May. 28, 2009 the Hairs on your head
I was thinking about the many times we misinterpret scripture. Some times is Funny, for instance, did you know that "you brood of Vipers" sounds like "who threw the diapers"? Then there are times that it is much more serious and causes us to not see what God intended.... But then there are also times when its read, understood, but somehow, from the reading to application something happens... a mis-communication... a something... So I've taking the liberty of doing somethings here.. I have a verse for us all (me included) and our goal is to not only try and see whats different but to also live like we believe what the verse says. And preferably not like the picture :) it's a fun game to play. :) would you like to join me?
Luke 12:7 "But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows."
So when you live your life keep in mind that your more valued than the sparrows and that the "Hairs" (Not hares) on your head are numbered. That's how much God knows and thinks about you. He cares!
P.S. I graduated... I'll try and post about that too! :-) |
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Apr. 27, 2009 a Little Bunny
Here is a Little Bunny that Acacia is taking care of. and it's name is Thumper :-) so enjoy the pictures, and comment on them or something...
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Apr. 25, 2009 How to Make Friends on an Elevator
My friend T.J. Jones and I went Kayaking... I'll let the pictures speak. just think, I've got 18,000 words if I let the Pictures speak :)
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Mar. 18, 2009 I Made Pizza...
As Most of you know, my mom and Sister, Acacia are in Honduras while my other sister is at a friends
house. Here is something neat that happened in Honduras that my mom told me about:
“Keith and Joanna are a
couple that work there. Two days before we were there Keith and a few
other guys were out in a remote village where there was no electricity.
The nearest church was a 2.5 hour walk. The village had one Christian who
has a burden to share Jesus. Keith asked him if he wanted to be a pastor
but he said that he did but he couldn’t read. Keith told him that God
Would provide. Last night when I pulled out the proclaims and started
telling them what they were the men started laughing and crying because it
was hard to believe how quick God answered that prayer. Keith’s burden is
to plant churches in those remote areas and the proclaims will help.”
I thought that was awesome!!!!!!!
Now getting to my title
As you can guess I’m home alone, and I don’t eat much unless people are around. So I made a pizza
this evening, which Ben Chambers thoughtful said upon the situation that he’d send himself over, via
USB, and eat some with me.  I have discovered that eating without people isn’t eating. I mean, all
you have is food after all. Even though you eat the food you still are not full. Yet, when I’m around people
even if I don’t eat I still feel full in a way. Then I started thinking.
There have been lots of times that I have got mixed up and sought feeling, or sought comfort rather
than God. Matt 6:33“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things
shall be added unto you.” As a result there have been lots of times as well when I thought I “felt”
comfortable but really wasn’t. Yet there have been times when I’ve sought God and been so
uncomfortable but still somehow comfortable. It’s those times that I’ve left God out of my life, and know it,
that I forget about being comfortable which is I really become comfortable. Switching gears back to Food.
My meal is not complete unless there are people around and I notice it. In the same way when I don’t
have God at the root of my Feelings or comfort I am not filled, all I’ve done is eaten a piece of food. It’s
like only half, and the lesser half at that. As food is with no people to enjoy it with so are emotions and
comfort or anything without God to enjoy them with.
Well, that’s what happens when I make a pizza.
Me-Joshua  |
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Well HI everyone....
(pretend this is a very formal letter)
Dear every one,
Today we are going to record a song. it was written three days ago and took 1 and 1/2 days to write. but It's going to be an awesome recording even though we haven't yet all practiced together, because I've got some of the best Violinists violist and Cellist around here! They may not think so themselves, but on this point, I'm sorry people, your wrong. :-) not that there isn't room for improvement... but Ya!!!!!!!!
Were going to have so much fun! Now I think I close with a quote by my sister Abby, "I don't know what I'm doing, but I'm going to do it anyway!".
Joshua
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Jan. 17, 2009 Thankfulness
Have you ever just stopped and wondered why all that is, is? Thought to your self, “Wow, I’m alive, I
can see, I’m here!” This realization is so amazing that it can make us want to burst! There is everything to
be thankful for. Without this realization of life we see nothing to be thankful for.
