Myspace Bulletin Challenge...

I challenged people on my myspace friends list to do something positive that would help others. Here is where they can post what they did and what the outcome was. I'm interested to see how many will take the challenge and what comes from it. I can't wait to hear your story!

Heart

Today God rolled away a huge stone that blocked the way to my heart. I have been attending church for a while. I thought that volunteering to help out with ushering would be one step closer to what God wanted for me. I believe Jesus died on the cross for my sins with all my mind body and soul. However, I realized today that I still had some walls that need torn down in order for God to work further in my life. Ever since I started attending Church the pastor asks people who want to accept Jesus into their heart to do so. He also asks people who have already accepted Jesus into their lives to re-dedicate themselves at the same time.

Every time I feel like raising my hand but never do because I figured I already have re-dedicated my self to the Lord. In many ways I have done that, through this blog, work, and Church. There is one place that still needed work. I could say that the thickest wall was in my heart. I’ve been struggling working on witnessing to people. I have a great desire to do so. I just shut down due to lack of nerves when it comes to it. The Lord has been acting like a personal trainer lately. Helping me in areas I need help in.

Today we talked about Luke 24: 13 – 25 in it two of Jesus apostles walked away from Galilee where Christ said he’d meet them after his death. This shows that they were only half hearted in their faith and did not believe Jesus would be able to come back to life after his horrific crucifixion. This is where I have been in my walk with the Lord. I know what is written in the bible and believe it, yet only half heartedly. If I believed full heartedly, I’d have no fear in witnessing to anyone at any time! Just as the apostles in Luke 24 I walked away from where Jesus said he’d meet me.

Today’s lesson struck a chord within me, and realized my area of weakness was my heart. Have you ever heard that a great boxer has a lot of heart? The same goes for the Christian that lives in the world. I may be a good Christian but a faithful Christian has a burning heart for the glory of God. Today my pastor asked those who needed that kind of burning desire to raise their hands. I was convicted by the Holy Spirit to do so. The moment I raised my hand I felt this vast amount of burden lifted from my heart. There was a great burning within it that was so relieving and I am so glad I raised my hand.

A large wall has been taken down that I didn’t realize was there. The stone has been rolled away from the tomb of my heart and I am able to live again. I am renewed and ready to further my walk. May every step lead me to what God desires. May all glory and praise be given to him. As we left Church today we came to our car. The battery was dead because I left the lights on. Read more about this here....

www.http://theharveyfamilys.blogspot.com/2008/03/walking.html

We ended up walking home and as we did so I could still feel what a great burden was lifted from my heart. The car is still sitting there waiting for a ticket and I have not communicated this with my wife yet in fear I will burst into tears.

So I am typing this while it is fresh and alive in my heart and mind. I learned a new lesson today. Even if you think you don’t need worked on. God will always show you that you do. Especially in places you least expect! I hope you all have a blessed week.

Sluggish Morning.

I am excited about Church today yet I am moving in slow motion. I don't think the coffee has kicked in yet. My Aunt is coming over today to use our computer so I think I'll use the opportunity to invite her to Church and kind of give her an overview of Fresh Life from the Fresh Life web page. If you have no clue what Fresh Life is. Check it out here....



www.freshlifechurch.org

Family Movie Night!

Tonight is family movie night!!! It is one of those bring your own pajamas night and eat nothing but junk food while you veg out and watch movies. One beautiful thing about technology is that we now have on demand! No more late fee's or going to the video store to rent movies. I am looking forward to doing nothing tonight and just relaxing. Also my kids are now playing Rockband with the music blasting!!!! I must be getting old cause I can hear my Step fathers voice speaking through me....TURN DOWN THAT MUSIC!!! Hold on I'm gonna snap some pictures so you can see!!!




Who needs to go to concerts when you can have a band play a private show in your living room? : )

Franks Red Hot Sauce!!!

It's only the best hot sauce EVER!!!! Just thought I'd share that with everyone! I don't know why but I am.

New Blog Layout...

Well I decided to create a new layout for my blog. I call this one "Black To Grey" and I think I like it better then my last layout. I am going to create a seperate blog specificaly for blogger layouts. Once I get a few done I'll post a link.

A blah day.....

Today was just another day. Nothing too exciting happening here in my world. The weather is beautiful outside. I might have to go for a walk with the wife here before the kids get home. I also plan on hitting John 2 with the kids today. It is so cool seeing them absorb the word of God. I wish I could have had someone teach me at a young age. My mom used to tell me about Jesus and pray nightly with me and my little bro.

She told me what she knew but we never had a famly time in the bible. I think that might have been a great thing for all of us back then. I am glad that I can teach my kids and share the word of the Lord with them freely. I am also looking forward to the weekly interface this coming week. Thank you all for your prayers. I hope you get the chance to enjoy the sun at least for a little while today. I'm going to get going so I can....blog at ya later!!!

If you don't make time for the Lord he'll do it for you!

How many times have you been too busy for the Lord. Or a better question is how many times have you choosen something over what the Lord would have you do? This is an update for my last post about an hour ago. It looks as if I will be walking to church tonight. This is not a bad thing at all!

I don't usually have alone time. I never really get to think or sit by myself. I used to do this often when I was younger and pray. I am blessed tonight for this opportunity to walk to church with only the Lord by my side. You see I oversept this morning cutting out my time with the Lord before work. Stacey had to go to church early tonight to run the computer for tonights service. This leaves me with no vehicle. So since I didn't make room for God this morning, he re-scheduled our appointment!

At times like these I just have to say.....God I love you! Your timing fills my heart with joy that overcomes any sort of guilt or sadness. I have been so blessed to know the Lord and realize he is what makes everything possible. I am grateful that I am not blind to his works and wonders. I can't imagine life without him.

Too Much Xbox!!!!

I slept in too much this morning because I played too much Xbox last night! I didn't have my normal time with the Lord this morning. I can see a dangerous trend forming here if I am not careful. I don't want to slip back into that again so I am dedicating nothing but reading the bible for the rest of the week instead of turning on the Xbox! Stacey you need to hold me to this!!! So that is what I am going to do this week so I don't turn back into a gaming zombie. I know it sounds stupid to some people but it really is a distraction if you let it turn into one.

I wonder if they have ever had a video game addict on the A&E T.V. show intervention? I know some people who skip work to play video games! Is that crazy or what? Oh well thats enough video game talk for now. I am going to do my daily bible reading I missed out on this morning. Take care everyone and I hope your week is going well!!!

Oh I must add that it was snowing a couple of minutes ago! Spring in Montana is weird! It will be sunny all day and then poof snow! I remember August of 96 I think it was about 90 degrees. I went to bed and woke up and the ground was covered in snow!!! The temperature went back up to 90 and needless to say the snow melted! Only in Montana will it be 90 degrees one day and snowy the next!

I don't know why I posted that? Other then the fact that the name of my blog is Todds random thoughts. So there you have a random thought to keep my blog title accurate!

Rainbow Six Vegas 2 Charity Event!

If you love Rainbow Six Vegas 2 and love to give to charity here is your chance to do both!!! That is if you live in Europe!!! A website I am part of is one of the many sites on board for a Rainbow Six Vegas Charity event to help raise funds for children in need. With Ubisoft and Xbox backing the event we hope many will be excited to play for fun and win money for children in need!!! For more information and prizes you can win......

CLICK BANNER FOR DETAILS!

Monday Mornin!!!

Well like always I am off to Sykes for some real bad coffee and some conversation with my brother. I am glad we have this time together. I'll have to snap a picture of the place. It is quite unique, like something out of a Quentin Tarantino movie! It is quite old school and could be scary if you weren't from around this neck of the woods. I love it!!!! I'll post a pic of it after I get back!!! There's nothin like 10 cent coffee and the smell of old spice to start off your Monday!!!

Easter Morning!

Today was a good day. We celebrated the resurection of Christ at church today and sang a lot of good music and heard a good sermon. Even thought my pastor was in pain and on pain medication, he pulled through 2 services. After Church we did the Easter basket thing and went on to our daily routines. I messed around a bit on Rainbow Six. There is this feature where you can scan your own face and put it on your character so your friends can see how ugly you are in real life! You see this feature can make you look like something from a horror movie or something the resembles you well.

In my case I look really scary!!! I fear it may give people including myself nightmares!!! Take a look for yourself! Not a very flatering picture if I do say so myself. However it makes people laugh and I like to hear that! If it doesn't make you laugh it will most likely be burnt into the dark recesses of your mind and haunt you in your sleep! Anyway we took some good pictures of the morning and I wanted to share some of my favorite ones. Stacey took this not this morning but last night. I thought it was quite creative! It is of the cups of die the kids used for coloring the Easter Eggs. The rest of the pictures are of Easter morning.






