Long time no...speak...

Well hello again blogpot. I have not graced you with my words in a long time. Maybe it's because i havent had much to say or maybe because I havent had the time...I actually think that the main reason is that lately, i've tried to keep my thought and feelings to myself. But I'm thinking that it's about time for some change! I wish I could say that I'm not sure what happened to the once very open person that I used to be, but that would be a lie.
I can honestly say that this hasn't been the easiest year. Losing an eye, losing an uncle, losing a family...i think somewhere along the way i lost myself. I've done some stupid things in the past year or more...most of which i wish i had done differently. I try so hard to not feel sorry for myself but sometimes I just can't help it. Sometimes I feel like I've lost everything...and honestly, the pain is often unbearable. But you know what I always say? I say that I always think of Job. That's what i tell people. But you know what? I don't think I really have thought about Job. I can honestly say that i know the story by heart. Job's my favorite Bible character...always has been. And it feels like he and I have so much alike...but we really don't. I wish that I had the faith that Job had. Don't get me wrong, I have complete trust that God will take care of me. But sometimes its hard to help but wonder when things will look up.
I've spilled my heart to say one thing...IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE BRANDON KEENER!!
And yes...this post is more for me than anyone else. If i write it down...I hope it will be easier! I need a change! So I am giving everything to God. Something that I should have done a LONG time ago! I think that it's easy to give part of it over to God...but if we give everything over to Him we feel like we have no control...and for some reason that scares us...it sure scares me. But heck! That's the point! I don't need to have any control...i never had control. God's in control and it's a lot easier for Him and for me if I just give it all to Him. So Brandon Keener is putting his life and everything in it in God's control. In his hands where I know it's safe. I guess you could call this a rededication...I am dedicating my self to Christ and His will. I dont want to try to live my life anymore. I want to live the life HE has for me! I'm sick of trying to take care of things myself! That's one of my worst characteristics. I try to hard to fix everything. Why? I want control...but as I said earlier...I have control over nothing! Anyway...im ranting like crazy! But thats how I feel. That's what I'm thinking! I want to be completely in love with God right now!!!
WOW! that feels great!

stars*

An amazing song by David Crowder Band*
The words speak to me every time!

you should see the stars tonight
how they shimmer shine so bright
against the black they look so white
comin down from such a height
to reach me now, reach me now

you should see the moon in the flight
cuttin cross the misty night
softly dancin in sunshine
reflections of this light
reach me now, you reach me now

and how could such a thing
shine its light on me
and make everything beautiful again

and you should feel the sun in the spring
comin out after a rain
suddenly all is green
sunshine on everything
i can feel it now, i feel you now

and how could such a thing
shine its light on me
and make everything beautiful

and you should hear the angels sing
all gathered round their king
more beautiful than you could dream
i've been quietly listening
you can hear 'em now, i hear em now

and how could such a king
shine His light on me
and make everything beautiful

and i wanna shine
i wanna be light
i wanna tell you it'll be alright
and i wanna shine and i wanna fly
just to tell you now
it'll be alright, it'll be alright
it'll be alright.

cus i got nothing of my own to give to you
but this light that shines on me shines on you
and makes everything beautiful, again.
it'll be alright, it'll be alright.

At The Cross

This weekend I got the chance to the greatest AYC (Arkansas Youth Conference) that i've ever been to! The messages were powerful, the worship was heart-lifting, but one of my favorite parts (there are many) was how during every session, Chad Graves painted a different picture. Three canvas' total. He began each work of art by writing words on the canvas such as "CRAVE" and "JESUS" and gradually painting over it with simple brush strokes in the shape of crosses. As each painting progressed you began to piece it all together and during the last session, they finally put together the puzzle for you to see it all together! What a beautiful display of love. Arms spread out for us!

Radio

Hey Everyone,
I am on the radio on tuesday nights at 8PM. That means tonight! so check it out if your free. You can get to it online at http://broadcast.atu.edu/broadcasting.shtml. Just click on either of the Windows Media Player links.

Hope you enjoy!
Brandon

I've been thinking a lot lately...

about the "old, rugged cross." My preacher said the words on Sunday: "old, rugged cross." He said in the way many use the phrase-in the words of a song..."the old, rugged cross...where my burdens at last I lay down..." I'm sure most of us have heard the song many a Sunday morning. But this Sunday, I really started thinking about the "old, rugged cross." I realized that we almost use it as if it is like a brand name...(Old Rugged®) or something. It has taken me almost 19 years to actually think about this "old, rugged cross!" I began to think about how old the wood truly was...and how very rugged the wood must have been. I thought about how much pain that old and rugged cross must have caused Christ. Imagine for a second, a crown of skull piercing thorns being beaten into your skull, being whipped with whips bearing broken glass and bone that wripped the flesh off of your own bones, and then on top of this, being forced to carry this old, rugged cross on your shoulder up the hill to your execution. Imagine the huge splinters from this rugged cross digging deep into your fleshless body, and the dirt from the old wood as it burns your wounds.
This is what i saw in my head. But then i began to dig deeper and think on a bigger picture. So here's what got me most...
I began to think about my old and rugged sin. It was my sin that topped off Jesus' pain. My sin hurt Christ more than any dirt, thorn, or nail ever could. It hurt him worse than the whips...worse than the splinters, and yet...he did it for me. Christ died for me. But he didn't just do it for me; Christ died for you...for every single person that's ever lived! No exceptions! That's how much Jesus Christ loves us and that is no secret!
Jesus died on an old, rugged cross that was stained with our old, rugged sin so we could be a new, beautiful creation.

Hello Blogspot!

Hey everyone!
I had a fun-filled evening...which was very much needed! It's been a very stressful few months and tonight allowed me to relax a little bit! An evening of Texas-Hold'em, hide-and-seek, and Cranium was just what I needed...it was a blast. It was great to hang out with my friends that I haven't seen in forever! And my mother made some dang good cake! You know why?...cause my birthday's Sunday! How freakin' sweet is that?! I know i'm like a little kid, counting down the days until his birthday...but i don't care. Anyway, I'm bout to head to bed!