Long Day!

It has been awhile since my last post...I feel like I say that every post, and yet it is always true. haha! I didn't blog about Thanksgiving and all our time with family. I didn't blog about the massive ice storm we had here either. The ice storm caused mass chaos throughout the state. We had 650,000 people without power...which is a ridiculous amount of people. I also didn't blog about taking care of a farm as a favor to a family member during the same time as the ice storm. We had to take care of two horses, some cattle, and two dogs. I definitely had some new experiences during that time, being a city boy and all.

Today, we had to get up and head to Choctaw for Liz's family Christmas party. All her aunts, uncles, and cousins get together this time of year to celebrate and eat some grub. The food was good, and it is always fun getting together with her family....some of them are SO FUNNY!!

After the party, we had to take Addy to her first gymnastic meet. For those that didn't know, she has been taking gymnastics at Bart Connors for about 3-4 months. She was SO excited....she got her first trophy!!! It didn't matter that everyone got a trophy...all that mattered was the one she got! When we take her, it is so difficult to see anything because you pretty much stay in the lobby looking through a glass window. For the meet, they let family in there for the show. We got to see everything they had been working on up close. Addy and all the other kids did so well...I thought it was so neat.

After gymastics, we squeezed in some of the lovely Christmas shopping! We went to Walmart, the mall, and Mardels....we ate dinner somewhere in there. The shopping part was CRAZY!!!! There were SO many people...I had to wait in line at a store (here at the Norman mall) to pay for about 30 minutes. Just to find stuff in there was horrible with SO many people in a small place.

We just got home...we are ready for bed. So I'm gonna stop right here. Just thought I would post something....I know all of you have been waiting patiently for a post. I can't keep the millions of you that are interested waiting any longer. PEACE!!!

My Dad and Addy

I forgot about this picture until I stumbled across it on my work computer. It is too funny! I thought I would share...

Random Thoughts...


Home Work
I got those wood floors installed over last weekend. I put in 13 hours on Saturday and another 8 on Sunday. It was definitely some hard work, but the finished product was worth it. I will get some pictures taken and post them on here. We installed the flooring in the living room, dining area, and master bedroom...about 700 square feet. It was definitely a good experience.

We got a pretty good deal on the flooring, along with not doing as much as originally thought...so we are using the extra money (not a ton) to do a few extra things. Liz and I can't stand gold/brass fixtures, so we are replacing a few lights in the house. We are doing a few window treatments. Also, we are attempting to paint kitchen cabinet/drawer handles...along with door knobs. We aren't sure how the painting will go, so we will keep our fingers crossed...it is just so expensive to replace a large quantity.


Decorating
Liz is off work today, so her and Addy are decorating for Christmas. Yes, I know it is the day BEFORE Thanksgiving, but Addy won't be home until late Sunday (or 7am Monday, just depends) because she is going with her daddy to Dallas to see his family for the holiday break. Also, it is his regular weekend. I'm glad they are taking care of the decorating now, while I am at work...less work for me. haha!


Rock Band!
I really want this game for the xbox 360. I have been wanting it from the time I first heard about it. You get drums, guitar, and a mic with the game...you get to play instruments along with famous/popular songs. I think it would be very fun. There are two problems, though.

First, it is pretty expensive at $169 plus tax. It would be tough for me to spend that much money for something that won't be used but maybe once a week. Second, even if I could spend the money...you can't find one!

I still want one, but I will have to settle hearing all my friends and co-workers go on and on about how cool the game is. I work with 3 people that already have it and love it! I'm really trying not to be a jealous person. haha!

Thanksgiving
I love this holiday...my second favorite behind Christmas. I honestly believe that everyday should be thanksgiving.

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name." (Psalm 100:4)

I am so thankful every single day for all that the Lord has provided. I am SO blessed! I could go on and on forever about my blessings. Like our pastor, Craig Groeschel, says...we live in a house, soft beds, with our heat and air conditioning, full pantry and refrigerator, get in our cars, with heated seats...and there are people in the world that won't eat today! We should not be comfortable knowing this...we should ache for people in the world. We don't realize, even the small things we take for granted, just how stinkin' blessed we are! Now it is my duty to share those blessings to others...we should strive to share the love of Jesus in our lives. I am thankful everyday...I don't need a holiday to remind me that I need to be. It is still nice, though!

We live in the most blessed country in the world, serve the most amazing God, and have so much to be thankful for. What if, we lived as though we believed it?

Another STEP closer!

After many delays, we are almost there...we are getting real close to having our wood floors. After many mix ups with the store we purchased from (and them trying to mess up our plan), we should have at least most of the flooring, if not all, installed this weekend. We are so excited! It is purchased and should be delivered today.

We will stay at Liz's parents this weekend, then I will go back and forth with her dad...which is helping me install it all. Hopefully, it will all be complete. We are putting it in the entry, living room, dining room, and master bedroom. Just say NO to stained carpet! ;-)

Pride of Oklahoma!

I have to admit...I have never been a big fan of our OU band, the Pride of Oklahoma. I love Boomer Sooner and all that...but I could never stand their halftime shows. I always thought they were boring and so traditional. I love those type of "think outside the box" marching bands. I have to give it up to the OU band this past weekend. I would have loved to be in attendance for the game, but I always end up watching on tv. I missed a treat, if only I had been there. Thank goodness there is the internet where I can still enjoy the show. By the way, Addy (step-daughter) is a huge fan of the movie 13 going on 30, she loves the song/dance of Thriller...I'm sure she would love this, too!

Baby for the Weekend...

Ok, we get to play "parents of a baby" for the weekend. This is the best baby and definitely so, so CUTE!! It is one of Liz's daycare kids and we love her to death. We've been begging to get to keep her overnight, and we finally got our wish. Actually, it is even better...not only did we get to keep her last night, but we also get to keep her tonight. We've had a blast. Liz got her all fixed up with a hair band and bow that she made...also, she got her all dressed up in some of Addy's clothes when she was that size. We went out and showed her off...she looked so cute and turned several heads.

I have to say...after all this, I definitely want a baby. It was such a good feeling being out with a baby and having everyone oogle over her. Plus, our baby will always be so cute and fixed up...whether a boy or a girl. I can't wait! I also have to say, I couldn't imagine being a single parent doing everything myself. Liz did all the work during the night...I am glad I have such an awesome wife, which is also an amazing parent. Thanks to our friend Jessica for letting us have her baby for the weekend!

Child of God!


A seminary professor was vacationing with his wife in Gatlinburg, TN.
One morning, they were eating breakfast at a little restaurant, hoping to
enjoy a quiet, family meal. While they were waiting for their food, they
noticed a distinguished looking, white-haired man moving from table to
table, visiting with the guests. The professor leaned over and whispered
to his wife, 'I hope he doesn't come over here.' But sure enough, the man
did come over to their table.

'Where are you folks from?' he asked in a friendly voice.

'Oklahoma,' they answered.

'Great to have you here in Tennessee ,' the stranger said. 'What do you do
for a living?'

'I teach at a seminary,' he replied.

'Oh, so you teach preachers how to preach, do you? Well, I've got a really
great story for you.' And with that, the gentleman pulled up a chair and
sat down at the table with the couple.

The professor groaned and thought to himself, 'Great .. Just what I need
...another preacher story!'

The man started, 'See that mountain over there? (pointing out the
restaurant window). Not far from the base of that mountain, there was a
boy born to an unwed mother. He had a hard time growing up, because every
place he went, he was always asked the same question, 'Hey boy, Who's your
daddy?' Whether he was at school, in the grocery store or drug store,
people would ask the same question, 'Who's your daddy?'

He would hide at recess and lunchtime from other students. He would avoid
going into stores because that question hurt him so bad.. 'When he was
about 12 years old, a new preacher came to his church. He would always go
in late and slip out early to avoid hearing the question,
'Who's your daddy?'

But one day, the new preacher said the benediction so fast that he got
caught and had to walk out with the crowd.

Just about the time he got to the back door, the new preacher, not knowing
anything about him, put his hand on his shoulder and asked him, 'Son,
who's your daddy?'

The whole church got deathly quiet. He could feel every eye in the church
looking at him. Now everyone would finally know the answer to the
question, 'Who's your daddy?'

'This new preacher, though, sensed the situation around him and using
discernment that only the Holy Spirit could give, said the following to
that scared little boy.. 'Wait a minute! I know who you are! I see the
family resemblance now. You are a child of God.'

With that he patted the boy on his shoulder and said, 'Boy, you've got a
great inheritance. Go and claim it.'

'With that, the boy smiled for the first time in a long time and walked
out the door a changed person. He was never the same again. Whenever
anybody asked him, 'Who's your Daddy?' he'd just tell them, ''I'm a Child
of God.''

The distinguished gentleman got up from the table and said, 'Isn't that a
great story?'

The professor responded that it really was a great story!

As the man turned to leave, he said, 'You know, if that new preacher
hadn't told me that I was one of God's children, I probably never would
have amounted to anything!' And he walked away.

The seminary professor and his wife were stunned. He called the waitress
over &asked her, 'Do you know who that man was -- the one who just left
that was sitting at our table?'

