Rocky Mount Area Habitat Fund Raising OPPORTUNITY

I felt like I should share this with all my Facebook Friends....My job is a vocation...I eat, sleep and breathe Habitat....Please help us if you can!  Below is a fundraising letter I am sending out....

As this year draws to an end, we look back and give thanks for the many blessings that the Lord has bestowed upon us.  Additionally, we look forward to the prospects of a future of service to the least, the lost and the last.  Our ministry at the Rocky Mount Area Habitat for Humanity has been blessed by a donor that has committed to matching EVERY DOLLAR DONATED, up to $20,000.00, by individuals, churches, business, civic groups, etc. from December 1, 2010 through March 31, 2011. 

$40,000.00 will go a long way toward building an entire house for a Habitat Partner Family.  Your dollars will go to work in YOUR COMMUNITY.   The Habitat families that you will be supporting will become homeowners in YOUR COMMUNITY.  

Please prayerfully consider making a donation during this fund-raiser.  It is not often that we get the opportunity to DOUBLE your support!  Please feel free to call us with any questions.  We appreciate all of the support and prayers that the citizens of Rocky Mount have provided to us since 1991.  We look forward to doing His work, with YOU, for many years to come.

Checks can be mailed to:       Rocky Mount Area Habitat for Humanity

                                                1400 Raleigh Rd

                                                Rocky Mount, NC  27803

Payments can be made via PayPal (MasterCard, VISA, etc) at:  www.rockymounthabitat.org

On behalf of the Board of Directors, Staff, and Homeowners of the Rocky Mount Area Habitat for Humanity, Merry Christmas and Blessings in the New Year!

In Christ,

Eric V. Ghiloni

New song...New album (are they still called albums)

Another song...I like it...Thank you Lord for letting it pour out...I will record the demo soon and post the track....but the words are nice.  It says enough for now...that makes 5 or 6ish (depending on edits) that denied3times has ready to record in earnest...who's earnest?...LOL.  Late Spring release?...WHAT?....that is the plan!

(BTW...i seriously here the Voices of Triumph Gospel Choir from NCWC on the chorus...then blow the chorus up at the end with their incredible vocals...just sayin)

Verse 1

I’m waiting...for a sign

I’m waiting...for Your time

I’m wondering...who I am

I know I...don’t have to understand

Chorus

I’m out of my way...fill me up

For the first time today

I’m out of my way...fill me up

With the truth and the Way

Verse 2

I don’t know…where this all leads

I’ll follow…in word and deed

You show me..with your signs

In my weakness...strength I find

Bridge

I once was hurting lost and jaded

I ask the Son and He forgave me                                                           

The Spirit fills me now and I'll be fine

You fill me up with peace and grace

You put the path before my face                                                    

I bow before the throne I am alive

God loves me DESPITE my stupidity...so you can forgive me, it's ok.

Another writ of contrition, as such....

Just like the Lord gave Adam and Eve the garden, he has given us all endless gifts and blessings that we, at times, freely squander...and still He loves us.   We deny Him...ridicule Him...we CRUCIFIED Him...and still He loves us.

I have been given more second chances that a cat has lives....and still He loves me.  Recently, due to circumstances beyond MY WILLINGNESS to control, I have made my relationship with Christ all about me...without really realizing it...and still He loves me....in doing so, I am quite sure that I have alienated, or at very least annoyed a few folks that I consider friends...and still He loves me...and they do too, I hope...see, even in allowing me, through a failure of my character, to realize some major flaws in myself, God has, yet again, given me a gift...because, still, He loves me....Amen.

Self-realization hurts sometimes

I have come a long way in my life.  I have overcome a whole lot of hardships, most self-inflicted, to get to where I am.  Still, on some days, it is harder to look in the mirror than other days.  But I think that is a good thing.  If I was totally content ALL THE TIME, I fear I would not be seeing a true picture of the real me.  I like me...warts and all.  I am stubborn, opinionated...short, loud...(feel free to make a list of adjectives to insert here...I know I am a handful)...but I try.  I try really hard.  I fight for what I believe in, and I try my best to love with all my heart.  I am as imperfect as I am eager to please God...and I think that is where it becomes difficult.

I have a, sometimes overwhelming, need to be liked and that makes me a dork, but it is who I am.  I tend to not be appreciative enough of the gifts that I have been given and that makes me a proud mess...but I am working on it.  I, WAY TO OFTEN, think that my way is the only way...and am regularly proven wrong (sometimes I get it right...LOL) and that is a hard chore for me...but I pray daily for guidance on this one.  I am am impatient...but trying...I am a work in progress...in progress...in progress...but I AM trying...for those whose toes I have stepped on along the way, I am sorry...for others, like me, who have stomped on mine...all is forgiven.

My point...I love with all my heart...and I carry that passion on to other areas where I need to continue to learn about compassion...sharing...and the INCREDIBLE value of the other people in my life...If you are like me, this process hurts sometimes...can feel depressing...but this season will pass into a season of Joy...or of Discovery...or LOVE.

