The Professor II

Expensive Purses...

2008-06-01T13:33:00.000-07:00

Like I was saying...the best wife ever. We were out shopping and stopped to look at purses because I needed one....actually Holly really does need one. So we are in Macy's and looking around and I start checking prices...$100 here...$70 there...and I start thinking to myself (self I say...who in the heck are they kidding!). Then it happens I see the mother of all purses COACH. Which I have decided are made by the same sweat shop kids as the other purses....just with a little more effort to stitch all the C's on the bag. SO I check a purse made by these moguls of purse makers...only to crap my pants at the outrageously stupid prices they are trying to charge. I saw one purse that was over $350 for a stinking purse. At that price I better get the kid that made the thing too! I was appalled!

Back to where I have the best wife ever...so I ask Holly...Hey sweetie, what is the most you have or would pay for a purse? Her response made me love her even more! No way would I spend more than $40...and only if it was on super sale or something. What a Lady.

Needless to say...as much as we complain about gas prices and things like that...why then are we buying purses that cost as much as a car payment? I mean seriously!

Loooong Time....no Bloggie!

2008-06-01T13:30:00.000-07:00

After a very long hiatus from blogging...I am back. I have sooo much to write about. I got married, and I have the most incredible wife ever. I will be writing more on that later this week. School is almost out...wow...I can't believe I have been a teacher for almost 7 years! My sister is engage and due to be married next summer. The list goes on...and on...so for those of you who still randomly check this thing..."I AM BACK!"

Getting Married

2008-02-21T13:09:00.000-08:00

Getting married started off as a stressful endevor. There were lots of questions on my end, and on Holly's end. We are both Christians, so that really gives us a strong foothold on what God wants, but there were still some concerns. Luckily for us, we have a great mentor couple from Church. Also lucky for us, our church really stresses the importance of premarrital counciling and takes that a step further. Through the mentor program at Riverview, we have learned that a lot of the things we freak out about are normal...it wasn't just us. We have learned more in depth about God's intentions in marriage and that we are floating around by ourselves in some dingy in the ocean of life. We have a safety net of other believers who will be there even after we say our "I do's". So I just wanted to thank Marty and Dawn Valley...and Riverview for really being proactive in Holly and I's lives as a engaged couple and the other couples who are seeking marriage.

Why Sparrow Hospital sucks

2008-01-22T05:14:00.000-08:00

Well let premise this with a side bar...they practice good medicine, but they still suck.

Imagine if you will, a family member or close personal friend becomes ill and needs to be hospitalized. Well if they are lucky enough to get taken to Sparrow's state of the art facilities then hold on to your wallet. Like all hospitals, they stay will be expensive....but that is why we are suppose to have insurance...right? Ever wondering why Sparrow is continually adding on....I have a theory. The money they make from the surgeries pays for all of the buildings daily costs...including surgeons salaries....and pad their ever growing savings accounts and operate in the black.

However, the $2 they ding you for each day you visit and park in their frickin' ramp adds up. I did some math. Every time I have been to the hospital, there must be close to 500 or so cars in the ramp at any one time. Now I am no expert, but that is at least $1000 a day....or roughly $365,000 in a year. That is a conservative estimate...I would wager that number is closer to two or three times as high. No other hospital in the Lansing or Greater Lansing area will you find that you have to pay to park. Not only do I find this annoying, rude, and cheap on the part of the hospital, but also incredibly greedy, callous, and unethical. How can you ethically charge someone to visit their sick, wounded, or dying friend or family member?? There is no free parking, unless you visit the emergency room...and are lucky enough to get one of their 15 free emergency room parking spaces.

Now, they will argue..."we have to pay for the ramp somehow!"...but I would argue...what about Jane Doe's $300,000 heart surgery and John Doe's $500,000 nurosurgery???? Do you really think you can justify to the general public that your hospital is hurting for money? Or better yet, do you think we are that stupid? At the very least, there should be a taken system so those that visit the ill or dying are not forced to pay to visit. I vote that we should all complain and see what happens. Anyone else agree with me?

