Who is your “Hero” ?

“I'm just a step away
I'm a just a breath away
Losin my faith today
Fallin off the edge today

I am just a man
Not superhuman
I'm not superhuman
Someone save me from the hate

It's just another war
Just another family torn
Falling from my faith today
Just a step from the edge
Just another day in the world we live

I need a Hero to save me now
I need a Hero
Save me now
I need a Hero to save my life
A Hero'll save me
Just in time

I gotta fight today
To live another day
Speakin my mind today
My voice will be heard today

I've gotta make a stand
But I am just a man
I'm not superhuman
My voice will be heard today

It's just another war
Just another family torn
My voice will be heard today
It's just another kill
The countdown begins to destroy ourselves

Who's gonna fight for what's right
Who's gonna help us survive
We're in the fight of our lives
And we're not ready to die

Who's gonna fight for the weak
Who's gonna make 'em believe
I've got a Hero
I've got a Hero
Livin' in me

I'm gonna fight for whats right
Today I'm speaking my mind
And if it kills me tonight
I will be ready to die

A Hero's not afraid to give His life
A Hero's gonna save me just in time”

What awesome lyrics. Skillet (for those of you who don’t know them) are what I would call a mix between heavy metal / hard rock – and they make no bones for their love for Jesus Christ. I invite you to check them out on their website at http://www.skillet.com/

You may be asking what type of an impact does this type of group have on our youth today? Check out what I found on some comments posted on ‘you tube’ :

“i'm not really religious and to be honest i didn't think that it was even possible to reconcile heave metal and christianity haha
but skillet acomplished that i for that i give them props :)
this song is amazing and i like how th its christian and has a good meaning it isn't preaching to me...it isn't shoving the whole religion down my throat, skillet does an amazing job singing rock songs without it all being about sex and drugs “

“im not a particulary religious kinda guy, bit Skillet are awesome...Comatose was an awesome album and after hearing Hero, i have high hopes of an equally if not better album! caaaaaant wait “

This blew me away.

I don’t know about you but I know who my “Hero” is. Join with me in telling others about your “Hero” – Jesus Christ !

“I need a Hero to save me now
I need a Hero
Save me now
I need a Hero to save my life
A Hero'll save me
Just in time”

Michael Jackson 1958-2009

Very sad about MJ. He was a brilliant but troubled soul who I think was reaching out for happiness and joy but never, ever found it. True happiness and joy can only be found through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

"Two Hands" by Jars Of Clay

"I’ve been living out of sanity
I’ve been splitting hairs and blurring lines
I am a house that is divided
In my heart and in my mind

I use one hand to pull you closer
The other to push you away
If I had two hands doing the same thing
Lifted high, lifted high

I have a broken disposition
I’m a liar who thirsts for the truth
And while I ache for faith to hold me
I need to feel the scars and see the proof

And if we just keep digging we can reach the foundation
Of our souls
And if we just keep cutting all the chains from our hearts
We’ll lose control

And it feels like giving in
It feels like starting over
It feels like waking up, and you know it’s coming
It feels like a brand new day
Open your eyes"

Check out the video and then ask yourself - what can you do to be Jesus hands and feet this day ?

Father's Day 2009

This sunset was God's signature to a very blessed Father's Day 2009 for me. First off a very Happy Father’s Day to my Heavenly Father !

Secondly, thank you for your innumerable blessings to me – especially for my earthly father who was a blessing beyond words. I hope he is proud of the father that I am to my children – who totally rock – but especially for hanging with their dad on Father’s Day !

And last I am thankful for a special blessing he has given me ;)

God is so very, very good.

"False Ways Of Growing As A Christian"

This week’s message addressed many of the questions that we have about what ‘to do’ and what ‘not to do’ to grow as a Christian.

The mid-evil Catholic church stated that there were three ‘things’ that we need to do:

Confession – every single sin

Contribution – contribute to the church to reduce you loved one’s wait in purgatory (called ‘indulgences’)

Contrition – sorry for our sins


One of the ways Rich Nathan (our Senior Pastor) stated ‘to do’this’ (grow as a Christian) was to find Jesus every time you read the Bible. He quotes Martin Luther as saying ‘We Christians go to the Bible to find Christ”.

Rich talked about one of the ways ‘no to do this’ called ‘asceticism’. This is defined as ‘the doctrine that a person can attain a high spiritual and moral state by practicing self-denial, self-mortification, and the like.’

Colossians 2:16-17 (New International Version)

16Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

Rich stated that the law was given to us to point us to Christ. It is like a thermometer – it tells us we are ‘sick’. Our fundamental problem, according to Rich, is not our ‘circumstances’ but our ‘sin sickness’ and the only way to take care of this is to turn to Christ.

