Sunrise or Sunset?

" Early in the morning I'd like to rise and spend a little time in quiet, creeping through the shutters falling on my wife, the sun is calling me to shine... Early in the morning, time still flies. Minutes, hours, lost as treasures. My tiny baby's breathing deeper every day, soon she'll leave her crib forever." (Early in the Morning by Andrew Osenga)

When I was a freshmen in Bible College a couple friends of mine and I got up early in the morning to watch the sunrise and we spent the rest of the cold upstate NY spring day, playing and not having a care in the world. We ended the day watching the sunset. Honestly, it was one the best days of my life. I will never forget it!

Well, this past Friday night and Saturday morning I was able to do it again expect it was backwards. First the sunset and the sunrise... This kinda got me thinking about a couple questions. Am I a sunrise or sunset kinda person? Not am I night owl or morning dove. That is easy... I am completely 100% a night owl.

What I mean is...

with a sunrise comes this kinda of expectancy or hope of God doing something great. Almost like you are looking forward to amazing things that God is going to do throughout the day. I kinda think sunrises are full of hope.

with a sunset comes an opportunity to see God's faithfulness, how and where He came through. I kinda think sunsets are full of faith or for reinsurance of our faith.

In the song that I quoted... The author ends the song with these beautiful words...

"so let us not take this granted, let us not waste the second hand.
But let your love rage like a lion and let your heart break like a lamb"

I know that I should be both full of Hope and Faith... God, please help me!

I hope you enjoy these photos. I took them of St. Mary's Lake on University of Notre Dame Campus...

I know it is just a Home run Derby...

Last night, I was watching to home run derby and more importantly as a life long Yankee fan I was watching Robinson Cano (NY Yankees second basemen). Let me give you a little background on how this derby works. There are 8 different batters 4 from each league (Nation and American league). As a batter you allowed to pick the person to throw pitches for you to hit.

photo taken from

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/07/12/sportsline/main20078666.shtml

I was extremely touched last night to watch Robinson Cano pick his father to throw "batting practice" and Mr. Cano was all business last night. He didn't even crack a smile last night during the competition. Once, Robinson won the home run derby (walkoff style) I teared up while watching Robinson jumping in his father's arms.

I was thinking about all the times that my dad coached my little league teams. I played little league baseball for close to 8 years and every season my dad was the coach. I remember trying to always impress my dad. I wasn't very good though! That never mattered to my dad, whether we won or lost it never seemed to matter very much. Actually, the only think that really mattered to him was if we tried our best and if the Umpire didn't stink. My dad got thrown out of his fair share of games... I remember one time he was talking to an umpire and kept offering the ump his glasses. Yeah, the argument didn't last long for my dad that day.

Last night I was also thinking how great it is going to be playing ball with my son!!! I just need to patient...

A True Leader and an Amazing Wife!

Last night I had the pleasure to watch the love of my life care for my 2 precious daughters plus carry my expected baby boy (8 months along) and she was the first woman to preach at Transforming Life Church.

I know that I am bias and I am suppose to gush over her and all she does... But please just indulge me for a minute.

Last night, I witnessed a woman who I have known for 10 years know deliver God's word with conviction, power, honestly and clarity. I watched her talk about our life, marriage, some of our failures (most of which were my fault) and our successes.

Rebecca's sermon was titled "Following GPS (God's Plan and Strategy) For Your Life". She didn't have 7 godly steps, or 5 faith points or anything like that. Instead Rebecca, made the sermon about life and how simple it really is to follow God.

It comes down to a choice either we follow God (with Faith and Patience) or we don't! When we don't well that is like running a red lights the first couple of times you maybe able to get through the intersection without something happening but eventually the law of averages will come into play and you're going to run over by a Mack truck.

Once we get hit by the truck will really show our character though: 1. We accept that we caused this accident or 2. we blame God, or the truck driver or anything but ourselves.

Far to often this is what we has human beings do. Nobody, likes to admit that they are to blame. However, if we can and then submit our lives to God again... (In words of my wife) God's GPS will say "Re-calculating!" You will find yourself on the right track again!

Well, thanks for allowing to gush about my AWESOME, AMAZING, BEAUTIFUL, PRECIOUS WIFE! I love you Sweetheart!

Bunk Beds for All

My wife and her sisters went on a two week vacation out west. They flew to Las Vagas and then proceed to Lake Tahoe, then further north to Seattle, from there they went south onto San Diego. They finished their trip off at the Grand Canon.

While that was happening I was home taking care of the house and dogs (the girls were in New York with my mom for one week and Rebecca's mom for the second week). So I thought of an idea that would be a good idea to build the girls' bunk beds.

While, I can say that I learned a couple of things

one: bunk bed building is not a one man job.
two: the girls love their beds.

three: my life is never going to be the same!!!!