Thankfulness is like food. Once I forget to eat and drink! It wasn’t long before I was half blacked out. I
couldn’t even read. It then Dawn on me, “ I forgot to eat and drink! After being like this for thirty minutes
we arrived at our destination and I told my friends my condition. They promptly gave me something to eat.
After the fact I told my brother Jonathan, who is a volunteer fire fighter and has an EMT basic and he said,
“Josh! That’s when people need to go to the E.R.!” I didn’t realize the seriousness of the matter at the
time. Neither do people walking around unthankful realize what peril they are in. Thankfulness is food for
our souls. When were not thankful, it’s as if we were sitting at a table full of food but aren’t eating, yet
starving ourselves to death.
Why are we thankful? We are, or should be thankful because we get to live Were not just robots going
around, “beep, beep” but we’re people! We can live, do things, enjoy things, do things for others, enjoy
each others company... we can relate with one another! We become thankful when we realize the truth. .
1Cor 4:7 “...And what do you have that you did not receive?”, We have been giving so much to be
thankful for.
If we realize that we’ve been given life we’ll be thankful and if we’re thankful we will be full. John 17:3
“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have
sent.” But most of the time, I just walk around with my eyes closed to all that God has done for me
thinking, praying, and begging for God to fill me up with things that in my blindness I think I want. When
its as if I’m a child complaining at Christmas that I didn’t get any presents when I have the greatest one
in front of me not yet opened! No more! Today I will choose to be thankful for everything.
Ehp 5:20 “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
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Dec. 17, 2008 things... life.... the the Unusual usual with spectaclerness Nov. 13, 2008 Camping and much more...Friends
Here are some camping pictures!
This was a fun trip in which I got to Learn more about my friends and spent good time with them. I learned that Dino Maisano has the world's largest tongue and can hold half a cup of water in it forming a birdbath! Too bad there are not any pictures. I learned that Paul and I like to talk and walk a lot. and that Catherine Mcdonald thinks I'm cool! Had fun rolling down a hill of sand with Katy, Hannah, Abigail and faith.... maybe more... I ate stone soup! Dare base is a fun game... Christina says Obama in her sleep... Toni will talk to you in her sleep and forget what she says, unless you remind her... I think everyone learned NOT to let me be the narrator of Mafia or the game will drag on and on.... Dino likes to shoot people with little potatoes guns... Peter snores and sounds like a cat... oh ya... Toni likes to throw stuff at things.... Alex is just Alex and fun to be around...Beth has a the very memorable quote of, "Hey morgan"... I learned a lot about my friends. And a lot more than if i had just read a book about them all. Not to mention I had a lot a fun getting to know all of you people even more than before!
There are many things that I have done with God, we've written songs together, wrote papers together, gone on walks together and much more. Time after Time He reminds me that He's a person, in the sense that we can relate, just like all my friends. He reminds me that although His word is "His word" its not Him and should direct us to Him. I say that because at times I know I've read His word more out of a attitude to be "good" rather than to know God. Which with all of you I don't read your blogs thinking it's making me good, but I just get to know you. Although your blogs are helpful and figuring somethings out ( especial birthdays). Just as it's an adventure getting to know all of you people it's an adventure getting to know God, especially when we wash dishes together.
Which was when He told me,"If your not completely sold out to Me your walk is in vain." that makes me think. or another time when I felt like I wasn't hearing Him that well, "You will hear someone if you value them." that hurts. It's a good hurt. it's also invites adventure. A rich full life with many dangers... As in LOTR. With great pain, but great gain.
God and I have done a lot of things together. I don't intend to stop but to know Him more and more just I intend to know my friends, you guys, more and more in this adventure called life. Not just knowing "things" about each other, but actually knowing each other for who we all are. Most importantly Knowing who God is and him being our friend.
John 17:3 "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."
John 5:39 “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!"
JesusLovesMe,
Joshua
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I Haven't Blogged About Tennessee! and it's been months since I went! But I thought I'd tell one story! at the beginning of the week on opening Night they was this Role call and everyone would say what state they where from. well when It came to the Maisano's and I, I said "Texas"....but then I thought. what just happened? I sounded like a Texan, at least to myself... it was a very odd experience.... On to other Things though...
I've been thinking about this for a while now...
