tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:/blogs/what-i-see?p=2
what i see...
3999-10-01T12:00:00-06:00
© Copyright (1974-2024) Drew Jarrod
These are things that I see happening in my life and in the world around me.
Drew Jarrod's Blog
Drew Jarrod
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Drew Jarrod
info@drewjarrod.com
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7371491
2024-03-23T17:53:31-05:00
2024-03-23T18:22:04-05:00
Get Your Good Friday 2024 Tickets Today!
<div class="video-container size_xl justify_center" style=""><iframe data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="q9VqA9xl_sk" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/q9VqA9xl_sk?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div><p style="text-align:center;">Join us <i>this </i><span style="color:rgb(153,230,77);"><i>E</i></span><span style="color:rgb(77,230,230);"><i>a</i></span><span style="color:rgb(255,157,0);"><i>s</i></span><span style="color:rgb(77,230,153);"><i>t</i></span><span style="color:rgb(255,0,187);"><i>e</i></span><span style="color:rgb(77,230,153);"><i>r</i></span> weekend in Le Roy, MN for an incredible evening of worship - echoing the first Transformation our Brother, Jesus, modeled for us through His death and resurrection - featuring special guest, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.jasongraymusic.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><i>Jason Gray</i></a>, and the music of his latest album, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://fanlink.to/landoftheliving" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><i>Land Of The Living</i></a>.</p><p style="text-align:center;">Invite your friends and family and join us at this live, <i>in-person</i>, event for an evening of music, laughter, encouragement, and story, that will last a lifetime…</p><p style="text-align:center;">Don't miss this opportunity to hear God speaking to you in a unique way at <a class="no-pjax" href="https://leroymn.com/first-presbyterian-church" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">First Presbyterian Church, Friday, March 29, 2024</a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thefatherland.org/jason-gray" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Jason Gray">!</a></p><p style="text-align:center;">With a Worship Concert, Meet & Greet, and opening music by local, original, Christian artist, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thefatherland.org/drew-jarrod-bio" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Drew Jarrod Bio"><i>Drew Jarrod</i></a>, this March 29 is going to be a <i>Good </i>Friday!</p><p style="text-align:center;">Let's celebrate that God thinks we're <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-bp_FQB2zs" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">worth</a> coming, and <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-bp_FQB2zs" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><i>staying</i>, for</a>!</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.jasongraymusic.com/">www.jasongraymusic.com</a></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thefatherland.org/jason-gray">www.thefatherland.org/jason-gray</a></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.drewjarrod.com/">www.drewjarrod.com</a></p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7359353
2024-02-29T09:00:27-06:00
2024-02-29T09:02:07-06:00
Hy-Vee Jason Gray Concert Flyer!
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/d40a337ad71c0dfc04e373edd351f8b2bafb9b2f/original/20240210-172453.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" height="1836" /><p><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.hy-vee.com/stores/detail.aspx?s=10" role="link" tabindex="0" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><span><u>Hy-Vee</u></span></a> has got our <a class="no-pjax" href="/jason-gray" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Jason Gray">Jason Gray Concert</a> flyer! Post a selfie with one of our flyers before March 29 and get free <a class="no-pjax" href="/shop" role="link" tabindex="0" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Shop"><span>Drew Jarrod Music</span></a>!</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7357504
2024-02-26T13:10:36-06:00
2024-02-27T08:17:39-06:00
The 12-Year-Long Moment
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/1d9cce5266cabbb71e7c46ddcb2ed5a3cc75071d/original/cimg0257.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_left border_" height="2736" width="3648" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/691338ff27d38457bfac2a911c013265d60a4c6a/original/cimg0301.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_left border_" height="2736" width="3648" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/91abf3424f14ca17dbda00ed0098a3d4e2b07237/original/20240225-124803.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_left border_" height="2268" width="4032" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/f37156b2e24e6f5249b758212a07686e87645d3c/original/20240225-125151.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_left border_" height="2268" width="4032" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/e2c736f5ae31dbb8df93cb7aa5a0c6ca14554615/original/20240225-174016.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_left border_" height="2268" width="4032" /><p style="text-align:justify;">Twelve years ago, my <a class="no-pjax" href="/erin-jarrod" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Erin Jarrod">wife</a> got us tickets to <a class="no-pjax" href="https://stevencurtischapman.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Steven Curtis Chapman</a>'s <i>Songs And Stories Tour</i> with <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.andrew-peterson.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Andrew Peterson</a> and <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.joshwilsonmusic.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Josh Wilson</a> at <a class="no-pjax" href="https://autumnridge.church/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Autumn Ridge Church</a> in Rochester, MN. My young sons at the time, ages eight, six, and four, were also so impressed with Steven's music that they wanted to write Steven thank-you notes and they gave those notes to me to deliver to <i>him</i>.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">I love my kids. I really wanted to do this for them, but how was I ever going to do it?</p><p style="text-align:justify;">After the concert, Steven went backstage and we never saw him again that night. If I mailed these notes out - where would I send them? How would I know if they ever got into Steve's hand? How was I ever going to get these notes to him and fulfill my promise?</p><p style="text-align:justify;">[Now that I think about it, I could have given the notes to Andrew (who we <i>did</i> meet that night) and <i>he</i> could have given them to Steven I suppose... Hindsight. (But then Andrew would be giving the notes to Steven - not their father, not me - the one who promised them.)]</p><p style="text-align:justify;">At the time, I thought that this job was so important that I wanted to make sure it got done - that I put my children's notes directly into Steven's hands - myself. (After all, my boys asked ME to deliver their notes to Steve and, not being able to say, “No,” to them, or explain there was probably no way I could ever come through for them, (and rather than lie to them and tell them I delivered them and then just thrown the notes away), I looked them in the eyes and promised I would.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">A part of me also suggested that these tangible examples of my children's generous hearts were too precious to part with, so I should just keep these notes for myself. That way, I could be reminded of their God-inspired, loving spirits... so I kept their notes myself and thought of them from time to time with equal parts admiration for my boys and for God at work in their lives, and disappointment in the circumstance and my selfishness that didn't allow me to deliver the notes as I promised.)</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Fast-forward to today. My wife got us Meet-and-Greet tickets to the Steven Curtis Chapman <i>Still Tour</i> concert tonight, again in Rochester, MN. The thought came to me, <i>I wonder if I could actually get a chance to deliver my kids' notes from all those years ago…</i>, but I wasn't sure if we would get to be very near him, or have him sign anything, or even if I could deliver my children's notes (and on my promise to them), but everything about the evening was fine!</p><p style="text-align:justify;">We got to meet Steven and shook his hand and he complimented us on our shirts. As I briefly explained the story to him, I showed (and then handed him) my children's thank-you notes of encouragement to him. Steven was, of course, generous with his time, and gracious - accepting the notes and placing them in his back pocket - and then posed with us in a family picture. “Just” like that.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The moment is updated. The promise is fulfilled. I listened to that Voice in my head that created this opportunity <i>and</i> prompted me to ask, <i>What about now? Is now the time?</i></p><p style="text-align:justify;">I think our hearts are better for this moment because all of us (my boys, my wife, Steven, and myself) were present at the fulfillment. The story came full circle. But perhaps the moment could linger <i>Still...</i></p><p style="text-align:justify;">I'm not sure what I feel about all this yet... If I ever feel regret at not having the notes in my possession anymore, I take solace in the greater knowledge that the whole point of this 12-year-long moment was to deliver the notes, encourage Steven, bless the hearts of my children, and maybe even prove to myself that I <i>do</i> have what it takes to be a good parent - a good person - (or at least a better one).</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The Good News is we can all make changes and, with God's help, opportunities might still yet arrive that will afford us the chance to live rightly, do justice, and walk humbly with our God - living in His light - walking in His Way. How often do we get the chance (or make the chance) to do what is right?</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Has an opportunity arrived and are you being prompted to make something right? What in your life do you have the chance to make right today?</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7356147
2024-02-23T13:01:14-06:00
2024-02-23T13:02:14-06:00
Steven Curtis Chapman Concert Invite
<div class="video-container size_xl justify_center" style=""><iframe data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="3DyRm-94jvo" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3DyRm-94jvo?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div><p style="text-align:justify;">I can't wait to see one of my Heroes of the Faith, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://stevencurtischapman.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Steven Curtis Chapman</a>, in concert this Sunday night, February 25, 2024! I listened to Steven, his music, lyrics, and theology from the time I was in high school and have been able to share him with my whole family. It's going to be a great performance! We got our tickets and are preparing for the evening! Get your tickets at <a class="no-pjax" href="https://stevencurtischapman.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">www.stevencurtischapman.com</a>!</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7356269
2024-02-19T12:00:00-06:00
2024-02-23T20:25:39-06:00
Preparing For The Concert
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/0430d0e1bd8cdbec0436e8c21ed0873e9c54f87d/original/preparing-for-concert.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" height="540" /><p>Today, I set up for the <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thefatherland.org/jason-gray" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" role="link" tabindex="0"><span>Jason Gray</span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thefatherland.org/jason-gray" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"> Concert</a> to check that everything works and that we have all the equipment and cords needed.</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7356262
2024-02-19T12:00:00-06:00
2024-02-23T16:13:42-06:00
Jason Gray Concert Flyer Schmitt Music Video
<div class="video-container size_xl justify_center" style=""><iframe data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="0cKZpaJwdMo" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0cKZpaJwdMo?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7356270
2024-02-18T19:00:00-06:00
2024-03-15T21:37:23-05:00
Cowboy Church Valentine's Day Worship
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/27e98ec229f1c4effe0f9844a744e3856635c389/original/20240218-183551.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" height="2268" /><p style="text-align:justify;">Playing guitar, banjo, dobro, even the hurdy-gurdy, (and here playing the saw), interim pastor, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.garyfroiland.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Gary Froiland</a>, leads us in Valentine's Day Cowboy Church worship at <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.facebook.com/presbyterianleroymn?__cft__%5B0%5D=AZW5GhO-mELrutciVuBFSd_SD0_dsl7VXwsBmUNP9OVGcpxrZ4PXwcQ0qtrVFtamR7nqXgCZLrixl5PUXEokbC4OQCDwDu-tS5Ja6_-8BLPpVvG-W3PY48rcHdlCabi1AojRNbJqyi3MGWNbfIMw4fT5878zhdpJxPZnUEvwYMjTY76WjZa919he3QSOKrpdNEA&__tn__=-%5DK-R" target="_blank" role="link" tabindex="0"><span>First Presbyterian Church Le Roy MN</span></a>! He'll be back, running the projector, for <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.jasongraymusic.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" role="link" tabindex="0"><span>Jason Gray</span></a> at the <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thefatherland.org/jason-gray" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" role="link" tabindex="0"><span>Good Friday Celebration with Jason Gray!</span></a></p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/ffe20bf46d202503126096e86144a688a8a4e40f/original/20240218-185934.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" height="2268" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/0756a8ee683a66ac8bc950f7584e7c4ed2faa64f/original/2024-03-29-jason-gray-concert-poster-le-roy-mn-qr-code.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" height="6250" />
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7367856
2024-02-15T15:00:00-06:00
2024-03-15T21:37:03-05:00
The Prince Of Peace That Brings A Sword
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/06ac3387ef1bad77d05c35c6eafb6462b88dcb20/original/1.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" height="1500" /><p style="text-align:justify;">Marriage, Covenant, Commitment, Peace, & War<br>God is committed to us... and gives us space to work through our struggle to commit ourselves to Him. Even when we don't love Him and can't even love ourselves, God still loves us. "You're mine... and I'm yours," God says to us. "Now, let's walk together in Love, Truth, and Grace."<br>"With God, there's no halfway with love. There's no distance with love. With love, we're all in - he's all in and we're all in. And if we understood that, think how secure we would be. And also realize that Jesus doesn't take prisoners... Jesus doesn't take the old Adam prisoner, He kills the old Adam... (that's what crosses do). Just think about it." ~Jim Richter</p><p style="text-align:justify;">But for those who surrender to Him and His better way for us, there is every resuscitation, every remuneration, every reconciliation, every justification, every reinstatement to the blessed place of daughters and sons, co-heirs with Christ, and a guaranteed seat at God's table forever - close enough for us to see Him wink at us; close enough for Him to lean over and whisper secrets in our ear.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Does Jesus bring peace, a sword, or a scalpel? Yes, all the above.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Peace for those who are surrendered to Him and live the life He redeemed for us in and with Him.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The sword for those who don't surrender to Him.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">And though it may seem like a sword to those who resist God, what He brings is more like a scalpel. And, as a surgeon goes after and cuts away the disease in our lives, Jesus wants us to be set from everything that has caught us and binds us. He wants us to be set from everything we are in bondage to. Jesus is not a quitter. He came perfect and He stays perfect and He is not willing to take hostages or simply offer comfort to our dire plight. No, He goes after the sin in our lives - the pornography, the abuse, the addiction, the bitterness, the cynicism, the mockery, the spite, the hate - and He says, 'I'm not going to let you be held hostage to that anymore. I, along with the Body of Christ - my Body - are going to help you kill that thing so you can be free.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Jesus comes perfect and He stays perfect and he can't be beat. And that's the way it is with our Lord.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The Living Loved Life Podcast Episode Jesus Prince Of Peace Or General Of Angel Armies (48:43)<br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thelivinglovedlife.com/">https://www.thelivinglovedlife.com/</a><br>℗ & © Copyright 02/15/2024 Jim Richter/Drew Jarrod (BMI). All Rights Reserved.</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7356261
2024-02-14T10:00:00-06:00
2024-02-23T15:58:52-06:00
A Great Gift For Valentine's Day
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/cb9d8847fff20cdc420eace4ac107bdb77efd765/original/52.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" height="2975" /><p style="text-align:justify;">A great gift for Valentine's Day is an album of music about love for us, from God! <a class="no-pjax" href="/the-erin-trilogy" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="The Erin Trilogy">The Erin Trilogy</a>. Out Now!</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7356259
2024-02-10T14:00:00-06:00
2024-02-23T15:56:34-06:00
Board Games Anyone?
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/6790b3192591d82b22e1636b99d8a091d04092a2/original/20240210-154158.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" height="2268" /><p><a class="no-pjax" href="/gabriel-jarrod" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Gabriel Jarrod" role="link" tabindex="0"><span>Gabriel</span></a>, <a class="no-pjax" href="/erin-jarrod" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Erin Jarrod" role="link" tabindex="0"><span>Erin</span></a>, and I got together with <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.facebook.com/brett.dregge" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Brett Dregge</a> and his daughter, Norah (our fellow <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.rabbitroom.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Rabbits</a> Of The North), to play some board games! We played <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.snakeoilgame.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" role="link" tabindex="0"><span>Snake Oil</span></a> and <a class="no-pjax" href="https://horribleguild.com/product/railroad-ink-solo-board/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Railroad Ink</a>. What are your favorite board games to share?</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7349117
2024-02-07T12:10:00-06:00
2024-02-10T10:18:27-06:00
Enter The Jason Gray Concert Flyer Music Giveaway!
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/e4c9c46f8567f2e194721ed0dd5433f5688af54f/original/20240125-152936.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" /><p style="text-align:justify;">Friends!<br>From now until March 29th, we are instituting a double giveaway surrounding the <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thefatherland.org/jason-gray" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="This external link will open in a new window" onclick="return Webmail.Widgets.Email.Message.evLinkClick(this);">Jason Gray Concert</a>!</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The flyers are up, and if you find one, take a picture or video selfie next to the flyer, post that online, and we'll send you a <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thefatherland.org/shop" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">gift card for a free song download of your choice</a>! (<a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1076083556960810/?active_tab=discussion" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="This external link will open in a new window" onclick="return Webmail.Widgets.Email.Message.evLinkClick(this);">See some selfie examples here</a>.)</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Just send us your <span style="color:rgb(255,0,255);">name</span>, <span style="color:rgb(255,153,0);">email</span>, <span style="color:rgb(153,204,0);">where you found a flyer,</span> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,255);">a link to your selfie</span>, (and make sure you <span>add this concert webpage address:</span> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thefatherland.org/jason-gray" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="This external link will open in a new window" onclick="return Webmail.Widgets.Email.Message.evLinkClick(this);"><span>https://www.thefatherland.org/jason-gray</span></a><span> </span>to your selfie post), and we'll email you a code - it's that simple - <i>(we wanted everyone to be a winner just for participating)</i>!</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Secondarily, all <i>those</i> winners will be automatically entered into a drawing the night of the concert to win a <i>whole CD album</i> of music of their choice from either <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.drewjarrod.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="This external link will open in a new window" onclick="return Webmail.Widgets.Email.Message.evLinkClick(this);">Drew Jarrod</a> or <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.jasongraymusic.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="This external link will open in a new window" onclick="return Webmail.Widgets.Email.Message.evLinkClick(this);">Jason Gray</a>!</p><p style="text-align:justify;">So, just find a flyer hung up around the area, (<a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thefatherland.org/jason-gray" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="This external link will open in a new window" onclick="return Webmail.Widgets.Email.Message.evLinkClick(this);">map of locations located here</a>) and start posting those selfies!</p><p style="text-align:justify;">If you can't find a flyer around you, post the attached flyer in a public place and take your selfie with that! Even if you don't live in the area or are not able to attend the concert, you still qualify for a free song download with every selfie flyer location you post! (<i>You have to be present at the concert to win the CD though...</i> ;)</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Hunting for these Flyers will be practice for finding eggs this <span style="color:rgb(255,0,255);">E</span><span style="color:rgb(0,255,0);">a</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,255);">s</span><span style="color:rgb(255,102,0);">t</span><span style="color:rgb(0,255,255);">e</span><span style="color:rgb(153,51,102);">r</span>! Have fun and I can't wait to see all your postings!</p><p style="text-align:justify;">There's no limit on submitting your selfies, either! If you take a selfie at multiple flyer locations - submit your links to them all and get more download codes!</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thefatherland.org/contact" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="This external link will open in a new window" onclick="return Webmail.Widgets.Email.Message.evLinkClick(this);">Enter your info for the Jason Gray Concert Flyer Music Giveaway here</a>!</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Feel free to follow the contest progress on <a class="no-pjax" href="https://fb.me/e/6Kn4u5ie7" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="This external link will open in a new window" onclick="return Webmail.Widgets.Email.Message.evLinkClick(this);">our Facebook Event Page</a>!</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:rgb(255,0,255);"><span>E</span></span><span style="color:rgb(0,255,0);"><span>a</span></span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,255);"><span>s</span></span><span style="color:rgb(255,102,0);"><span>t</span></span><span style="color:rgb(0,255,255);"><span>e</span></span><span style="color:rgb(153,51,102);"><span>r</span></span><span> is coming early this year. Enjoy!</span><br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.drewjarrod.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><i><span>Drew</span></i></a></p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7367224
2024-02-02T15:00:00-06:00
2024-03-14T22:54:05-05:00
What Is Faith?
