Don't leave the earth without Jesus

God loves you

You are a child of God

Receive God's grace

Run to the Lord

Look up

(October 31, 2003 6:14 AM CST)

"Beloved, do not imitate what is evil
but what is good."
3 John 1:11

Who do you look up to?
Who do you want to be like?
Think about it.
Are they good or evil?
Look to Jesus.
He is all goodness.
Be like him.

(October 30, 2003 6:14 AM CST)

"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose,
God will bring forth with him from the dead
those also who have fallen asleep
believing in him."
1 Thessalonians 4:14

Jesus overcame death.
You have nothing to fear.
Believe in him.
He has the power over life and death.
Wake up.

(October 29, 2003 6:10 AM CST)

Have you ever read the
Legend of the Dogwood ?

"God freed him from death's bitter pangs, however,
and raised him up again,
for it was impossible
that death should keep its hold on him."
Acts 2:24

Jesus won the victory.
He died on the tree.
And he rose from the dead.
He overcame death.
He will raise us up, if we believe.
Look to Jesus.
He will save your soul.

(October 28, 2003 6:10 AM CST)

"Mary treasured all these things
and reflected on them in her heart."
Luke 2:19

Mary was the mother of Jesus.
She saw many things first-hand.
She was amazed at all that happened.
She pondered these events.
She thought about them.
She told others about them.
Let us all meditate on the things of God.
Let us think about him and all that he does.
Let us tell others about Mary's son, Jesus.
He is amazing.

(October 27, 2003 6:09 AM CST)

"Well done!
You are an industrious and reliable servant.
Since you were dependable in a small matter
I will put you in charge of larger affairs.
Come, share your master's joy!"
Matthew 25:21

What are you doing with your life?
God has given you talents.
He wants you to use them.
Are you doing anything?
Go to the Lord.
Ask for his instructions.
Follow his leading.
Do his work.
Then he will give you more to do.
Grow in the Lord.
That is part of the spiritual life.
Bloom.

(October 26, 2003 7:11 AM CST)

Here is a tree I spotted yesterday.

The colors are really bright.
Notice the flag in the picture.
Is it a "Z" or an "N" (for Nebraska)?
Normally you look at a flag horizontally , right?

Yesterday I bought
Magix - Music Maker Deluxe 2004 .
I'm trying to learn all that it can do.
It might help me compose music.
Here is a 7-second audio mp3 that I made.
So as you can hear I have a lot to learn.

"The lowly shall eat their fill;
they who seek the Lord shall praise him."
Psalms 22:27

Come to the Lord and learn new things.
Have an open heart.
He has much to teach you.
Be willing to change.
Try new things.
Help the poor.
Be a friend to them.
Forgive those who have hurt you.
Be a peacemaker.
Let the Lord change you.

(October 25, 2003 7:43 AM CDT)

"The message of the cross is complete absurdity
to those who are headed for ruin,
but to us who are experiencing salvation
it is the power of God."
1 Corinthians 1:18

Why?
Why die?
You wonder why Jesus would die for us.
Why come to earth?
He has the whole universe.
He has power beyond all power.
Why worry about us?
I guess that is the way love is ---
it does not make sense.
He loves us that much.
Jesus, we thank you for loving us that much.

(October 24, 2003 6:16 AM CDT)

This morning I'm listening to cmradio.net .
It has a lot of Christian music to pick from.

I signed up with itunes .
You can download one song at a time for 99 cents.

Here is a picture from yesterday afternoon
of the garage where I played the piano
as a little kid.
There are many, many memories in that house.

Jesus said to them,
"What little sense you have!
How slow you are to believe
all that the prophets have announced!
Did not the Messiah have to undergo all this
so as to enter into his glory?"
Luke 24:25-26

They did not get it.
Jesus was the Messiah.
The prophets said he would come.
He would save his people.
They did not tie all their memories together.
Here it is 2,000 years later.
Are you slow to believe
all that Jesus has done?
He is the one.
There is no other.
He came to suffer and die for your sins.
He rose from the dead.
He did it for you.
Do you get it now?
Don't be slow to believe.

(October 23, 2003 6:27 AM CDT)

Where are we in the universe?
Here is an interesting picture .
You can zoom in and out of our location.
You kind of get God's point of view.
The universe is huge.

