I am SO blessed!!
Category: Life

Wow! I'm looking back at the last few weeks and realizing how much God is blessing my Life! Lots of hard work but LOTS of wonderful music! Everything from being part of kewl records, opportunities for writing, arranging and orchestrating to meeting and working with legendary artists and traveling and hanging with my dearest friend Rick!

I feel that one of Life's greatest blessings is to earn a living doing what we enjoy. Thank you Lord for friends, thank you for getting to work at the Festival with James, Louise, Jeff, Eddy, Mark, David, Brady, John, Gary and Mollie, thank you for SO many blessings and for my Life!!

11:17 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

She
Category: Romance and Relationships

She inspires me.

She motivates me.

She encourages me.

She listens to me.

She leaves me breathless.

She captivates me and occupies most of my thoughts.

She loves and serves the same God that I do.

She is extremely intelligent.

She has the most amazing voice.

She is the most feminine girl I've ever met...She is so sweetly
passionate and beautifully innocent.

She is adventurous yet She is conservative.

She loves and treasures Life and She especially loves animals.

She is completely unselfish.

She possesses profound experiential wisdom.

Although She is secure with herself, She constantly strives to better herself.

She is objective about her decisions and She offers great wisdom to all.

She loves her family.

She is unquestionably loyal.

She is, without a doubt, the most amazing soul I've ever met!

12:44 PM - 3 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Wisdom in small doses...
Category: Life

Great thoughts I've recently been given:

1) "People who really want something find a way...people who don't find an excuse"

2) "Go where you're celebrated...not where you're tolerated!"

3) 6 aspects of a healthy relationship w/a partner: I'm free to be me, you're free to be you, we're free to be us, I'm free to grow, you're free to grow, and we're free to grow together.

Thanks Vicki! And thanks to Paula White!

12:34 PM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

The Tongue
Category: Religion and Philosophy

Death and life are in the power of the tongue...the tongue can be your worst enemy!

Your words, your dreams, and your thoughts have power to create conditions in your life.

If you keep saying you can't stand your job, you might lose your job.

If you keep saying you can't stand your body, your body can become sick.

If you keep saying you're broke, guess what? You'll probably always be broke.

If you keep saying you can't trust a man or trust a woman, you will always find someone in your life to hurt and betray you.

If you keep saying you can't find a job, you will probably remain unemployed.

If you keep talking about a divorce or break up in a relationship, then you'll probably end up with it.

Turn your thoughts and conversations around to be more positive and power packed with faith, hope, love and action.

Don't be afraid to believe that you can have what you want and deserve.

Watch your Thoughts, they become words.

Watch your Words, they become actions.

Watch your Actions, they become habits.

Watch your Habits, they become character.

Watch your Character, for it becomes your Destiny.

The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settle for.

In the search for Me, I discovered Truth.

In the search for Truth, I discovered Love.

In the search for Love, I discovered God.

And in God, I have found Everything.

Be Blessed!

THANKS DANETTE!!

7:12 PM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Harrah the Dog
Category: Life

I am so fortunate to have a nephew who is serving his country. Michael graduated on Thursday from the Army and will soon be overseas. I am SO proud of him! In just a few months, I've seen him change from a young man with a wild heart (just like the book "Wild At Heart") to a dedicated, mature, responsible and motivated soldier! So, last night, he & I party'd a little and hung out in downtown Nashville. What a great night we had...and we didn't even need Hair of the Dog this morning! (or, as my best friend so sweetly says, "Harrah the Dog") lol

Michael, I thank God for you! I thank Him for your Life and your calling...I love you and you're in my prayers every day!

Unca Shane

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Truth
Category: Religion and Philosophy

I believe that Truth is an absolute. Something either is or is not the Truth. Yes, Truth can be an individual concept (i.e. your Truth may not be my Truth) but when thoughts and/or communication between two or more individuals are intended to delete or misrepresent pertinent facts, those thoughts and/or communications are no longer the Truth.

I've gone through a lot of soul searching recently and I'm reminded of this simple yet profound thought:

"A lie always reduces a person's credibility." (author unknown)

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Inspirational concepts
Current mood: thankful
Category: Religion and Philosophy

"Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." -T.S. Eliot

"Without wisdom, imagination is a cruel taskmaster." William P. Young

"Happiness is a perfume which you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself." (author unknown to me)

"I can be as happy as I allow myself to be." (author unknown to me)


THANKS SHAUN AND DEBORAH!

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When partners disagree...
Category: Romance and Relationships

IF I AM WISE WHEN WE DISAGREE:


1) I will not antagonize your anger.

2) I will remain in a peaceful and controlled state of mind.

