Traylor Wedding 12.20.2008

Hey all….

Just wanted y’all to know I got some wedding pictures loaded into my Picasa account. You can view them by clicking the picture, or clicking here. You can also click on the “Photos” link on the right side of the screen, and view the other albums I have on Picasa. I don’t have a ton of pictures loaded, and I don’t know how often I’ll do that. But we’ll see. Anyways, enjoy!

Also, You can check out our photographers’ (Altmix Photography) blog of our wedding here, a slideshow here, and the rest of our photos from them here. (To view these photos use Vanessa’s maiden name “settelen” as the password). You can also view their blog of our engagement photos here.

I’ve been really impressed by this guy as I’ve listened to his lyrics and read his blog. Anyways, he is giving his CD away on NoiseTrade for free, and so I thought I’d share with y’all the lyrics to one of his songs that I really have enjoyed, as well as the links to his website and blog. I highly recommend downloading his CD, and checking him out.

• Matt Papa’s Website
• Matt Papa’s Blog
• Download Matt Papa’s CD at NoiseTrade Here

“Woe to You” (click this link to here a 30 second demo)

Religious people
You white-washed tombs
You’re beautiful on the outside
But you’re full of bones

You look very religious
You follow all your little rules
But you don’t follow Jesus
You just talk like you should

Woe to you, woe to you
All your pretty words sound like filthy rags
Woe, woe to you

Prosperity and progress
You say bless me indeed
You fill up your bank accounts
While children die in their need

One day you’ll retire
You’ll have a house on the sea
But my friend where your treasure is
That’s where your heart’s gonna be

Woe to you, woe to you
You call him Lord but He’s just your genie
Woe, woe to you

Where is the justice?
Who’s preaching the truth
Your sermons are entertaining
And your churches are cool

You’re grieving His Spirit
And You’re winning the lost
To a worthless religion
Cause you don’t talk about the cross

Woe to you, woe to you
Your gospel is tickling our ears to death
Woe, woe to you

Where is the justice and mercy
And walking humbly with Your God
Who’s caring for orphans and widows
And living holy in this world
For this is what He requires

Woe to you, woe to you
For many will come to Him on that day
And say Lord, Lord, but He’ll say
Woe, woe to you

Woe to you, woe to you
Repent before it’s too late

First, I am excited that someone other than a white man has become president. Last night I was watching the news, and they were doing a story on people who were coming from around the US for Obama’s inauguration. One of the people that came was a black man who was from Louisanna, and was 100 years old. He has seen and been through a lot of racisim. While they were interviewing him, he was crying and thanking the Lord for allowing him to see the day that a black man became president. I couldn’t help but be excited along with him. There is no doubt that our country has been gripped by the sin of racism ever since it’s birth. So we should praise the Lord that He has allowed a new milestone to be reached. But of course, if you read my previous post, you’ll know that though I’m excited about a black person becoming president, I’m not excited about the person who is becoming president.  Anyways, I’m not going to spend time on that issue.

My next point is the issue of hope. I’m sure you’ve seen that famous picture by now of Obama and the word “HOPE” written accross the bottom (if you haven’t, just look back at the beginning of my blog). People desperately want to be saved. So they’re putting their hope in Obama. Going back to that piece I saw on the news last night: another woman is a mother of something like 6 or 7 kids. They live in Chicago in a tiny apartment, and don’t have very much. But this woman so desperately wants Obama to be her Savior, that for the last few months she has been saving up a few thousand dollars so that she and her kids could go to DC for the inaguration. In the media’s eyes, that’s a great story to report on. But in reality, that is just sad. That mother is throwing away money, that her family needs, to go see smoke and mirrors. They may be satisfied, entertained and comforted at first, but at some point Obama is going to let her down, and without her hope only in Chrsit Jesus, her soul is still going to be starving.

My heart aches every time I see that picture. This country is mocking God with this picture. We are mocking God. I Thessalonians 1:3 clearly reminds us that we should only have a “steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ”. God tells us through the prophet Isaiah (2:22) to “stop regarding man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils. For why should he be esteemed?” Or, in the words of The Message (I really like how it puts it…) “Quit scraping and fawning over mere humans; so full of themselves, so full of hot air! Can’t you see there’s nothing to them?”

We were created to worship God. One way we worship Him is to put our hope in Him, and His promises He has made to us. But because of sin, we screw up and put our hope in “mere men”, and the promises they make. First, that is sinful, and despicable in the eyes of God. Second, because they are “mere men”, they and their promises WILL fail us.

