God wants us to ask the hard questions in prayer. He desires that we know His plan for our lives. This doesn’t mean He’s going to reveal the steps to get there all at once, because where is the fun in all that? Where is the faith in all that?
Month: March 2011
Half-Handed Cloud in Atlanta
My daughter and I attended a Half-Handed Cloud show two nights ago in Atlanta. The venue was a house in the West End and the audience consisted of friends of the band and friends of friends. Half-Handed Cloud is a one-man band: John Ringhofer who hails from Berkley, CA. I got to know John while living in East TN and he’s pretty much the real deal, what you see is what you get. His friendly personality is infectious and you can tell that he loves what he does– but that doesn’t mean that he won’t surprise you, for instance, he did a “disappearing leg” trick for his audience after the show.
His music is rich in Biblical allusion and truth. Deep enough to soften the hard heart and light enough to make a young audience giggle (the strange noise you hear in his video clip below is that of a wind-up sheep toy perched on top of his keyboard). He sings about a wide range of topics from the Old and New Testament, for instance, his song, “Let’s Go Javelin'” is the account in Numbers 25 when one of the Israelite men brings home a woman of a different race, a man named Phinehas sees them and throws a spear “through the man .. and the woman through her belly.” This act pleases God so much that “the plague was stayed from the children of Israel”. Other songs are a bit lighter, for instance “We Don’t Know How It Grows” talks about sowing seeds into the Kingdom of God and He gives the increase.
He also sings a lot about Christ’s redemptive love, and His sacrifice for us. I think one of the songs that speaks to me the most is called, “These Crowns We Wear” from his album We Haven’t Just Been Told We Have Been Loved
When we’ve been dwelling long
On what we’ve done wrong
We forget what You’ve already done right
It escapes our sight
To know I just might
be a prince and you a princess yet
There’s these crowns we wear
heavy in our hair,
and they look like Wonder Woman’s jet
His latest album, released in 2010 is called Stowaways. Check it out.
Half-Handed Cloud in Atlanta
My daughter and I attended a Half-Handed Cloud show last night in Atlanta. The venue was a friend’s house and the audience consistent of friends and friend of friends. Half-Handed Cloud is a one-man band consisting of John Ringhoffer who hails from Berkley, CA. I got to know John while living in East TN and he’s pretty much the real deal, what you see is what you get. His friendly personality is infectious and you can tell that he loves what he does– but that doesn’t mean that he won’t surprise you, for instance, last night he did a “disappearing leg” trick for his audience after the show.
His music is rich in Biblical allusion and truth. Deep enough to soften the hard heart and light enough to make a young audience giggle (the strange noise you hear in his video clip below is that of a wind-up sheep toy perched on top of his keyboard). He sings about a wide range of topics from the Old and New Testament, for instance, his song, “Let’s Go Javelin'” is the account in Numbers 25 when one of the Israelite men brings home a woman of a different race, a man named Phinehas sees them and throws a spear “through the man .. and the woman through her belly.” This act pleases God so much that “the plague was stayed from the children of Israel”. Other songs are a bit lighter, for instance “We Don’t Know How It Grows” talks about sewing seeds into the Kingdom of God and He gives the increase.
I think one of the songs that speaks to me the most is called, “These Crowns We Wear” from his album We Haven’t Just Been Told We Have Been Loved
When we’ve been dwelling long
On what we’ve done wrong
We forget what You’ve already done right
It escapes our sight
To know I just might
be a prince and you a princess yet
There’s these crowns we wear
heavy in our hair,
and they look like Wonder Woman’s jet
His latest album, released in 2010 is called Stowaways. Check it out.
John got married this past summer in the Redwoods in CA. Yay, John!