Imagine Alex wrote a book (which will probably happen, but for now his blog is close enough ;-) and we all read that book. We'd know everything about Alex! What he likes, what he dislikes, (hi Alex)...and who he is to an extent. If I took a class about Alex I think I'd get a.. a ...a...well I don't know... but who is Alex? do I know him because I read his book? I could get an A and not "know" Alex if all I did was read his book.
I don't remember who it was that was being born...Maybe it was Elizabeth or Andrew? but when this event took place, over come all the Mcdonald children. And of course it was a long night... they were over a long time (I was fine with that :) Quite honestly I don't remember what we talked about, but I remember them being there and having a good time and getting to know Alexander better. Some men bond by going hunting and some by Babysitting little brothers and sisters..(that's an odd statement...) we had a great time...if i recall that was the first time Alex spent the night( so to speak) at my house...although we didn't really sleep. This is an event I will never forgot!!!!!!! But if I read about this story about someone in the newspaper I didn't know I wouldn't care, to be honest. But what makes me remember it is that I was there... we related... we ate... and so forth... It was fun! Friendship: what would we do without it.
Alex I'm glad to know you! And I'm glad I didn't just read a book about you because although it would definitely not be boring( just read Alex's stories in his blog..) I wouldn't know you personally...
Well this is the part where I complete the analogy. But why don't you complete it? I've Talked about my friend Alex...oh.... The other great thing about him and his family is that they let me invite myself over... which is a plus! I've talked about friendship... and about Books, although interesting... are empty without relationship... as if one could have a description without anything to describe. Knowing the description and not the reality... but where is this all leading to? I'd love to say. Although it will put you all in suspense, what are your thoughts? tell me something....sorry Alex I think you'll have to say something :-)..were do you think I'm leading to???? input, thoughts, everything, anything!
Joshua |
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Imagine older fathers with families and priorities to their families picking up sports again and trying to show off and win fame over younger ball players. They should be spending time with their families and doing loving things for their wives, but their egos are more important to them. It’s not a guessing game. Just about every one of those men will walk away with an injury, which will impair them from fulfilling their family priorities. Beowulf is noted as honorable, loyal, dutiful and brave, but not as meek and wise. He would and did lay his life down but he did so more out of pride and honor rather than out of love that seeks another’s benefit. Through Beowulf’s character the author demonstrates Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.”
When Beowulf was young he sought glory and fame. Beowulf gave many boasts about what he had done or what he would do. This was part of a hero’s duty. Making vaunts or oaths to each other ensured that they would actually do the daring deeds. Behind all the speeches and vaunting Beowulf’s better motivation is reduced to mere duty. His primary motivation was for his own glory. He says, "On the might of his hand, as a man must do Who thinks to win in the welter of battle Enduring glory; he fears not death" (1420-23 62) C.S. Lewis says in “Virtue and Vice” “The rats are always in the cellar, but if you go in shouting and noisily they will have taken cover before you switch on the light. Apparently the rats of resentment and vindictiveness are always there in the cellar of my soul. Now that cellar is out of reach of my conscious will. I can to some extent control my acts: I have no direct control over my temperament. And if (as I said before) what we are matters even more than what we do—if, indeed, what we do matters as evidence of what we are—then it follows that the change which I most need to undergo is a change that my own direct, voluntary efforts cannot bring about. And this applies to my good actions too. How many of them were done for the right motive? How many for fear of public opinion, or desire to show off? How many from a sort of obstinacy or sense or superiority which, in different circumstances, might equally have led to some very bad act?” Beowulf is the hero in this poem and he destroys the monsters therein, but one monster he let live: pride. As C.S. Lewis writes that, “Things always work according to their nature” in “The Magician’s Nephew”. Beowulf’s “good” deeds bore the fruit of freedom from monsters just as the fruit in the magician’s nephew gave the witch everlasting youth; but the fruit wasn’t as it was meant to be because it was taken selfishly.
