My Song List:)

I'm up late because I don't have to work tomorrow:) I love the weekend!!!

Just got done swimming... I know don't say it:) I look amazing... JK


Ok, so I uploaded a picture of my play list on iTunes... As you know, I'm not a music guy but I have to say that I am pretty proud of myself for getting quite an extensive song list:) ... Well extensive to me:) I know you all are dying to copy it!!!

Enjoy:)

Jet Skiing In The Ocean!!! Totally Amazing!!!

Yesterday, Jeremy (another photographers husband) and I went and rented 2 Jet Skis for an hour. It was amazing!!! Once we got out past the main harbor we took off flying across the massive waves. Seeing that I had never ridden before I was a bit apprehensive at first about hitting the throttle and pushing it to it's full speed. These waves really had a tendency to kind of sneak up on you. I'd say for the first 15 minutes I only pushed to about 35 mph, which seemed really fast. After becoming more comfortable with the Jet Ski, I couldn't go fast enough:) It was a blast!!! I think they top out at around 55/60 mph. It was so crazy... I'm flying along and all of the sudden you see this major dip in the water directly in front of you. At that speed you don't even have time to think, or slow down, or anything. When I hit my first wave and went airborne I felt like James Bond (Well, Almost:). Hitting those waves for the first time really gets the heart going, once you go airborne you really want to do it again. As we are zipping around, every once in a while we would see these little Sea Lions fly up out of the water and then dive back in (kind of cool) although I hate to hit one. Ok so I'm way out off the shore line and I see this really large freight boat headed out of the harbor. So I get this crazy Idea that I should go and jump it's wake... Not a good idea!!! I whip around and start heading in the direction of the boat. I passed it once to see how large the waves were and then spun around again placing myself perpendicular to its wake. (I don't think I was thinking at this point:) I gunned it towards these massive waves that sank deep into the ocean...just before i flew over the crest of the wake I thought to myself, "maybe this isn't such a great idea", but it was too late, I was flying through the air. My heart sank, my (delightful, I'm having so much fun) smile disappeared and for the first time I was really scared. I felt like a bird looking down on the earth below watching all the little people...and then crash!!! I slammed into the water, jolted forward and my hand came off the throttle, which greatly decreased my forward motion and everything was calm again. I made it and as far as I could tell, (unless heaven is a big blue ocean) I didn't die:) I was really happy about that:) I race Jeremy about 1/2 mile across the bay, did some really cool spins, lead Free Willy out to freedom in the ocean...no...JK. There is really not much else to talk about that really compares to "THE JUMP" so I'll stop but it was really fun. If you all ever come out, we have to do it again:)!!! It's Crazy Exciting!!!

I have some video footage of it but won't be able to put it up for a few days due to being very busy at the moment.

Alright~ everyone, God bless and have a wonderful day.

Paul

Random!!!

I'm so bummed.... I can't put that little squiggly line in my posts:( For some reason google blogger changes it to a straight line. Sometimes it's needed in a post but whatever. I thought I'd be random and let you know:)

-A Straight Path-

I don't know that I could have read something more encouraging this morning, then Psalm 103 . "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." May we truly fear the Lord, honoring him in everything and through everything. I was talking to my mom the other day and she was talking about when we do what's right for man, life gets discouraging and hopeless but when we commit our selves to The Living God and serve Him, it changes everything. Now, no mater what life throws our way, we know that God is with us and from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear Him. Do all things to the glory of God, the same God who has established his throne in heaven, and who's kingdom rules over all. Not over some things but everything, continue to trust, continue to live as an example (Christ through you). Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.



Psalm 103

Of David.

1 Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-

3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,

5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:

8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.

9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;

10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;

16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.

17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD's love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children's children-

18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.

19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Praise the LORD, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.

21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.

22 Praise the LORD, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.

Is eating and will blog about everything later:)

LOOKING BACK

It's always good to read back and remember what you learned in scripture. Seems like life goes in a big cycle, always trying to teach the same lesson again and again. I hate obeying sometimes but even more then that, I hate waiting:) My flesh hates waiting on the Lord but I know it's right. Sometimes I get so frustrated inside and don't even want to talk to Christ in prayer because it seems that He is no longer listening. I know its not true, but it sure feels like it sometimes. Anyway I got to reading this and was encouraged. When you are at a point where you think He isn't there or doesn't care He does. He cares very, very much:) TRUST!!! For only God can defeat a giant:)~

