Thank God For The Beatles

I'm a huge fan of the Beatles, easily my favorite band of all time. Bob Dylan in a very close second. I was introduced to the Beatles when I was 13. I remember it, so well, I was in Monterrey, Mexico. My mom bought my Dad the 1 CD for his birthday. He was listening to it, in the car. From that point on, I was hooked.

I started to research the Beatles. I listened to all their music that I could find. I became a huge fan, admirer, of their work. As I continued my quest of knowledge of the Beatles. I saw a trend in their work. The Beatles started out, as the "mop tops" that girls would faint over. But as they got more popular and older they gradually moved from entertainers to artist. They started to smoke, got involved in the politics of the time.

The latter is what I was attracted too. I was curious about the "hippiness" of the Beatles. I want to know, why, when, and where. I started to question, just like the Beatles. I thought more, I sought after literature of all sorts. It led me, in a path, that would ultimately lead me to confusion.

However, after that phase. I realized, how grateful I was for the confusion. It led me, to a life that I live now. Its not the main cog, behind the turn around. But through, that phase. I questioned things, I went through many valleys.

This point in my life shaped me, for the future. I had to hit rock bottom. I was floating around and taking what I got. I was just there, stagnant. I didn't think for myself. I wanted to emulate the thinking patterns of the Beatles. I tried and failed miserably, but it led me to a greater purpose. I embarked on, a journey that, I thought I had taken. But I took the scenic route for a time. The questioning, is what got the wheels spinning. I challenged many things, thought for myself, sought after advice.

With love from many amazing Godly people. I knew God had a plan for me. But I really, believe without the questioning. I would have never, been able to be so broken, to realize my inadequacies in my life.

The Beatles were not the catalyst that brought me, back to Christ. But it got me, looking for answers. I know, I'm loved and my duty on earth. But in many ways, I'm stilling looking like the Beatles did... except I go to a different source.

What's your stage?

Every Christian has an opportunity to present the Gospel.

We all have our own stage. Some of us, its at work, church, or a coffee shop. The stage is used to feature the main attraction Jesus! What is so exciting is, to think of all the different stages. The stage can be anywhere to present Jesus and His message.

So what is your stage? Where could, you present the Gospel? Stages can change, but the attraction does not. Jesus is the brightest of all stars. The best part is, he doesn't charge to be the star. It's free, if anything He rewards us.

Again, what's your stage. Where can you bring the best show on earth Jesus, too? We have our own daily opportunities to let His name be known.

So set that stage... Or if you have one, keep filling it up.

Capacity unlimited.

Wrong Turns

Why is it, so hard to admit when we are wrong?

This morning I was driving, with a bad cough,4 hours of sleep. I entered the parking lot. I was in a rush to class, so I started to cut through the parking lot, to get better parking. As I started toward, my preferred parking. I hear this long and loud honk. I almost hit this girl in her car. I parked, she parked next to me, she got out of the car. Without me knowing she was waiting on me, staring me down. As if I was, her boyfriend and got caught cheating on her.

I rolled my window down, and she had a couple of choice words for me. I apologized. But as I was walking to my class. I started to think, why is it hard to accept when we are wrong? Is it pride? Do we hate being wrong?

I started to look back on all my wrong doings. Imagining if, I had admitted how wrong I was, or the situation, whatever. How much heart ache, it would have saved me, all the pain, tears and frustrations.

Is it just me, or doesn't life become a little easier when we admit our wrongs? Wouldn't we be able to avoid so many, unnecessary painful stuff?

My almost car wreck got me, think about this. I may not be able to re- write the past. But I can control my response to when I know I'm wrong and just fess up. Be completely honest about it, move on and learn from it.

And, oh yeah, be a more alert driver...

The World Cup: Where Things Collide

The World Cup! Is upon us, I can't wait to sit down and watch the energy of the nation of South Africa. Especially the fans in the stadium.

Every four years the world, turns their heads to soccer. But what is even more interesting to watch are the cultures, languages, and countries that collide. For example the inauguration game between Mexico and South Africa. Two complete different countries playing for millions of people. One country is the host, while the other is an underdog entering the world cup

U.S. and England allies clash in their first games.

This is what makes the world cup unique, its brings the world together for one thing. The fans are passionate and the soccer players are playing for the country on the front of their jersey. There will be goals, flags, red cards, penalty shots, and my favorite fans with war paint on their face.

The world will watch for a month the greatest sporting event in the world. Many things will collide and it will be a memorable and beautiful collision.

All In The Family

As the circle started to form, a circle of chairs. One by one each student talked about their experience, background with the language better know as spanish.

Everyone went around and expressed their desire to further their knowledge of spanish. With the majority of the class hispanic, we expressed how we wanted to carry on the language, when we start our own family. That taking the class was beyond just honing in on the language, but preserving the culture we came from.

It got me thinking, what are customs, traditions, that we want to carry on to our family? Or if you have a family, how has your family's background, effected the way your family runs.

So I started to think, what will I carry on to my family? Culture is very important, to everyone, we all come from different backgrounds. I know spanish is very important to me, that I would love that my kids know more than one language. There are plenty of other things, I can't think of them, right now.

But I know that in time, the culture my parents have exposed me to, has effected me. Culture is very powerful, very unique.

So back, to my class. I was looking around the room at all the different faces. We may look similar, speak the same language. But we all come different roads and want to keep it all in the family. So that, we can carry on a culture that is very special to us.