Matt Dionne

He Understands - Quote

2011-05-13T11:56:00.000-05:00

“It’s like, it doesn’t honor God to pretend like everything is OK. That’s the beauty of Jesus that so many people miss. The beauty is that he died on the cross for our sins, but also that he existed the way we exist. He understands what it’s like to lose a friend. He’s not unfamiliar with those emotions. He’s not unfamiliar with the difficulty of human life. To me that’s what makes Jesus as God beautiful. He totally understands. He went out of his way to prove to us that he understands our situation. So when he has something to say, it’s not coming from this high and lofty standpoint. It’s coming from this person who understands intricately the perils of human existence.”

- John Mark McMillan

You know you're in the south when...

2011-05-08T01:54:00.001-05:00

Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss

2011-05-04T08:24:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite songs is "How He Loves" by John Mark McMillan. This song, for me, perfectly describes the immense and overwhelming love of God. So intense at times it feels like we are a tree in a hurricane.

One line in the song says "Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss". I love the imagery of this line but some find it to be uncomfortable.

Here is what John Mark says about the line:

"The idea behind the lyric is that the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of earth converge in a way that is both beautiful and awkwardly messy. Think about the birth of a child, or even the death of Jesus himself. These miracles are both incredibly beautiful and incredibly sloppy ("gory" may be more realistic, but “Heaven meets earth like a gory mess” didn’t seem to have the same ring)."

David Crowder changed the lyrics to "heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss" only after talking to John Mark about it directly.

You can read John Mark's thoughts about David Crowder's version of the lyrics on his blog: http://johnmarkmcmillan.blogspot.com

John Mark wrote the song following the death of a friend. The whole story is in his video below.

How He Loves : A Song Story from John Mark McMillan on Vimeo.

Full Lyrics for "How He Loves" by John Mark McMillan

Verse 1:
He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

Pre-Chorus:
And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

Chorus:
Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.

Verse 2:
We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
So Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way...

Verse 3:
Well, I thought about You the day Steven died,
And You met me between my breaking.
I know that I still love You, God, despite the agony.
... They want to tell me You're cruel,
But if Stephen could sing, he'd say it's not true, cause...

Darkness cannot drive out darkness - Quote

2011-05-03T06:44:00.003-05:00

“‎Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” - Martin Luther King Jr.

"Where Do We Go From Here?" as published in Where Do We Go from Here : Chaos or Community? (1967), p. 62; many statements in this book, or slight variants of them, were also part of his address Where Do We Go From Here?" which has a section below. A common variant appearing at least as early as 1968 has "Returning violence for violence multiplies violence..." An early version of the speech as published in A Martin Luther King Treasury (1964), p. 173, has : "Returning hate for hate multiplies hate..." Source: wikiquote.org

We Got it Backwards - Quote

2011-04-29T15:00:00.003-05:00

Just consider that you’ve gotten it backwards. No church model will produce God’s life in you. It works the other way around. Our life in God, shared together, expresses itself as the church. It is the overflow of his life in us. You can tinker with church principles forever and still miss out on what it means to live deeply in Father’s love and know how to share it with others.

- John, from Jake Colsen’s So You Don’t Want to Go To Church Anymore

Endless Ocean

2011-04-22T11:42:00.002-05:00

"There is no end to the affection you have for me" - Jonathan David Helser

New Blogging Location

2010-12-03T13:19:00.000-05:00

I have been blogging over on Tumblr for a few months now. Check out my blog on Tumblr. mattdionne.tumblr.com

Heaven has check-ins too.

2010-08-21T17:22:00.001-05:00

New plant for my desk.

2010-07-23T15:50:00.001-05:00

My head phones were smiling at me today.

2010-05-28T16:02:00.001-05:00

They must know it's Friday

Minds - Quote

2010-05-13T13:31:00.001-05:00

Great minds discuss ideas;
Average minds discuss events;
Small minds discuss people;
- Eleanor Roosevelt

I saw Jesus yesterday...

2010-04-14T12:12:00.002-05:00

He was huddled, cold, sleeping in a doorway on a street in Boston. I walked past him without a thought. I was on my way to worship Him.

We sang songs about how He is life, comfort, hope; and about being His hands and feet. It was then remembered seeing Him on the street earlier and it made me wonder. I am doing enough for the least of these?

I wrestle with these things...

Had to rip this off the bottom of my car this morning. It became loose on and started to drag on the ground.

2010-04-01T14:43:00.001-05:00

Looks like I'm taking a trip to our friends at Better Automotive soon.

