<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10830423</id><updated>2011-04-21T22:00:59.237-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Aspirations</title><subtitle type='html'>If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Galatians 1:10</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://takamineman.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10830423/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://takamineman.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Chris</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01378581132248207769</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>14</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10830423.post-112969572291618565</id><published>2005-10-19T00:21:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-10-19T00:22:02.926-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Wings as Eagles</title><content type='html'>All around me I see Christians who are weary. I do not deny that I am one of them. My weariness comes from schoolwork and overall stress involving all of my responsibilities at this time. Some of you are spiritually weary. I too must confess to this in a way. My Christian walk has been hard the last couple of months because I have struggled to find time to get into the Word with my busy schedule and to worship Him in my own time. However, my busy schedule is not a good excuse, so I won't use it. God is revealing to me that I need to give Him all my time and in that He will allow me to accomplish the things that I need to do on time and give me the time to spend with Him.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We must be persistent. I see the enemy stepping up his attack as God continues to move in Oswego. It is easy to be excited, charismatic, and anxious to spread God's love when things are going well and we can see what He is doing around us. But when it is hard to tell what He is doing and we are not quite sure of His plan, will we continue to remain in Him and pursue His love? Weariness is a human condition that God can easily overcome. If we remain in His love day in and day out, He will strengthen us and we will rise on wings of eagles. Laying aside sins isn't enough anymore. God wants to change us, but He doesn't expect us to be perfect, what He expects and longs for is a heart that yearns after Him, that wants to be with Him as much as He wants to be with us. I pray that He will reveal His heart for us to all of us as we seek Him.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We have proclaimed ourselves as Christians to this campus, to our families and friends, and most importantly to God. We need to live up to that responsibility. Jesus never said that it was an easy responsibility and I am not any better off than you at attaining that. We need to remember that striving will get us nowhere. Walking through our lives in religiosity and routine, doing the things that we know will make us look like "good Christians" will get us nowhere. Instead, we must place our efforts into being with Him, remaining in Him, and giving Him the time that He deserves. There is no greater experience, nothing more beneficial to the soul and spirit, than spending time in His presence. This is how we overcome weariness. It is simple, but requires that we commit to these things. I know that I do not want my spiritual weariness to overcome me, especially when I have the Overcomer living inside me battling on my behalf.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings as eagles, they will run and not grow weary, walk and not faint." - Isaiah 40:31&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10830423-112969572291618565?l=takamineman.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://takamineman.blogspot.com/feeds/112969572291618565/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10830423&amp;postID=112969572291618565&amp;isPopup=true' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10830423/posts/default/112969572291618565'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10830423/posts/default/112969572291618565'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://takamineman.blogspot.com/2005/10/wings-as-eagles.html' title='Wings as Eagles'/><author><name>Chris</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01378581132248207769</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10830423.post-112372940896306897</id><published>2005-08-10T23:04:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-08-10T23:03:28.970-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Our First Love</title><content type='html'>"I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love." - Rev. 2:2-4&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As I stated in a previous post, I see many people chasing after relationships and seeking relationships. Let it be a warning that obviously these things must be led by God. I don't think anyone has gotten to the point of forgetting their first love, I truly hope not. However, do not get to that point. No relationship is going to satisfy more than the relationship that you have with the Father. Many of you know that, but this is a reminder, and an attempt to keep you focused. I do not want satan to steal from you what God has planned for you. God has the perfect person for you, but it has to be in His time. If it's not in His time it won't happen. If you are not genuinely or clearly hearing God telling you to pursue someone, don't. And as hard as it is, you may have to wait. I'm with you on this, patience is hard for me, but God tells us to wait for His timing because His timing is perfect, we must be careful not to go ahead of or behind it. We must keep our human emotions in perspective, as hard as that may be and always seek counsel from friends before jumping into anything.