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A new band I like!! December 20, 2007

Posted by Karen Joy in God/Christianity/Church, Music, The Dear Hubby, Vineyard Phoenix.
5 comments

Well, they’re new to me.

They’re called the Robbie Seay Band, and no, I have no idea how to pronounce Robbie’s last name.  I hate MySpace, but the band has, of course, a MySpace site, which does have the redemptive feature of free, full-length songs on it. 

It’s funny:  A couple of months ago, I heard a song that not only I liked, but I knew would work really well for worship at church.  After 13 years of being married to a worship leader, my song-evaluating has shifted a bit.  I used to just think, “I LOVE this song!  We should do it at church!”  And I couldn’t understand why Martin almost never did the songs I suggested.  I’ve finally learned that it has to do with corporateness.  Meaning, it has to be something that the whole congregation can grab onto, both lyrically and melodically.  And hopefully, is speaking directly to God, a la classic Vineyard worship.  When I heard the song, not only did I like it, but I knew it was “corporate.”  But, I could barely remember even a snippet of lyric, and I never ended up Googling them or anything.

So… my hubby was out somewhere, and listening, apparently, to Christian radio (which, since The Effect went off the airwaves here in Phx, we almost never do), and he called me on his mobile, “Have you ever heard this song:  ‘la-la-la-la God of heaven come down’??  It’s a GREAT song, and it would be so perfect as a worship song!!”  Well, whaddya think?  It was the song that I’d been sort of telling him about for the last couple of months.

So, I’ll bet, come January, the team will be learning it.  :D

We found the chord chart online.  Even better! 

Anyways.  I like all the songs I’ve heard by them (which is just this evening, looking them up).  Robbie sounds like a cross between Bryan Adams and David Crowder.  The music is mostly guitar-driven, with a bit of electronica, not really poppy, but not really ”alternative.”    

WOW!!! FANTASTIC!!! A major anti-evolution movie!!! December 20, 2007

Posted by Karen Joy in Christianity, God/Christianity/Church, Interesting Websites, Movies, Political Thought, Science.
39 comments

Notice the new banner on the right?

Have you ever seen any advertising banner EVER on my blog?

I have determined to keep this blog 100% non-commercial.

But… I just broke my own rule, after I learned about Ben Stein’s new movie, Expelled:  No Intelligence Allowed.

I was *JUST* this morning talking with my two youngest sons about this issue:  How the current scientific community blackballs (though I didn’t use that term) scientists of any field who aren’t neo-Darwinists.  Lo and behold, Ben heard me talking and decided to make a movie about it, and about the rebellion against the “Don’t question the authority of Darwin” stance that is happening right now (thank God) in the schools of America. 

I am officially, completely excited.  Exhilarated.  I can’t wait for February.

PLEASE watch the “super-trailer” — it’s a good seven+ minutes, but it is SO very worthwhile.

(And if anyone wants me to help them make a banner on their WordPress blog, I’d be more than happy to.  E-mail me.)

Mothering. Part 20 billion in a series. December 20, 2007

Posted by Karen Joy in Christian Living, Motherhood, Parenting, The Dear Hubby, The Kids.
2 comments

My Mom and Stepdad came over for dinner last night, as they do most Wednesdays.  We alternate weeks for cooking, and last night, it was her turn.  It’s always so lovely to think that once every two weeks, I can have a homecooked meal that I didn’t make.  :D   We had ham, braised veggies, corn, and fresh tropical fruit salad with honey and mint.  Mmmm.

After we played games — Yahtzee and Jenga, I put the kids in bed (Martin was out on unnamed-to-the-kids “errands” — our kids still think they’re getting virtually nothing for Christmas, and really did not put two and two together about evening “errands” on the 19th of December).  Then, my Mom and I started a Scrabble game while we watched the Suns lose :( .  Then, after 10:00, as they were about to leave, I thought I’d give them a little update.  What I meant to say was, “I’ve been having trouble with the kids, and I’m starting them all on a GFCF diet.”  But, we ended up talking for nearly two hours about the whole situation.  The whole time, in the back of my mind, I had the thought, “They must really love the kids and me” because I knew they were tired, and I kept giving them outs to excuse themselves and go home to bed, but they kept the conversation going, really going deep… 

We spent most of the time talking about 10yo Ethan, because when it comes down to it, though I’ve been having “issues” with all three of the boys, Ethan’s situation is, to me, the most problematic.

The best things I gleaned from the conversation:

  • My biggest heartache is that my children don’t act like mature Christians.  Well, duh.  They’re not.  I need to adjust my expecations — and even my hopes — in this, so that I’m not continually surprised/disappointed that they’re not more Christ-like. 
  • When I have a conversation with, and it gets to his heart, and he gets convicted and sheds some tears (which happens about once a week), instead of just leaving him convicted, I need to give him some steps of things he can do to not let that situation happen again.  Previously, I’ve thought, “Well, if he can just see what he’s doing, he’ll change.”  But, apparently, this isn’t the case.  He can see what he’s doing, but still feel/be powerless to change if he doesn’t have the tools with which to change.
  • The basics of the day — school and chores — I have no problem getting the boys to do.  Its the attitudes, hearts and relationships that are my concern.
  • Since Ethan abuses his power of authority when I leave him in charge of anything, I need to instead, leave Grant in charge for short periods of time.  This is like when I say, “OK, I’m going to take a shower.”  I’m not actually leaving the house or anything.  Eight year old Grant is actually a sensitive, fair, considerate leader;  Ethan is of the sort that says, “Bow to me.  Now.  Scum of the earth, obey my commands.”  Ethan will, someday, be a good leader, but his extreme power-tripping and lack of consideration of others is a hindrance to allowing him even the slightest bit of authority.
  • I need to be more intentional about having Ethan practice being empathetic/kind, instead of just being sad that he’s not.  For instance, “Today, you are purposefully going to say three genuinely nice things to Wesley, and report back to me what they were, how Wes responded, etc.”
  • I need to be more intentional about asking Martin for his fatherly input…  Ethan needs more one-on-one time with Martin. 

Obviously, in two hours of conversation, a lot more was discussed…  but that was the gist of it.  Good stuff.