The Greatest Poverty - Quote

2010-03-29T15:16:00.001-05:00

"We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty." -Mother Theresa

I know Jesus is...

2010-03-29T00:50:00.002-05:00

Worship this Palm Sunday

Snow in Waltham

2010-03-26T14:05:00.001-05:00

Unbelievable - Quote

2010-03-26T13:24:00.002-05:00

"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyles. That is what an unbelieving world simple finds unbelievable." – Brennan Manning

Face it - Quote

2010-03-23T15:13:00.003-05:00

"We may as well face it: the whole level of spirituality amoung us is low. We have measured ourselves by ourselves until the incentive to seek higher plateaus in the things of the Spirit is all but gone... [We] have initated the world, sought popular favor, manufactured delights to substiute for the joy of the Lord and produced a cheap and synthetic power to substitute for the power of the Holy Ghost." A. W. Tozer

Bacon wrapped meatloaf.

2010-03-13T01:55:00.001-05:00

Topped with tomato gravy

The final product.

Pancake artist at work

2010-02-27T19:28:00.001-05:00

Pancakes in the making.

Tested by "fire"

Not too pretty but I hope they they taste good.

Survey says?

Cooking Dinner

2010-02-13T20:47:00.001-05:00

Pot Roast

Cooking Dinner

Not to let this thing roast for a few hours.

After years of abuse my bass guitar finally says enough is enough.

2010-01-24T18:32:00.002-05:00

2010 Company Kick Off Meeting

2010-01-21T14:35:00.001-05:00

The view from the top of the Westin in Waltham taken this morning.

At the open Mic at Tazza in Providence

2010-01-18T02:07:00.002-05:00

My new cube at work.

2010-01-11T14:48:00.002-05:00

Winterfest 2010 - Glen Spey, NY

2010-01-11T13:59:00.003-05:00

View from back stage

Dining Hall

Morning Seminar

Artist painted this on stage last night

On stage for the last set. About to rock!

Coca-Cola in a glass bottle made with real sugar FTW!

2009-12-31T20:16:00.001-05:00

Squish with her crazy "cake"

2009-12-29T00:36:00.001-05:00

Eating at the Beef House

2009-12-26T18:23:00.001-05:00

- Sent from my mobile

Decorating our own Christmas Tree.

2009-12-02T03:33:00.001-05:00

- Sent from my mobile

Finished decorating the tree at my parent's house.

2009-11-30T01:24:00.001-05:00

- Sent from my mobile

The Bench Project

2009-11-27T17:12:00.000-05:00

The Before

I have an old dresser that I am going to turn into a bench.

In Process

Cut down dresser and sanded. Just need to put a coat of paint and the bench will be finished.

The Finished Product

I put the final coat of paint on today and reattached the hardware.

Starting out the day right with some @RICoffee

2009-11-26T16:33:00.001-05:00

- Sent from my mobile

Mmmmm... Soup Works for dinner!

2009-10-30T23:20:00.001-05:00

- Sent from my mobile

The sunrise this morning

2009-10-27T12:06:00.001-05:00

- Sent from my mobile

Fall: Pumpkin Carving

2009-10-26T10:57:00.003-05:00

Andrea and I carved some pumpkins for Halloween.

Check out all the pictures here.

Testing Pixel Pipe

2009-10-16T22:25:00.001-05:00

This is only a test.
Matt Dionne

- Sent from my mobile

Ashes or Dust - Quote

2009-09-21T11:00:00.001-05:00

"I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom in me magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time." - Jack London

Our Heroes

2009-09-11T12:51:00.002-05:00

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty. This much we pledge – and more.” - John F. Kennedy

Let’s never forget our heroes that gave their lives today. Remember

Live Don't Just Exist - Quote

2009-09-07T11:00:00.002-05:00

"The proper function of man is to live, not exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time." - Jack London

You Have What It Takes - Quote

2009-08-31T10:45:00.000-05:00

"It is usually wiser to stand up to a scary-seeming experience and walk right into it, risking the bruises or hard knocks. You are likely to find it is not as tough as you had thought. Or you may find it plenty tough, but also discover you have what it takes to handle it." - Norman Vincent Peale

Courageous Leaders - Quote

2009-03-24T17:30:00.001-05:00

“Courageous leaders are those who would rather challenge what needs to change, and pay the price, than remain silent and slowly die inside.” - Andy Stanley

Heroes and Saints - Quote

2008-12-31T07:30:00.000-05:00

"The hero is the one who kindles a great light in the world, who sets up blazing torches in the dark streets of life for men to see by. The saint is the man who walks through the dark paths of the world, himself a light." - Felix Adler

Poverty - Quote

2008-10-15T05:55:00.002-05:00

“It’s extraordinary to me that the United States can find $700 billion to save Wall Street and the entire G8 can’t find $25 billion dollars to save 25,000 children who die every day from preventable diseases.” –Bono.