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you are discouraged because you have sought the Lord and don't seem to be getting an answer this verse is for you:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." - Prov. 2:1-6&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This may not seem true right now, but God has promised it and we know that His promises are true. Rely on the words of the Father.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10830423-112372940896306897?l=takamineman.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://takamineman.blogspot.com/feeds/112372940896306897/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10830423&amp;postID=112372940896306897&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10830423/posts/default/112372940896306897'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10830423/posts/default/112372940896306897'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://takamineman.blogspot.com/2005/08/our-first-love.html' title='Our First Love'/><author><name>Chris</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01378581132248207769</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10830423.post-111757537700779833</id><published>2005-05-31T17:42:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-05-31T17:36:17.013-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Random Thoughts</title><content type='html'>Hello again, sorry that I've been gone for so long. since we're doing the summer thing and I don't see many of you much let me fill you in quick about my life. I'm going on my third week of work at the college cleaning rooms. It's not that great a job, but it pays more than McDonald's and virtually anything is better than working at McD's. Other than that I've been pretty busy because I work 40 hours a week and then spend the rest of the time so far with Cheryl and my family. Occasionally I also get to spend time with other friends in Oswego, but I have been busy and so I apologize if I haven't kept in touch with those of you who aren't here in Oswego for the summer.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There are several things that I wanted to make quick mention of that God has been showing me in my life. First of all, I need to put my faith in Him more and I need to expect big things more. I totally believe that God can do miracles and heal people, I know it to be true, but when it comes time to pray or to act on that do I operate as if I believe it? However, I would like to report on this subject that I had hurt my shoulder at work pretty bad because lately my body seems to be very stupid. I had twisted my shoulder the slightest bit which wouldn't normally hurt me, but for some reason it caused my shoulder to really bother me. I woke up the next morning and felt it twinge as I got out of bed. As I was in the shower I prayed for God to take it away and He completely did. I was fine for the rest of the day and haven't felt anything in the last week or so. So praise God that He looks to help us even in the little things, imagine what will happen when people are healed of cancer and other much serious things. I believe that time is coming and that time is upon us now if we will step out in faith.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Secondly, I have noticed in my own life that there are times when I do not act like a brother or sister in Christ to those who are around me. Why is it that when Christ lavishes so much grace upon us, we can't do the same for our brothers and sisters in Christ or even those who aren't Christians? Obviously none of us are Christ, but we are called to live like Him and so I've noticed that this is one area of my life that I need to work on. Not just treating people well and being more patient with them, but also helping them when they are in need, caring for them when they need it, expending energy for them in order to help them, even when I feel I have nothing to give. I would challenge you to do the same, God will give you something to give to them.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Please bear with me, I have not posted in a long time and probably won't for awhile so I'm trying to fit it in here. Thirdly, I have seen my brothers and sisters, but mainly my friends who don't know God, trying to find happiness in relationships. Let me first say that I am in a relationship you probably know that and have been for over 4 years, I am in no way against relationships. However, if you are trying to find satisfaction in a relationship alone I can assure you, even if you marry that person complete satisfaction will never come. We are not made as humans to be only loved by someone of the opposite sex, but we are made primarily to love and be loved by God. If you don't have God as your first love, your first priority and attraction you will never find full satisfaction through a relationship. Some of you may not understand what I mean by this, but think about it. Have you been in relationships that seemed great to begin with and then you realized later on that they weren't enough, that you still weren't happy enough? I love Cheryl with all my heart, but without the love of God we probably wouldn't even be together right now. It's only by God's grace that our relationship has even lasted. I truly believe that and I thank Him for helping us through it and blessing us so much. So, please, please, please, do not put all of your hope in a relationship that won't satisfy everything you want it to. Do put your hope in God and if He tells you to then pursue that relationship that He has planned for you and it will be even better than you can imagine.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Alright, I am done babbling for now, hopefully you have been blessed and I will try to post more often.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10830423-111757537700779833?l=takamineman.