Clarification

Just to bring some clarification to my last post, I neither wrote this work to provoke argument, nor bring greater division, nor to remotely speak out against Obama (which if you re-read my post I think you will see that I never once mentioned the election nor any candidate, so please do not assume) . My primary focus in my note was to describe to my fellow believers what I am only now beginning to fully grasp, and that which, the election has helped to bring to light personally, individually to me, We have great work to do.

The election was not the beginning of this great evil I see in our country, it started thousands of years ago, and it is still the same thing. Sin. But what I thought I had communicated fairly clearly was the fact that we as believers have been content to do little things instead of great things. We have been content to live in comfort instead of doing "Hard things". We have been content with sitting in the shadows instead of spreading "the light of the Gospel".

I believe that God will use Obama despite what we may agree and or disagree with him on. I know I am called to respect his position over me as an authority that the Lord has placed in my life, and I know that the Lord is sovereign over all things. So I do respect Obama, and I will pray for him, and I will continue to put my faith & trust in God alone, and not in man or man's so often contradicting opinions and belief systems that fail time & time again.

I believe more than ever God will pour his Spirit upon His people and this nation. I am already seeing this at work in our own church and I am excited and expectant to see what the Lord has for all our futures.

I have not lost hope. More than Ever I see hope through the darkness. Jesus is coming and my prayer, plea, and the cry of my post is to not waste your life on the notion that what you hear is what you should believe. Test it! Live for it! Fight for it!

A Word to the Wise- Post Election

I need to get a few things off my chest.

I am sickened by those who believe without testing.
I am horrified by the ignorance of Americans.
I am struck to the core when i hear Christians are failing to live what they say they believe.
I am disappointed in inconsistent thought, in a government and a people who have forgotten on what our country was founded, on how easily we sway and base everything on our emotions, or relativistic ideas.

We once were a strong united nation.
We now stand divided by parties, races, religions.
We once had at least some concept of morality.
We now are a country who desire the very things
our forefathers saw as immoral. The killing of innocent children, gay marriage... etc.
We once were a country somewhat founded on religion.
A trust in God. But we have taken all thought of God out of schools,
out of the Allegiance, and more importantly out of our hearts.
Without Him (God) our country stands divided.


Why does this shock me so much that our country is falling apart? Perhaps I believed that there were more righteous men seeking after the Lord than there are. This election has brought several things to light for me: (1) America is a battleground for unbelievers, we need our primary focus as believers to be here in our own neighborhoods & towns. This is were God has called us to be, and this is were we can make the biggest impact. As those around us observe how we live our lives. (2) We as Americans have become lazy, not caring to challenge things and dig deep for the facts. We are too easily swayed by words and opinions of others. We need to stop adapting, and start being Revolutionary. (3) We have become a nation that wants change, is looking for change, but has the wrong concepts of what kind of change we actually need.

We need change of heart, mind, body and soul, we need a Savior America. May God save us! May we be named His children that His grace may fall upon us as a Country, as a people, as a nation.

Christians now is the time for us to start standing (if you aren't already), and to go against the ebb and flow of the world. To stand on the rock of Christ and speak loudly and clearly, there is no time, we must be bold! I know my Lord is near, be ready, do not waste your time!

Fighting for Contentment, defining Love

It has been a long while since I have written anything on this blog. Something has brought me to this place once again. A need I find within myself to express the very things that weigh heavily upon my heart. I do not know how or where I can begin to explain to you the depths of my feelings and the strength I feel within my very soul. It has been kept tame for so long. I fear it awaits a destiny that I dread. Containment. 

The "strength" I refer to is not one which has been built up by past embitterments of present anger derived from a heart that has not been trusting God. No, more so of having a loving heart, capable of loving more, being locked up inside me. 

Simply my heart awaits the day that no longer must I mask & hide my desires, no longer must I guard it from pain and possible suffering, or a destructive heart. Do not you see? The desire to be loved in return is great, but I am not willing to bow or commit myself to just any man, even men I see as admirable. Admiration is not merely enough. I have learned this the hard way and regretfully I have hurt others in the endeavor to find that out. 

