Bekah: "Daddy, do you know what my favorite food is...outside of candy?"
Daddy: "I don't know, tell me?!?!"
Bekah: "salt."
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Bekah composes her first song
This weekend, Bekah composed her first song on the piano! ...a worship song! She calls it "Sing the song of Grace." She is so amazing!
She wrote the music sheet on a sheet of paper - complete with lyrics and notes! Then she memorized the song and played it for Tammy and I. When Bekah gets motivated about learning something, she doesn't back off until she has blown my mind away.
P.S. We have only had the piano for 8.5 months, and she has only been playing diligently for about 2 months!
She wrote the music sheet on a sheet of paper - complete with lyrics and notes! Then she memorized the song and played it for Tammy and I. When Bekah gets motivated about learning something, she doesn't back off until she has blown my mind away.
P.S. We have only had the piano for 8.5 months, and she has only been playing diligently for about 2 months!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
JesusCulture Awakening Conference Recap - Session 2
So after grabbing dinner and changing out of my work clothes (yes, I went to Session 1 in dress clothes - I stuck out like a sore thumb!), I headed back to the arena for Session 2. While waiting for Session 2 to start, the woman to my right from Session 1 comes up and sits next to me (it is assigned seating). Her name is Richelle and we start chatting. First it is typical stuff - I show her pics of the three most lovely women in the world (Tammy, Bekah and Caroline) - she tells me a little about growing up in Clearwater and where she's been since.
I ask Richelle about Moody College and she tells me how cool it is to be at this college where everyone is just deeply looking to be used by God. She talks about the wide variety of backgrounds of people - she is a Christian Jew who went to Countryside High in Clearwater, one of her schoolmates is a 17 yr old girl straight out of homeschool, and another schoolmate is from the Cogno, where he was captured as a 6 yr old boy by the rebel forces, and forced into the militia. But when the rebels ordered this boy to kill a friend, he couldn't pull the trigger. So they cut off both of his arms at the shoulders. The rebels treated him like a dog for years...forcing him to eat from the trash. Until one day he and another boy escaped to a nearby village. The village took him in and eventually they all pooled together all that they had...which was a bunch of goats...to send this boy to the US so that he could study the Bible and come back to be their pastor. So now this armless boy is at Moody Bible Institute studying God's Word in depth with Richelle and the homeschooled 17 yr. old. Seriously???
On any normal day in any normal week, that's just a crazy story about some kid from half-of-the-world away. On any normal day, I move on with my life and completely forget about it until I ride the Congo River Rapids at Busch Gardens or go to Congo River mini golf. BUT NOT THIS WEEK! This week, I've been reading this book that Ryan Rase gave me last Christmas - "The Hole in our Gospel." This book was written by the President of World Vision (the Christian organization that wants you to sponsor dying, starving kids in Africa). And this book is chuck full of similar stories as the one that Richelle told me about tonight. The book details the immense poverty in Africa through statistics and stories of individuals that bring those statistics to life. Then the author ties God's love for the poor/exploited to a call to action for Americans to reach the world for Christ through meeting their physical and spiritual needs. My spirit has been completely impacted by this book this week that Tammy and I have been actively working towards how we redirect more giving toward God's kingdom building in Africa. So Richelle's story isn't something I am going to forget - it was another "kick in the pants" from God saying, "are you getting involved with what I'm doing in Africa yet???"
...all of this before Session 2 even starts!!!!
Okay on to Session 2. In Session 2 the worship comes first, then the sermon. The place was packed again, and Hillsong rocked the place. I'm [apparently] not the biggest Hillsong groupie because I only knew half of the songs (the older ones), but it was great worship! During "From the Inside Out" the guitar player barely had to push out a couple of notes before the crowd took over for the rest of the song....nearly entirely acapella. I'm pretty sure that worship in Heaven is going to sound a lot like that! The worship was moving and Christ was clearly there - Hands raised high, tears falling, no holding back.
During a break in worship, a woman comes up to promote a charity that works in conjunction with JesusCulture. I DARE YOU to guess what kind of charity this is. Go ahead, guess... Yep, she runs a Christian organization in Kenya, Africa that takes orphans, teaches them typical school stuff, teaches them about God, gives them skills, and sends them back into their country to be nation changers for God. God is still kicking me in the pants saying, "are you getting involved with what I'm doing in Africa yet???" I'm not sure what God thought I was going to do between 7PM and 8PM to get on mission with what He's doing in Africa, but he's gone waaaaaay beyond a gentle tug at me...the Holy Spirit is beating me over the head with a hammer at this point. Time to get in the game.