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://takamineman.blogspot.com/feeds/111757537700779833/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10830423&amp;postID=111757537700779833&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10830423/posts/default/111757537700779833'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10830423/posts/default/111757537700779833'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://takamineman.blogspot.com/2005/05/random-thoughts.html' title='Random Thoughts'/><author><name>Chris</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01378581132248207769</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10830423.post-111513109745858331</id><published>2005-05-03T10:38:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-05-03T10:38:17.460-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Self Seeking</title><content type='html'>As I was laying in bed the other night I was thinking about how our society has started to adopt a "me and only me" mentality. I see this pretty often lately, a focus on ourselves and a lack of care for anyone else. In my politics class during open discussions people frequently say something like, "I don't care, it doesn't effect me." How ridiculous is that? The truth is we (as a society) don't tend to care about anything but ourselves, we have become so selfish and so self involved that we hardly realize or care about what's going on around us unless it directly effects us. This way of thinking is wrong, not only is it wrong but it is from satan.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When people around me hurt, I should hurt. When people around me are troubled, I should be troubled. This is what we are called to as Christians. That when we see someone who needs prayer that we may not even know, we pray for them. That when we people have problems, even someone we may not know, they know they can come to us because we make ourselves open to this. As I thought about this self seeking mentality I began to think about my relationship with God and how too often we look at that as self seeking also. Very often we go into a worship service and if we don't get something out of it we think that it wasn't good. NEWSFLASH: A worship service is not about us. Sometimes God blesses us with things, but a worship service is about God and giving Him praise. Don't tell me the music wasn't good, don't tell me you weren't touched by God. Don't tell me this or that, excuses will get you nowhere. Just glorify Him, that's what we were made for. Do not seek Him only when something is going wrong, do not seek Him only when someone needs healing. He wants to be meeting with you regularly. I have even heard God say to me, "I want to spend time with you." That's how awesome our God is, He longs to spend time with us, even though we are just humans who have sinned. So I urge you to simply spend time with Him.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, He will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger." - Romans 2:7-8&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10830423-111513109745858331?l=takamineman.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://takamineman.blogspot.com/feeds/111513109745858331/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10830423&amp;postID=111513109745858331&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10830423/posts/default/111513109745858331'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10830423/posts/default/111513109745858331'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://takamineman.blogspot.com/2005/05/self-seeking.html' title='Self Seeking'/><author><name>Chris</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01378581132248207769</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10830423.post-111405456568506541</id><published>2005-04-20T23:35:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-04-20T23:36:05.686-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Revolution</title><content type='html'>Thanks for asking where I am Karen, I do still exist I just haven't really had much to put in here recently.&lt;br /&gt;I started reading a book today that my friend Trish let me borrow called Revolution! The Call to Holy War by Michael L. Brown. As I began reading he talks about how in 1999-2000 he began to really feel that God was stirring up a revolution. That a spiritual revolution was going to take place in America. I found this interesting because shortly after he wrote this book I wrote a song with the band that I was in, Feed 5,000, about a spiritual revolution. Some of the quotes in this book really struck me.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"I believe we have come to a place where the thinking of [Christians] must change, and it must change now or the church will become a little cult in the corner. I am not interested in following a religion that does not impact the world in which we live...Jesus was a rebel, and He has called us to join this rebel movement, and change the world together." - Nevers Mumba, Zambian Christian Leader&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"The attack by socialism and communism on the status quo is a call to our consciences-those of us who consider ourselves Christians. This call warns us more strongly than any sermon that our task is to live in protest against everything that opposes God in this world. So poorly have we Christians filled this role that the question must be asked: Are we Christians at all?" - Eberhard Arnold, Writing in 1919&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Faith that is primarily expressed on Sunday mornings strikes me as a complete aberration of true New Testament faith." - Michael L. Brown&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I hope that these quotes speak to you as they did me. God has really been calling me to action more lately, but I haven't been responding the way that I should. I have heard Him saying that He wants to spend time with me and sometimes I have ignored that. I don't know why I have, but I know I need to change that. God isn't someone that we should take advantage of, only turning to Him and spending time with Him when we feel like it, but we do it all the time. I (we) need to give Him what He deserves, only then will revolution happen, only then will lives be changed and people will see and know that He is God.