Blog Action Day 2008 - Poverty

2008-10-15T05:25:00.010-05:00

Today (Oct 15th) is Blog Action Day.
What isBlog Action Day?:

"Blog Action Day is an annual nonprofit event that aims to unite the world’s bloggers, podcasters and videocasters, to post about the same issue on the same day. Our aim is to raise awareness and trigger a global discussion." Learn more about Blog Action Day...

This years topic is poverty.
According to Wikipedia the definition of poverty is:

"Poverty (also called penury) is deprivation of common necessities that determine the quality of life, including food, clothing, shelter and safe drinking water, and may also include the deprivation of opportunities to learn, to obtain better employment to escape poverty, and/or to enjoy the respect of fellow citizens.

Facts About Poverty:

Children under age 18 make up 49 percent of the population of the world's least developed countries, compared with 21 percent of the population of the world's industrialized nations.
More than 1 billion (one in five) people live on less than U.S.$1 a day.
Every day, 1,600 women and more than 10,000 newborns globally die due to complications that could have been prevented.
Approximately 143 million children in the developing world (one in 13) are orphans.
More than 10 million children under age 5 die each year. Two-thirds of these deaths — more than 6 million deaths every year — are preventable.
Approximately 41 percent of the world's poor people live in India.

Poverty is a problem we can solve only if we all play a part in the solution. One way to play a part is to sponsor a child in need. I have been sponsoring Diska Sari through Compassion International for many years. To be able to give hope and a future to a child in need has been extremely rewarding. I would like you to consider playing your part in helping eliminate poverty by helping a child get food, clothes, and an education.

Concert - Art * Music * Justice

2008-09-17T12:52:00.014-05:00

Check out the ART*MUSIC*JUSTICE concert tour this fall. Artists include critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter Sara Groves, Brandon Heath, Derek Webb, Sandra McCracken and author/artist Charlie Peacock. The concert will benefit both the International Justice Mission and Food For the Hungry. The International Justice Mission (www.IJM.org) is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. Food for the Hungry (www.FH.org) works in more than 26 developing countries providing disaster and emergency relief, and implementing sustainable development programs to transform communities physically and spiritually.

With dates running from Sept 19th through October 26th (concert listing below), the tour is a unique concert opportunity to add to the beauty, seek justice, and give God praise. Desiring to further educate the church on God's heart for justice, gain advocates for the oppressed, and show evidence of a God at work in this world. Each evening will bring inspired music and stories of God's people in action and their heroic experiences across the globe. Incredible stories of rescue from the International Justice Mission will be told, while giving audience members the opportunity to be involved in Groves 'adopted' village in Rwanda thru Food for the Hungry.

"God is mighty to save and is actively rescuing the oppressed through His people, comments Groves. Scripture references to the 'slave, the poor, the oppressed' are not figurative. There are 27 million people enslaved today, after more than in 400 years of trans-atlantic slavery. God is calling us to respond. All of us on this tour want to convey, it is not a burden to help, it is an adventure. Were excited to get out there and share what God is doing!" To listen to audio of Sara sharing about the tour, and for more tour information, please check out Art Music Justice's MySpace

Sara Groves, "I Saw What I Saw"

Art Music Justice's MySpace
Art Music Justice's Facebook

ONE Campaign - Petition: Stop World Hunger

2008-09-12T13:22:00.003-05:00

ONE Campaign - Take Action: Hunger Crisis

I just signed a petition asking G8 leaders and the UN Secretary General to commit to providing the food, seed, and fertilizer necessary to help some of the world's poorest countries beat the ongoing hunger crisis.

I hope that you'll join me in taking action here: Sign the Petition

We've seen aid achieve some amazing things in recent years - like over 29 million more children in school for the first time, and over 2 million more Africans with access to AIDS medications. But we must recognize the ongoing hunger crisis for the obstacle that it is and work to overcome it if we hope to continue our success.

I signed. I just hope we don’t get a repeat of the G-8 meeting in Japan earlier this year. Group 8 Fails to Address World Hunger.