Almost Famous

2008-01-22T04:58:00.000-08:00

We went to a Mega 80's concert back in the beginning of January. It was Meeeegan, Holla, and myself. It was a blast....so much fun. Smaller venue than usual, but non-the-less it was a riot. We even got some pics taken of us by Lansing State Journal and ended up in the NOISE edition of the journal.

Check it out!

God Understands...always!

2007-11-28T19:45:00.000-08:00

Who is Jesus Christ?

2007-11-14T08:46:00.000-08:00

R u ready?

2007-10-24T17:48:00.001-07:00

GodTube.com

2007-10-24T17:33:00.000-07:00

Sniffing Out Counterfeits

2007-10-09T06:17:00.000-07:00

The American Banking Association has a training program that [illustrates a great way to protect against counterfeits]. Each year it sends hundreds of bank tellers to Washington in order to teach them to detect counterfeit money,… It is most interesting that during the entire two-week training program, no teller touches counterfeit money. Only the original passes through his hands. The reason for this is that the American Banking Association is convinced that if a man is thoroughly familiar with the original, he will not be deceived by the counterfeit bill, no matter how much like the original it appears. It is the contention of this writer that if the average Christian would become familiar once again with the great foundations of his faith, he would be able to detect those counterfeit elements so apparent in the cult systems, which set themselves apart from biblical Christianity… Close familiarity with the genuine is the best protection against the counterfeit” (p.23).

Dr. Walter Martin, The Kingdom of the Cults

SICK OF THOSE HIGH PAID TEACHERS??

2007-10-03T07:14:00.000-07:00

Their hefty salaries are driving up taxes, and they only work nine or ten months a year! It's time we put things in perspective and pay them for what they do... baby-sit!

We can get that for less than minimum wage. That is right. I would give them $3.00 dollars an hour and only the hours they worked, not any of that silly planning time.

That would be $19.50 a day (7:45 AM to 4:00 PM with 45 min. off for lunch).

Each parent should pay $19.50 a day for these teachers to baby-sit their children.

Now, how many do they teach in a day... maybe 30? So that's 19.5 X 30 = $585.00 a day. However, remember they only work 180 days a year! I am not going to pay them for any vacations.
Let's see . . . that's $585 x 180 = $105,300 per year.
(Hold on! My calculator must need batteries!)

What about those special teachers and the ones with master's degrees? Well, we could pay them minimum wage just to be fair, round it off to $7.00 an hour. That would be $7 times 6-1/2 hours times 30 children times 180 days =$245,700.00 per year.

Wait a minute, there is something wrong here!

If only I could really get paid this way!

This is why soccer is Questionable

2007-08-17T10:57:00.001-07:00

So you won't see this in Football, Hockey, Baseball, or even Basketball...but in Soccer....

Transformers: The Movie 7-4-07

2007-05-19T07:58:00.000-07:00

Ya...I know I have already posted on this...but the new trailer on yahoo is simply put....FLIPPIN" SWEET!

I am going to the 12:01 Showing for anyone who loves the 80's cartoons as muc has me...get ahold of me so we can all go together.

Church VS. State

2007-05-09T09:22:00.000-07:00

By Lou DobbsCNN

Editor's Note:
Lou Dobbs' commentary appears weekly on CNN.com.

NEW YORK (CNN) -- The separation of church and state in this country is narrowing. And it is the church, not the state that is encroaching. Our Constitution protects religion from the intrusion or coercion of the state. But we have precious little protection against the political adventurism of all manner of churches and religious organizations.

The leadership of the Catholic Church and many Protestant churches, as well as Jewish and even Muslim religious organizations, are driving that political adventurism as those leaders conflate religion and politics. And while there is a narrowing of the separation between church and state, there is a widening schism between the leadership of churches and religious organizations and their followers and members.

Conservative evangelical leader James Dobson recently said actor and former Sen. Fred Thompson wasn't Christian enough to be president. He instead chose to commend Newt Gingrich, who has been married three times and recently admitted to an extramarital affair. Five evangelical Christian leaders signed the "Land Letter" to President Bush in 2002 affirming a Christian theological basis to invade Iraq.