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We'll break loose from these chains&lt;br /&gt;Forget all our pains&lt;br /&gt;It's time for revolution&lt;br /&gt;We'll soften hard hearts&lt;br /&gt;This is only the start&lt;br /&gt;It's time for revolution&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The demons shudder when they hear His name&lt;br /&gt;As we shout "Jesus!" see them run in vain&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10830423-111405456568506541?l=takamineman.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://takamineman.blogspot.com/feeds/111405456568506541/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10830423&amp;postID=111405456568506541&amp;isPopup=true' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10830423/posts/default/111405456568506541'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10830423/posts/default/111405456568506541'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://takamineman.blogspot.com/2005/04/revolution.html' title='Revolution'/><author><name>Chris</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01378581132248207769</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10830423.post-111216631711739490</id><published>2005-03-30T02:05:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-03-30T02:05:17.116-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Erase Doubt from Your Mind</title><content type='html'>Let me start by extending an invitation. Anyone is welcome to join the worship team after BASIC as we "practice" and worship. This invitation is open to everyone, especially if you're not able to make it to BASIC regularly because of a class. Don't think that we are kicking you out when we begin practice, but know that you can join us if you would like to stick around and worship some more. That said, our "practice" time tonight turned into an amazing time of worship and dwelling in the Holy Spirit. God gave me a word that I feel is very applicable to us as a group and I'm going to do my best to write out what it was for those of you who weren't there tonight to hear it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Erase doubt from your mind, erase doubt from your mind&lt;br /&gt;Why is it that even after seeing the state that you were in before being saved, the sin that you lived in and the hopeless state of your life, remembering your past, that we still doubt God can save others?&lt;br /&gt;God pulled you out of it and saved you and He can do that for ANYONE just as much, if not more.&lt;br /&gt;Why do we think this person won't ever be saved because of this, this, and this?&lt;br /&gt;God can overcome all those things and more&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Doubt is pointless&lt;br /&gt;Doubt is mindless and foolishness&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;God says, "Am I not the God who delivered the Israelites from Egypt? Am I not the God who brought the walls of Jericho down? Am I not the God who caused a virgin birth?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jesus performed miracles and healings over and over again while He was on earth and yet we doubt those things can happen now. Do not doubt, doubt is a tool used by satan to keep us from doing things for God, doubt is not of God.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Do not doubt. Erase doubt from your mind.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10830423-111216631711739490?l=takamineman.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://takamineman.blogspot.com/feeds/111216631711739490/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10830423&amp;postID=111216631711739490&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10830423/posts/default/111216631711739490'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10830423/posts/default/111216631711739490'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://takamineman.blogspot.com/2005/03/erase-doubt-from-your-mind.html' title='Erase Doubt from Your Mind'/><author><name>Chris</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01378581132248207769</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10830423.post-111198551977819429</id><published>2005-03-27T23:51:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-03-27T23:51:59.783-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Two Criminals</title><content type='html'>A somewhat long scripture to read on here, but please bear with me.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with Him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified Him, along with the criminals - one on His right, the other on His left. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up His clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at Him. They said, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."... One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise." - Luke 23:32-35, 39-43&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I've read this passage many times before, but when it was read in church this morning I saw it in a new light. I don't think I can say that I had any big revelations or anything, but the verses just meant more to me. The main part that really stuck out to me was the criminal who stood up for Jesus. Everyone else was mocking Him and throwing insults at Him. The one criminal was only thinking of himself and how Jesus could save him. Out of all the people there who could have really understood what was going on, it was least expected to be one of the criminals. And yet, the one criminal acknowledged that Jesus was the Son of God and that He didn't deserve to die, while he and the other criminal did. In many ways I think this is the point we come to in our own lives when we realize the truth of Jesus and the reality and fullness of His sacrifice. We are like criminals because we are sinners and while we realize that we deserve to die, we also realize that He didn't, but He still chose to, for us. The choice is there: will we act like the first criminal and think only on how we can save ourselves, or will we ask Him to remember us?