The waitress grinned and said, 'Of course. Everybody here knows him.
That's Ben Hooper. He's the former governor of Tennessee!'

Someone in your life today needs a reminder that, above all else, they're one of
God's children!

'The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of God stands
forever.' ~~Isaiah

YOU'RE ONE OF GOD'S CHILDREN!!! HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Future of the Church 2 (of 5)


More Bible, Less Fluff

When I was a kid, many churches didn’t engage my generation. Most of my friends “went to church” but we didn’t follow Christ. The American church (for the most part) lost touch with how to engage the younger generations.

The church needed to change. And it did. We needed to become more relevant in the way we engaged non-believers, challenged believers, and presented God’s Word. One result was the “seeker-sensitive” church. This movement brought some very positive changes, including:

We don’t assume everyone is a believer when they come to church.
We don’t assume everyone knows our language, has a Bible, or even cares about Christ.
We are more outward-focused.
In my opinion though, in recent years, the pendulum has swung too far. Now, in some places, church is so relevant that we almost seem to worship culture more than Christ.

It’s sad to me when pastors think a church must have:

Cool lights and videos
A coffee shop
Sermon series with catchy titles and intro videos
A stool and a table on the stage
Buildings with no Christian symbols
_________________
(Fill in your own blank. There are too many of these things to list.)

When people do finally come to church, we should help them experience Christ—not just something that looks like a rock concert, coffee bar, or movie theater.

(I’m not saying they can’t experience Christ in those environments. I’m saying that some churches are putting more energy into environments than into the preaching of God’s Word.)

Environments don’t change lives. Christ changes lives.

The churches that thrive will be Biblical churches. God’s Word will be preached. People will feel uncomfortable, challenged, convicted. The future church will be more about preaching and living God’s Word than about attracting people with clever sermon titles, videos, and programs. Sure, we might use those things (or maybe not… GASP!). But only those who preach God’s Word will thrive. The rest will die

Going All The Way...

Our pastor Craig Groeschel at LifeChurch recently wrote another book, this one called "Going All The Way". I can't wait to have the chance to read it! This book is meant to help people prepare for a Godly marriage. I have been married for over a year now, but I still can't wait to read and apply God's word into my marriage.

You can find out more about our pastor and the church at www.lifechurch.tv

Future of the Church part 1 (of 5)

I told you about this reading from my Senior Pastor at LifeChurch, Craig Groeschel. This is a series on his theory of the future of the church....

What will the local church look like in the next ten to twenty years? This week I’ll offer some of my theories.

I’m writing from an American perspective. (Those of you around the world can help broaden my perspective.) Many of you will disagree. Please express your theories and we’ll learn from each other.

Larger and Smaller
Churches will become larger and smaller.

Some say mega-churches won’t last. Others think megas represents the only future. Some are convinced small churches will all die. Others believe small churches will be the only ones left standing.

I believe large churches will grow larger and small churches will increase in number.

Here’s why I believe this to be true:

The mega church can do so much with an abundance of resources (including money and people) having a regional, national or international impact. As multi-site ministries expand, the ability to reach more people efficiently will enable churches to grow exponentially.

To me, the biggest downside is that many people are becoming increasingly skeptical (even hateful) of mega-ministries.

As some people reject the mega version of church, house churches will also thrive. (The mega church actually can have both, but that’s a whole other subject.)

On the positive side of house churches, people can engage in deep community and thrive in Acts 2-like living. The danger (in my opinion) is that these groups could easily barricade themselves from the rest of the world and become inwardly focused.

In my opinion, the mid-sized churches will struggle the most to survive and thrive.

I’d caution people from taking pride in their preferred church size. Bigger is not best. Smaller is not best. Whether large, mid-sized, or small, the important thing is that Christ is preached and the gospel is lived.

What do you think?

Hey Everyone!!!

How is everyone doing? I know, it is like a month in between my posts. I don't want to be a once a month blogger...it has just gone that way lately.

I thought I was finished with the hotel life. Apparently, I'm am pulling a one nighter back in this particular Elk City hotel. The good news is I'm not working at Sayre...a little place that I'd love to forget. I spent 7 weeks straight in this hotel while working at that place and hated every second. Tonight I am here for one night while helping at in Butler, which is about 25 miles from here...but this is the about as close as you can get to a hotel. haha!

There is nothing I hate more than being away from my wife overnight. I know she gets a little better sleep, so she doesn't mind it every now and then. She gets tired of it after a couple days, too. I mean, she likes the help around the house, too. I just can't sleep at all if she is not beside me. I will be awake half the night...sleep a little, wake up, etc. The falling asleep is the most difficult. How did I make it 25 years, I don't know. haha! Again, I am so happy it is only for one night...I can't complain. I think about military and so many people go for long periods of time apart. My heart goes out to them!

I have been reading something interesting from Craig Groeschel (our Senior Pastor at LifeChurch) about the future of churches in the next 10 to 20 years. It is his theory on the "future church"...some of you may have seen this already. I will be sharing some of that with you over the next couple days...stay tuned!

AMAZING GRACE...

Props to my friend Jimmy for posting this...I just wanted to share it.

Just Another Day...

You know the life...just dining with OU football coach Bob Stoops. That is just how I roll! We went out to Red Lobster tonight...some guy comes up to the table wanting to take a picture with me. I kindly obliged...

The Silent Killer...

My wife sent me this link, it is very powerful and troubling. We have definitely made changes in our lifestyle...with more to come as we are able to discipline ourselves. Check this out:


A silent killer that’s worse than alcohol, nicotine, and drugs is likely lurking in your kitchen cabinets and even your child’s school cafeteria. It’s monosodium glutamate (MSG), a flavor enhancer that’s known widely as an addition to Chinese food, but that’s actually added to thousands of the foods you eat.

In the following videos, you’ll find out why Dr. Russell Blaylock, a board-certified neurosurgeon, describes MSG as a dangerous excitotoxin, and learn how this toxin could be making you fat.

Bad Blogger

Wow, I have not been a very good blogger. Not that many people outside of my wife and mother-in-law pay much attention to my blog anyway. I have been out of town much of the last 7 weeks for business. I can't stand being gone now...I miss life at home way too much. I find myself sleeping only a hour here and there throughout the night, simply because my wife isn't right beside me. Hopefully, that is pretty much over with and I won't have to stay overnight anywhere for a long time.

I took last Thursday off work, as did Liz. Liz had a doctor appointment at 10:30, then after that we were going to the fair. We had a little incident in finding our Disney on Ice tickets for the evening, so after the doctor visit we had to go back to the house. It turned out to be a blessing because we received a call on our way back from an old daycare parent. She was extremely, extremely sick and desperately needed someone to care for her child for what turned out to be 2 nights.

Liz and I were glad that we could help...the lady's friends and family all live in Tulsa. We were definitely glad to help and figured it was the Lord's plan for us to come back home for those tickets. We picked him up from his current daycare provider and took him with us to the fair.

We had a blast at the fair...Addy called it "the best day of her life!". Liz and I haven't been in about 7 years. Addy got her picture taken while holding a 6 week old white tiger...and also while riding a camel. We got to see and do so much...plus, we helped ourselves in the fair food department. We were out there from like 1:00pm - 6:30pm...after that we went inside for the Disney on Ice show.

We waited in line and got up to the door...just to be told that we had to check all strollers into the white tent (we had one for the kid we were watching). After that, we finally made it back through the line and to our seats. Addy screamed at times, and she sang along with the songs...it was worth the cost of the tickets for her to have such a good time. Right near the end, I told Liz that I was going to get his stroller before the rush. I timed that about right, because right after I got his a mass of people started pouring out of the building.

I thought we were ahead of the game by doing so...we got to the car and pulled out of the parking spot at 9:15pm...we made it out of the parking lot at 11:20pm. It was FREAKIN' ridiculous! People getting out of their cars, yelling, honking, and even people getting out to write another car's license plate number. At least we had some entertainment during a 2 hour fiasco. It was just ridiculous that people are so impatient and think that cutting other people off is going to get them that much further ahead. If everyone would just be patient and wait their turn, it would go amazingly faster.

We made it home around midnight and got everyone to bed. It was really a fun day, especially with all the missed family time while I was gone...it was real nice.

Hymn #365

I got this in an email from my mom...I thought it was pretty funny. I thought I would share it with you to enjoy, too. Here ya go:


A minister was completing a Temperance sermon. With great emphasis he said, "If I had all the beer in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river."

With even greater emphasis he said, "And if I had All the wine in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river."

And then finally, shaking his fist in the air, he Said, "And if I had all the whiskey in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river."

Sermon complete, he sat down.
The song leader stood very cautiously and announced With a smile, nearly laughing, "For our closing song, Let us sing Hymn #365, "Shall We Gather at the River"

So Moving...

My wife posted an incredible skit...it was so powerful. If it is ok with my wife, I will go ahead and post the video here, too.

I Think I Love My Wife...

This past weekend, my wife and I watched a movie called "I Think I Love My Wife". We won't even talk about all the f-bombs used in the movie. I want to talk about the story of the movie. There is this investment banker (the main character) who is married with two children. He used to live a more exciting life, then got married, had kids...he feels he lives such a boring life. A girl from his past finds him and is constantly putting the moves on him. He is so attracted to her and just can't seem to help himself. He wants that lady so bad...well, he really just wants sex.