This week the head of the Los Angeles Archdiocese, Cardinal Roger Mahoney, basically threatened his faithful with denial of heaven if they don't support amnesty for illegal aliens. The good Cardinal said: "Anything that tears down one group of people or one person, anything that is a negative in our community, disqualifies us from being part of the eternal city."

The nation's religious leaders seem hell-bent on ignoring the separation of church and state when it comes to the politically charged issue of illegal immigration. A new coalition called Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform Wednesday will begin lobbying lawmakers with a new advertising and direct mail campaign on behalf of amnesty for illegal aliens.

The Rev. Jim Wallis of Sojourners Magazine put it this way: "If given the choice on this issue between Jesus and Lou Dobbs, I choose my Lord and savior, Jesus Christ."

But before the faithful acquiesce in the false choice offered by the good Reverend, perhaps he and his followers should consult Romans 13, where it is written: "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves."

There is a more obvious and immediate judgment offered by the followers and members of both the Protestant and Catholic Churches. A Zogby poll last year asked churchgoers if they supported the House bill that would make illegal aliens return home and reduce future illegal immigration by securing the border and performing checks on illegal employers. Seventy-five percent of Protestants responded that was a good or very good idea, 77 percent of born-again Christians also agreed, and 66 percent of Catholics also backed tougher enforcement measures.

This schism between our church leaders and church members is just as broad and deep as that between our elected officials and their constituents across the country. Neither the state nor the church is exhibiting wisdom or fidelity to our national values in permitting the widening of that divide.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the writer.

Part 1

2007-04-13T05:11:00.000-07:00

I have always gone to church since I was a baby. It is a part of who I am.

This sounds so cliché' but it is true. I grew up in a church and had a church family. I cannot remember not knowing who Jesus was...and yet I am still a sinner...I still need Jesus.

Growing up a churcheon (a person who goes to church for the sake of going to church :oP ) was fun. I mean...we went on Sundays and holidays and for youth group with Care-Away Street (A Christian Sesame Street complete with puppets), and Church you camp & family camp (the most fun ever as a kid), and then Sunday school...it was all really quite fun. What was weird though, was that at some point as a young kid (maybe 9 or 10) I stopped wanting to go to Sunday school and Care-Away Street and wanted sit in the sanctuary with my parents...not to really be with my parents per say, but to listen to what Pastor Booher was talking about. I can remember the bible stories so clearly. I remember Pastor Booher telling us about Jesus and his disciples and how we were all sinners. For some reason I understood. I mean I already knew...It was like I already knew what he was saying; he was just filling in more details than I had heard in Sunday school. It wasn't a real big church, and pretty much everyone knew each other...but every Sunday at the end of the sermon, Pastor Booher would ask if anyone wanted to come forward and accept Christ as their Savior (which in my mind I determined meant that I was no longer a sinner...but a follower of Christ...and he had forgiven me for my sins...and I wouldn't go to hell). Pretty big thoughts I guess for a ten year old...but to me it was common sense.

Every Sunday for a month I would think about this and say to myself...I already believe. I was scared to go in front of the congregation...for a 10 year old...scary stuff. I kept feeling God move me...urging me to go forward...but I couldn't move my feet or open my mouth. So there I would sit with my parents on either side just staring at Pastor Booher. Pastor Booher reminded me of my Grandpa King...really nice and laid back...and definitely a Godly man. It was almost like God himself would talk to me through whatever Pastor Booher was preaching. I wasn't scared of him...I was scared of all the people who would be looking at me if I decided to go up. I kept my thoughts to myself...never told anyone the mental battle that was going on...until one Sunday...

My parents both worked with Care-Away Street...so sometimes one would be there during church and I would sit with the one who wasn't...or sit with my grandparents. This particular Sunday I was just sitting with mom. This time when Pastor Booher asked if anyone would like to make a public acknowledgement of Christ as Lord and Savior...I looked at my mom and said:

"Can I go up there?" My mom looked at me in shock...started tearing up and said, "absolutely." I walked forward and saw the look of amazement in my Pastor's eyes. He just smiled and I will never forget what he said. He told the congregation he was surprised and excited that such a young person was ready to accept Christ. He smiled and prayed for me...and I looked up afterward and saw my father in the back of the sanctuary looking through the glass crying and smiling. Later he would tell me that God told him to go look in on the service. How awesome is that! That is probably one of the best father-son moments of my life.

