21 Day Fast: Day 2 - Midday Revelation

Isaiah 2:22 - Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?

When I read this, I immediately thought "Wow. That's blunt." I'm not sure who Isaiah is talking to (I can assume the Israelites) but whoever he is, they have turned their hearts from God. The people were believing in superstitions instead of God; practicing divination, idolizing gold and silver among other things that were bringing them away from God. Therefore, the word came out, "Stop trusting in man..."

Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils.

This is something we do a lot in a negative way. In no way is Isaiah saying do not trust men because God wants us to be relational people. If God didn't want us to build relationships with each other, the concept of friendship, marriage and family would not exist. All those things are relational and for that reason, we should trust men. What we shouldn't trust man in is to give us everything we need--finances, love, peace, joy, etc.

God designed us to worship him and by living our lives in accordance to His word and following and obeying him, we are worshipping him. He also wants to be the source of our lives. He wants us to trust him. He wants me to trust him. If I am not putting my trust in him and seeking my approval, love and all that from men, then I'm doing it wrong. I only have breath in my nostrils. There's nothing I can do outside of God. God has given me abilities to use for his glory but he gave me those abilities. I didn't conjure them up myself. My ability to play drums, from God. My parents didn't give that to me. I was created with that ability before I was even conceived.

What can man do against me? Another question would be, what can man do for me outside of God? Nothing. God may use people to bless others but ultimately, it comes from God. The SOURCE is God. My job, from God. Yes, I was hired by my supervisor who I work for now and I'm thankful for them but God provided this job for me to give me money to live, to buy food and other things. My girlfriend who I adore and cherish, from God too. The happiness from having her in my life and the joy and the growth, all that comes from God. My happiness should not come from whether or not I'm with her or around her or if she's mad at me or whatever, it comes from God. He is my SOURCE. The word of the day: Source.

Stop trusting in man as the source. I am not a source, my girlfriend is not a source, your job is not a source, your roommates aren't a source, your friends aren't a source, no one on this earth should be a source. Always look to God who is the source. No one should be the source of your love, the source of your joy, the source of your peace, the source of your prosperity. People can give you love and you may feel loved by people but guess who is the source of that? God. To have the love of God and then the love of another is some great icing on the cake but if that icing isn't there, the cake is still bomb.

21 Day Fast: Day 1

Yesterday our church began our 21 day fast. It's all about fasting from something, food preferably, so that we can take that time we use normally for our fleshly desires and turn them into God time. Not that eating food is bad because food is for the stomach and stomach is for food but nevertheless, it's a time to show the flesh who is boss.

Since I don't really have a problem with food and in fact need to eat more, I decided to fast from internet and video games. The internet is one of those things that I have a hard time living without because frankly, I need it. I have to check my work e-mails, I have to check my personal e-mail and do other things. After that though, it's all about what I want. Gamespot.com, MotorTrend.com, RagingNerds.com, Twitter, Facebook, etc, etc. Most of my time on the internet is spent on these sites and if I logged all the hours I spend on these sites, I could definitely say that it takes a lot of time away from God. I could justify it and say that I only do it at work when I'm bored but if I can do that at work, then I could get in the word instead.

So why am I blogging clearly on the internet? This is my avenue of giving my thoughts because I'm not going to translate from paper to the blog. Truthfully, it's more of a fast from my social websites but any unnecessary browsing is also a factor which is very difficult also.

I also chose to add video games from the list of things to fast from simply because it's hard. During the week, I don't get to play video games a lot because I have a lot of things to do but now that I've reworked my schedule, I found myself trying to add video games into the free time that I would have. Because of that, I decided to kick video games into the list of things to fast from.

So far, I have been okay. It's been hard not to check my personal email because every time I open my browser at work, I see the number of e-mails I need to check and as it increases, it's becoming harder not to check it. Most of the time, my personal e-mail is full of things that don't matter--most of the time. But if I miss anything, oh well. That's just how it's going to have to be unless people decide to text me.

I'm looking forward to the extra time with God since I have been through a lot lately and my body is still physically recovering but as I've been putting the word back into my life (not that I ever left it but reading it more), I sense my love and faith muscles growing and my trust in God is reaching new heights. Things that I was having a hard time believing for are becoming easier and lately, I've been wanting to worship God for who he is. He does deserve it after all.

That was yesterday. We're going to see how today goes and when I spend time with God, let's see what juicy revelations he gives to me.

Merry Christmas to everyone! I hope everyone's day is going well. With so many reasons to be joyful, there shouldn't be a reason why no one is having a bad day.

Anyway, happy birthday to Jesus too!

The Real Christian...Please Stand Up

This was written by my friend and it resonates strong with me. This too bugs me about Christians who call themselves Christians but don't act like it. Same with someone who would call themselves a basketabll player and doesn't even play the game.

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Kinda of tired of everyone calling themselves a christian, yet not really being Christ-like. Just wrote down my thoughts I was feeling at 11pm.