Liz and I just shook our head during this movie constantly. I guess Liz and I just have such a strong view on marriage and commitment. We are loyal to one another, value what God says about marriage, and it just would never cross our minds to even think about cheating or adultery. I guess I have my blinders on, because I didn't think or couldn't imagine doing that...yet alone finding out the following statistic.

50% of men and 42% of women will commit adultery...according to the most conservative survey. I just can't comprehend that statistic.

You shall not commit adultery. Exodus 20:14

It is one of the 10 commandments...how can we just ignore what God has told us not to do?

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Hebrews 13:4

How can I protect my marriage?

1. Radically reduce the risk
Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house, lest you give your best strength to others and your years to one who is cruel, lest strangers feast on your wealth and your toil enrich another man's house. Proverbs 5:8-10

Keep a growing relationship with Christ.

Get accountability.

Never be alone with the opposite sex.

Never talk about your marriage with opposite sex.

Hang around those with strong and faithful marriages.

Get out of inappropriate places.

2. Invest passionately in your marriage.
May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer - may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love. Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another man's wife? Proverbs 5:18-20

3. Visualize the destruction.
For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave... Proverbs 5:3-5

In the movie, he never slept with the girl. One time he was in her apartment and going to give into temptation. As he started to take off his tie, the tie ended up around his head as he looked in the mirror. In the movie, he put his tie around his head while chasing the kids around. He did exactly item #3...He visualized his family time and the kids. He immediately ran home to be with his wife and kids...doing all he can to make his marriage work and never talking to that girl again.

If we reduce the risks, by avoiding those circumstances and focusing on God...if we invest our time and passion into our marriages...and if we visualize the destruction it causes to ourselves, our wife, kids, etc... If we do these things, I don't see how anyone would do those things. I will not be one of the 50%...guaranteed. It just won't happen...I won't allow myself to be in that situation. I won't even go eat lunch alone with another woman...as my wife won't with a man. It is about respecting our marriage and not putting ourselves in that situation. It must be a pretty big topic, if God addresses the issue from every angle and over and over again. I mean, saying you shall not do it in the 10 commandments is clear enough for me...but it goes on to talk about all the circumstances like mentioned above. Plus, if you are still not convinced check out...

Job 24:15, 8
Proverbs 2:16-18
Proverbs 6:25-29, 32-34
Proverbs 7:19-23

By the way, I don't recommend the movie...it wasn't good. That storyline really stuck out to me. The provided ways to protect your marriage are compliments of Craig Groeschel...my pastor at LifeChurch.

As for me...there is no thinking required. I KNOW I love my wife!! I love you, Liz!!

Support Our Troops!

This guy makes me so upset! I'm glad he gets pounded by the host of the tv show. It sure is easy to sit in your air conditioned house playing Dungeons and Dragons, while your freedom is being fought for by many men and women who volunteered. Check this out:


Michael Crook takes a pounding on Fox News

More Videos

SuperTech

As many of you know, I have had to stay out of town either all or a portion of the last 4 weeks. Welcome to Sayre, OK. We have been installing a huge intercom/security surveilance/phone system at the school district there.

I won't bore you with all my 4 weeks there. Lots of hard work and sweat sums that all up. I just had something pretty interesting to share that happened this evening.

After leaving the school at 7pm, we headed back to the hotel...we are staying in Elk City. Upon arrival back at the hotel, I pull my laptop out to check emails and all. No internet...I go down to the front desk and the lady said they have been down for awhile and guests are complaining. She said that she called the general manager (which was on the way) and they will contact someone to fix it.

I told the lady that I do this for a living, if she could tell me where the equipment is I would take a look. She gave me the keys and told me where to go. I had it fixed in less than 2 minutes and walked back to the desk....she essentially wanted to know if I couldn't find the room, I told her that it is already fixed. She was astonished that I got it all back up and running so fast. She gave me a pretty good discount on the room every night for the whole week...the bad part is the company is taking care of the room anyway. I don't get anything out of it...other than it was worth it just to get online faster.

That is it today for the adventures of SuperTech...check back for more stories. ;-)

Marriage Meme!

My mother in-law, Ann, tagged me for the Marriage Meme. I'm supposed to list EIGHT things about my marriage.

Well, let's see. Liz did this already, too...you can read her's here.


1. We met online. She swears that she messaged me and I blew her off...only a month later I ended up messaging her to chat because she was on my friends list (and I didn't remember her). We found out how much we had in common after talking awhile. We are so much alike, it is crazy!

2. On our first date, I met her at the chapel where she works. I picked her up there and headed to Chili's to eat. After eating, it was so late that there wasn't much else to do. We drove around Midwest City and Choctaw showing places/houses from our past. When I took her back to the chapel to her car, she slammed my hand in her car door. Yikes...I should have saw the spousal abuse that accompanied her at that point. I'm still being beaten, pinched, and bit on a daily basis. ;-)

3. We got married after knowing one another only 3 1/2 months. We were engaged after about 2 months. I proposed to her on Easter of 2006. I made her an Easter basket. I had plastic eggs and spelled out Will You Marry Me? with each word being in an egg. Then I also had a stuffed Easter bunny and tied the engagement ring around it's neck with ribbon. Luckily, she didn't see the ring before opening all the eggs...so after she had all the pieces out I untied the ring from the bunny and got down on one knee. It was pretty cool...at least I thought so!

4. We share the same sense of humor. Some people may not like our sarcasm. We enjoy being able to battle it out...we are both quick witted. It can be fun around here, let me tell ya.

5. We both have the same love of the Lord. At first, we had our church differences. I liked where I was, she liked where she was. The problem was, I wasn't open to change because I was "comfortable". I was in my comfy zone and didn't want to change. Deep down, I knew that I had not been really moved by the Spirit or feeling on fire for God in quite some time. I was just going through the motions. After a ton of time in prayer, I was then open to change. I had been taking it personal when we talked about a change, instead of letting the Lord have His way. Now, I have been going to Life Church for over a year every single week. For the first time in my life (since around the first of the year) we tithe every week, give to missions, volunteer/work during extra services, etc...I am remembering what it was like to serve our God. I can't tell you how awesome the services are...both preaching and music. I have never left LifeChurch without an awesome sermon taken to heart!!

6. We both want lots and lots of kids! The plan is to have a child of our own, then adopt a baby from China, then more and more kids to follow. We joke about us needing a 15 passenger van to haul us around...I hope it comes true, though. I would love to be a large family. I will take as many as I am blessed with! Liz has Addy from a previous marriage, which I care for her as if she were my own. BUT I still don't have my own kid. I can't wait to be there from birth and be "Daddy"! I can't express how excited, ready, and anxious I am...if only Liz felt the same right now. She is excited about it, too...we are just trying to wait another year before trying. Things will be a little more stable.

7. We both share the simpler life idea. We want to live in the country, homeschool, prepare our own meals, little to no television, have a vegetable garden, etc. Currently, we have one of those items...we homeschool. Well, Liz does all the teaching...we don't want me to be doing any teaching, now do we? haha! Hopefully, we will get this house sold in a year or two and be able to have some land.

8. I love the time we have together. Every minute with her is like gold to me. Every night, after Addy goes to bed...that is our time. We talk, watch tv/movies, have our intimate times, etc. Addy stays with her daddy every other weekend...so if Liz doesn't work on that Friday night, we usually have some sort of date night...date nights are awesome! We love getting all dressed up to go out. We both think it is important for us to have our romantic times together...and value the time we share together.

The Republican Fisherman

Liz, Addy, and myself just got home a little bit ago. I got to see my wife in action...she is coordinating her cousin's wedding which is tomorrow night. Tonight was the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner. It was nice. Liz is not only coordinating the wedding, but she also put together all the flowers (crosages, bouquets, etc). She has been very busy this week...that wouldn't be because she waited until the week of the wedding to do the flowers, though *sarcasm*. It is late, and I wasn't going to blog today. I had this sent to me and thought it was kinda funny. Here it is:

The Republican Fisherman

A woman in a hot air balloon realized she was lost. She lowered her altitude and spotted a man in a boat below. She shouted to him, "Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."

The man consulted his portable GPS and replied, "You're in a hot air balloon, approximately 30 feet above a ground elevation of 2346 feet above sea level. You are at 31 degrees, 14.97 minutes north latitude and 100 degrees, 49.09 minutes west longitude."

She rolled her eyes and said, "You must be a Republican."

"I am," replied the man. "How did you know?"

"Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to do with your information, and I'm still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help to me."

The man smiled and responded, "You must be a Democrat."

"I am," replied the balloonist. "How did you know?"

"Well," said the man, "you don't know where you are or where you are going. You've risen to where you are, due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise that you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. You're in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but, somehow, now, it's my fault."

Update...

Liz pointed out to me that I haven't blogged in quite awhile. It is funny how fast time flies. I didn't think it had been that long...sure enough. Let's see...