Later I met with an older Christian in the church and discussed faith and what my commitment meant to God and me. I knew what I believed and he was convinced so a month later I was baptized. My life hadn't changed miraculously, I still believed what I had pretty much always believed that Jesus Christ was God, Lord, and Savior. He had shed his blood for my sins and anyone else who would accept him and let him rule as Lord in their life was saved. I was saved through Christ not for what I did. Though there was no miraculous change in my daily life, my public acceptance did bring about refinement in my life in which God would use my teens and young adult life to reveal to me....

Thoughts?

2007-03-28T10:24:00.000-07:00

“I believe that God made a bad decision and a good decision at the same time; bad by killing people [in Noah’s flood] and good by fixing his mistake by giving us his son.”

How do you feel about this statement made during a local church service?

"Thoughts" was barrowed from HMB

No Internet

2007-03-28T07:19:00.000-07:00

Sorry to one and all whom read this blog. I have an internet issue...basically it is this: I don't have internet access right now. I bought a new house and and trying to see what is the best deal. I am going to post some pics of the house soon...it is so cool. Thanks to all who helped me move it. I couldn't have done it without you.

More to come...

Flying man

2007-03-05T19:08:00.001-08:00

Check this out! It is kind of a long video...but I must have one!

Funny Super Bowl Ads

2007-02-07T06:19:00.001-08:00

The Real Thriller Dance

2007-01-31T19:27:00.000-08:00

We are so doing this at my wedding!

2007-01-31T15:56:00.000-08:00

Lenses

2007-01-30T18:31:00.000-08:00

What lenses do you see the world with? I am taking a discipleship class at Riverview and heard a story about a friend of mine who is only about 12 years old and autistic sees things differently. He sees things that most of us don't. His father told me a story and it just crushed my spirit down a bit...made me tear up...and wonder if his disability is really a disability.

A couple of weeks ago, my little friend was standing in line for lunch and watching the snow fall outside. I imagine him starring with a smirk and turning around in line as he pondered the snow. The girl behind him thought that he is gave her a dirty look. A confrontation ensued and some of his friends tried to step in to help the situation. The girl was so angry and mad that she decked poor Sam right in the ear. Sam is such an innocent nice kid...he didn't know what to do...he just fell to the ground. By this time his ear must have been ringing, and finally an adult took care of the situation and the little girl got in trouble.

Later that evening, his dad had a conversation with Sam. It was all his dad could do not to be so furious that he wanted to take out the other kids parents for raising such a "jerk of a kid". As he is talked to Sam and tried to keep himself from being overcome with anger and hatred toward the other kid and her family....Sam said something so profound and honest...and that is Sam...honest as they come...it totally shocked his father.

"Dad, that girl much really being going through a lot and having a hard time...I mean she must really being having a really tough day to be so angry to hit someone."His dad was speechless...Sam could see the girls pain even though he was the one who got pummelled. He was seeing her through a different set of lenses. He was looking at her the way Jesus looks at all of us...with love and compassion. Sam was loving his neighbor as himself...and his neighbor was in essence his enemy. Maybe we are the one's with a disability. Most of reaction would have acted similar to his dad or we would've fought back. Sam loved the girl enough to perceive her pain. God has giving Sam an ability that most of us struggle to achieve on a daily basis.

Have you ever wondered if any of God's promises are conditional? I learned something in the discipleship class. Take this one for example from John 13:35 "By this all men will know you are my disciples, if you love one another." Did you catch the condition? All men will only know you are disciples of Christ...IF...you love one another! It is conditional...but also a guarantee. Hmmm...have you ever noticed that? Are we loving our neighbor the right way? Do they know we are a Christian? OR...Are we living ignoring how we act and looking at life through our own lens instead of through the lens of Christ? Another good question....who is our neighbor then? Ever wondered that? Well so did the Jews of old...they even asked Jesus about it! Do some reading....look up Luke 10:25-39...the parable of the good Samaritan. Jesus tells us who our neighbors are....anyone with a need...even if they are our enemy. Sam figured this out...and he is only 12. Look for my thoughts on this parable soon. I have some interested things to say about it...which I learned from Sam's dad.