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What I'm saying isn't just for people who aren't Christians. Too often we act just like the first criminal, thinking only of how we can satisfy ourselves. But instead we need to act like the second criminal and acknowledge that He is Lord, that He died an undeserving death for us, and that He saved us, even when we scorned Him and mocked Him. What really stood out to me though was Jesus' reply, "Today you will be with Me in paradise." This criminal said one thing and he was able to accept the love of Jesus Christ and the gift of eternal life, that's how easy it is! Oh what joy that I will be with Him in paradise! That one man changed the world so greatly just amazes me. I encourage you to read this portion of scripture.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10830423-111198551977819429?l=takamineman.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://takamineman.blogspot.com/feeds/111198551977819429/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10830423&amp;postID=111198551977819429&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10830423/posts/default/111198551977819429'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10830423/posts/default/111198551977819429'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://takamineman.blogspot.com/2005/03/two-criminals.html' title='Two Criminals'/><author><name>Chris</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01378581132248207769</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10830423.post-111020977480758532</id><published>2005-03-07T10:36:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-03-07T10:36:14.816-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Passages from Ecclesiastes</title><content type='html'>I just read through the book of Ecclesiastes and there were several passages that jumped out at me. One of these was Ecc. 10:10 "If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success." I think this is the place where I am right now. I realize that I am an unsharpened ax, but God is slowly sharpening me and teaching me things. Because I am an unsharpened ax I have to work at things, including seeking God, especially when I don't feel like it. But through seeking God even when I don't feel like it and through His grace success will come.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Next, Ecc. 11:5 "As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Make of all things." Too often I think we try to guess God's will. The only time we will for sure know God's will is when He reveals it to us. Even when He does reveal it to us we probably won't fully comprehend how He's going to do it, the extent of how He will do it, etc. But we don't need to worry about those things, if we are seeking Him He will show us His will and it will be carried out. Worrying about these things is useless, simply seek Him.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Finally, Ecc. 9:18a "Wisdom is better than weapons of war." I don't know how that verse affects you, but I thought that was one of the coolest things. I always knew wisdom was good and something that I should be seeking and asking God for. However, I didn't realize the power that it has. Basically, seek Him and seek wisdom, I assure you that if you do, both will be revealed to you.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10830423-111020977480758532?l=takamineman.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://takamineman.blogspot.com/feeds/111020977480758532/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10830423&amp;postID=111020977480758532&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10830423/posts/default/111020977480758532'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10830423/posts/default/111020977480758532'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://takamineman.blogspot.com/2005/03/passages-from-ecclesiastes.html' title='Passages from Ecclesiastes'/><author><name>Chris</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01378581132248207769</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10830423.post-110974015375115415</id><published>2005-03-02T00:09:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-03-02T00:09:13.753-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Romans 8:5</title><content type='html'>I entitled this that verse because it goes along with what I'm about to say, but I suggest that you read all of Romans 8.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Lately God has been speaking to me about literally breathing Him. When I'm in the presence of God I can breathe in His Spirit, and I can also breathe Him in by simply filling my life with good things, instead of the mindless garbage of this world. Tonight as we sang the song Breathe in worship practice God told me that He gives us His Spirit (it also says it in the Bible) and that because of that we can breathe in His Spirit when we are in His presence. When we breathe in His Spirit it grows and develops and we breathe it out in the form of God's power. For He has also given us the chance to embrace His power and use it here on earth.