This post was from Monday, March 17, 2008 at 12:53pm

-DEPENDANCE-
Lately I've felt like life was moving in a direction opposite of what I want, crawling along with no resolve. No answers to many questions I have stored in my little brain. Questions that, if dwelt upon to long, can drive me crazy and begin consuming every spare moment of thought only to render an attitude of hate and distain. An attitude of self dependance accompanied by its dear friend worry, rather then a dependance on the Lord. "Why Lord" I ask, "do you hold back answers to questions that are rightfully due me? Why are things not resolved now? Life wont wait forever Lord." And yet when I find myself feeling justified in my hate the Lord Jesus Christ comes along side me and gently reminds me of His guiding hand in my life. Showing through scriptures that all things are best in His timing and to wait. "Wait Lord?" I ask "Yes" says the Lord... "and I will give you a new strength, so that you may mount up with wings like eagles and sore above the heavens. When you run for Me Paul, run in My strength which does not tire. Trust in me, meditate on my Word and you will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever you do you will prosper, for I am with you."

Isaiah 40: 11-14
Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes. Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, and marked off the heavens by the span, And calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, And weighed the mountains in a balance and the hills in a pair of scales? Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, Or as His counselor has informed Him? With whom did He consult and who gave Him understanding? And who taught Him in the path of justice and taught Him knowledge and informed Him of the way of understanding?

Isaiah 40: 25-26...To whom then will you liken Me That I would be his equal?" says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number,He calls them all by name...

Isaiah 40:31 Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles,They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.

Psalm 23: 1-3 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.


Pray for me that I continue to seek the Lord in all things and that I wait patiently for all the things He has in store.

MY TRIP TO LA!!!

The last two days have really been a trip!!! DJ and I left for LA early Saturday morning for a photo shoot at a horse race in LA. I took DJ to the track, dropped him off and went shopping for nice pants, a shirt, belt and shoos. I had to buy them because I left all my nice dress cloths at home. So I did that, talked to Dayna for an hour on the phone, drove to the LAX AIRPORT to get some airplane footage (couldn't find a good place to shoot them so I skipped it) blo,blo, blo..... Well 4:30pm rolled around and DJ called to say that he was done shooting, so I went to pick him up. After picking him up we punched in PASADENA CALIFORNIA and hit the road. On our way down he was telling me about the race and how this horse busted out of the gate charged ahead and stayed ahead the entire race, but as it rounded the last turn to the finish line, it's front leg snapped and it crashed into the ground. He said the horse behind ran straight into the fallen horse and both jockeys went flying. Apparently when a horse breaks its leg they have to kill it, so a team of guys ran out onto the field, put up some white sheets and killed it. They loaded it up on a cart and away it went. Crazy!!! After that we checked into a hotel dropped our stuff off in the room and headed out to down town Pasadena to meet up with Rodeolo Arpia. (a very well known spanish wedding photographer) We ate dinner while Rudy told us his life story. (which is just crazy) In a nut shell He came to the us with nothing but $30 in his pocket, no friends nothing. He worked very hard and is now a very successful wedding photographer. Great Story!!!

The next day came and we got ready for the wedding. The wedding was being held at Santa Anita Park. Santa Anita Park is this amazing race track that sits right outside the mountains here in Pasadena. It was cool, a little depressing though:) I think the groom cared more about the place then he did his bride. They took pictures before the wedding and when he saw her for the first time he didn't even care. He just started talking about the track and the horses and all that....He barely gave her a hug and didn't kiss her... I couldn't believe it!!! This guy is the vet for one of the best horse trainers in the world. They own their own 747 for transporting the horses around the world. They send all the horses to Santa Barbara, where they have exercise pools, spa treatments and a lot of other ridicules stuff. They cost like, 5 million dollars each and half a million to breed!!! CRAZY!!!

Anyway at the wedding, I met this guy named Pepe Valencia...

