Shay Thomason

These people were just painting on the side of the road today, it was kind of interesting. It probably has something to do with the upcoming cowboy poetry festival. They hold it annually and it’s kind of crazy. Tons of people come to this thing, but then again.. maybe I’m wrong.

At any rate, I’m about to head to work so I’d figure I’d just write something about a conversation I just had with my roommate. You see, I work for Starbucks Coffee (corporate) and he works for Coffee Kiosk (privately owned). He tried to tell me today that so many people come in and say how much better their coffee is. I take offense to that. I mean, who wouldn’t. There once was a day when Starbucks only had one store. And I asked him if his company went corporate what he would do and he said that he would still put his money into private ownership because he has control over his money. Well, I think that’s lame. He also says that he has more security. Well, I think he’s a little off his rocker. (don’t worry kids, my roommate is a good guy and I’m not coming down on him). This is just a debate we have all the time. It’s kind of fun. He tries these kinds of tricks all the time to make me angry, but he’ll never get the best of me.

But I think that we all know what it really comes down to. He’s just upset that I get full benefits, free coffee, a 401K savings plan, stock options, free drinks, and 30% off any store in the nation. It’s not my fault! I just work for a great company. So at the end of the day, I’ll be at Starbucks.

A “bed of roses” I saw today..

Here is a verse that might encourage you, it has encouraged me today.

2 Corinthians 9:12
And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness ” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

“Controlling the Tongue” – James 3

We started a new section of our study through James in church this morning. We actually started chapter 3 which begins with a discussion on the tongue. Pastor Scott showed us the power of the tongue by showing us the illustrations that James uses which are right in the text. They start in verse 3 and move forward. The Bible compares our own tongues to a bit that would go in to a horses mouth. It also compares it to the rudder of a ship. These are great pictures on the power of that “little red devil” in our mouths. The things we say are really just what is coming out of our hearts. How are you doing with your words today? Are you using them to build people up or tear people down. Because it really is not true that “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” That is a lie. Words do hurt. They hurt when people say wrong things about you, and gossip about you. They hurt when they have a harmful intent toward you. Control your tongue today and God will be greatly glorified.

For further study please go read and study the third chapter of James, I trust you will be convicted and encouraged.

I played some Boggle tonight. Have you played?

if not, just try and find as many words in this pile here in 3 minutes. They can be long or short, but obviously the longer they are the more points. And finally, the words must touch IN ORDER. It’s kind of hard to explain and I’m not going to bother.

ok.. I guess that’s all for tonight. I must work tomorrow, so I need to make sure that happens. Well, I need to make sure that I get a good nights sleep. My girlfriend is going away for the weekend, so that’s kind of sad. But she is going to women’s retreat with our church which should be a good time. The beauty of living in southern Cali is that you can retreat to the warm beaches, which is where they are going. ok.. enough about that. I’m gone.

I “filled up” today. Yeah right! Filled up!!!??! I don’t think so. Look at those prices. And I wasn’t buying the super gas either, just the normal unleaded! Geeze! Can you believe it? I should’ve taken a picture of my gas gauge while I was at it. I seriously only got 3/4 of a tank. What a bummer.

Enough about that.. but I just got out of my Philosophy class about an hour ago and we watched a little of Micheal Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11.” That’s an interesting piece of work. I really don’t want to make too many comments about it at this time, but I will say that the rumors are truly. It is a highly deceptive film. It’ll be interesting when we watch the rebuttle on Monday “FahrenHYPE 9/11.” I know that I’m about a year behind everyone on this stuff, but that’s ok.. I’m not on the up and up I guess.

Tonight I have lot going on. Studying for my Human Anatomy Exam, Youth Group, meeting with one my classes, and more studying. So I guess that’s all in a nutshell. See yah.

I was thinking maybe I could do a Sunday devotional since today is the Lord’s day. Maybe just recap what I learned in church this morning.

We have been studying the book of James in our Sunday morning services and it has been a great study thus far. Today we were hitting on Chapter 2:25-26. My pastor did a great job of finishing the topic of faith and works which is what the second part of chapter 2 is talking about. Really, if you look at the book it lays out four examples of people of the faith in times past that have had a balance of their faith and works. Specifically we talked about the fourth example this morning of Rahab and how she hid the spies in faith that she would be protected (see Joshua 2 for the whole story of “Rahab’s Courageous Act”). But it was her faith that was put in to action with the work that she did in hiding the spies that Joshua had sent out. Scott, my pastor said this, “Faith comes first, then works.”

The basic point this morning had two parts, and it really sums up the entire subject of faith and works.
1. That it is by grace we have been saved, through faith, in Christ. (Eph. 2:8-9, Acts 16:31)
2. Salvation by faith alone, is never alone! We can profess to know the Savior, but with no works, it is dead! (James 2:14,18,20, and 26)

If we are professing believers our lives should look like it. We can not profess to know Jesus Christ, and not do what he says in the Word of God.

