Mamma’s Got a Blog

My wife Hailey just a got a blog. For a softer, more intelligent version of the stories I tell…you can read what she says!

I love Hailey more each day and am so thankful for the example that she is in my life. Glory to God.

I Got Robbed

For those of that follow me on twitter, you read about how my car was broken into yesterday…not a good day.

I really struggled with the whole thing. There’s something about getting in your car after someone else has just rummaged through it that makes you feel…uncomfortable. My golf clubs were the only thing taken (which we’re not cheap to replace!), but I found myself really clinging to James 1 in thanking God through this trial and praising Him for His faithfulness (no one was hurt, no damage to the car, etc.)

As I looked back on the whole incident, I was struck with a parallel in my own relationship with God.

God calls us to live blamelessly before Him, pursuing holiness. As I drove in my car, I couldn’t help but feel like I was riding in a ‘sin-bin.’ There were a few minutes during the night before, where thieves had been where I was now sitting with the sole purpose of stealing from me.

Sort of reminds me of my sin. Everything I have and am is because God has ordained it and allowed it. My health and possessions are His alone. So I guess when I don’t take care of my body, or blow money on foolish things…or worse…take pride in something that isn’t mine to begin with…I look pretty silly.

It would be like the guy that stole my golf clubs…would he feel a greater sense of accomplishment having worked and saved to buy them (like me) or from just stealing them…?

I know the example isn’t perfect, but it does put things in perspective. I feel ripped off because someone stole my golf clubs. How much more is God ripped off when we misuse the life that we have in Him.

Just some food for thought.

Where in the World??

Loved the T.V show “Where in the World is Carmen Dan Diego.”

But some have recently asked….”Where in the World is Matt MacDonald.”

In short…everywhere. Between Home///The Cottage///Relative’s Houses’…we’ve been like a touring circus.

Summer for me is really a time to unplug (not fully…did that for a week and almost died!) but just generally. I will be back to full-time blogging in September…WITH….drum-roll please…A NEW DESIGN.

My good friend Tyler has been working on a new blog lay-out for me over the summer and I am EXCITED to drop it in this space!

Marriage & Men – Mark Driscoll

Watched THIS sermon by Mark Driscoll on Marriage & Men…was profoundly impacted. Every man needs to watch this this with an open heart and mind!

Me & My Girl

Hailey and I decided before Stella was born not to plaster the Internet with baby pictures (like it seems many are these days). It’s sad to say, but you just don’t know who is looking around, and it would be irresponsible of us to document every waking moment of our daughter’s life for the world to see. That said, we do post pictures now and then so family and friends can get an update on what the little lass looks like. Here are some great shots from when we were up @ our cottage last week…I love her more than I can even explain.

Getting a little Love

In Dad’s Arms

Rock’n the Glasses

Looking @ Something Important

Refusing to Sleep

Technology Fast

Next week I am “out of the office.”  Since I started working, I have never really “turned-off” for any extended period of time.  SO, after a challenge from my wife, my parents and my token-Aussie friend (who doesn’t read my blog anyway) I am committing to fast from cell phone/email/twitter/blogging/etc. for one week.  It does not sound like a lot (and for some people it isn’t, but for me its huge).  I guess its like anything we’re “addicted” too…for me to give up alcohol for a week would not be even the slightest of a challenge…but for an alcholic…it would be a momentous accomlishment.

The Internet, and technology are such a huge part of my life…for business, for social networking, for everything…SO, for this week, it all comes down.  I am handing my  iphone and macbook pro to my wife and will replace the time with family time, reading and prayer…it’s exciting.  THIS GUY did this for a month and seemed to have a breakthrough…here’s hoping I don’t quit my job when I come back like he did :S

See you in a week!

At The Lake

I am here.  My second home.  Muskoka…God’s Country.

I love it up here..it’s a time of relaxation, family and the occasional bit of work (yesterday was “cut the lawn for 2 hours day”).

So far it’s rained non-stop since we got here (except for the 2-hour lawn-cutting window).  BUT, I don’t care…that’s how much I love the cottage.

One other thing that makes it particularly special this time is that it’s Stella’s first time.  I twittered when we got here a picture of my dad and daughter out on the dock…many more visits to come!

Summer is Coming

So it’s pretty much here.