After worship, they had these two girls come on stage and talk about how they had come to the JC conference a day early to participate in the "school for evangelism." In this 1-day pre-conference, JC leaders taught them how to evangelize and pray...and heal people. yep, you read that right...heal people. so these two girls go out into Lincoln Park (downtown Chicago) and try to witness and get shot down a bunch of times. they're feeling kinda down but they feel led to take the train back to the conference. So they jump on the blue line. One girl is on facebook while the other sleeps. then the train stops. One girl suggests to the other that they start a church service in the train. its not like anyone can escape, right? her friend shrugs off the idea. then, the first girl's knee starts to hurt. And she instantly remembers from the school for evangelism that if something starts to hurt, sometimes that's a sign that someone around you has an ailment that needs healing. So she jumps up and asks the train if anyone's knee hurts, because her knee hurts?!?!? This old dude speaks up and says his knee doesn't hurt, but he has major back issues. They ask if they can pray for him. He consents. They go over and lay hands on him and pray. ....and instantly - BOOM! - he's healed. The guy stands up straight as a rail, stretches his back, and instantly the pain is gone! As the girls tell the story on the stage, they can't help but run around dancing for God. Giddy as school girls. Blows their minds away - they've never prayed for anyone like that ever before. And God worked a miracle through them! ....almost too crazy to be true...and if I wasn't feeling God's presence like I had at this conference, I might doubt it....but not today. not after what I've seen and experienced.
After this testimony, Banning Liebscher (the head evangelist dude at JC) gets up and preaches. His message is around Matthew 24:14 - "Many are called but few are chosen." Banning said that this verse used to puzzle him. He wanted to be called. He wanted to be chosen. But how would you know if you were called? how would you know when you were chosen? Then he says that Jesus called everyone (Great Commission), but that Jesus' message was usually so hard to swallow, that very few people were willing to follow him. For example, in Luke 14:25-33 Jesus says "If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be a disciple of mine." Who hates their father/mother/wife/children/self???? Only those crazy enough to stick around through that were the ones who God "chooses." ...those who say "Yes, Lord. Sounds crazy, but I'm in!" But God doesn't want part of us, he wants ALL of us - total surrender. Jesus tells us to count the costs before making the decision.
Banning leads a sinners prayer and asks for all of those who either accepted Christ for the first time or who have had a major recommitment to Christ after straying FAR away to stand up. literally hundreds of people stand. HUNDREDS! There's a Heaven-style celebration that breaks out - high five-ing all around. But Banning isn't done...
He resumes his message and asks, "Who is ready to say 'Yes, Lord' to following His will for your life." total surrender. being a revivalist for the world. Not part of you...ALL of you. Who wants to be leaders in the revival? who is willing to give up their entire lives for His will? he asks this while everyone has their heads bowed and eyes closed. Then he asks for those who are "in" to stand up and raise both hands to God. EVERYONE stands up. Or if anyone didn't stand, I didn't see them. No joke - 15,000 committed people...after a really tough sermon, quite frankly. I stood too (and raised my hands too - I'm a total Pentecostal at this point - Idlewild is never going to let me back in - LOL). If there's anything that's been holding me back, I'm ready to give it up. Earlier I sang "Your will above all else; My purpose remains the art of losing myself in bringing You praise." Time to really mean it. I don't fully know what that means yet, but it sure feels like a deeper level of commitment than I've made before in my life.
I ask Richelle about Moody College and she tells me how cool it is to be at this college where everyone is just deeply looking to be used by God. She talks about the wide variety of backgrounds of people - she is a Christian Jew who went to Countryside High in Clearwater, one of her schoolmates is a 17 yr old girl straight out of homeschool, and another schoolmate is from the Cogno, where he was captured as a 6 yr old boy by the rebel forces, and forced into the militia. But when the rebels ordered this boy to kill a friend, he couldn't pull the trigger. So they cut off both of his arms at the shoulders. The rebels treated him like a dog for years...forcing him to eat from the trash. Until one day he and another boy escaped to a nearby village. The village took him in and eventually they all pooled together all that they had...which was a bunch of goats...to send this boy to the US so that he could study the Bible and come back to be their pastor. So now this armless boy is at Moody Bible Institute studying God's Word in depth with Richelle and the homeschooled 17 yr. old. Seriously???
On any normal day in any normal week, that's just a crazy story about some kid from half-of-the-world away. On any normal day, I move on with my life and completely forget about it until I ride the Congo River Rapids at Busch Gardens or go to Congo River mini golf. BUT NOT THIS WEEK! This week, I've been reading this book that Ryan Rase gave me last Christmas - "The Hole in our Gospel." This book was written by the President of World Vision (the Christian organization that wants you to sponsor dying, starving kids in Africa). And this book is chuck full of similar stories as the one that Richelle told me about tonight. The book details the immense poverty in Africa through statistics and stories of individuals that bring those statistics to life. Then the author ties God's love for the poor/exploited to a call to action for Americans to reach the world for Christ through meeting their physical and spiritual needs. My spirit has been completely impacted by this book this week that Tammy and I have been actively working towards how we redirect more giving toward God's kingdom building in Africa. So Richelle's story isn't something I am going to forget - it was another "kick in the pants" from God saying, "are you getting involved with what I'm doing in Africa yet???"
...all of this before Session 2 even starts!!!!
