Inaugural Blogural

Introduction

Family life can be a tricky thing these days; raising children to become bright lights in a dark world, cultivating your marriage in a field of temptation, leading by example while the enemy tries to lead astray...

In all of our struggles, it is easy to forget that our Lord has already defeated the enemy.  All we must do is remain steadfast as ambassadors of Christ here on earth until the end of the age!

Therefore, let us "encourage one another and build each other up," as Paul instructed the Thessalonians!

The purpose of this blog is to do just that; to connect with other members of the body of Christ, and to encourage one another and build each other up as we navigate this life and await the arrival of our King!

"Who Is This Guy Anyway?"

My name is Patrick Patton.  I married my high school sweetheart Andrea in 2005, and we now have two children together, Sophia (4) and Phin (1).

Christmas 2012

I am a Christian and an avid student of the Bible, as well as an artist, fiction writer, singer, song writer, and musician - paramedic by day and artist by night.  My wife and I are members in an alternative rock band called Oh My Land, and music is a big part of life for our family.

Disclaimer: Our music has not always been entirely family-friendly, and some of our older material does feature occasional explitives and adult subjects.  I don't attempt to hide the song writing of my youth.  Instead, I see the changes in my song writing over the years as a testament to what God has done in my life!

"What's A Thylacine?"

Thylacine

The Thylacine, aka Tasmanian Wolf or Tasmanian Tiger is a relatively recently extinct marsupial native to Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea; the last known proof of their existence being a video taken in 1933.  The main cause of its extinction is thought to have been intensive hunting by humans.  The Thylacine has always symbolized in my eyes the killing off of something beautiful that God created.  When I look at what's happening in the world around us every day, I can't help but feel like we are killing off one of the most important things that God created: Love.  Love is so often replaced by less noble acts of ambition, lust, self-preservation or pride; be it in family life, in the workplace, in the media, or in the political arena.  Love is what the Thylacine has come to represent for me.  There are definitely times when I feel our love is dead and buried, or at the very least endangered.  It can be easy to get discouraged, but when I take a step back, I realize that this is far from the truth.  You don't have to look too hard to find that love still shines brightly through the darkness of this world.

"So... Why Is This Guy Blogging???"

Recently, my home Bible study group embarked on a week-long fast.  Not a true fast, but a partial fast in which we ate only fruits and vegetables, and drank only water.  This fast was based on Daniel's fast as recorded in the Book of Daniel, hence the name, "The Daniel Fast."

During this time, I spent more time in the word each day, more time praying each day, and more time speaking with others about my faith than any other time in my life.  Throughout this fast our group's focus was to ask God for guidance in regard to our home Bible study group, and I received a clear answer in the form of a persistent tugging on my heart to venture out of my living room and into the Christian community.

I had already been searching for ways to reach out and encourage fellow members of the body of Christ, and this new urgency I was feeling really put a fire under my feet.  I brainstormed a bit, but it didn't take long before it hit me.  Blogging seemed like a very natural fit, since I have always enjoyed writing (though it has typically been fiction), and with blogging being a large part of my wife's job, I have a bit of a mentor close by.

"What Does He Have To Say???"

My hope is to bring my experiences in marriage, parenting, music, arts, and Christian life to the table in an effort to encourage and edify the church, as well as to personally connect with other members of the body of Christ.

I will also be posting anything interesting and inspiring which I come across as I scour the web as it pertains to family life, faith, or the arts.

Another goal I have is to eventually feature fresh perspectives in the form of guest bloggers in the future.

"Cool.  So How Do I Contribute?"

That's your best question yet!!!  Please get in touch with me if you have any questions, comments, or contributions, or if you think I should feature something on my blog!  You can feel free to leave comments in the comments section or email me: patpatton@gmail.com