in search of something else, this time the Truth!!!

ok, i was recently in search of a DVD collection of the Wonder Years. and just incase anyone is still in need of something to get me for Christmas, i still am looking for the Wonder Years on DVD.
but today, i am looking for something else. many of you may have no idea what i'm talking about, but i am looking for a few Truth albums.
Truth is the band that 4Him played for before making it big on thier own. Truth had a GREAT sound, they had great brass, great vocals, great key boards, great everything. and to top it off, they were one of the first Chistian bands that i ever heard. i was able to see them a few times in concert and even able to meet a few of thier members. in fact, i was able to meet Marty Magehee, a member of Truth that went on to be a member of 4Him. he was really nice to me, as i was a kid that was impressed to meet a band member of Truth in the bathroom of a show.
ok, all that to say, if any of you have any idea where i could find a Truth album, i would love to hear some of those old songs! to be honest, i can't even remember what the tunes to their songs are, i just remember how they blessed me. i mean, i can't hum to myself the song, i can just remember the feeling that God gave me each and evey time i heard them sing and play.
i wrote the 4Him website to tell them that i was looking for some old Truth albums and they said that they were all out of print. the nice lady there told me to post on Mark or Andy's websites. i will try that. and like i told her, i am not in a big hurry, i would just love to hear that music once again!!!
if anybody can be of any help, i would really be thankful!
my wife has never even heard of the band Truth. i feel like this is part of my faith, something that my wife should know.
thanks everybody,
later,
chase...

a good thought...

the following is a post i found on another blog i read. i was inspired. please read and leave your thoughts. I will pass them along to the writter.


Plenty To Be Thankful For

A few weeks ago, I wrote here how excited I was about the new direction I was taking in my career. That new direction came to an abrupt end last week. I wasn't given an explanation. I was just told things aren't working out. So, at the age of 37, I get to start all over again - from scratch. Pretty cool, huh? It doesn't help that I have to look for permanent work just as the holidays are getting started. Job counselors have all said the same things "it would have been nice if you were let go after the holidays. This isn't a good time to be looking for a job." Just what I needed to hear.

But before I go too far and make it sound like I may be bitter about what has happened, I pause to say I'm a very thankful man. A wise man once told me "real problems are the kind that money can't solve." Considering the kind of year we've experienced as a family, we've got plenty of financial problems. But, we've been blessed that we haven't been visited by any real problems. Jobs, money, houses, etc., come and go. People are what matter, or so I'm finding out. Thankfully, my entire immediate family is healthy. My father-in-law had a scare recently, but it appears his condition was discovered in time and can be treated.

Thanksgiving has become my favorite holiday. You don't have to exchange gifts. You really don't have to spend a lot of money - unless you plan to eat a lot. All you have to do is get together with people you love and celebrate each other. I like that. No expectations - unless you plan to eat a lot. Our family usually plans on eating a lot. We also pause to tell each other what we're thankful for. I've had time over the weekend to reflect on what I'm thankful for. Here's just a few things...

I'm thankful for my family. My wife is an incredible encouragement to me. She is the master of giving me more of what I need instead of what I want. If I'm feeling bad about how things are going and would like sympathy, she doesn't give it to me. Instead, I get that swift kick (it's not too hard, though) in the pants that lands me back on my feet. I'd be a mess without her.

I've learned so much from my children. I know it's supposed to be the other way around. Some of my most enjoyable entertainment of my life is to watch them when they don't think I'm looking.

God has given me incredible parents. I enjoy asking my dad for advice. He often says "I don't think I can offer any advice for that." I still ask anyway. I figure I can learn something from someone who survived the Battle of Bastogne. I think I get my grit from my mother. She doesn't know the meaning of the word "quit." Maybe it's because she's German. Dad is Scotch/Irish descent. No wonder I'm stubborn. (Which is why I often need the aforementioned kick.)

I'm thankful for my in-laws (they'll likely see this blog, so I'd better mention them). I've heard horror stories about people and their interaction with their in-laws. I don't have nearly that many. Just kidding! My in-laws (which includes both my brother-in-law and sister-in-law as well) have always been supportive of both me and my family. It means so much.