Okay on to Session 2. In Session 2 the worship comes first, then the sermon. The place was packed again, and Hillsong rocked the place. I'm [apparently] not the biggest Hillsong groupie because I only knew half of the songs (the older ones), but it was great worship! During "From the Inside Out" the guitar player barely had to push out a couple of notes before the crowd took over for the rest of the song....nearly entirely acapella. I'm pretty sure that worship in Heaven is going to sound a lot like that! The worship was moving and Christ was clearly there - Hands raised high, tears falling, no holding back.
During a break in worship, a woman comes up to promote a charity that works in conjunction with JesusCulture. I DARE YOU to guess what kind of charity this is. Go ahead, guess... Yep, she runs a Christian organization in Kenya, Africa that takes orphans, teaches them typical school stuff, teaches them about God, gives them skills, and sends them back into their country to be nation changers for God. God is still kicking me in the pants saying, "are you getting involved with what I'm doing in Africa yet???" I'm not sure what God thought I was going to do between 7PM and 8PM to get on mission with what He's doing in Africa, but he's gone waaaaaay beyond a gentle tug at me...the Holy Spirit is beating me over the head with a hammer at this point. Time to get in the game.
After worship, they had these two girls come on stage and talk about how they had come to the JC conference a day early to participate in the "school for evangelism." In this 1-day pre-conference, JC leaders taught them how to evangelize and pray...and heal people. yep, you read that right...heal people. so these two girls go out into Lincoln Park (downtown Chicago) and try to witness and get shot down a bunch of times. they're feeling kinda down but they feel led to take the train back to the conference. So they jump on the blue line. One girl is on facebook while the other sleeps. then the train stops. One girl suggests to the other that they start a church service in the train. its not like anyone can escape, right? her friend shrugs off the idea. then, the first girl's knee starts to hurt. And she instantly remembers from the school for evangelism that if something starts to hurt, sometimes that's a sign that someone around you has an ailment that needs healing. So she jumps up and asks the train if anyone's knee hurts, because her knee hurts?!?!? This old dude speaks up and says his knee doesn't hurt, but he has major back issues. They ask if they can pray for him. He consents. They go over and lay hands on him and pray. ....and instantly - BOOM! - he's healed. The guy stands up straight as a rail, stretches his back, and instantly the pain is gone! As the girls tell the story on the stage, they can't help but run around dancing for God. Giddy as school girls. Blows their minds away - they've never prayed for anyone like that ever before. And God worked a miracle through them! ....almost too crazy to be true...and if I wasn't feeling God's presence like I had at this conference, I might doubt it....but not today. not after what I've seen and experienced.
After this testimony, Banning Liebscher (the head evangelist dude at JC) gets up and preaches. His message is around Matthew 24:14 - "Many are called but few are chosen." Banning said that this verse used to puzzle him. He wanted to be called. He wanted to be chosen. But how would you know if you were called? how would you know when you were chosen? Then he says that Jesus called everyone (Great Commission), but that Jesus' message was usually so hard to swallow, that very few people were willing to follow him. For example, in Luke 14:25-33 Jesus says "If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be a disciple of mine." Who hates their father/mother/wife/children/self???? Only those crazy enough to stick around through that were the ones who God "chooses." ...those who say "Yes, Lord. Sounds crazy, but I'm in!" But God doesn't want part of us, he wants ALL of us - total surrender. Jesus tells us to count the costs before making the decision.
Banning leads a sinners prayer and asks for all of those who either accepted Christ for the first time or who have had a major recommitment to Christ after straying FAR away to stand up. literally hundreds of people stand. HUNDREDS! There's a Heaven-style celebration that breaks out - high five-ing all around. But Banning isn't done...
He resumes his message and asks, "Who is ready to say 'Yes, Lord' to following His will for your life." total surrender. being a revivalist for the world. Not part of you...ALL of you. Who wants to be leaders in the revival? who is willing to give up their entire lives for His will? he asks this while everyone has their heads bowed and eyes closed. Then he asks for those who are "in" to stand up and raise both hands to God. EVERYONE stands up. Or if anyone didn't stand, I didn't see them. No joke - 15,000 committed people...after a really tough sermon, quite frankly. I stood too (and raised my hands too - I'm a total Pentecostal at this point - Idlewild is never going to let me back in - LOL). If there's anything that's been holding me back, I'm ready to give it up. Earlier I sang "Your will above all else; My purpose remains the art of losing myself in bringing You praise." Time to really mean it. I don't fully know what that means yet, but it sure feels like a deeper level of commitment than I've made before in my life.
JesusCulture Awakening Conference Recap - Session 1
Okay, I haven't been to many (any?) thing like this before. It is 1/3rd teaching, 2/3rd's worship. Worship is being led by Jesus Culture and Hillsong. There are multiple sessions per day over a three day period. 15,000 people gathered in a basketball stadium...with one stated purpose - revival.