Hrothgar, after Beowulf had killed Grendel and Grendel’s mother, gave a speech to Beowulf, a warning of his pride. “all the world wends at his will, no worse he knoweth, till all within him obstinate pride waxes and wakes while the warden slumbers, the spirit's sentry; sleep is too fast which masters his might, and the murderer nears, stealthily shooting the shafts from his bow!”---“Greedy and grim, no golden rings he gives for his pride; the promised future forgets he and spurns, with all God has sent him, Wonder-Wielder, of wealth and fame. Yet in the end it ever comes that the frame of the body fragile yields, fated falls; and there follows another who joyously the jewels divides, the royal riches, nor recks of his forebear. Ban, then, such baleful thoughts, Beowulf dearest, best of men, and the better part choose, profit eternal; and temper thy pride, warrior famous!” Beowulf didn’t heed any of this advice. 50 years pass and Beowulf becomes king of the Geats and even though he sat with the fame from killing Grendel and Grendel’s mother he still wanted more. At the battle with the dragon he said,” "I should carry no weapon, no sword to the serpent, if sure I knew how, with such enemy, else my vows I could gain as I did in Grendel's day.” An aged man Beowulf is going to battle against a dragon and without weapons. Our hero is being swallowed up by his pride. he goes on, “Now abide by the barrow, ye breastplate-mailed, ye heroes in harness, which of us twain better from battle-rush bear his wounds. Wait ye the finish. The fight is not yours, nor meet for any but me alone to measure might with this monster here and play the hero.” He unknowingly abdicated his throne in attempt for greater glory and fame. When Wiglaf ran to the rescue of his lord they defeated the dragon, but not before Beowulf received his death wound. Beowulf took eleven comrades with him who with strategic planing they could have delivered the dragon to its death much more easily if two did so. But, “till all within him obstinate pride waxes and wakes while the warden slumbers”
As king, when Beowulf put his life into jeopardy he also put his kingdom into it. He didn’t think what would happen to his kingdom and people if he died because he was stuck thinking about his glory and how people would revere him. Although the poem does not specify the momentum of the feuds after Beowulf’s death it does allude to more trouble being initiated because of his death. There was a better rout, which Beowulf could have taken than to seek his own glory. Beowulf’s desire to praised higher than others led to his down fall and undermined what God had made him. There was a way that was more about others than himself. His whole life he sought his fame and neglected weightier matters.
The full legacy that Beowulf left wasn’t one he would have wanted to leave. Though he did many mighty deeds which brought the feuds to peace, his vain desire for more and more glory countered the peace his life brought and when he died peace also died. Beowulf had other responsibilities as a King that were much more important than gaining fame. He abdicated his throne when he went into battle with the dragon. Beowulf let his pride get in the way of his life like a father with a family lets sports or any hobby get in the way, only Beowulf is a king with a kingdom and a much bigger hobby. To Beowulf life was not a game, but the pride he allowed made it a game of who was the best, the bravest, and the most honorable; and at this people would benefit at times as well as perish. Beowulf’s character was very valiant, but valiance’s becomes only a game when the motive is selfish and prideful: that is, a game of destruction. |
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Sep. 16, 2008 getting colder!
The beginning(attention getter)
It was 57degrees this morning! It's time for Hot-Chocolate! It's under 60 degrees.
The body
But beside that.... by Oct24-30 I should know about "From the Top"!
I meet Paul Hastings! ( visit Toni's blog for more about that, of paul's, which is under my links)
My sisters playing the Piano right now as I write.
Here are some words for the Day:
Harangue
Bombastic
The end
Joshua
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Sep. 11, 2008 Life without limbs.
This is my new piano that was made in 1920. As most of you don't know, unless I've already told you, I'm going to try to learn to be a piano technician/ tuner and such...and any ways....
  
you can see I've taken it apart. When I was bringing it up to pitch I only broke one string...first sting I ever broke... but it wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be..
And I thought I'd put in picture of some of my family and me. As you can see we have aluminum foil on our heads ; )
Well hows that for a post?
Joshua
P.S. by the way, if you didn't figure it out yet... I'm the one on the right ; )
P.P.S. Jesus loves you a lot. |
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Aug. 22, 2008 When one isn't bloggin'
(speaking like a well trained speaker)
Well, today I will explain to you why one does not blog more often than every so often.
The ice burg is 100% ice, but we only see about 15% of that ice... and so lately it's the unseen 85% that's been happening. thus not so much blogging...