These are great truths for the church to be reminded of.

I saw this on the road the other day.

It’s not everyday you are driving down the street and all of a sudden a huge train comes rolling by. It was seriously a weird thing. I was flippin’ out about it, and my roommate was in the car with me. It’s a good thing I had my camera handy so I could snap a quick pic for all you kids.. anyways.. I hope that is amusing to you..

Secondly (because I like to list things by numbers), I preached today at school. It was pretty crazy. It actually has kind of taken up my life for the past couple of weeks. But I thought it went pretty well considering everything. Now my only job is to get caught back up in school. I know that sounds bad, but it seriously has been out of control. I am glad that I was able to be used that way though. It was so cool having so many people praying for me and encouraging me, seriously rad.

But I’ve gotta get going to youth group tonight, but I hope your days are going well, talk to you soon!

It’s seriously been an awesome weekend. I had the oppurtunity to lead music with a couple of guys from my church at our men’s retreat this weekend. Such a good time! It actually wasn’t just guys from my church that were there, but other baptist churches around southern California. I’d say there were about 80 guys total, and it was just fun to be around all the older men and just to glean some spiritual wisdom from them.

The place we went was pretty fun in that it was a ranch. So, being a city kid, it was exceptionally fun for me. Well, I guess the truth is that I’m not a city kid totally. I mean, I grew up with horses and stuff at my house. At times we even had pigs, lambs, and a cow (for a short time). But all that to say I think I kind of went the other way as far as the country stuff goes. I didn’t really get into the horseback riding and rodeo thing… anyways.. It was really just a short weekend trip that insisted of three sessions, shooting guns, and just hanging out with guys. Really was a great way to start spring break.

I’m looking forward to having this next week off. It will be good for me to just get some sleep and to be working a few extra hours. Got a lot of homework to catch up on and I’m hoping not to waste my time this week so that I can do what the Lord would have me to do! Hope you kids are doing well.. here’s some pics for you to check out from this weekend!

the cows were a highlight.

this peacock was kind of fun..

such a guy thing to do… the last time I shot a gun it basically broke my nose (I was five)

figured you needed a second shot of my manhood

what?.. what’s the problem?..

babies are fun..

saw this barn on the side of the road.. only, it was in water

No, I’m not saying goodbye, it’s just the title of the final record from one of my favorite bands of all time, a band called Bleach. Yesterday I went and bought it. It’s been a sad couple of days as I have thought back through my life from junior high on. That’s when I bought the first Bleach CD. They have a total of six albums and I own them all. I never actually got to see them live, because the one time I was going to do so I basically broke my leg in a soccer game (to the point where I had to have an ambulance come to the field). It was my freshman year in high school. But I still went to the show that was over an hour and a half away. We missed Bleach, but we got to hang out with them for a couple of hours which was just as cool; now that’s punk rock.

The final song called “Farewell Old Friends” is really a song for anyone who has liked this band at one point. Though I don’t intend to do a review of this record, I am saying that the lyrics to that song have definitely made me a bit emotional the past few days. We don’t talk like that anymore, “Farewell Old Friends,” do we? It’s more of a 1700’s saying in my mind. But I must say that it is a sad day in the life Christian music. I can officially say that I have been alive and enjoyed the entire life of a band, and a band that is committed to Jesus Christ. Who is your favorite band, maybe a band that has impacted you, or that you just enjoy when everyone else might not?

So though I’ll be back sooner than later, this is in memory of my favorite band:

“Farewell old friends, this has been the best it could have been, farewell old friends, and we won’t forget the times we spent, as for me and my countrymen, we are headed out to sea, and there’s no way that this is the end for them, or for me… so farewell. for now farewell, this has been a tale, we hope you tell. don’t forget what we’ve become, and the training’s worth the time it took, now that it is done. when the waves they come crashing in, will I withstand and sing? there is nothing for us to fear, we’re in the service of the Good King. the Good King. so farewell, farewell, old friends, farewell, farewell, farewell, old friends..”

– Bleach (1996-2005)

I bet you’ve heard that before. I know, I’ve been bad this week. Been a long week just trying to get my life in order after Winter Camp with my church this weekend. Overall I thought the weekend went well and the high school and junior high students had a really enjoyable time.

So summer’s here. The rain is gone and the sun has come. I feel great. Not that I don’t feel great when the rain is here, I just get so excited when summer comes. I guess it has something to do with the fact that I am a summer baby; or maybe not? Hopefully I’ll be taking some pics this week and put them on shaycam. I am not sure of what, but I’m sure I’ll figure something out.

Listening to a really awesome song right now called “Jesus I My Cross Have Taken.” It’s an old hymn with 6 verses. Check it out online sometime if you get a chance. See ya later.