At Home with 80,000 Strangers

“ I want to feel sunlight on my face, I see the dust cloud disappear without trace. I want to take shelter from the poison rain, where the streets have no name” (Where the Street Have No Names)

Last Wednesday, I got to the chance to go see an amazing band. Probably, my favorite band... I was among 80,000 plus screaming people. I was singing along to lines like:

"I believe in the Kingdom come, and then all the colors will bleed into one, bleed in one. But yes I’m still running. You broke the bonds and you loosed the chains, carried the cross of my shame, oh my shame. You know I believe it”
(Still Haven't Found What I am Looking For)

and

“See the world in green and blue, See China right in front of you, See the canyons broken by cloud, See the tuna fleets clearing the sea out, See the Bedouin fires at night, See the oil fields at first light, And see the bird with a leaf in her mouth, After the flood all the colors came out" (Beautiful Day)

It was right about at this moment that I had a God moment. One of those times that it is undeniable that God visited with me. I felt so close to Him and felt so loved in His midst. Now, please don't miss interpret what I am saying. I don't believe that U2 had much to do with this other than they wrote the songs and were preforming them. What I am saying is this: U2 is one of the only bands or concerts that I believe that this would have happened at. For one reason or another I felt close to God during the concert and I guess I am just saying don't put God in box. You never kn0w when and where He might visit with you. Of course, I realize that God is all places and all times, but there are times that His presence is stronger or at least we realize presence more than others. Last Wednesday night was a

night like that for me. Here are a few other shots that I took during the concert.

So in short... Please don't box God in where and when He is allowed to visit with the People He loves. We don't need a building to experience the Love of God. However, we do need each other! God, loves to be where His people are gathering!

Photo of the Day is BACK!

After taking a few months off, I am starting my Photograph of the day.

So please feel free to stop by my photography site.

http://focusingonlifephotos.wordpress.com/2011/05/26/bride-among-flowers/

Please feel free to leave comments. Either here or there...

It Ain't Easy...

I am learning to love my neighbor and to live by the golden rule

But it’s so hard when I’ve been lied to

I feel like a fool forgiving a fool

It ain’t easy learning to love like you

I am learning to be faithful with the little that I have

To do like Jesus and turn the tables

To give it all to get nothing back

It ain’t easy learning to love like you
~It Ain't Easy by Jason Upton

So all day, today I have been having a problem with this Osama Bin Laden news. Like most Americans I remember exactly where I was when the towers were hit and eventually fell to the ground. I remember seeing the plane crash into the Pentagon. I remember! I will never forget the events of 9/11 and all the people who lost their lives. I remember the weeks of not knowing what was going to happen next. I remember being proud of my brother who signed up for the Army all because someone had to go over there find those who were responsible for those innocent people who lost their lives.

Now, I will always remember the events of last night. I will remember where I was when I first heard the news of the death of the man who was responsible for taking those innocent lives. I will remember where I was when I first heard "Ladies and Gentlemen, I can announce to you that Osama Bin Laden is dead"

Now, here is where it gets a little difficult for me. On one hand I want to celebrate this man being brought to "Justice". This man who took responsibility for the events of September 11, 2001. Not only did he take full responsibility, but he celebrated his actions. However, as a Christian I can not help but feel remorse for a soul that is bound to hell (if he didn't come to the truth about Jesus Christ). To steal a line from a friend of mine: To think Jesus loved him (Osama Bin Laden) as much as Mother Theresa." ~ Joe Dibella

So here is the problem...

As an American I want be like:
"OH YEAH! We got that blah and blah...

and He got what was coming to him... Don't mess with the U.S."

But when I read verses like this:

Ezekiel 33:11a Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.'

or this:

Prob. 24:17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,
or the LORD will see and disapprove
and turn his wrath away from them.

Or when I read what Jesus said:

Matthew 5:43-48

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[a] and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

I can't help but think that a human is going to place where he was never meant or designed to go. Hell was never created for us. We were only meant to glorify God, and reflect His image, love, and grace. Instead... Osama (apart from Christ) is going to eternal destruction.

Please don't get me wrong I am not condoning the actions of September 11, 2001. I am not trying to belittle the lives of all the people who died because of the actions of the Al Qaeda. I am not trying to belittle the lives of our soldiers or their sacrifices. However, I am not going to celebrate when a human soul is bound for Hell (unless he came to the knowledge of the truth of Christ). Until, I am able to figure out what I am suppose to feel... I will feel: sad...

Today, I think the only thing celebrating is: Satan!

I for one refuse to side with him...

Please feel free to challenge me on my opinions or to offer your own.

And most importantly, I would like to say a

BIG THANK YOU TO OUR SOLDIERS, FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS AND SACRIFICES. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES!!!!