3) I will avoid unnecessary arguing....any fool can start and/or continue an argument.

4) I will not use "comparisons". (example "You're just like...." "Why can't you be like..." "When I was your age..." "My 1st wife...." "This lady at work....")

5) I will avoid speaking wrong words with "wrong tones". (example: condemning, sarcastic, judgmental, egotistical, etc.)

6) I will remember that timing is everything! (example: I will avoid releasing frustration in the wrong timing)

7) I will remember that I don't have to be right and/or have the last word.

8) I will not minimize your feelings by emphasizing your mistakes.

9) I will be considerate and not use cruel words to crush your spirit.

10) I will not criticize your ideas or suggestions. I will be open to them because I realize I don't know everything.

11) I will always do my best to be a good listener and a good communicator.

12) I will always be a friend and I will be easy to live with.


THANKS VICKI AND MICHELLE!!!

3:13 PM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Yeah! I did it!! I hope this helps those that are heartbroken...
Category: Life

Yesterday I completed a 26 week task that started back in August '07. I'm so humbly proud of myself (yes, that's a dichotomy) because of the pain and hurt I had to deal with to finish my task. Thanks to all the guys and ladies for their support, wisdom and input. It feels GREAT to be able to look in the mirror again and truly like the guy looking back at me!!

It's amazing how God lets those of us that love and follow Him go through hardships to help us grow. He's like the wise earthly father that sees his child about to stray into a potentially hurtful situation. A good father (or mother) will carefully warn their child of the danger. But (unless of course, the danger is traumatic or truly "dangerous"), a good parent realizes that experiential wisdom is sometimes the best and most easily retained teacher. A good parent occasionally allows their child to experience the resulting pain as a lesson in "listening carefully to (and following) parental advice".


Five Stages of Grief

1) *Shock: numb feeling, "auto numbness", physical sickness

Example: Someone close to you suddenly dies in a traffic accident

2) *Denial: no, no, no "human" reasoning, this couldn't happen

Example: She/he was just over here today; this is a terrible dream

3) *Bargaining: if only I, I should have, if I could have....(ways to change the past), mental torture, (NOTE: it's very easy to get "stuck" here)

Example: If I had just not called her, she wouldn't have been driving

4) *Anger: (emotions) guilt, (sarcasm is a nasty twin sister to anger) sarcasm is a politically correct version of anger, F.E.A.R. (False Evidence Appearing Real)

Example: I'll kill the guy that ran into her/him

4a) Bad Anger: blocked goals=can't change the past=anger

4b) Righteous anger: internally validating true hurt, it's ok to be angry

5) **Realization: starting to come out of denial, being able to see the truth of the situation

Example: I t wasn't my fault ; I couldn't have changed anything had I been there

6) **Acceptance: R.H.E.M.A. (Reality Heightened Emotional/Mental Awareness) 1-5 are no longer controlling factors....you get to true grief (tears)

Example: It really hurts but I accept that she/he's gone; I'll always miss her/him

7) **Freedom: thankfulness, joy in the memory, no stabbing pains, walking in the Truth, acceptance of God's Love in the situation

Example: I am so blessed to have known her/him. I know she/he is with God now


* 1-4 are "coping mechanisms

** 5-7 are "transitional mechanisms" into Truth (THANK YOU LESA!!)


Almost four years ago, I allowed myself to become trapped in a relationship that was ungodly. I had taken my eyes and heart away from God and replaced Him with an idol in the form of a woman. He knew I was trapped and as painful as it was, He provided me with a way of escape. I thank Him every day for His unfailing Love and Mercy!!

3:16 PM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

A wonderful Native American Prayer
Category: Religion and Philosophy

The American Indians are one of the most beautifully spiritual cultures that have ever existed. They have always been "God seekers". This is one of their prayers. I added "... my Lord, Father of the Crucified One..." and ".....Amen" to the original text; otherwise, it's just as they prayed it. As you read this, try to imagine a fierce, battle-hardened Indian warrior, humbly praying with his hands lifted...thousands of years ago:


"O Great Spirit, my Lord, Father of the Crucified One, whose voice I hear in the winds and whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me.

I come before you, one of your many children.
I am small and weak. I need your strength and wisdom.

Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset.

Make my hands respect the things you have made, my ears sharp to hear your voice.

Make me wise, so that I may know the things you have taught my people, the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock.

I seek strength, not to be superior to my brothers but to be able to fight my greatest enemy......myself.

Make me ever ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes, so that when Life fades as a fading sunset, my spirit and soul will come to you without shame.

Amen."


Thanks Vernon & Linda!

8:08 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment