Christmas Song of the Day

Another great song about the birth of Jesus.  It isn't one of the christmas "classics," but still great nonetheless.

I Celebrate the Day - Relient K

Christmas Song of the Day

Handel's Messiah (Hallelujah Chorus)  One of the prettiest songs ever written.

Let Christmas Music Begin

I meant to start this on Dec 1 and clearly missed that, but for the month of December, I'm going to share a Christmas song everyday until Christmas.  It is also most appropriate to listen Christmas now as it is after Thanksgiving.  To make up for the past few days, here a few of my favorite Christmas songs as of late.

I hope that this blesses you and that you are having a wonderful Christmas season.  Enjoy.

Hillsong - Born is the King (It's Christmas)

Esterlyn - Light that was Born

My Little Drum (Charlie Brown Christmas) - Vince Guaraldi Trio

Music Videos

So I decided I'd give this whole blogging thing a try again.  I actually just wanted to post Christmas music videos once December comes, but I thought I would start early with this new recording from David Crowder.  For those of you that don't know, the David Crowder broke up earlier in the year.  Four of the members started a new band(and opened their own studio) called The Digital Age.  They are really good.  You can check them out here: thedigitalagemusic.com.  Crowder has been doing his own thing and just released a solo, acoustic EP thought iTunes Seesions.  Here is a link to his newest music video of one of his recent recordings.  Crowder - After All (Holy)  Enjoy.

How to Pray

Matthew 6: 9-13   This, then, is how you should pray:

1) Praise:  Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

2) Submission:  your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

3) Provision:  Give us today our daily bread.

4) Repentance Forgiveness:  Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.

5) Protection:  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.  Amen.



Pretty cool how easy it is.

Happy Birthday!!

Alas, October is here and in a few short weeks one of the greatest days in human history will be upon us: my birthday.  Now ordinarily I dislike asking/receiving birthday presents.  The whole exchange is awkward to me.  I will throw a few hints at my mother since she seems to enjoy lavishing me with gifts, but I usually don't request anything.

But this year is different.  I have decided that I would like everyone I know to purchase a gift for my birthday.  Notice I said "for my birthday" and not "for me." 

What I would humbly ask everyone to do is pick a charity and donate to it.  Make sure it is for a organization that upholds strong, christian ideals and truly works for the service of others.  Then, when you have contributed, pass this request along to someone else.  We are so fortunate in this country to be blessed with everything that God has given us and we owe it to the less fortunate to help. 

For those of you not sure of where to donate or support, I've done some research and become rather fond of several great organizations doing really great work.  I would highly recommend supporting any of these places.

www.toms.com
Toms shoes work with the one-for-one philosophy.  For every pair of shoes you buy, they donate a pair to a child in a third world country.  How cool is that!  Not only do you get to change the life of child, but you also get a little something in return.

www.miir.com
Miir water bottles work on a very similar premise as Toms shoes.  For every water bottle you buy, they donate $1 towards clean drinking water in countries that don't have it.  That one dollar will provide clean, healthy, safe drinking for someone for an entire year.

www.onedayswages.org
One Days Wages is just how it sounds.  You donate one days worth of your yearly salary, they use it to fight global poverty.  And one day's pay is only 0.4% of your yearly salary. 

www.bloodwatermission.com
Founded by the band Jars of Clay, blood:water mission does awesome fighting Aids and providing clean water to people.  They have lots of ways you can help.  Check out their website.

www.charitywater.org
Another great organization working to provide clean drinking water to people who need it most.  They have lot's of easy ways to donate too.

So in conclusion, yes my birthday really is in a few weeks, but please do not buy me anything.  Don't even donate anything for me.  Donate because you want to share the blessings that you have with others.  And don't be selfish.  Tell others about what you are doing and get them on board as well.

God Bless,

Eddy

Bucket List

Never made one of these before, thought it might be fun.

1. Skydive
2. Bungee Jump
3. Get a tattoo (at least one)
4. Get a motorcycle
5. Own/DJ for a pirate radio station on a boat anchored off shore
6. Play in a professional band
7. Attend Hillsong church in Sydney
8. See Top Secret Drum Corp play live in Basil, Switzerland
9. Visit Brouch, Luxembourg and drink a beer there
10. Go back to Turkana, Kenya
11. Visit all 50 states
12. Get Packers season tickets
13. See the Cubs win a World Series
14. Write a song
15. Write a poem
16. Learn to surf
17. Ride a horse
18. Run a marathon
19. Become nonallergic to cats
20. Backpack across Europe (so cliche)
21. Set a world record
22. Set a Guinness Book of World Record
23. Become a scratch golfer
24. Go on a missions trip
25. Live happily ever after

Hope I didn't miss anything...