Black & White's

My Orchid Tree

The Orchid Tree is native in India and China and is related to the Redbud tree Jerusalem-Thorn tree and beans. It grows in both South and Central Florida to about 25 feet. It is a deciduous tree with medium green leaves shaped like the footprint of an ox or cow. The flowers look somewhat like an orchid and are about 3-4 inches across. They may be in colors like red, purple, lavender, yellow or white. I started growing this tree 6 years ago and after moving houses, it now sits in a pot, on my back porch. I'm not real big into growing plants, but this tree is a big deal to me. Hopefully I can find a place to put it permanently so it can grow, and it really is one of the prettiest things to see when the flowers come in. I've forgot about it recently because I have not been home, but it kept me company while I barbecued in the rain
all day today. Just me, the barbecue, and the tree.

Look On Us

More stuff Blake Quimby and I are working on.

The greatness of the Lord
Cannot be captured by a song
its hard to grasp or imagine
the power of this eternal god

his name alone can drive away
all the evil that plagues us all
with his breath hes made everything
that dwells within our soul

Sing high the almighty name of our God
lift your hearts and sing
come alive you church of complacent ones
oh that God would look on us

lover of the unloved
father of the abandoned ones
his compassion for the desolate
is wild and strong

arise, render the love that saves
its a furious fire that overtakes
although fears and doubts come flooding in
come lose to gain ,become awake

“Thy look is Thy being… I am, because Thou dost look at me… if Thou didst turn Thy glance from me, I should cease to be.” – Nicholas of Cusa (1401-1464)

Noise Trade

"Some artists have good music they're willing to give away in exchange for a little help. Some fans have a few bucks or a few friends who'd love to hear about good, free music."

Started by Derek Webb, noise trade allows artists to give listeners the option to pay what they want to pay for the cd, or tell 3 friends by email about the cd in order to download a copy. Check it out for yourself I'm sure its gonna catch on fast. This is a great way to get your stuff out there through social connections. As of now they have such artists as Derek Webb, Sandra McCracken, Matthew Perryman Jones, The Allens, and Waterdeep.

Where did all the fireworks go?

Today I figured out how to apply rss feeds. So I spent most of my day trying to figure out which feeds I would like to stay updated in. I got a new e-mail its davidmatthewgamboa@gmail.com write me a letter and i'll write you one back. Thanks to gmail i'm able to unlock all the mac email features, stationary, photos, nice letter frames. I was preparing for a night of fireworks with my camera trying to catch something, but there were none. I hope to keep this thing up. Two posts in one day thats a record.

Songs In The Making

This week I got to hang out in Palacios, TX helping out with worship. Blake Quimby and I worked on some new stuff which we are both pretty excited about.

You reach down and train our hearts

, but set in our ways we fell apart

just like the moon that guides the tides

you guide our hearts in your direction

sin-soaked and tired we came

Isn't it just like you, to find us

chained in a prison of a dying place

, but love came and seized us, and link by link

these chains brittles and breaks when you breathe

creation sighs and wakes

can you hear the sound

Of your saints that await 

from this lowly ground

Our love is restored

My soul burns within me

waiting for Your hand to move

 

Constantly you've made a way

though near deaths gates we've escaped

You've shattered the fear that held us down

If all thats light turned night, surrounded us

somehow you would find us, 

oh to be lost no more

The Loser Year

It's been a challenging year. I am very thankful for it though. I've realized success isn't always satisfying, and sometimes may leave you feeling emptier than you've ever been. I've realized taking the time and effort to build friendships is much more rewarding. To sit down and share someone else's loneliness, fears, hopes, and joys. I didn't always know the right advice but It's nice to have people to think things through and pray with. Failures: spending money wisely, caring, being thoughtful of my mom, calculus, service. I've discovered reading to be a new hobby, and definitely not a waste of time, or something that people say is lame because they associate it with being unsociable. I've realized I have idolized sports and academics and at times put them above God. It's a trend that seems impossible to fix, parents don't realize it, we force ourselves not to realize it because it feels too extreme and foolish, or crazy whats the difference? God has seemed really close and really far away at times but continues to be faithful, and continues to bless my family and I and I'm extremely thankful for that. New house, less stress on my mom, health, less bills, nicer neighbors, almost kind of a fresh start. What else.... oh credit cards are bad. I've overcome my deathly cat allergy and asthma. I have caught myself thinking what's the responsible thing to do which is new and good. hmm Girls... didn't really date anyone, blew some chances but oh well. I have met some awesome girls though and i admire them. I realized i'm more comfortable talking in a group of girls than guys, maybe cause thats all that i live with, but i still trip over words with the pretty ones. anyways some Goals: be more thoughtful of others, read the word more, write more, read more, learn how to play a shuffle on drums, exercise, figure out how the heck I'm paying for college.