He addressed the issue of what he called ‘super spirituality’ which is marked by ‘disqualifying others’ and ‘losing our connection to Christ’

Colossians 1:12 (New International Version)

12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[a] to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

Rich closed by stating that ‘we need to accept our acceptance by God’ and that ‘we are already qualified by trusting in Christ’.

Mario Lemieux's Text Message To The Penguin's Players

"This is a chance of a lifetime to realize your childhood dream to win a Stanley Cup. Play without fear and you will be successful! See you at center ice."

Mario Lemieux's text message to all of the players & coaches Friday AM of Game # 7

2009 Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins

"Great moments are born from great opportunity.
And that's what you have here tonight, boys.
That's what you've earned here, tonight.
One game.
If we played 'em ten times, they might win nine.
But not this game. Not tonight.
Tonight, we skate with 'em.
Tonight, we stay with 'em, and we shut them down because we can!
Tonight, we are the greatest hockey team in the world.
You were born to be hockey players -- every one of ya.
And you were meant to be here tonight.
This is your time.
Their time -- is done. It's over.
Screw 'em!
This is your time!!
Now go out there and take it!"

Herb Brooks

1 Samuel 17:49 (New King James Version)

49 Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.


They said it couldn't be done. They said we couldn't win in Detroit. They said Fluery would collapse again. Herb Brooks said it best "This is your time. Their time -- is done. It's over."

This team was out of the playoff race when Dan Byslma took over. They were done 3 - 0 in a playoff game against the Flyers - and won. They were down 2 games to none against Washington and won. Then they were down against the Red Wings 2 games to 0, down 3 games to 2, and then something we as Penguins fans new would happen. This team never quit. To me Game 6 was their defining moment. I have been to over 800 NHL games in my life and by far that was the best one I have ever witnessed. It was a "team effort", Names like Talbot, Scuderi, and Fedatenko, Stall and Kennedy. Wow !

My dad took me to my first game at the then called 'Civic Arena' in 1973 and I was hooked. We had the pleasure of going to the playoffs in 1975. Through the years I would get to games and I went to one on November 21, 2007 - the day after Dad was called home to be with the Lord. I thought of him often during that game and said it would be nice to win the cup again. And I had the dream of a lifetime this year by not only going to all but two playoff games but taking Will to game 6. I told him the attendance that game was 17,123 + one in heaven. And I know he was smiling tonight !

A hearty congratulations to the 2009 Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins !

This Is Your Time

"Great moments are born from great opportunity.
And that's what you have here tonight, boys.
That's what you've earned here, tonight.
One game.
If we played 'em ten times, they might win nine.
But not this game. Not tonight.
Tonight, we skate with 'em.
Tonight, we stay with 'em, and we shut them down because we can!
Tonight, we are the greatest hockey team in the world.
You were born to be hockey players -- every one of ya.
And you were meant to be here tonight.
This is your time.
Their time -- is done. It's over.
Screw 'em!
This is your time!!
Now go out there and take it!"

Herb Brooks speech to Team USA before they beat the Soviets

Beleive.

LET'S GO PENS !

LET"S GO PENS !

Here are the lyrics to the latest installment of "Yinz Luv 'Da 'Guins"

LET'S GO PENS !

"Look
If you had a second shot
A second opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted
A second moment
And to capture it
Or just let it slip

Yo
Pittsburgh is ready
Tension is heavy
Mamma Malkin made a batch of homemade Russian spaghetti
Geno is ready and he’s not forgetting
There are Cup Wing shirts that are printed already
When we lost two Pittsburgh got so loud
The kids on the front lawn they all came out
Then we won two nobody’s joking now
You wanna win the Cup Marion Hossa blah
Oh there goes gravity
Oh there goes Orpik he knocked out your cavities
Won’t give up in the ‘burgh
Don’t like Zetterberg
It is well understood that Osgood isn’t as good as Marc Fluery is
I’m being serious
‘Da ‘Guins are furious
Offense delirious
Back to the Cup again
Yo we need a couple wins
Let’s go Pens let’s do it again
You gotta shoot the puck at the goalie
The backhand the forehand
Go Sid and Geno
Your’e owning your one shot
Do not miss a chance to score
A Stanley Cup Win lasts a whole lifetime
You gotta shoot the puck at the goalie
The backhand the forehand
Go Sid and Geno
You only get one shot to not miss a chance to score
A Stanley Cup Win lasts a whole lifetime"