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/06ac3387ef1bad77d05c35c6eafb6462b88dcb20/original/1.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" height="1500" /><p style="text-align:justify;"><a class="no-pjax" href="/living-loved" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Living Loved">What is Faith?</a><br>Faith is relationship with God.<br>Relationship with God is essential!<br>If you feel like you're struggling with your faith and you need a little boost, Jim Richter and I talk about what faith is in our new podcast epsode: <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thefatherland.org/living-loved">https://www.thefatherland.org/living-loved</a></p><p style="text-align:justify;">And what you get with relationship with god is ever-increasing measures of all the fruits of the Spirit and more! (Including, but not limited to, Peace, Patience, Understanding, Forgiveness, Love, Consideration of the other...)</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Relationship with God gives us the wide-open S P A C E S to grow in love with Him.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Covenant...<br>Relationship with God<br>Baptism<br>Marriage<br>Children<br>Family</p><p style="text-align:justify;">We are safe here to come and go - to come and stay - welcomed by God forever; (welcomed to the point that we don't want to leave and He will never make us leave). But the door is open right now and we can choose to leave relationship with God if WE want to, but God never leaves His relationship with US!</p><p style="text-align:justify;">What Is Faith? How do we define Faith? How can we describe it? The author of Hebrews states,</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><i>"'Faith is the certainty of things hoped for - the evidence of things not seen.' And in that, you see the balance where you're not being Pharisaical (you're never saying that the things of God aren't true), but you are saying that there's still faith - these things are grasped by faith - 'the certainty of things hoped for - the evidence of things not seen.'"</i> ~<a class="no-pjax" href="/about-the-living-loved-life" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="About The Living Loved Life">Jim Richter</a></p><p style="text-align:justify;">If you've ever thought, "I'm struggling with my faith right now..." that doesn't mean you don't have faith or you have weak faith... it just means you have faith. The struggle IS part of what faith IS! So, rejoice! You have faith! It's not that you are struggling to believe in God - it's more that you are struggling with what He's been asking you to do - struggling in your walk with God as he teaches and challenges and shows us new things that we're not used to.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><i>"To struggle with Faith is part and parcel OF Faith. Faith is not a scientific thing that we experimented with and observed what happened... it's Faith! The very character of Faith tells you that there is going to be grappling with it, just by its very nature... if it's really Faith."</i> ~<a class="no-pjax" href="/about-the-living-loved-life" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="About The Living Loved Life">Jim Richter</a></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><i>"You're walking in Faith and you're struggling... it doesn't mean you're not walking in Faith anymore... You don't leave the family just because you have an argument. God isn't like that. He doesn't ever want to end His relationship with you. He always wants to be gentle with us and keep us, gather us, love us, provide for us, smile at us, inspire us, and grow us. You're still in a relationship with God. Faith struggles are just part of growing up and the continuing journey of walking with God forever in relationship - in friendship - with God. I think people don't understand Faith because they don't know Who God is. I didn't begin to understand Faith in God until I knew Who I was putting my Faith in... Now that I know His deep and never-ending love for me, it's a no-brainer to put my faith in Him."</i> ~<a class="no-pjax" href="/about-the-living-loved-life" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="About The Living Loved Life">Drew Jarrod</a></p><p style="text-align:justify;">"1 What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead. 2 Men of God in days of old were famous for their faith." <i>~Hebrews 11:1-2 TLB</i></p><p style="text-align:justify;">"1 The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. 2 The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.<br>3 By faith, we see the world called into existence by God’s word, what we see created by what we don’t see.<br>4 By an act of faith, Abel brought a better sacrifice to God than Cain. It was what he believed, not what he brought, that made the difference. That’s what God noticed and approved as righteous. After all these centuries, that belief continues to catch our notice.<br>5-6 By an act of faith, Enoch skipped death completely. “They looked all over and couldn’t find him because God had taken him.” We know on the basis of reliable testimony that before he was taken “he pleased God.” It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.<br>7 By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land. He was warned about something he couldn’t see, and acted on what he was told. The result? His family was saved. His act of faith drew a sharp line between the evil of the unbelieving world and the rightness of the believing world. As a result, Noah became intimate with God.<br>8-10 By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God’s call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home. When he left he had no idea where he was going. By an act of faith he lived in the country promised him, lived as a stranger camping in tents. Isaac and Jacob did the same, living under the same promise. Abraham did it by keeping his eye on an unseen city with real, eternal foundations—the City designed and built by God.<br>11 By faith, barren Sarah was able to become pregnant, old woman as she was at the time, because she believed the One who made a promise would do what he said.<br>13-16 Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home. If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted. But they were after a far better country than that—heaven country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them." <i>~Hebrews 11:1-16. MSG</i></p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7356257
2024-01-30T15:00:00-06:00
2024-03-14T22:54:54-05:00
Jason Gray: Humility, Artistry, And Staying Teachable
<div class="episode-description" style='-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(33, 37, 41);flex-grow:1;flex-shrink:1;font-family:"Open Sans";font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;'><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/0756a8ee683a66ac8bc950f7584e7c4ed2faa64f/original/2024-03-29-jason-gray-concert-poster-le-roy-mn-qr-code.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" height="6250" /><p>How do we stay teachable as we grow more sure in the wisdom God is giving us? God can draw us to Himself as we dance with Him through the "<a class="no-pjax" href="https://youtu.be/cyaaxqffllE" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Questions</a>" of our lives. The Gospel starts us on the path to knowing Who God is, then The Spirit of God takes over and we begin to walk with God in the humbleness of a new relationship... (our new relationship with God!)</p>
<p>Preparing for a <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thefatherland.org/jason-gray" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Good Friday Celebration Concert Easter 2024</a>, Contemporary Christian Music Artists, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.jasongraymusic.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jason Gray</a> and <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.drewjarrod.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Drew Jarrod</a>, walk with us today through <a class="no-pjax" href="https://thelivinglovedlife.podbean.com/e/jason-gray-humility-artistry-and-staying-teachable/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">The Living Loved Life</a> as we discover more about Who God is, how He walks <i>with</i> us, and how we can walk <i>with Him</i>!</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="/living-loved" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Living Loved">Jason Gray: Humility, Artistry, And Staying Teachable Podcast Episode</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.jasongraymusic.com/">https://www.jasongraymusic.com</a></p>
<p><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.drewjarrod.com/">https://www.drewjarrod.com</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>"<a class="no-pjax" href="https://youtu.be/j7rID9reK78?si=Vad2ArwsDI5Yw4eL" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Prelude to I Will, I Do</a>" (1:23)<br>ISRC: ushm82307925<br>Composed by <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thefatherland.org/gabriel-jarrod" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gabriel Jarrod</a> (BMI)<br>Performed by Charlie Burkett<br><i>Mixed by Nikola Hamilton</i><br><i>© 2021 </i><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thefatherland.org/gabriel-jarrod" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><i>Gabriel Jarrod</i></a><i> (BMI) / ℗ 2023 </i><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.drewjarrod.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><i>Drew Jarrod</i></a><i> (BMI). All Rights Reserved.</i><br><i>Produced by Zach Zurn</i><br><i>Artwork by </i><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thefatherland.org/erin-jarrod" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><i>Erin Jarrod</i></a></p>
<p><br>"<a class="no-pjax" href="https://youtu.be/BgqGZ4bvYFw?si=DqddIUV5plfnGxpN" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Place For Me</a>"<br>Words and Music by Jason Gray, Matt Armstrong, and Ethan Hulse<br><i>℗ & © 2023 Centricity Songs & Graybird Songs (BMI) / Centricity Songs & Our Dirt Songs (BMI) / Be Essential Songs & Hulse House Music (BMI)</i><br><i>Produced and engineered by Jeff Sojka</i><br><i>Bass, Drum Programming, Keyboards, Guitar, Additional Programming, BGVs: Jeff Sojka // Keys, Mandolin, Guitar, BGVs: Matt Armstrong</i><br><i>Guitars, Dulcimer, BGVs: Jason Gray Mixed by Sean Moffit</i></p>
<p><br>"<a class="no-pjax" href="https://youtu.be/5LVoCkpsKrM?si=Wp05iSLBQnWpo_n2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">See As You See</a>"<br>Words and Music by Jason Gray, Molly Reed, and Josh Bronleewe<br><i>℗ & © 2023 Centricity Songs & Graybird Songs (BMI) / Mike Curb Music & Sunday Bakes Songs (BMI)Wordspring Music LLC (SESAC) </i><br><i>Produced and Engineered by Christian Hale // Drums, Percussion: Jacob Arnold Electric Guitar: Cory Wong // Bass: Tony Lucido // Bass, Programming: Josh Bronlewee // B3 Organ: Jacob Tipton Keyboards: Christian Hale // BGVs: Jason Gray and Christian Hale // Mixed by Nick Radovanovic</i></p>
<p><br>"<a class="no-pjax" href="https://youtu.be/XEu_-4dnwN8?si=K67-Ssiruu2x_0hV" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">If You Don't Move</a>"<br>Words and Music by Jason Gray, Benji Cowart and Jordan Mohilowski<br><i>℗ & © 2023 Centricity Songs & Graybird Songs (BMI) / We Are TIM Music & GoBillsMusic (ASCAP) / Best Year Yet & Fair Trade Global (BMI) </i><br><i>Production and Programming: Jordan Mohilowski // Guitars: Jason Gray, Jordan Mohilowski and Justin Ostrander BGVs & Choir: Jason Gray, Benji Cowart and Debi Selby // Vocal Editing: Eli Winde // Mixed by Nick Radovanovic</i> </p>
<p><br>"<a class="no-pjax" href="https://youtu.be/6rzOdXJu5UA?si=t0opin-NIPG1fcPK" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">More Like Falling In Love</a>"<br>Words and Music by Jason Ingram and Jason Gray<br><i>℗ & © 2009 Centricity Music</i><br><i>Produced by Jason Ingram and Rusty Varencamp</i></p>
<p><br>"<a class="no-pjax" href="https://youtu.be/lzdUAxcUMN4?si=gcoWq8ECgVCcFOoz" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Land Of The Living</a>"<br>Words and Music by Jason Gray, Ellie Holcomb and Jeff Sojka<br><i>℗ & © 2023 Centricity Songs & Graybird Songs (BMI) / Capitol CMG Genesis & Full Heart Music (ASCAP) </i><br><i>7FT Songs & Capitol CMG Genesis (ASCAP) // Produced and Engineered by Jeff Sojka // Bass, Drum Programming, Keyboards, Guitar, Additional Programming, Strings, BGVs: Jeff Sojka // BGVs: Natalie Layne </i><br><i>Mixed by Doug Weier</i></p>
<p><br>"<a class="no-pjax" href="https://youtu.be/cyaaxqffllE" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Questions</a>"<br>Words and Music by Jason Gray, Jordan Sapp and Maria Roate<br><i>℗ & © 2023 Centricity Songs & Graybird Songs (BMI) / Capitol CMG Paragon & Songs By JSapp (BMI) / Centricity Music Publishing & Arrow Son Music (ASCAP) // Produced by Jordan Sapp Recorded and Engineered by Jordan Sapp at The River Studio in Spring Hill, TN // Programming and Guitars: Jordan Sapp // Additional Guitars: Court Clement // Background Vocals: Maria Roate // Mixed by Doug Weier</i></p>
<p><br>The Living Loved Life Podcast Episode Jason Gray: Humility, Artistry, And Staying Teachable (45:22)<br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thelivinglovedlife.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.thelivinglovedlife.com/</a><br><i>℗ & © Copyright 01/30/2024 Jason Gray (BMI)/Drew Jarrod (BMI). All Rights Reserved.</i></p>
</div>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7338107
2024-01-22T14:06:58-06:00
2024-01-22T14:11:23-06:00
Dearest Fear
<p style="text-align:justify;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/ddb4be98bb7fe4598f553cdac657cf42da26bc9a/original/dearest-fear-big-magic-creative-living-beyond-fear.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_s justify_left border_" />“Creativity and I are about to go on a road trip together. I understand you’ll be joining us because you always do. I do acknowledge that you believe you have an important job to do in my life and that you take your job seriously. Apparently, your job is to induce complete panic whenever I’m about to do anything interesting – and, may I say, you are superb at your job. So by all means, keep doing your job, if you feel you must. But I will also be doing my job on this road trip, which is to work hard and stay focused. And Creativity will be doing its job, which is to remain stimulating and inspiring. There’s plenty of room in this vehicle for all of us, so make yourself at home, but understand this: Creativity and I are the only ones who will be making any decisions along the way. I recognize and respect that you are part of this family, and I will never exclude you from our activities, but still – your suggestions will never be followed. You’re allowed to have a seat, and you’re allowed to have a voice, but you are not allowed to have a vote. You’re not allowed to touch the road maps; you’re not allowed to suggest detours; you’re not allowed to fiddle with the temperature. ...you’re not even allowed to touch the radio. But above all else, my dear old familiar friend, you are absolutely forbidden to drive.” ~<a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.elizabethgilbert.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Elizabeth Gilbert</a>, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.elizabethgilbert.com/books/big-magic/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear</a></p><p style="text-align:center;">We don't have to live life without fear - (just don't give it any controls)!</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7356240
2024-01-18T15:00:00-06:00
2024-03-14T22:55:21-05:00
Is God Bearing Fruit In Me?
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/33ef81c2cee46bf433f9eeb817e3c128534e8d44/original/is-god-bearing-fruit-in-me.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" height="526" /><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:rgb(76,76,76);">Well, first we have to know what "fruit" looks like! Is it something outside of ourselves or is it the work God is doing in us?</span></p><p style="text-align:justify;">"The Christian's focus isn't to work hard to bear fruit but to keep your connection to Jesus strong." <i>~</i><a class="no-pjax" href="https://insight.org/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><i>Chuck Swindoll</i></a><i>.</i></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Here is <a class="no-pjax" href="/living-loved" target="_blank" data-link-type="page">a podcast episode</a> that <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thefatherland.org/about-the-living-loved-life" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Jim Richter</a> and I did about how to recognize the Fruit that God says He is causing to grow in us.</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7356238
2024-01-02T09:00:00-06:00
2024-02-23T15:30:33-06:00
Jason Gray Concert Tickets Are Now On Sale!