Would the real Christian....Please stand up. not the Sunday Christian, not the Jesus is my homeboy Christian, not the Christian who thinks God is fine with all their sin Christian. I'm talking about the Sold out Christian who live a life of Purity, Holiness, and Righteousness. A Christian who deny their flesh daily, who picks up there cross and follow Jesus type of Christian. Not the closet Christian, the Humanist Christian, the Relativism Christian, but the Christian who READS and LIVES by the BIBLE type of Christian. The Christian who does the will of my father in Heaven. Not the homosexual Christian, not the Adulterous cheat on my Wife/Husband kind of Christian. I'm talking about the faithful to my vows type of Christian. The no sex before marriage kind of Christian. the Christian who repents and turns from there wicked ways Christian. Would the real Christian please Stand up. if that’s you please stand up.

This weekend was very busy. There was so much that went on and I don't even remember it at all.

I do know one thing, today is my girlfriend's birthday and so all weekend we have been celebrating it. Saturday, she wanted to get all our core friends together and watch Dumb & Dumber--one of the funniest movies of all time by the way. She got a good portion of gifts one being a Michael Jackson glove. There were a lot of gag gifts but she just likes to laugh so if it's funny, she doesn't care.

Sunday night she had a shindig with her some of her master's program classmates which she invited me to go to. It was actually really, really fun. For a group of master students, they were really funny. It was nice too as we got to think about the birth of Christ and meditate on that which I have actually never done. After that, we went to Mt. Soledad and watch the meteor shower--the clouds didn't help the situation but it was still nice. She had a great time doing that.

Tonight? I'm taking her to BJ's with a select few of other friends. It should be a great night. I think all the friends that are going are girls so it's just going to be one of those nights I don't really get to do anything except watch all of them have fun but I wanted to treat her to a pazookie (a large cookie with ice cream. So good). I already know this night is going to be fun.

It's amazing what sleep depravity does to you. There are a lot of details in my head but my lack of sleep is preventing me from going deep into descriptions. This is all I can offer. On that note, I am going to take a nap.

OST's at their Prime

Butterflies of excitement flutter around in my stomach when I listen to the Metroid Prime: Corruption soundtrack. There is a unique joy that comes from listening to this soundtrack and as I think about it more, all the Metroid Prime soundtracks do the same thing to me. I am never dissatisfied with these soundtracks.

Metroid Prime put a new age twist onto some of the series staple sounds; thumping drum effects on the original Metroid theme mixing it with strange cackling noises and eerie pitches; the Space Pirate theme with its warped synths to punch its theme home; and of course, the battle with Metroid Prime--powerful rhythms in keeping with the over-spacey aesthetic and long notations.



Metroid Prime: Echoes was a drastic turn on the original direction from Metroid Prime. It reflected the games atmosphere to a tee however and though most people would not consider its ambient tracks music, what it was supposed to do--set the mood--it did with perfection. From the memorable tunes like Torvus Bog which continued the ambient movement of Echoes to the best rehash of the Escape Theme, I believe, Kenji Yamamoto kept true to his style while providing what the game needed.



Then there's the world of Corruption. Yamamoto took what he learned from both of these games and combined them into, what I think is the most complete compilations in the Prime series. A blend of ambient like in Echoes, punchy rhythms like in Prime now became fused with the orchestral aesthetic in Corruption. The Defense Drone track, Bryyo and SkyTown all bring out some of the styles that Yamamoto implemented.

These soundtracks always wake me up when I'm at work. They are so pleasing to my ears! AHH! Good stuff. If you haven't really listened to these soundtracks, and you like video game music, then I would suggest nabbing these somewhere quickly. Your ears will not be disappointed.

Bye...?

My assistant quit today.

At work, my boss and my supervisor decided that I could use help from at least one more person. We decided to hire a friend I recommended who was interested in working doing camera work and such.

Four months later, she became jaded, selfish and unappreciative of the job because she felt like she was doing too much and not getting paid enough. Her job was a minimum wage job, working as a student assistant doing something most students wouldn't be doing. In fact, I was doing what she was doing, and more, before they hired me as staff.

What was so funny about her though process behind it was that she wants to be a producer or a director, if anything. The things she was doing, pre-production, post-production type of stuff, which is what I do too, was not in her "job description," which she doesn't have one anyway. She told me she was hired to do camera work--true. When I was hired, I was hired to video editing. The job required more. But pre-production and post-production is her world. I'm not even trying to get into Hollywood film or indie film. I just like doing trailers and promotional stuff, which is what I do. This is her world and she just through it all away because she wasn't getting paid enough.

I am upset because I put in quite some effort to get her the job and she just throws it away. What's worst, she never said thank you. I know you don't like the job and all but at least say thank you for looking out for you even though you didn't turn out to like it.

So my boss asked me if there were any other people that could replace her and I already had one in mind, just in case. Thankfully, he already knows what's up so any time he complains, I know it'll just because he wants excellence--not money.

I leave you with this picture. I saw this in the library and it was interesting how close all these green colors were. The colors are more in the background.