I'm also thankful for friends. My family has been blessed to be part of the Vineyard Church of Conroe for the past 5 years. We've known many of the same people for much longer. They've been there for us through some of the most challenging events of our lives - and they continue being there for us, even now. Proverbs says it best - "better to have a friend close by than a brother far away." I'm glad I have a lot of friends close by. Some of them are just down the street.

I could continue, but it would make for some pretty boring reading - for anyone that actually reads my blog (according to my page count, somebody must be reading something).

I close by asking this question: what are you thankful for? You might say "not much." Really? Try writing a few things down. Before long, you'll have quite a list - if you're honest.

I know I don't have much in the way of money. Hopefully, something will come along to change my job prospects. Still, I have what counts, which means I've got plenty to be thankful for.

The above post can be found at http://muscodinewine.blogspot.com/
if you enjoy the above post, or like baseball, please visit the above mentioned blogsite, i think you will enjoy it. it is written by a good friend of mine, someone i think of as family!!!
later,
chase...

lets hear it for the Christian music scene!

maybe its because i have let myself drift out of the scene of Christian music for a while or maybe its is because of a lack of interest on my part that somehow has changed in the past week or so but can i just say, lets give it up for the Christian music scene! i mean for a number of years now i have all but given up on hearing GOOD music from a Christian artist.
of course i still have several albums from years ago, albums by Petra, Plankeye, Steven Curtis Chapman, Dallas Holm, Third Day, Jars of Clay, and many, many more. albums that i still very much enjoy! but over the past five or six years, i have not heard anything that made me jump out of my seat and say to myself, WOW, i have to go out and buy that album right now. i haven't heard anything in a long while that stuck in my head, and i didn't mind it being there.

now i will admit, again, that it is "possible" that it "could" have "some" to do with me and what i was willing to hear and enjoy. but whatever the cause may be, thank God there has been a change.
and has there ever been a change? there is so much good stuff out there in Christian music that i don't even have time to catch up. there does not seem to be time in each day to listen, enjoy, and praise along with all of it. i even found an album by Petra that is a whole album of there old songs redone in a more modern version. Third Day's new album, Wherever You Are, i can't seem to get out of my player, and i have not even gotten past the first four songs on the album. then there is Casting Crowns, Stephanie and i have the latest two albums by them. i have only gotten into a few of their songs, and that is only because i can't get past a few of their songs because they are so great. i know that i have heard mention of the band Mercy Me for a little while now, but really, what planet have i been living on? how cool are these guys? awesome stuff! and if you dare, try on some of Swithfoot's new stuff, it will knock you socks off.
tons and tons of awesome stuff out there right now. i have found myself several times over the past week wishing that i could just spend several hours, sitting, and listening to music (kinda like we used to do, Aaron).
so, if you are out of the loop, like i have been for awhile, get back into it. there is some really awesome stuff out there right now. if you are in the loop and have something that means a lot to you, let me know about it. i know there is some cool stuff out there that i have no idea about and would love to hear. i want to hear some personal feelings from others of you.

Cry Out to Jesus

i like to put song lyrics on here. the following is the song mentioned in the last post.

Third Day - Cry Out To Jesus
From the album Wherever You Are

To everyone who's lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
when you said goodbye

And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keeping you back from your life
You believe that there's nothing and there is no one
Who can make it right

Chorus:
There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus

For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on
They’ve lost all of their faith in love
They've done all they can to make it right again
Still it's not enough

For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains
You try to give up but you come back again
Just remember that you're not alone in your shame
And your suffering

Chorus:

When your lonely
And it feels like the whole world is falling on you
You just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus
Cry to Jesus

To the widow who suffers from being alone
Wiping the tears from her eyes
For the children around the world without a home
Say a prayer tonight

Chorus

Label: Essential Records

Lyrics may not be reproduced without permission from the publisher.