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/0756a8ee683a66ac8bc950f7584e7c4ed2faa64f/original/2024-03-29-jason-gray-concert-poster-le-roy-mn-qr-code.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" height="6250" /><p>Tickets are now on sale for the upcoming <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.jasongraymusic.com/" role="link" tabindex="0" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Jason Gray</a> Concert - Easter weekend, March 29th - through <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.jasongraymusic.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Jason Gray Music</a> and <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thefatherland.org/jason-gray" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">The Fatherland.org</a>.</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7356237
2023-12-19T15:00:00-06:00
2024-02-23T15:25:46-06:00
Wrapping Some Christmas Presents
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/db7efda4aa9b2c1b6b92a6899959a28ba9def0c0/original/wrappingsomechristmaspresents2.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" height="1152" /><p style="text-align:justify;">I'm just sitting at home today, practicing the songs I'm hoping to perform this week, and wrapping some Christmas presents we're giving away for any household who wants one this Thursday, December 21st at <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.austinareaarts.org/jams" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">ArtRocks Open Jam</a> sponsored by <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.austinareaarts.org/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Austin Area Arts</a>. Come and hear some festive Christmas music from 7 PM - 9 PM this Thursday!<br>From my household to yours, <span style="color:hsl( 124, 77%, 36% );">M</span><span style="color:hsl(0, 75%, 60%);">e</span><span style="color:hsl( 124, 77%, 36% );">r</span><span style="color:hsl(0, 75%, 60%);">r</span><span style="color:hsl( 124, 77%, 36% );">y</span><span style="color:hsl(0, 75%, 60%);"> C</span><span style="color:hsl( 124, 77%, 36% );">h</span><span style="color:hsl(0, 75%, 60%);">r</span><span style="color:hsl( 124, 77%, 36% );">i</span><span style="color:hsl(0, 75%, 60%);">s</span><span style="color:hsl( 124, 77%, 36% );">t</span><span style="color:hsl(0, 75%, 60%);">m</span><span style="color:hsl( 124, 77%, 36% );">a</span><span style="color:hsl(0, 75%, 60%);">s</span><span style="color:hsl( 124, 77%, 36% );">!</span> <i>~</i><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.drewjarrod.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><i>Drew</i></a></p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7310373
2023-11-27T08:00:00-06:00
2024-01-15T11:44:45-06:00
Let Go, And Let God
<p style="text-align:justify;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/1dbbab99e69632d1fca01bee9acb19e46e8b9ad9/original/let-go-let-god-1.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" />The truth of the matter is that none of us can stop. None of us has the power in and of ourselves... the power to change can only come from outside ourselves - by surrendering to the belief in God's Word, Jesus, and allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to begin to work in our lives. You see, until we relent our will to the Word of our Father, we will continue to try in our own effort or give up... never going to the One place that can help, God. As counterintuitive and cliche as it may sound, we really have to stop doing the work to change and start letting God do the work of change in us. (I believe this is what the feel-good statement, "To let go and let God" means.)</p><p style="text-align:justify;">How this works is - our daily cross to bear is - that we surrender our will to God's Will; we must deny our desire to work for the change in us; we must succumb to the belief that when God says <i>He</i> does the work and the work <i>is finished</i>, that He <i>really is</i> doing the work and the work He is doing - is <i>doing</i> the transforming in us...</p><p style="text-align:justify;">WE are not transforming our minds - our battle every day, our cross to bear, is returning to the Father's face and admitting that we can do nothing to save ourselves or even make any part of our lives truly better (in any lasting state) unless we look to God to make that change in us AND make room for Him in our lives to do so every day.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">We must surrender to His Will every day and then sit and soak in His love for us. That's what will make the lasting changes in us. When we linger in a tub or pool or lake or ocean... our skin begins to get all wrinkly because that organ is soaking up all the water into our tissues. We didn't do anything to make this happen, it happens naturally IF we sit, stay, soak, the process just works. The same is true for being around God - being and staying in His Presence - sitting at His feet. Remember what Jesus said of Mary - that she was doing the only thing needed? (Luke 10:41-42). If we always stay close to the Father, we will naturally begin to soak in everything He is.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">So, you want more patience, more forgiveness, less controlling behavior, more joy, more peace, less frustration, more faith, more wisdom, more self-control, less uncontrollable anger, etc... it's all there, at the foot of God, waiting for us to soak up. It's a novel idea and one that isn't heard very often, but our bodies, minds, and spirits were made for this - sitting and soaking - just being. Letting go of our working and our control of everything (and I do mean everything), and letting God fill us and continue His work for us, in us, and around us every moment of every day.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The blessing of letting go is grace, and peace, and rest. No more striving, no more failing, just sitting at Jesus' feet, looking up into His accepting face, seeing his approving smile, mirroring who we really are, and hearing His honoring and encouraging words to us and about us. (I think I'd let go of everything if I could hear that, see that, live in that.) And that is some Good News!<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/7a79a3dd35c58c6d37d8f2d75e4d2a3ad54016fe/original/let-go-let-god-2.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7282757
2023-07-27T09:05:00-05:00
2023-10-04T14:06:39-05:00
2023.07.27 Rocketown
<div class="video-container size_xl justify_center" style=""><iframe data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="X2Hwt2HVnrg" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X2Hwt2HVnrg?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div><p style="text-align:justify;">Had the opportunity to stop in at <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.rocketown.org/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Rocketown</a>, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.nashville.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Nashville, TN</a> today! It was neat to be able to see the place <a class="no-pjax" href="https://michaelwsmith.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Michael W. Smith</a> started to continue to reach out to his own community with God's love. Thanks, Michael! Check it out if you get the chance.</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7258416
2023-07-26T11:30:00-05:00
2023-08-17T11:22:58-05:00
2023.07.26 The Rabbit Room
<div class="video-container size_xl justify_center" style=""><iframe data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="Ih-p7dA-m0w" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ih-p7dA-m0w?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div><p>Today we took a walk on the <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/mill-creek-greenway-trail" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Mill Creek Greenway</a> and we didn't know where the trail would lead us. It got to be around lunchtime and we sent the boys to scout ahead for a picnic table or someplace we could have lunch. They found an offshoot of the trail and there were indeed two picnic tables in a clearing. After lunch, we GPSed our location and thought we were pretty close to <a class="no-pjax" href="https://rabbitroom.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">The Rabbit Room</a>. The boys wanted to walk down the road and look for it, but we also had to walk back to the van (which was back on the trail 30 minutes in the opposite direction). We split up and actually found that <a class="no-pjax" href="https://rabbitroom.com/2019/10/north-wind-manor-we-did-it/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">North Wind Manor</a> was indeed only 3 blocks away from where we stopped to have lunch. That was a neat gift of God today. In front of J.R.R. Tolkien's fireplace.</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7257722
2023-07-26T08:00:00-05:00
2023-08-16T09:49:01-05:00
2023.07.26 The Triune God Is Our Source
<div class="video-container size_xl justify_center" style=""><iframe data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="INc4NkzDQx4" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/INc4NkzDQx4?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div><p style="text-align:justify;">God - Who IS Love and the eternal Spring of love - constantly gives freely to us all every day the Love He IS. He never runs out and, if we let His Love flow into us (because we can say no to His Love by choosing to set our free will against His Gift of Love), we will become full of His Love - and only then can His Love flow out of us and onto other's lives - thereby loving them, and they, in turn, can let His love in and then love others, or refuse to let His love in and keep interacting with others out of their emptiness. But it all starts with God loving us. Then, it becomes an issue of whether or not we'll surrender to have His way of Love in our lives or, if we keep refusing His Will - which is to love us - because that's Who God IS: Love. So, He must Love and chooses us to be the recipients of His Love. (Pretty generous of anyone to give us any kind of love, right?)</p><p style="text-align:center;"><i>Check out </i><a class="no-pjax" href="/living-loved" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Living Loved"><i>our podcast</i></a><i> to learn more about what a life of </i><a class="no-pjax" href="/living-loved" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Living Loved"><i>Living Loved</i></a><i> looks like!</i></p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7257409
2023-07-25T18:00:00-05:00
2023-08-15T16:44:03-05:00
2023.07.25 Grand Ole Opry
<div class="video-container size_xl justify_center" style=""><iframe data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="bfP53ytosXE" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bfP53ytosXE?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div><p>100 degrees in the afternoon <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.tnvacation.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Tennessee</a> sun - a good time to visit the air conditioning at <a class="no-pjax" href="https://shop.opry.com/pages/opry" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">The Opry Shop</a> of the <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.opry.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Grand Ole Opry</a> and stay for a broadcast of their show. (I learned it's OLE, by the way... not old...). <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.micahtyler.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Micah Tyler</a> debuts on the <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.opry.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Grand Ole Opry</a>!</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7255890
2023-07-25T15:30:00-05:00
2023-08-15T16:21:43-05:00
2023.07.25 Just A Good Ol' Boy
<div class="video-container size_xl justify_center" style=""><iframe data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="k58oLIy9GFE" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k58oLIy9GFE?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div><p>Van was running great in the 114-degree <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.visitmusiccity.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Nashville</a> heat but we stopped by <a class="no-pjax" href="https://cootersplace.com/cooters-nashville/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><i>Cooter Davenport's Garage</i></a> anyway... just to say, "Hey, y'all!" I was a fan of <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.warnerbros.com/tv/dukes-hazzard" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><i>The Dukes Of Hazzard</i></a> when I was a kid... and I guess I still am. [Check out my <a class="no-pjax" href="https://jamesbest.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Rosco P. Coltrane (James Best)</a> and <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.sonnyshroyeronline.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Enos Strate (Sonny Shroyer)</a> -"Might be crazy, but I ain't dumb, Crazy Drew comin' at you," - impressions!]</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7255653
2023-07-25T10:30:00-05:00
2023-08-15T16:22:53-05:00
2023.07.25 Tour The Ryman
<div class="video-container size_xl justify_center" style=""><iframe data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="23JPs9p6G5s" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/23JPs9p6G5s?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div><p>Take the VIP Tour of the <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.ryman.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Ryman Auditorium</a> if you get the chance. (Record a song at the Famous <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.ryman.com/news/detail/cut-your-own-song-and-relive-history-inside-ryman-s-recording-booth" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Air Castle Recording Studio</a> while you're there!)</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7255089
2023-07-24T17:00:00-05:00
2023-08-15T16:24:13-05:00
2023.07.24 Ten Feet Off Of Beale!
<div class="video-container size_xl justify_center" style=""><iframe data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="8g4RM0m1BhQ" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8g4RM0m1BhQ?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div><p>Can't visit <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.memphistravel.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Memphis, TN</a> without a stop at <a class="no-pjax" href="https://bealestreet.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Beale Street</a> - Birthplace of Rock 'N Roll and the Home Of The Blues!</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7254726
2023-07-24T12:05:00-05:00
2023-08-15T16:29:08-05:00
2023.07.24 TCB Baby
<div class="video-container size_xl justify_center" style=""><iframe data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="qC1J4tbxTdQ" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qC1J4tbxTdQ?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div><p>We made it to <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.memphistravel.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Memphis, TN</a>, and the <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.graceland.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">home of Elvis Presley</a>. Enjoy an <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/nigella-lawson/elvis-presleys-fried-peanut-butter-and-banana-sandwich-recipe-2203663" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Elvis peanut butter and banana sandwich</a> with me. God gave me a little gift today - we ate lunch at the picnic area at <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.graceland.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Graceland in Memphis</a>. I drank a bottled water, ate a banana, and made myself a peanut butter sandwich. I knew Elvis like a weird sandwich - (like it was peanut butter and pickles or something like that). As I was walking into <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.graceland.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Graceland</a> for our tour, we had walked through the gift shop and found out <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.elvisthemusic.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Elivs</a> liked peanut butter and <i>banana </i>sandwiches... well, visiting <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.graceland.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Graceland</a> for the first time I had unwittingly eaten Elvis' favorite snack for my lunch at his home.</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7254227
2023-07-24T08:00:00-05:00
2023-08-15T16:29:46-05:00
2023.07.24 Passin' Through Hannibal
<div class="video-container size_xl justify_center" style=""><iframe data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="enxXyD0T2aE" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/enxXyD0T2aE?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div><p>It's our first time vacationing in the <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.visitmusiccity.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Nashville, TN</a> area! Join us as we explore it together!</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7254211
2023-07-02T22:00:00-05:00
2023-08-15T16:33:00-05:00
Spirit Of The Vine Music Festival 2023
<div class="video-container size_xl justify_center" style=""><iframe data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="6bO46W17ZVs" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6bO46W17ZVs?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div><p>Alex Schindler: https://www.alexschindler.com<br>Jenn Bostic: https://www.jennbostic.com<br>Brittany Beck: https://www.brittanybeckmusic.com<br>Jason Gray: https://www.jasongraymusic.com<br>Drew Jarrod: https://www.drewjarrod.com<br>We Are Messengers: https://wearemessengersmusic.com</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7233234
2023-06-27T12:24:18-05:00
2023-06-27T12:38:58-05:00
Good Day To You - Busy Day - The CDs Are Arriving!
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/02921a19e4c2509269f0a869f7c08ec098746f85/original/20230625-150057.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" alt="Seasons Hospice House Garden Party 2023" />Good day to you! (Sounds like I'm one of those foreign emails I get that wants me to donate money in order to get my inheritance from my long lost whoever...) But that's not this!</p><p>Today is a big day... I start out by tracking our finances (which I do every weekday - or when the market's open) - that usually takes an hour. It's payday today so that means reconciling the budget with the bills. Then, I prepare and eat breakfast while watching online videos from <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.boundaries.me/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="This external link will open in a new window" onclick="return Webmail.Widgets.Email.Message.evLinkClick(this);">Dr. Henry Cloud</a>, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.youtube.com/c/MaxLucadoOfficial/videos" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="This external link will open in a new window" onclick="return Webmail.Widgets.Email.Message.evLinkClick(this);">Max Lucado</a>, and <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.youtube.com/@PassionCityChurch/videos" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="This external link will open in a new window" onclick="return Webmail.Widgets.Email.Message.evLinkClick(this);">Passion City Church with Louie Giglio</a>. I have to put new strings on the guitar, change the batteries, and practice performing for the <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thefatherland.org/events" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="This external link will open in a new window" onclick="return Webmail.Widgets.Email.Message.evLinkClick(this);">three bookings</a> I get to participate in this week.</p><p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/c319fc1140defdec735fae4d30c33e5821d72d8c/original/20230625-145950.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" alt="Seasons Hospice House Garden Party 2023" />The new lawn fertilizer is coming <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.fedex.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="This external link will open in a new window" onclick="return Webmail.Widgets.Email.Message.evLinkClick(this);">FedEx</a> today so we can finally stop neglecting our lawn (I feel like it's a pet we haven't been feeding - but God is supposed to feed it, right? Right! - That's why He put us in charge of His creation - to take care of these kinds of things - and The Spirit of The Father walks with us and even helps us in our tasks... Sorry, God, we'll get right on that. Thank You for forgiving us and helping us continue to be better managers of what You've entrusted to us. And thank you to <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.youtube.com/@Lawncology" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="This external link will open in a new window" onclick="return Webmail.Widgets.Email.Message.evLinkClick(this);">John Perry</a> and his <a class="no-pjax" href="https://lawncology.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="This external link will open in a new window" onclick="return Webmail.Widgets.Email.Message.evLinkClick(this);">Lawncology</a> for pointing us in a better direction.)</p><p><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thefatherland.org/the-chosen-ones" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/b92a4796537af13ce2012a64ec533b46b5a3e4a8/original/front-of-the-chosen-ones-jacket.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_s justify_left border_" alt="The Chosen Ones" /></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thefatherland.org/the-erin-trilogy" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/cb9d8847fff20cdc420eace4ac107bdb77efd765/original/52.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_s justify_left border_" alt="The Erin Trilogy" /></a>The two new albums, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thefatherland.org/the-chosen-ones" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="This external link will open in a new window" onclick="return Webmail.Widgets.Email.Message.evLinkClick(this);"><i>The Chosen Ones</i></a>, and <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thefatherland.org/the-erin-trilogy" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="This external link will open in a new window" onclick="return Webmail.Widgets.Email.Message.evLinkClick(this);"><i>The Erin Trilogy</i></a> arrive today from <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.ups.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="This external link will open in a new window" onclick="return Webmail.Widgets.Email.Message.evLinkClick(this);">UPS</a> and we're planning on taping the unboxing... (that sounds confusing - like we taping the boxes back up - videotaping, but we don't use tape anymore, it's digital now, so recording the unboxing would be more appropriate) and making a little commercial about that.</p><p>Then we have a 4th of July get-together to plan for and host...</p><p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">So, my day is pretty busy - probably a lot like your days! Hope to see you there if you can make it!</span></p><p><a class="no-pjax" href="https://thefatherland.org/events" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/63ae42df0225713fc0d0cb8e4f1b456f868c0d01/original/2023-07-01-drew-jarrod-live.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="Drew Jarrod Live! In Concert" /></a></p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7218871
2023-06-01T09:30:08-05:00
2023-06-14T15:30:32-05:00
The Busy Day Of A Touring Musician