I was out of town all last week for work...I got home Thursday evening around 5:30, then Friday off to go along with my weekend. Friday night, Liz and I attended Addy's final swim lesson for the summer. She has come a very long way in one summer...from not wanting her face to touch the water, to jumping off the diving board in 12 foot of water. After her swim lesson, it was her weekend with her daddy. They went to Dallas for the weekend to see his family. Liz didn't have to work for a change, so we had a nice little date night. We went out for a steak dinner at Salt Grass Steakhouse...very, very good. After that, we went to see a movie at theater...which we had not done since last November. It was very nice to go out all dressed up and have some quality time together. I love every minute I get to share with her...unless she is cranky. ;-)

I can't really remember Saturday. Oh yes, Liz worked all day and I stayed home working on the house and stuff.

Sunday, LifeChurch finished up a very cool series At The Movies. Pastor Craig took popular movies, showed clips and gave a message along with it. Next week starts a new series, "30 Days To Live" which we are very excited about. I'll keep you informed.

I'm back out of town for work, though this time it is only for tonight. I can't wait to get back home to my wife...I always miss her and can't stand being away from her overnight. I get hardly any sleep if she is not by my side...how did I make it most of my life without her?

That kinda gives you an update...I will try and do better.

Happy Birthday To Me....Tomorrow

Yes, I will be 27 years old tomorrow. It is amazing how fast time flies. I can't believe I have been out of school for 9 years. I can't believe I have been at my current job for 7 years. I can't believe I have been married for over a year. Time truly does fly.

Last night, my parents (and my aunt Carol) came over to join us. I grilled burgers and some Sante Fe Chicken. They brought some baked beans, a birthday cake (graham cracker cake), and made some homemade ice cream, which I absolutely loved! I was hoping we would get to play a game of cards or something, but we had so much to visit about that we never quite made it back to the table after eating. I am so glad they were able to come over, it was wonderful getting to spend some time with them!

Today, we got up and took our new dog to the vet to get him checked out. After that, we went by a few garage sales. Then we lounged around the house for a few hours. Liz had to work at the chapel this evening, so it is just me around the house. Liz took Addy to spend the night with her grandma...she only lives a few miles away from the chapel and always loves being with Ann. We will meet back up with them tomorrow at church. I'm not sure if Addy is spending the afternoon with them or not? Sometimes things are so hectic that I can't keep up with things.

That is really all I had to say...can I quit having birthdays now? I am ready for them to stop. I haven't been blogging much lately...I just can't think of anything exciting to talk about and I feel like I just repeat myself. I don't know.

Liz and Me

1. Who eats more?
Definitely me...I can put food away, obviously.

2. Who said "I love you" first?
I don't remember...all that matters is that we love one another.

3. Who sings better?
Liz does...I love when she sings.

4. Who's Older?
Me...6 months and a day older.

5. Who's smarter?
We are both intelligent...though we are both smarter in particular (but different) areas.

6. Whose temper is worse?
That would probably be mine...sometimes I don't take criticism too well, especially after an already long day.

7. Who does the laundry?
Neither of us...seriously. We wash some when we run out, though we never have 1/4 cleaned at once.

8. Who does the dishes?
We both wash dishes.

9. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?
Liz does.

10. Whose feet are bigger?
Mine.

11. Whose hair is longer?
Obviously, Liz's.

12. Whose better with the computer?
Me...it is my job and all.

13. Who mows the lawn?
I do...I don't want my wife to ever do it. I feel it is the man's job. How could I feel like a man, being inside while my wife was in the heat mowing the yard?

14. Who pays the bills?
We both do.

15. Who cooks dinner?
We both do some...unless it is fast food.

16. Who drives when you are together?
Mostly, me. I drive probably 90% of the time...that is usually because Liz is putting on makeup on the ride.

17. Who pays when you go out to dinner?
Usually me, unless she has the cash.

18. Who's the most stubborn?
We both are. ;-)

19. Who is the first one to admit when they're wrong?
Neither!

20. Whose parents do you see more?
Liz's. She works in Choctaw on the weekends, so we usually end up spending the night. We both love my parents, and we can't wait to spend time with them.

21. Who named your dog?
We just kept the dog's previous name.

22. Who kissed who first?
Liz kissed me...yep.

23. Who asked who out?
Liz asked me out to a concert at Oklahoma Christian...she asked me the same day and I couldn't make it. The next time, I asked to meet her on my way back from Broken Bow...we had our first date then.

24. Who's more sensitive?
Liz is...though she will swear that I am.

25. Who's taller?
Me, by a centimeter.

26. Who has more friends?
We both have a bunch.

27. Who has more siblings?
Liz does.

28. Who wears the pants in the relationship?
I DO! No matter what she thinks.

Got Promoted!

I already blogged about my Saturday and how much work I got done. I will just talk about Sunday this time.

I think I told you a week or two ago that Liz and I serve during two other services, so we are there from 9:30am-2:30pm. The first service we are part of the Host Team...we are ushers, we greet people (open door, help find them a seat, etc) and at the end of service we take up the offering.

We attend the 11:30am service, then for the 1pm service...we serve in the LifeKids area. Two weeks ago I worked with 4 year olds (Liz rocked babies), then last week we were with ToonTown (6 years old-3rd grade). They let you move around to different classes until you find what you like...well we really liked that class...that is where we wanted to serve. We just help out with the kids and all. There is another couple in there like us...then there is an emcee and a dj/producer. The emcee does all the talking (besides the dvd) and creates all the kid interaction...the dj/producer is in charge of running the lights, sound board, dvd, just the man who makes the show go.

Well, we went into our LifeKids class today. The man who was the dj/producer for awhile said that he is now working Saturday nights and won't be in there. Not sure why he switched and they didn't have anybody ready to fill in. They went and got one of the employees of the church, he gave me a quick 2 minute intro to how it all works. Now I guess I'm the new dj/producer of LifeKids ToonTown. It went pretty well...there is a lot to do and remember. Liz said she couldn't even tell that it was my first time. Matter of fact, it went so well that she just thought it was a one button operation...that is until she came up there to where I sit and checked it out. I have a computer with a lot of sliders/buttons that controls the light show. I have a knobs for window shades and main lights in the room. I have the sound board that controls all the microphones and audio for the dvd players and program. There is quite a bit of equipment up there for a "class". It went really well, and it sounds like they just want me to do it. I got a promotion on my second week on the job...the guy showing me and the emcee both kept saying "did you like it", "how did it go", "is it something you'd like to do"....so I figure they want me to do it.

After church, we hurried home to get a ton of free homeschool stuff out of the garage. A few weeks ago, we were given tons of stuff from a lady in Edmond...we picked out what we wanted and passed along the awesome stuff. We met two amazing families (well the mom/wife and a daughter from each family) who were really good friends and came together. It even got to the point where we invited them inside to keep talking. They are each a large homeschooling family...one has 10 kids, the other 12 kids. With our talking in regards to birth control, we were just so interested in everything about them. They are awesome people and am glad to have met them.

Later, Liz and I went to eat at Golden Palace in Midwest City. After dinner, we met Jody (Liz's dad) so that we could get Addy and Chance. Addy went with Liz's parents after the 11:30 service so she could spend some quality time with them instead of attending a 3rd class that day. Chance is staying with us potentially for a month (minus weekends). He is going to work with me tomorrow morning for a job interview, which they more than likely will hire. If hired, he will work the rest of the summer until school starts. That will give him some much wanted cash and job experience. Plus, if things go well...they will have him back next summer after he graduates, giving him a permanent job. They might even train him to become a tech like me (he will start off as a cable puller) with his interest in computers...as long as he works hard and proves that he can do the job. If he slacks, I will haunt him...my name is on the line. haha!

That is pretty much it...good times!

Cleaning Day!

Today, Liz and I decided I would stay home while she went to Choctaw. I feel like I got quite a bit accomplished by doing so, too. Here is what got done:

7 loads of laundry (washed, dried, and hung up...including 2 loads of much needed towels folded and put away)

2 loads of dishes in the dishwasher (washed and put away)...plus wiping counters.

Cleaned kitchen table, coffee table, and end table

Picked up most of the living room, master bath, master bedroom, and guest bath (there was still some I didn't get to)

Took 4 loads of trash out

Swept entry, kitchen, master bath floors

Mopped entry and kitchen floors

Vacuumed living and dining room floors

Grilled hot dogs & brats (not a chore, but it still took time this evening)

I'm pretty happy with all that I got done. I wish I could have gotten to Addy's room and the office...but I can't complain. I stopped cleaning by 7pm in order to cook, plus Addy was coming home. I picked up after I put her to bed...just didn't want it to look messy for Liz when she got home. The house is in better shape then when the day started...that is the point of cleaning, right?

Q & A - 30 Questions


1.ONE OF YOUR SCARS, HOW DID YOU GET IT?
At work, we were unloading computers out of the company van at a client downtown. He pushed a box out while I was holding another one and the cardboard lid sliced right through my pants and I still have the scar on my leg. That was the second box and we had a ton. Needless to say, I kept working...we had to take them up to the 14th floor. After it was done, I went to the office...my supervisor told me that I needed stitches and would take me. I said I'm fine...and I'll just clean it and put a few gauze bandages over it. He cleaned it and did the bandages for me. I am so stupid when it comes to doctors...I should have went. I survived though.