Jesus said to his disciples:
"The harvest is good,
but the laborers are scarce.
Beg the harvest master to send out
laborers to gather his harvest."
Matthew 9:37-38

Go out into your world.
Tell everyone the good news.
Tell them of what you have seen and heard.
Jesus is wonderful.
He is out of this world.
He made everything you see.
He is concerned about people on this little planet.
He cares about you and me.

(October 22, 2003 6:15 AM CDT)

(Update at 8:58 PM:
Here is a song from long ago .
I used to play this when I was a kid
on the piano in the garage.
It is very close to what I
used to play over and over to myself.
It is not exact.
I need to add the chords.
I'll keep working on it.
I never gave it a title.
It was a love song.
It had a few lyrics to it, but not many.
)

"When I call, answer me, O my just God,
you who relieve me when I am in distress..."
Psalms 4:2

Go to the Lord.
Talk to him.
He is a just God.
He will hear you.
He will answer your prayer.

(October 21, 2003 6:17 AM CDT)

"The Spirit God has given us is no cowardly spirit,
but rather one that makes us
strong, loving and wise.
Therefore, never be ashamed
of your testimony to our Lord..."
2 Timothy 1:7-8

Don't hide.
Don't run away.
Let people know that you love Jesus.
Tell someone.
Tell them he is your best friend.

(October 20, 2003 6:13 AM CDT)

"I could not see
because of the brilliance of the light.
I had to be taken by the hand
and led into Damascus by my companions."
Acts 22:11

What are friends for?
Hopefully you help each other.
You point out dangers and blind spots.
Jesus is that brilliant light.
Go toward him.
He will take you by the hand.

(October 19, 2003 7:04 AM CDT)

If you were watching the Nebraska football game yesterday,
you probably noticed the dark spots on the cameras
from time to time.
This was from Asian Lady Beetles .
They have invaded eastern Nebraska.
I counted about 20 on the south side of my house
yesterday afternoon.
I have never seen them before this year.

Jesus said,
"When you are invited by someone to a wedding party,
do not sit in the place of honor
in case some greater dignitary has been invited."
Luke 14:8

We want the first place in line.
We want to be served first at a restaurant.
We race to get ahead of people.
We think we are important.
Jesus says to humble yourself.
Slow down.
Don't be so conceited.
Be thoughtful to others.
Think of others first.

(October 18, 2003 8:09 AM CDT)

"Make ready the way of the Lord,
clear him a straight path."
Mark 1:3
Isaiah 40:3

John the Baptist announced the coming of Jesus.
He spoke out.
He was visible.
He prepared the way for the Lord.
Do you in some way announce the coming of the Lord?

(October 17, 2003 6:18 AM CDT)

(Update at 4:29 PM:
I got a used keyboard today,
so I can study music in more detail.
It will help me compose songs hopefully.

There was no owner's manual with it,
so I went surfing on the Internet to find one.
I found a manual, but it was not for this model.
It is very close, so I could figure it out.
I have the MIDI information going back and forth
between the PC and the keyboard.
That's kind of neat.
That took awhile to get going.
I had the In/Out plugs reversed.
In goes in Out and Out goes in In.
Very logical.
)

They just played this song on the radio.
It's by Avalon and it's titled New Day .
Click on this link and "New Day" to hear a sample of it.
Here are the lyrics for the song.
Avalon is one of my favorite groups.

"Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands;
serve the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful song."
Psalms 100:1-2

Yes, it is a new day.
Sing to the Lord with joy.
Raise up your voice.
Be glad and rejoice.
Jesus offers you new life each day.

(October 16, 2003 6:17 AM CDT)

"We are not among those who draw back and perish,
but among those who have faith and live."
Hebrews 10:39

Move forward.
Keep advancing.
Your goal is heaven.
Make progress everyday.
Don't give up.
Have hope in Jesus.
He will increase your faith.
He is life that never ends.

(October 15, 2003 6:12 AM CDT)

Jesus said,
"This is my body, which is for you.
Do this in remembrance of me."
1 Corinthians 11:24

Jesus is the bread of life.
Come to him.
Share in Holy Communion.
He wants to bless you.
It is for you.

(October 14, 2003 6:17 AM CDT)

Lately I've be reading all these
articles on songwriting .
You need to build a "hook" as they call it.
It is some catchy words or melody
that plays over and over in your listener's mind.

"I am not ashamed of the gospel.
It is the power of God leading everyone
who believes in it to salvation..."
Romans 1:16

There is power in words.
They can change your life.
They can lift your spirits.
They can give you strength.
Jesus is behind the words.
He is the great writer.
He backs them up.
Don't be ashamed to say you read the Bible.
Share the power.
Help others to find salvation.

