Give It Your Best Shot

Hey, I know it's been a while since I've posted, but whatever!  My latest short story was inspired by something kinda funny.  My friend and I were hanging out in my math teacher's classroom after school one time.  She had a little hoop and a miniature basketball to go with it  in her room.  I was doing (or at least attempting to do) my work, and in my peripheral vision I could see my friend repeatedly trying to make it into the hoop that was barely the size of my fist.  I don't remember what I said exactly, it was something along the grounds of me highly doubting that he'd ever make it.  He looked at me and told me that it really didn't matter if he made that shot.  He just looked forward to the next one.  I found that a pretty inspirational quote, and I told him so.  I don't think he really absorbed my comment, since he just shrugged.  However, I still thought what he said was noteworthy and decided to write about it while using previously developed characters of mine.  For reasons I've expressed on my last post, you can only read my story via private email.  God bless!

New Story

I recently wrote a new story called "Picturesque" because of Jaime's inspirational gift at the youth group Christmas party.  I didn't want to post a copy of it on this blog because anybody could copy it and steal it.  So, if you want to read it, and if you send a super nice email, I'll send you a copy (after you promise not to steal my idea ;) ). God bless you!

My Music

I believe that all who read this blog are Christians, so I hope you'll like this post.  It's a list of some awesome songs that I've heard on the Christian music channel.  If you're on the New Heart worship team, listening to these songs via Rhapsody should be easy.  If you're not, well... there's always iTunes!  Regardless, it's important for you to know what the song is saying rather than how it sounds.  It's the lyrics that make these songs shine, at least for me.

More by Matthew West - This song personally appeals to me because it talks about how your value goes beyond whatever is going on in your life.

Healing Begins by Tenth Avenue North - My favorite line in the whole song is about how "the light meets the dark."  When I first heard this song, I meditated on how whenever the light encounters darkness, the light ALWAYS overcomes.  Always. It's nice to be victorious all the time.

True Love by Phil Whickham - This is in the suggestions box on the worship team's Rhapsody account.  It talks about the true story of the greatest example of love, Jesus Christ.  If you're only going to listen to one of these songs, I would suggest that you listen to this one.

You Love Me Anyway by Sidewalk Prophets - This song is great for when you're feeling down about something and you can't help but doubt if God is with you.  You kinda get a new perspective listening to this.

What Love Really Means by JJ Heller - The end of this song really packs the punch for me.  It sounds cliché, but it really tells the listener what love really means.

B.A.R.

A Daily Miracle

"A Daily Miracle" is a poem that I entered in a contest hosted by the American Library of Poetry towards the end of the last school year.  Just recently I ordered and received a book with my published poem in it :D  I know most of you have already read it, but here it is anyway for those of you who haven't.  A special shout out to Pastor Joel for reviewing my poem via email.  Anyway, merry Christmas!

A Daily Miracle

Every day you can HEAR,

Every day you can SEE,

You can see a MIRACLE

As realization DAWNS in the GLEAM of a pupil's eye.

When the perfect string of WORDS is formed

Or the equation is SOLVED,

The IDEA materializes and CREATIVITY is born.

How are these CONNECTIONS made?

It is something taken for GRANTED, 

But it has been a persistent MIRACLE.

Parables, Scriptures, Pictures,

Models, Diagrams, Charts,

Stories, Poems, and WORDS

All help you see the KNOWLEDGE and BEAUTY

Of every aspect of our LIVES.

This is worth MORE than a SCORE on a page.

What is this MIRACLE, YOU ASK?

L-E-A-R-N-I-N-G!

New Blog

This is my first post on my own personal blog strictly for friends and family.  For the most part this blog will be my Facebook, where I put up random pictures or pieces of writing that I find interesting.  I will generally ask for writing tips or about the latest books I've read to start discussions.  If you're not much into literature, then I suppose you shouldn't read this blog.  If you're my dad, though, you don't really have a choice ;)  Anyway, enjoy my blog! ~ B.A.R.