Oh by the way the cute little fuzzy toy animals you see play the most annoying music EVER!!!! They are one of those toys created to drive parents crazy after the cuteness wears off!!! All together today was awesome and I hope you had a wonderful Easter!

Easter Weekend!!!

I am excited for Church tomorrow! I often think that christians should live everyday like it is Easter. Often many only go to church on Easter Sunday. Sometimes that is the only time other then Christmas that they even open a bible or think of what Christ did for us. Why do most celebrate the death and crucifiction of Christ only on Easter Sunday? We as christians should celebrate it daily!!! Grace from that day started on that day and lasts through eternity. It doesn't end when church lets out. My challenge from this Easter on is to live each day in rememberance of what Christ did on the cross for all of us!

Often we all take for granted what was accomplished on the cross,and the sacrafice that took place there. I am guilty of this as I am sure many are. I hope this Easter is the Easter that will bring many to Christ who have never let him in. I pray that I may somehow bring others to see the grace and forgiveness given to us through Jesus Christ.

Below is a song that is perfect for this weekend and also every day that I remain walking in the grace granted to me by our Lord and Savior. My pastor found this on Youtube. It is Phil Wickham performing "True Love" at our church. It is now one of my favorite songs. I can't get it out of my head!!!

Today I pray.

Today I pray that God may gain glory through all of my actions, and that I may do his will willingly without hesitation. However he wants it to be done. Whenever he wants it to be done, and whatever he asks of me. I pray that I may gain strength from him that over powers any fear that binds me. May this day be lived for our God,and may the days that follow also be.

Sunday Morning.

Well what can I say. The cold war has started all over again. No not the "Cold War" but a cold war. Ashley and Jacob are sick again and both have ear infections and are on antibiotics. My wife Stacey is also sick again, and I feel the starts of the cold kicking in. Being that the kids were sick I stayed home with them while Stacey went to Church. I ended up watching the live cast and enjoyed listening to my pastors father step in and lead the service. My pastor wrecked his snomobile and broke his leg. He ended up having 3 hours of surgery and is still resting in the hospital.

Once I got some coffee and ate I sat down with the kids and lead them in bible study. We started in the book of John and read up until John 2. That doesn't sound like far to read. But there is much to explain it seems with every sentence. I tried to keep it a simple as I could so the kids didn't get too bored. I think they got a lot out of it. I could tell by thier eye's that they were very interested in what I was saying. I can't wait to read more to them! It is very rewarding to teach them about it. I hope they find it as fascinating as I do.

My Blogger Music..

You might be wondering what the heck is that??? Well I must admit I am somewhat of a dork when it comes to music. I like almost all music even the stuff that others would not normally think of listening to for enjoyment. My favorite music is musical scores from movies. From Star Wars and Indiana Jones to A Ghost In The Darkness! I have always loved scores. John Williams composer of Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Jaws is one of my favorite composers. I also am very fond of James Horner who composed music for Brave Heart, Titanic, and Legends Of The Fall.

There are so many more I could name. I own over 100 Soundtracks and can tell the styles of each composer from the other. I can usually tell who composed a soundrack to a movie within 40 seconds of the begining of movies I haven't seen yet. That is how much of a dork I am when it comes to that music. The music you hear now is "Mogadishu Blues" from Black Hawk down. It is one of my favorite songs on the soundtrack. It was composed by Hanz Zimmer who also composed Scores for "Top Gun" and others like "The Lion King" and "Pearl Harbor".

One of the reasons I love this music is because it uses instruments to stimulize the imagination. In the song you hear now. Hanz Zimmer makes the instruments sound like Helicopters in the distance using only music for the effect. People don't usually notice things like that and I find it brilliant!!!

LOL...Sorry my true dork hood has been shown. But it amazes me and I can't help it.
I think I might have to look for a new soundtrack to pick up. It has been a while since I have.

(If for some reason you read this after I have changed the song on my blog. Press play on the player below to hear what I am talking about)

The Best Hospital Food Known To Human Kind!!!

When most people think of Hospital food. They think of prime rib that tastes like cardboard. Or instant eggs with a side of unsalted hash browns that are room temperature. People who vision hospital food this way have not eaten at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. We had an emergency today and had to take my daughter to Urgent Care. She has horrible ear infections in both ears and cannot hear. After waiting in the waiting room for an hour. Our stomachs begin to rumble and we decided to get something to eat after the examination. Once we got a prescription for my daughter we headed toward one of the few places you can get a really good lunch!