I sat at his table with he, his wife and two kids. Well come to find out this guy is no fly by night. He is a 3D graphic artist with quite an extensive resume. He joined Sony Pictures Imageworks in 1996 where he served as Animation Supervisor on “The Aviator”, “Peter Pan”, and “Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle”. Other credits include “Surf’s Up”, “Open Season”, “Early Bloomer”, “Stuart Little 2” (winner of the VES Award for Best Character Animation in an Animated Film), “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone”, the Academy Award(R) nominated “Hollow Man”, the Academy Award nominated “Stuart Little”, “Godzilla” and the Academy Award nominated “Starship Troopers”. He did Director’s layout with Robert Zemeckis on “The Polar Express” , Gil Kenan on “Monster House” and the opening sequence of “Superman” with Brian Singer. He is currently working on next Robert Zemeckis film “Beowulf”. Before joining Imageworks, he worked at Cinesite as a Technical Director on “Space Jam” and at a number of smaller production houses. He served as a member of the Animated Short Films jury for the 2001 ASIFA Annie Awards and has written articles for Cinevideo 20 and Campana. This guy was amazing!!! We talked all night about what he does... He gave me his e-mail address and told me to e-mail him. I told him if he was ever n KC to stop in for dinner. He and His wife said they would love too. Anyway after the wedding we headed up to LA and crashed at Gary Fong's condo. Woke up this morning met with Jeff (a marketer) and then came home...

OK im off to bed it's late:)

Night~

-EVENTFUL WEEK-

Well its been a very eventful week!!!

-Highlights-

1. 24 hour fitness!!!
I saw my arms deflating so I decided to renew my membership. Worked out for about an hour Monday but haven't had a chance to get back and keep on.

2. My Bike light:(
I wish I had a more exciting story but it's kind of lame. I ran into Borders to grab a book for editing in Motion. I sat down and studied till it got dark. Seeing that is was getting late I decided to truck it home...so I start biking home and went to turn on my light because I couldn't see the road and it wasn't there. I wasn't happy:) I was turning the corner and got hit by a car and died:( JK I didn't die:) I made it home safe.

3. Got an Office!!!
I moved into a new office right off State Street in down town Santa Barbara and totally love the place!!! Its location is inside a building that was built back in the day...like 50 years ago. It's a small, one room office, on the bottom floor, fully furnished and very homey/modern. I really really like it!!! Praise the Lord:)


4. The beach:(
I didn't get to go to the beach this week, oh well:)

5. A letter from my mom:)
I got a letter from my mom this week. [She is so great:)] She talked about how King Saul listened to the advice of man and not God. How he compromised in his obedience to God by saving the best of what God wholly condemned. 1 Samuel 15- you should read it. "Partial obedience is total disobedience."

6. Played Soccer this week!!!
I haven't been able to play soccer for some time due to the move across the country. DJ popped in while I was editing on Monday and asked if I would be interested in playing soccer. I said "no" and told him that I was going to edit more cus I love it so much. No JK... Dude I jumped up, ran bought some cleats and left with him to play soccer. I played Monday and Wednesday...Love, Love soccer!!!

7. ~The Moon's Reflection~
It was an amazing sight!!! The house I'm staying in right now looks out over all of Santa Barbara and the ocean beyond. The Moon was so bright the other night. Its shine across the water looked like a long lit runway on black glass. Very Cool!!!

-Found This Encouraging-

Here are some of the verses I read this morning that I found encouraging. They are not in any particular order and may not even tie together but I like them.


Philippians 1:8-11
For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. This I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 4:4-9
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

1 Corinthians 13:1-7
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails...

Reading this made me think of how sometimes it seems that we have given all to the Lord and yet still hold a small shadow of hate/dislike towards certain people. God says, even if we have all that He talks about above and not love we have nothing. Look to Christ to love those around you. Even though they may have wronged you...still love them.

My brother Mark once said "You love God as much as the person you hate the most". Think about it...

I have to go edit....

Love is impossible apart from Christ so walk in Him:)

If you represent a yellow dot on my map ... POST!!!

This is to everyone who may run across my blog. This is not a self-centered thing, I just think it would be cool to see who is checking out the blog.

Even if you never come back to look at it again, please post where you are from:) I just got this new little map thing that pin points whoever logs on from around the world. I always get so excited to get on and see more little dots pop up...what stinks is, I can't respond or know who you are. Some of you may like to keep it that way and thats fine, but for the rest, I would love to look at your posts and keep in touch.

Can't wait to meet you!!!

Paul

THE CAR I MAY BUY

This is the Car I might buy... waiting for them to drop the price a little bit:)

OVER 20 MILES!