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/b92aed1c5bf96d69adfcb23414060a96cd3b7872/original/20230531-203708.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" />Last night I thought I'd check out the Open Mic music scene around the area - a lot of great places to share a meal and some music with nice folks. Last night, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.foodservicenews.net/article-archive/chef-s-dish-matthew-brown-of-estelle-s-eatery/article_0f7cb544-2375-56d3-8bda-6c5a214c8939.html" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Matthew Brown</a><a data-link-type="url">,</a> the owner of <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.estelleseatery.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Estelle's Eatery & Bar</a><a data-link-type="url">,</a> was kind enough to share his new patio stage (now open for the season) with me and many other talented musicians! Great venue - relaxing - and the food smells and tastes amazing (I wish my stomach was bigger - not really, but you get the idea)! Check it out! Come for the food, stay for the music! Open Mic every <i>other </i>Wednesday @ 5 pm.</p><p>Today is the first of the month which means I reconcile the finances for the prior month, pay bills, and update our financial statement. (That usually takes up half a day.) I'm also updating my tour schedule and social media with recent pictures and announcements. (I think beginning an exercise routine is also going to become a part of my new job as a touring musician. I'm already eating a little better and beginning to add some light exercise as well.) Then, I get to spend an hour talking with my good friend and brother in Christ, Pastor <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.onthevinechurch.com/staff" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Jim Richter</a> of <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.onthevinechurch.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">The Vine Church</a> in Grand Rapids, MI, as we record our weekly podcast talk for <a class="no-pjax" href="/living-loved" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Living Loved">The Living Loved Life</a>. (It truly is the only cure for shame.) Give it a listen! (We're trying to get more episodes edited and published - with over 100 waiting in the wings…) I also have to update/curate various files and web pages for posterity and future perusal, and that usually takes an hour or two.</p><p>I finally gave my mixing engineer a break by saying, “I'm done editing the songs for my new EP, <a class="no-pjax" href="/the-chosen-ones" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="The Chosen Ones">The Chosen Ones</a>,” so he was then able to send me the final mixes and they are now posted online for you to listen to and download! (Tell your friends!) But that also means that I now get to upload my new music to all the digital distribution places online, as well, so you can listen on your favorite platform: <a class="no-pjax" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/1fD3ed3ZXOlS8mFTstYvrN" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Spotify</a>, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://music.apple.com/us/artist/drew-jarrod/253838991" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Apple Music</a>, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.shazam.com/artist/drew-jarrod/253838991" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Shazaam</a>, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.iheart.com/artist/drew-jarrod-302933/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">iHeart Radio</a>, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCHsF_ln_R6TuusFyvRjMRmA" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Google/YouTube Music</a>, etc., so those will be updated shortly!</p><p>We're also getting the house and refrigerator ready for our son, Orion's high school graduation party this weekend - congrats Orion! You did a great job! We are so proud of <i>you</i>!</p><p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/fdded134a366cfb0ee95bb54d915af99680de774/original/high-court-pub.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" />They have Open Mic <i>every </i>Thursday night in the open air (also on their patio) at <a class="no-pjax" href="https://highcourtpub.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">The </a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://highcourtpub.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" role="link" tabindex="0"><span>High Court Pub</span></a> overlooking the Root River in Lanesboro, MN! (Weather permitting...) so I thought I might check that out too! Tonight @ 7.</p><p><i>(I wonder when I'm going to have time to take a nap today…)</i></p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7186705
2023-04-08T14:00:00-05:00
2023-04-09T13:28:44-05:00
A Wonderful Meal @ Red Cow
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/5bf9f9be9ae94e946ee3af62dfe6daea991e93a0/original/20230408-140214.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" />Spent a wonderful meal with my wife, <a class="no-pjax" href="/erin-jarrod" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Erin Jarrod">Erin</a>, at <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.rochestermn.gov/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Rochester</a>'s <a class="no-pjax" href="https://redcowmn.com/rochester/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Red Cow</a> restaurant! Great food and a great atmosphere! Very pleasant waitstaff as well - knowledgeable, helpful, and eager to please! They are going to open their patio in just a few days so you can even eat outside! (They offer a delicious Vegan menu as well!) Parking in <a class="no-pjax" href="https://denisonparking.com/berkman/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">The Berkman parking ramp</a> connected to the building (the cleanest parking ramp I've ever been in), and they validate!<br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://redcowmn.com/rochester/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Check it out!<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/03dda7bda78df5ab43aeb7abe14f511730dae772/original/a-wonderful-meal-redcow.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></a></p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7186024
2023-04-07T16:08:59-05:00
2023-04-07T16:08:59-05:00
Creating A Habit
<p style="text-align:justify;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/cb9d8847fff20cdc420eace4ac107bdb77efd765/original/52.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" />I went for a jog/walk again today. It's nice that the weather is getting nicer so I can try again to create a habit of exercising outside this spring, summer, and fall, which (hopefully), will carry me through the winter and into next spring again and become my routine and a new way of living. I've been working on the masters for my songs - (if you don't know that's when they take all the individual volumes of all the different instruments, put them all together, and turn everything up to a good listening level and some other things to polish and blend all the parts so that they mesh better and sound better to our ears). Also been working on the artwork for the new albums as well and looking for new places to share the songs God has given me.</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7172747
2023-03-16T16:23:43-05:00
2023-03-22T09:01:54-05:00
Negative Light To Positive Light
<p style="text-align:justify;" data-mce-style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 10pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/56cb89fe900385e6281ecc4bed13d74c50981706/original/negative-light-positive-light3.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" />I wanted to direct your attention to <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thelivinglovedlife.com/" data-mce-href="https://www.thelivinglovedlife.com/">The Living Loved Life</a> portion of <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thefatherland.org/" data-mce-href="https://www.thefatherland.org/">The Fatherland</a> website. It is a podcast idea to train ourselves to notice that The Holy Spirit has been speaking to us all this time and we should really start to recognize it.</p><p style="text-align:justify;" data-mce-style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 10pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">I've discovered that Shame is one of the enemy's prime weapons and he employs that weapon every chance he gets (usually beginning while we're really young in life).</p><p style="text-align:justify;" data-mce-style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 10pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">I always fought God (as most of us do) not because I wanted to, but because the infection of Shame made me not be able to accept love from anyone - not even God's love for me - because Shame had me thinking that I needed to protect myself from all the hurts of this world.</p><p style="text-align:justify;" data-mce-style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 10pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">But listening and learning from these podcast conversations has been an eye-opener and a shame-melter-away-er for me. (If you listen to these conversations from the beginning, I think you'll discover, as I did, that soaking in - just hearing the truth that God loves us - over and over - will really start to help you Surrender to that Truth: The Truth that what God says through His Son, Jesus, in His Word to us - namely that we are loved unconditionally, and we are good, and we are worthy, and we are perfect, and we are a child of God, and we are His partner, and God even helps us in our work <i>(Psalm 90:17, 1 Corinthians 3:9, and there is another New Testament verse that is more poignant but I can't recall it just now)</i>, and so many other Truths; Surrender to all of it; Surrender to a <i>belief</i> in all of it... - it has changed my life for the better and it can change yours for the better as well!</p><p style="text-align:justify;" data-mce-style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 10pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Even though I was born and baptized into the Church at a very young age (was taught and knew much <i>about</i> God), I've still wondered, that if I never really knew <i>God (had a relationship with God)</i> until I was 45, did that mean I wasn't saved all those years ago/not until I was "Born Again" through His Spirit (and started believing all these Shame-melting revelations) after I was 45?</p><p style="text-align:justify;" data-mce-style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 10pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">But as I've soaked up even more of God's Truth, I've come to realize and believe that God's work - God's saving of me - is GOD'S work, not my work. I've been saved and loved and was in His care always (I just didn't believe I was). How long do we live in this world and see a blue sky and not know or even refuse to believe the sky is blue? Not very long. We take that info for granted. But the majority of people I encounter live in a world where they don't seem to know (and even refuse to believe) that they live in a world where the fact of <i>“God loves us”</i> is as common as the sky is blue and the grass is green. I've learned God works this way: It's all about what <i>HE</i> is doing - not what <i>I</i> am doing or what <i>I've ever</i> done.</p><p style="text-align:justify;" data-mce-style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 10pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">You see, that's the biggest, overriding Truth of all: GOD has initiated this "love" thing in us... <i>HE</i> chose us first <i>(Ephesians 1:4, James 1:18)</i>. What I needed to hear, over and over again - soaking in that truth - was that none of "this"... (this world, this life I live, my experiences), started with me. The Truth is, everything started - <i>I</i> started - with God loving... God loving me. When I finally surrendered to that idea and began to believe it - began to believe that The Father has been holding me in His arms from the beginning; that I've been "saved" and safe in His arms from the very start; that even before I was formed I was chosen and you were too <i>[because God says that He desires everyone to be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth (1 Timothy 2:4)]</i>... that all this talk of being "born again" or "picking a date" and <i>where</i> we got saved is really just confusing talk to get us to again put ourselves in a place more important than God. Because the <i>right</i> interpretation of things is this: It doesn't matter what <i>WE</i> do or don't do, what <i>we've</i> done or not done - it only matters what <i>GOD</i> has done and what <i>He is still doing</i>.</p><p style="text-align:justify;" data-mce-style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 10pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">It's the same idea of faith and prayer. I believe there is no such thing as "little" faith or "small" faith as we traditionally understand faith - there is just faith... (or no faith). And, if you have faith, you can (and will) ask God to do something, and the power of God is sufficient for every task (we see here it's not <i>US</i> doing the work, it's God.) Again, with prayer, we don't need to say just the “right” prayer or a long prayer or get all the words right... because it's <i>WHO we are praying to</i> that matters - <i>HIS</i> power is what goes to work when we pray, "God... (sigh) I... (um)..." God knows our heart and wants our heart, and, because we are coming to Him in prayer, that means He HAS our heart. And, The Good Father that He is, goes into action. His Holy Spirit even prays for us when we don't know what to pray and because we don't know how to pray <i>(Romans 8:26-27)</i>.</p><p style="text-align:justify;" data-mce-style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 10pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">All this to ask you to please listen to the podcast and hear my struggle as I try to "come out from under" all the world's lies and misunderstandings of the way I thought things were, into the light of the Truth that begins to break through all my hurt and shame the enemy planted in me. You could say that these conversations are helping to uproot the weeds of lies I've believed (and therefore experienced) all my life - I had the wrong perspective on things, so I kept "seeing" erroneous outcomes; I kept “seeing” things in life playout in ever more hurtful ways - I would inevitably see all of life in a negative light because that is what our enemy shines - negative light.</p><p style="text-align:justify;" data-mce-style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 10pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">But God shines positive light - true light - that shows us what is really there, (not just shadows of things that aren't, and may not have ever been...)</p><p style="text-align:justify;" data-mce-style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 10pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">I believe that listening to our conversations will do this same <i>"illuminating"</i> for you.</p><p style="text-align:justify;" data-mce-style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 10pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Now, we're still recording conversations and we're still adding conversations that we've recorded years ago to the website so there are more conversations coming that will add to, round out, fill in, and explore in ever greater depth and variation God's Truth, so stay tuned, and we'll let you know when a new conversation is posted so you can glean the heart of God (which is God's love for you and His messages of love for you) even more! We're working right now on, "What Bible Version Should I Read" and we'll be recording another conversation in 30 minutes that we'll be uploading in the future!</p><p style="text-align:justify;" data-mce-style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 10pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">We're trying to get these conversations uploaded as fast as we can because we want to get the love the Holy Spirit has for you - TO YOU - into your hands, ears, and hearts as soon as possible... The truth I've heard/soaked in, surrendered to, continued to soak in, and believed (and it must be in that order) has changed my life - set me free - made me not only feel, but also confirmed that I AM, loved and belong - finally - by a family and to a family. We want that same blessing to be yours…</p><p style="text-align:justify;" data-mce-style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 10pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">… but I did it again... I made it sound like this is something that <i>you</i> can get for <i>yourself</i>... (it's not what I mean and it's not the way God does it). What I should have written is, We want you to understand that you <i>already </i>have this blessing because <i>God has already given</i> you these gifts... God just wants you to surrender your defenses so that your heart will be open to receive what's in His hands for you already - that He's always been reaching out to give you - that the enemy doesn't want us to have and instead has given us all Shame, and Fear, and Pride, and you name it ... hurt... to keep our fists, and eyes, and hearts closed to receiving anything from anybody for fear of even more pain coming our way. If we shut out everything, we shut out even the good things... the good things of God.</p><p style="text-align:justify;" data-mce-style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 10pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">We will have hurt in this world <i>(John 16:33)</i>, but that's not the only thing we will have or can have in this world. (But hurt <i>IS</i> the only thing we'll have in this world if we shut out the - dare I say, <i>dominant</i> good - that we really <i>do HAVE</i> here. <i>(1 Peter 4:12-19)</i>.</p><p style="text-align:justify;" data-mce-style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 10pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/6c13d5a842370179052883e24128142fb3fd0aae/original/negative-light-positive-light.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" />When we surrender and soak in the love of God for us, we begin to see in the right light that there is more love here than evil. When we finally surrender to and believe in what God has been saying to us all along, we are finally able to begin receiving all that God has already “switched on” in our lives that we just never saw or took advantage of. When we are finally able to see God's positive light, we see that we are at the center of God's love (and were the whole time) and rightly begin to understand that everything "bad" that has happened and is happening to us is simply either the enemy trying to take God's love away from us, or God trying to give us more of His love.</p><p style="text-align:justify;" data-mce-style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 10pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/b687d6213abf11c3d3ca057c0bb155fbea63a3c8/original/negative-light-positive-light-scales-pro-con.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_right border_" />You see, we're going to understand that we are loved - always have been - always will be... and once we "get" that, once we are "born again" into this new life of understanding (scratch that) “reborn” into this new life of <i>believing</i> the Truth of what God is saying to us and has said over us/about us, we not only begin to "see" life as it was really meant to be, but we no longer live our lives here from a <i>negative-only</i> perspective - no longer living from a negative balance - God tips our scale to be ever positive and, though the hurts will most definitely still touch our lives - we will no longer experience those hurts from a perspective of being alone, or powerless, or ignorant, or unloved, or uncared about... No. Because Now, we believe that our Father will... <i>IS</i>... taking care of us, of “IT” - of whatever is going on in our life - because God is a Good Father and He knows what's going on in our lives even before we do. He is there... <i>HERE</i>... present and working in our lives for our good <i>(Romans 8:28)</i>...</p><p style="text-align:justify;" data-mce-style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 10pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">I mean if God is for us, who, or what, can be against us <i>(Romans 8:31)</i>?</p><p style="text-align:justify;" data-mce-style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 10pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thelivinglovedlife.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/3994d5b76edba5af2b07c86ed70a584ac6340adf/original/1.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_s justify_left border_" />The Living Loved Life</a> is all about this discovery and we want you to share in this new life of soaking in God's love for you and begin to live everyday loved - knowing that you are always loved by God now <i>(instead of perhaps thinking that you were alone and unloved in this life and you had to just fend for yourself and if you wanted it YOU have to go and get it/take it from others...)</i> Now you can <i>REST</i> from all that and <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.bryceelliotjustbe.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">just B.E.</a> because God has, and is, and will provide for you - everything you need - and what we need the most is love. And God is reckless with His love, in that (God, who is love,) throws Himself out to all of us with abandon.</p><p style="text-align:justify;" data-mce-style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 10pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/4c4e4217c9eb14a557c4bbce6881cf9d2f86342b/original/negative-light-positive-light-buried-by-riches-help.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" />This morning my son, Orion, and I were talking about God's reckless love (and God can afford to be) because God is <i>"Omni-rich."</i> God has so much provision, so much love, so much grace, so much kindness, so much wisdom, so much gentleness, so much self-control, so much peace, so much patience, so much joy, so much faithfulness, and on and on, that He can, and does, just fling it all at us (dumps it all on us)... We have been so covered with His love - buried in His riches and in his richness - that I think at times the enemy suggests to us that God is really suffocating us (and it would be in our "best interest" to try to get away, run away, and stay away from all the "loves" (the "suffocations," the "limitations") of God - get away from all the different ways God "lavishes" His love on us <i>(because, the enemy says, it's through all of that - all of what God is doing, and has said, and wants - we lose our freedom)</i>. And the more we listen to the enemy's lies the more our <i>true </i>freedom is bound away from us… But the Promise and fulfillment of God is: We will lose nothing by living God's way <i>(Matthew 10:42 MSG)</i>, and God will return to us every true freedom that is safe and loving - for our good and God's glory.<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/fa1e6c96b9b25c6096cfa2e440287e3fcd2cd945/original/negative-light-positive-light-running-from-riches.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></p><p style="text-align:justify;" data-mce-style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 10pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i>One of the most surprising benefits of soaking in the love of God for me is that I'm starting to soak up what God wants (1 Timothy 2:4), because I want so badly (or goodly) for all of God's children (you and me) to continue growing in our true freedom WITH God and growing in our relationship WITH God, and these conversations are all about relationship WITH God.</i></p><p style="text-align:justify;" data-mce-style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 10pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">I've discovered that our lives here don't really exist (or are not "alive" or are not “worth living”) apart from a constant, never-ending relationship <i>with</i> God from now into eternity... <i>(but of course, God told us this already (John 15:5-8),</i> but for some reason (Shame) these freedom-giving Truths never “connected” in my mind and heart, but believing these Truths has finally connected them to me and they are finally "getting in" to my heart through hearing them again and again in these conversations and in life.</p><p style="text-align:justify;" data-mce-style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 10pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">So, listen to the podcast and track the change in me as I go from doubting, hurting, cynical, and questioning, to believing and being set free by God so that I could finally enjoy my relationship with Him instead of being angry with Him in our relationship before this. <i>[Oh, yes, we still have a relationship with God before we knew about it, accepted it, surrendered to it, were encouraged by it, and set free in it - remember God chose us from before our beginnings and has committed to staying with us, even though we didn't know that before; even though we might not want relationship with Him now; and all through our lives when eventually we may (through the Spirit of God's continued presence and loving offerings into our lives), turn our faces and hearts back to God and finally Surrender to, and then Embrace, what we are beginning to see what was really best for us all along...]</i></p><p style="text-align:justify;" data-mce-style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 10pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">We have over 125 conversations already recorded - yet to be published online (and they are coming) - with more to be recorded every week! Pray that we can get them out to you and the rest of the world to listen to and be loved and led by The Holy Spirit into all Truth - for God's glory and your benefit.</p><p style="text-align:justify;" data-mce-style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 10pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">If you have any questions contact<br><a class="no-pjax" href="mailto:info@drewjarrod.com" target="_blank" data-link-type="email"><i>info@drewjarrod.com</i></a><br>listen to<br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thelivinglovedlife.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><i>The Living Loved Life Podcast</i></a><br>read about<br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://thefatherland.org/what-i-see" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><i>what i see...</i></a><br>experience the rest God gives by letting us<br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.bryceelliotjustbe.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><i>just B.E.</i></a></p><p style="text-align:justify;" data-mce-style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 10pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">You can even see what God has in (the)<br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://thefatherland.org/store" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><i>Store</i></a><br>for you... for even more Truth about how and what God is speaking to you!</p><p style="text-align:justify;" data-mce-style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 10pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">It's great to have you as a friend and companion on our journey together with God!<br>Your brother in Christ,<br>Drew</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7157868