(October 13, 2003 6:15 AM CDT)

Jesus said,
"If you can trust a man in little things,
you can also trust him in greater..."
Luke 16:10

The Lord has given you some talents.
What are you going with them?
He trusts you to use them.
He is counting on you.
He has bigger things planned.
He needs you.
Are you ready for more responsibility?

(October 12, 2003 7:10 AM CDT)

(Update at 8:30 PM:
Here is a picture of a

sailboat race on Lake Manawa
in Council Bluffs, Iowa this afternoon.
)

Here is the commercial (2.1 MB)
that we made back on October 1st.
It took from about 2 PM to 5 PM to make this.
I was holding one of the dark blue cards
that all together spelled out "Welcome."
I was sitting two people
to the left of the person speaking
just off camera.
I could read the cue cards.
I was close to the camera.
They kept changing the words around.
It took 30 or 40 takes to get it right
for holding the cards up and the speaking part.
Walking in and round the arena
and up the steps was easy.
That was 1 take each.
The music sounds nice.
I wonder what it is.
The pictures from around Omaha
at the beginning look great.
They will show it at events in the arena.

Jesus said,
"He who welcomes you welcomes me;
and he who welcomes me
welcomes him who sent me."
Matthew 10:40

Welcome others into your life.
Be open to new friends.
Be a friendly person.
Be open to the Lord.
Welcome Jesus into your life.
It is easy.
It does not take hours.
It only takes one line:
Jesus, I welcome you into my heart.

(October 11, 2003 7:32 AM CDT)

Yesterday I downloaded
NoteWorthy Composer Music Software .
It's not too bad.
Here is a song I entered yesterday titled,
This is the Day .
You will have to install their software (link "Try It")
to listen to this file.
It highlights the notes and lyrics, as it plays the song.
HCIT?
(Also, I just saved a MIDI version of this song.
Then you don't have to download their software.)
Then click on the "Play" button of their software.
The author and copyright on this are unknown.
I need to improve the violin section.
This is a common song that is sung in prayer groups.
The song is based on this scripture passage:

"This is the day the Lord has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it."
Psalms 118:24

Thank the Lord for today.
Thank him for the gift of life.
Be glad that you know Jesus.
He is the source of all our joy.
Rejoice in knowing God is here.
He loves us very much.
Thank him for music and
songs that lift our spirits.
Today is the day.

(October 10, 2003 6:13 AM CDT)

"I know, by the indications
Lord Jesus Christ has given me,
how close is the day
when I must fold my tent."
2 Peter 1:14

A few friends of mine have died this year.
It takes you by surprise.
You can't believe it is happening.
They go off to be with the Lord.
We must be ready.
You don't know the day.
Be ready to fold your tent and go home.

(October 9, 2003 6:07 AM CDT)

(Update at 8:27 PM:
Here is a magical picture that I found.
It was taken by Dave Wright.
)

"May he strengthen your hearts,
making them blameless and holy
before our God and Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus
with all his holy ones."
1 Thessalonians 3:13

Go to the Lord.
Run to him.
He is your source of strength.
He will get you through this day.
He is coming again.
Look for him.
Prepare for his arrival.
Be holy.

(October 8, 2003 6:17 AM CDT)

(Update at 7:35 PM:
Here are some pictures of the Cathedral
from a few hours ago.


Have you heard the new song
"Pray" by Darlene Zschech (1.06 MB)?
Take a listen.
)

On Sunday the Archbishop blessed
the new organ at St. Cecilia Cathedral .
Here are some pictures as it was being built.
It can be played in two temperaments:
well-tempered or meantone .
I will have to read up on them.

"The general rule is that each one
should lead the life
the Lord has assigned to them..."
1 Corinthians 7:17

We are all different.
We are all unique.
Be you.
Be what God has created you to be.
Allow the Lord to teach you.
Follow his lead.
You have an assignment.
No one else can do it.
What is your temperament?
What tone do you give to the world?

(October 7, 2003 6:06 AM CDT)

(Update at 9:00 PM:
The trees are changing color.
This is a picture from this afternoon.