A new house

2007-01-25T05:05:00.000-08:00

So for a while now I have been trying the impossible task of trying to find a new house...well no impossible...I am just picky. Holly and I have canvased the area of H-town in search of a new digs. Two house keep comng back in my mind...both are really good deals. One is newer and one is a little older. Newer meaning build in the last ten years...older meaning build in the last 30. Similar prices....but the older one is way bigger....and in my opinion has a lot more potential.

Drawbacks to older house: it was over priced...but that has changed somewhat.... no sidewalks in the neighborhood...but it does have curbs... it needs some updating...but they both did... Master bath is kind of small

Pluses... huge basement....and it is partially finished, plenty of room to add rooms, Huge garage..., First floor laundry..., awesome landscaping....with a big back yard deck, cool layout....but kitchen needs help, a backup generator....just a bonus, it comes with a home warranty...kind of nice, mostly just needs cosmetic work. Newer fridge and dishwasher, good neighborhood, the house is 85% brick...it is nice looking, updates=money maker if we moved.

Newer house...
Drawbacks... smaller rooms...crampoed upstairs bathroom, Needs a roof, Kitchen needs to be redone....updated, cramped master bathroom, The house needs to updated..., basement is kind of small, wood siding, no real room for a 4th bedroom.

Pluses...finished basement... first floor laundry... huge deck...I mean huge back deck two story...would be kind of cool great neighborhood...newer neighborhood (location is nice) Sidewalks, big garage, resale value with updates would be significant=money maker if we moved.

We have both been picky in this house hunting adventure. I am hoping that God helps us to not be so picky we miss a great opportunity he lies in front of us. I have to keep telling myself it would be our first house together....I mean ya I had a house already...but I didn't make a ton of money off of it....so I don't want to be greedy in my wanting a house. I want to be wise and patient in this process.

Holy...crap!

2007-01-19T09:14:00.000-08:00

Adopt A Nun

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/27/story_2741_1.html

Hmmm...and we wonder why people hate religion!

My bicycle

2007-01-12T05:39:00.000-08:00

The long awaited for bike is finally here. I am so ready for spring to come so I can test it out. I have wanted to start riding again for a couple of years now...and now I finally can. So Anyone interested in hitting up the trails at Birchfield park in the spring...let me know...AKA Noel, Pete...and whomever else likes to mountain bike.

It's coming.....

2007-01-12T05:33:00.000-08:00

Computer Issues

2007-01-09T05:17:00.000-08:00

First things first...

To all of you who read this....sorry about not posting. My computer at home is fritzing when it comes to Internet connection. It's really irritating. Pete is suppose to help me get 'er working again...we just haven't hooked up and worked on the issue. However, I do have some time and a connection at the moment....so I will blog.

First...Holla and I have been house hunting. Not a bad thing...kind of frustrating thing at times...but it has been an interesting adventure thus far. We both know things we want in a house, and things we don't. Location is important...the neighborhood is important. We have all these wants....but really just want God to show us what he wants. It is interesting to struggle with our wants and his. I know he wants what is best for us...and sometimes it is easy to see what is best for us...and sometimes it isn't. So we are really trusting God does some work on our hearts to show us his will in the house hunting season.

Second...I love teaching...mainly because I get the awesome breaks...like two weeks around Christmas. :o) But also because it allows me to reach alot of kids and people. God can use me in great ways as a teacher.

Well...my time is limited...but I will try to keep updating as long as I can get on the internet.

Got Faith...Got Art??

2006-12-15T11:15:00.001-08:00

Check out this girl's artwork...simply amazing.

2006-12-14T09:35:00.001-08:00

One Punk Under God

2006-12-14T04:52:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK (AP) -- He was born into the glare of televangelist parents Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. Then the "Praise the Lord" empire collapsed in scandal. His father went to jail for fraud.

