battle, and that i had described her feelings of despair like i had read her mind. i knew where she was. because i had been there and survived to tell of it. i was able to pray with her. and pray over her. and offer her hope. peace. joy. and the heart of Christ.
one of my favorite poems is the "footprints" poem. the one where, at the end, Jesus says "my precious child. i love you, and would never leave you. in the times when you saw only one set of prints, it was then that i carried you."
i can offer no better offer of hope than that. if you are tired. if you are broken. if you are lost. if you feel forgotten. if you feel hopeless. if you don't know how to stand anymore. you are not alone. it is in those moments that we realize the truth of the scripture that says "My strength is made perfect in weakness." because it is then. at that moment, that He can show us how much He loves us. by picking us up. cradling us in his arms. and carrying us home.
so if you are there. look up to heaven, and say Lord, i'm tired. i'm hurting. i'm sad. please, i have no strength left to stand. will you carry me home? and see if He doesn't cradle you, and carry you home.
much love.
theoldmusicbox
Friday, September 12, 2008
it's better to remain silent and be thought a fool.........
one of my favorite quotes ever is the abraham lincoln qoute "it's better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt." i don't think that it's ever been said better than that.
let me give you 2 great examples of this. i saw two cars on the road and was amazed by how dumb people can make themselves look.
example #1: this car had a bumper sticker that said "UNITED WE STAND" and on the other side of the bumper it had a second bumber sticker that said "HE'S NOT MY PRESIDENT". so, apparently this person wants to contribute to our fallen position, or they are an idiot.
example #2: this car had a total of 4 bumper stickers #1-the only difference between obama and osama is bs. #2- 10 out of 10 terrorists approve of obama. #3- obama bin lyin. and my personal favorite, #4-positive and encouraging K-LOVE. ok, how do you have 'POSITIVE AND ENCOURAGING' on the same bumper as 3 derogatory stickers? why not instead, put some positive promo's of the candidate that you endorse. once again, i believe this person to be an idiot.
ok, i'm really not trying to be so harsh. i just get annoyed when people don't notice how important it is to know what you believe and be able to express it without attacking others.
let me give you an example. last week, i spent about 5 hours talking to someone that i don't agree with about our religious beliefs. at no point did we raise our voices, yell, call each other names or any other things like that. you see, the moment that you start doing those things is the moment that you lose your credibility. when people can't defend what they believe, they resort to attacking. trying to shut the other person up.
i like to debate/discuss. however, i refuse to argue. too many christians today, simply can not do this though. they really don't know why they believe the things that they believe. they can't tell you what the bible says, so they get angry at their own lack of knowledge, and start attacking what the other person stands for. do you really think your going to win anyone like that? at the moment you quit trying to explain your belief and start trying to tear down what they believe, they will no longer care what you have to say.
i'm not saying that i convinced him, nor he convinced me. however, we both entered the discussion with respect that the other person had strong beliefs and we both gave our points and listened, even if we disagreed. who knows, maybe one day, a life could be changed because we actually know why we believe what we believe.
so next time that you get angry when someone disagrees with you, ask yourself before you speak, "will this response draw them in, or push them away" and try your best not to REMOVE ALL DOUBT.
much love
theoldmusicbox
let me give you 2 great examples of this. i saw two cars on the road and was amazed by how dumb people can make themselves look.
example #1: this car had a bumper sticker that said "UNITED WE STAND" and on the other side of the bumper it had a second bumber sticker that said "HE'S NOT MY PRESIDENT". so, apparently this person wants to contribute to our fallen position, or they are an idiot.
example #2: this car had a total of 4 bumper stickers #1-the only difference between obama and osama is bs. #2- 10 out of 10 terrorists approve of obama. #3- obama bin lyin. and my personal favorite, #4-positive and encouraging K-LOVE. ok, how do you have 'POSITIVE AND ENCOURAGING' on the same bumper as 3 derogatory stickers? why not instead, put some positive promo's of the candidate that you endorse. once again, i believe this person to be an idiot.
ok, i'm really not trying to be so harsh. i just get annoyed when people don't notice how important it is to know what you believe and be able to express it without attacking others.
let me give you an example. last week, i spent about 5 hours talking to someone that i don't agree with about our religious beliefs. at no point did we raise our voices, yell, call each other names or any other things like that. you see, the moment that you start doing those things is the moment that you lose your credibility. when people can't defend what they believe, they resort to attacking. trying to shut the other person up.
i like to debate/discuss. however, i refuse to argue. too many christians today, simply can not do this though. they really don't know why they believe the things that they believe. they can't tell you what the bible says, so they get angry at their own lack of knowledge, and start attacking what the other person stands for. do you really think your going to win anyone like that? at the moment you quit trying to explain your belief and start trying to tear down what they believe, they will no longer care what you have to say.
i'm not saying that i convinced him, nor he convinced me. however, we both entered the discussion with respect that the other person had strong beliefs and we both gave our points and listened, even if we disagreed. who knows, maybe one day, a life could be changed because we actually know why we believe what we believe.
so next time that you get angry when someone disagrees with you, ask yourself before you speak, "will this response draw them in, or push them away" and try your best not to REMOVE ALL DOUBT.
much love
theoldmusicbox
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