Finally, Christian, how are you responding to this? We should be so saddened to see how our country, and fellow countrymen are running to a mere man for salvation. It should upset us so much that we are more than willing to speak out about the error of their ways…even if we will face persecution. Remember, “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (I Corinthians 1:18)

I pray the Lord will use the words from this hymn to encourage you:

My Hope is Built (The Solid Rock)

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

So, as you can gather from the title, I didn’t vote for our President-elect. Now, I am excited that a black president has been elected. I guarantee you 50 years ago during the Civil Rights movement no one would have believed you if you said 50 years later America would elect an African American for president.  So it’s exciting that barrier has been broken down. But sadly, I don’t agree with Obama on really anything (except that college football needs a playoff system!), and so I’m not thrilled that he is our president.

Well I have the right to complain about him now, right? Some people would say I do. I’ve heard a lot of times from people that you don’t have the right to complain about politics if you didn’t vote…so therefore, you do have the right to complain if you did vote. But is that how Christians should view it? NO. As a Christian we are given clear guidelines from God what role we should play, and what we should be doing. We must be praying for our leaders (I Tim. 2:1-8), honoring them (1 Pet. 2:13-18), submitting to them (Rom. 13:1-7; Tit. 3:1), and seeking righteousness for the entire citizenry (Prov. 14:34).

I also want to quickly look to Habakkuk 1. I read this last week during a quiet time, and the Lord has continued to bring it back to my mind these last few days. In that passage God declares He would raise up the Babylonians to conquer the Israelites. The Babylonians god was not Yahweh, but rather their strength (vs. 11). And yet, God promised He would raise up a people who did not belong to Him to bring about His will. Perhaps God is doing that today? Perhaps God raised up Obama to bring about His will? America is crying for change right now. Only God can give them that true change they need. But right now most Americans are looking to a man to give them what they need. Perhaps we need to be led just a little further into darkness before God will begin to stir within Americans hearts and allow them to see that their hope must not be placed in creation, but in the Creator! I pray November 4th, 2008 will be a day people look back on and compare to October 31st, 1517 (Martin Luther nailing the 95 thesis)…perhaps God will use Barak’s election to push America into a revival.

Lastly, I’d like to share some other links with you. These are really good articles written in regards to either the election in general, or President Obama:

• “Living Soli Deo Gloria Under Obama”. This is a guest post by Eric Redmond over at Justin Taylor’s Between Two Worlds blog. Mr. Redmond shares his struggles as a Christian and African-American, who celebrates the election of our first black president, but, because of his Christian beliefs, does not support Obama. Very interesting read. He also looks at our duties as Christians…one major one being prayer for Obama.
• Albert Mohler looks at the election of Obama from a Christian perspective in, “America Has Chosen a President”. Dr. Mohler looks at the monumental moment this is, but also reminds us Christians of the huge battle that is now before us, as well as the importance of us praying for President-elect Obama.
• “Praying for President Obama”. Josh Harris reminds us of the importance of praying for our new president. (If you haven’t caught on yet, I think prayer for Obama is something that is so crucial…we Christians must be lifiting up Obama to the Lord…praying for either his salvation [if he's not a Christian] or a lot of maturing in his walk with the Lord [if he is a Christian], and for a Heavenly wisdom.)
• “In God We Do Not Trust”. This is an article from Mark Driscoll (pastor at Mars Hill Church in Seattle) that he sent out on election day. It is a good reminder that politicians are not our savior. Politicians are men…therefore they are sinners…therefore they will let us down. Are you looking to Obama to save you? If so, be warned: He WILL fail you. Or are you looking to Jesus to save you? Only Jesus can save you!

Last Week:

I had already begun packing up some stuff a few weeks ago, but last week in the evenings after work I really started packing hardcore.

Thursday:

On Thursday the POD (a portable storage unit) that has been at my parents’ house was moved to my house. After I got off work I went over to the house to begin unloading things and cleaning. The house, having been empty for a while now, and also having had the floors re-done, was quite dusty. Vanessa was sweet and went on over after school earlier in the day and began cleaning. When I got there I helped some with cleaning, but I focused mostly on the home theater/entertainment center! My logic was this: Let’s have that set up so that on Saturday when we have people over, we can have music going. Vanessa didn’t have any problems with my logic, so I tackled putting together our new TV stand I got off Craigs List. Around 10:30 Vanessa and I left…and were pretty tired.