Jay Bakker spent his teens in the darkness, rebelling and bent on self-destruction from alcohol and drugs.

But now, with his 31st birthday next week, this tattooed, multi-pierced pilgrim is on a righteous path: preaching God's grace to a flock of young, downtrodden and disillusioned parishioners most any other church would turn away.

Jay is the focus of "One Punk Under God: The Prodigal Son of Jim & Tammy Faye," a reality series about the back-to-basics church he calls Revolution, which, notwithstanding his decade-long sobriety, holds services in an Atlanta bar.

Check out the full Story!

Ask a Ninja...the know everything!

2006-11-28T05:47:00.000-08:00

So if you need to know an answer to one of life's tough questions....just ask this guy. He will let you know Ninja style what you need to know! :o)

Can you master the Headspin?!

2006-11-22T06:57:00.001-08:00

So you wanna be a breakdancer!?

2006-11-22T06:56:00.001-08:00

Someday's you just feel like this...

2006-11-20T20:04:00.001-08:00

Click to here how someday's you just wanna kick someone's kiester.

Some more Transformers Stuff...

2006-11-15T07:26:00.000-08:00

Here comes the Transfomer Commercials....

2006-11-15T06:58:00.000-08:00

Once again...a new Transformers thang....thanks Noel

2006-11-15T06:56:00.001-08:00

2006-11-15T06:51:00.001-08:00

Long Time....no talkie

2006-11-09T05:46:00.000-08:00

I have been swamped lately with school, conferences, and other stuff. Thus no posting. I have had some interesting talks this week with people about stepping out in faith. I think God is using me in some realy unusual ways. I am a coach...sort of. He has been talking through me to encourage others not to be afraid, and to "Own It". It has all come about I think because I stepped out in faith and offered up my car back to God...another really long story...check it out here. So now he is using me big time and it feels really good. I am excited to see God move and am expected the impossible. This is kind of a change for me, that is, giving up things for God. I have a tendency to take from God and be really thankful...but now I am giving back and finding wonderful joy.

Justin...HMB's cousin

2006-10-20T08:39:00.000-07:00

Holly's cousin Justin. I have been praying like crazy....he is in Iraq...and was injured yesterday.

Sweet Running Shoes...with an Ipod

2006-10-20T05:37:00.000-07:00

So if you like Running...you must check out these shoes from Nike.

I might have to buy me and my sweetie some of these!

Praise You in This Storm

2006-10-17T05:29:00.000-07:00

On my way to school today I heard this song by Casting Crowns...and well it about sums up a lot of things.

Praise You In This Storm
I was sure by now
That You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

Pissed off Tiger Fan!

2006-10-17T05:25:00.001-07:00

I have wanted to see the Detroit Tigers play in the World Series since I can't even remember. I have been a Tigers fan since I could walk and talk. There are people out there who have World Series Tickets and don't give a rip about the Tigers. That just doesn't seem right! They are racking people over the coals if they want a set of Tickets just to make some money. I understand the value of these Tickets, but come on.....over $1000 for a pair of tickets to a baseball game. I love baseball and I love my Tigers, but who can really afford tickets at the price!? It really pisses me off! I was lucky enough to go see game four of ALCS at Comerica Park with Holly and it was stinkin' amazing!...but I think that Ty Cobb would be rolling over in his grave at the way people are capitalizing on shear luck of the draw by buying tickets to a Team and Game they must not love!

What up now!?

2006-10-13T17:57:00.000-07:00

Who's Your Tiger?!

2006-10-06T05:37:00.000-07:00

Go Tigers!!!

2006-10-06T05:31:00.000-07:00

oh ya...Tigers tied it up 1-1 against the best team money can buy. Go Detroit!!! Kick those bronx bums butts!

Some things to pray about

2006-10-06T05:30:00.000-07:00

Hey for those of you out there who pray....a couple of requests:

1) My mom went in for hip replacement surgery today...at 9:30A.M.

2) My grandmother has been having heart failure for some time. It is getting a lot worse. So pray that she comes to terms with it and has peace with God. She is a Christian, but I think is having a difficult time with accepting total forgiveness.