I'm going to be there for three sessions between Wed and Thurs. I just happened to be in Chicago and picked up tickets on Craigslist after realizing that work in Chicago was going to be slow the next two days. I might as well take a day off and go see JC and Hillsong, right?
Session 1 starts w the leader for Jesus Culture (Banning) telling a story about why they are in Chicago and how God called them there. I can't relay the message any way close to as good as he said it, but suffice it to say that God supernaturally made it clear that thet needed to do this conference in Chicago. The goal of the conference (fully believed to be God's will) is to start a revival to bring Chicago to Christ like a tidal wave hitting the city. The opening message ends with the entire stadium embraced with each other (think "we are the boys" at a Gator game") praying - out loud - for God's presence at the conference and that we would meet him there.
Yep, this is going to be one of THOSE conferences!!!!
Next up was Kim Walker-Smith, lead female vocalist for Jesus Culture band. She gave a mini sermon on worship and what it should look like. She gave a testimony - not of how she got saved - but of some very close encounters that she has had with God and what she learned through those. I won't spoil it because I am CERTAIN that it will end up on youtube (it was THAT good), but below are the key message points:
--------
"Worship is not about singing, nor instruments, nor songs. Those are expressions of our vertical relationship with God. Our vertical relationship with God is worship."
"What would songs be without God's presence? Noise"
"Wouldn't it be great if everyone at church on Sunday had spent the week fighting 24x7 to maintain that vertical connection with God? We wouldn't need an intro song to "prep our mind" to worship God. Think how much deeper we could go during worship. We wouldn't need a certain formula for worship b/c we would be already connected."
"There are three keys to worship:
1) Pursue a vertical relationship with God relentlessly 24x7. Fight for the connection
2) Have no offense that stands between you and God
3) Keep pressing toward God in quiet time (even when it feels like you aren't getting a response from God) knowing that at some point in the future you will live in the fruit of that moment"
--------
Kim's message naturally transitioned into a JC worship set which was.....amazing, anointed ...I don't know how to describe it.
Let me describe it this way...I have been born and raised Baptist. I rarely clap in worship...much less raise my hands. My reservations in worship are a flaw...probably to the point of being a sin...but still, I am okay with that on a weekly basis. I'm not proud of it, that's just where I'm coming from, okay? Get the picture?
Now imagine this...the same guy I just described...crying and raising hands...yes both of them...to the point that my arms are so tired that I can't keep them up any more. Yeah, me and 14,999 of my closest friends doing the same thing....including the dude next to me who was wailing, or groaning to God, or speaking in tongues...I don't know what was going on over there to my left!!!
Yep, this is going to be one of THOSE conferences!!!! ...and yet God is clearly there and I'm okay with it all.
As I walk out of Session 1, I introduce myself to the woman on my right. I feel like it is the least I can do after I was instructed to hold hands w her during corporate, out loud prayer (how scary is that btw!). Come to find out that she's from Clearwater; going to Moody Bible Institute in IL. Small world. As we part ways, she tells me...
"I've NEVER been to anything like this before."
...That makes two of us!
...but if that's the opening act, I can't wait for Hillsong tonight!!!!
I'm going to be there for three sessions between Wed and Thurs. I just happened to be in Chicago and picked up tickets on Craigslist after realizing that work in Chicago was going to be slow the next two days. I might as well take a day off and go see JC and Hillsong, right?
Session 1 starts w the leader for Jesus Culture (Banning) telling a story about why they are in Chicago and how God called them there. I can't relay the message any way close to as good as he said it, but suffice it to say that God supernaturally made it clear that thet needed to do this conference in Chicago. The goal of the conference (fully believed to be God's will) is to start a revival to bring Chicago to Christ like a tidal wave hitting the city. The opening message ends with the entire stadium embraced with each other (think "we are the boys" at a Gator game") praying - out loud - for God's presence at the conference and that we would meet him there.
Yep, this is going to be one of THOSE conferences!!!!
Next up was Kim Walker-Smith, lead female vocalist for Jesus Culture band. She gave a mini sermon on worship and what it should look like. She gave a testimony - not of how she got saved - but of some very close encounters that she has had with God and what she learned through those. I won't spoil it because I am CERTAIN that it will end up on youtube (it was THAT good), but below are the key message points:
--------
"Worship is not about singing, nor instruments, nor songs. Those are expressions of our vertical relationship with God. Our vertical relationship with God is worship."
"What would songs be without God's presence? Noise"
"Wouldn't it be great if everyone at church on Sunday had spent the week fighting 24x7 to maintain that vertical connection with God? We wouldn't need an intro song to "prep our mind" to worship God. Think how much deeper we could go during worship. We wouldn't need a certain formula for worship b/c we would be already connected."
"There are three keys to worship:
1) Pursue a vertical relationship with God relentlessly 24x7. Fight for the connection
2) Have no offense that stands between you and God
3) Keep pressing toward God in quiet time (even when it feels like you aren't getting a response from God) knowing that at some point in the future you will live in the fruit of that moment"
--------
Kim's message naturally transitioned into a JC worship set which was.....amazing, anointed ...I don't know how to describe it.