Well come to find out, you can get a ticket for riding at night without lights. (I didn't learn this from experience, don't worry) (although I'm sure you wouldn't have been shocked if I had) so I bought a front light, back light, a small pouch for my wallet keys..., water bottle and tools to fix my flat. Fixed the flat last night and went for a little ride. Well, I got lost:) I biked I'd say about 9 miles partly because I got lost on the back side of the mountain in the middle of the night and had no clue as to where to go. Don't worry I made it home alive and in one piece;)

Today

I just got back from another bike ride today that was over 20 miles:b Dude it was a killer... As you can see on the map it was quite a ways. I have to admit the way down was fairly easy because I live on the side of a mountain and it was all pretty much down hill. But the way back!!! That was a killer. It's really hot out too... I was gone for 5 hours and biked about 3 1/2 of that 5. I also went to the beach, swam in the ocean, went for a small hike along the cliff, and went and bought some shirts before heading home.


Crazy Day!!!


P.S.
I saw the craziest thing today! I was walking back to my bike along the beach and started to hear what sounded like an engine roar. I turned to look and saw a "WW2 P-51 Mustang" flying about 50 feet off the water and about 40 yards off the coast line. To see it zip along the cliffs like that was the coolest thing. I have to get one:) After looking it up, I found out it was "The Best Fighter of WWII". I thought you ming want to know That:) I didn't have my camera on me so I posted a picture I found on the e-net:)

UGLY ENOUGH AS IS:)

Ok... DJ has some friends over to cook out, you know with a fire, hot dogs, chips, sweet potato, pop, you know everything:) So we are having a good old time, talking, laughing, you know just kicken back doing whatever. Dinner finishes and the marshmallows get pulled out, SMORE TIME!!! We are all roasting our marshmallows on hanger wire, trying to get them to that nice, crisp, brow color, you know just before they catch fire. Well... mine catches fire... so i swing it up to blow it out and it hits me straight in the face while on fire. It stuck to my face and dude, it hurt so bad!!! I have really small blisters now on the right outside of my mouth. Hope it doesn't scar. I'm ugly enough as it is, I don't need a scar:) I'll take a picture tomorrow and give you an update.

Ok, i'm off to bed... Keep praying for me, I need it:)

Thanks for reading:)
Paul

P.S.
I saw the Big Dipper tonight while sitting out talking with the others. Reminds me of back home:) The sky is the only thing that looks same as it does back home. I miss you all so much:) Lord willing, I'll see you soon.

Save the date!!! I'll see you soon:)

Ok:) Here it is!!!

These are the dates and the cities I will be in during the tour. If you are in any of these cities and we both have the time to meet, lets do either breakfast, lunch or dinner. Even if we just saw each other, that would rock too. I know touring the country doesn't happen very many times in a life time so it would really be fun to meet up with as many friends as possible. Plus I'll blog about it!!! How cool is that:) JK

OK post and let me know.

Whoever you are, I'd love to see you again:)

7/1 Houston, TX
7/2 Dallas, TX
7/3 Austin, TX
7/6 Phoenix, AZ
7/7 San Diego, CA
7/9 LA, CA
7/10 Santa Barbara, CA
7/13 San Francisco, CA
7/16 Salt Lake City, UT
7/17 Denver, CO
7/21 Kansas City, KS
7/22 Chicago, IL
7/24 Indianapolis, IN
7/28 New York City, NY
7/29 Boston, MA
7/31 Washington DC
8/4 Charolette, NC
8/5 Charleston, SC
8/7 Orlando, FL
8/11 Atlanta, GA
8/12 Nashville, TN

Just Interviewed Checco Varese!!!

I just got done interviewing Checco Varese "Director of Photography" for Kevin Costner.

He has been renting DJ's house out for the last two weeks with his wife and child. He is full blood Italian, which I though was really cool. I interviewed him on how much he loved the house and how it has a wonderful location.... blo,blo blo... that was cool... But what was really cool, is that after the interview, he asked me if I would shoot him an e-mail and then asked me if I would be interested in working with him sometime on a film down the road. I told him I would make his coffee if he wanted! I would have to make sure the film was clean and everything but what a cool opportunity:)

He and his wife just finished the film "Under The Same Moon" http://www.foxsearchlight.com/underthesamemoon/. Looks like it could be a good film.

Well so far that's the only exciting news of the day :)

-Who's Hair Is Longer- YOU VOTE!!!