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is the air I breathe&lt;br /&gt;This is the air I breathe&lt;br /&gt;Your holy presence living in me&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Also, as we talked about things that were successful and not successful in the BASIC leadership meeting tonight I couldn't help but think, too often we try to get people to come to things, and if they don't come we don't consider it successful. I'm realizing more and more that we are supposed to be examples and light to people, but we can't change people's hearts. Obviously God needs to change their hearts, but what I'm trying to say is I can try to coerce someone into coming to church, BASIC, another BASIC event (like Sunday night prayer, etc). But unless they actually want to come because God is doing things in their lives, it's pointless. I'm mainly speaking of people who come to BASIC on Tuesday nights, but don't want to come to Sunday night worship or worship nights when we have them. Anyways, all that was running through my mind during the meeting was this verse:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth." - Revelations 3:15-16&lt;br /&gt;Remember that Jesus said earlier, "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters." - Matt. 12:30&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jesus didn't say "He who is kinda with me is good." But instead God says be either hot or cold, but not lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth if you are. That's a scary thought, but lately the main thing I see are Christians who are lukewarm and are content in being that way. I'm not, that's why I'm working on things, changing things. This is in no way meant for me to boast about what I'm doing, but to warn you, being lukewarm isn't all it's cracked up to be and I want to be in God's will.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10830423-110974015375115415?l=takamineman.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://takamineman.blogspot.com/feeds/110974015375115415/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10830423&amp;postID=110974015375115415&amp;isPopup=true' title='7 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10830423/posts/default/110974015375115415'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10830423/posts/default/110974015375115415'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://takamineman.blogspot.com/2005/03/romans-85.html' title='Romans 8:5'/><author><name>Chris</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01378581132248207769</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>7</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10830423.post-110969129593071131</id><published>2005-03-01T10:45:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-03-01T10:46:04.953-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Growth: How Will We Respond?</title><content type='html'>God has been speaking to me lately about growing in Him. I know He is taking many of us, if not all of us, to a higher level of commitment to Him. He's challenging us and doing things in us, some of which we can't explain. If you are going to take anything out of what I say, let it be this: if we resist what He is doing in us, it will only make things harder for us. When we are stubborn, we lose out. He knows us better than we even know ourselves, and His plan is perfect.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In the men's Bible study on Saturday we went over 1 John 2:12-14. Let me give you the main gist. In verse 14 it says, "I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one." This passage really enforces that we need to overcome things when we are still young. Why do you ask? First, because the longer we wait to overcome things the more chance they have of becoming habitual, which makes them harder to overcome later in life. Second, if we overcome things now it enables God to shape us into the tool that He wants us to be for His kingdom. However, if we wait to overcome, we may get to the point in life that by the time we overcome we do not have enough time left on this earth to become what He wants us to be.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Rev. 3:19-20 "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Just Like You by Jason Upton&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I tried to walk on the water and found myself under the sea &lt;br /&gt;So with water up my nose I felt your hand come close to save me &lt;br /&gt;I’ve tried to cast out the demons I’ve gone to the darkest of regions &lt;br /&gt;When fear has me shaking you suddenly break in to save me &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I desire &lt;br /&gt;To be like you &lt;br /&gt;Like any son or daughter &lt;br /&gt;I want to be like my Father &lt;br /&gt;I desire to be like you &lt;br /&gt;You promised to never forsake me &lt;br /&gt;So I’ll risk it all if you’ll make me like You &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You stand beside me just waiting while I try to go it alone &lt;br /&gt;Smiling You say son come here won’t you let me just help you &lt;br /&gt;But frustrated I try to make it cause I’ve just got something to prove &lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;Not knowing it is my weakness that perfects your power&lt;/b&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10830423-110969129593071131?l=takamineman.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://takamineman.blogspot.com/feeds/110969129593071131/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10830423&amp;postID=110969129593071131&amp;isPopup=true' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10830423/posts/default/110969129593071131'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10830423/posts/default/110969129593071131'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://takamineman.blogspot.com/2005/03/growth-how-will-we-respond.html' title='Growth: How Will We Respond?'/><author><name>Chris</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01378581132248207769</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10830423.post-110914204341762053</id><published>2005-02-23T01:59:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-02-23T02:00:43.420-05:00</updated><title type='text'>satan is angry and God is awesome</title><content type='html'>That's right, satan is angry and God is awesome!