Friday:

Friday morning I went and picked up Vanessa and we went to our house to begin working on it some more. I spent a while hooking up all of my sound stuff, and Vanessa was putting stuff in the kitchen cabinets and still cleaning. During that time, Vanessa’s best friend Elizabeth came by to see the house. The 3 of us went and got lunch at Groucho’s, and then met up with Andrew, Elizabeth’s fiance. Then the 4 of us went back to the house, and Andrew and Elizabeth helped us a lot in unloading stuff from the POD and setting things up.

Late Friday night I packed up a lot of my clothes and other stuff at my parents house that I needed to have when I moved. And also loaded up stuff in my friend’s Tahoe (my friend let us borrow his Tahoe and trailer to pack up stuff).

Saturday:

Saturday morning I finished loading up my car, and headed over to the house around 10. Vanessa arrived shortly after me, and our helpers began trickling in. A group of our friends and family (Charlie, Lauren, Doreen, Kevin, Adam, Vanessa’s mother, step dad and brother, and my mom) came and spent much of the day helping us unload the POD and begin unpacking things. The POD was scheduled to be picked up on Monday, so we wanted to get it completely cleared out. It was such a blessing to have all that help. God has blessed me and Vanessa with such sweet and willing friends and family! Praise the Lord! Anyways, we worked hard pretty much the whole day. Finally, around 6 everyone had headed on out, with the POD emptied out, and a lot of stuff already unpacked and set up! Me, Vanessa, Charlie and Lauren went our separte ways to shower and change, then went and got some dinner, and then went to my parents house and watched the USC game (my dad recorded for us). Then I headed back to my house and spent my first night there.

So that’s pretty much what has happened. Since then we’ve spent a little time unpacking things, but not too much. Vanessa is busy with school, so she hasn’t been around the house much right now because of tests. But she has her Fall Break this week, so she doesn’t have class on Thursday, so she’s planning on working some in the house this weekend. I’m planning on really trying to clear out my room at my parent’s house this weekend, and once I have all that stuff, then I can focus more on setting up everything at the house.

Anyways, this is a long post. The following is a picture of when we first started working in the house, and a link to more pictures. I hope to take some more recent photos and share those with y’all as well.

Painting the House Album

Thorn – something that wounds, annoys, or causes discomfort (According to Dictionary.com)
What are the treasured parts of a flower? The colors and the scent…NOT the thorns. Thorns only cause pain. They are disposed of. Before being redeemed by Christ, I was an enemy of God, and therefore I was like the tares in Matthew 13:24-30. Without Christ I would be bundled up with the other tares and tossed into the fire to burn.

Secondly, when I came across William Cowper’s hymn, “Sight of the Cross”, I really loved the 3rd verse. I love the image of God’s grace flowing from Him and is so powerful it can turn a Wretched Thorn Like Me into something beautiful. That image also reminds me of the story of Naaman, who suffering from leprosy, went to God to be healed. He was told to go under seven times in the Jordan. After the seventh time when he came up his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child; he was clean. That is what the blood of Christ has done to me! God is truly amazing and worthy of all my praise!

Right now I honestly don’t exactly know what you can expect. I plan to share with you things God has taught me, as well as things God is teaching me. I probably will give you glimpses into my personal life. For example, I’m getting married in December to my love and my best friend. So I’ll probably share about what it’s like as a newlywed. Also, I bought a house a month ago, and will be moving in this weekend. So I’ll share what it’s like as a beginner homeowner. I love music. I’ll probably share some of the music I write and record. One idea I’ve had is that I may periodically do a devotional, and of course use the Bible, but use songs to help structure these devotionals. These songs may range from old hymns, to musicians like Hannah Dixon or Andrew Peterson, or to stuff you may not be used to, such as rappers like Lecrae.

But one thing is for certain: My goal and desire for this blog is to point us to God.

I thirst, but not as once I did,
The vain delights of earth to share;
Thy wounds, Immanuel, all forbid
That I should seek my pleasures there.

It was the sight of Thy dear cross
First weaned my heart from earthly things;
And taught me to esteem as dross
The mirth of fools and pomp of kings.

Oh for that grace that springs from Thee,
And quickens all things where it flows,
And makes a wretched thorn like me
Bloom as the myrtle, or the rose.

Dear fountain of delight unknown!
No longer sink below the brim;
But overflow, and pour me down
A living and life-giving stream!

For sure of all the plants that share
The notice of thy Father’s eye,
None proves less grateful to His care,
Or yields him meaner fruit than I.