2023-02-21T12:11:06-06:00
2023-03-03T12:02:21-06:00
Creativity Comes From The Holy Spirit
<p style="text-align:justify;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/3e280d8f45287cd75f3bdfee02a7f25896afb74b/original/creativity-comes-from-the-holy-spirit.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" />I think creativity comes from The Holy Spirit. As I look back on all the things I've written, the acts of love I've done, and certainly the following of Jesus to The Father, I've concluded that none of it's really me, or perhaps better written, none of it's only me, it can't be. I'm not sure that humans, on our own, can accomplish very much. I believe all our lives have predominantly (if not exclusively) been collaborations... I believe I've been inspired so many times by The Holy Spirit, that I've started crediting Him on all our works together.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">“I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples [- you are seeing The Father]." ~John 15:5-8.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">"Jesus explained himself at length. 'I’m telling you this straight. The Son can’t independently do a thing, only what he sees the Father doing. What the Father does, the Son does. The Father loves the Son and includes him in everything he is doing.'” ~John 5:19-20.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">"Everything was created through him; nothing—not one thing!—came into being without him. What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by. The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn’t put it out." ~John 1:3-5.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">"I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps." ~Jeremiah 10:23.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">"Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am." ~Philippians 4:13.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">"What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. It is God who works in you... That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure." ~Philippians 2:12-13 MSG/ESV.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Truth from our Father always sets us free and on the right path to true life. Through our relationship with The Father, we receive our training and are no longer alone in our fear because we are coming to know/sense/understand what is real and what is not.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The wise "see, experience, know, understand, believe, walk" in/by faith, not by sight. ~2 Corinthians 5:7.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">(I'm also inspired by this thought just now - that in another sense, making art for our Father isn't really a risk, and can't lead to failure, because with God, we've already succeeded - we're already perfect in his eyes.) And, with The Spirit's help, we can learn and grow and we do get better at everything:</p><p style="text-align:justify;">"There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit! Christ arrives right on time to make this happen."~Romans 5:3-6a.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">"It's time now to harvest what little that grew<br>This man they call Jesus, who planted the seeds, has come for the fruit<br>And the best that I've got isn't nearly enough<br>He's glad for the crop, but it's me that He loves." ~Andrew Peterson, Just As I Am.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">To my understanding, it's not really about the art - it doesn't start with the art - it starts with God, and it's about us. The art, well, that's just a gift... a gift to us that, with Him, we use to create gifts to ourselves, others, and gifts back to Him - gifts of worship. First and foremost God just loves our existing. What we do for His glory after that... doesn't make Him love us more... it's just icing on His cake or, more bushels in His barn (it would be silo actually, but the alliteration of "bushels in His barn" sounds nicer, sounds "righter").</p><p style="text-align:justify;">So, start, and keep, making art. Knowing that we are already completely loved and approved of by our Father because the best art, the truest gift He first gave to us, was the perfection our Brother, Jesus, died and rose again to attain for us. This gift is assured us - we have it now - “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me HAVE eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life." ~John 5:24.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">So, out of that joy, out of that confidence, and, sometimes out of our confusion about that, keep expressing yourself in relationship to your Father... He is all about being involved in relationship with us! And, a relationship with The Father is what all those who honestly believe, confess, and put into practice, receive. And, if you're reading this, you are in relationship with The Father right now! [I'm afraid AI (and shortcut-takers) will never experience this relationship - they will never experience life with The Father.]</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7152965
2023-02-13T10:17:50-06:00
2023-03-03T12:02:33-06:00
The Presence Of The Holy Spirit
<p style="text-align:justify;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/e395ec3badd3311639e69194658e19854a4133fe/original/the-presence-of-the-holy-spirit-listening-computer-joy.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" />This morning I felt again this kind of "pressure" in my upper body/chest/abdomen/gut/heart whatever that I have associated for years with the internal pressure of the Holy Spirit prompting me in my life. Today, I was feeling it even more pronounced - and really about something non-essential - putting out the garbage. I felt like I should probably put out the garbage, but I put it off for about thirty minutes and went back to working on the computer. The pressure or urge never really went away but I could ignore it for a while. Then, I felt the pressure come back or increase and I actively thought about what this pressure might mean. I thought I could hear the garbage truck from miles away as the Spirit was trying to help me not only recognize His presence in my life but also what He was saying to me... so, I got up from my desk in the middle of a sentence I was writing, and put the garbage out. Two minutes later, the truck comes and picks up my garbage. I was so happy that I did a little dance and praised the Spirit for being my friend. I think the Spirit is teaching me… and He is taking delight in helping me <i>as </i>He teaches me. I think more than anything else, I'm beginning (if not reaffirming) that this feeling I get IS the Holy Spirit and He is talking to me and, when I get this same feeling in the future, to drop what I'm doing and listen to this feeling right away. I know I'll be happy if I listen AND respond.</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7097908
2022-11-07T11:00:00-06:00
2024-03-14T22:56:48-05:00
Surrender
<a class="no-pjax" href="/surrender" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Surrender" contents="" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/638914/207461c53c70673502f1ade27cb6667f49e6a355/original/surrender-mountain-3000-3000-px.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_left border_" alt="" /></a><p style="text-align:justify;">Bill, a high school teacher turned self-made millionaire, discovered at age 35, that if he purchased a used, reliable car instead of new (forgoing the car payment, the higher insurance for it being a newer car, the maintenance if it's not a reliable car, etc.), and then drive that car for at least 10 years, he could save money.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">He also discovered that if he prepared and ate most of his meals at home, rather than eating out, he could save thousands of dollars every year. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Bill did other things as well, but these two things: buying a reliable, used car and holding it for 10 years, and eating at home, were the bulk of his investing strategy. By sacrificing what he wanted in order to save money and then budgeting that money (by allocating a small portion of his income every paycheck to investments), he was able to take just a portion of his teacher's salary and grow that investment to over seven figures. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Bill says, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://youtu.be/K_p0ghLBvF4?t=359" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" contents=""Most people are unwilling to delay their gratification.&nbsp; They want it now and are unwilling to wait for it.&nbsp; This is why most people won't be able to build a million-dollar portfolio.&nbsp; Until they overcome the obstacle of self, they will be stuck where they are."">"Most people are unwilling to delay their gratification. They want it now and are unwilling to wait for it. This is why most people won't be able to build a million-dollar portfolio. <i>Until they overcome the obstacle of self, they will be stuck where they are."</i></a> </p><p style="text-align:justify;">This idea of surrender not only works for personal finances, it works - it is mandatory - for spiritual, physical, and emotional functionality as well. God has set up reality to work - to function - where we submit to his leadership, headship, lordship over us because we see and admit that He does a better job than we can of providing for our health, wealth, longevity, happiness, contentment, peace, joy - everything good for us. This glorifies Him, but obviously, it glorifies us as well because it's just better for us. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">“Surrender is foundational - not only to Christianity, but to any way of thought. Surrender to things in this life is reality.” <i>~Drew Jarrod</i></p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7092197
2022-10-31T09:00:00-05:00
2023-03-05T11:27:07-06:00
Love Waiting
<p style="text-align:justify;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/638914/566d6342bdec2f247a567279f8ba405798380c7f/original/lovewaiting.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" alt="" /><meta charset="utf-8"></p><p style="text-align:justify;">I have been “Love Waiting” since 1987. In eighth grade, I attended my parochial school Bible study class entitled, Love Waiting. It was a contemporary plea for abstinence to a new generation. (To be honest, I was more interested in the good music that the program paired with its sentiments than I was in the idea of celibacy. And, if I had to wait for marriage to be loved, it would be hard, but I think I would have gone on trying to obey God anyway.)</p><p style="text-align:justify;">But, I didn't want to wait... I wanted to be loved now! I would fall asleep praying that God would give me love - that I would find love - that He would just give me a taste of it so that I could start to fill this void in me... maybe begin to quench this overwhelming thirst that was consuming me...</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Though it was featured in a “Save-yourself-for-marriage" Christian school program, I always just thought that <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W7hSeic8uE" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">the album's title track</a> was about earthly love alone. (And, I wished more people would simply write and sing songs about who God is and what He thinks about us, so we could know.)</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W7hSeic8uE" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">song</a> described to me a young girl waking up - on the lookout every day - for a man to marry (or at least a man to love her). Later in the song, it seems she finds him and they live happily ever after…</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Well, Bully for them! [I mean I was glad that THEY can be happy now, but <i>I</i> always felt jealousy in the back of my heart because <i>she</i> had finally found that someone (maybe because <i>she</i> was a “good-little-Christian” and was now being <i>rewarded</i> for her celibacy all those years - hard fought and hard won - while <i>I</i> was still on the lookout… I still <i>had</i> to be on the lookout for love… I thought, <i>Maybe I'm not ready for love, or the girl wasn't ready for me yet, or that I just wasn't worthy of being loved… Was I not a good enough Christian? Where's MY reward? Where was </i>my <i>someone to love </i>me<i>? Don't all of us deserve love?</i></p><p style="text-align:justify;">We don't often know what we, or other humans, are talking about, and therefore, many times, we don't even think to try and understand something that God would be saying or how He is saying it, <i>Is God speaking something to me here? Is He speaking to me, now? How would I know?</i></p><p style="text-align:justify;">For 35 years I <i>heard</i> these lyrics:</p><p style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W7hSeic8uE" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Love Waiting</a> by <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.billycrockett.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Billy Crockett</a><br>"I know you're waiting<br>Most every morning<br>you turn your radar on<br>There must be someone<br>just for you</p><p style="text-align:center;">Hey, you there waiting<br>You tell me it's lonely<br>longing for someone new<br>Oh, you keep waiting<br>'til someone's in love with you</p><p style="text-align:center;">Sometimes love can be hard to find<br>and sometimes the search can be sad<br>Sometimes the pain makes it hard<br>to maintain till tomorrow</p><p style="text-align:center;">I know you're waiting<br>Most every morning<br>you turn your radar on<br>There must be someone<br>just for you</p><p style="text-align:center;">Hey, you thеre waiting<br><i><u>you got your someone</u></i><br>hе will hold on to you<br>And He's not waiting<br>he is in love with you"</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><i>These </i>lyrics seem to say, <i>There is someone out there and you just have to find them - YOU have to learn how to see them… Try to be in the right place at the right time. Try to be vigilant; try to keep an active lookout - day and night - for this “someone,” because, if you don't, you might miss them and stay forever unhappy… and it will be all your fault.</i></p><p style="text-align:justify;">These lyrics also conjured the picture in my mind of a man in love with this girl... and she… just… what… doesn't know about it? Is oblivious? Doesn't know what's good for her? That always sounded weird to me - like an incomplete thought or a pithy "Christian" saying - it just didn't make sense... <i>There is some guy out there just loving a girl, but the girl doesn't know it and when she "wises up" she'll finally "see" him and his love for her and then she'll be pleased and at rest from all her searching?</i> I mean, I guess that happens - (it seems like the story of <i>my</i> life and the story of many men and boys if you listen to how Hollywood tells it...) We get that, we've experienced that, W<i>e love someone secretly and they don't know and we don't tell them and they are with somebody else that we know isn't good for them and they should really be with us instead…</i></p><p style="text-align:justify;">I, too, was always looking every day for this same love and thought I finally found that love when I found my <a class="no-pjax" href="/erin-jarrod" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Erin Jarrod">spouse</a>…</p><p style="text-align:justify;">So the song made sense, I guess. It was a nice thought - a nice attempt… But discovering God - the love God had for me (two decades <i>after </i>I met my spouse) - made me wonder, <i>Is the song </i>really <i>just about human love?</i></p><p style="text-align:justify;">I've long felt that the lyric should have been rewritten (as I feel so many songs could be) - to make God more explicit - so we can KNOW, and easily, that God is for us in all situations… And, as I grow older (and grow as a songwriter), I have naturally come to incorporate that “God-view” into <i>my </i>songs, because I want to know what, if anything, God is speaking to me, and pass that knowledge and encouragement to others. What I've discovered is God HAS BEEN speaking to me all along… <span style="color:hsl(30,75%,60%);">(I just never <i>heard Him as clearly as I do now)</i>.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify;">And, if <i>I</i> write songs that have a deeper meaning - (a relational connection - not only between humans, but also between God and us), maybe other Christian writers do that too, and perhaps, <i>did</i> do that in this instance.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">So, today, I looked into <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W7hSeic8uE" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">this song</a> again.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">First, I would need to have the correct lyrics to the song for my journal (and verify them with the actual song).</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Do you know how sometimes you can go your whole life liking a song, and never really know all the lyrics to it? (We think and act like we know, but we really don't.) When that part of the song comes on, you mumble through it, (or worse), you make up words your mind or heart "thinks" are right... The line that always gave me trouble with this song is in the middle of the second verse…</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Look what I discovered today about the <i>real </i>lyrics and meaning of this song:</p><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:hsl(30,75%,60%);">"Hey, you thеre waiting</span><br><span style="color:hsl(30,75%,60%);"><i><u>God </u></i><u>is your </u><i><u>Someone</u></i></span><br><span style="color:hsl(30,75%,60%);"><i>Hе </i>will hold on to you</span><br><span style="color:hsl(30,75%,60%);">And <i>He's </i>not waiting</span><br><span style="color:hsl(30,75%,60%);"><i>He </i>is <i>in love</i> with you"</span></p><p style="text-align:justify;">What!?</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:hsl(30,75%,60%);">I was STUNNED</span> to find out that this "hunch" to look into the song again (what I would now designate as “direction” or "leading" given to me by the Holy Spirit), was right! Other people <i>have </i>experienced and <i>are </i>living in this “God-Love" thing that I'm just discovering now... <span style="color:hsl(30,75%,60%);">it <i>IS </i>real</span>! And they ARE sharing their findings! Knowing the Truth, and believing it, encourages and saves me.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Mr. Crockett <i>did</i> sing theologically about the love of God for us that has always been here and will always love us forever... (we thought WE had to be the one doing the waiting - the searching - trying to find love on our own, when it is really God that has been waiting for us to discover <i>His love</i> for <i>us</i> the whole time… <span style="color:hsl(30,75%,60%);"><i>(it was me that just wasn't able to hear it all these years)</i></span>.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">In order to receive the free gift God is offering, we need to surrender to the belief in His Truth: <span style="color:hsl(30,75%,60%);">That God created us to be loved from the beginning, and, when our enemy, (sin and the devil), made us unworthy, God made a way through His Son, Jesus, to make us worthy again. If you can believe that, and believe the love God is offering us is a free gift that we don't have to (and could never) earn - to just accept it from His hands to us, open His gift, live in His gift, and use His gift</span> - it will begin to quench your thirst for love as you experience tastes of all the love God has planned for us to enjoy - from now, in ever-increasing measure, throughout eternity future.)</p><p style="text-align:justify;">I thought I had been “Love Waiting” since 1987, but in truth, I was waiting for this kind of love all my life. I thought I had to, and could, fill this void in myself... I thought it was up to me to “fill <i>me</i> up,” because no one else was going to do it (or <i>was </i>doing it). I thought it was my job... <i>that's what the world tells us.</i></p><p style="text-align:justify;">But something always felt wrong about "arranging" love for myself (like I shouldn't have to try to make people love me, or search for love, or try to fashion some semblance of a love for myself out of my work or award I had earned... It always felt like love should just "come to us" instead - be easy; like all we have to do is be open to love - not keep our hearts shut tight to everything and everyone because the pain that our heart kept getting exposed to was just too... painful...) But we are not here to love ourselves. And we don't have to (and can't) save ourselves from this loneliness with some self-driven effort. We are here to be loved. <i>It's not the message this world will tell you, but it IS God's message to us. Believe it!</i></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Now that I actually see in print, <span style="color:hsl(30,75%,60%);"><i>God is my Someone and He will hold on to me</i></span><i>,</i> I can't hear the song incorrectly anymore - whereas before - (I never got the right message.) I had always heard this song, but never really listened; thought I knew, but never double-checked (never investigated for myself) ...until today. This song did intend to send a message about God and from God's perspective - as a love letter to us - from the outset! (Don't change a word, Bill.)</p><p style="text-align:justify;">~~~</p><p style="text-align:justify;">But then, why did I not "get" this letter to me for so long?</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Maybe it's just the difference between a thirteen-year-old's understandings compared to that of a forty-seven-year-old. Or, maybe I have a real enemy that tries to steal the messages of love God sends to me through songs like this one (and through anything else in my life…) The power of God working through His Spirit finally relieved enough of my fear to be able to deliver God's message to me so I <i>could </i>be loved, set free, and believe it.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The message read, “The Father chose me... Jesus created me and found me... The Spirit wooed me” and it just took this long for me to realize that I <i>had</i> the love - waiting for me to enjoy - that I had been searching for all along… just waiting. Love… waiting…</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Thank you, God, for reaching out and loving me. Thank you, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.billycrockett.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Billy Crockett</a>, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.facebook.com/twilaparis/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Twila Paris</a>, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://michaelwsmith.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Michael W. Smith</a>, Michelle Rees, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://amygrant.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Amy Grant</a>, <a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.kennymarks.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Kenny Marks</a>, and <a class="no-pjax" href="https://music.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-phillips/1165898071" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Leslie Phillips</a>, who were obedient to God's call; and <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.curb.com/word-records/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Word Records</a> for putting out this album of music and helping to create this Bible study to help children know the real truth of God - revealed to us in His Son, Jesus, The Living Word. Thanks to all of you who had <i>already</i> discovered God's love for <i>you</i> and wanted <i>us</i>... wanted <i>me</i>... to believe it, and experience His love too! I might have never known, never been saved, and never been loved, without you. (If I can't thank you in person, I'll now be able to in the next life!)</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);">I encourage you to take another look at God - take another listen to what He might be really saying... you might be stunned, and glad you did!</span></p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7076700
2022-10-03T10:00:00-05:00
2022-11-06T11:48:40-06:00
God Physics