In His Hand
Your right hand, O Lord, was majestic in power
Book Review Friday: Streams in the Desert Devotional
I have to admit, my copy of Streams in the Desert holds a lot of weight. Inside the front cover is the first initial and last name of my grandfather, and opposite on the front page is my mother’s name. Knowing their stories, their personal struggles and picturing their searching fingers thumbing through these pages, the book itself takes on more depth. However, I would recommend this devotional even without all these invisible familial fingerprints. I would recommend it for the tired, the weary, the despondent, the inquisitive, but especially the tired, because that is when I received this book from my mother when she came down for a visit over a year ago. This is the book I laid hands on every morning along with my Bible and the words in this book know hurt, they know despondency, and take it up boldly with every other emotion.
This devotional is authored by L.B. (Lettie) Cowman, wife of Rev. Charles B. Cowman, who was the founder of the Oriental Missionary Society. This organization was founded in with the purpose of setting up native ministries in Japan, Korea, China, and Formosa. Rev. and Mrs. Cowman served in Asia from 1901 to 1917 until Rev. Cowman’s failing health forced them to return to their home in California. Lettie Cowman turned her attention to caring for her husband until his death six years later. Out of these experiences, out of her heartbreak, came this book in 1925, which has a companion, Springs in the Valley. During the next twenty-five years, Mrs. Cowman inspired several nationwide Scripture distribution campaigns and wrote seven more books.
The words of L.B. Cowman from the introduction: In the pathway of faith we come to learn that the Lord’s thoughts are not our thoughts, nor His ways our ways. Both in the physical and spiritual realm, great pressure means great power! Although circumstances may bring us into the place of death, that need not spell disaster–for if we trust int he Lord and wait patiently, that simply provides the occasion for the display of His almighty power. “Remember His marvelous works that He has done; His wonders and the judgments of His mouth.” (Psalm 105:5)
Contest Winners
Thanks to all who participated in the 3-day Giveaway event for Every Day’s Best!
David’s Carousel
David: a man after God’s own heart. You know what I love about David–aside from writing some of the most beautiful pieces of prose found in the Bible? Is that he was human–full of doubts, fears, insecurities–confident in the Lord one minute, scared and uncertain the next.
I am like this. I see His goodnesses–tangible, mind-blowing answers to prayer and yet I still doubt God’s sovereignty. I experience his protection, but become surrounded on every side and cower in fear. I am wronged and I want revenge. God gives me blessings beyond measure and I selfishly crave more.
David had defeated Goliath, God had given him victory, success, fame and yet he feared: I Samuel 27:1
David hid from Saul: I Samuel 20:5,
When the going got tough, he lied: I Samuel 27
David was wronged by Nabal and wanted revenge: I Samuel 25:13-33
David had a powerful kingdom, several beautiful wives, yet he craved more: II Samuel 11: 2-3
I find myself doing this, God has provided, He has protected, I testify–and then I mumble my doubts. But because I don’t know exactly what is going to happen 1, 2, 3 months from now, I fear, I start getting antsy.
If David was an emotional carousel, then I’m a roller coaster.
Is this the same man that wrote Psam 62?
1 Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him.
2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
3 How long will you assault me?
Would all of you throw me down—
this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
4 Surely they intend to topple me
from my lofty place;
they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
but in their hearts they curse.
5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.
9 Surely the lowborn are but a breath,
the highborn are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance, they are nothing;
together they are only a breath.
10 Do not trust in extortion
or put vain hope in stolen goods;
though your riches increase,
do not set your heart on them.
11 One thing God has spoken,
two things I have heard:
“Power belongs to you, God,
12 and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;
and, “You reward everyone
according to what they have done.”
Indeed it is.
Find yourself on the up and down in just a matter of hours? Care to share?
*Picture Licensed under Creative Commons by vpickering
Awesome Giveaway #3: Final Day
Thanks to all who have participated in the contest this far, I appreciate your comments and feedback. Hope this means you all will come back as often as you can.
Awesome Giveaway #2
Hello Everyone, it is day #2 in the giveaway package. Today we will be offering a $30 Giftcard to Barnes & Noble. That’s right ladies and gents–$30!!