Ships

2006-10-06T05:04:00.002-07:00

We recently started a small group with Chuck and Di...and some other people. We being Holly and I. It was really interesting because there was a wide range of ages in the group and a wide range of "ages" of Christians. Newbies..and Oldies. The topic of discussion was the Armor of God. Interesting topic all by itself, but Chuck took it a little further and made some comparisons. For instance...is the "Church" (that is the believing body of Christ) more like a Battleship or a Cruise ship? Or rather...which is it suppose to be? What are the parts of each ship and what is their purpose? I could go on and on. We really didn't conclude anything, but it got us all thinking.

My question is who is our enemy? Is it the person that we can't stand at work...or school? Is it the rude waitress at the bar? Is it the guy who takes your parking spot at the grocery store? OR....is it someone else. The Bible makes it pretty clear. Satan is God's enemy and since we are his bride...then he is our enemy too! Peter warns us to be prepared. Keep your eyes focused on God and walk with him and you will resist/rebuke Satan. Satan only has power if you give it to him. If you give him and inch...he will find a way to make that inch a mile.

So then how do we combat the enemy in our own lives...and help others to see that he is the enemy? It is no wonder to me that the Bible refers to the Armor of God as Armor. We do need it. I don't think we need to go looking for fights to do battle...most times the battles find us as Christians. But we must always be prepared. The ultimate fight is the Lords...but we must protect ourselves by staying sheltered in his shadow. But how do we do that? Some simple things...read your Bible and become familiar with the Word of God. Pray and have time with God. Take time to worship God and praise him. I mean everyday! Not just holidays and Sundays...but everyday. That is how we stay sharp as a Christain...that is how we resist the Devil and then by doing so God will shine so brightly through us that Satan can't touch us. If God is with us....who really can be against us....and win?!

Updated....finally

2006-10-06T05:04:00.001-07:00

So one reason I haven't updated is because Blogger Beta has kind of sucked. It has been screwy with my page set up and made me mad. It was suppose to allow you to place items wherever you wanted, but it has been randomly placing stuff where it is not suppose to go or like it is doing now...cropping images for no reason... let's just say they have a lot of kinks to get out of this!

Ok..it has been a long while since I have posted. Lots of updates...so hold on.

Early Birthday Presents....

2006-09-14T19:52:00.000-07:00

I turn 28 on Saturday. I would like to ask for an early birthday present from all who read this blog...buy me an easy Pick MEGA Millions ticket for tomarrow 9/15/06. The jackpot is $163 Million. Seriously....hook me up...I will share the wealth if I win...they are only a $1. :op

Well...even if I don't win the lotto...I still plan on having a good day for my birthday.

2006-09-08T05:47:00.000-07:00

The Story....

So let's back up to 1994....I am riding a bus on my way to a wrestling meet (I am a freshman) and there comes along the cute (senior) wrestling manager and she asks if she can sit with me...my reaction...heck ya!She is older, but I keep my cool....and then the radio plays one of the best songs ever.... "John Deere Green", by Joe Diffie. I, of course, sing the song to said girl and she thinks I am oh so sweet and cute...hmmm. But her reply is "oh...you'll grow out of country music someday..."

Speed ahead to 2005. Said girl and I go to a concert..."What concert was it professor?!!" Well kids..."It was a Joe Diffie concert!"That's right...Joe Diffie almost 12 years later... and I will be danged if that song wasn't played again and of course I had to sing it to her again..and by the way...I was wearing the same cowboy boots I was wearing in 1994. Hmmm...oh so interesting.

This bring us to the story at hand...Holly and I have been dating on a off for the past almost 4 years. Our history obviously goes back even further. Well, after dating someone that long...and patiently waiting for God's lead...I decided it was time to ask her "THE QUESTION" for real (not pretend...like I had so many other times)...but how to do it? For almost a month I had to plan it all out as I waited for the ring to be made. I struck a deal and helped design a webpage for Wheat Jewelers in exchange for some custom ring making(....that's a whole other story). As I waited for my creating to come to life...I had plenty of time to come up with the perfect plan. What more fitting, but to build our favorite song and make it come to life. I decided to design and build( over the next two months) a 7 foot mini-water tower...but why the water tower?