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/638914/ce85e5841d834c5c7d8c1f4ca47a5d3f257b03ba/original/brick-wall.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" /></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">We understand there are physical rules that govern life on earth. Gravity, motion, force, etc. And everything that exists here or has ever existed on this earth has been, at one point, created. There is nothing here, that just "is." God is the only thing that has ever (or will ever) just "be." And I believe there are spiritual rules that just "are" that govern, revolve around, that just exist and are operating in the spiritual realm.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">One of the things we think we understand in the physical world is an assumption that "God is a killer and, killing is bad." Just read the Old Testament. Whole races that are against God are wiped out. (Read the New Testament. Even the ones who supposedly are on God's team die brutally and undeservedly we think. We see this and understand this from our physical perspective and our human understanding. Many of us (including Christians) feel at heart, "God is a killer." I believe the spiritual physic is (and has been) in place from before the beginning. In the realm where God "lives" - where his will is done - I think we find that things operate on a different premise: God is a life-bringer, not a killer. It has always been this way, and it will always be.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">God is immovable, unbreakable. When you attack him, you bounce off (actually you would incinerate before you'd even reach him). God is unchangeable. He is love, grace, mercy, protector, father, friend, spouse, counselor, forgiver, redeemer, etc. He cannot and will not change to be anything other than who he is and always has been. (It would be against the physic of his realm to change - to not be dependable.)</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Now, I would also argue that the "ways" in which God never changes his purposes, will, desire, aim, focus, goals, etc., do change. He loved the Israelites and came to them in the desert of Sinai. And, coming in all his glory, his intended was frightened because she didn't understand all that power was FOR her, not against. God's will and plan didn't change, the physic - the rule - didn't change, God still intends to make us his Bride, but he had to (and I don't have the word for what he DID) but God continued to love, he continued to pursue, he continued to teach, he continued to model, he continued to bring life - the physic never changed - God still came, and his will was accomplished even better than before because now, people were running <em>to </em>God, Jesus, the babe in the manger, instead of running away from God, Jesus, the Bridegroom on the firey mountain.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">God is a life-bringer as sure and true as it ever was. People and even angels from before time have bristled - come up against God - rebelled against the natural, existing, spiritual physic, and paid the price. Not because God took vengeance, but because of the natural, spiritual physics that are at work. You can't play with fire and expect to not burn yourself at some point. You can run into the sea, but you can't run in the sea. You can't run into a brick wall and not hurt yourself. (You may even kill yourself if you run hard enough.) What if humanity has been killing itself "on God" instead of God always killing us? What if, by our actions, we have been attacking God, and our bullets are ricocheting off him, bouncing back, and killing us? What would happen if we stop shooting?</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Why is it that we automatically "see" that we have the "right" way of looking at God? Is it because we think WE are in charge (or should be)? Is it because we don't want to relinquish that which is not ours to begin with? Why don't we want to give up our authority over God - something we have never had and never will have? (God is God, we are not.)</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I think always understanding - always looking at - God as The Life-Bringer, instead of a killer, will fundamentally alter your view of him. And if we saw God like this, we would be so attracted to him, respective of his Godness, and wanting to work under his authority - and in his provision - that we would never kill ourselves on him.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">If seeing God as anything but a Life-Bringer will turn people away from him, who, I wonder, would want us to always and only see God as a killer? Who would benefit from us believing that?</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The Good News is that God is not just immortal and unstoppable, he is kind and gracious and giving and he has been warning us and appealing to us for millennia to give up our striving against him because he has told us that will hurt us. God doesn't harm anyone and he never sends anyone to hell... (we do that to ourselves). He has also told us what will help us and bring us life: He will - His will, and his way. Surrendering to that understanding brings us peace, truth, and real life. (It brings us closer to true life, true liberty, and a true happiness we've never known or maybe never even seen before.)</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">God always wins. And we can win along with him, too - God has made that not only possible, but that was his will - his goal, his plan - all along. ~John 3:16-18. It's not about him winning and us losing. God doesn't want anyone to be losers - he wants us all to be winners. ~1 Timothy 2:4. (He just knows something we don't always remember, that his way is the only way that leads to life.) ~John 10:25-30, 14:6. Our ways, many times, lead to our own destruction. ~Proverbs 14:12, 16:25.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Can we not admit to ourselves (or even entertain the notion) that WE could be the problem - that WE could be the killers - and God is good?</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7068856
2022-09-26T10:33:29-05:00
2022-10-10T11:35:25-05:00
Religion And State
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/638914/662053df010e1a295a9ff0225a1a0500b4485c25/original/1amendment.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" /><a contents='The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."' data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-1/" target="_blank">The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><a contents='The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."' data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-1/" target="_blank">"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."</a></em></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This makes it sound like the government has decided not to create a forced, national religion - as was done in Europe (where our forebears came from) - and from which they wanted to depart - so they could live in a place where they would have the choice to do things differently if they chose. This Amendment makes it sound that the citizens of that new, free land may exercise their new right to exercise any religion or no religion as they choose.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">What I see happening in the united states is that people believe that the government doesn't like religion and doesn't want it in any government-related, government-sponsored, or government-funded venue such as public schools or libraries. Furthermore, I think people believe that the government has stated that the practice of religion in public, or government-funded places, is unlawful.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">It would be exceeding its mandate to include separating religion and state to mean that the government should actively hunt down, ferret out, or squash religion wherever it finds it. There is nothing about the government hating religion and not wanting it in their public schools or public places in this Amendment. It sounds more like the government is choosing to stay silent on the subject - uninvolved. This allows the individual the freedom to practice their religion or not. The government is specifically guaranteeing that right to its citizenry.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Since the government's official position in the very first Amendment of our Constitution, on having a religious-focused program (at a public school for instance), would be not to have an opinion on it, (and certainly not to prohibit a program based on religious reasons), it would be lawful for the citizenry to hold a religious program at a public library or a public school, and it would also be lawful for that citizenry to be able to attend or not attend as they choose - not as the government chooses... (as long as the concert was unremunerated by the government).</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">If the government's position is not to get involved with religion in any way, then government-funding of a concert at a government location would be "getting involved," and therefore be unconstitutional for the government - (they would be breaking their own law). (If the religious program at a government location was uncompensated by the government, it might be a different story.)</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7066256
2022-09-22T10:09:57-05:00
2022-10-03T12:40:19-05:00
The Mark Of The Christian
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/638914/16f9a7b82918f0f24b35529524c2a971dc9cca66/original/20220528-204859.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" />A mark of the Christian - the Christ-follower, the Christ-way - is whether they can forgive and reinstate. (That is what Jesus saw his father doing in him.) I have rarely met someone who forgives (let alone reinstates people). (Except fools who pretend to "reinstate" by sweeping a misdeed under the rug instead of honestly and judiciously "calling a spade a spade" - dealing with the hurt correctly by addressing it - both parties acknowledging the infraction, then one forgiving the other, and finally both parties remember that they have been forgiven.)</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7066349
2022-09-17T11:00:00-05:00
2022-09-22T11:45:35-05:00
Working Under Authority
<p style="text-align: justify;"><a contents="Jason Gray" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://jasongraymusic.com/" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/638914/87adba67cb591e210d51da0b8b072c38a4582283/original/jasongray-kippersesssions-cvr-300x300.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" />Jason Gray</a> said it was a pleasure to work under the authority of his <a contents="son" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.kippergraymusic.com/" target="_blank">son</a> on <a contents="The&nbsp;Kipper Gray Sessions" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://store.centricitymusic.com/products/the-kipper-gray-sessions" target="_blank"><em>The </em></a><em><a contents="Kipper Gray Sessions" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://store.centricitymusic.com/products/the-kipper-gray-sessions" target="_blank">Kipper Gray Sessions</a></em>. I want him to talk more about this because THIS IS KEY to understanding how to enjoy our relationship of surrender under God's authority - and how wonderful it is to work for intelligence, and grace, and gentleness, and love, and competence, and professionalism, and an approving, smiling face, and...!</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/6991102
2022-06-09T17:00:00-05:00
2022-09-22T11:55:16-05:00
Don't Hide Behind The Excuse Of Stereotype
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/638914/b8410e78c4901e2dc4ac2d28c0f8f7f60ae6de4a/original/djstuffed.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" />I think men (and women) too often hide behind the excuse of stereotype... I find it hard to believe that men are THAT insensitive or THAT thoughtless or THAT emotionless... I think it's an excuse to not have to try harder or do the harder work of relationship and love (and MEN are the ones that are supposed to mirror Christ and SHOW other men AND women who God IS!) This frustrates me to no end. And women... are NOT brainless or discompassionate... so, then, why do so many seem to play this "role" with men? We should all live in our own, unique glory that God has given us and just see, and experience, the grace, and superior joy, this WILL bring. (I'm confident this is God's way.)</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/6991094
2022-06-09T14:00:00-05:00
2022-09-22T11:58:12-05:00
Jesus Does All The Work Of Making Us
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/638914/10d79ae3b7b1a746fb1d69bddbea6d39b91c6faf/original/made-1.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" />Jesus does all the work to make us into disciples... <br>And, as we are being MADE into disciples we make other disciples... <br>And, as we make other disciples, we continue to be MADE by Jesus. <br>It's a life-long... way of life.</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/6991093
2022-06-08T09:00:00-05:00
2022-06-10T11:16:35-05:00
God Loves Us Into Relationship With Him
<p style="text-align: justify;">This is why God just loves us into relationship with him - why He just loves us into real truth... If he were to do anything else, he would be accused of trying to gaslight us all into loving him against our will.</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7367312
2022-04-22T15:00:00-05:00
2024-03-14T22:57:14-05:00
Easter Doesn’t End, Finding Peace In The Mess
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/0ff9e95188f8f001969528861ddb18999e113289/original/easter-doesnt-end-1500-x-1500.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" height="1500" /><p style="text-align:justify;">Join <a class="no-pjax" href="/about-the-living-loved-life" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="About The Living Loved Life" title="Jim & Drew" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jim & Drew</a> as our life continues to go on after Easter... excitement, worries, fun, vacations, sadness, confusion... Yet Jesus is with us every day, through it all. And our messes don't have to be cleaned up before we can have relationship with God. Our lives continue here in all their mess and will only get worse, but we're not alone and you aren't either! Everything will be cleaned up for us by God in His time and in His eternity!</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><a class="no-pjax" href="/living-loved" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Living Loved">Easter Doesn’t End, Finding Peace In The Mess</a></p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7122352
2022-04-18T15:00:00-05:00
2022-12-13T16:08:22-06:00
There Must Be A God
<p style="text-align: justify;"><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.andrew-peterson.com/" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/638914/a9e22be4aae46cc78429697d0628c199ba1d7bcb/original/andrewpeterson.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="Andrew Peterson" /></a><a contents="Andrew Peterson" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.andrew-peterson.com/" target="_blank">Andrew Peterson</a> in his Easter Monday concerts has said that he has seen so much beauty in life - so much goodness - so much of God showing up in other's eyes, that he's convinced there must be a God</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Being me, I look immediately at the opposite and wonder if that is also true...</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I've seen so much brokenness, darkness, despair, hopelessness, and pain... (and the fact that I, and so many others, are still here), we've been brought through the fires, we've been saved, selected out, set apart, made holy, been blessed with the understanding of God - chosen by Him to know Him - that there can be no other explanation except there <em>is</em> a God and He <em>does</em> care about us... (He cares enough to bring us through our refining process and stay with us not only through it, but after it as well, and for ever.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">And, since there is a God, what He says must be true also, and THAT means that we're going to continue to experience hope and faithfulness and love in ever greater measures, culminating in the ultimate fulfillment of the same, when we experience their perfect versions in physical relationship with God in eternal life. (I can wait, but I don't want to...)</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7367314
2022-03-25T15:00:00-05:00
2024-03-14T23:00:56-05:00
Surrender: The Podcast
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/b97a78546e1958875137bb472ba605a9a3be9862/original/1-1500-x-1500.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" height="1563" /><p>Go deeper into what made the “Surrender” song, and how surrendering to God is a necessity for everyone.</p><p><a class="no-pjax" href="/living-loved" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Living Loved">Surrender Podcast Episode</a></p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7367315
2021-10-04T15:00:00-05:00
2024-03-14T23:13:31-05:00
The Story: Finding Your Story, In God‘s Story
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/8afe62ec81dcb1b05b6f0c2e6232c87b1e89e970/original/1-1500-x-1500.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" height="1563" /><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:rgb(76,76,76);">What is </span><span style="color:rgb(186,55,42);">God's Story</span><span style="color:rgb(76,76,76);">? What is </span><span style="color:rgb(186,55,42);">His story</span><span style="color:rgb(76,76,76);">? Is it </span><span style="color:rgb(186,55,42);"><i>History</i></span><span style="color:rgb(76,76,76);">? And will learning about </span><span style="color:rgb(186,55,42);">His story</span><span style="color:rgb(76,76,76);"> help us discover </span><span style="color:rgb(186,55,42);"><i>OUR</i> story</span><span style="color:rgb(76,76,76);"> - where we came from </span><i>AND</i><span style="color:rgb(76,76,76);"> where we're going? </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thefatherland.org/about-the-living-loved-life" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><span style="color:rgb(186,55,42);">Jim and Drew</span></a><span style="color:rgb(76,76,76);"> discuss culture and how the progression of relationship with God helps us know God is in </span><i>us</i><span style="color:rgb(76,76,76);">!</span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><a class="no-pjax" href="/living-loved" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Living Loved"><span style="color:rgb(186,55,42);">The Story: Finding Your Story, In God‘s Story</span></a></p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7125173
2021-08-14T21:00:00-05:00
2022-12-19T11:20:50-06:00
Blessed By God Through Jason Gray
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/638914/19c16a2fe8067eed2135043548fbfef725bef520/original/20210814-212903.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="Jason Gray" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://jasongraymusic.com/" target="_blank">Jason Gray</a> concert at <a contents="The Vine Church of Walker, MI" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.onthevinechurch.com/" target="_blank">The Vine Church of Walker, MI</a> with my whole family is awesome!</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I am so grateful about everything this weekend. I don't regret driving 9 hours from Minnesota - hoping to experience what the Holy Spirit might want to show me. I feel blessed about every aspect of coming. I needed to hear and experience what the Holy Spirit shared WITH me.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/638914/9260c4c03249c860ccd43313a2c3d95e50b61dbb/original/20210814-183904.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_none" alt="" />As we sat on a blanket in the grass together, The Spirit "<a contents="Reminded Me Of Who I Am" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://amazon.com/music/player/albums/B095LPT7KW?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_v29R3hL68lHrSuwmy6k02vjC9&trackAsin=B095LNTW7B" target="_blank">Reminded Me Of Who I Am</a>," and what I'm "<a contents="Becoming" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://amazon.com/music/player/albums/B0916P6JPC?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_dOXJmdyAtaFCNOBijqW5IjDGg&trackAsin=B0916M3VJ8" target="_blank">Becoming</a>" with Him. My family needed to hear this and experience this... The whole trip was worth it! I can't think of anything to complain about it! "<a contents="Nothing Is Wasted" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://amazon.com/music/player/albums/B095LPGCYK?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_6tpPQA13or12puIOOpXBC7pZX" target="_blank">Nothing Is Wasted</a>." (I want to go to these concerts and be blessed, encouraged, uplifted, and have my spirit fed every weekend! Thank you, Jason! Thank you, God!)</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I was thinking about Jason's story of the woman who tried to heal his mouth by speaking in tongues and marching - while holding his tongue - but it was even her <em>wanting </em>to heal him that gave my apologetic heart pause... IS that the God I know? Is "healing" here ultimately what our Father is even after?</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I used to think this way myself - walking past someone in a wheelchair at Walmart and wanting to touch them and have them walk again - bringing the healingness of God personally to their lives... but I think there's a second, more important - more immediate - need, or healing, of people's lives here than "MERE" physical renewal... And, we don't need physical healing to know God is present in our life. I think that's what Jesus was saying so often to the people who wanted (without knowing it), a "lesser" healing - a lesser connection.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I think there is a deeper, ever more present, and pressing healing that each one of us needs more desperately than any other kind of fix, and that is the reconnection of our hearts/spirits in intimate relationship with God.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">If we're in a wheelchair or on crutches, have a speech impediment or hooked up to machines in an ICU, the real thing that matters to God (even more than our temporary <a contents="Disorder" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://amazon.com/music/player/albums/B0916P6JPC?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_WP6ynFhebrWOTFQXitWtZ7ngY" target="_blank"><em>Disorder</em></a>) is whether we know God WHILE we stutter, stumble, fall, or are "taken out" by others...</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Knowing God is knowing us, and loving that God is loving us, I think far outshines or outweighs the really "lesser" (in context) "needs" of our bodies and lives here. I mean, if we've got the Holy Spirit in our lives, it means God <em>is </em>with us now, and with that deposit (guaranteeing our future with God), what is sickness or handicaps or broken families or fear or loneliness or shame...? Compared to knowing God, is there anything in all creation that we can't survive, endure, or live without <em>IF</em> we have this connection with God? If we have this relationship with God, then, in time, God promises to make the total wrecks of our lives new again. (I can't even really fully understand this as I'm writing, but THIS is the hope we have because of Christ. I personally struggle with waiting for my life to be remade all new and shiny again. I want all the hurts I've done to others and myself that I can't make right, be made right by my friend, God, who says He can do that for me and wants to.)</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I think God thinks there is nothing that HAS to be healed in our life. I think He thinks we are good just the way we are... What I mean by this is, I think He just loves us unconditionally... I think God might say something like, <em>'I love you whether you stutter or not.'</em> But the God I know, I think would go further still... I can imagine Him continuing, <em>'Actually, I like the way you talk.'</em> (And, if you want to know the whole truth about it, I do too. If this is you, then it IS you. Embrace it. I do. I know God embraces you... He embraces all of Us.)</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I think it matters not that we DO anything or become anything here... If a child is born crippled, or if I became a paraplegic and could do nothing for the rest of my life, would God still love us? Of course! Would He love us any less? Of course not! I don't think God is very concerned (or better said), I think God prioritizes need - real need - and deems whether our hearts are repentant and we're trying to follow his lead, (or even just wanting to know him and have a relationship with him), as higher on the "importance scale" than all of our other issues, disabilities, handicaps, shortcomings, flaws, foibles, mistakes, hurts, temporary rebellions, etc., ...</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">With all my heart I want to tell people that I wish them well, and healing, and all the best of things here... but I wouldn't want to change your life at all if that might mean that you wouldn't follow after God in your life here and that I wouldn't get to see you again in the new earth - in <a contents="The Mended Wood" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://thegreenember.fandom.com/wiki/The_Mended_Wood_(song)" target="_blank">The Mended Wood</a>. (I hope I can make some music with you there on that eternal day!) I want you to be encouraged - as Jason Gray encouraged me this weekend and <a contents="Again And Again" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://amazon.com/music/player/albums/B0916P6JPC?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_SLZZEFiKzEmJnpEW4YDVH63Te&trackAsin=B0916N62X5" target="_blank">Again And Again</a> as I think back to that night, and listen to his music, along with my whole family - listening to God's message to us through him live, and on all his CDs - day after day, <a contents="Over and Over and Over" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://amazon.com/music/player/albums/B0916P6JPC?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_mCl7RoRzq2NdQKXa8ouZKs48K&trackAsin=B0916LML7V" target="_blank">Over and Over and Over</a>. I feel so grateful! <a contents="Jason Gray" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://jasongraymusic.com/" target="_blank">Jason Gray</a> keeps being God's mouth and words to me.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/638914/54798b8f1a1b2201c3124f177c13ced15b9fa936/original/jasongraywalkermi.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7367316
2020-09-11T15:00:00-05:00
2024-03-14T23:13:37-05:00
How Can I Trust?