Located on Pill Hill on the second floor of the hospital sits a little known cafeteria with the best food EVER!!! The picture to the left does not do the food justice. What you see there is a huge hamburger called the Black Tail. On top of a beef patty sits what looks like a pound of Black Forest Honey Ham, and about a pound of Swiss Cheese!!! Nestled in between two hamburger buns. The burger was so big that the fries needed to be placed on their own plate. All of their sandwiches are this awesome and rival most if not all sandwiches at other restaurants in the whole Flathead Valley.

I snapped that picture with my cell phone just so I could show people the food that is available at our local Hospital. People think I'm crazy when I tell them that a great place to eat is the hospital. Little do they know I am right and once you eat there you'll start taking dates there!!! Ok maybe not but the food is good enough to risk it!!! Anyway that is my blog for today. Completely random and all about a hamburger? My daughter should be well enough to go to school here soon I hope. Once she can hear she'll be able to head back.

I am excited for tomorrow!!!

I love Wendsday nights they are one of my favorite nights of the week. I go to my Church every Wendsday night to study the book of Ephesians. Our pastor is awesome at digging into the world and describing truths within scripture so everyone can relate to it and understand it. However tomorrow is going to be even better. One of my all time favorite pastors is going to be a guest speaker. Greg Laurie is amazing and I have listened to him as early as 1999. I am truely blessed to beable to hear him in person, I can't wait!!!! If you never heard Greg Laurie before I urge you to give him a listen here....

http://www.harvest.org/podcast/

I hope you take the time to listen he is truely awesome!

Just click on banner for more info....

My Opinion Of Army Of Two.

The plot was good and could have made it a great video game. However whoever wrote the script and diolgue must have just graduated out of junior high. It was horrible and it really was written poorly. I am not exagerating when I state that every other word was the F-Bomb. I should play it again and count how many times the F-Bomb was dropped within the diologue.

It completely ruined the game for me. It fit with the general populus of Xbox Live language wise. It was as if they were using the F-bomb to make the game cool. I am completely dissapointed in EA for allowing this. As for game play I think it was exciting and fun. However the tips you get in the loading menu are horrible. One of them was.....M134 what else needs to be said.

The M134 is a gatling gun that costs 175,000 dollars. You need to save money earned throught the game to buy it. I played throug almost all the levels and saved money just to blow it on an over rated gun dew to a game tip. That gun was horrible! I could have used all that money for upgrades for my weapons. Over all the game was entertaining and I haven't played Xbox with my wife forever!!!

I enjoyed the gaming with my wife and I look forward to Rainbow Six Vegas 2 so we can play a game without hearing the F-bomb dropped every 5 seconds. I'll probably burn Army Of Two now that I've seen what it has to offer the young ears of the world. Parents always screen those video games!!!!

Army Of Two...

I just picked up Army Of Two for the Xbox 360. I am looking forward to playing it with my wife. Nothin like some husband and wife bonding while playing the 360!!!

Amazing Prophecy!!!

I read this this morning. It hit me like a ton of bricks. This was the first time I read this and it blew me away. This is about Jesus Christ, and what strikes me is that those who read it back then would be wondering what it meant. The would not clearly see it as we do today. Not only does it use historical references as metaphors but it speaks of future history using those metaphors.

This is multi-leveled and could be read multiple ways if we lived back then when it was written. However we are blessed to live after the fulfillment of this prophecy. So we can admire and see the different levels within this prophecy. All I can say is amazing!!! It was written by Isaiah between 739 and 680 B.C. that is almost 800 years before it came to pass!!!!

I'll put in parenthesis colored blue what I got out of it. However let me say I am no Scholar nor a historian and I am not to proud to say I am wrong. So please point any errors you may see. Again what is in blue is what I got out of it. I do not claim it to be accurate but I think I am pretty close. The can be much written and talked about all of this. I just hit the tip of the ice burg I believe.



Isaiah

CHAPTER 52

Deliverance for Jerusalem

1 Wake up, wake up, O Zion! Clothe yourselves with strength. Put on your beautiful clothes, O holy city of Jerusalem, for unclean and godless people will no longer enter your gates. 2 Rise from the dust, O Jerusalem. Remove the slave bands from your neck, O captive daughter of Zion.

(Above is the promise of salvation. Jerusalem is not only literal but also a metaphor for those who accept Christ as savior as well as the new Jerusalem that ascends from heaven to Earth in the book of Rev.)