2. WHAT IS ON THE WALLS IN YOUR ROOM?
Some pictures of Addy...there is also this cool design of Liz's. She bought some fabric and had her dad cut some wood squares...then she stapled the fabric over the wood squares. I think it is so cool...good idea honey!

3. DO YOU SNORE, GRIND YOUR TEETH, OR TALK IN YOUR SLEEP?
I snore some...I don't think I do any of the other. Well, I think I can have a conversation in my sleep, too. I don't remember some stuff we "talked" about during the night.

4. WHAT TYPE OF MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO?
All kinds...though all I really listen to is sports talk radio and usually LifeChurch worship music.

5. DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME YOU WERE BORN?
no...in the morning like 9 something.

6. WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING RIGHT NOW?
I want the house organized and ALL laundry done...you have no idea.

7. WHAT DO YOU MISS?
My wife at the moment...she left at 9:30am and it is 10pm.

8. WHAT IS YOUR MOST PRIZED POSSESSION(S)
I don't know...I guess it would be pictures? I just am not into possessions.

9. HOW TALL ARE YOU?
5'10-5'11ish

10. DO YOU GET CLAUSTROPHOBIC?
Not all the time...but I don't like tight places.

11. DO YOU GET SCARED IN THE DARK?
Nah...though I do kinda when it is in the middle of the night and you hear a loud noise. Then it isn't fun...going throughout the house trying to figure it out.

12. THE LAST PERSON TO MAKE YOU CRY?
I don't know...I guess Pastor Craig and one of his powerful sermons.

13. FAVORITE PIZZA TOPPING?
Pepperoni or cheese.

14. IF YOU COULD EAT ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
I'm not hungry...I slaved over the grill making hot dogs and brats. I'm pretty full.

15. WHAT WAS THE MOST MEANINGFUL GIFT YOU'VE EVER RECEIVED?
My wedding ring...I love to wear it. I'm proud that my wife is my wife!

16. FAVORITE CLOTHING BRAND?
When I was in Jr High and first starting High School, I had to have Nike, Tommy, etc...then when I turned 16 and started working, my parents said I had to pay for my own clothes (along with car and insurance). From that day forth, all of my clothes pretty much came from Walmart, Target, or Old Navy (unless there was a huge sale or something).

17. FIRST JOB?
Sacker at Brannon's IGA in Midwest City when I was 16.

18. EVER DONE A PRANK CALL?
Yes...the things you do as a upper Elem/Jr High kid.

19. WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU FILLED THIS OUT?
tucking Addy into bed, picking a few things up in the living room from when Addy got home, getting Addy a drink, and making the bed.

20. WHAT DO YOU GET COMPLIMENTED ABOUT MOST?
My personality. I get compliments all the time at work and from customers. My boss always tells me that he hears great things about me...he sends me into certain accounts when they are upset, just to get things corrected and smooth things over.

21. WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY?
I can't believe that it is time for my birthday again. Time flies...my birthday is July 29th. Let's see...what do I want!?!?

22. HOW MANY KIDS DO YOU WANT?
I definitely want some!! I don't care the exact amount...children are a blessing from God, so however many I am blessed with!

23. HOW DO YOU RELEASE ANGER?
Well, it used to be playing some sort of sport, playing the drums, and playing video games. I don't know what my "release" is anymore...mowing the yard?

24. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHILD?
Remember the "My Buddy" doll? I think that was mine as a little boy...then this little device called Nintendo came out, I was all video games after that.

25. WHAT ARE YOUR NICKNAMES?
Ship, Shipwreck, Bulldozer (JR High), Draino (HS), Downtown (church b-ball league)

26. WHAT'S SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOWS?
My all-time favorite has got to be Everybody Loves Raymond. I really like Friends, Seinfeld, Frazier, Smallville (I have seen any the past two years), 24, Lost, Prison Break...I think that is about it?

27. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR?
twist (soft-serve) or homemade vanilla

28. LAST THING YOU WATCHED?
Well I am watching Seinfeld right now.

29. LAST MEAL COOKED AT HOME?
Well...this morning Liz asked me to grill hot dogs tonight. I spent 45 minutes doing so, but she was unable to make it home in time. Oh well...I enjoyed them fresh off the grill.

30. LAST MEAL EATEN OUT?
For lunch today I had McDonalds...last night Liz and I went to Olive Garden.

10 Things...


10 states you've been to: 1. Texas 2. California 3. Florida 4. Missouri 5. Arkansas 6. Colorado 7. Kansas 8. Minnesota 9. Illinois 10. Louisiana

9 things last purchased: 1. ice cream at Braums 2. dinner at Freddy's 3. swimming lessons 4. gasoline for my vehicular conveyance 5. gasoline for my wife's vehicular conveyance 6. groceries 7. lunch on Sunday 8. book from the church bookstore 9. lunch on Saturday

8 "Have-you-ever's?" 1. Have you ever dated a best friend? Yes, and I married her 2. Have you ever stayed up and partied 'til the sun rose? well church Lock-Ins and Lock-Outs 3. Have you ever kissed someone & regretted it? No 4. Have you ever lost someone you loved? Yes 5. Have you ever been dumped? I've been turned down, but never dumped. 6. Have you ever dumped a bf/gf? Yes 7. Have you ever ran away? No 8. Have you ever made out with someone on your first date? Yes...and I married her (haha!).

7 favorite restaurants : 1. Salt Grass Steakhouse 2. Golden Palace 3. Chili's 4. Texas Roadhouse 5. Cheddars 6. Victoria's 7. Tarahomaras

6 things you've done today: 1. drove to work 2. got up and down ladder several times 3. talked to my wife on the phone 4. ate the rest of my leftover pizza for lunch 5. got on the computer during lunch 6. finished this survey that I started yesterday

5 of your favorite things? 1. my wife (even though she beats me) and Addy 2. our families 3. our church, LifeChurch 4. games 5. sex...sorry, I just couldn't keep this off my list.

4 people you can tell [almost] anything to: 1. Liz 2. Mom 3. Dad 4. Ann (mom in-law)

3 places you want to visit: 1. New York 2. Grand Canyon 3. Orlando (I've been a couple times, just want others to experience it...as long as it is not during the summer)

2 things you want to do before you die: 1. Have kids 2. See them all grown up with their own families

1 thing that you cannot live without: 1. my wife...she is my partner in life and I'm prepared to face anything with her by my side.

Wordless Wednesday - Difference Of Man And Woman



Please leave me a comment if you're participating in WW so I can visit your site. Also, if you'd like to see other WW participants, go here

Cool Ministry

Check out a few LifeChurchers doing their part...very cool.

Hibdon Tires (A) Plus!

Liz and I have been battling a tire that keeps going flat on the SUV. We found a screw in it and plugged it (with the help of Liz's dad...he is so handy!). Everything was fine, then about 4 days later...flat again. Pretty much every 3-4 days the tire is in dire need of help. I was pretty fed up with it, so today I left the car and took the SUV. I figured during my lunch break I would go to Hibdons to have them look at it. They worked on it for a little over a hour. They cleaned up the spot we plugged and put the tire back together. He put some sort of liquid on there so that there would be bubbles if there was another hole. Sure enough, there was a little spot that you basically could not see....but you could see the bubbles coming from there. The tech fixed that spot up, too. I go inside to pay, just to be told there was NO CHARGE! Awesome! They spent a little over a hour on something to not get paid. From now on, I will be sure they get my business...I just wanted to pass along good service when I see it. Thank you Hibdon!

Another note: While I was there, I heard the lady at the desk and one of the techs talking. Apparently, this customer was wanting new tires for his vehicle. The dealership quoted him like $800. They were talking about dealerships ripping people off...apparently they were saying Hibdons price was $406 and the customer's price would be $509. Even after Hibdon's mark up, it is still way less than the dealership's price. Basically, you might just want to check around before you buy at the dealership.

Tired Of All The Garbage!

As many of you know, Liz and I are trying to start a more frugal lifestyle. I don't want to get caught up in all materialistic garbage this world has to offer. I watched the message below....very, very powerful message regarding finances. My vision is I want to be out of our house by the end of next summer (get a cheap house and work towards our ultimate goal of a house on at least 5 acres), I want to work diligently towards getting things paid off (very limited eating out, take lunch to work, etc) by doing whatever it takes. I want my wife to stay home and take care of the house and kids...while home educating them (nothing else...no daycare, no chapel job). My vision is have everything paid off (except for house and MAYBE one car) by the time we get that house on an acreage. That is MY vision. I am tired of talking about it...I need to be a man of action. The future of my family and my vision is at stake...if we don't get there now, it will be too late.

For those who are in a financial hole...we know what it is like. We had more going out than coming in for the longest time. Remember, it is only for a season...trust the Lord! Matter of fact, Liz and I took a HUGE step of faith while deep in our hole. We gave. What!?!? Yes, you heard it...we gave. We started trusting the Lord and gave to the church and mission work. In the midst of a massive Goliath-like burden...we trusted the Lord and He delivered us. What did we do next...we gave more. I'm not saying this to toot my own horn...I am just offering you hope...hope that only the Lord can provide. He is testing you and your faith in Him...in the midst of it all, are you willing to let go and let God?