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/db49066fce1a0b21813c9c7bf6c4fe447ea71d58/original/19.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" height="1500" /><p style="text-align:justify;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thefatherland.org/about-the-living-loved-life" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jim and Drew</a> talk about trust. Can we trust? If so, how? We must acknowledge our mistrust - realize that everyone trusts something - it's just "<i>What</i> do you trust; <i>WHO</i> do you trust?" We find out it's impossible for us to trust because trust (along with everything else - joy, kindness, self-control, love, etc.), can only come from God. And we can only get those things <i>from</i> God by sitting and soaking in <i>His</i> love of us, <i>when</i> we walk in relationship <i>with HIM</i>.</p><p style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="/living-loved" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Living Loved">How Can I Trust? Podcast Episode</a></p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7367317
2020-08-23T15:00:00-05:00
2024-03-14T23:13:48-05:00
Letting God Work, Hiding God’s Word In Your Heart
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/b55de62412f7cd9ad6685a433347563a03559b9d/original/letting-god-work-yellow-1500-x-1500.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" height="1500" /><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:rgb(76,76,76);">Join </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thefatherland.org/about-the-living-loved-life" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Drew and Jim</a><span style="color:rgb(76,76,76);"> as they talk about </span><i>Letting God Work</i><span style="color:rgb(76,76,76);"> in our lives by getting back to square one... Soaking in God's love for us, by </span><i>Hiding God's Word In Our Hearts</i><span style="color:rgb(76,76,76);">.</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="/living-loved" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Letting God Work, Hiding God’s Word In Your Heart Podcast Episode</a></p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7367318
2020-08-10T15:30:00-05:00
2024-03-14T23:14:16-05:00
What Bible Version Should I Read?
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/06ac3387ef1bad77d05c35c6eafb6462b88dcb20/original/1.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" height="1500" /><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:rgb(76,76,76);">What happens when you start reading the Bible and believing God in His Word? When the Holy Spirit starts giving us more faith to take a chance on God, our inner lives begin to change and that might feel weird or empty while our inner code is being rewritten. What Bible version should you read? Any of them - all of them! Submerge yourself - immerse yourself in everything you can get ahold of about God. Get to know God more and more every day and you will find that the Holy Spirit has been changing you into something new, something better!</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="/living-loved" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Living Loved" aria-current="page">What Bible Version Should I Read?</a><a class="no-pjax" href="/living-loved" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Living Loved"> Podcast Episode</a></p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7367319
2020-08-10T15:00:00-05:00
2024-03-14T23:15:57-05:00
What Is Living Love?
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/7dd39386408b95ba32c5353f5004c8de6cb9d996/original/1-1500-x-1500.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" height="1500" /><p style="text-align:justify;">What Is Living Love? It's being faithful instead of faithless. It's being hopeful instead of hopeless. It's trusting God with everything you do and everything you are. We are to turn toward God as a sunflower turns toward the Sun.</p><p style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="/living-loved" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Living Loved" aria-current="page">What Is Living Love?</a><a class="no-pjax" href="/living-loved" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Living Loved"> Podcast Episode</a></p><p style="text-align:justify;">The Living Loved Life Podcast Episode 2<br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thelivinglovedlife.com/" target="_blank" title="The Living Loved Life" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.thelivinglovedlife.com/</a><br><i>℗ & © Copyright 08/10/2020 </i><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.onthevinechurch.com/staff" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><i>Jim Richter</i></a><i>/</i><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.drewjarrod.com/" target="_blank" title="Drew Jarrod Music" rel="noreferrer noopener"><i>Drew Jarrod</i></a><i> (BMI). All Rights Reserved.</i></p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7367320
2020-08-10T14:30:00-05:00
2024-03-14T23:19:00-05:00
Finding Successful Rest
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/c34c57b85631e833cd47aa12ad35f4a96ad06f5b/original/finding-successful-rest-cd-cover-1400x.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" height="1400" /><p style="text-align:justify;">How Do You Find Rest? What Is Success? How Are You Spending Your Father's Life?</p><p style="text-align:justify;">When the Father of the Prodigal Son left, he demanded <i>half</i> of his father's <i>life</i>. His father divided up his life and gave half to the younger son, and half to the older son.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The Sabbath Day is a command and it's a celebration!</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Success is Obedience. Do what God made you to do. Then, just be faithful.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thefatherland.org/about-the-living-loved-life" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jim Richter and Drew Jarrod</a> discuss what it means to get one step closer to finding our rest in Jesus - One step closer to living restful - One step closer to being a better steward of what our Dad in Heaven has given us.</p><p style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="/living-loved" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Living Loved">Finding Successful Rest Podcast Episode</a></p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7076782
2012-01-01T13:00:00-06:00
2023-03-03T12:06:45-06:00
10 (OR SO) QUESTIONS WITH... DREW JARROD
<p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big" style="color:#e67e22;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/638914/71213e4b73ca9154e2987ba5fb5f34b8621b8533/original/djjedi.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" alt="" />10 (or so) questions with... Drew Jarrod</span><br><span style="color:#e67e22;"><i>Rochester Magazine</i></span>, January 2012 Issue<br><span class="text-small"><i>by </i></span><span class="text-small" style="color:#e67e22;"><i>Steve Lange</i></span><br><span class="text-small"><i>Photo by </i></span><a class="no-pjax" href="/erin-jarrod" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Erin Jarrod" contents="Erin Jarrod"><span class="text-small" style="color:#9b59b6;"><i>Erin Jarrod</i></span></a></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big">Drew Jarrod, Stay-At-Home Dad, Writer, Musician, and Songwriter...</span><br><i>(you can find his songs at </i><a class="no-pjax" href="/music" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Music" contents="drewjarrod.com"><i>drewjarrod.com</i></a><i> or on </i><a class="no-pjax" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/drew-jarrod/id253838991" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" contents="iTunes"><i>iTunes</i></a><i>)</i>.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#e67e22;">Rochester Magazine</span>: On your email tagline, you list yourself as: <i>'Husband, Dad, Writer, Musician, God-Follower.'</i><br>Drew Jarrod: I’ve made a study of my tagline. I’ve changed it numerous times over the last five years. <span style="color:#00cc00;">It’s come from a personal search </span>I’ve made<span style="color:#00cc00;"> for God.</span> Every time I send an email, that tagline shows up, and it’s almost more for me than anyone else, because <span style="color:#00cc00;">I’ll reread it and see what’s really important in life.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#e67e22;">RM</span>: You have <i>‘Dad’</i> in your tagline.<br>DJ: We have three boys. They’re even this year: 8, 6, and 4. My wife, <a class="no-pjax" href="/erin-jarrod" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Erin Jarrod" contents="Erin"><span style="color:#9b59b6;">Erin</span></a>, is a medical transcriptionist, and I’m a stay-at-home dad. I work hard at being a dad. I had a tough childhood. I wanted to be a better dad than my earthly father was. When I had kids it became apparent to me what I needed to work on.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#e67e22;">RM</span>: And <i>‘God-Follower.’</i><br>DJ: It’s tough. I’m trying to maintain the house. Yet I want to have time for the wife, have time for the kids. But through it all really it's God who is number one. In the Bible, it says, ‘<span style="color:#00cc00;">Seek God first and he will give you the desires of your heart,</span>’ which I’ve experienced.<br><span style="color:#e67e22;">RM</span>: Do you have an example?<br>DJ: In 1997, <span style="color:#00cc00;">I followed what I believed to be God’s call to move to a different city, and within one week, I met my wife. So, I see that as putting God first and finding the desire of my heart.</span><br><span style="color:#e67e22;">RM</span>: How did you and Erin meet?<br>DJ: A <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.onthevinechurch.com/staff" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" contents="friend">friend</a> of mine was a pastor at a <a class="no-pjax" href="https://oursaviorbrownsdale.com" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" contents="church">church</a> in Brownsdale, MN and I lived up in the Cities ... I came down and visited. ... When I went to this church in Brownsdale, I felt alive like God was calling me here. I had a <i>Harvest Fest</i> concert that I put on for the church. It was a potluck and my wife was actually there; she was in the serving line and she dished up sweet corn, (which was my favorite food). I remember seeing her in the line. I decided I needed to come down to this church. I finally moved down there on December 7, 1997. <span style="color:#00cc00;">My only motivation was to </span>get closer to this church and <span style="color:#00cc00;">get closer to God.</span><br><span style="color:#e67e22;">RM</span>: But then you saw Erin again?<br>DJ: Six days later, there was a live Nativity scene this church was putting on. They had live animals and you got dressed up in the garb and sat outside. ... I was Joseph. When they introduced me to the woman who was going to play Mary, it was Erin. So we sat together on a hay bale for three-and-a-half hours in 20-degree weather dressed as Mary and Joseph and looking at the manger with the baby Jesus. I wanted to see her again, so I finally said, ‘I’m new to town, can you show me around?’<br><span style="color:#e67e22;">RM</span>: That’s pretty good.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#e67e22;">RM</span>: You’re an expert at garage sales?<br>DJ: I’ve been thinking about hiring myself out as a garage sale consultant.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#e67e22;">RM</span>: I’m not sure any are in the area.<br>DJ: Yes. That’s why I’d be popular. I’d be in demand. I can sell anything that’s used.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#e67e22;">RM</span>: You’re a Star Wars aficionado?<br>DJ: I know more about Star Wars than the average person.<br><span style="color:#e67e22;">RM</span>: We’ll find out. Which planet is Princess Leia from?<br>DJ: Alderaan.<br><span style="color:#e67e22;">RM</span>: What are the first 10 words of the <i>Star Wars</i> lead-in?<br>DJ: <i>'A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...'</i><br><span style="color:#e67e22;">RM</span>: Who saves Luke on the planet Hoth?<br>DJ: Han.<br><span style="color:#e67e22;">RM</span>: After Luke is carried off by a ...<br>DJ: Wampa.<br><span style="color:#e67e22;">RM</span>: Who is Darth Maul the apprentice of?<br>DJ: Darth Sidious.<br><span style="color:#e67e22;">RM</span>: Where does Luke get shot while rescuing Han in Return of the Jedi?<br>DJ: Left hand.<br><span style="color:#e67e22;">RM</span>: No! His right hand!<br>DJ: Blast!<br><span style="color:#e67e22;">RM</span>: OK. I guess you do know Star Wars.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#e67e22;">RM</span>: You have a long resume of different jobs, from youth counselor to sales to movie projectionist to videography. It looks like you’ve done a bit of everything in the last 15 or 20 years.<br>DJ: If you talk to someone who’s hiring for a job, I don’t know how they’d look at that. Would they say <i>‘Boy, he’s got a lot of experience?’</i> or <i>‘Boy, he can’t hold down a job?’</i><br><span style="color:#e67e22;">RM</span>: Hard to say.<br>DJ: There is a variety. They are all connected. <span style="color:#00cc00;">The calling God gives us cannot be contained by any one job.</span> Every customer service job I’ve ever had comes from my desire to help people. The projectionist thing comes from my love of movies.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#e67e22;">RM</span>: Are you playing in the Eagles Cancer Telethon this year?<br>DJ: I’m scheduled to perform one song, bright and early Sunday, January 15th at 6:25 a.m.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#e67e22;">RM</span>: Do you perform regularly?<br>DJ: I perform daily in my home. I don’t play out very much. Though maybe I should more, because I think Erin was a groupie when she first met me.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#e67e22;">RM</span>: You proposed to Erin with a song you wrote. What’s the last line?<br>DJ: Oh, boy. Let me think the song through. <span style="color:#00cc00;">'<i>If you’ll have me, how sweet it would be ... Erin, if you’d marry me.'</i></span><br><span style="color:#e67e22;">RM</span>: Yes. You needed to get that right.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#e67e22;">RM</span>: What’s your best Star Wars voice?<br>DJ: It’s a toss-up between Yoda and Chewbacca.<br><span style="color:#e67e22;">RM</span>: Can you do one of them for me?<br>DJ: Let me think of what I should say ... [in an excellent Yoda voice]: <i>Your questions they are good, yes? Mmmm.</i><br><span style="color:#e67e22;">RM</span>: OK. Now I’ll do mine, although my wife says every impersonation I do sounds like Homer Simpson.<br>DJ: OK<br><span style="color:#e67e22;">RM</span> [trying to do Yoda]: <i>Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.</i><br>DJ: It doesn’t sound like Homer Simpson. But I did know who you were trying to be.<br><span style="color:#e67e22;">RM</span>: I would hope so. Here’s another: '<i>But I was gonna go to the Tachi Station to pick up some power converters!'</i><br>DJ: Now that sounds like Luke. You’ve got a good pre-Jedi Luke voice.<br><span style="color:#e67e22;">RM</span>: That’s not really a compliment.</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7080912
2011-02-01T10:00:00-06:00
2023-03-03T12:07:52-06:00
MYSTERY MAN
<p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big" style="color:#e67e22;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/638914/6314fef92668acb6c0a21156fdace675a5c36f90/original/mysterymanrochmag.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" alt="" />Mystery Man</span><br><span style="color:#e67e22;"><i>Rochester Magazine,</i> </span>February 2011 Issue<br><span class="text-small"><i>by </i></span><span class="text-small" style="color:#e67e22;"><i>Jennifer Koski</i></span><br><span class="text-small"><i>Photo by Jerry Olson</i></span></p><p style="text-align:justify;">The Couple:<br>Drew and <a class="no-pjax" href="/erin-jarrod" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Erin Jarrod" contents="Erin Jarrod">Erin Jarrod</a><br><i>(As told by Drew)</i></p><p style="text-align:justify;">On our 10-month anniversary, Erin was to meet me at my apartment at 10 a.m. so we could spend the day together. But when Erin got there, I wasn’t there. Instead, a friend was there with a rose and a note: It was a clue telling Erin where to go next.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">All morning, Erin found more roses and notes that directed her to visit special places that we had gone to during our courtship. She finally found me at <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.ci.austin.mn.us/park-recreation/park-information/todd-park" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" contents="Todd Park in Austin">Todd Park in Austin</a>, in the top level of the “Kool-Aid Man,” where we had carved our names together a few months earlier.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">I gave Erin her ninth rose and sang a song I wrote especially for this moment with Erin’s name as its title. The last line of the song is, <a class="no-pjax" href="/track/3201242/erin-the-engagement-trilogy-1-of-3" target="_blank" data-link-type="track" contents="“And if you’ll have me, how sweet it would be ... Erin, if you’d marry me.”"><i>“And if you’ll have me, how sweet it could be ... Erin, if you’d marry me.”</i></a> Then I presented the engagement ring. Erin agreed (and that’s another story).</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/638914/57f87893e847fb38337253d3c09de63ae3acdc90/original/erindrewcake.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" alt="" />From there, we went to <a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.oldmill.net/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" contents="The Old Mill">The Old Mill</a> (a 100-year-old logging mill converted into a fine-dining restaurant), where there was a cake decorated with strawberries in the shape of a heart. There, Erin received her tenth and final rose—one rose for each month we had gone out together.</p><p style="text-align:center;">You can find the engagement song, <a class="no-pjax" href="/track/3201242/erin-the-engagement-trilogy-1-of-3" target="_blank" data-link-type="track" data-link-label="Erin (The Engagement) [Trilogy 1 of 3]">"</a><a class="no-pjax" href="/track/3201242/erin-the-engagement-trilogy-1-of-3" target="_blank" data-link-type="track" data-link-label="Erin (The Engagement) [Trilogy 1 of 3]" contents="Erin">Erin</a><a class="no-pjax" href="/track/3201242/erin-the-engagement-trilogy-1-of-3" target="_blank" data-link-type="track" data-link-label="Erin (The Engagement) [Trilogy 1 of 3]">,"</a> <a class="no-pjax" href="/the-erin-trilogy" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="The Erin Trilogy" contents="here...">here...</a></p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7102250
2008-09-07T16:00:00-05:00
2022-11-14T17:00:11-06:00
Glory
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/638914/96f0b8abfc88ee4efef0f329d97f8278c18df4a2/original/plumdumplings.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="Photo by Lacy Wangen" /></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Recently, when a friend expressed interest in taking photographs, I thought she might be interested in using our camera to take pictures of us for music albums or book covers. She eagerly agreed and commented many times how much she enjoyed taking the photographs and using our camera. (She didn’t have a camera of her own at the time and spoke with longing about how it would be many years, if ever, before she would be able to afford one of her own.)</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">My wife and I asked ourselves why our friend should have to wait to realize her dreams when we were in a position to help her? We had a bit of savings at the time, so we decided to offer our friend a no-interest, no-time limit loan to buy her own camera and whatever accessories she wanted so she could start living her dream of taking photographs.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">She agreed and started carrying her camera with her everywhere she went, and, within a month, had her first picture (her grandmother preparing prune dumplings for Sunday supper) published in a newspaper. She is on her way.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">How are you helping others live in their glory? How are you living in yours? Each of us has areas where we shine. Don't be afraid to stand up. Don't be afraid to stand out. Make your light known. How likely will others see God if they don't see Him in you?</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7174964
2007-11-08T10:00:00-06:00
2023-03-23T06:58:41-05:00
How Does God Speak To You?