3 For this is what the Lord says: “When I sold you into exile, (Reference to Adam and Eve being cast out from The Garden Of Eden as well as the Jewish people exiled in the book of Exodus.) I received no payment. Now I can redeem you without paying for you.”(Saying he owes Satan nothing.) 4 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Long ago my people went to live as resident foreigners in Egypt. Now they have been oppressed without cause by Assyria. 5 And now, what is this?” asks the Lord. “Why are my people enslaved again?(This again refers to Adam and Eve as well as Mosses and the Exodus. Assyria is not only literal but also a metaphor for Satan and the oppression of sin.) Those who rule them shout in exultation. My name is being blasphemed all day long. 6 But I will reveal my name to my people, and they will come to know its power.(Obviously Jesus Christ is the name he speaks of.) Then at last they will recognize that it is I who speaks to them.”7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel* reigns! (I think this is a way of symbolizing the Crucifiction of Christ on Golgotha.) 8 The watchmen shout and sing with joy, for before their very eyes they see the Lord bringing his people home to Jerusalem.* 9 Let the ruins of Jerusalem break into joyful song, for the Lord has comforted his people. He has redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The Lord will demonstrate his holy power before the eyes of all the nations. The ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.11 Go now, leave your bonds and slavery. (By accepting Christ as savior we do this.) Put Babylon (The World) behind you, with everything it represents, for it is unclean to you. You are the Lord’s holy people. Purify yourselves, you who carry home the vessels of the Lord. (The Holy Spirit within us.) 12 You will not leave in a hurry, running for your lives. For the Lord will go ahead of you, (Jesus ascending into heaven after Crucifiction and the resurrection.) and the God of Israel will protect you from behind.The Lord’s Suffering Servant13 See, my servant will prosper; he will be highly exalted. (Jesus) 14 Many were amazed when they saw him* —beaten and bloodied, so disfigured one would scarcely know he was a person. (During Crucifiction)15 And he will again startle* many nations. Kings will stand speechless in his presence. For they will see what they had not previously been told about; they will understand what they had not heard about. (Referring to the teachings of Jesus Christ. As well as the Kings who stand before him on the day of Judgement.)

How wonderfully multi-leveled is this prophecy!!! If what I got out of it is right I am awed!!!

Inspiring morning!!!

My usual routine in the morning is to eat a bowl of cereal while coffee is brewing. Once coffee is done I poor a cup and crack open the bible and read until it is time to go to work. I came upon this passage in the bible. It really hit a chord in me. So I figured I'd share it with you all. This is from the book of Isaiah 50:4-11. I've been looking for strength in letting others know about the lord and this was there for encouragement in doing so.



The Lord’s Obedient Servant

4 The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know what to say to all these weary ones. Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will. 5 The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me, and I have listened. I do not rebel or turn away. 6 I give my back to those who beat me and my cheeks to those who pull out my beard. I do not hide from shame, for they mock me and spit in my face.7 Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be dismayed. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will triumph. 8 He who gives me justice is near. Who will dare to oppose me now? Where are my enemies? Let them appear! 9 See, the Sovereign Lord is on my side! Who will declare me guilty? All my enemies will be destroyed like old clothes that have been eaten by moths!10 Who among you fears the Lord and obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the Lord and rely on your God. 11 But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires. This is the reward you will receive from me: You will soon lie down in great torment.

Glitchin!

Looks like I have a few bugs to work out with this templet I created. I don't think I'll do that today. I need to read my book and go grocery shopping and spend some time with my wife and kids. I also have to endure the elliptical again today! I am so not looking forward to it, but at the same time I am??? I might play a little Xbox today with my friend Brian whom I've know from grade school. That should be fun!!!

Getting Creative!

Well I am messing around with my blogger theme. With the help of my awesome wife! I am learning how to munipulate the Html code so I can fully customize my layout here on blogger. So far it is pretty cool! I can pretty much create whatever I want and tweak it to fit into my blog. What you are looking at is what I have done so far. I'll probably change it up if I come up with a better design. Yet another thing to waste time with!!! LOL.... it is fun and keeps me outta trouble!!! Thanks for your help hun!!!

Post Script:

I had to add that this is very frusterating and my background won't repeat to the right!!! ARGGGH!!! Also my picture won't align so I think I have to crop it!!! LOL....Myspace eat your heart out!!!