(You see, in the song "John Deere Green" Billy-bob loves Charlene so much he climbs on the towns water tower and paints a ten foot heart and writes Billy-bob Loves Charlene in John Deere Green paint. The whole town thought he was nuts for using that color, but it was the thought that counted for Charlene. )

So I plan it all out...her family built and owned the Lainsburg Golf course...she even helped put in the second 9 holes....so I figured that would be the perfect place....on Labor Day...but how to get her there. So her dad and I came up with a plan...I "needed" golf clubs and her dad still works there so we could go see him and barrow his...right?...Holly decides to go see her friend Kate in Traverse City...for the weekend...and won't be home till Monday...but she surprises me by showing up Sunday...which I think sets up the stage perfectly for Monday...I have her dad call her and make the arrangements to get her to the course with me....but she is too smart for the "trap"...but goes along anyways...and it is all I can do to keep my cool and not give it away too bad. So the next morning I get all the arrangements done...Pete and Jenny set up the tower at the golf course and I pick up the Bride to Be...hopefully...

As I pull in I notice how upset she is...she goes on for the next 40 minute car ride explaining a terrible nightmare revolving around not being ready to be married and an ugly ring that I gave her in the dream that looked like it was wrapped in tin foil or something...and inside I start freaking out! I keep thinking in my head...oh crap...abort mission...abort mission...but God keeps me cool. I calmly listen and trust God. To compound matters more...it was the same day Steve Irwin died...the croc hunter....which also made us both upset. As we get Laingsburg, I decide to give her an out..."we can get the clubs another time...let's go home..."

To my surprise...she says.."No let's just go see what my dad wants." Keeping my cool worked! God rocks! I couldn't believe it. I was so nervous I could feel myself sweating as we pulled into the golf course parking lot and down toward the work shed where we might find her dad. We get out and look around....no Chuck B. Which is exactly according to plan...but not according to plan was Frankie...a kid that Chuck B had as an accomplice.

Holly to Frankie: "Have you seen my dad? Chuck Beavers?"
Frankie: "He is over working on number 18...over that hill!"

I coudn't believe it...as I turned and walked toward 18 I could see my creation (a seven foot wooden based white water tower with the big green letters and heart JOEY LOVES HOLLY)...but Holly doesn't see it. This kind of releives me...so I start walking across the fairway, but Holly calls me back...we can't just walk across the fairway....we need to walk along the tree line and over the hill. So I turn and head back up the hill...and as I walked toward her...she sees it behind me!

PAUSE STORY...I can't explain to you just how cute and shocked her grin was....as she exclaimed..."what's that?!!"...and my calm response..."what's what?" She was smiling ear to ear and she didn't know what to do...it was so awesome!

RESUME STORY..."What's what?"..."That!!" Pointing toward the water tower...over my shoulder.My response..."I don't know...maybe we should go see. I think it's ok...let's walk over there across the green."I take her hand and we walk hand in hand across the fresh cut grass toward the rose lined path that led to the tower...as we get closer I reached in my pocket and pressed play on the hidden remote control I had been carrying...and you guessed it..."John Deere Green" comes on over tiny speakers I had mounted on the tower. She was so shocked...and was grinning...and kind of crying...not knowing what exactly to say or do.

"What's going on? What is this?"..she asked...I took her hand and looked into her eyes and and got down on my knee..."Holly...I know I love you and I want to be your husband... would you marry me...I promise the ring isn't made of tin foil...and I opened the box...slipped the ring on her finger and she said....."ok" ;oP It was so cool. We even got a congrats from people who teed off on the hole about 5 minutes later.

She was so surprise...at the way I asked. We spent the rest of the day visiting friends and family...and even a friend in jail...but that is another story.God Rocks...and now I get the marry the most smartest, wonderful, beautiful girl in the world...Holly Marie...I love you!So yes it is true...I am going to be marrying St. Holly Fantastic!...a bonified super hero! ;o)

Things to come

2006-09-07T19:12:00.000-07:00

this is a test