<p style="text-align:justify;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/93164eb4dc0801bb45420a6da91426f95a05b7d9/original/how-does-god-speak-to-you2.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" />Specifically, I am wondering if God speaks to men and women differently... (but listing any way in which God speaks to you will be helpful.)</p><p style="text-align:justify;">As a woman or man, how does God speak to you?<br>Do you even hear Him talking to you?<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/3bbf42016f21649188e78af9fec1c13b0a1a907a/original/how-does-god-speak-to-you4.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_right border_" /><br>Do you ask Him questions?<br>Does He give you answers?<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/029f3e0f0a9fb7789294fb51c83f8d2ac56d38e6/original/how-does-god-speak-to-you3.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_xl justify_center border_" /></p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7161760
2007-11-05T16:00:00-06:00
2023-03-03T12:01:16-06:00
What if?
<p style="text-align:justify;"><meta name="uuid" content="uuidai9JOgmg2gww"><meta charset="utf-8"><span style="color:rgb(14,16,26);"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/76db9a1ffcc0db308f7376cfbdade310db4b4896/original/what-if-life-is-not-meaningless.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></span></span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Life IS NOT Meaningless. There is hope. Yesterday I spent the day with my oldest boy and we went to a park. On one of the metal park beams holding up the slide was a message written in black marker, "Life is meaningless."</span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">I wanted to so badly tell the child who wrote that message to share his frustration and to get other people to delve into that with him that it wasn't the truth.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">I used to be the spokesperson for the “Life-Is-Meaningless Club,” and when I saw that message, I began to believe it again. But I remembered something I was taught years ago. Something I've been pursuing now for years. Trying to get to know why I am here - (what my past means and what my future holds for me). A pastor friend of mine, (happily married and with 5 kids) said in his Bible study many times in his church, "I can't wait to die. If that means I get to be with Jesus in eternity... I can't wait."</span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">If you haven't yet read, </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://wildatheart.org/rhplay/series/audio/epic-larger-story" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><i><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Epic</span></i></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> by </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://wildatheart.org/about-us" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">John Eldredge</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">, or seen his DVD version, you might want to sometime. In there he quotes C.S. Lewis at the end of, </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.narnia.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><i><span data-preserver-spaces="true">The Chronicles Of Narnia</span></i></a><i><span data-preserver-spaces="true">,</span></i><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> where Aslan says that the kids and their parents did die, and were now in the heaven that they have always dreamed of, and they never have to leave, and their lives are actually now just beginning. Your life really begins after you die... </span><i><span data-preserver-spaces="true">"and a wild hope rose up within them."</span></i></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">What if it were true? What if all of this life was just practice or the “pregame” show? What if our everyday lives here are simply for our enjoyment? And, if they are getting us down, we can turn the corner in our minds and have hope for the best future God can imagine for us. What if every day there was better than the last?</span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">What if? I can't wait now. I am eager for heaven. What will it be like?</span><span style="color:rgb(14,16,26);"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/5b074596dfa17db4deb9c8ebd82aef2f524ac7d5/original/what-if-life-is-not-meaningless2.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></span></span></p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7161746
2007-08-14T09:05:00-05:00
2023-02-27T15:57:49-06:00
Were They Angels?
<p style="text-align:justify;"><span><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/638914/e11217f8ef105bd31caf7e95539933316881db27/original/were-they-angels2.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" />Just got back from a week’s vacation. The last one was five years ago and was not relaxing at all. I’ve never had a relaxing vacation in my life until this one. It seems like I’ve been gone for a month. God kept us all safe and returned us to a safe home.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span>We did see a few car accidents on the way to and from Michigan, and I wonder why we were kept safe while another was not. Although, we did see the passengers of one totaled vehicle in the ditch standing around and had already emptied all their luggage neatly in the grass... so did God keep them “safe” too?</span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span>At a beach we visited, one of our children wandered away. He stated earlier that he wanted to see the lifeguard tower and while we searched for him, he called out to us from on top of their tower. He had apparently walked over there and climbed up by himself. There were three young men - lifeguards - in that tower keeping watch over him. I thanked them and we went back to the water. I began thinking how easy it would have been for my son to be lost forever. And how fortunate it was that someone was there to keep him safe. When I looked back at the guard tower not long after that, the tower was empty. All three of the guards were gone.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span>Were they angels? They were my and my son’s angels that day. Thank you.</span></p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7066292
2006-07-12T10:00:00-05:00
2023-02-03T15:38:02-06:00
Forgiveness Through Christ, Food For Thought
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/638914/76e6d6c07d04ad796f53dea9709b5ae1d321e677/original/bread-grapes.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" />Faith comes from reading the Bible. A Christian's salvation is fact if they believe in what Jesus did by His suffering, death, and resurrection. That is, He took our place on “death row” so we could be freed from jail (Hell) and be able to walk out through the front gates of prison and walk down the street free as a bird. We have been given a pardon... the government recognizes (that even though we broke the "law" - we have sinned) - the slate has been wiped clean (our sins have been forgiven), so we are now like those “good” citizens who didn't break the law or sin in the first place. God’s Justification of us by His grace, through our faith in Him, is how God the Father sees us. White as snow... clean as a piece of white notebook paper. Blame-less, Sin-less, Holy (set-apart) Washed in the blood of the Lamb-which is Jesus Christ.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">You see, there is a new Law, now... a Higher and more Perfect Law – called Grace. And The Grace Of God did not do away with the old law we used to live by, Grace just fulfilled the old law so perfectly, that Grace could now fill in all the gaps of the old law and become an updated version of the Law – our new standard of operating. Grace is law, Mark II - (the next and final generation/iteration of how we will live now, and throughout eternity). The Law 2.0 GV (the Grace Version) is so perfect we never need another update again. Thanks, God, for your brilliance and your benevolence!</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7102373
2005-08-17T11:00:00-05:00
2023-03-28T11:44:50-05:00
MUSICIAN WORKS ON SECOND ALBUM
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/638914/1b784763b1c3e400bba9ff12b9788c842d6a3136/original/djcoolbw.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" alt="" /><span class="text-big" style="color:#e67e22;">Musician Works On Second Album</span><br><span class="text-small"><i>by </i></span><span class="text-small" style="color:#e67e22;"><i>Phil Groth</i></span><br><span class="text-small"><i>Photo by Erin Jarrod</i></span></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Drew Jarrod hasn't been writing much music lately. He's been focusing on recording. <span style="color:#27ae60;"><i>"It can be tough,"</i></span> he said, <i>"because of all the options that technology allows."</i> Jarrod can add any digital instrument he wants using programs on his computer. <span style="color:#27ae60;"><i> "With unlimited money and time, artists would probably never release anything. There are almost too many possibilities. A project is hardly ever finished. Sometimes you just have to stop."</i></span></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Jarrod released his first album, <a class="no-pjax" href="/at-square-one-album" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="At Square One [Album]" contents="At Square One"><i>At Square One</i></a> in 1997, and two song singles "<a class="no-pjax" href="/innocent-eyes" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Innocent Eyes" contents="Innocent Eyes">Innocent Eyes</a>" and "<a class="no-pjax" href="/here-with-me" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Here With Me" contents="Here With Me">Here With Me</a>" in 2009 and 2010 respectively. Continuing to release music as time and energy allow, Jarrod is currently working on producing another song single, "I Still Love You."</p><p style="text-align:justify;">When <a class="no-pjax" href="/at-square-one-album" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="At Square One [Album]" contents="At Square One"><i>At Square One</i></a> was released, Jarrod went on tour. Although he doesn't play a lot live, it's when he has the most fun. <span style="color:#27ae60;"><i>"I never sing and play as well in practice as I do when I'm performing live."</i></span></p><p style="text-align:justify;">His first band was with his cousins. They would parody songs they heard on the radio, changing the lyrics to suit whatever they wanted to sing about. Over time, Jarrod began to develop his own ideas about music... learning to write original lyrics and melodies.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">He writes music in the style of <a class="no-pjax" href="https://stevencurtischapman.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" contents="Steven Curtis Chapman">Steven Curtis Chapman</a>, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wes_King" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" contents="Wes King">Wes King</a>, and <a class="no-pjax" href="https://michaelwsmith.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" contents="Michael W. Smith">Michael W. Smith</a>, and tries to keep his music honest, simple, and genuinely inspired, not forced. <span style="color:#27ae60;"><i>"I don't know how artists who release one album every year do it. Sometimes writing 20-30 songs for every album they put out, and then narrow that list to just 10..."</i></span></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Because Jarrod's livelihood doesn't come from his music, he has the luxury of writing only when inspiration strikes. When inspiration does come, <span style="color:#27ae60;"><i>"A lot of times simple is better. Some of the most popular songs have only three chords and eight words and they are repeated over and over. But the songs that I like are written from an honest heart."</i></span> Jarrod is inspired by love, loss, hardship, and injustice... the complex things he sees in life. <span style="color:#27ae60;"><i>"We live in an imperfect world... Maybe we can come up with solutions to our problems if we all knew more about the situations. Maybe writing a song will help that."</i></span></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Faith is important to Jarrod's songwriting. His music statement has been, <span style="color:#27ae60;"><i>"To present through music the Good News that Jesus loves us, and God has forgiven us because of what Jesus has done."</i></span></p><p style="text-align:justify;">If Jarrod is not currently writing music, having a young family is giving him a lot of inspiration. <span style="color:#27ae60;"><i>"Raising children, I am learning about mercy and grace."</i></span></p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7021146
1997-09-14T18:00:00-05:00
2023-03-28T11:39:59-05:00
DREW JARROD RELEASES FIRST ALBUM
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/638914/0577964a5a664d0aa0064d6d747b043a7846fc7a/original/s1coversm360x360.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" alt="" /><a class="no-pjax" href="/album/2211927/at-square-one" target="_blank" data-link-type="album" data-link-label="At Square One"><i>At Square One</i></a> Album<br>(Available for download from your favorite online music store!)</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://music.apple.com/us/artist/drew-jarrod/253838991" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" contents="Apple Music/iTunes">Apple Music/iTunes</a><br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.amazon.com/music/player/artists/B0037ZNVTC/drew-jarrod" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" contents="Amazon Music">Amazon Music</a><br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.iheart.com/artist/drew-jarrod-302933/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" contents="iHeart Radio">iHeart Radio</a><br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/1fD3ed3ZXOlS8mFTstYvrN" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" contents="Spotify">Spotify</a></p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7080917
1995-10-25T10:00:00-05:00
2023-03-28T11:07:08-05:00
ARTIST PARTICIPATES IN THE ACADEMY OF GOSPEL MUSIC ARTS
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/638914/a7f162f90bd8a732e3256cda16b1b5a8abe8d286/original/gmaacademylogo.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" alt="" /><span class="text-big" style="color:#e67e22;">Artist Participates In The Academy Of Gospel Music Arts</span><br><span class="text-small"><i>by </i></span><span class="text-small" style="color:#e67e22;"><i>Nicki Pomeroy</i></span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><i>Drew Jarrod</i> participated in The Academy of Gospel Music Arts regional conference on Friday, October 13th, and Saturday, October 14th, 1995. The Academy of Gospel Music Arts is sponsored by the <a class="no-pjax" href="https://gospelmusic.org/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" contents="Gospel Music Association&nbsp;(GMA)">Gospel Music Association (GMA)</a> and took place at <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.bethel.edu/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" contents="Bethel College">Bethel College</a> in <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.stpaul.gov/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">St. Paul, Minnesota</a>.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The Academy of Gospel Music Arts consists of eight regional weekends which include seminars, networking opportunities, a concert, and competitions for music writing and performing. The GMA was started in 1964 to encourage and promote Gospel music. The Academy's weekends are designed for artists and writers who are interested in a ministry or career in Gospel music.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Jarrod was selected to compete in both the music writing and performing competitions; <span style="color:#e67e22;"><i>Song of '96</i></span> and <span style="color:#e67e22;"><i>Spotlight '96</i></span>. The <span style="color:#e67e22;"><i>Song of '96</i></span> is a competition for songwriters whereas the <span style="color:#e67e22;"><i>Spotlight '96</i></span> is a competition for performance artists. Jarrod has been composing and performing music for ten years and playing the guitar for four years.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Jarrod has not had any formal voice training previous to his first year at college, but feels his talent is a gift from God.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Jarrod performed two songs that he composed in August and September of this year (1995). The competition was open to the public as well as to the participants of the conference. The music artists were critiqued in the categories of <span style="color:#e67e22;">Artistry, Communication Connection, Marketability, Musicianship, and Overall Performance</span>. The winners of the two competitions have the opportunity to compete in Nashville, TN during Gospel Music Week with winners from other U.S. Regions.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Jarrod said he is not sure what career path God has chosen for him but he is sure it will include music. Music is a form of expression for Jarrod, he uses music to share the Word of God as well as an outlet for emotional energy. Music is a major part of his life and he will share his music in the Name of the Lord.</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/7080900
1995-01-19T10:00:00-06:00
2022-11-14T21:44:10-06:00
YOUTH TEAM TRAVELS TO ELLIS
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/638914/22c99e0cd298d8f0f573b5a09604fa02b9aa5222/original/cfsc.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" /><span class="font_large"><span style="color:#e67e22;">Youth Team Travels To Ellis</span></span><br><em><span class="font_small"><span style="color:#e67e22;">The Ellis Review</span>, Ellis, Kansas</span></em></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">A youth musical ministry team traveling in Iowa, Missouri, Mississippi, Alabama, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Eastern Colorado, Texas, Louisiana, Western Florida, and Arkansas will be in Ellis on Jan. 26.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The spirited <span style="color:#8e44ad;"><em>Captive Free</em></span> team members dedicate a year of their lives to performing in hundreds of churches, prisons, schools, and nursing homes. Using music, puppets, and personal testimonials, team members reach out to people of all ages with a lively, modern performance.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The program includes something for everyone. The puppet shows are for young children. The contemporary Christian music appeals to middle and high school students. The mellow music catches the adults' ears.</p>
Drew Jarrod
tag:www.thefatherland.org,2005:Post/6991142
1991-10-01T12:00:00-05:00
2024-03-23T18:22:04-05:00
Morality, Only In Your Heart
<p style="text-align: justify;">Truth is a commodity that everyone seems to possess. Right and wrong, and the “fine line” separating the moral from the immoral, is what everybody seems to be talking about nowadays. When does a fact turn fiction? When does a bias turn to judgment upon the “immoral”? What is immorality? Simply a way of life, or, is it a choice, made by the populace, to worship a lesser “god,” (only they don’t know it)?</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I believe it is our responsibility to decide what side of the line to stand on. After all, we must stand for something, because we know that there will always be a line to cross, and that, at times, someone will cross it. How do we know what that line is? The answer can only be found within the confines of your heart. “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” ~Jos. 24:15.</p>
Drew Jarrod