This picture is for Caleb (MY LITTLE BROTHER) to show him that my hair is way, way, longer then his. I mean come on, Im drinking protein and he is just sitting on his hands. My hair is way longer:)

You tell me who's hair is longer:)

PICK ME;)

-BACK TO SANTA BARBARA-

I have been living at Jessica Claire's house for the past few weeks due to no place to stay in Santa Barbara at the moment (Long Story). Jessica was gone and offered her house for me to stay in while being away form SB. It's been a blast here!!! Love this place:) Thanks Jess:) I'm headed back to SB here in a few hours but first we have to stop into LA to pick up some furniture and other random stuff. Pray we get it all in the car and the trip goes well:) As much as I love the OC I can't wait to get back to SB...We have some new videos to shoot that I'm pretty excited about. I'm also pretty excited about the fact that the beach is once again right down the street:)

-BAD NEWS-
My bike tire was punctured by a thorn and popped:( No biking today or tomorrow...but don't worry I'll have it fixed in no time:) So to all you cars out there, you will still have your chance to run me over:)

P.S.

I found this really encouraging this morning... Christ through you, "be holy in all that you do".
1 Peter 1:13-15
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy.

Lunch With Mark and Candice Brooke

Just went out to lunch with Mark and his wife Candice -markbrooke.net-
They are two brand new yet very successful wedding photographers here in Orange County CA. They booked 26 wedding in their first year of business... THAT'S A LOT OF WEDDINGS!!! They are an amazing couple with an incredible vision for business... and the bonus is, they are super fun to be around. Due to their success in the, wedding photography industry, they are currently pursuing many amazing entrepreneurial opportunities that have arisen.

Lunch was great!!! We talked about business, life, the future, and just random crazy stuff. You have nothing to loose with Ideas, only something to gain, so its always fun throwing them around.

If you guys are reading this, I had great time, we should totally hangout again in SB:)

God bless,
Paul

See You Soon!!!

David Jay (my employer) (davidjay.com), is doing a product promotion tour across the country!!! We are pushing the amazing new product, SHOWIT SITES (showitsites.com). I'm traveling along as his videographer and editor. Brett (one of the programers) Crystal (the personal assistant) Jasmine Star (another photographer) and her husband JD will also be coming on the trip. We will be traveling to over 30 cities across the United States in a span of 6 weeks.

I don't know what cities we will be hitting yet but I'll post a schedule as soon as it becomes available. I would love to hook up with you guys if you have the time. Don't know how much time I'll have, but even if it's just lunch, that would rock:)

Stoked to meet up!!!
Paul

Is Christ Enough? It's not finished... Sorry:) It's 4am Part 1

I'm writing this in regards to a conversation I had with a friend a while ago. Due to the constraints of time our conversation was never finished, so I said that I would post it:)

I know that many of you who may read this post have already done your own research into the subject and would encourage you to add further clarification to what I may get wrong or miss. To those of you who have not looked into the matter please do. Not that you would, but just in case, don't just take my word for it. Rather, through the study of the living word of God, with full confidence in His ability to communicate what is true through His word, search for yourself the answer to this subject that some call heresy. May we as the body of Christ be as the Bereans in Acts 17:11 "Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was True." This is going to contain a lot of scripture but bare with me and hopefully it will all make sense in the end, if I don't butcher it:)

Is the Lord Jesus Christ enough?

Has God, through His Word, The Holy Spirit and the fellowship of the saints "given us all that we need to live the christian life?

HIS WORD
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Romans 15:4-6
For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:19-21
So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

THE HOLY SPIRIT
1 Thessalonians 1:5
...for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction...

ROMANS 8:8-17
You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Acts 15:12
All the people kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were relating what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

There are many more verses that talk about God working through us these were just a few. Note that even Jesus Christ who was God as man gave up is right as God and allowed the Holy Spirt to work through Him.

Philippians 2:5-7
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men....

Acts 2:22
"Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know--

It is not by our own power that we live the christian life but rather it is Christ through us.

Colossians 1:27
to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

FELLOWSHIP OF THE SAINTS
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Hebrews 3:13
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

Hebrews 10:25
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

WHO DO WE TURN TO?
When their are troubles in our life, whatever they may be, who do we turn to?

Galatians 1:6-10
I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

Is Christian Psychology (so called) God's design, or is it a different gospel which is really not another but rather a wolf in sheep's clothing that distorts the Gospel of Christ?

Col. 2:8
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ

1 Tim. 6:20,21.
O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith.

1 Corinthians 3:11
For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Colossians 2:6-10
Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority...

Matthew 7:15-19
Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? "So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire

Ephesians 4:18
So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, (AP)that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;

1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."


This is far from a complete thought... So sorry... It's 4am and I'm about to fall over:) I really wanted to get this up before Monday. This week is going to be really busy but I'll try to finish the thought as soon as I can. Please add your thoughts and comments if you get through it all. I guess if you are reading this part you got though it:)

Thanks and Goodnight:)