i had a good day today

i had an unexpected good day today. today, Sunday, November 20th, 2005, i had a really good day today.
this morning i went to a church service that i did not want to go to. after the church service, i went to the store, which i did not feel like doing today. this afternoon, i watched a football game that i could care less about. and yes, i had a really, really good day today.
the church i attend with my wife is a rather large church, around three thousand members. they usually have four different services each week. one on saturday night and three on sunday morning. but this week, however, we had one huge church gathering at one of the local highschool gyms. only one service this week. i went, i didn't want to, but i went. i am not the biggest fan of large crowds.
allow me to back up a bit. for the last six weeks, my wife Stephanie and i have been a part of a small group of young married couples. we met on wenesday nights. to tell the truth, it was not high on my list of priorities. i think i went to three out of the four weeks. but i said i would try it, so i did my best to stick it out. this past wednesday was the last week of the six weeks and Stephanie and i went to our group meeting. it was about the same, not so bad once we got there, but not the most fun thing i have ever done. but this week we did something a little bit different, Stephanie and i. we stayed and chatted with the other couples for a little while after the meeting. turns out, their kinda cool. in fact, they seemed really cool, they were other young couples about our age, in the same areas of life as we are walking through. anyway, there was mention of continuing the group, continuing to meet every wednesday night. my wife and i jumped for the chance. although we had an excuse all planned out and everything, we felt ourselves excited at the chance to continue to meet with these people, to continue to grow in relationships with these couples. we left that meeting with an unexpected excitment.
back to today. went to the church service that i didn't really want to attend. before the service started, out of all the people in that gym, across the room, i spotted one of the couples from our group. out of no where, i wanted to take my wife and make our way to them just to say hello. they were our friends. once the service started, on the stage, there was one of the guys from our group playing the guitar and singing. i only met this guy a few weeks ago, but he was one of the guys in our group, i felt proud. as the preacher taught, i'm pretty sure he was just talking to me. somehow, in that service, i left feeling more blessed than i had ever dreamed of.
on the way home, we had to stop by the store, i really didn't feel like it, but we needed to, so we went to the store. as we pulled into the parking lot, we heard the song on the radio by Third Day, "Cry Out to Jesus". as soon as we got home, i downloaded that whole album by Third Day. i'm sure i have listened to the song "Cry Out to Jesus" 20 times today. Somewhere, out of nowhere, my wife and i had a really great, close time just walking through the store. it was the best time i have ever had in a store.
and yes, today i watched the colts win. i watched the whole game with my wife. it was a great game. if you know me, you know this is big, it's big because i don't care a thing about sports. but today, i really enjoyed the whole game. this makes us 10-0. yes, i'm proud of our colts.
today, it was a good day. Praise God today, it was a Good Day!
A Good Day is not possible without Him who created Days.

Pixie Maté, so far, its ok.

so my shipment of Pixie Maté came in about 8:00pm tonight. i left it in the box, to wait until tomorrow for my first sip, and that lasted about 10 minutes. the one i chose to try tonight was the chocolate concentrate. i had one glass, and apart from spilling a good amount of it on the floor, careful with the boxed container, it was not bad. i can't say that it was the best thing i have ever put into my mouth, its kinda rich for my taste. but it was not the worst thing ever either. i am looking forward to starting my day off with a cup of the java lovers tea. tonight, after i drank a coffee cup full of the concentrate mixed with milk, i guess i feel more relaxed. however, its about 2:15 am and im sitting here typing instead of sleeping. but who knows if that is the caffine in the drink, or the fact that i never sleep well at night. anyway, if all they say about the health benifits is true, than i will continue to drink maté just for that reason alone. but, i still have the tea bags to try and we'll see if that really tickles my taste buds. but, the drink was not bad, it was good, just not the best thing i have ever put in my mouth. i'll give up the rest of the juice soon on what i think about the taste of the tea and the way maté makes me feel. i think the best thing i can say at this point is, keeping the health benifits in mind, i'm glad it does not taste like the dirt found under a pig pin.