Father, I come before you today as a man trusting You. I can do nothing on my own, but I can do all things through Your Son who gives me strength. Lord, help us to keep our eye on the vision and not be distracted by the things this world throws at us. Give us strength to overcome temptation. May I be a man of action and a man who pleases You...may I be a husband and father that is leading my family towards financial release. I am tired of living in bondage...help me take a step of frugal living and overcome it. Thank You for your grace, thank You for your mercy, thank You for loving me! In Jesus name I pray, Amen!

Q & A About My Wife!

What is your spouse's name?
Elizabeth (Liz)

When did they become your spouse?
June 11, 2006

When did you know they were the one?
We talked for awhile on the computer before our first date. I would say the first date. I kinda knew while we were talking, but being together in person just sealed the deal...it just all came together.

Do they have any brothers?
Yes, 1 brother

Do they have any sisters?
Yes, 2 sisters

Are you happy?
YES, I love her so much!

Do they sing to you?
Yes...we sing more together. She has a wonderful singing voice, even if she won't admit it.

Do they dance with you?
Maybe for a second...we don't dance much.

Do you have children?
yes...Addy is 5 years old from Liz's previous marriage. She is so smart and a really good kid.

How many?
Just the 1 for now.

How many do you want?
BUNCHES! I don't know how else to say it. We want a bunch of our own and to adopt as well. We joke, saying we will need a 15 passenger van to haul us all around.

Do they tell you they love you or only say it after you do?
She says it to me often...and always after I tell her (I say it tons).

Are they romantic?
Yes...especially considering how busy we are. It isn't a matter of being romantic for us, it is a matter of when because there is no time. She works every Friday night and all day Saturday...then a lot of time is spent at church on Sunday, we grocery shop Sunday afternoon, along with mowing/yard work. If she is off from the chapel and we go out...then I feel like we really have a chance to re-connect and be romantic (even if it is just going out for dinner all dressed up).

Do they tell you that you're beautiful?
Well...she calls me a dork. Does that count?

Do you like their mother?
I guess she is ok. I say that because I know she will read this...haha! I really like her...she has the same sense of humor as Liz and myself. My only complaint is that she doesn't fix me meals, it is usually "there is stuff in the freezer, help yourself". With that aside, she is pretty fun. She is a good mother to her kids...she loves and has a great passion for her family. I really respect that...she just wants what is best for her family.

Do you like their father?
Yes. He is really handy! He is licensed to work on everything, basically from the foundation up. He does carpentry work, heat/air, ovens, refrigerators...just an overall handyman. I can ask him anything and he is always willing to drive down to Norman from Choctaw to take a look. That is one thing that I can say about him, that he is always willing to help out the family...I know he also wants what is best for the family. I think both Jody and Ann have done a good job and are awesome in-laws!

ESPN!

ESPN, the worldwide leader in sports, is at it again. How many times have we flipped to their station and saw spelling bee tournament, hot dog eating tournament, dogs jumping off docks, and extreme close-ups of poker hands? Well, that is old news...this Saturday, I noticed they will be airing the Paper, Rock, Scissors Championship!

That is ridiculous. I love ESPN...but really only during football season. I can't wait...less than one month before football practices start. At least, then I will have a real sport to be excited about! I mean come on...I can't believe there would actually be a televised audience that would support such a stupid tournament. Yep...you heard it here, I guess Paper, Rock, Scissors is a now considered a highly skilled sport. Crazy!

Friday's Feast

Appetizer - What was the first job you ever had?
I helped my dad quite a bit during the summers when I was a kid...though I won't count that. I will just say my first job was right after I turned 16...I worked at Brannon's IGA as a sacker.

Soup - Name a profession you have always wanted to try.
Growing up, I always wanted to be a professional football player. I also really wanted to be a PE Teacher and Football Coach.

Salad - Name a profession you would NEVER want to try.
Anything that requires me to be stuck in small confines for a long time (navy, astronaut, etc.)

Entree - What is your favorite sound in the world?
The sound of the net (both nylon and chain) when the basketball swishes through.

Dessert - If there is a Heaven, what would you like to hear from God when you arrive?
First, there is a heaven...Second, I want to hear "Well done, thy good and faithful servant!"

The Friday's Feast chef is away, gathering new recipes and letting special questions simmer. Michael is hosting this week, so visit him over at Valtool's Box and set up your own feast!

Honor God With Your Body!

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit… Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

I just started watching a series called Life Development Plan. I skipped ahead to week 5 because of the title "Physical Life". My wife and I have talked about this quite a bit lately. We have recently given up soda in our house already, but there is so much more to it. Think about this:

8 out of 10 people over 25 are overweight.
More than 60% of Americans are overweight or obese.
The number of overweight Americans has doubled since 1980.
The number of overweight adolescents has tripled.
Obesity is 2nd only to smoking as the top preventable cause of death.
If things continue as is, obesity will overtake smoking as number one.
78% of Americans are not meeting basic level activity recommendations.

EVERY BODY ENDS UP SOMEWHERE.
FEW BODIES END UP SOMEWHERE ON PURPOSE.

It isn't just about making healthier eating habits and drinking water either (though think about this, if you order water instead of soda everytime you eat out and instead invest that money...you will be able to put 2 kids through college. WOW!). Three things that we should do:

1. REGULAR CHECKUPS.
Jesus said to them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick…’ Mark 2:17

2. CONSISTENT EXERCISE.
For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:8

3. DEFEAT ADDICTIONS.
Everything is permissible for me-but not everything is beneficial… I will not be mastered by anything. 1 Corinthians 6:12

I never go to the doctor...never. I am going to make it a priority to go have a physical and checkup once a year. Addictions? It could be smoking, beer/liquor, dipping, overeating, caffeine, etc...but we can overcome ANYTHING.

My wife and I talk about it a lot like I said earlier...we say, "we don't want to be the fat family." See there is a difference between talking and doing...and I know there is a problem, now it is time for me to make some changes because my body is the temple of God and I want honor God with my body. Check out this video...

Birth Control

My wife and I have been discussing birth control and if it is something that God really wants us to do. You can read her blog on this topic by clicking here.

First, here is a sermon I found about Birth Control...then I did a search on LifeChurch's page and found a sermon video. So first, a sermon I found....then beneath that, it is also talked about on the LifeChurch video. (hint: LifeChurch video doesn't agree with Genesis 38 verses about Onan being applicable here...also it deals with a few different questions, so only the first 11 minutes are dealing with birth control directly).

Let's dive on in...

1. Children are a blessing from the Lord
Scripture is full of such verses; it doesn't take much scratching to dig up a host of passages which refer to children in this light.

Psalm 127:3-5 Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.
Genesis 25:21 Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.
Exodus 23:25-26 Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span.
Genesis 33:5 (Jacob meeting Esau)Jacob answered, "They are the children God has graciously given your servant."
Psalm 128:1-4 (ESV)1 Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways! 2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. 3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. 4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.

These are general statements of God's attitude toward children. There are those who would say that we can limit blessings, that the Bible refers to many things as blessings, including wealth and belongings, and that we definitely should limit such blessings.

It's all in what you compare the blessing of children to that this argument rises or falls. Which of us would suggest we limit our blessings when it comes to forgiveness of sins? If you compare children to money, then, by all means, limit it. But if you compare them to forgiveness of our sins, they're a blessing to seek without number or end. If we compare God's gift of children only to material blessing, we make an inherently biased comparison.

Those who would still argue that it is appropriate to limit the Divine blessing of children must at least admit that only some blessings are limitable. If you choose to include children among blessings such as possessions and wealth which are limitable because of their negative potential, on what basis do you do so? The Bible clearly warns against the pursuit of material items. Where does the Bible warn that love of children is a root of any evil?

Finally, sometimes, limiting God's blessing is sin. The prophet Elisha urged King Joash to strike the ground with the arrows as a sign of his defeat of the Syrians. Joash hit the ground three times and Elisha rebuked him for not doing so five or six times. By hitting the ground only three times he brought Israel just three victories over the Syrians rather than five or six. When God seeks to bless, who are we to limit His blessing?

2. Fill the earth and subdue it still applies
Children are a Divine blessing. They are eternal beings created in the image of God. They bear the image of God. This much is positive instruction on our topic. But there is more from a positive point of view. There is the command of Genesis 3 that man should fill the earth and subdue it. Have we finished this task? Is the world filled and subdued? If every man and woman on earth were placed in the state of Texas, the population density would be less than that of New York City. Fly over the west or over Canada or over Alaska and you will see that despite the fear-mongering prophets of Malthus spreading their messages of doom, the world is far from full. World population density today is 30 people per square mile. That's less than half the population density of the USA where we average 75 people per square mile. And the USA is far from over-populated.

Moreover, the story of the 21 st century, if you have read any recent demographic studies, (see Atlantic Monthly article from August, 1999) is going to be a story not of population explosion, but of worldwide population decline beginning in about 2040. In fact, the increase in world population over the last century was not the product of increased fertility, but of increased lifespans.