Let me describe it this way...I have been born and raised Baptist. I rarely clap in worship...much less raise my hands. My reservations in worship are a flaw...probably to the point of being a sin...but still, I am okay with that on a weekly basis. I'm not proud of it, that's just where I'm coming from, okay? Get the picture?
Now imagine this...the same guy I just described...crying and raising hands...yes both of them...to the point that my arms are so tired that I can't keep them up any more. Yeah, me and 14,999 of my closest friends doing the same thing....including the dude next to me who was wailing, or groaning to God, or speaking in tongues...I don't know what was going on over there to my left!!!
Yep, this is going to be one of THOSE conferences!!!! ...and yet God is clearly there and I'm okay with it all.
As I walk out of Session 1, I introduce myself to the woman on my right. I feel like it is the least I can do after I was instructed to hold hands w her during corporate, out loud prayer (how scary is that btw!). Come to find out that she's from Clearwater; going to Moody Bible Institute in IL. Small world. As we part ways, she tells me...
"I've NEVER been to anything like this before."
...That makes two of us!
...but if that's the opening act, I can't wait for Hillsong tonight!!!!
Sunday, July 10, 2011
The girls spend the weekend @ the grandparents' ranch
John & Debbie go over-the-top (as always) by creating a water park in their backyard:
New Music Sunday (NMS) - 7/10/2011
- Your Great Name - Natalie Grant
- Pure - Gateway Worship (kari jobe)
- Center - Charlie Hall
- Search my heart - Hillsong United
- He Has Come for us (God rest ye merry gentlemen) - Meredith Andrews (aka one of my favorite singers right now)
- Revelation Song - Kari Jobi
Oh yeah, and Travis Doucette posted a video of his "King of Glory" song. ...the "dockside" version. This is my favorite version of this song yet:
lame month - June 2011
I just noticed that June was the first month in 2011 when I had no blog posts. what a busy month that was! The good news is that I got my [2010] taxes done in June!
I'm going to go put something in June retroactively!!! Bekah's 6th b-day was in June...let me go dig up some pics!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Fourth of July weekend - 2011 edition
I had a great time with the family this past weekend. We spent a long weekend out at the Hyatt Clearwater Beach - great hotel by the way! The Cucchi's and Kristowski's joined us at the beach on Sunday afternoon, where we may very well have been the only people on the beach who were not tatted up (or some of us anyway! :) ). Note to self: traffic out to Clearwater Beach on a Sunday afternoon is ridiculous!
On Monday, we rented the "Freedom Cruiser" - a 4-person bike, and rode it to the top of the Memorial Bridge that connects downtown Clearwater to Clearwater Beach! That was a long, tough ride...but the girls were cheering Tammy and I on to the top! Our hotel patio gave us a great view of the fireworks all across Pinellas County - it was quite a sight!
On Tuesday, we checked out and headed over to Riverview to meet my newest Niece - Maci Benham. Check out her beautiful birth pics here.
One more thing...Surf Style opened a new building next to the Hyatt on Clearwater Beach. They brought in the Flowrider (indoor surfing wave) from the now-defunct Adrenalina from International Plaza. This is going to be a perfect fit - people are already in their swimsuits, why not go try the wave while you are out at Clearwater Beach!?!?
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Bekah's 6th birthday party sleepover party
face painting, bungee jumping (kinda), presents, cupcakes, and a tea party.
https://picasaweb.google.com/tammy.r.norwood/BS6thBirthday
Note to self: six yr olds are too young for a sleepover. wait until they're seven...teen.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
New Music Sunday (NMS) - 5/29/2011
The following songs made it on our playlist this week:
- All for Love - Hillsong
- Stand in the Rain - Superchick
- What Love Really Means - JJ Heller
- Draw Me Nearer - Meredith Andrews
- You Love Me Anyway - Sidewalk Prophets
- Crazy Mary - FM Static
Other music notes of interest:
- Skillet added some remixed versions of their Awake album recently. I didn't pick them up, but they are definitely interesting...
- Hillsong is coming to Tampa on August 5th, 2011
- I picked up a Fender tele thinline in blonde last weekend. I now have a like-new black/white/maple Fender strat for sale!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Single parents, Fathers, and the G.O.S.P.E.L.
This past Thurs/Fri/Sat Tammy was out of town and I had responsibility for our daughters. I also had some work that had to get done, so I tried to watch the girls and to take 4 hrs worth of calls/work during their "quiet time" on Thurs and Friday. As far as work goes, it is the easiest possible scenario - conference calls, emails and light Microsoft Office-style work from my home office. Even still, balancing the girls and this lightest-of-all work was amazingly difficult. I have ultimate respect for single parents everywhere.
Speaking of single parents, I am reminded of a really powerful video I saw on youtube a few weeks back. It is called "Fatherless" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyxqkBkCXT4 A must-watch for all dads and soon-to-be dads out there.