Pixie Maté, the next big thing?

so, i'm really not a health nut, but i like feeling good, feeling healthy. i can't see myself becoming an all organic, no meat, granola bar eating freak any time soon. but every once in a while i do come across something that i can do for myself that helps me feel a little bit better throughout my day. i try to drink more water in the day than i really want to. i don't smoke. i stay active. i watch what i eat, for the most part. i have even tried exercise, of course it hurt so i stopped. but more to my point, just a couple of years ago, i came across Red Bull which i enjoy very much. although it is packed with caffine, it is also loaded with several vitamins and such that i really believe make me feel better, have more energy, think more clear. but there is a down side to Red Bull, first of all it is around $2 to $2.5 a can. it is a very small can. also, due to the massive amount of caffine, there are some health risks.
but here could be the good news. Pixie Maté. i say could be the good news because i have never actually had a sip. yes, i am attempting to advertise for a product that i have never tried. i have done a bit of research though and if all i've read it true, and providing it does not taste like dirt, than i think it really could be the next WOW!
maté is a drink that comes from leaves like tea. it differs in that it is commenly mixed with milk or soy. it is suppossed to be big down in South America. it has made it's way here into the states by way of a company called Pixie Maté. According to the Pixie Maté website:
"What puts the zip in Maté? It's mysterious. It's nothing like fully loaded coffee. It's a kinder, gentler zip. While coffee makes you want to hurt the cat, maté's energy is pleasant, controlled and non-addictive. Maté has been shown to enhance sleep and calm nerves while gently arousing a depressed nervous system. Plus, there's evidence It burns calories, boosts metabolism, and can keep blood pressure in a more blissful state. Most people feel more alert, more at ease and more capable of conquering the world. (So when you win a Genius Grant, all we ask is that your remember us in your acceptance speech.)"
for more info on Pixie Maté visit the website, but get ready, theres something about this drink, or at least the sales pitch, that has really taken ahold of me. i will comment further when my shipment arrives. should be on thursday of this week.

socks & sandals, to be or not to be?

ok, so lets hear it, what's your stand on the subject? is it ok to wear socks with sandals? for some strange reason, it seems everyone in the world strongly believes one way or the other.

of course, i want your opinion, but we all know deep down, whether admitted or not, that all sandals SHOULD be worn with a nice, thick, comfortable pair of socks!

for additional proof on how cool it is to wear socks with your sandles, visit this website for a great collection of photos.

Firefox

i have been using the new web explorer Firefox for about a month now. i wanted to see what i thought of it before i said anything here. all i can say about Firefox is "GO FOR IT!" it is so much better than Microsoft Internet Explorer. it is a tad bit harder to learn how to use, but once you spend the extra 10 minutes, you can do so much more, so much easier. i also really do believe it is much safer than Internet Expolorer, as well. i thought that pop ups where a thing of the past with the Google Toolbar, but with Firefox, it is like once or twice every couple of months that i even remember what a pop up is. all i can say is, really, i am impressed with Firefox!
if you have not yet ventured out to something different in internet browsers, i encourage you to give Firefox a try. if you have and you have found something you like that is not Firefox, let me know what it is, and i would like to look into it. "good luck getting me to switch from Firefox though."

Real Audio

ok, so i have been round and round for years with myself about whether or not it was ok to use Peer-To-Peer programs on my computer. these are the programs like Napster, or at least the way it used to be, where you can download just about anything you can think of from other people's computers without paying a thing. so here is where i see it from my point of view. IT'S VERY TEMPTING. whether or not i have actually takin part in this or not shall remain to be disclosed. anyway, for the last few days i have been using the Real Audio Music Store to download some music. as for Real Audio, it is a pretty neat set-up. you can download just about any CD for $7.99. no, you don't get the pretty package, but you get the whole album for $7.99. or you can download a song off the album for $0.99, which i think is also a very good deal.
so here is the question i pose for anyone who wants to jump in. do you think it is the "right thing to do" or "ok" to download music from Peer-To-Peer sites for free, since the music industry has been cheating us for years, or is it the "right thing to do" to download from sites like Real Audio?
depending on your anwser, give me the site you use to download. if you use a paysite or a P2P, Real Audio or Limewire.
ok, thats my thought for the day.
and by the way, i got the new Our Lady Peace album for $7.99. I can't find it in the stores for less than $13.99. of course, mine has no case, lable, or pretty pictures. i am very interested in what you guys have to say.
hope all is well,
later,
chase...
as far as the picture goes, i just like it.