3. The Law specifies times of impurity that coincide with maximal fertility
We learn still more about God’s attitude toward birth-control from other passages. The Levitical laws of purity address the proper time for sexual union. From the onset of menstruation, we are told in Leviticus 15:19-24, a woman is unclean. She remains unclean throughout the issue of blood, and for seven days after the issue has stopped. Thus, for an average of 12 to 14 days from the onset the woman is impure. The net result of the seven-day post-menstruation unclean period is this: according to an obstetrician/gynecologist...

The "normal" menstrual cycle is supposed to occur every 28 days. Day 1 marks the first day of the cycle. 7 days of bleeding. Ovulation occurs only once a cycle and in the normal cycle will occur on day 14. If conception occurs then no more periods for 9 months. If conception does not occur then two weeks go by and the lining of the uterus is "shed" or expelled and the process begins again.

It is interesting that with the Levitical laws, God has insured that sexual relations are timed to occur at the best time for ovulation and conception. Andrew Folley, M.D.

These are passages from which we begin to extrapolate God's attitude toward birth control, and there are many more like these. But is there a passage which actually addresses the issue directly? We see God's "yes" to children in Scripture, and on that basis alone we can say a great deal. We see God's desire for children, His positive approach to pregnancy and childbirth, his proscribing sex during menstruation, and during the least fertile period immediately after menstruation. But is there more in God's Word? Specifically, is there a Divine "no" to birth control?

Scripture's Explicitly Negative Statement
Genesis 38:1-11 (ESV) 1 It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and turned aside to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2 There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. He took her and went in to her, 3 and she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. 4 She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. 5 Yet again she bore a son, and she called his name Shelah. Judah was in Chezib when she bore him. 6 And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord put him to death. 8 Then Judah said to Onan, "Go in to your brother's wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother." 9 But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. So whenever he went in to his brother's wife he would waste the semen on the ground, so as not to give offspring to his brother. 10 And what he did was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and he put him to death also. 11 Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, "Remain a widow in your father's house, till Shelah my son grows up -- for he feared that he would die, like his brothers. So Tamar went and remained in her father's house.

This passage is often presented in churches as addressing something other than the issue we are considering. To grasp the purpose of this passage it's vital we understand correctly the sin Onan commits. We are told in verse 10: "10 And what he did was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and he put him to death also."

What did Onan do that was wicked in the sight of the Lord? This is the vital question we are left to answer at the end of these verses because we're not given an explicit answer in our passage.

Two theories have come to dominate thinking about this passage today: one a modern explanation and one the explanation of the Church universal for 1900 years up till the mid-20 th century. In recent years, many have suggested that the sin of Onan was his failure to provide offspring for his dead brother.

The second explanation is the one which has dominated church history, yet it is almost unheard-of in circles today. By this explanation, what Onan did which was wicked in the sight of the Lord was his specific method of denying Tamar a child. This explanation says that it was Onan's practice of coitus interruptus, the only common and universally available form of birth control in ancient times, which lies at the root of his sin. By this view, God punishes Onan with death not for denying his brother offspring but for spilling his seed upon the ground.

Some people mention a third theory about the sin of Onan, but it's narrowly held and seems to have arisen largely as a result of people rejecting the first of the explanations without being willing to embrace the second. This theory says that Onan is punished because, in effect, he commits adultery. Had he done his duty in regard to his brother in good faith, he would not have been guilty of adultery, but because he does not do his duty, he is guilty of adultery.

Whatever Onan's sin may be, it is certainly a grave offense in the eyes of God. God puts him to death for it, causing him to join the select ranks of Nadab and Abihu, Ananias and Sapphira, Uzzah, the sons of Korah and just a few other individuals whom we are specifically told in Scripture God punished with death for their sins. We need to understand this about this sin of Onan at the outset: it is not one of those sins worthy of "few stripes" in the judgment of God. This sin is deeply offensive to God, so offensive that God does not permit Onan to live after committing it.

Would God treat adultery in this fashion? Yes. After all, the penalty for adultery in the Mosaic Law is death by stoning. But it diminishes the likelihood that this is the sin for which God puts Onan to death when we read on in Genesis 15 and find that after these things take place, passing his daughter-in-law, Tamar on the road and thinking her a prostitute because of the way she has disguised herself, Judah has relations with her without being put to death by God. If Onan's sin was adultery, then certainly his father Judah should die by the hand of God when he commits the same sin with the same woman -- a sin, compounded in the Law of Moses by the fact that intercourse between a father and a daughter-in-law is condemned as incest. But Judah lives.

Further reducing the likelihood that adultery is the sin of Onan... By the Levitical law of levirate marriage, Tamar becomes Onan's wife when he goes into her--the surviving brother takes the widow as his wife and then goes in to her according to Deuteronomy 25:5-6,
If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead man shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband's brother shall go in to her and take her as his wife and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her. And the first son whom she bears shall succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel.

By the levirate code, marriage precedes the sexual act. It's not the lack of a legal relationship between Tamar and Onan that's the problem in our passage, it's something done within that relationship.

I will spend no more time on this third explanation. It has never gained traction for the simple reason that it's illogical -- forged, I believe, out of a need to explain Onan's sin as something other than birth control by those who admit the difficulty of explaining God's wrath upon Onan coming down as a result of his failure to do his duty to his brother.

Judah lives after committing adultery and incest with his daughter-in-law while Onan dies: either God is simply treating them differently despite their committing the same offense, or the offense in each case is different.

Is there a clear distinction between the offense of father and son in Scripture? In fact there is. One spills his seed, the other does not.

Which leads us back to our original two choices. Either the sin Onan commits is his failure to give his brother an heir, or it is his spilling of his seed, intentionally committing a sexual act without permitting a child to be born of it. Let's assess these two possibilities individually beginning with the first, the failure to give his brother an heir.

Onan's sin his failure to provide an heir for his brother…
Is Onan's sin his failure to provide an heir for his brother? Think with me about this for a moment. On what basis would we say that it was Onan's duty to do this? The Levirate law of marriage? The law we find in Deuteronomy 25?

Deuteronomy 25:5-6 (ESV) 5 If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead man shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband's brother shall go in to her and take her as his wife and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her. 6 And the first son whom she bears shall succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel.

It's all right there the evangelical world says today. He has a duty. He failed his duty. He dies for his disobedience.

But there are problems with this approach. First we have the problem of an anachronistic reading of Scripture: what is the Biblical timeframe in the story of Onan? The days of the patriarchs, right? When is the law of Levirate marriage given to Israel? Over four hundred years later when God gives His law to Moses. The Levirate laws simply do not exist at this point. There is no written command from God demanding that Onan fulfill such a duty.

Of course, it doesn't have to be written to be true. There was no written law against murder either at this time, yet God still held men guilty of it and punished men for it. God's law existed before He gave the written law to Moses. How did man know God's commands before He gave His written law? They knew it, because in the words of Paul,
Romans 2:12-15 (ESV) 12 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them.

Before the law was given, man had the witness of God in his heart, upon which God had written His precepts. This is the testimony of Romans 1 and 2. But here's the problem. All law prior to the giving of the written law to Moses was moral law. None of it was ceremonial or civil. Ceremonial and civil law came down from the mountain with Moses. If God held a man guilty of lawbreaking prior to giving His written law to Moses, it was not for violating ceremonial law or civil law, but for violating the moral law which He had written upon the human heart.

And that law has not passed away. It remains written on human hearts to this day. Nothing written on human hearts then fails to be written upon the hearts of lawless men today. Those today who do not have God's law are still punished by God for breaking the precepts and commandments written upon their hearts that existed before the Mosaic law. That law stands for all mankind until this very day. It is the basic moral law of God. It is universal. It is unchanged and undiminished.

But if it's true, as Evangelical preachers of the last century have nearly-universally suggested, that Onan's failure to provide an heir for his brother was the sin for which God put him to death, why do we not fulfill this law in our own day? Why are we not adamant that living brothers must provide heirs for their dead brothers in this same way? If this is truly why God put Onan to death, then this is a timeless principle for all mankind which obtains today every bit as strongly as it did in the day of Onan.

We must understand this about the Law: ceremonial law is fulfilled in Christ and thus no longer is required of us today. The civil law of Israel, laws of the nation such as the years of Jubilee and so forth have also largely passed away.

Whatever law Onan broke, it is certain that it was moral. It was the will of God written on the human heart. And if the law he violated was a pre-Mosaic requirement by God that brothers provide heirs for their deceased brothers, then it remains binding in our own day. It has not lapsed. It has not been rescinded. If it was written on the hearts of men before the law of Moses, then it is written on the hearts of men today. It is non-civil, non-ceremonial, timeless moral law, preceding both the nation of Israel and the written law of Moses.

The question of timeframe is a serious blow to the position that Onan's sin was failing to provide an heir for his brother. Most Evangelical interpreters of this passage never seem to recognize the anachronism implicit in their applying the levirate code of marriage to Onan. So here's the question -- is the levirate law of marriage (found in Deuteronomy 25:5-6), that a brother must marry his brother's widow to provide for his brother an heir, moral or civil law? If it's civil law it didn't exist before the Mosaic law was given. If it's timeless moral law, written on men's hearts, then we are as guilty as Onan if we fail to heed it today.