And since you're following my stream-of-consciousness today, may I also suggest another video, this one is titled "G.O.S.P.E.L." - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gb7n9B_8m8 This video is by the same guy as in the Fatherless video above, but it is a cut above in terms of production quality. A 5 minute video that explains the gospel of Jesus Christ through poetry/rap.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Caroline/Bekah and singing
My girls are growing up in a quasi musical household. Music is in their DNA...or at least in half of their DNA. You see, Tammy grew up in a musical home - no question about it. Her dad was the band director for Southeast High in Bradenton, FL for decades. He had a Ph.D. in Music before such things even existed at most universities. Everyone in her family sang, played an instrument, or both. The Jackson Family was a modern day Partridge Family - and proud of it!!!
This is in direct contrast to my upbringing. In the Norwood family, we struggle (note the present tense) to fight our way through "Happy Birthday" each year. Not that we don't like music - we just typically find ourselves comfortably seated in the audience at concerts, not on the stage. even though I am increasingly moving closer to the stage by deepening my guitar playing skills, I am still much more confident sitting in the audience.
Forgive the trip down memory lane...but I distinctly recall one Christmas when I dating Tammy and her mom packed everyone in the van and took us around the city singing Christmas carols. This would NEVER happen in the Norwood family. N.E.V.E.R. To this day I still think that Christmas day was part of a Jackson family hazing ritual or weed-out process to see if I really loved Tammy.
Anyhow...back to Caroline. So she's growing up in a quasi musical family. She is constantly surrounded by music - either from her mom singing or from her daddy who is listening or playing the guitar. Over the last few weeks, Caroline has begun to sing along with us. In the car, her favorite song to sing along with - hands down - is Hosanna by Hillsong. As a father, it is nothing short of AMAZING to hear her sing "Hosannnnnnna, Hosannnnna! Hosanna in the highest!!!!" Tammy is also head-over-heels for "Last Train Home" by FM Static...and Caroline sings along to the chorus on that song too. At bed time, Caroline has learned the first and last verses to Amazing Grace (something that daddy has taught to both girls) and sings along loudly right before bed.
For posterity's sake...
Bekah's first song that she sang in the car was "hey there delilah" by Plain White T's. I remember how blown away I was to hear her sing that song for the first time. I think I almost wrecked the car turning around to see her sing for the first time!!! today Bekah sang Defender during church. It killed me to praise God side-by-side with my daughter this morning.
Proverbs 23:24-25 - The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
New Music Sunday (NMS) - 5/1/2011
okay, this one goes out to all of our blog followers who share my taste in music... ...okay, there's only one of you...but you know who you are!!! [don't make me call you out by name!]
- hold me - jamie grace feat. tobymac (AWESOME song - just in time for summer)
- last train home - fm static (Tammy's fav)
- everything is different now - stellar kart (climbing up the weekend22)
- Jesus died my soul to save - pocket full of rocks (such a different melody that I don't even recognize the song)
- how deep the Father's love for us - nichole nordeman (NN's voice is perfect for this song and any song)
- invisible - disciple (climbing up the weekend22)
- by His wounds - Brian Littrell, et al (an Easter classic)
Week in Review (WIR) - 5/1/2011
- I saw on twitter that over 2,200 people came to know Christ last weekend at Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC. This is only one week after over 200 people got baptized @Elevation (http://wp.me/pohNn-hq). Praise God - he is doing something special in Charlotte!
- Caroline made MAJOR strides toward potty training in the last week! We're rounding third base and heading home on that front!
- On my flight to Tampa on Thursday night, I had a front row seat watching those crazy storms that devastated AL/GA out of my window. I've NEVER seen so many lightning strikes happening concurrently in a single storm. The guy behind me said, "Is Jesus coming back?!?!?!" The answer is, "Yes! ...but apparently not on Thursday night."
- In a related note, read the following three verses and tell me that the writers for Lost didn't fashion the "smoke monster" after God in Exodus: Exodus 19:16, Exodus 19:18, Exodus 20:18
- I ran a mile in 8:05 this weekend. My previous best (in recent memory) was 8:25 - so I shaved a significant amount of time off of my previous best. I'm going to break into the 7s soon.
- The guys in my ABF class wrapped up the "Disciplines of a Godly Man" Bible study this past week. Good book; great study with some solid friends.
- We attended Makayla Munieo's 1st birthday party on Saturday! She smashed her 1 year old birthday cake with the best of them! While I was there, I learned that Shawn can sing! ...not only that, but apparently he can solo!
- Spent some quality time with Forrest, Jami, Parker, Ethan and baby Maci (okay, she's not born yet, but she was definitely there!). in a related note, I officially cannot bowl. I'm pretty sure that the Ethan/Caroline duo would have beat me if Tammy hadn't bowled a strike for me late in the game.
- Bekah is doing a "Princess Pool & Pajama Party" for her sixth birthday party. She needs to pick out three friends for the sleepover, and we need to get the invites out.
