A Positive Praise Post!

I was inspired the other day when I read some quotes from several friends blogs on the subject of praise. It made me think....(that's always good)!

Generally, I am a thankful person! I generally post to show the good things that happen in my life that I want to share with others. But I am still not after all these years in the habit of praising for even the "bad" things that happen in my life. I'm also not in the habit of seeing the good in everything, or of having the knack to praise despite (or rather smack in the middle of) "adversity".

But after I read this post I was reminded that the little things that happen every day (a sandwich, a bath, a sunset, an encouraging word from a friend, a walk (yes, working feet is something not to be taken for granted)) are noteworthy & are worth stopping & thanking God for. And what's more, these things have the ability to be enough to catapult me into sheer bliss & overjoyous (I know....I make words up all the time) happiness. That's quite a thought! I think I've always been waiting for the "biggies" in my life before I become ecstatic.--Like when I fly on a jet plane (in a couple days, actually...), or find a wife, or become a father, or strike treaure while digging on a South Sea island, or when I attend Euroc (YEEEESS!). But that's a lot of waiting....and a lot of missing chances to be ecstatic when I could & should just as well be truly & fully satisfied with life--my heart fully thankful to God--with eating breakfast in the morning or receiving an e-mail from my mom.

"This is of course easier said then done!", you might say--& you'd be totally right in saying it. But the cool thing about when I read Ang's post, was that that's when it clicked that I could indeed be grateful for the same things that she was thankful for & instantly adopt the same "gratitude attitude". You see? Once you start, it comes automatically.

So let me remember my own words when I'm walking down-town London tomorrow in gloomy, rainy weather with the majority of people with scowls on their faces. Or when the person I'm trying to share a tract & message of God's love with won't recieve it. Or when I'm sleeping on a mattrass on the living room floor of where I'm temporarily staying until my next mission to Nigeria...All these things won't matter when I insist on seeing the beauty in the little things & "praise the Lord for another day of life".

For more on the grattitude attitude see whackywazzoo.blogspot.com (like 2 or 3 posts down), or missbenino.blogspot.com, August 2005. You'll be duly impressed & will soon be caught with a "song on your own lips". Enjoy!

ONE MORE EUROCK POST!!

Why another Eurock post??? well, since I'm most likely never gonna go to Eurock again (well, maybe I shouldn't say never), & since it was such a monumous (I know, I just made it up now) event.....I gotta! Enjoy!


...a few random shots....

during class






I can't forget to mention 'Metanoya'!--Good friends from Waaaaaaaaay back! They're getting better every year!! GO GUYS!!









Happy fans....


Interviews....


Some of the POA band

EUROOOOOOOOOOOOOCKK!!!!

Wow! At long last I get a chance to post about this life-changing event.
Without too many words, (a picture is worth so much more)I'll say that this was THE EVENT!!! Some things that helped make this amazing:

--It was a total miracle that I attended (long story--but basically my whole trip was sponsored).

--Saw friends from up to 12 & 14 years ago, as well as others that I hadn't seen in 4, 5 or 6 years. It was also great catching up with good freinds who I've seen off & on over the years.

--Getting euphoric on Jesus via the inspirations, skits, classes, etc as a huge group was awesome!!--Something that I'll keep with me forever.

A few pics:

These next few of arrival day/security check-in, etc.









These of a skit the first skit we did (the pics may explain the story....but maybe not). It was funny, actually...A bit of a surprise when on the second day I'm informed that I'm on the "skit crew". It was a nice surprise, though! I quite enjoyed it, actually!

thrilled to join the army


...For obvious reasons..






tough army seargant


..my "sister" & I deciding to give the army our all..


The happy ending


CONCERTS....

YES!!! THE CONCERTS!!!

Never mind the fact that my voice was hoarse for the next 3 days after shouting for 4 hours straight. Never mind the fact that I didn't have any hair to swing. Never mind the fact that I thought I was going deaf. The concerts were still as a good a way as any to spend our 7-11 evening slots every night during this festival (OOOOOHHH!! So THAT'S why they called it EUROCK). Come to think of it, it would be my first rock-concert....like, EVER!! Each band did excellent, in my opinion (ok, except for like one or two)! And what made it even better was that there were so many bands--and each singing the songs that made the revolution with the fire-power of God in their eyes & half the songs that I'd never heard (that's always good).

Here are some pics of some of my favorite singers--Haven(who was a solo artist) & Salt of the Earth. I also loved Metanoya & Creature.



Haven


Cheering Haven on (the guys on my left had proper "I love Haven" T-shirts & the works...I know...I'm working on it)




Don't even ask me why I posted this one...my sweaty armpits showing & all...


Justin




Some of our "Techies" at work...

Geysir/Gullfoss/Thingfellir

I understand that I don't post enough! Hmmmm....let's hope this blog wasn't one of those "small beginnings, lesser ends" type ventures.)I think I just have to get in the groove of posting more regularly. This was meant to be a way that friends heard from me all the time all at once. Now friends of mine complain to me that they don't hear from me either way. Ooops! Well you all can encourage me to keep blogging by COMMENTING! Anyway, I shouldn't have to adverstise for myself! This must mean that the postings aren't quality enough, so let's see what we can do about that (I accept the challenge)!
Anyway....this was the most awesome day-trip I had ever been on. You'll see what I mean as you view--although you can't quite tell from the pictures. I guess what was cool was that it could all be done in one day. Several awesome sights within an hour or so's distance from each other.
The vastness of this planet & the awesome things that God has created...I'm still not over it! Amazing that one can't really exhaust the views & sites & all that are to be enjoyed, isn't it?
But really, Iceland is amazing. All that's on this one little island. If you haven't been, I suggest you make this your next holiday spot.
But in any case, I'm gonna try to recap my entire 2 months here in my next post (:)if & when I get around to it) with a sort of "best of" of all the pics I took while here. (Just in case all this Iceland stuff is getting to you by this point)
ENJOY!!
slightly dubios as to what the experience will give me ('O ye of little faith'). That & it was slightly cold!
My first Canyon (I think!)!

You'll never guess what was the topping on this ice-cream! Well if it's not chocolate, it would only figure that it would be........you guessed it= Licorice!

My sis & I at the 'Geyser' section of the day! This is where it started getting real fun! This steamy/spewy place had me momentarily wowed!

The third largest spout in Iceland & the second biggest at that site, about to blow. I love the deep blue in the bubble!

There she goes!

Spraying!--Again!

Magnificence! I had never seen a waterfall like this (Again, that I remember)!

Lisa, Ethan & I with Nic taking the pic! We had momentarily lagged behind some of the others to take pics!

Lola