Wallpapers

2008-09-10T05:19:00.006-05:00

I posted a new album on Picasa of pictures I have taken that I thought would be nice for computer backgrounds. Let me know what you think. View Album

Wallpaper - Photos taken by Matt Dionne

Block Island Pictures

2008-09-07T10:04:00.005-05:00

Andrea and I along with friends of ours took a trip to Block Island this summer. Here are some photos we took while we were there. View Album

Clothes Drive Recap

2008-09-05T12:26:00.004-05:00

The last Saturday of each month our church (Good News Bible Chapel) gives away free clothes at an event we like to call "Second Chance Clothes". Hundreds of pounds of "new to you" clothes are given away at GNBC free to those who need them. The free clothes make it easier for those in need who are choosing between clothes, food, rent or electricity. This past Saturday we were able to partner with Iglesia El Divino Redentor‎, (6 Park Avenue, Attleboro MA) to be able to reach beyond our normal community and into downtown Attleboro.

Not only were we able to give away a ton of clothes we were also able to give a bunch of Target gift cards to families in need so they can buy something new for their kids for the first day of school. Here are some pictures I took at the event. More Photos...

Quote - Worry - Corrie Ten Boom

2008-08-29T12:33:00.001-05:00

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength." - Corrie Ten Boom

New Twitter Theme

2008-08-29T12:04:00.009-05:00

I finally updated my twitter page with a new design. I never had the default theme because it is ugly but I had kept it pretty simple for a while now.

Site Redesign - GNBC.ORG

2008-08-07T08:36:00.009-05:00

I just finished up redesigning the website for Good News Bible Chapel (GNBC) Check it out at http://www.gnbc.org. I did the design and construction.

Specials thanks to...

- SonSpring.com for telling me about this Slideshow Alternative.
- Steven G. Chipman for his excellent Cross Fade Redux.
- Web4Future.com for the easiest form processor.
- Joe Paravisini for help with the online contact form.
- CushyCMS.com for not only the best and simplest CMS but for the only good free CMS.
- CloudSermon.com for hosting our sermons online and providing an online media player and rss feeds.
- Ray at sensiblecomp.com for his awesome hosting solutions.
- and Jason LaRose for website design advise.

Xenophobic's Dreams Come True

2008-08-02T05:45:00.005-05:00

Technology has evolved where we now don't have to interact with people even over the phone.

NYTimes Article

Slydial.com

Quote - Modern Art - Banksy

2008-07-24T11:34:00.003-05:00

"The thing I hate the most about advertising is that it attracts all the bright, creative and ambitious young people, leaving us mainly with the slow and self-obsessed to become our artists. Modern art is a disaster area. Never in the field of human history has so much been used by so many to say so little." - Banksy

Make a statement.

Creative Advertising - Oreo

2008-07-24T11:26:00.001-05:00

Movie Review - The Dark Knight

2008-07-24T11:18:00.005-05:00

Overall: 4

Plot: 3
Action:4
Acting: 5
Cinematography: 5
Soundtrack: 3
Replay Value: 4

Basic Info
* Director: Christopher Nolan
* Producer: Kevin De La Noy, Benjamin Melniker, Thomas Tull, Michael Uslan
* Screenwriter: Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan
* Stars: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman
* MPAA Rating: PG-13

Warner Brothers Pictures

Microsoft is Fighting Back and Losing

2008-07-22T12:50:00.004-05:00

ZDNet reported that Microsoft will spend $300 million in an ad campagin to convince people that Vista isn't that bad. My thought is why not spend that money making a better product? The campagin does nothing to convince people that Vista is better than any other OS just that it is better than it was when it first launched. Which, in my opinion, the only place to go was up so it is not very impressive. Microsoft needs to be innovative. That is the only way for them to redeem their battered reputation.

Choose Between Food or Water

2008-07-21T12:36:00.023-05:00

Out of all the "intense" decisions I have to make in a day (polo or t-shirt, coffee or tea, Coke or Pepsi) they all seem trivial compared to the decisions facing many farmers in the Mideast. They are having to choose between water for their crops or water to drink. According to the NYTimes some countries in the region import 90 percent or more of their staples but they are rethinking that strategy as the food crisis worsens. The challenge is if they start growing more crops to feed their ever expanding population they run the risk of using up their already scarce supply of water.

- Photo by Shawn Baldwin for The New York Times

On the Toshka farm in Egypt’s desert, workers tended to a grape field. The farm was begun in 1997, but it has a renewed focus.