- Tammy and I (and our ABF - Faithful Servants) are focusing on 1 Thessalonians this week. Apparently all of the turmoil around the world (earthquakes, natural disasters, wars, rumors of wars, etc) has many folks thinking about end times.
- Caroline developed a bit of a stutter this week/weekend. I'm hoping it is a normal part of her developmental speech learning...but she tends to do it more than twice. I'm going to try to get the family to slow down when talking to her and see if that helps. Please pray that it does.
- I picked up some ear phones for running this weekend because my normal gummy ear buds kept falling out. I picked up a set of Philips over-the-ear buds for six bucks at Ross. I tried them out tonight and they are fantastic!
- The US dollar continues to struggle: Price of a Gold Am. Eagle: $1621; Silver Am. Eagle $51.56; gallon of 87 octane gas in Tampa: 3.87.
- restrung the guitars over the last two weekends. Practiced "Jesus, Lover of my Soul" w/ Tammy some more. That's in the rotation for sure.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Easter 2011
For some reason, Easter this year has impacted me in a new, fresh way. So much so that I have to share...
Last Sunday, we kicked off Passover by taking communion at Idlewild on Sunday morning. Communion is always special, but even more so this year since it was Bekah's first communion since she was baptized two weeks ago. It was just a really sweet time to sit next to her and teach/remind her about communion, why we do it, how we do it (examine yourself...), and why it is important.
Then Sunday night, I saw (on twitter!) that the Bible app that I use on my iPad (YouVersion) had a special Easter week devotional plan. I couldn't resist signing up for that - it gives me extra incentive this week to do my daily Bible study. Spending the time each day to walk through Jesus' life in His last week on earth just really gets to you...plus there were some new tidbits that God revealed to me this week.
In particular, I was reminded of a few things about the Holy Spirit. In John 14:15-17 it says "...I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." In John 16:13 it goes on to say "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth." This really spoke to me because I've been thinking a lot about truth over the last year - what truth is, and why some people are blinded from seeing truth when it is right in front of their eyes. And these verses reminded me that the Holy Spirit is the "Spirit of truth." He is the Counselor, the Spirit that gives discernment - discernment to evaluate truth from lies. ...and not everyone can see or hear the Holy Spirit ("the world cannot accept him"). But abiding in Christ allows the Holy Spirit to speak at his highest volume (John 15:1-17: "Remain in me, and I will remain in you...If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you."). The fact that I can know/discern truth through the Holy Spirit by abiding in Christ...that gives me comfort.
So now it's Friday night. What better to do on Friday night than watch a movie, right? Last Friday we watched the Social Network (good movie by the way). But today is Good Friday...the day that Jesus died on the cross. Watching a "normal" movie doesn't fit. So, Tammy and I dusted off "The Passion of the Christ." We've owned the DVD for years...since it came out...but I'm pretty sure we've only watched it once. It is a tough movie to watch. To sit through 2+ hours of visual images of your Savior's body being torn to pieces for your sins...yes, the sins you committed even today...it is stressful. it is painful. it brings tears to your eyes. but it is good. Too often we take Jesus' crucifixion too lightly. We don't want to think about it, so we don't. But when you take the time to really let the magnitude of Jesus' suffering wash over you, it really motivates you to get right with God.
Now i'm off to finish my Easter devotional plan for today and to put together a Easter playlist in iTunes. I'll leave you with a parting Bible verse - Isaiah 53:5:
"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."
Monday, April 11, 2011
Jody covers "How great is the Father's love for us"
A couple of weeks back, I put in a request to my rock star of a sister-in-law, Jody Jackson, to do a YouTube cover of "How great is the Father's love for us." What she sent to me blew me away... check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1hOwr9-LeE
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
New music Tuesday - #ARCWorship2011
ARC Worship 2011 was just released to iTunes yesterday!
Two Sundays ago, I heard this new, original song - "You're my God" at the venue @mybaysidechurch in east Bradenton. I loved the song, and now it is already on iTunes:
Download it! After listening to the song again, I'm convinced that I'm going to make the venue a fairly regular thing for my family on Sunday nights....
P.S. Let me know if you dig any other songs on the album.
Monday, March 28, 2011
new songs in the rotation...
A couple weeks ago, I found the best kept secret on the Casting Crowns "until the whole world hears" album...just stumbled across it on Tammy's ipod...
Blessed Redeemer:
listen to the lyrics. simply AWESOME song for Easter. I have no idea why this didn't get any radio airplay. This updated hymn should be sung in churches across America every Sunday, slotted right in between a couple of Chris Tomlin songs. After I learn to play this song, I'm gonna make tammy sing it somewhere... (that's an empty threat!)
Speaking of great Easter songs, Nicole Nordeman's "Why" should be in the top 10. Add it in your playlist until Easter...
I also noticed that Travis Doucette's Defender was not on our ipod in the car this weekend. I'll have to fix that. You should too. You can download the song for free @ http://www.reverbnation.com/travisdoucette
The date is set - Bekah is getting baptized!