The weather is now consistently nice…

The big-budget blockbusters are flowing like milk&honey in the promise land…

I feel the desire to golf every day of the week…

The cottage is calling my name…

BUT.

Work is CRAZY right now.  It’s mind boggling the number of files that keep piling up and meetings that continue to be scheduled.  Between work and the baby…summer preparation has been on hold.  Sure I’ve mowed the grass a few times, played golf once or twice, but the anticipation of “time off” is killing me and seems like it will never come.  On July first I head north (with “some” work in hand) for a few days.  It will be the first time I have been up there since February and the first time that my daughter can be introduced to God’s Country…Muskoka.

So…summer, thanks for being patient, I will be with you momentarily.

Why We Love to Hate

It’s really unfortunate…but isn’t it true. Admit it…don’t admit it…doesn’t matter to me.

We love to hate.

No one rants ON AND ON about what they love. Even look at my blog, your friends blog, your favorite speakers blog…controversy and disagreement is what turns the wheels.

Now I’m sure your already on the “disagreement and controversy are not bad…” and I agree. BUT. How often to we go a little to far? How often does a disagreement (theologically, politically, etc.) go from “agree to disagree” to “you’re an idiot…”

As I sit back and look at this a little more, we all know that the culture sets the trends for the market. MEANING: The reason why all of these dumb Reality T.V Shows exist…is because (secretly or not) we all watch them. The reason why McDonald’s is changing their menu to Green-friendly…healthy choices is because that’s what the market wants.

So when I look at the kind of hate-driven crap that’s on T.V (and this is coming from a guy that watches it) I need to ask myself…is it becoming more common on T.V because we simply LOVE TO HATE?

Shows like; Entertainment Tonight, TMZ, Inside Edition are all driven by finding people’s flaws and mistakes and raking them over national (sometimes International) television.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never seen an episode of TMZ when Harvey stands up there with his lame thermos mug telling his staff that he’s really impressed with the conduct of some young-gun celebrity.

As Christians, it is so easy to look at culture and be like “What is this world coming too?”

As Christians, we VERY quickly grab our blame-game stick and point it right in the face of the “church across town” or the preacher with just a little to much charisma for our liking…

We LOVE to see others stumble. Very few would verbalize that, but it’s true! Over-zealous Joe Worship-Leader drops his guitar…we’re glad he was “humbled.” High-flying Business Exec gets caught in a fraud scandal…”I knew he was up to no good!” Or how about a close friend gets promoted above you and then gets laid off a few months later…”Sucks to be him!”

All of these are internalized thoughts that we would NEVER say…(Luke 12:34…Acts 1:24…James 5:8)

I write this blog primarily for myself. I need to Rejoice in the successes of others and pray for them when they stumble and fall. Lord give me the faith to trust, the will to follow through and the grace to offer others, just as you have done for me!

Amen.

Hillsong United – Tear Down the Walls ALBUM REVIEW

I have learned my lesson.
I have spoken too quickly before and had to retract my opinions.

Hillsong’s albums simply TAKE TIME TO LOVE.

So when Hillsong United came out with their latest album “Tear Down the Walls” I knew what to expect…

To date…after listening to each album after its release, I was left wanting more…always thinking that they could’ve done better.

SO. Rather than writing a post about their album 2 weeks ago when it came out that would’ve been summed up in the word “meh…” I waited.

As I write this post I’m sitting in my home office listening to “You Hold Me Now” (Track 9) and am FLOORED by not only the musicality of it (multiple layers of “out of the park” melodies) but more importantly the depth of the lyrics.

I am now into the digesting portion of listening (yes there is a graph I have developed for listening to HIllsong records).

I am really liking the title track “Tearing Down the Walls” as well.

The album itself is very reminiscent of early Hillsong while sticking with the ColdPlay-Rock they broke out in their last album.

All this to say. Hillsong United have done it again. They’ve written a bunch of songs for the church AND for my own personal worship time.

They are songs that reach deep into the hearts of worshipers and cling to both the truth that we WANT to sing and the spirit that HELPS us sing to the God we desire to PRAISE.

Hillsong United’s “Tear Down the Walls”

Pick it up!

P.S. LOVED the re-take of “Your Name is High”

::Woah Woah Woah::