Things get still harder to explain for those who hold to the position that Onan died for failing to do his duty to his brother… What punishment does the Law of Moses specify for the man who fails to do this duty?

7 And if the man does not wish to take his brother's wife, then his brother's wife shall go up to the gate to the elders and say, "My husband's brother refuses to perpetuate his brother's name in Israel; he will not perform the duty of a husband's brother to me." 8 Then the elders of his city shall call him and speak to him, and if he persists, saying, "I do not wish to take her," 9 then his brother's wife shall go up to him in the presence of the elders and pull his sandal off his foot and spit in his face. And she shall answer and say, "So shall it be done to the man who does not build up his brother's house." 10 And the name of his house shall be called in Israel, "The house of him who had his sandal pulled off."

The punishment for such sin in the law of Moses is an act of public humiliation. Yet in Genesis Onan is put to death for his sin.

The more we examine the question of whether Onan was put to death for refusing to give offspring to his brother, the more untenable the position appears. At the very least we must say that if it was sin before the written law was given, it remains the requirement of God today. Yet I don't hear proponents of this view arguing for a return to the Levirate law of marriage.

Onan's sin his spilling of his seed…
It would seem that this leaves only one possible explanation for the sin of Onan, yet shoot down one bird and a dozen more appear. Once they discard the theory that Onan's sin was his failure to provide an heir for his brother due to their recognizing the anachronisms and faulty assumptions required to hold such a view, they don't necessarily automatically embrace the classic view of the Church. Instead they say, "Well, all right, if it wasn't his failure to provide an heir, it was his disobedience to his father… it was his unkindness to Tamar... The list goes on and on. And of course, the problem of this one deed being pulled out for such negative note in the Word remains with any of these other arguments. If this is failure to respect his father's wishes, why does Onan die for it when Ham, who uncovers his father's nakedness -- showing much greater disdain for his father than Onan -- does not?

We could go on and on. But we don't need to. And the reason we don't is that there is one explanation for God's intense wrath at the sin of Onan that coheres logically and Scripturally, that fits all the conditions of our passage and that flows perfectly from the historical setting of these early chapters of Genesis. Surprisingly, or perhaps not so surprisingly, the one explanation we are left with is the universal understanding of the Church of the sin of Onan prior to the 20th century. This position understands the sin of Onan -- his wickedness in the sight of the Lord -- as his deliberate engagement in sexual union without permitting the procreation of a child from that union: his spilling his seed upon the ground.

10 Things About Grocery Shopping

Grocery shopping seems like a harmless enough activity. It’s a chore, but it’s one that most of us do at least once a week, without giving much thought to what’s going on behind the scenes at the supermarket.

How we shop has become a science that’s studied endlessly. “Market researchers have worked for years to come up with ways to make sure shoppers see as many products as possible, because the more they see, the more they buy,” says Marion Nestle, author of What to Eat: An Aisle-by-Aisle Guide to Savvy Food Choices and Good Eating.

So to make yourself a smarter shopper, learn about the top tricks and other secrets lurking at the supermarket.

1. The shopping carts have cooties.
According to studies done on shopping carts, more than 60 percent of them are harboring coliform bacteria (the sort more often associated with public toilet seats). “These bacteria may be coming from raw foods or from children who sit in the carts,” says Chuck Gerba, Ph.D., a microbiologist at University of Arizona. “Just think about the fact that a few minutes ago, some kid’s bottom was where you are now putting your broccoli.” According to studies done by Gerba and his colleagues at University of Arizona, shopping carts had more bacteria than other surfaces they tested—even more than escalators, public phones and public bathrooms. To avoid picking up nasty bacteria, Gerba recommends using sanitizing wipes to clean off cart handles and seats, and to wash your hands after you finish shopping.

2. Dates are open to interpretation.
Except for baby formula and food, product expiration dates are not required by Federal regulations (some states, however, have their own rules requiring product dating). Labels that give a “Best if Used By” date are more of a suggestion than a safety issue—the food will taste best if eaten by the date on the label, but won’t necessarily be unsafe if eaten after that. If a product is stamped with a “Sell-By” date, that is how long the store should display it. Once you bring it home, perishable products (like meats) should be kept refrigerated and used within a few days. For more detailed charts explaining the shelf life of various products, go to USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.

3. Kid-friendly food is purposely placed within their reach.
Anyone who shops with a child (or several) in tow has to keep an eye out for products the kids grab and toss into the cart. “I always tell parents never to bring a kid to a store,” says Nestle. “The packages with the cartoons on them are often placed on low shelves where even toddlers can reach for them.” A trip down the cereal aisle will confirm this. “Sugary cereals are at kid’s eye level, while the healthier, all-bran options are usually on the highest shelves,” says Tara Gidus, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. It’s the same situation at the cash register, where candy and gum are strategically placed to encourage impulse buys by adults and kids can easily grab low-lying products.

4. They cut up food so they can charge more.
In the produce department there are luscious-looking slices of pineapple and melon, veggies cut up and ready for cooking or salads. At the meat counter, chicken breasts and beef are cut into chunks and marinated—ready for immediate grilling. There’s no denying that these pre-cut foods can make life incredibly easy. And nutritionists agree that if they get people to eat more healthfully, there’s nothing wrong with them. But realize that you’re also paying a tremendous premium—sometimes up to twice as much as uncut versions of the same food—just so you don’t have to bother picking up a knife.

5. Good-for-you foods require bending and reaching.
Not surprisingly, grocery store eye candy (which sometimes is actual candy)—those foods with enticing come-ons and delectable photos on the packaging that aren’t on your shopping list—are prominently placed to encourage you to reach for them. Even in the pasta aisle, you’ll find the most popular noodles (including packaged mac and cheese) at eye level. Look up to the highest or lowest shelves if you want to find healthier whole wheat options.

6. End-of-aisle displays are there to distract you from your mission.
“Food companies pay the stores to place their products where they can be seen most easily—such as in a display at the end of an aisle,” says Nestle. That prime real estate is likely to hold high-profit items or grouped items (such as marshmallows, chocolate bars and graham crackers for s’mores) designed to inspire impulse buys. And although sometimes those aisle-ends are used to promote sale items, we will buy even when there is no discount. “People are 30 percent more likely to buy items on the end of the aisle versus in the middle of the aisle—often because we think what’s at the end is a better deal,” says Brian Wansink, Ph.D., director of the Food and Brand Lab at Cornell University and author of Mindless Eating.

7. Bargains aren’t always a bargain.
Who can resist an offer like “buy five, get one free,” or “three for $1”? Apparently, very few people can. “Any time you see numbers in a sign, you’re likely to buy at least 30 percent more than you may have purchased otherwise. “So if you go looking for soup and the sign says “limit 12 per person,” chances are you’ll purchase several more cans than you intended to buy,” he says. And of course, if you buy more than you need, it’s not necessarily a bargain. Or worse yet, it could lead to over-indulging. “Mindless shopping leads to mindless eating,” says Wansink. “Once the stuff is in the house, you’ll eat it whether you really want it or not.”

8. You’ll walk the store the way they want you to.
There’s nothing haphazard about the layout of your grocery store. Sure, some of it is practical (like refrigerated cases along the periphery or meat cases in the back by the store’s loading dock), but some is carefully calculated to help you part with more money. Walk in the front doors and chances are you’re faced immediately with hard-to-resist items (not on your list) like fresh-cut flowers or just-baked loaves of bread. Just try walking past them en route to a carton of milk without tossing something extra into your cart. In fact, research has shown that 60 percent to 70 percent of what ends up in our carts is unplanned.

9. The salad bar can make you sick.
Raw produce at the salad bar, pre-made salads at the deli counter and other pre-cooked prepared foods all have the potential for harboring harmful bacteria (like E. coli, salmonella and Norovirus). “The biggest contributors to unsafe food are foods that are held at unsafe temperatures, handling of food by individuals with poor hygiene, and refilling partially used containers of perishable food with fresh food,” says Michael Doyle, Ph.D., director of the Center for Food Safety and Quality Enhancement at University of Georgia. He recommends that consumers pay attention to cleanliness, freshness (all prepared food should be thrown out if not sold by the end of the day), and way food is stored (cold foods need to be kept at 41 degrees or below; hot foods at greater than 135 degrees). As for those bulk bins of candy and trail mix—while it might be a bit gross to think about people reaching in and “sampling” the goods with their dirty fingers, according to Doyle, the risk of catching anything from them is very low. “Harmful microbes are not likely to grow in bulk-bin foods because most of those foods do not contain enough moisture to support microbial growth,” he says.

10. They don’t always clean as often as they should.
Health inspectors routinely visit supermarkets to look out for the red flags that may signal unsafe conditions for your food. But you can do a little snooping yourself. Flies in the produce or meat departments could be depositing bacteria on raw food. Roaches scurrying across the floor could also be harboring dozens of different diseases. And of course, check the shelves and products for dirt and grime—cans that are covered in dust may be an indication that they’ve sat around past their shelf life.