It is fall in Nebraska.
)

"A third time Jesus asked Peter,
'Simon, son of John, do you love me?'
Peter was hurt because he had asked a third time,
'Do you love me?'
So he said to him,
'Lord you know everything.
You know well that I love you.'
Jesus said to him,
'Feed my sheep.'"
John 21:17

Three times Jesus asked a question.
Why?
Why ask the same thing over and over?
What is the meaning of this?
Some say it is because
Peter denied Jesus three times.
Peter needed forgiveness.
He needed healing.
Do you ever deny that you know Jesus?
Tell the Lord that you love him.

(October 6, 2003 6:16 AM CDT)

Here is what the local newspaper said about
the Life Chain yesterday here in Omaha.

Also, in the newspaper yesterday
5 year-old Madison Fricke of Lincoln was asked,
"What do you want to be when you grow up?"
She replied, "I just want to be me."
(Note: Look at the next picture below
at what it says at the top of the sign:
whatdoyouwanttabe?
I noticed that driving home from work today.
An interesting coincidence.)

"In the beginning was the Word;
the Word was in God's presence,
and the Word was God."
John 1:1

God always was.
He will always be.
He's been around a long time.
Believe in Jesus.
Trust in him.
He came to earth to save us.
He wants us to be with him forever.
Forever is a long time.
Pray.
Be in the presence of God.
Speak words of praise to him.
Be all that God wants you to be.

(October 5, 2003 6:27 AM CDT)

(Update at 6:46 PM:
Here is a picture from the Life Chain today.
I was west of 46th and Dodge
on the north side of the street.

It was very noisy with all the traffic going by.
Some people were honking their horns
and giving us a thumbs up.
There were a few giving us a different finger,
as they drove by.
You pray for them.
We had many people holding signs and praying.
It was a good turnout from what I saw.
It was warm (84 F degrees) and sunny.
)

The National Life Chain
is today from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM (or 2 PM to 3 PM)
in your local time zone.
Hold up a sign today and
pray for an end to abortion.
It does have an impact.
The number of abortions does drop
after this event.
It makes people think about
what they are doing.
Prayer changes things.

Jesus said,
"If one blind man leads another,
both will end in a pit."
Matthew 15:14

Who are you following?
Who are you with?
Stay near people close to the Lord.
Support each other.
Confirm one another.
Jesus will be with you both.
Don't end up falling into a pit.
Take the road that leads to life.

(October 4, 2003 6:46 AM CDT)

Yesterday I was reading about the
Just Intonation Network .
It has to do with music.
How do you set up the notes in an octave?
Today we have 12 equal steps
(12 semitones) in the chromatic scale.
Why? Why 12? It's a long story.
The problem is not all the steps are quite right.
They don't sound right.
So some people are looking at other ways
to set up the musical notes.
How about 43 steps per octave for example?
HCIT (How cool is that?)
My first thought after reading all this
is that nothing in music is going to change
very quickly in the near future.
The equal temperament using 12 steps
is well embedded in our culture.
BTW (by the way), they say that
Middle C is 261.63 Hz .
Each step is 1.059463094 (12th root of 2)
higher than the previous step.
This is just pure mathematics.
Our ears can detect differences of 1 Hz,
so if a note (in the 12 steps)
is off 3 Hz it is noticeable ---
to a musician it is probably a reason to cringe.

"Sing to God,
chant praise to his name..."
Psalms 68:4

Make beautiful music.
Sing to the Lord.
Praise the Lord with your voice.
Praise his name.
Make wonderful harmony (as best as you can).

(October 3, 2003 6:21 AM CDT)

"These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands
which stand in the presence of the Lord
of the earth."
Revelation 11:4

These are two witnesses.
They are there for all the world to see.
They are bright lights in the darkness.
Be a light.
Be a witness.
The Lord is with you.

(October 2, 2003 6:17 AM CDT)

"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose,
God will bring forth with him from the dead
those also who have fallen asleep believing in him."
1 Thessalonians 4:14

Believe in Jesus.
He died and rose for you.
He will bring you to life ---
now and after you have died.
Don't fall asleep without Jesus.

(October 1, 2003 6:27 AM CDT)

(Update at 7:24 PM:
This afternoon we were shooting a commercial at
the Qwest Center Omaha.

It was very interesting to watch and be in.
They filmed us walking in these doors
and up some stairs.
It was very easy.
They said to not look at the camera.
You had to sign a consent form,
so they could use your image.
Maybe I will be in the commercial.
I have never been on TV before.
)

"All were filled with the Holy Spirit."
Acts 2:4

The Holy Spirit is for everyone.
We need wisdom.
We need knowledge.
Come, Holy Spirit.
Guide us to the truth.