Bekah is getting baptized during the Sunday April 10th 6:30 PM service at Idlewild!!!!
Please sit together because the pastor will ask friends & family to stand in honor of the person being baptized...and if you sit together, Bekah will be able to see everyone! :)
You can get directions from http://www.idlewild.org/directions/
For those who live too far away to travel in, you can watch LIVE online at http://www.hypercast.net/idlewild Be prompt though...the baptisms happen right at the beginning of the service!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
the venue @Bayside Community Church
We went to "the venue" @ Bayside Community Church tonight.
It is like Elevation (in Charlotte), but in east Bradenton. It is a weird location for a cool/young Elevation-style church, but I like it. very good, current worship (they did "Your love never fails" - one of my favs) and a solid Bible inspired message for a young crowd. apparently it is one of the top 20 growing churches in the US on a percentage basis YoY.
Anyhow, the sermon was titled "Five steps to wreck your life" aka "How to drift apart from God." basic blocking/tackling of the Christian faith...but well articulated/formulated thoughts by Pastor Justin ??? (didn't catch his last name). the five points were:
2. Blame God if you don't like your circumstances (when tough times come, do we blame God?)
3. Hang out with bad influences
4. Have a selfish desire to be known (it's about me)
5. If all else fails, fake it (put on a face, don't have accountability)
basic stuff, right? But how easy is it for us to not get these five basic principles right even for a single week?
Sunday trip to Sarasota Polo
don't knock it until you've tried it, right???
So i convinced the cucchi's and the snellings to give a polo match a try today. our cumulative prior experience with polo matches was limited to one scene in "Pretty Woman" so there was no one with experience enough to object. We set the date, everyone packed their favorite hat, and off we went...
it was pretty cool...very relaxed atmosphere...beautiful grounds. less energy than a golf match....much less, actually. in fact, the audience barely looked up from their conversation/food/drink long enough to notice when one of the teams scored a goal. clapping for a goal was entirely optional. that part was...interesting...okay, odd...especially for someone who loves the competition aspect of sports.
I'd do it again if I was in the area and had time to kill on a Sunday afternoon...but I don't think I'll be dragging the friends and family on a 90 min drive for a repeat visit in the near future...
www.sarasotapolo.com/
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Bekah is getting baptized!
Today was a HUGE day for our family!!!!
Today during the 9:30 AM service @ Idlewild, Bekah walked forward at the end of church and asked to be baptized!!! This has been brewing for the last week...or really over the last 1.5 years really (since she accepted Christ as her Savior)... This week Bekah had been talking with her mom about getting over the fear of getting baptized and becoming comfortable with being obedient to God in this aspect of her life. We have been very careful to make sure that this is 100% her decision and that she understands all aspects of her commitment - why she is doing it, what it means (and doesn't mean), the logistics of how/when it happens, etc.
For friends & family who want to come to witness her baptism, please hang tight for a little while. Idlewild makes sure that everyone knows what they're getting into when they commit to baptism and joining the church, so we will be getting Bekah registered into "Membership 101" - a class that will explain everything to her. That is usually a month-long class, so I expect us to set a date for her baptism sometime over the next three to eight weeks.
Praise God!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Norwood Family Pictures
So FINALLY, we got together and did a Norwood family photo shoot. You know...the kind that every yuppie family with young kids is supposed to do ANNUALLY...but somehow I have escaped doing until now... We FINALLY did it in January and the pictures are just phenominal. A pic of the girls is below, but more pics can be found in our "Best of 2011" Picasa album at:
https://picasaweb.google.com/tammy.r.norwood/BestOf2011#
By the way, if you're looking to have family pics done and are in the Charlotte area, I highly recommend reaching out to Kathleen @ www.capturedbykd.com
https://picasaweb.google.com/tammy.r.norwood/BestOf2011#
By the way, if you're looking to have family pics done and are in the Charlotte area, I highly recommend reaching out to Kathleen @ www.capturedbykd.com
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Caroline's first fishing trip to Myakka
This weekend Caroline got her first taste of fishing at the pond at the Norwood estate in Myakka City. She hauled in a decent sized bass on the first try, and picked up a nice sized brim on her second try!!!
Monday, January 17, 2011
Vacation in the blue ridge (not the smokies)
We just got back from a fantastic North Carolina snow vacation during the 2nd week of January. We could not have possibly asked for a better location, better weather, or better company. The Norwood clan and the Cucchi clan made the 12 hr trek to Valle Crucis NC to spend a snow-filled week in the mountains. We did plenty of fun stuff, but none more fun than sledding down the driveway at the Black Bear Lodge until we were too cold or too tired to do it anymore. The smiles on Bekah and Nick's face in the pic below tell the story...
More vacation pics are at: https://picasaweb.google.com/tammy.r.norwood/VacationInTheSmokies#
I highly recommend the luxury cabin that we stayed in. it was beautiful inside and out - we will stay there again. http://blackbearlodgenc.com/
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