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For those of you who don't know what Facebook is, it is a website on which people create profiles and can join groups that are created by users. An example of a group would be a group for BASIC. I am not a Facebook user, however, Steve notified Jake that there is currently a group on Facebook called "BASIC is a cult." We checked out this group and they go so far in their explanation as to say, "Join this group if you are concerned with the growing popularity of BASIC," among other things.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is obvious proof that God is doing something on this campus and satan is angry. As Karen put it, "Thank you God that in a year or two we have grown from a group that hardly anyone knew about, to a group that is big enough to be a threat."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;God is doing something so powerful, so awesome, that we are being challenged. So, I urge you to do what the Bible says. &lt;br /&gt;"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse." - Romans 12:14&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Furthermore, there are several other verses the Bible says about persecution.&lt;br /&gt;"That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." - 2 Cor. 12:10&lt;br /&gt;"We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly." - 1 Cor. 4:12&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So, don't get angry, don't get upset brothers and sisters, for we are beginning to live in God's will more than most of us ever have before, and because of this we are being challenged. If we get angry we are giving in to what satan is attempting to do, but instead, please pray for the people who have joined this group, and the others on this campus who feel the same way. I am confident that in time their hearts will be softened and they will come to know the love of our Lord.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10830423-110914204341762053?l=takamineman.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://takamineman.blogspot.com/feeds/110914204341762053/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10830423&amp;postID=110914204341762053&amp;isPopup=true' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10830423/posts/default/110914204341762053'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10830423/posts/default/110914204341762053'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://takamineman.blogspot.com/2005/02/satan-is-angry-and-god-is-awesome.html' title='satan is angry and God is awesome'/><author><name>Chris</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01378581132248207769</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10830423.post-110879218394186702</id><published>2005-02-19T00:49:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-02-19T00:49:43.943-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Incomprehensible</title><content type='html'>Only You&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;No one else could shake the heavens and the earth&lt;br /&gt;No one else could cause a virgin birth&lt;br /&gt;No one else could save the sins of man&lt;br /&gt;No one else could call themselves "I am"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Chorus:&lt;br /&gt;Only You, only You&lt;br /&gt;The mountains will shake, at the sound of Your name&lt;br /&gt;The oceans will roar, as all earth adores&lt;br /&gt;Only You, only You&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You came to heal the sick and the weary&lt;br /&gt;You came to save the lost&lt;br /&gt;We know that there is not one who is righteous&lt;br /&gt;But you still became one of us&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Bridge:&lt;br /&gt;You are I am, You are the risen Lamb&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As I wrote this song I couldn't help but think about how God is the "I am." &lt;br /&gt;No one else can call themselves that, it doesn't make sense to.&lt;br /&gt;It's amazing how big He really is, that's why I titled this post Incomprehensible,&lt;br /&gt;because we can not even begin to understand Him, or the sense of "I am."&lt;br /&gt;"I am" encompasses everything.&lt;br /&gt;"I am" is everything.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;All praises I lift to my King&lt;br /&gt;The Lord of everything&lt;br /&gt;Great I am, I lay my life in Your loving hands&lt;br /&gt;Knowing I can be secure&lt;br /&gt;Knowing You are the cure&lt;br /&gt;To this life, to my sin, the answer to my everything&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10830423-110879218394186702?l=takamineman.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://takamineman.blogspot.com/feeds/110879218394186702/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10830423&amp;postID=110879218394186702&amp;isPopup=true' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10830423/posts/default/110879218394186702'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10830423/posts/default/110879218394186702'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://takamineman.blogspot.com/2005/02/incomprehensible.html' title='Incomprehensible'/><author><name>Chris</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01378581132248207769</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10830423.post-110853738978260666</id><published>2005-02-16T02:03:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-02-16T02:03:09.786-05:00</updated><title type='text'>God Thoughts</title><content type='html'>Romans 8:6 - "The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Alyssa spoke tonight in BASIC about love and our relationship with God. One of the main things that I took out of this was that if we take healthy food in we will give healthy food out, healthy in-healthy out. I've known for quite some time that taking in healthy (Spiritual) food is good because it helps make me a better person overall. However, I never thought of it in the way that she presented it - that when we take in healthy spiritual food we give off healthy spiritual food and those around us see it in the form of our lives and how we live. I shortly afterwards began to see things that I take in that are not "healthy food" like: most TV I watch, music I listen to, things people say (what I say is the result of that bad food), etc. I know it's the basic "TV, music, gossip, and videogames are bad" message. But I'm realizing more and more how if I truly want God and I say that I love Him, I need to start doing away with these things.