NYTimes.com - Mideast Facing Choice Between Crops and Water
By ANDREW MARTIN
Published: July 21, 2008

Discover New Music - Pandora.com

2008-07-14T14:49:00.003-05:00

I have to be honest, I have not been keeping up with new music as I should. Not wanting to risk buying albums that turn out to be generic copies of everything out there my iPod was about to go on strike if I played the same old playlist one more time. Then my co-worker Eric Lander introduced me to Pandora Radio. With Pandora you can explore vast troves of music to your heart's content. To start you create a "radio station" based on your favorite bands and Pandora (with help from the Music Genome Project®) picks songs you will like. The more you rate the more it will learn and be better able to play songs that may become your new favorites. Check it out and let me know what you think.

G-8 Leaders Resolve to Cut Emissions in Half by 2050

2008-07-08T05:44:00.006-05:00

Eight leaders from the most powerful countries meet and this is the best they can come up with? NYTimes Article "42 year from now we will have made a slight improvement for the planet." I understand the importance of being "green" but they are people starving in the world. Seems like the world leaders missed the mark.

Crocsians: Crocsians Facts and Definition

2008-06-27T13:06:00.006-05:00

A little test to see how long it takes for this page to rank for “Crocsians”. Crocsians are groups of people dedicated to wearing the worst fashion article ever... Crocs. People labeled as Crocsians can look seemingly normal from the feet up. I will never be a Crocsian.

Hooray for Crocsians!

I heard the rocks crying out...

2008-06-27T10:38:00.004-05:00

Today while I was finishing up a run on the bike path I was listening to my iPod when Rich Mullins' song The Color Green made its way through the shuffle. This is a song that I had listened to and enjoyed on many occasions but today something struck me. In the song Rich states that he “heard the rocks crying out; be praise for all Your tenderness and these works of Your hands…” through the song he is conveying the thought that the whole earth sings God’s praises but today I had a different thought. Why are the rocks crying out? In Luke 19:38-40 the Pharisees called out to Jesus for him to rebuke his disciples for shouting His praises and Jesus said to them “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”.

Are the rocks and stones crying out because I have been silent?

Through a Bible study I have been learning that my entire life’s purpose is to glorify God. Is the way I am living in a way that is causing the rocks to cry out? Maybe Rich Mullins heard that rocks crying out because God’s people are not…

----

"Be praised for all Your tenderness by these works of Your hands
Suns that rise and rains that fall to bless and bring to life Your land
Look down upon this winter wheat and be glad that You have made
Blue for the sky and the color green that fills these fields with praise"
- Rich Mullins "The Color Green"

Fires

2007-03-12T11:52:00.008-05:00

"Our Christian duty is to stop trying to put out fires, put the bucket down and start washing some feet."
- David Thomas LaChance

This sums up all I have been feeling about the Church. It breaks my heart to see God's people working so hard for the impossible task of putting the fires out. All that time and energy spent. They get discouraged. Some do nothing because the task seem to great. They are right, it is too great but we are not meant to fight the fires.

We cannot be burned by the flames anyway.

We are meant to serve and spread the Gospel.

Genuine

2007-03-03T13:48:00.004-05:00

I know I don't always hit the mark but I try hard to be genuine. I say what I think and mean what I say. It seems like genuine people are hard to come by these days. Most people have an angle they are working. They tell you what you want to hear. They act different around different groups of people to the point where they don't know who they are. It is easier just to conform then to stick up for what you believe.

Not only are people not genuine but they don't always want others to be genuine with them. A lot of people want to be told only what they want to hear or what they feel should be said. They want people to conform.

I want to be genuine. I want people to be genuine with me. I don't want to be told what people think I want to hear. I want to know what people think.

gen·u·ine:
Pronunciation Key [jen-yoo-in]
–adjective
1. possessing the claimed or attributed character, quality, or origin; not counterfeit; authentic; real: genuine sympathy; a genuine antique.
2. properly so called: a genuine case of smallpox.
3. free from pretense, affectation, or hypocrisy; sincere: a genuine person.
4. descended from the original stock; pure in breed: a genuine Celtic people.

Passion

2007-02-25T20:23:00.000-05:00

The world is changed by people who live with passion.

People who live with passion inspire. They ignite in others a vision. Their passion is infused within them to their inner most being to the point where it affects them physically. The obtuse mock such people as unstable, insane. But should they choose to ignore the cries that is where the insanity beings.

William Wilberforce had such a passion.

www.amazinggracemovie.com
Amazing Grace Movie Info
Wikipedia - William Wilberforce

Distracted

2007-02-05T10:46:00.001-05:00

Fanny Crosby once said “It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me."

I find this to be absolutely amazing. Not necessarily because she wasn't discouraged or depressed by the fact that she was blind, but for the fact that she saw herself as beautiful and interesting.