Who says its a Bad Day?

Today is my second day back at Sto Corp and the last 12 hours have been testing my patience to say the least! Last night I started working on the universal joints in the drive shaft of my 1972 Volvo 142. I spent five hours buying the parts, taking apart the old u-joint, and fighting to put the new joint in place! After it was all said and done I did not finish and ruined a $20 part. Therefore I was extremely frustrated last night, went to sleep frustrated, had a terrible night sleeping and woke up late to come to work. After eating some cereal I borrowed a brothers car and started off to work only to notice there was 25 miles to empty. So I pulled into a gas station a block from campus to fill up only to realize my wallet was not in my pocket. I drove back to the house and got my wallet, then back to the gas station where I got to stand in 8 degree weather to fill the tank! After getting gas it was on the road for a 25 min drive to work but I missed my exit and had to take a 15 min detour. While driving the detour I kept hearing in my head "Paul you are having one bad morning!" So I started to agree with the voice, got a late start, left my wallet, froze my ears off, got lost driving! But then I started to question the voice! Who says its a bad day? At that moment I realized that God has placed before me a blessing to be able to borrow a friends car, giving me an opportunity to work and put my education to use. Such a gift to be able to wake up yet another morning and breath in the refreshingly cold air! As the Lord reminded me of everything that makes this day another day to be Loved by the Creator and Sustainer of our Universe! Another day to remember the Love that Jesus displayed as he took upon himself the sins of a world who despises him! Yet another morning to rejoice in the community of fellow children of the Almighty God that have been woven around me to truly display the Love of God!

All is Great at Camp Creek
Paul Shackelford

Rise Again - Needtobreathe

I have been reading a book about the arts and Christians role in creating culture. Steve Turner, the author, asserts a major critique that modern Christian art does not speak about real life. The art created does not sound genuine or have any ties to real life that people outside the faith can connect with. While reading the book I listened through this album and I think that this song does a great job of breaking the mold. The members of Needtobreathe are all outspoken followers of Jesus but very little of the art that they produce mentions Jesus or Christianity at all. Instead they craft creative music, written from places of pain and joy. "Rise Again" steps through pain that occurs in life as we see relationships stretched and torn. The bitterness of broken hearts and friendships is then contrasted with the truth that we will get up from this pain and rise again. "I can see us moving on, I can feel that coming on strong", the joy that comes after the

Twenty-Four - Jess Ray

Lately I have been listening to lots of music and podcasts while working and biking to work. I was feeling a need for some new music so I turned to NoiseTrade to check out some new artists. My favorite thus far is Jess Ray because of the honest lyrics, tastefully simple musicality and overall enjoyable listening environment. While on my flight back to Atlanta I was struck by this song at first because of the drums that propel this song behind the walking guitar. If I were to add drums to a track like this it would have been done in a very similar manner. Once I got past the drums I was awe struck by the simple power of these lyrics, take a read below and follow the link to her blog to listen. To me it was not written for an outward expression of hope or encouragement but rather as a inward proclamation to the soul. As the psalmist often choose to sing, this song speaks inward in a call to stand up and be reminded of truth all to often forgotten. As I gear up for the star

Alleluia - Jesus Culture with Martin Smith

Once again worship last night was Glorious! Had a great day just chilling with my SDP folks from last summer, went up the river and just talked about the past season of life and where the Lord is leading us into. Exciting and scary stuff but it was great to be back with some awesome people who speak some potent truth. Last night during worship was one of many firsts... For the first time in a long time I actually stood while I sang, for the first time in a long time I was singing from a place of Joy, for the first time in a long time I did not care how I worshiped my Lord I just worshiped. Well its not like these things have not happened ever in my life, but I just felt so much peace during worship. So I decided to throw the song that we just repeated for a long while up here, mainly cause I did not know the name so I was looking it up and now I am pumped, gotta buy this album! All the angels cry out, Holy is the Lord God All the earth replies, Holy are You Thi

Letters from Lilongwe

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