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This blog is mainly not for me, but mostly for you. Yes, it helps me to realize things and write them down so I won't forget. But in challenging myself I hope to also challenge you. So here it is: I'm constantly seeing hypocrisy in myself and others around me. DON'T SAY YOU WANT THE HIGHER THINGS OF GOD IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO PURSUE IT. Because if you say it and don't pursue it, most likely God will remember what you said and will challenge you much more than you could have challenged yourself to begin with. Either way you will grow in Him, which is good, but one way will be much less painful. I have decided to seek after God, to attempt to put away the things of this world, will you join me in this fight? Will you commit to reading your Bible, to talking to your friends and inviting them to things, to worshipping, to seeking Him in order to grow and understand Him better? If so, join me for the ride.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Another small note - we spoke of how faith makes worship into an experience with God tonight in BASIC. Without faith worship is just singing the same songs every week, but through faith we come before the throne and God changes and accomplishes things in us. If you come into any worship setting with faith, whether it be corporate or personal, you will see results. It is when we expect of God that He moves. None of what I said tonight was meant towards anyone specifically, but if you felt like it was, chances are God was saying something. Until next time.......&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10830423-110853738978260666?l=takamineman.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://takamineman.blogspot.com/feeds/110853738978260666/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10830423&amp;postID=110853738978260666&amp;isPopup=true' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10830423/posts/default/110853738978260666'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10830423/posts/default/110853738978260666'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://takamineman.blogspot.com/2005/02/god-thoughts.html' title='God Thoughts'/><author><name>Chris</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01378581132248207769</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10830423.post-110839641984330176</id><published>2005-02-14T13:53:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-02-14T10:53:39.843-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Revelation</title><content type='html'>I just had a revelation in the shower, hence this blog. I was thinking about how we have been talking about giving things up lately. The boys and I (or should I say men) have decided to give up a variety of things in order to gain an understanding of the higher things of God and to seek Him more.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When Jesus chose His disciples they immediately threw away the things of their lives to follow Him. He simply said, "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." - Matthew 4:19 That's all it took for them to stop everything they were doing. They gave up their whole lives, right away, without needing to be persuaded into it. They gave up their families, homes, careers, everything they ever had. Yet we have trouble giving up the littlest things. This isn't to say that the disciples were perfect, they were humans just like us. But they didn't have the chance to say, "I'm going to follow Jesus and eventually I'll get rid of this stuff in my life that holds me back from Him." By grace we have that chance, but WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT. Don't get me wrong, when we commit our lives to Him we obviously choose to give up some things immediately, there must be a change that takes place. However, hardly ever do we give up everything we have to follow Him. This is the type of commitment that He is looking for. Should we give up our homes, careers, our own aspirations, to follow Him? That's a question we have to ask ourselves. Is He telling you to?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So, to conclude, the reason I decided to start the blog was because after thinking about this in the shower and realizing that it isn't something that completely fits in with what we are sharing in BASIC this semester and that by the time Sunday rolls around I'll either forget it or it won't be applicable to prayer and worship that night, I needed to say it somewhere. I guess all this time my fighting against making a blog was in vain.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10830423-110839641984330176?l=takamineman.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://takamineman.blogspot.com/feeds/110839641984330176/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10830423&amp;postID=110839641984330176&amp;isPopup=true' title='7 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10830423/posts/default/110839641984330176'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10830423/posts/default/110839641984330176'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://takamineman.blogspot.com/2005/02/revelation.html' title='Revelation'/><author><name>Chris</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01378581132248207769</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>7</thr:total></entry></feed>