Love yourself...Love one another...God will take care of the rest.

e

I am sure to make some folks mad, but I just need to make a point.

I acknowledge before I click PUBLISH, that I am quite sure that I am about to upset some folks...BUT...please READ what I am typing. 

I am a Christian.  I am an American.  We do not have a national language.  We do not have a national religion.  The constitution does not make considerations for our "taste" in the legality of things. 

A Muslim Cultural Center (or even a Mosque) near ground zero is legal.  Period. 

That untold numbers of people have been killed in the name of Christ over the centuries doesn't make all Christians terrorists.  Nor, was it "tasteful" to the inhabitants of the countries where we Christians built churches where we Christians slaughtered native residents. 

We don't want to lump ourselves in with the perpetrators of the Spanish Inquisition, or the Crusades, but those Christians killed untold thousands in the name of Christ. 

Practice less complaining and more tolerance and maybe these things just might happen with less frequency.  If you truly disagree with a muslin "whatever" near ground zero, advocate through our politicians to change the constitution to reflect your perception of what it means to be AMERICAN. 

We all have the right to fight for change and I wish more people would, rather than complaining about issues that are 100% PROTECTED by the very constitution you would likely die to defend.  This is where I love democracy, because the opinion of the masses can diffuse and mask the influence of emotions on sensitive, mostly "opinion" issues.

I am quite sure the slamming will begin now.

e

should have asked!

So...as part of the Denied 3 Times band/ministry I bought a PA system.  Growing up partially deaf led me to decide over the years to steer clear of sound equipment...my logic was simple...the kid with hearing trouble might not be the one to count on for your sound reinforcement needs...LOL

BUT!

As I am staring down the barrel at 40 i have come to realize that most of us that have played amplified music that is almost always too loud for the venue suffer from some greater or lesser amount of hearing loss/damage...SO...since I have mostly been overly careful about the hearing the Lord gave me I find that i am no worse off than quite a few of my contemporaries.

Having said that, I will get on to my point.  I now own a PA system and play in a band.  A band that has used said PA system several times in rehearsals and twice in performances.  Each time I used the system I struggled to make sense of the 13,432 knobs, buttons, LED's and variety of plugs and input jacks...OHHH! and faders...the little slidey things...they generally make things louder.  I struggled and made the best out of the situation knowing FULL WELL that my dear friend and brother Jeff is a phone call away and is literally an expert on this type of stuff.  Jeff is an engineer.  The kind of guy that geeks look at and say, "DANG that guy is a geek!"   He is to sound gear what Rainman was to blackjack...a veritable savant....but NO...I could figure it out...HAHAHAHAHA!

After 2 shows fighting to NOT sound like we were performing in a barrel, I called Jeff....and I am pleased, embarrassed, thrilled, and a little ashamed to note that ion about 10 minutes on the phone he diagnosed the problem...gave me a darned good primer on the care and feeding of my sound board and explained to me features of my equipment that I will likely never use...

SO...I setup the PA tonight...sand a few songs played my guitar...the difference is staggering...i like my PA so much better now....thanks Jeff!

Lesson - just ask.

Dear Lord, forgive me for my arrogance.  Empty me of my pride and fear and fill me up with your grace and light.  Thank you for the gifts of friendship I have been given through the years.  I ask you to bless and keep all those I love.  I Jesus' name I pray.  Amen.

evolving?

I am not going to blog about what is bothering me tonight.  It would be inappropriate and childish for sure.  I would name names.  I would be judgmental.  I would make accusations.  I would question integrity.  I would completely blow it out of proportion.  So, therefore, I am not going to blog about it.

Unforgiveness doesn't hurt the unforgiven, just the unforgivor. (thanks Marty)  All is forgiven.  Done.

I am happy that I realized this BEFORE posting my first inclination...LOL...it would have created an epic mess.  Watch out...I may be evolving.

E

don't have time?

My friend Troy showed up at work today...he is a member of our Habitat affiliate Board of Directors.  He showed up to help out with a project (one of MANY) that we desperately need to accomplish.  Troy showed up unannounced and took charge...he laid out his plan...gathering momentum...explained the process...the whole time I was thinking, "man, I am busy...now is not the best time..."...then POOF!  He was gone.  Gone to spend his time...his money to handle this project that he has decided to adopt.

I sat there thinking, for a minute, that it was not the best time for ME...but it was the best time for HIM.  Troy, a busy professional...a father...a husband...a musician at church...active with his family...and HE took HIS time to help me...and US...the royal WE!  I was left with a sobering realization that my time is not any more valuable than his...or yours...or anyone's.  Thanks, Troy, for that gift...by doing nothing more than giving of yourself, you taught me a valuable lesson. 

I realized too that I do the same thing with God...I often intend to pray for someone...but now, I am busy with (insert selfish reason here)...or I have been blessed and ought to give thanks, but I have to (insert selfish reason here).....MY time over God's time?  Really?

"Lord, forgive me for my arrogance, help me to see the importance of others and help me to MAKE the time to give to you that which is yours, in all ways.  Amen."