There is much much more than just admiration and an interested party involved in the success of a loving marriage I desire. Friendship, physical attraction, and something that goes much deeper; a common love for the Savior that unites our souls, drawls us to one another in a way inexpressible through words, nor even touch. No always it is like a song sung by both in silence. Melody & Harmony gently, beautifully fitting into perfect tune & pitch gliding along the notes with such clarity, voices as pure and untouched as an infants before their first cry. The warmth of their tone floods the ears and to each ear reached uniquely it conveys a different warmth of feeling. Love is beautiful, untouchable if it is true. No one can put out a heart in true Biblical flaming Love. Therefore my heart will flame on, yet remain dimmed in patience for time to reveal its cause through God's will.

The Joys of Song Writing

So I'm learning that I shouldn't put any completed works on the web for public access... why? Simple: People will copy and paste your work as their own, and if you haven't copywrited your work or have some proff of authorization of the works itself they can have "ownership" of it... boo... so i have erased most of my works posted on facebook and here... and have proof that I am the author... so now I'm safe. :) Basically what you can do (with any art form, written, paintings, music compositions) is put all of your works in a large envolope ( make sure they have the date on your papers of when you wrote them, and mark saying "copywrite pending"), go to your local post office, ask for "receipt requested Mail and immediate pick up". All you have to do is fill out a little form and they immediately hand your package back over to you. Wait for two days and you should receive your reciept in the mail ( make sure to never re-open your envolope and keep it on file along with any receipts for postage). After this point you can fax or mail any of your written works to publishers, or companies interested in looking at your forms. But you must make sure it is a duplicate from what you have in your envolope. After this point it is best to google how to copywrite. There are numerous sights that can help you out with detailed instructions. And there is sadly fees that apply and its not as cheap as you might guess. But it keeps your work safe and YOURS.

Some Amazing Photography

As most of you know, I'm big into anything that is remotely connected to art. Photography is one of those things, I am inspired by. It inspires how I write how I process information, how I compose, and what I free hand. Below are some of my favorite Photographers and I want to give you a taste of each of their works, so that you may enjoy them as well :)

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Cole Thompson

Classic Images in Black & White









Sylvain Lagarde










Todd Schoenbaum

Whoa in Mega Need of An Update!

Hey ya'll,

So sorry for not responding to your comments. I am a horrible friend. Let me make up for that, any ideas? :)


Brief Update:

A week in the life of Courtney Cooke

Monday- (Day off)
Vocal Training from 11-1
Make Dinner for family from 3:30-5:00
Soccer from 6:00-9:30
Family night

Tuesday- Work 9-6
Soccer from 6:30-9:30

Wednesday- Work 9-12:45 at Faith Pres.
Meeting with Karen at 1:00
Vocal Training at 1:15-2:30
Work at Crossway 2:45-5:35

Thursday- Work 9-5:30
Caregroup 6:45

Friday- Work 9-5:30
6:00-7:30 Vocal Training
Crossway Singles Outing

Saturday- Soccer 10-4
Set-up 4-5
Worship 5-6:30

Sunday- Worship Practice 8-9:30
Church 10-12:30
Meetings 1:00-3:30


In my off Time I'm working on writing music profusely (Both Christian and Secular Music), going to doctors appointments, helping out at home, and running kids places... Life is wonderously busy. At times I wonder if it will ever slow down.

As far as schooling for Interior Design goes, I'll not be attending at Westwood. Why, you may ask? Because they want $60,000 for my associate degree. Can you say, Expensive? hah, yeah thats what I thought too.... I searched around for other schooling options and found one that suits me and is incredibly less than Westwood, but still provides most of the same benefits: Rhodec International.

So Here's the deal depending upon how crazy my summer may get I might start classes in the first week in June or the 2nd week in August. We shall just have to wait and see....

Westwood College for Interior Design

I just bought a Mac notebook brand spankin' new, my first ever, this is extremely exciting you have NO idea. My soul purpose for buying one was to have it for school. I have been looking into several schooling options, different careers, and feel as if I have confirmation from God, its Interior Design. I began to look through different colleges, and I found Westwood inquired and today I have my last meeting with them, perhaps to begin in just little over 2 weeks for schooling. Its a three year degree and they work around my work schedule. (!!!) I will write more later about Westwood and explain things, but for now... I'll leave it at that.