(feels like the point has been made and resumes regular voice)
I have been working on a master piece [with big meatball eyes and a cheesy smile : ) not really] titled, "THE SWAMP ADVENTURES OF DINO AND JOSH" it is not for the faint of heart... but of course it's not done yet.... Not to mention I'm applying my song to www.fromthetop.org and have been filing out forms like...(thinks)...Like a person who fills forms out... I texted Dad4Him to see if I could hire him. He said," No Way"... Back to the Ice burg. The Ice shelf has not broken off yet, but it's close. then the Ice burg will be afloat with cube after cube of blogging... But not yet, it's not ready. I'm hoping to send the forms today though.
Joke time: What do you get when a Piano falls down a mine shaft?
the answer will be revealed at a later date. thankyou. good bye.
(Jesus Loves You)
Joshua |
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Jul. 25, 2008 The Burnt Pizza
This Is my Friday night dinner... every one else didn't want to eat it so I took the liberty of doing so (inspired by Dino Maisano) and found that it tasted just about like what it looks like... but a little better... like a burnt toast... but pizza... I couldn't let it go to waist...a whole 3-4$ that's like a gallon of gas!
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Jul. 25, 2008 Movie Time "The kerosene Bar"
I have found that one of the hardest things in life to overcome is to get in cold water. But recently I've discovered that if I embrace and except the fact that it is going to be cold it's a refreshing time rather than a dreaded chore.
As many know I wrote a music piece for piano and quartet recently where our performances went good(thanks to God), and people liked the song a lot, which is also a plus. Mrs Flecter wants us to record it and send it to "up from the top" so lots more practice.
Faced now with the decision of collage and life (I'll skip the confusing parts, just imagine them) I am confused at what direction to go study etc. Which doesn’t make fore a relaxed, refreshing, peaceful time. It’s at this point I begin to realize life is like jumping, wading into the "cold" water. So, after long talks with my best friend, Jesus,( and my mom) I am making a connection from my head to my heart. Cold water: uncomfortable, but potentially refreshing. Life's transitions and trials: uncomfortable, but potentially rewarding. So instead of being confused with whatever is happing, I will trust in God as I jump into the cold water and find it to be more of an adventure than stressful, and more refreshing than restless. So let's Jump in the water cold or not! Live life as an adventure!
I love swimming, I love Living (this is the rhyme of the day)
James 1:2-8
"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
Joshua |
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Jun. 20, 2008 Writing music
The biggest thing from my perspective lately has been writing a music piece for a piano and string quartet. The best part of it was that( I finished for now: deadlines give me no choice) I didn't really know what I was doing. This was the challenging thing that I determined to do this year... there were many times I thought of a phrase my little sister Abby had said," I don't know what I'm doing but I'm going to do it anyway." After many hours of working, playing, and arranging I showed it to a respected friend of mine. I asked her (Esther Jones) what she thought and she told me. She had good advice and it helped me a lot, but at the time I was at a loss on how to implement it. Up to that point I just had a bunch of song ideas with no real structure or meaning. So time passed and one day I help my friend, Cameron out with some volunteer work at Harmony music school where Mrs. Fletcher was expecting the sheet music seeing how the music festival was only a couple of weeks away. After some conversation I said,"I could have it done tomorrow if I have to", but that didn't happen. That same evening, as I sat down to finish what I wasn't satisfied with. Then God said, "go take a walk”. As I walked and thought of the piece in my head and thought of the advice Esther gave me the piece started to unfold more, but I still didn't know what I was trying to get across. But as I walked Jesus showed me the format which is that of my life from night into day, from before Jesus to knowing Him ... So with this, I will call it the thesis of my piece I finally knew what to do, or write about.
Another day was walking and praying and looking at trees with an overcast sky and thought, "That looks cool." But then the clouds went away and the tree's looked the same in ways but entirely new. And the phrase "From Night into Day" came to mind.
The most amazing thing to me is that Jesus talks to me and as I don't know what to do he says," do this' or " this is what you want to do". So anyways I can say I have the best teacher in the world!
Joshua
P.S. after the performance I'll probably put a video up.
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It is my goal to be a bright spot in the lives of others,
To express Jesus through music,
To be Free to Free others,
To go on when everyone else has stopped,
To be there for loved ones in this life.
Finally to live life as an adventure
in unity with the one true King,
then to look back at all that has come to pass and hear:
"Well done my good and faithful servant."
...in the presence of the heavenly clouds with the eagles flying above...
I am Joshua, son of the One True Living God,
Going after his heart,
Doing this all with passion.